Commentary on the Minor Prophets, Treatise · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Doctr. I. Saints muſt be beſt in worſt times.
THem] men were arrived at this height of impudency and prophanenes, as to ſay, Twas to no purpoſe to ſerve God: even then, when their black mouths were now big ſwolne with ſuch like blaſphemies,nIllis de Dei judicio blaſphemantibus. Hieron. Tunc cum blaſphemi talia loquerentur. Pet à Figuiero in locum. Doct. then, they that fcared the Lord were thus buſied as in the text. Note hence,
That Gods ſervants muſt labour to ſhew themſelves beſt in the worſt times: and then moſt beſtirr them in his buſineſle, when others are moſt careleſſe of it, and contrary to it.
SECT. 1. The Point conſirmed … by precept 2, by practiſe.
THis you ſhall ſee confirm'd, and commended to us. 1. by precept from Gods mouth: 2. by the conſtant practiſe of his beſt children in allages. For precept, firſt, what can be more direct and expreſſe, then thoſe common texts, Thou ſhalt not follow a multit…ide to do evill. oExod. 23.2.Save your ſelves from this untoward generation. pAct. 2.40.Come out from among them my people, and be ye ſeparate. q2 Cor 6.17.Be not ye conform'd to this world, but be ye transform'd by the rencwing of your mind. rRom 12.2.Have no fillowſhip with the unfruitfull works of darkneſſe: but reproove them rather sEph. 5 11.. with a number more that I might add with eaſe. That one of Solomon for all, My ſon, ſaith he, if ſinners entive thee, conſent thou not. If yet they ſay Come with us, let us lay wait for blood &c. Caſt in thy lot amongſt us, let us all have one parſe; My ſon, walk not thou in the way with them: reſrain thy foot from their path. tPro. 1 10, 11, 14, 15.For their way (in the iſſue of it) is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. uProv. 7.27.Even that ſecond death (as the ſcripture tearms it) which though hand joyu in hand wProv. 16.5.and they muſter up and unite their forces (as hoping haply to ſcape in the croud, or to carry it away cleanly, becauſe a multitude) yet they ſhall never be able to avoid or abide. For the wicked (be they never ſo many of them) ſhall be turn'd into hell, and whole nations that forget God.xPſal. 9.17.
This the Patriarch Noah (that I may ſhew you ſecondly the practiſe of the point in ſome particular examples of ancient and later times) this, I ſay, Noah beleeved ere he ſaw, and therefore lived to ſee what he had afore beleeved: not whole Nations only, but a world-full of wicked people ſwallowed up together in one univerſall grave of waters: their ſpirits being now in priſon, … in everlaſting chaines under darkneſſe, unto the judgement of the great day y1 Pet. 3.19.The foreſight whereof by a lively faith, (being war… of God of things not ſeen as yet zHeb. 11.7..) made him walk uprightly with God evea in his geaeration aGen. 6.9. Now for him to walk alone in a divers way to a worid of wicked people, as Chryſoſcome hath it,bSolus ipſe diverſâ …mbulavit viâ, virtutem malitiae praeferens &c. Chryſoſt. Hom. 22. in cap. 6. Genef. to keep himſelf unſpotted in ſuch a foul ſeaſon, as anotherſpeakes of him,cinter corrupriſſimos minere incorruptn̄. Pare in Gen 6 nay, like a right orient and illuſtrious planet, not only to hold out a conſtant countermotion to that of the vulgar, but alſo to ſhine ſo fair with a ſingularity of heavenly light, ſpirituall goodneſſe, and Gods ſincere ſervice, in that da…k…ſt midnight of damned impiety; this was that whereby he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteouſneſſe which is by faith eHeb. 11.7.The next, in the Apoſtles roul there remembred and regiſtred is Abraham, that precious man, pall'd as a brand out of Ʋr of the Chaldees: from whence he went forth (forſaking father.f Ioſh. 24.2. houſe and friends who ſerved other Gods beyond the ſlood) not knowing whither he went, ſaith the text,gH…b 11.8. nor much daring, ſo long as he had God by the hand. For whom alſo his firſt care was, where ever he came: ſetting up Altars to JehovahhGen. 12.6 7 8. & 13.4, 18. in the mid'ſt of thoſe Idolaters, and making open profeſſion of his ſervice before the people or the land; which was a reall confutation of their heatheniſh fopperies. Thus Aoraham then: and thus, after him, Johua by his example; which he therefore uſeth and urgeth in that parliament he called and held at Shechem, a little afore his death. I took your father Abraham (ſaith he there, in Gods behalf) from the other ſide of the flood, &c.iJoſh. 24.2 whoſe children ye ſhall ſhall well approve your ſelves, if ye walke in the ſheps of his f…ith kRom. 1.12, by putting away the …trange gods from among you, as he, and ſerving the Lord lJoſh. 24.14. In which holy practue however you come off, chooſe you this day whom you will ſerve (though in evils of ſin there be no choiſe) whether the gods of your ſathers leyond the ſlood, Malorum non eſt electio. A…t.or tke gods of the Amornes, in whoſe land ye dwell: but as for me and my houſe, we will ſerve Jehoveh.
The time would fail me to tell of Job, who would not part with his Integrity, to die for it,mJob 27.5, 6 though inſtigated thereunto by the wife of his boſome,nJob 2 9 Chryſoſtom. ſet on doubtleſſe by the Devil: who of all the parts of his body had le…t his con…ue onelyonly free from bliſters, if haply he might be drawn to curſe God therewith and die. To tell you (next) of David, who therefore lo…ed Gods ſtatutes exceed ngly, becauſe min had made void his L…w o…ſal. 119.126, 127. and Pſal. 39 2 reſolving firſt uqon filence among wic…ed company, could not hold his ſpirit ſo burnt, &c. p 1 King. 19.10. Rom. 11.3.Of Elias, who though alone and ſingular, continued therefore zealsus for the Lord of Hoſls, becauſe they had argg'd down has A…s, &c. Of Mica…ah, who would not flatter the King, though 400. falſe prophets had done it afore himq1 King 22 Of Obadith, that fea ca God …, in a common defection,r1 King. 8.12 &c. Look to the New Teſtament, and there you have our Saviour eaten up with the zeal of his F…ers houſe, when by all ſorts pollutedsJoh. 2.17: his Apoſtles, ſoon after his departure, reſolving to obey God even comora goutes, againſt whatſoever oppoſition, and not to ſwim down the ſtream of the times for any menaces of the CounciltAct. 4.. P…ul, (that heavenly ſpark) burning in spirit againſt a Church full of unbeleeving Jewes at CorinthuAct. 18.5. foreign, intus & apud ſe aeſtuabat, prae zeli ardore., and openly conteſting with the Gentiles at Athens about their ſenſeleſſe ſuperſtitionwAct. 17. So he gave thanks afore meat in the midſt of Infidels. Act. 27.25.. What ſhould I ſtand longer to tell you of Timothy, ſo abſtemious and temperate among the luxurious EpheſiansxA people ſo dehauched, that they made a law, foreign, Let there bee never an honeſt man amougſt us. And it is ſtoried, that they therefore caſt our one Hermodorus, as by an oſtraciſme, becauſe he was a good buſband and a temperate man., that Saint Paul was fain to preſcribe him a …le wine for hish alihs … y1 Tim. 5.23.. Of Antipas, who held forth the word of life, even to the death, where Savans …h…one was zRev. 2.13.. Of Ne…o's family, to whom Saint Paul ſends ſalutationsaPhilip. 4 22.: Of Poly…, that bleſſed Martyr of ſ…us Chriſt, who being ſollicited by the Tyrant to do ſacrifice to the …doll, and ſo to provide for his own ſafety, as diverſe others had done before him. Four…core and …dde yzers, ſud he, have I ſerved my Maſter Chriſt, and …e never deceived me: an ſhill I now deſem him? God forbid me any ſuch wickedneſſe: I ſcorn to be delivered upon any ſuch diſhonourable termesbOctoginta ſex annos illi ſervio, nec ulla in re me unquam laeſit, & quomedo poſſim maledicere, &c. Euſeb. Eccleſ. hiſt l 4. c. 15.. Of Orig…, who choſe rather to continue a poor Catechiſt at Alex ind…a, in daily danger of his life, then with Plo…nus, his fellowpupill. to live at Court in great authority and favour, would he but, with him have reneagued Chriſt, and renount'd the FaithcEraſmus in vita Grig oper. praeſixa.. It were eaſie to come lower, and nearer our own times and to bring upon the ſtage a great fort of ſuch as held forth the word of life, by a bold and wiſe profeſſion, in the dar…eſt mid-night of damned popery, and Satans univerſall raignedLegatur Illyr… Catalogue teſtium. Dr. …ſher, graviſſ. quaeſti. Cade, &c.: But I ſhut up with …, that notable Champion of Chriſt, and ſtickler for the truth: to the defence whereof he ſtood ſtoutly, when all the Chriſtian world beſides was turn'd Ar…a… eIngemuit orhis & mirabatur ſe fac…urn eſſe Arrianum. Hieron. centrae Lucrferianos. Iſte vir totius orhis impetum ſuſtinuit.; as a Father phraſeth it. Whence, it went abroad of him, That the whole world was ſet againſt Athanaſius, and Athanaſius againſt all the world. A brave commendation, a ſtately praiſe. Such honour have all his S…unts fPſal. 139 ult.. Wiſdome ever hath been, you ſee, and ever muſt be juſtified of her children gMarth. 11.19.againſt all obloquies, and oppoſitions of the mad multitude*Haud pe…nd… in crimme incendij quam O…io H…m…ni generis convicti ſunt Sic de Chriſtianis ſub Nerone whis incenſae falſo accuſatis. Tacit, lib. 15. Et Fertallianus in Apologet. ait, in Chriſtianis nomen damnari & puniri, non cri…n & ſcoelus., ever beſides it ſelfe in point of ſalvation.
SECT. II. The point confirmed by yeaſons 1. from God. 2. ſcom men, both 1. good. 2. and bad.
ANd there's good reaſon for it too, as you ſhall ſoon ſee, whether ye look up. ward or downward, to God or men, the ſaints themſelves, or others. All which Reaſons are grounded upon our Text, and ſhall be therehence gathered.
For God, firſt, his people ſhould therefore ſtrive then to be beſt, when others are at worſt. 1. Becauſe he graciouſly accepts it, he hear kgns and hears, Ver. 16.ſaith the text. 2. He plentifully rewards it, for there is a book of remembrance, &c. that this, their labour of love may never be forgotten.H. b.6.
For themſelves next, Gods ſaints ſhall hereby well approve, that they are. 1. True Chriſtians, fearing the Lord. 2. Zealous Chriſtians, ſuch as think upou his name.
Laſtly, for others. 1. Good men ſhall be thereby notably confirmed, whiles they ſpeak often one to another for mutuall quickning, and encouragement. 2. Bad men ſhall be utterly confuted and confounded, while they return, that is, change their minds, and diſcerne, perforce, a plain and palpable difference between themſelves and Gods ſervants. Yea whiles they are conſtrained by the teſtimony of their own evil conſciences, and by the evidence of their own evil experiences, to ſee and ſay, Verily there is a reward for the righteous, verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth bPſal. …8 11.
Here then to begin with the firſt Reaſon, taken from God, and therein (not to urge his command, which yet is reaſon ſu…cient, and tacitely implied in the text: for what the Lord approveth and rewardeth, that he certainly willeth and requireth; ſith his approving and preſcribing will are (though diſtinct yet) not different the one from the other, but) to make uſe of ſo much onelyonly in the text, as lies above ground for our preſent purpoſe. Firſt, the Lord doth curiouſly obſerve,Res…. 1. and graciouſly accept of ſuch his ſervants as continue conſtant with him in depraved times, in a genera… declenſion, when ſinne is grown uſuall, and almoſt …verſall. The Lorab. k…u…d and heard, ſaith the text: It imports, that he was much taken with their ſweet conferences, and thoſe ſavoury ſpeeches that fell from their mouthes. No noiſe ſo delightfull, no muſick ſo melodious to his heavenly ears; which therefore he applies cloſe, and layes near to their honey lipsiforeign. De Neſtore ſuo Homerus., as loth to loſe any part of that precious language. Well might Saint Peter ſay, out of the Pſalm: The eye's of he Lord are upon the righ cour, and his care are foreign we read, are … to their prayers k1 Fet. 3.12 Pſal. 34. Reaſ 2., but the Originall is more emphaticall, his ears are unto their prayers, or rather into their prayers; ſo farre is he affected therewithall. And look what the Apoſtle ſpeaks there of their prayers, by way of Inſtance) the ſame is as true of their whole Chriſtian practiſe. Not a prayer they make, not a good work they do, not a good ſpeech they utter, nay not a good thought they take up, but he both notes it well, (he hea k…ed and h…a…d) and ſets it down in his note-book too: for a book of remembrance was wr…tion beſere the Lord for them that but thought vponupon his Name in an evill time, when mens words were ſtout againſt God, verſe 13, 14. and their thoughts Atheiſticall verſe 15.
But what will the Lord do for ſuch? (which is the ſecond branch of this firſt Reaſon drawn from God) It follows in the Text; And they ſhall be mine, ſaith the Lord of hoſts, &c. His, not by a generall right onelyonly, as his creatures, but by a ſpeciall title, as his ſaints; ſuch as have made a covenant with … by ſacrifice lPſal. 50.5., and he, interchangeably, made a covenant with them of ſalt mMam. 18.19 2 Chron. 13.5, that is, permanent and inviolable. And both ſides hy a mutuall ſtipulation, that he will be their God, and they ſhall be his people: he ſhall be their portion, and they his; for the Lords portion is his people nDent. 32.9., ſaith Moſes: they are his proper goods, and moſt eſteemed treaſureoforeign text: Peculium, proprium, fingulare, theſaurus., the top of his wealth, the beſt of his gettings, the people of his purchaſe pforeign 1 Pet. 2.9. Such as compreheud all his gettings.(as Saint Peter after the Septuagint renders the word here found in our Text:) in ſumme, his Jewels, whom he will highly prize, and ſafely ſet up by him in the golden cabinet of his ſpeciall providence, and fatherly protection. Not caſting them out for every ſmall flaw, nor leſſe eſteeming them for every little duſt that falls upon them, and fouls them; but prizing them aright to their utmoſt value, and giving them their allowance, (as men deal by light gold) he will take them for currant: And wherein they come ſhort of what they ſhould be, he will spare them as a man spare…h his own ſonne that ſerveth him. Then the which I know not what the Lord could have ſpoken more effectuall for the glory of his own rich grace, or the ſhirring up of our utmoſt affections to an holy contention in godlineſſe, be the times never ſo bad or boiſterous: ſith in doing thereof there is ſo great reward qPſal. 19 11 Perinde ut homo cum homine amico, vel Domino ſuo ubi que & judi…ulse inambulans, &c Aug.. In which reſpect, how fitly doth the Authour to the Hebrews cloſe up the ſtory of … hs heroicall faith, with that golden corollary, He that cometh to God, (as Henoch did, who walked familiarly with God, as a man with his friend * with whom he is in covenant: for can two walk together, (ſaith the Prophet) and they not be agreed? rAm. 3.3.) muſt beleeve that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him sHeb. 11.6. The Greek text hath it, that ſeek him out tforeign., namely when he is caſt into a blind corner, (if I may ſo ſpeak with reverence to the Divine Majeſty) conveyed out of the way and covered (as it were) with the calumnies and ſtout words of the wicked, thoſe hard words (againſt which Malachy here, and Henoch anciently prophecieduJade 14, 15 foreign. Verbum …, durum, inconveniens, &c.) of ungodly perſons, whoſe throats are as open fepulchres xPſal 5.9to bury Gods Name in, as much as they may: were it not for Henoch and ſuch as hee, that do daily and diligently vindicate that reverend yPſal. 111.9Name, from their falſe aſperſions; and as it were dig it out of the grave, wherein they had villanouſly conceal'd, after a ſort, and cover'd it. But what loſt Henoch by this labour of love zHeb. 6.10? had he not this teſtimony from heaven hereupon, that he pleaſed God aHeb. 11.5, was hee not tranſlated, as a Jewel of price, into the heavenly Cabinetbforeign. Rev. 11.19? and were not the fewneſſe of his dayes on earth, in compariſon of his forefathers, recompenſed in that longeſt life of his ſonne Methuſelah cGen 5.27? And why all this? but becauſe he walked with God (when others walked aſter the luſt of their hearts, and ſight of their eyes dEccleſ. 11.9) ſeeking to take men off from their lewd and lawleſſe courſes, by the terrou of the Lord, which he moſt powerfully denounced, Jude 14, 15. In doing whereof, though (to his own thinking) he laboured in vain, and spent his ſtrength for nonght, yet ſurely his udgement was with the Lord, and his reward with his God eEſay 49.4, whith was the firſt reaſon taken from God. The ſecond follows, reſpecting our ſelves. And ſo; by cleaving cloſe to Jehovah in corrupt times, it ſhall well appear; firſt, that we are the ſame we would all ſeem to be, Men ſearing God. For, this is pure religion indeed, to keep a mans ſelf unspotted of the world fJam. 1. ulc.. There muſt be hereſies amongst you, ſaith the Apoſtle, that they which are approved may be made manifeſt g1 Cor 11 19. And, by a like reaſon, there muſthNen à Den, ſed ab hominis corruptione voluntaria. Beza. be a perverſe and graceleſſe generation, a viperous brood iMar. 3.7, amids whom Gods ſunts may ſhine as lamps in the world, and ſo approve themſelves blameleſſe and harmeleſſe, the ſonnes of God without rebuke, Holding forth the word of life kPhilip. 2 15 foreign. Great lights.for an Enſigne*foreign., by a bold and wiſe profeſſion, and practiſe of the truth that is in Jeſus; then, when it is moſt oppos'd, and oppreſt by the ſonnes of Belial. This is the guiſe of a man that truely fears God: he cannot blow hot and coldoEraſm. Adag. p. 350. ex codem are calidam …frigidum eſſlare., as they ſay: he dare not ſwear by God and Malchom pZeph. 1.3, he will not hold the truth in indifferency q2 Theſ. 2.10. God, he knowes, muſt be worſhipt trucly, that there be no haltingr1 King. 18.21, and totallr, that there be no halvingsHoſ. 7.8: for what communion hath Chriſt with Belial? and what fellowſhip hath the temple of God with idols t2 Cot. 6.16? Out upon thoſe Rimmonites, that plead for an upright ſoul in a proſtrate bodyu2 King. 5.18. Thou ſhalt not how down to them, nor worſhip them wExod 20, for any mans pleaſure. And why? for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, &c. therefore let my fear fall upon thee, as a ſtrong counter-blaſt to the baſe fear of any tyrantxAs the fifth commandement is the firſt with promiſe, ſo is the ſecond the firſt with puniſhment, which the Lord ſeverely threatens there, to them that worſhip him not aright, becauſe men commonly inflict puniſhment on them that do.. For as one fire drives out another, ſo doth the fear of God, the fear of the creature. Obadiah (for inſtance) that good ſteward of a bad Lord, that Non-ſuch-Ahab. I mean, a man that had ſold himſelf to do wickedneſſe y1 King. 21.20. Not ſo Obadiah: but (whatever my Lord the King, and the whole State do) I fear God greatly, ſaith he to the Prophetz1 King. 18.12 13.. I, but how ſhall this appear, Obadiah? Why, when Jezabel ki…d up the Lords Prophets, I (not ſtanding to caſt perils) hid them, and fed them by fif…y in a cave, not without the hazard of my head if it ſhould ever have been noticed. Loe here's a man of courage fearing God, aExo. 18.21.and he gave the beſt teſtimony of it, by ruling with God, and contiuuing faithfull with the Saints, as Judah; then when Ephraim compaſſed him about with lyes, and the whole houſe of Iſrael, with deceit.bHof. 11.12. Real. 4. c 2 Chr. 7.14.
But ſecondly, as the practiſe of this point proves one a Chriſtian fearing God, ſo a zealous forward chriſtian, one that ſolicitouſly thinks upon Gods name; that high and holy Name whereby he is called, and wherewith he is intruded,d2 Chr. 12 13 with charge not to take it in vaine, eExod. 20.but to bear it up aloft (as the wordfforeign elevavit, evexiticonfer. Eſay 5.26. elevabit vexillum ad gentes. in that third commandement ſignifies) to lift it up as a ſtandard, ſaying Jehovah Niſi gExo. 17.15.the Lord is my banner: or as ſervants do their maſters badges upon their ſhoulders, ſo they Gods Impreſs upon their forcheads, yea, upon the bridles of their horſes hZach. 14.20, 21.(in their common converſation alſo) even Holineſſe to the Lord. Being conſident of this very thing, with Paul, that in nothing they ſhall be aſhamed: but that with all boldneſſe, iforeign.as alwayes, ſo now Chriſt ſhall be magnified in their bodyes, whether it be by life or death. See an inſlance of this in the holy Apoſtles ſtanding before the Councill. We cannot, ſay they, but ſpeak the things we have heard and ſeen, what ever be the iſſue of itkAct. 4 20.. they being now (albeit afore fearfull and faint-hearted to the deſerting of Chriſt. and betraying a good cauſe by their cowardiſe, yet now being) not, drunk with new wine, as thoſe ſcoffers cavil…'d them,lAct. 2 13. foreign cavillantis. Beza contumeliam irriſionis indicat. Malcolm. but filled with the holy Ghoſt mEph. 5.18.(a wine that would mak…ven the lips of them that are aſleep to ſpeak nCint. 7:9.) were neceſſitatedo2 Cor. 5.14. foreign alludit ad vatum furorem. Beza. to an holy fo wardneſſe and forthputting: being like veſſels, that when they are fill'd and ſtopt up, muſt either vent or burſt without remedy. See it again in St. Paul, that precious man, who when once he became a choſen veſſell to the Lord Chriſt to bear his name, pAct. 9.15.never was he ſo mad qAct. 26.11.afore in havocking thoſe that called upon that name in all placesrAct 9.14, 21 Sunt qui prophetiam Jacobi de lupo proceſſuio è tribu Benjam. Paulo applic. as he was now fierce and fiery againſt all that did any thing contrary to the Name of Jeſus. sAct. 26.9.Not to meddle with his encountring of Elymas the ſorcerer; he ſet his eyes upon him tAct. 13.9. foreign. 10.faith the text, as it he would have run thorough him: After which lightening followed that terrible thunder-crack, O full of all ſubtlety, and miſchief &c. But more to our purpoſe is his handiing of Peter, a man that feared God as well as himſelf, put yet thought not all out to well upon his name (for that time at leaſt) as he did: whom therefore Pa…l withſtood to his face. uGal. 2 11.13He did not halt with him for company, as good Barnabas had done (being carried awayxforeign. by the author by of the man, againſt his old aſſociate …t. Paul, with whom alſo he had once before had a bitter bickeringyAct. 15.39. foreign. animorum exacerbatio, in qua aliquid ſuit aceti foreign enim acetum ſenat. a ſ…tting fit:) but blamed him before a great ſort of Peters own diſendes, wh…h found him temporizing ſhamefullyzCavendo ſeand…lum levius-gravius dedit id que geminum &c. pare que and not footing it aright aforeignaccording to the … that is in Chriſt, b2. Cor. 11.3.and the truth of the Goſpel. cGal. 2.14.Indeed Cardinad Baro… withſtands Paul as ſtifly as ever Paul did Peter: and dares maintain that Peter was net to be blamed, but Paul a great deal too buſie rather, A bod cenſure and well befitting a Jeſuite, with whom what more common (when they are in place where) then to vilitydOr mine own knowledge and hearting, ſome of them teach in the pulpit, that St. Paut was not ſecure of his preaching but by conforence with St. Peter: nor that he durſt publiſh his epiſtles till St. Peter had allowed them. I have heard alſo credibly reported that ſome of their Jeſuites of late in Italy, in ſolemn ſermons, —commending St. Peter for a worthy Spirit, have c…ntured St. Paul for a hot-headed perſon; who was ſo trans-Ported with the pangs of zeal, and eagerneſſe beyond ad compaſſe in moſt of his diſputes, that there was no great reekoning to be made of his Aſſertions; yea he was dangerous to reade, as ſavouring of hereſy in ſome places, and better perhaps he had never written. Agreeable to which Theard other of their Catholikes deliver, that it hath been heretofore very ſeriouſly conſulted among them, to have cenſured by ſome meanes, and reform'd the epiſtles of St. Paul&c. Sr. Edoein Sands in his Relation of the weſtern Religion. Oh tongues worthy to be pulled out of their heads, cut into gobbets, and driven down their throats, that durſt utter ſuch prodigious and till alate unheard of blaſphemies againſt the Lord Chriſt, and his heaven-inſpited Apoſtle. this prime Apoſtle, for dealing ſo roundly with their God Peter, and ſo to put the lye upon the Holy Ghoſt himſelf.
But I haſten to the third and laſt rank of Reaſons reſpecting others. And ſo Good men firſt ſhall be, by our holding out in hard times,c foreign much confirm'd and comforted, whiles we ceaſe not to ſpeak, as theſe in our text, and ſpeak of ten one to another: for thats the force of the Hebrew word here uſed (ſermonis frequentationem ſignificat, it imports a frequency of ſpeech, ſaith Kimchi)fIn Radicibus. And that's the property of true grace, to knit mens hearts in a holy communion, as alwayes, ſo in evill times eſpecially; for miſery breeds unity. And, although a friend love at all times, yet a brother is born for adverſity. gProv. 17.17.Sheep when they are courſed, nay ſwine, when they are lugg'd, will get together, and grunt together, and make what head they can againſt a common adverſary, for each others ſafety. And ſhall not the ſaints of God, who are linked together by the ſame ſpirit, and knit together by the ſame bond of love (that bond of their perfection hColof. 3.14.that unites perſons and vertues, and perfects them by frequent actions and offices tending to mutuall confirmation and encouragement) ſhall not ſuch, I ſay naturally iforeign. Philip. 2 21.care for the eſtate one of another? and ſtriving together for the faith of the goſpel, kforeign. Philip. 1.27.build up each other in that moſt holy faith, keep themſelves carefully in the love of God, pray together in the holy Ghoſt looking for the mercy of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; of ſome having compaſſion, making a difference, and others ſave with fear. pulling them out of the fire lJude 20.21, 22, 23. Hieron: vocat ſanctam violentiam, optabilem rapinam.? Bleſſed Bradford reckoned that hour loſt, during his impriſonment, wherein he had not done good to ſome one or other of his brethren and companions in tribulation, and in the king dome and patience of Jeſus Chriſt, mRev. 1 9.either by tongue, hand, or pennFox Martyrolog. Ibidem. Ibidem. Neither was the Lord wanting unto him in the good ſucceſſe of his holy endeavours that way, as appeares in the following inſtances. Biſhop Farrar being in the kings-bench priſoner, was travell'd withall of the Papiſts, in the end of Lent, to receive the ſacrament at Eaſter in one kind; who, after much perſwading, yielded unto them, and promiſed ſo to doe. Then ſo it fell out by Gods providence (ſaith mine Authour, in whoſe own words I relate the whole ſtory) the Eaſter-eave, the day before he ſhould have done it, was Bradford brought to the kings bench priſoner; where (the Lord making him his inſtrument) Bradford only was the meanes that the ſaid Biſhop revoked his promiſe, and would never after yield to be ſpotted with that papiſticall pitch. At another time, B. Ridley being priſoner in the Tower, had the liberty of the ſame, to prove belike (ſaith mine authour) whether he would go to maſſe or noe: which once he did. But Mr. Bradford being then priſoner, and hearing thereof, writeth an effectuall letter to perſwade him from the ſame, which (God be honoured) did Mr. Ridley no little good: for he repented thereupon and did no more ſo. Hence St. John, I write unto you, ſaith he, that do beleeve on the name of the ſon of God, that ye may beleeve on the name of the ſon of God o1 Ioh. 5.13., that is, that you may, by my writing, be further confirmed, continued and increaſed in the faith once received.*Memini, inquit Lutherus, initio meae cauſae D. Staupicium-ad me dicere:boc mihi placet, quod de doctrina quam praedicas, gloriam & omnia ſoli Deo attribuis. Deo nutem (quod luce clarius eſt) nimium glorie & bonitatis tribui non poteſt. Eavox me vehementer confirmavit & conſolata eſt Melchior Adam vit. staup. The zealous forwardneſſe, and godly care of good people in bad times being a matter of ſingular availe for the ſettling, ſtrengthening, and ſtabliſhing of the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees which elſe would buckle and warp, and turn out of the way.pHeb. 12.12.13. Reaf. 6.
Laſtly, as good men ſhall be hereby confirmed, ſo bad men convinced and confounded, not only in the laſt and general judgement (when the Queen of the ſouth ſhall riſe up and condemne ſuch a ſluggard as Herod the king, who deſired to ſee Chriſt qLuc. 9 9. Tamen ne pedem regiâ extulit at illum videre, trametſi ſibi in animum induxerat deum prophetā excitaſſe à mortuis. Ex que quam verum illud ſit Luc. 16. ult videre licet. Cart. Hiſt. Chriſti.(of whoſe great works he had heard but would not ſtirr a foot to finde him out) but in this preſent world alſo, they are made many times to return and diſcern between the rightcous and the wicked, between him that ſerveth God, and him that ſerveth him not. Witneſſe thoſe two mighty Monarchs in Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar and Darius. How was the firſt of theſe appaled and abaſhed, when he ſaw the well-knit reſolution, and redoubted courage of Gods three worthies, in changing the kings word and yeelding their bodyes that they might not worſhip a ſtrange God rDan. 3.28.29? And the latter, how was he amuſed, and amazed, when Daniel had ſtopt the mouthes of lions (like another Lyſimachus) by the force of his faithtHeb. 11.33. after he had ſtood it out ſtoutly to the face of his adverſaries, who could finde none occaſion againſt him but in the matter of his God uDan. 6.5.? How did the innocency and piety of theſe godly men triumph in the conſciences of thoſe two tyrants; making them afraid of the name of God whereby they were called, xDeu 28.9, 10and compelling them to vote and voice the ſame way that they had perſecuted:yDan. 3. & 6. yea and to proclaime that God for the onelyonly true God, whom yet they had no minde to ſet up for their own God. For ſo it is, that even naturall conſcience cannot but ſtoop and do homage to Gods image fairely ſtampt upon the natures and works of his people: ſo that when men ſee in ſuch, that which is above the ordinary ſtraine, and their own expectation*Di…leſianus Imperium depoſuiſſe di…itur, quodam wentis ſtupo…e, & conſternatiene, poſtquam ſingularem Chriſtianorum in morte conſtantiam perſpexiſſet. Bucholcher. Chronol.; their bearts ane within them many times, and they ſtand much amazed at the height of ſpirit, and reſolution that poſſeſ…eth their hearts, and at the ſober and undaunted majeſty that ſhines in their faceszActs 6 15. Ʋnde judicature cocouſerentiae puritas cavſaeque bonitas. Malcolm. in loc. A godly man that is immovable, and reſuſeth to praiſe the wicked, or juſtiſie the ungodly, and when he hath cauſe will contend with them, and not be like a trenbled ſountain, or a coriup ſpring, he may ſor the time receive ill words from the wicked, but their hearts are afraid of him, and their conſciences admire him, Prov. 24 25 and 28.4. 25.6..
SECT. III. Ʋſe 1. A ſharpe Reproof of
1. Lukewarm Laodiceans,
2. Timerous Temporizers.
NOw for Application of all: Is this ſo,Ʋſo 1. that Gods liege people ſhould ſhine moſt in the greateſt darkneſſe, and then ſhew themſelves moſt zealous for their Lord, when others are moſt andacious in ſinne? This then ſerves, firſt, for the juſt and ſharp reproof, of all our lukewarme …, our Veſpertilian-profeſſours, (as one call them) the Neuter paſſive Chriſtians, (as another) the Polititians … our time: who againſt one preſcript rules of Gods holy word, the covſtant practiſe of to many famous Saints, the irrefragable, and endoubte… truth of the point in hand, hold it beſt and ſafeſt, when all's done, to ſerve the times aRom. 12.11. Omnino legendum puto foreign, …za. non foreign us …aſ, in a ſence …rre otherwiſe then Saint Paul meant it, (if ever he meant itb… Epiſt. Tomi je…undi … ad Marcellam.) to … down the common current, to keep them ſelves ſtill on the warme ſide of the hedge*Ad latus navis falicius, … …emporum …atione, ſeſe indimant; pro re nata religtonem o…n, … nunc illùc in…ectunt, & commedis ſais attemperant Bucholter. Chronol p. 559, to comport and comply with the preſent company, though never to bad; approving and applauding them in their wretched courſes, ſtudiouſly ſhunning, as the greateſt d…grace to be counted Seraphicall, and ſingular: and therefore reſolving to do as the moſt do, though in ſo doing they be utterly undone for ever*Marth. 7. 13. R…a…lus …ex Phryſ…um …. And (that they may not ſeem ſine ratione inſanice, to be out of reaſon mad) they plead Seripture for defence of their baſeneſſe; would you think it? But what marvell, when as the devili alſo. (their maſter in this black Art) can come with b ble under arm, and pretend ſeriptum eſt cMarth 4., perverting the holy Seriptures to his yet … damnation: as theſe unlearned and unſtable dforeign. 2 Pet 3.16.alſo do, whiles they ſpare not to wreſt and abuſe to their wicked purpoſe that of the Preacher, W… him that's alone eEccieſ. 4.10. and 7.16.: and again, Be not rightcous over much: and that of Saint Paul, Offer unto God a reaſonable ſor…ice fRom. 12 1., and i became all things to all men g1 Cor. 9.22. How ſhall theſe cry out one day with Severus the Emper…; C…nu…a jui & nihil exped …. Hence they think themſelves ſufticiently ſecured, and ſhrowded from the dint of any ſuch reproof as this is: pleuſing themſelves in a cold and careleſſe mediocrity in ſpirituall matters; and fearing nothing more then to be eſteemed too preciſe, fellows of an odde humour, and engroſſers of more grace then ordinary. Which imputation to decline and avoid, they hold that for Goſpel*…; He that … diſſemble is not in caſe to live in a common-wealth, which was all the Latine that Low is the eleventh of France would have his ſome to learn. And that they may keep correſpondency at once (as they fondly drea… it) with God and the world (ſooner then which, they may … fire and water, yea bring heaven and earth together, and gripe them … in a fiſt) they can, Chamoeleon like, turn themſelves into any coloum accommodate themſelves to any company; and like the planet Mercury, they can bee good in conjunction with good, and bad with bad.*… nature figuris. In quamcunque voles verte, decorus ero. Propertius. Such of old were thoſe Aſſyrian Colonies, 2 King. 17.41. that ſeared the Lord, and withall ſerved their graven images *Red…ald K. of Eaſt Saxons, the firſt of his nation that was baptized: but aſterwards ſeduced by his wife, he had in the felſ ſame Chappell, one Altar for Chriſts religion, and auother for fact…ces unto devils Bede.. And ſuch for all the world, were their ſucceſſours the Samaritans, of whom Joſephus recordeth, that they could weather-cock-like, turne with the timesbPro prsſentitemporum condirtone mutabiles …. Quoties Judaeos faeheites degere videant, cogn to… eorum ſe appellant, utpote à Joseph or…un…i: quanao vero cos re bus adverſts conſ… …ellig…nt, …., and ſhift fail, with the ſea-man, to the ſitting of every wind. The Jews, while they flouriſhed, ſhould be their dear Couſins; but, if at any time under-hatches they would not once own them. Such alſo may the ancient Nazarites ſeem to have been, who (as the learnediJunius in para…sis. conceive) miſled at firſt by example of Saint Peters Judaizing at AntiochkGal. 2 11., fell afterwards to defend ſuch halting betwixt two religions, and ſought to bring in a miſcellany of both. In deteſtation of which new-bred hereſie (falſely faſtned upon them by the infamous name of Nazarites) it is thought that the Church of Autic…h proteſting againſt that Sect and title, called themſelveslAct 11.26. by the (once honorable, but now among the Antichriſtian rout, deſpicablemIt is noto…ioutly known, that the moſt honoutable name of Chriſtian is in Italy and a Rome a name of reproach, and uſually abuſed to ſiguitie a fool, or a dolt. Fuik. on the Rhem. …. Act. 11. ſect. 4 …t of …. Franch Coll. Jeſuit in fine.) name of C…riſtians. Such were the ancient Ebionites, and the modern Libertines, Nioodemites, Familiſts. Of the former, Euſ…hius tells us, that they would keep the Sabbath with the Jews, and the Lords day with the Chriſtiaes: like men that would ſeem to be of all religions, when in truth they were of nonenSabbata cum Judaeis, nohiſcum diem Dom…um in honorem … obſervarunt. Ebionaei verè pauperes in agnitinne gloriae Chriſli. Euſeb. lib. 3. cap. 27.: Of the latter, Cal…in and many others complain, that they held it no ſinne to ſerve idols with their bodies among Papiſts and Pagans, ſo they kept their heart free to God; pretending for their practiſe, that counſell of Apochryphall Baruc, Chap. 6 Wherefore when … ſee the mul…ituae of people worſhipping them b…hind and before, ſay in your beares, O Lord is is thou that oughteſt onelyonly to be worſhipped. Such a Polititian was Eceh…lus oEcebolius ſe ad Imperatorum ingenia & naturam conformans, &c. S…rat. Eccleſbiſt. l 3 c. 11. Such alſo were the Melchites, a kinde of mongrell Chriſtians that would be of the kings religion whatever it was. Brierwoods E…isies ex Niceph.of old, and Baldvinus alate: of whom Beza reſtifies, that he had religio…m ep…emevam, for every day a new religion, ab his ad illos, ab illos ad hos levitèr ieas & l…vius tranſiens *Melchi-r Vius exter 225; to day a Papiſt, to morrow a Proteſtant, in nothing ſo conſtant as in his unconſtancy. And have we not now adayes (that I may come lower and nearer home) more then a good manypHeu quam mult…s tales …um doctr…â …um morthus Samaritanos—inter Chriſtianos hodie reperias qut et in religione ſunt foreign, dubij at que neutrales, & ad latus navis foelicius, pro temporum ratione. ſeſe inclinant, &c. Buchol. Chronol., brats of the ſame breed, beaſts of the ſame litter, that ſtand halting between two, in utrunque paratt, unreſolv'd to either, and ready to be any thing with the State. Theſe ask not of their father (ſaith a Divine) a fiſh but a ſcorpion: for a fiſh would teach them to go onelyonly forward, but a ſcorpion doth teach them to go backward and forward. Like they are to Barnacles, ſaith Saint Auſtin, that are neither fleſh nor fiſh: to Bats, that are neither birds nor beaſts: to the mongrell Iſraelites, that ſpak both Hebrow and Aſhdod qNchem. 13.24.: to Balaam, that could both bleſſe and curſerNumb 23., to the ſonnes of Iſſachar, mea skilfull in the times s1 Chron. 12.32.. Uſing religion for a cloak, to wear abroad, caſt off at home; or to put on, onelyonly upon high-dayes, when they are to converſe with their betters, as Jeroboams wife did her demure clothest1 King. 13.2., when ſhe was to ſpeak with the Prophet. Of all which kind of perſons, I may juſtly ask, as Jacoh once of his loſt Joſeph, Here's the coat but where's the manuGen. 37.33.? a party-colour'd coat, a double minded man wJames 1.8. foreign., …ſtable in all his wayes, impriſoning the truth in uarightcauſmſſe xRom. 1.18. foreign, and diſſembling it ever and anon for carnall reſpects; palling in his horns, with the ſnail, for every pile of graſſe, and aſhamed of his Maſters cognizance for every light counterblaſt of diſgrace or danger. Oh deteſtable ſheepiſhneſſe, and daſtardlineſſe, fit for ſuch a doom, even to be turned out among dogs yPev 22 15.and hell hounds. For the fe…r u…, and unbelreving, and the abominable, and murderers, &c. ſhall all have their part in the burning lake zRevel 21.8.: but the fearfull firſt. Lo theſe are heid worthy to be ſet in the front, and to lead the ring-dance of ſuch rehrohates, as ſhall be hurl'd into hell. The Lord holds all ſuch white-liver'd ſould…ers in ſuch ſpeciall deteſtation, that he will not employ them ſo far, as to break a pitcher or to bear a torch in his ſerviceaJudg 7.3.. And for as many as are aſhamed of Chriſt aſore men, he will one day be as ſhie every whit, and as much aſhamed of them before his Father, and the bleſſed Angels bMark. 8.38.: at what time he will make moſt ample relation, and all honourable mention of every ſuch Oaeſiphorus as was not aſhamed of his chaine, c2 …nn. 1 10, 17, 18but fed him hungry, cloathed him nak…d, viſited him impriſoneddMar. 25.53. &c. the good Lord will grant them to fiade mercy, nay glory and honour and immortality in that dayeRom 2.7.
And laſtly for all luke-warm Laodicean…, proſligate profeſſours, and temporizing Goſpellers that can tune their ſiddles to the baſe of the times, reſolving to play nothing but what the company calls for, the Lord will ſpew ſuch paraſi…es out of his mouth,fRev. 3.16. N…hil Salvator medium amat, tepidos evemiit Hieron. as too loathſome a morſell for his nice ſtomach to brooke or beare with. Now when a man ſpues he gets him into a corner: ſo will Almighty God rid his ſlomack of ſuch into Hell. Ab, ſaith he, I will eaſe me of mine enemies, gEſay 1.I will lay up this loathſome ſtuff that lies ſo hard upon my ſtomach, which done, the devill, as a dog, ſtands ready waiting to lick up Gods vomit: he works up and down, ſaith St. Peter for the nonce) ſeeking whom be may ſwallow down: h1 Pet. 5.8. foreign.whence alſo he is eliewhere called thegreat red dragon: iRev. 12 3. foreign c…uentur …gn…us, inſernalis. Uſe 2.a dragon for his cruelty, and a greatred dragon, for the blood of ſoules he hath ſuckt, and wherein he hath drencht and even dyed himſelt red again.
SECT. 4. Ʋſe 2. A ſortable Exhortation to courage for Chriſt, with foure helps ….
WHoſe madneſſe let us all learn to enjoy,*Optimum eſt al ena ſ…ui inſ…ia. and (for a ſecond uſe) be exhorted to ſett ſeriouſly in hand with the practne of th… moſt …, but much neglected duty: labouring to ſhine forth in theſe evill time,kEpheſ 5.16 like the Lam? that ſhined out in the ſmoakie ſurnace: lGen. 15.17like the bright Harr that ſhewe… it … in the midſt of darkneſſe:mMarthew 2 nay like God himſelf who then …, beſt works when men are at worſt,n1 Pet. 1 5 with 2 Tim. 3 1 2 Pet. 3 3 overcomming our evill with his good, and not ſufrring our perverſeneſſe to inte rupt the courſe of his kiedneſſe.oHoſ. 2 13. Beye … herem of God, as dear children, p…phe…. 5 1 As … ſ…rred up his ſheng … when he heard the Phili…ns were upon himlet your piety and patience then moſt appear, when impiety and violence do moſt prevail. Let your zeal (by an holy … riſtaſis) then ſlame out and break thorough all impedimants, when most oppos'd and oppugned: like lime which is k…ndled with water: like gold that g…ſt…rs moſt in the fire: like the roſe that ſmels ſweeter in the ſtill then upon the ſtalk Sauls malice ſerves but to enhance Davids z…l: the more outragiou, was the one, the more couragious was the other; As the colder the ayre, the more the fire ſcorcheth, and as the harder the weather the more the ba…h ſcald…th. And what though David here traytor q1 Sam. 22.8from Saul, and runnagate r1 Sav 25 10from Na…al, and all that naught is from the abjects and baſe companims, that came round about him and made mouthes at him. sVſal. 35.15It is a brave thing to do well and h…ar ill,tforeign: Mog. in Plut. Apaph … his Martyr. ſaid that Heathen-Prmce. And, Doe well and hear ill is written upon heaven gate, ſaid that Martyr u once, that was haſting thither Elias-like) in a fiery charret. Gods way was ever evill-ſpoken of, and ſuch a trodd it, as little favoured of the world, as David was of the Philiſtin-Princes.w1 … 29.9 But what ſaith the ſon of D…vid, who himſelf alſo was called traitour and Beelzebub, and had tr…ll of cru…li mockings and ſcourgings, yea moreover of bonds and impriſonm…nt? xHeb. 11.36… are ye when men ſhall revile you and perſecute you, and ſhall ſay all manner of evill against you for my ſake, Rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven. yMat. 5 11.12 Gentiles chrisitanos dixerunt hemicidas. ſacrilegos, inceſtos, hojies publicos, adoraiores aſini &c Te…ull.Take up the reproach of the mad multitude (that ſpeak … of that good … know not, *2 Pet. 2.12having hearts as barren of grace as Michols womb was of children) and ſay: It was before the Lord z2 Saru. 6.22. Ego Datitem plu … cit. Gr…g lib. 27. cap 26.who hath done ſuch and ſuch great thing for me, and therefore if this be to be vile, Ple be yet more vile to you, that I may be more preciouſly eſteemed of God. What though you finde few or none that will ſet in, or ſide with you in this important worke, in this one thing neccſſary? aLake 10.42what though all men forſake you, as they did st. Paul at his firſt anſwerb2 Tia. 4.16, 17 18 and epperance before Neroes tribunall: yet the Lord will ſtand with thee, and ſtrengthen thee, as he did him, yea preſerve thee ſafe and entire to his heavenly kingdom. Lift up the hands therefore that hang down, and the feeble knees: cHeb. 12.12.yea liſt up your eyes, and ſee heaven open over your heads with Steven, dAct. 7.55.56 Agnotheae dicebantur, qui ſacris certamimbus praeerant erantq…decem. viri. Jul: PolieGod and his holy Angels looking on and applauding him: yea ſee Christ himſelf (that heavenly Agonotheta) ſtanding over thee, as there,cHeb. 12.12. and holding out unto thee an immarceſc…bl crown with this inſcription, VINCENTI DAEO. To him that overcommith, will Lgrant to ſit with me in my throne, even as Lalſo overcume and am ſett down with my father in his throne. fRev. 3 21.In confidence of which high prize, let the ſaints be encouraged, Ioſhua-like, to advance forward in a holy ſingularity, with all ſweet content, and undauntedneſſe of ſpirit, toward that incorruptible and unfadeableg1 Pet. 1.4. foreign Yea like pearles which though they grow in the ſea, yet retain the colour and brightens of heaven Chrrs. crown above: not ſwimming down the ſtream of the times, nor being carried along by the ſwinge and ſway of the place where they love: but like ſiſhes retaining their naturall ſweetneſſe in the ſalt ſea:*Orcus …avius in Pencum illabitur, quem nec Peneus recipit, ſed inſtar oſei ſuper nuanteth brevi ſpatio portatum abdicat, nec penales aquas, Diriſque genitas, argenteis ſuis aquis miſceri permittit. Solin. like Salamander unſcorchtin the fire: like oyle that will overtop all other liquors, but not commingle:*Orcus …avius in Pencum illabitur, quem nec Peneus recipit, ſed inſtar oſei ſuper nuanteth brevi ſpatio portatum abdicat, nec penales aquas, Diriſque genitas, argenteis ſuis aquis miſceri permittit. Solin. ever holding a conſtant countermotion to the courſe of the world, and the corruptions of the time; that ainidſt all, you may keep a good conſcience, that richeſt treaſure, and deareſt Jewel (as One ſarth well) that ever the heart of man was acquainted with.
To help you herein for it is a duty of greateſt difficulty) take theſe few rules and directions. Lirſt. preſſe upon your could nees the former precepts; Follow not a melcitudehExod. 23 2. S…turham invitari volueritis, inter paucos anguſtam cram amoulantes non eritis Aug. &c. with the reſt above recited: conſider withail the equity and reaſonableneſſe of thoſe commandements: for there is not any one law of God but is holy and juſt and good, iRom. 7.12. Majer pars meliorem vincat. Non poſſamiss negare plures eſſe maſos; & tam plures…ut inter eosprorſus non oppareant grana in area. Aug. in Pſal 47.Could we but ſee into it. Who cannot ſay that the greater part overcomm…th, the baster, and that the moſt are ever the wor…; and ſhall we go againſt common fenſe, and univer ſall experience? Beſides, the ſeriptures are plain in this point as in all other, ſimply neceſſa y to ſalvation) telling us that the way to hell is broad and well beaton: and the many go in there, at. But o… how ſtraight is the gare, and narrow the way that leades to life, and how few there be that ſinde it. kMat 7.14. foreign In vetuſtis codicibus legitur foreign id que Theophylactus interpretatur, quaſi particula n ſit admiran tis, & ita ſeriptum eſſet foreign;Chriſt ſlock hath ever been found a little flock:lLuc. 12.32. foreign. ſtanding, as the hoſt of lſrad, like two little ſlocks of kids: when the wicked (on to'ther ſide) like the Aramites, fill the country.m1 King. 20.27. in This the put blind Philoſopher could ſee, and therefore ſay, Sapiendum cum p…uc is: m and Diogenes thought he ſhould ever do beſt, when he did leaſt what the most did. And Caſſianus counſels us in his epiſtles. Vive ut pauci, &c. Live as thoſe ſeweſt live; that with the few ye may be found in the kingdome of heaven.nut cum paucis inveniri merearis in regno dei. It was a brave anſwer of Liberius an orthodox Biſhop in the primitive times who when he was preſſed by the Emperour Conſtantius to forſake the truth, and vote for Arrianiſme by this argument.oTheodoret. lib. 2. cap. 16. Quota pars es tu orbis terrarurn? Art thou wiſer then all the world?*Mali undi que perſirepunt, Quare ſic vivis? Tu ſolus chriſtianus es, quare non facis quod facium alijs Aug. in Pſal. Dementia est-re ſolum in doctrina relrgionis majorem eſſe lucem conſecutum putare, quam tot hominum millra multis jam ſeculis videre potuerunt &c. Malvenda apud Senarchaenum in vita Johan Diazij He very honeſtly and diſcreetly reply'd, The truth is no whit prejudiced by my aloneneſſe in ſtanding out: nam & olim tres ſoturn &c. for of old alſo there were there only that would withſtand the wicked edict of the king of Babel. And remarka…le is the ſpeech of Nicolas the firſt, Biſhop of Rome to Michael the Emperour of Conſtantinople.pNumerus puſillus non obeſt ubi abundat pietas, nec multiplex predeſt ubi abundat impietas. It matters not how ſrnall the number he, if godly: nor how great, if ungodly: ſith multitude and Antiquity are but ciphers in Divinity, and not much to be ſtood upon, ſurther then they will bear waignt in the ballance of the Sanctuary.qNon numeranda ſuffragra ſed expendenda. Non numero haec judrcantur ſed pondere. Tull Off..
Secondly, ſtudy that great but much neglected art of ſelf deniall; and learn to ſay peremptoryrLuc. 9.23. foreign with a ſtout and conſtant denial again & again, to ſo unreaſonable a requeſt. nay to any whether perſon or thing (theugh never ſo deare or delightfull) that would coole thy courage for Chriſt, or call thee cſt this moſt ſavoury courſe. And firſt, if carnall Reaſon come in and offer to obtrude that twiſe-ſodden colewortſCrambe bis poſita foetet. Eraſ. of hers (perſwading thereby to a politick forbearance of forwardneſſe by the fear of what may follow) Be not righteous overmuch, neither make thy ſelf over-wiſe tEccleſ. 7.16.q. d. be diſcreet and wary, and ſtand not ſo ſtrictly upon tearmes of conſcience: why ſhouldſt thou deſtroy thy ſelf? why ſhouldſt thou incurr the needleſſe danger of envy and vexation, by thruſting thy ſelf over-eagerly into obſervation? Stop thine eares, I ſay, to this ſubtle enchantreſſe,uMat. 16.24. and rather harken to the voice of Gods ſpirit in the verſes immediatly following. Be not wicked overmuch (ſaith he, in oppoſition to that former, Be not juſt overmuch wEccle 7.17 See Pemble in locum.) q. d. He that ſlackes, and remits but a little in goodneſſe, and (for his owne eaſe and honour) qualifies it, though but with a little degree of badneſſe, the ſame is wicked, and over-much wicked: Neither be fooliſh (in oppoſition to that above-ſaid, Be not wiſe over-much) as all are, that temper ſpirituall wiſdome with carnall pollicy: for why ſhouldſt thou dye before thy time? to wit, by an unſeaſonable death from Gods hand; then when it were better for thee to do any thing then to dye: ſith after death there is judgement, and hell-fire, and all to be paſſed thorough by the poore ſoule. This is the voice of heaven, wherewith ye are to ſtill and ſtop the mouth of that wiſdome which deſcendeth not from above, but is earthly, ſenſual, devilish.xIam. 3.15.
Next, for carnall friends, deny your ſelf alſo in themyDeut 33 9. if you mean to keep in with Chriſt. They'le be ready enough with Peter zMat. 16.22. foreign.to prompt you to be good to your ſelf, and not raſhly to run the hazard of a ſingularitan, to your I know not how great diſgrace and diſadvantage*If my father ſtood weeping on his knees before me, and my mother hanging on my neck behind me &c. I would ſling my mother to the ground, run over my ſacher, and tread him under my feet, thereby to run to Chriſt, when he calls me. Hierome. &c. For a counter-poiſon, conſider: is there any friend to God? or any foe to him? Did not Eli pay dear for diſpleaſing the Lord, to pleaſe his childrena1 Sam. 2.29. See the ſtory of Rebezies the Prench martyr Act. & Mon f 842.? and had it not like to have coſt Moſes his life for forbearing to circumciſe one child (as he had done another) for angring his wifebExod. 4.24.? Tell me not here …ſhall be mockt, and hooted at, if I refuſe to be faſhionable. why, what of that? if a lame man laugh at thine upright walking, wilt thou therefore halt*foreign v. Plato.? if dogs bark and bounce at the Moon, ſhall ſhe therefore hide her head, and ceaſe to ſhine any longercEn peragit curſus-ſurda Diana, ſuos.? David becam the drunkards ſong, and a by-word among the ſons of Belial, who came round about him, making mouths and mowes dPſ 35.15, 16was he ever a whit the worſe man for that? Did not Paul hear Peſt, eAct. 24.5. foreign, a botch.Eliſha baldpate f2 King. 2.23. Aſcend thou bald-pate as Eliah did before thee Sarcaſticè, our Saviour himſelf Conjurer,ob. traitour, mad-man? So true is that of Chryſoſtome, ſol.Mad ſinners cenſure all for mad that come ſhort of themſelves in madneſſegInter inſanos. inſanus videtur quiſquis non inſanit.. A very Philoſopher could pitty thoſe that ſet him at naught, and count it his honour and happineſſe to be deſpiſed by the many hforeign.. And Seneca's enemies could not faſter learn to raile, then he to neglect.ididicit ille maledicere, & ego contennere 3 Deny your ſelves further, in your liberties*I am in phſon till I am in priſon ſaid Sincere Saunders. Act. Mon. p. 1358. 1 King. 22 26, 27. with Michaiah, who would not biaſſe for any mans pleaſure, nor voice with the reſt of Ahabs paraſiticall Prophets, though he were ſure to kiſs the ſtocks for his ſtiffneſſe, and there to be fed with hard-meat, till the kings return in peace. Deny your ſelves aſtly in your lives, if call'd unto it. What cared the three children for Nebuchadnezzars wrath, burning ſeven times hotter then his furnacekDan 3.16.19. I occidere potes, lsdere non poteſt. Patus de Nerone apud Dion: Caſſ:? kill them he might poſſibly, *Mihi vita eripi poreſt, at non conſeſſio verit atis. Baſil.burt them he could not lMat. 16.24. abdicat ſemetipſum, & perinde habet atque ſi nihil adſe pertineret. Beza, and that made them ſo reſolute. For he that truly feares God, and thinks upon his name, dreads no danger,*Hie est ille Farellius qui nullis difficultaibus fractus, ruallis minis, convitiis, verberibus deni que inflictis territus &c. Melchior Ad. in vit. p. 115. feares no colours, denyes himſelf utterly, m takes Chriſts croſſe upon his ſhoulders, a fagot in his armes, and his life in his hand, n1 Sam. 19.5.and ſo reſolves to follow Chriſt thorough thick and thin, thorough fire and water, poiſon and ſword, or any thing elſe that ſtands in his way. *
Thirdly blow up thy ſmaller ſpark into a flame of zeal; which is an extream heat of all the affections, love, joy, defire, indignation, deteſtation, and the reſt This as it will make us come off more roundly in Gods hardeſt or hotteſt ſervices, (fervent in ſpirit ſerving the Lord oRom. 12.11. foreign, boyling. It is ſaid of Baruch in, repai…ing the wall of Jeruſalem, he repaired earneſtly; or as ſome read it, So accendit, he fired himſelf from others chilneſs, and ſo ſimſhed his portion in a thorter time., ſaith the Apoſtle) ſo it will kindle it ſelf from others coldneſſe, ſharpen it ſelf from others dulneſſe, quicken it ſelf from others ſlowneſſe and heavineſſe to duty: like as the cold of the air makes in us our naturall heat the ſtronger, and as water cauſeth the fire in the forge to flame the faſter. See an inſtance of this in David: My zeal, ſaith he, hath conſumed me, becauſe thine enemies hath forgotten thy pPſal. 119.139word. Lo, his anger ſo burnt againſt the ſinners of his time, that it eat him up qPſal. 69 9., yea it inflamed his very hatred. So far was he from running along with them, that he abhorred them in his heart: for do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee, and am not I grieved with thoſe that riſe up againſt thee? I hate them with perfect hatred, I count them mine enemies rPſal 139.21, 22. Verſe 20. Quoed Sol eodemi inere meabit, quo n…nc meat, eoúſque nunquam ſocieratem cam Xerxe coibimus I acedaem. ap. Plut.. David knew well that patience in Gods cauſe, and in caſe of his offence, was but blockiſhneſſe; moderation, mopiſhneſſe; connivence, cowardize; and that madneſſe here was better then meekneſſe: which made him hate ſuch wicked ones as ſpoke againſt God, and took his Name in vain, with perfection of hatred: and not make dainty upon any politique reſpect, to caſt down the gauntlet of defiance to the faces of them, as his utter enemies. Now the bleſſing of God light on that Good heart that hath a ſtomack (as David, and the good people in the Text had) againſt God; diſhonour. But 'tis a fearfull thing, and a ſore ſigne of a ſpirituall declenſion, when Chriſtians can comport with Gods enemies; and diſgeſt their oaths and other outrages, with as much eaſe, as the Oſtrich doth the hardeſt iron. The angel of Epheſus could not abide them that were evil, nor away with thoſe counterfeits, that called themſelves A…oſtles, and were none ſRev. 2.2., and is highly commended for it: though otherwiſe none of the forwardeſttVerſ. 4. Avaritiae nomine taxari videtur bonus alioqui Epiſcopus. Pareus. Si fuit Timothcus, u… quidam centendunt, &c. ib. ver. 1.. When the contentious Corinthians heard carnall, for comming ſo near, and looking ſo like the wicked, that they could hardly be diſtinguiſhed. Are ye not carnal…, and walk as men u1 Cor. 3.3. foreign.? A foul fault in a Chriſtian.
Laſtly, Think ſadly and ſeriouſly upon thine h…h and heavenly calling wHeb. 3.1., and labour to walk as … Apoſtle often exhortsxEpheſ. 4.1. Coloſ. 1.10. 1 Theſſ. 2.12.: And know, that God will … from others which he will not abide in his own.yforeign. Every cal…ing hath a Decorum, a ſeemlineſſe, a ſuitableneſſe appertaining to it. A Gentleman hath another manner of behaviour then a ſcullion, a Courtier then a Carter, a Prince then a peſant: and ſo ſhould a Chriſtian too, then another man. He ſhould demean himſelf nobl…, heavely, gellantly zforeign, Heb. 13 18 foreign, Rom 13.13. foreign, Tit. 2.3. foreign. 1 Theſ 2.12. foreign, Eph 5 15. foreign, to go to the utmoſ of a thing., worthy of God, and as becommeth a ſaint aEpheſ 5 3., a citizen or heaven, and a burgeſſe of the new JeraſalembEph 2.19.: Not clownſnly, unworthily, baſely fooliſhlycEph. 5.15., like an inhabitant of the earth dRev. 12.12., or a …ree-holder or helleMat. 24.51. foreign.. Greateſt States afford leaſt libertyfIn maxima fortuna minima licentia. Saluſt in Cat., and therefore are ſuch worſe (ſaith that …ather) though they be no worſe then others, becauſe they ought to be bettergIdeo deteriores ſ…mus quia meli…res eſſe debemus. calvi.. It is ſome ſingular thinghM…t 547. foreign. that God looks for from his people; and that which is excellent, extraordinary, and above vulgar pollibility. Should ſuch a man as I ſhe? ſaid good Nehemtah iNeh. 6.11.q. d. Though other men …aply may, yet … may not do it: though the Philiſtines might carry Gods Ark in a new cart, and hear no further of himk1 Sam. 6 10, 11: yet if Iſrael attempt ſuch a thing God will make a breach upon theml2 Sam. 6 8. This is that which the Lord hath ſaid, I will be ſanctified in all them that draw near unto me mL…vi…. 10 3., Sanctified he will be, one way or other; either in us or upon usnAut a nobis, aut in nos Aug. Keeping their vertue f…ll like a pear in a puddle.. 'Tis ſure, he will be no loſer by us: as he ſhould be in a high degree, ſhould not we be harmeleſſe and blameleſſe, the ſonnes of God, without rebuke, in the midſt of a crooked and p…r…erſe generation amongst whom we ſhine as l…ghts oPhil. 2 15.. ſo that the Sun may go unſeen, as ſoon as ſuchpQai in excelſo aetatem ag…nt, eo…um facta cunclin. …ales novire. Saluſt. ad Caeſarem.. And as the leaſt aberrarion is quickly eſpied in thoſe heavenly bodies, ſo in the ſaints of God: nothing they do eſcapeth ſight and cenſure; all is markt and obſervedqOmnium oculi in te ſunt conve…ſi S…m. S…ip. They watch for my halting rJer 20.10. foreign, 1 Pet 2.2 They are not obſerved that do as the moſt: but if any vary from the multitude, all eyes are upon him. Biſhop Halls Contemp., ſaith Jeremy, as thoſe that would deſire no better ſport: they pore and pry…ſ into every particular, if haply they may take us. tripping in any thing; they ſearch into our whole converſation more narrowly, more thoroughly, then Laban once did into lacobs ſtuffetGen. 31.34 ready preſt, and prepared to blaze, and blaſpheme for the leaſt ſlip they can lay hold on, be it but in a raſh and indiſcreet ſpeech that falls from us, or the like. Now what a glory is it to ſlaughter envy it ſelf? to ſtop an open mouth? nay to reprove their darkneſſe by our lightuEpheſ. 5.11., their covetouſneſſe by our contentedneſſe, their pride by our lowlineſs, their peeviſhneſs by our patience and peaceableneſs, &c. and ſo to clothe them with their own ſhamewPſal 109 29, by our unblameable behaviour, that they ſhall ſelf condemnedxforeign, Tit. 3.11. Iuſtinus martyr fatctur ſe, conſpectá Chriſi ianorum plotate in vita, conſlantiá autem in morte. collegiſſe veram eſ. ſe, quam proſ… terentur, doctrinam. return and diſcern between the righteous and tho wicked: and be forced to teſtifie of us, as Saul of David, that we are more righteous then they y1 Sam. 24 17. This is to ſhine as lights zforeign. Pſal. 2.15.in the world. Herein indeed, like the Sun, which although wicked men may at ſometimes hate, becauſe it diſcovereth their deeds of darkneſſe, yet are they ſo convinced with its beauty and excellency, that they cannot for ſhame ſpeak againſt it.
Now to wind up all in a word: Look to your ſ…lves that we loſe not thoſe things that we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward a2 Joh. 8.. The ends of the world, you ſee, are come upon us b1 Cor 10.11, caſt we are upon the laſt and worſt times of allchis u…imis & peſſimis temporibus. Berrard., thoſe hard and perillous times d2 Tim. 3.1. foreign., which the Apoſtle long ſince prophecied of: wherein becauſe iniquity aboundeth, the love of many is waxen cold eMat. 24.12.. Who ſeeth not every age worſe then other, and (to go no further) this then the laſt*It is remarkable that Mr. Fox relates of our Anceſio…s even in K. H. 8. time. Cerres the ſervent zeal of thoſe Chriſtian days ſeemed much ſuperiour to theſe our times, as appeared by their ſitting up all night in reading & hearing, &c. To ſee their travels, earneſt ſeekings, burning zeals, readings, watchings, ſweet aſſemblies, love. concord, godly living, ſaithfull marrying with the ſaithfull, may make us now in theſe ci… dayes of ſree proſ…eſſion to bluſh … ſhane Act. & Mon. or the Church. fol 750. Do not diverſe among us fall from the love of the Goſpel? Is not religion turned, with many, into a meer formality and policy? our ancient heat and forwardneſſe, into a generall coldneſſe in profeſſion, lukewarmneſſe in religion, denying the power of it in our lives and converſations? Well, I ſay no more to as many of you in our Thyatira as have not the doctrine of Iezabel, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they ſpeak, but this, That which ye have already, hold faſt till Chriſt come fRev 2.24, 25.. And ſeeing ye know theſe things before, take head leſt ye alſo, being pluckt away with the errour of the wicked, fall from your own ſledfaſtneſſe g2 Pet. 3.17.. Take heed that ye prove not, with the Prophet Eſay, men of polluted lips, by living among a people of polluted lips kEſay 6.5.: that ye learn not to ſwear, with Ioſeph lGen. 42.16., by converſing with ſwearers: and to curſe with Peter mMat 26.74., by being awhile among the ruffianly ſouldiers. The worſe any times are, and the leſſe comfortable, the better ſhould we be, and the oftener in Gods preſencenMic…h. 7.6, 7.: therefore walking exactly oforeign Epheſ. 5.15., (or, as in a frame) and redeeming the time, by a redoubled diligence in all holy duties, becauſe the dayes are evil. Let others ſtrange pforeign. 1 Pet. 4.4.and wonder what's come to us alate, that we refuſe to run with them (as once) into the ſame exceſſe of riot: ſay thou to thy ſelf*To walk with God is a precious praiſe, though none do it but my ſell …and to walk with man, with the world, with a town, or …ariſh in wicked wayes, is a deadly ſin, though …lhous do … B Babington upon Gen. 6.8; Better go to heaven alone, and with the ill will of my neighbours, then to hell with never ſo much company, and with the love of all the world. But indeed ye are not alone, however it may ſeem ſo (as it did once to Elias q1 King 19.10.): for ye have many fellows abroad, your brethren and companions in the kingdom and patience of Ieſus Chriſt rRev. 1.9., who will be ready, as here, to joyn with you in ſpeaking often one to another for mutuall ediſication, and encouragement*Clouds of wimeſſes thouſands thouſands of … and every of them worth ten thouſand of others, as St Chryſoſt. ſpeaks, Hom. 26. ad Pop. Antioch.. Beſide thoſe other alſo above, (whom you may ſee by the eye of ſaith) the crowned and glorfied Saints, I mean: all which trode the ſame tract of holineſſe with you, have gone to heaven alone, and been hated for itſJoh. 15.15: yet is not any one of them heard now to ſay. Oh what fools were we, when time was, to be ſo ſtrict and conſcientious, to ſtand upon ſuch nice points, to ſequeſter our ſelves from the corrupt courſes and companies of otherst2 Cor. 6.17, to deprive and abridge our ſelves of the pleaſures of ſin, and delights of life &c. Oh, no ſuch word is ever heard to fall from their holy lips: but they rejoyce rather, and infinitely exult and glory in that God, that gave them an heart to do as hath been ſaid, and in thoſe rivers of exquiſite and unmixed pleaſures, with the which their good hearts are even inebriateduforeign. Joh 2.10. Hag. 1.6., and (in a ſober ſence) made drunk again; whiles they continually behold his face, with whom they once walked in the fleſh, as a man with his friend. In who e preſence is the fulneſs of joy, and at whoſe right hand there are pleaſures for ever more wPſal. 16. ult..