A Christian Library, Part 4 – Part 5
MEMB. 4.
Swearer. Sir, I unfainedly blesse God, for what I have heard from you; for formerly, I had not the least thought that swearing by faith, …roth, or any other creature, was so grievous a sin, …s you have made it appear from the Word. And I hope it shall be a sufficient warning to me for time to come.
1. §. Messenger. If so, you have cause to blesse God indeed. For all of you have heard the self-same Word; but one goes away be…tered, others exasperated and inraged, wherein Will only makes the difference. And who makes the difference of Wills, but God that made them? He that creates the new heart, leaves a stone in one bosome, puts flesh into another.
2. §. Of hearers there are usually four sorts, Mat. 13.19, to 24. as first, an honest and good heart, will not return from hearing the word unbettered. Yea, he will so note what is spoken to his own sin, that it shall increase his knowledge and lessen his vices. As who by looking in a Glasse shall spy spot… in his face, and will not forthwith wipe them out? A wise man will not have one sin twice repeated unto him. And these may be resembled to wax, which yeeldeth sonner to the seal, then steel to the stamp. But
3. §. Secondly, others are like Tullies strange soil, much rain leave… them still as dry as dust. Or the Wolfe in the emblem, which though she suckt the Goat, kept notwithstanding her wolvish nature still. For speak what can be spoken to them, it presently passes away like the sound of a Bell that is rung. Let testimonies and examples n…ver so much concern them, they prove no other then as so many characters writ in the water, which leave no impression …hinde them. Who may be resembled to an Hour-glasse or Condu…t, that which in one hour runneth in, the same in another hour runneth out again. Or the Smiths Iron, put it into the fire, it is much sofined: again put it into the water, 'tis harder then before. Yea, let them never so much smart for their sins: they will return to them again untill they perish. Resembling some silly flye, which being beat from the candle an hundred times, and oft singed therein, yet will return to it again untill she be consumed, Prov. 23.35. All those Beasts which went into the Arke … came likewise ou… …
4. §. Thirdly another sort will very orderly hear the Word, and delight in it; so long as the Minister shall rove in generalities, preach little or nothing to the purpose; But if once he touch them to the quick, drive an application home to their consciences touching some one sin of theirs, as John Baptist served Herod; then they will turn their backs upon him, and hear him no farther, as those Jews served our Saviour, Ioh. 6.66. The Athenians Paul, Acts 17.16, to 34. and Ahab Micaiah, 1 King. 22.8.
5. §. Sore eyes ▪ you know are much grieved to look upon the Sun, Bankrupts cannot abide the …ight of their counting books, nor doe deformed faces love to looke themselves in a true Glasse. For which read John 3.19, 20, 2….
But let such men know, that to flye from the light, and reject the means, puts them out of all hope. That sin is past cure, which turns from, and refuseth the cure, Deut. 17.12. Prov. 29.1. As what is light to them that will shut their eyes against it? or reason to them that will stop their Ears from hearing it? If those murtherers of the Lord of life, Act. 2.23. had refused to hear Peters searching Sermon, in all probability they had never been prickt in their hearts, never been saved, ver. 37, 38. And take this for a rule, if ever you see a drowning man refuse help, conclude him a wilfull murtherer.
6. §. Fourthly and lastly, (for I passe by those blocks that goe to Church as dogs do only for company, and can hear a powerfull Minister for twenty or thirty years together, and minde no more what they hear then the seats they sit on, or the stones they tread on.) There are a generation of Hearers who when a Minister does plainly reprove them for their sins, and declare the judgments of God due unto the same, to the end they may repent and beleeve, that so they may be saved; will carp and fret, and spurn against the very Word of God for being so sharp and searching; and thereupon persecute the Messenger, as the Princes and false Prophets did Jeremiah, Herodias John Baptist, and the Pharisees Christ.
7. §. And this God takes as done to himself, What saith Paul? 1 Cor. 7.10. I have not spoken, but the Lord: and therefore as the Lord said unto Saul, Acts 9.4. that he persecuted him, (though in heaven;) so they which resist any truth delivered out of the Word, do resist God himself, and not his Messenger, as evidently appears by these Scriptures, Psal. 44.22. and 74.4.10.18.22.23. & 83.2, 5, 6. & 89.50, 51. & 139.20. Prov. 19.3. Rom. 1.30. &. 9.20. Mat. 10.22. & 25.45. 1 Sam. 17.45. Is…. 37.4 22, 23, 28. Acts 5.39. & 9.4, 5. Joh. 9.4. 1 Thess. 4.8. Joh. 15.20, to … Numb. 16.11. 1 Sam. 8.7. Mark. 9.42. Psal. 79.…2. 2 King. 2.24. O that the Gospels enemies would but seriously consider these Scriptures, and be warned by them. For certainly it is neither wise, good, nor safe, either resisting or angring him, that can anger every vein of their hearts. Yea, God hath Messengers of wrath for them that despise the Messenger of his love.
8. §. But hear why they so mortally hate the naked truth. Because it is the Word by which they are condemned: they loath as much to hear it, as a … if many (as we know by experience) love not to hear the worst of the temporall causes, and cases; nor yet of their bodily distempers, with why their lives or estates be indangered. How much more will wicked men de…cline from seeing their hainous abominations, and themselves guilty of Hell and eternall damnation? though thereof there … an absolute necessity, if ever they be saved.
9. §. Guilty sinners love application as dearly as a dog does a cudgell. And no marvail, for what Leaper will take pleasure in the searching of his sore… Nor were Satan his Crafts-master, if he did permit them: For if they could clearly see the loathsomnesse of their impieties, it were not possible not to abhor them, not to abhor themselves for them; but their blindness makes them love their own filthinesse, as Ethiopians do their own swarthiness ▪ Besides, they love not to have their consciences awakened, but would slee… quietly in their sins. And he that desires to sleep, will have the curtain drawn, the light shut out, and no noise made. Whence as good meates, are unwelcome to sick persons: so is good counsell to obstinate and resolved sinner… ▪ Tell them of their swearing, drinking, whoring, cheating; they will fret, and chafe, and fume, and swell, and storm, and be ready to burst again to hear it… But let envy sweat, swell, and burst; truth must be spoken. And indeed why should not Gods servants take as free liberty in reproving, as the Devil… servants take liberty in offending? Shall not the one be as loud for God, as the other are for Baal and Belzebub?
10. §. Yea, admonish them never so mildly, they will say we take too much upon us: as Corah and his complices twitted Moses, Numb. 16.3. not knowing how strictly God commands and requires it, Lev. 19.17. 2 Tim. 2.25 Ezek. 3.18, to 22. 2 Pet. 27, 8. Whence as the Chief Priests answered Iudas What is that to us? so they will blaspheme God, tear Christ in pieces, and more then betray, even shed his innocent bloud, digging into his side with oaths and say, when told of it, What is that to us? when they might as well say, What is Christ to us? what is heaven to us? or what is salvation to us? for to us the one cannot be without the other: we shall never inherit part of hi… glo…y in heaven, if we do not take his glories part upon earth. And with God it is much about one, whether we be doers of evill, or no hinderers. For i… we must not see our neighbours oxe, nor his sheep goe astray, or fall into a … but we must reduce him, and help him out of it, Deut. 22.1. we are much more bound to help our neighbour himself from droping into the bottomlesse … of Hell. And what know we but we may winne our brother, and so save his soul, Mat. 18.15.
11. §. They will hisse like Serpents, if we trouble their nests never s… little. And its a sure sign the horse is galled that stirs too much when he i… touched. But what are these men like, and how are they like to speed … the end? they are like the Thracian flint that burns with water, and is quenched with oil: their souls are the worse for Gods endeavour to better the… His holy precepts and prohibitions; doe either harden them, as the Sun …
12. §. But to be exasperated with good counsell, and in stead of penitency to break into choler; when fury sparkles in those eyes which should gush out with water; it is an evident sign of one that shall perish, Prov. 29.1. Read the words and tremble, a man that hardneth his neck being often reproved shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy: see more Prov. 1, 24, 25, 26, to 33. Whence …is the Prophet tells Amaziah, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not obeyed my counsell, 2 Chron. 25.16, 20. and that the Holy Ghost speaking of Elyes sons, saith that they would not hearken unto, nor obey the voice of their father, because the Lord was determined to destroy them; 1 Sam. 2.25. Yea, it is an observation of Livie, that when the destruction of a person or Nation is destined: then the wholsome warnings both of God and Man, are set at nought. And in reason that sin is past all cure which strives against the cure. Herbs that are worse for watering, Trees that are lesse fruitfull for dunging and pruning, are to be rooted out, or hewn down. Even salvation it self will not save those that spill the potion, and fling away the plaster. When God would have cured Babylon, and she would not be cured, then she is given up to destruction without further warning.
13. §. Ignorant Worldlings (who will beleeve nothing which comes not within the compasse of their five senses) think that because God strikes not, be minds not, Psal. 50.21. Because sentence against an evill work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the children of men, is fully set in them to doe evill, as Solomon speaks, Eccles. 8.11. They are like the Israelites, 1 Sam. 12.15, to 20. they will not beleeve without a miracle; and it will be a miracle if ever they be saved. For should they see miracle upon miracle; should God forthwith strike one dead with a thunderbolt, and rain down fire and brimstone upon another, and cause the Earth to swallow down a third quick while they are blaspheming him: they would be as far from beleeving as they were before; as the examples of the old world, the Sodomites, Pharaoh, Balaam, Ahab, Belshazzar, Malchus, and those great Clerks, the Scribes and Pharisees, together with thousands of the Iews, sufficiently manifest.
Yea, it is easier for a man possest with many Devils to be dispossest; to raise one from the dead; or to turn a stone into flesh (in which God should meet with no opposition) then perswade an habituated Swearer to beleeve these ensuing pr…pts, predictions, testimonies of the Gospell, or any other saving truth, Mat. 5.20. & 12.36. & 25 30, to 46. 2 Thess. 1.7, 8, 9. & 2.12 Heb. 12.14, 29. Rev. 20.12. to the end, Deut. 29.19, 20. Prov. 1.24. to 33…
14. §. Well may they beleeve what the World, the Flesh, and the Devil suggests unto them: As Satan (that he may make smooth their way to perdition) will perswade the most impudent and insolent sinners, Drunkards▪ Adulterers, Blasphemers, Sabbath-breakers, Bloodthirsty Murtherers, Persecu…ters of the Godly, and contemners of Religion, that they may take liberty to continue their sensuall lusts, by a testimony of …cripture, and apply Christs passion … head his drum of Rebellion with his pardon: they live as if the Gospell wer… quite contrary to the rule of the Law; or as if God were neither to … feared not cared for. Hence they exercise their saucie wits in proph… scoffs at Religion, and disgrace that bloud, whereof hereafter they would giv… a thousand worlds for one drop: hence they tear heaven with their blasphemie… and bandie the dreadfull name of God, in their impure and polluted mouths by their bloody oaths and execrations: hence they are so witlesse, grace…lesse, and shamelesse; as to swear and curse even as dogs bark. Yea, the have so sworn away all grace, that they count it a grace to swear; and at so far from beleeving what God threatens in his Word against sin, an… what is affirmed of his justice, and severity in punishing all wilfull, and im…penitent sinners with eternall destruction of body and soul: that they pres…sume to have part in that merit, which in every part they have so abused to be purged by that bloud, which now they take all occasions to disgrace to be saved by the same wounds and bloud, which they swear by, and so often swear away; to have Christ an Advocate for them in the next life, whe… they are Advocates against Christ in this: that heaven will meet them a… their last hour, when all their life long, they have galloped in the bearer rode toward hell. And that though they live like swine all their life long yet one cry for mercy at the last gasp, shall transform them into Saints. An… this is the strong faith, they are so apt to boast of, viz. presumption, not confi…dence: Or rather, Hope frighted out of its wits. For not withstanding al this, in beleeving the Scriptures, they fall short of the Devils themselves For the Devils doe really beleeve that God is no lesse true and just then he …word;… mercifull; as his Word declares him to be: and thereupon they tremble a S. Iames hath it, Iames 2.19. whereas these men beleeve not a word tha… God speaks, so as to be bettered by it.
15. §. And no marvail, for their wont hath been to beleeve Satan ra…ther then God; as did our first parents, Gen. 3. Therefore now afte… they have rejected all means of grace, when they are so crusted in their vil…lanie, that custome is become a second or new nature: God (that he may pu…nish their hardnesse and excesse in sin, with further obduration,) not onl… delivers them up to Satan, the God of this world; who so blindes their mindes and deludes their understandings, that the light of the glorious Gospell of Chris… shall not shine unto them, 2 Cor. 4.3, 4. Eph. 2.2. 2 Thess. 2.9. But he give… them up, even to a reprobate judgment, to the hardnesse of their hearts, and t… walk in their owne connsels, Psal. 81.11.12. Rom. 1.21, to 32. And bette… be given up to Satan, as the incestuous Corinthian was, then thus to be given up. For he was thereby converted and saved, as God used the matter: making the Scorpion a medicine against the sting of the Scorpion: the Horseleec… a means to abate the vicious and superfluous bloud; so ordering Satans craf… and malice, to ends which himself intended not.
Whereas these are given over; as a desperate Patient is given over by hi… Physitian when there is no hope of his recovery. As thus, Because they wil… not receive the truth in love, that they mights be saved; for this cause God give … damned who beleeve not the truth, but take pleasure in unrighteousnesse: they are the very words of the holy Ghost, 2 Thess. 2.10, 11, 12. If any would see more touching to wofull condition of a deluded worldling; and how Satan guls wicked men with a world of misprisions, that he may the better cheat them of their souls; Let them read The Drunkards Character, and The Cure of Misprision; for in this I study all possible brevity, being loath either to surfeit or cloy the Swearer; who is commonly short breath'd in well-doing; and l…st adding more should hinder him from hearing this: for Satan and his corrupt heart will not condescend, he shall hold out to hear his beloved sin so-spoken against.
MEMB. 5.
1. §. Only I will insert a few notions, aphorisms, or conclusions, touching the former point of Gods forbearing to punish the most stagitious sinners when they so horribly provoke him: together with some pregnant examples of some that he hath executed Martiall Law upon, even in this life.
Cornelius Gallus (not to mention many, nor any that every Author sets down) dyed in the very act of his filthinesse, as Plutarch well notes. Nitingall, Parson of Crondall in Kent, was struck dead in the Pulpit, as he was belching out his spleen against religion and zealous professors of the Gospel. It was the usual imprecation of Henry Earl of Schuartzbourg, Let me be drowned in a Iakes, if it be not so; and such was his end. You may remember one Lieutenant of the Tower was hanged; it had wont to be his usuall imprecation, as he confessed at his death. Earl Godwin wishing at the Kings Table that the bread he eat might choke him if he were guilty of Alphreds death, whom he had before slain: was presently choked, and fell down dead: Yea his lands also sunk into the Sea, and are called Godwins sands: where thousands since have made shipwrack. It was usuall with Iohn Peter mentioned in the book of Martyres to say; if it be not true, I pray God I may rot ere I dye: and God saying Amen to it, he rotted away indeed. A Serving-man in Lincoln-shire for every trifle used to swear, Gods precious bloud, and would not be warned by his friends to leave it: insomuch that hearing the bell tole in the very anguish of death, he started up in his bed and sware, by the former oath that bell toled for him: whereupon immediately the bloud most fearfully issued, as it were, in streams from all parts of his body not one place left free and so dyed. Popiel King of Poland had over this wish in his mouth; If it be not true, I would the Rats might eat me; and so it came to passe: for he was so assailed by them at a banquet, that neither his guards, nor fire, nor water could defend him from them; as Munster mentions. The Iews said, Let his bloud be upon us and upon our children; and what followed? sixteen hundred years are now past, since they wished themselves thus wretched; and have they not ever since, been the hate, and scorne of the world? Did they not (many of them) live to see their City buried in ashes, and drowned in bloud! to see themselves no Nation? Was there ever any people under heaven, that was made so fa… … Nor is it seldome that God payes them in their own coin: men prophane Gods name, and he makes their names to stinke. When the pestilence rageth in our streets; blasphemy and execration must confesse that they have their d…e wages. Blasphemers live swearing, and dye raving; it is but their wages.
2. §. He punisheth some in the Suburbs of hell, that they might never come into the City it self. The evill he now suffers uncorrected, he refers to be condemned. Sin knows the doom, it must smart here, or hereafter. Outward plagues are but favour in comparison of spirituall judgments; and spirituall judgments but light, to eternall torments. God does not punish all flagitious sinners here; that he may allow some space to repent; and that none may doubt his promise of a Generall Iudgement: nor does he forbear all here, lest the world should deny his providence, and question his justice.