The Rousing of the Sluggard, Sermon 4
Whether this winter bee neere, hand, or farre off and how wee may know it.
The fourth Sermon.
BVt all this will no awake the Sluggard. … with himselfe, … for though it … winter may come, yet now it is summer, & winter will not come yet: Like the euill seruant in the Gospel that said, My master will not come yet and so fell to beating of his fellowes still, as the sluggard falleth to sleepe still, and still puts off the day of his turning to God. And it seemeth that this is no news deuise of the sluggard: for he hath learned it of the scornefull men of Ierusalem, and it is a common answere of all sluggards that meane to dwell still in their sinnes: It will not come yet▪ Esa. 28. 15.When the Lord by his Prophet sent worde to Ierusalem that a scourge was comming vponupon them for their sinnes, they cared not for it: for they had made a couenant with death, and were at agreement with hell, that is, they had a shift for eueryevery thing. And admit, say they, that a scourge do come, and runne ouer vsus, and passe through vsus, yet it shall not come at vsus: for We hauehave made falsehood our refuge, and vnderunder vanitie are wee hid. A goodly refuge, and a couering sutable, and best beseeming the scornfull sluggard. And what other refuge, or couering hauehave all the sluggards of our time, but a refuge of falsehood, and a couering of vanitie? that is a falfe refuge, and a vaine couering, which is as good as none at all. But because the sluggard is at that poynt, to thinke that it is yet a great way off: like the foole in the Gospell, who told his soule of pulling downe his old barnes,Luk. 12. 20. and building bigger, and of liuing many yeares, euen that night whē his soule was to be fetched away from him: wee will now goe a little further, and as wee hauehave proued it a thing very likely to … a winter come after this fune-shine summer of the Gospell: so wee will also proue, by the grace of God, that it is not farre off, but very likely to come shortly vponupon vsus. I set neither houre, nor day, nor monethmonth, nor yeare: but would hauehave the sluggard to knowe that it is at hand, and nor so farre off as he doth imagine. And let not this caueat be to dismay, or terrifie any man, except it bee the drowsie sluggard, whom nothing will awake: but as a voyce going before the Bridegromes shoute,Matth. 25. 6 that they which now want oile for their lamps, may in time prouide against his comming. But how shall wee knowe that the winter stormes of trouble and persecution are approching, that we may make our prouisiō? Surely, as Christ taught his Disciples to knowe when summer is at hand: so by the same rule wee may learne to knowe when winter is at hand And by the figge tree both may bee learned:Mat. 24. 32. Learne the parable of the fig tree (sayth Christ) when her bough is yet tender, and it bringeth foorth leaues, ye knowe that summer is neere: Therefore by the rule of contraries, when the figge trees bough hath lost her tendernes, and cast her leaues, we may knowe that winter is neere. The figge tree shall be the Church of England, the boughes the members of the Church, or professors of the Gospell; the tendernes of the boughes, the louelove of the Gosped; the leaues, the profession of the Gospell; the fruites of the tree, the fruites of the Gospell; as louelove, ioy, peace, long suffering, gētlenes, goodnes, meeknes, temperance, godlines, patience, charitie, sobrietie, faith, repentance, mortification of fleshly lusts,Gal. 5. 22. and such like, which are called in Scripture the fruites of the spirite: which should bee in all the true professors of the Gospell, because they are led by that spirit which is a spirite of louelove, and of ioy, and of vnderstanding,Esay. 1. 12. and of counsell, and of courage▪ and of the feare of the Lord, as Esay sheweth: The hardnes of the boughes may shewe the cōtempt of the Gospell, which argueth (where it is) a departing of the grace of God: the fall of the leafe may resemble the falling away from the sincericie of the Gospell: which Saint Paul calleth a departing from the faith: which he prophecied of to come in the latter ende of the world: which also argueth, that the end of the world is at hand. Now, to know whether the fig tree hath any fruite, or be casting off of her fruite, leaues and all, great search need not to bee made with a candle, as if it were a thing hidden in darknesse: for it is so euident that a man may see it a farre off. When Ieremie was set to make search in Ierusalem for one righteous man, that it might be spared: he was not willed to stand stil in eueryevery place that he came at, and narrowly to looke into eueryevery corner, as though he should els hauehave wanted matter: but to runne to and fro in the streetes,Iere. 5. 1. and it was enough: for their wickednes was so openly professed, that a man might see it as he ranne. So a man neede not stand prying into eueryevery corner of England, and leisurely to take a narrow view of eueryevery mans life, that were too much: but let him runne to and fro in the streetes, and open places of the land, and it is enough: so openly is wickednesse professed, and so manifestly is our filthie nakednes laid open. Ieremi… ranne through the streetes of Ierusalem, but he could not finde one that executed iudgement, and that sought the trueth: So they that execute iudgement iustly, and seeke the trueth vnsainedly in the Church of England, are least in sight, and must not doe it openly, least they be noted for Puritanes. Many say, the Lord liueth, yet sweare falsely: there was swearing, and false swearing, and common swearing in the streets, and in the houses, and in the shops, and in the markets, and in the courts of Ierusalem: and the same is to bee …eene in England, and all vnderunder the cloake of religion too. And for these things the Lord hath striken vsus, but we hauehave not sorrowed: and some hath he euen consumed to the terror of others: but neither they, nor others hauehave returned to the Lord. If we goe along with Ieremie from the common people to the great men, what shall we finde? Surely they should know the way of the Lord, and the iudgement of their God should not be hidden from them. But alas, none more ignorant then many of them, they hauehave altogether broken the yoke of discipline, and burst the bandes of godlines. If a man looke into the Court, is not there also the fall of the leafe? for how els is the time spent? but (as the Apostle sayd of our forefathers) in sitting down to eate, and drinke, and rising againe to play, studying who shall exceede and excell others in vanicie; pride, and brauerie, in flattering, and dissembling, in …hing, and scoffing, in chambering, and wantonnes: but alas, there is no leisure to looke vponupon the booke of God. If Amos the rough h…wen heardman come thither to preach, there is no place for him, he must go againe to Bethel, what should such a fellowe doe there to awake the sluggard, and trouble the diuel in his sleepe? As for the often preaching of the Word, which was wont to be there, how is it eclipsed, and abridged? and that which remaineth, alas what is it for the most part, but a swee…e pleasing song, to rocke them fast asleepe in their …innes, which were asleepe before? and happie were it for England if that kinde of preaching were not made a patterne for the most preachers in the land to followe. But how els s…ould the people (when winter commeth) bee found frozen vp in their dr…gs (as the Prophe… speaketh?) how els shoulde …hey bee …ardenedhin their sinnes, and hauehave their condemnation sealed vp unto them? As for the Prelate, and great men of the Church, hauehave not their figge tree also lost her tender…es, and cast her leaues aswell as others? Verily it is to manifest, that it cannot be denied: or … what is become of that ancient diligence and painfulnes in preaching, of that zeale and faithfulnes in professing, of that courage and boldnes in reprouing, and of that louingnes … lowlines in entertaining that was in many of them before they were exalted?
Before … was King of Aram, the Prophet Elisha looked earnestly vponupon him, an… wept: & being asked of Hazael why he wept, he told him the cause,2. King. 8. 12 and that was because Hazael comming once to the kingdome, should doe much euill to Israel, and tolde him that he should burne their cities with fire, that hee should slaye their young men with the sworde, that hee should dashe their infants again… … stones, and rent in peeces their women with childe: which Hazael then tooke in such ill part, that hee asked the Prophet if hee thought him to be a dogge, that he should doe such vile things. But yet when he was promoted to the kingdome he did it. So if Elisha had come to some when they were students in the vniuersities, and afterwards zealous preache… else where in King Edwards day…s, and perhaps in our time too, and tolde them that they being then … should lose their fatnes, that they should proue colde and negligent in preaching the word, that they should denye that which they then maintained, that they should silence, and trouble their brethren, and strengthen the hands of the wicked, would they not hauehave been offended as Hazael was? but hauehave not promotion and preferment made i… prou… too true? Looke into the state of the Churche, and beholde her ministers and watchmen, ar… they not for a great part of them, either blinde and ignorant, of negligent, or vnfaithfull, … fearefull or rash and h…ady and …, or vngodly, and profane? And if any be otherwise, and approued for their learning, and painefulnes, and wisdome, and courage, and godlines: is there be some such, and (thankes be to God many such) yet how are they hated, and molested and made wonderments to those that are rounde aboute them? If we come to the auncient prosessors of the Gospel, such as in Queene Maries dayes were zealous, and in the beginning of our Queenes raigne were forward to set vp the Gospel of Christ, what shall we finde but in the most of them through the land, a generall numbnes, and Apostasie, hauing put off the shoes of preparation for the Gospell, and put on the shoes of preparation for all kinde of vanitie, preferring playes before preachings, tables and cardes before the olde and new Testament, resoluing to be iust of the Kings religion, and to stand to nothing for feare of alteration. These men hauehave been made so drunken with prosperitie and ease, that they are fallen fast a sleepe, not caring who standeth and laugheth at their nakednes, hauing nothing left but their beardes, and their budges, signes of gra…itie, like an Iuie bush at a Tauerne dore, where there is no wine: but as for their louelove, and zeale, and charitie, and pietie, and religiousnes, &c. the date of them is out long agoe, and their coppies altered. And if these things bee any where, are they not generallie resting in the younger sorte? Others there bee which of late yeares hauehave al…o made a glo… ous showe of zeale to the worde, and o… lo… to the ministers there of, which are also … aside like a broken bowe: for as vntimely fruite they were …oone ripe, and soone rotten. At the first so far in louelove with the preachers, that they would builde their saluation vponupon them. But by degrees (God cursing their pride, and preposterous zeale) they fell quite away, insolently condemning the church, for no church the min…stery for no ministery, the Sacraments for no Sacraments, but all to bee worse then naught, like the Barbarians, who one while tooke Paul for a murtherer,Act. 28. 4. 6. and another while esteemed him as a God. And with their preposterous proceedings, hauehave both hurt themselues, and hindered the whole Church of many good things, which otherwise might hauehave been obtained, the Lorde laye it not to their charge. Other some at the first comming of their pastors amongst them, hauehave (in shew) giuen forth good, testimonies of louelove to the truth who afterward hauehave also lost their tendernes, & cast their leaues, (but fruit they neuer bare) To these men the preaching of the worde hath been acceptable at the first: and as a flashe of lightning did a little dazle their eyes for the present time, but after a while, when it began to rubbe vponupon their beloued sinnes, and the mockes of the wicked began to encounter them, they gaue ouer: and with Demas betooke thēsēues to the world againe, like men that repented thē of their bargaines. And not staying there, hauehave proued the …orest and sharpest enemies to their power that might be against their ministers, and the holesome doctrine of the Gospel, in whō is fulfilled that fearfull saying in the Gospell:Luk. 8. 18. From him that hath not, shall be taken away, euen that which he seemeth to hauehave. I say nothing all this while of the infinite swarmes of Papists, & of Atheists, and of Neuters, and of Libertines, and of Epicures, and of Machiuels, and of Hypocrites, & timeseruers, and false brethren, and scoffers at Religion, & Protestants at large, & Schismatikes, and worldlings, and priury whisperers, & backbiters, and ruffians, and couseners, & cutters, and many moe of that crue, besides whoremō gers and baudes, and theeues, and rogues, & a companie of rakehels which cannot be numbred, all which are permitted and suffered for money, & briberie, by baseminded vnderunder officers to iet it, & braue it vp & down in the land, yea, with countenance & credite too, perhaps more then shall be aforded to better men. And where is he that dare speak almost against thē, much lesse bridle them: for feare of many displeasures, and dangers? And is it not come to passe, that a man may with more saftie & credite commit sinne then control sinne, which is most lamentable? It was once said of Rome, (so far was it degenerate frō all grace & goodnes) that Omnia cum liceant, non licet esse bon…. … was lawfull to bee any bodie, and to doe any thing in Rome, but not to bee a good man. And is it not almost come to that passe in some places of England, that it is more tollerable for a man to bee what hee will, sauing a good man indeede? For that can hardly bee without some trouble. Doest thou see now how the poore Church of GOD is pestered, and ou… runne with weedes and wildernes? And … thou not maruaile that the Lorde hath let it … lone so long? When thou seest the Church of God thus pained, (though in respect of others of her sisters very blessed) imagine thou seest Iob aliue againe, sitting downe vponupon his ashe heape and breaking out with botches & sores, from the top to the toe,Iob. 2. 7. 8. 13. and his griefe encreasing so, that his friends begin to sit aloofe from him, being so grieued with the sight, that they know no… well what to say to his comfort. And what doth all this foreshew, but that the Lorde is hard at hand to visite the land with scourges, and to feede his people with the breade of affliction?
And further, it is to be obserued, how the enemies of the Gospell, and the Churche of Christ doe encrease, how bolde they growe, how disguisedly they goe, and how they can fitte themselues to the present time, and frame themselues to eueryevery companie, hauing change of sutes, and visards wherein they maske it at the… pleasure, that the Church of Christ hath … a doe to … her friends and foes as…der: neither doth she know with whom to … for pietie, or whom to tr…st for safetie. All our comfort (vnderunder God, whose … still watcheth ouer the righteous) …s, that our Mother is yet liuing, I meane her …, on whose lappe the poore Church of the Lorde Iesus may lay her head, whose tender louelove and care doth still …euiue the fainting spirits of Christs little …ocke, which otherwise were euen readi… … yeeld vp the ghost: but that their trust is in their great shepheard▪ who will both keepe and defende them that they miscarrie not: No not o…e of his will … lose. This is some comfort yet, (God make vsus truely thankfull for it to his diuine Maiestis) This is some comfort yet, I say, that our tender Mother is yet liuing amongst vsus, and Lord, for thy mercies sake▪ long prolong her daies …o the cō fort of … Church. But yet in this bless…d comfort there appeareth s…fficient matter to hūble vsus, and to make the sluggard looke about him: For is not the Church now very sick, & weake? Is not her Mother, our gracious Soueraigne, in continuall danger of … hangbies; and bloudie traytors? Are not hollow hearted, and false hearted subiects a…mitted to her gracious …sence many times▪ more then she or her friends knowe of? But that the Lord hath still … them, as cunni…gly as they masked it, (blessed be his name.) And doe not the bloudie Papists (for that is their brand) stād be … the cloth as it were, with their swords draw…, readie eueryevery houre to steppe vponupon the stage & to play their parts? doe they not onelyonly waite for a day, like Esaw who purposed to kill his brother when his father was gone? Well, … Lord is in heauen & laugheth them to scorne, and knoweth how to dispose of their purposes and intents wel enough, and can preuent them if it please his Maiestie (as he hath done): but this may greatly humble vsus, and awake vsus. Againe, as we hauehave obserued in the preaching of the Word where it is, a great defect in respect of the manner which is too pleasing: so also may we obserue (if our eyes be in our head…) some corruption in respect of the matter in many places, though not so general as the former. And that is not lightly to be passed ouer, but wee should learne in the feare of God to make some vse thereof. And let the sluggard consider well of it, that when any shall now in so great and cleere a light of the Gospell, popishly maintaine the 7. deadly sins: or call in question our iustification by faith in Christ alone: or denie to the Church the assura…c… of her saluation by Christ: or discourage men … the reading of the scriptures: we are to … of these things. Last of all (to conclude … poynt) when any shall teach that we must beleeue as the Church beleeueth, without examining the doctrine by the word: and if any man be deceiued, that it is sufficient for him to say before the Lord, that the Church deceiued him: as if it had been sufficient for, Adam to say, his wife deceiued him, and the serpent deceiued her. When thou Hearest (I say) of these things day them to heart, & take them as prognostications of further matters, and forerunners of greater euils to ensue: especially seeing the people are as greedie to drinke, as othe… … broach whatsoeuer it be. Therfore the … his rich merciemercy open our sluggish ey… … of our … curitie. And as Christ sayd,Mat. 24. 1…. When you see the abomination of desolation stande in the holie place, let him that readeth consider: So I say, whē you see the corruption of sound doctrine, and the abomination of popish filth stand in the holie place, let him that heareth consider: for it is Gods doing, though it bee the diuels suggestion, and that iustly▪ for our sinnes.
Thus hauehave wee runne about the streetes, … Ieremie did, and in casting our eyes here and there, wee hauehave found that which you see: much more is behind that we see not. But this is suffici…n… to proue vntounto the sluggards face, that as a winter is likely … come: so (if God bee not exceeding mercifull) by all signes and …okens it is hard at hande: for the figge tree hath lost her tendernes, and there is generally a fall of the leafe in all places: and wh…n wee see that, we may know for a certaine that winter is neere. Therefore (O Sluggard) put off the time no longer: but while it is yet summer prouide against winter, least thou repent it too la…e. By this time the Sluggard might hauehave been awakened, but he sleepeth still▪ and therfore now let vsus heare the. Lord calling … him, and what answere hee will make when hee is called.