Divine Cordials, Sermons · Sermon 5
Sermon V.
EZRA 10. Verſ. 1.
Now when Ezra had prayed, and when hee had confeſſed, weeping and casting himſelfe down before the houſe of God; there aſſembled unto him out of Iſrael, a very great Congregation of men, and women, and children: for the people wept very ſore.
THe former Chapter did ſet downe the humiliation of Ezra, this demonſtrates the fruit and effect, that it produced: when the people ſaw that hee was ſo affected and afflicted, and that not ſo much for his own ſinnes, as for the ſinnes of the people, they take it to heart; and firſt, there is a very great Aſſembly gathered together. Secondly, they weepe ſore. Thirdly, one particular perſon, Shecaniah by name, confeſſeth the ſinnes of the people. Fourthly, they conceive hope of remiſſion. Fifthly, they reſolve to put away their ſtrange Wives. Laſtly, they put their late reſolution into execution: That which gives occaſion to all theſe, is laid downe in the firſt words of the Chapter, which containes; Firſt, the actions of Ezra, and they bee two: [praying and weeping.] Secondly, his manner of confeſſing, [hee cast himſelfe down before the houſe of the Lord:] upon this followes the comming together of a great aſſembly of men, women and children. We begin with his actions, and firſt for his praying, [when Ezra had prayed.] As I told you in the former chapter, this good man was come from Babylon, with a great deale of comfort, and with a happy meſſage of good newes to Iſrael; no ſooner is hee come to Hieruſalem, but he is welcommed with a ſad relation, there is a complaint made to him that the Princes, Prieſts, Levites and people, had mingled themſelves with the people of the land, doing according to their abominations: Ezra hearing this, knowes no other way to appeaſe Gods wrath, but by pouring out his ſoule to him in prayer; and if yee look into the ſacred Scripture, yee ſhall finde, that this hath ever beene the practiſe of Gods people in time of affliction, they have ſtill betaken themſelves to prayer: The commandement of God is for it, Pſal. 50.15. Call upon mee in the day of trouble: Pſal. 50.15. Iam. 5.13.So in Iames 5.13. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. And as God commanded it, ſo his children have practiſed it: in almoſt all the pages of holy Writ, yee ſhall finde the Saints of God exerciſing prayer: this was the weapon that Iacob took up, when hee expected nothing but hoſtility from his brother Eſau; the Text ſaith, Hee prayed to the Lord to deliver him from the hand of Eſau his brother, Gen. 32.11. This alſo was that which Moſes took up,Gen 32.11. when that Pharaoh and his Hoſt were at the heels of Iſrael, and the red Sea before them, he betook himſelfe to God by prayer,Exod 14.15. Exod. 14.15. And this was the weapon which hee uſed, when Iſrael conquered Amalek, Exod. 17.11, 12.Exod. 17.11, 12. How often doe wee finde David practiſed in this duty? as few of the Saints had more croſſes, ſo none oftner in prayer then hee: This is that which the three Children make uſe of in the fiery Oven; Daniel in the Lyons Den; and Ionah in the Whales belly: inſtances hereof are ſo obvious in the Scripture that I ſpare to name any more: and from proving the point, I come to anſwer ſome Objections which are made againſt that which I have ſaid, and they bee theſe.
Firſt,Objection. ſay ſome (being in affliction) God knowes our deſires and wants before wee ask, what need wee then pray to him?
I anſwer to this with Saint Ierome, Solution.we pray not to God, to acquaint him with what hee knowes not, but that wee may the more incline him to mercy: as that Father ſaith well, non narratores, ſed oratores ſumus, wee come not to informe him of what hee is ignorant, but we are humble ſuters that hee may be facilitated unto mercy.
O but ſay they,Objection. God hath determined how it ſhall bee, and let mee poure out never ſo many prayers, it is impoſſible for mee either to haſten or fore-ſlow his pace.
The Anſwer to this,Solution. ſhall bee that of Daniel, he knew by reading the Prophecy of Ieremiah, how long the captivity of Babylon ſhould laſt, yet hee addreſſes himſelfe to God by prayer, Dan. 9.19. The Prophet knew,Dan ….19. that as God had ordained the end, ſo alſo the meanes, and amongſt thoſe, prayer is the chiefe.
But thirdly, they reply and ſay, Why ſhould we pray?Objection. are wee not commanded to be patient in tribulation?
I anſwer,Solution. theſe two bee not incompatible: as for inſtance, David was as patient a man as ever lived, as we may ſee 2 Sam. 15.26. where he ſaith,2 Sam 15.26. If the Lord have no delight in mee, behold here am I, let him doe to me as ſeemeth good unto him: and yet David was frequent in prayer to God: the like wee ſee in our bleſſed Lord and Saviour, who is an example without exception, all the world knowes that hee was patient to the death, yet hee prayed, Father if it be thy will, let this cup paſſe from mee: it is true, a man muſt bee patient when Gods hand is upon him, and not have ſo much as the leaſt riſing thought againſt God; but yet hee may at the ſame time, without offence, implore God to have mercy upon him.
Vſe 1 If it bee thus, it meets with thoſe that wave this courſe, who being in affliction ſeek not to God: Ahaziah goes to the god of Ekron, and Saul to the Witch at Endor; and a company among us in time of trouble, ſeek to Negromancers and Wizards, which is no other, then to caſt out the Devill by Belzebub: to ſuch I ſay▪ as the Prophet Elijah ſaid to the Meſſengers of Ahaziah, is it becauſe there is no God in Iſrael, that yee goe to enquire of Baalzebub the God of Ekron? cannot God help yee, but you muſt goe to ſuch as theſe? This is the higheſt degree of irreligion, even meere Atheiſme. Secondly, it meets with others who are ſullen and pettiſh when Gods hand is upon them; they are ſo ſenſible of the ſtroak, that it drives all piety out of them; they had rather ſullenly die, then ſeriouſly pray unto God for eaſe and releaſe; but let theſe know and bee aſſured, that God will either bend or break them.
Vſe 2 In the ſecond place, whenſoever the hand of God is upon us, let us in the firſt place addreſſe our ſelves to God by prayer, and to this end remember theſe things: Firſt, pray ſenſibly, be ſenſible of what thou ſuff…reſt; God loves not that men ſhould bee as ſo many Stoicks, inſenſible of what they ſuffer; nay, hee hates indolence,Ierem. 5.3. and finds fault with them for it, in Ierem. 5.3. Becauſe they grieved not, though hee had ſtricken them. Secondly, a man muſt pray, as feelingly, ſo fervently; ſaith Iames, the prayer of a righteous man availes much, if it bee fe…vent, Iam. 5.15. Moſes his prayer is called a cry, Iam. 5 15. Exod 14.15. Gen. 32.24. Hoſca 12.4.Exod. 14.15. and Iacob is ſaid to wraſtle with God, Geneſ. 32.24. which was by prayer and ſupplication, as is evident in Hoſea 12.4. and Saint Paul deſires ſome to whom hee wrote, to ſtrive with him by prayer to God: Auguſtine ſaith, this was the reaſon why the Egyptian Monkes made ſhort prayers, leſt they ſhould loſe their fervency by praying long: And here under this will come in, intention in prayer, which is when a man minds what hee prayes; and though Bellarmine ſay, that a vertuall intention is enough, without an actuall; yet Gregory, and I, ask him or any ſuch, this queſtion, why ſeeks he to bee heard of God, when hee heares not himſelfe? when a man doth perfunctorily ſlubber over his prayers, how ſhould hee look for a comfortable return of his petitions? the bullet can flie no further then the quantity of powder, wherewith the piece was charged, can carry it: and it is impoſſible our prayers ſhould reach heaven, unleſſe fervency goe along with them. Thirdly, we muſt pray faithfully, that is, believing wee ſhall receive what wee implore God for, if it bee according to his will:Iam. 1.5.6.7. ſaith S. Iames, Iam. 1.5.6.7. If any of you lack wiſedome, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and it ſhall be given him: but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he that wavereth, is like a wave of the Sea, driven with the winde and toſſed: neither let that man think, that he ſhall receive any thing of the Lord: And in Chap. 5.1…. The prayer of faith ſhall ſave the ſick, Iam. 5.15.and the Lord ſhall raiſe him up: and if hee have committed ſinnes they ſhall bee forgiven him. Fourthly, wee muſt pray conſtantly; this is that which our Saviour commends to us from the importunity of the poore women, who would not ceaſe troubling the unjuſt Iudge, till hee had granted her requeſt and done her juſtice: this alſo is that which the Apoſtle Paul meanes, when hee ſaith, continue in prayer, Coloſ. 4.2. to wit, that men ſhould bee importunate with God in prayer,Coloſſ. 4.2. and if any man think it ill manners to be ſollicitous in preſſing God by prayer, Gregory tels him, it is a good violence, and affects God, who loves that his ſervants ſhould take the Kingdome of heaven by force. Further, there be two other things to be obſerved in our prayers; Firſt, Wee muſt aime at the glory of God in all the prayers wee make: This our bleſſed Lord teacheth us in that abſolute forme of prayer, which hee hath left us, the firſt petition whereof is, [hallowed by thy name.] The glory of God muſt be preferred before all things; yea, before the ſalvation of our ſoules, as we ſee in the examples of Moſes and Paul, who choſe rather to have their names raſed out of Gods book, then that hee ſhould loſe his glory in the ſalvation of his people. Therefore when a man is in affliction, hee ought to pray to God to deliver him, but for this end, that hee may live to glorifie him: This was the end of good Hezekiahs requeſt, when God ſent him word by Iſaiah that hee had added fifteene yeares to his life, ſaith hee, What is the ſigne that I ſhall goe up to the houſe of the Lord? Iſa. 38.22.Iſa. 38.22. as if hee deſired health upon no other condition, but that hee might glorifie God in his Sanctuary. Secondly, a man muſt ſo pray to God, that withall hee uſe meanes to accompliſh his deſires: This is the adviſe of Solomon, Prov. 2.3.4.5. If thou cryest after knowledge, Prov. 2 4.3.5.and lifteſt up thy voice for underſtanding: if thou ſeekeſt her as ſilver, and ſearcheſt for her as for hid Treaſures; then ſhalt thou underſtand the feare of the Lord, and finde the knowledge of God: There yee ſee that crying and calling, ſeeking and ſearching, muſt goe together: and in vaine doſt thou pray to God, if thou follow not thy prayers with thy endeavours, for the attaining of that for which thou art a petitioner: as for example, thou prayeſt to be delivered from thy filthy exceſſe, but unleſſe thou ſtrive to forſake it, thou wilt never bee rid of that filthy vice: to doe otherwiſe is to bee like the man in the Apologue, who when his Cart ſtuck in the mire, prayed to Hercules for help, but never ſet to his ſhoulder to lift it out.
If wee lay the men of theſe dayes to this ſquare,Vſe. wee ſhall finde them to fall very ſhort of what wee have ſaid; doe the pray ſenſibly? Alas, when they pray, their hearts like Nabals, bee as dead in them as ſtones. Secondly, doe the pray fervently? alas no, for their prayers bee even keycold. Thirdly, pray they conſtantly? O no, they deſiſt and are ſoone weary, they would have God preſently to heare them, but they will not ſtay his leaſure. Fourthly, doe they pray in faith? Alas, they have no promiſes to lay hold on. Againe, doe men ayme at Gods glory in their prayers? And doe they uſe the meanes to accompliſh their prayers? I am perſwaded theſe bee things ſcarſe thought of, much leſſe practiſed, but by a few: well, let us obſerve the true properties of ſupplication, and wee ſhall finde to our comfort, that hee is a God hearing prayers, and if hee pleaſe not to give us the very individuall things which we beg of him, yet wee ſhall have ſomething that is as good or better for us, ſo as hee ſhall bee glorified and wee comforted: So much for Ezra his firſt act. The ſecond act performed by him is his confeſſion, the Text ſaith, [when hee had confeſſed.] Auguſtine ſaith, confeſſion is twofold, confeſsio laudis, a confeſsion of prayſe, and confeſsio fraudis, a confeſsion of ſinne: Firſt, there is confeſsio laudis, a confeſsion of prayſe, ſuch was that of our Saviour Chriſt, in Matth. 11.25. I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth, Matth. 11.25.becauſe thou haſt hid theſe things from the wiſe and prudent, and haſt revealed them to babes. The ſecond is, confeſsio fraudis, the confeſſion of a mans ſinne, and this is either publike or private: Firſt, publike, when the Miniſter goes before in confeſſing ſinne, and all the people follow after him; this is the cuſtome of our and all reformed Churches. Secondly, there is a private confeſſion, and that is of a particular man, and this is fourefold; Firſt, when hee confeſſes his ſinne to God, as did David, Pſal. 32.5. ſaith hee,Pſal 32.5. I confeſſed my ſinne unto the Lord, and my iniquity I have not hid. Secondly▪ when a man confeſſeth his ſinne to the whole Church, this was that which the inceſtuous Corinthian was driven unto. Thirdly, it is to the Miniſter in private, and ſuch was that of the people to Iohn Baptiſt, Matth. 3.6. It is ſaid,Matth. 3.6. they were baptized of him in Iordan, confeſſing their ſinnes: ſuch alſo was that of David to Nathan, 2 Sam. 12.13. Laſtly,2 Sam. 12.13. it is to a mans neighbour or brother, as when a man that hath offended his brother goes and confeſſes his fault, deſiring him to bee reconciled to him. This is that which our bleſſed Saviour aymes at,Matth. 5.24.25. Iam. 5.16. Matth. 5.24.25. and which S. Iames meaneth, Iam. 5.16. Now for confeſſion, whether publike or private, firſt, it is that which is commanded:Numb 5 6.7. Look into Numb. 5 7. See what God ſaith there, When a man or a woman ſhall commit any ſin, and doe a treſpaſſe againſt the Lord, and that perſon bee guilty: then they ſhall confeſſe their ſinne which they have done. Secondly, forgiveneſſe is promiſed to thoſe that doe confeſſe their ſinnes,Prov. 28.13. 1 Iohn 1.9. Prov. 28.13. Whoſo confeſſeth his ſinnes ſhall have mercy. And in 1 Iohn 1.9. If wee confeſſe our ſinnes, he is faithfull and juſt to forgive us our ſinnes, and to cleanſe us from all iniquity. Thirdly, wee have examples of holy penitents going before us in this way; as David, Nehemiah, Daniel, the Prodigall, and thoſe Converts in Acts 19.18. The Text ſaith,Acts 19.18. They confeſſed, and ſhewed their works: This confeſſion ſtandeth; Firſt, in accuſing our ſelves for our ſinnes in generall: but more eſpecially for our particular ſinnes; thus did David, 2 Sam. 12. hee accuſed himſelfe for his adultery and murder:2 Sam 12. and in like manner, Paul that choſen veſſell accuſes himſelfe of being a blaſphemer and a perſecuter; yea, the chiefe of ſinners, 1 Tim. 1.13.15. Secondly,1 Tim. 1.13.15. it ſtands in a mans judging himſelfe, when hee paſſeth the ſentence of condemnation againſt himſelfe: Thus did David, he confeſſes that hee had done wickedly,2 Sam. 24.17. 2 Sam. 24.17. and Daniel acknowledgeth that to him and his people belonged nothing but ſhame: This is to judge a mans ſelfe, which if men doe, they ſhall ſave God a labour, for hee that judgeth himſelfe, ſhall eſeape the judgement of the Lord.
I deſire you to practiſe this ſecond act of Ezra; doe not only pray unto God,Vſe. but likewiſe confeſſe your ſinnes unto him; I doe not charge on you that kinde of confeſſion which our Adverſaries of the Church of Rome charge upon their people: they tye a man; Firſt, to a particular enumeration and confeſſion of all his ſinnes to the Prieſt. Secondly, they ſay, if men doe not particularly confeſſe their ſinnes, they cannot obtaine pardon. But thirdly, if a man ſhall doe ſo, then hee deſerves to bee pardoned. But wee are againſt them on theſe grounds. Firſt, there is no precept in the Word of God, which commands a man to make a particular enumeration and confeſſion of his ſins to the Prieſt. Secondly, there is no promiſe to encourage us to doe it Thirdly, there is no example for it in the whole Book of God. Nay, I will prove that without this particular enumeration of ſinnes, remiſſion hath been granted, as to the woman which was a ſinner in the City, Chriſt pronounceth her pardoned without a particular enumeration of her ſinnes,Luk. 7.48. Luk. 7.48. and thus hee pardoned Zaccheus, who only made a generall confeſſion of his ſinnes, and obtained remiſſion. Secondly, wee oppoſe them herein on this ground, becauſe they charge that on people which is impoſsible, for as David ſaith, Pſal. 19.12. who can underſtand his faults?Pſal. 19.12. and yet hee was better skilled in this kinde of Arithmetick then any Romaniſt: and if he could not reckon his ſinnes, no man elſe can. Our ſinnes are as the ſands upon the Sea-ſhore for multitude, which no mortall wight can number: And ſaith Solomon, the juſt man falls ſeven times a day, Prov. 24.16.Prov. 24.16. Therefore it is impoſſible for any man to confeſſe all his ſinnes particularly. Thirdly, this is the wrack of the ſoule, for ſuch a man goes away without any plenary remiſſion of his ſinnes; for if it bee ſo, that hee that meanes to obtaine pardon muſt make a particular enumeration of all his ſinnes, then it is certaine that hee muſt goe away without remiſſion, becauſe it is impoſſible to confeſſe all his ſinnes particularly. Laſtly, this is that which the primitive Chriſtians knew not: it was a yoake too heavie for them to beare; and one of their own ſaith, Tertullian never knew any particular confeſſion, but to the Church. Again, when it grew up in after-times, it was put down wiſely; For when a Biſhop of Conſtantinople perceived that a Prieſt under pretence of confeſſion, did with Eli his Sonnes abuſe a woman at the doore of the ſanctuary, hee preſently put it down. Againe, they of Rome make it the picklock of Kingdomes, for by this particular confeſſion, they unlock all the ſecrets of Princes I charge not this on people, but I wiſh them to acknowledge their ſinnes in the preſence of God: Neither is this ſo eaſie as moſt men think it to bee, for ſince our fall wee are ſo prone to conceale our ſinnes, that if there bee but one buſh in Paradiſe, wee will finde it to hide our ſelves in; but let us not hide our ſins as Adam hid himſelfe, but let us with the prodigall confeſſe them, and that is the way to have them pardoned: But ſome will demaund and ſay, how ſhall we confeſſe our ſins? To this I anſwer; Firſt, wee muſt confeſſe them, with ſhame, thus did Iob, Iob 42.6.Iob 42.6. I abhorre my ſelfe and repent in duſt and aſhes. And thus did the poore Publican, he confeſſeth that hee was not worthy to lift up his eyes unto Heaven. Thus alſo did the woman which was a ſinner in the City, ſhee was ſo full of ſhame for her ſinnes, that ſhee dares not come before our Saviour, but comes behinde his back as hee ſat at meat, and waſhed his feet with her teares. Secondly, wee muſt doe it ingenuouſly, it muſt not bee extorted from us as it was from Achan, but wee muſt willingly confeſſe our iniquities. Thirdly, wee muſt doe it with ſorrow and contrition of ſoule. Fourthly, with anger. Fifthly, with honeſt hearts, that is, with an aſſured purpoſe to leave our impieties: therefore it is ſaid,Prov. 28.13. Prov. 28.13. Hee that confeſſeth and forſaketh his ſinnes, ſhall finde mercy. Laſtly, wee muſt confeſſe our ſinnes fully; there muſt bee no retaining, excuſing or extenuating of ſinne, for God knowes the depth of our deceitfull hearts: yee know how it is with a begger, if hee have one ſoare worſe then another, hee will bee ſute to lay that open, that hee may move paſſengers to commiſeration; So wee ſhould not only confeſſe our leſſer, but our groſſe iniquities, which is the next way to have God mercifull to us: Alas, what will it availe us to keep one Achan? when that one is enough to trouble a whole Hoſt; what ſhall wee gaine by reſerving one Ionah, when that one will hazard the loſſe of the ſhip, and the lives of all them that ſaile in it? Let us therefore confeſſe our ſinnes according to the manner preſcribed, and then wee may bee confident, that God will forgive our iniquities, and blot out all our offences. Wee come now to the manner of Ezra his confeſſion, laid down in theſe words, [weeping, and caſting himſelfe down before the houſe of the Lord.] The firſt thing in it, is [his weeping] and this hath ever been an uſuall concomitant of prayer.Pſal. 6.6. See it in David, Pſal. 6.6. I am weary with my groaning, all the night make I my bed to ſwimme, and water my couch with my teares. Mark, hee made his prayer to God, and teares went along with it. The like wee ſee in the ſame Prophet,Pſal. 42.3. Pſal. 42.3. My teares have been my meat day and night, while they continually ſay unto mee, Where is thy God? The like wee ſee in the ſinner in the City,Luk. 7.38. Luk. 7.38. and wee ſee it in Ezra in our Text, hee not only prayes but weepes. And there is great reaſon, why wee ſhould weep in regard of ſinne:
Reaſon 1 Firſt, becauſe of the great good that ſin deprives us of; we are apt to grieve for the loſſe of a father, a wife, or a child, but what great cauſe have we to mourne eſpecially for our ſinnes? though wee loſe our friends by death, yet wee may meet them againe in the Kingdome of Heaven, if wee live and die in Gods feare: but if we mourn not for ſinne, wee ſhall never ſee the face of God to our comfort. Micha like a fooliſh Idolater wept for the loſſe of his carved image, Iudg. 17.23 ſhall hee weep for the loſſe of that which was no God?Iudg. 17 23. and ſhall not we mourn for ſinne, which deprives us of the true God?
Reaſon 2 Secondly, we have reaſon to weep for ſinne, becauſe of the miſeries which it brings on the Sonnes of men: Such a thing is ſinne, that it not only expoſes them to temperall judgements, but it makes them obnoxious to woes everlaſting, even to hell fire, which is eternall: the afflictions which befall men here, bee not univerſall; though a man bee pained in divers parts of his body, yet hee is never pained all over, ſtill hee hath eaſe in ſome part or other; but in Hell men are pained in every part: Againe, while wee are here, our torment may bee mitigated, as if a man have a ſwelling in any part of his body, by applying a fomentation to it, hee may have eaſe; or if hee bee lame, he may bee led; but if once hee bee in Hell, hee ſhall not have ſo much as one drop of water to coole his tongue; There is no mitigation of paine in that place of horror, where their paines bee eaſeleſſe, endleſſe, remedileſſe, where is nothing but weeping, wailing, and gnaſhing of teeth, to all eternity. Therefore wee have good cauſe to ſhed teares; yea, many teares for our ſinnes, both in regard of the good wee loſe by them, as alſo the miſeries they bring upon us. But me thinks I heare ſome ſay, are teares neceſſarily required of all thoſe that truly repent? I anſwer no, for there bee ſome conſtitutions which afford no teares; (I have read a ſtory of one that ever laughed) and though ſuch perſons cannot burſt into teares for ſinne, yet they may inwardly as truly mourne for ſinne, as hee that ſheds rivers of teares. Secondly, though a man bee apt to teares, yet the affliction may bee ſuch, that a man cannot weep: I read of one that could not but weep when his friend went to bee executed, but when his two Sonnes went the ſame way, his ſorrow was ſo great, that hee could not ſhed a teare: Great ſorrowes ſtupifie men, ſo that they be as full veſſels, which will not runne. Thirdly, wee read in the Scripture, as of teares without repentance, as in Eſau, Gen. 27.38.Geneſ. 27.38. Hee ſhed many teares, but left not his prophaneneſſe: So in Mal. 2.13. we read of ſome,Mal. 2.13. that covered the Altar of the Lord with teares: yet at the ſame time they were impenitent; So alſo of repentance without teares,Luk. 18.13. as in Luk. 18.13. wee read not of a teare that the poore Publican ſhed, only hee ſmote his hand on his breaſt, ſaying, O God, bee mercifull to mee a ſinner: yet hee went away juſtified: Acts 2.And in Acts 2. wee read that the new Converts were pricked in their hearts, but not of any teares that fell from their eyes: and the Thiefe upon the Croſſe was a true penitent, for hee went to Heaven, but we heare not of a teare which hee ſhed: but withall give mee leave to tell you, if any bee apt to teares, at firſt or laſt God touches their hearts to weep for their ſinnes. Secondly, if any can weep for the loſſe of wife, children, or any other worldly thing, and not for their tranſgreſſions, they may queſtion, whether ever their repentance were ſound or no. Laſtly, if a man can weep for his ſins, no ſoule receives ſuch ſatisfaction, as that ſoule doth.
It ſhould exhort us to weep and mourne for our ſins:Vſe. We ſpend teares in abundance for theſe ſecular things, but wee ſhould ſpare them there, and ſpend them here; Is it not a foolery to waſh a Stable with ſweet water? Thy teares be the ſweeteſt water in the world, therefore ſpend them on thy ſinnes, I am ſure thou canſt not ſpend them better: but as it is in the times of ſolemnity, when the Bells ring, all the clocks bee tied up: So I feare it is now adayes, for ſuch is the joviſance of men, that they forget to weep for ſinne; but if they would call their wayes to remembrance, they would be ſorry and weep, whilſt others ſing and rejoyce: Every of us have cauſe to weep, for not a Mothers Son of us, but hath brought the fuell of ſinne to kindle Gods wrath among us by ſending the Peſtilence to deſtroy us, and it is better to weep here, then hereafter. The ſecond thing in the manner is, [hee caſt himſelfe down, before the houſe of the Lord.] This hath been the cuſtome of Gods people, the more to teſtifie their ſorrow: Wee finde many expreſſions of ſorrow in the Scripture, as faſting, weeping, rending the garment, putting on ſackcloth, ſprinkling aſhes on their heads, knocking the breaſt, ſtriking the thigh, and this in our Text, which is caſting a mans ſelfe down before the houſe of the Lord: Thus did Ioſhua, hee fell to the earth on his face, before the Ark of the Lord,Ioſh. ….6. Ioſh. 7. 6. That which I gather from hence is this Obſervation.
Where repentance is true inward, it will put it ſelfe outward. Where repentance is ſincere, it will not only alter a mans judgement, to make him with Paul to think himſelfe the worſt of ſinners: Secondly, it will not only ſo humble him inwardly, that hee will not care for the revilings of wicked men, as wee ſee in David when Shimei railed on him; but as it will have this inward effect, ſo it will have outward effects alſo; it will make him faſt, and weep, and ſmite the breaſt: it will force him to abſtaine from thoſe delights, which otherwiſe he might lawfully take: Nay, it will turn every thing to him into ſorrow; when another man laughes, he will mourn to ſee him laugh, and holy Bradford the Martyr cannot ſit at his meat, but teares trickle down his cheeks: and it is impoſſible, but where repentance is true within, but that it ſhould ſhew it ſelfe without.
Thoſe that finde not this in themſelves,Vſe. may ſuſpect their repentance: I would not have men to uſe externall expreſſions of repentance, on purpoſe to bee ſeen of men, for repentance ill becomes a Stage; it is ſaid of Peter, that hee went out and wept bitterly; it ſeemes hee regarded not whether any man ſaw him, ſo God took knowledge of him: and as a Father ſaith truly, oculi virorum baſiliſci ſunt operum bonorum, the eyes of men are the baſiliskes of good works. Our bleſſed Saviour would have a man anoint his head And waſh his face when he faſted, that hee might not appeare unto men to faſt, but unto God: it is a part of Iehu his humour, to doe good works to be ſeene of men, but Gods childe as hee uſes outward expreſſions of repenting, ſo theſe proceed from inward ſanctification. [He caſt himſelfe down before the houſe of the Lord.] Why ſo? it was the more to ſtirre him up to humiliation: hee ſeemes to ſay, What? ſhall thy people enjoy the priviledges of thy houſe? and ſhall they thus irritate and provoke thee? thus the ſervants of God have been converſant in thoſe courſes which might make their prayers moſt fervent:Dan. 6.10. it is ſaid of Daniel, Dan. 6.10. that hee prayed thrice a day, and when he prayed, hee opened his window toward Hieruſalem, which was, inſtar flabelli devotioni, as a paire of bellowes to blow up his devotion: and this is a ſtraine of Solomons prayer,1 King. 8.44. 1 Kings 8.44. If thy people goe out to battell againſt their enemies whitherſoever thou ſhalt ſend them, and ſhall pray unto the Lord, toward the houſe that I have built for thy name; then heare thou in heaven their prayer and their ſupplication, and maintaine their cauſe: Pſal. 5.7.and David ſaith, Pſal. 5.7. In thy feare will I worſhip toward thine holy Temple: all this was but to inflame the affections of theſe holy men in that religious duty.