Divine Cordials, Sermons · Sermon 10
Sermon X.
EZRA 10.
the latter part of the 3. verſe. And According to the counſell of thoſe that tremble at the Commandement of our God, and let it bee done according to the Law.
IT ſhould ſeeme that there were others beſides Ezra, which adviſed the people to put away their ſtrange wives, and they ſuch as are ſaid to tremble at the word of God: and here obſerve the power of Gods word.
The power of Gods word is ſuch, Doctr.that if makes mem tremble. Jer. 23.29.To prove this, looke Jer. 23.29. Is not my word like a fire, ſaith the Lord? and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? it is a fire to melt the relenting heart, and a hammer to break in pieces the heart that is obdurate. See it in ſome inſtances, when Joſiah heard the Law read, his heart was tender and melted, 2 Kings 22.18 Pſal. 119.2 Kings 22.18. there Gods word was a fire: and in Pſal. 119. David ſaith, ſHe was afraid becauſe of Gods Word. There it was a hammer,Hab. 3.16. and Hab. 3.16. the Prophet ſaith, Whon I heard, my bellytrembled, my lips quivered at the voyce; rottenneſſe entred into my bones, and I trembled in my ſelfe. Here alſo it was a hammer. See it in the wicked themſelves, when Samuel told Saul, that God had rejected him for his diſobedience,1 Sam. 15. 1 Sam. 15. he was excedingly terrified and amazed. The like wee ſee in Ahab, when God ſent Elijah to challenge him for killing innocent Naboth, and taking poſſeſſion of his Vineyard, the word of God in that Prophets mouth made him quake and tremble, 1 Kings 21.27. So wee read of Belſhazzar, 1 Kings 21.2….when he ſaw the hand writing on the Wall (which yee muſt ſuppoſe to be the Word of God) His countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, ſo that the joynts of his loynes were looſed, and his knees ſmote one againſt another; and all his Concubines, Wine, and Copes-mates, could not bring colour into his face,Dan. 5.6. Daniel 5.6. And it is ſaid Acts 14.15. As Paul reaſoned of righteouſneſſe, temperance, Acts 24.25.and judgement to come, Felix trembled. Now that this effect of Gods Word may not ſeeme ſtrange unto you, ſee the cauſes thereof; one cauſe whereof is in the word it ſelf; therefore it is ſaid to be the power of God to ſalvation,Rom. 1.16. Romans 1.16. And in Hebrewes 4.12. it is ſaid;Heb. 4.12. to bee quick and powerfull, ſharper than any two-edged ſword, piercing even to the dividing aſunder of ſoule and ſpirit, and of the joynts and marrow, and is a diſcerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart: and in the 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. the weapons of our warfare are not carnall, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5.but mighty through God, to the pulling down of ſtrong holds: caſting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts it ſelf againſt the knowledge of God: miſtake me not, I doe not make this power to be in it, as it is conſiſting of ſyllables, but as it is Gods Ordinance, and hath the Spirit of God going along with it. The ſecond cauſe is from the application of it, when it is not onelyonly generally delivered, but particularly applyed; when the Word of God meets with a mans particular ſin, then the conſcience takes part with the Word againſt himſelf, and makes him tremble; ſo it was with Saul, the Prophet Samuel fell ſo pat upon his finne, that be became afraid, and took part with Gods Word againſt himſelf, ſaying, I have ſinned, and have tranſgreſſed the commandement of the Lord: the like wee ſee in Ahab, he was very briske when Elijah firſt met him, ſaying, Haſt thou found me, O my enemy? but the Prophet knowing him to be guilty of Naboths blood, tells him home of it, and before hee left him, brought him upon his knees: and when Felix trembled at Pauls Sermon of Righteouſneſſe, Temperance and Iudgement to come; ſome are of opinion, that he trembled at the conſideration of the laſt judgement; and it cannot be denied, but that is matter of ſuch terrour, as to make the faireſt Lady look pale, if ſhee be not painted: but I rather conceive that there was ſomething more which made him tremble, for Saint Paul diſcourſed of Righteouſneſſe and Temperance; now hee was a wicked man, and defective in both theſe, for hee was an unrighteous Iudge, and abuſed the power committed to him, however Tertullus flatter him in the contrary: again gain hee was guilty of intemperance, for he kept Druſilla another mans wife: Now when a man that was a ſtranger to him, ſhould thus directly fall upon the ſinnes which he knew himſelf guilty of, it could not but make him tremble: It was ſo with David, the parable of the poor mans ſheep, came ſo home to him, that he preſently confeſſes, that hee had ſinned againſt the Lord: as it is with a man that is ſmitten in a ſound part of his body, though you ſmite him hard, hee can indure it; but if he be but touched in a fore place, he ſtarts preſently; ſo when a man is met with in his ſins, hee will quake and tremble, if any grace be in him.
Vſe 1 Is the word of God of ſuch power? then it meets not onelyonly with Anabaptiſts, who contemn the Word of God, but with many profane ones among us, who vilifie the ſame, ſaying, it is an invention of man, and hath no force in it, although in my conſcience I am perſwaded, that they ſpeak againſt their conſciences; for out of doubt the Word of God hath at one time or other met with their corruptions: hath not the drunken perſon been met withall in his ſinne? and hath not the Adulterer, the proud Perſon, the ſwearer, the hypocrite been met withall in their tranſgreſſions? and if ſo, let them take heed of vilifying that which hath convinced them in their own conſciences: but if it were ſo, that Gods Word hath not made them tremble, if it have not yet broken them in pieces, yet the time will come, when it ſhall batter and bruiſe them: And if thou haſt not found this by thy ſelfe already, thou art worſe than either Ahab or Felix: for Gods word made the one humble, and the other tremble. If fire be cryed in the ſtreet, it amazes everie one, but if the Miniſters of God cry out againſt ſin, ſcarſe any tremble; but let ſuch as theſe know, that this ſtupidity is the fore-runner of eternall miſerie.
Vſe 2 In the ſecond place, let us labour for this holy diſpoſition of ſoule to tremble at Gods Word: God himſelfe calls for it,Iſa. 66.5. Iſa. 66.5. and to ſuch he hath promiſed to have reſpect, as in the ſecond verſe of that Chapter: and ſuch a man is moſt capable of comfort from God: for our Lord Chriſt ſaith, Hee came not to call the righteous, but ſinners to repentance; as alſo ſuch as are weary and heavy laden: therefore ſe: vile fear is of good uſe, it keepeth the heart ſupple for the impreſsions of grace, and makes way for filiall feare, as the needle makes way for the thread. But becauſe the wicked men may tremble at Gods word, as wel as the child of God, therefore I will direct you how you ſhal know whether ye tremble at Gods word as ye ought: Firſt, the man that trembles aright at Gods Word, hee reflects on that ſinne which is the cauſe thereof; this wee ſee in Joſephs brethren, the Governour handling them roundly, makes them reflect on their ſin againſt him, cauſing them to ſay, Verily we have ſinned againſt our brother, in that we ſaw the anguiſh of his ſoule, when he beſought us, and we would not heare him; G…n 42.21.therefore is this trouble come upon us, Gen. 42.21. ſo that no ſooner was the word ſpoken to them,Gen. 42.21. but they reflect on their inhumanitie. And a godly man when he is reproved of a ſin which he knowes himſelfe culpable of, he immediately reflects upon his tranſgreſſion, and ſaith, My ſinne is the cauſe why I tremble when I am met withall. Secondly, the true trembling at Gods word is joyned not only with a reflection upon a mans ſin, but with contrition for his ſin,Iſa. 66.2. theſe goe together, as in Iſay 66.2. where God ſaith, To him will I looke that is of a contrite ſpirit, and trembles at my word. It is ſaid of Ahab, that he rent his clothes, but he rent not his heart; therefore his humiliation was unſound. Thirdly, if a man doe truly tremble at Gods word, then he will at the ſame time finde in himſelfe a reſolution to amend that for which he knowes he is juſtly reproved. It is ſaid, Acts 2.37. they which heard Peter preach,Acts 2.3…. were pricked in their hearts and what then? Men and brethren what ſhall we doe? Marke; they being touched to the quick, labour to get out of their ſinfull eſtate, in which till that time they had continued. And in Acts 9. when it pleaſed God to convert Paul, Ac…s 9.he was ſtrangely terrified at the words which God ſpake unto him, and the firſt word he ſaith, is, Lord, what wilt thou have me to doe? Laſtly, in ſuch a one as trembles truly at Gods word, there will be ſeene an indeavour and ſtriving to put in practiſe what he reſolves upon: for Gods word works in a regenerate man, not only a feare to diſpleaſe God, but a care for time to come to practiſe all poſſible obedience, in the whole courſe of his life and converſation. And ſo much for chat point. But now, who were theſe that trembled at Gods word? ſome expoſitors ſuppoſe they were ſuch as had been ingaged in the forementioned ſinne, and hearing Gods word, were ſmitten with feare, becauſe of the ſtrange wives which they had maried: and if ſo, they were fit men to adviſe others who had committed the ſame ſinne, but had not repented of it: and the truth is, which ſhall be my obſervation,
A man that hath been exerciſed with the terrours of God,Doctr. ſuch a man is moſt fit to adviſe and counſell others. Moſes was a man that was exerciſed with the terrours of God, not onelyonly when hee ſaw the buſh to burne and not conſume, but when the angell of God met him, and would have ſlaine him: and this did coapt and fit him, to ſpeake comfortably to others that were in diſtreſſe. In the 51 Pſal. 12.13. David begs of God to reſtore to him the joy of his ſalvation: and what then?Pſal. 51.12, 13. then will I teach tranſgreſours thy wayes, and ſinners ſhall be converted unto thee. Luk. 22.31.32.In the Luke 22.31.32. our bleſſed Lord ſaith to Peter; Simon, Simon, Satan hath deſired to have you, that he may winnow you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee that thy faith faile not, and when thou art converted, ſtrengthen thy brethren. Feter had had experience of Gods mercy to him, and what man more fit than he to comfort others in diſtreſſe? and St. Paul ſaith, 2 Cor. 5.11. Knowing therefore the terrour of the 2 Cor. 5.11.Lord, we perſwade men. I know he eſpecially aimes there at the laſt judgement; but yet I am perſwaded thar withall he meant that hee was moſt fit to adviſe them who had been exerciſed with the terrours of God. As for example, we believe him that hath been in the ſame caſe with us, before we will believe any other. It was well ſaid by one, that one thing among the reſt that makes a good preacher, is temptation: ſuch a man as hath been toſſed in cheſe billowes, is moſt fit to adviſe and comfort others. A man that knows a Countrey by the Map, may be able to ſpeak ſomething of it, but it is nothing in compariſon of what a Traveller can ſay, which hath been there: ſo a man that hath never felt the terrours of God, may be able in part to adviſe and comfort thoſe in ſuch diſtreſſes; but not like him that hath been exerciſed with the ſame terrour.
Let it teach thoſe that be tearchers of others, to lay things to their own hearts, and to make triall of them there, before they preſeribe them to others▪ Wilt thou teach the people how to conquer ſuch a luſt? Haſt thou made triall of it thy ſelfe? If thou haſt, thou maiſt ſafely commend it to thy hearers: And you that be people, if a man ſhall come unto you, (ſuppoſe hee be your brother▪ and ſay, It was once with mee, as it is with you▪ I was thus and thus wicked; but it pleaſed God after a while, to bring mee to ſee my miſerable condition, and to draw me out of the Devills ſnare, therefore learne by mee; be perſwaded by mee, to leave ſuch and ſuch courſes, give not your ſelf up to the ſervice of ſinne, for I tell you out of experience, ſinne was never ſo ſweet in the temptation and commiſſion, as it will prove bitter in the concluſion: now that man that hath thus trembled at Gods Word, it is good to hear him, for none more fit to adviſe thee, then ſuch a one. But I goe another way, and think, that by thoſe who trembled at Gods Word, is meant ſuch as had not been ingaged in that common abomination, of marrying ſtrange wives; and if ſo. I cannot but note thus much:
When the times are moſt wicked, God reſerves ſome to himſelfe.
This wee ſee in the old World; when God brought the Deluge to deſtroy it, hee reſerved a Noah to himſelfe, who was a holy man: ſo when Sodom was deſtroyed, God had his Lot, and to him he ſhewed mercy: and though Iſrael was very rebellious in the Wilderneſſe, yet God had a Caleb and Joſhuah, whoſe hearts were upright: and God himſelf tells Elijah (when he knew of none that ſerved God beſides himſelf) that hee had reſerved Seven thouſand to himſelfe in Iſrael, which had not bowed their knee to Baal: and though all men, for the moſt part, bowed to Nebuchadnezzars Image, yet the Three Children choſe to die, rather then they would fall downe to that Idoll: and in Ezek. 9.4. though the generality of men was wicked, yet ſome were found,Ezek. 9.4. Who mourned for the abominations of the Land: and in the time while our Saviour converſt with men, though the times were depraved, yet God had his number; as Hannah, Simeon, Mary Magdalene, &c. And for Rome, that cage of uncleane Birds, I perſwade my ſelf, that in that heape of Chaffe, God hath ſome good Corne. Saint Paul ſalutes the Saints that were in Neroes houſe, we all know what Nero was; he was the monſter of Mankinde for his wickedneſſe; yet in his Court, God hath his followers. God hath his in all times, in theſe times wherein wee live, though they be very wicked, yet God hath ſome that belong to him: though there be a great number that make no conſcience of an Oath, yet there be many that feare to ſwear; though ſome be exceſſive, yet there be others that deteſt that ſinne: though there be many covetous perſons, yet there be others who be mercifully minded, and diſtribute to the neceſſities of the Saints: and though very many be profane, yet God be thanked, there be thoſe that will not. run with them to the ſame exceſſe of ryot.
Ʋſe 1, It is to take away the common excuſe of the men in the world, who thinke they may take a liberty to ſin, becauſe they ſee moſt men follow that faſhion: it was not ſo with theſe in our text, for they abſtain'd from thoſe abominations, in which moſt among them were ingaged: S. Peters exhortation to the Jews,Acts 2.40 Acts. 2.40. is, Save yourſelves from this untoward generation. and S. Paul ſaith, Redeeme the time, becauſe the dayes ara evill, Epheſ. 5.16. Shall we ſay,Epheſ. 5.16. that becauſe the diſeaſe is epidemicall, therefore we may run our ſelves into the infection? we will not reaſon thus in regard of our bodies, and dare any man be ſo deſperate as to reaſon thus in regard of fin, which is the bane of the ſoule? Beſides, it is not the place that makes thee bad, but it is thy wicked heart, that is a cage full of uncleane birds, from thence proceeds all villany: and if thou have an ill heart, thou wilt be wicked in the moſt holy place: it is ſaid of ſome,Iſa. 26.10. Iſay 26.10. that in the land of uprightneſſe they did unjuſtly: Thus the Angels fell in heaven, our firſt parents in paradiſe, and Judas in Chriſts colledge.
Vſe 2 Secondly, let us labour to keep our ſelves from the corruptions of the times; when all others doe that which is evill, doe it not then; and that thou maiſt doe ſo; remember theſe things: Firſt, David makes it a bleſſed thing not to walk in the way of ſinners,Pſal. 1.1. Pſalme 1.1. And certainely there is no greater ground of comfort either in life or death. Secondly, the purity of a mans Religion ſtands in this, to keep himſelfe unſpotted of the World, James 1.27. Thirdly,J…m…s. 1.27. remember for what end Chriſt dyed, hee gave himſelfe for our ſinnes, That hee might deliver us from this preſent evill world,Gal. 1.4. Gal. 1.4. O bleſſed Saviour, was this the end for which thou didſt ſhed thy precious bloud? and ſhall they for whom it was ſhed, ſet no more by it? a conſcionable man will ſay, Did my Bleſſed Lord redeeme mee to bee holy, and ſhall I take licence to ſinne againſt him? no, I will not: for if I doe, in ſo doing, I ſinne againſt the end of my Redemption. Fourthly, I would have a man to conſider what a glory it is to God, when hee is good amidſt a froward generation: to bee as the fiſh which retaines its freſhneſſe in the ſalt Sea: and to come into the High Prieſts Hall, and neither to bee burnt by the fire, nor blackt by the ſmoak; this makes much for the glory of God. Fiftly, marke what a confuſion it is to Satan, when a man goes on in a good way, where moſt men goe wrong; the Devill was more confounded in one Job, than in all the men of the Eaſt beſides. Laſtly, if wee ſort our ſelves with the ſinners of the time, wee hinder the converſion of the World: whereas, when a man ſhall ſhunne ſuch a wicked mans company, hee will begin to ſay with himſelfe, Surely ſuch a man ſees ſomething amiſſe in mee, which makes him refraine my ſocietie; and by this meanes hee may bee reclaimed. Therefore ſort not your ſelves with theſe Korah's, but depart from their Tents. A ſecond thing I note from that clauſe is this; may ſome man ſay, what was the cauſe that theſe men abſtain'd from ſuch abominations as others committed? I anſwer, their trembling at Gods word was the ground of it: from whence I note this ſhort obſervation;
The feare of God is the reſtraint of all ſinne. Doctr.This is proved ſufficiently.… 16.6. Proverbs 16.6. By the feare of God men depart from evill. Mark it in ſome inſtances, What was the reaſon that Joſeph refuſed to fulfill his Miſtreſſe her unchaſte requeſt? but becauſe the feare of God ſwayed him. And it is faid of Job, that hee feared God and eſchewed evill. Marke, the feare of God made him eſchew evill. This was that which kept David from killing Saul, when hee had him in his power: and to this hee exhorts others, Pſalme 4.4. where hee ſaith,Pſal. 4.4. Stand in awe and ſinne not. And this ſo ſwayed in the three Children, that they durſt not bow down to Nebuch adnezzars Image: the feare of God wrought in them to make them obey God rather than man.
Would any man know the reaſon why ſinne reignes ſo much in the world as it doth? it is becauſe there is no feare of God before mens eyes. What ſaith the Pſalmiſt,Pſal. 36 1. Pſalme 36.1. The tranſgreſsion of the wicked man ſaith within my heart, that there is no feare of God before his eyes. And Saint Paul having diſſected the ſinner, and ript him up to the bottome,Rom. 3.18. Romans Chapt. 3. Verſe 18. hee gives this as the reaſon of all the enormities there ſpoken of, Non eſt timor Dei coram oculis corum, There is no feare of God before his eyes. When Abraham came to Abimelechs Court, and to ſave his life ſaid, his wife was his ſiſter: the truth of the matter comming to Abimelechs hearing, hee askes him why hee had dealt ſo with, him? Saith Abraham, I thought the feare of God was not in this place: See, he did conclude▪ that there might bee Adulterie and murther there, becauſe they wanted the feare of GOD. The feare of GOD is, Janitor animae, The Porter of the ſoule, it ſtands Sentinell, and will tell of dangers that bee approaching; but if that be removed, then the heart becomes a cage of uncleane Birds; and ſuch a man will not ſtick at any ſin. Therefore I wonder not, that the unjuſt Judge did refuſe to doe the poore woman juſtice; for it is ſaid, Hee feared neither GOD nor Man. Wouldeſt thou then bee kept from offending GOD? above all thy getting, get the fear of GOD; which if once thou haſt, thou ſhalt bee kept from committing thoſe ſinnes which elſe thou wilt runne into every day. Thirdly, theſe that take upon them to adviſe the reſt, were ſuch as were not guilty of the ſame ſinne, and the truth is;
That man is moſt fit to adviſe others,Doctr. who is not ingaged in the ſame tranſgreſsion.
The hand that muſt waſh a thing cleane, except it bee cleane, will but adde to its pollution: if it be not thus, men will turne upon him that uſurps this Office, and ſay, Medice cura teipſum, Phyſitian heale thy ſelfe; and, firſt pull the Beame out of thine owne eye, and then thou ſhalt ſee clearely to caſt out the Meat out of thy brothers eye: Nay it will bee ſaid to ſuch a one as our Saviour ſaid to the Phariſees, You lay heavie burthens on others, but will not touch them with one of your fingers.
When therefore wee take upon us to reprove others, let us be ſure wee be innocent of that for which wee reprove them, and that is the way to be ſucceſſefull.
The laſt clauſe is; [And let it be done according to the Law.]
What Law? The Law of GOD; they intend a Humiliation, and they will have it according to the Law of GOD: Heere I cannot but obſerve the ingenuity of theſe People, they are not onelyonly carefull for the matter, but the manner of their Humiliation, it muſt be according to GODS owne preſcription.
Cain offered ſacrifice as well as Abel, he failed not in the matter, but in the manner; therefore God had no regard neither to him nor to his offering.
So Herod heard Jobn Baptiſt gladly, and went beyond many profeſſours in theſe dayes; but yet, becauſe hee failed in the manner, it being not according to the Law, therefore God rejected him.
And the ground of this, is that old rule of Luther, God loves Adverbs better then Adjectives, he lookes not ſo much to the factum, the doing of a thing, as to the bene factum, that it be well done, that is, that it be done according to the law.
Let me adviſe you, and my ſelf to this neceſſary duty; let us not onelyonly looke to the matter, but the manner how wee doe things in Gods ſervice: I am verily perſwaded, that at the day of Iudgement, as many ſhall be condemned for doing things in a wrong manner, as for not doing them at al: as many for bad hearing, as for not hearing Gods word; as many for careles praying, as for not praying; as many for unworthy receiving, as for not receiving the Sacrament at all. What ſaith God for hearing? Hee commands the matter, but withall the manner, which muſt be with Reverence and Attention, together with a purpoſe to Practiſe what wee heare. So for Prayer: God not onelyonly commands us to Pray; but he preſcribes the manner how; wee muſt pray Fervently, Faithfully, and Conſtantly. Look wee to both theſe, to the matter, to the manner of Gods Worſhip;Iſa. 58.…. elſe God will fay to us, as hee ſaith to the Jewes of Faſting, Iſaiah 58.5. Is this the Hearing, the Praying, the Receiving which I have choſen? is this the giving of Almes that I have commanded, to blow a trumpet when yee give it, as if yee were affraid to truſt God without a Witneſſe? God lookes that wee ſhould be right in the manner, as well as in the matter of his Worſhip, for he will not be pleaſed with opus operatum, the thing done, which though it be the Papiſts Latine, yet it is bad Divinity: God is, Deus Cordis, non corticis, the God of the heart, not of the barke; he hath reſpect to the manner how a thing is done, as well as that it be done; and if wee doe not perſorme his ſervice with a heart full of ſincerity, wee had as good cut off a Dogges neck. I preſſe this the more, becauſe moſt of the Religion of this land is formality; men come to Church, give Almes, and receive the Sacrament, I can teſtifie with them, that they are not defective in the matter, but they exceedingly faile in the manner of GODS Worſhip, for they doe not things according to the Law.
FINIS.
End of the text · Josias Shute, Divine Cordials (1644)