Sermons Upon Romans 11:2-8, Sermon 11
The eleuenth Sermon.
Rom. 11, 8. And eares that they should not heare.
WHen he saith in the thirde place, that God hath also Giuen them Eares that they should not heare. The sense of these words being considered before, as how god according to his iust & righteous iudgements hath giuen them vp to such a sencelesse security and hardness… of heart, as that they nothing regard th… Doctrine of Gods word when it is preached vntounto them, to profit thereby in the sanctifying graces of Gods spirit, and for the building of themselues vp towardes Doct. 1 his heauenly kingdom. For the doctrins. First generally, we may learne & obserue from hence, that as it is a great blessing of God, when he vouchsafeth any Nation or people the free passage of his word and Gospell, and the beautiful steppes of faithfull Pastors and Teachers, zealously by preaching, exhortation, & doctrine, applying themselues to call and conuet… the elect of God from darknesse to light, from sinne to righteousnesse, from the power of Sathan vntounto his Maiesty, that so they may obtain forgiuenesse of their sinnes, and inheritance among them that are sanctifyed through faith in Christ; euen so on the contrary, can the estate of no Nation or people be more wretched or miserable, then of such, as obstinately reiect the wholsome Doctrines and instructions deliuered vntounto them, and harden their harts against the faith and obedience of the same. It comming to passe through the iust iudgment of God, that they who thus refuse the louelove of the trueth, being offered vntounto them in a tender regard of their saluation, should bee giuen ouer to the beleeuing of errours and lies as a sure seale of their iust condemnation. This consideration you see heere naturally & necessarily arising from this Text. And thus stood the case with the Iewes, and heereof in them hauehave wee a fearefull example. What a tender care our Lord Iesus Christ had of their good and saluation; how diligently he trauayled (to this end) from one place to another, preaching in all their Cities & Synagogues, teaching them the right way to the kingdome of God, and exhorting them to Faith and Repentance, that they might be saued, the History of the Gospell dooth plentifully declare. But what small fruit ensued thereupon; how obstinately they hardned themselues against his Doctrine and exhortations, and not onelyonly continued, but euen encreased in vngodlinesse and vnbeleefe, it is grieuous & lamentable to consider. And this present Text (conferred with other places) doth shew it most plainly, that they wer not simply vnbeleeuers, but malicious vnbeleeuers, wilfully & maliciously obstinate and hard-harted against the truth. Not therefore refusing it, as not knowing it to be the trueth, but therefore reiecting it, because it was the trueth, as Iohn 8, 45. Because I tel ye the trueth, sayth Christ, ye beleeue me not. Whereas on the contrary, how readye they were to beleeue, and giuegive credite to the lies and errours of false Prophets, and dissembling Hyppocrites, our Lorde Iesus Christ, Iohn 5, 4, 3. plainly expresseth in a Conference which he had with them, saying; I am come in my Fathers Name, and yee receiue me not; If another shal come in his own Name, him will ye receiue. As if he sayd, his Doctrine will yee readily beleeue, hee shall bee kindly entertained at your handes. According as howe true this was by former experience, Gamaliel Acts 5, 36, 37. dooth plainely declare, in the example of one Theudas, who rose vppe, as hee sayeth, boasting himselfe; to whom resorted a number of men about foure hundered. And after him, one Iudas of Galile, in the dayes of the Tribute, who in like manner drew away much people after him. Likewise afterward, as our Lord Iesus Christ foretolde, Mathew 24, 24. That there should arise false Christes, and false Prophets, who should deceiue many: euen so, how truely this was verifyed in the Apostles time, in the example of Simon Magus, it is manifest, Actes 8, 9, 10. where it is recorded, that hee hadde so bewitched the people of Samaria, saying; That hee himselfe was some great man, that they gaue heede vntounto him, from the least to the greatest, saying; That he was the great power of God. Hardly at any time, expressed they such liking, eyther of Christ, or of his Apostles, although the Doctrine of Symon, and of the other two, directly tended to their destruction: Whereas the Doctrine of Christ, and of his Apostles, most notably tended to life & saluation. And now, as thus stoode the case with the Iewes in the time of Christ, & of his Apostles, euen so also from time to time before in the daies of the prophets. How zealous and dilligent the Prophet Esay was in teaching and instructing the people of his time, the whole course of his prophesy doth plainly declare. But how few notwithstanding were profited by him to faith & obedience; his complaine chap. 53. saying; Who wil beleeue our report, and to whom is the arme of the Lorde reuealed?) doth shew it most clearly. And very little, or no better successe had the rest of the Prophets, according as wee may see further, in the seauenth and eleauenth Chapters of the Prophet Ieremy. I hauehave (sayth the Lord, chap. 7, 25, 26.) euen sen… vntounto you all my seruants the Prophets, rising vp earely eueryevery day, and sending them, yet would they not heare mee, nor encline then eare, but hardned their necke, and did worse then their fathers. And Chapt. xi. I hauehave protested to your Fathers, when I brought thē vp out of the land of Egipt vntounto this day, rising earely and protesting, saying, Obey my voyce. Neuerthelesse they would not obey nor encline their ear, but eueryevery one walked in the stubbornes of his wicked hart. Whereas on the cōtrary it apeareth, Es. 30, 10. If they had preached flattering thinges vntounto them, & prophesied errors. And Mic. 2, 11. if they had prophesied vntounto them of wine & strong drinke, encouraged them to licentious liberty and workes of the flesh; very pleasant vntounto them should hauehave bin the voyces of such teachers, and very ready wold they hauehave bin to yeelde obedience vntounto their Doctrine. Many other authorities might be produced, but by these we may see, howe much more ready the people hauehave beene from time to time, to giuegive eare vntounto lying and false Prophets, & to conforme themselues accordingly, then to beleeue and embrace the wholesome Doctrines of the word of God, preached by those whom he hath sent to that end, and to yeelde obedience vntounto the same. And now, that heereunto they are worthily giuen ouer, through the iust iudgement of god, for the punishment of their pride, and hardnesse of heart, besides the plaine and manifest testimony of the Apostle Paul. 2 Thes. 2, 10, 11, 12. for the approbation heereof, where he saith of the wicked, that Because they receiued not the louelove of the truth, that they might bee saued, therefore God shal send them strong delusions that they shold beleeue lies, that al they might be damned, &c. This is also very cleare, 1. Kinges 22. in the example of Ahab, who refusing the truth of Gods worde, in the mouth of his faithfull Prophet Micaiah, was giuen ouer to credite the lies of false Prophets, to his vtter destruction. And the very like example was there again in Zedekiah King of Iuda, for preferring the errors and lies of the false Prophets, before the word of the Lord, in the mouth of the holy Prophet Ieremy, which worthily also succeeded to his confusion. And now, as through the iust and righteous iudgement of God, it commeth to passe, that they which beleeue not the truth, should beleeue and giuegive credite to errours and false Doctrines, to their iust condemnation; euen so in like manner, through the very same iust & righteous iudgment it commeth to passe, that they who obstinately refuse the holy practise and obedience of the truth, for the glorifying of God, in the fruits of the spirit, & in a godlye conuersation accordingly, should likewise be giuen ouer to the delights of sinne and vncleannesse, and so as they should wallowe from one iniquitie vntounto another, vntil the ful measure therof be heaped vp together, for their iust condemnation. As this is also manifestly proued. Ro. 1, 18, 21, 22. where the Apostle speaking of the wicked and prophane, Which withheld the truth in vnrighteousnes. Because (saith he) when they knew God, they glorified him not as god, neither wer thankful, but becam vain in their imaginations, & their foolish hart was ful of darknesse, when they professed themselues wise, they became fooles. And a litle after, God gaue them vp to their harts lusts, &c. reckoning there vp many particulars of most lewd & vngodly demenor wherin they defiled thē…elues, as you may see at large in the per…sing of thē. The which truth of doctrin, …esides the testimonies & example of the scripture, how truly also it is fulfilled in the Papistes, who refusing and repelling from them the truth and sincerity of the Gospell of Iesus Christ, are giuen ouer (through the iust iudgement of God) to such an infinite multitude of errors, and damnable opinions, yea and to such an absurd, impudent, and shamelesse maner of defending and maintaining them, as is both horrible and lamentable to consider. And besides their example, how true this is in many others at this day, who regarding not the sincere Doctrine of Christs gospell preached vntounto them, are giuen ouer not only to beleeue & entertaine very grosse and absurde opinions, tending to licentious and carnall liberty, and to a very bold and peremptory manner of maintaining them: but also to a sensuall delight in all maner of vanity & prophanenesse: how true this is (I say) and what daily experiences there are of the same, eueryevery mans Conscience tha… hath any vnderstanding, cannot but assure and certifie him. Let the Minister i… a tender regard of the peoples saluation, apply himselfe neuer so carefully & faith fully, to open vntounto them the whol counsell of God, shewing them what the Lord requireth at their hands, what they ought to do to please him withall, and what to auoid least hee bee displeased: where there is one that giueth a religious eare therunto, to glorify god, and to seale his owne saluation accordingly, the greater part carelesly passe it ouer, as if it nothing concerned them. Whereas on the contrary, if we shold settle our selues to preach pleasant thinges, and delightsome to the flesh, if we would sowe pillowes vnderunder mens elbowes, and flatter them in their sins, tell them al is wel whē it is starke naught, that they may wel & lawfully sweare idlye and vainly in their common talke, prophane the lords day, scoffe & mocke, raile and reuile at their pleasure, and such like, both our selues & our doctrine should bee highly esteemed and well accounted of. In which manner of affections, howsoeuer many take great pleasure and delight, yea, and peraduenture perswade themselues too, that they do wel, and that it is more precisenesse and curiosity, then needeth fo… men to bee so strictly tied to the rule o… gods worde, and therefore like the deaf… Adder, stop their eares against the voyc… of the charmer, charme he neuer so wisely, yet is this the iust iudgement of Go… vponupon thē. And thus in righteousnes doth he punish sin with sin, giuing them oue… to such hardhartednesse & prophanesse as into the pathway of eternall condemnation, which refuse and will not submit themselues to bee ruled and directed by the word of God, whiles the lord vouchsafeth the same vntounto thē. The consideration whereof, as it is sufficient to make a… such manner of persons to tremble and quake, if they be not vtterly hardned, and past recouery, euen so on the contrary to prouoke all such as hauehave any sparke o… grace, zelously to lay hold on the presen… opportunity which God offereth in the ministry and preaching of the gospell, to redeeme the time, & to glorify his maiesty, & seale the assurance of their own saluation for the time to come, in sounde knowledge & faith, and in an holy & religious obedience acordingly. Thus much generaly. Now more perticulerly we are Doct. 2 further taught from hence, that it is not a simple, and bare hearing of the word of God, with the outward eares, that maketh a mans estate, hapy & blessed before God, vnlesse withall, through the supernatural & sanctifying grace of Gods spirit, it take sound rooting in the heart, for the establishing of true faith, and for the glorifying of God in the fruits & effects of an holy cōuersation accordingly. This you may see to bee heere also manifestly taught. These wicked ones (of whom the Apostle heere speaketh) with their outward eares, did, and could heare well enough, but not hearing to sound knowledge, faith, repentance, & saluation, they are rightly saide not to heare at all. And this doth our Lord Iesus Christ expresly confirm, Ioh. 5, 25. when he saith in plain termes, that the hearers of his voice shal liue. Not speaking of eueryevery one that heareth his word with the outwarde eares, but of such, who together with their outward hearing, do inwardly embrace and entertaine it in their hearts. For many are outward hearers of Gods worde, and hauehave the sounding voice thereof in their eares, and yet liue not in that sence Christ there speaketh, but remain neuerthelesse most woonderfull prophane in their behauiour, secure and sencelesse in their sins. It is not an outwarde hearing of the worde of God then simply, and by it selfe, that is the power of God to saluation, that is effectuall to our regeneration and sanctification, to the establishing of faith, and sealing of our saluation; but the inward receiuing and embracing, it is that must bring peace to our souls in this behalfe. According as this is yet further confirmed, Iohn 8, 47. by the distinction which our Lorde Iesus Christ there maketh betwixt the elect and the reprobate in this behalfe, saying; Hee that is of Gods word, heareth Gods words; ye therefore heare them not, because yee are not of God. Not speaking simply there, of hearing, or not hearing with the outwarde eares, for so the Iewes oftentimes heard the worde of God, aswell from Christs owne mouth, as otherwise, and so do many wicked and vngodly reprobates oftentimes hear the word of God at this day: but he speaketh of a religious hearing (as I noted before) whereby commeth sounde knowledge, faith, with the other sanctifying graces of Gods spirit (and which maner of hearing is proper onelyonly to Gods children) & not of an irreligious hearing, which is proper to the wicked, and which tendeth neither to sounde knowledge, nor true Faith, but to the further hardning of the hart, to the making of them without excuse, & so consequently to the sure sealing of their iust condemnation. So great difference is there betwixt the elect and the reprobate in the hearing of Gods word. And for this reason, as our Lorde Iesus Christ most notably, Mat. 13, 20, 21 22. resembleth the hearts and mindes of such vnprofitable hearers, vntounto the highway whereof I hauehave spoken heeretofore; so also vntounto stony and thorny grounde: For as stony ground, mingled with som earth, is commonly hot, and causeth the seed, that falleth therin, hastily to sprout foorth, when as yet by reason of the stones the corn cannot possibly be deeply rooted, & therefore in the heat of summer both blade and root, do quickly wither & fade away, euen so, some there are at this day, who oftentimes vponupon sodain motions, wil be meruailous hot and vehement in the question of reformation, & take on for a time as though none wer halfe so zealous of Gods glorie as themselues, boasting how bolde and resolute they would be, and how plain and direct in the discouery & reproof of that which they iudge to be amisse, yea & that without fearing the face or authoritie of any man; if they should be called into question, and put to the trial, yea & how greatly they would reioice in such troubles, & esteeme them as their glorye, and as an honor and crown vntounto them: whereas it is ordinarily founde by experience, that such hot passions are ofttimes as quickly cooled, and in the time of any trial, none commonly found verier Cowards, then such proud and arrogant presumers vponupon their owne strength, euen in matters of more value, worth, and necessity. For God (as Saint Peter speaketh) resisteth the proud, and giueth grace to the humble. Many there are also, who when they heare the Doctrine of Gods free grace and merciemercy in Christ Iesus, freely pardoning & forgiuing sinne, and when they heare superstition in fasting, in prayer, and such like things to be reproued, & men exhorted to Christian liberty, they embrace this Doctrine very greedily, and all because they thinke vnderunder pretence of Christian liberty, to shake off the yoke of discipline and obedience to christian exercises, and to vse the cloke of Gods mercy to couer a loose and licentious life; studying nothing in the meane time, but how to vse the countenance of the gospell, to get riches, honor, worldly friendship and delights. But no sooner any storm of aduersity, or heat of persecution beginneth to arise, whereof they must bee partakers if they wil be constant in the truth. When they hear their wicked & vngodly doings to be by Preachers sharpely reproued, & duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page begin to vnderstand, that neither christiā liberty can be any warrant of licentiousnesse, nor Gods mercy any cloke to continue in sin, then presently they become so farre out of louelove with the sincerity of the gospel, & religion of Iesus Christ, as that they vtterly forsake & giuegive it ouer; yea, and of these, many afterward becom deadly enemies there-unto, and vntounto all such as preach & professe the same. Such hearers of the word of God were manie of the Iewes; for dreaming that Christ should come like an earthly Prince, that should conquer nations, and make them Lords of the worlde, they at the beginning flocked vntounto him in great number, and shewed such liking of him, and of his Doctrine, that the Pharisees and High-Priests were afraid to deale with him, as otherwise they would hauehave doone. But afterward, when they saw their expectations disappointed, and behelde how hee was taken, and in his enemies hands, then could they cry, Crucifie him, aswell as the rest, and were well content that Barrabas should be let go, and Christ put to an vniust and cruell death. The third kind of euill ground, whereunto our Lorde Iesus Christ resembleth the hearts and minds of such vnprofitable hearers, is the thorny and bushy ground: whereby he vnderstandeth such, whose affections are ouercome with the greedy desires of riches and worldly pleasures. And surely, verie aptly are riches and worldly pleasures resembled to thorns. For as thorns hauehave faire greene leaues, and beautifull blossomes that may allure a man to reach at them; so if he hastily take holde of them, he may be sure to be pricked by them. So there seemeth a certain beauty & sweetnesse to be in riches, thereby to purchase worldly pompe and pleasures, but if a man with greedinesse set his heart vppon them, they will so wounde him in euerie part, that without repentaunce, they kill him for euer. For they wound not onelyonly in getting, but also in keeping, and in departing, yea and so, as surely there is nothing that dooth so possesse the heart of man, nor so mightily pul it from God & the care of our saluation, as these things do. Not without great cause therefore, doth our Lord Iesus Christ, Math. 6, 19, 25, 26. thus exhort, saying; Lay not vppe treasures for your selues vponupon the earth, wher the Moth and Canker corrupte, and where Theeues digge through and steale, but lay vp treasures for your selues in heauen. And againe, Bee not careful for your life, what yee shal eate, or what ye shal drinke, &c. but seek ye first the kingdome of God, and his righteousnesse, and al these things shal be ministred vntounto you. Heerunto appertaineth that also of the Apostle. 1 Tim. 6, 9. They that wil be rich, fal into tentations and snares, & into many foolish and noisome lustes, which drowne men in perdition and destruction; for the desire of money is the root of al euil, which while some lusted after, they erred from the Faith, and pierced themselues thorough with many sorrowes. Let vsus heerewithall also consider how Salomon (who aboue all other had good trial of these earthly thinges) how he (I say) describeth the vanity of them. Eccles. 2, 4, 5. where he saith, that he had builded houses, planted vineyards, gotten seruants and maids, had children born in his house, that hee had great possessions of Beeues and Sheepe, aboue al that were before him in Hierusalem, that he had gathered vntounto him Siluer and Golde, and the cheefe treasure of Kings and Prouinces, &c. And a little after the rehearsall of these and such like things, it followeth. Then I looked vponupon al my works that mine hands had wrought, and on the trauaile that I had laboured to do: and beholde, al is vanity and vexation of the spirite, and there is no profite vnderunder the sun. This is Salomon his iudgement, that all things vnderunder the Sunne are vaine and vnprofitable. Al flesh is grasse (sayth the prophet Esay, also chapt. 40, 6, 7, 8.) and al the grace thereof is as the Flower of the field, the grasse withereth, and the flower fadeth, &c. but the word of our God shal stand for euer. Wherby we are taught that as mans life it selfe, is vaine and transitory; so are all those thinges, wherein it gloryeth and taketh delight; Honour, Dignity, Riches, Friendship, Health, Strength, Beauty, and such like, all which may bee had and lost in an houre. And therefore, a great vanity of vanities it is, for these so vaine, fraile, and vncertaine thinges, to neglect the aduancement of Gods glory in our mortal bodies, and the inestimable treasures of his heauenly kingdome. For this cause, most notably thus exhorteth S. Iames in his first chap. saying, Receiue with meeknesse the worde that is graffed in you, which is able to saue your soules. Plainly teaching in that phrase of speech, that to the end men may effectualy profit by the hearing of Gods worde, and that it may be vntounto them a worde of saluation, they must be religiously carefull to heare and receiue it with meeknesse. They must come and resort to the preaching thereof, with minds meekly affected, exhortable and tractable to all duties. The Lord God, who is most high and holye, most graciously promising to be present with all such as are meek and humble minded, and to giuegive them grace to reuiue theyr spirits, and to giuegive them life to guide & direct them, and to teach them his way, as Psal. 25, 9. Them that bee meeke will hee guide in iudgement, and teach the humble his way. And Esay 57, 15, I dwel (sayeth the Lord) in the high and holy place: with him also that is of an humble and contrite spirite, to reuiue the spirit of the humble, and to giuegive life to them that are of a contrite heart. And Chap. 66, 2, 5. to him wil I look, euen to him that is poore, and of a contrite spirit, & trembleth at my words. And a little after, Heare ye the word of the Lord, al ye that tremble at his word; which plainly importeth, that whosoeuer do not tremble at gods word whosoeuer in meeknesse of spirite and humblenesse of heart, submit not themselues thereunto, for their instruction, reformation, and continuall direction in the whol course of their life, al such are vnmeet to heare the word of God; neyther do the Doctrines and sweet promises of Gods grace and mercy in christ Iesus contained therein, appertaine vntounto them. For this cause, most notable louingly vntounto this meeknesse of spirit, according to the rare examples of the same in him-selfe, exhorteth our Lorde Iesus Christ Math. 11, 29. saying, Learne of me, that I am meeke and lowly in heart; and yee shal find rest vntounto your soules. For why, the seede of Gods worde, in the hearts of those that are meeke, and receiue it with meekenesse and humblenesse of Spirite, is fruitfull, as in good ground, according to the Parable, Luke. 8, 15. whereas on the contrary, vntounto such as hauehave proud & vntractable hearts, it is altogether vnfruitfull, as in euill ground. For God (as you heard before) resisteth the proude, and giueth grace to the humble. And in the second Chapter of the Prophet Habbakuk. Behold, he that lifteth vp himselfe, his minde is not vpright in him, but the iust shall liue by his faith, yea, indeede the proud man is as he that transgresseth by wine, therefore shall he not endure. Now for the Vses. First, seeing it is euident by this doctrine, that there is a very great difference betwixt the elect, and the Reprobate, in the hearing of Gods word, that therefore in the feare of God, we measure & examin our selues heereby, what our estate and condition is before the lord. It is not inough to heare the word of God, no nor yet to heare it so diligently, and with such attention, as that we can remember it, and make vse and application of it vntounto our selues: For so did the Pharisees, as wee see Iohn 9. and thus much doo, and may many other wicked and vngodly persons at this day. But heere lieth the point. If when we heare the word of God purely preached, we so regard and remember it, and make such Vse thereof, as that wee can acknowledge in our harts the truth, the holinesse and authority of it, and bee moued by Gods spirit to say in our harts with the Prophet and Apostle, as Rom. x.xv. How beautiful are the feete of them that bring glad tidings of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things? If hearing what God requireth at our hands, what wee ought to doo, to please him withall, and what to eschew, least he bee displeased, we desire in our hearts to glorifie him accordingly, praying for grace and Heauenly assistance: if hearing the sweete promises of Gods free grace and mercy in christ Iesus, wee be thereby allured to the louelove of God, and to the magnifying of his MercieMercy, with an humble acknowledgement of our owne vnworthinesse: If at the denouncing of Gods iudgements against sin, we tremble in our hearts, and be touched with remorse, in regarde of our manifold transgressions, grow in detestation of them, and vnfainedly desire grace to eschew sinne, and to preuaile against it (for the time to come) in al the lusts and temptations thereof. If (I say) we perceiue our selues thus prepared and sanctified for the hearing and applying of the word of God, when it is preached vntounto vsus, and so as thereupon we zealously settle and resolue our selues to growe in knowledge, faith, and al other graces, according to the seuerall Doctrines and exhortations which are deliuered vntounto vsus, and the diuers occasions that are offered: Heerein shall we hauehave a most notable and comfortable testimony, that wee are the children of God, & do belong vntounto eternal life, there being in this life no greater argument of Gods especial louelove towards any, then if when the worde is preached, hee open their eies for a right conceiuing and vnderstanding of that which is taught, and there-withall also sanctify and prepare their hearts for such an inward entertaining and applying of it, as I spake of before. But now on the contrary, if wee feele not these effectes, how is it possible for vsus to hauehave this assurance? After this maner, if we examin our selues and others, according to the state and condition of the time, wherein we now liue, we shal see sufficient cause of mourning and lamentation. Manie come to the hearing of Gods word, and some surely so regard it when it is preached, that they can apply it to thēselues and others. When they heare vain swearing, cursing, scoffing, whoredom, lying, filthy speaking, malice, enuy, contention and such like things, discouered, reprooued, and condemned; they are not so blockish and sencelesse, but the Consciences of such as are guilty, are constrayned to accuse them, that this and that is surely meant and spoken of them, and of such as they are. Heereby (I say) are such put in minde that they vse to swear vainly, to curse, to scoffe, to lye, and they cannot but be moued heerupon, to think that the preacher surely aymeth at them, because they are malicious, enuious, giuen to contention, quarelling & debate, &c. Now this so far, were not amis, that men shoulde thus obserue and apply the Doctrine preached, but when instead of leauing or forsaking either their swearing, or their lying, scoffing, their malice, or strife, when they heare it reprooued, they more and more flatter and harden themselues therein, and become puffed vppe with proude conceits, as men that thinke scorne to bee taught and admonished, and therewithall (like the Pharises) become enraged against the Ministers whom God hath set ouer them, as if all were spoken & done of malice, how naturally and necessarily soeuer it arise frō the Text: this is such a marking & applying of Gods word, as is euen accursed of God, and carieth in the forhead of it, the very seale and marke of a reprobat mind. And yet whether the case doth thus stād with many at this day, who come to the hearing of Gods word, and mark and apply it rather to the hardening of themselues in their peruerse and proude conceits, and in their corrupt and vnwarranted wayes, then in any measure for the humbling of soules, and building vp of themselues towardes Gods Kingdome, I referre to eueryevery mans Conscience, to examine and conclude.
Secondly, this Text and the Doctrine deliuered thereupon, serueth most notably for the answering of two obiections, the one concerning the Ministers of the Gospell, and the other concerning some of such as are hearers. It is a common Obiection in the mouths of some, to the reproch (as they would hauehave it) of some of Christs seruants, who preach to them the word of God, that they are vnprofitable in their places, that God dooth not blesse their labors, and that their vndiscreet & vnwarranted proceedings in the duties of their calling, & in the course of their life, is a great stumbling block in the waies of the hearers, and a maine reason wherfore the people for the most part be so carelesse in matters of religion, so litle profit by that which is taught, and take so little regarde of walking in obedience accordingly. And through this conceite do they take libertie to them-selues, for an odious and vnchristian contempt and despising of Gods Ministers. And so, as forgetting themselus, and neuer looking vponupon their owne wayes, they cast the falt of all the euill that is among them, vponupon such as continually labour to doo vntounto them the greatest good. I will not compare the persons, for that cannot be (as I freely confesse) without intollerable pride and blasphemy, but respecting the causes (which are one and the same) with as good right, might they so condemne the holye prophets and Apostles as the causes and authours of the peoples ignorance, coldnesse, and carelesnesse in religion, and of al other euil in the daies that they liued. The Prophet Esay preached to the people of his time, aboue sixtie years, and the Prophet Ieremy aboue 40. and all the other Prophets proportionably, and now I trust, they will not say, that the want of either discretion, or good gouernment in the doctrine or life of these holye men, was the cause of the euill which was then among the people, yet with how small fruit they preached, and how litle good they did with al their labour and endeuour, besides the whole course of their writings, and their lamentable complaints whereof I hauehave spoken before, the euent of Gods iudgements in punishing the Iewes, doth further proue. For, for that onelyonly cause I meane, in contemning Gods word, and for disobeying and persecuting the Prophets, did the Lord bring vponupon them the king of Babylon, who in the ninth yeare of Zedekiah king of Iudah, came and besieged Ierusalem, and in the eleuenth yeare tooke and ransacked it. God thus plaguing the contempt of his worde, when after so long preaching no fruit would follow: & yet was not the Prophet Ieremy in fault, nor other the true prophets of God: for the inuasion of these strangers, for the ouerthrow of this noble City, or for the grieuous captiuity of this miserable people; but the loosenesse of their owne liues, & their great contempt and ingratitude in those respects I spake before, most worthily brought this fearefull plague and iudgement vppon them. The like might be sayde of Christ, and of his Apostles & Disciples, they most diligently preached among the Iewes, but with small fruite, if wee consider either the purity of the Doctrine, the excellency of the teachers, or the wonderfull workes and myracles, that wer by gods power wrought for the confirmation of that which was taught. Now, althogh there be no comparison betwixt the persons, as I said before, yet the doctrine which we preach is one and the same that Christ & his apostles hauehave taught before vsus, and left vntounto vsus. And this further, I do not doubt, may be boldly and truly spoken, that howsoeuer our aduersaries, by reason of our infirmities, hauehave more matter, and greater likelyhood; yet surely, as the ancient accusations of the wicked against Christ and his Apostles, were nothing but a colour and pretence of reprobate mindes, to feede themselues in the wicked contempte of Gods word, and in a loose and vnbridled kind of life; so is there no other account to bee made of the greatest part of such slanders and reproaches as are vttered against the Ministers of the Gospel at this day. It is not my purpose (as God is my record) to patronize any thing that in any of that calling may be found euil or amisse; nay, it shalbe far from me (throgh Gods grace) to iustifye my selfe in any thing at all, that vponupon due triall & examination may be found worthy of reproof. For better were it (I confesse) that Milstones were hanged about our necks, and that we were cast in the midst of the Sea, rather then our life or euill doing should be such an offence, as to hinder any one in the way of saluation. But my purpose is, to take from the men of this worlde, such pretences and excuses as they make, to nuzzle them-selues in a licentious life. And to let it appeare, that that which they alledge and Obiect against the Ministers of Christ, is not the main cause wherfore the sincerity of the gospell is so little regarded, our lord Iesus christ in that parable. Ma. 13. teacheth men to iudge otherwise, to look into thēselues, & to search their own bosoms for the cause and reason wherfore the word of God hath no more place in them. Although the seed-sower bee neuer so honest a man, and most skilfull and cunning in his trade, though hee make neuer so good choise of his seede, and be neuer so carefull to purge and cleare it from al damage; yet if the ground bee barren and naught, his labor is lost, and no good effect can follow thereupon. And on the contrary, though the sower bee neuer so vnskilful in sowing, and hauehave no desire at all that the seed which he soweth should growe and prosper; yet if the seede bee good, and the ground too, it will grow and bring forth fruit. Now, as the word of God is the seede, so is the ground the hearts and minds of such as heare it preached. A good heart, wheresoeuer, or of whomsoeuer it heare Gods worde, nay though it be but read of a childe, yet will it enter into him, and do him good. But a godlesse heart, a prophane and Wicked man, though hee heare neuer so good a man preach, nay though Christ himself, or an Angell from heauen, should speak vntounto him, and say, this is the doctrine of saluation, giuegive good eare vntounto it, beleeue and embrace it; or this is the good and right way, walke directly therein; yet would he be neuer the better, but continue as prophane (if not become worse) then euer before. And this may suffice for the answer to the first obiection. For the second; it seemeth strange to manie that are well minded, that the doctrin of the gospel, being (as it is) so purely and plentifully preached, and so wisely, so plainly and perticulerly applied to mens consciences, should yet be no more effectual to the reformation of mens hearts, and to the amendment of their liues, that men should bee so little allured with the sweet promises of Gods grace and mercy in Christ Iesus, or so little terrified with the denouncing of Gods iudgements. It makes them wonder, that any man that is eyther a vaine swearer, or a scoffer, or a lyer, or a filthy speaker, and that is guilty in himselfe, either of malice, or enuy, of duplicate page duplicate page contention of strife, or any other sinne whatsoeuer, shoulde heare these or any of these thinges so spoken against, and condemned by the authority of God him selfe in his worde, and yet continue in them, or in any of them without repentance. O Lord (say they) what a pittifull thing is this, that any shoulde thus wilfully shut their eyes, that they may not see, stop their eares, that they may not heare, and thus harden their hearts, that they might not vnderstand? To see a papist (that refuseth to come to our assemblies where the word of God is preched) to bee thus minded and thus hardned in the lusts and affections of his own heart, it is not strange. But for any man that carrieth the name and countenance of a Protestant and professor of the Gospell, and that enioyeth an ordinary ministerie for his instruction and direction, to bee thus euill affected, it seemeth vndoubtedly very straunge, and is a great astonishment vntounto many; yea, and makes many good men, not onelyonly to sigh & lament, but euen with Dauid, Psalm. cxix. To gush out riuers of water, for very sorrow …d greefe, that men should bee so care…esse of their owne good, and run so desperately to their owne destruction. But surely, if with Dauid we go into the sanctuary of God, and looke well vponupon this chapter, and especially vponupon this text, & consider withall, how God hath MercieMercy …n whom he wil (as the apostle speaketh againe, cha. 9) and whom he wil he hardneth, that he couereth some with a Spirite of slumber, giueth them eyes that they shoulde …ot see, and eares that they should not heare, we may see sufficient matter to cleare al doubts, to cease al maruailing, al sorrow and mourning, and to say eueryevery one to his owne soule: why art thou cast down my soule? why art thou grieued or discoraged? The iudgements of God are high & aboue our reach. If God hath giuen men ouer to such a reprobate sense, thus blinded their eyes, stopped their eares, and hardned their hearts, who can helpe it? It lyeth not in our power, eyther to open their eyes and eares, or to mollifie …heir hearts. Wee must pray vntounto God for their conuersion, if it may stand with his blessed wil, and vse all good meane… (to that end) according to our places & callings, and so leaue them vntounto god, saying as the Apostle speaketh in the latter part of this chapter. O the deepenesse of the riches both of the wisedome and knowledge of God: How vnsearchable are his iudgements, and his wayes past finding out? Last of al, we may see further from hence, what a fearful thing it is for men to harden their hearts against the Doctrin of the gospel, and to be either so stubborne or malicious against the Minister that preacheth vntounto them, as not to regard the instruction and the exhortations which he doth teach and deliuer. They heereby wilfully shutting agaynst themselues the gate of Gods kingdom; & whereas the word of God is in it selfe, and vntounto the elect of God, a sweet sauor of life, and the mighty power of God to saluation, they make it by this meanes, vntounto them, the sauour of death & condemnation, to their fearful confusion for euermore. This is manifest also in the example of the Iewes, they being a stubborn people, and most maliciously bent against Christ, because hee would not flatter them in their sins, but plainly and particularly applied his Doctrine vntounto their consciences. No other effects can we see (in the greatest part of them) by all his preaching and continual exhortations, but the effects of men giuen ouer to a reprobate sense. Somtimes astonishment, sometimes palpable ignorance, somtimes mocking, wresting, peruerting, slandring, persecuting, no sound knowledge, no true faith, no true repentance, no true zeal of gods glory, no fruit or effect of true louelove, nor any other thing at all, that might either bring them true peace of cōscience, or tend to the sealing of their saluation. So that this may bee a lesson, nay a fearful example for vsus, & for all posterities and generations to come, that we may learne to take heed how we harden our harts, or be malicious against those whom God hath sent to break vntounto vsus the breade of life, least God forsake vsus, yea euen whilest hee speaketh vntounto vsus by his seruants, in the ordinary Ministry and preaching of the gospel. But that we humble our selues before the Lord, and craue the gracious aide and assistance of his holy spirit. It being most sure & certaine, that vnlesse the Lord ioyne the efficacy of his spirite with the outwarde sound and ministry of his word, we shall be as malicious, as ignorant, as peeuish and peruerse, as farre from hauing any sound comfort by that which we heare, as were the Iewes, whose fearfull example is thus set before vsus. And therefore, how highly it standeth vsus vponupon, to pray and beseech the Lord, so to prepare and sanctify our eares and hearts, that we be not idle, vnfruitful, and vnprofitable hearers of Gods worde, when it is preached vntounto vsus, but that we may euermore hear it, with that manner of hearing, which is proper and peculier to Gods Children, with feare and trembling, as the Worde proceeding out of Gods owne mouth, and with ioy and cheerefulnesse, as the word of life, yea, euen as the power of God, to the euerlasting peace and saluation of our soules: I neede not vrge it further, it beeing so cleare and manifest, that eueryevery one may clearely see and conclude with himselfe. It followeth in the latter part of this verse.