Secondly, we must bewail the sins of all the world, in the transgression1 of Gods law, whereby God is dishonoured, and his kingdom hindered, and the kingdom of darkness furthered: 2. Pet. 2. 7, 8. Just Lot vexed his righteous soul with the unclean conversation of the wicked of his time. 1. King. 19. 10. When Elijah saw the children of Israel forsake Gods covenant, break down his altars, and slay his Prophets with the sword, then he became very zealous for the Lord of hosts. Psal. 119. 136. Mine eyes (saith David) gush out with rivers of water, because they keep not thy Law. Vers. 139. My zeal hath even consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy law. Mark. 3. 5. Christ mourned for the hardness of the hearts of the people. and Luke 19. 41, 42. He wept over Jerusalem, for that they knew not the day of their visitation. Now look how these were affected with the reigning sins of their times, so must we also mourn for their sins that reign among us; as Atheism, and profaneness, contempt of Gods word, blasphemy, sabaoth breaking, oppression, cruelty, and pride: all good subjects are grieved much when they see foreign enemies display among them ⟨p. 271⟩banners of victory; how much more then ought the godly to grieve, when they see impiety practised with an high hand, which is as it were a flag of defiance in the kingdom of Christ, and a special ensign of Satan's triumphing in the increase of his kingdom of darkness? When the devil sees one that hath lived in sin, but cast a look toward the kingdom of Christ, he rageth greatly, and labours by all means to turn him back: and when we see those that have made profession of religion, return again to the lusts of their former ignorance, O it should grieve our souls, and cause us to pray, thy kingdom come. Do we perceive the Turk, or Pope, or any instrument of Satan, either by subtlety or tyranny, to hinder the Gospel preached, which is the sceptre of Christs kingdom, and the aim of God, whereby he pulls men from the kingdom of darkness? O then we should mourn! Or do we see the want of Gods ordinance in preaching, sacraments, and discipline, which serve for the furtherance of Christs kingdom; or the Lords people committed to ignorant or idle Ministers, to scandalous teachers, either for life or doctrine?
Secondly, wee must bewaile the sinnes of all the world, in the transgression1 of Gods law, whereby God is dishonoured, and his kingdome hindered, and the kingdome of darkenesse furthered: 2. Pet. 2. 7, 8. Iust Lot vexed his righteous soule with the vncleane conuersation of the wicked of his time. 1. King. 19. 10. When Elias saw the children of Israel forsake Gods couenant, breake downe his altars, and slay his Prophets with the sword, then he became very zealous for the Lord of hosts. Psal. 119. 136. Mine eies (saith Dauid) gush out with riuers of water, because they keepe not thy Law. Vers. 139. My zeale hath euen consumed me, because mine enemies haue forgotten thy law. Mark. 3. 5. Christ mourned for the hardnesse of the hearts of the people. and Luke 19. 41, 42. Hee wept ouer Ierusalem, for that they knew not the day of their visitation. Now looke how these were affected with the raigning sinnes of their times, so must we also mourne for their sinnes that raigne among vs; as Atheisine, and profanenesse, contempt of Gods word, blasphemie, sabbaoth breaking, oppression, crueltie, and pride: all good subiects are grieued much when they see forraine enemies displaie among them ⟨p. 271⟩banners of victorie; how much more then ought the godly to grieue, when they see impietie practised with an high hand, which is as it were a flagge of defiance in the kingdome of Christ, and a speciall ensigne of Satans triumphing in the increase of his kingdome of darkenes? When the deuil sees one that hath liued in sinne, but cast a looke toward the kingdome of Christ, hee rageth greatly, and labours by all meanes to turne him backe: and when we see those that haue made profession of religion, returne againe to the lusts of their former ignorance, O it should grieue our soules, and cause vs to pray, thy kingdome come. Doe we perceiue the Turke, or Pope, or any instrument of Satan, either by subtiltie or tyrannie, to hinder the Gospel preached, which is the scepter of Christs kingdome, and the aime of God, whereby hee puls men from the kingdome of darkenesse? O then we should mourne! Or doe we see the want of Gods ordinance in preaching, sacraments, and discipline, which serue for the furtherance of Christs kingdome; or the Lords people committed to ignorant or idle Ministers, to scandalous teachers, either for life or doctrine?
- 1Bewail the sins of the world.Bewaile the sinnes of the world.
