#r* *iT*^L PRINCETON, N. J. ^ # Collection of Puritan Literature. Division «^-?T*^C? Section l.XA.io^l Number - CAVEAT FOR COLD CHRISTIANS. IN A SERMON PREACHED BY M r . Pavl Bayne, SOMTIMES Miniiter of Gods Word at S". \^in<- dt ewes, in Cambridge* WHEREIN THE COMMON DIS^ cafe of Chriftians,with the remcdie 3 is plain- ly and excellently fet downe for alkhatwillvfek. _ L-J : ^_ . Iohn 15.9. 10. Continue ye in my lone. If ye keepe my Commartdements,yc fiall abide in my hue. AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix KyngUon, for Nathanael Newbery, and are to be fold at his (hop vnder S c . Peters Church in Cornhill, and in Popes-head All ey, right againft thefigneof the white horfe. 1618. TO THE WOR- SHIPFVLL, HIS SIN- GVLAR GOOD FRIEND, M'. Robert Clavering 3 Towiic- Clarke of Newcaftle, all hap- y pincffc of a better life, and this present. Ir, considering the good accept unce that Jfime former few Sermons of that reltgioujly- learncdjmd learn edly-relrgiosts Diuine, tjttafter Paul Bayne haue had with the Church of God, the enfuing Sermon tying hitherto by me, I was ( without difficulty) induced to make it publtkc. For if I fhould longer concede it y what know I whether fome body elfe, who hzd not the like intcrcH to it that my felfe haue, might notfreuent me in printing this, as well as thij bane done in publishing fonte other things of the Itke na- ture? LMoreouer, looking into the carriage and frame of i his draughty I did not fee how it could difparage any of the reft, which are flowne abroad before it. Lafly, if m will ponder thefubiecl matter difcourfed of in the fol- lowing leaues, I wtS permit it to any indifferent wife- heat ted ChrisJian Reader, who vieweth the estate of the A 2 times, * Comwda accommoda, TTT^^W^^^T L 11 JJUU'itiilUHlLI times, and waigbethaduifcdly whatfngular vice raign- ith 5 what efpeciall graces are ordinarily deft5liue among ProfeJJbrs, whether this Sermon vitereth not * profi- table things, and profitable things in their fc*fon. For when (refpecledSir) did the like wofull declining from the ancient feruor of our firfi loue,fo generally fpread it felfe through all the quarters of our I land f Me hath but halfe an eye, who looking vp and downe, beholdeth not, that euery Utile nothing in zealous forwardneffe of pro- fefiion,fiemeth ( for the moH part) very fuffiaenU We will neither diligently prouoke our fclucs to liuely procee- dings in the way of powerful! walking with God$ neither mil we patiently endure others to ontfirip vs,ana to a/pire vnwtariedly after the higbeHl pitch of well doing* Thio leauing our fir fi louejhis abatement of former light and heateinour ChriHian courfe, is prone d in theenfuing Sermon, andrcproued. When was there joint le minding and remembring whence we are (generally) not flidden, but (as it were) fallen headlong? When were there fo fewftncere andfetled refolutions,to repent of the euillof relinquijhing our firft loue , a finne wherein our land hath finned,befides all its other finnes ? Alas, the ftnfiti- p d employment of our memories Jo con fider whence we are fallen^ (ham" and confufton of face working true re- pentance, that we are fofowhe fallen 5 are flrange things vntovsl although onefy the exercifeofthefe graces cm raife vs vp to true happineffe in this life, and in the next* That wem'tyftt vponthefe fauingpr*8>fcs % wee are effe- SuaSy called vpon in the fore-named Sermon. So that (as I formerly ftid) it will ( I perfwtde my felfe) prone hth profitable and fia/bmble to theChriflun Reader • who bath a iifcerning fpirit, both what his owne wants 4re,a»dhom, by tins Uttle booke, Jim pretty fiupply ma+ bo 1 HE X/n STLt UtUKAlURiEi he aff corded htm for hisrcccutring. Thus much why the Sermon ts publifhed : a word or two {Worthy Sir) why, by a more efpeciill infcription y I haue dedicated n to jour name. Fir ft (therefore ) 1 was mcued hereto with an earneH dtjtre, to mantfeft fur- ther then euer yet I haue done, the enttreneffe ofmydea- refi officii on s toward you • who after oar many y eves comfortable lomng and lining together ,ef late hutebeen remouedfrom me into thofe Nor theme parts. T^ot being there for enow able face to face to enioy the wonted fweet inter c our (e offpeech^nd other friendlike offices, I longed (noiwitbflanawg) to tell you, you were not fo much out of mind, as out of fight. Secondly, I deftred that the de- dication might befit the perfon, remembring Senecaes counfeS : * we mufl take heede wee fend not fuperfluous *ytupecMM* gift s y as to a woman or old man hunting weapons^ or to a bimui^emune- clowne 7 bookes -or nets to one joQowin? his (ludtes, and ^"r™*"* learning. On the contrary^ to fend a booke to a fchour\ or fams* ma fem a Sermon, to an experienced profeffor, I cannot fee but it A,m * ******** maholdgvdprtfOTtton. ' Kfihfc Thus not doubting 9 but you will louingly receiue what -K^*V* 1. Euen as it is in the body, when it is in the mod ex- cellent temperature , the durance thereof is not long ; fb it is in the foule alfo, when it is in the beft taking,euen then it is fubied to alteration. So the Galathians,thelfraelites» how foone did the one fall fronuhe Gofpell,and the other from their ioy in that God,which had dcliuered them? Such is our frailty, and fuch -are Satans enterprifes againft vs. But for more full opening of this point, two The firfl opened. things fhall be vnfolded; firft, what it is the true ChriftLtnsfall from, when they leaue their loud: 2. whence it comes,^ being fo wel proceeded they decline,To the firft let, that it is not the tranfitcrie flafhing 3 thefweetnefle, the delight, or gladnefle in heart which wee feele in our firft loue. For this which comes not (o much from the things of our peace,as from the nouelty of them ; from this, that the light of them doth firft fhinc vnto vs; this which by reafon of fuch circumftance is in vs,may bee loft and left without finne: the Angels loue^workes B fbme- 4 A Caueatfor cold Chrifliam. fbmewhat in them touching the conuerfion of a finner,whennowhc is firft conuerted, which con- ftantly abides not with them : as for example, the ioy there mentioned, Luk. 15. Secondly, I {ay it was not that diuine quality of loue, which the fpirit of God bringeth forth in regenerating of vs $ for this could not bee loft, it being part of our new birth which abideth ; according to that, Hce who is borne of God finneth not,for the feede of God a- bidethhimrand Cor. 1. 13, Loue faileth not: not onelybecaufeforthekindit abides in heauen, but becaufe the lelfe lame in number, which by the fpi- rit is brought forth in vs,fhall neuer haue end; it be- ing fuch a diuine fier,which no waters of tentation can quench and extinguifh. It remaines then, that they arefaid to haue left their firft loue, in regard that their outward works (which are as con(picuous fruits growingout of this tree of loue), in regard, I (ay,that thele were decayed and impaired, they art laid tohaueleft their firft loue.Thefe are all of them things fubieft to alteration:though the diuine qua- lity of Chrift remaine with vs; the Scripture makes this,toberootedinloue,adiftind thing from ha- ujngloue. Paul therefore asking in the third of the Ephefians,inbehalfeof them, that they might bee rooted in loue, and fo made able to apprehend more perfedly the loue of God to them in Chrift, aimes at fome Angular degree of affe&ion. For as plants are not (when prefently fet firft) deeply roo- ted 2 fb thefe diuine graces, faith, loue,&c, grow vp in vs to fuch a rooted firmenefle, and fctlcdnefTe, that wee are not eafily moued and troubled in the practice of them. A man loues truly at firft, yet leffe A Cmdtfor coldChriflUm. 5 kflcgroundedly. Whence it is,that little entice- ments allure him, and withdraw him into naps of foirituallforgetfulneffe; little (nibs difmay him 3 and make him fhrinke in^little things make him doubt of Gods louc to him ; yea, of his owne perfeuering inlouetoGod : but being better acquainted by ex- perience with the Lords fidelity, mercy, patience, &c, he takes rooting more and more in this holy affedion . Now it is fo, that the loue of thefc Ephe- fians began to hang more loofe in them, then fom- time it was wont. For looke as any thing that now ftands, ftedy may come to bee loofened, yet re- maine die thing it was before, though not firme as before ; fo it is in loue : fo ioynts that are loofened, yet remaine ioynts. Secondly, the operation, the feruent rnouing of loue was growne remifle. For looke as in materiall fiers, the feruent heate may(lake,andfier ftill abide; as in the body, the powers of hearing and feeing are fafe (as in fleepc), though the exercife of them bee ceafed and bound for a time: euen fo our loue, which (like a ficr) groweth further and further kindled in vs for a time,may be by fome occafions abated 3 in regard of the feruor and heate,when yet the being of it is ftill continued. Thirdly,in regard of works, which the operation of their loue produced in their foules in- wardly, and toward God and man outwardly, in this regard they were declined. In their foules, the light of the Lord did not dilcufle the clouds of felfc and earthly luftings 3 as it had done formerly; nor were their duties fuch now, as fometime they had been toward God and man. Looke as in the 5unne,the eflentiall brightnes remaining the lame, B a " the 6 A dutdtjor aid Cbrtmmu theeffeft neuerthelefle of it in difpcrfing clouds, and in lightening thcayreisfomtime dinrinifhed, fbmetimc quite eclipfed:fo here the diuine nature or light of loueremaining 3 yet the effeft thereof in their fbules,both in clearing them from earthly de- fires^ falfe loues y as alfb in making them fruitfull in good duties, this effed of it was nothing for meafure, fuch as once might haue been obferued in Rcafon. them. Now if you aske, whence it comes to pafle, 1 that a maaiii. ;ig made good proceedings, fhould decay in his loue^I anfwere.-Firft/rom a fecret floth, which makes vs wearie of well doing. A dull Afles trot will not laft long: fuch wee areofourfelues, there being a fpirituall fluggifhnefle hanging about our bones, which is ftill ready to returne on vs.For this it is that the Scripture calleth on vs, Bee not 2 flothfull,Hebr.£. Secondly, the longer wee are oc- cupied in any thing, the more wee are taken with a fatiety of it. This we fee proues true eucn in the de- lights of nature ; no wonder then if Manna grow no rneate with vs,ifheauenly things and courfes ieeme lefle taftfull, while they are continued; Specially while we negleft to take paines with our hearts, th^twemay come to the thankful vnderftanding of fo great benefits 5 and on the other fide, to the prudent obferuation of our wants $ whether ' wee looke at the inward frame of our foules, ^ or at any dutie which we performs. Thirdly, we fee that the more we goe to the perfe&ion of any thing, the more difficulty we finde: now when wee come to meet with hardnefle, there wee are refldy,(with- out ftrength miniftred) to flack our endeauour, and thinkewnh the fluggard, Better an handfull with cafe. eafe,thenfarre more with difquictnefle. Fourthly, 4 the diucll, by finnes of time and perfons among whomweliuc, much weakens our loue 5 through the abundance of iniquitie loue fhall waxe cold. Sometime the example of others(likeabackc-byas) drawing vs from the precifenefle of our care in fome duties, in which wee endeauoured before to walke with God : otherwife the fcoffing, and iniu- rious fpightfulneffe of wicked ones,making vs af- fraid to fhew our loue as wewould & J fhould with liberty befeeming. Etien as a damp puts out a light : fo this fog of fin fuffocates and foothers the light- fome blaze of loue , though it cannot quench it throughout in vs. Laftly, the diuell commonly fa- ttens vpon vs a (pirituall fecurity and fulneflc, when 5 we are fomewhatproeeeded (whereas wee rtiould forget what is palled); and being fecure and full 3 we watchlefleagainftfuch things, as by little and lit- tle quench the fpirit in vs. Now feeing this is the „r condition of Chriftians in good eftate, it muft bee ■* * as a glafle to vs,wherein we may behold our fr^Jty Did thefe, when now they were gone on farre in grace,did they then giue in and decline ?, though it be the ftate of fome onely , yet it muft breed a h^ly terrour in vs all,making vs liften to the counfell,Lct him that ftands 5 take heed left he fall. Elpecially^ we g muft be carefull, becaufe wceliueinthelafttimcs^ wherein this cold fit growes a popular . difeafe : the loue of many fhall waxe cold through abundance of iniquity. Now as liuing where fome bodily con- tagious difeafe raigneth^we willlooketo ourfelucs more carefully : fo we muft proportionably bee cir-^ cumfpeft for our foules, that they bee not infe&ed B 3 by 8 A Cauettfor cm ChriJlUns. by this common contagion.Some thinke that when weteach,thattrueloue,whereitis once, there it is euer , and fo of true grace^there is opened a window to fecurity, and we make men warrants toliueas they lift : but there is no fuch matter,while we teach that they may fall into fuch languifhing ficknefles, as will make their conditions fcemc a liuing death, rather then otherwife. Were the conditions of our bodies immortal,yet fuch,as on any mif-diet might con trad painfull and fearfull ficknefTes ; fhould wee then haue caufe to be fecure, & caft away all care of dietingour felues? fo it is in our foules; though this life ofloue is eternall 3 yet it is fubieft to fuchlan- guiftiing maladies without the greater care taken, that none of vs in this refpedi: can want a fufficient fpurre to incite our diligence. I will deferre a fur- ther word of exhortation to the next inftru&ion. Marke then as thefe tell away in their loue, fo the Lord challenges them for it, as a thing much dif pleafing his Maiefty,and dangerous to their foules* z.Obkru. % Obferue hence, that coldnefle and remilhefle in the courfes of fuch as are religious, much offend God, God accurfeth fuch as doe his worke floth- fuWy, though he bid them fheath their fwords in the blood ofothers:and the hike warme Chriftian, that is neither hot nor cold, the Lords ftomackc beares not. To lend the clearer light to the~ dp- &rine,wemuft firft know what this finfull remit nefTe is : fecondly, why it is fo difpleafing and harmcfull.Forthefirft,a man is not to thinke all v that a remifle courfe(here challenged) ,which comes - fhortof fome more powerfull and fruitfull ftraine in his courfe of life,which he hath palfed. For there arc A Laucai for wia u nnjiiams* p are degrees of diligence, and the leaft well accep- ted with God. Euen as an induftrious husband hath fome feafons , Wherein his labour is double to that it is ordinarily, and yet his courle is at no time idle : lb a fpirituall good husband, may (on occafions) be lifted to fuch powerfull endeauour, which he hath not continuing with him at all times, and yet be farre from this finfull remifnefle.Second- ly,it is not a remifle, feeble, weake walking, which proceedeth from a fpirituall faintnefle in vs, being vnder many tentations ;for euen feeble and remifle anions in this feafon, are nofmall labour of our loue,and moft acceptable to God; we muft not goc all by quantity. A ficke man may fhewmore labour, and tire his feeblcd ftrength more, in doing that which in two houres might bee difpatched, then a found man can fhew in a whole dayes worke. For though the found man doth more in quantity, yet he doth lefle in proportion then the ficke, fo farre the ficke is from being idle, Euen as the rich men that offered, though they gaue more in quantitie then the widow,yet (he did more inproportion ( if her ability be confidcred) then they all. It therefore no t being a comparatiue remilhefle, which m?y be fo termed,in regard of more extraordinary beftir- ring our felues,nor yet a feeble remifnefle ; what re- giaines,but that it fhould bee fuch a remifnefle, as commeth from fpirituall floth,caufed in vs by lufts, which we haue in fome degree entertained?Forwhe lufts do get the vpper hand fo ouer vs,that we ftriuc not with them,but goe on in them, though they eat out the life and power which we felt in our courfes, and make vs that we can be well cnough,though we feele l0 A Cdttest f$r coMckritiUns. fcclc not our communion with God in that meafure we were wont ; this is euer ioyned with a finfull fiiU ling from the loue in which we walked, Me*fofi, Now the reafon wherein this comes to be Co of- fenfiuc, is taken from Gods coniugall loue^ which makes, hmiholily icalous of the loue of his people. What doth a louing husband take fo gricuouflyag the finding want of loue in his (poufe ; as to (pie the hart of her withdrawne 3 that it is not as it was here- tofore toward him ? and it is harmfull to vs, by^au- fing lometime outward chaftifement (as (loth itv fcholers & feruan ts, forceth corre&ion from goucr- nors), by caufing vncefiantly a wafting of the life of grace in vs. For as fier not blowne,goes out; (b this loue,whenwcaregrownccold and remifle, dies a- Avay, &c fals into a dangerous (wounc, which makes our ftatcs no t a little frightfoll. yp t This then being a thing fo dilpleafing and hurt- full,wemuft examine our felues how it is withvs, whether we haue not taken fbme (pice of this cold. If wee would apply our confideration nationally, what doth the Atheifmc, the mcere brood of Arri- ans, the (warming of Papifts, the drunkennefle, vn- cle^Rnes of thefe time proclaime,but that our loue isinfome meafurc left? But wee will ftrainc this ftring no further, becaufc it is the beft for vs to weare our eyes at home ; if wee looke to our (elues per(bnally,fliall we finde it otherwife ? Ginnot wee many of vs take pleafitre in the company of fuch, who care not how they prouoke our heauenly huC band? doe not we walke without feeling, feare of offending our God? cannot we pafle ouer our of- fences lightly, calling that at our heeles, which grieues A GAttutfor coldChrijiuns. \ \ and repcntancenecdlcffe? it is forgetting themfelues, C 3 and 16 * Laneatjer ma ^hrtjmns. and neuer once confidering what they doe, and how they goeon. Secondly, we muft make confer- ence to exercife our remembrance about thisfub- ie<3:,euen what fwcrtiings and declinings haueo- uertaken vs. In our bodies and eftates we will quick- ly marke what is amifle,and not eafily forget it: If matter of wrong be done to vsjt ftickes in memory, as if it were written in braflc: we are not weary of remembring earthly things, fuch is our eftimation of them,and familiar acquaintance with them.Shal weonelybe wanting to ourfelues in remembring here, when our faluation lieth vpon it ? therefore as you will haue the latter end peace, fo remember your way es, finnes, declinings; the more you re- member them,the more God will forget them(pro- tionably to that, If we condemne ourfelues, God will not condemnevs),and we had need hold our hearts to the remembrance of them ; they will not heare lightly on this fide. Such is the loue in vs to our naturall good, and care to auoid ficknefle, po- uerty^that we cannot fofoone call to mind our de- feds and dangers,but that we apprehend them, and turne from them. But fo auerfe are we from our hea- uenly good,and carelefle of fpirituall dangers; that whenwefpeakeofthem againe and againe within ourfelues, the foule will hardly be mooued to fol- low the one,or giue attendance to the other fb,as to feeke the auoidance of them. Alas, if we will not now be brought to thinke of our daily flips, decli- nings,of the grieuous finnes in which we goe on without repentance; if we will not, I fay, God fhall one day enlarge our memories, that they fhall ap- prehend all ourfinnes : yea thishardneffe of heart, which A Caueatfor cold Chrifiians. 2 7 which would not let them repent,when exhortedj and that in fuch fort, that the remorfe and after- thought of them fhall be as a worme that nener dies. He who doth nioft willingly forget his finnes here, fhall remember them there, moft fully and painfully hereafter. To proceed to the fecond practice, Remembet : A % obferu. whence thou art fallen, and repent. Firft marke, vpon thedeclinings ofgracehebids them repent 5 teach- ing,that the leaft declinings of grace in our felues andothers,is a caufe of repentance. The falles of others wemuft repent of, left we Reafcn. make them ours,& inwrap our felues in their iudge- ments. We are members of the fiime body with diem 1 and therefore what we doe in our owne, wc muftinfome proportion doe in their finnes alfb. When the health ofbody declined in Bawds coun- terfeit friends, he humbled himfelfe id fafting,Pfal. 35, And when one Corinthian being inceftuous, was not caft forth. Saint Paul prouoketh them all to repentance. Now in our owne declinings we muft take them betimes, left that which is halting tumequiteafide.Ifaforrenenemie inuade vs, wee ftay not till he come to our gates 3 but meet him 2nd hold him play betimes. If a bodily difeafe breed on vs,we loue to looke forth quickly. Thus it fhould be, when fin ( an enemy ,yea a ficknefle to the fbule ) doth (b much as make entrance into vs. And this is fore, that often fmalleft declinings are not a little dangerous. It is feene in nature, that the moft tem- perate diftemper ( fuch as at firft is in an hc&ick fe- uer) as it is not eafily found, lb it is hardly cured. Thus in our foules declinings,whkh wee fee not to be x 8 A Cam At for cold CbrifiUns. be fo outragious 3 but that vvc are well enoughfor all them, thefe often proue moft perillous. Againe,thismuftmoucvs betimeto dealcv/ith [ *. t*mrif£*P*to6\\r fellies in finne ;for the beginning of it ( as Sato* *£ ^^M^^ m9n f a * tn of ftrifc) i s l^e the opening of waters • lit- .To3c*>. t-»7^ : f fjtlc though it feemc at firft, yet it will (well and rife ^^n^lwebeouerflownewith it. j^^rf^"^^^ This therefore muft checke vs, who neither re- '*?$£! «. b*<*&!'f l pent for the declining of the people in the land, nor J^Tjfe . the decay ofgrace in our felucs. The truth is, that looke as in {weeping a kennell, the further it is dri- uen do wn,the more filth abounds; fo the lower ages with vs, are asfinkesreceiuingall the defilements of former times,and our iniquities arc more encrea- fed. Now if by repentance we put it not from vs, we make our felues little better then actors in prefent tranfgrcflions, by commenting to them. And for our owne particulars,wee are many of vs to be blamed, who like foolifh perfons let our fores putrifie,rather then open them, and endure their drefling more timely. Many of vs ( who till fharpe fits force vs forth) will not (eeke out againft our difeafes. Thus eafe flayeth the foolifh. But let vs be wife • let vs not thftke all well,while we can hold vp our head, and fcele not the painfull pangs of conference. The child is brcd,before the pangs of trauell come • fo the fin, it may be,hath laine a long time in vs, which if wee in time dcale not with,will one day fill vs with re- mcdilefleforrowes. A good husband mends a gut- ter ; if a tile be fallen,he fupplieth another ; he keepes all winde and water-tite : in like fort muft we in thefe foules of ours,which are houfes to God his fpi- r i t,w e (hall elfe bring all vpon our heads. And thus much A Catteatfor cold Chi(li arts. \$ much for this do&rine,which in the coherence may be obferued. The matter it felfe,or leeond exercife prelcribcd tob[ erfim is repentance, fetdowne by the effeft of it, doe thy J frft wot kes. Now that againft this ficke ftate he pre- fcribes this remedic,/tyw/ ; we fee what expels and j heales all iuch matters in the foule,w&, repentance. This will helpe euery malady : were a man ficke of the confumptionof his lungs,there were fmaihope, it is mors lenta, but w/<* ; well, languifhing Ephefus euen in a (bule-confumption is reftored by repen- tance. We fee in nature euery part hath a faculty of expelling what is noxious andharmfull: the lungs haue their cough; thebraine his fneezing, ando- ther excretions ; the ftomacke will turne it felfe topfie turuie,but itwill bring vp( by vomit) that which offends.Not to profecute this, in ftead of all the(e,and fuch like, the loule of man in this condi- tion wherein it contra&s corruption, hath this fa- culty of repentance put into it, whereby it empties it felfe of all that which is offenfiue. But for the fur- ther edifying you in this point, I will open two tilings : nrft,in what this pra&ice ftands : fecondly, how we may excite repentance. The aft of repen- tance is a certaine determination,which the vnder- ftanding makes and propounds. Secondly, in the turning away of the will from that finne it lay in; as now hauing it in abomination. Thirdly, in cer- taine affedions and aftions, which the will (now changed) excites in vs. For firft,in repentance, the mind apprehends, and determinately fets downe thus much,that we lie in a fearfull eftate, guilty of grkuous finne ; the vnderftanding (peakes thefe D things 20 A Cdtttatfor cold Chrtttuns. things within vs: O we hauc done fooliftily, what is it we haue done ? we are worthy to be cut off; wc hauefinned,done wickedly ,peruerfly,Dan.p.Ezech. 20.1cr.6.8. rKing.8. Now while the vnderftan- ding fpeakes this in the foule, the will perceiuing byhervnderftanding,inwhat euillfhee hath lien, uirnes it felfc away,nilling and hauing in abomina- tion the finne it liued in.Whathauel to doe with idols((aith repenting Ephraim),Hof. 14? For looke as in the body,not the prefence of ficke matter, but the ftirring of it ;fo that, nature begins to feele the malignancieof.it; this (timng is that which makes nature to fight with it, and driue it forth.: fo not the prefence of finne,but when the fenfe of it is conueyed,by this the vnderftanding fpeakes, then thcfoulesendeauour of turning it away is excited. TJiirdly the will thus abhorring it, caufeth certaine affe&ions to arife 5 asgricfe, indignation, reuenge> fhamefaftneffe,2^Cor.7.Hebr. 12. 28. Yea it com- mandscertaine outward a&ions : confeffion, hum- bling our felues in fading ;fome,as fignes and tcfti- monies ; fome,as meanes alio further helping ir.For as after a medecine taken, Phyfitians prefcribe fa- ftng,fixe or eight houres more or lefle, as the na- ture of things require^and that to this end, that the medecine may more eflfe&ually grapple with the matter to be expelled, hauing no auocament: fb here we reftraine meates,andall delights for afea- £>n,that the flefh may be more fully wrought vpon by the Spirit^whilethe worke of the foule, by thefe carnallauocaments is nothing hindrcd. Now for exciting,if hauing fet before vs our finne, we feele aot our hearts penitently affected, then muft we thintc. A Cdutdtfor ccldchrifluns. i \ thinkc how it is with vs in outward euils, and take words to our felues,faying ; Lord, if I fee any dan- ger towards my body or eftate, forrow will come beforclfendforit. In default but of complement with man,I can be afhamed quickly. *what Atheifme and hardnefle of heart is this,that I canthinkc of my fumes againft thee, indangering my foule,and that without gricfe or blufhing? Thus hauing made this difcouerie of the hard- /^. hartcdnefle in vs 3 we muft ( conlcious of our owne inability) looke to Chrift, whogiueth repentance and pardon of finne; who takes away the heart of ftone 3 giuingvs hearts tender and flefhie. If yet it rife not to our defire, we need not feare, this is the feed which will grow vp to that we wifti, indue time. This then being thus,that repentance is fo fo- ueraigne a medecine for all difeafes of the foule ; how ftiould we be inamoured with it? what good reafonhauewetoholdit in high efteeme? would not one account much of fuch a receit, as taken in any bod ily ficknefle were prefent remed je ? Againe,it muft moue vs to the confcionable pra- yfe. dice here enioyned,feeing it is fo beneficiall to the foule:what will we not endure for our bodies ? t£h making them ficke with bitter potion,incifion; yea, cutting off,if a member be putrified, fearing them in diuers parts with hot irons : fhall we goe thus farre for thegood of the body, and refufc the pra- ctice of this exercife for the good of our foules? I may fpcake to thy impenitent breaft, as Haamans feruants fpake to him about the cure of h is leprof le : Fttber y ft he Prtphet had comanded thee 4 hard tbi*% y Muldtjt then not h&uedore it? how much mere feetna D 2 he $2 A Canut for cold Chri fit arts. be faith JVaJh and be draw. If God had commanded thee a hard thing, vvouldeft thou not haue done it to auoid damnation ? How much more muft thou obey,when he faith,Be but grieued, and condemne your finnes your felues,I will not condemne you ? Ffi* Neither muft they onely 5 vvho are priuie to grea- ter finnes (as more mortall ficknefies) repent them ; but we alfo,feeing we all of vs, though wee haue no fuch dead fickneffes, yet we haue fuch corruptions as will breed vs bitternefle, if we auoide them not by repentance, if ye repent not,you fhall perifh, ye mydifciples. Men that are well, how would it goe with them,if neither by vrine,nor fiege they fhould get eafementof fuch fuperfluitie as is to be expel- led ? they would not long continue well. So it is, though we are well for grace fhewed vs, yet our foule daily contrað and harboureth fuch mat- ter,whichif we purge it not forth by renewed re- pen tance 3 we may aflure our felues it will turne to fomefcarfull foule-fickneffe. Let vs not be like fuch foolifh ones, who goe on in fome difeafe, rather then they will trouble the humour, and difeafe themfelues one day, let things goe on with them till they are curelerfe. I know the diuell makes it feeme a painfull thing to leaue our delights, to di£ quiet our felues, and fit as Iudges condemning our felues within our felues. A fluggard thinkes it in- tolerable to rife; yet when he is vp, he findes it not painfull : fa here. But were it troublous, is it not better to put thy confidence out of officejby iudge- ing thy felfe , then haue GOD and thy confer- ence condemae thee eternally ? To conclude this point,doe we catch any fall bodily, but wc will get vp A Cdueatfer cold Chrtftians, 2 3 vpagaine,though we rife from hand to knee, and get vp but faintly ? O let vs be wife in the fals of our foules,takeheede to get vp by repentance againc. Thus much of the pra&ice of repentance : now 6.0bfertt. for the c&d^ce thy fir ft works, I obferue,that finne by repentance remoued,our former abilities are re- ftored. Euen as in nature, when the a&ions of any § f ^ \ £ • <■ i\ part are hurt by this or that ficke matter hurting^- iSb^ft^ 71 !* f« them •, take but away the difeafc, the part will doe ^ ■ pklrf**"' { 't' {z ' that belongeth to it as ably as cuer : fo the foule once healed by repentance, puts forth the pov/ers of it felfe as it did before : yea ( as they fay ) a bone %#£ jwe^W^"^fe broken and well fetagaine, isftrongerthcn euerit^^n-z-?^^ 71 ?^^ was ;fo Gods often mending ^ f™iU k,r ****„ *£C..~«(tfc* kteru < J tance, exceeds the former maki blefled exercife of a broken ipirii the vertueof it? whether we looke at cuils in thc^^vv^/Q^ (bulc^or in the body and condition. It often hca-OxC^'S^-fog'^ lethfoule-euils,fo that there is no fear left in themr*iu*n^^4 ^ fr of the wound receiued. Peter* prefumptuous man|^#yf^K* ^/^ {landing on comparifon 3 thou^halthefcleaue thee,^ ™ x wffif5K yet,&c, ro#fofuUoffclfc-louVo f«rfuUof dcath,2p%?Sy^ that he denied his Lord and Mafter: when now 4. God had touched him with repentance, mark Pbw cleerehe rofe vp (as it were) from thefe cuils. The night before he fhould haue been martyred,he flept as (bundly as if he had not been priuie to any fuch matter : and when Chrift asked him, Doefl then /cue me more then thefe f Peter now had forgot his com- panions, Lord thou knorvefl I toue thee. So Dtutd jxhen God had now enlightened his darkneile after the matter of Pru/^hc felt fuch fpirituall ftrength, as if he could haue leaped ouera wall,or broken through D 3 an 24 d CdutAtfcr coldChriBUns. an armie. True it is that fbmtime when repentance is not in the more through degree, but done by halues^then it is as in bodily difeafes,which goe not cleanc away,but leaue the party ntntrum conualefccn- ti&, that is, not well, but onely fomewhat mending, rather thenfully rcftored. This it doth in regard of foule-dheafcs that arc entred; but if wee fearc their growing on vs, then this pra&ic«foIlowed,isan ex- cellent preferuatiue,preuenting their entrance, Nowforbodily and conditional! euils,this keeps them ( vfed in kinde) that they befall vs not. tj/- cbabs counterfeit repentance obtained no lefle. Se- condly ,it makes vs grow out of them, if they hauc ieazed on vs. How did /*£, now humbling himfelfe in duft and ailies,mount vp (as it were) with Eagles wings, aboue all his calamities ? If the fentence touching outward euils be irrcuocablie pafled,yet fo itaflwagesandfweetens thefe erodes, that wee haue peace in the middeft of them, and feele not (o much difturbance from them. As in Mefes 5 who might not enter Canaan ; in Dauid yvhofe child was to die, whofe other calamities threatned,were to luccced. Vfi . fFhis therefore may lerue for a touch-ftone to dilcerne,whether our repentance be right,or other- / wife: if we haue foundly repented,wee fhall finde it inourfreedomefromlufts, which fometime trou- bled vs in our abilities fpirituall, and in the perfor- mance of our duties. When by our repentant hu- miliation we grow of vngodly, godly ; of intempe- rate, fbber ; of vniuft, iuft ; of uothfull, feruent in good duties ; then we may affiire our felues that our finne by repentance is taken from vs. Should wee fee A Cane at fir cold Christians. 2 5 fee^ho had been feeble, wafted, nowhauing taken phyficke grow full of blood, flefhie, able to digeft any thing,ftrong to labour; wee would not doubt but that his difeafe were fully remoued; but that his medecincwas right and effedtuall : fo is that repen- tance right, and that man healed by it,to whom the workes of grace are now returned: but if wee hauenot fruits which accompany repen- tance,thenis our turning to bee fufpe&ed. FINIS. Errata. Page i, line 1 7. put outCbrijl* p. j, 1. 1&. for let,, r. vi^. p. i o. L 1 2. for mccrc, r, ncvp* c ----_——-.- jiggp ,ti; s=s&. *$^#;