Three Sermons, Sermon 1 – Title page 2
THE STRIVING of the LORD with SINNERS.
GEN. 6.3.
My Spirit ſhall not al…ayes ſtrive with man for that … alſo is fleſh, yet his dayes …all be an hundred and twenty yeares.
THe ſcope of this Chapter diſcovers it ſelfe in two parts; firſt the divers conditions of them before the Floud. Secondly, the carriage of God towards th… in the ſecond part of … Chapter. Firſt the carri… of the people is double; … their wicked and ſinfull li… from the firſt verſe to … end of the ſeventh.
Secondly, the holy d… meanor of Noah, in the 8, a… 9 verſes, But Noah fou… grace in the eyes of the Lo… Noah was a juſt man, and p… fect in his generation, and w… ked with God: Noah in th… wicked time, in that wick… place, and among thoſe wi… ked people, was a holy ma… ſaith the Text.
Secondly, we have the … vers dealing of God wi… them.
Firſt, he threatens deſ… lation to the wicked; ſecondly, he promiſes to preſerve Noah; and for the …guiſe of the wicked:
Firſt, conſider the hai…ouſneſſe of their ſinnes, that they broke all the Lawes of God, and luſt was their Law: in the firſt …nd ſecond verſes, the Text ſayes; When men began to multiply on the face of the …rth, and daughters was borne unto them, that the ſonnes of God ſaw the danghters of men, that they were faire and …ookt for wives of all that they …hoſe.
The ſonnes of God, the …eaning of that is, they that profeſſed the truth. Second…y, they ſaw the daughters of men, they ſaw Caine, and they that were of God did what they liſt, and choſ… croſſe way, and ſo ca… ſtrange generations, as … ants, they were growne … the height of ſinne.
Secondly, in the 3, 6, a… 7 verſes, is the ſentence … God againſt them; hee ſ… they come to this, and th… ſets downe a ſentence … doombe (as it were) he ſay… My Spirit ſhall not alway… ſtrive with man, in that … is but fleſh; yet his dayes ſh… be an hundred and twe… yeares: The Lord w… ſtrive no longer with the… from whence by the w… we may note.
Object. That when the… is a mingling of diuers ma… riages, it makes way to … ſtruction, prooved in Sol… mon, when hee tooke him …ange wives: then his …owne was taken from …; ſo this old World …en they gave themſelves …ſtrange marriages.
Firſt, In the ſentence there … two things: firſt, the …rds reſolution: ſecond… the reaſon of Gods deter…nation.
Firſt, the reſolution, and …t is firſt generally, hee …th ſtrove, but will ſtrive no …re.
Secondly, particularly he …l not ſtrive, and will ſtrive … hundred and twenty …res; here is the reſoluti… of God, though he ſtrive, … hee will not ſtrive al…yes.
Secondly, the reaſon of Gods determination; hee is alſo fleſh.
In the Text two things are to be obſerved.
Firſt, what is meant by ſpirit; ſecondly, what it is to ſtrive: firſt Gods Spirit we may underſtand to be the holy Ghoſt, the third perſon in. Trinity: hee is ſaid to ſtrive, not miraculouſly, but mediately by his meanes, the Word of God, Miniſters; he is ſaid to ſtrive with this generation by the Miniſtery o… the Word, and Noah and Enock in that Miniſtery▪ Gods Spirit ſtrives with wicked men, they ſpake no… in their owne words, but i… the 2 Pet. 2. holy men ſpak… Gods Word as they doe; the Lord doth put his hand to …he worke: the meaning is, I …ave ſent Noah and Enock, …hey ſpake not their owne …ords onelyonly, but yee have …ven againſt my good …pirit: what it is to ſtrive: …e Lord will not ſtrive al…ayes, the meaning is not, … judgement, Eccleſ. 6.10. …he Lord he deales with …oore ſinners after their na…re, as a reaſonable crea…re, he enters to reaſons, …nd goes to Law, and makes …ite to draw them home to …im; for this I take to be the …eaning, his Miniſters came …metimes to exhort, ſome…mes to comfort, and ſome…mes to reprove, and ſo wee …e to Law with God a…aine.
From whence obſerve… foure points.
Doct. 1. The Spirit o… God doth ever accompany the Word, and the Miniſte… thereof. Here he aſcrib… it, My ſpirit ſhall not alway… ſtrive.
Doct. 2. That the Lo… ſtrives with rebellious ſinners, for their good, who as they ſtrive againſt t… power of the Spirit, a… their owne good. No… ſtrove to draw them hom… and they ſtrove and wou… not come.
Doct. 3. When men d… abuſe the Word long, G… will ceaſe to ſtrive in the … of the meanes; he will ſtri… no more, as he ſaid here, A… … Lord ſaid, I will not al…ayes, &c.
Doct. 4. Though the …ord will ſtrive no more, …t he ſtrives long, hee gives …ng time of repentance, as … did to the old world an …dred and twenty yeares.
Doct. 5. That Gods Spi… doth ever accompany the …ord, and the Miniſtery …ereof: by the Spirit of …od, I meane the eternall …pirit, the Holy Ghoſt, doth …ſpeciall manner accompa… the Word; know that …od is every where, and …oweth all things; but in a …eciall manner hee is with …is; with the Word, Come, …ecomes, & with the Word, …rbid, he forbids; Rom. 1. … Goſpel is the power of the Lord to the ſalvation… man.
Queſt. But how do… this appeare to be ſo?
Anſw. I anſwer, it a… peareth in two things, … God doth pleaſe to ſet t… worke apart, to ſave and ſa… ctifie our ſoules, which … the learning in the wo… cannot doe.
Secondly, the Lord by … power of his Spirit, do… conſtantly, and continua… accompany this worke, as… thinkes good, to be a con… tation to the wicked, an… conſolation to the god… 2 Cor. 2. the two laſt ver… to the one it is a favour death, to the other it is a … vour of life; it either … the ſoule, or ſaves the ſo… though it ever accompanies …e Word, yet this worke … the Spirit is a voluntary …orke.
Thirdly, It doth alwayes company the Word, but …oth not alwayes worke; …or ſome after twenty or …irty yeares are converted; … that it doth not alwayes …orke: Looke as the brazen …erpent was lift up in the Wilderneſſe, that whoever …oked on it, that was ſtung …ith the fiery Serpents, …ould be healed: there was healing vertue in it, he ſet it part for that purpoſe, for …at had no vertue of it ſelfe, … becauſe God would …orke by it, ſo that whoſoe…r looked on it might bee …aled: ſo it is with the Word of God, for they a… no more able to conve… then others, but becauſe Go… hath promiſed to accompany them in diſpenſation of i…
Reaſ. 1. Firſt, taken from t… fruit and effect of his Wo… that it is able to doe … things; in the beginning … is able to doe that whi… Men and Angels cannot do… Hebr. 4.12. The Word … God is quicke and powerf… and ſharper then any two … god ſword, piercing even to … dividing aſunder of the ſo… and ſpirit, and a diſcovery … the thoughts of the he… It is Gods faithfull work… the reaſon why carnall … fall out with the Miniſter… the Word, and ſay you ſp… againſt men, I know y… …eane me. No, no, wee …now not your hearts, but God doth, and the Word of God knowes them, Iohn 5. The dead ſhall heare the voyce …f the Sonne of God; the mea…ing is, they that are dead … ſinnes, for by nature every …an is dead in ſinne. It muſt …e more then all men can do, … our Saviour ſaid to Lazaus, when men ſtood wee…ing by, but Chriſt ſaid, Lazarus come out. It muſt be Gods Word that muſt raiſe … from the death of ſinne … the life of righteouſ…eſſe.
Vſe. Firſt, of inſtruction … take heed of taking up of …mes againſt the Spirit of God, we ſee the haynous …nne of them that deſpiſe the Miniſtery of the Go… pell, men may thinke it n… thing: but alas you kno… not what it is, for the Wo… of God and the Spirit … God goeth together; as … bleſſed Martyr Steven ſa… in the 7 of the Actes, Y… ſtiffenecked and uncircum… ſed in heart and eares, y… have ever reſiſted the g… Spirit of God; as did your … thers, ſo do you: therefore ta… heed, You are neere to … ſin againſt the Holy Gho… for it is not the Word … Man, but the Word of Go… it is the Spirit that th… ſhouldeſt be ſaved by, th… thou haſt oppoſed; you g… away with the contempt … the Goſpel, and make th… nothing; thou haſt ſinn… …gainſt God, and his Spirit …at accompanies the Word; Counſel one another, ſay, do …ou know what you do? It … Gods Spirit, muſt not that …mfort you, muſt not that …ve you? It is that that you …ppoſe; take heed, for this … above Inceſtuous ſinnes. …ke 3.20.21. Herod was an …ceſtuous ſinner, but above …his fins, he added this, that …put Iohn in priſon; he was a …ceſtuous adulterer, yet put…g Iohn in priſon, was …ove all. Matth. 11. It ſhall … eaſier for Sodome and Go…rah in the day of judge…ut, then for you that oppoſe … Word of the Lord. So …ch for the firſt point.
Doct. 2. The Lord ſtrives …ith poore ſinners for their good; when as they ſtri… againſt the power of the S… rit, and their owne goo… God enters into Law with ſinner; Sin and Sathan ſai… the ſoul is theirs; God ent… into Law, and ſaith it is h… and he made it; every m… by nature takes paine that … might have no good fr… God; he goes to Law, to g… to hell, as it were. Matth. 2… 37. Oh Ieruſalem, thou t… killeſt the Prophets, and ſto… them that were ſent to th… There is the thing, mar… How often would I have g… thered thy children togeth… as a Henne her Chickens, … yee would not? Here is a cu… tention, the Lord wou… have revealed his wi… & his Spirit, would have … …ed you home, but you would …ot; yee reſiſted his good Spirit, yee take hold of wic…edneſſe, as the Prophet …ere ſayes; and Iohn 5.4. You will not come to me, that … may be ſaved, ſaith our …aviour to the Phariſees; …any periſh, and ſhal periſh; …e reaſon is, yee will not …ome to Chriſt for life. The …icked ſay, Pſal. 2. Let us …eake their bonds aſunder, …d caſt their cords from us. Gods commands are cords …nd bonds to draw them, …t you breake over hedge …d ditch, and will walke … your owne wayes, …cts 18. the 5, 6 verſes Paul …ccompanied Silas and Ti…theus, diſputed with the …es, hee profeſſed Ieſus was the very Chriſt; th… Text ſaith, they oppoſ… the words of Paul, though … was for their good; this … the teſtimony of him, th… whoſoever will come … Chriſt, may come: but the came in defiance and b…ta… array againſt Chriſt, and t… power of the Goſpell. Th… you ſee God ſtrives wi… poore ſinners for their goo… and they ſtrive againſt … power of the Spirit, a… their owne good. To op… the point,
Firſt, how God ſtrives w… poore ſinners for their go… and goes to Law, and plea… and beſtowes paines, that… might doe them good: … reaſon why hee do… ſo.
Queſt. Firſt, how doth God …rive with poore ſinners, …nd pleads for their good?
Anſw. This pleading of God diſcovers it ſelfe in two …eads. Firſt, by manner …f perſwaſion: Secondly, … way of conſtraint.
Firſt, by manner of per…aſion, to perſwade them …om ſinne.
Secondly, by way of con…aint, to compell them to …me in. And firſt he ſtrives … way of perſwaſion, wher… he diſcovers the matter, … then he brings an exe…tion.
In this perſwaſion God …th foure things: namely,
Firſt, Hee makes knowne … ſinne is, and that by ſummoning them to th… Court, as men that go… Law, they ſummon one a… other to be at ſuch a Court ſo God ſummons the… when they are ignorant … that which ſhould doe the… good, and know not in wh… an eſtate they are in, then … brings them to the Wor… and diſcovers it, as in Eſ… I was found of them, ſaith … Lord, that ſought me not: b… if a ſoule grow ſtill carcle… the Lord will not leave … ſinner, but makes him to c… ſider what ſinne is, and kn… it. Ezek. 16.2. verſe. Son of man, cauſe the children … Iſrael to know their abomi… tions: Goe home to th… dores & tell them home, y… know you ſhould heare … Word conſtantly, and pray conſtantly, and know what you ſhould doe, and this makes wicked covetous men at their deaths, as it were, at their wits end. Wee know a man that goes to Law, layes an Action againſt the other, and then ſerves a Subpaena on him; ſo the Lord layes an Action againſt the ſinner, and ſerves a Subpaena on him; thou art the man, and thou ſhalt periſh, when hee doth this, then hee pleades the Cauſe, as a man that wreſtles; hee firſt catches …hold, and then comes in to him, that haply hee might throw him: ſo God catches …hold when hee meanes to wreſtle with a ſinner, that …his eyes are ever on his ſinne and ſayes, I am the man.
Secondly, When a ſinner is thus ſummoned, and ſees the Cauſe goes againſt him, then hee labours and invents how to anſwer for himſelfe; the ſinner is grown to a ſtand, as in the Court ſo… brought, when hee ſees the caſe to goe againſt him, becauſe he knowes not what to doe; he goes to the Lawyers, though his caſe be not good, he will ſpend ſo much and ſo much; conſider how it is when the conſcience is enlightned, and ſayes, I am the man; then what courſe doe they take? they invent all carnall pleaſures to pull backe the Word; looke what Pharaoh did when God ſent Moſes to trouble him, hee ſent for the wiſe Magicians' to know whether it were God or no; ſo he contem…ed Moſes and the miracle: ſo it is when God enlightens the mind; what doe carnall men then? they ſend for the Magicians, pleaſures to beat the Word backe.
Queſt. I ſay they, I am a ſinner, and every one is a ſinner, and did not Chriſt die to ſave ſinners?
Anſw. The truth is, Chriſt came to ſave ſinners, and not to ſave them onelyonly, but to ſanctifie them. True ſayes the ſinner, I wil amend, I am not ſo preciſe as others; theſe are the wranglings of carnall reaſons; God comes nearer, he ſayes you muſt purifie your ſelves as he is pure, Iohn 1.3. It is not … nough to be a me…ro civi… man, but yee moſt puriſ… your ſelves, as he is pure. … you will ſee God to you… comfort, though Sathan ta… a Lawyers place, and carna… reaſon an Atturnies, an… what ever Sathan and carna… Reaſon can doe, they wi… doe on every ſeaſon: at la… God ſends the Comfort… from heaven, to comfo… them, Iohn 16.8. And whe… he is come, hee will convin… the world of righteouſneſſe of judgement, and of ſinne… when Gods Spirit comes b… the Word, it ſets apart a… carnall reaſon, that there … no more ſhifting: you think… you may contend again… your Brethren, and goe … heaven, but this cannot be, for the good ſpirit ſets all …arnall reaſons apart; it makes him to ſay, if I forſake not every ſinne, I forſake …one; for he that forſakes not every ſin he forſake none. Doth any man thinke to bee … Chriſtian, and a ſwearer, a Chriſtian and a drunkard; why a heathen can doe this: well, ſuch will deceive themſelves, that can ſay, well I …ope God is more mercifull …hen the Miniſters and proud Profeſſors: No, no, know …hat if the Spirit come, it ſets … part all carnall reaſons; God layes the Action be …ore, the ſinner is now caſt, …e ſees there is but one way, …ive in ſinne, and go to hell: thus when a ſoule can yeeld to Gods Word, that he m… not be caſt downe. In t… third place marke;
Thirdly, God tels hi… that howſoever hee … caſt, yet he will be mercif… abundantly to him; … ſhewes him his eſtate; y… ſaith he, thou art in the la… of the living, thou art yet u… der the meanes, as a part… caſt in the Court in a ſum… of all that hee hath; the … ther gives him time to pay i… there is ſome comfort yet, … may be he may get ſomthing in that time by the help… of his friends. Rom. 2.4. Th… Apoſtle ſaith, Deſpiſeſt th… the goodnes of God, that ſhoul… lead thee to repentance; as … he had ſaid, Conſider th… goodneſſe of the Lord; an… …y, Lord, I am not yet in …ll, and doe I live to an…her Sermon? thou wert …ercifull to Manaſſes, and …others, thou mayeſt bee …ercifull to me (Lord:) why …re is great comfort; but …hen a ſoule ſees Gods …odneſſe in health and …ealth, and injoyes yet …eanes, and helpes, and now …owes careleſſe; as to mor…w I will repent, it is too …one yet, I will take my …leaſure now, and repent …hen I am old; now Gods …oodneſſe comes to be wea…ed, that he ſaith, I will ſtrive … more.
Fourthly, When Gods …oodneſſe is wearied, then …e patience of the Lord …eppes in, and pleades for a ſinner, and holds the ha… of Juſtice; Luke 9. As … Figge-tree that beares … fruit, ſaith Chriſt, I h… come theſe three yeeres, … expected fruit, and have fo… none; cut it down. Stay Lo… ſaith the Keeper of the Vi… yard, another yeare, it … be it will beare then; … ſaith Patience, the ſinner ha… broken thy Comman… ments, and deſpiſed thy O… dinances, abuſed thy Sa… bathes; Oh forbeare, ſai… Patience, one yeare longe… one opportunity more. No… as Patience doth pleade f… Gods continuance of mer… to a ſinner, ſo it prevail… now when Patience is tyre… and wearied with wick… men, as I…rem. 5. How ſhall …re, as if he would ſcarce …rbeare; then when Pati…ce is cired, comes Long…fering; ſaith Patience, I …bore this time and that …e; ſaith Long ſuffering, …ay Lord another yeare, …nother monethmonth: marke the …ext, Fourty yeares long was … grieved with this people; Conſider you old men, four…e yeares the Lord hath …rove with you; and you …oung men, God could have …ken you away in your ſin; …h I ſay, thinke upon Long…ffering, for elſe you had …eriſhed before now, old …ray-headed men; Oh for …he Lords ſake conſider this …ercy, fourty yeares a con…emner of Gods Word, four…y yeares a deſpiſer of the meanes of Grace; oh conſider this mercy. Thus th… Lord ſummons the ſinner, then caſts him; the ſinner i… his natural eſtate, knowes no… what he is, and when hee i… caſt downe, God comfort… him, and then, if the ſoul… grow careleſſe that God… goodneſſe is wearied, the… ſteppes in Patience, and whe… Patience is wearied, the… comes in Long-ſuffering; Now ſay, Lord thou came … home to me ſuch a day, ſuch a atime, I promiſed t… come in, but I have not; O… Lord it is thy mercy, I y… continue, that I am not conſumed.
Secondly, by conſtraint he conſtraines them by a… execution, this is in a ſever… …er, as appeares in three par…culars, when the Good…eſſe, Patience, Long-ſu…e…ing of God will not ſerve …he turne.
Firſt, he lets his heavie an…er fall on him, and take him …y the throat and ſayes, you …ill not come, but you ſhall …eele my anger and heavy …and for your contempt; as … man in ſuite of Law, if he be caſt, and the other deale mercifully with him, gives …im a day, and he deſpiſes it; …hen he arreſts him, & caſts …im in priſon; ſo God deals with a ſoule that diſpiſes his mercy, then he arreſts him, and caſts him in priſon. Iob …5.24, 25. Trouble and anguiſh ſhall make him affraid, they ſhall prevaile againſt him, as a King ready to the battell, for he ſtretches ou… his hand againſt God, and ſtrengtheneth himſelfe againſt the Almighty, as Pharaoh ſaid, Ile not let the… goe, who is the Lord? So here he flies in his face, as in the 26, he runneth upon him, even upon his necke, upon the thick boſſes of his bucklers: marke, they that would kill one another, ſtrike no… where the other can defen… themſelves, but God ne… not doe ſo, he will runne o… the thick boſſes of the buck… lers, and cruſh the vanitie … his ſoule; this is the firſt… thus you ſee he is arreſted.
Secondly, and caſt in pr… ſon, then the truth and Juſti… of God, when the Sinner … …rreſted and caſt into priſon, …yes an action againſt the …oore ſinner, and ſheweth …m Gods former dealing; … a man caſt in priſon, firſt … action comes of twenty …ound, another of an hun…red, and ſo breakes him for …ver: ſo it is with a poore …oule, when the truth of God …nd Juſtice of God, layes Action upon Action, it …reakes him for ever; in a …ord, it ſhewes him Gods …ormer dealing, his mercy, …oodneſſe, patience, and …ong-ſuffering, and every one …f them he ſees; you will …ske, in whoſe ſuite? In Mer…ies ſuite, and goodneſſe, in Patience, and Long-ſuffe…ings ſuit; they will have …heir Actions tryed, becauſe they have been abuſed, a… the more mercy, the mo… indignation to thoſe th… have abuſed Mercy and Patience.
Thirdly, After the wra… of God hath arreſted hi… and the Truth and Juſti… of God laid Action up… Action, ſo that everlaſting ruine is ready to ceaſe … him, then at laſt comes M… cy and bailes him; here it that the Armes of God a… open, for all his mercies … for a ſinner at laſt to co… in. Ezekiel 16. Turne yee … the Lord, for why will ye d… Oh houſe of Iſrael? Me… ſayes, come to me, and I w… pay all; though there … much guiltineſſe of conſ… ence, I will remove it. Ac… …o. As many as beleeved in … ſhall be freed from that, …hat Moſes could not free …hem; he does not ſay, all the …viſe onelyonly, but all that will …eleeve, whether Drun…ards, wicked, all that will …eleeve, the gate ſtands o…en to them.
Queſt. True ſaith the …ule, they that God hath re…rained before; but my ſins …e great, ſhall I have mer…e?
Anſw. The Text ſayes, …hoſoever that beleeves …all befreed from all. Heb. …. If you ſinne willingly, …en you have not had Ju…ice, Goodneſſe, Patience, …ong-ſuffering; at laſt comes …ercy which is the laſt, the …hich if ye deſpiſe and refuſe, ye can look for nothing but the heavie diſpleaſure… God; Oh conſider with t… ſelfe, hath the Lord ſpar… me this time; many che… of conſcience, a good fat… and mother to inſtruct … and yet alive! Lord, wha… mercy is this?
Reaſ. Why God ſtriv… thus with a ſinner; firſt, t… he might expreſſe his mer… and that the world mi… know he is mercifull, and … joyce in it.
Secondly, that he mi… leave the world without … cuſe, that if they goe do… to the bottomeleſſe … thanke themſelves.
Vſe. 1. Of inſtruction. … ſeech you to admire … goodneſſe of God to ſinn… …nd withall our rebellions, when God ſtrives ſo long …or our good, and we ſtrive …o long againſt it; is not hee …hen good? evill is the man …hat nothing will doe good …f. Foule is the Leper …hat all the water in the Sea will not waſh; and great is …he ſpot that no water will …ring out. Labour to bring …his home to your ſelves, ſee …our ſpots in this particular, …hat after you have had ſo much goodnes of the Lord, and ſo much Mercy, Patience, and Long-ſuffering, to draw and prevaile with your …ebellious hearts, and all have …eene abuſed, neglected, and contemned by you; Oh let every one ſay it to their own …hearts, ſay thou, good Lord, they in Hell never had ſu… means as I have, therefore th… ſhal fare better at the laſt d… then I ſhall; are there ſu… hearts as theſe in Hell? co… pare your ſelves, for know that the Word ſom… times meets with thee: ſa… Lord, it was againſt th… Drunkard, he is come home and againſt that ſinner, an… he is come, but if I ſtand o… I am worſt of all.
Vſe 2. If this be ſo th… God ſtrives with a poor ſinner for his good, and th… ſinner ſtrives againſt th… goodneſſe and mercy … God; then marke what w… gather; when they goe t… Hell, they have their deſires they ſtrive to goe to Hell; as if one would ſtrive for wages; Know it is the de…iſe of your mindes, and de…es of your hearts, yee …rive who ſhould ſweare the …oſt, if you goe to Hell, …en thanke your ſelves. Pro. ….30, 31. They would have …me of my counſell, they deſpi…d all my reproofe: there…e they ſhall eate of the fruit … their owne wayes, and be fil…d with their owne deviſes. When a ſoule is reſolved to …e in his olde courſe, as …e covetousman, I will be …vetous, the contemner of …e Word will live looſely, …d will not be reproved by …iniſters; theſe deſire their …wne deſtruction. Oh poore …ule, when thou goeſt to …ell, thou ſhalt have thy de…re, and elbowe-roome enough there.
Vſe 3. Is of reproofe. Do… God ſtrive with ſinners, … their good? what ſhall w… thinke of them that ſtri… with men for their hurt? … ther God muſt bee blam… for dealing ſo, or they co… demned for being in opp… ſition with God: judge yo… I will ſay nothing; the Lo… ſtrives; he uſes Mercy, J… ſtice, Goodneſſe, to dra… them to him and they uſe … meanes, threatnings, all … withdraw them; either Go… is to be blamed for deali… ſo, or they to be conde… ned: they are the D… vils Captaines, and giv… preſſe money: as if a Wife Childe, or Servant begi… to looke to heaven, then th… Husband frownes, the Maſter chides; Oh lay your hands on your hearts, for the Devill can do no more; Oh know not onelyonly thy ſinnes ſhall condemne thee; but the blood of Wives. Children and Servants; Oh brethren, I beſeech you heare, feare, and tremble. Actes 15.…8, 9. The Text ſaith, that Paul came to the Iland, and ſound the Deputy of the Iland in the faith. Paul would have brought him to the faith, and Elimas would have drawne him from the faith; marke what Paul ſaid in the 10 verſe, thou Childe of the Devill, becauſe Elimas would not goe to Hell himſelfe alone, he drawes others; and Paul comes with fire and thundring, as i… were, Oh childe of the Devill, oh enemie of all righteouſneſſe; The Adulterer i… an enemie to Chaſtity, th… Drunkard to ſoberneſſe, th… unjuſt man is an enemy t… Juſtice, but they that ſtriv… to hinder any from God a… enemies to all righteouſneſſe.
To conclude: You ſay yo… would have prayed, but my Husband would not let mee… I would have gone … Church, but my Maſt… would not let me; this wi… notſerve the turne, it wi… be no plea for you to ſay Maſters hinder you. Matth… 23. Woe to you Scribes a… Phariſees, Hypocrites, th… compaſſe Sea and Land … make a Proſelite, and when he is ſo made, you make him two fold more the childe of the Devill then your ſelves; they are the children of the Devill, that is enough in conſcience; but you are twice more the childe of the Devill: conſider you ſinne, and hinder me from God, you ſhall goe to Hell, but I ſhall be twice more the child of Hell then you; oh then feare and labour every one to mend one another.
Vſe 4. Is of exhortation. Doth the Lord ſo ſtrive and uſe all meanes to draw us to him; doth God doe ſo? then doe you ſo alſo, whereſoever thou goeſt, doe thou ſtrive to perſwade men, and draw them from evill, Hebr. 3. The Lord ſtrives with… poore ſinner for his good… now as God and Chri… deales, ſo let us; lay hold o… a wicked Father, a profan… mother, exhort them, pray for them, Timoth. 2.2. Striv… with them, though they ſtrive againſt thee: tho… prayeſt once, pray againe▪ it may be God will heare. When a man is laid in hi… grave, yet his ſtock remain… and goes forward, and ſha… doe till the day of Doome; what a ſweet comfort wi… this be to them that do… good to others; you tha… goe in companies and aſſemblies with others, &c. ſtrive to draw them on … goodneſſe, by exhortations▪ and ſometimes by reproofes… that if it be poſſible, you may prevaile with their hearts, to come in and take mercy.
Doctr. 3. That after the long abuſe of meanes, the Lord ceaſes to ſtrive wth men therein, and takes either the meanes from them, or them from the meanes, or his bleſſing from them both; I will ſtrive, ſaith God, but not alwayes; when the time is expired, further is not to bee expected. God hath bounds of his bounty, hitherto and no further, as it is with the Sunne, it hath it's times, Spring, and Harveſt, and there is a time to leave to Winter, and blaſtning: there is a time of conſuming, the ſtore, as well as bringing of it in; ſo it is with the Sonne of Righteouſneſſe; there is a time to quicken the Graces of his, and to ripen them; and there is a time to leave men to hardneſſe of heart, in the darkeneſſe of Egypt, that they may be rid of the Word. There is a ſeaſon of grace, but that endures not alwayes; God hath his ſeaſons to be mercifull; ſome the Sunne-ſhine of Gods goodneſſe comforts, and makes grow, and ſome growes away; the Goſpel is going, when Ephraim was going to Idolatry, Hoſea 4. Ephraim is going away to Idolatry, let him alone, he hath made a match with miſchiefe, let him have his belly full of it, now it is Tearme-time, but there is a Vacation too.
FINIS.
A GODLY AND FRVITFVLL SERMON: THE PLANTATION of the RIGHTEOVS.
By T. H.
LONDON, Printed by M.P. for Iohn Stafford, dwelling in Black-Horſe-Alley neere Fle…tſtreet. 1639.