The Saints Safety in Evil Times, Sermon 3
THE CHVRCHES VISITATION.
1 PET. 4. 17, 18, 19.
For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God, and if it begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospell? &c.
OUR nature, as it is very backeward to doe good, so likewise to suffer evill; therefore the Blessed Apostle exhorts us at the latter end of this Chapter,Grounds of cōfort against the fiery triall propounded by the Apostle. Not to thinke it strange concerning the fiery tryall, but to rejoyce in as much as wee are made partakers of Christs sufferings: wherein are many grounds of patience and comfort to the children of God.
1. That the thought of troubles should not be strange but familiar to them; Acquainting our thoughts with them, taketh away offence at them; though it bee a fiery tryall, yet it shall consume nothing but drosse.
2. Then Christ joyneth with us in suffering; better to be in trouble with Christ, then in peace without him.
3. The issue will be glorious, for the spirit of glory will not only support us with his presence, but rest still upon us.
To other grounds of comfort, hee addeth some in the words of my text, as
First, that the Church is Gods house, and therefore he will have a care of it.
2. That he will doe it in the fittest season; Such is the exigence of the Church and people of God, that they require a sharp visitation; and therefore such is Gods love, that he appoints out a certaine time for them.
3. From the different condition of the godly and ungodly in suffering; both suffer, but differ much; 1. in order, God begins with his owne house; 2 in measure, where shall the ungodly appeare? their judgmēt shall be most terrible & certaine, it is set downe by way of interrogation, and admiration▪ What shall their end be… And as Pharaohs dreames we… doubled for more certainty, … here is a double question to make the matter more out of question, 1. What shall their end be that obey not the Gospell? 2. Where shall the ungodly and sinners appeare?
Here is no unnecessary waste of words and arguments, for the spirit of God knowes that all is little enough to fortifie the soule against the evill day; unlesse the soule be well ballaced, it will soon be overturned when stormes arise. Therefore the Apostle in these three verses sets downe, 1. some foundations of comfort, and 2. an incouragement to build upon them, wherefore let them that suffer &c.
The points considerable in the 17. verse are these.The points considerable in the text.
1. That Gods Church is his house.
2. That this house of his, will neede purging, it will gather soyle.
3. When God sees the exigent of it (that it must be so) he will be sure to visite, and judge his owne house.
4. That there is a certaine time when he will doe it, which those that are wise may easily gather; for God comes not upon his Church on the suddaine, as a storm, or tempest, &c. but he gives them faire warning; there is a season when God begins judgment with his owne house.
Lastly. Why God begins with his owne Church and people.
Of these in order.
First,Obser. 1. That the Church of God is his own house. The Church of God, is Gods house; God hath two houses, the Heavens which are called his house, because hee manifests his glory there, and the Church here below, wherein he manifests his grace; yea the whole world (in a sort) is his house, because he manifests his power and wisedome in it; but Heaven and his Church in a more peculiar manner, and that in these respects:
1.Reason. Because God by his grace hath residence in his Church.
2. Because by the meanes of salvation, the word, and Sacramets there administred, he doth seede his Church, as in a house.
3. A man rests and takes contentment in his house, so God takes his best contentment, in his Church, and people, they are the most beloved of all mankinde.
4. As in a house we use to lay up our jewels & precious things, so God layes up in his Church whatsoever is precious, his prayses, his graces, yea whatsoever is good, and of high esteeme that hee bestowes upon his Church and people.
For the further clearing of this, wee must know that the Church and children of God are said to be his house, either
1. As a family is said to be house, or
2. As the fabrick or building is said to be the house.
First,God provide, for his Church as his owne house. a man provides for his family, (and hee that neglects it, is worse then an insidell) so doth God provide for his Church; the very Dragons and Ostriges, the worst of the creatures, al have some respect to their yong ones, much more will God provide for his owne, And as a man protects his house from all enemies, so will God protect his Church and people, and be a wall of fire, and a defence round about them.
Now there is a mixture in the Church (as in a house of good and bad vessels; but the godly are especially Gods house, as for hypocrites and false professors, they are no more in the house, then the excrements are in the body, they are in the body, but not of the body, and therefore as Ishmael they must be cast out at length.
And as in every house or building, there are some open places,The heart of true Christians is Gods private closet. and some private closets, &c. So is it here; God hath his private chamber, and his retyring place, (which is) the heart of every true Christian; Hee counts it not sufficient to dwell in his house at large, but hee will dwell in the best part of it, the heart, and the affections, therefore he knocks at the doores of our hearts for entrance, Revel. 3. 20.and his best children are glad he will reside in them; they set him up in the highest place of their soules, and set a Crowne upon him; their desire is, that God may governe and rule their whole conversation; they have no Idoll above God in their hearts.
What a wonderfull mercy is this,… that wee are Gods house, that hee will vouchsafe to dwell and take up his lodging in such desiled houses as our soules are; It is no meane favour, that God should single out us poore wretches, to have his residence and abiding place in our soules, considering there is so much …ickednesse in the hearts of the best of us.
Oh what comfort ariseth to a christian soule from the due meditation of this point; If wee are Gods house, then God wil be our house; Thou art our habitation (saith Moses) from generation to generation; Psal. 90. 1.Howsoever we shuffle in the world, as they did in the wildernesse, now here, and now there, having no certaine place of abode, but are here to day, and gone to morrow, yet in God wee have an house, thou art our habitation; he is ours, and we are his. And what a comfort is this that wee are Gods house; Certainly God will provide for his owne house; hee that layes this charge upon others, and hath put that affection and care of provision into others for their families, will he neglect his own? hee that makes us love, and puts that naturall affection into us of those that belong unto us, hath hee not infinitely more in himselfe, when as that which wee have, is but a beame or ray from his infinite brightnesse?
This should then instruct us to labour that God may dwell largely and comfortably in us,Vse 2. to deliver up all to this keeper of our house, and suffer him to rule and raigne in us. The Romish Church is become the habitation of Devils, that which was Bethel, is now become Bethaven. Why? because they would not suffer God to rule in his owne house, but would have coadjutors with Christ, as if he were not a sufficient head of the Church to govern it, but he must have a Vicar the Pope, who (as if Christ were too weak) will not suffer him to exercise his Kingly office, unlesse hee may support & help him: thus they set up the abomination of desolation in the temple of God.
Oh beloved, it much concerns us, to cleanse and purifie our hearts, that so wee may entertaine Christ, and he may delight to abide and dwell with us: you know how hainously hee tooke it,Luke 19. 46. when his house was made a den of theeves, and will hee not take it much worse, that our hearts should be made the very sinks and cages of all manner of uncleannes?
How should wee begge and cry to God that he would whip out these noysome lusts & corruptions out of the temple of our hearts, by any sharp correcction, or terrour of conscience whatsoever, rather then suffer them to reside there still to grieve his good Spirit. Wee should take a holy State upon us as being temples of the holy Ghost, and therefore too good to be desiled with sinne: Our hearts should be as the Holy of Holies: And therefore the Apostle exhorts us to abstaine from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit, 1 Cor. 7. 1for this cause, that God may dwell amongst us, 2 Cor. 6. 14for, What communion …th light with darknes?
Are Gods people his house?Vse 3. Then let the enemies of the Church take heed how they deale with them: for God will have a speciall care of his owne house: howsoever he may seem for a time to neglect his children, yet remember this, they are his house still; and no ordinary house, but a temple, whereon on sacrifice is offered to him continually,1 Cor. 3. 17. hee that destroyeth the temple of God, him will God destroy.
Here a question would bee answered,Quest. which some uncharitable spirits make, and that is this, Whether England bee the house of God, or no?
I answer.Answ. The whole Catholike militant Church is but one house of God,That the Church of England is Gods house. though there bee divers branches of the same: As there is but one maine Ocean of the Sea, yet as it washeth upon the British coast, it is called the Brittish Sea; and as it washeth on the Germans, the German Sea, &c. It hath divers names of the divers Countries which it passeth thorow: neverthelesse there is still but one maine Sea: So it is with the house of God; God hath but one true Church in the whole world, which spreads it selfe into divers Nations and Countries upon the face of the earth; One branch wherof is among us at this day.
How prove you that?Quest.
Doth not Christ dwell amongst us by his Ordinances, Answ.& by his Spirit working effectually in the same? If a house be not in perfect repaire, is it not still a house? I beseech you let us rather give God cause to delight to dwell still with us, then call in question whether hee dwelleth amongst us or no.
But to proceed.Obser. 2. Hence further wee see,…hat the house of God needs visiting and purging, and the reasons of it. that the house of God after some time will need visiting and purging, seeing it will soone gather soyle. There will abuses and disorders creepe into it, so that it will need Reformation. And this the Apostle seemes to ins…nuate, when hee saith, The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. The Lord saw cause for what he did: For,
First,Reas. 1. such is the weaknesse of mans nature, that evill things soone discourage us, and good things (except wee wrastle with our spirits) prove a snare to the best; Even the Church of God after a long time of peace is apt to gather corruption, as water doth by standing, and as the ayre it selfe will doe, if it have not the winde to purge it; And as it is in the bodyes of men, if they be not curiously looked unto, (after a certaine time) they will gather such a burthen of humors as will rise to a distemper, so that they must be lett bloud, or purged &c. So it is with the Church of God; Such is the infirmity of mans nature, and the malice of Sathan that enemy to mankinde, that the best of Gods people will quickly gather some distemper or other, and stand in need of purging. You know a house wil gather dust of it selfe, though cleane at the first.
2. Most certaine it is that the Church of God cannot be long without some affliction,Reas. 2. considering that it is now in a state of Pilgrimage, absent from God, in another world as it were; Wee live in a grosse corrupt ayre, and draw in the corruption of the times, one defiling another,Esay 65. I am a man of polluted lips (saith Esay) and dwell with men of polluted lips; ill neighbours made him the worse.
Vse.This should stir us up to lament the miserable estate of mans nature, that even the best of men (the Church and people of God) whilest they remaine in this world stand in need of continuall purging and winnowing. Crosses are as necessary to us as our daily bread, because we carry that about us which wants them; Wee are as much beholding to Gods corrections, as to his comforts in this world; the Church needes keeping under for the most part;Psal. 55. 19. God will not have us settle upon our dreggs.Ict. 48. 11. This should teach us to bewaile our condition, and to desire to be at home, where we shall need no purging, where wee shall be as free from sorrow, as from sinne the cause of it.
Observe wee further,Obser. 3. that as the Church will stand in neede of chastisements, That God will come to visite and purge his house, when need is.so God will come and visite his Temple when need is; and but when need requires neither; for God is no …yrant, yet he wil shew that he hates sinne, wheresoever hee finds it, even in hisAmos… owne deare children and servants. duplicate page duplicate page
If God should beare with the abuses and sinnes of his owne Church and People, it would seem that sinne was not so contrary to his holy disposition as it is. Therefore, in whomsoever hee findes sinne, hee will punish it: Our blessed Saviour found this true, when hee tooke upon him the imputation of our sinnes, and became but onelyonly a Suertie for us; you see how it made him cry out, My God, my God, why hast thou for saken mee! Those glorious Creatures the very Angels themselves, when they kept not their owne standing, God would indure them no longer, but thrust them out of heaven.
But why doth God chiefly afflict his owne people more then others?O….
Because they are of his owne family, Answ.and are called by his name: Why God afflicts his owne people before others.Now the disorders of the family tend to the disgrace of the Governour of it: the sinnes of the church touch God more nearly then others. And therefore judgments must beginne at the santuary first. I will be sanctified in Ezec. 4 6.all that come neere mee, Levit. 10. 3saith God when hee smote Aarons sons, The nearer wee come to God (if wee maintaine not the dignitie of our profession) undoubtedly the more neare will God comes to us in judgment. Wee see the Angells, who came nearest to God of all others, when once they sinned against him, they were tumbled out of heaven, and cast into the bottomlesse pit: Heaven could then brook them no longer.
Beloved, the Gospel suffers much through the sides of professors: What saith the wicked worldling? These be your professors: see what manner of lives they lead; what little conscience they make of their waies &c. Little doe men know how much Religion is vilified, and the wayes of God evill spoken of, through the loose cariage of Professors of the Gospell, as if there were no force in the grace and favour of God to make us love and obey him in all things; as if Religion consisted in word onelyonly, and not in power. What a scandall is this to the cause of Christ? It is no marvell God begins with them first.… 3. 2. You have I knowne above all the families of the earth, and therefore will I punish you. A man may see and passe by dirt in his grounds, but he wil not suffer it in his dining Chamber, he will not endure dust to be in his Parlour.
The sinnes of Gods house admit of a greater aggravation, The sinnes of the godly more haynous then others.then the sinnes of others: For, 1. They are committed against more light; 2. against more benefits and favours; 3. their sinnes in a manner are sacriledge: what to make the temple of God a den of theeves; to defile their bodies and soules that are bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ; Is this a small matter? Againe, 4. their sinnes are Idolatry; for they are not onelyonly the house of God, but the spouse of God.
Now for a spous to be false & adulterous; this is greater then fornication, because the bond is nearor; So the nearer any come to God in Profession, the higher is the aggravation of their sinne; and as their sin growes, so must their punishment grow answerables, and proportionable: They therefore that knew Gods will most of all others, must looke for most stripes if they doe it now
Hence therefore learne that no Priviledge can exempt us from Gods judgments, Vse 1.nay rather the contrary;No priviledge can exempt us from Gods judgement. where God doth magnifie his rich goodnes and mercy to a people, and is notwithstanding dishonoured by them, he will at last magnifie his righteous justice in correcting such disobedient wretches. Some of the Fathers were forced to justifie God in visiting his Church more sharply then other people;Augustine. Salvian. because Christians are so much worse then others, by how much they should be better. Their sins open the mouths of others to blaspheme. Wee should not beare out our selves on this, that wee are Gods house, but …eare so much the more to offend Him, else all our priviledges will but increase our guilt not our comfort
Secondly,Vse 2. if God begins with his owne house, let the Church besevere in punishing sinne there most of all: because Gods wrath will break out first there. What a shame is it, that the Heathen should make such sharp lawes against Adultery and other sins, and wee let them passe with a slight, or no punishment at all? No doubt but God blesseth a state most, when sinne is discountenanced and condemned most; for then it is the States sinne no longer, but lyeth upon particular offenders.
But I hasten.
As God will visit his Church, obser. 4.so there is a certaine time for it. God appoints a particular time for his visitation.God as hee hath appointed a general day to judge the world in, so hee appoints particular times of judgement in this life, hee is the wise dispenser of times. God doth not alwayes whip his Church, but his ordinary course is, to give them some respite, as Acts 9. after Pauls, conversion the Church had joy, and grew in the comforts of the holy Ghost. God hath rejoycing dayes for his people, as well as mourning dayes. fayre weather, as well as soule, and all to help them forward in the way to heaven. Beloved, God gives many happy and blessed times to encourage weak ones at their first comming on, that they may the better grow up in goodness, and not be nipped in the bud; but after a certaine time, when through peace and encouragement they grow secure and carelesse, and scandalous in their lives, then hee takes them in hand, and corrects them. God hath scouring dayes for his vessels.
What be those times wherein God will visit his Church?Quest.
I answer in generall,Answ. the time of visiting the Church of God is from Abel to the last man that shall be in the earth; the Church beganne with bloud,What be the times of Gods visitation. continues with bloud, and shall end with bloud; the whole dayes of the Church, are a time of persecution;Psal. 88. 15. from my youth upward (saith the Psalmist) I have suffered; so may the Church of God say, even from my cradle, from my infancy I have beene afflicted; yea for thy sake we are killed all the day long, Psal. 44. 22.and counted as sheepe for the slaughter; but this is not here meant.
The time for the Church of God to suffer,The Church is afflicted when the light of the Gospel hath most clearely shined. is, when the glorious manisestation of the Gospell is more then in former times; wee see the ten first persecutions was after that generall promulgation of the Gospell, whereby the world was more, inlightned then formely. Wee reade in the Revelation of a white horse that Christ rides on, and a pale horse of famine, and a red horse of persecution that followed after him; So presently after the preaching of the Gospell, comes the fanne, and the axe, (or though not very presently yet) after a certaine time when our neede requires it; for God will wayte a while to see how wee entertaine his glorious Gospell, and whether we walke worthy of it or not.
More particularly, even now is the time of lacobs trouble, That now is the time of the Churches affliction.even now God hath put a cup into the Churches hand, and it must goe round; the sword hath a commission to devoure which is not yet called in.
But what be the more especiall times wherein a man may know some judgement is like to fall upon the Church of God?quest. The Scripture is wondrous ful in the point.
1. God usually before any heavy judgement visits a people with lesser judgements;How wee may know when some iudgemet approacheth. his foot. …eps first appeare in some small token of his displeasure,1. Signe. but if that prevayles not, then he brings a greater;Amos 4. 6. 7. this, and this have I done (saith the Lord) and yet yee have not returned unto mee; There be droppings before the ruine of a house; Lesser judgments make way for greater, as a little wedg makes way for a greater; and therefore where lesse affilictions prevaile not, there cannot but be an expectation of greater,Esay 1. 5. Why should I smite you any more (saith God) you fall away more and more, (that is) I must have a sweeping judgement to carry you cleane away.
Againe,2. Signe. usually before some great calamity, God takes away worthy men,Esa. 3. 2. 3. the Councellor, and the Captain, and the man of warre. This is a fearefull presage that God threatneth some destruction; for they are the Pillars of the Church, and the strength of the world; they are those that make the times and places good wherein they live; for they keep away evill and do good, by their example and by their prayers many wayes. A good man is a common good;Prov. 11. 10. 11. the Citty thrives the better (as Solomon saith) for a righteous man; Eccl. 9. 15.therefore wee have cause to rejoyce in them, and it is an evill signe when such are removed.
God usually visits a people,3. Signe. when some horrible crying sins raigne amongst them; as 1. Atheisme. Beloved, God stands upon his prerogative then, when he is scarce knowne in the world; when they say, Where is God? God sees us not, &c. So likewise 2. when Idolatry prevailes, this is spirituall Adultery, and a breach of Covenant with God. Againe 3. when divisions grow amongst a people, union is a preserver; where there is dissention of judgement, there will soone be dissention of affections; and dissipation wil be the end if we take not heed; for the most part Ecclesiasticall dissentions, end in …ivill; And therefore wee see before the destruction of Ierusalem what a world of Schismes and divisions were amongst the Iews, there were Pharisees, and Sadduces &c. It was the ruine of the ten Tribes at length, the rent that Ieroboam caused in Religion; It is a fearefull signe of some great ludgement to fall upon a Church, when there is not a stopping of dissentions; they may be easily stopped at the first, as waters in the beginning; but when they are once gotten into the very vitall parts of the Church & Common wealth, wee may see the mischiefe, but it is hardly remedyed.4. Signe. Againe, when sinne goes with some evill circumstances and odious qualities which aggravate the same in the sight of God; as when sinne growes ripe and abounds in a Land or Nation: at such a time as this a man may know there is some fearfull judgement approaching.
But when is sinne ripe?Quest.
1. When it is impudent; Answ.when men grow bold in sinne, When sinne is ripe. making it their whole course and trade of life; when mens wicked courses are their conversation, they cannot tell how to doe otherwise.
2. When sinne growes common, and spreads sarre; It is an ill plea to say; Others do so as well as I; alas, the more sin, the more danger.
3. When there is a security in sinning, without feare or dread of the Allmighty, as if men would dare the God of Heaven to doe his worst; Oh beloved, such persons as goe on still in their sins to provoke the Lord, doe put a sword (as it were) into Gods hands to destroy themselves.
The old world (you know) was very secure; no doubt they mocked at holy Noah when hee made the Arke, as if hee had beene a doting old man; not with standing hee foretold them of the wrath to come; And our Saviour Christ saith, Before the end of the world it shall be, as in the dayes of Noah; Beloved, God hath his old worlds still, If wee have the same course and security of finning, we must looke for the same iudgements. And therefore compare times with times; If the times now answer former times, when God judged them, wee may well expect the same fearfull judgments to fall upon us.
Vnfruitfulnes threatneth a judgment upon a people; 5. Signe.when God hath bestowed a great deale of cost and time, hee lookes wee should answer his expectation in some measure. The figge tree in the Gospell, had some respite given it, by reason of the prayers of the vine dresser, but afterward when it brought forth no fruite, it was cut downe and cast into the fire. Beloved, who amongst us would indure a barren tree in his Garden? That which is not fit for fruit, is most fit for fire; wee can indure a barren tree in the Wildernesse, but not in our Orchards; when God, the great husbandman of his Church, sees that upon so great and continual cost be stowed upon us, wee remaine yet unfruitfull, he will not suffer us long to cumber the ground of his Church.
Againe, decay in our first love is a signe of judgement approaching;6. Signe. God threatned the Church of Ephesus to remove his Candlestick from among them, for their decay in their first love; that having surfetted of plenty and peace, he might recover her tast by dyeting of her; decay in love proceeds from disesteeme in judgement; and God cannot endure his glorious Gospel should be slighted, as not deserving the richest streyne of our love; the Lord takes it better, where there is but little strength and a striving to be better, then when there is great meanes of grace and knowledge, and no growth answerable, but rather a declining in goodnesse. I beseech you lay these things to heart; The Lord is much displeased, when Christians are not so zealous as they should be; when there is not that sweet communion of Saints among them, to strengthen and incourage one another in the waies of holinesse as there might be; when there is not a beauty in their profession to allure and draw on others to a love & liking of the best things; when there is not a care to avoid all scandalls that may weaken respect to good things, and bring an evill report on the waies of God; when they labour not with their whole hearts to serve the Lord in a cheerefull manner, &c.Deut. 28. 47. The very not serving God answerable to encouragements, is a certaine signe of ensuing danger.Vse.
Therefore I beseech you let us looke about us, whether these be not the times wherein wee live, that judgement must begin at the house of God. The Lord complaines in Ieremy that the Turtle and other silly creatures knew the time of their standing,Icrem 8. 7. and removing but his people did not know his judgements. Doe the creatures know their times and seasons, and shall Christ complaine that we know not the day of our visitation? what a shame is this? I beseech you let us know and consider our times; If wee have a time of sinning, God will have a time of punishing.
And have wee not just cause to feare that judgement is not sarre from us, when wee see a great part of Gods house on fire already in our neighbouring Countryes? wee have had lesser judgements, and they have not wrought kindly with us; wee neede a stronger purge; If wee looke to the carriage of men, what sinne is lesse committed now then formerly? How few renew their covenant with God (in sincerity of Resolution) to walke closely with him.
And, what the judgement will be, wee may probably foresee; for usually the last judgement is the worst; wee have had all but (warre) the worst of all; for in other judgements, wee have to deale with God, but in this, wee are to deale with men, whose very mereyes are cruelti…s. The sword hath a long time been shaken over our heads, a cloud of warre hath hung over us to affright us, but we rest still secure in our sinfull courses, and thinke to morrow shall be as to day, and that no evill shall come nigh us &c. Oh the frozen hearts of Christians that thrust the evill day farre from them; doe wee not see the whole world (in a manner) in a combustion round about us, and wee (as the three young men in the fiery furnace) untouched?Dan. 3. Beloved, we have out-stripped them in abhominable wickednesses; and however the Lord is pleased that wee should onelyonly heare a noyse and rumour of warre, yet wee in this Land have deserved to drinke as deepe of the cup of the Lords wrath, as any people under heaven.
What course should we take to prevent the Judgement of God,Quest. and keepe it from us?
Labour to meete God by speedy repentance before any decree be peremptorily come forth against us;Answ. Of the meanes to prevent and escape Gods judgements.As yet there is hope to prevaile;1. Meanes. For (blessed be God) as wee have many things to feare, To meet God by speedy repentance.so we have many things to incourage us to goe unto God with comfort; wee have enjoyed a succession of gracious Princes that have maintained the truth of God amongst us; wee have many godly Magistrates and Ministers; together with the Ordinances & many other experience of Gods love vouchsafed unto us. We have yet time to seck the Lord, let us not deferre till the very time of judgement come upon us; for that is but selfe love; Assure thy selfe thus much, thou canst have no more comfort in troubles and afflictions when they doe come,Note: then thou hast care to prevent them before they come; answerable to our care in preventing now, will be our comfort then
Therefore if wee would be bid in the day of Gods wrath; if wee would have God to set his marke upon us, and write us in his booke of Remembrance, Mal. 3. 16and to gather us when hee makes up his jewels; If wee would have him to owne us then, looke to it now; Get now into Christ; be provided now of a sound profession of Religion, and that will be as an Arke to shelter us in the evill day; What wee know let us doe, and then wee shall be built on a Rocke, that if waves or any thing come wee shall not be stirred.
Usually God in dangerous times leaveth some ground of hope which worketh differently with men; Such as are carnall grow presumptuous hereupon; but the Godly are drawne neerer to God, upon any appearance of incouragement; the good things they injoy from God, worke in them a more earnest desire to please him.
It is the custome of the spirit of God, to make doubtfull, imperfect, and (as it were) halfe promises to keepe his people still under some hope; whence we reade of these and such like phrases in Scripture, It may be God will shew mercy, and Who knoweth whether he will heare us? &c.
Againe,2. Meanes. examine and try upon what ground thou professest Religion,To examine the grounds of our Religion. whether it will hold water or no, and stand thee in steade when evill times shall come. Beloved, it neerely concernes us all, seriously to consider, and narrowly to search upon what grounds wee venture our lives and soules; try graces, our knowledg, repentance, faith love, &c. of what metall they are; those that have coyne bring it to the touchstone, and if it prove counterset they presently reject it, and will have none of it; Oh that wee had this wisedome for matters of eternity; If men would search and plough up their owne hearts, they would not need the plowing of Gods enemies; wee should not neede Gods judgements, if wee would judge ourselves; Psal. 129. 3.The Church complained that the enemies had made long surrowes on her backe, but if shee had plowed her selfe she had saved the enemies that labour.
Before any judgement comes,3. Meanes. let us store up the fruits of a holy life; To store up the fruits of a godly life before the judgement commeth.every day be doing something; doe that now which may comfort thee then; store up comforts against the euill day; when the night is come wee cannot worke; let us therefore walke while wee have the light; let us looke about us, and do what good wee can, whilest wee have time as the Apostle saith. The time will come ere long, that thou wilt wish, Oh that I had that opportunity and advantage of doing good as I have had; Oh that I had such meanes of doing good as I have had; but then it will be too late; then that where by thou shouldest doe good wil be in thy enemies hands; and therefore while wee have time; let us be doing and receiving all the good wee can.
Againe,4. Meanes. if wee would have God to shield us,To moutne fo… our own sins, & the sins of the tinies. and be an hiding place to us in the worst times, let us mourne for our owne sinnes, and the sinnes of the times wherein wee live. Let us keepe our selves unspotted of the sins of the world; let us not bring sticks to the common fire; let us not make the times worse for us, but better; that the times and places wee live in may blesse God for us.
And let us not onelyonly mourne for the sinnes of the times, but labour also to represse them all we can, and stand in the gappe, endeavouring by our prayers and teares to stop Gods judgments.
And wee should set a high price upon that Religion and the blessings of God which wee doe injoy,5. Meanes. lest wee force God to take them from us;To set an high price on our Religion, and every truth of it. and so wee come to know that by the want of it, which wee did not value when wee possessed it; Oh let us esteeme the treasure of the Gospell at a higher rate then ever wee have done; wee see how it is slighted by most of the world, how they shake the blessed truths of God, and call them into question, being indifferent for any Religion; Is this our proficiency beloved? It behooves us to store up all the sanctisied knowledge wee can, and to take heed wee yeild not to any that would either weaken our judgement in Religion, or our affections to the best things; wee should every one in his place labour to stoppe diffentions in this kinde, and knit our heart together as one man in unity and concord; factions have alwaies fractions going with them; unitie makes strong, but Division weakneth any people; Even Sathans kingdome, divided against it selfe cannot stand.
What is the glory of England? take away the Gospel, and what have wee that other Nations have not better then our selves? Alas, if wee labour not to maintaine truth, wee may say with Elies daughter, The glory of God is departed from us.2 Sam. 4. 21.
Sarah had her handmaids; and so hath Religion beene attended with prosperite and peace, preservation, and protection amongst us, even to the admiration of other Countryes. Shall we not therefore make much of that Religion, which if we had it alone (joyned with many crosses and sufferings yet) were an inestimable and unvaluable blessing? And shall wee not now much more considering it hath beene attended by God with so many mercies, cherish and maintaine the same all we can? Doe we thinke it will goe alone when it goes, whensoever God removes it from us? No no, therefore I beseech you let us highly esteeme of the Gospell, whilest we doe injoy it; if wee suffer that to be shaken any way, our peace and prosperity will then leave us, and judgement upon judgement wil come upon us: If wee will not regard the truth of God which he esteemeth most, hee will take away outward prosperitie which wee esteeme most.
But I come to the fifth point,Obser. that judgement must begin at the house of God.That iudgemēt must begin at Gods house, & the reasons of it.
Why doth God begin with his owne Church and people?
1. Usually because hee useth wicked men and the enemies of his Church for that base service to correct and punish them.Reas. 1.
2.R…as. 2. To take away all excuse from wicked men, that they seeing how severely God deales with his owne deare Children, might be stirred up to looke about them, and consider what will become of themselves at the last, if they goe on in their sinfull courses; so many crosses as befall Gods children, so many evidences against secure carnal persons; for if God deale thus with the greene tree, what will he do with the dry? If he scourge his children thus with rodds, certainely the slaves shall be whipped with scorpions.
3.Reas. 3. God begins with his own servants, that his children might be best at last; if he should not beginne with them, they would grow deeper in rebellion against him, and attract more soyle and filth to themselves, and be more and more ingaged to error and corruption; Gods love to his people is such, that hee regards their correction before the confusion of his e…emies.
Againe,Reas. 4. God doth this, that when hee sends them good dayes afterwards, they might have the more tast and relish of his goodnesse▪ after an afflicted life, we are more sensible of happy times; God deales favourably therefore with a man, when hee crosseth him in the beginning of his daies, and gives him peace in his latter end.
This is a point of marvellous comfort and incouragement to the faithfull servants of God;Vse. 1. for 1. though God correct them sharply,That God by our corrections sheweth that we are his. yet hee shewes therby they are of his houshold; When a man corrccts another, wee may know it is his childe or servant &c. God shewes that we are of his house and family by the care hee takes to correct us; the vine is not hated because it is pruned, but that it may bring forth more fruit; the ground is not hated because it is ploughed, nor the house because it is cleansed.
But what is meant by judgement here?Quest.
Iudgement is correction moderated to Gods children;Answ. Iudgment is twofold in Scripture; What is meant by judgement, and the divers kind… of it.the statutes of God are called judgements, and the corrections of God are called judgements; The Statutes are called judgements, because they judge what we should doe, and what wee should not doe; Now when wee doe not that wee should▪ hee is forced to judge us actually with reall judgments.
The reall judgements of God, are either, 1. upon the wicked, (and so they are judgements in …ury, for there is not the least tast of his love in them to wicked men; they can make no sanctified use of them, becaus… they are not directed to them for their good.) Or 2. to Gods children, and so they are moderate corrections, and therefore the Prophet so often urgeth,Ierem. 10. 24. Correct us ô Lord in judgement &c. God alwaies moderates afflictions to his owne children, but as for the wicked, he sweepes them away as doung, as drosse, and as chaffe. &c.
Againe,Vse 2. it is a comfort to Gods children that he beginnes with them first; rather then God will suffer them to perish and be condemned with the world, hee beginnes with them here, they have their worst first, and the better is to come.
This likewise is some comfort,Vse 3. that the time when God corrects his children is most seasonable & …it for them, God pruneth his trees in the …ittest time. A plant cut unseasonably dieth, but being cut in due time it flourishes the better; All the works of God are beautifull in their season. Every Ch…istian may truly say God loves me better then I doe my selse, hee knowes the best time of purging and visiting his people,Micah. 7. This is the time of lacobs trouble, &c. therefore we should lay our hands upô our mouths, kisse the rodd, and stoope under judgements, as côsidering Gods time, to be the best time, and that hee knowes better what is good for us, then wee doe our selves.
Thus you see though we have cause of fearing Gods judgments, yet there is something to comfort us in the midst of all. God mingles our Comforts and Crosses together, whilest we are here; both to keepe us in awe of offending his Majesty, Securitatis custos timor.and to incourage u… in well-doing; Therefore let us alwayes looke what matter of feare, Spes exercitat ad opus.and what matter of hope wee have, for both these are operative affetions; Oh that I could stirre up this blessed feare in you, it is that which preserves the soule, and God hath promised that hee will put his feare into our …earts, Ierem. 32. 40.that wee shall not depart from hi…. I beseech you plie the thron… of grace, and desire the Lord that it may bee to every one of your soules according to his good word.
Labour likewise …or i…c…ur…gement in the waies of holinesse; (blessed be God) yet wee have a time of respite, God forbeares us with much patience & goodnesse. Answerable to our good courses that we take n…w, will be our comfort in the evill day. If wee carelesly goe on in sinne, & thinke it time enough to renew our covenant with God then when his judgments are abroad and ready to ceasse upon us, we doe but delude our owne soules & expose our selues to inevitable dangers. Marke what the Lord saith, Because I called and you would not heare, Prov. 1. 24. 26&c. therefore will I laugh at your destruction; Is it not strange that the mercifull God should laugh at the calamity of his poore creatures? yet thus it is with every wilfull sinner, that dallies with God, and puts off his repentance from time to time; God will take pleasure in the ruine of such a man, and laug… when his feare comet…; because those that seeke him then doe it not out of any love or liking of God and the waies of goodnes, but merely out of selfe-love and respect to their owne well-fare.