Conversion of Nineveh, Gods Trumpet, Physic Against Famine, Sermon 3 (2 of 4)

Conversion of Nineveh, Gods Trumpet, Physic Against Famine · Sermon 3 (2 of 4)

p. 54This will farther appeare by reaſons; Reaſ. 1 Firſt, becauſe as the way to the earthly Canaan was thorow a ſolitary wilderneſſe; ſo the way that leadeth to the heavenly Canaan and to everlaſting life is narrow, Matth. 7.13, 14.Matt 7:13Matt 7:14and the gate ſtraight, and that in divers reſpects. It ſuffereth not a man to ſleepe ſoundly in his ſinne, and to wander whither hee liſteth, but ſhutteth him up within the cloſe bounds of the Word of God, which telleth him that p. 55he muſt ſuffer perſecution, deny himſelfe, Matth. 16.24. Col. 3.5.Matt 16:24Col 3:5mortifie and crucifie the old man, and all the affections of the fleſh, which is as irkſome and unpleaſant to the fleſh, as if a man ſhould betake himſelfe to perpetuall impriſonment, put manacles and fetters upon hands and feet, and thruſt himſelfe into the Stockes or Gaole, whereas he might live abroad at liberty without reſtraint and reſiſtance, or without controlement and contradiction of any man whatſoever,

Secondly, ſuch as are faithfull and feare God, 2live for the moſt part in contempt and diſgrace of the world, which hateth and contemneth them, mocketh and ſcoffeth at them, as Iſmael did at Iſaac, ſo doe they that are borne after the fleſh, Gal. 4.29.Gal 4:29perſecute them that are borne after the Spirit, and therefore they muſt take up their Croſſe, and follow after their Maſter. They are choſen out of the world, no marvell then if the world hate them, Ioh. 15.18, 19.John 15:18John 15:19which hated Chriſt before ever it hated them. The world loveth onelyonly her owne, the godly muſt be ready to be under the croſſe, and to ſuffer perſecutions, 2 Tim. 3.12. Acts 14.21.2 Tim 3:12Acts 14:21knowing that through manifold tribulations they muſt enter into the Kingdome of Heaven. The Head is gone before that way, and all the members muſt follow after him, bearing his Croſſe.

Thirdly, 3the way to godlineſſe is unknowne to the naturall man, and to carnall reaſon. Hence it is, that few embrace it and entertaine it any further then ſtandeth with their owne pleaſures, honours, humors, profits, preferments, or corruptions. 1 Cor. 2.14.1 Cor 2:14The naturall man knoweth not the things of God: but whatſoever we are ignorant off, we doe not heartily deſire, or earneſtly delight in: Matth. 10.37. Luke 14.26.Matt 10:37Luke 14:26whereas wee ſhould bee willing to leave and loſe all, when the Lord calleth and commandeth us, as Abraham did, Gen. 22.4. rather then forſake him and the Goſpell.

p. 56Laſtly, 4few carry about them the markes of Chriſts ſheepe before ſpoken off, which are, to heare the voice of the Shepheard, to obey him and follow him, to account themſelves never better then when they feed in his greene paſtures, Pſal. 1.2. & 23.2. & 27.4. & 119.24. & 26.8.Ps 1:2Ps 23:2Ps 27:4Ps 119:24Ps 26:8to delight in the Word above all things, to bee patient in adverſities, and toward their adverſaries, and to call upon God in the day of trouble. When a ſheepe ſticketh in buſhes and brambles, and is any way holden in thornes and thickets, it bleateth and cryeth, and the Shepheard, hearing the voice thereof, ſoone delivereth it: ſo when wee are in any diſtreſſe and calamity, or want of earthly things, we muſt ſhew our ſelves the ſheepe of Chriſt by calling to our great Shepheard: if he once heare us cry unto him out of the depths, he will deliver us out of our diſtreſſe, and ſet us in ſafe places.

If it be objected, Obiect. that many are ſaid to bee redeemed by Chriſt, Matth. 26.28. Revel. 7.9.Matt 26:28Rev 7:9Matth. 26. and that an infinite number not to be reckoned, are ſealed up for the Lords ſervants, Revel. 7. Now many are not few: a great multitude is not a little company: Eſay 53.1….Isa 53:1if no man can number them, they cannot bee a ſmall number. How then can theſe things ſtand together? Anſw. I anſwer briefely: The faithfull are both many and few. Many, being conſidered ſimply in themſelves, moe then the ſand upon the Sea-ſhore, and the ſtarres in the Firmament, as I have ſhewed more at large elſe-where: and they are few, in reſpect of the reprobate: and both theſe are taught in this title, for the Word flocke importeth that they are many, the word little that they are few.

Firſt, Vſe 1 this ſerveth for reproofe of the Church of Rome, The firſt reproofe.which ſtandeth upon outward pompe and glory, upon univerſality and multitudes of men, all which are no ſure and certaine markes of the Church of Chriſt, Bellarmine. lib. 4. De Eccleſ. cap. 4.Eccl 4but rather badges of the ſynagogue of Satan and p. 57his eldeſt ſonne Antichriſt. For why may not Turkes and Infidels boaſt of this, as well as the Romaniſts? In all ſocieties for the moſt part the leaſt number is the beſt, the greateſt number is the worſt. Secondly, The ſecond reproofe.it checketh ſuch as are offended with the fewneſſe of the godly, becauſe they are no moe in number, as if Adam ſhould repine that the Garden, wherein God had planted, and wherein hee was placed, was no greater: or the Iewes murmure that the Church was bounded within the Territories of Iudea: or as if earthly men ſhould complaine that the world was created in no greater compaſſe. Theſe would as ſoone bee offended with Chriſt himſelfe, if hee were among them, and lived upon the earth: for in the dayes of his fleſh, few followed him and his doctrine, Hee came to his owne, Iohn 1.11.John 1:11and his owne received him not, but for the moſt part rejected him, nay, in the end they crucified the Lord of glory, and preferred a robber and murtherer before him. Iohn 18.40. Luke 23.19.John 18:40Luke 23:19And thoſe few that did cleave unto him, as wiſedome is alwaies juſtified of her children, what, I pray you were they? were they Kings and Princes, and Potentates, and Prieſts, and Prelates? were they the chiefeſt, the choiceſt, the higheſt, the nobleſt, the richeſt, and thoſe in greateſt authority? was it Herod, or Pilate, or the Scribes, and Phariſes, the Rabbies and great Doctors of the Law? No, no, theſe above all others were his deadly enemies, and perſecuted him and his Diſciples unto death. Who then were his followers? Verily the pooreſt, the loweſt, Matth 11.5.Matt 11:5and ſuch as were the baſeſt in the eyes and eſtimation of the former fellowes; theſe were they that received the Goſpell, theſe were they that beleeved in him; Matth. 2.16.Matt 2:16Indeed one Herod wiſhed to finde him, but it was not to worſhip him, but to kill him. Luke 23.8.Luke 23:8Another of them had deſired of a long time to ſee him, and when he ſaw him, rejoyced, but it was for his p. 58miracles, not for his doctrine. The Phariſes indeed came unto him to heare him, but it was to tempt him and entangle him in his words: ſo that they ſay, and not onelyonly confeſſe, Iohn 7.48, 49.John 7:48John 7:49but glory in it, Ioh. 7. Have any of the Rulers, or of the Phariſes beleeved in him? but this people that knoweth not the Law, are curſed. Bleſſed are they therefore that are not offended at him. Matth. 11.6. The third reproofe.Matt 11:6Thirdly, they are reprooved, which are troubled and diſquieted at the great company and proſperity of the ungodly, whereat the faith of the Elect hath oftentimes ſtaggered and ſtarted backe, never remembring that God is ever good to Iſrael, Pſal. 73.1, 12, 13.Ps 73:1Ps 73:12Ps 73:13even to the pure in heart, though they be very few in number, as Pſal 73.12, 13. and Jer. 5.1, 2. Wherefore doth the way of the wicked proſper? wherfore are all they happy that deale very treacherouſly? Ier. 12.1.Jer 12:1So Hab. 1.13. Wherefore holdeſt thou thy tongue, when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous then himſelfe? Hab. 1.13.Hab 1:13Howbeit they are ſet in ſlippery places, albeit for a time they may flouriſh, and ſpread themſelves like a greene Bay tree, Pſal. 37.35. The fourth reproofe.Ps 37:35and in the end ſhall bee horribly conſumed, as a dreame when one awaketh. Fourthly, ſuch as lay the fault where it is not, and not where it is. Some upon Chriſt, as Adam did upon God, as if hee were tyed to give repentance: who notwithſtanding offereth the meanes to draw them, but they will not be drawne; Matth. 23.37.Matt 23:37hee would, but they would not, albeit hee bee bound to none. Some upon the Word, as if it were of no force and power, or at leaſt not ſufficient to convert the ſoule; which notwithſtanding hath the working of the Spirit joyned with it in all that are ſaved. Some upon the Miniſter, as if it were in him to convert the heart: he ſoweth the ſeed as the ſpirituall Husbandman, but he cannot make it grow, as alſo he waſheth the body, Matth. 3.11. & 13, 19, 20.Matt 3:11Matt 13:19Matt 13:20but cannot baptize with the holy Ghoſt, & clenſe the ſoule. But the Parable of the Sower ſerveth to rectifie p. 59and reforme our judgement and underſtanding, that the fault is not in the Seedman, nor in the ſeed, nor in the ſowing, but in the ground of mens hearts, ſo that wee may ſay with the Prophet, Hoſ. 13.9. The fift reproofe.Hos 13:9Thy deſtruction (O Iſrael) is of thy ſelfe. Fiftly, ſuch as will ſtay till all men be agreed. For if the number of the ſheepe be few, we may looke long enough, before all will meet in the unity of the Spirit. Woe then to ſuch as waite for the comming in of all to joyne together, and will reſolve upon nothing, ſo long as any remaine unreſolved, as if they ſtrove to be the laſt that ſhould be added to the Sheepfold. When all men thinke one thing, then will they joyne and jumpe with them in practice and opinion: but in the meane ſeaſon they will hang and hover in the aire in ſuſpence, and expect a generall agreement. And that they may doe, untill their eyes fall out of their heads, and be never the wiſer, but rather the worſer, and the wickeder. For this is to looke for Heaven upon earth. Thus indeed it ſhall bee when wee come to know, even as we are knowne: then wee ſhall have and heare a perfect harmony of all voices, ſinging with one minde, and with one mouth, Hallelu-iah: Revel. 19.1, 3.Rev 19:1Rev 19:3but here our muſicke hath many jarres, and we meet with ſundry rubbes in our way: for wee know onelyonly in part, 1 Cor. 13.9, 10.1 Cor 13:91 Cor 13:10and we prophecy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part ſhall bee done away. Howbeit, it availeth little, to ſpeake to ſuch of ſpirituall things, being wholly carnall themſelves: and therefore ſet us deale with them in their owne language, that is, ſpeake to earthly-minded men of earthly things, and ſo keepe our ſelves within their owne element. If theſe would never buy or ſell, untill all men be agreed of the due price and juſt value, they ſhould never have any doings or dealings in the world, that now overburden themſelves with the world. If they would never purchaſe p. 60foot of land, neither husband their ground, or plough, or mow, or ſow, untill all men were conſenting about the matter, or manner, or time, when to begin, and where to make an end, or other like circumſtances; their fields would bee all growne over with thornes, and thiſtles; and nettles would cover the face thereof. How then are theſe ſo ſenceleſſe and ſottiſh as not to conſider that there never was, nor never will be a generall concord in any thing under the Sunne? If then there will never be a full agreement, no, not in temporall things, wherein notwithſtanding the ſences of carnall and worldly men are expert and wholly exerciſed: how much leſſe is it to be looked for in heavenly things, which are ſupernaturall, and cannot bee conceived of meere naturall men? I may therefore ſay unto ſuch, according as our Saviour reaſoneth, Iohn 3.12.John 3:12Ioh. 3. If I have told you earthly things, and yee beleeve not; how ſhall ye beleeve, if I tell you of heavenly things? If theſe had lived in the dayes of Chriſt, when ſome ſpake one thing of him, and ſome another according to their ſeverall fancy and folly, Iohn 7.12, 40, 41, 43.John 7:12John 7:40John 7:41John 7:43ſome ſaid he was a good man; ſome, of a truth hee is a Prophet; ſome, this is the Chriſt; but others, nay, for he deceiveth the people, ſo that there was a murmuring, and a diviſion among them becauſe of him; doubtleſſe they would have denied and refuſed him, at leaſt till they had ſeene the Scribes and Phariſees, and other learned Lawyers among the Iewes, wholly to receive him. But how many among them, thinke you, were damned for this device, albeit they had fully as much to plead for themſelves as theſe men have? And if Noah had never ſet upon the Arke to build it, untill the whole world of the ungodly had conſented unto him, and counſelled him, he had periſhed with them in the waters. The ſixt reproofe.What good thing ever was there, that all men allowed and approved? Laſtly, another ſort (the worſt p. 61of all the reſt) are here reprooved, who make a ſcoffe and deriſion at theſe Words of Chriſt, as Pilate did, when Chriſt Ieſus ſhewed, that he came for this cauſe into the world, that he might beare witneſſe unto the truth, he ſaid, What is truth? Iohn 19 20.John 19:20So doe prophane perſons upbraid the faithfull ſervants of God with this title as with a taunt, O, you are of the godly ones! O, you are one of theſe holy folke! you have the Spirit of God, and are one of the little flocke! thereby ſcorning and deriding ſuch as honour the Word, and frequent the hearing of it; nay mocking at the preaching of Chriſt, and bringing the Word it ſelfe into contempt, and as it were flouting God to his face. But he that ſitteth in the Heavens, ſhall laugh at them, Pſal. 2.4.Ps 2:4the Lord ſhall have them in deriſion, nay in deteſtation. For this differeth not from open blaſphemy, nor theſe from wretched blaſphemers, who make ſcoffes and jeſts at Gods Word, whereby they ſhall be judged, nay condemned at the laſt day, except they repent. It is ill jeſting with a ſharp two-edgedſword that cutteth as a razor, Heb. 4.12.Heb 4:12which in the end ſhall cut them in pieces. Theſe raiſe a nick-name upon the Word, Pſal. 138.2.Ps 138:2which He hath magnified above all his other Names, and are come to the height and top of ſinne, and take the name of God in vaine in the higheſt degree, not onelyonly walking in the counſell of the ungodly, Pſal. 1.1.Ps 1:1and ſtanding in the way of ſinners, but even ſitting downe in the ſeat of the ſcornefull, whereby they fill up the meaſure of their ſinne, that God may fill to them the full viall of his fierce wrath and indignation. Theſe doe notoriouſly belch out their owne ſhame, and manifeſtly renounce their owne ſalvation, and prove with their owne mouthes, that they looke for no other, but the portion of reprobates, together with the Devill and his angels. For I would gladly be informed, and receive anſwer from them, whether they beleeve in their p. 62hearts, that themſelves have any true holineſſe in them, and are in the number of this little flocke, or not? If they doe, then their owne words convince them, and by their owne mouthes (as the evill ſervant) they ſhall be condemned. If they doe not, then they muſt bee foule and filthy goats that ſhall ſtand at the left hand, as damned creatures, and receive an horrible curſe denounced and executed againſt them: and all this by their owne verdict and confeſſion. For as Chriſt Ieſus at the laſt Day ſhall ſay to the reprobate, Inaſmuch as they ſhewed no mercy to his brethren, they did it not to him; ſo may I ſay to theſe ſcoffers, In as much as they doe it againſt the Word, they doe it againſt the Lord himſelfe, whoſe Word it is. To conclude, I will ſpeak to them in the words of the Prophet, Eſay 57.3, 4.Isa 57:3Isa 57:4Draw neere hither, ye ſonnes of the Sorcereſſe, the ſeed of the Adulterer and the Whore, againſt whom doe yee ſport your ſelves? againſt whom make yee a wide mouth? and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of tranſgreſſion, a ſeed of falſehood?

Secondly, 2here is peace and comfort againſt all diſcouragements that ariſe in the world from prophane perſons, and a ſoveraigne preſervative to all thoſe that truely feare God, though they ſee themſelves alone like a Pellican in the Wilderneſſe, like an Owle in the Deſart, and like a Sparrow upon the houſe top. If wee be as a ſigne and wonder in Iſrael, Eſay 8.28.Isa 8:28yea as a monſter among men, yet let us not be diſcouraged, but remember that the Lords portion hath beene but as the tenth, that is, in compariſon of the multitude in all ages the leaſt part, as it were an handfull. If then we have heretofore run into all exceſſe of riot with the world of the ungodly, and made conſcience of nothing that is good or pleaſing to God, and now have learned better things by the direction of the Word, to refraine from every evill way, to have reſpect to all the Commandements of p. 63God, and to make conſcience of all, even the leaſt ſins: albeit we finde our ſelves left alone, as Eliah the Prophet did, when they had killed the Prophets of the Lord, and digged downe his Altars; and walke in a rugged and untrodden path like Jonathan and his Armour-bearer, having few to follow us, 1 Sam. 14 13.1 Sam 14:13or to accompany us, many to diſſwade and diſcourage us, and ſome ready to hinder us, and to pull us backe; yet let us ſay with Peter, Though all men ſhould forſake thee, Matth. 26.32. Iohn 6.68.Matt 26:32John 6:68yet will I never leave thee: and elſewhere, Whither ſhall wee goe? thou haſt the Words of eternall life; when Ieſus ſaid unto the Twelve, Will yee alſo goe away? And let this bee our comfort, and give us reſt, that thus it hath gone evermore with the faithfull, this hath beene the ſtate of Religion, and few in compariſon of the reſt have found the true path-way that leadeth to life and ſalvation to their endleſſe comfort.

Thirdly, 3learne that the number of the wicked and reprobate is exceeding great, and the way to Hell hath many people and paſſengers that thruſt and throng by heapes that way. The way is broad, and the gate wide that leadeth to deſtruction, Matth. 7.14.Matt 7:14and many there be that enter in thereat, Matth. 7. We are ready to follow a multitude to evill, but Chriſt Ieſus giveth us counſell to ſhun that way, as a dangerous rocke, which the multitude treadeth. Hence it is, that the Apoſtle teacheth, 1 Cor. 1. Not many wiſe after the fleſh, not many mighty, 1 Cor. 1.26, 27.1 Cor 1:261 Cor 1:27not many noble are called, but the fooliſh things, weake, and baſe, and deſpiſed, and things which are not, hath God choſen, to confound and bring to nought the glory of the world. The worſt courſes have commonly the moſt followers, and the worſt number is for the moſt part the greateſt number: foraſmuch as the greateſt part are left out of the Booke of Life, and the Catalogue of Gods election. And as in the old world, when the p. 64flood came, 2 Pet. 2.5. Gen. 6.22. Luke 18.8.2 Pet 2:5Gen 6:22Luke 18:8all fleſh had corrupted his wayes upon the earth; ſo at the comming of the Sonne of man, ſhall he finde faith upon the earth? The greateſt part ſhall bee given to carnall ſecurity, and worldly profits, without any reſpect to heavenly things. Such as came out of Egypt, were for the moſt part of them murmurers, and therefore periſhed. There were foure hundred and fifty falſe prophets ſtanding to plead Baals cauſe, 1 King. 18.19.1 Kgs 18:19when one onelyonly Elias ſtood for the honour and glory of the true God of Iſrael. 1 King. 22.6.1 Kgs 22:6There were alſo foure hundred flattering prophets againſt one plaine Preacher Michaiah, that ſpake the truth from his heart, yea even for the good of the King himſelfe, if he had knowne the things that belonged to his owne peace, but they were hidden from him. Hereby then we learne the vanity of all ſuch as goe about to excuſe themſelves, becauſe they have many fellowes that are followers of their folly, and multitudes of companions in throngs and heapes, partakers of their evil courſes. They ſay, We are not alone, We have a world of people in the ſame caſe. If this be all they can alleadge for themſelves, and their ſinnes, and their conſorts, woe unto them: for as they have many joyne with them in evill, ſo they ſhall have multitudes partake with them in puniſhment. God will judge all the ungodly, he regardeth neither might nor multitude. What ſtore of carcaſſes periſhed in the waters, and what heapes went to Hell among them? and at the laſt Day the Lord will give iudgement againſt all men, Iude 15.Jude 1:15and rebuke all the ungodly among them, of all their wicked deeds which they have ungodlily committed, and of all their cruell ſpeaking, which wicked ſinners have ſpoken againſt him. Every man ſhall receive the things which are done in his body, 2 Cor. 5.10.2 Cor 5:10according to that he hath done, whether it be good or evill, 2 Cor. 5.10. Hee hath evermore plagued multitudes as well as a few perſons, p. 65with whom it is eaſie to doe execution, inaſmuch as he commeth with thouſands of his Saints and Angels, Jude 14. The worſt waies have evermore found the greateſt applauſe, conſent, and countenance of the world. When it was agreed to compaſſe Lots houſe, they aſſembled together both young and old, Gen 19.4.Gen 19:4all the people from every quarter, Gen. 19. When the golden calfe was to be made, Exod. 32.3.Exod 32:3all the people brake off the golden earings which were in their eares, Exod. 32. When Pilate demanded what ſhould be done with Chriſt, Matth. 27.22.Matt 27:22they all cryed out, Let him bee crucified, Matth. 27. So in maintenance of Idolatry, the zeale was ſo great, Acts 19.34.Acts 19:34that all with one voyce cryed out, Great is Diana of the Epheſians. Every place is full of evill; the greateſt part ready to backe and bolſter it; to uphold and countenance it; Eſay 59.15.Isa 59:15and ſuch as never ſo little oppoſe againſt it, make themſelves a prey. Who ſeeth not what plenty is every where of Atheiſts, unbeleevers, ignorant perſons, diſobedient, ſwearers, blaſphemers, prophane, breakers of the Sabbath, contemners of the Goſpell, and what not? It is not their multitudes that can protect and patronize them, but ſhall rather encreaſe their ſorrow and puniſhment.

Laſtly, it is our duty to ſeeke, nay, 4to ſtrive to enter in at the ſtraight gate, that we may finde our ſelves among the little flocke, and joyne with thoſe few that live well. And the rather, becauſe many will ſeeke to enter in, and ſhall not be able, becauſe it is too late, Luke 13.23.Luke 13:23like the fooliſh Virgins, who, when the Bride-groome had ſhut rhe doores, deſired to have them opened: but the Lord anſwered, Verily, I ſay unto you, I know you not. Matth. 25 12.Matt 25:12It muſt be our ſtudy to be in this little number. We commonly and for the moſt part ſit ſtill as a ſecure and ſenceleſſe people, No eaſie matter to come to Heaven.as though it were the eaſieſt matter in the world to ſtep to Heaven, or as if all the world p. 66ſhould be ſaved. If multitudes were not of this minde, they would not ſpend all their dayes in vanity, in pleaſures and paſtimes, in chambering and wantonneſſe, in playing, in gaming and rioting, in eating and drinking, in ſurfeting and drunkenneſſe, and idleneſſe, which was the life of the Sodomites; Ezek. 16.49.Ezek 16:49as if they were borne to no other end: or as if they ſhould continue here for ever; or as if this were their vocation and calling; or as if there were no other Heaven; or as if this were the way to the Kingdome, which is the beaten path to Hell; or as if divers paſſing this way, were not now already in torments. It is commonly thought of theſe, that Heaven is as eaſily gotten and obtained, as for a man to open his mouth and breathe, and receive in the common aire; their looſe practice diſcovereth their opinion to be no other. What then, I beſeech you, is become of the Words and warning of Chriſt? is his counſell and wiſedome any way diſprooved? what is now become of the narrow way? where is the ſtraight gate that we have given us in charge to ſearch after? is the way now growne at laſt to be wide and broad, when there are a few onelyonly that tread in it? Doubtleſſe, either it is ſo, or elſe theſe men glory in themſelves that they are wiſer then He, who is Wiſdome it ſelfe, and that they have found a neerer cut, and ſhorter paſſage to Heaven, then He ever knew or commended to men. But if he be the wiſedome of the Father, 1 Cor. 10.30. Col. 2.3.1 Cor 10:30Col 2:3and have all the treaſures of wiſedome dwelling in him, certainely theſe men are ſtark fooles, and wholly ignorant of the right Way that leadeth to ſalvation. Facilis d…ſcenſus Averni: at ſuperare gradum, ſuperaſ que evadere ad auras, hic labor, hoc opus eſt. Aeneid. lib. 6.It is an eaſie matter to goe to Hell: we are all by nature in the way unto it, and we have many helpes and guides that offer themſelves to take us by the hand, and to conduct us, …d to accompany us thither. It is the hardeſt matter that can bee in the world, to come to Heaven. All excellent things are p. 67hard, the more excellent the harder: but nothing more excellent then a Kingdome. It is a difficult matter and very uneaſie to climbe up to the top of an high mountaine, or a ſteepe rocke; it requireth puffing and blowing, and labouring, and ſtriving, and ſtruggling, and ſweating; contrariwiſe it is an eaſie matter to runne downe an hill without any ſtaying and ſtopping, without any hinderance, or interruption, or intermiſſion. So is it the eaſieſt matter in the world to throw our ſelves downe, and to plunge our ſelves headlong into the pit of Hell, as it was to throw ones ſelfe downe from the pinnacle of the Temple: but to get up to the holy Hill of God, and to attaine to the Kingdome of Heaven, this is a labour, this is a worke indeed; this cannot be done without taking up of the Croſſe, without denying of our ſelves, without mortifying of the old man, Hebr. 12 1.Heb 12:1without laying aſide the ſinne that doth ſo eaſily beſet us, without uſing violence to ſhake off the hinderances that ſtand in the way: ſo that I may ſay with the Apoſtles, If the righteous ſcarcely be ſaved, 1 Pet. 4.18.1 Pet 4:18where ſhall the ungodly and the ſinner appeare? 1 Pet. 4.18.

Little Flocke.) Another obſervation from this limiting and reſtraining title, that the flocke is little, is, that it is ſo called, becauſe it is little regarded in the world. Now obſerve in this place, that the Scripture ſpeaketh of things, ſometimes as they are in themſelves and in their owne nature; Tolet. in Luc. 9. pag. 788.Luke 9and ſometimes according to the account and eſtimation of men. A lively example of them both we have, 1 Cor. 1. concerning the preaching of the Word. For when the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of it as it is by the ordinance of God, 1 Cor. 1.24, 23, 2…, 25, 18, 2…1 Cor 1:241 Cor 1:231 Cor 1:21 Cor 1:251 Cor 1:18he calleth it the power of God, and the wiſedome of God, Verſe 24. but when hee ſpeaketh of it as it is in the corrupt account of the ſinfull world, he calleth it a ſtumbling blocke and fooliſhneſſe, Verſe 23. and the fooliſhneſſe of preaching, Verſe 21. the p. 68fooliſhneſſe of God, and the weakeneſſe of God, Verſe 25. What then? is the publiſhing of the Goſpell in it ſelfe either a ſtumbling blocke, or fooliſhneſſe, or weakneſſe? No, in no wiſe, being mighty to throw downe all ſtrong holds: but thus the men of this world account and judge of it. Rom. 1.16.Rom 1:16To whom then is it the power of God? To them that are called, Verſe 24. to them that beleeve, Rom. 1.16. And to whom is it fooliſhneſſe? To them that periſh, 1 Cor. 1.18. So touching the flocke of God, in the eſtimation of God it is great, but in the eſtimation of the world it is as little. Thus the faithfull are called by Chriſt our Saviour, Matth. 10.42. & 18.6.Matt 10:42Matt 18:6The little ones that beleeve in him, Matth. 10.42. & 18.6. But howſoever they be tendered of God, and highly in his favour, yet they finde hard entertainment at the hands of the prophane men of the world. Doct. 5 This teacheth, that the faithfull are hated, contemned, and little regarded of wicked men. Howſoever, Zach. 2.8.Zech 2:8they that touch them, touch the apple of his eye, yet the ungodly account baſely and vilely of them, as if they were the ſcumme and filth of the world, or unworthy to live, or to breathe among men, or to tread upon the earth. Pſal. 22.6.Ps 22:6Thus the Prophet David complaineth concerning himſelfe, Pſal. 22. I am as a worme, and a wonder among many, a reproach of men, and deſpiſed of the people. Thus alſo ſpeaketh the Prophet Eſay, Chap. 8. Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me, are for ſignes and for wonders in Iſrael, from the Lord of Hoſts which dwelleth in mount Sion. So the Prophet Zachary complaineth, ſpeaking of the Prieſts and Levites that were earneſt to lay open the ſinnes of the people before God, Zach. 3.8.Zech 3:8Thou and thy fellowes are men wondred at, or they are accounted as monſters among men. Thus Chriſt ſpeaketh, Ioh. 16.2.John 16:2They ſhall put you out of their ſynagogue, yea the time commeth, that whoſoever killeth you, will thinke that he doth God ſervice. The Apoſtle Paul p. 69was no ſooner converted, but by and by he was hated, reviled, and perſecuted, who before lived in peace and preferment, in credit and countenance, in favour and friendſhip with the greateſt men. Whereupon he ſaith, 1 Cor. 4. 1 Cor. 4.9, 13. 2 Cor. 11.23, 24, 25.1 Cor 4:91 Cor 4:132 Cor 11:232 Cor 11:242 Cor 11:25I thinke that God hath ſet forth us the Apoſtles laſt, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a ſpectacle unto the world, and to Angels, and to men, even the offſcouring of all things unto this day. And thus it is with others alſo.

And no marvaile. For firſt they follow goodneſſe, Reaſ. 1 which the men of this world cannot abide, but hate unto the death, and therefore how can it be otherwiſe? The Prophet ſaith, Pſal. 38. Pſal. 38.19, 20.Ps 38:19Ps 38:20They that hate me wrongfully, are multiplied, they alſo that render evill for good, are mine adverſaries, becauſe I follow the thing that good is. If hee had followed evill, hee had beene loved of the evill.

Secondly, 2they refuſe to follow wicked men in the workes of the fleſh, ſo that they thinke it ſtrange that they runne not with them into all exceſſe of riot, 1 Pet. 4.4, 5.1 Pet 4:41 Pet 4:5and they ſpeake evill, becauſe they are evill, of ſuch as are better then themſelves: but they ſhall give an account to him that is ready to judge the quicke and the dead, 1 Pet. 4. If wee were of the world, the world would love his owne, but becauſe we are not of the world, but we are choſen out of world, therefore the world hateth us, Iohn 15.19.John 15:19Iohn 15.19. As then, the friends of the world are the enemies of God, ſo the enemies of the world are the friends of God, Jam. 4.

Thirdly, the ſervant is not greater then his Lord, 3nor the Diſciple then his Maſter, neither hee that is ſent, Iohn 13.16. & 15.20. Luke 11 18. Matth. 10.25. Luke 7.34. & 23.32.John 13:16John 15:20Luke 11:18Matt 10:25Luke 7:34Luke 23:32greater then him that ſent him, John 13.16. & 15.20. If then they have called the maſter of the houſe Beelzebub, a Samaritane, a Wine-bibber, a friend of Publicans and ſinners, Luke 7.34. How much more ſhall they call p. 70them of his houſehold? And if they doe theſe things to the greene tree, what ſhall bee done to the dry and barren? Luke 23.32. and if they have perſecuted him, they will alſo perſecute them that belong unto him.

Fourthly, 4they know not the Father, neither his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt, and therefore no marvaile if he will not know them, no marvaile if they doe not know his Children. The world doth not know the Sonnes of God, neither the love of the Father toward them, neither their love toward the Father, becauſe they know not the Father himſelfe, Ioh. 15.21. & 16.3.John 15:21John 16:3Joh. 15.21. & 1 Joh. 3.1. God is not their Father, neither they his children, and therefore his children are ſtrange to them.

Laſtly, 5the ungodly are the ſeed of the Serpent, that is, Iohn 8.44.John 8:44the children of the Devill, and he their father, whoſe luſts and will they performe, and whoſe expreſſe Image they repreſent, Joh. 8. This the Lord ſaith, Gen. 3.15. I will put enmity betweene thee and the woman, and between thy ſeed and her ſeed, it ſhall bruiſe thy head, and thou ſhalt bruiſe his heele. To this purpoſe Salomon ſpeaketh, Prov. 29.27. Prov. 29.27. & 28.4.Prov 29:27Prov 28:4& 28.4. An uniuſt man is an abomination to the iuſt, and he that is upright in the way, is abomination to the wicked. The wicked hate the godly wrongfully, and without cauſe, the godly hate them worthily, (not ſimply their perſons, but ſo farre as Gods Image is defaced) as the old Serpents brood, and therefore account of them no otherwiſe then they doe of their Father. For as every one that loveth him that begate, 1 Iohn 5.1.1 John 5:1loveth him alſo that is begotten of him: ſo they that hate him that begetteth to his corrupt image, hate them alſo that are begotten of him. The hatred of the ungodly, whereby they abhorre the faithfull, for their faiths ſake, which is good: nay, for their Fathers ſake, which is God, is implacable, and never can they be reconciled; it may not therefore ſeeme ſtrange, if the godly doe not onelyonly p. 71hate ungodlineſſe, but the deſperate ungodly alſo themſelves for their ungodlineſſe, as we hate not onelyonly the poiſon of the Serpent, but the Serpent for the poiſons ſake. But it will be ſaid, Obiect. We are commanded to love our enemies, to bleſſe them that curſe us, to doe good to them that …ate us, and to pray for them that perſecute us, Matth. 5. If then we muſt love them, Matth. 5.44.Matt 5:44we may not hate them. I anſwer, It is true, Anſw. wee are charged to love our enemies, but not Gods enemies, nor the enemies of godlineſſe, ſo farre as they may bee diſcerned ſo to be. For we muſt make a difference betweene his enemies and ours. Wee muſt love them that are enemies to our perſons, but not thoſe that are enemies (ſo farre as they are enemies) to our profeſſion, and for the profeſſion ſake. It will be objected further, Obiect. Are we not bound to love every creature of God, Gen. 1.31.Gen 1:31ſeeing hee ſaw them all to be very good? and are we not charged to love all men as they are men? 2 Pet. 1.7.2 Pet 1:7and not onelyonly to embrace brotherly kindneſſe, but love in generall? I anſwer, It is true, Anſw. we are commanded to love all men as men, and every creature as it is a creature created of God, and not to hate and abhorre any of them as they are the worke of his hands: but ſo farre as the Image of God is deformed and disfigured in them, wee may hate them, and we ought to hate them: Nay, the more this Image of God is ſtained and corrupted, the more we are to diſlike them, and deteſt them. Rom. 9.13. Mal. 1.3.Rom 9:13Mal 1:3God himſelfe hateth the wicked with a perfect hatred, Rom. 9. Mal. 1. Now we are entred into a covenant with God, to have the ſame friends, and the ſame enemies: his friends muſt be our friends, and his enemies muſt bee our enemies. This made the Prophet ſay, Doe not I hate them, O Lord, Pſal. 139.21, 22.Ps 139:21Ps 139:22that hate thee? and am I not grieved with thoſe that riſe up againſt thee? I hate them with perfect hatred, I account them mine enemies, Pſal. 139. Wee muſt therefore be at p. 72peace with them that are at peace with him, and wee muſt have continuall warre with them that are at warre with him, even as the Lord himſelfe profeſſeth to Abraham, Gen. 12 3.Gen 12:3that he will bleſſe them that bleſſe him, and curſe them that curſe him, Gen. 12.3.

Firſt, Vſe. 1 conclude from hence, that we muſt take heed we deſpiſe not one of theſe little ones. For though they be little, yea nothing at all, and leſſe then nothing in the eyes of the world, yet we may not ſet them at nought, whom the Lord Ieſus will at the laſt day ſet at his right hand; neither make them our footſtoole, that ſhall ſit upon ſeates, Matth. 18.10. 1 Cor. 62, 3.Matt 18:10and iudge the Angels, nay the world. There are ſundry motives to move us to beware of hating and deſpiſing them, all of them of great force and moment. Firſt, their Angels in Heaven doe alwaies behold the face of the Father which is in Heaven, and they are ready, Heb. 1.14.Heb 1:14as miniſtring spirits, to miniſter for them that ſhall be heires of ſalvation, and are armed with power againſt them that are their enemies, and heires of wrath and deſtruction. For wherefore are they ſaid to behold the face of God, but becauſe they ſtand about the Throne of God as their King, waiting his appointment to doe his will, and to ſend them to ſafegard his ſervants that are ſo ſmally ſet by of the world? Secondly, the Sonne of man came to ſave them, Matth. 18.11.Matt 18:11therefore wee may not condemne them; he loved them with perfect love, therefore we may not hate them with perfect hatred, Mat. 18.11. It is God that juſtifieth? who ſhall dare to condemne? Matth. 18.5.Matt 18:5Thirdly, ſuch as receive them, doe receive him; and contrariwiſe, ſuch as hate them, doe hate him: ſuch as perſecute them, Acts 9.5.Acts 9:5doe perſecute him: ſuch as revile them, doe revile him, becauſe hee accounteth this as done to himſelfe, and eſteemeth himſelfe wounded thorow their ſides. Fourthly, woe to ſuch as any way offend theſe, though they bee little ones, it were better p. 73that a milſtone were hung about their necke, Matth. 18.6.Matt 18:6and that they were drowned in the depth of the Sea. An offence is ſometimes taken, and ſometimes given. An offence onelyonly taken, is not to bee regarded, as not being given, Matth. 15.14. neither yet in it ſelfe any ſinne. The Phariſes were offended, but Chriſt Ieſus giveth a precept, to let them alone. Matth. 15.14.Matt 15:14For no man muſt bee hindred from doing his duty, becauſe offence is taken thereby, foraſmuch as that were to ſubject the Precepts of God to the pleaſure of man. Chriſt himſelfe and his Goſpel were a rocke of offence, and a ſtone to ſtumble at, Eſay 8.14, Eſay 8.14, 15. Rom. 9.32. 1 Pet. 2.6. Luke 2.34. 1 Cor. 1.23.Isa 8:14Isa 8:15Rom 9:321 Pet 2:6Luke 2:341 Cor 1:2315. Rom. 9.32, &c. Offence was taken ſometimes at the meanneſſe of his perſon, and ſometimes at the matter, or manner of his doctrine, howbeit the fault was not in Chriſt, but in the Iewes and Phariſes themſelves, who looked for a Meſſiah, not ſuch as is deſcribed in the Scripture, but ſuch as they had framed and hammered in their owne braines by miſunderſtanding the Scriptures. An offence given is in the nature thereof a ſinne, of which Chriſt Ieſus ſpeaketh in that place of offending the little ones. This is ſometimes barely given, but not taken, God preveting the evil that might come thereof, & ſanctifying thoſe with his grace that behold the offence, that they are not corrupted by it, or intangled in it: and ſometimes it is both given and taken, ſo that others are taken and overtaken in the ſame manner. This is a ſinne againſt God and man, which becommeth ſo much the greater, when it is both offered and accepted, of which Paul giveth a charge, 1 Cor. 10. Give none offence, neither to the Jewes, nor to the Gentiles, 1 Cor. 10.3….1 Cor 10:3nor to the Church of God, that is, to none, either within or without, to beleevers or unbeleevers. Obiect. But doth the offence given, excuſe thoſe from all fault, to whom it is given? or doth it give them freedome from guilt and puniſhment, being drawne away, and entiſed by others? p. 74I anſwer, Anſw. No, in no wiſe. This was the ſinne of Elies ſonnes, who by their evill life cauſed the people to abhorre the offerings of God: yet notwithſtanding God threatneth to bring an heavy judgement upon Iſrael, at which, 1 Sam. 3.11.1 Sam 3:11both the eares of every one that heareth it ſhould tingle. As then a woe is denounced againſt ſuch as give offence, ſo is a woe due to ſuch as take it when it is given. For the Commandement of God ought to bee of more force with us, to keepe us within the compaſſe of our duty, then all the evill examples of men to corrupt us, and hinder us from it, that ſo wee may ſhew our ſelves to be the Sonnes of God in the middeſt of a froward and crooked generation, among whom we muſt ſhine as lights in the world, Phil. 2.15.

Secondly, 2let us not marvaile that the world hateth us: rather it were to bee marveled, if they ſhould not hate us, that hate the Lord, and cannot abide to be tyed to his Commandements, which are moſt grievous and irkeſome, and toyleſome unto them. Neither let us wonder concerning the fiery triall, 1 Ioh. 3.13. 1 Pet. 1.7. & 4.12.1 John 3:131 Pet 1:71 Pet 4:12which is to try us, and to make our faith much more precious then gold that periſheth, as though ſome ſtrange thing had hapned unto us: but rather let us rejoyce, inaſmuch as wee are partakers of Chriſts ſufferings, that when his glory ſhall be revealed, we may be glad alſo with exceeding joy, 1 Pet. 1.13. Such is our weakneſſe and infirmity, yea ſuch is our love and liking to our ſelves, and our owne eaſe, that we deſire freedome from all troubles, and rather are ready to joyne with the wicked, then we would willingly ſuffer any thing, or be hated of them. We are prone to ſay in our proſperity, Pſal. 30.6.Ps 30:6I ſhall never bee moved; and therefore when wee begin to be evill ſpoken off for righteouſneſſe ſake, and heare ſlanders and reproaches on every ſide, we take the matter ſo heavily and hainouſly, and looke ſo ſtrangely upon it, as if p. 75we had never heard of any ſuch condition; or as if the Saints of God had never endured like perſecution; or as if the Word of God had never ſpoken word of enduring affliction; or as if it were not the beaten path that bringeth us to ſalvation; or as if Satan and his inſtruments had put on a new affection, and altered their former diſpoſition. How have wee forgotten, that all the ſervants of God from righteous Abel to theſe preſent times have ſuffered tribulation? and therefore it may not bee thought any novelty, Matth. 5.12.Matt 5:12foraſmuch as they have done this to the Prophets and people that were before us. Wee have forgotten what befell our Lord and Maſter, who endured the Croſſe, and deſpiſed the ſhame, Heb. 12.2.Heb 12:2and is ſet downe at the right hand of his Father. Wee have forgotten that wee muſt walke through good report, and evill report, through honour and diſhonour. 2 Cor. 6.8.2 Cor 6:8Wee have forgotten that the holy Apoſtles went away from the Councell reioycing, Acts 5.41.Acts 5:41that they were accounted worthy to ſuffer any thing for Chriſts ſake. Heb. 10.34.Heb 10:34Wee have forgotten that the beleeving Hebrewes ſuffered with ioy the ſpoyling of their goods, knowing that they had a better inheritance reſerved for them in the Heavens, and an enduring ſubſtance that ſhould never fade, nor faile, nor fall away.

Thirdly, 3give no occaſion of offence to wicked worldlings to open their mouthes againſt us, 3to ſpeake evill both of us, and of our profeſſion. The Apoſtle warneth us to cut off occaſions from them that ſeeke occaſions, 2. Cor. 11. 2 Cor. 11.11.2 Cor 11:11And hee warneth young women to guide their houſes, 1 Tim. 5.14.1 Tim 5:14and to give no occaſion to the adverſary to ſpeake reproachfully, 1 Tim. 5. Theſe are they that watch for our halting and ſlipping, as the Fowler doth for the Bird, or the Hawke for his prey. They lay nets and ſnares to catch the ſimple and heedleſſe ſoule. It is meat and drinke to them, if they can take p. 76them at any advantage. If wee ſuffer reproofe and reproach wrongfully, happy are we, and great is our comfort, we have no cauſe of griefe and ſorrow, but rather of rejoycing, reſting in the teſtimony of a good conſcience, Pſal. 37. & 44.11, 12, 13, 17.Ps 37and the approbation of Gods Spirit, who ſhall bring forth thy righteouſneſſe as the light, and thy judgement as the noone day. Thus wee ſee in the faithfull, Pſal. 44. Thou haſt given us like ſheepe appointed for me…t, thou makeſt us a reproach to our neighbours, a ſcorne and deriſion to them that are round about us; thou makeſt us a by-word among the Heathen, a ſhaking of the head among the people, &c. all this is come upon us, yet have we not forgotten thee; neither have we dealt falſely with thy Covenant, &c. But if we ſuffer as evill doers, wee have no comfort at all in any ſuch ſufferings, but rather much diſcomfort, and matter of ſorrow and mourning.

Fourthly, 4let us from the hatred and harſh entertainment we finde in the world, be perſwaded to knit our ſelves more cloſely to the reſt of the faithfull, that are brethren of the ſame Father, ſervants of the ſame Maſter, and members of the ſame body. Foraſmuch therefore as we are hated in the world, and of the world, let us cleave the more cloſely to God our Father, and to Chriſt our head, Ioh. 15.17, 18. & 17.26.John 15:17John 15:18John 17:26John 15.17, 18. who commandeth us to love one another; Hence it is that Chriſt ſaith, I have declared unto them thy Name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith thou haſt loved me, may be in them, and I in them. Touching this brotherly kindneſſe, obſerve theſe three circumſtances, the manner, the time, and the perſons. The manner of it muſt bee earneſtly, fervently, conſtantly, and in truth: not faintly, not coldly, not hypocritically, not in ſhew onelyonly; for ſo did Cain love his brother. The time muſt be at all times, every ſeaſon is the ſeaſon thereof fit to practiſe it: not in proſperity onelyonly, and when they have little or no p. 77need at all of us, but chiefely and eſpecially in adverſity, in time of dearth, and famine, which is the time of the triall of our love, as Pro. 17.17. & 18.24. Prov. 17.17. & 18.24.Prov 17:17Prov 18:24A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is borne for adverſity. And touching the perſons, whom are wee to love? all the brethren, not onelyonly the rich and wealthy, but the leaſt, the loweſt, the meaneſt, the pooreſt, among them eſpecially, whom the Lord hath choſen to be rich in faith, Iam. 2.1, 2, 5.Jas 2:1Jas 2:2Jas 2:5and heires of the Kingdome of Heaven. To this end, wee are warned not to have the faith of our glorious Lord Ieſus Chriſt in reſpect of perſons, forbidding us to deſpiſe poore Chriſtians, and to reſpect onelyonly the richer ſort of higher places that abound in earthly bleſſings. Now, to effect this brotherly love the better, Motives to worke true love in us.and to worke it the ſooner in our hearts, wee muſt conſider ſundry motives to move us thereunto, laid before us in holy Scripture. Firſt, 1we ſhall be all knowne to be the Diſciples of Chriſt by this charity, Ioh. 13.35.John 13:35as a ſervant is by his livery to what Maſter he belongeth, John 13.35. Secondly, 2hereby we know that we are tranſlated from death to life, 1 Ioh. 3.14.1 John 3:14and from the ſtate of damnation to ſalvation, becauſe we love the brethren. They are all no better then dead men, ſtarke dead in ſinnes and treſpaſſes, and lying under condemnation, that are deſtitute of this love. Thirdly, whoſoever hateth his brother, 3the Son of his heavenly Father, is another Cain, a very murtherer: 1 Ioh. 3.15.1 John 3:15and ye know that no murtherer hath eternall life abiding in him. If wee would ſcorne to bee blotted and branded with ſuch an odious name, it behooveth us to avoid and beware the like practice, as well as the title. It is in vaine for us to goe about to ſhun and ſhake from us the name, ſo long as we reſemble his nature. Nay we are like the Devill himſelfe, Iohn 8.44.John 8:44who was a murtherer from the beginning, Joh. 8. When the Prophet told Hazael of his barbarous and horrible cruelty that hee p. 78ſhould ſhew againſt the children of Iſrael, he ſeemed to ſcorne it, and to ſtartle at it, as at an hideous matter, Is thy ſervant a dog, 2 King. 8.13.2 Kgs 8:13that he ſhould doe this great thing? but what availed this? or was he one inch the further from it, becauſe he put it away from him? No doubtleſſe. So what ſhall it profit theſe men to caſt from them thoſe names of Cain and his father the Devill, and think they have wrong offered them to be ſo eſteemed: whē in the meane ſeaſon they nouriſh malice and miſchiefe in their ſinfull hearts? 4Fourthly, hereby we know that we are of the truth, 1 Ioh. 3.19.1 John 3:19and ſhall aſſure our hearts before him, by the oppoſition of the world, 1 Joh. 3.19. ſo that from hence we ſhould gather great conſolation and aſſurance to our ſelves, that we are not married to the world, but are divorſed from the world. Iam. 4.4.Jas 4:4If we be the friends of the world, we become the enemies of God, becauſe the friendſhip of this world is enmity with God. 5Fiftly, love is of God, 1 Iohn 4.21. Iohn 17.3.1 John 4:21John 17:3and every one that loueth, is borne of God, and knoweth God; whereas he that loveth not God, knoweth him not, 61 Joh. 4.21. howbeit this is eternall life, to know him, Joh. 17.3. Sixtly, God hath loved us firſt, when we deſerved no love, 1 Iohn 4.9. Rom. 5.8.1 John 4:9Rom 5:8but to bee hated, whereas we often hate thoſe that deſerve to be loved: yea he ſo loveth us, that hee ſent his Sonne, his onelyonly begotten Sonne, whom he loved, and in whom he is exceedingly well pleaſed, that wee might live through him. Is not this love of his toward his enemies ſtrong enough, to worke love againe in us toward our brethren? O what a little feeling have we in our hearts of the love of the Father, if it cannot worke thus much in us, to cauſe us for his ſake to love his children? The bright beames of the love of the Sunne of righteouſneſſe did never ſhine upon us to quicken us, if wee doe not alſo warme his Sonnes with the comfortable heate thereof. Seventhly, 71 Iohn 4.17.1 John 4:17we have boldneſſe to lift up our heads in the p. 79Day of Judgement, becauſe as hee is, ſo wee are in this world; if we be regenerate, we are partakers of the heavenly nature, ready to render love for love. Laſtly, 8if we ſay we love God (as who will not ſay it, and how many ready to ſweare it) and yet hate our brother, 1 Iohn 4.20. & 5.1.1 John 4:201 John 5:1we are lyers, and ſpeake not the truth: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath ſeene, how can hee love God whom he hath not ſeene? foraſmuch as every one which loveth him that begate, loveth him alſo that is begotten of him, 1 Joh. 5.1. All theſe are as ſo many chaines, whereunto I might adde ſundry other linkes, to couple us together, and to hold us cloſe one to another. If we breake theſe bands in ſunder, that nothing will hold us, like the man diſtempered and diſtracted in the Goſpel, How can we have any communion with God, that have no fellowſhip with the brethren?

Fiftly, we all have need of patience, 5ſeeing wee are aſſured to finde ſuch as will be ſure to exerciſe it, and we muſt earneſtly crave it of the God of patience. For how ſhall we goe thorow-ſtitch with our profeſſion, for which we ſhall not onelyonly be little eſteemed, but hated of all men, Luke 21.19. Heb. 10.36.Luke 21:19Heb 10:36except we poſſeſſe our ſoules with patience againſt the contempt, which all for Chriſts ſake are ſubject unto in this preſent world? We are commonly eſteemed as the reffuſe and off all of all others, but let us keepe faith and a good conſcience, and then ſay with the holy man Job, whoſe patience and conſtancy was many wayes prooved; and ſundry falſe imputations charged upon him, Behold, my witneſſe is in Heaven, Iohn 16.19. 1 Cor. 4.3.John 16:191 Cor 4:3and my record is on high. And with the Apoſtle, With me it is a very ſmall thing that I ſhould be iudged of you, or of mans iudgement: yea, I iudge not mine owne ſelfe. The Faithfull are Gods hidden Ones, deare to him, and beloved of him. And as they are the members of Chriſt, ſo he accounteth his body after a ſort maimed and unperfect, p. 80without us, for He is the Head over all things to the Church, Epheſ. 1.23.Eph 1:23which is his body, the fulneſſe of him that filleth all in all, Eph. 1.23. where the Apoſtle ſheweth, that his body is his fulneſſe. Is it not a blemiſh and deformity in the naturall body, wherein one member onelyonly (if it bee but a little finger) is wanting? ſo Chriſt Ieſus ſhould be unperfect, as a body maimed and disfigured, if any of his members ſhould be miſſing, which hee will not ſuffer to bee taken from him. If at any time great men favour and reſpect us, we paſſe not greatly, what inferiour perſons thinke of us. So ſhould it be with us concerning the matter in hand, we ought to digeſt the diſgraces and reproaches of the world more eaſily and with all patience, conſidering the mighty God and Chriſt his Sonne and our Saviour have us in ſuch eſtimation. Rom. 8.31.Rom 8:31For if God bee on our ſide, who ſhall be againſt us? Wee commonly affirme, A friend in the Court is as good as a penny in the purſe, and we finde it ſo. If then wee have a friend in the Court of Heaven, which is the higheſt Court, and from whence lyeth no appeale, we ſhall not need to feare, or be diſquieted, what man doth, or can doe unto us. And if we had the greateſt friends that can be upon the earth, what benefit can we promiſe to our ſelves by it, when he that is higher then the higheſt, is our enemy?

Laſtly, 6as wee are hated, and ſhall bee hated in the world, ſo we muſt learne and acknowledge that it is not lawfull to avenge our ſelves, or to recompence and requite like for like, Matth: 5.44. 2 Cor. 2.10. Acts. 7.59. Luke 17.3. Rom. 12.19.2 Cor 2:10Acts 7:59Luke 17:3Rom 12:19but we muſt love our enemies, Matth. 5.44. and forgive them, Luke 17.3.2 Cor. 2.10. and pray for them, Acts 7.59. Hence it is that the Apoſtle teacheth, Rom. 12.19. Avenge not your ſelves, but rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, ſaith the Lord. He is the Iudge of the whole world, and to him it belongeth to puniſh: and p. 81ſhall not the Judge of the whole world deale uprightly? Gen. 18.15.Gen 18:15He judgeth without all paſſion or perturbation, whereas we are partiall and paſſionate, and ſometimes peeviſh in our owne cauſes. It is the office of God that properly belongeth to him, Pſal. 94.1.Ps 94:1to revenge all our wrongs whatſoever, who will more ſharpely and ſever…ly right our cauſes, then any other man can doe; whereas if we be avengers of our owne private injuries, wee make our ſelves Iudges of the earth, we take upon us the perfect knowledge of all things, we make our ſelves ſearchers of the heart, wee wreſt the ſword of juſtice from the Magiſtrate, nay, we uſurpe the office of God, and make our ſelves to be witneſſes, parties, and puniſhers in our owne matters, which was never allowed in any Court where there was any colour of upright dealing, and we cannot expect the Divine revenge, which onelyonly keepeth due meaſure and proportion betweene too much, and too little.

Little flocke.) The laſt obſervation taken from the limitation added to the flocke of Chriſt that it is little, and ariſing from the former interpretation, is, that it is ſaid to bee little, in reſpect of the opinion that theſe poore ſheepe have of themſelves. Their hearts are not hauty, neither are their eyes lofty, Pſal. 131.1, 2.Ps 131:1Ps 131:2neither doe they exerciſe themſelves in great matters, or in things too high for them, but they behave themſelves as a child, that is weaned from his mother, their ſoule is even as a weaned childe. This teacheth us, Doct. 6 that the faithfull are little and lowly in their owne eyes. This we learne by ſundry examples in the Old and New Teſtament. Jacob an holy Patriarke ſaith of himſelfe, Gen. 32.10. I am not worthy of the leaſt of all the mercies, Gen. 32.10. & 18.27.Gen 32:10Gen 18:27and of all the truth which thou haſt ſhewed to thy ſervant. Thus doth Abraham the Father of the faithfull confeſſe in his prayer, I have taken upon me to ſpeake to my Lord, p. 82which am but duſt and aſhes, Gen. 18. Ezra the learned Scribe of God was aſhamed and bluſhed to lift up his face to God, Ezra 9.6. Iob 1.1. & 4.3, 4. & 42.6.Ezra 9:6Job 1:1Job 4:3Job 4:4Job 42:6Ezra 9.6. Job a juſt and upright man, one that feared God, and eſchewed evill, who had none like to him in the earth, anſwered the Lord and ſaid, I am vile, what ſhall I anſwer? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth, once have I ſpoken, yea twice, but I will proceed no further; yea, I abhorre my ſelfe, and repent in duſt and aſhes. Eſay 6.6.Isa 6:6The Prophet Eſay cryeth out, Woe is me, for I am undone, becauſe I am a man of uncleane lips, Chap. 6.6. The like we might ſay of Moſes, Exod. 4.10, 13 Ier. 1.6. Dan. 9 8. I hn 1.27. Matth. 11.11.Exod 4:10Exod 4:13Jer 1:6Dan 9:8Matt 11:11Exod. 4.10, 13. of Jeremy, chap. 1.6. and of Daniel, chap. 9.8. John Baptiſt maketh it knowne, that he was not worthy to unlooſe the ſhooes latchet of Chriſt that came after him, albeit among them that were borne of women, there hath not riſen a greater then he. The Prodigall Sonne, being come to himſelfe, Luke 13.21. & 18.13.Luke 13:21Luke 18:13and to his Father, confeſſeth, Father, I have ſinned againſt Heaven, and in thy ſight, I am no more worthy to be called thy Sonne. The Publican, being come up to the Temple to pray; ſtood a farre off and would not lift up ſo much as his eyes unto Heaven, but ſmote upon his breſt, ſaying, O Lord, be mercifull to me a ſinner. So Paul teſtifieth that he was as one borne out of due time, 1 Cor. 15.8, 9.1 Cor 15:81 Cor 15:9not worthy to be called an Apoſtle; not onelyonly the leaſt of the Apoſtles, Epheſ. 3.8. 1 Tim. 1.15.Eph 3:81 Tim 1:151 Cor. 15.8. but the leaſt of all the Saints, Epheſ. 3.8. and the greateſt of all ſinners, 1 Tim. 1.15.

The reaſons are many and waighty. Reaſ. 1 For firſt what have we to be proud of? or wherefore ſhould we advance our ſelves? 2 Cor. 3.5.2 Cor 3:5we are not able of our ſelves to thinke any thing that is good: and without the helpe and aſſiſtance of Chriſt we can doe nothing at all, Joh. 6. ſo that to be proud of our ſelves, is to be proud of nothing.

Secondly, 2they know their ſinnes to be moe in number then the haires of their head, that they provoke him p. 83every day, and are not able to anſwer him one of a thouſand: their iniquities are increaſed over their heads, Ezra 9.6. Lam. 3.22.Ezra 9:6Lam 3:22and their tranſgreſſions are gone up to the Heavens, Ezra 9.6. ſo that it is his mercy, that they are not utterly conſumed. The more the Lord vouchſafeth his grace unto them, the more they behold their owne waies, and are privy to their owne wants. They know they have many knowne and open ſinnes. They know they ſtand in need to pray to God to clenſe them from their ſecret faults. They know they muſt begge of him, Pſal. 19.12, 13.Ps 19:12Ps 19:13to keepe his ſervants from preſumptuous ſinnes, that they may not have dominion over them. They know they are daily to crave pardon for their errors, ignorances, and negligences, for omitting good, for committing evill. They know their owne hearts ſmite them, 1 Ioh. 3.20.1 John 3:20and if their owne hearts condemne them, God is greater then their hearts, and knoweth all things. And have they not therefore cauſe in all theſe reſpects to hang downe their heads, and to humble themſelves in the ſight of God? As for the ungodly, it is not ſo with them, they are blinde and can ſee nothing; they are deafe and will learne nothing; they are ſenceleſſe and can feele nothing, be it never ſo palpable.

Thirdly, 3Chriſt Ieſus hath left himſelfe as a patterne and preſident unto us, for he is meeke and lowly in heart, Matth. 11.29.Matt 11:29Matth. 11.29. who being in the forme of God, and thinking it no robbery to bee equall with God, tooke upon him the ſhape of a ſervant, Phil. 2.6, 7.Phil 2:6Phil 2:7and made himſelfe of no reputation. Thus he humbled himſelfe, and became obedient unto the death, even the death of the Croſſe. Yea, he diſdained not to waſh the feet of his Diſciples, Ioh. 13.5, 15.John 13:5John 13:15and gave them an example what they ſhould doe, even as he had done to them. Thus he that was both God and Man, the Lord of Heaven and earth, the eternall Sonne of the Father, the brightneſſe of his glory, Heb. 1.3.Heb 1:3the expreſſe p. 84Image of his perſon, the Heire of all things, upholding them by the Word of his power, the King and Prieſt of his Church, did ſtoope downe and abaſe himſelfe for us, even to the death, and that alſo the curſed death of the Croſſe, Luke 21. 27.Luke 21:27and was in the world as he that ſerveth, Luke 22.27. Ought not we therefore to ſet evermore his example before our eyes, as a glaſſe to looke upon, and in lowlineſſe of minde each one of us to eſteeme of others better then of our ſelves, that the ſame minde might be in us which was in him?

Fourthly, 4wee are but duſt and aſhes, whether we conſider our riſing or our falling, our beginning or our ending, Gen. 3.19. Iob 1.21. 1 Tim. 6.7.Gen 3:19Job 1:211 Tim 6:7our firſt or our laſt: for duſt we are, and to duſt ſhall we returne, Gen. 3. We brought nothing with us in this world, and it is certaine we can carry nothing out. Is not the baſeneſſe of the matter out of which we were formed, and into which wee ſhall bee reſolved, argument waighty enough to pull downe every high conceit of our ſelves, and to preach humility unto us?

Laſtly, 5God giveth all men ſomewhat to humble themſelves in ſoule, or in body, or in name, or in ſome that are neere unto them, or in all theſe combined together, at leaſt if they know themſelves. It is an hard matter to know our ſelves aright, for few doe it. Wee are for the moſt part ignorant of our ſelves, and ſtrangers at home, how quick-ſighted ſoever we are abroad. Wee cannot looke upon our ſelves, or caſt our eyes about us, but we have cauſes and occaſions of humiliation, as Jacob, after he had wraſtled with God, had his thigh out of joynt, Gen. 32.25, 31. 2 Cor. 12.7, 8, 9.Gen 32:25Gen 32:312 Cor 12:72 Cor 12:82 Cor 12:9and he halted of it all the dayes of his life afterward, Gen. 32. So had the holy and bleſſed Apoſtle Paul aſplinter in the fleſh, the meſſenger of Satan to buffet him, leſt he ſhould be exalted above meaſure through the abundance of revelations that were given unto him. And albeit he beſought the Lord thrice that p. 85it might depart from him, yet he obtained in not, but received this gracious anſwer, My grace is ſufficient for thee, for my ſtrength is made perfect in weakeneſſe. The beſt ſervants of God therefore have had ſomething to caſt them downe even to the ground, and if wee have not eyes to ſee this which every where offereth it ſelfe before us, we are blinde, and can ſee nothing at all.

Firſt of all this ſerveth for reproofe, Vſe 1 and that of ſundry ſorts of perſons. It giveth a checke to all Iuſticiaries and Merit-mungers, who, like Phariſes, being ignorant of Gods righteouſneſſe, Rom. 10.3.Rom 10:3and going about to eſtabliſh their owne righteouſneſſe, have not ſubmitted themſelves to the righteouſneſſe of God. Such men ſwelling very bigge with the winde of their owne workes, are farre from the humility and humbleneſſe of minde which we read to have beene in all the Saints of God from the beginning. The continuall ſong and ſaying that hath beene evermore in the mouthes of all the godly, of the Patriarkes, of the Princes, of the Kings, of the Captaines, of the Prieſts, of the Prophets, of the Apoſtles, and of all true Converts and penitent perſons, when they ſpeake of themſelves, hath beene this, I am not worthy, as we have noted before. On the other ſide, as they take away all worthineſſe from themſelves, Rev. 4.10. 11.Rev 4:10Rev 4:11and eaſt downe their Crownes at the feete of him that ſitteth upon the Throne; ſo when they ſpeake of God, they give all praiſe and honour, and aſcribe all worthineſſe to him, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour, and power, for thou haſt created all things, and for thy pleaſure they are, and were created. Secondly, Rom. 1.30. 2 Tim. 3.21.Rom 1:302 Tim 3:21all ſuch as are boaſters and proud perſons, heady, high-minded, and there are not a few of thoſe, whoſe practices cannot ſtand with true humility. Some are boaſters of falſe liberality, like cloudes without raine, or bubbles of water that riſe up and ſuddenly vaniſh away. Such were p. 86Ananias and Saphira his wife, Acts 5.3, 8.Acts 5:3Acts 5:8who kept backe part of the price of the Land they ſold, and yet boaſted of their bounty, as if they had brought the whole price, and had ſold it for ſo much onelyonly. Some are boaſters of falſe obedience, as if they had dealt ſoundly and ſincerely with God, and yet offer unto him a lame ſervice, as it were a blinde and maimed ſacrifice which he abhorreth. Mal. 1.8. 1 Sam. 15.13, 20.Mal 1:81 Sam 15:131 Sam 15:20Such was Sauls oblation, which was indeed rebellion, yet he gloried that he had done all that the Lord commanded, and had left nothing undone. This boaſting of his ſincerity was a notable diſcovering of his hypocriſie. Some are boaſters of perfection, as if they had gone as farre as God preſcribed, like ſuch as thinke themſelves at their journeis end as ſoone as they are ſet forth out of doores. Matth. 19.20.Matt 19:20Such was the yong man in the Goſpell, that profeſſed hee had kept the whole Law from his youth, Rom. 8.3.Rom 8:3which notwithſtanding is not poſſible through the fleſh; who ſaid to our Saviour, All theſe things have I performed, what lacke I yet? Such was the Church of Laodicea, Revel. 3.17. which boaſted ſhee was rich and had need of nothing, Revel. 3.17.Rev 3:17and knew not that ſhe was wretched and miſerable, and poore, and blinde, and naked. Such alſo are they that boaſt of workes of ſupererogation, ſwelling like a bladder till they be ready to burſt againe, as if they were able to doe more then God requireth at their hands, and had more ſtrength then ever he gave them. Theſe make themſelves over-iuſt, Eccleſ. 7.16.Eccl 7:16and are indeed over-unjuſt. Some boaſt of their ſinne and wickedneſſe, in filthineſſe and prophaneneſſe, in whoredome, in drunkenneſſe, and beaſtlineſſe, as if a ſicke man ſhould glory in his ſickneſſe, in his wounds, and ulcers, in his boiles, and blaines, and bliſters, in his running and putrifying ſores, which no man that is ſober and well in his wits would doe. Sinnes are the ulcers and ſores of the ſoule, Pſal. 38.5.Ps 38:5at which we p. 87ſhould rather bluſh then boaſt: and of which there is cauſe why we ſhould be aſhamed rather then any way enamored. Some filly ſoules boaſt of their ignorance, that they know nothing, neither God, nor themſelves, neither any thing pertaining to the ſalvation of their ſoules, as if a man ſhould glory that he liveth in a dungeon or in the darke, and thanke God he never had the Sunne ſhining in his face all the daies of his life: or as if a ſubject ſhould boaſt, he never knew any of the Princes Lawes, or a ſervant that he never regarded to know the will and pleaſure of his Maſter. Such are ſilly fooles, and love their owne folly, and are to be pittied for their ſimplicity. Some boaſt of their hypocriſie, that they can carry matters ſo cloſely and ſo cunningly, as not to be eſpied; Luke 12.2.Luke 12:2never conſidering that there is nothing covered that ſhall not be diſcovered and revealed. Some boaſt of their felicity and proſperity, ſome of their riches, ſome of their honour and nobility, all which the Apoſtle eſteemed as dung in compariſon of the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, that hee might win him: Phil. 3.8.Phil 3:8nay, he would not glory in divine revelations, leſt hee ſhould be exalted, but rather in his infirmities, 2 Cor. 12.9.2 Cor 12:9that he might be humbled by them, and that the power of Chriſt might be magnified in him.

Secondly, let us not thinke highly of our owne gifts, 2neither yet be high-conceited of our abilities, as proud perſons that riſe early to praiſe and admire themſelves, becauſe no man elſe will doe it, or can doe it. We have ſundry exhortations and admonitions in holy Scriptures to this purpaſe, as Rom. 12.2, 16. Rom. 12.3, 16Rom 12:3Rom 12:16Minde not high things, but condeſcend to men of low eſtate, be not wiſe in your owne conceits. And againe, Verſe 3. Let every man thinke ſoberly of himſelfe, according as God hath dealt to him the meaſure of faith, and let him not think more highly of himſelfe then he ought to thinke. So p. 88likewiſe, Prov. 3.7.Prov 3:7Prov. 3.7. Be not wiſe in thine owne eyes, feare the Lord, and depart from evill. So we are alſo charged, in giving honour, Rom. 12.10.Rom 12:10to goe one before another, Rom. 12.10. for there is little hope of a conceited foole, that thinketh better of himſelfe then any beſides, and is ſo blinde that he cannot ſee his groſſeſt corruptions that are as beames in the eyes; nay, is ſo weake in judgement, that he thinketh his blemiſhes to bee ornaments, and his vices to be vertues in himſelfe. Therefore Salomon ſaith, Prov. 26.12.Prov 26:12Prov. 26.12. Seeſt thou a man wiſe in his owne conceit? there is more hope of a foole then of him. Let us examine our ſelves, whether we bee indeed lowly or not, Matth. 5.3.Matt 5:3and that by theſe rules. Firſt, if we be poore in Spirit, knowing and evermore meditating upon our infirmities, inſufficiences, weakneſſes, imperfections, defects and faults, labouring thereby to underſtand them better, and better, and to heale them the ſooner; this is one ſigne of humility. Secondly, if wee deſpiſe and diſgrace none, though never ſo meane, and reject not the opinion and judgement of any, though much more unlearned then our ſelves, and farre inferiour to our ſelves. Gen. 21.12.Gen 21:12Abraham muſt ſometimes be content to hearkon to the voice of Sarah, the higher to the lower, the man to the woman, the husband to the wife. Moſes the great Prophet of the Lord and the Church, muſt learne of Jethro his Father in law. Exo…. 18.24. 2 King. 5.1, 4, 12.2 Kgs 5:12 Kgs 5:42 Kgs 5:12Naaman a Maſter and great Captaine, and honourable, thought it no diſparagement to himſelfe and his high place, to follow the aduice firſt of his poore Maid-ſervant, and afterward of his Men-ſervants, or elſe that foule leproſie had cleaved unto him for ever. David, a mighty man of warre, and anoynted to be King, diſdained not the wiſe counſell of Abigail a woman, 1 Sam. 25.33.1 Sam 25:33and therefore kept himſelfe from ſheading of blood, and bleſſed God for it. Apollos was an eloquent man, fervent in the Spirit, and mighty in p. 89the Scriptures, who watered where the Apoſtle planted; Acts 18.24. 1 Cor. 3.6.Acts 18:241 Cor 3:6yet Aquila and Priſcilla tooke him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. It was an evident ſigne that Job was humble in his owne eyes, Iob 31.13, 15.Job 31:13Job 31:15in that he did not deſpiſe the cauſe of his Man-ſervant, or of his Maide, when they contended with him, but conſidered with himſelfe, that he which made him in the wombe, faſhioned them alſo, and that one formed them all. Thirdly, if we ſubmit our ſelves to bee governed by the wiſedome of God revealed in his Word. This ſubmitting and ſubjecting of our ſelves, maketh ſimple men become wiſe, yong men to be wiſer then their Elders, and ſuch as have beene taught, Pſal. 119.98, 99. & 19.7. Prov. 1.4.Ps 119:98Ps 119:99Ps 19:7Prov 1:4wiſer then their Teachers, and ſuch as have enemies, to goe beyond all their deepe policies, and to prevent all their cunning devices. On the other ſide, if wee reject the Word, and will not bee obedient unto it, making it a lampe unto our feet, and a light unto our pathes, Pſal. 119.105. Ier. 8.9. 2 Tim. 3.15.Ps 119:105Jer 8:92 Tim 3:15there is no true wiſedome at all in us, Jer. 8.9. The Word is able to make us wiſe to ſalvation, 1 Tim. 3.15. which is the greateſt wiſedome that can be. He that is not wiſe for his ſoule, is a foole: let him be never ſo wiſe and wary for the body, and let him have never ſo great reputation for a wiſe man in the world, yet is his wiſedome diſprooved. Fourthly, if we deny our ſelves, and our owne naturall and fleſhly wiſedome. It is a very hard matter to deny our ſelves, and our carnall wiſedome, but it muſt of neceſſity bee done, if ever wee deſire to come to the Kingdome of Heaven. Therefore the Apoſtle ſaith, Let no man deceive himſelfe: 1 Cor. 8.13. 2 Cor. 10.32.1 Cor 8:132 Cor 10:32If any man among you ſeeme to be wiſe, let him become a foole, that he may be wiſe. For our high thoughts muſt be caſt downe, that exalt themſelves againſt the knowledge of God, and bee brought into captivity to the obedience of Chriſt.

p. 90Laſtly, 3let us ſtudy to decke our ſelves with humility, as with a precious robe, and to crowne our ſelves with humbleneſſe of minde, as with a garland. And ſo much the rather, becauſe this adorneth all other graces, yea without this, grace is no grace. This is the direction of the Apoſtle Peter, 1 Pet. 5.5, 6.1 Pet 5:51 Pet 5:6Humble yourſelves under the mighty hand of God, that hee may exalt you in due time, and cloathe yourſelves with humility, 1 Pet. 5.5, 6. And we have ſundry motives to ſtirre us up unto it. Firſt, no good thing dwelleth in our fleſh, Rom. 7.18.Rom 7:18but evill dwelleth in us abundantly, and plentifully. All the thoughts of mans heart are onelyonly evill, Gen. 6.5.Gen 6:5and that continually. The water can ariſe no higher then nature will give it leave: ſo there is an impotency and diſability in our nature to aſcend above it ſelfe to that which is good, as unpoſſible as for the ſtreame to climbe up to the top of an high mountaine, or for a ſtone by its owne ſtrength to mount into the aire. For that which is of the fleſh, is onelyonly fleſh. Our natur is ſtained and defiled with all manner of ſinne, and a proneneſſe to all ſorts of ſinnes from our birth, Iob 14.4. & 15.14. Pſal. 51.5.Job 14:4Job 15:14Ps 51:5nay, from our conception, which hath over-ſpred us as a filthy leproſie. The minde and underſtanding, the will and affections, the memory and conſcience, the whole ſoule and body are infected, Rom. 8.7.Rom 8:7ſo that the naturall man underſtandeth not the things of God, for they are fooliſhneſſe unto him, and are ſpiritually diſcerned. Secondly, God reſiſteth the proud, and profeſſeth himfelfe to be an enemy to them, Iam. 4.6. Prov. 3.34. 1 Pet. 5.5.Jas 4:6Prov 3:341 Pet 5:5but hee giveth grace unto the humble, Iam. 4.6. Thirdly, our beſt gifts are wonderfully tainted and defiled. We know nothing, if wee be ignorant hereof. What is our faith, our repentance, our ſanctification, our love, our temperance, our patience, our hope, our knowledge, but as it were the foundation or beginning of a great building, or the ſeed of grace ſowne in our hearts, rather then grace it ſelfe, p. 91being compared with perfection. We know nothing as we ought to know, 1 Cor. 8.2.1 Cor 8:2howſoever wee may thinke wee know all things. Our faith is little, and ſoone ſhaken with many doubtings, and with much unbeleefe. Laſtly, Marke 9.24.Mark 9:24ſuch onelyonly as are humble, ſhall be exalted and lifted up in due time. Luke 1.51.Luke 1:51As the proud are ſcattered in the imagination of their hearts, ſo the humble ſhall be advanced. It is a common ſaying of Chriſt, oftentimes uttered by him, and repeated by the Evangeliſts, Matth. 23.12. Luke 24.11. & 18.14.Matt 23:12Luke 24:11Luke 18:14Hee that lifteth up himſelfe, ſhall be caſt downe, and he that humbleth himſelfe, ſhall be exalted. As pride goeth before deſtruction, and an high minde before the fall, Prov. 16. ſo on the other ſide, humility goeth before exaltation, and leadeth the way before it. All are deſirous to paſſe into the houſe of glory, but they are unwilling to enter in at the gate of humility. By this gate Chriſt himſelfe entred, and this way he hath conſecrated to all his children.

For it is your Fathers.) Theſe words containe the reaſon, which is the promiſe of a great and wonderfull bleſſing, greater then all the world beſides. For what is this world, without reſpect and reference to the World to come? or what is all the glory of this life, without the glory of the next Life? or what is an earthly Kingdome, without the Kingdome of Heaven? Now touching the force and ſtrength of this reaſon, ſee afterward in the laſt branch. This promiſe, which is a promiſe of promiſes, or the perfection of all promiſes, as a ſpring or fountaine, hath many ſtreames or chanels iſſuing out of it, as hath beene obſerved before in the beginning. The firſt is the Author of the promiſe, not Man, not Angels, not Princes, not any creature; for this is greater then all the Angels of Heaven, and all the Kings and mighty men of the earth are able to promiſe and performe; it is God that hath promiſed, p. 92who alſo will accompliſh whatſoever he hath ſpoken. And to the intent this promiſe might take the deeper root in our hearts, Chriſt I…ſus doth not call him the mighty Lord, the righteous Iudge, the God of revenge, or ſuch like, but a mercifull Father. For as before we ſhewed, that God ſheweth himſelfe a Shepheard, to teach that his Sheepe ſhall not want: ſo here the Lord Ieſus calleth him a Father, 2 Cor. 12.14.2 Cor 12:14to ſhew that as a Father provideth for his Chlldren, ſo God loveth his, and will provide for all of them. He were a bad Shepheard that would feed himſelfe, but ſtarve and famiſh his Sheepe: ſo he were an evill father that would bee carefull for himſelfe, but careleſſe altogether for his children. The meaning of the word Father.Now touching the meaning, this word (Father) ſo farre as it is aſcribed to God, is taken ſometimes perſonally, and ſometimes eſſentially. Perſonally, when it is reſtrained to one of the Perſons, as to the firſt Perſon in the holy and bleſſed Trinity, Matth. 28.19. Epheſ. 2.3. 2 Cor. 13.13.Matt 28:19Eph 2:32 Cor 13:13to wit, God the Father begetting the Sonne, and ſending forth the holy Ghoſt, whenſoever mention is made of any of the other Perſons alſo. Thus likewiſe it is taken, when it is limited to the ſecond Perſon in Trinity, to wit, God the Sonne, begotten of the Father before all worlds, …ſay 9.6.as Eſay 9.6. VntoUnto us a Childe is borne, unto us a Sonne is given, his Name ſhall be called Wonderfull, Counſeller, the mighty God, the everlaſting Father. And in this ſence, the holy Ghoſt the third Perſon proceeding from the Father and the Sonne, may alſo be called Father, becauſe he together with the Father and the Sonne giveth being to all things. Sometimes the Word is taken eſſentially without conſideration of any perſonall relation, and then it is referred ſimply to God, and is extended to all the three Perſons, Deut. 32.6.Deut 32:6as Deut. 32.6. Doe yee ſo reward the Lord, Mal. 2.10. Iam. 1.27.Mal 2:10Jas 1:27O yee fooliſh people? is not he thy Father that hath bought thee? and Mal. 2.10. Have yee p. 93not all one Father? and thus it is taken in this place for the whole God-head, the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoſt, who have a Soveraigne Father-hood over the Church, loving it, defending it, delighting in it; caring for it, beſtowing all bleſſings upon it, and withholding nothing that is good from it. Doct. 7 This title teacheth us, that God is the Father of his Church and Children. As a Father loveth his Children, to whom hee hath given breath and being, as he feedeth and clotheth them, nouriſheth and layeth up for them: ſo God loveth his Children to whom he hath given their firſt life, their ſecond life, and to whom he will give a third life. The firſt life is in the fleſh; the ſecond in grace; the third in glory. The firſt is a naturall life; the ſecond a ſpirituall life; the third an eternall life. The firſt is their generation; the ſecond their regeneration; the third ſhall be their glorification; and therefore he loveth them with a love infinitely above the love of all Parents toward their Children; whoſe love muſt needs be as finite as themſelves, when it is at the higheſt. What the love of Parents is toward their Children, the Scripture ſetteth downe by ſundry examples, 1 King. 3.26. 2 Sam. 18.23. 1 King. 3.26. Eſay 66.13. Zach. 12.10. 2 Sam. 19.37. Gen. 17.18. & 49.1. 1 King. 14.2. Eſay 49.15. Pſal. 103.13, 17. & 68.5. Eſay 63.16. & 69.8. 2 Theſ. 2.6.2 Sam 18:231 Kgs 3:26Isa 66:13Zech 12:102 Sam 19:37Gen 17:18Gen 49:11 Kgs 14:2Isa 49:15Ps 103:13Ps 103:17Ps 68:5Isa 63:16Isa 63:69Isa 63:82 Thess 2:62 Sam. 18, 23. they rejoice at their good, Prov. 101. they moutne for their trouble and evill that befalleth them, Zach. 12.10. they comfort them in ſorrow and anguiſh, Eſay 66.13. they procure them what good and preferment they can, 2 Sam. 19.37. Gen. 17.18. they provide for the time preſent and to come, Gen. 49.1. they tender them in ſickneſſe and in health, 1 King. 14.2. they prevent dangers that doe hang over their heads, and may befall them, Gen. 27.43. & 28.2. they regard them in proſperity and adverſity, in wealth and in poverty, ſo that they cannot leave them, nor forget them, nor forſake them, Eſay 49.15. All theſe, being onelyonly in part, and unperfectly in men, are fully, infinitely and perfectly p. 94in God, as his nature and eſſence, and therefore he commendeth his love to us above all this, Eſay 49. Matth. 7. of which places before. The Prophets and Apoſtles are full of ſuch teſtimonies, as Pſal. 103. As a Father pittieth his Children, ſo the Lord pittieth them that feare him: and as the Heaven is high above the earth, ſo great is his mercy toward them that feare him. And 68.5. A Father of the Fatherleſſe, and a Judge of the Widdowes is God in his holy habitation. So Eſay 63.16. Doubtleſſe thou art our Father, our Redeemer, thy Name is from everlaſting. And 64.8. Thou, O Lord, art our Father, we are the clay, and thou our Potter, and wee all are the worke of thine hand. Thus the Apoſtle, 2 Theſ. 2.6. The Lord Ieſus, and God even the Father which hath loved us, and hath given us everlaſting conſolation, comfort your hearts.

This title is indeed proper to God alone; Reaſ. 1 that albeit there be that are called Fathers, as indeed there be many upon the earth, Magiſtrates, Miniſters, Maſters, naturall Parents, Exod. 20.12.Exod 20:12and all Superiours, Exod. 20.12. Yet to us, as there is but one God, and one Lord, ſo there is but one Father (as we heard before out of the Prophet) to whom this name is properly and peculiarly belonging. Matth. 23.9.Matt 23:9This Chriſt himſelfe teacheth, Matth. 23.9. Call no man Father upon the earth, for one is your Father which is in Heaven; neither be yee called Maſters, for one is your Maſter, Obiect. even Chriſt But is it unlawfull to call any Father? the Apoſtle calleth himſelfe the Father of the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 9.15.1 Cor 9:151 Cor. 9. Though yee have ten thouſand Inſtructours, yet have ye not many Fathers, for in Chriſt Jeſus I have begotten you through the Goſpell. Anſw. I anſwer, He doth not ſimply forbid the appellation, but reſtraine them from ambition: neither condemneth he properly the title, but abſolutely the affecting of the title. We may not therefore imagine, that Chriſt would utterly p. 95aboliſh from among Chriſtians the name of Father, or Maſter, or Teacher, as if it were unlawfull for Children to call thoſe their Fathers, of whom they received their beeing; or for Servants to call any their Maſters, to whom they owe their ſervice, foraſmuch as the Scripture willeth Children to honour their Fathers, and Servants to be obedient to their bodily Maſters: but his purpoſe is to forbid theſe names, in ſuch ſort as the Phariſes were called by them, who loved or deſired to be called Rabbies, Fathers, and Maſters, and challenged the names as proper and peculiar to themſelves. It is not therefore the bare title, but their vaine glory that is condemned. Againe, ſo to be called Rabbi, Father, or Maſter, that the people of the Lord ſhould wholly and abſolutely depend upon their mouthes, 1 Cor. 7.23.1 Cor 7:23to become ſervants of men, and reſt ſlaviſhly in their opinions and traditions, as the onelyonly true Teachers and Fathers of the Church (as the Ieſuits would be accounted in theſe dayes) may not be admitted in any caſe; or that their doctrines were not ſubject to triall and examination by the Scripture, is wholly to be rejected, foraſmuch as the spirits of the Prophets are ſubiect to the Prophets. 1 Cor. 14.32.1 Cor 14:32Thus to be called Father or Maſter, agreeth to no mortall man, but God is the onelyonly true Father, and Chriſt Ieſus the onelyonly true Maſter, as the onelyonly Law-giver, that is able to ſave and to deſtroy, Jam. 4. whoſe Precepts we muſt receive, and are bound to obey, though all the world ſhould teach otherwiſe. God then muſt be held to be ſupreme; others are ſubordinate unto him.

Secondly, God hath ſet his whole delight on his, 2to love them above all other people, Deut. 10.15, 21.Deut 10:15Deut 10:21and doth great things for them that hee hath not done for the whole world beſide. Hee hath given his owne Sonne for them, and to them, which is the fountaine of all his love, Joh. 3.16. For he ſo loved the world, Ioh. 3.16.John 3:16that he gave his onelyonly begotten p. 96Sonne, that whoſoever beleeveth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. And 1 Joh. 4.9, 10. in this was manifeſted the love of God toward us, becauſe God ſent his onelyonly begotten Sonne into the world, 1 Ioh. 4.9, 10.1 John 4:91 John 4:10that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved him, but that he loved us, and ſent his Sonne to be the propitiation for our ſinnes. From hence flow all ſpirituall and eternall bleſſings, as reconciliation, and atonement, ſanctification, and likewiſe our juſtification conſiſting in the forgiveneſſe of ſinnes, and the imputation of his righteouſneſſe unto us: yea hence doe flow temporall bleſſings to us, as they are bleſſings, ſo that he careth for us, as the Eagle for her Birds, Deut. 32.11, 12. and tendreth us as the apple of his owne eye, Zach. 2.5.

Thirdly, 3this truth further appeareth unto us by the titles given to the faithfull. For as the Names of God ſet forth his nature toward us, ſo alſo doe the names that are given to the Godly. The names that he giveth, are not like names given by men, who onelyonly hope or deſire to finde them as they are named, but they often prove the contrary, as we ſee in Abſhalom, who had his name of his Fathers peace, but hee ſought the deſtruction of his Father. It is not ſo with God, he doth not deceive, neither can bee deceived in calling his Children by their names. They are called, ſometimes the Lords portion, Deut. 32.9. Exod. 19.5.Deut 32:9Exod 19:5and the lot of his inheritance, Deut. 32. Sometimes his chiefe treaſure above all people, though all the earth be his, Exod. 19 5. ſometimes his Sonnes and Daughters, 1 Ioh. 3.1.1 John 3:1begotten of him to a lively hope of an inheritance unſpeakable and glorious, 1 Joh. 3.1. ſometimes the Spouſe of Chriſt, Hoſ. 2.19, 23. Ioh. 15.24.Hos 2:19Hos 2:23John 15:24Hoſ. 2. ſometimes his Jewels, Mal. 3. and ſometimes alſo his friends labouring to doe whatſoever he commandeth them, Joh. 15.14. All theſe titles and teſtimonies teach us, how dearely p. 97hee loveth, and accounteth of his people.

The uſes of this point ſerve, Vſe 1 partly for information, partly for inſtruction, and partly for conſolation. Firſt, for information or bettering of our knowledge; we muſt conſider, that from hence wee have boldneſſe and confidence in prayer to approach neere to the Throne of Grace, that he will give us whatſoever we aske according to his will. Hence it is, that in the Lords prayer, we are willed and warranted to begge the ſanctifying of his Name, the comming of his Kingdome, &c. and whatſoever ſerveth for his glory, or our owne good, and to call him by the name of our Father, Matth. 6.….Matt 6to ſtirre up our faith to come with aſſurance, and without doubting to be heard and helped. Will a Father deny his Childe any thing that is good for him? God is our Father, and we his Children: he our Shepheard, and we his Flocke: hee the Creator, and we his creatures. Hee ſeeth what wee have need of, and hee knoweth better then our ſelves what is good for us, ſo that we may boldly come in faith, and not waver, as the Romaniſts would have us to doe. Now to the end we may approach and appeare before him aright, and come unto him as to a Father, we muſt come partly with cheerefulneſſe and boldneſſe, and partly with awefulneſſe and reverence. And theſe two muſt be compounded and mingled together, boldneſſe with reverence, and reverence with boldneſſe, that we may pray and make ſupplication to him with a reverent boldneſſe, and with a bold kinde of reverence; leſt boldneſſe ſevered from reverence, breed baſeneſſe and contempt, and reverence ſevered from boldneſſe turne into a ſlaviſh and ſuperſtitious feare. To worke in us boldneſſe and willingneſſe, the Scripture layeth before us the promiſes of God, whereupon we muſt build as upon a ſure foundation. To ſtrike in us reverence, p. 98it propoundeth ſundry threatnings and admonitions, which we ought to call to minde ſo often as we goe to praier, to prepare us thereunto. Firſt, we muſt acquaint our ſelves with the gracious promiſes of God which he hath made to us in his holy Word, that our dull and dead ſpirits may thereby be quickned, and our unbeleeving hearts may be fully perſwaded, that hee will deliver our ſoule from death, Pſal. 116.8.Ps 116:8our eyes from teares, and our feet from falling. For as the amiable Word of a Father implieth a readineſſe and willingneſſe in God to ſhew mercy, ſo it ſhould ſtirre up in us a forwardneſſe to come unto him, and to aske whatſoever wee want. The Scripture is full of ſuch heavenly promiſes, Pſal. 50.15. Matth. 7.7.Ps 50:15Matt 7:7Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will heare thee, Pſal. 50.15. Matth. 7.7. If wee humble our ſelves in his preſence, and turne from our ſinnes and wicked waies, then He will heare in Heaven, 2 Chron. 7.14. & 15.2. Eſay 65.24.2 Chr 7:142 Chr 15:2Isa 65:24and be mercifull unto our ſins, 2 Chron. 7. If we ſeek him, He will be found of us, 2 Chron. 15. Before we call, he will anſwer, and while we ſpeake, he will heare, Eſay 65. If we which are evill can give good gifts to our children, Luke 11.13.Luke 11:13how much more will our heavenly Father give the holy Ghoſt to them that deſire him, Rom. 10.22.Rom 10:22Luke 11? He that is Lord of all, is rich unto all that call upon him, Rom. 10. Draw neere to God, and He will draw neere to you, Iam. 4.8.Jas 4:8Iam. 4. All theſe are ſo many encouragements to draw us, and to drive us to God, who by theſe and a thouſand ſuch other promiſes inviteth us into his holy preſence: Againe, on the other ſide we muſt conſider, that the Scripture withall giveth us ſundry advertiſements and threatnings to admoniſh us to come to him with feare and reverence. The name of a Father is a title of familiarity: but familiarity many times breedeth too much boldneſſe, and boldneſſe breedeth contempt, and contempt a baſe eſtimation of God: and therefore it muſt bee ſeaſoned with other p. 99conſiderations, leſt wee come to him in vaine, and to our owne hurt. Hence it is, that as Chriſt our Saviour teache thus to call God our Father when we fall down before him, ſo withall he willeth us to remember that he is in Heaven, that is, of infinite glory, power, and majeſty. Let us therefore have before us theſe and ſuch like meditations, If I regard wickedneſſe in my heart, Pſal. 66.18. & 26.6. Prov. 1.28. & 15.8. & 21.27.Ps 66:18Ps 26:6Prov 1:28Prov 15:8Prov 21:27the Lord will not heare me, Pſal. 66.18. & 26.6. and often in the Proverbs, They ſhall call upon me, but I will not anſwer: the prayer of the wicked is abominable. And Ioh. 9.31. We know that God heareth not ſinners; Ioh. 9.31.John 9:31but if any man be a Worſhipper of God, and doth his will, him he heareth. Thus James ſpeaketh, Chap. 4. Iam. 4.3.Jas 4:3Yee aske and receive not, becauſe yee aske amiſſe, that ye may conſume it upon your luſts. So Chriſt himſelfe teacheth, This people draweth neere to me with their mouthes, Matth. 15.8, 9.Matt 15:8Matt 15:9and honour me with their lips, but their heart is farre from mee: in vaine doe they worſhip me. And the Prophet long before, When yee ſpread forth your hands, Eſay 1.11, 12, 15.Isa 1:11Isa 1:12Isa 1:15I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not heare. Theſe and ſuch like places comming every where to hand, are ſo many threatnings and watchwords, and muſt be our continuall ſtudy and meditation, whenſoever we goe to prayer, to awake us, and rowze us up to come unto God as to a Father, with the more reverence and godly feare, and to aſſure us, that if we take not good heed, we may tread in his Courts, and appeare in his preſence, and yet receive no gracious anſwer from him, becauſe we doe no other, nor no better, then take his name in vaine.