A Care Cloth, Sermon 2 – Errata

A Care Cloth · Sermon 2 – Errata

p. 199CHARITABLE TEARES, &c.

Pſal. 119.136.

Riuers of water runne downe mine eyes, becauſe they keepe not thy Teſtimonies.

CHAP. I. Opening the Text, and ſhewing, and prouing the doctrine, viz. that we ought to lay to heat the ſinnes of others.

THE Prophet of God, the Author of this moſt heauenly Pſalem, inthis part of it, proceedeth in his meditations after this order. Firſt, he makes way to his petitions, by profeſſing his diligent care of Gods Law, Verſ. 129, 130, 131. Secondly, he propounds his petitions; for mercy, Verſ. 132. direction, 133, deliuerance, 134. feeling of Gods fauour, 135. Laſtly, hee concludes his petitions, p. 200with profeſſing his ſorrow for other mens ſins in theſe words. And this he puts alſo for a confirmation of his faith, to aſſure himſelfe, and (as one may ſay) to perſwade the Lord, that hee ſhould ſpeed inhis ſuites: For it is great reaſon, that God ſhould mercifully guide, deliuer, and comfort him, that doth take ſo hainouſly the diſhonour done to God by other people. Wee hauehave here then to make the griefe of Dauid, ſet out by the quantitie and cauſe of it. The quantitie is expreſſed in that hyperbolicall phraſe, Riuers of waters runne downe mine eyes. Whereby is meant, that his ſorrow was very great, and withall comſtant, in that it did ſhew it ſelfe by continuall and abundant ſtreames of teares. The cauſe is in theſe words; Becauſe they keepe not thy Law. Not wrongs and perſecutions againſt himſelfe, but ſinne and wickedneſſe againſt God, did procure his great ſorrow: or if he wept for the moleſtations and iniuries offered vntounto himſelfe, yet not ſo much conſidered in the nature of iniuries, as of ſinnes. Let me therefore at this time be bold to preſſe vponupon you a moſt needfull and excellent dutie, from the example of this holy man,we ought to lay to heart the ſins of other men. viz. Doct. To lay to heart the ſins of other men. All the ſeruants of God ſhould imitate this one ſeruant of God in the cauſe, courſe, quantitie, conſtancy of his ſorrowes, and ſet themſelues to mourne heartily, earneſtly, daily, for the tranſgreſſions of others, which their eyes doe ſee, and their eares doe heare. It ſhould bee a corroziue to our ſoules, and an anguiſh to our ſpirlts, to behold, p. 201and know the diſhonour that is done vntounto our Maker, by the offences of our neighbours. Euerie good ſubiect is troubled, to ſee his fellow ſubiects prooue Rebels; neither can any good and dutifull ſonne or daughter, behold without ſorrow, the rudeneſſe or vndutifulneſſe of their brethren or ſiſters: nay, a ſeruant that is louing and obedient to his Maſter, is alſo ſorrie at the heart, if his fellow-ſeruants ſhew themſelues ſtubburne, careleſſe, and diſobedient: ſo ſhould it be with the faithfull ſubiects, dutifull children, and obedient ſeruants of the liuing God, their very ſoules ſhould be filled with anguiſh, and their countenances with ſadneſſe, for the rebellion, diſobedience, wickednes of thoſe amongſt whom they liue. Not alone our owne offences, but thoſe of our brethren alſo, ſhould be as a loade and burden vponupon our ſoules. Thus it is reported of Lot, 2. Pet. 2.8.2 Pet 2:8that hee vexed his righteous ſoule from day to day, with ſeeing and hearing their vnlawfull deeds; ſpeaking of his behauiour, when hee dwelt in Sodom. The impurities and vncleanneſſes of thoſe brutiſh creatures, were euen as a racke vntounto his ſoule, and he could not looke vponupon their foule and lathſome, and yet common and vſuall abominations, but that it did euen torture and torment his hart, no leſſe then a racke would hjaue done his body. So when Ezra was informed of the ſinne of them,Ezra 9.2, 3, 5, 6, &c.Ezra 9:2Ezra 9:3Ezra 9:5Ezra 9:6 that had returned out of captiuitie; hee ſits downe confounded, and faſts, and weepes, and mournes, and in the agonie of his ſoule, puls off the haire p. 202of his owne beard for griefe, and at laſt breakes foorth into a moſt lamentable and mournefull confeſſion of that ſinne. This Prophet alſo had profeſſed before in the 53. verſe of this Pſalme, ſaying; Horror hath taken hold vponupon me, becauſe of the wicked which forſake thy Law. And Ieremiah profeſſeth to the people, that if they would not hearken vntounto him (to amend their liues according to the Word of God, which hee ſhould ſpeake, and had ſpoken) then his ſoule ſhould weepe in ſecret places for their pride; Ier. 13.17.Jer 13:17yea, his eye ſhould weepe ſore, and run downe with teares. The Apoſtle Paul likewiſe hearing of the inceſtuous Corinths abominable crime, and the great conniuency of the Church of Corinth towards him, did write a letter vntounto them about this matter, as himſelfe ſaith,2. Cor. 2.4.2 Cor 2:4 out of much affliction and angiſh of heart, and with many teares. Lo, how bitter to the ſoule of the holy Apoſtle, the tidings of the Corinthian diſorders were. He that for ſcourging, ſtocking, impriſonment, ſtoneing, and all heau perſecutions, was ſcarce euer filled with anguiſh (but rather reioyced in the ſame, and ſeemed to gather new life by the comming on of new miſeries) is now exceedingly caſt downe, and put into bitter weeping, and lamentation, for the wickedneſſe committed by one of that Church, and by the reſt tolerated. Yea, our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe (the beſt patterne of all holineſſe and obedience) did looke vponupon the Phariſes (as the Goſpell tels vsus) angerly indeed,Mark. 3.5.Mark 3:5 as their peruerſenes and wilfulneſſe did well deſerue, but withall, p. 203mourning for the hardnes of their hearts. And it is alſo obſerued of him, that comming to Ieruſalem, he did euen weepe ouer it in great compaſſion,Luk. 19.41.Luke 19:41 becauſe they had careleſtly neglected the day of their viſitation. You ſee proofe enough of the point: let vsus further make it good vntounto your ſoules, by cleere and euident reaſons to be taken from foure heads: Firſt, from the graces that ought to be in eueryevery Chriſtian heart, which cannot but procure this ſorrow. Secondly, from the nature of ſinne, which is to be ſorrowed for. Thirdly, from the good effects that will grow from this ſorrow. And laſtly, from the euill effects, that will follow vponupon the want of this ſorrow.

CHAP. II. Containing one reaſon of the point, from the graces which ought to be found in euerie godly man, and being found, cannot but work this ſorrow: theſe are three; LoueLove to God, LoueLove to men, Hatred of ſinne.

IT is agreed vponupon by all,Reaſons: firſt, from our louelove to God. that the hearts of Gods Saints, ought to abound in fernent louelove to the diuine Maieſtie, in regard both of thoſe infinite excellencies which are in his holy nature, and the innumerable demonſtrations thereof, as alſo of thoſe great and many benefits, which they themſelues doe receiue p. 204from him. This louelove cannot be ſeparated from an earneſt deſire, that he may be honored, ſerued, obeyed, and in word and deed acknowledged and reſpected, according to his owne worth and greatneſſe, and the multitude and greatneſſe of his mercies. Now there is ſuch a naturall ſympathy betwixt the affections of mans heart, and they are ſo mutually ſubordinated each to other in their workings, as it is not poſſible, but that louelove to any perſon, and deſire that he ſhould be well dealt withall, muſt needs rayſe vp griefe and ſorrow vponupon the beholding of the quite contrarie: For louelove muſt needs beget hatred, and abhorring of thoſe things, that tend to thy hurt, and diſhonour of the partie loued, becauſe he that loueth, cannot chooſe but eſteeme and account them euill, yea, and very euill, and if that thing bee preſent with any man which he hateth, and reputeth euill, it muſt of neceſſitie ſtirre vp in him a meaſure of ſorrow proportionable to his hatred. Wherefore this griefe muſt beare witneſſe to the truth of that louelove, which, we ſay, wee beare vntounto the liuing God, and muſt iuſtifie all thoſe proteſtations, which wee are ready to make, of hauing abundant good will vntounto him. For it is in vaine to ſay, we louelove, if we bring not forth the effects of louelove. It is but painted and imaginarie fire, which yeeldeth forth neither heate nor light: ſo it is but tongue-louelove, and lip-affection (which is good for nothing but to beguile our ſelues, and make vsus better conceited of our ſelues, then p. 205there is cauſe) that produceth not the true and proper fruites of louelove.

Furthermore, wee doe know and confeſſe,LoueLove to men. that our louelove to God, muſt alwayes bee ioyned with the louelove of our brethren, euen of all that are made of the ſame fleſh with our ſelues. I meane, our hearts muſt bee ſettled in a liking of them, and deſire of their welfare, as of Gods creatures, to whom he hath pleaſed to vnite vsus in many bonds. For though the Lord doe allow, yea, and command vsus, to hate the workers of iniquitie (as they well deſerue, becauſe they commit hate-worthy actions,) yet this hatred muſt not be any habituall inclination, or motion of the will to their hurt, but alone a ſtirring vp of the affection of diſlike againſt them, or not brooking them, in regard of the euill which they commit; which may well ſtand, and muſt euer be ioyned with the vertue of Chriſtian charitie, whereby out of a liking of them, as Gods creatures, we are alwayes prompt, and ready to wiſh and ſeeke their good. Now if we do thus louelove them, muſt it not needs grieue vsus to ſee that, which we know to be harmefull and miſchieuous to them? LoueLove cannot chooſe but breed a fellow-feeling compaſſion, a ſympathizing commiſeration, and ſenſibleneſſe of the loſſe, euill, damage, miſerie, of the partie loued. Wherefore ſinne being (as in the next reaſon we are to ſhew) a moſt dangerous and hurtful thing to the ſoules of them that commit it, it cannot but call for our ſorrow, yea, much ſorrow, and p. 206many teares, whenſoeuer we behold it.

Againe,Loathing of ſin. eueryevery Chriſtian man ſhould hauehave his heart poſſeſſed with a loathing, deteſtation, and hatred of ſinne, that being indeed the firſt and principal, and moſt immediate obiect of hatred, we may call it the chiefe odious thing, in regard of which alone, it is lawful to hate other things, neither is any thing further hatefull, then as it doth ſome way or other participate of ſinne: miſery being alone hatefull ſo farre, as it is an effect and concomitant of ſinne, from which if it be ſeparated (as in the caſe of ſuffering for weldoing) it is euen louely and deſireable; but whatſoeuer doth ſauour of ſinne, in as much as it is ſinfull, is hatefull alſo; and therefore the Word of God commands vsus, to be haters of euill. And if a man doe neuer ſo much forbeare ſinne out of other conſiderations of the inconueniences that inſue it, not out of a loathing of it, in as much as it is a contrariety to the will and glory of God, the chiefe good: (for indeed ſinne alone is properly contrarie to God, as hauing no manner of dependance vponupon him, nor ſimilitude of him, nor any other relation to him, but alone as contraries be relatiues, and as crimes hauehave reference to the Iudge that is to puniſh them,) I ſay, if in this reſpect of loathing ſinne as ſinne, wee forbeare it not, our forbearance of it, is not a thing formally good, it is not truly nor ſincerely good, but alone good inſhew, a practice of hypocriſie, a carcaſſe or painting of goodneſſe. It being then a thing ſo abſolutely needfull to hate p. 207ſinne, as that wee cannot ſay, we hauehave Gods Image, vnleſſe we reſemble him in this (for hee hateth ſinne with a perfect hatred,) it is therfore alſo neceſſarie, that we grieue for ſinne: for the preſence of a thing lothſome and deteſted, cannot be ſeparated from griefe; griefe being nothing elſe but a contraction and paining of the heart at an euill thing preſent, and that muſt needs bee confeſſed euill, which is accounted hatefull. So then we ſhall falſely affirme, that we hate euill, if we ſorrow not to ſee it committed. There are ſome things, which in nature a man abhorreth, and cannot away withall (as ſome cannot endure a Cat, ſome a Mouſe, ſome a Frog, or the like;) now when ſuch a loathed thing, doth of force, and whether he will or no, draw neere to any perſon; experience will tell vsus, how grieuous it is vntounto him; hee cryes, and ſhreekes, and ſtarts, and ſhewes an extremitie of the paſſion of ſorrow; and if he cannot flie from it, his whole body will weepe, as it were, in a kind of cold ſweat, as if the weeping of the eye were too little. So if ſinne be amongſt the number of things, that we cannot away withall, that we do loath, deteſt, and hauehave in abomination, we ſhall ſurely teſtifie our abhorring it, by a ſadnes, heauines, deiectedneſſe, contraction, contrition, troubledneſſe, falling, melting and mourning of our ſpirits, when wee cannot chooſe but ſee it committed; for betwixt grace and ſinne, there is as true an antypathy, as betwixt a mans nature and a toade. And therefore ſo much grace (I p. 208meane, ſanctifying Grace) as we hauehave in vsus; ſo much ſorrow muſt we needs hauehave for ſinne. So hauehave you the firſt reaſon of the point, conſider the ſecond, which wee fetch from the nature of ſinne.

CHAP. III. Containing another reaſon of the doctrine, gathered from the nature of ſinne.

Reaſ. 2 SInne is, of all things in the World, the moſt and greateſt euill,From the nature of ſinne, which ſeparating the perſon in whom it ruleth, from the Sea and Fountaine of goodneſſe. We may call it, after a ſort, the firſt and chiefe euill, by participation with which, all that is euill, doth become euill; as God himſelfe is the firſt and chiefe good, by participation with whom, all things that are good, doe become ſo. For firſt, ſinne doth moſt of al things (yea, ſolely and alone) croſſe, thwart, contradict,diſhonours God. and ſo wrong and diſhonour, and ſo offend, prouoke and anger; yea, and after a ſort, grieue, trouble, and vexe the Lord God of Heauen: for God himſelfe is not afraid to tell vsus, that he is grieued with mens wickedneſſe; that he is laden with them, as a Cart with Sheaues; yea, that men doe wearie him with their iniquities; yea, that it grieued him at his heart that he had made man, when hee ſaw his wickednes. It is certaine, that the Lords excellencie is ſuch, p. 209and ſo infinite, that no perturbation cna befall him, to the diminiſhing of his happineſſe and bliſſe, let all the ſinners in the World both doe and ſay, whateuer wickedneſſe they can. But yet ſtill ſinne is a thing of that nature, as doth directly tend to the diſquieting, troubling, and hurting of him, by caſting him out of his throne, by wreſting his authoritie out of his hands, by ſetting his creature in his roome, and preferring the will and pleaſure of the creature (which is leſſe then nothing) before his will and pleaſure, that is more then all things. All this the ſinner doth, as it were, proffer and aſſay to doe, though he cannot effect it: For ſinne is nothing but an oppoſition of the reaſonable creature, to the authoritie and commanding will of the Creator. And therefore if it were not, becauſe the Lord out of his endleſſe and vnmatchable power, is able to eaſe, content, honour, nad glorifie himſelfe on the ſinner, by a iuſt and deſerued puniſhment of the ſinne, and by cauſing the way of the wicked to periſh, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh, it would certainly prooue, euen a very vexation, miſery, and hurt vntounto him. So ſinne is the fouleſt thing in all the World, offering and attempting to do the greateſt miſchiefe in the World, euen to put the Lord beſides his Kingdome, and to rob him of his Soueraigne authoritie and power; and ſhould not a Child of God be grieued to ſee ſuch a thing as this committed? If we ſee a man offering to wound, cut, ſtab, kil a child, a friend, a neighbour, a ſtranger; griefe doth p. 210amaze vsus, we cry out, and our heart bleeds with griefe. The ſinner (eſpecially by groſſe and preſumptuous ſinning) doth, as it were, ſtrike at God, endeuours to pierce, wound, and (let it bee ſpoken with reuerence, to ſhew the horrible euil of ſinne) after a ſort, to kill him: for his Beeing and Soueraigntie muſt needs both ſtand and fall together, and ſinne doth directly ſet againſt his Soueraigntie: ſo that if a ſinner could hauehave his will, the Lord ſhould bee King of all the earth no longer. O hatefull and horrible thing! And ſhall this horrible wrong be offered to the Diuine Maieſtie, in the ſight and hearing of one of his children and ſubiects, and hee not crie out againſtit, and bee pained at the very ſoule for it?

Furthermore, ſinne is the moſt banefull and miſchieuous thing to the creature, that can be imagined, both to the perſons ſelfe that doth commit it, and alſo to the place and Nation, in which it is committed.Hurts the ſinner. VponUpon the committers ſoule (not to name inferiour puniſhments) it bringeth vnauoydably (vnleſſe griefe and ſorrow come betwixt) the intolerable torment of Gods infinite and vnconceiueable wrath, and indignation; cauſing, that ſo ſure as there is a God, ſo ſure ſhall the ſoule of eueryevery man that aduentureth vponupon it, be for euer tortured and fried in the fierie and vnquenchable flames of Hell, vnleſſe repentance (that is, an heartie ſorrow for it, and a carefull amendment of it) doe preuent to danger. Chriſt hath ſaid it long p. 211agoe; Theſe ſhall goe into euerlaſting fire, and in Hell their worme dyeth not, nor their fire goeth out. Dauid affirmed as much before in ſubſtance, ſaying; VponUpon the wicked he ſhall raine ſnares, fire and brimſtone, and an horrible tempeſt; this ſhall bee the portion of their cup. Paul hath confirmed as much, ſaying; Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguiſh ſhall bee vponupon euerie man that doth euill. And againe: For theſe things ſake, the wrath of God commeth vponupon the children of diſobedience. Shall we ſee a man offer to teare out his owne bowels, to caſt himſelfe into the middeſt of the Sea, to leape into an hot fierie furnace, and not be hartily ſorrowfull at it? Now what doth eueryevery ſinner, but prepare an huge fire, by piling on huge heapes of wood, wherein his ſoule and body muſt afterwards be burnt for euer; the anger and iuſtice of God, turning all into a flame, that neuer ſhall be quenched? Can any man know, beleeue, and conſider all this euill to follow from ſinne, and not bewaile bitterly, to ſee his brother ruſh into it?

Moreouer,Hurts the land where ſinne is committed. for the whole Land where ſinne is committed, it is thereby made obnoxious to all the miſeries, that this world can bring forth; Sword, Famine, Peſtilence, all theſe come after to purge away ſinne, if teares doe not firſt waſh away the ſtaines thereof. This is that, that ſets open the flood-gates of Gods vengeance, and cauſeth it to emptie it ſelfe vponupon a Nation, and maketh it to breake in vponupon them, like the breaches of the Sea, which cannot be ſtopped. This p. 212cauſeth the Lord in wrath to turne men ouer to ciuill and open diſcord, whereby they fall a killing each other, till the ſtreetes doe ſwim with gore blood, and the earth be hidden, and as it were, buried with carcaſſes. Hence it commeth, that the Sword hath commiſſion to deſtroy, and deuoure; that the ancient man is pierced thorow, the young child toſſed vponupon a ſpeare, and his braines daſhed out againſt the ſtones; and the virgin firſt rauiſhed, and after hath her guts ript out. Warre, with all the bloodie miſchiefes and inſufferable inſolencies thereof, doe follow vponupon ſinne, till a Citie be turned into a ruinous heape, and a populous Countrie changed into a Wildernes, and put ouer to Owles and Hedgehogs, and vncleane birds and beaſts to inhabite: and neuer was there Towne, Citie, or Country, where ſinne was boldly and impenitently committed, but ſooner or later, Gods glittering Sword was ſheathed in the bowels of it. Hence are all the ſtirs and tumults that al Nations hauehave groaned vnderunder. This hath made the earth to ſtagger like a drunken man, and the inhabitants thereof to reele vp and downe, like men ouercome of wine. This is that which caſts the World into a very frenzy, and puts the ſonnes of men vponupon the mad humour of quarrelling and killing each other by thouſands, and tenne thouſands at a time. This alſo cauſeth the Lord to ſend the deſtroying Angell againſt a Countrie, and giuegive him charge to lay about him fiercely, ſmiting and killing (as it hath befalne, p. 213euen in our owne times and ſight) diuers thouſands in one weeke, within the compaſſe of one Citie? How many more then in the whole Nation? The ſweeping Peſtilence, and other infectious diſeaſes, doe come in purſuite after ſinfull men, and ſinfull deedes; and flying in at the windowes, doe emptie the houſes of men, and Townes of inhabitants, till none bee left to walke in the ſtreetes, and trauaile in the highwayes thereof. And neuer yet was there, neuer ſhall there be a ſinfull and wicked Nation, but (one time or other, in the fitteſt ſeaſon, when their ſinnes are growne ripe) the Lord hath, or will diſpatch his Meſſenger, riding vponupon the pale Horſe of Plague, together with him that rides on the red Horſe of Warre, to auenge the quarrell of his Couenant vponupon it: yea, for this alſo, the blacke Horſe of Famine is appointed to ioyne himſelfe with the other two, to make yet a more full riddance, and take a more full vengeance. Dearth, famine, and ſcantneſſe, want of bread, cleaneneſſe of teeth and emptineſſe, and the lingring conſumption and pining away of the body, for want of victuall: theſe tormenting euils doe come on the World, to puniſh the wickedneſſe of the World. The bellies and backes, and all the limmes and ioynts of mens bodies, muſt wring, and bee pinched for it, becauſe all did ioyne together, and abuſe themſelues in committing it. Sinne doth ſometimes ſhut vp the bottles of Heauen, and make the Sun (as it were in an anger) to burne vp Corne and p. 214Graſſe, and the neceſſarie prouiſion for mans ſuſtenance. Sometimes againe, it doth open the ſame bottles ouer-long, and cauſeth the clouds as in a rage, to drowne vp the fruits of the earth, that men and beaſts ſhould feede vponupon. This alſo makes the earth it ſelfe, as it were, hardhearted to mankind, and (euen quite and cleane againſt her proper diſpoſition) to refuſe to yeeld her encreaſe for their vſe. Neither was there euer a Nation vnderunder Heauen, of what profeſſion ſoeuer, Chriſtian or Heathen, but that the Lord hath taken his fit times, to diſcouer his anger againſt their ſinnes, by with-holding from them the fruites of Nature, and pinching them with ſcarcitie, in ſtead of abundance. And that is often fulfilled, which the Pſalmiſt ſingeth; A fruitefull Land is made barren for the tranſgreſſions of them that dwell in it. Sinne hath ſlaughtred, poyſoned, ſtarued millions of millions of men, and ſent to violent and vntimely ends, innumerable thouſands of reaſonable creatures and beaſts. Sinne turnes looſe Fire, and Water, and Heauen, and Earth, Sunne and Moone, and Beaſts, and all Creatures, and makes them all to fight againſt Man to deſtroy him; and (which is more miſchieuous) it turnes them looſe one vponupon another, to employ their reaſon and ſtrength to their mutuall ruine and ouerthrow. What was that, that drowned the old World? burnt vp Sodom, and the Cities adioyning? conſumed the Canaanites out of their good Land? laid waſte Babel, Edom, Moab, Ammon, p. 215and all the other Countries, yea, of Iewrie and Ieruſalem too? and often (to come neerer to our ſelues) the Cities and Countries of this our owne Nation? Was it not ſinne? What, I ſay, hath burnt vp ſo many houſes and townes, ſpoiled ſo much goods and treaſure, murdered ſo many men and women, and done ſuch vnſpeakeable miſchiefe in the World? But euen this foule, loathſome, odious, and abominable thing, which we call ſinne, the very proper parent and grand-dame of all that euill, that all creatures lye vnderunder. For lying, and ſwearing, and whoring, and murder, and fraud, and oppreſſion; for ignorance and profaneneſſe; for idolatrie and ſuperſtition; for ſwearing, and curſing, and other abominations, the God of Heauen hath a quarrell with the men on earth, and empties his quiuer of arrowes, and ſends out all his Hoſtes and Armies, to cut them in pieces, fighting againſt their bodies, goods, liues, ſoules, and all, till hee hauehave ſpoyled them of al comforts here, and ſent them to yell, and roare, and crie, and weepe, and gnaſh their teeth in Hell hereafter, where their ſinnes ſhall be no longer a griefe vntounto him, becauſe he hath auenged, and, as it were, comforted himſelfe in the execution of his infinite and perfect Iuſtice vponupon them. O my Brethren! hauehave we not ſaid enough, to make you perceiue, that it was not without cauſe, that Dauid made his eyes to guſh out riuers (and that you ſhould make your eyes doe the like) for ſuch a thing as this?

p. 216CHAP. IV. Containing a third reaſon of the doctrine, from the good effects of this mourning.

Reaſ. 3 BVt let vsus goe forward, to prouoke you yet with more reaſons,From the good effects of mourning. to this holy and heartie mourning. Theſe Riuers of teares doe giuegive ſo good content to God, and ſo refreſh his ſoule, wearied with ſinne (to ſpeake after the manner of men,) that ſo long as there bee but euen a few of them running, his anger cannot waxe hot to burne againſt a Nation. Amongſt what people there are found a competent number of men that doe wayle,Preſerues the Land. mourne, and lament for the common ſinnes, this holy exerciſe of theirs doth (as we may ſpeake) tye the hands of Gods Iuſtice for the time, that he will not ſtrike that people with great ſeueritie. He is ſo abundantly pitifull and large in compaſſion, that hee cannot but deferre the execution of his wrath (ſo long as it may poſſibly ſtand with righteouſneſſe to deferre it) vponupon the feruent and humble petition of his poore ſeruants, that with ſad hearts, and bended knees, doe crie vntounto him, ſaying; O Lord, ſpare thy people whom thou haſt redeemed; and, O Lord God, forgiue and ceaſe, wee beſeech thee; for who ſhall rayſe vp Iacob, for he is ſmal? Let ſin be as open and great, and crying, and clamorous as it will, yet if there p. 217be a conuenient nūber, fiftie, fortie, thirty, twentie, or perhaps but ten in a Citie, that crie, and weepe, and make bitter lamentation for it; none extremitie of publike iudgements likely ſhall come: Seldome doth God breake in vponupon a people, till there be none, or in a manner none left to ſtand in the gap; and when the time approcheth, that hee hath a full purpoſe to doe a fearefull execution on a Land, then doth he take away the mourners, and deliuer the ſuruiuours vp to hardneſſe of heart, and carnall mirth and iollity, that ſo he may hauehave a ful blow at it, when there is none to hinder, and without let powre forth all the vials of his wrath, when there is none ſtands vp to deprecate. O excellent fruit of lamentation for publike ſinnes! it gets a repriuall of an whole Towne or Countrie, and cauſeth, that the Lord will not ſuffer his furious indignation to ouerflow. So a man is a great benefactor to his Countrie, by powring forth his teares in this wiſe; and ſhould not Chriſtians, as well as (yea, more then) Heathens, ſhew themſelues true louers of their Country? But,Keepes the ſoule from infection. it doth likewiſe preſerue the mourners ſelfe from infection of ſinne, cauſing that it cannot ſeize vponupon his ſoule, to poyſon it, as elſe the nature of it is to doe, ſo long as he continues to weepe and groane for it. In common plagues, there is great enquiring after preſeruatiues. One commends Rue; another, Wormewood; a third, Holy-thiſtle; ſome this, ſome that, as their iudgement leades them. But beloued, the worſt of all diſeaſes, p. 218the moſt catching, the moſt contagious, the moſt apt to lay hold vponupon all, that come within the breath of them that are ouer-runne with it, is ſinne. The plague it ſelfe, and the moſt deſperate of all plagues, is nothing ſo apt to leape from man to man, and houſe to houſe, as ſinne is. The ſcabs among ſheepe, the murraine among cattel, doe not more ſpeedily ouerrunne the whole flocke and Herd, then wickedneſſe will doe an whole houſe, towne, and Countrie. OnelyOnly there is one moſt notable preſeruatiue, which eueryevery man carries about with him, which he need not take paines to ſeeke elſewhere, but in himſelfe, nor be at coſt to buy of any but himſelfe, and that is ſorrow, griefe, teares, the ſame that the Pſalmiſt here ſpeakes of. And whoſoeuer he be, that can take but a reaſonable draught of his owne teares, morning and euening, or but twice or thrice a weeke, yea, or ſeldomer, for the ſinnes of the men, with whom hee liueth, ſhall neuer be infected with them, nor drawne by imitation, to like and practiſe them: for the ſoule will neuer agree to doe that it ſelfe, which it is pained in it ſelfe to ſee another doe. Will you not now make for your ſelues, and take this ſoueraigne medicine againſt this peſtilent ſickneſſe? Oathes, lying, curſing, bribery, ſimony, coozenage, oppreſſion, vſurie, idleneſſe, voluptuouſneſſe, pride, reuenge and filthineſſe, ſhall neuer catch you by the example of other men, if you mourne for them, and behold them committed of others, with griefe and anguiſh of ſpirit. p. 219Will you not therefore ſtirre vp your ſorrowes, and ſaue your ſelues from the perill of an euill generation? Eſpecially, ſeeing this ſorrow will doe yet more good, by making them,Makes one carefull to redreſſe ſinne. in whom it is, carefull of ſeeking the reformation of others, ſo farre as lyes in them, and their duty and power extendeth. As godly ſorrow for a mans owne ſinnes, will bring forth repentance not to bee repented of, and cauſe him to amend his owne euill wayes: ſo godly ſorrow for other mens ſinnes, will alſo make him ſeeke to draw them to repentance and amendment. This will cauſe him to contend and conteſt againſt ſinne and ſinners, and with all his might (according to his place and calling) to oppoſe and reſiſt both it and them. If hee be a Miniſter, this ſorrow will ſet open his mouth to crie out againſt it, and cauſe him to lift vp his voyce like a Trumpet, to pronounce defiance, and ſound war againſt it, on Gods behalfe. If he be a Magiſtrate, it will arme his heart with courage and conſtancie, and all due ſeueritie, ſo that hee ſhall vnſheath the Sword of authoritie, and lift vp his arme, and ſmite the wicked doers ſoundly, with an heart vertuouſly hardned againſt the vices of fooliſh pitie, and of fearefull cowardice. If hee bee but a priuate perſon, it will make him admoniſh, reproue, complaine, and ſollicite Magiſtrate and Miniſter, and all he can, to procure a redreſſe. Sorrow is a thing ſo much againſt the good liking of Nature, and a burden of which, eueryevery one that ſtands vnderunder it, is ſo truly and p. 220earneſtly deſirous to bee eaſed, that it will ſtirre vp his care to ſhake off the burden, and remoue away that, that doth procure his ſorrow. So ſhall a godly man not alone ſaue himſelfe from ſinne, but bee made an inſtrument alſo (ſo farre as is poſſible for him, if it may be) to ſaue others from ſinne, he ſhall preſerue himſelfe from the contagion, and be inabled, if the diſeaſe bee not paſt cure, to heale them that are diſeaſed. Thus when Paul had heard with bitter griefe the diſorders of Corinth, he could not be well, till hee had ſent a letter vntounto them, and diſpatched Titus thither alſo, to ſee things better ordered. And when Ezra had faſted and wept for the ſin of Iſrael, how carefull was he (with the helpe of the Princes) to redreſſe that abuſe?

And from this good effect,Saues one from the common puniſhment. will follow another no leſſe deſireable, as a fruite of this; namely, that the mourner ſhall ſaue himſelfe from partaking in the common puniſhment, if it muſt needs come. Lots righteous ſoule was vexed, as you heard, with the impure conuerſation of the Sodomites; wherefore the Lord ſent his Angell, and deliuered him from thoſe flames of brimſtone that conſumed the Sodomites. And the Apoſtle concludeth hence, that God knows how to deliuer his: and ſo it muſt needs hold, chiefely in the like caſe, the Lord will rather euen miraculouſly deliuer thoſe of his people, that ſet themſelues againſt the ſinnes of the times with bitter lamentation, then that they ſhall not bee ſafe, euen then when others are p. 221ſmitten. Ieremiah wept for the pride of the people: and did not the Lord performe his promiſe, and make the enemy to intreate him well in the euill day? Baruch and Ebedmelech alſo were among the few mourners for Ieruſalem: and had they not their liues giuen them for a prey, whither euer they went, though the Sword of the enemie raged in the houſe, and in the ſtreetes? Yea, doe wee not reade that excellent viſion of the Prophet Ezekiel, how that before the Citie was giuen vp to deſtruction,Ezek. 9.1, 2. &c.Ezek 9:1Ezek 9:2 he ſaw the Lords Angell appointed to goe forth with a pen and inkhorne by his ſide, and paſſing thorow Ieruſalem, to ſet a plaine marke vponupon the fore-heads of all thoſe, that had lamented and mourned for the ſinnes of the Citie, and that no plague was permitted to breake forth vponupon the reſt, till theſe were marked to eſcape? Loe, how thoſe that ſigh, and crie for the abominations committed in a Citie, ſhal ſurely eſcape the miſeries that muſt come vponupon that Citie. Teares are able to procure ſafetie to a man, euen in a generall and common ouerthrow, where wealth, friends, wit, ſtrength, and all other helpes will faile him: for either the Lord will graciouſly, and in mercy take them away from the euill to come, and gather them to their fathers, that they may not ſee the miſery which is to ouerwhelme the people, or elſe he will hide them vnderunder the ſhaddow of his wings, and by his Fatherly prouidence for them, take ſome order, that they may goe ſafe in the common deſolation. Behold p. 222hold a way of ſafe-guarding your ſelues in the hardeſt times, and of procuring that bleſſing to your ſelues, which vngodly men doe falſely promiſe to themſelues from the vanitie, and lyes, vnderunder which the Prophet ſaith, they think to lye hid, namely, that when a ſcourge doth ouerflow, it ſhall not come neere you; and that is nothing elſe but to doe, as our Prophet hath done before, ſend vp ſighes and groanes vntounto the Lord, for the publike ſinnes; and whoſoeuer bewayleth the generall wickedneſſe, ſhal alſo bee deliuered from the generall puniſhment. Therfore if any man deſire to be puld, as a brand out of the fire, and to bee one of the two or three berries in the vtmoſt boughes, that muſt hang vponupon the tree, when all the reſt are beaten off, let him prouide for his owne peace and welfare betime, by making his heart to ake, and his eyes to weepe for the common abominations. And ſo you ſee what good this mourning will do, in regard of the publike State, by proroging the puniſhment ſo long as is poſſible, and in regard of his owne ſelfe that mourneth, by keeping him from the infection of ſinne, making him carefull to ſeeke the amendment of others, and ſo ſauing him from participating in the publike plagues.

p. 223CHAP. V. Containing the fourth reaſon of the point from the euill that will inſue for want of mourning.

Reaſ. 4 CArrie your thoughts a little further,From the ill effects of not mourning. The ſoule will be infected. and let them conſider of the euils, that will neceſſarily follow from the abſence of theſe teares. It is certaine, that no man can ſhun the infection of other mens ſins, vnleſſe hee mourne for them; as no mourner is infected, ſo none but mourners can be free from infection. Hee that grieues not for a ſinne that others commit, will eaſily be induced to commit it himſelfe, if occaſion ſerue, at leaſt hee will ſoone bee drawne to like it, and thinke well enough of it, and then the infection hath taken the heart, and hath poſſeſſed the ſpirits and vitall parts, as it were, of his ſoule, and that is enough to kil a man, though it ſhould bee kept from breaking forth in outward action. Some men, by vertue of a good conſtitution, eſcape the Plague in the hotteſt and foreſt of all plagues, and that alſo, though they vſe few or none antidotes or remedies. It is not ſo with our inward man, in regard of ſin: For of ſo ill a complexion, as it were, and ſo vnſound and healthleſſe a conſtitution are all our ſoules, ſince the defiling of our nature by the firſt ſinne of Adam, that any ſinne almoſt doth eaſily, ſpeedily, vnauoydably, cleaue vntounto the p. 224ſame. The drieſt Touchwood or Tinder that is, doth not more readily take fire by any little ſparke, then our ſoules will catch a ſinne by bad example. And ſinne it ſelfe is ſo ſtrong and vehement in the working of it, and withall ſo deceitefull, cloſe, and inſinuating, that it doth almoſt inſenſibly conueigh it ſelfe into our inward bowels, euen almoſt before we are aware: ſo that vnleſſe we doe moyſten our ſelues often, by the teares of godly ſorrow for ſin; we cannot liue amongſt others, that do euen glow with the fire of it, but wee ſhall alſo burne and glow for companie; neither is there a man vnderunder Heauen ſo ſanctified, but hee ſhall become wicked with wicked men, if his ſoule mourne not for their wickedneſſe. Lot would ſure hauehave been vncleane in Sodom, if their vncleanneſſe had not vexed his righteous ſoule. Therefore to preuent a miſchiefe otherwiſe vnpreuentable to our ſelues, namely, the being polluted with other mens faults, let vsus ſee it a dutie (and follow it) to waſh our ſelues with teares from that pollution.

Otherwiſe,A men ſhall be careleſſe of ſeeking of redreſſe of euils. wee ſhall alſo pull another euill vponupon our ſelues, euen make our ſelues ſlacke, careleſſe and remiſſe, in the endeuour of reforming the ſinnes of our brethren. Hardheartedneſſe, in not feeling the burdenſomeneſſe of ſin, will cauſe, that a man ſhall ſit ſtill, and let it take its courſe, and beſtow no paines to redreſſe it: for that that one doth not feele to be euill, why ſhould hee beſtirre himſelfe to amend? And p. 225ſurely hee feeles it not euill, that doth not mourne for it. What was the cauſe that the Corinthians did ſo careleſly tolerate the inceſtuous perſon among them? Hath not the Apoſtle taxed it in one word, ſaying; And you hauehave not rather grieued, that ſuch an one might bee taken from amongst you. Lo, they mourned not for the ſinne, and therefore they chaſtized not the ſinner in good manner, as they ought to hauehave done, for his amendment. And ſo will it euer bee in all places and times. In what meaſure ſorrow for ſinne is wanting, care of amending it will be wanting alſo: little of this, if little of that; and if none of that, none of this wil be ſeene in mens liues. This vnſenſibleneſſe of ſinne, is ioyned with too much ſenſibleneſſe of other things; it makes one ſo timorous, that he dares not ſpeake againſt wickedneſſe, for feare of offending ſuch and ſuch: it makes a man fooliſhly pitifull, and cruelly compaſſionate, that he cannot find in his heart to hurt the offender, euen by due executions of iuſtice. He, whoſe heart and eyes cannot performe their office, in grieuing for, and lamenting ſinne, neither will his hand and tongue doe their offices, in ſpeaking and ſtriuing againſt it. The ſame corruptions that make the hart ſhort in griefe, and the eyes in teares, will alſo make the tongue ſhort in reproouing, and hand in puniſhing. Neither will any man lay a plaiſter to that ſore, which he thinkes not worth grieuing for; for if it were dangerous, why is not he ſorry? If it be not dangerous, what need a plaiſter? p. 226And ſo it will follow, that ſinne hauing none enemie to reſiſt it, none to oppoſe and fight againſt it, will mightily preuaile (as a fire which no man ſeekes to quench,) and ſo get the vpper hand, till at laſt it grow ſo high, crying, and inſufferable,Publike plagues will come. that the Iuſtice of God can no longer forbeare it, but he himſelfe muſt take the matter into his owne hand. Then follow ſore and heauie calamities vponupon the Church and Commonwealth, and the whole Nation groanes vnderunder Gods blowes, becauſe few or none did groane for the ſinnes that prouoked him. When many commit euil, and none lament it, then the wrath of God will ſurely ariſe, then is ſinne gotten to his full ripeneſſe, and then the euils aboue-named, ſometimes ſingly, ſometimes altogether at once, are appointed to deſtroy a Nation. All the policie of Gouernours, all the valour and courage of ſouldiers, all the wealth of Citizens, and the louelove and friendſhip of neighbours, ſhall not keepe a Nation in welfare, nor mound it from grieuous and fearefull plagues, if once the voice of ſadneſſe and mourning, and of thoſe that crie and weepe for the abominations of it, be put to ſilence. Then will God change their wiſdome into folly, & catch them in the ſnares of their owne craft; and if other meanes ſhould faile, will make them, euen to vndo themſelues. Then ſhall power bee turned into weakeneſſe, and courage into cowardice; for God will fight from Heauen againſt them, as the Prophet tels the Iewes; and if their enemies were but p. 227dead carcaſes, yet ſhould they riſe and ouercome. When all ceaſe mourning, then ſhall all begin ſuffering, for that is a ſure proofe, that ſin is come to his full growth, and that the meaſure of mans wickedneſſe, is repleniſhed euen to the brim. Indeed, what is there then remaining, that can in any reaſon be thought able to moue the mercy of God to longer forbearance? When none bewayleth, or as good as none; when none ſupplicateth, when none pleade the cauſeat the barre of his mercy, how can Iuſtice but raiſe it ſelfe vp, and ſmite the abuſers of former mercies, with ſo much greater ſeueritie, by how much they hauehave been longer borne withall?

And further,They ſhall periſh in the common deſtruction. it will come to paſſe from this letting ſinnes ſlip away by them without ſorrow, that the children of God (if any few graines of Wheate bee found hidden in the huge heape of chaffe) ſhall periſh in the common deſtruction, and bee ſmitten with the reſt, becauſe they mourned not for the reſt, but did rather partake of their ſinnes, by not oppoſing them: for none is in mercy marked for the day of deliuerance, but a mourner. Though a man be for the generall, vpright and godly, yet if in that particular, hee doe ſo farre degenerate from the rules of godlineſſe, that he remaine ſorrowleſſe, for the diſhonour done to God by others, this vngrieuing diſpoſition hath ſo deepely ingaged him into the guilt of thoſe ſinnes, that it will very hardly ſtand with the truth and wiſdome of p. 228God, to let him goe free; but he muſt cauſe him (for the good of his owne ſoule) by the ſmart of croſſes, to grieue for ſuch euils, as elſe he would not grieue for. So miſchiefe vponupon miſchiefe breakes in, when teares and mourning ſtand not vp to preuent the ſame. A mans ſelfe is infected, he becomes careleſſe of reforming euill, God ſmites the whole ſocietie, for the ſinnes now committed by all, and lamented by none; and then hee that mourned not, muſt himſelfe alſo ſmart for company. Shall we not ſeeke to ſtop the way againſt all, and each of theſe euils, by intrenching our ſelues, as it were, within theſe Riuers of waters?

And ſo, Brethren, you hauehave reaſons great ſtore, to prooue the dutie, and perſwade vntounto it. If you louelove God, whom ſinne grieueth; if you louelove your neighbour, whom ſinne hurteth; and if you hate ſinne it ſelfe, which all ought to hate that louelove God and their neighbour; if you conſider, how loathſome and grieuous a thing ſinne is, how offenſiue to God, yea, and iniurious, how harmefull alſo to mankind, both to him that dares practiſe it (whoſe ſoule it tumbleth to the bottome of hel, beſides other croſſes of all ſorts, which attend it for the preſent,) and alſo to the Countrie, where it is ſuffered, cauſing the Lord to ſend out Sword, Peſtilence, Famine, and all manner of dolefull miſeries againſt it: If you conſider, that this mourning wil ſurely cauſe the Lord to reprieue the whole Countrie, and that it will keepe the ſoule of the mourner free from p. 229infection, and ſtir him vp to al due meanes of redreſſing ſin, and ſo ſaue his own ſoule, at leaſt, frō the cōmon calamity, when it can now be longer no deferred. And laſtly, if you remember, that where this mourning is abſent, a mans ſoule will ſurely be infected, he wil grow careles of doing that which he ought to doe, for redreſſe of euill, and ſo ſin growing mighty, will infallibly and ineuitably procure a common iudgement, in which himſelfe ſhal alſo, as a man not ſigned for deliuerance, be taken away among the reſt. If, I ſay, you doe acknowledge and confeſſe all theſe things, as they are all manifeſt, and doe ſeriouſly lay them to heart, you cannot chuſe but yeeld in your very conſciences, that you all ought to doe, as the Prophet here profeſſeth to the Lord, that himſelfe was wont to doe, euen cauſe Riuers of waters guſh out of your eyes, becauſe men keepe not the Law of God.

CHAP. VI. Containing the firſt vſe of the point, a reproofe of them that doe neglect this duty.

Vſe 1 BVt alaſſe, alaſſe, my Brethren,Reproofe of thoſe that mourne not for common ſinnes. how ſlow and backward hauehave wee all been, to this ſo plaine and needfull a dutie? Ah, it is moſt euident, that we deſerue moſt ſharpe reprehenſion for being ſo ſcant in teares for that, for p. 230which this man of God did weepe ſo abundantly. For where is there, my brethren, alacke, where is there to be found one man amongſt vsus, that hath imitated ſo precious, and withall ſo manifeſt example? Where is his dwelling, whoſe face is couered with theſe teares, and cheekes made wet with this weeping? In what corner may we meete with him, or her, that is able to profeſſe in truth before the Lord, and his owne ſoule: O Lord, Riuers of water hauehave run downe mine eyes, becauſe they keepe not thy Law? O, no, no; we are ſold ouer to mirth and iollitie. Behold, ſlaying of Oxen, and killing of ſheepe, eating and drinking, and calling to hang ſorrow, as once among the Iewes. Behold; piping and dancing, and minſtrelſey; behold, making out harts fat and iouiall, as in a day of ſlaughter. But alas; Ah, alaſſe; the ſinnes of the Land are not laid to to heart by (almoſt) any of thoſe that inhabite the Land, and for a thouſand ſinners, hardly hauehave we one weeper. As for the common multitude, why, they would thinke him euen quite out of his wits, whoſe face they ſhould ſee blubberd with weeping in a corner: And why forſooth? Becauſe his neighbours be wicked and ill liuing men, and keepe not Gods precepts. Why (would they think and ſay) what is that to him? Shall he beare other mens burdens, or anſwere for other mens ſinnes? Or can hee mend their faults by ſighing and weeping for them? Why then ſhould hee vexe himſelfe for that, which will bere neuer a whit the better, if hee p. 231ſhould vext his heart out, at it? This would be the cenſure of the common and ordinary man, of ſuch a mourner, as the Text ſpeakes of, they would count his teares ill ſpent, and himſelfe a foole for his labour. And as is their iudgement, ſuch is (and ſuch needs muſt bee) their practice. They neuer in all their liues wept one tenth part of a teare, for all the ſinnes and abominable deeds that euer they heard of, or ſaw committed: vnleſſe it hauehave falne out, that the ſame thing hauehave been an hurt vntounto themſelues, or ſome other man, whoſe caſe they hauehave tendred, and ſo bemoned the perſon, not bewailed the ſinne; been ſorry for it as an injury againſt man, not as a tranſgreſſion of Gods precepts. But this neglect is not found alone with the vulgar ſort of men. Nay, thoſe that hauehave gotten ſome good meaſure of knowledge and of vertue, and doe exerciſe themſelues with ſome due care to keep themſelues vnſported of the wicked world, euen theſe alſo, for the moſt part, hauehave eyes altogether drie and teareleſſe, in regard of other mens offences. Who of thoſe that ſeeme to know and feare God, & to delight in his wayes, is carefull to wipe away the ſtaines of his neighbours ſinnes with his owne teares? Brethren, I demand of each of you; Can you ſay, & affirme, and that truly and ſincerely in the preſence of God, that your eyes doe yeeld forth ſtreames of water for the publike ſinnes?

Againe, I propound this queſtion to eueryevery of your conſciences: Art thou able to take vp Dauids p. 232words here, and with the good leaue of thine owne conſcience to affirme, as he affirmed, Riuers of waters, &c. Doubtleſſe there are but very few, if at all there bee any of vsus, that may affirme thus much of himſelfe, without a manifeſt accuſation of falſehood in his owne ſoule. If we lament our owne ſinnes, we thinke it abundantly ſufficient, though wee lend no teares at all to bewaile our neighbours faults. Indeed it muſt not bee denyed, that the greater number of teares, and thoſe the moſt earneſt and bitter, muſt be beſtowed by eueryevery man, in lamenting the ſinnes of his owne heart and life: but yet ſeeing God is diſhonoured alſo by the faults of others, and the ſoules of our brethren, as well as our owne ſoules, ought to be deare vntounto vsus; neither can it be denied, that it is a ſinne, and a fruit of our not ſufficiently hating ſinne, and louing God and our brethren, that we are ſo exceeding defectiue in ſorrowfull teares for their miſdeeds, and cauſe enough there is, that each of vsus ſhould take vp a grieuous complaint againſt himſelfe, and ſay, O Lord, how vnlike hauehave I been to thy ſeruant Dauid? No flouds, no drops of teares, ſcarce halfe a ſcore teares, ſcarce fiue, ſcarce two, ſcarce one, ſcarce halfe an one, doth proceed from mine eyes for the many and hainous tranſgreſſions, that I doe daily ſee with mine eyes. Where was my louelove to thee, Lord? Where mine hatred of ſinne? Where my charitie to my brethren? O how iuſtly mighteſt thou ſweepe me away with the Beſome of the common p. 233deſtruction, and bring thy fearefull plagues vponupon all of vsus, euen my ſelfe amongſt the reſt, becauſe they ſinned, and I wept not for their ſinnes? We are bound, brethren, euen to be angrie, and to fall out with our ſelues, when wee find in our ſelues a manifeſt neglect of a plaine dutie, ſo euidently enioyned by God, by others ſo plentifully practiſed, and grounded alſo vponupon ſo good, and vndenyable reaſons as this is: and therefore now charge thy ſoule before the Lord, with a great ſinne of omiſſion, in that thou haſt forgotten, or nor regarded to weepe in ſecret for the publike ſinnes. There want not men amongſt vsus, that can eagerly inueigh againſt the Words naughtineſſe, and aggrauate the offences of others in words, and with a ſatyricall bitterneſſe, ſet out the greatnes of their folly. Yea, there are ſome, that can make matters worſe then they be, and ſet a deeper and dirtier colour vponupon the ſins of others, then they ought to doe: but among theſe witty and ſharpe reproouers, of theſe vehement and clamorous accuſers, is there any one, trow you, that may be called a weeper, a mourner, a lamenter? It is eaſie to exerciſe ones wit vponupon the ſinnes of others, by making them ridiculous, to mooue the ſpleene with laughter. It is eaſie to exerciſe ones ſtomake vponupon the ſinnes of others, by violent inuectiues, to make the offenders odious; but it is hard, yea, hard indeed, to exerciſe ones ſorrow vponupon the ſinnes of others, to make our ſelues carefull of not offending in the like kind, and of ſeeking to p. 234ſtop them alſo from offending. Diuers may ſay, I beheld the tranſgreſſors, and laughed at them: diuers alſo, I beheld the tranſgreſſors, & chafed at them: but few (alaſſe, how few?) can vſe another ſentence of Dauid in this Pſalme, and ſay; I beheld the tranſgreſsors, and was grieued, becauſe they kept not thy Word. Let vsus therefore earneſtly condemne our ſelues in our hearts, that hauehave eyes ſo drie, and void of teares, when we hauehave a Land ſo naught, and full of ſinne. For Brethren, how ſtands the caſe with vsus? Can wee iuſtly excuſe our ſelues, and ſay, The cauſe of our not weeping, is the want of cauſe to weepe, for that amongſt vsus, the commandements of God are diligently kept, ſo as there is no iuſt reaſon of digging vp Fountaines of teares, to bewaile the contrarie? Are we able in truth to defend our ſelues with this Apologie, which were the onelyonly due Apologie, that would defend vsus from blame for not weeping? I would to God, euen hartily I would, that it were ſo, and that it were nothing but our, either too much zeale, or too much aptneſſe to find fault, that made vsus in this manner to accuſe and condemne our ſelues, and you. But alaſſe, the contrary is moſt manifeſt and vndeniable. Sinne aboundeth with vsus as much, as euer it did (I thinke) in the ſtreetes of Ieruſalem; and (as it is fore-prophecyed, that knowledge ſhould, ſo it is fulfilled, that) wickedneſſe doth euen ouerflow, like the waues of the Sea. Oathes, and blaſphemies, and curſed ſpeakings, breaking of the Lords day, & vnhallowed p. 235profanation of Gods hallowed Time, contempt of Gods Word and Ordinances, and a ſhamefull turning of Religion into a meere forme & faſhion, diſobedience againſt Gouernours, murder, whoredome, theft, fraud, vſurie, briberie, ſimonie, all ſinnes, almoſt, of all ſorts, in all eſtates, all places, all ages, all conditions, all ſexes, doe ſwarme round about, and fill the World, like the Frogs of Egypt, or the Flyes. The face of our Nation is couered ouer with a Leproſie and Tetter, of moſt odious and loathſome wickedneſſe. Who can walke the ſtreetes in a Market, or a Faire-day, and not heare a thouſand oathes, and a thouſand curſes, a thouſand lyes, and a thouſand periuries, euen wilfull and groſſe falſe ſwearing, euen for a very trifle? With vsus they deſpiſe Father and Mother; with vsus they oppreſſe the poore and fatherleſſe; with vsus, they defile eueryevery man his neighbours wife; and with vsus, they take vſurie, and lend for encreaſe. Amongſt vsus, there is lying, ſwearing, whoring, ſtealing, killing, and in a manner, no mercy, nor truth, nor knowledge, nor feare of God in the Land: ſo that it is nothing elſe but very blindneſſe, that makes vsus not to ſee, if we ſee not, our Countrie to be euen buried almoſt, in a Sea of wickedneſſe, and yet loe, wee weepe not, nor mourne; our dead hearts and drie eyes drop downe no teares for all this. O blockiſh and ſenceleſſe ſoules of ours! O conſciences hardened and deaded, and little leſſe then ſeared with an hot Yron! O that wee could bee greatly diſcontented p. 236with our ſelues, for hauing been ſo exceeding hard-harted this way, and for hauing beſtowed ſo little time and paines in labouring, to make our ſelues ſofter. We hauehave not onelyonly not wept, but not ſtriuen to weepe, not alone hauehave we omitted ſorrow, but euen the endeauoring after ſorrow hath been farre from vsus, and that of the two is the much more faultie; for he that labours to performe a Chriſtian dutie, and yet failkes of it, for all his labour, is a farre leſſe offender, then he that doth vtterly forbeare all paines to performe it. Now ſo it is with moſt of vsus (I thinke, I may ſay with moſt of vsus) wee hauehave beſtowed no paines, nor time, to digge vp theſe fountaines of teares, we hauehave not ſet our thoughts that way, nor laboured the matter with our owne hearts, to make them grieued and ſorrowfull in this behalfe. Againe, and againe therefore, let vsus compare our ſelues with this Prophet, and wonder at the difference, that he had floods of teares, and we hauehave ſcarce at all one teare, to ſhed for the breach of Gods Law, which is ſo notoriouſly broken amongſt vsus. There is, I acknowledge, a generation of faultfinding men, that make vsus farre worſe then wee be, their ſharpe-ſighted eyes can ſee no lawfull Miniſtry, no true Word, Church, Sacraments, nor prayer amongſt vsus, and yet of theſe captious People, and carping Nation, that ouerlaſh ſo much in accuſing, there is ſcarce any that mourneth for the things hee carpeth at: for they ſo ſpend themſelues in falſe accuſing, that they p. 237hauehave no leaſure to beſtow in true bewailing of our ſinnes. But tho wee may not, nor muſt not acknowledge our ſelues ſo bad as they would make vsus (for a body may liue, tho he be ſicke and diſeaſed; and Iob was a true and liuing man, tho couered ouer from head to foote with boyles and Vlcers, that his friends knew him not,) yet neither can wee deny our ſelues to bee a people very wicked and diſordered, to whom the Prophets words may fitly bee applied; Ah ſinfull Nation! Ah people laden with wickedneſſe, a corrupt Seede. And againe; We hauehave deepely reuolted from the Lord, and our ſinnes are gone ouer our heads, and they reach vp to Heauen. And in another ſenſe we may ſay as he; The whole head is ſicke, the whole heart is heauy, from the crowne of the head, to the ſoles of the feete, there is little to be ſeene but wounds, and ſwellings; and yet, ah yet, we lament not; thoſe that feare God, lament not; thoſe that come to Church, and louelove the Word, lament not; thoſe that deſire otherwiſe to walke vprightly and conſcionably, lament not; ſo that it may wel be a queſtion, whether moſt of vsus euer read this ſentence, or heard it read with any conſideration and aduiſement. If the eyes of ſinners were only found drie, if teares were abſent alone from the cheekes of thoſe that work wickedneſſe, it were not much: who could expect any thing but ſtonie hardneſſe, from ſtony-hearted men? But euen the people of God, his owne children, that ſhould hauehave hearts of fleſh within them, theſe alſo hauehave continued hard, in regard of other p. 238mens faults, and euen forgotten that it is a dutie, to make Riuers of waters deſcend from their eyes, becauſe men keep not Gods ſtatutes. Now Brethren, if this were a fruit of a kind of naturall vnfitneſſe to mourne, becauſe we were made of a firmer mettle, then that ſorrow could melt vsus: we might then lay the blame vponupon the body, rather then the mind. And yet if nature had denied vsus teares, it hath not denied vsus ſighs, & groanes, it hath not denied vsus the power of ſitting in heauines, and of making our ſelues ſad and penſiue. Though wee could not weepe ſo plentifully as this Prophet, yet we might end our hearts, and earne in our bowels, and ake within, and ſigh, and grind our very ſoules to powder, which yet alas wee neither doe, nor ſtriue to doe. As the outward demonſtrations of ſorrow, I meane, wet eyes, are abſent from vsus, ſo is alſo the ſubſtance thereof, I meane, the inward tumbling of the ſoule vp and downe diſquietly, the hearts beating it ſelfe, as it were, againſt it ſelfe, and cauſing it ſelfe to be pained. So then we neither mourne outwardly, nor yet inwardly; wee neither weepe with our eyes, nor grieue with our hearts; and what can wee ſay in our owne defence? For certainely, brethren, it is not the want of aptneſſe to weepe, that makes vsus not to weepe, for our eyes are ready enough in other caſes, and for other matters, to yeeld forth euen Riuers of waters. Let but an husband, or wife, or child, or friend lye ſicke, and be ready to die; let but fire come and conſume ſome part of our p. 239goods; let any man but coozen and deceiue vsus of ſome ſummes of money; yea, let any friend ſhew himſelfe vnkind, and diſreſpectfull of vsus; yea, let any enemy reproch vsus with froward and bitter ſpeeches; yea, let a Gouernour chide and ſhent vsus, as we thinke, without our fault; or but an equall take vsus vp ouer-cuttedly in termes, or any, almoſt, the leaſt thing befal, that wrongs vsus, in body, goods, or name: O then how we melt like waxe before the fire? What flood-gates be our eyes? How do teares puſh themſelues forward (like a breach of the ſea) and will not bee ſtopped? Then we cannot ſpeak, but we weepe, and ſob, and hardly can ſpeake for weeping. O fooliſh man and vnwiſe! Canſt thou hauehave while and heart to weepe ſo much for the evuill words ſpoken againſt thee, for the diſcourteſies offred vntounto thee, for the loſſes and croſſes that do befall thee, and canſt thou not weepe at all for the ſinnes committed againſt God, for the thouſands and ten thouſands of oathes, and blaſphemies that are darted at his Name, for the wofull ſacrilege committed againſt his Church, for the ignorance, blindneſſe, hypocriſie, profanenes of the multitude, and in a word, for all the numberleſſe abominations, that are daily, hourely, minutely committed amongſt vsus? O heart poſſeſſed with ſelfe-louelove, and prizing its owne eaſe and welfare aboue Gods honour and glory, and making more account of its ſelf, then of its Maker! Here now if in any thing we ſhould enlarge our ſelues, in ſpeaking againſt our ſelues, and in p. 240reproouing, ſhaming, condemning our ſelues; and this, if any thing, we ſhould moſt vehemently preſſe vponupon our ſelues, as an extreme and vnanſweerable aggrauation of our hardneſſe, which by this we know, not to be naturall, but ſinfull. Say to thy ſelfe, I came to ſuch a place, ſuch a time, and found the countenance of my parent, brother, ſiſter, or friend, eſtranged from me; and his words and carriages vnlouing towards me: It put me in my dumps for a day or two after, and made mee water my plants, and moyſten mine hands and handkerchiefe with teares. I went, not long after, into another place, and heard fortie foule oathes, and a number of horrible execrations and raylings, and one or two drie ſighes ſerued the turne at this wickedneſſe, or ſcarce ſo much was done by me, to ſhew my ſorrow. O Lord, O Lord, how aboundeth mine heart with ouer-high conceits of my ſelfe? How doe I ouer-value my ſelf, and vnderunder-value thee? What, to be more troubled at a croſſe word or two againſt my ſelfe, at the denying of ſome ſmall requeſt, at any diſcourteſie, any iniury, then at ſo many oathes, lyes, curſes, raylings, as I hauehave heard without trouble? I know not whether I ſhould be more aſhamed of mine exceſſiuenes of teares in the one caſe, or my defectiueneſſe in the other; but both layd together, doe make vp the meaſure of mine hardheartedneſſe to the full. If I could ſigh, mourne, weepe for nothing, it were not ſo much, that I did it not for the ſinnes of others; but when I hauehave ſuch ſtore of teares for p. 241other things, now to be ſo ſcant of them for that that deſerueth the farre greater quantitie, what ſhall I ſay of my ſelfe? Sure this deſerues a degree of ſorrow, beyond teares, and ſo fall vponupon thine owne heart, and cruſh it too pieces with diſlike of thy ſelfe, that haſt been ſo extremely iſenſible in Gods behalfe, ſo ouer-tender in thine owne. O that theſe words of mine might ſo farre preuaile with my ſelfe and you, brethren, that wee may at leaſtwiſe acknowledge our ſelues to bee greatly faultie, for not hauing diſcouered our deteſtation of ſinne, our good will to God and Man, our religious care of the publike welfare and our owne, by taking out the leſſon of Dauid, and of Ieremy, and by following the worthy patterne of holy Ezra, and bleſſed Paul and our moſt bleſſed and worthy Sauiour himſelfe. Doubtleſſe it will doe ſome good, to know our ſinnes, and to confeſſe againſt our ſelues, ſaying, I am in truth exceedingly oo blame, for my lauiſh and prodigall caſting away ſuch a multitude of teares for nothing, and beſtowing ſo very few or none in that caſe, wherein they would hauehave been (as precious ſeed in a good ground) exceeding profitable to my ſelfe and others, I meane, in bewailing the ſinnes both of my ſelfe and of the times.

p. 242CHAP. VII. Containing the ſecond vſe, viz. an exhortation and direction to this dutie, of mourning for the faults of others.

Vſe 2 BVt now, hoping that you doe all both fee and feele,Exhortation to mourne. this omiſſion of teares to be ſinfull, I muſt turne my ſpeech vntounto your hearts for another purpoſe, requiring you in Gods name to reforme this fault, by turning your laughter into teares, and your ioy into ſorrow, as Saint Iames aduiſeth. Ignorance of a dutie required, though it cannot wholly excuſe the neglect of it, is yet ſome mitigation of the fault: but when a man is plainely told of a dutie, conuinced that it is a dutie, reprooued for omitting it, and yet is careleſſe to performe it, now his careleſneſſe is notorious and inexcuſable. Perhaps, my Brethren, ſome of you that hauehave now been taught the needfulneſſe of theſe teares, did neuer conſider the matter ſo well before, but now that the thing is made plaine vntounto you; and your ſoules muſt needs confeſſe, that you alſo, as well as Dauid, ought to be mooued with the faults of others: continue not to omit a knowne dutie, leſt your conſciences accuſe you of wilfull diſobedience. Not alone to doe what God forbids me, when I know his will to the contrarie, is a fruite of wilfulneſſe; but alſo to neglect what hee enioynes, when his good pleaſure is made manifeſt vntounto me.

p. 243Wee hauehave taken from you the excuſe of ignorance; wee hauehave made your hearts to confeſſe, that you ought to hauehave wept ſome of Dauids teares: wee hauehave, I hope, made you ſorrowfull for not weeping them; now, wee pray you, let vsus make you carefull, to ſhed theſe teares more plentifully hereafter. I know, that the ſame Dauid that here tels of riuers of teares, doth alſo tell of his ſongs in the night, and great reioycing. But there is no ſuch oppoſition or fewd betwixt ſuch ſongs, and ſuch teares, that both may not well be done in their ſeaſons. The day is long enough for both, at leaſt, our life is long enough, and euerie Chriſtian muſt find while to mourne for his owne and others faults, that he may be comforted: he muſt ſometimes make his teares his drinke, that he may be fitted for the cup of conſolation; and put himſelfe in aſhes, that hee may be ready to receiue the garments of gladneſſe. Wherefore, brethren, frame your ſelues to mourning and lamentation, lift vp your voyces, and weepe, and draw forth water, and powre it out here before the Lord, for an acceptable drinke-offering, as once it is reported of the people in the dayes of Samuel: A fitter ſeaſon to mourne, wee need not ſeeke for. The Text fits well with the time. Oh that our harts would fit with both! God hath mourned, wil not ye mourne? Be not among the generation of men, that mourne not when they are wept vntounto; we come now to tell you, that God would hauehave you weepe. He calls for your teares, p. 244and he lookes for them: and let him not looke in vaine. Take vp the words of the Prophet, and ſay; O that our heads were Fountaines, and our eyes Well-ſprings of teares, that wee might weepe day and night, for the ſinnes of the Daughters of our People! Yea, let eueryevery man ſay with him; My belly, my belly, depart from me, comfort me not, looke away from me, for I will weepe bitterly, becauſe (not of the ſlaine, but) of the ſinnes of the Daughter of my People: for it is a day of wickedneſſe and abomination, and a time of extreme diſſoluteneſſe. My bowels, my bowels, I am pained at the heart; I cannot hold my peace, mine heart makes a noyſe within me; for I hauehave heard the voyce of ſwearing and curſing, ſinne vponupon ſinne, iniquitie vponupon iniquitie; the people is a fooliſh people, they hauehave not knowne God, they are ſottiſh children, and will receiue no inſtruction; they are wiſe to doe eiull, but to doe good they hauehave no knowledge. Imitate the good Prophet in theſe words of his, and labour to put on his affections, and then proceede more particularly, and ſay: Oh the oathes and blaſphemies in our Nation! O, the contempt of Gods Word and Goſpell in our Nation! O, the pride and idleneſſe in our Nation! O, the drunkenneſſe, whoredome, and filthineſſe in our Nation! If Rome, or Conſtantinople abounded with ſwearing and curſing, who could looke for better there? If France and Italy were full of whoredomes, who could expect other in thoſe corners of Popiſh darkeneſſe? But England, Ah England! Gods Signet, Gods Iewell, p. 245which he hath foſtered as tenderly, and adorned as graciouſly, as euer he did Iudea. England, the one onelyonly Nation, almoſt, that doth openly and ſolely profeſſe the true Religion of God: I ſay, England aboundeth in all theſe ſinnes. What ſhall we ſay or doe? Whither ſhall we turne our ſelues? And how ſhall we comfort our ſelues for this, when euen England is full of all wickedneſſe? What? Swearing in England? Curſing in England? Laſciuious dancing, dallying, and wantonneſſe on the Lords day in England? Contempt of Gods Word, drunkenneſſe, pride, idleneſſe in England? Euen in England, where there is ſo much preaching, and ſo much hearing? Where the Goſpell hath baniſhed Poperie for ſo many yeeres? Where the Scriptures hauehave ſo long time been read and publiſhed, and where God hath vſed ſo many meanes for ſo great ſpace of time to recall vsus? O, breake our hearts within vsus, and let our eyes drop downe teares to thinke of it! But what meane I thus to ſtriue with you for teares, and to wreſt and extort them out of your heads by force? To weepe a little at a Sermon, is nothing to ſpeak of: there is a further matter required of you. In ſecret, I ſay, in ſecret, when you bee all alone, and may more freely doe it, then doe it more abundantly; or elſe to doe it here a little by compulſion of earneſt words & perſwaſions, is little worth, and will doe little good. I confeſſe, that in meditating theſe things with my ſelf, I found mine eyes great with teares, and mine heart within p. 246me ſwolne with ſighes, and I hope that the vttering of them, may hauehave alſo power to fill ſome of your hearts, and of your eyes alſo. But, ah, there is yet a greater and ſecreter mourning which I call you to. He weepes in truth, that weepes without witneſſe. Trepare to the worke.Take thou ſome time this day, or ſome other day, to get alone by thy ſelfe, and preſſe theſe things vpō thy ſelf, that hauehave bin ſo earneſtly beaten vpō thee in the preaching of the Word; and there bowing the knees of thy ſoule before God, begin with an acknowledgment vntounto him, that now thou confeſſeſt this mourning: for the publike ſins is a duty, which he doth iuſtly require at thine hands, & which thou haſt ſinfully neglected heretofore, but now art ſorrowfull for that neglect, and deſirous to performe hereafter; and then humbly beſeech him to thaw, by the ſweete and warme beames of his Grace, this frozen heart of thine, and ſo to ſmite this rockie ſoule, that it may yeeld forth, as once the naturall Rocke did, euen Riuers of water. Pray him, according to his moſt free and gracious promiſe, to powre vponupon thee the Spirit of Grace and ſupplication, and remouing the heart of ſtone, to put within thee, in ſtead of it, an hart of fleſh, that thou mayſt now doe, what Dauid did, and what thy ſelfe by his example art called vponupon by the Miniſtrie (and art accordingly deſirous) to doe.

Hauing thus prepared thy ſelfe,Begin to weepe for thine owne ſinnes firſt. then ſet about the worke it ſelfe, and firſt, begin to weepe for thine owne ſinnes; for aſſure thy ſoule, it ſhall p. 247be all in vaine, for any man to labour to bewaile the faults of others, that doth not in the firſt place bewaile his owne faults. Thinke and ſay thus then to thy ſelfe in thy meditations: Ah, what a vile and wretched ſinner am I? What a Childhood hauehave I ſpent? What an Youth? What a Middle-age? And (if thou beeſt come ſo farre) what an Old-age? What thoughts hauehave I harboured in mine heart? What words hauehave I vttered with my tongue? What deeds hauehave I done with mine hand? This tongue of mine hath ſworne many a vaine, paſſionate, and outragious oath: This tongue hath curſed, and rayled, and ſpoken profanely: It hath ſpoken wantonly and filthily, and told many a lye and falſe tale. This hand hath vſed cruelty, reuenge and dalliance. This heart hath ſwolne againſt Gouernours, and boyled away in enuy and malice. This heart hath been feareleſſe and careleſſe of God, and hath forgotten him and his Word, and euen doubted of his Beeing. O wretched tongue, wretched hand, & wretched hart! O, would that I could mourne for all theſe abominations of my life! O, that all the teares which euer I wept in all my life, for croſſes, loſſes, wrongs, iniuries, vnkindneſſes, and the like, were now all vnwept, and gathered together at once in mine eyes, that I might powre them forth in godly ſorrow before the Lord for my ſinnes! Be thou humbled and caſt downe, O my ſoule, and be thou troubled within me! wallow thy ſelfe in the duſt, and tumble thy ſelf in aſhes. p. 248Thou haſt offended againſt thy Maker, and ſinned againſt thy Redeemer, the holy Sonne of God! Thou haſt wronged thy neighbours, and hurt thy ſelfe, and deſerued damnation; and, Ah wretch, thou haſt ſhewed thy ſelfe vngracious and vngratefull, againſt that heauenly, carefull, and tender-hearted Father, that gaue his onelyonly Sonne to death to ranſome thee. What Father euer ſo louing? What child euer ſo rebellious? Why are you drie, O mine eyes? And why art thou ſtony, O mine heart? Why doth ſorrow flie from mee? And why are teares departed hence? O that I could weepe! O that I could weepe! O that I could euen be melted and diſſolued into kindly teares, and with bleſſed Peter, weepe bitterly; and with godly Marie, waſh the feete of my Sauiour with my teares! Thus ſtriue and take paines with thy ſelf, to make thy ſoule ſad for thine owne ſinnes firſt; and hauing ſoftned thy ſelfe ſomewhat by ſuch endeuours, then begin for thy Countrie alſo, and thinke in this ſort: Ah Lord, if I had ſinned alone, I alone would weepe mine owne teares. But I am a man of polluted lips and life, and I dwell amongſt a people of polluted lips and life. Wee hauehave all gone aſtray, wee all hauehave done an abominable deed, there is none that doth good, no not one. This Nation, this Chriſtian and baptized Nation, wherein thy Goſpell of truth hath ſo long ſhined brightly, is yet ſtill for all that, a wicked and a ſinfull Nation. O, that thou wouldſt pleaſe to helpe me mourne for theſe common ſinnes! p. 249Is not thy Spirit as able to ſoften a mans heart now, as in former times?Proy to God to ſoften the heart. Is not an heart of the poſteritie of Abraham naturally as hard, as one of another off-ſpring? O thou that gaueſt Dauid ſtore of teares, ſtirre vp in me alſo the ſpirit of griefe, for the publike ſinnes.Conſider the grieuous ſianes of our Land. And now begin to repreſent vntounto thy ſoule, the many monſtrous crying ſinnes that are daily (and with impunitie many) committed in our Countrie. Looſe thy thoughts a while, in this great Thicket and wildernes of abominations, that hath ouer-growne vsus, and ſay; What could God doe more for a people, then he hath done for vsus? and he looked for Grapes, and behold, wilde Grapes; and for Figs, and behold, rotten Figs; for iudgement and righteouſnes, and behold, ſin & wickednes? What monſtrous ignorance and profanenes and helliſh Atheiſme doth couer the multitude? What monſtrous pride, and idleneſſe, and fulnes of bread, and abominable vncleanneſſe, doe couer the Gentry? How full of oathes and blaſphemies are the Court, the Citie, the Townes, the Countrie with vsus? Great men ſweare, and meane men ſweare; Miniſters ſweare, and people ſweare; men ſweare, and women ſweare; boyes ſweare, and girles ſweare; & almoſt babes and ſucklings ſweare; and if eueryevery oath were but a drop of water, it were enough to make a flood to drowne the whole Land withall. The Lords Day is eueryevery where violated and profaned. The Word and Sacraments are made a very ieſt, and all Gods ſeruices are turned into a p. 250meere cuſtomary piece of worke. The children are eueryevery where ſtubburne and rebellious againſt their parents. Much murder and bloodſhed is committed; and for enuie and malice, the Land aboundeth with them, whoredome and filthineſſe ſtinkes in eueryevery corner; theft, oppreſſion, vſurie, ſimony, ſacriledge: where ſhal a man ſtirre, but he ſhall meete with them? Lying, deceite, fraud and guile are become amongſt the neceſſary ornaments of a good chapman, and one cannot liue without them now-a-dayes. Preſumption, ſtonineſſe of heart, and turning Gods Grace into wantonnes, are eueryevery dayes faults. O Lord God, we are a moſt wicked and ſinfull Nation and people, and ſhould not my ſoule mourne for this? O, how art thou diſhonoured, and thy Lawes broken, and thy Spirit grieued! and ſhould not my ſoule weepe bitterly for this?Conſider the grieuous puniſhments that must come, if mourning preuent not. And when thou haſt thus called to mind the ſinnes of the Land, repreſent alſo to thy ſelfe the iudgements that muſt come vponupon vsus for them, and ſay; Lord, what ſhall we do in the end thereof! Thy patience will not alwaies laſt, thy grace will not euer ſtriue with vsus, Iuſtice will not ſuffer thee to bind thine hands for euer with the cords of long ſuffering; yea, the Lord muſt needs ariſe at length in furie and indignation, and ſtirre vp himſelfe in wrath, to come and comfort himſelfe, and eaſe his ſoule, by taking vengeance on ſuch a Nation as this. Hee muſt giuegive our Cities to the ſpoyle; our houſes and Churches to the fire; and all our goods to p. 251the deuourer. He muſt hiſſe for his Flie againſt vsus, & bring vponupon vsus, as he threatned and brought vponupon Iudah, his foure great Armies to deſtroy, Sword, Famine, Peſtilence, and the teeth of euill beaſts to deuoure. He muſt lay vsus waſte and deſolate, and cauſe vsus to dye of grieuous deaths, and caſt our carcaſſes into the open ſtreetes, as dung on the face of the earth, that there ſhould be none to burie, or to lament. He muſt fill vsus full of wailing and howling, and bitter lamentation. Did not Iudah eſcape, that had leſſe light, and fewer meanes? and can England eſcape, that hath the light of the Goſpell, as much exceeding that of the Law, as the Sun-ſhine doth the Moone-light? And now thinke with thy ſelfe, that thou beholdeſt God, ſending ſcarceneſſe amongſt vsus, and eueryevery body feeble and languiſhing. Thinke that thou ſaweſt the Peſtilence leaping in at our houſes, and ſweeping away whole Families and Townes, till there bee no buyer. Thinke that thou ſeeſt the inſolent foe breaking in vponupon vsus, and with drawne Sword, filling eueryevery place with feare, ſlaughter, death, and deſolation, and then ſay; O the ſlaine of the Daughter of my People! the Waſter waſteth; without, the Sword; within, Famine and Peſtilence: for all theſe things muſt as aſſuredly come vponupon England, as euer they came vponupon Ieruſalem. If enow doe take vp the taske of mourning, wee may eſcape them in our dayes: but if we doe not preconceiue them by the power of faith in Gods threats, we ſhall ſurely feele them in the execution; p. 252and when the generation of mourners for ſinne is gone, then will the time of howling for the puniſhment of ſinne be here. Thinke it not therfore a needleſſe thing to anticipate a croſſe, and to make it preſent in imagination beforehand. For particular afflictions, wee muſt not drowne our ſelues in cares, before they come: but becauſe we know, that God hath denounced this vengeance, and executed it on others, and that his Iuſtice is the ſame ſtill, therefore we are ſure it will come on this Nation alſo, and that ſpeedily, if riuers of teares preuent it not. Wherfore our beſt way is, in the foreſight of it, to lament the ſinnes that would procure it, that ſo wee may not bee forced to feele it, when all lamentations will be booteleſſe.This was preached vponupon a Tueſday in Whitſon-weeke. Brethren, will you ſpend ſome houre or two this day, this idle day, when others pipe, and howte, and drinke, and dally, and dance, and adde to the heape of ſinnes (as you know the ſeaſon beares,) will you I ſay, thus meditate, and pray, and mourne, and ſigh, and ſtriue to ſend forth riuers of teares? If you will, bleſſed be thoſe teares! they ſhall doe good to your ſoules, and good to your Countries, good to the King, and good to the Commons, good to the Commonweale, and good to the Church, and good to the whole Land, and all that dwell in it. But alack, I feare you wil not, I feare we looſe our labour. Buſineſſe, buſineſſe, ſports, paſtime, cōpany, ſome one or other ſuch thing, will ſteale your hearts away, I feare: for ſo it is vſually ſeene, out of the Church, into p. 253your houſes and ſhops, you goe ſome to your workes, and ſome to your ſports, and neuer ſo much as thinke of what you hauehave heard, neuer ſet vponupon the practice of what you are exhorted to; and ſo we preach in vaine, and you heare in vaine, and wee get nothing but our labour for our paines. Now for the Lord Ieſus ſake, doe not ſo this day, but couenant with thy ſelfe, that afore thou ſleepeſt, thou wilt forcibly breake thorow all occaſions, and find ſome one houre to take paines with thine heart, and to frame it to ſome tenderneſſe of remorſe, that thou mayſt be able once to ſay with Dauid; Riuers of waters hauehave runne downe mine eyes, becauſe they kept not thy Law. Say, thou ſhouldeſt heare of the death of wife, husband, child, friend: would it not affect thine hart with ſome ſorrow? Let the tidings, yea, the hearing & beholding of ſo many ſinnes committed (which doe more diſhonor God, then any croſſe can hurt thee) hauehave ſome power ouer thy griefes, and ſhew, that thine affections are not altogether carnall. One or two teares, ſhed for ſinne voluntarily, in the day of proſperitie, out of a ture deſire to ſhew our hatred of it, and louelove to God; and out of a ſerious conſideration of its ſpiritual filthineſſe, and hainouſneſſe, is more worth, then twenty teares ſhed in the day of affliction, when a man cannot tell, whether it bee the ſinne or the croſſe that procures his teares. Now therefore addreſſe your ſelues to that vnwelcome taske of mourning (to Nature, I ſay, vnwelcome, but to Grace p. 254moſt welcome,) and if you cannot at firſt on-ſet, get floods of teares, yet if you can get but two or three teares, or a few heartie ſighes (till another time that you may get more) know, that it is worth your labour; good duties are done likely with much weakeneſſe and difficultie at firſt: cuſtome and continuance of doing, muſt bring vsus to more perfection; be not diſcouraged, becauſe thine heart will bee hard, and full, vnapt to mourne, when thou addreſſeſt thy ſelfe firſt vntounto it; but know, that a good beginning is requiſite in all buſineſſes, and he ſhall neuer finiſh any thing, that will ſit ſtill and doe nothing, becauſe hee finds not all things anſwerable to his deſires at firſt: yea, that man that laboureth to ſet his will vponupon a pitch of ſadneſſe, by offering to his mind fit thoughts for that purpoſe, and ſo makes his ſoule heauy with the apprehenſion of that that is euill and naught, ſhall be well accepted with God, though he attaine not that melting, that dropping, that teare-flowing, and ſenſible ſorrow, that Dauid here ſpeaketh of. And hee that accuſtometh himſelfe to that habituall griefe of the will (taking diſpleaſure againſt an euill thing, making it ſelfe auerſe from it, and wiſhing that it had neuer been) ſhall in due ſeaſon bee bleſſed by God, with the ſpirit of tenderneſſe, which ſhall moſt kindly and gently ſoften his heart, and cauſe his ſoule to be ſo mellow, and eaſie to be wrought vponupon, that he ſhall euen ſweetely and freely powre forth this his Drinke-offering before the Lord, and moſt p. 255ſweetely water his ſoule with theſe Aprill ſhowres of teares, which ſhall make it fertill, not alone in he flowres of preſently inſuing comforts, but alſo in the rich harueſt of vertue and godlineſſe, and the plentifull rewards thereof. Wherefore carry this ſhort ſentence home in your minds, and giuegive not ouer ſtriuing by times and turnes, till you hauehave made your ſelues in caſe, to ioyne Dauids requeſt with Dauids reaſon, and to ſay; Lord, make thy face to ſhine vponupon thy ſeruant, and teach me thy Statutes: Riuers of teares do drop downe mine eyes, becauſe they keepe not thy Law.

CHAP. VIII. Containing the third and laſt vſe of comfort to them that hauehave done, or ſhall begin and continue to doe this ſeruice.

Vſe 3 ANd laſtly, if there be any that hauehave performed,Comfort to them that do mourne. and continue to performe, or ſhal now begin, and proceede to performe this excellent dutie, we muſt alſo ſpeake peace to their ſoules, and preach vntounto them the glad tidings of good things, to comfort them withall. O, it is a great happineſſe, to tread in the ſteps of thoſe, concerning whom wee are perfectly aſſured, that they are now in Heauen: well may we aſſure our ſelues, that we ſhall be where they are after our death, if wee hauehave walked in the wayes, wherein they walked, during their p. 256liues. Thou knoweſt, Dauid was a child of God, a true regenerate man, a man after Gods owne heart; thou knoweſt, hee had all his ſinnes pardoned, dyed an happy death, now reigneth in Heauen, and hath attained eternall ſaluation. It would doe thine heart good, to hauehave an infallible token, that thou alſo art ſuch an one as Dauid, that thou haſt intereſt into the ſame good things which he enioyeth, and ſhalt hauehave poſſeſſion of them at laſt, as ſure as he hath. Then compare thy behauiour and carriage with Dauids; when he ſaw men wickedly to breake the Statutes of God, when he ſaw wickedneſſe committed in eueryevery place, and knew not how to helpe it, what did he doe? He wept, and ſighed, and lamented, and cryed, and tooke on very pitifully, euen as if ſome great croſſe had befalne himſelfe, and as if his owne perſon had receiued harme. Canſt thou likewiſe affirme before the Lord, that the ſame cauſe hath produced in thee the ſame effects? Doth the breach of Gods Law breake thine heart? Doth the ſinfulneſſe of others make thy ſoule ſorrowfull? Doſt thou ſigh and groane, and bewaile, and mourne for thoſe things, which it is not in thy power to redreſſe? Loe then, thou art a Dauid, a man after Gods heart alſo, a ſound and ſincere Chriſtian, an Iſraelite within, before God, a louer of God, a louer of thy Brethren, an hater of ſin, and thou alſo ſhalt be ſaued with Dauid, and reioyce with the ſame heauenly Ioy, wherewith hee now reioyceth. Thoſe that are like the Saints of God p. 257in dutie, ſhall be alſo like them in glorie; thoſe that hauehave followed them in holines, ſhal follow them in happineſſe. The ſame Spirit worketh in them, the ſame Chriſt dwelleth in them, and the ſame Crowne ſhall be ſet vponupon them. Bleſſed therefore are theſe mourners, for they ſhall be comforted. Whatſoeuer thing Dauid did aske in the former verſes (and now in this verſe doth lay, as it were, the foundation of his hopes to attaine the ſame, vponupon the remembrance of theſe his teares before God) that are we bold in Gods name to promiſe aſſuredly to eueryevery one that can ſpeake the ſame thing of himſelfe. Doſt thou mourne for the ſinnes of other men? Then will God looke vponupon thee, and bee mercifull vntounto thee, as he vſeth to doe to them, that louelove his name; for thou alſo loueſt his name. Doth thine eye drop downe teares, becauſe men keepe not Gods Law? Then will he order thy ſteps in his Word, neither ſhall any iniquitie hauehave dominion ouer thee. Doth thy ſoule lament bitterly the common ſinnes? Then will he deliuer thee from the oppreſſion of men, that thou mayeſt keepe his precepts? Doth thine heart mourne for the publike offences of thoſe, with whom thou liueſt? Then will God make his face to ſhine vponupon thee his ſeruant, and will teach thee his Statutes. In a word; Striueſt thou to performe this ſeruice, of which, Dauid maketh profeſſion in this verſe? Then ſhalt thou certainely obtaine al thoſe benefits, for which he made his humble petition in the former verſes. Wherfore p. 258let theſe Riuers of teares become ſtreames of comfort, wherein thy ſoule may bathe it ſelfe, with much content. Godly ſorrow is the mother of ſound Ioy; theſe teares are the proper ſeeds of heauenly comfort, whereas carnal ioy doth end in ſorrow, and that crackling mirth of ſinners being extinguiſhed, ſhall leaue them frozen in horror and amazement. Wherefore reape you the comfort of the ſeed you hauehave ſowne, and as the ſeed was precious, ſo let the crop be; and as the ſeed was abundant, ſo let the harueſt. From this dutie mayeſt thou infallibly collect, that thy charitie was ſound and plentifull. This dutie will prooue certainly, that thine hatred of ſinne was heartie and earneſt, and, I ſuppoſe, it may goe in the reckoning of one of the moſt infallible notes of Gods child.

To mourne for the generall calamities of the Church,Two ſure ſignes of sanctity. when ones ſelfe is at peace; and to mourne for the generall ſinnes of the Church, though himſelfe bee free; theſe are two moſt happy ſignes of true holineſſe, and this latter I thinke to be the ſurer of the twaine, as more ſenſibly and manifeſtly teſtifying true zeale of Gods glory. Yea, whoſoeuer ſorrowes heartily for the common ſinnes, may, in ſome reſpect, take more ſure hold of that mourning to confirme his faith, and aſſure himſelf of his vprightneſſe, then of his ſorrowing for his owne particular faults. We hauehave examples of damned hypocrites, that hauehave been ſad and heauy, for their p. 259owne ſinnes, in ſome caſes, as Ahab, Iudas, Saul, and he reſt: but we hauehave neuer any example of any, that lamented the publike and common wickedneſſe of the Church or Nation, where he liued, and of the perſons amongſt whom hee conuerſed (vnleſſe accidentally, wen the ſinnes hauehave falne out to be iniurious and troubleſome to themſelues, or to their friends,) but of thoſe which wee are well aſſured, to hauehave been truly ſanctified, and now to be eternally glorified. Is not Lot in Heauen? Is not Dauid in Heauen? Is not Ezra in Heauen? Ae not Ieremiah, Baruch, Ebedmelech, and the reſt of theſe mourners all in eternall glory in Heauen? Name me a man that is noted to hauehave bewailed the ſinnes of others, and I will bring you a ground out of Scripture without doubt or queſtion, that he is ſaued: ſo can it not bee ſaid of thoſe that hauehave mourned for their owne ſinnes. For in truth, the fierceneſſe of an euill conſcience, terrifying the ſoule with the feare of hell fire, may ſtirre vp ſuch griefe, and make an vnſanctified man complaine bitterly, that hee hath ſinned in ſuch or ſuch a thing, as Iudas in betraying innocent blood. That naturall affectiō which we beare vntounto our ſelues, may alſo make vsus ſorrowfull fort that, which we cannot but ſee, will bee harmefull to our ſelues, euen where no grace at all doth dwell: But to ſorrow for publike offences, and for the ſinnes of thoſe, that are no way neere vntounto vsus (but as the common bands of Humanitie and Chriſtianitie hauehave vnited them) there can bee no motiue p. 260at all imagined, except the true hatred of ſinne, and the true louelove of God and man, which no man can hauehave, but from the Spirit of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt dwelling in him. Deſperation and horror without Grace, may procure teares for ones owne faults, nothing but holineſſe can procure them for others. A man may lament his owne ſinnes, and not hate them; hee cannot lament the common ſinnes, but out of an hatred of them. Wherefore let the people of God make much of theſe teares, and preſerue them (as it were ſome hot and comfortable licour) for their vſe, againſt the day of temptation; that when the weake faith ſhall bee aſſaulted with manifold obiections, it may hauehave this token of truth to alleage for it ſelfe, againſt which, there can bee none exception; and let the people of God endeuour to be frequent in this exerciſe o mourning for the common ſinnes, that they may abound in comfort afterwards, and be filled with ioy, in ſtead of ſorrow; for alwaies holy ſorrow ends in ioy. Wee may not make our ſelues ſo careleſſe of our ſpirituall eſtate, as to loſe a good dutie, but muſt put al the Graces that God hath giuen vsus, and the effects of them to the beſt vſe, improouing them all to the encreaſe of our faith in God, and our ſpirituall reioycing in the aſſurance of his louelove. It will make vsus conſtant in good duties, if wee ſhall find them to doe vsus much good. Let theſe ſorrowes be much profitable and comfortable vntounto them (O Chriſtian ſoule,) as indeed they ought, and out of theſe p. 261weeping promiſes, gather theſe gladſome concluſions. I am ſure I am Gods child: I am ſure I am a member of the ſame body, that Dauid was a member of: I am ſure, I partake of that Spirit that dwelt in him: I am ſure, that ſinne ſhall not mortally infect me; that I ſhall not bee drowned in the publike Iudgements; that God will either ſpare the Land for the ſake of my ſelfe, and other like mourners; or at leaſt, that himſelfe will make prouiſion for my welfare in the common woes. I ſhall laugh, when others are puniſhed for ſin, becauſe I wept, when they committed ſinne. God will bee my ſhelter and refuge in the time of trouble, and hee will not giuegive me ouer to the deſtroyer; for often hauehave I cauſed, and often doe I purpoſe hereafter to cauſe, that ſtreames of teares ſhall deſcend from mine eyes, becauſe the ſonnes of men doe tread his Statutes vnderunder-foot. I hauehave not onelyonly wept for mine owne ſinnes (which feare of ſhame in the World, or damnation in Hell, hath made many a diſſembler doe:) I hauehave not alone wept for the faults of my children, and neere friends (which alſo carnall affection hath made many a carnall man to do in ſome caſes:) I hauehave not only wept for the faults of others, that were harmefull to my ſelfe and my friends, (as ſelfe-louelove wil make any man to doe,) but I hauehave wept for the generall ſinnes of the whole Land, for the ſinnes of the high and low, for the ſinnes of ſtrangers that knew mee not, and enemies that louelove mee not; for the ſinnes of any of Adams p. 262ſonnes, that I knew to hauehave ſinned, becauſe they kept not Gods Precepts. Bleſſed be the Lord, that hath made maine heart, in ſuch a meaſure, ſoft and tender: I am in his Couenant, ſeeing he hath created an heart of fleſh within my body; and I am ſure, that none but a fleſhy hart will make the eyes to ſhed teares, for the violation of Gods teſtimonies by other men.

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FINIS.

Errata.

Page 5. line 20. for, fretting, reade fettering. p. 17. l. 13. f. 1. Corinth r. 1. Chron. p. 23. l. 30. f. be, r. becauſe p. 28. l. 5. f. diſorder, r. diſorders. ead. f. doth. r. doe. p. 38. l. 22. f. know, r. knowing. p. 40. l. 1. f. Firſt, r. that is. p. 51. l. 2. f. leſſe. r. loſſe. p. 52. l. 15. f. kyes, r. trees. p. 55. l. 6. f. breake. r. brooke. p. 56. l. 3. f. common of thoſe, r. common. Of thoſe. l. 8. f. deſires? Very, r. deſires: very. p. 68. l. 18. f. God alone; r. God; alone, p. 70. l. 16. f. Hamar, r. Hamor. p. 72. l. 9. f. cumber, and attend, r. cumber attend. p. 78. l. 2. f. thou, r. you. p. 80. l. 5. f. ſhame, r. ſhun. p. 112. l. 19. f. lend, r. bend. p. 119. l. 22. f. perſecute, r. proſecute. p. 121. l. 2. f. of God, r. with God. p. 134. l. 13. f. them. The one, r. them. The naturall meanes are two, the one. p. 164. l. 28. f. ſelues, r. ſoules. p. 170. l. 19. f. hauehave. r. hath. p. 176. l. 4. f. workes, r. worke. p. 204. l. 15 f. thy, r the. p. 229. l. 3. f. longer no, r. no longer. p. …44. l. 6. f. him, r. himſelfe. p. 251. l. 17. f. vsus, and eueryevery, r. making all faces blacke, all knees weake, and eueryevery body. l. 19. f. houſes, r. windowes. l. 20. f. buyer, r. buryer. p. 252. l. 24. f. ſoules, r. ſelues. l. 25. f. countries, r. Countrie.

End of the text · William Whately, A Care Cloth (1624)