A01379:120
Five sermons preached upon sundry especial occasions Viz. 1 The sinners mourning habitFiue sermons preached vpon sundry especiall occasions Viz. 1 The sinners mourning habit
Five sermons preached upon sundry especial occasions Viz. 1 The sinners mourning habit: in Whitehall, March 29. being the first Tuesday after the departure of King James into blessedness. 2 A visitation sermon: in Christs Church, at the triennial visitation of the right reverend father in God the lord bishop of London. 3 The holy choice: in the chapel by Guildhall, at the solemn election of the right honourable the lord major of London. 4 The barren tree: at Pauls-Cross, Octob. 26. 5 The temple: at Pauls-Cross. August 5. By Tho: Adams.Fiue sermons preached vpon sundry especiall occasions Viz. 1 The sinners mourning habit: in Whitehall, March 29. being the first Tuesday after the departure of King Iames into blessednesse. 2 A visitation sermon: in Christs Church, at the trienniall visitation of the right reuerend father in God the lord bishop of London. 3 The holy choice: in the chappell by Guildhall, at the solemne election of the right honorable the lord maior of London. 4 The barren tree: at Pauls-Crosse, Octob. 26. 5 The temple: at Pauls-Crosse. August 5. By Tho: Adams.
London: printed by Aug. Matthewes and John Norton for John Grismand, 1626London: printed by Aug. Matthewes and John Norton for Iohn Grismand, 1626
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Samuel being sent to anoint a son of Jesse, when Eliab, the eldest came forth, a man of a goodly presence, fit for his person to succeed Saul; he thinks with himself, This choice is soon made, sure this is the head upon which I must spend my holy Oil. The privilege of Nature and of Stature, his primogeniture and proportion gives it him; This is he. But even the holyest Prophet, when he speaks without God, runs into error. Signs and appearances are the guides of our eyes; and these are seldom without a true falsehood, or an uncertain truth. Saul had a goodly person, but a bad heart: he ⟨p. 61⟩was higher then all, many were better then he. It is not hard for the best Judgement to err in the shape. Philox•menes, a magnanimous and valiant Soldier, being invited to Magyas his house to dinner, came in due season, but found not his Host at home. A servant seeing one so plain in clothes, and somewhat deformed in body, thought him some sorry fellow, and set him to cleave wood. Whereat Magyas (being returned) wondering, he received from him this answer; Expendo poenas deformitatis meae; I pay for my unhandsomeness. All is not valour, that looks big, and goes brave. He that judgeth by the inside, checked Samuel for his misconceit;1 Look not on his Countenance or Stature, for I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth. Davids countenance was ingenuous and beautiful, but had it promised so much as Eliab's or Abinadab's, he had not been left in the field, while his Brethren sate at the table. Jesse could find nothing in David worthy the competition of honour with his brethren: God could find something to prefer him before them all. His father thought him fit to keep sheep, thought his Brethren fit to rule men. God thinks him fit to rule, and his Brethren to serve; and by his own immediate choice destines him to the Throne. Here was all the difference; Samuel and Jesse went by the outside, God by the inside: they saw the composition of the body, he the disposition of the mind. Israel desires a King of God, and that ⟨p. 62⟩King was chosen by the Head: God will choose a King for Israel, and that King is chosen by the Heart. If in our choice for God, or for our selves, we altogether follow the eye, and suffer our thoughts to be guided by outward respects, we shall be deceived.