A77999:109
A sermon preached before the Right Honourable the House of Peers, in the Abbey at Westminster, the 26. of Novemb. 1645. Being the day appointed for solemn and public humiliation. / By Jer: Burroughs. Published by order of the said House.A sermon preached before the Right Honourable the House of Peeres, in the Abbey at Westminster, the 26. of Novemb. 1645. Being the day appointed for solemne and publique humiliation. / By Jer: Burroughes. Published by order of the said House.
London: printed for R. Dawlman, 1645
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
But how comes it to be so?
By the Word and Prayer.
1. Through the Word of the Gospel, revealing the restitution of my right, forfeited by sin, yea a higher title then ever I had in Adam.
1. Through the Word of the Gospel, revealing the restitution of my right, forfeited by sinne, yea a higher title then ever I had in Adam.
2. By the Word of Promise, which gives nothing without a blessing to it. If indeed I had what I enjoy merely in a natural way of general providence, I could not expect such a blessing; but now enjoying all by the Word, I enjoy it all in a spiritual way, all is sanctified to me. Hence of all men, Gentlemen and Noblemen have most cause to be much conversant in Scripture; it would be a sad charge upon any of you, who abound so much in the world, that you have not a Bible in your closets, or seldom look into it.
2. By the Word of Promise, which gives nothing without a blessing to it. If indeed I had what I enjoy meerly in a naturall way of general providence, I could not expect such a blessing; but now enjoying all by the Word, I enjoy it all in a spirituall way, all is sanctified to me. Hence of all men, Gentlemen and Noblemen have most cause to be much conversant in Scripture; it would be a sad charge upon any of you, who abound so much in the world, that you have not a Bible in your closets, or seldome look into it.
And by Prayer. The more any man hath, the more he had need to pray. Carnal men will pray much in affliction, but to be put on to prayer by prosperity, this is rare. Gentlemen had need pray more then poor men, Noblemen more then Gentlemen. But if this be a truth, certainly it is a mystery; few of you think so, fewer do so.
And by Prayer. The more any man hath, the more he had need to pray. Carnall men will pray much in affliction, but to be put on to prayer by prosperity, this is rare. Gentlemen had need pray more then poore men, Noblemen more then Gentlemen. But if this be a truth, certainly it is a mysterie; few of you think so, fewer doe so.
1. When this is learned, grace in you will be very conspicuous; it will appear in the lustre of it as a Diamond in a golden ring,1 or rather set in a Crown, sparkles, and is more glorious then in a dirty rag. Zech. 9.16. there is a Prophecy that the Saints shall be as the stones of a Crown lifted up; it is in part made good, when grace appears in the glory of it in you who are in eminent place.
1. When this is learned, grace in you will be very conspicuous; it will appeare in the lustre of it as a Diamond in a golden ring,1 or rather set in a Crowne, sparkles, and is more glorious then in a dirty rag. Zech. 9.16. there is a Prophesie that the Saints shall be as the stones of a Crowne lifted up; it is in part made good, when grace appears in the glory of it in you who are in eminent place.
2. You may do abundance of good: many souls will bless God for you, and for all the abundance you enjoy, of which there is so good an improvement. Blessed be God that ever such men lived in such places and times; the Cause of God, and the good of his Saints, how hath it been promoted by them! will not this be a greater good to you, then all your titles of honour, and bravery of your lives? Judges 5.9. My heart is towards the governors of the people which offer themselves willingly: Bless ye the Lord. Because of the great service that a rich man may do, Paul was so moved, when he had liked to have lost Sergius Paulus, the Deputy of the country, Act. 13.7, 8. &c. he set his eyes upon Elimas, who sought to turn him away from the faith, which he began to hearken after and embrace, and said, Oh full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
2. You may doe abundance of good: many soules will blesse God for you, and for all the abundance you enjoy, of which there is so good an improvement. Blessed be God that ever such men lived in such places and times; the Cause of God, and the good of his Saints, how hath it been promoted by them! will not this be a greater good to you, then all your titles of honour, and bravery of your lives? Judges 5.9. My heart is towards the governours of the people which offer themselves willingly: Blesse ye the Lord. Because of the great service that a rich man may doe, Paul was so moved, when he had liked to have lost Sergius Paulus, the Deputy of the country, Act. 13.7, 8. &c. he set his eyes upon Elimas, who sought to turne him away from the faith, which he began to hearken after and embrace, and said, Oh full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousnesse, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right wayes of the Lord?
3. This argues much strength of grace,1 as the brains resisting abundance of vapours, so as not to be hurt by them, argues the strength of it.
3. This argues much strength of grace,1 as the braines resisting abundance of vapours, so as not to be hurt by them, argues the strength of it.
4. From these who have learned thus, God receives most of that rent of praise and honour that is due to him for all the good things of the earth, he lets out to the children of men. You who are great Landlords, complain much that in these times you cannot receive your rents, they were never so ill paid as they are now: call your selves to account, how well you pay your rents to the Lord, of whom you hold all you have. You esteem well of such as are certain and punctual in paying your rents, God esteems high of those who render to him in a constant way his rent for those many plentiful enjoyments they have in this world.
4. From these who have learned thus, God receives most of that rent of praise and honour that is due to him for all the good things of the earth, he lets out to the children of men. You who are great Landlords, complaine much that in these times you cannot receive your rents, they were never so ill paid as they are now: call your selves to account, how well you pay your rents to the Lord, of whom you hold all you have. You esteeme well of such as are certaine and punctuall in paying your rents, God esteemes high of those who render to him in a constant way his rent for those many plentifull enjoyments they have in this world.
5. There is no fear that adversity, that any afflictions ⟨p. 36⟩should do hurt to such who know thus how to use prosperity. If you can deliver your selves from the deceits of the one, it will not be very difficult to resist the temptations of the other. Nulla infaelicitas frangit, quem nulla faelicitas corrumpit.
5. There is no fear that adversity, that any afflictions ⟨p. 36⟩should doe hurt to such who know thus how to use prosperity. If you can deliver your selves from the deceits of the one, it will not be very difficult to resist the temptations of the other. Nulla infaelicitas frangit, quem nulla faelicitas corrumpit.
6. This is the more excellent, because it is so rare. Where is the man who is able to stand against the temptation of a prosperous estate? if Adversity hath slain her thousands, Prosperity hath slain her ten thousands. Rara virtus humilitas honorata.
6. This is the more excellent, because it is so rare. Where is the man who is able to stand against the temptation of a prosperous estate? if Adversity hath slaine her thousands, Prosperity hath slain her ten thousands. Rara virtus humilitas honorata.
7. How sweetly and comfortably may such dye, who have honoured God with their riches and honours? They may with a holy boldness in the close of all, look up to God, and say with Nehemiah, Chap. 13. vers. last, Remember me oh my God for good. Let God be remembered with your goods, and he will remember you for good.
7. How sweetly and comfortably may such dye, who have honoured God with their riches and honours? They may with a holy boldnesse in the close of all, look up to God, and say with Nehemiah, Chap. 13. vers. last, Remember me oh my God for good. Let God be remembred with your goods, and he will remember you for good.
1. The lesson of the fear of God. Deut. 6.11, 12. God forewarns his people that they should not forget him, when they enjoyed abundance of all good things. Ver. 13. he adds as a means thereunto, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and serve him. You must not presume to do what you list; let the fear of God be upon you to keep you from pride, wantonness, and licentiousness. We read of Nehemiah, Chap. 5. though he were in honour, and had much power in his hands to satisfy his will upon men as others did, they made their servants rule over the people, ver. 15. but so did not I, says he, why? because of the fear of God. My Lords, God hath raised you high above others, much power is in your hands, take heed of abusing it to oppression. If your spirits be too generous and noble to oppress any ⟨p. 37⟩your selves take heed that your servants be not made to rule with rigour over the people. That great out-cry against Committees for rigorous oppressing, partial ways, and against some of your servants for exacting extreme fees, comes not it may be so high as to your ears; of all oppressions, the oppressions by servants, by men of mean quality, is the worst. Oh that you all could say, If others do thus, as for us we do not so, because of the fear of God; whatsoever other Lords have done, do, or shall do, in the abuse of their power, and the great trust committed to them, God forbid we should do so, for the fear of God is upon us.
1. The lesson of the feare of God. Deut. 6.11, 12. God forewarnes his people that they should not forget him, when they enjoyed abundance of all good things. Ver. 13. he addes as a meanes thereunto, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and serve him. You must not presume to doe what you list; let the feare of God be upon you to keep you from pride, wantonnesse, and licentiousnesse. We reade of Nehemiah, Chap. 5. though he were in honour, and had much power in his hands to satisfie his will upon men as others did, they made their servants rule over the people, ver. 15. but so did not I, sayes he, why? because of the feare of God. My Lords, God hath raised you high above others, much power is in your hands, take heed of abusing it to oppression. If your spirits be too generous and noble to oppresse any ⟨p. 37⟩
2. Learn the lesson of the different principles from whence creature comforts come, sometimes from Love, sometimes from Anger and hatred;1 the right understanding this, would cause you to be unsatisfied in all your abundance, till you know from what principle it flows. The very searching for satisfaction in this, would have great power upon your spirits, to order and regulate them in the enjoyment of your abundance.
2. Learne the lesson of the different principles from whence creature comforts come, sometimes from Love, sometimes from Anger and hatred;1 the right understanding this, would cause you to be unsatisfied in all your abundance, till you know from what principle it flowes. The very searching for satisfaction in this, would have great power upon your spirits, to order and regulate them in the enjoyment of your abundance.
