TwoMotiues the fecond SondayinLent. Ser.ì7. of his riling. their owne children, thewill vfe Iharper rowells to atchiue things that arelaw fulland honeft. As tofpurre onthis Prodigall to returne home to his fathers houle. And neceffitiedothnot onlyopenmanseyes , but alfo mooues Gods bowells tocompaffionof his wretched cafe. Da ',obis auxilium de tribulation, dfoordvs ô Lord, that fauour,whichrfithfrom tribulation. And I fay, which ri- feth, becaufehiseye iseuer waighting onthofethat are in aflliétion. Theother,His calling tomind of'his formerfelicitie. Saint t iluflenweigheth with himfelfe, how much it importeth aman, tohaue beenebred vp in Venue in the tender yearesof hisyouth : for liuingafterwards amidft the thornesand bryersof finne,it prickshim vp to a remembrance of that quietneffe ofconfii- ence, which hee inioyed before hee became finn's flaue. And when God pre- fernes a finer inhis finne,and forbeares to puni hhim according ro hisill defer- uings, it ought tobeca great motiue vnto him , tomakehim to leaue ir. It is a cafe worthygreat admiration, that in that fo generali a deftruélion which the Babilonians made in Ierufalem,burning their houfes,pillaging their goods , and taking their hues from them yet they fhould leave thofe captivared Cittifens, thofe inftruments,wherewiththey were woont to fernetheir God in his Tem- ple. Saint lerome,and Saint Bafilare of opinion, That this was anefpeciall pro- uidence,and difpenfationof God,that in thistheir baniíhment,they (hould con- ferne thememorie of theirfore pattedmirthandmelody; that being prouoked therby to greater forrow,they mightbewaile their fins,& recouer fome hopeof their reftoration. And the recordationofour loft good,is not only a great helpe tomake manto returneagaine vnto himfelfe,but alfo to moue God to take com- paffion ofhim. Thou findeft thy felfe fo ouerburthened with the weight ofthy fins,that thouart inamanner quitedeieâedwith them;but foral this,benot put out ofheart, but call to mind, that Godwas thy Father, and the Captain and Leader ofthee foorth inthy youth,and thy firft Loueanddelight. And there- fore, Amodo vota me, Hencefoorthcall vponhim. And no doubt but indoing fo, Gods bowelsof compaffionwillfhow themfelues tender vnto thee. Iwillgoe to myFather,andfay,I hosefinnedagainfiHearten, b;. Hee refolues to craue helpe of himwhome hee hadoffended ; like vnto your Magot-a-pyes, whobeing purfued by the Hawke, flye for fuccor to the Faukener, feekingfhel- terfrom him. So Samueladuifedthe people,whentheyhad offended God, Vos feciflismalum grande, Te hauecommittedagreattwill, yet neutrt depart notfrom the Lord. If Godbe angrywiththee,make him propitious to thee,not byflying from him,but by flying tohim. Peccaui inCalum. He fayes, Thathe hadfinned a ainfi Heauen. More for that it was awirnefí'e againft him,than for anyharme that he had receiued from thence. For inyour earthly Tribunals,with indearingour faults,weoftentimesincreafe our puni0t- ments; but in that of heauen, the more thedelingnent condemnes himfelfe, themore he doth leffrn his puniíhnieut. Thereafonis,for thatfinne maybecon- frdered two mannerofwayes. Either,as it isan offence againft an infinite Goodneffe. Or,as it is awound, andmiferietoour Soule. As it is an offence,it calls forjuftice,and incenfeth Godswrathagainft vs. As it is awound,it mooueth him tomercieand to clemencie.Andas thegrea- teft mifery caufeth thegreateft compaffion ;the moreaSinner dothaggrauat his frnne, the more he dothextenuate Gods anger, and workeththe more pittie in Aa 3 him. 28 t The remem branooffore- pat ed felicity, a great means to bringesto Repentance. Confetfion in Gods Court, theonely way toAbtblution. Sinne is an offencetoGod & awound to our ow= Souks. 1
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