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

¹Use 1. of Instruction, Of how terrible and dreadful a judgement are they worthy of, who are so far from being obedient to Gods command, that they live in open and professed disobedience to it, if the most devotional and Religious actions are refused by God, for want of a command; what shall become of those which are in plain opposition to it; Such are all the works of the flesh, Such are the works of most men, when thou hast been wallowing in the mire of sin, to which of Gods commands hast thou been obedient? Nay sin hath its command, the devil hath his commands, and thou givest up thy self a Servant to them; Oh that the eyes of men shall not yet be opened, nor their hearts yet mollified, who is thy Father, thy Master, thy Lord, ⟨p. 201⟩Is it not the devil? When God commands thee who is the Lord of Hosts, who promiseth heaven and an eternal reward, that God who hath all sharp arrows of vengeance in his quiver to shoot immediately into thy heart; That God though commanding thee thou refusest, and the devil while he bids thee go and fulfil this lust and that lust, immediately thou goest; That devil who deludes and deceiveth thee, who is the known Enemy of thy soul, and will be thy cruel tormentor to all Eternity: Oh then lay it closer to heart, I am under command either of God or the devil, I am an obedient Servant to one or the other, and thy works they quickly manifest it.

¹Ʋse 1. of Instruction, Of how terrible and dreadful a judgement are they worthy of, who are so farre from being obedient to Gods command, that they live in open and professed disobedience to it, if the most devotionall and Religious actions are refused by God, for want of a command; what shall become of those which are in plain opposition to it; Such are all the works of the flesh, Such are the works of most men, when thou hast been wallowing in the mire of sin, to which of Gods commands hast thou been obedient? Nay sinne hath its command, the devil hath his commands, and thou givest up thy self a Servant to them; Oh that the eyes of men shall not yet be opened, nor their hearts yet mollified, who is thy Father, thy Master, thy Lord, ⟨p. 201⟩Is it not the devil? When God commands thee who is the Lord of Hosts, who promiseth heaven and an eternal reward, that God who hath all sharp arrows of vengeance in his quiver to shoot immediatly into thy heart; That God though commanding thee thou refusest, and the devil while he bids thee go and fullfill this lust and that lust, immediatly thou goest; That devil who deludes and deceiveth thee, who is the known Enemy of thy soul, and will be thy cruell tormentor to all Eternity: Oh then lay it closer to heart, I am under command either of God or the devil, I am an obedient Servant to one or the other, and thy works they quickly manifest it.