Thus much briefly for the vnfoulding of the words , and the meaning of them in generall .

IN the former Chapter , the Lord told them , Coher : that hee would bring great and grieuous Iudgements vpon them , vntill such time as they would turne and seeke him , confessing their sinnes and amending their euill liues : And in the last verse of the former Chapter , the Lord saith , In their afflictions they will seeke me diligently . Shewing that there is nothing better to turne the pride of mans heart , then afflictions : So Manasses a wicked Idolatrous King , 2. Cro. 33.12 yet in his afflictions hee sought the Lord , and prayed vnto the Lord his God , whom he dishonored before . Psal. 1 19. Lam. 3 27. Luk. 9.23 . And Dauid confesseth , that it was very good for him that he was afflicted , for before he was carelesse of the seruice of God . Yea , the Prophet Ieremy saith , that a man can neuer begin too soone to suffer the crosse : It is good that a man beare the yoake of afflictions from his youth . And our Sauiour himselfe saith , That we must take vp the crosse dayly ; and in very deed nothing is better for young or old , man or woman , then affliction : if God sanctifie the same vnto vs , and giue vs the true vse of them , they will make a man search his heart , and call his former life to accompt , they will humble vs , and make vs see our weaknesse , they will compell vs to run to God by most earnest and harty prayer , to deny our selues , to put our whole trust , confidence , and affiance in the mercy of God in Iesus Christ . Now the Lord had no sooner spoke the word , that in their afflictions they would seek him , but heere we see it is effected , Come ( say they , ) let vs returne vnto the Lord , &c.

Doct. 1 Afflictions are of excellent vse to turne vs to God . So that the first point of Doctrine we obserue from the text , is this , That afflictions are of excellent vse to turne vs to God ; the Church of God in generall , and the seruants of God in particular , when they cannot profitably vse prosperity , and beare themselues thankefully in the dayes of peace , doe learne in aduersity to turne vnto God , and are therby brought home againe ; and this comes to passe not by meanes of the crosse , for in it selfe it is a curse , but in that the Lord doth sanctifie the same vnto his , it comes to passe that the state of affliction is a safer estate , Iudg. 14.14 . Rom 5.3 . 2 Cor. 4.13 . Heb. 12.11 . then the estate of prosperity . It is true , that as the Philistims could not vnderstand Sampsons riddle , how sweete came out of sower , & meat out of the eater , so cannot worldlings vnderstand , that tribulation bringeth out patience , & that our light & momentany afflictions cause vnto vs a far more excellent and eternall waight of glory . But the Children of God , they find it true by experience , that albeit no visitation bee sweete for the present , yet afterwards it brings the quiet fruit of righteousnesse vnto them who are thereby exercised , Esay 26.16 . Psal. 107. Luke . 15.18 . and that there is more solide ioy in suffering rebuke with Christ , then in all the pleasures of sinne which are but for a season . Gen. 21.16 . This the Prophet setteth downe in the song of the faithfull , Lord in trouble haue they visited thee , they powred out a prayer when thy chastising was vpon them : yea , the people of God the Israelits in the time of their afflictions were humbled and sought the Lord , Ionas 1.5 . Lam. 3.27 . Psal. 119.71 , Io. 15.2 . who in time of prosperity forgat him , and the mighty workes that he had done for them , They wandred in the desart and found no Citty to dwell in ; Then they cried vnto the Lord in their trouble , and he deliuered them out of their distresse . The Prodigall sonne neuer intended to returne home againe to his Father , vntill a famine had met with him , and he was pinched with want , then he resolued with himselfe , to acknowledge his fault , & to entreat for pardon . Hagar was proud in the house of Abraham and despised her Mistresse , but in the wildernesse humbled by want . Ionas sleepeth in the ship , but in the belly of the Whale watcheth and prayeth . It is good therefore ( saith Ieremy ) for a man to beare the yoake in his youth , and Dauid acknowledgeth it was good for him that he was afflicted , yea our Sauiour saith , Euery branch that beares fruit , my heauenly father purgeth it , that it may bring forth more fruit . All these testimonies and examples of the seruants of God , as euident and direct consents of the Scripture , do teach vs that afflictions are of speciall and singular vse to turne vs to God . Amos 3.6 . And this comes to passe , by reason they are the workes of Gods hand , there is no euill in the Citty which the Lord hath not done . He hath his Quiuer full of arrowes to strike vs , and to punish vs , the Sword , Famine , Plague , Pestilence , yea , he hath all Creatures at a beck , & at a cal , to humble the rebellious hart of man , & to this end we may pray to the Lord , that so he do still remember the promise made to the Sonnes of Dauid , I will visite them with rods if they sinne against mee , 2. Sa. 7.14.15 but my mercy will I neuer take from them ; that rather then that wee should bee frozen in the dreggs of our owne naturall corruptions , and spend our daies in a carelesse security without the feare of his holy name , that God would chang our estates , and awaken vs with the touch of his owne hand , purge vs with fier , and chasten vs with his rods .

Vse . 1 First , seing that chastisements and afflictions are of such excellent vse to turne vs to God , and that the Lord doth vse the same to bring vs home to himselfe ; heere wee may clearely behold the mighty power of God , that can by so many waies and meanes turne the hearts of men , humble them , and bring them home vnto himselfe : Indeed the preaching of the word is the ordinary meanes whereby God doth breake in sunder the stony heart of man ; Esay 5.4 . Iob 33.16 . Rom. 11.13 . but when that will not serue , but that his patience & long suffering is abused , and his word contemned , the Lord hath sundry iudgments in store , which being sent from God , are powerfull to turne our hearts , and to make a way for Repentance . Oh the deepenesse of the riches , both of the wisedome and knowledge of God! how vnsearchable are his iudgements , and his wayes past finding out . Let vs then here acknowledge the greatnesse both of the mercy and power of God , in working out the saluation of mankind so wonderfully , and that by so many meanes , bringing light out of darkenesse , and good out of euill .

Seeing that afflictions are of such excellent vse to Vse . 2 turne vs to God when the Lord doth sanctifie the same to that end vnto vs : Here we see the cause why the godly runne not into all euill , as the Horse rusheth into the battell ; euen as the children of this world do into the same excesse of ryot . Surely , the reason is not because there is ought in them by Nature more then in other men : No , no , wee were all warmed in vncleane bloud , and the best wee haue drawne from our mothers breasts , hath beene rebellion : but God calleth them backe by his hand , his afflictions are remembrances vnto them , and his corrections are their instructions ; and the Lord thus exercising his Children in the Schoole of afflictions , doth thereby breake in them the power of sinne , let out ( as it were ) the superfluous humour of pride and selfe-loue , which are ready to corrupt euen our best actions : So that , albeit afflictions bee grieuous and bitter , yet they are not vnprofitable to those whom God hath chosen to better graces . The mercies of God indeed ought to leade vs to repentance , and the more aboundantly the Lord doth bestow his mercies vpon vs , the more should bee our obedience : But alas , it fareth otherwise with vs , for his blessings and benefites are vnto vs many times occasions of euill , insomuch as wee turne the grace of GOD into wantonnesse : And therefore farre better were it for many , in respect of the good of their soules , that they had alwayes beene held in the bedde of affliction , then enioying health , peace , prosperitie , strength of body , &c. they should abuse the same to the great dishonour of God , and the ruine of their owne soules .

Vse . 3 Seeing that afflictions , when the Lord doth lay the same vpon vs , to this end , to better vs in obedience , are so auaileable , that they worke a reformation in the whole man : We are hereby put in mind of our duety , how wee ought to behaue our selues vnder the hand of God , that if the Lord hath humbled vs by long and tedious sicknesse , by losse of goods , children , friends , &c. or by any other meanes whatsoeuer , that then we trie and examine our hearts , what reformation these things haue wrought in vs , whether they haue made vs to call our owne wayes to account , and straightly to examine our owne hearts , what euill thoughts , corrupt words , or sinfull action hath passed from vs , that hath thus made the Lord to strike and to punish vs , and when wee haue taken , as it were , a Catalogue of all our sinnes ( if it were possible : ) then let vs try our sorrow , whether wee be truely humbled for them , Lam. 3.39 . or no ? This duty is vrged by Ieremie . Wherefore is the liuing man sorrowfull ? Man suffereth for his sins : Let vs search and trie our wayes , and turne vnto the Lord . For surely , this is the marke that God doth ayme at , not by affliction to destroy vs , or to confound vs for euer ; but to make vs to call our owne hearts to account , to see our sinnes , and to bring vs home to himselfe .

Vse . 4 And last of all , wee are taught here , not to measure the fauour and loue of God towards our selues or others , Eccle. 9.2 . eyther by prosperity or aduersity : for , as Salomon sayth ; All things come alike to all , and the same condition is to the iust and to the wicked . And as the Apostle sayth ; Rom. 14.17 . The Kingdom of God standeth not in meat and drinke , &c. So that if wee desire some euidences of Gods fauour and loue towards vs , we must not seeke for it in our outward peace and tranquility of body & mind heere , or in continuall aduersity , both which are common to the iust and vniust , to the good and bad : onely try them by the effects of affliction : for in the godly they bring forth the quiet fruit of repentance , whereas they make the wicked but the more obdurate and hardned in their sinnes : the godly in their sufferings communicate with the Crosse of Christ , Psal. 126.6 . whereas the wicked in their sufferings communicate with the curse of sinners ; and take this for a rule that neuer fayleth , That the Crosse ( if care bee had to profite thereby ) neuer departeth , but it leaueth a blessing behind .

Come let vs returne , Here we may see , what is the counsell that they giue one to another in affliction , namely , to make speed to turne vnto God , whose wrath and heauy displeasure they had prouoked against them by their sinnes , and whose iudgements were already gone out against them : they were assured , that there was no other way or meanes to pacifie the wrath of God , Luk. 13.5 . but onely to breake off their sinnes by repentance : and therefore they call one vnto another , Come let vs turne , &c.

Here wee are taught this lesson for our instruction , Doct. 2 euen from the example of these beleeuing Iewes , What counsell it is that wee must giue to others in aduersity . stirring vp one another in the time of affliction , to return againe vnto God by repentance , from whom they had departed by their sins : What is the counsell that wee must giue one to another in affliction ; namely , to exhort men to turne vnto God , to confesse their sinnes , to bee grieued for them , Dan. 4.24 . and to beg the pardon of them . This is the counsell that Daniel gaue to Nabuchadnezar ; namely , to breake off his sinnes by repentance : Wherefore , O King , let my counsell bee acceptable vnto thee , and breake off thy sinnes by righteousnesse : and thine iniquities by mercy towards the poore , &c. Again , the Prophet Ieremy obserues the same : Lam. 3.39 . Wherefore is the liuing man sorrowfull ? Man suffereth for his sinne ; Oh let vs search and try our wayes , and turne vnto the Lord . And surely , this is the best counsell that any Christian man or woman can giue to another in affliction , namely , to breake off their sinnes by vnfained repentance , and turning vnto the Lord : This is the right way to stoppe the breach of Gods wrath , and to call in his iudgements . Many men haue sought other meanes and wayes to preuent the Lords iudgements ; but ( alas ) as the cause of all iudgements are our sins ; Our sinnes turne many good things from vs , And a fruitfull land maketh hee barren for the wickednes of them that dwell therein : So vnlesse they be taken away by true & vnfained repentance , wee doe but weary our selues in vaine : for we must first remoue the cause of Gods iudgements , our sinnes ; else the hand of God cannot bee remoued . Wee see in a lacke , so long as the weight hangs vpon the corde , it moues the wheeles ; but take off the lead , and it will cease . Our sinnes bee as a mighty Milstone , to plucke downe Gods fearefull iudgements vpon vs : now remoue our sinnes , then Gods anger shall cease : but let vs know , till wee cease from sinning , Leuit. ●6 . Hos. 4.1.2 . the Lord cannot cease from smiting : Nay , if wee walke stubbornely against him , and will not turne , hee will euen whet his sword , and neuer cease smiting , till he make an end of vs . Yea , the Prophets , and holy men of God , in such times when we lye open to Gods wrath , haue called vs to repentance , stirred vs vp to prayer , moued vs to humiliation , and acknowledgement of our sinnes , which haue deserued such chasticements . What is the reason that the Lord sends such barrennesse vpon the earth , vnseasonable weather , immoderate raine : surely , our sinnes , our ignorance , contempt of the Word , our abuse of the Sacraments ; yea , our abuse of plenty in drunkennesse , whoredome , swearing , &c. Now , what s the way to haue plenty and aboundance ? how may wee remoue the anger of God , and his iudgements , eyther already vpon , or else eminent ouer our heads ? Surely , remoue the cause of Gods iudgements ; namely , sinne ; else the hand of God cannot bee remoued . And therefore let vs all practise this counsell , and wisely consider what the Lord hath against vs , and wherefore hee is angry with vs ; that so wee may bee reconciled vnto him , and brought into his fauour againe .

This Doctrine , Vse . may serue to condemne that preposterous course that many men doe take eyther for themselues , when they lye vnder the Crosse , or with others . For themselues , If the hand of God lye vpon them with long and tedious sicknesse ; how many are there that leaue the Lord , and resort to Witches and Wizards , that looke againe more to the meanes , then they doe to the Lord , without whose blessing they can doe vs no good : So in time of Famine , Pestilence , Warre , and the like ; how many are the windings and turnings in the heart of man , to preuent the iudgements of God ? they will leaue no attempt vnattempted for their deliuerance : But to trie their owne hearts , to find out their sinnes , which are so many rebellious Ionasses in the shippe of their own soules , that haue moued the Lord to send those stormes of afflictions ; Oh , this they neuer thinke vpon . And as they themselues fayle in the maine point of all , that is , to try their owne hearts , to looke into their wayes , and to turne vnto the Lord by vnfained sorow : So deale they with others : for what is the counsell else they giue vnto others in time of sicknesse , but this ; Be of good cheare , Eate warme meats , Vse good physicke , &c. Oh! this is not the counsell we should giue ; but to say with the godly heere ; Come , returne to the Lord ; Repent of thy sinnes , beg the pardon of them at Gods hands : This is the counsell wee must giue to the afflicted , and not to seeke helpe from men , before wee haue sought forgiuenesse of sinnes of God .

Come let vs returne vnto the Lord . Heere we may see the fruit of true conuersion , they seeke not euery man his owne good , but the good of their brethren , and therefore vse godly motions and christian perswasions one to another , to returne vnto God .

Doct. 3 From whose godly practise and religious example , wee gather a further poynt of Doctrine , It is the duty of euery christian to labor to draw others to god . that it is not inough for a man to goe to heauen himselfe ; but it is the duty of euery Christian to labour to draw others with them , as these holy Seruants of God say heere , Come let vs returne , these bee their godly perswasions one to another , they labour to goe hand in hand in their repentance , & as we say to men & women , Come will yee goe to the Market , fayre , &c. So in Religion we must call one vpon another , to draw men to God : and as one wicked man seeketh to make another like himselfe ; so hee that is truely conuerted , will not rest in that inward comfort of his owne conuersion , but will labour by all meanes to conuert others vnto GOD , and labour to make them partakers of the same comfort which they themselues haue receiued from God . This thing is very apparant in the conuersion of the godly ; when Andrew was brought to Christ , hee found his brother Simon , Io. 1.41.43.45 . and said vnto him ; We haue found that Messias that is Christ . So when Christ called Phillip and said vnto him , Follow me : Io. 4 28. Phillip found Nathaniel and sayd vnto him , Wee haue found him of whom Moses did write in the Law and in the Prophets ; Iesus the sonne of Ioseph that was of Nazareth . The like appeares in the woman of Samaria , when Christ had reueiled himselfe vnto her , and offered her to drinke of the water of life , after which she should neuer thirst agane , shee ran into the Citty and said , Come see a man which hath told mee all things that euer I did , is not hee that Christ ? being moued her selfe , she labours to moue others . And this doth the Prophet Dauid promise vnto the Lord , that if hee would restore him once more vnto the ioy of his saluation , that then he would become a Preacher , Ps. 51.12.13 . Ps. 66.16 . Ps. 116. Gal. 3 , 2. Cor. 1.4 . Esay 38.19 . Luk. 22.23 . and Proclaimer of the same mercy vnto others . And surely this is a speciall fruit of faith and true repentance , to labour by all meanes possible , to conuay grace vnto others , and to shew them what God hath done for our soules , and to draw out the blessings which God hath bestowed vpon our selues , to the good and benefit of others . The Prophet Dauid doth labour herein : Come ( sayth he ) and I will shew you what God hath done for my soule : And the Elect are called vessels of mercy , because they being themselues filled with the mercies of God , should draw out the same as good liquor , for the vse and comfort of others . Saint Paul sayth , God had mercy on him , that he might shew mercy vnto others . The child of God is not like vnto Nabol , All for himselfe : but he is taught of God , to loue his brother . And thus wee see how wee ought to behaue our selues , in respect of Gods gifts : we must not hide them in the ground , or in a napkin ; but wee must imploy the same to the good of others .

This may serue to reproue that common conceite Vse . 1 in mens minds , that so long as they doe well themselues , they need not care how other● doe , whether they sinke or swimme , whether they goe forward , or backeward , grow vpward , or downeward , to God , or the Diuell : but it is impossible for any Christian man or woman , who hath truely tasted of the worke of grace in his owne heart , but hee must communicate the same to the good of others . Indeed , most men little regarde this , they cannot be perswaded that they bee bound to saue the soules of their brethren , and therefore they say , euery man for himselfe , and God for vs all : but the truth is , that when euery man seeks himselfe , the Deuill gets all . To saue soules , to draw men to Christ : Oh , wee thinke this is the Ministers duety , it belongs to him alone , it belongs not to vs . True it is , that it belongs especiall to the Minister to labour to saue mens soules ; and therefore they are especially bound to labour by continuall teaching and preaching of the word of God ; as also by their godlie life , to draw men to God , to exhort them , to call vpon them to turne vnto the Lord : and if they bee negligent and carelesse , the flocke of Christ must needs go to ruine : yet many there are that feed themselues to the full , but regard not to feed the flocke , ouer which the holy Ghost hath made them Ouerseers . These are they that liue of the Altar , but care not to minister at the Altar : They will bee sure to reape carnall things , but they haue no conscience to sow spirituall things . The Apostle could say , I seeke not yours , but you . But these men , if they would speake the truth , might say , Wee seeke not you , 1. Cor. 9.16 . but yours . Paul cryes out : Woe vnto mee if I preach not the Gospell . Oh! woe , and ten thousand woes vnto thee that art a carelesse sheepheard ; who , though thou hast taken vpon thee the Cure and Charge of Soules , yet by thy carelesnesse in thy place and calling , and by thy euill example , art a stumbling blocke vnto others , that wilt not turne to God thy selfe , nor helpe them forward that would .

Well , as it is the duty of the Minister ; especially , in publike : so it is the duety of euery Christian man in priuate , to bring others to God . Art thou an husband , thou hast the charge of the soule of thy wife : art thou a father , thou shalt answere for the soule of thy child : art thou a master , well , looke to draw thy seruants vnto God . The charge of soules is committed to you . Our Sauiour Christ sayth to his Father ; Heb. 2.13 . Behold Father , heere am I , and the children which thou hast giuen mee , Oh , what a comfort is it to a christian soule , to a godly man , or a christian woman , when they can say , O Lord , heere am I , and heere bee my wife , my children , and my seruants , which thou hast giuen me . You are carefull to prouide for your wiues , meate , drinke , and apparrell ; and for your children , lands , and liuings ; and haue you not care of their poore soules , but let them perish for want of instruction ?

But such is the negligence and grieuous carelesnes of Masters and Parents in this miserable and cursed age of the world , that it were better to bee some mens sheepe then their sonnes , and their horses then their seruants ; for no man is so carelesse , but hee will pittie his horse , and looke to his sheepe : but as for their sonnes or seruants , they may sinke or swimme , they care not for them : Well , thy wife may perish in her sinnes , thy sonne may perish in his ignorance , and thy seruant for want of thy instruction ; but the Lord will require their bloud at thy hands . Nay , wee may see in this present example , that it is not onely the duety of the Minister , and those which bee Masters and Parents , to seeke to draw those that are vnder them to God ; but the same is the duety of euery Christian man and woman ; it is that which belongs vnto all men , to call on others to draw them to God : Nay , if thou doest not labour to draw him to repentance , Leuit. 19.17 . thou doest but hate him in thy heart : Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart , but shalt rebuke him , and suffer him not to sinne . In euery commandement is two parts , Negatiue and Affirmatiue : Now , in the sixt Commandement we be forbidden to kill ; and therefore euery one , not onely the Minister , as most men erroneously thinke , are bound to saue mens liues ; but euery one of vs , be wee what wee may bee , are bound by this Commandement to saue the soule of our brother , Exod. 24.3 . to dtaw him to God . If thou see thine enemies oxe or sheepe go astray , thou must bring him home , Oh how much more , if thou see the poor soule of thy brother , of thy wife , or of thy child , straying from God ; nay , going the broad way to eternall destruction : how much more art thou bound to bring him backe againe to God : If thou see his horse lye vnder his burthen , thou art bound in conscience to helpe him vp : Had God such care ouer Oxen and Asses , and wilt thou haue no care of the Soule of thy brother ?

Vse . 2 Oh! let vs put this duety in practise , to call one vpon another , to bring others to God : wee can call one another to the Market : Oh , let vs call one another : Esay 55.1 . Oh , come , let vs goe to the Lords Market to buy the food of our soule : Labour to bring thy Family , thy Wife and Children to the house of God , to the word of God , to the food of their soules : Oh , thou shalt doe a blessed worke , Iam. 5.20 . thou shalt conuert a sinner to God , saue a soule from death , and couer a multitude of sinnes . Oh , what a comfort will this bee vnto those , who haue beene carefull for the performance of this duety , that haue beene carefull to make others partakers of the same comforts they haue reaped themselues . It is a blessed thing indeed , when men haue endeuoured to their power to benefite others , to exhort them , to admonish them , & to comfort them , and in all things to haue sought their good . Oh , what a wonderfull consolation and comfort shall this bee vnto vs , when wee leaue this world , and goe the way of all flesh , to remember wee haue fought the good of others : Dan. 12.3 . Luk. 12.43 . They that turne many vnto righteousnes shall shine as the starres in the firmament . And blessed is that seruant , when his Master commeth , shall finde so doing . Wee shall then finde more comfort of heart , and ioy of conscience when wee depart this life , that wee haue beene faithfull in that little committed to our trust , & made others partakers of the same , then if we had had great abundance of earthly blessings .

Come let vs returne to the Lord . Here we see , that they Doct. 4 doe acknowledge that they had turned themselues from God by their sinnes , especially , A man by sinning , turns from God . by Idolatry and damnable hypocrisie : and here they labour by their godly counsell , to exhort one another to turne again vnto God by repentance . So then heere we see , what it is that turnes a man from God ; surely , sinne is that which turnes and auerts a mans soule from God , according to that of the Prophet Esay : Esay 59.2 . Your iniquities haue separated betweene you and your God , and your sinnes haue hid his face from you . True it is , that Idolatry is that , which principally turnes a man from God ; onely , the difference it this , that Idolatry turnes a man from the whole seruice of God : but other sins , as theft , whoredome , &c. in some one commandement . The spirite of God speaking of the whole race and generation of mankind , sayth , That all are gone out of the way : Psal. 14.3 . Rom. 3.10 . And againe , in the Prophet Esay : All wee like sheepe are gone astray . There is no creature more apt to wander , then sheepe , and being strayed , Esay 53.6 . none more vnapt to turne into the way againe : Esay . 1.3 . Wee ( sayth the Prophet ) like sheepe are gone astray , Esay . 53.8 . to shew our simplicity , and how vnpossible a thing it is of our selues , as of our selues to return home againe : Rom. 3.16 . yea , the Prophet addes further , Wee haue turned euery one to his owne way : Yea , wee walke the pathes that our owne sinnefull affections haue chosen to our selues , and the way of truth wee haue no desire to know . And howsoeuer many can make blinde excuses for their owne euill life : surely , the beginning of all euill is this , to turne away from God . It was the case of the Prodigall Sonne , and in him of all sinners , that when hee had receyued his patrimony , Luk. 15. Hee tooke his iourney into a farre Country : farre away , and yet hee thought not himselfe farre inough from his Father : but who willed him to depart , was hee put out of his Fathers house ? Surely , no ; but he himselfe of his own accord would needes bee gone . Euen so , doth a sinner make a voluntary separation betwixt God and his soule . God doth neuer forsake till hee bee forsaken . Now a sinner is sayde to depart from God in two respects : First , by an opposite and far different disposition , Gods volo being mans nolo , Gods will being mans nill : by omitting that which hee should commit , and by committing that which hee should omit : As when wee see two sitting and talking together , and the one varieth from the other in opinion , we say , the one is farre from the other : and in the same respect , is a sinner said to goe farre from God . Secondly , a sinner is said to goe far from God , in regard of the greatnesse , or the multitude of his sinnes that he doth commit , which the more they are , the farther they leade a sinner : for euery sinne being a departure from God , a sinner may rightly bee said to depart lesser or farther , according to the number & quality of the sins they commit : Some , being the sinnes of infirmity , some of ignorance , some of malice , and some of presumption ; but Hee that hath eyes like a flame of fire , Reu. 2.18 . doth still behold them ; and although Adam doe goe about to hide himselfe amongst the thickets of the garden , from the presence of God : yet was hee still in Gods presence , neyther could hee escape : Many thinke they cannot runne farre inough from God , Psal. 1 39. of whom the Prophet speaketh : Whither shall wee flie from Gods presence : shall wee flie into heauen ? It is no part of our thought ; shall wee flie into the vtmost part of the earth ? the whole world is vnder Gods gouernment : shall wee take a voyage by Sea ? it may bee , God will send vs farther then we are minded to flie : for little did Ionas thinke , by flying from God , that God would vexe him with all his stormes : But if wee will not venture so farre , but onely flye into the darkenesse , we must know , that with God The darkenesse and light are both alike . There is no distance of place betwixt God and a sinner : but alas , the cause of all is this , we know not the mischiefe that will follow by our departure from God : how many sighes and groanes , euen of our dearest hearts it will cost vs , ere wee can get into fauour againe . This did Dauid finde by wofull experience , that hauing left the Lord , and made a departure from his God by walking in the broad pathes of vngodlinesse , Psal. 51.1.2 . Psal 6. adultery and murther ; did not the Lord bring him backe againe by the weeping Crosse , that hee lay a long time wala-daying his griefe of heart , ere hee could be perswaded that God would receiue him again into fauour ? Gen. 16. What found Hagar out of Abrahams house , but want and sorrow ? What found the Prodigall child , Luk. 15. being departed from his father , but want and pouerty . When Cain went away from God , there was no more account made of him then of a vagabond and odious person , Behold , saith Cain to God , Gen. 4.14 . thou hast cast mee out this day from the earth , and from thy face shall I bee hid , and shall bee a vagabond and a runnagate vpon the face of the earth , and whosoeuer findeth me , shall slay mee . This is the danger & fearefull estate of them , which committing sinne , depart from God . Oh that wee were wise , then would wee consider our latter end . Deut. 32.

Reason of the Doctrine . Now let vs see the reason of the Doctrine , that so it may worke the deeper impression in euery one of our soules . We haue heard , that sinne is a departure from God , and that a sinner hauing left the wayes of life , finds no comfort nor peace , till with the prodigal son , they return to God again . The reason is , nothing can satisfie the soule of man , but God himself : as a pottle or a gallon cannot be filled with the measure of a pinte : so are the pleasures of sinne , but as a graine of muster-seed in the belly of an Elephant : The desires of the soule remaine infinite , and must haue an infinit God to satisfie them ; whereas the profites and pleasures of this world haue their bounds : so that there is no other remedy for vs in this life , but to remoue our minds from the desire of these earthly things , and to transport the same vnto God , that there they may rest content , and be satisfied : for the grace of God , and the heauenly gifts of his spirit , they are the onely comforts vnto the soule , because his presence and goodnesse is most agreeable thereto , being created after the likenesse of God : as for all other things , they are but death and famishment , as stones and grauell are to the body .

Hence then , let all men learn to be warned betimes : Vse . 1 Thou that takest liberty to thy self to liue in sinne , Oh know that thou art now departing from God , In whose presence is the fulnesse of ioy , and at whose right hand there is pleasure for euermore . And now thou art trauelling with the Prodigall sonne into a farre Country , wandring from God to serue sinne and Sathan . Well , know ( O man ) that if thou wilt needes goe , that thou doest now runne vpon manifest hazard & danger : for , who can tell whether in this thy disordered course thou shalt come to mischiefe , or to some miserable end , or whether thou shalt haue that mercy granted thee , to call thy selfe to better remembrance . Oh , goe not then after thy concupiscence , nor follow not the inticement of thy lust ; let reason & iudgement take place . Pray with the Prophet , O Lord , Psal. 17. lighten my darkenes , that I sleepe not in death . The Iewes hauing their choyce , desired rather Barrabas to be deliuered vnto them , then Christ the Sauiour of their soules . O follow not the example of so bad Marchants to make a worse choyce then they ; for , if thou yeeldest thy selfe to sinne , and wandrest from God , refusing Christ Iesus , the saluation of thy owne soule , & goest a whoring after sinne and Sathan : hereby , thou shewest thy selfe farre worse then euer the Iewes were in their choyee : And albeit thou goest not from God , all on a sodaine ; yet thy departure will steale vpon thee by degrees , as a man goeth far , steppe by steppe . First , there may creepe vpon thee a dislike of goodnesse of preaching , prayer , &c. Then to the loathing of it , and so by little and little to bee drawn away from godlinesse . And thou , which sometimes wast an earnest professor , shalt grow key colde in Religion . And so , for the committing of some euill , if the Deuill can but spie the casements of thy soule to bee open , thy eyes , thy eares , &c. hee will then easily wind himselfe into thy heart : if hee can but preuaile so farre with Dauid , as but to cast his eyes vpon naked Bethshaba , the battell then is halfe wonne . Thus did this wilie Serpent deale with our first Parents : First , hee presented vnto the view of Eue the forbidden fruite : Secondly , shee desired it : Thirdly , shee tasted of it : Fourthly , shee gaue to her husband , and he did eate . Thus the Deuill by degrees doth steale vs away from God , from one sinne to a second , from a second to a third , and from a third to a fourth , as by so many steppes , vntill at last , hee hath euen plunged vs into the gulfe of perdition . Oh that men would consider this betimes , when they commit sinne , lying , swearing , stealing , whoredome , drunkennesse , &c. By this sinne , I turne my selfe from God , I run from God , and serue the Deuill : The Lord stands on the right hand , the Deuill on the left ; the Deuill he cals mee by pleasures , profites and preferments . If I listen to Sathan , I shall turne away from God , Oh , if men had this consideration in their hearts , what a bridle would it bee vnto them , to keepe them from many sinnes .

Vse . 2 If thou hast gone from the Lord by committing of sinne , and seest now that there can bee no peace , nor comfort vnto thy soule , but a fearefull expectation of iudgement : Follow the counsell of the Prophet Ieremie , O search , and try thy wayes , and turne vnto the Lord : Lam. 3.39 . Endeuour by all meanes possible to returne to God again , from whom thou hast departed ; the which thou shalt the better performe , if thou haue respect to that way , the footsteps whereof thou hast left behind thee , and which are abominable vnto the Lord , and by which thou wentest from God . Follow the aduice of the blessed Apostle , Cast off lying , and speake euery man truth vnto his neighbour . Eph. 4. He that hath stolen , let him steale no more , but rather labour , and worke with his hands , that hee may giue to him that needeth . If thou hast beene a proud man , by which sinne thou hast made a departure from God , become now humble and lowly of mind : For God resisteth the proud ; but giueth grace vnto the humble . If thou hast made a departure from the Lord by drunkennesse , returne againe by sobriety ; the vncleane to be chaste , the couetous to be charitable : yea , if wee haue made a departure from God by any sinne whatsoeuer , let vs draw neere vnto him againe by a reformed life , holy manners , & godly conuersation ; that it may bee spoken of vs , as Paul speaketh of the Ephesians , Eph. 2. Yee which were a farre off , are made neere .