Exposition of Hosea 6, Exposition · Verse 4
VERSE. 4.
O Ephraim, what ſhall I doe vntounto thee? O Iudah, how ſhall I intreat thee? for your goodnes is as the morning cloud, and as the Morning Dew it goeth away.
The ſecond generall part of this chapter.IN the Chapter going before, the Lord hath threatned many great & grieuous iudgements againſt Ephraim and Iudah, as verſe 14. I will be vntounto Ephraim as a Lyon, and as a Lyons whelpe to the houſe of Iudah: I, euen I, will ſpoyle and goe away: I will take away, and none ſhall reſcue it.
And in the three firſt verſes of this Chapter, wee hauehave ſeene what fruite it had in the beleeuing Iewes; namely, that they were truely humbled for their ſins, feared Gods anger, and Returned vntounto him by true and vnfained repentance, Come, ſay they, Let vsus return vntounto the Lord, &c.
In the ſecond part of this Chapter, is ſet down what fruits and effects Gods denuntiations and terrible iudgements threatned againſt ſinne, had in the vnbeleeuing Iewes; namely, a moſt vile and ſtubborn rebellion againſt all the meanes that the Lord vſed to conuert them, ver. 4. Secondly, the puniſhment of their rebellion, ver. 5.
So that the ſumme of theſe two verſes is nothing elſe but a pittifull complaint of the Lord for the ſtubbornneſſe and rebellion of the Iewes, that could not by any meanes the Lord vſed, be reclaimed.The ſumme of theſe two verſes. O Ephraim, what ſhall I doe vntounto thee? O Iudah, how ſhall I intreat thee? for your goodnes is as the morning cloud, and as the morning dew it goeth away.
Secondly, the iuſt puniſhment of almighty God vponupon them for the ſame, ver. 5. Therefore hauehave I cut down by the Prophets, I hauehave ſlaine them by the words of my mouth, and thy iudgements are as the light that goeth forth.
In the firſt of theſe, we are to note 3. things.
1. The complaint, What ſhall I doe vntounto thee? how ſhall I intreat thee?
2. The perſons of whom the Lord complaineth thus, Ephraim, Iudah.
3. The cauſe of the complaint, or the thing wherof the Lord complaineth, Your goodnes is as the morning cloud, and as the morning dew it goeth away.
In the ſecond wee are to note 4 things.
1. Who was the author of their puniſhment, and did inflict it, I hauehave cut, &c.
2. The greatnes of it, I hauehave cut down and flaine them.
3. The meanes or inſtrument God vſed in puniſhing them. By my Prophets & the words of my mouth.
4. The equity of this iudgement, and puniſhment inflicted vponupon them: For thy iudgements were as the light: So cleare and ſo manifeſt that no man could complaine or excuſe themſelues by ignorance; they were in the view of all men.
Of theſe in order, and firſt to beginne with the complaint.
What ſhall I doe vntounto thee, how ſhould I intreat thee.
THeſe words containe in them the complaint the Lord takes vp againſt theſe rebellious Iewes; & it is as much, as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid; I hauehave for my part vſed all the meanes that poſſible I could, to humble you, and to bring you to repentance; but now alas, I know not what to do vntounto thee more, or what courſe to take to doe thee good; & yet I can bring thee to no good paſſe, but all is in vain that euer I hauehave done vntounto thee: and therefore in great griefe, pittying thy wretched and forlorne eſtate, I can but mourn for thy miſery.
Doct. 1 Hence we ſee, in the dealing of God with this people, the wonderfull mercy of God towards them, in that hee ſhewed himſelfe ſo mercifull,God doth not proceede in iudgement before hee hath offered all means of mercy. as firſt to vſe all the meanes hee could to conuert them, and humble them before hee puniſhed and deſtroyed them. If the Lord had but ſhewed one meanes as the Word preached; it was his great mercy, for hee might iuſtly take all aduantage at our hands, to cut vsus off in the height of our ſins; & damne vsus preſently for the ſame; but in that he vſeth ſo many meanes, ſo long a time, it ſhewes his wonderfull mercy to theſe people, in that he ſayth: Oh, what ſhall I do? how ſhall I entreat? It ſhewes, the Lord had vſed all the meanes hee could, his word, his mercies, his iudgements, threatnings, puniſhments; and yet all would not humble them.
So that hence we may obſerue the wonderful mercy of God towards his people, in that hee vſeth ſo many meanes to humble them for their ſins ere hee cut them off. The truth of this Doctrine is confirmed by diuers places of Scripture,Ier. 7.13. as that of the Prophet Ieremy, I roſe vp earely and ſpake vntounto you: but when I spake yee would not heare mee, neyther when I called would yee anſwere. And that of the Prophet Eſay, Eſay. 68.2.I hauehave ſtretched out my hand all the day long vntounto a rebellious people. Ioel. 2.13.This is further confirmed vntounto vsus by the Prophet Ioel, when hee ſayth; Rent your hearts and not your garments, and turne vntounto the Lord your God, for hee is gracious & mercifull, ſlow to anger, and of great kindneſſe, Ezech. 33.11and repenteth him of the euill. And ſo much doth God himſelfe teach vsus of himſelfe, when he ſayth, As I liue ſayth the Lord God, I deſire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turne from his way and liue. 2. Sam. 12.1.When the Prophet Dauid had committed very haynous and horrible ſinnes, how graciouſly did the Lord ſend vntounto him his Prophet Nathan, to awake him out of his ſinne, and to call him home by repentance. And againe afterwards,2. Sam. 24.10 when in the pride of his heart hee had numbred his people; hee ſent the Prophet Gad vntounto him to humble him for the ſame: Yea the Lord is ſo rich in mercy, that hee offereth the ſame vntounto the wicked themſelues, though they in their prophaneſſe neglect and contemne the ſame. When Cains heart beganne to boyle in malice againſt his brother Abel, Gen. 4.6.7.the Lord ſayd inough to him if hee had had grace to hauehave kept him from that horrible ſinne of murder: Why art thou wroth (ſayth Almighty God to Cain) and why is thy countenance caſt downe, If thou doeſt well, ſhalt thou not bee rewarded? &c. And after that Cain had ſlaine his brother, the Lord left him not,Gen. 6.3. but laboured to bring him to remorſe, when hee asked him, Cain, where is thy brother Abel? And againe, The voyce of thy brothers bloud cryeth from the earth.
And when God was purpoſed to deſtroy the olde World,2. Pet. 2.1. Gen. 19. 2. Reg. 21.28 what meanes did hee vſe firſt to reclaime them? hee gaue them a hundred and twenty yeares to repent in, and all this while ſent vntounto them Noah that Preacher of righteouſneſſe, to warne them of that iudgement to come, yet they repented not: So dealt hee with the filthy Sodomites, by placing iuſt Lot amongſt them to labour their conuerſion,Mat. 27.19. and was ſo farre preuailed with by Abraham, that if ten righteous ſoules had beene found in thoſe Cities, God had ſpared them for their ſakes. The like may bee ſayde of Ahab and of Pilate; yea, the Lord offered his mercy vntounto Iudas, when as before any thing was effected, Chriſt put him in mind of his bloudy thoughts againſt him, making it manifeſt that hee was the man that ſhould betray him. Thus hauehave wee ſeene cleared the truth of this Doctrine, that God is a God of mercy, & that hee will not eaſily proceede in iudgement before hee hath offered all meanes of mercy, What ſhall I doe vntounto thee? how ſhall I intreat thee?
The meanes by the which the Lord doth humble men.Now the meanes by the which the Lord doth humble men, are diuers:
Firſt and principally, the Miniſtery of his Word. Thus dealt the Lord with his ſeruant Dauid, as wee heard before, ſending his Prophets vntounto him to bring him to the ſight of his ſinne:1 The Miniſtery of the Word. and to this end hath the Lord commaunded his Prophets and Miniſters to cry aloud,Eſa. 58.1. Pro. 8.1.2.3 & 9.1.2.3. and to lift vp their voyces like Trumpets, to preach the Doctrine of repentance, and to ſhew the people their ſins. And Salomon in diuers places of his booke of Prouerbs bringeth in Chriſt Ieſus, the wiſedome of God, ſometimes crying aloud in his owne perſon, and ſometimes by his Miniſters, to ſummon men to repentance. Thus dealt hee with the Nineuites, ſending vntounto them his Prophet Ionas to preach repentance vntounto them, that there reſted but forty dayes,Ion. 3.4. and then (without repentance) Nineueh ſhould lye in the duſt: And hence is it that the Apoſtle Paul calleth the Miniſtery of the Word The power of God to ſaluation to eueryevery one that beleeueth. And in another place hee ſayth,Rom. 1.16. that howſoeuer the ſeeming Wiſemen of the World do account of Preaching but as fooliſhnes, yet it hath pleaſed God By that fooliſhneſſe of preaching, 1. Cor. 1.21.to ſaue them that beleeue. And this Word of God is called the Lords Hammer, Ier. 23.29.whereby he knockes at the dore of our hard hearts: and this is the moſt principall, the moſt powerfull and effectuall meanes, being Gods ordinance to conuert ſinners, and to bring them to repentance,
Secondly, his manifold mercies and bleſſings, the which hee Renueth towards vsus eueryevery morning: 2 His Bleſſingsand by this meanes doth the Lord ſeeke to wooe and winne our hearts to him; hee giues vsus life, and health, meate,Lam. 3.23. drinke, apparrell, lodging; hee keepes vsus from many dangers, and poures downe thouſand bleſſings vponupon vsus, and eueryevery one of theſe giuegive a knocke at our hearts, and cry aloud in our eares, that the Lord by them doth labour to draw and winne vsus vntounto him; & this was that that made Dauids ſinne exceeding ſinnefull; namely, That God had annointed him King ouer Iſrael, 2. Sam. 12.7.8.and had deliuered him out of the hands of Saul, and had giuen him his Lords houſe, and his Lords wiues into his boſom, &c. And would if that had been too little, hauehave giuen him much more; and therefore his vnthankefulneſſe muſt needs bee the greater, to ſinne againſt ſo gracious and mercifull a God.
Thirdly, by his corrections and chaſticements which God doth lay vponupon vsus;His iudgements. by theſe doth the Lord ring many a warning peale in our eares, ſometimes by long and tedious ſicknes, diſeaſes, croſſes, loſſes, troubles, calamities, in wife, children, goods, good name; the Lord hath many of theſe wayes to humble vsus, that by them perceyuing his angry countenance towards vsus, wee might be humbled for our ſins, and ſue to him for mercy; and whenſoeuer the Lord is conſtrayned to take this courſe with vsus, hee doth it vnwillingly, with griefe of heart, as is manifeſt by that notable place in this Prophet:Hoſ. 11.8. How ſhall I giuegive thee vp, O Ephraim? how ſhall I deliuer thee O Iſrael? how ſhall I make thee as Admah? how ſhall I ſet thee as Zeboim? my heart is turned within mee, and my repentance is rolled together. The iuſtice of God in this place requires vengeance, the mercy of God requires pitty and compaſſion, and betwixt them both God ſeemeth to bee ſtraighted, which ſhewes, how hardly he is drawne to puniſh that, notwithſtanding the ſinnes of Ephraim & Iſrael did require that the Lord ſhould puniſh them as he did Sodom and Gomorrah & the Cities about them: yet his fatherly louelove and tender compaſſion towards them ſtayed his iudgements.
Vſe. 1 Now let vsus come to the vſes of this Doctrine.
This ſerues in the firſt place to reproue & condemne the deſperate behauiour of al wicked and vngodly ſinners, that neglect and contemne (if not ſtubbornely reſiſt) all the meanes of their good that the Lord doth offer vntounto them: ſo as the Lord may iuſtly complain of them as of Ephraim and Iudah heere: O Ephraim what ſhall I doe vntounto thee? O Iudah, how ſhall I entreat thee? His word, his mercies, his iudgements, what means ſoeuer the Lord may vſe for their conuerſion, they fruſtrate them all. If hee doe cry in their eares by his Prophets through the preaching of the Word, which is the power of God: Alas, how many be there amongſt vsus, that Like the deafe Adder ſtop their eares at the voyce of the Charmer charme hee neuer ſo wiſely? Pſal. 58.4.5.but this Word the which now they ſeem ſo much to deſpiſe, ſhal leaue ſuch an impreſſion in their ſoules and conſciences, that at the laſt day if there were no witneſſe to accuſe them for their contempt thereof, yet their owne conſciences would hayle them to iudgement: or elſe, if they doe hearken vntounto it, and attaine to ſome knowledge by it, yet they hate to bee reformed by it, Pſal. 50.4.5.and ſo by that means procure vntounto themſelues the greater damnation.
Againe, if God allure them by his gracious benefites, how many bee there amongſt vsus that moſt careleſly and moſt wretchedly abuſe them, That turne the grace of God into wantōnes; or if the Lord proceed further to correct them, they are neuer the better by it, but with wicked Ahaz, Treſpaſſe yet more againſt the Lord: 2. Cor. 28.22ſo that the Lord may iuſtly complaine of them, as ſometimes hee did of the old rebellious Iewes, I hauehave corrected them, but they hauehave not been humbled. And I would to God that this complaint might not iuſtly bee taken vp of vsus the people of this land, vntounto whom the Lord hath vſed eueryevery one of theſe meanes. His faithfull Miniſters that hauehave cryed vntounto vsus almoſt theſe threeſcore yeares together; beſides how many bleſſings hauehave wee enioyed, liberty, peace, abundance; eueryevery man may ſit and reioyce vnderunder his owne Vine; beſides this, many times againe Hee hath hedged in our wayes with thornes, as famines, peſtilences, ſickneſſes,Hoſ. 2.6. vnſeaſonable weather, as this Winter and Summer laſt doe teſtifie. And now againe hath turned our ſorrow into ioy, by giuing vsus a happy ſeaſon this latter part of the yeare: ſo that in theſe reſpects the Lord may ſay vntounto vsus as hee ſayd ſometimes of Iſrael, What ſhall I doe vntounto thee that I hauehave not done, or as my Text ſayth here, Oh Ephraim what ſhall I doe vntounto thee? Oh Iudah how ſhall I intreat thee?
Neuer age had more experience of the goodneſſe of God towards them then this age wherein wee liue, if wee eyther regard the preaching of the Word, his iudgements or his mercies: by ſome of them the Lord hath ſtill ſought vntounto vsus; and yet alas, as though all this were nothing,Eſay. 5.12. wee paſſe our time in carnall ſecurity and ſinnefull pleaſures, Neuer regarding the works of the Lord, nor conſidering the operation of his hands. So that now the Lord may iuſtly take vp that complaint againſt vsus,Eſay. 5.4. as heere hee did againſt Ephraim & Iudah, O England, what ſhall I doe vntounto thee? O England, how ſhal I intreat thee? And therefore we may well feare that he that thus called vponupon vsus,Pro. 1.24.26 and that by ſo many meanes, and wee refuſed, that the time ſhall come that we ſhall cry and call vponupon him, euen till our hearts are ready to breake within vsus, and hee will not heare vsus, but bee ſo farre from pittying vsus in time of our diſtreſſe, as that hee will rather laugh at our deſtruction.
Secondly, this may ſerue to admoniſh vsus all in the Vſe. 2 feare of God, that whenſoeuer the Lord ſhall call vsus by any meanes whatſoeuer, be it by the Miniſtery of his Word, bee it by his mercies, or bee it by his iudgements, or any other means whatſoeuer, that we be not of a dead and ſenſeleſſe heart that will not ſtoupe vnderunder Gods hand, but labour to make a ſanctified vſe of eueryevery one of them; for if they preuaile not with vsus to humble vsus for ſinne, and to make vsus ſeeke vntounto God by true and vnfained repentance; alas, our caſe is moſt miſerable and deſperate. Oh then in the feare of God let vsus heare his voyce when he ſpeaketh vntounto vsus in his word, and pray vntounto him, that hee would open our hearts as he did the heart of Lydia; if that doe not, yet let his mercies wherewith hee doth, as it were, follow vsus at the heeles, moſt rebellious wretches, as wee bee: moue vsus and mollifie our hard and ſtony hearts; if not his mercy, yet let his iudgements preuaile with vsus to make vsus to ſtoope vnderunder his mighty hand. Otherwiſe, if wee will needs bee deſperate, and harden our hearts againſt all ſuch bleſſed meanes; Oh then let vsus aſſure our ſelues that that iudgement ſhall come vponupon vsus, & overtake vsus,Ver. 5. that heere hee threatned againſt Ephraim & Iudah. I hauehave cut them downe by the Prophets, I hauehave ſlaine them by the words of my mouth: that is, becauſe no meanes that I could vſe would doe them good, but they did harden their hearts againſt the ſame; therefore now thoſe threatnings of my Propbets ſhall come vponupon them, and I will make good the words of my mouth, that is, bring to paſſe all my iudgements threatned againſt them.
Secondly, in that the Lord complaineth here, that Doct. 2 no meanes that hee could vſe,Wicked men continue ſtill in ſinne, notwithſtanding all meanes to the contrary. could doe them any good, ſaying: What ſhall I doe vntounto thee? how ſhall I intreat thee? Wee may heete behold how deſperate the caſe of this people were, and their maruellous obſtinacy and rebellion, in that though Almighty God did vſe all meanes to humble them and reclaime them, yet they could by no meanes bee brought to goodnes, to bee humbled, but notwithſtanding all the gracious meanes God vſed, they continued rebellious and ſtubborne ſtill: And this appeares by the Lords complaint, in vpbraiding them with ſinne ſtill, q. d. I perceyue thou wilt bee ſtout againſt mee, thou wilt not yeeld, thou wilt be brought to no good paſſe, thou art exceeding obſtinate and rebellious; and thus doth the Lord complaine of them in another place, Wherefore ſhould I ſmite them any more? And againe,Eſay. 1.5. Thou O Lord haſt ſtriken them but they hauehave not ſorrowed, thou haſt conſumed them, Ier. 5.3.but, they hauehave refuſed to receiue correstion: for they hauehave made their faces harder then a ſtone, and wil not returne: Amos. 4.6.And againe, by the Prophet Amos hee complaineth thus; I hauehave giuen you cleanneſſe of teeth in all your Cities, and ſcarſenes of bread in all your places, yet hauehave yee not returned vntounto mee ſayth the Lord. If wee looke vponupon examples,Gen 4.6. wee ſhall finde diuers in the Word of God that proue the ſame, as that of Cain, albeit the Lord did forewarn him of that wrath hee had conceiued againſt his brother Abel, that hee would neuer be at reſt till hee had killed him. And this is clearely ſeen in the old World, when the Lord ſaw the wickedneſſe of man to waxe great vponupon the earth,Gen. 6.3. hee ſtirred vp Noah that Preacher of righteouſneſſe, to warne them of iudgement to come; yet they continued ſtill in their ſinnes: The like may bee ſayd of Sodom and Gomorah, of Pharaoh, Iudas, and the like: So that it appeareth to bee an euident truth, that wicked men continue ſtil in ſinne, notwithſtanding all the means that God doth vſe to the contrary,Pro. 27.22. according to that of Salomon, If thou bray a foole in a morter, yet will not his fooliſhnes depart from him.
And this thing ſo comes to paſſe in them, becauſe God in his iuſt iudgement hath giuen them ouer to a reprobate ſenſe, Reaſon. according to that of the Apoſtle Paul, God gaue them ouer vntounto vile affections, Rom. 1.26.to worke filthineſſe againſt nature, &c. And as it was ſayde of the ſonnes of Ely; 1. Sam. 2.24.They would not heare their Fathers voyce, becauſe the Lord would deſtroy them.
Vſe. 1 Seeing wicked and vngodly men continue ſtill in ſinne, notwithſtanding all gracious means to the contrary: This may be a terror to all wicked and vngodly wretches, to conſider, that as their hearts are hardned, and their conſciences ſeared; ſo great ſhall bee their iudgement; and by this means they doe but increaſe their puniſhment,Rom. 2.4.5.6 and hoard it vp as a treaſure againſt the day of Gods wrath; Deſpiſest thou the riches of his bountifulnes and patience, and long ſufferance, not knowing that the bountifulnes of God leadeth thee to repentance? but thou after thy hardneſſe, and heart that cannot repent, heapeſt vp vntounto thy ſelfe wrath againſt the day of wrath. In which words wee may ſee the wofull and miſerable eſtate and condition of all thoſe that runne from euill to worſe, that their damnation all this while ſleepeth not; but when the meaſure of their iniquity is once full, the Lord will bee ſure to bring his iudgements vponupon them.
Againe, to apply this doctrine ſomwhat more neerly Vſe. 2 vntounto our ſelues: was this the deſperate eſtate of this people, and damnable rebellion againſt all the gracious meanes God vſed: Alas, if we compare our eſtate with theirs, wee ſhall find our caſe to bee farre worſe; for the Lord hath vſed more means to humble vsus then them, but yet we are hard hearted ſtil, we are not humbled, wee hauehave not melting hearts: how did the Lord ſmite the creatures this laſt winter by froſt and ſnow, that many thouſands of them periſhed in eueryevery place and corner of this land? beſides, for this ſummer which is the pleaſanteſt time in the yeare, hath not euen now the creature mourned vntounto vsus, to teach vsus to mourne? What fearefull and lamensable fires hauehave hapned within theſe few yeares in moſt peaces of this land? and yet, good Lord, how few are the number of thoſe that lay theſe iudgements of God to heart? Well, let vsus take heed, that if theſe humble vsus not, leaſt the Lord ſend ſuch iudgements and plagues amongſt vsus, that the very Sorcerers of Egypt (if they were amongſt vsus) would acknowledge it to bee the finger of God. When that Moſes ſmote the Rocke it guſhed out with water: the Lord hath often ſmitten our hard and flinty, and rocky hearts with the rodde of his iudgements, and ſtil ſmites, but all in vaine; for we are ſtubborne and rebellious ſtill. So that wee may iuſtly feare, that as he caſt off this people, ſlew them, conſumed them, and deſtroyed them; euen ſo will hee deale with vsus in his anger, and that becauſe wee hauehave not profited by his iudgements, nor yet no meanes that hee hath vſed can preuaile with vsus, to bring vsus to repentance. If we contemne ſo great ſaluation, how can wee thinke to eſcape?
Doct. 3 Thirdly, out of this patheticall and compaſſionate ſpeech of the Lord,The Lord takes it hardly that the meanes of our good ſhould bee contemned. O Ephraim, what ſhall I doe vntounto thee? O Iudah, how ſhall I intreat thee? Wee may learne that it is a grieuous thing vntounto the Lord, and vexeth his ſpirit, to ſee all the meanes hee doth vſe in mercy to doe vsus good, and to ſaue vsus, to bee careleſly regarded, and lightly eſteemed, or proudly and deſperately contemned of vsus: for the Lord hath tryed all poſſible meanes to doe them good, yet they regarded them not, but lightly eſteemed them and paſſed them ouer; and therefore the Lord takes vp this pittifull complaint, O Ephraim what ſhall I doe vntounto thee? O Iudah how ſhall I intreat thee? It is all one as if he ſhould hauehave ſayd, It grieues me right ſore to ſee you ſo ſtubborne againſt mee. This Doctrine is cleared in diuers places of the Holy Scriptures, as that ſpeech of Almighty God himſelfe, when hee ſayth to the people of Iſrael, Deu. 5.29.when they had made that ſolemne promiſe to obey Moſes the ſeruant of the Lord in all things: Oh that there were ſuch a heart in them to feare mee, & to keepe my commandements alwayes, that it might go well with them, and their children for euer. Pſal. 81.13.This affection the Lord expreſſeth in another place when he ſayth, O that my people had hearkned vntounto me, and Iſrael had walked in my waies: Yea, our Sauiour himſelfe doth expreſſe the ſame affection in him, in the dayes of his fleſh:Luk. 19.41.42. And when hee came neare it, hee beheld the City, and wept ouer it, ſaying; Oh if thou haddeſt knowne, at the leaſt in this thy day thoſe things that belong vntounto thy peace. Theſe teſtimonies and the like, whereof the Scripture is full, ſerue to confirm the truth of this Doctrine vntounto vsus, how hardly the Lord doth take it at our hands, when wee neglect and contemne the meanes of our good. The vſes remaine to be handled.
Doth the Lord take it ſo grieuouſly to ſee his ordinances Ʋſe. 1 contemned, when men will not bee humbled by his Word and by his iudgements? Oh how then muſt hee needs bee angry with vsus, the people of this land, who hauehave grieued his Maieſty by vile contempt of his holy Ordinances, how little dooth his Word moue vsus, and how hard hearted are wee at his iudgements? What Nation vnderunder Heauen is there, who liuing vnderunder a Chriſtian Prince, hearing and profeſſing the Word of God as wee doe, amongſt whom the ſacred ordinances of God are more contemned then amongſt vsus.Nehem. 1. All the meanes God hath vſed to humble vsus and to ſaue vsus, and to bring vsus to repentance & reformation of life: Alas, they fall to the ground generally, no man taketh them to heart. Daniel in his prayer acknowledgeth,Dan 9.14. that the Lord did iuſtly plague them for their ſinne, becauſe they had not profited by Gods iudgements. Now if the Lord were ſore angry and grieued with his people for the not profiting by the meanes: and will hee not much more bee ſtirred vp to wrath againſt vsus for the contempt of all thoſe gracious meanes the which he in mercy vſed to humble vsus? yes, no doubt,Hoſ. 4.1. and for the ſame cauſe the Lord hath a Controuerſie againſt the inhabitants of the Land, & hath taken the Rodde into his owne hand, and chaſtened and whipt vsus diuers wayes, and vnleſſe we do meet him by repentance with prayers and teares, ſurely, hee will poure out euen the dregger of his anger againſt vsus at laſt.
Ʋſe. 2 Secondly, ſeeing nothing more grieues the Lord, then to ſee his ordinance and gracious means vſed for our good, contemned and lightly regarded, ſo as wee profit not by them: Oh, how ſhould this grieue vsus and humble vsus, that wee hauehave been ſo exceeding careleſſe to profite by the meanes? Wee ſee that a louing child will bee loath to doe any thing to vexe his kinde and louing Father, and if any child ſhould bee ſo ſtubborne that hee would not bee reclaimed, neyther by his Fathers kind promiſes, dayly gifts, nor yet by his rodde and correction, wee would thinke him vnworthy to liue. Well, the Lord hee vſeth many means to humble vsus, and hee is much grieued to ſee vsus profite nothing by them, but ſtill to rebel and to be ſtubborn; and therfore it ſhould much grieue vsus and humble vsus, to grieue our gracious and mercifull God. Oh then let vsus labour to bee humbled, and to profite by the meanes the Lord vſeth for our good.
Ʋſe. 3 Thirdly, this checkes the carnall man, who ſo long as hee liues an honeſt ciuill life, and is neyther whore nor theefe, thinkes God is not diſpleaſed with him: they thinke all is well, and hope to bee ſaued aſwel as the beſt, and doubt not of Gods louelove: but if thou bee not bettered by Gods iudgements, if thou profite not by thoſe meanes, the Lord vſeth to humble thee, whether it bee the Miniſtery of the Word, his mercies, or his iudgements, or the like, thou ſhalt one day know that hee is highly offended with thee, and therefore let vsus not flatter our ſelues, but let vsus profite by Gods iudgements, and labour to be humbled by them to ſeeke the Lord, leaſt by the neglect and contempt thereof, hee bee moued to ſend more fearefull, and that eternall damnation in the end.
Fourthly, and laſtly, heere is matter of comfort & conſolation to the children of God, and all thoſe that Ʋſe. 4 take the iudgements of God to heart, and profite by them to repentance, and ſeeke to God; for as the Lord is grieued with thoſe that profite not by the means, diſlikes all contemners and deſpiſers of them: ſo on the contrary, hee loues and likes, and fauours them that profite by the meanes that hee vſeth to conuert them. When Nehemie heard that Ieruſalem was waſte,Nehem. 1.9. that the people were in heauineſſe, and the Church afflicted, Hee ſate downe and wept, and faſted, Hab. 3.16.and prayed vntounto God for them. And againe, When I heard, Ezech. 9.my belly trembled, &c. How did the Lord commaund his ſeruant, clothed in white, with a penne and inke at his ſide to ſet a marke vponupon all thoſe that mourned for their own ſinnes and the ſinnes of the people. Well then, aske this queſtion of thy owne Soule: Haſt thou beene grieued at Gods anger, and mourned for the ſinnes and rebellion of the land? Doeſt thou take Gods iudgements to heart, Oh then comfort thy Soule, for the Lord will louelove thee, and ſet his Marke vponupon thee, Bleſſed are they that mourne, for they ſhall bee comforted. They are bleſſed that can mourne and weepe for ſinne, and can take Gods iudgements to heart to bee affected with them; but alas, how few are the number of thoſe that are humbled for their owne ſinnes to feare Gods anger, and profite by Gods iudgements vponupon others.
Thus much of the complaint, the perſons follow.
O Ephraim, what ſhall I doe vntounto thee? O Iudah, how ſhall I intreat thee?
THe perſons then of whom the Lord complaineth thus,The perſons of whom the Lord complaineth. is Ephraim and Iudah, namely, the whole body of the Iewes, and the people of both the kingdoms, Iſrael and Iudah, the greateſt Tribe being put for al the reſt.
So then the complaint is very generall, euen of the common people, and all the multitude of both the Kingdomes, except a very few that did repent and beleeue the Word, as in the three firſt verſes of this Chapter.
Concerning the perſons, Ephraim and Iudah, there is the common people and generall multitude of both Kingdoms,Deu. 8.7. ſeeing they were thoſe whom God choſe to be his peculiar people; euen becauſe he had a louelove vntounto them, to whom belonged the adoption, glory, and the couenant, and to whom did belong the ſeruice of God, the worſhippe and oracles of God, and vntounto whom all the Prophets were ſent: which had many priuiledges aboue all other Nations, of whom it is ſayd thus; Hee ſheweth his Word vntounto Iacob, his ſtatutes and iudgements vntounto Iſrael.Pſ. 147.19.20 Hee hath not dealt ſo with eueryevery Nation, &c. Yet of this people, euen of Iudah and Iſrael doth the Lord complaine here, that they were rebellious; and therefore muſt bee deſtroyed and caſt off.
Doct. 4 Wee learne hence this Doctrine, that no outward priuiledge or prerogatiue whatſoeuer,No outward priuiledge wil free a man from puniſhment when reformation of heart and life is wanting, Pſa. 132.4 will keepe backe Gods anger, & deliuer a man from deſtruction if they liue in ſinne, and bee not reformed in heart and life. There was neuer Nation or people vnderunder heauen, that were graced with more outward priuiledges and prerogatiues then this nation and people of the Iewes. They had the Temple of the Lord amongſt them, of the which the Lord ſpeaketh thus: This is my reſt for euer, heere will I dwell: for I hauehave a delight therein: They had amongſt them the Arke of Gods couenant, the Mercy ſeate, they had amongſt them the true ſeruice & worſhippe of God, and what not: yet for all this Iudah and Iſrael muſt bee deſtroyed, defaced and extinguiſhed, and made ſpectacles of Gods wrath to all poſterities for euermore. This point is clearly to be ſeene by thoſe threatnings of Almighty God himſelfe by his Prophet Ieremie, where hee ſayth,Ier. 7.11.12 13.14. Is my houſe become a Denne of theeues, whereupon my Name is called before your eyes? Behold, euen I ſee it, ſayth the Lord. Therefore will I doe vntounto this houſe, whereupon my name is called, wherein alſo yee truſt, euen to the place that I gaue to you and your Fathers, as I hauehave done vntounto Shilo. And I will caſt yee out of my ſight, as I hauehave caſt out all your brethren, euen the whole ſeed of Ephraim. Ier. 16.4.6.The like threatning hee vſeth by the ſame Prophet in another place, ſaying, If yee will not hearken, and turne eueryevery man from his euill waye, &c. Then will I make this houſe like Shilo, & will make this City a curſe to all the Nations vponupon earth. And this is further confirmed vntounto vsus by that threatning of our Sauiour himſelfe againſt Ieruſalom, where he ſaith, Thy houſe ſhall bee left vntounto thee deſolute. Mat. 23.38.And thus hauehave wee ſeene this Doctrine confirmed by the example of this Nation and people of the Iewes, who were graced with many and excellent priuiledges and prerogatiues; yet the Lord doth eſteeme them as nothing, when reformation of heart & life is wanting. The ſame truth is further cleared by diuers other examples in the booke of God. Iudas had many outward priuiledges, and yet for all that a damnable hypocrite: for his calling hee was an Apoſtle, a calling more honourable then any other in the Church of God,Act. 1.17. Gal. 1.1. becauſe the ordination was not of Man or by man, but by Ieſus Chriſt. The company with whom hee was conuerſant was matchleſſe, for hee was conuerſant with Ieſus Chriſt and his Diſciples, his gifts they were not meane, for hee was a Preacher. And laſtly, his behauiour was very ſober: for when Chriſt tolde his Diſciples that one of them ſhould betray him, they were farre from ſuſpecting Iudas, that they rather miſdeemed themſelues, Maſter, is it I, ſayth one, Maſter, is it I, ſayth another? and yet for all this Iudas a deſperate reprobate.
This is further to bee ſeene in Cain, who was as forward in offering ſacrifice as his brother Abel, Gen. 4.3.4.5yet becauſe hee came in hypocriſie for faſhion ſake, the Lord reiected both him and his ſacrifice.Mar 6.20. Herod loued Iohn Baptiſt, and did many things at his requeſt; yet by reaſon of his Inceſt hee is branded for an hypocrite. What ſhall I ſay of the fooliſh Virgins, who went out to meet the Bridegroome aſwel as the wiſe?Mat. 15.1.2. yet becauſe they wanted the oyle of graee in their hearts, were reiected.Act. 8.13. Act. 5.8. The like may bee ſayd of Simon Magus, of Ananias and Saphira, and diuers the like examples, all ſeruing to this end, to confirme the euerlaſting truth of this Doctrine vntounto vsus, that no outward priuiledge in the world will free a man from Gods iudgements, when reformation of heart and life is wanting.
Reaſon. And the reaſon is cleare, becauſe God himſelfe is not tyed to any people, nor reſpecteth any perſons but onelyonly ſuch as feare him, I perceyue (ſayth Peter) that God is no accepter of perſons, Act. 10.34.35.but in eueryevery Nation hee that feareth him and worketh righteouſneſſe is accepted of him: Hee will cleare his iuſtice, to hate ſinne, whereſoeuer, whenſoeuer, or in whomſoeuer hee findeth it.
Now let vsus come to the vſes.
This may ſerue in the firſt place for the iuſt reproofe of thoſe that flatter themſelues in reſpect of an outward profeſſion, and beare themſelues aloft, in reſpect of ſome outward priuiledge, and thinke that they ſhall therefore eſcape: but alas, it is not all the priuiledges in the world can doe vsus good, if the inward ſincerity bee wanting. This we hauehave ſeen cleared here by the example of Ephraim and Iudah, the Nation and people of the Iewes, who were graced with many and excellent priuiledges, as no Nation or people vnderunder heauen were the like: yet becauſe they wanted this reformation of heart and life, the Lord threatneth heere to deſtroy them. And now to apply this Doctrine to our ſelues, we are by Gods bleſſing the people of God, and hauehave as many priuiledges as euer they had: What then, becauſe we are now the Church of God, and enioy the Goſpell, Word, and Sacraments, peace and plenty, ſhall wee grow ſecure and wanton, like an vntamed Calfe, Ier. 19.31.and caſt off the yoake of obedience? God forbid: for then the Lord will reiect vsus as hee did them. And yet alas, is not this the ſtate of this land at this day, from the higheſt to the loweſt; wee are guilty of the ſinnes of this people.Hoſ. 4 1, 2.3. Among the men of Ephraim and Iudah were found many great and grieuous ſins, as the Lord doth charge them with by this Prophet, as ſwearing, and lying, and killing, and whoring, and that bloud touched bloud. Now alas, are wee ſtrangers to theſe ſinnes? no, no, Wee are too well acquainted with them, and new ſinnes that Ephraim and Iudah neuer were acquainted withall; and what is the Lords hand ſhortned that hee ſhould not plague England as hee did Ephraim and Iudah: Surely, if wee partake with them in their ſinnes, wee ſhall one day partake with them of their puniſhments: And looke how much the more familiar wee hauehave beene acquainted with the beſt of Gods graces, the greater ſhall bee our iudgement for the abuſe of them: Yea, it had beene better for vsus that wee had neuer known God, nor heard of his Word, but been borne euen Turks and Canibals, Pagans and Infidels, then to hauehave the Priuiledges as wee hauehave amongſt vsus; namely, the Word and Sacraments, and the like, and not to bee reformed by them. Marke what terrible and fearefull words our Sauiour denounceth againſt thoſe Cities where the Word had beene preached moſt, and they wanted this reformation:Mat. 11.21. &c. Woe bee to thee Corazin, woe bee to thee Bethſaida, for if the great works which were done in you, had been done in Tyrus and Sydon, they had repented long agoe in ſackcloth and aſhes: but I ſay vntounto you, it ſhall bee eaſier for them in the day of iudgement then for you. And thou Capernaum which art lifted vp into heauen, ſhalt bee brought down to Hell, for if the great works which hauehave beene done in thee, had beene done amongſt them of Sodom, they had remayned to this day. But I ſay vntounto you, that it ſhall bee eaſier for them of the land of Sodom in the day of iudgement then for thee.
In this place our Sauiour declares vntounto vsus, that ſuch places as hauehave had the preaching of the Word amongſt them, and hauehave accounted light of the ſame, ſhall receiue at the laſt day a greater meaſure of condemnation, then thoſe that neuer heard the ſound therof. You wil think it a harſh compariſon, if I ſhould compare our land to Sodom & Gomor: wee know how the Lord deſtroyed them with fire & brimſtone from heauen: And yet I ſay vntounto you in the name of God from the warrant of his ſacred word, by the which wee ſhall all one day be iudged; that if we liue in the open contempt of Gods truth, ignorance, blindneſſe and prophaneſſe, which ſins are ſcarce the tenth that may bee found amongſt vsus at this day, it had beene much better that wee had beene borne Sodomites and Gomoreans; yea, the time ſhall come, when many amongſt vsus ſhall cry out, and wiſh that they were Sodomites and Gomoreans: Oh that I were a Sodomite, Oh that I were one of them of Gomorah, and that, becauſe wee knew not the day of our Viſitation. And this fauour and mercy of our God that now we enioy, to heare him, to ſpeake vntounto vsus in his Word, and that wee hauehave his ſeruice and worſhip amongſt vsus, ſhall bee ſo farre at the laſt day from procuring vsus any fauour or mercy at Gods hand, as that wee hauing had the ſame amongſt vsus, and wee moſt prophanely did neglect and contemne the ſame; ſhall reape euen therefore the greater meaſure of condemnation:Deu. 32.29. Oh that men would bee wiſe, then would they conſider their latter end.
Secondly, ſeeing that moſt excellent prerogatiues Ʋſe. 2 and priuiledges will not ſerue to keepe backe Gods anger, and to deliuer vsus from deſtruction if wee liue in ſinne, and bee not reformed in heart and life: then let vsus labour to ioyne to our outward profeſſion of the Word, ſound obedience, true repentance and reformation of our wayes, and marke then what will follow: If yee will hearken and obey, yee ſhall then eate the good of the land. Wee muſt not ſtand ſo much vponupon the largeneſſe of the leaues of our profeſſion, who ſhould profeſſe moſt; as wee ſhould vponupon ſincerity, who ſhould practiſe moſt. I am ſure it is our behauiour concerning the things of the world: There is no man but had rather be rich, then accounted rich; be wealthie, then ſeeme to bee wealthy. And yet for that true riches that ſhall make vsus rich vntounto ſaluation, wee can content our ſelues with ſhadowes and ſhewes of it, and looke not after the ſubſtance; Like Iehu who made great boaſt of the zeale hee had for the glory of God: Come with mee ſayth he to Ionadab, And ſee the zeale that I hauehave for the Lord: 2. Reg. 10.16but yet for all this, his heart was not vpright in the ſight of God:Act. 24.16. but the Apoſtle Paul was affected otherwiſe, who endeuoured himſelfe to hauehave alway a cleare conſcience towards God and man. And ſurely this is it that ſhall bee our comfort in life, in death, & after death,Eſay. 38.3. that wee can ſay with good King Ezechiah, Remember Lord that I hauehave walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart.
Doct. 5 Againe, ſeeing the Lord complaines here of Ephraim and Iudah, that is, of the whole body of the people, and the generall multitude of both Kingdomes,Though God doth offer the meanes of ſaluation vntounto all, yet few receiue them. that they were wicked and rebellious, and profited not by al the gracious means that he vſed to reclaim them: we learne hence, that though the Lord do offer the means alike to all, as his Word, iudgements, admonitions, corrections, &c. yet very few doe receiue them & profite by them, and the greateſt part remaine ignorant, vnrepentant and rebellious againſt the meanes, as wee may ſee heere in this people: they had the meanes al alike to call them to repentance; yet the greateſt part and the greateſt number vnreformed ſtill; ſo that the Lord ſpeakes heere of the whole Nation and people of the Iewes, O Ephraim, O Iudah, thoſe that reſolued to Returne vntounto the Lord, as in the three firſt verſes of this chapter, their number was exceeding ſmall in compariſon of thoſe that did neglect and contemne the ſame; and therefore he ſpeakes of them wholy together, Ephraim, Iudah.
This Doctrine is further cleared by the example of the old World, that notwithſtanding the meanes of deliuerance was offered to all men alike, yet only Noah was moued with reuerence, Gen. 6.3. Heb. 11. Gen. 19.to feare Gods iudgements, when all the reſt of the world were euen drunke in ſecurity, and lay weltring in their ſinnes. So in Sodom, one righteous Lot. Elias ſayth, Hee was left alone: hee could not ſee one open profeſſor of Religion in his time. Woe is mee (ſayth the Prophet) For I am as the Summer gatherings, and as the grapes of the Ʋintage; Mich. 7.1. Ier. 3.14. Luk. 12.32. Mat. 27.there is no cluſter to eate. Alas, when the harueſt is in the gleaning, it is very ſmall, heere an eare and there an eare; One of a City, and two of a Tribe. And Chriſt cals his flocke a little flocke; Feare not little Flocke. All cried againſt the Sonne of God, Crucifie him, Crucifie him. Reu. 13.All receyued the Marke of the beaſt.
This is plaine by wofull experience in our dayes, how few true worſhippers of God, ſound Chriſtians, though wee hauehave the meanes alike, how few profit by them, the greateſt part remaine ignorant ſtill, vile, rebellious and prophane; and ſo few, that they bee like a handfull of corne in a heape of chaffe, many hypocrites, many meere Laodiceans, neyther hote nor cold;Reu. 3.17. many halfe Chriſtians with Agrippa, onelyonly thoſe that profite truely by the meanes, are exceeding few.
Hence wee ſee that Multitude is no note of a true Ʋſe. 1 Church: And therefore it confutes the Doctrine of the Church of Rome, who would make men beleeue, that therefore they muſt needes bee the true Church, becauſe their Religion is ſo generally receiued and imbraced of many Kingdomes: But here wee ſee,Luke. 12.32. that the greater part is the worſt; and Chriſts flocke is a little flocke; and therefore this Doctrine beates and batters down one of the maine pillars of Popery, whervpon they ground their religion, and ſupplant their Church, they ground vponupon this ſandy foundation, & the pillar is a number and multitude of men, that many receiue their religion, and few ours; but if this reaſon be good, then thoſe few beleeuing Iewes that repented, as in the three firſt verſes of this Chapter ſhould not bee the children of God; but Ephraim & Iuda, euen the common multitude ſhould be accounted the Church, which is moſt falſe: for, ſeeing the Flocke of Chriſt is ſmall, and they few that beleeue be the true Church of God; this reaſon is more againſt them then with them.
Secondly, this may ſerue to condemn them that Ʋſe. 2 excuſe their ſinnes by the example of the multitude, as Pride, couetouſneſſe, &c. I doe but as others doe, It is the faſhion, and I am not alone. And thus poore ſoules they thinke they hauehave alleadged an argument that cannot bee anſwered. What, ſhall wee go to Hel for company?Pſal. 50.18. Wee ſee it is dangerous to doe as moſt doe. The gate is wide that leadeth to deſtruction, and many goe in thereat: Let vsus rather ſuſpect our ſelues, becauſe wee doe as the moſt doe: and Faſhion not our ſelues like vntounto the world, but ioyne with the little Flocke of Chriſt: and if there bee but one Elias that feares God, let vsus ioyne with him to obey God. And therefore let men know, that by ſhrouding themſelues vnderunder the multitude,Exod. 23.2 Ier. 6.13. they are ſo far from excuſing themſelues, as that the rather they accuſe themſelues, becauſe commonly the greateſt part is the worſt.
Ʋſe. 3 Thirdly, this may comfort the Miniſters of the Word of God, who, when they ſtudy, take paines, preach in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, and yet ſee no fruit of their labour, few beleeue and repent, it is that which indeed doth much grieue them and diſcourage them, as wee ſee in Elias; but this muſt bee our comfort, that it hath euer been ſo in olde time, in the Prophets times, in Chriſts time, and ſince, and wil be ſo to the end of the world: onelyonly let eueryevery faithfull Miniſter of Ieſus Chriſt doe his indeuour, and commit the ſucceſſe to God.
And thus much of the perſons of whom the Lord complayneth: the complaint it ſelfe followeth.
For your goodnes is as the morning cloud, and as the Morning Dew it goeth away.
HEre is the third generall point in the complaint; namely, the cauſe of it,The complaint it ſelfe. which ſo moued the Lord to complaine of this people: And it is indeed the preuenting of an obiection and cauill of this people: for they might obiect and ſay, What aileth him, he hath no cauſe ſo to exclaime and complaine of vsus, that he cannot bring vsus to repentance, and to ſerue God: why doe wee not bring our Sacrifices to his Altar? doe wee not come dayly to ſerue God? Yea, we hauehave lamented our ſinnes and humbled our ſelues before his face, crauing pardon at his hands. What would hee hauehave vsus to do more?
To this cauill of theirs the Prophet anſweres, in laying open the cauſe of this complaint, in theſe words For your goodneſſe, &c. By goodneſſe, here he meanes their outward ſeruice and worſhip of God, their fayned repentance; they had ſome outward ſhew of holines, and of repentance, and ſeruice of God; but it was voyd of ſincerity and ſoundneſſe of heart, it was not in truth, but from the teeth outward; and therefore it was vaniſhing and vnconſtant, and of the ſodaine, like vntounto the Dew or Morning cloud, which is diſperſed in a moment by the Sunne.
In this people here we may behold the nature and Doct. 6 property of all hypocrites; they content themſelues with the bare, naked, and outward ſeruice of God,It is the property of hypocrites to minde more the outward part of Gods worſhip, then the inward. neuer looking for the truth of it in their hearts & ſoules: for though they offered Sacrifices and oblations, came to the Temple, ſeemed to repent; yet it was onelyonly in outward ſhew, not ſound nor ſincere, it neuer came from their hearts. And what account ſuch ſeruice of God is with God, hee declares by his Prophet Eſay, when hee ſayth,Eſay. 1.14. My ſoule hateth your New Moones, and your appointed Feaſts: They are a burden vntounto mee, I am a weary to beare them. They would keepe the Sabbaths, and frequent the ſolemne aſſemblies, but it was but for cuſtome and for faſhion ſake: they would learne nothing at al; though their bodies were there, yet their hearts were not there. And this ſinne of theirs Almighty God layeth to their charge elſe where, when he ſayth,Eſay. 29.13. This people come neare vntounto mee with their mouth, and honour mee with their lips, but their hearts are far from mee. He blameth them, not for that they came not into Gods Temple, and into the Aſſembly of Gods people; for, herein they were very forward; but that they brought now a lame Sacrifice vntounto the Lord, it was but a lippe ſeruice, and a Will worſhippe, and the Lord doth eſteeme no better of it then the killing of a man, and the cutting off of a dogges necke, or the offering vp of Swines bloud; all which are abominable vntounto the Lord: for God is a ſpirit, and therefore will bee worſhipped,Eſay. 66.3.4 not onelyonly according to the outward ceremony of his worſhippe, but in ſpirit & truth: To whom will I hauehave respect vntounto, but to him that is poore, & of a contrite ſpirit, Ier. 7.7. Pro. 15.11.and trembleth at my words, And if this bee wanting, all that wee can doe in the ſeruice and worſhippe of God, is but ſinne vntounto vsus, and ſhall adde vntounto the meaſure of our iniquities. And ſurely, this is the onelyonly reaſon, as I take, why men profit no more vnderunder the Preaching of the Word, in this time of the Goſpell; namely this, becauſe men perſwade themſelues, that ſo long as they performe the outward rites of Gods worſhippe & ſeruice, as to come to Church, heare the Word, receiue the Sacrament and the like, all is well with them, they need no more.
In theſe Iewes wee may clearely ſee a counterpane of our people and time. What is the cauſe, why after Vſe. 1 ſo much and ſo long preaching, men ſhould remayne ſo ignorant, ſo couetous, ſo vile, and ſo ſinneful ſtil; is it not becauſe moſt men content themſelues with the outward ſeruice and worſhip of God? Why did not the meanes that conuerted thoſe Iewes in the beginning of this Chapter, conuert theſe of whom the Lord ſpeaketh in this place? Surely, the Prophet giues a reaſon of it in this verſe; namely, becauſe theſe Iewes thought that they had goodneſſe inough, and religion inough, ſo long as they performed the outward part of Gods worſhippe and ſeruice, and for this very cauſe, all theſe meanes could doe them no good.
And is not this the ſinne of our times and people?Note. doe not moſt men content themſelues with the outward ſeruice and worſhippe of God, to come to Church to heare the Word, & receiue the Sacrament? and thinke then they hauehave honoured God highly, and ſerued him aſwell as the beſt of them all, and that God can require no more at their hands: I appeale vntounto your hearts and conſciences whether this be not ſo, that moſt doe content themſelues with the very outward action of Gods worſhippe, neuer looking for ſoundneſſe of heart to come in faith, repentance, and obedience.
Oh then let this moue vsus all to bee grieued for this ſinne; Let vsus amend it:Eſay. 1.16. Pro. 15.11. Let vsus labour to come with penitent and obedient hearts, elſe all our prayers, and all things elſe that we doe in Gods ſeruice,Ier. 7.7. is but Abomination to the Lord. And indeed, when men are once come to this paſſe, that they thinke they hauehave knowledge inough, faith and repentance inough, and are forward inough ſo long as they come to Church, and heare the Word: when men are once come to this paſſe, many meanes and great meanes can doe them no good. This people of the Iewes had many means, the Lord ſent his Prophets earely and late,Ier. 7. but they could not conuert them, and why? becauſe they cryed, the Temple, Mich. 6.6.7.the Temple, and truſted in lying vanities. So the Lord ſent his Prophet Mica, threatning them with iudgements, yet they were not reformed: and the reaſons is, becauſe they contented themſelues with theſe outward ſhewes of repentance, and thought their outward worſhippe was inough, and that God would bee content with their ſacrifices. And again, he heard the Prophet Ezechiel preach and denounce Gods Iudgements;Ezec. 33.31.32. yea, they commended him, and were forward to heare him; yet this vile thought and perſwaſion being in their hearts, that it was inough to heare, though they went no further, ſtopt their hearts ſo as they could not repent:Mar. 6.…0. This was Herods ſin, who was come to this height of impiety, that if Iohn Baptiſt would bee content with his hearing, ſo it was, but reformation of life, eſpecially of his beloued ſinne, hee ſhould neuer ſee in him.Reu. 3.15. And ſurely, this is that that makes all good things vnprofitable to vsus, becauſe men thinke they are wiſe inough, and good inough. Is it not a wonder that men ſhould liue ſo many yeares vnderunder the meanes, heare ſo much, and read ſo much, and yet profite ſo little? Indeed it could neuer bee ſo, if men did ſee their wants, and come with penitent and obedient hearts. Oh then I beſeech you in the feare of God, lay aſide this proud conceit, lay aſide this vaine perſwaſion, that you ſhould thinke your outward ſeruice and worſhip of God is inough, that you know inough, and are good enough; rather thinke the worſt of your ſelues, and deſire more grace, that yee may ſeeme good with more feeling and comfort.
Secondly, in that the Lord compares their repentance and goodnes, all their piety and ſeruice of God to a Morning cloud, and to the dew before the Sunne, he ſhewes that their Repentance was not onelyonly vnſound but alſo vncertaine, of no continuance; ſome good motions came into their minds, and ſome prickes of conſcience for their ſinnes; but yet they would not leaue their olde ſinnes, and turne to God with al their hearts.
From whence wee obſerue a further point of Doctrine, Doct. 7 that the wicked themſelues hauehave ſomtimes good motions in them, howbeit they bee not laſting.The wicked hauehave ſometimes good motions in them but not laſting. When Gods hand is vponupon them by long and tedious ſicknes, how ready are many to make ſolemne vowes vntounto the Lord of reformation of their liues; but alas this is but while their conſciences are vponupon the racke, but when that his iudgements are remoued, it may be ſayde of them, as of wicked Ahaz, 2. Chr. 28.22They treſpaſſe yet more againſt the Lord. This was the deſperate eſtate and condition of this people, the Lord threatned them with many great and grieuous iudgements, as in the former chapter, vnderunder the which they ſeemed to bee humbled for a time: but alas, it was but for a time, for it quickly vaniſhed away, euen as the Dew when the Sun ſhines hote vponupon it. This was the caſe of the people in Moſes time, they made a fayre ſhew for a time,Deu. 5.27 ſaying to Moſes the ſeruant of the Lord, Goe thou neare and heare all that the Lord our God ſayth: Num. 23, 10.and declare thou vntounto vsus al that the Lord our God ſayth vntounto thee, and wee will heare it, and doe it. Balam that falſe Prophet, that loued ſo the wages of iniquity, as that hee would hauehave done directly againſt the commandement of the Lord; yet hauing his mind inlightned, deſired that hee might Die the death of the righteous; which was in it ſelfe a good and a godly prayer, had it not proceeded from a wicked and a graceleſſe heart: but it was not conſtant in Balam, but as a ſudden flaſhing of a lightning quickly vaniſhing away.Exod. 9.27. What ſhall wee ſay of Pharaoh, who cryed out, I hauehave ſinned, the Lord is righteous, but I and my people are wicked. This appeareth further in the Iewes, who wiſhed to come to happineſſe if that would hauehave ſerued the turne,Io. 6.34. Lord giuegive vsus euermore this bread: they had grieuouſly ſinned againſt the Sonne of God, and yet in a certaine remorſe of conſcience they wiſhed to be partakers of eternall life. This the Apoſtle condemneth in the Galathians,Gal. 5.7. Yee did runne well, what did let you that yee did not obey the truth? Was not this the caſe of Hymeneus and Philetus, 1. Tim. 1.10. 2. Tim. 2.18 2. Tim. 4.10.were they not held to bee great Chriſtians in their times, and obtayned a good report in the Church of God, in the which they liued? yet afterwards fell away, making ſhipwracke of faith, and a good conſcience. What ſhall wee ſay of Demas, Philemō. 24.who went ſo farre in Religion, as that hee ſuffered impriſonment for the truthes ſake, and yet fell in louelove with the world? What did it profite Iehu to bee zealous for the Lord in ſlaying the Prieſts of Baal, ſeeing he Departed not from the ſinnes of Ieroboam? 2. Reg. 10.25 v. 31.What did it profite Lots wife to goe out of Sodom, commanded by the Angel,Gen. 19.26. accompanied by her deare husband, ſeeing ſhee looked backe, and was turned into a piller of ſalt? Wee muſt therefore contend for more faith, for more knowledge, and for more grace, that wee may finde in our ſelues a dayly increaſe in the ſame; for not to goe forward in Religion, is to goe backeward, and not to increaſe in ſpirituall graces, is certainely to decreaſe and decay in them. Wee hauehave in the Scriptures many lawes to incite and prouoke vsus to goe forward to perfection, to walke, to labour, and to ſtriue for godlines: but wee hauehave none to giuegive liberty, to ſit ſtill, to bee idle, or to loyter, to bee careleſſe or ſecure. This doth the Lord himſelfe teach vsus, when hee ſayth; If a righteous man turne from his righteouſneſſe, Ezec. 18.24.and do the thing that is euill: all the righteouſneſſe that hee hath done ſhall bee no more thought vponupon, but in the wickedneſſe that hee hath done, in the ſame hee ſhall die. 1. Cor. 9.24.And this is taught by the Apoſtle Paul, when hee ſayth, Know yee not that they which runne in a race, runne all? yet one receiueth the prize: So runne that yee may obtaine. So then wee hauehave ſeene this Doctrine cleared, that the wicked themſelues are not ſo farre giuen ouer to themſelues, but that at ſomtimes they hauehave ſom touch of conſcience, and remorſe of heart for ſinne, as this people heere then ſeemed to bee humbled vnderunder Gods iudgement, and they ſeemed to repent for their ſinnes; but all this was but for a time, it was not durable and laſting, but as the Morning cloud, and as the Morning dew it went away. God graunt the ſame be not our ſin.
Now this thing comes thus to paſſe in the wicked, Reaſon. becauſe their conſciences taking notice of all their ſins, doth aſſure the ſinner that God is iuſt in puniſhing of ſinne, and therefore when the Lord ſhall but ſhake the ſword of iudgement ouer a wicked man, hee cannot but be humbled for ſinne for the time preſent, though they harden their hearts like an Adamant, and their faces like flint, yet when the ſtormes of Gods iudgements ſhall ariſe,Act. 24.25. they ſhall quake and tremble as Felix did.
Seeing that many beginne well, and yet proue but as the Morning cloud, which is quickly gone. We may Ʋſe. 1 from hence conclude the wofull, miſerable and wretched eſtate of all thoſe that ſhrinke away, that begin in the ſpirit, and end in the fleſh: Surely, I may ſay of them as Chriſt ſometime ſayd of Iudas, It had beene good: for them if they had neuer been borne. This the Apoſtle Peter ſetteth downe fully, when hee ſayth, If they after they hauehave eſcaped from the filthineſſe of the World, thorough the acknowledging of the Lord, 2. Pet. 2.20.21.22.and of the Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt, are yet tangled therein and ouercome; the latter end is worſe with them then the beginning: for it had been better for them not to hauehave acknowledged the way of righteouſneſſe, then after they hauehave acknowledged it, to turne away from the holy commandement giuen vntounto them But it is come vntounto them according to the Prouerbe: The Dogge is turned to his owne vomit, and the Sow that was waſhed, to the wallowing in the mire. Oh that all wicked and vngodly ſinners would conſider this aright, how the holy Ghoſt doth eſteeme of them, euen no better then dogs and ſwine: Let them ſeeme neuer ſo holy and religious, if they doe not perſeuere in piety and religion, alas, they are neuer the nearer heauen, but hauing beene acquainted with Gods Word, Sacraments and Prayer, the greater ſhall bee their torment at the laſt for the abuſe thereof. Yea, it is a righteous thing with God to giuegive ouer ſuch men and women vntounto a reprobate ſenſe, taking his ſpirit from them, ſo that they ſhal grow by degrees to be worſe and worſe, as wee may ſee in theſe Iewes, vntounto whom the Lord had vſed many meanes to humble them, and to bring them home by repentance, as his Word in the mouthes of his Prophets, his bleſſings and benefites; beſides all this, his iudgements one vponupon the necke of another; yet all would not ſerue to humble them; but all labour was loſt, and all coſt was ill beſtowed: Well, what was the end of all this, did they not grow to bee the greateſt enemies to the Goſpell and Croſſe of Chriſt? And thus fared it with Iudas, being an Apoſtle, became a moſt deſperate reprobate. And thus doth Almighty God as a moſt iuſt reuenger of ſin, many times puniſh one ſinne by another. Oh let theſe iudgements, of God vponupon the wicked, breake in ſunder the hard and ſtony hearts of the wicked, that ſo they may anew renue their Couenant with God, that he may hauehave mercy vponupon them, and that they may liue in his ſight.
Secondly, wee are taught heere, that it is not innough Ʋſe. 2 to beginne well, to entertaine holy thoughts, & godly purpoſes; but we muſt withall nouriſh and cheriſh them, that ſo wee may hauehave comfort by them at our latter end; this people beganne well, but they ended ill. Oh then let vsus looke to our owne ſoules, and try whether our repentance bee like to theirs or not, if wee find it vnſound, that it comes not to the heart, but reſts in outward ſhewes, and that it is ſoone vaniſhed away; then truely it is nought, Dauid was humbled for his ſinnes all the dayes of his life: And it is reported of Peter, that after his repentance,Stella in Lucam. hee roſe euer at the call of the Cocke to prayers, and other the like duties of piety and religion: And ſo muſt it bee with vsus, otherwiſe God cares not for it, and it will ſtand vsus in no ſtead in that day of Gods ſearching account.
Now, if wee may iudge of your Repentance by your life and outward behauiour, truely, it is to bee doubted,The great drought. that it is little better then the repentance of this people, not worth a button, but counterfeit and fayned: For, doth not the Lord euen call men to faſting, weeping, lamentation and mourning, to amendment of life and true repentance? and how do men performe this? who layes the iudgement of God to heart, who mournes for Gods anger vponupon the land? nay rather, doe they not make this time of faſting, a time of feaſting. Many ſeeme to repent, and to hang downe their heads like a bul-ruſh, and cry, Lord helpe vsus, but truely it is but lippe-labour, but forged from the teeth outward; it comes not from the heart, but as this people in this place. Men are like to Schollers and Children, when the rodde is vponupon their backe, they cry and yell, and promiſe to doe ſo no more; yet as ſoone as the rod is remoued, doe the ſame things againe. Euen ſo fareth it with moſt men amongſt vsus, while the iudgements of God are vponupon them, and their conſciences are vponupon the racke, they are ready to cry to the Lord for helpe and deliuerance: but if the Lord doe but remoue his hand, you ſhall ſee them with the dogge to the vomite, and the Sow to the myre, couetous ſtill, cruell ſtill, ignorant, filthy, and vncleane ſtill. Is not this the common repentance of our times? And is not this like the Iewes heere, which the Lord ſo highly condemneth? Oh alas, it is, and therefore the Lord muſt needs bee as highly offended with vsus as euer hee was with them: And therefore it is now hie time to looke to our ſelues, to ioyne to our outward profeſſion, true reformation of heart and life, to build vponupon the Rocke Chriſt; and for the time to come, to lay a ſure foundation, and be ſure of an honeſt heart, that it bee ſound in the worſhippe of God; for the Lord prefers ſuch a heart that comes in faith, repentance and obedience, before moſt glorious and goodly ſhewes, when ſincerity of heart is wanting. And truelie it is greatly to bee feared, that many now profeſſing the Goſpell in theſe dayes of peace, if the Sun ſhould wax hote, if ſtormes ſhould come, and tryall for the Goſpell ſake, they would fal away, and …ee like this people heere; whoſe goodneſſe all they did profeſſe, was but as a droppe of dew before the Sunne. Oh then let vsus labour for ſoundneſſe and ſincerity in Gods ſeruice: Let vsus labour to find our eyes opened, our minds illuminated, our hearts ſoftned, and our affections touched, that ſo wee may hauehave ioy and comfort heere, and euerlaſting peace and comfort in the end.
Thirdly, ſeeing wee are taught heere, that many Ʋſe. 3 may ſeeme forward for a time, zealous and godly, and yet the ſame proue in the end but as The morning cloud, quickly ſcattered, and as The Morning Dew, which is quickly gone when the face of the Sun doth ſhew it ſelfe vponupon it. Wee are taught hence, not to be offended when wee ſee ſome of thoſe that for the time paſt hauehave ſeemed to be forward in Religion, to fall away, & that the life of Gods ſpirit doth decay in them: for there hauehave been euer ſuch counterfeit Chriſtians, euen from the beginning in the houſhold of Adam, Gen. 4.56.there was a wicked Cain, and in the family of Abraham there was a ſcoffing Iſmael; yea, there is no ſociety eyther in Church or common wealth, but the Scriptures afford vsus ſome example or other,Mat. 27. that there hauehave been ſome wicked amongſt them: But what of all this, muſt this diſcourage vsus? No, no: What if all the world will be diſobedient, as in the dayes of Noah? What if there be but one Elias in all Iſrael? Oh let vsus ioyne with him,Note. and let vsus euen hereby bee wiſe, and learne to take heed by other mens harmes, to take a faſter hold vponupon Religion, and lay to build vponupon a ſure foundation, for at one time or other, God will lay ſome tryall or other vponupon vsus, that wee ſhall appeare to bee eyther chaffe or Wheat: the faithfull ſeruants of the Lord, or the curſed limbs of Sathan: and if we hauehave hitherto felt and enioyed peaceable times, that the Lord hath not yet ſifted and winnowed vsus as Sathan deſired to ſift Peter: What, ſhall wee bee ſecure therefore? God fotbid: rather let vsus in the dayes of peace prepare for the time of tryall, euer looking out when God will ſhake his ſword againſt vsus.
Your goodnes is as the morning cloud, &c.
IN that the Lord doth compare the repentance or goodneſſe of this people to the Morning cloud, and to the Morning Dew, becauſe it was neyther true nor ſincere, nor durable, not laſting, but quickly gone; and therefore are branded with this blacke cole of hypocrites, and ſuch as the Lord threatens to Cut downe, & to ſlay, euen vtterly to roote out, as in the verſe following. Doct. 8 Wee are taught by their example, that if wee would bee religious indeed, and approued for ſound Chriſtians before God,Sincerity of heart and perſeuerance in godlines, a true note of the child of God. that wee labour for that which was wanting in them, and which ſhall approue vsus for Chriſtians before God; namely, ſincerity of heart, as alſo that we perſeuere in the duties of piety and godlines, euen vntounto the end.
It was the commendations of Enoch and of Noah, that notwithſtanding they liued in ſinfull times, being ouerrunne with all manner of impieties, yet they walked with God; Gen. 5.22. Gen. 6.9.they kept themſelues vnſpotted of the world: they made not the practiſe of other men, an example for them; but walked ſo as euer in Gods preſence. This was Ezechias his comfort when hee was ſummoned to die;Eſay. 38.3. Remember Lord that I hauehave walked before thee in truth and with an vpright heart. Iob. 16.19.And when Iob was cenſured for an hypocrite (according as the maner of the world is at this day, to deſpiſe and diſgrace eueryevery one that is more carefull to pleaſe God, then themſelues:) What was his comfort but this, that hee could ſay; My witneſſe is in heauen, and my Record is on hie. q. d. My comfort is; that though you ſpeake your pleaſure of mee now, yet you ſhall not bee my Iudges, but God that is aboue, whom I hauehave ever ſerued in ſpirit and truth, will iuſtifie me one day againſt you.
And this was the care of godly Paul, Act. 24.16. 2. Cor. 4.2.To endeuour aboue all things to keepe a cleare conſcience before God and man: for this is that which will approue vsus to be Chriſtians indeed, when as the vizard of hypocriſie ſhall be taken from vsus; and if this be wanting in vsus, alas, all our ſhewes bee they neuer ſo goodly and glorious, ſhal no way ſtand vsus in ſtead, but the Lord will rather caſt them as dung into our faces: And yet good Lord, men thinke they hauehave profited highly in Religion, if they can but make a glorious ſhew therof before men: Oh, I would that men could be brought once to this paſſe that we might caſt out this Deuil from them: but of this before.
Seeing that ſincerity of heart is ſuch an infallible note of the child of God, Vſe. when as all ſhewes and ſhadowes will ſtand in no ſtead; this may vtterly condemn the art of Seeming, which eueryevery man almoſt hath learned in our time. The hypocrite can come with his Lord, Lord. Mat. 7.21. Iob. 31.24. Pro. 30.20.The couetous man that hath made gold his hope, hee feares not. The vncharitable man, Whoſe torgue is like a Razar, is not abaſhed. The whoriſh woman Wipeth her mouth, and ſayth, I hauehave not committed Iniquity, bluſheth not. Thus eueryevery one commeth into Gods houſe, heareth Gods word, receyueth his bleſſed Sacrament; and comes vntounto theſe dueties ſo maskt, that they paſſe heere for currant coyne: we are not able to ſee into their hearts, it is the Lord alone, who is The ſearcher of the heart, that ſees them: And thus men if they may paſſe with our approbation, they care for no more. Ah poore ſoule, Ah poore ſoule, what of al this? If the Lord doe not approue of thee, it is not all thy ſhewes and ſhadowes, be they neuer ſo goodly, nor ſo glorious, that wil ſtand thee in ſtead in the day of Gods ſearching account, but hauing acted the part of an hppocrite here vponupon the Stage of this World, it ſhall at the laſt day be a iuſt and righteous thing with the righteous God, to giuegive thee the portion of hypocrites, euen euerlaſting fire: Depart from mee yee Hypocrites into euerlaſting fire, prepared for the Deuill and his Angels. Oh that this might perſwade vsus to affect ſincerity of heart. What a thing were this that we ſhould liue in theſe dayes and times wherein wee liue, wherein knowledge and grace is euen thruſt vponupon vsus, and yet for all that, wee ſhould proue ſuch Iudaſſes vntounto our owne poore Soules, thus to betray them into the hands of ſathan. I cannot but taxe many of you of this parriſh of Roxwell with this ſin, the Lord lay it not one day to your charge. At my firſt cōming amongſt you, I obſerued ſome forwardnes in you, in ſanctifying the Sabbath, and hearing the word diligently; ſince which time who doth not perceiue a decay of zeale, a decay of hearing in a great many of this congregation, that will ſcarce now vouchſafe God your preſence in the aſſembly of his people once a month. The full ſoule (ſayth Salomon) loatheth the honey combe. Reu 3.14.I feare, you are full euen of ſpirituall pride with the Church of Laodicea. Well, bee warned betimes, leſt your footings that you hauehave taken ſo oft in your bowling Allyes, ſurmount your ſteps into Gods houſe, and ſo the Lord lay this ſinne of ingratitude to your charge, that hee ſhould offer vntounto you ſuch gracious oportunities, and ye ſhould ſo careleſly neglect the ſame.
Ʋſe. 2 Secondly, this condemnes the common repentance of moſt men and women, that it is not ſound nor ſincere, becauſe though they condemne ſinne, & know it to be ſinne; yet they neuer proceede ſo farre, as to leaue and forſake it.Mar. 6. Herod could not bee brought to leaue his Inceſt: Demas made a fayre ſhew for a while, but by and by left all, & fell into louelove with the world: ſo, many men will for a brunt ſerue God, and ſeeme very forward both to heare the Word, read, pray, &c. yet the ſtrength of their owne corruptions, and the louelove of the World ſteales away their hearts, ſo as it comes to nothing: but ſure it is that the grace of God when it hath taken poſſeſſion in a mans ſoule, it will throughly purge the ſame, though not altogether from ſinne: for the Fleſh will euer rebell againſt the Spirite; yet from the power of ſinne, ſo as that man that is truely ſanctified, ſhall not from henceforth become a ſeruant vntounto ſinne; for a purpoſe to continue in ſin, and the grace of God, cannot abide both in one Soule: but of this before.
And thus much of the Complaint: the Iudgement followeth.