ADAM'S Tragedy. Declaring Satan's malice and subtlety, man's weakness and misery; and his deliverance from eternal captivity. Serpens Diabolus, Salus Christus. LONDON, Printed by W.W. for Thomas Down and Ephraim Dawson, and are to be sold at their shop at the inner Temple gate. 1608. TO THE HONOURABLE AND very good Knight Sir john Egerton. THe least Fish in the Waters, the least Seed in the Earth, the least Fly in the Air, and the least Star in the Firmament. (Honourable and worthy Knight) do show the glory of GOD, in their several kinds; although not so great in quantity as do the Whale, the Cedar, the Eagle, and the Sun: And the meanest member in the body, the Foot, may perform a profitable service to the Head; although not so laudable & worthy as the Hand. The consideration whereof, and the happy experience of your heroical and most virtuous disposition, who ever have encouraged a well meaning mind in every good and laudable action; maketh me, although the meanest member in the Civil body, both venturous and hardy (in my dutiful love) to offer a little Gift, as the widows mite, to your Christian view, and Honourable accept: by whose good approovement, the reproach of presumption will not be imputed to a well meaning mind, when as a Christian man being compared to a Tree, whose root is Faith, the body Holiness, the branches Charity, the blossoms Peace, and the fruit Obedience; is not esteemed in the sight of God, or good men, by the quantity of the substance, but by the quality of the fruit. Wherefore, if your Honour shall vouchsafe by the sun rising of your gracious favour, to nourish a tender Grift, now yielding a small fruit unto your taste; and to cover it with your merciful wing, from the biting and nipping storms of uncharitable blasts: your most humble and devoted protect, shall rest ever bound to offer up prayers night and day to Almighty God for your honours eternal felicity, and for the prosperous and honourable continuance of your noble posterity in this world, and their happy enjoying of the heavenly blessings in the world to come. Your Ho. in all reverent duty and service, I. M. TO THE READER. GEntle Reader, the loss of a Blessing, made Esau weep; and the loss of Children, made Rachel mourn: But now behold, not only a Blessing and Children, but also Parents and Paradise lost together. Gen. 50.10. It is true that joseph and the Egyptians made a great mourning for jaakob; but the lamentation both of jew and Gentile should be greater, for the death of Adam; who by creation was holy and righteous, the image of God: by deputation, Lord and Commander over the whole World, the vicegerent of God: by benediction, the Father of all Mankind, the inheritance of God: and by institution he was placed in Eden, the Garden of God: and yet the Garden, Inheritance, Dignity, and Sanctity, all forfeited and lost together. Here then is the stratagem and instrument that effects this Tragedy: joh. 8.44. Satan that liar, that murderer from the beginning, maligning Adam, and in Adam all mankind, devised and practised how to draw Adam to rebel against God. Adam was deceived by the subtlety of the Devil, and he did rebel. God was displeased by the breaking of the Commandment; Rom. 5.12. Sin entered, Death prevailed. Wherefore I entreat thee (christian Reader) which art the Child of Adam, to peruse this Treatise with regard; not curiously excepting against, but graciously accepting what a free and well meaning mind offereth unto thee, whereby thou shalt see thy Fathers and thine own estate, by what means ye were lost; how worthily condemned, how graciously redeemed, and how joyfully received. Luke. 10.4. That so at all times, and in all places, thou mayst tremble, and fear, and love, and honour, and praise the Lord thy God. To whose infinite mercy, heavenly direction, and fatherly protection, I hearty commit thee, for ever. Thine in the Lord, I. M. Psal. 119 52.39,. I remembered thy judgements of old, o Lord, & have been comforted: for thy judgements are good. ADAM'S Tragedy. ALthough GOD may be known in his glorious Works, to remove man's excuse by ignorance for not serving him, yet he hath revealed his will unto man by his Word; that man might learn to obey, and not to sin against him: And notwithstanding that God hath such care for man, yet man hath little fear of God. As we may see and behold in the third Chapter of Genesis (being the subject & matter of this Book) wherein is handled and described, The nature of the Serpent, & his question unto Eve, vers. 1. eves answer unto it, vers. 2.3. The Serpent's replication unto Eve, vers. 4.5. eves consent to the Serpent's persuasion, vers. 6. Her gift unto her Husband of the Fruit, and his acceptance, vers. 6. The effect of eating the Fruit, vers. 7. The inquisition of God after Adam and Eve for their transgression, ver. 8.9. Their apprehension, vers. 10, 11, 12. Their arraignment, ver. 13. Their answers, ve. 10. unto 13. Their judgement, vers. 14. to the 20. And their expulsion out of Paradise, vers. 22, 23, 24. A History registered by the Holy Ghost, that it might be an instruction to all ages to fear to sin, and to learn to do well: the wages of sin, being death; Rom. 6.23. but Life and Grace, the gift of God, through jesus Christ our Lord. SECT. 1. AS touching the nature of the Serpent, and his question unto Eue. Gen. 1.31. GOD (in the beginning) saw all that he had made, and lo, it was very good: and therefore the Serpent being a creature of God, in his first being and nature, was good: and in reasonable construction, it may seem that it was a creature very pleasing unto Adam, because it was more subtle or wise, than any beast of the field. And therefore the Devil cunningly to cover his malicious and wicked intent, useth the Serpent as his instrument, to persuade Adam and Eve unto sin. Such is the craftiness and wiliness of Satan in tempting the children of God, that he danceth under a Hood, as ashamed of his face; seeming to be an Angel of light, when he is an Angel of darkness, 2. Cor. 11.14 and deviseth how to bting men unto everlasting destruction: For, both he, and all the evil Angels that fell with him from heaven, (which by the sufferance of God, do disperse and spread themselves in the Air, Revel. 20.7, 8, 9, 10. Ephe. 2.2. and upon the Earth, and under the Earth, being continually tormented by the wrath of God) do in their malice watch and devise to tempt, hurt, and afflict the Saints of God; and to draw them away from God, that they might be partakers of their punishments; so great is the envy of Satan and his members, against the felicity of Gods chosen. But God in his infinite wisdom & justice, doth turn the burden and bitterness of their malice upon themselves: and by how much the more they strive against God & his members, by so much the more their curse is increased, and God the more glorified by his Children in their preservation. For he can slay Goliath with his own Sword, and destroy Death by death, 1. Sam 17.51 Hose. 13.14. judg. 14.14. Gen. 3.15. sending Meat out of the Eater, and Sweetness out of the Strong: for Satan bruised Christ jesus heel; but behold, he hath broken the Serpent's head. And in the question which the Serpent made unto Eve, two things are to be considered. First, whether from the beginning, any earthly Creature, excepting Man, had the reason of speaking; which is the powerful messenger of the Mind, diversly to deliver, distinguish, divide, & apply to the outward sense, and inward understanding of an other reasonable creature, by the instrument of the tongue, whatsoever the mind purposeth to do, or obtain. Secondly, whether the Serpent was the Devil, or whether the Devil was in the Serpent? For the first, it is most true, that no earthly Creature, excepting Man, had ever knowledge or reason of speaking: Gen. 1, 25. For God, who made Man in his own image, Exo. 4.11.12 Rom. 10.10. 1. Thes. 5.11 Jam. 4.13. gave unto Man only a tongue to speak, & that in three respects: The one, to confess him to salvation: The other, to bring men to the knowledge of God by edification one of another: And the last, to keep mutual intercourse, commerce, and civil society amongst men; which God hath ordained for our help & comfort, even in temporal and earthly things. As for the Creatures, Gen. 1.24.2.19.20. God gave them life, motion, and sense, in their several kinds, for the service of Man; but never gave them Divine knowledge or reason, to judge between good and evil; because he made them for Man, and to be at his command and pleasure: But Man, GOD made for himself, in whom he took most delight; and therefore gave him a reasonable Soul to think, Gen. 2.7, 8. study, and speak of his glory; which no other creature upon the earth can do: And as Man confesseth and praiseth God here upon the Earth, Mat. 10.32. so will God confess him in Heaven; where he shall dwell with him, and his holy Angels for ever. But it may be objected by some, Num. 22.28 that Baalams' Ass did speak: which is true. But it is to be understood, that that was miraculously to show the power of God unto Baalam, to stay him in his journey going to Balack to curse the people of God. For nothing is unpossible unto God, Mat. 19.26.15.31. either to make the dumb to speak, the halt to go, the blind to see, the dead to rise: yea, he is able of Stones & Dust, Mat. 3.9. to raise up Children unto Abraham. But from the beginning, in the nature and creation of Beasts, Psal. 32.9. God gave them a voice only, no speech, and sense, but no understanding or wisdom: for that only is proper unto man.. So then it was not the Serpent that spoke, but the Devil in the Serpent: and so was he in the man that was possessed, Mat. 5.2. Mar. 16.9 Math. 5.12.13. and in Marie Magdalen, and in the heard of Swine. And further, in the question of the Serpent, two other things are to be considered: Satan's boldness to tempt, and his subtlety in tempting. Certain and sure it is, that there is no time, place, nor person; when, where, and whom the Devil will not most boldly seek to tempt and to overthrow: for as he is without truth, joh. 8.44. so he is without shame. Mat. 13.25. He will be sowing of tars amongst the good Seed, whilst the Husbandman sleepeth. He will offer himself to be a lying Spirit in the mouth of Ahabs' Prophets. 1. Kin. 22.20.21. job. 1.11. Mat. 4.1. He will stand up to accuse job: and most boldly assay to tempt Christ. For the Battle is ended in Heaven between Michael and the Dragon: Revel. 12.7, unto 13. Michael and his Angels have prevailed, and there is joy and salvation in Heaven: but the Devil and his Angels are cast out, and come down unto men upon the Earth, with great fury and wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time. His Army is great, his Stratagems subtle, his Malice fierce, his Weapon death. We must therefore awake out of sleep, Ephes. 5.14. and stand up from the dead, and not to spend time, and listen unto, or parley with Satan, as Eve did; but speedily to take the whole Armour of God unto us, 6.11. and enter into fight with Satan, shouting and lifting up our voices loud and courageously against him, Ioshu. 6.5. as joshua did his Trumpets before the walls of jerico; that so by our Faith in Christ, the Devil and his forces might fall, lie flat, and be trodden under our feet for ever. And touching his subtlety in tempting, 2. Sam. 20.9.10. he is like unto joab in his treacherous kill of Amasa: like unto jael, judg. 4.18. who in one hand carried Milk, and in the other, a Mallet: and like unto judas, Mat. 26.47. who gave a Kiss unto Christ, saying; All Hail; and made a hiss unto the jews, beckoning unto them, Come, take him; this is he. For the Devil never revealeth himself at the first, as he is, for fear of discovery; but creepeth and windeth in, by little and little, into the hearts of men: Math. 15.19 Ephe. 5.4. jam. 1.15. as first, by idle and vain thoughts; then by foolish, idle, and vain words: and lastly, he draweth them to vile and wicked works, being rocked asleep in the cradle of Security: and then, Satan having gotten full possession of their hearts and minds, he discovereth himself unto them as he is. 1. Pet. 5 8. Reu. 12.9. To the fearful & unbelieving a Lion, ready to devour: to the simple, a Serpent to deceive: 9 to the cruel, a Dragon to set them on fire: to the malicious, 9.3. a Scorpion to teach them to bite: to the proud, a Lucifer, Esay. 14.12, 13. to teach them to disdain: to the covetous, Psal. 104.26. a Leviathan to teach them to oppress: to the licentious, Jere. 5.8. a Pampered Horse to make them neigh after wanton flesh: and to those that be blasphemous and reprobate, a Basan Bull, Psal. 22.12. to teach them to bellow and roar out blasphemies and fearful oaths against the Majesty of God. Thus doth the Devil both secretly tempt, and openly animate man to sin and rebel against God: But to avoid his snares, and escape his tyranny, we must continually pray unto the Lord for strength, and grace, Rom. 12.12. Mat. 14.30, 31.10.16. that we may not be fearful, but faithful; not ignorant, but wise; reve. 3.16. not cold and without spiritual affection, but zealous to learn his law, and obey his will; that we may be able (through his power) to withstand, Ephe. 6, 16. and quench the fiery darts of our enemy the Devil. SECT. 2. AS touching the answer of Eve unto the Serpent, two things therein are to be considered: The Simplicity of Eve, and her Sincerity. Her Simplicity, because she did not discern not suspect the Serpent's subtlety: For in the 1. vers. of the 3. of Genesis, you may read, that the Serpent the Devil, did not openly show his purpose unto Eve, by persuading her in plain terms, You may eat of the Fruit; but made as it were a careless question unto her, saying: Yea, Gen. 3.1. hath God indeed said, Ye shall not eat of every Tree of the Garden? Wherein we may still see the subtlety of Satan, how he compasseth and overcometh those that are simple and think no ill. For, first he insinuateth and draweth Eve to make a confession of God, and of his Commandment; and afterward persuadeth her to break the Commandment, and to disobey God; to th'end her punishment and condemnation might be the greater: For by how much the more it is for God's glory, and man's consolation, steadfastly in his heart to believe in God, Rom. 10.9. and boldly with his mouth to confess him unto salvation, & never to deny him: By so much the more it is to Man's shame and condemnation, when he hath once believed God, Heb. 6.4, 5, 6. and confessed him; then after, to deny him, and forsake him. And therefore we must be wise, aswell as simple and innocent, and pray for Grace, john. 4.1. that we may be able to judge between the spirits, and try whether they be of God or not; that so we might not yield unto the least temptation, but shut our hearts, and stop our ears thereat; for the devils motions never tend unto the good of Man, unless through true obedience & faith in God, we joyfully and constantly resist and overcome them; Jam. 4.7. and so shall God have the glory, and we the victory. For as the Thistle or Thorn in the filled, will not sting or prick us, unless we wrap or close them in our hands: no more can the questions or temptations of Satan hurt our souls, unless we are willing to hearken thereunto, and embrace it in our hearts. And therefore we must follow the example of joseph, Gen. 39.10. to fly from temptations and worldly lusts, which fight against the soul: for they are but as a Harlot to entice us, and as a Snake to sting us unto death. And as touching the Sincerity of Eve, it plainly appeareth in her true answer unto the Serpent, for she neither concealed her own action, which in obedience she did perform towards God, in eating only but of the permitted Fruit: neither did she keep secret Gods especial Commandment, which was his prohibition, that they should not eat of the tree in the midst of the Garden. Gen. 2.17.9. Whereby we may note, that we must not conceal the truth, but confess it, even to the most wicked, being asked thereof, when as by our answer, God is magnified, by confessing of him, and declaring his commandment which he hath willed & delivered unto us. And in this Eve was to be commended, in which all other the children of God ought to follow her example. But notwithstanding, in the end, she was more blamable, because after she had confessed God, and his commandment, yet she disobeyed God in breaking of his Commandment. Mat. 16.16. It was Peter's case, he made a good confession; there was his sincerity: but after he made a wicked denial: Mat. 26.7. there was his apostasy. It is therefore better to be constant & end well, then in the beginning to confess well, and end ill: for we must not begin in the spirit, Gal. 3.3. and end in the flesh. It is better to be a Convert with Paul, Act. 9.6. & so to continue, then to be an Apostle with judas, Mat. 26.48. and after to fall away for ever: But Eve & Peter, as they fell away by weakness and disobedience, so upon their true repentance and faith in God, they were restored by the obedience of Christ; Rom. 3.22. which was imputed unto them, and also unto us, in the love of GOD the Father through him, Ephes. 1.4. from before the foundation of the world. SECT. 3. AS touching the Serpent's Replication unto Eve, two things therein are to be considered: The direct opposition of Satan against God's word, in saying, Ye shall not die at all. And his colourable argument to approve his opposition, in these words, But God doth know, that you shall be as Gods. In the Opposition, is also to be considered two things; the Impudency of Satan, and his Malice. His Impudency, that he dares oppose against God's word. His Malice, that he seeketh in as much as in him lieth, to dishonour God, by falsifying of his truth. In the colourable argument, is also to be considered two things: Satan's fiction, or feigning of a fear in God, in these words: But God doth know etc. And his fiction of man's high felicity, above their created estate, in these words: Ye shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil. As touching the Opposition, Satan dealeth against God as a fugitive Traitor doth against his Prince; who when he seethe that he can not hurt or annoy his Prince by open force, than he worketh by malice in secret places, to defame the Prince, discredit his laws, and draw away his Subjects from their obedience. So, Mat. 8.29 the Devil being not able to withstand the Lord, nor daring to appear in his sight, yet secretly dishonoureth God, scandalizeth or slandereth his word, and seeketh to entice and draw away man from his obedience unto God, impudently sending forth blasphemies against God and Heaven, and deceiving & deluding men with lies; bewitching them with sorceries, & blinding them with vanities, that they might fall with him into the pit of everlasting destruction. And whom soever the vice of Impudency doth possess, let them tremble and fear, lest it make them, like unto Satan, disobedient unto God, and outrageous unto men: For in the Impudent man's heart, Malice lurketh secretly, Blasphemy is in his mouth, Pride appeareth in his eyes, Unrighteousness prevaileth in his hands; and he walketh and vaunteth himself in every wicked and ungodly way: as did Lamech, Gen. 4.23. who would slay a man in his wound, and a young man in his hurt. And as concerning Satan's Malice, it hath a respect, & eye, Satan's malice against God and man to two several persons: God, and man.. To God, against his dignity: To Man, against his felicity. He ever envied the one, and continually maligned the other; because his pride before his fall, could brook no superior; & his misery since his fall, maketh him repine at the prosperity of an other. But the fruit and end of his Malice, was utter destruction to himself for ever. Psal. 7.16. And so shall it befall unto all them that either feeke of self-will and purpose to dishonour God; or to hurt and overtrow their brethren. And touching the colourable argument wherein Satan feigneth a fear in God, how impudent was the Devil to allege it, and Eve simple to believe it? that God, the Lord of Heaven and of Earth, Read job from the 37. chap. to the 42. who by his power hath made, bindeth and looseth all things: by his glory, lighteneth, filleth, and beautifieth all things: by his Wisdom ordereth, guideth, and enricheth all things: by his justice searcheth, weigheth, and judgeth all things: and by his Mercy continueth, preserveth, and saveth all things: that he this Almighty GOD I say, should stand in fear of any, Read Psal. 104. and the 107. when as the Angels are his Messengers, the Heavens are his Throne, the Earth is his footstool, the Sea is his Servant, all Creatures wait upon him; the bright shining Sun is his Hearauld, the Thunder is his Trumpet, the Lightning is his Dart, the Stars are his Host, the Clouds are his Chariots, and the Night is his Tent. But woe be to Satan, for he lieth now trembling, and flat before the Lord; and the wicked fly from before his presence, Revel. 6, 15.16. desiring to have their habitation amongst the Rocks, crying out unto the Mountains and Hills that they would fall upon them, and cover them and hide them, (if it were possible) from the sight of God, that they might never come to judgement for their sins: but as they have contemned God in their life, so he will condemn them in their death, never to be redeemed, but tormented with the Devil and his Angels, in Hell fire for evermore: And as touching Satan's fiction, or feigning of man's high Felicity above their created estate, he much deceived, and abused Eve: Man's estate before his fall. For it is plain & evident, of what matter man was made of; Gen. 1.7. Of the Dust: By whom he was made; by God: in what manner he was made; God breathed in his face breath of life: and the Man was a living soul; that is, an Eternal creature, not subject to death by Creation, but by his disobedient action against God: in what place he was put; vers. 8. not in the wide Field, but in a pleasant Paradise, the Garden of Eden: what Companion he had; vers. 18. not any creature inferior to himself, but one whom God made and took out of Man, Gen. 2.21.23. & therefore called Woman, bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, that there might be a continual harmony, and simphathy in perfect love and unity between them, to their endless comforts: and so God called them Man & Wife. vers. 24. This was the estate of Man and Woman, happy and most excellent: But after their fall, Man's estate after his fall. their condition was changed, from peace and glory, Gen. 3.7. to fear and shame: from joy and pleasure, 16.17.19. to sorrow and labour: and instead of comfort in each other, they grieved and accused one an other. vers. 12. Adam indeed in his first estate, was like a green Olive tree, fat and fruitful; judg. 9.9. but when Sin and Pride entered into his heart, he was like a Bramble, envious and aspiring: vers. 15. the Water of life did nourish the one, and the Fire of God's wrath (had not Christ quenched it by his Blood) had consumed the other. 1. Kin. 13.11 unto ver. 25. For as the man of God believed the old lying Prophet, so Adam and Eve believed the old lying Serpent; for the which, they were slain by a Lion, but not torn in pieces, but in mercy preserved for a glorious resurrection. Thus was Man happy, unhappy, and again happy: only made happy through jesus Christ our lord 2. Kin. 13.20.21. For as the body of the dead man which was cast into the Sepulchre of Elisha, by touching the bones of Elisha, was revived & stood upon his feet: So Adam being dead, and slain by that roaring Lion Satan, he was made alive in Christ; 1. Cor. 15.22 whom by Faith in the Promise he apprehended and applied to himself, as his only Saviour, Ephes. 1.7. by whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins according to his rich grace and love, and 2.4, 5, 6. whereby he hath quickened us, and raised us up unto eternal life. And therefore let every one, by the example of our Parents Adam and Eve, Selfe-liking dangerous. beware of self-liking and flattering conceit, which is the wildfire of Satan, to blow us up on high, that we might fall down into the bottomless pit beneath: Luk. 14.11. for every one that will exalt himself, shall be brought low; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted. SECT. 4. ANd as touching the Woman's Consent to the Serpent's Persuasion, in it are to be considered, four principal things. Her Revolution or pondering upon the temptation. Her outward Perspection of the beauty of the Fruit. Her inward Inspection of the quality thereof: And her settled Resolution, to take and eat thereof. Concerning the Revolution: As in all natural & vital things, no thing is suddenly perfected, but there must be first, Conception, than Nutrition, than Concrestion, No man suddenly vicious. & then Perfection: So in the Spiritual consent of the mind to act and perform any thing, there is required, first; a Motion, than Attention, than Persuasion, than Deliberation, then Consent, than Action. And this course was observed by the tempter the Devil, and by Eve the tempted: For Satan made the Motion unto her, saying, Gen. 3.1. Hath God in deed said, ye shall not eat? Eve listened and gave ear, answering: If we eat, we die. vers. 3. He replied, and persuaded: 4. Ye shall not die; but if you eat, 5. Your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil. Hereupon she deliberated; and so she seeing that the Tree was good for meat, 6. than she Consented, and Approved what was Persuaded, and after Effected and Acted what she had Consented unto; for she took of the fruit, Great danger to listen to temptations. and did eat. Whereby we may see the readiness of Satan to corrupt the mind of Man; and Man's simplicity, to give attention, his weakness to be persuaded, his idleness to deliberate, his foolishness to consent, and his wickedness to perform. Wherefore let every one that is desirous to serve the Lord, and obey his voice, give no attention to Satan's motion, but stop the ear, though he charm never so subtly: For if thou wilt hear his motion, yet hear not his persuasion: If he will persuade, yet keep it not in mind to deliberate upon it, lest it oversway thy judgement, and corrupt thy Understanding. If thou shouldest deliberate, yet consent not: for concupiscence with consent, Jam. 1.14.15 in the end, bringeth forth the action of sin, and sin bringeth forth death. And therefore, A similitude of watchfulness against temptations. as in a Town of war, all Ports and Passages must be stopped, not only to resist and keep out the troops and strength of the Enemy, but also the Scouts and Spies of the Army: So every Christian man, who is in this world at warfare with Satan, Sin, & Death, must not only give an eye & watch to the apparent and gross Sins, which are like the Anakims', Numb. 13.33.34. strong and tall, easily & a far off to be discerned, but we must also stop the passages of Satan's spies & scouts; which are, idle Motions, vain Persuasions, carnal Deliberations, & fleshly Consent: which if we discern not, and in time prevent, they will seize upon, and catch us, and lead us away captives unto Satan, chained with the strong fetters of sin, to be led unto eternal death: And therefore so soon as we feel and perceive in ourselves any idle Motions, rebelling against God's Spirit and Word, let us not by any means consult and deliberate thereupon, without calling to God, for his espepeciall grace to give us strength and judgement, that we may be able to confute, repel, and resist the same. And concerning eves perspection, or beholding of the outward beauty of the Fruit, two things therein are to be considered: the Precurrencie or Forming of the outward sense to like, and the Concurrency or Consent of the inward affection to embrace. Gen. 1.31. God in the finishing of his works, Saw all that he had made, and lo, it was very good: And in the disposing of his Creatures, when he presented them unto man, man did see that they were very glorious. Psal. 8.1. And as God made the Ear an instrument to convey Faith into the Heart, Rom. 10.14, 17. so he made the Eye an instrument to convey praises into the Mouth. Psal. 8.3. 1. Sam. 11.2. But as Nahash the Ammonite did aim at the right eyes of the men of jabesh Gilead to thrust them out, thereby to bring a shame upon Israel; So Satan picketh at this excellent instrument the Eye of man, Satan aimeth at the principal part, the eye, to destroy it. to blind & corrupt the sight thereof, to make it to dishonour God, by conveying an unlawful desire into the heart of Eve, to bring a shame upon her, and her posterity. The outward senses are the ushers unto sin. Wherefore the outward senses are as Ushers and forerunners to make way unto the mind, that it might embrace and give consent unto what the sense and body liketh: Gen. 3.6. For the Eye took delight in the beauty of the fruit, and the Heart gave consent, that the Hand as servant to the Eye might take it; the Mouth as taster to the Stomach, might eat it; and the Feet as Pages to the Belly, might fetch it: So that it seemeth, the Feet will run, the Hand will reach, the Mouth will taste, the Stomach will receive, and all what the Eye liketh. The Eye a predominant sense. Such a predominant sense and part is the Eye, that it commandeth all the parts of the body: yea, it corrupteth and dulleth the faculties of the Soul; for the wandering of the Eye, carrieth away the Ear from hearing of the word of God; which is the food of the Soul. Deut. 7.25.26. The Eye beholding the Beauty of an Idol, persuadeth the Mind to commit Idolatry. Mat. 5.28. The Eye looking upon a Woman, causeth the Heart to lust, and to commit Adultery. The Sons of God seeing the Daughters of Men that they were fair, Gen. 6. 2. took them Wives of all that they liked. Ioshu. 7.21. Achan seeing the Babylonish garment, the Silver and the Gold, lie glittering amongst the spoil, coveted it, and hid them in his Tent. Mat. 14.6. Herod gazing upon the dancing Damsel, made him vow john Baptists death. Therefore we ought to remember the lesson of our Saviour Christ, who teacheth us, If thine Eye causeth thee to offend, Mat. 5.29. pluck it out, and cast it from thee; for, Math. 6.22.23. the light of the body is the eye: If the light then that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness? It is better for thee to go with one eye into the kingdom of Heaven, then having two eyes, to be cast into Hell fire for evermore. But if the eye be holy and upright, then is it compared unto judgement, Prou. 4.25. Psal. 123.2. and 131.1. job. 31.1. and 19.20. Heb. 12.1, 2, 3. to Obedience, Humility, Chastity, Pity, Faith, Hope, and love. And Eve abusing her Eye, yielded unto sin, and coveted the forbidden Fruit. And concerning eves Inspection, or Consideration of the inward quality of the Fruit. Certain it is, after the Eye was delighted with the Beauty, and the Stomach longed after the meat of the Fruit; then was the Mind upon Fleshly counsel, and Debate persuaded, that it was to be desired to get knowledge and dignity. Every sin will have a colour of some good in it. Such is the policy and subtlety of Satan to deceive the Mind, to draw it to consent and agree to sin, under colour and show of some good, moved & proposed unto it: And therefore the Adulterer continueth in his sin, saying, It is Physical: the Covetous in his sin, saying, It is Frugal: the Ambitious in his sin, saying, It is Honourable: the Proud fashioned in his sin, saying, It is comely: the Drunkard in his sin, saying, It is brotherly Fellowship: & the Swearer in his sin, saying, It is Truth. But, Esa. 5.20. Woe be unto them that speak good of evil, and evil of good; which put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter: for sin, may make an excuse to the sinner, & blind his eyes with some show of goodness in the sin, that he shall not see his fault; but it can not so excuse him before God, and blind his fight, who will judge and condemn him for his sin. A similitude against fleshly and carnal defence of sin. For as the Bird that is taken in the Snare, or the Fish in the Net, the more they strive to get forth by their own strength, the more they are fettered and entangled: So Man, when his outward senses and parts are taken and snared by sin, the more he striveth to make passage from sin by the strength of reason, and persuasion of his own heart, the more he is entangled in the snare of sin, and in danger never to get forth. for thinkest thou, (o foolish man) that thy Reason shall overrule and defeat God's Law? Or shall thy flattering and smooth Interpretation of sin, free thee from God's judgements denounced against sin? Nay, it shall not help thee: for could this have served the turn, our Parents had not been cast out of Paradise: For what better colour or excuse to cover their sin, then, Desire of knowledge? Gen. 3.6. the only joy and felicity of the Mind. 1. Sam. 15.9 unto ver. 29. Saul had not been removed from his Kingdom; for what better colour or excuse, then Pity and Mercy toward Agag, a distressed and captive King, and saul's pretended care to preserve the best cattle for Sacrifice; What better colour could it have, than Religion? and yet for all this, saul's sin was not done away. 2. Sam. 6.6.7 Uzzah's Zeal, could not excuse his Presumption: nor the Simplicity of the Man of God, 1. king. 13.8. excuse his Disobedience. Luk. 12.18.9 The Rich man's Content, could not exempt his life from Grave: Act. 5.1. unto vers. 12. nor Ananias and his wives Care, to save somewhat for their Family, excuse their Impiety, who lied not unto Men, but unto God. For so pure, so just, so holy, so righteous, so mighty, so powerful is the Law, and Word of GOD, that the breakers and contemners thereof, shall not go unpunished; no, not the dear Children of God: 1. Pet. 4.17.18. And therefore, If judgement (for sin) begin at the house of God, where shall the wicked and ungodly appear? Gal. 6.7. Be not deceived: God is not mocked. His word is Truth and Amen, 2. Cor. 1.20. for ever. Be not overcome of evil, Rom. 12.21. but overcome evil with goodness: for, Blessed are they, reve. 22.14. that keep and do the Commandments of the Lord, that their right may be in the tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the holy City (heavenly jerusalem: vers. 15. ) for without shall be Dogs (such as are envious) and enchanters, (such as are deceivers,) and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh lies. And concerning eves settled Resolution or Determination to Take and eat the Fruit: It may be said, judg. 7.5. that as Gideons' Soldiers when he went against the Midianites, were known to be resolute & not fearful, by lapping of water with their tongues: So Eve was known to be resolute and not fearful, to break the Commandment of God, by taking with the hand, and tasting with the mouth, of the forbidden Fruit. A similitude that sin is dead and of no force, unless the heart consent, And as the plentiful store of Weapons for War, pleasure not the Captain, without men to wear them: so the readiness of the Senses unto sin pleasure not Satan, without the Heart to embrace them. And like as the Body is dead without the Soul, so Sin is dead without the Heart: for the Senses may be enticed, and Lust may be conceived; but it is the Consent and Resolution of the Heart, that bringeth forth Sin, & giveth strength & courage to the members of the body, to finish and perform it, to bring forth death. Jam. 1.15. Therefore in this resolution of Eve, both the Captain and the Soldiers, the soul & the members of the Body did all march forward with one consent, and resolved without all fear, to take and eat of the fruit of the Tree: 1. Sam. 26.6, 7. Even as David and Abishaj went boldly without all fear into the Host of Saul, and took away his Spear and Pot of water which were standing by his head: for it is most certain, if once the Soul longeth and thirsteth for sin, the members of the body are set on fire, & without all fear will adventure to satisfy her desire; even as the Servants of David when he longed for Water out of the Well of Bethlem, they presently ran and broke into the Host of the Philistims, and drew, and took, & brought it unto him. Wherefore, although the Senses being drawn and enticed unto sin, are strong allurers and flatterers of the Soul, to give and grant her consent; because without it they can do nothing, no more than the Members without the Head: yet the Soul embracing Sin, she can without the consent of the Senses, command the Body: For she is (being once wicked, & resolved unto sin) strong and tyrannous, like the Legion, Mark. 5.2. unto 14. which will not suffer the body to rest neither night nor day, but will distract, trouble, and torment it, and all the parts thereof, until it obey her will, to run headlong with her into the lake of eternal destruction. Thus we see the Resolution of Eve, and the cause thereof: her Senses enticing, & her Soul consenting, to take and eat of the forbidden Fruit. But let us beware by her example, not to be so forward in evil; but to be only resolute in that which is good: and in it, to Stand fast; 1. Cor. 16.13. and for it, to fight a good fight: and so to continue steadfast and faithful unto the end, that we may be saved. SECT. 5. AS touching the Woman's Gift to her Husband; and his Acceptance: Two things therein are to be considered; eves simple Intent, and Adam's simple Consent: the one in offering, the other in taking the Fruit. eves love in true simplicity unto her husband. Eve in deed persuaded her Husband to take and eat the Fruit, and that for love to him; because she thought, that Adam should have been made more happy, and not unhappy, by it. And although her sin in yielding to the persuasion of the Serpent, can not be excused; yet in giving it to her husband, out of the abundance of her love to him, she can not so greatly be condemned: for she so loved him, as she loved herself; and therefore would not receive a benefit by herself alone (had it been a benefit) but she would make Adam her husband partaker of it. And the Devil in his malice, sought the destruction both of Eve & Adam, because they were both the good creatures and image of God, and beloved of God: but he came first unto Eve to tempt her, both because he knew that she was inferior unto Adam, in judgement and knowledge, and therefore not so well able to resist & confute his temptations; as also because Eve was most amiable & lovely in the heart and eyes of Adam, because of the joy and comfort that he received from her: and therefore the Devil thought that if he could persuade Eve, so great was the affection and love from Eve to Adam, and from Adam to her, that it were impossible that either of them should contradict one another, in any request or offer that they made, they were so simple, loving, and faithful in each others sight. And therefore under colour of good, how easily might Eve, nay Adam himself be deceived with evil? But neither this simple intent, Simplicity is no excuse for sin. nor simple consent of our fore-parents, can remove & abolish the curse for their sin. For to every man and woman, be they either wise or simple, learned or ignorant, rich or poor, young or old: Rom. 6.23. the Wages & reward of sin, is death. For not only Man, but every sensible Creature, by instinct of nature, have a sense of things which are good or hurtful unto them; for the one, they embrace as their apparent good; and the other, they fly from, as their apparent evil. How then can Man, who is the image of God, having a reasonable soul, endued with knowledge in general, and a commandment given unto him in particular, be excused by simplicity, when he breaketh the Commandment and Law of God; the proclamation whereof, Exod. 19.16. is declared with a shrill Trumpet, that the deaf may hear it? For, Rom. 10.18. The sound thereof is gone out to the uttermost parts of the earth: the contents whereof are written in great Characters, that the simple sighted may run and read it: and the knowledge whereof, is as clear as the light; for, Psal. 119.105. Heb. 5.12. It giveth Light and Understanding to the Simple: and, It is Milk to the weak, & Meat to the strong: and therefore Simplicity can be no excuse for sin.. For as the Law and Commandment of God is given to all, without respect of persons; so it taketh vengeance against all, without respect of excuses. And as the fire will burn the child, A similitude that all are under the curse of the Law. if it fall into it, as well as the aged, & the parents which should have looked after the Child, and not the fire is to be blamed; because it keepeth the natural working and effect wherefore it was ordained: even so the Law taketh hold upon every one that breaketh it, for both young and old, ignorant & learned, shall be judged and condemned by it: But the Parents shall answer for the sins of their Children, the Masters for the sins of their Servants, the Princes for the sins of their People, and the Pastors and Ministers for the sins of their Flock; Ezek. 3.17. for they are as the Lords Watchmen, to look over their Family, Flock, and People: If therefore they regard not to give warning, nor admonish the wicked of their wicked ways, that they might live and be saved; yet, Ezek. 3.18. The Wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand, saith the Lord. SECT. 6. AS touching the Effect of eating the forbidden fruit; Two things therein are to be considered: The Misery of Man by Transgressing, and the justice of God by Punishing. To disobey God's Word, Disobeydience the cause of the loss of God's love. is to disinherit ourselves of God's love: But our Parents did disobey God's word, therefore as much as in them lay, they disinherited themselves of God's love; and to be disinherited of God's love, is to be bound over to a perpetual separation from the comfortable presence of God, to remain howling in Hell with the Devil and his Angels for evermore: Rom. 6.23. This is The reward of sin, even eternal Death; which our Parents purchased to themselves, and their posterity, by eating the forbidden Fruit, had not God in his mercy spared and redeemed them in the love of his Son jesus Christ. Sin embraced by the soul, and practised by the body: both soul & body shall suffer for it. For as Sin is first embraced by the Soul, (which is immortal) & afterward practised by the body, which by sin is made mortal; yet at the general resurrection, the body shall be made immortal, to suffer with the soul, and that most justly: For as it sinned with the soul, so also must it be condemned, and suffer with the soul: and as the soul and body maketh one Man, so the condemnation of them both, maketh but one perfect execution of God's justice against them. For as Sin is sweet and pleasant unto Man in his life; so the punishment of Man for Sin, shall be grievous in his death: the pains and torments whereof, can no more be declared, 1. Cor. 2.9. than The joys of heaven can be expressed: which neither Eye hath seen, nor Ear hath heard, nor the Heart of man can not conceive. I might also speak of the punishments in this life, wherewith God doth punish the wicked for their sins: but of this, we may read at large in the 28. chapter of deuteronomy: to the which I do refer you: wherein as in a perfect Mirror and Glass, you may behold and see the misery of Man, even in this life, for breaking and disobeying the Commandments of God. God's justice is most upright, and necessary. And touching the justice of God, in punishing of sin, it necessarily agreeth both with his Nature, and with his Word. By his Nature he is most holy; and therefore can not but punish iniquity. By his Word he hath threatened punishment for sin, and therefore sinners must look for punishment; because he is most true. For who can charge the Lord, that he hath spoken, and not performed what he hath spoken at all times, and in all ages? Or whether any Tittle of the word of God hath failed and not taken effect, Math. 5.18. at his appointed time against the workers of iniquity, as well high as low, rich or poor? and 24.35. For heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away, sayeth the Lord. Are not all men, All men are sinners. aswell peasants as Princes, proceeded from the loins of Adam? He sinned; we as children and members of him, have also sinned with him: he repent, and was saved by believing the Promise: but whosoever, and of what estate soever they be, that do not Repent, Math. 3.2. John. 3.18. and Believe in jesus Christ the promised Seed, can not be saved. So sincere and pure is the justice of God, * There is no respect of persons with God. Deut. 10.17. Rom. 2.11. Exod. 14.28. that there is no Respect of persons with him: For he Drowned and destroyed aswell Pharaoh the King, as his meanest Subject that did drive his Chariot. Coran, Num. 16.32. Dathan, and Abiram, were swallowed up of the earth, as the meanest of their Famulie. It is not the potency, majesty, dignity, honour, riches, strength, or worldly wisdom, that can stop the sentence of God's justice, or stay the stroke of God's hand: for he is pure in his justice, and will not be overcome with Bribes: for the round World is his, and the riches thereof: And far dearer is innocent Lazarus in the sight of God, Luk. 16.22.23. then wicked Dives, clothed in Purple, and abounding in wealth: For, Psal. 33.18. The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, and put their trust in his mercy. SECT. 7. AS touching the Inquisition of God after Adam and Eve; therein Three things are to be considered. The Time of the Inquisition: the Cause of the Inquisition: and the Inquisition itself. God made Inquirie after Adam and Eve, when as they departed from him, and had eaten of the forbidden Fruit; as Solomon did after Shimei, 1. king. 2.36. unto the end of the chap. when he departed from jerusalem, and had broken his Commandment: for the Lord never punisheth, but when man offendeth. The cry of sin, For our sins have Voices & Wings, to cry, and fly up before the throne of God, for revenge and judgement, as did the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. Gen. 18.20. They are the Heralds of Satan, which proclaim war against God; and therefore he must come down in the fierceness of his wrath, to destroy his enemies, when they would march up to heaven against him, to pluck him from his throne, and sit in his seat; to be as Gods, knowing good & evil: forgetting their created estate, that they were but Dust and Clay, Gen. 2.7. and therefore how unable to resist their Creator; who being offended, is able to Break them in pieces like a Potter's vessel? Psal. 2.9. The fruit of sin, is fear and shame. For now the Lord calleth, but Adam flieth: the Lord examineth, but Adam trembleth: Satan's words were not so sweet, but the Lords voice is as bitter. The possession of the Fruit, dispossessed Adam of the Garden: The hope of vainglory, hath brought a heap of shame: and the devils dissembled robe of Majesty, is turned into a Fig leaf of Misery. Thus sin is no sooner wrought, but God is wroth he cometh in judgement to punish, and the sinner can not fly nor hide himself from his presence. Exod. 20.5. He is a jealous God; he will have his word to be obeyed, and the contemners and breakers thereof, shall die the death: for as sin is begotten by Pride in rebellion, so it is punished by God's justice in confusion. And touching the Cause of the Inquisition: Sin causeth God as a judge to inquire after man. It was Adam's breaking of the Commandment of God: the which God gave unto him in two respects: The one, to make him to know himself, that he was a Creature, because he was bound to a Law by his Creator: The other, to acknowledge the wisdom and glory of his Creator, in looking for love and obedience from his Creature, by performance of the Law,; the which obeying, God made to man, the promise of life: and in disobeying, he threatened punishment by death. God rewardeth the good, and punisheth the wicked. The which course of love & justice, in rewarding and punishing, the Lord hath ever kept both with Men and Angels; and will so do unto the end of the world: And They that have done good, Mat. 25.46. shall enter into eternal life: and they that have done evil, into eternal death. Gen. 7.19.20 Dan. 2.37. unto 45. The Old world had not been drowned: the Monarchies and great Kingdoms of the earth confounded: Rom. 11.19. unto 23. Amos. 8.11.12. the Chosen people of God (the jews) rejected: the Gospel removed from the East unto the West: and Fire reserved until the last day, to consume this Earth, 2. Pet. 3.7. and these Heavens; but for the sin of man.. Sin, Sin is deceitful, and monstrous. it hath a jesabels' face, but a Scorpion's tail: It is a Monster in the sight of God, begotten by an evil Spirit, and nourished in rebellious Flesh: And therefore God, the only good and glorious Creator of all things, Gen. 1.31. who Saw all things that he had made, and lo, they were exceeding good; he in the purity of his glory, must purge Paradise of this odious monster; and in the sincerity of his justice, detest Man, which hath coupled himself with this monster Sin, and thereby disfigured and defaced the gracious image of God in him. This was the cause of God's Inquisition after Adam: for he could not behold his rebellion and sin, and suffer them to go unpunished- An Inquisition upon what cause it is grounded. And as touching the Inquisition itself, it declareth by the action of the inquiry, an offence offered to the Inquisitor: for the which, God maketh fresh pursuit against Man: And in this Inquisition, God himself alone inquireth after sin God useth no help or attendance of any of his Angels, but by himself he findeth it out; because he only knoweth the thoughts of men, Psal. 50.6. and is judge himself: But for the execution of his will & pleasure, whether it be for the protection of the good, or destuction of the wicked, there he useth for the honour and glory of his Majesty, reve. 8.2.3. His Angels as his Servants & Ministers, to perform the same; and that also by his especial leave and commission, and not otherwise: Without God's especial commission, the Angels neither hear the words, nor see the works of men. For without this especial Commission, they neither see nor hear the words nor actions of men upon the earth; but only attend about the lords Throne in Heaven, continually worshipping him, and praising him, and rejoicing only in him for ever; whose love and glory, taketh away from them all thought of other inferior things, or of any persons upon the earth. And therefore seeing God himself is the Inquisitor and finder out of sin, what manner of persons ought we to be in holiness, and innocency of life: for his Eyes and Ears, Jer. 23.24, 25. do behold and hear a far off. His knowledge is infinite, his power unresistible, his presence fearful, his voice terrible, his sentence death, against all impenitent sinners, even eternal death, to suffer and continue In that Lake, reve. 20.10. which burneth with fire & brimstone for evermore. SECT. 8. AS touching the Apprehension of Adam and Eve, to answer for their fault, Two things therein are to be considered: The Power of God, to apprehend: & the Weakness of Man, to resist. If so God should inquire and know all things that Man doth, and yet not able to apprehend Man for his fault, what care of obedience, or what fear would Man have of God? Nay, what blasphemies, what routs and rebellion (as I may so speak) would he not commit against God? For than Man would heap sin upon sin, The scornful and blasphemous thought of the wicked against God. and say in his heart; Tush, although God doth know my actions, and wicked course, and the thoughts of my heart, yet he is not able to attach and apprehend me for it; and therefore I am still at liberty, and false: I weigh not, and respect him no more, than Shemei did David; 2. Sam. 16.5.6. for his force is weak, and his hand unable to take hold upon me. Thus the wicked would say within themselves: nay more, they would conclude and affirm, saying; God indeed threateneth much, but he can perform little. And it is true, if so God were not able to apprehend the offender for sin, aswell as to inquire and find out sin, the wicked might ruffinelike thus triumph against God. But Almighty GOD, the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, Psal. 2.4. Which sitteth in Heaven, shall laugh them to scorn, and have them in derision: their destruction shall come suddenly, and none shall be able to deliver them out of his hand. God's power to apprehend sinners. Gen. 4.9, 10. Adam hid himself, but he was found. Cain would have concealed his brother's blood, but it was known. Ioshu. 7.21. Achan privily conveyed the Garment, the Silver, and the Gold into his Tent, but he was discovered by the lot. Ioshu. 10.16.17. The five Kings that fled before joshua, were espied, and brought out of the Cave. Act. 5.3. Ananias and Saphira dissembled, but they were slain. No sin so close, no place so secret, but God can find it out, and apprehend the offender for his fault: God can destroy the mighty by small means, and divers ways. And the lords means and instruments are both many, and very easy, whereby he can overthrow his enemies, to their utter shame and confusion: for his Finger is stronger than their Loins; and his meanest Servants, able to destroy the greatest Princes: One Angel can kill a hundred fourscore and five thousand Assyrians, in a night. One little Stone, 2. kin. 19.35. 1. Sam. 17.50 can strike Goliath to the ground. 2. Sam. 18.9.10. A Bough can stay and hang up Absalon by the Hair, and small little Worms can eat up Herod to the bones. Act. 12 23. What shall I speak more of God's power to apprehend offenders, daily experience teacheth us, that sin escapeth not unpunished? for, doth not the sword of God's justice, continually cut off Traitors, thieves, and Murderers? Doth not the power of God's Curse, impoverish Drunkards, Gamesters, and Whoremongers? Doth not the plague of his hand send Diseases, Rottenness, and burnings into the bones and bowels of Harlots, & licentious Wantoness? Psal. 37.35, 36. & 9.6. Is not the Name of the ungodly (after their death) quickly forgotten, and their memorial perisheth with them? Do not their riches take them wings, Pro. 23 5. and speedily fly away, and lo their place is no where to be found: This their way, Psal. 37.36. Psal. 49.13. uttereth their foolishness; for the way of peace and godliness, they have not known: jere. 17.11. They have spun the Spider's web: And, Math. 7.26. Built their house upon the Sand. And as touching the Weakness of man to resist God's power; How can Man, being a creature, Man not able to resist God. be able to resist and withstand his Creator? and being overcome of sin, and subject unto death, How is he able to resist the judge, who hath both seen his sin, and apprehended him to bring him unto judgement, that he might receive the reward of sin, which is death; from the which, none that liveth, can fly or escape? Psal. 89.48. For what man liveth, & shall not see death? or, shall any deliver his soul from the hand of the Grave? Therefore if we can not resist God's Sergeant, or Messenger to apprehend us: how much less are we able to resist God, 2. Tim. 4.1. the judge both of quick and dead? Again, let us further consider man's strength, and he is but weakness itself, respecting either the outward parts of his body, or the inward parts of his mind: for in his birth, his feet are not able to bear him: 1. kin. 12.10. In his youth he hath no wisdom to direct him: in his man's estate, and in his greatest strength, Esa. 46.6. unto 9 He is but a Flower, growing, flourishing, and withered in a day. 2. Tim. 2.22. His Lusts are unbridled, his Affections infected, his Actions perverted, his Body and Soul by Satan overcome and subdued. Rom. 7.24. Poor wretch, and miserable man, whosoever thou art; Is thy sight and light, that is in thee, so darkened? and art thou become so blind, that with the Fly in the night, thou wilt flutter and fall into thine own destruction? Dost thou think thyself so strong, God's power and might. that thou canst either wrestle with, or resist thy Creator, reve. 6.18. Whose eyes are like a burning flame, that his enemies dare not behold him? Psal. 45.5. Whose arms do draw a Bow of Steel, to shoot out sharp and deadly Arrows to pierce the heart of those that hate him: reve. 1.15. and whose Feet are as Brass, strong to crush the whole nations of the earth in pieces, that shall arise up against him. If thou fliest from him, he is Swifter than the Wind, Psal. 104.3. to overtake thee, if thou resist him: and 58.9. as the Raw flesh before the pots feel the fire of Thorns: so will he carry thee away in the whirlwind of his wrath. And then shall it be said of thee, Behold the man, Psal. 52.7. that took not God for his strength, but trusted in the multitude of his Riches, and put his confidence in his malice; and thought to fly and escape from the presence of the Lord: But alas how was he deceived? his portion is with the Wicked, and his sin shall never be done away. SECT. 9 AS touching the Arraignment, Two things therein are to be considered: The Person of the judge: and, the Prisoners at the Bar. The judge is, The Lord GOD; whose wisdom, equity, and order, in proceeding to trial against the Prisoners, is to be observed: And first concerning the Person of the judge. It is, The dignity of God. The Lord God: not a Lord, which hath his authority from an other; but he is the Lord God of all things: For of him, Rom. 11.36. and through him, and for him, are all things: to him therefore be glory for ever and ever, Amen: as saith the Apostle. And as he is the Lord, so he governeth all things, and judgeth all men. And as he is God, so he hath created all things, and restored all things: John. 1.1. For he is that Eternal word, by which all things were made: 4. that Eternal light, by which all things are comforted: and 14.6. and that Eternal life, by which all things are continued: And therefore for to say that he is the Lord, and not God; that were to take away his wisdom & power in creating: and to say that he were God, and not the Lord; that were to take away his Majesty, justice, and Dignity; admitting that he had power to create, but not able to rule, or govern that which he had created. Satan's subtlety to abridge and lessen the dignity of God. And that was the blasphemy and subtlety of Satan, to persuade Eve, that although God had created them, and all things; yet he was not absolute Lord over them, but that they, whether he would or no, might be partners and partakers of his glory with him: which to believe or think, is a most grievous sin; yet to attempt it, is the sin of sins, even Lucifer's sin. But GOD in his jealousy and justice, with the breath of his nostrils, and Power of his word, Joh. 18.6. is able to cast his Enemies down headlong, and bring them to confusion: for he hath Fire from Heaven to consume them, Josh. 10.11. hailstones to brain them, Pestilence to devour them, the Sword to kill them, Famine to destroy them, Beasts to tear them, 2. kin. 6.25. the Sea to drown them, the Earth to swallow them, Hell to receive them, Pains to torment them, Luk. 16.23.24. Darkness to enclose them, and everlasting Condemnation to retain them in that Lake which burneth with fire & brimstone for ever more. Reul. 20.10. And therefore Satan in tempting, & our parents by attempting sovereignty with God, denied him to be the Lord, although they confessed him to be God. To confess God wholly, not in part. Whereby we are to learn to beware, that we do not confess God in part, and deny him in part; which the Devil did: but to hold fast the analogy of our Faith, and ever with a pure heart to confess GOD to be the Lord, and the Lord God. Adam & eves arraignment. And concerning the order and equity of God in the Arraignment, Gen. 2.8. unto vers. 19 he proceedeth first against Adam; because he was created before Eve, and to him was given the possession of the Garden, and the precept & commandment touching the fruit, before Eve was form & made. Then next he calleth Eve, being bone of Adam's bone, and flesh of his flesh, inferior unto him in order of nature, though first before him in degree of sin: and yet the order of the arraignment is just, though Adam sinned after Eve: Gen. 4.9. for although Cain was not his Brother's keeper; yet the Husband is the wives head, Ephes. 5.23. and aught to be her Instructor in all the commandments of God, The Husband's care which he ought to have over his wife. that she might live in his fear, & be obedient unto him: For as no reasonable man will hurt his own flesh; so no godly man ought (through his negligence) to suffer his own flesh to sin, but still to have an eye and care for her preservation, as much as in him lieth. And lastly, God speaketh unto the Serpent, as being the devils instrument unto sin, and maketh no further expostulation with him, because the Devil, The Devil was a convict and reprobate before Adam's fall. who was in the Serpent, was a convict, and condemned creature before, & attainted before God's judgement seat in heaven, and cast down from thence with the rest of the disobedient Angels; and therefore he cometh to no new arraignment: The Serpent being the instrument of sin, is punished. but the person of the creature being an instrument which the Devil used to draw our Parents unto sin, is accursed: which showeth unto us, that not only the persuaders and consenters unto sin, but the dumb creatures also, which are means and instruments made by the wicked, for the enticement unto sin, are accursed before the sight of God; so holy, so just and righteous is the Lord: Deut. 28.17.18. and therefore the Earth, & creatures thereof are accursed, for Man's sake, when as by the instigation of Satan, Man is alured by the pleasures thereof, to love & embrace the world more than God: And so in the justice of God, the glorious Houses, and stately dwellings of the mighty upon the earth, are accursed, and made desolate, Mich. 7.13. for the sins of the owners and builders thereof, who have raised up the Walls by Oppression, tempered the Mortar with Blood, adorned them with Vanity, possessed them with Pride, Psal. 49.11. and called them (and their lands) by their own names, that they might be as Gods, to live for ever: But behold, as Adam was cast out of Paradise, so are they out of their dwellings; verse 14. They lie like Sheep in Grave, and Death devoureth them, and their name is perished from of the earth. SECT. 10. AS touching their answers. Adam's Indictment consisting of Two parts: the Offence committed; and the Flying upon the offence. Adam's pleading to the indictment. He confesseth it, and would avoid it, by way of extenuation, in alleging the principal cause to be the Woman. And as touching his Flight, he doth also extenuat it by the presence of God in following him; for he saith, he was afraid, and that in two respects: the one because he heard God's fearful voice: the other, because he Saw himself to be naked: whereas upon the committing of the sin, he feared neither the presence of God, nor his own misery to come, for he thought to have been equal with God. Satan's subtlety to cover sin. It is the subtlety of Satan in drawing men forward to sin, to hide the hook of Misery, under the bait of flattering felicity, their eyes being blinded, not to see the one; and their hands and feet too swift and forward to run, and reach unto the other. Gehazi got Money and Apparel of Naaman: 2. king. 5.21.22. but it infected him with Leprosy. Adam eat the Apple; but it poisoned him even unto death, had not jesus Christ, his, and our heavenly Physician, purged him from his sin, which is the venom, and mother and sting of death. 1. Cor. 15.5.6. eves her pleading. And Eve in her answer, followeth her husband's precedent, pleading as he did; confessing, and avoiding the offence alleged in her indictment, affirming the Serpent to be the cause of her offence. Such is the course and practise of Satan in his malice towards man, that when man hath offended, he hardeneth and shutteth up his heart from repentance, Offenders will excuse, but not confess their fault. making him bold and impudent to excuse his fault, either by posting it over unto some other, or daubing and covering it with untempered mortar, falsehood, & untruth; thinking thereby to blind the eyes of God their judge: But they are deceived; for nothing is hid from his sight; Psal. 7.9. he Searcheth the hearts and the reins, and the night is as clear as the day before him: and psa. 139.1. unto. 18. He knoweth man's going forth, and his coming in; their words and their works are registered before him: yea he is in the closerts and privy chambers of men, to hear their counsels, and to see their ways: So that when they shall come unto judgement before him, the Book of their offences shall be opened and read unto them; their Consciences shall tremble, their Hearts shall melt, & they shall not be able to answer one sin of a thousand. In temptations, to think upon God, is the preventing of sin. Therefore in the committing of sin, if men would but remember who seethe them, it would be a curb and bridle to bring them back: or if after the sin committed, they would remember who shall judge them, it would be a means to make them humble themselves before the throne of God, & to confess their sins, and crave pardon for the same through the merits of jesus Christ; who is a Saviour unto all them that put their trust in him. Equivocate lying & shifting, is most abominable before God. For all coulorable shifts and lies, and subtle equivocation, highly offendeth God, and maketh the sin double, and more heinous in his sight. It had been better for our Parents Adam and Eve, plainly to have confessed and acknowledged their disobedience, then to have posted it, and shovelled it from one to another: for the devils subtlety and malice, could not excuse their sin & wickedness: for as he is the root of sin, so we are his branches, if we remain & continue in sin; and therefore of ourselves being unfruitful, Math. 2.10. dead, and withered, we are worthy to be cut down and cast into the fire of God's eternal and most heavy wrath, because we have rebelled against him, & have not hearkened unto his voice, to bring forth fruit worthy of amendment of life. The Serpent is silent, and pleads not at all. And as touching the Serpent, or the Devil in the Serpent, he maketh no answer at all unto God; neither had he any colour to excuse his fault by any means, or to lay it upon any person: for he is the Author of sin, & the Father of lies; and therefore he is convicted by his silence, and standeth mute and dumb, trembling & quaking before the presence and throne of Almighty God, who is a most just judge, and fearful Lord, unto all those that hate him. SECT. 11. AS touching their judgement, it is several and contrary to the course that God observed in their Arraignment: for he first giveth sentence against the Serpent; because he was the principal actor to persuade to sin: Then against Eve; because she first consented to sin: Lastly, against Adam; because he agreed to his wives persuasion to sin. In the judgement of the Serpent, are to be considered three things: his exceeding Misery; Thou art cursed above all creatures: his Malice to Christ; for Enmity shall be between thee and the Woman, between thy seed and her seed: his Weakness to resist Christ; Thou shalt bruise his heel, but be shall break thy head. In the first, we see what is the reward of sin: a Curse. In the second, Satan is enemy to God and man. we must consider that Satan is Enemy to God and us; and therefore we must be Enemies unto him: for otherwise, we can not be friends unto ourselves, nor unto God, when we shall make peace, and be at league with God's enemies. In the third, we see a comfortable Victory promised, which Christ hath gotten for us, and his mercy in saving us; who if Satan could have prevailed, should never have been restored unto life, but condemned unto death for evermore. adam's & eves judgement from God is merciful. And the judgement of Adam & Eve, (in the love of Christ) is most merciful and gracious; for it is but temporal, not eternal death: And as in the pride of their hearts they forgot God, & committed sin: so by their pain and misery in this world, they shall remember God, and it shall be a means to keep them from sin, that they may have joy and peace for evermore in the world to come. SECT. 12. AS touching their Expulsion out of Paradise: in it there are to be considered two things: The Care which God had of Adam: And, his Mild reprehension of him. His Care: he made them Coats, & clothed them. Satan dealt with our Parents, A similitude of Satan's contempt to God, and malice to man. 2. Sam. 10.3.4. as Hanun King of the Ammonits did with David's servants, who in contempt of David, and hatred unto them, shaved off the half of their Beard, and cut off their Garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. So the Devil, in contempt of God, and malice to Man, devised how to shave off with the knife of Sin, from the hearts of our Parents; not the half, but the whole ornament and beauty of grace: and to cut off not only their Garments of innocency and Righteousness in the middle, but wholly to spoil and to rob them thereof, and to leave them all naked, and ashamed in the sight of God and Angels: Adam's shame. Which God beholding, and also perceiving Adam to be exceedingly ashamed, by hiding himself in the Garden, as bewailing his sin, in disobeying of his gracious God and Lord; and blaming his folly, so to be beceived, deluded, & spoiled by Satan: God's pity. God, as a merciful Father, pitied Adam, & in his love, & promise in his son jesus Christ, comforted the inward man by faith, & hope: and renewed the outward man, by Sanctification, & Preservation. And as the Servants of David were appointed to tarry in jericho until their Beards were grown, 1. Sam. 10.5. A similitude of man's corruption in earth, and of his glorious resurrection to heaven. and then to come unto the kings Court at jerusalem; so God hath appointed Adam, and all flesh the sons of Adam, to dwell upon the earth, and to rest in the Grave, until their mortality shall put on immortality, and then to come unto the heavenly Court of God in his holy and celestial jerusalem, there to remain & dwell with him for ever. And also, God's revenge against Satan, for his malice to man. as David revenged himself of Hanun for the dishonour offered unto his Servants, so God hath revenged himself upon Satan for his malice unto Adam. O the loving kindness, and great mercy of God, thus to regard and to take pity upon man, to comfort and to preserve him both in body and soul: A good thing to remember our misery & nakedness. And therefore when we feel the inward grace of God's spirit working sorrow in our hearts for sin, then let us remember the nakedness of our souls, which once were rob and spoiled by Satan, that wicked and envious Serpent. And when we put on our clothes to cover our bodies, then let us also remember that they are but as veils and shadows, to hide away our shame, being spotted with sin; and to shield and defend our corrupt & weak bodies from heat and cold, which are daily subject to sickness, and unto death, by reason of our sin. And as concerning the Mild reprehension of God to Adam, although it may seem ironical, and in some sort spoken by way of disgrace, yet it is most mild, in respect of Adam's sin; who deserved no favour, to hear Gods merciful voice, sparing, and not destroying him in the fierceness of his wrath. God's love to Adam. But God here showeth his love to Adam, as David did unto Absalon; 2. San. 14.21. for he pardoned his disobedient Son, who returned home from Geshur to jerusalem: but he must turn into his own House, verse 24. and not see the King his father's face, until he be called: So God pardoneth Adam, and he is returned from the bondage of Satan, and admitted into the liberty of the Sons of God: but he must turn into his own House, being Earth and Dust, Gen. 3.19. and not see the glorious face of God his merciful Father in Paradise with these eyes, until he be called: which shall be in the day of the Resurrection, when God will receive his children with the kisses of his love. But some peradventure will say: Hath Adam sinned, An objection to God's justice who did not destroy Adam for his sin. and deserved death, & now doth God pardon and pity him? how can this stand in the course of God's justice, when as at the delivery of his Commandment, he threatened death unto Adam, saying: In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt die the death? To answer this Objection; The answer to the objection. The justice of God is perfectly satisfied according to his word: for as Man sinned, so Man for his sin had the sentence and judgement of death: but the execution of death for sin, was spared in Adam, and laid upon Christ; Esa. 53.10. Ephe. 5.2. who was made an Offering for sin, and appointed by God himself, before the foundation of the world, even for all them that put their trust in him: so that the justice of God taketh effect in man; but Chrst, perfect God & perfect man, hath overcome death, although his humanity for a time, was seized upon, and kept in the grave by death, to satisfy the sentence of his Father's justice, pronounced against Adam, yet by his Deity he raised up his Humanity from death, 1. Cor. 15.20 Joh. 17.4.5. and glorified it with Immortality in heaven; and he will also glorify all the faithful that trust in him, Rom. 6.5. Gal. 4.6. being engrafted into his body, & Sanctified by his spirit, whereby they cry Abba Father. God's provident care over Adam even in this world. And notwithstanding that Adam was cast out of Paradise, (whereby he had a daily & continual feeling of his misery, purchased by his sin) yet God left him not forlorn, but by his gracious providence, & loving eye, which he had over him, he kept him safe not only from the rage and fury of cruel beasts, which became rebellious unto Adam; but also from the cruelty of that roaring Lion Satan, 1. Pet. 5.8. which gaped and ever looked for the eternal fall and destruction of Adam. And God also blessed his labour, that the Earth thereby should bring forth fruit & meat unto him, for the preservation of this life: and likewise he continued the love between Adam and his wife, that neither of them should take exception one against the other for their ejection and casting out of Paradise, but rather make much of, and comfort one another in the time of their pilgrimage and misery of this world: The mutual love which should he between man and wife Which teacheth us, that man and wife should never fall out, or be offended with each other for the losses of the riches and possessions of this world, when as our Parents twitted not each other in the teeth when they lost the possession of that joyful Paradise. O happy man, The happy translation of man to a heavenly paradise who hath so merciful a God, that sinning, yet thou art pardoned: being lost, art found: rejected, yet received: dead, yet liveth: and living, shalt be glorified with him, not in the earthly, but in the heavenly Paradise for evermore. The glory of heaven. The glory whereof is infinite; for the riches therein, are without measure: there is plenty without want, comfort without grief, light without darkness, life without death: The joy of God's presence with his saint. God's presence is as a bright shining Temple in the midst thereof; before whose throne, do stand the holy Angels and Saints, whose eyes are never satisfied with beholding him, their ears never glutted with hearing him, their tongues never silent from praising him, their hands never weary with lifting up unto him, their hearts never filled with the sweetness of his love, and their feet never tired with walking in his ways. Reu. 22.1.2. There is the Water of Life, ever running: the Tree of life, ever growing, and the fruit of Love and peace, never fading: To which place, and Paradise, God of his infinite mercy, bring us, for Christ jesus sake, our only Lord and Saviour. Amen. FINIS.