Gods Love, Dedication 2
TO THE RIGHT Honorable, his very good Lady and Patroneſſe, the Lady Katharine, Viſcounteſſe Dowager Conwey; Late wife to the Right Honorable, Edward, Lord Viſcount Conwey, Lord Preſident of his Majeſties moſt Honorable Privie-Councell.
MADAME,
IF deepe ingagements may warrant a Dedication, I have enough to patronize this my bold attempt, in craving your Noble Patronage in this little Treatiſe. All that I ſeeke herein, is, to be reputed obſequiouſly thankfull to your Honour, for a great part of my little livelyhood. All that I am able to returne, for ſo many reall courteſies, is this poore Paper-gift. Had I a better preſent, your Ladyſhip ſhould be ſure of itaforeign: ut non malè ohm ille Gr…culus Auguſto.. But blind Nature ſaw, and could ſay, that Bountie conſists not in the worth of the gift, but in the will of the GiverbAriſt. Ethic. lib. 4. ubi au liberalitatem metiendam eſte, foreign.. And the God of Nature hath ſeal'd to this truth in many ſacred inſtances. Noah's ſacrifice could not be great, yet was greatly accepted. The Poore-mans goates-haire takes as well at the doore of the Tabernacle, as the Rich mans purple: The womens Bracelets and Looking-glaſſes, as their husbands Gems and Iewels. Hee that had not an Oxe, might offer a Lambe: If a Lambe be not in the power of his hand, a paire of Turtles ſhall excuſe him. If hee have not that, a handfull or two of Flowre, with a corne or two of Salt, ſhall ſufficecLevit. 5.6, 11, 12, & 14.10, 21, 30, 31.. So low doth the Moſt High ſtoope to our meaneneſſe. The Widdowes two mites went as far, as ſome other mens two millions. And thoſe pooreſt of Christs people that were willing indeed, but never (alas) able to deale almes in all their life, ſhall yet heare at their death, Come yee Bleſſed: for I was an hungry, and yee fed mee. The high heaven may be ſeen thorow a low lattiſe: and ſo may a large heart in a little gift. Howbeit, who can call a thankefull acknowledgement (if heart-ſprung) little, when all the Fee that our Saviour called for, for his cures was, Go, and tell what God hath done for thee? This, though I, and other your Honours Beneficiaries ſhould faile to do, yet God is not unrighteous to forget your worke, and labour of love which you have ſhewed toward his Name, in the ſupport of his publike ſervice; and in that yee have miniſtred to the neceſſities of his Saints, and doe alſo miniſter dHeb. 6 10. Goe on, good Madam, to ſow yet more of theſe good workes, both of Piety and of Charity, into Gods bleſſed boſome: the fruit and comfort whereof, you ſhall be ſure to reape in your greateſt need. For hee that ſoweth bountifully, ſhall reape bountifully, ſaith that great Apostle. Now, God All-ſufficient, make all grace to abound toward you: that you alwaies, having all ſufficiencie in all things, may abound more and more daily to every good workee2 Cor. 9.6, 8.. This, after S. Paul, is the conſtant, and inſtant Prayer of
Your Honours moſt humble Chaplein, and Remembrancer at the Throne of Grace, John Trappe.
THE AFFLICTED MANS LESSONS. Laid before him in a ſecond Diſcourſe VPONUPON
Revel. 3.19.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chaſten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
WHo they are whom God corrects, hath beene ſaid already out of that which firſt offers it ſelfe in the text, As many as I love. Followes now Gods act about this object, and that's double: firſt I rebuke; Secondly, I chasten. To each of theſe ſomething:foreign. conſer, Iobis 16.8. and firſt to the firſt, I rebuke] That's one ſignification of the word: but there's more in it then ſo; I charge and cheek them for their undutifulneſſe, I evict and give evidence againſt them, I refute and refell their falſe reaſonings, I ſet them downe, and overthrow them by plaine demonſtration,We have no one Engliſh word capable of the whole contents of the two words in the Originall. D. Featly. by unanſwerable arguments, that is, by my fatherly chaſtiſements, I doe them to know, I give them to ſee their ſinnes (as in a mirrour) the ground of all their griefes, the ſource of all their ſufferings: I expoſtulate with them ſharply upon this point, and ſecretly upbraid them with their wickedneſſe, as the roote of their wretchedneſſe, the originall of all the evill that befell them from their youth. Doct. 1 Hence obſerve, That however God chaſtiſeth his beſt children, and that in great love, yet he would they ſhould know it is for their ſinnes that they ſuffer, and for their deſerts that they are diſciplined.Noſtro ergò merito inſtiguntur, Pareus This is a truth undeniable: For firſt, God affirmes it, Eſay, 57.17. Ier. 30.15. Hoſea, 13.9. Secondly, his beſt ſervants confirme it, 1 Chron. 21.19. Iſay, 64.5. Dan. 9.7, 8. &c. Lam. 1.5.8. et 3.39. &c. Ezra, 9.13. Luke 23.41.
Thirdly, good reaſon makes for it, whether we looke upon ſinne the procuring, or God the inflicting cauſe of that we ſuffer.
Reaſ. 1 For ſinne, firſt, it muſt needs create us much miſery: whether we conſider it in the cauſe, or in the effects. The procreant cauſe of Mans ſinne, is that Murtherer of Man-kindeaIohn 8.44. 1 Iohn. 5.18., as ſaith the proverb of the ancients; Wickedneſſe proceedeth from the wicked b1 Sam. 24.13.: from that wicked one. It is the ſpawne of that old Serpent, the birth of hell, the vomit of the Devill: duplicate page duplicate page and is therefore fitly ſtiled by St. Iames, earthly, ſenſuall, and deviliſhcIam. 3.15.: yea it is worſe then the Devill, who had not beene a Devill but for ſinne: worſe then Hell; which is onelyonly contrary to the good of the creatures: but ſin is contrary to the good of the Creator; whom it diſhonoureth in an high degree, and ſo provoketh him to diſhonour us agained1 Sam. 2.30, and to make us heavy with manifold evills e1 Pet. 1.6.: for can there any good come out …f ſuch a Nazareth fIohn 1.46.?
Neither are the effects of ſin leſſe demonſtrative of the point. For firſt, it hides God from us, as a cloudegEſay 59.2.: and with him all that's good. For he is the Father of lights, from whom (as naturally and freely as light from the Sun) deſcendeth every good gift, that is, temporall comforts, and every perfect giving hIam. ….19., that is ſpirituall graces. Theſe good things ſinne withholds from us, Ier. 5.25. or (which is much at one, upon the matter) it cauſeth God either to curſe our bleſſings, Ier. 12.13. or to conſume us after he hath done us good, Ioſh. 24.20. And all this, for want of Gods gracious preſence, whereof ſinne bereaves us: for woe be unto you, ſaith he, when I depart from you, Hoſ. 9.12. When God was once gone from Saul, the evill ſpirit came upon him, the Philiſtins came upon him, the Amalekites pillaged his country; all miſchiefes came trooping and ruſhing in upon him at once, and on every hand, as it were by a ſluce, &c. So in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh Chapters of Ezekiel, God maketh diverſe removes, and ſtill as he goes out, ſome judgment comes in. The ſame we may ſee in Sampſon, Ioaſh, Aſa, and others. The Lord is with you, ſaith the Prophet, whiles yee are with him If yee ſeeke him, hee will be found of you: but if yee forſake him, hee will forſake you i2 Chro. 15.2..
Secondly, it betrayes us into the hands of the Devill, as Dalilah did Sampſon into the hands of the Philiſtines. Sinne gives Satan (the father of it) advantage, both to accuſe us, as Iob 1.9, 10. and to lay ſpeciall claime to us, as thoſe that beare his Badge, weare his Livery, doe his workes, Ioh. 8. Now, ever the more worke, the more wages; for, The wages of Sin is death kRom. 6.23. foreign. Nazian., ſaith Saint Paul: that is, all croſſes and curſes, Temporall, Spirituall, and Eternall; even to the very Itch, as Moſes ſets forth, Deut. 28. God may juſtly expoſe us, to his malice, whom we have ſerved in his luſtslIohn 8.44.; for, Know yee not that his ſervants yee are, to whom yee obey mRom. 6.16.? Yea, hee may turne him looſe upon us, to afflict us with many ſorrowes, to breake in upon us, and leape over our hedge, Iob 1.10. when once wee take liberty to break Gods mounds; and like the Hart that hath leap't the Pale, wee are found wandring, and biting upon the devils Commons. Dinah fell into foule hands, when her fathers houſe could not hold her; ſhee loſt at once, her virginity and liberty: neither ſpeed wee better, when extravagant. David by venturing, had his bones broken, Pſal. 51.8.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, if wee turne our eyes from Sinne, the greateſt Evill, to God the chiefeſt Good, wee ſhall ſee Reaſon for the point: when we ſhall ſee him, 1, Holy in his nature; 2, True of his word; 3, Iuſt in his proceeding; 4, Good to his children, whom therefore hee will not ſuffer to fall into Sin, without a ſenſible checke.
Firſt therefore, hee is an holy God; and this is Ioſhua's argument, chap. 24.19, 20. Ye cannot ſerve the Lord (ſaith hee, to thoſe that had a mind to make a mixture of Religions) for hee is an holy God, hee is a jealous God, hee will not forgive your tranſgreſſions, and your ſinnes, &c. Hee is of more pure eyes, ſaith another Prophet, than to behold evillnH…b. 1, 13. with patience, though it be in his owne. He hateth it in any perſon, (his onelyonly Son not excepted, who became a Sinner, firſt, by imputation; for, Hee made our Sinnes to meet upon him; and ſecondly, by reputation; for, Hee made his grave with the wicked oEſa. 53.6, 9., and paſſed for a Malefactour) and worſe than any thing, the Devill himſelfe not excepted: for hee hates the Devill for Sins ſake, not Sin for the Devils ſake. Now, Revenge is the next effect of hatred. And hence, Gods ſword was upon the man his fellow: (I meane, the Man Chriſt Ieſus,foreign, &c. Litan. Graec. whoſe ſufferings vvere unconceivable) and hence alſo, His hand is ſtill upon the little ones, Zach. 13.7. who fill up that which is behind, of the ſufferings of Chriſt*foreign., Coloſſ. 1.24. and are baptized with his baptiſme, Math. 20.22. plunged over head and eares in the waters of Afflictions.
Secondly, as God is holy in his Nature, ſo hee is true of his Word: and that which hee hath ſpoken with his mouth, hee will fulfill with his hand p1 Kin. 8.15, as Salomon hath it. Now, this is that which the Lord hath ſaid, I will be ſanctified in all them that draw neere unto mee qLev. 10.3.. Who theſe are, ſee Pſal. 89.7.Omnes ſancti in circuitu ejus. & Pſal. 148.14. How he will be ſanctified, heare S. Auſtin: Sanctified he will be, ſaith that Father, Aut à nobis, aut in nos, either of us, or on us, one of the two. For this is one of Gods penall Statutes, and it is ſure hee'l be no loſer by us. But loſe hee ſhould (and in his glory too, that deareſt Iewell) ſhould hee winke at ſuch things in his owne, as hee takes notice of, and diſlikes in others. Hence his fatherly ſeverity. For, hath hee ſpoken the word, and ſhall hee not doe it? As hee cannot dye, ſo he cannot lye, Hee cannot deny himſelfe r… Tim. 2.13. Let God be true, and every man a lyarſRom. 3.4.. For ever, O Lord, thy Word is ſtabliſht in heaven tPſa. 119.89..
Thirdly, hee is juſt in his dealings; for, ſhall not the Iudge of all the world doe rightuGene. 18.25.? Now, It is a righteous thing with God, to render tribulation and anguiſh upon every ſoule that doth evill: upon the Iew first, (becauſe of his priviledges, according to that of the Prophet, You onelyonly have I knowne, of all the families of the earth: therefore I will puniſh you for all your iniquities xAmos 3.2.) and alſo upon the Grecian yRom. 2.9.. For the evill there ſpoken of, is contrary, firſt to Gods Image, ſith hee is light, and in him is no darkneſſezRom. 7.12.: ſecondly, to his Law, which is holy, and juſt, and goodzRom. 7.12.: ſo equall, and grounded upon ſo much reaſons, that if God had not given it, yet it had beene beſt for us to have obſerved it. Now, no Law-giver can ſuſtaine, to ſee his owne law broken before his eyes, and not proceed againſt the delinquent (as is to be ſeene in the examples of Saul a1 Sam. 14.44., Nebuchadnezzar bDan. 3.13., Zaleucus Locrenſis, &c.) much leſſe the Lord; who, as hee gave the Law in firecDeut. 33.2., ſo in fire hee will require it. And although the Law admit of an exception in the Goſpell to thoſe that are penitent, who are not under the Law, but under grace dRom. 6.14.; yet in regard of temporall ſcourges, the repentance even of a Moſes eDeut. 3.26., or a David f2 Sam 12.10. & 24.15, may come too late.
Laſtly, God is good to his Children: hence hee laſheth them in their lapſes now, that hee may free them from a further miſchiefe, that Wrath to come g1 Theſ 1.10. Hee delighted in the creature at firſt, Gen 1. and doth ſtill delight in that habitable part of his earth, the Sons of men hProv. 8.31.. How much more in the New-creature, that maſterpiece of his work manſhipiEphe. 2.10. foreign.? for, Hee plants the Heavens, and layes the foundation of the Earth, that he may ſay to Zion, Thou art my people kEſai. 51.16.. Hence it is, that although he can correct us, nay confound us, as an abſolute Lord: yet hee doth neither the one nor th'other, without juſt ground of reaſon in our ſelves. And albeit,Vel ad demonſtrationē debitae miſeriae, vel ad emendationem labilis vitae, vel ad exercitationem neceſſariae patienciae. Aug. tract. in Ioan. 124. hee chaſtiſe thoſe whom he loves, ſometimes for his owne glory, Ioh. 9.3. ſometimes for their good, for Prevention, Probation, Purgation, &c. yet, ſtill Sin is the originall. For this cauſe, many are weake (by chronicall and lingering diſeaſes) many ſicke (by ſharpe and violent maladies) and many ſleepe, are dead out-right: but all in love, Whiles wee are chaſtened of the Lord, that wee may not be condemned with the World l1 Cor. 11.32.
Vſe 1 Now for Application: See hence, firſt, whither to refer, & what to thanke for all your croſſes. Sin is the great Make-bate, Hell-hag, Cut-throat, Trouble-towne, that (Pandora like) brought at firſt a curſe upon the Creatures, and hath made them ever ſince unuſefull and unſerviceable; nay, pernicious and deſtructory (many of them) to Man their firſt maſter. The very viſible heaven and earth is defiled with our Sins, and muſt therefore partly be diſſolved, and partly purged by the fire of the laſt day; as the Veſſels of the Sanctuary were, that held the Sin-offering. Hence our ſo many diſeaſes, diſtreſſes, miſeries, maladies, Troubles without, terrours within; they iſſue onelyonly from our defilements. It is this thiefe in the candle that waſtes us, this Fly in the box that corrupts us, this traitour in the heart that betrayes and expoſeth us to armies, and changes of trials, and afflictions. In which regard, it was a ſound and ſavory reply of an Engliſh Captaine, at the loſſe of Callice: When a proud French-man tauntingly demanded, When will yee fetch Callice againe? Preſſely, and ponderouſly he was anſwered, Quando peccata veſtra erunt noſtris graviora; When your Sinnes ſhall vveigh downe ours.
Vſe 2 Secondly, in all evill of puniſhment, take occaſion to ſet upon the evill of Sin (as the cauſe) and revenge upon that, complaine of it to God and men; murmur and grudge at nothing elſe. When God ſtrikes us for Sin, ſaith one, Satan deales with us as the Iewes did with Chriſt, blind-fold him, and then bad propheſie vvho ſmote him: ſo in afflictions, wee commonly grope as blind men; gueſſing at this cauſe, and that, but ſeldome faſten on the right. Here then the method is, firſt, to find out the Traytour; ſecondly, to bring him to condigne puniſhment; thirdly, to baniſh him the borders of our hearts, and to have no more to doe with him, that hath done us ſo much ſeath, and cauſed us ſo much heartbreaking. Firſt, learne whenſoever ye ſmart, to gather your wits mZeph. 2.1., to ſummon your ſenſes, to ſift, canvaſſe, and unbowell, as it were, your owne hearts, to turne ſhort againe upon your ſelves, and make privie ſearch for the Sin God ſmites at; to find out the plague of thine owne Soule n1 Kin. 8.38., the ground of that other ſtroke, what ever it be thou groneſt under. Doth man ſuffer for his Sin? let him thanke himſelfe, ſaith the Prophet. But, for helpe; let him ſearch and try his waies, and turne againe to the Lord oLam. 3.39, 40.. Let no man ſay with the Philiſtines, It is a chance p1 Sam. 6.9., a thing that comes by courſe, had a time to grow in, and muſt have a time to goe in, &c. This is, to be worſe than ox and aſſe, who as they know their maſters crib, ſo the wild colt knowes when the damme ſtriketh it.
'Tis ſure; as there's no winde, but may blow raine if God will: ſo there is ever ſomething in the winde, when it blowes in a croſſe-point to our comfort. Sinfull men ſtrike not their dogs, much leſſe their children, without a cauſe. The iuſt God never ſmites, but he hath ſome iuſt reaſon: his iudgments are ſometimes ſecret, ſaith a Father,Aug. alwayes iuſt. Wherefore lieſt thou on thy face? ſaid God to Ioſhua, Iſrael hath ſinned: Vp, ſearch diligently, &cqIoſh. 7.10, 11.. What evill haſt thou done (ſaid the Marriners to the diſtreſſed Prophet) that this evill is come upon us rIon. 1.8.? Let every ſuch Ionas reflect upon himſelfe and ſay, what evill have I done ſIer. 8.6.? What ſinne have I committed, or admitted? what good have I omitted or intermitted? No rod but hath a voice in it, Heare ye the rod, and who hath appointed ittMich. 6.9.. Something, ſurely there is a…iſſe, that God would have amended. Search therefore, and follow your worke cloſe. And that ye may worke by rule. Firſt, ſet thy ſelfe in Gods preſence, and there lay a charge upon thy conſcience, to deale truly with thee in the diſcovery of the traitor, to ſhew thee where his haunt is; for I tell thee, he will deale ſubtily u1 … 23.…2., as Saul told the Ziphites concerning David his ſuppoſed enemy. Our conſciences (ſaith one) are like looking-glaſſes; which being ore-ſpred with duſt, ſhew nothing: but if cleane wip'd, repreſent things clearely. And as lines that are written with the juyce of limmons, when they are held to the fire, are made legible, but not otherwiſe: ſo conſcience ſet before thoſe everlaſting burnings (ſo God is called, Eſay, 33.14.) will bring us out our ſinnes: we ſhall be able to ſay of it as ſhe ſaid of our Saviour, Come ſee a man that told me all that ever I did xIohn 4.29.. It will beſpeake us in the language of that Prophet. Haſt thou not procured this unto thy ſelfe, in that thou hast forſaken the Lord thy God, when he led thee by the way yIere. 2 17.? Secondly, ſingle out and ſet a jealous eye upon thy beloved ſin, that boſom-devill what ever it be: and ſuſpect that, above other, for the ſinne God ſtrikes at. For as in every man there is ſome one element, humour, paſſion predominant: ſo likewiſe ſome ſpeciall ſinne that playes Rex in his ſoule; turnes him about as the rudder doth the ſhip: hath him at a becke, as the Centurion had his ſervants: is to him as a right hand for profit, or a right eye for pleaſure. This the Devill ſtudiouſly hides from us, as being his chiefe hold, his caſtle, his throne; out of which if he be ejected, he looſeth his kingdome, he falls as lightning from the heaven of mens heartszLuk. 10.18.. As therefore he ſet Adam to a contrary tree, that he might not eate of the tree of life; ſo he would turne our thoughts from this to ſome other ſinne: make us miſtake as the Syrians did the King of Iudah for the King of Iſrael, that he may ſit as ſole King in our hearts, to our utter overthrow. You may eaſily know it. 'Tis that (among other notes) which thou art lotheſt, and wouldſt leaſt be a knowne of: or if it be laid open before thee by God in his word, or thine, owne ſelfe-accuſing conſcience (that domeſticall chaplaine) thou art ready to colour and cloke it, to pleade and contend for it, to ſay of it as Lot of Zoar, Is it not a little one? or as David of Abſalom, handle it gently for my ſakea2 Sam. 18.5., or as Iacob of Benjamin, If he dye, I cannot live. In this the Lord be mercifull unto me &cb2 Kin. 5 18 Micah. 6.7.. Oh that he would accept of rivers of oyle for a diſpenſation. Or if he will not, thou departeſt ſorry (with the rich young Phariſee) that Chriſt ſhould call for that ſin, which thou art not willing to part with. The true Mother (ſuch was her love) could not yeeld to ſee the child divided: no more can many endure to be ſundred from their beloved ſinne. This, their iealous God cannot away with in his owne; and therefore followes them with one affliction upon another, till he have ſtrucke a parting blow betweene them and their paramour, that peccatum in deliciis, their darling corruption. Men are ſure to be met with moſt and ſooneſt in that which they make a corrivall with God.
Thirdly, take ſpeciall notice of what kinde thy croſſe is, and where it moſt of all pincheth. It is Gods uſuall order to puniſh ſinne in kinde. Thus Adams deſire of the God-head was puniſht with mortality and miſery: Davids two ſins of adultery and murther were puniſhed with Abſaloms and Amnons inceſt, and untimely ends. Yea for one life treacherouſly taken away, he loſt foure, Amnon his eldeſt ſonne, Abſalom his next, Adoniah his darling, and the child borne in adultery: according to his owne ſentence unwittingly paſſed upon himſelfe, he ſhall reſtore the lamb fourefold c2 Sam. 12 6.becauſe he did this thing, and had no pitty. Iacob fain'd himſelfe the elder brother for the younger, and is therefore couzened by Laban, in the elder ſiſter for the younger. Thus God comes home to us in our croſſes, payes us often in our owne coyne, over-ſhoots us in our owne bow:Per quod quis peccat, per 1. dem punitur & ipſe. yea many times takes notice of the offending member to puniſh it. Thus thoſe blaſphemers in the Revelation gnawed their tongues for anguiſh dReve. 16.10. Dives …lſo was tortured moſt in his tongue, which he had moſt abuſed*Quia plus lingua peccave…at. C…pr.. Abimelechs head had ſtollen the crowne: and therefore in his head is he ſmitten. Sampſons eyes were the firſt offendours, which betrai'd him to luſt, therefore his eyes are firſt pul'd out, and he is led a blinde captive to Gaza, where he firſt gaz'd on his curtiſan Dalilah. Thus many times the child is ſo like the father, that ye may ſafely ſay, ſuch a ſinne was the father of ſuch a croſſe.
Fourthly, pray God to point thee to that ſinne he ſtrikes at: cry out with Iob, How many are mine iniquities and ſinnes? make me to know my tranſgreſſion and my ſin eIob 13 23.. And againe, I will ſay unto God, doe not condemne me: ſhew me wherefore thou contendeſt with me fIob 10.2.: This is Elihus advice: ſurely it is meete to be ſaid unto God, I have borne chaſtiſement, I will not offend any more. That which I ſee not, teach thou mee: if I have done iniquity, I will doe no more gIob 34.31, 32.. Let God but heare ſuch words fall from us, and he cannot but inſtruct aſwell as correct us, Pſal. 94.12. He that will have ſinfull men ioyne inſtruction with correction, will himſelfe much more, if we ſeeke it at his hands.
Secondly, having by diligent ſearch found out the traytor that God ſtrikes at, lay hold upon it preſently, take it by the throate, drag it by the haire to the place of execution; there, ſtrip it by confeſſion, whip it by humiliation, rip out the heart of it by the practiſe of mortification. Afflict thy ſelfe with voluntary ſorrowes, not ſo much for thy paine as thy ſinne, thy croſſes and loſſes as thy vices and luſts. This is that ſorrow to God-ward the Apoſtle ſpeakes of,foreign. that either removes the affliction or ſweetens it, and is found in none but thoſe that have ſorrowed to repentanceh2 Cor. 7.9.. It is for a Pharaoh to cry out of the plague as a man upon the racke, for an hypocrite to howle upon his bod iHoſ. 7.14., as a dog tyed up in his kennell, when he luſts but hath not: when he kills and deſires to have, but cannot obtaine kIam. 4.2.: for a reprobate to bellow, like a baited bull at the head of every ſtreete lIere. 50.11.. It's ſin that moſt afflicts a Chriſtian, when he pants under the ſtroke of his fathers diſpleaſure. David cries not Perij, but peccavi, not I am undone, but I have done fooliſhly; Daniel complaines not, we are reproacht and oppreſſed, but we have rebell'd and offendedmDan. 9.5.. It was not the malice of his perſecutours, but the law of his members that put St. Paul. to that piteous out-cry. O wretched man that I am nRom. 7.24.&c. Nothing greives a good child ſo much as that he hath grieved his father: this paines him more than the ſharpeſt whipping: ſo here. It is ſinne that puts a ſting into every croſſe. And as hell would be no h…ll but for the worme of conſcience there, that never di…s; this is worſe to …han then the fire that never goes out: ſo troubles to Gods Saints would be no troubles; we could not be properly ſaid to be miſerable in them, were it not for ſinne that ſets them on. You ſee then where to ſpend your greateſt ſorrowes, and what to fall out with, when things fall out otherwiſe then you deſire. Haſt thou a right hand that offends thee? off with it. Is it a right eye that troubles thee? out with it. Say it be as deare to thee as Iſmael was to Abraham, as Eſau to Iſaac, as Benjamin to Iacob; ſend it away, diſcharge thy houſe, thy heart of it out of hand. Is it not better doe ſo then dye? Surely except we had lingered we had returned twice by this, well victualled oGen. 43.10., as he ſaid. Whereas if this be done to purpoſe, looke how old Iacob met with ſuch joyes as he lookt not for, ſaw ſuch ſights, heard ſuch newes, was ſent for in ſuch wagons as that his heart firſt fainted (for he beleeved it not) and then revivedpGen. 45.26, 27., when he found it to be true: ſo ſhall it be with us, if, for Gods ſake, we mortifie our old ſins, the cauſe of his high diſpleaſure againſt us. We ſhall have our delight in the Almighty, and lift up our faces unto God qIob 22.26.: we ſhall heare and ſee ſuch things, (even in this life) as carnall eye never ſaw, carnall care never heard, &cr1 Cor. 2.9.. And although God ſhould ſend for us into his Goſhen which is above, by a charret of fire, (ſome ſharper triall) yet his very fire ſhall preſerve us. It is well obſerved, that both thoſe charrets that came to fetch Eliah, and thoſe that came to defend Eliſha were fiery. God is no leſſe lovely to his owne in the middeſt of his judgments,L. Biſh. of …ixet. then he is terrible to his enemies in the demonſtration of his mercies.
Thirdly, beware of medling any more with Sin, conſidering the after-claps, and ill-conſequents. Could wee but fore-thinke vvhat Sinne would coſt us, wee durſt not but be innocent: for, Knoweſt thou not, ſaid hee, that it will be bitterneſſe in the end ſ2 Sam. 2.26.? A man cannot bathe himſelfe in the ſweet pleaſures of Sin, but hee ſhall bee ſowe'd as deepe in the ſalt-brine of ſorrow. Rebecca may make a Kid taſte like veniſon, but Death is in Sins pot. It may pretend and promiſe faire at firſt, with Laban, but at parting it vvill ſhew it ſelfe. Fawne upon us it may (as a dirty dog upon his maſter) but it doth but defile us with fawning; yea, ſuch deepe ſpots it ſets upon the ſoule, as nothing will fetch out, but the blood of Chriſt, or fire of hell. Sin is a ſerpent in our boſomes, that cannot live but by ſucking out our life-blood. Well it may, Serpent-like, glide ſmoothly over the body, but at laſt it will bite like an Adder, and ſting like a Cockatrice tProv. 23.…2.. Honey it may be in the mouth, but gravell in the mawuProv. 20.17.: like Ionathans honey, of which he had no ſooner taſted, but his head was forfeited. Plinie tels of a certaine country, where their honey is poyſonous, becauſe it is ſuck'd out of venemous hearbs. Loe, ſuch is the pleaſure that is pluckt out of Sins botches. What ſhould I ſay more? there is a deceitfulneſſe in Sin xHebr. 3.13., ſaith the Apoſtle, truſt it not: A lye in all theſe vanities yI…. 2 8., ſaith the Prophet, beleeve it not. It will promiſe golden mountaines, this and that contentment, but it payes pro theſauro, carbones, inſtead of Mines, Coale-pits. Sin promiſed Adam he ſhould much mend himſelfe, Achan hee ſhould much make himſelfe, David hee ſhould much ſatisfie himſelfe. But, did ever any oppoſe God, and proſper zIob. 9.4.? ſaith Iob: are there not large rolles of Enditement written on both ſides before him, full of ſinnes and woes? Adam had no ſooner bit, but hee was baniſhed. Achan had no ſooner toucht the conſecrated Gold, but hee was a Son of death. David had no ſooner imbrac't the boſome of a Stranger, but hee felt himſelfe in a deepe ditch aPro. 23.27.; ſuch, as hee that pleaſeth God, ſhall be bleſt from bEccleſ. 7.16.. Be wiſe now therefore, O yee Chriſtians: be inſtructed ye Godly of the earth; ſerve the Lord with feare, and rejoyce vvith tremblingcPſal. 2.10, 11. Tremble, I ſay, and ſinne not: dPſal. 4 14.Commune with your own hearts of theſe things, and be ſtill, or pawſe, and make a ſtop; ſith there is no ſafety in running forward. Kiſſe the Son, who hath …ver'd you indeed from the w… to come; but yet, ſo as he can be angry if yet …riſh from th… way; that is, wander out of it. And, if his wrath be kindled, yea but a little ePſal. 2 11., hee will ſo fall upon you, as that yee will accou…t it greateſt madneſſe, to buy the ſweeteſt Sin at ſo deare a rate. The Judge, you know, beſides the blocke, or gallowes, hath lighter puniſhments for leſſer Offendours: as the Stockes, Little-caſe, Whipping-poſt, Pillorie, Jayle, &c. And ſo hath God, for ſuch as hee meanes not to damne eternally, hee can load them vvith judgements, not temporall onelyonly, in their Bodies, names, eſtates, friends, labours; but ſpirituall alſo. Such as are; hiding his face from them in deepe diſpleaſure; hardening their hearts from his feare fEſa. 63.17.; impenitent continuance in an evill courſe; puniſhing one Sinne with another, as in David, Salomon, Sampſon, Peter, &c. excommunicating them from the power of his ordinances; delivering them up to Spirituall wickedneſſes, to be laſht and buffetted, till they returne to themſelves with the Prodigall, and recover their loſt wits againe. For, Sin works ſuch a diſtemper in the ſoule, that the Scripture calles it, Wickedneſſe of folly, even fooliſhneſſe of madneſſe gEccleſ. 7.25. Now, what ſhould God doe with his ſervants when they run mad, but turne them into Bedlam? And, oh the bloody wailes that his rod hath left upon the backes of his beſt children, when they have return'd againe to follyhPſal. 85.8., till they bethinke themſelves, and repent, and make ſupplication, and ſay, Wee have ſinned, and have done perverſly, and hauehave committed wickedneſſe, 1 King. 8.47. All which conſidered; what ſhould wee d…, rather than ſhake off any ſollicitation to Sin, as Saint Paul and the vip…riA ts 28.5.; ſilence it, as our Saviour did the devill in the GoſpellkMat. 1.25. foreign.; ſay nay to it, as the vine and olive did to the reſt of the tree in Iothams parablelIu…. 9.9.; ſtoutly repell, and ſternely reply upon it, as our Saviour to the Phariſees, Why tempt yee mee, yee hypocrites mMat. …2.18.? as Naboth to Ahab, God forbid that I ſhould part with my patrimony; as Salomon to his mother, interceding for Adonia, Aske for him the Kingdome alſo n1 …. 2.2….; or as the Witch of Endor to Saul, Why ſeekeſt thou to take mee in a ſnare, to cauſe mee to dye o1 Sam. …8.9? To multiply Sinne, is to multiply ſorrow pPſa. 16.4.: and to treaſure up Sinne, is to treaſure up wrathqRom. 2.5.. Is not deſtruction to the wicked, ſaith Iob., and a ſtrange puniſhment to the workers of iniquitie rIob 31 1, 2, 3? And this was that, whereby hee frighted his conſcience from further meddling. So did David, Pſal. 119, 120. So did Paul, 2 Cor. 5.10. And for this it was, that the Lord (knowing the canker of our natures, that we are fleſh alſo, as well as ſpirit; that the fleſh is a ſlave, and muſt be terrified) hath purpoſely propoſed to us thrice ſo many curſes as bleſſings, Deut. 28. that looking up, as David, and ſeeing the puniſhing Angell ſtand over our neckes, we may feare and forbeare, and Sin no more, leſt a worſe thing come unto us ſIoh. 5.14.. Take heed therefore (that I may reſume, and ſhut up this Exhortation) take heed, I ſay, of Sin, if but for the evill conſequents. Caſt away all your tranſgreſsions (as Moſes did his ſtaffe, when once it became a ſerpent) For, why will yee dye, O houſe of Iſrael tEzek. 18 31? fortifie your purpoſes againſt it, and ſtand unchangeably reſolved againſt Sinne, againſt every ſinne, though never ſo deare or delicious. Hee that favoureth any, though hee forgoe many, doth but as Benhadad, recover of one diſeaſe, and dye of anotheru2 King. ….10: yea, without timely repentance, he doth but take paines to goe to hell. Sin ever ends tragically:Cavete… Me…ampygo. Prin. avoid it therfore, if but for the blacke taile of plagues and croſſes it drawes after it.
Vſe 3 Laſtly, is it for Sin that wee ſuffer? how ſhould this patient our hearts, compoſe and allay our fretting ſpirits under any affliction: yea, how ſhould this make us active and cheerfull in bearing Gods indignation, becauſe wee have ſinned againſt him yMic. 7.9.. It is the wickedneſſe of a man, ſaith Salomon, that perverts his way, and his heart frets againſt the Lord zProv. 19.3.. Some ſecretly repine at Gods hand, like thoſe horſes, that diſgeſt their choller by biting on the bridle. Others more boiſterous, ſet their mouthes againſt heaven aPſal. 73.9.; and like beaſts of prey, having beene long accuſtomed to the darkneſſe of corrupted Nature, they are more fierce and furious, and have brutiſh and fell affections, full of rage and wrathfulneſſe. When they are provoked by any ſmart or paine, they flye upon God; and all that comes next to hand, as that raging Turke did at the battell of Belgrade. Punccius. Chryſoſt. in Math. Hom. 19.This is to howle againſt heaven with the Wolfe, when the ſheepe is dumbe before the ſhearer bEſay 53 7.. This is to flye in the face of the fanner as chaſſe, when the heavier wheat falls low at his feet. And yet there is a ſpice of this diſeaſe abiding ſtill in the beſt: they are not ſo wholly freed from their ſpirituall frenzie, but at ſome times they are ready to play the mad men. Not to ſpeake of David, and Ieremie, 'twas Iobs weakneſſe, cha. 23.3, 4. Hee challengeth God into the ſchooles, as it were, and thought to have had the better of him. But he was ſharply reproved for his peeviſhneſſe, chap. 40.2. and cryed Peccavi, chap. 42.1, 2. and ſo muſt wee. God will have us confeſſe againſt our ſelves, our Sins cPſal. 32.5., with David, and ſay, I know that thy judgements are right, and thou haſt afflicted me juſtly dPſa. 119.75. Let no man ſay, when hee ſuffers ought, what an hard caſe is this? how can it ſtand with divine juſtice? but let God be juſtified, and every mouth ſtopped: for it is not poſſible that he ſhould wrong us,Quāvis aſpera & adverſa patiamur, minora tamen patimur quam merimur. Salvian. were it worſe with us than 'tis. Say then, It is of the Lords merciemercy that wee are not conſumed eLam. 3.22.; that wee are any thing out of hell; that our affliction, what ever it be, is not an execution, but a correction onelyonly; and that not in extremity, but with a mercifull mitigation. Why is living man ſorrowfull? ſaith the Church. 'Tis Gods merciemercy that hee is alive amidſt all his ſorrowes, eſpecially ſince Man ſuffereth for his Sin fLam. 3.39., the juſt hire whereof, is death eternallgRom. 6. ult.. This David ſaw, and was thankfull; Thou haſt chaſtened mee ſore, ſaith hee, but hast not delivered mee to death hPſa. 118.17 18.. I ſhall not dye but live, and declare the workes of the Lord hPſa. 118.17 18.. Hee that hath deſerved hanging, may be glad if hee ſcape with a whipping. Chriſt hath already ſuffered the worſt of it for us, the juſt for the unjuſt. The good theefe could ſay, Wee are here for our deſerts iLuk. 23 41., but hee is innocent: and yet hee ſuffered willingly, for hee could lay downe his life, and take it up againe at pleaſure. Now Chriſt on his croſſe, is a Doctour in his chaire, where hee reades unto us all a lecture of Patience. How ſhould wee take up Davids words, and ſay. Loe I have ſinned, and I have done wickedly; but that immaculate lambe of God, what had hee done? Let thy hand, I pray thee, be againſt mee k2 Sam. 24.17., &c. And what though it ſhould be againſt us as long as wee live, yet what's that to the wrath to come l1 Theſ. 1.10., from which hee hath delivered us? Howbeit, there is none of Gods afflicted that hath not his lucida intervalla, his intermiſſions, reſpites, breathing whiles. Yea, ſo ſmall a while doth the hand of the Lord reſt upon us, that L…ther cannot get deminutives enow, to extenuate it: for he cals it a very little little croſſe that we beare. So the Scripture in both teſtaments. The Prophet calls it a moment, and a little moment; and ſaith, the indignation doth not tranſire, but pertranſire; paſſe, but over paſſe mEſay 26. foreign.. The ſharpe of it is but ſhort and ſudden,Nubecula eſt, cito tranſibit. Mourning laſteth but till morning. Pſal. 30 5. and is therefore ſet forth in the new Teſtament oft, by the travell of a womannIoh. 16.21.: as ſhee ſoone forgets her ſorrow, ſo ſhall wee remember our troubles, as waters that are paſt oIob 11.16.. Yet a very little while, ſaith the Apoſtle, even as little as may be, and hee that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry pHeb. 10.37.: hee will come leaping, as a Hind, over the mountaines of Bether, (all lets and impediments) to our releaſe and deliverance. Our ſong,foreign, tamillum tantillū, adhuc puſillū, after a while, ſhall be louder than our cries, as it was with Iſrael at the Red-ſea. Wait therefore patiently, and ſee the ſalvation of the Lord qExod. 14.13. The red ſea of affliction,22. that might juſtly ſwallow us, ſhall onelyonly preſerve us; a wall it ſhall be on the right hand, and a wall on the left, till we have paſſed thorough the midſt of it dry-ſhod, into the promiſed inheritance. Surely, in the floods of great vvaters they ſhall not come nigh us, Pſal. 32.6. or if they doe, yet we ſhall bee onelyonly waſh't, not drown'd, as Paul was in the ſhipwracke. Troubled we are, ſaith hee, on every ſide, but not diſtreſſed: perplex't, but not in deſpaire: perſecuted, but not deſerted: dejected, but not deſtroyed r… Co…. 4 ….9.. Conſidering therefore, at worſt, how well wee are dealt with; and that God hath puniſhed us leſſe than our iniquities deſerve, Ezra 9.13. fret not with Ioaſh ſ2 Kin 6.33., but ſubmit with Hezekiah tEſay 39 8.. When Gods hand is on thy backe, let thy hand be on thy mouth; yea, put thy mouth in the duſt, and ſay with Iacob, I am leſſe than the leaſt of thy merciesuGene. 32.10., but worthy the worſt of thy puniſhments. Righteous art thou, O Lord, and just are thy jugdements, as that good Emperour (after David) cryed out,Mauricius. vvhen the traytour tooke away his life, after his wife and children had bin butcher'd before him.