A01379:33
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
THE SINNERS MOURNING HABIT. › I repent.THE SINNERS MOVRNING HABITE. › I repent.
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.
It is not many years, more incitations, and abundance of means, that can work it: but Repentance is the fair gift of God. One would think it a short Lesson; yet Israel was forty years a learning it; and they not sooner got it, but presently forgot it.1 Reu. 16. We read of men plagued with heat, and pains, and sores; yet they repented not. Judas could have a broken neck, not a broken heart. There is no such inducement to sin, as the presumption of ready Repentance: as if God had no special riches of his own; but every sinner might command them at his pleasure. The King hath Earth of his own, he lets his subjects walk upon it: he hath a Sea, lets them sail on it: his Land yields fruit, let them eat it: his fountains water, let them drink it. But the moneys in his Exchequer, the garments in his Wardrobe, the Jewels in his Jewel-house, none may meddle with, but they to whom he disposeth them. Gods common blessings are not denied:2 his Sun shines, his rain falls, on the righteous and unrighteous. But the treasures of heaven, the robes of glory, the Jewels of Grace and Repentance; these he keeps in his own hands; and gives, not where he may, but where he will. Mans heart is like a door with a Spring lock: pull the door after you, it locks of it self; but you cannot open it again without a key. Mans heart doth naturally lock our grace;3 none but he that hath the ⟨p. 15⟩Key of the house of David, can open the door, and put it in. God hath made a promise To Repentance, not Of Repentance: we may trust to that promise, but there is no trusting to our selves. Nature flatters it self with that singular instance of mercy; one malefactor on the cross repenting at his last hour. But such hath been Satan's policy, to draw evil out of good, that the calling and saving of that one soul, hath bin the occasion of the loss of many thousands.
It is not many yeares, more incitations, and abundance of meanes, that can worke it: but Repentance is the faire gift of God. One would thinke it a short Lesson; yet Israel was fortie yeares a learning it; and they not sooner got it, but presently forgot it.