CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

As 1.¹ When the Church of God hath been greatly corrupted by all manner of vice and idolatry, so that there hath been an unclean Leprosy over the whole body, God oath appointed an hour, a time for its Reformation and purity, which shall certainly take effect, though all the world oppose it. Men can no more hinder it then the Sun from breaking out of the Cloud, and oh how happy is it when such a time comes, how wonderfully are m•ns hearts prepared to forsake all their former Idolatry and profaneness? This you have notably Joh. 4.23. Our Saviour tells that ignorant superstitious woman, The hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: This was in Christs time, he came as Malachi cap. 3. prophesied, to refine the Sons of Levi, and to be like the Fullers Soap: This was so terrible as that the Prophet crieth out, Who may abide the day of his coming? It was to the Pharisees and chief Priests as terrible as the day of Judgement: Well, though Christ goeth about to take away all that admired will-worship, which was then exalted; and this was so contrary to mens inclination and education, yet the hour cometh that they shall worship him in spirit and in truth: Thus it was at the first Reformation out of Popery, when Luther, though but one unarmed man, and a despicable Monk by his profession, set himself against the torrent of all that Idolatry and corruption which reigned in Popery: Was it not as ridiculous as if a man had set his shoulder to some huge Mountain, thinking to remove it? It was so in all mens account, and therefore when Luther opened his Counsels to one great Doctor, who did not approve of the Romish courses, yet he bid him go into his Cell, and say, Lord have mercy upon us: As if the case were desperate; Now although it was thus unlikely, yet we see how truth and purity did break forth to all mens amazement, and which aggravateth this, There had been many before Luther's time who witnessed against the practices and doctrines of the Church of Rome, yet still they were vanquished till Luther came, and then no water could quench this fire; Now why was all this Gods power was as able to go along with John Huss or Jerome of Prague as well as Luther? but now was Gods hour, now was his appointed time:

As 1.¹