The Happiness of Enjoying and Use of Christ, Text 1 – Title page 3
THE DANGER OF NEGLECTING CHRIST, &c.
LUKE 19.41, 42.
When he was come neere, he beheld the City, and wept ouer it,
42 Saying, If thou hadſt knowne, even thou, at leaſt in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! &c.
THe more men doe abound in true grace and ſaving goodneſſe, the more they grieve at other mens impieties, the more they are affected with other mens miſeries: according to the meaſure of their grace is their deteſtation of ſin, their indignation againſt ſin, their ſorrow for the diſhonour brought to God by ſin, their ſenſe and feeling of their brethrens preſent affliction, their apprehenſion of the future calamities like to fall upon them. Good men mourne not onelyonly for their owne corruptions, but alſo for other mens tranſgreſſions; they ſorrow not only for their own troubles, but alſo for other mens miſeries. When Nehemiah heard how the walls of Jeruſalem were broken downe, Neh. 1 3, 4their gates burnt with fire, the people in great afflict…on and reproach, he ſate down and wept. David, a man after Gods owne heart, conſidering the obſtinacy and rebellion of the people, his eyes guſhed out with teares. Pſal. 119.136.And here the Lord Jeſus, whoſe ſoule, whoſe worke, whoſe way was as the Sun wherein is no ſpot, a Garden in which is no weed, a Tree whereon was neither ſuperfluous, barren, nor withered branch, nor fading leafe; in whom (as it is ſaid of Abſoloms beauty) was no blemiſh from the crowne of the head unto the ſole of the foot, from the firſt inſtant of his conception, to the laſt moment of his paſſion; in whom was a ſingular, ſweet, full, perfect confluence and concourſe of all graces, as of lines in one Center, beams in one Sun, rivers in one Ocean, This glorious and matchleſſe patterne of all perfection, conſidering and beholding the preſent rebellion, the enſuing deſolation of Jeruſalem, his bowels yearned within him, teares came from him, commiſeration on the one ſide, and indignation on the other ſide wrought wonderfully with him: for,
When he was come neere, he beheld the City, and wept over it,
Saying, If thou hadſt knowne, even thou, at leaſt in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
The words are a narration of our Saviours affection towards the people of Jeruſalem, wherein we have
1 Our Saviours Commiſeration, v. 41.
2 His Exprobration of them, ver. 42.
In his Commiſeration we have the occaſion, preparation, or impulſive cauſes of it. 1 His appropinquation, He came neere: Chriſt as God is every where, not Locomotivus, but is free from all motion, mutation: but he commeth neere by his creatures, as an Almighty Maker by his works, preſenting his Deity and almighty power; he commeth neere by his Miniſters, as a King by his Embaſſadours, propoſing his dominion over us, offering conditions of peace unto us; he commeth neere by aſſuming our fleſh, as a Mediatour, a Brother, declaring his mercy and loving kindneſſe; he commeth neere by his Ordinances, as a King by enacting lawes to his Subjects, as a Nurſe drawing forth the breaſts to her children, as a Friend revealing himſelfe to his intimate acquaintance, as a Lover wooing, a Bridegroome betrothing himſelfe unto us: but here he came neere by his bodily preſence, and comming neere, his bowels yearned. We are uſually moſt affected with the miſeries of our brethren, when we are preſent with them.
After his appropinquation, as a ſecond occaſion, enſued his inſpection, hee beheld: He beholdeth all things, as God, with the eye of his counfell, in regard of purpoſe and preordination; he ſees firſt, ad intra, and accordingly hee workes ad extra; hee neither begges nor borrowes knowledge from the creature: Hee beholdeth all things with the eye of his generall providence, in regard of gubernation, limitation: Hee beholdeth his children with the eye of ſpeciall care and tender affection, powerfull and gracious diſpoſition of all to worke for the beſt unto them: Hee beholdeth all things with the eye of his wiſedome: all the deepe things of God, in regard of revelation; all the deep things of men, in regard of detection. Here hee beheld with the eye of his body, as man, & wept. The ſerious view of other mens miſeries is very forcible to move our affections.
The laſt thing in this verſe is the expreſſion of his affection, hee wept; as God, …ee was free from all paſſion; as Man, hee tooke upon him our affections and infirmities, which Divines call Miſerabiles, as ſorrow, hunger, thirſt; but not thoſe which are Deteſtabiles, as ſinne, ſickneſſe, &c. Chriſt, as Man, had a ſympathy of their miſerable condition; as the holy One of God, hee was much troubled to ſee their rebellion; as Mediator, hee was grieved to ſee his labour to bring them to ſalvation fruſtrated, and therefore hee wept, and did not onelyonly weepe, but upbraid them with their ignorance and ingratitude, ſpeaking, out of the ardencie of his affection, in a patheticall manner to them, If thou hadſt knowne; thou that art the head Citie of Judah, the habitation of God in reſpect of his Temple, a holy Citie in reſpect of thy profeſſion, the lampe and light of the Church in reſpect of the reſidence of the Prieſts and Prophets in that place, and yet ſhee knew not the things belonging to her peace. Much common knowledge is often attended with damnable and damning ignorance: they had been often puniſhed, waſted, embondaged, againe reſtored; Chriſt came, preached, proffered ſalvation, but they knew not Chriſt as the Sonne of God, Iſa. 53.2.as the Prince of peace, to reverence him, but deſpiſed him as one that had no forme nor comelineſſe: they knew him not as the Way, Ioh. 14.6.the Truth, the Life, by a lively faith to lay hold upon him, as the Prophet from whom they were to receive inſtruction; as their huſband, in regard of love and affection; as their Lord and Maſter, in regard of ſubjection: And becauſe they did not ſo know, acknowledge, receive him, the things belonging to their peace were hidden from them. Many things might here bee noted, but their unprofitableneſſe, ingratitude, rebellion, under ſo great meanes afforded them, being that for which our Saviour Chriſt did chiefly lament and weepe over them, and for which eſpecially hee did upbraid them, you may ſee, that
The eſtate of that perſon or people is very dolefull, Doct. which continueth barren and unprofitable under the plentifull and powerfull meanes of ſalvation: whether it bee a publicke nation, a private congregation, or particular perſon which thrives not under the meanes of life, their eſtate is much to be bewailed: This is manifeſt by our Saviours commination,cMath. 11.20, 21. Woe bee unto thee Chorazin, woe bee unto thee Bethſaida; if the mighty workes which have been done in thee, had been done in Tyre and Sydon, they would have repented long agoe in ſackcloth and aſhes: therefore it ſhall bee eaſier for Sodome and Gomorrah in the day of judgement, then for thee. Where God hath moſt abounded in his goodneſs, he will be moſt ſevere in his puniſhments, if the people remaine unfruitfull: abuſed merciemercy is the forerunner of the greateſt miſery; the impure converſation of the people, the heavy judgements, ready to ſurprize them for their barrenneſſe, diſobedience, and proſligate kinde of life under the plentifull meanes of grace miniſtred to them, cauſed the Prophet to wiſh,Ier. 9.1. that his head were teares, and his eyes a fountaine, to weep day and night for the daughter of his people. And for this another Prophet crieth out, Woe is me, Mic. 7.1, 2for I am as when they have gathered Summer fruit, as the grape gleanings of the vintage, there is no cluſter to eate. The good man is periſhed out of the earth, there is none upright among men, &c. And thus the Lord expreſſed, as in a type, by a girdle bought, Ier. 23.1.girt about the Prophets loines, and afterwards rotten by the river Euphrates, and ſo caſt away as good for nought, that Iſrael might ſee how God had brought them out of Egypt, exalted them above all nations, joyned them neere unto himſelfe, as a girdle about his loynes; but in the multitude of their prerogatives and priviledges, they corrupted themſelves, grew obſtinate, and were rejected of the Lord, and the eſtate of ſuch people is very dolefull.
Firſt, in regard of Fruſtration: they having fruſtrated the labours of Gods faithfull Miniſters, all the work of their Miniſtery, in regard of any ſaving good to their ſoules, hath been as the powring of water upon the rocke, the ſowing of ſeed upon the ſand, the lighting of a candle to the blinde. As David ſaid of his labour and care about Nabal, 1 Sam. 25.21.In vaine have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderneſſe: So may the Lord ſay, In vaine have I ſet my Miniſters, as watchmen, upon their walls; in vaine have they, like husbandmen planted, manured, watered the ſoules of the people, and there is no fruit. Thus the flower of the Prophets, in the perſon of Chriſt Jeſus, complained of old,Iſ…. 49.4. I have laboured in vaine, I have ſpent my ſtrength for nought.
Secondly, in regard of Inexcuſableneſſe: they have no cloake for their ſinne, they cannot ſay as Abimilech did in another caſe to Saul, 1 Sam 22.15.Thy ſervant knew no…hing of all this, leſſe or more. The preſence of the meanes of grace amongſt them, is a great aggravation of their corruption; their ſin without the means, is not ſimply, but comparatively no ſinne.Ioh. 15.22 2 Cor. 3.10. As the glory of the Law, though very glorious, had no glory, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, in this reſpect, by reaſon of the glory of the Goſpel which excelleth; ſo that which was ſinne before, though very great ſinne, yet was no ſinne, in compariſon of their ſinne, now joyning malice and wilfull obſtinacie to their ignorance.
Thirdly, in regard of Perverſion: They are by accident made the worſe by the meanes of life. As ſome diſeaſed eyes are made the more blinde through the brightneſſe of the light, ſome ſtomackes are made more ſicke by good phyſicke: So accidentally, through the great ſtrength and power of their corruption, the Word is made the ſavour of death to death to ſome. Plutarch relates of the Tygers, Si quis tympanis circumſonet, in rabiem aguntur, adeo ut ſeipſas denique diſcerpant: And thus many people of a ſavage diſpoſition, are diſquieted, perplexed, inraged, to heare the ſweet and heavenly muſicke which the Word maketh.
Fourthly, in regard of Deſertion: The Lord will leave ſuch a people, as a Phyſician doth the Sick, Ier. 51.9. Iſa. 5.3, 4.which are incurable; the Husbandman the Field, which after much coſt, paine, care, labour, remaineth ſtill barren; the Lord will leave ſuch to Satan to blinde and harden them, to deceivers to ſeduce, to the allurements of the world to enſnare them, to their owne luſts to rule over them, to hell at laſt to ſwallow them.
Fifthly, in regard of Condemnation: Theſe ſhall have the greateſt condemnation; the more favours the more torments. Capernaum that was exalted to heaven temporally,Mat. 11.25. excelling all the cities of Galilee in greatneſſe, nobleneſſe, worldly fulneſſe; exalted to heaven ſpiritually, in regard of Chriſts bodily preſence, preaching, miracles which hee wrought there, for her ingratitude, obſtinacie, plenitude of all profaneneſſe, is brought downe to hell in regard of temporall devaſtation, and everlaſting deſtruction.
This, by way of humiliation, Uſe. muſt teach every one of us to acknowledge and bewaile our barrenneſſe, obſtinacie, diſobedience under that plentifull meanes of grace which God doth miniſter to us; and to humble our ſelves under the mighty hand of God for it.1 Sam. 1.10. Hanna was much grieved, in great b tterneſſe of ſoule, conſidering the barrenneſſe of her womb and ſhee prayed and wept ſore: let us in like manner, conſider and bee thoughly affected with the barrenneſſe of the Kingdome wherein wee are ſubjects, of the Congregation whereof wee are members, of the Families in which wee are fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, ſonnes, daughters, ſervants, ſoiourners, every man the barrenneſſe of his own heart, way, life; let us be in bitterneſſe of ſoule, and pray, and weep as ſore for this barrenneſs of ſoule, as ever Hanna did for the barrenneſſe of her body. The Lord hath done great things for us, as for Jeruſalem, he hath ſeparated us to himſelfe, ſet us up his tabernacle among us, beene a wall of fire round about us, cauſed the clouds of heavenly doctrine to poure downe their ſweet and comfortable dew upon us; he hath given us Paſtors according to his owne heart, Jer 3 15.to feed us with knowledge and underſtanding, and yet we are unfruitfull. As the men of the City of Jericho ſaid of that,2 Kin. 2.19. The ſcituation of the City is pleaſant, but the water is naught, and the ground barren: ſo may we truely ſay of our ſelves, the Lord hath ſeated us in a pleaſant place, in a fruitfull land, in a Paradiſe of all temporall and ſpirituall plenty; yea the waters, the ordinances of God, the meanes of life are alſo good, ſweet, ſavoury, completely fitted to miniſter comfort to the ſ ules of the people, but our hearts are for the moſt p…rt naught, and our lives are barren of the good fruit ſhould grow upon them. We are 1. Such fallow gr…und, ſuch ſtrangers to a contrite and broken ſpirit, that the Word is to many of us like ſeed ſowne on ground not broken: 2. Our hearts are ſo growne over with the thornes and briars of worldly cares, that the ſeed of the Word is choked in the greateſt number of us: 3. Our ſouls are ſo over-ſpread with the weeds, and drowned in the waters of ſenſuall pleaſures, carnall luſts, and vaine delights, that the meanes of life are not to a few, as ſeed ſowne in watry ground, where it proſpers not: 4. Many of us doe ſo pleaſe our ſelves with a formall profeſsion, that wee are but as women travelling with a falſe birth: we doe ſo flatter our ſelves with the naked having of Gods Ordinances, with the glorious name of Chriſtians, that we regard not the nature, life, power, fruit of godlineſſe, but remaine univerſally barren; our underſtandings like a lamp without oile, our memories like a peece of paper wherein nothing is written, our hearts like an Altar on which no fire burneth, our faith like Jeroboams withered arme, our affections like the lame mans feet who could not walke, the whole man like a garden wherein every tree is barren, a houſe whereof eueryevery roome is empty; the greateſt part of us, like fooliſh Souldiers, that think it enough to draw forth and flouriſh their weapons, never wounding their enemies therewith, ſuppoſe wee have done as much as is required, when we attend upon the Ordinance of God, though wee never make any particular and effectuall application thereof. Ariſtotle was wont to taxe the Athenians,Lae…t. li. 5. cap. 1. quòd cum duas res inveniſſent, frumenta ac leges, frumentis uterentur, legibus nequaquam: And for this may we be no leſſe juſtly reproved, that God, having given us the fruits of the earth, and the law of life and ſalvation, we uſe the former, but neglect the latter. Is it not wonderfull to ſee how induſtrious the Husbandman is to improve his ground, of a barren to make a fruitfull land? how the Merchant ſetteth his wits on worke to improve his trade? how the married perſons doe long to ſee their children ſtand like Olive branches round about their Table? how every perſon, yea every creature, in his way, after his kind, doth ſtrive to be fruitfull? and ſhall the Chriſtian, the moſt excellent peece of the workmanſhip of God, be contented to remaine barren and unprofitable? Doe you not heare how the Husbandman complaines, like the men of Jericho, if the field be barren? how the Merchant droopes and hangs downe the head, if his ſhip miſcarry, his trade faile, and poverty come upon him? Doe you not heare how the Husband, like Iſaac, prayes for the fruitfulneſſe of the Wife when there is no conception? how the barren wife cries with an impatient ſpirit, Give me children or I die? Gen. 30.1, 2.And ſhall not we complaine, bow downe, and humble our ſelves for our barrenneſſe in grace? ſhall not we ſtudy, ſtrive, labour, pray, and crie unto the Lord our God to open our hearts that are ſhut up, to enlarge our ſouls, to fill us with all goodneſſe? And to induce us hereunto, the conſideration of the concomitants, and fruits of this ſpirituall barrenneſſe, are of very great force. For,
1 Barrenneſſe reproacheth: it was a reproach to a mother in Iſrael to be barren.1 Sa. 1.6. Barrenneſſe diſgraceth fields, trees, cattle, reaſonable and unreaſonable creatures; and barrenneſſe of grace in like manner diſgraceth us in the eyes of God, in the eyes of Gods children, giveth occaſion of inſultation to the adverſaries of religion, as the bodily barrenneſſe of Hanna gave Peninna occaſion to inſult over her: this cauſeth our profeſſion to be traduced, and the name of God to be blaſphemed.Ro. 2.24.
2 Barrenneſſe is unprofitable: a barren tree miniſtreth no profit, it doth but cumber the ground: Luk. 13.8.barren Chriſtians are unſerviceable to God, peſter and cumber the Church wherein they live.
3 Barrenneſſe grieveth the barren wife grieveth the husband, the barren tree grieveth the keeper of the Orchard, a barren people grieve the faithfull and painfull Miniſter whom the Lord hath ſet as a Shepheard over them: this pained Paul as a woman in travell,Gal. 4.19. Jer. 20.14. occaſioned Jeremy, through the anguiſh and trouble of his ſpirit, to curſe the day of his birth, and wrought ſo forcibly with Eliah, 1 Kin. 19.4.that he grew weary of his life, and wiſhed for death rather then life.
4 Barrenneſs ſpoileth the ſoule of much ſweet and heavenly peace, boldneſſe, comfort, and confidence. Doth the Maſter ſmile or elſe frowne upon the unprofitable ſervant? can ſuch a ſervant come before his Maſter with confidence, with aſſurance of acceptance? doth he not hang downe the head? is he not aſhamed? is not his confidence removed farre from him? When Adam was naked he ran from the preſence of the Lord:Gen. 3. when the ſoules of men within are naked of grace, and the lives of men without are naked of good works, they have no courage, no comfort, no boldneſſe to preſent themſelves before the Lord.
5 Barrenneſſe provoketh: the barren field angreth the Husbandman, the barren tree mentioned in the Goſpel diſpleaſed our Saviour when hee ſought fruit and found none on it. Chriſt hungred,Mat. 21.18, 19. deſired much to taſte of the ſweet grapes of faith, repentance, love, thankfulneſſe, which ſhould have beene brought forth by the Jewes, a Vine of his Fathers owne planting, once a Vine of many goodly branches, the Patriarchs, Moſes, the Prophets; a Vine loaden with many ſweet grapes, but now there was nothing but leaves on it; a glorious profeſſion, a formall performance of religious duties, much vaunting and boaſting that they were the children of Abraham; but they were barren, they did not the workes of Abraham; they had neither the faith, nor trode the ſteps of Abraham: And therefore our Saviour curſed the figtree, 1. In teſtimonium, to ſhew his Deity, his abſolute authority and dominion over all creatures: 2. In declarationem, to ſhew his anger againſt the Jewiſh people: 3. In typum, thereby to ſhew what the end of that people ſhould be.
6 Barrenneſſe ruinateth: the barren tree is hewed downe, the barren ground is burned,Heb. 6.8. a barren people the Lord will forſake, remove, and caſt out of his ſight: this is fully expreſſed by our Saviour in the Parable of the Houſholder,Mat. 21.34. in which the Houſholder is God, the Vineyard is, generally, the Church; particularly, the people of the Jewes: the hedges are the Moſaicall lawes, likened to a hedge for diſtinction, for preſervation: the people of the Jewes being by them diſtinguiſhed from other people, and preſerved from waſting as a field by a hedge: the Winepreſſe was their miniſtery of the Word, likened to a Wine-preſſe in regard of preparation fitting them to offer unto God the pleaſant wine of found obedience, and holy and fervent prayers: the Watch tower was the Kingdome, Prieſthood, Temple, likened to a Tower for the ornament, honour, glory, which it miniſtred: the husbandmen to whom he let it out were the Prieſts and Levites, likened to husbandmen for their labour in, and watchfulneſs over the Lords Vineyard; and the Lord is likened to one going into a farre Countrey, not for the mutation of his preſence, but by ceſſation of miracles, immediate manifeſtation of himſelfe among them, leaving his Vineyard to their charge: the ſervants ſent were the Prophets, whom they beat, impriſoned, killed, ſtoned; at laſt he ſent his own Son whom they crucified: and for their ingratitude and barrenneſſe, the Vineyard hath beene long let out to others: This did our Saviour threaten;Mat. 23.37, 38. How often would I have gathered you together, and ye would not! Behold, your houſe is left unto you deſolate: and for this likewiſe he threatned the removing of the Candleſticke from the Church of Epheſus:Rev. 2.5. and for this we have great cauſe to humble our ſelves.
But what need (may ſome ſay) have we to humble our ſelves? we have Gods Ordinances, we have plenty of learned, zealous, godly Preachers; we have multitudes of Profeſſours, the firmament of our Church is garniſhed with bright and ſhining ſtarres, our garden is decked with many ſweet and beautifull flowers, our orchard is ſet with variety of pleaſant and fruitfull trees, our land enriched with great abundance of all things, much cauſe of rejoicing, but what cauſe of humiliation?
Beloved, Iſrael had the Arke, rejoiced much in the preſence of it, yet fell before the enemy;1 Sa. 4.5. they had the Temple of the Lord, they gloried not a little thereof, yet were deſtroyed.Jer. 7.4.
Wee have many learned, painfull, able Miniſters, bleſſed bee the great Shepheard of our ſoules that ſends them, and the Lord daily increaſe the number of them; wee may ſay indeed with the Pſalmiſt, The Lord hath not dealt ſo with every nation: Pſal. 147.20.Yet this was a prerogative to which Ieruſalem was no ſtranger, all the Prophets were ſet as watchmen upon her walles;Iſa. 62.6. the Baptiſt alſo (who excelled all the Prophets) the Sonne of God himſelfe, and all the Apoſtles were ſent to them: yet after all this, and even then was Ieruſalem deſtroyed. The more labourers in the vineyard, the nigher is it unto burning, if it continue unfruitfull.
Wee have plenty of all things, ſo had Ieruſalem a land flowing with milke and hony.Iſa. 47.7. Babylon ſate as a Queene and no widow; and many who open (as ſaith the Pſalmiſt) their mouthes againſt heaven, Pſal. 73.5.have more then heart could wiſh, and yet have been ſet in ſlippery places: the more wee have received, the more ſuch ought to bee humbled as make not the beſt uſe of it. It is not the preſence, but the good uſe wee make of our temporall fulneſſe, which proveth us to bee Gods ſervants.
Wee have many Profeſſors, men forward in attending Gods ordinances, in the performance of holy duties: So there were alſo in the dayes of our Saviour, but they undertooke their profeſſion upon falſe grounds, for outward things,Ioh 6.26. Ioh. 2.22. and therefore our Saviour would not commit himſelfe unto them. There were many beaſts in the Arke, but not all clean: Foure ſorts of ground received ſeed, but onelyonly one good. Profeſſion without practiſe is odious in Gods preſence; ſuch of all people, are in Gods eye moſt hatefull, to Gods name moſt diſhonuorable, to Gods religion moſt ſcandalous,Tit. 1.16. as profeſſe that they know God, but in workes deny him, being abominable, and diſobedient, and unto every good worke reprobate. As wee looke on what wee have, and are comforted; ſo let us looke on what wee want, and be humbled: and thus conſider,
Firſt, how many ignorant, idle, covetous, corrupt, unprofitable, carnall, and careleſſe Miniſters wee have, who either doe not Gods worke at all, or at leaſt are very careleſſe in the performance of it; leaving their congregations as candleſtickes without a candle, children without a nurſe, families without a ſtewart, ſhips without a pilot. Some Foxes there are among the Shepheards, ſome Drones among the Bees: thus of old, Some were covetous, looking for their gaine from every quarter; ſome dawbed with untempered morter ſome cried, Iſa. 56.11. Ezek. 13.10. Ier. 23.14.Peace, when there was no peace, ſome ſtrengthened the hands of the wicked. Thus of old, and thus now; and thus wee have cauſe of humiliation.
Secondly, how are the painfull and faithfull Miniſters of the Word entertained?1 Kin. 22.8. 2 Chro. 32.16. Jer. 15, 10. Are they not for the moſt part hated, mocked, made as men of cōtention to the whole earth? Doe not the men of the world handle them as Hanuns ſervants did Davids men when they ſhaved off their beards unto the halfe, 2 Sam. 10.4.and cut off their garments to the buttockes; loading them with reproches, depriving them of their maintenance, filling them with manifold diſcomforts, eſteeming powerfull and plaine preaching, with the men of Athens, no better then babbling.Acts 17.18.
Thirdly, what doe wee for the moſt part profit by the labours of Gods Miniſters? Where is our repentance, reformation, new life? Are not a great number of us like Micha the Idolater, that pronounced himſelfe bleſſed, Jud. 17.13becauſe hee had a Levite to his Prieſt, though hee ſtill kept his Idol? And thus a great number bleſſe themſelvs in the naked having of the miniſtery of the Word, though they ſtill retain their Idol, their covetouſneſſe, drunkenneſſe, pride, malice; like the women of whom the Apoſtle ſpeakes, that were alwayes learning, 2 Tim. 3.7and never came to the knowledge of the truth. Story relates of Auguſtus, how in his ſolemne feaſts hee gave gifts, giving to ſome gold, to others trifles: So God in his banqueting houſe, in the uſe of his ordinances, with which hee feaſts and feeds the ſoules of his ſervants, giveth to ſome gold, the ſaving graces of his Spirit, which are more pretious then gold; to others hee gives trifles, common knowledge, hiſtoricall faith, &c. and with this they reſt content.
Fourthly, how great is the number of profane, carnall, and ignorant people? Are they not in reſpect of them that ſhew forth the power of godlineſſe in their converſations, as the Midianitiſh Armie to Gideons three hundred ſouldiers, as the tares over-topping the wheat; the people that truly feare God, are to the reſt but as Lot among the Sodomites, Ier. 2.14. Mat. 7.13.one of a Citie, two of a Tribe, ſaith the Prophet. Straight is the way, & narrow is the gate which leadeth unto life, & few, ſaith Chriſt (few comparatively) are they that find it; and among the great number of impenitent tranſgreſſours, there is no one ſwearer, drunkard, adulterer, idolater, &c. but his ſinne becommeth the ſinne of the kingdome, congregation, place, family where hee lives, hee being a member thereof;Ioſ. 7.12. as the ſinne of Achan became the ſin of the whole Army. And thus it continueth unleſſe wee humble our ſelves for it, ſeeke the pardon, ſtop the courſe, and labour the removall thereof, as the mariners removed Ionah, Jona 1.that the ſtormy tempeſt might be appeaſed.
Fifthly, what entertainment finde ſuch as doe truely make conſcience of their wayes, and refuſe to runne with others into the ſame exceſſe of ryot? Do not the hearts of men riſe againſt them, their tongues reproach them, their hands oppreſſe them?Iſa. 59.15. Doth not hee that departeth from iniquity make himſelfe a prey, as the Sheep to the Lyon, the Dove to the Raven? Hath not our Saviour foretold us,Luke 6.22 that for this their names ſhall bee caſt out as abominable?
Sixthly, what wearineſſe of holy duties, religious exerciſes, as in the dayes of the Prophet they complained of the length of the Sabbaths?Amos 8.5. How untoothſome to many perſons is the doctrine of the Goſpel; it is become like the Manna to Iſrael, Num. 11.5.7.a light bread, they finde no reliſh in it: Gods Ordinances are to many, as Sauls armour unto David, they cannot walke in them.
Seventhly, what reformation have the puniſhments inflicted on us wrought? Have we come forth of theſe as gold out of the fire? Naaman out of Iordan? Nay, may not the Lord ſay of many of us as hee did of Iſrael, Iſa. 1.5.They revolt more and more? What effect have the puniſhments inflicted on other nations taken in us? Have wee feared by the ſight of their ſtrokes? Have wee learned to beware by their harmes? Are we not ſtill ſecure? tread wee not the ſame path? runne wee not our wonted race? hath not the Lord loſt his labour in regard of any reformation on the behalfe of the greateſt number of people? O let us thinke on theſe things, lay them to our hearts, be affected with them,Ja. 4.9, 10. turne our laughter into mourning, humble our ſelves in the ſight of the Lord: Humble your ſelves, and mourne inwardly in your ſoules by grieving, as the Church did,Lam. 1. Lament. 1. Humble your ſelves outwardly, by unfained confeſſion of the ſinnes of your owne ſoules, and the ſinnes of the Church,Dan. 9. Kingdome, Congregation, Towne, Family where you live: Humble your ſelves publickly in the Congregation, as Ezra did;Ezra 10.1 Humble your ſelves privatly, let your ſoules mourne in ſecret, weep as Chriſt over Jeruſalem: Weep, O Miniſters, over your congregations; weep, O Rulers, over your people; weepe, O Maſters of families, over your wives, ſonnes, daughters, ſervants, that the Lord may have merciemercy upon you, pardon your barrenneſſe, and for the time to come make you more fruitfull in all goodneſſe.
This muſt cauſe us to ſtrive under the Uſe 2 meanes, and in the uſe of the meanes, to bee fruitfull in all holineſſe, rich in all grace, as the ſea is full of waters, and the ſtarres in the firmament are full of light. This the Lord (who by his power created us, by his hand ſupporteth us, the Lord who hath all juriſdiction over us, all intereſt in us, before whoſe dreadfull and glorious tribunall every ſoule muſt ſhortly make his appearance) requireth:2 Pet. 3.18 Grow (ſaith the Lord by the Apoſtle) in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: Grow in knowledge, as Schollers in learning, Tradeſmen in skilfulneſſe in the myſteries of their Trade; grow in all grace, as Willowes by the water courſes; Iſa. 44.4.as children by the milke ſuckt from their Nurſes. 1 Pet. 2.2.This is one ſpeciall end of our Saviours incarnation, paſſion, reſurrection, to purifie us to himſelfe,Tit. 2.14 a peculiar people Zealous of good workes. This is a prime and ſingular fruit of the Miniſtery: the clouds are appointed for the watering and making of the earth fruitfull, the builders for the perfecting of the houſe, and the Miniſters for the making of us rich in grace,Eph. 4.11, 13. and perfect to every good work. This is the fervent prayer and ardent deſire of Gods faithfull Miniſters. As the husbandman deſires the field may be fruitfull, and the nurſe that the childe may grow: So doth the ſpirituall husbandmen of Gods vineyard, the nurſes of Gods children, pray that they may bee fruitfull in every good work. Col. 1.10.This is the proper and gracious operation of the Word in the hearts of the Lords people, Mat. 13.and therefore, I beſeech you, give all diligence to make your calling and election ſure, and to abound in all goodneſſe; make the inward and the outward man like the tree bearing twelve ſorts of fruit every monethmonth, Rev. 22.2.be yee furniſhed with all ſorts of ſpirituall fruits, and that at all ſeaſons.
Bee fruitfull in your Underſtandings, enriched in all knowledge; 1 Cor. 1.5know the efficacie of the word of God diſcovering thy ſinne,Heb. 4.12. as a two edged ſword dividing between the bone and marrow; know the power of it awakening thy conſcience, Acts 2.37.as a Trumpet awakeneth the ſleepy; know the vertue of it healing the wounds of thy ſoule, as a patient knowes the vertue of the medicine; as Naaman knew by experience the vertue of the river Iordan waſhing him; as hee that is cold knowes the heat of the fire warming him: Know the Lord as a ſervant his maſter in regard of reverence and ſubjection, as a friend in regard of communion, as a father in regard of affiance and child-like affection.
Bee fruitfull in your Memories, by treaſuring up the teſtimonies of the Lord, as gold, ſilver, pretious jewels in a rich ſtore-houſe; by carrying home the waters which are drawne out of the Wells of ſalvation, as in firme and ſure veſſels; by engraving upon your hearts as letters written with a pen of Iron, or the point of a Diamond, that it may never bee blotted out; by ruminating and meditating thereupon day and night, writing them upon the tables of your h…arts, Pro. 7.2, 3, 4.keeping them as the apple of your eye, binding them as jewels and precious ſtones upon your fingers, in regard of your affection to them, high eſtimation, carefull preſervation, continuall remembrance of them, ſingular delight in them; let them be to you as ſiſters and kinſwomen for your daily commemoration of them, familiar communion and acquaintance with them.
Bee fruitfull in your affections: let your love grow as the waters which flowed out under the Temple, Ezek. 47.5. 1 King. 18 44, 45.as the Cloud which was firſt no bigger then a mans hand, and at length ſo great that it covered the whole heavens; let it grow to a great love, to a flaming and a burning fire, a fire ſo ſtrong that no floods be able to quench it; to a love like Jonathans love to David, a love ſurpaſsing the love of women to their children. O love the Lord all ye his Saints, Pſ. 35.23.ſaith the Pſalmiſt; love him with a childs love, a friends love, a wifes love: love him with all manner of love; love him purely in regard of the ſpring whence your love ariſeth, love him ſincerely for the quality, love him fervently for the meaſure, love him continually, conſtantly, for the time, love him univerſally for the extent; love him in his Attributes as a God of power ſupporting, a God of wiſedome guiding, a God of mercy forgiving; love him in his Creatures as an Almighty Maker, love him in his Word as a King preſcribing lawes of obedience, as a friend revealing his counſels, declaring the riches of his mercies; love him in Chriſt Jeſus as a Father, love him in his children as the fountaine of all grace and ſanctification.
Bee fruitfull in all your ſufferings: As ſpices, the more bruiſed the more fragrant, reſemble the fire in Nymphaeus, which, if we give credit to Pliny, imbribus fit ardentior: let all your ſufferings be as Schoolemaſters teaching, fires purging, trumpets awakening, ſpurres quickning,Zac. 10.9. winds driving neerer to God; come forth of the fornace of affliction, as gold out of the fire; be able to ſay, out of experience, to Satan tempting, to the world hating,Gen. 50.20. traducing, perſecuting, as Joſeph ſaid to his brethren, Ye thought evill againſt me, but God meant it unto good, as it is this day.
Be fruitfull in your Callings: Miniſters in teaching, Magiſtrates in governing, every man in his particular Calling: As every member in the body, the head, eyes, hands, feet, are all profitable in their places; ſo ſhould each of us be fruitfull in the ſtation wherein the Lord hath ſet us. Every wheele in the clock hath his motion, doth his part; every ſtarre in the firmament ſendeth forth his influence, giveth his light: ſo muſt every perſon in that politicall or eccleſiaſtical orb where God hath ſet him, abide and be fruitfull.1 Cor. 7.24.
6 Be fruitfull in all your Actions: in your hearing, as fields receiving good ſeed: in your prayers, draw ſome water out of Gods well; let not thy prayer returne empty,Heb. 10.24. but like Noahs Dove with an olive branch of ſome comfort; in your meetings, Conſider one another, provoke one another to good workes; in your ſpeeches, let your tongue be as choice ſilver, Pro. 10.20, 21.and fruitfull paſture, for the purity, ſincerity, profitableneſſe, & enrichment of others, feeding, filling the hungry, rejoycing the ſorrowfull, ſtrengthening the weake, by your gracious communication as by a ſpirituall banquet; in your families, let every man & wife,Luke 1.6. like Zachary and Elizabeth, walk in all the ordinances of God, and be blameles; every maſter, like Abraham, Gen. 18.19.command his people to keepe the way of the Lord; every ſervant, like Joſeph in Potiphars houſe, ſo religious towards God, ſo obſervant of his maſter, ſo faithfull in his Calling, that all his undertakings may be proſperous; every ſon and daughter ſo attentive to the parents inſtruction, ſo full of grace and godlineſſe, that they may make glad the hearts of their parents, be an ornament to their families, as the flowers to the garden; every ſubject ſo loyall, faithfull, and obſequious to his Soveraigne, that he prove both an honour and ſtrength to the Kingdome; every houſhold, like Philemons houſe, Philem. verſ. 2.a Church of God, in regard of holy inſtructions there delivered, religious duties there obſerved; in regard of the lively faith and holy life of ſuch as live in it: thus let us endevour to be fruitfull, thus let us grow in grace. Hearken, beloved, how Saint Paul perſwades you, We beſeech you, brethren, 1 Theſ. 4.1.and exhort you by the Lord Jeſus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walke and to pleaſe God, ſo ye would abound more and more: Conſider, deare Chriſtians, how Saint Peter preſſeth it,2 Pet. 1.5, 6, 7. Giving all diligence, adde to your faith vertue, and to vertue knowledge, to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godlineſſe. And to the end you may be fruitfull under the meanes, you muſt be,
1 Carefull in preparing: a prepared field is made fruitfull by the ſeed, and a prepared ſoule receiveth much benefit by the ordinances of the Lord; you muſt put iniquity farre away from you, Job 11.13. by deſertion, deteſtation, declination of every occaſion leading thereunto.Gen. 43.24. Joſephs brethren waſhed their feet, made ready their preſent when they were to come before him, and bowed themſelves unto the earth, and then Joſeph made them eat and drinke, and they were merry with him: thus when we come before our Joſeph, our God, and our Chriſt,Iſa. 1.16. we muſt waſh and be cleane; wee muſt make ready our eare to heare, our heart to pray, and preſent our petition before the Lord, and then the Lord Jeſus will ſup with us, feaſt and feed us, and make us merry, Rev. 3.20. Iſa. 56.7.joyfull with him in his Ordinances.
2 Diligent in frequenting the houſe of God, the place where the meanes is: we muſt wiſely forecaſt all our buſineſſe, that we be not hindered; husband our time well, that we may have time to ſpare for good duties. Cleanthes carried water by night that he might not be hindered from ſtudying the Liberall Sciences by day: thus ſhould we rather worke by night, then be abſent from the houſe of Chriſt by day. It is a foule ſhame that Shops, Tavernes, Market places, nay the houſe of Baal,2 Kin. 10.20, 21. ſhould be full, and the houſe of God empty. If you purpoſe to be fruitfull, you muſt attend on the Miniſters of the Lord, as Lydia did on Paul, Act. 16.14the lame man at Betheſda; as Suiters & Clients wait day by day, and houre by houre, at the gates of Princes and Counſellours, to have their ſuits heard cauſes favoured, petitions granted: thus muſt wee wait daily upon the poſts of the Lords houſe, and then we ſhall be bleſſed.Pro. 8.34.
3 Holy, fervent, and frequent prayer: pray for a powerfull and faithfull miniſtry, for a zealous and godly Magiſtracy in every Corporation and Congregation in the Kingdome, for an univerſall reformation in every particular family. Hanna was in bitterneſſe of ſpirit, prayed, 1 Sam. 1.10.and her barren womb was opened and made fruitfull: thus fervent prayer is an inſtrument of great page missing antemnae quò altius malo affiguntur, eò velocius navim impellunt; and they render the reaſon, quia virtus movens, quò eſt remotior à centro, eò velocior & validior: ſo in this caſe the more the mind, thoughts, and affections of a Chriſtian are raiſed up, the more ſtrong, ſpeedy, and cheerfull he is in his ſpirituall motion, the more fruitfull in every religious and holy undertaking: therefore, according to that of the Apoſtle,Col. 3.1, 2. If you be riſen with Chriſt, ſeeke thoſe things which are above, where Chriſt ſitteth at the right hand of God; ſet your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth.
Thus of what we are to gather from the firſt branch of this text, our Saviours Commiſeration; next followeth his Exprobration of them: wherein we may behold, 1. The reaſon why our Saviour did upbraid them; their ignorance, they knew not: They had Cognitionem Hiſtoricam, but not Myſticam; they had Cognitionem ſpeculativam, but not affectivam; they had Cognitionem apprehenſionis, but not Approbationis; they had Cognitionem diſcurſivam, but not Experimentalem. Thus they knew not Chriſt: in regard of affection, he was as a ſtranger whom they loved not; in regard of affiance, as a withered reed on whom they leaned not; in regard of feare, as a Carpenters ſonne, a poore man whom they reverenced not; in regard of joy and eſtimation, hee was to their eye as a face in which is no beauty nor comelineſſe. Thus were they ignorant.
2. Here is the matter whereof they were ignorant, the things belonging to their peace, happineſſe, and everlaſting welfare. Peace cometh of a word ſignifying perfection, & it compriſeth, in a large ſenſe, the whole welfare of ſoule and body. Peace, in regard of the Subject where it reſideth,1 Theſſ. 5.3. Rom. 14.17. Judg. 4.17 is either carnall or ſpirituall: in regard of the Object, or parties with whom wee embrace it, it is either civill between man and man,Gal. 5.22. or Chriſtian between Gods children,Epheſ. 2.14. or divine and heavenly between God and the ſoule of man: in regard of the Adjunct,Pſa. 121.6 2 King. 20 19. Rom. 12.18. Phil. 4.7. it is either publicke of the Church or Common-wealth, or private between our ſelves and our neighbours, or ſecret, between each particular perſon and his owne conſcience. The peace here ſpoken of, is a ſpirituall and heavenly peace between God and their ſoules, a peace in regard of the fountaine, flowing originally from God the Father;Phil. 4.7. Iſa. 53.5. the cauſe meriting, Chriſts ſufferings; the inſtrument revealing and working it,Eph. 6.15. the Goſpel; the medium by and through which it is revealed,Col. 1.20. the Sonne of God the Mediator; the cauſe efficient,Rom. 14.17. Iſa. 54.13. Iſa. 57.20. the holy Spirit; the ſubject receiving it, the heart ſanctified: They knew that true peace conſiſted in having perfect communion with God, but that the preaching of the Goſpel was the inſtrument, and Chriſt the procuring cauſe of it, they knew not: and for this they were upbraided.
Here is the amplification of their ignorance,Mat. 3.1. taken from the ſeaſon, In this thy day. Day generally ſignifieth time, ſpecially a naturall or artificiall day:Ioſ. 11.9. but uſually in Scripture day is three wayes taken, Firſt,Pſa. 90.9. there is dies vitae: as the day is ſhort, full of changes, and attended with the night; ſo is the life of man of ſmall continuance, ſubject to many changes, ever waited on by death. Secondly, there is dies doctrinae: 1 Cor. 3.13.the day is lightſome, diſcovereth things hidden; ſuch is the nature, and ſuch is the effect of the word of God.Rom. 13.12. Thirdly, there is dies gratiae: this is the day here mentioned, a time wherein God offered merciemercy to them; fitly reſembled to the day in regard of Revelation; without the Goſpel it is all night, all darkneſs: In regard of Adornation, the Goſpel, the meanes of grace, is the crowne, honour, beauty of a place or people, as the day is the glory of the world: In regard of Conſolation, the day is pleaſant;Eccleſ 11.7. It is a pleaſant thing to the eye to behold the light, ſo are the meanes and times of grace pleaſant & comfortable to the ſouls of the people: In regard of Diſtinction; the day diſtinguiſheth one thing from another, ſo under the meanes of grace,Jer. 15.19. the pretious are ſeparated from the vile, the choſen from the reprobate: In regard of ſpeedie preterition; a day is ſoone gone, ſo is the meanes of grace ſoone removed, a night of uncomfortable darkneſſe brought upon us, if wee make not vſe of the meanes when we have it: which is the
4th and laſt thing here obſervable, their deprivation of the meanes of grace, the things belonging to their peace were hidden from their eyes: the puniſhment of their former ignorance, contempt, rebellion, barrenneſſe, ingratitude, they were left in their blindneſſe. From the exclamation and amplification, our Saviour upbraiding them for their ignorance, depriving them of the meanes of life for their barrenneſſe, blindneſſe, diſobedience under it, we may learne, that
Doct. It is very dangerous and fearfull for any people or perſon to neglect the meanes and times of grace which God doth offer them.
There was a Law in the dayes of Moſes, that when they came to fight againſt a Citie,Deut. 20.10, 11, 12, 13. peace muſt bee proclaimed, if they would not accept the peace proffered, and become tributaries, then they ſhould beſiege it; and when the Lord had delivered it into their hands, they ſhould ſmite every male thereof with the edge of the ſword: In like ſort, the Lord by the miniſtery of the word, laieth ſiege to our ſoules, proffereth conditions of peace; but if wee refuſe peace when hee offers it, and will not bee reconciled, and will not become tributaries to him, but deny to him the tribute of love above all creatures, the tribute of obedience before all perſons, the tribute of dependance in all eſtates and conditions, the tribute of contrition, confeſſion, for all offences; the tribute of humiliation at the apprehenſion of our preſent vileneſſe, the tribute of thankfulneſſe for all received mercies; if wee refuſe this, the Lord will beſiege us with an Armie of fearfull plagues and puniſhments, and at length miſerably deſtroy us; hee will have no pitie, no compaſſion upon us. Hear what the Lord hath, to this purpoſe, ſpoken by Solomon, Proverbs 1. verſ. 23.Pro. 1.23. There is Gods invitation ſtrengthened by the conſideration of paſt and preſent corrections, and the promiſe of future kindneſſe, verſ. 24, 25. There is their refuſall, obſtinacie, rebellion againſt him, their ſlighting of Gods counſels, wearineſs under his corrections. Verſ. 26, 27, 28. There is laid open the miſery of their condition, the wrath of God againſt them, the bitter fruits of their rejection of that mercy which God did proffer to them: For this God threatned to leave the people in their ſinne, Becauſe I have purged thee, Ezek. 24.13.and thou waſt not purged (ſaith the Lord unto Jeruſalem) thou ſhalt not bee purged from thy filthineſſe any more, till I have cauſed my fury to reſt upon thee. I the Lord have ſpoken it, it ſhall come to paſſe, and I will doe it. I will not goe back, neither will I ſpare, neither will I repent, &c. To this accordeth that commination of our Saviour againſt the falſe Propheteſſe, and ſoule-ſeducing Jezabel, Rev. 2 21.I gave her ſpace to repent of her fornication, and ſhe repented not; there is our Saviours patience, merciemercy, long-ſuffering.ve…ſe 22. Behold (ſaith Chriſt) I will caſt her into a bed, a bed of affliction, & them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their evill deeds. Heb. 3.16.18.Some (ſaith the Apoſtle) when they had heard, provoked, & thereupon the Lord ſware they ſhould not enter into his reſt: and the eſtate of ſuch people is very dangerous and fearfull: For,
Reaſon. 1 It is uncertaine, Firſt, whether God will continue the meanes of grace.Propter incertitudinem. If a man knock long at a doore, and none open, he departeth. Our Saviour, Cant. 5. knocked, by his word inſtructing, inviting; by his rod chaſtiſing, by his Spirit moving, by his mercies, long-ſuffering alluring; he waited long, in the dew and in the raine, enduring many ſorrowes,Cant. 5.2, 3. troubles, afflictions, in himſelfe and in his Miniſters; but becauſe his Spouſe refuſed the proffers of his love, hee withdrew himſelfe, hee ſtopt his eare, hee would not heare in her diſtreſſe. Secondly, it is uncertaine whether our life will continue:Iam. 4.14. Our life is but a vapour, and wee know not what ſhall be on the morrow, Nemo tam divos habet faventes, craſtinum ut poſsit ſibi polliceri. Sen. qui poenitenti veniam ſpoſpondit, peccanti diem craſtinum non promiſit. Greg. Thirdly, if both meanes and life continue, and wee for the preſent refuſe to make uſe of it, it is very uncertaine whether God will give his bleſſing to make the meanes effectuall. God may leave us under his ordinances, as rockes in the midſt of rivers,Iſa. 59.10. as blinde men under the Sunne at noone day; hee may ſuffer his word to prove the ſavour of death unto death, 2 Cor. 2.14.make what ſhould have been for our welfare to be an occaſion haſtening our ruine.
It is not in our power to repent, and turne to God when we liſt.Propter impotentiam. 2 Sam. 3.32. David in his life time complained of the ſonnes of Zervia, that they were too ſtrong for him: And wee may truly complaine of Satan and his ſonnes, his curſed birth within us, (I meane our corruptions) that they bee too ſtrong for us: wee may imagine, as Sampſon in another caſe did, that we have power to awaken, riſe up, goe forth from the ſervitude of ſinne and Satan when wee pleaſe; but it will bee at laſt with us, as with Sampſon, our ſtrength will faile us, the Philiſtines will bee upon us, prevaile againſt us;Ezek. 36.26, 27. we may as ſoon turne the ſtony rock into ſoft ground, raiſe the dead out of the grave, make the brambles bear figges, as by our owne power raiſe our ſelves to a new life,Epheſ. 2.1 Mat. 7.16 turne our ſtony into a ſoft and tender heart, bring forth the ſweet figges and pleaſant grapes of godly ſorrow, true repentance, a lively faith, fervent love, ſincere obedience: This is a worke ſutable to none but Gods finger. Hee that raiſed the dead, Ioh. 11.44 Iſa. 35.5, 6 Exo. 17.6.that turned the barren wilderneſſe into a fruitful field, that fetcht water out of the ſtony rocke, hee alone can change the heart, make us fruitfull in the ſaving grace of the Spirit.1 Cor. 3.6 Paul plants and Apollo waters, but the Lord doth give the increaſe: It is God that openeth the heart of Lydia. Act. 16.14When Paul preacheth, and the Lord is a free agent, hee communicateth his grace when and where he pleaſeth.Ioh. 3.8.
Sinne will grow ſtrong, and Satan will fortifie his holds,Propter incrementum if the meanes of grace bee neglected, the reformation of our wayes procraſtinated: A diſeaſe neglected growes incurable, an enemy let alone becomes invincible, and ſinne gathers much ſtrength by continuance; it blindes the underſtanding, dulls the affection, hardens the heart, ſeares the conſcience, makes uncapable of holy counſell, unfit for every godly undertaking. Difficile eſt ab uſitatis deſinere, difficile eſt à familiaribus abſtrahi. Greg. Can the Ethiopian (ſaith the Prophet) change his skinne, Ier. 23.13or the Leopard his ſpots? then may yee alſo doe good that are accuſtomed to doe evill.
This ſerveth for the ſharpe reproofe of ſuch as procraſtinate their repentance, Uſe. ſtop their eares to preſent invitations, ſhut their eyes againſt the preſent light which ſhineth to them, regard not the day of their viſitation;I…a. 55.6. who ſeek not the Lord while hee may bee found, but, like the ſluggard, cry, Pro. 6.10.A little more ſleepe, a little more ſlumber, a little more folding of the hands upon the bed of ſinne, till ſinne, Satan, hell, come like armed men upon them, and they are found unable to reſiſt them. Thus the old world, all the time of Noahs preaching, and preparing the Arke, neglected their day, till the flood came upon them;Mat. 25.1. the fooliſh virgins ſlumbred till the bridegroome came, entred in, and ſhut them out, having no oyle in their lampes: Some out of the ſtrength of their love to ſinne, repoſe themſelves, after many warnings, in her lap, as Sampſon did in Dalilahs lap, till ſhee delivered him into the hands of the Philiſtines: Some out of hope to repent hereafter,Acts 24.25. Rom. 2.5. Pſa. 95.10 Job 21.14 or in hope of better leaſure; ſome out of the hardneſſe of their hearts, ſome out of their unbeliefe, ſome out of their Atheiſticall and baſe conceits of a religious and godly life,Rev. 3.17. ſome out of ſelfe-conceit, thoughts of ſelfe-ſufficiencie and preſent fulneſſe;Luk. 14.18. ſome through multiplicitie of worldly buſineſſe, ſome by the perſwaſions of carnall friends, are hindered from attending the meanes of grace, from the reformation of their wayes; As the Levite was ſo long detained by his father in law, Iudg. 19.5that hee loſt his Concubine by the way, ſhee came ſhort home: thus many of us are ſo feaſted by the world, ſo detained from day to day, that wee loſe our ſoules by the way, wee come ſhort of heaven and eternall happineſſe at laſt. It is marvellous to conſider, how in all matters of this life wee take the time, make uſe of the opportunitie: If the body bee diſeaſed, we goe preſently to the Phyſician, with the woman of Shunem wee ſaddle the horſe,2 King. 4. and ride in all haſte; if fire bee kindled in the houſe, wee inſtantly runne for water to quench it; if a citie be beſieged, like the men of Gibeon, Ioſ. 10.6.wee ſpeedily ſend for ſtrength to remove it; if wee bee rob'd, wee forthwith make hue and cry, that the thiefe may be apprehended: Husbandmen for the earth, Mariners for the ſea, Merchants for the Mart, and every Smith ſtrikes while the iron is hot: And is it not a ſhame that wee, whoſe ſoules are ſo dangerouſly diſeaſed, an infernall fire burning within us, an armie of unclean ſpirits laying ſiege againſt us, many theeves robbing us of the beſt among all jewels, & yet wee move not, ſtirre not, ſtrive not for deliverance? Wee have the beſt ſeed to ſow, the richeſt voyage to make, the chiefeſt merchandiſe to buy, and yet wee regard not our day, eſteeme not the time of our viſitation, entertaine not the proffer which God of his free and abundant merciemercy doth make. O beloved, conſider,
Firſt, how juſt it will bee with God not to heare us in our miſery, if wee refuſe to heare him inviting us in the multitude of his merciemercy: ſhall the maſter heare the ſervant requeſting, if the ſervant regard not the maſter requiring? Remember the words of a dying man, of a dying King, a holy, a wiſe King, a man after Gods owne heart, the words of King David to his ſonne Solomon, 1 Chron. 28.9.Thou my ſonne Solomon, know thou the God of thy father, and ſerve him, with a perfect heart, and with a willing minde: for the Lord ſearcheth all hearts, and underſtandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: If thou ſeeke him, hee will bee found of thee, but if thou forſake him hee will caſt thee off for ever.
Secondly, doth not our refuſall of merciemercy when it is offered, cut off all hope of merciemercy for hereafter? Doth not the rejecting of a proffered pardon turn the Kings favour into anger againſt the malefactor? Did not this give Chriſt occaſion to withdraw his merciemercy from Jeruſalem? O Jeruſalem, Mat. 23.37, 38.Jeruſalem, thou that killeſt the Prophets, and ſtoneſt them that are ſent unto thee, how often would I have gathered you together, even as a Hen doth gather her Chickens under her wing, and yee would not! Behold your houſe is left unto you deſolate.
Thirdly, will not our continuance in ſinne make our repentance (if ever we doe repent) ſo much the more grievous, full of terrour, vexation and anguiſh? Where trees have growne long, and the roots are deepe, the earth is very much rent and torne before the tree is plucked up. Doth not the traveller who hath walked long and farre out of his way, goe backe with much ſorrow, ſadneſs, and griefe of heart?
Fourthly, will God be well pleaſed that we ſhall ſpend all the flower and ſtrength of our time in Satans ſervice, and when wee are old, and can ſerve ſin no longer, come crowd and thruſt our ſelves into his ſervice?
Fifthly, doe not wee hereby loſe much ſpirituall riches, bleſſed communion and acquaintance with God, comfortable aſſurance of joy and glory in the heavens, that comfort, peace, pleaſure, rejoycing, contentment which infinitely ſurpaſſeth all the contentment in the world? O therfore let us not any longer delay our converſion, put off our repentance, neglect the day of our viſitation, let us not be like Jeruſalem, ſtrangers to the things belonging to our peace; but let us thinke upon the Lords patheticall and manifold expoſtulations, asking,Pro. 1.22. How long, yee ſimple ones, will yee love ſimplicitie, and ſcorners delight in their ſcorning, and fooles hate knowledge? Interrogating alſo with his people,Ezek. 18.30, 31. Repent and turne your ſelves from all your tranſgreſsions, make you a new heart and a new ſpirit; for why will yee dye, O houſe of Iſrael? Call to minde alſo, and thinke ſeriouſly upon the Lords free and gracious invitations,Ier. 3.22. bidding us by the Prophet, Turne, O back-ſliding children, and I will heale your back-ſlidings. Zech. 1.3.And againe, Turne yee unto mee, Mat. 11.28.and I will turne to you. And, Come to mee all yee that be heavie loaden, and I will refreſh you. Thinke on this, and Remember your Creator in the dayes of your youth: Eccleſ. 12.1.Remember him as a Maker to depend upon him, as a Father to love him, as a Maſter to feare him, as a King to obey him, as a Friend to rejoyce in him, as a Shield to defend you, a Store-houſe to miniſter all fulneſſe to you. And as the Angell charged Lot, Gen. 19.17. Eſcape for thy life, looke not behinde thee, neither ſtay in all the plaine, eſcape to the mountaines leſt thou bee conſumed: ſo let mee charge, exhort, intreat, perſwade every perſon that tenders his owne everlaſting peace, glory, comfort, to haſten out of the Sodome of ſinne, to eſcape from his uncleanneſſe, not to looke back with love or liking upon any way which God hath forbidden, leſt his conſuming wrath ſeize upon him, but ſhine more and more like the Sunne unto the perfect day: Goe forward, like a good traveller; bee filled with all goodneſſe, as the ſea with waters, and you ſhall have a reſting place in Sion, drinke of the rivers which ſhall fill your ſoules with the choyceſt pleaſures, and bee more glorious then the Sunne for ever in the heavens.
FINIS.
THE LORD JESUS THE SOULES LAST REFUGE.
By Alexander Groſſe, B. of Divinity, at the funerall of Mr. S. H.
PSAL. 73.26.
My fleſh and my heart faileth me, but GOD is the ſtrength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
PSAL. 141.8.
Mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the LORD, in thee is my truſt, leave not my ſoule deſtitute.
PSAL. 142.4, 5.
I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know mee, refuge failed me, no man cared for my ſoule.
I cryed unto the LORD, I ſaid, Thou art my Refuge, and my Portion in the land of the living.
LONDON, Printed by R. Young for John Bartlet, at the gilt Cup in Pauls Church-yard. 1640.