The Beatitudes, Discourse · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
MATTH. 5.4.
Bleſſed are they that mourn.
M foreign. Here are eight ſteps leading to true bleſſedneſs; they may be compared to Jacobs Ladder, the top whereof reached to heaven; we have already gone over one ſtep, and now let us proceed to the ſecond. Beati Lugentes, Bleſſed are they that Mourn. We muſt go through the valley of tears to Paradiſe. Mourning were a ſad and unpleaſant ſubject to treat on, were it not that it hath bleſſedneſs going before, and comfort coming after: Mourning is put here for Repentance; it implies both ſorrow, which is the Cloud; and tears, which are the Rain diſtilling in this golden ſhowre, God comes down to us. The words fall into two parts. 1. An Aſſertion, that Mourners are bleſſed perſons. 2. A Reaſon, becauſe they ſhall be comforted. I begin with the firſt, the Aſſertion, Mourners are bleſſed perſons. Luke 6.21. Bleſsed are ye that weep now. Though the Saints teares are bitter teares, yet they are bleſſed teares.
Queſt. But will all mourning intitle a man to bleſſedneſs?
Anſw. No; there is a twofold mourning which is far from making one bleſſed.
There is a
Carnal Mourning.
Diabolical Mourning.
1. There is a Carnal Mourning, when we lament outward loſſes. Matth. 2.18. In Rama there was a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great Mourning; Rachel weeping for her children, &c. There are abundance of theſe tears ſhed; we have many can mourn over a Dead Childe, that cannot mourn over a Crucified Saviour: Worldly ſorrow haſtens our Funerals. 2 Cor. 7.10. The ſorrow of the world worketh death.
2. There is a Diabolical Mourning, and that is two-fold.
1. When a man mourns that he cannot ſatisfie his impure luſt; this is like the Divel, whoſe greateſt torture is, that he can be no more wicked: Thus Amnon Mourned, and was ſick, till he had defiled his ſiſter Tamar, 2 Sam. 13.2. Thus Ahab Mourned for Naboths Vineyard, 1 Kings 21.4. He laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread; this was a Divelliſh Mourning.
2. When men are ſorry for the good which they have done: Pharaoh grieved that he had let the children of Iſrael go, Exod. 14.5. Many are ſo Divelliſh, that they are troubled they have prayed ſo much, and have heard ſo many Sermons; they repent of their Repentance; but if we repent of the good which is paſt, God will not repent of the evil which is to come.
SECT. 1.
Shewing the Object of holy Mourning.
TO illuſtrate this Point of holy Mourning, I ſhall ſhew you what is the Adequate object of it. There are two objects of ſpiritual mourning, ſin and miſery.
1. Sin, and that twofold;
1. Our own ſin.
2. The ſin of others.
1. Our own ſin; ſin muſt have tears: Nihil eſt fletu dignum niſi peccatum *Paul. de Palatio.: While we carry the fire of ſin about us, we muſt carry the water of tears to quench it: Ezek. 7.16. They are not bleſſed (ſaith Chryſoſtom) who mourn for the dead, but who mourn for ſin*foreign. Chryſoſt. in loc.; and indeed good reaſon we mourn for ſin, if we conſider, 1. The guilt of ſin, which binds over to wrath: Will not a guilty perſon weep, who is to be bound over to the Seſſions? every ſinner is to be tryed for his life, and is ſure to be caſt, if mercy doth not become an Advocate for him. 2. The pollution of ſin; ſin is a plague-ſpot, and wilt thou not labour to waſh away this ſpot with thy tears? ſin makes a man worſe than a toad or ſerpent; the ſerpent hath nothing but what God hath put into it, poyſon is medicinable; but the ſinner hath that which the Divel hath put into him. Acts 5.3. Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lye to the Holy Ghoſt? What a ſtrange Metamorphoſis hath ſin made! the ſoul which was once of an azure brightneſs, ſin hath made of a ſable colour; we have in our hearts the ſeed of the unpardonable ſin; we have the ſeeds of all thoſe ſins for which the damned are now tormented; and ſhall we not mourn? he that mourns not, ſure hath loſt the uſe of his Reaſon; but every Mourning for ſin, is not ſufficient to intitle a man to Bleſſedneſs; I ſhall ſhew:
1. What is not the right Goſpel-Mourning for ſin.
2. What is the right Goſpel-Mourning for ſin.
SECT. 2.
1 WHAT is not the right Goſpel-Mourning for ſin; there is a five-fold Mourning which is falſe and ſpurious.
1. A deſpairing kind of Mourning; ſuch was Judas his Mourning; he ſaw his ſin, he was ſorry, he made confeſſion, he juſtifies Chriſt, he makes Reſtitution: Mat. 27. Judas who is in hell, did more than many now adayes; he confeſſed his ſin; he did not plead neceſſity, or good intentions; but he makes an open acknowledgement of his ſin, I have ſinned; Judas made Reſtitution; his conſcience told him he came wickedly by the money; it was the price of blood, and he brought again the thirty pieces of ſilver to the High Prieſts, Matth. 27.3. But how many are there who invade the rights and poſſeſſions of others, but not a word of Reſtitution! Judas was honeſter than they are; well, wherein was Judas his ſorrow blame-worthy? it was a Mourning joyned with deſpair; he thought his wound broader than the playſter; he drowned himſelf in tears; his was not a Repentance unto life *Acts 11.8., but rather unto death.
2. An hypocritical Mourning; the heart is very deceitful, it can betray as well by a tear, as by a kiſs: Saul looks like a mourner, and as he was ſometimes among the Prophets, 1 Sam. 10.12. ſo he ſeemed to be among the Penitents, 1 Sam. 15.25. And Saul ſaid unto Samuel, I have ſinned, for I have tranſgreſſed the the commandment of the Lord. Saul did play the hypocrite in his mourning; for 1. He did not take ſhame to himſelf, but he did rather take honour to himſelf, verſe 30. honour me before the Elders of the people. 2. He did pare and mince his ſinne that it might appear leſſer; he laid his ſinne upon the people, ver. 24. becauſe I feared the people; they would have me flie upon the ſpoile, and I durſt do no other; a true mourner labours to draw out ſinne in its bloody colours, and accent it with all its killing aggravations, that he may be deeply humbled before the Lord, Ezra 9.6. Our iniquities are encreaſed over our head, and our treſpaſſes are grown up unto heaven. The true penitent labours to make the worſt of his ſinne; Saul labours to make the beſt of ſinne; like a patient that makes the beſt of his diſeaſe, leſt the Phyſitian ſhould preſcribe him too ſharp phyſick. How eaſie is it for a man to put a chea… upon his own ſoul, and by hypocriſie to weep himſelf into hell!
3. A forced mourning; when tears are pumped out by Gods judgments; theſe are like the teares of a man that hath the ſtone, or that lies upon the wrack. Such was Cains mourning, Gen. 4.13. My puniſhment is greater than I can bear; his puniſhment troubled him more than his ſin; to mourn only for fear of hell, is like a thief that weeps for the penalty, rather than the offence; the teares of the wicked are forced by the fire of affliction.
4. An extrinſecal mourning; when ſorrow lies only in ſuperficie, in the outſide, foreign, they diſfigure their faces, Matth. 6.16. The eye is tender, but the heart hard. Such was Ahabs mourning, 1 Kings 21. 27. He rent his cloaths, and put ſackcloth on his fleſh, and went ſoftly. His cloaths were rent, but his heart was not rent; he had ſackcloth, but no ſorrow: he did hang down his head like a bull-ruſh, but his heart was like an Adamant. There are many may be compared to weeping Marbles, they are both watery and flinty.
5. A vaine fruitleſſe mourning; ſome will ſhed a few teares, but are as bad as ever; they will cozen, and be unclean; ſuch a kind of mourning there is in hell; the damned weep, but they blaſpheme.
SECT. 3.
WHat is the right Goſpel-mourning?
Anſw. That mourning which will entitle a man to bleſſedneſſe, hath theſe qualifications.
1. It is ſpontaneous and free; it muſt come as water out of a ſpring, not as fire out of a flint. Teares for ſin muſt be like the myrrhe which drops from the tree freely without cutting or forcing. Mary Magdalens repentance was voluntary, ſhe stood weeping, Luke 7. She came to Chriſt with ointment in her hand, with love in her heart, with teares in her eyes; God is for a freewil-offering, he loves not to be put to diſtrain.
2. Goſpel-mourning is ſpiritual; that is, when we mourn for ſinne more than ſuffering. Pharaoh ſaith, Take away the plague, he never thought of the plague of his heart. A ſinner mourns becauſe judgement follows at the heeles of ſinne; but David cries out, my ſinne is ever before me, Pſal. 51. God had threatned that the ſword ſhould ride in circuit in his family; but David doth not ſay, the ſword is ever before me, but my ſinne is ever before me; The offence againſt God troubled him; he grieved more for the treaſon than the bloody axe; thus the Penitent Prodigal, Luke 15.21. I have ſinned against heaven, foreign, and before thee; he doth not ſay, I am almoſt ſtarved among the husks, but I have offended my father. In particular, our mourning for ſinne, if it be ſpiritual, muſt be under this threefold notion.
1. We muſt mourn for ſinne as it is an act of hoſtility and enmity. Sinne doth not only make us unlike God, but contrary to God, Levit. 26.40. and that they have walked contrary unto me. Sinne doth affront and reſiſt the Holy Ghoſt, Acts 7.51. Sinne is contrary to Gods nature; God is holy; ſinne is an impure thing; ſin is contrary to his will; if God be of one minde, ſinne is of another; ſinne doth all it can to ſpight God. The Hebrew word for ſinne foreign ſignifies rebellion; a ſinner doth foreign; now when we mourn for ſinne as it is a walking Antipodes to heaven, this is a Goſpel-mourning; nature will not bear contraries.
2. We muſt mourn for ſin as it is a piece of the higheſt ingratitude; it is a kicking againſt the breaſts of mercy. God ſends his Sonne to redeeme us, his Spirit to comfort us; we ſinne againſt the blood of Chriſt, the grace of the Spirit, and ſhall we not mourn? We complaine of the unkindneſſe of others, and ſhall we not lay to heart our own unkindneſſe againſt God? Caeſar took it unkindly that his ſon Brutus ſhould ſtab him, foreign, & thou my ſon? may not the Lord ſay to us, theſe wounds I have received in the houſe of my friends *Zach. 13.6.! foreign *Theocr.Iſrael took their jewels and ear-rings and made a golden Calfe of them; the ſinner takes the jewels of Gods mercies, and makes uſe of them to ſin; ingratitude dies a ſin in grain, hence they are called crimſon ſinnes, Iſa. 1.18. ſinnes againſt Goſpel-love are worſe in ſome ſence than the ſinnes of the Divels, for they never had an offer of Grace tendred to them, Diabolus peccavit in innocentia constitutus, ego vero reſtitutus: ille perſtitit in malitia, Deo reprobante, ego vero Deo revocante; ille obduratur ad punientem, ego vero ad blandientem; & ſic uterque contra Deum, ille contra non requirentem ſe, ego vero contra morientem pro me; ecce cujus imaginem horrebam, in multis aſpicio me horribiliorem. Anſelm. de Caſu Diab. Now when we mourn for ſin as it hath its accent of ingratitude upon it, this is an Evangelical mourning,
3. We muſt mourn for ſinne as it is a Privation; it keeps good things from us; it hinders our communion with God. Mary wept for Chriſts abſence, John 20.13. they have taken away my Lord. So, our ſinnes have taken away our Lord; they have deprived us of his ſweet preſence. Will not he grieve who hath loſt a rich jewel? When we mourn for ſinne under this notion, as it makes the Sun of righteouſneſſe withdraw from our Horizon; when we mourn not ſo much that peace is gone, and trading is gone, but God is gone; Cant. 5.6. My beloved had withdrawn himſelf; this is an holy mourning; the mourning for the loſſe of Gods favour, is the beſt way to regaine his favour. If thou haſt loſt a friend, all thy weeping will not fetch him again: but if thou haſt loſt Gods preſence, thy mourning will bring thy God again.
3. Goſpel-mourning cogit ad Deum, it ſends the ſoul to God. When the Prodigal ſonne repented, he went to his father, Luke 15.18. I will ariſe and go unto my father. Jacob wept and prayed, Hoſ. 12.3. The people of Iſrael wept and offered ſacrifice, Judg. 2.5. Goſpel-mourning puts a man upon duty; the reaſon is, becauſe in true ſorrow there is a mixture of hope, and hope puts the ſoul upon the uſe or means; That mourning which like the flaming ſword, keeps the ſoul from approaching to God, and beats it off from duty, is a ſinful mourning; 'tis a ſorrow hatch'd in hell; ſuch was Sauls grief, which drove him to the Witch of Endor, 1 Sam. 28.7. Evangelical Mourning is a ſpur to prayer; the childe who weeps for offending his father, goes into his preſence, and will not leave till his father be reconciled to him. Abſalom could not be quiet till he had ſeen the Kings face, 2 Sam. 14.32, 33.
4. Goſpel-Mourning is for ſin in particular: Doloſus verſatur in generalibus: It is with a true penitent as it is with a wounded man; he comes to the Chyrurgion, and ſhews him all his wounds; here I was cut with the Sword, here I was ſhot with a Bullet; So a true penitent bewails all his particular ſins: Judg. 10.10. We have ſerved Baalim; they mourned for their Idolatry: And David layes his finger upon the ſore, and points to that very ſin that troubled him: Pſal. 51.4. I have done this evil; he means his blood-guiltineſs; a wicked man will ſay he is a ſinner; but a child of God ſaith, I have done this evil. Peter wept for that particular ſin of denying Chriſt; Clemens Alexandrinus ſaith, he never heard a Cock crow, but he fell a weeping; there muſt be a particular Repentance, before we have a general pardon.
5. Goſpel-tears muſt drop from the eye of faith, Mark 9.24. The father of the childe cryed out with tears, Lord, I believe; our diſeaſe muſt make us mourn; but when we look up to our Phyſitian, who hath made a playſter of his own blood, we muſt not mourn without hope; believing tears are precious; when the clouds of ſorrow have overcaſt the ſoul, ſome Sun-ſhine of faith muſt break forth; the ſoul will be ſwallowed up of ſorrow, it will be drowned in tears, if faith be not the bladder to keep it up from ſinking; though our tears drop to the earth, our faith muſt reach heaven; after the greateſt rain, faith muſt appear as the Rainbow in the cloud; the tears of faith are botled as precious wine Pſal. 56.8.
6. Goſpel-Mourning is joyned with ſelf-loathing; the ſinner doth admire himſelf, the penitent doth loath himſelf. Ezek. 20.42. Ye ſhall loath your ſelves in your own ſight for all your evils. A true penitentiary is troubled not only for the ſhameful conſequence of ſin, but the loathſome nature of ſin; not only the ſting of ſin, but the deformed face; How did the Leper loath himſelf? Lev. 13.45. The Hebrew Doctors ſay, the Leper pronounced unclean, was to put a covering on his upper lip, both as a Mourner, and in token of ſhame*Maimony. cap. 10., The true Mourner cries out, O theſe impure eyes, this heart which is a conclave of wickedneſs! he not only leaves ſin, but loaths fin; he that is fallen in the dirt, loaths himſelf*Hoſ. 14.1..
7. Goſpel-Mourning muſt be purifying; our tears muſt make us more holy; we muſt ſo weep for ſin, as to weep out ſin; our tears muſt drown our ſins; we muſt not only mourn, but turn. Joel 2.12. Turn to me with weeping: What is it to have a watry eye, and a whoriſh heart? 'tis fooliſh to ſay it is day, when the Aire is full of darkneſs: So to ſay thou repenteſt, when thou draweſt dark ſhadows in thy life. It is an excellent ſaying of St. Auſtin, He doth truly bewail the ſins he hath committed, who never commits the ſins he hath bewailed*Ille vere plaugit comm…ſſaqui non commutit plungenda. Aug.. True Mourning is like the water of jealouſie *Num. 5.12., it makes the Thigh of ſin to rot. Pſal. 74.14. Thou break…ſt the heads of the Dragons in the waters. The heads of our ſins, theſe Dragons are broken in the waters of true Repentance; true tears are cleanſing; they are like a Flood, that carries away all the rubbiſh of our ſins with it; the waters of holy Mourning, are like the River Jordan, wherein Naaman waſhed, and was cleanſed of his Lep…oſie. 'Tis reported there is a River in Sicilia, where if the blackeſt ſ…eep are bathed, they become white; ſo, though our ſins be as ſcarlet, yet by waſhing in this River of Repentance, they become white as ſnow: Naturaliſts ſay of the ſerpent, before it goes to drink, it vomits out its poyſon; in this be wiſe as ſerpents; before thou thinkeſt to drink down the ſweet cordials of the promiſes, caſt up the poyſon that lies at your heart; do not only mourn for ſin, but break from ſin.
8. Goſpel-Mourning muſt be joyned with hatred of ſin. 2 Cor. 7.11. What indignation? We muſt not only abſtain from ſin, but abhor ſin; the Dove hates the leaſt feather of the Hawk*Aldrovand.; a true Mourner hates the leaſt motion to ſin; a true Mourner is a ſin hater: Amnen hated Tamar more than ever he loved her, 2 Sam. 13.5. To be a ſin-hater, implies two things. 1. To look upon ſin as the moſt deadly evil, a complicated evil; it looks more ghaſtly than death or hell. 2. To be implacably incenſed againſt it; a ſin-hater will never admit of any terms of peace; the War between him and ſin, is like the War between Rehoboam and Jeroboam: 1 Kings 14.30. There was War between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their dayes: Anger may be reconciled, hatred cannot; true Mourning begins in the love of God, and ends in the hatred of ſin
9. Goſpel-Mou…ning in ſome caſes is joyned with Reſtitution; 'tis as well a ſin to violate the name, as the chaſtity of another; if we have eclipſed the good name of others, we are bound to ask them forgiveneſs*Fama pari paſſu ambulat cum vita.; if we have wronged them in their Eſtate by unjuſt, fraudulent dealing, we muſt make them ſome compenſation. Thus Zacheus, Luk. 19.8. If I have taken any thing from any man by falſe accuſation, I reſtore him four-fold, according to that Law, Exod. 22.1. Saint James bids us not only look to the heart, but the hand. James 4.8. Cleanſe your hands ye ſinners, and purifie your hearts; if thou haſt wronged another, cleanſe thy hands by Reſtitution; be aſſured, without Reſtitution, no Remiſſion*Non remittitur peccatura niſi reſtituatur ablatum. Aug..
10. Goſpel-Mourning muſt be a ſpeedy Mourning: We muſt take heed of adjourning our Repentance, and putting it off till death; as David ſaid, I will pay my vows now, Pſal. 116.18. ſo ſhould a Chriſtian ſay, I will mourn for ſin now. Luke 6.21. Bleſſed are ye that weep now; as Popilus the Roman Legat, when he was ſent to Antiochus the King, made a Circle round about the King, and bade him make his anſwer before he went out of that Circle; ſo God hath incircled us in the compaſs of a little time, and chargeth us preſently to bewail our ſins. Acts 17.30. Now God calleth everywhere to repent; we know not whether we may have another day granted us. Oh let us not put off our Mourning for ſin till the making of our will: Do not think holy Mourning is only a death-bed duty; you may ſeek the bleſſing with tears, as Iſaac, when it is too late, Quamdiu cras? ſaith Auſtin, How long ſhall I ſay I will repent to morrow? why not at this inſtant? — Mora trahit periculum: Caeſars deferring to read his letter before he went to the Senate houſe, coſt him his life. The true Mourner makes haſte to meet an angry God, as Jacob did his brother; and the Preſent he ſends before, is the ſacrifice of tears.
11. Goſpel-Mourning for ſin is conſtant; there are ſome who at a Sermon will ſhed a few tears, but this landflood is ſoon dryed up; the hypocrites ſorrow is like a vein opened, and preſently ſtopped; the Hebrew word for Eye, foreign ſignifies alſo a Fountain, to ſhew that the eye muſt run like a Fountain for ſin, and not ceaſe; but it muſt not be like the Lybian Fountain of the Sun, which the Ancients ſpeak of; in the Morning the water is hot, at Midday cold; the waters of Repentance muſt not overflow with more heat in the Morning, at the firſt hearing of the Goſpel; and at Mid-day, in the midſt of health and proſperity grow cold, and be ready to freeze; no, it muſt be quotidianus planctus, a daily weeping, as Paul ſaid, 1 Cor. 16.31. I dye daily; ſo ſhould a Chriſtian ſay, I mourn daily: Therefore keep open an iſſue of godly ſorrow, and be ſure it be not ſtopped till death. Lam. 2.18. Let not the apple of thine eye ceaſe. It is reported of holy Mr. Bradford, ſcarce a day paſſed him wherein he did not ſhed ſome tears for ſin; daily mourning is a good antidote againſt back-ſliding. I have read of one that had an Epilepſie, or falling ſickneſs, and being dipped in Sea-water, was cured; the waſhing of our ſouls daily in the briniſh waters of Repentance, is the beſt way both to prevent and cure the falling into Relapſes.
Even Gods own children muſt mourn after pardon; for God in pardoning, doth not pardon at one inſtant ſinnes paſt and furure; but as repentance is renewed, ſo pardon is renewed; ſhould God by one act pardon ſinnes future as well as paſt; this would make void part of Chriſts Office; What need were there of his interceſſion, if ſinne ſhould be pardoned before it be committed? there are ſinnes in the godly of dayly incurſion, which muſt be mourned for; though ſin be pardoned, ſtill it rebels; though it be covered, it is not cured: Rom. 7.23. There is that in the beſt Chriſtian, which is contrary to God; there is that in him which deſerves hell, and ſhall he not mourn? A ſhip that is always leaking, muſt have the water continually pumped out; while the ſoul leaks by ſin, we muſt be ſtill pumping at the leak by Repentance. Think not O Chriſtian that thy ſins are waſhed away only by Chriſts blood, but by water and blood. The brazen Laver, Exod. 30.18. that the people of Iſrael were to waſh in, might be a fit emblem of this ſpiritual Laver, tears and blood; and when holy Mourning is thus qualified, this is foreign 2 Cor. 7.11. that ſorrowing after a godly ſort, which makes a Chriſtian eternally bleſſed.
SECT. 4.
Shewing, That we muſt mourn for the ſins of others.
2. AS we muſt mourn for our own ſins, ſo we muſt lay to heart the ſins of others*foreign. Chryſoſtom.. The Poets feign that Biblis was turned into a Fountain; thus we ſhould wiſh with Jeremy, that our eyes were a Fountain of tears, that we might weep day and night for the iniquity of the times; our bleſſed Saviour mourned for the ſins of the Jews, Mark 3.5. Being grieved, ſuper callo, for the hardneſs, or brawnineſs of their hearts; and holy David looking upon the ſins of the wicked, his heart was turned into a ſpring, and his eyes into Rivers. Pſal. 119.136. Rivers of tears run down mine eyes, becauſe they keep not thy Law. Lots Righteous ſoul was vexed with the unclean converſation of the wicked, 2 Pet. 2.7. Lot took the ſins of Sodom, and made ſpears of them to pierce his own ſoul: Cyprian ſaith that in the Primitive times, when a Virgin who vowed her ſelf to Religion, had defiled her chaſtity, ſhame and grief filled the whole face of the Congregation*Totum Eccleſiae caetum demittere vultus, atque crubeſcere. Cyprian..
Have not we cauſe to mourn for the ſins of others? the whole Axle-tree of the Nation is ready to break under the weight of ſin; what an inundation of wickedneſs is there amongſt us? Mourn for the hypocriſie of the times. Jehu ſaith, Come ſee my zeal for the Lord; but it was zeal for the Throne. This is the hypocriſie of ſome, they intitle God to whatever they do, they make bold with God to uſe his Name to their wickedneſs; as if a Thief ſhould pretend the Kings Warrant for his Robbery. Micah 3.11. They build up Sion with blood, the heads thereof judge for reward; yet will they lean upon the Lord, and ſay, Is not the Lord among us? Many with a religious kiſs ſmite the Goſpel under the fifth rib*Plurimi ſub nomine Eccleſiae contra Eccleſiam Militant. Calv.: Could not Ahab be content to kill and take poſſeſſion, but muſt he uſher it in with Religion, and make faſting a Preface to his murder? 1 Kings 21.12. The white Divel is worſt; a burning Torch in the hand of a Ghoſt is moſt affrighting; to hear the Name of God in the mouths of ſcandalous hypocrites, is enough to affright others from the profeſſion of Religion.
Mourn for the Errors and Blaſphemies of the Nation; there is now a free Trade of Error; toleration gives men a Patent to ſin: What curſed opinion that hath been long ago buried in the Church, but is now dig'd out of the grave, and by ſome worſhipped! England is grown as wanton in her Religion, as ſhe is antick in her Faſhions: The Jeſuites Exchange is open, and every one almoſt is for an opinion of the neweſt Cut: Did mens faces alter as faſt as their judgements, we ſhould not know them.
Mourn for Covenant-violation, this ſin is a flying Roll againſt England; breach of Covenant is ſpiritual harlotry; and for this God may name us Loammi, and give us a bill of Divorce.
Mourn for the Pride of the Nation …our condition is low, but our hearts are high. Mourn for the profaneſs of the Land; England is like that man in the Goſpel, Luke 4.33. who had a ſpirit of an unclean Divel. Mourn for the removing of Land-Marks*Deut. 27.17.: Mourn for the contempt offered to Magiſtracy, the ſpitting in the face of Authority: Mourn that there are ſo few Mourners; ſurely if we mourn not for the ſins of others, 'tis to be feared we are not ſenſible of our own ſins: God looks upon us as guilty of thoſe ſins in others which we do not lament; our tears may help to quench Gods wrath.
SECT. 5.
That we muſt mourn for the miſeries of the Church.
THE Saints are Members of the body Myſtical as well as Political, therefore muſt be ſenſible of the injuries of Gods Church. Pſal. 137.1. We wept when we remembred Sion. The people of Iſrael being debarred from the place of publick worſhip, ſate by the Rivers weeping; they laid aſide all their Muſical Inſtruments. Ver. 2. We hanged our Harps upon the Willows. We were as far from joy, as thoſe Willows were from fruit. Ver. 4. How ſhall we ſing the Lords ſong in a ſtrange land? we were fitter to weep, than to ſing.
— Non eſt conveniens luctibus iſte ſonus.
When we conſider the miſeries of many Chriſtians in Germany, the Dukedome of Savoy, and other Forraign parts, who have been driven from their habitations, becauſe they would not deſert the Proteſtant, and eſpouſe the Popiſh Religion; when inſtead of a Bible, a Crucifix; inſtead of Prayers, Maſſe; inſtead of going to Church, they ſhould go on Pilgrimage to ſome Saint or Relick: When we conſider theſe things, our eyes ſhould run down: Mourn to ſee Gods Church a bleeding Vine: Mourn to ſee Chriſts Spouſe with garments rolled in blood.
Methinks I hear Englands Paſſing bell go, let us ſhed ſome tears over dying England; let us bewail our inteſtine diviſions. Englands diviſions have been fatal; they brought in the Saxons, Danes, Normans; if a Kingdom divided cannot ſtand, how do we ſtand, but by a miracle of free-grace? Truth is fallen, and peace is fled. Englands fine coat of peace is torn, and like Joſephs coat, dipped in blood. Peace is the glory of a Nation. Some obſerve, if the top of the Beech Tree be taken off, the whole Tree withers, Peace is the Apex; and top of all earthly bleſſings; this top being cut off, we may truly ſay the body of the whole Nation begins to wither apace.
Mourn for the oppreſſions of England; the people of this Land have laid out their money only to buy Mourning.
SECT. 6.
Shewing the ſeaſons of holy Mourning.
THough we muſt always keep open the iſſue of godly ſorrow, yet there are ſome ſeaſons wherein our tears ſhould overflow, as the water ſometimes riſeth higher; there are three ſpecial ſeaſons of extraordinary Mourning, when it ſhould be as it were high-water in the ſoul.
1. When there are indicia irae, tokens of Gods Seaſon. 1 wrath breaking forth in the Nation. England hath been under Gods black Rod theſe many years; the Lord hath drawn the Sword, and it is not yet put up; O that our tears may blunt the edge of this Sword; when it is a time of treading down, now is a time of breaking up the fallow ground of our hearts. Iſa. 22.4, 5. Therefore ſaid I, look away from me, I will weep bitterly, for it is a time of treading down. Joel 2.2, 13. A day of darkneſs and of gloomineſs, a day of cloud, &c. therefore turn ye even to me with weeping and with mourning. Rain follows thunder: When God thunders in a Nation by his judgements, now the ſhowres of tears muſt diſtil: When God ſmites upon our back, we muſt ſmite upon our thigh, Jer. 31.19. When God ſeems to ſtand upon the Threſhold of the Temple, as if he were ready to take his wings and flie*Ezek. 10.4., then is a time to lie weeping between the Porch and the Altar. If the Lord ſeems to be packing up and carrying away his Goſpel, it is now high time to mourn, that by our teares poſſibly his Repentings may be kindled.
Seaſon. 2 2. Before the performing ſolemn duties of Gods Worſhip; as Faſting, or receiving the Lords Supper. Chriſtian, Art thou to ſeek God in an extraordinary manner? ſeek him ſorrowing, Luk. 2.48. Wouldſt thou have the ſmiles of Gods face, the kiſſes of his lips? ſet open all the ſprings of Mourning, and then God will draw nigh to thee in an Ordinance, and ſay, Here I am, Iſa. 58.9. When Jacob wept, then he found God in Bethel, Hoſ. 12.4. He named the name of the place Peniel, for (ſaith he) I have ſeen God face to face, Gen. 32.30. Give Chriſt the Wine of thy tears to drink, and in the Sacrament he will give thee the Wine of his blood to drink.
Seaſon. 3 3. After ſcandalous relapſes; though I will not ſay with Donatus, there is no mercy for ſins of recidivation or relapſe, yet I ſay there's no mercy without bitter Mourning. Scandalous ſins reflect diſhonour upon Religion: 2 Sam, 12.14. Therefore now our Cheeks ſhould be covered with bluſhing, and our eyes bedewed with tears. Peter after his denying Chriſt, wept bitterly: Chriſtian, hath God given thee over to any enormous ſin, as a juſt reward of thy pride and ſecurity, go into the weeping Bath. Sins of infirmity injure the ſoul, but ſcandalous ſins wound the Goſpel. Leſſer ſins grieve the Spirit, but greater ſins vex the Spirit: Iſa. 63.9. And if that bleſſed Dove weeps, ſhall not we weep? When the Aire is dark, then the dew falls; when we have by ſcandalous ſin darkned the luſtre of the Goſpel, now is the time for the dew of holy tears to fall from our eyes.
SECT. 7.
Setting forth the Degrees of Mourning.
NEXT to the ſeaſons of Mourning, let us conſider the degree of it; the Mourning for ſin muſt be a very great Mourning; the Greek word foreign, imports a great ſorrow, ſuch as is ſeen at the Funeral of a dear friend*Graviſſima pe…cata, graviſſimis lamentis indigent. Aug.. Zach. 12.10. They ſhall look on me whom they have pierced, and they ſhall mourn for him, as one that mourneth for his only ſon. The ſorrow for an only child is very great; ſuch muſt be the ſorrow for ſin. Ver. 11. In that day there ſhall be great Mourning, as the Mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. In that Valley Joſiah, that famous and pious Prince was cut off by an untimely death, at whoſe Funeral there was bitter lamentation; thus bitterly muſt we bewail, not the death, but the life of our ſins. Now then to ſet forth the graduation of ſorrow:
1. Our Mourning for ſin muſt be ſo great, as to exceed all other grief. Elies Mourning for the Ark was ſuch, that it ſwallowed up the loſs of his two children; ſpiritual grief muſt preponderate all other: We ſhould mourn more for ſin, than the loſs of friends or eſtate.
2. We ſhould indeavour to have our ſorrow riſe up to the ſame heighth and proportion as our ſin doth. Manaſſeh was a great ſinner, and a great Mourner: 2 Chron. 33.12. He humbled himſelf greatly. Manaſſeh made the ſtreets run with blood, and he made the priſon in Babylon run with tears.*Ut ſcilicet peccatum lachrymis lavaret. Ambr. Peter wept bitterly …. A true Mourne… labours that his Repentance may be as eminent as his ſin is tranſcendent.
SECT. 8.
Shewing the Oppoſite to holy Mourning.
HAving ſhewn the nature of Mourning, I ſhall next ſhew what is the Oppoſite to holy Mourning. The Oppoſite to Mourning, is hardneſs of heart, which in Scripture is called Cor lapideum, an heart of ſtone, Ezek. 36. An heart of ſtone is far from Mourning and Relenting; this heart of ſtone is known by two ſymptomes.
1. Inſenſibility: A ſtone is not ſenſible of any thing; lay weight upon it, grind it to powder, it doth not feel; ſo it is with an hard heart, it is inſenſible of ſin or wrath; the ſtone in the Kidneys is felt, but not the ſtone in the heart. Epheſ. 4.19. Who being paſt feeling: foreign.
2. An heart of ſtone is known by its inflexibility: A ſtone will not bend; durum eſt quod non cedit tactui; ſo it is with an hard heart, it will not comply with Gods Command, it will not ſtoop to Chriſts Scepter; an heart of ſtone will ſooner break by death, than bend by Repentance; it is ſo far from yielding to God, that with the Anvil it beats back the Hammer; it reſiſts the Holy Ghoſt, Acts 7.51.
Oh Chriſtians, if you would be ſpiritual Mourners, take heed of this ſtone of the heart. Hebr. 3.7. Harden not your hearts. A ſtony heart is the worſt heart; if it were brazen, it might be melted in the furnace; if Iron, it might be bowed with the Hammer; but a ſtony heart is ſuch, that only the Arme of God can break, and the blood of God can ſoften. Oh the miſery of an hard heart! 1. An hard heart is void of all grace; while the Wax is hard, it will not take the impreſſion of the ſeal; the heart while it is hard, will not take the ſtamp of grace; it muſt firſt be made tender and melting; the Plow of the Word will not go upon an hard heart. 2. An hard heart is good for nothing but to make fuel for hell-fire. Rom. 5.2. After thy hardneſs of heart thou treaſureſt up wrath. Hell is full of hard hearts, there is not one ſoft heart there; there is weeping there, but no ſoftneſs: We read of Veſſels fitted for deſtruction, Rom. 9.22. Impenitency fits theſe Veſſels for hell, and makes them like ſere Wood, which is fit to burn. 3. Hardneſs of heart makes a mans condition worſe than all his other ſins beſides; if one be guilty of great ſins, yet if he can mourn, there is hope: Repentance unravels ſin, and makes ſin not to be; but hardneſs of heart binds guilt faſt upon the ſoul, it ſeals a man under wrath; it is not the hainouſneſs of ſin, but hardneſs of heart that damns; this makes the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt uncapable of mercy, becauſe the ſinner that hath committed it, is uncapable of Repentance.