Exposition of Hosea 6, Exposition · Verse 1 · Section 1
Thus much briefly for the vnfoulding of the words, and the meaning of them in generall.
IN the former Chapter, the Lord told them,Coher: that hee would bring great and grieuous Iudgements vponupon them, vntill ſuch time as they would turne and ſeeke him, confeſſing their ſinnes and amending their euill liues: And in the laſt verſe of the former Chapter, the Lord ſaith, In their afflictions they will ſeeke me diligently. Shewing that there is nothing better to turne the pride of mans heart, then afflictions: So Manaſſes a wicked Idolatrous King,2. Cro. 33.12 yet in his afflictions hee ſought the Lord, and prayed vntounto the Lord his God, whom he diſhonored before.Pſal. 1 19. Lam. 3 27. Luk. 9.23. And Dauid confeſſeth, that it was very good for him that he was afflicted, for before he was careleſſe of the ſeruice of God. Yea, the Prophet Ieremy ſaith, that a man can neuer begin too ſoone to ſuffer the croſſe: It is good that a man beare the yoake of afflictions from his youth. And our Sauiour himſelfe ſaith, That we muſt take vp the croſſe dayly; and in very deed nothing is better for young or old, man or woman, then affliction: if God ſanctifie the ſame vntounto vsus, and giuegive vsus the true vſe of them, they will make a man ſearch his heart, and call his former life to accompt, they will humble vsus, and make vsus ſee our weakneſſe, they will compell vsus to run to God by moſt earneſt and harty prayer, to deny our ſelues, to put our whole truſt, confidence, and affiance in the mercy of God in Ieſus Chriſt. Now the Lord had no ſooner ſpoke the word, that in their afflictions they would ſeek him, but heere we ſee it is effected, Come (ſay they,) let vsus returne vntounto the Lord, &c.
Doct. 1 Afflictiōs are of excellent vſe to turne vsus to God.So that the firſt point of Doctrine we obſerue from the text, is this, That afflictions are of excellent vſe to turne vsus to God; the Church of God in generall, and the ſeruants of God in particular, when they cannot profitably vſe proſperity, and beare themſelues thankefully in the dayes of peace, doe learne in aduerſity to turne vntounto God, and are therby brought home againe; and this comes to paſſe not by meanes of the croſſe, for in it ſelfe it is a curſe, but in that the Lord doth ſanctifie the ſame vntounto his, it comes to paſſe that the ſtate of affliction is a ſafer eſtate,Iudg. 14.14. Rom 5.3. 2 Cor. 4.13. Heb. 12.11. then the eſtate of proſperity. It is true, that as the Philiſtims could not vnderſtand Sampſons riddle, how ſweete came out of ſower, & meat out of the eater, ſo cannot worldlings vnderſtād, that tribulatiō bringeth out patience, & that our light & momentany afflictions cauſe vntounto vsus a far more excellent and eternall waight of glory. But the Children of God, they find it true by experience, that albeit no viſitation bee ſweete for the preſent, yet afterwards it brings the quiet fruit of righteouſneſſe vntounto them who are thereby exerciſed, Eſay 26.16. Pſal. 107. Luke. 15.18.and that there is more ſolide ioy in ſuffering rebuke with Chriſt, then in all the pleaſures of ſinne which are but for a ſeaſon.Gen. 21.16. This the Prophet ſetteth downe in the ſong of the faithfull, Lord in trouble hauehave they viſited thee, they powred out a prayer when thy chaſtiſing was vponupon them: yea, the people of God the Iſraelits in the time of their afflictions were humbled and ſought the Lord,Ionas 1.5. Lam. 3.27. Pſal. 119.71, Io. 15.2. who in time of proſperity forgat him, and the mighty workes that he had done for them, They wandred in the deſart and found no Citty to dwell in; Then they cried vntounto the Lord in their trouble, and he deliuered them out of their diſtreſſe. The Prodigall ſonne neuer intended to returne home againe to his Father, vntill a famine had met with him, and he was pinched with want, then he reſolued with himſelfe, to acknowledge his fault, & to entreat for pardon. Hagar was proud in the houſe of Abraham and deſpiſed her Miſtreſſe, but in the wilderneſſe humbled by want. Ionas ſleepeth in the ſhip, but in the belly of the Whale watcheth and prayeth. It is good therefore (ſaith Ieremy) for a man to beare the yoake in his youth, and Dauid acknowledgeth it was good for him that he was afflicted, yea our Sauiour ſaith, EueryEvery branch that beares fruit, my heauenly father purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. All theſe teſtimonies and examples of the ſeruants of God, as euident and direct conſents of the Scripture, do teach vsus that afflictions are of ſpeciall and ſingular vſe to turne vsus to God.Amos 3.6. And this comes to paſſe, by reaſon they are the workes of Gods hand, there is no euill in the Citty which the Lord hath not done. He hath his Quiuer full of arrowes to ſtrike vsus, and to puniſh vsus, the Sword, Famine, Plague, Peſtilence, yea, he hath all Creatures at a beck, & at a cal, to humble the rebellious hart of man, & to this end we may pray to the Lord, that ſo he do ſtill remember the promiſe made to the Sonnes of Dauid, I will viſite them with rods if they ſinne againſt mee, 2. Sa. 7.14.15but my mercy will I neuer take from them; that rather then that wee ſhould bee frozen in the dreggs of our owne naturall corruptions, and ſpend our daies in a careleſſe ſecurity without the feare of his holy name, that God would chang our eſtates, and awaken vsus with the touch of his owne hand, purge vsus with fier, and chaſten vsus with his rods.
Vſe. 1 Firſt, ſeing that chaſtiſements and afflictions are of ſuch excellent vſe to turne vsus to God, and that the Lord doth vſe the ſame to bring vsus home to himſelfe; heere wee may clearely behold the mighty power of God, that can by ſo many waies and meanes turne the hearts of men, humble them, and bring them home vntounto himſelfe: Indeed the preaching of the word is the ordinary meanes whereby God doth breake in ſunder the ſtony heart of man;Eſay 5.4. Iob 33.16. Rom. 11.13. but when that will not ſerue, but that his patience & long ſuffering is abuſed, and his word contemned, the Lord hath ſundry iudgments in ſtore, which being ſent from God, are powerfull to turne our hearts, and to make a way for Repentance. Oh the deepeneſſe of the riches, both of the wiſedome and knowledge of God! how vnſearchable are his iudgements, and his wayes paſt finding out. Let vsus then here acknowledge the greatneſſe both of the mercy and power of God, in working out the ſaluation of mankind ſo wonderfully, and that by ſo many meanes, bringing light out of darkeneſſe, and good out of euill.
Seeing that afflictions are of ſuch excellent vſe to Vſe. 2 turne vsus to God when the Lord doth ſanctifie the ſame to that end vntounto vsus: Here we ſee the cauſe why the godly runne not into all euill, as the Horſe ruſheth into the battell; euen as the children of this world do into the ſame exceſſe of ryot. Surely, the reaſon is not becauſe there is ought in them by Nature more then in other men: No, no, wee were all warmed in vncleane bloud, and the beſt wee hauehave drawne from our mothers breaſts, hath beene rebellion: but God calleth them backe by his hand, his afflictions are remembrances vntounto them, and his corrections are their inſtructions; and the Lord thus exerciſing his Children in the Schoole of afflictions, doth thereby breake in them the power of ſinne, let out (as it were) the ſuperfluous humour of pride and ſelfe-louelove, which are ready to corrupt euen our beſt actions: So that, albeit afflictions bee grieuous and bitter, yet they are not vnprofitable to thoſe whom God hath choſen to better graces. The mercies of God indeed ought to leade vsus to repentance, and the more aboundantly the Lord doth beſtow his mercies vponupon vsus, the more ſhould bee our obedience: But alas, it fareth otherwiſe with vsus, for his bleſſings and benefites are vntounto vsus many times occaſions of euill, inſomuch as wee turne the grace of GOD into wantonneſſe: And therefore farre better were it for many, in reſpect of the good of their ſoules, that they had alwayes beene held in the bedde of affliction, then enioying health, peace, proſperitie, ſtrength of body, &c. they ſhould abuſe the ſame to the great diſhonour of God, and the ruine of their owne ſoules.
Vſe. 3 Seeing that afflictions, when the Lord doth lay the ſame vponupon vsus, to this end, to better vsus in obedience, are ſo auaileable, that they worke a reformation in the whole man: We are hereby put in mind of our duety, how wee ought to behaue our ſelues vnderunder the hand of God, that if the Lord hath humbled vsus by long and tedious ſickneſſe, by loſſe of goods, children, friends, &c. or by any other meanes whatſoeuer, that then we trie and examine our hearts, what reformation theſe things hauehave wrought in vsus, whether they hauehave made vsus to call our owne wayes to account, and ſtraightly to examine our owne hearts, what euill thoughts, corrupt words, or ſinfull action hath paſſed from vsus, that hath thus made the Lord to ſtrike and to puniſh vsus, and when wee hauehave taken, as it were, a Catalogue of all our ſinnes (if it were poſſible:) then let vsus try our ſorrow, whether wee be truely humbled for them,Lam. 3.39. or no? This duty is vrged by Ieremie. Wherefore is the liuing man ſorrowfull? Man ſuffereth for his ſins: Let vsus ſearch and trie our wayes, and turne vntounto the Lord. For ſurely, this is the marke that God doth ayme at, not by affliction to deſtroy vsus, or to confound vsus for euer; but to make vsus to call our owne hearts to account, to ſee our ſinnes, and to bring vsus home to himſelfe.
Vſe. 4 And laſt of all, wee are taught here, not to meaſure the fauour and louelove of God towards our ſelues or others,Eccle. 9.2. eyther by proſperity or aduerſity: for, as Salomon ſayth; All things come alike to all, and the ſame condition is to the iuſt and to the wicked. And as the Apoſtle ſayth;Rom. 14.17. The Kingdom of God ſtandeth not in meat and drinke, &c. So that if wee deſire ſome euidences of Gods fauour and louelove towards vsus, we muſt not ſeeke for it in our outward peace and tranquility of body & mind heere, or in continuall aduerſity, both which are common to the iuſt and vniuſt, to the good and bad: onelyonly try them by the effects of affliction: for in the godly they bring forth the quiet fruit of repentance, whereas they make the wicked but the more obdurate and hardned in their ſinnes: the godly in their ſufferings communicate with the Croſſe of Chriſt,Pſal. 126.6. whereas the wicked in their ſufferings communicate with the curſe of ſinners; and take this for a rule that neuer fayleth, That the Croſſe (if care bee had to profite thereby) neuer departeth, but it leaueth a bleſſing behind.
Come let vsus returne, Here we may ſee, what is the counſell that they giuegive one to another in affliction, namely, to make ſpeed to turne vntounto God, whoſe wrath and heauy diſpleaſure they had prouoked againſt them by their ſinnes, and whoſe iudgements were already gone out againſt them: they were aſſured, that there was no other way or meanes to pacifie the wrath of God,Luk. 13.5. but onelyonly to breake off their ſinnes by repentance: and therefore they call one vntounto another, Come let vsus turne, &c.
Here wee are taught this leſſon for our inſtruction, Doct. 2 euen from the example of theſe beleeuing Iewes,What counſell it is that wee muſt giuegive to others in aduerſity. ſtirring vp one another in the time of affliction, to return againe vntounto God by repentance, from whom they had departed by their ſins: What is the counſell that wee muſt giuegive one to another in affliction; namely, to exhort men to turne vntounto God, to confeſſe their ſinnes, to bee grieued for them,Dan. 4.24. and to beg the pardon of them. This is the counſell that Daniel gaue to Nabuchadnezar; namely, to breake off his ſinnes by repentance: Wherefore, O King, let my counſell bee acceptable vntounto thee, and breake off thy ſinnes by righteouſneſſe: and thine iniquities by mercy towards the poore, &c. Again, the Prophet Ieremy obſerues the ſame:Lam. 3.39. Wherefore is the liuing man ſorrowfull? Man ſuffereth for his ſinne; Oh let vsus ſearch and try our wayes, and turne vntounto the Lord. And ſurely, this is the beſt counſell that any Chriſtian man or woman can giuegive to another in affliction, namely, to breake off their ſinnes by vnfained repentance, and turning vntounto the Lord: This is the right way to ſtoppe the breach of Gods wrath, and to call in his iudgements. Many men hauehave ſought other meanes and wayes to preuent the Lords iudgements; but (alas) as the cauſe of all iudgements are our ſins; Our ſinnes turne many good things from vsus, And a fruitfull land maketh hee barren for the wickednes of them that dwell therein: So vnleſſe they be taken away by true & vnfained repentance, wee doe but weary our ſelues in vaine: for we muſt firſt remoue the cauſe of Gods iudgements, our ſinnes; elſe the hand of God cannot bee remoued. Wee ſee in a lacke, ſo long as the weight hangs vponupon the corde, it moues the wheeles; but take off the lead, and it will ceaſe. Our ſinnes bee as a mighty Milſtone, to plucke downe Gods fearefull iudgements vponupon vsus: now remoue our ſinnes, then Gods anger ſhall ceaſe: but let vsus know, till wee ceaſe from ſinning,Leuit. …6. Hoſ. 4.1.2. the Lord cannot ceaſe from ſmiting: Nay, if wee walke ſtubbornely againſt him, and will not turne, hee will euen whet his ſword, and neuer ceaſe ſmiting, till he make an end of vsus. Yea, the Prophets, and holy men of God, in ſuch times when we lye open to Gods wrath, hauehave called vsus to repentance, ſtirred vsus vp to prayer, moued vsus to humiliation, and acknowledgement of our ſinnes, which hauehave deſerued ſuch chaſticements. What is the reaſon that the Lord ſends ſuch barrenneſſe vponupon the earth, vnſeaſonable weather, immoderate raine: ſurely, our ſinnes, our ignorance, contempt of the Word, our abuſe of the Sacraments; yea, our abuſe of plenty in drunkenneſſe, whoredome, ſwearing, &c. Now, whats the way to hauehave plenty and aboundance? how may wee remoue the anger of God, and his iudgements, eyther already vponupon, or elſe eminent ouer our heads? Surely, remoue the cauſe of Gods iudgements; namely, ſinne; elſe the hand of God cannot bee remoued. And therefore let vsus all practiſe this counſell, and wiſely conſider what the Lord hath againſt vsus, and wherefore hee is angry with vsus; that ſo wee may bee reconciled vntounto him, and brought into his fauour againe.
This Doctrine, Vſe. may ſerue to condemne that prepoſterous courſe that many men doe take eyther for themſelues, when they lye vnderunder the Croſſe, or with others. For themſelues, If the hand of God lye vponupon them with long and tedious ſickneſſe; how many are there that leaue the Lord, and reſort to Witches and Wizards, that looke againe more to the meanes, then they doe to the Lord, without whoſe bleſſing they can doe vsus no good: So in time of Famine, Peſtilence, Warre, and the like; how many are the windings and turnings in the heart of man, to preuent the iudgements of God? they will leaue no attempt vnattempted for their deliuerance: But to trie their owne hearts, to find out their ſinnes, which are ſo many rebellious Ionaſſes in the ſhippe of their own ſoules, that hauehave moued the Lord to ſend thoſe ſtormes of afflictions; Oh, this they neuer thinke vponupon. And as they themſelues fayle in the maine point of all, that is, to try their owne hearts, to looke into their wayes, and to turne vntounto the Lord by vnfained ſorow: So deale they with others: for what is the counſell elſe they giuegive vntounto others in time of ſickneſſe, but this; Be of good cheare, Eate warme meats, Vſe good phyſicke, &c. Oh! this is not the counſell we ſhould giuegive; but to ſay with the godly heere; Come, returne to the Lord; Repent of thy ſinnes, beg the pardon of them at Gods hands: This is the counſell wee muſt giuegive to the afflicted, and not to ſeeke helpe from men, before wee hauehave ſought forgiueneſſe of ſinnes of God.
Come let vsus returne vntounto the Lord. Heere we may ſee the fruit of true conuerſion, they ſeeke not eueryevery man his owne good, but the good of their brethren, and therefore vſe godly motions and chriſtian perſwaſiōs one to another, to returne vntounto God.
Doct. 3 From whoſe godly practiſe and religious example, wee gather a further poynt of Doctrine,It is the duty of eueryevery chriſtian to labor to draw others to god. that it is not inough for a man to goe to heauen himſelfe; but it is the duty of eueryevery Chriſtian to labour to draw others with them, as theſe holy Seruants of God ſay heere, Come let vsus returne, theſe bee their godly perſwaſions one to another, they labour to goe hand in hand in their repentance, & as we ſay to men & women, Come will yee goe to the Market, fayre, &c. So in Religion we muſt call one vponupon another, to draw men to God: and as one wicked man ſeeketh to make another like himſelfe; ſo hee that is truely conuerted, will not reſt in that inward comfort of his owne conuerſion, but will labour by all meanes to conuert others vntounto GOD, and labour to make them partakers of the ſame comfort which they themſelues hauehave receiued from God. This thing is very apparant in the conuerſion of the godly; when Andrew was brought to Chriſt, hee found his brother Simon, Io. 1.41.43.45.and ſaid vntounto him; We hauehave found that Meſſias that is Chriſt. So when Chriſt called Phillip and ſaid vntounto him, Follow me: Io. 4 28.Phillip found Nathaniel and ſayd vntounto him, Wee hauehave found him of whom Moſes did write in the Law and in the Prophets; Ieſus the ſonne of Ioſeph that was of Nazareth. The like appeares in the woman of Samaria, when Chriſt had reueiled himſelfe vntounto her, and offered her to drinke of the water of life, after which ſhe ſhould neuer thirſt agane, ſhee ran into the Citty and ſaid, Come ſee a man which hath told mee all things that euer I did, is not hee that Chriſt? being moued her ſelfe, ſhe labours to moue others. And this doth the Prophet Dauid promiſe vntounto the Lord, that if hee would reſtore him once more vntounto the ioy of his ſaluation, that then he would become a Preacher,Pſ. 51.12.13. Pſ. 66.16. Pſ. 116. Gal. 3, 2. Cor. 1.4. Eſay 38.19. Luk. 22.23. and Proclaimer of the ſame mercy vntounto others. And ſurely this is a ſpeciall fruit of faith and true repentance, to labour by all meanes poſſible, to conuay grace vntounto others, and to ſhew them what God hath done for our ſoules, and to draw out the bleſſings which God hath beſtowed vponupon our ſelues, to the good and benefit of others. The Prophet Dauid doth labour herein: Come (ſayth he) and I will ſhew you what God hath done for my ſoule: And the Elect are called veſſels of mercy, becauſe they being themſelues filled with the mercies of God, ſhould draw out the ſame as good liquor, for the vſe and comfort of others. Saint Paul ſayth, God had mercy on him, that he might ſhew mercy vntounto others. The child of God is not like vntounto Nabol, All for himſelfe: but he is taught of God, to louelove his brother. And thus wee ſee how wee ought to behaue our ſelues, in reſpect of Gods gifts: we muſt not hide them in the ground, or in a napkin; but wee muſt imploy the ſame to the good of others.
This may ſerue to reproue that common conceite Vſe. 1 in mens minds, that ſo long as they doe well themſelues, they need not care how other… doe, whether they ſinke or ſwimme, whether they goe forward, or backeward, grow vpward, or downeward, to God, or the Diuell: but it is impoſſible for any Chriſtian man or woman, who hath truely taſted of the worke of grace in his owne heart, but hee muſt communicate the ſame to the good of others. Indeed, moſt men little regarde this, they cannot be perſwaded that they bee bound to ſaue the ſoules of their brethren, and therefore they ſay, eueryevery man for himſelfe, and God for vsus all: but the truth is, that when eueryevery man ſeeks himſelfe, the Deuill gets all. To ſaue ſoules, to draw men to Chriſt: Oh, wee thinke this is the Miniſters duety, it belongs to him alone, it belongs not to vsus. True it is, that it belongs eſpeciall to the Miniſter to labour to ſaue mens ſoules; and therefore they are eſpecially bound to labour by continuall teaching and preaching of the word of God; as alſo by their godlie life, to draw men to God, to exhort them, to call vponupon them to turne vntounto the Lord: and if they bee negligent and careleſſe, the flocke of Chriſt muſt needs go to ruine: yet many there are that feed themſelues to the full, but regard not to feed the flocke, ouer which the holy Ghoſt hath made them Ouerſeers. Theſe are they that liue of the Altar, but care not to miniſter at the Altar: They will bee ſure to reape carnall things, but they hauehave no conſcience to ſow ſpirituall things. The Apoſtle could ſay, I ſeeke not yours, but you. But theſe men, if they would ſpeake the truth, might ſay, Wee ſeeke not you,1. Cor. 9.16. but yours. Paul cryes out: Woe vntounto mee if I preach not the Gospell. Oh! woe, and ten thouſand woes vntounto thee that art a careleſſe ſheepheard; who, though thou haſt taken vponupon thee the Cure and Charge of Soules, yet by thy careleſneſſe in thy place and calling, and by thy euill example, art a ſtumbling blocke vntounto others, that wilt not turne to God thy ſelfe, nor helpe them forward that would.
Well, as it is the duty of the Miniſter; eſpecially, in publike: ſo it is the duety of eueryevery Chriſtian man in priuate, to bring others to God. Art thou an huſband, thou haſt the charge of the ſoule of thy wife: art thou a father, thou ſhalt anſwere for the ſoule of thy child: art thou a maſter, well, looke to draw thy ſeruants vntounto God. The charge of ſoules is committed to you. Our Sauiour Chriſt ſayth to his Father;Heb. 2.13. Behold Father, heere am I, and the children which thou haſt giuen mee, Oh, what a comfort is it to a chriſtian ſoule, to a godly man, or a chriſtian woman, when they can ſay, O Lord, heere am I, and heere bee my wife, my children, and my ſeruants, which thou haſt giuen me. You are carefull to prouide for your wiues, meate, drinke, and apparrell; and for your children, lands, and liuings; and hauehave you not care of their poore ſoules, but let them periſh for want of inſtruction?
But ſuch is the negligence and grieuous careleſnes of Maſters and Parents in this miſerable and curſed age of the world, that it were better to bee ſome mens ſheepe then their ſonnes, and their horſes then their ſeruants; for no man is ſo careleſſe, but hee will pittie his horſe, and looke to his ſheepe: but as for their ſonnes or ſeruants, they may ſinke or ſwimme, they care not for them: Well, thy wife may periſh in her ſinnes, thy ſonne may periſh in his ignorance, and thy ſeruant for want of thy inſtruction; but the Lord will require their bloud at thy hands. Nay, wee may ſee in this preſent example, that it is not onelyonly the duety of the Miniſter, and thoſe which bee Maſters and Parents, to ſeeke to draw thoſe that are vnderunder them to God; but the ſame is the duety of eueryevery Chriſtian man and woman; it is that which belongs vntounto all men, to call on others to draw them to God: Nay, if thou doeſt not labour to draw him to repentance,Leuit. 19.17. thou doeſt but hate him in thy heart: Thou ſhalt not hate thy brother in thy heart, but ſhalt rebuke him, and ſuffer him not to ſinne. In eueryevery commandement is two parts, Negatiue and Affirmatiue: Now, in the ſixt Commandement we be forbidden to kill; and therefore eueryevery one, not onelyonly the Miniſter, as moſt men erroneouſly thinke, are bound to ſaue mens liues; but eueryevery one of vsus, be wee what wee may bee, are bound by this Commandement to ſaue the ſoule of our brother,Exod. 24.3. to dtaw him to God. If thou ſee thine enemies oxe or ſheepe go aſtray, thou muſt bring him home, Oh how much more, if thou ſee the poor ſoule of thy brother, of thy wife, or of thy child, ſtraying from God; nay, going the broad way to eternall deſtruction: how much more art thou bound to bring him backe againe to God: If thou ſee his horſe lye vnderunder his burthen, thou art bound in conſcience to helpe him vp: Had God ſuch care ouer Oxen and Aſſes, and wilt thou hauehave no care of the Soule of thy brother?
Vſe. 2 Oh! let vsus put this duety in practiſe, to call one vponupon another, to bring others to God: wee can call one another to the Market: Oh, let vsus call one another:Eſay 55.1. Oh, come, let vsus goe to the Lords Market to buy the food of our ſoule: Labour to bring thy Family, thy Wife and Children to the houſe of God, to the word of God, to the food of their ſoules: Oh, thou ſhalt doe a bleſſed worke,Iam. 5.20. thou ſhalt conuert a ſinner to God, ſaue a ſoule from death, and couer a multitude of ſinnes. Oh, what a comfort will this bee vntounto thoſe, who hauehave beene carefull for the performance of this duety, that hauehave beene carefull to make others partakers of the ſame comforts they hauehave reaped themſelues. It is a bleſſed thing indeed, when men hauehave endeuoured to their power to benefite others, to exhort them, to admoniſh them, & to comfort them, and in all things to hauehave ſought their good. Oh, what a wonderfull conſolation and comfort ſhall this bee vntounto vsus, when wee leaue this world, and goe the way of all fleſh, to remember wee hauehave fought the good of others:Dan. 12.3. Luk. 12.43. They that turne many vntounto righteouſnes ſhall ſhine as the ſtarres in the firmament. And bleſſed is that ſeruant, when his Maſter commeth, ſhall finde ſo doing. Wee ſhall then finde more comfort of heart, and ioy of conſcience when wee depart this life, that wee hauehave beene faithfull in that little committed to our truſt, & made others partakers of the ſame, then if we had had great abundance of earthly bleſſings.
Come let vsus returne to the Lord. Here we ſee, that they Doct. 4 doe acknowledge that they had turned themſelues from God by their ſinnes, eſpecially,A man by ſinning, turns from God. by Idolatry and damnable hypocriſie: and here they labour by their godly counſell, to exhort one another to turne again vntounto God by repentance. So then heere we ſee, what it is that turnes a man from God; ſurely, ſinne is that which turnes and auerts a mans ſoule from God, according to that of the Prophet Eſay: Eſay 59.2.Your iniquities hauehave ſeparated betweene you and your God, and your ſinnes hauehave hid his face from you. True it is, that Idolatry is that, which principally turnes a man from God; onelyonly, the difference it this, that Idolatry turnes a man from the whole ſeruice of God: but other ſins, as theft, whoredome, &c. in ſome one commandement. The ſpirite of God ſpeaking of the whole race and generation of mankind, ſayth, That all are gone out of the way: Pſal. 14.3. Rom. 3.10.And againe, in the Prophet Eſay: All wee like ſheepe are gone aſtray. There is no creature more apt to wander, then ſheepe, and being ſtrayed,Eſay 53.6. none more vnapt to turne into the way againe:Eſay. 1.3. Wee (ſayth the Prophet) like ſheepe are gone aſtray, Eſay. 53.8.to ſhew our ſimplicity, and how vnpoſſible a thing it is of our ſelues, as of our ſelues to return home againe:Rom. 3.16. yea, the Prophet addes further, Wee hauehave turned eueryevery one to his owne way: Yea, wee walke the pathes that our owne ſinnefull affections hauehave choſen to our ſelues, and the way of truth wee hauehave no deſire to know. And howſoeuer many can make blinde excuſes for their owne euill life: ſurely, the beginning of all euill is this, to turne away from God. It was the caſe of the Prodigall Sonne, and in him of all ſinners, that when hee had receyued his patrimony,Luk. 15. Hee tooke his iourney into a farre Country: farre away, and yet hee thought not himſelfe farre inough from his Father: but who willed him to depart, was hee put out of his Fathers houſe? Surely, no; but he himſelfe of his own accord would needes bee gone. Euen ſo, doth a ſinner make a voluntary ſeparation betwixt God and his ſoule. God doth neuer forſake till hee bee forſaken. Now a ſinner is ſayde to depart from God in two reſpects: Firſt, by an oppoſite and far different diſpoſition, Gods volo being mans nolo, Gods will being mans nill: by omitting that which hee ſhould commit, and by committing that which hee ſhould omit: As when wee ſee two ſitting and talking together, and the one varieth from the other in opinion, we ſay, the one is farre from the other: and in the ſame reſpect, is a ſinner ſaid to goe farre from God. Secondly, a ſinner is ſaid to goe far from God, in regard of the greatneſſe, or the multitude of his ſinnes that he doth commit, which the more they are, the farther they leade a ſinner: for eueryevery ſinne being a departure from God, a ſinner may rightly bee ſaid to depart leſſer or farther, according to the number & quality of the ſins they commit: Some, being the ſinnes of infirmity, ſome of ignorance, ſome of malice, and ſome of preſumption; but Hee that hath eyes like a flame of fire, Reu. 2.18.doth ſtill behold them; and although Adam doe goe about to hide himſelfe amongſt the thickets of the garden, from the preſence of God: yet was hee ſtill in Gods preſence, neyther could hee eſcape: Many thinke they cannot runne farre inough from God,Pſal. 1 39. of whom the Prophet ſpeaketh: Whither ſhall wee flie from Gods preſence: ſhall wee flie into heauen? It is no part of our thought; ſhall wee flie into the vtmoſt part of the earth? the whole world is vnderunder Gods gouernment: ſhall wee take a voyage by Sea? it may bee, God will ſend vsus farther then we are minded to flie: for little did Ionas thinke, by flying from God, that God would vexe him with all his ſtormes: But if wee will not venture ſo farre, but onelyonly flye into the darkeneſſe, we muſt know, that with God The darkeneſſe and light are both alike. There is no diſtance of place betwixt God and a ſinner: but alas, the cauſe of all is this, we know not the miſchiefe that will follow by our departure from God: how many ſighes and groanes, euen of our deareſt hearts it will coſt vsus, ere wee can get into fauour againe. This did Dauid finde by wofull experience, that hauing left the Lord, and made a departure from his God by walking in the broad pathes of vngodlineſſe,Pſal. 51.1.2. Pſal 6. adultery and murther; did not the Lord bring him backe againe by the weeping Croſſe, that hee lay a long time wala-daying his griefe of heart, ere hee could be perſwaded that God would receiue him again into fauour?Gen. 16. What found Hagar out of Abrahams houſe, but want and ſorrow? What found the Prodigall child,Luk. 15. being departed from his father, but want and pouerty. When Cain went away from God, there was no more account made of him then of a vagabond and odious perſon, Behold, ſaith Cain to God,Gen. 4.14. thou haſt caſt mee out this day from the earth, and from thy face ſhall I bee hid, and ſhall bee a vagabond and a runnagate vponupon the face of the earth, and whoſoeuer findeth me, ſhall ſlay mee. This is the danger & fearefull eſtate of them, which committing ſinne, depart from God. Oh that wee were wiſe, then would wee conſider our latter end.Deut. 32.
Reaſon of the Doctrine.Now let vsus ſee the reaſon of the Doctrine, that ſo it may worke the deeper impreſſion in eueryevery one of our ſoules. We hauehave heard, that ſinne is a departure from God, and that a ſinner hauing left the wayes of life, finds no comfort nor peace, till with the prodigal ſon, they return to God again. The reaſon is, nothing can ſatisfie the ſoule of man, but God himſelf: as a pottle or a gallon cannot be filled with the meaſure of a pinte: ſo are the pleaſures of ſinne, but as a graine of muſterſeed in the belly of an Elephant: The deſires of the ſoule remaine infinite, and muſt hauehave an infinit God to ſatiſfie them; whereas the profites and pleaſures of this world hauehave their bounds: ſo that there is no other remedy for vsus in this life, but to remoue our minds from the deſire of theſe earthly things, and to tranſport the ſame vntounto God, that there they may reſt content, and be ſatiſfied: for the grace of God, and the heauenly gifts of his ſpirit, they are the onelyonly comforts vntounto the ſoule, becauſe his preſence and goodneſſe is moſt agreeable thereto, being created after the likeneſſe of God: as for all other things, they are but death and famiſhment, as ſtones and grauell are to the body.
Hence then, let all men learn to be warned betimes: Vſe. 1 Thou that takeſt liberty to thy ſelf to liue in ſinne, Oh know that thou art now departing from God, In whoſe preſence is the fulneſſe of ioy, and at whoſe right hand there is pleaſure for euermore. And now thou art trauelling with the Prodigall ſonne into a farre Country, wandring from God to ſerue ſinne and Sathan. Well, know (O man) that if thou wilt needes goe, that thou doeſt now runne vponupon manifeſt hazard & danger: for, who can tell whether in this thy diſordered courſe thou ſhalt come to miſchiefe, or to ſome miſerable end, or whether thou ſhalt hauehave that mercy granted thee, to call thy ſelfe to better remembrance. Oh, goe not then after thy concupiſcence, nor follow not the inticement of thy luſt; let reaſon & iudgement take place. Pray with the Prophet, O Lord, Pſal. 17.lighten my darkenes, that I ſleepe not in death. The Iewes hauing their choyce, deſired rather Barrabas to be deliuered vntounto them, then Chriſt the Sauiour of their ſoules. O follow not the example of ſo bad Marchants to make a worſe choyce then they; for, if thou yeeldeſt thy ſelfe to ſinne, and wandreſt from God, refuſing Chriſt Ieſus, the ſaluation of thy owne ſoule, & goeſt a whoring after ſinne and Sathan: hereby, thou ſheweſt thy ſelfe farre worſe then euer the Iewes were in their choyee: And albeit thou goeſt not from God, all on a ſodaine; yet thy departure will ſteale vponupon thee by degrees, as a man goeth far, ſteppe by ſteppe. Firſt, there may creepe vponupon thee a diſlike of goodneſſe of preaching, prayer, &c. Then to the loathing of it, and ſo by little and little to bee drawn away from godlineſſe. And thou, which ſometimes waſt an earneſt profeſſor, ſhalt grow key colde in Religion. And ſo, for the committing of ſome euill, if the Deuill can but ſpie the caſements of thy ſoule to bee open, thy eyes, thy eares, &c. hee will then eaſily wind himſelfe into thy heart: if hee can but preuaile ſo farre with Dauid, as but to caſt his eyes vponupon naked Bethſhaba, the battell then is halfe wonne. Thus did this wilie Serpent deale with our firſt Parents: Firſt, hee preſented vntounto the view of Eue the forbidden fruite: Secondly, ſhee deſired it: Thirdly, ſhee taſted of it: Fourthly, ſhee gaue to her husband, and he did eate. Thus the Deuill by degrees doth ſteale vsus away from God, from one ſinne to a ſecond, from a ſecond to a third, and from a third to a fourth, as by ſo many ſteppes, vntill at laſt, hee hath euen plunged vsus into the gulfe of perdition. Oh that men would conſider this betimes, when they commit ſinne, lying, ſwearing, ſtealing, whoredome, drunkenneſſe, &c. By this ſinne, I turne my ſelfe from God, I run from God, and ſerue the Deuill: The Lord ſtands on the right hand, the Deuill on the left; the Deuill he cals mee by pleaſures, profites and preferments. If I liſten to Sathan, I ſhall turne away from God, Oh, if men had this conſideration in their hearts, what a bridle would it bee vntounto them, to keepe them from many ſinnes.
Vſe. 2 If thou haſt gone from the Lord by committing of ſinne, and ſeeſt now that there can bee no peace, nor comfort vntounto thy ſoule, but a fearefull expectation of iudgement: Follow the counſell of the Prophet Ieremie, O ſearch, and try thy wayes, and turne vntounto the Lord: Lam. 3.39.Endeuour by all meanes poſſible to returne to God again, from whom thou haſt departed; the which thou ſhalt the better performe, if thou hauehave reſpect to that way, the footſteps whereof thou haſt left behind thee, and which are abominable vntounto the Lord, and by which thou wenteſt from God. Follow the aduice of the bleſſed Apoſtle, Caſt off lying, and speake eueryevery man truth vntounto his neighbour. Eph. 4.He that hath ſtolen, let him ſteale no more, but rather labour, and worke with his hands, that hee may giuegive to him that needeth. If thou haſt beene a proud man, by which ſinne thou haſt made a departure from God, become now humble and lowly of mind: For God reſiſteth the proud; but giueth grace vntounto the humble. If thou haſt made a departure from the Lord by drunkenneſſe, returne againe by ſobriety; the vncleane to be chaſte, the couetous to be charitable: yea, if wee hauehave made a departure from God by any ſinne whatſoeuer, let vsus draw neere vntounto him againe by a reformed life, holy manners, & godly conuerſation; that it may bee ſpoken of vsus, as Paul ſpeaketh of the Epheſians,Eph. 2. Yee which were a farre off, are made neere.