This book made available by the Internet Archive.

TO THE WOR-

SHIPFVLL, HIS SIN-

GVLAR GOOD FRIEND, M'.

Robert Clavering 3 Towiic-

Clarke of Newcaftle, all hap-y pincffc of a better life, and

this present.

Ir, considering the good accept unce that Jfime former few Sermons of that reltgioujly-learncdjmd learn edly-relrgiosts Diuine, tjttafter Paul Bayne haue had with the Church of God, the enfuing Sermon tying hitherto by me, I was ( without difficulty) induced to make it publtkc. For if I fhould longer concede it y what know I whether fome body elfe, who hzd not the like intcrcH to it that my felfe haue, might notfreuent me in printing this, as well as thij bane done in publishing fonte other things of the Itke nature? LMoreouer, looking into the carriage and frame of i his draughty I did not fee how it could difparage any of the reft,which are flowne abroad before it. Lafly, if m will ponder thefubiecl matter difcourfed of in the following leaues, I wtS permit it to any indifferent wife-heat ted ChrisJian Reader,who vieweth the estate of the

A 2 times,

* Comwda accommoda,

TTT^^W^^^T L 11 JJUU'itiilUHlLI

times,andwaigbethaduifcdly whatfngular vice raign-ith 5 what efpeciall graces are ordinarily deft5liue among ProfeJJbrs, whether this Sermon vitereth not * profitable things, and profitable things in their fc*fon. For when (refpecledSir) did the like wofull declining from the ancient feruor of our firfi loue,fo generally fpread it felfe through all the quarters of our I land f Me hath but halfe an eye, who looking vp and downe, beholdeth not, that euery Utile nothing in zealous forwardneffe of pro-fefiion,fiemeth (for the moHpart) very fuffiaenU We will neither diligently prouoke ourfclucs to liuely proceedings in the way of powerful! walking with God$ neither mil we patiently endure others to ontfirip vs,ana to a/pire vnwtariedly after the higbeHl pitch of well doing* Thio leauing our firfi louejhis abatement of former light and heateinour ChriHian courfe, is proned in theenfuing Sermon,andrcproued. When was there joint le minding and remembring whence we are (generally) not flidden, but (as it were) fallen headlong? When were there fo fewftncere andfetled refolutions,to repent of the euillof relinquijhing our firft loue, a finne wherein our land hathfinned,befides all its other finnes ? Alas, the ftnfiti-p d employment of our memories Jo confider whence we are fallen^ (ham" and confufton of face working true repentance, that we are fofowhe fallen 5 are flrange things vntovsl although onefy the exercifeofthefe graces cm raife vs vp to true happineffe in this life,and in the next* That wem'tyftt vponthefe fauingpr*8>fcs % wee are effe-SuaSy called vpon in the fore-named Sermon. So that (asI formerlyftid)it will (I perfwtde my felfe) prone hth profitable and fia/bmble to theChriflun Reader • who bath a iifcerning fpirit, both what his owne wants 4re,a»dhom, by tins Uttle booke, Jim pretty fiupply ma+

bo

1 HE X/n STLt UtUKAlURiEi

he affcorded htm for hisrcccutring.

Thus much why the Sermon ts publifhed: a word or two {Worthy Sir) why, by a more efpeciill infcription y I haue dedicatedn tojour name. Fir ft (therefore ) 1 was mcued hereto with an earneH dtjtre, to mantfeft further then euer yet I haue done,the enttreneffe ofmydea-refi officii on s toward you • who after oar many yeves comfortable lomng and lining together,ef late hutebeen remouedfrom me into thofe Nor theme parts. T^ot being there for enow able face to face to enioy the wonted fweet intercour(e offpeech^nd other friendlike offices, I longed (noiwitbflanawg) to tell you, you were not fo much out of mind, as out offight. Secondly, I deftred that the dedication might befit the perfon, remembring Senecaes counfeS: * we mufl take heede wee fend not fuperfluous *ytupecMM* gifts y as to a woman or old man hunting weapons^ or to a bimui^emune-clowne 7 bookes -or nets to one joQowin? his (ludtes, and ^"r™*"* learning. On the contrary^ to fend a booke to a fchour\ or fams* ma fem a Sermon, to an experienced profeffor, I cannot fee but it A,m ********* maholdgvdprtfOTtton. ' Kfihfc

Thus not doubting 9 butyou will louingly receiue what <u Uteris dedk§

was louinglyintended ',/ takemy leaue ; deftrinz that hee [ ctU : Stn,dc

/ / .*V r j i * • ben J. i.cap. i r.

who hath begun the good worke fome yeeres agoetnyeu,

and hath madeyou gracioujly proceed hitherto^ euen bee

(the mercifuK and true God) wou'dperfectly accomplish

it^vntotbeddyoflifusCbrifl* London. i£*8.

Yours in the fureft feond^

E^.Cb.

A CAVEAT

FOR COLD CHRIST i a n s.

Revel. 2. 4.5. 2{ttterthtltJJi I haut fomcwbat again ft thee, becaufe thou baft left thy firfi lout: remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and dot thy frft workes.

S a husband abfent aduerti-feth his wife by letter, of that which is behoouefull; lb it pleafeth our Sauiour Chrift, abfcnt in body, though pr£-fent in fpirit, to admonish his Spoufe, aadthis Church in particular, by an Epiftle lent to hcr.In it we may obferue thefe three parts: Three parts in 6rft,thepreface,containing theperfons writtenvn- tb9E P^ to 3 and writing; the one weeendorfe on the back- u efrefati * fide ofourletters;the other wevfe to fubferibe after them. Secondly, the matter; in which three. x.rbe matter, things arc contained: firft,becaufe louc edifieth^ie *»****** beares her witnefie of the things commendable in t ' rcet gm -her ; that his rebuke,comming from loue, mightbe

better «

better digefted. Secondly, in this 4.verfe. he men-tioneth that, for which he had a faying to her,that is to fay, that (lie was fallen from her firft loue, it was decayed in her. Thirdly, in the fifth andfixth verfes heeprefcribes a remedy: in fetting downe which,heobierues this order.: firft, hefets downe a double praftice which would reftore her, <yi\. rc-membring her fall and repenting. Secondly, be-caufe the medicine is bitter, and not eafily taken; hee fhewes her the great perill, the mortall hurt which will enfue,if this be negle&ed. Thirdly, hee encourageth his patient; fhewing, that yet there was a good figne, that loue was not quite gone, though it was in feme fort leflened and enfeebled, becaufe fhe hated the workes of theNicolaitans: Thus with a bitter potion, fending her a mwus C^r//// 3 Chrift folding vp (as it were) a pill in gold, that it might bee let downe the more pleafantly.

3. conclttfm. Hauing finifhed thef matter,he comes to conclude: in which, firft by a folemne O yes, hee makes attention ; and for a clofe,makes a moft comfortable pro-mifeto fuch who fhould ouercome,outwreftling by repentance fuch tentation, as accompanies thefc declinings,™*. that they fhould haue further reue-lation ofChrift made in them,and further communion for the prefent by grace with him; and hercaf-

rhefHwmeof. ter t h e blefled fruition of him in glory. The fummc of thefe words to be handled is this: though many good things be found with thee, yet thy firft loue is left^ the flame of thy loue which reached to heauen i wafted all inordinate concupifcence,and was fruit-full in good workes, this is fiinke downe and quenched ; therefore aduife with thy felfe, and well con-

fider

fidcr how thou art fallen ( as it were ) from heauen to earth; iudgc this thine ownc iniquitic; turning fromit,returneto God in the waies of righteouU ne(Tc,bringineforth the fame fruits of liuely loue, which heretofore hauc been difcerncd in thce.Thus we may fitly come to the confiderations, whick may dire&ly be deduced from thefe words for our further inftru&ion.

Firft,thatthefeEphefiansarechalenged tohaue i.obfer*. left their firft loue, wee fee what is the condition of rbtdifcaft. ft Chriftians; come to fome good ftate, they are rea- hj-si-j-m^ *vW$.,< cjy to decline; when now they haue made great 'li^im^tt witfcU proceeding in Ioue,theyarc ready to coole againe. T>-K^*V* 1. Euen as it is in the body, when it is in the mod excellent temperature, the durance thereof is not long; fb it is in the foule alfo, when it is in the beft taking,euen then it is fubied to alteration. So the Galathians,thelfraelites» how foone did the one fall fronuhe Gofpell,and the other from their ioy in that God,which had dcliuered them? Such is our frailty, and fuch -are Satans enterprifes againft vs. But for more full opening of this point, two The firfl opened. things fhall be vnfolded; firft, what it is the true ChriftLtnsfall from, when they leaue their loud: 2. whence it comes,^ being fo wel proceeded they decline,To the firft let, that it is not the tranfitcrie flafhing 3 thefweetnefle, the delight, or gladnefle in heart which wee feele in our firft loue. For this which comes not (o much from the things of our peace,as from the nouelty of them; from this, that the light of them doth firft fhinc vnto vs; this which by reafon of fuch circumftance is in vs,may bee loft and left without finne: the Angels loue^workes

B fbme-

fbmewhat in them touching the conuerfion of a finner,whennowhc is firft conuerted, which con-ftantly abides not with them: as for example, the ioy there mentioned,Luk. 15. Secondly, I {ay it was not that diuine quality of loue, which the fpirit of God bringeth forth in regenerating of vs $ for this could not bee loft, it being part of our new birth which abideth; according to that, Hce who is borne of God finneth not,for the feede of God a-bidethhimrand Cor. 1.13, Loue faileth not:not onelybecaufeforthekindit abides in heauen, but becaufe the lelfe lame in number, which by the fpi-rit is brought forth in vs,fhall neuer haue end; it being fuch a diuine fier,which no waters of tentation can quench and extinguifh. It remaines then, that they arefaid to haue left their firft loue, in regard that their outward works (which are as con(picuous fruits growingout of this tree of loue), in regard, I (ay,that thele were decayed and impaired, they art laid tohaueleft their firft loue.Thefe are all of them things fubieft to alteration:though the diuine quality of Chrift remaine with vs; the Scripture makes this,toberootedinloue,adiftind thing from ha-ujngloue. Paul therefore asking in the third of the Ephefians,inbehalfeof them, that they might bee rooted in loue, and fo made able to apprehend more perfedly the loue of God to them in Chrift, aimes at fome Angular degree of affe&ion. For as plants are not (when prefently fet firft) deeply rooted 2 fb thefe diuine graces,faith, loue,&c, grow vp in vs to fuch a rooted firmenefle, and fctlcdnefTe, that wee are not eafily moued and troubled in the practice of them. A man loues truly at firft, yet

leffe

kflcgroundedly. Whence it is,that little enticements allure him, and withdraw him into naps of foirituallforgetfulneffe; little (nibs difmay him 3 and make him fhrinke in^little things make him doubt of Gods louc to him; yea, of his owne perfeuering inlouetoGod : but being better acquainted by experience with the Lords fidelity, mercy, patience, &c, he takes rooting more and more in this holy affedion. Now it is fo, that the loue of thefc Ephe-fians began to hang more loofe in them, then fom-time it was wont. For looke as any thing that now ftands, ftedy may come to bee loofened, yet re-maine die thing it was before, though not firme as before; fo it is in loue: fo ioynts that are loofened, yet remaine ioynts. Secondly, the operation, the feruent rnouing of loue was growne remifle. For looke as in materiall fiers, the feruent heate may(lake,andfier ftill abide; as in the body, the powers of hearing and feeing are fafe (as in fleepc), though the exercife of them bee ceafed and bound for a time: euen fo our loue,which (like a ficr) groweth further and further kindled in vs for a time,may be by fome occafions abated 3 in regard of the feruor and heate,when yet the being of it is ftill continued. Thirdly,in regard of works, which the operation of their loue produced in their foules inwardly, and toward God and man outwardly, in this regard they were declined. In their foules, the light of the Lord did not dilcufle the clouds of felfc and earthly luftings 3 as it had done formerly; nor were their duties fuch now, as fometime they had been toward God and man. Looke as in the 5unne,the eflentiall brightnes remaining the lame,

B a " the

theeffeft neuerthelefle of it in difpcrfing clouds, and in lightening thcayreisfomtime dinrinifhed, fbmetimc quite eclipfed:fo here the diuine nature or light of loueremaining 3 yet the effeft thereof in their fbules,both in clearing them from earthly de-fires^ falfe loues y as alfb in making them fruitfull in good duties, this effed of it was nothing for meafure, fuch as once might haue been obferued in Rcafon. them. Now if you aske, whence it comes to pafle,

1 that a maaiii. ;ig made good proceedings, fhould decay in his loue^I anfwere.-Firft/rom a fecret floth, which makes vs wearieof well doing. A dull Afles trot will not laft long: fuch wee areofourfelues, there being a fpirituall fluggifhnefle hanging about our bones, which is ftill ready to returne on vs.For this it is that the Scripture calleth on vs, Bee not

2 flothfull,Hebr.£. Secondly, the longer wee are occupied in any thing, the more wee are taken with a fatiety of it. This we fee proues true eucn in the delights of nature; no wonder then if Manna grow no rneate with vs,ifheauenly things and courfes ieeme lefle taftfull,while they are continued; Specially while we negleft to take paines with our hearts, th^twemay come to the thankful vnderftanding of fo great benefits 5 and on the other fide, to the prudent obferuation of our wants $ whether

' wee looke at the inward frame of our foules, ^ or at any dutie which we performs. Thirdly, we fee that the more we goe to the perfe&ion of any thing, the more difficulty we finde: now when wee come to meet with hardnefle, there wee are refldy,(with-out ftrength miniftred) to flack our endeauour, and thinkewnh the fluggard, Better an handfull with

cafe.

eafe,thenfarre more with difquictnefle. Fourthly, 4 the diucll, by finnes of time and perfons among whomweliuc, much weakens our loue 5 through the abundance of iniquitie loue fhall waxe cold. Sometime the example of others(likeabackc-byas) drawing vs from the precifenefle of our care in fome duties, in which wee endeauoured before to walke with God: otherwife the fcoffing, and iniu-rious fpightfulneffe of wicked ones,making vs af-fraid to fhew our loue as wewould & J fhould with liberty befeeming. Etien as a damp puts out a light : fo this fog of fin fuffocates and foothers the light-fome blaze of loue , though it cannot quench it throughout in vs. Laftly, the diuell commonly fattens vpon vs a (pirituall fecurity and fulneflc, when 5 we are fomewhatproeeeded (whereas wee rtiould forget what is palled); and being fecure and full 3 we watchlefleagainftfuch things, as by little and little quench the fpirit in vs. Now feeing this is the „r condition of Chriftians in good eftate, it muft bee ■* * as a glafle to vs,wherein we may behold our fr^Jty Did thefe, when now they were gone on farre in grace,did they then giue in and decline ?, though it be the ftate of fome onely, yet it muft breed a h^ly terrour in vs all,making vs liften to the counfell,Lct him that ftands 5 take heed left he fall. Elpecially^ we g muft be carefull, becaufe wceliueinthelafttimcs^ wherein this cold fit growes a popular. difeafe: the loue of many fhall waxe cold through abundance of iniquity. Now as liuing where fome bodily contagious difeafe raigneth^wewilllooketo ourfelucs more carefully: fo we muft proportionably bee cir-^ cumfpeft for our foules, that they bee not infe&ed

by this common contagion.Some thinke that when weteach,thattrueloue,whereitis once, there it is euer, and fo of true grace^there is opened a window to fecurity, and we make men warrants toliueas they lift: but there is no fuch matter,while we teach that they may fall into fuch languifhing ficknefles, as will make their conditions fcemc a liuing death, rather then otherwife. Were the conditions of our bodies immortal,yet fuch,as on any mif-diet might con trad painfull and fearfull ficknefTes; fhould wee then haue caufe to be fecure, & caft away all care of dietingour felues? fo it is in our foules; though this life ofloue is eternall 3 yet it is fubieft to fuchlan-guiftiing maladies without the greater care taken, that none of vs in this refpedi: can want a fufficient fpurre to incite our diligence. I will deferre a further word of exhortation to the next inftru&ion. Marke then as thefe tell away in their loue, fo the Lord challenges them for it, as a thing much dif pleafing his Maiefty,and dangerous to their foules* z.Obkru. % Obferue hence, that coldnefle and remilhefle in the courfes of fuch as are religious, much offend God, God accurfeth fuch as doe his worke floth-fuWy, though he bid them fheath their fwords in the blood ofothers:and the hike warme Chriftian, that is neither hot nor cold, the Lords ftomackc beares not. To lend the clearer light to the~ dp-&rine,wemuft firft know what this finfull remit nefTe is : fecondly, why it is fo difpleafing and harmcfull.Forthefirft,a man is not to thinke all v that a remifle courfe(here challenged),which comes - fhortof fome more powerfull and fruitfull ftraine in his courfe of life,which he hath palfed. For there

arc

A Laucai for wia u nnjiiams* p

are degrees of diligence, and the leaft well accepted with God. Euen as an induftrious husband hath fome feafons , Wherein his labour is double to that it is ordinarily, and yet his courle is at no time idle : lb a fpirituall good husband, may (on occafions) be lifted to fuch powerfull endeauour, which he hath not continuing with him at all times, and yet be farre from this finfull remifnefle.Second-ly,it is not a remifle, feeble, weake walking, which proceedeth from a fpirituall faintnefle in vs, being vnder many tentations ;for euen feeble and remifle anions in this feafon, are nofmall labour of our loue,and moft acceptable to God; we muft not goc all by quantity. A ficke man may fhewmore labour, and tire his feeblcd ftrength more, in doing that which in two houres might bee difpatched, then a found man can fhew in a whole dayes worke. For though the found man doth more in quantity, yet he doth lefle in proportion then the ficke, fo farre the ficke is from being idle, Euen as the rich men that offered, though they gaue more in quantitie then the widow,yet (he did more inproportion (if her ability be confidcred) then they all. It therefore not being a comparatiue remilhefle, which m?y be fo termed,in regard of more extraordinary beftir-ring our felues,nor yet a feeble remifnefle ; what re-giaines,but that it fhould bee fuch a remifnefle, as commeth from fpirituall floth,caufed in vs by lufts, which we haue in fome degree entertained?Forwhe lufts do get the vpper hand fo ouer vs,that we ftriuc not with them,but goe on in them, though they eat out the life and power which we felt in our courfes, and make vs that we can be well cnough,though we

feele

fcclc not our communion with God in that meafure we were wont; this is euer ioyned with a finfull fiiU ling from the loue in which we walked,

Me*fofi, Now the reafon wherein this comes to be Co of-

fenfiuc, is taken from Gods coniugall loue^ which makes, hmiholily icalous of the loue of his people. What doth a louing husband take fo gricuouflyag the finding want of loue in his (poufe; as to (pie the hart of her withdrawne 3 that it is not as it was heretofore toward him ? and it is harmfull to vs, by^au-finglometime outward chaftifement (as (loth itv fcholers & feruan ts, forceth corre&ion from goucr-nors), by caufing vncefiantly a wafting of the life of grace in vs. For as fier not blowne,goes out; (b this loue,whenwcaregrownccold and remifle, dies a-Avay, &c fals into a dangerous (wounc, which makes our ftatcs no t a little frightfoll.

yp t This then being a thing fo dilpleafing and hurt-

full,wemuft examine our felues how it is withvs, whether we haue not taken fbme (pice of this cold. If wee would apply our confideration nationally, what doth the Atheifmc, the mcere brood of Arri-ans, the (warming of Papifts, the drunkennefle, vn-cle^Rnes of thefe time proclaime,but that our loue isinfome meafurc left? But wee will ftrainc this ftring no further, becaufc it is the beft for vs to weare our eyes at home; if wee looke to our (elues per(bnally,fliall we finde it otherwife ? Ginnot wee many of vs take pleafitre in the company of fuch, who care not how they prouoke our heauenly huC band? doe not we walke without feeling, feare of offending our God? cannot we pafle ouer our offences lightly, calling that at our heeles, which

grieues

A GAttutfor coldChrijiuns. \ \

<grieucs his hcart?canno t we flight oucr our duties, and put God off with fuch forrie feruicc, as if any thing were good enough for him ? haue we not had fbmetime good purpofes and endcauours, from which now we are fallen? If weebepriuietothefe things,itistoofure,ourfirft loue is exceedingly a-bated.

In the fecond place,wc muft awaken our hearts, and ftirre them vp to this loue.Let vs thinke,Lord, fhould Ioffcrthismcafure to an earthly husband, ncuer to bee afraid after doing that,which I knew would difpleafe him;to take delight infuch(I knew) neuer bare him good will 5 would it not make me blufh ?how much leffe ought I to vfe thy Maiefty fo iniurioufly ? Wc brooke not, that loue fhould not grow in them toward vs, with whom we are married^why fhould our loue be leflened to thee ? We would checkeour felues in affoording vnchaft fauours to men^whatcaufehauewe to take vp our felues, that our affe&ions giue fuch vnchaft kit les to thefe earthly delights,and dwell fo in the im-brace of them,that they are indifpofed, & wanting deuotion toward thy Maiefty? O let vs take words to our felues and blow this fparke, that it may flafie vpward toward our God, If while our hearts are in the loue of (bme louely creature, wc findc fuch fwectnefle^ what a heauen fhould they feele, did they loue the Lord affe&ionately? in this loue there would-be no lacke.

Againe, while wc haue not fbmc warmth of loue rfe x« in our courfes,nought we do is accepted.If I would giue my body to be burned,and wanted loue (faith the Apoftlc) 3 it profited nothing* Eucn as n6 office

is acceptable to a husband from a wife, when the loue of her heart is withdrawne and cooled. On the contrary 3 it (hould prouoke vs to renue our loue, becaufe while this is liuely in vs 3 God fees many faults,and fees them not: as in Dantd, whom God counted after his heart, but in the matter of Frtih. Itisplaine,thatGod did notlooke at any infirmi-ties,while his feruant (in this maine matter of fpiri-tualloue)keptvpright with him. Looke as itisbe-tweene husband and wife, while loue and fidelity are kept inuiolablc, little faults are not obierued andftobdvpon fo,asto make falling out betwixt them; (b it is twixt God and his people: while this heateofloueisftirredvpinour couries, ourfoules fhallbepreferued inhealthfomeftate,and grace en-creafed. For as that exercife,which dothftirrcvp the naturall heate, if it be but ad rubtnm vfijue, doth benefit the body,wavling(in fbm^ degree) the fiiperfluitics,which are ready to breed erifuingfick-nefle: So notonely thofc eminent mouings of loue^ wherein fheeexceedes her felfe^but euery courfe which is with life and power of loue inany meafiire, encreafeth and ftablifheth grace, and confumes the revues of corruption in vs.

pfi 3. Finallyjifnothing will moue vs to weane our af-

feftions^nd (et them more feruently on the Lordj but that we will goe on key-cold (in a manner) to God-ward: then the Lord will not faile to pay vs home with our owne coyne$ and make thefe thirigs breed vs fmart, which Aveehaue moft inordinately loued,to his great difhonour.

■Ttonmtdy. Thus hauingconfidered thedifeafe,we come to the rerriedie,which ftands in a double practice: the

one

A Cdutitfcr cildCbtifium. r ^

onepreparatiue to the other; the one of remem-bring whence {he was fallen; the other of repenting, which is fet forth by the fruit of it, Repent and dee thy fir ft workes. In the firft we are to marke two things ; firft,the a&ion commanded ^Remember. Secondly , the obie£t of it jvAence thou artfdim.

Whence wee obferue^with what our memories -i.Oiferu. are to be taken vp; euen with our eftates, and the decliningsofthem.

For opening this-do&rine,two things muft be in* fifted on. Firft, we muft open what remembrance is, what it concaineth within the compafle of it. Secondly, what is to be remembred of vs. For the firft, as we fee it is with man,hee hath fome worke without doores, which he goes out to; fome he dodi,ftaying within: fo the mind doth fome things without, fome things it doth retired into it felfe, keeping within it felfe, and working onely on it felfe; as when it remembers or deliberates on any matter. Now euery working of the mind, tends -either to this end, that we may know better by meanesofit; or that we might doe fomthing that isbeboouefulL Now this remembrance is a cer-taine operation ofthefbule within it felfe, whete-by we thinfce on things forgotten-.to the end we maybeftirredvptofuch confcionable pra&ice, as the nature of the thing remembred requires. It .containes three things: firft, an entring into our felues;when a man returnethinto his thoughts, no longer wandring to and fro in thefc outward -things,in whichhehad (afterafort) loft and forgotten himfelfe :For. this is the beginning of that -remembrance which leades to repentance; See

C 2 Deut.

Deut.30. i, i.King. 8.47, Secondly 3 a bethinking and calling things to mind fo farre,as to know how things ftand with vs. Thirdly, when wc are bidrc-Tncmbcr 5 wearc enioyned to fct cur hearts on,keepe in mind,confider the ftate we are in,and confequen-ces of it,Pial.50. 22, Conftdtr thisye thatfvrget God. Where consideration andforgetfiilnefie are oppo-fcd. / confidcred my wayesjnd/o rtfenttd. Thus you fce,whatthis duty of remembrance includes in it. ♦ Now for the matter to be remembrcd, it is our eftate,and the declining of it. Reafcn 1. For next to God,we are to haue our owne eftates in mind; both what they were before grace, Eph.2. for it doth make vs thankfull, diligent, humble: wc vnuft not,with the Prieft,forge tour old Clerk-fhip^ wenuiftftillcarricin mind our naturall eftate, to the ends aboue named. t Secondly,we muft remember our eftates fince grace ;both in regard of our frailty and proneneflc tofall,though we ftand through Gods protection and fupportancc: for this will make vs mecke to o-thers,Galath.^.i,and.watchfullouer our fellies. Secondly, in regard of our falles fincc we receiued gftice; whether they be fucb,ofwhich we hailing repented, find them aTready pardoned, Deut. 9. y^or whether they be fuchfalles,in which wee haue lien hitherto durtily,not awaking our fellies to repentance. And this kft« remembrance is required of thefc Ephefians, that they fhould remember and confider how much they were declined, though they lkdetookc it to heart. For this duty is need-full,thatwernayfecle in our felues a fpurreto repentance, in which the face is writhen awry fovn-

feemly.

fecmly.Thc fight of our naturall deformity in a glatfe,ftirs vp nature to inforcc her felfe to remoue it :1b here the looking vvifhly on our fpirituall deformity ,cxcites euen feeble grace to doe her vtmoft endcauour for correcting it.

This which hath been Ipoken, ferues to conuince Vfi* many,who Hue neueronce returning to their harts, and confidering their ftate in fuch wife, as might make them wife to faluation. Many goe like hooded haukcs 3 neuer once thinking on that which hurts them, till their foules are ready to fly from their bodies,and their condition hclplefle.For partly the foule (as it is faid of the harlot,, whofe feet keepe not at home) the foule(I fay)liues in the fenfes more then in it felfe:. as an vnchaft mans heart is more with his miftrifle, then at home with himfelfe: (b our foules wedded inordinately to this flefh, are more occupied about thefe fenfible things, and dwell more in them then in themfelues. Againe, Satan is mod malitious to hold vs chat(as it were), and kcepevs occupied till this time and tide of fel-uation be ouerflipped: and finally, the exercifefo littlefutes to an impenitent heart (for men that are bankruptSjWhatplcafiire take they inreuiewing ' their bookes?),thatalmoft none entring into nim-felfe,callestomind and fixedly holds his heart to thinke on things of this nature. This negleft (like a flood-gate opened) letteth in all euilland impe-nitency. What makes men Iweare, bowze, giuc place to their lufts,goe on inhardnefle of heart ? is knot that they are ignorant, or that they haue an erroneous iudgement,as if thefe were lawfull, >and repcntancenecdlcffe? it is forgetting themfelues,

C 3 and

and neuer once confidering what they doe, and how they goeon. Secondly, we muft make conference to exercife our remembrance about thisfub-ie<3:,euen what fwcrtiings and declinings haueo-uertaken vs. In our bodies and eftates we will quickly marke what is amifle,and not eafily forget it: If matter of wrong be done to vsjt ftickes in memory, as if it were written in braflc: we are not weary of remembring earthly things, fuch is our eftimation of them,and familiar acquaintance with them.Shal weonelybe wanting to ourfelues in remembring here, when our faluation lieth vpon it ? therefore as you will haue the latter end peace, fo remember your wayes, finnes, declinings; the more you remember them,the more God will forget them(pro-tionably to that, If we condemne ourfelues, God will not condemnevs),and we had need hold our hearts to the remembrance of them; they will not heare lightly on this fide. Such is the loue in vs to our naturall good, and care to auoid ficknefle, po-uerty^that we cannot fofoone call to mind our de-feds and dangers,but that we apprehend them, and turne from them. But fo auerfe are we from our hea-uenly good,and carelefle of fpirituall dangers; that whenwefpeakeofthem againe and againe within ourfelues, the foule will hardly be mooued to follow the one,or giue attendance to the other fb,as to feeke the auoidance of them. Alas, if we will not now be brought to thinke of our daily flips, decli-nings,of the grieuous finnes in which we goe on without repentance; if we will not, I fay, God fhall one day enlarge our memories, that they fhall apprehend all ourfinnes: yea thishardneffe of heart,

which

which would not let them repent,when exhortedj and that in fuch fort, that the remorfe and afterthought of them fhall be as a worme that nener dies. He who doth nioft willingly forget his finnes here, fhall remember them there, moft fully and painfully hereafter.

To proceed to the fecond practice, Remembet: A % obferu. whence thou art fallen, and repent. Firft marke, vpon thedeclinings ofgracehebids them repent 5 teach-ing,that the leaft declinings of grace in our felues andothers,is a caufe of repentance.

The falles of others wemuft repent of, left we Reafcn. make them ours,& inwrap our felues in their iudge-ments. We are members of the fiime body with diem 1 and therefore what we doe in our owne, wc muftinfome proportion doe in their finnes alfb. When the health ofbody declined in Bawds counterfeit friends, he humbled himfelfe id fafting,Pfal. 35, And when one Corinthian being inceftuous, was not caft forth. Saint Paul prouoketh them all to repentance. Now in our owne declinings we muft take them betimes, left that which is halting tumequiteafide.Ifaforrenenemie inuade vs, wee ftay not till he come to our gates 3 but meet him 2nd hold him play betimes. If a bodily difeafe breed on vs,we loue to looke forth quickly. Thus it fhould be, when fin ( an enemy,yea a ficknefle to the fbule ) doth (b much as make entrance into vs. And this is fore, that often fmalleft declinings are not a little dangerous. It is feene in nature, that the moft temperate diftemper ( fuch as at firft is in an hc&ick fe-uer) as it is not eafily found, lb it is hardly cured. Thus in our foules declinings,whkh wee fee not to

be

x 8 A Cam At for cold CbrifiUns.

be fo outragious 3 but that vvc are well enoughfor all

them, thefe often proue moft perillous.

Againe,thismuftmoucvs betimeto dealcv/ith

[ *. t*mrif£*P*to6\\r fellies in finne ;for the beginning of it ( as Sato*

*£ ^^M^^ m9n f a * tn of ftrifc) i s l^e the opening of waters • lit-

.To3c*>.t-»7^ : f fjtlc though it feemc at firft, yet it will (well and rife

^^n^lwebeouerflownewith it.

j^^rf^"^^^ This therefore muft checke vs, who neither re-

'*?$£!«. b*<*&!'f l pent for the declining of the people in the land, nor

J^Tjfe. the decay ofgrace in our felucs. The truth is, that

looke as in {weeping a kennell, the further it is dri-

uen down,the more filth abounds; fo the lower ages

with vs, are asfinkesreceiuingall the defilements

of former times,and our iniquities arc more encrea-

fed. Now if by repentance we put it not from vs, we

make our felues little better then actors in prefent

tranfgrcflions, by commenting to them. And for our

owne particulars,wee are many of vs to be blamed,

who like foolifh perfons let our fores putrifie,rather

then open them, and endure their drefling more

timely. Many of vs ( who till fharpe fits force vs

forth) will not (eeke out againft our difeafes. Thus

eafe flayeth the foolifh. But let vs be wife • let vs not

thftke all well,while we can hold vp our head, and

fcele not the painfull pangs of conference. The child

is brcd,before the pangs of trauell come • fo the fin,

it may be,hath laine a long time in vs, which if wee

in time dcale not with,will one day fill vs with re-

mcdilefleforrowes. A good husband mends a gut-

ter ; if a tile be fallen,he fupplieth another; he keepes

all winde and water-tite : in like fort muft we in

thefe foules of ours,which are houfes to God his fpi-

r i t,w e (hall elfe bring all vpon our heads. And thus

much

A Catteatfor cold Chi(liarts. \$

much for this do&rine,which in the coherence may be obferued.

The matter it felfe,or leeond exercife prelcribcd tob[ erfim is repentance,fetdowne by the effeft of it, doe thy J frft wot kes. Now thatagainft this fickeftatehe pre-fcribes this remedic,/tyw/; we fee what expels and j heales all iuch matters in the foule,w&,repentance. This will helpe euery malady: were a man ficke of the confumptionof his lungs,there were fmaihope, it is mors lenta, but w/<*; well, languifhing Ephefus euen in a (bule-confumption is reftored by repentance. We fee in nature euery part hath a faculty of expelling what is noxious andharmfull: the lungs haue their cough; thebraine his fneezing, ando-ther excretions ; the ftomacke will turne it felfe topfie turuie,but itwill bring vp( by vomit) that which offends.Not to profecute this, in ftead of all the(e,and fuch like, the loule of man in this condition wherein it contra&s corruption, hath this faculty of repentance put into it, whereby it empties it felfe of all that which is offenfiue. But for the further edifying you in this point, I will open two tilings: nrft,in what this pra&ice ftands: fecondly, how we may excite repentance. The aft of repentance is a certaine determination,which the vnder-ftanding makes and propounds. Secondly, in the turning away of the will from that finne it lay in; as now hauing it in abomination. Thirdly, in certaine affedions and aftions, which the will (now changed) excites in vs. For firft,in repentance, the mind apprehends, and determinately fets downe thus much,that we lie in a fearfull eftate, guilty of grkuous finne; the vnderftanding (peakes thefe

D things

things within vs: O we hauc done fooliftily, what is it we haue done ? we are worthy to be cut off; wc hauefinned,done wickedly ,peruerfly,Dan.p.Ezech. 20.1cr.6.8. rKing.8. Now while the vnderftan-ding fpeakes this in the foule, the will perceiuing byhervnderftanding,inwhat euillfhee hath lien, uirnes itfelfcaway,nillingand hauing in abomination the finne it liued in.Whathauel to doe with idols((aith repenting Ephraim),Hof. 14? For looke as in the body,not the prefence of ficke matter, but the ftirring of it ;fo that,nature begins to feele the malignancieof.it; this (timng is that which makes nature to fight with it, and driue it forth.: fo not the prefence of finne,but when the fenfe of it is conueyed,by this the vnderftanding fpeakes, then thcfoulesendeauour of turning it away is excited. TJiirdly the will thus abhorring it, caufeth certaine affe&ions toarife5asgricfe, indignation, reuenge> fhamefaftneffe,2^Cor.7.Hebr. 12.28. Yea it com-mandscertaine outward a&ions: confeffion, humbling our felues in fading ;fome,as fignes and tcfti-monies ; fome,as meanes alio further helping ir.For as after a medecine taken, Phyfitians prefcribe fa-ftng,fixe or eight houres more or lefle, as the nature of things require^and that to this end, that the medecine may more eflfe&ually grapple with the matter to be expelled, hauing no auocament: fb here we reftraine meates,andall delights for afea-£>n,that the flefh may be more fully wrought vpon by the Spirit^whilethe worke of the foule, by thefe carnallauocaments is nothing hindrcd. Now for exciting,if hauing fet before vs our finne, we feele aot our hearts penitently affected, then muft we

thintc.

thinkc how it is with vs in outward euils, and take words to our felues,faying; Lord, if I fee any danger towards my body or eftate, forrow will come beforclfendforit. In default but of complement with man,I can be afhamed quickly.*what Atheifme and hardnefle of heart is this,that I canthinkc of my fumes againft thee, indangering my foule,and that without gricfe or blufhing?

Thus hauing made this difcouerie of the hard- /^. hartcdnefle in vs 3 we muft (conlcious of our owne inability) looke to Chrift, whogiueth repentance and pardon of finne; who takes away the heart of ftone 3 giuingvs hearts tender and flefhie. If yet it rife not to our defire, we need not feare, this is the feed which will grow vp to that we wifti, indue time. This then being thus,that repentance is fo fo-ueraigne a medecine for all difeafes of the foule; how ftiould we be inamoured with it? what good reafonhauewetoholdit in high efteeme? would not one account much of fuch a receit, as taken in any bod ily ficknefle were prefent remed je ?

Againe,it muft moue vs to the confcionable pra- yfe. dice here enioyned,feeing it is fo beneficiall to the foule:what will we not endure for our bodies ? t£h making them ficke with bitter potion,incifion; yea, cutting off,if a member be putrified, fearing them in diuers parts with hot irons : fhall we goe thus farre for thegood of the body, and refufc the practice of this exercife for the good of our foules? I may fpcake to thy impenitent breaft, as Haamans feruants fpake to him about the cure of h is leprofle: Fttber y fthe Prtphet hadcomanded thee 4 hard tbi*% y Muldtjt then not h&uedore it? how much mere feetna

D 2 he

$2 A Canut for cold Chrifit arts.

befaith JVaJh and be draw. If God had commanded thee a hard thing, vvouldeft thou not haue done it to auoid damnation ? How much more muft thou obey,whenhefaith,Be but grieued, and condemne your finnes your felues,I will not condemne you ? Ffi* Neither muft they onely 5 vvho are priuie to grea-

ter finnes (as more mortall ficknefies) repent them; but we alfo,feeing we all of vs, though wee haue no fuch dead fickneffes, yet we haue fuch corruptions as will breed vs bitternefle, if we auoide them not by repentance, if ye repent not,you fhall perifh, ye mydifciples. Men that are well, how would it goe with them,if neither by vrine,nor fiege they fhould get eafementof fuch fuperfluitie as is to be expelled ? they would not long continue well. So it is, though we are well for grace fhewed vs, yet our foule daily contra&eth and harboureth fuch mat-ter,whichif we purge it not forth by renewed re-pen tance 3 we may aflure our felues it will turne to fomefcarfull foule-fickneffe. Let vs not be like fuch foolifh ones, who goe on in fome difeafe, rather then they will trouble the humour, and difeafe themfelues one day, let things goe on with them till they are curelerfe. I know the diuell makes it feeme a painfull thing to leaue our delights, to di£ quiet our felues, and fit as Iudges condemning our felues within our felues. A fluggard thinkes it intolerable to rife; yet when he is vp, he findes it not painfull: fa here. But were it troublous, is it not better to put thy confidence out of officejby iudge-ing thy felfe, then haue GOD and thy conference condemae thee eternally ? To conclude this point,doe we catch any fall bodily, but wc will get

vp

vpagaine,though we rife from hand to knee, and get vp but faintly ? O let vs be wife in the fals of our foules,takeheede to get vp by repentance againc.

Thus much of the pra&ice of repentance: now 6.0bfertt. for the c&d^ce thy fir ft works, I obferue,that finne by repentance remoued,our former abilities are re-ftored. Euenas in nature, when the a&ions of any § 0 f ^ \ £ • <■ i\ part are hurt by this or that ficke matter hurting^-iSb^ft^ 71 !* f« them•, take but away the difeafc, the part will doe ^ ■ pklrf**"' { 't' {z ' that belongeth to it as ably as cuer: fo the foule once healed by repentance, puts forth the pov/ers of it felfe as it did before: yea (as they fay) a bone %#£ jwe^W^"^fe broken and well fetagaine, isftrongerthcn euerit^^n-z-?^^ 71 ?^^ was ;fo Gods often mending ^ f™iU k,r ****„ *£C..~«(tfc* kteru < J

tance, exceeds the former maki

blefled exercife of a broken ipirii

the vertueof it? whether we looke at cuils in thc^^vv^/Q^

(bulc^or in the body and condition. It often hca-OxC^'S^-fog'^

lethfoule-euils,fo that there is no fear left in themr*iu*n^^4 ^ fr

of the wound receiued. Peter* prefumptuous man|^#yf^K* ^/^

{landingoncomparifon 3 thou^halthefcleaue thee,^ ™ x wffif5K yet,&c, ro#fofuUoffclfc-louVo f«rfuUof dcath,2p%?Sy^ that he denied his Lord and Mafter: when now4. God had touched him with repentance, mark Pbw cleerehe rofe vp (as it were) from thefe cuils. The night before he fhould haue been martyred,he flept as (bundly as if he had not been priuie to any fuch matter: and when Chrift asked him, Doefl then /cue me more then thefe f Peter now had forgot his companions, Lord thou knorvefl I toue thee. So Dtutdjxhen God had now enlightened his darkneile after the matter of Pru/^hc felt fuch fpirituall ftrength, as if he could haue leaped ouera wall,or broken through

D 3 an

an armie. True it is that fbmtime when repentance is not in the more through degree, but done by halues^then it is as in bodily difeafes,which goe not cleanc away,but leaue the party ntntrumconualefccn-ti&, that is, not well, but onely fomewhat mending, rather thenfully rcftored. This it doth in regard of foule-dheafcs that arc entred; but if wee fearc their growing on vs, then this pra&ic«foIlowed,isan excellent preferuatiue,preuenting their entrance,

Nowforbodily and conditional!euils,this keeps them ( vfed in kinde) that they befall vs not. tj/-cbabs counterfeit repentance obtained no lefle. Secondly ,it makes vs grow out of them, if they hauc ieazed on vs. How did /*£, now humbling himfelfe in duft and ailies,mount vp (as it were) with Eagles wings, aboue all his calamities ? If the fentence touching outward euils be irrcuocablie pafled,yet fo itaflwagesandfweetens thefe erodes, that wee haue peace in the middeft of them, and feele not (o much difturbance from them. As in Mefes 5 who might not enter Canaan; in Dauidyvhofe child was to die, whofe other calamities threatned,were to luccced. Vfi . fFhis therefore may lerue for a touch-ftone to

dilcerne,whether our repentance be right,or other-/ wife: if we haue foundly repented,wee fhall finde it inourfreedomefromlufts, which fometime troubled vs in our abilities fpirituall, and in the performance of our duties. When by our repentant humiliation we grow of vngodly, godly; of intemperate, fbber; of vniuft, iuft; of uothfull, feruent in good duties; then we may affiire our felues that our finne by repentance is taken from vs. Should wee

fee

fee^ho had been feeble, wafted, nowhauing taken phyficke grow full of blood, flefhie, able to digeft any thing,ftrong to labour;wee would not doubt but that his difeafe were fully remoued; but that his medecincwas right and effedtuall: fo is that repentance right, and that man healed by it,to whom the workes of grace are now returned: but if wee hauenot fruits which accompany repen-tance,thenis our turning to bee fufpe&ed.

FINIS.

Errata.

Page i, line 1 7. put outCbrijl* p. j, 1. 1&. for let,, r. vi^. p. i o. L 12. for mccrc, r, ncvp*

c