Commentary on 2 Peter, Commentary on 2 Peter volume 1 · Chapter 2 · Verse 8

Commentary on 2 Peter · Commentary on 2 Peter volume 1 · Chapter 2 · Verse 8

p. 664VERSE 8. For that righteous man dwelling among the…, in ſeeing and hearing, vexed his righteo…s ſoule from day to day with their unlawf…l deeds.

IT is an apparant argument of an ungracious man, that he can with unmo… patience beare the diſhonours of God. Hot yron cannot chuſe but hiſſe, wh… cold water is poured upon it; nor a good man but vexe at open wickedneſſe I know there be ſome will ſooner fight in their Miſtreſſes quarrell, than in th… Makers: fiery againſt their owne diſgraces, coole and remiſſe in the cauſe …f Chriſt, as if it were quite unconcerning them. There is no love without zeale … there can be no heate without fire.aaCant. 8.6.Song 8:6 Love is ſtrong as death, Ielouſie cruell … grave. Take death at the ſtrongeſt, Chriſts love to us was ſtronger; but … abuſe it, that love growes jealous, and that jealouſie growes cruell, cruell as … grave. Our love to him muſt have the ſame nature, though it faile of the ſame … ſure: that which diſhonours him, muſt vexe our ſoules. Entire love will not ſ… fer it ſelfe to be adulterated.bbNum. 5.15.Num 5:15 No Oile nor frankincenſe might come into the Ie… ſie offering, becauſe it brings iniquitie to remembrance. The ground of Ielouſie is … tending unto hate upon a juſt ſuſpition of a juſt cauſe: there is no competition … Chriſt to be admitted. Lot loved God, therefore was zealous of his glory, …e… lous therefore reproved his offenders, reproving he found no amendment, th… fore vexed his owne ſoule. Let him be righteous, if he had not dwelt among …, there had beene no vexation? let him dwell among them, if he had not beene r… teous, no trouble: let him be righteous, and dwell among them, if they … …t beene wicked, no offence. Be he righteous, and among them, and they wicked, y… if he had not ſeene and heard their evill deeds, yet he had beene free. Yea, g…al… theſe ſi…iſter concurrences, if their ſins had been few and not frequent, his vexa…io… had beene leſſe. But lay all theſe together; a good man, among the ungod…y, ſeeing their workes, and the unlawfulneſſe of them, and the continuance of th…t … lawfulneſſe; he muſt needs be vexed, and that vexation be of the ſame ex…e… a… duration as was the cauſe; their ungodlineſſe, from day to day.

The generall parts of the Text are two; the Incentives or kindlers, a…d …e p. 665fire it ſelfe. The incentives are ſet downe by foure degrees. 1. Cauſall or radicall, He being righteous. 2. Occaſionall, Dwelling among them. 3. Objectuall, their unlawfull deeds. 4. Organical or inſtrumentall, In ſeeing and hearing. For the fire it ſelfe conſider. 1. The property, it is fervent againſt unrighteouſneſſe. 2. The ſincerity, it workes inwardly, moves the ſoule. 3. The rarity, but one among …houſands thus vexed. 4. The conſtancie, from day to day. It is not coole, not counterfeit, not common, not mutable.

1 He being righteous.] As in naturall things, Simile non agit contra ſimile, fire fights not againſt fire, but againſt water. So in morall things, Innocens non agit contra innocentem, one good man doth not perſecute another. If either the Sodomites had bin righteous with Lot, or Lot unrighteous with them, here had beene no contention. Wolfe and Wolfe can agree, Lambe and Lambe fall not out; but who can reconcile the Wolfe to the Lambe? That good man who was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame, yetccIob. 29.17.Job 29:17 brake the teeth of the ungodly. Faith is the ground of zeale: faith is from Chriſt, love from faith, zeale from love: nor can …aith be diſcerned without love, nor love without zeale. Intellectus eſt prior poten…iâ quàm voluntas: ddHeb. 11.1.Heb 11:1Faith is firſt, as the foundation before the building, the evidence before the poſſeſſion. That which made Lot righteous in Chriſt, made him zealous for Chriſt. When the weather is hot, every man opens his mouth: when it is cold, he ſhuts it, till his teeth chatter againe. Where is righteouſneſſe, there is heate, where is heate, men will queſt and open: I beleeved, therefore I ſpake. But where is no heate, there is an unperfect ſound, a chattering of the teeth as if men were afraid to ſpeake.

Righteouſneſſe, which is the life of the ſoule, is diſcerned as the life of the body; by motion, heate, and feeling. If the diſhonours of God doe not runne like goads and poniards to our heart, we are all dead fleſh: if his glory doe not lift us up with joy, there is no heate in us. Antigonus his ſonne being grievouſly ſick, and none perceiving the cauſe; when his mother in law entred the chamber, his eyes began to quicken, his bloud to riſe, and pulſe to beate extraordinarily: whereby the Phyſicians underſtood the cauſe to bee the unnaturall love of his mother. As in that vicious love, ſo in true holy affection to God, the very mention of his name will make our pulſe beate, our hearts incontainable of joy or ſorrow; our love cannot be ſuppreſſed. Good bloud will never belye it ſelfe; well-borne children are touched to the quick with the injuries of their Parents: not thus to be moved, is to confeſſe our ſelves baſtards. This point will fall heavy on ſome, when it comes to be concluded: that where is no zeale, there can bee no righteouſneſſe.

2 Dwelling among them.] One reaſon why God ſuffers evill men, is to try the good: Vertue is more glorious being ſet off with vice. Beauty were leſſe admirable, if there were no deformity. Some Canaanites are reſerved to make tryall of Iſraels conſtancie.ee1 Cor. 11.19.1 Cor 11:19 There muſt be Sects, that the approved may be knowne. They are the beſt Lilies that thrive amongſt thornes. To be temperate in Ilands, ſober among Germans, chaſt in Sodome; this is the praiſe. Divers have ſtood with filthy ſhooes on holy ground; but to ſtand on filthy ground with holy ſhooes, here is proofe. It is peculiar to heaven, to have never a bad neighbour: only that immortall kingdome hath the priviledge of never being tempted. This world is for triall, that to come, for reward. The ſolitary man knowes not himſelfe: he thinkes himſelfe good, becauſe he hath no meanes to be bad. Let him refraine ſin yet it is Laus parva, quia laus parvi. He that overcomes the ſolicitation to evill,Bern. holds his vertue in aſſurance. If I can be patient among my offenſive neighbours, chaſt among the laſcivious, ſober among Epicures, modeſt among impudent railers, juſt among defrauders, faithfull to the Church among the common and exemplary ſpoilers of it; this argument is of force. The Souldier can keepe his ſtation till he be aſſaulted. When tentation oppreſſeth, and luſt rebelleth, as when a p. 666a mans horſe curvets, then let him ſit faſt. When bluſtring ſtormes of perſecutio… ſhall make a man gird the garment of his religon cloſer about him; this approves him. True zeale, like fire in a froſt, is the hotter for oppoſition.

Among them that hate righteouſneſſe, and him for it: that ſay of good living as Feſtus did of great learning;ffAct. 26.24.Acts 26:24 It makes a man mad. They cannot know anothe… to be ſober, that are mad themſelves. As old men anſwer the young; you thi…e us fooles but we know you are not wiſe. So anſwer we theſe, you thinke us m…d that are ſo hot againſt ſins; but we know you mad that are ſo cold for your ſoules. Achiſh and his Courtiers thought David mad, yet he was the wiſeſt man amo… them. It is not a Nicodemus that the world takes notice of, but a Peter; Th… …s with him in Galile; they will put him to it.

Among them that thought Lot to be the only man that moleſted them. A… can charge Elias with this,ggAct. 24.5.Acts 24:5 and Tertullus Paul. The mutinies and up-rores of the world were fathered upon the Chriſtians in the Primitive times: as the Popi… traitors decreed to blow up a State, and then to lay it upon the Puritans in theſe latter dayes. There can be no croſſe or judgement in Sodome, but Lot is the m… that brings it. Yet in all ſenſe he that does but defend himſelfe, is not the autho… of ſtrife. Though the true man ſtrike ſome blowes, yet the theefe is he that begins the fray.

Among them that thought Lot a proud and imperious fellow; as Eliah ce… ſured David, hhGen. 19.9.Gen 19:9I know the pride of thy heart. There is no goodneſſe in man, b… ſuch will aſcribe it to vaine glory. This opinion of others is derived from a co… ſciouſneſſe of themſelves; that would not doe one good deed, but to be highly applauded for it. Therefore would not the rich man perhaps helpe Lazarus, becauſe he feared that as Lazarus died, ſo his good turne ſhould dye with him. No… the Levite ſuccour the wounded man,iiLuk. 1….Luke 1 becauſe it was not in popular view. The Phariſies did all to bee ſeene: now that diſtreſſed man was out of the way, no body to looke on.

Among them that thought him a foole for his labour. Tell us of our facts, as if they were faults? Doe not all thus? You onelyonly againſt it? Alas, it is but o…e Doctors opinion. That which the world cals policie, eats up true wiſdome their diſcretion and moderate ſtaidneſſe devoures all true honeſty. O ſay they,kkEccl. 7.16.Eccl 7:16 Be not righteous over much. But of that extremity there is in theſe times no fea…e, it is now ſhort ſhooting that loſeth the game. You have ſcarce one that exceed… for ten thouſand that fault in the defect: and it is better to have our broth bo… over, than be raw: rather goe in furres than naked. Liberality feares and …y…s covetouſneſſe, rather than prodigality: truth is more ſuſpicious of falſe-hood, than of vaine-glory: zeale is more cautelous of coldneſſe, than of heate: is mo…e afraid leſt the fire ſhould goe out, than endanger the chimney.

Among them that thought him exorbitant,ll1 Pet. 4.4.1 Pet 4:4 becauſe he walked not after the… rule. Often do we heare remiſſe profeſſors ſtrive to choake all forward holineſſe, by commending the golden meane. A cunning diſcouragement, the devils ſophiſtrie! Whereas the meane of vertue is betwixt two kindes, not betwixt two degrees. It is a meane grace that loves a meane degree of grace. Yet is this the ſta…e with which the world beats all that be better than themſelves. What, will yo… be ſingular? walke alone? But were not the Apoſtles ſingular in their walking? ^m A ſpectacle to the world: did not Chriſt call for this ſingularity? ⁿ What ſingular thing doe ye? You that are Gods peculiar people, will ye do no peculiar thing? Ye that are ſeparate from the world, will you keepe the worlds rode? Shall L…t leave his righteouſneſſe, for ſuch an imputation of ſingularity? Muſt the name of a Puritane diſhearten us from the ſervice of God? Saint Paul ſaid in his Apologie; ^o By that which they call hereſie, ſo worſhip I the God of my Fathers: and by tha… which profane ones call puritaniſme, which is indeed zealous devotion; ſo let my heart deſire to ſerve IESUS CHRIST.

p. 667Among them that hated the truth, and loved theppMic. 2.11.Mic 2:11 prophecie of wine, and …trong drinke. Such a man may live in quiet: if Lot had ſpoke peace to Sodome, and …ot the truth, they had brooked him well enough. It is truth that breeds hatred among bad neighbours.qqIoh. 16.7.John 16:7 Nevertheleſſe I tell you the truth; though it breed ſorrow …r anger, or malice in your hearts, yet veritatem dico. I know that in theſe dayes to …peake the truth, is to be cenſured of indiſcretion: the world thinkes us children or …ooles to hazard our ſelves by ſpeaking the truth. Yet we will not ſquare our po…itions to their diſpoſitions, nor forbeare to tell what they are loth to heare. In…eed, you will heare the truth, if there be no Nihilominus, nevertheleſſe; if it con…erne you not. But ſaith Chriſt, Expedit vobis, better loſe your favours than your …oules: and Expedit nobis, to diſcharge our conſciences from a burden of bloud. They that flatter you, are your deadlieſt enemies; that either in furthering ſin, or …n ſmothering ſin, ſpill your deareſt lives.

Among theſe bad men dwelt this good Lot, and ſtill hee was righteous. Neither their exemplary life, nor popular expoſition, nor powerfull terrors, could …urne his feete out of the paths of goodneſſe. It is likely, they endevoured to win him to them, either by rewards or menaces. But as when Capellus tempted Fabri…ius, the firſt day with an Elephant, ſo huge and monſtrous a beaſt as before he …ad not ſeene: the next day with money and promiſes of honour: he anſwered, I …eare not thy force, and I am too wiſe for thy fraud: ſo Lot could be corrupted with neither. But now, if hee could be holy among wicked, a Saint among ſin…ers; how is it that wee are evill among the good, ſinners among Saints? Hee …ould be hot when all the reſt were cold, and ſhall we be cold when many are …ot? He was righteous in the midſt of irreligion, we in the midſt of true religion are unrighteous. We have no interdictions of pietie; may be ſome ſnuffers to qualifie our zeale, and make it burne brighter; no extinguiſhers to put it out. It is …ot forbidden us to ſerve God with all our heat, with all our heart. If there be …ome laſie profeſſors, divert we our eyes from them to the gracious examples of …ighteouſneſſe. Complaine we of trouble? There is no age that alwaies ſuffered good men to live in quiet. As Saint Auguſtine ſaid of perſecution; Inventus eſt ignis, qui unum ditet, alterum damnificet, utrumque probet. Were we frighted with …he Spaniſh Inquiſition, wearied with the Turkiſh impoſition, ſomewhat might be pleaded for our remiſſeneſſe. But he is a bad ſwimmer that cannot move on with …he current. The Goſpell calls us, grace invites us, good examples helpe us, what …s now left to excuſe us, if we be not righteous?

Their unlawfull deeds.] Sinne is the object or matter of a Saints vexation. It …s the attribute which God gives himſelfe,rrExod. 34.14.Exod 34:14 Ego Deus zelotes, I am a Iealous God. Now when we aſcribe any humane affections to God, we muſt ſeparate them from …ll imperfections whatſoever. A man may be jelous not out of love, or without …uſt cauſe, God cannot be ſo. The ground of his Ielouſie is love, the cauſe of his …elouſie, our unfaithfulneſſe to him. We cannot be jelous of God, becauſe his love …s infinite, and we need feare no partners.ſſAct. 26.29.Acts 26:29 Paul wiſhed this happineſſe to all his hearers. Gods love hath roome enough, beyond all meaſure and comprehenſion, …or is it diminiſhed by being communicated. How many millions ſoever the Lord …oves, he loves thee and me never the leſſe. But mans love to God is ſo pent and narrow, and the bed of affection ſo little; that if we admit a partner, he hath cauſe to be jelous: anothers gaine is his loſſe. There is an obligation of love betweene the husband and the wife: when he conceives likely-hood of any breach, he growes jelous. Love is the ground, and ſuſpition the cauſe. If no love, no ſuſpition; if no ſuſpition, no jelouſie. This is mans torment and racke; nor can the ſtrongeſt barres encloſing her, eaſe his pangs. Knowledge is the only cure of Ielouſie: there is more miſerie in doubting her falſe, than in proving her ſo. The remedie of knowne evills is patience; but for doubted evills there is no phyſicke. This ſparke once kindled will never die, nor can time, that dull and tardy Phyſitian p. 668helpe it; nor can the ſtricteſt obſervance ſatisfie it. This is the Iealous mans miſery: he may prove his wife falſe, he can never prove her true. The anguiſh of th… affliction is more or leſſe according to his affection.

Thus hath the ſoule of man plighted her faith to God, and by vertue of th… contract, is called his Spouſe. If ſhe forſake his holy bed, and run after other l… vers, he growes jealous: not by way of ſuſpicion or doubt, becauſe he knows the heart and moſt ſecret motions: but becauſe his honour ſhall not be given … another. Thus he isttZach. 1.14.Zech 1:14 Iealous over Ieruſalem; and if ſhe proſtitute her betrothed love, he diſclaimes her foruuHoſ. 2.2.Hos 2:2 his wife: and when he quite gives her over, and ceaſeth to be an husband, thenxxEzek. 16.2.Ezek 16:2 he will no more be jealous, as a man divorceth himſelfe from a wanton wife, Cant. 8.6. As the primary nature of God is to be loving, ſo it is the nature of that love on juſt cauſe to be jealous, and the nature of that je… louſie to be cruell, cruell as the grave; if before the grave ſwallow us, repent…ce doe not help us. God is ſo jealous in the decalogue, that he wil not ſet any creature in the ſame table of the law with himſelfe. There ſhall ſtand neither father no… mother, King nor Caeſar, Saint nor Angell, in the ſame table with God. If w…e take our luſts into a reſolute competition with him,aaZeph. 1.18. Nah. 1.2.Zeph 1:18Nah 1:2 his jealouſie will burne l…e fire againſt us.

Now that which grieveth God, ſhould alſo vex us: this hath tried the zeale of the Saints.bbExod. 32.19.Exod 32:19 So was Moſes vexed: the idolatry of man made him breake the tables of God.cc1 Kin. 19.14.1 Kgs 19:14 So Elias; he durſt confront a King, and reprove an idolatro… kingdome. Samuel hewes Agag in peeces, Hezekiah rends his clothes at blaſphemy,dd1 Mac. 2.24.1 Macc 2:24 Mattathias ſacrifices the ſacrificer on his owne ſuperſtitious altar. It grieved Pauls heart at Athens, to ſee the towne ſo given to idolatry. Phineas w… heard at once of her father in lawes death, of her husbands with many others; ye… did not all this ſo afflict her as that the Arke was taken by infidels. It is of this alone ſhe ſpeakes dying:ee1 Sam. 4.22.1 Sam 4:22 The glory is departed from Iſrael, for the Arke of God … taken. We are no Lots, if not vexed with the worlds unlawfull deeds. All Iſrael ſaw the boldneſſe of Zimri, Num. 25.Num 25in bringing a whore ſo palpably to his Tent: but their hearts were ſo full of griefe, and their eyes of teares, for their bleeding brethren, that they had no roome for indignation. Phineas looked on too, but with other affections. Zimri ſeemed to him as one that defied the Lord, and flowted the peoples ſorrow: that while they were wringing their hands, and beating the…r breſts, he would be dallying with his miſtreſſe. His heart boiles with a deſire of holy revenge: his hand was uſed to a Cenſor, but now it ſhall mannage a Iavelin: and with one ſtroke he joynes thoſe two bodies in their death, which were joyned in their ſinne: and in the heate and height of their luſt, makes a new way for their ſoules to their owne place. As they were more beaſts than any that ever he ſacrificed, ſo their ſlaughter was the beſt ſacrifice that ever he offered. He doth not ſtand caſting of doubts, who am I to doe this? I am a Prieſt, my office is all for peace and mercy: it is for me to ſacrifice for the people, not to ſacrifice any of the people: my place is to appeaſe Gods anger againſt them, not to revenge Gods anger upon them: to deſire the converſion, not to worke the confuſion of a ſinner. Is not one a Prince in Iſrael, the other a Princeſſe of Midian, and c… the death of two ſuch perſons be ſo put up? Or if it be ſafe and fit, why doth my Vncle Moſes rather ſhed his owne teares, than their bloud? I will even be ſorry with the reſt, and let them revenge whom it concerneth. No, this holy fire of zeale hath quite conſumed all the droſſe of ſuch deliberation: he holds this execution to be both his duty and his glory. How doth God love this heate in all the carriages of his ſervants? and if it ever do tranſport them too far, yet he will rather pardon erring fervency, than luke-warme indifferency. And to ſhew that … pleaſed him, he preſently frees Iſrael from the plague, and entailes the Prieſthood to himſelfe and his poſterity for it.

But this holy diſpoſition is not to be found in many. Will you know wh… p. 669…? We thinke our ſelves wronged, and know not how to be revenged; this vex… us. If God doe not anſwer us with raine or faire weather, as we would have it; … vexeth us. The better eſtate of our neighbour, as if anothers preferment were … ruine: the croſſing of our unnaturall deſires, if we cannot have our owne wills: … interdiction of our luſts by a ſuperior Law: theſe things vexe us.Sen. Volunt homi… ita praeceptum eſſe ut vivunt, non ita vivere ut praeceptum eſt. Men would have the … according to their lives, not their lives according to the Law. If the Vſu… intereſt comes not in the ſame pace that his covetous heart prompts it; this …eth him. To be told that ſacriledge is a ſinne, that our contentions be carnall, … while we maintaine ſtrife with our brethren, we have no peace with God; … vexeth us. Private inconveniences take up our vexation, not Gods loſſe. But …ou will be angry without ſin, be angry at ſin; not with your brother, but with … and your owne faults. When you ſee Gods name diſhonoured, his ſervice pro…ed, his good Spirit reſiſted, and the Church or familie that is named in heaven … earth, wounded; let this vexe you. Be vexed at them that are vexed at God …ſelfe on every ſlight occaſion: that if their mouthes be not filled with laugh… and their bellies with delicates, are ready to breake forth into termes of un…ifulneſſe,ffMala. 3.14.Mal 3:14 What profit is there in ſerving of God? But let the zeale of Lot be a …le to kindle this dead age; ſo may this Text be as profitable, as it is conveni… for theſe times. If thoſe Angels were ſent againe to ſurvey the earth, what o…r newes or obſervation of their travell would they returne, but thatggZach. 1.11.Zech 1:11 all the …h ſetteth ſtill, and are at reſt: all are either cold or but luke-warme. Not only …ſe frozen in paganiſme out of the Churches pale: but even the moſt within the …opickes of Chriſtianitie have juſt ſo much and ſo little heate, as to thinke they …e enough and need no more. This end of the world being like the period of …vids life, ſo old, ſo cold, that no clothes were enough to keepe heate in him. …r ſpirituall ſtate and condition is like our countreys ſite and poſition, betweene … torrid and frigid zones, neither hot nor cold. If Lots example may but warne … and warme us, to bee enflamed with the love of GOD, and hatred of ſinne; …ere my labour ends, your comfort ſhall begin, and the fruit of both continue … ever.

In ſeeing and hearing.] The eye and eare are thoſe ſpeciall doores, that let in… 4the heart it's comfort or torment. We are not ſenſible either of the miſchiefes … pleaſures, which we neither heare nor ſee. Sodome might have continued ſinfull …thout Lots diſturbance, if their ſin had not beene expoſed to his ſight and ſenſe. …s ſoule had beene quiet enough within him, if ſuſpition had not begot miſtruſt, …r experience a manifeſt proofe of Gods diſhonour. His eyes and eares were …e unwilling witneſſes of their impietie, which he neither would ſee, nor yet …uld looke off. No man delights to looke upon ulcers, unleſſe animo medendi: …r to heare the barking of dogges, howling of Wolves, and ſchriechings of …wles; ſuch is the noiſe of oathes and blaſphemies; but Invito corde, with neceſſitie …d deteſtation. There are many things which a good eare would not heare; as …his ſervant curſing him: nor a good eye looke upon: Modò non videam, hhEccl. 7.21.Eccl 7:21ſaies Hagar of her child; let me not ſee the death of my ſonne. iiGen. 21.16.Gen 21:16As the blind Biſhop an…ered Iulian, taxing Chriſt of impotencie, that he could not open the eyes of his …vant; I am glad that I want eyes to ſee thee the monſter of men. Such was Lots … happineſſe, that he muſt ſee and heare their wickedneſſe. From this inſtrumen…l meanes of his vexation we may obſerve diverſe things.

The ſight of ſinne makes a man either ſad or guilty▪ if we ſee it, and be not 1…rowfull, we are ſinfull. If Lot had not now beene vexed at them, God had beene …exed at him: on ſuch a cauſe not to bee angry, had angred heaven. Ely heard … his ſonnes impietie doubtleſſe with griefe enough, but not with anger e…ough: therefore he is puniſhed with hearing of their deſtruction, that was too re…iſſe in hearing of their tranſgreſſion. It is unhappy to make anothers ſinne become p. 670our owne, by a fond indulgence: he that ſees evill without diſlike, do… … ſee it without fault. They are not true hearted that ſtand by without drawing … weapons,hhIudg. 5.23.Judg 5:23 againſt the notorious oppugner of holineſſe. ^k Meroz is curſed … Angell, becauſe they came not forth to helpe the Lord in the day of battaile. They … the armies, and heard the drummes of thoſe proud adverſaries, gave the lo… on, tooke part with neither: they fought not againſt God, yet becauſe they … fight for God, they are curſed.

Such are dough-bak'd chriſtians, too clammy for the ſtomach of … whom he hath borne long, yet but wamblingly. Shall we heare blaſphemie, … uncleanneſſe, and hold our peace? will the LORD digeſt us in ſuch a … while the fields and tap-houſes beguile the Temples; curſes are offered up … of prayers, vaine expences for almes; and we ſee this, are not our ſoules grie… while men pray as if they were a ſleepe, and heare Sermons as dead men doe… funeralls; it would make a man ſicke to ſee God thus worſhipped. But alas, … doe men rage at thoſe that find fault with others, or endevour to be good th… ſelves? Let a ſparkle of fervent devotion breake out in a familie, all the ne… bours are up in clamours; as when the bells ring diſorderly, every man is … with his bucket to quench the fire. Diſgraced they muſt be for Puritans, bu… … by Laodiceans. Indifferencie ſtrives to daſh zeale out of countenance. But … heare and ſee evill, and dare not reprove it, cannot amend it, yet let us grieve fo… … that we be not guilty of it.

2The moſt offenſive ſins are ſuch as be objected to ſight and hearing. The… a ſin that does only furere in orbe ſuo, is mad within doores, without admitt… … ny witneſſe but the inevitable ones, God and their own conſcience. But ſins th… … ſecret to man, we leave to him to whom all things are open: they be only … evills that vexe the righteous. When all Iſrael rings of the lewdneſſe of … ſons, it is high time for their father to begrieved. Spirituall and internall ſins … be majoris culpae, corporall and outward be majoris infamiae. Take an inſta… while God was angry, all Iſraell grieved, the heads hanged, the people plag…d▪ a Prince dares brave GOD and them all in that ſinne, which hee ſaw ſo g… ouſly puniſhed before his eyes. Here was fornication, a nodious crime; and … of an Iſraelite, whoſe name imports holineſſe: and that of a vertuous Pr…e… whoſe actions are ſo many rules to others: and that with a Midianite woma…, … whom it had beene unlawfull for him to marry; this in the face of Moſes … verning, of all Iſrael mourning; even while they were yet bleeding and weeping … the ſame offence; how monſtrous was this impudence? But becauſe he … Prince, he thought he might ſin by priviledge; who dares controll me? … nobleneſſe ſets him above the reach of Iuſtice: it is eaſie for the greatneſſe of … thoritie, to beare out the ſmaleneſſe of pietie. Commonly the ſinners of the m… ty are mighty ſins; therfore their deſtruction is made anſwerable to their preſ… ption; and their vengeance ſo much the greater as was their conceit of imp….

In this example we read the ſins of the world; blaſphemie is audible, d… kenneſſe viſible, oppreſſion ſenſible: we heare them, ſee them, feele them: th… … no gall of zeale in our ſoules if we be not vexed. How can we not be aſhamed … them, that are not aſhamed of themſelves? A wicked man thinkes he may live … of danger of the Law, if either he have a great man to his friend, or have … great man to his enemie. Pride would be out of requeſt at home, if notice … not taken of it aboad. While ſin hides it ſelfe in corners, there is ſome hope: … there be ſhame, there is poſſibilitie of grace. But when it dares once look upo… the Sunne, ſend chalenges to authoritie, defie heaven and earth; the ulcer is deſperate, the member fitter to be cut off than lanced.

3He did not ſee and not ſee, heare and not heare. Connivence at ranke imp…e is bad in all men, intolerable in ſome: ſuch are the Miniſters of either Goſpell … Iuſtice. For Preachers, if they winke, the Wolfe may prey on the Lambe p. 671cold Preachers make bold ſinners. But we have cauſe to tremble when we conſi…er, that God will in ſome ſort reckon with us for the religion of our people. Let …ere be fire in our lips to conſume the droſſe of vices that are fallen into the ſinke …f our times. When the whole Citie is ſecure,Ezek. 9.Ezek 9 it is our parts to mourne for …eir abominations. The evils, the devils of theſe dayes will not out but by …equent preaching, and fervent praying. Shall wee bee mutes in the midſt … ſo many raging conſonants? not as lowd for God, as they for Baal, for An…chriſt? We ſee wickedneſſe, we heare it: O let us pray it downe, let us peach it …wne, out-face it, out-live it. Let us be within and without Preachers: the …eights of the Sanctuary by the law, were to be double to thoſe of common uſe. …lior ſanctus idiota, quàm doctus nebulo. How gracious be their feete, Aug.not only their …s that bring the Goſpell! Becauſe their feet muſt walke in the way which they …eſcribe. It is good life that muſt accompany doctrine, as lightning doth thun…r. Fire in the preaching does well, but water in the Preacher to quench it by …ample does ill. Infirmities are in all, but ranke and reſolute ſinnes become not …oſe that finde fault with the like in others. In all reſpects, and by all meanes, let … make it appeare, that Gods glory is our onelyonly ſcope; therefore we dare not …t rebuke ſinne, as men preferring the winning of ſoules before the winning of …e world.

Connivence is yet worſe in Magiſtrates: we can but reprove it, they muſt …orrect it; and open wickedneſſe is too ſtubborne to be chidden out of counte…nce; it is well, if ſharpe whipping can reforme it. No ſcarlet robe ſo well be…mes a magiſtrate, as one made of zeale. Bee wiſe yee Iudges, yea alſo, be juſt ye …dges: ſome are ſo wiſe that they dare not be juſt; nor puniſh leſſe offenders, for …e leſt great offenders ſhould puniſh them. I know there is a wiſdome requi…d to diſtinguiſh of offences; and true Chriſtianity takes no delight in bloud. If Magiſtrates were onelyonly to kill, the divell might have beene put in ſole Commiſſi…er. It is a breach of Iuſtice not to proportion the puniſhment to the crime: for …eft, rapine, adultery, ſacriledge, to ſay no more withll1 Sam. 2.23.1 Sam 2:23 Eli, but why doe yee ſo? …his is true connivence; to ſhave the head that deſerves cutting off. A weake …argation doth but ſtirre the proud and tough humours, and anger them, not drive …em out. To whip one for murther, or to burne treaſon in the hand, or to lay pecuniary mulct upon Inceſt; is in effect to patronize evill, not to puniſh it. Bare proofes doe but encourage wickedneſſe, and make it thinke it ſelfe as eaſie as is …e cenſure. Like vehement ſhowers to a ripe field, which onelyonly lay the corne …t is ready and worthy of a ſickle.

mmExod. 32.27.Exod 32:27Moſes did put the Idolaters to the ſword: it was his mercy that made him …s cruell: all Iſrael might have curſed him if ſome had not ſmarted by him. Do …t our Magiſtrates heare and ſee idolatry, blaſphemy, ſacriledge, profanation … Sabbaths? are there not lawes for caſtigation? why then be theſe impieties …ffered in the face of heaven? Doth not want of execution make all lawes like …eat bels without clappers? The Magiſtrates ſword ſhould not be like a childs …gger rivetted in the ſheath: a ſword, ſaith Paul, not borne in vaine. When they …niſh malefactors, they are ſaid tonnExod. 32.29.Exod 32:29 Conſecrate their hands to God. The judges …untenance ſhould beooProv. 25.23.Prov 25:23 Like a Northerne wind, to diſpell the fogs of ſinne. The …ngs of the earth are chargedppRev. 18.6.Rev 18:6 to render double to the bloudy ſtrumpet of Rome: …hy then doe her Locuſts encreaſe and multiply? God grant our too much pit… never undoe our ſelves. There are two ſpeciall cauſes of this connivence in ſub…dinate magiſtates; cowardice and covetouſneſſe.

Cowardice and timorouſneſſe is a quality too baſe for eminence.qqNeh. 6.11.Neh 6:11 Should …h a man as I flee? Saith Nehemiah. It is the want of courage that betrayes the …th; while men are more carefull of their owne quiet, than of Gods glory. So…ons Throne had carved Lions; not Foxes, Apes, nor Wolves: no toyiſh, petu…, deceitfull or ravenous things; but majeſtick Lions: no daſtard feare is admitted p. 672to that ſeate. Magiſtrates have iron Gantlets, and need not feare children blowes. Moſes ſeeing the ſin commands them to puniſh one another, and they doe it: None replies; he is but one, we are many: we may more eaſily deſtroy him, than he can deſtroy our God. Aaron durſt not reſiſt us in making it, and ſh… he withſtand our keeping it? Not ſo, God hath ſet ſuch gracious characters of majeſtie in the brow of authority, that guiltineſſe dares not looke it in the face. They ſtoope to the baſeſt and bloudieſt revenge he ſhould impoſe. Sin is ſo co… ſcious of it ſelfe, that when it is brought forth to triall, paleneſſe and feare … betray the guilt, and it will rather ſeeke a hole, than a hold or fort. If the… horſe in a teame be ſhie, the Carter fenceth his eyes on both ſides, that he …y leade the way fore-right without ſtarting. Let the Magiſtrate rectifie his loo…, and onelyonly bend them directly upon Iuſtice: a ſquint eye, caſt upon perſons, ill … comes him. Let him looke no ſide-way, neither to the left hand for feare, … to the right hand for favour.

Covetouſneſſe is a vice, which makes a man of place tranſgreſſe for a me… of bread.rrExod. 23.8.Exod 23:8 It blindes the eyes of the wiſe, much more of the fooliſh: of the rig… ous, much more of the covetous. When a malefactor ſhall give him ſo … gold for a Say, you ſaw me not; then as if he had the Iewes curſe upon him:ſſMat. 13.14.Matt 13:14 … ring he will not heare, & ſeeing he will not perceive. ttProv. 17.8.Prov 17:8A gift is as a precious ſtone, … therſoever it turneth, it proſpereth. A proſperous ſtone, as if he meant the Ph…l… ſophers ſtone, ſo much in queſt and requeſt; a charme more powerfull that witches night-ſpell. The building of great houſes keeping great houſes, or ra… leaving great Houſes, and matching with great Houſes, are too frequent occaſ… of unjuſtice. When a ſmall office ſhall ſwell up a great eſtate, the world … needs ſwell bribery in it. The ambition to advance their owne houſe, blowes … their zeale to Gods houſe.uuIob 29.14.Job 29:14 Iob compares Iuſtice to a Cloake or Robe: a Cloake is; but the Cloake that hangs, like our Gallants, on one ſhoulder is quickly blo…e… off: a Robe it may be, but a looſe one, ſome night-gowne, that is ſoone pu… of. Many ſay, they diſcharge a good conſcience, and ſo they doe in ſome ſenſe, they diſcharge it quite away. Iuſtice is called a Girdle, to girt all other vertues: but it them take heed leſt it ſag and bend to the ſide where the purſe hangeth.

4 Sodomes ſin was ſo much the more hainous to God, for offending …, and vexing the heart of his ſervant Lot. Iniquity then exceeds it ſelfe whe… growes ſcandalous. Woe unto the world becauſe of offences: when it is not eno…g… for men to be bad themſelves, but to raile at the good. If there be one in a co… pany that abhors impious language, they will blaſpheme on purpoſe to vex h….xxM…t. 18.6. They had better have ſunke into the Ocean, bound to a Mill-ſtone. They … their tongues like raſors, not onelyonly to ſhave a man, but to cut his throate; but … Lord ſhall cut them out. Thus Popelings hiſſe like ſerpents at their mother; … like Shimei, not only by word of mouth, but in their railing and lying Pamphle… ▪ Many a good man may ſay.aaPſal. 69.12.Ps 69:12 I became the ſong of the drunkards. Aske the d…i… ing-ſchooles, if no ſuch doctrine of hell be heard there. While we play … Davids harpe to eaſe their griefes, they caſt their Speares and Iavelins to wou… us.bbEph. 4.31.Eph 4:31 What Paul bids Put from them, they delightfully call to them. Serpents … onelyonly deafe to our charming, but turne their tailes to ſting us.

Nor let the great ones, whoſe authority ſhould puniſh theſe abuſes, t…e to ſcape: there be often paſquils to caſt aſperſions on their noble names. When as honour is a curious parcell, guilt, laid on with Gods owne finger, whic… … lewd tongue may ſcandalouſly licke off. For us, our contempt is not enough, … leſſe it be chanted in rime. It is Ioſephs party-colour'd coate, compoſed of all li…c…s of graces and bleſſings, that procures their hatred. Such is the worlds deſpe… policy, to vex them whom God hath bleſſed. But the Lord takes them into h… ſpeciall tuition; and if any ſhall hurt hisccRev. 11 5.Rev 11:5 faithfull witneſſes, there goes a … their mouthes to devoure their enemies.ddPſal. 143 12.Ps 143:12 Deſtroy all them that afflict my ſoule, … p. 673David: not that he would have it ſo, but becauſe he knew it muſt be ſo. A man … better anger all the witches in the world, than one of the Saints: for God of… forbeares offences againſt his own Majeſtie, when he plagueth offences againſt … little ones.

He that would not be vexed with evills, let him turne his eyes and eares an…er 5way: be not fond to be grieved; no man is bound to ſeeke his owne vexati… Therefore Nunc te melioribus offer; let us frequent their company, where in …g and hearing we may reape comfort. But how ſhall we know them? They …e not ſuch markes, as Du Bartas deſcribes Cain's ſuppoſed horſe: and he may …eive others, that cannot but deceive himſelfe: yet the wiſe heart may diſcerne …m. By the innocencie of their actions, ſobrietie of their ſpeeches, diſeſteeming …e, coldneſſe after pleaſures, ardor in Gods cauſe; you may diſtinguiſh them; …y ſparkes riſing from a heape of embers, you may know there is fire within. … did the Saints leave ſuch repining tumults; and reſort to places of ſanctitie … benediction. If we fall, here be they that ſhall raiſe us: if we ſtand, that ſhall con…ne us: if we complaine that ſhall comfort us. Sorrowes divided among many, … borne more eaſily: many ſmall brookes meeting and concurring in one cha…, will carry great veſſels. By their reproofes we ſhall know our ſelves: we … blinde in our owne imperfections, therfore we borow the eyes of our friends, …ing them ours; ſo we mutually direct and correct one another.

There are two helpes to goodneſſe; the praiſes of an enemie, and the repre…ſions of a friend. He that ſhall take from friendſhip the libertie of a modeſt … roofe, leaves nothing to diſtinguiſh it from flatterie. To ſee men in troupes …he Courts of God; to heare the melodious harmony of his praiſes, the vol… … of invocations ſent up to his glorious Name, to behold the charitable contri…ions to the poore, the holy emulations to exceed in good workes; all like bees …ouring to bring honey to the hive of the Church where wrongs are pardoned, …d men encouraged, the Goſpell honoured, and the will of God obeyed: O …e is an object worth our ſeeing and hearing, which in ſtead of vexing, ſhall de…t our righteous ſoules: lifting up our deſires to heaven, where all good workes … done with perfection: where we ſhall ſee and heare what we ſhall never bee …ry of ſeeing and hearing: ſee the glory of God, heare the melodie of Angels, … joy of all Saints, and be both raviſhed in the pleaſure, and confirmed in the e… take ternitie of them.

To conclude; we that have grieved others, let us now be grieved for it our …es. It was an impotent and childiſh paſſion in Honorius, to be more grieved for …ltry hen, than for his Imperiall Citie. Yet if wee can more lamen the de…ture of a friend into bliſſe, than the departure of CHRIST from our owne …es: and be more heartily troubled with a convulſion of body, than with diſ…eſting our conſcience: if every trifling inconvenience of our owne have pow… …o racke us, when the diſhonour of God cannot move us; wonder we no more …onorius. We may howle for corne and wine, but in vaine:Hoſ. 7.14.Hos 7:14 our true teares and ſobs …uld be for our ſinnes. We are yet in the day, yet in the way: let us husband …ht this bleſſed opportunitie, the only certaine houre of our viſitation. O let …ot play out the candle, and goe to bed darkling: nor conſume our lives in folly … goe to the grave in ignorance: like boyes that ſlubber out their books before … have learned their leſſons. That ſudden converſion of one at the laſt, was never …nded in Gods purpoſe for our temptation. If every man ſhould run on in ſin, …e meet unexpected merciemercy, becauſe one in ſin obtained merciemercy: then every man …ght as well ſpur his beaſt till it ſpeake, becauſe Balaams beaſt did once ſpeake.

Could we be ſure that God would call us at the laſt, yet how unſweet were … ſacrifice, the bran and dregs of our dotage; the wine and flowre being con…ed in folly? whereas the good man is the older the better, as CHRIST kept … good wine till the laſt. If we repent when we cannot ſinne, all is neceſſary: p. 674they leave us, we leave not them, nothing is here voluntary. What q…y i… … lay the heavieſt burden on the weakeſt beaſt: to force old age, too weake to b…a…e it ſelfe, to carry the load of our repentance? When that ſtrong man is gro…e… ſtronger by preſcription, our tabernacle rotten by corruption, when … hath turned vice into nature, and ſin is ſoaked into ſubſtance, our bones being … of the faults of our youth; we would then repent; we would if we could. … as he that never went to ſchoole, will hardly when he is put to it, read his N… verſe: ſo he that never learned the doctrine of repentance in his life, will find it … ry hard, if not impoſſible, at his death. Wine at firſt drawing is quicke and l…ely; when it runs low, it growes dead. Let us give God our youth, that is l…elyhood, and pleaſing to him: not when our life runs on the tilt, the lees and … of old age. Heaven is not unlike Ahaſuerus Court, no mourners are ſuffered thee all joyfull gueſts in their wedding garments: we muſt either mourne on earth, … mourne in hell. Thus we that have vexed the Spirit of God, and the eyes … eares of others by our ſins: let us now pleaſe the Spirit of God by our repen…an… and rejoyce the eyes and eares of others by our amendment. Wretc…ed … we deferre our rep…ntance, wretched if we repent not our deferring. Let us … pent as ſoone as we can, yea and repent for this, that we have repented no ſoo…. In a word, howſoever in indifferent things, it be held ſafe to heare and ſee, … ſay nothing; yet in groſſe and ſcandalous evills let us not be ſilent; ſo if we c… mend others, yet with Lot we ſhall ſave our own ſoules in the great day of Ch….

Vexed his righteous ſoule.] I come from the kindlers to the fire it ſelfe. Ze… is a fervencie of ſpirit, ariſing from a mixture of love and anger, ſay ſome. It … not a ſingle affection; that were to confine it, rather than define it: there are … affections excerciſed in it than love. Nor yet is it a mixt affection; that were r… ther to compound it, than comprehend it. It is not one affection, nor many, … a fervent heare of all: as varniſh is no one colour, but that which poliſheth all … makes a man to love what he loves, exceſſively: to deſire what he deſires, paſſ… nately: to hate what he hates, deadly: his ſorrowes be not remiſſe, but bitter … racking: his joyes not tranſient and overly, but raviſhing: when he hopes, his eyes are dimme with waiting: when he feares, all his bones feele a trembling a…d ſhivering. To be cold or luke-warme is not an affection, but a conſtitution … zeale is no nature, but a temper; a ſpirituall heat wrought by the Holy Ghoſt improving all ſanctified affections for the glory of God. As the ſpirits are to the body, and wine to the ſpirits, and quickeneſſe to the wine, ſo is zeale to the …, making it vigorous and ſtrenuous in Gods ſervice,…. like a Gyant refreſhed … Faith and zeale are the ſoules two wings, whereby ſhe is made reſembling the Angels: who are armed with wings, and called a flame of fire, for their burning a…d flying execution of Gods heſts. It is zeale that helpe us to doe what we pray; … will of God in earth as it is done in heaven. This zeale is axis & cardo, the … bloud that runs in every veine of the Text: a burning fire in the heart of Lot … gives him mettle to conteſt with Gods enemies; and becauſe he cannot … them, he vexeth his owne ſoule. His example teacheth us three obſervations … zeale; that it doth prove our righteouſneſſe, improve our righteouſneſſe, and honour our righteouſneſſes.

1It is the argument of a righteous man, to be farre from cooleneſſe in his makers ſervice.… Whatſoever thy hand findeth to doe, doe it with all thy might. D… this become us in other things, and miſ-become us in the worſhip of God? S… a man eagerly follow his luſts, and not be violent for the kingdome of heaven … The ſlothfull haſtens his own beggerie in temporall things, much leſſe ſhall he … rich in the graces of Chriſt. He hath but a meane skill in the moſt excellent art is never admired: a man had never better poetiſe, than only rime; never paint, … doe no more but daube: as good no religion, as coldneſſe in the beſt religi… ▪ Shall we, like thoſe Iewiſh elders for the Centurion, be inſtant for a friend, … p. 675cold for our heavenly father? He is worthy of infinite more love than we are a…le to give: all our brookes and ſprings of affection ought to run into this maine; …ot one ſmall chanell bee ſuffered another way. Let all reflect upon him, and …othing bee reſpected out of him, of whom, for whom, and through whom, are all …hings.

How unbrookable is dulneſſe in any worke to a man of ſpirit? A heavy and …lt-leſſe oration is inſufferable to a quicke hearer. We ſingle out the forwardeſt Deere in the herd, chuſe the livelieſt colt in the drove; and thinke we the back…ardeſt man fit enough for God? will he that is all Spirit, be pleaſed with a lea…en and drouſie ſervice? He bids the giver, give cheerefully: the doer, doe …uickly. He forbad the Iſraelites to offer theffExod. 34.20.Exod 34:20 firſtling of an Aſſe: why ſo? …oth God hate the Aſſe? No, but for the qualitie of the creature; it being the …ieroglyphicke of ſlowneſſe: to ſhew that God cannot abide tarditie in his buſi…eſſe. It is lazie to goe, we are bid to run the way of his Commandements. As …iles to the ſhip, and winde to the ſailes, ſo is fervencie to righteouſneſſe. A ſouldi… without courage, a horſe without mettle, a creature without vivacitie, ſuch is a …hriſtian without fervencie.

It doth alſo improve righteouſneſſe; like the fire which came downe from 2…eaven upon the ſacrifices, cauſing the ſacrifices to aſcend thither in acceptation. …ighteouſneſſes hath no grace, but this fervencie makes it more gracious. Repen…nce is one primary grace; yet if a mans ſorrow be not fervent, it is like a hot …mmer-ſhower, that makes the ſtreetes ſtinke after it. Faith is a fundamentall …race, ſhould overcome the world; it will prove but a coward without fervencie. …ope, the waiting-maid of Glory, will ſoone fall a ſleepe, if zeale keepe not her …yes open. Love without fervencie is cold and dull, and as it were enforced; and …on extorquebis amare. Reliefe of the poore is left-handed without this; no re…ard belongs to it.ggIam. 5.16.Jas 5:16 It is onelyonly fervent prayer that prevaileth. Iſrael had ne…er wraſtled, or wraſtling, not prevailed with God, but by fervencie. It was no …erfunctory devotion in Moſes, that cauſed the Lord to anſwere, Let me alone. No vapours aſcend up from the Still, unleſſe there be fire under it: nor prayers …each heaven without the heat of zeale. Fluminall baptiſme is but a cold proofe …f a mans Chriſtendome, except this flaminallhhMatth. 3.11.Matt 3:11 baptiſme of fire and zeale ap…rove it. The worſhip of God without this, is like meate dreſſed by an uncleanly …ooke; it will not downe with him. Let a table be furniſh'd with the choiſeſt …ands the ſeaſon affords; if they bee boiled or roſted to the halves, or ſtand on …e boord till they be luke-warme; the gueſts will not be pleaſed with their cheare.

Fervencie is that marke which God would have us ſet on all his ſervices, that … they may be diſcerned to be his own: as the name of a famous Tradeſman doth …ll his commoditie, ſo the marke of zeale crownes all our workes. If the colour …e pale, the motion inſenſible, and the pulſe leave beating, we give a man for dead: …e moving of theſe argue life. They whoſe actions want heat and colour, that …ive unwillingly, that doe Iuſtice conſtrainedly; appeare dead. It is fervencie that …akes a difference of actions▪ we have all alike precious faith, the ſeeds of all gra…es are in every convert: the inequalitie is in the degrees, the degrees are ſeene in …e fervencie. This makes men differ in grace, as ſtars doe in glory, or as humane …en in bloud and dignitie.

It honours righteouſneſſe: many thouſands have beene righteous, whoſe 3…mes are not on record: but of thoſe that have beene zealous in their pietie, the …cripture takes ſpeciall notice. Our Apoſtle having ſpent one whole verſe upon …e commendation of Lots fervencie, in vexing himſelfe for their ſins, is not ſo con…nt; but exegetically preſſeth it further, exemplifies it in particulars; ſhewing …hat a righteous man is better than his neighbour. The righteous are the beſt of the …orld, the fervent are the beſt of the righteous. It is true of zeale, as of fire; the …ture of it is to multiply, as one coale kindles a whole heape, and one torch lights p. 676many.ii2 King. 2.12.2 Kgs 2:12 Eliſha calls Elias, The Horſe-men and Chariots of Iſrael: in the plurall number, to ſhew that he was Inſtar multorum, one man worth a thouſand: doing Go… more ſervice than a Ieſuite doth the Pope, or a make-bate the devill. It is not … likely that Davids zeale made him ſtiled, A man after Gods heart.

But doe we thus honour our righteouſneſſe, that God ſhould honour us? If … the ſame time come ſeverall newes; one, ſome loſſe of our owne eſtates; the other, of ſome apoſtated Chriſtians: which doth now moſt vexe us? We hea…e … once Gods Name blaſphemed, our owne name traduced: which moſt ſtirres us? We perceive trade decaying in England, the religious Profeſſors of the Goſpel… bleeding in France and Germany by the ſword of a cruell enemy; which of theſe goes neereſt to our hearts? When ſome unruly yonkers were ſporting in the field on the Sabbath day; a Churle fretted and ſtormed at it; an honeſt neighbo… did alſo diſlike it, that they ſo little regarded the Sabbath: tut, quoth the other, what tell you me of the Sabbath? It vexeth me, that they have ſpoiled my come. In carnall things we are very ſenſible; in ſpirituall, without feeling. Men ca…y ſwords, and ſtand on tearmes of reputation, on the leaſt croſſe word they a… ready to cut one anothers throat; confeſſing their lives to be little worth, not ſo much as a word. Let God be diſhonoured a thouſand waies, they are as ſ…p… as the ſtones they walke on: if they take any part, it is againſt their Maker. Be the honour of their owne houſe queſtioned, their weapons flie like lightening: let Gods Houſe be pulled downe to the ground, all their helpe is, to carry away the timber and the ſtones. They heate the fornace ſeven times hotter in their owne cauſe, than they doe in Gods cauſe.

But will the Lord multiply his favours upon ſuch? Husbandmen caſt the… ſeed on the fruitfulleſt ground, which will returne them the beſt harveſt: and God his graces on ſuch as will improve them. When Iudgement covers the ear…h who ſhall then be delivered but the zealous Lots? God will preſerve them▪ as men doe their plate, while they let the baſer ſtuffe burne. For their ferve… in goodneſſe was Enoch tranſlated, and Elias advanced in a triumphant cha… …o heaven. How ever all Beleevers have their places in bleſſedneſſe, yet he th… rewards all according to their workes, obſerves that congruity in crowning …s owne graces; that the moſt zealous in this world, ſhall be the moſt glori…s … the World to come.

Vexed his ſoule.] As this was no common fervency, ſo no counterfeit: he l… tle diſſembles whoſe ſoule is moved. Zeale, like the King of Iſrael, hath ma…y ſhadowes, therefore we muſt diſtinguiſh it from all ſemblances. There be fa… fires, which while they uſurpe the honour of it, rather bring an ill name upon it. How common a thing is it to wound all holineſſe under the name of Purita…; whereof convinced, they thinke to make amends with, Crie you mercy, I me… the hypocrite: as the ruffian ſtrikes a man firſt, and then excuſes it, that he m… tooke him. B…ſides, it cannot be denied, but ſome have taken on them this order, greater than the Knights of Malta, or of Saint Iohn of Ieruſalem; that have d… graced it by an unworthy deportment of themſelves. And ſome, after it hath ſerved their turnes, leave it: as the doore when it hath beene oiled, leaves the creaking. For their ſakes, the name of goodneſſe is blaſphemed all the day long, … ill report and ſuſpition raiſed upon them that ſerve God in truth: ſo for the deceivers fault, the true man is beaten. There is in the body the native and radicall …, a principall Inſtrument of life: and there be often anguiſh and diſtempered …e…s that cauſe ſickneſſe and death.

There be ſome that vexe themſelves out of envy: Lot did not ſo. The Poets faine this affection,1 Cor. 3.3. Act. 5.17. G…l. 5.…0. Iam. 3.14. 1 Cor. 13.4. Rom. 13.13.1 Cor 3:3Acts 5:17Jas 3:141 Cor 13:4Rom 13:13 ex Styge & Pallante natum eſſe: they meant inſpired into me… by Satan, and thoſe envious devils. This is a blacke Zeale, reckoned among the workes of the fleſh. Theſe are not pure tapers, ſhining cleere, and giving light: but briniſh and ill made candles, that ſparkle and ſpet at others. Lot vexed himſelfe, p. 677becauſe he ſaw men bad; theſe, becauſe men are good: not that Gods Law …s broken, but becauſe others keepe it better than themſelves. It is the curſed zeale …f theſe men, to maligne the good zeale of all men.

There be that vexe themſelves out of choler; robuſtious men, tranſported with intemperate paſſions. We doe not read that Lot was cruell and turbulent, …exing others: but he vexed himſelfe. Severitie ſhould never be but by cumpulſion, and then not without compaſſion. Chriſtianity abhorres cruelty, and rather wiſheth with that happy Queene, that it knew not how to write a ſentence of con…emnation. It is for the malignant Church to ſatiate her ſelfe with gore: nothing …ut fire and fagot, is the voice of Rome. This is a wolviſh fervency, to feed on …o dyet, but the warme bloud of the Lambes. Poore Sheepe are the ſubject of …heir tyrannie: to the Lyon they are as ſubmiſſe and fawning as dogges: over the …eſt they rage and dominere, like the Sea in a ſtorme. Whereas the thunder ſpares …he yielding purſe, and melts the reſiſting metall: deſcends not to the low cotta…es, but ſtrikes the towring pinnacles. The ſonnes of thunder dare checke the …igheſt and greateſt; as Iohn did Herod, and Ionas Niniveh. But theſe, like buſtards …n a fallow field, cannot raiſe themſelves, ſine vi turbinis, without a whirlewind. …nd then like ſquibs in a throng, they fly out on all ſides. This turbulent fervour … bred of two cauſes: the defect of love and humility, the exceſſe of paſſion and …mperiouſneſſe. As Spirits, that being once conjured up, ſcorne to k…epe with…n their owne circles. A wild-fire, no harth can hold it; it is mettle in a head…trong horſe; and runs like the weights of a clocke when the ſpring is broken.

There be that vexe themſelves without cauſe, and ſtrike an Iſraelite inſtead of … Sodomite, their friends for their enemies. A contentious zeale; Sheba blowes … trumpet, and ſuddenly they are up in armes. Alas! againſt whom doe you fight, ye ſonnes of debate? Brethren againſt their owne mothers children? You …re brethren, wrong not one another in the ſight of your Father, in the armes of your Mother. What way is this, but to advance the name of Mahomet in the Temples of IESUS? But to come neerer home; how hath Anti-chriſt got ground …y our diſſentions? The unnaturall coldneſſe of ſome, and the preternaturall heat of others, hath ſet us together by the eares about trifles; while the common enemi… breakes in: and we have poured thoſe vials of indignation one upon another, which ſhould all be ſpent upon the ſeat of the Beaſt. While the Devill can buſie men about ceremonies and circumſtances, he hopes they will let him alone about …he principall, which is faith and manners. Alas! they are not Tanti, not worth our vexation; we have made him too much ſport already. How doth Saint Paul …eat downe their weapons! Rom. 14.4.10. Let our zeale come in to part, not to partake the fray: all endevouring and praying, that peace may bee within the gates of Sion.

There be that vexe themſelves out of hypocriſie; they have other ends than Gods glory. Oſtentation leads them more than conſcience: they will offer violence to nature, wring out a ſhew of fervencie; but all is on the ſtage. When ſuch a furious Orlando hath done his part, he is quite another man. Theſe be hi…trionicall profeſſors, that bounce at the gate as if they would breake downe the houſe; more violent than a Ieſuite in the pulpit. There is nothing more liable to ſuſpicion, than a fantaſtick affectation of zeale. A horſe-courſers jade will bound, curvet, and ſhew more trickes, than a horſe of good mettle. Come, 2 King 10.16.2 Kgs 10:16ſee my zeale for the Lord, ſayes Iehu: his word was, for the Lord; but his project was for the kingdome. It is not a little art, to hide Art: let me tell them that love to be marked for the religious, by the white of their eyes, audible ſighes, unfaſhionable garments, (as if this were,Rom. 12.2.Rom 12:2 not to faſhion themſelves to the world) by conſpicuous places in the Church, and ruffling their leaves for proofes: that the beſt zeale is to hide zeale. The Preacher in the pulpit, or the painter in the windowes, muſt proclaime their benevolences: this is farre from Chriſts rule. Comets make a greater p. 678blaze then fixed ſtarres: reed, than ſubſtantiall fewell. A Fever breeds fluſ…i…gs and is more ſeene in the face, than naturall warmth at the heart.

There be that vexe themſelves out of ignorance, for there is a zeale not according to knowledge. Thus a devout Papiſt vexeth himſelfe, that his adored Idols ſhould be held as puppets, and that the Popes Supremacie is curbed. The Separatiſt vexeth himſelfe, that all reformed Churches receive not his Innovation; that his Sect-maſter ſhould not be ſet at the ſterne to guide the whole veſſell. Blind they are, and led by the blind; whoſe errors they firſt imitate, then inheri…e. Out of this ignorance, Satan hammers them like ſwords and piſtols, to raiſe tragedies; till they become, like the Turkes Ianiſaries, his beſt ſouldiers. Here is a pitieable fervencie, like mettle in a blind horſe, or a ſting in an angry bee. If the… eyes were opened, and their zeale directed, they might be ſpeciall Inſtruments of Gods glory. The Stoickes would pull out the gall and bowells, as if they had to uſe to ſerve vertue. Not ſo, they are bad maſters, but good ſervants. Let anger remaine ſtill, but ſtand in awe of reaſon: as a ſouldier, that at the command of …s Captaine takes up, and laies downe his weapons. There are three affections … the ſoule, like three mineralls in the earth, Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury. Wit is like ſalt, Sales ingenii: anger like ſulphur: affabilitie like Mercurie. Theſe w… tempered and allayed, are neceſſary and helpfull, otherwiſe noxious. If wit wh… it ſelfe to juſtifie miſchiefe; if anger be not qualified by reaſon; if affabilitie tu…ne to flatterie; if all be not directed by knowledge, they runne to danger. Wh… the ſhip is under ſaile, with a faire way, and a fore-wind, then looke to the ſ… age, keepe the watch, have an eye to the compaſſe and land-markes. The A… gels are ſaid to have eyes to guide their way, as well as wings to maintaine their flight. Turne Pauls zeale to the right and he did not ſo much hurt before, as now he will doe good.

Thus true Chriſtian fervencie hath diverſe counterfeits, which brings ho… zeale into ſuſpition with the world. But ſhall men taxe all the Apoſtles, beca… of one Iudas? or admit no fire into their houſes, becauſe ſome ſparkes are … ruly, and will not keepe their owne harths? The very name of a counterfeit preſuppoſeth an originall: he that heares of a falſe CHRIST, takes it granted … there is a true. Slip-coine warrants us that there is of that ſtampe current money. The beſt drugs have their adulterates: and let not men that have beene deceived by baſe colours, deſpiſe thoſe that be dyed in graine. This we may ſafely co… clude, that that vertue which even hypocrites put on to grace them, is qu…ſ…io… leſſe ſome rare and admirable thing. The true Lot, whoſe fervencie is in the Spirit, not in ſhew: in ſubſtance, not in circumſtance: for God, not for himſelfe: guided by the word, not by humour: tempered with charitie, not driven with turbulencie: ſuch a mans praiſe is of God, though it be not of men: and through al… contempts on earth, it ſhall find a glorious reward in heaven. But as Saint Pau… …aid of his countrey-men,Rom. 14.10.Rom 14:10 I beare them record, that they have a zeale of God, but not … cording to knowledge. So I muſt invert it of my Countrey-men, I beare them record, that they have a knowledge of God, but not according to zeale. Now the Lord rectifie our zeale by our knowledge, and heate our knowledge by our zeale; that every man of a Philemon may be made a Zelotes; of a faithfull ſervant on earth a glorious Saint in heaven.

That righteous man.] This is the ſingularitie of his zeale. One Lot will be righteous amongſt and againſt all Sodome; and expreſſe this righteouſneſſe in the midſt of their vicious cuſtomes. It hath beene the Lot of fervent holineſſe to be rare, as to be excellent: adherents may hearten, oppoſites muſt not daſh zeale out of countenance. It is the common Remora to all forwardneſſe of profeſſion, the ſmall number of ſuch: why ſhould I attempt more than others? Few indeed there be that ſtand with all their might for religion, and few there be that ſhall be ſaved. He is unworthy of heaven, that will not live well without company, not p. 679doe good but by example, nor move a ſtep before his neighbours. Cowards ſtand ſtill looking who ſhould goe firſt: and they are meere Iades that will not goe except the way be led them. He was a brave and bold Iſraelite, that firſt did ſet his foote into the chanell of the ſea, leading the reſt all along that moiſt and uncouth walke: he a ſouldier of courage, that firſt mounts the breach. Yea, reſolute ſpirits will caſt lots for the on-ſet, and ſhew willingneſſe to deſperate ſervices.

The feare of trouble is a poore hindrance to godlineſſe, where faith lookes unto the preſerver, and reward.Rev. 14.….Rev 14 The fearefull ſtand in the fore-ranke of them that are caſt into the lake: they have beene moſt backward to goodneſſe, therfore ſhall be formoſt in vengeance. The timorous ſnaile puts out her hornes to feele for danger, and pulls them in againe without cauſe. It is an ill modeſtie that ſuffers another to out-goe him in the way to bliſſe: lik ſome travelling Iade, that hearing another horſe come after him ſtands ſtill till he overtakes him. True faith neither feares to doe well, nor to reprove thoſe that doe ill. But there be few ſo good? Yet Lot was good alone, none to goe before him, none to goe with him, none to come after him, in all Sodome. No man can ſay ſo with us, for we ſee ſome zealous of Gods glory. And if there be any; true emulation will ſingle out the beſt patternes. How dearely is one content to buy a choiſe principall, or ſome rare copy!1 Ioh. 3.3.1 John 3:3 He that intends to be a good Artiſt, propounds to himſelfe the moſt exquiſite maſter and leſſon. God limits us to no ordinary ſtint of holineſſe; but bids us aime at perfection: if we can, to goe beyond all that have gone before us, yea to come (if poſſible) cloſe up to Chriſt. From this point we may well gather three duties.

1 So neere as we can to make choice of the good; for man naturally produceth works conformable to the objects before his eyes: as Iacobs ſheep brought forth Lambes according to the colour of the pilled rods. A good example hath not ſo much power to make us good, as a bad one hath to make us evill. One man ſicke of the plague will ſooner infect ten ſound ones, than ten ſound men can cure him. The flockes feeding among the buſhes will leave ſome of their wooll behind them: it is hard to live in the forreſt of impietie, and to reſerve integrity. Sinne upon earth is in it owne ſoile, growes without planting, or any paines beſtowed on it: much more when it is manured with applauſes and practiſe. But vertue is like ſome precious ſeed fetch'd from Paradiſe, which will hardly grow here without ſpeciall care and indulgence. It is not ſafe venturing among the wicked in confidence of our owne ſtrength; no more than it is to run among theeves, in hope that they will not rob us. How many breathe in this world, like men ſleeping in … hoate, carried downe the ſtreame even to their Graveſ-end, without waking to thinke where they are? Therefore Eorum ſimus ſodales, quibus licet eſſe ſimiles: if we may be our owne diſpoſers, ſeeke we our lot among the righteous. The ſituation of Iericho may be good, but the waters are naught: he that goes from Ieruſalem to Iericho, ſoone lights among theeves; to leave holy company for baſe commoditie, is a quench-coale to righteouſneſſe. Can one be warme alone? Eccl. 4.11.Eccl 4:11Can one ſingle coale keepe it ſelfe from going out? Hee that forſakes the orbe of heat and fervor, the congregation of Saints, muſt needs take cold.

2 If like Lot, we be neceſſitated to the ſocietie of bad people, yet let us be good ſtill; yea therefore the more holy, becauſe in the midſt of a perverſe generati…n, ſhining as lights in a darke place. The colder the climate, the more piercing …he aire, the more doth a mans naturall heat fortifie it ſelfe within: their palpable wickedneſſe cauſed Lot inwardly to vexe himſelfe. Every viſible act of vice ſhould be our encouragement to vertue. The diſſolute laviſhneſſe of many prodigalls makes the wary man ſtill the better husband. And it is the tradeſ-mans policie, by engroſſing a commoditie in the plentie and neglect of it, to enrich himſelfe when … yeare of dearth ſhall come. It made Eraſmus more ſtudious, by ſeeing the Monkes ſuch illiterate dunces: as the good knife is made ſharpe by the dull whetſtone. The Chriſtan will be good and devout, like Daniel, though alone: though p. 680with the Emperors and the worlds Non licet: though he ſeeme a prodigie among men, digito monſtrari, the pointing of all fingers. Eſa. 8. Ver. 18. Wee are fo… ſignes and for wonders in Iſrael. Signes and wonders, where? even in Iſrael. If it were a wonder to ſee a familie ſerving GOD in Iſrael, what is it in Sodome? If a miracle in Ieruſalem, how much more in Babylon? But as he that ſtands upon a hill, where the aire is cleare, and ſees the fields round about beaten with tempeſts, the valleys full of fogs and miſts, doth not ſeeke to change his ſtation for being alone, though he be remarkable to every eye. Let our hearts be aloft, fixed on Chriſt; and albeit we are expoſed to the worlds deriſion, yet we ſhall bleſſe God for our deliverance from the worlds malediction.

3 Let us follow the examples of the beſt, not of the Moſt. Who had not rather be righteous with one ſingular Lot, than periſh with all ungodly Sodome? Neither have we him alone, but even a cloud of witneſſes, that have beene faithfull among the diſſolute: a Pillar of fire (in many bleſſed precedents) that went before directing us the way to Canaan. The Church is full of thoſe holy acts and monuments: the confeſſion of Chriſt before Pontius Pilate, the profeſſion of the Apoſtles before the worlds tyrants, the bold teſtimonie of the Martyrs at their ſtakes. O let the very pictures of their fires warme our hearts, and inflame our conſtant zeale to doe, and (if God will) to die as they did, that we may come to the place where they are. If we find a living Lot among us, faſten we our eyes upon him; let his ſprightly example put us forward. He is a dull Iade that will not follow: a brangling hawke in the company of high flyers will mend her pitch, and make her point: the ſocietie of the Prophets is able to make even a Saul prophecie. Yea, let us learne to be righteous even by a man of meaner grace: a good mettled horſe ſeeing but a Iade in the company put forward, ſprings out and is ſcarce reſtrained. No free ſpirit but is ambitious of a tranſcendencie in lawfull endevours.aaAct. 8 5.Acts 8:5 At S… las comming, Paul burnt in the Spirit: a leſſer ſticke may fire a billet, a little candle lights many torches. But theſe great examples, how ſhould they worke in us grea… zeale! Soe the Stoickes defined zeale; Imitatio alicujus boni ſine invidia. Th… Alexander: was ſtirred up with the fame of Achilles, Caeſar of Alexander▪ Cicero with the eloquence of Hortenſius, Demoſthenes of Iſocrates. bb2 Cor. 9.2.2 Cor 9:2The ze… of the Corinthians provoked many: let this good mans provoke us, that we may provoke others: helping them that come after us, as we have beene holpen by thoſe before us, toward heaven.

From day to day.] This is the conſtancie of his zeale; it was not mu…ab…e. The fixed ſtarres are ever like themſelves, whereas meteors and vapours have no continued light: the wicked may have ſome aguiſh fits, and lunaticke moodes. To run with the ſtreame, or ſaile with the winde, or like the marigold to open only with the ſun-ſhine, is no praiſe of pietie. Give me that Iob, that will be as hone… a man among his thouſands, as under the rod, when the number of his preſent … cers exceeds his former riches. To ſhoote up like the corne on the houſe top, by the favourable influencie of great perſons: for a Saul to prophecie no longer tha… he is among the Prophets: or for a Ioaſh to be good only while Iehoiada lives: th…t which depends upon humane ſupportations, is but like Ephraims, a tranſi…ory goodneſſe. Thus you have ſome raſh riders; at their firſt exeunt they gallop a maine, till within ſome few miles they tire, and are overtaken by the ſlow pac… horſes. The haſty girds of profeſſion are ſeldome durable, ſuddaine ſhowres have ſuddaine ends. And whereas the Sun and all naturall motions are ſwifteſt toward their end, theſe begin hot in the ſpirit, and conclude ſtone-cold in the fleſh. Their religion is but a blaze, which quickly goes out in ſmoke and ſmother. True fervencie, like the veſtall fires, or the fire of the Altar, is never extinguiſhed. To be hot to day, and coole to morrow, gives little aſſurance of Lots fervencie.

Would we know the meanes to maintaine a conſtant righteouſneſſe, to be good, yea better from day to day? 1 Pray inſtantly; prayer and zeale, like water p. 681and Ice, naturally produce one another. Fervency enliveneth prayer, and prayer encreaſeth fervencie. At heaven-gate he that does not knocke mainely, knockes vainely. This God will heare, yea, if it ſhould want a tongue, ſo it want not a heart. As Chriſt, though he heard not Zachei verbum, yet he ſaw Zachei votum: Luk. 19.4.Luke 19:4he perceived his deſire to invite him, therefore invited himſelfe. Thus he breaths more grace into our ſoule, that breathed our ſoule into our body. 2. The ordinary …ewell to maintaine it, is Preaching: Sermons being ſo many bellowes to encreaſe …his holy flame. 3. Reading the word hath a ſpeciall place: no devout ſoule ever returned from that exerciſe, but his ſoule was more warmed. 4. Meditation perfects the reſt. Meditatio docet quid deſit, oratio obtinet ne deſit. Contemplate that infinite Majeſtie; the apparition or ſhadow whereof fired Moſes more than the burning buſh. Let but the unfolded heavens give way to Stephens eyes, to behold CHRIST in the glory of his Father, how willing is hee to aſcend by that …tony paſſage! Theſe be the accuſtomed meales of the good ſoule, that will …eepe naturall heat from decaying. When thou goeſt to bed, rake up thy fire, wrap up thy devotion with prayer; ſo in the morning thou ſhalt find it ready to cheere thy heart.

Diſcontinuance of good duties hath loſt men much vertue: to bethinke the cauſe betwixt God and our ſelves only by ſnatches, when we have nothing elſe to doe: or to read the Bible by fits, only upon rainy dayes: here may be a ſmacke…ing to maintaine table-talke, but not enough to keepe life and ſoule together. Let not men plead want of leaſure, they have ſomewhat elſe to doe: for there is one …hing neceſſary, to which as to the Kings buſineſſe, all the reſt muſt vaile and ſtand by. From our moſt ſerious labours we can ſteale ſome houres for our pleaſure: is …here no time to be ſpared for God and our ſoule? O that men ſhould thinke one Sabbath more tedious than ten Holy-daies! Nor let thoſe flatter themſelves with …ufficiencie, that preſent themſelves in the Temple twice every Sunday: let God have ſome of the devotion at home, and by themſelves. The kings ordinary ſer…ants doe not only waite on feſtivall dayes, but are alwaies ready in the preſence to be commanded. True love is moſt paſſionate without a witneſſe: he that humbles himſelfe before the Lord alone, betwixt them two disburdens his heart, weepes, prayes, begs merciemercy, hath ſome proofe of his Chriſtianitie. Our families, beds, boords, walkes, and meetings muſt witneſſe our devotion ſo well as our Temples: this is the daily worke of Chriſtians.

I know the ſoule hath it's ſatietie as well as the body; and fire may be oppreſ…ed with too much wood: nor doth God ſo require men to ſerve him, as to be unmercifull to themſelves. He that hath done his worke honeſtly, may goe to play …rrily. But this is rare, to find a man offending on the right hand. Nor let the …criſions of Sodome coole this religious heat: a wiſe man will not be ſcoff'd out of his money, nor a juſt man be flowted out of his faith.

One caution; when we have thus heat our ſelves, let us beware of taking cold …gaine. The fire is put out either by the ſubtraction of fewell, or powring on of water. Sinne is the quench-coale: he that voluntarily admits it, or does not ſud…enly repent it, endangers the ceſſation of zeale. When we have done a ſin, till …e repent truly, we ſerve God but coldly. He whoſe very hunger hath tempted …im to ſteale a lambe, ſaies but a cold grace to his ſupper. How the oppreſſors and …efrauders of this Citie give thankes to God for their wealth, I refer to your …houghts and their owne conſciences. Sinne is worſe than a theefe in the candle, or … obſtruction in the liver. A deadly ſinne clapp'd on the heeles of late devotion, … like a ſudden cold after a violent heat; dangerous, if not mortall. Let us be…ech him that hath begun a good worke in us, to finiſh it: that we be not vexed …ith ſin to day, and pleaſed with it to morrow: but that our luſts may drop from … like leaves in Autumme, and our graces enjoy a perpetuall ſpring, through the …p and life of all goodneſſe, Ieſus Chriſt.

p. 682Thus I have run thorow the maine ſcope and other paſſages of the Text; and yet ſome further inſtruction remaines, if your good conſtruction will admit it. Three things I take leave to conſider; a Queſtion, an Illation, and a concluſion.

The queſtion.Lot was vexed in ſoule,] inwardly grieved; but was his zeale confined to his owne breſt? Did he ſmother it from the Sodomites? How could they the… be convinced of their crimes, or know his diſlike of their ſoule courſes? Certainly, that holy man did not keepe it in, but manifeſt it to them on all juſt occaſions. Fire in Ieremies bones will make him weary of forbearing; and new wine, if … have no vent, will burſt the veſſells. We may juſtly ſuſpect that zeale, that is never manifeſt: let men talke what they will of their honeſt hearts, whileſt they have dumbe mouthes and lame hands. Faith will open the lips, and he that loves God cannot but ſpeak for him. Nichodemus was but cold when he ſtole to Chriſt by night: but when be buried Chriſt by day, his fervour broke forth like unſuppreſſed love. It was hardly enough for Obadiah, to hide his religiouſneſſe in his boſome, as hee did the Prophets in a Cave. Profeſſion is the relative to faith: With the heart wee beleeve, Rom. 10.10.Rom 10:10with the mouth wee confeſſe. Some confeſſe and beleeve not, ſuch are hypocrites: ſome beleeve and confeſſe not, ſuch are timorous cowards; ſome neither confeſſe nor beleeve, ſuch are Atheiſts; ſome both beleeve and confeſſe, theſe are ſound hearted Chriſtians. Fire cannot be ſmothered, it will either finde a vent, or goe out: true righteouſneſſe never wanted words or deedes to declare it ſelfe. David often profeſſed not onelyonly to praiſe God, but in the great Congregation: both ad ſupplendum defectum, & …x…itandum affectum alterius: for them that cannot, and for them that will not. … ccRom. 14.22.Rom 14:22Haſt thou faith? have it to thy ſelfe before God. What then? Be preſent at m…ſſe, communicate with the wicked in their idolatries; becauſe faith may ſtill be firme before God? No, Paul ſpeakes of the faith (not quae ad dogmata pertinet, ſed de rebus medijs) that concernes indifferent things: otherwiſe, he that expreſſeth not his faith before men, hath denied the faith before God.

Earneſt affections will finde a tongue: if it be low water, the mill may ſtand but a ſtrong current will ſet it a going. If the ſpring of zeale be wound up in the heart, the wheeles will be kept in motion. It is not enough to keepe our religion within dores, to tumble over a few Oriſons while we are dreſſing or undreſſi…g our ſelves, halfe a ſleepe, halfe a wake: nor to obſerve a ſhort perfunctory forme and ſtint, as mill-horſes do their round, or pack-horſes their pace: Such coward-ſouldiers are not for CHRIST's Standard. They muſt bee thoſe dare hazard themſelves to many troubles; a fire not quenchable by the worlds buckets, b… conſuming their owne and others corruptions. So Chryſoſtome conceives the Apoſtle, as a man made all of fire, walking in the midſt of ſtubble. The ſluggard heares of a Lion, and quakes: tell Sampſon and David, they will goe out to me… him.ddAct. 21.13.Acts 21:13 Let Agabus tell Paul of bonds at Ieruſalem; he anſweres, I am ready … onelyonly to be bound, but to dye at Ieruſalem, for IESUS. The horſe neighes at the trumpet, the Leviathan laughes at the ſpeare. Tell Luther of enemies in Wormes, h… will go, though all the tiles of the houſes were divels. To carnall friends he ſaies, I know you not: to diſſwaders, Get you behind me Satan. eePro. 30.30.Prov 30:30Foure comely things are commended by Salomon, to which we may adde a fifth, ſtronger than the L…, ſwifter than the Gray-hound, nimbler than the Goat at climbing upwards, more victorious than a King; it is a reſolved Chriſtian, who armed with faith and zeale, diſdaines all reſiſtances in his journey to the Kingdome of Heaven.

The Illation.If the Sodomites be ſo condemned for vexing a righteous Lot, what deſerve they that vexe the true Lot, Ieſus Chriſt, the Righteous, with their unlawfull deeds? Is it not enough that wee have once put him to death, but that we muſt againe renew thoſe wounds, and being healed ſet them bleeding a freſh? The Iewes were but the inſtruments of his crucifying, we are the principalls: they cried, Crucif…e Him, in the court of Pilate: our ſinnes cried, Crucifie Him, in the Court of Heaven. p. 683Ours, I ſay, no… the reprobates: for as his death was not efficient to ſave repro…tes, ſo their ſinne was not ſufficient to kill Him.ffHebr. 10.29.Heb 10:29 To deſpiſe the bloud wherewith … were ſan…t…fi…d; this comes neare him. If wee aske him concerning his former …u…ds, he will anſwere, Thus was I wounded in the houſe of my enemies. But if, …ncerning theſe new inciſions, by blaſphemies, oppreſſions, &c. he will an…ere,ggZach. 13 6.Zech 13:6 Thus was I wounded in the houſe of my friends. The leaſt unkindneſſe of …riend pierceth deepe:hhPſal 41 9.Ps 41:9 My owne familiar friend did me the miſchiefe. Our …ter vexing of him is farre worſe than the firſt: his body was then paſſible and …or…all, now it is glorious and immortall: the Iewes knew not what they did, …e know it and yet grieve him: then he was dead and buried, but he roſe againe; …e bury him in forgetfulneſſe not three dayes, but all our life, excepting onelyonly his …ntion.

The torments of his paſſion were unconceivable, in comparable, intolerable: … it appeares by his proteſtation, that the leaſt wilfull ſin of a Chriſtian doth …re vexe him, and ſtrikes more to his heart than all thoſe dolorous pangs. It is … ſinne ſtill that keepes him on the racke, and (though he be out of the reach … ſorrow, yet) does what it can againe to kill the Lord of life. What pleaſure … we take i… grieving him that is the life of us all? Call not thy ſelfe the friend of …HRIST, if thou delight in that which tormented him. Thinke of this, you …ſi…g ſwearers, whom nothing can perſwade to be civill, to be men, I ſay not, to … Chriſtians. You ſweare away your ſalvation, curſe away your bleſſing, vex… … Lord that bought you. If nothing can aſſwage your rancor and hell-bred ma…e, know it had beene better for you that there had beene no Chriſt. His firſt …th was for y…r redemption, but the many deaths you now put him to, is for …ur gr…ter damnation. If your blinde ſoules could conſider this, it would not …y …lifie your hearts for the ſins paſt, but alſo terrifie you againſt ſins to come …or f…tter your ſelves, that he ſhall doe you good at your death, who have miſ…d …im all your life. When that fearefull houre comes, you would all then faine … to heaven and that by Chriſt: alas, as that deſpairing Pope ſaid, the Croſſe …uld d…e him no good b…cauſe he had ſold it away: ſo how ſhould Chriſt doe … w…o hav… railed him away? you have vexed him ſo long as you lived, … l…ſt…e ſhall vexe all the veines of your hearts when you are dead. The … a man … to God, the more heartily he deteſts ſin: now if Lot, a man …y bu… in … ▪ with many infirmities, were thus vexed with iniquity;ii…ph. 4 …0. what an … it be to the moſt righteous God, and Him that dyed for it, IESUS …HRIST.

…f Lot w… ſo vexed at others ſins, how ſhould we be vexed at our owne?The co…uſion. For …m is required a ſorow of compaſſion, for our ſelves a ſorow of compunction. …ome we home to a ſelfe-condemnation; we, we have diſhonoured God, therfore … to be vexed at our ſelves. What is repentance but contrition, what is contrition … a vexation? we that have ſinned with Sodome, let us be vexed with Lot. If Lot … not repented his owne ſins, he had never grieved for theirs: if the Sodomites …d beene thus vexed, they had not periſhed.kkIob 7.20.Job 7:20 We have ſinned what ſhall we do unto … O thou preſerver of men? What, but repent and amend? Repentance is the …per medicine for ſin; as God hath ordained a ſalve for every ſore. A medicine …ich cureth the eyes and nothing elſe, we may ſay was made for the eyes and … nothing elſe. A man loſeth his wealth, and is ſory for it:Chyſ. will ſorrow recover … He …th his child, and is ſory for it: will ſorrow raiſe him from the …d? He ſuffers injurie, and is ſory for it: will ſorrow right him? Himſelfe is …e, and i… ſory for it: will ſorrow heale him? Nay, will it not rather hurt him? …row then was not made for theſe things. He hath ſinned, is he ſory for that? …row now will helpe him, repentant ſorrow will take away his ſin. Sin is then … ſi…kneſſe, for which ſorrow is the remedie. Direct this leſſon to your hearts, …fore you goe home to your houſes, and digeſt it before your dinners: have p. 684troubled hearts, vexed with ſorrow for your ſins. Many a one comes into … Church a diſſolute ſinner, that goes out an humble Saint; why ſhould I not hope … much of you effect? This were a bleſſed of a Sermon; when the fruit of one houre is no leſſe than eternity of dayes. A ſquare piece of metall, molten and caſt into a round mould, comes out round: a piece of blew put into the ſcarlet fat, comes forth ſcarlet. Remember our Saviours ſentence of ſin; vel paenitendum, vel perendum: Luk. 13.5.Luke 13:5^l Except you repent, you ſhall periſh. If the child cry it lives: ſo if we can heartily cry for our ſinnes, there is life in us. Thus let us be grieved, that we may be comforted.