THis mournefull prophet, Ieremy, hauing in part described & de­clared the per­plexed and la­mentable cōdi­tion of his coun­trymen, and both testified and iusti­fied, as wel the righteousnes of God in afflicting them for the multitude of their transgressions, as his mercie in moderating their misery, and [Page 2] preseruing them from a full and fi­nall destruction; hee doth in these words propound vnto them a very serious and sober exhorta [...]ion, con­sisting of three branches. The first is conteined in the three former words, Let vs s [...]arch. That is to say, let vs diligently inquire after, seeke, and labour to find out. The second is couched in the next wordes, And trie our waies. That is, let vs proue our thoughts, our words & workes, after that by diligent and due sear­ching we haue found them out. The third is comprehended in the last words, And turne again vnto the Lord. That is, after exact inquiry & faith­full examination, let vs relinquish and abandon all that is amisse, re­penting of it, and relenting for it, and let vs come home againe vnto our father, and turne backe vnto his waies, from which we haue gone a­stray like stragling sheepe. Then in­structions are many, both excellent and profitable.

Doct. 1.For so much as the holy Ghost [Page 3] doth in the fore-front of this exhor­tation aduertise vs to search out our waies: I conclude and gather, that this is a duty necessary to bee per­formed of euery sinner that desireth to make a sound conue [...]sion of his sinnes. Because it is a dutie so much neglected, I wil vse some arguments to incite and perswade you to the practise of it. In the first place, con­sider that it is not man but GOD which commandeth vs to make this search.2. Tim. 3. 16. For the whole Scripture (whereof this sentence is a part) is giuen by inspiration from God, and the holy men of God, (whereof this Prophet was not the last, nor yet the leas [...]) did all of them speake and preach as they were carried and directed by the spi­rit of God.2. Pet. 1. 21. Homage belongeth to a King, honour to a father, and obedience to a maister. God is our King, our Father, our Lord & Mai­ster.Iam. 4. 12. He is the onely law-giuer, that is onely able to saue and destroy. He exhorteth vs to search our waies: [Page 4] therefore as we respect his grace, & feare his anger, as we would not be reputed & regarded as disloyal sub­iects, disobedient children, rebelli­ous and refractary seruants, let vs in al humility of heart, and sincerity of soule and conscience submit and o­bey. Secondly, wee shal not know our waies, what they are, and whi­ther they lead, vnlesse we take some paines in searching of them out. A Prince cannot know the state of his kingdom, a phisitian cannot discern the constitution and habit of a mans body, without some good & cōpe­tent search and inquisition: so no man can iudge of the condition and state of his soule and body, & know the case and quality of the kingdom of his heart, except by searching he doe labour to attaine thereunto. He that knoweth not his waies, cannot examine them: how then shall he be able to reuert and turne from them if they be not good? On the contra­rie, our searching of them is a very good furtherance & preparatiue to [Page 5] our triall of them, and turning from them; like the needle, which prepares a way for the threed, which follow­eth it. For as a man perceiuing him­selfe to be wounded or any way dis­eased, is moued to seeke about for a remedie: euen so when a sinner by ransacking his life and heart, findeth out his spirituall wounds and disea­ses, hee is by the grace of God pre­pared & prouoked to seeke for cure, and to be deliuered of his grieuan­ces.

Thirdly, he that intends to build, will search the foundation, whether the ground be sound or sandy, whe­ther fast or false. Saluation is a faire and goodly building. Now he that builds it vpon ignorant conceits, & blind presumptions, deceiueth him­selfe, and dishonoureth his Sauiour: therefore it is good for a man to search himselfe, & lay a firme foun­dation; the toppe will fare the better for the bottome. If the ground­worke bee not stable, the building cannot stand: and where there is no [Page 6] sure searching, there can be no sure working. Moreour, he that desireth a plentifull Crop, must view his seed, and search it for Chaffe, Coc­kell, and other noxious and infe­stant seeds: so he, that desireth to be fruitfull in good works, must search himselfe for the seeds of sin, which ingendreth nothing but stinking weedes.

A discreete and faithfull Magi­strate will search his kingdome, for treacherous, rebellious, and other pernitious persons; specially if hee haue had certaine intelligence of them:Reuel. 1. 6 so wee that are made Kings and spirituall Magistrates by Iesus Christ, should search all the corners of our kingdome for our sins, which lurke within vs like traitors, and are ready to pull the crowne from our heades, and snatch the scepter out of our hands, yea and blowe vp the whole Parliamēt of our soules. God hath giuen a man reason to be as a Prince to rule him, it being ru­led by the line of his Lawe: the su­preame [Page] faculties of the soule, be the Peeres or Nobles: the senses are the guard and attendants: the outward part are as the Commons: and our Sins, & sinfull Affections, are trai­tours, rebells, and as factious and infectious persons, which disturbe the peace of the Common-wealth, and being desperate and irreconci­liable enimies vnto the State, doe striue to dismount the Prince from her Throne, and vtterly to ruinate and subuert the kingdome, which God by his holy spirit hath begun to plant within vs. Wherefore like politique and faithfull Princes, it behoueth vs to make search in all the parts of our kingdomes, and as it were with Hoe and Crie to pur­sue our enemies, that by searc [...]ing hauing found them out, they may be brought to their triall, and at the barre of Conscience [...]eceiue sen­tence as they haue deserued.

Finally, the searching of our waies is a meanes to preuent the iudge­ments of God▪ For when men will [Page 8] not search themselues, then God searcheth them out by crosses and afflictions. When men forget to search their waies, then God doth oftentimes put them in minde of this dutie by his rods, and leadeth them (as it were) by the lip. When men run headlong on an end in ir­regular and wretched courses, ne­uer thinking of their way, hee doth sometimes thrust them forward in­to desperate and irrecouerable casu­alties & calamities, yea many times to the losse of their dearest liues: as the diuell did violently driue the the Gadarens swine into the sea.Mar. 5. 13 Sometimes hee thrusts them into the mire of affliction, and maketh them to stumble and fall vpon some stone in their way, or pricketh their feete with the thorne of some sharp and grieuous crosse, and so puts them in minde of their way, and teacheth them to think of their vn­godly courses. When men suffer Sathan to ride them, as the Asse did Balaam, Num. 22. and to abuse them to Gods [Page 9] dishonour, then God dooth often cause his Angell (as I may speake) to stand in their way with the na­ked sword of aduersitie, and so hin­dreth their enormious proceedings. Therefore it is a point of christian wisedome, and wise christianitie, to cal our selues in time to a reckning, and to make a mature and faithfull inquisition and disquisition of all our waies. Search your selues (saith Zephany) euen search you, Zep. [...].1 [...]. O nation not worthy to be loued, before the decree come forth, and yee be as chaffe that passeth in a day, and before the fierce wrath of the Lord come vpon you.

The consideration of these things serueth to conuince and condemne the common custome of most men,Vse. 1. who walk on securely in ignorance and other vngodlinesse, and either sildome or neuer take true notice of their waies; as if a man did not greatly care whither hee tra­uells, or how hee trauells, whe­ther right or wrong, whether in dirt or drie waies, by light or night, so [Page 10] that he do trauell. Yea many are so farre from searching their waies themselues, as that they w [...]l not wil­lingly suffer others; like the foolish and vnpatien [...] Pa [...]ent, which will not lette the S [...]rgeon searche his woundes; or to the man that hath stolen goods about him, who can­not abide to heare of searching. If the Minister shal set opē their gates of craft and cunning carriage, and shall cut downe or breake open these thi [...]k and [...]igh hedges of their deepe hypocrisie, whereby they hide their waies (as much as may be) from the eyes of men, and shall by that meanes or any other disco­uer their waies, and make them see the filthines of their steps, then they stamp▪ they storm, they strike priui­ly with their teeth like Bores, and they bite like serpents: and if their counsell serued, and the times per­mitted, they would openly shewe their ma [...]ice, and vnchaine their ha­tred. All which conuinceth them of gri [...]u [...]us impen [...]tencie and car­nall [Page 11] securitie. Is it not strange that men should search & censure other men, and forget themselues? Is it not strange that all men naturally shuld affect, & delight in searching, some for riches, some for renowne, one for profites, an other for pleasures, a third sort for promotion, and yet few, or almost none in comparison, should search after their waies, that if right, they might mend their pace and haste an ende; if wrong, they might in time retire, & fetch a strai­ter compasse vnto newe Ierusalem, where there is renowne without en­uie, promotiō without pride, wealth and no woe, pleasures but no paines, yea all the good that either thought can thinke, or will can wish? More­ouer, is it not strange that men should bee blowne euery way with the blast of an earthly Prince, as to turne Turke at his command, or to buckle and bende the kneee to his pleasure in any thing; like the bird called Cepphos, which is carried eue­ry way with the winde, and yet to [Page 12] stand like stockes at Gods com­mand, to mooue nothing at all, or at the least not to remoue? Is it not strange that many, which dare no more withstand the word of a king, then the shippe,Act. 27. 15. that Paul was in, could (antophthalmein) outlooke or withstand the stormie winde Euro­clydon, antipiptete yet are nothing afraid with browes of brasse to outface and resist, yea to rush against the Spirit of GOD in the ministery of his Pro­phets,Act. 7. 51. as Saint Steuen said the rebel­lious Iewes did. A King saith to his subiect,For the breach of e­uery com­mandement and exhor­tation is e­ternal death search, or thou diest for it: he searcheth. The King of Kings saith to all his subiects, search or yee die, yea the death of soule and body: ve­rie few regard what he saith, as if ei­ther he iested with them, or as thogh the mouth of his mercie were so wide, that it both could and would swallow vp his iustice for a little of their lip-labour, in a fit of sicknesse, or when they are to shake handes with the worlde; which argueth a fearefull distemper in their soules, [Page 13] euen a spirituall Apoplexy, which hath depriued them of all true sense and motion, as if they were posses­sed with the spirits of those, whom Isaiah saith,Isa. 28. 1 [...] had made a couenant with Death, and an agreement with hell: or at the least, cast in the same mould with many desolute and vn­gracious youths, who hauing excee­ding kinde and affectionate parents or friendes, doe play vpon them in hope of pardon, abusing their leui­tie to the satisfaction of their owne Iust, presuming vpon their milde & gentle disposition.Ʋse 2. Gal. 1. 4. Rom. 12. 2

But we (beloued) being redeemed out of the world, must not fashion our selues vnto the world. Wouldst thou know thy selfe? then search thy selfe. Wouldst thou try thy waies? then search thy waies. The Iustice cannot examine a fellon, till hee be found. A man cannot weigh a thing in the ballance, except he haue the thing. Wouldst thou repent of thy sinnes and turne from them? then la­bour to know them, striue to finde [Page 14] them out.Mat. 8. 9. Shall the Centurion in the Gospell (being a man vnder the authoritie of an other, and hauing souldiers vnder himselfe) command one to goe, and he goeth: an other to come, and he commeth: an other to doe this or that, and he doeth it? And shal the Lord, (who is ouer all, and vnder none) commaund vs to doe this or that, and shall we refuse? Shall he bid vs search? or shall hee say by his Embassadour, Let vs search, and shall wee not search? Know ye not,Math. 12 50. 1. Thess. 4. 3. that he, which doeth the wil of God, is the brother, the sister, yea and the mother of Christ Iesus? Christ himselfe did speake it. But as the Apostle saith, this is the will of God, euen your sanstification: so say I, this is the wil of God, euen the searching of your waies. God doth will it, then let not vs nill it. God doth affect it, therefore let vs effect it. Shall the wicked hunt af­ter the godlye as a Partrich vpon the mountaines?2. Sam. 26 7. 2. Shall wicked Saul seeke, for Dauid to kill kim, so soone [Page 15] as he had intelligence whe [...]e he had hid himselfe, notwithstanding the Lord had forbidden murther? Shall cruel Herod bid the wise men search diligently for our Lorde with a se­cret intention to m [...]rther him?Math. 2. 8 and sh [...]ll not wee seeke and search dili­gently for our sinnes, that we might sac [...]ifice & slaughter them,2. King. 25 as Iohn did the Priests of Baal? They had no commaun [...]emen [...], we are [...]om­ma [...]nded. T [...]ey were forbidden, (I speake not o [...] Iehu) wee are bid­den and exhorted. He which defireth to haue ei [...]her good Bees, or good by his B [...]es, must search their Hiues, for spiders, waspes, drones, and mise: So if we would haue the graces of God to florish and swarm within vs, we must search the Hiue of our hearts for sinnes, which are as waspes and spiders. Brush down the spinner-webs of couetousnesse: kill the drones of lazinesse: driue a­way infidelitie & inordinate cares, which robbe God of his honour: (which should be performed in the [Page 16] temple of our spirits) and troubleth the spirit of God, which as a Bee worketh within vs, building, bree­ding & refining. If the king should not view and search his Ports, nei­ther by himselfe nor by his Mini­sters, they might come to be as well harbours for Pyrates, as hauens for honest Merchants: so if we wil not search and suruey our hearts, they wil be rather hog-sties for sinne & Sathan, then houses for the holy Ghost. If the chanell of the hauen bee not sometimes searcht, and if straight passages amōgst Syres and Sands be not sounded and well ob­serued, there will bee many ship­wrackes and losses, which with wis­dome and labour might haue bene preuented: euen so, if wee doe not search our hearts, and sound them with the line of Gods lawe, and the plummet of his word, with a faith­full heart, a painefull hand, and a diligent care, and if we doe not ob­serue and note our course and com­passe, all our rodes, & all our waies, [Page 17] the shippe of our conscience will be so torne and crazed, that it will ey­ther not at all, or very hardly bee brought into the hauen. Let vs ther­fore, as we respect the voyce of the cryer, as wee regard the fauour of God, as wee either tender our wel­fare, or feare the shipwracke of con­sciences, yea the euerlasting losse of our soules and bodies: let vs in the feare of God, make conscience of this duty. There is no dallying with edged tooles, there is no iesting with God. Be not deceiued, God is not mocked, neither will hee be abused.Gal. 6. 7 And so much for this first lesson: a second followeth.

It is not sufficient for vs to search our waies,Doct. 2. but wee must search them narrowly. For the word Search, sig­nifieth to search by vncouering and making things naked, that are secret & hidden; as if a man should search for golde, in the mine, being in the bowells of the earth, where there is much earth, but little golde oare. Thereby shewing, that sinne is crept [Page 18] into corners, and lieth close in the marow, and lurketh like a serpent in the bones, and that our waies (being many) are not easily discerned; like the way of a bird in the aire, of a fish in the water, or a moule in the earth. This made Dauid cry out in the 19. Psalme,Ps. 19. 12. Who can vnderstand his faults? clense mee from my secret sinnes. And Salomon saith,Ec. 7. 31. that God made man righteous, but they haue found out Many Inuentions; euen so many deuises, & so many waies, as exceed in number the haires of their heads, and the starres of the heauen. Ther­fore hee that would know and try his waies aright, and repent as hee ought, must very diligently search and view them, prying into all the corners of his heart, and obseruing all the courses of his life. There be foure strong reasons, which should moue vs to performe this duty. First, mans heart is a mine of deceit, and a sea of subtilty, and therefore vn­lesse he dig deepe into it, and diue low, or sound it to the bottome, he is [Page 19] very like to beguile himselfe, thin­king all is wel, when nothing is wel. Many mens heartes are like many Quag-mires, which are rotten ground within, and yet seeme solid earth aboue: and like the painted sepulchres,Matt. 23. 17. which our Sauiour speakes of, faire without, but foule within; therefore if we looke but on the outside of our hearts, we may be deceiued. Secondly, the times are so corrupt and vicious, and sinne is growne so shamelesse (like a strum­pet) and yet so subtill (like a serpent or sophister) as that if we search not very circumspectly and iudiciously, we shall passe by many vices, which lie close couered vnder the names of vertues; like some young hunters that bauke the hare, thinking they saw nothing but a clot. Couetous­nesse is counted good husbandrie: drunkennesse goes for good fel­lowship: pride is counted cleanli­nesse: Machiauilianisme is reputed policie: vsury of many is thought but thrift: painting of faces is plea­ded [Page 20] for: Plaies (though lasciuious) are defended: swaggering and swea­ring are made the markes of noble spirits: yea what sin is so vile, which is not eyther made of or minsed? yea there be many works that men doe, which are good as concerning their outward substance, and glorious in appearance, and yet euill in the do­er, being done without faith and for sinister respects, and therefore abhominable in the eies of God; something like the fruite which groweth neare to the Dead Sea, Mare m [...]rtuum. which being ripe, maketh a faire shew, but within is full of cinders or ashes, as some do write. Where­fore if wee search but superficially and not throughly, we shall take and embrace euill for good, as Ixion did the cloud for Iuno. And because sinne is become so wily, as that it presents it selfe vnto vs in the habit of the harmlesse sheepe, beeing in heart a wolfe, we must desire God to open our eyes, and take away the web of ignorance. For if we want [Page 21] the eye of the mind (which is know­ledge) as Izhak wanted the eyes of his body: surely,Gen. 27. as he bestowed his blessing vpon the younger in stead of the elder, vppon Iacob in stead of Esau, so wee shall set our heart amisse, and bestow our bles­sing wrong, taking vice for ver­tue, because it comes disguised.

Thirdly, we had need search our waies very surely, because the seede of all sinnes is sowen in our hearts & there hath taken roote, and shall not till wee die be altogether consumed. Now if our hearts be polluted, our waies cannot bee pure. For if the fountaine be bitter, the brooke can­not be very sweete: and if the roote be corrupted, the branches fare the worse. When men call to minde the murther of Caine, the churlishnes of Nabal, the vnnaturall ambition of Absolon, the wickednesse of Haman, the cruelty of Herod, the malice of the Iewes, the treason of Iudas, the blasphemies of Iulian, & the barba­ritie of those sauage Romanists that [Page 22] would haue blowne vp the Parlia­ment house,An. 1605. they do condemne and accuse them to the pit of hell from whence they came. Beloued, there is in vs by nature an inclination vnto all these sinnes, and a thousand other; therefore we must obserue our waies very narrowly, least wee should be ouertaken, or if we finde pollution in them, that wee may in time redresse them. If a king knew certainly that there were traytours in all the quarters of his kingdome, which plotted his death and the destruction of his Kingdome, hee would bee very wary how or where he walked, and he would be as industrious in searching out his enemies. If a man knew the [...]e were some in his house that would (if they could) cut his throate and robbe him, he would be very circumspect. If a Cittie had certaine intelligence that there were some in the towne, that would either fire it ouer theyr heads, or betray it (if it were possi­ble) to their enemies, surely they would not be secure, but would vse [Page 23] all meanes possible to finde them out. Verily (beloued) we are peste­red with enemies. Our waies are many, our workes are many, and not one of all these, no not the best, but it is polluted with some sinne or other. So many sinnes as a man hath, so many enemies he hath to the saluation of his soule:Ro. 6. 23. for the waies of sinne is death. But our hearts, our heads, our hands, yea all the powers of our soules, are tainted with sinnes, all which conspire a­gainst vs with Sathan, to worke the eternall destruction of our soules & bodies. Therfore it stands vs vpō to vse all diligence to find thē out.

Fourthly, wee are by God com­maunded to keepe our hearts With all diligence, Pro. 4. 23 which wee can neuer doe, vnlesse we view them through­ly, and search our waies with excee­ding care. How can a Gouernor of a Cittie keepe and defend it in the time of warre, when the enemies do begirt it, vnles he haue a narrow eye vnto all the in-rodes and out-rodes [Page 24] of his souldiers, and to the behaui­our of the townes-men. So we shal neuer defende the Castles of our soules, and preserue them from bat­tery, and being taken, hauing so many enemies within vs, without vs; before and behinde, yea on eue­ry side, vnlesse we doe well obserue the in-rodes of our senses, the out-rodes of our affections, the flight of our thoughtes, the cries of our con­sciences, the workes of our handes, and the waies of our feete, Other­wise we may as soone keepe a foe to molest vs, as a friend to maintaine vs: a Iudas to betray vs, as a Ioseph to befriend vs: a false-hearted Da­lila, as a faithfull Ionathan. Where­fore (brethren) as we either respect the glory of God, or desire our own peace and prosperitie, let vs make conscience of this dutie. Shal many men take paines to commit wic­kednesse,Ier. 9. 5. and shall not wee take paines to please God by dooing of his will?1. Pet. 2. 15. But as Peter saith, This is the will of God, that by well doing [Page 15] yee may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. So I say, this is the will of God, that by diligent sear­ching of your waies, ye may be pre­pared to repent of your ignorance, and to forsake all your follies, and so to stop the mouth of your accu­sing consciences, and silence those that condemne your profession for your notorious vices. Know ye not that all the duties of Christianitie must bee performed with zeale and diligence? Hee that requires a sound conuersion, cannot away with slack and slothfull searching. Wee must striue to enter in at the strait gate,Mat. 7. 13 if wee will be partakers of heauenly glorie: euen so wee must striue to finde out our waies, if we desire ey­ther to walke aright in the way of life, or to change our waies if they tend to death.Prou. 27. 23. Must men (as Salomon aduiseth) bee diligent to know the state of their flockes, and must they take heede to their heards? and doth it beseeme vs to neglect the know­ledge of our waies, and to be care­lesse [Page 26] in keeping of our hearts? Shall we roll euery stone, and vse the vtmost meanes to raise our selues in this world; and shall wee not vse this first meanes, that wee may be reclai­med to God in this world, and may bee raised by him in the worlde to come? No pardon, no peace: no pe­nitencie, no pardon: no repentance, no remission. And doe we thinke to repent of our waies before wee know them? And is it possible to know them without faithfull sear­ching of them? What is the cause men turne so much, and returne so little?Mouent non pro mouent. What is the reason, that men moue so fast, but moue not forward? Surely, one reason is, because they do not vnderstand their state aright, which no man can attaine vnto, without accurate and faithfull sear­ching of his waies. Hee that would know the cause why his corne thri­ueth not, why his vines flourish not, and why his trees prosper not, must search diligently for weedes, for su­perfluous branches, and other an­noyances. [Page 27] So he that would know, why hee groweth not in grace, and thriueth not in knowledge: why he doth either goe backward, as the shadow did in the diall of Ahaz, Isa. 38. 8. Ios. 10. 13 Psa. 19. 5. or stand still as Ioshuas, sunne did, and not goe forwardes as Dauids did, which commeth forth as a bridegrooms out of his chamber, and roioyceeh like a mighty man to run his race, hee must diligently ransacke his heart, and search his waies, and so he shall per­ceiue the reason, and discerne the lets. Therefore (beloued) as wee de­sire the grounds of our harts should bee fertill, the vine of Gods graces should spread, and the tree of our soules should flourish: as wee desire the peace of conscience, and that we should returne to God, and God to vs, let vs with all fidelitie, search and finde out our waies. For though it be no cause to worke it, no merit to deserue it, yet is it by the blessing of God, a notable furtherance and pre­paration; euen the first stone to­wards our spirituall building, and [Page 28] the first step to the true conuersion of our hearts and mindes vnto God. And this shall suffice for the first branch of the Prophets exhortati­on. The second followeth. And trie our waies. Doct. 3. The originall worde of that which is translated (Trie) signi­fieth to search out, trie, or examine to the ground or bottom of a thing. Whence I conclude, that wee ought to the vtmost examine and proue all our waies▪ whether they be foule or faire, right or wrong. And here I will first shewe why wee ought to make this triall, and then by what. For the first; this triall is a meanes of thankfulnesse. For if after serious examination, wee doe finde them good, we shall be stirred vp to mag­nifie the name of God, for directing our [...]eete aright in the paths of his precepts, and for preseruing vs from falling downe and wandring out. If we finde them euill, yet then we shall be prouoked to praise him for sparing of vs, and not taking vs away in our sins, as we did deserue, [Page 29] A seruant or child cannot but com­mend his maisters, and his father [...] leuitie, that with patience doth bear his offences, and forbeare to pu­nish him, as he hath transgressed. So we, that are the sonnes and ser­uants of the Lord, cannot (if there bee but one graine of grace within vs) but extoll his loue and long-suffring towards vs, in bearing with our sinnes, and sparing of his iudge­ments, farre otherwise, then by tri­all of our waies, we finde that wee could either merit or expect. And as the man, that considereth by day what daungers hee did escape by darke, is occasioned to giue thankes to God for preseruing of him: so when we shall duly consider, how near we were to the pit of destructi­on, by reason of our sinnes, and yet how fauourable God hath bene vn­to vs (euen then when we could not see to walke aright) as that hee did not confound vs in our waies, wee are occasioned and prouoked al­so to glorifie the name of God for [Page 30] moderating his iustice towards vs▪

Secondly, the true triall of our waies will be a meanes to further our seeking of God, and his grace. For when a man after triall percei­ueth his tickle estate by sinne, hee is prepared (if not prouoked) to seeke out for safe deliuerance. As a man perceiuing the danger of his disease seeketh to the skilfull Phisitian for a remedie: so when a man by dili­gent and faithfull searching and examination of his waies, shall dis­cerne his defectes, and the daunge­rous diseases of his soule, hee is inci­ted to seeke to Christ the only true Phisitian of our soules for cure. And as the swallow perceiuing her selfe almost blinde, present­ly seeketh out the hearbe Celan­dine, and the Hart feeling himselfe shot with arrow, doth (as some say) by & by run to the hearb Ditany, or Dictandor: so when a man findes himselfe by trial almost blind with sinne, and his soule stricken with the dartes of iniquitie, he is prepa­red [Page 31] (if not perswaded) to seeke out to Christ our Celandine, our Dictan­der, yea our Panacaea, which healeth all our spirituall maladies and dis­eases; the Plethory of pride, th [...] Consumption of enuy, the Dropsie of Couetousnesse, the Phrensie of anger, the Crampe of fearefulnesse, the Lethargie of forgetfulnesse, the Apoplexy of a dead and flinty spi­rite. Furthermore, as the King of some countrey, seeing the multi­titude of his enemies, both forrein and domesticall, and perceiuing his inabilitie to withstand or ouer­come them (as it were) constrained to seeke for helpe to his neighbors abroad: so when the true Christi­an man by trying of his heart and waies, shall perceiue his enemies to be both mighty and many, and him­selfe vnsufficient to conquer and subdue them, he is mooued to seeke abroad to his neighbour and elder brother Christ Iesus, that so by the vertue of his death, and operation of his spirite, they may bee quelled [Page 32] and subdued.

Thirdly, this triall is a meanes to prepare a man for the worke of re­pentance, & returning from finne. Also the phisitian by one receit pre­pares a way for an other: and as the Carpenter or Ioyner by one of his tooles procureth a way for an other: so the Phisitian of our soules, and the great Carpenter of our spiritu­all building, by causing vs to proue our waies, prepareth vs to redresse them, and fitteth vs for further workes. The traueller perceiuing himselfe to be out of his right way, doth presently bethinke with him­selfe, how hee may come into it a­gaine: so we that are trauellers and wayfaring men, perceiuing by true triall, that wee are not in our right way, are therevpon forthwith dis­quieted, and moued to goe backe a­gaine or search it out. When a bird perceiues the daunger of the snare or net, she seekes to flye away: so when the childe of God seeth what damage hee is like to sustaine by [Page 33] reason of his sinfull courses, which hee hath found out by faithfull exa­mination, and what a net of ven­gāce he is like to haue cast ouer him, hee dooth seeke to scape and get a­way.

Fourthly, God hath two fannes: the one of his lawe, the other of his iudgements. God hath two fires: one of his worde, an other of his wrath. Hee that would not be fan­ned with the fan of his iudgements, mus [...] fanne himselfe with the fanne of his law: and hee that would not bee burnt vppe with the fire of his wrath, must proue himselfe in time with the fire of his word. Hee that trieth his waies, whether they bee good or euill, is very like to escape all danger: whereas he that ploddeth on, and neuer regardeth them, is like to stumble on the stones of venge­ance, & fall vpon the stakes of Gods indignation, which are euery where laid and set in those waies, which are not strait and good.Pro. 16. 2. & 21. 2. To conclude this first point, All the waies of man [Page 34] (saith Salomon) are cleane and right in his owne eyes:Pro. 30. 12 and there is (as Agur af­firmeth) a generation that are pure in their owne conceit, and yet there is no man liuing voide of sinne. For as there is no mettall without some drosse, and no body without some corruptiō:Eccl 7. 22 so there is no soule with­out some sinne, and no man so pure who hath not som pollution in him. Wherefore, seeing men are natural­ly giuen to sooth vp themselues, & to thinke better of their estate then reason requireth (for by nature the whole frame of our heartes is Onely euill continually, Gen. 6. 5. and grace in this life doth but waste and weaken nature, and not wholly consume it) it is a thing both conuenient,Rom. 7. 18. 23. commenda­ble, and necessary to try our selues to the vtmost; as also all our waies, least we doe deceiue our selues, thinking our condition safe and sound, being in deede and truth (whatsoeuer in appearance) corrupt and wretched; like a fuzball (it may bee) which seemeth solid, but beeing broken or [Page 35] trod vpon, doth straightway vanish like a leame of lightning. And thus much cōcerning the reasons which should make vs try our waies. It re­maineth now to shew by what wee ought to make our triall. For if a man measure with a wrong wand, and weigh with false weights, or a deceitfull ballance, hee shall delude himselfe, and make but bad worke. If thou wouldest try thy waies by humane learning, it cannot truly tell thee what the nature and desert of sinne is in all respects: yea it maketh that sometimes a vertue, which God esteemeth but a vice. Secondly, if a man will bee tried by his compani­ons, vndoubtedly (if they weare the cognisance of the world, and bee of her stamping) they will perswade him his state is good, and that hee is a right good companion, though his case in deed be very vile and lamen­table. If thou consult with thine own flesh, it will make thee beleeue all is well. It, like an vnruly iade can­not indure the reignes; and like ma­ny [Page 36] malecontent and froward male­factours, cannot away with triall; therefore if it be iudge, it will neuer be condemned. If we will be tried by the church of Rome, she wil teach vs that many mortall sinnes are but veniall and trifles: she will perswade vs that murthering of Princes, re­bellion, equiuocating (o [...] lying) and many other horrible sinnes, are in some case lawfull and laudable. Fift­ly, if wee will try our waies by the waies of the world, & her children, then wee shall approue that as good which God de [...]esteth as most wic­ked, & condemne that as euil, which is very good and acceptable in the sight of God. For the world is blind, and her iudgement is corrupt and partiall: her scoales are false, and her weights vnequall. Whence it is, that vertue oftentimes walkes on foote vpon the ground, when vice dooth ride vpon the horse, and is reiected when that is receiued. Yea wee see the world like an Alcumist, hath made a vice of vertue, & turned vice [Page 37] into a vertue; so as that the professi­on of vertue, is reputed ignomini­ous, and derided of the world; there­fore she can be no competent iudge. Sixtly, if wee will try our estate by the Diuell, Who is a lyar, Ioh. 8. 44. hee will ey­ther perswade vs that our case is des­perate, when yet there is hope in re­spect of Gods mercy, and Christs merits: or else he will whisper in our eares, that all is well, when in truth our condition is very pitifull, and with teares to be deplored. And this Lullabee hee singeth vsually to the witch, till she come to the stake, and to the carnall man, till hee come to his graue, and so rockes them fast a sleepe in the cradle of sensuall secu­rity. He speakes all for his owne ad­uantage, and therefore his sentence is to bee reiected and exploded. By what then must wee trie our waies? euen by the commande­ments and ordinances of the Lord. For they declare vnto vs the will of God, and shew vs what wee are to will, and what to nill: what to loue, [Page 38] and what to leaue: what to perform, and what to passe by. These will teach vs, when and howe to walke: when we are to sit, & when to stand: when to rest, and when to rise and run. These will guide vs aright, and shew vs when wee are wrong. For the statutes of the Lord are right, & his commandements giue light vnto the eyes. Psal. 19. 8. 11. Psal. 119. 104, 105. Psal. 119. 144, 151. By them are his seruants made circumspect, and purchase vn­derstanding. Thy word (saith Dauid) is a lanterne vnto my feete, and a light vnto my paths, the righteousnesse of thy testimonies is euerlasting, and all thy commandements are true. Gods pre­cepts must be our practise▪ and his law must bee the line of our obedi­ence. His word must bee the rule of our workes, and the determiner of all our waies. All is not gold which glisters: all coine that hath Caesars image vpon it, is not currant, but sometimes counterfet: neither is all good corne, that so seemeth. Wee must therefore take vnto vs the Touch-stone of Gods word, and [Page 39] the Fanne of his law, and make our triall by them; and so wee shall dis­cerne which is gold, & which is gil­ded copper; which is of Gods owne stamping▪ and which hath come from the Mint-house of our flesh, and from the forge of the diuell, and which is good and cleane wheate, and which corrupt and chaffie.

The consideration of these points,Ʋse 1. teacheth vs in the first place, to bee carefull to know and vnderstand all the commandements of God, legall, and Euangelicall; because by these we must prooue our waies, as male­factours are tried by the Law.Psal. 119. 15. 18. Da­uid saith, I wil meditate in thy precepts, and consider thy waies. Open my eyes that I may see the wonders of thy Law, Psal. 119. 24, 64, 73 and teach me thy statutes. Thy testimo­nies are my delight, and my counsellers. Giue me vnderstāding, that I may learn thy commandements. Shall we labour to know the lawes of men, & to [...] derstand the secrets of nature? and shall wee not labour to learne Go [...] law, and to vnderstand the secr [...]t [...] [Page 40] thereof? Shall we get stones to trie our golde, whether it be pure mettall, or but base? and shall we haue scales and weights to proue whether it bee light or weightie? And shall we not get the know­ledge of Gods worde, that wee may proue our waies? It will shew vs their nature, and is able to sound our hearts to the bottome. There­fore all ignorant persons are farre frō the performance of this weigh­tie dutie.

Vse. 2.Secondly, the consideration of these thinges, serueth to con­uince and condemne the multitude of negligence and frowardnesse. Some cannot trie their waies, be­cause they want the eye of vnder­standing, and the true touchstone of of all truth and falshood, of vice and vertue: therefore though they sometimes attempt to trie theyr waies, yet because their eyes are out, and gesse by groping, as Isaac did in an other matter, they are vsuallye (if not alwayes) decei­ued, [Page 41] as well (or rather worse) then hee.

Some againe will not make this triall; like many men that haue run long & much on the score, & can­not endure to heare of a reckoning. Thirdly, there are some that dare not view the Lawe,Occultum quatiente auimo tor­tore flagel­lū, Iuuen. it seemes vex­ed with the gripes of a guiltie con­science, and possessed with the spi­rit of slauish feare; like the Ele­phant, who being guiltie to his owne deformitie, cannot abide to see his face in faire water: and like slaues, that being afraide of the whip, cannot endure to haue theyr offences scanned, or themselues ex­amined. Finally, some will indeede trie their waies, but not throughly, onely coldly and ouerly: and some will trie one way, but not an other: some, but not all. Whereas the Prophet exhorteth vs to make an exact and perfect triall of all, and not of some onely, and therefore he saith; Let vs trie our wayes, Vse. 3. and not way, or some of them.

[Page 42]Wherefore (brethren) let vs vse all care and conscience in this dutie. Let vs learne to knowe Gods will, and labour to vnderstand his com­maundements, and withall, let vs faithfully try All our waies, so neare as is possible by them. Wouldest thou see the face of thy soule? then behold it in the Glasse of Gods lawe, and thou shalt easily perceiue whe­ther it be faire or foule, whether pale or fresh? Wouldest thou dis­cerne the bottome of thy heart, whether it be cleare and grauelly, or muddie and clammy? sound it with the long line of Gods lawe, & with the weightie plummet of his pre­cepts, and thou shalt obtaine thy desire. Wouldest thou know the condition of thy waies? then mea­sure them with the met-wand of his word, and examine them by the old and auncient way of the faithfull Patrairkes and Prophets, chalked out in the sacred scriptures. Woul­dest thou turne out of by-pathes, and walke aright, and with an euen [Page 43] foote? then view thy waies with di­ligence. I haue considered my waies (saith Dauid) and turned my feete vn­to thy testimonies. Surely,Ps. 119. 59. that man which proueth his waies aright, is in the high way to heauen, and in a faire forwardnesse, to make a sound conuersion. Now hee proueth his waies aright, that doth it sincerely, cheerefully, diligently, maturely, constantly, and in conscience of Gods commaundement, desiring pardon in the name of Christ, for the imperfection of his worke, and striuing daily to amend it. And thus much for this third Doctrine.Doct. 4. A fourth followeth. In that Ieremy saith, Let VS search and trie our waies. I gather first, that no place or priui­ledge, no calling or discent whatso­euer, can exempt a man from the performance of this dutie. These were Israelites, the seede of Abra­ham, men of diuers ages & degrees, and himselfe a Prophet. The yoke of Gods commaundements is lai [...] vpon euery necke. And why should [Page 44] not gold be tried as well as meaner mettall?

Doct. 5.2. I conclude againe, that pouer­tie, penury, crosses and calamities must not so dismay vs, as that wee doe forget, or should thinke it too late to searche and examine our waies, as if God had vtterly cast vs off. These people were in ex­treame distresse.Lam. 1. 1. 3. Lam. 2. 2, 11, 12, 20, [...]1. Ierusalem was become a tributary. Iudah was car­ried away captiue. All the habi­tions of Iacob were destroied. Their children and sucklinges swooned in the streetes, and perished in their mothers bosom through hun­ger. The women were constrai­ned to eate their owne children. The olde men lay in the streetes, the young men and virgins were slaine with the sword.Lam. 4. 4. The tongue of the sucking childe claue to the roofe of his mouth for thirst.5. They that were brought vp in scarlet, em­braced the dung.10. The hands of the pittifull women, did seethe their owne children for meate. They [Page 45] dranke their water for money,Lam, 5. 4, 5, 12, 14. and their neckes were vnder persecuti­on. Their Princes were hanged vp, and their Elders were disgraced. All the pallaces of Israel were con­sumed.Lam. 2. 5, 15. Ierusalem was hissed at. All their enemies barked against them. The Temple of the Lord was pro­phaned.Lam. 3. 46 Lam. 2. 7, 20. Lam. 4. 16 The Prophets were slaine in the sanctuary. No mercie was shewed to the Elders, and no re­uerence giuen to the Priestes. Yet notwithstanding all this their mi­serie, the Prophet exhorts them to searche and trie theyr wayes, and to returne vnto the Lorde; thereby shewing, that there was hope of recouerie, and no time past, to ransacke and reforme themselues. For the Lorde is rich in loue, the doore of his grace, and the bowels of his mer­cie, are neuer shut vp against the penitent.Ps. 145. 9. Ps. 89. 32, 33. His mercie is ouer all his workes, and hee will not alway chide, neither is his loue remo­ued from his children, when hee [Page] doth visit their transgressiō with the rod, & their iniquitie with strokes. Therefore no affliction (how grie­uous soeuer) must daunt our spirits, and dull the edge of our courages, and make vs abstaine from the per­formance of these workes, as if all labour herein were spent in vaine.

Doct. 6.3. Furthermore, hence I gather, that euen those which are actually conuerted & regenerated, had need to search and trie their waies, and may very wel be exhorted therevn­to. The Prophet was a holy man of God, not onely by vertue of his speciall calling, by being a Prophet sanctified and set apart for the ser­uice of God, but also in respect of his generall calling; for without doubt he was the child of God, and so no question were some of those, to whom he speaketh. The Ro­manes and Corinthians were many of them truly sanctified,Rom. 1. 7. 1 Cor. 1. 2 Rom. 15. 14. 15. yet Paul bestoweth many exhortations vp­on them, and some not much vnlike to this. There is no riuer without [Page 4] some mud,1. Ioh. 1. 8 no way without so [...]e mire, dirt or dust: so there is no man without some corruption, and no mans way voyde of all vncleane­nesse; therefore euery man (how good soeuer) had neede to search himselfe and proue his waies. Fur­thermore, as there is no ground so fat, which may not sometimes bee wel watered with a showre of rain: so there is no mans heart so fertill, but may abide the sweet and whol­some dewe of heauenly exhortati­ons. Is there any vine without some superfluous sprig, or any tree with­out a water-branch? so there is no vine in Gods vineyard, no plant in all his Orch-yard here vppon the earth, but hath his fault.1. Ki. 8. 46 For there is no man (as Salomon affirmeth) that sinneth not. Now godly exhortati­ons are as pruning kniues to lop off the superfluous braunches of sinne, and as the riuer Nilus is to part of Aegypt, so these must be as manure to fatten, and as water to moysten the barren and drie grounds of our [Page 48] hearts. Which things no doubt shall be effected by them, if it please the Spirit of God to open the pores of of our soules to receiue them in, and the blessed Sonne of righteousnesse to shine vpon vs with the beames of his loue, and to warme vs with the heate of his grace. Wherefore we ought with all reuerence and o­bedience, both heare, and beare the word of exhortation.

Doct. 7.Lastly, from this word (vs) I con­clude, from the Prophets example, who includeth himselfe in this ex­hortation, that it is fit and commen­dable in the Minister (though hee stand in the roome of Christ) some­times to include himselfe in his ex­hortations.2. Cor 5. 20 Though it be lawfull to say with Dauid, Examine your owne heart:Psal. 4. 4. and with Paul, Let euery man examine himselfe; yet it is neither vn­lawfull, nor vncommendable for vs to say also with Ieremy; Let vs search and examine our waies. For first, Mi­nisters are way-faring men as well as others; secondly, they are subiect [Page 49] to erring as well as other men.Iam. 5. 17. Helias was (as Iames saith) subiect to such passions, as other of Gods children are. Peter sinned, as other pro [...]essors did. Thirdly, by this meanes, their exhortations will be more forcible; seeing they perswade them to do no worse, then they eyther would, or should doe themselues. Lastly, shall the wicked say to a man, Come with vs, cast in thy lot among vs, Prou 1. 11. 14. Prou. 7. 18 Ps. 64. 5. wee will lay waite for blood? Shall the harlot say, Let vs take our pleasure in dalliance? Shall vngodly men exhort and in­courage one an other to commit wickednesse, and shall not the god­ly Minister animate & exhort him­selfe with others, to doe that which is commanded of God, commenda­ble among men, and comfortable to the conscience? Hee that speaketh not vnto himselfe, as well as to an other, is eyther like a clocke, that tells the time for others; or like a marke in the way, which rotteth it self, whiles it stands to direct others. Therefore, as Iacob set party-colou­red [Page 50] rods before the sheep,Gen. 30. 37, 38, 39. that they might bring forth young of party colour, and so they did: so let all Mi­nisters set before their eyes the pra­ctise of this Prophet, that they may walke in his steps, and do as he hath done before them. And thus much for this seuenth instruction.

Doct. 8.Moreouer, though the Prophet knew full well that God had ordei­ned and ordered all things in an e­ternall and immutable decree, and therefore had eternally determined who should search and try their waies and turne to God, and who should not; yet he doth exhort them all indifferently to the performance of this duty. Gods counsell must not make them lazie, his decree must not make them doe nothing, or keep the Prophet from preaching to thē. For as he hath decreed the end, so he hath determined the meanes & way thereunto. As hee hath ordeined a mans saluation, so hath he subordei­ned his conuersion, calling, and iu­stification. As he hath eternally set [Page 51] downe, who shall turne vnto him, so he hath eternally set downe, that hee shall search and examine his waies. God did meane that Para­dice should be a fatte and fruitefull place, and therefore he prouided a riuer to water it,Gen. 2. 10 which went out of Eden. God had decreed that the wals of Iericho should be cast downe, and so withall, for the effecting of his purpose, he did appoint that seuen Priests should sounde seuen trum­pets,Iosh 6. 4▪ 3 and that all the people should shout very loude, and so the walls should fall flat downe. So God hath decreed that his Church shuld be a faire and fruitfull Garden: and to this purpose he hath appointed, that it shoulde bee watered with wholsome exhortations, and hath appointed his ministers to keepe and dresse it. God hath from all eternitie purposed that the gates of hell, and walles of sinne, should in some be flung from their hinges, and shaken to the ground: and to effect his purpose, hee hath com­manded [Page 52] [...]is Prophets and Ministers to sound out the [...]rumpet of his law and gospel, at the sound whereof he raiseth the dead f [...]om the graue of sinne, and dri [...]eth downe (when and in whom he pl [...]ase [...]h) the [...]owers of pride, the bulwarks of concupisence, the castles of iniq [...]i [...]y, & sorely sha­keth (if not shiuereth) all the muni­ments and foretresses of the di­uell.

Ʋse 1.First therefore, let all Gods Mini­ste [...]s, with this holy Prophet, re­member to performe their office, notwithstanding the immutabilitie of Gods eternall counsell.

Vse 2.Secondly, let all men be careful to vse the meanes, as wel as they are de­sirous to attaine vnto the end; for o­therwise they may iustly feare the wo [...]st. For the holy Ghost faith, that the sonnes of Eli did not obey their fathers voice,1. Sam. 2. 25. Because the Lord would slay them Therefore, [...]f we sha [...]l con­temne the counsell of the Prophet, it is to bee f [...]ared, that God hath a purpose to take vs away in our sins.

[Page 53]Thirdly,Ʋse. 3. all those prophane and godles wretches, are to be condem­ned, that cast off all care of religion, and liue like monsters in the world. It is (they say) bootelesse for them to search, to try, to striue to serue the Lord, conside [...]ing that their death or life is in the decree of God set down without possibility of alteration. This which they say, is both false & foolish: but it is an ill neede that wil grow on no ground. Foolish it is; for if they speake the truth, they may as well expect to liue, and yet abstaine from me [...]e & drinke. And it is as false as foolish; For as God hath decreed life and found repen­tance, so hee hath decreed faith, obe­dience, searching and examination of our waies. The holy Ghost tea­cheth, that Promotion commeth neither Ps. 75. 6. from the East, nor from the West, nor from the South b [...]t 1. Chro. 2 [...]. 12. from the Lord: so he sheweth that the way to rise with comfort, is to honour God, to waite vpon him, and not to swer [...]e from his waies. For 1. Sam. [...].30. God will honour [Page 54] those that honour him, and wil Ps. 37. 34 ex­alt those that attende vpon him and keepe his way.Act. 27. 22, 23, 31, 34, 43. Paul assuredly knew that none of those, that were in the ship with him should perish, yet hee did exhort them to receiue th [...]ir meate, and told the Centurion and his souldiers, that if the ship-men staied not in the shippe, they them­selus should perish: and when the souldiers afterwards were purposed to kill the prisoners, the Centurion moued by God, hindered their in­tent, & so all were preserued. There­fore let no man thinke it needelesse to conuert, if God haue decreed his saluation, or labor lost to search and proue his waies, because of the con­stant nature of Gods eternall coun­sell: but rather let him therefore vse these meanes, that so hee may both shewe himselfe submissiue to this voyce of God, and gather assurance to himsel [...]e, that hee is one of those, whom God hath decreed to receiue to mercy. Doe wee thinke that the Prophet would haue exhorted vs to [Page 55] doe it, if it had beene needlesse? Are Gods commandements idle and vn­profitable? He that will liue, must la­bour: hee that desireth health, must exercise his ioynts: he that would be learned, must vse his wi [...]s, and study: so hee that will bee saued, must re­pent: and he that would repent, must search and trie his waies.Ps. 119. 9 If a young man would redresse his way, hee must look vnto it according to Gods word: and so if a young man would know whether his way bee good or euill, hee must examine it by his word. He that desireth to know the disposition of his friend, must trie him: so he that desireth to know the affections of his hart, and the nature of his waies, must proue them, that he may doe with them,Exod 4. 3. as Moses did with his rod, which while it was a rod, hee kept it in his hand, and vsed it familiarly, but when it prooued a serpent, he ranne from it. He which neglecteth the meanes, barreth him­selfe of the end. Hee that will not worke in summer, is likely to starue [Page 56] in winter. To proceed, Let vs search and try OVR waies.

Doct. 9.Forsomuch as Ieremy requireth that wee should search and try our owne waies, I gather, that our prin­cipall and speciall care and diligence must bee in learning to knowe our selues, and labouring to discerne our own courses▪ He doth not say, search thy neighbours way, but thine own: hee saith not, let vs try the waies of the Assyrians, Aegyptians, or Aethi­opians, but let vs try our waies. So Dauid saith,Psal. 4. 4. Zeph. 2. 1. Examine your owne heart vpon your hed▪ Zephaniah saith, Search your selues: and Paul saith, Let euery man examine himselfe. 1. Cor. 11. 28 2. Cor. 13. 15. And againe, Proue your selues whether yoe are in the faith; examine your selues: know yee not your selues, how that Iesus Christ is in you, e [...]cept ye be reprobates? The say­ing is, Nosce te ipsum▪ Know thy selfe. And the Apostle saith,Gal. 4. 4, 5 Let ouery man proue his owne worke, for euery man shall beare his owne burthen. Euerie soule must answere for his owne sin.2. Cor. 5. 10. Euery man must receiue the things [Page 57] which are done in his owne body. It is wisedome therefore for euery man to search and examine his owne waies. Who can know thy waies so well as thy selfe? Who will bee so faithfull to thee as thy selfe? Ego­met sum proximus mihi: euery man is neerest to himselfe. Amor a seipso, loue beginnes with a mans selfe: how can hee be faithfull to another, that is carelesse of him­selfe? With what face can a man of­fer to take a moa [...]e out of his bro­thers eye, hauing a great beame in his owne? How darest thou counsell they neighbour to search and try his waies, and nothing re­gardest thine owne? What hast thou to doe to take the word of ex­hortation into thy mouth, seeing thou hatest to bee reformed, and hast cast the word of exhortation behinde thy backe? Why doest thou meddle with other m [...]ns ma­ladies, if thou neglect thine owne? Phisitian, first learne to cure thy selfe.

[Page 58]If a man lay but a very li [...]tle obiect close to his eye, it will so take vp his sight, as that he shall not see many things a farre off: so if we would set our owne waies before our eies, and view them as we ought to doe, wee should not bee so curious and cunning in searching other mens, If a mans house be on fire, as well (or rather ill) as his neighbours, questionlesse he will not be so care­full for his neighbours, as that hee will be carelesse of his owne. Our soules are on fire with sinne: why then should any man neglect him­selfe, and forget to quench his own, and bestowe all his paines (if any at all) in slaking of his neighbours? Seeing our waies are as foule and as vneuen as our neighbours, why should not our chiefest care bee to repaire & make straight our owne, vnlesse we had rather see our neigh­boures shooes cleaner then our owne? Is it vnseemly for a Prince to be skilfull in the state of forraine kingdomes, and either negligent or [Page 59] ignorant of his owne? And is it seemely for vs to search and exa­mine the conditions of other men, and neuer to discusse our selues, and search our owne? Euery man hath a Common-wealth within him, le [...] him be most conuersant and occu­pied in his owne. It is no point of good husbandrie for a man to ac­quaint himselfe with his neighbors groundes, goods, corne or cattell, and to know neither the nature, the names, nor the number of his owne: therefo [...]e Salomon saith,Pro. 27. 23. Bee dili­gent to knowe the state of thy (thine owne) flocke, and not thy neigh­bours. Euen so, it is neither Chri­stian thrift, nor wisedome to bee cu­rious in prying into other mens waies, and laborious in iudging them, and to be obliuious or igno­rant of our owne; and therefore Ieremy saith, Let vs search and trie our (euen our owne) waies, euery man his owne waies by himselfe. As euery shepheard lookes to his owne sheepe, euery marriner to his [Page 60] owne mast, euery founder to his owne mettall: so let euery man looke to his owne waies. The wise virgins were carefull for their owne lampe [...]: so let vs looke to our owne professions. The Bee trims her owne h [...]ue: so let vs dresse our own hearts. The bird frequenteth her owne neast. The Cony keepeth her owne burrow.Pro. 31. 27 The good hus­wife mindeth her owne house, and carrieth it about with her like a snaile: so we must haunt our owne hearts, and haue greatest respect, and a most watchfull eye to our owne waies. The good heardsman chiefly searcheth his owne flockes. The good husbandman doth most of all sea [...]ch and trie the qualitie and nature of his owne soile: so we must chi [...]fly husband, search and examine our owne soules, our own affections, our owne workes, and our own waies. The Apostle saith, that hee that prouideth not for his owne,1. Tim. 5. 8 denieth the faith, and is worse then an Infidell. So it may be truly [Page 61] saide of him that dooh not search and proue his owne waies, that hee dooth denie obedience vnto God, and is in a wretched condition, not able to prooue himsel [...]e better then a Pagan, setting aside his outward professi­on, and name of a Christian, which stands him in no more stead, then for a ranke beggar to bee reputed rich; or for a man to bee intituled Emperour of all the world, and yet to want a house to shroud his head. Here then comes to be condemned the common custome of many cu­rious and captious persons, that for­get themselues. & busie themselues in searching and examining their neighbours.Pro. 7. 11. Salomon saith of the harlo [...], that she is bab [...]ing and loud and her feete cannot abide in her house. So these men delight in babling of o­ther mens sinnes, they are loud and shril in sounding out the faults of o­thers [...], and in censuring and tax­ing their waies, but they passe by themselues, they loue not to tar­rie within the doores of their owne [Page 62] hearts. They will search others to the quicke, and passe their verdict on their waies to the highest straine of the Law, but in the meane time they meddle not with themselues, or make but a very par [...]iall triall. These men like crowes, are best at ease, when they are feeding their corrupt humours vpon the carrion of other mens sins, or like the flesh-flie, that alway delights to sit vpon the soare. I taxe not the lawful sear­ching and examination of other mens waies, made by the lawfull Magistrate, the godly Minister, the honest Maister, and religious pa­rent, or of any other, that keepeth himselfe within the lists and limits of his calling. Onely this I say, let curious inquisition bee abandoned: and let him that searcheth and trieth the waies of other men, be mindfull of his owne; lest hee proue no better (at the best) then either the lant­horne, which beareth a light for o­thers to see by:Caprificus. or the wilde fig-tree, which (as they say) giueth that to o­thers, [Page 63] which it hath not it selfe. So let him take heede, lest hee be an oc­casion and helpe to others for to re­pent by discouering their waies vn­to them, & yet be through his own default the destruction of himselfe, in that he did not discouer and pon­der his owne. Thus much concer­ning the two former branches of the Prophets exhortation, which I beseech you (brethren) be mindefull of. Shall the Oxe know his owner,Isa. 1. [...]. and the Asse his masters crib, and shall wee be ignorant of our waies, and not know our selues? If wee would not, then we must search and try them. Wouldst thou haue the vessell of thine heart clensed of the lees of sinne?Ezek. 36. 25. As thou must get it rinsed with the clensing water of Gods Spirit, so thou must search and examine it thy selfe; or other­wise thou wilt not thinke it is so full of dregges and corruption as it is, and so will bee more secure then is meete.

I proceed now to the third brāch,Doct. 10. [Page 64] And let vs turne againe vnto the Lord. Doct. 10. Whence I gather these two Doc­trines. First, that sinnes sets a man out of his right way, and makes him wander from the Lord: for hee that will haue fellowshippe and fauour with God, is exhorted to turn from his sinnes. Sinne doth vntune the strings of the heart, and puts the limmes of the soule out of ioynt. It makes one stray like a sheepe, and leades one from God to the diuell; from life to death, from heauen to hell. Therfore, though it sometimes bring hony with it in the mouth, like a Bee, yet it neuer is without a sting in the taile. For that which Sa­lomon saith of the harlot, is m [...]st true of sin. Though it be as soft as oyle in the beginning, and as sweete as the hony combe to the taste of the sinner,Pro. 5. 4. 5. yet the end thereof is bitter as worme wood, and as sharpe as a two edged sword, the feete thereof goe downe to death, and the steps take hold on hell: it causeth many to fall downe wounded,Pro [...]. 26. and slaieth [Page 65] the mightie, Wherfore then should men delight in sinne, and embrace the bosome of iniquitie?

Secondly,Doct. 11. and so to conclude this text, from these words of the Prophet, I am taught to teach you, That it is not sufficient for a man onely to search and trie his waies, but he must also turne from them (if he find them wrong) and seriously repent himselfe of them. For therefore we search and trie them, that discerning them to be euill, we may forsake them. The ende of fishing is not angling, but taking; the ende of fowling, is cat­ching; the ende of plowing is not working, but sowing: so the ende of searching and prouing our waies, is, that we may repaire them, and and returne to God. Therefore when the wise man had saide,Pro. 4. 26 27. Pon­der the path of thy feete: hee addeth immediately, And let all thy waies be ordered aright, turn not to the right hand, nor to the left, but remoue thy foot from euill. As the Sessions and Assi­ses are helde for the repressing of [Page 66] enormities and iniuries, and for the suppressing of irregular and vici­ous persons: so we hold this Assi­ses in our soules, for the arraigning, enditing, examining, iudging and condemning of our sinnes, that dy­ing vnto sinne, we may liue vnto God with peace of conscience, and tranquilitie of minde. Secondly, if we doe onely search and examine our waies, and proceed no further, we shal make our selues more inex­cusable, & encrease our condemna­tion. For if after the performance of these things, we shall perceiue our waies to bee our owne, and not the waies of God, and wil yet content our selues, and not seeke to mend them, we shall the more displease his Maiestie, we shal aggrauate our punishment, and make our selues more guiltie of our owne destructi­ons. For it is not so much the cōmit­ting of sin which condemns the sin­ner, as the continuing in it, without conuersion from it, being seene and knowne. If a man were fallen into [Page 67] deepe dungeon or pit, & would not seeke to come forth, when he might be deliuered if he sought in time, he makes himselfe guiltie of his owne death. If a man by searching of his wounds, did perceiue the present and future daunger of them, and yet would hide them, and vse no means to haue them cured, he may thanke himselfe for his present paine, and future perishing. If a man did either see or foresee some ignomi­ny, ruine or calamity would befall him, and yet would take no paines to remoue or preuent it, hee should shew himselfe vnwise, and carelesse of his good. Beloued, what man soe­uer shal examin & search his waies, shal finde himselfe to be in a dunge­on of iniquitie by his nature,Sinne inui­roneth or hemmeth a man about. Heb. 12. 1. he shal perceiue himselfe to be inuironed with sinne on euery side, he shall see his soule polluted with the leprosie of sinne, and wounded with many deadly wounds: and he shall (if hee looke to the fruite and effect of them) plainely see, that nothing be­longs [Page 68] vnto him (by reason of the filthinesse of his waies) but euer­lasting shame and confusion. Ther­fore i [...] hee will not seeke abroade for d [...]liuerance in time, if the worst doe fall (and surely no other can be with reason looked for of him) hee may thanke himselfe, and say, that hee hath perished through his owne default. He saw the snare, and would not flie away: he percei­ued the daunger, and would not seeke to preuent it: hee doth wit­tingly cast himselfe into the fire of Gods wrath, and runne vpon the pike of his owne destruction: shew­ing also, that he neither loued God, nor hated sinne. He is a very strange traueller, who professeth that hee doth in earnest purpose to go the next and nearest way to London, and yet perceiuing himselfe to bee out of his way, and seeing the right way, doth for all tha [...] keepe on in a cleane contrarie way: Will not all men say, that he is either phrantique or foolish? So then if we would not [Page 69] be reputed worse then mad, when by the searching and triall of our waies, we find our selues to erre, let vs either turne into the right path, or else let vs not professe that we in­tend to goe to Heauen.

Wherefore (I pray you) doth Dauid speake in this sort, I thought I will take heede vnto my waies?Ps. 39. 1. Why doth he take this hede? euen that hee might Not sinne with his tongue. Euen so, wherefore must men, or doe men search and consi­der their waies? surely, that they may turne from the euill of them vnto the Lorde. Had Paul no rest in his spi [...]it, when he was in Troa [...], 2. Cor. 2. 13. because hee found not his brother Titus there, but presently depar­ted and went away?In vtram­ (que) aurem [...]mire. and is it fit that any man should be rechlesse and at quiet with himselfe, when after inquisition and examination of his waies, hee findeth not his el­der brother Christ Iesus in them, but onely sinne and sinfulnesse, and when hee cannot say, as Paul saith [Page 70] of himselfe to the Romanes,Rom. 7. 23 I see an other lawe in my members, rebelling against the law of my minde: but more truly (it may bee) as Peter saide to Simon Magus, Act. 8. 21. 23. Thine heart is not right in the sight of God, I see that thou art in the gall of bitternesse, and in the bond of iniquitie? Is there not there­fore cause sufficient to make them mooue one foote further, and to adde turning to their searching?

I Am now come to speake of this last dutie, wher­vnto we are ex­horted by the Prophet. And here I wil shew who must turn, from what they must turne, to whom they must turne, in what and wherin they must turne, when they must turne, how they must turne, and why they must turne. Of these seuen points I meane to speake in order, briefly, and with perspicui­tie.

[Page 72] First point. Who must turne.For the first, Let vs turne againe. The Prophet speaks directly to the Israelites, men, women, young, old, &c. And his speech also belongs vnto vs.Rom. 15. 4 For whatsoeuer things are written aforetime, are written for our learning. From whence I conclude, that Whosoeuer would not die but liue, must turne, and returne; whether he be Iew or Gentile, regenerate, or vnregenerate, Pastour or people, noble or ignoble, rich or poore, old or young, of what sexe, condition, or calling so euer he be. For first, There is no respect of persons with God, Rom. 2. 6. 11. but hee Will reward euery man accordind to his workes. With him neither circumcision nor vncircum­cision auaile any thing, but a new creature. Secondly, God is an abso­lute Lord ouer all men whatsoeuer, therefore all men are bound to keep his commandements, among which this is one, and not the meanest, as may appeare by the practise of the Prophets, who doe often and earnestly vrge this dutie. The [Page 73] Apostle Paul saith,Act. 17. 30 that God dooth now command: All men euery where to change their mindes:1. Cor. 7. 19. and teacheth the Corinthians, that circumcision is no­thing, and vncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandements of God. Thirdly,2. Cor. 5. 27. all men without ex­ception of any sauing Christ, who knew no sinne, are by nat [...]r [...] deed in sinnes, the children of wrath, Eph. 2. 1, 3, 12. without God, and aliants from the common-wealth of Israel; therefore if they meane to liue, they had neede to turne. Yea euen the most faithfull seruants of God, are not onely sub­iect to goe astray, but doe daily erre and offend, and therefore they also must repent and turne. Fourthly, men of all sorts and sexes, desire the comforts of this life, and euerlasting happinesse in the lif [...] to come, there­fore all of them must looke to their waies and turne. Otherwise they must looke for none, and if any be­fall them, they are rather banes vnto them then ben [...]fites, so long as they liue in their sinnes, without true re­pentance. [Page] Oh (saith God) that my people had harkened vnto mee, Ps. 81. 13, 14, 16. and Israel had walked in my waies: I would soone haue humbled their enemies, and turned their hand against their aduer­saries: I would haue fed them with the fat of wheate. Isa. 16. 19 Take away (saith the Lord) the euill of your works from be­fore mine eye, cease to doe euill, learne to doe will: If ye consent and obey, yee shall eate the good things of the land; but if ye refuse and be re [...]ellious, yee shall be de­uoured with the sword. Re. 22. 14. Blessed are they (saith the Angell to Iohn) that doe his commandements (whereof this is one) that their right may bee in the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the Citie. Fiftly, not onely olde men, but young men also must a­mend & turne. The prophet speaks to young men as well as to old. Da­uid saith,Ps. 119. 9. Ecc. 12. 1. Wherewith shal a young man redres his way? Salomon saith, Remem­ber now thy Creator in the daies of thy youth, whiles the euil daies come not, nor the yeares approach, wherein thou shalt say, I haue no pleasure in them. Quod [Page 75] noua testa capit, inueterata sapit. A ves­sell sauours longest of that liquor, wherewith it is first seasoned. Ther­fore the Spirit of Wisedome saith, Teach a childe in the trade of his way, Pro. 22. 6. and w [...]en hee is olde hee shall not depart from it. Hee that will haue his horse seruiceable when hee is olde, must breake him whilst he is young. Hee that will haue a streight tree, must streighten it when it is tender. If thou wouldst bee fit to serue God when thou art old, invre thy selfe to his seruice whiles thou art young. If thou desirest to bee a farre and straight tree in thy crooked daies, turne from thy crookednesse be­times and streighten thy selfe in thy youth. The Lord required a sacri­fice,Leu. 2. 14. in which was offered eares of corne, dried by the fire, and wheate beaten out of the greene eares.Gene. 4. 4. Abel brought for an offring vnto God of the first fruites, and fat of his sheepe: so wee must giue God the greene eares of our yeares, the prim-rose of our age, the first fruits [Page 76] of our life, and the fat of our daies. He that would haue God kinde vn­to him when he is old, let him turne vnto him whiles he is yong. It is vn­seemely for a man to giue his youth vnto Sathan, and to keepe his olde rotten bones and feebled spirits for God. The Lord disliketh that men should bring him lame, torne, and sicke thinges for offrings: yea hee saith,Mal. 1. 13, 14. Cursed be the deceiuer, which hath in his flocke a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth vnto the Lord a corrupt thing. Sixtly, all men haue soules as well as bodies: therefore all men must be carefull for them, as well as for these; yea rather more carefull, because the soule is the more excel­lent and more diuine and noble part of man. Agu [...] shewed himselfe re­gardfull of both in his praier, when he saith,Pro. 30. 7, 8. Two things haue I required of thee: denie me them not before I die. Re­moue farre from mee vanitie and lies: here appeareth the care of his soule. Feede me with foode conuenient for me; here he sheweth the honest care hee [Page 77] had of both soule and body. Foode makes for the good of the bodie: conuenient foode makes for the good o [...] both. He that carketh for his bo­die, and careth not for his soule, ma­keth a God of his belly, and resembleth the Pharisies,Matt. 23. 23. who were dili­gent in tithing of mint and annise, but omitted the weightier things of the Law, as faith and mercy. Now wherein can our care for the wealth and weale of our soules more easily appeare, then in our true repentance and vnfeined conuersion? Hee that saith he hath care of the health of his soule, and will not turne to God, dooth as if a man beeing ready to perish in the water, should professe that hee would gladly liue, and yet wil vse no meanes, or take no paines to come out. All men doe wish the welfare of their friendes. And art thou not thine owne friend?Ve quaerae patriae comm [...]dae quis (que) suae. It thou be so, then art thou bound to con­uert. Nature teacheth euery man to seeke the good of his own country: so grace will teach a man, if hee [Page 78] haue but one droppe thereof in his heart, to seeke the prosperitie of that common-wealth & country which is within himselfe. Now the pros­peritie of any country consisteth in freedome from euills, and the fruiti­on of good things. And whosoeuer turneth truly, shall bee deliuered from the greatest euills, and shall in­ioy the greatest good, euen God, who is goodnesse it selfe, who with the strength of his arme, and by the power of his grace, will fetch them out of Aegipt, the land of spirituall seruitude, and deliuer them from thraldome vnder Pharoah and the Aegiptians, from bondage vnder Satan and sinne, and will conduct them safely through the wilde wil­dernesse of this wretched worlde, into celestiall Canaan, whither our elder brother Christ Iesus is gone before vs, to prepare mansions for vs. Seuenthly, euerie man com­plaines that the worlde is naught, therefore euery man to stay this complaint, must amend & conuert. [Page 79] If euerie complainer woulde turne from his sinnes vnto GOD, the world would bee good. The world is not naught, but the people in the worlde: as a goodly Citie may haue godlesse Citizens, a faire house may haue a foule inhabitant, and a good Landlorde may haue bad te­nants. There is no reason for a man to complaine of the world, till hee haue forsaken the sinnes committed in the world. Hee that exclames a­gainst the world before hee doth re­nounce the fashions of worldlings, discouers the skirtes of his mother, and defileth his owne nest. If euery one will needes accuse the world as naught, let them first reuoult from the world, and shake hands with the worlde: let them come out of the world, as the Israelites came out of Aegipt, and as all true Israelites are commaunded to come out of Westerne Babylon,Reu. 13▪4. and then let them not spare to censure and condemne the worlde. First turne from thine owne naughti­nesse, [Page 80] and then say the worlde is naught, and that the wisedome of the world is enmity to God. More­ouer, euery man was in Adam crea­ted according to the image of God: and euery man by Adam was depri­ued of this image: neither is it repai­red in any man, nor any man resto­red to it, till he doe conuert, and re­pent: and then the Holy Ghost be­ginnes to graue and draw it vppon the tables of hearts, and faces of our soules. But almost euery man will say, that he doth desire the reparati­on of this revnited image within him: and without doubt if a man could with these fleshly eies behold this image,Mat. 17. 3, 4. as Peter beheld Moses and Elias with Christ vppon the mount, it would exceedingly moue him, as that sight did Peter; it is so faire and louely to behold, so as that if his heart were not made of mar­ble, it would so fill it with delight, and so rauish his soule with the loue thereof, that as Peter said vpon that glorious sight, Master, it is good for [Page 81] vs to be here, so he would wish from his heart, to be partaker of it, and thinke no price too costly for it. For it is as a mirrour, wherin a man may in part beholde the f [...]e of the inuisible God, and a glasle wherein wee may see the countenance and colour of our first estate. If any therfore lust (as he doth professe) to bee partaker of this glorious Image consisting in holinesse and righte­ousnesse of heart and hand,Eph. 4. 24 let him turne his feete from the wayes of sinne, into the wayes of God, and he shall not faile of that which he saith he doth long after.Nulla sa­lus bello, pacem te poscimus omnes. To conclude this point, all men couet peace, therfore let them all conuert. Woul­dest thou haue true peace of con­science? thou fayest thou wouldest. Then I say vnto thee, turne. For There is no peace (saith God) vnto the wicked, who doe not turne.Is. 57. 21. Woul­dest thou be at peace with thine enemies? then turne:Pro. 16. 7. for When the waies of man please the Lord, hee will make also his enemies at peace with [Page 82] him. And without doubt there is no peace comparable to that peace and amitie which is among the faithfull: so that if all that seeme to desire peace, would repent & turne, the Lion would become a Lambe; and the Wolfe a sheepe, all cruell conditions would be cast away, and the whole world would bee at per­fect peace within it selfe, both for outward agreement, and inward af­fection. For the vnion of the Saints in firme & indissoluble. The Prince of the ayre must blowe exceeding hard, if he made any great commo­tion then in the world. If all men amongst vs would seriously turne to God, the worlde would suffer a very great and admirable alterati­on. For both the wicked should re­nounce their wickednesse, and the godly would not stumble and fall so oft as they now doe; many occa­sions, scandalls, tentations, and al­lurements beeing remoued by the conuersion of their neighbours. Then we might indeede be wel cal­led [Page 83] the people of God, and the an­nointed of the Lorde: our lande might be truly called, the Land of righteousnesse, yea and the Land of the liuing: then should we see the beautie of Sion, and the prosperitie of Ierusalem, otherwise then now we can. Euery man will say that hee dooth affect and desire these things, therefore let euery man turne to the Lorde, or else bee si­lent.

Thus much concerning the first point, Who must turne? euen euery man that desireth the grace of God in this world, and euerlasting glo­ry in the world to come. For hee rewardeth euery one according to his worke. Ps. 62. 12 Ps. 92. 9. All the workers of iniquitie (that will not turne) shall bee de­stroyed. Hee powreth contempt (euen) vpon Princes, Ps. 10. 40. Rom. 2. 9. 10. which will not turne vnto him. Tribulation and anguish shall be vpon the soule of euery man that doth euill: of the Iew first, and also of the Grecian: but to euery man that doth good (euen to euery man [Page 84] that turneth vnto God) shall be glo­ry, and honour, and peace.

2. Point. From what men must turne.The second thing to bee consi­dered, is, From what we must turne. Which, though it be not expresly set downe, yet it is implyed in the word Turne. For whosoeuer tur­neth, must needes turne from some­thing, either from some person, or some place, or from something else. What are wee then to turne from? Surely, from Sathan, from the world, from the waies of the wicked, and from all our sinnes. Wee must turne from whatsoeuer thing may either keepe vs, or drawe vs from God and his wayes. We must auoyde euery thing that may disturbe the peace of conscience, and hinder the saluation of our soules.

Whatsoeuer thing may cause vs to displease the Lord, and may pro­uoke his wrath against vs, must bee forsaken of vs. The Marri­ner must beware of rockes, and the traueller of crosse-paths, and [Page 85] by-waies. So wee that would saile with the ship of our consciences, to the hauen of euerlasting happines, and would come to new Ierusalem in due season: that is, when the sunne of this life doth set, & the euening of our daies is shut vp, we must beware of the foresaide euills; for they are as rockes in our rode, and doe either molest vs in our way, or seeke to leade vs out. Shall we delight in the diuel, & dance after his pipe? Know yee not that he compasseth the earth too and fro,Iob. 1. 7. 1. Pet. [...].8. and walketh about like a ramping and roaring Lion, see­king whom he may deuoure? Wee should rather hide our selues from him, and desire the Lord to pa [...]e his clawes, and breake his teeth. Know yee not that he wrought our downe­fell at the first, and daily seeketh the dishonour of God, the disgrace of the truth, and the desolation of the Church? Hee is the prince of dark­nes, the god of this world, the bli [...] ­der of mens minds, the accuser of the faithfull, the father of lies, a sinner [Page 86] from the beginning of the world,Ioh. 8. 44. 1. Ioh. 3. 8. a sworne enemie to Gods glorie, and the architect & first motour of mans miserie. Let vs therefore flie from him, as a bird from the fowler, when shee spies him. And what is the world (I pray you) but a Theater of vanitie, a mirrour of madnesse, an ocean of some iniquity, a labyrinth of errour, a gulfe of euills, a moone of inconstancie, a wheele of turning, a shop of deceit, and a spectacle of vngodlinesse? Why shoulde any man therfore wed himselfe vnto the world, and not seeke to be diuorced from her? Or if hee be already free, wherefore should he be enamoured with her? If shee dote vpon thee, and s [...]nd messengers to to thee, as Aho­ [...]ibah is charged by the Lord to haue dealt with the Assyrians:Ezek. 23. 16. if she be so shamelesse as to wooe thee, as the Harlot which Salomon speakes of,Pro. 7. 13. with a brazē face intised the foolish young man; yet be not thou perswa­ded by her: let not thine heart de­cline to her waies, and wander not [Page 87] in her pathes. If the world cast her eyes vpon thee,Gen. 39. 7, as Potiphars wife did vpon Ioseph; and if she tempt thee to commit adultery with her, as she did Ioseph; if shee say to thee,Pro. 7. 18. as Salomons Harlot doth to that foole, Come, let vs take our fill of loue, and our pleasure in daliance: if thou be daily sued vnto by her, as Ioseph was by his Mistris; yet as he denied her request vnto the end, and said,Gen. 39. 9, 10, 12. How can I doe this great wickednesse, and sinne a gainst God? so do thou repell the darts of her amo­rous language, [...]nd like an adder stop thine eares at her alluring in­cantations. Rather let her haue thy garment, and be content to be accu­sed falsely, and condemned to the prison, as Ioseph was, then that by condescending to her vnlawfull suit, thou shouldest displease or di­uorce thy selfe from God, or breake thy promise plighted to him in thy Baptisme, of puritie and Penelopes constant fidelity. The world is som­thing like the foolish woman, the wise man speakes of,Pro. 9. 16. which saith to [Page 88] the foolish passenger, come hither: but shee setteth her guests in the depth of hell. By her two naked and painted breasts of profites and plea­sures, shee useth thousands to com­mit, fornication with her: but as the holy Ghost saith of those which are intrapt with the craft of the subtill Harlot,Pro. 7. 21, 22, 23. so we may truly say of them that are seduced with the worlde; They follow her, as an oxe that goeth to the slaughter, and as a foole that goeth to the stocks for corection (who goe on cheerfully, not knowing their fu­ture misery) and as a bird that hasteth to the snare, being ignorant of the fowlers policy. The voyce of the world is like the fowlers call, which causeth the bird to bee caught: and her allurements are like the baite which hideth the hooke, that is the bane of the fish. And when she is most iocund and obsequious, then shee is most pernicious and dange­rous: as the stillest waters are the deepest and most deceitfull. If ther­fore the world shall come forth to [Page 89] meete vs, as Iael did to Sisera, Iud. 4. 18. and shall say to any of vs as shee did to him, Turne in, turne in to me, be not a­fraid: let vs beware that she doe not couer vs with the mantle of securi­tie, and take heede lest shee beguile vs with the milke of her pleasures, and the butter of her profites, thogh set before vs in a lordly dish,Iud. 5. 25. as shee set hers; lest yeelding to her with bold credulitie, as Sisera did to Iael, we be stricken through the temples (as it were) of our soules with her magicall enchantments,Iud. 4. 27. as the tem­ples of his head were stricken tho­rough by a naile in her hand, and so we die as he did. For her house is the way vnto the graue,Pro. 7. 10. 27.which goeth downe to the chambers of death, as the wise man speaketh of the woman of whorish behauiour. So then, albeit the wicked intisemēts of the world bee pleasant in the beginning, yet are they bitternesse in the latter en­ding: and like the booke that Iohn was commanded to eate,Reu. 10. 9 sweete in the mouth, but bitter in the mawe: [Page 90] and so hurtfull to the stomack of the soule, as that if a man doe not cast them vp, it is no more possible for him to liue, either the life of grace or of glorie, then it is for that man to liue the life of na [...]ure, who hath swallowed downe pills of poison, hee dranke with sugar. Let vs therefore take heed of her charmes, and turne frō her.1. Ioh. 2. 15 Loue not this world (saith Iohn) nor the things that are in this world. If any man loue this world, the loue of the Father is not in him. No man can serue God and Mammon.Mat. 6. 24 Wee must leaue the world, and the world must leaue vs; therefore why should wee fixe our loue vpon the world, or bend our loue vnto the world? Whereas all other creatures haue but foure muscles to turn their eyes round about,O [...] homini su [...]l [...]me d [...]dit. God hath giuen man a fist to pull vp his eyes, from t [...]e earth to heauen. And whereas all other creatures bow downwards to look to the earth from whence they rose, and to which they must return, God hath fitted man a bodie, that [Page 91] hee might behold the heauen, the place of happinesse, and the Para­dice of perpetuall pleasures. Wee are redeemed from the worlde; let vs therefore so liue in the world, as by our liues wee may declare that wee are not of the worlde. For as much as our inhearitance is in the heauens, let vs haue one foote there fixed, where our inheritance is. We treade vppon the earth with our feete, therefore let not our hearts be interred in it, but let vs trample vp­on earthly things. Though we liue in the world, yet let vs not be pol­luted of the world: but as the Swan swims in the water, but is not drow­ned of the water, so we must liue in the world, as a ship floateth aloft vp­on the sea, or a bird vpon the water, and wee must take heede that the loue of the world doe not leake in­to our hearts, lest wee make ship­wracke of our faith, and breake in peeces the vessells of our conscien­ces. An [...] [...]f any do leake in, we must pumpe it out with speeds, by true [Page 92] repentance, and seeke to stoppe the passage. The Mowle liues in the earth, and yet receiueth no hurt at all, neither to her flesh, nor to her coate. So wee that liue in the world in the midst of a crooked generati­on, should like pilgrimes, so alie­nate our affections from it, as that wee may receiue no damage by it, neither in our hearts within, nor in our profession and practise with­out: but as a stone being cast into the dirt, will still remaine a stone: so thogh we which are liuing stones, 1. Pet. 2, 5. doe liue in the world, which is full of the dirt of sinne, and puddles of ini­quitie, yet let vs remaine as wee are made by grace, liuing stones of Gods spirituall Temple. To this ende, let vs turne from the worlde with our heartes, let vs beware of her witch-craft and sorcerie, let vs not turne in vnto her at her call, let vs not drinke of the cuppe of her fornications: and finally, let vs seeke the kingdome of God,Mat. 6. 33 Col. 3. 1. & the things that are aboue: and let vs haue [Page] our conuersation in the heauens, where our common-wealth and kingdome, our head and husband is,Pet. 3. 21 and will bee vntill the time that all things be restored which God hath spo [...]en by the mouth of all his holy Pro­phets since the world began.

Thirdly, we must turne from the waies of the wicked. This the Spirit of wisedome teacheth vs, when he saith: My sonne, walke not thou in the way with sinners:Pro. 1. 15. refraine thy foote from their path. Pro. 4. 14, 1 [...] ▪ Pro. 2. 15. Enter not into the way of the wicked, and walke not in the way of euill men. Auoyd it, goe not by it: turne from it, and passe by. For their Waies are crooke [...]. The way of the wic­ked is as darknesse. Pro. 4. 19 Psal. 1. 6. The way of the wic­ked shall perish. If thou wouldest not walke in a crooked path, an ob­scure and darke lane, and in a way that shall come to naught, yea in a way that leadeth from heauen to hel, and from life to death, then thou must decline and turne from the waies of the wicked. God dooth command thee to turne from them: [Page 94] In the name of God I doe beseech thee to turne from them. Be not dis­obedient vnto his voyce. Hee that obeyeth him,Pro. 1. 33 shall dwell safely, and be quiet from feare of euill. But those, that stoppe their eares at his voyce, and will not obey his word in the ministerie of his Prophets, do fall vpon the sworde of vengeance. As when God cried, they would not heare,Zach. 7. 11, 12, 13 but pulled away their shoulder, and made their harts hard as an adamant: so they shall crie, and he will not heare. Wee all know that it is the will of God, that wee should forsake the waies of the wic­ked, who are his enemies. But that seruant (saith Christ) that knew his maisters will,Luk. 12. 47.and prepared not himself▪ neither aid according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes: with ma­ny moe then hee that knoweth not his will, and doth it not. Can a man be in a mill, and not be mealy? Can a man be in a shewer of raine, and not be wet? Can a man stand long vpon a quag-mire, and not sinke? [Page 95] And is it possible for a man to walk in the waies of the wicked, which are full of the mire of wickednesse, and dirt of iniquitie, and not to bee polluted? Or i [...] it like, that he shall not sinke into the pit of perdition, if hee shall stand in the way of sin­ners, and refuse to come out? No wise man, especially no honest man will delight in the courses of slaues and traitours: but the wicked are slaues. First, they are slaues of the diuell: for hee That committeth sin, is of the Diuell, 1. Ioh. 3. 8. 2. Pet. 2. 19. & of whom soeuer a man is ouercome, euen vnto the same he is in bondage. Now, what slaues are they, that are in slauerie vnder a ve­ry slaue? Secondly, they are the slaues of sinne. For Whosoeuer com­mitteth sinne is the seruant of sinne. Ioh. 8. 34 Pro. 19. 28. Pro. 4. 16. Ioh. 20. 12 But the wicked drinke iniquitie, as fishes doe the water. Their mouth (saith Salomon) swalloweth vp iniqui­tie. They cannot sleepe, except they haue done euill. Wickednesse (as Zophar saith) is sweete in his mouth, hee hides it vnder his tongue, and will [Page 96] not forsake it. Therefore he cannot but commit sinne, and that with greedinesse, and with full consent of heart. Now he that is the seruant of sinne, and a slaue to his owne concupiscence, is in seruitide vnder the diuels bastard, yea and strum­pet also, and in thraldome vnder his owne mortall and vnplacable ene­mie.

Thirdly, the wicked are the slaues of the world. For their profession is pinned vpon her sleeue.Ter. Eu­nuch. As Dorus in the Comedie denied the truth, (which before hee did professe) when Phaedreae bad him: so the wic­ked man at the worlds commaund, is ready to say, and vnsay, to pro­fesse or deny any thing, how grosse or euill soeuer; he makes the world his God. Furthermore, they are ve­ry traitours and rebells vnto God. They are enemies to his crowne and dignitie: they robbe him of his honour: they rebell against his lawes: they trample vpon his com­maundements: they breake downe [Page 97] the pale of his precepts: they teare his titles with their tongues:Ps. 37, 12. and they practise against his loyall and obedient subiects. Doth it therefore beseeme any honest & liberall min­ded man to walke in their waies, and to runne in their races? They can­not suredly do it without great ble­mishing of their owne loyalty, and iniury to the glory of God. Fur­thermore,Prou. 15. 9 Pro. 21. 27. The way of the wicked is (as Salomon saith) an abhomination to the Lord. If his sacrifice be an abho­mination vnto him, and if his verie praier bee vnacceptable to him, his waies (which are simply euill) must needs be very offensiue in his sight. Now then, were it not horrible im­pietie for a man either to set his feete in his waies, or not to remoue them and depart away with speede, if they be already in them?1. Tim. 5. 22. Paul for­biddeth vs to bee partakers of other mens sinnes. But he that walketh in the waies of the wicked, cannot but transgresse this commaundement. He that runneth their courses, is a [Page 98] scandall vnto them, an occasion to harden their hearts, and to hinder their conuersion, & sheweth plain­ly that they were all cast in one mould, and are all (euen he as well as they) seruants to one Lord. But hee which turneth from them, sheweth his hatred of them, and is a furthe­rance to help forward their conuer­sion also. For as when one sheepe breakes away from the drouer, shee is an occasion to mooue many other to followe her: so when one man breaketh away from the diuell, who driues men to their slaughter, he gi­ueth an occasion to many that see him, to depart in like sort. One bird perceiuing the fowlers wiles, by fly­ing away, is a motiue to her fellowes being in the same danger to doe the like: so one man by leauing the waies of the wicked, and so escaping the danger prepared for him, occasi­oneth the wicked also that behold him, to take their flight from sinne, and to flie from the wiles of the di­uell. To conclude this third point, [Page 100] God commandeth vs to aske for the old way,Iere. 6. 16. and to walke therein. Now if wee must walke in the olde way, which is the good way, and we shall find rest for our soules, then we must leaue all new waies, which are euill waies, or else wee shall finde paines for our soules. God commandeth vs to Walke in tho way of good men,Pro. 2. 20.and to keep the waies of the righteous: it fol­loweth therefore that we must turne from the waies of the wicked.Pro. 4. 18. 19. For their waies are contrary; [...]he one shi­neth as the light, the other is as dark­nesse: the one is of God, the other of Satan: the one is of the way of loue, and leadeth vnto life, the other is the way of lust, and leadeth vnto death: the one is the way of Gods children, the other of the diuells. In the one we must goe, as Israel re­quested Sihon to let them passe tho­row his country, saying:Num. 27. 22. Let mee goe through thy Land: wee will [...] turne a­side unto the fiel [...]s, nor into the vine­yards, neither drinke of the waters of the wells: we will goe by the kings way, vntill [Page 100] we be past thy Country. The way of the godly, is the Kings hie way to heauen: we must goe along in it till we haue passed through this vale of miserie, without declining from it on any side. We must not breake in­to the fields of couetousnesse, nor into the vineyards of vaine delights, neither must wee drinke of the wa­ters of sinfull pleasures, or pleasing sinnes. But as the Israelite promised to goe by the hie way, and to turne neither vnto the right hand, nor to the left:Deu. 2. 27. so wee must keepe our way without wandring out; therefore it followeth, that wee must abandon, and turne from the waies of the wic­ked. For how glorious and faire so­euer they seeme in shew,Psal. 1. 6. 2 King. 9. 30. 33. they shall vanish and come to nought; like the painted face of Iezabel, & the colors of the Rainbow. Fourthly, we must turne from our owne sinnes;Zach. 1. 4. origi­nall and actuall, of what name or nature soeuer, in what place, at what time, and vpon what occasion so e­uer done, whether by commission of [Page 101] euill, or omission of good. For first, our sinnes are the workes of the di­uell, as our goodnesse is the gift of God. Our originall corruption (which as a reprosie hath polluted all our parts and poores) is the f [...]end of sinne, and the very spawne of the diuell, whereof he doth beget chil­dren according to his owne Image. From it all our actuall transgressi­ons (how barbarous and exorbi­tant soeuer they be) do proceed and issue, as the riuers doe from the sea,Eccles. 1. 7 and as light doth from the sunne, or as wormes doe from a loathsome carrion. Secondly, our sinnes doe pollute, and deforme vs. As a Ring­worme doth disfigure the face:Ezek. 14 11. so sinne doth deforme the soule. As a Canker doth consume the flesh, as rust doth eate the yron, as dust and chaffe doe corrupt the corne, and as firre vessels do corrupt good wine: so sinne doth defile our soules, and corrupt our consciences, and mis­shape our affections. Thirdly, sinne is very bitter and pernitious. The [Page 102] life of any sin affected, is the death of the sinner infected. It is of a vi­perous disposition: the birth of sin, is the death of the sinner. It is like the worme Midas, which eates the Beane, wherein it is bred: and the Moath, that consumes the cloth, in which she receiued her life. Sinne is not much vnlike vnto the louers of Aholilah, Ezek. 23. who when they had bruised the breasts of her virginitie, and powred their whordomes vp­on her, dealt cruelly with her, and slew her with the sword: so sinne shall breed the sorrowe of all such as dote vpon it, and delight to com­mit adulterie with it. And as the Lord threatned Aholilah, Ezek. 23. 25. that her louers, with whom she wilfully de­filed her selfe, should cut off her nose and eares: so sinne (without speciall mercie) shall not onely de­forme our selues, but strippe vs and leaue vs naked for the iudgements of God to seaze vpon. Therefore as Paul shooke the viper from his hand,Act. 28. 5. so let vs cast away sinne from [Page 103] our hearts. As hee was carefull to preserue his life from those bloudie votaries,Act. 23. 17. who had vowed his death: so let vs bee carefull to defend our selues from sinne, which worketh the destruction of our soules. Wher­fore was Adam exiled out of Para­dise, but for his sinne? Why was the olde worlde drowned with water, but for their sinne? Why was Sodom burnt with fire and brimstone, but for sinne? Pauls sinfull zeale made him a persecutor. Sinne made Ab­solom ambitious, Haman malicious, Nabal a churle, and Iudas a traytour. Sinne caused Korah and his compa­ny to be swallowed vp of the earth:Num. 16. 32. Exod. 14. 28. Leuit. 10. 2. Psal. 107. 34. Pro. 28. 2 sinne made Pharaoh and his peo­ple to be consumed by the water: sinne occasioned Nadab and Abihu to be deuoured with fire: sinne cau­sed Her [...]d to be eaten with wormes. God turneth a fruitefull land into bar­ronnesse, for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein. And the Spirit of wisedome saith, that For the trans­gression of the Land, there are many [Page 104] Princes thereof: that is, many and no small alterations in the state. Our sinnes are the cause of our sor­rowes, and our wickednesse is the worker of all our wretchednesse. It is the cause of all disorder and dis­sention, in Church, in Common-wealth, and Family. Yea, it often­times is the cause, why the sinner is punished by committing of other sinnes;Rom. 1. 24 28. therefore Paul saith, that God gaue the Heathen (for their wickednesse) vp to their harts lusts, and deliuered them ouer to a repro­bate minde, to commit very feareful and odious enormities.Plin. nat. Hist. l. 8. cap. 23. Sinne is like the Serpent Amphisbaena, which hath (as it were) two heads, one be­fore, an other behinde at the taile, as if shee were not hurtfull enough to cast her poyson at one mouth only. Sinne woundeth at both endes: in the one it wounds the soule by poy­soning and infecting it: and in the other, it wounds both soule and bo­dy, by destroying them, without the Antidote, or counter-poyson of the [Page 105] meritorious bloud of that true bra­zen serpent Christ Iesus. Sinne (as it were) out of two mouthes spitteth forth her venime, whereby she both hurteth our hearts, and exposeth vs to the fire of Gods dreadfull indig­nation. Fourthly, sinne is very sub­til like a serpent, & all (like a witch) to work our woe. It is like the Hyae­na, Plin hist. nat. hist. l. 8. cap. 30 which (as Pliny recordeth) is said to vomit like a man, therby to train dogges to come vnto him, and then will deuoure them. Sometimes it will weepe with the Crocodile, sometimes it will be musicall with the Syren, but all to destroy. It be­gins sometimes with a song like a Gnat, but it endeth with byting. Pliny sayeth that the Hyaena will change his eies into a thousand co­lours:Plin. ibid. so sinne will make many fa­ces.

The Beiuers haire is softer then the downe of feathers, yet is he dan­gerous with his teeth. For (as Pliny writeth) he will gnaw trees with his teeth, is if they were cut with axes: [Page 610] and if he catch hold of any ioynt in a man, he will not leaue till he haue knapped the bone asunder. So sin doth oftentimes very much delight the sinner, as being very soft to the touch, and pleasant to the taste, and yet it is but a painted Iezabel, a dis­guised harlot, and a sweetned poy­son; it gnawnes the conscience, and bites the soule to the bone. It is greene like the boxe tree, but the seed is poyson.

Plin. ibid.The hurtfull serpents are ordi­narily of the colour of the harmles earth: so sinne sometimes doth seeme a vertue, and is so esteemed of some that are bad-sighted, or grown to desperate impietie, Which speake good of euill, Is. 5. 20. and euill of good: which put darknesse for light, and light: for darknesse: that put bitter for sweete, and sweete for sowre. Sinne hath so distempered their tastes, and be­witched their eyes. If sinne were not exceeding subtill, and the sin­ner made by sinne exceeding sim­ple, Salomon would not say, There [Page 107] is a way that seemeth right vnto man, Pro. 16. 25. but the issue thereof are the waies of death. Neither would any hypo­crites bee so impudent, as to say without blushing (if at all) with those in Isaih: Stand apart, Is. 65. 5. come not neare vnto me: for I am more holy th [...]n thou. If sinne had not bene very de­ceitfull, would the Valentinian he­retiques haue condemned all others as grosse and earthly, and haue called themselues onely Ghostly? Would the Arrians haue called the true Christians, that profes [...]ed the faith of the holy Trinitie, some­time Ambrosians, sometimes Io­hannites, and sometimes Homou­sians, allowing themselues onely (something like our Papists) to be called Catholiques? Would the Brownists which are sprung out of the ashes of the Donatists, con­demne our Ministrie, our Chur­ches, and assemblies, as Antichristi­an? Could widowes houses be de­uoured through the pretext of long praiers? Could vice wander in the [Page 108] habit of vertue? or would any but a dogge, returne like a dogge to his vomit, if sinne were not very deceit­full, but did appeare vnto all men as it is in it selfe? Considering there­fore (beloued) the malicious subtil­tie, and the subtill malice of sinne vnto mankinde, let vs not onely be­wise to discerne it, but carefull also to flie from it, and eschew it. Hee that fostereth sin, fauoureth a false and perfidious enemie, and doth as Ioash did,2. Ki. 12. 20. Rom. 6. 13 who entertained seruants, which slew him. Let no man there­fore (I say) bee the seruant of sinne. Giue not your members as wea­pons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sin. Listen not vnto it, least by listning vnto it, as Eue did vnto the serpent, ye make your selues, as shee did her selfe, a pray to the diuell. Fiftly, vn­lesse a man do purpose, and with a constant determination of minde, and resolution of spirit, doe labour to leaue his sinnes, and to stand a­gainst the streame of his sinfull af­fections, he doth shew himselfe de­stitute [Page 109] of the feare of God,Pro. 8. 13 which is to hate euill: and altogether vnlike to God, who is holy; yea euen holi­nesse it selfe: and he doth moreouer, make himselfe vnmeete to aske for­giuenesse of his sins. For with what face dare hee desire of God to for­giue him his sinne, that makes no conscience of committing sinne? How dare he desire God to turne his iudgements from him, seeing he doth not seriously himselfe purpose, and accordingly study to turne from his sinnes, which doe not onely de­serue the iudgments of God, but are also a match to giue fire vnto his wrath, or as bellowes to blow it vp? Yea, it is a very manifest argument, that hee, which will not turne from his sinne, doth not sincerely, & with an honest heart desire the pardon of sinne. For no man will thinke that he doth hartily desire the peace and pardon of his neighbour, who com­meth creeping to him for it, and yet in the meane time, dooth either se­cretly practise against him, or at the [Page 110] least dooth not purpose to forbeare the practise of those things, which makes the [...]arre betwixt them. Hee doth only dally with him, and abuse him. Six [...]ly, let vs remember that there is a day of death, and a day of iudgment, in which euery man must an [...]were for his facts; Caine for his murther, Ismael for his mocking, Nahal for his drunkennesse, Absolon for his ambition, Achitophel for his wicked counsell, Haman for his hau­tinesse, Herod for his pride, Iudw for his treason, Iulian for his blasphe­mies, and euery sinner for his sinnes. For the bookes, wherein all mens actions are (as it were) recorded, shal be opened,Reu. 20. 12 and euery man shall be iudged of those things whic [...] are re­gistred in the bookes (of Gods knowledge, and mans conscience) according to their works.2. Cor. 5. 10. And eue­ry man without exception shall re­ceiue the things which are done in his body, according to that hee hath done, whether it bee good or euill. The riches of Laban, the wealth [Page 111] of Nabal, the wisedome of Achito­phel, the beauty of Absolon, the crown of Saul, the strength of Lamech, the kingdomes of Nebuchadnezar, the eloquence of Tertullus, the miter of Caiaphas will than stand them in no stead at all. For the Lord is no ac­cepter of persons: he hath prepared Tophet of olde for wicked princes:Act. 10. 34 Isa. 30 33 Iude. 15. and hee will rebuke the vngodly of all their wicked deedes. Now, as death dooth leaue them, so the last iudgement shall find them. If there­fore wee would either fit our selues for death, or frame our selues to the last iudgement, let vs abandon our sinnes, and iudge our selues. If wee will accuse and condemne our sins, and execute them, as Iosiah did the priests of the high places,2 King. 22. 20. Heb. 9. 27 Mat. 25. 41. wee shall not neede to feare the terrour of death, which is appointed for all, nor the sentence of the iudge, which shall onely be pronounced against the wicked. Lastly, I say wee must turne from all our sinnes, and not from some onely. For so is the will [Page 112] of God.Ezek. 11. 31. Cast away from you all your transgression: for why will yee dis O house of Israel? Euery sinne displea­seth God,Rom. 6. 23 and deserueth death: euery sin doth staine the soule and wound the conscience.Prou 6. 27. 28. It is not possible for a man to carry fire in his bosome, and his clothes not bee burnt: and impossible for him to goe vppon coales, and his feete not be scorched: so is it impossible to fauour any sin, and not to be infected. As euery e­nemie is dangerous, and as the least drop of poison is hurtfull, and the least plague-sore infectious; so the smallest sinne wil smart: the least of­fence is pernicious, pestilent & infe­ctious. Secondly, we vowed to God in our baptisme, that we would turn from all our sinnes, and from all the workes of the diuell. Hee that will not keep touch with God, must ne­uer looke that God will keep touch with him. For his promise of par­don belongs onely vnto penitent persons. And therefore he saith, If the wicked will returne from all his sins, Ezek. 18. 21. [Page 113] hee shall surely liue, and shall not die. Thir [...]ly, the Lorde in expresse tearmes forbiddeth not onely grea­ter, but a [...]so smaller sinnes. He doth not onely condemne drunkennes,Isai. 5. 22. but hee doth also pronounce a woe vnto them, that are mighty to drinke wine, and are strong to powre in strong drinke. Saint Peter doth not onely r [...]quire vs to forbeare drun­kennesse,1. Pet. 4. 3 but also drinkings. Saint Paul doth not on [...]ly forbid vs filthi­nes,Ephe 5. 4. but foolish talking. The Lord commandeth the wicked to forsake their very imaginations.Isai. 55. 7. Christ tel­leth vs that we must giue account of euery idle word.1. Pet. 2. 1. Peter warneth vs to lay aside all malitiousnesse, and all guile, and all euill speaking.Psal. 101. 3, 4. Dauid saith, I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: A froward heart shall depart from me, I will know none euill. And ac­cording to this his resolution hee saith againe,Psal. 119. 101, 128, 133. I haue refrained my feete from euery euill way, and do hate all false waies. And desireth God to let none iniquitie to haue dominion ouer [Page 114] him. The Lord hateth all our sins, Christ hath suffered for all our sins, therefore let vs abandon them all. If we entertaine but one, we open a casemen [...] for another, and animate the diuell to sally a fresh vppon vs:Plin. nat. hist. li. 8. c. 25. who like a Crocodile flieth if hee be resisted, but if we yeeld vnto him in the least sinne, hee will very falsely assault vs, and seeke to swallow vs vp.1. Thess. 5. 22. Iude. 23. Must wee abstaine from all ap­pearance of euill? Must wee hate the very garment, which is spott [...]d by the flesh? Then good reason haue wee to abstaine from all things that are meerely euill in themselues, and to detest the flesh,Gal. 5. 17. which defiles the man, and lusteth against the Spirit. Shall kings fight against their quar­rellous & despit [...]ful enemies, which onely seeke to depriue them of their earthly kingdomes, and shall not we contend and war against our fleshly lusts,1. Pet. 2. 11 which fight against our soules, and seek to defeat vs of our heauen­ly kingdome? Will euery man by the vertue of his nature (like Chari­ [...]us [Page 115] in the Comedie) proue euery way before they will perish,Omnia exo periri cer­ium est priù [...], quā pereo. Ter. Anar. or lose their liues in this world: and shall not wee take any paines to escape eter­nall paines, and to saue our soules in the world to come? Shall Christ la­ment, yea and die for our sinnes, and shall we make our selues mery with them, as many doe? Or rather shall we not mourne for them, and seeke to bee deliuered from them? Shall Dauids eyes gush out with riuers of water,Psal. 119. 136. because other men kept not Gods law? and doth it beseeme vs to be drie cheeked, and not lament for our owne sinnes, whereby wee haue broken his law, and battered the ca­stles of our owne consciences? Shall Ieremy wish that his head were full of water,Ier. 9. 1. and his eyes a fountaine of teares, that he might weepe day and night for the slaine of the daughter of his people? and shall wee neuer la­ment & weepe for our sinnes, which displease our friend, and please our foe: which did once slay our soules, and doe daily wring them, & would [Page 116] consume them v [...]terly,Eph. 2. 5. if the Lord, who hath restored them to life in Christ, did not guard them by his grace? Doe we not see what an anti­pathy there is amongst the crea­tures? One of them by a secret in­stinct of nature doth hate and perse­cute another.Homo ho­minilupus. Nay, doe wee not see that many men are as wolues each to other? Wherefore then should we not persecute and hate our sinnes, seeing that they be our mortall ene­mies, and will neue [...] become our friends? The fish called Lepus, is (as some write) poiso [...] to a man, and man to him.Pro. 1. 11, 12. Sinne is poison vnto vs, so let vs be as poison vnto it. Shall t [...]e wicked lay wait for blood, and swallow the innocent vppe like a graue? and shal not we seeke to mor­tifie our si [...]nes which are noxious vnto vs, and offensiue vnto God?Col. 3. 5. Mortifie therefore your members which are on earth, fornication, vncleannesse, the inordinate affection, euill concupis­cence, and couetousnesse, which is idola­try. If wee will not mortifie them, [Page 117] they will mortifie vs, If we will not part from them, God will part from vs. Surely (saith Dauia) God will wound the head of his enemies, Ps. 68. 21. and the hairie pate of him that walketh in his sinnes. Shall Dauid hate the desperate ene­mies of God,Ps. 139. 21 and earnestly contend with those that rise vp against him: and shall not wee hate sinne, which makes men hatefull vnto God, and haters of God? Shall not we earnest­ly contend against our sins, which do both rise vp against vs, and make vs also take vppe armes against the Lord?Pro. 11. 15 H [...]e that hateth suert [...]hippe (saith Salomon) is sure: but hee that hateth sinne is surer. For if it bee a a righ [...] h [...]tred, it is an infallible de­monstration [...] of our loue to God, and of the g [...]atious operation of his Spirit within vs, and the ready way to scape the greatest euill. If it be the badge of a man predestined to glo­rie, to contemne a vile person,Psa. 15. 4, then he which despiseth sinne, which makes men vile & despiseable, may assure himselfe of glory, if he do de­spise [Page 118] it for the vilenesse of it, and for that it is derogatorie to the glory of God. Wouldst thou therefore be sure of the mercy of God to the sal­uation of thy soule! then turne from thy sinnes and hate them. For hee that confesseth his sinnes and doth forsake them,Pro. 28. 13shall finde mercy. What life more ioyfull can a man wish to leade, whilst hee lines in this world, then in this life to be assured of an e­uerlasting ioyfull li [...]e in the world to come? What greater pleasure can a man take and taste of in a world of wo [...], then to beleeue and know that vnspeakable and perpetuall plea­sures are prepared for him in a world of weale? What sweeter sweetnesse, and more pleasing plea­sure can a man in this life feele and enioy vpon the earth below, then in beeing certainly perswaded in his conscience, that he shall be partaker of the sweete and amiable commu­nion of the Lord in the life to come alo [...]t in the heauens? What greater comfort can comfortlesse wretches [Page 119] (as all men are by nature) receiue of the God of comfort, then by his word to bee surely certified of eter­nall comforts? What greater glorie can a mortall man bee glad of, and more truly glory of in his inglori­ous vale of miserie, then that hee is by the King of glory secured, and by the word of his own mouth assu­red of immortall glorie in his glori­ous kingdome vpon his high and holy mountaine? With what sweeter mercy can a miserable sinner bee refreshed in his soule, then of the God of mercy to receiue a promise of the euerlasting mercy? But God doth promise life & libertie,Pro. 28. 13 Eze. 18. 21 health and happinesse, to euery man that will forsake his sinnes. Neither doth he onely promise vs (if we doe turne from our sinnes) felicitie in the hea­uens, but also peace and prosperitie vpon the earth. Therefore Dauid saith: What man is he that desireth life, Psal. 34. 12. 14. and loueth long daies to see good? Let him eschew euil, and doe good, &c. And the Lord by Ieremy saith, Amend [Page 120] your waies, Ier. 7. 3. and your workes, and I will let you dwell in this place. When­soeuer the Israelites truely repen­ted of their sinnes, then GOD changed his frowning countenance and smiled vpon them: but when they prouoked him by their sinnes, then he turned their estates, and of­tentimes gaue them vp vnto their enemies.Isai. 59. 2. Ier. 5. 25. So that our sinnes doe make a diuorcement betweene vs and Gods benefits. Let vs therefore like valiant princes labou [...] to sub­due them. When sinnes begin to die, then the sinner beginnes to liue. Let not sinne reigne within vs: let it not defile vs.Mark. 12. 15. But as our Sauior ouer­threw the tables of the mony chan­gers, and cast out those that profa­ned the temple by marchandizing in it: so let vs his seruants scourge out our sins out of the temple of our hearts,Ez. 28. 26. and let vs labour to ouer­turne and conquer them. The Lord saith, that his pleople shall dwell in safetie, when hee hath executed his iudgements vpon all their enemies: [Page 121] so we shall liue in peace when our sinnes are executed▪ and put vnto the sworde. And when we haue o­uermastered one sinne, then wee must set vppon another; like the Ichneumon, which (as Pliny writeth) hauing ouercome one enemie,Hist. nat. l. 8. c. 24. pre­pareth himselfe to combat with another. Let vs neuer be content till we haue gotten the victory of them all; being like minded to Alexander th great,Nil actum credens cùm quid superesse [...] agendum. who (as Lucane recordeth) thought nothing done, whiles any thing remained vndone. Hee that turneth from all his sinnes, and la­boureth to subdue them all, dooth shew himselfe a true conuert, a prince of spirit, and an vtter enemy to the kingdome of Sathan. Wee all desire to escape all outward dan­gers, and to haue our bodies free from wormes, b [...]les, botches, and all other deformities of body; where­fore should we not then be as care­full to anoyd the dangers and dan­gerous diseases, deformities and en­ormities of our soules? The least [Page 122] bodily disease is shunned, why should wee not then feare and pre­uent the least spirituall disease? Ma­ny sands (though small) will sinke a shippe, as soone as a fewe great milstones: so many sinnes (though little in comparison of other) will destroy our soules as well as a fewe great ones. Foxes are enemies to sheepe as well as wolues, though not so dangerous: so smaller sinnes are enemies vnto our soules, as well as the greater Christ will haue both the great and the little Foxes taken,Gant. 2. 15 for (he saith) both destroy the vines: so let vs take and turne from all our sinnes, little and great: for all are noysome to the vineyard of our heartes, and hinder our spirituall growth. Kill them all, and the vines of Gods graces shall flourish and abound within vs. And though one sinne be sometimes c [...]rary to another, as couetousnesse and prodi­galitie, and looke diuerse wayes, as Sampsons foxes,Iudg. 15. 4. 5. yet are they ioyned in their tailes with a firebrand of [Page 123] vengeance in the midst, wherewith (without speciall care) they wil fire mens soules, as Sampsons Foxes did the Philistines come. Wouldest thou not offend thine heauenly Fa­ther that did create thee, that doth preserue thee, & that hath bestowed his only sonne vpon thee? then for­sake thy sinnes. A gracious childe forbeareth all thinges which are of­fensiue to his father. Wouldest thou escape the whirl-winde of Gods wrath? then flie from sinne. Woul­dest thou bee deliuered of an intol­lerable burthen? then cast away thy sinnes, which are a burthen to thy soule, and will otherwise presse thee downe to hell. Those which are vexed with the Night-mare,Incubus. feele, (as it were) a mountain vpon them, and wish earnestly to haue it remo­ued. But there is more oddes be­tweene the weight of sinne, and that weight which they suppose they feele, then there is betwixt a moun­taine and a mole-hill. Wouldest thou not bee iudged of those in the [Page 124] ende of this world, whom now per­haps thou doost contemne, yea and condemne? Wouldest thou not haue thy religious wife to iudge thee, that hath laine in thy bosome, thy gracious childe that hath come out of thy loynes, thy seruant which hath bene at thy becke, wouldest thou not (I say) be one day iudged of these? then iudge thy selfe, and turne from thy sinnes. For the Saints shall iudge the worlde, yea and the wic­ked Angels. 1. Cor. 6. 2, 3. Wouldest thou haue the holy Angels sing a song for thee in the heauens,Iudg. 5. 24 Lu. 15. 10. as Deborah did for Iael? then turne from thy sinnes: for there is ioy in heauen at the conuer­sion of a sinner. And strike a naile (as it were) through the temples of thy sinnes, as she did one indeede through her enemies. Wherefore did Iohn the Baptist begin his mini­stery,Math. 3. 2 Math. 4. 17. with Repent: and our Saui­our, with Amend your liues? And why are the Apostles so frequent and earnest in dehorting vs from sinne, if this dutie of turning from it were [Page 125] not of very great importance? Dost thou thinke that God is not able to be reuenged of thee? Is he not the Lord of Hostes,Dominae [...] exercitu­um. Iob. [...]5. 6. Heb. 12. 29. Heb. 10. 31. Ezek. 3. 19. and an Essence as well infinite in power as in time? And what is man but a worme, an impotent and silly wretch? Doest thou imagine, that he will not pu­nish thee? God is a consuming fire: and it is a fearefull thing to fall into his hands. The Lord hath said, That if the wicked turne not (vppon the Pro­phets warning) from his wickednesse, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his inquitie. Doest thou hope to hide thy sinnes from his sight?Pro. 5. 21 The waies of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondere [...]h all his paths. Thou vnderstandest my thought a farre off, Psal. 139. 2, 4. Iob. 42. 2. (saith Dauid) and there is not a word in my tongue, but lo [...] thou knowest it wholly, O Lord. Doest thou thinke with thy cunning and close behaui­our, either to deceiue him, or to shift him off?Iob. 5. 13. Psal 7. 9. Hee trieth the wise in their craftinesse: hee trieth the heart and the reines. His eyes are as a [Page 126] flame of fire which doe pearce into all the corners of the heart. He can tell when thou drawest neare vnto him with thy lips, but keepest thy loue for an other. Yea, but thy birth or beautie, wealth or wisedome will preuaile with him. Be not deceiued. For God seeth not as man seeth: 1. Sam. 16 7. Ier. 17. 10. Pro. 24. 12. for man looketh vpon the outward appea­rance: but the Lorde beholdeth the heart. I the Lord search the heart, and trie the reines: but why? euen to giue euery man according to his waies. He will (saith Salomon) recompence euery man according to his works. Though hand ioyne in hand,Pro. 11. 10. 27.the wicked shall not be vnpunished. And whosoe­uer followeth euill, seeketh his owne death.

God respecteth neither strength nor stature, neither face nor fashi­on, nor any other circumstance in the person of any man. Yea, rather these will aggrauate thy punish­ments, and augment thy paines, if thou wilt not forsake thy sinnes, because thou hast not vsed them to [Page 127] the honour of God, that did honor thee with them.

We see now (beloued) that there is no safetie in continuing in our sinnes; let vs therefore turne from them. And as there is is irreconcili­able hostilitie betweene the Ichneu­mon, and the serpent Aspi [...], between the Dolphin and the Crocodile:Plin Hist. nat lib. ca. 24. 25. as God doth hath the diuell, with an euerlasting hatred: so let there bee perpetuall combating betweene vs and our sinnes: let vs abhor them, and striue against them, till God by death, as by a sword, strike off the head of sinne, and vtterly demolish it, as Ezekiah did the brazen ser­pent.2. Kin. 18. 4. It is a godly flight, to take the wings of the mourning, and to flie from sinne: it is a good turning to turne from vngodlinesse:2. Ki. 18. 7. it is a lawfull rebellion to rebell against the tyrant Sinne, as the good king Hezekiah did against the king of Ashur, and would not serue him. This is the only tirant, which a man may lawfully stabbe, and kill. For [Page 128] For sinne is a meere vsurper:We are bid­den to kill sinne. all her lawes are wr [...]tten in blood as Dra­coes was, and shee rewardeth all her vassalls with death. Therefore how­soeuer wee haue in times past giuen our selues vnto sin,Re. 17. 13 as the ten kings were foretolde to giue their power to the beast, yet let vs now reuolt and turne from it, as they shoulde from the whore of Babylon: and let vs make it desolate and destroy it, as they shall do that purple whore. For (as Peter saith) It is sufficient for vs that wee haue spent the time past of our life after the lust of the Gentiles, 1. Pet. 4. 3 wal [...]ing in wantonnesse lusts, dr [...]nkenn [...]sse, in gluttony, drinkings, and in abhominable idolatries. Ro. 13. 12. The night is past (saith Paul) and the day is at hand: let vs therefore cast away the works of darknesse, and let vs put on the armou [...] of light, so that we wa [...]ke honestly as in the day: not in gluttony and drunkenne [...]e, neither in chambring and wantonnesse, nor in strife and enuie.

Thus then wee haue seene from what we must turne. First, from Sa­than: [Page 139] for hee dooth either assaults vs with violence to deuour vs,Ʋid. Pim. hist. nat. li. 10. c. 73. like a Lion: or else with subtiltie, like a Leopard. And if at any time hee please our corrupt humors, or make faire as if he would doe vs good, it is but in policie; like Herod▪ that pre­tended to worship Christ, but inten­ded to kill him: or like Dauus in the comedie, whom Simo saith,Ter. Audr. did stu­die rather to crosse him, then to please his sonne. So Sathan by satis­fying our sinfull lusts, dooth rather seeke to displease God, and to exas­perate him against vs, then indeede to please vs. When hee comes vnto thee, with I will giue thee: it is onely with a minde to get thee. When hee dooth transforme himselfe into an Angel of light, it is but to dec [...]iue thee; as hee did sometime appeare in the shape of Samuel to Saul the king, but not with any purpose to doe him good.1. Sam. 28 When he doth salute a man, it is onely (as Iudas dealt with his Master) to betray him: or like Ioab, who spake courteously to [Page 140] Amasa and tooke him by the beard to kisse him,Sam. 20. 9, 10. but suddenly slew him with a sword. Therefore wee haue good cause to take heed of him, and to turne from him. Secondly, wee must turne from the world: which (like the whore of Babylon) is indeed arrayed in purple and skarlet,Reu. 17. 4. and guilded with golde, and beset with pearles and precious stones, yet is she with all, the sinke of sinne, and a notorious harlot, alluring all men to commit fornication with her, and to goe a whoring after her from God. Thirdly, from the waies of the wicked: for they lead vs to the house of woe, and bring vs to the pit o [...] per­dition, into which many fall, but out of which none doe come, none can come. Fourthly, from all our sinnes, both great and [...]mall. For al [...] are the works and instruments of the diuel. They are all deceitfull, like a bro­ken too [...]h, and a sliding foote. They are all of an imperious disposition, like the bramble,Iud 9. 15. that delighted to be king: or like to Crocodiles, that [Page 141] take themselues to be kings (as Pli­nie writeth) in the riuer Nilus, Plin nat. hist. l 8. c. 25. as if it were their pecular Kingdome. Fi­nally, they are all enemies to our christian race; like stones in our shooes, thornes in our legges, moats in our eyes, flints in our way, or not vnlike to the fish called Remora: which, though it bee not very great,Plin. l. 9. c. 25. yet cleauing to the keele of a shippe vnder water, dooth (as some report) cause her to goe more slowly: and doth oftentimes make her to stay, as Trebius Niger affirmeth.

Thus much for the second point.3. point. To whom we must turne. The third followeth now to be con­sidered, namely to whom wee must turne. The Prophet exhorts vs to turne vnto Iehouah: who is by the Graecians tearmed (Kurios:) by the Latines Dominus: and by vs accor­dingly called Lord. First in respect of creation: secondly, in regard of gubernation & preseruation: third­ly, in respect of redemption: fourth­ly, in regard of absolute possession. For by him wee are created and re­deemed: [Page 142] by him wee are daily go­uerned and conserued: and of him we are possessed: wee are a part of his possessions,Act. 17. 28 a part of his goods, in him we liue and moue, and haue our being: of him we hold our liues and lands; himselfe being an ab­solute and eternall substance, or na­ture, ha [...]ing life, and being onely of himselfe, as the word Iehouah sh [...]weth.

Now, we are to turne from our sinnes to him The reasons are ma­ny. First▪ from him we haue wan­dered, and him we do by our sinnes principally offend. Let the stray­ing sheepe returne to their owne sheepheard. Let the seruant that hath transgressed his mais [...]ers will, in running from him, retire to his owne maister, and not to an other man. Paul sent [...]esimus to his own maister Philemon, Philem. 12 [...]rom whom hee did vnlawfu [...]ly depart. The prodi­gall sonne returned to his owne fa­ther.

Secondly, God is the fountaine [Page 143] both of our being, and well being:Luk. 15. 20. Luk. 1. 16. 1. Cor. 4. 7 Iam. 1. 17 of our doing, and wel doing? of our life & liberty. Yea; What hast thou, that thou hast not receiued of him? Euery good giuing (saith Iames) and euery perfect gift is from aboue, and and commeth downe from the Father of lights. Thirdly, he is the onely law-giuer,Iam. 4. 12 which is able to saue and to destroy. He alone can pardon sinne: therefore he saith, I, Mar. [...].7. Is. 43. 25. euen I am he that putteth away thine iniquities. He alone can heale our soules, and kill our sinnes: therefore he saith,Hos. 13. 9 & 14. 5. Reuel. 3. 18. Ezek. 36. 26. In mee is thine helpe: and againe, I will heale their rebellion. Hee hath golde, and rayment, & eye-salue for the soule. He hath a new heart to giue vs, and cleane water to purge vs. He onely can chaunge our mindes, and make vs to turne vnto him. Therefore the Church prayeth in this wise:Cant. 1. 3. Draw me: wee will runne after thee. Ephraim saith, Conuert thou me, Ier. 31. 18 and I shall bee conuerted. And Ieremy prayeth in behalfe of the people,L [...]. 5. 21 Phil. 2. 13 Turne thou vs vnto thee, O Lord, and we shalbe tur­ned. [Page 144] It is he that worketh in vs, both the will and the deede. Hee is our onely Ariadne, that can helpe vs out of the labyrinth of sinne. It is hee onely that stretcheth forth his hand to succour vs, when wee are readie to sinke into the water of wickednesse, and to be drowned in the floods of iniquitie,Mat. 14. 31. as Christ did vnto Peter, when walking vp­on the water, he began to sinke into it. Yea, he is so absolute able (being God omnipotent) to performe all these things, as that we cannot at the least sort distrust his sufficiencie, without horrible iniurie done vnto him.

As he was able to ouerwhelme the world with water, and to hinder the building of Babel: so he is able to subuert the world of our vices, to drowne them with the water of his holy Spirit, and to stay the buil­ding of spiritual Babell, made with­in vs by Sathan, the onely Archi­tect of all our enormious buildings. As hee was able to riue the rockes, [Page 145] and to preserue Daniel in the Lions Denne: so is he able to rend our stonie hearts, and to defend vs from that cruell Lion, which seeketh to prey vpon our soules. As he was of power to open the prison doores, and to fetch Peter with his fellowes out, and at an other time, to vnloose the bands, wherewith Paul and Sila [...] with their fellow prisoners, were ti­ed and bound: so hee is as wel able to fetch vs out of the prison of sin, and to breake the bolts, and vntie the bands of iniquitie. As he was able to driue out diuels, and to cure all diseases: so he can (if he will) ex­pell all vncleane spirites, that haue takē vp their lodging in our hearts, as the spirite of pride, enuie, con­tention, couetousnesse, drunken­nesse, d [...]zzinesse, vncl [...]annesse; hee is able to binde the strong man Sa­tan, and to cast him out of vs, and to cure all the diseases of the soule. He hath a salue for euery sore, and a me­dicine for euery maladie. There is neither sore nor sicknesse, but hee [Page 146] can remedie, if hee please. Where­fore wee haue good reason to turne vnto him, to seeke vnto him. The Lizardes seeke for Calaminth when they are wounded, beeing an hearb very excellent against the byting of serpents.

Plin. nat. hist. l. 8. c. 27.The Storke feeling himselfe a­misse, goeth to the herbe Organ for a remedie. The Rauen percei­uing himselfe poysoned with the Chameleon, flyeth to the Lawrell, and with it extinguisheth the ve­nome: so when we are wounded or poysoned with sinne, and bitten by the serpent Sathan, we ought to goe to the Lord: hee is our Cala­minth, our Organ, and our Lawrell. Qui fecit, reficere potest: he that made vs, can renue vs: he that formed vs, can as well reforme vs: hee that made the soule, can as easily mend the soule. The waues of the Sea (saith the Psalmist) are mightie, Ps. 93. 4 but the Lord on high is more mightie: so indeede the waues of sinne are loude and mightie,Is. 1. 18. but the Lord by his might [Page 147] can still them. It is good therefore to turne vnto him.

Fourthly, God is not onely able to conuert and cure vs, but very readie to doe it, if we seeke vnto him, and willing to receiue vs if wee return vnto him. For the Lord (saith Dauid) is full of compassion and mercie,Psal. 103. 8. 9.slowe to anger, and of great kindnesse. He will not alway chi [...]e, neither keepe his anger for euer. The father of the Prodigall sonne, seeing his son a far off, re [...]urning home vnto him, pitti­ed him, and ran (not goe) vnto him,Luk. 15. 20 and fell vpon his necke and kissed him. Dauid sheweth the admirable affection of God, to a repentant sin­ner, when hee saith after this sort: I thought I wil confesse against my self my wickednes vnto the Lord,Ps. 32. [...].and [...]hou for­gauest the punishment of my sinne. If the Lord be so readie to receiue a [...]es­sing sinner, shall we thinke hee will reiect a conuerting sinner, one that doth not onely confesse his sinne in truth, but in truth also turne from it, and returne to him?

[Page 148]This argument Ioel vseth to per­swade the Israelites to repent.Ioel 2. 13. Turne (saith he) vnto the Lord your God, for he is gracious, and mercifu [...]l, sl [...]w to an­ger, and of great kindnesse. So then the mercie of God should be so far from making vs carnally secure, as that indeede it should rather pro­uoke and incite vs to rowze vp our selues, and to turne againe vnto him.

Fiftly, hee is not onely by nature louing, but he hath also made vs of his loue very gracious promises. Hezekiah by the speciall motion of the holy Ghost,2. Chro. 30 9 Is. [...]5. 7. Zach. 1. 3. Is. [...]4. 26. saith: The Lorde your God will not turne his face from you, if ye conuert vnto him. And Esay saith: Let the wicked forsake his waies, and returne vnto the Lord, and he will haue mercie vpon him. Now God is constant in his word, and faithfull in his promises, and will performe the wordes of his Prophets.Ps. 86. 15. The Lord (saith Dauid) is great in truth. Verbum eius ab intentione non dissentit, quia veritas est: nec factum à verbo, [Page 149] quia virius est: his word dissenteth not from his intention, because he is Veritie: Nor his workes from his word, because he is Ʋertue. Thou wil [...] beleeue thy faithful friend, and wilt thou not beleeue the God of Faith? he condemneth breaking of promise in men, therefore surely he will not breake his promise made with man.

Sixtly, wee are commaunded to turne vnto God.Is 55. 7. Let the wicked re­turne vnto the Lord. Ioel [...].12. Zach. 1. [...]. Iob. [...]5. 14 Pro. 1 [...]. 16 Hos 12. 6. Turne you vnto me (saith the Lord.) The comman­dements of God are not to bee neg­lected. Disobedience to them is death: but, Hee that keepeth the com­maundement, keepeth his owne soule. But this is one commaundement of God, that we turne vnto him.

Lastly, wee haue the example of the Saints to direct vs. Dauid, Iosiah, the Niniuites, & Paul. The exa [...]ple of the Saints in good things, should be vnto vs (as the cloude and pillar of fire was vnto the Israelites) to goe before vs, and to direct vs into ce­lestiall [Page 150] Canaan. Imitation is the dis­ease of the English Nation; there­fore if wee will needes imitate and follow, let vs follow the best. Wee are forbidden to followe the fashi­ons of the world,Rom. 12. 2. but not to follow the foote-steps of the Saints. Thus much concerning this third point.

4. point. In what we must turne.THe fourth is In what, and where­in we must turne. Which, be­cause it hath affinitie with the se­cond, I will the more speedily dis­patch. We must turne to the Lord, in our hearts, mindes, wills, workes, and waies. As the Priests clensed all the house of the Lord,2. Chr. [...]9 and the altar of burnt offerings, with all the vessells thereof, and the shew-bread table with all the vessells thereof: so we must clense our hearts & hands, and all our waies from the filthines of our sinnes. As they went into the inner parts of Gods house to clense it, and brought out all the vnclean­nesse [Page 151] that they found: so wee must enter into the bottome of our hearts, and seeke into all the winding cor­ners of our waies to dresse them, & wee must sweepe out all the dust of sinne, and shouell away all the dirt of wickednesse. And as the Leuites hurled that vncleannesse into the ri­uer Kidron: so ought we to cast and condemne all our sinnes into the pit of hell, fr [...]m whence they came. God requireth an alteration in the whole man,Prou. 23. 17. 19. O thou my sonne (saith the Lord) heare, and hee wise, guide thine heart in the way. Againe, Let not thine heart be enuious against sinners. Ier. 4. 14. O Ie­rusalem (saith the Prophet) wash thine heart from wickednesse. Here wee see that God requireth a turning in the heart; and with good reason. For the heart commaundeth both the hand and the tongue. Of the aboun­dance of the heart, the tongue spea­keth. Hee that will haue a cleane streame, must purge the fountaine. Hee that will haue good hearbes, must weede his garden. Secondly, [Page 150] [...] [Page 151] [...] [Page 152] we must turne to God in our heads. Wee must [...]e wise, but the throne of wisedome is the head. God will haue a change in our heads:Pro. 12. 2. for a man of wicked imaginations, he wil condemne, saith Salomon. Thirdly, hee will haue an alteration in our words.Eph. 4. 29 Col 3. 8. We must be full of blessing, and beware of cursing: our speech must be seasoned with the words of grace. Fourthly, wee must turne to God in respect of our companions. Ther [...]fore Paul saith, Eate not with any brother, 1 Cor. 5. 11. Pro. 23. 20 that is a fornicatour a rai­ler, or couetous. And Salomon saith, Keepe not company with drunkards, nor glu [...]tons. B [...]rds of one feather will flie together. If thy companions be vicious, it may iustly bee feared that thou art not vertuous.Plin. nat. hist. [...] 10. c. [...]4. The Spider and the Serpent cannot agree: the Thoes & the Lions doe [...]ouly iarre: the bird Aeguthus doth so much ab­horre another bird called Anchus, that as some affi [...]me, their blood will not mingle together. As Salo­lomon saith accordingly, that A wic­ked [Page 153] man is an abhomination (not abho­minable) vnto the iust, Pro. 29. 27. and hee that is vpright in his way, is an abh [...]mination to the wicked. Therefore, he that de­lighteth himself with a wicked mās company, sheweth himselfe either verie wicked, or very weake. Hee that will turne vnto GOD, must change his companions, and hate with Dauid the assembly of the euil:Ps. 26. 4, 5 he must, not company with the wic­ked, and haunt with vaine persons, but must bee (as Dauid was) a com­panion of a [...]l them,Psal. 119. 63. that feare God and keepe hi [...] precepts. Fiftly, wee most turne to God in the workes of our hands,Ion 3. 8. Zach. 1. 4. Ps;a. [...]6, 6. Iam. 4. 8. Pro. 4. [...]6, 27. and in the waies of our feete. Dauid s [...]ith; I will wash mine hands in innocency O Lord. The wise man saith, Let all thy waies be ordered aright, remooue thy foote from euill. Lastly, wee must turne to the Lord here vpon earth. The earth must be the place of our turning. He that will come to heauen, must beginne his race vpon the earth. He that will will not turne to God vppon the [Page 154] earth, must neuer looke to be recei­ued into heauen. Hee that will not set open the gates of his heart here vpon earth for the King of glory to come in the King of glory will not set open heauen-gates for him to en­ter in, when hee shall be taken from the earth. And thus much for this fourth point.

5. point. When we must turne.The fift is, when wee must turne. Hee which turneth, must turne in something: and so hee must turne in some time. Wee must turne to the Lord without delay. Delay breeds danger. So soone as wee haue sear­ched and tried our waies, wee must turne vnto the Lord. We must in no wise deferre our conuersion. For first, the Lord seemeth to bee (as it were) in trauell, till wee relinquish our sinnes and turne vnto him.Prou. 1. 22, 23. Prou. 6 9. O ye foolish (saith Wisedome) how long wil ye loue foolishnesse: turne ye at my corre­ction How long (saith God) wi [...]t thou sleepe, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleepe? Ier. 4. 14. O Ierusalem (saith the Lord) how long shall thy wicked [Page 155] thoughtes remaine within thee? Ier. 13. 27 Woe vnto thee, O Ierusalem, wilt thou not be made cleane? when shall it once bee? How long wilt thou goe astray, Ier. 31. 22 O thou rebellious daughter. Therefore to de­liuer the Lorde out of his paines, let vs turne vnto him, and repent with speede.

Secondly, the seruice of the Lord is perfect freedome.Iob. 36. 11 And as Elihu saith, If men will serue him, they shall ende their daies in prosperitie and their yeares in pleasures. Therefore the sooner we enter into his seruice, the sooner wee shall be free from men, yea free-denisons of new Ierusalem. And this is not till wee repent and turne vnto him, and [...]hen it is.

Thirdly, it is a very absurd and disorderly course, for any man to take a noble mans liuery, and to weare his recognisance, and yet in the meane time to serue his enemie. Beloued, the profession of pietie is (as it were) the Lordes cloath, and Baptisme is his badge. Shall wee weare his cloath, & beare his badge? [Page 156] shall wee enter into his house, and eate his meate, and in the meane while, serue our lostes and fulfill the fancie of our flesh, which is an ene­mie to God and godlinesse? If wee account this course vnreasonable, as in deede it is, then hauing set our feete within the territories of the Church,1. Tim. 3. 15. which is the house of God, and hauing taken of him his liuerie and recognisance, let vs now cease to serue his enemies and truly turne vnto him. The longer wee stay, the more vnreasonable wee shewe our selues to be, and the more iniurious we are to him.

Fourthly, God doth often with­drawe the outward sig [...]es of his fa­uour from them which wander from him [...]d forget to turne againe [...] y [...]a though they bee his deere chil­dren. There [...]ore hee saith,Ps. 89. 31, 32. that if they breake his s [...]atues▪ hee will then visite their transgression with rods, and so he doth vsually. As wee therefore feare Gods correction, and dread his rods, let vs beware of [Page 157] sinning against him: and if wee be ouertaken at anytime, as who is not? let vs without delay repent and recouer our selues. A good childe hauing iniustly vexed his father, will not be quiet till they be recon­ciled againe.

Fiftly, when wee liue in sinne, and hasten not to turne from it vn­to God, then we distemper our con­sciences. Were it not then better to returne with speede, then either to dull or disquiet them? What is more intollerable then a disturbed con­science?Pro. 18. 14 The spirit of a man will sustaine his infirmity: but a wounded spirit who can beare it? An euill conscience is a mans prison, his Iailer, his ac­cuser, his Iudge, yea and execu­tioner also. Though a man could dissemble his griefe and seeme to laugh,Pro. 14. 13 yet euen in that laughing the heart is sorrowfull. And though the countenance doe not alway be­wray the anguish and agony of the minde perplexed, yet The heart knoweth the bitternesse of his soule. Pro. 14. 10

[Page 158]Now then, were it not better for a man with speede to turne, then by delay to purchase and procure that to be his foe, which hee ought to make his surest friend, and deeme a daily delight?Pro. 15. 15. 13. For a good consci­ence is a continuall feast, and a ioyfull heart (which is not without the other) maketh a cheerfull counte­nance.

Sixtly, though God haue pardo­ned all the sinnes of his children by his decree, promise, and merits of his sonne: yet he doth not actually apply this pardon to their faith and feeling, till they do turne vnto him. For though I doe forgiue my bro­ther, though hee doe not aske for­giuenesse, yet (I thinke) I need not alway tell him so, till he doe aske: so, though God did indeede pardon our sinnes in his decree, and in the purpose of his heart, yet doth he ne­uer seale the pardon actually vnto vs, till we turne vnto him, and desire it. The father of the Prodigall sonne did not goe to meete his sonne, till [Page 159] his sonne had first determined to re­turne vnto him.

Seuenthly, there is a day of grace, a day of saluation, a time wherein God will be found. Therefore Esay counselleth vs to seeke the Lorde whiles he may be found,Is. 55. 6. and to call vpon whilest hee is neare. And Wisedome saith,Pro. 1. 28. 29. They shall seeke mee early, but they shall not fin [...]e mee, be­cause they hated knowledge, and did not chuse the feare of the Lord. Beloued, this is the day of salu [...]tion, this is the day of obt [...]ining present grace, and future glory, yet the trumpet or the Gospell is sounded amongst vs, yet the Lorde like a Nurse, holdeth out his naked breastes vnto vs, yet wee heare his voice [...]inging in our eares, Awake, thou that sleepest, Eph. 5. 14 and stand vp from the dead, and Christ shall giue thee light. Let vs therefore re­deeme the time, and serue the sea­son. Take the tide which stayes for no man, and strike the Iron, whiles it is hote: it is yet sommer, winter will come: it is yet light, but night [Page 160] draweth on, the Sun se [...]meth to des­cend, the shadowes are long.Iam. 4. 8. Draw neere to God, and he will draw neere to you. Gal. 6. 10. To day if ye heare his voyce harden not your hearts. And as Paul saith, While wee haue time let vs doe good to all men. So I say, while we haue time, let vs doe this good vnto our selues, let vs leaue our sinnes, and turne to God. He that hath a long iourny to goe, and but a little time to finish it in (as wee haue) will take the day be­fore him, and set foote forward be­times.

Eightly, let the ensample of the Saints be considered. Dauid was no sooner admonished by Nathan, but hee presently repented, Peter no sooner considered his hainous of­fence, but hee did relent. The Pro­digall sonne feeling his smart, forth­with resolued to turne home vnto his Father. The Niniuites hearing the short, but sharpe Sermon of P [...]ophet Ionah, beleeued God and repent [...]d: yea their King did immediately vppon his intelli­gence, [Page 161] by proclamation comm [...]nd euery man to turne from his euill way. And God sawe their workes, that they turned from their euill waie [...]. Ion. 3. 5, 8, 10. The good Iewes, hauing heard their sinnes discouered by Peter, were presently pricked in their heartes (as if his wordes had beene swordes) and cried out vnto Peter and the other Apostles,Act. 2. [...]7, 38, 41. Men and brethren, what shall we doe? Then Pe­ter saide, Amend your liues and be bap­tized. And as the Scripture saith, they receiued his wordes gladly. Here are hearers indeede: happie teachers, happy bearers, worthy of our imitation. But our hearers for the most parte, are like brasse and yron, their heartes are made of marble, insomuch that wee may (in some sort) say with the Pro­phet: The bellowes are burnt, Ier. 6. 29. the leade is consumed in the fire, the Founder melteth in vaine: our oyle is wasted, our labour spent vp­pon them is lost wee light a [Page 162] candle to the walles, and speake to the stones: for they will not forgoe their drosse, & part from their sins. But the word of the Lord shall not returne voyd,Is. 55. 11. but shall accomplish that which he will, and shal prosper in the thing whereto hee sent it. It must be the sauour of life vnto life by his grace to some, and the sauour of death vnto death, by their cor­ruption to others. The sunne doth whiten flaxe, but blacke the face: and fire will stiffen clay, but soften waxe. But I returne from whence I haue digressed.

To conclude this point; Samuel, and Timothy, and Ioseph began to serue the Lord in their tender yeres. Shall wee giue the strength of our dayes vnto Sathan, and keeepe our rotten bones and withered age for God? Will any man entertaine a seruant that seekes vnto him in his olde age, but refused his seruice all his life before, though hee was by many messengers desi­red?

[Page 163]Can a man be happy to soone? Can a man bee holy too soone? Young diuells sildome make olde Saintes. Though sound repentance bee ne­uer too late, yet late repentance is s [...]l­dome or neuer sound. Hee that hopes to finde mercie, as the theefe did at the last gaspe, though hee liue lewdly all his life time, may as well by spurring of his Asse, looke that hee shoulde speake, because Balaams Asse did so on a time. Euery man with Pamphilus desires to bee rid of his feare with as much speede as may bee.Ter, And. quàm pri­mùm hoc me [...]ihera me [...]u. What greater feare can any man bee possest with, then, the f [...]are of d [...]mnation, from which no man can before his con­uersion assure himselfe to bee freed? If a thorne bee in our foote, or a moate in our e [...]e, without delay wee seeke to pull it out. Why then shuld wee not bee as diligent to haue our sinnes pluckt ou [...] of our hearts, see­ing they are as thornes and moates vnto our soules? If any thing disqui­et vs, wee doe presently seeke to re­moue [Page 164] it. There is no quietnesse in sinne, no peace in sinning. There­fore as Paul wisheth the Gala [...]ians. Woulde to God they were euen cut off, Gal. 5. 12. which doe disquie [...] you: so let vs now wish & labour that our sinnes may be destroyed, for they do distemper and disquiet vs. The Elephant ha­uing swallowed downe a Lizard,Plin. nat. hist. [...]. 8. c. [...]. goeth straightway to a wilde Oliue for a remedie. The Hinde feeling himselfe poisoned with some vene­mous weede, goeth without delay to the Artichoke for cure. Men are ve­rie ready to send or to runne to the Phisi [...]ian or the Chirurgeon for the d [...]seases and wounds, which can on­ly kill the body: why then should wee not be as ready to seeke to God for the cure of the diseases and wounds of the soule, which if they be not cured and repented of, will k [...]ll both soule and body? We all de­sire that GOD should turne to vs with speede, when he frowneth vp­on vs, and speakes roughly to vs, as Ioseph did to his brethren: wee [Page 165] would not that hee should hide the light of the Sunne, or holde vp the water in the cloudes long from vs: we would not haue him vnkind vn­to vs a moment: wherefore then shoulde wee be vnkinde vnto him, why should we any time neglect his seruice, or reiect his worde? Why should we prorogue the time of tur­ning to him? Can wee be too soone in his court? too soone in his loue? too soone in his seruice? If wee can­not (as indeede wee cannot) then let vs with speed make haste vnto him. The longer we tarry, the more vnfit wee make our selues to turne. For Censuetudo peccand [...] tollit sensum pec­cati, A custome in sinning, takes a­way the sense of sinne: and when men become sencelesse, they proue sensuall and sottish, feeling no mise­rie, & therefore affecting no change. And this shall suffice for the fift point.

The sixt to be considered is,6. point. How men must turn [...] how we must turne to God. For, that a­ny good worke may bee well done, [Page 166] and so accepted of God, it must bee done in due manner. Ahab and Iudas repented after a fashion, but it was not the right fashion. Many men make many turnings, but they bee not good and gracious.Bona non bonè Splendida peccata. The wicked doe many good thinges, but none well: and therefore their goodly workes are but goodly sinnes. Last­ly, the wicked doe not onely wi [...]ked things, but they haue withall a guise in doing them wickedly▪ Psal. 59. 5. Pro. 2. 15. Dauid spea­keth of some that transgresse mali­ciously. The wise man maketh men­tion of some that are Iewd in their paths.Pro. 10. 23 Salomon saith; It is a pastime to a foole to doe (not that onely which is wicked, but to doe it also) wickedly. The sacrifice of the wicked (saith he) is an abhomination to the Lord: Pro. 21. 27 how much more when hee bringeth it with a Wic­ked Minde. Iude. 15. Isa. 32. 6. The wicked as Enoch sheweth, doe not only commit wic­ked actions, but they doe them wic­kedly.

Considering therefore that the wicked haue a custome or fashion [Page 167] in their working,Malum ma [...]è. not onely to doe a sinfull action, but sometimes also (if not alway) to doe it sinfully, wee on the contrary are taught, not one­ly to see that all the works we do be good, but that they be withall well, and not wickedly done, as many vse to do, and so marre that by the man­ner, which was good for the matter. To come then to the point in hand. Wee must not onely turne to the Lord, but we must turn handsomely and holily. If Ahab had turned as he ought to haue done, hee should ne­uer haue beene reiected. That wee therefore turne aright from euerie euill vnto the Lord, we must obserue these rules that follow. First, wee must turne in faith. For, Whatsoeuer is not of faith, is sinne. Ro. 14. 23 Wee must be­leeue that our turning is both good in it selfe, and good in vs, yea and for vs; yet not for any merit in it, but by the meere mercy of God, that doth in loue accept it, and of his mercie promise life and prosperitie, if wee will turne. Secondly, we must turne [Page 168] in the name of Christ.Col. 3. 17. Whatsoeuer y [...] doe (saith Paul) whether in word or deede, doe all in the name of the Lord Iesus. If wee would haue God accept and approue our conuersion, wee must conuert in the name of Christ. If a man behold the Rain-bow, or the Sun being ready to set through a groue of trees, the trees will seeme brighter then otherwise they doe: and if a man looke through a blew glasse, all that hee seeth will seeme blew; so if the Lord behold our con­uerting to him, in or through the righteousnesse of Christ, he will ac­cept of it, nothing regarding the weaknesse of it, as being hidden (is it were) from his eyes in the blood of Christ.Hos. 12. 6. Thirdly, wee must turne to God in consciencence of his commandement, euen because hee dooth commaund vs to turne vnto him. Fourthy, we must turne in sin­ceritie & vprighteousnesse of heart: for if wee t [...]rne in shew, and not in truth, wee make a mocke of God: like those of whom God saith, This [Page 169] people draw neere vnto mee with their lippes, but their heartes are farre from mee. If we condemne sinne with our tongues, and take pleasure in it in our hearts, wee make our selues ab­hominable to the Lord,Heb. 4. 13 before whose sight all things lie bare and naked. Therefore Dauid saith,Ps. [...]6. 18. If I regard wickednes in my heart, the L [...]rd will not heare me. Let vs [...]herefore (be­loued) turne with the heart, heartily and sincerely. Cast aside (saith Peter) all deceit and hypocrisies. 1. Pet. 2. 1 Pro. 1 [...]. 22. They that deale truly (saith Solomon) are Gods delight: so they that turne truly do please him at the heart. Iosiah is s [...]id to haue turned to the Lord,2. King. 23 25. With all his heart, with all his soule and with all his might according to the Law of Mo­ses. W [...]e cannot deceiue th [...] Lord.Ier. 17. 9, 10. For though the heart b [...]e deceitfull and wick [...]d aboue all things, yet the Lord doeth search it out and see it, and rewardeth euery man accor­ding to the fruit of his workes. Now a man may know whether he turne [...]ncerely, or but in shew and superfi­cially, [Page 170] by these three notes of true turning. First, if hee turne to God, because hee loueth him, and for his loue feareth to displease him, and not so much for feare of punish­ment, as the reprobate vse to doe. Secondly, if he turne, because he de­testeth sin as an enemy to the glory of God, and to the saluation of his owne soule, and therefore laboureth with heart and hand against all his sinnes without exception. Thirdly, if he turne not like the old Israelites, of whome the Psalmist saith, that when God slew them, they returned and sought him early: but they flat­tered him with their mouth,Ps. [...]8. 34, 36, 37. for their heart was not vpright with him, therefore (as many with vs vse to do after their solemne protestations of their repentance in the extreamitie of some sicknesse) they fell againe to their old byas, and started aside like a deceitfull bow. Fiftly, wee must turne to the Lord cheerefully,1 Chron. 28. 9. and willingly. Dauid commands his son Salomon to serue his God with a [Page 171] perfit heart, and with a willing mind. As we must turne sincerely without simula­tion, so wee must turne cheerefully, not heauily, willingly: not as by constraint.2. Cor. 9. 7. 1. Pet. 5. 2. As God loueth a cheerefull giuer, so hee loueth a cheerefull conuert. Feed the flock of God (saith Peter) caring for it not by con­straint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind: so I say, turne to the Lord with care, and willingnes of mind, not as it were by compulsion or for feare: turn readily, not being mooued with hope of gaine, or credite with men, as many doe. If there be a willing mind and a cheere­full affection, it is accepted;2. Cor. 8. 12. yea a cōstant & setled wil to turne, is of God accoun­ted turning indeede. Now this alacrious and willing turning is perceiued two waies. First, by speedy turning. For cheerefulnes will be quicke, nimble, and speedy, not sluggish and lither.Ps. 119. 60. Dauid saith; I made haste & delaied not to keep thy commandements; so we to shew our selues alacrious conuerts, must turne without delay.Plin. l. 10. c. 74. The Spider espying a Serpently­ing vnder the shade of the tree where she spinneth, maketh presently vnto her and poisoneth her: so we must deale with our [Page 172] sins. For if they bee but let alone awhile they will get shelter within vs, and wil not very easily be remoued; like the sea-Dragon,Plin. li. 9. c. 27. which if he be let goe vpon the land, maketh with his snowt a hollow trough with admirable celeritie. Se­condly, this cheereful turning is likewise very laborious. A willing mind makes a man very painefull. He that turnes vnto God cheerefully, wil striue exceedingly against his corruptions, and labour to please God in all things.Pro. 26. 13. Prou. 6. 10. Pro. 26. 14. He will not say with the sluggard, there is a Lion in the way, a Lion is in the streetes. He will not say, yet a little sleep, a little slumber. The slouthfull man turneth vpon his bed as a doore vpon the hinges, but so doth not he. But hee makes haste to his businesse, and is very diligent and painefull in his workes. The wicked are actiue, liuely, forward, & industrious in working wic­kednesse, wherefore then should not we be painefull and ready to do that which is good, as to turne from sinne, and re­turne vnto God? Lastly, wee must turne to the Lord daily. Wee must renew our repentance euery day.1. Thes. 5. 16, 17 Reioyce euermore (saith Paul) and pray continually. So I say, [Page 173] repent euermore, & return continual­ly. For we do sin daily, we transgresse continually, we offend euermore. So long as we liue vpō the earth, we shall not be free from sinne, we cannot bee free from sinning. Therefore we had need to repent and turne to God con­tinually. Blessed are those, which doe perseuere in turning vnto the ende. There is no shame in turning to God, all the shame is in turning from him. And thus much concerning the sixt point. It remaineth now to speake of the seuenth, and the last, to wit:

Wherefore we must turne. 7. Point. Why wee must turne. For who­soeuer worketh, must in reason pro­pound the end of his worke vnto him­selfe. And he that will doe any good worke well, must doe it, not onely in a good maner, & by good means, but al­so to a good ende. The ende why wee must turne to the Lord, is double, su­preme and subordinate, greater or les­ser. The maine and highest end of our turning, ought to be the glory of God. Therefore Paul saith: Whether y [...] eate, 1. Cor. 10. or drinke, or whatsoeuer else ye doe, [...]oe all to the glory of God. The subordinate [Page 174] and inferiour end is manifold. First, that wee may shewe our selues of the number of Christs sheepe, which must all be gathered together into one fold, and conuerted from their indirect and crooked waies. Secondly, that we may gather assurance to our selues of our e­ternall predestination, to perpetuall blessednes, and that we are out of the ranke of reprobates, whom God hath reiected, and prepared for the day of euill.Pro. 16. 4. Thirdly, that we may adorne the profession of Christianitie, which wee haue taken vpon vs. Fourthly, that wee may stop the mouthes of Atheists, Pa­pists, and all dissolute and desperate ca­tiues, that take vpon them with open mouthes, to blaspheme & bark against our religion, for the sinnes and irregu­larities of the multitude amongst vs. Fiftly, that we may allure men to the liking both of vs, and of our contem­ned profession, and also to stir them to conuert, and glorifie God. Therefore our Sauiour saith,Math. 5. 16. 1. Pet. 2. 11, 12. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good workes, and glorifie your Father which is in heauē. And likewise Peter, Abstain from [Page 175] fleshly lusts, and haue your couersation ho­nest among the Gentils, that they which speake euil of you, as of euil doers, may by your good workes, which they shal see, glori­fie God in the day of visitation. This shall suffice for these seuen points, and for this doctrine of turning to the Lorde. Let vs now see how this doctrine may be applied for our vse and benefit, and so we will conclude. The vse is either of reprehension or exhortation.

First, the consideratiō of these things,Vse. 1. serueth to condemne al those which re­fuse to turne, but wil (notwithstanding al admonitions) run on without repen­tance, to the dishonour of God, the of­fence of his people, the griefe of their friends, and destruction of their owne soules.Is. 5. 18. These men (to vse the words of the Prophet) doe draw iniquitie with cords of vanity, and sinne as with ca [...]t­ropes. These mē (as the Lord speaketh of the Israelites) are wise to the diuell,Ier. 4. 22. Ier. 9. 5. Ps. 52. 3. Pro. 14 9. but to doe well, they haue no know­ledge. They take great paines to doe wickedly: and as Dauid saith of Doeg, they loue euil more then good. These are the fooles that make but a mock of [Page 176] sinne. These are they that esteeme the Prophets words as wind, and their m [...] ­nacies as mockes. These like those, of whom the Prophet Ieremy speaketh,Ier. 5. 3. haue made their faces harder then a stone, and haue refused to returne. A stone will be battered with an hammer, and worne in the end with continuall dropping; but these men will neither be brused with the hammer of the law, nor mollified with the oyly drops of the Gospel, which are daily falling vp­on them. Men they are not, but mon­sters, of a prodigious, luxurious, & re­bellious disposition; to whom belon­geth eternall confusion of face, which they cannot possibly escape without serious and sound repentance of sinne, and turning vnto God, before it be too late.Vse. 2. Secondly, all those are here to be reprehended, which deferre their con­uersion from day to day, like many bad pay-ma [...]sters. As Foelix said to Paul, Goe thy way for this time, Act. 24. 25. and when I haue a conuenient time, I will call for thee: so they will turne, when they haue a conueni­ent time to turne in. They haue oxen to p [...]oue, wiues to looke too, or dead to [Page 177] burie, they cannot (nay they will not) come yet, they haue not leisure to turne as yet. They can turne their religion with the weather-cocke, they can fit their profession (as Millers doe their sayles) for euery winde, how contrarie soeuer it be, they can turn any whither, but to God. These men may indeed be ashamed of their turning, & that with good cause: and that they may shame their former turnings, let them fire the wheele of their turning deuises, and re­turne to God. Otherwise they shewe themselues to bee of the nature of the Moone,Reu. 12. 2 whereon the Church doth set her feete, and to be the natural children of the world, which is made of turning mettall, and is constant in nothing but in inconstancie, changing her face as often as the Chamaeleon dooth her colour.

Thirdly, all those are to be condem­ned,Vse. 8. which wil leaue some of their sins, but will not part from all. They will needes entertaine one at the least,Iam. 1. 21. Pro. 3. 31. as their darling. But Iames saith, Lay a part all filthinesse. God forbiddeth vs to choose any of the waies of the wicked. [Page 178] As there is no brooke so small, no riuer so little, but will bring a man to the sea, if hee will follow it: so there is no sinne so small, nor yet any of the wicked mās waies whatsoeuer, but if a man addict his heart vnto them & follow them to the end, they will leade [...] man to the pit of perdition, and to a wide & bottom­lesse gulfe of euerlasting horrours, and horrible tortures.

Ʋse 4.Fourthly, those are conuinced of vn­orderly turning, which turn from one sinne vnto an other, and not from their sinnes vnto God, as we are here exhor­ted. Some turne from their prodigali­tie, to couetousnesse: some from foolish humility, to humble pride: some from sottish ignorance, & leadennesse of spi­rit, to captious curiosity, and to a spiri­tuall lunacie, being ready to run wilde with their owne light. What is this but with Aesops fish to leap out of the fry­ing pan into the fire,Ier 4 1. to escape bushes, & fall among brambles? But the Lord will haue vs turn to him. O Israel, if thou returne, Isa 44. 22 1. Thes. 1. 9 returne vnto mee, saith the Lord. The Thessalonians turned to God frō idols, to serue the liuing and true God. [Page 179] When we relinquish one extreame, we must not run to the other, but we must keepe the meane.

To conclude this text: wee all,Ʋse. 5. both old and young, rich and poore, high and low, wee are all (I say) taught and admonished to repent of all our sins,Zach. 1. 4. Hos. 10. 12 and with speed to turne vnto the Lord. Breake vp your fallow ground for it is time to seeke the Lord. Ier. 4. 4. Bee circumcised to the Lord, an [...] take away the fore-skins of your hearts, lest my wrath come [...]orth like fire, and burne, that none can quench it.Ps. 8 [...]. 2, 3. How long will [...]ee iudge vniustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Do right to the poore and fatherlesse, do iustice to the needy.Pro. 1. 22. O [...]e skornfull, how long will yee take pleasure in skorning? O yee fooles,Pro. 3. [...]7.how long will ye ha [...]e knowledge? Will not the Lord haue vs to with holde the good from th [...] ow­ners thereof, and shal we dare to with­draw or withhold our selues from him, whose goods we are in man [...] respects? Hee that turneth not vnto God, with­holdeth himselfe from God, and loc­keth himselfe vp in the diuells holde. Maist thou not say vnto thy neighbor,Pro. 3. 28. Goe, and come againe, and to morrow will I [Page 180] giue thee, if thou now haue it? And wilt thou now denie the Lord, that comes vnto thee for his owne, which nowe thou hast in thine handes to giue him, if thou list to part (if part) from it? We are forbidden to wrong & to rob our neighbor, yea (saith the Lord) the work-man [...] hire shall not abide with thee vnto the morning;L [...]. 19. 13 meaning, without his consent or leaue. And shall we presume to rob the Lord, to wrong the Lord, or to de­teine any thing from the Lord, though but for a night, without his leaue & li­cence? Thou art the Lord [...], then turne vnto him, delay no time, withhold not thy selfe a moment from him. Thou hast no leaue, therefore leaue to loiter, and returne with speed. Thou art hap­pie thou hast so good an owner, so kind a Master.1. Cor. 7. 5 Paul will not haue man and wife departe asunder for a time, without mutuall consent. And darest thou depart frō god without his leaue? Darest thou tarry away without his li­king? Is there any safety, but vnder his wings? Was not Eue made a prey to the serpent, when she was absent from her husband? Is there any peace without [Page 181] Gods pardon, or is there any pardon without mans penitency? In what a wretched condition is the malefactour apprehended & attached of high trea­son without the kings pardon? Is not his life a death, and his death a horrour? Paul would not giue place by subiectiō for an houre to the false brethren.Gal. 2. 5. 14. So we should not yeeld to the diuell a iot. And as soone as hee saw Peter play a trick of simulation, he did incontinent­ly rebuke him: so wee ought presently to reforme our waies, so soone as euer we doe perceiue that we tread awry, or wander out. Shall Paul trauell in birth,Gal. 4. 19. vntill Christ bee formed in the Galati­ans, and they restored to him, and shall wee be carelesse of our selues? shall not we be (as it wer [...]) in trauel and continu­all torment till Christ be formed in vs,2. Cor. 13. 7. and we formed to him? Shall Paul pray that the Corinthians may do none euil, and shall not wee labour for our selues against all euill?2. Cor. 12. 21. Shall Paul be ready to bewaile those, which hauing sinned do not repent of their vncleannes, fornica­tion, and wantonnes, and shall not wee lament, relent, and repent for our own [Page 182] sins? Do we not know that tribulation belongeth vnto those, that will not turn vnto God? Ashur shall be his king, because they refused to conuert. Hos 11. 5. Amos. 8. 4 Amos speaketh of some that swallow vp the poore, which are the creatures of God as well as the rich.Pro. 30. 14 And Agur saith; There is a genera­tion, whose teeth are as swordes, and their iawes as kniues, (horrible and bloody mo [...]sters) to eate vp the afflicted out of the earth, and the poore from among men. Shal any men, can any men be [...]hus brutish, barbarous, and cruell hearted to their brethren, to their owne flesh? and shall we do nothing vnto our sinnes, which are the gangreues, and the plague-sores of our soules, and vtter enemies to our peace and safety? shall wee let them a­lone, shall we stand still, & suffer them to destroy vs?Psal. 137. 8, 9. O daughter Babel, worthy to bee destroyed! And is not sinne the daughter of the diuell, and the Babel of the soule, as worthy to bee destroyed? Blessed (saith the Psalmist) shall hee be (not seeme, nor called) that taketh and dasheth thy children against the stones: e­uen so blessed shall that man be (I say bee) that dasheth his sinnes in peeces, [Page 183] and killeth the killing corruption of his heart, which like the fire saith not,Pro. 30. 15 Plin. l. 8. c. 25. It is enough: and like the Crocodile, will grow so long as it hath any life, vnlesse it be both pressed and oppressed. If Dauid crie out. Woe is vnto me, Ps. 120. 5. that I re­maine in Meshek, and dwell in the tents of Kedar; haue not we cause to lamēt, that we remaine in our sinnes, and for that not onely sinne dwelleth in vs, but we also in sinne: as it is to be feared, many of vs may truly say as much, if we did search our selues narowly. Dauid could say: My soule hath too long dwelt with him that hateth peace. Ps. 120. 6. Wherefore then should not we be wearie of our sinnes, which are sworne enemies to all true peace? Amos maketh mention of some, that desire the Sabbath were gone,Amos. 8. 5. 6. that they might sell their corne deere, and falsifie their weights: yea, that they might buy the poore for siluer, and the needie for shooes. Their delay was as death vnto them. Shall any man make so much haste for filthy lucre, and to worke heinous iniquitie, and shall wee linger the time, and deferre to do good, to turne from our sinnes vnto God▪ [Page 184] Dauid was grieued,Ps. 119. 158. because he saw men that kept not the word of God: & shal not we be grieued for our selues, when wee breake the commaundements of God, and demonstrate our griefe by our true turning vnto him? Must Ie­rusalem mourn,Ier. 7. 29. 30. because the children of Iudah haue set their abhominations in the house of God, and shall we be ioy­full and careles, while our hearts, which are the houses of the holy Ghost, are polluted with abhominable corrupti­ons, whereof we haue not all of vs as yet truly repented, as our liues doe te­stifie? Yea, rather let vs repent, and turne againe vnto the Lord, and then we may indeed reioyce. Was Ieremie sore vexed for the hurt of the daughter of his people?Ier. 8. 21. Lam. 3. 48 Shall his eye cast out ri­uers of water for her destruction? And shal not we lament for our owne hurt, for defacing of Gods image within vs, and for the many grieuous wounds of our soules? Must Christ be nayled to the Crosse for thy sinnes, and pearced with a speare to the heart for thy wic­kednesse; and wilt not thou turne from them, and forsake them? Shal he grone, [Page 185] and sigh, and sob, shall he sweate water and bloud for thy sinnes, and wilt thou yet delight in them, wilt thou not for­sake and leaue them? knowest thou not that Christ bare our sinnes vpon the Crosse, that we should die to sinne,1. Pet. 2. 24. and liue in righteousnesse? Paul saith, that Christ gaue himselfe for vs, that hee might redeem vs from all iniquitie, and purge vs to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe, Zealous of good workes. There­fore,Tit. 2. 14. to shew our selues to be the redee­med of Christ, we must turne from our sinnes, and follow the workes of pietie and iustice. As there is no agreement betweene God and the Diuell, be­tweene Christ and Beliall, Plin. nat. hist. lib. 10. cap. 74. betweene light, and darknesse: as there is mortall enmitie betweene the Eagle and the Swan, betweene the Turtle and the Pyralis, betweene the Ichneumon and Waspe, the Rauen and the Leriot, one of them iarring and warring with an other: so let there be no concord be­twixt the [...] and thy sinnes, but as they contend against thy soule, so doe thou wage warre with them, and cease not till thou haue gotten conquest ouer [Page 186] them.1 Pet. 2. 2 [...]. Turning from euill, and turning vnto God, be the two Cardines, or celestiall Poles of mans con­uersion. And as Peter saith of the faithfull in his time; that they were as sheepe going astray, but are now returned vn­the Sheepheard and Bishop of their soules: euen so, though ye haue bene in time past straglers from the Lorde, and transgressours of his lawe, yet now repent of your sinnes, and turne againe vnto him; so shall Sathan be grieued, his members silenced, the godly edifi­ed, your selues comforted, and God glorified; vnto whom be rendered all honour, praise and glory, in the Church, and of the Church, [...]or euer and euer. Amen.

Trin-vni Deo Gloria.