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Mr. Bolton's last and learned work of the four last things death, judgement, hell,…Mr. Boltons last and learned worke of the foure last things death, iudgement, hell,…

Mr. Bolton's last and learned work of the four last things death, judgement, hell, and heaven. With an assizes-sermon, and notes on Justice Nicolls his funeral. Together with the life and death of the author. Published by E.B.Mr. Boltons last and learned worke of the foure last things death, iudgement, hell, and heauen. With an assises-sermon, and notes on Iustice Nicolls his funerall. Together with the life and death of the authour. Published by E.B.

Robert Bolton 1572–1631London: printed by George Miller, 1632

[56], 264, p. : port. · 73k words · STC 3242 · ESTC S106786

Title page of another 1632 printing: Internet Archive scan of the Early English Books microfilm (opens the Internet Archive in a new tab)

Mr. BOLTONS FOUR LAST THINGS: DEATH, JUDGEMENT, HELL, HEAVEN. › A SERMON PREACHED AT LENT ASSISES, Anno Domini, MDCXXX. At Northham…: A SERMON PREACHED AT LENT ASSISES, Anno Domini, MDCXXX. At Northampton before SIR RICH…Mr. BOLTONS FOVRE LAST THINGS: DEATH, IVDGEMENT, HELL, HEAVEN. › A SERMON PREACHED AT LENT ASSISES, Anno Domini, MDCXXX. At Northham…: A SERMON PREACHED AT LENT ASSISES, Anno Domini, MDCXXX. At Northhampton before SIR RICH…

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.

[ Earlier:340–355 of 456

:340p. 189–190

Thirdly, those that are versed in story, shall find many and many a time this property put upon¹ men in high place; to be thrown into the grave, or from their greatness, is both one to them. For ⟨p. 190⟩first, they so delight in domineering, and dote upon their high room as their dearest Idol: And withal they know full well, that as in natural privation there is no return to habit, so it is very rarely seen in the privation politic, and point of preferment; that they would even rather die, than be dejected.

Thirdly, those that are verst in story, shall find many and many a time this property put upon¹ men in high place; to be throwne into the grave, or from their greatnesse, is both one to them. For ⟨p. 190⟩first, they so delight in domineering, and dote upon their high roome as their dearest Idoll: And withall they know full well, that as in naturall privation there is no returne to habit, so it is very rarely seene in the privation politique, and point of preferment; that they would even rather die, than be dejected.

1Mallent cadere quàm loco cedar.Mallent cadere quàm loco cedere.

:341p. 190

Lay now these two points together: and count all the snares from which poorer and private men by reason of their meaner condition are happily exempted: And no marvel though not many mighty, either in heaps of wealth, or height of places, be converted, or go to heaven.

Lay now these two points together: and count all the snares from which poorer and private men by reason of their meaner condition are happily exempted: And no marvell though not many mighty, either in heapes of wealth, or height of places, be converted, or go to heaven.

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Cited: :343
On this page: :340–355
Section: :315–455
Whole work: 456 passages

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Robert Bolton, Mr. Boltons last and learned worke of the foure last things death, iudgement, hell,… (London, 1632), p. 191. EEBO-TCP A16333.

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The book

Title as printed: Mr. Bolton's last and learned work of the four last things death, judgement, hell, and heaven. With an assizes-sermon, and notes on Justice Nicolls his funeral. Together with the life and death of the author. Published by E.B.Mr. Boltons last and learned worke of the foure last things death, iudgement, hell, and heauen. With an assises-sermon, and notes on Iustice Nicolls his funerall. Together with the life and death of the authour. Published by E.B.
Author: Robert Bolton 1572–1631
Place: London
Printer: George Miller
Year: 1632
Size: [56], 264, p. : port.
Words: 73,222
Catalogue: STC 3242 · ESTC S106786
Text: EEBO-TCP A16333

Passages: 456
Sections: 13

The author

Robert Bolton 1572–1631

PuritansEngland

Rector of Broughton, Northamptonshire.

:342p. 190–191

In the fourth place: what a strong hold for the powers of hell, and mighty bar to keep out grace, worldly wisdom is; may appear by taking notice of the nature of it, and so of its notoriously pestilent properties. This wisdom of the flesh springing from the principles of carnal reason, and precepts of humane policy, and receiving continual influence and instigation from that old wily serpent to go on still in his and the worlds ways, doth with a proud disdainfulness and imperious contempt scorn the great mysteries of godliness, foolishness of preaching, simplicity of the Saints, and society of the brotherhood: crosseth directly, and contradicts the counsel and commands of GODS Spirit, in all motions to good, and matters of salvation: accounts in good earnest holiness hypocrisy, sanctification singularity, profession and practice of sincerity preciseness, the great things of GODS Law as a strange ⟨p. 191⟩thing: In all its consultations concludes ever things pleasing to flesh and blood; and ends at last with extremest folly and utter confusion. Witness Ahithophel, who was wise enough to set his house in order, and yet wanted wit to rescue his own life out of his own hands: he was curious to provide for his family after his death, and had no care at all to preserve himself from eternal death: was not this a madness even to miracle, ¹as Divines speak? He got him home to his house, put his household in order, and hanged² himself; and is hanged up in chains as a dreadful spectacle to all posterity, for all worldly-wise men to take warning by to the worlds end.

In the fourth place: what a strong hold for the powers of hell, and mighty barre to keepe out grace, worldly wisdome is; may appeare by taking notice of the nature of it, and so of its notoriously pestilent properties. This wisdome of the flesh springing from the principles of carnall reason, and precepts of humane policie, and receiving continuall influence and instigation from that old wily serpent to go on still in his and the worlds waies, doth with a proud disdainfulnesse and imperious contempt scorne the great mysteries of godlinesse, foolishnesse of preaching, simplicity of the Saints, and society of the brotherhood: crosseth directly, and contradicts the counsell and commands of GODS Spirit, in all motions to good, and matters of salvation: accounts in good earnest holinesse hypocrisie, sanctification singularity, profession and practice of sincerity precisenesse, the great things of GODS Law as a strange ⟨p. 191⟩thing: In all its consultations concludes ever things pleasing to flesh and bloud; and ends at last with extremest folly and utter confusion. Witnesse Achitophel, who was wise enough to set his house in order, and yet wanted wit to rescue his owne life out of his owne hands: he was curious to provide for his family after his death, and had no care at all to preserve himselfe from eternall death: was not this a madnesse even to miracle, ¹as Divines speake? He got him home to his house, put his houshold in order, and hanged² himselfe; and is hanged up in chaines as a dreadfull spectacle to all posterity, for all worldly-wise men to take warning by to the worlds end.

1Amentia usquè ad prodigium.
22 Sam. 17. 23.

:345p. 192

Since that time what furious martyring of the Saints, what horrible murdering of Kings, what bloody massacres, what invincible Armadoes, what hellish powder-plots, what devouring of Martyrs, by that blood-thirsty monster the Spanish Inquisition, what hateful imprisonings, what desperate conspiracies, what a deal of hell hath vexed and rent the face of Europe, and shaken the pillars of this part of the world: as though all the fiends in hell, and whole armies of those damned spirits were broke loose, to cast the Christian world into a new Chaos of darkness, combustion and confusion. And all this hath been the Devils doings of pure spite and malice against the light of the Gospel, and power of the Word. The Pope, Jesuits, and their wicked adherents have been indeed the instruments and executioners of all these bloody miseries, but Satan himself was the principal agent. The cursed influence of all this wrath and rage was inspired from him, and every particular and circumstance of all these mischiefs was first plotted in hell, before they were acted upon earth.

Since that time what furious martyring of the Saints, what horrible murthering of Kings, what bloudy massacres, what invincible Armadoes, what hellish powder-plots, what devouring of Martyrs, by that bloud-thirsty monster the Spanish Inquisition, what hatefull imprisonings, what desperate conspiracies, what a deale of hell hath vext and rent the face of Europe, and shaken the pillars of this part of the world: as though all the fiends in hell, and whole armies of those damned spirits were broke loose, to cast the Christian world into a new Chaos of darknesse, combustion and confusion. And all this hath beene the Devils doings of pure spite and malice against the light of the Gospell, and power of the Word. The Pope, Iesuites, and their wicked adherents have beene indeed the instruments and executioners of all these bloudy miseries, but Satan himselfe was the principall agent. The cursed influence of all this wrath and rage was inspir'd from him, and every particular and circumstance of all these mischiefes was first plotted in hell, before they were acted upon earth.

:346p. 192–193

2. In our own kingdom also his spite and malice against the light of the Gospel hath been notorious and transcendent since the Word of ⟨p. 193⟩truth hath grown powerful amongst us. With what strange fury and malice hath Satan bestirred himself? What a deal of dear and innocent blood did that red Dragon drink up in Queen Mary's time? For five years space the fire of persecution did flame in this land, and the sacred bodies of our glorious blessed Martyrs were sacrificed amidst the merciless fury thereof: Afterward what a black and bloody catalogue of most hateful and prodigious conspiracies did run parallel with that golden time of Queen ELIZABETHS life, that (now) glorious Saint of dearest memory? But in all this hellish rage the Devil never played the Devil indeed, until he came to the gun-powder-plot; that was such a piece of service against the light of the Gospel, as the Sun never saw before; the sons of men never heard of, hell it self never hatched. Since Satan fell from heaven, and a Church was first planted upon y• earth, there was never any thing in that kind which made the Devils Malice more famous, GODS mercies more glorious, that Priest of Rome and his bloody superstition more odious; or that cast such a shame and obloquy upon the innocency of Christian Religion. And all this was the Devils doing of pure spite and malice against the glory of the Gospel, the power of the Word, and the Saints of GOD. I say he was the arch plotter and first mover of all these mischiefs. The Pope, and Jesuits, and their cursed confederates were indeed his instruments, executioners and agents, as we well know, and some of the Priests themselves confess. See Quodl. 7. Act. 8. pag. 199.

2. In our owne kingdome also his spite and malice against the light of the Gospell hath beene notorious and transcendent since the Word of ⟨p. 193⟩truth hath growne powerfull amongst us. With what strange fury and malice hath Satan bestirred himselfe? What a deale of deare and innocent bloud did that red Dragon drinke up in Queene Maries time? For five yeares space the fire of persecution did flame in this land, and the sacred bodies of our glorious blessed Martyrs were sacrificed amids the mercilesse fury thereof: Afterward what a blacke and bloudy catalogue of most hatefull and prodigious conspiracies did run parallell with that golden time of Queene ELIZABETHS life, that (now) glorious Saint of dearest memory? But in all this hellish rage the Devill never played the Devill indeed, untill he came to the gun-powder-plot; that was such a piece of service against the light of ye Gospell, as the Sun never saw before; the sons of men never heard of, hel it self never hatcht. Since Satan fel from heaven, and a Church was first planted upon y• earth, there was never any thing in that kind which made the Devils Malice more famous, GODS mercies more glorious, that Priest of Rome and his bloudy superstition more odious; or that cast such a shame and obloquy upon the innocency of Christian Religion. And all this was the Devils doing of pure spite and malice against the glory of the Gospell, the power of the Word, and the Saints of GOD. I say he was the archplotter and first moover of all these mischiefes. The Pope, and Iesuites, and their cursed confederates were indeed his instruments, executioners and agents, as we well know, and some of the Priests themselves confesse. See Quodl. 7. Act. 8. pag. 199.

:347p. 194

Scarce was that blessed Queen and incomparable Lady warm in her Princely Throne; but Satan sets on the Pope Pius Quintus, he sends from Rome two Popish Priests, Morton and Web with a Bull of excommunication; whereby the subjects and people of the Kingdom were in a Popish sense discharged and assoiled from their allegiance, loyalty and obedience to her Majesty. They solicit the two traitorous Earls of the North, Northumberland and Westmorland, to be the executioners of this bloody Bull, which indeed was the fountain and foundation of all the succeeding horrible plots and barbarous treacheries. See Bells Anatomy of Popish tyranny, in his Epist. Dedic. a little book called The executioner of justice in England, &c. I pray GOD now at length turn these Popish murderous hearts from whetting any moe swords to shed the blood of the LORDS anointed: or return the sharp swords from the point with a cutting edge on both sides, even up to the very hilts into their own hearts blood. O LORD, let the King flourish with a crown of glory upon his head, and a Sceptre of triumph in his hand, and still wash his Princely feet in the blood of his enemies.

Scarce was that blessed Queene and incomparable Lady warme in her Princely Throne; but Satan sets on the Pope Pius Quintus, he sends from Rome two Popish Priests, Morton and Webbe with a Bull of excommunication; whereby the subjects and people of the Kingdome were in a Popish sense discharg'd and assoil'd from their allegiance, loyaltie and obedience to her Majestie. They sollicit the two traiterous Earles of the North, Northumberland and Westmerland, to be the executioners of this bloudy Bull, which indeed was the fountaine and foundation of all the succeeding horrible plots and barbarous treacheries. See Bells Anatomy of Popish tyrannie, in his Epist. Dedic. a little booke called The executioner of justice in England, &c. I pray GOD now at length turne these Popish murderous hearts from whetting any moe swords to shed the bloud of the LORDS annointed: or returne the sharpe swords from the point with a cutting edge on both sides, even up to the very hilts into their owne hearts bloud. O LORD, let the King flourish with a crowne of glory upon his head, and a Scepter of triumph in his hand, and still wash his Princely feet in the bloud of his enemies.

:348p. 194–196

3. This spiteful rage and furious opposition of Satan against the power of the word, appears also by daily experience in those towns & parishes; where by the mercies of GOD, a conscionable Ministry is planted; before, while Satan ruled and reigned amongst them, by his wicked deputies, ignorance, profaneness, Popish superstitions, sinful vanities, ⟨p. 195⟩lewd sports, profanation of the Sabbath, filthiness, drunkenness, and such other accursed Pursuivants for Hell: Why then all was well, all was in quiet and in peace. O then that was a merry world, and as good a Town for good-fellowship, as was in all the Country. And no marvel: when a strong armed man keepeth his Palace, the things that he possesseth are in peace. Luke 11. 21. While Satan sits in their hearts, and rules in their Consciences; he suffers them to have their swings in their furious vanities and wicked pleasures, without any great disturbance or contradiction. And commonly he never sets profane people together by the ears and at odds, but when his own kingdom may be more strengthened, and their souls more endangered by dissension, than by their partaking in profaneness, and brotherhood in iniquity. Let it not seem strange then, when towns and parishes where conscionable means are wanting, live merrily and pleasantly; for, they walk together in the knot of good-fellowship, through the broad way, they follow the course of their own corruptions, and swing of their corrupt affection, and swim down the current of the times, and are at Satan's beck to do him any desperate and notorious service at all assays, in all passages of profaneness, and offices of impiety and rebellion: but bring amongst such a powerful Ministry, which takes a right course for the plantation of grace, and salvation of their souls: and then mark how spitefully and furiously Satan begins to bestir himself; besides ⟨p. 196⟩his own malice and machinations, he presently sets on foot and on fire too all that belong unto him in his instigation. They band and combine themselves with great rage and indignation against the power of the Word, and the faithful messengers of GOD. They fret, and fume, pick unnecessary quarrels, rail, slander, and indeed foam out filthily their own shame, in disgracing the truth of GOD without all truth or conscience:

3. This spitefull rage and furious oposition of Satan against the power of the word, appears also by daily experience in those towns & parishes; where by the mercies of GOD, a conscionable Ministry is planted; before, while Satan ruled and raigned amongst them, by his wicked deputies, ignorance, prophanenes, Popish superstitions, sinful vanities, ⟨p. 195⟩lewd sports, prophanation of the Saboth, filthines, drunkennes, and such other accursed Pursevants for Hell: Why then all was well, all was in quiet and in peace. O then that was a merry world, and as good a Towne for good-fellowship, as was in all the Country. And no marvaile: when a strong armed man keepeth his Pallace, the things that he possesseth are in peace. Luke 11. 21. While Sathan sits in their hearts, and rules in their Consciences; he suffers them to have their swings in their furious vanities and wicked pleasures, without any great disturbance or contradiction. And commonly he never sets prophane people together by the eares and at odds, but when his owne kingdome may be more strengthened, and their soules more endanger'd by dissention, than by their partaking in prophanenesse, and brotherhood in iniquity. Let it not seeme strange then, when townes and parishes where conscionable meanes are wanting, live merrily and pleasantly; for, they walke together in the knot of good-fellowship, through the broad way, they follow the course of their owne corruptions, and swing of their corrupt affection, and swim downe the current of the times, and are at Satans beck to do him any desperate and notorious service at all assaies, in all passages of prophanenesse, and offices of impiety and rebellion: but bring amongst such a powerfull Ministerie, which takes a right course for the plantation of grace, and salvation of their soules: and then marke how spitefully and furiously Satan begins to bestirre himselfe; besides ⟨p. 196⟩his owne malice and machinations, he presently sets on foot and on fire too all that belong unto him in his instigation. They band and combine themselves with great rage and indignation against the power of the Word, and the faithfull messengers of GOD. They fret, and fume, picke unnecessary quarrels, raile, slander, and indeed foame out filthily their owne shame, in disgracing the truth of GOD without all truth or conscience:

:349p. 196–197

and il Satan spies any poor soul amongst them to be pulled out of his clutches and kingdom of darkness by the preaching of the Word, he presently sets all the rest upon him as so many dogged curs, or rather furious wolves (for so our blessed Saviour makes the comparison) upon a harmless lamb; he whets (like sharp razors) all the lying and lewd tongues in the town, and tips them with the very fire of hell; so that they plead for profaneness, profaning the Sabbath, and many sinful fooleries and vanities in all places where they come. He makes those who have a little more wit, his close factors and under-hand-dealers: for that stands not with Satan's policy, and the reputation of the worldly-wise, that themselves should be open actors in childish vanities, and professed enemies to the Law of GOD: they do him sufficient service by being secret patrons and protectors of impiety, counsellors and countenancers of the works of darkness: he fills the mouths of the ignorant with slanderous complaints and cries, that there was never good world since there was so much knowledge: that there ⟨p. 197⟩was never more preaching, but never less working: whereas (poor souls) they never yet knew what grace or good work meant, or scarce good word: but their naughty tongues, and hatred to be reformed, are true causes why both the world and places where they live, are far worse. Those that are desperately and notoriously naught, he enforces and enrages like mad dogs; so that they impudently and openly bark at, and with their impoysoned fangs furiously snatch at that hurtless hand which would heal and bind up their bleeding souls: they are like dogs barking at the moon; for, GODS Ministers are stars in the right hand of CHRIST, Revel. 1. 16. If they would do them any deadly harm, they must pluck them thence; but let them take heed how they be bold and busy that way, lest at last they take a bear by the tooth, and awake a sleeping lion.

and il Satan spies any poore soule amongst them to be pulled out of his clutches and kingdome of darknesse by the preaching of the Word, he presently sets all the rest upon him as so many dogged curres, or rather furious wolves (for so our blessed Saviour makes the comparison) upon a harmelesse lambe; he whets (like sharpe razors) all the lying and lewd tongues in the towne, and tips them with the very fire of hell; so that they plead for prophanenesse, prophaning the Sabbath, and many sinfull fooleries and vanities in all places where they come. He makes those who have a little more wit, his close factors and under-hand-dealers: for that stands not with Satans policy, and the reputation of the worldly-wise, that themselves should be open actors in childish vanities, and profes'd enemies to the Law of GOD: they do him sufficient service by being secret patrons and protectors of impiety, counsellers and countenancers of the works of darknesse: he fils the mouthes of the ignorant with slanderous complaints and cries, that there was neuer good world since there was so much knowledge: that there ⟨p. 197⟩was never more preaching, but never lesse working: whereas (poore soules) they never yet knew what grace or good work meant, or scarce good word: but their naughty tongues, and hatred to be reformed, are true causes why both the world and places where they live, are farre worse. Those that are desperately and notoriously naught, he inforces and inrages like mad dogs; so that they impudently and openly barke at, and with their impoysoned fangs furiously snatch at that hurtlesse hand which would heale and bind up their bleeding soules: they are like dogs barking at the moone; for, GODS Ministers are starres in the right hand of CHRIST, Revel. 1. 16. If they would do them any deadly harme, they must plucke them thence; but let them take heed how they be bold and busie that way, lest at last they take a beare by the tooth, and awake a sleeping lion.

:350p. 197–198

Thus you see what a stir the Devil keeps when he is like to be driven from his hold by the power of the Word: and how he plays the Devil indeed, when the light of the Gospel begins to shine in a place which himself hath long kept in darkness and error by those twofold fiends, ignorance and profaneness. Perhaps at the very first rising of that glorious sun of the Word of life unto a people that hath sit in darkness and under the shadow of death, it breeds only astonishment and amazement, they are for a while only dazzled with the glory and beauty of so rare and extraordinary a light, but when after some little ⟨p. 198⟩space they be thoroughly heated, and it begin to burn up their noy some lusts, to gall their guilty consciences, to sting their carnal hearts, to vex and disquiet their covetous affections, then begins all the stir, and Satan to play his part: the sudden infliction of a wound is not so very painful, and while it is green it is not so grievous, but after, when it comes to be searched in cold blood, to have tents put into it, and corrosives applied, then it goeth to the heart: When the sword of the Spirit first strikes the carnal heart, it may perhaps bear away the blow reasonable well; but if the Chirurgeon of the soul, I mean the Minister of the Word follow his cure faithfully, and open the wound wider, as he sees need, apply spiritual corrosives to eat away the rankness of the flesh, and the poison of sin, then begins the profane man (if the LORD give him not grace to suffer his soul to be saved) to rage and rave with the smart of it, and perhaps with malice and fury to fly into the face of his souls Physician.

Thus you see what a stirre the Devill keepes when he is like to be driven from his hold by the power of the Word: and how he playes the Devill indeed, when the light of the Gospell begins to shine in a place which himselfe hath long kept in darknesse and errour by those twofold fiends, ignorance and prophanenesse. Perhaps at the very first rising of that glorious sun of the Word of life unto a people that hath sit in darknesse and under the shadow of death, it breeds onely astonishment and amazement, they are for a while onely dazelled with the glory and beauty of so rare and extraordinary a light, but when after some little ⟨p. 198⟩space they be thorowly heated, and it begin to burne up their noy some lusts, to gall their guilty consciences, to sting their carnall hearts, to vexe and disquiet their covetous affections, then begins all the stirre, and Satan to play his part: the sudden infliction of a wound is not so very painefull, and while it is greene it is not so grievous, but after, when it comes to be searched in cold bloud, to have tents put into it, and corrasives applied, then it goeth to the heart: When the sword of the Spirit first strikes the carnall heart, it may perhaps beare away the blow reasonable well; but if the Chirurgion of the soule, I meane the Minister of the Word follow his cure faithfully, and open the wound wider, as he sees need, apply spirituall cor•osives to eat away the ranknesse of the flesh, and the poyson of sinne, then begins the prophane man (if the LORD give him not grace to suffer his soule to be saved) to rage and rave with the smart of it, and perhaps with malice and fury to fly into the face of his soules Physitian.

:352p. 198–200

This spite and malice of Satan against sincerity and grace is to be seen also in private families: if the governors of the house, the children and servants be all profane (as it is very true of very many in most places) then they are passing well met for matter of Religion, and were there nothing ⟨p. 199⟩amongst them to breed difference and dissension, but GODS service, they would never fall out: for they are all content to hear no more, or more often of the affairs of heaven, judgements for sin, the ways of GOD, and reformation of their life, than they must needs: they are all willing and forward to profane the Sabbath, in one kind or other; some by absenting themselves from the house of GOD, some by worldly talk all the day long, some by idleness, some by sinful sports, &c. They are well content to lie down at night, like wild beasts in their dens, without lifting up their hearts together unto that merciful GOD which hath preserved and prospered them all the day: to rise up also in the morning, prayerless, or only with formal prayers. They all join in malice against the Ministry of the Word, in slanderous lies against the messengers of GOD, in base and reviling speeches against the professors of Christianity. The reason is, they are all possessed with the same spirit of profaneness, love of pleasures, hatred to be reformed, and carnality of heart. But if it once please the LORD to plant grace in the heart of the Master of the family; so that he begin to plant in his house reformation, household instruction, prayer, sanctification of the Sabbath, and other holy orders, and godly exercises; then presently begins the Devil to stir in the hearts and tongues of their profane servants: they begin to be furiously impatient of such preciseness, strictness, and restraints (for so they wickedly and wrongfully call the pleasures of ⟨p. 200⟩grace and way to heaven) they can by no means digest such new fashions: they'll not be troubled with giving account of Sermons they hear: they'll have their recreation on the Sabbath, that they will: they'll not be mewed up at home, when other mens servants are at their sports abroad, &c. Nay perhaps even their own children (except the LORD season them with the same grace) may grow stubborn and refractory, and very rebellious and disobedient to the best things:

This spite and malice of Satan against sincerity and grace is to be seene also in private families: if the governours of the house, the children and servants be all prophane (as it is very true of very many in most places) then they are passing well met for matter of Religion, and were there nothing ⟨p. 199⟩amongst them to breed difference and dissention, but GODS service, they would never fall out: for they are all content to heare no more, or more often of the affaires of heaven, judgements for sin, the wayes of GOD, and reformation of their life, than they must needs: they are all willing and forward to prophane the Sabbath, in one kind or other; some by absenting themselves from the house of GOD, some by worldly talke all the day long, some by idlenesse, some by sinfull sports, &c. They are well content to lie downe at night, like wild beasts in their dens, without lifting up their hearts together unto that mercifull GOD which hath preserved and prospered them all the day: to rise up also in the morning, prayerlesse, or onely with formall prayers. They all joyne in malice against the Ministry of the Word, in slanderous lies against the messengers of GOD, in base and reviling speeches against the professours of Christianity. The reason is, they are all possessed with the same spirit of prophanenesse, love of pleasures, hatred to be reformed, and carnality of heart. But if it once please the LORD to plant grace in the heart of the Master of the family; so that he begin to plant in his house reformation, houshold instruction, prayer, sanctification of the Sabbath, and other holy orders, and godly exercises; then presently begins the Devill to stir in the hearts and tongues of their prophane servants: they begin to be furiously impatient of such precisenesse, strictnesse, and restraints (for so they wickedly and wrongfully call the pleasures of ⟨p. 200⟩grace and way to heaven) they can by no meanes digest such new fashions: they'l not be troubled with giving account of Sermons they heare: they'l have their recreation on the Sabbath, that they will: they'l not be mew'd up at home, when other mens servants are at their sports abroad, &c. Nay perhaps even their owne children (except the LORD season them with the same grace) may grow stubborne and refractory, and very rebellious and disobedient to the best things:

:355p. 201–202

GOD Himself is the GOD of peace, CHRIST JESUS the Prince of peace, and the blessed Spirit is the fountain of peace, that passeth all understanding, the holy Word is the Gospel of peace, the faithful Ministers are the Messengers of reconciliation and peace, the Saints of GOD are the children of peace: The Devil and the rebellious corruptions of profane men are indeed and truth the true causes of all these stirs and strong oppositions, which are raised any where, at any time, any ways in the case and cause of Religion. The fault I confess, and imputation of troublesomeness is laid upon GODS children by the lewd tongues of graceless men. See Jer. 15. 10. utterly without cause. 1. Kings 18. 17. Act. 24. 3 &c. but these and the like are lies hatched in Hell, and managed by the malice of carnal men. And that was most true, which the blessed Prophet of GOD Elijah, and the holy Apostle Saint Paul answered in such cases, 1. Kings 18. 18. Act. 24. 13, 14. and so proportionably may all Christians answer all profane wretches amongst whom they live: It is you and your profane families, your proud ignorance, hatred to be reformed, malice against the ⟨p. 202⟩Ministry, &c. which trouble Israel, are the true causes of all Dissentions and disquietness, and bring upon us all these plagues and judgements which any way afflict us. A godly Minister stands at staves end with all the world, and hath the most enemies of any man. He must war not only with desperate swaggerers and notorious sinners, but also with civill honest men, formal Professors, counterfeit Christians, unsound converts, relapsed creatures, &c.

GOD Himselfe is the GOD of peace, CHRIST IESVS the Prince of peace, and the blessed Spirit is the fountaine of peace, that passeth all understanding, the holy Word is the Gospell of peace, the faithfull Ministers are the Messengers of reconciliation and peace, the Saints of GOD are the children of peace: The Divell and the rebellious corruptions of prophane men are indeed and truth the true causes of all these stirs and strong oppositions, which are raised any where, at any time, any waies in the case and cause of Religion. The fault I confesse, and imputation of troublesomenesse is lai'd upon GODS children by the lewd tongues of gracelesse men. See Ier. 15. 10. utterly without cause. 1. Kings 18. 17. Act. 24. 3 &c. but these and the like are lies hatch't in Hell, and managed by the malice of carnall men. And that was most true, which the blessed Prophet of GOD Elijah, and the holy Apostle Saint Paul answered in such cases, 1. Kings 18. 18. Act. 24. 13, 14. and so proportionably may all Christians answer all prophane wretches amongst whom they liue: It is you and your prophane families, your proud ignorance, hatred to be reformed, malice against the ⟨p. 202⟩Ministery, &c. which trouble Israel, are the true causes of all Dissentions and disquietnesse, and bring upon us all these plagues and judgements which any way afflict us. A godly Minister stands at staves end with all the world, and hath the most enemies of any man. He must warre not onely with desperate swaggerers and notorious sinners, but also with civill honest men, formall Professors, counterfeit Christians, unsound converts, relapsed creatures, &c.