Balm from Gilead, Sermon 12
After-noone Sermon.
NOw as wicked men; so Such as with their profession hauehave turned indeed already, they must turne more and more: The Lord calleth for it, and enioyneth it as a meanes to your escape. I hauehave a message and arrand vntounto you from the Lord: as the plague is amongst both, the prescript doth belong vntounto both.
1 Reason. It is the Precept and Commaundement of the Lord in all those places, wherein Gods people being vnderunder Gods hand for sinne, are called vponupon for repentance. Coloss. 3. The Lord calleth vponupon them, Mortifie therefore your members vponupon earth. What are they? Fornication, vncleanenesse, inordinate affection, euill concupisence, couetousnesse which is Idolatry. vers. 5. And after, But now put away all these, Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemie, filthy communication out of your mouthes. Lye not one vntounto another. In this text there are great, & grieuous crimes named, to be mortified, to be deposed. To whom doth the Apostle speake? to the Collossians: what were they? Their life was hid with Christ in God: when Christ shall appeare they shall appeare with him in glory. They had put off the old man & his deedes, and had put on the newe man and his deeds. When we hauehave true repentance, and compleate repentance for parts, yet these wee must put off and Mortifie. It cannot be concealed nor denied, these are in the best of Gods people: To moue them, the Apostle addeth, for the which things sake, the wrath of GOD commeth vponupon the children of disobedience: which is a shaking of the rod: euen as it is with the Master of a family, being offended with a lewd seruant, he threatneth him, hee layeth him on; and withall, if a child shall hauehave in any degree an hand in the like, he doth threaten him, and it may bee deale vntounto him some blowes, and that with the same rod or staffe, that he may amend: right so is it with our Lord, when as he is prouoked, though he beare long, at length he visiteth, sometimes with one iudgement, sometimes with another: in wrath be payeth the wicked, in louelove hee chastiseth the godly: eueryevery sinner whom he doth receiue, he doth chastise, euen they for sinne are sicke, and weake, and a sleepe: and all for this end, that they may amend: our Apostle telling the Colossians, that the wrath of God commeth vponupon the children of disobedience, willeth them to beware, and to mortifie their corruptions, to turne more and more from them.
Thus the Lord to the Churches, Repent, or else I will come against thee shortly: Euen the Churches which hauehave large cōmendations otherwise, hauehave somewhat amisse, must repent, or else, &c. O Hierusalem, Ier. 4.14.saith the Prophet, wash thine heart from wickednesse, that thou mayest bee saued; how long shall vaine thoughts lodge within thee? Where the scope is by Gods fearefull iudgements, to moue Hierusalem, Gods owne Church, stil to cleanse the soule from sinne. This is that circumcision of the heart, &c. called for, that mortification, that crucifying and deading of the flesh, and the lusts thereof; that putting away, that putting off, that casting away, that which hindreth; that washing, and cleansing, and purifying of hearts and hands, called for: yea, the rending of the heart, to the dissolution of the bonds of sinne more and more; all which, and that in cases of extremity of danger, are commanded them that are so already: and therefore.
2 They are called vponupon for this, Reason 2 because euen this hath the promise of life, it contrary threats of death. O Hierusalem, Ier. 4.14.wash thine heart from wickednesse, that thou mayest be saued. Saluation eternall, and so much more temporall, doth depend vpō it. If you liue after the flesh, saith the Apostle to the Romanes, you shall dye: but if you by the spirit shall mortifie the deedes of the flesh, Rom. ….13.you shall liue, at least temporall death is threatned, and life promised.
3 Because these corruptions, Reason 3 and their motions are the cause of the pestilence in them, it is cleare in Israel, it will bee hard, say none of them were smitten with the plague; it is certaine in Dauid, his vnmortified pride, prouoked the Lord to cut off seauenty thousand: And at Corinth, some (who when they were iudged of the Lord, were but chastened, that they might not be confounded with the world) were sicke, dead, and a sleepe for sinne.
4 Remnants of corruption, Reason 4 and their deedes in Gods people hinder them in the vse of Gods meanes: pride opposeth humility, lusteth against Gods spirit in that respect, riseth vp, and exalteth it selfe to its power, and sometimes swayeth, leadeth Dauid captiue, to the numbring of the people. And hence it is that there is disturbance, disorder, and all imperfection in our humbling our selues, according to the strength of the one, the other is weake.
It hindreth our prayers, it setteth vponupon faith and hope, raiseth doubts, dismayeth, and discourageth the soule. It floweth in to by stealth our very prayers, making vsus to aske amisse, to spend vponupon our owne lusts: It grieueth the spirit, and quencheth as it is able the holy flame thereof, prayer. It maketh unwilling to pray, and vnable to hold out, the hinderances that way are many, it hindreth seeking Gods face, causeth him to hide it from them: it flyeth Gods face, as it vtter enemie and destroyer. It is directly opposite to all righteousnesse, without which we cannot pray, nor seeke the Lord, I to Gods hearing. If I Dauid regard iniquity in mine heart, God will not heare my prayers. And therefore.
Finally, Reason 5 mortification disposeth a man vntounto the Lord, that great Physitian: to life, to his fauour, in which is life: his residence is in that soule, his respect to that person, to their prayers: Thus saith the high and loftie one, &c. I dwell with him that is of a contrite and an humble spirit, &c. What is a contrite heart, but an heart broken, grinded in regard of corruptiō, which is as an hard stone, in which lust is tamed, and brought vnderunder, in dissolution: the heart it selfe for substance is not broken, nor yet the grace in it, but corruption. I dwell to reuiue, to giuegive spirituall life, and temporall life is lesse. A broken and a contrite heart, O Lord, thou wilt not despise, Psalm 51. And for all these Reasons, this prescript in this time is, and must bee directed to them.
1 Learne hence that there is in Gods owne people, Vse 1 those that are turned from sinne, that which is truely and properly sinne. It were vaine either by word or worke to call vponupon man to turne from that which is not; to mortifie and kill it, to put it off: that which is not can hauehave none of these affections: it were to bid a man to fight with his shaddow; afflictions were vain, that which is not cannot bee purged by them. If any confesse actuall sinnes in wordes or deedes, I demaund, whence these come, and whether, if it were not in the heart, it could be in the mouth, or life? Out of the aboundance and treasure that is in the heart, the mouth speaketh. I demand, whether it were not an vniust thing to smite them with sicknesse, weaknesse and sleepe, being the fruits of sinne? Were there no experience of Gods Saints vponupon earth; that one Text, Colloss. 3.5. where the Apostle calleth on them to mortifie their members, fornication, and vncleannesse, &c. (vnlesse they denie them Saints, or their members sinnes) is enough to conuince blind Papists, who teach that after Babtisme there is no thing remaining, which is properly, and formally sinne.
2 It sheweth a reason of Gods proceeding by the pestilence against such as are truely his owne, Vse 2 and for exhortation vntounto them, that they will answer Gods call, and vse his meanes. The reason of it, is some sinne vnmortified and vntamed, in regard of some degrees, and the deedes thereof, not turned from. You may say they are Saints, It is a truth of eueryevery childe of God, and yet euen they sinne, and for that cause are sicke, and weake, and asleepe. Which is to be laid downe as a certaine conclusion for the iustification of God, and condemnation of our selues.
For the second, exhortation; this being Gods prescript, hearken vntounto it, and obey it. I speake vntounto you that are within, that are indeed called by the name of GOD: Your eyes must not be onelyonly on the sinns of others, and your mouthes open on them, but on your selues; your hearts, your thoughts, your words, your owne workes. I am sure you looke in an especiall manner to bee preserued, that the Lord acknowledge you, that the Lord would put a difference between you that serue him and those that serue him not: you suppose that if you be taken away, roote, the sore at lest, in the mouthes of prophane ones, mockers, haters of religion, who will be readier to gather, as poyson, that sinne, such sinnes as hauehave beene named, are not the causes of the pestilence, and so not sinnes: seeing euen you that protest against them, are notwithstanding taken away, and you doe well. I hauehave desired that they, euen mine enemies, Gods enemies, triumph not ouer mee, saith Dauid. You would hauehave Gods marke and token of good vponupon you: when as the messenger of God passeth our steerts, that it passe ouer you; that if any men maligne you, they may see it and bee ashamed. You professe your selues an obedient and tractable people, willing to know, and to doe GODS will, and are so if you bee Gods people indeede: shew it in harkening to Gods call, and in the vse of his meanes. What those sinnes are, your selues can best tell: I could be contented not to publish them in Gath, but the Lord willeth that wee cry aloud, that we tell Iudah of her sinnes. Hee hath somewhat against the best of vsus, amongst vsus their may be some Achan, some accursed thing, from whence it is that the Lord doth not heare vsus, but sweepeth euen of vsus away.
Is their not in you some preualent corruption or lust; which most of all swayeth; suppose couetousnesse, pride, enuie, anger, vncleannesse, or the like; and their deedes varnished and glossed with many faire colours, and walles of defence, as Figgleaues, and are you not iustly open to taxation for them? Are there not amongst you all, those, anger, wrath, malice, enuie, and vncharitablenesse, and their fruits: because of difference in iudgement, and that oftentimes in indifferent things, doth not your face or countenance shew it? Besides words and deeds, one scarce acknowledging the other a brother, though otherwise of the same houshold, faith and workes? I wish this taken into consideration: Is there not amongst you, backebiting, slandering, false witnesse-bearing, and deceiuing, and the degrees of the spirit, of detraction, euill thoughts and speaches, and that against dignities?
Are there no corruptions within your compasse conniued at, vnpurged in your trades and callings, children, families? Neglect or little respect to familier duties, in Husband, Wife, Father, Child, Master, Seruant, according to relations? (Though particularly required, and punctually set down) to the peace of the Familie, flowrishing of the Common-wealth, and ornament of Religion? Is there not much neglect of publique worshipe, in Gods Ordinances, and priuate prayer? Is not Gods Word slighted too much? are there not vnprofitablenesse, vnworthynesse, vncheerefulnesse, and vnthankefulnes, and a thousand more euils in some degree or other, more or lesse to be found in you.
And let not any man rise vp, and conclude, I wrong Gods children, the things are neither so nor so; and I withall discard them from being Gods Children. Let God bee true, and all men lyars. I could bee more particular; Is is not before the Lord? Is not Gods hand in the Plague amongst vsus? Is it for no thing? Is there not a cause that we inquire, that I crie? Doe I alone speake of these things? HaueHave wee not all in our Consciences lamentable experience? Doth not the Apostle, Colloss. 3.5. &c. say as much to and of Saints, such as when Christ shall appeare, shall appeare with him in glory? Doth hee not call vponupon them, To mortifie their members vponupon earth; and instance in Fornication, vncleannesse, inordinate affections, euill concupiscence, and couetousnesse? In anger, wrath, malice, filthy speaking, cursed speaking, lying? Are not these their members, and to be mortified? Doth not Saint Paul tell of a Messenger of Satan sent to buffet him? of a lawlesse Law in his members rebelling, and leading him captiue vntounto the law of sinne? Do…h hee not cry out of himselfe, O miserable man that I am, who shall deliuer me from this body of sinne? Were these in the Collossians and Paul, and shall they be thought a slander, to say they are in vsus? Were they Saints, notwithstanding, and may it not bee so with vsus? It is a truth, let no man build errour therevpon, on the right or left hand, the onelyonly thing I exhort vntounto, is to mortifie them; they are wicked wayes, euen in Gods children, and euen they must turne from them, as they expect to escape the plague.
1 That thou mayest doe it: First, labour to see and know corruption, all corruptions in thee, the predominant, thy Goliah, that which most of all, and oftenest to the apaling of thy soule, defieth the holy one of Israel, the spirit, and it fruits.
Howsoeuer originall sinne bee equally in eueryevery man by nature, and looke in what measure one lust is mortified, or cast off, eueryevery one is, yet there is somewhat, whence it commeth to passe, that euen in Gods children one corruption is, that which beareth sway more in one then another.
Places wherein a man is borne and bred, encline more to some one sinne then an another, the Cretians are alwayes, liars, slowbellies, saith Saint Paul: What Nation is there, but it hath a note of some preuailing and dominering sinne?
A mans constitution hath a great stroke in this matter, according vntounto the preualencie of some of the humors.
Some are hereditarie like some diseases, drawne with the constitution from parents, and it is seene in a like preuailing in disposition.
Some are suckt in with the milke from the Nurse, according vntounto the humor or disposition, of whom the childe is, wee know it by experience, and can giuegive examples of it.
VntoUnto some wee are enclined by youth, as lusts, therefore called lusts of youth; to other by age, it hath many vicious inclinations.
Some take place in vsus by our trades, other from examples of superiours, or companions; and of this also wee hauehave experience, some out of an acquired habit, gotten in youth by custome and repeated actions, liued in before regeneration; which though in them hauehave their deaths blow, and are mortified, yet hauehave no small swinge; and with the rest spoken of, is not vsually buried wholy in that sence, consumed and wasted away, vntill a man be buried and laid in his graue.
Well brethren, bee it whatsoeuer, that wee may kill it, wee must first labour to know it, thou must be conuinced, it is, it is sinne, and thine: Who can hate that, put it downe, or starue it, which he knoweth not?
1 And to helpe thee to know it: First, thats thy predominant, which most of all boyleth in thoughts, and if not in words and deedes, yet in secret, and not obserued (or hardly) motions of the eyes: by these fruites, their kinde, thou shalt know the roote, the fore that is in thine heart.
2 It is that thou art lothest to leaue, most of all tempted vntounto, art least able to resist, that most of all hindreth a sincere and entire walking, or course with God. It is that which Conscience most checketh thee for: that vntounto which the Lord doth most of all proportion his fatherly visitation, and it may bee seene by a spirituall eye.
It is that the soule most of all plotteth about, whose foments hauehave best entertainement.
HaueHave recourse vntounto the word, it light, and the discoueries that doth make vntounto thy soule. Hearken vntounto friends: Enemies sometimes will tell thee the troth, when friends will not, pray that the Lord will conuince thee of it.
In the vse of all which meanes, know that thou canst not be too iealous of thy selfe, or inquisitiue: lusts are deceiueable, strangely attired, the Lord doth not in vaine giuegive that aduice; bee not deceiued. Is thy seruant a dogge? saith Hasael, not acquainted with himselfe. The heart of man is deceitfull aboue measure: who can find it out, but the Lord?