Englands Unthankfulness Striving with Gods Goodness, Division 1 – Colophon

Englands Unthankfulness Striving with Gods Goodness · Division 1 – Colophon

ENGLANDS Vnthankfulness striving with Gods Goodness, for the Victory: as Abaslom strove with David, whether the father should be more kinde to the son; or the son more unkinde to the father. Or, Enough (being wel weighed) to melt an heart of Adamant.

By R. Younge, Florilegus.

In reference to Leviticus 19. 17. and Isaiah 58. 1.

In reading whereof, reflect upon your selves; hearken to conscience; and what concerns you, apply it not to others, as David did Nathans Parable, 2 Sam. 12. 1, to 8. And Ahab the Prophets, 1 King. 20. 39, to 43. Want of application makes all means ineffectual; and therefore are we Christians in name only, because we think our selves Christians indeed, and already good enough.

The fourth Impression.

Imprimatur,

Thomas Gataker.

CHAP. 1.

§ 1 A Wise man (saith Solomon) foreseeth the evil, and preventeth it: but fools go on; and are punished, Prov. 22. 3. An argument that most men; yea, almost all men are stark fools, as will fully appear, if we observe but these three, things.

First, Observe but how strict, holy, just, and good the Precepts or Rules …re, by which we ought to walk.

p. 2Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy minde, and with all thy strength, Mark 12. 30.

Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10. 31.

Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even the same do you unto them, for this is the Law and the Prophets, Matth. 7. 12.

Thou shall not hate thy Brother in thine heart, but thou shalt plainly tell him of his faults; and suffer him not to sin, Levit. 19. 17.

And then consider, how few there are amongst us; and how rare (onelyonly here and there one) like rich men, among the multitude, or jewels among other stuff, that either do, or care to walk by this golden Rule; Yea, that instead thereof, make not the World onelyonly their God; and Pleasure, or Profit alone their Religion.

§ 2. Secondly, Observe (ô that we had the grace seriously to observe and minde!) but the Predictions; touching the paucity & fewness of those that shall be saved. Strive to enter in at the strait gate, for many will seek to enter, and shall not be able; because strait is the gate, and narrow the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that finde it: But wide is the gate, and broad the way, that leadeth to destruction; and many there be that go in thereat, Matth. 7. 13, 14. Luke 13. 23, 24. Again, Many are called (viz. by the outward Ministery of the Word) but few chosen, Mat. 20. 16. and 22. 24. Yea, St. Iohn affirmeth, that the whole World lieth in wickedness, 1 John 5. 19. And that the number of those, whom Satan shall deceive, is as the sand of the Sea, Revel. 20. 8. and 13. 15, 16, 17. Esa. 1…. 22. Rom. 9. 27.

And we finde it too true, by sad experience; for what eyes can but run over to see, for the most part, how ignorant and erroneous men are, and what lives they lead? for scarce one of a hundred, whose knowledge, belief, and life, is in any degree answerable to the Gospel, or the Title that they bear; for Christians they are called, but no otherwise then the Heathen Images are called Gods: because he that is a Christian indeed, will strive to imitate Christ, and square his life in some measure, according to the rule of Gods Word.

§ 3. Thirdly, Observe but the Testimonies manifesting how they must be qualified, who mean to be saved. O that we would but believe them; for God expresly tells us, That no …righteous person shall ever inherit the Kingdome of Heaven; but that such shall have their part and portion in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death, 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. Gal. 5. 21. Rev. 21. 8. And that without holinesse no man shall see the Lord, Heb. 12. 14. And that except our righteousness exceeds the righteousnes of the Scribes and Pharisees: (who yet excelled our formall Hypocrites, and civil Iusticiaries) we cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven, Mat. 5. …0. And that he will recompence every man according to his works, be they … evil, Psal. 62. 12. Rev. 20. 13. & 22. 12. Rom. 2. 6. Jer. 25. 14. and 32. p. 319. and 50. 29. and 51. 56. Ezek. 7. 4, 8, 9. and 9. 10. and 11. 21. and 16. 43. And that we shall give an account at the day of Judgement, for every idle word we speak, Mat. 12. 36. And that Christ will come the second time in flaming fire, to render vengeance unto them that know him not, and that obey not his Gospel, 2 Thes. 1. 7, 8. Psal. 11. 6. Yea, the Lord tels us expresly, that he will not be mercifull to such as flatter themselvos in an evil way, but that his wrath and jealousie shall smoke against them; and every curse that is written in his book, shall light upon them, &c. Deut. 29. 19, 20. And that if we will not regard, nor hearken unto him when he calls upon us for repentance… he will not hear nor regard us, when in our distress and anguish, we shall call upon him for merciemercy, but even laugh at our destruction, and mock when our fear cometh, Prov. 1. 24, to 33. See other places to this purpose, Hebr. 12. 29. Deut. 4. 24. Mat. 25. 30, 41, to 46. and 3. 10.

§ 4 Nor can it indeed consist with his justice to pardon such as continue in an evil course of life; neither was it ever heard, that any ascended into heaven without going up the staires of new obedience: that any have attained unto everlasting life, without faith, repentance, and sanctification of Spirit: For even the Thief upon the Crosse believed in Christ, and shewed the fruits of his faith, in acknowledging his own sin, in reproving his fellow, in confessing his Saviour, even when all denied and forsook him, in calling upon his Name, and desiring by his means and merits everlasting life. Besides we read not, that ever he was outwardly called, until this very hour. Secondly, though there was one saved at the last hour, that none might despair: yet there was but one, that none should presume. Thirdly, the Thiefs conversion was one of the miracles, with the glory whereof our Saviour would honour the ignominy of his Cross. Fourthly, he was saved at the very instant of time, when our Saviour triumphed on the Crosse, took his leave of the world, and entred into his glory: And it is usual with Princes to save some hainous Malefactors at their Coronation, when they enter upon their Kingdoms in triumph, which they are never known to do afterwards. Nor was his sudden conversion ever intended in Gods purpose for an encouragement to Procrastinators; And therefore no cause have we to expect that he should deal after a new and extraordinary way with us, then he hath with all others, and so breas… the course of his so just, and so long continued proceedings: Yea, he binds it with an Oath, that whomsoevr he redeemeth out of the hands of their spiritual enemies, they shall worship him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of their lives, Luk. 1. 73, 74, 75. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Which Scriptures sufficiently shew, that they who in life wil yield no obedience to the Law, shall in death have no benefit by the Gospel. Nor ought any indeed, to profess Christ, or once to name him wit… their mouths, except they depart from iniquity, 2 Tim. 2. 19.

§ 5. The which Scriptures, if they be true, (and they fall short of the p. 4Devils that deny it, Iam. 2. 19.) what manner of persons ought we to be, in all holy conversation and godlinesse? as the Apostle speaks, 2 Pet. 3. 11. And yet most men live as if the Gospel were quite contrary to the rule of the Law, as if God were neither to be feared nor cared for, as if they were neither beholding to him, nor stood in aw… of him, both out of his debt and danger; yea, as if there were no God to judge, nor Hell to punish, nor Heaven to reward.

And (which mightily aggravates their sin, and will add to their torment) let some Boanerges be sent unto them, with a message from God, it fares with them as with the Adder, no charming can charm them. The strongest commands, the loudest denunciations of judgements, the shrillest and sweetest promulgations of mercies, will do no good upon them: For while they are in Dal…lahs lap, and lie sleeping like Drones by the hearth of hell, they think themselves as safe, as if they were in Abrahams bosom: Their Adamantine hearts will neither yield to the fire, nor to the hammer, admit of no impression; yea, let them hear of never so many judgments, they tremble and rele…t no more then the seats they sit on, or the stones they tread on: Even the declaration of sins, denunciation of judgements, description of torments, and the like, no more stir them, then a tale moves one in a dream; their sup…ne stupidity is no more capable of excitation, then the Sea Rocks are of moti…n, or the Billowes of compassion; which would make one even tremble to think of it.

CHAP. II.

§ 1. But what is the reason, why men make no more use of these Predictions of this warning? but that as neer as can be computed, one of two are lascivious or voluptuous; two of three drunkards, (…n Gods account;) nine of ten cruel & unjust persons; nineteen of twenty swearers; twenty nine of thirty Athiests; thirty nine of forty ignorant wretches; forty nine of fifty covetous; ninety nine of an hundred open, or secret enemies to the power of Religion, and contemners of holinesse: For certainly what God in these three particulars hath revealed in his Word, cannot be unknown to any among us, that hate not the light; for every house almost hath a Bible, and Christ hath continued his Gospel amongst us now, neer upon an hundred years, with such supply of able Ministers, that no Nation under Heaven may compare with us.

§ 2. I might give you many reasons of this, as that they were born stark dead in sin, and they thank God they are no changelings; that they are as good as their Fore-fathers, or those among whom they live, and they neither desire to be better nor wiser; yea, it were a ridiculous singularity so to be: That the custome of sin hath brawned their hearts, and blinded their minds. That they … as Satan their God, 2 Cor. 4. 4. and Father, job. 8. 44. and King, or Prince, Eph. 2. 2. would have them to do: That they will either not hear the Word; (sor I think I may say, that one half p. 5of the men and women in the Kingdome come not once a year within the Church-doors, I mean the poorer sort that do not know they have soules: It were good, they were compelled to hear the Word preached, for the wicked, like sullen children, would not forsake their play sor their meat, but for the Rod of Correction: And many Saints in heaven might now confess, that they had not known God, but for the Laws. First, compulsory means brought them to the feast, whereof once tasting, they would never leave it; Compel them to come in, &c. Luk. 14. 23.) Or if they do hear the Word and understand it in some measure, they will not apply it to themselves: That they will not receive the truth in love, that they might be saved, & are therefore given over to strong delusions to believe lies: That they will not by any means that Christ can use, understand & be converted, and saved; therefore they shall not understand, nor be converted, nor saved, Isai. 6. 9, 10. Matth. 13. 15. That they harden their own hearts, whereupon their hearts are more hardned: That because they will not regard nor retein God in their thoughts, God gives them over to a reprobate minde, Rom. 1. 28. That because they will not take the Spirits counsel, the Spirit gives them up to walk in their own counsels, Ier. 9. 14. That they wil believe Satan rather then God, therefore God delivers them up to Satan, so to be deluded; that the light of the glorious Gospel shall not shine unto them, 2 Cor. 4. 3, 4. Eph. 2. 2. 2 Thes. 2. 9, 10. 1 Tim. 4. 7. That they are not as they ought, and as it was in the Primitive times cast out of the Church, and all Christian society by excommunication, as dirt into the street, 1 Cor. 5. 4, 5. 1 Tim. 1. 20. Rom. 16. 17, 18. 2 Thes. 3. 6. 1 Tim. 6. 5. 2 Tim. 3. 5. That they do as their flattering False Prophets teach them: That they think they have as good hearts, as the best; and therefore follow that deceitful guide: That they are not ver…t in the Scriptures, at least they understand not the spirituality of the Word; nor have they the Spirit to convince them of sin: But I have largely handled these upon other occasions; wherefore I will passe them, and onelyonly give you this one, and I pray, minde it.

§ 3. Wicked men (and such are all natural, and unregenerate persons, whether loose Liberlines, or rich worldlings, or civil Iusticiaries, or formal hypocrites, or profound humanists, or cunning Politicians,) are so blockish and void of spiritual understanding, that they will not believe what is written, till they feel what is written; nothing will fully confute them but …re & brimstone: Sin shuts their eyes, and only punishment can open them. Nor will they once think of Heaven, till with that rich man they are tormented in the flames of hell: but even that rich man that had so little care of his own soul during life, when he was in hell-torments, took care for his Brethrens, not out of charity, but because as he had by his perswasion & ill example, bin the occasion of their greater sin; so they by continuing in those sins, should be the occasion of his more grievous torment. But had he bin so wise, as to have believed Moses & the Prophets report of hell, he needed p. 6never to have come into it: The common case of all that come there. They will not believe what Moses & the Prophets, Christ and his Apostles tell them, touching the truth, justice, and severity of God, in punishing sin with eternal destruction of body and soul, and the necessity of obeying his Precepts, until they shall hear Christ say unto them, Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting f…e, prepared for the Devil and his Angels, Mat. 25. 41.

§ 4. And indeed for want of this sore-wit, the wisest world lings, as Balaam and Judas, and the rich man in the Gospel, and the Scribes and Pharisees, and all Atheists, are in Scripture-language stiled fools, and the wisdome of the world called foolishnesse, twelve times in one Chapter. Read 1 Cor. 1. and Chap. 2. Nor can there be so sure a signe to distinguish between a wise man and a fool. A wise man (saith Bernard) fore-sees the torments of hell, and avoideth them; but a fool goeth on merrily until he feeleth them, and then sayes, I had not thought. True, many wicked men are taken to …e wise, and in some sense are so, they have enlightened heads, and fluent tongues, as had Balaam, & Judas, and Paul before his conversion, and the Scribes and Pharisees; but their hearts remain dark and foolish, as is plain by Rom. 1. 21, 22. Joh. 3. 10. Whence even the wisest of them are called by our Saviour fools and blinde, Matth. 23. 16, 17, 19, 24, 26. and 27. 3, 4, 5. 2 Pet. 2. 16. And indeed what is that wisdome worth, which nothing profits the owner of it, either touching vertue, or happinesse? So that you may take this for a rule, They that have but a shew of holinesse, have but a shew of wisdome.

§ 5. Men of the world believe the things of the world, they believe what they see, and feel, and know; they believe the Lawes of the Land, that there are places and kindes of punishment here below, and that they have bodies to suffer temporal s…art, if they transgresse, and this makes them abstain from murther, selonie, and the like; but they believe not things invisible and to come; for if they did, they would as well, yea much more, fear him that hath power to cast both body and soul into hell, as they do the Temporall Magistrate that hath onelyonly power to kill the body; they would think it a very hard bargain to win the whole world, and lose their own souls. But if visible powers were not more feared then the invisible God, and the Halter more then Hell (natural men being like beasts, that are more sensible of the flash of powder, then of the bullet,) the world would be over-run without rage. Or,

§ 6. Secondly, they believe the Devil and the Flesh, that prophesie prosperity to sin, yea, life and salvation; as the Pope promised the Powder-Traitors; for though men do the Devils works, yet they look for Christs wages; and there is scarce a man on earth but he thinks to go to heaven; yea, the Devil and sin so infatuate and besot many, that they can even apply Christs passion, as a warrant for their licentiousnesse, and take his p. 7Death as a license to sin, his Crosse as a Letters Pattent to do mischief; So turning the grace of God into wantonnesse: As if a condemned person should head his Drum of Rebellion with his Pardon, resolving therefore to be evill, because he is good: which is to sin with an high hand, or with a witnesse, and to make themselves uncapable of forgiveneesse. And yet wretched and senseless men, they presume to have part in that merit, which in every part they have so abused; to be purged by that blood, which now they take all occasions to disgrace; to be saved by the same wounds, which they swear by, and so osten swear away; to have Christ an Advocate for them in the next life, when they are Advocates against Christ in this: And that Heaven will meet them at their last hour, when all their life long, they have galloped in the beaten road towards Hell.

§ 7. The Devil makes large promises to his; but ever disappoints them of their hopes, as he did our first Parents: You shall die saith God; You shall not die at all, saith Satan: Yea, you shall be as Gods, saith he, when his drist was to make them Devils. Yet the Devil was believed, when God could not be credited. Diabolus mentitur, ut fallat; vitam pollicetur, ut perimat, saith Cyprian. And ever since our first parents, gave more credit to Satan, then their Maker: Our hearts naturally have been slint unto God, wax to Satan; so that Satan may in a manner triumph over Christ, and say, I have more servants then Christ; & they do more for me, then his servants do for him: and yet I never died for them as Christ hath done for his: I never promised them so great reward, as Christ hath done to his, &c.

§ 8. Well may these men think they believe the Gospel, as the Jews (who persecuted Jesus, and sought to slay him) thought they believed Moses writings, Joh. 5. 38, 39, 46, 47. But it's altogether impossible, as Christ (who knew their hearts better then themselves) affirmes of them: for certainly they would never speak as they speak, think as they think, do as they do; if they thought their thoughts, words, and deeds should ever come to judgement.

Did men believe, that neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Swearers, nor Railers, nor the Fearfull, nor Unbelieving, nor Murtherers, nor Sorcerers, nor Liars, nor no unrighteous persons, shall inherit the Kingdome of Heaven; (as the Scripture expresly speaks,) but shall have their part in the lake that burneth with sire and brimstone, which is the second death: They durst not continue in the practice of these sins, without fear, or remorse or care of amendment. As for instance, If Lots sons-in-Law had believed their Father, when he told them from God that the City should suddenly be destroyed with fire & brimstone, and that by flying they might escape it, they would have obeyed his counsel. Or if the old world had believed, that God would indeed, and in good earnest bring such a flood upon them as he threatened, they would not have neglected the opportunity of entring into the Ark before it was shut, and the p. 8windows of heaven opened; much less would they have scoffed, and flowted at Noah, while he was a bulding it. So if men did firmly believe what God speaks of bell, it would keep them innocent; make them officious; they would need no intreaty to avoid it. Men love themselves well enough to avoid a known pain; yea, there would be more fear, and danger of their despair, then of their security. And the like of heaven; if men but believed what fulness of joy, and what pleasures are reserved at Gods right hand for evermore, for them that love, and serve him in sincerity, Psal. 16. 11. they would be more obedient upon earth.

CHAP. III.

§ 1. WHat believe the former Scriptures? and nothing appear in mens lives in the whole Land almost, but pride, covetousness, cruelty, damnable Hypocrisie, prophaning of the Sabbath, cursed swearing and cursing, abominable, and worse then beast-like drunkenness, adultery, lying, slandering, persecuting, contempt of Religion and all goodness: grinding of faces like edged tools, spilling of blood like water, racking of Rents, detension of Wages, and workmens hire; incredible cruelty to Servants, inclosing of Commons, ingrossing of Commodities, griping exactions, with straining the advantages of greatness: unequal levies of legal payments, spiteful suits, biling usury, bribery, perjury, partiality, sacriledge, simoniacal contracts, and soul-murder; scurrility and prophaneness, cozening in bargains, breaking of promises, perfidious underminings, Luxury, wantonness, contempt of Gods Messengers, neglect of his Ordinances, violation of his days, and the like: as if these were fruits of faith, & not of Atheism rather.

§ 2. Yea, as if we had contracted with the Devil, that we would abuse all Gods gifts so fast as they come: his blessings make us proud, his riches covetous, his peace wanton, his meats intemperate, his mercy secure; And all his benefits serve us but as weapons to rebel against him: so that we turn his grace into wantonness, and make a trade of sin: yea, it is our least ill to do evil: for behold we speak for it, joy in it, boast of it, tempt, and inforce to it, yea, mock them that dislike it, as if we would send challenges into heaven, and make love to destruction.

§ 3. And yet we are Christians forsooth: I am even ashamed to think that men, that rational men, should be such Sots, or suffer Satan so to gull and beguile them! Certainly men are stark mad; for otherwise, how could it be? how were it possible? that our eares should be alwayes open to the Tempter, shut to our Maker and Redeemer? That we should do nothing else but sin, and make others sin too? That all our thoughts, words and works, should be the services of the world, the flesh, and the Devil? Yea, that we should be even mockers of all that march not under the pay of the Devil? And yet fancie our selves the servants of God, and followers of Christ. Will God be thus mockt? O abominable blindness! for I dare refer p. 9my self to the worst of men that have reasonable souls. As let a very Hea…hen read the Gospel, & compare the rules thereof with our lives; he must …eeds conclude, that either it is not Christs Gospel, or we are not Christians.

§ 4. O that men would come to themselves! as it is said of the repent…ng Prodigal, Luke 15. 17. And recover their wits again, that they have …ost by the fall, and the long custome of sin. And then they would clearly …ee and confess, (as all that truly fear God know) that whatsoever they …y, or think of themselves; they do not in deed, and in truth believe a …eity: for if they did, how durst they exercise their saucy wits, in prophane …coffs at Religion? and disgrace that blood, whereof hereafter they would …ive a thousand worlds for one drop: How durst they tear Heaven with …heir blasphemies? and bandy the dreadful Name of God, in their im…ure and polluted mouthes, by their bloody oaths and execrations? How …ould they be such witless, graceless, and shameless miscreants, as to swear …nd curse, even as Dogs bark? yea, they have so sworn away all grace, …hat they count it a grace to swear! And are so far from believing, that …he curse of God shall never depart from the house of the swearer: And that …imself will be a swift witness against swearers: That the Lord hath a great …ontroversie with the inhabitants of the Land, because of swearing; and …hat of all other sinners, they shall not be found guiltless, that take his Name …n vain: And that the Land mourns because of Oaths, as the Scripture speaks, Zach. 5. 1, to 5. Exod. 20. 7. Hos. 4. 1, 2. Jor. 23. 10. that (as I said before) they think to be saved by the same wounds, and blood which they swear by, and so often swear away.

And lest they should not themselves soon enough, fill up the measure of …heir wickedness, even Boyes in the streets, have learn'd of them to wrap …ut oaths, as frequently as they, and no man so much as reprove, or finde fault with them: yea, through the Parents accustomary swearing, their children have learn'd to speak English and oaths together, & so to blaspheme God, almost as soon as he hath made them. So that we may well wonder, …hat the Land sinketh not under us, because of Oathes: As, ô the numberless number of Oaths & Blasphemies, that this Land groans under! which are spit out, as it were, in defiance of God; and al his prohibitions to the con…rary.

§ 5. But the case is so clear, that I dare refer it to themselves, in their sober fits: for their consciences cannot chuse but tell them at one time or …ther, when they are alone, and at leasure to hear it: that either they believe there is no God at all, or else that God is not just & true; nor speaks as he means in his Word, which is worse: Or if they do believe that he is a just and true God, they believe also that they shall be punished as he threatens for their impenitency and provoking of him; and they provoke …im, that they may be punished, which is worst of all. But behold the just …udgement of God, (upon the wilfully blinded, and obstinate,) who payes them in their own coin … they will not see, nor hear, nor understand, p. 10nor be converted, nor saved; but wink with their eyes, stop thei… eares, stifle their consciences, harden their hearts, and believe Satan rather then God, & walk in their own counsels: Therefore, saith God, the… shall not see, nor hear, nor understand, nor apply any wholesome truth … themselves, nor be converted, nor saved, as may plainly be seen by the… ensuing Scriprures, Prov. 28. 14. Exod. 7. 3, 22. & 10. 20. & 14. 8. Isa. 6. 9, 10. Psal. 69. 23. Jer. 51. 9. Mat. 13. 15. Ioh. 12. 37, 39, 40. Rom. 1. 21, to 33. & 11. 8… Acts 28. 27. 2 Thess. 2. 10, 11, 12. 2 Cor. 4. 3, 4. Heb. 3. 8.

It is exceeding remarkable, how God for this cause inflicteth more spiritual judgements upon this Age and Nation, then ever we read of. I fe… few consider it, as they ought: Wicked men will needs harden themselves without cause; therefore they shall have cause enough. As, ha… they ever since the world began, such cause to speak evil of the way o… Truth, (if I may so speak) and the Professors thereof, as now they have, by reason of the many and abominable errours broached, and maintained? The bitter enmity that is between the very people of God, about things no… fundamental: The foul mouths of many, whose Religion and zeal is to… rail upon the most godly, able, and Orthodox Ministers; but especially the vicious & lewd practices of many that pretend for Religion; and the notorious cheating, & cozening of those in places of trust, who at first were made choice of, for their pretended piety. All which God permits for the further hardening of his obstinate and malicious enemies. And let wicked men look to it: For as the Devil first puts out their eyes, & then lays blocks in their way, to make them stumble and fall, that so they may dash themselves in pieces: so God himself in justice suffers these scandals to be given, or these stumbling-blocks to be laid, that they may stumble at them to their destruction, and break their souls necks, as it is Ezek. 3. 20. See more, 1 King 22. 20, 21, 22. Mat. 18. 7. 2 Pet. 2. 12. Isa. 8. 14, 15. 2 Sam. 24. 1. 1 Chron. 21. 1. And this is a sure rule, that none thus stumble at scandals, but wicked men & Gods enemies; as in the case of David, 2 Sam. 12. 14. If you would see more, read Mr. Dyke, of Scandals.

And herein the sin and punishment answer each other in their trancendeney, for as of all other judgements, none like this; so likewise of the sin: For this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darknesse rather then light, because their deeds are evil, John 3. 19, 20.

§ 6. Nor is this all, the worst is reserved for the Upshot: As hear what will be the issue of mens horrible prophanenesse, & abominable wickedness, if they continue therein, without hearty contrition, and amendment. Men may think it an argument of Gods favour, or dispensation, that they prosperm their wickednesse; that some eminent judgement is not executed speedily upon them: But there cannot be a greater unhappinesse, a heavier curse, … to prosper in ill designes, and ungracions courses; to go on in p. 11sin uncontrouled; for he that useth to do evil, and speeds well, seldome …sts until he come to that evil from which there is no redemption.

Besides, Forbearance is no acquittance; the wickedness of the Old World …s abundant in the New World; yet is not the World drowned with wa…. But why? because God hath ordained for it a deluge of fire. The sins … Sodome are practised every where in our City and Kingdome, yet do …e committters escape fire and brimstone on earth, because they are reser…ed to fire and brimstone in Hell. Do not many persecute the Church as …olently as Pharaoh, with Chariots and Armies? who yet escape drown…g; there is a reservation of a deeper and bottomless S… for them; divers …urmur at the passages of Gods providence in these times of retribution …nd Reformation, who are not stung with fiery Serpents, as the Israelites, …cause they are reserved to a fiery serpent in Hell: Many, yea the most …at can come by them take Bribes like Gehazi, without a Leprosie, because …f that eternal Leprosie which waits for them. How many a deceitful Executor and Trustee sayes and swears with a little inversion of Ananias his …, I received but so much, I disbursed so much; yet are not stricken with …ath temporal, because they are reserved to death eternal. Have not many …onopolists with us, done as bad as those Philippians? Act. 16. 16. 19. who …ompounded with the Devil for a Pattent, to bring them in gain, and yet …row rich, and prosper, and leave a great deal of substance to their heires, …hose gain will be found losse, when Satan shall seize upon their bodies …nd soules, and hurry them to Hell. And so of other Sinners; for the like … appliable to the whole Nation, except some sew despised ones, and he …s a rare man, that does not either mis-believe, or grosly mislive, that is …ot a worshipper of one of these three, the lust of the flesh, voluptuousness; …e lust of the eyes, covetousness; or the pride of life, ambition; which is …ll the Trinity the world worships.

But of all the rest, let all envious Cains, scoffing Ishmaels, reviling Go…s, bloody-minded Hamans and Doegs, cursing Shimeis, railing Rab…ake's, flouting Tobiahs and Sanballats, cruel Herods, & all the like God…aters, (that carry an aking tooth against every good man they know, …nd will even hate one, for his being holy, though poor ignorant soul… …hey know it not) look for a whole volume of plagues in the next life, …ough they escape in this, if they repent not. For if hell-fire shall be their …ortion that obey not the Gospel, how can they look to escape that oppose it? Or if at the great day men shall be bid, Depart into everlasting torments, for not feeding, clothing, visiting; what shall become of those that maliciously scoffe at Religion, and persecute Christ in his members? which is the depth of sin: For he that despiseth, traduceth, or any way wrongs one that believes in Christ, (especially one of his Ambassadors of the Ministery) strikes at the Image of God in him, by whose Spirit he both speaks and acts: And God takes it as if it were done to himself, for proof of both, see Psal. 44. 22. & 74. 4, 10, 18, 22, 23. & 83. 2, 5, 6. & 89. 50, 51. & 139. 20. Prov. 19. 3. Rom. 1. 30. & 9. 20. Matth. 10. 22. & 25. 45. 1 Sam. 17. 45. Isai. 37. 4, 22, 23, 28. & 54. 17. Acts 5. 39. & 9. 4, 5. Iob 9. 4… 1 Thes. 4. 8. Iohn 15. 20. to 26. Numb. 16. 11. 1 Sam. 8. 7. Mark 9. 42. Ier. 17. 18. Psal. 79. 12. 2 Kings 2. 24. O that my old acquaintance, the Formal Hypocrite, and my feigned friend the Civil Justiciary, and my wellmeaning neighbour the Loose Libertine, with millions more, would bu… seriously consider these Scriptures, and be warned by them, before the Draw-bridge be taken up: For if the bountifulness, and long-suffering of God, do not lead us to repentance, it will increase our condemnation: Besides, God owes that man a grievous payment, whom he suffers to run o… so long unquestioned; and his punishment shall be the greater when he comes to reckon with him for all his faults together.

CHAP. IV.

§ 1. BUt admit mens unbelief, impenitency, and prophanenesse, in such glorious times of light, and means of grace as ours is, were not enough to provoke God, to inflict this heavy & grievous judgement upon them; how well do they deserve this, and much more for their horrible and abominable ingratitude to so good a God, so gracious a Saviour and Redeemer, that hath done and suffered, or would do more for them, then can either be expressed, or conceived by any heart, were it as deep as the Sea? As mark well what I (the meanest of a million) shall but paint or draw out as it were with a cole, of his unspeakable goodnesse to sinners: I will according to my slender ability, but give you… a drop to taste out of that ocean.

Touching what God and Christ hath done for us: In the first place he gave us our selves, and all the creatures to be our servants; yea, he created us after his own Image in righteousnesse and holinesse, and in perfect knowledg of the truth, with a power to stand, and for ever to continue in a most blessed and happy condition; and this deserves all possible thankfulnesse; but this was nothing in comparison; for when we were in a sad condition; when we had forfeited all this, & our selves: when by sin we had turned that image of God into the image of Satan, and wilfully plunged our souls and bodies into eternal torments, when we were become his enemies, mortally hating him, and to our utmost fighting against him, and taking part with his only enemies; (Sin and Satan) not having the least thought or desire of reconcilement, but a perverse and obstinate will to resist all means tending thereunto; He did redeem us, not onelyonly without asking, but even against our wills: so making of us (his cursed enemies) servants, of servants sons, of sons heirs, and coheirs with Christ, Gal. 4. 7. Here was a fathomless depth, a wonder beyond all wonders▪

§ 2. But that we may the better consider what an alms or boon God gave us, when he gave us his Son: Observe that when neither heaven, p. 13earth, nor hell, could have yielded any satisfactory thing, besides Christ that could have satisfied Gods justice, and merited heaven for us, then, O then! God, in his infinite wisdom and goodness, did not onelyonly finde out a way to satisfie his Justice and the Law, but gave us his Son, his only begotten Son, his only beloved Son out of his bosome: And his Son gave himself to die, even the most shameful, painful, and cursed death of the Cross to redeem us; That whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life, Iohn 3. 16. The very thought of which death, before he came to it, together with the weight and burthen of our sins, put him into such an Agony in the Garden, that it made him to sweat, even drops of blood. A mercy bestowed, and a way found out, that may astonish all the sons of men on earth, and Angels in Heaven! Wherefore, ô wonder at this, you that wonder at nothing! That the Lord should come with such a price to redeem our worse then lost souls, and to bring salvation to us, even against our wils: The Lord Iesus Christ being rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich, 2 Cor. 8. 9. Even the eternal God would die, that we might not die eternally; ô the deepness of Gods love! ô the unmeasurable measure of his bounty! ô Son of God, who can sufficiently express thy love? Or, commend thy pity? Or, extol thy praise? It was a wonder, that thou madest us for thy self, more that thou madest thy self man for us; but most of all, that thou shouldest unmake thy self, that thou shouldest die to save u….

§ 3. And which is further considerable, It cost God more to redeem the world, then to make it: In the Creation he gave thee thy self; but in the Redemption he gave thee himself. The Creation of all things cost him but six dayes to finish it; the Redemption of man cost him three and thirty years. In the Creation of the World, he did but only speak the word; in the Redemption of man, he both spake and wept, and sweat, and bled, and died, and did many wonderful things to do it: Yea, the saving of one soul single, is more and greater then the making of the whole World. In every new creature are a number of miracles, a blinde man is restored to fight, a deaf man to bearing, a man possest with many Devils dis-possest; yea, a dead man raised from the dead, and in every one a stone turned into flesh in all which God meets with nothing but opposition, which in the Creation he met not with.

§ 4. But the better to illustrate this love, consider, that salvation stands in two things: First, in freedome and deliverance of us from Hell: Secondly, in the possession of Heaven, and eternal life; Christ by his death merits the first for us; and by his obedience fulfilling the Law, merits the second. The parts of our Iustification are likewise two; the remission of our sins, and the imputation of Christs righteousnesse. And to this would be added, first, Conversion, which comprehends both Faith and Repentance: Secondy, Sanctification, the Parts whereof are Mortification p. 14that is, dying unto sin; and Vivisication, which is living unto righteousnesse. Thirdly, Glorification begun and perfected, which is freedome from all evil here, and the perfection of all good and happiness in heaven▪

§ 5. What shall I say? God of his goodnesse hath bestowed so many and so great mercies upon us, that it is not possible to expresse his bounty therein; for if we look inward, we finde our Creators mercies; if we look upward, his mercy reacheth unto the heavens, if downwards the earth is full of his goodnesse, and so is the broad Sea; if we look about us, what is it that he hath not given us? Air to breath in, Fire to warm us, Water to cool and cleanse us, Clothes to cover us, Food to nourish us, Fruits to refresh us; yea, Delicates to please us, Beasts to serve us, Angels to attend us, Heaven to receive us; And which is above all, Himself and his own Son to be injoyed of us: So that whithersoever we turn our eyes, we cannot look besides his bounty; yea, we can scarce think of any thing more to pray for, but that he would continue those blessings, which he hath bestowed on us already: Yet we covet still, as though we had nothing, and live as if we knew nothing of all this his beneficence. We are bound to praise him above any Nation whatsoever; for what Nation under Heaven enjoyes so much light, or so many blessings, as we? above any creature, &c.

God might have said before we were formed, Let them be Toads, Monsters, Infidels, Beggars, Cripples, Bond-slaves, Idiots, or Mad men, so long as they live, and after that Castaways for ever, and ever: But he hath made us to the best likenesse, and nursed us in the best Religion, and placed us in the best Land, and appointed us to the best, and only inheritance, even to remain in blisse with him for ever; yea, thousands would think themselves happy, if they had but a piece of our happinesse; for whereas some bleed, we sleep in safety; others beg, we abound; others starve, we are full fed; others grope in the dark, our Sun still shines; we have eyes, ears, tongue, feet, hands, health, liberty, reason, others are blinde, deaf, dumb, are sick, maimed, imprisoned, distracted, and the like, yea, God hath removed so many evils from us, and conferred so many good things upon us, that they are beyond thought or imagination: For if the whole Heaven were turned into a Book, and all the Angels deputed Writers therein, they could not set down all the good, which Gods love in Christ hath done us. For all those millions of mercies that we have received from, before, and since we were born, either for soul or body, even to the least bit of bread we eat, or shall to eternity, (of which we could not well want any one) Christ hath purchased of his Father for us, and yet God the Father also, hath of his free grace, & merciemercy given us, in giving us his Son; for which read Psal. 68. 19. and 145. 15, 16. and 75. 6, 7. Yea, God is many time… working our good, when we least think upon him: as he was creating Adam an help meet for him, when he was fast a sleep. And as much do p. 15we owe unto God, for the dangers from which he delivereth us: as for he great wealth and dignities whereunto he hath alwayes raised us.

Now if we are so bound to blesse God for his external, temporal, inferiour, earthly, perishing benefits: what praise do we owe for the lasting fruits …f his eternal love and mercy? and how thankful should we strive to be? …ich shall be the next thing treated of.

Now what should we render unto the Lord our God so good and gracious, in way of thankfulnesse for all these his mercies? for favours be…owed, and deliverances from danger, binde to gratitude; or else the …ore bonds of duty, the more plagues for neglect. The contribution of …essings require rotribution of thanks, or wil bring distribution of plagues.

Neither could we possibly be unthankful, if we seriously thought upon …hat God gives, and what he forgives: For in reason hath he contrived … many wayes to save us; and should not we take all occasions to glorifie …m? hath he done so much for us, and shall we denie him any thing that … requireth of us, though it were our lives, yea our souls; much more … lusts? We have exceeding hard hearts, if the blood of the Lambe …not soften them: stony bowels, if so many mercies cannot melt them. …as Christ crucified for our sins? and should we by our sins crucifie him again?

§ 6. Now the meditation of what God and Christ hath done for us, …ould make us do what we are able for him again. For did Christ all …is for us, and shall we do nothing for him for our selves? like savours …quire like gratitude. He that confers a benefit upon a grateful nature …bs him of his liberty, and self also: and in one and the same act makes …m a vassal, and himself his master. Wherefore if we have any inge…ity in us, it will make us to direct all our thoughts, speeches, and actions▪ … his glory, as he hath directed our eternal salvation thereunto.

But to help and further you herein, if you be willing so to do, take …se few directions.

First, Let these things be never out of the mindes, memories, & mouthes … those whom Christ hath done thus for. O let us (I say) remember, as we …ould never forget. Si totum me debeo pro me facto, quid jam addam pro …facto, saith holy Bernard. If I owed my whole self unto thee, for gi…g me my selfe in my creation: what have I left to pay for giving thy … sor me to so cruel a death, …o procure my Redemption, which was not … cheap as my creation? Great was the benefit that thou wouldst create … of nothing; but what tongue can sufficiently expresse the greatnesse of … grace, that thou didst redeem me with so dear a price, when I was …se then nothing? We are full of thy goodnesse: O let our hearts run … with thankfulnesse; yea, let so many of us as have either heart or …, in the next place say, O Lord, What is man that thou art so minde… of him▪ Psal. 8. 4. And O man, what is God that thou art so unmindful p. 16of him. And then conclude with, What shall I render unto thee, Lord, for all these thy benefits? but love thee my Creator, and Redeemer and become a new creature. I will serve thee, ô Lord, by the assistance … thy'grace, because thou hast given me my self: but much more hono… thee, because thou hast given me thy Son Christ.

§ 7. Nor can any man in common reason meditate so unbottomed love, and not study and strive for an answerably thankful demeanure, … a friend had given us but a thousand part of what God hath, we sho… heartily love him all our lives, and think no thanks sufficient. What price then should we set upon Jesus Christ! who is the life of our lives, a… soul of our souls?

But, thirdly, this should at least make us part with our nearest, dea… and sweetest darling sins, to serve him in righteousness and holiness ev… day; every hour, all the dayes of our lives: Even every sin; for what … should be so dear to us, as Gods onelyonly Son was to him? Do we then … Gods sake not spare our dearest sin; when God for our sakes, did not spa… his dearest Son.

Yea, what a brutish and barbarous unthankfulness, and shame were that God should part with his Son, and his Son with his own precio… blood for us? and we not part with our sinful lusts, and delights … him.

§ 8. Fourthly, Hath Christ done all this for us, his servants, so mu… and so many wayes obliged unto him? let us do what we are able for h… again. 1 Let us be zealous for his glory, and take his part when … see or hear him dishonoured. Nor can there be any love, where there no zeal, saith Augustine. Well-born Children are touched to the qui… with the injuries of their Parents. And it is a base, vile, and unjust … gratitude in those men that can endure the disgrace of them, under wh… shelter they live. 2 Let us seek to draw others after us, from Satan Him. 3 Do we all we can, to promote his worship and service. 4 Ta… all good occasions to publish to others, how good God is; and what hath done for us. 5 Let us wholly ascribe all the good we have, or to free grace; and give him the glory of his gifts, imploying them our masters best advantage. 6 Let us, (that we may expresse our tha… fulnesse to him) shew kindnesse to his Children, and poor members, … are bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, Ephes. 5. 30. 7 Abhor we … selves for our former unthankfulnesse, and our wonderful provoking him. 8 Hearken we unto Christs voice, in all that he saith unto us; a… express our thankfulness by our obedience. Yea, all this let us do, if we it but for our own sakes: For what should we have, if we did thus s… Christ, who hath done all these things for his enemies neglecting and … honouring him?

True, we cannot properly be said to do any thing for him, that have p. 17we have from him: Or if we could give him our bodies and souls, they …ld be saved by it; but he were never the better for them; yet we may do these, and many the like things, which he accounts, and rewards as done to himself.

CHAP. V.

§ 1. NOw these things we ought to do; thus thankful we ought to be to God, for his inestimable and unspeakable benefits towards us. But do we thus requite the Lord? or do we what we are able for him again? O that I could say we did! Yea, I would we were but so thankful to Christ for all his mercies: (the least whereof is greater then all the courtesies of men) as we are to a friend for some one good ….

But wo worth us, a people not worthy the crumb… of Christs, & our Ma…ers least mercy: Yea, well worthy of more plagues, then either Tyre, or Sy…on, Chorazin, or Bethsaida, Capernaum, Sodome, or Gom…rrah, Matth. 11. 21, to 25. or any people since the Creation: For as if all that Christ …th done for us, were nothing to move us; we are so far from being thankful, from loving, and serving him: that did we seriously think of Christs love, and our odious unthankfulness: and compare Gods goodness with our ingratitude, rightly weighing how we have from time to time abused his mercy, and those many means of grace, which he in his longsuffering hath afforded for … reclaiming: it would even make us speechless, like him in the Gospel, as neither expecting pardon, nor daring … ask it. Yea, … Lord, it is thine unspeakable mercy, that our Land hath not long since spued us out; and that we are not at this present frying in Hell. For whereas God hath removed so many evils spiritual and corporal, temporal and eternal, from us; and conferred so many good things upon us, that they are beyond thought or imagination.

§ 2. We have striven to multiply offences against him, and to make … as infinite in number, as his blessings. We have done nothing from … infancy, but added sin unto sin; as he hath added mercy to mercy: whereby our sins are become for number, as the sands in the Sea; and as … Stars of heaven; and answerable to their multitude; is the magnitude of them, as I have (in the former Part) shewn, and shall further amplifie in this. As tell me; may not God justly another day, call Heaven and Earth to witness against us? that he would have saved us? yea did w… us to accept of salvation; saying, Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil …ys: for why will you die, ô people of England? Ezek. 33. 11. But we would not be converted nor saved. As thus,

§ 3 Whereas God hath offered us a pardon (in tendering Christ unto …, upon the condition of faith and repentance) even his own Son; to be p. 18a means of our reconciliation; which is such a spectacle of unspeakable mercy, as might ravish our souls with admiration: We are so far from accepting it thankfully; that we not onelyonly refuse and contemn it, but in a manner deride the offer of it our selves; oppose the Gospel of glad tydings, and persecute Christ in his Members; either with hand, or tongue, or both. We are so far from being holy our selves, (most of us) that we hate holiness in others. For if any become Religious, and conscionable; and will not for company grievously sin against God; wrong their b… dies, destroy their own soules, and wilfully leap into Hell-fire with us: we envy, hate, censure, scoff at, nick-name, rail on, and slander them; tha… we may flout them out of their faith, damp, or quench the spirit where w… perceive it is kindled; discourage them in the way to heaven; baffle them out, and make them ashamed of their holy profession, and religious course and consequently pull them back to the World; that so we may have their company here in sin, and hereafter in torment. Nor do we so serve the most sincere onelyonly, in whom the graces of Gods Spirit do as apparently shine as the Sun at noon-day, to the dazling of their eyes: But we condemn all that have more religion then an Heathen; or more knowledge of heavenly things, then a childe in the wombe hath of the things of thi… life; or more conscience then an Atheist, or care of his soul then a Beast▪ That live religiously, and will nor revel it with us in a shoreless excess▪ for Round-heads, and Puritans, a name so full of the Serpents enmity, a… the egge of a Cockatrice is full of poison.

§ 4. And in all (which is worst of all) we have caused others to d… the same abominations, by our evil example. Yea, worse yet then all this our abominable wickedness, hath brought such a scandal upon our Religion, and the Gospel; that it is even abhorred of the Heathen, and th… great and glorious Name of God blasphemed among them. Yea, what els… but the unchristian-like behaviour of Christians? hath caused the Turk… and Jews, and many among our selves, even to protest against their ow… conversion. Or what else hath alienated the Indians from the Christia… Religion, making them to refuse the Gospel; but this? that they saw ou… lives more savage, then those Savages themselves: yea, it hath mad… those poor souls resolve, that whatsoever Religion the Christians were of they would be the contrary; thinking it impossible, that such beastly an… bloody deeds could proceed from any true Religion: Or, that he could b… a good God, who had such evill sons. Whereas in the Primitive times more of them were won to the faith, by the holy lives of Christians then by the Doctrine which they taught: for it caused them to say, Thi… is a good God, whose servants are so good.

p. 19CHAP. VI.

§ 1. ANd thus according to my scantling, I have spread before you what God and Christ hath done for us: and how we have again required him. Though God (who searcheth the heart, and trieth the reins) knows infinitely more by us, and sees what strange monsters; what ugly, odious, hideous fiends: what swarms, what litters, what legions of noysome lusts, are couched in the stinking styes of every one of our deceitful hearts: and findes, that if all our thoughts did but break forth into action, we should not come far short of the Devils themselves.

And certainly, if we shall compare the numberless number of our great and grievous abominations, wherewith our Land is filled from corner to corner; with the many means which God hath afforded for our reclaiming: it will be found, that no Nation under heaven, did ever more provoke the Lord. Nor hath he ever strove more with any Nation to reclaim them, then he hath done with us: for when neither mercies, nor any ordinary means would serve the turn; he hath at several times visited us with several judgements, to try what they would do: But we have been so little moved therewith, that instead of becomming better, we have bi… the worse for them, (as appears at this day) and more audacious in declaring our sins; as if with Sodom, we took a pride in them, to the great dishonour of our Redeemer, and his Gospèl; and to the hardening of all that hear of it: so that our horrid sins are grown up unto heaven: in regard whereof we may justly be confounded, and ashamed to lift up our eyes unto him, who is a Lord so great, and terrible: of such glorious Majesty and infinite purity. Now he that hath ears, let him bear▪ and he that hath wit, let him consider, and lay it to heart, how thankful a people we are. And not onelyonly ye, ô inhabitants of this our Jerusalem and Judah, would I have to judge, between Christ and his Vineyard; what he could have done for us, more then he hath done, Isaiah 5. 4, to 8. But heare ye also, ô heavens, and give eare, ô earth; be astonished at it, and horribly afraid; that this foolish people and unwise, should so requite the Lord, Jer. 2. 11, &c. Isai. 1. 2, to 9. and Verse 15, to 25. Deut. 32. 6, &c.

Oh my Brethren, Englands unthankfulness hath striven with Gods goodness for the victory, as Absalom strove with David, whether the Father should be more kinde to the son, or the son more unkinde to the Father. We have been fatted with his blessings, and then spurned at his precepts; resembling the Leopard, who wrongs them most, that give him most fodder.

§ 2. But why do I call it unthankfulness? when our sin is many degrees beyond ingratitude it self: For not to confesse a benefit, is the utmost confine of unthankfulnesse: meer ingratitude, returnes nothing for good, but we return evil, yea the greatest, and most malicious evil, for the greatest, and most admired love.

p. 20Argue with all the World, and they will conclude, there is no vice like ingratitude: But we are more ingrateful to God, then can be exprest by the best Oratour alive. It was horrible ingratitude, which the chief Butler shewed to Joseph, Gen. 41. 9. which the nine Lepérs shewed to Christ, Luk. 17. 17, 18. which the men of Succoth, and Penuel, shewed to Gideon, Judg. 8. 6, 8. which those five spies shewed to Micha, Judg. 18. 14, 18. It was worse which the Israelites shewed to Gideons seed, Judg. 9. 17, 18. which Michael Thraulus shewed to Leo the Emperour; which Justinianus shewed to that renowned Captain Bellizarius. It was yet worse, which Popilius shewed to Cicero; which Lycaon shewed to his stranger guests, that came to him for relief. It was worst of all in the Jews, to scourge and crucifie Christ, who did them good every way: for he healed their diseases, fed their bodies, enlightened their mindes; of God became Man, and lived miserably amongst them many years, that he might save their souls: (though in killing him, they did their utmost; to sink the onelyonly ship that could save them.) But all these fall far short of our ingratitude to God: for his maintenance we take and live on, the bread we eat, the air we breath, the cloaths we weare, all are his.

§ 3. That we are out of Hel, there to fry in flames, never to be freed… That we have the free offer of grace here, and everlasting glory hereafter in Heaven; where are such joyes, as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entred into the heart of man to conceive, 1 Cor. 2. 9. we are beholding to him: Yet we not onelyonly deny this Lord that hath bought us, (as every one does; that prefers Mammon, or any other thing before him) but we hate him, (as he doth hate, and not love God; that loves what he hates, or hates what he loves:) but most spightfully, and maliciously fight on Salans and sins side, against him: and persecute his Children, and the truth with all our might; perswading, and enforcing others …o do the same; even wishing that we could pull him out of his Throne, rather then to admit him our just Judge: And all this against knowledge and conscience, after illumination. I wish men would a little think of it; and then if this will not melt their hearts, no hope that any other means should do it, but perish they must.

§ 4. I confess, I have small hope, that what hath been said of Gods love, and our odious unthankfulness: his goodness, and our ingratitude; (which being seriously considered, were enough to bring the whole world upon their knees) should make them any whit ashamed, or the better; because their blockishness is such, that they think themselves good enough, and that …o doubt of it, or strive to be more holy, were but a foolish and needless scrupulosity. Yea, they prefer their condition, before other mens that are so consciencious; A thing strange! yet it is so: For although there be not a leaf in the sacred Volume, but hath matter against a voluptuous life, none for it: For to please flesh and blood, is the Doctrine of p. 21the Devill. Yet how do a world of men stifle their consciences, and force themselves to believe, if it were possible: that in case men will not swear, drink drunk, conform to their lewd customes, and the like; they are overprecise: and that God will like a man the worse, sor his being the better; or for having of a tender Conscience. And that he looks for less fear, reverence, and obedience from his servants; then we do from our servants: and yet hold that a servant can never be too punctual, in his obedience to his Masters lawful commands. They think it not enough for themselves, to prefer the pleasing of their senses, before the saving of their souls: and to venture tasting the forhidden fruit, at the price of death eternal: but they account them fools, that do otherwise.

CHAP. VII.

§ 1. OMy brethren! it is not to be believed, how blinde and blockish men are; that have hardened their hearts, and seared their consciences with accustomary sinning: for albeit I have informed them how dangerous their estate is, that they might plainly see it, truly fear it, and timely prevent it: yet I have very little hope to do any good upon them. For first, These lines to them are but as so many Characters writ in the water, which leave no impression behinde them: as being like one that beholdeth his natural face in a glass; who when he hath considered himself, goeth his way, and forgetteth immediately what manner of one he was, James 1. 23, 24. or like some silly Fly, which being beat from the Candle an hundred times, and oft singed therein: yet will return to it again, until she be consumed, Prov. 23. 35. All those Beasts which went into the Ark unclean, came likewise out unclean.

Secondly, Though these sparks of grace may kindle piety in others, yet not in them: for they are out of all hope of being healed. For what is light, to them that will shut their eyes against it? or reason, to them that will stop their ears from hearing it, and men of their condition, do on purpose …op their ears, and wink with their eyes; l…st they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and so should be converted, as our Saviour shews, Matth. 13. 15. and St. Paul, Acts 28. 27. yea, it's well, if they do not carp, and fret against the Word, and persecute the Messengers, as Herod did John Baptist, Demetrius Paul, and the false Prophets Jeremiah. And how should not that patient perish, who after he is launced, flies from the Chirurgeon, before the binding up of his wound? Or how should not that sin be past cure, which strives against the cure? certainly salvation it selfe, will not save those that spill the potion and fling away the plaister. O if these Adders had not stopt their ears! how long since had they been charmed? I grant they have reason so to do (such as it is.) For will a Leper take pleasure, in the searching of his sores; and Satan the like: for if they could clearly see, the loathso…esse of their impieties: it were not possible not to abhor them; not p. 22to abhor themselves for them: but their blindnesse makes them love their own filthinesse, as Ethiopians do their own swarthinesse.

§2. And to tell you the truth, (though I speak against my self, ha… I not a further reach in it) it were an unreasonable motion in me, if I should request mindes prepossest with prejudice to hear reason. Since the World and the Devil hath so forestalled their judgements therewith against Gods people, and goodnesse it self; that they resolve never to be better then they are. And where Satan hath set this his porter of prejudice: though Christ himself were on earth: that soul would make an ill construction, of whatsoever he did or spake: as we see in the Scribes and Pharisees; who when he wrought miracles, reputed him a sorcerer: when he cast out Devils, thought it to be by the power and Prince of Devils: when he reproved sinners, he was a seducer; when he received sinners, he was their favourer: when he healed the sick, he was a Sabbath-breaker, and the like: yea, they counted him the greatest. offender, that offended not once in all his life; which would make a wise man suspect▪ … own judgement, or the common fame: and to examine things throughly before they condemn one, whom they know no evil by.

Yet this is the case of these men of most men: for even as an ill stomack, turn… all it receives into ill humours: or as a Spider converts every thing she ears into poison; so they whatsoever they hear of, or see in the godly: So blinding themselves with prejudice, that like Pyrrhon, they will not believe what their eyes see, and their ears hear. Yea, I would fain know, what means can possibly be used, that shall be able to reclaim them? They will neither be softened with benefits, nor broken with punishments? Gods severity cannot terrifie them, nor his kindness mollifie them. Yea, should these fools be brayed in a mortar, among wheat with a …stle, yet they will not depart from their wickednesse, as Solomon expresseth …, Prov. 27. 22. Yea, the more these Anviles are beaten upon, the harder they are.

§ 3. The change of means, whether the Word, Iudgements, Mercies, or the like: do but obdure their hearts, instead of melting them; as we see by many examples. The nine plagues could not prevail with Pharaoh: Yea; they hardened his heart the more, When Jesus cried with a loud voice, and yielded up the ghost; the vail of the Temple rent in twain, from …op to the bottom: the earth did quake, the Graves did open themselves, and the dead Saints came forth, and went into the holy City; the Sun was forsaken of his light, &c. as if all were sensible of their Makers suffering: when as the generality of the people that had heard his preaching, and seen his many miracles: yea, those great Clerks, the Scribes and Pha…es, were altogether insensible, and worse then all the rest of the creatures: The very stones of the Temple were soft in comparison of their sto… hearts: and they which were dead in their graves, were alive to those which were dead in their sins.

p. 23Le… ▪ Malchus be smitten to the ground, with the words of our Saviour: let him have his right ear cut off, and miraculously healed again by him, whom he came to apprehend: yet he will be one, that shall lead him bound to Pilate. Let the Sodomites be all struck blinde, for contesting with Lot, and his two Angels: they will not cease seeking his doore, to break it open, until they feel fire and brimstone about their eares, Genes. ….

And let men look to it, for If they will not believe Moses, & the Prophe…, Christ and his Apostles: they would not believe, though … should send an Angel from the living in Heaven; or a Messenger from the dead▪ in. Hell to warn them; as Abraham tells Dives, Luke 16. 31. Yea, let God. himself forbid Balaam to go with Balaks messengers; to curse the children of Israel: yea, let an Angel stand in his way, with a drawn sword to stop him: yea, let him hear his beast speak under him: yet he slights all. I might instance other examples; as what a warning had Haz…el given him by the Prophet; of all the abominable wickednesse he should commit? 2 Kings 8. 12, 13, &c. And likewise Ahab, who was told from the Lord, that if he went to war, he should perish? yet neither would take warning, but went on, and sped accordingly. And also of the O… world: so that one were as good speak to liveless stones, or senselesse plants, or witless beasts, as to such men; for any thing they will be bettered by it. Yea, reason once debauched is worse then bru…shnesse: I see the savagest of all creatures, Lions, Tygers, Bears, &c. by an instinct from Go…, came to seek the Ark: (as we see swine foreseeing a storm; run home, crying for shelter) not one man do I see, except Noah and his family. So none b…t the well-affected, whose hearts it pleaseth the Lord to change, will be the better for what they have heard, of Gods goodness and their ingratitude, see 1 Sam. 10. 26.

§ 4. They have been too long sick of sin to be recovered, and will rather be confounded, then reformed: they have brazen browes, stisse necks, uncircumcized eares, blinded eyes, …, and heavy hearts, obdura… souls, as strong as a stone, and as hard as a neather mil stone, Ezek. 11. 1…. by reason whereof it comes to passe; that those who are filthy, will be filthy still; in spite both of Law and Gospel. Yea, they are stark dead to all ordinary means: which is an infallible signe of their eternal ruine, as they may see, both by testimonies, Deut. 17. 12. Prov. 29. 1. and 1. 24, 25, 26. Heb. 10. 28. Hos. 4. 14, 17. Isai. 57. 17. And likewise by pregnant examples, 1 Sam. 2. 22, to 26. 2 Chron. 25. 16, 20.

What should I more say? If thou beest an habituated sinner; blinded or forestalled with prejudice; & resolved to go on in thy wickedness, and do as others do, without either conscience of sin, or guidance of reason. Thou are dead in sin; and not on…ly dead, as …us daughter was, Matth. 9. 25. Nor onelyonly dead, …id out and coffin'd, as the wi…owes son of Na…m was, p. 24Luke 7. …4. But dead, coffin'd, and buried as Lazarus vvas, Iohn the 11. 39. even till thou stinkest in the nostrils of God, and all good men. So that I have no other message to deliver unto thee; then that which the vigilant Captain, delivered together with a deaths wound to his sleeping Sentinel: Dead I found thee, and dead I leave thee.

§ 5. OnelyOnly thou, ô Father, to whom nothing is hard, if it be thy good pleasure: (as why not seeing it will make much for the glory of thy great Name, to save such a mighty sinner; who Manasses-like hath multiplied offences above the number of the sand of the Sea; and is bound down with many iron bands.) Say unto his soul, Live; yea, quicken thou him, ô merciful Redeemer, who art the fountain of life. It is true, thy angry threatning against sinners is importable: but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable, and unsearchable. Thou therefore that art able to quicken the dead; and make even of stones, children to Abraham: mollifie these stony hearts, we beseech thee, with the blood of the Lambe: and make of these children of the Devil (Iohn 8. 44.) Members of thy Son Iesus Christ.

CHAP. VIII.

§ 1. ANd that my utmost endeavour, may answer the strength of my desires: and for that God does not ordinarily work, but by means. I will notwithstanding the small hope I have, of these AEthiopians changing their skin: or these Leonards their spots, Jer. 13. 23. even against my own reason, try yet annother way: because my hearts desire is, that they may be saved, Rom. 10. 1. Yea, I assure you, if God should bid me ask what I would, (as once he did Solomon) if I know my own heart, it should be no other thing, then that my brethren, and Countreymen, might have their eyes opened: be turned from darkness to light; did from the power of Satan unto God, that they might receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith in Christ, Acts 26. 18.

§ 2. Nor am I altogether out of hope; for as with God nothing is impossible: so I call to minde that the Apostle saith, 1 Cor. 14. If an unbelieving Idiot, shall hear the secrets of by heart made manifest to himself, and others: he will then he convinced, and fall down on his face and worship God and say: This is of God indeed, or of a truth, Vers. 24, 25. and I doubt not, but by Gods help, I shall shew these ignorant unbelievers, from the written Word, their very thoughts and the most secret intents of their hearts, Heb. 4. 12. and so, that their own consciences shall bear me witness, I belie them not.

Wherefore lend me your best attentions, I beseech you: and in reading take notice, of what concerns each of you: and if conscience plead guilty, hearken thereunto.

§ 3. Now that I may speak to all whom it concerns; namely those ignorant, unbelieving and ungrateful wretches formerly spoken of: and p. 25that it may prove of general behoof, I will give you the several characters of seven sorts of men, which include the whole number, viz.

The

Loose Libertine,

Civil Iusticiary,

Formal Hypocrice,

Miserly Muck-worm,

Profound Humanist,

Cunning Politician,

False Teacher, that flatters sin, & flowts holiness.

And in some one of these, every natural man shall read the very thoughts of his heart: together with his words and actions. For if ought be wanting in the one, it shall be supplied in the other: which is as much as can be expected. For otherwise I can no way avoid Tautologies; nor Interfering.

If it be asked, why I seem to forget the character of an ignorant person? I answer, it were not proper to make him a distinct party: for all these that I have mentioned; are equally ignorant, (if unregenerate:) touching spiritual, experimental, and saving knowledge: though some more fools then others in the things of this life. Nor is any Profound Humanist, or Cunning Politician, or False Teacher so wise: but it is through ignorance, that he doth so ill: and which is as good, the ignorant man shall meet with his own thoughts, words, and actions, in every of the seven Characters: if he be but wise enough to know the issue of his own heart and brain, when he sees the Brats brought before him.

I shall also occasionally pourtray, or paint out: the usual cunning, Covetousness, and Cruelty.

Of

Governours,

Officers,

Iudges,

Lawyers,

Projectors,

Engrossers,

Gripers,

Wasters, &c.

And the better to illustrate, or set out the fairness, or diformity; of each vertue and vice: I will give you the lively and lovely

Characters of

Iustice,

Thankfulness,

Contentation,

Frugality,

Liberality.

CHAP. IX.

§ 1. I Begin with the Loose Libertine, or openly prophane: for he shall lead the Troop, as Judas led the Souldiers.

Thou that art openly prophane, dost so manifestly prove and p. 26profess thy self to be one of those ignorant, unbelieving, ingrateful, & wicked wretches herein concern'd: yea, to be one of the children of disobedience whom Satan hath blinded: that in respect of others, I should think it needlesse to spend time in further proof thereof: yet I would gladly say something to shame thee out of thy self: wherefore brie fly thus: Thou art kept by the Devil in a snare, and taken captive of him at his will: he ruleth, and worketh his pleasure in thee, as being thy God and Father, and Prince, and Master, 2 Tim. 2. 26. Joh. 8. 44. and 14. 30. 2 Cor. 4. 4. Thy odious qualities are these and the like: thou doest banish all civility, and give thy self over to sensuality: and art neither afraid nor a shamed; to let thy wicked est thoughts break forth into actions. Yea, thou thinkest thy self the honester man for it: and boastest thou art none of those dissembling Hypocrites that seem to be what they are not. Thou art a common Drunkard: instead of quenching thy thirst, thou drownest thy senses: and wilt leave thy wits, rather then the Wine behinde thee.

§ 2. Thou desirest not the reputation of honesty, but of good fellowship: Thou art a continual swearer, and that of bloody oaths. One of our Ruffians, or sons of Relial: who when thou art displeased with others, wilt flie in thy Makers face, and tear thy Saviours Name in pieces: even swearing away thy part in that blood, which must save thee if ever thou beest saved. Yea, if thou art never so little provoked; curses with thee, strive for number with oaths, and lewd speeches with both. Thou knowest no other dialect, then roaring, swearing, and banning: the language of Hell, which thou learnest before thou comest thither: and in case thou art reproved for it, thou wilt 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, Levit. 19. 17. Heb. 3. 11. 2 Tim. 2. 25. Ezek. 3. 18, to 22. 2 Pet. 2. 7, 8. Whence as the chief Priests answered Iudas; What is that to us? so thou wilt blaspheme God, tear Christ in pieces, and more then betray; even shed his innocent blood, digging into his side with oaths: and say: when told of it, What is that to us? When thou mightest 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 his glory 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 evil, or no hinderers. For if we must not see our neighbours Ox, nor his Sheep go astray; or fall into a pit: 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 dropping into the bottomless pit of Hell. And what know we? but we may win our brother, and so save his soul? Matth. 18. 15. Again, thou art an usual companion of Harlots, thy summum bonum is a Punk: and thou wilt rather burn in hell, then marry: All thy felicity is in a Tavern, or Brothel-house: where Harlots and Sycophants rifle thy estate, and then p. 27send thee to rob. Thou art one of those that St. Peter speaks of: thou hast …s ful of adultery, & that cannot cease to sin. Thou gazest upon every fair …ace; and lustest after every beautiful woman: Thy speech is lewd, and …scene: thy discourse scurrility, lascivious thy behaviour. Thou art a fre…ent slanderer of thy Neighbour: an open Sabbath-breaker: Canst boast …f sin, and mischief, and if need be defend it.

§ 3. Like the Salamander, thou art never well, but in the fire of con…ention: And art apt to quarrel, yea, kill a man for every foolish trifle; …e it but for the wall, or refusing to pledge thee; as if thy honour were of …ore worth then thy soul. Yea, the Devil hath so blinded, and bewitcht …hee: that thou thinkest every wrong, or disgraceful word quarrel just …nough, to shed blood: that true valour consists onelyonly in a brave revenge …nd being implacable: that patience is but an argument of baseness; and …herefore thou wilt rather suffer a sword in thy bowels, then a lie in thy …roat. I confess, thou wilt fight in no quarrel but a bad one: and sooner …n thy Mistresses defence, then in thy Makers.

§ 4. Thou art of a reprobate judgement touching actions and persons: esteeming good evil, and evil good, Prov. 17. 15. and 29. 27. Isai. 5. 20. Thou doest stifle thy conscience, and would'st force thy self to believe if it …ere possible: that in case men will not swear, drink drunk, conform to …hy lewd customes, and the like: they are over-precise; and to forbear …vil, is quarrel sufficient for thee. Thou speakest evil of all, that will not …un with thee to the same excess of riot, 1 Pet. 4. 4. making them a by-word …o the people, Job 17. 6. and a song amongst thy fellow Drunkards, Psal. 69. 12. Thou art so desperately wicked, that thou wilt mock thy admonisher, scoff at the means to be saved; and make thy self merry with thy own damnation.

§ 5. Instead of hating the evil thou doest, and thy self for doing it: …hou art glad of it, rejoycest in it, boastest of it; yea, pleadest for it, and applaudest thy self for thy wickedness: God is not in all thy thoughts, except to blaspheme him, and to spend his dayes in the Devils service. And rather then abridge thy pleasure, thou wilt hazard the displeasure of God. Thou doest not honour, but art stubborn, and disobedient to thy parents: a Rioter, &c. If they stand in need of thee; thou wilt not nourish, or maintain them, as they did thee in thy need. Thou takest no care to provide for thine own family; but drinkest the very blood of thy Wife, Children, and Servants: and art therein worse then an Infidel. Thy greatest delight is in devillish cruelty: as to see the poor innocent Creatures fight, pick out one anothers eyes, and tear each others flesh. Yea, to see two men fight, and kill one another: thou accountest but a sport, or playing, 2 Sam. 2. 14, to 17.

§ 6. Thou wilt borrow, or run in debt with every one; but never carest to pay, or satisfie any one: except it be thy Hostess for drink, p. 28left she should never more trust thee. Thou wickedly spendest thy p… m…ny in riot, and upon Dice, Drabs, Drunkenness. Thou hast never t… wit to think upon sparing, until thou comest to the bottom of the Purs… like an ho…-glass turned up, thou never leavest running till all be o… Shouldest thou live never so long, thou wilt never attein to the years … discretion: thou wilt never become thine own man, until thou hast no … thee: nor ever see want, until thou feelest it. Thou art onelyonly witty … wrong, and undo thy self; and which is worse then all; if death fin… thee as banquerout of spiritual; as of worldly goods: it will send thee an eternal Prison. Thy pride so swels thee, and makes thee look so big as if the river of thy blood, would not endure to be banked within t… chan…l of thy veins. Thou must have shift of attire, though thou can not shift thy self out of the Merce's books, until thou hast sold the oth… Farm, or Lordship: thou wilt pay the whole reckoning, that thou may … be counted the best man▪ a bare head in the streets, does thee more goo… then a meals meat, Thou wilt soon bring a noble to nine pence: an inheri… ance of five hundred pounds per annum, to five hundred shillings. Th… ar… a vain glorious fool, and scornest any employment, or to be of a… calling: which is a pride, without either wit or grace.

§ 7. As g…od men by their godly admonition, and vertuous exampl… draw all they can to Heaven: so thou by thy subtile allurements, and v… cious example; drawest all thou canst to bell. For as if it were too … to damn thy own soul: or as if thine own sins would not press thee d… enough into hell: thou doest all that possibly thou canst, to entice a… enforce others to sin with thee: for thou doest envy, …ate, scoff a…, nic… name, …ail on, and slander the godly; that thou mayest flowt them out … their …aith, damp, or quench the spirit where thou perceivest it is kindle… disourage them in the way to heaven, to make them ashamed of th… ho… conversation, and religious course; pull them back to the world, th… so thou mayest have their company here in sin, and hereafter in to m…nt.

§ 8. Thou fearest a Jayl more then thou fearest hell: and standest m… upon thy sides smarting, then upon thy soul. Thou regardest more t… blasts of mens breath, then the fire of Gods wrath: and tremblest more the thought of a Ser…ant, or Bailiff, then of Satan, and everlasting perd… tion. Thou takest incouragement from the Saints falls, and sins of Go… people, to do the like: when they should serve thee as Sea-marks, to ma… thee beware. Yea, thou doest most sordidly, take liberty, and incourag… ment to go on more securely in thy evil courses: because God is mercifu… and forbears to execute judgment speedily: and to defer thy repentance, b… cause the …hief upon the Cross, was heard at the last hour, Thou wilt boldl… do what God forbids; and yet confidently hope to escape what he threaten… Thus I could go on, to tell thee a thousand more of these thy wicke… p. 29thoughts, words, and actions; had I not already done it. But because I …ould not present my other Readers, with Cole-worts twice sod: be per…aded to take view of them, in my other small Tract, entituled, The …, despicable, and dreadful condition of a Drunkard, drawn to the Life: …ough indeed, even a tithe of these are sufficient evidences, to prove …e one of those ignorant, unbelieving, ingrateful, and notorious wicked …etches before spoken of: and to make thee confess that thou art in a …st danable condition. But stand thou by, and let the Civil Justiciary, …d formal Hypocrite hold up their hands, and hear their Charge.

And so much for the first Division allotted for such as are notoriously …ked. For though I determined to have made of all but one Volume; ye… …w new thoughts have taken place, and caused me to melt the whole a…in; and cast it into several Divisions: whereby being …old single, every …an may have his proper portion apart. My reasons are these, & the like.

1 It is because many (be they never so short-breath'd, in well doing) …ll read a few leaves: that will not once look upon a large Volume.

2 Divers will be at the cost of a few pence, that would rather perisis… …en lay out a pound.

3 Some, as they have but little money; so they have less time to spare, …s they use the matter) for the good of their souls.

4 Admonitions, and instructions if they exceed: are wont as nails, t… …ive out one another.

5 Should the Civil Iusticiary read the prophane mans Character; or the …en-handed Prodigal, the close-fisted, and griping Oppressors: this would …er encourage, and strengthen them in their wickedness, then fright … from it.

6 Some have such queasie stomacks, that if they see their potion big, as …ell as bitter; they will choose to die, rather then take it.

And because I have found by ample experience, that many have a …de to read good Books yea, a zeal (such as it is) to reclaim others …m evil, so it may cost them nothing: who otherwise have no stomack …ither. (For when the like was to be given about, swearing and cursing … …n the better sort of men and women could fetch them by a thousand …k from all parts of the Kingdome. But since they have (for some …sons) been sold, for eight a penny: not one of an hundred could … in their hearts to give that peny, were it to save eight of their friends …ls: which shews both how they love money; and what hollow-hearted …otion they have. The Lord discover the same unto them.) There is …er against the High Constables short of Shoreditch Church) of this … part, or division to be given freely, together with the cure of cursing …d swearing: provided, they that desire them can read very well: for …erwise they will so nick-name words, and make it such non-sense, that …e would rather his lines should never be read, then so brokenly. p. 30And I could wish that men would not fetch them for base ends, as one d… formerly fetch many hundreds of that against Swearing, and Cursing onelyonly to save the buying of waste Paper (though he had many fair p… tences of sending them to Graves-end, Canterbury, Dover, and all oth… places, where Soa-men resorted:) which being found out, made the D… nor with-draw his gift until now.

It was, I think, a most wicked act, for which he deserves to be stig… tized and made an example to others. And let men take heed of abu… things Dedicated to holy uses; for they are the sharpest kinde of edge tools, and therefore are not to be jested with: Neither will God so … mocked.

The end of the first Division.

POSTCRIPT.

AUgustine that his ignorant hearers might the better under stand him, would sometimes speak false Latine: and I … my accidental Readers good, have (and that purposely) do… as absurdly in another kinde: viz. used the same expressi… in one Tract (when I have deemed it weighty and convincing that may be found in another: which to many will not be di… cernable, though obvious enough to some: Who may if the… please censure it and me for it: But presuming that the mo… charitable, and ingenuous would not have it otherwise, it sh… not much trouble me.

LONDON, Printed by R. and W. L. for James Crump, in Little Bartholomews Well-yard.