And as it was a spirituall sin , so it was artificiall , Artificiall . there was a great deale of art and cunning in it ; and in evill things , the more art , the worse : Art commends other things , Doli non sunt doli , ni astucoles . but it makes sinne the more sinfull . When men are mitty to worke mischiefe and wise to doe evill , then they are evill in graine : It is best to bee a bungler at this occupation : Ingenous men carry their hatred open ; but this plot was spunne with so fine a thread , as could not easily be discerned .

Againe , they were very diligent in it , Diligenec in it . for it was a curious webb ; And as in weaving , head and band , eye and foot , all goe together , so here they mustered up all their wits . Iudas is awake when Peter sleepes

And which is worst of all , they were so well pleased with the bratt of their owne braine , Dwelling upon it . that they travelled of it ; it increases guilt , when men upon view and fight of their plot , grow so far in love with it , that they long to be delivered of it ; the more the soule dwels upon and sinfull plot , the more efragement there is from God ; because the happinesse of the soule consists in cleaving to God the fountaine of all good ; the more deliberation any man takes in sinning , the more his soule is pleased with wickendnes . A heart long exercised in sinne will admit of no impression of grace ; for the spirits are so absorpt with other designes , that they are dry and dead to better things . Many thousands are in hell at this day , for suffering their spirits to thove them too farre into sinne ; Many suck out the delight of sinne before they act it , as Esau pleased himselfe by thinking the day of mourning for his father would come , Gen. 27. 41. wherein hee might bee revenged of his brother .

Yet this sinne was not onely spirituall and imminent , but transient likewise , it reached against the second Table ; and therefore against the principles of nature , and against society , out of which God gathers a church ; there was false witnesse and murther in this finne ; In this respect it is , that the sinnes of the second Table are greater then the sinnes of the first , because they are against more cleare light ; A naturall conscience hath a cleerer eye in these things , here is light upon light ; for both grace and nature condemne these sinnes . Yet for order in sinning , the rise of all sinne against man is our sinning against God first , for none sinne against men , but they sinne against God in the first place , whereupon the breach of the first commandement is the ground of the breach of all the rest ; for if God were set up in the heart in the first place , there parents would be honoured , and all kinde of injury suppressed for conscience sake : the Scripture gives this as a cause of the notorious courses of wicked men , that God is not in all their thoughts , they forget there is a God of vengeance , and a day of reckoning : the foole would needs inforce upon his heart , that there is no God , Psal. 14. 1. and what followes , Corrupt they are , there is none doth good , they eate up my people as bread , &c. they make no more bones of devouring men and their estates , than they make conscience of eating a peece of bread : What a wretched condition hath sinne brought man unto , that the great God who filleth heaven and earth should yet have no place in the heart which he hath especially made for himselfe ? The sunne is not so cleare as this truth , that God is , for all things in the world are because God is ; if he were not , nothing could bee : It is from him that wicked men have that strength they have to commit sinne , therefore sinne proceeds from Atheisme ( especially these plotting sinnes ) for if God were more thought on , hee would take off the soule from sinfull contrivings , and fixe it upon himselfe .

But by whom and against whom , was this plotting ? by children of the Church , not uncircumcised Philistims : Opposition is bitterest betwixt those that are neerest ; as betwixt the flesh and the spirit in the same soule , betweene hypocrites and true hearted Christians in the same wombe of the Church : Brethren they were , but strange children : Children by the Mothers side , all bred in the same Church , but had not the same father ; Children by the mothers side only , are commonly persecutors ; Popish spirits count it presumption to know who is their father which shewes them to bee bastard children ; The greatest sins of all are committed within the church , because they are committed against the greatest light ; whereupon that great sin against the Holy Ghost ( Which like lonas his whale devourous all at once ) is not committed out of the Church at all . Oh beloved , how should wee reverence the blessed truth of God , and gracious motions of his Spirit ? If it bee sinne to kill infants in the wombe , what is it to kill the breed of the blessed spirit in our hearts ?

But against whom was this plot directed ? even against David , a prophet , and a King ▪ a Kingly Prophet , a man after Gods owne heart , though not according to theirs : A sacred Person , and therefore inviolable , Touch not mine Anointed , and d●● my Prophets no harme , Psal. 105. 15. it was a prohibition from heaven : David was a man eminent in goodnesse ; and goodnesse invested in greatnesse is a faire marke for envie to shoot at ; What men for sloth care not to doe , for weaknes cannot , or for prid● will not imitate that they maligne , sitting cursing ▪ and sretting at the 〈◊〉 o● the hill , a those which they see goe above●hem ●hem , whose life , g●●●gth witnesse again●t them ▪ When goodnes shines forth it presently meets with envy , until it come to the height to bee above envie , as the Sunne at the highest hath no shadow : Envie hathan ill eye , it cannot looke on goodnesse without griefe , the spirit that is in us lusteth after envie : pursuing of goodnesse in men , and men for goodnesse , is a sinne of a deepe dye ; because whosoever hates a man for goodnesse , hates goodnesse it selfe , and he that hates goodnesse it selfe hates it most in the fountaine , & so becomes a hater of God himselfe ; and if Christ were in such a mans power he should escape no better than his members doe , for Christ is joyned either in love or hatred with his cause and children : he and his have common friends and common enemies : Men thinke they have to deale with silly men , but they shall one day finde that they have to deale with the great Lord of heaven and earth .

But what was the manner of carrying their designe ? this cruell plot was cunningly carryed , for they kill him in his good name first , and accuse him as an enemy to the State , that so their slanders may make way for violence ; Satan is a lyar first , and then a murderer , yea therefore a lyar that he may be a murtherer the better ; he is first a Serpent , then a lyar and first a lyon couchant , then a lyon rampant ; he teaches his Schollers the same method : Cruelty march●●h furiously , and under warrah● with priviledge , when it hath slander to counten●nce it . Tai●o men once in the opinion of the world and then they lye open to any usage , it is not onely 〈◊〉 but glorious to oppose 〈◊〉 , and thus Vertue comes to have the reward due to wickednesse , and passes under publike hatred : the open cause and pretence is one , and the inward moving cause another ; which perhaps lyes hid till the day of revelation of the secrets of all flesh ; as in a clock the wheeles and the hand appeare openly , but the weights that move all are out of sight .

But what course took David herein ? Innocency was his best apologie , and when that would not doe , then patience ; hee saw God in the wrongs he suffered , God bad Shimei , &c. but this invites more injuries , therefore by prayer he layes upon his soule to God ; Davids prayer prevailed more in heaven , than Achitophels policy could doe on earth : Carnall men are pregnant and full of wiles and fetches to secure themselves , but godly men have one onely refuge and hiding place , ( yet that is a great one ) namely to run to God by prayer , as to their rocke and tower of defence in their distresses . From all this that hath beene said there ariseth these conclusions .

First , Obser. 1. that even the best of Gods Saints are lyable to bee the subjects of the plots of wicked men . 1. From an Antipathy betweene the two contrary seeds in them . 2. Because God will not have his children love the world , therefore he suffers the world to hate them , 3. They are strangers here , and therefore no wonder if they finde strange entertainment from them that thinke themselves at home : There hath ever beene from the beginning of the world a continuall conspiracy of Sathan and his instruments against God and goodnesse ; Emperours and Kings became Christians , but Satan never yet became a Christian , but hath alwayes bestirred himselfe to maintaine the first division , and never yet wanted a stronge faction in the world .

Secondly , Observ. 2. observe that it is the character of a man wicked in an high degree , to contrive wickednes ; the reason is , 1. because it is a disposition of such as are given up by God to a reprobate sense , and it is reckoned among other vile sinnes , that they are full of maliciousnesse , and inventers of ill , Prov. ● . ●4 . &c. A sonne of Beliall carries a froward heart and devises mischiefe . 2. It shewes that malice is so connaturall to such , that they cannot sleepe unlesse they cause some to fall ; wickednesse comes from the wicked ( as naturally and speedily ) Prov. 4. 16. as poyson from a spider . 3. It argues such kinde of men worke out of a vicious habit , which is a stamping of a second ill nature upon the former ; when as their hearts are exercised to doe mischiefe . 4. It shewes they are of the devills trade , whose onely worke it is , to hurt and mischiefe ( all he can ) those that are broken loose from him ; Certainly such people as these are the children of the devill in an higher degree than ordinary ; It is said when Iudas began to betray Christ , the devill entred into him ; Lukc 22. 3. he was the child of the devill in some degree before , but now the Devill tooke stronger possession of him : his unnatural treason did in some sort change him into the very forme of the devill . When Simon Magus sought to turne away the deputy from the faith , Saint Paul had no fitter termes for him than to style him , Thou full of all subtlety and mischiefe , Act. 13. 10. and child of the devill . And indeed there is no disposition so contrary to the sweet spirit of God ( which is a spirit of love and goodnesse ) as this is .

Learn● hence therefore , Vse . as you love God to abhorre this hatefull disposition : The serpent indeed was wiser then al the beasts of the field , Gen. 3. 1. yet when hee became an instrument of mischiefe , he was cursed above all the rest : Satan labours to serve his turne of the best wits : but what greater curse can befall a man than to serve the basest creature in the basest service , and that with our best abilities ? Men of a devilish spirit , carry Gods curse under zeale , yea they cary the devil in their braine , in all their workes of darknesse : for alas , what should the subtlety of Foxes , and fiercenes of Lyons , and malice of Devils doe in an heart dedicated to Christ ? Such men worke from a double principle , the illnesse of their owne disposition within , and Satan going with the tyde of that , whose chief labor is to make a prey of men of the best parts , that by them he may either snare others , or else vexe them that have so much wit or grace as not to bee catched by his baites : this is a course contrary to humanity as we are men , contrary to ingenuity as we are civil men , and contrary to Religion as we are Christian men ; and plainly argueth that such persons are lead with another spirit than their owne ; even by the Prince that ruleth in the ayre .

Our care and duty therefore should be to submit our spirits to the sweet guidance and government of Gods good spirit , to be contented that every device and imagination of our hearts , should be captivated to higher and better reasons than our owne .

Wee are not wise enough of our selves that our owne wils and wit should be our first movers : Every thing is perfitted by subjection to a superiour : where there should be a subordination to higher wisedome , there to withdraw our understanding and wills , is meere rebellion : That which the Prophet speakes is too true of many in these dayes Thy wisdome hath made thee to rebell , Esay 47. 10. such are too wise to bee saved .

Wee need not bee ashamed to learne some things of our very enemies : Vse If they be so pragmaticall for evill , why should not wee be as active for good ? I am sure we serve a better Master : true love is ●ull of inventions , it will be devising of good things : so soone as ever our nature is changed , the streame of the soule is turned another way , the bent of it is for God ; Alas it is a small commendation to be onley passively good , and it is a poore excuse to bee onely passively ill . A good christian thinkes it not enough to see good done by others , but labours to have a hand in it himselfe ; and he that suffers evill to be done which he might have opposed and hindered , brings the guilt thereof upon his owne head : Curse you Meroz ( saith God ) for not helping the Lord against the mighty , Judges 5. 23. &c. What shall wee thinke then of those that helpe the mighty against the Lord , that cast oyle to kindle where they should cast water to quench , that inflame the rage of great persons , when they should labour to reduce all to ● moderation ? Of this spirit was that Apostate which stirred up the Emperour to kill man , woman , and child of the Protestants with all their kindred and allyance , fearing left any living should revenge the others quarrell .

Wee see God hath stooped so low as to commend his cause unto us , as if hee stood in neede of our helpe , and usually what good hee doth to us is conveyed by men like our selves ; therefore wee should labour to appeare on his side , and owne his cause & children : In the house of God there be vessels of al kinds , some are of more honorable use than others : some make the very times and places good where they live , by an influence of good : others ( as malignant Plannets ) threaten misery and desolation where ever they come ; these are the calamities of the times . Men may know whether they be vessels of mercy or no , by the use they are put too ; the basest of people are sit enough to be executioners ; the worst of men are good enough to be reds of Gods wrath ; how much better is it to bee full of goodnes as the Scripture speakes of Iosiah , and Hezekiah , &c. Indeed what is a man but his goodnes ? such men live desired , and dye lamented , yea their very name is as the oyntment of the Apothecary poured out , they leave a sweet favour in the Church behinde them .

Now I come to their miscarriage , they brought forth a lye , a lye in regard of their expectation , their hopes deceiving them ; but a just defeating in regard of God ; it was contrary to their desire , but agreeable to Gods justice ; Neither were they disappointed onely so as to misse of what they intended , but they met with that misery they intended not , yea even with that very misery which they thought to bring upon David .

This defeating ariseth by five steps , 1. They were disappointed , 2. they fell into danger , 3. they were contrivers of this danger themselves , 4. there was a p●●nall proportion , they fell into the same danger which they plot●ed for another , 5. they were a meanes of doing good to him , whom they devised evil against ; and raised him , whom they thought to pull downe : David sped the better for Shimeis : malice , and Achitophels pollicy . See all these five likewise in the example of Haman and Mordecai , 1. H●man missed of his plot ; 2. he fell into danger , 3. hee fell into the same danger which hee contrived himselfe , 4. he fell into the same danger which hee contrived for Mordecai , and 5. was the meanes of Mordecaies advancement . It had beene enough to have woven a spiders webb , which is done with a great deale of art , and yet comes to nothing , but to hatch a Cockatrices egge that brings forth a viper which stings to death , this is a double vexation ; Yet thus God delighteth to catch the wise in the imagination of their owne hearts , Luke 1. 51. and to pay them in their owne coine . The wicked carry a lye in their right hand , for they trust in man which is but a lye , and ( being lyars themselves too ) no marvell if their hopes prove deceitfull , so that while they sow the winde , Hosca 8. 7. they reape the whirlewinde .

The reason of Gods dealing in this kinde , 1. Reas. is first in regard of himselfe ; God will not lose the glory of any of his Attributes , he will be knowne to be God onely wise , and this he will let appeare then especially when wicked men thinke to over-reach him .

Secondly , in regard of his tender care over his children ; they are as the apple of his eye ; and as they are very neare , so they are very deare to him ; they cost him deare , they are his Iewels , and hee gave a Iewell of infinite price for them : he is interessed in their quarrells , and they in h●s ; If they bee in any misery , Gods bowells yearne for them , hee is alwayes awake and never slumbereth ; as we see in the parable , the Master of the house waked , while the servants slept . Gods eye is upon them for good , hee hath them written in the palmes of his hands , Christ carryest them alwayes in his breast : Christ who is the husband of his Church , is Lord of heaven and earth , and hath all p●wer committed to him , and will rule in the midst of his enemies : He is the onely Monarch of the world , and makes both all things and persons serviceable to his owne end , and his Churches good ; he is higher then the highest : Satan the God of the world is but his ( and his Churches ) slave : All things are the Churches to further its best good .

Another reason is the insolency of the enemies whose fiercenesse turnes at length to Gods praise ; Psal. 9. 16. for as hee is a just Lord , so hee will be knowne to be so by executing of judgement ; it shall appeare , that there is a God that judgeth the earth .

Againe , Gods children will give him no rest ; when he seemes to sleepe they will awake him with their prayers ; They will not let him goe without a blessing from him , Gen. 32. 26. they will prevaile by importunity as the widow in the Gospell . Having to deale with a just God , in a just cause , Luke 18. 5. against common enemies , his as wel as theirs ; they binde him with his owne promises , and hee is content to be bound , because he hath bound himselfe first : hee will not lose that part of his title , Psal. 65. 2. whereby he is knowne to be a God hearing prayers .

But it will be objected , Object . that wicked men doe not onely set themselves against the people of God , but prevaile over them , even to the scorne of the beholders : Tully could say , The gods shew how much they esteeme of the Iewish nation , by suffering them so often to be conquered . Hath not Antichrist a long time prevailed ? and was it not foretold that the beast should prevaile ? where is then the bringing forth of a lye ?

I answere , Answ. the enemies have power , but no more then is given them of God , ( as Christ answered Pilate ) they prevail indeed , but it is for a time , a limited time , & that a short one too , ten dayes , &c. and what is this to that vast time of their torm●nt ; the time will come when there shall be no more time for them to persecu●e in .

Besides even when they doe prevaile , it is but over part onely , not over the whole , they prevaile over persons it may be , not over the cause , that stands impregnable ; they prevaile over mens lives perhaps , but not over their spirits , which is that they chiesty aime at . A true Christian conquers when hee is conquered : Act ▪ 7. Steven prevailed over his enemies when they seemed to prevaile over him ; God put glory upon him , and a spirit of glory into him .

The Chu●ches enemies may prevaile in some place but then ( as the sea ) they lose in another : The more they cut downe Gods people ( as Pharaoh did the Israelites ) the more they multiply ; and the more they are kept strait , the more they spread and are inlarged . God suffers the enemies of his truth to prevaile in some passages , to harden their hearts the more for destruction , as Pharaoh prevailed in oppressing the Israelites , and He rod in killing Iohn , &c. but yet lay the beginning and the end together , and then wee shall see they prevailed not ; and so farre as they did prevaile , it tended onely to hasten their owne ruine , because the present successe lifts up the heart . Wee see Antichrist prevailed ( but spiritually ) onely over those whose names were not written in the Lambes booke of life ; Revel. 13. ● . and outwardly over the Saints , for so it was prefixed , Revel. 18. that he should make warre with the Saints and overcome them , and this was objected as a fiery dart against the Christians in those times , that therefore they might thinke their cause naught , because they were so prevailed over : but they by helpe of the spirit of God , understood so much of the Revelation as concerned themselves ; and used this as a weapon , confessing that they were the conquered people of God , but yet the people of God still . But the chiefe stay and satisfaction of the soule herein , is to look to the day of the righteous judgment of God , when wee shall see all promises performed , all theatnings executed , and all enemies troden for ever under Christ and his Churches feete .

This is a point of marvellous comfort , Vse . 1. when Israel can say , They have afflicted mee from my youth but yet they have not prevailed over me ; Psal. 129. 1. the gates of hell may let themselves against the Church , but shall not prevaile : the Church is not ruled by mans counsell : Wee neither live nor dye at mans appointment : Our lives are not in our owne hands , or Satans , or our enemies , but in Gods : they can do no more , they shall doe no lesse , then God will , who is our life , and the length of our dayes . God may give way a while that the thoughts of many may be reve●led , Luke 2. 35. and that his glory may shine the more in raising his children and confounding his enemies : but he will put a period in his due time , and that is the best time : There is a day of lacobs trouble when his enemies say , This is Sion , J. ● . 30. 7. whom none regards : but God sets bounds both to the time of his childrens trouble , and to the malice of the wicked : Their rod shall not rest over-long upon the backe of the righteous : Psal. 125. 3. God will put a hooke into the nostrils of these Leviathans , and draw them which way hee pleaseth .

Againe we see here , Vse 2. that mischievous attempts , are successelesse in the end : for did ever any harden themselves against God and prosper long ? Let Cain speake , let Pharaoh , Haman , Achitophel , Herod : Let the persecutors of the Church for the first 200. yeares , let all that ever bore ill will towards Sion Speake , and they will confesse they did but kick against the pricks , and dash against the rocks : The greatest torment of the damned Spirit is , that God turnes all his plots , for the good of those hee hates most : Hee tempted man to desire to become like God that so he might ●uine him , but God became man and so restored him ; God serveth himselfe of this Arch politician ; and all his instruments , they are but executioners of Gods will while they rush against it : Iosephs brethren sold him that they might not worship him , and that was the very meanes whereby they came at length to worship him . God delights to take the oppressed parties part : Wicked men cannot do Gods children a greater pleasure then to oppose them , for by this means , they help to advance them .

The ground of the miscarriage of wicked plots , Why wicked plots 〈◊〉 . is , that Satan and his maintaine a damned cause , and their plots are under a curse ; Every one that prayes thy kingdome come , prayes by consequence against them as opposers of it , and how can the men and plots of so many curses but miscarry , and prove but as the untimely fruit of a woman ? they are like the grasse on the house top , which perks above the corne in the field , but yet no man prayes for a blessing upon it ; when men come by a goodly corne field , every one is ready to say , God blesse this field , &c. Beloved it is a heavyer thing then Atheisticall spirits thinke of , to be under the curse of the Church ; for as God blesseth out of Sion , so usually the heaviest curses come out of Sion : Wo be to the Herods and Iulians of the world , when the Church either directly , or indirectly prayes against them .

This is a ground of staying the soules of Gods people , in seeming confusion of things : there is an harmony in all this discord : God is ●itting his people for a better condition , even when they are at the worst ; and is hardning and preparing the wi●ked for confusion , even when they are at the best : The wicked practise against the righteous , but God laugheth them to scorne : Psal. 2. 4. for hee seeth all their plottings , and his day is acomming : whilest they are digging pits for others , there is a pit a digging , & a grave a making for themselves : they have a measure to make up , and a treasure to fill , which at length will be broken open . Which ( mee thinkes ) should take off them which are set upon mischiefe , from pleasing themselves in their plots ; Alas , they are but plotting their owne ruine , and building a Babell which will fall upon their owne heads . If there were any commendation in plotting , then that great plotter of plotters , that great Engineir Satan , would goe beyond us all , and take all the credit from us ? But let us not envie Satan and his in their glory , they had need of something to comfort them ▪ let them please themselves with their trade ; the day is comming wherein the Daughter of Sion shall laugh them to scorne ; there will be a time wherein it shall be said , Micah 4. 13. Arise Sion , and thrash ; And usually the delivery of Gods children , is joyned with the destruction of his enemies ; Sauls death , and Davids deliverance ; the Israelites deliverance , and Egyptians drowning : The Ch●rch and her opposites , are like the scales of a ballance , when one goes up the other goes downe .

Hamans wife had learned this , that if her husband began once to fall before the Jewes , hee should surely fall . Wicked men have an house , and they will be sure to take it ; and God hath his house too , and will be as sure to take that . The judgements of the wicked , are mercies to the Church ; so saith David , He flew mighty Kings , Ogg King of Basan for his mercy endureth for ever , Psal , 136. 20. &c.

God hath but two things in the world , that he much regardeth , his Truth , and his Church begotten by his truth ; and shall we think that he will suffer long , wretched men who turne that wit and power which they have from him , against his truth & Church : No assuredly , but he will give them up by that very wit of theirs , to worke their owne destruction ; they shall serve their turne most , whom they hate most . God sits in heaven and laughes them to scorne . Shall God laugh , and we cry ? They take counsell together on earth , but God hath a counsell in heaven that will overthrow all their counsells here . Marke the bitter expressions in Scripture , Psal. 2. 1. Why do the heathen rage without feare or wit ? Esay 8. Goe to now ( saith God ) gather a counsell , &c. Beloved it goes to the heart of proud persons to be scorned , especially in the miscarriage of that which they count their Master-peece : they had rather be counted Devils then fooles : Let us worke wisely ( saith Pharaoh , ) Exod. 2. 10. when hee was never more foole : they usurp upon God and promise themselves great matters for the time to come ; whereas that is only Gods prerogative , and they neither know what the wombe of their counsels , nor what the wombe of to morrow may bring forth : that which they are big of may prove an abortive , or a viper to consume the wombe that bred it . Esay 51. 11. Goe to now ( saith the Propher ) all yee that kindle a fire , walke in the light of your fire , but take this of me , you shall lye downe in sorrow , &c. The Scripture is full of such expostulations , and up braidings ; Gen. 3. 22. Man is become like one of us , saith God . When men will have a way of their owne , and think themselves wiser than God , then it stands upon Gods honour to out-wit them ; Yet God is wise , saith the Prophet ; you thinke to goe beyond God , deceive not your selves , God is wise and you shall finde him to be so ; ●e hath a way to goe beyond you : Doe not many men spinne a fine thread and weave a faire webb , when by their turnings , and devices , they turne themselves into hell ? Hosea 9. 2 , 3. Woe be to them that dig deep ( faith the Prophet ) and think to hide their counsels from the Lord , God hath an eye to see into the most secret & dark conveyances of businesse : God hath a key to open the closet of their hearts , let them bee never so close locked up : Oh that men would more feare this al-seeing eye of God ; & be wise for themselves , and not against themselves : It is a miserable wisedome when men are wise to worke their owne ruine : Beloved , when men have had all their plots , God hath a plot still beyond them ; he takes them failing in something or other : their devices are like a curious clock , if the least thing be out of frame all is marred ; God suffers them to spinne a ●ine thread a great while , and at length cuts the webb and there is an end : And they may thanke themselves for all this , for they carry a justification of God in their owne breasts ; they perish because they will perish : and this will be the torment of all torments to gracelesse persons , that they polled destruction upon themselves . Malice blindes the understanding in Satan and his instruments ; for if their malice were not above their wit , would they to gratifie their ill affections knowingly rush into the displeasure of God , and into such courses as will unavoidably bring their ruine ? malice drinks up the greatest part of its owne poyson . Prov. 5. 22. His owne iniquity shall take the wicked himselfe , ( saith Solomon ) and he shall be holden with the cords of his owne sinne .

This may bee inlarged to all sinfull courses ; every sinner worketh a deceitfull worke , and bringeth forth a lye . Austin saith well , Every sinne is a lye ; Men would be happy , yet they will not live so as they may be happy ; what more deceitfull than this ? It will be the complaint of every sinner at length , that was Fvah's , The Serpent hath deceived me . It was S. Pauls complaint , and it will be the complaint of all sinfull wretches at the last day ; What hath pride profited us ? Rom. 7. What can the favour of men ( upon whom wee beare our selves ) doe us good now ? Sinne promiseth us contentment , continuance , secrecie , full satisfaction &c. but doth it make good this ? Were ever any , when the beginning and ending was laid together , established by wickednesse ? Take it from God himselfe , ( we have a commission to speake it ) Say , it shall not goe well with the wicked , though they escape an hundred times , Eccles. 8. 12. yet it is but a reprivall for some further service which God hath to doe by them . Be not deceived , God is not mocked . Galat. 6. 7. When wee can bee more subtile than the Devill , or more strong than God , we may thinke to thrive by sinne ; Can wee thinke God will alter the course of divine justice for us ? Had we not better beleeve this than finde it so hereafter ? Beloved , hell is for those to feele , that will not beleeve ; Certaine it is , that those who will sinne notwithstanding Gods justice , shal be severely punished notwithstanding his mercy . God is not more peremptory in any one thing than in this ; If any man blesse himselfe in an ill way , De●t. 29. 19 , 20. my wrath shall smoake against him : therefore it is a good prayer , Lord give mee not over to lying , ( that is ) not to trust in that which will lye and deceive me .