Conversion of Nineveh, Gods Trumpet, Physic Against Famine, Sermon 2 (3 of 3)

Conversion of Nineveh, Gods Trumpet, Physic Against Famine · Sermon 2 (3 of 3)

p. 91Secondly, 2concluded the wofull & wretched eſtate of thoſe that deſpiſe the riches of his goodneſſe and patience. For they are moſt certainely in worſe caſe of all others, whom God doth moſt bleſſe and beare with all, except they repent, nay worſe then Turkes and Infidels: and it had been a thouſand times better for ſuch prophane ſinners, that they had never received ſuch bleſſings, and taſted ſo plentifully of his fatherly kindneſſe, then to take occaſion by his bountifulneſſe to continue and increaſe in ſinne, as may plainely appeare by thoſe cities which our Saviour upbraided, where his word had beene preached and his workes had beene ſeene, Math. 11. Math. 11.22.42.Matt 11:22Matt 11:42becauſe it ſhould be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, and more eaſie for the land of Sodome and Gomorah then for them. It ſhall not be enough for us to ſay, Oh God is mercifull! and Chriſt died for us. For, becauſe God is mercifull, ſhall we be ſinfull? or becauſe he hath beene more p. 92mercifull to us then to others, ſhall we be more ſinfull then others? Or becauſe Chriſt Ieſus hath died for us, ſhall we live in our ſinnes, Heb. 10.29.Heb 10:29and by our prophaneneſſe crucifie him againe, and tread under our feete the blood of the new Teſtament, as an unholy thing, and doe deſpite to the ſpirit of grace? God for bid.

Laſtly, 3let all ſtand in feare to provoke him and breake off his patience, leaſt there come a wofull and heavy reckoning in the end. Let us take heed and beware of after reckonings. We are wary enough to prevent them in our dealings with men, and ought we not to be wiſe more in our reckonings with God? The increaſe of ſins bringeth with them an heavier waight of vengance upon our ſelves when the Lord beginneth to enter into judgment with us. He is ſlow to wrath, and proceedeth leyſurely, but when once he commeth, he ſtriketh home. We cannot be brought to feare before him, becauſe he doth not preſently ſtrike: but be not deceived, he is all this while fetching his blow, the higher he lifteth his hand, the heavier it lighteth, and the ſorer he ſtriketh. This the Prophet notably expreſſeth Pſal. Pſal. 7.12.13Ps 7:12Ps 7:137. If he turne not, he will whet his ſword, he hath bent his bow and made it ready: he hath alſo prepared for him the inſtruments of death, he ordaineth his arrowes againſt the perſecuters. O that we could alwayes, when we heareor read, underſtand what we heare, and marke what we read, according to the commandement of our Saviour, who ſo readeth, Math. 24.15.Matt 24:15let him underſtand. There the Prophet compareth the Lord to A man of warre, Exod. 15.3.Exod 15:3that taketh ſome time to ſcoure up his ſword bright, and to ſharpen the edge and point thereof, to ſtrike and wound his enemie: as alſo to an archer, that taketh a certaine time to bend his bow and to make ready his arrowes: but in the end he draweth them up to the head, & never miſſeth his marke, being more skilfull then thoſe Benjamites, that could ſling ſtones at an haire bredth, Iudg. 20.16.Judg 20:16and not miſſe, ſo that he ſhooteth p. 93ſure and meaneth to pierce deepe to the very heart of all his aduerſaries. Thus it is with the Lord, when we thinke him forgetfull oftentimes, or unmindfull of juſtice and judgment: we muſt thus judge, that he is whetting his ſword, and bending his bow, & drawing out his arrowes, and preparing to ſhoot, all which require ſome time: and therefore let us feare before him, and not tarry untill his judgements be upon us.

Why combereth it the ground.) Hitherto of the commandement to cut down the figtree now we come to the reaſon. The owner propoundeth the juſtice of his former doome or ſentence. The word importeth and ſignifieth not onelyonly to make unprofitable, fruitleſſe, barraine, and good for nothing, but to hinder the growth of other things which might be planted in the roome thereof, that might bring forth good fruit. They that profeſſe the Goſpel, if they be not fruitfull are unprofitable and hurtfull to themſelues and others. Doct. Evill minded men are altogether unprofitable and full to the vvhole ſociety where they remaine. Iudg. 19.22. & 20.13. Ioſh. 7.11.12.Judg 19:22Judg 20:13Josh 7:11Josh 7:12This teacheth that evill minded men are noyſome, hurtfull, and unprofitable to themſelves and to others, whereſoever they abide, untill they be removed. We ſee this in the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, how hurtfull they were to the whole aſſembly. Numb. 16. in the ſhameleſſe uncleanneſſe of Zimri and Cosbi, Chap. 25. A notable example hereof is at large expreſſed Iudg. 20.15. Thoſe wicked Beniamites, the ſonnes of Belial that committed folly in Iſrael, were the cauſes of the ruine of many thouſands, and brought the whole tribe to a low ebbe: yea this often falleth out to the children of God, when they provoke him to wrath. We ſee this in David, 2 Sam. 24. When he had numbred the people in the pride of his owne heart, 2 Sam. 24.172 Sam 24:17and had exalted himſelfe in his owne ſtrength, he ſaid, I have ſinned and have done wickedly, but theſe ſheepe what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, be againſt me and againſt my fathers houſe. Hereby many thouſands periſhed. The like we ſee in Ionah, p. 94chap. 1. he forſooke his calling, and the commandement of God: he muſt be caſt into the ſea, or elſe the paſſengers in the ſhip muſt periſh: who had beene almoſt drowned through his diſobedience, Ionah. 1.11.Jonah 1:11for the ſea wrought and was tempeſtuous.

And no marveil. Reaſons. 1 For firſt they are the meanes and cauſes of judgments and puniſhments to others among whom they live, as well as to themſelves, as trees twiſe dead & reſerved to the fire. A tree albeit it were dead in it ſelfe, and albeit it did keepe the ground barrne, and hinder the growth of a better in his place, yet it killeth not another that ſtandeth beſide it: but one wicked man hurteth, and deſtroyeth another: and therefore we muſt needes judge ſuch to be hurtfull and dangerous to an whole family or ſociety. We feare judgements, but we ſeeke not to know and remove the true cauſe thereof. The faithfull are commanded to depart out of Babylon, Revel. 18.4.Rev 18:4the mother of fornications, that they be not partaker of her ſinnes, and that they receive not of her plagues, wherby we ſee, theſe follow each other, infection, participation, deſtruction.

He that is infected himſelfe, never reſteth till he have made other partakers of his ſinne, and from them both followeth the deſtruction of them both, as we ſhall ſhew afterward. Secondly, they are unprofitable, hurtfull, and dangerous: and why? becauſe other vines and trees cannot proſper and floriſh, or bring forth fruit neere unto them. When any part of the body is putrified, it paſſeth and ſpreadeth from ioynt to ioynt, and from one member to another, 2 Tim. 2.17.2 Tim 2:17as the canker or gangrene fretteth or eateth the fleſh next unto it: ſo where looſe livers are, many others are brought to the ſame looſeneſſe, and ſtand in danger to go to wracke. 2 Cor. 5.6. Gal. 5.9.2 Cor 5:6Gal 5:9To this purpoſe the Apoſtle ſaith, Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe? Sinne is fruitfull, and compared to the child in the wombe, it groweth apace: one ſinne begetteth another, and one p. 95ſinner infecteth another, which bringeth forth death.Iam. 1.15.Jas 1:15

This reproveth ſuch as reioyce in the fellowſhip of the ungodly, and delight wholly in their company. Vſe. 1 For what fellowſhip hath righteouſneſſe with unrighteouſneſſe? or what communion hath light with darkneſſe? and what concord hath Chriſt with Belial? or what agreement hath he that beleeveth with an infidel? But what is more common in every place then this? that which the Lord himſelfe could never doe, to reconcile theſe contraries, and bring light and darkneſſe, nay heaven and hell together, ſinfull men profeſſe themſelves able to doe. Theſe goe about to ſet God to ſchoole, and to make God and the devill, Chriſt and Belial good friends. Gen. 3.15.Gen 3:15God in the beginning put enmity betweene the woman and the ſerpent, betweene her ſeed and his ſeed: but theſe have broken downe this hedge, and pulled away the wall of partition, and have ſet them together againe. The Apoſtle plainely declareth, Iam. 4.4.Jas 4:4that the friendſhip of the world is enmity with God: but theſe ſpirituall adulterers and adultereſſes (as he calleth them) will have no enmity at all betweene them, but will have the friends of God and the world ſhake hands and kiſſe one another. The Prophet asketh the Queſtion, Amos. 3.3.Amos 3:3Can two walke together, except they be agreed, that is, they cannot: but theſe anſwer otherwiſe, they can walke hand in hand together, or elſe they muſt needes confeſſe they are themſelves at an agreement with hell. We muſt learne to avoyd theſe ſinfull practiſes, & know that danger alwaies commeth to the better part by the evill: ſeldome or never any good to the worſe ſort. For when the good and bad are ioyned together, the evill man is hardly made better by the good, but he that is good is rather corrupted by the evill. It is an eaſie thing to defile and make uncleane; but the a matter of great difficulty to clenſe and purifie. And the reaſons are, firſt becauſe the wicked are wholly carnall, and a lumpe of fleſh, and runne one way without p. 96any reſiſtance: Why the wicked ſooner corrupt the godly, then the godly can correct the wicked.but the Godly are onelyonly in part ſpirituall and regenerate; the wicked therefore being altogether unregenerate, are but as one man, ſo that they draw and pull the Godly with all their might and with full ſwinge of will: whereas the Godly, being partly carnall and partly ſpirituall, as conſiſting of two men, have their power and ſtrength divided, the fleſh drawing one way and the ſpirit another, and conſequently cannot have ſuch force and vertue. Againe, the ungodly are as men that runne downe a ſteep hill, or ſwimme downe a ſwift ſtreame, and therefore if they catch hold on us, or we one them, it is a thouſand to one but we are carried ſmoothly away with them: on the other ſide, the Godly are as men that climbe up an high hill, or that ſwimme up againſt the ſtreame, and therefore muſt put to all their ſtrength, and yet they creepe but ſoftly forward, becauſe the fleſh ſtriveth to carry them another way. Moreover, beſides that the ungodly are apt of themſelves to infect and corrupt, we muſt conſider that we are by nature apt to be corrupted and to receive infection, as when fire and tow meete together, Pſal. 106.34.35.36.Ps 106:34Ps 106:35Ps 106:36Thus it was with the Iſraelites, as the Prophet teacheth. They did not deſtroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them: but were mingled among the beathen, and learned their workes, and they ſerved their Idols, which were a ſnare vntounto them: Such then are juſtly condemned, that thinke they may have uſuall and familiar company with prophane perſons, a raſh, preſu…ptuous, & deſperate courſe, whereat they daſh themſelves as againſt a rocke, and ſuffer ſhipracke both of ſoule and body.

Secondly, 2obſerve that many others of all ſorts doe fare the worſe both in ſoule and body for the wickeds ſake, who are diſobedient to God. We ſee this evidently in Lot living in Sodome, Gen. 13. He was firſt allured to ſo journe there by the richneſſe and rankneſſe of the ſoile, p. 97when he ſaw all the coaſt fruitfull as the land of Egypt and beautifull as the garden of Eden, Gen. 13.10. & 14.14.Gen 13:10Gen 14:14he made choiſe to inhabit there: but what followed? Firſt, he was taken priſoner in the ſacking of Sodome and his goods made a pray to the enemie, ſo that he loſt both his ſubſtance and himſelfe: yea, after he was recovered againe by the ſtrength and power of Abraham out of their hands, and returned together with the Sodomites, 2 Pet. 2.8.2 Pet 2:8they vexed his righteous ſoule from day to day by their unlawfull deedes: but was this all? no, he ranne into a greater danger, for it had well neere coſt him his life, had not God beene mercifull unto him, and pulled him as a brand out of the fire, Amos. 3.12.Amos 3:12or as a ſheepheard taketh out of the mouth of the Lyon two legges, or a piece of an care. See this yet farther in the example of the Iſraelites going to battel againſt their enemies, the hoſt of the Lord could not proſper or prevaile, but turned their backes and fell by the edge of the ſword, ſo long as Achan was among them: the Lord ſaid, I will not be with you any more, Ioſh. 7.12.Josh 7:12except ye deſtroy the accurſed from among you. Numb. 16.26 1 King. 22.22 2 Chro. 20.37.Num 16:261 Kgs 22:222 Chr 20:37But when he was taken out of the way, then they had the upper hand. See more in other places. The wicked oftentimes ſpeede the better for the righteous ſeeke: ſo did Laban for Iacob, Gen. 30.27. So did Potaphar for Ioſeph, Chap. 39.3. ſo did the paſſengers in the ſhip for Paul. Act. 27.24. Yea God would have ſpared Sodome, and not deſtroyed it, if ten righteous perſons had beene found in it, Gen. 18.32. but the faithfull evermore ſpeed the worſe for the ſociety of the wicked.

Thirdly, it is our duty to come out from among them, 3and not to be unequally yoked with them, to be ſeparated from them, and to touch no uncleane thing: then he promiſed to receive us, to be a father unto us, and to account us as his ſonnes and daughters, 2 Cor. 6. 2 Cor. 6.17.18.2 Cor 6:172 Cor 6:18For certainly they are very peſtes, and they have plague-ſores running upon them. Nay no ſickneſſe ſo contagious and noyſome, as p. 98ſinne and the ſinners are. We ſhunne infected perſons and places for feare of bodily harmes: but let us learne to ſhunne prophane and wicked perſons and places no leſſe, nay rather much more. The other may corrupt the body, but theſe endanger the ſoule: here the commandement of our Saviour taketh place, Math. 10.28.Matt 10:28feare not them ſo much which can but kill the body, and doe no more, but feare eſpecially thoſe things and perſons, which will be able to caſt body and ſoule into hell fire, I ſay unto you feare them. They are like to the ſpreading leproſie, which beginning in one houſe proceedeth to another, untill it have infected the greateſt part of a towne or City: or as the Lepers that were were put apart for feare of their infection: Pſal. 119.115Ps 119:115Therefore the Prophet ſai…h, Depart from me yee evill doers: for I will keepe the Commandements of my God: 1 Cor. 5.1 Cor 5and the Apoſtle, Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump: and afterward, put away from your ſelves that wicked perſon.

Laſtly, 4it is the duty of all ſuch as have the overſight of others, to looke to their charge, that they foſter not, nor entertaine thoſe within their gates or juriſdiction, that are knowne wicked perſons, they will infect and poyſon the reſt. One ſcabbed ſheepe will annoy the reſt of the flocke. Pſal. 101.3.4.6.7.Ps 101:3Ps 101:4Ps 101:6Ps 101:7This made David to ſay, I will ſet no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the worke of them that turne aſide, it ſhall not cleave to me: I will not know a wicked perſon: he that worketh deceit ſhall not dwell in mine houſe: hee that telleth lyes, ſhall not tarry in my fight: him that privily flandreth his neighbour, will I cut off: him that hath high lookes will I not ſuffer: mine eyes ſhall be upon the faithfull of the land, that they may dwell with me, be that walketh in a perfect way he ſhall ſerve me. This is profitable to be conſidered of fathers and maſters, yea of all houſe-holders and governors whatſoever, that are in any place of ſuperiority, and are ſet over others as a City upon an hill: would we have our people obedient, our children dutifull, our ſervants truſty, our p. 99families faithfull and in good order: we muſt lead them the way, and goe before them in all uprightneſſe: we muſt firſt of all be faithfull our ſelves, and behave our ſelves wiſely in a perfect way: we muſt be obedient to him and his word, and walke within our houſe in a perfect way. For it is moſt certaine, that none are greater enemies to their children and poſterities, pulling their houſes downe even with their owne hands, and bringing them to utter ruine and deſolation, then ſuch ſuperiours or overſeers as are ungodly and diſobedient unto God. Let us ſeeke never ſo much to make our names great upon the earth, and to leave our iſſue rich and wealthy in the world; yet ſo long as we live in prophaneneſſe, we pull an heavy curſe not onelyonly upon our owne heads, but upon our poſterities, and make our names to ſtinke and rot, as we ſee in Ieroboam that made Iſrael to ſinne; 1 King. 14.10. & 21.21.25.1 Kgs 14:101 Kgs 21:211 Kgs 21:25the Lord threatned to bring evil upon his houſe, and to take away the remnant thereof, as a man taketh away dung till it be all gone. The like we ſee in Ahab who ſold himſelfe to worke wickedneſſe in the ſight of the Lord: who more likely to make himſelfe great upon the earth, and to have left a plentifull iſſue behind him, yet were all ſwept away ſuddenly, as a man wipeth a diſh and turneth it upſide downe. Pro. 14.1.Prov 14:1Wherefore that which Salomon teacheth touching the wiſe and fooliſh woman, Every wiſe woman buildeth her houſe, but the fooliſh plucketh it downe with her hands: we may extend and apply to the faithfull man and the ungodly: the one doth by godlineſſe lay a ſure foundation in time to come, as Pſal. 112. Pſal. 112.1.2.3. &c.Ps 112:1Ps 112:2Ps 112:3Bleſſed is the man that feareth the Lord and delighteth greatly in his Commandements: his ſeed ſhall be mighty upon earth, the generation of the upright ſhall be bleſſed, &c. the other ſort by their infidelity, impiety, and iniquity pull their houſes quite downe, that they are never raiſed up againe, whoſe children may curſe ſuch perverſe and prophane parents.

p. 100Verſ. 8. And he anſwering, ſaid unto him, Lord, let it alone this yeare alſo.) Hitherto of the firſt part of the communication concerning the Owner of the Vineyard: now followeth the ſecond, touching the dreſſer thereof, wherein conſider firſt of all his prayer directed to the Owner, Lord, Gualt. in Lucā hom. 237.let it alone this yeare, Here we ſee the dreſſer of this Vineyard intreateth the Lord of it for the fig-tree, and maketh interceſſion to have it ſpared. Heb. 13.20.Heb 13:20I will not preciſely or peremptorily decide and determine, what part of the Church, Hab. 2.1.Hab 2:1whether Chriſt the head and great ſheepheard of the ſheepe, Eſay. 62.6.7.Isa 62:6Isa 62:7or the Miniſters that ſtand in their watch-tower, or other the faithfull, as the Lords remembrancers which give him no reſt, this Dreſſer of the Vineyard in the parable repreſenteth: onelyonly I will obſerve, that the prayer of him continueth yet one yeare longer the ſtanding and abode of it in the Vineyard. Doct. This teacheth that it is the duty of Gods children to make requeſt for others, Gods children muſt pray for others, & God heareth themand their requeſts are powerfull and available not onelyonly for the faithfull, but oftentimes for others, to remove judgments, and God heareth them when they pray. We ſee this touching Abimelech, who had taken away Abrahams wife. Gen. 20.7. & 17.20.Gen 20:7Gen 17:20God ſendeth him unto him, and ſaid, He ſhall pray for thee, and thou ſhalt live: and God ſaith to Abraham concerning Iſhmael, I have heard thee. And our Saviour Chriſt and his faithfull witneſſe Stephen doe commend their ſtrongeſt enemies and perſecuters into the hands of God, Luc. 23.34. Act. 7.60.Luke 23:34Acts 7:60Father, forgive them, for they know not what they doe; lay not this ſinne to their charge. To theſe infinite other teſtimonies might be ioyned.

The reaſons are; Reaſon. 1 firſt becauſe it is an expreſſe commandement to pray one for another: he tranſgreſſeth the law and ſinneth againſt God, that faileth in it, and performeth it not. It is a commandement of God to honour parents, and this is the firſt commandement with promiſe of a particular bleſſing: but it is a commandement in the firſt p. 101Table to honour God by praying unto him, which we are no leſſe but rather more commanded to practiſe, then we are forbidden to kill or to ſteale. If then we make conſcience of theſe, 1 Sam. 12.19.23.1 Sam 12:191 Sam 12:23we ought in like manner to make conſcience of the other. This appeareth in the words of Samuel, when the people deſired him, pray for thy ſervants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not; he ſaid, as for me God forbid that I ſhould ſinne againſt the Lord in ceaſing to pray for you. 2Secondly, ſuch have a promiſe annexed vntounto their prayer, that we ſhould not ſay with the wicked, what profit ſhould we have, if we pray unto him. Iob, 21.15. nor with thoſe ſhameleſſe blaſphemers, It is in vaine to ſerve God, Mal. 3.14. Our Saviour, becauſe we are weake in faith, aſſureth that Whoſoever asketh, receiveth: and he that ſeeketh, findeth: Math. 7.8.Matt 7:8and to him that knocketh, it ſhall be opened. And the Apoſtle Iames accordeth hereunto, Iam. 5.16.Jas 5:16The Prayer of a righteous man availeth much, if it be fervent. Would we have a ſurer ground and foundation to build upon, then the faithfull word and promiſe of God, that cannot lye or deceive?

Seing it is the duty of the Church to pray one for another, and that is profitable and available, hence ariſeth comfort and cheerefulneſſe in all heavy and ſorrowfull times (ſuch as the preſent times are) when afflictions lye ſore upon ſundry our bretheren and ſiſters in other places, and preſſe them downe to the ground, nay to the grave; remember the reſt of the Church of God pray for us; I ſay, Gods people, our fellow-members commend us and and our cauſes day and night with faſting and praying, & weeping, whom he hath promiſed to heare, they thinke upon us in their beſt meditations, and are earneſt remembrancers for us to him, as if it were their owne caſe, and have a fellow-feeling of all our miſeries, Heb. 13.3.Heb 13:3as if themſelves were afflicted. This in the middes of all our heavineſſe and greateſt weakneſſe, is not our leaſt comfort, that we have many ſtrong ſervants of God, ſtrong in faith, that p. 102ſend up many ſtrong cries to the throne of grace: nay the ſtrong God, that hath commanded this duty to pray one for another, hath alſo promiſed to heare them. This no doubt was a comfort even to Peter himſelfe put in priſon, that he knew, Act. 12.5. Heb. 12.5.12.13.Acts 12:5Heb 12:5Heb 12:12Heb 12:13Prayer was made without ceaſing of the Church unto God for him and for his deliverance. Let us not therefore faint under the Croſſe when we are rebuked of him, neither deſpiſe the chaſtening of the Lord, who aymeth at our profit, that we might be partakers of his holineſſe: but rather lift up the hands which hang downe, and the feeble knees, and not caſt away our confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. And let this be our comfort in theſe rerillous times, that God heareth us for our brethren, and our brethren for us, and our elder-brother Chriſt Ieſus our mediatour for us all, who for his mercies ſake, for his truthes ſake, for his promiſe ſake, for his ſonnes ſake will in his good time ſend an happy deliverance, that albeit for a ſeaſon we be kept in affliction, 2 Cor. 1.5.122 Cor 1:52 Cor 1:12yet as our ſufferings have abounded in us, ſo our conſolation ſhould abound through our reſtoring, when we had in a manner the ſentence of death in us, that thankes alſo may be given by many on our behalfe:

Secondly, 2ſeeing Gods children for our comfort and conſolation make requeſt and interceſſion for us, and are heard, O how much more ought we to remember the ſweet mediation of Chriſt Ieſus our Lord and Saviour, and comfort our ſelves and one another therewithall. True it is we may and ought not a little to comfort our ſelves, with the prayers and interceſſions of other weake men, our fellow ſervants like to our ſelves, and ſubject to the ſame paſſions we are, eſpecially ſeing we know our whole Church at the ſame time aſſemble together to pray for us and to turne away his wrath from us, and to call backe his deſtroying Angel, that he may at length ſay, It is enough, 2 Sam. 24.162 Sam 24:16ſtay now thy hand; and ſo repent him of the evill p. 103upon our repentance and humiliation: if, I ſay, we have much matter of comfort offered unto us by the publike prayers of the Church often as it were with one mind and with one mouth made and renewed on our behalfe: how much more doth peace and conſolation ariſe unto us by the mediation and interceſſion of Chriſt our Saviour, the head of the Church, the beloved ſonne of God, Heb. 1.2.3. Math. 17.5.Heb 1:2Heb 1:3Matt 17:5the ſonne of his love, the heire of all things, the brightneſſe of his glory, and the expreſſe image of his perſon, in whom the father is well pleaſed. Herein conſiſteth our cheefe comfort that we reſt and repoſe our ſelves in him as our Advocate, and rely upon the merit of his paſſion, Ioh. 11.42.John 11:42whom the father alwaies heareth. Indeed he commandeth that ſupplications, prayers, interceſſions and giving of thankes be made for all men 1 Tim. 2.1. and that we pray one for another, that we may be healed, Iam. 5.16. But if God at any time vouchſafe to heare any of his children, it is for his ſonnes ſake, not for any worthineſſe or merits in them, but for the Lords ſake, that is, for Chriſts ſake, Dan. 9.1.7.Dan 9:1Dan 9:7for he is the Angel of the Covenant, Revel. 8.3.Rev 8:3to whom was given much incenſe, that he ſhould offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar, which was before the throne. Therefore alſo the Apoſtle ſaith, Heb. 5.16.Heb 5:16In the dayes of his fleſh he offered up prayers and ſupplications with ſtrong crying and teares, & was heard in that he feared, becauſe he prayed to him that was able to ſave him from death.

Laſtly, 3it is our duty to performe this duty our ſelves toward others, and to require this duty to be performed for us by others. Thus did Daniel, a man greatly beloved of God, who had many deepe myſteries by viſion declared unto him; he ſpake to his Companions, Dan. 2.18.Dan 2:18that they ſhould deſire the mercies of the God of heaven to reveale his ſecret to him, that they might not periſh. So the Apoſtle prayed the Church of the Theſſalonians, 2 Theſſ. 3.1.2 Thess 3:1to pray for him and the reſt of his f…llow-labourers, that the word of the p. 104Lord, much hindred by the oppoſition of potent adverſaries, might have a free paſſage. As then he prayed before for the Theſſalonians, ſo here he prayeth the Theſſalonians to pray for him, that he might be comforted together with them by the mutuall prayers both of them and of him. The uſe of mutual praierTo this duty we ſhould be ſtirred up in regard of the mutuall profit that proceedeth from the practiſe and performance thereof. 1For firſt it ſerveth as the ordinary meanes ordained and ſanctified of God to prevent judgments threatned, and to remove judgments already inflicted. Remember the devout and zealous prayer of Salomon, 2 King. 8.33.35.37.44.2 Kgs 8:332 Kgs 8:352 Kgs 8:372 Kgs 8:44when the people of Iſrael be ſmitten downe before their enemies, becauſe they have ſinned againſt thee: when heaven is ſhut up, and there is no raine, &c. if there be in the land famine, if there be peſtilence, blaſting, mildew, locuſt, or caterpiller, &c. whatſoever plague, whatſoever ſickneſſe there be, heare thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive the ſinne of thy ſervants, &c. 2Secondly, it is a cordiall to preſerve and ſtrengthen us in all ſpirituall graces, as we ſee that by Chriſts prayer Peters faith was kept from failing, Luc. 22.32.Luke 22:32Luc. 22. and thus he prayed, not onelyonly for the reſt of the Apoſtles, but for all them that ſhould beleeve on him through their word, Ioh. Iob. 17.20.24.Job 17:20Job 17:2417. Father, I will that they alſo whom thou haſt given me be with me, where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou haſt given me, &c. Prayer therefore is a notable preſeruative to keepe the precious treaſures and iewels of grace in the Cloſets of our hearts, and ſerveth to ſtrengthen and encreaſe good things in us. For as it obtaineth bleſſings at Gods hands, ſo it procureth the encreaſe of them: and it is no leſſe vertue to keepe and continue, to enlarge and encreaſe what we have obtained, then at the firſt to obtaine it. 3Thirdly, to bring remiſſion of ſinnes & to ſubdue in us the power of ſinne, Iam. 5.15. Pſal. 19.13.Jas 5:15Ps 19:13Iam. 5.15. The prayer of faith ſhall ſave the ſicke, and the Lord ſhall raiſe him up: and if he have committed ſinnes, they ſhall be p. 105forgiven him. For the cauſe of ſickneſſe and all diſeaſes is ſinne, and therefore our Saviour healing the man ſicke of the Palſie, ſaid unto him, Math. 9.2.Matt 9:2Sonne be of good cheere, thy ſinnes be forgiven thee, dealing like a good Phyſitian, who removeth the cauſe that he may remove the effect. So then faithfull prayer and a purpoſe or reſolution to continue in ſinne cannot poffibly ſtand together. Laſtly, 4it ſanctifieth all Gods creatures unto our uſe. It obtaineth a good right and title to them, and a bleſſing upon them, 1 Tim. 4.5. Our callings, our labours, our actions, and the workes of our hands are ſanctified by it, as Pſal. 127. Except the Lord keepe the City, Pſal. 127.1.2Ps 127:1Ps 127:2the watch-man waketh but in vaine: it is in vaine for you to riſe up early, to ſit up late, to eate the bread of ſorrowes, &c. Seing theſe things be thus, that theſe be the fruits of prayer, Ezr. 9.6.10.11.13. Neh. 9.32.33. Pſal. 79.8.9. & 80.3. Dan. 9.7.8.18.19.Ezra 9:6Ezra 9:10Ezra 9:11Ezra 9:13Neh 9:32Neh 9:33Ps 79:8Ps 79:9Ps 80:3Dan 9:7Dan 9:8Dan 9:18Dan 9:19let us put it in practiſe, and double our zeale, and never ceaſe to follow the example of this Dreſſer, to cry to the Lord for our brethren, Lord, let them alone this yeare alſo, ſpare thy people, and give them not over into the hands of the deſtroyer: we are aſhamed and bluſh to lift up our faces to thee, O our God; for our iniquities are increaſed over our head, and our treſpaſſes are growne up unto the heavens. And now, O our God, what ſhall we ſay after this? for we have forſaken thy Commandements, which thou haſt commanded: and all this evill is come upon us for our evill deedes, and for our great treſpaſſes, for aſmuch as thou our God haſt puniſhed us leſſe then our iniquities deſerue; Now therfore, O our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepeſt Covenant and mercy, let not all the troubles which are moſt heavy upon us and our chiefe Cities ſeeme little before thee: howbeit thou art juſt in all that is brought upon us, for thou haſt done right, but we have done wickedly, and dealt fooliſhly and frowardly with thee. O remember not againſt us former iniquities, let thy tender mercies ſpeedily prevent us, for p. 106we are brought very low; helpe us, O God of our Salvation, for the glory of thy name; and deliver us, and purge away our ſinnes for thy names ſake: wherefore ſhould the enemies of the Goſpel ſay, where is their God? turne us againe, O God, and cauſe thy face to ſhine, and we ſhall be ſaved: O Lord God of hoſtes, how long wilt thou be angry againſt the prayers of thy people! O Lord, righteouſneſſe belongeth unto thee, but unto us confuſion of faces, to our Princes, to our fathers, to our people: incline thine eare and heare, open thine eyes and behold our deſolations, and the City which is called by thy name. For we doe not preſent our ſupplications before thee for our righteouſneſſes, but for thy great mercies: O Lord heare, O Lord forgiue, O Lord hearken and doe: deferre not for thine owne ſake; for the City and thy people are called by thy name. Now is the time of this humiliation: now God calleth to us to call upon him: now is the time of trouble and affliction: Let us give him no reſt, you that are the Lords remembrancers ſtand in the breach, which his right hand hath made, Numb. 16.48Num 16:48as it were betweene the living and the dead: let us never give over; neither let him alone untill we have received a gratious anſwer, that our iniquities be pardoned, his preſent judgments removed, and his ancient favours recovered.

Till I ſhall digge about it, and dung it.) The labour of the Lord of the Vineyard hath beene before expreſſed, ſo that the complaint of the Prophet may be renewed, Eſay. 40.4. & 53.1. & 65.23.Isa 40:4Isa 53:1Isa 65:23I have laboured in vaine, I have ſpent my ſtrength for nought and in vaine: and in another place, who hath beleeved our report? Doct. and againe, I have ſpread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people which walke in a way that is not good: We muſt have hope touching the ſalvation of others, albeit they runne a… ſtray.yet the barren fig-tree is not forſaken and given over, ſo long as there is any hope, but the Dreſſer wil ſtill be digging about it and dunging of it. This teacheth, that we muſt not deſpaire of the ſalvation of any, howſoever p. 107they have long gone aſtray. We ſee this in the example of Manaſſes, he built altars for all the hoſt of heaven, he cauſed his children to paſſe through the fire, he uſed Witch-craft and enchantment; he dealt with a familiar ſpirit, and with wizards: 2 Chro. 33.5.6.2 Chr 33:52 Chr 33:6he ſhed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Ieruſalem from one end to another, and wrought much evill in the ſight of the Lord to provoke him to anger: yet the Lord was intreated of him, 2 King. 21.162 Kgs 21:16and heard his ſupplication, when he had learned by wofull experience that the Lord was God. Act. 2.37. & 10.11.12.13.14.15.Acts 2:37Acts 10:11Acts 10:12Acts 10:13Acts 10:14Acts 10:15Thus it was with thoſe that crucified the Lord of life, they were pricked in their hearts, and had Salvation preached vntounto them. Hereunto commeth the viſion of Peter, he ſaw heaven opened, and a certaine veſſel deſcending unto him, as it had beene a great ſheet knit at the foure corners, wherein were all manner of foure-footed beaſts of the earth & wild beaſts, and creeping things, and ſoules of the aire: and there came a voyce to him, Riſe, Peter, kill and eate. And when he refuſed, becauſe he had never eaten any thing that is common or uncleane: the ſame voyce anſwered, What God hath clenſed, that call not thou vncleane: This was the interpretation of the viſion, that which is uncleane God is able to cleanſe. Paul before his converſion was a blaſphemer and a perſecuter and a great oppreſſour, 1. Tim. 1.13.1 Tim 1:13but he obtained mercy becauſe he did it ignorantly through unbeleefe. The Gentiles wandred many yeares, even thouſands of yeares in ſuperſtition and Idolatry, yet at length when the time of their converſion was come, Gen. 9.27. Ioh. 10.16.Gen 9:27John 10:16God perſwaded Iapheth to come and dwell in the tents of Shem, Gen. 9. and our Saviour ſpeaking of them, ſaith, Other ſheepe I have, 2 Tim. 2.25.2 Tim 2:25which are not of this fold: them alſo I muſt bring, and they ſhall heare my voyce, and there ſhall be one fold and one ſhepheard: So the ſervant of the Lord muſt not ſtrive, but be patient and gentle unto all, proving if God will give them repentance.

The reaſons are plaine. Firſt, Reaſon. 1 becauſe God calleth at all p. 106houres of the day, who hoth the times and ſeaſons in his owne power: Math. 20.3.5 6.Matt 20:3Matt 20:5ſome at the third, ſome at the ſixt, ſome at the ninth, and ſome at the eleventh houre; and we have a notable example thereof in the penitent theefe converted by the powerfull word of Chriſt upon the Croſſe: Luc. 23.34.Luke 23:34he that was running a pace to hell hath promiſe to be carried into Paradiſe: whereby the common proverbe is verified, if in any thing elſe, that he runneth far which never returneth, 2Secondly, God waiteth the time that he may be gracious unto us, Eſay 30.18.Isa 30:18and have mercy upon us, for he is a God of judgment: and bleſſed are all they that wait for him, Eſay 30. ought not we therefore to follow his example, and to hearken who will ſpeake aright and repent him of his wickedneſſe, ſaying, what have I done?

This reproveth the boldneſſe and raſhneſſe of ſuch as dare take upon them to enter into the ſecrets of God, Ʋſe. 1 without any warrant or commiſſion from him; 2 Sam. 6.19.2 Sam 6:19as they that adventured to pry into the Arke were puniſhed 1 Sam. 6. ſo ſuch as preſume to read what is written in the booke of life, and preſume to open the booke that is claſped and ſealed with many ſeales, may happily never finde their owne names regiſtred therein. For the farther reproofe of ſuch as dare pronounce the ſentence of damnation upon any, and judge others reprobates, and the directing of our ſelves herein, let us obſerve theſe few rules for the cleering of the point, and the keeping of us in the meane betweene two extremes. Deut. 29.29.Deut 29:29Firſt, it is a good rule which Moſes giveth, The ſecret things belong unto the Lord our God, but thoſe things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may doe all the words of this law. But the ſentence of reprobation is one of the ſecrets of God, or rather the ſecret of ſecrets, the moſt hidden ſecret of all the reſt. Secondly, it is noted of charity, it thinketh no evill, 1 Cro. 13.5.7it beleeveth all things, it hopeth all things, it endureth all things: Such then as deſpaire of the converſion p. 107of others, doe plainely declare they are deſtitute of love which covereth a multitude of ſinnes. Thirdly, we muſt notwithſtanding learne the great folly of many men in the world, that build awry or amiſſe upon a good foundation. For ſeing we muſt not be as men without hope of Salvation of others, much leſſe of our ſelves, we ſee how diverſe are deceived that give an eaſie paſſage & entrance to commit ſinne, till they be ſo caught and intangled, yea ſo enwrapped and fettered with it, as a fowle in a ſnare, or as a priſoner in chaines, that they cannot eaſily breake it off againe, neither ridde themſelves of it, as the wiſe Salomon ſpeaketh of the ſtrange woman, Pro. 2. Pro. 2.19.Prov 2:19None that goe unto her returne, againe, neither take they hold of the pathes of life. True it is, this is an exceſſive and hyperbolicall ſpeech often uſed in Scripture, as Eſay, 59 4. & 64.7. Ier. 8.6. and ſundry examples teach the ſame, 2 Sam. 12.13. 1 Cor. 6.11. Heb. 11.31.32. Iam. 2.25. But the meaning is, few come to repentance & to reforme themſelves, or take a better courſe of life, that they might be ſaved. And this is another folly of the ſinner, who, being rebuked and threatned for ſinne, doe by and by anſwer, Tuſh, we can leave ſinne when we liſt: we will repent at leyſure and helpe all. But Salomon will teach theſe fooles, that few or none compaſſed with the continuall practiſe of ſinne amend their wayes, Pro. 6.22.27Prov 6:22Prov 6:27but goe as the Oxe to the ſlaughter, or as a foole to the correction of the ſtockes, becauſe they have ſet themſelves in the way to hell, Ier. 13.23.Jer 13:23going downe to the Chambers of death. For cuſtome is as ſtrong as nature, or rather much ſtronger; It is as the Ethiopians skin and the Leopards ſpotts, which cannot be changed. It is hard for a man to forget his naturall language and his mother tongue, but it is harder for the ſinner to forſake his ſinfull courſe. For a man by nature or birth is indifferent to any language, and inclined to no one more then to another, becauſe he hath it by hearing and imitation of others, as p. 110appeareth in ſuch as are borne deafe: but we doe not only ſucke in ſinne with the mothers milke, but as the Prophet confeſſeth, Pſal. 51.5.Ps 51:5We were ſhapen in iniquitie, and in ſinne did our mothers conceive us: which is a great deale more then can be ſpoken of the language which we learne in our youth. Beſides, it is a great pollicy of Satan to cover his purpoſe at the firſt, as the fiſher doth the hooke, to deceive us the ſooner; he beginneth with leſſer ſinnes, until he have wrapped us in the greater, and our conſciences be hardned, and as it were ſeared with an hote iron. Fourthly, A tvvo fold favour of God to the ſinner.this ſheweth the wonderfull love and favour of God which he vouchſafeth to any, both when he preventeth ſinne that we doe not fall into it, and when he breaketh off the courſe of it when we are overtaken with it; This is a twofold grace. We are by nature prone to ſin, and ready to yeeld to every tentation, as we ſee in Peter that denied his Maſter at the word of a ſeely damſell: when therefore the Lord putteth his hand under us and ſtayeth us up, that we doe not ſtumble and fall, is not this a wonderfull grace to keepe us from ſinning againſt him, and wounding our owne ſoules? As this is a great bleſſing, ſo the other is yet greater, to pull us out of the ſnare, when we have one foot in hell; as it is a greater worke to ſtay a man that is running downe a ſteepe hill, then to perſwade him not to runne at all. The truth of both theſe, we ſee in David, a man after Gods owne heart, for when he was purpoſed to ſhed blood, 1 Sam. 25.22.33.1 Sam 25:221 Sam 25:33and to deſtroy all that pertained to Nabal by the morning light: he bleſſed God that had kept him from comming to ſhed blood, and from avenging himſelfe with his owne hand. Loe here the preventing grace of God to ſtay him, that was running and making haſte to commit ſinne. Againe, when he had given himſelfe over to commit one ſinne after another, Luc. 11.22.Luke 11:22as it were to adde drunkenneſſe unto thirſt, the ſtrong man bagan to poſſeſſe the houſe, but a ſtronger then he came, p. 111and overcame him, and tooke from him all his armour wherein he truſted, and ſo recovered him out of the ſnare of the Devil, which he laid to entrap him. He had, as much as lay in him, caſt himſelfe into the mouth of the roaring Lyon that gapeth after his prey: it was therefore the ſpeciall mercy of God to reclaime and recover him out of the ſnare of the devill, who after a ſort was taken captive by him at his will. Laſtly, we muſt labour that ſinne may not raigne in our mortall bodies. For albeit we cannot be without ſinne, becauſe we carry about the fleſh, yet we muſt take heed it exerciſe not a kingdome in us: it hath an eaſie entrance, an eaſie continuance, but it is hard to get out and to ridde our ſelves from the tyranny thereof, as we may ſee in Eſau, Gen. 26. in Saul, 1 Sam. 14 & 15. and in Iudas, who paſſed from one degree to another, till at laſt they filled up the meaſure of their ſinne. It is an eaſie matter to pull up the bankes and throw downe the walles, whereby as by fenſes or bulwarkes the ſea is kept out from overflowing the land, and ſo to let in the water: but it is not ſo eaſie to let it out againe: ſo it is with ſinne, it is no hard thing to make ſhipwrack of faith and a good conſcience, and to pull up the bankes of the feare of God whereby ſinne is kept out: but we ſhall find it one of the hardeſt things in the world to caſt it out of the heart, when it hath gotten firme poſſeſſion: and therefore it muſt be our labour and wiſedome to prevent ſinne in the beginning, leſt by continuance it take roote and be as a diſeaſe that is incurable.

Secondly, 2it ſerveth as an inſtruction to the Miniſters of God, that we ceaſe not with the Dreſſer in this place to digge about them that remaine unfruitfull, and dung them, that is, to labour … …yeth in us to further their converſion. Let us all follow the example of Peter, when the Lord had ſaid unto him Launch out into the deepe, and let downe your nettes for a draught, he anſwered, p. 112Maſter, Luk. 5.5.Luke 5:5we have toyled all night, and have taken nothing: nevertheleſſe at thy word I will let downe the net: Matt. 13.27.Matt 13:27ſo muſt we caſt out the net of the Goſpel into the ſea, and gather the good into veſſels, but caſt the bad away. And if it fall out that we draw none to the ſhore, 2 Cor. 2.15.2 Cor 2:15yet are we the ſweet ſavour of God, as well in them that periſh, as in them that are ſaved: and God no leſſe accounteth of our labours, if we have beene faithfull and conſcionable, then if we had converted many thouſand ſoules. To this end, the Lord himſelfe commandeth Paul not to hold his peace at Corinth, Act. 18.10.Acts 18:10but to ſpeake boldly, becauſe he had much people in that City. The husbandman muſt digge and dung his ground, and caſt the ſeed into the earth, but he cannot give the earely and the latter raine: and albeit he finde a thinne harveſt, he may be greeved, yet het he is not diſcouraged. We are commanded to feed the flocke committed unto us, & woe to us if we preach not the Goſpel: but we muſt evermore commit the ſucceſſe to him, that hath the hearts of all men in his owne power. Mat. 3.11.Matt 3:11Iohn Baptiſt did baptize with water to the remiſſion of ſinnes, but he could not Baptize with the holy Ghoſt: So we may teach and preach the word of the kingdome, but as it fell out with the ſower that went out to ſow, ſome fell by the high way ſide, Matt. 13.4.5.7.Matt 13:4Matt 13:5Matt 13:7ſome in ſtony ground, and other among thornes, ſo muſt we make our account it will be with us: yet this is our comfort, our judgment is with with the Lord, and the reward of our worke with our God: Eſa. 49.4. 1 Pet. 5.4.Isa 49:41 Pet 5:4and when the cheefe ſhepheard ſhall appeare, we ſhall receive a crowne of glory that fadeth not away.

Laſtly, it teacheth generally a good duty and direction to all the faithfull, 3namely, that upon this ground we exhort and admoniſh one another, and ſeeke to winne and gaine them to God, that ſo we may bring home the loſt ſheepe upon our ſhoulders. This the Apoſtle preſcribeth, exhort one another daily, Heb. 3.13.Heb 3:13while it is called to day, leſt any of p. 113you be hardned through the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne. Who accounteth not him a mercileſſe man, that having eſcaped danger of robbing or drowning, yet giveth not warning to him which traveleth that way, leſt hee fall into the hands of theeves and be robbed, or paſſe by the waters and be drowned? but much more is he without mercy, and guilty of the blood of the ſoule, that ſeing his brother overtaken in ſinne, and taken in the ſnare of the Devill, ever ſeeketh to ſet him at liberty? Now we have ſundry motives to move us to this worke of mercy, farre more profitable to men, and acceptable to God then the ſacrifice of Almes-giving that toucheth the body, in reſpect of God, in reſpect of our ſelves, and in reſpect of others. In reſpect of God, Rom. 11.23Rom 11:23for it maketh manifeſt his power to be infinite, that he is able to graft them in againe, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of the unbeleeving Iewes, albeit through unbeleefe they were broken off; and it turneth to the greater praiſe of his glory, and the honour of his name, which we ought to ſeeke above all things. The more dangerous the diſeaſe is, and the longer it hath continued, the more doth the skill and learning of the Phyſitian appeare: Rom. 5.20Rom 5:20ſo are we the more to magnifie the mercy of God, in that where ſinne, bounded, grace doth much more abound. Touching our ſelves, we thereby exerciſe the giftes that God hath given, doe not as wicked and ſloathfull ſervants, Mat. 25.26.Matt 25:26digge them in the earth and hide our Lords mony: beſides, we know not how ſoone it may be ſaid to us, Come, give an account of thy ſteward-ſhip, Luk. 16.1.Luke 16:1for thou maist be no longer ſteward. Laſtly, we ſhall free our owne ſoules, and not make our ſelves partakers of other mens ſinnes: for by conuivence and holding our peace, we draw guiltineſſe upon our owne ſoules. In reſpect of others, we may be meanes to ſave a ſoule, as Iam. 5. Iam. 5.19.20.Jas 5:19Jas 5:20If any of you doe erre from the truth, and one convert him, let him know, that he which converteth the ſinner from the errour p. 114of his way, ſhall ſave a ſoule from death, and ſhall hide a multitude of ſinnes.

Ʋerſ. 9. And if it beare fruit, well: and if not, then after that, thou ſhalt cut it downe.) We heard before of the intreaty and interceſſion of the Dreſſer: now the condition followeth, which is double: firſt, if after all his labour, it bring forth fruit. Secondly, if it bring not forth fruit: one of the twaine it muſt of neceſſity doe, there is no third: either it muſt be fruitfull, or vnfruitfull: either we muſt make the tree good, or evill. The firſt part of the ſpeech is defective, for there is nothing in the originall to anſwere to the Condition: the tranſlaters have ſupplied the word, Well: and ſomewhat is neceſſary to be ſupplied, to make the ſenſe and ſentence perfect. I would thinke a word might be borrowed and ſupplied out of the former verſe, where the Vine-dreſſer ſaith, Let it alone this yeare alſo; ſo in this place, If it bring forth fruit, Let it alone, or thou ſhalt let it alone: as alſo appeareth by the contrary condition in the laſt words. If not, thou ſhalt cut it downe. He expreſſeth bearing fruit firſt, beſore he mention the cutting of it downe, becauſe it was the chiefe and principall in the dreſſers intention, and becauſe all his labour of digging and dunging tended to this end and purpoſe. Now he intreateth that it may be let alone, if it bring forth fruit: he yeeldeth to the cutting of it downe, Doct. if it continue unfruitfull. This teacheth in both the conditions, Promiſes and threatnings are both of them condicionall. 1 King. 8.25.1 Kgs 8:25that as well the promiſes of grace & mercy, as all the threatnings of judgments and puniſhments are conditionall, and to be underſtood with limitation. See this 1 King. 8. Now O Lord God of Iſrael, keepe with thy ſervant David my father, that thou promiſedſt him, ſaying, There ſhall not faile thee a man in my ſight to ſit on the throne of Iſrael, ſo that their children take heed to their way, that they walke before me as thou haſt walked before me. Of this did David himſelfe put his ſonne Salomon in p. 115mind, 1 Chro. 28.9.1 Chr 28:9Know thou the God of thy father and ſerve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord ſearcheth all hearts, &c. if thou ſeeke him, he will be found of thee: but if thou forſake him, he will caſt thee off for ever. So doth our Saviour threaten the Church of Epheſus to remove the Candleſticke out of his place, except it did repent. Revel. 2.5.Rev 2:5The reaſon is plaine, both of the one and of the other. He promiſeth mercy with condition, that we ſhould be ſtirred up to obedience, that no defect might be on Gods behalfe: and againe he threatneth judgement, that he might not enter into judgement; and denounceth puniſhment, that he might not puniſh, but that we ſhould repent and amend our lives, and remember from whence we are fallen. Revel. 2.5.Rev 2:5This appeareth evidently in his threatning againſt Nineveh, who can tell, Ionah. 3.9.Jonah 3:9if God will turne and repent from his fierce wrath, that we periſh not? When we repent, he repenteth: we of the evill of ſinne, he of the evill of puniſhment: but if we repent not of our ſinne, he will never repent him of the puniſhment that he hath threatned to bring upon us.

It reproveth all ſuch as remember what God hath promiſed to us, but forget what he requireth of us. Ʋſe. 1 God hath made a Covenant with us, as he did with Abraham, Gen. 17.7.1.2.6.Gen 17:7Gen 17:1Gen 17:2Gen 17:6and we binde our ſelves interchangably one to another. He ſaid unto Abraham, I will be a God unto thee and to thy ſeed after thee: but how? on this condition, Thou ſhalt keepe my Covenant; and what was that? Obedience, whereof circumciſion was a ſigne; walke before me and be upright. If Abraham had called unto God to performe his part, to bleſſe him as his God, and in the meane ſeaſon had never performed his owne part of the Covenant, to walke before him in the uprightneſſe of his heart had he not dallied with God, and deceived himſelfe? But thus the caſe ſtandeth with us, we are ready to cōplaine & murmur, if the Lord do not bleſſe us, when in the meane p. 116ſeaſon we forget what promiſe we have made to him. If we ſhould deale ſo with men like unto our ſelves, would not all accuſe us of folly?

Secondly, 2let us not flatter our ſelves and beare our ſelves bold and preſume, becauſe we have many precious promiſes of grace and helpe in time of neede. Theſe promiſes, howſoever they be in themſelves ſurer then the heavens, and more ſtable then the earth, yea be ratified & confirmed by an oath, that by two unchangable things, wherin it is unpoſſible that he ſhould lye, Heb. 6.18Heb 6:18we might have ſtrong conſolation: I ſay theſe promiſes are no promiſes to us, if we doe not keepe the Covenant; it is all one as if they had never beene made. Mat. 6.25.33.Matt 6:25Matt 6:33Our Saviour willeth us to take no thought what to eate or what to drinke, or wherewith to be clothed; he promiſeth that he will never leave us nor forſake us, but it is with condition, firſt ſeeke the kingdome of God, and then all theſe things ſhall be miniſtred unto us; then he ſaith, my mercy will I keepe for them for evermore, my promiſe ſhall ſtand with them: my covenant will I not breake, Pſal. 89.28.34.Ps 89:28Ps 89:34neither alter the thing that is gone out of my lippes.

Laſtly, 3let us ſerve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind: ſeeke to know his will, and ſerve him when we do know it. Let us not be diſcouraged in his threatnings, ſeing they alſo are conditionall, as well as his promiſes. Let us breake off the courſe of our ſinnes, and amend our lives, then we may be well aſſured, he will turne from all his wrath, and remember our ſins and iniquities no more. For he is faithfull, he never forſaketh us untill we forſake him. This is it, that the Prophet is ſent to tell Aſa and all Iudah and Benjamin, The Lord is with you, while ye be with him: 2 Chr. 15.22 Chr 15:2and if ye ſeeke him, he will be found of you: but if ye forſake him, he will forſake you. And is it not juſt with God to deale with us, as we deale with him? and to meaſure to us againe, as we have meaſured to him? Let us p. 117therefore ſeeke him while he may be found, and call upon him while he is neere: let us forſake our evill wayes, and returne unto the Lord: then he will have mercy upon us, and he will abundantly pardon all our ſinnes.

If it beare fruit, well.) Doct. The barren eſtate is very dangerous, neare to bee burnt up.The fig-tree in this place is not ſaid expreſly to be dead, but to be barren and to bring forth no fruit at all, which is all one. This teacheth that the barren condition hath no life nor comfort in it, but is full of danger, even neere to burning. This Iohn the Baptiſt teacheth, Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen downe and caſt into the fire, Math 3.10. Math. 3.10.Matt 3:10So the Apoſtle Heb. 6.6. The earth which beareth thornes and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto curſing, Heb. 6.7.8.Heb 6:7Heb 6:8whoſe end is to be burned. A man may ſay of ſuch, as the Diſciples of the figtree, Math. 21.29.Matt 21:29againſt which the curſe was paſſed by the mouth of Chriſt, How ſoone is the figge-tree withered away? Such then doe lye under an heavy curſe. We thinke we have ſaid much in praiſe and commendation of many, and indeed of many it is too much, to ſay they are harmeleſſe men, they doe no man any hurt, you may live long among them, and you ſhall receive no wrong nor jniury from them: but is this enough? no doubtleſſe: for what ſhall this profit, if we bring forth no good fruit? Ier. 17.8. Ezek. 47.12.

The reaſons are plaine: for firſt, Reaſon. 1 the law of God is not onelyonly negative, but alſo affirmative: it commandeth good, as well as forbiddeth evill. The negative part is but halfe the Commandement: and he that performeth ſo much, hath done but halfe his duty, like a Dove that flyeth with one wing, or like a lame man that hoppeth upon one legge. The Commandement which ſaith thou ſhalt not kill, ſaith alſo incluſively. 2Thou ſhalt preſerue thy neighbours life. Secondly, to omit the duties which a man ought to performe, is a kind of contempt againſt God. For not to honour or obey, is to contemne. A p. 118ſervant which will not doe what his Maſter commandeth, Mal. 3.6.Mal 3:6(becauſe a ſervant honoureth his Maſter) it is joyned with open contempt of him; no marveil therefore, if diſobedience to God, be alſo a contempt againſt God, as the Prophet ſaith, If I be a Maſter, where is my feare, ſaith the Lord of hoſtes?

This teacheth that doubtleſſe many ſtand guilty of a multitude of ſinnes which they never thought of, Ʋſe 1 neither once dreamed upon. Many men happly will grant there is ſome conſcience to be made of committing evill, who never thinke it a ſinne to omit a good duty. Such will confeſſe it a ſin to worſhip a falſe god, but never conſider, they are commanded to vnite their affections to the true God, to truſt in him, to beleeve him, to love him, to feare him, and to depend upon him: that it is an heinous Crime to pray to a ſtrange God, or to Saints and Angels, or to bow downe to an image, who regard not to worſhip God in truth and ſincerity, and to call upon him in the day of trouble. Many will refraine from working on the Sabbath day, and prophaning it by riding about their buſineſſe, or running after their ſports and paſtimes, they would be loth to doe theſe: but in the meane ſeaſon how doe they ſanctifie and keepe it holy? when they care not to heare the word, or to performe publike and private duties of religion upon it? We muſt all give account at the great day of the Lord, as well what good we have done, as what evill we have done. That good governour of the people Nehemiah deſired the Lord to remember him concerning the good deedes which he had done for the houſe of his God: Neh. 13.14.Neh 13:14It had beene ſmall comfort to him if he had onelyonly done them no hurt, and gone no farther: for ſo much might be ſaid of an image, or of the bruit beaſt; but his comfort was, he had endeavoured and employed himſelfe to doe them good. And how did Obadiah ſhew his religious heart in the dayes of perſecution p. 119toward the Lords Prophets? what, did he reſt in this, that he had done them no hurt? No, 1 King. 18.131 Kgs 18:13he did an hundred of them by fifty in a cave, and fedde them with bread and water. Or how did Rahab the harlot teſtifie her faith toward the ſpies, that were ſent to ſearch the land? did ſhe content her ſelfe to offer them no injury, and to bewray them, or deliver them into the hands of their enemie? No doubtleſſe, ſhe was juſtified by her workes, Iam. 225. Heb. 11.31.Heb 11:31when ſhe had received the meſſengers with peace, and had ſent them out another way. But the religion of moſt men in our dayes is a negative religion, they have little poſitive, you may ſooner obſerue what they doe not, Gal. 6.10.Gal 6:10then underſtand what they doe. We muſt obſerue the rule of the Apoſtle, As we have opportunity, let us doe good unto all men, eſpecially unto them who are of the houſhold of faith.

Secondly, 2it reproveth ſuch as content themſelves with idle ſhewes and appearances of obedience and ſincerity: It will not ſerve our turne to be Chriſtians onelyonly in outward profeſſion, if we be fruitleſſe and faulty in converſation. It is not enough to make us ſound Chriſtians to come to Church, to be at prayers, to heare the word, and receive the Sacraments, when we yeeld no fruit of obedience, as if it were ſufficient, that the fig-tree were planted in the Vineyard, albeit it bare nothing but leaves: Pſal. 1.3.Ps 1:3but we muſt be as trees of righteouſneſſe, planted by the rivers ſide which bring forth fruite in their ſeaſon: True it is, the Church hath alwayes had ſuch painted Sepulchers, or gilded tombes outwardly, as the Iewes that had the Temple of the Lord alwayes in their mouthes, who yet remained wicked and prophane perſons in their lives. The ſound Chriſtian is not diſcerned by the leaves of outward appearance, but by the precious fruits of the ſpirit: not by his profeſſion, but by his practiſe: and they are the true Iſraelites which are ſo within, whoſe praiſe is of God and not of men. The fig-tree had leaves good flore which p. 120were ſeene a farre off, Mar. 11.13.Mark 11:13and ſeemed to promiſe great ſtore of fruit, but when Chriſt drew neere and looked for fruit, & found none, he ſaid, Never more fruit grow upon thee. Let us take heed, in time, of ſuch a wofull ſentence. For may not Chriſt Ieſus, trow you, finde ſtore of ſuch fruitleſſe fig-trees in this Vineyard of his? nay, when he commeth to looke upon his Vineyard, will it not be a rare thing and an hard matter to ſee a fig-tree with any fruit upon it? Nay, are we not for the moſt part come to this paſſe, that we have ſcarce any leave at all to be ſeene, that a man may take a Candle and ſearch for leaves, and yet find none upon them? This is the ſtate and condition of ſundry among us: how neere are ſuch to the curſe, and to be burned up, which have neither fruit nor leaves, neither ſubſtance nor ſhew, neither body nor ſhadow, neither truth nor appearance: but openly and evidently make plaine Demonſtration of wild and wicked fruit, Deut. 32.32.33.Deut 32:32Deut 32:33their grapes are grapes of gall, their cluſters are bitter, their wine is the poiſon of Dragons, and the cruell venime of Aſpes: Such ſhall never be ſuffered to remaine within the Vineyard, the axe is laid to the root of the tree, to cut them downe.

Thirdly, 3this checketh and controlleth the ſlanderous mouthes and pennes of the Romiſh Church opened wide and enlarged againſt our doctrine, which they knew not or will not know: who beare the world and their ignorant Diſciples, the multitude in hand, that our religion deſtroyeth good works, Math. 5.16.Matt 5:16whereas we call upon the people to bring forth the fruits of the Goſpel, and to let our light ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee our good workes and glorifie our father which is heaven. Nay we teach a neceſſity of good workes, as well as they, to be in all true beleevers, that they which have beleeved in God, might be carefull to maintaine good workes, theſe things are good and profitable unto men. Wherein then lyeth the difference between us! they teach them to be the cauſes of our juſtification; p. 121we that they be lively fruits and effects of faith: they doe not goe before him that is to be juſtified, but they follow him that is already juſtified: they are not neceſſary in the act or office of juſtification, but they are neceſſarily required to be in every juſtified perſon.

Laſtly, 4let us all be provoked to the diligent practiſe of good workes. No man muſt thinke himſelfe exempted or priviledged from good workes, albeit he be never ſo poore or ſimple. The moſt ſort poſt over this duty from one to another, and thinke when we call for good workes it is a doctrine that toucheth onelyonly rich men and ſuch as have the wealth of this world at will, and none other: as if there were no good workes of charity, that did deſerue the name of good workes; which neuertheleſſe are neither the onelyonly good workes, nor the chiefeſt good workes. For we looke upon our ſelves in the glaſſe of the law, and try our ſelves thereby. Theſe workes are of two ſorts; ſome generall, and others ſpeciall. The generall are ſuch as concerne all, among which the workes of the firſt Table, being the firſt and great Commandements, Math. 22.38.Matt 22:38muſt have the firſt place, to love God above our ſelves, to feare him, to beleeve in him, to truſt in him, to pray unto him, to ſerve and worſhip him, to reverence his name, and to ſanctifie his Sabbath: and the workes of the ſecond Table are like; Gal. 5.22.23.Gal 5:22Gal 5:23for the fruits of the ſpirit are manifeſt, love, joy, peace, long-ſuffering, gentleneſſe, faith, meekeneſſe temperance, and ſuch like. Theſe belong to all, and muſt be practiſed of all perſons, high and low, rich and poore, none may excuſe themſelves. The ſpeciall workes are ſuch as belong to every man in his particular calling. For as we have all a generall calling as we are Chriſtians, ſo we are ſet in ſeverall callings, ſuch as are ſuperiors and inferiors, as the Magiſtrate and ſubject, the husband and wife, father and ſonne, maſter and ſervant: we muſt labour to be found faithfull in theſe, how low ſo ever our place be, if p. 122we be found carefull and conſcionable, even the meaneſt ſervant that drudgeth in the Kitchin, if his calling be nothing but to ſcoure ſpittes, Eph. 6.6.7.Eph 6:6Eph 6:7or to wipe ſhooes, yet if he be obedient to his Maſter as unto Chriſt, not with eye-ſervice, as men pleaſers, but as the ſervant of Chriſt, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will doing ſervice as to the Lord and not to men: he is no leſſe accepted of God in his place, then he that preacheth the word, or he that ruleth a kingdome.

Well; or thou ſhalt let it alone.) Theſe words are expreſly mentioned; but they, or ſome ſuch like muſt neceſſarily be underſtood, as if it were ſaid, let it ſtand and continue in the Vineyard, that it may bring forth more fruit, as Ioh. Ioh. 15.2.John 15:215. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Doct. This teacheth us, that the fruits of repentance obtaine the pardon and forgiveneſſe of all ſinnes and offences, Repentance obtaineth forgiveneſſe of ſinnes and the favour of God.and prevent Gods wrath and judgements, and procure his love and favour. He hath made a ſure promiſe of remiſſion of former offences to all ſuch as truly turne unto him. Thus the Prophet hath, Waſh you, make you cleane, take away the evill of your workes from before mine eyes, &c. then though your ſinnes were as crimſin, Eſay, 1.16.18 & 55.6.7.they ſhall be as wooll; and though they were as ſcarlet, they ſhall be as white as ſnow: and chap 55. Seeke the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is neere: let the wicked forſake his wayes, and the unrighteous his owne imaginations &c. let him returne unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, Ezek. 18.23.Ezek 18:23And the Prophet Ezekiel chap. 18. I will not the death of a ſinner, but rather that he repent and live: where he coupleth theſe two together. The truth of this point is farther confirmed by ſundry examples, as 2 Sam. 2 Sam. 12.132 Sam 12:1312.13. When David had acknowledged his ſinne againſt the Lord, the Prophet ſaid for his comfort, The Lord alſo put away thy ſinne. The like we ſee in Manaſſeth p. 123when he was carried away captive and clapt up in priſon being in great tribulation, prayed unto the Lord, 2 Chr. 33.122 Chr 33:12and humbled himſelfe greatly be fore the Lord God of his fathers, and God was intreated of him and heard his prayer, and brought him backe againe to Ieruſalem, and ſet him upon the throne of his fathers. The Publican ſmote his breſt, ſaying, Lord, Luk. 18.13.14.Luke 18:13Luke 18:14be mercifull to me a ſinner: I tell you this man went downe to his houſe, juſtified rather then the proud Phariſee. The like I might ſay of Paul, 1 Tim. 1.13.1 Tim 1:13he obtained mercy and forgiveneſſe when he was converted: ſo the penitent theefe upon the Croſſe, ſaid to the Lord Ieſus, Lord, Luk. 23.42.43.Luke 23:42Luke 23:43remember me when thou commeſt into thy kingdome? and Ieſus ſaid unto him, Verily I ſay unto thee, To day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe. Mar. 1.4.Mark 1:4Hence it is that the Evangeliſt witneſſeth that Iohn did baptiſe in the wilderneſſe, and preach the baptiſme of repentance for the remiſſion of ſinnes: where we ſee he knitieth repentance and forgiveneſſe of ſinnes together.

The reaſons: firſt, Reaſon. 1 all penitent perſons ſhall have the blood of Chriſt Ieſus to waſh & clenſe their ſoules from all their ſinnes: a ſingular benefit. This reaſon the Prophet vrgeth, Eſay, 1.17.17.18. For to ſpeake properly, nothing can clenſe us but Chriſts blood, ſo foule and filthy we are; and therefore it is called cleane water, Ezek. 36.25. 1 Ioh. 1.7.9.Ezek 36:251 John 1:71 John 1:9I will powre cleane water upon him: and thus the Apoſtle Iohn ſaith, If we confeſſe our ſinnes, he is faithfull and juſt to forgive us our ſinnes; and the blood of Ieſus Chriſt his Sonne clenſeth us from all ſinne. Secondly, 2ſuch ſhall have right to carthly bleſſings and to a right uſe of them to their everlaſting comfort, as Eſay, 1. Ye ſhall eate the good things of the land: Eſay 1.19.20Isa 1:19Isa 1:20but if they refuſed and rebelled, they ſhould be deſtroyed, for the mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken it.

Let us apply theſe things. Firſt conclude, Vſe 1 that all impenitent perſons are out of Gods favour and protection, and lye under all the plagues and puniſhments that God denourceth againſt ſinners. This is a fearefull eſtate and p. 124condition, Deut. 28.16.Deut 28:16to be curſed in the whole courſe of our life, at home and abroad, in the City and in the field, in all that we put our hand unto, Deut. 28. The curſe of God bringeth with it all miſeries of this life and of the life to come. If then we repent not, we die.

Secondly, 2they, that are truly penitent, are truly happy: for that man is bleſſed, Pſal. 32.1.2. & 38.4.Ps 32:1Ps 32:2Ps 38:4whoſe tranſgreſſions are for given, and whoſe ſinne is covered: Bleſſed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity. There cannot be a greater bleſſing befall us in this world, then to get pardon of our finnes: for all the burdens that we can beare, are not to be compared to the burden of ſin, and therefore to be lighted of it, is one of the greateſt bleſſings: of all the ſpottes & ſtaines that can ſticke unto us, Iam. 1.21.Jas 1:21ſinne is the filthieſt, and therefore to be clenſed and waſhed from it, maketh us cleane in his ſight.

Laſtly, 3hence ariſeth matter of comfort to all ſuch as earneſtly endeavour this worke of clenſing and purging of themſelves, The vvay and the meanes to attaine to repentance.to bring forth good fruit. They ſhal have God himſelfe to helpe, ſtrengthen, and aſſiſt them, to cauſe them goe through with that worke. If any aske what is the way, and what be the meanes to attaine unto it, and to lead us by the hand to enter into that courſe? I anſwer, 1Firſt, to account no ſinne in it owne nature light or ſmall. This is that withholdeth us from repentance, and draweth iniquity with cords of vanity, Eſay, 5.18.and ſinne as it were with a cart-rope, to ſuppoſe it to be a ſlight thing, that we may doe a little, that we neede not be ſo preciſe to ſticke at a little, like the ſluggard that giveth way to a little ſleepe a little ſlumber, Pro. 6.10.Prov 6:10a little folding of the hands to ſleepe: but we muſt aſſure our ſelves, that though there be difference betweene ſinne, yet all finne is heinous, none to be accounted little, Rom. 6.23.Rom 6:23as Rom. 6. the wages of (all) ſinne is death. Secondly, to avoyde all occaſions and allurements that may draw and entiſe us to ſinne, 2as we are commanded to abſtaine from p. 125all appearance of evill: and Iude ſaith, Others ſave with feare, 2 Theſſ. 5.22 Iude verſ. 23.pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment ſpotted with the fleſh. Thirdly, 3to accuſtome our ſelves to ſubdue the ſmaller and leſſer ſinnes, that at the laſt, we may ſubdue and overcome the greater: like a captaine who to hearten & encourage his ſouldiers, bringeth them where the weakeſt enemies are encamped. Fourthly, to oppoſe the law, 4the curſe, the laſt judgment, and ſuch like, againſt all ſinne whatſoever: and therefore Salomon ſaith, Pro. 28.14.Prov 28:14Bleſſed is the man that feareth alwayes: but he that hardneth his heart ſhall fall into miſchiefe. Laſtly, 5to remember that the leaſt ſinne coſt the blood of Chriſt our Saviour to make ſatisfaction: and brought him from the boſome of his father to take our nature upon him, and in that nature to dye for us: Pſal. 49.7.8.Ps 49:7Ps 49:8No man can by any meanes redeeme his brother, neither give to God a ranſome for him, ſo precious is the redemption of the Soule.

And if not, then after that thou ſhalt, &c.) This latter clauſe of the ſentence is defective in the former part, as the former was in the latter part. The meaning is, if this fig-tree will not bring forth fruit, that is, of repentance, after all the labour of digging and dunging beſtowed upon it, after this thou ſhalt cut it downe. Doct. This teacheth that all trees, which are in the Vineyard are not fruitfull trees: All that are in the Church are not true members of the true Church.neither are all which are in the Church members of the Church; but many hypocrites in it, as there are evill humours in the body, which are no parts of the body. So it was in the houſe of Abraham; ſo it was in the houſe of Iſaac: for all are not Iſrael, which are of Iſrael: Rom. 9.6.7. & 2.28.Rom 9:6Rom 9:7Rom 2:28neither becauſe they are the ſeed of Abraham, are they all children, but in Iſaac ſhall thy ſeed be called. So there is a Iew which is one outwardly, and there is a Iew which is one inwardly; as there is a circumciſion which is in the fleſh, and a circumciſion of the heart, in the ſpirit, and not in the letter, whoſe praiſe is not of men but of God.

This will farther appeare by the title given to the Reaſon. 1 p. 124viſible Church, It is the garden of God; in a garden all are not good and wholſome herbes: and on the tree, all is not fruit, but ſome leaves. The Church is the floore, where in is both corne and chaffe: Mat. 3.12. & 13.24.47.Matt 3:12Matt 13:24Matt 13:47the field wherein groweth both wheat and tares: the net that catcheth all ſorts of fiſhes both good and bad: the paſture where in feed both ſheepe & goates: ſome are ſheepe in ſhew and ſemblance, that inwardly are ravening wolues in ſheepes clothing, others are ſheepe indeed and in truth: ſome by outward calling and profeſſion and in the eye of the Church, others by grace and inward regeneration and in the eye of God. Secondly, 2all that be within the Church be not the elect of God, Math. 20.16.Matt 20:16therefore all cannot be beleevers: for many are called, but few are choſen. It is the houſe of God, in a great a great houſe, 2 Tim. 2.30.2 Tim 2:30there are not onelyonly veſſels of Gold and of Silver, but alſo of wood and of earth, ſome to honour and ſome to diſhonour. 3Thirdly, it is compared to the Arke of Noah; wherein as there were both cleane beaſts and uncleane: and men cleane and uncleane: So all that are in Church are not by and of the Church, 1 Ioh. 2.19.1 John 2:19as 1 Iohn. 2. they went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had beene of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, &c.

This ſerveth for reproofe, Ʋſe. 1 and that of ſundry ſorts. Firſt it confuteth them that hold the godly alone to be members of the viſible Church: whereas the barren fig-tree was planted in the vineyard as well as the other trees. Secondly, it reproveth ſuch as forſake the viſible Church, for the wickedneſſe of them that live in it, and doe in that reſpect condemne it for no Church. Thirdly, it convinceth ſuch as dreame of perfection in the Church. The floore cannot be throughly purged in this life, that there ſhould be nothing but wheat in the Church of God: the ſervant cannot plucke up all the tares in this life, Math. 13.28.29.Matt 13:28Matt 13:29leſt while they gather up the tares, they root up alſo the good ſeed with them. This ſerveth to pull up by the rootes the dotage of the Anabaptiſts p. 125and familie of LoueLove: for never was there ſuch a Church in this life, as they dreame off, neither ſhall there be hereafter.

Secondly, 2ſee here the difference betweene the Church in this life and that in the life to come: betweene the Church militant & triumphant. For here the Church complaineth that it is blacke both in regard of the affliction and infirmities therof in this life, albeit it be alſo comely: Cant. 1.5.Song 1:5blacke in reſpect of it ſelfe, but comely or lovely in reſpect of Chriſt. But after this life, all blackneſſe and imperfections ſhall be done away, when Chriſt Ieſus ſhall preſent it to himſelfe a glorious Church, not having ſpot or wrinckle, or any ſuch thing, Eph. 5.27.Eph 5:27but that it ſhould be holy & without blemiſh. No unrighteouſneſſe then ſhall enter therein, Revel. 21.27.4.Rev 21:27Rev 21:4neither any thing that is uncleane or any thing that defileth▪ then God ſhall wipe away all teares from their eyes, and there ſhall be no more death, neither ſorrow, nor crying, neither ſhall there be any more paine, for the former things are paſſed away.

Laſtly, it exhorteth us never to give reſt to our ſoules, 3until we become the Iſrael of God, true members of the viſible Church: becauſe to ſuch & to none others, the promiſes of grace & life by Chriſt be fruitfull & effectuall. Let us then be warned, that we do not cōtent our ſelves to live in the Church, for ſo falſe Iſraelites doe, and hypocriticall Chriſtians, who profeſſe Chriſt in word, Tit. 1.16. Revel. 3.1.2.Titus 1:16Rev 3:1Rev 3:2but deny him in their workes, who have a name that they are alive, but indeed are dead. Let us therefore be watchful, & ſtrengthen the things which remaine, that are ready to dy, & repent ſpeedily, becauſe wee know not what houre hee will come upon us. This is the uſe that the Apoſtle teacheth, having ſhewed that in a great houſe are ſundry veſſels, ſome to honour & ſome to diſhonour, he addeth, 2 Tim. 2.21.2 Tim 2:21Let us purge our ſelves from theſe, that we may be veſſels unto honour, ſanctified, & meet for the maſters uſe, and prepared to every good worke. Math. 3.8.Matt 3:8Let us ſtrive to bring forth fruit worthy amendment of life. Let us clenſe p. 126our ſelves from all filthineſſe of the fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſſe in the feare of God, and purging our conſciences more and more from dead workes, that ſo we may gather comfort and aſſurance that we are veſſels to honour, and for our better aſſurance, let every one depart from iniquity, that nameth the name of Chriſt. 2 Tim. 2.19. Doct.

After that thou ſhalt cut it downe) Here is the finall doome of this fig-tree without any farther repriving or ſparing thereof, Though the Lord ſuffer long, yet he puniſheth at the laſt.if it cannot be made fruitfull. From whence I might obſerve, that the Lord, howſoever he be very patient and doth forbeare long, yet at the laſt he wil come to viſit and puniſh men for their ſinnes, Ier. 5.7.9. How ſhall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forſaken me and ſworne by them that are no gods: when I had fedde them to the full, they then committed adultery, and aſſembled themſelves by troupes in the harlots houſes. So Eſay 42.14.15. 1 Sam. Reaſon. 1 5.6. The reaſons, firſt, in regard of his love and mercy to his children, he will not ſuffer them to live in their ſinnes unpuniſhed: thus he doth manifeſt his goodneſſe, yea that he is goodneſſe it ſelfe, and conſequently oppoſite to evill, 2and ſo will viſit them for their ſinnes. Secondly, his juſtice will not ſuffer him to let the wicked eſcape, but hee will and muſt puniſh. He is juſt, nay juſtice it ſelfe, and therefore cannot but doe juſtice, Rom. 2.6. & 3.5.6.Rom 2:6Rom 3:5Rom 3:6and give to every one according to his workes, as Rom. 3. Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? I ſpeake as a man: God forbid: for then how ſhall God judge the world?

This teacheth the children of God, Ʋſe. 1 that they have no cauſe at all to be envious againſt the wicked for their proſperity and happineſſe in this world: for let them waite a while, and abide but a ſhort time, which the Lord in his providence hath appointed, they ſhal behold him comming againſt them with his drawne p. 127ſword, and viſit their iniquities to the full: Exod. 34.7.Exod 34:7for hee will by no means clearethe guilty. Secondly, 2it admoniſheth every man to labour to breake off his ſinnes whatſoever they be, and not to harden himſelfe, becauſe God ſpareth him: becauſe howſoever God ſpareth him, and maketh as though he did not perceive him: yet at the laſt he payeth home. How neere hath Gods hand beene to many in this great viſitation, in the ſame houſe, and in the ſame bed, when the one hath beene taken away, and the other ſpared, and his life given him for a prey. O conſider this, ye that have already forgotten this mercy of God, and labour to appeaſe his wrath before yee come to his judgement-ſeate, for then it will be to late to call and cry for mercy: let us labour too repent betimes here, that ſo we may find mercy before the throne of God hereafter. Laſtly, 3it warneth us of the wofull eſtate of all ſuch as deſpiſe his patience: for what doe ſuch, but heape up wrath againſt the day of wrath? Rom. 2.

Thou ſhalt cut it downe.) Dcto. The Lord of the Vineyard waited yeare after yeare to receive ſome fruit; Such as grow deſperate are neere to deſtruction.and the dreſſer thereof obtained the continuance of the ſtanding thereof another yeare, if nothing will ſerve, none will intreat any farther, it muſt be cut downe. This teacheth us, that when once we grow deſperate without hope of amendment, and paſt recovery, God is determined to deſtroy us, and to pull us up by the rootes, as trees that are altogether withered, dead, and rotten. Thus it was with the ſonnes of Eli, the ſonnes of Belial, 1 Sam. 2.12.25.1 Sam 2:121 Sam 2:25they knew not the Lord, neither would they give eare to the warning of their father: but what was the end? They hearkned not to the voyce of their father, becauſe the Lord would ſlay them. This we ſee alſo 2 Chro. 36. the Lord gave his people over into the hand of the Calde…s: but when came the wrath of the Lord upon them to the uttermoſt? when there was no remedy. He had ſent his p. 128Prophets continually and ſucceſſively one after another among them, 2 Cor. 36.15 16.but they could do no good with them they grew worſe, as thoſe that are deſperately diſeaſed, & cānot be healed. There was therfore no remedy, neither other way with them, then to cut them off utterly. Thus our Saviour ſpeaketh, Math. 23.37.38.Matt 23:37Matt 23:38I would have gathered you together, but ye would not: behold your houſe and habitation is left unto you deſolate, Eſay. 6.10Isa 6:10ſo that it came to paſſe as the Lord had threatned, Make the heart of this people fat, and make their eares heavy, and ſhut their eyes: leſt they ſee with their eyes, and herewith their eares, and underſtand with their heart, and be healed.

The reaſons are; firſt becauſe there is nothing left that can doe them any good. Reaſon. 1 All the meanes that the Lord hath uſed or can uſe will not profit them, but like Dogges and Swine they tread the precious pearles of the Goſpel under their feet. Ier. 17.6.Jer 17:6They are like the heath in the wilderneſſe, which ſhall not ſee when any good commeth, but ſhall inhabit the parched places in a ſalt land and not inhabited. The heath hath good meanes comming upon it to make it good, the Summer commeth, the Sunne ſhineth, the raine falleth, the influence of the heavens deſcendeth, yet euermore it remaineth the ſame, a dry and barren heath: It is with the barren ſoule as with the barren ſoile; the word, the Miniſters, the Sabbathes, the Sacraments, the dayes of grace, nay Chriſt Ieſus himſelfe can doe them no good: no good? nay the Word, which in it ſelfe is the ſavour of life to life, becommeth to them the ſavour of death to death: 2 Cor. 2.16.2 Cor 2:16Chriſt himſelfe is a recke of offence, and a ſtone to ſtumble at: and all the reſt of the meanes ordained to Salvation turne to their finall deſtruction. 1 Pet. 3.8.1 Pet 3:8Secondy, ſuch hauehave filled up the meaſure of their ſinne, 2being diſobedient, and to every good worke reprobate, Math. 23.32.Matt 23:32it is now come to the top, and his judgments lye even at the doore, ready to fal heavy upon them: then will God fill up the vials of his p. 129wrath, and powre them downe upon their heads.

To apply theſe things to our ſelves, it ought to move us to turne to the Lord betimes, Ʋſe 1 while there may be an healing and binding up of the wounds, leaſt the heart be hardned through the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne, which of all judgments is the moſt grievous. If it be once ſaid of us as it was of the Iewes, That the Lord ſent to us his ſervants riſing up continually and carefully, becauſe, 2 Chro. 36.15.16.2 Chr 36:152 Chr 36:16he hath compaſſion on his people: but we on the other ſide mocke his meſſengers & miniſters, & deſpiſe his words; what remaineth but that the wrath of the Lord ariſe againſt us, either by the plague & peſtilence, as he hath upon our brethren, or by the ſword of the enemy which wil have no cōpaſſion upon the yong the maiden, or him that ſtooped for age. He hath other man or ſecret judgements which the world taketh no knowledge of, neither judgeth them to be any judgements at all, theſe, as they are more ſecret, ſo they are more ſharpe: as when he taketh away his word from us, or if he continue it, yet maketh it unprofitable through our abuſe and contempt of it.

Secondly, 2wofull is their eſtate which goe forward in their evill wayes: are not theſe nigh deſtruction? Doubtleſſe there is but a ſtep betweene death and them: nay, they have as it were one foot in hell already, being readier to draw the other after a thouſand times, then to withdraw the other from thence. Hence it is that the Prophet ſaith, Ier. 30.12.Jer 30:12Thus ſaith the Lord, thy bruiſe is incurable, and thy wound is grievous, there is none to plead thy cauſe that thou maiſt be bound up, thou baſt no healing …dicine: there is no Balme in Gilead to heale them, whom the Lord ſeeth thus without remedy, and thus paſt recovery. They are like a man deſperately ſicke, whom all the Phyſitians have forſaken: The husbandman taketh his weeding inſtruments, and laboureth to grubbe up the thornes and thiſtles and weedes out of his ground, that the good corne might the better p. 130proſper and flouriſh; but when once he ſeeth there is no end of his worke, nor fruit of his labour, but the more he toyleth and moyleth, the more they grow and encreaſe, he is without hope to overcome them, and ſo withdraweth himſelfe, and letteth all alone. For why or to what end ſhould he buſie and beſtirre himſelfe in vaine? Thus it is with the Lord, he ſendeth his meſſengers, and chargeth them to warne his people in ſeaſon, to admoniſh and exhort them: but when they ſtop their eares, and pull away their ſhoulders, and refuſe to hearken, what can we thinke but that the Lord is determined to lay waſte his Vineyard, that it ſhal not be pruned or digged or dunged any longer, but there ſhall come upbries and thornes, Eſay, 5.5.and to command the cloudes that they raine downe no more raine upon it; yea, to take away the hedge thereof, that it may be eaten up: and to breake downe the wall thereof, that it may be troden downe, as he threatned to the Vineyard of the houſe of Iſ…ael, when he looked for judgement, but behold oppreſſion: and for righteouſneſſe, but behold a cry.

Thirdly, 3let not the Miniſters nevertheleſſe be diſcouraged, though they ſee oftentimes they muſt be driven to plough the waſte and barren wilderneſſe, and then ſow among thornes and thiſtles. The ſower goeth out to ſow his ſeede, and it falleth not all or alwayes in good ground, but ſome by the high-way ſide, ſome in ſtony ground, and other falleth upon thornes without any fault either of the ſower or of the ſeed. We may not not be ou…own chuſers to chuſe our ground where we will ſow, neither lay our plot-forme where we will build: much leſſe can we make the earth fruitfull, or the building healthfull. The Prophet complaineth, Eſay. 53.1. & 49.4.Isa 53:1Isa 49:4that no man beleeved his report: and propheſying of the labours of Chriſt Ieſus to plant the Goſpel, who was the beſt labourer in the field, and the beſt ſhepheard of the ſheepe, he bringeth him in complayning, that he had laboured in vaine, and ſpent all his ſtrength in vaine: p. 131nevertheleſſe he was not diſcouraged, but comforted himſelfe in this, that the reward of his worke was laid up in heaven. Salomon giving directious for workes of charity, Eccl. 11.1.6.Eccl 11:1Eccl 11:6chargeth them that have this worlds good to caſt their bread upon the waters, becauſe they ſhould find it after many dayes: and afterward he addeth to the ſame purpoſe, In the morning ſow thy ſeed, and in the evening withdraw not thine hand: for thou knoweſt not whether ſhall proſper, either this or that, or whether they both ſhall be alike good: much rather ſhould it be thus with us; we ſhould caſt the bread of life upon the waters, even when we have ſmall hope to find it againe, as if a man ſhould ſow his ſeed in the ſea, and uſe all diligence, and take all occaſions to doe good, leaving the iſſue of our labours to the cheife husband man. And the rather we ought to doe it, becauſe we are unto God the ſweet ſavour of Chriſt, in them that are ſaved, 2 Cor. 2.15.2 Cor 2:15and in them that periſh, that is, in all perſons, becauſe all men whatſoever, either are ſuch as ſhall be ſaved, or ſuch as ſhall be condemned: and the reward ſhall be according to the faithfulneſſe of the Miniſters teaching, not according to the fruitfulneſſe of the peoples hearing.

Laſtly, it behoveth us in time to take heed how we heare; 4not onelyonly what we heare touching the matter, Mark 4.24. Mar. 4 24. Luk. 8.18.Mark 4:24Luke 8:18but alſo how we heare, touching the manner, Luk. 8.18. and regard how it be performed, as well as that it be performed. The more the word of God ſoundeth in our eares and we reſpect it but as a ſound, the more our hearts are hardned, like the anvill that is beaten and hardned by the continuall ſtrokes of the hammer. Gods word is in regard of the effectes reſembled & compared to fire & to an hammer, as Ier. 23. Is not my word like as a fire, ſaith the Lord, Ier. 23.29.Jer 23:29and like an hammer that breaketh the rooke in pieces? There is more hope of men that never heard the word, and never lived under the ordinary miniſtry and preaching of it, p. 132then of ſuch as have had their eares beaten with it, & yet it cannot enter into their hearts, as our Saviour ſpeaketh to the chiefe Prieſts and Elders of the people, Math. 21.31.Matt 21:31Ʋerily I ſay unto you, that the publicanes and the harlots goe into the kingdome of God before you, If the word do not convert us, it doth condemne us: and if it make us not better, it maketh us worſe. A ſoft heart is a ſingular bleſſing: they are thrice happy that have attained unto it: on the other ſide, the ſinner that is as braſſe and iron, and paſt feeling, lyeth under an heavy curſe. Pro. 20.12.Prov 20:12Hence it is, that Salomon ſayth, The hearing eare, and the ſeeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them. We cannot ſee what is before us, untill God direct us, Gen. 21.19. Luk. 24.16.31. We cannot heare the voice that ſoundeth, untill he open our eares, Act. 22.9. If then he have opened our eares, that it may be ſaid of us, My ſheepe heare my voyce, Ioh. 10 27.John 10:27and I give unto them eternall life, and they ſhall never periſh: and if withall he opened our hearts as he did the heart of Lydia, Act. 16.14.Acts 16:14that we may attend to the things which are ſpoken; We have received ſuch a bleſſing as many thouſands do want, and for which we are bound to give continuall thankes to almighty God, to whom be praiſe in the Church for ever, Amen.

FINIS.