Seven Godly and Fruitful Sermons, Sermon 5
THE FIFTH SERMON.
ISAIAH 30. Verſ. 8.9.
Verſ. 8. Now goe and write it before them in a table, and note it in a booke, that it may bee for the laſt day for euer, and euer.
9. That it is a rebellious people, lying children, and children that would not heare the word of the Lord.
WE heard in the words immediately going before, how ſharpely the Lord doth reproue and threaten the vnbeleeuing Iewes, for that they hearing of rumors of warres, did not goe vntounto God by prayer, but vntounto the Egyptians by gifts, as if Pharaoh were more able, or more willling to helpe and ſuccour them then the Lord himſelfe: as alſo how the Prophet Iſaiah was ſent vntounto them, to aſſure them that the Egyptians would not helpe them, or if they would, they could not: nay, that they ſhould be ſo farre from helping them, that they ſhould doe them all the miſchiefe that poſſibly they could, and therefore he proclaimes vntounto them that their ſtrength was to ſit ſtill, that is, to keepe themſelues at home in their places and callings, and to reſt vponupon God, whoſe ſtrength they ſhould finde to bee eueryevery way ſufficient to defend and maintaine them againſt all their aduerſaries.
Now becauſe they were drunken with paſſion and feare, and would not harken to the proclamation of peace, therefore doth the Lord ſend out againſt them a proclamation of outlawrie; and chargeth them with rebellion and high treaſon againſt his Maieſty: and that it might bee of more force with them, he commandeth the Prophet [to write it before them in a table] that ſo eueryevery one might take notice thereof: yea not onelyonly in a table to ſhame them for the inſtant, but in a booke, that it might be for the time to come, euen for euer and euer: that is, that it might ſtand in record for their perpetuall deſgrace and reproach. Now becauſe they would hardly yeeld vntounto this charge; to wit, that they were traitors againſt God in ſeeking vntounto the King of Egypt for aide, but would obiect that they did it in policy and in good meaning, for the benefit of the Church and Commonwealth, and did reſt on God neuertheleſſe, he puts off that, by faying that they were [lying children] ful of hypocriſie and diſſimulation; pretending to ſend into Egypt in godly wiſedome, whereas it proceeded indeed from their wretched vnbeleefe: and becauſe it was not ſafe for him to ſay this in generall, vnleſſe he could proue it, therefore he alleageth againſt them this particular, that they would not heare the law of the Lord. They were driuen to heare now and then, but they did it not willingly, nor with a good affection; and therefore they are iuſtly condemned as rebels againſt the Lord.
In all theſe words then is ſet downe a grieuous complaint againſt the nation of the Iewes, wherein we may obſerue,
1. Firſt, Gods charge that hee giues vntounto the Prophet that he ſhould preferre an inditement againſt them, not onelyonly for their preſent, but for their euerlaſting ſhame, if they did perſiſt in their euill courſe.
2. The reaſon why he takes this round courſe with them, viz. becauſe they were rebels againſt him: which rebellion of theirs was ſo much more grieuous, in that they were full of craft and cunning to defend their viie practiſes.
Verſ. 8. Now go and write it, &c. In that the Prophet is commanded to proclaime vntounto all men that theſe vnbeleeuing Iewes were rebels againſt God: this is the point hence to be obſerued, that
Open ſinnes muſt hauehave open rebuke and diſ. Doct. 1 grace. Though the parties bee neuer ſo many, Open ſinnes muſt hauehave open ſhame.and the perſons neuer ſo great, yet that muſt not ſtop the mouthes of Gods Miniſters and ſeruants, but they muſt the rather be rebuked, that thereby if it be poſſible, they may be truly humbled. As in this place we ſee, the Noble men, and Embaſſadours were very buſie in raiſing large ſummes of money to ſend vntounto the King of Egypt for helpe, yet though it were the ſin almoſt of the whole land, and the hand of the rulers was chiefe in it, the Prophet is charged to ſpeake againſt them, and to write againſt them, and to ſhame them, not onelyonly for the preſent, but for euer, if they did not turne to the Lord by ſound repentance. The like is enioyned this ſame Prophet, chap. 58. verſ. 1. Cry aloud; Iſa. 58.ſpare not: lift vp thy voice like a trumpet, and ſhew my people their tranſgreſsion, and the houſe of Iacob their ſinnes. They pretended great zeale and forwardneſſe in religion: they would ſeeke the knowledge of Gods word; they would enquire after the ordinances of iuſtice; they would faſt alſo, and vſe much ſtrictneſſe in outward ſhew: yet becauſe they were full of hypocriſie, of cruelty and oppreſſion, of impiety and Sabbath breaking, and ſuch like hainous crimes, he muſt openly exclaime againſt their ill courſes; and as the trumpet ſpares none, but wakens all, both great and ſmall, ſo muſt hee deale; letting eueryevery one heare of his faults of what ſtate and condition ſoeuer. This was alſo laid vponupon Timothie. 1. Tim. 5.20.Them that ſinne, rebuke openly, that the reſt may feare, (ſaith the Apoſtle) and it was practiſed by our Sauiour, who ſeeing that the Scribes and Phariſies made more account of their owne traditions, then of Gods commandements, and that they ſought themſelues in ambition and filthy lucre, he doth ſharpely and openly reproue them, Matth. 23.and diſgrace them, and pronounce woes and curſes againſt them. The like doth Iohn Baptiſt, Matth. 3.calling them a generation of Vipers: and Paul, meeting with Ananias, a notorious hypocrite, who commanded him to be ſmitten on the face, for the diſgrace of his perſon, and of his cauſe, Act. 23.3.hee boldly ſets vponupon him, ſaying, God will ſmite thee thou painted wall.
Now the reaſon why publike offences ſhould hauehave open rebuke, is;
Firſt, that others hearing it, Reaſons. 1 may bee terrified from the ſame; and ſo ſuch ſinnes may be leſſe infections, according to the place before alleaged, Them that ſinne, rebuke openly, 1. Tim. 5.20.that the reſt may feare] and ſo conſequently bee reſtrained from the like courſes.
Secondly, that if it be poſſible, the parties offending may be conuerted: according to that of the Apoſtle. The Cretians are alwaies liers, euill beaſts, Tit. 1.12.13.ſlow bellies: wherefore reproue them ſharpely, that they may bee [found in the faith.] For when men are ſet vponupon the ſtage, and expoſed to open ſhame, they will take it to heart, and if any thing will worke vponupon them for their reformation, this will: and if they proue incorrigible notwithſtanding this, yet this benefit will come of it, that they ſhall bee more inexcuſeable in the day of the Lord, in that they heard their ſins ſo much diſgraced, and the vengeance of God denounced againſt the ſame, and yet would not breake off the practiſe of them by ſound repentance.
Thirdly, it makes greatly for the glory of God, when hee executeth his iudgements vponupon them in this world: for thoſe that hauehave heard their groſſe and hainous offences inueighed againſt, and withall are witneſſes of their wilfull continuance therein, they cannot but in their conſciences iuſtifie the Lord in his proceeding againſt them. That was it eſpecially that cauſed Dauid to ſhame himſelfe publikely, after that hee had committed adultery and murther, that God might bee pure when hee iudged. Pſal. 51.4.Otherwiſe men might hauehave thought the Lord too ſeuere, in inflicting ſuch puniſhments vponupon him as afterwards he taſted of.
Here then in the firſt place is an inſtruction for Miniſters, Vſe 1 and ſuch as hauehave cauſe and calling to deale with offenders, that they ſuffer not their mouthes to be ſhut by reaſon of the multitude, or greatneſſe of the perſons that are faulty; but according to the nature of the offence, ſo to apply their reproofes accordingly: if they diſhonour God openly, let them heare of it openly: and if they will ſet their ſinnes vponupon the ſtage, let vsus ſet their ſhame there alſo, that thoſe that are witneſſes of the one, may be alſo witneſſes of the other: otherwiſe we ſhall be iniurious vntounto God, and vntounto men; vntounto the offenders, and vntounto our ſelues, becauſe their blood ſhall bee required at our hands. Therfore let vsus carefully looke vntounto this duty, and the more oppoſition we finde againſt the performance thereof, the more let vsus pray for ſtrength and courage to go through with the ſame; knowing that it is a great deale better that men ſhould be offended with vsus for doing our duty, then that God ſhould plague vsus for omitting our duty. Steuen knew that moſt of thoſe vntounto whom hee was to ſpeake would not take a reproofe at his hands: yet he ſaw that he had a calling to giuegive it, Acts 7.and they had need of it; and therfore he tels them roundly of their faults, ſaying, Ye ſtifnecked, and of vncircumciſed hearts and eares, ye hauehave alwaies reſiſted the holy Ghoſt: as your fathers did, ſo doe you, &c. Indeed hereupon they gnaſhed their teeth at him, and ſtopped their eares, that they might not heare him, and ſo running vponupon him with great violence and outrage, ſtoned him to death: but what loſt hee by that? hee parted with a fraile and miſerable life, and went preſently to enioy an euerlaſting and moſt bleſſed kingdome in the heauens. Let vsus therefore be reſolute and couragious as he was, and neuer feare the faces of mortall men; knowing that there is no greater danger then for a man to neglect his duty; nor greater comfort then to performe it, though it bee the loſſe of his life.
Secondly, is it ſo that open ſinnes muſt hauehave open rebuke? hence then let vsus learne, that if wee would not hauehave Gods Miniſter to lay open our ſhame before the congregation, wee muſt take heed of groſſe, and foule, and ſcandalous offences. For if we liue in continuall ſwearing, or Sabbath-breaking, or brawling, or whoring, or ſtealing, or any the like inordinate courſes, ſo that by our ill conuerſation, we cauſe Gods glorious name to be ill ſpoken of, wee muſt looke to heare of it to our iuſt diſgrace: and if wee ſet light by Gods glory, there is no reaſon that his ſeruants ſhould make any reckoning of our credit. Let men therefore be carefull to auoide publike euils, or elſe prepare themſelues for publike rebukes, which are the beſt medicines for the recouering of their ſicke and ſinfull ſoules.
8. Now goe and write it before them in a booke, that that it may bee for the laſt day, [for euer and euer.] Hence ariſeth this doctrine, that
That teſtimony ſhall abide with eueryevery man, Doct. 2 Gods teſtimony is euerlaſting.which God giueth him in his word.
Looke what the Lord ſaith of any one, that ſhal ſtand firme, and tarrie with him till death, yea after death, euen for euer and euer. As here the Prophet Iſaiah from the Lords mouth chargeth theſe cowardly Iewes to bee diſſemblers and rebels: this hath ſtood in record againſt them many hundred yeares, and doth ſtill; their names are not yet healed, nor euer ſhall be, but all that liued and died in their impenitency, ſhall hauehave their ſhame encreaſed in the day of the Lord, and that ſhall tarrie with them for euermore. This is alſo euident in the Scribes and Phariſies, who though they carried away all the praiſe and commendation among men, our Sauiour doth diſgrace to the vttermoſt, calling them painted ſepulchres, Mat. 23.that had faire outſides, but within were full of corruption, and withal denouncing many curſes and woes againſt them: now who are more odious then they? what name of greater infamie among men then the name of Phariſee? and what is the reaſon hereof? ſurely this; the word of God doth diſgrace ſuch kind of people; and therefore it ſtickes ſo faſt vntounto them, and ſhall doe for euer. So on the other ſide Paul was much ſlandered and reuiled, counted a peſtilent fellow, a troubler of the world, and the ringleader of heretickes, Act. 24.and Tertullus made ſuch a bitter oration againſt him, and brought ſuch witneſſes to confirme his ſpeeches, that a carnall man would hauehave thought his name almoſt vncureable: yet who more honourable then Paul? his very name doth carrie a wonderful reuerence with it, and that in the very hearts of wicked men. But how commeth it to paſſe that hee that was then ſo ſhamefully traduced, ſhould now bee ſo highly magnified? this is the true reaſon of it; he did that which the word of God did commend, though men did condemne it; and therefore hauing a good teſtimony from heauen, all the calumniations and ſlanders of men could nothing at all impeach his credit, but did rather cauſe it to ſhine out more clearely. The Scriptures abound with examples of this kinde, but I haſten to the reaſons, which are theſe.
Firſt, Reaſons. 1 the word of God doth giuegive men neither more nor leſſe then their due, it paſſeth a righteous ſentence; and therefore it muſt needs ſtand. The world commonly calles good euill, and euill good: light darkeneſſe, and darkeneſſe light; and therefore the teſtimony therof is little worth, and of ſmall or no continuance: but the word of God pronounceth none good, or bad, vnleſſe they bee ſo. If the courſe of a mans life be ſuch as the Scriptures doe commend, though all the world ſpeake againſt it, it is commendable: and if it bee ſuch as the word diſcommendeth, though men and Angels ſhould ſpeake for it, it is to bee diſliked and condemned: Pſa. 12.6.for the words of the Lord are pure words, as ſiluer tried in the furnace of earth, fined ſeuen fold.
Secondly, as the Scripture giues a ſound teſtimonie, ſo the Lord himſelfe will backe it, and make it good. The word denounceth ſhame vponupon all ſinners; therefore muſt God of neceſſity powre it vponupon them; for elſe hee ſhould not bee true in his threatnings. Earthly Princes doe enact penall lawes and ſtatutes, and yet many times doe not ſee them executed: but God deales not ſo; but whoſoeuer doth perſiſt in his wickedneſſe, is ſure to meete with diſgrace in the end: as godly men ſhall inherite glory, Prou 3.35.though they bee vilified and debaſed for a time; ſo ſhall ſinners inherit diſhonour (as the Wiſe man affirmeth) though they be exalted for a ſeaſon. Durable ſinnes ſhall hauehave abiding ſhame; and conſtant obedience ſhall hauehave euerlaſting glory: eueryevery man ſhall receiue according to his workes, whether good or euill.
This then may ſerue to diſcouer vntounto vsus their follie and madneſſe, Vſe 1 that would faine hauehave credit in the world, and yet ſeeke not for it in the word, but are proud and ambitious; vaineglorious, and couetous; full of hypocriſie, and of all manner of iniquity: is this the way to get good eſtimation, and laſting credit? nay, the Lord ſaith, Pſal 119.21.that the proud are curſed which erre from his commandements: Prou. 10.7.and that the name of the wicked ſhall rot. Doe they thinke that if they can goe beyond others in wealth, in command, in outward dignity, and the like, that then they ſhall carrie away the reputation from them? nay, they are farre deceiued if they ſo imagine: God makes no promiſe of commendation to them in the Scripture; and therefore it is a vaine thing for them to expect it: 2. Cor. 10.18.for none is praiſeworthy, but hee whom the Lord praiſeth; and therefore though men magnifie vsus, as they did Herod, Act. 12. yet let vsus thinke neuer the better of our ſelues: for if we bee impious perſons as he was, the time ſhall come when the Lord will cauſe vsus to bee abhorred and loathed.
Secondly, if wee deſire to hauehave a good name while we liue, to leaue it behind vsus when we die, and to hauehave euerlaſting honour before all the Saints and Angels for euer, then let vsus take ſuch courſes as God himſelfe doth approue and commend. Let vsus get faith and louelove in our hearts, and let vsus manifeſt the fruits thereof in our liues: let vsus be truly religious towards God, and zealous in his ſeruice: let vsus be righteous towards men, and carrie a liberall heart, and a bountifull hand for good and mercifull vſes: Iam. 1.27.for theſe things God himſelfe doth commend, and therefore wee may aſſure our ſelues that they will procure vsus eternall praiſe. And though ſinfull men may try vsus by reproaches and ſlanders, and ſeeke by all meanes to blemiſh our names, as they dealt with our Sauiour, and his Apoſtles and followers in former times, yet ſhall our memoriall be bleſſed, and our goodneſſe bee had in euerlaſting remembrance: Pro. 10.7. Pſal. 11…. Pſal. 37.6.God ſhall bring forth our righteouſnes as the light, and our iudgement as the noone day.
Verſ. 9. That it is a rebellious people] This is the crime that is charged vponupon them being full of infidelity and diſobedience, they are indited of high treaſon againſt the Lord, which was the heauieſt imputation that could bee laid vponupon them. Whence note this point, that
They are the moſt miſerable and wretched rebels, Doct. 1 Thoſe that rebell againſt God are the worſt rebels.that are rebels againſt God.
Though it be an offence very grieuous and odious for a ſubiect to ſhew himſelfe diſloyall to his earthly Soueraigne, yet this ſhall ſtand as a ſure concluſion when heauen and earth ſhall fall, that the greateſt Sinner is the greateſt Traitor. Hence it is, that when the Prophet Samuel would ſet out the hainouſneſſe of Sauls ſinne, in ſparing Agag, the King of the Amalekites, and the beſt of the ſheepe and oxen, and of the things that ſhould hauehave been deſtroyed, E…d. 22.18.20. 1. Sam. 15.22.hee compareth it with thoſe crimes that were moſt hatefull and moſt puniſhable by Gods law, ſaying, Rebellion (to wit, againſt the Lord) is as the ſinne of witchcraft, and tranſgreſſion is wickedneſſe, and Idolatrie: and therefore Saul muſt needs bee a notorious malefactor, that was found guilty thereof. Iſa. 30.1.9.So dealeth Moſes with the ſtifnecked and peruerſe Iſraelites: Heare yee rebels (ſaith he) ſhall wee bring you water out of the rocke? Numb. 20.10.as if more could not be ſpoken for the ſhame and diſgrace of impious perſons, then to brand them with the note of rebels againſt the Lord of heauen and earth.
But that this point may be yet more cleare and perſpicuous, let vsus weigh theſe reaſons that follow for the confirmation thereof.
Firſt, Reaſons. 1 the lawes that they breake (which notwithſtanding they are more ſtrictly tied to obſerue, Rom. 7.12.then any ſubiect in the world is the ſtatutes of his Prince) are moſt equall and iuſt, and meet to be kept: and therefore the preſumptuous breach thereof muſt of neceſſity argue the moſt indigne and vnworthie rebellion that can be imagined. It was no ſmall fault in the Iſraelites to renounce their alleagiance to Rehoboam, and to ſtand vp in armes againſt him, being their lawfull King and Gouernour, albeit hee threatned to impoſe vponupon them rigorous and ſharpe lawes, 1. King. 12.14.to make his yoake more grieuous then his fathers, ſo that whereas Salomon had chaſtiſed them with rods, hee would correct them with ſcourges: how hainous then is their offence that doe refuſe to ſubmit their neckes vntounto Gods yoake, who is a more abſolute King then euer any was, or ſhall bee to the end of the world, whoſe lawes are perfectly good and righteous, all of them tending, not alone to his owne glory, but to the preſent and eternall benefit and comfort of ſuch as doe obey the ſame?
Secondly, thoſe are the moſt vile traitors, that doe rebell againſt their Soueraigne, that hath bin very bountifull and gratious vntounto them: (which was it that made Achitophels treacherie againſt Dauid more inhumane & barbarous:) now what Kings fauours can ſtand in the ballance againſt Gods fauours, which he vouchſafeth to the baſeſt of the ſonnes of men? for he it is that giueth them life and being, Acts 17.and all things: in him they liue, and moue, and hauehave their ſubſiſtence: and without him they could not continue to breath ſo much as one houre, nay nor one minute of an houre, much leſſe enioy the comfortable vſe of any creature vnderunder the Sunne: and therefore ſeeing the bounty and kindneſſe of the Lord is ſo exceeding great, their rebellion that doe lift vp themſelues againſt him, and caſt of the obedience of his lawes, is of all men moſt worthy to bee condemned and abhorred.
Thirdly, their caſe doth hence appeare to bee very wofull and miſerable, that the puniſhment appointed for them, is both very grieuous, and withall vnauoidable.
Firſt, the grieuouſneſſe thereof is euident by this, that whereas earthly Monarches can proceed no further againſt the moſt notorious malefactors, but to the torturing and killing of their bodies, the confiſcating of their lands and goods, and the defaming of them and theirs for a ſeaſon: ſo that if there bee vnfaigned repentance in the parties offending, as there was in the good thiefe on the croſſe, their ſoules may be ſaued, and their names healed, and both body and ſoule eternally glorified) i… is otherwiſe with the great King of heauen, who will plague thoſe that are traitors againſt his Maieſty with all manner of iudgements in this life, and when hee hath done with them here, will call them to a reckoning againe at that great Aſſiſes at the laſt day, and there expoſe them to perpetuall ſhame and infamie, and inflict vponupon their bodies and ſoules, ſuch torments as ſhall bee eaſeleſſe, endleſſe, and remedileſſe.
Secondly, for the vnauoidablenes of theſe puniſhments, we muſt know, though rebels againſt worldly Princes, when they hauehave caſt themſelues into danger, may by flying, or hiding of themſelues, eſcape, or if they bee apprehended, make notable defences and apologies to ſerue their preſent purpoſe, and ſo winde themſelues out of troubles, it is no boot to deale in that ſort with the Lord: for whither can they goe from his preſence, Pſal. 139.but hee will finde them out? and what wittie and cunning deuices can they hauehave for the colouring of their treacherous practiſes, but hee will deſcry and diſcouer the ſame, and that to their greater ſhame and puniſhment? Which being ſo, Iſaiah. 29.the vſe ſhall be,
Firſt, Vſe 1 for the conuicting of many to bee notorious rebels, that eſteeme themſelues as honeſt men as any in the countrey, and will defie him that ſhal charge them with treaſon: what ſay they to this? Doe they not vſually take the holy name of God in vaine? Doe they not prophane his Sabbaths? doe they not defile their ſoules and b…dies with many horrible pollutions? And whe as they hauehave been often told of theſe faults, and ſharpely rebuked for them, doe they not for all that continue ſtill in them, and vndertake the defence of them? Yea doe they not fret, and fume, and chafe, at ſuch as ſeek to reclaime them from their leaud courſes? If their conſciences doe accuſe them of theſe, and the like crimes, vndoubtedly they are guiltie of high treaſon againſt the Lord of heauen and earth: they carrie the diuels badge, and fight vnderunder his banner, as profeſſed enemies vntounto God, and his truth: and whatſoeuer they thinke of themſelues, ſuch the Lord will eſteeme them to be, and proceed againſt them accordingly.
Secondly, let this teach vsus to bee moſt fearefull of tranſgreſſing the ſacred lawes of our heauenly King: and if we be at any time put to that ſtraite, that wee muſt either violate the commandement of our earthly gouernours, or of God himſelfe, let vsus chuſe rather to obey God then men: and with a meeke ſpirit, and peaceable cariage ſubmit our ſelues to their cenſures, rather then incurre the Lords diſpleaſure, and ſo become liable to his iudgements.
Thirdly, this is for ſingulas comfort vntounto Gods people, who are charged to be factious and ſeditious, vnquiet and vndutifull perſons: yet ſo long as their conſciences tell them, that they are willing to attend to holy and wholeſome doctrine, whereby their ſinnes may bee reproued, and their hearts and liues reformed and bettered, they may be ſure that God accounteth them good ſubiects; and thoſe that are ſuch vntounto him, are of all other moſt loyall and dutifull vntounto their rulers and gouernors: neither indeed can any be truly faithfull vntounto men, that hath not firſt learned to be faithful vntounto God. Let vsus not therefore be diſmaied at the clamors of thoſe that doe vniuſtly charge vsus with diſloyalty. Athaliah cried out, treaſon, treaſon: 2. King. 11.14.but in truth, ſhe was the traitor her ſelfe: and the like may be ſaid of many that are ſo ready to traduce others in that ſort: whatſoeuer their outward behauiour towards Magiſtrates, and ſuch as are in authority be, they are miſerable and wretched rebels before the Lord, and ſuch they ſhall appeare to be in the end, if they doe not in time ſubmit themſelues vnderunder his gratious gouemment.