A77847:42
The reformation of the church to be endeavoured more then that of the common-wealth,…The reformation of the church to be endeavoured more then that of the common-vvealth,…
The reformation of the church to be endeavoured more then that of the common-wealth, declared, in a sermon preached before the Right Honourable House of Lords at the public fast, August 27. 1645. / By Anthony Burges, pastor of Sutton Coldfield, and now preacher at Laurence-Jury, London.The reformation of the church to be endeavoured more then that of the common-vvealth, declared, in a sermon preached before the Right Honourable House of Lords at the publike fast, August 27. 1645. / By Anthony Burges, pastour of Sutton Coldfield, and now preacher at Laurence-Jury, London.
London: printed by G.M. for T. Underhill, 1645London: printed by G.M. for T. Vnderhill, 1645
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A SERMON Preached before the Right Honourable the House of LORDS, A… › Part
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.
1. God leaveth them to their own carnal wisdom; this is a great judgement of God, when they are left, in matters of Religion, to their own hearts, as in Jeroboam and others: some have said, the head of every sacrifice was to be thrown away, and not offered, to signify, that our own carnal apprehensions must be laid aside in the worship of God: Now the Church of God scarce ever had a reformation, wherein men have not been in part left to this, as appeareth by that frequent passage; Nevertheless the high places were not taken away: therefore to reform, is Gods great work upon the hearts of men, as he poured his Spirit upon Zerubbabel; and take the best reformers, while they have no more then man in them, they are like Sampson without his hair, fearful, worldly, self-seeking as others.
1. God leaveth them to their own carnall wisedome; this is a great judgement of God, when they are left, in matters of Religion, to their own hearts, as in Jeroboam and others: some have said, the head of every sacrifice was to be thrown away, and not offered, to signifie, that our own carnall apprehensions must be laid aside in the worship of God: Now the Church of God scarce ever had a reformation, wherein men have not been in part left to this, as appeareth by that frequent passage; Neverthelesse the high places were not taken away: therefore to reforme, is Gods great worke upon the hearts of men, as he poured his Spirit upon Zerubbabel; and take the best reformers, while they have no more then man in them, they are like Sampson without his hair, fearfull, worldly, self-seeking as others.
2. The people are unwilling and unprepared: thus it was in Josiahs time, insomuch that one would wonder to read the story in Josiahs time, to see what a general compliance there was in the whole kingdom with his reformation, yea, an universal submission thereunto; and to observe the prophecy of Zechariah, which is said to be at the same time; for in this latter, God by the Prophet. complaineth of them as a very wicked people, yet they gave way to the reformation by Josiah; only this did not last, for Josiah is immediately killed, and all the people fall back to their false worship again, so that the inward rottenness and hypocrisy of their hearts, do either stop a reformation, intended by governors; or else throweth down immediately whatsoever is built up.