f THE M^ ^B PRESVMPTVOVS ^^1 MANSMIRROVR: m OR IgS A Watch-bcU to rouzc up a SS^ fccurc Sinner out of his III flecp of fecurity : M Wherein, the Caufcsand An- J^ tecedcntSjthe EfFeifls and Confe- iiM quents of Prcfumption : Toge- 4^ tlici" with Motive* and Rcme- sS^ dies againft it, are dif- f ^ cii/Ied and fet forth, m j^^ — i^ By Bemamm AufiinM^S^itv of Arts ^1^ and Preacher of Gods Word at §§ B'4eth from fomethmg in our felves, p. I op Temftation I. Thott hasi committed this fin with impunity ^ and therefore ■ needeth not to feare to fall into it againe, P»y3 Temptation I, Thou hafijpeciall marks of Gods favour i as peace, healthy ri^ cheSy &c. therefore m^ifi tho/t nr^^ fun^tofiny p.i2 2 TemptAtion^, (Ji^inijfers doe this^ therefore thoH mAifl^ P« ' 3 4 Temptation 4. Qreat men^ Mdrvhole multitudes commit this fin^ there- fore thou maist, p. T 40 Temptation J . Hejhall he mo eked and contemned if he fin not, p. 1 5 1 Tempfatlon6. It is naturaU to do evilly why then maifl thou not commit ^ny fin, ^ . p.15^ Temptation y. They have a cuflome in finne, whl^h they cannot leave y and therefore he mufi fin on, p . 1 5 P Temptation 8 . It ha little finne, and he The TABLE. heneedeth not fear e to commit it. Temptation g. Thou maijl bearetht tvorld in hand it is a vcrtue^ there" fore'commit it, p. 1 76 Temptation 10. Thot4 art the ehilde of Gody and canft not fa/iaivay hy any fin, therefore maifi thou com- mit this fin^ p. 1 80 Temptation 1 1 . Sin thou mufi in thy i^eB aBionSjwhy thenfearefl thou to fin^which cannot be avoyded^ p. 1 87 Temptation \i. Thou hafi free^'^ill^ ^ maifi fin now,andrepent,andkfep the Law of god hereafter y p.2 o 2 Temptation 15. SinnoW^^ and repent \ in thy old age y p. 2 1 ^ Temptation 14. Repent in ficknejfe, therefore fin on, P-^^7 Temptation 1 5 . Sin on for thou haft j no hope of fa/vat ion, p.234 1 Effeds of^rcfumption. EfeBlMorror of ConfcicKce^p.i^o £fcci 2. It maketh Godto hefaidto \ ''1 be angry, \^-^^9\ Sffecf: ^ .D iverfe punifhmentSj p.25 2 j 1 . CJener^M pfinif/jments, p-2 5 8 i Particular pftnijhments of fin in this' T^E TABLE. 'liff, I Jn the body hj fickle fe^ P'254 ^ 2, In Subfimce, iBy la^e of goods ^ I p.26g I 3 . />^ SonlefBy lojfe of naturatl glfts^ j ^^ of ^iritHoll andfupernaturall \ g^^f^> p. 274 "1, P artictiUr funi/hmentj at the end j of this Hfe^am thaefirfideath^p, 283 i 2. A f articular and a general iudge- menty p.292 '.Funijhntentsin the life to eome^ and i r^^ I ,Zojp of heaven^ p. ; 04 a , Torment in hell, p. 3 1 5 Motives to fhun Preiamption. I ,Becaufe the T)evilloHr enemy temf^ j tethustoity . p. 3 29 i 2'. 5^^^ commiindeth m to pjtin it, J l,Odiotis it ii to God in retfsEi of h^ j mere J , ififiice , and omnfcie>icy Remedies agamft Premmption. l,Remedy, (^onfiderationof(j7ds fo^ wer^yphj is Me to p^ni/Ji thj T^re^ fumftionf^ p. 3 4^ p 2 . Confider Gods rf^cj^ . p_. 3 5 2 l^C^nfider Gods iuflice. P«?55 4. Confider Gods o^niprcfincy , and '*< §m^ \ THE TABLE. emnifciency^ p.352 t, Remedy, The vf or dp-eached^ip, ^66 I. Remedy. A true hllefe in Qody ^JRemedy. WMch^nlne^e mdvmmg fjetmepoflife, P*37^ . 5 .Remedy Jkefentance, p.3 80 6. Remedy, Prayer. i.Pray thy felfe^ ^Wefiretther wens prayers, 389. ^ ^S^'T^^Y^-'^^ iit. i^V ijc i|i IjfU i^ >JC ijt Jjt J»|t /JC THE PRESVMP- TVOVS MANS MIRROVR. C A p. I. HE greateft blef- fings^ifthey be abu- fed, turne into 'the bcavien: curfes ; and the M'icked are of. tehtimes iDofl: grievoufly plagued, when as they fceme to themitlves, and to all that jndge according to outward appearance to be il^ the grcutefl: favour.and in their chiefeft felicity. Who would not have B fup. a I ThPreJiimftHoftsmiinsmin'OHr. K«ng, 2. K««g» ^3 2^. 17. 73. N m I .o. pcfcd God to have becne appeared with fftdah, and the HercciiciVeof his wrath to have becnc turned away from his people, when as tender-hearted fojias did rule them : feeing by the teftimony of the Holy Cjhol>, Thtrs W*^/ no Khig before him /iks unto hlm^ that turned to the LordWnth ^l hi^ heart, "^ith all his fjule^ and \>i'ith all hU mighty accordingly to all the Law of A'fofes^^lther nfterhlm arofe tloeir an) Ukehm, yzt eveninhisdayes was God angry with them for the abb- minations of wicked OManajfeh, when as they enjoyed a moft pe- ccable time, under the happy reigne of a moil: religious prince. Neither did, God feemed to afloord them an extra- ordinary bleiiingjwhen as he rahed^ 1 do)Vfie flejh upon tl:em as the dufi^ \ \ v?r6 U^^ khdled aeainft them, and he flav them Vcit% amjghtj greats fl^tighter. Who afore would not have fup- pofed thefe nuirniuring Ifraelites to be in an happy eftate, they diA askc onely for flcQi and were kd I with qu-ailes, they dcliredr^f/^z^' N"^*'^- hers, melons J leekeSy onjons and garlick^^ God feedeth them a .whole moneth with the daintieft food. Their bellies were now filled with Gods hid treafure, and they had more then heart could wifh. But at the length this pro- veth a curfe, as all Gods bleilings are to the wicked : who punifhcth men the more, becaufc they make not the right ufc ef I^is manifold B 2 f:vn'r:i,' The PrcJumftuoHS mAns mlrronr. Horc.1,8. Calvin* ler.ii.^. Luk.ix, favours, which he continually heapeth on them. God givcth them to (hew his love, and to draw man unto him, but proud man rcceiveth them as due debts, and not as any favours from the moft High, and therefore arc they not profited, not benefited by them : Indeed the wicked arc fatted with profperity ; but this fatting is, fr^lm'mm m.^tBationis, a forerunner of flaughter, and therefore the Prophet Jeremy faith, in a propheticall pray er, GodWl full them out to the (laughter^ a« fatted fheep out of a fold. For what fruit do the wicked rcape from all worldly ble/fings, but on- ly that of the foole in the Gofpdl, to lull thcinfelves afleepe in fecu- rity, to fing a requiem unto their foules, and to give cafe to them- ftlves, becaufe t}:ej have goods /aid up fir mmj jefxes, or that of the Epicureos leraby in times of mour- ning CO rejoyce, feafting deli- cioufty in that time when as God by his ircfuil judgements had cal- led Th VrefiimpHota mam rmrrour, led them to fading, to eatc and dnnke, becaufc their time was fliort. Let m eate anddr'mke (fay they ) fir to morrois> WefiJl dje,^ni no wonder. For the godly them- felves fometimes make butiittie better ufe of them; whilft the bridtgroome tArried hngy aU the Mat,iy«5 virgins jlumbred andjleft ; the wife virgins flumbred, and ilept as well a$ the foolifti, Chrift deterring his comming, both for the flirthcr growing in grace of the righteous, as alfo for the convcrfion ^£ the wicked, they both for a while flept in fecurity. For fmne isfo fruitfull in peace, and profperity, that it multiplieth like gnats, or vermine in a dead carcafe, w'hole multitudes are produced by the cleesc funne-fhining of one only day. For where fecurity hath once fetlcd it felfej there quickly arifeth prefumption, which if it be ory:e rooted in the heart of man, what (in dareth net head? what! wickcdneflefcareth he to commit? 1 A3 CAP. quefiM', Thff TreJiimftHotu mans mirrour. CAP. II. M^hat Pnjumftion u. PRefiimpHoft (as it may be col- lected out o^tAqmna^ ) is an immoderate confidence of getting thefe things by our owne ftrength^ which is above our ftrength : or it isthecxcefli of hope in getting thefe things without mcancs^ which conccrnc the power and mercy of God : as to exped and looke for Heaven without faith, and repentance. Or rather more plainely thus. Preemption is a finnc, whereby wicked men in regard of Gods blcflings, and long- fuSering patience towards them, have their hearts with fclfe-love and pride, lifted up in a vaine con- fidence of their own fufficiency, or Gods goodnelfe towards thgn, waxing fecure, and haughty in their lives without any f^nre of fmne, or Gods judgements for them , The PrefumptHom mans mirrour, \ them, fo then, fecurity is tlie be- ^"^ pinning of prefumption, and pie- fumption is the height offecunty. CAP. III. The hindesofPrefumpioH, PKefumpion is of two forteS5The firk arifetb from felfe-loYe, and ; a vaine confidence in mans owne \ Efficiency : when as man prefu-t meth to get that by his owne ' ftrength, which cxceedeth his power, and attributeth that to himfelfe, which \% the proper and peculiar ad of the Lord Almighty ; this may fometimcs be in the god- ly, when as they attribute that to nature, which prcceedeth of grscc. Thus alfothe PapiAserre; in their dodrine of Juftification by vjorkes : when as they hope to attamc Heaven by their ov;neme- Ifits; and this was the Divells jfinne in the JLidgcmentof ^<^/i'/>^, for the whidi he wascaftdownc 1 __ _ B 4,, i?Uo art. 10, Cap.^ lib* de Cafu diaboU, The TreJiimftuoHs mans mirrottr. into Hell, for he thought to have obtained Heaven, pr 'virtutem fiiA nattiTity non ex divino auxtlioy fe^ cundum Bel difpojitiomm, Hce thought to have obtained his eter- nall Felicity by his owne power without any aid of Gods aflifting grace; and to this agreeth the wordes of Anfelme^ tJ^fpetijt il- ind ad quod fervenijfet^ fi ftetijfet. The Divell had attained that which he foi^ht for, had he not fought It by indired meanes and fo fiUen. Where by the way, ye may perceive the dangerous, or rather divelilh dodrine of the Pa- pifts, which defirc to attaine Hea- ven, as the Divell would; for which proud prefumption with- out repentance,theyinay exped: the fame downefall. 2. Therb is a prefumption which arifeth out of pride, when as man inordinately relying on Gods pow- er and mercy, trufteth to obtain e Heaven without repentance : the chiefe foundation of th.s finne is pride, when as man doth fo highly efteemc \ The FreJumpHoni mans mirronr, efteeme of himfelfe, that he think- eth God will not punifh him for his (inne, or exclude him from- glory for his rebeUions; and this linne by rcafbn of mans perverfe will, is furthered by Gods pa- tience, or flackneffe in puniihing ( as fome count it.) Although as ^SPeter fpeaketh, tlie Lord is not flac\inhiifroniifeSy but islong-fuf" firing to m n>ard, rfot "billing that any jhould ferijh, hit that dlfljould come to repe-rimnce, which. they are willingly ignorant of, and therefore walke after their owne lufts, and waxe fccure and haugh- ty in their lives and converfations, thinking becaufe God doth not prefently ftrike, he will notftrike at all. But thefc men muTt know, though God hath leaden heeles, he hath iron hands ; he commeth flowly to punifli, but he payeth home, for the longer he defer- reth it,, the greater will the ven- geance be when it lii^hteth. If therefore the Lord of Ho?fts be long in fcattering of the arrowes B ^ ^t t Pet,^;, Tihe Trtjum^tuom mam mr, f our. of his judgements amongft lis, it is becaufe he is refolved to have them drawne the deeper, that they may make the decjper im- preflion when he fliooteth. The Almighty will not be long ere he fmiteyou for your finnes, he is on- , \y carrying about of his armc to fetch the greater ftroake, that by the weight of the blow, ye may take notice of a provoked omni- potency, angry with you for your finnes. Wherefore (Oprefuming finner) thinke not, becaufe God is for a while patient, that this his ^ patience will indure for ever, but know, T^tientia Ufa vertitHr infit^ yorem.Thc meekeft patience,if pro- voked, turneth into the greatcft fu- ry. CAP. IV. In whom thefejinnes may he, THefe finnes may be in the re- j generate and unrcgenerate , j The VrefumpHom mms mirropir. 7) avid a man after Gods ownc heart, prayetk againft tb.efe finncs, by reafcn of that Weight ofjinne which ccmfaffcth the Cjodlj fi.hcut^ he may flip, he may fall into them. If the righteous cannot fall into thefe finnesjwhy prayeth he againfl: them. That the wicked may fall into them, no man mifdoubteth it, but that the gx)dly mans heart fometimes liculd be taken up with great Gnnes, who cannot but won- der ? That Bahd ll^culd fay, / ft ^; (\ ^jser^e, I jh all not hnov:> the lcf$ cf childrert^ Vvhocculd expe(flklle from her? But for that man of Gcd, David to fiy in hisfrojhcrity, that he pjoull never be moved \ this, is m.orcflrange,. more wcnderfullj For King n'y.raoh to cry, W/?*? is the Lcr^.^ that Ifjculd obcj his vcice^ and let Ifrael goe f is a heatheniQi fpeech, and tafteth of the Ycffell from whence it cameV But for Jor.ah a Trophet of the Lord to tell Gcd, that he doth W' ell to beangr'ji even unto death] flieweJ he is of a fiucy Ipirit to chop logickc with his. la Rom. I The ^refimptuoHs mans mirr our. his maker, and to anfwer his ma- fter on this fafhion. l£fucLu be- come the Divcls inftrumcnt to be- tray Chrift; if he fall togoctohis owne place ; if the (ortne of perdi- tion be lofl ^ this cannot feemc ftrange to any: hut i^ Simon ^eter {hoiild become Satan, if he that confeffed C^rifi tx) be the Sonne of the living God, (hall prcfently tempt him to forfake his office, this feemeth marvellous in our eyes. But alas, man as long as he liveth is but man, and if God by his Spirit uphold him not, into what linncs will not his corrupt nature caiife him to fall. Well, Be not therefore hiqhihindedJ;Ht feare^ for if thefe worthies of God, which were perfed men in Chrift, were not able to defend themfelves with their owne ftrcngrh, what (hall become of us, which are but new- borne Babes in Chrift, if we (hould truft to our ftrength ? If thefe trufting to themfelves were foy- Icd by the^ enemy, furely we tru- fting to our felves, can cxped no leflcj The TreJumftHom mans mirronr^ lefle, but to fall into finne here, and into Hell hereafter, unleffe we be raifed up againe by the mighty working of the Spirit of God, as thefe men were. CAP. V. Horv the ^odly and'^lched di^tt in finning. Although the godly man may fall into the fame finnes of pre- fiimption which the wicked man doth, yet he finneth not after the fame manner. 1. It differeth in refped of the continuance, The godly repent of thefe prefumpruous fins, which they commit, but the wicked remaine impenitable to their dy- ing day, they make provifion for the flefh, to folfiil the lufts of it. The godly man may flecpe in finnc, but the godly are not dead in tref- paffes and finnes. 2. The Regenerate for the moft part The TrefumpHom Tnans mirrotir. part fall but into one finnc, likcj th:t o^ David, Vi'hich turtjed not\ afide from any of the Commander mcnts^ five in the iratter of Vriah ; the Hittite^ but tbe wicked fair into many iinnes, like Ahah^ thej fell themjelves to '^'orhe -nicked-' 3. They dif?cr in refpc6l of the manner of committing (inne. For the falling of the righteous, end the wicked into'finnCj diitr like the falling of lightning and ftones. A ftonefalleth violently dircdlyl downeward, whilft there is no! contrariety or ts^pugnancy in the' {lone to hinder that motion, for a' ftonc is naturally cold and dry J which maketh it to be of a lum- ! pidi, and a heavy nature, fo thcit ■ it tcndeth naturally and perpcn-! dicularly to the centure. Liit the! lightaing fallcth not diredly to* the earth, but obliquely and iide- long, and is as it were violently tbruft downe. It commeth out of the laft and goeth to the Weft : for altliough the weight of the matter The PreJumppioHi mans mirronr, f 1 5 matter is heavy, being earthly va- pours, and therefore is it caufed to defcend, becaufe it is prefled downe with the weightineffe of" the matter of which it confifteth, yet the fiery force doth drive to hinder and flacken that motion*, ^o a finner who is Eur thy E^rth, Earth, who hath earth in his heart, all his thoughts are forthe-world, who hath earth in his hands, all his anions are to get the riches of this wolid, who hath earth in his mouth, all his talke is of the things of this world ; this earth- ly minded man when he falleth into a linne, he falleth diredly into it , without any contrariety or reludancy againft that iinne; there is no repugnancy in his na- ture to hinder him from finning ; Dut.a good man hath the fire "of zeale to God, and charity to his Neighbour kindled within him, fo that although through the vio- ence of temptation caufing him 10 prefume in Gods favour , he alleth into fione : yet there is a relud- i ^ — ^ l6 The Trejumpftopu mans mirrour. Heb.ii.1 Rom.7.ao rcluor» A&.A^.^^ fitpped ^iarta^ and the Imaae^hich : c^me doyvnefrom ff^piuri^nd other I», ^P^-*'*'-,dols,yct the Apoftle tellcththcin^i they were ^^^a Atheift, yvlthcr^t Godinthi^ n^or/d,!. hou doft not tru- ly believe in God, forif thou d id- deft, how darcft thou to offjnd } that ThtT^reJitm^tfioHf mans mlrroHr, I 19 that God, which is jafl", as well as mercifuil, and as ready to pun- ifh the obftinate tranfgrcfTour, as he is willing to receive the peni- tent {inner to mercy. Never tell me that thou doeft truly believe in Qod, (which doeft preferrc finne) afore God, the pleaftires of wickedncffc, afore the favours of the Almighty. For in every finnc of prefumption, there is the waighing and ballancing the love of ^od, and the pleafures of fin: For on the one fide • is put the love of this world , and all the pleafures of finne : On the other fide, is put the love of God and ctcrnall happinefic, which thou loofeft by committing of finne ;^ thou art the Judge, which of ^hcfe two thou efteemeft moft Excellent, thou negle ncd to the Divcls whifperings, but being iirft allured to behold beautiful! Bathfljeba with an a- dulterous eye, after was enti- fed to defirc her unlawful! com- pany, and then out of a doubtfiillj Tlx TreJumpHom ma'^ mirronr. 1 Sim. ^x I fearc of open lliame, he caufcth ! Uriah one of hii wdrthies to be lent forborne from the campe, he cau- ! fcth hiin to be made drunke, and fendeth him againe, and will ra- ther deliver his innocent fubjedl into his enemies hands, c?.uring them thereby to reproach *7/r4^/, and to blafpheme the name of the living God, rather then he would incurre a publique fhame. This mans confcience was fo tender ,that hid heart fmote him hecmfe hs had \ ' Sim.x^. cut of Sauls skirt ^ his flecping con- ' ^" fcicnce fufiereth him now to con- trive, and plot the murder of his innocent fubjcvft, and faithfuil Ibuldier Vriah^ by making him- felfe an inftrumeiit of his ownc death, by carrying letters which caufed hisruine, and wrought his overthrow. .Thus David which w.-'S a man sfcer Gods owne hea't, f illeth from one finne to another, looking after Bathjheba bringcth forth luO", luft C2uleth adultery, and adultery 6nce committed, is to -be covered with drunkennefle and | murder. *4 16. 2 Cor.6. 7« Iud.Y.6. The FrcJkmftHOHS mMsmlrrour, J I. Eph*^ 14. murder. See how fruitfuU curfed finnc is, and whether an habit of finne leadeth man. He that \% thus old in finne, that he hath loft the eyes of his underftanding, what finnc doth he not commit ? When the eyes of Sampfin «re put outp all that he can do is only to pull downc thehoufeon hisownepatc; when thou haft loft this armotir of rigW- feoufff^jfe, how art thou then able I ■to defend thy felfe againft the Di- jvels malice? when Satan hath joncc bound thee with the «^«- \iafting chalnes of an cviil confcience, [what powerfoU refiftance art thou |able to raife up againft this grand enemy? what ftrcngth is there to refift thy fpirituall adverfary, wlicn as thefe thy iones^ which (hould fuftainc thee are l^rok^nf what armour haft thou to defend thy heart fi-om all the poyfoned darts of the Divell, when as thy hreFi^fUte of rlghteoufneffe is taken away ? what then can come from thy evill confcience but finnc, and evil], evill in this life, and evill ^ in The PrefumpttijHs mms mlrrour. in that which is to come? It is a fingular mercy of God, that we have a monitor of our owne, which tellcth us, where, when and how often we oftcnd. Other men mny be partiallj and with JonAh^ dare not fpeake againft Niniveh^ and if any good EUUh^ (liall dare to reprove Ahah, if he tell fadah of her finnes, and Ifiael of her tranf- grellions, the wicked in their prejiidicious thoughts, will ac- count their reproover to be their enemy, and .that which procee- ded out of a fellow feeling cha- rity, will they attribute to the ranked malice : but our con- fciences within us know all our thoughts, heareth all ourwordes, is privy to all our a<5l ions ; except by cullomary (inning, this benefit of confcience be loft, be quite ta- ken away ; For as thofe which live by the fill of Nilf^, grow deafe by the continuall noyfe of waters, even fo thefe mens con- fciences, by often finning are ftopt, ^hat they may well take up Gods C complaint, 26 I The Prejumftmns mans mirr our. ZKh.7. 11,11. Jer.3.5 complaint, -^^hy Jhouldthey befmtt^ ten dny more, they ^raiv Vcorfi And ^orfe. So that thcie which would not hearethc checks of their con- fcicncc, (hall provoke God in his iuftice to make their confciences leave checking them, and then will they befhamelefle in finning, and not blu(h at the committiaig of any viUany. Now they pull back, the Ihotilder, ftof their e^res harden thetr he^ts, {hew forth all (fienes of .contempt and dilobe^ IdienceofGod and his mimfters. Let the world feoffs, every one that fecth him fhake their heads at him, and let all men reprove him, he careth not : his con- feience is feared already, and it is eafv for him now to feare his 'countenance; his heart hath runne a whoring from God, it is no hard matter for him, to get him a Vohsres firehead, in refiifing to be Ajh^med: Gods all-feeing eye ter. rifieth him not ; how can he ex- J pea that mans dimme fightcd eye (hould make him afraidiwhere. The Prefum^tuoHs m^ins mirrour. fore fufF^r not thy confcience to flecpe in any finne, left that bring thee to fecurity, which \% another caufe of prefuraption. CAP. VIII. 3, Qatifes oflPrefiimjtion^ Security in fime» VNexpe3:ed mifchiefe entreth at the open gates of fecurity, and then arc sien ealily vanquiOied, when as they fufpeft no danger 5 For I may well lay of fecurity and deiperation, as the women fang o^ David and Saul, S dnl hath fl due hi4 thoufandsy David his tenne thoufinds. If dcfperation for (inne hath flaine his thoufand, fecurity hath (laiiK his ten thoufands ; For then is the danger greateft, when it is leaft of all feared, and fecurc men are moft cafily furprifed, when as they fearc no danger. When Sampfon fleepeth fecurcly C 2 in 28 I ThePreJltmftHOHsmAnsmlrrOMr, in "^DallUhs lap, then is he in the greateft danger ot the Thillftins^ if they ailaulc him ; And when the fbule of a Chriftian fleepeth fccurely in {lane, then mny the Divell eafily ailault him, and as eafily vanquilli him. The fluggi(h riid.i8,i7 people of Laijh i.re fecure^ then they become a prey to their enc- mi-eSi and the great hoaftes of Zebah and Zdmunn.'i are eafily fmitten, becaufe they arc feciire. lud.8.11. Gods Church doth not receive more hurt by perfecution, then by fecurity. In perfecution the Church moft of all multiplieth, when the blood of the Saints is the {^^^ of the Church, but fe- curity is a fearefull forerunner of deftruclion, for when the heart of man groweth hard in fecurity by adding (inne unto finne ; Gods doth in feverity by adding plague unto plague. J f the Divell can bring men to fecurity, let his fpirituall ftrength be otherwife very great, yet then is man eafily overcome, for he knoweth men arc The ^refumpmus maus mirrour, \ 7 9 are butwed^e in faith, ^vbentlley are fecure ; For this he taketh as an approved truth. By how much more cur faith is the weaker, by {o much iLore is our prefumption the ftronger, and therefore it is -L^atans mafter-peece of wicked- nefle, to lull men afleepe in fecu- rity ; which our Saviour well ^ forefeeing, did often forewarncj ViS to watch, for ISiPfquam ttim\ ficies^ there is no truft to cur ene- my : he \^ill affaile us in any place, in any eftate. For Paradice in which God himfelfe was the tea- cher, and Chrifls Schoole, in which himfelfe was the Schbolc^ mafter will not fecure any, for'een.j. innocent fn^o/, sre taken alive, therefore there is hope of getting out, feeing thefc do in tangle and not kilJ, they are jn 7>^? TiKLy'i^'^^ jn nets which in- tanglc, and not in fnares which kill ; yet if being drunken with the pleafurc of finne, they fhould flecpe in thcfc nets, if the enemy then afTaile them, their cafe is di^vngerous, and therefore the A- poftle faith dvdufti'i'foiny, they mud awake theinftlves out of their drtmken flcepe, for fo much the word ieemeth to import. Where- fore a Chriftian ought to watch that he might get out of the fnares of the Di veil wherein he is in- tangled. When the grecians had taken Sordid y aftrongCity o£Jfa from the Perfiansy Xerxes King of/ The Prejumpuom mans mirrour, , 3 1 o£ Perjta, gave commandement I that every day after dinner one j fliould cry, The grechms had m- Heilin, ken Sardii : that thz Per pans thcr&- i by might be ftirred up to recover ' it againe. The DivelL hath taken ■ thy foule by finne, it were good ! to raife thee out of fecurity in the | midft cf tliy banquets and plea- \ fures, to have ever founding in | thy eares. The Divell hath taken , thy foule, that thou mayeft be | ftirred up to ufe the mcanes to re- \ cover it. Wherefore art thou fick | of that fpirituall Lethargy of finne, thou muft take the Phyfitians counfell to them which are fick of a drowfy Lethargy, to have a bell rung in their cares, that they, may be kept from flceping. Is thy foule therefore fallen into that fleepy ficknefle of fecurity, to keepe thee from penfliing in this dangerous fickneffe, thou muft have the w^ord of God ever foun- ding in thy eares, or clfe with S.Jerome, that ye heare the voice .of the Arch-Angell thundring out, .__5l4 S^ r£ite Hieron. de reg. rfic narb. caj 10. 3 2 The Trefimptuori^ mans rhirrour. Sur^itc mortui^vemte ad iudlcitim, Anle yc deiid, and come to judge- ment, and fo you need not to fearc the politique wiles of your ene- my which letteth on you ileeping. Samp(dii pp( and was robbed of his rtrength. IJJjboJhcth Jlepty and was deprived of his kingdomc ai^d life, fonah Jlcpt and was in dan- ger of lliipwrack. Tobitflepty and loft his eye-fight. Sifira flcpt, and was killed by ^*^/. The pve fooUJf) Virgbis jlcpt, and were (hut out of Heaven. The fervant flept, and was reproved of his maftcr, TItc hotifeholdcr Jlept, and tares were fowed in his field of wheate. But if a Chriftian fleepc, he en- dangereth, if he loofeth not all thele, only with this difeence, they loft for the moft part cor- porall gifts, and he lofeth fpiri- tuall. With Sampfin he loofeth his fplrituall ftrength, with fonah he is in danger to make (hipwrack of his fiith, wxthTohit he loofeth his fpirituall eye-fight, with the houfcholder he hath the tares of herefv / The PrefimftHOPU wAns mirrour, hcrefy fowed amongft the pure graine of \i\s faith, with the five Virgins he is fliut out of Heaven, with the unprofitable fervant he is reproved of his mafter Chrift, with Sifera, he loofeth his fpiri- tuall lite, and with I0ojheth he is deprived of life and Kingdome; O therefore fly fecurity, which giveth the Divell fuch an occafion to overcome thee, by tempting thee to prcfumption. CAP. IX. 4. CaufeofTreJumption. Hardnefe- of heart, not to frojit by the Vcord preached, WHen sfs the Divell hath thus farre prevailed with the , wicked, as to engraft fecurity in- to their hearts, there will quickly fpring uphardneffe of heart, as an accurfed fruit of this evill impe, and then the word of God will C 5 not 34 ^ TheTrefimpmoHsnjanswmoMr. \ not worke on it to mollific it. Happily the regenerate in their naturall eftate had a ftony heart ; yet by the word of God it is bro- ken to powder, that is, fo mol- I lified by the outward preaching I of the word, and the inward wor- I king of Gods Spirit, that it be- commcth phable to his will. Iron Although it be of a hard nature, yet by the operation of the fire, it is fo foftencd, that it becom- meth pliable to the hammer: whereas the fire doth not at all mollify the diamond, neither can the hammer breake it. So the child of God, although he hath naturally a hard heart, yet by the purifying operation of Gods Spi- rit, and by the fiery tryalls of affli(5^ions, the hardncfle of his heart is taken away, and his heart j is fe mollified, that the word of I God doth eafily worke on it. j Where as the wicked mans heart is made obdurate by the cuftomary i committing of finnc and wic^ ! kedncffe, fo that neither the fire of The PrefimptHOHs mans mirroftr. of jiffliifHon, nor the hammer of Gods Word can breake it, or make it to yeeld, they pierce not into his obdurate^l heart, and that not for thediillhefleofthe Word, for that is Jharper then a two-edged frvord, but for the individcable ftonineffe of the obdurate heart of pcrverfe man. As the (harpeft razor cut- teth not the whetftone, not be- caufe of the duHnefle of the razorj butbyreafon of the ftonineffe ofj the whetftone ; So the Word of God cutteth not the . hearts of a ftubborne, and ftiff^neckcd peo- ple, and that not becaufe it is not (liarpe, but becaufe the heart of man isfo ftony that the Word of God cannot cut ity ib that if they heakeup the fallow ground of their hearts, yet the feedsof grace being fowne there, find no rooting, be- caufe itlsftony ground^ and there is 9^st much earthy and therefore When the funne is uf, itV^itherethaway^Wz that hath this hardneffe of heart wrought by the cunning infinua- tion of Satans fuggcftions. What (innc Icr.4.5- 6. ^6 The PrefumftuoHs wans tnirr cur, finne dareth he not commit ? Tor liefedethnot the power of Gods Word, he ftandeth not in awe of Gods thrcatnings, neither fcareth i he the pure eyes of a juft and an Omnipotent God. Scelerii hmc fi- nem fat^i ejfe,gradm eft. Thinkc you that this is the height of his finne? no, it is but the beginning of his folly. For he that is thus fro- zen in finne, and hardned in wic- kedneiVe, runneth into all finnc,like the horft into the baUclUnd in the midft of danger prcfumeth of iafe- CHAP. X. ^.(^aufeofTrefHrnftion, S$lfe'love^ (Tr frijie. COrruptlo optima eflpeJfimA, The beft thing, if it degenerate,be- commeth the worft, is as true irt Divinity as in Philofophy. For degenerating felfe-lovc was once the The TreJumftHopis matis mirronr. the happy mother of all virtue, is now become the accurfed nurfe of the greateft wickednefle ; for what finne is there fo hainous ? what vil- lany fo outragious, which man jwhofe heart is taken up with this jfinne dareth not commit ? When jthe Divcll hath wrought this in ^his heart, that he is verily per- fwadedthat he is good, and that God doth fo love him that he will reiped: him for his good worses fake, and will not puniflihimfor his (inncs, what prefiimptuons fins will he not runne into ? Where- fore it was truly faid,that felfe-lovc is the pernitious daughter of pride, the fountaine of the greateft evills, and thefinke of wickednefle ; It is the nurfc-mother of all fins* it maketh men to reprefent them- jfelves to thcmfclves,otherwife then they are. This pride or felfe-con- jceitednefle was one of the firft finnes that was committed, and will be the laft, that is {hakcn off And doubtlefle many men had jbeenc in Heaven, which now are 1 in 37 38 X5.I. T'he PreJumptHoHi mans mirrour. in Hell, had they not prefumed of their felfc-conceitcd worthi- nefle ; 1 he "Pharlfee what loft he by his pride, he was neither an adulterer, nor unjuft, nor a cove- \ tons pcrjfon, he paied tithes to his Ministers, and religious fafts he ftri(fVly obferved, fo that he did almoft as much as David re- 1 quired in that pcrfon, which | ftiould idi^eii in the Lords Talpermt- \ cle^ or abide in hii holy hill '^ yet becaufe of his finne of pride, he went away not juftified; for his pride flieweth, that he did all things out of hypocrifie, and it ma- j nifcfteth little grace to be in thatj heart, wherein it abideth. Fori this is certaine, Augmentnm fufer- j Ifite efl frivatio gratidt^ If thou be- 1 ginned to be proud, thou ceafeft to be good;when the fpirit of pride pofTeflcth thee, the Spirit of God leaveththee, and when this Pilot \$ departed, againft what craggy, rock of Herefie and Superftition wilt not thou make-fliipwrackof faith, and a good confciencc ? and no The PreJkmftmi^mAnsmirroHr, r 39 no wonder,fbf the man is fofirme- \y perfwaded of Gods love, that he hopeth God will at any time re- fped his workes, and fave him without repentance; at leaft wife if repentance be neceflary to fal- vation, and that he cannot be faved without it, yet he prefumeth God will ftay his leafure, fo that he can repent, when it pleafeth him; If he can but fay. Lord have mercj up" on mee it is fufficient. When proud earth thus darcth to challenge Hea- ven as his due, and prefumeth to purchafe the favour of the Almighty for one word fpcaking, when out of aprefuming conceit, of his wcU-deferving worthinelTe, he thinketh, that God will not be provoked by his (innes, or if he be provoked, yet v/ill his wrath be eafily appeafed, whatfinne is there which he then dareth not commit. Therefore it was the worthy pray- er of a good Divine, that God ^'ould heefe himfelfe fiom himfe/fe, ForTurely in that heart, where fclfe-love, 'and pride are once fctled, 40 The T^rejumpmm mans mirr our. fetlcd, fecurity and prefumption will quickly have their abiding there alfo. CHAP. XL 6, Caufe of T^refnrnftion* Sax An temfting to it, IF there were no other enemy to the fahation of man^but his own rebelling flefli, this might more eafilybe brought into fubjedion : but the Divcll that grand enemy to mankind, he cnvieth maws fe- licity, and by all meanes poilible he labourcth to hinder it ; now becaufe every (inne is a ftumbling block to hinder us in our race Ce- leftiall J he therefore cafteth thefe in our waies, and although he {c- duceth men to commit finncsofall kindcs, yet above all^ he chiefely aimerh at finnes of prefumption, knowing thefe to be finnes of a higher ranke, and to be more wic- ked, The PrefumpHotii mans mlrrour, I 4 1 ked, and therefore more dange- rous. • For he knoweth it will be very ditficult for men entangled in thefe nets to efcape from him, fee- ing he holdeth them captive at hii fksp*re. For prefumptuous (inners will feldome ftrive to free them- felves out of his fnares^ however they fhall rather intangle them- felvcs fader in ihefe nets, then free themfelves from them. For they fhall hardly efcape this dan- gerous rock or prefumption, but he will plunce them in the bot- tomelefle gulre of defpaire. And therefore becaufc linnes of pre- fumption are toyles of fuch nc- ceffary ufe, and of fo dangerous na- ture, he chiefely fpreadeth thefe nets, he efpecially layeth thefe fnares, he moft of all defireth to entice men to fall into prefump- tuous finnes; and feeing he can- not compell man to commit thefe, or any other iinne, he will not leave any mcanes unattempted, which may feduce men toworkc folly, and therefore he fetteth up- z.Tim. i5. on The Trejumptious mans inirrom\ on men with one or moc of tlicfe arguments, which he draweth ei- ther from God, or from iome allu- ring object, or from fomcthing in our felves ; wherein many times hee transformeth himfelfe into an Angell of light, he urgeth truth to a bad end, and therefore thefe temptations are moft dangerous, ji^pfl: inaYoidable,and with a three- fold batta-lion he fiercely affaulteth Chriftians, when hee tempteth thcni to prefumption. The firft ranii© arc his moft deceitful! arguments, thefe hee draweth from God, from his mer- cy, juftice, and glory in clcding. The fecond ranke are his moft alluring arguments, and thefe he draweui from the objed: as plea-' furc and profit. The third ranke are his moft nfefull arguments, and thefe are drawne from our felYes,as from im» punity , profperify, long-life, free- will,^^. CHAP. The TrejumftmHs mans mirrour. CHAP. XII. Temptations^ Vpkich SmAn driweth from gody Are five, I. Temptation u drAK^KC from g$ds glory in BleBing^ Becaufe if EleBed hejhall he faved. Although many are the tcmjv-- tations, which the Divell ufeth to allure men toprcfume in the pra(!%ife of finne, and wicked- ncfle, yet none more fiibtill, none more dangerous, then this ofGods Eledion, For markc how hee ur* geth. what heedeFi thou (O foolijh man) thm to flriye for Heaven^ and happinejfe. It is not in thy power to attaine unto ity hut it is given unto thsm^ for ^hom it is prepared of god, nArt thou pre-- deflinated to falvation ? live as thou lift. Heaven is thy po^effion^ god hath EleEled thee to it, thoH canfl not lofe it. Hath hee reprohated thee, doefl thoH thinke to enter into Heaven 44 1 l^heVrefiimpHopu mans mrr our. 2)e hoM perfe'ver. Heaven by force agalnft the will of thy Creator I Or doft thou thinks? that thoti canfl alter his will and purpofe ? Oh « or at lead no good, this is the ufe. The l^refum^Uiom mans mirrour. ufc, that the wicked make of tba^i wholefoine, and comfortable do-| (flrine of Eleiflion, to make it un-j profitable, if not hurtfuU to them-, felves. But thefe men muft know that as God elecleth to the end/o he ordaineth meanes to come to that end, to wit Sandification, Juftification, or the like. Ye are pilgrims, and travelling towards Heaven; can ye come to your journeys end without ftirring a foot ? Ye are but babes in Chrift, can yee become perfed men in Chrift, unlefTe ye receive the fpi- rituall food of your foules, that ye may daily grow more and more in grace. Ye are by nature bond- flaves to (inne and Satan, doe yee thinke to free your felves out of his bondage l)y talking after the pjh ? No thou muft know that thou muft ufe the meanes of predeftination, if thou wilt at- tame the end, to wit, falvation. If any fhould fay, God hath ap- pointed I fhall live fo long, there- fore I will wcare no apparcll, I will 4^ ThePreJumptHopumAnsminoHr, will take no pbyfick,! will ncitlicr cate, drinke, nor flecpc, no man would thinke him in his right fcnfes, that (hould doe thus. It is as if a man (hould caft himfelfe into a bottomelefle whirlcpoole, and fay, if God hath appointed, I (hall be drowned, 1 (hall be drowned, but if it fecme good unto him, that 1 (hall live any lon- ger, he can fave me out of this danger, wherefore I will adven- ture. I have read of Ludovicus an Italian Atheift, which for a long time held this defperate conclufi- on. If God had prcdeftinatcd him to falvation, he (hould be faved, let him live as he lift ; if not, he (hould be damned, let him doe what he could. At laft falling dangeroufly fick, hee fent for a Learned and skilfuU Phyfitian, who being made acquainted with the ftrangene(re of his reafoning, grounding his difcourfe according- ly; telling him. It was in vainc for him to take any Phyfick, nei- ther was he minded to adrninifter j ny The l^reJUmftmm m^ns mirronr. any unto himjfbr ifGod had appoin- ted, he fhould live longer, he {hould live without taking phy- fick ; if not, all th^e phyfick in the world would not favc him, LudovicHS wondring at this his ftrange anfwcr, and recounting with himfelfe his former errour, repented of it^ and tooke phy- fick, and fb was cured both cor- porally and fpiritually. God the Father hath clcded us, but it is through the redemption of the Sonne, and the San(flification of the Spirit, for fo faith the Apoftle, godhad chofen the faithfull ThefTa- Xomzns from the beginning to faW j vation^ but it was Wrongh the San- Eiificatton of the Spirit m^ beliefeof the truths to wit through faith in him, who was the JVay, the Truthy and the life. So the fime Apoftlc certificth the Ephefians, That god had chofen them before the fomtdati^ on of the wor/d^ but it Was in C^ifl^ by whom they were adofted^ and through the Spirit of God, that they fhould be holj^ and without blame 4^ TioePrefimptHOHS mans mirr our. 10. 3. Tim. 2 1?. 2. Tim, 19. L hUme before him in love. So then* Sandlitication, Jaftification, and Vocation are neceffary precedents of Glorification, without the at- taining of which it is a figne we were never Ekvfled, neither {hall we be glorified. Wherefore >a Chriftian iliould not conclude his falvatioii upon his immutable Elcdion, unlefTe he have firft made his Eleflion fure by the workcs of Sandification. For although on Gods part our Eledlion is lure, having thi^feale^ The Lord l^oyveth \\>ho are his: yet we mufi: on our parts to the certifying of our wave- ring confcienccs, and the glori- fying of the etirnall name of God, we mufl: alfo have a marke * of our own,as the Apoftle addeth,Z ' 2. There is an afemarfve- atl in punifliing, and damning^ mciv, and the cauie of this ad is' Inine," the other ad hath no cadii to^mty^'v: D 2 C.O.I Rorr. I'd. 5 2 1 The PrefHmptuoHs mans mirrour. God to i'eprobate,ancl parfe by men, but his ovvnc will, which hath powor over his creature to doe what he will with it. For God damneth the wicked for their finnes, and tormcntcth the tranf- igreflburs for their rebellions. t Where according to the quality of the wicked mans (inne, fl^all their punifliment be proportio- ned. Wherefore, although the 'decree of reprobation be irrevoca- jble, and thou waft furetobc dam- j ned, which no man in this life can I be certainc of. Seeing he which j i« to day wicked, may to mor- , row be converted, and he that is 'now an unbcleeving flavc of ihc I Divell , may be prefently a be- tlecving fcrvant of Cod, or I grant that the irrevocable decree' ! of thine eternall Eledion wasi ' made knowne unto thee, and thoa waft ccrtainely perfwaded of thy Elcftion, as the child of (Sod i5 at fomctimc in his life ; yet this dodlrine makcth not for them, which lite as they lift, for there are Thf TreJkfffftHOHi mAns mlrronr* are degrees of joyes in Heaven, and of torment in Hell. Suppole thoa art Elc<3:ccl, yet thou art bound to labour both to make this Hlcdicn more certaine to thy con- ! fcience, and aifo that thou maift ob- j taine a greater degree of glory in i Heaven. Suppofe thou art rdprp- ' b;ited, vet thou aifo mud labour, that tnou maift have a lefler de- gree of torment, feeing there arc fomein Hell which are heateytwith double Jhlpef, What though thou haft bcene never fo wicked, yet God can five thee, he can convert thee, however labour that thou maift have a lefler degree of tor- ment ; if fo be that it were im- pofTible for th«e to attainc to falva- tion. Wherefore begin quickly to caft off finncj for if thou be a grayheaded (inner, thou maift well feare, thou (halt fpeed the worfe, whether thou goeft to God, or the Divell ; for if thou goeft on in (inne, and God have a purpofe to five thee, it will coft thee more lighes, arid grones to be certainely .7^ 3 per- 55 54 / TbeTrtJitrnftmHsmmsmirronr. | perfwaded of thy falvation : Btit if thou willingly runneft on in finne, if God never Eleflcd tliee, if he never preordained tliec to falvation, then know^ that by wil- ful! finnes, tlioii increafeft thy plagues, for by thy multiplying of finne, thou multiplieft torments, ' thou, by heaping up daily wicked- nefle, addeft foell to bell-fire flame, and carried more fagots to hell to burne thee, and as a condemned malcfador, comming to the place of execution, cxpcdeth every mo7* ment to.be the lift, in which hee muftbrcathin; 11) wlren thou art condemned before Go.-i, condem- ned ii-i Gods Word, condemned in thine owne confciencc, in tliy fic'v- ncffc llialt thou expcvfl every mo- ment to be the lafl: period of this thy life,and happinefle; fly therefore - from finn« and do morallvcrtues. j CHAP. * ■iiP'* f* The ^refum^tUbWwmidr'y^oiir. CHAP, xni- 1^. Tem^tathnii dratvne ffom (jods Mercy, i, Becanfe ^od- is mtt- c'tfuh in his Promfes ty> P'i- ner^' -\'*Ni.i^.%* F this moment of Elb^ion be of too high a ddaire for the (im- ple, arrd ignorant t;o be dcltideB withall ^for cotnrnonly this is thr argiiment the Divcll ternptcth men of lubtillefl wits, "a:^id" Sera- f)hicali underilandihg ) then he fallethtopkadeGods mercy, tliat he might thereby allure men ' to finnc, and intanglc them in wk- kedoefie; Hrft therefore he lay cth Gods mercifull promifes to finners, and fee he will, whether thcfe fwect charmes will lull him aflcep in fccurity, and after this manner he fetteth on man. '■'■ * i^ ] \ CJod hath promifed fm'don to th rqcntirtff^fmncr^ at what time foe- ^ vcr he repentcth. Is gad- tiks ^ 4 mrcifuUl 5^ Tie 'PrefHmftmus mms mirreur. I King,20 merclfull in hu TremifeSy and wilt I thou not beleeve hint f Hath hee of ^ his Ttteere hounij fromifed thee this, \ anddoft thou give no more credit to \ hU Word^ Is not God more merci- j fuU then man can he JinfyJl f JVhat , doft thot4 (O corvard) mlfdoubt in Qod^ that thoft fearef^ tofinne ? and that which the Kings of Syria faid of the Kin g5 ofT/J-^t?/, he faith of God, The Kingef Ifrael is mer^ c'tfiiU, Thy unbeliefe, and doubtin^^ doth tootnuch derogate from Gods bounty and goodnejfe ; wherefore why ypilt tkofi feare to fmm, feeing God ii thns mercifnll to pardon re^ Renting finners. This rs, the Divcls cuftome, till thou art plunged fo deepcin wic- kedneffc, that thbu art y?r;i^f V># the deepe mire, -where there is no ftati- ding, and thai the flouds of prefump- [ tion />^t'tf even drowned thyfonle*,.. then will the Divdl pundually decipher thy horrible wickedncfle, and difcover unto thee the abomi- nable filthineffe of thy prefumptu- ous(ins,fothat without the mcrci- full The PreJumptHOHs mAns mrrour, full heipe of Gods alTifting hand, thou flialt be fw allowed up in the gulfe of dcfpaire. Wherefore, if the Divcll fet before thee the mercy of God to allure thee tofinne, re- member Gods Juftice, which will afluredly punifh thee for thy fins, and fb prevent the Divell, which will one day, lay before thee the J uftice of (Sod. when as it will be too late for thee to thinkc of mercy, and then the Divell in ex- ecuting on thee Gods wrath for thy (innes, (hall himfeifc thereby manifeft Gods jufticc to thee, whom now he would pcrfwadc to be all mercy. It is true, that God ismercifull toman, and ten thoufand times more mercifuU, then man can be finnefull; for his mercy is like himfclfe, it is infinite ; yet it ex- tendeth onely to penitent finners, whicli arc greeved for (innes, and angry with themfelves for their ini- quities ; He inviteth finners to come iunto him, but it is fiieh as 4rc heavy laden with ^ne, fec- J D 5 - ling 5 8 / The PreJumftHom mans mi rrottr . Jing the weight of their (innes,ancl groaning under the burden of tlieir trapfgrelTiqns ; Sinne to ihce is a light burden, nay thou cfteemeft it no burden, for if thou diddcft, how commeth it to paflc;, that thouart delighted w:th it? wliy doftthou by thy continuall linning^ d^re to increafc this thy burden of ironc and tranfgreiTion ? will a wife man over- wearied with a a heavy burden, defire a w ei gl •; t i z\ ? Ged will not be mcrcifuli to his I ftubbornc 'enemies : ntithcj will | be crownc thofe with eternali | bliflc, who for ever fight ngainii him. Sinners indeed fecle Gcis. goodnefle; but it is thofe that iinne out of weakenefle, not thofe which did finnc out of willfuU- neffe. Thofc which iinned igno- rantly were pardoned, but pre- fumptuous iinners were to be cnt ajftrom the people, they were punifhed with death, with death corporalLdcath fpirituall,and death ctcrnall, unkife it were pr^^vented bymorc ipccdy repentance. The mercy The frejumftudt^^ mans niirrour. mercy of God lextendccl, not to the ftubbcrfne • contemner of his will, ^i\d\ a one was to be cut off from the Church, Et ^m non hahet Ecclejiam Matrem^ non hahet ^eftm Patrem, God is not a Fa- ther to him to whom the Church Is not a Mother; h&w can hs thinke hiiiifelfe fit to. be admit- ted into, the Church triumphant, 1 who hath made .himfclfc by his I finfull life unworthy to be -ain'em- Iber of the Chiarch' mrlrtant. 'if i thof^ W'alkefi ftubhornly agamH god \ "provoking Cjod bj jour ^mnes^ . (jod I ypiii "^nlke fluhhorndy agamfl jau, ' I ofjd pumj^ you fiven times fir your j finnes. God is ' a cmjiim'm^ fi^^"^o them which fall into his hands by fins of Prefuinption. If he| be^not in Ais life a conCiining fire to confomc t^c ruft of thy fl^s," he \Vill be a 'fire to biiroc, although not to confurtre thee for thy finnes: he is, /ortg^e patien^ tU non Tsrerna, long-fufFering^ but fie will -oay hbmci.in'-the end.^ ^o The PreJumftuoHs mans mirrour. ua prffce^it ira^ tnrctitutemj^ pif- ' flicij grofuimte fomfenfat, Cjod Cometh flowly to punilTi, but the flowncflb of this his comming V& recompenced with the greatncfle of his punifhaients. Wherfore if you harbour fin 'the caufe , look for punifhmcnt to light on you as "the effedl; for if the evill of fin be prcferved in you, you iliall fall into the evill ot punifhment, which is referved for you. Men may flcepe fccureiy in fin, nud hope for impunity by rcafon of Gods mercy, but their judgement lingreth not,&their damnAtionflHTn- herethnet. Take heed therfore how ye fin prcfijptuoufly, for yc the fight againft the Almighty ,and wage, war with theLord of Hoafts.Let the vain S adduces {diy^thcre is no fpiri$: let the wicked fool fay in his heartjthere is no God- Let the y'lkfrefuMftnoHs f&fin fay,thcr is nofHftifier;yct hare you not fcen fiery imprelTIons in the ayrc threaten prcfcnt -dcftru- ftipn? Have you not heard thun- der founding like Cannons in the ayre? The l^reJumftHoHs mans mirr oht. ayre? jGod is all mercy, but it is to them that love and fearc him, as for the wicked they {hall feele him juft in punifhing their fins ; for he hath faid it, he hath promifed it, and if this be too little, he hath fworne to revenge it : Por fin and puniilimcnt have their conceptions at the fame time. Sinne like B(aH \% firft brought foorth ; but funifhment like Jaah^h holdeth him by the heele ; Judgement- if it be not a concomitant to fin, yet immedi- ately followeth after it, How long thetfore will ye treAfire up "^rath againfl the day of wrath, in the end thou Aialt find, pro the- (auro car bone s^ for treafurc , the coaks of unquenchable fire. Gods long-fufFering is no argument of forgetfiiUnefle, neither is his long forbearjance an argument of for- givcnjeffe, for hU peccatum ihi pro*- ^el/*i; where fin is there will be jJuniQiment. Take heed therforc that yc do npt with the Gyants heap finac pn gniK, ; as they didi moun-' 6t Ezek 18, Thfi Trefirrfptuons mans mirrof4r. mountain e on niountainc to make them ttacli up to Heaven, God then cannot refrain from punifh- ing ; what though God is merci- fiill ? yet it would be no ho- nour to God to have fuch mer- cy, as would deprive him of his jufticc. Wherfore know, that that God, which hath promifed;, that at what time foever a jftumrrrpcnteth him \0fhi4finr1e, he ^tWhlot : (mt all h'-i \VpickeSejfe^ hath alfo threatnedby :the fame Prophet in the fame Ezek. 18. place ; The (oule that finneth fljali die the death, God haih promifed I pardon at what tifiie foever a fiii- ner repenteth, but doll: thou re-'; I pent, or art thou fiire to repent;,' \M& p'omifit venlam fotmtentihi-s , imn fromifit feccantibm foemtenti^, amy God indeed hath promifcd j pardon t6 the repenting fmner/ jbut he hath not promiicd repen- jtancc to the willfoU finder, whcr^ jforc when thou haft grace ofe-/' Tcd thee. Repent; 'for art tbouj furti if thofi ]&vc 'to huhdrdd years ' to Bernard, The ^^ejkmftmm mrnsmrfom. to have that grace offered thee a- gaine .; thou mayeix be dut off 'v:\ the midtl of thy dayes, and goe^ downe quick into Hell, * tlian will the ^te of Tnercy be 'jhut , and if tho'H hafl no oyle in thj Lampe^ no grace in thy heart, then wMl it bt too late to buy it, then ]$ not the Proclamation made to them that thirft to com! and bny Wn^je and mllhe \\>lthout Mo?iy, but the aiUzes is then kept, where the ftubborne contemner 'oF mercy man cxpe^fl no favour, for Chirft (hall th^n fit on a W'hite thro}7e to ludae the ^oyU, it is white, to iliew that mercy lliall be granted to them that fae.for it in this life, yet let the ftubborne tranfgref- four conlider, and the prefump-- tuous finner remember, that it is a throne, which is a place of >u- ftice, wheron the king of righte- , oulneffe fitteth, who fr-dl jfid^e_ the ^orld ^ith Ri^hteoHfne^e^ and the feofle^ith equity, ' Whcrforc feeing that God is mcrcifuU, let the riches of 4iis ^/r-^ '5^4 ! ^-^ Trejumftuom mani mirrom; cjf leade thee to Refenmncc \ ccafe to offend him, whom thou truly ac- knowledged to be ready to forgive, and whom thou faithfully belecveft is unwilling, to puni(h. Howbeit know that which the Son of J^- rach faith/ Say not his mercy ii great, he ^itl be pacified fir the mfiititude of my finnes^ fir mercy and '^rath come from him^ and his indignation refteth uponfnners, CHAP. XIIII. 3. Temptation is alft drofvne fom gods mercy , god hath heene mercifidl to as great finners as thoH ^t if thoH committed this Jinne, THis Cmjanthropos^ man en- vying fpirit, ever hating man and flill envying his felicity, ha- ving once received a repulie will not thus acquit his * advcrfary or give over the field, he will not yet ceafe to plead Gods mercy, the afcufe wherof hath ever great- ly iacfvantaged him, and kiiowing that The PrefiimftuoHs mans Tnirrottr, AS inceflHom. ff^i?}^ Salomon in I Km.iij/?^ old Age was m Idolater, The I<>ft.i. "^rofhet Jonah fied jrom- his w*<- k^y"' '^l thel^ finfitd frievofifij ^^^d j€t mm\dfimned^ anTthat iMch ^i Chi'o.j I \ mofl of kl, M^mffes finyies y»ere ^-'' I ^all fhiil f fa% fiOTf did tranfcend t alithefe mens fins ^md yet he repenting IfoJtnd mercy ^ and why raaiefi not I thou commit firtne^ as m thofc ha^e j done, and many iftherJ in the Scrips ture^ and receixw the like CMer^ cie. - He that now urgcth t^tfc -cx-^ amples to thee will after tbe com** mitting of finne, when (!is mans heart is wounded with fins, and his confcience is burdened with his iniquities, -hide thdfe mcrci- fiill {promifes ' fr6m tllitie^ eyes, ^nd The Prcfimptfio^ mans mirrour. ^ fifff jf fo much as a thought and not oFthcfe mercies to enter mtothy liiind, but will then by Scripture aggravate thy finfiill rebellions, which now by SGriptiirc he in- dcavoureth to dimlniili, and then will he proove that to be horri- ble rebellion againfl the Law, which now lie would not have thee to admit to be a tranfgref- fion of the Law. Wherfbre ifj /Gods mercy be urged to alftire thee to commit wickediietfe, or 'Scripture that rfroa rrtayeft fell 'thereby into ifome fcfla\<^ne f\mt, then affurcdiy kitdw, that this is a .motion, which proce^deth from the Divels liiggeftion: fdr biBr adverfary hath not left his did j wont, who rather then he will iuiivir wfc^edncffs to be ilnaf^ed, ihc will cite Scripture to ma^in-, tainc it; If Chrift urgeth Scrip- tare, he alfo urgeth Sctipturfe, Nay, to fuch a proficiency is mans wickedncfie come, to fuch an height is his impiety grown, that he aifo hath learned of Satan his Mai:.4, 68 ; The Prdfiim^tuoHsmausmirreHr, his Tather and teachcr^to uphold his (ins with Scriptures, and to maintain the lawfullneflc of his wickedneffe by expreflfe teftimo- nies out of the word of God ; Sec the ufe that wicked men make of the Scripture, and the end why they read the word of God. As if a man being put into a rich Goldfmiths-fhop furniltied with plate and jewels, and bid him choofc whatfoever liked him beft, he refufing all the richtrea- fure (hpuld goe to the forge and choofc thence a blacke coalc, wherewith he might colly and blacke himfelfe, would not every I man judge him to be a foole ? Such fbolcs are wicked men : God hath given them his Word, VCig*io.\fyjjich u more to be dejired th:n o ' I^^*V»/^, 1^^ fhen much fine 9oU^ and is imore precious then thoufrnds of ^^old tmdjllvery and it u better then Rubies, It is furnidied with rare ipreccpts and excdlcnt examples 'of faith, and a good life, of Pa- jtriarches. Prophets and Apoftlcs 5 they Thff freJiimftfioHS mMsmirrour.^ they refufe all thefe, and take the blackc coaks of their cvill exam- ple, wherby they may (lain their lives and profeflions. But the wicked muft know that thcfe examples arc fct downe in the Scripture like Sea marks a- gainft a dangerous rocke. Will a wife Marriner therefore adventure to run upon this Rocke, becaufe he hath read of fome one driven on it by a violent tcmpefl: to e- fc Kings -at their Coronatioa,'- will' pardon \ thcfe offences , which after* wards they will not j and- no wonder if hee '. then' , pardoned it. Howbcit, h Was \ onei^ that none ' Jhonld- desfimre^ > and hut one that none • Jl^buld pr/- fime. . . :' ; , P^r^ denied his Mate thrice^ sjandthdrfore, Chrift thrice eajoy- ' ned him- to feede his Lamhes, Pe- ter alfo' Wept fo bitterly, that with the teares that fell* from his eyes he made (^s fo|tie of the fathers fay ) Turrowes in his checks, and ;hp never heard the Cock crow, but he fell to wec-| I ping. = I j -.Moah'wzs drunken,, but it was/ ^qui^i'' gx mmia vim frrtitHSfie ftatero-*) ^-^io^ar] pnione^ Mentid > he' did not, ^° E know IoIi.li. 74 TfuPrefHmftHoHjrM4?umirroHt» I know the ftrcngth of that drinke which he had made, it was ex iwxferientfn^ tto» ex ihtemfirantik» the old man boing not experien- ced with that kind of drinke, and being over-delighted with th^ pleafant fruits ©f his new-planted vineyard, dranke of it, and was drunken, and yet not ^ithont pu- nijhment, Yox (^hdmhis ungratiom ckld mocked his aged Father, who by rcalbn of his age was ea- fily overcome with this drinke, he therfore in a Propheticall manner curfeth him which came out of his own loyns. Lot was inceftuous, and lee how he is punidied , as the wife man laith. The name of the "kicked JhaH rpt. He who otherwifc was a good man, yet for thefe his fin- tull and abominable ads of drun- kenncffe and inceft, hath the nar- ration of his Kiftory broken oiF. He fl fay) whofc ads and hiftor ry of life is ftoried in holy writ, at thefe deteftablc wickednefle is broken oflF; fo that the holy Spi- rit The PrtfinrftHOM wdrrf rmrrour. i J% f Deu.25.3. 1 Kir it. 14,-.. rit of God never Touchfafeth to mention the remainder of his life, or the Story of his death. Ihe curfed of-fpring of this inceftu*- ous Father remained ever deadly enemies to Gods Church, and were not to be admitted into thf Congregation untill the tenth ^-^ Ineration, ■ :'' •-'^::;*| Salemon fell to Idolatry, but lie was fumjhed \Vtth enemies. His Kingdome in his life time was rent afunder, and given to his adverfary, and only two Tribes remained to his fonne. Howbeit God fufercd him to fall grievouf- ly, not that thou (houldcft finnc by his example, but left, that the Jews (hould erre about their Sa- viour: For many things were written of Chrift, which were) verified of Salomon' a type of Chrift, that they might not be- keve him to be the promifed MeJJJah; therfore he erred, he did fail. As for fonah, for his difobe- lonah dicncc to God, the windsblow, E 2 %b$] — ( 1 Chr.^3 t Kin. 21 r4. The PrefumftHiw mans mirrour, the fca is tempcftuous, the bil- ^j lowcs bcate, the fhip is toflcd, Ulic goods caft over board, the 'ifeafaring men are in danger, and ' thci-e can be no affurcd fafety, till i he i"^ caft into the fea, and then is I he three dayes, and three nights, '-^ j Kept clofe-prifoner in the darke, li artd (linking prifbn of the belly of the whale, • • OHoftajfeh alfo, who tranfcen- dcd all thefe in finncs, did tranf- cend all thefc in puni(linicnts, for he was deprived of his kingdome, he was bound with chaines, and carried toBal^l^ and notreftorcd, but upon earneft prayer, fir he be- fofight the Lord his Cjod^ and hum- hlcfi himfelfi gretitlj before the Qod (if, hk f(itherSy he prajed unto him]. and then ivas God entreated of him, and heard his fitppUcations, and yet not; fo reftorcd, hut Godpunifhcd th^ land o£ judah after his: death, for God threatneth to for(akf his ihherlmnce, dnd to deliver them into the hand of their enemies, God was fe 'aroVpkcd by his. finny, :^hat -[ * the ^il . \ - The PrefHWptaoPU mans mirrour, the Lord mrftsd not a-^ay from the fiercene^^ of bi^s great V^rath, there- with his anger "^^xs ki^dka againfi Judiv!i5 becaufe of all the provoca- tions, that Man a {Teh had frovak^d him^ even in the dayes of go^d Jp- fiah. Wherefore if thou wilt pre- fiime ill (inning by thofe aiens examples, and finne as they did, thou fl>alt be punifhe^ as, they v/cre, or fiiffcr.as they did • thou muft at ihe leaft repent, as they did, if thou wilt he fa- vecf. For the bcft ; eff^d of iinne is Repentance 5 which if it be found will proote bitter, and very diftaftefall to flefh and bloud. i: ES CHAP. 77. iKin. »7. The 7reJumftuow nmns rmrrour • ^♦44^«l>4' ^♦4'l'4 ♦♦ i^^^^i* A CHAP. XV. , TempmtloH, is dratvne from Gods jHftice, i. "Becaufe Qod hAth created him, no love or Jh fike to damne him. IF Gods mercy will n9t allure men to finne, yet fuch is mans frailty and wcakeneflc, and the tempters craft and wickcdneflc, that the one will be allured, and the other can allure to finnc, be- caufcofGods juftice; for marke how he urgeth. IVhat fearcft thou that thou da^ refl not commit this finne ? Tell me: Is it the pure ejes of the Lord that tcrrifieth thee^ or ii it his Jnflice that mak^th thee afmid? Did not God make thee, '^'hat tove? nay W'hat fuftice is it for a CreAtour to damns his ereAture? ID id he m^ke thee to damne thee f ^id he give thei a bein^ that thot* Jhotildefl al- rvajes The T^reJkmftHoHs mans mrreur, yfiAys be inmifery, J)oth the tuft God tuke anj fhajure th/tt th& wic- ked (houlA die ? He faith. He dotb not delight in their death. // then wilt not beleeve his -word, let hU oathy wherwith he hathcanjirmed thU^ fettle ihj minde And confci'- enc9, Darcth the brittle clay thus rea- fon with the Potta ? the weak creature with the omnipot-ent Crcatour; the worme man with God Almighty his maker ? Bat fee the pride oF man, that dareth thus fawcily demand a rcafon of his Creatour, and call to account him that made himi Yet let this proud wretch know,although God dclightcth not in the death of his creature, yet he dclightcth in the fatisfying ef his Juftice, and the glorifying of his Majcfty : For he made thee for his glory, and be will not fruftrate the end of his Creation, for he will be glorified, either a te,. am pr te^ either in thy doing good, or . in thy punifliment for doing cvill E 4 " If 19 Exck. x8 Ezek. 5 J u. The Preft4Wftuou4 mans mlrrour, , If thcrforc hifi will b^ not done ofthccto thy ctcrnall faivationjj it fhall be done in thee to thy I cndlefle deftrudion. The endof , thy Creation was the glory of God by yeclding obedience to his revcakd will. But if thou wilt not obey his revealed will to his glory and thy falvation^ thou fhalt be conftraincd to obey his iecrct will to his glory and thy dam- nation, if thou wilt wilfully continue in finnc, and runnc on ftubbornly in wickednefif^, thou ihalt know, that without timely Repentance i God made thee to this day of de[ltuftion. Forjhe Lord made • all thiags for hlmfelfe^ even the yvkksd for the day of e- . Vill : If they ite a people of m nn- derfian£ng^ ^Qod thA> made themy wiU have no''me,r(;y on thetf^, and^^ he that formed them- mil Jh:rathsm no favonr: hy Chrifl ( faith the Divell) ^ fijljilledy it u ^rogated'^ therefore Although (jod h^th denoun>- eed death and damnation againfl the tran/grejfoffrs of the Lunv, yet Chrifl hath redeemed thee^ Chrifl iffos ptmjhedfor thee, therefore god TkePrefimpuom mans mirrour, mil ffot, nay he cannot in iufiice fftnijh thee againe. Will ^od exaSl A double fAjmentfor the fime faulty one oftheeinHell^ another of Chrifl: the fuftice of god was {ati4fied hj thy Eedeemers death. Nay art thou not freed fom the Law ^y Chrifl ^ ard if feed from the Lavp, how canfl thou finne^ fi^if^g fff^fe is the tranfgrcHion of the Law. fFhy art thou then afraid to killy^f^der, re- wtn^Cy or the like, ft^i^^g ^f ^ ^ Jinne to doe any of thefe ^ and therefore no condemnation, feeing that tA but the funijhmem of finne. Indeed if thefe were no (Ins, then raighteft thou lawfully con> mit them, or if thou w^ fwcd ifrom the obedience to tlie morall Law? then couldcft thou not fin, for where there is no Law, there is no tranlgreifion. But ourfurc- ty Chrift by his death and paffi- on hath freed us only from the keeping of the Cercmoniall Law, not from the ycildmg obedience to the Morall Law > for if wee ore 84 1 The PrtfHMptHom mans mlrroHr, , Ln.i^.Xf. I arc any where in the Scripture I faid to be freed from the Law ^„.,^..^, Morall. It is in refpcvfl of the Gaij.15. Cfirfe of^ the Layv, which w^s ' due to the breakers of tt, not from the obedifencc of it. For al- though the keeping of the Law doth not juftifle us afore God, becaufe we cannot, keepc it per- fedly. , Yet the fincerc life oi a Chriftian framed without hypo- ^rifie ( although it be not perfe- dly corrcfpondent to the I^w of God) tcftifieth unto the Church of God, in which he livcth, that he is juftiJfieJ : It witnefTetb al- fo unto his bwne confcicnce, that ke is fanAified. Wherefore although (inne remaijicth in the Elcdlr Jff ^t reij^nsth not in them. Death to them is not as yet a- j bolifhcd, but only (he hath loft ' herding: Well may this Serpent; aftight tham with hiding, but hurt {he caHinot with her fting- ix\^. This corporall death h not an executioner to punilh the godly, but it s to them afervant to R0.6.12, The ^refwnftHOHs ntAns mWrotir, «J tc^'CbrtilufV them irt their pafl'age from mifery to glory. As ror the eternall death of th e foule, that. by the temporall death of Chrift IS dlfo vanqaifhedj it \s a- bolithed, y6t it is onely to the cle^j There is no condemnation^ but it "is tdjhsm, v^hich vfi'alke not i^isr the pjhy but after the Spirit: j whcrfore if thou walked after the .fletlij if thou continueft a fcrvant i to (kine, if the old man be not I crucified in thee, and the nevv •man be not quickned in thee, i if thou repcnteft not of thy fuii^es, ' Chrift died not to fatisfic the di- vine juftice for thee, but thou thy felfe maft make iatisfkdlion in hell to the divine jnftice fdc thy (inne , where bccaufc thou haft finned againft an infinite God, thou muft endure an infinite pMnifhrnent. The Redeemer of the world dkd for the penitent (inner, not for the obftin^te ' trail fgreffour, he calkth them that are heavy laden with their (innes,^ot thofe which by %6 I Thi^reJumftuoHi mAfU mirroHT. I Peta. Z4. by cuftomaj-y committing of fin» cftecmc fin no burden, ms death is availeable not to the unbelee- ting, but to the beleeving, to thofc which with a filiall fcarc dread the truth of his threatning*, and with a childlike obedience arc fub/ed to his Commandc- ments, beleeving tlic faithfiiUneflc of his promiles. Ihou muft therefore die to finne, afore thou canft live to Chrift; thou muft mortifie the old man, afore the new man can live in thee. And the life of Originall corruption muft be killed, afore the life of grace can be nourifhed. Thou I muft repent of thy f inncs, if thou dcfireft the death of Chrift (hould ! be availeable for thee. For our Saviour died not to be made a baud to finnc, or a pander to wickedncflc, that thou mightcft thereby finne at thy plcafcrc. For this would not be Chriftian liber- ty, but worfc than Heathcnifh I liccntioufnefle. O-^^fi ^^^ **^ 'finnes in hid ownejfodj on the tree, but The Trefinfftuofu nM»is mirf 0ur. | 8 7 but it was to this end, th4t we heing dead to finne Jhonld live to righteoufneffe. He never overcame for thee, unleffe his Spirit over- corns in fhce, he never fufl^ired for theCj unleffc he fuffir in thee. Wherfore when thou art delive- red from (innc, let me fay unto thee, as Chrift iaid to the bethc- red man, Behold thon art made Teohole^ gee thy y^Ajf norp, finne n9 morey lefi 4 worfi thing hoffen unto thee. Will a wife man, which hath becne redeemed from the ty- ranny of a domineering Mafter, which. did dcfpightfuUy vex and cruelly torment him, willingly a- gaine fufter himfclf to be hithral- led in his fervice ? Thou haft bin delivered from the tyranny of Satan which did hate and vexe thee, and wilt thou by fipne re- turne againe into his flave^y, and willingly fubmit thjr necke into hi« yoakc of bondage ? Jf abeg- gar lliould fall into the dirt, and were norable to arife, ifa Prince commiog that way fliould vouch- fifc 88 lob 9. 30J 3'- The T^refftmptH0ft^ nM^s m'^rottr. • fafe to helpe him up, and cafting i away his dirty rags (hould cloath ' him with his royall apparrcU, if he (Kould willingly bswray him- felfe againe, and fell v^ilfiilly in- to the dirt, that hs might fpoylc the Princes apparrcU, would not he be accounted wicked ? Wc which by b fpeaketh, Alak^ ow hAnds ne^ ver fe cleAne^ yet Jhall Qod. f lunge m m the Mtch, and our awn cloaths Jhd defile Hs, Thefc our bell workes which we have taken th^ grateft care in performing were able to pollute us. Chrift fAJfmg bj 4nd feeing us folluted in our oY&ne blood, pitied this our eQate: this King of Rightcoufncffc Youchfafeth to helpe us out ef this puddle of finne, and cloath- cth us with the long white robes of his own righteoufncffe : would it . The VrefumftHOHS mihts mirrour, it not be , exceeding wickedncfTs, Tvitl). the Sqw that ivm ypajhed to tvaJtew in the mire of their former finnes, treading under foot the ! 'i bloud of ChriO:, and not regarding !.|the rightcouilieile wherewith he J hath doathed us. Did it not t 'Cod Chrift, the eternall fonne of iiGod, his deare bloud to purchafc J: us hberty from the thraldome rinto which finne and .Satan had brought us, and doeft thou make fo Hght a matter of fione.^ If a man {hoiild kill your brother pre- sently you. will fweare you will be avenged of him,/yai willhavc his bloud, Sinne is \ it which; luth killed thy elder brother Chrift Jefus ; how is it that thou harboureft thy brothers murderer I within thee ? why baniihcft thou jnot finne? why doeft th©u not ivow the death of it? why doell thou not kill it ? You arc an- gry with the Jfi»es for killing Chrift: why are you not angry \\'Ith your finnes, which were the caufw of it ? The J-erves had never killed 90 The Prefumftuotis m,ws mirrottr. killed him, had not your rebelli- ons firft wounded him. It wasl^ your tranfgrelTions which caufed his head to be wounded with 'thornes, his face to be fpit on, . his body to be fcourged, his hands- I and his feet to be nay led to the Crofle, and his fide to be pier- ced. Wherefore crucifie not Chrift with your (inncs, make not a mockc of his buffering, prefume not to offend his patience, who fo loved you that he gave his on- ly begotten Sonne to dye for you, tfjMt jt might he fived jram yo»r t- LuLi^i. ftemieSt and from the hands ef all \that hate yoH. Wherefore feeing that ye are hhght mth a prlce^ glarifie Cj O T^ in your boMe , and in yotit §j)irit ^ v»hich are goDS, CHAP. iCoi 5. ( 2C. The PrefimfthOHs mans mrrour. CH'AP. XVII. 2. Sort of Temptation f^ Satan drawe^ from the olfieEl, and thty are two-fold^ either becanfe fro' fitahle or fleafint, IT is floricd of the Crocodile, who fighting with the Whale, aiid feeing himiclfc unable to o- vcrcoinc him with his ftrcngth,fec' kcth to vanquifli him with pollicy, hcpowrcth on him foggy and poy- foned waters, that lo he may prcvaifc over him and wll him. Even fo the Divell, feeing by force he cannot prevaile with any man, feeketh by pollicy to cir- cumvent him ; for as the Apoftle ^eter ipeaketh, ^-j^Tsye-w/ , hee wageth warre with prudence a^ gainft cur foules. He powrcth on men the poyfoned waters of worldly profperity> he fhewcth profit and pleafure, as he dxA to Chrift. He Jhewed him ail the ^ttg- domes Pl iPet.a.ii Mir. 4, p2 ! Thif PrefumptHous mAHs mlrrefir, I domes of the world, md the glory .^ of them, that their foiiles miglit I be poyfoned with, the love of ; thcfe things, that fo hee might I kill them. Thcfe are the temp- ; tations^ which the Divell prefti- ; med o^^ would in any one take t^z% and prevaile againH: him : Therefore h: eiicountring with Chrifl kept tkeie till the hft place, hopin^^ that if the other temptations failed, this would not; For here he had within that Arch-traitour the fledi at hand, ever ready on thcfe conditions to betray usjand the world our falfe friend withdut alwayes aHlifting him in thefe temptations. This profit and pleafurc like the poy- fon of Afpes, caufeth men which are ftung iwith it, to fleepe, and to ^\z fleeping, it cafteth men in- j to that fleepe of fecurity, and( then killeth thsm, it mnkcth them dead in treipajfej And jinnes. For what fmne will the natural! mati vabftaine fr6m, in which there is profit to entice, and plealiire to \ al-^ The PrefHmptfiom m^ms mirrottr. allure. Thefe be the baitcs with j .which Satan that cunning fifli'er! catcheth the foules of men, the other temptations be but as gol- den hooks, which except they be »baited with thefe baites will not eadly catch any (inner. • '* «A» *J?^ ♦!♦» CtS-* C»J^ <^ ♦^ «i|f/» t^t&i Cyf^ CHAP. XVIII. ■ . ■ •/ Tempmtkrt i. There is oreat p'/ofif iff it, TO rrfc to an earthly = crowne, what fubtilc (liifts "^f^ill man ufe to arttaine his propofed end. | Religion (hall- be made a cloakcj to cover it, they will loofe fame, i credit, health, life, religion, nay I God himfelfe, to' get the traffi of this world: thus the fpirit of j grace which once did afccnd up- j ward is now turned into the fpl" g^^j ^ ^j^ rk of 4, teaB which Jefsenc&th downward, and this the Divelll i knowcth 94 I Tfn Preftmftn&HS mans fmrr9ttr. knowctb right, and thacforc if any good motion be ftirrcd up ' within us to leave feme gainfiili * finnc, he prelcntly chcckcth it with this or the like temptati- on. Doth not all thy gdine come un- ^ ^ to the hy this wanner of living. Jf then leave jl off this courfe of lift, it ii impcjfible fir thee to live in thii *^orl(i. Seefi thou not vohat large revenerves thou haft gotten, ^^hich u frobahle thou Vi'ilt increafe if thou continuefi thii thy courfe cf life ? T^rocurefl thou not many faith- fill friends by this meanes^ ^'hich o- thermfe ^ould learve, "^ould forfake thee ! what gaine ? ^hat profit ii there in being (o religiotts f fVher- fore be not ft over- nice and cur iouf, feeing by this your craft you have yotsr ^fpealth. Surely, god ^illnot be fo injurhfts uffto you , to deny I Tim.?. ^^^^ J^^* ^^ fi^kif^i ^f fhe things of this World^ fi^X ^^ is worfe then an infidcll, which providcth not for his Houfc and Fami- Under L I The Pr^ffimpmoHS mansmirroftr. 91 Vndcr this provident and dili- gent care which the Apaftle S^ i Tim, $, .T4hI commcndcth : Men fall in- to that care of diffidence and di- ftruft, which our Saviour Chriit 1-M«.5.j4. difcommendeth. But if hec be iworfc then an infideli, wliich will not provide for his Houfe and Family, he is worfc than a bcaft, which will not provide for his owne good and fafety. How- ever if that place of S^ Ta»/ be duly weighed, and fcrioufly con^ fidered (by providing for his owne) the Apoftle undcrftandeth not a hoording up of riches to poftcrity , (although that be law- fijll enough) but ofadminiftring of his goods which he cnjoyeth to the wants of his p^ore Chriftian kindred, which you may perceive by comparing this eight verfe with the fourth, and ninth verfes of ( the iamc Chapter. | jBnt there ii Tcn, aj'.d ipirituall icnowlcdge and- f-^ice preferre bafe riches ; w^hat -lacilme is this^ Fdc*if;s pra- e Chriilianity, and Chriftians ' ^^ aclife Taiofji/rw, Suppole. the |world will otherw' ife for fake thee, , r^ca muft forfake the wotM if; u wilt be Chrifts Difciple, thou • Ma:.6.t4 :- no( firz;^ gcd and Mfonmon, ' at though thy carnal friends wil * lake thee? Tb^fearc not. true :nds,which on this occasion will F 2 Leave JOO rro.23,5 The PrefHntftuoHs mans mirrom: leave, will forfakc thee : How- ever refpedeft thou the deceitfull friendiliip of this world afore the never-failing favour of God ? the love of man afore the loving kindnefle of the Lord ? wilt thoH fet thy mind en that ^^hkh u not ? For riches certalnelj make themfelves V^ings, they fly awAj 04 an eagle towards Heaven. What excellency is in the things of this world to make the wicked dote upon them ? what is filver anc gold, but red and v/hitc earth ? Silke is but the cntrallcs of worms Traifeis but ablaft of the mouth all that the world can r.ftoord is but tranfitory, aiid paffcth away When thou haft gotten fufficient .then (thou faycft) thou will ferve God. Coniidcrcft ^ thoi not by this inordinate love of th< world, thou preferreft the work afore God, earth afore Heaven the fading riches of this world afore the ineftimablc riches of thf world to come. In Jfiack^ blef fing of fa4coi> and £/aH, obfcrx Thf TrejkmpHOHs mansmirronr, the different method of the godly and worldly in feeking of God. To godly JAAcob he faith, gOD give thee of the dew of Heaven^ andthefatnejfeof^he Earth', but to profane Efaii he inverteth the order, His blejfm^ Jhall he the fat- nejfe of the earthy i^nd the dew of Heaven^ for thus the worldlings place it , they firft fcekc the world, then God. So that God may juflly take up the Comedians complaint, M3^^ nemim obtrudi fotefi itfir ad me^ when they are fit for nothing, then will they feeke God, when they have got- ten fufficient for their bodies, then will they provide for their foulcs. But what is fufficient. Is not> fodd and rayment fiijjieient : I f thou haft that be content. Nature will be content with a little, grace with le(fc; Happily as Hag- lai fpeaketh-: Tc have fowne mnch and bring in little^ ye eat but yee have not enough : ye drink^, but ye are not filled with drinke^ ye cloath . .._. ^_l 3 \ . yoffy lOl Gen, t7. 18. Gen.} 7. 19' Tennt. I Tim»^ I i 12. I. 6. I02 The Prefftmf tubus tnmi mirrour. I yi>u, but there is none Warmey attd he that earneth '^nges earneth wages to fut it into A y^gge with holes. What was fndas the richer fur his wickciJ filvcr for which hee ibid his Maftcr ; when as a guilty confcience cojnpcllcd him to re- Hore .the money and i& i::aft it dowtiei in -the Tea3pk,tiKl ts> hang hiraicl/cv ^ L / The world is that baite, wher- with the Pivell allureth many foqlcs untOvvhin^. ^^^^ ''^^ . h!fow by \ this craft Tve have OHK wealthy 'Wa* j once that Id!»ll-makers of -C^^/f/^-f | argument to caufe his compani- | ons to rejed Panls preaching,-' and it. is, iipw the Djivds argu- ' ^ m.eat : and fufficientit is to mm^i I any mecre naturall man to the a- ! I 6ling of any (inne, to the com- i mitting of any wickcdncff: againfl: I the powerful! preaching of the | I moft learned Minift^rs. Bot con- \ I fide r if thou prefumcft to treafiire 1 up* wrongful! riches, thou trea- { fureft up wocfoll dcftrudiion : j and what will it profit thee to ' tre.v i The PrefitmptHopts mms nfirrour. trcafiire up riches for twenty yearcs, when as thou fhalt fuff^ above twenty thoufand yeares in Hell for it : Then (hall thy fdver And thy ^M not be able to deliver _ thee in the day of the wrath of the Lordf thy [hall not fat is fie their fotiles , nor fll their boivets, he^ Mufe it is theftnff^bltn^ ^lock^ of ini^ qftity. CHAP. XI X- Temfution i. There is fleajttre in I thu finne, T'Hofe whom profit will not allure to (inne, try hee will whether plcafure will draw to, the committing of prefumptuous iins, and after this manner he cn- cGuntreththem. willy on loofe the fvfieet pleafltres of this fraile and vanifhing life and abandon yoHT felfe to private con- - P 4 tern- j The TreJumptuoHs mans mirreur. temf>Ution f Seeft thojt not rvbAt \ pleafire there is in finney And knaw- efl thoi* not ivhat dehjrht there is in rpickednejfe 1 Qan joh not ferve \ God and keepe jour pleajure ? Re'\ member your life is if tit Jhort ; mke | fleafire Tvhilfl thoH mayefl, Eatc . and drinke for to morrow thou ! {halt die. Thou {hult mt enioj a- ny content^ if bj a continuall con^ fi deration ofQad thon fTAElifefl god^ iinsffe. See th^ pollicy of the Dircll to allure men to fall into finne : fomctimes hope of long lif: fliali induce men to fmne, fometimes the (hortneffe of life {hall ba ur- ged tomakethcraprcfum: invvic- kedneffe. But is the life of man fhort ? thou oughteft to ferve Gowi, wh-n [thou canll, make thy peace now 'with Go j, a>td aqree with thing adverfary qmckljy v^hilfl thou art in the Tvay. For if thy ^old'^nborvle be broken, or thy fitchsr be broken at the foftnmine, or thy rvheele be broken at the cifierne : If thy body rcturne Pf.6.y. The PreJur/tftHOHs mans mirrour, 1 5 returne ta the dufl:, then will it ' be too late to feeke for mercy, when as the gate 1$ fhut : For in , death there is ni> r^nembrance of !^ ^od, 4ftd who /hall give him thanks in the fit? Neither muO: you thinke to divide your heart be- tweene God and pleafures. Ths Diveil may cry with the falfe mother, dividatMy, let it he neither i Kin.^, thine nor mlney bnt let it be divi^ ded, but (iod with the true mo- ther will have all or none, Hcc will have no halting betweenc himfelfc and Baal^ either lervc Ood wholly, or cife thy pleafures, I ye eannot fcrve God and your plea- j ; lures. I I But what pleafurc is there in 1 iinne? The foole may make amockj^'^'^'^'^ '^ pfjlnne, and it is a ffort to them ^^"^ * to doe voickednejfe. But hee that poffeffed all that heart could dc- fire or tongue could wi(h, could finde neither profit nor plealure in the things of this life, but J profeffcd all was but vanity and i [vexation of fprit. God was the i ^^j*^^'**®' ( . F 5 fpeakcr, I *'* lo6 \ The Frefumpnom mans mirroHr, ^ fpcakcr, and King Salomon was jthe writer, who had experi- ence of tbefc things. What true I pleafurc is there in any finne, i when at the Ufi it hiteth like ^ 4 Pro.aj.ji Serpent 4^ Jiin^eth Uk^ a Cock^t- trice ? What plcafure is there in ' drunkenneffe, when as by delay '. f'^nd lingring they feekc to fherkc '■ their cupps ? What pleafurc in \ whoredome , where there is a continuall fearc, leaft the dimme I eye of man fliould fee them, not ■ fearing the eyes of the Lord, ' from whom the ftony walls can- ^ not cover them, nor darkened hide them? What delight in co- ! vetoufneffc , when as they are I daily turmoyled with cares ? 1 What delight in theft or murder, - j when as their accufing confcieiv ! ces raifeth up terrour within them, * caufing them to tremble every ■ luomcnt, and (land in doubt of ' every man, leaft 'he (hould be the ; man that could accufe them, or ; would betray them ? What dc- i light in fwearing, when as an or- ! ^ di- The VrefHrnptHom mam mlrronr. dinary cuftomc hath brought it to an habit ; fo that they are fofarrc from delighting in it, that they take no notice, when they fvveare. What delight in wrath and envy? Seeing )^Tath kiUeth the fiolifh man, and envy JlAjerh the filly one. What pleafurc can there be after any (inne, when as a guilty and tor- menting conlfcience doggeth them at the heeles, (hame and reproach affirighteth them, and the feare of a punifhing wrath, of a finne-re- vcttging God, /doth continually trouble and vexc them. So that all the pleafures of finnc is but like the inchanting (inging of the Syrens, it maketh them to flcepc in fccurity, that they may be more cahly devoured: ^ulce feccttsnm fed amarA mors. But grant there is delight, and fuppofe there is true happineffe in the pleafures of finne : Thefe delights arc not permanent, they arc not pcrpetuall, they are htt fir 4 feafitt. Their former pleafure addeth to their mifery, and in- crea- 107 lob 5.2. Heb.ii, Z5, I O 8 The PrefiimftHons mans mirrour , Mar 0.4. crcafcth their woe. CMtfer/dm eFi fiijje hc4tumy to have bccne happy is the grcateft mifery ; for he then is touched "with a true {'Z{^{c "and feeling of the want of thelc plea- lures, which hee once enjoyed. ^'et if thefe were more conftant, and did continue all the dayes of our life , then they would ceafe, th:n th:y would have an end; But the torin:iits of Hell, which would TjilO'V as iig:iieii-; ate punilliments of liunc wou*d 1 never ce.ile, wojli never have an I end. For there th ^orm: dieth not, And th: fire u not cjufncbed. It is thrice rehearled to (hswthe certainty of it. Take heed thcr- fbre how by prefumption thou prcferreft the*fvveet of plealure ! before the care of fafety, and lo- | vcft thy eafe, more then tliy fal- ; vation , for thou thereby wilt j make thy enemy the ftron^er to ' ofiend thee, and difablcft thy fdf | of all m janes of defence. j CHAP. Tht T rcfi^m^tmHS ma:ni mirf our, - i op • _ CHAP. XX. ! Ths third (ort of Tunptathns to ; Trgfii7oy/ion , to rtit : Thofe ^hic'o Snran drayeth from fom:- thing in our f elves. THat malicious cn*my of man- kinie, v/hich at inios aea- ■ >r\v^a^ aftfbtik ^T^prn*, isnaw . almoil fix thojfi.iJ yttti en- i ] pn-icnci hzco:nz an old Dragon, ; jhc doth no .7 knov/ m-raits how ; I to insinuate himr^lf: i ito all forts ; m-n. and ho at to tcoipt thz . ft cxpa^icnctd Chriflians with j i crs kinds of tcd3purio,Tf, fb i : ht Icaveth no nacin^s unat-| nytcd to brin^ D3:n airo v/ic-- : iciT:. Thofe who-ii a rains : prdaaipmous conidc^ic^ in isoirc/ and cbflio.i wilnot * . .n: ; H: will try whether a- r v thing in thcmiciTss will pofE;, them ) jnu^,u K^7. 1 1 o ] rhe TrefumptHoiii mans mirrottr. them up. He is that Abaddon and ^Apolhon, that burncth with a defire ot hurting. He is that red T>rAgon^ which with excee- ding ftrcngth and bloudy cruelty perfecatoth the Saints. That Prince of darkneffc who is the greateft enemy to the children of light, draweth the ftarrcs with his tayle after him. That envious man which fowed tares whilft i the Maftcr of the Family flept. That Kin^ of the LochHs^ which wageth warrcsagainft the Saints, he fcckcth to circumvent them, h TM jtu^ffV, with the flcight of a dye. The Apoftle borroweth a metaphor from cheaters, who for gainc will cogge and deceive the fimpk : Even fb dealeth the Di- veli at his advantages, where o- pen force will not prevaile, there he will try what ruinc hee can worke to the Church by fecret >radifes. If in perfecution the \ icid of the Church doth bring x)orth grcat#ft increafe by being ; watered with the bloud of the j dying ' Ill The ^refumpHOHs mafts mirronr, dying Marty res ; He will fee I if the cicarc Sunne-ftiine of the I • Gclpcll will caufe the tares of i { Herefie and Superftition to ipring j \ in the Church. Thus hce dealt j Iwith the Chriftians in the Prim i- I tive Church; whom the fire of j j perfecution could not feduce, he | I will fc^ if he can reduce them ! \ by Julians gold. Thus doth hcc | I proove himfclfe to be that old | Dragon alwayes defiring the hurt \ R^J**** of the man-child, fhewing him- *^'^^*^* fclfe to be that roaring Lyon go- ing about feeking whom he may devoarc ; whidh fhould teach ,Chriftians to be as wife as Scr- j pcnts 5 and innocent as Doves, I and to karnc fome wifedome \ from the Doves ; who as it is I ftoried of her by a naturall inftinft \ can difcerne a&nder of thcfe • Hawkes which prey in the aire, and of thefe which prey on the ground, and therfore againft both i (lie provideth fit meanes to e- fcape. For when (he feeth that Hawke which preyeth in the ayre, Pet.Benb 112 The TrejUmftHOHs mans mWrow, ay re, (lie falleth to the ground, but when (he fceth that Hawke that preyeth on the ground : (he mounteth aloft into the ayre : So a Chriftian fhould difcerne be- tvvcene the manifold remptations of Satan. If he be aflaulted with fuch temptations, as he Qiall be devoured by exalting himfelfc too high, as by Pride, Vain-glo- ry, High conceitednefle, and the jlike, he ought then to call him- i id't^ downe to the Earth, and re- I member death ; but if the Divell ieeke to entrap thee on earth, as I by covetoufncfc carthly-mind«d- - nelfe, then thou oughteft to mount jinto Hcavcti, and to place thine affsidions there, and be provided |againft all temptations; for di- | jvcrfly fetteth he on man. If Gods j j Mercy and Juftice will not allure j 'man to linne, or if profit and plcafure will not draw men to ! jwickeckieffe ; he will fee if any thing in our felvcs will caufe us to make (hip-wracke of our Faith i againft this dangerous rocke of prefump ^ The VrejumpHOHs wans mrronr. prcfumption, and thus fbmctimes at his advantage fctteth he on that man, whom he kooweth to be a cuftomary {inner. CHAP. XXI. Tempmtion i. Thou hafi commit*- ted thisfinne ^ith impfimty, and therfore needeft not to fittre to fall intoitagaine, SVreljy (filth Satan) this aU is no finney fir hafi thm not hither- to committed it, and yet not cha* flifed, not punifhed; V(^eye it a fin \ God ^Quld ers this hav: feverely . chaflifed the for it, if njt fent thee ' quicke into Hell, Cjod thoH falefl is \iufi; iffo, then furelj \Vtll he re- venue finns y wherf&every and in j whomfoever it is, H,^fi thoti not S^feene othsrs gmltj of this fame faSiy I jet are they not in trouble like oth:r . men, neither are they planned like ) ' other }^4^^Ti}e Prefumpmom ntAm mlrrvw. other fill^^ nay doefl thu not Com- [ mit this aB thy fclfe^ yet fiot fpt^ I mf)eci, Huw ii It that thij^i now fro- I reft tif doe that once a^fStne, rvhich ■ hitherto thou h^ft committed^ and yet not punlhed, not plagued for \ it. ^ \ This you may perceive by the foggy blacketleffe of it to be lome fmoake, which afcendcth out of the bottomlc& Pit. Vet doth not job complainc of the profpe- rity of the wicked, and or their impunity, faying, Their houfis Ar& fafe from fiM'Cy neither it . the rod of God. updH them. And D^vid will tell you. That he wtu enviotis at the foolijhy when he faw the' pro^ ferity of the wicked. For they are not in trohble like other folke^ nei- ther are they plague d^ like other j Befidcs man muft confider that I God doth fometimcs fevercly {hi- nii'b, when he feemeth to for- beare, and fometimes forbeareth, ; when he feemeth to punifh. Hap- pily vengeance lighteth not on thy The PrefumftHOHs rmms mlrronr. thy owne head, aad yet it may on thy wife and children to the thirJ and fotfrth generation for : thy fake, an"d if not fo, yet the common judgements, which of^ ten times lye heavy on the Land^ ovprtake thec» as thcsu^art a mem-i be4:ofjtli^;W(<^ala pubiike.r :y^^l od B;ut gi^rt^ God doth not ^^liti^ iihthee.npw, y^ he willipanillu thee. If God for ever fhotild with- hold his chaftifiiig hands firom thee, than fhoLi najighteft (mnc on iahope of impunity : but know there wiU c^ie a day of vengeance, when as* God will take vengeance of thee for thine iitiquities, whcrforc \ as the Preacher faith, Thaugh 4 finner do eviU An hundyed times^ and hU d^es he frelonged : Tet ; _ . fire/y I k»oi» it JhAll ^oe vfeil j, ' * * vfith them that fe^e Qody which fiare hefire Him, iut it Jhall not be rvell with the wicked y nei* ther Jhall hee prolong his d^yes , which are as a JhAdorv , becanfe he feareth not before (J od. This Bread of deceit y may be fweet to a man, hnt Il6 The Prdfinnptuowm^HsmirrtrUr, .. but dfterwturds hn ' mouth Jhall he ' filled with jiravell. Happily thy finnes arc not ns yet fully ripe, God therefore will not as yet faffcr the deftroyinq Angeli to tbruft in his iharpc lickle. But a time will come when he fhall Re 1 II ^^ commanded to thruft in his, "**' *^fickle for to rc.ips, and to gather the clufters of the vines of the Earth, for the Harveft of the Earth is ripe, and then ("halithefe fruitful! vines be caft into the Re. 1 4. 1 9 great wincrpreffe of the wrath of God. God ftayeth his time till I thine iniquities are at the full. Gen. ly. j^l^g finnes af the Ammtes are not ' • '^r /^//, their wickednefle \s not as yet ripe, therefore the If*aelites mufl: ftay fbure hundred yeeres^ ■and then fhill they caft them out. JThe iive Cities of the plainc of Gen.1j.13 Jordan roere wicked and ^mners he- ^fore the Lord exceedingly^ yet muft Gen.iS.xo'b^ l^t 3^^"^ till the cry of their fins reacheth up to Heaven, and I when there are not ten righteous pcrfons in thefe five Cities, then ^' Gcd The Prejum^tttommmsmrrour, God will overthrow them with fire and brimftone from Heaven ; when ftiftc-nccked T^^r^^?^^ heart is moft obftinate in finning, then will God get him honour on Pharaoh in moft fevcrely puniihlng him for finning. It is ftoried of the Crow, who i although he is not able to fight j with that King of Birds the Ea- gle; yet fhe ftill foUoweth after the Eagle difturbing him with his fearflill cryes, which the Eagle a long while didemblcth, but being overwearied with her continuall clamours fetteth on her, woun- deth her and killeth her. So ob- ftinate finners who although they cannot contend with that King of Kings the eternall God, yet ceafc they will not to moleft him, and ftill oppofc themfclves againft God by their finnes, and moleft him with the loud cla-| mour, not only of their oathcs, ! but of all other finnes, which -cry aloud in his eares, provoking him continually to anger. But after 117 Ex.14. ii8 The PrefumptuoHs mans mirrour, after that God hath long expell- ed their repentance, and as it were diflfcmbled the hearing of their fios, feeing no amendment I being wearied with the continu- I all clamours of their tloud crying fins, at the fudden will he fct his j face againft that man , jftr.iteth 1 him, woundeth him, killeth I him both corporally and fpiritual- ly. . I Gods tender mercies are al- 1 wayes in the firft place, fo that | if wee would truely know him ! by his mercies , wee ftiould 1 never know him by his judge- \ ments , but if wee will not | knew him by his mercies , hee | will himfelfe teach us to know him by his judgements. It is! true. The Lord u> fiorv to anger ^and ■ if ii M true the Lord U great in power, that mtt hj no meanes cleare | the guilty y which runnc on ob-^ I ftinately in finne. 6od is not of Domtians mind to kill fly cs, pct» ty finners, but when men ire fwclnc with finnc and waxen fat in I The Prefumftuom mans mirronr.] ^ja in vvickednefle, then God vviill cut them o}\ God oftentimes may {hake his hand at them, he may threaten them VN^ith deftrurj (flion, but never will ftrike tillj their linnes are at the full growth, then will he come as an Eagle a- g^ixifl them^ both fuddenly, fwift- \y and cruelly; for thefe arc the three properties of an Eagle ma- king hafte to her prey, ilie Co- meth fwiftly to it, fuddenly on it, and cruelly fettcth upon it. At the opening of the Seales, there is mention made, of a red^ hUck£i ^W fale horje with riders on them to take vengeance on the Earth. Itdicweth the fwift- neffe of punifhment, they ride on horfe-backe; fly then thou canft not the dcftroying judgements of God, if thou continueft in finne, they will fureiy over-take thee. But fuppofe thou (halt efcape fomc punilhments, yet thou flialt fall into worfe; thou art frc^ from temporall chaftifements, an^ falleft into eternall judgements ; ^ thog 120 The PreJumftMot44 mans tmrrour. Anios 8 thou efcapell corporall afflidions, but fpirituall overtake thee, ex- tcrnall blindnefle doth rot blind thy bodily eyes, but there is an internall blindnefle, which doth darken the fpirituall light of thy underftanding, which thou takeft ro notice off. God fendeth thee not a frmine of Bread, yet he can fend thee z Fdrr.ine of his "^'crd, where as the Prophet u^mos fpea- kcth, thou fljalt rcandcr from Sen I to ScA, f.nd from the North even , to the E^fl, thou maift run too and I fi-o to feeke the Word cf God, and ! Jhait not find it. For the "kicked l^hio.i^ P^^^ {^iS Z of har i^ilh) fiojn the iron vceafon^ and the horf of Heele Jhall jirike him thorcw. Or as ex^- mos fpcaketh. It is as if a wan did flee fern a Ljon, and a Bcare did meet him, or'^^ent into hishoufe and leaned his hand on the Wall, and ^ Serfent did bite him. Take heed therefore O thou fccurc fin- ncr, how thou prefumeft in his mercy, lead his anger break forth into fury, and thou fcelcft him juft. Am.j.ic. The PreJlmftHOMi mAns rmrrom-. juft, when as it is too late to re- pent. For (ome mens finnes Ate e* fen before hand unto Judgement , and fime they fiUtm after. Some men arc puni(}ie bccaufe thou art notpunifhed here; know it is a mod fevcre judgement of God not to be punifhcd ; It is a fearefuU figne of thy finall and ut- ter nejcdion, and that God ta- kcth no care of thee, becaufe he ceafcth to call thee unto him by his fatherly corrc(ftion. Yet grant that God out of mercy doth rc- fraine for ever from punifliing; This /ong-fnfmn^ of^God fhotdi lead thfe t9 repentance. What wic- kedncfle is this to provoke him to anger, which is unwilling to punifh thee, and to caufe him to plague thee, ^hofefoule is meved for thy nnfery. Doft thou thus re- ward the Lord for his goodndfc 1 G towards I 111 I Tim. % Ifa Rom.i«5. Iud.io.i6 122 The PrefumptHeus wans mirrour* towards thee (O thou wicked man) thou oughteft not to finne. againft him, whole mercy is to thecfo great, that he corrcdeth thee not for thy ^mn^s^ and his goodneffe towards thee fo excee- dingly aboundcth, that by punifli- ments he taketh no notice of thy preemptions. g^ CHAP. XXIi. Temptution 2, Thon loAfl effeciall LAiarkj of Gods favour y as Peacc^ Health i Riches, &C, therefore maieji thcH prefumeta finne, IF Satan ^nce pcrceiveth that impunity for finne will not fo farire prcvaile as to move a Chri- ftian to prefumption, then dc(i- reth he to puffc them up with a vainc prcfuming confidence of Gods love towards them, and therefore they need not feare to com- i "The PrefumftHom mans mrronr. . 125 Sat:iyis' ar-^-^ Gen. 27. Dwii 3 3- commit finne, which are To high- ly regarded ofQ^, and whom he fo exceedingly To vcth. for (faith he) haft thou not e^ ^ ^ee'iall Markl of Qods favonr ? "Zj^cfn"^ Haft th.o}4 not all the yiejftngs the ^orid cAn a-ffoord ', Ehhjefi thoH not health ? LiveB thou not in peace 4nd iollity f And do ft thoH notwitlj Eiau, Eate of the fatnefle of the Earth, and with AQier dip thy foot in oylc ; Hafl thoU not a^ nrnch as tongue can \Vi/h^ or heart can defre f Give glory to CJod for thefe, hii bleffini^s and Continue, in .that courfe cf life, in which thou thriveft, Thinkefl thoti that God \ tvottld blef[e his enemies^ or rerv/ird ^ them with gifts^ which hate him ~ ? \ would- the ay^lmightj prober thy I wickednejfej and increafe a Jinners \ \fiibftancef PVherfore goe on in that ' conrfe of life in which thm thri^ ^ .vefii' feeing that Cjod doth b/ejfe \ and fr9fj}er whatfoever thon ttiieft j in hahd» Jf they be finnes c'entintK \ \-in them^ fi^i^g Qod is fo farre from \ \: being f revoked, that he doth loze 9 ^ thee 1^4 I T'Af Prefumftuous muns mirrottr. thee although, thou fmnefi , al- though thoH doeft rehell Agmnfi him, . Hath the Lord bdlowcd on thcc cfpcciall favours of his love? Hath he enriched thee with extcr- nallbicnings ? Thououglncftther- ibre to ferYC him, which thus lo- vcth thee, to obey him which re- wardcth thee thus bountifully above thydeferts. It grk\cd ^uIIm C^far to be killed by the Senators,but that Brutus his fonnc in law fhould be the chicfc confpiratour, this did xut him to the heart, caufing him to burft out into that palTi<>- nate fyccch y,$uid mi Brute, what my fonnc 'Brutus, So although the (inncs of all men are difplea- ^fig to God,' yet the finncs of thdlc men, which he hath beene moft of all beneficiall unto, thcfc difpleafe him in the higheft de- gree, becanfe thefe men adde to all their finnes that great and in- tollerablc finnc of ingratitude, then which nothing is more hate- full to God, nothing more odi- ous The T^refimftHoHs mans mhroHr. ous to his ditinc Majcfty. If Ba- hell fall from God, God lecmeth not to regard it. But \i Jefkrum w*ixM£ fat kick, rvith the heele, if they dcipife die bieiTings of God and grow worfc and worfe by profpcrity, this moft of all ^rie- veth him. If the Vineyard of the Lord of Ho4jfs bringeth foorth nothing but fiwre grapes , this cuttcth him to the heart, and caufeth him to cry out h^ th a bitter expoftulation, Pf^hat could f have dons more for my vinej.irJ.y thdt f have not donef If a King exprefle his rcgall bounty to thcc in beftowing many fauours on thcc ; wouldeft thou willingly do any thing wherewith thou may- eft offend him, eauiing him to with-draw his love and bounty from* thee, and (hall the King of Heaven be thus evilly rewarded, from whofe rcgall bounty thou rccciveft all that thou injoycft, and by whofe protcding provi- dence thou fafely cnjoyeft all, which thou received ? Wilt thou G 3 fin 125 Deu^ja.i ECi.j.2. Era.^4. T^ Prcfftmftuow mans mirrour* i finnc, becaufe God hath beftow- ed fo great and manifold tokens ; of his love on thee. Take heed of} provoking the juft and iinrje-rc- | venging God to anger ; Icaft: he | deprive thee of that in angerjwhich j hec beftowed on thee in mer- ' cy. But that thou mayeft notthipk thofc . external! bkilings in- coinpetible to any, but to the children of God, I willtherfore fliew how, 1. The wicked have enjoyed them. 2. Ths wicked may en/oy them. 3. The wicked doe en/ey them. I . The wicked have en/oyed them. Thofe five wicked Cities which God overtiirew, afore their deilrudion, were placed in a fruitful! Land, /% the garden of Eden, both for plcafure and pro- : fit. Profane Efin lived of the fatHejfe of the Earuh, and ^of the deaf of Heaven: for fo was his ^ blef- The P refuMptuoHs mam mirrour. blcfling. "Bfihell fitteth as a.Qucen and faith Qie fhall hnorv 'no evill. The wicked (faith fol) ffend their dayes in rfiealth^ and in a moment go down to the grave. But if yee thmke thefc were no wicked men, maikc what followes, thefe arc they which faj unto God, depart from m^ for we defre not the knorv-^ led^e of thy ivajfes. What li the Almighty tkit we Jhould ferve him, and what profit Jhall we htive if we I pray unto him. Their felicity was Ifo great in Davids iim^y that the j Prophet cnvjed if, Hi4 feet were ! almof^ X^^y ^^^ ^^ ft^f^ ^^^ ^^^^ jllpt^ when he fatv the pro /per I ty of ] the wicked. , Did HQt the cnisil perfccuting tyrants profper, when as the godly Chriftians in the I Prin:iitive Church were deilittitc, jafflided, tormented; fo that the ! profpcrity of the wicked doth I farre exceed that of the righte- o'^s. The wicked 'zy€crypi^/is have ! plenty of come and viduali to fdl to tlieir neighbours, when as the Patriarch facol^ and. his Fa- G 4 mily 127 Efa.47. lob J I, 14,15. 3cn.4i' X 2 8 I The l^refHmftuoHs m/ms fmrr^HT. mily arc ready to ftarrc for footf in CanAnn j as long as Jonah is in the Ship, the Sea ragcth, the bil- lowes are tof&d^ the Ship is 1:1- dangcrcd, but he being caft out, the Idolatrous Marrincrs rowc their Ship fafcly to the (hore. And this profperity the wicked themfdvcs take notice of. The wicked Jewcs obfervc their prof- perity to be greater, when they ferved the Q^^^^^* ^^ Heaven, then when they worfhippeJ the God of H«aven, when they were Idolatrous and ferved the crea- ture, then when they being truly religious, ferved the Creator. Th^ Ifraelites likewifc fuppofed j their Idolatry to bring them greater felicity, then the religi- ous worfhipping of the true God; „|and therefore the Church of If- ^ •; rAil faith (he will gpe afier her ^ lovers^ which gave to her her bread 'md her water, her wo oil a*td her flaxe, her ojle, And her drinks , 1 a. The wicked may enjoy them : What fpeakeft thyj of ■ thefe ! The PreJumftHOi^ mans miry our. I » 129 thefc outward bleiUngs. Af^nr \ » Kin.i 3' may have as great (hare in thef^js*- ! as Ifraeh^ and Babsll as ^H(Uh ; ' \ the enemies of the Church, as the Church it fcife, and often times J out-paffe them. Wherefore if in this life the fd^hjuU hdd no hope in Chrifly they vpere of all men moft mifcrabU. The faithfall are dift- iogui(hed from the wicked in in- ternally not external!, in fpirituall not in tcmporall bkifings ; for God doth diftributc his tenipo- rail blellings to all, and therefore the wicked may enjoy them: whcras the other is the godly mans peculiar; and the reafon of Gods dealing thus is raanifcft : Bccaufe God is a father to all in refpc(^ of creation and prefervati- on, and therefore provideth hcc temporall bleffings for all eftates of men; but he is the Redeemer only of his Church ; and therforc to them only admi niftreth he fpi- rituall graccsithus the wicked may difer from the godly, the believing Chriftian ftom the unwaQien Turk. G 5 3. The 130 \ The PreffimptHoiu mans mlrroHr, lub 1 1.6, 1 3- The wicked do cn;oy them. ; I The Tabernacles of the robbers ' I profpcr, and thcfe that- provoke | j God arc fecure, into whofs hand I God bringcth aboundantly ; and the wife Preacher faith, All things ^'9'^* tome dike to ali, there u o'Ae event to the ri^teoHs and to ths yvicked, to the good, And to the clean^ and to the unclean^ to him that fiicrifi- ffethy and to him that facrificeth noty AS is the good, fo is theme- ked, And he that fweOreth^ Ai he thAt fiareth m oath, Thef^ outward things happen alike to all. " Ven- tw bonis J ne' pitentur ejfe mda, vgujtim ^j^ffiy muf0 j 151 all Chriftians in temporall blef- fings. In Chrift the godly w/ij (jAve pfoce, but in the ^orld they Jhall have tribulation, . Tet ycvj • inaft thinke that God be- ftoweth not thcfc blelTings on the wicked, . becaufe they are his c- ncmies, but becaufe God ieeth fome good in them, which .he i in no wife will let pa(Te unrc- j warded, but will reward it eveni in his enemies : Whereas conr trariwifc the beft of Gods Saints are not freed from all eviil ; in their lives and converfations ; for which God is unto them 04 a'Beare Ijing in W^/Vf, and a Lion in fecret fiaces, Hee fcour-- geth them in this life, though not with a farisfadory punifih- ment, yet for. a warning to them-- felves, and an example to others ; I that others alfo may take heed; how they fall into the fame (ins, j leaft the fame punifhmcnts hap^ pen unto them ; whcrforc thcfe , are rather markes of Epicures,; then of true Chriftians. The \ rich lo\\.\6. Lam. 3.1c ^Fhe PrefimftU0Hs m^tns mirrour, I rich man in his hFc time cn-j joyed all the {5leafurcs the i world could affjord, wh:rcasi poorc LA^jsrtu received oacly e- [ vill : All the miferics, (ickcncfTe \ and poverty could afrjord, he in- durci. God loveth his, and hi knoweth that the taking away of worldly blcifings are befl for i thcai, and therforc God reftrai- ncth thefc from them. If a rich man had a fome, whoai h: ten- derly affiled, to reilraine him from dainty and full diet, if his ftomackc would difgeft it, would not be accounted love in him, but fparingncflb : B Jt if his fonne were fickly, ani could not difgcft fall feeding with dainty fare, then if his Father did rcftraine it from him^ it would be a figne of love. So if Gods children were able to difgcft worldly blcUin js, for God to deny it to them would be no argument of love 5 but God feeth that the grcateft number of his children arc not able to brooke corporal! bleiHags they would fur- Th Trefrmpttiotis mans mlrr our. r j ^ j larfet with th:m, if the/ werej fall fii with profpsrity: Great io/e riicrfore in Goi to rcftrain; his chilircn fro.n theiH, and to keep thefe things fro.n them which would h-irt them. Wherfore prcfum: not to ixir^Q through hope of Gods love to- wards thee, becaafe thoi enjoy- ed thcfe extern all blalTings , for GqJ giveth thefc to the wicked, and beftoweth thefe on thofe .whom he hateth, but rather if thou accounted thefe any manifeft tokens of Gods love,fly finncs of prcfufuption, leaft God deprive thee of thofe alfo, and then this will be a greater fignc of his an- ger, then thy former enjoying was of his lave. CHAP. The ^refumftuom mans mirrour, CHAP. XXIII. Temptution 3 . xJifinifters do thts^ \ therpre thou mSefi, | CUnning Towlcrs to allure Pigeons to their nets, were wont to take a Pigeon, and put- ting out its cyzs, placed him in a net, which other Pigeons per- ceiving v/culd flockc to that, and fo were eafily taken. So dealcth that cunning Fowler, the Divcll, to allure foinc harmclefle foule uti- to him, taketh fome wicked jMi- nifter, and putting out the eyes of his underftanding, caufeth him to wallow in fome finne and wickednefle; and then on this occalion allureth others with this or_ihelikc temptation to flock unto him. Seefi thsu not Miniflert for all their daUj r^froovlng of fwne, fol- low Mat. J. E2ckj4' Rom. i. IP The Tr^fumptfi(9Hi ?naris mWrow, . 135 | lors) this cottrfe of ///?, "^^htch new ; thou dofi pfirpofe to fellow^ The CA'linifiers of Cjod , ^'hich ^.re the I li-ght of the world, "^hich light ! the people the W'ay to Heaven^ goe , thii ^'ay, md yet thou hopeft they\ /fre fdved^ they are the Shepkcards ! of the flocke 'ef (^hrift. It is the'l duty of Sheep to fellow their ^afior \ and leader y they are the guides t was taught. E- vcn as that Prince of Philofo- ph:rs hath taught in humility. Socra- 137 13? The PrefurnpuoHi mam mirr$ur. I Socrates was his friend, and Plat9 I his friend, but Truth was a grea- \ ter. If thou aiurt not follow i them in their erroneous dodlrinc, much lefle in their erroneous life, , which are more plains, more pcrfpic uous, and therefore it was , a good faying of a Heathen man, \ Optimnm efi vefli^ia mtiorptm fe- } qui^ fi rehe fracejferinf. It is a ! good thing to follow our forc- I Fathers examples, if they left us !a good example to follow. Thou Imufl: follow the Orthodoicc do- fdrme of evill living Miniftcrs, 'not their evill- examples* For ; thou (halt be judged according to 'the DoftrinJ, not according, jto their life; according to the I words , not according to the i 1 works of the moft faithfull Mi- ; inifters. Chrifts good eximple; I doth not {o much condemns the ■ Jews as his words, for they (Kail . judge them in the lafk diy. Were j wicked men to be judged by a comparative goo'dnefle, that o- thers rebellions might excufe their i wic- The PrefiinfptHom ma^ts mirrour wickedneffe, and that they iLoald be faved , becaufe other men were more fin full, more wicked, than thy cafe was more happy ; but alas a comparative goodnefife will not fave thee : Samma W^xs not Jfalfe (o Wicked m Jerufalem, yt Samaria ^04 defirojed. Thole Keatheniila Cities of Tjre and Sidon were more n-ighteous than Chorajln and Bethjaid(% i yet Tyre and SidoTt were deftroyed. So^ dome was better then Capernmm^ \ for if the rffigh^y r^orks which were done in Cdfsrnmm^ had bin dons I in Sodomey it W9Hld have remdined \ unto this day, and yet Sodome was -^ deftroyed. The iflen. oC f^dAk \ hath done \vickealy above all that the zy^morltes did, and* mors evitl then the jtAtioyii did^ wharh. the , Lord dfjlroyed before the children of j Ifmel, and yet theie ^morites were aboliilied, thefe Heathen 1 were deftroyed. A comparative | goodnelf: will not* five any, it will free none. .For every man iliall be jidged according to the ftraight n9 Mit.ii. Mat. 1 1. 2Ktn.11. 9,11. ^4^ The PrifhmptHoHi mAm ntirrowr. ftraight rule of Gods Lavvr, not according to the crooked adions jof another mans life. His cx- jccrte of wicked neflj will adde to I his condemnation; it will not ,hclpc to bring thee to Salvation: i So then that a Minifters lif* is I more (inncfuU then thine ownc, it will condemne him, but it ; cannot cxculc th^e ; he (hall be jpuni(hed for giving fuch an ex- ample, and you for following it. i|r "itr "»t^ "At itr '^ , Vs '»lr VU >!U' "^ CHAP. XXIV. Temjmion ^, greAt men And wMe mnltitHdes commit this fin thcrt* fore tboH maiefi dfo, IT was Vlj^es plea in the Poet being accufed of the fame fault that jichiilu was guiltic oft Hand The Pr^fimptuoM m4rts mirrof(r, . 1 41 | Baud tiweo, Jt iam ncqf^am de- vU Meta fendere crinten i * ^J* Cum ttPtto commune viro, '■'"' He did not care to be found gi^ilfy of the fame crime that A- Miles was. If the prcfiunptuoas ' finners can gain but a noble Pa- j tron to their vice, or a multitudes example to defend their praflife, they care not into what vice they runnCj-wI^t villany they commit: Wherfore where the prcfident of fomc learned Minifter will not prevaile fo farrc with men to make them to runnc into linne, try he wfll whether the comman- ding grcatnetfc of fome noble peribnage, or theunridy multitude j in fomc popular fin, will move them ' ft> wickednefle. | Doeft thoH not fee ^eM men (UU S Mnl-K titudo feccatorum uUit poimimyeC'- | catl^ A multitude of offenders j will diminini) will take away i the punilhment, Blit it cannot ; f^revailc fo with God ir^ fpight of i flouting. .;CJ^^^/^ i)AkAt veritai^ \ ^ ' ^u4m j^^ 1 The PrefiimftH9fu mans fmrrour. Efkhednc^e^ whem thou lovefi. It is a figne of hat red, and not of love, bccaufe by following his evill example, thou incenfeft God againll: him ; who will pu- niih him for giving fuch ill exam- ple. What though great men errc,. and whole multitudes goeaftray ? yet thy punii^iment \^ notthelcf- {tx ^ thy torment will not be the eafier, to be puniilied with great men, or tormented w^'fk a multi- tude. Wherefore alchougli the whole World run after Idols, and multiply their gods according to the number of tlieir Cities, yet iliould we with good lofuah re- f .)Ive to fcrve the Lord. It is as if he had faid , ye are as ftraightly H bound lcr.2.t8. Iorn.J5. I4<5 Exod z The Prefumptuoii6 mans mirronr, bound to fcrve God as others; but if ye will revolt from God , and truft not in your deliverer ; \!i ye will needs goe to hell, no reafon that I fhould goe to hell for com- pany. I and my houfe will fervc the Lord. Better it is to run the way of Gods Commandments with a few , then to tread thofe by-pathes of (inne with the grea- teft company ; for wc arc not to follow a multitude to doc evill. Some Divines on ?fal. lofii.on thefe words, The mlde Ajfes qttench their thirfl there, Obferve,Tliat the -wilde Afle loveth cleere water : fo that although hee fee all the beads of the held drinke in pudl--d ^vater, yet he will not drinke, till he finde cleare water : So although we find this puddle water of this worldly pleafjres, of which others t?.ke their fill, w^e lliould not drinke of it , but wes fliDuld expect to drinke of the cleere water of life, and there fatisfic our thirft. If thou wilt needs have example, imitate God, who is good to all : Chrift, 7^ he Vrefumpuom mans nilrrour. j Chrifl, who died for all : The An- ! gels, who arc miniftringfpiritsto all : Aiofes, who prayeth for all. Let your intentions be moderated with thefe and the like prefidents, and follow not the example oi wicked fupcriours, orthcpatterne of the fickbraine multitude. ni CHAP. XXV. Tem pt. 5, He JhjiH he moc he Jin not. and contemned if THe Devils command to his fbuldiers, is like that of AV- htichaine^^ar to his great generall Olofirtjes : CJoe again ^ all^ hut con- eerning them that rehell^ it not thine eye ihare them, but put them to the flaughter, and sfoile them^ Wherefo- \ ever thou goefi.Tn^ Devill would! have wicked men his^ inftruments \ _ H 2 to luJ.i, I I. guhiznt. \ 148 The TrefnmftHOHs mans mirrotir, ^ to vexe all, but thofe which will not be lubjcifl to the Devils will, mud be contemned, defpifed, and mocked, which being once afte-j dedjthus he urgethagainft all god- ly Chriftians. What mAn is there in the World^ which followeth this purity of Reli- j gion^ except a feiv of the of-fcouring of the World^ fuch 06 no mAn refpe- \ Beth , hut every man hateth , every \ miin contemneth for thii their niceA ne(fe. They live not in any credit or \ reputation, but are mchnamed ^ and moclied of all ,• and wilt thou ffiffer the reproach ^d contnmeiies of thi^ World^ when thou maift en oj its love And favoptr ? continue ti)e:i;cf>re thy former finr.es ^ for in living oth^rxvifc thou ^iltfurelj procure ihy felj Jhame and difgrace. Heaven \s th:^t narrovv gate, whcrin few enter, and thofe which ftrive to enter there are mocked, are contemned of all. Bur whether is it better for to fu^'er for well- doing here, or for lviU doing here- after I to be mocked on earth,and to The VrefumftHom rmins mlrr§ur. to be bklTcd in heaven ; to be fear- fnll cf mockings now, and to be curfed after. Seeing they are pla- ced in the hrft ranke, which are timoious in Gods caufe ; All that will live godly in Chrtfi, mufi fuf- fcr ftrfecntion : Now mocking is perlecution ; and therefore fcot fing IJhmdel is faid to perfecute Ifaac, when as he mocked him ; What though the World curfeth thee, feeing God bleffeth thee ? What though the wicked mocke, and revile ^ee, feeing God ioveth I thee , Chrift dehghtcth in thec» Let it be the finnes of the Phari- fces to love the praife of men more then Gods. Docfl: thou feeke to pleafe men , or God ? or defireft thou mans refpc(5l , or Gods fa- vour ? were it not better to be contemned cf the World , then hated of God ? If thou art afha- iiicd to profeflc God -to be thy Either and mafter in the prefence of men, God will be afiiamed to ProfcOe thee tobe his fonne, and icrvant in the prefence of his An- H 3 ;els. 150 The PreftmifttiOHs mans mWrour, lO. gels. If thou wilt love father or i mother more then Chrift^thou art j not worthy of him. How much | rather if thou efteemefi: the trca- 1 furcs of Egypt greater riches then ' the reproach for Chrift, and pre- j ferreft the riches of this World | afore the rithes of the World to come. \ Know (6 vaine man ) that the I firownes and obloquies of this j Workl end with this life , often- times afore ; but the heavy dif^ pleafure of a jealous God againft him , which dareth fet up a cbr- rivall with God in his heart, is more continuall, more perpetuall. Plagues and punifliments, the ef- fcds of whofe punilliing wrath begin ia this life, but their end is neither in this life, nor inrhclife to come. Neither loriginquity of time, nor dil'bnce of place can i take them away, can renaove them. Suppole wicked men take away thy life, or thy good name.cnd cre- dit, which thou efteemeil more then a thoufand lives. Happily it is The Trefumytuom mans mirrour, 151 is a jLidgement fent from God to punidn thee in the \o& of that which thou preferred afore God, in efteeming thofe tranfitory things i more precious then the everlafting ■ hivourofthe Ahnighty. ; Ho>Xfever^ fearcft thou the;n,' ^: '^hich can hill the body ^ hfttnothim'^ which ii able to de^oy both i;ody\ and f§Hle in hell. Thou dreAdefi them j which can take awAj fiom thee thl4\ tcmfiTOyy life of mifery , not hint' which can take from thee thAt eteT'] ni;.ll life of ^hry. If thou waft to \ abide here for ever ^ then mighteft\ thou more iufily feare mans reproa- ches ; but thou art but a foiourner hire of Jhort continuance, Befides, thou profcfleft enmity againft Sa- tan, and thinkeft thou that he will j not ftirre up his Minillers againft | thee, to warre with thee ? Yea, i CliriO: himfelfe though without linne^ yet not v^ithout reproach. \ JVherefore if the World hate yen, ye |Hc'b..4. ]:iH9Vi> it hated Chrift afore it hated you. The Difciple is not above his X^'^^ ^ Afafter , nor the fervant above his 1 _ H 4 L6rd, loh. 16. 152 The Prefumptf49Hf ma>is mirrour. \Lord. If they have called the Ma- fler of the houfe Beel^acbub , how \much more (h.tll thty hate thofe of hhe hotdJJjoid. The World hateth yoti wecai/Se yon arc not of the World, ^hit are c ho fen hj Chrifi out cf the World, Grant you bee a man of renowne in the World , happily it will bee knowne to a Parifh , a Towne, a City , or Countrey, a Kingdomc ; yet if it be gotten by wickedncfTc, it will not con- ; tinuc, it will not be for ever. In the next generation his meitiory will be rooted out. For the me^ ' morj of the tuft u blcjfed^ hut \ the name of the vicked fhall rot. CHAT, The PrefHm^tuom mans mirrour, 153 ^% VSi ;^. ^^ t^ •<^ -^ i^ -^ ^C^ ist^ ^i CHAP. XXVI. Tempt. 6, It is fjaturall to doe evilly T^hy then m^ifl thou not commit anj fin, WBj (faith Satan) dofithon feare to commit finne F Is lit not naturall for m^in to doe evill f \ever fince the fall of Adam,/^ hrm- \fed and crazed U mans nature ^ that all his aBions are ohli(^^e and eroo^ ked I fo that now what man u there yphich liveth and finneth not • "^hy then doefi thou take fo much faines and labour to -prevent finne ^ feeing to prevent it is difficult, it isimpoffible. Were it not farre better for thee to give the reines to thy difordered af- feftions, and fo finne with more de- iijf^hty more contentment ? According to that courfe which thou now ta- Satans ar- gu.nent. 154 I '^^'^ Prefunfftmrn mans nnrreur, kefl, thoH bdth o^endcfi ^od ^ and thy fclfe ; Cjod in Jinning, and thy fclfe in hrideling thy finfptll delights, JVhfrefore feeing hy ndture thoti mufi finnc^ give fi'/tne her whole career e^ and dljijuiet not thy felfe in accam- fliflAng that which u imfojfihle. Time was, that man could fol- low natures diredions, and yet re- mainc innocent, he needed nofu- periour guide, and yet could attain to heaven, and happineffe ; but by that WjDcfull fall of ^dam^ fhe is fo much difordcred, that whereas afore (hee was a guide fufficient in that narrDw way that leadeth to eternall life, now unlcflefhebe ordered , and guided by the holy Spirit of God, fhe is ready to car- ry men headlong into that pit of hell and deftrudion. For our will which {hould be the ftraightrulc of all our adions, is becouie croo- ked ; our underftanding which rhould be the eye of the fbule to AixQd: it in the fervice of God, is darkened, and blinded, only there is in it left fufficient light to leave us The T^rcfumpHom mans mlfrour,^ 155 us inexcLiiable before God, but to: dircccusin the fervice oFGodfliej cannot. It tclkth ms there is a| God ; but what God is, and how I he is to be woriliipped, he \^ al- together igijorant ; Our afFcdrions, ! which were once dutifull hand- 1 maidens to the will, and didftir , It up to defire thofe things which were pleaiing and acceptable toj God, arc now become unruly mi- j ft redes, and lead her captive to all i cvill : Our whole body is oncly { fit to ferve finnc, and wickednes, j and therefore whatfoever is from , nature, \s a fit mftrument for fin and Satan. Shall we therefore fin j wilfiilly, bccaufe we mufl thus fin I out of infirmity ? (hall wee plot I wickcdncffe , becaufe wee cannot naturally fly finnc. Will a wife man whofe father hath left him great debts to pay, conclude with him- felfe, my father hath left mz much to pay, and more then I am able, i I will therefore run on in debt , and fpend as well as .my father, let what mifcry come that will. Sin 155 29. The PrefptmptHOHi mans mlrroptr. fin is a deotjwhich our father Ad,(?i- fon 1^4 Dcut ^ : 5^ The Tirejltmf: w^m m^fMs yiurrour, fin ofDrafo^ifMViW a prudent man who hath narrowly cfcaped with his hfe by drinking Ibme dan:^e- reus poifcn, willinj:Iy co^.tinuc t0 take ir. ho])ing*hliroc;llapc. Wherefore thou ouightcll: tofiy finne , bccaufe it will grow to a) cuftomc ; for the lohgcr thou con- \ tinueft in fmnc, the number of thy fmnes will be the more incrcafed, and then the more diihcnlt it will be to leave them : For {in is like a fnow-ball ; the further it is rou- kd , the more it increafeth ; and that finne which at the firft fee- med ftrange and uncouth, by cu- ftome becommeth plesfint and de- lightfull. A bird put into a cage, at the firft fluttereth about, but at the length (lie is well enough con- tented, and beginn-ith to (ing ; and a Have put into the mines, the Hrft day lobs and fighs, but afterwards [can (ing at his worke. Even fo Ithofe Haves, which the Devill ta- Iketh captive at his will and plea- jfure could grieve afore for (innes linthouglit, ca^inow delight in in- numerable The FreftmipHom mAns mWrour, 1^5 nuiTieri>bls fins oF prefuinption ; for szmco,, CoapietPii'? "peecandi mHlntndinem fads pec ca:orum, the ciiflonic of {in proaaceth a multitape of (innes. ^•V'i^refore Trinclpijs o^fta, with- ftand the beginnings, is as good in fpiritUiill Phyfickc, as incorpo- r^ll; and as fit a rule to beohkr- ved in curing the fickneir^ of the foule, as in healing the difcafi^ of the body. CHAP. XXVIII. Tempt. 8. It is a little fin^ and he needeth not jeare to commit it, THc Devill our politickc ene- my knowing that few will venture to c€«nmit any prefump- tuous finne , if it appcarcth in its ugiineflc : He therefore to allure men l6^ I The TreJ^m^moH4 mans mirr&ur, men to finne, dealctb with men, as the Panther doth with thole creatures whom hee mcaneth to prey on : Hee hidetb his head which is terrible to all beafts, and (heweth his party-coloured body, which while beafts delighted with the alluring fight greedily gaze on, he fuddenly affaulteth, and often- times killeth. So the Dcvill hi- deth the deformed uglinefle, which is in finne, and which finne brin- geth men unto ; He tellcth them it \s a little .finne , and that it is full of pleafure and profit , which whileft men greedily aftcifl it, he affaulteth them, and oftentimes ovcrcometh them : For what (inne is there which the aaturall man! will not commit, if it appeare lit- j jtle ; and what finne is there the JDeviii will not allure to commit, j jbecaufe it is little. For to thofe \ ; which doubt to commit fomeprc- ! liumptuous fin,thus he urgcth : ^ Jt is no fuch finne fu it feemeth^ j \it i^fnch a finne a^s God cannot in j \jfifttce fmifh thee for ever : J fit be \ The PreJhmftuoHi mAns tnirroftr, 1 6y a Jin, it u but a little om^ for which God will not , he cannot he anqry. Doth not god pajff over greater Jim ^ and^illhe i^Hnijh this ^ Shall we think^ qodlike the ^harifees^ which ^^ould firdine at a gff^^ andfwallowa cam- mell ? Farre he it from a mercifnll (jodthpu fever ely to punljlj fucb pec-' Ciidilloes , to take vengeance on mM for [uch little fences. Thondsjltoo much derogate from Gods honour to thinks that he doth ahafe himfelfe to take notice of fnch little fns, Hojv- fy/er it 14 hut a little vne^ and there- fore thou majeji more eafily ohtaine pardon, ^f4-j dicat ali^uodpeccatum ejfe parvulum ? Alas what (inns is there fo little, which God cannot punilTi , or which the Almighty taketh no notice of ? yet if ^^^jpfajo.j. (houldmarke what ii done armjfe^ who ^ere then able to abide it. If he for our feverall iinnes {hould fend fe- verall punifhrnents, who then were able to endure it. God feeth our flnnes, yet he punidieth them not ; he knoweth them , and yet hec marks them not; he knoweth them in Auivtjt. 1 68 I The rrefmptHom mans mirroUr, in his infinite knowledge, yet be doth not ahvaies marke them to our infinite tOiment : And this is fo f-ine fiom abating C^od, that it addcthto his glory, that he fhould know and take notice of the baft finnes • Shall man for the fitis- fying of his co rupt paiTions take notice of the leaft offence commit- ted agaiiift himlelfe;and fhallnot Cod for the fatisfying of his divine juftice fee every f^nne how little fbever , that \% coinmitted againft him. Now by the way you may fee the fraudulent policy of our watch- fiiU enemy the Devill , to allare thee to commit any finne. Afore it be committed, hee will put a falfe vizard on it , and hee will p?int it with an alluring counte- nance, he will tell thee it is a lit- tle fin, yea fuch a one as ( :5od will not, nay he cannot be angry with thee for committing it. But this is to haiden men with the deceit- fijlnefle of finne ; for afterwards finne ihallbc difmasked, thedcvill wiU Hcb.j.i^. The TrefimpuotM mansntirroHr, will pull off this falfe vizard from finne, he will fet it forth in its owne lively colours, fhewmg thee the hainoufneffe of thy (inne, and the horribleneflb of thy tranfgrei>. fion out of the word of God, where thine owne confcience lliall wit- neflfe againft thee, compelling thee to cry out with that good father, lamentably deploring the ftealing of a few apples even in his child- hood. Tantillm puer^ tanttis fecca- tor. So little a childe, fo great a (inner. Then wiU it be no excufe to (xy thou fuppoiedft it to be a little finne , sni therefore 6ii^ continue it : For in pleading thus, thou doeft adde to thy finne, and aggravated thy wickcdnefle ; for thou canfl: not plead thus,unle{le thou kneweft it to be a fin : For how can you know it to be a lit- tle finne, unlefie you did rtrft know it to be a finne ? and if thou know- eft ; it to be a finne, and yet wilt adventure to commit it, then will it be a finne not of ignorance, but of knowledge ; and how is italit- I tlcj 169^ \ 170 tuk. 47. 2. 1 S3W.6. ' The Prefumftuotii m^s mlrreur, tie offence , feeing it ftiall be puni- ftied with double ftripes. Happily thou efteemeft that a Tcniall finne, which is in his own nature a hainous tranfgreflion. Vzr^ ^ah might fuppofe his fraying the (haken Arkc to be a lervicc welU pleafing, and acceptable to the Lord : Yet bccaufe this fatft was contrary to Gods command, he was by the immediate hand of God ftrucken dead in that place. King Davids numbring the peo- ple might feeme an adlion in po- licy excellent , in Theology not difcommendable:For were not the Num,x(5, 'people of Ifrael numbred ; and is jit not lawfull for a King to num- Iber his fouldiers : yet becaufe it I was done out of a bad intent, that he might thereby rely on the num- berlerie multitude of his fouldiers, and not reft on the Almighties all-proteding providence, a con- fuming peftilcnce breaketh oui-, 1 Sam. 14 ^"<^ fweepeth away feventythou- fand in three dayes fpacc. The ea- ting of an Apple by Adam might fceme The Prefatnftuotu mnns mirrour, iji L feeme a little o fence, feeing profit , G e n, | , 6. did allure hmi, pleafure did entifel hini,and his only companion his lo- j ving wife pcrfwaded him to it : yet ' becaufe there was a contempt of Gen. x. 17 Gods commandement^anunbeliefc, of Gods thrcatenings, and a proud. defire of equalizing Gods Mr; cRy, the creatures which were fubjecl to them breake their allegiance to this traitour , the fruitful! earth be- commeth barren, and Paradice! yeeldeth him neither delight, nor I proHt, Iffft he and hisvi^hole-poftemj Oca 3. 2 4 is tkrnfl out of it. How can any finne be little, feeing it coft the onely begotten Sonne of God his mod precious bloud to fatisfie Gods provoked wrath for It ? This is the"devili{li policy of Satan to make you to extenuate your rebellions, and to excufe your abominations, caufing you to fay with Lot, when as he had an exprefle Commandcment to fly to the mountnines. Oh not ^fn.19. fo my Lord^ "BehM now thj fer~ .^^.spj^o, vant hath found grace in thj fi(ilot, \ I a Loe ^Loe now this City isneertofiyuntOy it is ajittle one I Oh let me efcaoe \thither (J6 it not a little one f ) and .my fotile Jhall live. So when God Igiveth thee a charge to flye from I all finne, you arc ready to reply, J Oh not fo my Lord, what your j beloved finnes (faith tVie Devill ? ) behold you have found favour in the fight of the Lord. Is not this a little finne ? keep it ftill, and your foule fhall live. For the De- • vill can be content ^ wee thould 2 Kib.j.. jfay with Naaman , / mR wor/hlp no other God, htit the Lord ^ onely the Lord he mercifull in this thing , the Lord pardon this fmne -, they niuft keep their darling (in, they muft not part with their Lofome wickednefle. Grant this their beloved finne is a little finne. A little thiefelet in at the window will'makeway for a greater. Ut little offbnces in, and hainous rebellions will eafily follow after ; For finne is of fuch a nature, that it will , and muft have company. It will firft plead right TheVrefumpHom mansmirrour^ 173 righr of uiheritancc, , and after- wards of poflfcfTion ; and tbofe (innes which thou fo fleightly cftecmeft are fufficient to kill thee. Minuta flura feccata , fi negligan^ tur, occidunt : Hell-fire is the jufl: reward of the leaft finnes. The wounding of all iinne is deadly , and is it not all one to beftabbed to death with bodkins , as ^W/;^ (^ ormienti ne qmc^ cptam confeEiurns efi Z)f^, we can- not goe to heaven flreping in a chaire : God will not lave any without the working of his own will ; nay the omilTion of good duties ftiall be a mainc caufe for ^ which The Prefumpmou^ ntans mlrrow, jpi r which the wicked iTiall be dam- ned the laft day. Chrift will lay that to their charge, and he will alledge that as a reafbn , why he pafleth the fentenceof condemnati- on upon them, not as if the wicked (liould pad's iinpuniihed for their fins of commiilion, butbecaufethe omillion of good duties (liail be a fuiricient matter of condemnation, i^ they were guilty of no other of- fence ; and this prefumption of ob- taining heaven without good works, is zs € not worthy to he compjind mth \ ' the glory, thut Jhdl he rsvealed in I us ; and therefore Saint <^uflin | j demandeth, Tro quo merit ^ccipi-\ ^^^^-^ es vitam Atermm 'i What m erit is in thee to challenge eternall life for its reward ? feeing that eternall life is a gift of mercyjand not a debt of merit. K Yet Johan. iP4 HchC.r 1 6. The PrefumptuoHs mans mirronr. Yet are good works to be per- formed of us , although by them we cannot purchafc heaven , and that in a fourefold refpedt : r I. God. ^2. Others. Inrcfpcdl of<^3. ourfelves, 74. our felves, and C others. I. InrcfpedofGod, and that in a twofold regard : 1. Becaufe he hath commanded them, Ipfe dixit. Pjthagoroi bath 'faid it, was a fufficient anfvver to i his fchollars, to hinder any further jdifputation ; and why (Lould it not be a fufficient reafon to move iChriftians, Iffe dixit , Chrift hath ixiA it, God hath commanded it. IVho ii not unrighteous to forget jour ivorke,and labour oflo'ye ? 2. Becaufe they pleafc God, with fuch (kcrifices Qodii rveUflea' fed. An earthly father is well plea- fed with a meane duty in his childe, becaufe he feeth he doth his en- deavour ; and our heavenly Father is well pleafed with the imperfed worke The PrefumptHom mans mlrroHr,< ip> worke of his childc, becaufe he feeth he ufeth his utmoft endea- vour to pleafe God, who acccpteth the will for the deed, and there- fore thefe works are as a fweet fmell^ a facrlfice acceptable and well- pleajtng unto him, 2. In refped of Others, and that likewife in a twofold refpedl : I. Tofliew forth your faith and obedience to Jiien, that they may fee \ your good works , a^^td gLrifie your j Father which u in heaven, Fqr by j thefe, ye make manifeft: to tlie] world your prcfcHion , th^^fq are! the badges of Chrillians, the live- ries by which Chriils fcrvantsare diftinguillied from the vaj^aboiid I flaves of Sat.in, and this is youn jaftihcation afore men. Thus was Abraham 'uftlfied by hU rpQrJ^s'^hz ' did by oftering up his fonne rna- nifeft to the world Ins- faith in God, and obedience to his com- mand ; ih^'s was the thing that "Paul commanded Tit^is to be con- ftant in, that they which have be^^ leeved in qod might be CKKefrll to K 2 vfaintainc Ph'il.4.18' Mat. f. 1 6." .3.8, ip^ Hebu. 14. The Prefui9$ptH0HS mans mirroftr, mamahe go9£^works;3nd he addcrh, thefi things are frofitable and good unto wen, 2. To (lop the mouthes of our malicious advcrlaries,and toturnc away their undcfcrved flanders ; when as by our praclife we (hall manifcft our profcflion, and by lour d^eds, which are real 1 words, I we lliall eafily confute our adver- I faries, that we teach good works to be neceflary, by our profeiTlon, by our pradife ; and that we hold tliat without holine^e no mAn poafL^ fee the Lord : yet this is not by: mans rightcoufneflfc, but by Gods' mercy. It is ftoried of ^DUgenes^ that when there was a queftion in the fchooles amongft certaine Philofophers, whether any thing I could move ; whileft foaie were Iftudying what to urge, he went ! hopping about the fchooles ,fo that by his owne motion he eal'ily con- vinced all their contrary argu- ments, let them prate what they could to the contrary. Let the Pa- pifts plcafe to ftile us, hofteshno- rm TherrefimftuoHS mms mhrour, I (}j rum opernm , the enemies of good | works, i^nd let them ftudy to prove j it ; yet let us doe good, and we} fliall ea( ly convince all their ar- i guments whatfoevrr, let envy fay! what (he will, and malice fpeake! what llie can to the contrary. j 3 . We muft do good works for our \ own fdkes,&that again for 2 reafos: j I . To fettle our wavering con- j fciences, and to manifefl: to our | owne foules, that wc arethechil- j dren of God i thefe arc the ma- ! nifeft tokens of our regeneration, the true fignes of our adoption. For as Chrift faid to the J ewes. If ye V^ere the children of Abrahamy Ioh.8. je would doe theworkes of Abraham So may I fay, if ye be the adopted children of God, ye will doe the works of God. Ads and deeds ainongft men are figned and fea- led, but in the law of God they are fi!:^nes and fealcs. E^xls they a-e of our internallfanfliikati6,but: not caufcs of our eternalif Orati- on. 1 hey are not antecedents, but conf.quents of our jullification. , K 3 They ipS f The PrefuTT^ftuom mans m'lrrour. 1.3, i.^. They are the foundation, which every Chridiau is to Uy tip in ft ore ^ that they way lay hold on eternall life, 2. They caufe Gcd to beftow many eanhly blcITings on me.! in this hfc. Ahrahum ts very rich in cattell, in filver, and in gold. Jacob increafeth exceedingly, and hath much cattdl^ and maid-fervants^ andmen" \ferv ants, and camels, a^dajfes, even then when he ferveth a crtieil tin- kle ; aird lob ^ the greatefl of all the men of the Eafl , even io that Satan -chargeth God, that lob doth not feare Cjod for nought , but that Cjod bkffeth ilye vporke of hi5 hands ^ and his fnbflance is increafcd in the Lnd, I 4. Good works are to be done ;' cf us both for our owne good and , orh.c) ?, and that aUb is for two cau- ; fcs : ' f. To prevent Gods anger. See one good aflion how efeluall it is, even Mofes prayer ; when God 1 did threaten a generall deftriKl:ion j of the people of Ifraei, becaufc they \ maie' The Prefumptuopu mans mirrour, jpp made a cdtfe in Horel>y ar}d worfifAp^'* lT,io5.s9 fed a molten image. Yet Abut himfelf hath put him- felfc inevitably to commit one> he muft chufe the leaft, ratlier finning in the manner,in committiog fome particular evil, then in the matter ,iri omitting the whole; for our difobc- dicnce in neglecting the duty is to- tall, whereas it is but partialljif thou pcrformeft the duty other wife then God requireth. ^ CHAP. 2 o 2 The PrefimptMoi4^ mans mirrour. ar- CHAP. XXXII. Tempt. 12. Thofi haft fiee^willy and maifi jinne\ novpyiind repent ^andk^ep the Law- of\ Cjod hereafter^ THe Devill vanquiHied in one afiEiult, will aHault againe ;.and if man be once perfwadcd, that good works are neceffary , then, will he prove to thcm> that they may dos good when they wili^, and that it is in their p9wer for to ftUfiil the whole law of God. ^ For (foith vSatan) doth God com-- mand tht€- fmh things- as are not in^ 1 i;hj fowsr to per for me ? iffo, then Cjpd m^ffeeme morfe thn tyrants I doth he command thee things impof-'\ Jlf>le T v>hy doth- he not fet Iftvpes ta • i: ^ t. them ? The Trefumptuotii mans mirrour', | 20 j them ? and if he have no morepoW^er' then they^ what are men / ftocks and \ fiones in doing^ of (rood ^ that they] are led artd drawne to it by the Al- \ tni^h'y ? If man furely hath fee- \ y>i>illy 'why then doefl thou now feeke] to God to deferre it tUl another • time, when thou mayefl rrhore con- \ venientlj ? Hay till thou hafl j^otten more wealth , and then ferve God, in the meane while continue in fin^ ning, and refaine not OAyet fomthy former painfull courfes. Ye mayl^4tris not our refor- med Religion, that allureth men I© prelumption^ but that foulc-kil- lii^ herefie of popery, which put- teth Tcniall finnes, and maketh free-will an Article of faith, tea- ching that a Chriftian may con- vert himiclfe, when, and how ht \ will r. yet I wxuld to God Vnere j were not fome reliques of thisiu perftition left even in thadecdt fuU hearts of many . hypoaiticall'l profelfors i for fuch is the intol- Icrable pride of man, that he will have a Babd of his-owne building 5 he 204 The rrefumptU9H6 mans mirronr. he will be favcd by the gpod ufc j of his Gwne free-will. It is pro- | phane Efaus ^i\idX^Jhrother,lhiive\ enoHgh ; but good Jacob will fay, I ^od hath given me all this. The wic- j ked attribute their falvation to their j free-will , whereas the godly af- | cribe all to Gods free choife. 7 he ; unbeleeving thinketh to come to heaven by their owne ilrength ; but the faithful! defire to attaine to it by faith in Chrift. Indeed if our once-happy pro- gcnitoor had ftood in that pcrfed dftatc, wherewith God the Cre- ator of all things didendowc hiii'' at his creation , then might man have €^taiiied an incorruptible crownc by the good ufe of hi& frcc-wiH, But when proud man^ thought to be cquall with the mod higheft in glory ^ he became al- moft cquall to tfe Devill in mi» fcty. He hath no willtodogoodj, no ftrcngth to keep any part of -Gods Law, neither hath he any po- wer to perform the leaft ofall good aftionSv For he h^th nofuf^lencj tftr The Yrefnm^tmm mans mirrour, 205 in hlmfelfe to thirtk^H^g^ood thought, but Mt hk fufficiency is of Cfod, Om- nc o^m bonum grattai Del pr un- lefle grace did precede. For no man can come unto Chrifi , unleffe god draw him. We by Adams fall not onely are lame in our k^t with Mephihofheth , but we have no feet to carry us unto God. Adami lapfu naturdia dona corrupt ta^ fupernaturalia extinSla y by Adams fall our naturail gifts were corrupted;, and our fupernaturall gifts {i£ zny were) are loft. Nay that ftout champion of that Ro- mi(h Religion doth affitinc, that mans mil in thlngf appertaining to fietj mdfalvationy can^lnothing with- Be/^ar de gra.O*lib arh, lib-6, C;p,S'in titu!o» 2o6 ; T/:e Preft^mptuoH^ mans mirrom-. \ I mthofit the ajfi fiance of gods q^r ace, \jea the fpeciatl affi fiance : Though ; in another place otthe fame bookc he contradideth himfelFe , when he laith, Man before all grace iiath free- will J not onely to thin-^s morally and naturally bm to works of piety , and fuptrnaturall things. Thus are Papifts contrary to themfelves, to Fathers,to Scripture. Neither for all this our infuffi- ciency is it any injuftice in God, any wrong to man for God to re- quire of man a peifed fiiifilling of the Law ; becaufe God in giving us the Law hatK refpcd: unto the ftate of innpccHcy , . wherein . wee were created, that, man hath loft this his fpirituall ftre[)gth, and be- come wretched , it is his owne folly, his owne wickedneflc. Tc^, make this more plame by a (imili- tude. Suppolfe a creditor lendcth his debtor an hundred pounds ; when he lendetb this money, the debtor is abk to pay it ,af ter wards - he by txceflive ryot ^ and by ry- oting exc.cflc^ waikth his eftate, and The PrefumftHom mans mlrrdur, and confumcth this money : fo that , he is now unable to difchargc this debt. Is it any in/uftice in the crcr ditour to demand his ovvne again^ teeing when he lent it him,he was able to pay it ? Thus the. cafe ftan- dcth between God and man ^ God in the ftate of innocency gave us free-will, and power to doe good, ftrength and ability to keep the whole Law of God ; and as the Lord told Tiavid in another cafe: Jf thii h^d been too little, he would moreover have given him fuch and fuch things ; he would have given him more grace if he had.delired it. U\^an.wA$ieth hiifnb^ance with riotous living , he lofeth his free- will and power to keep the whole Law of God,, It is not. now any injuftice in God to require of man the perfed fulfilling of the Law, feeing G©i endowed man with^povver,^ and ability to keep the Law of God , which fhcep and oxen never had., and there- fore God fettcth to them no. Law 5., hee givetti them' ' no. Com- red. 7. 19 208 The T^refumptuom mans mirrour. Commandment to kCwp. Had man been created in this eftate, into which by finne, he is now fallen : God could not have exaded this of him, but man nvas created upright , and he found out many inventions^ many (ins, where- by he might offend God, vcxe his neighbour, and damnc him- felfe. Happily thou art regenerate^ and therefore haft free-will to doe good ; or may be, thou art a Pa- pift, and holdefl free-will in all eftates of men, even in the unre- fencratc : yet if it plcafc God by is Spirit to knocke at the doore j of thy heartjthou oughteft to open unto him, left afterward thou call, and God will not anfwer ; thou kncckeft, and he will not open. The Spoufe in the Canticles only deferred her comming to Chrift at the firft call : afterward Jhee j arofe y hut he U'^ gone^ fije fought ' him whom her fsul lovedjbut p^e found \ htm not. Wherefore let not him ^ tliat is regenerate deferrc his doing 1 of The PrefumptfiOHf mans mirraur. 109 of good 5 left having once chec- ked the good modoils that are wrought within hiiii, and grieved the holy Spirit of God, by which heisfealed to the day of redemp- tion : afterwards , when he wil- lingly would doe good , he (hall find fuch a dulneiTc , and dro wfi- nefle m the performance of Chriftian daties, that he will find it very difficult, I had almoft laid, impoilible to doe good. But art thou nnrcgencrate haft thou not as yet cruciiied the old man ? haft thou not mortifi- ed thy unruly lufts and wicked affections ? Do they rule and raigne in ^zZitans^UAmDormnus indomo^ like a Mafter m his houfe ? and yet wilt thou deferre thy conver- fion, till thou haft incrc^ifed t1iy fublbnce, and heaped together more riches ? art thou a Papift, and beleeveft free-will? Know that thy wealth will without Gods efpeciall favour be a furtheranc* to thee rather to caft thee downe into hell, then to lift thee up in- to F^rcw- (iio I The PreJumptHOHSTnaftsmirrouT, to heaven. For then art thou to anfwer for the ill getting of them, the more unjuft retaining of them, I and the mod vile fpendmgof them, i Befides , art thou fure, if thou li- , veft long, to get riches ? May not, • nay doth not God fruikate thofe ^ mens expeditions, which prefer I the riches of this world afore the I riches of Gods mercy ? their : earthly treafures, which thceveSi j may fteale, rufl may coniIime,and the vile moath m.iy eat upi)efbrc the heavenly treafures, which nei- ther time can diminilh , neither ftjall it be taken away by violence or craft. The worldlings care is ; for the inlargmg of his barnes ^ but what fiith Chrift,hebrai:d:th him with the name of a foole for 1 his labour. A fcole indeed he was, i to preferre a thin:^ of little value ': afore a thin^ of an ineftimablc j price. 2. A iadden lofle of his foul ,is threatened to him, even thh^. \ night (fiith C;od) thy foulc fjnll be\ ^required of thee ; I'addc , where I [lliallhis foule be thatheprovideth 1 for. I The PrefumptHOHs mans mirrour. Ad, Aa, for, farely it (hall with jHda4 ^o\A.^go€ to his owne pUce, Where- fore take heed of refifling the holy Ghoftj it is not in your power to convert your fclfe, neither are you a ftocke, or a ftone ; becaufe a ftone , as long as it is a ftone, cannot receive grace ; but man may be converted, and yet remaine the fame in fubftance, onely his wicked qualities are altered, are re- newed. Wherefore if at any time thou haft fuch a proud thought, that it | is in thy power to convert thy ] felfe. Remember, that it isar^^^^- Tit.j.f, neration ? and is it in mans power . to beget himfclfe ? Remember it is a KefurreEilon : Can a dead maa raife himfelfe ? Remember it is a new life, and can a man give him- felfe life ? Remember it is the life of God, how then can any crea- ture produce it ? Remember, it is a Creation, how then can this converfion fpring from man, fee^ ing it is no led: difficult to cre- ate a world, then to convert a lin- ner^ Rev. JO, Rom.6,4. Eph z 1 1. Gal. 6, 1 y 212 Aiifiin. Pf ioj,%5 Heb i.io Luk.1.5] Auflin de gra ^lib. arb.cd.ib The Trefiimpmus mans mirrour. ner ? It was -i^^r^wwD^jthe word of God, which was the inftrum«nt of our creation ; but it is verhnm Detu, God the word , which is the inftrument of our recreation. The Scriptures call the heavens , the worke of his hands ; but the recre- ating of a finner is the firength of his armes : His hand was fuffici- cnt to the one , it requireth the ftrength of his armes to the other : But why then are we comman- ded to doc good. Jdeo fr^cepum datUTy Ht Ofixiilum ejus imfloretur, Wc are commanded to doe it,bc- caufe we (hculd fcekc aid of him. He (hew^th us by thefe his com- mands what we flipuld doe , not what wc now can'doe. Ideojtiffit aliqua^ €jH(& non pojfumus ^ &C. Some things ^re commanded of God , that we cannot per- formc , that wee may know what to aske of tliem , and well may he urge us by his pre- cept, who hclpcth us by his grace. Let us therefore pray with that good Father, "Dow'wel da qmd'jti- heSy The PreJumftuoHs mans whrrour. hs^ & 1X3 e quod vi4. Give us, O Lord, power to doe what tViou commandeft,and then commaud us to doe what thou wilt. #if##%if##i CHAP. XXXIII. Tempt. 13. ,,Sinne now ^ and refent in thy old THere arc two temptations which the Dcvill chiefly ur- geth ; the firft he draweth from Gods mercy ;the fecond he draw- eth from long life ', and with thefe two temptations , he continually aflaulteth all Ch rift ians,efpwcially men of yoanger yeares, he ftill footheth up them with the hope of obtaining the never failing mer- cy of God 5 and continually flat- ters them with a vaine cxpedla- j _ tion a 14 I The ^refumftuoHS mans mirroHr. tion of a long life, telling every young man. Sat ant it ? or wilt thou receive it pre- fently ? Art thou fnre to hve to receive grace hereafter ? Haft thou a leafe of thy life for many yeares? or art thou fure to breathe till to morrow ? No doubt, but many thoufands are in hell , which thought to repent when they were ! old, whom God cut off in the midft of their age : For the wic- ked /he not out halfe their dayes, I It \s floried of the Elephant, that I he fleepeth leaning to a tree, which being afore kcretly cut, both fall to the ground, and can rife no more. So thefe which truft to the ftrength of their body, or to their youth, whileft thty thmke to fleep fecurely in (inne, death com- meth and cutteth downe the ftrength of their body , to which they truft, and both fall to the ground , and are able to ^arife no more , feeing our life as the wo- man of Tekoah told King 7)avUy is as Tvater if lit upon the ground ^ whieh cannot be gathered up a^aine. Sera pamtentia efi raro vera^ vera pdtni' The TrefwnftHOHS mans mrrour, 319 f^mtentU nnnqnajn fera. But grant you live to be old, are you fure to repent? haft tHbu continued a ftedfaft courfe infin- ning,and thinkeft thou to jump out of it in an inftant "^ Oh no, it is not fo eafie to {hake off finne, it is more difficult to get out of the intangling fnares of Satan. Satan will ftill cry with the flug- gard, yet a little Jleep, a little flum^ %er , a little folding of the hands, \ Still will he allure thonto put \ off thy repentance from day to day, from Sabbath to Sabbath, from moneth to moneth, from yeare to yeare, and from one eftate to another. How wilt thou de- ferre it from youth to manhood, from manhood to marriage, from marriage to old age , fron!;^^ old age to dotage, and from dotage then wilt goe without Gods abun- dant mercy to the Devill. Por wickednefle begun in youth, clea- vcth faft to old age , and an in- veterate cuftomc will not cafily be broken, L ^ The Pro.tf. 10. 220 PltKy. Mic.tt. The Prefumptuom m4m mirr$tir. The 'poifon of Salamander tou- ching , and infeding the root of a tree, infedeth , and fpoyleth all the fruit of it ; and furely if the poifon of Satans temptations touch and infed the beginning and root of our life, all the fruits and ani- ons of old age will be poyfoned, will be fpoyled :Forfinfullycung men naturally become wicked old men. Happily through want of ftrcngth, or of fome ht opportuni- ty, thqucannot coutmue their ac- cuftomed finnes ; yet how are they delighted with a continuall relation of thefe wicked prankes, j which their youth hath aded ; I and both love and countenance I fuch men as committed the like i finnes with them , v/hich were } brethren in iniquity , co-partners ! in wickednefle , and fcllow-wor- ' kers of the fame finne. For the I Dcvill i^ that ftrong man^ which j is not fo eafily difpoflcffed, efpeci- I ally of whom he can plead prefcrip- I tion,where a continued cuftome of ; finning hath given him quiet pof- fcffion. What The VreJumptuoHs mans mirrotir. What though thoia canft not firine in thy oli age ? grain q-cy (inncs, they leave thee, thou wilt not leave them. For it God can difpchiewith his Law, it is well, but if thou canft keep thy (innes, thou art not minded to part with them. >Io wbeit, thou muft know it will hereafter be more difficult to leave them , more uneafie to forfake them. A twig, if it be but of a ycares growth , is pluc- ked up with one hand ; but if it continue two y eares , then muft thou put too both thine hands , but if it take rooting the third yeare, it will require the ftrcngth of thy whole body : Let it alone a fourth yeare, and it will hardly be rooted up, even with thy grea- teft ftrength. Even fo is fin^^e, at the firft it 'will ealily be rooted up ;. but if it be let alone to grow to a cuftome, itwiil then require more ftrength, more groanes. When as Chrift met with the | young 'man , that was carri- ed out of ^the city to bee bu- L 3 ried. 211 Lak 7, 122 The 'PreJumptHam mAns vmrrour. ricd, he touching the beere ^ bid him arife. But when he came to raifc up Lax^Arm , which being ready to ftinke in the grave, he groaned in the fj)irit, and vpm troft- M'i/^ ' ^^*^^' ^^ ''^^P^' h^ oroaneth agalne in the jpirlty he prayeth, he calleth upon La^arm : On which divers ani- ons of Chrift, a -Father giveth this moral!, when men are but newly fallen inro finne, they are eafily raifed, by a word, as T^avid^hyz looke, as Teter ; but when iinnc groweth ftrong in men , when they are for a long time dead in treffaffes and finnes , then many a figh, a groane, a tearc, a prayer IS required, ere they can be raifed out of finne. A feftercd fore is difficultly cured , whereas a new wound is more eafily healed. The Apoftlc would have finncrs yAnt^- ri^iTi, to be put in joynt, for fb much the word tranflated (reftore) importeth : If a bone be long out of joynt , it is more difficult to fct againe : if a Chriftian be long - difjointed, he will more difficultly be G.il.6.1, The Trefumpmus mans mlrrour, 223 bereftorcd. Moreover, how doe you know that God will accept you in your old age* For that which Maiachi fpake of the dead facrificcs of the Law, may I well apply to the li- ving facrifices. of your bodies : Jf ye offer the hlirtd for facrifice^ is ir not evill f If ye offer the lame , and ficke^ is it not evitl ? offer it new unto thy ^overnour^ mil he he flea- fed with it , or accept thy ferfbn , faith the Lord of Hofls ? He that had good cattell, and offered' the halt and the maime was ao curfcd ; and ftiafl wee ofe our fickly age to the Lord ? Jffa fe- neUm morbus^ even old age it feifc is a difeafe : what equity or ju- ft ice is this, to be the wretched bondfla'ves of Satan in our youth, and when we are unable to doe him any further fervice, then to come and profFvr our fervice unto the Lord. Would a Captaine re- ceive a maimed fouldier , which ferved his enemy as long as there was any ftrength m his limbes ? L 4 and Mai 1,8, 22 4 ( -^^^ PrefamptHofts mans mlrro wr. and (hall the Lord ot* Hofts take you for his faithfull fouldiers in your old age, who contrary to your oath , and againft your vow have traiteroufly taken the Devils •part in your youth ? you have of- fered up your youth to the De- vils rbrine, and will you clap your old bones on Gods Altar ? will you keep that for God which you cannot doe any thing elfe withall ? will you thinke it early enough to arife to God, when as you cannot arife out of your beds ? Exod. ij. He that required the firfi borne ^ 'and the firfl fimts^ will have the firft borne of thy adions, and the firfl: fruit of thy labours. «xf// the frftlin^s are the Lords, and wilt thou facrilegioufly take away Gods part , and give it unto the Devill. God in the Leniticall Law 7«e/^jc to attaine to yearcs,thus he will urge : ThoH art lufly and flrong,fnrelj Sata»5 ar- god Mil fend thee fckpejfe^ rvhkh u gument. deaths harbinger^ and in thjfickne^e thou wayefl refent , i^hkh is noi fo diffcuit as fame nould ferfwade thee. A figh u^on thy death- bed, and to cry out. Lord have mercy upon thee. mil be repentance fuffcient, Afinner \ thcu art, and thou muft recent ; y-et \ thoH 2 2 8 The Frefi^mpttiom mans mirrour, thdtt Art mtfuch a^reat finncr^M that thou needefl ffend the rermundtr of thy life in the pra^ife ofrepcfttartce. Continue in Jinne^ till that it Jhall pleafe Cjod to vifit thee withjicknes, and that "will put thee in rninde of 4eathj and fo thy repentance will he more fincer-e^more excellent, j Art thou not a great (inner ? be- } 0des thofe fins which thine owne confcience is guilty of : Is it not a great finne to lye in finne uh- tepentedof, to put of repentance from this time to that time, to checkc the motions of the Spirit, which ftirrc thee up to put off finne ? or are not thefe finnes to be repented off ? Suppofeyougoe downe quick^ into hell, and in 4 jobti.xj moment defcend into the grave , as the wicked doe : If God fend thee no fickneffe , which thou calleft deaths harbinger, but in his juftice cut thee off in the midft of thy finnes , how wilt thou then re- pent ? how canft thou then be forry for thine iniquities, and grieved for thy rebellions ? Are , therQ The TrefumptfiOHi mans mirronr, 2 29 there not many millions fvvepti away in an inftant, to whoin(ick-[ nelT? gave no warning , neither I did paines trouble them, nor aches ! mokft them, which were as good, as upright as thy felfi ? and why expe^ho hath ever heard fnch things ^ the vir- gin of Ifrael hath done a very hor-. rihk thing. It is a horrible thing thus to defpaire for finne, becanfe they have prefumed in finnej, and then to prefunae in fmne, becaufc they have defpaired for fin. Thft they draw ini^uitj with cerds of va- nity , and Jinne as it jvere V^ith a cart-rope. Thus arefinnes like the links of a chaine, they are ail lin- ked together, and allfervetodraw a man headlong into the-pit of de- ftrudion. But thefe men mu^ know, that , God hath promifcd to open to them \ thatknocke ;. and. tMileth thofe that are heavy laden, and pr»;mifeth, he will eafe them, ' Thofe Prodtgals , which have been wuidrin::; from I their Father, if they will returne, ' he will receive them. But give a ; finncr his wull, he hath been a lonei The PrefumpttioHS mans mlrrour, 237 ong time a ftabborne offjndor. He ought therefore to fly finne, uidnotto abufe the long-fufeing patience of the Lord : Grant that iie is palt hope, and that he is fare lot to be faved ( although no kvickcd man can be in this life :ertain of his damnation, notwith- landing the godly may bee certainly perfwaded of his falva- ion, becaufe he that is to day kicked, may be to morrow con- certed : LMattherv that is a Pub-- .icane is called to be an Apoftle; Paul a pcrfecutor becbmmeth a Preacher ; and Marjj^ notorious harlor becommeth a notable hea- rer of Chrift. Hee -ivhich now Polio wes the pleafores? of finne, \n?Y by the powerful! grace of ood immediately hate tliat finnc, which afore he committed with "hQ greateft delight )^yet fuppofe thou art paft hope' of Talvatien , thou oughteft not to goe on in a rclblute courfe of .(inning wilful- ly, left the heavy judgements of a [inne revenging Go4 overtake thee even The Prefumptmus mans mirreur. even in this life : thy torments in hell be haftencd by temporall death, feeing the wicked live not out halfc their dayes, and thy pain- full mifery in hell be doubled, feeing all in hell fuffcr not alike. The ignorant ferva^t is i^eaten^hc" caufe he knew not the will of his Mafter; but. the wilfull o Vendor Jhal/ he heMen with double Jiripes , becaufc he knew the will of his Mafter, and did it not. He fhall re- ceive double puniQimcnts , he is trfiofold more the childe of hell^ his damnation ]h4l he greater^ and the worme of confcience (liall more grievoufly vexe, more cruelly tor- ment hiin.. For how can you think that Seneca the Philofopher fhall be punifhed with fuch exquifitc torments, as cruell perfccuring Nero. Idl Akibiades , asfcofifing Julian the Apoflata^ one that is mo- rally good, as he that is every way vitioufly eviU. Wherefore irbyiln thou waft infallibly certaine of damnation (wMch thou canft not Pf j4< If. be in this iSe^jetefchejvevili, avd " dot Thi ^reJkmftHoHs mans^mhrrour. j 239 doe good. For by adding to thy (ins thou addeft to thy woe , and by heaping up wickednefle and rebel- lion, thou heapeft up plagues and torments ; at the leaft , without Gods fpcciall mercy it will be a mains hinderance of thy conver- fion to Godward ; and after thy repentance it will caufe thee to grieie, becaufe thou haft offended a kind God, and finned againft a merciful! Father, which for all thy fins hath vouchfafed to call thee un- to him^and pardon thine iniquities, and forgive thy rebellions. Hitherto of the Caufesj and Antecedents. Jof Prc- Now follow the Ef- jfumption. fedls&Confequences. CHAP. 2^0 The T^reJ^mptH9ii6 mans mirroar. c-ji* *^^ <I'* *^ CHAP. XXXVI. SfeEi 1 . 0/ Trefumftion. Honor of Confcience, LAmentable arc the effects of all finnc^but thcfe of pre&mp- tion are moft miierable , moft I dangerous. It produceth wofull effe^s, it caufeth miferable con- jfequents. For although the con- fcience of man afore the com- mitting of finne , and ading of wickedneffe be lulled afleep infe- curity, and become hardened in wickednefle ; yet after that the (leepy confcicnce is once .rouzed out of this drowiie lethargy of finne, either by the fight of death, which he feeth ready to lay ho^ on The frefimftmm mans mvrrour* on liim, the feeling of Gods judgcr mei'rts oppreffing him, or the De* I vill with his fuggeftions politique* ■ ly aflayliag him, fiich horrour o^ confcience will be wrought in him, fuch defpaire will the Pe- vill produce , that he can fee no meancs poflible to avoid eternall dertru:lion both of body and foide. \t is ftoried of the Libard, that he beareth an implacable ha- tred againft the Lyon, which be-' caufe he cannot overcome by i ftreni^th, he therefore ufeth craft I to kill him, he diggcth a pit, the { entranc: whereof is broad, but \t is narrower in the middle, fo that the Lyon , which is of a more grofle body cannot pafT^ through. The Libard feeing the Lyon alleep fetteth on him , rouzeth him up, I provoketh him to follow him , | and then runneth into this pit. ! The generous Lyonfcemg abroad | entrance , followcth the Libard | into the inner part of the pit, which is more ftraight, more narrow, where ithe Lyon is held M fo ^41 aflu Self Uar. 1^4\(% The T^refumftmm mans mirropar. fo faft J that he can goc no fur- ther, nay the further he goeth, the fader he is held : which the Libard perceiving, goeth through and entreth againe , and fetteth upon the backc of the Lyon,which is held faft in the pit , and fo kil- leth him. Such an implacable ha- tred is between the feed of the woman, and the ferpent, betwc«n man \ and the Devill : Man like the Lyon is generous and bold, but the Devill with the Libard is fub- tie and crafty, and cannot prevaile againft man by his Rrength , but by his iubtilty, for he cannot com- pell man to (inne : But the De- vill hath a deep pit, Sinne, whofe entrance is broad ; for hroad uthe way that ieadeth to deflruEiiony hnt the hottome is fo narrow^ that when man is in it^ he cannot eafilj j^et out. When Satan feeth man to flcep in fecurity, and pleaf; him- felfe with the delights of this world, he tempteth man to fol- low him in (inne of all forts, ef pccially into (inncs of prcfump- tion, x6. The PrefumftHOHs mans mirrot&, 243 tion. jvlfjn feeing ,this eafie and pleafing. way, fttfercth himfelfeto I be allured. Satan having once i brought him into the depth oflin, i he Js held dilutive at bk fleafure ,, I'h^/fetteth on him with frelh af- lliaults , he commeth now and fct- [i teth on his backe parts , he mu- jlftcreth up- his former finnes y and j never leaveth him , till horror of I corifdence be wrought in him , I which may bring defpaire, and fo i maycaufc him to undcrgoe the I fecond death, by reafon of unbe- ! liefc. For after that a man iscnce ! touched with a true fight, and a j lively fueling of his wretched aii- 1 fery, the refticff^ tempter will ever I urge him with ths hainoufiefle of I his finnes, and the high excefle of his abhominable rebellions , i wherewith hee hath grieved, the ; holy Spirit of God , cauiing the j Lord to withdraw tHe light oFhis I countenance from him. Then if I thou goeft into: the afield , there j fiiall thy defiled,, confcience be the 1 Devils inllrupcnt,,^m vexe tfcee ' " ivl 2 ' with 244 1 ^^^ Prejhntptftoiu mMs niirrdur, |with;"a CQtitifiuall' repetition- of jtRe *iWgc Catalogue of thy rebel- I lions. If thou entreft fnto thine jhoufe, there will he fet thynum- jlbe^rlefli abominations before thee : I If thou goeft'into thy chamber, j and fliutteft thy feife into thy clo- tet ; 'thinking there to take thy reft, and to lay thy felfe down in peace and fafrty, there alfb will this turbulent accufer HhiQ thee out, ^nd make tliee pcfTcfle ! 'the iniquities of thy youth, there I Hialt thou finde no peace : Thus i (halt thou be driven from one place to,another, wondering what iliould thus vexe thee, whnt ihould thus torment thcc, untill thou en- trefl: into a ferious examination of thy moft deceitfuU heart , then fhalt thou perceive thine owne troubled afid tiirmoiled confcience is It , that caufeth this difmall fcare, that worketh this drcadfull horrour in thee. Then fhalt thou fee1i4 zz. T^e PreJiimfmoH6 mansmirrour, CHAP, xxxviir. %-Ef^Ei of Trefimftlon, ftimjhments. Diverfe pfai.75'5- ira,i,a4. THrough mmy triMationsmufl the godly enter into the kingdome of heaven : and fliall the wicked paifc 'this life without any trouble, without any punifhmcnt I For a while they may be Infij mdflrongy and come not in trouble as other men^ neither he fUgued like other folke: But God will not ever be burde- flc4 with a continuall fight of j jfhieir finnes, neither will he fuffer i the wicked al way es to goe unpu- ] niQied ; but h^ will e/ffe^im of hid adver'fkries^ - ^nd avenge him ' of his- enemies, Nemd impfine malus^ ^ Ko wicked man did ever goe unpu- niOied : For thofc whom Cods /udgements overtake not in this life, they will meet withall in th^ iife The TrefumftHoHs mms mirr our, \ life to come ; and thofe ungodly men that eicape corporal! and temporail puniihments here, lliall meet with Ipirituall and eternall torments hereafter. They efcapc the holy Sfirk of hurmngy which doth worke repentance and for- row for finnc in the godly , and fall into the hands of that wicked fpirit, which raleth in the bur- ning lake of fire and brimftone, where repentance will not profit I them , or forrow' for finne any way availe them. For God vpUI hy m Tueanes cleare the gu'iltjy but voiU viftt the iniquities of the fathers h^ on the children , and upon the shil- drens children^ unto the third and fourth ^eneratpon. For triMmoH on every fotUe of wan that doth eviH, on the Jew frft, (becaufe he had the greater priviledges. Chrifl did freaeh among thep^, Th voices of the l^rofhets fvere read ^evety Sal^^ hath-day to r^f«?, and the Gofpcll was fim proSered hy xhcApofiles to them, [Unto them atfo were com^ iidttedth^Vr^c^eSif ^God, *) And yet the. 25s I fa. 4. 4 i7* 254 1 ^^^ PreJumpHotis mans rmrrour. Rom. I. ao. Rom. 1. 14 Gcn.4 7. the iinfoll Gentiles cantiot cfcapc, for they had fufficient meanes to Jeavc them mthont excufe 5 and therefore the unbeleeving Gentile was alfo puniflbcd , was alfo pla- gued. For fuch infeparable com- panians arc firmc, and punidiment, 1 that they oftentimes beare each others nameiForGodtelleth Cain^ \ If thou doefl not welly fmne lieth at the doore^ meaning the punilliment I of fin is ready to take hold on him. Gen,4^ij, ^^-^ anfwcreth God, that hU fu- j mjhment U ^eater then he can heare \ j or as other tranflations read.it. His finne is ^ cater then can kefoT" given, God inventeth plagues a- gainft thofe "^hich imagine vpicked^ nejfe ; He devifeth the evil/ of fti" mjhment againfl thofe which devife the evill of fmne. He -mil meetflrange fnnesrpith ftrange funifhrnents: For god mU heap tip mifchiefe againB the wicked, and mil jpend his arr owes upon them. When man dareth pre^ fume to heap ftnne upon fnne^ Cjsd then will not Jpare to heap up mif^ chief € upon mifchiefe ; and rafhe^ the Mic.i.i. 23. The PrefumptHoHs mans mirrour. then JHdgements Jhould he ^Anting to the v^icked, he prepay eth them aforehund ; and left any fin might paflc unrevenged, any finner might efcape unpunillied. He hath nati- onal! puniibments for nationall finncs, he hath perfonall judgments for perfonall iniquities. Wherefore if thou wilt not fly prefumptuous (innes for no other reafon ; yet for thine owne fake ftiun that which puUeth downe the heavy judgements of God up- on thee. For when the cVy of our clamorous finnes afccnd into hea- ven, God then dcfcendeth downe to puniQi. The old JVorld was firfi drowned in finne^ 2&1XQ they were drowned for finne. The Ifraelites had firft^^j' tongues to murmure againft LMofes^ afore God fent jtbem fiery ferpents to fting them to death. And the Egyptians did firft d^owne the Ifraelites children in the river, afore God deftroyed their firfi home , and turned their rivers ime blond % And th» fti6&- Qe<:ke4:Jewes .rfyj:4«/?.^jf God^ '■j.-\ def^ifed 2 vhich perfift ftubbornly in ^\Uy and Mifillnot b« reclaimed by his mer- cy, may be confounded by his ju-^ ftice. The puniQimcnts arc many : we will fir ft treat of common ca- lamities, then wiil we fpeakofper- fonall corredions. lib, lo. CHAP. •258 The T^refUmpmm mans mirroHr, CHAP. XXXIX. I, (jenerall fnmjhmerits, THc Lord of Hofts hath (hot many of his arrow cs amongft us, the Icarres of whofc woun- ding are evidently perfpicuous^ , nay the wounds themlelves remain yet greenc :• For God hath fcnt grievous judgements on our land in thefe our dayes, fuch as nei- ther we, nor oui^fathers ever faw the like. Hath hot there been, I fay, not dayes , nor weeks , nor moneths, but yeares of vifitation; and yet did they come fhort of our finnes, for we finned not for ' daycs,weeks,months, or yeares, but I all our life long. j The Epidemicall difeafe, the ' Plague , did it not lye heavy on I the head city of our land, and by the The PrefumptHOJis mans mirrour, ajp the ficknefle of the head, the whole body of the land was diftempe-j red, pining away with ah uni- vcrfall confumption. T>eath did jer^ 21, then ciimhe up into our TaUces ,1 and entred in at our '^indowes to cut off the yopin^ man figm rvithout^ and the firong man from -mthinthe City. How neerely did many of, us efcape this arrow ofpeftilence,' when it was (hot amongft us :' f^or fomctimes it did reach men' fxcyond us, killing men that were 'ftiore ancient then our felvcs :| fometimes alfo it hit men (hort of us, fweeping away our youn- ger brethren and (ifters : fome- times it wounded men on the right hand of us , fmlting our friends and acquaintance ; and fometimes at the left hand ofus, fmiting ft rangers, and fuch as we knew not, and we rcmaine only as a fire-brand fnatcht out of the \ fire, which if w^ continually fend \ forth the fmoake of our (innes , | what can we exper of the Lord is not t turned avtfay/, hnt ht4 hand is flr etched out ftlll. Hath not God for thehamnefl) of our Adamantine hearts, which would not receive any imprelfion in them , written in the heavens our ^nnes wi-h^ ^enofjron^ ^nd the pint of a diamond^ that hre that Funneth may read them ;OLir1ieartSj : were 'hardened m finne. -and fro- zen in tntq'-Vty ; and rt^ itotthe heave'yifthzit rvere crjer tii^*9S^l^aJfey and the ■ earth that '^iw -pmiier '^ns m yron ; and that fometimes alfoby exceeding heate, and fornetimesi alfoby excelHve cold ; and againcj for the fame {innes, hath not the ; heavens, that is oVer us mounted i withcontinuaUdrojjpingsofpaihe; i^?* ^ „ and[ Jofli. Ifa.^. Lift! Deut.aS. 2^2 The PrefumptuoHs mans mirroHr, H:^g.i.io Am. 4 7, VCA.ioj Micr.j, and that for many moncths to- gether, with little or no inter- milTion, when as our ftony hear,ts would not fuffcr one tearetoflow from our eyes ? And yet hath not our (innes followed each other, and therefore hath not punifh-, ment followed upon puniQiment : One wickedncffe hath been fruit- full to beget another , and have not our plagues done the like ? For ths heAvens over m is flayed >m dew , and the earth are flayed from her fiuit. For have not fomc- times droughts , and fometimes inceffant raines canfed clcarme^e of teeth in the Northerne Cities of this our land , and want of bread in all places ? Surely thefiuitful- nefle.pf .our finncs caufcd the bar- rcnncii'^^ofour land. Hi? turneth rivers into a wilder yieffe^ and the water f^rincr^i into a dry land ; A frHitfull land into barrenne^e , for the Tvickedneffe of them that dwell therein : . And the Prophet Micah Will ccrtifie you wherefore thefe Calamities are fent. For the xranf- greffi len The PrefumptHom mdns mlrrour, 2^3 greffion ofjacoh is a/It his 3 and for the fins of the hotife ofljrael. Wherefore feeing Rnne is the caufe of all thefc common cala- m'ties, let not your finnes be the caufe why God increafcth them, why he fcndeth them ; but breake off yotir finnes bj repentance^ left yc increafe the anger of the omni- potent Lprd againft you, and caufe him to make an utter end of you, when as afflidlion ("hall not rife up the fccond time. "For the Lord againft whom ye ftand in oppoii- tion , fighting againft him with your finnes, and committing re- bellions againft him with your prefumptions, is a jealous God, and the Lord revengeth. The Lordre- vengeth^ and is furious , the Lord will take vengeance on his adver fo- rtes , and he referveth nrath for his enemies ; and furely thofc which efcape common calamities, God meetcth with perfonall corredli- ons, of which kind God hath ma- ny in ftore, ill this life, at the end of this life, and after this life: That D.in.4, Nab, I. 9 ]Slah.i. 2^ The PrefamftHous mans mirrmfr. That thofc which efcape one may feu into another, that no wicked man at the length may brag of impunity, and boaft of his unpu Wifhed (ins. CHAP. XL. n^ Articular fu- Q /» thu life, nijhments offirtne, ^At the end of life, are ^ After this life, I. I» this life. I, In the body by fchne^e. IF mans foule bad never been in- I fecfled withlin,his body had never \ been vexed with difeafcs ; neither j (hould death have had power over | his body ; but finne had ne foo- i nerpcfferted the foule of inan,but| fickncfle, and difeafcs' feized on the 1 body : whith daily areincreafedJ and multiplyed according to the , mcreafe, TheTreJumftHommanswlrrour, j 1^5 \ \ increafe and multiplying of finne. I j : A large catalogue of difeafes is ; i j refiear fed by Mofes ; yet it com- ; ^^"f-^^ ; methiarre fliort of tbele, which the learned Phyficians of our times \ treatc of. So that now it is as diffi- ■ \ cult to find out a difeafe, as it is i ^ ito cure it, flnd as hard it is ito \ \ know the name of it, as tho re- i ; medy of it ; and no wonder :for \ \ we have added to our fathers (ins, .; and therefore the ficknefles ofour \ times exceed theie of our fbrc- | fathers. We have yearly new dif- | ] cafes, which (lupitie the Phylici- | j an, and maketh him (land ama- j I I zed, gazing at this flrange altera- i j tion of nature, when as they can \ I yeeld no other reafon, but that ! j A^orbi J>^^ri'^ corporis ^r&vemunt\?tt,MAn]^ ex pccarii^ The caufe of the (ick- | i nefie of the body is the (inne of \ j the foule ; and becanfe the god- I j ly have fome infirmities in theif ! ! fouks, : therefore are they not freed ! \ from all infirmities of their body, ; ! and God fcourgeth them for to | j corred the;r evill manners , as j | N well] ! 2 Kin. 4. Mar. I. Luk,iF. Lulc.i6. I Tim. 5 lob If, 266 The Prefumptuous mans mirrour, [well as to try their faith. The Shunamites fonnc complaineth of his head, Peters wives mother ly- eth ficke of a fever : 'B^rdme^s is blind :^ poore Lazart^ lyeth full of foBCS : good Timothy^ is trou- bled . with his ftomacke, and often infirmities : David is a man af^ ter Gods owne heart, yet his fore runneth ni^t and day , and ceafeth not : upright foh is efcaped with the skin of his teeth , there is no found part in his body. God dea- Icth with his children after the manner of naturall parents, bca- teth the body of his d eared children with the corrcding rod jof corporall (icknefT^, that he may , i deliver their fonle from hell : whereas \ \ contrari wife he cutteth otf his ene- ' inies from off" the earth , avd the _ Itranfgrejfoftrs he rooteth ofit of it, f Know therefore that God fen- dcth the prefumptuous perfon painfull fickiieifeasan heavy judge- ment , and a mjnifsft token it is to fuch of his high difpleafure : Pana patientif ira creditnr decern nentis, The ^TreJkmftHoHS wans mirr our, nentis. The painc of the fufFerer is the anger of the inflider. Let gregories pradife be thy patternej ^Itiia fentio -pdtnam ^ recogito cuU fam. When thou feeleft thefmart of Gods punifliments , remember the wickedneJTc of thy prefump- tuous finnes ; and let not Gods mcrcifull corredion be in yaine, left his confuming judgements take hold on thee. Art thou deli- vered from any grievous fick»effe ^ finne no more^ lefl a worfe thing come unto theei : The relapfe into finne is the relapfe. into (ickneffe, and then happily God mil not .he en ' ira.io. wherewith he cuttcth of , and j heweth away thcunprofitable*r*-i;?- 1 dies ef jfrael. Nehuchadnez^z^ar the | proud King of Avicked Babel in puniOiing the wicked World ,,| dothfervice to the Lord of Hods: | God therefore in lieu of wases ffiveth the land of B^jp unto htm. Idolatrous fehu doth wellinexecH- nng that -which woi right in the eyes \ of the Lord : he did unto the honfe \ of Ahab ail that was in the heart of the Lord. God therefore rewardeth jkim for his good adlion, his chiU\ \dren of the fourth generation JhaiH ■ft ufon the throne of Jfrael : yet j bccaufe he did it in an ambitious de^ 1 fire, that he might thereby fettle', i bis kingdome ot Ifrael more ' . firmely on his houfe , and not to ' ifiilhll Gods command :God will UqniOi this fmne that was in this! 19,20, 2 Kia. 30, io!i i Hoi. 1. 4 Pral 7i, The PrefumptHom mans mlrrour. ^ood adtion. Tor yet a little v:hlle^ T/id I v>ill avenge the blood of Jez,- reel upon the hottfe of ^ehu^ and will caufe to ceafe the ki^igdome if If- raeL m CHAP. XLIL 5. Jn^oU^ky by loffeofmturall^ifts, Andof sfirttHoll andfupernaturall graces, THe extcrnall punillimcnts of prefumptuous finncs, namely, loffc of goods, and fickncffc of body to flefh & bloud arc gricvous,arcin- fupportable;but the internal calami- ties of the foule are if not more ma- nifeft, yet more heavy tokens of the difpleafure of a (in-revenging God, and the wrath of an Almighty Lord. For happily no bodily (ick- neffe ^lay vexc the wicked, they may be hfly and flrong^ no dif- mali misfortune may plague the iir The Prefumpmom mans mirrour, 275 I ungodly, for they come not into mifl i fortune like other folke. But the in- ' tcrn3]l gifts of thefouleareweak- ned^if not taken away. Afore (inne entred into the world, there Was a moft fweet harmony in the lOiiie of man, every part of the body, and eve- ry faculty of the foule being rea- dy and willing to doe their duty in the fervice of God : But by finne every faculty of the foule is difordered, and all the graces of the Spirit are extinguiOied , or at Icaft jfeem to be put oui: For God taketh away from the wicked his naturall gifts , he depriveth them of common and ordinary graces ; and as for the extraordinary and faving effcds of the Spirit, the pre- fumptuous perfon , ir he did ever enjoy them, never did reap any fruit or effed, which did iffuc, or f]©w from them. I . Por the naturall gifts of the wicked, his roijedome And know* ledge cafifeth him to erre. Wit is to him but an inftrumcnt of finne, with pral.73. ini..j7. 275 / The Prffftmptuom mam mirrour. I I with which he beguileth others, & ' ' dcceiveth himielfe. His confcience , although for a while is filent, andi doth not accLiie him ; yet as Chrift j laid of Lazarri-s^ it is not dead>[ i>ut fleefeth^ and will be one day j i awaked to his greater terrour. . llie memory will be the confci- \ ences regifter to write downe all the evill adlions, which thou com- mitteft, eipecially thy preiumptu- ©us finnes, thole will it be lure to remember 5 thy learning will \ : iirve to evince thee , thy illumi- i nated underftanding (liall didate to thy perverfe will what it ought '; to follow j yet thy ohftinate will i {hall rcfufe to be ruled and guided ■ by it : and ib thou addeft rebelli- on to thy other finnes, and obfti- j nacy to thy former rebellions. Yet a5am.i6| ftippofc thou enjoy eft Ackkophelr I Sarr. 12 ■ policy , Sauls Kingdome , jhdas loh i^. i Apoftkfhip, Dhcs riches, tAhp^ Luk. I <5. ; loms beauty , Sampfons ftrengch > zS>\r.\^\ Solomons glory : yet if thou art Jud,i6. Yyicked, thcfc will puffe thee up- with a vainc conceit of thine owne wor- The Prejumftmus mans mirr our, t 277 worthincfle , and will make thee to fall dangeroudy into finrte, as all thefe didy iF not finally to fall away from God, as fbme of thefc have done, they will- make thy j poore brethren contemptible 'm \ thine eyes : and when God ari- i /eth in judgment againft thee, to ; jpunifh thee, fome ofthefe, nay all ; jthefe^ will be to thee unprofitable, i ^i^^ 'ifnothurtfiill. j 2. For the ordinary graces of Gods Spirit, they {hall be made unfruitful! to the prefiimptuous |' perfon, if not denied to him. For | IS bee a member of the vifiblej Church ? Hath he fexterwall illu- mination ? Doth he live where the Word is preached, and the Sacraments duely adminiftred ^ thefc either arc taken from him, or made ineHe(ftuall unto him, on- Uy they fervc to adde unto him- I greater condemnaticm, at the leaft, i they fcrye to leave him without i cxcuie. Is he Heiongii^ to thcinr \ \ vifiblc Church ? he fhall be fure j to imart for it. Jfraell W> god \ '^^' ^ f 2y8 The VrcfumftHom mans mirrour. onely hnorphe $f all the fairAUes of tl^ earth,, therefore Cjod wi/i ptmjh them for all their im^^mtics, Gods children (hall be furc to be afili- ded for their finncs, even in this life. God hath knowne them by hisblcfllngs, and they {hall know what it is to offend their God , and .to difpleafe their Saviour. Hath he by prc/umptuous (innes loft this internall illumination of the Spirit, and the externall.pio- fcilion of Chrift. He k more in- capable of grace then an InFidell, for an Infldell mny be converted, but his converfion is difficult , is import l>le. The Word is preached unto him, but it is to his further condemnation : Por the words which he hzsxzih ^ fiaUcoftdemne him the Ufi dM, Doth he ordina- rily receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper as an unworthy re- ceiver ? he eateth anddrink^th hii oypn condemnation, 3, For extraordinary and fa- ving graces : \^ thou art a pre- fumptuous fmner , either thou art not The Prefum^tmm mans mirrour. not ebd:ed oP God, not juftified by Cbrift, not fanrflified by the Spirit , and haft no faith of falva- tion, no hope of glorification : or elfe thou lofeft the fweet and conv- fortable feeling of ail thefe by pre- fumptuousfins. I. For Eledion. It is no be- nefit unto the wicked, which ufe not the meancs to attainc unto ctcrnall blifie and happincfTc. For although the wicked through pre- fumptuous finnes lofe not the grace of Election, becaufe God is im- mutable in eleding, though man is changeable. Qod is the Lord •fvhlch changeth not^ therefore ye foni of Jacob Ate mt confumed. Vet the comfortable feeling of Ele^ion is loft, the blcffed aflurahcc of it is taken away : For although for our bcft dcfcrving works we arc not eleded ; yet by thefe we doe make our ShElion and Calling fare ujito Hi, We kfiow that tve are faf- fed from death to life , hecaufe we love the brethren, Sanflification is a meanes to attainc the end of our a8o I The T^refiim^tHOHi mans mirr our our Ele^ I Cor.i^. Pu.eAt and drink^, for to morrow we Jhdl dye : But repent rather, and • turne from the evillofthy wayes,' or clfe thou art lyablt to death, ) even to death corporalljdeath fpi- ' i. rituall , and death eternall , allj I which are the piinrfl^ments ofj ; jfinne. ^ ' s \ 1. Corporal] death , which is j I I the reparation of the foulo from j JRom^. I the body: This is the wages oj\ [ij. \finney which the Devils fouldicrsi idefervc bv fighting under his ban- j Incr ; and if the wages of any) [ ifinnc, then furely of prefiimp- I jtuous finnes: For the word oiovU 'fignifieth properly, fuch vid:ualsas ; were given to the Romane fouldi- : crs in lieu of tlieir hire : For as j the Romanes gave theie in part i iof their wages, fo iliall God give j Ithis to tht wicked in part of their i- '' punifbment. Here is the diti-e- [ jtence : others defire their wages! to be paid ; but the wicked glad- 1 jly would not receive this their | wages.; Th€ Preffimptfiom mans mirrour, f 285 j wages. But will they, nill they, ^ tall mud 6.yz, there is a Statute | I decreed in heaven for it, StatH- j turn efl omnibm femel moru It U 1 appomed unto all men once to dye, \ The Devill hath Gods bond for jit. God told man, In the day that \ thoH eatefi thereof, thou- fialt dye. the ^ death. Sinne is a hard creditoir, and will fue out Gods bond. Sa- tan alio is a cunning fblicitour, ani will folicite for fin his firft- borne , he will not fufFer him to lofe bis right , but he will urge \ Scripture to maintaine it. | Indeed, if man had never fin- ned, man had never died. Let the , naturall PhiLofophcr tell you, that ' ; that which is compounded of the \ \ Elements, muft be difiblved again, j j Let the Pelagian heretickaffirme, i \ that man muft dye, becaufc there j I muft be a raatuall fucccfilon of| , ages. But vfe have mt fo learned | ^ChrlJ}y wc have been taught bet- • jtcr things in his fchoolc : Wee • know that death and finnc were itwinnes, and were conceived at the Hcb.p. 17; Gei 2ii7' 2^6 The *TrefumptU0H4 mans mirrour. the fame time. For ^ one wanfifi entred into the vforld , and death by Jinne , and fo death paffed upon all meny forafntuch as all men harve fin- ned. Thefe mud-wals^thefc earth- ly hodif^s of ours were bnlwarkes fufficicntly fortified to keep out death, had not finnc come , and made the firft breach , and then j Theodor. followed death. For, the Devlin veas the fat her ^ and finne the mother ' of this cur fed braf(zs a Father faith) And I may well adde, damnation will be the daughter of it, un- Icffe man repent ; and well may God punlfK rebclh'ous man with death, which forfaketh God the au- thor and fountainc of life. 1 Q^^ But I feeme to hearc fome men » to objed : If death be a punifb- i ment of finne, and Chrift hath freed the godly from all {^aisfa- I flory punifhments of finne, why doe they under goe temporal! death : For doe not the godly dye afwell as the wicked ? the belee- ving Chriftian as the unbeleeving Turke. Chrift The Prefum^tuopts mam wirrour* 287 Chrift indeed freed the godly from the condemning', and the cotiiiTianding power of death,not fi'O Tit the corruption of it. T^m- porall death to" the wicked is a puniiliment, but to the godly it is the rode way to ctcrnall hfe. It was Chryfotoji^iis c\^izMor\, .^'^fo- tuit auferre mortem ^ cur fin At eum^ m per mortem tr^^firet ? Jf Chrift could abolifh death, why doe the righteous enter into heaven by death ? and well (incc it hath been anfwered. It was the great myftery of God, that death fhould be an inftrument to conveigh life. It was once faid, if thou (inneft, thon (halt dye ; but now it is faid to the -godly, T>yQ that thou maift not (inn e. This death is a diffolu- tion of the corrnptihle body , -tvhkh prejfeth do^rte the foule , that they may receive an incorruptible bo- dy, which hindereth not the foules mufing upon heavenly things. The godly dyeth that he may be made more lively againe : Like the Phcenix he dieth ©ncc, that out SoL wir.9.ir 288 The VrefumftHom mans mirrou^r out of his old afhcs, he might rife young againe ; Or as the Pfalmift Pfal. ioj.|fpeaketh, hid youth is renewed Hks 'ftn Eagle. By tliis their death, they 'arc qualified for^-heavcn^they ^yQ, that they may be made fit to fee 'God. So then the godly and the ■wicked both undergoe de^th, yet , 'with this difference,^ to the wic- ikcd it is a puniQ-im^eut for (inne, jtothc godly, it is an entrance in- ito life. Well may this cruell fer- ipcnt aff|:ight with its hilling ; ibut hurt it cannot the godly with \Cox,\ ^^ftlnging. Deaths headlefle arrow \ may fcarrc the faithfull^b Jt wound I them to their cternall hurt, it I may not, it cannot. Let death nit I be dead, yet it hath no fting;ht : it have a fting, yet it hath no poi- |fon in it : grant it hath poifon, i yet is but laxative to loofe the bo- ' ^y ; nay it is .wholfomc Phydcke to the godly, it reftoreth th,cm to a better life, it maketh them to live with Chrift. Wherefore if thou wouldeft not have death to .be a punidxmcnt unto thee , if ' .. . thou ThePrefimptPiot^ mans mirrour. hoa woaldlT: not have death to :eaie quickly on thee, fly pre- umptuous finnes : 'Be not over- ^nuch iivlck$(L neither be thoHfooliJh^ ^or why fhoutdefi thou dye before thj -^/^wf ; for prefumptiious finnes will haften thy death. 2. D.eath fpirituall , is alfo a 3iini{hment of man for finne^ and hat is a feparation of the fcule rom God by finne even in this ife : For ^'^ unregemr^te m^n t4 lead while ft he livethj he is dead in _ refpajfes and ftnnes ; and this fyi- itu.UL death here, will begcc eter- lall death hereafter, if it be not Drevented by more (jqzA'^ repen- ance. 3. Death eternall is the puniih- nent of finne ; and this a future eparation of the foule and body iom God for ever in hell ; and his death the godly Q-jall never fee> he beleeving Chrifti.vn lliall never aft of Fly ther^^fbre prefumptuous Ins, which of all others make us noft lyable tQ death^both corporall, pirituall and eternall. O Re- 28p Ecd 7.J7 Eph.a, Rev. 10 6 ! 2po The T^reJumftuoHS mans mirroar. Remember death, that when thine houre of departing is come, I death may not domineerc over thee as a Lord, and the Devils in- I ftrument ; but as thy fervant,and Chrifts meflenger, it may convay thee to reft. ?linli.i9' It is ftoried of an Afpe, if he ^^P '• bite a man , he prefently falleth into a deep ^; but if the patient re- ceive the a(hes of a dead Weefill, mingled with water, it awaketh him out of his fleep, and freeth him from the deadly poifon wher- with he is infedlcd : So if thou wilt be rouzed out of that fecurc deep of prefumptuous (innes, in which thou art lulled in by the biting of that old ferpent, by the temptation of the Devill, the con- fideration of our mortality, whict is a turning of our flefhinto a(hes with the teares of repentance will be as the afhes of a Weefil- mingled with water ; it wil wake thee out of the fleep of fe curity, and free thee from th deadly infedion of thy prefump tuoi ^ The PrefimftHow mans mirrour. tuous fins. Hearken therefore not to the alluring temptations of the Devill ; but with the AfJDC, who hearing the pleafing voice of the charmer, with his taile he ftoppeth his upper care, and the other he ftoppeth with earth, left with his fwcet charmes he fhould be caufed to fleep.So when you heare the voice of that cunning charmer the Devill, whifpering into the eares of your heart, his fecret and enticing fuggeftions , you ftiould ftop one of your eares with that taylethat folio vveth after you, the remembrance of death, hell, and judgement ; and the other with earth, with the remembrance of your vility, confidering that fuch a vile creature as you fliould not dare to offend your omnipotent Crea- tonr : And let j our loynes be ^mrded about ^ dndjour lights burning, an^ ye your [elves like unto them that wait for thdr Lord^ivhen he \X>i!l returne from the -weddings that When he commeth^ and kz'^cf^thy they may open unto him immediately, O 2 CHAP. 2^2 / The PreftimptuoHs mans mirreur. Eccl ^eb CHAP. XLIV. 2, A f articular and a gener all J h Age- mem, SAlomons Ironicall fpeecb to the young man, bidding him to 1 1 5' rejoyce in the dayes of his youth , is, ^of many taken in good earned : ; they confider not that which fol- 1 loweth, yet know for all this God rvill bring thee to judgement. In- deed if death were to the wic- ' ked, as it is to the irrational! crea- tures, a period of their miferVjand ; and an end of their wretched nefle, ' death then would not be fo ter- 'i?'i7- rible, but after death commeth judge mem, Firft, a particular judgemental where the foulc Hiall receive her doc me, and then for a further ma-- nifeftation of Gods juftice, and ; glory. The Trefumptiom mans mlrrour, , ^2^3 glory 5 the increafe of the godly i mans joyes and reward , and the wicked* mans terrour and punilli- ment : There fliall be a gendrair afidze kept, where every fin, even ' of thought rhall be fcannecU; and : then furely flisll not prefiimptu- | ous (innes efcape without cen-; furc, without punidiment : Then ; jfhall the body be rejoyned to the ' ibule ; and as Paul iaid of Onefi^ \ THUS to Thilemon, It departed for a \ feafon^ that it might dwell with him \ for ever : not now as a fervant^xxt \ above a fervant , as a companion I to the godly, to their greater com- jfort ; and a fellow- fufferer to the I wicked mans body, as a furthe- j ranee of his torment : For then ■ Jhall the wicked fay to the mountains^ \fall on 14^^ and to the hils^ cover ^ts^^ .and that f^om the fice of him that fitteth on the Throne^ and from the virath of the Lambe , but all in vaine : For the creat day of his'\ v^rath is come , and who floall be able to fiand ? or what fhall en- dure his fearefull prelence ? The ___ O 3 mcun- Fhik. v.s. 2 94 '^^^ FreftimpuoHs mans mirrour, mountaines will tremble before him, and the hils will melt like waxe, and the whole world iliall be diiTolved ; So that if the wic- ked (liould feeke (hclter , they , rhould find none ; if they did cry aloud for ayd, they fhould not be hej?rd : For if any vile creature would be fo impudently rebelli- ous, as to defire to hide the ene- mies of the Lord from the fight of their All-feeing Creatour, that thing alfo fhould be confumed , which if it did remaine untou- ched, yet could it not hide man Htfici from that ^ct^rct^Anr ^tU h(p^a.hfAU, AU-fecing eye of God , which is ten thoufand times brighter then the Sunne, which pierceth even into the darke corners of the heart, and fpieth out the very fccrct inten- tions thereof. To fly from this judgement therefore it will be impoiTible,to 1 continue ftill intolkrable ; for the name of Judgement like the ap- Sair.i7. pearmg of Cjoll'ah ^ ID (Iriketh a terrour into the very hearts of the wicked, The FrefmnptHom mans mirrour, 20 t wicked, and furely it will be very terrible. For if the delivering of law in mercy was dreadfull ,* fo that the people of Ifrael trembled, and were afraid to hearc it. What contemner of the law v/ill be able to heare it at the laQ: day , when the juft God commeth in judgement to take vengeance on the rebellious tranfgreflour of it ? ! If the Parliament was guarded. with fuch dread, with what tcr-j rour will the aflizes be kept ? If the enading of the Lawes , and promulgation of^thefe Statutes was fo terrible to all beholders^ that even LMofes faid, I feare and quake : What amazement will it worke in the hearts of the pre- fumptuous contemners at their execution ? Oh therefore that wicked men w-ould have but that careful! circumfpedion to prepare thcmfclves, that they m:^ aniwer before an immortall God for an cternall life, which they have for a temporall life afore a mortal! man. Although there may be in- 1 O4 deter- Heb.ii 2^6 I The T^refimptHotu mans mirrotir. determinated cafes, which the Lawyers call, Apices iHrnm, points jin Law, which may deferre the judgement, and happily put off right : there may be appeales to higher courts to d^^lay the fuit. iMlfe witne{1':s may be hired to deceive the Judge, and a reprieve given to Ray the m^re ipeedy ex- ecution of tlic fentence. But in the high court of heaven, no fuch wcake iliifts may be roUerated , no fuch delaying of judgement can be there admitted : For there the books JIjMI b^ opened, the great bookc of the Law fhall put down the major propofitioii, what thou fhouldit not have done 5 and the ' little bookc of thy confciencc (liall jalfobe opened, and tliat lliall put idowne the minor propofitioa , :fr modfim ajpflationis, they fhall judge as affociates the twelve Tribes of Ifrael ; fitting as J ufticeJ with the Judge of an Allize. 4 The Saints and Angels {hall judge fer modrnn approhatimi^, al- lowing and' approving of the righteous judgement of Chrift 01: the wicked world. 5. The wicked fhall judge pet modum comparationUy by condem ning fuch wicked men as arc more wicked then themfelves Thus the ^tteene of She ha ; And the men of Niniveh Jhall rife up if.. tndgement ^ith that generation o\ Jerves^ which heard Chrift prea- ching, and faw his miracles, andl fhall condemne them, becaufe they were more righteous thcr they. Neither can the condemnec peifon be reprieved, for the ien- tence caniM^e recalled, the de- cree cani(^^ altered, but remat- neth irrevoBRe, like the lawcs ol the Medes and Perfians,which alte- reth not : For. The PreffimptuoHs m^ns mirrour. For witnefle to give in fklfc evidence no luch fhall be found that will then dare doe ^o wic- kedly , that will be a cruell day for all fuch prefumptuous perfons : For if they would be thus auda- cioufly wicked, their owne con- demning confcienccs would wit- nefle againftthem ; their envious accufer, the Devill, would bring in better evidence contrary to them ; and the omnifcient Jeho- vah, who is<5tp«/^/o>:'a0)f: afearcher of the heart , and a trier of the I reines, fhall cafily difprove them, I {hall quickly convince them : wHq j himfdfe alio (hall be a terrible > Judge to the prefumptuous per- 1 Ion, and fearefull will that day be | to the wicked : For then fhall they fee befprc them Ghrift their Judge, fitting in jadgement, :4lo- rioufly attended with thouiands of Angels, and Arch-Angels : then fhall he frowne on them, who ia their life time have oiiended him with their prefumptuous finnes, and fHt him to ajeiifiamevolth their 2pp Aa.i. Hcb«^ 300 I The PrefiimptHomtnaHsmirroHr, hAckzf^tding A f oft ape. Ontherighi hand of them fhall ft and theii (inncs accufing them. On thcii left hand, their ^^zdly enemies the Dcvill and his Angels plea- I ding againll them for their rebels i lions 5 and laying their' prefump- tuous wickednefle hard to then charge , ever expeding thai \ condemning fentence to paffe or ithem^ that they immediately ma} j have power and liberty to drag i and hale them into hell. Behinc ; them fhall they fee their wickec co-partners , whom they by evil example , and wicked connivenc< allured to finne, and encouraged ir cviU 5 cur^g them , and defiring vengeance to light on them , be- caufe they have been an inftru- ment of their condemnation. Un- der them rhall they fee thatncvei fatisfied hell, gaping wide, read) to receive them. Round about them they (hall fee that tranlito- ry world, ovliich they efteemec before .Chrift , and preferred bef bri the glory- of heaven, flaming, anc crack- The PrefHmptHous mans mirrour, 30 j crackling even about their earcs. ^Within chem, their clamarous con- fcience fhall condemne them, ta- king, part with their accufer, and witneHing with the Deviliagainft the in ; and as if the Devils proofs, other wicked mens accufations , and their owne confciences tefti- mony were not fufficient to give evidence againft them, God him- fclfe W// be a p^ift witneffe againfi them. Then their eyes Jhall fee htm whom they have fierced with their finnes. Their eares ihall heare that dolefull fentence of death procee- ding from his mouth, whofe com- fortable words of life, when they livedj they refufed to heare, they would not obey. Their tongues, which would n©t be the inftru- ments of Gods glory , fliall now in their owne bchalfe become fpeechleffc, as being too late td crave for mercy, when as the gate! of heaven will be fhujt againft them. Their throats which>-once| belched forth fearefuU oaths,, and 1 blaf- ; o 2 The PreJumptnoHs mans tmrrour. I blafphemies , fhall now fend forth lamentable woes, and cnes. Their confciences, which in their life time were oncly accufing, and vexing them, flaall now be con- demning, and torturing them. Their new-raifed bodies, and their tormented foules, w^hich once did agree in linne, fhall now difai^ree with each other, pofting the lault from one to the other, and their wicked bodits (hall acciife their guilty foules , and their guiltie I foules fliall accufe their wicked bodies to be the chiefc caufe of this their mifery. Where becaufe they have been companions in finnc, and felbw-workers in ini- quity , they (hall now bee co- partners in punifhrnent, and have a fellow-feeling of one anothers mifcfy. Wherefore fly prefumptuous finnes, which doe fo highly pro- voke God , defile thy confcience, aflbord thy deadly enemy fuch matter of acculation againft / thee, and caufeth Chrift thy | Juclgel The PreJumfttioHs mans mirroHr, Judge to pafle an heavy doome of condemnation on thee. Oh that the wicked preflimptuous perfon would remember judge- ment , that he may not fall into the judgement of condemnation, where all muft give an account of all their thoughts, words, and adions afore Chrift, who is 92:t^9p^o? 5 God and man , who i^ a Judge able to punifli the wicked, and reward the righ- teous , confidering that the re- ward, and the punishment are ever- lafting, eternall. [04 I The FrefMmftHom mans mirrour. m^'mm^m 7^' CHAP. XLV. ^Tumjhments in the life to come, and that, l,VxvY3i damni, Loj[e of heaven. IF the dreadfall manner oF judg- ing, and the palTing of the hea- vy doome on the wicked were all their puniili.ment, then might vile man more fafely prefume to walke in his ftubbornnefle, and to conti- nue m his obftinate rebellion a- gainft God ; but there followeth an execution of their doome, pu- nishment is inflided on the ftub- borne tranfgreflbur ; Firft , priva- tive in the lofle of heaven , that holy place is no cage for any un- cleane bird. The wicked jfhall (land rvithoHt the gates of this hea- Rev.zi.S. ^gyiiy citj. This new Jerufalcm is no receptacle to the prefumptu- ous finner. For the wicked (hall not Rev.zz, If. The FreJumptHOHS rrutns mirrom. not dwell in this tabernacle, nei- ther fliall the ungodly reft in this holy place : For although for your good works ye cannot merit an entrance into heaven, yet your-pre- {umptuous finnes will barre hea- ven gates againft you, and with- out repentance in this life, merit an entrance into hell, and procure damnation to your felves in the life to come. This new Jerufalcm Is an inhe- ritance given to them that over" come in this life. None can be crowned and reigne there, unleffe they did fight, and overcome here : they mull now kill their finnes, and mortifie their unruly afledi- ons , if they exped to live with Chrift, and reigne in heaven, whofe excellency here cannot by any mortall creature be lively defcri- be-l, or fet forth before your eyes ; but as the'Q^cene of Sheba {^lA of Solomons glory and wifedorne, fo you may i^y of heaven, when you^eujov it, S4ir€ly it was a true report i heard of heaven in my own ^s^' land^ I Kin.ia I Kin lo. 8. go6 \ The Prefumftuotu mans mirrom, Und, of the glory and beauty of it j howbeit I did not beleeve the report, till mine eyes had feene it , behold \thehalfe '^as not told me, Forfuch iCor.29. arc the things there, that eye hath not feene, nor eare heard^neithcr hath it entred into the heart of man, the things that Cjod hath prepared for them that love him. Wherefore I may well fay with the Queeene cf Sheha^ Happy are the men^ happy are the ferv ants , which continnallj Jiand before God to fee him : Tor the riches of heaven farre excce- deth all the riches of this world, and its beauty all earthly glory. In the warres betweene the Em- Uilin, perour Charles ^, and Francis i. King of France, wKen the Empe- rours Herald had bid defiance to the King from Ckirles Emperour of Germany, King of Caftile , Leon, Arragon, and r-aples. Arch- duke of Auftria, &:c. with the reft of his titles. The King of France commanded his Herauld to returne the challenge from Francis King of France,repearing France as often as The ^refufhpuom mans mirrotir, 307 as the other had Kingdomes and Earlaiomes in his title , intima- ting that one Frace was better then all thcfc. So when the Deviil ma- keth warre againft thee, if he by his inftruments tell thee of his ri- ches, his kingdomes , and earthly glories, as he did to Chrift, when he (hsvpdd him all ths kingdomes of the world ^ and the glory thereof. Let us returne as many times, heaven, heaven, heaven ; for one heaven is better then all thefe : Which we in this life know bet- ter by removing all evils from it, then by pofition of good. SjB^' ejtiid malt ibt non eji, qnicquldbom ihi efi. There is an ocean of all good, and no drop of mifery. There is no uncertainty , which can caufe lofTe ; no lofle, which can caufe griefe ; no griefe, which may caufe (icknefle ; no ficknefle, which may caufe death ; no death, which may put an end to our joy. 1 f all the joyes in the world were put in one ballance, and an houre of heavenly joyes were in the Mat.4. ^luff. 3 8 The Prefitmftuous mms mirrour. the other , this wonld infinitely cui-ballance them all ; how much rather, when it is continiiall,itis for ever. For there are many fu- per-cxcellent things in heavenjthe lofle of which addcth to the pre- fumptuous (inners torment, and its fruition increafeth the godly mans joyes ; but tfpecially foure which arc more rare, more excel- lent. I. The bleffed focicty in hea- ven : For God the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords (hall be our father : Chrift fhall be an huf- band to the Church, and an elder brother to all the faithfull. The glorious Saints fhallbe our brethren and fifters, and the holy Angels our companions. .2. For the joy that is there, it is fpirituall, not corporall ; It \s fuch as can content the faithful!, but weary them it cannot : latil-j fie the Saints it,doth,but clog them j it doth ^lot ; delight the godly it will, but cloy them it will not. f 3. This The TreJumptHOPM mans mlrt otir. *5. This heavenly polTeiTion is ccrtainc, for we cannot lofe it ; It is the immutable and unchan- geable Godjwho giveth it us, who then can take it away from us ? there Ihall be mmj manfions ^ fo that none fhall want ; and there- forejaone fhall envioufly defire andiWts happinefle : For this certainty is produced by t ^ perpetuity and continuance of tfli felicity ; for thefe joyes are ever- lafting, this ftateis for ever, which is the fourth degree of happinefT: : fcr, 4. This felicity is perpetualLit is for ever. If it continue for mil- lions of yeares , if it had then an end , the remembrance of this would dampc us in our great eft /ollity , and caufe heavinefls to arife in our chiefeft fehcity ; nay, then there would be no true joy, no unfained delight, no happy con- tentment in heaven, becaufe we fhould have an endput toour joy, lofe this delight and part with this contentment; but this life is I ever- 309 loll, 14. 510 The l^refHmftHotu mans ntirroMT, cverlafting, as wc confcfle in tfie Apoftks Creed. Wherefore(6 pre- iuming finner) wilt thou prefume in (inne, and endanger the lode of heaven for earthly joyes, for tem- poral! felicity. If you had two children , the one ftrong and lu- fty, the other fickly and ^tt^e, and fuch an one as cannot poiroly ike long : wouldft thou beftow alf thy care on thy ficke childe , and not regard thy found childe ; If fo , then happily thy ftrong childe may be wcake, it may dye: and fo thou wilt be deprived of both. You have two children, the one eternall life , that is ftrong and lufty , and will not faile us , the joyes of it arc perpetuall ; the other IS the joyes of this life, this is fickly, it is tranfitory, and fuddenly and quickly fadeth away, fo that you are in a continuall danger to lofe it. What extreme madneffc is this to care for earth, and earthly thmgs, and not any way to refpcd heaven and heaven- ly things : or fitft todefirecarth- ly Th^ PrefumptwHs mans mirrour. 311 ' Mat,6,j J ly things, then heavenly : what a prepoftcrous courfs contrary to our Saviours precept , firft feeke all thinp, and then the klnffdome of heaven laft. The Ifraelites did (irve fo long in Egypt, that its flefn-pots feemed fwceter to them, then the Manna of Canaan : And I would to God, there were not many luke-warmc profcfTors in this our land like minded tothefe murmuring Ifraelites, which have been fo long held in bondage by their finnes, that they efteem the changeable pleafures of this life farre better then the joyes of hea- ven ; for doth not the love of earthly things , like Ezekiels rva- Ezck.47 ters, increafe more and more : at [ the firft a man might calily wade through them 5 but at the length it arifcth to a river that cannot be paffcd over : But where- fore doeft thou thus greedily feek for temporall things ? Art thou ambitious, and feekeft thou ho- nour ? Heaven is an honour ^hwtit ^ Ro^»*« is to them that mrke good. It ^^• is .312 The Prefumptfiem pnans mirrour. lis a crowne laid up in (lore, but iTini.4 8 :it is for them that love the com- \nfifig of Qhrifl : nay, it is a king- \dome, but fuch an one, in which iPet,2.i5 righteoufrjejfe dwelleth. Art thou co- vetous, and wouldft thou have ri- ches ? the beft treafure is in hea- ven. Canft thou gaine fading tfea- fure here ? there i'^ eternall. Pur- chafeil thou a houfe here ? there is a manfioriy nay a city, for a city u prepared for thee, Dciireft thou wealth, the pillars of heaven are ft- ver^ and the pavement aold , the gates are pear le, Wouldft thou know- how to hoord up this treafure ? In heaven there are bagges , t^hich TV axe not old. Wouldft thou know how to get this treafure^ and ob- ; taine this riches ? It is the price of an high callings it is the fim of righteoufne^e. Would the voluptu- ^ ous man have pleafure ? Heaven is ■. a Taradife, Loveft thou friends ? Chriji is jonr friend if ye doe rphat he commandeth, Delircft thou to live daintily f there thou ilialt drinke wine mth Chrifi, eat fnch meat MJt.6.io, 20. Joh.14, z, Hcb.ii. 16. Can. 5. 10. Rev.ii. Luk.Ji. 5?- rhil.5.E4 Heb.i2, II. Luk.2s. 45- loh.i J. 14. Cant. j:. I. The TreJkmj^tHoHs mans mirrour, meaty as never ferij^gth , which is as honey for fweetnefle, and the honey-combe for delicacy. Seekeft thou for liberty ? there isthej^/e- rioH4 liberty of the children of god, Delighteft thou in mulkkePhere the Saints and Angels (hall fing Halehijah to the moH: High , ma- king melody in their hearts to the Zevill and his angels, Fo^ The PrefumptHOHS mans mlrrour, 317 For in this their judgement there are five things very remarkable : 1. Their Separation from God, in that Chrift faith {Cjoe ye) they fliall not enfoy the happy fruition of the bkffed prefence of God, in whofe prefence is life , and at whofe right hand is the fubciT: of joy for evermore,, bounty, grace goodneffe, glory , mercy, and ri- ches of God fhall nothing availc them ; and from hence arifeth a fecond punifl^jment , which is ra- ther a caufe of the former, and all that follow,to wit, 2. Their Curfc, or dereMion by God : they are accurfed of God, and therefore Chrift faith, (Goe ye curfed) for which wicked Balac fuppofed of the foothfayer Balaam is m&rc true of God , whom Cjod bleffeth are hlejfed^ and whom he cnrfeth , are curfed. And ' jufb it is with God to yuniili theie men with curfings after their j death, who in their life time de-' lighted in it. He loved cy.rfng^ fo it is come unto him ^ he delighted \ P 3 ' not \ 5 1 8 [ The TrefiimftmUi marts mlrrofcr. M.1M5. Rom z. Jud.vci 6 19. Jud.vcr.6. Mat i^, 4-. ] not In hlejfing^ fo it is farre fiom rhlm. I 2, Tbeir manner ef punifhing it is with fire. The Scripture fct- tcth out hell by fuch things as are mod terrible to fledi and bloud, calling the pangs thereof, anguilli, tribulation, and darknefle, bccauie of the great anguifli that it pro- ducech, the great tribulation it worketh, and the darknefle that is there. It caileth itthe wormc that never dyeth. The place alfo is cal- led, The prifon wherein the dif- obedient were kept : The habi- tation wherein the Devils were referved under darknefTe in ever- lafting chames : The fecond death : The lake of burning and cverla- fting fire. If the burning of a fin- ger be yaine intolkrable, what vcxnrion will there be, when as the whole body is tortured in Fire 1 unquenchable ? Jt the enduring of Hre for a minute fpncc \s grie- vous, is infupportab'e, whatpaine of body, and terrour of mind will an etcrnall fire caufe, which hath ex- The Trefumftmm mans mirrour, 319 exceHive heate with palpable darkne{r-, which burneth,^ andyet; confumeth not , w^hich flametli ,:. and yet givcth na light: For hdl-, fire is not' a (hining, and not bur- j ning fire, as thoft coelcCtkli lights of rhe world, which have heate, onely vertiially in thsrn ^ produ-', cing it by their lights and mflu-^ ences. Sat this, light would ad-i minifter comfort to the wicked, ■ and joy to the dnmncd. Neither j \s it a burning and lliining fire,' as our earthly iires are ; for ai-| though this would be tormcntingy) yet the comfort of the light | would mitigate the torment of the heate : But this iiXZ\x\Tofhev. is a burning, and no iliining fire, 'for there ii heate and no light ^ there \ is everlafiin^ fire, and Jet the black:; nejfe of darknejfe for ever : And lel-t this tormenting Tophet'{\\ou\A want fewell^ and there itiould not be futhcient matter to torment the damnsd ; there . is pre and much irood ; and if this hre would not Ibc kindled, this fewell would not '_ P4 burne. Ther.2. Mat, 2 5. luJ.v.X3< iajo,3g 3 20 I The T^reJipnptHom mam mirronr. burnc, the hretath ef the Lord like 4 fireame of brlmfloiie doth kiddie it. So that the damned wretch in hell fliall have no reft day nor night ; but eternall plagues , and everlafting torments, without the kaft hope of eafc and mitigation fhall vcxe and fhall torment them. For the prcfumptuous per- fon lliall not take greater delight on earth in (inningjthenGod iliall in hell in tXvCuting his judgement on them for finne. For tliefe abo^ Iminable Idolaters, which fuper- lUitioufly adhere to, and wickedly [follow the beaft, which for their Rev.i4.8.iOwne plealure dri-ike of th^ Wine of \ *Babels fornication , {hail fur Cjods R'.v. ! 4. ! Will and pleadi'-e, drif^k^ of rhe nirte 10. of the wrath of God, yvhich ii potv^ .rei out without mixture, Thofe .'whicli in their lif: time fowed abundance of iniquity, fhali reap a plcntitall hjrv::i"t of punillimcnt. :T]iCre lliall be internali horrour of confcicncc, ever vexing them, but never killing them : externall ' plagUvS cf heil l^all al waies burne them, The ^refumptuoHs mans mirrour, . 221 them, but fhall never confumcj tbcm ; for thepuniflnmentsinter-j nail and externall , fliali be both j eternail, which is the fourth degree 1 of the puniflnment of the damned in \ heH. .I 4. There is the perpetuity of their punifliment , they are tor- mented with everlaUin^ fire. If the ycares of their fuffcrance were but in number equall to the haires of their head , the ftarrcs of the j skye , the blades of graflfe of the ! earth, or the fands of the fea- Oiore : Nay , if all thefe did in number equall the millions of yeares, which the damned fliall fuifer in hell, yet here would be fome comfort ; that as the Poet faid in another cafe 5 ^^/^ dabit Veus hii qHojg finem^ God would put an end to thefe miferies. But when miriads of yeares are paf- fed , their time is not the {hor- tcr, their plagues arc not the lef-^ fer : For eternity is not raeafured by time, neither doth number- lefic multitude of yeares diminifh r5_^_ iti V'irgil 322 PfaL49. 1 Pet.i. The PrefHmptmus mans mirrour, it ; and this wiJl.be a great ycx- ation to the wicked , a mifcrable torture to the damned , to conii- der die wretchcdnertb of his eftatc, that it is cafclcffi, endlefle, and rcmedikflfe. What would not the tortured foule now give to be re- leafed from thefe his. plagues , to be freed fi*oiii thefe his tortures. But alas what can he give, he hath nothing that will, or can procure his ranfome. The whole world is the Lords, what part of it is then in mans power to give unto the Lord for a fatisfatftion of his (ins, and a releafe of hispuni(hments? However if God would be plea- fed to accept of a ranfome , yet no part of the world can be gi- ven , for the world fhali be con- fumed afore their &yQ% ; and if it did. remaine, yet the redemption of foules U more predoHS , it would not be a futficicnt ranfome to re- de ;mc a foule. For we are not re- deemed with corrpipnke things, as with filver and gold , Stff mth the freclom bloiid of Chrifl, What la- bour The Prefum^ttiOHs mans mlrrour, 325 ^^• WiW.5.8, bour and paincs would not the; | wicked endure to be free from , this mifery ? But what fpeakc I I of labour ? they if they were alive j on the earth, would deeme it no ' labour to follow Chrift ; but they : would wonder at their owne folly, | which accounted the e^ifie joke of \ Mat.ii. Chrlfl to be grievom, and his light burden to be heavy. Then will they begin to exclairpie againft thcflifclves, crying out ql^ Salomon fpeaketh, Whctt hath pride profited m ? cr what good hath riches with our vaunting brought m ? Neither have ye as yet heard the end of their torment^fbr in this everlafting tire they fliall have evill com- pany. 5. Their company and affoci- ates {hall adde to their puniili- ment, for they fliall be tormented Tvith the ^ evill and his angels. If in this mifcrable dungeon there were good company, this would adminifter fome eafe to their eafeklTe miferies , and yeeld fome comfort to their comfortlefle ca- lamities: 42. 5 24 I "^^^ Prefumptftous mans mirrour. PHiio.v lamitics : or if that they had no cvill and vexing companions , though they were without good company, this would not addeto their miferics, though it would not increafe to their comfort. But alas here the damned ghofts are his companions , ugly hends his fellowes, and fearefull Devils his tormentors', with which he muft daily keep company, with whoa> he iliallever be converfant. If Da- vid thought it a woe to fojourne in Aiefechy and to dvpeliin the tents ef Kedar^ how woefoll will their cftate be, which dwell forever in that place, where the Devill fhall I be their Prince, and his wicked j angels their tormentors. The wic- i ked then may juftly take up T^a- \vuh complaint, which he fpake I in the fore-cited Pfalme. Their iLiio6,' J}) files have lon^ dwelt mth them \ that hate peace. It would make any humane creature to be even at his wits end to fee but one Devill to follow him but for a day : What torment will it be then to be The Prefimptfious mans mirronr, be tormented with them forever? Their dainty Imels fhall be offen- ded with the noifome ftench of burning brimftone. Their feeling fhall vexe them with the fenfe of new torments. Their tafte fhall not have a dref of water to com- fort them. Their eye fhall not pro- fit them with the beholding of i pleasures , for there (hall be utter darkneffe ; and it would be but fmall comfort that the eye could affoord by feeing Ghofts and De- vils, that is all the variety of fight, all the pleafant obje(fl:s hell can afFoord. Their eares fliall be filled with the hideous cryes of the tormented, with the gnafhing of the teeth of the wicked, with the fchrceches of the damned , the howling of the tormented ghofts, and the confufed noifeof allthefe together. ^Quicejuid audire eft me^ tm^^ iUic vtdemr, Whatfoever is terrible to hearc related^fhall there furely be felt i and whatfoever kinde of finnes they fet on fcore on earth, fo many kind of plagues is 32^ Luk.i#> Seneca* 3 26 ' The Prefumftuo^ mans mlrronr. Pro. 1. 2 5. is ftored up for them in hell. Qh how many woes iliall the dam- ned have in hell, which (liall caufe unprofitable weeping. They iliall weep becaufe they have loll heaven and happinefTe. 1 hey {hall weep, becaufe they cannot ap- peale from Chrifts Judgement feat. They fhall weep, becaufe they are accurfed of God. They fhall weep, becaufe their eflate is rcmedilefTe. They fhall weep, be- caufe their weeping will not pro- fit, their repentance is URfcafona- j ble, and their forrow is too late. They fliall weep, becaufe God is ! their enemy^^ he pittieth tiicm not, but Imgheth at their calamity^ and mocketh no-w vphite their feare ii come. They fliall weep, becaufe their owne confciencc tormenteth them, and the Devil their enemy tortureth them. They fhallweep, becaufe this their mifery is end- leffe. Wouldft thou efcape this vengeance, and ret fall intoeter- nall damnation? Let not pnrfump- tuous finnes have the dominion over 1 The PrefHrn^tfioHs ma^s mirrour, 32-7 over thee, feeing thefe caufe God to trenfure up vengeance againft thee, to give thee over to the Devill to torment thee, and fuffereth thee to be tortured for ever- in hell. Nunc eft temfus f(&mtenti God will not heare, though yc make many prayers, he will not anfwer. But thofe that will not be adlive here in repenting, ihall be then paffive in fufefngj and thofe which altogether prcfumed on Gods mercy, (hall then know, and feele God to be juft , when as it is too late to call for mercy. Thinke therefore on thy repen- tance betimes, begin quickly to ,caft of finne, turne now unto the (Lord, ^m non efl hodie, eras mi- nus dpff^ ertt. He which is not \ fit 328 The Prejuntftuopu ntans mirrour. Jam.ft. xp fit to repent to (Jay , to morrow will be more unfit. Oh therefore remember hell here, that thou maycll not fall into hell liereafter. Andthinke not that igms gehennd, eft ignis fatum , that hell-fire is a meere mGcke-fire;forwhy lliould there be Athiefts here on earth, when as there are none in hell ? Why fhouldft thou not dread Gods judgements, feeing the very De- vils heleeve and tremble ? Thus farrc of the Effeds' and Gonfequentsof Now follow the motives and Reafons to Ihun jPrefump tion. CHAP. The PrefiinptuoHS mans mirrmr. CHAP. XLVII. J . Motive to Jhpift frefHmptiofi : Be^ caufe the Devill our enemj temp- teth m to it, SLlrely, if there were no other motive to move us, no other reafon to mforce us to fhun prc- fumption , the dangerous Ef- feLl:s^ and fcarefuli Confequents of this finne might fufficiently warnc a Chriftian, howhefailcth ir.to thcfe (iiines, and how he ma- kctli iTiipwracke of his faith on thefe rocks ; yet there are other re.if:)ns to moove a ChrilHan, whereof this fhould not be the leaO: , becaufe the Devill , the Churches implacable enemy, and our malitious adverfary tempteth us g 3 o The Prefimptuotii mans rmrroHr, US to it. For he alwnyes aimeth at our heart, by tcinpting us to that which is wicked , or is a foundation whereon he may build ibme grievous linnc and hainous wickedncfle. Hee is not onely a Mat. I J ipubhque enem^ to rnankinde, but *'p ' 2 private adz'erfary- to every Chri- cc,5. • £|-jVj-j ^ which botli by open vio- lence ofcrueliperfecution5& fccret pradifes of alluring temptation, ftill feeketh advantages to over- come us, lilwayes aimeth at op- ! portunities to deftroy us. He is a iPet.$.8. roaring Lyorty and therefore well may wc reare to truft him. The Lyon hath roared, who doth not feare (faith the Prophet Amos in another cafe.) The roaring Lyon is moft fierce , mod hungry ; for then (as Hiftorians relate) he fee- keth a prey to devoure. Ke is Sa- tan^ an efpeciall aduerfary to God and man. The Hebrewes derive this name of ^S*//;?^^, fpitefulncfle, or hatred , becaufc he beareth a deadly hatred to Gods Eled". He is that envious man that envicth Am.j.S. Mar. I, Mn.ij. our The Frejum^imm mans Tmrrour. l 331 our felicity. He is a Ljay , that will ialfly accufc God to man, as bee did our firft parents , and man to God, as he doth the Saints mght And day. Fly therefore pre- fumptuons (innes, bccaufe he that temptetb thee to them, is thy pro- feffed enemy , thy wicked adver- iary, why rhen wilt thou give any confidence unto him ? He is a roa- ring Lyon 5 and why wilt thou truft him ? He, is thy malitious enemy, how is it that thou dareft bcleeve him. He envieth thy good, and why wilt thou be perfwaded, that which he temptcth thee to is for thv profit , or that which he allureththeetoisfbrthy good, ei- ther in this life, or in that which is to come.He is thy accuferjand why wilt thou lin in thine accufers pre- fence t which beinq fo enviouily malitious, as to forge falfe accufati- ons againft thee , will not ceafe, if occafion be given,to lay hold on any proftcred accufation. CHAF Gcp.}. 3^2 ^^^ PrefumftH6H6 mans mirrour. Num I J 30 Deut. 17. I a. Deut.29. 19. M.a,i.r4 CHAP. XLVIII. 2, Motive, Qod commmdeth vu to Jhnn it, TO finne prefamptuoufly, is as the Lord hunfclfe teftifieth , to ref roach God^ to dejpife his Word^ And to breake his QomrnAndements, God hath oftcntiines forbidden this finnc , oh therefore let \ile man feare to commit it. Hce is our Almighty God by Creation, and therefore are we bound to obey him. He is our gracious Lord by redemption, and therefore may he well injoyne us not to fsrve his enemy. He is our great King by prefervation and prote(5lion,ru- ling us by his Word, and gover- ning us by his Spirit , therefore ought we not to offend him ; and feeing that he is a loving God, fufpecl not his commands ; He is a The TreJumftHoHs mews mirr ottr. msrcifiiU Lord, mifdoubt not of lis clemency \ He \s the King of ightcoufneffe , doubt not of his joodncflfe m his commands , be- ::aufe that which he com;nandeth ;s good, becaufe he commandeth t, and he commandeth it us, be- :aufe it is good for us. Had our 'jod required our obedience in performing thofe things which :iad been profitable to himfelfe, and 10 way bencficiall unto us, then bappily might man have had fome ' :ming reafon to fufpeil: his pre- pts ; but our goodne^^e extendeth not to the LorJ.^ neither i6 otdxr ri^h- leopifnejfe profitaif/e unto God. Pro- it it may thy felfe , but him it cannot. For (faith Ellphaz) Is it tny yleafnre to the Almighty that OH £irt righteoj^y or is it gaine to him that tho^ makefi thy vfay per- ^eci , and that by the moatn of :vvo or three , this trutli may be ^^abliQl^d, Elihn confirmeth it, If th&n be righteous , whAt givefl ihou him , or what receivsth hee of ihifte hand ? If God had comman- ded 333 Job li z. J)ba2,3 Job 3^7. 33^ ^^ "Trefiim^trntu mans mirrot4r. || »Km.$ dcd tbec a great thing, woulddl thou not have dene it (to fpeakc in the fervants of N^moj^s phraie; how much rather when he com- mandeth thee onely to mortihe thy finfuU lufts, and corrupt arte- dions, and live, if God had com- manded thee a coftly facnhcc , wouldftthon not have performed it I how much rather when he commandeth thee to facrifice thy fmnes, and live, if thou wilt not caft away thy prefumptuous tins at Gods command,how wilt thou willingly lay downe thy hte when as he requireth it ? Surely tbofi: which will keep their prelum ptu- ousfinnes in defpight of Ood,and in contempt of his Commande- mcnts , will rather fute the ipi- rituall death of the Ibule by Apo- ftalie, then endure the corporal! death of the body by peifecution They willlboner (we may wel feare)by denying him backaide,and turn Aooftataes, then by pioteiimg him, f%ht manfully under his ban. ner,and dye for religion. ^he FrefiimftH0H4 mans rmrrour. crt* ct&» €yjr^ ff»jy> C(Tr> <^(IV» o5^ c»T-* ^t^ e.SS:^iSi.2,S222.i2?£5: 'Jf^sse^^sas^i CHAP. XLIX. g. ^Motive, Odiom it is to (jociin refpe^ of his mercy ^ ift^ice , and omnifciency, A LI finne is contrary to the di vine goodneffe, and jjfticeofj the wayes of godlineflc, and his concurring grace to fet in order every good, ^ 'a(5l:ion. Wherefore , to fpeakc in Hez,eki<^hs language. The children are come to the hirtk^ and th&e u hno: ftrengtk to J^ring.^farthi ' Tfiic godly man is ready to bring forth . any good adion , but there is no power to doe it : to mil Isprefent with him J hut how to performe that, w^hich ii good, he findeth not. Well may painfull Minifler^ appoint the meanes, wbereby (inners may leave their prefumptuous finnes ; hut they are all ^withoiit the cfi- fpeciafU bleiling of God both fru- ftrate and void , ferving onely to:{ rife up in judgement againft them i at the laft day , either to their further condemnation, or at the; I leaft to leave them without exr Ij Q^ 5 ccfe. 54<5 Tbt^refltmftHom mans mirrour. I Cor.g f cufe. T^anl may p/anf^ and tAfol" I h may water ^ but it is Cjodthat gi- j veth the increafe, Minifters may 1 teach the way of comming unto J»h.6.44 j God ; yet none can come unto (jod^ txceft Cjod draw him. For -without Joh,iy. ^. «^ (faith Chrift) can ye doe no' -.thing. Wherefore we {hould crave a blelling of God on the means that he proffereth us, and that the word I of God, and ail the facred meanes proffered us be unto us a favour of life unto life, and not a favour of death unto death. CHAP. LI, Remedy i . Confideration of gods fovoer Tphe ij able tofunijh thy Jire- fftmftions, SUrely if any confideration would move thee (6 prefump- tuous perfon) that art dead in tref- ThePreJum^tmHim^Hsminour, i ^47 trcipaflcs and finncs, caufing theC! to ariie from wickednefic, and to ' renoiincs thy prefumptuousfiiincs, tFiis is not tfie leaft to confidcr that thou ofeideft God, and pro- j j vokeft the rnoft high to anger ; j 'who is thy Creatour , and there- I jfore to offend him is imthankful- ncffe : Hee is thy prefervcr, to 'grieve him with thy finnes is i unkind nefle : He is. thy redeemer, jto provoke thy gracious Lord to I anger with thy wiekednefle is worle then madnefle : To tbefc I may {^y, as CMofes did tothclf- raeiites. Doe ye fo reqptite the Lord^ foolifh people and unvphfe f Ji not he thy Father that hath bought thee ? hath not he made thee, and efiahli- Jljed thee. He is the Lord of Hofts, and therefore able to revenge him- fclfe on thee. For all creatures arc at his becke, every thing readily obeycth him. He can fend Legi- ons of* Angels to punifh thee, when as one ^n£e/!{ha\\ take ven- geance on thoufands of men. Nay, nc can command the vileft crea- tureSj 3 48 The Vrefumftmm mans mirronr, Jtures, ns locufts, caterpillars, the Canker- vvornic, and the Paimer- I worme. Thefc fourc little and con- --' — 'temptible creatures are Gods ^''^^^^ army, and fliall fufficiently execute the will of their mafter on proud and rebellious man. How much more when the Lord fendeth his fonre fire judgements on the earthy the froerd^ the famine^ thefeftllence, and the noyfime beafls, to cut ojf^ from it man and beafi. From the leaft of which God fwearcth,iV<7- ah, Mantel, mdjoh^ three as jnft^ 04 Upright men as ever lived en the earth , yet {hall they deliver neither fonne nor daughter^ the j {hdl deliver hut their owne fiules by their righ- teoufi^Jfe, All thefc, and ten thou- fand more are at Gods command ready to fulfill his wordjgladly ex- ecuting his divine will upon fin- full and ftubborne man, even the flarrcs in their courfis fight againfl Sifera, Wherefore feare to offend God , who is a great King , and hij name i6 dreadfull amo-ng the heathen. It is a fault that dcferveth the Pf,ii4.4 The Prefimptuofis marts mirr onr, 3 4^ the greateft puniLhment to offend the perlon of a mortall "Pfincc , whofc breath is in his nofirils ; how much more 'to offend God, before whom the motintalne^ skip like rammes ^ and the little hils like young Sheep, The earth is bHrnt at h'4 pre fence, yeow thy felfe before the high C^od ? In- 75«. Zeph.i.iS Prov.io.a Pro. 1 1.4. Mic.6 6. joh^ji. H)I 5, The^ ?refumpmm mans mirrour, j j j Intrcaty will not prevaile with; him. godhe^rreth not finners^Andthe\ P^^-^-i- facrifice of the wicked is anabominO'i tion. What though thou goeft with thy flocks and herds to feeke the Lord, yetjfhalt thou not find him. However W/7/ God eat thefiejh ofBuls^or drink& the blond of goats ^ Friends cannot pacific him^ who will then dare to fpeakto the Lord,when as he is an- gry ? Happily proud man will; for hee is a proud , and ejaculating worme, and dareth turne up his head, and looketh^ angry Almigh- ty in the face : Yet hemuft know, that God can trample on him with his foot, and cr«{h him into flimc, out of which he was taken.Where- &rc let the remembrance of Gods dreadfuli majefty caufe thee to ffeare tofin jxefumptuoufly in hope ofimpunity^left the time come that thou fhalt be grieved with thy felfe fordfFendingGod,whcn,as thy for- row will not help thee, nor thy gricfe any way avayle thee. CHAP. T^ TrefkmpHOPU mans mirrouY, CHAP. LII. ^2, Confidsr ^ods mercy^ Ir the confideration of Gods po- wer will not move a fccure iiri- ner, or caufe the prefumptuous perfon to forfake his wickedncfle, there is little hope that Gods mer- cy will move him. For no w(me thinks) I fee the prefiimptnous finner cheering up himfclfe, and even ' triumphing, at the name df Gods . mercy , * that ; \$^ thj^ object whereon his grptcft hope is fixed, his fureft confid&nceis placed- But confiderthat God 15 mcrcifuU to thy iclfe> to others ^Chisichil- drcn. [[-■ / l/j/r-n^tn-j ■! Ji MiU'c ' I. God is mercifull unto thee, how dareft thou o9-end him ? why art thoa not afraid to provoke him ! to anger > Dejpififi then the riches j of his ^oedne^e^ and forbear once ^and \ ^^1 Thg ^reJkmftuoHS mans mirr our, loffg'fufferift^y not k*?ow.mg that the goodne^e of God leadeth thee to re- pentance ? However, it would be rather cruelty in God, then mer- cy, and a greater token of hatred then of love , for God to fufKr thee to continue in finne, and run on in wickednefle without affli- (flions, without punifhments : F(nr ^fter thy hardttejfe , and impenitent heart , thoa wonldcfi treafnre up to thy felfs verath agdnft the day of wrath, .-.■•' - 2, God is 113 crcifeil unto othctrsi fhMi the dead bloud of i^-^^/ cry alojidfor vengeance in the eares of the Lord ? and ihall notthevocall cries of his opprefTed Saints ring aloud in the eares of the Almigh- ty ? Know 6 man, that their Re- deemer is irjighty , and hee [hall plead their caufe with thee. For the Lord will plead their caufe, and will jpoyle the fofde of thofe that ^oyled them, God will permit the wic- ked for a while to afflidt his peo- ple for their tryall, but fufer them he will not to opprefle them to their 354 -^^ Prefffmpruous mans mlrroHT, Luk.iS. 6,7. their endleflfc hurt. God will fift the houje of Ifrael among all nations^ like Ai come is fifted in a Jieve : yet Jhall not the leafi graine fall upon the earth. Shall he be thus merci- full to their bodies, and fhall not his tender mercy extend alfo to their more precious foules, whom the wicked hurt by oppreflions and flandersjby evill examples, and rcproachfull infemics. Indeed if Gods fatherly care ex- tended not to his children, nor his loving kindneffe to them that fearc him : if he regarded not the good of his chofen, and gave no eareto the requeft of his fervants , then might the tranfgrefTour run on in obftinate (innes, and the prcfump- tuous perfon might continue his wicked rebellions : But lliall the unjalt Judge, which feared not God, nor regarded man , doe ju- ftice to the import un^^te rviddow, he- caufe of htr importunity, and fljdl not God avenge his owKeeleEt^ithich cry day and night unto him, though he hc^re lon(^ with them. C hrift tcl- leth The FrefhnpHoHi mans mirrottr. leth them, he -mil avenge them ^ee* dily. He will furely heare their prayer, and will help them, the Lord k»oweth how to deliver the god- ly out of temptations y and to reserve the umnft unto the daj ofindgement to h punijhed. ^X- ^^\^^^ ^^' CHAP. LIU. I, ConfidergodsffiFike. JT is fufficient to rouzc up the : fccure firmer out of his drowfie Lethargy of finne, and to awake him out of his fleep offecurity, eveu but to confider the juftice of God, the truth of his threatnings, and the infallible certainty of his judgements. For ("hall the onely begotten lonne of God fuffrr a re- proachfull death , that the juftice of God may not be impeached ? ' and tliinkeil: tho u that God will violate ^ 3 y 6 The PrefimptuoJu wans rmrrour. Jcr.4p.^i violate his jailic;c in bringing, thee tp'feJvation without repentance. (Art thou not a profertcd, cnciny to Chrift, and re faieft co be at league with hiin ? and yet doftthoucx- ped from him a inereifull delive- rance from ail calamities ? Shail the faithfiill S'poufe of Chrift the beloved Church of God , drinks Ifa 51.17- at the hmds of the Lord the cup of his fury^ even the dregs of the cup of tremhling, and rvrlng them oHt f And wijt thou continue in pre- fumptuous (innes , and thinkc ne- ver to. taftc.; of k ? Surely no, the Lord himfeife hath faid the con- trary, to wicked Bdom, 'B^hotd tkej rvko/i^ i^^ment rvoi not to d^ink^ of the cupy h.ive i^jfwediy d^fm^en^and art thoH he that (halt altogether goe u^fHtiifhed ? thoH jhalt not goe nn- ■pHniJhed , hnt thou Jhalt affuredly drinke of u/ Judgement imuft be- gin at the ho jfe of God, but end it will at the tabernacks of the wicked. If the right eom fcarcely be ^faved , where Jhali the ungodly an^ ^fin'4iers affe/tre f Shall the jjftify- iP?r.4..i8 The'PreJumftuaHS mans mirroar. ing the wicked be an abominati- on to the Lord ? and yet ILaU God juftitie the wicked , and re- ward the prefumptuous perfon. Surely Qod iudgew the rlghteom^ 4nd i^od u ikngry with the kicked everj day ; if he turne not , he mH vfhei hi4 /wordy he bath hem his how, and made it ready, he hath alfo pre^ [pared for them the inftruments cf , death t Hf ordaineth his arroyoes a* gainfi the perfecutors; 'He hath a fword to meet with fecure fin-- ncrs, which with their prefump- tuous finnes dare oppofe the Lord of Hods, and will fight with hirri hand to hand, whicli number out their finnes according to Gods puniflimcnts, Hee hath a horv to fir ike his enemies in the hinder parts» Thofe which by flying fuppofe themfelves to be fafe out of the reach of his judgements , even thofe will he ftrike with tlie fwift arrowes of his vengeance. Yet he whetteth his fword, that the wic- ked may take notice of the ajv proaching ftroake, and by their bumble Prov 17. Pf7.11, Pr.78.66 The ^refumptuotu mans fhirrow. Mic,4, Pr.78.65 humble fubmiflion prevent him ftriking. He hath bent his bow, and ordaineth his arrowcs ,- that his enemies may take warning , and by unfained repentance ftay the hand of the Lord from jfhoo- ting : fo unwilling is God to ftrike even the wicked, to puniQi even the fecure finner \ but if the wic- ked will obftinately refnfe to take notice of his approaching judge- ments, and will notfubmit them- fclves by turning unto him with all their heart. He whetteth this his fword that it may wound deep- ly ; he maketh ready his arrowes, that they may make the deeper 1 impreflion when they arefent out. If God put the fword into thej hand of his punifhing Angelhlfj he lay himfeife to his bow, andj fcatter the deftroying arrowcs of| his judgements amongft you :' when the Lord commeth forth out of hi4 fUccy he is as the Pfalmift faith , as n mighty mdfiy that Jhoo- teth by reafon of wive^ that cannot, that will not be appeafed,but will make The ?re[Hmftmm mt^ns mlrr&ut, make his enemies to feelc the dint of his fvvord , and his rebel- lious adversaries to know the force of his anger. His hand fia/l take hold ofiudgementy and he voill ren- der vengeance to hli advcrfarieSyOnd will reward them that hate him- He will make h 14 arrowes drnnke with blond, and his Jword Jh.tll devour e flejh. Then (hall the wicked call for help, bat none will heare, they fhall cry aloud, but none lliall an- fwer j they fhaH call to the mQun- taines to fall on them, and the hils to cover them from the fiercenejfe of the Lamhe y and from the wrath of him that fit teth on the throne ;£roin him who was a Lambe flaine for the righteous, and whom the wic- ked cfteemed to be more meekc to them then a Lambe , which i would not be provoked with their ; finnes, or take notice of their re- j hellions. But thefe mud know that jGod will be fauhfuU in fultnlling I his threatnings. If wicked men ! will treafure up hoords of wrath, I he will treafure up hoords of pu- * nifhment. 3^0 The PrefHmptmm mans mrrow. nifhmcnt. If prefuinptuous finners will fport thcmfelves in (innes, he will make them fmart for it in hispiinifliments, they (hall feele what it is to abufehis gentlcnelfc, and deprive him of his juftice. Ju- fticc and mercy are the two hands of God, with the hand of his mer- cy he rewardeth his children,and | with the hand of his jufldcc he puniftieth his enemies : Wilt thou make God a menfter^ that hath one hand longer then anothcr,that the hand of his raercj^' fhould be longer then the hand of his juftice ? No, Know for a furay, that God will punilh thee to the full for thy traiUgreflions, and pouredown his judgements on thee for thy rebellions ; and becaufe thou haft finned againft an infinite God, and canft not in this life fatisfie the divine juftice without repentance, thou fhalt latisfie it in hell with an infinite puni{hmcnt. Indeed our moft gracious God is unwil- ling to puniih finfuU man. Defuo cftitmu^fi^denoftro iuftw f/?.That God The FrtJumftuoM ma»s twrrowr. l6i God is good, procecdcth from his own divine nature, that he is juft in punifhing, it is long of our felves : If ftubborne man will daily pro- voke him , how then can he fbr- beare ? Turne je unto the Lord in re- fentance, and he "^iU turne nntojoti in fmrcj. If yon will repent of jonr evill wayej^ God will repent of the evill fti- nifhments, God fweareth as he li- vethj he hath no fleafnre in the death of A Jinnery but that he turrefrom hU evill wajes^and live, Turne ye^ turne ye fiffm your evillivayes, for why will ye dye^p houfe of Ifrael, Feare there- fore (6 prefumptuous (inner) to of- fend him, who is unwilling to pu- nifh thee here ; but if thou wilt not be reclaimed by his mercy now, thou (halt be confounded by his jii- fticc afterwards : Foralthoughhis ' mercy on earth triumpheth over his juftice, yet in hell his juCtice (hall triumph over his mercy, and then (halt thou perceive him to be juft, whom now thou deeft thinke to be all mercy. R CHAP. Ztc.i.s- Jer.i 8.8. Ezek.jj. 3 52 The VnfHmpmm mmi mirrour. Sen,Eftft. CHAP. LIIII. 4. (^onjider gods Omnifrefencj and Omnifckncy. SEnecA thought ft the rcadicft way to reclaime a man from vice, to fuppofe al waics fome good man to be prefent with him : Vt fc tanqtmm illo jptElante vivAmns]^ omnia tanquam illo videntefaciamHi* and that they fhoiild hvc as C^o or Lelliii looked on. If the dmi eye of man be thus powerfull to reftraine finne, how much more cfFeduall ought the eye of God to be in withholding us fromfinne, and keeping us from cvill ? It were therefore good to have this Motto not written in tables of (lone, but engraven in the ftony table of thy heart, ^epu videt^ cave, God ieethytake heed. It is a fault to be men-pleafcrs, to ferve our tempo- rail ThefreJuntftHous mms mlrrour, 3 61 rail Maftcrs with eyc-fervicc ; it j 0^1,4.1 s tliat wtiieh God hateth;butno 'ault to fei^ve God with- eye-fer* 4ce, it is that which God dehgh- ethin, that which he accepteth. ^hat call this confideration doe ou harme, for whether you con- der or no,'God fecth it, God nowcthit. ' '- ^"^ - . '^ •• Hdw fhouMGod judge man, if le knew not the things of man ? fow rhould he reward every man ccbrding to his works ? fhall the lumane creature know any thing ^hich the divine Creatour is ig- orantof ? (hall the confciencsof lan be privy to that which the uimfQicDt Jehovah is ignorant of ? lall thy heart acqHit orcondemne\ 1 Jah.j lee ? and Poall not God ^ which u\ ^^^* «p^''o>f'<30<3 ^^tfearcher of the hearty ! d the trier of the reines know it / iali he that gave the two eyes, ant an eye himfelfe ? oriliaiihe ^ve eyes like Idols, and fee not ? all not he that is prefent in ailj :aces , know all thmgs ? yes,j %t\yy ^^, implet.omniin^ videtom- pui^pyit ' R 2 nia^ ^ t. 3 ^4 -^^^ Trejumftmm mam mirrour. ZcpKi.xi P:ov.2^i 1 Prov. 15. II. wX He which fceth all things, knowcth all things. As his mercy ' is over all his works, fo his eye is over all our works. Godtdlcth tbc J ewes that he will niakc an univerfaU ranfacke in Jerufdem ; and that none may cfcape by hi- ding, he willfearch ; and left they fliould goc into the darke,hc will light a candle , and then will he punifli them. It \s fpoken to our capacity : For if mans undcrftan- ding had not been darkened with finne and ignorance, this candle had not been lighted, this candle fcrveth onely to light our under-} [landing,; not to fliew any thing 1 unto Ooa ; for he knoweth alii things, and needeth no fuch weake meanes to dired him. It is the glory of a King to fear ch , out a matter , and iliall it not be the honour of the King of Kings, the glory of God to know every thin^. Hell and deftrnBion are be- fore the Lord, horv much rather tk harts 6f the children of men. The want of this confidcration caufec !_ grca The PrefumptuoHs matts mirrour. 2^5 Ezek.p.ip great iniquity in Judab, andfinnc in Ifrael. For they fay. The Lord Ezek.9.5?. hath forfak^n the earth, the Lord feeth net. How doth God punifhj them ? they fuppofe God had for- fakcn the earth. God will punifli them on the earth : they thought God to be without an all-feeing, eye. His eye (hall not fpare them, | he will not behold them with any I pitty . As for me alfo ( faith the Lord) miffe eje Jhall not §fetre^ nei- j ther mil J have fittjf ; ^^^ ^ ^'^^ recomfence their rvay upon their heads. Oh therefore that prefumptuous finncrs would confidcr this all- feeing eye of God, that this might be a bridle to reftraincl*them from finning in the fight of God. Fcare and fliame withhold him in the fight of man from finning. Let him beafraid and aihamcd to fin, feeing God feeth him, he looketh on him. Say therefore in every temptation with fofepht hovpjhall 1 doe thid, and ^ G^r^^i 9. fin againfi God, R % CHAP. L j66 I TheTrefinnftHopumammirrour, Rcr.i.i, CHAT.LV. l.Kemdy, The rvord preAched^ WHcn "Peter flept in the pri- fon ofH^rod between two fouldiers, bound with two chains, and the Keepers before the doore kept the prifon ; yet the Angell of the Lord comming to him, opened the doofc, and fmoteijiai on the fide, and fnid, jirl/e Hf i^Piickly^ Jifrf his chdne fell off from him, and fo he was freed out of prifon. So though a Chriftian fleep fecurely in finne, in the prifon of !the Devill, betweene thefe two I fouldiers of iiis, the world,and the Iflefli, being alfo bound with two jchaines, inwardly bound with the chaine of a perverfe will, andout- Iwardly tied with the chaine of a^ ' bad cuftome : yet when a» AnpU '. ^ sT' The TrefttrnftHOHS mans mirronr, 'i^j of the Churchy a faithful! Minifter of. God, ftriketh his heart by a fliarp reprehenfion out of the word , bidding him to arife up quickly : He by the confideration of his dangerous eftate, by the po- wer of Gods holy Spirit, working by his word, arifcth up quickly , and thefe his chaines fall offfrora him, and fo is freed from this his eftate. Wherefore amongft all the blelTings which God beltoweth on the Church here on earth , it is not the leaft, it is not the mea- neft, in that he hath vouchfafed to raifc up Prophets in his Church, and Minifters amongft his people : For now wc have ^|||&treafurein earthen vcffels. Thefe are (as JSIthn fpeaketh in his own pcx£on)i» gods flead^ they are alfo formed out of the clay, behold their terronr fljall not make thee afaid. neither JJjall their ^ hand he heavy u-pon thec'Thzlz fhew you the holy Scriptures, and ex- pound unto you the facred wri- tings of the Prophets and Apo- ftlcs , Kvhich are able to ryiake the R 4 man Tim- 1 The T^refiimftHoHi mam mirrottr. I Pet.i.i wan of god wife unto falvat'ton , tkroH^hlj fttrmfhed unto all good vfiorkj. For thcfc Scriptures are as goads and najles^ both tQ ftay and ftrengthen the wcake Chriftian in his wavering unconftancy. It is an axe to cut and hew downe all fpirituall wickedneflc. It is as a troo edged fword, to cut ofFthc proud fwellingof our corrupt afErdions. It is a hammer to breake in pcc- ces our ftony hearts. It is a light to dired our feet in the way of peace. It is a lanterne that giveth light to us walking in the waycs of darkncfle. It \% the Testament of Chrif^y which he left us when he departs! out of this world , whither Gods children are tore- fort to know the mind of their Father. It is the onely food of a Chriftian foule, for the wcake and [tender babes in Chrift, there is w/V%, for them of full age, there is ftronger meat. The two Tefta- mcnts, are duo uhera Scclefidt^ the two breafts of the Churchy where- with fhc nouriQieth all her chil- dren. The Prefumptuotis nuns mirronr. 5 6^ drcn. In this word {houldaChri- ftian meditate, it fhouidbepriwi- tias RefurreBionis , our morning meditation ; and with Jacoby be- ing awaked out of flcep, thinkeof God ; it ihould be alfo uoBHrnas Itietihratknes ; oar night ftudiey, we (hould delight in the Law of Gody and on that Lap^ meditate day and night. It is the f^'ord of the Spirit^ which every Chriftian isto wearc to the offending of his enemy, and the defending of himfelfe. Chrift our mod valiant captaine hath left us his example for the performance of it. ^Vhen the Devill affaulted him, he fought with no other wea- pon but with fcripture.He anfwered all his temptations with a fcrlft^m efiy it is written. David taking Sauls burdenfbme armour to fight \N\xiLt goliah was not able to goe with it^ He therefore layeth afidc that^ and goeth with othi^, a ftaffw in his hand , and-a^tlonc in his fcrip; If a Chfiftian take the armour of this world, to %ht with this golid) ; if he ufeth the R 5 __ wife- 370 cnt.caf.i6 B:iJiH, Epb.6.14 Joh.17.5 Joh.i6. Joh.14. 3. IJ ah. 8. 44. The rrefumptmus warn mirreur wifedomc of tliis flelh to encoun- ter with the Devill, he ufeth too cumberfome an armour , thefe are ready to preffe us downe into hell ; therfore a Chriftian niuft take other armour , a ftaftc, or a ftone;. The. Lord or his Word, this ihuft beii ftafFe to fupport him , that muft be a ftone to wound this goliah in the forehead. Our naturall wife- dome non exfiindit vitMyfed' ab^ fsondit feccata. It onciy hideth finnes uglincfft, it taketh-it not away. By naturall rcafon mans fubtil ty is reft rained , but Satans is increafed. Forthis w/fcdomoof the world is but zsoveleseyes^ which feeth fometh'ng in the darke, nothing in the light ; but we are onely guided by this word of truth,.this gvrdle of trtith muft be about our loynes, whofa author is the (^od of truth ; whofe. ipfpirer; is the Spirit of truth ; whofc fubjed is Chrift, which is Truth it fclf, with this may we defcry • all the cun- ning falfhoods of that arch - ly ar, ihe'Devil, 1(^o:aho'dehot i»:the trmh, be. The Trejiim^tHotismansrdrroHr, 57' becAufe there is na trttth in him, when he ffeaketh a Ije^ he ^eaketh of his owne, fofheUaljar, and the father thereof. CHAP.LVI. B-emedy I, (tA true he lief e in god. THc prcfumptOous finnct being ready to (inke in the poole of ctcrnall deftrudion , greedily catcheth at ftrawes or reeds, ho- ping thereby to cfcape fafely ; but that doth more intangle hini,more endanger hi« iafety. He lay eth hold on all the merciruU promifcs of Chrift, which are granted to the repenting (inner. Hefuppofethbe- caufc God is- mercifulU hs may be finfall, which doth more in- t^angle him in finne, more endan- ger his eternall life. He readeth no merciful! prpmife, but he ap- ■_ plyeth , 37^ The Prefumptuofis mans mirrotfr . ' plieth it to himfclfc. Like the fran- tique Athenian, of whomitisfto- ricd, who having loft a boat ; thought every fhip he faw to be his owne. If there be any thing in the Scriptures that fccmeth to cbc- ri{h his finnes , or to cxcufe his fault ; or if there drop any plca- (ing thing out of the mouth of fome honey-mouthed Prophet, which crieth peace , veace , tvhen there ii no feAce^ that nc thinkcth is fpoken to him, he atcountcth that his own: 6r,'\^ froximw arcitt Vcdegon, it touch onely his neigh- bours faults, he greedily catcheth at that. But if he rcadeth or hea- reth any thing that touchcth his owne amendment , that is cafily forgotten 5 yet if it toucheth him mcwre ncerely , he will remember \x^ but it is only that he may re- venge hiipfelfc on the Minifter ; and at his fitted opportunity caft forth fome poyfonous afpertion on his perfon,and on his calling. For he cannot endure to have any threatning mentioned againft his darling The Prejumftmw mans rmrrour. darling finne, or to heare his be- loved wickcdncffc fpokcn againft. If bribing -F .theprodigall' gametter will play it away , the voluptuous Epicure wUl fport it away. But this is not the way to kill finne , if thou wilt reap any benefit by vthe wordi; thou muft be -as well content tobc^rejGods threatnings, as embrace his raer- cifuU promifes ; and thou muft acknowledge his j uftice in the one, as well 6s his mer/cyip thc;Oiher. Then wilt thou ,be;.aftaid.<;o^coix>- *^£' ■ -. mit\ J7< The PrefimftuoHs wahs mirronr, mit thefe things, which now thou never blinkeft at, and this will ftirre up forrow in thee for thofe tranfgreffion^i, which once with joy thou greedily committedft , arid then by the working of Gods Spirit thou (halt feare him with a filiall feare, although afore a fer- vile dread would not workc on thee. CHAP. LVir. 4. Remec^. IVatchfisifteffe und I *v9mn^ efnewneffe of life, THofe which are daily oppo- fed by a watchfiill enemy , gladly fccking all convenient op- portunities to hurt^ and overthrow them will forcly watch: how be- hoofcfuU therefore, and neceflary is it for Chriftians to watch, fee- ing their enemy the Devill is a vigilant and a malitioos enemy » that The PrefumptuoJis mahs mirrour, . 377 that continually lycth in ambufh, alwayes defifing fomc opportunity to hurt, if not to overthrow them. The world alfo is a backe friend without, and the flefh a traitour within, eafily on any condition ready to betray them into the hands of this foule- devouring ene- my. This duty of watchfulneffe was the lift that Chrift enjoyned all to performe, even a little be- for rhis death. Now the laft words of a dying friend take alwaies the decpeft imprellion in the heart of man. Faile not then to perforipc- fb excellent, £q neceflary adutjr as. watchfulneffe v& ; but live fo al- wayes, as if that hourc, that mo- ment were the laft hourc, the laft moment of this thy life : fo fhall death be neither unwelcome, nor hurtfull unto thee ; and that thou mayeft the better caft oTfinnc, and more eafily fubduc thy lufts, vow with a fcrious refolution ne- ver willingly to commit thefe pre- fumptuous finncs. For although finnes of ignorance cannot be thus taken laft. Mar. 14. 38. 378 The PreJumptU'OPis mms mirrour. taken away ; yet furely this fted- fafl: purpofe and firme refolution of leading a ne\v^ life, will be an cfpeciall Antidote againft kjown fumes , and a prefer vative againft Satans temptations. Votafuntmti^ nimentA temftationiSy non fundament a nov<& religionU, Vowes are to keep you from temptation, but not that ye may build thereon a new forme of religion. Ye have vowed new- neffe of life in Baptifme : now comming to yeares, ye (hould make good your promife made in Baptifme, and refolye never to fall willmgly into your former finnes. Yet take heed after this your vow, that the Dcvill produce not fome occaGon, whereby he fhould breakc this vow j for then after- wards will thy wickednefTl; be fo ftroRg, that v;ithout Gods efpe- ciall grace, he will make confci- ence of neither vow , nor finne, and fo (halt th^u adde to finne by vowing and not paying, and then better it u that jou Jhouldnot vo'^y then The Trefumpupiis mam mirt our. jyp then ye Jhoiiidvow^and not f^y, Refolve therefore to avoid all occafions for a wcekc, a moneth, or a yeare, and then will the ftrcngth of thy finne bcweakned in thee, that thofc finnes which were once mofl difficultly, refrai- ned, arc now hardly committed ; and ye (hall extremely hate thefe finnes , which once ye were ex- ceedingly delighted with : and dcale ye rauft with finne, as Am- mon did with his fifter^ Thamar,who hated her exoer;dmgly\fotk4ttheha'' trediufherevp.ith hehm^d her, ivas ^ea- ter then th^ Jove wherervifh he lovu 3 So The ^refiimftHBtu mans mirrour. CHAP. LVIII. «r. Kentedy, Kcfentance. REpent And turne jour [elves from all jour evill wajes, andfo iniqtiitj jhaH not be your ruine : For ^ui fee c Are dejinit^ mortaler* Bet I irAJJ^effick, When man ^^^Ictb from Hwn^y io. late with God, then to pray unto £xod.^. I jjjiu ; yet the Lord regarded the faith of his fervants prayer , and paflcd by his infirmities : fo accep- ; table is prayer unto the Lord, and land fo ready is he to hcarc the j weake defires of his Saints, ^fa aC(iro,?4 j opfy^jfed with a thofifand thofifitnd 9* \footn}€-4 , and three hundred charets, crycd unto the Lord, and he deli- vered them into his hands. For as Hamnl the Seer told h'wxiyThe eyes of the Lord rnn too andfio, through- out the whole eatth ^ to Jhew him" felfe flrong in the hehalfe of them vphofe heart is ferfeB toward him. Which powre out their requcfts before him, and fhew him of their trouble : yet although prayer is thus cC'tfluall, few or none know the fiuits and e.'reds of it ; but they which have the Spirit of God tt!2chinfT them how to pray, nei- ther do they alwaies know the ex- pediency ot- it, but when God for Ithcir Hnnes withdraweth his Spi- jric fi cm them, that they cannot ' pray, The PrefHinptaom ma^s mirrour, ' 389 pray, then doc they perceive and fcele the lofle of that divine gift, which they cfteemed to be natu- rall and common. Pray therefore for the Spirit of God to direft thee in this duty, that thou mayeft come boldly un- to the throne of grace , and ob- jtaine mercy ^ And find^ ^Tac£ to kelp 'in time of need; and then pray with 1)avid, Keep thy fervantfiompre- Jhmftftom Jinneiy let them not have j dominion over me , then !hall I be I upright^ and I Jhall be innocent jrom I the great trmfgrejfion. ff^ff^ CHAP. LX. 2. Defire other n$ens prayers. SUch is the miferable eftate of many , that God will ftop his cares when they pray : though they make many prayers • yet he will not S 3 heare^ 3 9^ ( ^^^^ PyeffimptHOHs mans mirrotir . Expd 14 iO. i?;(f^r^, hcaufe their hands ^.re full of blond. They lye in fome bloudy (iane unrepentcd of, therefore God will not hearc , he will not help them. It were good for thefe to dcfire other meJis prayers. Saint y^^/^/'/^-^ is (ilent, onely prayeth in his heart ; yet the Lord faith unto him, rvhj crjefi thon unto me. Will ye know the rcafon of this the I Lords dealing : The Ifraelitcs j prayed h^: themfelves ; but Olfofes 5! prayed for the Ifraelites. UMofes , praying for himfelfe is denyed, ■ but praying for the Ifraelitcs nc- I vcr dcnyed. No, not when they I had committed that abominable [CinncoCldo/atry: i For that prayer^ ^ which Deu:. The FrefHmftmtu mans mirrour. gpj which is far our Chriftian bre-j thren, proceedcth from charity,! which- moft of all delighteth God, ( neither are wc then too abfolute' in petitioning of earthly things;' but defiring them with a relation to Gods good will and pleafure; I and therefore God giveth eare to jour prayers in other mens caufcs,' I whereas oftentimes in our owncj jcaufe for the want of the fore*' I mentioned duties, or fome other ■ impediment, wc are negledled,' not MCg^vdiQ^. Amos fraying for If^ km 7* fvif/, caufed God to repent of three, feverall ;udgements,which he pur- ' pofcd to bring on them. Thehiif^i bandmanin the Gofpdl, although I he was. refolved to cut downs his Lufc.13. I harren fil'irc^y hecaufe it cwnbred ^^f^ \ the ground ; yet at the requsft of ^ I the Vinc-drefler ,. he was content to defcrrc it one yeare longer. S©=' dclightfnll a thing is it to God, and fo pleafing to his tiivine Ma- t j'efty for to fee brethren to dwell 1 together in unity, and by prayer jto have a fdlaw-feeiii^ of each I others iSim. x5. The PrefimptHow mnns mirrour. \ others raifery, that God will, grant thee that for anothers re- ' queft, which he would not at thy ^ owne : yet take heed , that thou | by relying on others mens pray- j crs,negledeft not thy owne ; other men for want of a fellow-feeling charity may be carcleflfe of this duty ; and if not lo, yet thypre- fumptuous (innes may fo hinder their prayers, tha-t God will not heare them in thy caule, nor grant their requefts in thy behalfe. Wherefore to keep thee from fm, and to deter thee from wickednes, with Saint lereme let the Arch-an- gels Trumpet be alwaies founding in thine eareSjWith a voyce crying, Snrgm mortm, ^ veniu ad judici^ um y Arife ye dead, and come to judgement : fo fhall not thy pray- ers 5 nor the prayers of others for thee be hindered by tliy (ins of prefumption, and thy life (hall bee godly,: and thy death hap- py that thou needed not bee a(hamed to live, nor feare to dye. Which God of his infi- nite The PrefnmpHom mans mrrop^r. I gpg nitc mercy grant unto thee, for his dearc Sonne Jefus Chrifts fakCjOur Lord and onely Sa- viour. FINIS. April \6\ 1641. Imprimatur, t ^^ ^^^ '^ J '»? '7' 7^t ^