The Souls Porter to Cast Out Sin, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Of audacious preſumption in ſinning, and the antidote againſt it.
A Second ſinne that is contrary to the feare of God, is preſumptuous audaciouſneſſe, or an audacious preſumption in ſinning. It differs from ſecurity onelyonly in degree: for ſecuritie is onelyonly a privation of feare; but preſumption is joyned with an acceſſion of boldneſſe. Indeed it is ſecuritie ſtrained to the higheſt pegge, and dipped in a ſcarlet dye.Cyclopica audacia. Alia que congeſ os …ru…ſſ… ad, dera montes. Eulia propago, contemptrix Superûm. The Heathen uſe to call it a boldneſſe like that of the Gyants ſpoken off by Ovid; A generation that deſpiſed God, and heaped mountaine upon mountaine, Pelion upon Oſſa, and Olympus upon Pelion, as if they would dethrone God himſelf. Such are all thoſe that harbour blaſphemous thoghts, or ſuch as belch out blaſphemous words, that reflect upon God either directly, or by conſequence: and thoſe that in their actions paſſe the bounds of all modeſty, like that unjuſt Iudge, that neither feared God, Luke 18.2nor regarded man.
1. There is an audacious preſumption in the thoughts.Pſal. 14.1. The foole hath ſayd in his heart there is no God. Thou thoughteſt (ſayth God to the wicked) that I was ſuch a one as thy ſelfe: Pſal. 50.21.As if hee ſhould ſay, thou imagineſt that I am a favourer of theevery, adultery, and ſlandering. And the ſpectator of all hearts knowes, that our breaſts are a daily ſtithy, an anvill wherein are forged, whereon are framed many horrid thoughts of God, his worſhip, his ſervants: ſuch thoughts as wee dare not utter. So that we had need to pray, that the thoughts of our hearts may bee forgiven us, as Saint Peter counſelled Simon Magus. Acts 8.22.But in this we muſt leave men to ſtand or fall to their owne maſters.
2. There is an audacious preſumption in words, when the poyſon of Aſpes is under mens lips:Rom. 3.13 when men bid God battell, and ſtand in defiance againſt him. And that is done,
1. By that which we ſtrictly call blaſphemy, when mens tongues doe not onelyonly walk throgh the earth, but they alſo ſet their mouthes againſt the heavens,Pſal. 73.9. as David ſpeakes. Such was Lamech, Gen. 4.23.24.ſayth hee to his wives in a bravery, I will ſlay a young man in my wounding: If Cain be avenged ſeven fold, Lamech ſhall be ſeventie times ſeven fold: As if he ſhould ſay, I wil ſlay the beſt man that ſhall but never ſo little offend me. And if God puniſhes Cain ſeven times, I will be revenged ſeventy ſeven times upon him that but razes my skin. He would be more ſevere than an enraged God. Such was Pharaoh (as his words report him) Who is the Lord that I ſhould they him to let Iſrael goe I know not the Lord, Exod. 5.2.neither will I let Iſrael goe; As if hee ſhould ſay, I know no Lord greater than my ſelfe. Such was Senaccherib, the Aſſyrian King, who ſent this meſſage to good King Hezekiah, Let not thy God in whom thou truſteſt, 2 Kin. 19.10.11.deceive thee, telling thee that Ieruſalem ſhall not bee delivered into my hand. Which words Hezekiah calleth, A reproaching of the living God. Such were thoſe that in Iob, ſay unto God, Depart from us, wee deſire not the knowledge of thy wayes: Iob. 21.14 15.What is the Almighty, that wee ſhould ſerve him? And thoſe that ſayd, With our tongues we wil prevaile, Pſal. 12.4.our lips are our own, who is Lord over us? Your words (ſayth God) have beene ſtout againſt mee; Mat. 3.13.14.yee have ſayd, It is in vaine to ſerve God. And I have read of a king, who having received a ſtrange blow from heaven, vowed hee would be revenged upon God; and therfore gave ſtrict commandement, that for ten yeares, no man ſhould ſpeake to God, or of God. And many of the Popes and Papalins have not fallen much ſhort of thoſe monſters of men, if ſome of their own authours ſay true. The time would fayle me, ſhould I reckon to you their numerous blaſphemies, that no truly Chriſtian eare can brooke. Leo the tenth, called the Goſpella fable of Chriſt. And one of his ſlaves ſayd, that without the the teſtimony of the Church the Scriptures are no more authenticall than A…ſops fables Another ſayes, that if the Pope ſhould carry troopes of ſoules with him to Hell, no man ſhould dare to ſay to him,Domine cur ita ſacis? Sir, why doe you ſo? Another ſayes, that there is well-neare as much vertue in the mothers milke, as in the ſonnes blood. Another in the Counſell of Trent, called the cup in the Lords ſupper, a cup of poyſon. What is this, but to afront, to out-face, to dare God, to challenge him? And there are but too many looſe Proteſtanes, that give their tongues ſtrange liberty to invey againſt GOD, and all godlines. Black months, tongues ſet on fire of hell: ſuch as dare ſay, Religion is but a deviſe to keepe men in awe. Preaching is but prating: A religious life is but a male contented life. He that uſeth plain dealing, ſhall dye a beggar. A young Saint, an old Divell. The heavens bluſh to ſee ſuch foame to come forth from Chriſtian mens mouthes.
2. There is a preſumption in words, that diſplayes it ſelfe in juſtifying and defending of ſinne, calling evill good,Iſay 5.20. and good evill light darkneſſe, and darkneſſe light: ſweete bitter, and bitter ſweet, as the Prophet ſpeakes.Aequo certamine c…rtat cum Deo, qui quod Deus odit, d…ſendit. Hee enters the liſts, and ſights with God hand to hand, who defends what God hates. Herein Ionah much forgot himſelfe, when GOD ſayd to him, Doeſt thou well to be angry? Iona. 4.9.Hee anſwered, I dowel to be angry even to death. This is to provoke the holy one of Iſrael to anger, Iſay, 1.4.as Eſay ſpeakes.
3. It is the higheſt degree of preſumption to boaſt of ſinne. None but brazen browes can doe that.Iſay 48.4. Hee that is ſhameleſſe is fearleſſe. It is wrong enough to God to worſhip an Idol: But (ſayth David) confounded bee all they that boaſt themſelves of Idols. Pſal. 97.7.If a man may vaunt of his ſins, then let the priſoner glory in his fetters: the dogge in his vomit, and the infefected perſon in his plague-ſore.
This is preſumption in language.
3. There is preſumption in action,
1. When a man diſhonoureth God in that place, wherein GOD uſes, and ought to bee worſhipped; namely, the Temple. This is to abuſe God to his face, and in his own houſe.Hoſ. 7.2.
2. When a man wilfully diſhonours God in a time of generall humiliation, when others are be way ling their ſins afore God.
3. When a man ſets himſelfe, as in the preſence of God, and yet then diſſembles with his lips. As thoſe (that with Saint Auguſtine before his converſion) pray againſt luſt…, and yet ſecretly wiſh, that God would not heare their prayer. And all that with ſpleenfull ſpirits come to the Communion, profeſſing before God, that they are reconciled unto their brethren, when they intend no ſuch thing. And thoſe preachers that willingly deliver unſound doctrine to the people, onelyonly to corrupt them, uſing the Name of God to poyſon their hearers, doing what in them lies, to make God a lyer. In a word, knights of the Poſt, with their hackny conſciences, that dare in a falſe oath cal down God to teſtifie to an untruth; which is ſo horrid a crime, that I am perſwaded, that many a man now damned in hel, would have been aſhamed to bee guilty of.
4. When a man therfore breaks a commandment, merely becauſe it is a command. As St. Auguſtine confeſſed, that in his youth he robbed an orchard, not becauſe hee wanted apples,Gens …umanaruit in v…titum reſat. for hee had as good, or better at home; but only becauſe he coveted what was forbidden.
5. When therefore a man abuſes GOD more, becauſe God is patient and long ſuffering. Which ſordidneſſe of humane diſpoſition Salomon takes notice of, and brands. Becauſe (ſaith hee) ſentence againſt an evill worke is not executed ſpeedily, Eccle. 8.11.therefore the heart of the ſonnes of men is fully ſet in them to doe miſchiefe. This is to ſight againſt God with his own weapon. To turne his grace into wantonneſſe.
6. When man runs into a knowne groſſe ſin, that Gods watchmen his miniſters have newly warned him of, or then when the Holy ſpirit of God ſuggeſts motions to him to the contrary. This is to quench the Spirit, and to deſpiſe propheſying; 1 Theſ. 5.19.20. Acts 7.51. 1 Theſ. 4.8.to reſiſt the holy Ghoſt and his inſtruments.
Laſtly, when a man the more revolts from God, the more hee is ſmitten,Iſay 1.5. as they in Iſay. Like Pharoh, whoſe heart was the more hardned, the more, & the ſorer plagues God inflicted on him. Like the Thracians, that then ſhoot their arrowes againſt heaven, when it thunders; and lightens. Like Auguſtus, who having beene tempeſt toſt at Sea; defied Neptune the Sea-God, and in the middeſt of his Circean ſports, hee cauſed his im ge to be pulled downe, to bee revenged of him. Like Xerxes, whoſcourged the ſea, and wrote a bill of defiance againſt the hill Athos, becauſe they intercepted him in his expedition.
Me thinkes the very naming of theſe things, ſhould move us to ab horre them. But to win more upon our affectio is, let us conſider
1. That this audacious preſumption is a deſpiſing of God. He that feares not GOD,Quod non metuitur contemnitur Lactant. Pial. 10, 13 contemnes him. Wherefore doe the wicked deſpiſe God? (ſayth David.) For a ſuperiour to deſpiſe his inferiour, is no wonder; but for a peaſant to deſpiſe his Prince: for a peece of clay, for a worme, to ſlight his maker, is intolerable. Hee that deſpiſeth me, 1 Sam. 2.30.ſhall be lightly eſteemed, (ſayth God.)
Saint Paul was grieved at heart, that by ſinnes of infirmity hee offended his God. The evill (ſayth hee) that I would not, I do. Rom. 7.19.24.O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver mee from this body of ſinne? Shall hee groane under infirmities, and ſhall wee make no conſcience of preſumptions? God forbid.
3. What doeſt thou meane, fond man, to wreſt Thunder-bolts out of the hand of God, that would delight to powre bleſſings upon thee? Who hath hardened himſelfe againſt God, Iob. 9.4.and proſpered, ſayth Iob? 2 Kings 19Sennacherib ſlighted GOD, and the fruit of it was, an Angell in one ni…ht ſlew his army, conſiſting of one hundred eighty and five thouſand men; and he himſelfe returning home, was ſlaine by his owne ſonnes, in the temple of his God.
Libanius a Philoſopher at Antioch, demanding of a good Chriſtian in ſcorne, How the Carpenters ſon (meaning Chriſt) buſied himſelfe? He anſwered him, that he was making a Coffin for him; and indeed, hee preſently after dyed.
In the yeare of our Lord 510. one Olympius, an Arrian Biſhop, in a B…th at Carthage, blaſphemed openly the holy Trinity: and the words were ſcarce out of his mouth, but lightning deſcended thrice from heaven,Paul D…. and at length conſumed him.
Iulian, the uncle of the Emperour Iulian, comming into a Chriſtian Church, piſſed in deſpight, upon the Communion Table, and ſtruck Euzoius for reproving him for it. But ſhortly after, his entrails rotted; and he voyded his excrements at his mouth, and dyed. And Foelix, Iulian his Treaſurer, that jeered at Chriſt, under the name of Maries ſonne, hee vomited blood night and day,Theodoret till hee died. You will ſay, wee hope none of us ſhall ever runne into theſe extremities. But yet let us know, that every preſumptuous ſin againſt God, binds us over to as great miſchiefes, as any I have named. Will wee beleeve Saint Paul? If (ſayth hee) wee ſin wilfully, Heb. 10.26.27.after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more ſacrifice for ſin, but a fearfull ezpectation of judgement, 2 Pet. 2.9.10.and fiery indignation. The preſumptuous are reſerved unto the day of judgement, ſayth Saint Peter. The arrowes thou ſhooteſt againſt heaven, ſhall fall back upon thine owne head againe. Woe to him (ſaith the Prophet) that ſtriveth with his Maker; Iſay 45.9.let the pot-ſheards ſtrive with the pot-ſheards of the earth. What gaine the waves by ſtriking againſt a rocke? they ſtirre not that, but daſh themſelves in peeces. It is hard for thee to kick againſt the prickes, ſayth our Saviour to Saul. Acts 9.5.If you walk contrary to me, Lev. 26.23.24.(ſayth God) I wil walk contrary to you. Oh then let that of David bee our prayer,Pſal. 19.13 Keepe back thy ſervant from preſumptuous from preſumptuous ſinnes, let them not have dominion over mee: then ſhall I be upright, and innocent from the great tranſgreſsion.
This preſumption is a ſecond vice contrary to the feare of GOD. And therefore Salomon oppoſes hardning of the necke unto feare.Pro. 28.14. And Ariſtotle ſayth, that thoſe that are fearleſſe, they ſlight God and man: they are audacious and preſumptuous. This is the Goliah that biddeth defiance to God.
CHAP. XIII. Of Superſtitious feare: and the counter poyſon againſt it.
A Third ſinne that is oppoſite to the true feare of God, is Superſtitious▪ Feare, when men feare where no feare is, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeakes.Pſal. 53.5. That is, where no true ground of feare is. And this may be,
1. When men feare to doe that which God permits and allowes to be done. Thus the Iewes feared to name the name Iehovah: they thought the high Prieſt onelyonly might name it: and that but once in the yeare, and that only in the holy of Holies. Such were the Chriſtians newly converted: they yet ſcrupulouſly obſerved dayes, and obſtained from meates, as upon imediate tye of conſcience from God. Such are ſome Romans alſo, that feare more to eate an egge at ſome ſet times, than they feare to ſweare or curſe, or drinke drunke. Again, they feare to allow marriage to Prieſts, which God allowes. Have not wee power, (ſayth Saint Paul) to lead about a ſiſter, 1 Cor. 9.5.a wife, as well as other Apoſtles? whereof Saint Peter was one. Heb. 13.4.Marriage is honourable in all men, ſayth the Apoſtle. This is a ſuperſtitious feare, to dread that as unlawfull, which God hath left as indifferent, which we may doe, or not doe.
2. When men feare to do that, that God doth indeed indiſpenſably cōmand. As the church of Rome feares to ſuffer the Laity to read the Scripture in a knowne tongue; when Chriſt hath ſtrictly inioynd the ſearching of the Scipture upon all.Iohn 5.39. And they feare, upon the pretence of many ridiculous conſequences to grant to the laity, the cup in the Euchariſt, though by the deniall thereof they prove themſelves enemies to the primitive inſtitution of the Sacrament,1 Cor. 11.23.24.25. as St. Paul relates it. Thus the Anabaptiſts, feare to take an oath afore a magiſtrate, when an oath lawfully taken is a part of Gods worſhip. Thou ſhalt ſweare, ſaith the prophet,Ier. 4.2. the Lord lives: that is, upon warrantable occaſion. If (ſaith God) they will learne my wayes, Ier. 12.16.to ſwear by my name they ſhall be built in the midſt of my people. Heb. 6.16.For an oath for cofirmation is to men an end of al ſtrife, ſaith Paul Again the Anabaptiſts feare to wage warre for any cauſe whatſoever, when indeed there is a curſe denounced againſt them that will not helpe the LORD againſt the mighty. Iudg. 5.23.They will ſay, that was under the Law. But what can they anſwer then to our Saviours words, Hee that hath no ſword, Luke. 22.36.let him ſell his garment and buy one?
3. When men feare to omit that, that God no where commands, as the Romaniſts do too often. Of which their ſuperſtitions, God may juſtly ſay as hee did of the Iſraelites wil… worſhip,Ier. 32.35. I commanded it not, neither came it into my minde.
4. When men feare to omit that that God forbids; as Papiſts feare to ore-ſlip the adoration of a Saint, or of an Angell, againſt which adoration Gods jealouſie ſmokes. Thou ſhalt worſhip the Lord thy God, Mat. 4.10.and him onelyonly ſhalt thou ſerve, ſayth Chriſt.
In a word, there is a ſuperſtitions feare, when men are troubled at the croſſing of hare the f…lling of the ſalt toward them, and ſtumbling at the threſhold, and thinke theſe things ominous, inauſpicious, d…ſ…ſ…ous. When men are daunted at the conjunctions of the Planets, and other ſtars in their ſeverall houſes. Theſe vanities God dehorts his people from, as heatheniſh, and not becomming the ſervants of God. Thus ſayth the Lord, Learne not the way of the Heathen, and be not diſmayd at the ſignes of heaven, for the Heathen are diſmayd at them, Ier. 10.2.3.and the cuſtomes of the people are vaine Theſe fooliſh fears, and the true feare of God cannot ſtand together. In the multitude of dreames, and words, Eccleſ. 5.7are divers vanities, but feare thou God… as Salomon ſpeakes.
Theſe are the ſeverall kindes of ſuperſtitious feare; though thoſe that are guilty of ſome of theſe kindes of feare, ſhall riſe up in judgement againſt many of us. As they that thinke it unlawfull to ſweare at all, ſhall condemne thoſe that ſtuffe their common ſpeech with oathes, and thoſe that forſweare themſelves. And they that thinke it unlawfull to warre, or to go to ſuite at all, ſhall condemne thoſe that thirſt after blood: and like Salamanders love to live in the flame of contention; yet we muſt be dehorted from this ſcrupulous feare.
1. Becauſe it argues a weakneſſe in our judgement, when wee know not the bounds & precincts of our Chriſtian liberty: when we know not what wee may doe, what we muſt do, what wee need not to doe, what wee ought not to do; what is neceſſarie, what is unlawfull, what is adiaphorous, indifferent. And therefore S. Paul calls one, whom every thing ſcandalizes, weak in the faith.Rom. 14.1
2. To frame to our ſelves doubts and ſcruples where God makes none, is to doe both what is thankleſſe, and what is hatefull. It is thankleſſe: for God wil ſay to us, as to them in Iſaiah, Iſay. 1.12.Who hath required theſe things at your hands? Nay, it is hatefull. Hatefull to good men; I hate them that regard ſuperſtitious vanities. Pſal. 31.6.Hatefull to God. They have choſen their owne wayes (ſayth God) I will bring their feares upon them, Iſay 66.3.4.becauſe they have choſen that, wherein I delighted not. We know, that with us, nothing is more nauſeous, more tedious, than that man, who upon an ignorant feare to offend us, leaves undone that, that we wold willingly have done, or importunately! faſtens that upon us, which we count a trouble.
CHAP. XIIII. Of the ſervile feare of God.
A Fourth ſinne, contrary to the true feare of God, is, the ſervile or ſlaviſh feare of God: when men feare him only for that treaſurie of wrath, which hee hath in his hand, and can at his pleaſure powre in full viols upon us, both in this life and eternally. This was King Abimelechs the pagans feare. This was Balaams the witches feare. This was Iudaſſes, the traytors f…are, which we are to be dehorted from
1. Becauſe it moves a man to run from God, who is the fountaine of all our good, as a ſlave would runne from his maſter, or as a Felon would faine breake priſon, that hee might never ſee the face of his Iudge.
2. Becauſe it workes in man a hatred of God, ſo that hee oft wiſhes, that there were no God, or that God were blind, that hee might not bee an eye-witneſſe of his wickedneſſe, or that he were impotent, unable to puniſh him for his rebellion. It is as true of a ſervile fearer of God, as it was of Saul, that the more he feared David, 1 Sam. 18.29.the more hee became his enemy.
3. Becauſe it makes a man an hpocrite: It ſuffers him onelyonly to avoid thoſe ſinnes that are of the groſſeſt bulke, that doe lay waſte the conſcience.Vaſtare conſcientim. It moves him onelyonly to forbeare, but not to mortifie his ſin.
Laſtly, this ſervile feare is but an earneſt of hell torments in many a wretched ſoule.
They that conſider this, will grant me, that ſuch a feare as this is to bee crucified with the reſt of the body of ſin. Not that it is unlawfull to feare God for his judgements; but to feare him for his judgements onelyonly: that is up on no other, nor better ground. I plead not that this feare ſhould bee wholly aboliſhed, but that it may bee rectifi…d …nd perfected, otherwiſe it is the daughter of Infidelity, the ſiſter of hatred, and the mother of deſpaire.
CHAP. XV. Of the exceſsive feare of the creature.
AF…ft Sinne that fights aginſt the kindly feare of God is the exceſſiue feare of the creature; When man feares man, or any other creature either equally with, or more then God. And this we are dehorted from.
1. Becauſe; as the throne, and the bed can brooke no rivalls; neither can God endure that the feare due to him, ſhold bee given to another. Heare how zelouſly hee expoſtulates the caſe:Iſay 51.12 13. Who art thou, that thou ſholdſt be affrayd of a man, that ſhall dye; and of the ſon of man, that ſhall be made as graſſe, and forgetteſt the Lord thy maker, that ſtrecheth forth the heavens, and layd the foundation of the earth? And againe.Iſay 57.11. Of whom haſt thou beene affrayd, or feard; that thou haſt not remembred mee and thou feareſt mee not? Indeed this is idolatry, and Sacriledge; to preferr… the creature afore th… creator.
2. This ouer-fearing of man is a flood-gat… that lets in much miſchief.Gen. 20.1. It made Abrhaam deny his wife Sarah. It made Ionas when he was ſent to Niniveh, Ion. 1.2.3.to fly to Tarſhiſh. It made St. Peter to deny his maſter with an oath, and a bitter execration. Had wee not need then to make head againſt it?
3. It is a ridiculous, braineleſſe,Timent carcerem, non timent gebennam: timent cruciatum temporalem, non poenas ignis aeterni: timent modicùm mori, ſed non aeternùm mori. Aug. reaſonleſſe thing to feare man more then God. Wee uſe to laugh at children that feare a vizour more, then the man that weares it. Saint Auſtin imputes it to mans extreme folly. Men feare the priſon; but they feare nor hell;Contemne poteſ…tem timendo maiorem poteſtatem. they feare temporall torment, but they feare not the paines of unquencheable ſire. They feare the firſt, but not the ſecond death. Deſpiſe (ſaith hee) man his power by dreading a ſupremer power. And again (ſaith he) God commands one thing the Emperour another, what muſt a mans anſwere bee Pardon mee dread Sir: Da veniam, …u carcerem, ille g…hennam.you threaten priſon, and God threatens hell. And agian (ſaith he) What can man doe? Acuit novacul…m ut capillos radat, non ut caput incidit.He can but ſharpen his razour to ſhaue off our hayre, our heads are not in his power. Every good man may anſwere the proud m…nances of men as Chriſt anſwered Pilate Knowſt thou not (ſaith Pilate) that it is in my power to crucify thee? Ioh. 19.103.11.our Saviour an anſwered; thou couldſt have no power at all againſt mee, execept it were given thee from above. Now who wold feare a ſword that is in the hand of him that loves him? Who wold feare a ſlave, or Scullion more then the Lord, & maſter? We wold hiſſe at that man, who ſhold feare an under-officer, having a royall protection from his King.
4. Hee that for the feare of man injureth his God, many times looſeth God, and man both, and is ſecured neither way. I have read, that a remorſleſſe wretch, having his enemy at an aduantage, held a piſtoll at his breſt, and wiſht him, if hee loved his life, to renounce his GOD. To ſave his life, hee did ſo; where upon hee piſtold him, with theſe words, now my revenge is perfect, both upon thy body and thy ſoule. Wee ſee how little the feare of man will advantage us. For in this ſence, hee that wold ſave his life, may chance to looſe it, as our Saviour admoniſheth.Iohn. 12.… 25.
Laſtly, God will pay us home in our owne coyne, if wee will feare men more then wee ought, wee ſhall feare man more then wee would. The ſound of an aſpen leafe ſhall chaſe us. Wee ſhall fly,Leuit. 26.36. Pro. 28.1. when no man purſues us; As the Burgundains feared, that all the reedes they ſaw were launces. Certainely hee deſerves to feare all things who feareth not God above all.Meritò om…a timet, qui illum non timet. Wheras the true feare of one wold acquit us from the feare of many.
CHAP. XVI. A Serious exhortation to the feare of God, and firſt of the manner, how we ought to feare him.
What is paſt is Dehortatory; what is behind ſhall bee exhortatory. Now I have untaught the falſe fears I muſt have leave to teach the true feare of God. Every plant, that God hath not planted muſt bee rooted up, and the true bred feare of God muſt be implanted in our harts. And there are not more pathetical moving, zealous, frequent counſells, commands exhortations to any theological vertue, to any grace, then to this royall grace of the feare of God. It is Gods wiſh. Oh that there were ſuch a hart in my people to feare mee! It is his commandement thrice impoſed in one chapter: the booke of Deuteronomy is ful of this theam,Deut. 5.29 Deut. 6.1.2.13.24. Deut. 10.12. Now O Iſrael, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to feare him. And in this Deuteronomy is a right Deuteronomy, repeating this law the ſecōd time, for ſo the word imports) nay again; and again almoſt in every chapter: certainly there is much in it, elſe there needed not ſuch redoubled iterations, and inculcations. This was a leſſon that God himſelfe wold vouchſafe to teach from heaven, and hee required that parents ſhold inſtill it into their children.Deut. 4.10 Our Saviour divides the old teſtament into Moſes the Pſalmes and the prophets. Luke 24.44.And all theſe bookes often and ſeriouſly commend the feare of God to us. We have heard Moſes, now for the pſalmes. Let all the earth feare the Lord, Pſal. 33.8.let all the inhabitants of the world ſtand in awe of him. Pſal. 34.9.Oh feare the Lord yea his Saints. For the prophets.Iſay 8.13. Let the Lord God of hoaſtes bee your feare. In the new teſtament.Phil. 2.12. Worke out your Salvation with feare, & trembling, ſaith Saint Paul. 1 Pet. 2.17Feare God honour the King ſaith St. Peter Wee ſee that the feare of God is not out of date under the goſpell. The glad tidings of greet joy exclude not a holy feare.
Neither are ignoble, poore men only obliged to feare God, but alſo the greateſt He, or ſhe that the Sun lookes on. Princes are Gods afore men,Pſal. 82.6.7. but they are but men afore God. Their inferiours feare them, and they muſt feare God. This feare is impoſed upon Rulers, The God of Iſrael ſayd, the rocke of Iſrael ſpake to me: hee that ruleth over men, muſt bee juſt, 2 Sam. 23.3.ruling in the feare of God. VponUpon Iudges. Iehoſhaphat ſayd unto the Iudges, Take heed what you doe: for you judge not for man but for God, 2 Chron. 19.6.7.wherefore let the feare of God be with you. Many yoakes there are that may preſſe ſome ſhoulders, but not others, but no necke can withdraw it ſelfe from this yoak. And now let mee doe as that Prieſt did at Bethel. He taught them how they ſhould feare the Lord.2 Kin. 17.28. And indeed, a man had need ſeeke as for ſilver, and ſearch as for hidden treaſure, to underſtand the feare of the Lord, as Salomon ſayth.Pro. 2.4.5. I ſhall apply my ſelfe to the readers, as David doth to the people. Come, little children, Pſal. 34.11and I will teach you the feare of the Lord. To deſcend to particulars. Firſt, wee muſt ſo feare God, as to worſhip, honour, and reverence him, in thought, in word, and in deed; eſpecially in the uſe of his ſacred ordinances: Ye that feare the Lord, Pſa. 22.23.prayſe him, all yee ſeed of Iacob glorifie him, and feare him all ye ſeed of Iſrael. Wee ſee feare and praiſe, feare and glorifying of God, muſt goe hand in hand together. And againe, Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name, come into his court, worſhip the Lord in the beauty of his holineſſe: feare before him all the earth. Pſal. 96.8.9.Again, an Angell ſayd with a lowd voyce,Rev. 14.7. Feare God, and give glory to him, and worſhip him. He that feares not God, cannot worſhip him;Quod non m…tuitur, non colitur. and hee that worſhips not God, doth not feare him.
2. Wee may, and ought to feare God for his comminations; and for his puniſhments. I am afrayd of thy iudgements, Pſal. 119.120.ſayth David. If the Lion roare, who wil not feare? and if God threaten, who can but feare?Amos 3.8. When God threatned an univerſall deluge,Heb. 11.7. Noah was moved with feare. And when God threatned ſuch a hayle ſhould fall in Egypt, that ſhold kill every man & beaſt found in the field. The text ſayth, That he that feared the word of the Lord, Exod. 9.20made his ſervants and cattell to flye into his houſes. Nature will tutor us to feare thus. But wee muſt alſo feare, when the judgments of God are executed on others, though as yet they preſſe not us. As an ingenuous childe trembles when he ſeeth his father ſtrike a ſervant, though he be not angry with him. Becauſe thou putteſt away the wicked like droſſe, therefore my fleſh trembleth for feare of thee, Pſal. 119. 1 19.120 2 Sam. 6.6.9.(ſayth David.) And when God ſmote Vzzah to death, it is ſayd, hat David was afrayd of the Lord that day. And when Ananias and Saphyra for lying, fell downe dead at the Apoſtles feet, the text ſayth in one place, that great feare came on all that heard thoſe things. And in another place, Feare came on all the Church for this, though they were not guilty of the ſame ſinne that was their bane.Acts 5.5.10.11. When a neighbours houſe is on fire, no man is ſo ſenſeleſſe, as not to feare his owne houſe.
3. Wee muſt feare God, not onelyonly for his judgements; but alſo for his mercy. As a chaſte wife feares a loving husband, from whom ſhe expects not a harſh word, much leſſe a blow. God doth not afflict, therefore doe men feare him, Iob 37.23 24.ſaith Iob. We ought to feare God, both becauſe hee afflicts, and becauſe hee doth not afflict: wee muſt feare him for his juſtice and ſeverity, and for his goodneſſe, They ſhall feare the Lord and his goodneſſe in the latter dayes, Hoſ. 3. laſt verſe.ſayth the Prophet. Therefore God calles his people a revolting, a rebellious people, becauſe they ſayd not in their heart, Let us now feare the Lord, who giveth the former and the latter raine, Ier. 5.24.and reſerveth us the appoynted weekes of the harveſt. Which plainly ſhewes, that we muſt feare God for giving ſeaſonable, as ſending unſeaſonable weather. As we muſt love a juſt as well as a mercifull God: ſo wee muſt feare a merciful as well as a juſt God.
That is (in the fourth place) we muſt feare to offend and diſhonour that God, who is ſo abundantly mercifull unto us. The feare of God, and the diſcarding of ſinne muſt goe together,Pſal. 4.4. Stand in awe, and finne not, ſayth David. All the people ſhall feare, Deut. 17.13.and doe no more ſo preſumptuouſly, ſayth Moſes And againe, Theſe that remaine, Deut. 19.20.ſhall feare, and commit no more any ſuch evill. It is not good that you do; ought you not to walk in the feare of God? Nehem. 5.9.ſayth Nehemiah to the Nobles.Prov 3.7. Feare the Lord, and depart from evill, ſayth Salomon. It is a plaine mocking of God, to ſay we feare him, and yet not feare minutely to perpetrate that than is derogatory and odious to him. Like …hem that feared the Lord, forſoo h,… King. 17. laſt verſe. and yet ſerved their graven Images.
5. Feare of God muſt bee accompanied and ſeconded with obedience to God. That thou mayſt feare the Lord, Deut. 6.2.13.and keepe his ſtatutes, as in Deuteronomy. Pſal. 2.11.Serve the Lord with feare, ſayth the Pſalmiſt. Feare the Lord, 1 Sam. 12.24.and ſerve him, ſayth Samuel. Wee know, that ſervice ſtands not in receiving wages, in eating and drinking, in making legges, and in wearing liveries, but in obedience. Neither doth the ſervice of God conſiſt in out-ſide complement, or in wearing the badge of Chriſtianity, but in the workes of obedience to our heavenly Lord and maſter. Wee muſt ſo feare God, as neither to make God to ſerve us by our ſinnes, (as God complaines) not yet to ſerve our ſelves upon God,Iſay 43.24 but both in doing and in ſuffering, to reſigne up our ſelves to Gods wil and pleaſure.
6. We muſt ſo feare God, as to cleave to him, and not to runne from him; as to love him, and not to hate him; as to truſt in him, and not to diſtruſt him. Wee muſt ſerve God with feare, and we muſt ſ…rve God without feare: that is, without diſtracting and diffident feare,Luk. 1.74. Timor triſtis & inutilis, qui ventam, quia non quaerit non conſequitur, Bern. ſayth Zachary. That (ſayth Saint Bernard) is a ſorrowful and a profitleſſe feare, that therefore obtaines not pardon, becauſe it feares to ſeek pardon. Feare and love, feare and fayth, and confidence muſt bee inſeparably united.
7. We muſt ſo feare God, in, and through, and for Gods ſake, to feare thoſe, whom God hath, as his ſubſtitu …s, ſet over us. Subjects muſt feare their Soveraigne, and God in him.1 Pet. 2.17 Feare God, honour the King, ſayth S. Peter. Children muſt feare their parents, Yee ſhall feare every man his mother and his father, Leuit. 19.3ſayth Moſes. God in their parents, and their parents, in and for God.
Firſt God, and then their parents. Wives muſt feare and reverence their husbands. Let the wife ſee that ſhee feare her husband, Eph. 5. laſt verſe.ſayth Saint Paul. Servants muſt feare their maſters, Servants be obedient to your maſters according to the fleſh, Col. 3.22.with feare, and trembling, ſayth Saint Paul, who elſe-where conjoynes the obedience to maſters with the feare of God. Servants (ſayth he) bee obedient to your maſters in all things, Epheſ. 6.5.not with eye-ſervice, but in ſingleneſſe of heart, fearing God. That is, fearing God in their maſters, and their maſters for Gods ſake.
8. Wee muſt feare God above all the creatures in the world, though all their force, and vigour were united together. This is the meaning of that of our Saviour,Mat. 10.28 Feare not them that can kill the body, but are not able to kill the ſoule, but ſeare him who is able to kill both body and ſoule, Feare not him that can kill the body; that is, feare not him ſo much as God. Shal wee feare the creature, and not God for whoſe ſake only wee feare the creature, for what ſtrength hath any creature, where with God inveſts it not? What can any creature doe for thee, or againſt thee; that God cannot doe? What can any man doe againſt, or for thee that God doth not permit, and that he cannot interupt, or revoke? The ſtrength of all creatures combined together is but infirmity, weaknes to Gods power human policy is folly to Gods wiſdome. Wee feare a giant more then an infant, a mountaine then a molchill, a flame then a ſparke, a ſea, then a drop, why then feare wee not God more then al things.
Laſtly, We muſt feare God alwayes, conſtantly, without intermiſſion, or interruption. In youth, in age, in adverſity, in proſperity.Ioſh. 4.24. That you might feare the Lord your God for ever, ſayth Ioſhua. 1 Kings 18.12.I have feared the Lord my God from my youth, Pſal. 72.5.(ſaith Obadiah) They ſhall feare then as long as the Sunne, Pro. 23.17and moone endureth (ſayth David) Bee thou in the feare of the Lord all the day long (ſaith Salomon) Many duties there are that are ſometimes out of ſeaſon; but the feare of the Lord never.
Thus I have diſplayd afore the readers eye, the manner how wee ought to manage our feare of God. Wherein I have ſtudied plainenes to leave the loweſt capacities without excuſe. In matter of direction in a duty, wherin depends life, or death, it is abſurd to walke in clouds; or to uſe the enticing words of mans wiſedome.
CHAP. XVII. The meanes whereby the feare of God may bee wrought, and increaſed.
Next to the manner how wee ought to feare God; The meanes whereby this feare is ordinarily ingenerated confirmed, and increaſed come next to hand.
1. Bee a companion of all them that feare God,Pſal. 119.63. as David profeſſeth that hee was, The company of bold, foolhardy wretches that dare venture upon any ſinne, is the next way to make thee, who ever thou art, feareleſſe and careleſſe, till ſudden & unrecouerable miſchief fal upon thee.
Megn… tibi cuſledia neceſſariaest, qui ante oculos judicis vivis cuncta cernentis. Bern. Medit.2. The hourely conſideration of Gods alſecing ey will keepe the feare of God lively and freſh in the heart. That man cannot but bee fearefull, and carefull that thinkes with himſelfe, that hee lives alwayes in the eyes of ſuch a Iudge, that is the great and unſwayed ſpectator of all things.
3. Reade and heare the word of God frequently and diligently; there (O Chriſtian) thou wilt finde what God is, and what the fear of God is; and what unanſwerable reaſons thou haſt to feare him.Deut 4.10 Gather the people (ſayth God) I will make them heare my words, that they may learne to feare me. All the people ſhall heare and feare, ſayth M…ſes. And againe,Deut. 17.13. Deut 31.13. that their children may heare and learne to feare the Lord. The ſoule is in the care, what knoweſt thou but that upon thy conſtant attendance on this ſacred ordinance, God may ſtrike the ſpeeding blow, and worke his feare in thee.
Laſtly, we muſt daily, and zealouſly pray to him, whom we ought to feare, to implant this his feare in us. David will put words into our mouthes,Pſal. 86.…1 Lord unite my heart to feare thy name. Arowſe our drowſie, leaden, and ſecure ſpirits, and cauſe the ſpirit of thy feare to reſt upon us, that at all times, in all places, above all things, we may feare thee.
Much more might be added; but he who conſcionably uſes theſe meanes, cannot bee a ſtranger to the feare of GOD. You will ſay, theſe means are but ordinary and plaine. The better; what wiſe Phiſitian will goe a chymicall, curious way to cure a patient, when knowne remedies will doe the deed? That were onelyonly to try concluſions upon the patient. Wee uſe to ſay, plain iron may do that,Ferrwn potest, quod aurum non poteſt. that gold cannot doe. You cannot now ſay, the way is dark, for you have had ſufficient direction; nor that the well is deepe, and you have no bucket to draw with, for wholeſome meanes have been preſcribed. If we now feare not God, it is becauſe we will not. The next worke then muſt bee to bow our perverſe wils; and to provoke, our cold, dull affections to this tranſcendent grace.
CHAP. XVIII. Arguments for, and motives unto the feare of God.
AND now what incentives ſhall I uſe to worke our affections to this feare? Let us looke but upon Gods little booke, his word, and upon his great booke of nature, the world; and there is no line in the one, nor thing in the other, but argueth hard, and powerfully pleadeth for the feare of God. But not to let my diſcourſe looſe into a hedgeleſſe field, let us remember,
1. The ſurpaſſing excellencie of this grace in it ſelfe. It is an epitome, an abſtract of all religion. That which Moſes calleth feare, Deu. 6.13.our Saviour quoting that place,Mat. 4.10. calles worſhip. And in the Greeke, the ſame words doe ſignifie feare and religion:foreign. as if all religion lay in this feare. When the Scripture would …eſcribe a good … denominateth … from the feare of God: As a tradeſman commonly takes his name from that, wherein hee moſt dealeth. It was the ſtile of Obadiah, Hee feared God greatly. 1 Kin. 18.3And of Hananiah, Hee feared God above many. Nehe. 7.2.And of Iob, Hee feared God. Nay,Iob 1.1. the feare of God is the Alpha and Omega, Et principuna & prae…ipuum.the beginning and end, the complement, and perfection of all. Salomon calles it,Pro. 1.7. Eccl. 12.13 Eccl. 1.6.20. the beginning of wiſedome, and the concluſion of all. It is foreign, the root of wiſedome.Eccl. 1.23. It is foreign, the fulneſſe of wiſedome. It is foreign, the crowne of wiſedome. I had need of the tongue of men & Angels to give it its due prayſe and full character. But
2. Let us turne our eyes upon God, the object of this feare, we will find that he deſerveth, & may challenge our feare; and when we ſpeake of God, we will with David give him this addition, God who ought to be feared For;Pſa. 76. 11
1. He is omnipreſent, & omniſcient. The eyes of the Lordin every place behold the evill, Prov. 15.3.and the good, therefore in every place ſtand in awe of him.
If a man were ſure that his princes eye were alwayes upon him, how fearefull, how wary wold hee bee in all his carriage? Feare him (ſaith Aug.) whoſe conſtant care it is to looke upon thee, and walke chaſtly; or if thou wilt needs offend ſeek ſome retired place wherein God cannot ſee thee & then doe thy pleaſure. What height of Atheisme is it to feare the eye of a child, and not to feare God his alſeeing eye.
2. Hee is omnipotent able to ſave, I am 4.12.& to deſtroy ſaith Iames: now power is the proper object of ſeare. Thou even thou (ſaith David, Pſal. 76.7.art to bee ſeared & who may ſtand in thy ſight, who thou art angry and therfore God might well with indignation ask the queſtion,Ier. 5.12. Feare you not me? will ye not trèble at my preſence, who have placed the ſand for abound of the ſea by a perpetuall decree & the waues though they toſſe, & roare cannot paſſe it? Our lives, our ſoules are in Gods hands. Hee hath the keies of death & of hell. Thou turneſt man to deſtructiō, Pſal 90.3. Mat. 10 28ſaith David Hee is able to caſt both body and ſoule into hel And ſhall wee not feare him? Our Saviour redoubleth his words;Luke 12.5. feare him: yea, I ſay unto you, feare him afore whom man is but as a moth, as the duſt of the ballance.
3. God is as juſt, as Iealous, as ſevere as powerfull. Hee will not ſpare his owne children the aples of his eye, the ſignets on his right hand, if they wilfully offend him. You only (ſaith God to Iſrael) have I knowne of all the families of the earth therefore I will be ſure to puniſh you for all your iniquities. Amos 3.2. Rom. 8.32.Nay he would not ſpare his onelyonly ſon when heewold ſtand in the place of ſinners. Now what guilty man feares not an auſtere upright, unſwayd Iuſticer? What child feares not an angry fathers? what ſervant feares not his incenſedmaſter: Do you know what Gods anger is? The fire kindled in his wrath burnes to the loweſt hell, as ſaith God, Deut. 32.22. Pſal. 2. laſt verſe.If his wrath be kindled but a little, bleſſed are they that truſt in him, ſaith David. Doe they provoke mee to anger? Ier. 7.19.(ſaith the Lord) doe they not provoke themſelves to the confuſion of their own faces? Heb. 10.31It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God, ſayth Saint Paul. Heb. 12. two laſt verſes.Serve the Lord with feare, for hee is a conſuming ſire, ſayth the ſame Apoſtle. And who among us can dwell with everlaſting burnings? Iſay 33.14.ſayth the Prophet.
4. God is gracious, therefore feare him: There is merciemercy with thee, Pſa. 130.4.that thou mayeſt bee feared, ſayth the Pſalmiſt. A loving wife is fearfull to offend an indulgent husband. An obedient childe is fearfull to offend a carefull father. And ſhall wee turne Gods grace into wantonneſſe, and ſlight him for his kindneſſe? That were pitty.
5. There is none ſo holy as the Lord, 1 Sam. 2.2.ſayth Hannah, therefore wee ought to feare and reverence him. King Herod feared Iohn Baptiſt, Mar. 6.20.becauſe hee was a juſt and a holy man, and hee obſerved him, ſayth the Text. Shall a wicked man feare a man who is holy onelyonly by participation …d …hall not we feare … whoſe Eſſene is holines it ſelfe? It is Davids argument; Worſhip, reverence God, Pſal. 99.5.for he is holy.
6. What ever God is in himſelfe, ſure we are he is our God, our Lord, our maſter, our father. All which are ſtrong obligations up on us to feare him. Sanctifie the Lord of hoſts, Iſay 8.13.let him bee your feare, and dread. There is one reaſon, He is God. But more then that hee is our Lord, If I be father where is my honour? If I be a maſter where is my feare? Mala. 1.6.ſaith God. Hee claimes our feare by this undoubted right. It is Saint Peters inference, If you call him father, 1 Pet. 1.17.paſſe the time of your ſoiourning here in feare.
Laſtly. If wee regard not the duty for its owne ſake, nor for Gods ſake, yet let us feare God for our own ſake: For
1. The feare of God hath temporall promiſes annexed to it. What doeſt thou deſire? the feare of God will make thee owner of it: worldſt thou have reſt, and eaſe and eſtate for thy ſelfe, and thine? this feare bring it, what man is he ſaith David that feareth the Lord, Pſal. 25.12 13.his ſoule ſhall dwell at eaſe, his ſeed ſhal inherit the earth. Wouldeſt thou not bee brought to poverty, & penury? then fear God. There is no want to them that feare the Lord, Pſal. 34.9.ſaith David. Woldſt thou live long? why the feare of the Lord prolongeth dayes, Pro. 10.27ſaith Salomon: woldſt thou have plentiful iſſue? it is promiſed to the fearers of GOD. Woldſt thou be content with thy preſent eſtates?Pſal. 128. Hee that hath the feare of the Lord, ſhall abide ſatis fied, ſaith Salomon. In a word, God counts nothing too deere for ſuch. By the feare of the Lord are riches, Pro. 22.4.honor, & life, ſaith Salomon. Either thou ſhalt enioy all theſe things, or that which is equivalent to them, or better then them; or thou ſhalt be content with thy preſent ſtate. Better is a little with the feare of the Lord, Pro. 15.16.then a great treaſure. But (2) all this is but droſſe to the ſpirituall fruites of the feare of God. For;
1. It is the mother of wiſedome.Pro. 1.7. What man is hee that feares God, Pſal. 25.12.14.him ſhall he teach in the way that hee ſhal chooſe, ſaith David. The ſecret of the Lord is with them that feare him, and hee will ſhew them his covenant. Hee that feareth God, ſhall bee acquainted with the pith, and marrow of Gods wil, when others ſhall ſcarce pierce the bark of it: this is true wiſedome to be wiſe to a mans ſelfe,Pro. 9.12. every fearer of God is. A prudent man foreſeeth the evill, Pro. 27.12.and hideth himſelfe under the wings of Gods protection, ſo doth every fearer of God.
2. The feare of God is the porter of the ſoule, that caſts out ſinne,Ianitor animae, Bern. and keepeth out ſinne; So Bernard. It is the keeper of our innocence; So Cyprian. Cuſlos innocentiae. Cypr.It is the anchor of the ſoule that makes a man ſtable amidſt all temptations,Anchora cordis. Greg. ſo Gregory. The feare of the Lord is ſaid by David to bee clean, Pſa 19.9.becauſe it keepes men cleane;Tutiſſi…u… iter quod ſuſpectiſſimum. Sen. Ep. 59. as he that walkes feare fully, and warily, walkes ſurely, and cleanely. That way is the ſafer the more ſuſpicious we are in it. By the feare of God men depart from evill, ſaith Salomon Pro. 16.6. This was Ioſeph his curb,Gen. 39.9. how ſhall Icommit this great wickednes, and ſinne againſt God?
3. The true feare of God expells all falſe feares; as Moſes his rod did eate up all the Egiptian rods. It expels ſlaviſh feare becauſe it is ioynd with ioy. Rejoyce with trembling ſaith David. Pſal. 2.11.This feare breeds eternal ſecurity. It expells the exceſſiue feare of men.Iſay 8.12.13. Feare not their feare, but let God be your fear, ſaith the Prophet: for indeed this feare is a counter-poyſon to that,Pſal. 13.4. Though I walke in the valley of the ſhadow of death, I will feare no ill, ſaith David.
4. The feare of God is the mother of obedience. And therefore when David deſird to walke in the true way, hee deſired that he might feare God, Pſal. 86.11 Eccleſ. 12.13.for no obedience without feare:Deut. 5.29 2 Chron. 19.5.6.7 Lev. 19.32 Every where in ſcripture, feare and obedience are linked together. If wee feare God, wee will conſcionably diſcharge all duties requireable in all our conditions, and relations. Then Iudges wold accept no perſons and take no bribes, then young men wold honour their elders. Then the wife wold love, and obey the huſband; children their parents, and ſervants their maſters. Then executors would performe the wil of the dead. And no man would offer to betray a truſt. Then every ſtate would bee in ioynt, and wee ſhould live godlily & righteouſly, & peaceably, one by another. In a word, the feare of God is the nurſe of perſeverance unto the end. He that is ſecure and preſumptuous oft fals off, when hee that feares God, & ſuſpects himſelfe, holds his ground. Feare breedes care, and care continuance.Formido facit ſollicitudinē, ſollicitudo perſeverantiam. Tert. cont. Marcion. Had Peter feard more, he had not faln ſo fouly. I ſpeake not of cowarde, but of faithful feare. It is Gods promiſe, Ier. 32.40.Ier. 31.40. I will put my feare into their harts, and they ſhal never depart from mee.
Laſt of all.1 Tim. 4.8. Feare, and godlineſſe have the promiſes of the life to come. The feare of God tends to life,Pro. 19.23 ſaith Salomon Pro. 19.23. How ever the ſquares goe now, I know it ſhal goe wel with them that feare God, Eccl. 8.12.ſaith the Preacher Eccle. 8.12. And Malachy. 3.16. God writes a booke of remembrance for them that feare him, Mal. 3.16.and hee promiſes that hee will acknowledge them as his in the day, when hee ſhall make up his jewells.
Harder is that heart, then the hardeſt adamant, with which all theſe arguments cannot prevayle.
Thus have I given this point its due (as I conceive) yet wiſhing that an abler pen might ad what I have omitted. My ſacke hath corne in it to feed the hungry, though not gold in the mouth thereof to feed the humour of a fancifull reader. My aime is not to pleaſe the humerous, but to profit all. For cenſure, and detraction it will bee loſt upon mee, for I regard it not. I paſſe not mans iudgement, 1 Cor. 4.3.4.hee that iudgeth mee is the Lord. Hee that regards the wind and raine ſhall never ſow. If I ſhall gaine but one ſoule by this diſcourſe I am abundantly appayed,Iſay 49.4. but thogh Iſrael be not gathered, yet my worke is with my God.
FINIS.
Errata.
GEntle Reader, in reading this Treatiſe, take notice of ſome faults eſcaped at the preſſe, as page 2 line 15. read made before briefe Eſſayes. p. 4. l 14. for inſtruction, read intruſion. p. 49 l. 14. for his read this. p. 112. l. 12. for doth ſo, read doth not ſo. p. 119. l. 7. for and, read may. p. 158. l. 19. for coveant, read covenant p. 176. l. 19. for cannot ſeradicate, read cannot but cradicate. p. 246 l. 1. for foreign.
End of the text · William Price, The Souls Porter to Cast Out Sin (1638)