care ouer his sheepe both by the ministrie of his word and spirit to keepe them from going astray that they can no sooner turne aside to the right hand or the left but they shall heare a voice behind them saying This is the way walke ye in it g Esay 30. 21. and also to defend them from the tooth of the Lion woolfe and dog that they doe not catch or scatter them being a wall of fire round about them as speaketh the Prophet h Zac. 2. 5. 4 Fourthly and lastly that I may not be tedious by insisting vpon euerie particular a louing and carefull Shepheard if any of his flock be gone astray into the wildernesse he will take paines to seeke it and exceedingly reioyce in the finding thereof as Christ noted in the parable of the lost sheep i Mat. 18. 12. if any be diseased to set to his hand dresse thē if their disease be contagious to remooue them from the fold flock til they be cured least others bee infected if any be weake and feeble to carrie them in his armes Euen so our Lord that louing and carefull Shepheard is come into the wildernesse of this world to seeke and to saue that which was lost k Luk. 19. 10. If he find any faultie he will launce them with the sword of his spirit and addresse himselfe to their amendment annointing their soares with the soueraigne salue of his mercie but if their liues be lasciuious and the disease grow infectious then by discipline and excommunication hee will separate them from the flocke remooue them from the fold and deliuer them vnto Sathan for the destruction of the flesh l 1. Cor. 5. 5 Lastly his yong and weake ones his tender lambes he will nourish and cherish in his bosome m Esay 40. 11 as speaketh the Prophet not breaking the brused reede nor quenching the smoaking flaxe n Mat. 12. 20. nor suffering them to bee tempted aboue that they are able but will euen giue the issue with the temptation as sayth the Apostle o 1. Cor. 10 13. And thus vnder the duties of a good Shepheard we haue noted the great care and mercifull prouidence of God towards his Church and Saints now on the other side let vs briefely looke into the nature properties and condition of the sheepe that thence we may also learne to know our selues and our duties towards Christ againe 1 For the nature of the sheepe The sheepes nature it is first recorded by all those that haue written thereof and by experience we find it true she is foolish and simple proane to goe astray euen when there is plentie of pasture at home yea being once gone aside she hath not the wit to returne but the further she goeth the further from her fold and wheras other beasts can shelter themselues in dens caues and calme places against stormie and tempestuous weather yet will she expose her selfe to dangers remedilesse vnlesse she be preuented by the care and prouident foresight of her Shepheard And surely so we are naturally foolish and vnwise not perceiuing the thinges of the spirit but running with greedinesse in the wandring pathes of death as the Prophet confesseth all vve like sheepe haue gone astray we haue turned euerie one to his owne way p Esay 53. 6. So Christ witnesseth of the prodigall Sonne that as long as he followed his ryotous sinfull course he was as besides himselfe not knowing what hee did nor whether hee went q Luk. 15. 17. And the Apostle also hath said of the Gentiles that they walked in their owne wayes r Act. 14. 16 2 Though she haue many enemies yet hath she neither courage to resist swiftnes to flie or wisedome to hide her selfe but rather will wander into desolate places where shee doth the more dangerously expose her selfe to her deuouring foes the subtill Foxe greedie dog rauenous wolfe and deuouring Lion so that of all creatures she stādeth in greatest need of a guide defender Euē so man of himself is vtterly vnable to giue check-mate vnto sin and temptations thereunto which like a subtil fox lieth lurking fawning at euery corner to pray vpon a Christian soule or to withstand Sathan which like a rauenous wolfe or roaring Lion goeth about seeking whom he may deuoure as speaketh the Apostle ſ 1. Pet. 5. 8 So that most miserable we were if it were not for the continuall watchful and prouident care of our louing shepheard Christ Iesus But now as her nature is such The sheepes properties so as if she were priuie to her owne foolishnesse and weaknesse hath she speciall good properties whereby natures infirmities are well reformed and our dueties shadowed out first she knoweth heareth and obeyeth her Shepheards voice or whistle euen so the faithfull doe know heare and obey the voice of Christ wherein they find such comfort and full contentation that they desire to heare his voice yea his name is as svveete as an ointment powred out t Cant. 1. 2. Yea the voice of a stranger they vvill not heare u Ioh. 10. 5 but hold him accursed that preacheth another doctrine though an Angell from heauen or his charm neuer so sweet w Gal. 1. 8. If then we will approue our selues the true sheepe of Christs fold wee must first labour for knowledge and the spirit of discretion that vve bee not carried avvay vvith euerie puffe of doctrine x Eph. 4. 14 but that wee trie the spirits vvhether they be of God or no y 1. Io. 4. 1. and discerne the voice of Christ from the voice of strangers secondly that knowing his voice we cheerefully and speedily run with Dauid whether we are called in the vvaies of Gods commaund z Psa 119. 32. for otherwise if we heare and doe not vve doe but deceiue our ovvne soules a Iam. 1. 22 and Christ Iesus will renounce vs as he did the Iewes hee that is of God heareth Gods vvords yee therefore heare them not because ye are not of God b Ioh. 8. 47 2 Secondly the sheepe is profitable yea to her verie enemies with her skinne and wooll shee cloathed them so saith Iob the loynes of the poore blessed him vvhich had beene vvarmed with the fleeces of his sheepe c Iob. 31. 20. with her flesh and milke she feedeth vs so saith God reckoning vp the blessings of his people butter of Kyne and milke of Sheepe with fat of the lambes and Rams fed in Bashan d Deu. 32. 14. so the sheepe of Gods pasture doe good to all but specially to them of the houshould of faith e Gal. 6. 10. with their riches they helpe the needie feed the hungrie cloath the naked releeue the destitute and their gifts of grace they communicate vnto others instructing the ignorant strengthening the weake comforting the feeble minded admonishing the vnruly yea thus beneficiall they are not only to their friends but
calleth Christ the cheefe Shepheard e 1. Pet. 54 2 Sometimes also Kings and Princes are compared to Sheapheards whereby their care and vigilancy for the good of their people and subiects are expressed so Asaph speaking of Dauid saith He chose Dauid his seruant and tooke him from the Sheep-fold euen from behinde the Evves great vvith young brought hee him to feede his people in Iacob and his inheritance in Israel f Ps 78. 70. So the Prophet Esay prophecying of that notable deliuerance of Gods people out of captiuitie to assure them thereof he nameth the person by whom it should be more than an hundred yeeres before he was borne in this manner he saith to Cyrus Thou art my Shepheard g Esay 44. 28. By which title the Lord giueth all Kings and Princes of the earth to vnderstand that it is their dutie discharge it aswell as they wil to prouide faithfully for the good of the soules and bodies of their people to guide them by counsaile and to defend them by power 3 Thirdly and most cōmonly good ministers of the word are compared to good Shepheards and therby the great diligence and care that they ought to haue to feed the flocke committed to their charge with the green wholesome pasture of Gods vvord and to goe before them in all holy example of life are shadowed out so the Lord promiseth I vvill bring you pastors according to mine heart vvhich shall feede you vvith knovvledge and vnderstanding h Iere. 3. 15 And again I vvill bring them to their folds and they shall growe and increase and I will set vp Shepheards ouer them which shall feede them neither shall any of them be lacking i Iere. 23. 4 Vnder this metaphor Christ gaue Symon Peter his charge Peter louest thou me feed my lambes c. k Ioh. 21. 15. And S. Peter accordingly all ministers feed the flocke of God which dependeth vppon you c. l 1. Pet. 5. 2 4 Fourthly lastly the ignorance idlenes couetousnesse and dissolute prophanes of bad ministers or as the Church calleth them companions m Can. 1. 6 are notably shadowed out by comparing them to idle greedie and carelesse Shepheards and these Sheapheards cannot vnderstand for they all looke to their ovvne vvaies euerie one for his aduantage and for his owne purpose n Esay 56. 11. Againe the Shepheards are become beasts and haue not sought the Lord therefore haue they none vnderstanding and all the flockes of their pastures are scattered o Ie. 10. 21 but most notably largely is their idlenesse and seueritie taxed by the Prophet Exechiel in these vvords vvoe be to the Shepheards of Israell that feed themselues yea eating the fat killing them that are fed and cloathing themselues with the wooll but yee feede not the sheepe the weake haue yee not strengthned the sicke haue yee not healed neither haue yee bound vp the broken nor brought againe that which was driuen away neither haue yee sought that which was lost but with crueltie and rigour haue ye ruled them and they vvere scattered without a Shepheard and when they were dispersed they vvere deuoured of all the beastes of the field p Ezech. 34 2 3 4 5. But because in this place it is most plaine that by Shepheard the Prophet vnderstandeth the Lord of that we will only speake and passe by the rest which metaphor will be much the more sweet and profitable if we breake it open by considering the duties of a good Shepheard wherby the mercies of God towards his people are notably resembled and also the nature and duties of sheepe Illustration whereby are shadowed out those good thinges which either are or ought to be in all Gods people againe First The qualities of a good Shepheard a good Shepheard doth know his sheepe and to that end will giue them his marke that if any of them goe astray he may seek them againe and bring them home to the Sheep-fold So Christ Iesus the good Shepheard knovveth his sheepe and calleth them by their names q Ioh. 10. 3. 14. and as the Apostle sayth the foundation of God remaineth sure and is sealed with this seale the Lord knoweth who are his r 2. Tim. 2. 19. Yea this great Shepheard hath a Booke wherein all the names of his elect sheepe are written called the Booke of life ſ Exod. 32. 32. Phil. 4. 3. Reu. 3. 5. 20. 12. 21. 27. yea the Lord marketh his in their foreheads with the seale of the liuing God t Reu. 7. 3. which as the Apostle saith is the holy spirit of promise u Eph. 1. 13. which doth shew it selfe by the fruits therof in the outward behauiour profession and conuersation c. 2 Secondly a good Shepheard will haue care to feed his sheepe not in rotten soyle and wasting grasse but in good wholsome green pastures for thereon is he called Pastor a Pascendo So Christ is that good Sheapheard who feedeth euerie liuing thing w Ps 145. 16. Hee fed his people in the wildernesse 40. yeeres with mannah and feathered fowles from heauen x Exo. 16. 13. and with waters out of the stonie rocke y Exo. 17. 6 And Moses miraculously for 40. daies during which time he neither did eate bread nor drinke water z Exo. 34. 28. All men with naturall foode causing the raine to fall and Sunne to shine both on iust and iniust a Mat. 5. 45 but specially hee feedeth the soules of his chosen sheep in the green pastures that grow on the mountaines of Israell b Ezec. 34. 14. with the bread of life Christ Iesus himselfe in his word and Sacraments his glorious Gospell being our heauenly food his spirit and life our coelestiall drinke for we may not maruell that in diuers sences Christ Iesus should be the Shepheard that feedeth c Ioh. 10. 14 the dore whereby wee enter d Ioh. 10. 9 and the foode wherewith our soules are fedde and fatted vp vnto eternall life e Ioh. 6. 35. 3 A good Shepheard knowing both the straying nature of his sheep and also their timerousnesse weaknesse and simplicitie either to flie from resist or defend themselues from their manifold cruell and subtill enemies will haue great care to keepe them together and defend them as Iacob declaring his fidelitie to Laban in keeping his flocke said thus This twentie yeares I haue beene with thee thine Ewes and Goates haue not cast their young and the Rams of thy flocke haue I not eaten whatsoeuer was torne of beastes I brought it not vnto thee but made it good my selfe of mine hand didst thou require it were it stollen by day or stollen by night I was in the day consumed with heate and with frost in the night and my sleepe departed from mine eies c. f Ge. 31. 38. 39 40. So Christ Iesus being a most faithfull Shepheard hath great
changes looke vpon Iob who somtimes fearefully cursed himself the day of his birth cōplained of gods rigorous dealing towards him as though he had set him as a But to shoot at would not suffer him to take his breath nor swallow his spittle somtimes again so cōfortable that though the Lord should kill him yet vvould he trust in him t Iob 13. 25 But what need we other example thē this of Dauid who was somtimes so greatly cast downe that the earth rang againe with his wofull complaints and mourning Oh my God my God vvhy hast thou forsaken me u Psal 22. 1 vvhat are thy mercies cleane gone and wilt thou shut vp thy louing kindnesse in displeasure for euermore Hast thou forgotten to be merciful and vvilt thou no more be intreated c. Sometimes againe so comfortable in the assurance of Gods fauour and so strong in faith That the Lord being his shepheard he shall not vvant and he vvill not feare to goe through the valley of the shadovv of death and he vvould not feare though compassed about vvith thousands of his enemies w Psal 3. 6 Yea though mountanes did remoue and hils vvere hurled into the midst of the sea for the Lord is my strong rocke castell defence he hath made my feete like Hindes I shall breake a bovv of steele and by the povver of God I shal leape ouer the vvall c. Yea I appeale to your owne consciences whether you haue not experience of the like in your selues somtimes such ioy and delight in the worship of God and such comfort in diuine Meditations as will make vs awake at midnight with Dauid to sing Psalmes vnto God Sometimes againe such dulnes and drowsinesse vnaptnesse and vntowardnesse to euery good dutie that there is nothing but mourning like the Doue and chattering like the Crane or Swalow Well the Lord hee knoweth what is best for vs not euer a full Sea nor euer a low ebbe not euer Summer nor euer Winter The Sonne is sometimes couered with a clowde yet still in the Firmament the fire couered with Ashes yet still on the hearth the tree sometimes without bud blossom leafe and fruit yet aliue in the roote * Spiritus tentatoris folia deiiciit viuit tamē radix and surely this is our comfort that God is no changeling vvhom he loueth hee loueth to the end x Ioh. 13. 1 he may for a moment in his anger leaue his elect but vvith euerlasting compassion he hath embraced thē y Esay 54. 8 neither shall any thing bee able to separate them from his loue The vse whereof is Vse that we must not be too much cast downe although it please the Lord with northren blasts to wither and shake off our blossoms and for a time to depriue vs of our comfortable meditations seeing this is the portion of his dearest Saints onely this let vs not please our selues in the dulnesse and hardnesse of our hearts but with all diligence vse the good meanes which he hath appointed for the quickening of his graces in vs and doubtlesse he vvil comfort and stablish our harts z Ps 27. 14 and 30. 5. and by experience we shall find though heauinesse endure for a night yet ioy shall come in the morning THE SECOND SERMON vpon the 23. Psalme He maketh me to rest in greene Pastures and leadeth me to the still waters c. vers 2. IN these words of the second and third verses the holy Prophet proceedeth in way of a thankfull narration of Gods great mercies towards him for to illustrate the former generall proposition by a distribution of the speciall duties of a good and faithful Shepheard whereby he declareth the happie estate and condition and how free they are from want of those ouer whom the Lord hath taken care and charge to prouide for them as a faithfull Shepheard doth for his sheepe And herein two things are to be considered The subdiuision of the 2. 3. verses first a rehearsall of the duties secondly the reason of perfourmance the particular duties here mentioned wherevnto the rest may be reduced and vnder which great mysteries are comprehended are these fiue in number First it is the dutie of a good Shepheard to prouide wholsome and good pasture for his sheepe Secondly fit waters to drinke Thirdly a coole shadow in the heat of the day where being freed from the scorching heate of the Sunne they may rest and chewe the cudde fourthly to haue a tender care ouer the feeble and weak to refresh them Lastly to lead and guide them whereby they may be preserued from going astray and defended from their deuouring enemies whereunder the singular care and prouidence of God towards his people are shadowed out wherunto in the second place the Prophet addeth the reason that mooueth God to perfourme these duties and euerie way to bee so good to his poore Saints by the ministrie of his Gospell to conuert them by his spirit to lead them into all godly actions and euerie way to blesse them viz. Not for their beautie for that is but grasse a Esay 40. 6 nor for their righteousnesse for that is to his eies but as a filthy menstruous cloath b Esay 64. 6. but it is for the same cause wherewith he hath euer been prouoked euen for his owne name and glorie sake these are the particulers for our comfort and instruction further to be considered of The first and cheefest care of a good Shepheard The first dutie of a good Shepheard is to prouide good and wholesome pasture for his sheepe is to prouide fresh and wholsome pasture for his sheepe for though they haue all other things neuer so aboundantly yet if they want this they perish and so it is with Gods sheep which made our Sauiour Christ that great Shepheard and Bishop of our soules as the Apostle calleth him c 1. Pet. 2. 25 so earnestly to require Peter and in him all the Apostles and their lawful Successors Feed feed feed my sheep d Io. 21. 17 and Peter with no lesse earnestnes requireth the same of euerie Pastor Feede the flocke of God which dependeth vpon you e 1. Pe. 5. 2 1. Pet. 5. 2. Yea how great care the Lord hath that his sheepe doe want no food appeareth most notably from the prophecie of Ezechiel because the Shepheards of Israell feed themselues and feede not my flocke I will my selfe feed my sheepe in good and fat pasture vpon the mountaines of Israell f Ezec. 34. 14. And Christ that good Shepheard hath sayd I am that dore by mee if any man enter in hee shall be saued and shall goe in and out and find pasture g Io. 10. 9. But that I may not confusedly handle this point let vs briefly consider these few things first what is this pasture or food 2. What manner of pasture it is 3. where it groweth is to be
false witnesse to kill to come orderly to the Church to pare off some sinnes to be friendly to the professors of the Gospell and to lead a ciuill life when as in the meane time thy heart within is filthy full of infidelitie ignorance pride couetousnesse malice What is all this thy Religion now surely as much regarded of God as the cutting off of a dogs necke and offering of swines bloud as the Prophet saith l Esa 66. 3. Thou art like a goodly sepulchre full of filthinesse Oh then striue to haue the inside of the cup and platter clensed m Mat. 23. 26 let the hidden man of the heart bee decked with a meeke and quiet spirit n 1. Pe. 34 and specially with loue a good conscience faith vnfayned o 1. Ti. 1. 5 for the kings daughter as her apparell is of wrought gold so is she glorious within p Ps 45. 13 which spirituall beauty is a thing much set by without which whatsoeuer we seeme to haue whether we be superstitious Papists or ceremonious Protestants in the sight of God it is nothing worth What is then more to be feared thā this that the nūber of true conuerts is very small whose harts are vpright with God and can truely say with Dauid The Lord hath conuerted my soule and I feare in the day of visitation when the Lord will search vs to the quick most mens conuersion will be found but copper not able to abide the Lords touchstone and when hee shall waie vs in the ballance of his sanctuarie Balthasars Embleme may be written in our foreheads Mene Numerauit appendit diuisit mene Tekell vpharsin thou hast been weighed in the ballance and art found too light q Dan. 5. 25 Oh then whilst the time of grace and mercie lasteth let vs follow the councell of S. Peter euen giue all diligence to make our calling and election sure r 2. Pet. 1. 10 that as the sheepe of Gods pasture wee may in truth thankefully aknowledge with Dauid our fold-mate and say Hee hath conuerted my soule It followeth And leadeth me in the pathes of righteousnesse 5. dutie of a good Shepheard The holy Prophet still prosecuteth this allegorie And because the sheep is of a straying nature and subiect to many enemies that seeke to pray vpon her it is therefore the dutie of a verie good Shepheard not onely to prouide pasture water shadow and to cherish the weake but also to guide and lead them in the plaine way from the fold to the pasture and from pasture to pasture according to that of our Sauiour Christ in the Gospell of S. Iohn A good Shepheard calleth his sheepe by name and leadeth them out and when hee hath sent forth his owne sheepe hee goeth before them and the sheep follow him ſ Ioh. 10. 3. 4. That it might therefore appeare that God is not wanting in the perfourmance of any good dutie to his people he thereunto alludeth saying and he leadeth me in the pathes of righteousnesse q. d. The Lord not only conuerteth the soules of his people and quickneth them by his spirit from the graue of sinne but also being quickned and conuerted knowing how weake and proane they are to runne in the path of destruction he leaueth them not vnto themselues but taketh charge of them and leadeth them in the path of righteousnesse finishing the good worke which he hath begunne in them to his owne glory and their eternall saluation The generall doctrine from this straine The generall doctrine from this sentence is this viz That as in God is the cōuersion of our soules so from him is the continuance of our vpright walking before him if euer he leaue vs to our selues we fearefully start aside as we haue an example in that faithfull and zealous King Ezekiah who being left of God to trie him in stead of thankefulnesse both for his gracious deliuerance out of the hands of his enemies for his miraculous restitution to health he bewrayed great pride of heart in shewing to the messengers of Merodache Baladan King of Babell all his treasures of siluer gold and armour t 2. Cro. 32 31. VVherevppon the assurance of the perseuerance of Gods Saints is grounded Q. If this be our weaknes what is then the ground of our assurance that being once conuerted and brought into the state of grace we shall continue therein A. Euen here it is laid down The Lord will lead vs in the pathes of righteousnesse this grace hath Christ prayed for who was heard in all thinges u Ioh. 11. 42 Holy Father keepe them in thy name euen those that thou hast giuen me and sanctifie them with thy truth thy word is thy trueth w Ioh. 17. 11. 17. Yea God himselfe hath promised who is faithfull and cannot lie I will not faile thee neither forsake thee x Heb. 13. 6 So that howsoeuer for a moment he may leaue and forsake vs for our triall that hauing experience of our weakenesse we may the more earnestly cleaue vnto him yet doubtlesse he will not forsake vs ouer long but so order our goings and lead vs forth in the right way that for the beginning continuance and end of our saluation his name may haue all the praise The vse whereof is Vse that no man glory in his owne strength which is but as a read that will breake to shiuers but hee that glorieth glorie in the Lord y Ierem. 9. 24 And say with Dauid The Lord is my strength and my saluation z Ps 18. 2. he is on my right hand that I shal not greatly fall a Ps 16. 8. yea let vs continually pray with Dauid Lord lead mee in thy righteousnesse because of mine enemies make thy way plaine before my face b Psa 5. 8. And againe Cast me not off in the time of mine age forsake me not when my strength faileth me c Ps 71. 9. So much for the doctrine and vse of this whole straine in general now let vs more neerely come to scanne the words in particular as they lye in order for they are verie significant and yeeld verie profitable obseruatiōs for our instructiō comfort Diuision of this sentence wherein first we are to consider what the lord doth he leadeth secondly where in the pathes 3. what manner of pathes 1. part of righteousnesse of these in order He leadeth 1. note he saith not he sheweth as if it were inough for Gods people to know the way and then they haue power sufficient of themselues to walke therein but the Lord doth lead conduct them shewing them the way and giuing them power to walke therein This doth the Church acknowledge in the Canticles where she desireth Christ to draw her d Can. 1. 3. Alas good virgin her onely ioy and desire is to runne after Christ in whom she knoweth her felicitie consisteth and yet her legges