Christ that hee labour aboue all things to be assured of the truth of his calling that the same bee from God that so they may performe the same in faith and obedience and feed the flocke of Christ that is committed vnto them But how shall a man truely know that he is called to preach the Gospell Quest This is knowne diuers wayes Answ How to know a Minister to haue his calling from God First by those gifts that qualifie a man for the worke of the Ministery for God neuer sends but qualifies first Secondly the testimony of a mans owne conscience that hee enters not for any other by-respect but for the aduancement of Christs kingdome Thirdly the approbation of the Church Fourthly a propense inclination to be exercised in that calling as if a Minister were like a creature out of it clement vnlesse hee were setting forward the Lords worke either in publike or priuate Fiftly if the Lord in some measure blesse his labours this is as the Lords signet or seale set to his calling VERSE 27. And he arose and went Text. c. HItherto of Philips Commission now of the execution of his Commission The Angell biddeth him goe but telleth him not what he shall doe or what profit should come of his trauaile yet Philip goes And thus the Lord made triall of the obedience of Abraham when hee called him to goe into the land of Canaan Gen. 12. not acquainting him with the end wherefore he sent him thither And thus the Lord tryeth the obedience of his seruants And surely this serued much for the commendations of the obedience of Philip that he reasoned not the matter with the Angell but being called presently obeyed He arose and went Teaching vs Doct. We must yeeld oâ—edience to Gods commandement though we see nâ— reason Gen. 7. that wee are to yeeld obedience vnto Gods commandement though wee see no reason and we are to know that this is sufficient for vs that our obedience be approued to God Thus Noah when God commanded him to build an Aâ—â—â— though he might haue had mâ—ny discouragements in that worke if hee had consulted with flesh and bloud as namely how it could be possible that he should bee saued and all the world drowned The difficulty of the worke men hauing no experience of Ships how such a vessell should saue Length of time one hundred and twenty yeares the mocking of that sinfull world c. Yet this is obserued to the great commendations of his faith By faith Noah moued with reuerence prepared the Arke Heb. 11.7 Abraham receiued a commandement to go out of his Country to leaue his kindred and his fathers house to goe into a place he knew not Now this is likewise obserued as a great commendations of his faith that he yeelded obedience not reasoning the caâ—â— with God Heb. 11.8 So likewise when God called him to sacrifice his sonne Isaac he yeelded obedience not consulting with flesh and blood what should become of the promise if Isaac were gone ver 17.18 but readily yeelds him vp vnto God A contrary example wee haue in Saul who spared Agag the king â— Sam. â—5 and the fat of the cattle whereas the Lord had Commanded him to destroy them all And of the Prophet that was commanded not to eat yet disobeyed and was therefore killed of a Lion 1 Reg. 13.8 And in what a miserable case had Naaman beene in had hee persisted in his opinion and had not hearkened vnto the Prophet And there is reason for it First in regard he is the Soueraigne Lord of all Reas 1 and must be obeyed his power and authority ouer men and Angels yea all creatures is absolute hee is the Creator we the creature â—â—e is our Father we his children hee our king we his subiects he the Potter wee but a peece of clay in his hands Now his relation to vs and ours to him cals for this duty Reas 2 Secondly in regard of that high price the Lord doth set vp on obedience as it appeareth by that of Samuel vnto Saul Hath the Lord as great pleasure in burnt offrings and sacrifices 1 Saâ—â—5 22 as when the voyce of the Lord is obeyed Behold to obey is better then sacrifice c. Reas 3 A third reason may be drawne from that reward the Lord hath promised to such as hearken and obey as If ye will heare my voice indeed saith the Lord and keepe my Couenant Ex. 19.5.6 Then shall yee bee my chiefe treasure aboue all people And againe Deu. 28.1 If thou wilt hearken diligently vnto the voyce of the Lord thy God to obserue and to do all his Commandements c. Then the Lord thy God will set thee on high aboue all the Nations on the earth c. Fourthly disobedience as Samuel tels Saul is as the sinne of witchcraft and shall neuer escape the reuengefull hand of God The Lord threatned this vnto the people That if they would not hearken and obey they should die of the sword Ier. â—â—â—â— famine pestilence so that none of them should escape Disobedience shut Adam out of Paradise Moses out of Canaan and Saul out of his kingdome Vse 1 Let this then serue to prouoke all men vnto this duty not to coâ—sult with flesh and blood in the things of God or to bee directed by carnall reason for then we shall neuer obey God Had Philip done this now that the Angell bids him goe not telling him what was to bee done hee had neuer obeyed the Angell The Minister though hee see not that his preaching doth or is like to do any good yet because God hath commanded hee must doe his duty Thus must Magistraâ—es doe though sinne abound still Thus must masters of families doe though it take little effect for God hath commanded these duties to be done and must be obeyed And behold a man of Ethiopia c. The word Behold is commonly verbum admirationis a word of wonder and cals vs to that speciall parenthesis of our Sauiour Let him that readeth consider Mat. 24.15 And is for the most part of the same nature that Selah is sooften vsed in the book of the Psalmes Behold q. d. Consider this thing that howsoeuer Philip at this time were in great danger and hazard for preaching of the Gospell by reason of Caiphas the high Priest and Saul that made hauock of the Church yet obeying the commandement of the Angell though for the present hee could see no reason for the same mark what followed see the good successe of his obedience Behold a man of Ethiopia The instruction is plaine Doct. We are to take speciall notice of the obedience of Gods seruants That God would haue vs in a speciall manner take notice of the obedience of his seruaÌ„ts the examples of his children obeying him and all to this end to prouoke vs vnto obedience This truth is clearly manifested by the
Esay 56.7 2 Chro. 20.13 and all Iuda stood before the Lord with their young and with their old with their wiues and with their children Yea those that haue had in them the greatest measure of knowledge and grace haue beene euer most frequent in this duty The Disciples were continually in the Temple Luke 24.52 Euen so in the Primitiue Church it is said that the true beleeuers continued with one accord in the Temple Acts 2.46 And Ioseph and Mary albeit poore and dwelt far from Ierusalem yet at the time of the Passeouer they went vp duly to Ierusalem to worship So that we see it is a most cleare grounded truth that Gods people in all ages and from time to time haue in no one thing testified their ioy and delight then in this to be imployed in Gods worship in the publike assemblies And there is reason for it First in regard of Gods promise of speciall presence there Dauid calleth Sion The habitation of Gods house Psal 26.8 and the place where his honour dwelleth It is Christs owne promise that where two or three are met together in his Name hee will bee present amongst them Mat 18.20 Christ walketh in the midst of the seauen Candlestickes that is the Churches by his speciall presence And in this regard the Lord giues aspeciall charge concerning these assemblies Leuit. 26 2 yee shall keepe my Sabbaths and reuerence my Sanctuary And this Dauid professeth by way of thankefulnesse I will giue thankes to thee in the great Congregation Psal 35.18 and will praise thee amongst much people Doct. 2 Secondly in respect of our own good for we may look for a greater blessing from God vpon his ordinances in publike then in priuate The same prayers you may vse at home that are vsed there the same Psalmes yee may sing at home that you sing there the same word you may reade at home that is read there but not with the same fruit and comfort as in the publike assemblies of the faithfull For Dauid speaking of Mount Sion and the Temple there saith Psal 133.2 There the Lord promised his blessing and life for euermore and againe Psal 87.2 The Lord loueth the gates of Sion more then all the habitations of Iacob Doct. 3 Thirdly prayer is said to bee the seeking of a thing Mat. 7.7 Aske and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall finde Now the more there be that seeke a thing the more hope there is to finde it And this was the reason why the Church in time of misery and distresse called for a solemne assembly Blow a Trumpet in Sion Ioel 2.15 proclaime a fast call a solemne assembly as the most powerfullest meanes to preuaile with God Doct. 4 Fourthly in respect of the sweetnesse of those duties which are there performed in those publike assemblies such as are the preaching of the Word the Sacraments prayer singing of Psalmes Gods people finde more sweetnesse in these then in any thing in the world besides Of this speaketh the Prophet Esay saying In this mountaine shall the Lord of Hoasts make to all people Esay 25.6 a feast of fat things a feast of fined wines of fat things full of marrow of wine fined and purified Indeed I confesse it is not euery mans case to finde this sweetnesse in these things It is possible at the daintiest feast some may loathe those things that to others are most delightfull and desired But this is the case onely of the godly and regenerate man so Dauid Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to come vnto thee Hee shall dwell in thy Courts and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house euen of thy holy Temple Doct. 5 The last reason though not the least to cause vs to esteeme so highly of the publike assemblies of Gods people is in regard of religion it selfe the profession wherof we haue taken vpon vs for herein we doe testifie our homage and obedience vnto God Now the more publike our profession is the more acceptable is it to God I will giue thankes vnto thee Psal 35.18 and will praise thee amongst much people Vse 1 Seeing then that it is so requisite a duty belonging vnto all Gods people highly to esteeme and diligently to frequent the publike assemblies of Gods people Hence diuers sorts of men are iustly to be reproued Diuers sorts of men reproued First such as turne backe vpon Gods ordinance in the publike assemblies make no reckoning nor account thereof and this is the condition of the greatest sort of men that will not be brought constantly to Gods seruice but either the feare of the labour or shame of men brings them sometimes thither otherwise many would neuer come at all How often haue I complained of this sinne in this place but little reformation What shall I say doe but consider Sauls dealing with Dauid Saul marked Dauids seate when he was wanting at the feasts and assemblies Surely the Lord doth marke these empty Seates and solitary Pewes of ours when we are wanting And were it not for their sakes that wanting the food of life at home are faine to trauaile abroad I should long ere this haue eased you of some of this burthen and my selfe of this paines Neither is this all a sinne of negligence in absenting of your selues when God cals you to his seruice But by this negligent and carelesse comming vnto Gods house men doe in effect say with those in the time of the Prophet Malachy Mal. 3.14.15 It is in vaine to serue the Lord c Secondly such as absent themselues from these publike assemblies vnder the pretence that they can finde no such sweetnesse nor comfort in them To such as so say or thinke giue me leaue to tell thee that there is no one more certaine signe of a dead heart voyd of grace and the sense of Gods loue then this not to delight and to take comfort in these publike duties I may say of such a mans soule as of the house shut vp with the Plague Lord haue mercy on them Gods people if at any time they grow dull or heauy in the performance of holy duties here they are refreshed quickned comforted these meetings reuiue a mans spirits and put a kind of heauenly life in him Blow the coles and if there be any fire it will shew it selfe so will grace in the heart when the gales of the Word shall blow vpon it Now then to finde no taste no relish no comfort at all in these ordinances of God is a cleare demonstration of a dead heart and a gracelesse soule But what though for the present thou canst not finde that comfort in the word yet in comming to these publike assemblies thou shalt testifie thy homage to God and shew thy reuerence to his ordinance and the Lord at last may cause his Word to penetrate thy heart and to warme thy soule that thou
maist come to desire it more then thy appointed food And know that in our often vrging and pressing you to come we doe not herein require any duty or homage vnto vs but vnto God And if in refusing to come you did but discountenance disgrace dishearten and shew your contempt vnto vs then the matter were not great But this you shall finde true another day that this contempt hath reached vnto God himselfe Thirdly there be others that make euery light occasion occasion sufficient to keepe them from Gods house if their head dâ—â—â—â— ake if their finger be but sorâ— oâ— the like they thinke they may well be excused Surely God will make this Eunuch here a swift witnesse in iudgement one day against such men who albeit his imployment were great being so neere the person of so great a Queene yet thinkes no time too long cost too great or wayes too farre to worship God I would pray such men but to consider these examples Esa 38.21 Hezechias hauing beene sicke of a dangerous and mortall disease within three daies after went into the Temple hee did not as the manner is keepe in whole weekes and moneths for a little cold for a small griefe or infirmitie or the like but so soone as euer he perceiueth any mitigation of his disease as that the danger thereof is past to the Temple straight goeth he The woman that had a Spirit of infirmitie eighteene yeeres Luk. 13.10.11 was not held from Gods house but vpon the Sabbath day resorted vnto the Synagogue It is a signe of a barren gracelesse heart to slight the Sabbath and the holy exercises on that day And know thou whosoeuer thou art that findest this to bee thy case that hast no delight and canst find no comfort in the communion of Gods people in these holy assemblies here that thou shalt haue no part nor portion no nor any fellowship with them in the kingdome of heauen hereafter for those that haue no heart to beare a part with the Church Militant in their holy assemblies here shall neuer come to beare a part in that Quire where Saints and Angels shall sing continually in the Church Triumphant And last of all within the compasse of this reproofe are those that sticke not to say they can serue God at home as well as at Church they can pray and reade good bookes at home and so long as they imploy themselues thus thinke they are not to bee blamed But what say these men to Dauid or what are these men to Dauid could not he being a Prophet of God and a man after Gods owne heart indued with such a wonderfull measure of the sanctified graces of Gods Spirit serue God in priuate in the time of his banishment as these in their houses or Chappels of ease Yet hee did long to come into the Courts of the Lords house yea he did enuy the very Sparrowes and Swallowes that might come into the Temple 〈◊〉 4 〈◊〉 and build their neasts neere the Altar whereas he might not come therein Vse 2 Secondly this may serue for admonition that we labour to bring our hearts more and more to be affected with these holy duties to prize these publike assemblies and to be thankefull vnto God for the same that we neuer rest vntill we bring our hearts in some good measure to say with Dauid â—sal 〈…〉 I was glad when they said we will goe vp into the house of the Lord and to this end let vs beâ— exhorted to prouoke one another and to call one another as the faithfull before Come let vs go vp to the house of the Lord. And herein Masters of families and Parents are to be exhorted thâ—â— they thinke it not sufficient 〈◊〉 they themselues come buâ— to â—â—e to their Children and Seruaâ—â—â— that they come also to Gods worâ—ship Thou must suffer none to attend thee in thy house that will not attend thee to Gods house Remember the charge Thou thy Sonne and thy Daughter Ex. 20.10 thy Man-seruant and thy Maid-seruant Iosh 24 15 c. Iosuah vndertakes for all that are in his house I and my house will serue the Lord and this was one of Dauids greatest comforts that hee had gone with a multitude Psal 43. â—â— and led them the way to the house of God Went vp to Ierusalem to worship But why would the Lord suffer him to goe vp to Ierusalem Quest so long and so tedious a iourney why was not Philip sent before God Answ if it had so pleased him he could haue sent Philip at the first to haue instructed him but hee would not but suffers him first to trauaile vp to Ierusalem No question the Lord was much delighted in this obedience of his Seruant and in respect that his loue to religion was such as made him endure any labour cost or paines he was moued the rather to blesse him with the ministery of Philip. God had left in his Church meanes whereby he would haue men taught such as were those sacrifices now done at Ierusalem which he will not haue neglected It pleased the Lord well that the Eunuch should be first instructed in the rudiments of the Law that he might be the fitter for the Doctrine of the Gospell The Lord might haue sent downe the holy Ghost vpon Cornelius and his company Act. 10. before Peter preached vnto them but he would not but first makes him fit for Peters ministery and for the receiuing of the holy Ghost And thus the Lord could haue instructed Saul when he first heard that sound Acts 9. from heauen but would not vntill he were first fitted for prayer We are taught hence Dect Catechising â—â—ceâ—â—â—â—y that if wee would bee fit for the strong meâ—t of the Gospell we must first be thoroughly instructed in the principles of religion Thus the Author of the Epistle vnto the Hebrewes by a loâ—ing obiurgation or chiding reproues the want of this amongst them Hâ—b 5.1 When for the time saith he ye ought to be teachers ye need that one should teach you aâ—aiâ—e which be the first principles of the Oracles of God and are become such as haue need of milke and not of strong meat So Paul 1 Cor. 3.2 I cannot speake vnto you as spirituall but as vnto babes And hence is it that Moses commandeth the people to teach their children the Law of God Dâ—â— 6. Exâ—â— 14 and the vse of the Passeouer And surely this serues to condemne the great neglect of this duty Vse that men thinke it scorne to be catechised and instructed in the grounds and principles of religion and this is the reason why so many heare the word vnprofitably and are so full of blindnesse and ignorance they were neuer truly grounded in the principles of the Christian faith but of this hereafter To Ierusalem to worship This could not bee done but with great cost for so were the sacrifices and seruice of God in
the time of the Law before the comming of Christ very costly So likewise his paines in trauell was very great it being farre distant from that place to serusalem yet not withstanding it is not the cost nor it is not the paines in trauell that can keepe him back or any whit discourage him but vp will he goe to Ierusalem there to worship God and herein will teach vs That the duties of Religion must earnestly bee pursued and followed after Doct. The duties of religion must be earnestly pursued and followed after not coldly negligently and carelesly but earnestly zelously carefully and constantly Men must not stick for labor for cost for their paines but the Lord must bee serued intentiuely and constantly In euery seruice wee doe vnto God he calleth for this zeale and godly resolution to go thorough with the same And surely this was the great commendations of the Prophet Dauid that he had a zeale as hot as fire Psâ—l 96.10 The zeale of thy house hath eaten me vp This forwardnesse and zeale wee may see to haue beene in the people of God in building of the Temple wherein they spared no cost as also in their diligent repairing to the same wherein they spared no labour and to this are we exhorted Seek for wisdome as for siluer and search for it as for hid treasures Now they that worke in Mines of the earth dig deepe and are not beaten off with much labour such resolution becometh it Gods people to haue in seeking the true treasure The Lord cannot abide that men should go about his seruice negligently coldly and carelesly Cursed are they that do the work of the Lord negligently Ier. 48.10 and How long halt yee betweene two opinions 1 Re. 18.21 c. And it was that our Sauiour was so highly offended with the Church of Laodicea Ren. 3.15 that shee was neither cold nor not and therefore the Lord threatneth to spew her out of his mouth It was the commendations of those in the days of our Sauiour that they flocked after him and pressed vpon him And in diuers places we reade that multitudes followed Christ to heare his heauenly doctrine Yea our Sauiour â—â—â—onisheth vs to labour but for what Not for the meat that perisheth Ioh. 6 but for the meat that endureth to eternall life Zoâ—â—◠〈◊〉 quâ—â—ed 〈◊〉 â—uâ—â—â— paâ—â— oâ—â—â—oâ—â— woâ—â—sâ—â—â— And this zeale and diligence I â—â—igâ—â—t haue â—hewed how God requires the same in euery part of his worship and seruice As First in the preaching of the word Wee are commanded to preach the word in season and out of season 〈…〉 to improue rebuke and exhort with long-suffering and doctrine Secondly in hearing of the word we are commanded to bee swift to heare Iâ—â—a 2.19 Thirdly in prayer we are com manded to be feruent in prayer 3 Râ—â—â— â—â— 12 And in all the duties of sanctification wee are commanded to redeeme the time and to worke out our saluation And great reason First in regard that such as do the worke of the Lord negligently Reas 1 slothfully and carelesly lye vnder an heauie and a fearefull curse Cursed is euery one that doth the worke of the Lord negligently Ier. 4â— â—0 But such are all those that come negligently vnto Gods seruice and therefore lie vnder this curse Secondly to doe any dutie to God negligently and carelesly Reas 2 it neuer hath any promise of any acceptation with him There is no duty that we can assure our hearts shall finde acceptation with the Almighty further then the same is zealously performed in faith repentance and obedience to Gods Commandement Thirdly such as performe any duty formally Reas 3 customarily and but for fashion sake are in great danger to fall away euen from that they make shew of as our Sauiour saith That shall bee taken away which they seemed to haue This was the curse of the Church of Ephesus a drowsie and dead-hearted people Reu 2 5. Thou hast lost thy first loue Such drowsie Christians are alwayes vnder a spirituall consumption for it fares with such a one as with him that hath a Consumption of the body for there the naturall heate decayeth daily more and more and threatneth death Euen so such as haue a spirituall consumption of the soule the spirituall heat doth diminish and threaten destruction Fourthly Reas 4 earnestnesse and zeale in the publicke duties of Gods worship is an excellent meanes to prouoke others to be more diligent in Gods seruice And this the Apostle affirmes to the great commendations of the Church of Corinth Your zeale hath prouoked many 2. Cor. 9.2 And last of all Reas 5 without this diligence and zeale we haue no promise to meet with God in his ordinances Pro. 23.4 If thou cryest after knowledge and liftest vp thy voice for vnderstanding if thou seeke her as siluer and search for her as for hidde treasure What then Then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God Feruency and zeale in good duties addeth wings vnto them and makes them sore aloft and pierce the heauens euen into Gods presence Whereas duties formally performed and but with lip labour onely bring no fruit at all but hasten Gods sudgements vpon him that doth them Seeing then that the duties of Religion are so earnestly to bee pursued and followed after Vse 1 This serues then for the iust reprehension of those that are so farre from being zealous themselues to trauell with the Eunuch here vnto Ierusalem to worship God as that they mocke and scoffe at others that doe their duties herein Certainly if this Nobleman liued amongst vs it were not his greatnesse that would free him from the imputation of Puritanisme and his zeale should not escape the disgraces of wicked men Is not this common in the world See wee not that if there be any one in a Parish as many God knoweth there be not that is more forward then others to sanctifie the Sabbath and to spend that day as set apart wholly for Gods seruice in the publicke duties belonging thereto how are these singled out aboue all others and derided and scoffed at for the same when drunkards swearers and prophane persons are neuer wondred at This hard measure Dauid met withall from Micol his owne wife 2. Sam. 6 20. who dancing before the Arke therein expressing the inward ioy of his heart she mockes him How glorious was the King this day To whom Dauid made answer It was before the Lord who chose mee before thy fathers house and I will yet be more vile Let it euer be the commendations of all Gods people so to be vpbraided and scoffed at for their godly zeale As for wicked men they are neuer so zealous as in the cause of sinne And this indeed is the misery of this age and time wherein wee liue that that which indeed is the greatest ornament to a christian man
that should serue him but one day in a weeke and all the weeke besides serue himselfe This serues then to reprooue such as are present sometimes at the publique duties of Gods worship Vse 1 such as are the preaching of the word receiuing of the sacrament and the like but make no reckoning or accompt at all of priuate duties Surely such men can neuer approue themselues to God to performe either in faith and obedience as hee ought so long as hee labours not after an vniuersall obedience to bee the same in priuate that he is in publique Let vs then bee admonished in the feare of God Vse 2 that as wee desire to bee Christians indeed and therein to approue our selues to God to labour to be the same at home as abroad in our owne houses as in the Church otherwise we can neuer assure our owne hearts of the truth of grace wrought therein or that wee goe before an hypocrite or a wicked man who many times is exercised in the one when he makes no reckoning or accompt at all of the other He read Isaiah the Prophet This Noble man did not worship God at a venture or as haply his forefathers had done before him as many in our dayes who will doe thus and thus because their fathers before them did so But hee will worship God as hee had learned out of his word And herein will teach all men vnto the end of the world a necessarie dutie That if wee will worship God aright Doct. In Gods worship we must fetch our direction out of Gods word we must fetch our direction from Gods word and not out of the Popes Chaire The word must bee our loadstarre to guide vs the way to Christ and to keepe vs in the way No seruice can please God but that which is done by direction from his word The Lord himselfe giues expresse charge concerning this Deut. 4.2 when hee saith Ye shall not adde vnto the word which I command mand you neither shall ye diminish ought from it That ye may keepe the Commandements of the Lord your God which I command you The meaning is Thou shalt doe no more or lesse in my seruice then what I command thee Yea it is no better then Idolatrie Num. 15.39 and spirituall whoredome for vs to follow our owne hearts or to bee led by our good meanings in matters appertaining vnto Gods seruice This is such a sinne as doth highly prouoke God to anger as wee may see in Nadab and Abihu Leuit. 10.1.2 in offering vp of their strange fire who were therefore destroyed with fire from heauen And for this cause Ieroboam drew the curse of God vpon him and his posteritie after him Because of those golden calues that hee had caused to bee erected at Dan and Bethel without warrant from God And how sharply doth our Sauiour reproue the Scribes and Pharisees for this who vsed a world of ceremonies and traditions in Gods worship which hee commanded not and therefore saith In vaine doe ye worship me Mat. 15. teaching for Doctrine the traditions of men Isa 1.11.12 And therefore the Lord will say to such as to those idolatrous Iewes of old Who hath required these things at your hands And hence is it that the Apostle Paul when hee went about to remoue those errours that we crept into the Church of Corinth about the Sacrament he brings them to the first institution of the same by Christ himselfe for where things are brought to the first institution all humane errours then cease And this doth the Apostle 1. Cor. 11.23 when he saith That which I haue receiued from the Lord deliuer I vnto you c. So that we see it is a most cleare and grounded truth that if we would worship God aright we must not be led by our fantasies and carnall reason good meanings or the like but we must fetch our direction out of Gods word And great reason For God will be acknowledged the onely Law-giuer Reas 1 the King of his Church and the onely Prophet to instruct his people For so saith the Apostle There is onely one Law-giuer Iam. 4 12. who is able to saue and to destroy So that none may presume in matters appertaining to his worship and seruice to adde or detract lest hee incurre that curse Cursed is he that shall adde to the words of this booke Reu. 22. Secondly Ro. 14.23 Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne Now faith we know is grounded vpon the word So that it is impossible for a man to please God in any seruice he doth that hath not his word for his warrant and direction It was Christs last commandement that he gaue vnto his Disciples teaching them to obserue all things that I haue commanded you Mat. 28.20 And surely this strikes at the foundation of Popish Religion Vse 1 for wherein for the most part stands the seruice and worship of God that is performed amongst them but in grosse superstition and in the inuentions of their owne braine in the traditions of men Popes Councels Cardinals and the like in a multitude of vaine and idle ceremonies and obseruations all which haue no ground or footing out of Gods word as namely their whipping of themselues their crossings and coniurings praying on beads going on pilgrimage and a thousand the like all which haue no ground or warrant at all out of Gods word to whom we may truly say as our Sauiour to the woman of Samaria Ioh. 4.22 Ye worship ye know not what And surely herein we may iustifie our Religion against the Papists and against all the Aduersaries of Gods truth that wee know whom we worship And if we be deceiued God hath deceiued vs and his word hath deceiued vs which is impossible For his word is true as himselfe is Secondly Vse 2 we are taught hence to acquaint our selues with the Scriptures that so wee may be directed how to worship God aright Now Gods word is a perfect rule and a perfect guide Saint Peter calls it a Sure word 2 Pet. 1.19 whereunto saith he ye do well if ye take heed So Dauid Psal 119.31 I haue cleaued vnto thy testimonies O Lord confound me not And it is worth our best consideration what Samuel spake vnto Saul that would sacrifice where God had not appointed Hath the Lord saith hee as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices 1. Sam 15.22 as when the voyce of the Lord is obeyed Behold to obey is better then sacrifice and to hearken is better then the fat of Lambes And last of all this sheweth the miserable condition that such are in Vse 3 that are not neither may they be acquainted with the word of God as in the Church of Rome that haue the Scripture locked vp in an vnknowne tongue they can neuer auoide that woe our Sauiour pronounced against the Scribes and Pharises Mat. 23.13 They neither entred into the
kingdome of God themselues nor suffered those that would Now wanting the word to direct them they serue Idols yea they worship Sathan instead of God For there is no worship can bee pleasing acceptable vnto God that hath not the word for it warrant He read Isaiah the Prophet Here we see â—is employment in his Iourney vpon his returne home into his countrey hee was not idle neither gaue he himselfe to sleeping nor spent he his time in idle discourse nor yet in reading vaine foolish wanton and lasciuious bookes as the manner of many is to do But he spent his time in reading the Scripture and in studying the word of God for the further building of himselfe vp in the knowledge of God and of Christ Whose example may commend vnto all Gods people a necessarie duty namely That they be daily conuersant in the Scriptures Doct. Godly must be conuersant in the Scriptures Deu. 6.6 7. and exercise themselues daily therein This is that charge Moses gaue vnto the people from the Lord These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt teach them diligently vnto thy children and shalt talke of them as thou sittest in thy house when thou walkest by the way when thou liest downe and when thou risest vp Againe Ios 1.8 The booke of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth But thou shalt meditate therein day and night This is Christ owne charge Search the Scriptures Ioh. 5.39 for in them ye leoke to haue eternall life This is likewise an Apostolicall iniunction Col. 3.16 Let the word of God dwell in you plenteously To this Solomon exhorteth diligently when hee saith Prou. 7.3 speaking of the word Binde them vpon thy fingers write them vpon the table of thine heart And againe Vers 4 Say vnto Wisedome thou art my sister and call vnderstanding thy kinswoman And this was the great commendations of Timothy that hee knew the Scriptures of a childe Therefore doubtlesse very conuersant in them And of Apollo it is said that hee was mightie in Gods word So that we see to spend much time in reading the Scriptures and to be conuersant in Gods word is an excellent things a commendable duty Though the reading of the Scriptures doe not ordinarily worke faith and repentance Reas 1 yet it is an excellent meanes to prepare the heart for the same worke and to confirme our faith to strengthen it and to build vp a man daily more and more in the knowledge of Christ Secondly Gods word must be the rule of out walking Reas 2 and that narrow road within the limits whereof we should alwayes containe our selues And indeed by the word must all our actions be tried and iudged and therefore it were most expedient that by the word all our actions should bee squared Thirdly it is that onely that must bee our comfort Reas 3 when all other comforts faile Now a sure friend must not be contemned I had perished in my affliction saith Dauid had it not beene for thy word Vse 1 Seeing then that the Scriptures ought so diligently and frequently be read of vs. How iniuriously then doth the Church of Rome deale with mens soules that will not permit men the reading of the Scriptures no priuate man in that Church without speciall lycence may reade the Scriptures but must take all vpon trust and vpon the bare word of their teachers But what is this but directly to contradict the Lord himselfe We see that ignorant men peruert the Scriptures Obiect A poore filly shift Resp because some abuse the Scriptures shall others therefore not be permitted the lawfull vse thereof meates drinkes c. What is there amongst vs that is not abused must therefore the lawfull vse be taken away This may serue to condemne thousands amongst vs Vse 2 who seldome or neuer reade the Scriptures neuer take the booke of God into their hands yea such as giue no place to Gods word in their houses hardly haue a Bible at home Cards and Dice are rife amongst them these are turned and tossed euery day but the book of God is cast into a corner lyes couered with dust and the Spider spins her web ouer it This may serue also to taxe many Noble men and Gentle men Vse 3 who thinke it a base and contemptible thing to reade the Scriptures therefore they spend their time in Hawking and Hunting in Carding and in Dicing in eating and drinking and in all manner of licentious courses but as for reading the Scriptures it is held a matter of reproach to seem to haue a Bible in their hands a matter of precisenesse curiositie and more then needs But they must haue in stead of the Scriptures which are able to make them wise vnto saluation idle vaine and lasciuious bookes the Court of Venus the Pallace of pleasure bookes of loue and venery books of lyes and vanitie which doe poyson youth stir vp lust and all vncleanenesse and drowne men in perdition Well let such men know that while they bestow more time and leisure in reading such vaine and idle Pamphlets then in Gods word the Lord will plague punish them with a spirituall plague and iudgement from aboue that they remaine strangers from the comforts of Gods word that is indeed a clapsed and a sealed book vnto them whereas vnto the godly the word of God is their greatest ioy and solace Thy word saith Dauid is sweeter vnto mee then the honey the honey combe and againe Thy word is dearer vnto mee then thousands of gold and siluer This comfort such men are strangers vnto whilest with the Swine they feede on huskes and draffe and haue no appetite at all to the word of life And last of all Vse 4 this may serue to prouoke vs all in the feare of God by the example of this worthy man to a greater loue and delight in the word that we bestow more time in reading and searching therein for great is the fruit and profit that comes thereby We see a childe will take delight to reade his Fathers Will to see what Legacies be giuen him of his father Now the word of God in the old and new Testament is the Will of God the Father yea Christ last Will and Testament wherein be many legacies giuen to Gods children namely remission of sinnes eternall life the kingdome of heauen c. O then if we be the sonnes of God how can we choose but looke into these Legacies royalties and priuiledges giuen vnto vs of God our Father We see how carefull men bee to get the booke of Statutes into their houses how diligently will they reade them and meditate vpon them that they may not offend how much more ought men to search into Gods statute Booke his Word that they may not sinne against him He reade Esayas the Prophet But why tooke he such paines in reading the Scriptures Quest migâ—t not this seeme to be