Sermons Upon Romans 11:2-8, Sermon 2
The second Sermon.
NOw I will take these wordes as they lye in order, and out of that place gather the Doctrines as they fitly arise by Conference of both places; whereas the Apostle saith heere of Elias, that hee communeth with God, or maketh request vntounto him against Israell. The wordes of the Prophet, 1. Kings 19.1 Ki. 19, 20 as I noted before, are these; I hauehave beene verie iealous, &c. all tending to one purpose. For the Doctrine then, whereas Elias Doctr. 3 directeth himselfe vntounto God, and maketh his Prayer and complaint vntounto him, as one fully assured, that as the Lorde by the Idolatrie and abhominations of the Wicked, was greeuously offended, so hee alone was able to take vengeance of them, and to giuegive vntounto him a comfortable deliuerance.
Wee first learne from hence, that it highly behooueth, and it is the par… and dutie of all true Christians to be… meruailous zealous and earnest in hearty prayer and calling vponupon God▪ And as at all other times, and vppon all other occasions, forasmuch as th… Lord is exceeding rich and plentiful… in all good thinges, both concernin… foule and bodye, the least whereof cannot possibly bee had any othe… where: so especially, in the time o… affliction and trouble, and whe… (through the rage and fury of malicious enemies) we be in any misery o… distresse.
Reason 1 The Reasons are, first, because th… Lord God is the fountain of all soun… comfort and consolation, the ioy o… the afflicted, the deliuerer of the oppressed, and of such as are in distresse Reason 2 And secondly, because he hath promised the imparting of the riches an… treasures of his grace and fauor, vpo… no other condition, nor yet vntounto an… other, but onelyonly vntounto such as humbl… beg and craue the same at his handes, by faithfull and feruent prayer. Examples of such notable zeale and feruency in prayer (besides this of Elias) we hauehave in Dauid, who beeing oftentimes brought into so great extreamities, as that he seemed to be vtterly forsaken, flyeth still vntounto God by Prayer, as vntounto his onelyonly refuge, and most humbly craueth comfort and succour at his mercifull hands:Verse 22. as Ps. 31. Though I said in my hast I am cast out of thy sight, yet thou heardest the voice of my prayer, when I cried vntounto thee. Heerof also hauehave we his example.Verse 31… 2 Sa. 15. at such time as he was in great daunger of his life through the vnnaturall treachery of Absolon, and diuellish counsell of Achitophel. Verse 10.As also Chap. 24. when he felt the hand of God vponupon him for his offence in numbering the people. Of Hezekiah, Verse 15, 16, &c.2. Kin. 19. at such time as him-selfe with the whol Citty of Ierusalem was in great danger of destruction thorough the mighty hoast of Senaherib. Of Iehosephat, also of Ieremy, Daniel, &c. But of all others, most notably heereunto belongeth the example of our Lorde Iesus Christ,Verse 19. whereof we read, Math. 26. praying vntounto his heauenly father in the time of affliction, and that with a prostrating of himselfe vppon the ground. And now if such holy men as Dauid, Elias, Hezekiah & the rest; nay if the son of God himselfe, our Lord Iesus Christ, being the Lorde of life and saluation, thus humbled himselfe in feruent prayer and calling vppon God, when (as yet) in regard of himselfe, he had no need of any heauenly assistance, and when as al the troubles and anguishes which hee sustained were free and voluntary, wholly also for vsus, and in no measure for himselfe How feruent & watchful then ought we to be in this christian duty & exercise of praier, wee hauing continuall need of the Lords assistance, & in infinit respects being (by reason of our sins and grieuous offences) in continual danger & extremity? The consideration of which great necessitie of praier, hath caused the holy ghost to vtter notable exhortations therunto, as Rom. 12. that we should continue in praier,Verse 12. Verse 17, and 1 Th. 5. Pray (saith he) continually. Also Eph. 6. Pray alwaies with all maner praier & supplication in the spirit, Verse 18.& watch therunto with all perseuerance and supplication for al Saints. For this cause is it recorded to the notable comendation of Anna the daughter of Phanuel, that she went not out of the temple, but serued God with fasting & prayers, night & day. Luke 2, 36, 37.Heerunto belongeth the example of Hannah the mother of Samuel. 1 Sa. 1, 12. As also the woman of Canaan. Mat. 15. sheweth vsus a notable example of vnwearied constancie and continuance in prayer, she neuer ceasing from the same, vntil she foūd the Lord graciously inclined to grant her desire. And surely a man would thinke that the consideration of our manifolde wants and necessities, should moue vsus to a feruent constancy and continuance in prayer. For who is he so rich and wealthy, but he hath still neede of the Lords blessing and protection? whose estate so sure and vnmoueable, but it may quickely bee ouerturned and brought to nothing? And who (againe) so holy & perfect, but he hath continuall neede of the encrease of grace? All which, can no otherwise be had, but by faithfull Prayer and calling vponupon GOD. Now heereunto for our better encoragement to this duty may be produced also the notable effectes which hauehave ensued vponupon the faithfull Prayers of the Saints and seruants of God calling vponupon him in the time of affliction and troble. As in the first place, what a comfortable effect did there follow vponupon this prayer of Elias? the Lord graciously deliuering him and the rest of his faithfull, and turning the rage and fury of their cruell persecutors, to their owne feareful confusion. The like comfortable successe had the Prayers of Dauid, hee beeing alwayes preserued from the wicked attempts of Saul: and the Lord bringing the treachery of his vnnaturall Sonne and wicked Counsellors to their owne destruction. The like regard had the Lorde also to the Prayers of Hezekiah, Ieremy, Daniel, &c. The notable effect that ensued also vponupon the Prayer of our Lorde Iesus Christ is not to be passed ouer. In the dayes of his flesh (saith the Apostle, Heb. 5.) did he offer vp Prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares vntounto him, Verse 7.that was able to saue him from death, and was also heard in that which he feared.
The Apostle in these wordes, not onelyonly declaring, that our Lorde Iesus Christ in the time of his humiliation and according to his humane nature, did pray to his heauenly Father; but that he was most graciously hearde, and comfortably assured of a triumphant victory ouer all the enimies of our saluation, according as in short time afterwarde it came to passe in very deede. To these might bee added the comfortable experiences which the Apostles,Acts 4. Acts 12. Saint Peter, Saint Paule, Saint Iohn, and the rest, had of the Lordes most gracious inclination to heare their prayers, and to graunt their requests, calling vponupon him in the time of their imprisonments and greeuous afflictions. Such is the Lords bountie and goodnesse, and so ready is his mighty and mercifull hand to performe that promise which in Psal. 50. he maketh vntounto all such as faithfully call vppon him in the time of affliction and distresse,Verse 15. saying; Cal vponupon me in the day of trouble: I wil deliuer thee, and tho… shalt glorifie me. Verse 18, 19And Psal. 145. Th… Lord is neere to al that cal vponupon him, y… to al that cal vponupon him in truth. Hee w… fulfil the desire of them that feare him, b… also wil heare their crie, and wil sa… them. Much might bee spoken for the further amplification of this point, but in this already deliuered, wee may finde sufficient matter to encourage vsus to a cheerefull regarde and exercise of this duty. Vse. And howsoeuer the Lorde may oftentimes seeme to neglect our Prayers, and to deferre the performaunce of our requests longer then wee would: yet must we not distrust nor be discouraged, but alwaies comfort our selues with this vndoubted assurance, that Hee is faithful who hath promised, who also wil doo it. For yet a little while (sayth the Apostle) and hee that shall come, will come, and wil not tarry. Heb. 10, 23, 37, 38.Now the iust shal liue by faith: but if any with-drawe himselfe, my soule (saith the Lorde) shal hauehave no pleasure in him.
This Comfort encouraged Dauid, and therefore, 2. Sam. 22.Verse 4. I wil cal on the Lord who is worthie to be praised, so shal I be safe from mine enemies. He did not despaire, but was assured, that as the Lorde had promised, so would he not fail to giuegive him a comfortable deliueraunce from his enemies: according whereunto, ought no extreamities to discourage vsus, eyther from hearty praying vntounto God, or from reposing an vndoubted confidence of being graciously heard,1 Ioh. 5, 14, 15. in whatsoeuer we aske according to his will.
Secondly, from the consideration of the notable zeale that was in this holy Prophet wee are taught, that Doctr. 4 with such a feruent zeale and burnng affection ought all true Christians to be inflamed towards the glory and honour of God, as on the one side to apply vntounto themselues, & for the comfort and reioycing of their owne hearts, whatsoeuer tendeth to the aduancement thereof, euen as i… themselues were notably honoured and benefited thereby: and on the other side to be no lesse greeued with whatsoeuer tendeth to the reproach and dishonour of his blessed name: then if it were directly intended and applyed against themselues. Such a burning zeale (I say) was in this holy and excellent Prophet, as euidently appeared, not onelyonly in causing all the Prophets of Baal to bee slaine for their Idolatry and blasphemy against the Lord (whereof you heard before) but in that he feared not also to shew himselfe vntounto Ahab, and that in the heate of all his rage and madnesse, & in plaine and expresse tearmes, to discouer and reprooue his irreligious,1 King. 18, 18. lewd, and vngodly life. Such a zeale and tender affection towardes the Lords glory, was in the Prophet Dauid, he being no lesse touched to the heart with sorrow and griefe, for the blasphemies, for the scornes and reproaches which were vttered by the wicked against the Lord, and against the sincerity of his worde and worship, then if himselfe in his owne person had endured them all. As Rom. 15 out of Psal. 69.Rom. 15.3. Psal. 69, 9. The rebukes of them which rebuke thee, fel on me. And Ps. 139▪Psal. 139, 21 22. Do not I hate them ô Lord (saith he) that hate thee? And do I not earnestly contend with those that rise vp against thee? I hate thē with an vnfained hatred, as they were mine vtter enimies. Thus was Dauid also euen as it were deuoured & swallowed vp with the zeal of the lord; he accounted all those for his enemies, who were the enemies of God, & no lesse hating & oposing himself against them, then if they had hated & despised him, and intended against him al… the mischiefe they could possibly deuise. Examples of such burning zeale toward gods glory, we hauehave in diuers other, as in Moses against the Idolatry of the Israelites, it beeing recorded i… the 32. ch. of Exodus, Verse 19, 20that whē he saw the calfe which they had made, & the dancing, his wrath waxed hot, & he cas… the Tables out of his hands, brake them in pieces, burnt the Calfe in the fire, ground it vntounto powder, strewed it vponupon the Water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. This surely was a maruailous zeale in this holy man towards Gods glory, when he saw it so prophaned, he being much more neerly touched thereby with greefe of heart, then if the vilest reproach that might be, had beene offered to himselfe. Such a zeale also towards the Lord, had Phinehas, Verse 8.Num. 25. when with his speare he thrust thorow the two fornicators for their filthy wickednes in transgressing Gods law. Notable also was the zeale of Ioshuah, in punishing the wickednes of Achan with death, as Ios. 7,Verse. 16 25. of Iehu 2 Kin. 10. in that he slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Isreel, & al that were great with him, & his Familiars and Priests, and conuerted the house of Baal to a filthy vse In al which that he was caried with a burning zeale towards God, himselfe testifies in his words to Iehonadab the Sonne of Rechab, saying, Come with me, and see the zeal which I hauehave for the Lord. The notable example also o… Hezekiah, in breaking the Brazen serpent which Moses had set vp. Of Iosiah also,2 Kin: 18, 4 2 Kings 23. Of Nehemiah, chap. 13, 25. Of the Prophet Ieremie, chap. 20, 9. But aboue al others most notable heerein, is the consideration of the woonderfull zeale that was in our Lord Iesus Christ, when hee saw the house of God, and the place of his worship to bee horribly prophaned and abused, with the buying and selling of Marchandize,Ver: 15, 17 as Ioh. 2. The vngodlines of the thing did so moue him to indignation, as that he forga… al respects of himselfe, & was so swallowed vp of zeale, that hee could not not forbeare such wickednes any longer, but with a scourge of Cordes whipped them all out of the Temple. We read also, in diuers other places of the Gospell, that although in outward respectes, hee submitted himselfe to his Mother, and vntounto Ioseph (whom men supposed to bee his Father) yet whensoeuer there was any question concerning any particuler of his Office and calling (for the accomplishing whereof he was sent of his Heauenly Father into this world) hee would not yeild the least …ot that might bee vntounto their affections, but rather reprooued them for the same. According as besides the reproouing of his Mother.Verse 46, 47, &c. Iohn 2, 3. heereof wee hauehave another example, Mat. 12. it being there recorded, that when one told him (as hee was exercised in teaching the multitude) that His Mother and his Brethren stood with…ut, desiring to speake with him. Who is …ny Mother (answered he) and who are …ny Brethren. And a little after, Whoso…uer shal doo my Fathers wil which is in Heauen, Verse 26the same is my Brother and Si…ter, and Mother. And Luke 14. If any man come to me, and hate not his Father …nd Mother, and wife and Children, and Bretheren and Sisters, yea and his owne life also, he cannot be my Disciple. An… Mat. 10.Verse 35 I am come to set a man at va… ance against his Father, & the daught… against her mother, and the daughter law against her mother in law, &c. N… that Christs meaning is to giuegive an… encoragement vntounto children of dis… bedience, God forbid: but he teach… heerein, that the glory of God, th… faith of Christ, and the sincere profesion and practise of Gods worde a… will, ought to be much more dear… precious vntounto vsus, then our earthly p… rents and kinred, and that wee ough… rather to be at deadly hatred and cotention with them, then to leaue a… part of that vndone, which the Lo… requireth at our hands, according he plainly afterward expoundeth … owne meaning, saying; He that louelove father or mother more then mee, is … worthy of me, &c. Verse 37Now to come to t… reasons wherefore al true Christia… ought to be inflamed with such a b… ning Reason 1 zeale of Gods glory. First, w… must know that the glory of God, is the end of all Gods counsels, and of all Gods creatures. Now, the ende which God hath appointed to all our dooinges, we are euermore to propound and set before vsus in al and eueryevery thing that we take in hand: but god hath appointed, that the end of al our doings should be his glory: therefore his glory at all times and in all things must be especialy respected of vsus, and aymed at, according to that of the Apostle. 1 Cor. 10.Verse 31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoeuer ye do, do al to the glorie of God. A second reason, is, because it is the end of our creation wherfore we liue, moue, and hauehave our being, that the name of God shold be glorified in our mortal bodies, & that we should become sanctified instruments to do that which is in his holy presence. But now as by these examples and reasons you hauehave herd the description of true zeale: euen so must you vnderstand, that there is also a false zeale, and that is, when either vnderunder a counte… fet pretence of Gods glory, mens priuate and particular glory is sough… after; or when there is indeed a zea… towards God, but not grounded, no… moderated nor directed according t… his word. Examples of the first so… of false zeale, wee hauehave in Ioshua th… sonne of Nun, so highly respectin… the honour and credite of Moses, a… that hee repined at Eldad and Med… for prophesying in the host, and wi… led Moses to forbid them. Num. 11, 2… And another example in the Disc… ples of Iohn the Baptist, Verse 26Ioh. 3. murm… ring and complaining of the growin… and encreasing credite of Christ, so the louelove which they bare vntounto the Maister. Examples of the other so… of false zeale we hauehave in the Isralite… of whom Rom. 10. the Apostle sayt… in plaine tearmes, that they had th… zeale of God, but not according to Knowledge. In Vzza, 1 Chron. 13. and in … Paule before his conuersion, whereo… himselfe speaketh. Phil. 3, 6. and of this kinde of false zeale speaketh and prophesieth our Lord Iesus Christ. Iohn 16.Verse 2▪ They shal excommunicate you (saith he) yea, the time shal come, that whosoeuer killeth you, wil thinke that he doth God seruice. According as of this false zeale, there is, and hath beene, most lamentable experience among the Papists. It beeing no otherwise to bee concluded, but that some of them vndoubtedly are carried headlong to all their bloody deseignes, to the horrible massacres which they hauehave committed, and (amongest all the rest of the…r Treacheries) to that late and most detestable Gun powder Treason, as at their arraignment and death they confessed; especially, through a blinde zeale for the vpholding & establishing of the Catholick faith which they hauehave falsely pretended: The Deuill thorough Gods iust iudgement, hauing so bereaued them of al sence and remorse, that they perswade themselues, that in murth… ring the King, the Queen, the Princ… and in effecting the destruction of a… others professing Religion, the… should performe a very merritoriou… worke, greatly please God, and do… him most high seruice. But lettin… this passe: other examples of tru… zeale (besides those already remembred) we hauehave in holy Iohn the Baptist, in S. Peter, and in S. Paule, afte… his conuersion: but these that hau… bin alledged, as they plainly approue… how tenderly the glory of God hat… bin respected of the Saints and Seruants of God from time to time he… tofore, they being much more gre… ued and vexed at the prophanatio… thereof, and much more fiercely pu… suing the enemies & violaters of th… same, then euer they did any of thos… that reproached them, or at any tim… practised mischiefe against them: euen so do they most notably tend to teach, that the like burning zeale, an… tender affection, ought to bee in vsus, and in eueryevery of vsus, towards the name of the Lord our God, at this day, and from day to day, according to our seuerall places and callings, and the diuers occasions that are offered. But alacke (if wee come, to the vse and application) where shall a man find such zeal in these dayes of ours, as was either in Elias, Dauid, or in any of the other, that hauehave bin remembered? Who is he that will not storme and chafe, yea and threaten to be reuenged, when he shall see himselfe to be mocked, despised, or vpbraided, to be slandered, disgraced, or any otherwise misdealt withal? But althogh the Lord of heauen & earth be neuer so much dishonored before their faces, thogh they hear his blessed name neuer so much blasphemed, his saboths neuer so horribly prophaned, his gospel, preaching & profession of it, neuer so reprochfully spokē of, althogh men be in company with neuer such vile swearers, heare neuer so prophane scoffing, neuer so vain and filthy communication proceede out o… some mouthes, see the ordinance o… God in his good creatures neuer so licentiously peruerted and abused to Pride, Gluttony, Drunkennesse, and excesse; yet where there is one tha… is any thing at all moued heerewith or taketh these, or any of these thing… so to heart, as if such abuse were offered to himselfe, that opposeth himselfe against such wicked ones, and esteemeth them for his own enemies who thus approue themselues to be the enimies of the Lord? A great par… doo rather take delight in them, the… otherwise, and are much more readi… to giuegive countenance and encouragement to such maner of persons, the… once to reprooue, or to shew any dislike of their vngodly wayes. Na… surely, if we examine yet more strictly the estate and condition of th… time wherein we liue, we shall find… great coldnesse and want of true zeal not onelyonly in the common multitude of men and women, but euen also in many of those, who hauehave receyued gifts and graces from God in a farre more high and excellent measure. It being a rare matter (the Lord knoweth) to finde a man zealous and resolute in the trueth, some feare the losse and expence of their goodes, some could finde in their hearts to be more forward, but feare that thereby they shall incur the dislike & displeasure of great men, and of such of their Friends, as affect not the cause: some make excuse, by the contempt and troubles which ensue the zealous & resolute profession of the truth, and therefore thinke it the safest way to come to Christ (with Nicodemus) in the night,Ioh. 3, 2. to keepe their affections secret, to content themselues with a formall kinde of profession, to walke in a middle course, to be neither hot nor colde, but Luke-warme (as was the Church of Laodicea) that so the Lord may spew them out at the latter end.Reu 3, 15, 16. Clean contrarie wherunto i… behooueth vsus to behaue our selues so as hauing once attained to th… true knowledge of Religion and godlinesse, according to the Doctrine o… Christs Gospell, and seeing clearely what the Lorde requireth at ou… handes, what wee ought to doo to please him withall, and what to auoyde, least he bee displeased, we… may as Children of the light, and no… of darkenesse, as the Children of th… day, and not of the night, boldly an… constantly stande out in defence o… the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ and beare witnesse to the sinceriti… thereof, and that not onelyonly priuately, but openly, in the face of th… world, saying eueryevery one with the Apostle,Verse 16 Rom. 1. I am not ashamed of th… Gospell of Christ: for it is the power … God vntounto saluation, to eueryevery one that beleeueth. And with the Prophet D… uid. Ps. 119.Verse …6 I wil speake of thy Testimonies, before Kings, and will not bee ashamed. It followeth in the Prophets cōplaint, as you may see. 1 Kin. 19. The children of Israel hauehave forsaken thy Couenant, &c. In which words,Nominales, not reales. wheras he first setteth thē forth by a title of excellency, & calleth them Israelites: we are to obserue, that it was a great honor to the people of the Iewes to be called Israelites; yea, such an honor & dignity, as was not proper to any other nation or people vnderunder the heauen, Whith are Isralites (saith the Apostle, Ro. 9) that is to say, not Gentiles,Verse 4. not a people of the common sort of men, but of the most noblest generation throughout the world. For the word Israel signifieth a prince of god, or a preuailer with him; & the name and title of Isralites was deriued vntounto them from the Patriarke Iacob, vntounto whō the same was giuen by an angel of God, who wrestled with him, as he went frō his Vncle Laban to the land of Canaan, & when as in the same cōbate he preuailed not, but Iacob withstood him vntounto the end; he then saide vntounto him, Thy name shal be Iacob no more, bu… Israel: because thou hast power with God▪ thou shalt also preuaile with men. Thi… was the Originall of the name and title of Israelites where-withall th… Iewes were adorned: they receyue… the same not from the natiuity of Iacob, but by reason of a victorie which hee obtained euen before and wit… God (The Lord of his infinit goodnesse vouchsafing him greater powe… to resist, then it pleased himself to expresse in assayling, euen as such experience of his grace and fauor, hau… the rest of his Children from day to day.) For this cause, was Iacob calle… Israel, and heereupon from him wer… they called Israelites. So then, from Doctr. 5 hence very fitly followeth, and we… may learne (by the way) that as it i… a great honour vntounto any Nation an… people to be honoured of God wit… holy and honourable titles, and wit… all such graces, as may be vndoubted seales and assurances of Gods speciall louelove and fauour: So on the contrary, can there be no greater dishonor vntounto any Nation and people, then to abuse the Titles wherewith God hath honored them, and to vnseale againe (as it were) the assurance of his louelove, in abusing the graces bestowed vponupon them. Thus stood the case with the Iewes, they were honoured of God, not only with the Title of Iew (which signifieth a man dedicated to true religion) but also of Israelites, which (as you herd before) was no lesse honourable then the same. According as this, dooth the Apostle most notably approoue and confirme.Verses 4, 5. Rom. 9. when he saith, that vntounto them appertained the Adoption, and the glorie, and the Couenants, and the giuing of the law, and the seruice of God, and the promises. Of whom are the Fathers, and of whome concerning the flesh Christ came, who is God ouer al blessed for euer, Amen. I wil not now stande to enlarge the excellency of these priuiledges and prerogatiues, nor alledge the many Testimonies of the Scripture that migh… bee produced for the amplification thereof, accounting this onelyonly Testimony of Moses.Verses 10, 11, 12. Deut. 32. to be sufficient, where he saith, That the Lord… led him about, taught him, and kept him as the Apple of his eye. As an Eagle staireth vp her Nest, fluttereth ouer he… Birds, stretcheth out her winges, taket… them, and beareth them on her wings. S… the Lorde ledde him, and there was n… strange God with him. But now, as after this maner without measure and limitation, the Lorde extended towardes them his inestimable goodnesse and mercy, euen so on the contrary, how vnnaturally and vnthankfully they peruerted and abused the same; besides this complaint of the Prophet Elias, and the discourse o… the Apostle in diuers chapters of this Epistle: this also doeth Moses in the very same chapter, discouer at large.Vers. 15, 16. But he (saith Moses) that should hauehave bin vpright (that is, should hauehave glorified God, in walking worthy of such speciall louelove) when he waxed fat, spurned with his heele, he forsooke God that made him, and regarded not the strong God of his saluation. They prouoked him with strange Gods, &c. But now letting them passe, and to come a little nearer to our selues. As it was an honorable Title of the Iewes to be called Israelites, so is it no lesse honourable for vsus at this day, to be called Christians; Nay, if wee marke it well, wee shall see, that the name of Christians wherewith God hath honoured vsus, is farre more honourable, then euer was either the name of Iewe or Israelite. The same being deriued to vsus, neither from Iacob, nor Iudah, but euen from the sonne of God himselfe, and first giuen to them that professed the gospel at Antiochia in Syria, Verse 26.as Act. 11. & importing asmuch as anointed of God for Kings and Priests. Agai… as they had the Law, so hauehave we th… Gospell, and how surpassing exce… lent a blessing the enioying of th… Gospell is, aboue the enioying of t… Law,Verse 17, our Lord Iesus Christ, Mat. 1… doth plainly declare, where he sayt… that Many Prophets and righteous me… hauehave desired to see those things which w… see, and to heare those thinges which w… heare by the Gospel, and hauehave neither se… nor heard them. Much might bee sp… ken, but in one word, how high a… excellent soeuer on the one side, th… Lords mercies and fauours were towards the Iewes, yet much more su… passing excellent is, and hath bin h… grace and fauour towardes vsus. Vse. A… how great and intollerable soeue… (on the other side) was their vnkin… nesse and vnthankfulnesse, yet neue… had the Lord such cause to complai… thereof, as hee hath against our vnkindnesse and vnthankfulnesse, at th… day, in contemning his worde, in di… obeying his will, in continually prouoking him to anger and indignation, by our lewde and vnreformed liues, although aboue many other other Nations and people, hee hath chosen vsus for his peculiar inheritance, and bestowed his benefits and blessings vponupon vsus. Giuing vsus the light of his worde, and calling vsus most louingly and familiarly thereby, to bee his chosen people, and heyres of his heauenly kingdome, vouchsafing vsus peace, the raigne and gouernment of godly Princes, & whatsoeuer else our harts could possibly desire. But now, whereas he hath long looked for the true fruits of obedience and thankefulnesse at our hands, that we accordingly should glorify him in the true fruits of holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life: it is found as directly against vsus, as euer it was against the Iewes; that we are as disobedient, & as gainsaying a people, as euer were they. For shal we cal them Christians, that are louers of ple… sures, and worldly profits, more the… they are of Godlinesse and Religion Who make no conscience of absenting themselues from the hearing o… Gods word, and heare it idly & carelessely, when they are present, and v… terly without fruite? Who are vain… Swearers, Drunkards, Whore masters, that are Scoffers, Raylers, sithy Talkers, Backbiters, such as w… neuer be appeased, but giuen to co… tention, debate, and strife? Surely wee may call these (and such as the… are) Christians, euen as the Iew… were called Israelites; Christians i… name, but verie Atheists and Hyp… crites in truth. And nowe, whethe… verie many be not of this dispositio… and whether this be not all the Chr… stianity that is in them; I woulde t… God, it were lesse apparant then it i… Cleane contrary whereunto, it b… hooueth vsus (in the feare of God) t… behaue our selues. Let vsus not dishonour the holie and honourable title of Christians, wherewith God hath honored vsus. Let vsus endeuour to bee Christians, not in name onelyonly, but in truth and verity. Not content our selues, to say, Lord, Lorde, wee are Christians, wee are Protestants and Professors of the Gospell; but let vsus euermore hauehave a care and a Conscience to amend our liues, and to be reformed in euerie thing that is amisse, according to the rule of Gods word. For this is it to bee a right Christian indeede: and thus much as touching the Title of excellencie, where …he calleth them the children of Israell. Now the complaint it self, which this holy Prophet preferreth against the children of Israel, beginneth thus; They hauehave forsaken thy Couenant. God made a Couenant and promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, and to their seed and posterity, to bee their God and the God of their seed after them, that they should bee his chosen and peculiar people, blessed with mo… excellent and special priuiledges an… prerogatiues, aboue all other Nations & people throughout the world The Conditions of this Couenan… were, that they shold Walk before Go… & be vpright, that they shold worshi… him alone, louelove him aboue al, fear… him aboue all, pray vntounto him onel… acknowledge him to be the only a… thor and fountaine of all good thi… ges, and therefore depend vponupon hi… and trust in no other, and so foorth as is comprehended in the two T… bles of the ten Commaundement… Now this Couenant, by their Idol… try and other abhominations, th… forsooke (as the Prophet heere co… plaineth) transgressed the Condi… ons thereof, and so worthily mou… and prouoked the Lord to anger. a very few words then wil I compr… hend one point more from hence, Doctr. 6 so conclude for this time. We hee learne and obserue, that as to co… nue constant in the faith and feare of God, and in the sincere profession & obedience of his worde, is a notable argument of election, of a man sealed and sanctifyed to eternall life: euen so on the contrary, to start aside like a broken Bow, to decline and fall away in this behalfe: a fearefull Argument of reprobation, that such as do so, do not belong to eternall life. This (I say) is manifest in the Iewes, who by their Apostacie and falling away from the couenant which God had made betwixt himself and them: most fearefully cut off them-selues with all, from all pertaking of his grace and fauour: whereas, if they had zealously continued in the waies of the same Couenant, and expressed any true regarde of walking vprightly, according to the conditions therof, they should for euer hauehave beene most happy and blessed. For as the Apostle most notably saith. Rom. 2.Verse 7. They shal hauehave eternal life, not simply who do well, or who by Well dooing seeke glory, honor, and immortality, bu… which by continuance in wel-doing, &c. that is, who when they hauehave begun to do well, goe forward, and continue well doing, without wearinesse or ceasing at any time, or vppon any occasion: alwaies remembring what our Lord Iesus saith,Verse 62 Luke 9. No man that putteth his hand to the Plough, and looketh backe, is apt to the kingdome of God. Whosoeuer hath once giuen his name vntounto Christ, and taken vppon him the profession of his Gospell, it standeth vponupon the weight of his saluation, that hee constantly goe forward. And therefore notably sayde our Lord Iesus, Iohn 8. to those that beleeued in him, and were entred into the profession of his name, If yee continue (saith he) in my word, yee are verily my Disciples: as if he saide, if ye slide backe and turn aside, I wil make no reckning of you. So that it is to no purpose for any man to beginne well, vnlesse the whole course of his life, be according to the same beginning. And therefore,Verse 9. Gal. 6. doth the Apostle exhort the faithfull not to bee weary of wel dooing: for in due season, (saith he) we shal reape, if wee faint not. Comparing such as faint, or giuegive ouer in the course of godlinesse, vntounto slothful husbandmen, who whē they hauehave plowed the land, & sowed their seed, take no further regarde, neither of couering the seede, nor of preseruing it from the deuouring birds, and therefore are so far from reaping any fruit of their labour, as that it had bin much better for thē, that they had neuer begun. Heerupon saith our Lord Iesus Christ also. Mat. 10.Verse 22. That he who indureth to the end shalbe saued. Not he that will seeme religious, and wel affected to day, to morrow, or for some small space of time, according to the condition of the time, or di…position of the Company, among which he is, but resolutely and constantly perseuereth in the sincere faith and obedience of Christs Gospell, without suffering himselfe, by any Company, or by any alteration whatsoeuer, to be remooued from the same. Such an one (saith Christ) and none but such shall be saued. For this cause also most excellently.verse 24, &c Mat. 7. doth he compare such as constantly continue in the faith and obedience of his Doctrine, vntounto a Wise-man, that buildeth his house vponupon a Rocke, vppon which, though the Rayne fall, the Flouds come, and the winde blowe and beate; yet it standeth firme, because it is grounded vppon a rocke. And on the contrary, those that heare the word, and continue not in it, he resembleth vntounto a foolish man, building his house vppon the sand, and so readie with eueryevery blast of winde to be ouerturned. Now as by these sentences wee see what a blessed thing it is to continue constant in the faith & feare of God; euen so on the contrary, how fearefull and dangerous a thing it is, to decline and fal away from the trueth. The Scripture also sheweth in many places, and by many examples, as Heb. 6. where the Apostle saieth, that it is impossible that such should bee renewed by repentance. And 2 Pet. 2.Verse 6. It had bin better not to hauehave known the way of righteousnesse, then knowing it, to turne from the holy commaundement giuen vntounto them. The Galathians began well, but because they constantly held not out, we may see,Verse 21. Ch. 3. & 5. how sharpely they are rebuked by S. Paule. The Church of Ephesus. Reu. 2. began well, but because they continued not in well dooing, fell from their first louelove, and were nothing so zealous afterward as before, we may see in that Chapter,Verse 5. how the Lorde threatneth to Remooue their Candlesticke out of his place, except they amend, and do the first worke againe. Much might be spoken, but it is to be obserued, what the Lord saith by the Prophet Ezechiel, Ch. 18. that although a man in former times hath been neuer so righteous and forward in good duties, yet if he continue not therein, but decline and fall into iniquity, Shal he liue? Verse 13, 24He shal not liue (saith the Lord) he shal die the death, and his bloud shal be vponupon him. Al his righteousnesse that hee hath done, shal not be mentioned, but in the transgression that hee hath committed, and in his sinne that hee hath sinned, in them shal he dye. For this cause most notably Iames 1.Verse 25. Who so looketh (saith he) in the perfect Law of liberty, and continueth therein, hee shal be blessed in his deed. And 1 Cor. 9. So run that yee may obtain, Verse. 24that is cheerfully & constantly vntounto the end of your race. Heereunto belongeth also the nottable comendation which the lord giueth in Iob 2.Verse 3. That there was none like him in all the earth, an vpright man, one that feareth God, & eschewed euil: for yet (sayth the Lord to Satan) he continueth in his vprightnesse, although thou mouedst mee against him; that is to say notwithstanding the manifold temptations of the Diuel, & the often accusations wherby he moued and prouoked the Lord against him. And to this may be added, the notable exhortation of the Lord to the church of Thiatira. Verse 25, 26Re. 2. That which ye hauehave already, hold fast till I com, for he that ouercommeth & keepeth my works to the end, to him wil I giuegive power & nations, &c. Now the consideration of this point may thus serue for our vse, Vse. that seeing to continue constant in the grace of god, & in the truth of Christs gospel, is a matter of so great importance, as that without it, we cānot be saued: & therewithall seeing there want not feareful examples in this behalfe, many being to be found, who hauehave bin far more zealous of Gods glory, & much more fruitful in wel doing in times past, then they are nowe; the longer they liue, the more barren in goodnes: & whom if a man either exhort to any good thing for the present necessity or occasion, or aske why they bee not more forward and zealous, according to their knowledge, they will be ready to obiect how forward they hauehave bin, and how much good they hauehave doone in times past; nothing at al considering that in not beeing zealous nowe as heeretofore, they hauehave great cause to stande in feare of their estate before God, it being most sure and certaine, that there is nothing more daungerous then for men to go backward in this behalfe. For a man can no sooner decline from wel dooing, but hee shall presently fall into euill dooing, there beeing no medium nor indifferent abiding betwixt good and euill. And when a man from good is thus falne into euill, is thus declined and gone backward; it is true, and it is to be considered what the Prophet Ezekiel hath, that all the former righteousnesse of such a one, is but as if it hath neuer bin, onelyonly his present sin and transgression shal be called to an account, and all his goodnesse shalbe quite forgotten. And now considering (as I said before) manie fearefull presidents and examples in this behalfe, how highly it standeth vsus vponupon, to pray and beseech the Lord, to bestow vppon vsus the most excellent gift and grace of constancy and perseuerance in the faith, so as beeing once partakers of Gods Couenant, and admitted into the state of saluation, we may therein stand firme and vnremooueable against all the Engines of hell and damnation, and in despight of the Diuell, and of all other enemies of our saluation, I neede not vrge it further, eueryevery one that hath any sparke of grace, may easily perceiue: and the Lorde giuegive vsus all grace to make good vse of it, for Christs sake, Amen.