Wherefore .

This referrs vs to the motiue that humbled him ; and that appeares by the context , to be a double meditation ; one of Gods maiestie , another of his mercie . 1. Of his maiestie ; which being so infinite , and beyond the comprehension of man , hee considered by way of comparison , or relation to the creatures ; the great Beh●moth of the Land , the greater Leuiathan of the Sea ; vpon which hee hath spent the precedent Chapters . Mathematicians wonder at the Sun , that it being so much bigger then the Earth , it doth not set it on fire , and burne it to ashes : but here is the wonder ; that God being so infinitely great , and wee so infinitely euill , we are not consumed . Whatsoe●●r the Lord would doe , Psalm . 135.6 . that did he , in heauen , in earth , in the Sea , and in all deepe places . If mans power could doe according to his will , or Gods will would doe according to his power , Genes. 6.7 . who could stand ? I will destroy man from the face of the earth , saith the Lord . The originall word is , I will steepe him , as a man steepes a piece of earth in water , till it tu●ne to dirt : for man is but clay , and forgets his maker , and his matter . None but God can reduce man to his first principles , and the originall graines whereof he was made : and there is no dust so high , but this great God is able to giue him steeping .

2. Or this was a meditation of his mercy , then which nothing more humbles a heart of flesh . Psalm . 130.4 With thee , O Lord , is forgiuenesse , that thou mightest bee feared . One would thinke , that punishment should procure feare , and forgiuenesse loue : but nemo magis diligit , quàm qui maximè veretur offendere : no man more truely loues God , then hee that is most fearefull to offend him . Thy mercie reacheth to the heauens , and thy faithfulnesse to the cloudes ; that is , aboue all sublimities . God is glorious in all his workes , but most glorious in his workes of mercie : and this may bee one reason , why Saint Paul calls the Gospell of Christ , 1 Tim. 1.11 . a Glorious Gospell . Salomon tels vs , It is the glory of a man to passe by an offence : herein is God most Glorious , in that he pasleth by all the offences of his children . Lord , who can know thee , and not loue thee ; know thee , and not feare thee ? feare thee for thy Iustice , and loue thee for thy mercie : yea feare thee for thy mercie , and loue thee for thy Iustice , for thou art infinitely good in both .

Put both these together , and here is matter of humiliation , euen to dust and ashes . So Abraham interceding for Sodome ; Gen. 18 27. Behold , I haue taken vpon mee to speake vnto the Lord , which am but dust and ashes . Gr●g . mo● . ●8 . Quanto magis Sancti Diuinitatis interna conspîciunt , tanto magis se nihil esse cognoscu●t . It is a certaine conclusion ; no proud man knowes God . Non sum dignus , I am not worthy , is the voice of the Saints : they know God , and God knowes them . Exod. 33.17 . Moses was the meekest man vpon earth , and therefore God is said to know him by name . Gen. 32.10 . I am lesse then the least of thy mercies , saith ●acob ; loe , hee was honoured to bee Father of the 12. Tribes , and Heire of the Blessing . Quis ego sum Domine , sayes Dauid , who am I , O Lord ? Hee was aduanced from that lowly conceite to bee King of Israel . Mat. 3.11 . I am not worthy to loose the latchet of Christs shooe , saith Iohn Baptist. Loe , hee was esteemed worthy to lay his hand on Christs head . Mat. ● . 8 . I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe , sayes the Centurion : therefore Christ commended him , I haue not found so great faith , no not in Israel . I am the least of the Apostles , 1 Cor. 15.9 . saith Paul , not worthy to be called an Apostle : therefore hee is honoured with the title of The Apostle . Behold the handmaid of the Lord , saith the holy Virgin : therefore shee was honoured to be the Mother of the Lord , and to haue all generations call her Blessed . This Non sum dignus , the humble annihilation of themselues , hath gotten them the honor of Saints . In spirituall graces , let vs study to be great , and not to know it : as the fixed Starres are ( euery one ) bigger then the earth , yet appeare to vs lesse then torches . In alto non altum sapere ; not to bee high-minded in high deserts , is the way to blessed preferment . Humilitie is not onely a vertue it selfe , but a vessell to containe other vertues : like embers , which keepe the fire aliue that is hidden vnder it . It emptieth it selfe , by a modest estimation of the owne worth , that Christ may fill it . It wrastleth with God , like Iacob ; and winnes by yeelding : and the lower it stoopes to the ground , the more aduantage it gets to obtaine the blessing . All our pride , O Lord , is from the want of knowing Thee : O thou infinite Maker , Reueale thy selfe yet more vnto vs ; so shall wee abhorre our selues , and repent in dust and ashes .

I abhorre my selfe .

It is a deepe degree of mortification , for a man to abhorre himselfe . To abhorre others is easie : to deny others , more easie : to despise others , most easie . But it is hard to despise a mans selfe : to deny himselfe , harder : hardest of all , to abhor himselfe . Euery one is apt to thinke well , speake well , doe well to himselfe . Not only Charity , a spirituall vertue , but also Lust , a carnall vice , begins at home . There is no direct Commandement in the Bible , for a man to loue himselfe ; because we are all so naturally prone to it . Indeed , we are bound to loue our selues ; so much is implied in the Precept ; Love thy neighbour as thy selfe ; August . therefore loue Thy selfe , But Modus praecipiendus , vt tibiprosis ; so loue thy selfe , as to doe thy selfe good . But for a man , vpon good termes , to abhorre himselfe ; this is the wonder ! He is more then a meere Sonne of Eue , that does not ouer-value himselfe . Qui se non admiratur , mirabilis est : hee that doth not admire himselfe , is a man to be admired .

Nor is this disease of proud flesh , peculiar onely to those persons , whose imperious commands , surly salutations , insolent controulements , witnesse to the world how little they abhorre themselues . But it haunts euen the baser condition , and fomes out at the common iawes . A proud beggar was the Wisemans monster ; but pride is the daughter of Riches . It is against reason , indeed , that metalls should make difference of men : against religion , that it should make such a difference of Christian men . Yet commonly , Reputation is measured by the acre ; and the altitude of Countenance is taken by the Pole of Aduancement . And as the seruant values himselfe higher or lower , according as his master is : so the master esteemes himselfe greater or lesse , according as his master , that is , as his Money or Estate is . His heart is proportionably enlarged with his house : his good , and his blood riseth together : Dan. 4.30 . Is not this the great Babylon , which I haue built for the honour of my Maiestie ? But you know , hee was turned into a beast that said so . Gold and siluer are heauy metalls , and sinke downe in the ballance : yet by a preposterous inuersion , they lift the heart of man vpwards : as the plummet of a clocke , which , while it selfe poyseth downewards , lifts vp the striking hammer . As Saul vpon his annointing , so many a one vpon his aduancing , is turned quite into another man . Luke 18.11 . God I thanke thee , sayes the Pharisee , that I am not as other men are , nor as this Publican : not as other men , and for this hee thankes God : as if because hee thought better of himselfe , God must needs thinke better of him too . Now hee must no more take it as hee hath done ; a new port , for a new report . He abhorres all men , but admires himselfe . Yet after these blustring insolencies , and windie ostentations , all this thing is but a man , and that ( God knowes ) a very foolish one .

But the children of grace haue learned anothe● lesson , to thinke well of other men , and to abhor themselues . And indeed , if we consider what Master we haue serued , & what wages deserued , we haue iust cause to abhorre our selues . What part of vs hath not sinned , that it should not merit to be despised ? Run all ouer this little I le of man , & find me one member of the body , or faculty of the soule , that can say with Iobs messenger , Ego solus aufugi ; Iob. 1.15 . I alone haue escaped . What one action can wee iustifie ? Produce ex tot millibus , vnum . Where is that Innocencie , which desires not to stand onely in the sight of Mercie ? There is in our worst workes wickednesse , in our best weaknesse , errour in all . What time , what place , are not witnesses against vs ? The very Sabbath , the day of Rest , hath not rested from our euills . The very Temple , that holy place , hath beene defiled with our obliquities . Our chambers , our beds , our boords , the ground we tread , the ayre wee breath , can tell our follies . There is no occasion , which , if it doe not testifie what euill we haue done , yet can say , what good we should , and haue not done .

If all this do not humble vs , looke we vp ( with Iob heere ) to the Maiestie which we haue offend●d . To spoile the Armes of a common Subiect , or to counterfeit his Seale , is no such haynous or capitall crime . But to deface the Armes of the King , to counterfeit his Broad Seale , or priuy Signet , is no lesse then Treason : because the disgrace redounds vpon the person of the King . Euery sinne dishonors God , & offers to sticke ignominy vpon that infinite Maiestie ; therefore deserues an infinite penaltie . Psal. 51.4 . Against thee , O Lord , against thee haue I sinned . I , thy creature ; against Thee , my Maker : heere is a transcendencie , which when a man considers , hee is worthie to bee abhorred of all men , that does not abhorre himselfe .

Yet when God , and our owne selues , stand in competition , which do we most respect ? Temptation is on our left hand , in a beautifull resemblance , to seduce vs . The will , the glory , the Iudgement of God , is on our right hand , to direct vs : doe we now abhorre our selues ? Commoditie sets off inquitie , & wooes vs to be rich , though sinners : Christ bids vs first s●ek thee kingdome of Heauen , and tells vs that other things shall come without seeking , they shall bee added vnto vs : Doe we now abhorre our selues ? Such a sinne is pleasing to my lust and concupiscence , but it is displeasing to God and my Conscience : Doe I now abhorre my selfe ? That wee loue God farre better then our selues , is soone said ; but to prooue it , is not so easily done . Hee must Deny himselfe , Mark . 8.34 . that will bee Christs seruant . Many haue denied their Masters , many haue denied their Friends , many haue denyed their Kinred , not a few haue denied their Brothers , some haue denied their owne Parents , but to denie themselues , durus hic sermo , this is a hard taske . Negare suos , sua , se ; to denie their profits , to deny their pleasures , to denie their lustes , to denie their reasons , to denie themselues ? no , to doe all this they vtterly denie .

Yet hee that repents truely , abhorres himselfe ; Non se vt conditum , sed se vt perditum ; not the creature that God made , but the creature that himselfe made . Repentance loues Animam , non malitiam , carnem , non carnalitatem ; the Soule , not the venime of the soule ; the flesh , not the fl●shlinesse of it . So farre as hee hath corrupted himselfe , so farre he abhorres hims●lfe ; and could rather wish non esse , not to be at all , then malum ●sse , to be displeasing to his Maker .

Thus , if wee despise our selues , God will honour vs : if we abhorre our selues , God will accept vs : if wee denie our selues , God will acknowledge vs : if wee hate our selues , God will loue vs : if wee condemne our selues , God will acquite vs : if we punish our selues , God will spare vs : yea , thus if we seeme lost to our selues , wee shall bee found in the day of Iesus Christ .

I repent .

Repentance hath much acquaintance in the world , and few friends : it is better knowen then practised ; and yet not more knowen , then trusted . My scope , now , shall not bee the definition of it , but a perswasion to it . It is euery mans medicine ; an vniuersall Antidote , that makes many a Mithridates venture on poyson . They make bolde to sinne , as if they were sure to repent . But the medicine was made for the wound , not the wound for the medicine . Wee haue read , if not seene , the Battell betwixt those two venimous creatures , the Toad and the Spider : where the greater , being ouer-match'd with the poyson of the lesse , hath recourse to a certaine hearbe , some thinke the Plantane ; with which shee expells the infection , and renewes the fight : but at last , the hearbe being wasted , the Toad bursts and dies . Wee sucke in sinne , the poyson of that old Serpent , and presume to driue it out againe with Repentance : but how if this Hearbe of grace bee not found in our Gardens ? As Traian was marching foorth with his armie , a poore woman sollicited him to doe her iustice vpon the murderers of her onely sonne . I will doe thee Iustice , woman , sayes the Emperour , when I returne . The woman presently replyed ; But what if my Lord neuer returne ? How farre soeuer we haue runne out , we hope to make all reckonings euen , when Repentance comes : but what if Repentance neuer comes ?

It is not many yeares , more incitations , and abundance of meanes , that can worke it : but Repentance is the faire gift of God . One would thinke it a short Lesson ; yet Israel was fortie yeares a learning it ; and they not sooner got it , but presently forgot it . Reu. 16.11 . Reu. 16. We reade of men plagued with heat , and paines , and sores ; yet they repented not . Iudas could haue a broken necke , not a broken heart . There is no such inducement to sinne , as the presumption of ready Repentance : as if God had no speciall riches of his owne ; but euery sinner might command them at his pleasure . The King hath Earth of his owne , he lets his subiects walke vpon it : he hath a Sea , lets them saile on it : his Land yeelds fruit , let them eate it : his fountaines water , let them drinke it . But the moneys in his Exchequer , the garments in his Wardrope , the Iewels in his Iewel-house , none may meddle with , but they to whom hee disposeth them . Gods common blessings are not denied : Math. 5.45 . his Sunne shines , his raine falls , on the righteous and vnrighteous . But the treasures of heauen , the robes of glory , the Iewels of Grace and Repentance ; these hee keepes in his owne hands ; and giues , not where he may , but where he will . Mans heart is like a doore with a Spring locke : pull the doore after you , it lockes of it selfe ; but you cannot open it againe without a key . Mans heart doth naturally locke our grace ; Reuel. 3.7 . none but hee that hath the Key of the house of Dauid , can open the doore , and put it in . God hath made a promise To Repentance , not Of Repentance : wee may trust to that promise , but there is no trusting to our selues . Nature flatters it selfe with that singular instance of mercy ; one malefactor on the crosse repenting at his last houre . But such hath beene Satans policie , to draw euill out of good , that the calling and sauing of that one soule , hath bin the occasion of the losse of many thousands .

Wheresoeuer Repentance is , shee doth not deliberate , tarries not to aske questions , and examine circumstances ; but bestirres her ioynts , cals her wits & senses together : summons her tongue to praying , her feet to walking , her hands to working , her eyes to weeping , her heart to groaning . There is no need to bid her goe , for shee runnes : she runnes to the word for direction , to her own heart for remorse and compunction , to God for grace and pardon : and wheresoeuer shee findeth Christ , 2 Kings 4.30 . shee layeth faster hold on him , then the Shunnamite did on the feet of Elisha ; As the Lord liueth , and as thy soule liueth , I will not let thee goe : no Gehesi can beate her off . She resolues that her knees shall grow to the pauement , till mercy hath answered her from heauen . As if she had felt an earth quake in her soule , not vnlike that Iaylor , when he felt the foundations of his prison shaken ; Acts 16.29 . shee calls for a light the Gospell of truth , and springs in trembling ; and the fi●st voice of her lips is , O what shall I doe to be saued ? Shee lowes with mourning , like the Kine that carried the Arke ; and neuer rests till shee comes to Bethshemesh , the fieldes of mercie . The good Starre that guides her , is the promise of God : this giues her light through all the darke clouds of her sorrow . Confidence is her life , and soule : she drawes no other breath then the perswasion of mercie ; 1 King . 20.31 . that the King of Israel is a mercifull King . Faith is the heart-blood of Repentance . The matter , composition , constitution , substance of it , is amendment of life : there be many counterfets that walke in her habite , as King Ahab had his shadowes ; but that 's her substance . Her countenance is spare and thinne ; shee hath not eyes standing out with fatnesse . Her diet is abstinence ; her garment and liuery , Sackcloth and ashes : the Paper in her hand , is a Petition ; her dialect is Miser●re ; and lest her owne lusts should bee bane within her , she sweats them out with confession and teares .

Wee know , there is no other fortification against the Iudgements of God , but Repentance . His forccs be inuisible , inuincible ; not repelled with sword and target : neither portcullice , nor fortresse can keepe them out : there is nothing in the world that can encounter them but Repentance . They had long since laid our honour in the dust , rotted our carkases in the pit , sunke our soules into hell , but for Repentance . Which of those Saints , that are now saued in heauen , haue not sinned vpon earth ? What could saue them but Repentance ? Their infirmities are recorded , not onely for the instruction of those that stand , but also for the consolation of them that are fallen . Instruunt Patriarchae , non solùm docentes , sed & errantes . They doe not onely teach vs by their Doctrines , but euen by their very errours . Noah was ouercome with a little wine , that escaped drowning with the world in that Deluge of water . Lot was scorched with the flame of vnnaturall lust , that escaped burning in the fire of Sodome , Sampson , the strongest ; Salomon , the wisest , fell by a woman . One Balme recouered them all , blessed Repentance . Let our soules , from these premises , and vpon the assurance of Gods promises , conclude ; that if we repent , our sinnes are not greater , Gods mercies cannot bee lesse . Thus was Niniueh ouerthrowen , that she might not be ouerthrowen . Quae peccatis perit , fletibus stetit . Euery man must either bee a Niniuite , or a Sodomite : a Niniuite sorrowing for sinne , or a Sodomite suffering for sinne . Doleat peccata reus , vt deleat peccata Deus . If wee grieue , God will forgiue .

Nor yet must wee thinke , with this one short word ( I repent ) to answere for the multitude of our offences ; as if we that had sinned in parcels , should be forgiuen in grosse . It were a rare fauour , if we paying but one particular of a whole Booke of debts , should be granted a generall acquittance for them all . No , let vs reckon vp our sinnes to God in confession , that our hearts may find a plenary absolution . Nor is it enough to recount them , but wee must recant them . Doe we thinke , that because wee doe not remember them , that God hath forgotten them ? Are not debts of many yeares standing , to be called for ? Mans Iustice doth not forbeare olde offenders : no tract of time can eate out the Characters of blood . Iob 13.26 . Thou writest bitter things against me , when thou makest mee to possesse the sinnes of my youth . These things hast thou done , Psal. 50.21 . saith God , and I held my peace : therefore thou thoughtest mee altogether such a one as thy selfe : but I will reprooue thee , and set them in order before thine eyes . Therefore let vs number all the sinnes wee can , and then God will forgiue vs all the sinnes that wee haue .

If wee could truely weigh our iniquities , we must needs find a necessitie , either of repenting , or of perishing . Shall wee make God to frowne vpon vs in heauen , arme all his creatures against vs on earth ? shall w●e force his curses vpon vs and ours ? Take his rod , and teach it to scourge vs with all temporall plagues ; and not repent ? Shall wee wound our owne consciences with sinnes , that they may wound vs with eternall torments ; make a hell in our bosomes heere , and open the gates of that lower hell to deuoure vs hereafter ; and not repent ? Doe wee , by sinne , giue Satan a right in vs , a power ouer vs , an aduantage against vs ; and not labour to crosse his mischiefes by repentance ? Doe wee cast Brimstone into that infernall fire , as if it could not bee hote enough , or wee should faile of tortures except wee make our selues our owne tormentors ; and not rather seeke to quench those flames with our penitent teares ?

If we could see the farewell of sin , we would abhorre it , and our selues for it ; Could Dauid haue conceiued the griefe of his broken bones , before-hand ; he had escaped those aspersions of lust and blood . Had Achan foreseene the stones about his eares , before he filch'd those accursed things , hee would neuer haue fingerd them . But it may be said of vs , as it was of our first parents ; when they had once sinned and fallen ; Genes. 3.7 . Tunc aperti sunt oculi eorum , Then their eyes were opened ; Then , not before . In this place comes in Repentance ; as a rectifier of disorders , a recaller of aberrations , a repairer of all decayes and breaches . So it pleaseth Gods mercy , that the daughter should be the death of the mother . Aug. Peccatum tristitiam peperit , tristitia peccatum conteret . Sin bred sorrow , sorrow shall kill sinne : as the oyle of Scorpions healeth the sting of Scorpions .

If I should giue you the picture of Repentance , I would tell you , that shee is a Virgine faire and louely : and those teares which seeme to doe violence to her beautie , rather indeed grace it . Her Brest is sore with the strokes of her owne penitent hands ; which are alwayes , either in Moses his posture in the Mount , lifted vp towards heauen ; or the Publicans in the Temple , smiting her bosome . Her knees are hardened with constant praying , her voyce is hoarce with calling to heauen ; and when shee cannot speake , she deliuers her mind in groanes . There is not a teare falles from her , but an Angell holds a bottell to catch it . Shee thinkes euery mans sinnes lesse then her owne , euery mans good deeds more . Her compunctions are vnspeakeable ; knowen onely to God , and her selfe . Shee could wish , not onely men ; but euen beasts , and trees , and stones , to mourne with her . Shee thinks , no Sunne should shine , because shee takes no pleasure in it ; that the Lilies should bee cloathed in black , because she is so apparelled . Mercy comes downe , like a glorious Cherub , and lights on her bosome , with this message from God ; I haue heard thy prayers , and seene thy teares : so with a handkerchiefe of comfort , dries her cheeks , and telles her that she is accepted in Iesus Christ .

In dust and ashes .

I haue but one staire more , downe from both Text and Pulpit ; and it is a very low one ; Dust and ashes .

An adorned body is not the vehicle of an humbled soule . Iob , before his affliction was not poore . Doubtlesse , hee had his Wardrobe , his change and choise of garments . Yet now , how doth his humbled soule contemne them ! as if hee threw away his vesture , saying ; I haue worne thee for pompe , giuen countenance to a silken case ; I quite mistooke thy nature , get thee from mee , I am weary of thy seruice , thou hast made mee honourable with men , thou canst get mee no estimation before the Lord . Repentance giues a farewell , not onely to wonted delights , but euen to naturall refreshings . Iob lies not on a bed of Roses and Violets , as did the Sybarites ; nor on a couch beautified with the Tapestrie of Egypt ; but on a bed of Ashes . Sackcloth is his apparell ; dust and ashes the lace and embroyderie of it . Ion. 3.6 . Thus Niniu●hs King , vpon that fearefull sentence , rose from his throne , layd his robe from him , couered himselfe with sackcloth , and sate in ashes . O what an alteration can repentance make ? From a King of the earth , to a worme of the earth : from a foot-cloth , to sackcloth : from a Throne , to a dunghill : from sitting in State , to lying in ashes ! Whom all the reuerence of the world attended on , to whom the head was vncouered , the knee bowed , the body prostrated ; who had as many salutations , as the firmament starres , God saue the King : Hee throwes away Crowne , scepter , Maiestie , and all , and sits in ashes . How many doth the golden Cup of Honour make drunke , and driuen from all sense of mortalitie ! Riches and hearts ease , are such vsuall intoxications to the soules of men ; that it is rare to finde any of them so low as Dust and Ashes .

Dust , as the remembrance of his originall : Ashes , as the representation of his end : Dust , that was the mother : Ashes , that shall bee the daugther of our Bodies .

Dust , the matter of our substance , the house of our soules , the originall graines whereof wee were made , the top of all our kinred . The glory of the strongest man , the beautie of the fairest woman ; all is but dust . Dust ; the onely compounder of differences , the absoluer of all distinctions : who can say , which was the Client , which the Lawyer : which the borrower , which the lender : which the captiue , which the Conqueror ; when they all lie together in blended dust ?

Dust ; not Marble , nor Porphyrie , Gold nor precious stone , was the matter of our bodies ; but earth , and the fractions of the earth , dust . Dust , the sport of the winde , the very slaue of the beesome . This is the pit from whence wee are digged ; and this is the pit , to which we shall bee resolued . Genes. 3 . 1● Dust thou art , and to dust thou shalt returne againe . They that sit in the dust , and feele their owne materials about them , may well renounce the ornaments of pride , the gulfe of auarice , the foolish lustes of concupiscence . Let the couetous thinke , what doe I scrape for ? a little golden dust : the ambitious , what doe I aspire for ? a little honourable dust : the libidinous , what doe I languish for ? a little animated dust , blowen away with the breath of Gods displeasure .

O how goodly this building of man appeares , when it is clothed with beautie and honour ! A face full of maiestie , the throne of comelinesse ; wherein the whitenesse of the Lilie contends with the sanguine of the Rose : an actiue hand , an erected countenance , an eye sparkling out lustre , a smoothe complexion , arising from an excellent temperature and composition : whereas other creatures , by reason of their cold and grosse humours , are growne ouer , beasts with haire , foules with feathers , fishes with scales . O what a workman was this , that could raise such a Fabricke out of the earth , and lay such orient colours vpon Dust ! yet all is but Dust , walking , talking , breathing dust : all this beautie but the effect of a well concocted food , and life it selfe but a walk from dust to dust . Yea , and this man , or that woman , is neuer so beautifull , as when they sit weeping for their sinnes in the dust : as Mary Magdalen was then fairest , when she kneeled in the dust , bathing the feet of Christ with her teares , and wiping them with her haires : like heauen , faire sight-ward , to vs that are without ; but more faire to them that are within .

The Dust is come of the same house that wee are : and when she sees vs proud , and forgetfull of our selues , shee thinkes with her selfe , Why should not shee , that is descended as well as we , beare vp her plumes as high as ours . Therefore she so often borrowes wings of the winde , to mount aloft into the ayre , and in the streets and high wayes , dasheth herselfe into our eyes : as if shee would say , Are you my kinred , and will not know me ? will you take no notice of your owne mother ? To taxe the folly of our ambition , the dust in the street takes pleasure to bee ambitious .

The Iewes in their mourning , vsed to rend their garments ; as if they would bee reuenged on them , for encreasing their pride , and keeping them from the sight of their nakednesse . Then they put on sackcloth , and that sackcloth they sprinkled ouer with dust , and ouerstrawed with ashes : to put God in minde , that if hee should arme his displeasure against them , he should but contend with dust and ashes ; and what glory could that bee for him ? Psal 30.9 . Shall the dust praise thee , O God ; or , art thou glorified in the pit ? Nay , rather , how often doth the Lord spare vs , Psal. 103.14 . because hee remembers wee are but dust ? To shew that they had lifted vp themselues aboue their creation , and forgot of what they are made ; now by by Repentance returning to their first Image , in all prostrate humility they lay in the dust ; confessing , that the wind doth not more easily disperse the dust , then the breath of God was able to bring them to nothing .

Thus , Dust is not onely Materia nostra , or Mater , our Mother , Iob. 4.19 . or matter wherof we are made ; for our foundation is in the dust . Esai . 26.19 . But Patria nostra , our Countrey where we shall dwell ; Awake yee that dwell in the dust . We are no better then the dust wee shake off from our feete , or brush off from our clothes . O , therefore let vs turne to God in dust , before hee turne vs into dust . Yea , Saint Augustine goes further , and sayes , that not onely the bodies of all men , but euen the soules of some men , are no better then dust . They are so set vpon earth , and earthly things , that they are transformed into earth and dust : and so become the food of that old Serpent , whose punishment was to eate the dust .

For Ashes , they are the Embleme or representation of greater misery : Dust onely shewes vs , that wee haue deserued the dissolution of our bodies ; Ashes put vs in mind that wee haue merited also the destruction of our Soules . Ashes are the leauings of the fire , the offalls of consumed substances . When God shall giue vp the largest buildings of Nature to the rage of that Element , it shall reduce them to a narrowe roome , the remnants shall bee but ashes . This was all the Monument of those famous cities , Sodome , 2 Pet. 2.6 . Gomorra , and the rest ; heapes of ashes . Ecce vix totam Hercules impleuit vrnam , sayes the Poet ; that great Gyant scarce makes a pitcher of ashes .

For this cause , the Ancients vsed to repent in Ashes ; remonstrating to themselues , that they deserued burning in endlesse fire , more then those Ashes wherein they wallowed . Yea , if Abraham compared himselfe to dust and ashes , I may compare my soule to a sparke hid in the Ashes : which , when sickenesse and death shall stirre vp ; like fire , shee takes her flight vpwards , and leaues the heauy fruitlesse ashes of my bodie behind her .

In both , wee haue a L●sson of our owne mortalitie . The finger of GOD hath written the Epitaph of man ; the condition of his bodie , like Characters printed in the Dust. Mans body , so well as the yce , expounds that Riddle ; the gignit filia matrem : the daughter begets the mother ; Dust begot a bodie , and a bodie begets Dust. Our bodies were a● first strong Cities ; but then wee made them the Forts of Rebels : our offended Liege sent his Serieant Death to arrest vs of high Treason . And though for his mercies sake in Christ , hee pardoned our sinnes , yet hee suffers vs no more to haue such strong houses ; but le ts vs dwell in paper Cottages , mudde walles , mortall bodies . Methusalem liued nine hundred sixtie nine yeares ; yet hee was the sonne of Enoch , who was the sonne of Iared , who was the sonne of Malaleel , who was the sonne of Cainan , who was the sonne of Enos , who was the sonne of Seth , who was the sonne of Adam , who was the sonne of Dust. Aske the woman that hath conceiued a childe in her wombe ; Will it bee a Sonne ? Peraduenture so : Will it bee well formed and featured ? Peraduenture so : Will it be wise ? Peraduenture so : Will it be rich ? Peraduenture so : Will it be long-liued ? Peraduenture so : Will it be mortall ? Yes , this is without peraduenture ; it will die . Euen a Heathen , when hee heard that his son was dead , could say without changing countenance , Scio me genuisse mortalem ; I know that I begot a mortall man .

An olde man is said to giue Alexander a little Iewell ; and tolde him , that it had this vertue ; so long as hee kept it bright , it would out-value the most fine golde or precious stone in the world ; but if it once tooke dust , it would not bee worth a feather . What meant the Sage , but to giue the Monarch an Embleme of his owne body ; which being animated with a Soule , Eccl. 9.4 . commanded the world ; but once fallen to dust , it would be worth nothing : for a liuing dog is better then a dead Lyon .

I conclude , I call you not to casting Dust on your heads , or sitting in Ashes ▪ but to that sorrow and compunction of Soule , whereof the other was but an externall Symbole or testimonie . Esai . 58.5 . Let vs rend our hearts , and spare our garments ; humble our soules , without afflicting our bodies . It is not a corps wrapp'd in Dust and Ashes , but a contrite heart , Psalm . 51.17 . which the Lord will not despise . Let vs repent our sinnes , and amend our liues : so God will pardon vs by the merites , saue vs by the mercies , and crowne vs with the glories of Iesus Christ .