SALOMON, that peaceable Roy of Is­rael; during whose raigne, the bloody sword of David was sheathed; even this Salomon for his peace, became the glo­rious type and fore-figure of Christ Iesus, (not of Christ comming fromIsa. 63.1. Edom & Bozra, with his bloody gar­ments [Page 7] of conquest: for in that, David was figure) but of Christ the1. Chro. 22 7.8.9. compared with 2. Cor. 6.16 peace­able builder of the newe Testaments Church, signified by his rearing of Zions materiall Temple, wherein by his holy spirit he would dwell as a lo­ving, amiable Spowse. This Salomon of Israel, for this Peace and Spowsage, is throughout al this Most excellent Song, a glorious peculiar type and significa­tour of IESVS, annointed, King, Priest and Prophet to his Church: he introdu­ced in the person of a Spowse and sweet holy Lover: shee brought in as a wo­man espoused, and sometimes (consi­dering the divers estate of the church, according to divers times and occasi­ons) as a woman woed & suted vnto.

In these verses read, a part of the Church is set downe vnder the person of a woman slugging and sleeping in her bed, at the door of whose lodging, her beloved standeth knocking & cal­ling, vsing divers motiues to cause her arise and open vnto him: to whome, [Page 8] notwithstanding she returneth a slee­pie sluggish answer, insinuating a de­niall, wherevpon her beloved depar­teth. After that, Shee (as better advised) ariseth, openeth, searcheth, calleth, but he wold not be found or heard off. Shee not resting heere, traveleth far­ther, for the finding of her beloved what time vnawares, shee falleth into the hands of the Cities watch, who in­treat her fowlie, beating her, woun­ding her, & snatching away her vaile: But escaping with life, she still setteth forward in her holy pilgrimage, and so, soon after meeteth with the daugh­ters and chaste damsells of Ierusalem, to whom she commendeth her estate, straightly desiring them, if so they happely meet with her beloved, they would vouchsafe to signifie her estate vnto him: namely, That shee was sick of Loue. And this is the very full argu­ment of the Text redde. It may aptly therfore diuide it selfe, first into a mu­tuall colloquie, or conference betwixt [Page 9] Christ and the sinfull soule, contained in the two first verses read: secondly, into the issue of that conference in the residue, vntill the 9. verse. In the Con­ference (and therevpon onely at this time) is considerable, first the time in­timated in these wordes; I slept but my heart vvaked: secondly, the speakers, and their speach. The first speaker and his speach, is given in these wordes, It vvas the voice of my vvelbeloued that knocked, saying, Open vnto me, my Sister, my Loue, my Doue, mine vndefiled: for mine head is full of the dewe, and my locks with the drops of the night. The second speaker, (namely, the sinfull soule) and her speach lieth in these words: I haue put off my coate, howe shall I put it on? I haue vvashed my feete, howe shall I defile them?

The time of this conference was, (as the sinfull soule acknowledgeth) when shee Slept, namely in her Flesh: and yet then Awake, But in another part, namely in her heart or spirite, I [Page 10] slept (saith she) what time my beloued came vnto me knocking, &c. She that before shamed not to excuse her flesh laid downe in the bedde of Securitie t [...] sleepe; she now acknowledgeth, how lewdlie then she was occupied. And i [...] every thing that is written, be writte [...] for our learning (as indeede it is) the [...] this teacheth vs not to bee abashed t [...] confesse our former or present sleep [...] estate: that is, that such daies, moneth and yeares of our life haue bene slep away in the flesh, the damnable wor [...] of the flesh. There bee three sortes o [...] Sleepe mentioned in the Scripture [...] The first sleep, is that necessarie re [...] which occupieth the bodie after tra [...]uell: so sleptIudg. 4.21 Sisera in Iaels Tent. Th [...] second sleepe, is the rest of the bod [...] after the dissolution of the soule:1. King 2.10. David (departing this life) is said t [...] sleep with his Fathers. The third kin [...] of sleep, is to lie in a naturall, carnal sinful, vnrepentant estate: Hereof Pa [...] speaketh, when he saith,Ephes. 5.14 Awake th [...] [Page 11] that sleepest, and stand vp from the dead, that is, from the workes that haue in­troduced the first death, as also deserue the second death, wherein thou yet sleepest: And to ly in sinne, may well be said to sleepe in sinne: first, because the sinner thinketh, that sinne is as ne­cessary for the comfort of his flesh, as sleep for the wearied body: secondly, because a man is as hardly to be stir­red and pulled out of sinne, as a man in a dead sleepe to bee awaked, and to leape out of his bed. As the Serpents sting darted into a mans legge, doeth by litle and litle drawe the bodie to sleepe, and that vnto the death, the ve­nome thereby the sooner exhaust of the heart: so the Serpent and Dragon of Hell, hauing pearced a man with his venemous dartes of Covetousnes, Idolatrie, Theft, Adulterie, Murther, Drunkennes, Lying, Pride, &c. Hee co­uets onely that man would be tickled with the delight thereof, and so sleepe by continuance in such sin, because he [Page 12] knoweth the reward thereof will bee death. Adam and Heuah (the corrup [...] Roote, from whence wee as corrup [...] branches do spring) they having suc [...]ked vp the poyson of sinne, loe, they seeke starting holes,Genes. 3. among the bushes they goe, so farre from desirin [...] to be awaken out of sinne, as they fli [...] from the voice of God, because the [...] would not bee questioned about thei [...] sinne: but as Christ heere visiteth th [...] sinfull soule in the time of her sleepe so IEHOVAH there calleth out ou [...] Fore-parents, examines them, corrects them, by whipping them out o [...] Eden. Awake therfore you sonnes an [...] daughters of Adam, that haue sucked vp the poyson of Murder, Pride, Adulterie, & covet to sleep therin, accomp [...] it a soveraigne mercie of God, that h [...] calls vpon ye, and vouchsafeth to visit yee. Cain so slept in his murder, as GodGenes. 4. marked him for a Reprobate Esau so slept in his belly hunting, and neglect of holy things, as God would [Page 13] not giue him to findHeb. 12.27. any place to re­pentance: The Prophet Balaam slept so in Purse-prophecie, as God therefore not only gaue him to Nom. 31.8 be slaine togi­ther with the wicked,2. Pet. 2.15. but also to bee canonized for the leader of false Pro­phets, and as the giver of ill example to all pievish Prophets in these last daies. Iesabell so slept in2. King. 9.30. &c. painting her face, curious tyring her heade, and o­ther sorceries, as God in just judgment gaue her to breake her necke, and her painted curious flesh to become dogs meat. Awake thou therefore that slee­pest, stand vp from the dead, & Christ wlll giue thee light. Do nowe at last with this sinfull soul, confesse thy sinne to God & forsake it, so shalt thou find mercie. Dauid having about one year slept in his sinne, was by the Prophet Nathan awaked; who awaketh and cri­eth,Psal. 51. Haue mercie vpon me oh God: wash me: purge me: create in me a newe heart, &c. vpon which humble and vnfained Confession and Petition, he received this [Page 14] word from God, * The Lord hath pu [...] away thy sinne, thou shalt not dye. Tha [...] thou maist therefore obtaine merci [...] with David, sleepe not in Pride, vncleannesse, Blood-thirstines, prophannesse but awake and walke more warilie, redeeming the time lost: else feare, le [...] the Lord swear in his wrath, that tho [...] shalt never enter into his rest. To da [...] therefore harden not thine heart, b [...] arise out of thy Sin thou hast slept i [...]

But mine heart awaked.) The hear [...] which is the seate of that facultie [...] the soule called the Will, vnder th [...] which, is contained every Affection, [...] here put for the whole soul, consistin [...] of the faculty of the Mind, seated esp [...] ciallie in the head, vnder the which, contained the interiour senses; as al [...] of the Will, especially occupied abo [...] the heart, in his several affections. B [...] cause the Affections are seated in th [...] heart, therefore wee say, vve loue a [...] hate with our heart: and though the i [...] teriour senses, as Vnderstanding, Co [...] ceipt, [Page 15] &c. be seated in the heade (and therefore we say, He hath a head able to comprehend knowledge, to conceiue, remē ­ber, &c.) yet sometimes it is saide, hee hath an vnderstanding heart, but this improperlie. Nowe that she saith, But mine heart awaked, it is as though hee should say, Howsoeuer my flesh slugged and slept, yet mine inward man or spirite, vvas then not so sleepy and vntovvarde. Here wee are to obserue her vpright [...]udgment: who condemneth the flesh because it slept, but justifieth the spirit because it was waking. A lesson which we are to learne; namly, to condemne what in vs is condemnable, as also to [...]ustifie what in vs is justifiable. IOB had learned this lesson, who when he was to set his worke before God his pear­cing sight, hee saith,Iob. 9.30.31. If I wash my selfe with snowe water, and purge mine handes most cleane, yet shalt thou (God) plunge me in the pit, and mine owne cloathes shall make me filthie. But when he was to an­ [...]wer his kins-men, charging him with [Page 16] hypocrisie, he saith:Iob. 26.5.6 God forbid, that I should iustifie you, I vvill not take mine innocencie from my selfe vntill death: I vvill keep my righteousnes, and vvill no [...] forsake it. As IOB keepeth this equitie towards God and man: so in this place the poore soule keepeth an equall ballance betwixt her Flesh and Spirit: th [...] flesh a sleepe, the spirite awake. For [...] man to say, I hope I am as good a chri­stian as any of them all, and then to b [...] a sleep in Adulterie, Pride, Envie, Mur­der, &c. Is to beare false witnes agains [...] Christs mysticall bodie, which consi­steth not of rotten vnfruitfull twiggs for such areIohn 15.2.6. cutte off from the Vin [...] Christ; neither shall such sleepieMatth. 25 10. foolish Virgins enter into the kingdome for the gate shall bee shut. And for man, in whome God hath wrought [...] care of holinesse, a loue of trueth: fo [...] such a one simplie to say, There is n [...] one good thing in mee, is to beare fals [...] witnes against the grace of God, an [...] the worke of his spirit. As the forme [Page 17] is common to the proude wicked: so this is a spice of hypocrisie, that would humble it self to the harming of Gods spirit: or else a fruite of desperation to the daunting of Faith.

That her heart was waking, what time Christ was calling her flesh from sleeping in securities bed, wee are to obserue, that there was in her a candle light; by the glimpse whereof, she in her conscience knewe it to be Christ, or an heavenly power, contrary vnto her vnregenerate body and soule that knocked, althogh she had not willing­nes yet to arise out of sinne. A candle every man & woman bringeth in their hand with them into the world, that is Light of nature, commonly called Con­science, which is not so blind, but it oft chargeth the heart of the Barbarian with some sinne: as also looking vpon thePsal. 19.1. Rom. 1.20 Heauens, Firmament, and other visible creatures, they by that litle light are ledde to the acknowledgment of a God & Lord that ought to be obeyed. [Page 18] This light and knowledge is sufficien [...] to leaue a man inexcusable to judge­ment: but vnable it is to lead a man to salvation. And therefore Dauid saith Psal. 19.7. The Lawe of God is a perfec [...] teacher, as though hee would say, the former teacheth but vnperfectly: bu [...] as for Gods Lawe, it teacheth perfectlie, by converting the soule and ope­ning the eies of the spirituall blinde As the first light is a check to the soul so the second being cherished & kep [...] burning by the oyle of God his spirit is able to saue the soul: but if this ligh [...] be once quenched and put out, how [...] great and fearful shal be that darknes Well, shee heares Christ calling he from sleepe, her own heart witnesset [...] that it was Christs voice, and yet (a [...] afterwards) she giueth scope of sleeping to the flesh. A right fearfull estate and an estate, wherein I feare too ma­ny at this day do stand: namely, do [...] heare and knowe Christs holy voice, calling them from sleeping longer i [...] [Page 19] theft, adulterie, prophaning the Lords day, drunkennes, &c. and yet ly still in their sin, as not minding to part with it. Of such a one, what saith Moses? after this manner:Deut. 29.19.20.21 He that heareth the vvordes of the Curse, (namely against sinne) and blesseth himselfe in his heart saying, I shall haue peace although I walk according to the stubbornes of mine owne hart, thus adding drunkennes vnto thirst, the Lord vvill not bee mercifull to him, but then the vvrath and iealousie of the Lord, shall smoake against that man, and every curse that is vvritten in this booke, shall light vpon him, and the Lord shall put out his name from vnder heauen, &c. A terrible judgement but from a just God, who will race persons, and their houses and families (be they never so potent) from the face of the Earth, if so they be founde nourishers of their sinne, when they heare Gods worde cursing their sin. If therefore the light and vnderslanding thou art endued withall, do not leade thee vnto repen­tance, [Page 20] feare lest it proue a check-soare to thy conscience, and seale thee vp excuseles against the day of vengence Davids knowledge led him to repen­tance when he cried,Psal. 51.4 Against thee, a­gainst thee onely haue I sinned: for with this Confession he made Conversion, he turned from his sin. But IVDAS Isca­riot, his knowledge caused him after this Confession, I haue betrayed innocent blood, to runne vnto the rope, an [...] therewithall to take vengence on that throate, that had breathed out wicked covetous counsel, against the Lord o [...] Life: so adding one murther to ano­ther. If while we speake vnto thee and thy sinne, thy conscience secretly tel­leth thee, this is Christes voice: it is God his holy worde that thus smites on my sinne, awake and sleepe no lon­ger therein: let not sinne dominere and rule in thy mortall members: quench not the spirit, but obey his motion to repentance: giving therwithall thanks to our God, who should so mercifully [Page 21] fore-warne thee, lest otherwise thou should bee damned. So much brieflie for the time of Christes Call, togither with the estate she then stood in. Now followeth the speaker Christ, and his speach.

It vvas the voice of my vvelbeloued.) The poore sinfull soule awaked, and making rehearsal of things passed, she nowe entitleth CHRIST vvelbeloued, whome before in her sleepie estate, she no doubt tooke but for a troubler of Israel. SALOMON saith,Prov. 28.23. Hee that rebuketh a man shall finde more fauour at the length, than he that flattereth with his tongue. As this is verified here, where he is nowe called Welbeloued, as being worthie loue, whome before she nei­ther loued nor kindlie intreated, so shall it ever appeare in the end, that who vnwoorthilie haue refused our wholesome counsell and correction, shall once (even in that appointed time) be of another minde. The wic­ked shal in Hell (when it is al too late) [Page 22] affirme and cry out, Such and such were vvorthie to haue beene beloued for their calling of vs to Repentance: howsoever we then hated them. As for the Elect they shall once in this life leaue sleeping in sinne, neither then shall they deferre to justifie such, as before they condemned: for Repentance is an altering of the iudgment, and a renuing of th [...] affection. Let this therefore stirre vp every man toHeb. 13.13 exhort one another, especially, the ministers of the word, [...] giue no rest vnto sleepers in transgresion, howsoever the wicked raile vpo [...] them, and intreate them right rudel [...] for the day shall come hereafter (wi [...] they, nil they) wherein they shal turn their tongues and accompt vs worth of loue and good liking.Lev. 19.17 Hate not t [...] brother in thine heart, but plainlie rebu [...] him, and suffer not sinne vppon him: [...] though he should say; Let him not M [...] begrowe in his sinne.

But how came Christ vnto her? [...] a voice, by what kinde of voice? by [Page 23] knocking voice: vnto this knocking the holy Ghost alludeth, when hee telleth theRevel. 3. Luke-warme people of Laodicea, that he stood knocking at their doore, the worde in the originall signifying To * dosse vvith the horne, as doeth the strong necked beast with the maine force of his head. As Christ ordinari­lie for the awaking people from sinne, doth send a liuelie voice, not a confu­sed Noise, so that voice is a powerfull knocking voice: not a bare reading, nor a smooth calme preaching, but a powerfull thundring out, and inces­sant beating vpon the door of the slee­per, the portal of the conscience vnre­pentant.Isai. 58.1. Cry aloude (saith IEHOVAH to Isaiah) spare not, sounde out thy voice like a Trumpet. If the sleepie sicknes haue ceazed on a man, he must not be whispered in the eare, but scourged on the sides. In a wrong boxe are these men, that exclaime on the preachers, because they thunder out Curses a­gainst sinne, whereas (alas) God hath [Page 24] ordained nothing but Curse for sinne If they like not the curses, let them cas [...] away the Cause of a Curse, namely their sinnes:Rom. 6.23 for the wages of sinne is death. If men be so foolish as to suffe [...] sinne to mos-begrowe them, and as canker to eat their hearts through, ye [...] wee the Lords watch-men, must no [...] cease to sound the trumpet, but knoc [...] till their heartes awake: either it shal become the savour of life vnto life, by repenting: or the savour of death to death by still sleeping.Iude 22.23. Some wee must saue by fearing them (saith Iude and others by pulling them out of the fire If we sawe a brother plodding the waters towards a whirle-poole or Syr­tes, wee woulde feare him back by al [...] meanes: and if we sawe another in the fire, we would not stand speaking with Eli the Priest, Thou doest ill my sonne &c. but we wold snatch hold of some limbe, and violentlie pull him out, be­cause of the present danger. Easier dealing is for bruized reedes, broken [Page 25] hearts: but knocking and rougher bits for an vnbroken Mule and vntamed Heifer.

To what end knocketh Christ at the portall of her conscience? Open vnto me, saith he. so that the end of his voice and knocking is, to gaine Entrance. Why did IEHOVAH call forth Adam? to the end hee should come forth and appeare. To what end did Noah pro­phesie of the deluge? to the end that they should prevent the judgment by repentance. To what end did Christ so preach to Ierusalem, but that there­by hee might gather them vnder his wing as a hen gathereth her chickens? To what end doeth the Lord stirre vp many in these daies, to knocke at the doores of festered Consciences, but that they would open vnto him, and let his spirit enter: not the spirit of a­dulterie enter, for that is there alrea­die: not the spirit of pride to enter, for that is there alreadie: not the spirite of the world, or hypocrisie to enter, for [Page 26] they are there alreadie: but to the e [...] that Christ by his holy spirit, right [...] ous spirit, chaste spirit, loving spiri [...] might enter. They that will not op [...] their hart to make this change, nam [...] ly to send out Satan, and to receiue [...] Christ: to send out the vncleane spiri [...] and to take in the holy, it is pittie [...] their life. But why doeth Christ cra [...] this soule to open to him? can he no without voice and knocking enter? ye [...] he can, but his ordinarie revealed wi [...] is otherwise: namely, by the1. Cor. 1.18.21. liuely voice of preaching to beget faith; an [...] that preaching with authoritie as di [...] Christ, not coldlie or weaklie as di [...] the Scribes and Pharisies. A man ca [...] burst open a doore without a key, bu [...] ordinarilie hee vseth a key: so can th [...] spirite of Christ burst open an harde heart, without the spirituall key of Dauid, displaied by preaching, but ordi­narilie hee vseth the key of preaching. As a man is said to open the door, but not without a key: even so, the spirite [Page 27] of God is saide to open the heart, but not without preaching. And as the [...]ey is saide to open the doore, but not without the help of mans hand; even so, the word preached is saide to open the hard heart, but not without the hand of Christ, which is his Spirite. What great cause haue wee then, not onely to praye that God would send Preachers into his Harvest: but also that hee would graunt his spirit to ac­companie their preching, that so God his holy workman, his spirite, and his holy toole and instrument, the worde preached concurring togither, many hearts may bee opened to due atten­ding the worde, as was theAct. 16.14. heart of Lidia the Thyatirian to PAVLS Ser­mon. Nowe as he calleth & knocketh at the portall of her conscience, so he vseth therewithall many sweete allu­ring titles, saying: Open vnto me my Si­ster, my Loue, my Doue, mine vndefiled. If the King of the Land should come vnto the doore of some base woman, [Page 28] inhabiting his Land, who stoode in traiterlie estate, & at her doore shoul [...] knock, intreating entrance vnder th [...] tearmes of Sister, Loue, Doue, pe [...] fect one (and that with a pardone i [...] his hand) could her heart be so hard a [...] to lie still in her bed, and not rather to arise hastilie, come and open, fall at hi [...] feet, and beg pardon? Our annointe [...] IESVS, who hath received all powe [...] in Heauen and in Earth, hee ever b [...] the voice of his written word calleth and knocketh at our doore, with I beseech you brethren, I beseech you sisters, desire you in the bowels of IESVS, and many other sweet speaches he oftentimes vseth, if happily any thing might moue vs: but oh alas, how many arise from the dead? how many leaue sleep­ing in sinne? howe many open a free heart vnto IESVS, that so entringRev. 3.20. he might suppe vvith vs, and we with him? When Iesus came intoLuke 19.8.9. Zacheus his house, and hee entertained him with holy restitution, Iesus tolde him, that [Page 29] Salvation was come vnto his house. Happie man he, that as verily had ob­tained salvation as received the Savi­our. But in these daies, men feare least the receiving of IESVS bring trouble, povertie and death vnto their house, (whereof anone in his place) and ther­fore Christ may knock and call at his pleasure, for they will obey at their leasure: but the daye will come, that shall pay for all.

Open vnto me my Sister. Christ in a certaine Sermon saith, that These are my brethren & sisters, that hear the word of God and keepe it: but here hee calleth her Sister, as also vndefiled or perfect one, that is, so far from doing his will, as shee refuseth it, and doth her owne will, keeping her heart barred against Christ, when hee would haue had her open. This terme therefore and the o­ther, doe not properlie appertaine to her present sleepy estate, as yet she lay in an vnrepentant estate, (for so shee was no visible Church or member of [Page 30] a Church) neither in that presumpt [...] ous sinne, could she warrant the applying of mercie in Christ, the word being against her: (For to whome one g [...] ueth himselfe as servant to obeye, his se [...] uant is he whome he doth obey. Rom. 6.1 [...] but she heere gaue her selfe as servan [...] to obey vnrighteousnes: therefore se [...] uant to vnrighteousnes. But shee is termed of Christ in regard of her fir [...] election, which hereafter shuld be se [...] led vnto her heart by an effectuall c [...] ling, what time the power of his ca [...] should appeare by mooving her to rise, and seeke after Christ with th [...] crosse on her necke: denying her sel [...] for following after Christ. So that may wel say, he calleth her Sister, Lo [...] Doue, vndefiled, because she was calle [...] to be a Sister, a Loue, a Doue, as also to liue in an vndefiled estate. Brethre [...] and Sisters we are to Christ, being [...] him our Mediatour reconciled to th [...] Father. Christ the Sonne of God be nature, wee sonnes and daughters [...] [Page 31] God by adoption; and brethren and sisters to Christ, by the handfast and betrothment of faith, which makes vsEphes. 5.30. members of his body, of his flesh, & of his bones. So that thereby wee are not onely his Brethren and Sisters, but also his Loue & Spousesse. Doues we are called to be, forMat. 10.16 Innocencie and harm­lesnes. The Naturians affirme the Doue to be without gall: and sure I am, wee are commanded to be without Bitter­nesse. Vndefiled, wee are called to be, as also to be perfect, as our heavenly Fa­ther is perfect: Of every which title, much might be saide, which heere I passe by: but from the whole this wee are to learne, that as in regard of our Election knowne to God, wee are to him, from the beginning knowne for Sonnes, Daughters: as also, Brethren and Sisters to Christ, (even before wee can with Iacob and Esau, do good or evill.) So the calling of a Christian is, for to stand in vnion with Christ: in obedi­ence and holy service to him, as to our [Page 32] head and spirituall husband: to har [...] not so much as our enemie: and fin [...] lie, to bee holy in all our wordes a [...] workes, as beseeming the children God: brethren and sisters of Chr [...] & these that professe themselues su [...] jects of the Kingdome of Heauen, not the World. If a Monarch and gret Ki [...] should call vs to bee his brethren a [...] sisters, oh we would stirre our stump and endevour our selues therevnto trow if we heard the King at our do crying, awake and rise thou man, a [...] come and wedde my daughter: awa [...] and rise thou woman, & come to w [...] with my sonne, and that in paine loosing thy life, I trow wee would n [...] loose our life and so good a marriag [...] for lying in bed a while. If the Kin [...] should cry, come out of these defil [...] and fowle waies, and walk in the swe [...] hevenly allies, we wold not like swin [...] still lye groveling in the myre, and r [...] fuse so sweet an offer. And will we [...] found more sluggish, careles and sw [...] nish [Page 33] towardes our heavenly King of Kings, who offereth vnto vs regall af­finitie, & right happy vndefiled waies? Awake therefore sluggish flesh, sleepe no longer in swinish pleasures, but a­rise vnto thy God and say, Welcome be the voice of the holy one: cast out of my heart, the power of darknes and sinne: let thy spirit sit hereafter in my conscience, as in a chaire of estate, and there occupie dominion and jurisdi­ction over sinne, that so as a fruitefull braunch, I may not onely bee graffed into the vine Christ, but also liue by the sap of his spirit.

Sweete Christ, having vsed all the former sweet titles, for the moving of her heart to giue place: doth in the se­cond place lay downe a waightie and most reasonable argument, drawne from the misery he vnderwent for her sake: that thereby at least and at last, shee might buckle her selfe to arise.

Mine head is full of dewe (quoth he) and my locks with the drops of the night. [Page 34] By the Head, the chiefest member, he [...] meaneth the whole: and by the Loch a beautifull accident vnto the bodie hee meaneth outwarde comelines. A [...] the body oppressed in the night wi [...] dewe abideth much grievance, & th [...] beauteous locks weather-beaten a [...] quicklie vnfeaturated and deforme [...] as befell vnto Nebuchadnetzers hair [...] Dan. 4.30. so would Christ giue poo [...] soules to vnderstand, that for their sa [...] his body vnderwent much grievanc [...] as also he lost his beautie. Of the fir [...] namely the grievance of his body, th [...] whole story of our redemption is f [...] persecuted in the cradle, in being d [...] uenMatth. 2. to Aegypt: hunted after by t [...] wicked, and finallie smitten, buffere [...] crucified, pierced: and that which more, so smitten by his Father, (o [...] sinnes being imputed vnto him) through the anguish of spirit, his b [...] die in the Garden was bedewed wi [...] blood: and on the crosse he roared o [...] vehemently: My God, my God, why h [...] [Page 35] thou forsaken mee. This Dewe of the Night, not of the Light ISAIAH fore­ [...]awe in the spirite, as alreadie rained downe vpon him; and therefore saide, Hee vvas wounded for our transgressi­ [...]ns, hee was broken for our iniquities, Isai. 53. [...] the hastisement of our peace vvas vpon him. As for the second, namely, his Beautie, what outward thing was there in him [...]miable or louesome? As Isaiah long [...]efore could say,Isa. 53.2. He hath neither form [...]or beautie, for the which we should desire him: so in his whole life there was but, Penurie, infamie, reproch, vnderbearing all hard vsage, having vndergone the forme of a servant, &c. And where­fore vnderwent he this grievance and deformitie? His body and soule was tormented, that ours might be eased: and he became vnbeauteous, that hee might so beautifie vs: neither is that his embasement ended, nor shall be so long as hee hath a Ministerie in the Earth: For throgh them he desireth vs to be reconciled: a deep embasement that [Page 36] he should petitionate vnto vs; hee b [...] ing the Lord of glory, and we a deg [...] nerat people. Hard hearts wee hau [...] that haue put him to such torture an [...] grievance, and yet continue so than [...] les, ey continue stil sinning, as thoug [...] still wee would cloth him with new sinnes, and so put him every day to [...] newlie crucified and tormented.

Secondly, in that Christ giues t [...] vnderstand, that during our spiritua [...] sleep, he presents himselfe before th [...] doore of our conscience with his hea [...] and locks bare, as with his cap in h [...] hand, whereas hee [...]ight haue co [...] with an helmet on his head, and a tw [...] edged sword in his hand, we shuld th [...] rather be ashamed of our spirituall i [...] civilitie, that so proudely stand in o [...] owne light, when hee in all patienc [...] and long suffering, (desiring not th [...] death of a sinner) doeth by his2. Cor. 5.20. Ambassadours beseech vs to bee reconc [...] led to God.

Thirdly, whereas hee calles the [Page 37] drops, Drops of the night, hee woulde haue vs to know, 1. that while we liue in sinne, we liue in darknes, like battes and owles that flie the light, 2. as also that these fruites of darknesse, blacke workes of ours did fal vpon him. Man having bathed himselfe in the workes of Darknes: Christ commeth and put­teth man his ougly black garment vp­on himselfe: which the Father seeing, hee raineth downe on his Sonne, the dewe, haile and storme, that otherwise was due vnto Man. Sinne vvas imputed to him, as verily, as we had Righteous­nesse imputed vnto vs: ey, He was made sinne for vs (saith the Apostle) that vve should bee made the righteousnesse of God (not, in our selues, but) in him. 2. Cor. 5.21. The reason then our Saviour here vseth, is this: Seing I stand bareheaded, entreating, suffering for thy sake the hea­uie hand of my heauenly Father vpon me, debasing my self in the forme of a seruant, that so thou maiest bee freed from the pu­nishment due to the vvorkes of darknes, [Page 38] as also be advaunced into the state of Gl [...] rie: seeing all this I do for thy loue, I pr [...] thee let me stand no more without, but r [...] ceiue me into the closet of thy Conscien [...] ▪

Oh wonderfull alluring argumen [...] and vngainsayable request if the dev [...] were not in man, and man vnreason [...] blie bewitched. But let vs hearken [...] her answer.

I haue put off my coate, howe shall I p [...] it on? I haue vvashed my feet, howe sha [...] I defile them? This answere consisti [...] on two branches, let vs first exami [...] what this Coate is, which shee hath p [...] off. God putting his Image on ma [...] especially seated in the most speci [...] part of man, namely his soule: he p [...] sessed the higher facultie or power of [...] soule (namely, the Minde) with the fi [...] nes of all necessarie Holie knowledge, [...] also the Inferiour facultie (the Wil) wi [...] full holines in every affection: with th [...] Minde and vnderstanding part (for so call it for learning sake, though a si [...] ple essence admitteth no parts) Sa [...] [Page 39] begunne: who having perverted the minde, and abused the Vnderstanding and Conceipt, loe after that (through Gods just judgment) the Minde, and so consequently the Vnderstanding, Con­ceipt, &c. went a wrong waye by the conduct of sinne, which now had cea­sed on the powers of the soule. Vnder­standing perverted & blinded, loosing Light, and admitting Darknes and Er­rour, caused Adams soule to seeme stripped and naked, which before was cloathed with glorious Light. The Minde so perverted and turned out of the right way, the Will (as an hand­maid) was redie to followe in her affe­ctions: for the eye being darkned, no marvell if the foote turne aside from the right way. Thus the Image of God was turned into the similitude of Sa­tan, light into darknes, and holines in­to vnholinesse. God had put on our Fore-parents the Coate of an vnderstan­ding minde & Holy vvill, from whence proceeded Power of Mouing vvell, but [Page 40] hauing broken the Commandeme [...] loe they were stripped of their Co [...] and they perceived themselues N [...] ked. Genes. 3.7. The Coate put off, t [...] Sun was set, and the Dark-night can vpon them, and the Seed of their loyn▪ And therefore in the worke of Reg [...] neration and Newe birth, the spirite God beginneth to build, where Sat [...] first cast downe: namely, with rectif [...] ing the Mind: and then with sanct [...] fying the Will, which is called the pu [...] ting on of theEphes. 4.24. Newe man.

This Garment, the putting on [...] the second Adam Christ Iesus, by op [...] ning the doore of her conscience, sh [...] insinuateth shee cannot do, because was darkenight: that is, because he [...] Minde was possessed with ignoranc [...] thinking that darknesse, that is, Ign [...] rance shal be to her a sufficient excus [...] of not arising out of her bed of secur [...] tie and worldlie ease: I haue put off my coate, howe should I put it on, is then a [...] though she should say: I in my Fore-p [...] rents [Page 41] ADAM and HEVAH, haue put off my spirituall Coate of an vnderstanding minde and holy will, sithence which, a spi­rituall darknesse hath raigned over me, by reason vvhereof, I can not see howe to put on that Garment aright, & therefore thou must haue me excused. Thus the sinfull soul pleadeth ignorance and darknes, when the King of knowledge & light standeth at the portall of her doore, with a torch in his hand wherewithall to enlighten her: not vnlike to a foo­lish person in bed, who called vpon by the Kings messenger for preparance vnto the entertainment of his King, should replie: It is night, I cannot see to attyre my body, the King must stay till the daye shine in at the windowe. Were this a fit answere for a subject, especiallie if the King himselfe were at the doore, and offered vnto him at the windowe the benefite of torche light? Verilie Christ knocketh not by any minister of his, but therewithal he offereth to the soul sitting in darknes, [Page 42] sauing light and knowledge. But as [...] Iewes having in the middest of th [...] Ioh. 1.9. That true Light vvhich lightneth e [...] ry man that commeth into the world: b [...] Chap. 3.19 louing darknesse more than light, th [...] would not knowe him, except to [...] him, and bury him with a stone sea [...] on his head, that so he should not [...] so in these daies men will plead ign [...] rance, when God hath lighted ma [...] Lamps amongst them. When Sp [...] tuall Light, (namely, DAVIDS L [...] terne (Psal. 119.105.) is proffered vn [...] them & toucheth their knockles, [...] cannot see the wood for trees: yet th [...] can see to dash out the Light: neith [...] will they knowe these lights, that w [...] Iohn. 1.8. Iohn beare witnesse of the Light lights: except to persecute them, i [...] prison them, kil them, that so if it we [...] possible, the Light might be put o [...] that offendeth their bleared eies, a [...] makes their lewd workes manifest▪ so much as multitudes nowe say wi [...] the wicked in IOB,Iob. 21.14.15. Depart from [...] [Page 43] [...]or vvee desire not the knowledge of thy vvaies. Who is the Almightie that vve should serue him? But let such wicked ones knowe,2. Thess. 1.8.9. That the Lord Iesus shall shew himselfe from heauen with his migh­ [...]ie Angels, in flaming fire, rendring ven­geance vnto them that do not knowe God, and which obey not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ. Well, Christ will come sodainlie as doeth a theefe,Revel. 16.15. Blessed therefore is he that watcheth and kee­peth his garments, lest he walk naked, and God make all (Angels and Men) to see his filthinesse.

But mark that this poore soul con­fesseth her spiritual nakednes, althogh by an interrogation she maketh it too difficult to bee attyred. A confession which fewe will bee brought vnto in these daies: for they rather will say, I am not more naked than others, more ig­norant than such. If they may pull o­thers into their Confession, so be it, they will more easilie confesse somewhat: but to single out themselues, and to [Page 44] particulate their owne sinne, that v [...] fewe will come vnto. Which sin [...] confession, although it bee a lifting of the head towards repentance, ye [...] it nothing availeable without Rep [...] tance or Conversion it selfe. It is not [...] ficient for thee to lie in the bed of [...] dultery, and to confesse that thou h [...] put off the coate of Chastitie, exce [...] thou arise from Adulterie, and put [...] the coat of Chastitie. Flie evill and good. Prov. 28 13. He (saith SALOMON) that [...] knowledgeth and forsaketh his sinnes sh [...] finde mercie.

The second part of her answer lyi [...] in these wordes: I haue washed my fee [...] howe should I defile them? Is as much if she saide: I haue fitted my affections [...] therwise, in so much as if I arise and op [...] vnto Thee, I see not howe I shall do it, b [...] with embasing and endamaging my sel [...] By Feete every where in holy writ, meant the Affections, or Will which the container of the affections. B [...] Moses Exod. 3. putting his shoes off fro [...] [Page 45] his feet, is there vnder ment, a putting [...]ff, or laying aside earthly, carnall and [...]eastlie affections. By theIohn. 13. washing [...]f feete commended by Christ to his Disciples, is signed foorth the bearing [...]f holy affections one towards ano­ [...]er. When DAVID saith,Psal. 119.59. I turned my [...]eete into thy testimonies: hee meaneth, [...]eturned his affections to Gods law: [...]nd indeede, the feet willinglie go on, [...]r turne to that way the Heart affects. By all which, appeareth my former [...]onclusion to bee true: namely, that he thought her selfe in an estate good [...]nough for the present season: ey, [...]hat nowe to rise were but a defile­ment to her waies, an endangering of [...]er health. An answere notablie wic­ [...]ed, and highlie worthy the departure of Christ: and yet an answer given by many to Christ in these daies, who can say: I affect the Word and the pure Government of the Church of Christ: not one of them wisheth more good [...]hereto than I do: but because of the [Page 46] present pollicie of the Land; becaus [...] of my present calling, wherein I mu [...] bath my selfe (as in a bed) I cannot [...] rise and shake of these thinges for th [...] entertaining of Christs Scepter an [...] holy government: but first I shall d [...] file my name and credet (which nam [...] and credite with the world I must a [...] fect) and secondly by reason of cold Lawes abroad, I should by arising t [...] giue place to Christ, hazard the los [...] of libertie and revenewes, which I a [...] fect as my life: And indeed the prai [...] of men rather than of God, and the r [...] gard of bodily ease before souls helth is so deare vnto this serpents brood [...] that lick the dust & go with their be [...] lies vpon the earth, that if they be d [...] prived of these, they are readie to sta [...] and hang themselues with Achitoph [...] in a halter. These say in their heart [...] what profit shall we haue in openin [...] to Christ, as the wicked in IOB sayIob. 21.15. What profit should vve haue, if we pr [...] vnto the Almightie? These holde th [...] [Page 47] heresie, that good PAVLE long since [...]ondemned: namelie,1. Tim. 6.5 That gaine is [...]odlines: and therefore after once or wise admonishment to bee rejected, [...]it. 3.10. Wicked man thou art, are [...]hy feete or affections to be washed & [...]rimmed for any other vse than to at­ [...]end Christs call? Paul setting downe [...]he spiritual souldiers furniture, Ephes. [...]. appointeth the feet to be shod with [...]he preparation of the Gospell, be­ [...]ause our affections should turne our [...]eet to the Gospell, not for the gazing [...]hervpon, but for the receiving there­of. But sorsooth it will bee a discredite [...]o my young Maister and young Mi­ [...]tres to leaue their chesse, cardes, dice, dauncing, discoursing companions, proud curtizan tirings, &c. Oh it will be a disgrace vnto them to obey the voice of the Preacher (vppon whose heade and lockes resteth punishment and dislike of men) to obey their call, wold make them forsooth, as begger­lie and asmuch despised, as he that cals [Page 48] them from these vanities, wherin th [...] haue slept from their infancie. Indee [...] the miserie and simplicitie of Chri [...] and the plainnes of the worde, was stumbling block to the Iewes, and a offence to the Gentiles. If Christ wo [...] come to our Magistrates, Merchant and rich Na [...]bals with a golden crow [...] on his head, and Salomons peace-scepter in his hande, oh then it may be Christ in his Ministers, word and h [...] ly ordinances should bee welcome. Christ would come vnto our weom [...] with a curle [...]d fore-heade like a Bu [...] with pictures of Serpents dependa [...] his locks (figuring their serpentine [...] fections) apparelled like theNomb. 25. Moab [...] tish weomen, for the alluring of Go [...] Israel to whoredome: If Christ wou [...] come vnto the poor people with ple [...] tie of barli eloaues and fishes: finall [...] if he would not keep such a knockin [...] but would blesse the Adulterer, ki [...] the Murderer, embrace the theefe, a [...] preach strong drinke to the pot companions, [Page 49] oh then hee should be a Pro­phet for the nonce: they would bring him in with the voice of a Trumpet, and asmuch diversitie of Minstrelsie, as was at theDan. 3. dedication of Nebu­chadnetzars Image. But seeing hee comes in earthen vessels, poorely, not making any noise in the streets: there­fore their feete are washed to another vse: they bought not their shoes for to run at Christs call: they can vse their feete to a more credible and pleasura­ble service. Well,Eccle. 11.9 walk in the waies of thine heart (not of Gods heart) and in the sight of thine eies (not of Gods eies) but know that for all these things (not one of thy sinnes forgotten) thou shalt come vnto Iudgment.

Christ standeth without: wee with this sinful soul keep our selues within: hee powerfully crieth, Open: wee lye tumbling in our sins the meane while, making interrogatories, with What, and If, and Howe? he desireth entrance [Page 50] with sweet speeches and forcible r [...] sons: we (with SALOMONS Slugga [...] that thinks himselfe more vvise, th [...] seven men that can render a reason) d [...] giue him a slie answer to our owne [...] ter sorrowe. Do wee say that wee [...] coupled to Christ by faith; and in t [...] meane time keep Christ at the spea [...] point? are we coupled, or rather se [...] red? he wooeth vs and wee will not wooed, when are we like to be wed [...] 1. Iohn 2.4 He (saith IOHN) that saith hee kn [...] Christ, and keeps not his commandem [...] is a lyer: then much more say I, is h [...] lyer, that saith he is coupled to Ch [...] and yet denieth to do his commanments. Let vs therefore at last awa [...] arise and open our heartes wide, t [...] Christ by his holy spirite may en [...] and there establish an heavenly re [...] ment and kingdome. We pray, Let Kingdome come: take heede lest by nying the passage of his word thro [...] our soules, wee be found adversari [...] [Page 51] his Kingdome. We pray, Let thy vvill be done by vs in earth, beware therfore, lest we be found resisters of Gods glo­rious will revealed in the worde, and so consequently be not found Moc­kers in steed of Prayers. The Lord hath knocked in these partes of the world a long season: deferre not to repent: lest thou grieving his spirit (which should seale thee vp to the day of glorificati­on) hee leaue of knocking, and leaue behind him a flint stone at thy doore, I meane, do giue thine heart vp to bee hardened with Pharaoh, and in steede of an heart sealed, thou haue thy con­science seared with an hote yron.

But leauing this our Sinner heere sleeping: or rather betweene Sleeping and vvaking, namely in a Slumber: I will in the next tractate (God permit­ting) take examination of her soul: by which time I exspect her first Resurre­ction. In the mean time rowse vp your Soules heavie through sleepe; that fin­ding [Page 52] with Her, an assured place in [...] First Resurrection: you may finally w [...] her Rise joyfullie in the second Resurction: whereas these that Rise not h [...] first from the Bands of sinne, shall sluber and soundly sleep on to the po [...] er of the Second Death.

NOwe followeth [...] issue of the Con [...] rence betwixt C [...] and the sinfull So [...] wherein is consid [...] ble: first, the depar [...] of Christ insinuated in these wor My Welbeloued put his hand by the of the doore: Secondly, her Arise Search after Christ in the residu [...] the Text. In her Arise and Search, [...] is set downe the cause of her Aris [...] these wordes: Mine heart being [...] ctioned towards him, I rose vp to open [...] to my vvelbeloued, togither with [...] Cause of that Cause in these word [...] And mine hands dropping down Myr [...] and my fingers liquid Myrrhe vpon [Page 55] handles of the Barre, I opened to my Wel­beloued. Secondly, is set down the fruit of her late opening in the next verses. The first fruit is sowre, because of her late obedience, and that lyeth in the 6. and 7. verses, where first with an hea­vie heart (remembring Christs former speach) shee searcheth for and calleth after her Beloved, but cannot see or heare of him: Secondly, during her search, she falleth into the handes of the Cities watch-men, being by them smitten, wounded, disrobed. The se­cond kind of fruit (because late repen­ting is better than never repenting) is more sweet and comfortable: for last­ [...]ie, shee meeteth with the Daughters of Ierusalem (the visible Church, or body of Christ) to whome she com­municateth her perplexed estate, that so togither with her (as feeling mem­bers) they may bewaile her vnto her welbeloued, with loue of whome, shee [...]s nowe not a little wounded. Thus much for the whole, now to the parts.

The sillie sinner having returned a [...] vntoward answer out of her bed of S [...] curitie, Christ hee ceaseth knockin [...] not awayting her lewde leasure a [...] longer, & therefore drawing his han [...] from the doore, he departeth. This [...] doth, because as his presence make [...] her wanton, so his Adieu for a seaso [...] may happely cause her to search int [...] the cause, and by litle and little be d [...] uen into a dump, and so after that [...] as inquisitiue after her Loue lost, [...] before she was toying and negligen [...] The like course the Lord was vrged [...] take withHos. 5.15. Iudah and Ephraim (that [...] Israel, the greatest Tribe put for th [...] whole) They not listening vnto h [...] voice by Hoseah & other his Prophet IEHOVAH determins on the case th [...] I vvill go and returne to my place till th [...] acknowledge their fault and seeke me, [...] their affliction they will seeke me dilige [...] lie. By these two witnesses appeare [...] the cursed crookednes of our nature who the more we are woed, the mo [...] [Page 57] wilfull we be, but being once set at six and seven, almost or altogeather cast off, even then (if ever) wee seeke after Christ. I wil not say, oh ye two Sisters Iudah and Israel hearken, but oh ye two Sisters, England and Scotland har­ken: how long by the voice of his Pro­phets sounded out in wordes and wri­tings, hath hee called vpon you for re­formation of manners? how haue the hearts of your Magistrates bene knoc­ked vpon, that once Christ might bee received fully, and not onely in part? that not onely hee might vse his voice [...]n your judgment seates, but also his hands for executing judgment and ju­stice in equal ballance: not passing by [...]he Murders, open professed Atheis­me, Adulteries, thefts of the Rich and Noble, as also to render vnto the Wi­dowe, Orphane, and Strangers their [...]ight? howe long hath Christ sued vn­ [...]o ye, for obedience to his Scepter and Power, born & exercised in his church; [...]ut ye answer as being fast a sleep, and [Page 58] not yet well wakened. Christs voice too homely, and his spiritual ordin [...] ces too naked for such a cowple [...] spangled Sisters, as is England & Sc [...] land. His worde and ordinances sh [...] not further bee received in (kno [...] Christ till his heart ake) then they [...] gree with present pollicie, & the pl [...] sures of festered consciences. W [...] well, mock on: If Christ can doe [...] good by the voice of his owne P [...] phets, but day by day shall bee pos [...] off (if not haue a flat answer, He s [...] not raign over vs) then expect ere lo [...] his departure, his lamentable dep [...] ture. As two sisters (by naturall vn [...] and Evangelicall covenant) ye wa [...] hand in hand, but not without bit [...] one another, take heed that (by Ch [...] his desertion) ye consume not (as [...] Gal. 5.15 Apostle saith) one another: that phraim eat not vp his brother Ma [...] ses, and Manasses Ephraim: and a [...] that, a third eate you vp both, I h [...] said. Sure I am, that if Christ brea [...] [Page 59] house and depart, ye haue to exspect no better judgment, than hadEzek. 23 Aholah and Aholibah, Ierusalem and Samaria. What prerogatiue royall haue ye oh [...]he Rulers of the Earth before Iudah and Ierusalem, that (knock the belo­ [...]ed) ye will sleep on, and scarse lift vp [...]our leaden heads, vnder your armes [...]n your Pillowes, while his holy voice [...] sounded out by his Prophets, and [...]et suppose to scape scotfre?Gal. 6.7. Be not [...]eceived, God will not be mocked, as [...]e sowe assuredly ye shall reape. If the [...]ord for disobedience cast off the Iew, his kins-man according to the fleshe) [...]nd hath at this day marked him forth [...]ith bloody Cain, to wander in the [...]rth as an abject: If for the establish­ [...]g their owne devised Priesthoode, [...]nd vnholy ordinances, the Lord stir­ [...]d vp the Assyrian King to come a­ [...]ainst the ten Tribes of Israel, who led [...]hem away Prisoners, neither what is [...]ecome of them, can bee heard off to [...]his daye: What art thou (oh Brutus [Page 60] Land) that the Lord should forbea [...] thee, and not rather hastely forsa [...] thee? ey cause one of you to whip an [...] ther, till both be wearie:Pro. 14.14 For the he [...] that declineth shall be satiat with his o [...] vvaies. VVhat is the Lord, that y [...] should tempt him? Is he vnrighteou [...] Is he like vnto thy selfe? He is patie [...] and of long suffering saiest thou. I deede he is so, and that thou maist [...] by his former sparing thee, thou [...] now no longer he deferre Iudgmen [...] He goeth to battle with a leaden foo [...] but come he once in the field, he w [...] as hardly be intreated to depart wit [...] out bloodshed. Hee hath called a [...] knocked vpon both your doores, [...] within your Pallaces: First, by Pe [...] lence: Secondly, by present Fami [...] VVhat followeth in the third plac [...] Alas, alas, fearfull and horrible Blo [...] shed. Pestilence and Famine, came n [...] like dumb dogs, but had there Ange [...] or Men sent of God, preaching the [...] withall the Cause and the End. But t [...] [Page 61] heede, lest when the sworde passeth thorough (and it will assuredly ere it be long, if you repent not) least I say, when the sword passeth through you, it preach in an horible confused noise, not in a distinct voice: lest in steade of hearing the liuely voice of the Pro­phet, your eares heare nothing but clashing of weapons and armor, hor­rible lamentations and roarings, cry­ing out, Aes me, Aes me, Rev. 6.17: the great day of IEHOVAHS wrath is come, and who can stand? If you will not otherwise be wakened, this way the Lord will wake ye and rowse ye vp. If faire means wil do no good, he wil put a cutting bit in your mouthes, sharp spurres in your sides, and ryde yee vp and downe, till your eies be open, your harts ake with the burden of your sinns, and you vn­fainedly fall downe, and cry out in the bitternes of your soules: Haue mercie vpon vs, oh God, haue mercy vpon vs, we are weary of our by-pathes, we covet peace oh our God, that so vvee may serue thee in [Page 62] the Sepulchers of our Fathers. Wee h [...] abused thy Prophets, ôh Lord vve rep [...] it: Oh take away our Sinnes, and let [...] Sun-shine of thy countenance once aga [...] shine in our streets, and we shall not on [...] professe thee in word, but also in deed. [...] Lord heare, oh Lord forgiue, oh Lord c [...] sider and do it: deferre not for thine ow [...] names sake, oh our God. VVit is nothi [...] worth till it be bought, nor will m [...] know what Christs face is, till he ha [...] turned his back.2. Sam. 24: David seing the p [...] stilence inflicted on his poore subjec [...] could crye out, Oh Lord, I haue sinne [...] yea I haue done vvickedly. The Prod [...] gall, being throughly bit with famin [...] came to himselfe and repented, b [...] neither pestilence nor famine hath y [...] done good vpon vs: a fearefull sign [...] that the Basilik hath stoong vnto det [...] and mens hearts brawned with the f [...] of sin, and made insensible: and ther [...] fore either incurable or not to be c [...] red but by extreame rigour. To da [...] therefore heare his voice, lest to morrowe [Page 63] Christ depart. Yet hee knocks, [...]ot only vpon the doore of thy heart, [...]ut also putteth his finger in at the Hole of the doore, that is, hee toucheth [...]hy conscience, or that light of nature [...]hat every man brings into the world [...]or making him inexcusable, which is [...]s an Hole prepared for Light, as also, [...]or his Finger that should open the Doore. While the Prophet toucheth [...]hy conscience, and the supernaturall Light is offered to the Hole of thine heart for enlightening the In-bred ac­ [...]using light, thou art in the way to Sal­ [...]ation? but if the saving Finger of God [...]e once taken away from thy doore, Oh plague of all plagues, howe great shall be thy darknes? A man comming forth of the Sunne into his Chamber, is blinder than when he went out: and thou, after Christ shall cease shining vnto thee by his owne Prophets, and so art left vnto the closet of thine own heart, shalt be more blind and stuped than before the finger of God was vp­on [Page 64] thee. If the finger of God cast [...] out thy devill of pride, murder, th [...] adulterie, prophanenes, assuredly taking away of that finger, shall be hardning of thine hart, and very ha [...] ly after that, will the keepers of [...] house be dispossessed: and that wh [...] worse is, ten to one whether eve [...] gaine the holy hand of God snal co [...] vpon thee: for hauing before giu [...] the good spirit the repulse, howe ca [...] thou exspect his presence at anoth [...] season.

This sleepie soule, having sent h [...] beloued away with a sleeueles answ [...] what ensueth? he departeth. He bei [...] departed, what followeth? I arose (sai [...] she) to open to my Welbeloued. A tri [...] time. Shee ariseth to cope, when t [...] Merchant is gone. A right discriptio [...] of our crooked waies. Christ cryet [...] Rev. 3.18. Buy on me Gold, vvhite Rayment, a [...] eye salue: when he is gone, then wee [...] rise: the qualitie of one that is rath [...] minded to play Bank rupt, than for [...] [Page 65] maintaine credit in the Lord his com­ [...]on-wealth, and Citie of the Saints. While the Phisition offereth his help [...]ee repute him vile; but when hee is [...]one, then we are redy to cal for him. Well, better at last than never. Better [...]is for Dauid after 12. moneths, to a­ [...]se out of his sinne, than to die and [...]t therein: better for Paul at last to reach IESVS, than with Herod ever [...]o persecute him in his members: bet­ [...]er for Zacheus once to make restituti­ [...]n of pelfe falselie purchased, than to [...]e in the Devils debt: and better for [...]ee whatsoever thou art, now to shake [...]ff thy sin, by vnfeigned arising there­ [...]ut, than with the reprobate to per­ [...]st in thy wickednes, and so sodainly [...]e togither with thy sinne, swallowed [...]p into the Hell of Hells. Many (and [...]hese be hypocrites) tell vs, that they [...]re risen from their sinne: but howso­ever their bodies be arisen to our judgment, yet their heart (and that God [...]eeth) is still vpon their halfe-pennie: [Page 66] and of the aboundance of their vnh [...] ly heart their lips (if we mark well) [...] oftentimes run over.Pro. 28.13 Hee that co [...] fesseth and forsaketh sinne, shall fin [...] mercie. Content not thy selfe with a [...] knowledging thy open-seene or t [...] known sinne to man offended the [...] by: nor yet content thy selfe with co [...] fessing thy secret vnknowne sinnew to God, to whome thy sinne is one [...] knowne: except herewithall thou fo [...] sake the same. If thou arisest in thy o [...] ward man to the satisfying of man, d [...] likewise arise in the inward man (ev [...] with thy whole soule and strength) f [...] the pleasing of God, who is theProv. 16.2 Po [...] derer of the Spirits. This Rising from f [...] and errour, is tearmed the First Res [...] rection or Rising (Revel. 20.5.6.) Ble [...] sed and holy is he, that hath place i [...] this first Resurrection (or true Repe [...] tance heere made) for on such the s [...] cond death (awarded vnto the body [...] soule in that great day of Doome) obta [...] neth no power.

That this Arising of hers was not hypocriticall, and onely in shewe to man, she in these wordes explaineth: Mine heart being affectioned towardes him, I Arose. Howe came shee by this heartie affection? it followeth: Mine hands did drop down Myrrhe, and my fin­gers liquid Myrrhe vpon the handles of the Bar. That the Cause is heere placed after the Effect is a thing common in all speach humaine and divine. As for the liquid or thin Myrrhe, it is here set downe, as the cause of the Door-barres giving place & Opening. And indeed, except (after Christ by his Ministerie hath called vpon vs) hee doeth there­withall inject and cast in by that hole and light of nature (tearmed Consci­ence) except I say, he thereby convay in the Pure oyle of his Grace, the doore of our harde heart will never open. Though light flash in vpon our soule, to the enlightening of the Minde, yet without the oyle of Sanctification bee powred vpon our Hart (the seat of the [Page 68] Will and Affections) all light and kno [...] ledge will do no good. What help [...] the Naturall vvill vnto this Resurre [...] on? as much as a streame running to the North, helpeth the Bote to f [...] into the South. VVhen the stream [...] turned backwarde by Art, then stream is serviceable, not before: e [...] so, our naturall Will, free ynough run from the warme Sunne into chill North, being once by God Grace converted (and therefore Rep [...] tance is called Conversion) then not fore, it becomes serviceable in work of this first Resurrection. Iam. 1.18. God his owne Will (saith Iames) beget [...] by the word of truth. As the wor [...] God is the instrumental cause of C [...] version, Regeneration: so the free-wi [...] God (tyed to nothing in man) is effectuall moving cause thereto.

TheLuke. 10.30. &c. passenger in the parable [...] ing downe from Ierusalem to Ieri [...] wounded and left halfe dead, as h [...] brought in onely to stop the mouth [Page 69] a proude Scribe, who bragged of his [...]ntegritie towards God & his Neigh­ [...]our, as may appeare by our Saviour [...]is exhortation, verse, 37. compared with the 29. aforegoing: so Free will men (who make that Passenger to be [...]dam left but halfe dead in his will, [...]nd therefore even in nature to haue [...]re-will to good) must remember that God said,Gen. 2.17. In the day thou eatest of the [...]orbidden fruit, thou shalt die the death: meaning an whole, not an half death: As also, that Adam himselfe acknow­ [...]edgeth thatGen. 3.10 He vvas naked, not half [...]aked: togither with Pauls calling the Ephesians to remember how their Re­ [...]urrection was fromEph. 2.1.5 Sinnes and tres­ [...]asses, wherein before they lay Dead, [...]ot halfe deade) so Fre-wil men I say, must learne, that doctrine must ex­pound parables, not parables doctrin. And therfore, if by the passenger they wil vnderstand Adam, let them by that Halfe-Death, vnderstande that which [...]he Scriptures deny not, namely to be [Page 70] the Powers or Faculties (of the So [...] themselues left vndestroyed, tho [...] the qualities were perverted. Wh [...] in the time of Vnregeneration, t [...] strongly run in the waies of Death to Death: so, (neither doeth God spirit work vpon vs, as Carpenter on Logs, hauing no sense: but) he deth in vs a Mind and a Will, which him being renued and turned into right way, are made liuely in the w [...] of life:1. Ioh. 5.3. Mat. 11.30 insomuch as they can say, Commandements of God ar not grieu [...] but the yoke (of Christ) is easie and burden light.

As the holy Ghost is (for this w [...] tearmed Oyntment by Saint IOHN Epist. 2.20.) alluding to the legall [...] the figure hereof: so, till Christ left this oyle of myrrhe for the so [...] ning of her hard heart, shee had power to open: and therefore m [...] methodicallie followeth, That [...] she vvas vnawares enoyled with this or thin Myrrhe, then shee opened [Page 71] saith some Free-vvill man, I graunt that she opened not her heart for en­tertaining the Spirit of Christ, till first she was by the same spirit annoynted: notwithstanding (saith he) she ariseth of her selfe, though shee open not of her selfe: and that Self-arising I resem­ble to the power of mans Free-will, by the which hee willeth good before he do good. Then (oh Fre-wil-man) thou graunts vnto me, that to doe good is not in our power. As to your willing good in a Carnall vnregenerate man, & then not to be able to do good, it is no other Wil than was in Balaam, who cryed,Nom. 23.10. Let me dy the death of the Righ­teous (Israel) and let my latter end be like his. He herein vvilled (or more pro­perlie vvished) to die the death of the righteous; but yet he vvilled not first to liue the life of the righteous. So some wicked men I doubt not, but oft are convicted with the sight of God his word, and sometimes do wish that they could liue by the Rule of that [Page 72] worde: but what maketh them so wish? the terror of Gods wrath thre [...] ned to the disobedient & vnholy, [...] of any loue they beare vnto God holines. This is a slauish vvish, no [...] vvill, and therefore in the Natur [...] man, no preparation (as of nature) open the hard heart. The Devill a damned souls may so wish or will, are they vnable to arise to saving [...] pentance. Secondly, to Arise with t [...] soule, is to repent with this soule. S [...] ariseth not for a while, and after th [...] go and binde her selfe vnto her sin [...] couch againe (for that were to A [...] in Shewe, not In-deede) but shee so a [...] seth, as shee after that ceaseth not followe Christ: and this Reall-Resur [...] ction, none wil denie to be True Rep [...] tance. At no hand then can this her sing resemble the vvil which is befo [...] Repentance. Thou wilt replie: To op [...] the heart, is to repent, therefore to [...] (which goeth before Opening) is [...] to Repent. I answer, To open the he [...] [Page 73] here, is properlie the manifestation of Repentance first begun in the heart (e­uen as the Apple-bud is a signe of the Sap in the Tree, not the sappe it selfe) And therefore marke, howe the holy Ghost saith, that the liquid Myrrhe af­ter her Rising, besmeared her Handes, (or outwarde vvorks wrought by the handes) not her Heart. This Oyle of grace, wherewithall her outward acti­ons were nowe seasoned and sanctifi­ed, had it not therfore in the first place enoyled her Heart and inwarde man? [...]es verilie: for if the Heart of the Tree were not first moistened, the Branches would never bring forth Blossome. ThePsal. 1.3. spirituall Tree is first planted by the Riuers of vvaters, and then bringeth forth seasonable fruites.

1 Let vs then learne, thatRom. 7.18 in our flesh dwelleth no good thing: but fre-will vn­to obedience, is a good thing: therfore free wil vnto obedience, dwelleth not in our flesh.

2Iam. 1.17. Every good and perfect gift is from [Page 74] aboue, and commeth from the Father [...] Lights: not from our degenerate ma [...] and vnregenerate flesh: But to obtai [...] freedome in the affections, to imbrace a [...] followe the holy spirit, is a right good a [...] a perfect guift: Therefore from aboue, [...] uen from the Father of Lights, and n [...] from our degenerate man and vnt [...] generate flesh.

3Rom. 2.4. The bountifulnes of God, leadeth vs [...] Repentance, therfore not our own wil.

4 To approue the thing that is Good, lesse than to vvill the thing that is Go [...] But to approue the thing that is good, i [...] vvork of the Regenerating Spirit, and [...] of our nature (Ephes. 5.8.9.10.) Ther [...] fore to will the thing that is good, is [...] more a vvork of the regenerating spiri [...] and not of our nature.

5Phil. 2.13. God (without regard of any thi [...] in vs, even of his owne pleasure) wor [...] eth in vs not onely the Deed, but also t [...] will vnto good: therefore, no such W [...] is ingenerate in nature. This Less [...] had our poore sinfull soule here le [...] ned [Page 75] by experience, who had no power [...]o Arise and Open, vntill first her belo­ [...]ed had left a secrete power behinde him, by the subtill odour whereof her heart was pearced, smitten with a dis­ [...]ike of her sinne, and provoked with an [...]oly hunger and thirst after the pre­ [...]ence of IESVS.

And this Doctrine would not bee oppugned by our late Free-wil men in England, if they first had bene smitten [...]owne in the feeling of their damna­ [...]le nature, and the deathfull waies of [...]he flesh. But as a sort of them haue hi­ [...]herto preached Mans Miserie, as a Parrot singeth Sol, Fa, that is rather because they haue hearde it with the outward eare, then for that it is drawn [...]rom an experienced heart: thereof it [...]ommeth, that their vnhumbled hart [...]reaketh out into such doctrine of Pride: causing every proude Iavell at his Epicure table, to brag of his owne naturall power, by the which hee can chuse any thing that is good: for saith [Page 76] the proud Glutton, Heere is an apple the fruit dish, is it not in my power to t [...] it or forsake it? No, thou belly-god [...] if a sparrowe set not his foote on t [...] grounde, but by the fore-decree God, (and so saith our SaviourMat. 10.29 Matthewe) howe canst thou think t [...] he hath not decreed of thy taking forsaking the Apple? If the Sparro [...] fall on the ground by necessitie of [...] Decree, so shalt thou eate or not eat necessitie of the same Decree. Ask [...] roboam the sonne of Nebat, whethe [...] bee in a mans power to put out [...] hand, and to pull it in againe? hee w [...] tell thee no: 1. King. 13.4. Ask Lots w [...] whether it is in ones power to cast t [...] eye back, and then to turne it forw [...] againe? shee will tell thee No. [...] though with the learned, I in so [...] sence do grant, that thou hast Fre-w [...] (as vnto ill, so) to every thing tha [...] in the doing or not doing, of an ind [...] ferent nature, or whose action is me [...] lie Civill: yet doth it not therfore f [...] [...]owe, [Page 77] that thy vvil is Free to the Take­ [...]ng or Doing of things spirituall, hea­venly, holie. Because thou hast power in thy hand to take or forsake a mor­ [...]ell of meat, (a thing neither Holie nor vnholie in it selfe) it therefore follow­eth, that thou hast like freedome natu­ [...]allie to the things of God: the Conse­quent may sounde reasonablie to the Belly that hath no eares: but vnto him that hath but one crum of spirituall sence, it reasoneth thus: I haue power to do the thing is not holy, therefore I haue power to doe the thing is holy. Lord Bi­shops haue opposed themselues ere nowe to Doctrines more tollerable than these: let every of them that will not bee suspected of Popish hearts in Protestants skins, vse their great pow­er to stop the course of such Romish seedes, else I can tell them, these that haue forsaken the English Parishes, because of the Ecclesiasticall govern­ment, wil ere long say, they haue cause so to doe, because of publick counte­nancing [Page 78] of popish groundes. Oh saith he (that writ vpon the words of Chris [...] in Luke 23.28.) some tell vs that the [...] weep for our Church of England, bu [...] vnto such our Church saith as Chri [...] to the women; Weepe not for mee, b [...] vveepe for your selues. Surely, the ma [...] may so say in the name of the church, but sure I am, that all that haue an [...] sence of sin, will with sorrowe affirme, That the present estate of the English Church is mightelie to be lamented. Bu [...] in a Sermon stuffed from head to toe, with Poeticall vanitie and affectation of speach, what shuld we exspect? Bu [...] to leaue false Prophets (teaching false fundamental doctrin, or crying peace peace, where is no ground of peace) Let vs examine the remaindor.

Christ receiving an vntoward an­swer, setteth downe with himselfe to forsake her, as theHose. 5, vlt. Lord forsooke Iu­dah and Ephraim for a season: and yet mark that hee leaues the Oyle of Grace, namely, his working spirite behinde [Page 79] him: so that it may be saide of him, as [...]f a politick lover, He departs in his bo­die, but staies behind in his spirit. Not vn­ [...]ike to a discrete besieger of a Castle, who not prevailing by outward batte [...]ie, doth secretly vndermyne the wals while the enclosed (dreaming of the besiegers departure) slepeth soundly. Christ departeth in his comfortable voyce, My sister, my loue, my Doue, mine vndefiled, but in the mean time vseth the inwarde vnction of his spirite for the suppling and making the harde heart softe and plyable to euery holie motion of that spirite. But to whome communicates hee this inwarde wor­kinge Grace? doth he giue this inward teacher vnto such as to whom the gos­pell hath not sounded powerfullie by some outwarde teacher? If that be so, then what needeth the ministerie of man. No, no; this grace internall was Communicated to the poore sinner, whose eares before had bene pearced with Doctrine. As it is1. Cor. 3.6.7. God, by the inward [Page 80] work of his spirit that giueth encre [...] vnto his spirituall plants, so first [...] hath appointed Paul to preach and pollos to water. The Apostles eni [...] ing first the outwarde ministery of [...] sus, vnto them after was sent theIoh. 14.26 S [...] rite of truth, who brought the form doctrins vnto mind: insomuch as so [...] what which they vnderstoode not the time of his bodilie presence, th [...] after his bodily departure called vn [...] mind, and then truly vnderstood; as [...] mongst other things may be seene [...] their after conceauing the sence [...] these words: Destroy this Temple, and [...] three daies I will raise it vp againe. Ioh. [...] 19. compared with vers. 22. All whi [...] as it teacheth vs to depend on the or [...] nary means to grace (namely the ou [...] warde ministery, togither with whic [...] the Lord ordinarily convaieth his sp [...] rite,2. Cor. 3.6. and therefore are they called M [...] nisters of the spirite) so wee whome th [...] Lord hath stirred vp in this declynin [...] age (or rather confused times) are no [...] [Page 81] to be discouraged, though oftentimes wee see not present obedience to our preaching. The husbandmans seede cast into the earth, semeth to be lost a [...]ong seson: yet the wise seedsman with patience awaiteth the Lords time, and [...]n time receaueth a comfortable crop [...]nd of that which doth spring vp, al is not of one dayes sprout, but som soon & som latter. Though Saul yet slaugh­ [...]er Christians & cause many to blas­pheme Christianty, yet hope the best; [...]n patience posses we our souls: when hee hath the commission and broade seal of the hy priests vtterly to destroy the beleuers at Damascus, then hapily the Lord will knock downe syr Purse­vant, and send him to make his recan­tacion at Damascus. As the spirite blo­weth where he list, so when he list; som must be called at one houre, som at an other: cease we not in the meane time (hoping the best) to perseuer in our embassage.

The spirit of God worketh by little [Page 82] and little in the hearte, as liquid oy [...] som and some penetrateth the flesh passageth through the hand. Deali [...] with worldlings, we haue not to de [...] with halfe dead folks (as freewill-n [...] teach vs) but with these that areEphes. 2.5. D [...] in sinnes. Life is not so easely put int [...] dead man. Muche a doe wee haue [...] gaine a person out of a trance, wee [...] fuse into him. Angelica water, rub [...] temples with Aqua-Vitae, thrust al [...] into his mouth, buffet him, shake hi [...] hoist him vp in the aire, and more w [...] will doe but to kindle the coale of l [...] that is ready to quenche: how mu [...] more ought we toyl and sweat, to fy [...] a dead cole and to raise vp dead Laz [...] rus from his graue of Sin, wherein [...] hath lodged not 4. daies, but 4. year [...] 20. yeares, 40. 50. yeares. Yet if Ie [...] loue him, he will after some groni [...] in the spirite, raize him: and if he lo [...] vnto the Lords vineyarde, hee shal fetcht in, though but at the last hou [...] Though now they neglecte the o [...] ward [Page 83] ministerie, as this sinner did in the former treatise, yet happely (as she doth here) they shall once arise, open, & seeke after that ministerie which before they neglected.

She arising (because her heart now at last affectioned Iesus; & what freewil-man dare say, that an vnregenerat person doth affect Iesus) shee arising by vertue of a secret touch, or draught of Gods spirite (for none come to God without drawing, Iohn. 6, 44.) shee set­teth hands to remoue the Barres of the dore, that is, she is not onlie contented with the good affection she bare vnto her beloued, but for her further com­fort, as also to testify obedience to her beloued, she laboureth with heart and hand, euen with al her soul & strength to put away & remoue the occasions (which were as barrs) to the hindring of her heart in the waies of holinesse. Dost thou marke this (oh thou hypo­criticall professor) she saith not with thee: I haue a good meaning and a good [Page 84] hart to God: I could wish I had more le [...] sure to heare the worde: If it were not [...] these and these lettes or bars. I would [...] aside my fals Calling &c. she saith not but knowing her former offence, sh [...] ariseth & setteth hand vnto the ban [...] of her hearte, not to make them fa [...] (as many doe to the searing of th [...] conscience) but to remoue them: th [...] so2. Tim. 2.16. comming out of the diuels snare ( [...] all such barres are snares) she may co [...] to amendement of life. When the kin [...] of heauen inuited guests to the lam [...] supper, one was letted by his oxen, [...] other by his farme, another by his [...] not vnlike vnto many in this despe [...] age, who called and invited to fello [...] ship with the faithful, & to spiritual [...] uing communion, do thus reply: I [...] not do it but by neglecting my Cattel, [...] zarding my farmes, displeasing my w [...] make my selfe a gasing stock to al men, [...] Oh foole, were these as beloued as t [...] eie, and as serviceable as thy hand, t [...] sauiour (if thou meane to follow hi [...] [Page 85] hath commaunded thee to pull them [...]ut, cast them away, and contentedly [...]o take vp thy alotted Cross & follow [...]im. Nay, were it thatDan. 6. Darius made lawe, that none should make petition [...]nto God for 30. dayes, vnder pain of [...]eing cast into the Lyons den: euerie [...]rofessour of Christ must, rather then [...]e Lyons den bar him from that, or a [...]y other holy exercise, giue not onlie [...]n eye, or hand, but his whole body to [...]eath. Better it is for me and thee, to [...]nter into the kingdome of heauen by [...]auing a Lymme, ey, my whole body be­ [...]ind me in the aduersaries hand, then [...]king them away with me, to haue [...]oth body and Soule Perpetually tor­ [...]ented in hell fire. Hee that will not [...]rsake father, mother, wife, children, [...]nd all that hee hath for Christs sake when it standeth on loosing Christ or [...]oosing them) verilie, he is vnworthie [...]f any portion in Christ. And if these [...]ings which are not il in themselues [...]ut by accident, must not bar vs from [Page 86] any Christian dutie, how much le [...] are things merely il in themselues su [...] ficient barres to hinder vs? Chur [...] callings deriued from the Son of per [...] tion, Common-weall (or rather co [...] mon-ill) callings deriued from the Dragon the Beastes parent,Reu. 13. must m [...] alledg thes for excuses? One saith, [...] Emperour & prince by Donation h [...] authorised me, inuested me, impo [...] this yoke on mee. But oh foole: if n [...] Emperour or Prince can before G [...] his judgement seat alledge father, m [...] ther, wife, life for sufficient barres lawfull lets vnto dutie, what can th [...] or thou say in behalfe of bottomles [...] Callings? oh saith the domb ministe [...] can liue noe otherwise: oh saieth [...] dice-house keper, I can liue no otherw [...] so saieth the theefe, I knowe not h [...] to liue but by stealinge: what then? b [...] cause thou canst liue but by Euill, thou content to goe to the Deuill thou be not, then cast aside thes ba [...] for1. Ioh. 3.8. he that committeth sin is of [...] [Page 87] deuil. But if thou be contented to goe to the Deuill (neuer say God forbid, when thou wilt do that which he doth forbid) then let the magistrate in due time hang thee vp, lest otherwise thou liue to the death of many bodies and soules. Alexander the Copper-smith, could not liue except he did2. Tim. 4.14. Euill to the holy man, but what got he by it? euen this prayer he got of Paul: The Lord reward him according to his works, which in plaine english is thus much: The vengance of God light vppon him. Though Paul thus imprecated by spe­cial instinct, yet I can tel thee whatso­euer thou art that liues by vnlawfull Calling and works, Thou hast all prayer against thee: for the Saintes euer pray, That if men will not forsake false callings it will please God to roote them out of the Common wealth, and bring confusion vp­on their lewde exercises, wild beats are not to dwell in the Lords mountaine, nor Rats in the Lords commonwelth. If we wil professe our selues Christians [Page 88] that is, followers of Christ, let vs man [...] fest the good meaning of our heart, [...] setting our hands to the remouall [...] all Barres, that otherwise may keep from performing anie part of obe [...] ence due vnto our God.

Some there be, that can be conte [...] ted to remoue some Bar, but not ev [...] ry Bar: if they put away one sinne, th [...] will keepe another sin: these haue ( [...] the Hebrues speake) an heart & an hea [...] that is, one heart for God, and another [...] the deuill: one heart to embrace Relig [...] on (as Ioab had on hand for Amasa) b [...] with the other hand they secretly st [...] Religion, as Ioab did his frend. But su [...] must know, that God vseth not to p [...] stakes with the deuill, he will haue [...] or none. The consideration whereo [...] caused Dauid to cry, vvith my vvh [...] heart haue I sought thee O God. Lot h [...] at first gone vnto the mountaine [...] God, had not fertileGe. 19.19.20. Zoar bene a ba [...] ting Barre in the way. Naaman had b [...] come a good Israelite, had not his [...] [Page 89] lawfull calling of2 King. 5.18. supporting his master in the house Rimmon, bene a Barre [...]n his way. One leafe of Coloquintida will mar the whole vessell of pottage: and one Bar can keepe Christ and the Sinner assunder. We reade, that Caine murdered but once: that Cham brui­ [...]ed his fathers nakednes but once: Saul spared Amalek but once:Ezek. 11. Pelatiah mocked the Prophets sermon but once: Iudas betraied his maister but once: yet for that one sinne & for that once committing it, Cain was marked a Rogue for euer: Cham not only in him self but in his Posteritie accursed for euer: Saul left of God to seeke vnto the Deuel in stead of Samuel: Pelatiah smit with sodaine death: and Iudas left to trusse vp his carcase in a halter. With [...]his poore soule then arise with thine whole hart, open with thy whole hart [...]nd testify thy harts affection towards [...]hy Beloued Iesus, in not remouing som Barre but euery Barre, seeme it other­wise as necessary as the Eye, as helpful [Page 90] as thy Hand, as serviceable as thy F [...]

And because these Barres to ne [...] nesse of life, will not easily bee rem [...] ued, the poore soule layeth not h [...] hands only on the Bars but first on t [...] Handles of the Barre: that is, she appl [...] eth heart and hand to grype the Bar [...] fast, as at one Push (if it be Possibl [...] her heart shalbe patent & wide op [...] to the spirit of Iesus. Many seeme to l [...] bour the removall of inward and o [...] warde Barres vnto godlines, but th [...] go so aukwardly & vntowardly abo [...] that removall that no good is done long labour. As Paul teacheth Ti [...] thie not onlie to warre,2. Tim. 2.4 5. but to warn [...] as he ought: so would Salomon not on [...] haue vs to remoue our Barres, but remoue them as we ought: that is, n [...] to stand dandling our lustes, or tr [...] ling the tyme in putting away the o [...] casions of sinne: but euen at once (if may be) to cast them behind vs. So d [...] Saul the Commissioner, who at t [...] first blowe cryed:Act. 9. what wilt thou h [...] [Page 91] [...]e to do Lorde? he determined not first to goe sell his vnlawful commission, and then attende on Christ: but at the first, setting that and all thinges else a­parte, hee betooke himselfe to a newe lord. So didMath. 9.9. mathew the tolegather­er, and so did the residue of the Apo­stles. But so do not our people, who either will not permit Christ to enter at al: or if, yet at their lesure. Master Par­son and Master Vicar will it may be, leaue of murdering soules, but when? after he hath prouided fot himselfe & his wife, in the meane time soules shal starue ere his carcase starue, after his belly is serued, god shall haue his due if he can get it. Such belly Gods will lay hand on the Bar, but so vntoward­ly and looselie, as the Dore shall open I knowe not when: an euident signe that they haue as much meaning to part with their Sinne, as an hors-leach with a gowtie legge: that is, they will leaue sin, when they are bursten with sinne. A nettle gingerlie handled doth [Page 92] ranckle the hand; but being rudely a [...] roughly griped, it nothing harme [...] Sinne must bee sodainly strangled the throate, or else, as an Adder it w [...] slide through thy fiste and leape in t [...] face. Agag liuing but a while, after S [...] was commanded to kil him, was ca [...] that Saule afterwardes was left to [...] himselfe. Spare not sin, for it will n [...] spare thee: strangle it, or it wil strang [...] thee.

This poore soule setting Heart a [...] Hand to the remouall of all lets & i [...] pediments to godlinesse, what foll [...] weth? Liquid, Myrrhe, droppes from [...] hands vpon the handles of the Barre, th [...] is, the oyle of Myrrhe made her han [...] soople and nimble vnto this worke of [...] moving the Barre. Going in good ea [...] nest roundly vnto the worke, shee w [...] awares, findeth the spirituall oyle [...] Anointed Iesus helping her hands, an [...] furthering her holy labours, not vnl [...] to him, that digging to pit a cary o [...] findeth a coffer of treasure: seeking [...] [Page 93] thrust out the euil spirit, she vnawares meeteth with the good. Not that the good spirite had not before possessed her hart; & bound the strong man Sin: but that the holy spirit is not visibleMat. 12.29 vnto vs, til we bring forth holy works. This caused S. Iames to say,Iam. 2.18. Shew me thy faith (which is inward) by thy worke, which is outwarde. The harts affection must be manifested by the handes acti­on. This lesson she had learned, & this will Iames haue euerie professour of faith to learne.

VVe are called Christians: and what is this word Christian in plain english? Every Grecian can tel thee, that Chri­stian (in english) is One annointed, Iesus Christ, is, Iesus annointed. We take the name Christians of Christ, because we shuld be annointed as was he. He was annoyntedIoh. 3.34. aboue measure, becauseIoh. 1.16. of his fulnes we might receiue: not onelie in our mouth and lip-profession, but also in our hand and outward action. Every one calling himselfe Christian, [Page 94] calleth himselfe annointed; annointe [...] to what? annointed to whordome? annointed to murder? anointed to quaf [...] annointed to pastime? such annoynting commeth from the spirite of th [...] black burning pitte. Nay, to be a tru [...] Christian, is to be truly annoynted t [...] euery good worke; as was our annoi [...] ted head before vs. The father is the husband-man; Iesus annoynted, Ihon. 15. is the vine; and euery true Christian is a branche enoyled with an1. Ioh. 2.20 oyntmen [...] from him that is holie. This secretlie transfused to the hearte, caused her to affection her beloued, and so to arise to open. But annointing her hands to Doe (aswell as her heart to thinke and her mouth to speake) she casteth aside such cursed Barres, as before kept the spirite of Iesus without, and therwith­all openeth the Dorre of her soule in good ernest: the oyle of god his grace, not onlie bedewing her handes, but streaming downe euery finger.

To these that are calledRom. 8. according [Page 95] to God his purpose, all things fall out hap­pily Psal 1.4. whatsoeuer they do, it shall be prosperous. The poore Shunamits oyle incre­sed not more fast (2 King. 4.) then doth the oyle of the Good spirite in a right Christian or Annointed: faith vppon faith (Rom. 1.17.) Grace vpon grace (Ioh. 1.16.) Strength vpon Strength, Psal. 84, more and more annointed (as it were) to the euery fingers end: that is, to the ending of euery action. This is newe learning to the foole, and smally hee­ded of the counterfeit Christiane: who thinketh Christianitie a science specula­tiue not practick: a prating of the tong, not a practise of the hand. But he that is not annoynted from heauen to doe good, he is annointed from hel to doe euill.Iam. 3.6. The (bad) tongue is sette one fire from hell: and I am as sure, that wick­ed working hands are set on fire from the burning lake. Hee that increaseth not in good, encreaseth in euill: & he that goeth not to day a step towardes God, dooth to daie goe two steps to­wardes [Page 96] the diuell. If wickednes drop from thy fingers, thou art wicked: if h [...] ly actions issue from thy hands, wh [...] dare say but thou art holy?Math. 7.18. for a goo [...] tree bringeth not forth euill fruite, m [...] an euill tree good fruite: make the tre [...] good and his fruite good, or the tre [...] euill, and his fruite euill.

But this liquid or thin pearcing oyle, is saide to be of Myrrhe, sweet i [...] sauour but bitter in taste. As mani [...] can be contented, to savour and smel [...] to manie symples, whereof notwith­standing they abhor to taste: so moe can be contented to smel vnto Christianity; to heare & look vpon Christi­an doctrine, then spiritually to eate, & digest into practise. To hear the word is sweete: to reade the word is sweete: to talke of the word is sweete: but to doe that woorde is farre more bitter then Aloës. Till wee come to practise, all is wel: but beginning once to turne hearing, seeing, speaking into Doing, then begins a battle betwixt the Flesh [Page 97] and the Spirite: a strife betwixte the Oyle of grace, & the sap of our crabtre na­ture. A greater strife was not betwixtIude. Michael and Satan about the body of Moses: then here wil be betwixt old Adam and newe Adam, for the pro­ducing a good worke. The spirite cry­eth, Obedience: the flesh proclaimeth Disobedience. As Ezechiels scrowle was sweete in gusture, but sowre & bitter in digesture: so spirituall thinges at the first, doe rauishe the whole man; but whē obedience is required, then three parts of the same man resiste, and crie out with the sonnes of the Prophets, oh, Death is in the pot. Elisha must cast a little meale in the pot, or the brothe wil be to bitter; as bitter as the waters ofExod. 15.23. Marah in the wildernes of Shur.

Neither is the oyle of God his spi­rit bitter in it selfe, but of a soueraigne preseruing and comfortable operati­on: but as the worde of God is called the sauour of death vnto death (not simplie, but in respect) so is this liquid [Page 98] percing Myrrhe bitter, not in it ow [...] nature, but by reson of our pevish co [...] rupt nature, which as a corrupt st [...] macke is apt to convert a sugred pot [...] on into poyson. The Sophies of Per [...] offered corporeallMath. 2. Myrhe vnto Iesu [...] in the swadling clouts; and Nicodem [...] (Iohn, 19.39.) brought Myrhe to h [...] buriall: the one preaching bitternes [...] in his life, and the other proclamin [...] no les bitternesse in his death: and ye [...] such a bitternes, as without which, o [...] fruite would neuer haue bene sweete [...] nor our actions, to God acceptable [...] To liue with Christ is bitter to th [...] flesh: but to dy with Christ, more bitter: and yet of absolute necessity, we must both liue and dy with him, if w [...] will appeare with comfort before th [...] Father. If thou long after the Sweete o [...] heauen, doe not then repine to fore­taste the Bitternes of the earth. The sharp battaile must be fought, befor [...] the golden crowne be got.

But hauing risen out of her sinne [Page 99] and put away these Barres, that in fore time kept the spirite of Iesus, from en­tring in vnto full operation, what en­sueth? Her beloued vvas gone and past. A correction for late repentance: yea, very iust and equal, that if man wil re­pent at his leasure, hee should meete with the spirit of comfort at Christes latest pleasure. But here was not an end of her hearts sorrowe. As he was gone past her feelinge, so immediate­ly herevpon, she remembreth his for­mer speaches kinde and reasonable: the remembrance wherof, smiteth her to the heart, wherevpon she soundeth & is ready to departe away in a qualme. When she at first hearde him crying bareheaded, Open my sister, my, loue, my Doue, myne vndefiled, for mine head and locks suffer the nights tempest, then shee lay tumbling in her sin, and regarded not his sugred voice. Then shee retur­ned her sluggish answer, with intero­gatories implying Impossibility, thin­king Christ had nothing els to do, but [Page 100] to waite her lazye leasure: Well, no [...] at last (though at her own leasure) sh [...] ariseth, and looketh for the comfortable presence of Iesus his spirit, but (alas) he is gone and past. Hee gone an [...] past, now her memory presenteth hi [...] former speaches vnto her conscience Her conscience pondering vpon the [...] speaches, straight it accuseth and con­demneth her soule of Ingratitude, o [...] Churlishnes and abusing of the spirit o [...] Iesus. She thus charged and condemned of her conscence, she (through th [...] waighte of the burden) falleth downe in a spirituall trance, her hearte ouer­whelmed with sorrow. And is here an [...] end? no, Shee seeketh her beloued within her, & without her, but findeth him not And is there an end? no, She calleth S [...] cryeth vpon her beloued, but he answe­reth not. Seeke she him in the leaues o [...] the sacred Bible, or seeke she him else­where, she meeteth not with him. Ca [...] she and cry she, neuer so earnestly vp­on him in her morning, noone-tyde [Page 101] and euening prayers, yet he speaketh not peace vnto her consience. Oh judg­ment of all Iudgements vnto the wic­ked: and the sharpest correction of all corrections to the sonnes and daugh­ters of God.

VVhen the wicked haue despised the voice of wisdome, & rejected her Correction, what shall befall them? Salomon saith,Prov. 1.27 28. That when affliction and anguish shall come vpon them. Then shall they cal vpon her, but she shal not an­swere: they shal seeke her early, but not find her, meaning, Not at all. Esau shall seek Repentance with teares, but shall not finde Repentance, though his hearte break: Iudas shall Repent his trecherie, but shal not find the comfortable face of Repentance though hee hang him­selfe.

As for the sonnes & daughters of God, if they deferre Repentance, and greue the spirit of Iesus, they shal not scape scot free. Many times shall they tosse their naturall Reason, and turne [Page 102] ouer the leaues of the Gospell, but ye [...] for a season not finde anie comfor [...] within them, any solace without the [...] Many times shall they call for Com­fort in prayer, but colde praiers sha [...] they make: rysing with as heauy hart [...] as they kneeled downe: seeing yet no­thing in God, but angry face, a frow­ning countenance. Who hath spen [...] any yeares in Christianity, & knowe not this by experience? he that saieth he hath spent some yeares in truth o [...] Christianisme, & yet was neuer plunged in this pit; eyther he hath walke in perfection of obedience, beyond manie: or that (which is more to be feared) he hath bene for the time bu [...] in a deludinge dreame.

But how comes it about, that she meteth not with her beloued, or wit [...] the spirit of Iesus, seing she could no [...] Rise out of her sinne, but by the spirit of Iesus? seing she could not put asid [...] the Barres, that before hindered th [...] free worke of Iesus, except therto sh [...] [Page 103] had the helpe of his hand, which hand is his spirit: how could she be said, not to find or feele the spirite of Iesus, see­ing she could not persist in seeking & calling after her beloued, were it not that she had the spirit of Iesus?

True it is, that Iesus and his spirite were not passed away, nor yet absent from her. Nay, in very deed, they wer present touching her heart, and gui­ding her hand in all this her comfort­les toyling: but how? They were pre­sent in preparing her spiritual temple to an after banquet. Christ by his spi­rit was sweeping her heart, VVith an hard stubbed broome, that so shee might not onelie be halfe, but wholie swept & prepared to a glorious mari­age. Should a sicke person say, that the phisitian is neuer present, but when there is ease in the sicknes? Is not the Phisitian as well present, when he mi­nistreth bitter Pilles for cleansing the stomake, as when afterwards (the sto­make cleansed) he administreth sugred [Page 104] receipts? But as the poore patient cri­eth out (the dead flesh cutting out) oh that I had a Chirurgian indeede, for he would not torment me, after such a but­cherlike manner: euen so, the spiritual Patient languishing vnder the burde [...] of sinne, (whereof the Memory speak­eth, & the conscience accuseth still) he thinketh the beloued far away when the Beloued is hard by, working the soules good as fast as he may. Dauid being i [...] extreme trouble, he cryeth outPsal. 10.1 wh [...] standest thou so far of Iehouah, hiding the in the tyme of affliction? Good man because the lord cast a myst of afflicti [...] about him: he therefore jmagined th [...] Lord to stand a loofe: alas, it was b [...] the want of cleare sight, for the Lor [...] was neuer more neere him. Nay, ou [...] Beloued Dauid, Iesus himselfe on th [...] Crosse rored outMark. 15.34., My god, my god, wh [...] hast thou forsaken me? Alas (sweete sauiour, encompassed with our infirm [...] ties, but without sin) God was ne [...] nerer then at that time, as it appear [...] [Page 105] presently after, when he lastly cryedIohn. 19.30. Tetelestai. It is finished, that is, the whol worke of mans Redemption is finished. Christ, then was not absent wholie in his spirit to this poore sinner, for shee had Faith, by vertue whereof she Rose, by vertue whereof, she Sought, by ver­tue wherof, she called vpon God. Had she not Beleued, shee woulde not haue sought ease: had shee not hoped, shee would not haue continued seking: & had she not loued the spirite of Iesus, she would not haue sowned for Loue, nor her hearte bene ouer-swaied by the recordating his former speeches. In a word therefore, shee Beleeued, she Hoped, she Loued: that is, she was endu­ed from aboue, with the holy guiftes of Faith, Hope, Loue; the holy Trinity, from the Trinity in vnity. Christ was present in the beginnings of his spirit, only absent in the full Reueale of Mer­cy, of forgiuenes, of Syns remission.

If faire means will not preuaile, to cause vs arise out of sin: then, wel done [Page 106] it is of our father (and a worthy wor [...] of mercy) to whip vs, to briech vs, & [...] so bring home the prodigall, & once [...] lost Son. If, when with much patienc [...] hee hath awaited our Rising, and wit [...] sweete meanes allured vs to conver [...] yet we will not arise, yet wee will no [...] convert. Let vs expect a famine of th [...] body, a famine of the soule, & an Ili [...] of Crosses in our way. To open th [...] heart freely for entertaining the Sp [...] rit of Iesus, and hauing opened, not t [...] receiue him, what greater crosse? T [...] seeke after the spirit of Iesus, ey, to cr [...] and call for the grace of God by muc [...] and often prayer, and yet to be denie the thing wee seeke for, to misse th [...] grace wee call for. Oh what great crosse then this. If peace of conscienc [...] be a sweete gyft passing all vndersta [...] ding of man, then the wante of th [...] peace with a thorow feeling of th [...] want, must be as bitter gall passing [...] the conceit of man. IfProv. 15.15. a good heart [...] a continuall feast, then a bad accusin [...] [Page 107] condemning heart, must be a continu­all famine. He that once hath bene wel burnt with this fyre, and bit through­ly with this Scorpion, will bee afraide for euer after, of abusing Gods call, & of turning his grace into wantonnes. And shal not som mens harmes, teach others to beware? hauing seene ano­ther vnder the lash of halfe-despaire, shall not that feare thee, & fright thee from nousling Sinne (Satans snake) in thy bosome? Iust then should it be for God, to leaue thee crying with Caine: My punishment is intollerable: Gen. 4. & with Saul to say Slea me: and with Achitophel to cry, Com halter and strangle me, for I haue abused the goodnes of my God. But a great mercy of God it shall bee, to lash thy heart, to wound thy Con­science, to confounde thy affections, and for a tyme to kindle a feeling of hels fyre in thy brest; that so thy stub­ble burnt vp, thy sinne consumed, and the inwarde man once purged of the sinne thou hast slept in, thou so maiest [Page 108] meete with the comforte of God hi [...] spirite, and the amiable countenanc [...] of Iesus.

But is this torment of Conscience all the punishment inflicted on o [...] huswife newly risen out of sinnes be [...] No, what followeth? The watchm [...] of the city founde me, they smote mee a [...] wounded me: the watchmen of the walle tooke my Vaile away from mee. Here is [...] newe skirmish, a new rod stiept in vineger, a sharpe bitte to the flesh. H [...] soule before perplexed within: her lazy flesh now vexed without. Certain [...] watchmen finde her (finde her agains [...] her will) & they smite her, wound he [...] and take away her vaile. She dwelt i [...] a City, and the City had watchme [...] wakefull watchmen: the little Mou [...] could not styr, but the Cat had her b [...] the throate. Hee leaps at her, anothe [...] smites her, another wounds her, another puls (as it were) her Skin oue [...] her heade: and this is the fruite of h [...] late repentance, of her late resurrect [...] on, [Page 109] of her obedience almost ouer-late. She ariseth at her owne leasure, and therefore is Whipped of God at his pleasure. When she laye slugging and snorting in sin, suffering Iesus to stand without in the night cooling his toes, then she demed her selfe most master: but nowe at last, she fyndes that shee wished not to finde, that Christ is Head, an ouer-ruling heade, able y­nough to bring a proude soul vnder, and sufficient for humbling the re­bellious flesh.

This Citie shadowes out the World and False-Church: into the which Iesus somtimes, steppeth to cal from sleepe such as the Father hath giuen vnto him. The Watch-men of the City (that is within lodged in the streets of the ci­ty) they shadowe out the worldlings Ci­uil maiestrate: The vvatch-men of the walles (or hiest partes of the City) doe liuelily denote the Ecclesiastical or false spirituall Rulers, who stande a lofte to ouer-watch the city, and by their tem­pests [Page 110] trumpets sond to giue warning of a [...] aduersary to the worlds state. By the [...] finding her (for she no doubt had le [...] ned to bevv are of men) is argued the [...] industrious watchfulnes: by their sm [...] ting, wounding, vnvailing her, is she [...] ed their studious care of keeping [...] their Citizens in subjection to the [...] vvorldly state. This vvatchfulnesse an [...] Care of theirs, argues the worlde mo [...] witty in their darke generation, the [...] are the childeren of lighte. Christia [...] magistrates and ministers, may be se [...] to schoole of these men: these bein [...] more watching & caring to keepe thei [...] worldlings in subjection to the Princ [...] of Darknesse, then are they for causing & continuing subjection to the Lor [...] of lighte.

But to pursue the Sinners story: Sh [...] being disquieted in her soule throug [...] the absence of her beloued, what dot [...] she? she seekes al about, and calles an [...] cryes, but findeth and heareth of no [...] comforte: What doth shee then? dot [...] [Page 111] she goe back againe to her sinful bed, [...]nd so sleepe it out with the residue of the citie? Doth she say vnto her soule: Soule, seing ther is no more comfort to bee had (though thou haue shaken of thy former sinne) seeing there is no more solace in seking after Christ, go back againe my soule and glut thee in sinne, go sleepe on againe with the ci­ties bone companions: saith she so? doth she so? If so she had saide, she had saide like a number of false Christians in these dayes? If so she had don, she had had a nomber of companions in this swynish age: wherin (hauing taken the start of profession) they twine to their first crookednesse, and sucke vp their former vncleane vomit: so making2. Peter. 2.20. their ende worse then the Beginning. Or doth shee say within her selfe: Cursed am I of God: reprobated am I of God there is no mercy or saluation for me: therefore come yee cursed hands and strangle me: take vp a dagger and stab me: goe to som cursed water & drown [Page 112] thee: doth she say thus? doth shee [...] thus? If she had said so, she should [...] haue lacked fellowes. If so deuellis [...] she had don, she should haue found desperate soules in these dayes. B [...] none of these wickednesses shee do [...] what then doth shee? Shee takes (a [...] wer) her Tent on her back, & throu [...] the city she ploddeth, if happily sh [...] may meet with comfort elswhere, se [...] ing it was not there: finding not co [...] forte at home, shee laboureth to fin [...] comfort from home: her feete that b [...] fore were washed for sleepe, are no [...] washed and fitted to voyage abroad [...] a signe she was well wakened: a sig [...] of a new mind: a signe of new feete [...] signe of a new soule: a signe of a ne [...] body, in-somuch as it might be tru [...] saide of her,2. Cur. 5.17. Behold, all things ar bec [...] newe.

She setting forward to find comfort [...] loe, she falleth into the handes of th [...] streetes watch; Here was a newe d [...] comfort. She was smitten of the stree [...] [Page 113] watch; another discomforte. She was [...]ounded of the streets-watch, ano­ [...]her discomforte. What a finding of [...]omfort was here? one hart-breake in [...]he neck of another: one sea-billowe [...]eating vpon another: not vnlike to [...] Iobs Iob. 1. case, who after the first smarte [...]hewes, had a second: after the second, [...] third: after the third, a fourth tale is [...]old more sowre then all the former. The Lord set Iob as a Butte to shoote [...]at: and is not this poore sinner here [...]bet on like a smithes Anvell? doth not blowe sounde vpon blowe: one stroke fall on the neck of another. This is the Lords salue for deferrers of Repentance a plaister of Galbanum and calx viua, or vnquencht lime, must corrode, the botch, that will not be sesonably rip­ned? if the feete haue bin to tender, to treade the way to the Temples doore at the nerest, they must be whipped in and out, & so brought vnto the Lord, though by the furdest way about. The flesh that for dayntenes may not now [Page 114] arise till the Sons heate haue taken [...] way the mornings cold, must (if Go [...] loue it so much) be accomodated [...] al wethers, al fare, al kinde of clothing As persons must not thinke to sleep to heauen, so neither to finde aye t [...] welbeloued at the threshold, much le [...] at the elbowe. To these that haue da [...] lyed with repentance, shall a placard of sins-remission bee hardly (if at al [...] purchased.

The ciuill officers smite her: why they wound her, why? because she ce [...] sed to be that shee had bene, and no [...] wold be trudging from their city. Sh [...] might haue slept to the Deuell if sh [...] would, they woulde neuer haue saide Black was her ey. But now arising & seeking after Iesus his liuelie voyce, the [...] beate her, and fowly entreat her. It se­med strange vnto them, that she wol [...] not run with them in the same excesse of ryot. They muse much that she wi [...] be more precise then all the citie besides. That now she wil begin to stan [...] [Page 115] vpon points: & to call her auncestors [...]eligion into question. What, was she not borne in theReu. 17.18 great city of the nations, or in the sub-vrbs of the Metra­politan? was she wiser then the whole world that had dronk of the Rose-co­ [...]orued Queenes cup? had she borne in her forehead so long the beasts mark, and would she now scratch it out, and take vpon her a new mark? How wold sheReu. 13.17 buy or sell in the world, if she cold not content her selfe with her former Constitution? Had not her father, mother, grandfather dyed in that city, and had they not sealed the citties lawes with their blood? wold she not be coo­led a while in prison for taking of her firie edge? would she not bee smitten till she left of her new fangle-way; and would she not bee rather wounded to death, then by her leaping out of their sheepfolde, others should be enticed to skip after? Be sure, the magistrates had the cities lawe on their side, and they wanted not sufficient reason, for [Page 116] doing all they did. Be sure, they wo [...] bid her mend herselfe where she co [...] & no doubt they would giue her le [...] to try her cause in their cities Co [...]

Alas poore soule, thus she fell [...] mongst wolues, then where was h [...] righte? If she appeale, she hath to a [...] peale there but to the Court of Lio [...] where Pilate is president, and a co [...] pany she Beares the grand-jurie. H [...] Beloued was there smitten before h [...] and is it possible for her there to sc [...] scot-free? Her Beloued was there cro [...] ned with thorn, & thinks she not to crowned with brambles? Poore sou [...] before her estate was lamentable, b [...] now more worthie to be deeplie d [...] plored. No remedy now, but do as h [...] head did there before her: namely, [...] turne no answer to the deafe Adde [...] but patiently vndergo their repro [...] ful dealing. She that before, comise [...] ted not the body of her welbelou [...] standing in the nights weather, sh [...] must now bee whipped a while in t [...] [Page 117] body, that so she may the better know what it was for her Beloued to suffer. He suffered in the soule, so doth she: he suffered in his flesh, so doth she: thus is she conforming her selfe to her Belo­ued in spirit & flesh. ChristHeb. 2.10. our Prince vvas consecrated by afflictions; and will we be made holy without them? We would come a nerer and softer way to heauen then he did: but foft fyre maks sweet malt, no hast but good. Though there be varietie of sleeping wayes to hell, there is but one waking way to heauen. A waking way? ey, a way that will keepe a person waking and sober that walkes in it. A narrow way, an as­cending way, a rough vnbeaten way: for few finde it: & fewe hauing found it, do keepe it to the vp-shot. If there were no other hinderance, but world­ly rulers in the wais entrance, to keep a people backe with push or pyke, as­suredly, they were sufficient to keepe one wakinge.

But was here an ende of her mise­rie? [Page 118] No. When the Ciuill rulers ha [...] apprehended her, smitten her, wou [...] ded her, wh [...]t then? Some body m [...] needes salue their mischeife don. H [...] case was a Case of conscience, how th [...] might the ciuil rulers do that they h [...] don by lawe? Tut, that they had don [...] they woulde stande to it before t [...] judiciall bench. That they had don [...] her, was, because they found her ro [...] guing from lawful home: because th [...] found her discontented with the p [...] sent state, and therfore by conseque [...] a rebell and vnderminer of the Citi [...] weale: as for her Case of conscience th [...] refer that to the watchmen of the wa [...] these that were more highlie seene [...] spirituall things, for as for themselu [...] they were but Lay men. The poo [...] soule thus handled and spitefullie o [...] treated by the street-watch, dow [...] coms the wal-watch to see what st [...] in the streets. Downe coms Lord M [...] lefacious (I should say, Bonifacius) Lo [...] Im-pius, (I should say, Pius) Lord [...] pus, [Page 119] Lord Vorax, Lord Focus, Lord Furcae, euen all Bishop Boners brethren. Holding vp their traines, com all the Perjured Parsons: after them com the half sterued Vicars: and behinde them with bag and baggage come trailing on the Cur-rats and lack-learning syr-Nick, and sir Tom, these com not with out their Commissione, sealed long since by Siluestr Magus. They hale her before the pontificall seate: ad apposi­tum: she must stand forth and answer to her Ordinaries interrogatories.

Poore soule, how was she hemmed in with trobles before the temporali­ty & now the spirituality must course her. What doe they? They pull away her vaile, her foreheads shadowe the couering of a shamfaste browe. Tha­mar hauing some shame in her face (and therefore not brazen-fast like an hedge-hore) did withGen. 38.14. a vaile ouer­shadowe her face. Holy Rebecca vnder standinge that Isaac (her hoped-hus. [...]and) was comming towards her, she [Page 120] couered her bashfull face with h [...] vaile, & so meete him Gen. 24.65. A [...] Ahimileck reprouing Sarah for h [...] want of shame (in hauing after a so [...] denied her husband) doth tel her, th [...] Gen. 38.14. Abraham vvas the vaile of her ey [...] that is, should haue bene as a vaile [...] couering of her more modestie. By [...] which appeareth (contrary to ma [...] their ignorant assertion) that the V [...] was a couering for matrons, not pr [...] fessed harlots. Thamar her sitting [...] the hie waies caused Iudah to demeh [...] an whore, not her vaile. Let the va [...] therfore for Ciuil vse, remaine a rig [...] Ciuill and matronelike wearing. [...] Scotland it is much vsed, in hy & lo [...] Germanie most common: and I thin [...] euery wher more frequent then in E [...] gland excepting such places as whe [...] they et forth their painted faces saile.

What is it that the spitefull mi [...] sterie doe with her? They take away [...] vaile; that is, they take away the co [...] [...]ing [Page 121] of her bashfull face, that so shee may seeme to all the city, an Harlot. The terme of modestie taken away, how reprochfull shall that person be? But how doe they this? I will not say they disgrade her (as father Latimer was vn-vailed) But I say, they at least spoile her of the ornament of Credit, they rob her of her good name, & that [...]is, by proclaiming her Schismatike from the true faith: by proclaiminge her obstinate in some fundamentall point, & so consequently an heritique. when the dragon with his horns cold not push theRevel. 12. woman and her seede to death: then his filthy mouth spues out corrupt waters after her: and the prophets like frogs, com out of the dragons mouth, go croking vp & downe to incense the whole city of the world against Iesus his spowsesse. Neuer is there a notable mischeife practised in a common-wealth, but some hob gob­ [...]in priest is in the one ende of it. I am not so young but I haue seene that, & [Page 122] thousand besids me haue put it dow [...] in their tables, Probatum est.

And here, (oh my God) let m [...] earth & wormsmeate, debate this o [...] question; what is the cause, that co [...] ming into diuers places (and teac [...] ing nothing but truth and such trut [...] as the aduersarie Cannot convinc [...] nay, dare not appose to) diuers supp [...] sed Brethren, Cannot abide to se th [...] multitude of people following or [...] pairing to my exercises, But th [...] straight deeme my credit to be the [...] discredit, & the Lords haruest reap [...] by me, they deme they owne losse [...] though the Lords kaies should be p [...] vnder their owne onely girdle? Wh [...] is the cause, that I but seeking thy glo­ry and the peopls saluation, the citi [...] wall-watch do often times rise vp against mee, saying of me as the Sod [...] mits of Lot. Gen. 19.9. He is come alone as a stra [...] ger, and shall he iudge & rule? Surely t [...] God, I now perceiue the cause of t [...] correction to be my late reformat [...] [Page 123] [...]y Repentanc shaped forth at my own [...]easure. I hauing before neglected thy [...]imely voice, thou now giues me into [...]he hands and power of counterfaitCant. 1.6. Companions, that haue a looke but [...]o true loue vnto thy voice: what then [...]emaineth oh my God? should I ther­fore desist & leaue of to goe forward? my head Iesus preching so powrfully, as the catching hearers durst not but commend him, the proud Pharises to them hearers returned this speach:Iohn. 7.48.49. Do any of the Rulers or Pharises beleeue [...]n him but this people which know not the [...]lowe are cursed. I see the same lot light [...] on my master Iesus: but with a diffe­rence He was punished in thy wrath, because our sinne was vpon him, & he was to be plagued euery way for our sinne: as for this dealing against mee, thou stirres it vp (not as a plague, but) as a correction for my former negle­gence and therefore may more com­fortably bee supported Onely (oh my God) in due mee with patience, loue, [Page 124] faith vnfeined, discresion & holy pe [...] seuerance in thy feare, and then exe [...] cise me as thou wilt; bee it by lashin [...] magistrate, or false brethren. Giue m [...] as willingly to passe through blood [...] stripes, as sweet oyntings: giue mee [...] cherfully to passe through bad repo [...] as good report: through pouertie, a [...] through riches: through death, a [...] through life: and then a figge for their railinges, for their lashings, for their vnvailings.

The poore Soule distressed thus with­in, through the not beholdinge the comfortable face of Iesus: and oppressed without, first by the vngodlie Ciuill magistrate, then by the virulent ton­gued Prophet or Ruler Ecclesiasticall, what doth she? Doth shee now despe­rately cast downe her Crosse & turne to her bed of ease and worldlie rest a­gaine? Doth she curse the time that e­uer she Rose to follow Religion, doth she recant her Resurrection, and subscribe to the Ecclesiasticall Vultures? Doth [Page 125] she cry out, oh my soule, oh my body, I am [...]t able to indure longer this burden, and [...]herefore farwell Iesus, here is an ende of my pilgrimag? Good Iob saith, thatIob. 16.12 14. the [...]ord had taken him by the necke & beten [...]im: that hee had broken him with one breaking vpon another, and that hee did [...]ou vpon him like a Gyant: but as al that cold not either cause him profes him­selfe an hypocrite (for so hee had lyed of himselfe) nor yet could make him cease his hope in God his Redemer: so neither could the Sea of surging cala­mities beating, & still rebeating vpon her, cause her either to profes her selfe an heretique, Schismatique, nor yet cause her to desist hoping in her wel­beloued: & therefore forward she go­eth in her pilgrimage. Behind her she leaueth the lashing officers Civill: be­hind her she leaueth the lewd Cities ministerie (counterfait Companions, false bretheren) by what name or title soeuer they were termed: Were they Lord bishops, Deanes, Archdeacons, [Page 126] Parsons, Vicars. Curats: or were th [...] lewd Pastors, Doctors, Elders, Dea­cons; whatsoeuer they were, wicke [...] they were. Such as wold haue had th [...] Poore Soule, to haue slept with them [...] the Deuell for companie sake: Behin [...] her back she leaueth them, as Lot lef [...] Sodome, and as the Lord would ha [...] his people toRev. 18.4. forsake spirituall Bab [...] lon.

The poore soule hauing after much turmoise escaped the hands of the Ci­ties watch, sheIere. 50.8. like an hee Goate befo [...] the flock, goeth marching on with he [...] face towards mount Sion the City o [...] Dauid, euen of Iesus annointed. She [...] lift vp her feet (as did Iacob flying from Esau) & ceaseth not plodding forward (not looking backe with a repenting ey, as did Lots wife) vntil she attaine [...] the sight and presence of Ierusalem daughters. Being falne vpon their co [...] what saith the poore distressed Soul vnto them? This she saith: I charge y [...] oh Daughters of Ierusalem, if you me [...] [Page 127] my Welbeloued, what shall you tell him? that I am sick of loue. A petition she putteth vp vnto them: first with a charge, then with a patheticall Interrogatory (for the Hebrewe admitteth that) & by both plainly intimating her fresh bleeding heart, whose gushing streames none could stanch, but onely her Wel­beloued.

As the Lorde jested not with her soule: so neither doth she offer vp her petition as a jest, but in right good earnest, as earnest of her perplexed soule. But who are these daughters of Ierusa­lem to whom she incommendeth her case? Such they were, as to whom she might boldlie speake: and such they were, as at whose hands shee might boldly expect helpe: & such they wer, as by whose prayers vnto her Beloued, she might be the rather accepted: and such they wer, as were like to obviate her Beloued, before her selfe. All these Circumstances (gathered from her manner of dealing) doe plainly proue [Page 128] that these Daughters of Ierusalem, a [...] opposite-ones to the former Watc [...] men of the Citie: and that therfore the must necessarilie be, The true visi [...] Church. As Ierusalem was calledPsal. 87.3. Th [...] Cittie of God, (first, because God ha [...] there placed the Temple, his Delight Secondly, because that materiall Ci [...] tie, figured out the Newe Testament [...] Church, called Ierusalem from abou [...] Galat. 4.26. Revel. 21.) so Ierusalem Daughters (that is, people) were G [...] his Cittizens and visible Church. To these the distressed soule comes, vnto them she maketh her mone, and her [...] she exspecteth comfort, or no where Shee runnes not to the Daughters o [...] Sodome, nor yet of Babylon and Egypt spiritually so called: Alas no, she com­meth to Ierusalems Damzels, Saintes by calling, the Daughters not of sla­uish Hagar, but of Sarah, who is free with her children. Without the Cit­tie of the Saintes, out of Shems Tent no comfort, much lesse is Salvatio [...] to be had.

Oh the palpable blindnes of woun­ded soules in these daies! If the hand of God haue smiten them, haue wounded their soul, haue crushed their con­science, whither repair they for balm, to Gilead? One starteth aside withIon. 1. Io­nah, to flee vnto Tarshish from the pre­sence of IEHOVAH. Another runneth vnto the smooth Prophet, that he may daube vp the wounde with vntempe­red morter. The third goeth for life (Ezech. 12.18.) to the smoth tongued prophetesses, who lay soft pillows vn­der their sore elbowes, that so rhey may sleepe on peaceablie to the De­uil. But how many after they are once wounded, do stand forth with Hosheahs people, & cry one vnto anotherHos. 6.1. Com, let vs convert vnto Iehouah: for he hath spoiled and he will heale vs: he hath woun­ded vs, and he will binde vs vp: how ma­ny (I say) once smitten by the Lordes hand, do turne back to be cured at the Lords hande? The heathen prophets write that, to whome Aiax his speares [Page 128] [...] [Page 129] [...] [Page 130] head gaue a wound, by it or by n [...] thing the wounded was to bee cure [...] but sure I am, that if the Lorde by th [...] ministerie of his worde haue gadge [...] any conscience, by the same worde o [...] the Lord they must (if euer) be cure [...] for where hee by his heauenly kay opens, no man by humaine helpe ca [...] shut; and where Iehouah by his ka [...] shutteth, that by no naturall witte o [...] man can be opened. If the two edge [...] sworde of his worde haue giuen thee a gash, it is neither cards, nor dice, nor dauncinge, nor bone companionship that will surely heale thee. VVell i [...] may for a season skin ouer the mala­die of thy soule, but the daie of the Lorde will come, whereinEze. 13.13 a storme from heauen shall burst out in Iehouah [...] vvrath, and then shatters downe the vntempered morter, false application of life and peace: for There is no peace vnto the wicked, Isa. 48.22. no salvation to the slepy impenitent, & therfore no promise of the Gospell to be applie [...] to such.

If when the spirite of Christ hath [...]tabbed thy vlcerous soule, thou de­ [...]esire releife, repaire vnto the same [...]pirite, who within the true visible Church sealeth vp the promises of the Gospell. Lot gained b [...]t vexation of soule in Sodome, and thinkes thou to gaine hearts ease there? Lot could not sleepe quietlie in his Zoar, and thinks thou to reape holie contentment in thine vnholie choise? Henoch finding no solide or sounde ioye in the soci­etie of the prophaine, he therefore a­bandoned such fellowship, &Gen. 5.24 walked with God, and therefore was taken a­way from men, as worthie the onelie presence of God. Seeke comfort wher thou should seeke, and thou hast pro­mise to finde comforte. Knocke for it at the Lordes portall, and thou shalt finde entry: but aske for soules helth, where thou should not aske for it, and my soule for thine, thou shalt re­ceiue but a false comforte. Badde powder may giue a false fire, but the [Page 132] guilt of thy soule rests vndischarg [...] and when Iehouah coms to exami [...] thy general acquittance, loe, it wil pro [...] a peculiar blank faire without, nothi [...] within: a false heart seduced thee: a [...] thou but dreamed of releasment.

Well, this poore soule laboured haue peace spoken vnto her conscienc [...] and therfore she commeth to Ieru [...] lem, that is, To the vision of peace: [...] onely in the Church is there peace a [...] the vision of peace: without, neith [...] peace nor vision is sanctified or seal [...] to any soule: much lesse, assurance [...] saluation. This, holy Luke intimate [...] in his Apostolicall history, when h [...] saith,Act. 2.47. And the Lord added to the chur [...] from day to day, such as should bee sau [...] Neither is it possible for any to loue Iesus, that covet not to be joyned wit [...] his misticall bodie: for where the Corp [...] bee (saith our sauiour) thither will th [...] Eagles resort. CHRIST hath giuen hi [...] slaughtered corps to be fed vpon wit [...] in (not without) the Church, and th [...] [Page 133] Eagles of Iesus (not Sodoms Car-crows) [...]re to be fed of that sacramentall bo­die. Iob saith, thatIob. 39.13. the Eagle maketh [...]er nest in the rock, and sure I am, that [...]pirituall mounting mindes will nes­ [...]el within the Rock Iesus, against whom [...]ell gates cannot prevaile. Iob saith,32. that the Eagles eyes beholde the meate a [...]r off: & sure I am, that the Lords Ea­gles by the eies of faith, behold Iesus their spirituall food as far off as aboue the Sun. Iob saith that the Eagles young­ [...]es suck vp blood: and sure I am, that [...]esus his Eagles doe by the mouth of fifth, suck vp the sacramentall blood shed on the Crosse, by whose blood they liue, & in whose blood their gar­ments are only made white. Al which considered, what marvaile was it, that his poore soule would by no means be hindered from Ierusalem, the place of sauing vision & eternal peace, what maruaile is it, if vnto these heauenlie [...]tizens, she commence her souls mea [...]ng: If vnto these damzels, shee offer [Page 134] her petition & more then a petitio [...] Let vs examine the words.

I charge yee Oh daughters of Ierusa­lem &c. Here is an homely Exordiam, a seeming rude beginning. In steade of, I desire ye, she saith, I charge ye: and what should be the cause of such ab­rupt entrie, and so emphaticall admi­ration? Surelie, her case required n [...] lesse. If a man com to petition at something of his king that is of lesse value, or may at leasure bee timelie ynough graunted, then such a supplicator vseth speaches more circumstantious and lesse patheticall: but if a man (hauing committed willfull murder) haue his deadlie, aduersaries pursuing him at the heeles, he sodainly commeth run­ning vnto his King, and (considering a minutes delay may danger his life) he as sodainly falleth downe crying Oh King, as thou vvouldest find fau [...] presently before Iehovah his iudgemen [...] seate, so let mee obtaine a pardon at t [...] hand. The presente perplexitie of h [...] [Page 135] soule causeth him to passe by com­mon forme of petition, and in steade thereof, to exact pardon by an open or secret adiuration. If a man come to his sworne brother in so tickle & des­perat case, he stādeth not saying, Good brother, I am novv to petitionate a thing at your hands, wherto if you shal vouchsafe to lend an auaritious eare, as also a wel construing minde, I shall thinke my selfe not onely happy, in being yoked vvith such an Alter ego another I, but also accompt my selfe for euer after, tyed vnto you, as to an­other parent: his case being (as the for­mer) desperate, he standeth not vpon such ambagious insinuations, but hee in a more homely sorte rusheth into his frendes chamber, and without by your leaue, or good-euen, he (with hands folded together, and halfe dead coun­tenance) crieth, I charge thee as thou art a man, and as thou hast any drop of ho­ [...]est blood in thine hearte, that thou com­miserate my present estate, and labour with the king for my pardon. Our poore [Page 136] soule here, was not her case desperate, and hung not over her head an hea­uy sword in a small single thred? How was shee tormented within? and how was she scourged without? She might say with the Psalmist, One deepe calleth another for in the neck of one distresse ensued another: storme vpon storme, flooke vpon flooke, lash vppon lash. Was it any maruaile then, if here shee omitted common forme of petition? If for bodilie health men will deale so earnestlie, how much more for soules safetie.

Againe, she had not to deale with curious companions, false brethren and sisters, but with such as had trulie put of the olde man with his deceiua­ble lusts, and had put on the new A­dam Christ Iesus, as a fashioning gar­ment vpon their wordes and workes with them therefore shee might con­uerse after a more bolde and familiar manner. Had she to deal with a nom­ber of our pratling professors (prea­chers [Page 137] and hearers) she would haue bin twise aduised, ere she had powred her soule into their lappes: forProv. 29.7. the righte­ous knoweth the cause of the poore, as for the wicked they regarde not knowledge.

But wherwith doth this poore pas­sionate Soule Charge the daughters of Ierusalem? for sooth with this: That if they meete her beloued, they should vnto him impart her estate. And because they should bee specially attent vnto this her speciall suite, she frameth her speach thus: If you meete my welbeloued, what shal you tell him? she vrgeth them to tel her case, & then she demandeth what it is they should speake? This ve­rily notifieth her insatiable thirst and spirituall appetite: first, of hauing her soules wish imparted to her beloued: secondly, of her deepe swallowing af­fection, that would be satisfied with nothing but the presence of her belo­ued Iesus. The first is plaine by her maner of stirring vp the church mem­bers to attention: the second is as o­penlie [Page 138] demonstrate in her answer to the former demaund which is this: tel [...] him, That I am sick of Loue.

The particle (If) admitteth not a doubt, If they should meete with her belo­ued, but (as euery one knoweth that is acquainted with the Hebraisme in o­ther places) it is asmuch as if she said when, or, as you shall meete vvith my be­loued, tell to him this. The Anglisme is of like sence: for we say indifferentlie, If you haue to deale vvith the King, or, When you haue to deale vvith the King, or, as you shal haue occasion to deale vvith the King, doe insinuate this thing. Nei­ther is the particle (if) les significant then vvhen, or As, but a particle (in­deed) of more modestie, putting a bit in the mouth of her former Charge or homely speach, as willing to qualifie her former homely dealing: any good Rhetorician will acknowledge this, but fooles will vnderstand no reason.

The poore soule, charged and al­most surcharged with Iehouahs heavi [...] [Page 139] pressure, shee chargeth the daughters of misticall Ierusalem with the receipt of her soules oblation, that so in their more purified censers, they might of­fer vp her bitter (but sauourie) myrrhe vnto her beloued. By their ascending to her right regall louer, shee hoped the returne of an happie answer: no maruell then if she were, first, ernest to seeke them out: secondly, ernest to ac­quainte them with her estate: thirdly, ernest to set them on worke for her intercessours:Prov. 25.25. for as cold waters are to a wearie soule, so are good newes from a contry (though) far of. Special cases, re­quire speciall speede: & a devine whip must bee sal [...]ed by deuine physitians. As the Sacrifice of the wicked is an abhomination to the Lord: so vnmeet it is, that such should bee acquainted with our soules miserie. To what ende communicat we our spirits affliction, if not to receiue comfort? & what warrant of comforte is there to be had by such intercessors, as haue no promise [Page 140] to bee heard for themselues? As the Lord is able and willing to cure a [...] our private sinne, vpon privat confes­sion: so, by publishing that to others who are themselues prophane, wh [...] are like vnto Terentius pratler, that sai [...] he was Ful of holes, vnable to conceal [...] a secret, what good can wee exspe [...] from such? namely this: to haue it polished in2. Sam. 1.20. Gath, and in the streetes o [...] Ashkelon, at the hearing whereof, the Vncircumcised shall leape for joy. By this foolish devout Confession, the griefe of soule that before was private and single, it becommeth publik and double, worse than ever it was. It is but blinde devotion, that lacketh the eyes of discretion: let younger Chri­stians learne that.

She communicateth not her hearts sorrowe to the blessed Saintes depar­ted, but to the Saintes living. Iames i [...] speciall case, willethIam. 5.16. this, but the first is no where willed or commaunded Our Saviour, Mat. 18.15.16.17. vr­geth [Page 141] in some cases, Confession to the Saintes living, but no where vnto the deade. IEHOVAH (Iob. 42.8.) vrgeth Iobs kins-men to make Iob their Inter­cessour by sacrifice, but no where hee willeth men to seeke vnto the dead. Saul sought vnto dead Samuel, but hee met with a living Devil. Knowe what thou art to confesse to God, what to men, and also learn, Where▪ when, what, howe, & to whome to confesse, when thou doest confesse: for the devill vnder co­lour of devotion, seeketh how to over­turne true Religion and the credite of the Saints. Neither must thou think, that Saints heere living are properlie Intercessours or Mediatours, (1. Tim. 2.5. For there is (but) one Mediatour betweene God and man (even) the man Christ Ie­sus) but improperly are they so called: namely, because as faithfull feeling members, they communicate to the Lord their fellow-like miserie: & ther­fore it is, that the Saints interceeding for any their poore members, they [Page 142] come vnto the Father, (not by the [...] selues) but by the Sonne: for hisReu. 8.3. Cuser is onely Gold, and in him is the F [...] ther vvell pleased. Let the Saintes departed haue their due: let the Sainte liuing haue their due, neither to either or both, do attribute the Lords due.

But what would shee haue them to impart to her beloved? namely, this That she was sick of Loue: alluding vnto a Virgin over-rapt with an amorous conceipt, who by reason of her Betrothed his absence, is ready to sound and to passe away in a loue-qualme. Dauid but wanting the Tabernacles presence hePsal. 84.2. faynted: howe much more would hee haue fainted and faultered vnder loues affection, if so he had lacked the feling presence of his God, that could not be contained within any materi­all Tabernacle or Temple? Shee here was arrived at the Lords Tabernacle, (namely, at the societie of Saints) but shee yet attained not the comfortabl [...] face of him, that hath promised, tha [...] [Page 143] Where two or three are gathered togither [...] his Name, there in the middest he will be. She sees the body but not the Head: She, therfore maketh suite, eye, char­geth the body (by reason of that dutie which is owing from member to member) to acquainte her beloued with this, namelie That she vvas sick of Loue. She that before, would make no better vse of Christ his knocking at her dore, must now be glad to seeke after Christ and knock at his dore. She that before would not make better vse of Christ his priuate petition, must now be glad to come vnto Christ by publike petition, and that vnder the broade seale of his church. when Christ knocked, called, suited, she lay snor­sing in her sinne: just therefore that now shee knocke, call, and suite vnto Christ, though come out of sinne [...]ey, she who before for keping fellowship with the City, had neglected fellow­ship with Christ and his mystical bo­dy, just it is, that now she should come [Page 144] vnto Christ no other way, but by f [...] seking vnto his body. An acquittan [...] for sinne, is not so easily woon. Ma [...] thinking they haue it, goe vnto hell i [...] a dreame: many feeling the want th [...] of, do labour for the plakard of Rem [...] sion, but seeking for it where it is no [...] they pop into hell without it. Som [...] feele the want, labour for supplied that Grace, and quickly haue it, by reason they come roundlie off at Christ Call. Others finding their box empt [...] of that quittance, do labour for it, b [...] obtaine it at leasure, by reason of thei [...] former rude behauiour to their Ca [...]

Turne not therfore God his grac [...] into wantonnesse: if thou do, then expect either to haue thy conscience s [...] red with ane hot yron, that so thou ma [...] passe vp and downe, a Goate brande to hell: or (at the best) awaite a black glooming day, wherein thy soule sh [...] be stripped in the eyes of manie, an [...] thou in body and soule whipped fro [...] one place to another, before thou o [...] taine [Page 145] the heauens-charter of sins re­ [...]ission.Isa. 38.14.17. Hezekiah chattered like a [...]rane, and mourned like a Doue, before [...] had assurance that his sinnes were [...]st behind Iehouahs back: neither was Dauid (who so oft was bet in the lords [...]orter) vnacquainted with passing [...]hrough this fierie fornace, before he [...]s fit Golde to receiue Iehouahs im­ [...]resse. But as their comming vnder his lash correctory, may fear vs from [...]allyinge with repentance: so their [...]nce meting with the Sun-shine coun [...]nance of their beloued, may teach [...]s not to dispaire of mercie: conside­ [...]ing, Iehouah desireth not the death of [...] sinner, but rather that hee would re­ [...]ent and liue. Lastly (for some necessi­ [...]e vrgeth brevitie) that perplexed [...]ule may vndoubtedly beleeue and [...]pe for happy release, who truly can [...], My soule is sick of Loue, as Dauid [...]de,Psal. 42.2. My soule thirsteth for God. If God haue giuen thy soule to hunger [...] thirst for righteous things, it is be­cause [Page 146] hee is minded afterwarde to [...] thee. As a prudent housholder wi [...] there bestowe his meate, where f [...] he perceiueth appetite & hunger: s [...] the housholder of the Church (eue [...] Christ Iesus) reacheth there forth h [...] hidden Manna, where first hee percei [...] spiritual appetite, Need maks the n [...] ked run, and hunger breakes the sto [...] walls: neither will any thing stop, st [...] or quench the soules want, the soule wish:Cant. 8.6.7. for loue is strong as death, dev [...] ring as the graue, like to fiery coales and vehement flame. This Loue of God wa [...] not in Cain, in Esau, in Achitophell, [...] Iscariot: for if it had, Cain had not be [...] finallie impatient? Esau had not nourished fury in his brest, Achitophel wol [...] haue thought no shame, that the lo [...] should haue shamed him, in frustrating his delphik-like oracle: nor wo [...] Iscariot haue demed Christ his oblat [...] on insufficient to saue him.

If wee would not bee driuen in [...] these straites, let vs preuent that [...] [Page 147] timely Resurrection from Sinne. If wee haue slept away the third, sixt, ninth, and tenth houres, yet let vs not now at the last houre shame, to arise & goe into the Lords blessed vineyarde, and there labour with others for the peny of promise. Euery man & woman in that vineyard, worketh in some honest roome and holy calling, one bearing the infirmities of another, labouring to doe all their things in loue. Awake therefore oh Sleeper, arise, it is day: nay, the Sun is redy to set and to leaue our horizon: Christ tendreth his mer­cy, as yet, but after Sunset, catch christ and mercie where thou can, I haue no promise of mercy for thee. Happie is [...]he who by others harmes is more wa­rie let this sinners affliction feare thee from sleepe, and let her patience and discreit cariage, lead thee vnto the in­fallible Vision of peace: where peace of conscience is not finally failing, howso­euer sometimes it stands a far of for a season.