Three Sermons 2, Sermon 1
THREE SERMONS:
Aremediè for Securitie.
The ruine of Gods Enemies.
The Worldlings Downfall.
By SAMUEL HIERON.
2. Pet. 1.13.
I thinke it meete as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stirre you vp by putting you in remembrance.
PRINTED BY CANTRELL LEGGE. Printer to the Vniversitie of Cambridge. 1609.
And are to be sold by SAMUEL MACHA… in … Churchyard at the signe of the Bulls head.
A Remedie for Securitie.
IAMES 4.9.
Let your Laughter be turned into mourning, and your Ioy into heauines.
The occasion of choosing this Text.IT was a good piece of pollicie which the King of Aram commanded his two and thirtie captaines when they were to goe out to battell against Israel: Fight (saide he) neither with small nor great, saue onelyonly against the King of aL. King. 22.31.Israel. He knew, that the King beeing once slaine, the whole armie would the sooner be discomfited. The like pollicie, I thought very fitting for me to obserue at this time. Many and great are the sinnes of this generation, and (as it was said of Sodom) the crie of them is come vp before the bGen. 18.21.Lord: But there is one grand-sinne, vponupon which all the rest hauehave their dependance, which, if we whose office it is to fight the good fight of c1. Tim. 6.12.faith, might be so happie as to subdue, doubtlesse we should see Sathan fall downe from heauen like lightning dLuk. 10.18., and many come to amendment of life out of his snare, which are (now) taken of him at his will e2. Tim. 2.26.. And this is the sinne of Securitie. Against this I hauehave thought good to bend my whole force at this time, and for that ende, I hauehave out of this brooke of S. Iames his Epistle, chosen this clause, as a smooth stone, by which I may (if the Lord shall please so to blesse my leuelling) smite this Goliath in the forehead, and make it to fall groneling to the earth f1. Sam. 17.40.49.which eueryevery where, and in eueryevery place doth (like that monster of the Philistims) so intolerably blaspheme the liuing God. This is my generall drift, and this is also (as I may so call it) the Shaft, which I hauehave chosen out of the Lords quiuer for this purpose.
The …sion of ….The words may be deuided into two parts: The first is, a Restraint from something which is euill; Laughter and Ioy. The second is, a perswasion to a Good contrarie thereunto, Mourning and Heauines. Of both these in course.
In handling the first part,The 1. Part. it must first be enquired what Laughter it is, and what Ioy, against which S. Iames setteth himselfe in this place.What Laught…r & Ioy S. Ia…es … …eth. Laughter, is one of those endowments with which God furnished the Nature of man at his first creation, and therefore cannot be simply euill. Againe it is saide, that Abraham gGe… 17.17.laughed when God promised him a sonne, which generally is interpreted to be that Reioycing of his in the Day of Christ, which our Sauiour himselfe reporteth of himhI…h. 8.56. for which cause Izhak had his name giuen him by Gods appointmentiGen. 17.19. as a memoriall thereof, it beeing as much to say in English as Laughter. When the Lord brought againe the captiuitie of Zion (said the thankefull people after the returne frō Babylon) then was our mouth filled with Laughter kPsal. 126.1.2.. The same may be also saide of Ioy. For among the Fruits of the Spirit, Ioy is numbredlGal. 5.22., and it is a blessing promised, that the voice of Ioy shall be in the Tabernacles of the Righteous mPsal. 118.15.. Therefore to auoide all ambiguitie of tearmes, and to know precisely and distinctly, what it is which S. Iames here disswades, we must thus distinguish. There is a twofold Ioy, A tw…f…ld Ioy. A Holy Ioy.or Laughter mentioned in Scripture: The one a Holy Ioy; The other a Hellish Ioy. The Holy ioy hath for the author of it, the Spirit of God; therefore it is called Ioy in the holy Ghost nRo…. 14.17.: the matter of it, is the light of Gods countenance oPsal. 4.6.7.the assurance of his grace in Christ, the feeling ones selfe to be clothed with the garments of saluation pIsa. 61.10.the measure of it such that it is vnspeakable q1. P…t. 18.; the perpetuitie such, that no man can take it from those that hauehave inrIoh. 16.22.: None can conceiue it but he which feeleth it, the stranger shall not meddle with it, saith SalomonsProu. 14.10.. The fruits of it, are, Ioy in the word tIer. 15.16.; Ioy in the house of God uPsal. 122 1.; Ioy in the liberty and free Preaching of the Gospel xPhil. 1.18.; Delight in the companie of Gods Saints yPsal 16.3., Ioy in Afflictions zRom. 5.3.Ioy in the Conuersion of othersaAct. 11.18.: Base account of the worldbPhil. 3.8.. This is a Holy Ioy; neither is it the purpose of the Apostle to restraine this Ioy, but to enforce it rather: for indeede the Mourning which he perswades, makes way for this Ioy. Now the other Ioy is a Hellish Ioy, A Hellish Ioy.the other Laughter is deuillish. Salomon calleth them all Fooles whose hearts are enueigled with itcEccle. 7.6.. Peter tearmeth them bruit beasts lead with sensualitie d2. Pet 2.12.. This Ioy is either in wicked things, or els in things (in their owne nature tolerable) after a wicked manner. First, it is in wicked things. It is a pastime to fooles to do wickedly eProu. 14.23.. It is a Ioy to drunkards to be at it earely, and to sit till they be inflamed fIs…. 5 11.The Twilight is welcome to the Adulterer gIob. 24.15.. The griping Nimrods of the world, reioyce in their taking men vponupon aduantages, they dance vponupon the thresholds of those which are fallen into their hands proudlyhZeph. 1.9., & they spoile the poor when they hauehave drawne him to their net iPsal. 10.9.. Ahab is soone out of his sullen humor, when news is come that Naboth is deadk1. King. 21.16.. The enuious and malitious person is mooued to Ioy at the destruction of him whom he hates lIob 31.29.. The profane ones make themselues merry with the disgrace of those which runne not with them to the same excesse. Ishmael giereth at Isaac mGen 21.9., and the Philistims must hauehave Samson in to make them pastime nI…d. 16.25.. Holy Iob was as a tabret to the godlesse onesoIob. 17.6., and the Drunkards made songs vponupon Dauid p…sal. 69.12.. Thus this ioy is in euill things. Or els (secondly) it is in allowable things after an vngodly manner. Honour, Wealth, Prosperitie, Beautie, a Table richly deckt, an ouerflowing cup, a faire house, &c. these things in themselues are not Euill, yet there is a Ioy in these of which I may say as Paul did of the Corinthians Reioycing, that it it is not good q1. Cor. 5.6.: As, namely when men trust in them, and boast of them rPsal. 49.6., and set their hearts thereon sPsal. 62.10.. Thus that vain-glorious Haman, hauing crept into some grace at Court, when he comes home, must needes send and call for his friends, to tell of the glorie of his Riches, and of all the things wherein the King had promoted him tEst. 5 10.11.. Thus Nebuchadnezzar walketh in his Royall palace, and looking about him, saith, Is not this great Babel which I hauehave uDan. 4 27.built? Thus the proud women in the Prophets time, walked with stretched out necks xIsa. 3.16., priding themselues in their beautie. Thus the Epicures and belly-gods in Amos his daies, ate the lambes of the flocke, and calues out of the stall, and dranke wine in bowles yAmo. 6.4.6.. Thus the Merchants of Tyre, which was the Marte of the people for many Yles zEzeck. 27 3., did lift vp their hearts because of their Riches aEzeck. 28.5.. Here is Ioy in things not Euill, but yet after a manner which is not good. Now the fruits and effects of this Ioy are thus registred in Scripture: Deepe securitie; They knew nothing (saith Christ, of the reioycing people in the daies of Noe) till the flood came bMatth. 24.39.: Secret soothing and flattering of the HeartcDeut. 29.19.: Confident expectation of nothing but Quietnes (I shall neuer be mooued dPsal. 10.6.:) Carelesnes to inquire after matters of religiō, (The wicked is so proud that he seeketh not eVer. 4.: Putting farre off the euill day fAm. 6.3., The vision is for many daies to come gEzec. 12.27.. Intolerable Pride ioyned with contempt of others, (Pride is as a chaine vntounto them hPsal. 73.6.: No respect to the necessities of Gods children, (No man is sorie for the affliction of Ioseph iAm. 6.6.:) A mocking of Gods Messengers k2. Chr. 36.16.: A desperate resolution to take pleasure while it is to be had, and not to feare the day of vengeance, (Let vsus eate and drinke, to morrow we shall die l1. Cor. 15.32..) Thus hauehave I laboured to let you see out of the Scripture, what Laughter and what Ioy it is which Iames intendeth here. In a word, thus: It is a fleshly Ioy, delighting in things simply Euill, or els in the good blessings of God, after a grosse and sensuall sort, by which the heart is so setted vp, and so lulled …sleepe, that it makes men runne on in a kind of secure course, without any awe of Gods maiestie, or constant care to auoide the wrath which is to come. This is the short of it: and, the Necessitie of seeking to suppresse this Ioy, is the Doctrine commended vntounto vsus in this place.
Reasons to shew the equitie of this Doctrine,The substance of the doctrine of the 1. part. & the Reasons to confirme it. and by which to enforce it vponupon eueryevery of our soules, may be these.
Reason. 1 1. It is directly contrarie to that which the spirit of God perswades all Christians vntounto. It is their dutie to hate euill mPsal. 97.10., therefore not to delight in it: to weepe for it (as we shall see anon) therefore not to laugh at the committing it. They are commanded to set their affections vponupon the things aboue nCol. 3.2., and therfore not to ensnare their hearts with these baser ioyes: They are taught to seeke after Durable riches oProu. 8.18., therefore not to dote vponupon fading wealth: after a house not made with hands, but eternall in the heauens p2. Cor. 5.1. Heb. 13.14., and therefore not to be bewitched with the conueniencie of earthly dwellings: after Sitting at table in the kingdome of God qLuk. 13.2…., and therefore not to reioyce in earthly belly-cheare: after the Honour which shall be to the saints rPsal. 149 9., and therefore not to be puffed vp with worldly pompe: to long for the Congregation of the first borne, and the spirits of iust and p…rfit men sHeb. 12.23., and therefore not to place contentment in carnall fellowship. This is then one reason: This Ioy is directly contrarie to the maine streame of Christianitie. It is a reason of Pauls in some things. This becommeth Saints tEphe. 5.3., This becommeth the Gospel uPhil. 1.27., therefore it must be: The reason is the same in this: This becommeth not Saints: This becommeth not the Gospel, therefore it must not be.
Reason. 2 2. This kind of reioycing, is neuer without the mixture of some secret bitternes. Euen in Laughter the heart is sorrowfull xProu. 14.13.. And there is a double reason for it. 1. Carnall men seldome hauehave their desire in eueryevery particular, and the want of that which is desired breeds a vexation greater by degrees then the contentment in the things enioyed. Take Haman for an example: He went from court with a glad heart, and at home vanted of his honour, yet (saith he) All this doth not auaile me, as long as I see Mordecai the Iewe sitting in the Kings gater. …. 1….He was so haunted with a spirit of Emulation against Mordecai, that it did distast all that sweetnes which he conceiued in his honour. And still, it is (ordinarily) so in the prouidence of God, that worldly men hauehave in their prosperities something or other comes athwart them, which galleth them as much, as the accomplishment of their desires in other things may seeme to content them. 2. Inward terrours (as furies) do alwaies follow those, who doe willingly cherish in their bosomes, and practise in their liues any knowne corruption. A sound of feare is in their eares zIob. 15.21., and it is their iudgement to hauehave trembling heartsaDeut. 28.6….. Well may they set a face vponupon the matter, and feast and drinke away their cares, yet they can hauehave no true inward quiet. For there is no peace to the wicked, saith God bIsa. 57.21.. So then this is the second reason: It is no solide, but a meerely superficiall Ioy, and therefore it is an idle thing to entertaine it.
Reason. 3 3. It is a reioycing of no continuance. The reioycing of the wicked is short, and the ioy of Hypocrites is but a moment cIob. 20.5.. Salomon likeneth it to a fire of Thornes vnderunder a pot dEccle. 7.8., which crackleth and blazeth awhile, but suddenly dieth. This kind of Ioy is truly called short in two respects. 1. Because the things themselues reioyced in, are so subiect to hazard. Honour a blast: Beautie a perishing flower: Wealth hath wings like an egle eProu. 23 5., and is sudenly gone:Non amo illam fortunam rudentibus aptam. Tusc. Qu. and as the heathen said of the wealth of Marchants that it hangeth vponupon Ropes, so it may be said of all the contentments of the world, they doe not hang vponupon a three-fold cord, which (as the saying is) cannot be easily broken fEccle. 4.12., but vponupon a single twine, which is snapt in sunder with a twitch: And they which looke highest and beare the greatest port, amp; most study the perpetuating of their fortunes, are but in the state of Counters, which now stand for pounds, and forthwith go but for a farthing. 2. Because life it selfe, in which all these things are enioyed, is but short; Our d…ies are more swift then a post, they passe with the most swift ships, and as the Egle which flieth to the pray gIob. … 25 26.: Now carnall men in their reioycing hauehave but an estate for tearme of life at the vtmost: For, when a wicked man dieth his hope perisheth hP…o…. 11.7., and what hope hath an hypocrite if God take away his soule: iI…b 27 8.so then, if this Laughter be but momentanie, if this ioy be but for a season kHeb 11.2…. P… p ac…t & vide…, sed …d vid …que placetq…e non …amen in uen… — Oui… d… Narc…so.; surely the counsell of Iames aduising vsus to reiect it, is not vaine: For what wise man will set his heart vponupon that, which (like a shadowe in the water) he may see and affect and catch after, but can neuer lay hold on.
Reason. 4 4. The conclusion of this Ioy is fearefull. The end of it is heauineslProu. 14.13., and Woe be to you which now laugh, for you shall waile and weepe mLuk. 6.25.. If you aske what Heauines: Heare what Abraham said to the rich man in hell: Thou in thy life time receiuedst thy pleasures, now therefore thou art tormented nLuk. 16.25.. Thus in the end, it bites like a serpent oProu. 23 3…., and leades downe to the chambers of death pProu. 7 27.: Here is Ioabs Kisse attended vponupon with a secret stabq2. Sam. 20.10., & wheras the pleasures of sinne were but for a season rHeb. 11.25., the woe which followeth will be perpetuall. The worme dieth not, the fire neuer goeth out sMa…k. 9.44.: The breath of the Lord, like a riuer of brimstone doth kindle it n=t" Isa. 30.33.. This is the last reason but not of the least validitie. The wise mans Eies are in his head saith Salomon uEccle. 2.14.. He looketh not onelyonly vponupon the present face of things, but considereth before what the issue will be. It is no good purchase, to procure an endles woe, for a little sliding shadow of contentment. Thus I hauehave laboured to fortifie S. Iames his counsell with foure effectuall reasons, that so we may hauehave no colour of reason to reiect it. This carnal… ioy, if it be againtst the generall drift of Christianitie, if it hauehave not that fulnes of conte…tment which it promiseth, if it be of no continuance, if it will certainely set in such a cloud, out of which will arise an eternall tempest neuer to be blowne ouer with any tract of time, how must not the counsell giuen be worthie to be accounted of, which aduiseth vsus to tur…e our Laughter into another tune, and our secure I…y, into some sadder qualitie. I hauehave expounded and prooued the doctrine, now let me make vse.
This doctrine well agreeth with the Times.The VsUs…. Nineueh was called a Reioycing City xL… 2.15., this may truely be tearmed a Reioycing age; and like the people of Laish, we dwell carelesse, quiet, and sureyI…. 1… …. in our owne opinion. EueryEvery man sings a Requiem to his owne heart. God hath of his goodnesse blessed vsus with peace, and peace (through our corruption) hath brought forth intolerable securitie. Religion is become nothing but a matter of Title, we hauehave a name (as was said of SardizR…. ….1.,) but all is little other then a very vizard of godlinesse. Are we not all generally without any feare of euill? Doth not eueryevery man applaud himselfe in his course, and make himselfe beleeue that his fashion and carriage is as it ought to be? Doth not euerie companie, carry the very face of carnall quietnesse, men vpholding and beating vp one another (like the stones in an Arch) in their carelesnesse? Examine our thoughts, consider our speeches, see into our houses, looke abroad vponupon the current of the Times, and see whether pleasure and Epicurisme, and that mad mirth (which Salomon speakes ofa…ccle. 2.2.) hauehave not engrossed the greatest part. I would it had but a weeke (which yet is a very vnreasonable disproportion) for one serious minute about matters of godlinesse. This is made to be the very Ende of all: And as it was a Lawe in Ahashuerosh his court (beeing giuen to pleasure and iollitie,) that no man might enter it, being cloathed with sackcloth bEst. 4.2., which is a mourners weede, so, nowe a dayes men cannot abide that which may minde them any way to intermit their carelesnesse: A discourse o… conference of religion dasheth all, and seemeth alwaies as vnseasonable, as is the snowe in summer cProu. 26.1.. A sermon of repentance is the very Burden of the Lord: either we be like Faelix dAct. 24.26., not at leisure to heare it, or we make iests with our mouths eBu…e 33 …., and as old Lot to his profane sonnes in Law, so we seeme to many as though we did mocke fGen. 19.14.: say we what we will, you will say to your selues, we shal… hauehave peace gDe…. 2….19., the Euill shall not come hAm ….….. Thus we stop the Eare like the Adder iPsal 58 4., and although the Lord …ing many alarmes to awake vsus f…om the bed of securitie, yet we resolue (like the strumpet in Salomon) to take our sillkPro 17.18., and determine (as those in Ieremies time) to do… whatsoeuer thing goe…h out of our owne mouth lIer. 4.15.. This is the sickenesse of the times, a disease which hath spread it selfe in…o eueryevery place. I say as Christ did to the accu…ers of the Adulnesse, Let him that is cleere herein, cast the first stone mIob ….….at the application of this point. For albeit I knowe, some hauehave some better care then the multitude, yet I am sure, that the fiue wiser virgins, slumbred and slept while the bridgroome taried long, as well as the fiue foolish nMat ….2….: and therefore we shall not neede to shift off this doctrine from our selues to others, and to say, This is good for such or such, but we may say eueryevery one to his owne soule, It is euen I to whom this belongeth. Wherefore seeing this is a matter which concernes all, I pray you let it be entertained by all: Let vsus rouze vp our selues, let vsus not crie with the sluggard, yet a little sleepe, a little slumber oProu. 6.10., but let vsus make hastpPsal. 119.6…. with Dauid, and let vsus bind our selues by a holy vow to cast away this hardned, brutish, presuming carelesnesse, as it were a menstruous cloth, and to say vntounto it, Get thee hence qIsa. 30 32.: Otherwise vnlesse we doe euen striue against this bewitching euill out of hand, we shall euen cleane be hardened with the deceitfulnesse of sinne rHeb.3.13., we shall freeze vponupon our dregs sZoph ….1…., and mooue the Lord to giuegive vsus ouer with that fearefull doome, He that is filthie, let him be filthie tRe…. 22.11.. And surely if God might please so to blesse my speech, as that you might be mooued by it to thinke seriously with your owne soules, how true it is in this, which Abner said to Ioab when the people fought one against another, namely, that it will be bitternesse in the latter ende u…., you would then say to me as Dauid did to Abigaile, Blessed be thy Counsell x….. And so hoping that this first obseruation shall not vtterly fall to the ground without fruit, I come to the second, touching the contrary good which is perswaded.
And this (indeede) is still the remarkeable method of the Scripture, first to perswade a desisting from Euill, and then to stirre vp to the practise of good. Cease to doe Euill, learne to doe well yIsa. ….16.17.. Abhorre that which is Euill, cleaue to that which is good. zRom. 12.9.To break off an euill course, and so to stoppe, is but the one half of a Christians dutie: To leaue one bad fashion, and then to begin another, is but an exchange of sinne, and no repentance.
The 2. part with the doctrine thereof. What mourning & heauinesse i… meant.Now the good commended here vntounto vsus is set downe by two names, Mourning and Heauines. In handling hereof it shall be our first inquirie to know what Mourning and what Heauinesse it is, here ment. As I said of Ioy, so I must of Mourning, it must necessarily be distinguished, and that by the Apostles direction. There is a Worldly Mourning, and there is a Godly Mourning a2. Cor. 7.10. A …ofold mourning. 1. W…rldly m…r…ing.. The Worldly Mourning, is a griefe and passion of the heart for worldly things, or else for spirituall things in a worldly respect. Both the branches of this worldly sorrow are ordinarie and common. EueryEvery naturall man hath these affections to be grieued for losses of goods, of honours, of friends, &c. with paines and anguishes of bodie: Many are affected with these things extraordinarily. Now although these Touches are not simply euill (for it is a wickednes to be without naturall affection b2. …. 3.3.,) yet the aime of S. Iames is not vntounto them: There is another Branch of this Worldly Sorrow, the matter whereof is spirituall, but the respects, carnall. Ahab was humbledc1. King. 21.27. Esau weptdGen. 27.38. Iudas was deepely touchedeMatth. 27.3.. Here was Heauines, yea and the causes thereof were spirituall. Ahab for his oppression, Iudas for his trechery, Esau for the losse of the blessing: but the respects were not sutable. It was for the danger of Euil, and not for the Euill of Euill. Thus a man may be grieued, and yet neue… be saued. This kind of sorrow may be as a needle to p icke and to pierce the heart, and to make way for that true griefe, but it is not properly that which is ment in this place. For this sorrow in it selfe, and in it owne nature, if there be no more in it then I hauehave said, causeth death f2. Cor. 7.10.. Now the other Mourning is a Godly Mourning, that is, a Mourning for sinne because it is sinne, a breach of Gods will,2. Godly mourning. and an offence to his Maiestie. This is that very …hing which S. Iames perswades, and it is the Mother of true repentance, euen of that Repentance which (as S. Paul speaketh) is not to be repented of. And of this I will endeauour to speake as effectually as I can.
The ground of it is (as I hauehave said) the dishonour of God by sinne. Now sinne, that it may wound the more deepely, is to be considered of vsus three waies.The matter of the mour ing here perswaded. 1. As it is in our selues. 2. As it is in others. 3. As it discouereth it selfe in the Miseries which it brings vponupon the Times. Of these three Respects I will treat seuerally.
1. Our owne sinnes.1. That our owne sinnes must be mourned for, I suppose we will not denie. Repentance is of absolute necessitie to saluation, (for Except ye repent, ye shall perish, saith our SauiourgLuk. 13.3.;) and there can be no repentance without griefe: For, (as we hauehave heard out of Paul) it is Godly sorow which causeth repentance to saluation. Besides, the Scripture hath registred euen a whole catalogue of Mourners in this kind. Looke into i…, you shall there see Dauid fainting hPsal. 6.6., Hezekiah chattering like a crane iIsa 38.14, Iob abhorring himselfe in dust and ashes kIob. 32.…., Manasseh humbling himselfe greatly l2. Chro. 33.12., Ezra vponupon his knees in heauines mEzra. 9.5., Daniel sorowfully confessing his sinne, and seeking the Lord by prayer with fasting nDa…. 9.3 20., Ephraim (the whole bodie of a state) smiting vponupon the thigh oIere. 31.19., Peter weeping bitterly pMath. 26.75., the father of the possessed child bewayling his vnbeleefe qMark. 9.24., Marie Magdalene washing Christs feete with teares rLuk. 7.38.Paul crying out, O wretched man that I am sRom 7 24.! Who would not wish to be one in this companie. If they mourned, and went to heauen through the vale of Teares, what are we that we should expect a calmer passage? And know we this for a certentie, that the comforts of the Gospel which are treasured vp in Christ, appertaine onelyonly to such: not to them which are at ease in Zion tAm. 6.7., but to them which mourn in Zion uIsa. 61.3.The spirit of heauines goeth before the garment of gladnes; and there is no Reaping in Ioy, without sowing in teares xPsal. 126.5..
2. The sinne of others.The next consideration of sinne is, as it is in others: For euen the sinne of others must be a cause of sorrow to a Christian. Samuel mourned for Saul y1. Sam. 15.35., Dauids eies gushed out with riuers of waters, because men kept not the law zPsal. 119.136.. Ezra rent his clothes, and plukt off the haire of his head and beard, when he heard of the peoples sinne, in mixing the holy seede with the people of the land aEzech. 9.2 3.; The soule of Ieremy wept in secret for the pride of the timesbIer. 13.17.; Lot vexed his righteous soule in seeing and hearing the vnlawfull deeds of the Sodomites c2. Pet. 2.8.: Pauls spirit was stirred to see the City of Athens subiect to Idolatrie dA…t. 17 16.: Christ mourned for the hardnes of mens hearts eMark 3 5., and wept for the securitie of IerusalemfLuk. 19.41.: Who can perswade himselfe to cary the like Christian heart, who doth not bring forth the like sorrowing fruite? Two reasons there are why the the sinnes of others should affect our soules. 1. Pietie to God. 2. Pitie to them. First, Pietie to God enforceth it. For what dutifull respect can he carrie to God, who can heare and see God to be dishonoured without any touch? It grieues a friend to heare the disgrace of his friend. The godly are called the Friends of God gIam 2.23. Ioh. 15.15. A poore friendship it is, if the heart be not effected with a wrong done to his Maiestie. Secondly, Pitie to others requireth it. For whose bowels that hath in him any dramme of goodnes, would not yearne within him, whose heart would not melt, to see whole swarmes, and millions of people which will needes be damned? surely there can be no religion, where there wants this compassion. I hauehave read of Marcellus a Romane, that when as after a long siege, he entred by composition into that rich city of Syracusa, the teares trickled downe h…s cheekes, to see so famous a city & such a multitude of Inhabitants brought into captiuitie. See, what affections hauehave dwelt euen in the Heathen, begetting sorrow for the miseries euen of their enemies. A shame for a Christian to behold the daily ruine of a world of soules, number-les troupes to be led as captiues by the prince of darknesse, and not to bemone it.
3. The Calamities of the Times.The third consideration of sinne is, as it discouereth it selfe in the miseries, which by the iustice of God it brings vponupon the Times: which thing also must be taken to heart. Thus was Dauid mooued, when he saw multitudes swept away with the Pestilenceh2. Sam. 24 17.. Ieremie wished his head full of water, and his eyes a fountaine of teares, that he might weepe day and night for the slaine of the people iIer 9 1.and let his book of Lamentations be a testimonie of his griefe for common Miseries. So there was a generall sorrow, when God tooke away that peere-les king Iosiah; Ieremiah lamented, singing men and singing women mourned k2. Chr. 35 25.. Nehemiah sate and wept and mourned certaine dates, when he heard of the great affliction and reproch of his countrymen, the remainder of the great captiuitielNehe. 1.3 4.. Ester and her maides fasted, because of Hamans conspiraciemEst. 4.16.. It argueth a desperate case when men are not humbled by Afflictions: Thou hast smitten them, but they hauehave not sorowed: thou hast consumed them, but they hauehave refused to receiue corre…tion, saide the Prophet of the forlorne IewesnIer. 5 3.. Thence cōmeth that extraordinatie note set vponupon Ahaz, not found elswhere: In the time of his tribulation did he yet trespasse more against the Lord: this is king Ahaz o2. Chr. 28.23.This is the man who was not brought to any humiliation, no not by Affliction. And although a man hauehave no cause of deiection, in regard of any personall grieuance, yet the miseries of others are a sufficient motiue. And therefore it is noted as a sauage and bruitish part, that when the citie of Shushan, was in perplexitie, the King and Haman sate drinking in the palace p…st. 3.15.and woe is threatened against them which cherished themselues, but were not sory for the Affliction of Ioseph qAmo 6.6.For that cause, Nehemiah, though he himselfe were well enough, beeing the Kings butler, and in speciall grace with him, yet he professed that he could not but be sad, so long as he heard of the hard estate of his countrymenrNehe. 1.11.2.3. and though Moses liued at ease in Pharaohs court, yet still his mind was vponupon the burdens of the Israelites, and had no rest in himselfe vntill he went to visit his brethren fAct. 7.23.: and Vriah would not afford himselfe the ordinarie comfort of his Bed, so long as the Arke of God was in hazardt2. Sam. 11.11. Thus the fruits of sinne, whether they be personall, or such as lie vponupon others, or such as (because of the common concernement of a state) we are interessed in with others, must be taken notice of to further that Holy Heauinesse, which is commended to vsus in this place. Thus I hauehave opened the doctrine, touching that Mourning and Heauinesse for sinne, into which S. Iames would hauehave vsus to turne all our accustomed securitie. I come now to the vse and application hereof to our selues.
In the making of which vse & application I will follow this order.The Vse. 1. I will make it manifest that we hauehave these causes of Mourning which hauehave beene handled hitherte. 2. I will lay open the generall defect of this dutie, notwithstanding the vrgency of these causes. 3. I will labour the perswading of that, to doe which we hauehave so great cause, and yet in the doing whereof we hauehave beene so exceeding negligent. These be (as it were) the lines, vntounto each of which I must endeuour to giuegive his proper filling.
We hauehave …he three C…ses of Hea…e….First, I must make it good that we hauehave this treble cause of heauines. 1. Our owne sinnes: 2. The sinnes of the Times. 3. The euidences of Gods displeasure against sinne. Touching our owne sinnes, that in the multitude and grieuousnes of them, we hauehave much matter of Heauines, no man (I suppose) will denie. First for multitude, he that shall heare Dauids acknowledgement, that his sinnes are moe in number then the haires of his head uPsal. 40 1…., and Iobs confession, that he cannot answer God one of a thousand xIob. 9.…, how can he thinke his sinnes are few? And if there be any here (as this secure age brings forth many such) who supposeth the tale of his sinnes to be but small, let him doe but this: Let him in the end of some one day, examine his course vponupon his bed yPsal. 4 4.and proceed with himselfe from point to point, from his waking in the morping to that houre, calling all (as neere as he possibly can) his thoughts, speaches, actions to a …eckning: and then, when he hath found by a suruey made, the idle, vnprofitable, god-les thoughts, which hauehave beene as thicke within him, as motes in the aire, the vaine, vitious, blasphemous, grace-les speeches which hauehave fallen from his mouth, the euills which he hath done, the good duties, to God, to himselfe, to others, which he hath left vndone, or (at lest) not so done as he should: when (I say) he hath found out all these, and hath (as his dutie is) added this withall, that besides, there are many secret faultes zPsal. …9.1….which he cannot see; then let him (like the workman, who by the sight of Hercules his foote, gathered the proportion of his whole bodie) thinke, put case he hath liued thirtie, fourty, or more yeares, what infinite millions of sinnes, he must needs be guilty of, sith the particulars of one day doe amount to so great a summe. This would make euen the stoutest to hang downe his head like a bulrush, and to be (as it were) confounded in himselfe if this were duly thought vponupon. It is said of Cesar, that when he heard that a certain Knight of Rome, being dead, and whose goods were set to sale, was in debt some thousand of poundes, be wished that the knights bolster might be bought for his vse, thinking, that sure it had some extraordinarie vertue in it, vponupon which a man could sleeepe who was so much in debt: And surely, if we had but a glimpse of the particular Debtes a… …re sinnes …alled, … ….12.in which we stand bound to God, we would no lesse wonder at our selues that we can sleep so securely as we doe, beeing liable to so great a reckning, especially hauing so slender an assurance of discharge. And (indeede,) the not looking into the hinder ende of the wallet, is the cause of all our presuming. We are like swaggerers at a tauerne, who (in their humour) call in for as much as the house can afford, but when the shot commeth, then they storme, and are readie to sweare, it cannot be so much: so we run on still vponupon the lash, and neuer looke on the score, little doe we thinke it to be so great as indeede it is. He amongst vsus, who is accustomed to swearing, though it be but now and then, yet if it were possible for him, to see but how many times he had sworne in the compasse of one yeare, (besides his other sins,) I verely think, that if he were not vtterly giuen ouer, it would make his belly to tremble b… 2.16., to consider it. Howsoeuer, this let vsus be sure of, they are all downe in Gods Register c…al. 56.8., and Iob saith, that God sealeth vp iniquities as in a bag g…b. 14.1…., as rich men do their mony, laying it vp vntill the Audit. Now for the grieuousnes of our sins (which is another branch) I will note but one circumstance of many to set it out; and that is, the Riches of the meanes which we hauehave long enioyed, for better fruit. Suppose we, that we euen now did heare the Lord calling to vsus as he did of old to the Iewes, Come let vsus reason togither cIsa. 1.14., thinke earnestly what excuse we can make. Hath not the Lord beene patient towards vsus? hath he not waited that he might hauehave merciemercy vponupon vsus fIsa …0.….; hath he not sent vntounto vsus early and late, Cast away your transgressions, why will ye diegE…ock. 1….… ? Hath not the light of holy direction long stood vponupon a candlestick in the midst of vsus? hauehave we not still heard that voice, This is the way walke in it hIsa. 30 11.? Now this is a sure thing: by how much the more we know, or may know, by so much the greater is our sinne. If I had not come and spoken vntounto them, they had had no sinne, but now hauehave they no cloke for their sinne iIoh. 15.….; Thus the enlargemēt of Gods merciemercy in blessing vsus with the means of holines, is the greatest improuemont of our sinne: And so (I hope) I hauehave cleered this, that we hauehave the first cause of Heauines, our own sinnes: touching which it is hard to say, which is the greater, the multitude of them, or their qualitie.
The next cause of sorrowe, which must be manifested to be amongst vsus, is the sinne of the Times. It was truely said that the Deuill hath great wra…h, knowing that he hath but a short time kReu. 12 1….. As his time is abridged, so is his malice enlarged; and thence it is, that this old Age of the world, is so fruitfull in most monstrous impieties. All the euills of the precedent ages, are flowne together into this, as into a common sewer. The filthinesse of the people hath filled the land from corner to corner lEz… 29.11. Men were wont heretofore, amid their other euills, yet to hauehave so much honesty, as to seeke to shrowd their sinnes vnderunder a mantle of secrecy. But now they declare them as Sodom mIsa. 3.9., Atheisme, Blasphemie, Drunkennesse, Whoredome, Oppression, Contempt of religion, men neuer blush to be commonly noted for such kinds of euills. Indeede nothing (among the multitude) is in more disgrace then this, to be a conscionable and carefull Christian. Me thinkes, considering the full measure of Iniquitie, I should heare the Lord cry to his Angel, Thrust in thy sicle and reape, for the time is come to reape, the Haruest of the Earth is ripe nRe…. 14.15.. Woe be to vsus if we crie not with David, It is time for thee Lord to work, for they hauehave destroyed thy law oPsal 119.126.So much briefly for that, which if my Tongue were as the pen of a swift writer pPsa …5.1., I were not able to set downe at full, and which if we might reforme with the sacrifice of our best blood; we might thinke it well bestowed. Thus we see the second cause of heauinesse is not wanting. We can scarcely put our heads out at doors, or heare one speake, but we shall hauehave cause to remember it.
The third thing deseruing sorrowe, to be handled, are the Euidences (in the times) of Gods displeasure against sinne. The prophet Amos saith, that there is no euill (meaning, no euill of punishment) but the Lord hath done it qA …o 3 6., and Ieremie saith, that eueryevery such Euill is an infliction for sinne; Man suffereth for his sinne rI…am 3 39.: which t…o places doe euince thus much, that if there hauehave been amongst vsus any common punishments, surely they hauehave come from the Lord, and that for sinne. Now what common Punishments the Lord hath laied vponupon our Times, he must needes be blind which seeth not. A raging, and (as I may rearme it) a man-eating pestilence in the chiefe parts of the kingdome (though we hitherto in these West parts, hauehave beene euen miraculously spared: but let vsus not presume, if we hauehave beene idle lookers on, vponupon the visitations of others, the rod will fal the heauier when it comes) vnseasonable seasons, vnheard of inundations, fearefull fires, the foules of heauen, and the fishes of the sea destroyed s…ph. 1.3.. These things we heare, these things we discourse of at our Tables, and in our meetings as newes, and as the occurences of the Times, but we let them die with the report, and neuer put them vponupon our hearts. What thinke we of the horrible oppression which raigneth, one man labouring to cate and deuoure another tGal. 5.13., the encreasing of Papists, who (like the Cananites to the Israelites) are as a whippe on our sides, or as Thornes in our Eyes uIos…. 23.13., the grosse fatnesse which is growne vponupon most hearts, in that (like the Iewes in Christs time) men doe not esteeme nor knowe the things which appertaine vntounto their peace xLuk. 19.42.? What thinke we (I say) of these things? doe they not giuegive vsus cause to say as Moses did to Aaron, when God sent a suddaine pestilence among the people, There is wrath gone out from the Lord, the plague is begun yNum 16.46.yes verely. Nay we may well exspect, the accomplishment of that which was said of olde, namely, that if we be not reformed by these things, the Lord will smite vsus yet seuen times more for our sianes zLeu. 16.24.. Truth is, God hath beene and is, very gracious to our dayes (for so is his manner, oft times to call back his anger, and not to stirre vp all his wrath aPsal. 78 38.,) he hath set …eace in our borders bPsal. 14….14., vnderunder the gouernment of a Christian King, he hath not remooued our Candlesticke, as he iustly might, because of the decay of our first louelove cReu. 2.4 5., yet euen this is also to be counted a iudgement, that the eyes of the most are so holden, that they doe not see Gods merciemercy, nor knowe how to turne these fauours to a spirituall vse, and full is eueryevery place of such Fooles, (as Salonton speakes of) who hauehave a price in their hands, but hauehave none heart to get wisdome dPron. 17.16.And this may serue to let vsus …ee what Euidences we hauehave of the Lords displeasure against sinne, and withall, to make good the first point, that we hauehave abundant matter of Heauinesse.
We hauehave …ot sorrowed …s we should.Now let me shew our neglect, & what slender sorrow these things hauehave brought forth amongst vsus; I will proceed distinctly and in order: and first what little mourning there is for personall sinnes: The seate of sorrow is the heart, (Rent your hearts, saith IoeleIoel. 2.13.), and that only Knoweth the bitternes of the soule. f Prou. 14.10.It is vnpossible that I should be priuie to mens secret bewaylings, neither wil I iudge any, by the smoothnes of his looke, or the drines of his cheeks; for eueryevery cloud doth not drop down raine, neither is eueryevery mist of sorrow dissolued into teares: Yet there is one thing by which it may be shrewdly suspected that (to speak of the generalitie) men are in very litle heauinesse for their sinnes, and that is, the little reformation which appeares. The mourning heart cannot but be displeased in it selfe, for the Euills which it hath ommitted gEzeck. 6.9.This displeasure will turne the delight in sinne, into a hatred of sinne. This hatred will bring forth that which Paul calleth Care h2. Cor. 7 11., that is, a pensiue and busie studie how to amend: And it cannot be but God would so blesse these motions, (beeing indeed the workings of his owne spirit) as that sinne, beeing quailed in the roote, shall also wither in the leafe, and the louelove of holines being planted in the heart, shall shoote out some fruite in the life. I know it is possible, for a deare child of God, bitterly to bewaile some speciall corruption, confidently to vow against it, earnestly to beg deliuerance from it, to striue to subdue it with the vtmost might, & yet again & again to be ensnared with it: But, that Wickednes should be sweet in a mans mouth iIob. 20.12., that he should obey it in the lusts thereof kRom. 6.12., that he should take thought for it to fulfill it lRom. 13.14., that he should hate to be reformed mPsal. 50.17., and yet be said, to mourne and be heauy for his sinne, sure I am it is vnpossible. He mourneth not for drunkennes, who riseth early to follow it nIsa. 5.11.: He mourneth not for couetousnes, who is plotting and imagining matters of oppression and vniust getting vponupon his bed oMicah. 2.1.. He mourneth not for swearing, who saith, With my tongue I will preuaile, what hath any bodie to doe, who is Lord ouer me pPsal. 12 4.? and so in other specialties: so that this then is a true conclusion: There is but little amendment of sinne, therefore sure there is but little sorrowe for sinne.
Come we now to the next, what sorrow there is for the sinnes of others. Our scantnes in this may well be collected out of the former. For the ground of my sorrow for another sinne, is the sting which I feele of mine owne. He therefore which laments not for his owne, can hardly be affected for anothers. But I wil insist vponupon a more particular Euidence, which is this; the little care that is had for the reformation of others. He which mournes for anothers sinne, will endeauour as much as in him lieth, to reforme that which is the cause of his mourning. I remember the saying of S. Iames, If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily foode, and one of you say to them, Depart in peace, warme your selues, fill your bellies, notwithstanding yee giuegive not those things which are needfull, what helpeth it qIam 2 15.16.? So if a man say, Oh I am sorry to see how euill men are, and yet seeke not to pull them out of the fire rIude. 23., and to reclaime them from that eternall euill into which they are salling, to what end is that sorrow, or how shall I thinke that it is vnfained? And this dutie of seeking to reforme the sinne of others, lieth vponupon all, though vponupon some more then vponupon others. The Magistrate by his Authorit…e, he beareth not the sword for naught sRom. 13.4, and Nehemiah, when matters were amisse, spake not so much to the offenders, as to the Rulers tNeh. 5.7.13.11.17.. The Minister, by the word: still proouing if God at any time will giuegive repentance, that men may come to amendment u2. Tim. 2.25.26.. EueryEvery priuate man, by discreete admonition (thou shalt plainly rebuke thy neighbour xLeu. 19.17.,) or at least by prayer y1. Tim. 2.1., that God may oper their eies, to the end they may see their misery. Now if there be a defect in these, the sword of authoritie beeing let to rust in the sheath, and the people not being made to see their transgressions zIsa 38.1., and men stopping their mouthes, so that they neuer giuegive a word of Admonition to their delinquent neighbours, if (I say) there be such a defect in these things, how do we mourne, where is our pitie ouer mens soules, if we can see men run on to their owne destruction, & not stretch out our hands to pull them (as a brand) out of the fire? Looke you to it that it be not your fault; it is the common sicknesse of the Times, happie be you, if you be free from the Infection. I will put you ouer to the accusing or excusing of your owne Thoughts aRom. 2.15, and so come to the next point.
And that is touching our beeing affected with the tokens which we see of Gods wrath against sinne. And surely the very face of things (as they nowe stand) is sufficient to bewray the iron deadnesse of mens hearts in this particular. All things doe euen sauour of an vniuersall securitie. Many blowes are giuen, but the people turne not vntounto him that smiteth bIsa. 9.13.. The wofull occurrences of the Times, hauehave the same working with men which a great stone hath when it falleth into the Waters. Falling in, it maketh a great noise, and stirreth the Water verie much, and one waue begetteth another for a good pretie space, at last the motion groweth weaker and weaker, and the Water returneth againe vntounto his former smoothnes. So in this: We heare of diuers searefull accidents: at the first comming of the newes, we are much mooued, and it runneth from man to man, with much swiftnes; but on a suddaine, when this first addresse is past, the matter dieth away, we are as we were, and the thing it selfe leaues no impression; and by this meanes is that veresied, which was complained of old, The Lord calleth vntounto weeping & mourning, and behold Ioy and gladnes, slaying oxen & killing sheepe, eating flesh and drinking wine, cIsa 22 12.13.&c. No humiliation followeth vponupon Gods iudgements. But whereas eueryevery Iudgement of God should be as a warning peale to repentance, we be like the smiths dog, who, the harder the anuile is beaten on, lyeth by and sleepes the sounder, so a deeper kind of drowsinesse hath ouertaken vsus.
Now then that these two points are cleared, the one touching the causes of Heauinesse which we hauehave, the other touching our scantnesse in framing our selues to that measure of holy sorrowe which becommeth vsus, surely, if we suppose any waight to be in this which is commended to vsus by S. Iames, I doubt not but I shall easily perswade you in the generall drift of my whole sermon, namely to turne your Laughter into Mourning, and your Ioy into heauinesse. For the better furtherance whereof let me commend vntounto your best consideration these particulars.
Mon…es to perswad… th… M…urning a…d Hea…esse which S. Ia…e… a… th… 1. Mot…e.First, the speciall respect which the Lord beareth to those whose spirits are full of heauinesse, either in all or i… any one of the regards which I hauehave mentioned. Thus saith the Lord, The heauen is my Throre, and the Earth is my footestoole, all these things hath my hand made, all these things hauehave beene saith the Lord, and to him will I looke, euen to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my words dIsa. 66 1.2. Consider the place. The seate of the Lord is full of glorie, and from thence he beholdeth all the Earth, but his more speciall Eye, is to the trembling and bruised soules; the Mourning spirit is vntounto him the most pleasing sacrificeePsal. 51.17.. Dauid saith that the Lord hath a bottle in which he doth put the Teares fPsal. …6.8.of the humbled, not one of them falleth to the ground without his Notice. Me thinketh this motiue should not be without effect: for who would not do that which wil draw the eye of the Lords respect toward him. God hath a general prouidence ouer all. Thou Lord shalt saue both man and beast gPsal. 36.6.but the groning hearts are his chiefest treasure.
Secondly, that in the times of common Miseries,2. Mo…iue. the Lord maketh special prouision for the safety and comfort of those which mourne. Excellent for this purpose is that place in EzekielhEz. 9.2.8 …. when the sixe Angels (like men) were come forth against Ierusalem, with euerie one a weapon in his hand to destroy it, first there was a course taken to set a marke vponupon their foreheads which did mourne and crie for all the abhominations that were done in the midst thereof. The sword of vengeance was not drawne forth to the slaughter till particular order was taken for their safetie. Lot was in continuall heauines for the sinnes of Sodome, and we see the destroying Angel could doe nothing vntill he was come to the place appointed for his refugeiOen. 19.22.. You hauehave heard before of Ieremies mourning: note I pray you the fruite of it in this particular. When Ierusalem was taken by Nebuchadnezzar, and (as the manner is in such surprises) many went to wracke, the Lord so wrought, that when as the king himselfe and his sonnes were not sparedk… yet by Nebuchadnezzars owne mouth, speciall charge was giuen for the preseruation of Ieremy, Take him (said he to the chiefe steward) looke well to him, doe him no harme, doe vntounto him euen as he shall say vntounto thee lVer. 11 12.. The poore despised Prophet whose soule had wept in secret in the dayes of their iollitie, was now specially pr…uided for, when the Body of the people receiued the due reward of their deepe securitie. Thus the meeke are hidden in the day of wrath m… 3., and if it doe come to passe that they be swept away with common calamities, yet their Death is pretious in Gods sight, nIsal ….15.and it shall be their happinesse to be taken away from the Euills to comeo… 2… 20.
Thirdly,… that the Lord hath tied himselfe by a promise to afford to all such a gracious plentie of inward refreshing. Blessed are they that mourne, for they shal be comforted. This is gon out of the lips of the Lord;… 4. & he will not alter it q… 88.…4.: The Gospel which we preach is truely said to be Tydings of great Ioy r… 2.10.and indeed such a ioy it is, which the heart of man in this mortality is too little to receiue; Now the sweetnes thereof belongs onelyonly to these that mourne. The spirit of the Lord (saith Christ) is vponupon me: he hath sent me to preach glad tydings: but to whome? To the poore, to bind vp the broken-hearted, to comfort those that mourne, &c fIs… …1.1. &c. …k 18.. Such as these he will fill with good things tI…. 1.53., their Soules shall be satisfied as with marow and fatnes uPsal. 63 5.: they shall hauehave the spirit of consolation, a secret Witnesse in their bosoms, that they are the children of God xRom 8.16.. Woe be to him whom the desire of this blessing cannot mooue.
Fourthly,4. Motiu…. that albeit the comfort which such hauehave is but secret, and such as by reason of the hidden-nes thereof, maketh many a man to thinke that it is the dullest and most perplexed life in the world to be a good Christian, yet at the day of iudgement it shall be made more apparant. Now the teares vponupon their faces, are as a curtaine, before their happinesse, that it cannot be seene, but then, they shall be wiped awayy y…, that, shall be a Day of full Refreshing zA… ….…9., and then shall the Lord say, turning him (as it were) to the secure worldlings, which hauehave liued in pleasures on the earth and in wantonnes aI… 5 ….. Behold, my seruants shall eate, and you shall be hungry, behold, my seruants shall drinke, and yet shall be thirstie, behold, my seruants shal reioyce, and yee shall be asshamed: Behold, my seruants shall sing for ioy of heart, and ye shall crie for sorrow of heart, & shall houle for vexation of minde bIsa. 65.… …4. The Conc… ion..
To draw then to a conclusion. You see a dutie commended to vsus, by the mouth and ministerie of S. Iames, to turne our Careles Laughter into a holy Mourning, & our presuming Ioy into a godly Heavines. It is not without cause that we are perswaded to this exchange. Looke we into our selues, our own sinns muster together before our eies in no small troupes, inough to wound the dullest heart. Cast we our face to others, we see the world lying in wickednes c1. Ioh 5.…., and Hell euen enlarging it selfe dIsa. 5 12., to receiue it: Examine we the times, many things tell vsus plainely, that surely God is not well pleased. Consider we againe our owne course we must needs yee…d, that we hauehave bin two secure, and that these things hauehave not so affected vsus as they should: Thinke we further of the benefite and worth of that which we are persward…d to, we shall find it attended vponupon with a traine of blessings. How shall we then denie our obedience to this holy aduise; I pray you then, Let my counsell be acceptable vntounto you eDan 4.2.. You are here, many Marchants, and much of your trading stands vponupon exchangefA particular application to the place where ….. Well is he in his owne opinion who can put away some ill-conditioned ware for a more current cōmodity. Behold here the best exchāge which you euer made, Let your Laughter be turned into Mourning, and your Ioy into Heauines. Sure I am, a commodity it is, for which (which all desire) you shall receiue a very quicke and plentifull returne. Quick it will be, For yet a very little while, and he that shall come will come and he will not tary gH… 1… 3….: and it will be plentifull, for they which now goe weeping, shall returnne with ioy, nay which is more, they shall bring their sheaues hI… … 6..