A Guide to Go to God, Preface · Section 55
§. 55. Of the things to be bewailed vnderunder the ſecond Petition.
Q. VVHat are the things that we ought to bewaile by vertue of the ſecond Petition?
A. All ſuch things as any way make to the diſaduantage or diſparagement of the Kingdome of Chriſt. As
1.2. Cor. 4. 4. That great ſway which Satan hath in the world, whereof he is the god: Epheſ. 2. 2.and worketh in the children of diſobedience: and that all the world worſhippeth him. Reu. 13. 3, 4.For all Infidels, Idolaters, Heretiques, Schiſmatiques, hypocrites and profane perſons are his vaſſals: and theſe are they with whom the world is filled.
2.Mic. 7. 1. The ſmall circuit of Chriſts Kingdome. The Prophet thus bringeth in the Church her ſelfe bewailing her ſmall number, Woe is mee: for I am as when they hauehave gathered the ſummer fruits: as the grape gleanings of the vintage.
3.Math. 13 25, &c. The mixture of Satans ſubiects with Chriſts in that ſmall circuit. For where the Lord of the field ſoweth good ſeed, the enuious man ſoweth Tares: which maketh the ſeruants of the Lord to complaine.
4. The many clouds which obſcure the light of the Goſpell. I meane the clouds of errour, ſuperſtition, humane traditions and ſuch like, whereby the cleare light of the Goſpell is hindred from ſhining forth in his full brightneſſe. Chriſt himſelfe complaineth, that the Word of God is made of none effect through the many traditions of the Iewes.Mar. 7. 13.
5.Pſal. 50. 13. The ſpoiles of the Church made by open enemies: whereof Dauid much complaineth: ſo doe alſo other Prophets.
6.Cant. 1. 2. Treacheries of falſe-hearted brethren. The Church complaineth that all her friends dealt treacherouſly with her: and Chriſt complaineth that his owne familiar friend in whom hee truſted,Pſal. 41. 9. which did eate of his bread, lift vp his heele againſt him.
7. Vnſaithfulneſſe in Magiſtrates: ſuffering ſuch as beare no good will to the Church to creepe into it, lodge in it, and worke miſchiefe againſt it.Neh. 13. 4, &c. This did good Nehemiah much complaine of. Much more cauſe of complaint there is, when Princes in the Church are roaring Lyons, Zeph. 3 3.and her Iudges are euening Wolues.
8. Vnfaithfulneſſe in Miniſters: when they are inſufficient, idle, corrupt in doctrine or life: whereby the edification of the Church is much hindered.Iſa. 56. 10. The Prophets oft complaine of ſuch.ler. 23. 14, 17.
9. Deſolation of Seminaries: as of Schooles, Colledges, Vniuerſities, and ſuch like.1. Sam. 22. 22. Dauid lamented the deſtruction of the Citie of Prieſts which was a Seminarie. The comming of the Kingdome of God is much hindred by the deſolation of Seminaries. So alſo is it as much, if not more, hindred by corruption in Seminaries. If fountaines bee poiſoned, can wholeſome ſtreames bee expected to flow from thence? In corrupted Seminaries more vaſſals of Satan, then true ſubiects of Chriſt are bred and brought vp.
10. Diſorder of Families. When pietie findeth in priuate Families little or no entertainment, if it bee not cleane thruſt out of doores: and ſuch licentiouſneſſe vſed, as houſes are rather made ſties for Satan, then Churches of God, great cauſe of mourning is giuen.Ier. 7. 18. Ieremiah complaines that husbands and wiues, parents and children, were all giuen to wickedneſſe.
11. Profeſſors vnworthy walking. It is meanes to keepe ſuch as are not of the Church from entring into it, when they ſee ſuch as profeſſe themſelues to bee of the Church, to walke as children of darkneſſe, and to turne the grace of God into wantonneſſe.Phil. 3. 18. Saint Paul doth bitterly complaine of ſuch.
12. Reproaches caſt vponupon the Saints. Sarah when ſhe beheld Iſmael ſcoffing at Iſaak, Gen. 21. 9. 10.was exceedingly moued thereat. So was Dauid at Michols ſcorning of him for the manifeſtation of his zeale.2. Sam. 6. 20. Some weake members of the Church may be diſcouraged thereby; and in that reſpect it is a matter to bee lamented.
13.1. King. 19. 10. Perſecution raiſed againſt the Church. This did Eliah much bewaile: yea it made him weary of his life. A free paſſage of the Word, and a free vſe of other holy ordinances of God is much hindered thereby: and many are thereby brought to deny the faith: and therefore it is to be bewailed.
14.2. Tim. 4 16. Timorous backeſliding of Profeſſors. This did S. Paul complaine of in his time. Much doth this tend to the diſcouragement, and diſaduantage of the Church: and much to be lamented.
15.1. Cor. 1. 11. & 11, 18. Sciſmes, ſects, and diſſentions in the Church. Theſe doe much hinder the growth of the Church: yea they oft cauſe greater deſolation then open oppoſitions of profeſſed enemies.
16.Repugnans fit vt quaeramus inſeculo diu viuere qui petimus regnum dei velociter advenire. Cypr de Orat. … dom, §. 14. Too much louelove of life in this world, and feare of death. If men might liue as long they would, how ſlowly would Gods Kingdome come! That wee who deſire the kingdome of God to come ſpeedily, ſhould ſeeke to liue long in this world, implyeth contradiction.