Three Sermons, Sermon 1 – Title page 1
Three Sermons:
I. The Wrath of GOD againſt Sinners.
II. GOD'S Eternitie, and Mans Humanitie.
III. The Plantation of the Righteous.
By T. H.
ROM. 1.18.
The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven, againſt all ungodlineſſe and unrighteouſneſſe of men, who hold the truth in unrighteouſneſſe.
LONDON, Printed by M.P. for Iohn Stafford, dwelling in Black-Horſe-Alley neere Fleetſtreet, 1638.
THE VVRATH of God againſt SINNERS.
ROM. 1.18.
The wrath of God is revealed from heaven, againſt all ungodlineſſe and unrighteouſneſſe of men, who hold the truth in unrighteouſneſſe.
IN the fore going verſes, the holy Apoſtle, by way of Preface; prepareth way for … truth that hee would deliver, and the doctrine he purpoſed to diſpence of, and that all cavils might be removed; and that the Word of God might take deeper root and better acceptance, he… uſes theſe three particulars; and firſt hee cleares the authority of his challenge, hee came not before hee was ſent of God, and therefore being called, it concerned him, and was his duty to do good.
He diſcovers the tenderneſſe of his love, and his marvellous readineſſe to do them good, in the 12, 13, and 14 verſes. It was a de… the Apoſtle ought the R… …ans, therefore hee oug… to pay it; and now way b… ing made, he comes to … …aine point, that is, That a …an is not juſtified by doing, …ut by beleeving, and this …e confirmeth; firſt by the …eſtimony of Scripture, that … man is juſtified by faith, and …ot by workes, ye ſhall live …y faith.
Secondly, by force of Argument, and that after this …anner; If all men by the …orkes of the Law, cannot …unne the wrath of God, …en a man cannot be ſaved …y the workes of the Law. This hee propounds in the words of the Text, and pro…ecutes it in the Chapter following, and affirmes that nei…er of them can be ſaved by …e works of the Law.
Firſt, In the Text obſerve …eſe two particulars: firſt, the dealing of wicked m… with the truth of God, th… hold the truth of God in u… righteouſneſſe.
Secondly, Gods deali… with them, they dealt roug… ly with the truth, they la… violent hands on it, and G… he deales as rigorouſly wi… them.
And the reaſon w… they hold downe the trut… is, becauſe of ſome luſt… their ſoules that is belo… of them.
Secondly, The Apo… ſhewes againſt whom G… wrath commeth.
Thirdly, The univerſal… in theſe words All. G… doth not deale partially, … all that miſpriſon the tr… in unrighteouſneſſe ſ… have the wrath of God de…ounced againſt them.
Fourthly, The place from whence it ſhall come, (from …eaven.)
Firſt, we are here to know what is meant by truth: For …e better underſtanding of …e Text: Truth carries two …ings with it.
Firſt, The rule of righteouſneſſe, which is that ho…age and obedience we owe …nto God; and this rule of …ghteouſneſſe is the moſt …xcellent rule that is.
Secondly, Truth carrieth … it ſelfe, the efficacy and …ower of truth, and therefore …e Apoſtle Paul ſharply …proves Peter, Gal. 2.14. …rſe; that though he ob…ved the Goſpel in the duplicate page maine, yet he did not walke with a ſtraight foot.
Secondly, What is meant by holding the truth of God in unrighteouſneſſe.
To hold the truth of God in unrighteouſneſſe, is by a kind of violence, and ſtrong hand to hinder the operation and paſſage of it, that the Word cannot performe that worke which otherwiſe it would in the hearts of them to whom it is ſent.
Thirdly, What is mean… by the word unrighteouſneſſe.
In ſome places it ſignifies… ſinne that is committed againſt the ſecond Table onelyonly; but here in this place … implies all ſinful diſtempers and corruptions of heart, an… this word (in) unrighteouſneſſe, It carries the cauſe and authority, as when a man ſayes, ſtop ſuch a man in my name.
1 Doct. The truth of God is operative.
2 Doct. That wicked men are enemies to the Word of God.
3 Doct. That the corruptions of mens hearts, is the cauſe of the hinderance of the word. But I will draw them all into one.
Doct. That carnall and corrupt hearts hinder the power of the truth from working upon them, or prevailing with them, as much as in them lies.
It is true, that truth is powerfull, and will prevaile; … when he ſends his truth to worke upon any corrupt… heart, he doth not ſtand to aske our wils, whether we will receive or not, but hee will make it effec…uall; hee will ſhake off all oppoſitions, and he will drive all before him; but let the Lord do what he will, yet the carnall heart will reſiſt and ſtand out, and as much as in him lies, labour to keep out the Word; Rom. 2.14, 15. Though Heathens be ſtrangers from the life of God, and from the Covenant of Grace; yet this little remainder of the Law of God in their hearts, which remaines will be a working in them; ſo that murder and uncleanneſſe, they will puniſh with death.
The truth is diſcovered …ree wayes.
Firſt, when a man is about … commit any ſinne, as to …eale, &c. his conſcience wil …mite him; and ſo in other …innes.
Secondly, the power and efficacy of God may be obſerved in the Creation, yet …he darkneſſe of mens eyes, …r the foggiſhneſſe of their underſtandings, do interpoſe themſelves.
Thirdly, by truth, is meant the preaching of the Word, when the truth is never ſo …pparant, and prooffes never …o pregnant, and arguments never ſo invincible, yet their hearts will not yeeld, nor …onſent, when the light of …he Goſpel is plainly diſpenſed and promulgated, the… muſt needs be a marveilo… light, and yet men will no… yeeld to it, (as Paul and Barnabas) the word they taught, the Jewes put it away, whe… it gripes the heart, and begins to worke effectually▪ then they vomit it up againe… Act. 7.57. Yee ſtiff-necked in heart, yee doe alwayes reſiſt the Holy Ghost, as your Fathers did, ſo doe yee. Gen. 19.9. ſo the Sodomites did to Lot▪ when the old and the young were gathered about th… houſe, and would have the… out; and when Lot ſaid, I pray you, my brethren, doe not ſo wickedly. Stand back, ſay they, we will doe worſe with the… then with them: As they did to Lot, ſo you doe to Gods Miniſters, when Gods Meſſengers come and intreat you; O brethren, do not ſo wickedly profane the Sabbath, and curſe inſtead of praying; be not ſo malicious againſt the wayes of God, take heed of perſecuting the ſervants of God, Stand backe, ſay they, we will doe worſe; and thus they take up armes againſt the bleſſed truth of God, when it comes to pull them off from their curſed practiſes, &c.
For the diſcovery of the point, give me leave to expreſſe three particulars.
Firſt, What is that worke which the truth would diſcover.
Secondly, How wicked men hinder it.
Thirdly, The reaſon why they doe ſo.
Queſt. 1. What is the power of the truth, or what would it doe that wicked men oppoſe it.
Anſw. It appeares in foure particulars; Firſt, it is a word of Information: that is the firſt worke to diſcover all things to us in their proper colours, Prov. 6.23. the Text tels us the Commandement is a Lam…, and the Law is Light, and the reproofes of inſtruction are the way of life; as a Lamp in he night, ſo the way may be diſcovered; ſo it is with the power of the Word of Truth, and he that hath a minde carefully to attend, may be able to judge, and ſee right from wrong: a man cannot miſcarry ſo long as he is directed by the light of truth: as the Sunne ſhewes all the Moates in the houſe, and the blemiſhes, ſo this is like the Sunne to diſcover and ſhew every moate and blemiſh, and to diſcover every privie and corrupt corner, Epheſ. 5.14. All things that are reproved, are made manifeſt by the light: for whatſoever doth make manifeſt, is light: Thou canſt not enquire to doe any thing, but that will adviſe thee.
Secondly, As it is of Information, ſo it is of quick…ing, a word of power, that not onelyonly telleth the way, duplicate page duplicate page but enableth us to walke in it; it puts vertue and ability to walke on chearefully.
It is not onelyonly as the Sun to ſhew us the way, but as a ſtreame to carry us in that way God would have u… walke, Luke 24.22. there is not a light in the ſhining Sun (Chriſt) but is a warning to make nimble ou… benumbed joynts, 1 Tim 6.3. He cals it the wholeſom… word of Truth, whereo… Saint Paul ſpeakes, Tim… thy was nouriſhed up with Pſalme 119, I will nev… forget thy Commandement… becauſe that thereby then h… quickned me.
Thirdly, In the third pla… it is a coard, though thou … dull, it will plucke thee o… So in the fourth place, it is a word of conviction, with power to overthrow all the gaine-ſayings of a man; it meetes with every cavill, it ſtoppes all the baſe trickes and deviſes of our ſinfull mindes. Luke 21.10. when the Diſciples ſhould bee brought before Magiſtrates, ſaith Chriſt, take no care what you ſhall ſpeake, in the 15 verſe, For I will give you a mouth and wiſedome, which all your Adverſaries ſhall not be able to gaineſay, nor reſiſt: And in Acts 7. the Adverſaries of Steven were not able to gaineſay the wiſedome of Steven; the Word will convince thy minde, though a cavilling and diſtempered mind, 1 Cor. 5.25. Better ſpeak one word in a knowne language, then a thouſand in unknowne. And therefore ſaid Saint Paul, I was made manifeſt to your conſciences, Iob 36.10. He opens their care to diſcipline, and commandeth that they returne from iniquitie; though ſtubborne, hee makes them give way to truth.
Fourthly, In the fourth worke of truth there is a ſoveraigne ſupreame authority the word hath, it bea…es downe all, and carries all, and makes all to yeeld obedience when the Lord pleaſes to accompany it; therefore there is ſuch a power that i… is not carnall, but mighty through God to caſt downe… ſtrong holds, becauſe hee takes place onelyonly; ſo this is the fourth worke, it carries on a man, and commands the ſoule, 2 Cor. 10.4. The weapons of our warfare are not carnall, feeble and weake, but mighty through God, to the pulling downe of ſtrong holds. His Commandements are mighty, and what will yee doe when you ſet up ſtrong mountaines of pride, and bulwarkes of reſolutions: when yee are reſolved, yee will have your ſinnes, as drunkenneſſe, covetouſneſſe, &c. though yee periſh for it. So that the truth of God carries the heart and eye, and foot. A mighty operation, The Apoſtle 2 Cor. 13.8. ſaid, Wee can doe nothing againſt the truth: ſo that when God will make good his truth, wee can doe nothing againſt Gods truth; Company comes, provocations comes, friends, wife, though life comes, his reſolution ſtands firme, hee ſides with the truth, thus you ſee that truth will worke.
Secondly, for the ſecond particular.
And that is, how a carnall man doth hinder this worke… of the Word that it may no… prevaile; the ſoule would have the ſinnes, and the word would have the ſoule, now a corrupt heart oppoſes the truth in foure particulars.
Firſt, A carnall heart is marvellous unwilling to liſten to the truth of God; ſo as to be informed and inſtructed in thoſe things that would be too tedious: firſt, it is not willing to know what it ſhould doe, leſt it ſhould doe what it would not; therefore it keepes a loofe off: he is a ſtranger to the truth of God; nay, if it be brought home to their doores, and God ſet open his mercies, the truth is, they will not ſo much as take notice of his mercies: To examine every thing, what need a man thus tediouſly trouble himſelfe? thus they hinder the firſt worke of the truth: it is a Schoolemaſter, but they ſtop their eares; Car…all hearts when they ſee it comming towards them, comming to tie them to obedience, if he heares the Word comming, hee ſlides away, he is loth to heare the cauſe, and loth to be perſwaded, he will not be at home on that day, Eſay 30.10. The people ſay to the Seers; ſee not, and to the Prophets, propheſie not right things, ſpeake to us ſmoothe things, propheſie deceits. Get yee out of the way, turne aſide out of the path, cauſe the holy One of Iſrael to ceaſe from before us. They ſay to the Seers, ſee not, & to the Prophets, propheſy not right things: Doe not ſpeake that they cannot heare, but ſpeak faire and ſmooth things. Iob 21.14. Therefore they ſay unto God, Depart from us, for we deſire not the knowledge of thy wayes; The covetous oppreſſors cannot endure to heare of the gringding of the faces of the poore. Actes 28.27. They ſtop their eares, and winke with their eyes, leaſt they ſhould ſee with their eyes, and heare with their eares, and underſtand with their heart, and ſhould be converted, and I ſhould heale them. I beſeech you obſerve it as carnall men that are loth to know the truth: but if they ſearch, they ſeeke after the Word …s a Coward doth after his enemy, with a hope he ſhall not finde him, and a feare leſt he ſhould finde him; So a carnall man is loth to finde, and feares to know; and if …e doe know and ſearch, hee duplicate page duplicate page will ſearch no more the… ſhall ſerve his turne: hee will not ſuffer truth to have the whole ſway: as a priſoner in chaines, ſo carnall hearts keepe truth in Chaines: and no more then he doth know he would know. Luke 4.42. And when it was day, he… went into a deſart place, a… the people ſought him, an… came unto him, and ſtaye… him, that he ſhould not depa… from them. Hee made … though hee would goe further, but they ſtayed him b… a morrall kinde of perſwa… on; ſo carnall men doe th… truth of God, they ſtop a… ſtay truth, Rom. 12.1, 2 v… ſes, Faſhion not your ſelv… after the world; and in t… Law, Ye ſhall not take t… name of an idoll in your mouth: The meaning is, ye ſhould not give honour to them; but truth goes further; Shall I once name an Idoll …n my mouth, much leſſe ſet up an Idoll in Gods ſervice? Is not this much more? but ſtay you there, ſaith the carnall heart, as it is with an old man that lyeth upon his …icke-bed, when his eyes …re failing him, hee cannot …oke on the Sunne, when it …hines in his face; and there…ore he deſires them to draw …he curtaine, for ſayes he the …unne ſhines too full in my …ace; give me a little light: …old you there, a weake …ght, and a weake light: ſo when the Word comes to …ne that would not part with ſinne, if it come to ſhine fu… in his face, and to pull dow… his proud heart, and to deprive him of libertie; O… ſaith he, Draw the Curtain for the Sunne ſhines too f… in my face; but ſo much … ſerves the turne, Chriſt a… libertie, Chriſt and t… world; oh hold you the… ſaith he. Deut. 12.31. Ye ſh… not worſhip God as H… thens doe, but as Chriſtian Oh draw the Curtaine, &… and if thy neighbour off thee more for a commode then it is worth, thou ſho… deſt not take it; Oh d… the Curtaine…, the Su… ſhines too full in my fa… ſaith he; You muſt not … off your Ware with ly… Oh draw the Curtaine, … and ſo of drunkenneſſe, &c. …riefely I conceive you doe … ſome meaſure know how …at they hinder the worke …f the light of the truth; ſaith …remy, I hearkned & heard, … any laid their hands on …eir thigh, and ſaid, What …ve I done? Oh brethren, …e truth of God comes to …ur doores, and hearkens …hether any of you lay your …nd on your thigh, and ſay, What have I done?
Secondly, whereby they under and hold down truth. … carnall heart labours to …poſe this, & the powerfull …ication of this, and that it …th thus: A carnall heart …ſes up an evill report on …e good truth of God, that …night appear ugly to them that ſhould lay hold of i… The Spies when they we… into Canaan, they did not f… much conſider the plenty … the land, to perſwade th… people to come, but raiſe… up lies, there is ſtrong hold… and Iron Chariots, an… mighty men, to dampe the… hearts: ſo it is with a carn… heart; the Saints reprove, a… Miniſters preach, every o… comes to reprove him, a… yet he is not perſwaded, &… Iohn 6.6. There was ma… that followed Chriſt … loaves, but when Chr… pitched upon matter of … actneſſe, ſay they, it is a … ſaying. Carnall hearts w… Chriſt is commended, … pleaſantneſſe, nothing … beauty, full of comfort, … happy are they that can get him: Grace here, and glory …ereafter, Oh ſay they, it is a …ard ſaying, they preſent him onelyonly crucified, contemned, and mocked; thus they …bour onelyonly to hinder it: Take notice and ſee the grounds why they profit ſo little, it is becauſe the worke of the Word is hindered by the buſineſſe of our hearts; we deale ill with the bleſſed truth of God: it is with the Truth, as with a Trade; ſome …re borne to great eſtates, …nd they are able to follow …, yet their eſtate it may bee decayes; what is the reaſon? they have been wonderfully hindered by many oppreſſions, and cruell dealings at ſome Vſurers hand; juſt ſo it is with the truth of God you have had good meane… Oh you have oppreſſed th… Word of God, and would not open; if any would ope… he would come in, but y… have quenched the motion of Gods Spirit.
Object. Is it in our power to make the Word effect… all?
Anſw. No, but it is … your power to doe what y… are able to doe; your leg… may as well carry you to t… Word, as to an Alcho uſe your eares may heare t… Word as well as ſongs; y… may reade good Bookes, … well as Play Bookes. D… you what you are able to d… and cry to God, and ſee wh… he will doe; though you a… not able to ſave your ſelves, yet your corruptions are able to hinder the Word; and this is the reaſon why the Word prevailes not with you, the Lord may give what he will, and deny what he will, but deſtruction is from thy ſelfe, thou haſt free will to ſinne: learne from hence to ſee the reaſon and cauſe where the fault lies. Luke 7.29. The Publicanes juſtified God, being baptiſed with the baptiſme of Iohn: But the Phariſees and Lawyers rejected the Counſell of God againſt themſelves: the way of life was chalked out before them: but the Scribes and Phariſees rejected the good counſell of God; thou ſeeſt many are called, Oh blame thy ſelfe. Where am I? all this while the Word would enlighten, but I have contemned it; the Word would quicken, but I have neglected it; I was almoſt converted, but o… wretch that I was, company came, and I choked it, and would not walke in the way of God: and the Lord hath often come to me, by the Spirit, and I have quenched the good motions of the ſame. Brethren it is true; Oh blame your ſelves: goe home, and ſay, why may not my heart be made cleane, the Lord wrought on ſuch a one, and why not on me?
Thirdly, A carnall heart doth oppoſe the good Word of God, by reſiſting the work of conviction, if a man be ſo that he cannot but ſay, that he is in a good way; he cannot gain ſay the power of the truth, if it be ſo with him, then he labours with all carnall cavils, as much as in him lies to defeat the truth of God; Oh that convicting! Oh that powerfull Word, the Word of the Lord commeth like a ſword, the Lord ſeemes to aime at a ſinner, that he ſaith it is my ſinne that is now diſcovered: Brethren, all the ſhift they …ave is to put by the power of the truth: As a man that is beſet by an enemy, labours to keepe off the blow, leſt he ſhould be ſlaine; ſo a carnall man laboureth to ſtop the evidence of the Word, that it might not prevaile againſt his ſoule, though it ſeeth the truth: it is not ſatisfied therewith, Numb. 22. As when Balack fent to Baalam, to curſe the people, thinking him to be a Witch: therefore whom he bleſſed, was bleſſed, and whom hee curſed was curſed; God ſaith to Balaam, thou ſhalt not goe with them; yet when they returned this anſwer to Balack, and that Balack ſent more honourable men the… they, and tels him hee wi… promote him: Marke the poore ſinfull covetous wretch, the ſinfull man ſaith ſtay all night, and I will ſe… what the Lord will ſay, he… would faine have the Lo… change his minde; Why d… he bid him ſtay. The Lo… ſaith in the Text going before, Thou ſhalt not goe with them: I but his affections were lingring after the houſfull of gold, therefore hee would have God change his minde. So there is many a carnall heart followeth the wages of Baalam, as Saint Iude ſpeaketh, hearing the Word; certainly, ſaith hee, this truth I will follow; but when riches and honours come, then he will ſearch the Word, to ſee for a Diſpenſation; this is a carnall ſtopping of the truth of God, he will ſearch all the wayes, and try all the concluſions he can, whereby he may cavill againſt the truth; this is not the meaning of the Text, however a man may cauſe labour to a weake Chriſtian but marke thine owne heart if it be ſo, I ſhall be vexe… therewith: therefore I will have ſome cavill; I will no… embrace this courſe; therefore I will invent a way th… it may not be lawfull to me… When Saint Paul diſpute… with the Athenians, divers o… them encountred with Paul… they had Argument for Argument againſt him, that th… Lord Jeſus Chriſt was no… the Saviour of the world▪ This is the generall courſe … a carnall heart, if it may d… viſe a courſe againſt it, h… is contented; if ſo be the… can be no prevailing again… it, it ſends farre and nee… and gathereth Towne a… Countrey to ſeeke it; as … Vſurer that is reſolved to continue in it, hee goes to fourty Miniſters about it; and if hee bee told of the ſinne of it, hee will ſay hee will thinke of it; hee will ſearch the devils Skull, but he will invent ſome carnall Argument; hee conferred with ſuch a man, and he told him ſuch reaſons, but they blew away as a blaſt of wind. Marke my Brethren, the Lord ſent Moſes to convince Pharaoh, and when Pharaoh ſaid, I will not let the people goe, God ſaith, Lay downe thy rod, and it ſhall bee turned into a Serpent: what doth Pharaoh then? hee doth not ſit downe under the miracle, but ſends for Magicians, and they caſt downe roddes, and they were turned into Serpents alſo: but Moſes his rod devoured theirs; yet Pharaoh hardened his heart. So when the Word comes home, this Word I muſt yeeld to, this Truth I muſt entertaine, and when the Word commeth by a mighty power, they ſend for Magicians, carnall Arguments, though the Arguments out of the Word doth eat up all, yet a carnall heart doth goe away ſatisfied, and it ſhall be ſo.
Fourthly, and laſtly, if by carnall reaſon they cannot defeat the truth, they fall to flat reſiſting, they will have their way; and ſo Brethren, they lay violent hands upon the truth, 1 Sam. 8.18. The people were ſet a madding upon a King, they would have a King as all other Nations had; they thought that to be a meanes of their proſperity, that would be a cauſe of their deſtruction. Samuel makes a gracious Sermon to them, that they might be diſſwaded: when he had diſcovered all ſaving Arguments, they doe not reply a word reaſoning; nay ſay they, but we will have a King, they are reſolved of it, as a wretched man ſaid, (when one complained hee could not doe ſuch a thing for his conſcience) I am maſter of my conſcience, I can doe what I will for all that. Numb. 24.1, 2. When Balaam ſaw that the Lord did not give him leave, it did not pleaſe him, he went not as at other times, but ſet his face towards the Wilderneſſe, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. It was his deviſe before hee would curſe the Lords people, he made ſeven Altars, and ſeven Altars before to aske God, but now hee would put it to adventure, he would curſe what ever came of it; and thus it is with a carnall man, when he ſees that all his carnall Arguments fall, he ſaith, I will not pray in my Family, &c. Know thou that caſteſt away the command of God here, hereafter the Lords command with a curſe ſhall prevaile againſt thee; ſay hereafter I will not goe to Hell, the Lord ſaith, Matth. 25.46. Theſe ſhall goe into perdition, &c.
Reaſ. 1. The firſt ground of the point, why carnall men doe ſo, is namely, they cannot endure to have their ſinnes removed, the refore of neceſſity, the bleſſed Word muſt be reſiſted, every ſinner loveth his ſinne, therefore ye ſhall obſerve when a man ſpeaketh againſt drunkennes & pride, &c. he ſaith, he met with me, he ſpeaks againſt my ſinnes, why he ſpoke againſt ſin, againſt drunkenneſſe, Sabboth breaking, &c. Nay, he ſpeakes againſt my perſon; ſinne is as neere as the ſoule, will not any man ſtrive for his life? I beſeech you obſerve it; his ſinne is his life, therefore when the Word of the Lord would plucke… the cup from the drunkard, the Whore from the adulterer, he plucks his life; every thing ſeekes to preſerve his life, and will not ſin doe ſo too, to contend for hi… life, ſo ſinne ſeeks to preſerve it's life; If that the Miniſters prevaile, you and … muſt part, therefore doe all you can to ſtop it, the reaſon is, becauſe a mans ſinne, is… mans ſoule. Here is the very ground, as it was in tha… remarkeable paſſage of H… rod, touching his brother wife, hee reformed many things, but when Iohn ſaid▪ It is not lawfull for thee … have her, when he muſt either kill or be killed; Heredias muſt downe, or Iohn: he loſes his Harlot, therefore he would part with all. If the Miniſter meet with a man, though he never knew him, the Word meets with him, his heart then riſes, and either he muſt be gone, or the Miniſter gone. Why Brethren, what doe you doe? it is your ſinne we oppoſe, a day will come, when yee ſhall be content to part with them, oh the time will come when yee ſhall be content to be rid of your money, the drunkard would faine be rid of his cups, and the adulterer of his Harlot; No, then theſe will goe downe to hell with you, you cannot abide them that would kill that which would kill you: the faithfull Miniſters of God would kill your ſinnes, that to a corrupt heart is his life.
Reaſ. 2. If they cannot have their ſins, it is a vexation to them; it is a plague & vexation to wicked men, that they cannot have their ſinnes inquiet, and ſo as they would not be moved, they would not have their conſcience… troubled; but if a man would have his ſinne and curſed practiſe, hee ſhall have the curſe of the Lord to goe with it. Revel. 11. verſ. 10. When the two witneſſes were ſlaine, they made merry in Towne and Countrey. Why? becauſe the two witneſſes that tormented men, were ſlaine, the Word of God tormented men, it is able to make them madde: why alas, you naturall men damne your ſelves, we doe not damne you, but we tell you of your ſinnes that will damne you one day.
Thirdly, Note Brethren, that for ever you cannot have theſe ſinnes, but they will coſt you ſore; for theſe men cannot endure to bee croſſed and overthwarted, they would goe on ſmoothly in their courſe. Acts 19.25. Paul had there preached againſt Idolatry, &c. eſpecially againſt Diana: Demetrius beginning to ſee his commodity going down; marke what he ſaith, You know that by this we have our livings, therefore they came with a great outcry, Great is Diana of, &c. There is ſome ſpeciall corruption, that is a ſpeciall hinderance of the truth, a company of carnall men ſpeake of the Word; at whoſe ſuite? it is the ſuite of Drunkennes, & uncleanneſſe, &c. So it carries a man againſt the bleſſed truth of Chriſt, a corrupt heart cannot indure to be brought in.
Vſe 1. Is of examination, is it ſo that corrupt hearts doe hinder the worke of the Word of the Lord? hecr… thē we have a ground of examination. It is an undoubted evidence of a carnall and an unrighteous heart, and there is not a better argument: art thou ſuch a one that doeſt oppoſe the truth of God, according to the former ex…eſſion? Know thou haſt a falſe heart, a wretched heart, … ſoule that cannot be ſaved while thou continueſt ſo; I …now in a child of God there … ſometimes a ſecret reſiſting, and when ever they obſerve this baſe diſtemper, …hey fall out with their hearts, they take up armes againſt theſe baſe corruptions; it is one thing to have …heſe ſinnes remaining, and …other to have the ſoule …oyſoned with them. When … wicked man hath poyſon, & lives on poyſon, carrying a ſecret oppoſition againſt the word, it is an Argument, …hee hath a poyſoned baſe heart.
The beſt of Gods ſervants may finde theſe, th… Devill, the fleſh and th… world having about with them; in this caſe thou mai… be carried whither tho… wouldeſt not: Oh it is … heart-breaking to a godly man, he could almoſt pul o… his heart, ſaying, Oh what … wretched heart have I? Th… Miniſter this day met with my ſoule, but what a hea… have I? Here my Brethren let this enter into our minde… the caſe is true, take it home to every ſoule, goe aſide t… your owne ſoules, commun… with thy conſcience in ſecret, ſay there's no body he… betwixt God and my ſelfe … deale truely, haſt thou oppoſed the good Word of the Lord? Oh you rent in pieces the fleſh of Chriſt, with the prophanations, oathes, …urſings; yea, the very walls of your houſes cry ſhame on you for it, and yet to this very day you will not be reformed. You ſee what it is. I …eſeech you, for the Lord Jeſus Chriſts ſake, reſolve againſt it.
The former truth it ſpecially meeteth with three ſorts of falſe hearts.
1 Diſcreet hypocrites.
2 Wrangling hypocrites.
3 Whyning hypocrites.
This diſcovereth that all theſe doe fight againſt God.
Firſt, the diſcreet hypocrite, I know that diſcretion is a good and bleſſed worke of God, if it be uſed as i… ought to be upon good ground in a good manner, and to a good end: but th… ſame Idoll, Diſcretion th… creepeth in the world, is th… deluſion of a mans conſcience; therefore I call him… diſcreet hypocrite indee… that maketh truth his underling, that can hunt with th… Hound, and runne with th… Hare: by Diſcretion a m… that will be ſure to be on th… ſafe ſide, whether on the tr… ſide or not; he wonders … other men to ſee them oppoſed, becauſe they want … diſcretion. There are a company of wiſe judicious profeſſors that periſh wiſely, … Demas followed Paul; … when he ſaw he might … better advantage, he forſooke …aul and followed the preſent world. This diſcreete …ypocrite letteth profeſſion …e as the time goeth: they …ill take occaſion of whole…me communication, and …ffer occaſion; I ſay hee …n conforme himſelfe to all …nes: but then againe if hee …e among carnall prophane …en, this is a man ſafe that …eth out Religion, and pul…th in Religion, as the time … in a word you ſhall finde … to admire at mens per…ns, and yet keepes under … word. This I call a diſ…et hypocrite that goes to … wiſely: theſe diſcreet …pocrites have their religi…as in a ſcrew, at any ſide …y will ſet Religion, and upon any termes, after any faſhion: this is the diſcre… Profeſſor.
Secondly, the wranglin… hypocrite he pretends nothing but favourableneſ… all love and liking; nay, h… makes Religion his aym… to ſcope the end of … courſe, he doth not ſay a… thing againſt the truth: y… he is a ſecret underminer … Truth: to ſhew you … playes: this ſame hypoc… hath one, that we will ma… it appeare he is a groſſe … pocrite.
Hee pleadeth eſpecia… againſt the common tru… that he deſires firſt, to k… the will of God, … how God may be glorif… he ſeekes not eaſe or q… neſſe, but he pretends hee …ekes the liberty of the Goſpel, but he ſeekes his owne liberty, the liberty of his ſtate: As Saul when God …ave him a Commiſſion to …ill all the Amalekites; when …muel commeth, What ſaith …e? Bleſſed art thou of the Lord; If a man take Sauls …wne word, Saul is an honeſt …an; I but ſaith Samuel; What …anes then the bleating of …eſe ſheepe and oxen in mine …es? he ſaith, the people …d it; I but thou art the Go…mour.
They were good for ſacrifice, …th he. Alaſſe, did he love …rifice ſo well? no, it was this owne ends: ſo many … man pretendeth much …ctification and exactneſſe of a Chriſtian Courſe, Faith and new obedience, not b… cauſe he loves God, but … owne end. But a man ſhould be zealous in ſanctification to the utmoſt, even to… hoofe as Moſes.
Againe, you ſhall find hi… to pretend marvellous humility. He is content to b… ſubject to God in every ca… but marke, he ſubmitteth … theſe courſes.
The laſt plea hee ha… Good men doe as I doe; a… any reaſon, propound a argument what mooves hi… none at all, hee brings … truth in ſubjection to hi… ſelfe and the falſeneſſe his heart, is marvellous p… and is in the ſtate of unre… neracie
I reaſon thus: He that is not content to part with all for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, is not worthy of Chriſt, Hee that loves father or mother more then me, is not worthy of me, ſaith Chriſt; to this very day, he never had the ſpirit of grace prevaile in him. Pſal. 119. David ſayes, I ſhall never be aſhamed nor confounded, when I have reſpect to all thy Commandements. Now this wranging hypocrite hath not reſpect to all Gods Commandements, therefore ſhall hee …e confounded.
Thirdly, Hee that under …retence of whyning and …rying for ſinne, loveth …nne: this man oppreſſeth himſelfe; for under pretence of love, hee oppoſet… and reſiſteth the truth.
2 Vſe. The laſt uſe is a ground of admirable comfort; it may relliſh in yo… hearts and mouthes; it is unſpeakeable comfort to every ſoule, whoſe heart lyeth levell; doeſt thou ſubmit … the powerfull Word of th… Lord; to the bleſſed truth art thou willing to have … to know it, to delight in it, and ſubmit unto it, to be a ſervant to the world? can… home this bleſſed Word, … there any ſoule that can te… fie it is ſo with him? If miſtake not my ſelfe, it … one of the ſoundeſt Arguments in all the Booke … God; it muſt be love that anſwerable to the truth when the ſoule is willing to heare, to welcome and entertaine every truth of God, canſt thou ſay in good earneſt and uprightneſſe before the Lord, is there any more truthes, and more good will of thine, of thy worſhip? good Lord let me know it, that I may love it, and practice it. Brethren is it ſo, take then this in you, and anſwer, it is … Lord. Brethren, if there …e a ſight of God in heaven, …nd thou doeſt truely ſub…it to the word, it is a true …gne, that if any under heaven hath the worke of grace …ought in him, thou haſt it. …hn 8. If any man love the …th and obey the Commande…ents, the truth will make him …. Doſt thou then love and obey the truth, it will make thee free, it will make thee a freeman of heaven; hold this truth, Heaven and earth ſhall paſſe, but that work of grace cannot paſſe. This was the joy of the Apoſtle: Iohn 5.4. I have no greater joy in the world, then that my children walke in the truth: in the light, comfort, and power of it. If the Apoſtle Iohn could have no greate… truth, what great joy will it be to thy ſelfe? no greate… joy have I, ſaith ſome ma… not that my ſonne is ric… but that he is upright. Ho… mayeſt thou joy then, … ever thou ſee the face … God with comfort, try … thou beeſt upright, if th… loveſt the truth, the Saint can ſee no greater joy then this: Oh goe your wayes you bleſſed Saints, ye walke after the truth, you that have this, can have no more: God himſelfe loveth truth in the inward parts; hee is a ſpirit, and will be worſhipped in ſpirit and truth. Doſt thou love the truth of Chriſt? then it will ſay as well of thee as of Demetrius, Iohn ….12. Demetrius hath a good report of the truth: So I ſay, doth the truth report well of thee? Doe not feare what the world, thy friends, enemies or adverſaries ſay of thee, that will bring thee comfort, when all falſe witneſſes ſhall lye aſide: but all you wicked of the world, you are they that bend your ſelves againſt the Saints of God. It is true, the poore Saints of God, as poore as they be, they ſhall lift up their heads, when you ſhall hang downe and turne aſide; becauſe they have the truth for them, when you ſhall ſee the poore diſpiſed Saints of God, poore Goodman ſuch a one, &c. You that have made no care of Gods Commandements, when yee ſhall ſee them, ye ſhall wonder to ſee them lift up thither; when the Divell ſhall ſay, Lord, how comes ſuch a man to ſuch a place? he was a finner; I Lord (ſaith the poore ſoule) I know I have many weakneſſes: Lord thou knoweſt that many a ſad ſpirit I have carried about, yet never a truth was made knowne, but I entertained it; never a ſinne was made knowne, but I entertained it; never a ſinne was made known, but I loathed it; then comes the bleſſed Truth, I beare witneſſe Lord, he loved me, and entertained mee, though with many groanes, and teares, and perſecutions; hee would have me, ſaith the truth, hee is a bleſſed Saint of God. You that are willing to receive every truth, oh get you to heaven, then you will be paſt the worſt, the Devill himſelfe confeſſes, and the damned ſpirits: He is a holy and ſincere hearted man; Why Brethren who would not labour for the truth: I ſay God, and Chriſt, … good ſpirit ſhall … ſuch a ſoule; God … of truth, Jeſus Ch… … Word of truth, … Ghoſt is a ſpirit of … they will embrace … God and Chriſt, … Spirit all bids you … ſo you ſhall have … pineſſe; the Lord… … you to it, and you … it hereafter.
FINIS.
A GODLY AND PROFITABLE SERMON: Of Gods Eternitie and Mans Humanitie. OR, The ſtriving of the Lord with Sinners.
By T. H.
LONDON, Printed by M.P. for Iohn Stafford, dwelling in Black-Horſe-Alley neere Fleetſtreet. 1639.