Gods Arrows, Sermon 1
Gods Arrow.
The first Sermon.
DEVT. Chap. 28.
Verse 58. If thou wilt not keepe and doe all the wordes of this Law, that are written in this Booke; and feare this glorious and fearefull name; The Lord thy God,
Verse 59. Then the Lord will make thy plagues woonderfull; and the plagues of thy seede, euen great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore diseases, and of long durance.
IN this booke of Deuteronomy is set forth the wonderfull louelove of GOD towardes his church, with whome the Lorde from time to time dealt most mercifully, euen for his owne names sake, notwithstanding their manifold rebellious, and vnthankfulnes towards him: and therefore hee did not onelyonly bring them into the land of Canaan, destroyed their enemies, gaue them their countrey, cities, and goods to possesse, but also ordeined lawes for them, both concerning his diuine worship and seruice, and also for the mutuall dueties one towards another, threatning withall most horrible plagues and curses against them that breake his commaundements and Lawes, and promising blessings and goodnesse to them that obserue and obey them.
In these 2. Verses is set downe a commination, or threatning of the Iudgements and curses of God.
Where obserue,
First, against whom these Iudgements are threatned. viz.
1. The Disobedient, namely them Disobedtent.that doe not keepe and doe all the words of this Law.
2 Such as want the feare of Gods Name.
Secondly, what maner of seruice the Lord requireth for auoydance of his iudgements. viz.
1 Not onelyonly to heare, but also to …epe and doe.
2 Not to obserue and doe some …rt, but all the words of the Law.
Thirdly, the cause of these Iudgements threatned, and that is,
The not keeping of Gods comman…ments, which is sinne.
Fourthly, the iudgments threatned.
1 Plagues.
2 Diseases.
Which are aggrauated by their ad…cts.
1 Wonderfull.
2 Great.
3 Soare.
4 Of long continuance, euen to …ir posterity.
Fiftly, the authour of these plagues, … Lord.
First, against whom are these Iudg…nts threatned? Against the diso…ient, and such as will not keepe and … all the words of this Law. It is … manner of the Lords dealing with … people to allure them to serue him, … offering his mercies and blessings …porall and eternall to them that obey his commaundements: And al… to threaten iudgements, woes, curse… and plagues against them that are di… bedient: so Deut. 11. 26, 27. Behold, I… before you this day a blessing and a curse. … The blessing, if ye obey the commandeme… Deut. 30. 15, 16, 17, 18.of the Lord your God, which I command y… this day. 28 And the curse, if ye will… obey the commaundements of the Lord yo… God, but turne out of the way which I co… maund you this day, &c. Reuel. 22. Bles… are they that doe his commaundements, t… their right may be in the tree of Life,… may enter in through the gates into the (i… 15 For without shall be dogges and ench… ters, and whooremongers, and murther… and Idolaters, and whosoeuer loueth or n… keth lies. At the day of iudgement, shalbe saide to the obedient which ha… serued God in this life, and made c… science to kéepe and doe all the wordes this Lawe, Mat. 25. 34. Come ye ble… of my Father, inherite the kingdome pre… red for you, from the foundations of the wo… &c. But to the disobedient, Christ Iudge shall say, Depart from me ye c… sed into euerlasting fire, which is prepa… for the Diuell, and his Angelles, verse… …s the Lord then offereth mercies and …essings temporall and eternall to them …at are obedient to his Lawes, so hée …reatneth and powreth downe venge…ce vponupon the disobedient. Reward and …euenge (saieth one) are as Gods twoo …te, which he setts on mans heart, to …ake him better: they are as twoo poy…s of a clocke, to make it strike; and …oe to that man, who neyther the pro…ises, nor threatnings, mercies, nor …dgements of God can amend, nor …ake better. In the beginning of this …apter the Lorde promiseth great and …mirable blessings to the obedient, and … the other side, hée threatneth woes, …rses, and plagues, to the disobedient. …e promiseth the obedient, that kéepe …d doe all the wordes of his lawe, that …ey shall be blessed in the cittie, and blessed …o in the field, blessed shall be the fruite of …eir bodies, the fruite of their ground, of …eir cattell, &c: Blessed when they goe in, …d blessed when they come out, Deu. 28. 3, 4 … 6, 7. Temporall blessings in this life, …d eternall in the life to come; yea, no …ortall mans tongue can expresse how …eat the blessings of God are to the oobedient: And contrarywise hee pr… nounceth curses, plagues, and iudg… ments to them that doe not keepe a… doe all the words of his Lawe, all th… curses of God shall ouertake them, con… vponupon them, and cleaue to them. Curse they shalbe in the towne, and in the field Dou. 28. 15, 16. 17. 18. 21.cursed shall be their basket, and their stor… cursed shall be the fruit of their bodies, a… the fruit of their land, &c. Cursed wh… they come in, & cursed when they go out, & And Verse 21. The Lord will make t… pestilence cleaue to them, vntill he hauehave co… sumed them, &c. Seeing then that G… promiseth such and so great blessings them that keepe and do his command… ments, and threatneth such heauy curs… to the disobedient; Let eueryevery one ta… speciall care to frame his life accordi… to the Lawes and commaundements God. Woe to thee whosoeuer tho… art, which makest but a mocke of t… commandements of God: It were bett… for thee, if thou hadest neuer beene borne,… Christ sayd of Iudas. Mat. 26. or better th… Mot. 16. 24.God had made thee a venemous toad, then be accursed of God, cursed in this life wi… temporall plagues, with strang sickn… ses and fearefull diseases, thy children which should be blessings and comforts vntounto thee▪ shall be curses vntounto thee, The curse of God shall be as a garment to couer Psal. 109. 18. 19.thee, and as a girdle to put about thee, when thou girdest thy clothes to thée, thou girdest Gods curse to thee, the curse of God shall enter as water into thy bowels, and as oyle into thy bones, thou shalt eate and drinke Gods curse with eueryevery morsell of bread that thou eatest, and with eueryevery suppe of drinke that thou drinkest; a secret curse of God shall cleaue to thee in eueryevery thing, and after this life ended, the curse of God shall remayne with thee, and it shall bee confirmed vntounto thee from Christ his owne mouth, at the resurrection, with a Goe yee cursed into euelasting fire. Psal. 50. 22.&c. Oh consider this then you that forget God, least the Lorde teare you in pieces, and there bee none to deliuer you. Psalme 50. 22.
Now as the iudgements and curses of God are threatned, and shall fall vppon the disobedient, namely, such as wil not keepe and do all the words of Gods Lawe: So also vppon them shall the same plagues fall, which doe not feare the glorious and fearefull name of the Lord God, as I told you in the second place, and now in order commeth to be handled.
The name of God is diuersly taken Exod. …4. 5, 6. Rom. 1. 19. Psal 20. 1. 1. Sam. 17. 45, 49.in the Scriptures, sometimes for the attributes of God, as his mercy, goodnes, power, &c. Sometime for the Lord him selfe, as Gen. 12. 8. Abraham builded an Altar, and called vppon the name of the Lord. Sometime for the name of God Iehouah, and so I take it in this place. Seuit. 24. 11.This glorious and fearefull name of God is many waies prophaned, and vnreuerently abused amongst the wicked, whereby they draw downe the plagues and iudgements of God vppon themselues, but most vsually,
1 In their idle and ordinary talke.
2 In vaine swearing.
3 In false swearing to deceiue.
For the first, we ought not so much as thinke of, much lesse speake of that glorious name of God, but with feare and trembling. Leuit. 19. Thou shalt not defile the name of thy God, I am the Lorde, Sap. 1. 1. Thincke reuerently of the Lorde, and seeke him in simplicitie of heart. And in this chapter Deut. 28. 58. vntounto all the curses, iudgements and plagues which the Lorde threateneth, as the curse at home, the curse abroad, the curse of sicknesse, of madnesse, of famine, oppression, captiuitie, &c. In the end, hée addeth this as the chiefest: These and many moe plagues the Lord will lay vponupon thee, if thou doe not feare the glorious and fearefull name of the Lord, Psal. 8. O Lord our God howe excellent is thy name in all the world! The Aben Ezra.Egyptians had a custome to sweare by the head of their king, which othe whosoeuer did not performe, might not bée redéemed from death by any ransome, bicause he despised the king: how much more then ought not wée to name, or so much as once thinke of the name of our glorious God, but with feare and reuerence? Exodus 20. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine. As wée must take héede of the errour of the Anabaptists, so we must not take Gods holy name in vaine, but vse it reuerently, with feare and trembling. But it is an ordinary thing with most men, to hauehave the Name of God continually in theyr mouths, when as (for the most part) they neuer thinke of him while they speake of him. How vsuall is it to say one to another, God spéede you, God be with you, God helpe you, God send you health, &c. when they hauehave no such thing in thought? Take heed then how at any time thou speakest of God, except thy tongue▪ and heart goe together with feare and reuerence, For as Ecclus. 23. A seruant which is often punished cannot be without some scarre, so hee that sweare: … and nameth God continually shall not bee faultlesse. And let all good children say with Dauid. Psalme 72. 18. Blessed bee the Lord God, euen the God of Israel, which onelyonly doeth wonderfull things, and blessed be his glorious Name for euer.
Againe, some doe not onelyonly so abuse Gods glorious Name in their idle and ordinary talke, but also by vaine swearing doe binde, almost eueryevery word with an oath, whereby also they bring Gods heauie iudgements, woes, and curses vponupon their owne heads, yea, some cannot speake vnlesse they swrare: It is their Rethoricke, the vulgar poyson of the world, and it is in the mouth of eueryevery child, for as soone as they can speake, they are able to hurle out any oath, as if they had béene old practicioners. It is an horrible thing to see how this sinne is vsed in all companies, the old man sweareth of custome, the young man in a brauery, the childe by immitation, the Gentleman thinks his spéech not gratious if hee grace it not with gracelesse oathes; the poore man sweareth for necessity, the thiefe to couer his fault, and the strumpet sweareth to deny her sin. A vaine swearer is worse then a thiefe, an harlot, or a slaunderer: the thiefe often stealeth for necessitie, the swearer stealeth Gods glory in a brauery, the harlot sinneth in the darke, the swearer openly: the slaunderer hurts his neighbour, the swearer offends his heauenly Father. The souldier once pearced Christ with a speare. Iohn 19. but swearers with their poysoned tongs breake vp all the wounds of Christ, and tread vnderunder their féet the blood of the couenant they are worse then the Deuill, who trembleth at the name of Christ, but they without feare or reuerence doe most horribly blaspheme it. A man is knowne of what hart he is by his swearing; for as the Apostle saint Peter was knowne to be of Galile, by his spéech, Mar. 14. 70. so a man (because of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaketh) may know the children of God, the children of the world, and the children of the Diuell by their spéech. Of the first Dauid speaketh Psal. 84. Blessed are they that dwell in thine house, they will euer praise thee. Of the second sort Iohn saith 3. 31. He that is of the earth is of the earth, and speaketh of the earth. And of the third the Prophet Esay saith, Esay 1. 21, 22. They fret themselues, and curse their Kings, and their gods. As hée is an English man that naturally speaketh English, a Spaniard that naturally speaketh Spanish, and a French man that naturally speaketh French: so they that in their vsuall spéech doe praise God, are of God: they that speake most of earthly things, are worldly and carnall men: but they that vse much swearing and cursing, are diuellish, because their spéech is alike. In the auntient Records of the Romans it Iohannes Beetes in preceptorio.is remembred, that a certaine adultresse hauing thrée sonnes, tolde her husband, when she lay on her death bed, that onelyonly one of them was his, but which of them it was, she would not at any hand make knowne. At last, when the time came also that this man should departe the world, he bequeathed to his vnknowen sonne all his lands and goodes, intreating his executors that they would vse all the best meanes they could, to know which of them thrée was his naturall sonne: the matter was brought before the Iudge, who calling to minde the wise fact of king Salomon concerning the two women that contended for the liuing childe 1. Reg. 3. thought it good to make experience where Nature rested: and therefore gaue sentence, that the dead body of the father should be bounden vpright to a stake, and that to eueryevery of the thrée children should be deliuered a bowe and an arrowe, and each one of them should shoot his arrow at the dead body, with promise, that he which could shoot néerest the fathers heart, and pierce deepest into his flesh, should hauehave land, goodes, and all. The two bastardes (in whome was no sparke of naturall louelove) shot earnestly at him, but the third with reuerence refused to shoot, abhorring to doe so vnnaturall an action, and sharpely reprooued his brethren, for committing so filthy a fact, affirming that hee had rather loose all, then doe as they had done: whereuppon iudgement was giuen that he was the dead mans onelyonly and naturall sonne, and the other two but bastards, and so enioyed his fathers inheritance. Such bastards are they and no true children of God, which in their dayly talke shoote out arrowes of blasphemy at eueryevery part of Christ his sacred body, they cannot beare any naturall louelove to Christ that so wound him with oathes, and shoot at his heart, nay, they are Gods enemies. Psal. 139. 20. Thine enemies (O Lord) take thy Name in vaine. As the Salamander which way soeuer he goeth powreth out his poyson, which maketh the herbes to wither; so there are some, who which way soeuer they goe, doe powre out the poyson of their soules. The seruants of Antichrist hauehave a marke in their right hand, & the Reuel. 13. 16.seruants of the deuill in their tongue: As the godly doe glorifie God, so these dishonour God: What hypocrisie is it … pray eueryevery day that Gods Name …ay be hallowed, and yet daily to blas…heme it, a sonne in profession and a re…ell in practise: But let our seasoned …péech, and reuerent vsing of Gods …ame witnesse with vsus, and for vsus, that …e are the children of God, and let our …ea, be yea, and our nay, nay, lest we fall …nto temptation, and snares of Satan, and so in the end bring an heauy iudgement vponupon our selues.
Thirdly, the glorious and fearefull name of the Lord God is vnreuerently abused among the wicked by their false swearing to deceiue, Heb. 6. 16. God hath appointed an oath as an end of all controuersie, and a seale of the truth. But false swearers take the seale of God, & counterfeit it. He that counterfeits the seale of a prince is worthy of death: then what of him that taketh the seale of Gods name to confirme a lye withall? It was a miserable thing that the Iewes required not Iesus, but Barrabas, a thiefe and a murtherer: So periured persons renounce Iesus Christ, & the hope of saluation, the kingdome of God, and all they regard not so much the safgard of their owne soules, as the fauour of some mortall man, and as Iudas solde Christ for thirty pence, so they renounce Christ Iesus and the kingdome of heauen for a summe of mony, or worldly commodity.
This swearing falsely, to deceiue, is too common a sinne: As the Cretians were saide to be all liars, Tit. 1. 12. so for the most part, among vsus, all are swearers, to gaine by it. This is too vsuall a sinne in shoppes, faires, and markets, and I would God no where else. That which is so gotten, hath a fearefull curse vponupon it. Maisters will teach their seruants to sweare for gain, and such bring in most profite. 2. Sam. 23. When Dauid lusted for water of the well of Bethlehem, the thrée Woorthies brake into the host of the Philistims, in danger of their liues, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, and brought it to Dauid, who would not drinke thereof, but powred it out for an offering to the Lord, saying, O Lord, be it farre from me that I should doe this, Is not this the bloud of the men that went in ieoperdie of their liues? Therefore he would not drincke of it. If Dauid would not drinke of the water that was fetched with danger of those mens liues, wilt thou eate and drinke of that which is gotten with danger of the soule of thy child, seruant, or their owne soule? Let men take héede, swearing falsly to deceiue is but mad sport, whereby mens soules are endangered, but it is so common that it sheweth how few take care for their soules. It would make a mans heart quake to here how the wicked, when they séeke to deceiue them with whom they deale, will sweare and take God to witnesse. 1. Samu. 28. Saul going to the witch to deceiue, put on other apparel: So men purposing to deceiue, take on them the name of God as a cloke: Woe to thée then whosoeuer thou art, that so takest Gods glorious Name into thy mouth to confirme a lye withall, therby to deceiue thy neighbor, God will make thy plagues wonderfull, great, and fearefull.
Further, I obserue that as the name of God is many wayes vnreuerently abused, so the Lorde will send downe Iudgements, woes, and plagues vponupon them in this life, and eternall curses in the life to come, which do not with great feare and reuerence vse the glorious and fearefull Name of the Lord. Exod. 20. 7. The Lord will not holde him guiltlesse, that taketh his name in vaine. If all the iudges and courts on earth acquit him, God will condemne him. It is a fearefull and venerable name. Ecclus. 23. 11. He that vseth much swearing shall be filled with iniquity, and the plague shall neuer depart from his house. If gun-powder be strawed in an house, there is danger of burning, but when there is a swearer in an house, there is the curse of God more dangerous and ready to take fire then any gun-powder, which will consume the house, and bring it to vtter ruine. Zach. 5. 1, 2. Hag. 2. 11.Ierem. 23. 10. Because of oathes the lande mourneth, swearing euer brings a iudgment with it: The Law and commandement of God by Moses was, Leu. 24. That the swearer should be stoned to death. 2. Reg. 19. 35. One Angel in one night destroyed in the host of Senacherib, one hundred fourescore & fiue thousand men for this sinne of blasphemie. And not onelyonly the iudgements and curses of God belong to this sinne in this life, but also eternall torments in the life to come except they repent with Zacharie the Prophet foreshewed, Zach. 5. 1, 2, 3. who in a vision from heauen saw a flying booke, the length whereof was twenty cubites, and the breadth of it ten cubites, wherein was written curses against swearers, and that the curses should enter into their houses and consume them with the tymber and stones thereof. You see how great and feareful a flame a blasphemous tongue kindleth, Iam. 3. 5. If then God send downe such wonderful plagues on them which do not with great feare & reuerence vse his dreadful name, then (beloued) it cannot be denied but that this present iudgment of God by plague and pestilence is iustly fallen vponupon our English nation: For (alas) how often, and how rashly is that fearefull & glorious Name of God blasphemed among vsus? Some thinke there is no grace in their words, if they be not imbossed with damnable oaths, & notwithstanding, who trembleth at it? Nay, who almost reprooueth it? The Iewes rent their garments, Mat. 26. 65. when they heard Gods Name blasphemed, but who among vsus sheweth any token that he is discontented with it? If Pilate an Heathen man, who knewe Iohn 19. 7.not Gods word, was stricken with feare at the hearing of the name of the Sonne of God: No doubt Pilate shall rise vp in iudgement against many among vsus, who without all feare and reuerence rende the Name of God in pieces by cursed swearing and blasphemie, and tosse that dreadfull Name of God in their mouthes, as a football is tossed too and fro on the plaine ground. Some maruell to sée Lordshippes, houses, and landes translated to strangers from the ancient owners: maruell not at it, there are many houses wherein that fearefull and terrible Name of God is seldome remembred, vnlesse it be to Gods dishonour, and therefore Gods vengeance doeth watch for their destruction, and a secret curse remaineth in their houses; God will make their plagues wonderfull, and the plagues of their seed, till he hauehave vtterly destroyed them from off the face of the earth: Others wonder to sée this man or that suddenly stricken dumbe, and depriued of spéech, euen in time of their health: If thou wonder at it, glorifie God in thine admiration, for it standeth with Gods iustice that wherein a man sinneth, therein he shall be punished: and therfore as to the rich glutton, Luke 16. who sometime had his choice of drinke and daintie fare, but abused it, a time came (by Gods iust iudgement) when he would hauehave béene glad of a droppe of water to coole his tongue: So it is a iust thing with God that they which abuse their speech by swearing and cursing (which is a gift that no creature but man hath) should in their life time be depriued of speech, and left dumbe as brute beasts, that others might sée & feare, and by their example take heed how they do vnreuerently vse Gods sacred Name. Some againe thinke it strange that God doth at one time threaten vsus with sword, at another time punished vsus with dearth & famine, and eftsoones with fearefull plague and pestelence, as at this present; but let them thinke it more strange that God doth not rayne fire and brimstone from heauen vponupon vsus, as he did vponupon Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen. 19. or that the earth doeth not swallow vsus vp quicke, as it did Corah and his company, Numb. 16. 32, 33. for our beastly and blasphemous swearing, and vnreuerent trampling of Gods feareful Name vnderunder our féete. Take héede then whosoeuer thou art, how by thy filthy swearing, thou blowest at the coale of Gods curse, and kindlest the wrath of God as a fire to consume thée, and thy posterity; And as thou tenderest the glory of God, the saluation of thy soule, or wouldest hauehave these present iudgments of God remooued, or taken away from vsus, repent thée of this and other thy sinnes, that God may command his punishing Angel to stay his hand.
Hitherto you hauehave heard how God threatneth iudgments, first, against the dissobedient, and secondly, against such as doe not feare that glorious and fearfull Name, The Lord God. Now in the second generall place you shall heare what maner of seruice the Lord requireth for the auoydance of his iudgements, and that is, That we doe not only héere, but also kéepe and doe all the the words of this Law.
They that would hauehave the splendent beames of Gods mercies to shine vponupon them, and the woes, curses, and iudgements of God remooued from them, must not onelyonly make an outward shew of hearing the Law of God, but are bound to kéepe and do all the words of this Law. For manifest proofe of which doctrine, though the Spirit of God sets downe sufficient of this in the 28. of Deuteronomy, and Leutt. 26. yet I Deut. 26. Deut. 28.will adde thereunto that in Esay 1. 19. If you consent and obey, (Hee sayeth not simply, if you heare) you shall eate of the good of the land: But if you refuse and be rebellious, you shall bee deuoured with the sword, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The wicked world in the daies of Noah, no doubt heard him speaking vntounto them the truth from God, but because they did not also kéepe and doe the wordes of Gods Lawe, the iudgement of God fell vponupon them by a generall flood. The people of Sodoma often heard Lot, but their hearing was to their further cōdemnation, because they did not obserue and doe that they heard. The Iewes, the people of God had Prophets, and good men sent vntounto them, to call them to repentance, yea, Christ Iesus and his Apostles, but what they heard, serued but as a witnesse against them, because they yéelded not obedience to that they heard, the Iudgements of God fell vponupon them in most fearefull maner, and God made their plagues wonderfull, & the plagues of their séede. The wicked and reprobate ones may heare the worde, and talke of the worde, but the kéeping and doing of it is onelyonly proper to the elect children of God. When the Nineuites repented, It is not sayde, Iona. 3. that God saw or respected their wordes, or outward shew, but their workes. The Iewes had good wordes ynow in their mouthes, though they wanted good workes. Ierem. 7. 4. Templum Domini, templum Domini, the temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, wee hauehave the temple of the Lord, and we hauehave Abraham to our father, Matth. 3. 9. when as Matth. 3. 9.they did nothing sutable, but contrary to their wordes, much like many hypocrites now a dayes, who (for the most part) seale vp all their sayings, and daube vp all their doings with an In trueth, whereas often there is no truth, neither in their wordes nor déedes. If words and outward shew would hauehave serued the turne, then the Pharises had Mat. 6. 5, 16.béene the onelyonly men, for they prayed in the stréetes, disguised their faces when they fasted, and yet Christ brands them for hypocrites, Mat. 23. and he speakes Mat. 23. 13, 1… 15, 23, 25.to all in generall. Matt. 7. 21. Not eueryevery one that sayeth vntounto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdome of heauen, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heauen. Many good workes shalbe found in hell, but good workes done in faith, goe all to heauen. They shall leaue their hearing and talking behind them, but their practising and walking, and good workes do follow them. Reuel. 14. 13. and therefore the Apostle exhorts vsus 1. Pet. 1.to make our election sure by good works. We hauehave had the Ghospel preached amongst vsus now full fourty and eight yéeres, in more plentifull sort then euer heretofore, but (alas) what effect worketh it among the greatest number? Sin neuer more abounded, the Gospel hath many hearers, but few followers: many talke of it, but few walke after it. Take héede then of hypocrisie in Gods worshippe and seruice, thou mayest blinde mens eyes with outward shewes of holinesse, but God seeth thine heart. We say, It is ill halting before a créeple, but it is worse dessembling before God. In many places citizens and townsemen desire to hauehave much preaching, but too few make conscience of practising: Neuer any age wherein there was more séeming and lesse being; but take heede, God looketh further into thée then all the world besids, not onelyonly into thy words and workes, but also euen into thy heart, whence thy words and workes doe flowe: And at the iudgement God will not giuegive sentence according to thy outward shewe in hypocrisy, but according to the works which thou hast done. God will not examine thée how many sermons thou hast heard, but how much thou hast practised of that thou hast heard, and thy conscience shall answere either for thée, or against thée. Moreouer, you shall see some hypocrites and dessemblers in Gods worship and seruice, sometimes more zealous in outward profession then the children of God, talking so godly, and making it so godly as if they were some petty saints dropt downe from heauen, when as indeed, they make no conscience to kéepe and doe all the wordes of Gods Law. Some of them in outward profession almost as hotte on the spurre as Baals Priests, 1. Reg. 18. 28. who in their blind zeale cut themselues with kniues and launcers, or as the Donatistes, who about 420. yéeres after Christ, for zeale killed themselues as men not worthy to liue, and so laboured to striue for God, they stroue against God: Such wee hauehave some who in a blinde zeale runne vp and downe to heare the worde, as if there were a famine of the word in the lande, because (forsooth) they would séeme to bée more religious then others, but looke into their liues, and 2. Pet. 2. 17. Iude 12.you shall find many hallow trées without fruite, cloudes without water, and caried about with a tempest, to whome the blacke darkenesse is reserued for euer. As Dauid, a man otherwayes zealous for Gods glorie, by his grosse sinnes of adulterie and murther made the enemies of God to blaspheme, 2. Sam. 12. 13. So the Name of God, and the word of saluation is euill spoken of among the wicked by their meanes which are zealous in profession, but practise nothing, saue that which is naught, and by their bad example, and loosenesse of life many poore soules are endangered of their saluation, for simple men are sooner drawen to God by the good workes that they sée, then by the good words that they heare. Looke into the outward face of the Church, especially of the Popish séeming Church, and you shall sée Ananias renting his clothes, Mar. 14. 63. and taking on with himselfe at the hearing of such wordes as séeme to sound like blasphemy or heresy, with an outward zeale of Gods glory, and yet buying a bishoppricke for money, and who will not be bold to doe as such a one doeth? You shall sée Herod, Mar. 6. 20. hearing Iohn Baptist preach, and yet make no conscience of adultery nor murther, you shall sée the Pharises, vnderunder a culour of holinesse, Mat. 23. 14. tything mint, and comine, and curious in trifles, and leaue waightier matters of the Lawe: you shall see some zealous hearers, but méere hypocrites, vsurers, adulterers, slaunderers, backbiters, busie bodies, crafty dealers, dessemblers with God and man, as full of malice, as a toad is full of poyson. It is our duety to talke Deut. 6. 7.of all the words of Gods Law at home and abroad, when we lie downe & when we rise vp, & to heare the word reuerently, because fayth cōmeth by hearing, and we must be begotten by the immortall Rom. 10. 17.séede of the word of God: Notwithstanding, they that séeme zealous, and are but bare talkers and hearers of the word, without practising and doing all the words of Gods law, are so far from pleasing God, or pacifying his anger when it is once kindled, that they are meanes to increase his vengeance, and to bring downe more fearefull plagues, because God will not be dallyed withall Acts 5. 3, 9.in his worshippe and seruice; and therefore to them, who at the day of Iudgement shal say to Christ, that they Mat. 7. 22, 23.hauehave prophesied by his Name, and by his Name cast out Deuils, and done many great workes, he shall answere, I neuer knew you, depart from me ye that worke iniquity: Let then the fruitlesse naked zeale of hypocrites in Gods worshippe and seruice serue as spurres in our sides to pricke vsus forward, and make vsus earnest to kéepe and doe all the words of Gods Law, that so God may be glorified in vsus, and his feareful iudgments remooued from vsus. And let this serue as a looking glasse for all carnall gospellers, and dissembling hypocrites, which deceiue the world with shewes, and themselues with shadowes. Mat. 4. Satan combating with Christ, thought Mat. 4. 3, 6.all sure enough when he had got Scriptures by the end: so many thinke they are halfe way at heauen, if they can get a Bible vnderunder their arme, and make an outward shew of zeale to here the word, though they shift ouer the practising of it to others, and themselues sléepe all the Sermon while: but for all their outward zeale and hearing much, the curse of God shall cleaue vntounto them, yea, and the greater shalbe their condemnation, if they doe not also kéepe and doe all the wordes of Gods Law. 1. Samu. 28. 14. Saul thought that Satan was Samuel, when he came in likenesse of Samuel; so some thinke that all are Saints, that seeme in the congregation as Saints: But (alas beloued) there is many a Satan in life that seemeth a saint in shew, but maketh no conscience to kéepe and doe all the wordes of Gods Law. If then we would hauehave the punishing Angel to hold his hand, and the plagues to cease, wee must not hauehave Iacobs small voyce, and Esau his rough handes; wee must not be like water-men, who rowe one way, and looke another, talke this way and liue the contrary, curious in other mens liues, and carelesse in our owne: Wée must not bee like foolish proude Merchants, who make a little showe outward, but hauehave emptie stoorehouses within: Nor like the Pharisees, who seemed excellent men till Christ vncased them: neither must wee thinke that true Religion consisteth in a talkatiue shew of a mortified profession vnles wee thinke to goe to heauen only in speculation, but we must kéepe and doe the Law of God, we must be of another temper then hypocrites are: we must not double with God, nor dissemble in his seruice. Apo. 14. 5. there should be no guile in our mouths; heart, and tongue, and hand should goe together, Psalm. 45. The Kings daughter is all glorious within. Esay exhorting the people to true repentance for the auoyding of Gods iudgements sayth not, Learne to speake well, to heare much, or to hide a wolfe in a shéepes skinne, or learne to cloke a bad life vnderunder a good profession: but hee sayeth, Esay 1. 17. Learne to doe well, apply your selues to equity. It was our Sauiours rule, Iohn 10. 25. The workes that I doe, shall testifie of mee. And this should be a rule for eueryevery member of Christ, By their workes you shal know them.
Againe, as it is our duety (for the auoyding of Gods iudgements) not only to here, but also to obserue and do the words of Gods Law: So further the Lord requireth the performing and kéeping not of this, or that part, but of All the words of this Law. Iam. 2. 10. Whosoeuer shall keepe the whole Law, and yet faileth in one point, he is guiltie of all. Let vsus then Clense our selues, 2. Cor. 7. 1. from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit, and growe vp vntounto full holinesse in the feare of God. For wee must bee clensed within and without. 1. Pet. 1. 15. As he which hath called you is holly, so be ye holly in all maner of conuersation. God giueth no man libertie to sinne in the least degrée, the reasons hereof are. First, because all sin fighteth against the soule. 1. Pet. 2. 11. I beseech you as pilgrims and strangers abstain from fleshly lusts, which fight against the soule. EueryEvery sinne fighteth against the soule, and therefore we must abstaine from all sinne, and not sinne in the least degrée. Secondly, because sinne maketh a separation betwéene God and vsus. Esay 59. 2. Your iniquities hauehave separated betweene you and your God, and your sinnes hauehave hid his face from you, that he will not heare. Iere. 5. 25. Your iniquities hauehave turned away these things, and your sinnes hauehave hindred good things from you. Thirdly, because eueryevery sinne doth purchase Gods wrath. Psal. 5. 4, 5. For thou art not a God that loueth wickednesse, neither shall euill dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight, for thou hatest all them that worke iniquity Rom. 1. 18. The wrath of God is reueiled from heauen against al vnrighteousnes and vngodlinesse of men, which withhold the truth in righteousnes. Our sins do bring down Gods wrath and iudgements by famine, sword, plague, & pestilence and therefore if we would be deliuered from these iudgments which lately in fearefull manner lye vponupon vsus, we must make conscience to kéepe and doe All the words of Gods Law. This doctrine also serueth to reproue them that are carelesse in sin, and make no bones to commit sinne euen with gréedinesse, we should pul such as it were out of the fire. Iud. 23. For sin is as dangerous to the soule as fire is to the body. Moreouer, we should auoyd all occasions of sin, and vse all good meanes to kéepe vsus vndefiled therwith, to frequent good company, and auoyd badde, for if we be carefull to shunne such places and persons as are infected with the plague, and to vse all preseruatiues against it, then much more against sinne, which is the plague and poyson of the soule. Lastly, this serueth to condemne the sinfull shifting which some vse to make from one sinne to another: I hauehave béene an adulterer (will some man say) but I thanke God, I hauehave left that sinne, and now I am but a little couetous, &c. But as one poyson is enough to destroy the bodie, so one sinne is sufficient to condemne the soule. We must not doe as Saul did, who being sent to destroy all the Amalekites. 1. Sam. 15. 3, 9. spared their King Agag, and the better shéepe and oxen, and the fat beasts, and the lambes, and all that was good, that they would not destroy, but all that was vile and nought worth, that they destroyed: So we must not thinke it sufficient to cast away one sinne, or a few sinnes, but we must destroy our fatte sinnes, our profitable sinnes, our pleasant sinnes, and all. If we would hauehave our land clensed from infection of plague and pestilence, we must labour to clense our selues, first, from all filthinesse of flesh and Spirit, we must kéepe and doe not this or that 1. Cor. 7. 1.part, but all the words of Gods Lawe. God giueth no man libertie to commit the least sin: and therefore as we would hauehave all parts glorified, so we must also first hauehave all parts sanctified, &c.
Finis prioris concionis. Laus Deo.