TO speake of all Gods benefits bestowed on our first parents , were to make too large a portall for this so small a building , it shall suffice therefore only to poynt out this one thing : that notwithstanding Gods manifold benefits , they sinned against God , and added this to their sinne that they fled from him , and God added this to his former mercy , that he made this inquisition after them , for he that keepeth Israell neither slumbreth nor sleepeth ; his eye and his care was ouer them in their profoundest sleep : Adam may flie into the land of forgetfulnesse , fall into the depth of dispaire , tyre himselfe in the wayes of wickednesse , as a man without strength , become free amongst the dead and exild from the law of the liuing : ( for this was his estate ) yet doth not God forsake him , but followeth after him drawing him to repentance , to make him an example of mercy to many babes yet vnborne . Of Iudgement therefore & mercy is our song ; Iudgement in his flight , mercy in his retraight , Iudgement in his hiding of sinne , mercy in Gods vncouering of it ; for man was falen into a sleepe ( not that sweete sleepe of the body whereby hee is refreshed , but that of the soule ) in sinne , which makes me quake to thinke of , and that also of soule , and body in eternall destruction ( which you cannot but tremble to heare of ) had not God in mercy awaked him . O the height and depth of Gods mercy , who although he suffereth his children to fall , yet not to lie and die in sinne , as the wicked world doth : but suddenly striketh their harts with repentance not to be repented of , before they be cauterised through custome ; as we see in a cloude of witnesses , as Dauid who when he had numbred the people his hart presently smote him , and in Ionas who when hee was fled from God , the windes sent as a pursiuant to fetch him back , who else would haue posted to hel , for he was well onward in his iourny hauing run to the hauen , paid his fare , entred the ship and slept securely in his sinne . Peter likewise thrust himselfe into euill company , for feare of a weake Damsell not only denied , but with bitternesse forswore his master : but the crowing of the cock and the glance of his masters eye made him goe out and weepe bitterly . And Adam likewise receiued no lesse grace , for he had liked , lusted after , tasted the forbidden fruit , done his endeauour to couer himselfe with figg leaues , and his sinne with a silly and slender excuse : but God leaues him not so , but as a good shepheard seeing his lamb fallen into the mouth of the roring lion the Deuill , hasteth to help him , finding him out , vncouering his wounds , and pouring in the oyle of his mercy to heale his wounded soule . Seeing therefore that God makes such hast to call vs ; let vs not be slow to answer , but with Samuell say ; speake Lord for thy seruant heareth , let not Gods carefulnesse be a cause of our carlesnesse , nor his watchfullnesse bringe vs into a slumber , looke not to haue the sonne goe backe or stay still expecting our repentance for the day passeth and the night commeth when no man can worke . The Greekes require earthly wisdome , and the Iewes a signe , but we preach Christ crucified , & woe to vs if that cannot conuert vs. I hope we looke not with Diues to haue one sent from the dead . If any such , I say not with Abraham you haue Moses and the Prophets , but with the Apostle , in these last dayes God hath sent his sonne to call vs to repentance . Oh how long hath hee called vs to awake out of the sleep of sin , assuring vs if wee repent our saluation is nearer then we thinke , if not our damnation nearer then wee feare . Wee read in the Canticles that our Sauiour standes knocking at his spouse dore while the dew had bedewed his lockes ; but she would not let him in : at length in her better cogitations she openeth the dore , and hee was gone : teaching vs that if we will not open the dore of our harts by the key of our repentance when hee knocks , the time shall come that wee shall seeke him , and hee will not be found . Lamen . 1.12 Harke harke what a lamentable complaint our Sauiour made on the crosse for the hardnes of our harts . Haue yee no regard all yee that passe by , behould and see if euer you saw misery like my misery in the day of the visitation of the fearce wrath of God : as if he should say did you euer see such a woful spectacle , as one nailed hand and foote to the Crosse , his tender skul pierced with thornes , for the sinnes of others , as mine are ? Yf you should see one iustly suffer such grieuous tortures , you cannot but pitty him , but if vniustly and yet patiently , and willingly for the loue he beareth to others , not his friends , but enemies ; this would stay you in your greatest speede . Wherefore though you be in the full pursuite of your sinne , behould this my loue with the eye of faith as you passe by and it will mollifie your hardest harts . But if you will not regarde it , I call heauen and earth to witnesse against you : for at this my passion the stones claue in sunder on the earth , and the sonne lost his light in the heauens : wherefore your harts be more hard then stones , and senslesse then the heauens , if you will not tremble and forsake your sinns . Thus doth Christ not with teares ( as he called the Iewes ) but with dropps of bloud seeke to mollifie our harts , least as wee came naked into the world so wee should returne naked of the best riches . To day therefore if you will heare his voice harden not your harts to goe astray with the prodigall , and promise your selues quick returne : do not with greeuing , quenching , and checking the good spirit lose him by degrees and thinke to finde him on the sudden , for , When Mary lost Christ but a dayes iourney she was three daies finding of him , and shall we lose him thirty or forty yeares , and thinke to finde him in the last houre of our death ? shall wee be going from a city a whole yeare , or more , and think to returne in a moment ? surely this were to delude our selues . Well therefore , saith the good father , hee that promiseth saluation to the repentant , hath not promised repentance when thou wilt : lest therefore the sinne of thy soule and the end of thy dayes make too neare a coniunction , and God leaue thee to thy selfe , so that thou depart with a burthen of sins vnrepented of ; While it is to day heare his voice so louingly calling thee , for to morrow thou maist seeke it with teares , and not obtaine : to day , for this is the acceptable time , greiue not therefore the good spirit with cras , least your almost come to nothing : to day repent , for it is more dangerous to sleepe with one sinne , then an hundred Scorpions ; for they can but kil the body , this both body and soule and cast into hell fire . To day therfore heare his voice , least to morrow hee say to you ( as to his disciples in an other sence ) henceforth sleepe and take your rest , for you shall be no more called for mee , and then good had it beene for vs if we had neuer beene borne . Thus haue I ( as loude as I could ) sounded Gods trumpet in your eares , to awake you out of the dead sleepe of sinne , let him therefore that hath an eare , heare God calling vnto him where art thou .

Haec est vox interrogantis , increpantis , et commiserantis first by way of interrogation : looke how a louing father dwelling in a wood inhabited with beasts , if he misse his sonne , searcheth euery pitt , calling with a shrill voice , fearing least some noughty beast hath deuoured him : by which voice his childe ( who was fallen into a sleepe ) is awaked ; euen so ( me thinkes ) I see with the eye of faith God calling man who was fallen into a dangerous sleepe in the wildernes of sin , where the roring lyon was ready ( if God had not preuented ) to haue deuoured him , but God in mercy cals to awake him out of the dangerous sleepe of sinne . Was God ignorant where man was ? noe but man was ignorant where himselfe was , for he had sinned and knew not , but fled from God , and had runne hedlong into the pitt of destruction ( vndè non datur regressus ) had not God in mercy stayd him and cald him back ; man was become a wilde tree therfore God the good husband-man commeth with the sword of his word to cutt off his topp gallant and graft in a sien scilicet , a knowledge of his fault , that so hee might repent .

Secondlie , non tam interogantis quam increpantis vox est . It is by way of reprofe : for all Gods words before mans fall were commandatorie , and commendatory , approbationis , non exprobationis , but man sliding God fell to chiding as in this manner : where art thou , what hast thou done ? who toulde thee thou wast naked ? hast thou eten the forbidden fruit ? euery word as a seuerall sword to pierce their naked harts . Thus you see beloued that it is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God : Iudge therefore your selues that you bee not iudged of the lord , for though our sinnes be superannate , worne out of date , yet if they be vnrepented of , God will call them to mind with a witnesse , and set them in order against vs. There be foure sorts of men that get heauen , some by violence ; such are they who suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake : others steale it ( which is a holy theft ) when by our praiers and almes done in secret , we show a liuely faith which is rewarded openly ; others purchase heauen , such are they who make them friends of their vnrighteous Mammon wherby they shall be receiued into euerlasting habitation ; the last sort are they which are drawne by threatnings or punishments , and this is the worst way : for looke how the racke is to the body , to extort and wring a confession out of the offender , so is punishment to the soule of the sinner ; for a wounded conscience who can beare . For although God when he hath drawne the sword , doth not throw a way the scabbard , as if he would neuer put it vp againe : though hee will not alway be chiding , yet if wee sinne he will chastize vs with the chastisements of men , hewing our harts and deuiding betweene the marrow and the bone , neuer ceasing to punish vntill he hath drawen vs to repentance , and how much better it is to be drawne by gentle perswasions then by the rod , iudge ye .

Thirdly , non tam increpantis , quam commiserantis vox est , looke how a louing father pittying rebuketh and rebuking pittieth his son gone astray : so mee thinkes I see God rebuking man , in that hee would rather harken to the serpent his enemy , then to him his louing maker : but yet he pittieth him in that hee fell not like the Angells of malicious wickednesse , but of weaknesse . God had adorned man with all the heroicke vertues of the minde as iustice and mercy and such like , but man hauing sinned , they flew from him as not deigning to liue in so foule a cage , but flew backe to heauen , from whence they came , the one pleading for , and the other against man , iustice calling to God for reuenge , that seeing man had sinned against an infinite God and that with an infinite wil ( as you may easily perceiue in his flying from God and that he was so farre from confessing his sinne , that he iustified himselfe , and accused God to his face as the author of his sinne in giuing him the woman ) seeing therefore he had sinned soe with an infinite will , he pleads against man , that according to his offence hee might infinitely be punished : but mercy pleads for man , that seeing he hath sinned of weaknesse , God would be pleased not to take his mercy cleane from him , but in iudgement to remember mercy wherby he might call him to repentance , and say peace to his soule . Thus God being solicited with sundry aduocates for and against man , hee calls to man to see what hee could say for himselfe , that at least he might confesse against himselfe , and his iniquity might be forgiuen . Thus wee see abyssus abyssum innocat , the depth of our misery cald on the depth of Gods mercy , and the depth of his mercy cald on his wisdome & power : & so in mercy wisdome & power he hath wrought our redemption . Wee read of Dauid when he heard of the death of his son Absolon that he dyed in his sin , he bewailed him , saying , O Absolon , Absolon , O my sonne Absolon , would God I had died for thee my sonne , my sonne ; here was a louing wish of a feeble father , but here ( me thinkes ) I heare a more louing and powerfull call : O Adam , Adam , O my sonne Adam , thou shalt not dye ( if thou wilt repent ) but liue , for I will dye for thee my son , my sonne , for though thy sinnes make me to be spitted vppon , I will kisse thee with the kisses of my mouth ; though my head be crowned with thornes , I will crowne thee with glorie ; though my side be thrust thorow with a speare , yet will I show thee the loue I beare thee at my heart ; and albeit thy sinnes crucifie mee to the death , yet if thou wilt repent , I will procure thee life . O heare this ( yee sonnes of Adam ) to reuiue your dying and languishing spirits , for though God be iustly displeased with our offences , his anger endureth but the twinckling of an eye , but his mercie for euer to them that repent ; hee is a iust God , and punisheth to the third and fourth generation , them that with a stiffe necke in hatred and malice go on in sinning against him ; but hee is a mercifull God , that shewes mercie to thousands in them that loue him , and endeauour to keepe his commaundements . O turne you , turne you , why will you die ? turne vnto God in sorrow , and contrition , that hee may turne vnto you in pittie and compassion , and heale your wounded consciences . This briefely of these words as they haue relation to God the maker of this inquisition , wherein he discouereth his anger to sinne , and his compassion to the sinners , in that they had sinned of weakenesse : now this inquisition is to bee considered as it hath relation to our estate which is fiue fould .

First , vbi Paradisi , secondly vbi tenebrarum , thirdly , vbi miseriae , fourthly , vbi foliorum , fiftly , vbi gratiae . First , vbi Paradisi , what estate art thou in in Paradice ? In the creation God who delighted to see all his creatures good , ioyed to see man happie , hee spake the word , and they were created , but to make man , hee seemes himselfe for to commaund , and cals a consultation that nothing might bee wanting to the perfecting so excellent a creature ; he made him natures beauty , the forme of the creation , earths sole potentate , he infuseth a deuine Soule into a maiesticall body : and euerie soyle was not fit for man to dwell in , but hee must haue a Paradice , a place of pleasure , where the trembling trees bowed themselues in obedience , offering their fruites vnto him , the siluer streames ranne by , offering their continual seruice , and the maiesticall Lyon , with all other beastes subiected themselues more willingly than to Noah in the Arke . O foelix , O nimium foelix , bona si sua nosset , sed hinc illae lachrymae , Man knew not when he was happy enough , it was not enough for him to bee Gods Vicegerent here on earth , but he seekes to be a God in knowledge : thus hee that desired to be more than a man , became a worme , and no man , in respect of that he was before ; for he rebelling against God , all the creatures rebeld against him ; the waters were ready to ouerwhelme him , as they did the whole World in the time of Noah ; fire was readie to come downe from heauen , as to Sodome and Gomorra ; the earth ready to swallow them , as Corath , Dathan , and Abiram ; beasts ready to deuoure them , as they did the children which mocked Elisha ; and the ayre readie to infect them with pestilence as in Dauids time . Thus man being in this great daunger in the midst of happinesse , God calls vnto man , Where art thou ? as if he should say , how was it possible that thou shouldst forget so soone him , that was so carefull of thy wel-fare ? what blessing was there with which ( through my fatherly affection ) I did not endow thee ; for as if too little to make the world for thee , I made thee sole Gouernour vnder mee , and set thee vpon a Throne farre excelling Salomons in glorie , from which ( by ingratitude ) thou hast cast downe thy selfe ; so that albeit I neede not aske who was I , that thou wert so vnmindefull of me , ( for thy conscience tells thee ) yet I cannot but cry , what was man that I was so mindefull of him , seeing he so little regarded ? surely , I begin to repent that euer I made thee , for by sinne thou hast disfranchized thy selfe of so ample amonarchy , and thrust thy selfe into a dungeon . Beloued , if it were possible for a people to enioy a paradice on earth , we doe heere in this land , for we haue that happy Common-wealth the Psalmist speaks of , Our wiues are like the vine , our children like oliue branches round about our tables , our oxen strong to labour , our sheepe bring foorth thousands and ten thousands in our streets : and are not wee happy , that are in such a case , yea rather blessed in that wee haue the Lord for our God : For had not many Moseses beene instant in prayers for vs , we had perished ( like the Israelites ) with quailesin our mouths , so greeuously doe wee daily abuse the blessings of God . It is not long since the plague swept away whole housholds in our land , great inundations by water , and the earth denied her increase ; so that many poore soules , hauing their children hanging on their tender brests , had nothing but salt teares to releeue them . But ( may some say ) what is this to vs ? Surely , a warning to teach , that vnlesse wee repent , wee shall all likewise perish , and bee brought from our greatest plenty to that want , that wee shall desire a cup of colde water to coole our tongues , and we shall not obtain it .

As this land is a modell of Paradice , so many ( like Adam ) are raised out of the dust , to be Gods vpon earth , like Moses and Dauid , from the sheephooke to the Scepter : or , as Saul , from seeking his fathers asses : or , like the Disciples , of fisher-men made fishers of men : I speake not this , as if all were raised out of the dunghill : for I know many are nobly descended , yet it was God which raised their ancestours , and who likewise hath furnished them with girts which are not hereditary : Therfore Plato sayd well , that God mingled the complections of Princes with gold , of their helpers with siluer , and the Commons with brasse : shewing that God furnisheth men with gifts fitting for their places : and therfore to shew all foulemouthed Papists , ( who raile against the supremacy of our King ) that God hath giuen him power Ecclesiasticall as temporall , hee is so furnished with knowledge of Diuinity , that many Priests , both of the Papists and Protestants , who haue beene Proficients in serious studies , may notwithstanding learne of him . Seeing therefore that God thus bestoweth his gifts , that wee haue nothing that wee haue not receiued , let them that are exalted beware of pride , for if foelicitas superbiae , superbia infoelicitatis sit parens : for superbus in solio est simia in tecto , in a fit place to breake his neck : and pride is the root of all euill , but vita ima , and sedes prima agree not ; but verbum sapientibus satis est .

Secondly , vbi tenebrarum ? in what estate of darknesse art thou ? God made the Sunne to shine by day , and the Moone by night , and gaue his word to bee a light to their feet , and a lanthorne to their paths : but this is our condemnation , that wee loued darknesse better then light , and so gropt at noone-day , changing the estate of righteousnes for the poluted garment of sinne : And well may sinne be called darknesse : First , in regard of the author of it , the Prince of darknesse . Secondly , in that it brings vs to the darknesse of ignorance heere , and ( if God in mercy preuent not ) to that more then Aegyptian darknesse heereafter . Our first parents being falne into this estate , God calls vnto them , to bring them to a sight of their sinne , that so they might repent , as if hee should thus expostulate with them ; Was my burthen so heauy , and the yoake I layd on you so vneasie , that you could not longer beare it , but so soone cast it off ? I did not cumber you with many commands , for at that time I needed not , you could enuy none , for none more happy then your selues , there were no virgins to rauish , no widowes to defloore , or wiues to defile , no Churches to rob by sacriledge , or brethren to bee opprest with vsury : In fine , I gaue you but one command , scilicet , to forbeare the fruit of one tree , and was this command so greeuous ? had you not both store of fruit , for necessity and delight ? did I not in a manner make my selfe poore , to your store ? see then how vngratefull thou art , and ingratum modo dixerim omnia , this fowle beast Ingratitude hath made a breach for all other sinnes : First , Beloued ; our bodies are not so subiect to diseases , as our soules to sinnes , pride is the soules tympany , enuy the worme that gnaweth at the heart , wrath a pleurisie which will not be appeased without bloud , lust is the soules feauour : nay , whereas the body hath respit from sicknesse , the soule none from sinne , and all sicknesses haue their symptomes : yet wee so ignorant of sinne , that who knowes how oft hee offends ; yea , many are so filthie , that you may trace them as a fox by his sent , yet they haue no feeling , oderunt peccare boni virtutis amore , as Seneca would not sinne , lest he should defile so noble substance as the soule . And I read of Anselmus , that hee was wont to say , that if hee should see all punishments without sinne on one hand , and sinne without punishments on the other , hee would imbrace punishments , and forsake sinne : Surely , it was a most Christian-like resolution ; for what wise man hauing a many Iewells in the raine , would not couer them with his cloake ( though he be well drenched with the raine , or beaten with haile himselfe ) to keepe them from rusting : and doe wee not see that sin is as a putrified flie to precious oyntment , or as rust and canker to the soule ? for if thy soule be adorned with vertue , as great ones with iewels , one foule sinne raigning , takes away the lustre & beauty of them . How many men see we daily of good aspects , excellent gifts , and comely personages , who by pride , selfe-conceiptednesse , drunkennesse , or such like vice , ouerthrow and staine all their other gifts , thus hatefull is sinne of it selfe : But Sinne and Punishments are twinnes , Sinne as the elder may feast it selfe within , but Punishment lieth at the doore , Idlenesse attended with the Scuruy , Drunkennesse with the Dropsie , Pride with Lunacy , and our first Parents affected knowledge with our ignorance , which how great a punishment it is , I appeale to any ingenious nature : who cannot , but to his endlesse greefe finde , that when he hath turned strength into weaknes , marrow into drinesse , and his colour into palenesse , by watchings and continued studies , at length hee attaineth hoc vnum scire , that he seeth no more then a prisoner at a creuice in a dungeon , scilicet , that there is a Sunne which once enlightned him , which though hee cannot now enioy , yet hee hopeth one day againe to be comforted with the cleere shining beames thereof . But whither doth mine ignorance lead mee ? I had almost forgot that the punishment of sinne was reserued for the next place : but seeing that I am entred into this subiect , I hope I shall not digresse in touching this part , so farre as it expresseth the miserable estate of sinne : examine therefore , and you shall see what a sympathy there is betweene the punishment of God appoynted for sinne , and the estate of sinne : For first , the earth ( for sin ) brings forth thornes , briers , and thistles ; so our hearts being become earthly , bring forth the briers of sin , and not the wholesome fruit of righteousnesse , as you may see in children and fooles , who will sooner learne to cry bald-pate , then to sing Hosanna ; and well may sinne bee compared to thornes , in that it hath the same power to teare the conscience , as the other doth the garment . Secondly , as for sin , in sweat wee eat our bread ; so in sweat we eat the stolne waters and bread of iniquity . Doth not the enuious man more vex his wretched soule at the prosperity of the righteous ; then hee doth his righteous soule , at the sinnes of the wicked ? Doth not the wrathfull man take more paines to execute his fury , then the patient man to put vp an iniury ? I read of one , that being desirous to goe to Olympus , and being discouraged with the tediousnes of the iourney , hee was counselled by his friend , to goe so farre euery day that way , as hee vsed to walke for his recreation , and at last he should ariue at his iournies end : So , if there be any ( as I feare there be many ) that would willingly goe to heauen , but that they see a Lyon in the way , and a Lyonesse in the path ; I assure you ( that if you would as much fight against and greeue your spirituall aduersaries , as you doe the good spirit of God , which sealeth your redemption ) you should at last ariue at the hauen of blisse : for so painefull are the wayes of wickednesse , that that is most true of the sinner , which is sayd of the woman , that in sorrow hee shall bring forth : Thirdly , as the woman shall haue a desire to her husband , and hee shall haue the rule of her : euen so wee , to bee wedded to our fleshly bodies ( for skin for skin and all that a man hath , he will giue for his life ) yet hath our flesh rule ouer vs , so that Paul himselfe could not but confesse , that hee had a law in his members , contrary to the law of God ; For our spirits are like to a bird tied to a mill-stone , they may houer vp in heauenly cogitations ; but soone againe are pulled downe with the masse of our fleshly corruption , as you may see in Peter , who was ready in spirit with his master to die , but presently hee did him fearefully denie : In a word , our corrupt nature is so filled with the worme-wood and gall of the bitternesse of sinne , that Nitimur in vetita cupimusque negata , the very forbidding of an euill is enough to make vs desire it ; yea , with the spider , we sucke out poyson from the best flowers ; from learning we gather pride ; from courage , rashnes ; from liberality , prodigality ; yea , so are we naturally delighted in sin , that we delight to see others sinne : not vnlike him , that standing on the shoare , or rather being tossed with the waues at sea , should delight to see another drowned before his eyes : for Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris Sed miserum , — Like to him that ioyes to see his neighbours house fired , whereas he hath more cause to weepe , fearing that his will be the next . If this will not suffice to conuince thee from corruption , from thine own mouth I will condemne thee ; for why hast thou consented with the body of this land , to make so many necessary penall statutes ? it were cynicall to thinke to this end they were made , that great theeues might hang little ones ; and it is the common folly , to compare them to spiders webs , wherin little flies are intangled , and great ones breake thorow : for daily experience confuteth this errour . But if thou wilt looke into thine owne bosome , thou should soone finde out the cause , scilicet , thy natural corruption , for we are all naturally Atheists , ready to sin against God , the state , and nature . Hence proceede these heauen-threatning blasphemies , Church-deuouring sacriledges , vnmercifull extortions , and such like sinnes flowing from a corrupt fountaine : for though with Hazael , we thinke we could not commit such euills , vnlesse we were doggs ; yet so dogged we are , that wee make no bones of them .

Hence let vs learne , not to delight in the falls of our brethren , but to pity them , saying with that good Father , Ille hodiè , ego cras , hee hath falne to day , I may fall to morrow . Secondly , let him that standeth , take heede hee fall not , for you see wee stand on slippery places : see how Esau hated Iacob , for getting from him his birth-right , how much more should wee hate sinne , which impouerisht all our ancestours . Thirdly , if at any time we doe sin , let vs comfort our selues in this , that wee haue an aduocate to the Father , Christ Iesus the righteous , hee is the propitiation for all our sinnes , for as the high Priest presented the names of the twelue Tribes on his brest-plate , so Christ the names of his Elect . So that , albeit with Ioseph , our garments bee rent by the temptation of our Mistresse and Dalilah , our flesh ; and our body also cast after into the dungeon of the graue , yet ( at last ) shal we be brought forth to a Kingdom most glorious . Sweet Iesus bee to vs a Iesus , let thy patience answer for our wrath ; let thy mercy , for our vncharitablenesse ; and thy righteousnesse , for our sin .

Thirdly , vbi miseriae ? what estate of misery art in ? as if he should say , hast thou so soone forgot that I forbad thee the eating of the tree of knowledge , sub poena , which ( like the Law of the Medes & Persians ) cannot bee reuoked . O miserable man , euill is thy estate , and better had it beene thou hadst neuer been , if thou wilt not now hearken vnto me , for in iudgement I will remember mercy , and the seede of the woman shall bruize the Serpents head : whereby , if thou wilt repent , thou shalt bee freed from the second death . See therfore thine own misery , & by these symptomes and shadowes of the other , learne to shun that great and intolerable paine ; for hauing eaten the stolne bread of sinne , thou must now haue sower sawce . The Poets doe faine of Prometheus , that hee stole fire from heauen , whence noua febrium terris incubuit cohors : By Prometheus is meant Adam , by fire his affected knowledge , for as fire enlightneth , heateth , and kindleth , so his knowledge enlightned him to see his nakednesse , heated him , that hee blushed for shame , and kindled Gods wrath against him : So that ( like vnmercifull fire ) in a moment it brought them from the height of happines to the extreamest misery . I may compare vs sinners to Iob , who was not onely tormented with botches , but his friends were miserable comforters , and euery messenger brought tydings of woe : this is our estate , our soules and bodies are defiled with the leprosie of sin , our breath stincks with the surphur therof , our eares are deafe in hearing Gods word , our eyes bleared with ignorance , and our mouthes dumb to speake of Gods praise : Thus wee hauing metamorphosed our selues , we haue made God , of a louing father , an angry Iudge , our owne conscience mustreth vp accusing thoughts to torment vs , and the best comforts that are sent vnto vs , are mixt with sorrow : so that I may well compare vs sinners to a Traytour , who while he is plotting mischeefe against the state , hath his weapons taken from him by one , and arrested by another , and cast into a dungeon , and by his own guiltines being condemned , euery day expects the executioner : So wee , while either plotting the hurt of our brother , or how to sinne against our God , if wee would but looke vpon our selues , might see that our weapons are taken away : for wheras God hath giuen to other creatures , weapons to defend and oppose ; as to the Horse , the hoofe ; the Bull , the horne ; the Boare , a tuske ; and the Lyon , the paw ; man onely is naked , and yet he will not forbeare to plot mischeefe , which while hee is brewing , peraduenture a bryer catcheth holde of him , and teares him , as if content with nought but his bloud , and if they had tongues to speake , they would say , that God ( in wrath ) hath sent them armed with so many prickes , as sundry bills and staues , to arrest vs of treason , for sinning against God . But alas , our affected knowledge hath cast such a mist of ignorance before our eyes , that wee cannot see our misery , like foolish prisoners that know the Iudge is at hand , the witnesses ready , the bill of inditement drawne , the executioner appoynted , and the place of torment certaine , yet doe they arme themselues to outface their misery : So we haue God our Iudge at hand , our consciences a hundred witnesses , the Diuell ready to torment , and all records sundry bills of indictment , to shew that we are vnthankfull to God , murtherers of our neighbours , enemies to our owne soules , and iniurious to nature : So that Imminet mors , iudicium , infernus , & omnia horrenda , & quasi nihil ad nos , ridemus , ludimus , peccata peccatis adi●cimus . But as they when death approacheth , quake and tremble : so doe wee , O mors , quàm amara memoria tua homini habenti solatium in hac vita ? O death , how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man whose comfort depends on this life ? For though thy estate is not like the Marchants , which hangs by cables , or rather in regard of his manifold dangers , by a twined thred ; nor like the Vsurers , which is sure so long as the common Law lasts , if the debtour prooue not Bankrupt : but suppose thou wert like the rich man in the Gospell , that thou hadst not little but much goods , and that in possession , which is eleuen poynts of the Law , thou hast got it thou carest not how , and thou wilt bee sure to keepe it , let others haue watry eyes for wanting of it , yet thou wilt laugh in enioying of it , and so thou mayst haue goods , thou carest not for God : Imagin thou wert thus like the rich man , and wentst on as comically , what good would these goods doe thee , seeing thou must end tragically ? for though he had gathered his crop , enlarged his barnes , sung a Requiem to his soule , yet had he a turbulent catastrophe , hearing this dolefull ditty ; O foole , this night shall thy soule be taken from thee : Thus you see our wisdome is but foolishnesse with God , for God walks opposite to the greatest man , if a great sinner . Thus am I brought into the large sea of misery : but if I should search into euery creeke and arme thereof , my life would not suffice , I will onely carry you from the land of security , and point vnto you the principall creeks , that so you might bee sea-sicke , and bee the more healthfull euer after : but seeing teares are the best Oratours to expresse misery ; while you saile along , bewaile your sinnes , which are the cause of this your miserie in all ages and estates . As in our infancy wee come crawling into the world , and had wee so much vnderstanding to see it , wee might perceiue our mothers halfe dead by giuing vs life , and had wee not the help of others , the houre of our birth would end our life ; in our youth correction ( which is as necessary as food ) is a burthen and intolerable yoake : after , like vntamed heifers subiect to disordered passions ; in olde age loathsome to our selues and others : these are the dayes wherein there is no pleasure , and as all ages , so all estates miserable ; if rich , full of care , feare , and greefe ; if of meane estate , subiect to discontent ; and if poore , God help ; for thou canst looke for little of vnmercifull man . Besides , the raw humours of the forbidden fruit are so vndigested , that notwithstanding all the help of nature and art , there are sundry diseases , which like vnto furies , destroy vs , before wee can finde a remedy , some gnaw at the throat , others dart at the heart , others weigh downe the kidneyes , and racke the whole body : How many haue lost their liues with fetching in of Indian druggs ? And others in searching out of the vertue of them ? And notwithstanding their care and paine , we get that in a moment , which cannot be clawd off in our liues . Besides these diseases , all the creatures conspire against vs , for like to Acteons doggs , seeing vs metamorphosed , they furiously pursue vs , & as if this were not miserie enough , wee wadge warre one against another , so that man who was created a milde and louing creature is by sinne become lupus , imò daemon , for there is not the like disparitie betweene any creatures of the same species , as betweene man and man , as you may see by our artilleries , roaring cannons , swords , guns , and pistolls ; for notwithstanding God hath blest our land with a peaceable King , that delights not in shedding of bloud ; yet twenty thousand pounds yeerely doth not suffice to strengthen our land against our enemies ; and , as if it were not misery enough to haue enemies abroad , wee are enemies to our selues , our flesh fighting against the spirit , and which is more strange , our flesh fighting against it selfe : witnesse those iarres at bed , and discontents at boord , between man and wife : And , which is so vnnaturall a thing , as you shall not finde it amongst the bruitish beasts : many men lay violent hands vpon themselues , like bad tenants , so farre from paying of their rent , that they pull downe their Landlords houses , and as to the body , so are not miseries wanting to the soule , as sundry passions ; for by choler we attempt that which after destroyes vs , or brings perpetuall repentance : melancholy affrights vs sleeping , and torments vs waking ; mirth incenseth vs to lust ; loue is accompanied with iealousie , hope with feare , and our ioy ends in sorrow , teaching vs that our hearts being made for God alone , no earthly thing can content them , while they returne to God , from whom by sin they are gone astray . The Israelites before they came to the wildernesse of Sine , tasted of the bitter waters , lest they should be delighted in building of tabernacles there , and hinder their iourney to the promised land : so wee much more ( while wee walke in this wildernesse of sinne ) must eat with sweat , lest we neglect the manna for our soules . To this end wee haue sundry afflictions , as so many little deaths to fit vs for eternall life : If yee therefore seeke happinesse , yee doe well ; for thereunto yee are created : but ye must seeke it where it is to bee found , for resurrexit non est hic , heere in the midst of life you are in death ; heere you must suffer with Christ , that after you may raigne with him ; heere beare the crosse , that after yee may sit on the throne : thus like wise mariners , if wee sit at the end of the ship , wee may guide it to the hauen of blisse . Let vs therefore with the Doue , hauing a long time houered , & found no rest in this deluge , let vs ( I say ) returne to the Arke of the Church , where wee may haue rest for our soules , following this example wee haue before our eyes , which ( mee thinkes ) is a fit Commentary vpon this Text , as wee may see by expostulating with this our sister , before wee take our last farewell of her : First , wert thou not happily descended of the same root , from whence sprung that honourable Branch , to whom the whole land shall stand for euer obliged , for his painefull and profitable expositions of our common lawes ? hath not God blest thee with three husbands , by one of the which thou hadst issue , Mr. Mingy Counsellor of the Law , in whom thou liuest now , being dead ? and now in thine olde age ( though thou bee silent ) the parish where thou didst liue will witnesse that thou hadst no churlish Nabal : But what meanes this still silence ? Hearke , hearke , me thinkes I heare her say , Fui quod es , er is quod sum , I haue beene as able to speake as you , but now death hath sealed vp my lips , but this is my comfort , that I did die daily , and as I often read of the Martyrs , so I goe reioycing to my graue , Non enim Deus deseruit , but hath made death a bridge for mee to passe ouer to a better life . Let vs therefore bewaile our owne misery in losing of her , for this congregation hath lost a principall member to accompany at prayer , hearing the Word and receiuing the Sacraments , the poore ( which are many ) hath lost money for their purses , meat for their bellies , & cloths for their backs : & I my selfe , all the encouragement I had in this place in the worke of my ministry : but whom wee haue lost , I am assured that the heauens haue found , and wee by following her good examples , may goe to her , she cannot come to vs.