Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 4 · Verse 3
Verse 3. For the time past of our life may suffice us, to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquettings, and abominable idolatries.
HEre are more Reasons to perswade to holiness of life:More Reasons to perswade unto holiness. They had already spent a great deal of time in the service of sin, and following their own lusts, and therefore were not now to continue any longer therein. Again, whereas before the Gospel they lived in ignorance, now having the light thereof, another maner of behavior, judgement and practice was looked for of them.
But one would think a few words might serve to disswade men from such filthy lusts,The necessity of frequent Exhortations hereunto. so odious in themselves, so hateful to God, so harmful to the doers thereof, and to perswade to holiness of life, so beautiful in it self, so acceptable to God, and so profitable to those which did seek after the same. True, if we were as we should be, or as we were in Adam, but we are altogether corrupted and depraved, and now we have no minde to that which is good, nay, its death and bonds to us, but that which is evil we eagerly minde and seek after; whereunto may be added, that hereunto the Devil and the world egg us on, as they hang on us to hold us back from goodness. Hence it is that so few are converted, that men count goodness a prison, naughtiness their heaven, that they mock at goodness, and onelyonly except against some men because they are good, whom they could love for all other things, but for that they hate him.
1. Let us take knowledge of our vile disposition,Use 1. lets not follow the bent thereof, lest we perish: It misleads us altogether; let us use all diligence to mortifie our lusts, and to strengthen us to good, for its no easie matter to attain this.
2. Let us be perswaded that there is continual need of preaching,Use 2. and all other good means to bring this to pass, and not say with most, What need all this preaching, &c?
3. Let Ministers be most earnest,Use 1. and labor by all possible means to win men to God; when we have done all that we can do, we may finde by woful experience, that all is too little: When we see the holy Ghost going from a matter, and to it again, and dwelling upon it, and pressing it with manifold reasons, know we, That diligence and carefulness is required in us about the same.
For the time past of our life may suffice us, &c.] He doth not here approve of their former living, as though that might be born with, or speaks as we do in a lawful thing, as meat, drink, recreation, &c. Its enough now, leave off: O this would have been a plausible Doctrine, that men might have taken a time, till they had had their fill prettily well in sin so they then returned! Our Apostle hath no such meaning, but rather schools them, that the badness of the time past should humble them, and make them careful to spend the rest better, and to hasten thereto. Whence thus much may be noted, That
The time past of every mans life mispent,The consideration of our former mis-spent time, is an especial furtherance to repentance. ought to be a great spur to repentance.
Reas. 1. The time spent in sin, we know how much it is, but what is behinde we know not: The Devil is sure of his part, but what God shall have, whether half, or a quarter so much, is uncertain: If we knew we should live twenty years more to serve God,Reasons. as we have done twenty years in sin, God should have but the half, but we know not whether we shall live twenty days; Should we then defer? Should we not make haste? 2. Time is very precious, above gold and silver, and hereof we have squandered away a great part. 3. There is no time to be spent in sin, but we are to serve God in holiness and righteousness,Eccles. 12. 1. all the days of our life: We must remember our creator, even in the days of our youth: Therefore having rob'd him of some of his due, is it not well he will take this that remains, and put up that wrong at our hands that is past, though we adde no more? 4. Whatsoever time is spent till we return to God, is all going out of the way; and if a man hath gone out of his way but till eight or nine a clock, assuredly that's more then enough. 5. Whatsoever time is spent that way, is but doing that that must be undone again, and repented of, and we must with grief and shame wish we had not done it: Is not a little of this too much? who will willingly so do his work, that it must be ript or ravelled out again? we use to chide our Children if they do their work so, nay, who perceiving that he hath thus wrought, will not grieve? who will not hereupon say, It was a good turn I spyed it so soon, &c? So should we grieve at all our former mis-spent time, withal, blessing God that we did so soon perceive it. 6. All that is done this way is for the Devil, our sworn Enemy, for whom even the least is too much: Its for the flesh, to which we owe nothing, and for the world, which is our deadly (though subtile) Enemy. 7. Its all done against God, to whom we owe all, and is it not then sufficient we have wronged him so far? and is it not a great mercy if he will pardon all that is past, though he adde no more to the heap? 8. And all is against our own souls, and is it not sufficient we have wronged, yea, wounded our own souls hitherto, the welfare and salvation whereof we should now (at least) seek? 9. Its all done in such filthy work, as God never set them about, nor gave them soul and body for the doing thereof.
1. This rebuketh those youths, that being called on to repentance, yet think its too soon, and that that's not sufficient which they have done already, What? Have they not yet spent time enough that way, do they know there is so much more behinde? you would repent ere you dyed, would you not? you would: Must you not then do it to day, for you know not but that you may dye to morrow? Have you squandered away already so much precious time, as that some would even give the whole world for one day thereof, and will ye yet go on in that course? O do it not, lest God snatch you away suddenly; lest God give you up unto your hearts lusts, and so ye fulfil the measure of your iniquity!
2. This rebuketh also those unreasonable people,Use 2. as middle aged folks, of forty or fifty years, which are now as deep in the world and their profits, as before they were in their pleasures, and yet its not sufficient for them; they can finde no time of thinking truly and throughly to turn to God.
3. It rebuketh also those that do still defer till towards their end,Use 3. and then they will turn to God; Is not God much beholding to them? O let these sluggards know, that poverty will come upon them suddenly and strongly: If they will needs stay till almost Sun-set ere they set out, shall they not with the Levite and his Concubine be benighted,Iudges 19. 15. and shut out of doors? Their condition shall be the same with the five foolish Virgins.Matth. 25. 10. If a man had a long journey,Simile. and had gone out of the way all day, till three of the clock in the afternoon, would he being informed thereof, go on still, and say, When its almost Sun set, Ile turn into the right way? yet thus doth the world: Men defer till they think they shall dye; then have they to come back all the way of their life, and then must they lead the contrary good life, and ere they can do this, the night of death overtakes them, and they be shut out with Dogs and Inchanters, &c. O let such be wise in time, ere it be too late, and let them think it more then high time, to turn head, and to ride hard too, to redeem the time! Its past Noon with many of us, nay, past three of the clock in the afternoon, it draws towards night with some: O then is it not time for us to draw near to God! Note further from hence, That
Where God bestoweth means of Salvation,Where God bestows means of Salvation, he expects answerable fruit. he expects fruit answerable; while a place lies wilde and common like a Heath, there can be nothing expected but Bryars and Thorns; but if it be paled in, and digged and planted, then may fruit be expected therefrom: when a people want the means,See Isaiah 5. 1. especially the Gospel, what can be lookt for at their hands?Luke 8. 7. having it, their life and conversation must be answerable. See Rom. 13. 12. Eph. 4. 17. 1 Thess. 4. 5. and 5. 4.
1. This discovereth the woful state of this Land,Use 1. which so aboundeth in iniquity, notwithstanding the clear light of the Gospel amongst us: Our sins are more then in times of Popery, then among Turks and Pagans: Our Saviors woes denounced against Chor azin and Bethsaida may well fit us, it shall be easier for them, then for us: Do we so requite the Lord? bring we forth nothing but sowre Grapes? Assuredly, were it not for an handful, for some small remnant yet left amongst us, we might have lookt to have been ere this as Sodom and Gomorrah; our wine being as theirs,Heb. 6. 8. for our sin is as theirs: Most are like that ground which beareth thorns and bryars, whose end is to be burned; the means they have, will but encrease their sin and damnation.
2. This rebuketh many whose fruit is nothing meet for him by whom they be dressed,Use 2. we live not as if we were in the noon-day, but in the twy-light;Phil. 1. 27. our conversation is not such as becometh the Gospel.
3. For such as have received special favor from God,Use 3. and made their Covenant with him of true obedience, they must walk far otherwise then the men of the world: They must not be covetous, as they that know no better inheritance then the world: they must not be proud, as they that know no better garments then these rags and clouts, being altogether ignorant of Christs righteousness: So we must not talk of worldly matters on the Lords-day, as heretofore; we must not spend our time in gaming,Iohn 14. 17. sport, or too much merryment, or idleness, as before: If we be guided by the Spirit of God, which the world knoweth not, let us shew it by our fruits; and so much as we hope to differ from them in our latter end, so let us differ now.
To have wrought the will of the Gentiles,] This is not meant of every particular person of the Jews that were written to in this Epistle, that they thus walked as the Gentiles, and it may be some of the Gentiles were restrained and lived soberly; but this he understands of the body of them both.
But how came they to live after the lusts of the Gentiles? They lived amongst them, and so became as bad as they. Whence note, That
Bad company is very dangerous;Bad company is very dangerous. Solomon forbids it, and so doth St. Paul; David also clears himself of it, he could not away therewith: See Prov. 1. 10.See Downham Spirit. War. cap. 17. part 2. and 23. 20. and 24. 1. 2 Cor. 6. 17. Psal. 26. 4. and 119. 63, 115. In the Law its forbidden to touch a thing unclean, as a dead corps:Luke 7. 21. This did morally signifie meddling with sin and sinners: Using bad company we can neither keep a good course, nor a good conscience; we shall quickly learn their evils, we being apt schollars hereto, and our nature like tinder and gunpowder readily set on fire. None can walk in the Sun but shall be tanned,Simile. nor touch pitch but he shall be defiled, nor be in a Mill but he shall be dusted, nor dwell with a Collier but he shall be smutted; so cannot any frequent the company of wicked men, but he shall be harmed hereby; yea, how can any converse with such, and not be accessary to their sins (at least through their untimely silence, not reproving or admonishing them for the same) and so consequently partaker of their plagues.
O then,Use. as we would avoid the company of those that have the plague, lest we be infected thereby, so lets shun the company of those which are tainted with foul sins,2 Cor. 6. 17. lest destruction come upon us: The Lord calls upon us to come out and depart from such;1 King. 22. 32. Jehoshaphat escaped narrowly with his life for being with Ahab, and questionless not a few have smarted for being familiar with the wicked.Lasciviousness and lusts, what they are and how common.
When we walked in laciviousness, lusts,] Hereby is meant all sorts of uncleanness, and the provocations thereto, as fidling, dancing, mixt sports of men and women, filthy talking, ribald jesting, unclean songs, lewd ballads, whorish apparel, idleness, &c. These are so common, that its even a death to people to be held from them; we can scarce see a yong man or woman in whom some one or other flag of wantonness hangeth not out; Are not these works of darkness? shall such inherit the Kingdom of Heaven? O that the disorder of such were pulled down, and that they would in time repent of their wantonness and lusts, which will else cost them full dear one day, and was never so sweet, but it will prove as bitter.
Excess of wine,] Another lust of the Gentiles which we are to avoid, the immoderate use or rather abuse of wine and strong drink: Wine is the good creature of God, made for good use, and God hath given us liberty to use the same, and that both ordinarily (according to our ability,See Psal. 104. 15. so as it may be for the health of our bodies, and strengthning the same the better to serve God in his worship,Prov. 31. 6. and our callings,1 Tim. 5. 23. and in time of weakness of body or minde) and extraordinarily, as in times of great and solemn rejoycing; so of thanksgiving to God for deliverances and mercies, and at marriages, or such meetings of friends, wherein not onelyonly whats for necessity is allowed, but also whats for delight, and so a more liberal use thereof then at other times; yet even then, moderation and christian sobriety must be retained;Iohn 2. 10. we must no further make use of wine, but as thereby we may be fit to praise God,Drunkenness an abominable sin. or otherwise to do good: But the excessive use of it to drunkenness is abominable, and often prohibited. Besides, its not onelyonly odious to God,Isaiah 5. 22. and so all good men, but its even vile in the eyes of the Heathen,Luke 21. 34. insomuch that they have made many severe Laws against the same,Eph. 5. 18. and uttered many excellent sayings against it: It puts God as it were ou… of place, and makes one's belly his God, for that he serves more then God, cares for it, seeks to please it more then God, nay, to satisfie it, he cares not to dishonor God; Its also a wicked abuse of Gods benefits, and a means to dishonor him, which ought to allure us to love and serve him, it makes a man also unfit for Gods service; we be unfit at the best, but when the head and heart are oppressed with drink, we are then as blocks and beasts, unfit for any good work in Church or Common-wealth, unfit to govern or be governed,Lev. 10. 9. unfit to follow our Callings, yea, unable to cover our own nakedness,Prov. 31. 5. as it was with Noah. Psal. 69. 12.Hence it is, that Magistrates and Ministers, whose callings are of greatest use and necessity, do flatly forbid it; it makes a man also fit for all evil, as to swagger, swear, curse, rail, mock; to talk filthily, to scoff at Religion, and the Servants of God; to commit whoredom, (as Lot) to quarrel, fight, stab, kill, (daily experience shewing most frays proceeding from the pot) to thrust their wives out of doors, beat their Children, play the mad men, fill all places with filthy vomiting, &c. Its reported, that one being tempted to whoredom, murther, and drunkenness, and thinking that he must needs yield to one of them, for that adultery was dishonorable and dangerous, and murther most odious and fearful, he gave way to the third, which was drunkenness, but then when he was drunk, fell into both the other; for having committed folly with another mans wife, the husband coming in, he killed him. This puts out the eye of the soul, and takes away the use of Reason for a time, even that whereby a man differs from a beast, and indeed, makes a man, so that being drunk,See Pro. 23. 35. he knows neither what he doth, nor what is done to him, as it fared both with Noah and Lot: For a man to cut or hurt his own flesh, were bad, but to hurt the principal part, the soul, how dangerous is it? That were but as if one should kill a Subject; this, as if he did take the Prince, and binde him hand and foot, and turn him out of his place of Government: Who would put out his bodily eyes? but too too many do thus put out the eyes of their soul. This disguiseth the body, which is Gods workmanship, and comely, and ought to be preserved in holiness and honor,1 Cor. 6. 13. and kept as a Temple for the holy Ghost, and makes it the stye of the Devil: From hence are red eyes, an inflamed face, a swoln body, the hands quiver, the feet reel and stagger; yea, it not onelyonly disguiseth, but endangereth it; it dulls the wit, spoils the memory, breeds diseases, Dropsies, Imposthumes, Palsies; oppressing and drowning the natural heat before the time (as a Lamp with too much oyl,Simile. or a candle thrown into the water, ere it be half burnt) and so bringing untimely death: They that are addicted hereunto, are self-murtherers, and though they had need to prolong their lives while they can,Hosea 4. 18. unless they were fitter for death, yet do they long as it were, and hasten to be in Hell: This is a stinking sin both to God and all good men; Its a wicked abuse of Gods Creatures, appointed to be received with prayer and thanksgiving to the glory of the giver thereof;1 Tim. 4. 4. Its a wasting of the portion which God hath given us, whereby we might live comfortably, and do much good to others in Church and Common-wealth: O how many do hereby squander all away, rob Church, Common-wealth, Poor, yea, their own Families, their Wives portions, and Childrens Patrimony, all going down their throat!1 Tim 5. 8. What cruel murtherers be these? If he that provides not for them is worse then an Heathen, then what is he that having already wherewith to maintain them, thus pulls it as it were from them? This also is a wicked mispending of our precious time; This brings infamy and reproach with God and men; This brings beggery along with it: many having spent all on strong drink in their youth, are fain to drink water in their age; This hath wo, sorrow, and wounds attending thereon:Prov. 23. 29. Many in their drunkenness have been stabb'd, as others have come to the gallows for that they have done in their drink; yea, custom and continuance herein, breeds not a delight onelyonly, but from thence another nature, and a kinde of necessity upon the body, that they cannot leave it; they swallow not the wine so much, as the wine swallows them up, and they are buried in wine, & as unfit for any good,See Deut. 21. 20. as one that is buried, to do the work of a living man. Hereunto may be added,Isaiah. 5. 22. that as there are fearful judgements threatned against this,1 Cor. 6. 10. both in respect of this, and the life to come (for the cup of the fierceness of Gods wrath is prepared for such to drink to the bottom, and the full Vials of his judgements will be poured out upon them eternally) so amongst others, this is the main, that they seldom or never repent: I have known some toucht at the Word because of this, weep for it, promise, yea, vow against it, who have yet again fallen into company, and could never get out.
1. If this be so horrible a sin,Use 1. what shall we say to the Land wherein it is grown to such an horrible height, and to abound in such a fearful sort? It was wont to be the sin of other Countreys, now we have got it, and may we not boast of our gettings, think ye? It was wont to be rare, but is now common in all places; wont to be done in a corner, and the parties ashamed thereof, now it staggers abroad in the open streets, none being ashamed of the same; wont to be the sin of base ones, according to the Proverb, He is as drunk as a beggar, but now its the sin of Gentlemen, and herein our Yeomens sons exceed,Acts 2. 15. to the wasting of their Revenues: St. Peters argument were now a very slender one, for men rise early to drink strong drink; yea, men are now grown into such an horrible height of impiety, as that they labor and strive to excel therein; they get Beer of extraordinary strength, and call it by names, Snapdragon, and (which is most horrible Blasphemy) Hosanna in the highest, &c. drink by the yard, by the dozen, in pails, in crooked horns that cannot be set down, make matches who shall drink each other drunk under the Table: O fearful! Is this the fruit of the Gospel, and of this peace and light? Its indeed a work of darkness, though it abounds in the light of the Gospel, a lust of the Gentiles, and so not beseeming Christians: Do we marvel at unseasonable Weather, at Famine, and Scarcity, &c? we may rather wonder at Gods patience: And were it not that our Governors and the chief of the Land have taken it to heart, and Enacted good Laws to suppress it, both by prescribing a penalty upon it, and preventing it by diminishing of Alehouses, the sinks of all disorder and mischief, and by forbiding excessive strong Beer, and enjoyning a moderate size thereof, &c. We might have looked for some notable judgement of God; but when men of authority take sin to heart, and seek to punish the same, then God takes it well, and is pacified: Contrarily, when Magistrates have not grace and courage to put life into his Laws, by the due execution of Justice, the Lord is enforced to take his rod into his own hand.
2. This condemneth those which are addicted unto this sin of drunkenness;Use 2. What? Think they that God gave them their souls and bodies, their goods, health, wealth, his good creatures, and their precious time to use thus? hath he bestowed on them the days of the Gospel, that they should make themselves Beasts, unfit for any good… what answer and account think they to make to Almighty God for these things? They may justly fear some notable judgement from God to be inflicted on them, as of late there hath been on divers, and do not these things affright you? dare you go on in the like? were they not sent for your admonition, and to be warnings unto you? Awake therefore you Drunkards, and howl, humble your selves on the knees of your soul, confess your horrible wickedness to Almighty God, cry for mercy and pardon, and if it be possible, turn from this base vice, renounce, hate, detest, vow, covenant, swear against it, pray also to be kept therefrom, avoid all company of lewd ones, which will either by flattery allure you, or if you yield not to them, reproach and mock you: But what do I speak to them that have lost their wits, Is there any hope of repentance for such? Well, yet nothing is impossible to God, The harder it is, labor the more, and weep and lament for that is past, redeem the time to come, give your souls and bodies to please God in all good life and sober conversation; you have spent your goods and time hereon, do so no more: If thou wiltst not be perswaded, but go on still and hate to be reformed, thou mayest look for some one or other dreadful judgement to be here inflicted on thee, and at thy death to be cast into utter darkness, who hast wallowed in the works of darkness,See Psal. 75. 8. and for thy drunkenness to drink off the full cup of Gods judgement for ever and ever.
Neither are common drunkards onelyonly to be rebuked, but such also as will now and then drink with their friends, and sit so long talking and bibbing, or gaming and drinking, that they be caught, and are scarce wise enough to finde the way home; they may count themselves wise men,Prov. 20. 1. but Solomon saith nay to it; they shall not be counted innocent.
Nor are those only to be condemned that be so drunk as they be like beasts, but even such as take delight to quaff and to carouse, and spend their time in swilling, having yet strong brains to bear it, and herein they glory that they can drink others under-board, and because they be never so drunk, but they can carry it away, therefore they think themselves no such persons, but they are as bad drunkards, and as guilty as the other; they waste as much time, as much wine or strong drink as the others; they waste also their substance, and delight in this course, nay, haply they drink much more then the others, for some are so weak brained that a little t…rns them over:Isaiah 5. 22. There's a wo denounced against such, their brain was not given them for this end, but for the service of God; they should prove their strength in good things, and strive to exceed others in goodness, not in dishonoring God by abusing his Creatures.
There are also that delight to see others drunk, that allure or enforce them so to do; to delight herein, how horrible is it? how ill a sign? no childe can delight to hear or see his father misused, he is else a bastard, not a son: Gods Children delight in his Commandments, in his Sabbaths, in his Saints, in the publike performance of his worship;Psal. 112. 1 contrarily, they are grieved and vexed (as David and Lot) at the dishonor which is done unto him;Isaiah 58. 13. so are not the wicked, but God will laugh at their destruction,Psal. 16. 3. and 122. 1. & 119. 143. and mock when their fear cometh; when judgement cometh, those mourners for sin shall scape; when as these rejoycers therein shall not go unpunished,2 Pet. 2. 8. and who indeed could laugh to see a man running on his own sword,Prov. 1. 26. or casting himself in the fire?Ezek. 9. 4.
To make others drunk, enticing them hereto, and to this end, under colour of kindeness to drink to them often, as is usual in Gentlemens Butteries, and Cellars, in Inns, and Taverns, &c. where men will be at great cost to dishonor God, this also is fearful; these be zealous Servants of the Devil: But if one should allure another to go in such a way, where he were sure to fall into a pit, or be drowned, or be robbed, &c. would not every one cry out of such a treacher? no less treacherous are those which make others drunk: We are willed indeed to provoke each other to love and good works, to call one another to the house of God, to exhort and edifie one another, but in no sort to destroy one another, as those allurers and enticers do.
To compel others to drink till they be drunk, or to drink more then they can bear, is usual; to refuse, is accounted of sundry ruffians in our days, a matter of great disgrace, which they will not put up, and therefore stab, or challenge to the field, those that will not drink as many and as big carouses as they that have begun them: What inhumanity is this? what folly? hath nature made all alike? can one of low stature reach as high as he that is far taller? can a weak man bear as heavy a burthen as a strong man? Besides, what greater wrong, then to force a man to do that which will hinder his health, shorten his life, wound his conscience, and destroy his soul? But especially what an outragious wickedness is this against God? cannot we our selves be content to do wickedly, but as ringleaders we must enforce others? whosoever scape, such traytors shall not: What woful wretches are those? have they not sins enough of their own to answer for, but they must needs desperately pull other mens sins on their heads, whereof they themselves are the principal cause? For those,See Heb. 2. 15, 16. they shall answer on that dreadful day: Against such shall Ahasuerus his injunction (though an Heachen) rise up for their condemnation.Hest. 1. 8.
Its the duty of all those which as yet are free from this sin,Use 3. to be truly thankful to God, for keeping them therefrom; They must also endeavor for the time to come to avoid the same, with all the occasions inducing thereto. God gives us his benefits to provoke us to well-doing, we must not use them to sin, like the Mastiffs, that flies in his face that gives him meat: Wiltst thou so foully dishonor God? shall thy body and soul appointed for Gods service, be for the service of the Devil in this base sin? Wiltst thou thus make thy self unfit for any good, in danger to run into any evil? Wiltst thou so disguise thy self, as to make thy self a scorn? so abuse Gods creatures, to hazard thy health, bring diseases and untimely death on thy self? Wiltst thou so wound thy conscience, and provoke the Lords judgements against thee here and hereafter? O God forbid. Be earnest always with God to keep thee, see the ugly face of sin, think of the judgements denounced, and lighted upon many that are past help; how pleasant soever it be at the first, in the end it will bite like a Serpent. Flie from Alehouses and Taverns, as from infected houses, think it an odious disgrace to be seen in any such house, except in travel,See Prov. 4. 4. or for necessity; flee the company also of such as are addicted to this vice, as infectious and dangerous, together with their enticements and provocations; follow also your calling diligently, whereby both this and other sins may be prevented, together with the judgements due thereto.
4. Its the duty of all those which are in Authority,Use 4. to set themselves against this sin, whether Ministers, Magistrates, or others; they should disdain that this outward and base sin should thus insult and prevail, and Goliah-like defie the host of Israel: O if we had Davids spirit, to set upon it and knock it down; it would be easily done, if all would joyn hands: But whereas some have put down Alehouses, other Justices to gratifie some friends, have set them up again, and are so cold and remiss herein, that few drunkards come to any punishment: Belike they have no leisure, no zeal for God, neither will afford him any help against the mighty: But though these and their Officers were faulty, yet if housholders would bestir themselves,Iudg. 5. 23. and put on Joshua and Davids resolution, the number of drunkards would not be so great as it is;Iosh. 24. 25. but if one put away such a servant,Psal. 101. 4. another is presently ready to entertain him: O what a goodly Church and Comon-wealth should we have, if housholders would do their duties throughly!
Revellings,] (Gluttony) This is an abuse of our meat; God of his abundant mercy hath left us the use of his Creatures, and that not herbs only, as before the flood, but the beasts, fishes, fowls, &c. marvellous varieties out of his three great store-houses, and that not onelyonly for necessity, but also for delight, as well in the plenty as variety of them: Those he hath appointed us to receive in due time, measure, and maner, with thanksgiving in a sober and temperate sort, as becometh Christians: Contrary hereto is the sin of gluttony, which is committed in respect of the quality,Gluttony how committed, with the odiousness thereof quantity and time.
For quality; namely, when people be too nice, curious and dainty in their fare, and are never satisfied herewith, and give themselves to devise new found dishes, cates, and sawces, so fulfilling the lusts of their flesh; a common fault in great Towns and Cities: Most are a great deal more careful herein, then to please God; and more angry if it be not to their tooth, then for any sin against God; Its good to have things cleanly and wholsome, but not curious: There are some also that this way exceed their ability, being too much given to bellycheer, whereby want creepeth upon them and theirs; men and women must be content, and do as they may: Some will not be restrained by the Civil Magistrates command, but even in their health will follow their appetite, whereas we ought to obey the Magistrates commandment (our health giving us leave) for conscience sake;Rom. 13. 1. Conscience, I say, not of the meat (that were a Doctrine of Devils) but of the commander, whom we ought to obey.
For the quantity; when men exceed measure, and eat more then doth them good, or makes them fit for the business God sets them about: there are some beastly monsters, that of set purposee at in a bravery more then two or three men, yea, for a wager will eat so much; a goodly glory (to their shame) wherein a hound will match them, some such God hath branded: Others there are that at feasts and such times forget themselves, and by variety of meats are beguiled; this is the fault of feast-makers, occasioners of gluttony, who provide too excessively and curiously, costly and dainty dishes, when men are filled with wholesome and sufficient food before; Its good there should be plenty according to every mans ability, that so the poor may be remembred, and some variety too to shew Gods bounty, and because all love not alike, but overmuch costliness is not meet; That which in the end of feasts is oftentimes wastfully spent, would go a great way with the poor, and much comfort them, if the charges were employed this way: But many that stand not at many shillings this way, would grudge at as many pence to give to the poor; Its a good feast where the poor are remembred:Luke 14. 13. Its also a great fault in Guests to be tolled on further then is meet,See Prov. 23. 1, 2. whatsoever provocations there be; they hereby hurt both their bodies aud souls: But especially those are blame worthy, that make the Sabbath day a Feasting-day, quite contrary to all good order and reason; that's a Feasting day for the soul, but if the body be overmuch pampered, the soul shall fare the worse: we are therefore sparingly to eat that day, especially till night, as being to go about spiritual duties, whereunto we are so unfit, in the performance whereof, through excess of food, we become sleepy, and drowsie, which is most unseemly and wicked in Gods service; therefore as when we serve God extraordinarily, we fast altogether; so when ordinarliy, we must be very temperate and sparing.
For the time; It must not be at unseasonable hours, as either too soon, before men have done God some service, or been about some good business,See Eccles. 10. 16, 17. nor so late, as when men should be at rest, such banquettings, junkettings, and late Suppers, be not for strength, but for lust; sundry servants be wanton in this kinde, watching their unseasonable times, when their masters and dames be forth or asleep; This, as its a sin in it self, so doth it many times bring on other wickednesses.
Wherein we have offended either way,Use. lets repent, making conscience for the time to come: O what woful Creatures are we that cannot tell (as wise as we think our selves) what, how much, or when to eat, Gods Word must be our rule, and we must suffer our selves in all things to be guided thereby.
Banquettings] (Drinkings) that is, needless, excessive or untimely bibbings, when there is no cause; This is here condemned as a lust of the Gentiles, because else they that are addicted hereto, would have been at defiance with them that had spoke against this, and told them they were not drunk, might do thus and thus: Many upon every idle occasion be bibbing and sucking, and love to sit with the pot in their hand, telling a tale, and then they think themselves as wise as a great Counsellor: But do they become hereby more fit for Gods service? Doth this tend to Gods glory? nay, hereby become they not often drunk ere they be aware?
To stir you up to sobriety,Means stirring up to sobriety. 1. Finde that you have right to the Creatures, else you can have no comfort in the use of them, but shall answer for them: Carry your evidences to the Lords Lawyers, who can clearly resolve you; There are none more bold to take (and that excessively) the Creatures of God, then they that have least right to them. 2. Knowing that we are heirs to these, and so that they be sanctified to us on Gods part by the Word, we must on our parts sanctifie them to our selves, by prayer and thanksgiving: O how many swinishly go to meat and drink, and have not God in their thoughts, not make mention of him, except it be by swearing to prophane and abuse his holy and glorious name! 3. Use them soberly and temperately as in Gods presence; so as our eating may be to make us fitter for the service of God, and the work of our calling, and so may be to the glory of God, which is the end of our life, and ought to be the end of all our actions.What Idolatry is.
Abominable idolatries,] This is a sin aginst the first Table, forbid in the first and second Commandments, though most in the second: Its either inward or outward, and its either the worshiping of false gods, or the true God in a false maner, both which are most detestable and abominable before God, and therefore to be hated of us in a deadly maner, as that which is the flat breach of the marriage Covenant between God and his people; Its a turning our heart from God, a forgetting, yea a forsaking of God, a setting up another in his stead, who will have no partners: Hereunto we are naturally prone, as may be seen throughout all ages; even those that know the true God in some sort, set up something before him to worship him in and by: Hereof the Israelites were wonderfully guilty; though they had many strict charges against it, yet they were wofully carried away with the Idolatries of the Heathen; sometimes they did worship the very gods of the Heathens, as Baalim and Ashtaroth, &c. and at the best, they used to worship God in Images, as in the golden Calf that Aaron made, and in the two Calves at Dan and Bethel, for those the Prophets did vehemently reprove them, and threaten Gods judgements against them, which accordingly were inflicted on them, as appears this day: and if when they lived in their own Land they were so tainted with idolatry, what were they now, having so long conversed with those prophane Heathens? This therefore the Apostle warns them now to leave and abandon, as having already continued too long therein, and having repented thereof, he would not have them go back thereto any more.
I shall speak a little here of the Idolatry of the Heathens, of the Idolatry of the Papists, and of the Idolatry of our own people, all which are either in worshiping a false god, or the true God in a false maner.
For the worshiping of false gods;Idolatry in worshiping false gods. so did the Heathens, who worshiped the Sun, Moon, and the hoast of Heaven, yea, any thing what soever, and according to their countries were their gods, nay, they had their city and countrey gods, and houshold gods: There was no end of their abominations,Psal. 115. 2. having this in their heart, that there was a God, and not knowing him,Isa. 44. 9. they worshipped any thing, which the Lord doth deride,Hab. 2. 19. and whereat he is angry, for he will not give his glory to another, nor his praise to graven Images. O what cause have we to bless the name of God that have the light of the Word, whereas most throughout all ages have been ignorant thereof, and so worshipped they know not what, and worshipped not onelyonly in vain, without any profit, but to the dishonor of the true God, and their own condemnation: Neither is this the sin of Heathens alone to worship false gods, but even of the Papists, who have the Word for their Rule, whose sin therefore is greater then the Heathens; they worship the breaden god, they bow down to it, and call it their Maker, what difference is then between them?See Isa. 44. 17. as those fell a Tree, and with some part make a fire, with some bake, and of some make a god and worship it; so these sow Corn, reap it and grinde it, and of some part thereof make bread for themselves and theirs, and of another they make a god which they worship; they also worship the Cross, and Reliques of Saints; they also worship the Virgin Mary, calling on her oftner then on God; so they worship Saints and Angels, their Pictures also be common, whereunto they give Divine worship, they dedicate Altars, Offerings, Temples, Priests and Days to them, which are proper to God onelyonly; yea, they make the Pope (that Man of Sin) a god, not onelyonly calling him so, but ascribing that to him which is proper to God, as, To make Laws to binde the Conscience, to open and shut Heaven, Hell and Purgatory, as they say, to forgive sins, to adde and take from the Scriptures, &c. O horrible! What King will endure his Royalty to be given to another? If Angels and Saints were to appear to us, as they were wont formerly, we ought not otherwise to worship them but with civil worship (the excellency of the Creature doth not change the kinde of worship, but onelyonly the measure) but now seeing they appear not to us, we owe them no worship at all, but onelyonly to reverence them, and thank God for them, and imitate them in what we can.Rev. 22. 9. The Angel would not suffer John to worship him,Acts 14. 14. and the Apostles Peter, Paul and Barnabas refused also that to …ob God of his due.
For worshipping the true God in a false maner,Idolatry in worshipping the true God after a false maner, whether Inward▪ or it is either inward or outward:
Inward, as when we conceive in our minde otherwise of God then he is, and hath revealed himself, as to conceive of God without consideration of the three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, as do the Turks and Jews, and they amongst our selves, which conceive that God is onelyonly merciful, and not just; so to conceive of Christ as God onelyonly, or man onelyonly, and not as God and man in one person: The Papists though in word they profess either, yet in deed they deny both, and so make an idol, and no true Christ of him.
Outward,Outward. as when men worship God in Images, Stocks, Sones, Pictures of gold, silver, stone, graved, or painted, or howsoever: This is flatly forbid in the 2d Commandment, as also in divers other places. To make a Picture of God like an Oldman, or of Christ like a Man hanging on a Cross, what lyes be they? Be these like God? not so like as a Flie is, or as a Flie is to a King.
Ob. But God so appeared in Daniel.Dan. 7. 9.
A. What then? it followeth not we may so picture him, especially seeing he hath forbid it: Is the picture of a man like Christ? His Godhead is the chiefest part of him, how picture they that? O they do it in a good meaning; but our intention is not the rule of Gods Worship, but his own will: As for their shift, that they worship not the Image, but God in the Image, its indeed a meer shift, that will not serve their turn; so said some of the Heathens, so said the Israelites; assuredly God is displeased with both.
Let us therefore detest Popery,Use. as being abominable before God, let us never be drawn to their Religion, for its to renounce God, and quite break the Covenant: Joyn not at any time with Papists in their Idol-service, bow not the knee to Baal, come out from among them, and touch no unclean thing; let neither Fear, Covetousness, or wanton curiosity to see new fangles, draw you aside, for ye cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord and of Devils: Have no Society with them for marriage; Joram and Ahaziah were bad, for that they married into Ahabs stock: Have no league of Amity with them, to have common friends and enemies, as to help them against their enemies, or crave their help against ours.
There be some that speak minsingly of the Religion of Rome, as that there be indeed sundry differences between them and us, but that they are petty and mean ones, and of no great moment, but such, as if we would yield a little, and they a little, there might be a reconciliation made: Wo be to such dawbers, that would go about to reconcile God and the Devil, Light and Darkness, &c. There are sundry differences which are main ones, and against the foundation, and such as except they will renounce, we neither can, nor must ever joyn with them. So of the Papists themselves, some will speak very favorably, O they be good honest men, and many good things they do, if it were not a little for their Opinions, &c. Do such speak wisely? they be abominable persons, for they be Idolaters (and those God calls abominable) worshipping other Gods, and the true in a false maner, namely, in Images: If they were Murtherers, and would take away our lives; Adulterers, and would abuse our wives; Thieves, and would take away our goods, O we would cry out upon them, and say, They be abominable; but we have no feeling of any thing which hurts our souls, nor of that which is foully against God and his glory; its an Argument of self love and little grace: It should go more to our hearts, that its against GOD and his glory, then any thing that were against our selves any way: We ought to pray to God to convert them or remove them, and that they may be curbed, and their eyes may fail ere they have their desire of Toleration of their abominable Religion.
For the Idolatry among our selves:The several sorts of Idolaters amongst our selves. Some conceive of God, as of a God onelyonly merciful, and not just; which emboldens them to go on in their sins without fear or care, supposing that when they have abused him at their pleasure all their days, if in the end they utter but a few▪ good words to him, he will be as well pleased, as if they had served him all their time: This is to conceive an Idol, and not God; for he is as just as merciful, the one no more then the other. Sundry also among us make a god of their Belly, Profits, Pleasures, Honor, Children, Ease, &c. seeking onelyonly these, setting their heart and delight in these, trusting in these, yea, to compass these, not caring though they offend God; for whatsoever a man loves more then God, or trusts in besides God, he makes it his god: Thus the glutton makes his Belly, as the covetous man his Wealth, his god; O vileness, and extreme baseness! We that live under the Word preached, should learn to know God to be All-sufficient, and to labor to make him our portion and inheritance, our joy and our castle: He that hath God, hath all; he that wants him, in the midst of all hath nothing.Psal. 33. 12. Blessed is the people (so the person) whose God is the Lord (not who are wealthy, have great friends, &c.) and who accordingly love him above all, set him up in their hearts, trusting in him onelyonly, satisfying themselves in him, yea him alone, and loving all other things in, and for, and under him. Others there are that profess Religion, and worship God indeed, but in a false maner; they pray, but depart not from iniquity; hear the Word, but hate to be reformed; are baptized, but keep no Covenant; receive the Lords Supper, but without Knowledge, Faith and Repentance; but God he is a Spirit, and therefore will be worshipped in Spirit and Truth: They that worship him as most do, they worship an Idol, namely, Such a God as is content with the outside, with Ceremonies, but so is not the true God; the service of such is abominable, against such judgements have been both denounced and inflicted; See 1 Sam. 15. 23. Psal. 50. 16. Isa. 1. 11. and 58. 5. Jer. 7. 4. Ezek. 14. 33, 27. Mic. 6. 7. Our outward worshipping of God must proceed from our inward Knowledge, Love, Fear, and Trust in God, and must be joyned with obedience and Reformation:Hos. 6. 6. If thou repentest not of thine Hypocritical service, thy wages will be according to thy work: This makes Gods enemies speak ill of our Religion, and hold off, even because (though indeed we worship God, and profess well, yet our peoples lives be so far wide) we that enjoy the Gospel, and the true means of the right knowledge and service of God, ought not to worship the true God onelyonly, but in a right maner. What though we be not Idolaters, we cannot almost be so though we would, yet we may, and without repentance shall certainly perish, for our ceremonious and Hypocritical serving of God: and so much the rather, because we had the means to bring us to the true knowledge of him, which is denyed to the common sort of the Papists: Assuredly we shall lose all our labor, if we use it to no better purpose, and our souls too among the Hypocrites.