The Balm of Gilead Prepared for the Sick, Part 1

The Balm of Gilead Prepared for the Sick · Part 1

p. 21. PART. THE SECKE MANS SORE.

IN the words of the Psalmist here: first the ordour is to bee considered: p. 3Judgements heere goe before mercy, (or for to speak so) take the fore-gate of Mercy: when God was desired by Moses to shewe him his face, God said vntounto him that no man could see his face and live.Exod. 33. …1. v. 22.Exod 33:1 But behold, said hee, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand on a rock: and it shall come to passe, while my glory passeth by that I will put thee into the clift of a Rocke, and will cover thee with my hand: I will make all my goodnesse passe before thee, v. 19. v. 23.and I will cover thee with my hand whiles I passe by: After I will tak away mine hand: and thou shalt see my backe parts but not my face: Now as the Lord said, so hee did: he passed by, and while he passed he made a Proclamation. The Lord, the Lord God mercifull and gratious, Exod. 34 v. 6.Exod 34:6long suffering and abundant in goodnesse and trueth: keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquitie, v 7.transgression and sinne: Behold how in the Lords comming to p. 4Moses, mercy came before, and after iudgement in the words following that will by no meanes cleare the guilty visiting the iniquitie of the Fathers vponupon the Children. Note.The Lords sluggorne in his comming to Moses was mercifull and righteous: first was Mercy and then Iustice: this was the order of Davids Song: I will, said hee,Psal. 101 v. 1.Ps 101:1 sing of Mercy and of Iudgment: First of mercy & then of Iudgement, like Gods passing by Moses.

But here in my Text Gods order is inverted, for there is first a song of Judgement and after of mercy: what should be the cause of this?

This is as the Apostle calleth it foreign Multiformis …lla sapientia Dei, Ephes 3 v. 10Eph 3:10that is, the manifold wisdome of God, or the wisdome of God that is of many forms: as there be diverse faces and formes of men, so there be diverse hearts & diverse dispositions: some be thrown faced, and some be thrown hearted: with p. 5with the pure thou wilt shew thy selfe pure, Psal. 18 v. 26.Ps 18:26froward with the froward: **Note.To one that is of a meeke disposition and of a gentle nature like Moses, let the Pastour preach first of mercy, as God came to Moses: making all his goodnesse to goe before him: But having to doe with fooles; such as are into my Text, it shall bee wisedome first to sing to them of Iudgement and thereafter of mercy: **Note.Gods comming to Elias declared with what method he had to preach to that rebellious people with whom hee had to doe: while hee was into the caue of Horeb the mount of God; the Lord bade him come out, and stand vponupon the mount before the Lord, and behold while God was comming to him, there came from before him three mighty Messengers for to make awaye to the King of Glory.

The first Messenger was called the WIND:1. King. 1… v 11,1 Kgs 1:11 A mighty strong winde p. 6rent the mountains and brake the rockes before the Lord: but the Lord was not in the winde: After the winde, came another Poste called an EARTHQUAKE; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: After the Earthquak came yet one more furious called FIRE; but the Lord was not in the fire: After the fire, came a still and foft voyce wherein was the Lord: By this God teached Elias how he shuld teach that stiffnecked people & how he should bring the Lord to them: viz. that first he should preach Judgments; whereby as by a wind the proud heartes like hie Mountaines might bee shaken: and the harde hearts like rockes might be rent: If that did not the turne, let him yet threaten Iudgments like earthquaks which might mak all hearts to quak: If that did not the turne, that hee should preach Hell fire, death and damnation against the Sonnes of men: Now if men did tremble at p. 7the fire, Gods will was that hee should preach with a soft and still voyce the mercyes of God, the promises of the Gospell: This order and Methode is plainely sette downe by Saint Iude, Jude. v. 22.Of some have compassion, making a difference; that is, to some first preach mercy: But others save with feare, v. 23.pulling them out of the fire; there is a preaching of Iudgment: **Note. Act. 4. v. 36. Mark. 3.…7.Acts 4:36Mark 3:7To some, preachers should bee as Barnabas, sonnes of consolation: to others they should bee as Iames and Iohn: Boanerges; duo fulmi na belli;*Note. two sonnes of thunder. Ill men like nettles must bee first gripped left they burne thee. Gods naturall dealing with men is first to offer mercy vntounto them if they will repent. **Note.This was a Law of warre prescribed by God himselfe vntounto his people, when thou comest night vntounto a City, Deut. 20 v. 10. v. 1….Deut 20:10saith God, to fight against it, then proclaime peace vntounto it. But if it will not make peace with thee, but p. 8will make warre against thee, then thou shall be beseidge it. As it was ordained by God in that warre, so shuld it be practised in the Christian warrefare: while Pastours come from God to a people, they must first proclame peace vntounto them: But if they will not make peace: then they must beseige them with the Cannons of Gods Judgements. **Note.If Barnabas cannot winne the Citadell of mens hearts by consolations; let James and Iohn Boanerges Sonnes of thunder besiege their hearts: with the thunders of Gods Iudgements they must shoot downe the strong holdes of sin,2. Cor. 10, v. 4.2 Cor 10:4 that every thought and imagination may bee taken and brought captive to the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I know that preaching of Judgement is vnpleasant preaching to flesh and blood: **Note.But heere is the command,Leut. 19. v. 17. Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin p. 9vponupon him: Ezek. 33. v. 3…Ezek 33:3Most men will heare onelyonly the piping of mercy, Songes of Loves; but ditte their eares from the dinne of Judgements. **Note.They like well of Barnabas with his consolations: but cannot abide the thunders of Boanerges: **Note.None so fain as fools would hauehave their head clapped: fooles fedde on folly would bee fed in their follie. Note.Infelix Felix, more vnhappy in deede than hee was happy in name, could not heare Faul preach:Act. 24 v. 25.Acts 24:25 Pauls Text was of righteousnes, of temperance and of Iudgement: As he reasoned vponupon the point of Iudgement, Felix interrupted him crying vntounto him in a feare; God thy way for this time, when I have a convenient season I will call for thee. **NoteThere bee many vnhappy like Felix sold vnderunder sinne,1. King 22, v. 8.1 Kgs 22:8 like Ahab, who could not heare Mecaiah Gods Prophet: I hate him said Ahab, for hee doeth not prophesie good concerning me, but evill:**Note. But who can speak p. 10good to him that doth euill and bee a Trumpeter of Trueth? The word of God bee it of Iudgement or of Mercy, should not bee concealed from them to whom it is ordained: while a man is become a fool in his sinnes, a Sermon of Iudgment is for him: the faithfull Pastour must denounce against him what ever is in his Roll, not keeping vp a word, were it to call him a foole in his face. **Note.This was Iobs great comfort in his distresse that he had not concealed the words of the holy one:Job. 6. v. 10.Job 6:10 the office of teachers,Ezek. 33 v. 3.Ezek 33:3 the Lords servants is to blowe the Trumpet and warne the people with alarmes: **Note.They are compared to the hewers of wood I have hewed them by my Prophets saith the Lord:**Hose. 6. v, 5.Hos 6 Note.As a man that is for to cut a hard oke will first sharpen his axe: so he that is ordained for to hewe downe the old oken hard iniquities of a people, must sharpen his reproofes and therewith strike p. 11at them, till the spailes flee off: yea till at last the highest Cedars of of sinnes, were they Caesars sinnes, may fall down vponupon their sides. **Note.Jf a King be afoole against God, feare not to call him a foole that he may become wise: Gard vp thy loynes said the Lord to his Prophet,Jere. 1. v 17.Jer 1:17 arise and speake all that I command thee, be not dismayed at their faces, left I confound thee before them: woe to dumme dogges, yee that make mention of the Lord keepe not silence. Note. Isa. 62▪ v. 16.Isa 62:16Sometimes Pastoures are so branded with the reproaches of fooles, because they hurt their galled backes, that they will resolve to preach no more of Iudgement, but to remaine silent: This is their weaknesse, but when the spirit of their calling begins to stirre within them; it shall not lye in their hearts to hold their peace. **Note.This was Ieremiahs resolution once: because hee saw the word of the Lord made a reproach to him, and p. 12dayly derision, hee said,Ierem. 20. v. 9.Jer 20:9 I will not make mention of God nor speake any more in his Name: But did hee so? O no: not: The spirit of his calling kindled such a fire within him, that hee could no more forebeare: His word, said hee, was in mine heart as a burning fire, shut vp in my bones, and I was weary w…th forbearing, and I could not stay: A Man of God will call a foole a foole. **Note.jt is his calling to sing as well of Iudgement as of mercy: If by want of discretion he spill the tune of GODS musicke, preaching Iudgement, when hee should preach mercy, or preaching mercy, where hee should preach Iudgement, he himself shall be found the greatest foole in the daye of comptes.

This consideration made Paul to pray for wisedome to his disciple, who was become a teacher: The Lord said he, giuegive thee wisdome in all things: **Note.By this wisdome while we preach p. 13to hauty or humbled sinners: we are teached to practise that precept of S. Iude: which is, to make a difference. The Lord give vsus the spirit of discretion.

This much concerning the methode of the Wordes which wee have read in your audience: wherein first mention is made of Iudgements, and after of mercy.

Now let vsus come to our sicke Text, or Text of Sicknesse.

In the sicke man his sore, which is the first part of this Treatise vponupon the fiue Verses heere set downe, wee hauehave these three things particularly to consider.

First, who are those who are said heere to bee afflicted; Secondly, what is the cause of all their afflictions: Thirdly, what is the particular affliction set downe in this Text.

p. 141. Who is said to be afflicted heere.

**Note.IN this part of Scripture wee hauehave a visitation of the sicke: looke to your bookes, and the first word of my Text shall tell you who is sick: vvho? fooles, fooles saith the Psalmist, because of their transgressions, and because of their iniquities are afflicted.

**NoteI read in Scripture of foure sorts of fooles: of these two bee wise, and two be fooles indeede.

First these are called fooles in Scripture, that acknowledge their ownefoolishnesse: 1. Cor. 3 v 18.1 Cor 3:18If any man among you, saith the Apostle, seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a foole th… bee may be wise: **Note.This was wise Agurs confession which hee made to Ithiel and V…l, surely, said hee, Prou. 30 v. 2.Prov 30:2I am more brutish then any man, and hauehave not the vnderstanding of a man: I neither learned wisedome nor hauehave the knowledge of the holy.v. 3.

p. 15**Note,Secondly, these are called fools in Scripture, who are so in the wickeds estimation: According to this the Apostle saith,1. Cor. 4 v. 10.1 Cor 4:10 wee are fooles for Christs sake: but yee are wise, wee are fooles, that is, we are so esteemed to bee by the worldly wise: After that a Prophet of God had anointed Iehu to bee King, one said to Iehu, wherfore came this madde fellow to thee? 2. Kings 9. vi. 1. Act. 26 v. 24.2 Kgs 9Acts 26:24Godlinesse to wicked men is not only foolishnesse but madnesse. The great knowledge of letters hath made thee madde: (said Festus to Paul) what wonder seeing the wisedome of God himlsefe is esteemed folly. **1. Cor. 1. v. 25. Note.1 Cor 1:25In Scripture yee reade of the folly of God, yee reade in Scripture of the folly of preaching, in a worde all spirituall wisedome is folly:1. Cor. 1. v, 21.1 Cor 1 But to whome? S. Paul saith that it is to them that perish.

Thirdly, these are said to be fools who are Gods Elect and chosen ones, but, as we all doe,1. Cor. 1 v. 18.1 Cor 1:18 faile in many p. 16things, when they either turne in any point frō the trueth which once they did embrace, or when they are slow of heart to believe, or when they run away from God by any sin, then are they said to be fools: their failing is their folly: For the first S. Paul called the Galathians foolish Galathians: for the second; Christ called his two disciples going to Emans fooles, Luk. 24. v. 2,.Luke 24:2and slow of heart to belee…e: for the third, it is said that the forlorne sonne was madde or by himselfe:Luk. 15. v. 17.Luke 15:17 because when hee repented, it is said that he came to himselfe againe.

1. Cor. 1. v. 18.1 Cor 1:18Fourthly, the wicked to whome the wisedome of God is folly are called fooles: NoteAccording to this the rich man in the Gospell that made greater provision for his bellie in his Barns, than for his Soule in the Heavens, is called a foole. O foule, this night thy Soule shall bee taken from thee!Luk. 12 v. 20.Luke 12:20 This was his folly, hee never thought of Heaven till hee was in hell.

p. 17It is of these two, viz. of the Godly sinning by weaknesse, & of the wicked sinning by wickednesse that mention is made heere: while they sinne they are both fooles and as they are both but fooles, and as they are, so heere are they called, viz. fooles.

The Hebrewe word heere is Guilim, a word that commeth from a root that is not in vse, haveing no signification which is the lyfe of a worde: a roote worthy of such branches: the roote is not in vse, neither are the branches: wherefore serveth the roote of follie? what are the fruites of follie? They are like the apples of Sodome. They maye have some shewe outwardlie; but have nothing but rottennesse for the in-meate. Hee that tasteth them will doe best to spitt them out again. Note. Heb. 6. v. 4.Heb 6:4As the wicked wil taste the good gift of God, and after spit it out, so that it doth them no good: p. 18so should the godly hauing tasted the fruites of follie incontinent spitt them out, and after spitt at them with despight, so should they not bee able to doe them evill.

Note.Though fooles bee called from a roote that hath no vse in God his word, they seeme to themselves to bee most fast rooted: in their prosperitie they both think, and say that they shall neuer bee moved. They will also seeme vntounto others of all men to have the strongest rootes.Psal. 37 v. 35.Ps 37:35 To David who was on of Gods Seers they appeared for a space like greene Baytrees. All such greenesse, and greatnesse, is but in thinges earthly: as health, wealth, houour and preferment. But because they are not rooted in the heavens, the earth is not able to furnish substance for the vpholding of such things:Ps. 129. v. 6.Ps 129:6 and therefor… like grasse vponupon the house tops they wither before they grow vp.

Iob. 5. v. 3,Job 5:3I have seene, said Eliphaz, the foolish p. 19taking roote: but tooke hee root for to continue? No, not: Suddainlie, said hee, I cursed his habitation: incontinent his children for whose standing and preferment hee solde himselfe to wickednesse were crushed in the gate; Iob. 5. v. 4.Job 5:4neither was there any to deliver them. As for their harvest and expected crop, others did devoure it, not leaving them the miserable stalkes which grew among the thornes.v. 5.

* Thus God doth with the wicked as he did with the Amorite. Thogh in appearance hee high like a Cedar, and strong like an Oke, yet hee destroyeth his fruit from aboue, Amos. 2. v. 9.Amos 2:9and his rootes from beneath. The folie of sin is like a foolish tale, which as men commonly say, hath neither toppe nor root. The Iesson is this: all sinners are but fooles:The doctrine. a wicked man were he never so wise in the world …is but a foole before God:1. Cor. 3. v. 19.1 Cor 3:19 the wisedome of this world is foolishnesse with p. 20God: wisedome in evill is nothing but guile and craftinesse, guile guilded with wisedome like a tombe covered with the foile of gold, having nothing within but a contagious corruption.

The vse.The vse let all men that would be wise indeede studie to an innocent life. Note. Tit. 2 v. 12.Titus 2:12This is our wisedome that denying vngodlinesse and worldlie lusts w…e liue soberly, righteously and godly in this pr…sent world, soberlie for our selves, righteouslie for our neighbours, and godly for our good God. What is beyond that is no thing but foolishnesse:Note. hee that exceeds the square of that rule in Scripture language, is a foole.

Obiection.

Heere some may obiect and say, how is this that Scripture speaketh thus? doth not Scripture forbid vsus to speake so? Christ speaketh plainly, whosoeuer is angrie with his brother without a cause shall bee in danger p. 21of iudgment. And whosoeuer shall say to his brother Racha shall bee in danger of the Counsell; but whoseouer shall say, thou foole, shall bee in danger of hell fire. Note.Behold their three iniuries which the Iewes thought to bee veniall sinnes of the Papists: the least is a motion of anger keept close within the breast, which I may call a warded wrath: for such a fault Christ sayeth, that a man is in danger of iudgment, that is, as though wee should saye, in danger to bee brought before the Commissionar an inferiour Judge: for the least sinne is the least punishment.

Note.The second iniurie is, Racha, that is, wrath broken out of warde into wordes: the word is a worde of iniurie, which signifieth, vacuus, a man as wee say that hath not harnes, or braine, a toome headed man. Note.Beza out of Chrysostome maketh it as the French word Tutoyer, which we call to Thou a man. p. 22This greater iniurie came before the Sanhedrin, which were the Counsell of seventie and two. The third and last iniurie is greatest, viz. when a man not onelie Thou's his brother, but saith Thou foole. Some distinguish these three iniuries after this manner: Note.The first, say they, is ira restricti animi, that is, a warded wrath within the heart. The second is, ira effervescens, an anger breaking foorth. The third they call ira erumpens in apertum convitium, that is, scoffing or rayling: for this word, saith Christ, a man shall bee in danger of hell fire: how is it then that in the first part of my Text sinners are called fooles?

The answere.

I answere, that to call a man foole is not simply forbidden;Luke. 34 v. 25. for Christ called two of his Disciples fooles: S. Paul called the Galatians foolish. Note.That threatning then is against them that out of wrath and malice p. 23bring this worde of rayling against their brother. It is in this sense said that the Archangell while hee disputed against Satan about the body of Moses durst not bring against him arayling accusation:Iude. v. 9. that is, hee durst not in anger call him a foole, knave or lowne, as one by way of rayling will call his brother. Note.Their is no rayling in my Text: my Text is rather a teaching wherby fooles may learne to bee wise. The doctrine I gather heere is this:The doctrine. Note. If hee that calleth his brother a foole deserves Hell: what shall hee deserve that is a foole indeeede? A man may call his brother a foole, and yet not bee a foole: the one is but a simple act, the other is an habite purchased by custome: the greater the sinne bee, the greater must bee the punishment. Note.If God scourged his people,Isay. 66. v. 17.Isa 66:17 for eating swines flesh, the abomination, and the Mouse, what shall hee doe to these p. 24that eate vp the poore and the widowes house? great sinnes and great iudgments.

The vse.The vse. Note:Let vsus beware to be that indeed whereof the simple naming of another to bee, putteth the Soule in danger of hell fire. Note.The Apostle his precept is that fornication, and all vncleannesse, Ephes. 5. v. 3.Eph 5:3or covetousnesse bee not once named among vsus as becommeth Saints: seeing to name such thinges with a filthie tongue is forbidden, howe much more should wee bee carefull for to avoide to bee that, which is not to bee named?

2. What is the cause of the affliction of fooles.

VVE hauehave alreadie heard who is afflicted viz. fooles: Now followeth into the order of my Text the cause of their afflictions: the cause is sinne, and iniquitie: p. 25Fooles because of their transgressions & because of their iniquities are afflicted.

It is an ordinarie question made by the most part while they see any in affliction, what coulde bee the cause of such a iudgment? wherefore hath GOD thus wise done? Note.God told this to Ierusalem when hee threatned to destroy. Many nations, said hee,Ier. 22. v. 8.Jer 22:8 shall passe by this citie, and they shall say every one to his neighbour, wherefore hath the Lord done this vntounto this great Citie. Note.See howe of nations of passers by, there is not one but hee saith, wherefore? Every man saith vntounto his neighbour, where fore? Now what is the answere that God makes to their wherefore? It is into the verse following;v. 9. Then they shall answere because they hauehave forsaken the covenant of the Lord God: that is, as my text saith, because of their transgressions, and because of their iniquities. The lesson is this. The doctrine.Our sinnes are the cause of all our plagues: so p. 29long as rebellious Ionah was in the Shippe the tempest increased: It is saide,Note. that the Sea wrought, and was tempestuous; what could be the cause of such tempestuous working?Ionah. 1. v. 11. v. 12.Jonah 1:11 The rebellion of Ionah flying from the presence of the Lord: Take mee vp said hee, and cast mee into the Sea, for I know that for my sake this great tempest is vponupon you. VVhen Ioshua saw Israel beaten before the men of Ai, hee put dust vponupon his head, crying, Oh Lord what shall I say, Iosh. 7. v. 8.Josh 7:8seeing Israel hath turned their backe before their enemies: now what could bee the cause of that flight? Israel hath sinned and hauehave also transgressed saide the Lord: therefore they could not stand before their enemies:v. 12, Note. There must ever bee a wherefore of sinne before the therefore of affliction:Iob. 8. v. 11.Job 8:11 Can the rush grow vp without myre? can the flagge grow without water? no more can affliction grow without sinne. Note.Sin to affliction is like myre to the rush p. 27and like water to the flagge: it maketh a division betweene our God & our Soule: God cannot shine vponupon the Counsell of the wicked: Note.So soone as men beginne to sinne; the clowds of his glowmes beginne to gather.Iob. 10. v. 14.Job 10:14 then thou markest mee, and thou wilt not acquite mee from mine iniquitie: v. 15.if I be wicked woe vntounto mee. As a man soweth, so shall hee reape: Even as I hauehave seene, Iob. 4 v 8.Job 4:8said Eliphaz, they that plow iniquitie, and sowe wickednesse reape the same. Who ever hee bee that takes pleasure in sinne,Iob. 7 v. 3.Job 7:3 shall possesse moneths of Vanitie: wearisome nights are appointed for him. The use.The vse of all this is, that wee studie to sinceritie of life if wee would bee free of afflictions. The wicked while they are afflicted are bound with afflictions,Note. like a murtherer cast in the stockes; but godly Ioseph in the stockes is a free man.Note. The sakelesse Soule is ever in libettie: their is no such buckler for p. 28holding off afflictions as innocencie of life.Note. If because of their transgressions, and because of their iniquities bee away, the words following are afflicted, should bee as scraped out.

Note.Let a man keepe himselfe from sinne vnspotted of this World, and hardlie shall affliction come neere him. Doe what Balaam could doe hee could not curse Israel, though hee was waged for the same. The reason thereof is declared by himselfe, God hath not beheld iniquitie in Iacob, Numb. 23. v. 21Num 23:21neither hath hee seene perversnesse in Israel: the Lord God is with him, and the shout of a King is among them. Note.So long as God beholdeth not iniquitie into a man, a house, or a nation, the Lord God is there, and they shout as Kings: that is, they triumph over all their enemies. If afflictions come for to trye their forces, they likewise shout as Kings triumphing over Death it selfe, and p. 29the grave, whome they boast with doubled interrogations;1. Cor. 15. v. 551 Cor 15:55 O Death! where is thy sting? O Grave! where is thy victorie?

Note.What wonder that fooles bee afflicted for their follie; seeing other innocent creatures smart for the same?Note. Doth not Scripture record that senselesse creatures sicken for our sinnes? Thus wee see the walls of an house became leper of a freting leprosie: Levit. 14. v. 44Lev 14:44a wonderfull thing to think how hard stones of the house wall where the sinner dwelt could become sick. Because of the transgressions and iniquities of fooles in an house, the dead stones in the wall were afflicted.Note. Yea, which is more for the sins of man,Rom. 8. v. 23.Rom 8:23 the whole creation groneth, travelleth in paine together; as if it were a Woman in her shewers; their sicknesse is vanitie caused by our iniquitie. * Seeing then other creatures that cannot sinne are afflicted because of mans sins, what p. 30wonder if fooles because of their transgressions, yea, and also because of their iniquitie hee affl…cted?

Observe heere howe the worde because is doubled: First, because of their transgressions, and againe because of their iniquities. Is not this all one? what neede was it then that hee should have thus doubled the worde Because and againe because? Note.I answere that this forme of speach is, as were the dreames of Pharaoh of the kine and of the corne: of one thing hee had two dreames:Gen, 41. v 25. The dreame of Pharaoh is one, said Ioseph; But wherefore was it doubled? Joseph …aith that it was to shew Pharaoh what hee was about to doe: that is for to assure him that the matter should surely come to passe; God of one thing doubled Pharaohs dreames; for that the dreame was doubled vntounto Pharaoh twise, v 23.it is because the thing is established by GOD: and God will shortly bring it to passe. So for to assure p. 31vsus heere that sinne is the cause of all our afflictions it is saide that men are afflicted, because of their transgressions, and againe because of their iniquities. Note.The word doubled is lyke two witnesses for to confirme the trueth.

The first lesson I observe heere is,The 1. doctrine. of the great stupiditie of man, that very hardlie can rightly take vp the cause of his troubles: It must bee told him againe and againe: line after line, commandement after commandement, because after because. Note.The first bell ringes to the preaching and yet wee slumber: The second ringes yet we are not ready: The third must ring also with a doubled sound and yet we come behind: Either preface or prayer is past before wee come to our place. Note.Wee come to the Lords house as to a place of girth or as to a city of refuge for to saue the the lyfe of our soules: & p. 32yet beholde how sluggish wee are like Lot, who would not leaue his house till hee was pressed out by the Angel: So heere behold thy senslese nature that can not take vp the cause of thy troubles till it be told againe and againe Note.Because of transgressions will not waken the sleeping sinner till it be doubled into an other word, because of iniquities lyke the doubled crowe of the Cock to Peter: Let all men learne heere the cause of all their woes. The vse Note.Now O man would thou knowe the cause of thy afflictions, it is because of thy transgressions; Hast thou not hard that? Was thou sleeping while I said it? Heare me againe, it is b…cause of thy iniquities: If the because of thy transgressions hath not weakned thee,Note. 1. Sam. 3.14.1 Sam 3:14 let the because of thy iniquities rouse thee vp, GOD cryed once Samuel, but hee made no answere to GOD;v. 6. hee cryed againe Samuel, p. 33but yet hee answered not to God; The third tyme hee cryed Samuel neither as yet could hee answere vntounto God:v. 8. Last of all, the Lord doubled his cry Samuel Samuel:v. 10. Then Samuel said, Speake Lord forthy servant heareth: Many preachings hauehave many heard, and yet hauehave not learned the cause of their afflictons. Note.Many strokes hauehave many gotten, and as yet never could take vp the cause of their stroakes, and so they continue into their sinnes like the drunkard in his drinking, who though in his drunknesse he hath gotten many a sore fall & many a sore stroake, yet can not refraine.Proverb. 23. v. 35. They hauehave stricken me, will he say, and I was not sicke, they hauehave beaten me, and I felt it not: when I shall awake yet will I till it againe. Woe to him that is not sensible to his afflictions for to seeke out the cause thereof that it may bee removed. Note.If a sinner hath beene p. 34stricken and hath not beene sicke, if also he hath beene beaten with the drunkard and hath not felt it, it is a sure token that he will yet to it againe: Let all men learne heere in their afflictions to seeke out the cause of their trouble.

Note.When the Philistims sawe them selues miserably plagued with a filthie and shamefull disease, they tooke counsell how it might bee tryed, wherefrom their affliction came: They had the Arke of God a prisoner among them: This was the summe of all the counsell. Now therefore make a new cart, 1. Sam 6. v. 7.1 Sam 6:7and take two milk kine on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the Cart, and bring the calves home from them: And take the Arke of the Lord and lay it vponupon the cart, v. 8.and send it away that it may gee: And see if it goeth vp by the way of his owne coast to Beth-Shemesh, if that bee, then he hath done vsus this great evill: but if p. 35not, then wee shall know that it is not his hand that smote vsus, but a chance that happened vntounto vsus. Note.There be many Christians in their afflictions worse then these Philistims, though they see things more than two kine drawing a cart by his owne coast, yet can not say that it is God that hath done it, lesse can they tell that their sinnes hauehave beene the cause of it, but such a thing fell foorth, such a thing hath chanced to be: it happened so vntounto me: such was my fortune. Note.This is Philistimes language worthy to be banished with buffets;Nehem. 13. v. 25.Neh 13:25 as Nehemiah buffeted the little children of the Israelites, and pluckt off their haire when he heard them speaking the language of Ashdod: It so happened: Such was my chance; It was my fortune, is not Christian but Ashdodian language.Lam. 3 v. 39.Lam 3:39 This is Gods question, Wherefore is the living man sorrowfull? This is also Gods answere, p. 36Man suffereth for his sins; They are worthy to be scourged and buffeted who while they are afflicted speake of fortun or chance: Note.Sathan in his words may teach many Christians to speake: when he desired God to scourge Iob, he said not God send him an hard weird an evill fortoun, or God send him a sudden chance,Iob. 1. v. 11.Job 1:11 or ill must hee happen: But, Streach out thy hand & touch all that hee hath: And againe the second tyme:Iob. 2. v. 5.Job 2:5 Put furth thyne hand now and touch his bone and his fl…sh: The Magicians of Egypt called the plague the finger of God, Exod. 8. v. 19.Exod 8:19or Gods send. What a shame then should this be for Christians to speake of fortune or chance or hap, seeing the divell and his magicians can call afflictions the hand of God, or the finger of God. Note.Let the lyars of Ephraim, say they are not Ephramits, but Shibboleth shal proue then to bee Ephramits. Note.Let the p. 37vngodly deny that they are wicked, and giuegive thanks with the Pharisee that they are not lyke other men, but by their very language incontinent yee shall know: Some filthie words or bloody oathes, for toun, hap, chance, or such words will bewray them: By their accent yee shall know, that they are of Galile, that is of this world. Surely said one to Peter,Mark. 14. v. 70.Mark 14:70 thou also art a Galilean, and thy speach agreeth thereto. Note.The tongue betweene man and man, is lyke an interpreter betweene two strangers: The heart of every man is a stranger to every other man: But out of the abundance of the heart the tongue speaketh bee it good, bee it evill: The words are the interpretation of the heart. Note.If Words beguile works, dummy can not lie.

Againe in the doubling of the name of finne before affliction,The second doctrine. I obserue that God is loath to afflict till he p. 38bee provoked by transgressions & by iniquities in the plural number that is againe and againe. Note.Till sinnes be multiplyed God scourgeth not the foole:Amos. 2 v. 13.Amos 2:13 Gods wrath commeth not out vponupon man till hee bee pressed with mens sinnes, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaues.

The doctrine.The doctrine then is this, God is slowe and loath to come to stroakes till he be provoked againe and againe, yea, and againe also. Note.This is well set downe by the Prophet Amos, who declaring Gods iudgments against divers peoples, setteth downe first men sinning againe and againe, once, twise, thrise, yea, foure tymes before that God began to afflict.Amos. 1. v. 6.Amos 1:6 The first is Gaza, Thus saith the Lord for three transgressions of Gaza and for four, I will not turne away the punishment thereof. The second is Tyrus:Amos. 1. v. 9.Amos 1:9 Thus saith the Lord, for three tarnsgressions of p. 39Tyrus, and for four I will not turne away the punishment thereof: Amos. 1. v. 16.Amos 1:16The third is Edom: Thus saith the Lord for three transgressions of Edom, and for foure I will not turne away the punishment thereof. v. 13.The fourth is Ammon: Thus saith the Lord, for three transgressions of Ammon and for foure I will not turne away the punishment thereof. Amos. 2. v. 1.Amos 2:1The fifth is Moab: Thus saith the Lord, for three transgressions of Moab and for foure I will not turne away the punishment thereof. The sixt is Judah:v. 4. Thus saith the Lord, for three transgressions of Iudah and for foure I will not turne away the punishment thereof. v. 6.The seventh is Israel: Thus saith the Lord, for three transgressions of Israel and for foure I will not turne away the punishment thereof. The eight is Britans: Thus saith the Lord, for thirtie transgressions of Britane and for fourtie I will not turne away the punishment thereof: Our transgressions p. 40are thirtie for three, fourtie for foure. See how God delighteth to afflict: One man sinneth and God forgiveth, againe man sinneth and God forgiveth, againe yet man sinneth and God forgiveth: But at last when men multiplie their transgressions God punisheth, saying, I will not turne away the punishment thereof.

The vse.The vse is, let men beware of doubling and tripling of sinnes: If iniquities come after transgressions, it is to be feared that God say for three transgressions and for foure, I will not turne away the punishment thereof: They are but fooles that say, Let vsus sinne that grace may abound: Though while men sinne, God seemes to them to bee inclosed vp into the heavens, yet hee sees men into their sinnes.

Note.Though he come to iudgement softly with foote of wooll, when he is come he striketh with armes p. 41of yron. The longer the stroake be in comming it commeth downe the sadder. Note.A sudden or hasty blowe is not of such force as a stroake fetcht from necke to heele: Let no man therefore sooth him selfe vp in his sinnes, thinking that there is nothing in God but merciemercy, no,Exod. 33 v. 19.Exod 33:19 not: As hee is mercifull and gratious, long suffering, abundant in goodnesse and trueth: Hee is also a righteous Lord, a God of iustice, who will in no wayes cleare the guiltie: Bee what men will bee, if they be fooles, because of their transgressions, and because of their iniquities they shall bee afflicted: Otherwise where should bee the GOD of iustice.

Objection.

Heere some man may object that this seemeth not ever to bee true, viz. that man is afflicted for his transgressions, and that for two reasons: first, because there be some p. 42afflicted without cause, Secondlie, because there bee many transgressions, who among all men are most free of affliction:Psalm. 34., v. 19Ps 34 Many are the troubles of the righteous: while the wicked are at their ease in Zion: That some are afflicted without cause, it seemeth to bee cleare in Scripture: God seemeth to say it him selfe, after that he had permitted Sathan to scourge Job with many plagues, while hee perceived that in all these troubles Job had still keept fast his integritie, Hee said to Sathan,Iob. 2. v. 3.Job 2:3 Thou hast mooved mee against him to destroy him without cause: This seems to bee against the doubled wordes of my texte, viz. Because of their transgressions and because of their iniquities they are afflicted.

The answere.

Note.J answere that while God saith to Sathan that hee had afflicted Iob without cause, it is cleare, p. 43Job of these sinnes that Sathan layed most falsly to his charge, viz. that hee was but an hypocrite and an hireling that served God but for rewards: Thus in these words without cause: Job is iustified by God onelyonly in these sinnes whereof Sathan did accuse him. Note.Jt is said of the borne blind that he was afflicted, neither for his fathers sinnes nor for his owne sinnes, but for the glory of God: Jt is certain that if hee had had no sinne hee could not hauehave beene made miserable by blindenesse, but the cheefe cause of that blindnesse,Iohn. 9. v. 3.John 9:3 was, that the workes of God might bee made manifest in him: The question is moved by Jeremie,Lam. 3. v. 39.Lam 3:39 wherefore is the living man sorrowfull? The answere is subjoyned, Man suffereth for his sins. Note.There bee many for's in mans afflictions, 1. For the manifesting of Gods glory. 2. For to stirre vsus vp to prayer. 3. for to make p. 44men beware of sinne the cause of woe. 4. for to distaste vsus of this earth and to waine vsus from these transitorie pleasures, least we should say with Peter on Tabor, it is good for vsus to bee heere: These all be the ends of afflictions, But the cause wherefore men are afflicted, are their transgressions and their iniquities. Note.There is no ludgeing for affliction but where their is transgression. Note.Though thy father should eate the soure grape of sinne, it shall not bee able to set thy teeth on edge:Ezek. 18 v. 4.Ezek 18:4 The soule that s…nneth it shall die: God shall grind the faces of these that are fatted into their pleasures: but as for the righteous,Isa. 3. v. 10.Isa 3:10 Say yee to him that it shall hee well with him.

The vse.The vse of all this is, that we studie to sinceritie of lyfe, that when this lyfe shall bee spended and ended, wee may heare that joyfull voice of our master, Faithfull servant p. 45enter into thy masters ioy:Math. 25. v. 21.Matt 25:21 To God be glory for ever.

The other difficultie is in this, viz that fooles are not ever afflicted because of their transgressions: Are fooles ever afflicted? But will yee say: What then are the wicked, who are often of greatest health, so that their eyes stand out for fatnesse? The prosperitie of the world seemeth so bee theirs.

Jndeede often this is true:Esth. 3. v. 15.Esth 3:15 while the King and Esther sit downe to drinke, the citie Sushan is perplexed: How then is it said heere that fooles are afflicted?

Note.I answere the godly hauehave all their troubles and teares heere, but it is not so of the wicked; In that God spareth so many of them in this world, it is a cleare argument that there is a judgement to come.

Note.Though incontinent God scourgeth not wicked men for their sins, yet he thinkes vponupon them, as Nehemiah p. 46in his prayer desired him to thinke vponupon wicked Tobjah and Sanballat:Neh. 6. v. 14.Neh 6:14 My God, said he, thinke thou vponupon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works: Let sinners thinke vponupon this, that God though hee spare for a space, yet hee thinketh vponupon them: If these who are fooles by transgressions and iniquities are not in this world afflicted because of them, they shall be afflicted into the world to come.

Note.If thou be a hid sinner & yet is in no wise afflicted, thy day is comming. So long as this world lasts. Isa. 13. v. 21. Z…im and Ochim doolefull creatures will rejoyce: one divell will daunce to another: But when the daunce is ended, then shall be miserie for evermore. Note.Againe, let vsus remember heere that all these that are afflicted heere for their sinnes, are not therby exeemed: Jt may be, thou bee pyned and pinched with povertie, with gouts, and with gravels, p. 47and at the end of all goe to hell: Many are deceived, thinking that if they suffer much in this world, God will challenge them no more heerafter: this is a common follie worthy of affliction.

Note.Take heed to thy selfe, O man how thy afflictions work vponupon thee: If they make thee to grone and to cry vntounto the Lord, if thou find them spurres vntounto prayer, and to all exercises of godlinesse: If in a word they make thee become a new man for to detest that which once thou loved best, well is thee: God hath sanctified thy affliction: But if thy disease be so that it refuse the remedie, if thy afflictions worke not vponupon thee for to purge out the pride of life or for to chase out the spirit of vncleannesse, thy fornications & adulteries. Note.It is a token that GOD is keeping thee for a more fearefull judgement. Note.It is written of King Ahaz,2. Chron. 28. v. 22.2 Chr 28:22 that in the tyme of his distresse hee did more yet trespasse against the p. 48Lord: that said, hee is poynted out with a Nota, This is that King Ahaz.

For to draw to an end, Let vsus observe two generall thinges in the words of the first verse: First I obserue that the sinnes of these fooles are not particularized heere, but in generall it is said, because of their transgressions and iniquities.

This is for to be an aw-band aboue the heads of all men, least they should sinne in any particular maner against God, wee faile all in many things: If it had beene said heere, Fooles because of their extortions or of adulteries are afflicted, the proud Pharisee would thinke to goe free:Luke. 18. v. 11.Luke 18:11 Lord I thanke thee, said hee, that I am not lyke other men, who are adulterers, extortioners, &c. Note.But was hee free of pryde or of hypocrisie? That was his transgression, for being free of one sinne or other hee was not without the compasse p. 49of trangressours: David was not an idolater, but hee was an adulterer, that was his transgression. I reade not of Ashan that hee was an adulterer,Ioshu. 7. v. 21. but because hee was a theefe, hee was stoned, and burnt for that transgression:Genes. 4. v. 8.Gen 4:8 Cain was not a theefe, but because hee was a murtherer, the Lord made him a vagabond.Gen. 9 v. 2….Gen 9:2 Cham was not a murtherer, but because hee was a scorner God cursed him.Gen. 9. v. 21.Gen 9:21 Noah he was not a scorner, but because he was a drunkard God scourged him with scorning.Act. 5. v. 3.Acts 5:3 Ananias & Saphirah were not drunkards, but becaus they were lyars, they fell both downe dead at the Apostles feere. Iudas and Iulian were not guiltie of all these fore-said transgressions, yet because they were traitours and Apostate they died shamefully. Many of our weemen if they can say, J am neither whoore nor theese think that all is well.

p. 50The second generall observation J make here, is, that in generall sinners are said to bee afflicted in this verse: indeede thereafter the affliction is specified: viz, sicknesse.

Note.But in this generall word afflicted, I find as it were a meeting of Gods judgements with mens transgressious: as all sorts of sinnes may be included into these words transgressions and iniquities: so all sorts of iudgments may bee contained into that word afflicted: If one affliction be not fearefull to the sinner another will bee terrible This is Gods awband aboue the heads of men.

The doctrine.The doctrine J gather heere: is, that as there bee diverse sortes of transgressions and of iniquities, so there bee diverse sortes of iudgements that are all in readinesse at the first call to helpe the Lord, to helpe the Lord against the iniquities of men. Note.If God but cry vponupon his plagues: …aying, whome shall p. 51I send and who will goe for vsus? There is not one but it will come our before the Lord, saying, with that evill Spirit, send me when God is angry against man for sinne,1. King 22. v. 211 Kgs 22:21 the famine will say send me, and I shall eate him vp: Send mee faith the pestilence and I shall destroy him: send mee saith the sword and I shall hewe him in peeces. Note.These bee Gods three great Captaines, which are appoynted by him to runne through the world for to scourge men, because of their transgressions and because of their iniquities.

Note.Not only those three, but all the creatures of God are in readinesse in coats of armes for to execute his will against transgressours.

Note.There is no creature of God either aboue or belowe, but when they see God angry for sinne they will desire to be sent for to revenge the Lords quarrell against sinners: The fire saith,Gen. 19.Gen 19 send me and I shall p. 52burne Sodom:v. 24. Exon. 14 v. 27. Num. 16 v. 31. Iona. 1. v. 4. Dan. 6. v. 24. 2. King. …. v. 24. 2. King. 2. v. 3…. Act. 1…. v. 23.Num 16:31Jonah 1:4Dan 6:242 Kgs 2:3Acts 1:23 send me saith the water, and I shall drowne Pharoah & his host: Send mee saith the earth, and J shall swallow vp Dathan and Abiram: The winds crye send vsus, and wee shall chase and chastise Ionas for his rebellion: The lyons cry send vsus and wee shall roare & devore the enemies of Daniel: The Deares cry send vsus, and wee shall destroy the mockers of Elisha: The dagges crye send vsus and we shall eate the flesh of Iozahel: the lyce crye send vsus, and wee shall bring downe the pryde of Herode.

Note.Againe, there bee legions of disenses waiting vponupon his nod, for to afflict sinners: Send mee saith one, and I shall strike him blind: Send mee saith another, and I shall make him dease: Send mee saith another and I shall make him dumbe: Send me saith another, and I shall lame him: Send mee saith another to his head: Send mee to his heart will p. 53another say: Send mee to his lights and to his lever will others say: Thus migrims and phrenesies, fevers, and fluxes, gouts, gravels, catarres, quartaines, and cataractes, armies of diseases will at Gods command runne vponupon miserable man,Isa. 1. v. 6.Isa 1:6 till from the sole of his feete to the crowne of his head there be nothing without or within but boils, botches and putrifieing sores.

See what diseases, feesters, fevers, fluxes, &c. See what beasts, and vnbeasts, Beares, dogges, lyons, lyce, &c. These with all the elements are ready to afflict man, because of his transgressions and because of his iniquities.

Note.Moreover, not only will other creatures bee in readinesse for God for to afflict and execute his vengance against sinners, But even sinners them selues will runne as Posts this earand for to be against them selves for the Lord.

p. 54Math. 27. v. 5. 1. King. 16. v. 18 2 Sam. 17. v. 23.Matt 27:51 Kgs 16:182 Sam 17:23Send me, said Iudas and I shall hang that traitour Judas, that betrayed his maister: Send mee said Zimri and I shall cast Zimri into a fire: Send me saith Achitophel and I shall hang Achitophel for abuseing of his wisedome: Send me saith King Saul and I shall put a sword through King Saul, to teach all the Kings of the earth obedience to the King of Heaven: See what armies God hath for to afflict all men in all sorts of afflictions, because of his transgressions, and because of his iniquities. The vse.The vse of all this is, that we stand in awe and feare to offend so great and so high a Majestie: Jf any man be guiltie of many transgressions, & of many iniquities, God as yee see he are hath many judgements ready at his nod, for the afflicting of such fooles:Proverb. 26. v. 13. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the asse, and many strips for the fooles back. The Lord giuegive vsus wisedome in all things, to God be glory for ever.

p. 57THE SICKE MANS SORE. THE SECOND SERMON.

PSAL. 107. verse 18.

Their Soule abhorreth all maner of meate, and they drawe neere the gates of death.

Verse 19.

Then they cry vntounto the Lord in their troubles, and hee delivereth them out of their distresses.

IN my former sermon: (Beloved in the Lord) the cause of the sicke mans sore hath beene declared in these words, that because of their transgressions and because of their iniquities they p. 58are afflicted. Note.I wish from my heart that all sinners could thinke well vponupon this, that sinne is the very seede of affliction for the godly, and of fearefull iudgement for the wicked. Note.Every man while he sinneth thinketh to escape, even as God could bee false: As God is a righteous Lord hee will not suffer sinners to escape vnpunished.

Note.As the shaddow followeth the body, so there is a thing that followeth sinne, which Job calleth a rod, Iob. 9, v. 34. Dan. 5. v. 4,Job 9:34Dan 5:4which the wicked man never thinketh of before he hath done: when the lowne hath faulted then is hee beaten: When Belshazzar is drinking, then God is writing his dittay vponupon the wall, Note.After the wicked hath sinnsed the hand of Gods justice shall catch him by the hairie scalpe, Psal. 68. v. 21.Ps 68:21which shall make all his joynts to tremble.

p. 59The particular affliction wherewith the sinners of this Text are said to bee afflicted.

NOW according to my division made in the former sermon: It followeth that wee knowe with what particular affliction fools in this text are said to bee scourged for their sinnes: The rodde is sickenesse, sore sickenesse, deadly diseases: This is plainely set downe into these words: Their soule abhorreth all maner of meate, and they drawe neere the gates of death.

The sickenesse as yee see, is not some light trouble, a tooth ache, or an head-worke; as wee say, but a deadly disease declared in these words, Their soule abhorreth all maner of meate, &c.

Beholde heere J say the description of a deadly disease: First it begins with want of appetite: after p. 60that the sicke man draweth neere the gates of death.

Note.The first doctrine J obserue heere is,The doctrine. towards man, in that hee maketh sickenesse to come before death, that man being forewarned may stryue to bee fore-armed: Behold how God stealeth not a dint vponupon these fooles that are heere sicke.

Note.God in justice might strike the sinner dead in an instant, as if hee were an oxe felled with the housle of an axe: If God should slay vsus all vponupon the sudden, and as we say make vsus even shoot to dead, hee should be righteous and we should get shame and confusion of face: But such is the mercy of God that often he forewarnes sinners, making them to sicken by degrees: first by taking away their appetite, and thereafter by making them to abhorre all maner of meate: then their hands become feeble and their p. 61knees waxe weake as water, thus all their joye by litle and litle doth wither away: After that they are thus warned, God draweth them neere the doores of death: This is Gods custome to send some forerunners to tell that the decree is coming foorth against sinners,Zeph. 2. v. 2.Zeph 2:2 except that they gather them selues, and search them selues for to prevent his judgements: Hee sent vntounto Ninive his Prophet to giuegive them a charge of fourtie dayes either to Iona. 3. v. 4.Jonah 3:4repent or to be destroyed: Note.Kings hornings get but commonly fixe dayes, God gaue them fourtie dayes leasure to consider whether it was good or no to returne home againe to God: After that God had sent vntounto Jerusalem his Prophets both great and small for to receiue the fruits of his vineyard whom they abused: Hee sent at last his owne Sonne, saying, They will reverence my Sonne, but they killed him, and p. 62cast him out of his owne vineyard as being the heire: yet for all that God would not destroy them: Thereafter hee sent the Apostles to preach, & to doe miracles amongst them, yet for all that they would not repent. Note.After as Joseph their owne writer records they gote warning from God of their woe to come: First a Comete before the destruction of Jerusalem was seene into the aire, hauing the forme of a sword; for all this they would not yet repent: After that a voice was heard into the temple, saying, Let vsus gee out of this place: for all this they would not yet repent: Last of all there was a certaine man that night and day ranne about the temple, crying Voice from the cast, and voice from the west, voice from the four winds: woe to the Citie and to the Temple: As at last he was crying woe vntounto me, he was slaine by the cast of some stone, and incontinent thereafter p. 63the temple was burnt and the Citie taken and destroyed. Note.What need J bring testimonies from forraine nations: hauehave we not eyes to see what God hath done to Britan? What cryed the famine vntounto vsus into this land, when in the most glorious streets of this Kingdome it made the poore to fall flatlings to the ground?Psal. 91. v. 6.Ps 91:6 What cryed the Pestilence that walketh in darkenesse? while the best cities of this land were almost laid waste? And now what cryeth the sword drawen our of the scabert? Can we say but that we are well forewarned?

Note.Though God should come this yeere, and sweepe vsus quite away, none of vsus can say that our God hath beene too hasty to take vengeance.

Such forewarnings by sickenesse, by famine, by pestilence, by sword, are given to sinners to let the world see that God is true in his oath, p. 64viz. that as hee liueth hee taketh no delight into the death of sinners. Note.But because, if GOD should giuegive to all such forewairnings the wicked world, yea, the best of vsus would become secure: Therefore the Lord often will take away both godly and vngodly into a moment, that every man may be continuallie vponupon his watch, least hee should be taken away vponupon the sudden, and so dye without preparation: while the Philistims were seeking to see Samson sport, Iudg. 16 v. 27.Judg 16:27the house fell downe vponupon them, and they died into an instant:Levit. 10. v. 2Lev 10:2 While Nadab and Abihu brought in strange fire before the Lord the fire of God consumed them into a moment:2. King. 1. v. 10. v. 11.2 Kgs 1:10 Fiftie men with their Captaine, and againe other fiftie men with their Captaine that came to lay hands vponupon Elias were consumed into an instant with fire from heaven:Iob. 1. v. 19.Job 1:19 All Iobs children were smothered at a feast: p. 65The Aegyptians in their greatest rage against God his people were all drowned into a moment.Ezod. 14 v. 27. Act. 5. v. 5.Acts 5:5 Ananias and Saphirah shot to dead, while they were lyeing against GOD: Lots wife in an instant was turned into a pillar of salt. Gen. 19. v. 26. Note.Gen 19:26All these are set out in scripture to giuegive warning vntounto sinners, not to lippen to the last, as if one Gods mercy at the last gaspe were enough for al their sinnes. Note.Not one of all these fore said persons gote once leasure for to say Lord hauehave mercy vponupon mee.

What can thou tell O man but thou mayst die vnderunder the fall of an house with Samson & the Philistims? Jt may bee thou be burnt with a blast of powder as Nadab was with fire?Iudg. 16. v. 29. Levit. 10. v. ….Judg 16:29Lev 10 What if Satan get licence from God to raise a wind, which shall smite the corners of the house, whereby in an instant thou shall be overwhelmed?Exod. 14. v. 21.Exod 14:21 The LORD may drown thee with the Aegyptians into p. 66the sea. Note.J knew a man in France fall downe dead as hee was washing his hands into the basen, for to goe to dinner after the Communion. I knew a man in Scotland, who died at the dinner hauing the cuppe in his hand not feeling any sicknesse of before. What doe all these cry vntounto vsus but that we ever be prepared. Note.Is not our lyfe a vapour, a breath into our nostrils, which departeth so soone as the Lord but saith,Iam. 4. v. 14. Isan. 22 Psal. 90. v. 3. The vse.Jas 4:14Ps 90:3 Returne yee children of men? The vse of this for great comfort to these that are afflicted with long diseases. Note.Yee that hauehave such sicke persons at home, whose names are prayed for heere, take home to them this comfort, that they are much beholden to Gods mercies that proceedeth in such a maner with them, whereby they may hauehave tyme to repent and recken with their God, What if God had slaine them vponupon an evill thought, word, or worke? * It is a fearfull thing to goe directly p. 67from sin to judgement.Note. Well is the man that hath tyme to craue mercy from his Iudge. Comfort your sicke with this: let them see how they are beholden vntounto God for his delays. After that, tell them what hath made them sicke. Note.The Physitians can discourse and tell diverse naturall causes: But alas, this is too sparingly told to the sicke that they suffer for their sinnes. The Physitian will say the humour must first be purged: but the Minister must say, sinne must first bee purged.

Many never send for the minister till the physitian can doe no more. This they will verifie, Note.vbi medicus desinit, ibi Deus incipit: where man leaveth off, there God beginneth. O foole, God should be begun at in thy sicknesse. Seeke first the minister the interpreter one of a thousand, that he may cry to God for remission of thy sinnes the cause of thy sicknesse. If this cause bee not p. 68removed, the physitian shall by his drogges waste both thy health and thy wealth. Note.My counsell is, that thou proceede orderly into thy cure: Bee first friends with thy God, and he shall direct the Physitian: Otherwise the tyme shall come that thou shall say to all wordly meanes, as Iob said to his fectlesse friends:Iob. 13. v. 4.Job 13:4 we are all Physitians of no value.

Let vsus now visite this sicke man into his bed, let vsus see what aileth him: my text saith that his soule abhorreth all maner of meate: the Hebrew word Taban signifieth properly abomino…, that is to abhorre, avoide or scunner at a thing that standeth against our heart. Note.His sicknesse is so sore, that all sortes of meate stand against his stomack: …ewe men in health can eate of all … of meate: Some like not flesh some ca…e not fish, some abhorre one thing, and some abhorre another. But for a man to abhorre all p. 69maner of meate, so that he can taste nothing, as the sicke man of my text, it declareth the greatnesse of the disease: This is then the affliction heere sent against man, because of his transgressions his soule abhorreth all manner of meate, that is GOD taketh the appetite from him.

The doctrine I obserue heere, is this, The doctrine. Note.God hath many whips wherewith he can chastise his owne children and scourge the wicked: Let all other plagues be removed, let vsus see what GOD can doe to man in matter of meate.

Note.First God can giuegive thee meate enough, and yet scourge thee with such a niggard heart, which like an hungry steward will not vouchafe vponupon the stomacke its owne due: Such a man wee call a wretch, or worlds worme, that is feared to eare of the earth least the whole earth bee not sufficient for it.

p. 70Note.J compare such a man to a currish dogge, lyeing vponupon a heape of hay, that neither can eate himselfe, neither suffer the beast to eate that would eate. * Heere is the plague of povertie, or rather plague of plentie, magnas inter opes inops, to bee poore in the middest of wealth.

Note.Secondly God can scourge a man in his meate, when he both giveth him meate and a heart, and a hand to take it, and a stomacke to digest it, but hee beseigeth the heart with hunger, by taking the passage of his throate; there he will set downe a squinacie, crowels, or boils for to hinder all sorte of victuall for to be caried to his enemies that are lying into the heart, rebellious imaginations that hauehave lifted vp a banner against the Lord: God will take this passage of the throate,Iudge. 12. v. 5. as Iephre tooke the passages of Jordan for the overthrowe of the Ephracaits, Note.Thirdly God will giuegive meate p. 71vntounto men, but will take away the strength and foison of it, which is called,Levit. 26. v. 26.Lev 26:26 to breake the staffe of bread: According to this he said to his people threatning them for sinne, yee shall eate much and shall not bee satisfied, Note.When Gods plague after this maner is on meate, men are like these leane & evill favored kine that Pharaoh sawe in his dreame eate vp the fatre fleshed kine that were fed in a meadow, who after they had fed so fatly,Gen. 41 v. 21.Gen 41:21 it could not be knowne that they had eaten them, they remained as leane and evill favored as ever they were before. Note.See how God can plague his creatures with leanuesse, even while they feede in fattest medowes. Note.But againe let the Lord bee pleased: let him blesse a little portion were it of pulse, it shall hauehave greater force to feede thy body then all the Kinges dainties with Gods displeasure. Note.Thus Daniel and his fellowes, whose portion p. 72was but pulse,Din. 1. v. 15. were fatrer and fatter in flesh then all the children, which didcate the portion of the Kings meate.

Note.Fourthly, God can plague man in meate, when hee suffereth a man to become foolish, either for to tarrowe of his meate, because he geteth not such meate as he would hauehave hee w…ll take no meate at all, and so depriveth him selfe of Gods comforts: this wee see often into little children. Note.Others more foolishly will make vowes not to eate till they hauehave done an evill turne, like these Jewes, who banded together, and bound them selves vnderunder a curse, A…t. 23. v. 12.that they would neither eate nor drinke till they had killed Paul: This was Sauls follie, he discharged the people all sorte of meate ti…l the battell was ended, he band them vnderunder a curse: but what came of it? The people vexed with hunger, did eate flesh with blood: 1. Sam. …. v. 37.Thus Gods command was broken by occasion p. 73of such a foolish injunction.

Note.Fifthly God can scourge man in meate while he cursed the meate, which man desire against his will: It is said of Israel,Psal. 78. v. 18. v. 19.Ps 78:18 that they tempted God in their heart, by asking meate for their lust: yea, they spake against God: they said, can God furnish a table in the wildernesse: Thereafter it is said that the Lord heard this and was wroth:v. 21. What did hee into his wrath? By his power hee brought in the south wind. v. 26.Hee rained flesh vponupon them as dust: and feathered fowles lyke as the sand of the sea:v. 25. So that they did eate & were filled: But how soone came judgement, the Psalmist sayeth, that while their meates was in their mouths, v. 30the wrath of God came vponupon them and slewe the fattest of them, v. 31.and smote downe the chosen men of Israel.

Behold the end of all their good cheere: Behold how shortly their greening was cooled,

Note.Sixtly God can scourge man in p. 72duplicate page p. 73duplicate page p. 74meate, when hee maketh meate to discord with man: From this is the proverb, That which is one mans meat, is an others mans poyson: It is a righteous thing with God to putte discord betweene man and his creatures, when man hath sinned against his God: The least discord between man and food, declareth that man is at feade with his God.

Note.Seventhly, God can afflict man in meat, by withdrawing all meat from man: This is famine, a fearefull plague: Jeremie calleth it a punishment greater then the punishment of the sinne of Sodome:Lam. 4. v. 6. Note. Lam. 2. v. 20. Lam. 2. v. 12.Lam 4:6Lam 2:20Lam 2:12 In that famine of Jerusalem the tender hearted weemen for lack of bread did eate their children of a spanne long: The little children came to their mothers, crying, where is bread? And after that they swooned and fell downe dead, and their mothers did eate them:Lam. 4. v. 7.Lam 4:7 These who in tyme of abundance were Nazarits, purer p. 75then the snowe, v. 8.and whiter then milk, in tyme of famine their visage became blacker than a cole, their skinne withered, and became lyke a sticke. Jn Samariah two weemen made paction for to eate their two children, first the one and then the other. Note.Eightly God can scourge man in meat, while hee letteth him eate till hee surfet: Thus when Israel lusted after flesh, the Lord gaue them flesh and they did eate vntill it came out at their nostrils:Numb 11. v. 20 v. 23.Num 11:20 But while the flesh was betweene their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord wat kindled and smot the people with a very great plague:v. 34. from thence the place was called Kibroth-Hattavah, that is, the graues of lust.

Note.These that surfet either in meat or drink till they sicken are plagued in their meat and drinke:Isa. 5. v. 22.Isa 5:22 woe vntounto them that are mighty to drink wine, & men of strength to mingle strong drinke. Last of all God scourgeth man in p. 76meat, when by sore sicknesse hee maketh a man to losse his appetite, or when he maketh his soule (as my text saith) abhorre all maner of meate.

Note.The Lord in his justice can put a man at variance and discord with that meate, which once hee loved best: yea, hee will sowe such seed of discord betweene man and his meat, that man will bee at deadly feade with his food: yea, & abhorre it, of whatsoever sorte it can bee: were thy fare never so daintie or delicate, the Lord can make the soule of the sicke man to abhorre it,

Note. The doctrine.The doctrine I obserue heere is, that there is no such louelove and friendship amongst the creatures, but if the creature offend God, God can set them at variance. * God that put an evill spirit of dissention betwixt Abim…lech and the men of Shechem,Iudg. 9. v. 23.Judg 9:23 can put stryfe and contention betweene a man and the meate hee loveth best. Note.Hee can p. 77make the best meate to be vntounto man after he hath abused it, as hee made Tamar to bee to Amnon after his lust was satisffied:2. Sam. 13. v. 152 Sam 13:15 his last hatred was greater then his former louelove: Hee abhorred her at last after whom he sickned for lust: Heere is such hatred against meat: Their soule abhorreth all maner of meate: yea, of meat, which once they lusted most after. Note.God will not suffer his enemies to hauehave the vse of his creatures. Jf man cast out with GOD, God can make man cast out with his meat: yea, and cast it: yea, and make his drinke to cast him vponupon his backe. Note.God may for a space delay, and suffer sinnes to hauehave a stomacke: But what saith hee into the Psalme? when I see a convenient tyme then will I execute judgement. Psal 37. v. 2.Ps 37:2GOD is not slacke while he delayeth, but hee stayeth till sinne bee ripe.

The vse of this is,The vse. let vsus never offend p. 78God in our meat. Note.Let vsus beware to make of our bellyes Kibroth Hatavab, graues of lust.…umb. 11. v. 34▪ What is a gluttons belly but a graue of lust, wherein hee burieth the good creatures of God? Let all men learne heere not to set their affection too much vponupon that which shall goe to the draught. Note.He that loveth his meat or drinke better then his God, God shall make him hate his louelove: yea, and abhorre it. What is a man given to his belly, but a belly-god? Stinke must hee, whose God is his belly. Fye on the follie of that foole that for meat forsaketh God, and cleaveth vntounto his belly, which God one day shall destroy: yea, and shall make of it a nest of wormes. Note.Often in this lyfe hath it beene seene that God hath marked the abused belly with some judgement, for to bee a prophecy of torment vntounto others, least they should bee like vntounto them. Note.Gods judgements vponupon p. 79others should bee vntounto vsus, as if a messinger had beene sent from the dead for to giuegive warning to the gluttons, Brethren, least they also should fall into the like torment.

The second doctrine I gather heere is this:The doctrine. It is a great benefite of GOD to man to hauehave his appetite, so that hee may eate of all maner of meat.

The vse:The vse.Thou hast a stomacke, thanke God for it: abuse it not in gluttonie or drunkennesse: St Paul hath a notable speach:Tit. 2. v. 11. v. 12,Titus 2:11 viz, that the grace of God hath appeared vntounto all men, teaching vsus. what is the lesson? That denying vngodlinesse, and worldly lusts, we should liue soberly, righteouslie, and godly in this present world. Note.Soberly, in regard of our selues: Righteously, in regard of our neighbours: and Godly in regard of our God. Note.See how in these three severall dueties, fobrietie is sent before, for to prepare a place in the heart for the p. 80Lord, who can not dwell into an heart full of surfet.

The doctrine.The third lesson J obserue heere is, that sinne is the cause which maketh a man to losse his appetite.

The vse.The vse. Note. Let every man that sindeth a decay in this benefite, considder how this euill is come vponupon him: I remember of a comfortable laying, which that worthy and learned man my Lord of Plessis Morney, whom I knew in Sanmur, was wont to say concerning the sight of his eyes almost lost,Note. Is say a quel ieu ie les ay pardus; J know (said he) at what play I hauehave lost them.Note. Hee had worne-them away with great reading: Hee was not bleare eyed as many amongst vsus by much drinking Well is the man that hath such bosome and secret comfortes while hee is afflicted.

Health is a great benefite and would bee meekill made of: Let vsus so spend it that while it is spent p. 81wee may hauehave some comfort to remember how wee hauehave spent it.

Seeing my text is of health & of sicknesse, let mee say something against these that are enemies both of their owne health, and of other mens.

To you first J addresse my speach, who are drinkers of strong drinke,Note. or rather strong in drinking. Men of strength to mingle strong drinke, Isa. 1. V. 22.Isa 1to scoll as wee say: How call yee such scols?Note. Scols of health. What folie is this, that a man should losse his health by drinking the scolls of health? what sicknesse is this when a man is sick of healths: the very names of this sin declareth the madnesse of men. What meaneth thou ô man, to say before a drinke, that will make the sicke: This is to such a mans health? A scoller, whose schoole is the tavorne, is not a scholer of Christ that sayes learne of mee. Math. 1… v. 29.Matt 1:29J never heard tell that Christ scolled to any mans health: and yet hee is the man that p. 82onelyonly can in all things say learne of me: J will not follow S^t Paul him selfe in all things: hee desired not to be followed in all things: But bee yee follow…rs of mee, (said hee,) as I am of Christ:Note. Take my counsell O man, follow not the fashions of this world: If thou would bee a man of health be not a drinker of healths.

Note.Bee a scholler of Christ, but bee not a scoller of strong drinke: Drinke soberly, but scoll not.Note. A scoll is a thing sacrificed to idols: viz. to bellyes that are drunken mens gods, belly gods.Note. 1 …or. 10 v. 27. The counsell of S^t Paul is wise: If any of them that beleeveth not, (saith hee,) bid you to a feast, and yee bee disposed to goe; whatsoever is set before you, ea…e, asking no question for conscience sake:v. 28. But if any man say vntounto you, this is offered in sacrifies vntounto idols, eate not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake?

Note.That which hee said of eating that may J say of drinking: Drinke p. 83of any drinke that is set downe before you, but if a scoll come to the table, drinke it not, because it is a sacrifice offered vntounto the stinking idoll of the belly. Let vsus not onelyonly flee all evill, but all appearance of evill. Note.What hurt to health such scolls hauehave bene, the conscience of many will beare mee record: I wish that the force of Gods word could sweepe that out, which mans corruption hath brought in.

Note.When the brasen serpent made by Gods command was abused; good Hezekiah brake it in peeces and called it Nehushtan, 2. King. 18. v. 4.2 Kgs 18:4that is a lumpe of brasse. Seeing scols hauehave beene so vilely abused, let vsus breake them in peeces: away with all appearance of evill: This much concerning these enemies of health, who by excessiue drinking, drowne their spirits and the gifts of GOD within them.

There be now another sort of drunkardsNote. p. 84who spoile their health with reeke and smoke: Tobacca-men, who goe about to smoke the soule out of the body, as if it were a foxe chased out of his hole: this fire may be called as the fire of Nadab was called:Levit… v. 1.Lev 5:1 viz. strange fire. Note.I speake not of the vse but of the abuse of Gods creatures:Note. my reproofe is against these that spend the tyme with plussing of reeke, which should be better imployed. Note.What count should such firie pipers make to God if death in an instant should feaze vponupon them with that fire pipe at their mouth? If God should say to that man, what was thou doeing while I sent my servant death for thee? Will that bee a gratious answere: Lord I was spending the tyme that thou gavest mee for repentance, at such and such an exercise. Note.I will not insist against this sinne that was once a great streanger in this land.

Note.OnelyOnly this will J say for the present: p. 85this taking of reeke seemeth to be a gracelesse thing. Jf a man come in into a house and take but a drinke: he wil first pray to God for a blessing

Note.But there is no grace for Tobacca, as if it were not a creature of God: Every creature of God is good, 1. Tim. 4. v. 14.1 Tim 4:14and nothing to bee refused, if it bee received with thanksgiving: Away with such new inventions, whereof the event is this, the soule abhorreth all manner of meate. Away with these creaturs which are nor received with thanksgiving. Let vsus now proceede in our text.

And they drewe neere the gates of death.

VVEE hauehave heard how all the sicke mans appetite, is lost: That which followeth is, that they drawe neere the gates of death.

Note.See how the living man sickneth and decayeth: See how his sinne goeth p. 86downe by degrees: first he can not eate, after that, all natural strength failing him, hee draweth neere the gates of death: yea, so neere that with Job he is not able to swallow downe his spittle.Iob. 7. v. 19.Job 7:19

The doctrine.The doctrine J obserue heere, is, that sicknesse commeth formest, & death followeth after. Note.There is no disease that commeth to a man, but it is like a warning peece of preparation for death.

The vse.The vse when ever wee find our appetite decay:Note. let vsus remember the doores of death.

The doctrine.Againe let vsus obserue heere that the Psalmist speaketh not heere of any light disease: as of a tooth-ache, or of some little throwing of the belly, but of a deadly disease, wherein all the cunning of the physician is gone.

Note.See what doloures the sinne of man is able to bring vponupon him.

Note.Sinne while it is in doeing goeth merrily on, like a ship falling into p. 87calme waters with flaunting failes; but tary till the revenging tempest of Gods wrath come & rush vponupon the sinner, and tumble him vp & downe, then is hee forced to know that there bee some great power provoked: but let vsus see what is vnderstood heere by the gates or doores of death.

By the gates or doores of death, some vnderstand the graue: when your graues are opened for to receiue your bodies then are the gates or ports of death opened, that yee may enter in. Note.The graue maker is deaths porter. A man is said to bee neere the gates of death, when he is so sicke that there be more appearance of death then of lyfe. Some are so sicke that they must make their Testament: Some are yet neerer: yea, so neere that no hope of lyfe being left, the living will cut off their winding-sheete.

The last yeere,Note. 1… September when J came out p. 88of that fever in all mens opinions deadly,Anno 1626. I found my winding sheete cut off, lying in my studie amongst my bookes: In such a case man may well bee said to be neere the gates of death, when at every moment wee thinke that his breath should goe out.

The doctrine.In this drawing neere the graue, J obserue also the weaknesse of man.

Note.Were hee never so strong, death at last will drawe him with sicknesse to her portes. Note.Samson for all his force yelded vntounto this draught. Let mee dye, Iudg. 16 v. 30.Judg 16:30(said hee,) with the Philistims: there is neither force nor bewtie, nor wisdome able to resist this draught. Note.Man in his name may learne his weaknesse: The Hebrewes call him Enosh, quasi…ger di…us … mortifera agritudine in quam … peccatum incidit, that is, from …iseases wherevnto hee hath beene made subject by sinne. Note.Eliphaz speaking of mans weaknesse, faith p. 89that wee dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, Ioh. 4. v. 19.John 4:19which are crushed before the moth. Note.See what an house thy soule, ô man dwelleth into: It is but a little lodge so ruinous, that if a moth but creepe vp vponupon it with the weight thereof it will be crushed.

The vse,The vse.let no man lippen to his strength or youth. Note.While thou art into thy greatest force, remember that God can cause thee to be crushed before a moth, which shall drawe thee perforce in at the doores of death, for to dwell amongst the crawling wormes.

Others by the gates of death heere vnderstand the power that death hath over all the living. Note.They call the power of death, gates of death, quia judicia olim in portis exercebantur, because the magistrats in whose hand was the civill power, sat into the portes of the City, while they did exercise judgement. In this sease p. 90Christ said that the gates of hell should not prevaile against his Church: Math. 16. v. 18Matt 16:18By the gates or portes of Hell is to be vnderstood the power of hell: Note.So heere by the gates of death, learned interpreters vnderstand the power of death.

The doctrine.The doctrine J obserue heere, is, that great was the power of death before the coming of Christ. Note.It is heere set foorth, as a King or a magistrate, sitting with great power, rule, and dominion. This impire it keept ever till Christ came, who tooke part of our flesh and blood, that through death hee might destroye him that had the power of death, Heb. 2. v. 14. v. 15.Heb 2:14that is the devil; and deliver these, who through feare of death were all their lifetyme subject vntounto bondage: Let vsus remember, then that death before Christs death had portes of power: But so soone as the Captane of our salvation came,Heb. …. v. 10. hee cast downe the portes and dang death from the p. 91portes: yea, hee beseiged death: yea, hee overcame death even into the graue, deaths dungeon and strongest hold: yea, not onelyonly that, but also hee put the devill, that had the power of death to such a straite, that hee was forced to quite his castell, for to goe lodge into swine.

The vse of this is our great comfort against the feare of death:The vse. What neede wee now to feare death, seeing Christ our fastest friend hath conquessed the portes of death.

Note.When a Christian seeth Christ hee groweth bold: yea so, that hee will boast death and the graue, saying, O death! 1 Cor. 15 v. 55.1 Cor 15:55where is thy sting? O graue! where is thy victorie?

Heere againe I obserue,The doctrine. that hee saith, that the sicke fooles drawe neere the gates of death: they drawe neere and yet enter not in. Note.The lesson is this, so long as there is lyfe in a man there is hope: all is not lost that is in perrill:Philip. 2 v. 27.Phil 2:27 Epaphroditus was sicke nigh p. 92vntounto death, yet GOD had mercy on him.

The vse.The vse of this is, so long as there is lyfe in man in sickenesse,Note. let both spirituall and bodily dueties be done: let prayers be made and other lawfull meanes sought, whereby the precious lyfe of man may be preserved: Say not there is no remeed, all hope of lyfe is past, and therefore wee neede not care what bee done to him. Note.Mans extremitie is Gods opportunitie: when man lest looketh for it, GOD at his will can bring backe the sicke man from the doores of death.

The vse.The best vse wee can make of that, that sinners sicken,Note. and at last drawe neere the doores of death, is, that we remember that we all hauehave this voyage to make. Note.We are all dayly drawing neerer and neerer vntounto death,Eccles. 12. v. 2.Eccl 12:2 vntounto our long home, as Salomon saith: and therefore the neerer our bodies drawe to the doores of p. 93death, let our soules drawe neerer the portes of Heaven. Note.All things giuegive vsus warning that wee must flit and remoue: thy beard, thy face, thy skinne, thy acquaintance, the season of the yeere: are all crying we are subject to changes. Note.The houres, the dayes, the nights, are all as it were vponupon horsebacke posting to their end. Note.The Heavens crye vntounto vsus our powers are shaken and wee waxe old as doeth a garment:Psal. 102 v. 26.Ps 102:26 See yee not that sand running out of my houre glasse:Note. Jt cryeth vntounto you that tyme is running away with your lyfe: As yee see that sand running out, so is also the tyme of your lyfe running away: and now yee hauehave neere by an houre of lyfe lesse since J reade my texte: and shortly shall yee goe out with lesse naturall lyfe than yee came in: The Lord increase our spirituall lyfe. J wish J could let you see the vanitie of this lyfe, that yee may learne to looke for a p. 94better. Note.There is a swift motion into man from lyfe to death: My dayes,Iob. 7. v. 6.Job 7:6 said Job, are swifter then a weevers shittle: yea, swifter then a post: yea,Iob. 9. v. 2…. v. 26.Job 9:2 they are swift as ships, as the Eagle that hasteth to the preye. Note.What is man but a broken leafe driven to and fro with dayes of trouble, as with mightie tempests? And yet for all thi…, while hee is driving swiftly vntounto death he dreameth that he is drawing neere to the doores of life.

Note.Put thy house to an order, yee must make your testament, are fearefull wordes to a naturall man. Note.Most men even while they are a-dyeing desire to dreame of lyfe, neither without some wrath will they suffer them selues to bee wakned out of this dreame: and yet doe what they can they are ever drawing nearer and nearer the doores of death. I wish that these doores were ofter into our memorie then they are. Note.If yee will take heede and considder, I shall p. 95let you knowe two pages that God hath commanded ever to be watches in man, so long as hee hath lyfe for to advertise him that hee must die: The one is called the pulse, which God hath set into the arme of man, knocking night and day, for to tell him, that at the last knocke hee must enter in at the doores of death.

The other page is called the breath which God hath set into the breast of man:Note. this reciprocation of the breath is like reciprocatio serrae, the drawing to and froo of a sawe.

Note.This breath O man is night and day going to and froo like a savve: man is the tree: when the tree is cutted then must it fall: and where it falleth there shall it lye, Eccl. 11. v. 3.Eccl 11:3whether in a myre or vponupon the cleane: As a man dieth so shall he be for ever: If being well prepared hee enter in at the doores of death, happie shall his lyfe bee for evermore. Note.Yee who p. 96of before did never obserue these two watching pages: the pulse and the breath; take warning by them that dayly yee drawe neerer to the gates of death.