Gods Three Arrows, Section 46
§. 46. Of the cauſes of Gods wrath among us.
THat it may appeare what juſt cauſe the Lord hath to powre out the vials of his wrath among us, it wilbe a ſeaſonable taske to take a view of our owne times, and to obſerve whether the forenamed ſinnes may be found among us. For too too truly it may now be ſaid of this Land, of this City, There is wrath gone out from the Lord, the Plague is begun.
In proſecuting this taske I will follow the order before Sinnes provoking Gods anger riſe among us. As, 1. Idolatry.propounded; and bring thoſe ſinnes which have been proved formerly to have provoked Gods wrath, to our times.
1. For idolatry, though the bright light of the Goſpell hath for *Since the 17 of Nov. 1558.many yeares diſpelled the thicke cloud of Popery, a deteſtable idolatry: yet in many places that cloud gathereth, and thickneth againe. I pray God it increaſe not as a1 Kin. 18. 44.that cloud which Eliahs ſervant eſpied: which though at firſt it were but a little one like a mans hand, yet it grew to cover the whole skie, and to cauſe much raine. Too many ſeducers are among us: too great countenance is given to them. We Miniſters have need to inculcate this Apoſtolicall prohibition, b1 Cor. 10. 14.Flee from idolatry.
2. For prophanation of holy things and times, he is blind 2. Proſanationthat diſcerneth it not: he himſelfe is too prophane, that is not in his righteous ſoule vexed thereat. Prayer, preaching, Sacraments are altogether neglected, or very careleſly, obſerved. As for the Lords Day, it is in many places by many Perſons made the Devils day. It is not only in act prophaned, but the profanation therof too much countenanced, juſtified.
3. For Pollution of profeſſion, what advantage is thereby 3. Pollution of Profeſſion.given to our adverſaries. Thence they take occaſion of upbraiding to us our reformation. Yea, the prophane among us are hereby juſtified. For many Profeſſours are every way as lewde and licentious as they: as vaine in their attire, as corrupt in their ſpeeches, as wanton in their geſture, as deceitfull in their dealing, as uncharitable in their cenſures, as unmercifull to the poore, &c.
4. For ungratefull vilifying Gods mercies, I thinke our 4. Ingratitude.people exceed therein the Iſraelites that dwelt in the wilderneſſe. Heavenly Manna, the Word of life, that plentifully falleth among us, is by ſuperſtitious, ſchiſmaticall, and prophane perſons loathed. Superſtitious perſons wiſh for Queene Maries dayes againe. Schiſmatiques wiſh there had beene no reformation unleſſe it had beene better. The prophane cry out of too much preaching.
5. For Magiſtrates abuſing their authority, all the complaints 5. Magiſtrates abuſes.of the Prophets may too juſtly be taken up againſt many of ours, if at leaſt this were a fit place to make complaints of their bribe-taking, perverting juſtice, oppreſſing the innocent, uſing their power to their owne turnes, &c.
6. For Miniſters perverting their function, many among 6. Miniſters faults.us exceed the falſe prophets among the Iewes. None greater diſcouragers of the upright. None greater animaters of the prophane. The greateſt zeale which they uſe to ſhew, is in their bitter invectives againſt ſuch as make moſt conſcience of ſinne. They are too great companions with the baſeer and lewder ſort.
7. For trampling upon ſuch as are fallen, ſo inhumane are 7. In humanity Am 6. 6.many, as they do not onelyonly ſtretch themſelves upon their beds, and drinke wine in bowles, while their brethren …e groaning under ſore afflictions: or (like the Prieſt and Levite) paſſe by without ſuccouring ſuch as are not able to helpe themſelves: Luk. 10 31, 32. Iob 4 6. Luk. 1. 1. 2 Sam. 16. 7, 8but like Iobs friends charge them with hypocriſie, or like the Iewes account them the greateſt ſinners, or as Shemei, raile on them: and ſo give them (inſtead of a cup of conſolation) vinegar and gall to drinke.
8. For conſpiracy and conſent in ſin, when was there more, 8. Conſpiracythen among us. Great ones, meane ones, old, young, male, female, Magiſtrates, ſubjects, Miniſters, people, rich, poore, maſters, ſervants, all of one mind to diſgrace integrity and to countenance impiety and iniquity. Inſomuch as the Prophets complaint is too truly verified among us, Iſa. 59. 15.He that refraineth from evill maketh himſelfe a prey.
9. For obstinacy in ſinne, who can open his mouth wide 9. Obſtinacy.enough againſt mens ſtubborneneſſe. They are impudent and ſtiffe-necked. They have a whores forehead and will not be Ezek. 2. 4. Ier. 3. 3.aſhamed. They bid a kind of defiance to God himſelfe. As they abuſe his mercies, ſo they deſpiſe his judgements. What ſwearer, what blaſphemer, what drunkard, what adulterer, what fornicatour, what oppreſſour, what extortioner, what uſurer, what deceiver is reformed by this Plague? So obſtinate are people, as God had need to make the faces of his Miniſters ſtrong against their foreheads.Ezek. 3 8, 9.
10. For Infidelity, we Miniſters have too great cauſe to cry out, Who hath believed our report? Were not this ſinne 10. Infidelity, Iſa. 53. 1.ſo faſt fixed in mens hearts as it is, much more comfort would be received from the Miniſtry of the Goſpell, and much better obedience yeelded thereto. The Apoſtle giveth this reaſon of the ſmall profit that was reaped by the Goſpell, It was not mixed with faith in them that heard it. True faith hath a double worke where it is kindly wrought. Heb 4 2. Faiths double worke.1. In generall, it perſwadeth the heart of the truth of Gods Word. 2. In particular, it brings the heart to apply that truth to it ſelfe, as a truth which concernes him. The ſmall profit that many reape by Gods Word, the little uſe that they make thereof, ſheweth how infidelity beareth ſway in them. Thus it commeth to paſſe that they are like the children in the market, that neither danced to them that piped, nor lamented with them that mourned. Nor promiſes, nor Mat 11. 16, 17.threatnings, nor mercies, nor judgements worke upon them.
11. For impenitency, It cannot be denied but that many, yea moſt, are ſo ſetled on their ſins, as they hate to be reformed. 11. Impenitency.Where are true fruits of repentance to be found? Where ſhame, where ſorrow for ſin? Where turning from ſin? Men rather grow worſe and worſe. Gods judgments harden their Tantam nactus Pharao lengani mitatē extrema… de omnibus dedit poenas. Chryſ ad Pop. Hom. 46.hearts, as they did the heart of Pharaoh. But he paid thorowly for abuſe of ſo much patience. If by any occaſion their conſciences be any whit rub'd, and they brought thorow feare and anguiſh to promiſe amendment, they quickly ſhew that no true repentance was wrought in them: But it is hapned unto them according to the true proverbe, The dog is turned to his 2 Pet. 2. 22.owne vomit againe: and the ſow that was waſhed to her wallowing in the mire.
12. For Apostaſie, if firſt we conſider inward apoſtaſie 12. Apoſtaſie. Inward.(which is bRev. 2. 4, 5. 2 Theſ. 2. 10. 11.a decaying inwardly in former love of truth) too great and juſt cauſe of complaining is given. Many have left their firſt love, and become cRev. 3. 16. Outward Apoſtaſie.lukewarme, as the Laodiceans. Thus a ready way is made to outward apoſtaſie: which is an open renouncing of the very profeſſion of true Religion, as this whole land did in Queene Maries raigne. It is much to be feared, that if a like occaſion ſhould be given, a like apoſtaſie would follow.
If theſe, and other like provocations of Gods wrath among us be duly weighed, we ſhall ſee cauſe enough to confeſſe that Gods wrath is juſtly gone out againſt us, and that we have deſervedly pulled this Plague upon our owne pates.
It remaines therefore that we thorowly humble our ſelves: that we lay open our ſoares before our mercifull God: that we faithfully promiſe amendment: that we give evidence of the intire purpoſe of our heart in promiſing, by an anſwerable performance. But above all, for the preſent, that we crave mercy and pardon of God thorow Ieſus Chriſt, that he may offer up his ſweet incenſe to pacifie his Father, and cauſe his deſtroying Angell, to ſtay his hand.