Four godly and fruitful sermons two preached at Drayton in Oxford-shire, at a fast,…Foure godlie and fruitful sermons two preached at Draiton in Oxford-shire, at a fast,…

Now in these verses is set forth an other part of his prayer, to wit, an imprecation; The Lord cut off, &c: wherein he doth by the spirit of Prophecy, and according to the Analogy of faith, denounce judgement against Gods and his enemies, to the end he might comfort himself, and refresh his hart with hope that good men should be recovered, and wicked men confounded. And as for this curse, we must understand that it is not uttered in bitterness, but in zeal, and with warrant from Gods own spirit; and this is directed,

Now in these verses is set forth an other part of his prayer, to wit, an imprecation; The Lord cut off, &c: wherein hee doth by the spirit of Prophesie, and according to the Analogie of faith, denounce iudgement against Gods and his enemies, to the end he might comfort himselfe, and refresh his hart with hope that good men should bee recouered, and wicked men confounded. And as for this curse, we must vnderstand that it is not vttered in bitternes, but in zeale, and with warrant from Gods owne spirit; and this is directed,

1. First against deceitful persons, who are called flatterers: the Lord cut off the flattering lips.

1. First against deceitfull persons, who are called flatterers: the Lord cut off the flattering lips.

2. Secondly, against proud persons, who are described:

2 More particularly, that they say, with our tongue we will prevail. vers. 4. as if they should have said, look what we ask, we will obtain it: look what we threaten, we will perform it: look what we set down, that shall come to pass.

2 More particularly, that they say, with our tongue wee will preuaile. vers. 4. as if they should haue said, looke what wee aske, we will obtaine it: looke what we threaten, wee will performe it: looke what we set downe, that shall come to passe.

But it might be said unto them, you speak presumptuously,¹ and utter words that do not beseem you.

But it might be said vnto them, you speake presumptuously,¹ and vtter words that doe not beseeme you.

1. 1Object.Obiect.

They answer,¹ our tongues are our own: as if they should say, who dare be so audacious as to control us? we will speak what we list, in despite of them all.

They answere,¹ our tongues are our owne: as if they should say, who dare be so audacious as to controle vs? we will speake what we list, in despite of them all.

1. 1Answer.Answere.

But some might say, though you set so light by men,¹ you must know that there is one higher then you: what if the Lord should take the matter into his hand?

1. 1Object.Obiect.

To that they answer.¹ who is Lord over us? they think they may blaspheme God, & revile his servants, and speak what they list, and yet none shall have to do with them for it.

To that they answere.¹ who is Lorde ouer vs? they thinke they may blaspheme God, & reuile his seruants, and speake what they list, and yet none shall haue to doe with them for it.

1. 1Answer.Answere.

The Lord cut off all flattering lips.] whereby are understood,¹ the most dangerous and subtle deceivers, who under pretence of friendship, do seek a mans utter overthrow.

The Lord cut off all flattering lips.] whereby are vnderstood,¹ the most dangerous and subtill deceiuers, who vnder pretence of friendship, doe seeke a mans vtter ouerthrow.

1. 1Verse 3.

Now in that the Prophet prayeth against such as do so cunningly carry their matters, that they will appear to love, where they hate with a deadly hatred, and in praying doth show, not only what is his wish, but what is Gods purpose, viz. that the Lord will cut off the flattering lips: hence this doctrine may be gathered, that,

Now in that the Prophet prayeth against such as doe so cunningly carry their matters, that they will appeare to loue, where they hate with a deadly hatred, and in praying doth shew, not only what is his wish, but what is Gods purpose, viz. that the Lord will cut off the flattering lips: hence this doctrine may be gathered, that,

The more skilfully and artificially any contrives his evil purposes,¹ the more fearful destruction shall fall upon him.

The more skillfully and artificially anie coutriues his euill purposes,¹ the more fearefull destruction shall fall vpon him.

1. 1Doct. 1. The more cunning any is for mischief, the more fearful shall his mine be.Doct. 1. The more cunning any is for mischiefe, the more fearefull shall his mine be.

The more fraudulent a deceiver any one is, the more heavy shall the hand of God be upon him, to cross and contrary him, and to bring him to such straits, that he ⟨p. 73⟩shall not for shame open his mouth again to speak as he hath done: and this is to have his tongue cut out, as it were, as is threatened in this place.

The more fraudulent a deceiuer anie one is, the more heauy shall the hand of God be vpon him, to crosse and contrarie him, and to bring him to such straits, that hee ⟨p. 73⟩shall not for shame open his mouth againe to speake as he hath done: and this is to haue his tongue cut out, as it were, as is threatned in this place.

Flatterers have a certain kind of dexterity in their enterprises, that they will not be seen to be broachers of those things whereof they afterwards become practisers: but they speed never the better, but a great deal the worse for that. Therefore doth David conclude,¹ that God would certainly destroy Doeg, because he was a skilful work-man, and as it were a tradesman in mischief: he could flatter David, that he wisheth him well, and was sorry for his troubles, and would be ready to befriend him in any thing he could: but when Saul complains how hardly he was dealt with, in that no body would discover unto him the treacheries of David, Deog changeth his tune, and falleth to accuse David, ²and most injuriously chargeth Abimelech to have conspired with him: and for all this, he (no doubt) would have goodly pretences: as, that duty bound him to speak as he did: he respected the Kings honour and safety, and certainly things were not well, but some mischief was a working; for he saw the son of Ishai come unto Abimelech, who gave him a sword, and asked counsel of the Lord for him, and ministered food unto him, and to those that were with him, and that extraordinary food too, even the show-bread: in which regard, he, as a loyal subject, must needs advertise Saul, to take heed, and to look well to himself, that so he might prevent all imminent dangers.

Flatterers haue a certaine kinde of dexterity in their enterprises, that they will not be seene to be brochers of those things whereof they afterwards become practisers: but they speed neuer the better, but a great deale the worse for that. Therefore doth Dauid conclude,¹ that God would certainely destroy Doeg, because hee was a skilfull worke-man, and as it were a tradesman in mischiefe: he could flatter Dauid, that he wisheth him well, and was sorry for his troubles, and would be ready to befriend him in any thing he could: but when Saul complaines how hardly he was dealt with, in that no body would discouer vnto him the treacheries of Dauid, Deog changeth his tune, and falleth to accuse Dauid, ²and most iniuriously chargeth Abimelech to haue conspired with him: and for all this, he (no doubt) would haue goodly pretences: as, that dutie bound him to speake as he did: he respected the Kings honour and safety, and certainely things were not well, but some mischiefe was a working; for he saw the sonne of Ishai come vnto Abimelech, who gaue him a sword, and asked counsell of the Lord for him, and ministred food vnto him, and to those that were with him, and that extraordinary food too, euen the shew-bread: in which regard, he, as a loyall subiect, must needs aduertise Saul, to take heed, and to looke well to himselfe, that so he might preuent all imminent dangers.

1. 1Psal. 52. 4. 5.
2. 21. Sam. 22. 8. 9. &c.

So in the prophecy of Jeremiah, ¹this is set down as one cause of the utter subversion of the Jews, that they were wise to do evil, but had no knowledge to do well. They wanted not ordinary capacity, (which had been one degree of happiness unto them, for then God would have showed them greater compassion) but they wanted grace to use it well, and had cunning heads to plot ⟨p. 74⟩mischief, and therefore doth the Lord threaten judgement against them. And in another place he saith, that they had taught their tongues to speak lies. ²And what followeth? Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, &c. Shall not I visit them for this, saith the Lord? Or shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this? Their tongues were too much inclined to lies of their own accord, so that they needed not to be taught that language: yet did they set their tongues to school, as it were, that they might be artificial in their lewd practises, & carry out their lies under a colour of truth, and so sin with less disgrace: which was a thing that the Lord could not abide, and therefore he threateneth to plague them therefore.

So in the prophecie of Ieremie, ¹this is set downe as one cause of the vtter subuersion of the Iewes, that they were wise to doe euill, but had no knowledge to doe well. They wanted not ordinarie capacitie, (which had beene one degree of happinesse vnto them, for then God would haue shewed them greater compassion) but they wanted grace to vse it well, and had cunning heads to plot ⟨p. 74⟩mischiefe, and therefore doth the Lord threaten iudgement against them. And in another place he saith, that they had taught their tongues to speake lies. ²And what followeth? Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, &c. Shall not I visit them for this, saith the Lord? Or shall not my soule be auenged on such a Nation as this? Their tongues were too much inclined to lies of their owne accord, so that they needed not to be taught that language: yet did they set their tongues to schoole, as it were, that they might be artificiall in their leaud practises, & carry out their lies vnder a colour of truth, and so sinne with lesse disgrace: which was a thing that the Lord could not abide, and therefore he threatneth to plague them therefore.

1. 1Jer. 4. 22.Ier. 4. 22.
2. 2Jer. 9. 5.Ier. 9. 5.

And good reason is there that it should be so:¹ for

1. 1Reasons.