One of the sermons preach't to the Lords of the High Court of Parliament, in their solemne fast held on Ashwednesday, Feb. 18 And by their appointment published: by Ios: Exon. Hall, Joseph, 1574-1656. 1629 Approx. 51 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 35 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A02566 STC 12693 ESTC S103758 99839503 99839503 3931 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A02566) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 3931) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1104:03) One of the sermons preach't to the Lords of the High Court of Parliament, in their solemne fast held on Ashwednesday, Feb. 18 And by their appointment published: by Ios: Exon. Hall, Joseph, 1574-1656. [4], 67, [1] p. Printed by M. Flesher, for Nath. Butter, London : 1629. Ios: Exon. = Joseph Hall. The first leaf is blank. Reproduction of the original in the Folger Shakespeare Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Acts 2. 37 , 38 , 40. 37 , Now when they heard this , they were pricked in their hearts , and said to Peter , and the rest of the Apostles , Men and brethren what shall we doe ? 38 , Then said Peter vnto them , Repent and be baptized , &c. &c. 40. And with many other words did he testifie , and exhort them , saying , Saue your selues from this vntoward generation . WHo knowes not that Simon Peter was a Fisher ? that was his trade both by Sea and Land , if we may not rather say , that as Simon , he was a Fisherman , but , as Peter , he was a fisher of men ; He that call'd him so , made him so ; And surely his first draught of fishes , which , as Simon , he made at our Sauiours comand , might well be a true type of the first draught of men , which , as Peter , hee made in this place ; for , as then , the nets were ready to cracke , and the ship to sinke , with store ; so here , when he threw forth his first drag net of heauenly doctrine , & reproofe , three thousand soules were drawne vp at once . This text was as the sacred cord , that drew the net together ; and pull'd vp this wondrous shole of conuerts to God ; It is the summe of Saint Peters Sermon , if not at a Fast , yet at a generall humiliation , which is more and better ; ( for wherefore fast we but to be humbled ? and if wee could bee duely humbled , without fasting , it would please God a thousand times better , then to fast formally , without true humiliation ; Indeed , for the time , this was a feast , the feast of Pentecost ; but for the estate of these Iewes , it was dies cinerum , a day of contrition ; a day of deepe hunger , and thirst after righteousnesse , Men and brethren , what shall we doe ? Neither doubt I to say , that the festiuity of the season added not a little to their humiliation ; like as wee are neuer so apt to take cold , as vpon a sweat : and that winde is euer the keenest , which blowes cold out of a warm coast ; No day could be more afflictiue then an Ashwednesday , that should light vpon a solemne Pentecost ; so it was here : Euery thing answered well ; The Spirit came downe vpon thē in a mighty winde ; and behold , it hath ratled their harts together ; the house shooke in the descent , and behold here , the foundations of the soule were moued ; Fiery tongues appeared , & here their brests were inflamed ; Clouen tongues ; and here their hearts were cut in sunder . The words were miraculous , because in a supernaturall , and sudden variety of language ; the matter diuine , laying before them both the truth of the Messiah , and their bloody measure offered to that Lord of life , and now Compuncti cordibus , they were pricked in their hearts . Wise Salomon sayes , The words of the wise are like goads , and nayles ; here they were so ; Goades , for they were , compuncti , pricked ; yea , but the goad could not goe so deepe , that passeth but the skin ; they were nayles , driuen into the very heart of the auditors , vp to the head ; the great Master of the Assembly , the diuine Apostle had set them home , they were pricked in their hearts . Neuer were words better bestowed . It is an happy blood-letting that saues the life , this did so here : wee looke to the signe commonly in phlebotomy , it is a signe of our idle and ignorant superstition , Saint Peter here saw the signe to be in the heart , and he strikes happily , Compuncti cordibus , they were pricked in their hearts , and said , Men and brethren , what shall we doe ? Oh , what sweet Musick was this to the Apostles eare ? I dare say , none but heauen could afford better ; what a pleasing spectacle was this anguish of their wounded soules ? To see men come in their zealous deuotions , and lay downe their moneyes ( the price of their alienated possessions ) at those Apostolike feet , was nothing to this ; that they came in a bleeding contrition , & prostrated their penitent and humbled soules at the beautifull feet of the messengers of peace ; with Men and brethren what shall we doe ? Oh when , when shall our eyes be blessed with so happy a prospect ? How long shall wee thunder out Gods fearfull iudgements against wilfull sinners ; how long shall wee threaten the flames of hell to those impious wretches , who crucifie againe to thēselues , the Lord of life , ere we can wring a sigh , or a teare from the rocks of their hearts or eyes ? Woe is me that wee may say too truely , as this Peter did of his other fishing ; Master , we haue trauailed all the night and caught nothing . Surely , it may well goe for night with vs , whiles wee labour and preuaile not . Nothing ? not a soule caught ? Lord what is becomne of the successe of thy Gospel ? Who hath beleeued our report , or to whom is the arm● of the Lord reuealed ? Oh God , thou art euer thy selfe , thy truth is eternall , hell is where it was ; if we be lesse worthy then thy first messengers ; yet what excuse is this to the besotted world , that through obdurednesse and infidelity it will needs perish ? no man will so much as say with the Iewes , What haue I done , or with Saint Peters auditors , what shall I doe ? Oh foolish sinners , shall yee liue here alwayes ; care ye not for your soules ; is there not an hell that gapes for your stubborne impenitence ? Goe on , if there bee no remedy , goe on , and dye for euer ; we are guiltlesse , God is righteous , your damnation is iust ; But , if your life bee fickle , death vnaauoydable , if an euerlasting vengrance be the necessary reward of your momentany wickednes , Oh turne , turne frō your euill waies ; and in an holy distraction of your remorsed soules say , with these Iewes , Men and brethren what shall we doe ? This from the generall view of the occasion ; wee descend to a little more particularitie . Luke , the beloued Physitian , describes Saint Peters proceeding here , much after his owne trade ; as of a true spirituall physitian ; who finding his Countrymen the Iewes in a desperate , and deadly condition , gasping for life , struggling with death , enters into a speedy and zealous course of their cure ; And first hee begins with the Chyrurgicall part ; and finding them rancke of blood , and that foule , and putrified , hee lets it out ( compuncti cordibus ) where wee might show you the incision , the veine , the lancet , the orifice , the anguish of the stroke : The incision , compuncti , they were pricked ; The veine in their hearts ; Smile not now , ye Physitians , if any heare me this day , as if I had passed a solaecisme , in telling you these men were pricked in the veine of the heart , talke you of your Cephalica , and the rest , and tel vs of another cistern from whēce these tubuli sanguinis are deriued ; I tell you againe ( with an addition of more incongruities still ) that God and his diuine Physitians doe still let blood in the median veine of the hart ; The lancet is the keene and cutting reproofe of their late barbarous crucifixion of their holy and most innocent and benigne Sauiour ; The orifice , is the eare , ( when they heard this : ) what euer the locall distance bee of these parts ; spiritually , the eare is the very surface of the heart ; and whosoeuer would giue a medicinall stroke to the heart must passe it through the eare , the sense of discipline and correction : The anguish bewrayes it selfe in their passionate exclamation ; Men and brethren what shall we doe ? There is none of these , which my speech might not well take vp , if not as an house to dwell in , yet as an Inne to rest and lodge in ; but I will not so much as bayt here ; onely wee make this a thorow fare tothose other sacred prescriptions of sauing remedies : which are three in number . The first is , euacuation of sinnes by a speedy repentance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; The second , the soueraigne bath or lauer of regeneration , Baptisme . The third , diet●ticall and prophylacticall receipts of wholesome caution : which I meane ( with a determinate praeterition of the rest ) to spend my houre vpon , Saue your selues from this vntoward generation . But , ere I pitch vpon this most vsefull and seasonable particularity , let mee offer to your thoughts the speedy application of these gracious remedies ; The blessed Apostle doth not let his patients languish vnder his hand in the heats and colds of hopes and feares ; but so soon as euer the word is out of their mouthes , Men and brethren , what shall we doe ? hee presently administreth these soueraigne receipts , Repent , be baptized , saue your selues . In acute diseases wise physitians will leese no time ; onely delay makes some distempers deadly . It is not for vs to let good motiōs freeze vnder our fingers ; How many gleeds haue dyed in their ashes , which if they had beene speedily blowne , had risen into comfortable flames ? The care of our zeale for God must be sure to take all opportunities of good ; This is the Apostles ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) seruing the time ; that is , obseruing it ; not for conformity to it when it is naught , ( fye on that basenesse , no let the declining time come to vs , vpon true and constant grounds , let not vs stoope to it , in the termes of the seruile yeeldance of Optatus his Donatists , Omnia pro tempore , nibil pro veritate ) not , I say , for conformity to it , but for aduantage of it ; The embleme teaches vs to take occasion by the forelocke , else we catch too late . The Israelites must goe forth and gather their Manna , so soone as it is faln ; if they stay but till the Sunne haue raught his noone-point , in vaine shall they seeke for that food of Angels . Saint Peter had learnt this of his Master ; when the shoale was ready , Christ sayes , Laxate retia , Luk. 5. 14. what should the net doe now in the ship ? When the fish was caught , Christ sayes , Draw vp againe , what should the net doe now in the Sea ? What should I aduise you Reuerend Fathers and brethren ( the Princes of our Israel , as the Doctors are called , Iudges 5. 9. ) to speake a word in season ; what should I presume to put into your hands , these apples of gold , with pictures of siluer ? What should I perswade you ( to these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) to wing your words with speed , when the necessity of endangered soules calls for them ? Oh let vs rowe hard whiles the tyde of grace serues ; when we see a large doore , and effectuall opened vnto vs , let vs throng in , with a peaceable and zealous importunity to be sure ; Oh let vs preach the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In season , out of season ; and carefully watch for the best aduantages of preuailing , and when the yron of mens hearts is softned by the fire of Gods Spirit , and made flexible by a meet humiliation , delay not to strike , and make a gracious impression , as Saint Peter did here Repent , bee baptized ; Saue your selues from this vntoward generation . Now to the maine , and all-sufficient Recipe for these feeling distempers ; saue your selues . This is the very extracted quintessence of Saint Peters long Sermon ; in which alone is included and vnited the soueraigne vertue of Repentance , of Baptisme , of whatsoeuer helpe to a conuerting soule ; so as I shall not need to speake explicitely of them , whiles I enlarge my selfe to the treating of this vniuersall remedy , Saue your selues from this vntoward generation . Would you thinke that Saint Luke hath giuen mee the diuision of this , whether Text , or , sermon of Saint Peter ? ye shall not find the like otherwhere ; here it is clearly so : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . He testifies , he exhorts ; he testifies what he thinkes of the times ; he exhorts or beseeches , ( as the Syriacke turnes it ) to auoyd their danger ; both of them , as St. Austen well , referre to this one diuine sentence : The parts whereof then , are in Saint Lukes diuision ; Peters reprehensory attestation , and his obtestation ; His reprehensory attestation to the common wickednesse , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; His obtestation of their freedome and indemnity , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; Saue your selues . To beginne with the former ; what is a generation ? what is an vntoward generation ? Either word hath some little mist about it ; The very word , generation , hath begot multiplicity of senses : without all perplexednesse of search , wee will single out the properly intended for this place ; As times , so , wee in them , are in continuall passage ; euery thing is in motion ; the Heauens do not more moue aboue our heads , in a circular reuolution , then we here on earth doe by a perpetuall alteration ; now all that are contained in one list of time , whether fixed , or vncertaine , are a generation of men ; Fixed ; so Suidas vnder-reckons it by seuen yeares ; but the ordinary rate is an hundred ; It is a cleare text , Gen. 15. 16. But in the fourth generation , they shall come hither againe ; when is that ? ( to the shame of Galatinus , who cloudes it with the fancy of the foure kinds , or manners of mans existence : ) Moses himselfe interprets it , of foure hundred yeares , vers . 13. Vncertaine ; so Salomon ; One generation passeth , another commeth ; The very terme implyes transitorinesse : It is with men , as with Raspices ; one stalk is growing , another growne vp , a third withered , & all vpō one root ; Or , as with floures , & some kinds of flyes , they grow vp , and seed , and dye ; Yee see your condition , oh ye great men of the earth , It is no staying here ; Orimur , morimur ; after the acting of a short part vpon this stage , ye must withdraw for euer ; make no other account , but , with Abraham , to serue your generation , and away ; ye can neuer more fitly heare of your mortality then now , that yee are vnder that roofe which couers the monuments of your dead , and forgotten Progenitors . What is an vntoward generation ? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is promiscuously turned froward , peruerse , crooked ; The oppositiō to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All is as one , what euer swarues from the right is crooked ; The Law is a right line , and what crookednesse is in nature , frowardnesse , and vntowardnesse is in moralitie . Shortly , there is a double crookednesse and vntowardnes ; One negatiue , the other , positiue ; The first , is a failing of that right we should either haue , or be ; The second , a contrary habit of vicious qualities ; and both these , are , either in credendis , or agendis ; In matter of faith , or matter of fact . The first , when wee doe not beleeue , or doe what we ought ; the second , when we mis-beleeue , or mis-liue . The first is an vntowardnesse of omission ; the second of commission . The omissi●e vntowardnesse shall lead the way ; and that , first , in matter of beleefe . This is it whereof our Sauiour spake to the two Disciples in their warme walke to Emaus , O fooles , and slow of heart to beleeue ; whereof the proto-martyr Stephen to his auditors , ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; ) The stiffe necke , the vncircumcised eare , the fat heart , the blinded eye , the obdurate soule ( quae nec mouetur precibus , nec cedit minis , as Bernard ) are wont to be the expressions of this vntowardnesse . If these Iewes , then , after so cleare predictions of the Prophets , after so miraculous demonstrations of the diuine power of Christ ; after so many graues ransackt , dead raysed , deuils eiected , limmes and eyes new-created ; after such testimonies of the starre , Sages , Angels , God himselfe ; after such triumphes ouer death and hell , doe yet detrect to beleeue in him , and to receiue him for their Messias , most iustly are they , in this first kinde , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a froward generation ; And so is any Nation vnder heauen , that followes them in the steps of their peeuish incredulity , more or lesse ; shutting their eyes vpon the glorious light of sauing Truth ; like that sullen Tree , in the Indies , which , they say , closes it selfe against the beames of the rising Sunne , and opens onely to the dampish shades of the night ; where wee must take this rule with vs ; a rule of most iust proportion ; that the meanes of light to any Nation aggrauate the haynousnesse , and damnablenesse of their vnbeleefe : The time of that ignorance God regarded not , but now : saith Saint Paul to the Athenians , Acts 17. If I had not comne , and spoken to them , they should haue had no sinne ; saith our Sauiour , Ioh. 15. 22. Those that walke in Cimmerian , in Egyptian darkenesse , it is neither shame , nor wonder , if they either erre , or stumble ; but , for a man to stumble the Sunne in the face , or to grope by the walles at noone in the midst of Goshen , is so much more hatefull , as the occecation is more willing . The later , which is the negatiue vntowardnesse in action , is , when any Nation failes palpably in those holy duties of Piety , Iustice , Charity , which the royall Law of their God requireth . Of this kinde are those vsuall complaints ; The feare of God is not before their eies . God looked to see if there were any that looked after God , and behold there was none ; The righteous is perished from the children of men ; Behold the teares of the oppressed , and none comforted them . The Prophets are full of these querulous notes ; there is not a page of them free ; yea hardly shall yee meet with one line of theirs , which doth not brand their Israel with this defect of holinesse . From the negatiue , cast your eyes vpon the positiue crookednesse , or vntowardnesse ; That is , in matter of faith , the maintenance of impiety , mis-beleefe , heresie , superstition , atheisme , and what euer other intellectuall wickednesse . In matter of fact , Idolatries , profane cariage , violation of Gods dayes and ordinances ; disobediences , murders , adulteries , thefts , drunkennesse , lyes , detractions , or any other actuall rebellion against God. Behold , I haue drawne forth before you an hellish rabble of sinnes , enow to marre a world ; what euer Nation now or succession of men abounds either in these sinfull omissions , or these haynous commissions ; whether in matter of iudgement , or manners , is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an vntoward generation ; That which makes a man crooked , or vntoward , makes a generation so ; for what is a generation , but a resultance of men ? their number doth not vary their condition . But let not our zeale ( as it oft doth ) make vs vncharitable ; when a whole generation is taxed for vntowardnesse , think not that none are free , No , not one , saith the Psalmist ; by way of seruent aggrauation ; All seeke their owne , saith the Apostle ; all , in comparison : but , neuer times were so ouer growne with iniquity , as that God hath not left himselfe some gracious remainders ; when the theeuish Chaldeans and Sabeans haue done their worst , there shall be a messenger , to say I am escaped ; Neuer was haruest or vintage so curiously inned , that some gleanings were not left in the field ; some clusters among the leaues : But these few , if they may giue a blessing to the times , yet they cannot giue a style ; the denomination still followes the greater ( though the worse ) part ; let these bee neuer so good ; the generation , is , and is noted for euill . Let me therefore here commend to your better thoughts these three emergent considerations : 1. The irreparable wrong , and reproach that lewd men bring vpon the very ages and nations where they liue . 2. The difference of times , and ages , in respect of the degrees of euill . 3. The warrant of the free censure of ill-deseruing times , or Nations . It were happy if the iniury of a wicked man could bee confiued to his owne bosome , that he only should fare the worse for his sins ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 &c. as the Greeke rule runnes ; If it were but selfe-do , selfe-haue , as the old word is ; But as his lewdness is ( like some odious sent ) diffused through the whole roome where he is ; so it reacheth to earth and heauen ; yea to the very times and generations , vpon which he is vnhappily falne . Doubtlesse there were many worthy Saints in these very times of Saint Peter ; there was the blessed mother of Christ , the paragon of sanctity ; there was a beauye of those deuout , and holy dames that attended the doctrine , bewayled the death , and would haue embalmed the corps of our blessed Sauiour ; there were the twelue Apostles ; the seventie Disciples ; the hundred and twenty names that were met in one roome at Ierusalem , Acts 1. 25. The ●iue hundred brethren that saw Christ after his glorious and victorious resurrection ; besides those many thousands , that beleeued , through their word , in all the parts of Iudea , and Galslee , yet , for all that , the Apostle brands this with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , an vntoward generation . It is not in the vertue of a few to drowne the wickednesse of the more ; If we come into a field that hath some good plenty of corne , and some store of weeds , though it be red with poppy , or yellow with ca●locke , or blew with wild bottles or scabious , we still call it a corne field ; but , if we come into a barne-floore , and see some few graines scattered amongst an heape of chaffe , we do not call it a corne-heape , the quantity of the offall deuoures the mention of those insensible graines : Thus it is with times , and nations ; A little good is not seene amongst much ill ; A righteous Lot cannot make his City to be no Sodom ; wickednesse as it helps to corrupt , so to shame a very age . The Orator Tertullus , when hee would plead against Paul , sayes , We haue ●ound this man ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) a pestilence● Act. 24. 5. Foolish Tertullus , ●hat mistooke the Antidote for the poyson , the remedy for the disease ▪ but had S. Paul beene such ●s thy mes-prison supposed 〈◊〉 he had beene such as thy vniust 〈◊〉 now makes thy sel●e , ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) the plague of thy people ▪ A 〈◊〉 he infects the world with sinne , the very age with infamy ; Malus vir malum publicum , is not a more old , then true word ; Are there then in any nation vnder heauen lewd miscreants , whose hearts are Atheists , whose tongues are blasphemers , whose bodies are ● stewes ; whose lips are nothing but a factory of close villany ; let them please themselues , and let others ( if ye will ) applaud them for their beneficiall contributions to the publike affaires , in the style of bonu● ciui● a good patriot ; as men whose parts may be vsefull to the w●●le-publike ; but , I say , such men are no better then the bane of their Country , the stayne of their age ; Turpis est pars quae suo toti ●on ●●n●e●it as G●rson well ; It is an ill member , for which all the body fares the worse : Heare this then , ye glorious sinners , that bragge of your good affections , and faithful services to your deare Country ; your hearts , your heads , your purses , your hands ( yee say ) are prest for the publike good ; yea , but are your hearts godlesse ? are your liues filthy ? let me tell you , your sinnes doe more disseruice to your nation , then your selues are worth : All your valor , wisedome , subsidiary helps cannot counterpoise one dramme of your wickednesse ; Talke what yee will ; sinne is a shame to any people , saith wise Salomon ; yee bring both a curse , and a dishonor vpon your Nation ; It may thank you for the hateful style of ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) a froward generation : This , for our first obseruation . Neuer generation was so straight , as not to be distorted with so me powerfull sinnes , but there are differences ; and degrees in this distortion ; euen in the very first world were Giants , as Moses tells vs Gen. 6. 4. which , as our Mythologists adde , did ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) bid battle to heauen . In the next , there were mighty hunters ; proud Babel-builders ; after them followed beastly Sodomites ; It were easie to draw downe the pedegree of euills through all times , till wee come to these last , which the holy Ghost markes out for perillous ; yet some generation is more eminently sinfull then other ; as the Sea is in perpetuall agitation , yet the Spring tydes rise higher then their fellowes ; hence Saint Peter notes this his generation with an emphasis of mischiefe ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) here is a transcendency of euill ; what age may compare with that , which hath embrued their cruell hands in the blood of the Sonne of God ? That roaring Lyon is neuer still , but there are times , wherein he rageth more , as he did and doth in the first , in the last dayes of the Gospel . The first , that he might blocke vp the way of sauing truth ; The last , for that hee knowes his time is short . There are times that are poysoned with more contagious heresies , with more remarkeable villanies , It is not my meaning to spēd time in abridging the sacred Chronologies of the Church , and to deduce along the cursed successions of damnable errours from their hellish originall ; onely let me touch at the notable difference betwixt the first , and the last world ; In the first ( as Epiphanius observes ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , there was neither diuersity of opinion , nor mention of heresie , nor act of idolatry , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : onely piety , and impiety diuided the world ; wheras now , in the last ( which is the wrangling and techy dotage of the decrepit world ) here is nothing but vnquiet clashings of opinion , nothing but foule heresie , either maintained by the guilty , or imputed to the innocent , nothing but grosse idolatry in paganisme , in mis-beleeuing Christianity ; and ( woe is me that I must say it ) a coloured impiety shares too much of the rest ; My speech is glided , ere I was aware , into the third head of our discourse ; and is suddenly falne vpon the practise of that , which S. Peters example here warrants , the censure of ill deseruing times : which I must craue leaue of your honorable & Christian patience , with an holy and iust freedome , to prosecute . It is the peeuish humour of a factious eloquence to aggrauate the euills of the times ; which , were they better then they are , would be therefore cryed down in the ordinary language of malecontented spirits , because present ; But , it is the warrantable , and necessary duty of S. Peter , and all his true Euangelicall successours , when they meet with a froward generation , to call it so . How commonly doe we cry out of those querulous Michaiahs , that are still prophesying euill to vs , and not good ? No theme but sinnes , no sawce but vineger : Might not one of these galled Iewes of S. Peters auditory haue started vp ; and haue thus challenged him for this tartnesse ; what meanes this hard censure ? why doe you slander the time ? Salomon was a wise man , and he sayes , Say not thou , what is the cause that the former dayes were better then these ? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this : this is but a needlesse rigor ; this is but an enuious calumny : The generation were not vntoward ; if your tongue were not vncharitable . The Apostle feares none of these currish oblatrations ; but contemning all impotent mis-acceptions , calls them what he findes them , A froward generation : And well might hee doe so ; his great Master did it before him , an euill and adulterous generation ; and the harbinger of that great Master fore-ranne him in that censure , O generation of Vipers , Mat. 3. 7. and the Prophets led the same way to him in euerie page . And why doenot we follow Peter in the same steppes wherein Peter followed Christ , and Christ his fore-runner , and his fore-runner the Prophets ? Who should tell the times of their sinnes , if wee be silent ? Pardon me , I beseech you , most noble , reuerend , and beloued hearers ; necessity is layd vpon me ; in this day of our publique mourning , I may not be as a man in whose mouth is no reproofes . Oh let vs bee thankfull for our blessings , wherein , through the mercy of God , we outstrip all the nations vnder heauen ; but withall , let vs bewaile our sinnes , which are so much more grieuous , because ours . Would to God it were no lesse vniust , then vnpleasing to complaine of this as an vntoward generation ; There be ●oure things that are wont both to make vp and euince the prauity of any generation ; ( woe is mee that they are too apparently met in this ) multitude of sinnes , magnitude of sinnes , boldnesse of sinne , impunity of sinning ; Take a short view of them all : you shall see that the multitude is such , as that it hath couered the earth ; the magnitude such , as hath reacht to heauen ; the boldnesse such as out-faceth the Gospel , the impunity such as frustrates the wholsome lawes vnder which we liue . For the multitude , where is the man that makes true conscience of any the Lawes of his God ? and if euery man violate all the lawes of God , what do all put together ? our forefathers sinnes were but as drops , ours are as torrents . Instance in some few ; Cannot we our selues remember , since a debaucht Drunkard was an Owle among birds , a beast of men , a monster of beasts ; abhorred of men , shouted at by children ? Is this sight now any newes to vs ? Is not euery Tauern a stye of such swine ? Is not euery street indented with their shamefull staggerings ? Is there not now as much spent in wanton smoake , as our honest forefathers spent in substantiall hospitality ? Cannot we remember , since oathes were so geason , and vncouth , that their sound startled the hearer , as amazed at the strange language of treason against the God of heauen ▪ now they fill euery mouth , and beat euery ea●e in a neglected familiarity ? What shold I tell you of the ouergrowne frequence of oppressions , extortions , iniurious and fraudulent transactions , malitious suites ; the neighbour walls of this famous adioyning Pallace can too amply witnesse this truth , whose roofe if ( as they say ) it will admit of no Spiders , I am sure , the floore of it yeelds venome enough ▪ to poyson a Kingdome : What should I tell you of the sensible declination to our once loathed superstitions ; of the common trade of contemptuous dis-obediences to lawfull authority , the scornefull vnderualuing of Gods messengers ; the ordinary neglect of his sacred ordinances ; what speake I of these and thousands more ? There are Arithmeticians that haue taken vpon them to count how many cornes of sand would make vp the bulke of heauen and earth ; but no Art can reckon vp the multitude of our prouoking sinnes . Neither doe they more exceed in number , then magnitude ; Can there be a greater sinne then Idolatry ? Is not this ( besides all the rest ) the sinne of the present Romish generation ? One of their owne confesses ( as he well may ) that were not the bread transubstantiate , their Idolatry were more grosse , then the heathenish ; loe , nothing excuses them but an impossible figment ▪ Know , O yee poore , ignorant seduced soules , that the bread can bee no more turned into God ; then God can be turned into bread , into nothing ; the very omnipotent power of God barres these impious contradictions . My heart trembles therfore and bleeds to thinke of your highest , your holiest devotions . Can there be a greater sinne then robbing of God ? This is done by our sacrilegious Patrons : Can there bee a greater sinne then tearing God out of heauen with our bloody and blasphemous oathes ; then the affamishing of soules by a wilfull , or lazie silence ; then rending in peeces the bowels of our deare Mother the Church , by our headstrong , and friuolous dissentions ; then furious murders ; then affronts of authority ? These , these are those huge mountaines which our Gyantlike presumption roles vpon each other , to war against heauen . Neither are the sinnes of men more great , then audacious ; yea it is their impudency that makes them hainous ; bashfull offences rise not to extremity of euill ; The sinnes of excesse as they are opera tenebrarum , so they had wont to bee night-workes , They that are drunken are drunke in the night , saith the Apostle ; now , they dare , with Absaloms beastlinesse , call the Sun to record : Saint Bernard tells vs of a Daemon meridianus , a noone-Deuill , out of the vulgar mis-translation of the 90. Psalme ; Surely , that ill spirit walkes about busily , and haunts the licentious conuersation of inordinate men . Vniust exactions of griping Officers had wont to c●eepe in vnder the modest cloke of voluntary curtesie , or faire considerations of a befriended expedition , now they come like Elies sonnes , Nay but , Thou shalt giue it me now , and , if not , I will take it by force , 1 Sam. 2. 16. The legall thefts of professed vsurers , and the crafty compacts of slie oppressors , dare throw downe the gantlet to iustice ; and insolent disobediences doe so to authority ; And when wee denounce the fearfull iudgements of God against all these abhominable wickednesses ; the obdured sinner dares ieere vs in the face , and ▪ in a worse sense aske the disciples question , Domine quando fient haec ; Master when shall these things be ? yea their selfe-flattering incredulity dare say to their soule , as Peter did to his Master , Fauor thy selfe , for these things shal not happen to thee . Neither , lastly , would sinne dare to be so impudent , if it were not for impunity ; it cannot bee but cowardly , where it sees cause of feare ; Euery hand is not to be layd vpon euill ; If an error should arise in the Church ; it is not for euery vnlearned tradesman to cast away his yard-wand , and take vp his pen ; Wherefore serue Vniuersities , if euery blew apron may at his pleasure turne Licenciate of Diuinity , and talke of Theologicall questions which hee vnderstands not , as if they were to bee measured by the elle . O times ! Lord whither will this presumption grow ? Deus , omen , &c. If folly , if villanie bee committed in our Israel , it is not for euery man to be an Officer ; Who made thee a Iudge ? was a good question , though ill asked . But I would to God wee had more cause to complaine of the presumption of them who meddle with what they should not , then the neglect of thē who meddle not with what they should ; Woe is me the flood-gates of euill are ( as it were ) lift open , and the full streame gusheth vpon vs ; Not that I would cast any aspersion vpon sacred soueraignty ; No , blessed bee God for his deare anointed ; of whom we may truly , and ioyfully say , that in imitation of him whom he represents , hee loues iustice , and hates iniquity ; It is the partiality or slacknesse of the subordinate inferiour executions that is guilty of this preualence of sinne ; what can the head do where the hands are wanting ? to what vse is the water deriued from the cesterne , into the pipes , if the cocke be not turned ? What auailes it that children are brought to the birth , if there want a midwifry to deliuer them ? Can there possibly be better Lawes , then have in our times beene enacted , against drunkennesse ? where , or when are they executed ? Can there bee a better Law made for the restraint of too too common oathes ? who vrges , who payes that iust mulct ? Can there be better lawes against wilfull Recusancy , against Symony , against Sacriledge ? how are they eluded by fraudulent euasions ? Against neglect of Diuine Seruice ; yet how are they sleighted ? against the lawlesse wandring of lazie vagabonds ; yet , how full are our streets , how empty our Correction-houses ? Lastly , ( for it were easie to be endlesse ) can there bee better lawes then are made ●or the punishment of fornications , adulteries , and all other fleshly inordinatenesses ? how doth bribery & corruption smother these offences , as if the sinnes of men serued onely to enrich couetous Officers ? Now , put all these together , the multitude , the magnitude , the boldnesse , the impunity of sinne , and tell me whether all these doe not make this of ours , generationem prauam , a froward generation ; So as wee may too wel take vp Esayes complaint , Ah sinfull nation , a people laden with iniquity , a seed of euill doers , children that are corrupters . Esa . 1. 4. Honorable & beloued , how should we be humbled vnder the hand of our God , in the sense of our many , great , bold and lawlesse sinnes ? What sackcloth , what ashes can be enough for vs ? Oh that our faces could bee couered with confusion ; that wee could rend our hearts , and not our garments ; Be afflicted , and mourne , and weepe , and thus Saue your selues from this froward generation . And so from St. Peters attestation to their wickednesse , wee descend to his obtestation of their redresse , Saue your selues . We must be so much shorter in the remedie , as we haue beene longer in the disease . The remedy is but of a short sound , but of a long extent , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . I vrge not the passiuenesse of this aduise ; that it is not , Saue your selues , but , Be ye saued : God is iealous of ascribing to vs any power vnto good ; we haue ability , we haue will enough to vndoe our selues ; scope enough to hell-ward ; neither motion nor will to good ; that must bee put into vs by him that giues both posse , & velle , & posse velle ; power to will , and will to do . This ( Sauing ) comprises in it three great duties , Repentance for our sinne ; Auoidance of sinners ; Reluctation to sin and sinners . Repentance . Perhaps , as St. Chrysostome , and Cyril think , some of these were the personall executioners of Christ ; If so , they were the worst of this generation ; and yet they may , they must saue themselues from this generation , by their vnfained repentance : Howsoeuer , they made vp no small peece of the euill times , and had need to bee saued from themselues , by their hearty contrition ; Surely those sinnes are not ours , whereof we haue truly repented ; The skin that is once washed is as cleane from soile , as if it had neuer beene foule ; Those legall washings , and rinsings shewed them what they must do to their soules , to their liues ; This remedie , as it is vniuersall , so it is perpetuall ; the warme waters of our teares , are the streames of Iordan to cure our Leprosie , the Siloam to cure our blindnesse , the poole of Bethesda to cure all our lamenesse , and defects of obedience ; Alas , there is none of vs but haue our share in the common sinnes ; The best of vs hath helpt to make vp the frowardnesse of our generation ; Oh that we could vn-sin our selues by our seasonable repentance ; Cleanse your hands ye sinners , and purge your hearts yee double minded . Auoydance is the next ; Auoidance of all vnlawfull participation ; There is a participation naturall , as to liue in the same ayre , to dwell in the same earth , to eat of the same meat ; this we cannot auoid , vnlesse wee would goe out of the world , as St. Paul tells his Corinthes . There is a ciuill participation , in matter of commerce , and humane necessary conuersation ; This we need not auoid with lewes , Turkes , Infidels , Heretickes . There is a spirituall participation in morall things , whether good , or euill : In these lyes this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; and yet , not vniuersally neither ; wee are not tied to auoid the seruices of God , and holy duties for the commixture of leud men , as the foolish Separatists haue fancied ; it is participation in euill that wee are here charged to auoid ; although also intirenesse , euen in ciuill conuersation , is not allowed vs with notoriously wicked and infectious persons ; The Israelites must hye them from the Tents of Corah ; and , Come out of her my people . Chiefly , they are the sins from which wee must saue our selues , not the men ; if , not rather , from the men for the sinnes ; Haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darknesse , saith St. Paul , Ephes . 5. 12. commenting vpon this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of St. Peter . There is nothing more ordinarie with our Casuists , then the nine wayes of participation , which Aquinas , and the Schooles following him haue shut vp in two homely verses , Iussio , consilium , &c. The summe is , that we doe not saue our selues from euill , if either we command it , or counsell it , or consent to it , or sooth it , or further it , or share in it , or disswade it not , or resist it not , or reueale it not ; Here would be worke enough ( you see ) to hold our preaching vnto St. Pauls houre , midnight ; but I spare you , and would be loath to haue any Eutychus : Shortly , if we would saue our selues from the sin of the time , wee may not command it , as Iezebel did to the Elders of Iesreel ; we may not aduise it , as Ionadab did to Amnon ; wee may not consent to it , as Bathsheba did to Dauid ; wee may not sooth it , as Zidkijah did to Ahab ; wee may not further it , as Ioab did to Dauid ; we may not share in it , as Achitophel did to Absalom ; we may not forbeare to disswade it , as Hira● the Adullamite to Iudah ; to resist it , as partiall Magistrates ; to reueale it , as trecherous confessaries . But , of all these , ( that we may single out our last and vtmost remedy ) here must bee a zealous reluctation to euill ; All those other negatiue cariages of not commanding , not counselling , not consenting , not soothing , not abetting , not sharing , are nothing without a reall oppugnation of sinne . Would we then thoroughly quit our selues of our froward generation ? wee must set our faces against it to discountenance it ; wee must set our tongues against it , to controule it ; wee must set our hands against it , to oppose it ; It goes ●arr● that of the Apostle , Yee haue not yet resisted vnto blood striuing against sinne , Heb. 12. 4. Loe here is a truely heroicall exercise for you great Ones ; to striue against sinne , not ad sudorem only , as Physicians prescribe , but ad sanguinem ; Ye cannot better bestow your selues then ( in a loyall assistance of sacred authority ) vpon the debellation of the outragious wickednesse of the times . These are the Dragons , and Gyants , and Monsters , the vanquishing wherof hath moralized the Histories of your famous Progenitors . Oh do yee consecrate your hands , and your hearts to God in beating down the headstrong powers of euill ; and as by repentance , and auoydance , so , by reluctation , S●ue your selues from this vntoward generation . Now , what need I waste the time in dehorting your Noble and Christian ingenuity from participation of the Epidemicall sinnes of a froward generation ? It is enough motiue to you , that sinne is a base , sordid , dishonourable thing ; but , withall , let me adde only one dissuasiue from the danger , implyed in the very word Saue ; for how are wee saued but from a danger ? The danger both of corruption , and confusion . Corruption ; ye see before your eies that one yawning mouth makes many ; This pitch will defile vs ; One rotten kernell of the Pomegranate infects the fellowes ; Saint Paul made that verse of the heathen Poet , Canonicall , Euill conuersation corrupts good manners ; What wofull experience haue we , euerie day , of those , who by this meanes from a vigorous heat of zeale , haue declined to a temper of lukewarme indifferencie and then , ●rom a carelesse mediocrity , to all extremity of debauchednesse ; and of hopfull beginners , haue ended in incarna●e deuills ? Oh the dangerous , and insensible insinuations of sinne ; If that crafty tempter can hereby worke vs but to one dram of lesse detestation to a familiarly inured euill , hee promiseth himselfe the victorie ; It is well noted by Saint Ambrose , of that chast Patriarch Ioseph , that , so soone as euer his wanton Mistresse had laid her impure hand vpon his cloake , he leaues it behinde him , that he might bee sure to auoyd the danger of her contagious touch ; If the Spouse of Christ bee a Lilly among thornes ; ( by the mighty protection of her omnipotent husband ) yet take thou heed , how thou walkest amōgst those thornes , for that Lilly : Shortly ▪ wouldest thou not bee tainted with wickednesse , abhorre the pestilent societie of leud men ; and by a seasonable subduction , thus , Saue thy selfe from a froward generation . The last and vtmost of all dangers is confusion ; That charge of God by Moses is but iust , Numb . 16. 18. Depart , I pray you , from the tents of these men , and touch nothing of theirs , lest ye perish in all their sinnes ; Lo , the very station , the very touch is mortall . Indeed , what reason is there to hope or to plead for an immunity ; If wee share in the worke , why should wee not take part of the wages ? The wages of sinne is death ; If the storke be taken damage faisant with the Cranes , shee is inwrapped in the same net , and can not complaine to bee surprized . Qui cum lupis est , cum lupis vlulet , as he said ; Hee that is with wolues , let him howle with wolues : If we bee fratres in malo , brethen in euill , we must looke to bee inuolued in the same curse ; bee not deceiued ; honorable and beloued , here is no exemption of greatness ; nay , contrarily , eminence of place aggrauates both the sinne , and the iudgement ; when Ezra heard that the hand of the Princes and Rulers had beene chiefe in that great offence , then he rent his cloathes , and tore his haire , Ezra 9. 3. Certainly this case is dangerous and fearfull , whersoeuer it lights ; Hardly are those sinnes redressed that are taken vp by the great ; Easily are those sins diffused , that are warranted by great examples : The great lights of heauen , the most conspicuous Planets , if they be eclipsed , all the Almanacks of all Nations write of it ; whereas the small Starres of the Galaxy are not heeded ; All the Country runs to a Beacon on fire , no body regards to see a shrub flaming in a valley ; Know then , that your sins are so much greater , as your selues are ; and , all the comfort that I can giue you with out your true repentance , is , That mighty men shall bee mightily tormented ; Of all other men therefore be ye most carefull to keepe your selues vntainted with the common sins ; and to renew your couenant with God ; No man cares for a spot vpon a plaine , russet , riding suit ; but we are curious of a rich robe , euery mote there is an eye-sore ; Oh , bee yee carefull to preserue your honour from all the foule blemishes of corruption ; as those that know vertue hath a greater share in nobilitie , then blood ; Imitate in this , the great frame of the Creation , which still , the more it is remoued from the dregs of this earth , the purer it is ; Oh saue yee your selues from this vntoward generation , so shall yee helpe to saue your nation from the imminent iudgements of our iust God ▪ so shall ye saue your soules in the day of the appearance of our Lord Iesus Christ ; to whom with the Father , and the holy Ghost , one infinite God , be all honour , and glory ascribed , now , and for euer . FINIS .