The Rousing of the Sluggard, Sermon 6

The Rousing of the Sluggard · Sermon 6

The Sluggards answer.

The sixt Sermon.

10. Yet a little sleepe, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleepe.

IN this answer the spirite of God doth so liuelie describe the condition of the Sluggard, that he may know he is in his bosome, to shewe vsus that hee can painte out our sinnes as plainely as we doe commit them: for hee is in our hearts, and waiteth vponupon vsus, and can tell what we doe, and though the wicked cannot see them, because the diuell hath blinded their eyes, yet Gods spirite doth search them out, because all things are open in his sight, bee they in respect of men neuer so secret.

Now the Lorde in causing the Sluggard to speake for himselfe, doth make it knowne to all the world, that hee hath no wrong offered him, because his owne mouth hath testified against himselfe, and openly shamed himselfe, and therefore his condemnation must needes bee when it commeth both great, and iust. For wheras other sinners being called to their answers, were both afraide of God and ash… med of themselues, the Sluggard cleane contrarie as a beast that is past all feare of God, and shame of the world, resolueth still to continue in his olde course, counting all but a little. When Adam and Eue sawe their nakednes they blushed, and feared, and ran away for feare, thus wrought their pride and disobedience: when Caine sawe his wickednes, hee knew not what to doe, except despayre, but wished it vndone againe, and thus did murther bestirre himselfe, when hee was awakened: when Dauid was roused for his adulterie and murther, he said that he had offended: when Paul was called to his answer for persecuting Christ, hee fell to the grounde astonied, and tooke a new course: when Peter was awakened for denying his Master, hee went out and wept. And thus wee see that when pride and disobedience hauehave been called, they hauehave feared the iudge, and when murther and adulterie were called, they feared the iudge, when persecution and treason were called, they feared the iudge: And all other sinnes being roused out of their holes, hauehave startled at the call, seeking either how to yeelde, or how to flie. And being conuicted, hauehave all cryed like the prisoner at the barre, O my Lord be good vntounto me now, and I will neuer do the like againe. But when slouth and negligence were called, and endited by the name of careles his children, they (in stead of submitting themselues to the merciemercy of the iudge,) stand to the defense of their faulte, and like beastes both careles, shameles, and graceles, in stead of saying, pardon O Lorde that which is past, and wee will take a new course, they crye out to the wonder of all the world, and the vtter shame of themselues, Yet a little more sleepe, and a little slumber, &c. We hauehave not enough yet, and all is but a little, so that shamefull was pride, and rebellion, and murther, and whoredome, and persecution, and treason, and all other sinnes, but shameles is the Sluggard, and passeth them all in wickednes.

Here then wee are taught to make a reckoning of our sluggishnes: and it argueth that we count all too little, to giuegive vntounto sinne and Sathan: as though they were two such deare friendes of ours, that wee coulde not doe too much for them. And the diuell on the other side who hath taken vp his lodging in the wicked, and gotten like a fawne ghest into the mindes of the godly, hee crieth still, a little more, a little longer, and though we hauehave suffered him with his impes to lye sleeping in our Churches, in our common wealths, and in our shoppes, and markets, in our houses, and families, and in our soules almost fortie yeares, and in some twise fortie yeares: yet hee hath taught vsus to say, yet a little, and a little, and still he must hauehave a little more, like Achsah in 15. of Ioshua: Iosh. 15.Josh 15who when she had begged of her Father an inheritance of the South countries, then she must hauehave certaine grounds with wels and springs. Such a shameles begger is sinne, and Sathan, that they neuer leaue begging, like hungrie courtiers, and couetous worldlings, which will not sticke to beg their owne brethren for fooles, to hauehave their lands: and not rest there neither, but would beg the garment from the Kings backe, and the King himselfe too, with a good will, if they thought they might hauehave them for the begging; & yet count all but a little. So plaieth the diuell too, he will still hauehave a little, and a little, and neuer leaue till by little and a little he getteth both body and soule into hell. And so sweete hath he made s…n to the tast of the wicked, that they crie still a little more of it, and finde no fault with it: but that there is too little, and they cannot hauehave enough of it; like little children which knowe not what is good for them: if they beginne to tast hony once, they will not leaue eating by their good wils, till they bee sicke with eating. And so greedie of sleepe is the Sluggard, that as Esau would sell his birthright for a messe of pottage; so hee will sell his soules right for a messe of sleepe, and a little more of sinne.

But as for religion, and things pertaining to the worship and seruice of God: as the knowledge of the waies of God, and the graces of the spirite of God: they thinke that of such things they hauehave enough, when they hauehave nothing, like the luke-warme Laodiceans,Apoc. 3. 17.Rev 3:17 who thought they were rich, and increased with goods, and had neede of nothing: when they were wretched, & miserable, & poore, & blind, & naked. And here now appeareth the difference betweene the wicked and the godly: for the seruants of God hauing a little mortified themselues through the grace of God, they are come to this point: that all they can doe is too little for the seruice of God, but are desirous still to serue him more, & better, & still to bring more and more knowledge, more faith, and more repentance, and more louelove, and more zeale, and more holines, and more courage, and more good workes, to the glorifying of their heauenly father, So free hearted are the true children of God,Ioh. 8. 36.John 8:36 whome the sonne of God hath made free indeede, that they thinke they can neuer doe enough, like the free hearted Iewes, which still brought either golde or siluer, or silke, or haire, or one thing or another to the building of the tabernacle, and as they left not bringing till they were stayed by proclamation: So in building the spirituall tabernacle of the Lorde the children of God leaue not comming, and going, to the …ercises of religion, preaching and reading, and hearing, and meditating, and practising till they bee stayed by death: for proclamations, and lawes, and statutes, hauehave been made; but all that could not staye them: nay it hath made them more diligent, and painefull like the Pismire, because they perceiued winter to approach: yea they doe also encourage their owne soules, and their brethren with them, saying as Elia… said to1. King. 18. 41.1 Kgs 18:41 Achab, Get thee vp, eate and drinke, for there is a sound of much raine: so say they one to another, get thee vp, reade and studie, preach and praye, and lose no time, for there is a sounde of much trouble: and all their feare is that they shall be stopped and stayed by the waie, when troubles arise, as Eliah feared least he and Achab should bee stayed by the raine. They can scarcely hauehave any rest in their hearts, but are still panting with Dauid for breath,Psal. 42. 1.Ps 42:1 like the Harte in continuall chase. They thinke they hauehave done nothing, they can see nothing but their sinnes and wickednes, their rebellious motions, and corrupt cogitations of their own false hearts, doe still appeare vntounto them, and afright them: they suspect all their dooings like Iob that holy man, who feared all his waies. And when they hauehave done the best they can, they still condemne themselues for vnprofitable seruants, still crying out to their soules, as Christ saide to the young man that was so forward in the Gospell▪ yet one thing is wanting: so they say, yet my soule, either for the matter, or for the manner something is wanting. It is not then with the godly christian, as it is with the superstitious Papists, which thinke they may serue God enough, by their owne deuises, and stintes of mattens & their euen songes, and their Orisons, and their Kyrileysons, and their Masses, and their Ladies psalters, and their Iesus psalters, and their often belabouring the name of Iesus, and their pattering of beades, besides their pipings, and singing, and perfuming, and aboundance of draffe more to fil vp the tubbe withall, that let the hogges come home neuer so hungry, yet there is meate enough for them, and some to spare for their friendes that will giuegive any thing for it, which they cal works of supererogation. Now when their t…skes are done, all must be set vponupon the sco…, and the Lorde must bee beholding to them for their deuotions, and Heauen they must hauehave of dutie not of fauour: like the meritmongers of Ierusalem, who going to Christ in the behalfe of the Centurions seruant that laye sicke,Luk. 7. 4. 5.Luke 7:4Luke 7:5 tolde him that hee had deserued to be healed at his hands, because the Centurion had b…ilded them a sinagogue. And not much vnlike is the seruice of Atheists and Protestants at large, liuing vnderunder the Gospell, though they defie poperie with open mouth, and wide throates, yet they are too popish in this poynt: for doe they not think that God is well serued of them, if they goe to Church when … comes, and heare a few cold prayers read, and after dinner spend the time at Cardes, or Tables, or Bowles, or Church alings, or in one … nitie or other: but if they hauehave been at Church in the forenoone, though it were but to sleepe at the sermon, the Lord is much beholding to them. But to come at the beginning, and continue waking, & attentiue to the ending, both forenoone and afternoone, that they thinke may serue for a great while: but to hauehave preaching eueryevery Sabboth day, and in the weeke too, that is counted an vnreasonable seruing of God. But the godly thinke they hauehave neuer enough of the seruice of God, and his worship: and for this cause hauehave they desired to liu… stil, Esa. 38. 18. 19.Isa 38:18Isa 38:19not for feare of death, which indeede is a vantage vntounto them: but for that they hauehave not s… ued God enough, and in the graue they ca…not praise his name.Psal. 118. 17Ps 118:17 So Dauid desired to liue still, that he might declare the workes of the Lord. And in the 119. Psal. he saith,Psalm. 119. 175.Ps 119:175 Let my soule li… & it shall praise thee. This he craued, because he had not praised God enough. And vponupon this Paul discussed this question in his heart, For my selfe (sayth hee) it is better to dye: Philip. 1. 22. 23.Phil 1:22Phil 1:23but for … (meaning the Church) it is better that I liue still: to shewe, that if we hauehave any desire to liue longer, it must be that the Church of God may bee the better for vsus: for the godly are of that minde that they cannot doe enough for the good of the Church of God▪ They are like Abraham, who when … began to speake with God, would hauehave still one question more: And like the Disciples, who when they heard Christ commend the bread of life,I… h. 6. 34. said Lord euermore giuegive …s of this bread. Now if this be the affection of the godlie, all too little: then what shal we say to the wicked, which coūt all too much that is giuen to God? like I…das that grudged at the cost that was bestowed vponupon Christ, coūting is more then needed. But this was because I…das had the bagge and was a theefe to Christ: and so the wicked hauehave the bags, and would fill their bags with the spoyles of Christ and his Church. They say, they hauehave heard a sermon once in a yere: what so many say they? heare one and follow that well, &c. This is the voyce of a wicked heart, that knoweth not what he oweth to God: If he knewe that he oweth him all his life, he would not speake in that sort. Concerning the things of the world, they play the Horseleach that lye sucking still, and neuer cryeth ho. And they are of Achabs humor, when he had a kingdome, yet he wanted a vineyard, and a little was still wanting. So wordling professors of the Gospell, when they hauehave much, and that which they desired, yet they must hauehave a little more, another house, or another lease, or another Benefice: but as for the Lords part he shal hauehave the offall, or refuse of their crooked old age, when they can serue the diuell no longer: but then the Lord will none, except he giuegive them great repentance. Therefore, seeing as the Lord is the beginner, and continuer, and ender of our life: let vsus offer him al for a sacrifice, and yet say, we are …nprofitable seruants, and hauehave done but … duetie.

Againe, here we are to note further the cunning of the diuell: for he bringeth men by degrees to the top of sinne: yet a little, and a little, sayth he, and al is but a little: yet al these littles being layd together make a great deale. And as a couetous man gathereth his fart…ings and his halfepenies together, till they come to a pound, and so becommeth rich in the world: so the diuell teacheth the wicked, to gathe… now a little and then a little, till at last they become rich in sinne, but bankerout in the grace of God: for there is neuer a sinne that is let in to the soule, but it lette…n out many graces of Gods spirit. It is no dallying with the Lord: for in Rom. 2. 5. the Apostle sayth, They that abuse the long suffering of God, doe in the hardnes of their heart heape vp vntounto themselues wrath against the day of wrath. Therefore let vsus take heede of this little: for by little and little the diuell creepeth vponupon vsus. The wicked goe scoffing at the children of God: oh there goe Puritanes, and Precisians, &c. And, what? are you so precise? Why? this is but a little oth, a littl… meriment, a little of the fashion, & a little must bee borne withall, and still they goe on powring out themselues to all kinde of wickednes, till they bee so drunken with sinne, that they knowe not what they doe, nor where they bee.

The diuell playeth the labourer that riueth wood, who hauing a great peece to cleaue, hath also diuers wedges for the purpose, and eueryevery one bigger thē another, and entreth with the least first, and that maketh way for a bigger, and that againe for the biggest of all, and so by little and little the great tree is split in many small peeces, and made fit for the fire. So … Sathan purposeth to make a spoyle of the graces of God in the soule, he hath diuers deuises for the purpose, and eueryevery one of them differing from another: for the lier he hath a packe …ll of lyes: for the swearer he hath a packe full of others: and for the scoffer he hath a packe full of frumpes and floutes: and so for others: but he will enter with a little one in shew, as first to teach men to sweare by their faith and troth, or by cock and pie, or by some other counterfeit o…e, and tels them that it is nothing: and after, by little and little, when it is growne into a custome with thē, they come euen to blaspheme the most holie name of God, like diuels incarnate, not being able to leaue it though they would. So doth … draw … to adulterie, and so to m…ther, and to …o drunkennes, by … and a little: first, by circumstances a farre off, as of dalliance, and … sting, & quarrelling, and carowsing, and at last they grow to the very substance of the matt…. And so by little and little doth he drawe … quite from hearing of the word, to schisme, & Apostasie: first, he breedeth in them a misliking of the preacher, for his plainnes, … roughnes, or his tediousnes, or his li…, or one thing or other, and then there is way made … a loathing of the doctrine, and at last they fall quite away from that sinceritie which they professed at the first, especially by meanes of such companie as the diuell can fit them withall for the purpose. And if one sinne creep… into our conscience, it wil not leaue till it hath made a hole for the entring, and a place for the lodging of horrible and outragious sinnes.

Then let vsus say, that is great, which …hey call little, and aggrauate our …innes now, a…d condemne thē now, that they bee not made great, and condemned of the Lord at the last day. The diuell is contented with a little, and a little will please him: he will (if he can) bring thee to all sinne: but when he cannot doe so, he … play at small game rather then sit our▪ As if thou be a Protestant, and traua…est beyond the seas amongst Idolators and Massemongers, i… is sufficient for him if thou doe but salute the crosse as it is carried through the streetes, or bow the knee to Baal, though thou doest … them in thy hart. So, if thou be a Papist in England, and goe to Church according to lawe, it is no matter, so thy heart be at Rome, and thou keep thy conscience to thy selfe, thats enough for the diuell, and pleaseth him very well: for by the outward gesture of the one, and by the inwarde affection of the other, he doth (as it were by the ring of the doore) take possession of the whole house, knowing that if hee hath the bodie, the soule will come too: for God will hauehave all or els none. Worldly men will say now adaies, If they bee not notorious offenders, they are not Sathans prisoners: which is all one, as if a malefactor, being fastened with a chaine but by the foote to a poste in the street, should bragge that he is not the Iaylors priso…er, because all his bodie is at libertie sauing his foote. Alas poore soules, how wise wee are to deceiue our owne soules. Though we can see nothing but great beames, yet that is not the way to bee discharged. The Papists can see none but 7. deadly sinnes that will hurt them: but Dauid prayeth both against presumptuous sinnes,Psal. 19. 13.Ps 19:13 and secret sinnes, which would proue presumptuous in time.

The Papists hauehave a question which cannot be answered, as they thinke: Shew vsus the time (say they) when Poperie came in, and when we sell away, if wee bee fallen from the trueth. Alas poore soules, they are not acquainted with the custome of Sathan: for he commeth in by little and little. If then a Papist would p. 118know how Papistrie came in, I will say by … custome of the diuell▪ by little and little: for th… diuell will not get all at once. The Apost… Paul sayth,2. Thes. 2. 72 Thess 2:7 The mysterie of iniquitie began … work in his daies, & to creepe into the Church by little and little: So for worshipping of Angels,Colos. 2 18.Col 2:18 the Apostle sayth, they worshipped Angels then, and thought it to be a part of insti… cation▪ Also for will worship, and humane traditions, as taste not, touch not, eate not, and beating of the flesh, Paul spake of it in his time, and called it voluntarie religion,vers. 20, 21, 22, 23. which had a shewe of wisedome and humblenes of mind…, but indeed were to no purpose. And the … part of Poperie, namely, merits, and satisfactiō by our owne workes, began when Antichrist was borne: for Paul spake of it, and against it in his Epistles to the Romanes, and the Galathians, and almost in all his Epistles. So for fasting on their Saints …ues, as they call them, their Ember daies, and their popish Lent… fast, they hauehave made it a painted garment, and very …itorious, and so by little and little they hauehave made vp this monster of many coto…. So came in Idolatrie at the first into the Church: first, the images of the godly were o… a good intent brought into the Temples, and afterwards superstition crept in like a Ringworms, and men fell to worship them, as in time the Israelites worshipped the brasen S…rpent in the wildernes. Then the supposed pictures of Christ were worshipped, wher of there grew to be very many, and neuer any one like another, but euen as it pleased master Painter: And then the Crosse by the hie waies side, and then the very letters of the name of Iesus: and whē the painter had made a picture like some foule Mawkine, or some foolish gameplayer in disguised colours, and set it vp in a glasse windowe, or some stone wall, and a toy tooke ignorant men in the head (for strong is imagination) that must bee our Ladie forsooth, and so to be worshipped. Then further, when men began to neglect the most sacred scriptures of God, which are the onelyonly pillar and ground of all trueth, they began to build vponupon Councels, and Fathers, and Doctors, and the interpretation of the Church, without any tri…ll of the same to be made by the scriptures: and at last the worde of God (which should hauehave sit as Iudge) was brought down, and set at the barre to be iudged by men, yea by his enemies too. And by little and little it came to this paste, that the Church could not erre in any thing: and that the Church of Rome must be that only priuiledged Church which could not erre. And then they thrust vponupon vsus what they listed, as the Philistims made Sampson doe what they would, when they had put out his eyes. But this was done by degrees: for first, the Bishops and teachers waxed rich and wealthie: then they grew to be proud and lordly: then couetous p. 120and greedie▪ then idle and lazie: and then cruell and bloudie, as also subtill and craftie, to couer all withall. And when the starres thus began to fall from heauen,(that is, from the heauenly doctrine, and from heauenly conuersation, to become so carnall and earthlie minded) the sunne of righteousnes also the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe, that true light began to be darkened, and his Gospell to be depraued, & then the Moone (that is) his Church must needes lose her light: for shee hath no light but from the sunne: and then (as the Prophet Ioel speaketh)Ioel. 2. 31.Joel 2:31 was the Church also turned into bloud: for vponupon these things grewe most horrible persecutions in the Church, through the malice & crueltie of the Prelates, so that she failed both in light and life together. And so it is to bee feared, that (for our sinnes) it may fall out againe: for as by little & little the candle goeth out: so by little & little darknes commeth in. And after the same manner came in such monsterous abuses in apparell, both in men and women, such excesse and riot in eating and drinking, such idlenes and prophanenes, as is eueryevery where to be seene: & so grewe tumults and rebellions in the common people: so groweth stubbornnes in seruants, and disobedience in children, through sufferance and too much foolish cock…ring, till by little and little many of them come to shame and confusion. And thus hauehave all ill customes growne vp from time to time, both in the Church, and in the Common-wealth, & all by the custome of the diuell, that is, by little and by little: yea, and that so softly and slilie he creepethinto men, that they can hardly either see him, or feele him when he commeth: As wee see the weedes growe vp amongst the corne while men sleepe, but so softly that no man can perceiue how they growe, or how much they growe at once: but that they doe growe, and in time (if they be not plucked vp) ouergrow the corne, eueryevery man may see that: Or as the Iuie by little and little creepeth vponupon the oke, till at last he doth ouergrowe and destroy the oke: So doth sinne by little and little get vp, and get the strongest and the mightiest men sometimes vnderunder him: as it did Salomon, and Dauid, and Peter, and diuers others, for all their wisedome, and learning, and iudgement, and experience, which they had both of themselues, & of the world. Now, to saue our selues from this vsurping and encroching enemie, it shall bee our best course still to pray vntounto our God, for the helpe of his grace, and holie spirit, and stil to perswade our soules and our friends by the word of God, to make resistance at the verie first entrie, and continually to withstand the beginnings and first motions of Sathan vntounto any sinne, lest by little and little now a stone and then a stone, now a basket full, and then a basketfull, he cast vp his mount, and fortifie p. 122himselfe against vsus, vntill he hath battered and spoyled all the good things that were in our soules. And that the daunger of these same littles may the better appeare vntounto vsus, let vsus remember that sinne is like leauen, a little wherof will sower the whole lumpe of dowe: It is like fire, whereof but one sparke is sufficient to kindle a great fire, and to burne down a whole citie: It is like a tree, whose stubbes remaining in the ground are enough to giuegive one a fall: It is like Iezabel that painted harlot, whose verie remnants, as the skul of her head, & the palmes of her hands, must be buried, least they infect the ayre. A mote in the Sunne is but a little thing, and yet enough to hinder the sight, to paine the eye, and to trouble the whole bodie. A haire is but a little thing, yet enough to stiffle a mā. The …lies of Egypt were but little things, yet none of the least plagues. The lice were lesse then the flies, yet one of the greatest plagues that came vntounto Egypt. And such be our sinnes, which wee call little sinnes, and the Papists call them veniall sinnes, that may bee washed away with a little holie water, &c. we count them little and nothing, and not to bee stood vponupon, nor once to bee touched: but in time wee may proue them to bee the greatest plagues that will trouble vsus, if securely & rashly we venture vponupon them. For though the occasions and motions perhaps bee but small in respect of grosse sinnes, and hainous crimes, yet there is a hidden corruption in our nature, (whose very froth doth continually annoy the children of God) and that may threaten some hainous downfal in time to come: which hath made euen men of very good report and conuersation to hang downe their heads, still fearing their secret hypocrisie, as that which may breake forth to the shame of all the former in time to come. In regard whereof, Gods children hauehave such a ielousie, that they tremble at the very first motions, and the least occasion to sinne that can be. And the rather too, because they see many excellent men in gifts, and constant in profession, for a long time, whose ende hath not answered their beginnings. And this is very true, whether wee looke into the word, …o the world, & is a thing that may much humble vsus. For though wee may remember what we hauehave been, and what we are, yet who can tell what may come to him hereafter, especially if they yeeld to a little and a little.

But alas there be some too venturous, which thinke it no masterie to offer themselues to ma…king, and minstrelsie, and dauncing, and wanton companie, nor to runne into quarrels, and brawles, and contentions, as though they had their ear…s, and their eyes, and their hands at command…ment: But Gods children are afrayd of these occasions, as knowing that their eyes may bee p…ouoked to lust, their eares may quickly listen… to vnchast delights, and their p. 124handes may sodainly strike a deadly blo… &c. Therefore both men and women are … beware howe they venture vponupon such small occasions, for though thou meanest no su… matter, yet for thy venturing without warr… thou mayest be ouer thy shoes before thou b… aware.

And yet because vice is so neare vntounto vertue, wee must also beware of superstition, fo… the enemie still laboureth either to make … too hardie and venturous, or else to feare it to… superstitiously. And to these temptations our nature is very pliable. First to presumption, and ouer much hardines, as may appear…hy our common speech. Tush the preacher i… but a man as I am, hee hath his infirmities as well as others: we are no Angels, our nature is corrupt, we are but men, and I am sure you will not make vsus Gods, a little is not so much, and if God were so hard as you would make him, that were hard indeede, &c. Thus Satha… commeth to tempt men vntounto presumption: but when hee would driue men to despayre▪ then he apparelleth himselfe in another sute, and then of a flie he maketh an Elephant, and of a moate a mountaine. If hee cannot bring men to make conscience where they should▪ he will labour to bring them to make conscience where they should not. As wee see the… maner of manie is either to be profane in thei… mirth, or to allow no mirth at all, either too gawish & new…angled in their attire, or to allow no ornament at all, and so in many things …ce: he careth not, whether thou be remisse, or superstitious, so thou bee one. Gods children therefore must labour for a measure, and that must bee sought for in the worde, which will guide them in the narrow way: shewing …eu…ry thing what is the vertue, and what is the vice; what is the meane, and what is the extreame on either hand. In these extremi…ies, if any man hath beene ouertaken by little, and a little, (as who hath not) let him imagine himselfe to be sicke, either of a spirituall consumption, or a spirituall burning fe…er: and let him from henceforth keepe that diet which is prescribed vntounto him in the word, and carefully abstaine from such occasions hereafter: and by the grace of God he shall redouer himselfe againe, though not by and by, but by little and little, like the man that hath been very sicke, who first feeleth a stomacke to meate, and then hath some tast of his meat… which before was vnsauorie vntounto him: and then he beginneth to sit vp in his bed, then to rise out of his bed, and then to walke in his chamber: and after that abroad by a staffe, and by little and little, (through the blessing of God) commeth to his full strength againe. Neither let any willing mind be discouraged, by the hardnes of his hart, which he now feel…th wrought by the custome of Sathan: but p. 126let him plie the meanes appointed by God and he shall see, that as the water droppeth … the flint vntill it be worne hollowe, so the w…ter of Gods grace shall be still dropping vpo… thy hard hart, vntill thou be recouered. And thus wee hauehave seene the custome of Sathan, and how it may be broken.

Another note is this: That the wicked doe still extenuate, and lessen their sinnes, crying: Yet a little, and it is but a little: but the children of God do say their sinnes are great, and cannot aggrauate them enough. And this is their griefe, that they cannot lay out their sins enough:lob. 1. 5. lob setteth blasphemie vponupon the sins of his children, when they were banquetting together: and it might bee some idle word… or vnsauorie iesting might passe their lipp… when they were set to bee merrie: but lob g…ueth it no lesse name thē blaspheming of God. Christians in their feastinges and meeting… ▪ powre out riuers of idle words: and if a ma… call them rebellion or blasphemie: what? th… is too full mouth, wee must seeke some … wordes to colour them withall: like the … which will not say they stole it, but they tooke it. If the Preacher shall labour to lay out the ouglesomenes of sinne, hee is called a rayl… for his labour. Paul called himselfe a blasphemer, a persecuter, and the chiefe of sinner…; though hee were not so indeede, yet thus … laboureth to beate downe himselfe, and to … humbled with true repentance, and hee had the spirite of God. Therefore they that will not be launced, and hauehave sinne touched, it is a signe that they hauehave not the spirite of GOD. The world calleth couetousnes good husbandrie: but the worde calles it idolatrie,Col. 3. 5.Col 3:5 and the …ote of all euill.1. Pet. 5. 5.1 Pet 5:5 The world calleth pride clenlines and handsomnes, but the worde calles it fighting against God: the world calleth their painting of faces, the frisling of hayre, the wearing of false hayre, and other such disguisinged deformities, and ougly inuentions, both seemely and comelie ornaments: the worde cals them whotish attire.2. Kin. 9. 30.2 Kgs 9:30 The worlde calleth malice and hatred,1. loh. 3. 15. manhood: the word cals it manslaughter. The worlde calleth excessiue eating and drinking, and ryoting and idlenes, and chambring, good fellowship: the worde calleth them the sinnes of Sodome,Ezc. 16. 49. and Gomorrha: the worlde saith that fornication is but a tricke of youth, and a common infirmitie: the word saith it is to make the members of Christ, the members of a harlot: the world calleth that honest recreation, which the worde saithe,Ephef. 5. 6. bringeth the wrath of GOD vppon the children of disobedience. The worlde saithe they take but their fees, when the worde saith they play the theeues: the world calleth that dutie, which the word calleth robberie. And so it is in many things moe. But as the worde speaketh of sinne, so doth p. 128the godly speake of sinne; for they speake … the spirite of God, which is not contrarie … the worde of God, And thus we soe how very foule sinnes hauing gotten a liuerie of the… Master the diuell, and stolen the cloake of vertue, doe i…tte it, and braue i… vp … downe, like fidlers, and players, vndernoble mens coates: which (when their coates are taken away) are butrogues by statute: and the other when their coloured cloaks are taken … way, are most foule, and ougly diuels by the worde of God: yet no man must say so, but at his perill. For the diuell when hee hath brought vp a fashion, will followe the fashion himselfe: and the fashion is amongst hunters, that if any body doe call a hound or a spaniell by the name of a dogge, he must be punished, because the hauke hath no taile, but a traine, as if she were some state: and two bee not a couple, but a cast, and a brase, and I knowe not what: So, if a man come when the diuell is at hunting, and call the wicked his dogges, by the name of hell hounds; as they are indeede, he must be punished: for they are neither dogs nor hel hounds, but good fellowes: and their hunting of vertue and godlines, is good fellowship: And hereupon a common harlot is commonly called a good fellowe. And still the diuell followeth the fashion: for amōgst men of trade, & manuel occupations, they hauehave words of art belonging to eueryevery toole and instrument in their shops: and if a man come into their shoppes, and doe but touch any of them, or call them by other names then the occupation doth call them by, (as to cal a spade a spade a spade) is a forfeit called for by and by. So if a man come into the diuels warehouse, and doe but touch a piece, except it be to buy it; and doe but call his tooles and implements by other names then hee and the occupation doth call them: as to cal a knaue a knaue, you shal straightway hauehave one or other at you for a forfet, which doe serue for nothing els, but to watch for such booties: and are as glad of them too as sumners are of citations: or as quiristers in Cathedrall Churches, when they see a man come into the quire with his spurres on his heeles: because then they hope to get something to encrease their commons, by a law of their owne, such as Christ was put to death by, But that …oule that lieth so wide open that he cannot see his sinnes, but maketh great sinnes small, and calleth sower sweete, and darknes light, as Esay speaketh, Woe bee vntounto them saith the same Prophet: They shall one day feele the greatnes of their sinnes to their cost and paine: for it is a true …aying of Christ in the 5. of Mathew, Hee that breaketh the least of Gods Commandements, and teacheth men so to doe; shall bee the least in the kingdome of heauen: that is, he shall hauehave no place at all there: for Christ speaketh of it, but according to that opinion▪ which men had of it. Thus hauehave wee spied the diuels craft in minsing of sinne, now let vsus learne to make some vse of it. The Magistrate may learne hereby to take heede, that he yeeld not so much as a little to the wicked, because they watch at an inch for the least aduantage that can bee: like the seruants of Benhadad King of Aram, when they were parling with Achab the King of Isra…ll about their master: of whome it is said in the holy historie, that they tooke diligent heede, if they could catch any thing of him: & when they heard Achab but call their master his brother, they made hast, and said thy brother Benhadad: to shewe how the Magistrate is watched: & if the wicked perceiue any coldnes, or fearefulnes, or negligence in him, or heare but a word of comfort from his mouth that makes for them, they worke vponupon that, like the stream against a bācke, if there be but a little hole made through it. Hereby the Minister also is taught to take heed how he straineth his conscience against the trueth in any thing, though neuer so small, lest in time hee swallow downe camels, as some doe steeples, and make shipwracke of all: like Demas, and Hermogenes, with their fellowe Phygellus, of whom Paul speaketh: and like Diotrephes, against whom Saint Iohn giu…th euidence. It is the policie of the world to lay baits and snares for the Ministers of Christ: it must bee therefore their wisedome to hould out the world at the swords point. For couetousnes is like aquaf…rtis vponupon steele, and if it take the hart once, it will not leaue till it hath eaten out the spirit of GOD there, and all goodnes there. And therefore the Apostle doothe well call it the roote of all euill: for so it is, for wheresoeuer it taketh roote, it rooteth out all goodnes, causing to erre from the faith & pearceth the …oule through with many sorrowes: so doth she reward her master for giuing her lodging, like the viper that eateth out her mothers bellie, and so getteth his owne being with the destruction of another.

Here also may parents learne not to feede their childrens humours too much, nor to suffer them ouer long, as the manner of many is to doe, nor to inure them to such wantonnes, nicenes, and pride, as we see in many: for they will grow to such things fast enough without teaching: and by little and little it may turne them to shame, and their parents to smart and griefe, as too wofull experience dooth daily teach. As Absalom being suffered a little, first killed his brother Amnon: then abused his fathers concubines: then stole a way the hearts of his fathers subiects, and at last rose vp in armes, and droue his father out of his owne kingdome: and this came by little and little. And if the twigge bee suffered to grow crooked, it will be crooked when it is come to bea …ee, and then it will sooner bee broken then …owed. To some parents and masters it is a pastime to see their childrē and seruants runne colting about the streetes with open mouth, like a kennell of hounds: but to the godly and wise it is both a griefe, and a shame, because they know that by little and a little, they may proue impudent, and shameles, and theeues, and harlots: for then doe such seede take deepest rooting. Hence may wo…ldlings also take warning, and learne to come to the word preached when they are called, least if they listen but a little vntounto the enchantments of worldly commoditie, they fall quite away: like the vnworthie guests in the Gospell, who trifled away the time so long with excuses, that at length they were quite excluded. And in the hearing of the word, take we heede how wee heare: for then by little and by little the diuell will robbe vsus of al, or fill our heads with so many toyes and by-matters, that we shall bee neuer the better, but the worse. And lastly, he… let all Christians learne not to feede vponupon v… kindnesses, least by little and little it grow to … mortall hatred, and an vtter mislike one of … other, without any likelihood of sound reconciliation for euer. And this that teacheth some, may teach all to beware of the diuels dangerous custome. But whosoeuer taketh warning the Sluggard will take none: for he crieth still, Yet a little sleepe, a little slumber, and a little folding of the hands to sleepe: therefore now let him hearken vntounto his iudgement.