Sermons Upon Psalm 101, Sermon · Pages 102-141
But assuredlie seruants so wel minded and disposed as wee hauehave heard, might be gotten made readie to their hands, if they sought and inquired for them, as such iewells deserue to bee sought for. Dauid saith, that hee would hearken all the land ouer to come by such. And indeed this care ought to be, we should be inquiring for such, when our friends come to vsus that dwel farre off, we should aske if they knew any fearing God, tha… might bee gotten to serue vsus, wee should not take those that come next to han… as we say, and be commended to vsus by euerie one, but rather looke farre of al the land ouer, if peraduenture any such may be heard of in any place, of whose faithfulnes and dewtifulnes to GOD and men hope is to bee conceiued. We… shoulde saye to our acquaintances, a… you will euer pleasure mee, helpe mee to such. But wee see what the manner is, they that entertaine and retaine seruants for the most part, rather inquire what they can doo, how personable they bee, what birth they bee of, what liueliehoode they hauehave to beare out their brauerie in seruice; than what conscience and feare of God is in them. And for the most part houses bee so out of order, that they which feare GOD bee loath to serue in them. For out of doubt, there bee manie Parents that woulde gladlie put out their Sonnes and Daughters to hauehave the benefit of good education, though they were at some charge for it, but they see such dissolute carelesnesse in the gouernours of families, where youth learne nothing, but pride and wantonnes, to plaie at cardes, dice, and such other things, that they bee quite discouraged, and afraide to aduenture their Children there. It is certaine therefore, that the householders themselues for the most parte bee in the fault, that they want such seruants as might yeelde them comfort, and hauehave such as dishonour them by their leaud and abhominable dealings.
7 There shall no deceitfull person. In this verse, hee sheweth whome hee would not admit to beare office, or any waie to retaine vntounto him. Euen no… wicked man, for so we are to vnderstand his speach, a part for the whole, according as it is vsual in the scripture. Dauid still declareth himselfe to be a most wise man, and of singular iudgement, which sawe what was the best way to order his house and state, euen to labour tha…redge all his officers and seruants, should bee alike, and agree together in th… vnitie of true Religion and holy con… uersation. Hee would not hauehave a mingl… mangle, one to drawe one way, and another, another waie, some truelie religious, and some superstitious, some o… good life, and some of bad life, he knew… this was dangerous to the commo… wealth, and dangerous to his house, as continuall experience proueth it. If in a countrie some beare the sway that bee Popish, and others that be professours of the truth, some louers of righteousnes and some friends vntounto sin, will not this bee an occasion of faction and partes taking, will not the one disalow that which the other hath done, and allowe that which another hath disallowed? And shall not this be very offensiue to to the poore people, and a great hinderance of iustice. The same is to be saide, if there bee any such difference among the seruants in the house, it must needes hinder much the good and peaceable ordering of it. This therefore is the best and right christian pollicie, to doe what may be that all may be alike, agreeing in the feare of God, and not to take one of this sorte, and another of that, as carelesse persons, and the politiques of the world are wont to doe.
Where hee sayth that no such should dwell &c. His speech is worthy of speciall marking, his meaning is playn, that he wold hauehave no one such, whatsoeuer he were, though neuer so olde or profitable a seruant, neuer so necessary, or neere of kinne, yet if hee were a wicked man, he voweth that he should not remaine in his house. According as this was his duety. For there is nothing so deare vntounto vsus, or profitable, if it were our right e…e or our right hād, but we ought to cut it off, Mat. 5.29.30.rather than it should cause vsus to offend as Christ saith. So whatsoeuer they be we should chase them out of our houses, rather than sinne and dishonour God by keeping of them. Which is to be marked, because it is a commō excuse, why many think, they may still retain such as be most notorious wretched men. Oh say they: he is my kinsman, or friends sonne, or olde seruant, or such a one as I can not spare, and therefore although he be worthy to be misliked, for his adulteries, drunkennes, pride, blasphemie, and such other naughtines, yet I may not put him away, what shall bee come of him, and so foorth.
And thus it commeth to passe that the houses of some, which should bee palaces for God to dwell in, bee rather dunghills for sathā, and they which professe the religion of Iesus Christ, hauehave such rakehels to wayt vponupon them in the house, & to weare their liueries abroad, as if according to the common saying, hell it selfe had been sought for them. So is the house reproached, and reproch cast vponupon the gouernours themselues. For, commonly they be thought such as be their seruants and company, and that too not without cause. Therefore this lesson also would be learned of Dauid, to suffer no one wicked man to hauehave any countenāce at al frō vsus. The greater any is, the more careful they ought to be in this behalfe. For such shall be sued vntounto to entertaine seruants. Ill disposed persons imagine that they hauehave gotten themselues a license to doe all euill, if they can get the liuery of a man of worship or honor, they think ye then no mā may so much as say vntounto thē, why do you so. Now in receiuing so many as be necessary for their state, it will bee hard, if ther escape not some such as be vnworthy to be be entertained. Dauid notwithstanding this his vow, had Achitophel & Ioab, in whome he reposed much trust. Men and women therefore bee in great danger to be deceiued this way, except they take great heede. One euill seruant in an house, is sufficient to infect all the house. 1. Cor. 5.6.A litlle leauen (saith Saint Paul) sowreth the whole lump: and one scabde sheepe infecteth all the flock. We take bodily diseases, from such as wee company with: so we doe also infections to our soules. As then no wise maister, will suffer in his house, any one hauing the leprosie, the french disease, or any such other contagious malady, for feare of spoyling his children, and the rest of his family. So ought they not to suffer any one wicked man, considering how prone by nature we bee vntounto sinne, and that howsoeuer wee hardly folowe the example, or admit the counsell of the good, yet we doe easily follow the euill, and soone giuegive eare to their lewd counsell. Insomuch as, sometimes one such preuailes more in a house to carry the rest or at least the greater part vntounto euill then many good preachers can doe, to draw them vntounto goodnes. Moreouer one sinfull man is sufficient to bring the wrath of God vponupon all the house. Ios. 7.1.Doe we not see the whole hoast of Israel plagued for one Achan, and all the mariners in danger for Ionahs trespasse? Ionah. 1.7.Housegouernours therefore that meane to keepe their children and seruants frō the contagion of sinne, and Gods wrath from their houses, must beware they suffer no one wicked persō within their walls as Dauid voweth here.
No deceitful persō. If we take his speech vnderstoode of dealing vntrustily with their busines, or of deceiuing about such things as they hauehave to do with; yt care of Dauid was very good, & great wisdome it is, herein to follow him. For such kind of vnfaithfull persons be very hurtfull in a family. And so much the rather, because they be put in trust, & the occasion or oportunity as we say of dealing ill is put into their hands: Vnles such hauehave conscience and the feare of God, their masters eye not being alwaies vponupon thē, they may leaue many seruices vndone which it stādeth them much vponupon they should doe, or else they may doe them in a manner not according to his appoyntment, and so also much to his hinderance. Moreouer the goods of their masters, or any parte of them being vnderunder their charge, in their keeping or disposing, it is easie for them to purloine to themselues, and to inrich themselues by such wayes as bee not allowable, to the great impouerishment, yea the vtter decay of such as they serue, euē as it falleth out oftentimes. Wherupon S. Paul requireth these two things as principal in a seruant. Eph. 6.6.First that hee serue, not with eye seruice as a man pleaser, that is, that he alwayes doe his busines faithfully, as when he seeth him. Tit. 2.10.Secondly that hee be no picker. As then seruants must beware of such faults as these, which make thē vnworthy of any Christian house, so is it a very profitable & holy course preuenting many inconueniences, that no housgouernour suffer any such deceitful person to abide with him. Howbeit I do here take the speech more generall for cunning dissemblers, which craftely make a shew of that which is not in them. As many times they seeke the seruices of great personages such as Dauid was, who pretend louelove to true religion, and great good will to the party whome they sue vntounto, when in the meane time, it is farr otherwise with thē indeede. For if they hauehave any religion at all in them, it is superstition and I dolatry, wherwith also they seeke to infect others, and to hinder the receiuing and growth of the truth in the place where they be. They cary an ill mind to ye Lord or master whom they would serue with a purpose to turne thē from the truth if they can, or otherwise toprie into their doings, to mark them, and to bewray them vntounto others. Yea some practise this for these or such other ends to prefer mē to seruices in ye places where they desire to work mischief, & to hauehave intelligence of secrets. Thus it comes to passe oftentimes, that vnderunder a veluet or a silke cloak a Iesuite or a priest is hidden and entertayned, who it may bee for a time wil… come to church, that he may not be suspected, till by little & little he hauehave insinuated himself. Thus also they be receiued to seruice, who by declaring secrets cause much trouble to them, whose cōfort they ought to hauehave procured, a… did Iudas to his maister whome before he had kissed. EueryEvery housholder therefore, especially of great calling, had neede to know all such well & throughly, whome they admitt into their house, least such wretched persons vnderunder a colour creepe in, which they could neuer doe, if at the first they bewrayed themselues as they be indeede. For the which purpose, it is necessary that first they be examined of their religion, and then o… their duetifull heart to her Maiestie and the state, least this being neglected, one be entertained for a protestant, that is a ranck Papist, and for a good subiect that hath a trayterous heart, and purposeth treason. Whome hee meaneth by tellers of lyes, it is plaine. Such persons also being the children of the de…ill, and abhominable to the Lord, Ioh. 8.44. Pro. 6.17.be very hurtfull many wayes in an house. For howe cumbersome a thing is it, when a seruant cannot be trusted of his worde? or when the master trusting vntounto it, and as it were building vponupon …t, is disapoynted. So as not without …ause some say, they had rather hauehave a …hiefe in their house than a cōmon ly…r. Dauid therefore voweth to banish …ll such, as loathsome vntounto God, and …urtfull to himselfe. And let vsus mark it …ere, what benefit we reap by the word of God. For it doth not onelyonly teach vsus, what is for the honour of God, and benefite of our soules, but also what is for the quiet of our house, and for our commodity, euen in this life. Could any wise worldly man, giuegive better coūsel …han Dauid here giueth to himself? by his own practise warning vsus of deceitful and lying seruants, as of such which …e very pernitious. Let this therefore and such other things as these, enflame vsus with the louelove of the Woord, if that which is the principall, the zeale of the glorie of God, and the care of our owne saluation cannot doo it. At least let vsus reuerence it in respect of the good counsell it giueth vsus, of good thrift, husbandrie, and the safetie of our estate in outward thinges, according as the booke of the Prouerbs hath manie most wise and graue sentences tending that way. But let vsus come to the last verse.
Betimes I will destroy. In this verse concluding the Psalme, the Prophet returneth to that hee had vowed before, namely, to punish all the wicked. We may then see, that this is a principall thing, which a Magistrate should be carefull of, euen, to destroy the euill. And that not onelyonly in respect of withholding wrath frō the land, whervnto it is subiect vntill sinne be punished, as it is in sundrie places of the scripture: Deu. 22.22but also to bridle men from sinne, whose hearts bee set vppon mischiefe, because punishmēt against vnrighteousnes is differd, as it is in the booke of the Preacher. For the hope to escape vnpunished, Eccl. 8.11.is no small entisement vntounto sinne, as it is said. Yea, others also, by seeing offenders goe away scotfree, be emboldned to do that which they ought not. Wherevpon the Lord in his lawe commaunding publike punishment, addeth, Deu. 21.21 and 13.11.that Israel may see and feare. Telling vsus, that the beholding of execution done vppon others, feareth such as see it or heare it, or at least should feare thē frō falling into the like offence. That Magistrate therefore, that desireth to remooue the plague of God from his countrey, or the place where hee hath to doo, must labour to bridle wicked men, and to the ende they may keepe such in good order as bee in it alreadie they must not spare to punish, whē the offence requireth it, and that is it here which Dauid vowth agen. But it is well to be marked, yt he maketh mētiō of all the wicked, giuing vsus to vnderstand, that he would not spare any one. Now who the wicked be, hee expresseth after calling them workers of iniquitie, such as giuegive themselues ouer vntounto a course of life disagreeing from the word of God, where onelyonly righteousnes and equity is to be found. He voweth thē to do his dutie without respect of person, if the offender might bee brought within this compasse. And indeed this is a thing principally required in a gouernour, that he doe his dutie, Deut. 16.19.without looking to the pouerty or riches of the offender, or any other thing, which might lead vsus to louelove or hate him. The Lord in sundry places of the scripture requireth this, and that magistrates should so looke onelyonly vponupon the cause and the offence, that they pitty not a poore man in his euil, Exo. 23.3.who we know among others is specially to be pitied. Yea, he willeth the Father to bring foorth his owne sonne to death, Deu. 21.20 21.when his fault deserueth it: and the husband not to spare the wife that lieth in his bosome. Deut. 13.6.Such vprightnes was there in Asa, 2. Cron. 15.16.who deposed Maacha his grādmother frō the Regencie, for her Idolatrie. So farre ought wee to be from forbearing punishment in respect of the outward person, that be the offenders neuer so neare vntounto vsus, in some cases they ought not to be spared. The same is to bee said of the offences thēselues, if they be wickednesses and iniquities in the sight of God, they ought not to be borne with. A thing to be remembred: for there bee Gouernors that can be content to punish some faults, but they doo too too easily brook and digest others; as there is dayly experience. The Lord in the time of mans innocencie, appointed Adam to woorke in the garden; Gen. 2.15. Gen. 3.19.that charge was increased after the transgression.
Idlenesse is one of the sinnes of Sodome, Eze. 16.49whiche brought fire and brimstone from heauen. Saint Paule that otherwise was a verie mercifull man, vsing many strong exhortations to giuegive almes, yet commāded straightly, 2. The. 3.10that if any did not worke, he should rather bee starued to death than hauehave anie reliefe of the Church. Idle persons then we may see by the sentence of the holie Ghost be pronounced to be notorious euill doers, and therefore such as a gouernours should seaze vponupon, & seeke to punish, as persons highly displeasing God, and hurtfull for the societie where they bee. And yet it is a pitifull case to behold, how many such persons be in euerie towne, that bee of no trade, and hauehave nothing so farre as is knowen to liue vppon, yet goe gaye, haunt the alehouse, be gamesters, and spend excessiuely. Now, can this be borne out, but by some bad dealing? No meruaile if houses and shopps bee broken vp in the night, and that men cannot trauaile safely in the day, when such as these bee suffered, entertained, and not inquyred after and proceeded agaynst as they shoulde. Moreouer, wee maye see Townes and Countreyes swarme with common Rogues, concerning whome it is apparaunt, that they doo not onelyonly liue idly, manie beeing well able to woorke, but also in pilfering and theeuerie, and that which is more to passe awaye theyr dayes in horrible fornication and adulterie. These be the things certainly knowen to bee thus, and yet how few in office set themselues agaynst these as they might by the Lawes of the Realme, and as in conscience and by the Lawes of God, it is theyr duetie.
But as idle persons, that doo nothing, bee woorthie to bee rooted out; so they deserue no lesse, who though they bee not idle, yet bee in such a trade, as they bee not well occupyed in the same. For as the LORDE forbiddeth idlenesse, so woulde hee hauehave euerie one to liue in such a calling, as is honourable to his Maiestie, and for the common benefite of his children, as the Apostle teacheth, Eph. 4.28.where he saith: Let him that stole steale no more, but rather work with his hands, the thing that is good. Lo the Apostle addeth the thing that is good. And so at Ephesus such as had repented, burnt the bookes from the which they had before learned their wicked and diuelish artes to gaine by, accompting it now vnlawfull, vnderunder the profession of the Gospell, Act. 19.19.to helpe themselues by any such sinfull trade. The trade of victualling is an holy and honest trade, very necessarie, which the Common-wealth cannot misse, that strangers which passe by the way may hauehave entertainement, and such as dwell neere may buy that there, for the vse of themselues and theyres, which they hauehave not prouyded at home.
But sutch Houses as these are, ought to bee limitted within certayne boundes, and concerning the keepers of them, it is requisit, that they be men fearing God and of abilitie. Now wee see there is great abuse this waie: the number of thē is too great, and in many places, there is little regarde what manner of persons they be. There is no feare of God at al in many of them, and so being also poore and needie, they doo the more easilie incline to entertaine such as bee naught to aduantage themselues by, with whome also they often consent and agree in theeuerie and robberie, making them priuie to matches, cōcealing them before, and receiuing them after, many times seruing their filthie turnes with harlots, giuing them drinke, till they be dronke, and keeping play in their houses, such as is not of good report, and plainelie forbidden by the Lawes. These howses be sometimes at townes ends and in corners, and so the fitter to receiue late, and to conueigh awaie earlie such as for their leaudnes be susspitious and flie the light, not daring to trauaile there where they may bee openlie seene. Therefore they that anie way hauehave to do with gouernment, must bee carefull to purge the common wealth of these, to diminish the number of such houses, to see that the keepers bee of good report, not poore and needie so to bee driuen to ill shiftes, and their houses seated in conuenient places, where men may bee seene as they come and goe. For certainelie when wicked men bee suffered to bee of this trade, it is incredible what nurses of iniquitie such houses bee, and what infinite abominations, they bee procurers of, aiders and abetters vntounto. And yet it is a common thing: hee that hath nothing else to take too, is often suffered as a fit man to keepe an alehouse. And if hee hauehave a charge so as the suppressing of his euill course may seeme to threaten any charge to the Towne toward his reliefe and the reliefe of his wife and Children, foolish, pittie carieth men so farre, that they holde it matter of charitie, rather to suffer such a one to keepe a house of bauderie, dronkennes, common gaming, and to entertaine and lodge rogues and theeues, than to restraine them. But as it is saide, is not this a wretched pittie, that thus spoyles the citie, filling towne and countrie with abominations? Wee must pittie where GOD commandeth to pittie; but where he commandeth to punish we should be so far off from pittying them & their children, that wee shoulde rather dash them against the stones, as it is in the Psalme. 137.9.All workers of iniquitie therefore must bee proceeded against, as Dauid teacheth heere, which also hee promiseth to doo betimes, without putting off the matter, and that too not without cause. For, as delaye in other things is oftentimes verie dangerous, so is it in this case of punishing. The heat which we had against the sinne, will in time growe colde, that which before wee thought a great fault worthie of sharpe punishment, will seeme no fault at all, and altogether vnworthie of punishment, Besides, wicked men shall hauehave time to make friends for themselues, and so we knowe, iustice is oftentimes hindred, and he let goe whome God had appoynted to death, or to some other sharp punishment. Moreouer, all the while they goe vnpunished, the wrath of God is vponupon the state, Deu. 22.22 Ios 7.12.the towne, or countrie where they bee, except the deferring of it be for some special purpose. Againe, if they be abroad and at libertie, they doo the more harme, in as much as the bee like Lyons, Beares and Wolues let loose among poore seelie sheepe and lambes. Therefore as in euerie other thing we must shew our selues readie to doo, whatsoeuer God commandeth, making haste, and not delaying to keepe his commandements as it is in another Psalme. 119.60.So in this matter of punishment, when once we know it is the wil of God, and such a course of iustice to conuict the party hath been taken as is fit, there woulde bee no longer stay for the execution than for iust causes is found necessary. Iosua rose earlie in the morning to finde out the trespasse of Achan, Ios. 7.16.2…and hauing once found it out, with speede he causeth execution to be done, euen the selfe same day. Such a forwardnes shoulde bee in all against offenders, cleane contrarie to the remissenes and softnes which is found in manie. Who too too long beare with the wicked, yea when they see no hope at all in them, that they will euer proue better. Sometimes such as be easilie stirred in causes of their own, so as the least matter in the world will breake their patience, yet can well inough bee content to beare a great while with outragious euill liuers, whome they knowe to liue and to hauehave liued a long time in dronkennes, fornication, & such other inormities. These bee farre off from the heat of zeale that was in Dauid, who promiseth, betimes to cut off all the wicked, according also, as each of vsus ought to do from the common wealth, if wee bee magistrates, and from our owne tabernacles, if wee be housekeepers.
Now that in this place, Dauid calleth the workers of iniquitie wicked, we are to marke, that we must auoide working of iniquitie, if we will not be branded with the brand of a wicked man. It is to be noted: for, al men loath this name, and many would thinke great scorne to be called so: But if wee be workers of iniquity, the holy Ghost here, & else where nameth the childe, there is no better due vntounto vsus, wee are wicked. Now we are to consider, what it is to be a worker of iniquitie or a sinner. For although all sinne, and doo things that be euill, …uk. 1.6.yet doth the scripture call some righteous, as Zacharie, Elizabeth, Noah, Iob, and others; Gen. 6.9. Iob. 1.1.and saith further of some that they sinne not, according to the saying of S. Iohn: 1. Ioh. 5.18.In respect that their speciall care is to doo well, and so they be called righteous, of that that is principall & chiefe in them, notwithstanding there bee much corruption behinde. Rom 6.12.Sinne is not reigning in such, it dwelleth in them whether they will or no, for sinne is in the best as a tennant perforce, which hath terme of life in thē, during which space, they cannot wholy put him out, though their desire be to do it, & therfore to weary him as an euill tenant, hauehave him alwaies as it weere in chase and sute. Whereas others bee called sinners, in respect that without strife they do willingly serue sinne, Psal. 1.1.beeing led by him as a dogge in a lyne after a keeper, they bee ouercome of sinne, and make it their occupation and trade, as one man is a marchant, another a buyer & seller, another an husbandman, &c. So dooth the speache signifie, Mat. 7.23. Luc. 13.27.to be as it were of the occupation of finne, one wholie giuing himself ouer vntounto it. Euen as an ill seruant, that is altogether carelesse, and wilfullie goeth against his masters commandements, whereas such as bee well disposed and carefull, though sometime they be faultie, yet is it not purposelie and with liking, but through infirmitie, which also they doo lament afterward Thus wee may see some difference betweene the one and the other, which euerie of vsus must marke. For wee may hereby vnderstand whether we be in the state of grace or of curse, in the state of saluation or of damnation. Though thou sinne sometimes, yet if thou feele within thy selfe a strife against sinne, a sorrow for it, and a desire to doo better, beleeuing in Iesus Christ, thy sinnes bee forgiuen thee, thou art accounted before God for righteous and iust, thou art in his fauour. But if thou be a worker of iniquitie, giuing ouer thy selfe willinglie vntounto sinne, taking pleasure and delight in it, thou shewest thy selfe to bee a wicked man, and one that as yet canst conceiue no true comfort concerning thy saluation, but so farre as may bee gathered in the very way to hell, not worthie of the societie of Gods people, euen as we may perceiue by this place, where Dauid protesteth to roote out all such.
By the Citie of the Lorde. Hee meaneth Hierusalem, Matt. 5.35.which in Saint Matthew is called the Citie of the great King. The reason of the speache is, because howsoeuer all the world is his, hee hauing made heauen and earth, the one being his throne and the other his footestoole, Act. 7.49.yet this citie was his after a more speciall manner. Because as he had chosen the Land of Canaan, out of all the world to bee the portion of his people, Deut. 12.5. 1. King. 8.29 2. Cro. 6.6.so out of all Canaan he chose Hierusalem, to place his name, Temple and house there, and the Arke in the temple, a more special sacrament of his presence, and beeing among that people. Now, forasmuch as hee was put in trust with the gouernement of this citie, hee thinketh himselfe the rather bound, to looke to the well ordering of it, because of the Lordes choyse of the same. And indeede if heathen princes that hauehave charge of such people onelie, as appertaine not to GOD, so farre as man can iudge, ought notwithstanding to guide them well, should not Christian Princes much more goe beyond them in care, when they hauehave the charge of the Lords inheritance, his church, & chosen people? He that is put in trust with any of the princes grounds, if there bee any wisdome or conscience at all in him, wil looke to the dressing of them: but what will such a one doo, if hee hauehave the charge, of the Princes speciall orchyard or garden, most deare to him, in the which hee taketh speciall delight. Such a thing is the church vntounto God, and therefore in the scripture is called his inheritance, his sheepe, 1. Pet. 5.3. Ioh. 10.15, 16his house, his chiefe treasure, his vineyard and such like. S. Paul exhorting Timothie to looke well to his dutie, 1. Tim. 3.15. Exod. 19.5. Isai. 5.7. 1. Tim. 3.15. Act. 20.28.tells him that he hath to do with the house of God. And to the same purpose calling vponupon the Elders of Ephesus, hee saith that their charge was the church of God, purchased with his bloud. Magistrates therfore that hauehave yt gouernement of christians, euē in respect of the special accoūt that such be in with the Lord, ought ye rather to be very watchfull to purge the places of their dominions from all filthines and filthy persons. The Lord hath committed vntounto them a part of his owne Garden, in the which hee hath delight to walke, whereupon also his eyes bee continuallie and where he is euer present, this they must dresse, and weede out from thence whatsoeuer is noysome and hurtfull. To suffer wicked men there, is as if the officers in the Courte-shoulde suffer the places where the Prince is daylie conuersant, to bee full of stinch and carryon. For these bee not so loathsome and vncomelie for them, as the other bee abominable to the Lorde. And how fearefull will their account bee in the great daye of Christ, when they shall appeare with their seuerall charges, which neglecting so great a trust, suffer sinnes and sinners to ouerflowe in their gouernements? If a Prince or Noble man should come to his Garden, and see it eueryevery where ouergrown with weedes, and the walking places altogether out of order, would he not be verie angrie, and discharge such a Gardener, turning him out of house and home? They therefore that hauehave any rule ouer others, Luk. 16.2.must see them ordered as becommeth the houshold of God, least they also bee put out of office, with the ill steward for mispending their masters goods, 1. King. 14.10. and 21, 21. 2. King. 9.8and be with their posteritie vtterlie cut off, as were sundrie the Kings of Israel, which flourished for a time. This is also to bee applied to eueryevery housholder, whose houshold should be as a little church, separated and put a part to yt seruice of God, according also as the māner of dedicatiō vnderunder the law taught the Iewes; Deut. 20.5.the equity wherof doth still remaine to informe eueryevery of vsus, that our houses should not be for satan to harbour and lodge his limmes in, but for God himselfe, and for him alone there to be serued by vsus, and all those that bee vnderunder our charge. These bee poyntes of great importance, euill dooers bee suffered, yea, such abominations and abominable persons in christian kingdomes and families, as among the heathen heretofore hauehave been punished, which also euen now in some such places peraduēture they would labour to weed out, if they were among them. We must also here remēber, that Hierusalem was a great citie and very populous, and yet Dauid voweth to reforme it, meaning to doo what in him lay to bring eueryevery part of it into good order. It is a thing which we ought to beare away, for it meeteth with the idlenes and lithernes of many, who imagine that it is impossible to reforme a great Citty, yea if it be but a little market towne, it is impossible say they, that all should be wel there: if it were a little country parish, then were it no great thing to amend all, but where a thorough-fare is and a market, and so much cōcourse of people, many things must be borne with. Yea this excuse is pretended by such as hauehave but small families in comparison. And so vnderunder a colour of this impossibilitie to reforme all, they doo almost iust nothing no not so much as the lawes doo put into their hands, and commande them to doe. Dangerous Rogues without pasports swarme, neuer called in question; suspected persons, yea persons of note for pilferye and vncleannes, keepe houses of victualling; and vnlawfull games both in the house and in the fielde bee common as if they were lawfull; and manie officers there bee, which neuer say, why doo you so? And yet these men hauehave but as it were a posterne gate of Hierusalem to keepe, or a house or two to watch ouer. What thinke you would they do, if they had the charge of so great and large a Citie? True it is, let officers doo their best, there will bee much disorder. What will it bee then when they doo nothing at all, in respect of anie care to weede out sinne, but rather bolster it out, take parte with the wicked, giuegive them countenance, keepe their companie, speake for them, yea bee euill themselues, men fitte rather to bee ouerseene and guided continuallie by others, than to bee in anie authoritie to ouersee and to guide anie. And yet this is the miserie, of diuers Parishes and Townes in respect of their inferiour gouernements. Wee hauehave great cause to thanke GOD, for her Maiestie, and the superiors vnderunder her highnes, we hauehave worthy christian lawes, which if they were put in executiō, would either better wicked men or make them wearie of their partes. Let such then as be in office doo their duetie, executing the good lawes put into their hands by higher authoritie, not doubting of the impossibilitie of reforming abuses in their little charges, seeing Dauid trusting vponupon the helpe of God, is so confident touching this great & populous citie. They shall finde such succes in the aduancement of godlines and suppressing of sinne, as they will see cause to reioyce in their good indeuours, and to praise God for his blessing The same incouragement must householders take, who easilie might hauehave their families rid of notorious euil persons, if the fault were not in themselues,
Dauid vowing to reforme this citie, meaneth not to stay, there, but to proceede to the clensing & purging of the whole land. This no doubt hee might think, that if Hierusalem were reformed, it would be a great light and direction to the whole kingdome beside. Euen as wee see howe it falleth out. Lesser places looke to those that bee greater, and the meaner sorte looke to those that bee the higher, from whome also there is no small force to draw the inferiours either to good or euill. A great towne or a great house well ordered, may fitly be compared to a great garden full of sweete flowers, which yeeldeth much good sauor and prospect to the neighbours. If they bee ill ordered, they bee like great dunghills which giuegive very ill sauours, bee noysome and contagious to such as dwell about. A great towne or a great personages house, if they bee good, doo much good to the countrey, but if they be naught and sinfull, the poyson of them is strong, and the infection very dangerous. Therefore as Dauid was carefull to reforme all things in this Cittie, so the greater any place or house is, whereof any is the gouernour, the more care ought that party to hauehave, and the more good hee may doo, by bringing thinges there into order.
To conclude the Psalme. Wee must consider, that as Dauid was a figure of Iesus Christ, in his sufferings and in his glory. So Dauids kingdome, was a figure of Christes kingdome. Mat. 18.17 1. Cor. 5.6.As then Dauid vowed to weede out all the wicked. So would Christ hauehave all the wicked rooted out of his Church, by such discipline and censures as hee hath appoynted. But because this cannot bee done, while the Church is militant here, partely through the want of gouernment, carelesnes of the gouernours, Mat. 13.29 47.& partly through the hypocrysie ofmen, euen where things be best ordered.
Therefore wee are to looke vntounto his second comming to iudgement; at that time there shall bee a full separation of the Goates from the sheepe, Mat. 25.32Mat. 13.40 41, 42, 43.and of the tares from the good seede. When all thinges that offend, and all that worke iniquitie snall bee cast out of his kingdome, whereinto no vncleane thing shall enter, dogges being without, Apo…. 21.15together with all that worke wickednes. 1. Cor. 6.9, 10.Howsoeuer therefore nowe, such bee in the Church, that say Lord, Lord, and giuegive themselues ouer to iniquitie: Mat. 7.21, 23.howsoeuer many crye: The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, Ie. 7.4, 9, 10stand in his Temple before him, and yet lye, steale, commit whordome, and sweare falsely, as it is in Ieremie, taking the law in their mouthes, and nourishing Sathan and sinne in their hearts, Psal. 50.17 18, 19, 20.hating to bee reformed, being companions with theeues and adulterers, and giuing their tongues to slander, yet shall not this mixture bee alwayes, the time will come when Iesus Christ will so seperate the one from the other, that they shall neuer bee together againe. Hee will vncase them and pull off the vizors whereby they hauehave deceiued, they shall bee iudged as intruders into the marriage feast, Mat. 22.11, 12, 13.wanting a wedding garment. If wee imagine anye thorough seperation before that time, wee deceiue our selues.
If they that bee in place to seperate, or to make lawes to seperate, doo it not, and so there is mingling of cleane and vncleane, Eze. 9.4.holye and prophane: Let vsus mourne for such disorders, and pray GOD to amend them, comforting our selues in the expectation of the comming of the Bride-groome, and of the haruest, when the wheate shall bee gathered into the garner of heauen, Mat. 3.12.and the tares and chaffe burnt with vnquenchable fire. Mat. 25.41When the iust iudge shall say to the Goates, Goe yee cursed, Mat. 25.34and to the Sheepe, Come you blessed. Which time let vsus pray GOD to hasten, and alwayes to prepare vsus for it. Amen. Amen.
FINIS
Errata.
pa. 32. lin. 9. for after, read and. pag. 55. lin. 24. for what man was euer without fault, reade what was he euer (onelyonly man) without fault. Otherescapes or poynts amend with thy pen.
End of the text · Oliver Pigg, Sermons Upon Psalm 101 (1591)