oath of vs as Abraham of his servant that wee shall seeke out a Wife for his sonne and shall we deale falsely and faithlesly in our errand Oh let vs labour to ioyne still even heaven and earth Christ and the Church We haue not our names and offices of m Levi signifieth ioyned Levi for nought Pray we for a blessing vpon our trauaile as n Gen. 24.12 Eliezer did shun we not to declare all the counsell of God o Act. 20.27 for any by-respect whatsoeuer and then albeit our message be not entertained by All as we doe desire yet a good Rebeccah will make vs well-come for the tydings that we bring her of this heauenly Isaac and the comfort wee shall reape in this will countercheck the discomforts that may be occasioned by the contrary And as for the Egyptian Dames Philistins Dalilahs daughters of Heth and wicked ones who care the lesse for vs by how much the more wee vrge them to this Bridegroome let them liue single from Christ if they list one day they will curse the time that euer they set so light by so weightie a message so Princely a marriage Vse 5 Fiftly I may vse this poynt as a Motiue to stirre vp Christians to solicite Christ for the good of their brethren Advise to pray for the church in affliction a part of his Bride who are vnder the rod and the flaile for the Gospells sake His Kingly office is an argument that there is neither want of wisedome nor defect of power to bring to nought the subtile policies and cruell practises of those Romish p The Iesuits blood-hounds and heathenish Atheists who hunt after the ruine of Gods Israel Hauing then such an one to speake to why should our prayers be either few or cold Nay why not more then ordinary in extraordinary times of need What an heauie case is it that in the q Isa 22.12 day when the Lord calls vs to mourning to weeping to baldnesse and girding with sackcloth there should be r Vers 13. ioy and gladnes slaying Oxen and killing sheepe eating flesh and drinking Wine Oh that this principle could learne vs better things Needfull it is now if euer for vs that wee should well it would be with vs if we would euen importune this Bridegrome for his church with the Prophet Dauids argument Thou art my King O God command deliverances for Iacob Å¿ Psal 44.4 Vse 6 Finally what a number of sweet rills doe flow from this fountaine to comfort and atcheere the children of God Comfort to the faithfull Speake thou afflicted Christian what is it that troubleth thee The Deuill dogges thee doth he not Corruption clogs thee doth it not Peradventure thou thinkest thou shalt not hold out to the end It may be the reproches of neighbours the malice of enemies the feare of death and the like doe disquiet thee Well whatsoever it be that grieueth thee proue but thou that Christ Iesus hath wooed thee and won thee to himselfe and this poynt will glad thee and comfort thee Comfort 1. Against Satan What though that Arch-adversary to thy peace and thy soule the Devill will not let thee alone but is euer and anon molesting of thee with such and such assaults setting vpon thee Remember thy husband is a King and this t Gen. 3.15 seed of the Woman hath broken the head of that serpent and victoriously conquered this Prince of darkenes insomuch that though he doth nibble at thy heele yet this Prince this God of Peace shall u Rom. 16.20 tread him downe shortly vnder thy feete And then all his darts that he hath shott out against thee shall be retorted vpon himselfe to the wounding of his own pate Yea and this be thou surely perswaded of too for thy husband the great King will haue it so such is his pleasure and can haue it so such is his power So that the Devill cannot be so violent against thee but Christ will be as valiant against him for thee * Quo impetu venerat eodem impetu pulsus est quantum fotmidinis terroris attulit tantum fortitudinis inuenit roboris Cyp. Epist l. 1. Ep. 1. 2. Against the rebelling of nature against grace Secondly Fearest thou that thy corruptions will subiugate thee to their former yoake and prevaile over thee because they are continually stirring against the worke of the Spirit in thee Consider still thy husband is a King and by consequent he hath mastered sinne for thee even in thine owne flesh x Psal 68.19 he hath led captiuitie captiue he hath layd chaynes vpon thy lusts and hath taken such order for the continuall decrease of euill in thee that like as it was fore-prophesied the Israelites should the Babylonians so thou shalt take those Corruptions captiues whose captiue thou wert and thou shalt rule ouer those thy spirituall oppressors and rest shalt thou haue from this thy sorrow and thy feare and from the hard bondage wherein before conversion thou wast made to serue z Isa 14.2.3 3. Against doubting of perseverance 3. Standest thou in doubt whether thou shalt haue grace enough to bring thee to heaven and is this a discomfort vnto thee still keepe the memoriall of this poynt in thy thoughts In this thy King a Coloss 1.19 Chap. 2. v. 9. dwells the fulnes of the God-head bodily and the absolute riches of all graces which graces are the iewells that he mindes to furnish and fill thee withall continually Will a Princely wooer be sparing in his gifts will he marry himselfe with one whom he meanes to make a bill of divorce against after there hath passed a most sweet Communion betwixt them for a time Or what Can he not for want of might or loues he not for want of will to make that good which he promised when he sayd b Hos 2.19.20 I will marry thee to my selfe FOR EVER yea and that in righteousnes in iudgement in faithfulnes and knowledge When tookest thou him euer tardy or faithles He would not be thy Prince thy Soveraigne if he meant not to guide thee by his law and governe thee with his Spirit vntill he even bringeth thee to glory Wherefore if here be thy feare comfort thy heart with that which the Apostle hath Heb. 12.28 the kingdome which thou hast received yea hast receiued alreadie cannot be shaken Fourthly Doth the world powre contempt vpon thee 4. Against contempt Art thou set at nought canst not haue that esteeme amongst men which thou desirest and deservest I see little reason why this should trouble thee If it doth here is comfort against IT also Thou hast a KING whom thou art married vnto yea the KING of heaven and earth which if the world knew as it doth not in which thou liuest as a stranger and vnknowne vnto thee it would be twice advised ere it would dare so much as to haue any
Salomon and c Isa 9.6 Prince of peace And so our Observation must be this That the husband of the Church Christ Iesus is a King This is a knowne Maxime in the proofe whereof the Scripture is no whit barren The Psalmist Doct. 1. Christ the Churches Spouse is a King speaking in the person of the Church calleth him d Psal 47.7 our King Daniel calleth him e Dan. 9.25 Messiah the Prince And f Chap. 12.1 Michaell the great Prince S. Iohn in one place of the Revelation stileth him the Prince of the Kings of the earth g Apoc. 1.5 and in another the King of Kings the Lord of Lords h Chap. 19.16 Herewith squareth that of Ieremy i Iere. 23.5 Behold the daies come saith the Lord that I will raise vnto Dauid a righteous branch and a KING shall raigne and prosper and shall execute iudgement and iustice vpon the earth The same thing spake the Angell to Mary concerning Christ k Luk. 1.33 He shall raigne over the house of David and of his kingdome shall be none end All these testimonies with many other which might haue beene alledged doe manifestly shew this to be a truth That Christ Iesus Sions Spouse is a King How Christ is a King two wayes And if we would know how he came by this Kingly office which must be answered before the poynt be applyed wee must vnderstand that he is a King two wayes First By dominion of himselfe Secondly By donation from another 1. First by dominion and authoritie of himselfe and so he is Iehovah God equall with the Father and the holy Ghost in vnitie of essence equalitie of potency maiestie glory and soveraigntie over all creatures 2. He is a King by donation and gift receiuing the kingdome as he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Mediator of the Church from the Father in which regard he is called Messiah in the olde Testament and Christ in the new which signifie Annoynted that is Annoynted of the Father and so much he testifieth himselfe l Mat. 11.27 All things and * Chap. 28.28 All power both in heaven and in earth are giuen me of my Father Thus the poynt is made good and made cleere It is as vsefull as plaine Vse 1 For first of all it lets vs see the notable dignitie of the Church of Christ To heare the Psalmist calling her the DAVGHTER of the King m Psal 45.13 to heare Salomon stiling her the Princes DAVGHTER n Cant. 7.1 is to heare her dignitie vnmatchable but to heare her her selfe as shee is the WIFE of Christ stiling him the King in my Text to heare Christ the King calling her his Spousesse his loue his doue his vndefiled one c. as he doth in more places of this Booke then one this is to heare her excellency to be vnutterable What honour can be paralelled with it What dignitie is comparable to it Behold saith S. Iohn to stirre vp attention what manner of loue the Father hath bestowed vpon vs that we should be called the sonnes of God o 1 Ioh. 3.1 Behold may I say to stirre vp admiration what singular kindnes the sonne hath showne the Church that shee should be the Wife of God If by the grace of adoption to be the BRETHREN of Christ can command a Behold at our hands then by the vertue of an holy coniunction to be the BRIDE of Christ must needs call for a Behold and wonder at our hands And to speake truth so wonderfull is this dignitie that except by an Allegorie I cannot set it forth We know that that Woman which hath an earthly King to her husband excelleth all other degrees of Women though great and noble in the Land where shee liueth in divers particulars For shee hath a more noble Guard to attend her more royall Garments to array her more câ—stly Iewels to adorne her more stately Pallaces to inhabite in more pleasant Galleries to walke vpon then they haue or at least then its fit they should haue And doth not that p Apoc. 12.1 Woman cloathed with the Sunne I meane the q So Paraeus and others expound it Church who is contracted to the Heavenly King excell all other sorts and societies of people in the like Out of doubt shee doth Emperors with all their Monarchies Nobles with all their dignities Captaines with all their Victories Papists with all their prelacies Pagans with all their excellencies are not comparable vnto her Her guard are the Angels of Christ r Psal 34.7 Heb. 1.14 Her garments are the robes of Christ Å¿ Apoc. 12.1 Her iewels are the graces or Christ Her dwelling place is the kingdome of Christ of grace here of glory hereafter Her walking places are the wayes of Christ for it is onely the priviledge of Christians to tread in the steps of their soveraigne and Saviour Well then might the Psalmist say Glorious things are spoken of thee thou Citie of God t Psal 87.3 I know what opinion the world hath of the Church deeming her of all people to be the basest O nunquam satis expensam credentium dignitatem Muscul in Explana Psal 45. v. 9. Obs 2. even the very scumme and refuse of men I know also that her owne members in the time of temptation thinke more hardly of themselues then there is either cause or warrant But whatsoever the world thinkes of her whatsoever poore Christians in the times of distresse thinke of themselues yet it is a certaine thing that great honour haue all the Saints u Psal 149.9 the poynt in hand informeth vs of no lesse when it saith that Israels husband is a King Vse 2 Secondly this poynt is not without its Vse for the enemies of the Church For the enemies of Sion For first it may be bent AGAINST them by way of terror Secondly it may be directed To them by way of counsell 1. By way of terror First I say it may be a ground of terrour AGAINST them for the wrongs that they offer to the members of Christ Ah poore wretches are they aware whom they oppose consider they whom they set against they persecute wrong oppugne them who are the Wife of Christ Iesus a glorious Bride whose husband is a King King not onely by donation from the Father but also by dominion of himselfe Meane men yee know if they loue their Wiues will not see them wronged if they can helpe it much lesse will Kings brooke the iniuries that are offered their Queenes That treason which is spoken or plotted against them they take as done to themselues and will be revenged for it And will the King of Kings that Great Prince Christ Iesus doe lesse for his Wife the Church No no he paide too deare a price for her as not to maintaine her cause and avenge her quarrell and if he vndertakes to defend her then woe to those that offend her Better a
as the Schooles would haue it He is not I say either of these wayes present in Baptisme But first to seale vnto vs our admission into the couenant of his grace and communion with himselfe and with his Saints r Act. 2.39 Gal. 3.27 Secondly to represent vnto vs and Sacramentally to show vs by the outward washing of Water the inward cleansing of our soules by his blood that is by iustification ſ Polan Synt. l. 6. c. 55. and by his Spirit that is by sanctification t Id. ibid. Ablutio per sanguinem Christi est iustificatio Ablutio per spiritum Christi est regeneratio Thirdly to put vs in minde of our repentance new obedience courage and care to show our selues his Souldiers by warring and fighting against the Deuill the world and the flesh So then you see that three wayes Christ is present in Baptisme 1. As a sealer of the mutuall couenant betwixt Him and his Church 2. as a representer of the benefits he will bestow on his Church if shee keepe her conditions 3. as a remembrancer of the duties shee owes to him if shee would haue him keepe his conditions Lastly to answere the third Question Qu 3. How Christ is present in the Eucharist How Christ is present in the Lords Supper We must know that he is not there Transubstantially as though the Bread and Wine were turned into the body of Christ flesh blood and bones as our adversaries the Papists hold nor yet Consubstantially * Existentia ve◠absconsione corporis invisibilis in sub cum pane by an existence or hiding his inuisible body in with vnder the Bread as if there were no figure in the Sacrament as the Vbiquitarians hold u Chemnit Har. Evang. cap. 83. col 1586. At verò hinc inferre velle Ergo in Doctrina Sacramenti propositio panis est corpus meum etiam est figuratae hoc verò absurdissimū Christi ingenio prorsus contrarium est Vide etiam Col. 1587. 1588. but these wayes first to keepe vs mindfull of his death which he endured for vs in which regard some haue called the Lords Supper * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sacrificium a Sacrifice of remembrance Secondly to strengthen our faith in the assurance of the continuance of his loue and to ratifie the pardon of our sinnes our title of adoption our interest in grace our right to glory to our soules Thirdly to arme vs against Idolatry that partaking of the Lords Table wee may not communicate at the Table of Deuills ¶ 1 Cor. 10.21 Fourthly to preserue vs in the way of obedience Fiftly to assure vs of the resurrection of our bodies at the last day according to Christs owne speech x Ioh. 6.54 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternall life and I will raise him at the last day And lastly to signifie vnto vs and ascertaine vs of our vnion with himselfe as Paul declareth when he sayth The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ y 1 Cor. 10.16 Thus we see not onely THAT but also HOVV Christ is present with his Church in his holy and sacred Ordinances Let vs now consider to what end the Doctrine serueth and what vses it affoordeth which are divers Vse 1 First It informeth vs of the reason why Gods people doe so diligently frequent the house of God are so often present at his Ordinances to wit because they meete their husband their King their Sauiour in such places at such exercises If a poore man comming to a great mans house findes the Master of the house to bid him well come to beare him company to entertaine him with good cheere merry talke and kind invitations to come oftner would you wonder to see that poore man euer and anon at that rich mans Table So it is with the children of God A great many marvaile at them what they meane to run so to Sermons as they doe Once a day say they cannot content them but they must heare twice say they the Saboth cannot suffice them but they must out on the weeke day If Baptisme be administred they will not out of the Church by any meanes If there be a communion euery moneth they must be at it euery time as though once or twice in a yeere were not sufficient wee wonder at it Doe you so it is because you know not whom they see whom they finde present whom they meete withall here They see the King here even the King of heauen and earth And although they haue his presence in their houses shops fields walkes and closets yet they know here He is present after a speciall and peculiar manner to conferre with them about deepe secrets to carue bitts to them according to their necessities If they be erroneous in their iudgements they finde him here to informe them if scrupulous in their consciences they find him here to resolue them if they be drowsie in his seruice they finde him here to rowse them if fallen into any sinne they finde him here present to rayse them if heauie in their hearts here he is to accheere them if they haue mistaken their way here he is to direct them In these Ordinances they finde their faith strengthened the couenant of Gods grace sealed their vnion with Christ ratified their assurance of persevering in grace of raising from death and raigning in glory confirmed and what not Marvaile you then what they doe frequenting such places where the Word is Preached and the Sacraments administred What wife that loues her husband doth not delight daily to converse with him at his Table Marvaile therefore at thy selfe rather that thou and thy companions take no more delight in such places at such exercises then you doe and cease wondering at them who come hither to be recreated and accheered with the gracious presence of their great Bride-grome Albeit I deny not but some doe as the people in Christs dayes did follow him for the z Ioh. 6. loaues some for his miracles some for one corrupt end some for another yet there is an holy and chosen generation who follow him in his Ordinances because they know he Sitteth at Table in the same and doth communicate vnto them such gracious glaunces of his countenance as Reprobates are like neuer to partake off Vse 2 Secondly Is Christ present with his Church in his Ordinances What meane the Papists then to take vpon them so tedious a taske as to runne to Compostella to see his holy coate which they say is there though no man knowes how it came there and to Ierusalem to visit his Sepulchre Oh folly to be pittied if not to be derided Thinke they to finde Christ in his coate finde his presence in the graue Is this one of their meritorious actions See Christians see their simplicitie Christ sits not there is not so present there as he is in
iustification The first of these points hath two parts Doct. That Christ in loue iustifieth his people 1. That Christians are iustified by Christ Iesus alone 2. That it is from his meere loue * 1. Part of the Doct. proued That Iesus is the iustifier of the Church is as euident as can be as from hence where the Church calleth him Her bundle of Myrrhe So out of the writings of the Prophets My righteous seruant shall iustifie many c Isa 53.11 Their righteousnesse is of ME saith the Lord d Isa 54.17 Is it not the Angell Christ that takes away from Iosuah the type of the Church his filthy garments that causeth his iniquitie to passe from him and clotheth him with change of rayment Euen with his owne righteousnesse as Zachary sheweth e Zach. 3.3.4 It is plaine also out of the writings of the Apostle By the obedience of ONE meaning Christ shall MANY meaning the Church be made righteous f Rom. 5.19 He made him sinne for vs who knew no sinne that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him g 2 Cor. 5.21 If while we seeke to be iustified by Christ we our selues are also found sinners h Gal. 2.17 c. And still the Scripture runnes vpon this that by Christ we are reconciled vnto God cleansed from sinne redeemed out of the handes of our enemies He therefore is our Iustifier and none other not excluding the Father A caueat or the holy Ghost who haue a stroke in this Worke as well as the Sonne As for that other branch of the poynt The 2. part of the Doct. proued that his loue is the ground of this grace the title Well-beloued which the church here giueth him will well carrie it and els-where the holy Ghost confirmes it By MERCY and truth is iniquitie purged i Pro. 16.6 saith the Wiseman Being iustified freely by his GRACE through the redemption that is in Iesus Christ k Rom. 3.24 That being iustified by his GRACE wee should be made heires according to the hope of eternall life saith the Apostle Did not Christ alone satisfie the wrath of the Father The Reason of both the parts of the Doct. together did He not tread the Wine-presse l Isa 63.3 alone What earthly man holpe him in his Actiue obedience to performe a perfect complete and entire seruice to euery iot that the Law requireth What mortall wight nay what creature in heauen or earth ayded him in his Passiue obedience had the whole wrath of the Father due to the sinne of man in full measure poured forth vpon him Speaketh the Prophet of any els but Christ when he saith Isa 53.5 He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was vpon him And would he euer haue vndergone this endured this had it not beene for loue Doubtlesse He would not Very well therefore doth the Church here to acknowledge her Well beloued to be this Bundle of Myrrhe and to giue to him * Obiection Answ and his loue alone the honour of her iustification when as He alone payd the price to purchase it and when as both the passion and compassion is his owne * Fide sola If any shall Obiect that wee are iustified by Faith or by Faith alone therefore not wholly not onely by Christ It must be answered that this is to be vnderstood in another sence Wee are iustified by faith as by an instrumentall cause by Christ as an efficient and fundamentall For no more is faith the primary cause of my iustification then my hand is the cause of the supply of my wants by a piece of money which the mercy of another furnisheth mee with That proposition * Parae ad Heb. p. 460 Solafide excluduntur vero nō causae superiores gratia Dei meritum Christi sed c. Wee are iustified by faith ALONE a speech much vsed by Orthodoxall Writers doth not exclude the causes of Iustification without our selues but it doth include onely but m Quotie dicitur Solafides iustificat ostenditur solamfidē esse vnicum argumentum vnicam facultatem quâ recipitur iustitia Christi Selnec Tract 3. de fid Sacram. Thes 1. one facultie in our selues by which alone wee doe apprehend that righteousnesse of Christ which the Lord doth impute vnto vs for our Iustification Whereupon saith one By faith alone are not excluded superior causes as the grace of God the merit of Christ but middle causes which are coyned by hypocrites as the strength of free will workes merits c. So that by faith wee are instrumentally iustified by the obedience of Christ formally as n Tom 5 in epist ad Eph p. 83. col 2. Zanchius sheweth For in Iustification o Bucer in iustificatione fides nihil dat sed tantum accipit quod accipit eo ipso iustificamur Faith giues nothing but onely receiueth and what it receiueth being Christ and his righteousnesse by that very same thing are we iustified So that it may very well be affirmed that faith iustifieth alone and yet be a truth too which I am in hand withall that by Christ alone wee are iustified Vse 1 And for currant might this Doctrine goe through all Christendome Against the Papists were it not for Antichrist and his Babylonish followers of whom when I thought there came to mind a wise speech of a graue p Tertull. Apol. p. 815. Nisi homini Deus plaeuerit deus non erit homo iam Deo propitiùs esse debebit The Papists deny Christ to be our alone iustifier three wayes 1. By their blasphemous Canons Father to allude to God should be God if man would let him God now belike must stand to mans curtesie for his superioritie So may I say of the Papists Iesus should be Iesus if they would let him the ALONE iustifier of his people if THEY would permit him and belike He must stand to THEIR caruing for the honour of this Worke For they are very bold to rob him of his glory which he deserues and his Bride here giues him and him alone for this grace Neither let any say I doe them wrong For first of all doth not the Councell of Trent q In Decret de iustif Can. 10. absolutely lay downe this If any shall affirme that men are iustified by the righteousnesse of Christ formally let him be accursed And immediately after r Canon XI Si quis dixerit homines iustificari vel sola imputatione iustitiae Christi c. 2. By attributing of iustification to the dignitie of faith If any man shall say that men are iustified either by the imputation of Christs righteousnesse alone or that the grace whereby we are iustified is onely the fauour of God let him be Anathema Secondly doe they not ascribe Iustification to the dignitie of faith What meanes els that
not the least They that fellow and follow him must take vp their crosse g Luk. 9.23 He tells vs the hardest in Wooing time if we be his Disciples we shall be h Io. 15.19.21 Luk. 21.17 hated for his name sake scoffed at with Isaac i Gen. 21.9 Gal. 4.29 oppressed with Israel k Ex. 5.5.6 c. accused l 1 Sam. 2.19 hunted m 1 Sam. c. 24 26. c. with Dauid imprisoned with Ieremy n Iere. 32.2 stocked with Ioseph o Gen. 39.20 fettered with Paul and Silas p Act. 16.23 fed with the bread of affliction with Micha q 1 Kin. 22.27 carried into Captivitie with Ezechiel r Ezek. 1.1 plunged into the den of Lyons with Daniel ſ Dan. 6.16 fired in the brazen Bull with Antipas t See Paraeus in Apoc. 2.13 robbed of goods spoyled of life with Polycarpus u Apoc. 2.9 In a word persecuted and opposed men of sorrowes with himselfe * Isa 53.3 These indeed are the conditions He tyes his Wife vnto and these things He propounds vnto vs when he comes a Wooing vs and hence it is we are so loath to be contracted vnto him Hard termes indeed to meere naturalists who haue no eye to see the royaltie of the person nor the recompence of reward that he brings with him But to a man that hath any sound iudgement in spirituall matters these Articles are easie and reasonable enough if wee may take the Bridegroomes owne word * Mat. 11. last My yoake is easie my burden light The cavills quelled Let vs examine the case a little Is it more then reason that a great Prince making choice of a peasants daughter to Wife should request and require a reservation and preservation of her chastitie loue and loyaltie for himselfe Must Pharaohs daughter x So literally the word reuerence him importeth Psal 45.11 obey Salomon and is it much for the Church to obey her Salomon Christ Iesus To him onely it is meete saith y Beza Paraphrase vpon Psal 45. one thou shouldest be subiect as to thy Lord I would haue thee to know saith z Iohan. Compens ibid. Paraphrasticè Est autem vt scias hic rex dominus tuus dignus cuitu in genua prouoluta supplex fias another that this King thy Lord is worthy to haue bended knees and a bowing heart Againe shall Valeria the wife of Seruius of whom a Hier. li 1. adversus Iovin one of the Fathers reporteth not consent to marry another saying b Seruium semper viuere Seruius my husband liueth still and shall Ierusalem play the Harlot suffering Egypt Assyria the world the Deuill and corruption to c Ezek. 23.3 presse and bruise the teates of her Virginitie as though her husband Christ were quite dead and without being Must Sarah forsake her owne Country d Gen. 12.5 Rachell leaue her fathers familie e Gen. 31.14 to follow their husbands and may Sion stay in Sodom still not leaue the rotten errors corrupt manners of her old fathers house May shee say as the Romanists doe at this day I beleeue as the Church beleeueth though they know not how the Church beleeues or as the Libertines doe We will doe as our fathers haue done as our neighbours doe we will play on Sundayes keepe merry company loue good fellowship such doe so wee will none of these precise orders in our families our fathers neuer taught vs this nor did this shall shee I say say thus Shall Michol incur the displeasure of Saul f 1 Sam. 19.12.17 for Dauids good and shall the Church be loth to beare rebuke for Christ his sake and flinch backe because of troubles Is it too hard for Christ to require constancie and patience at her hands What great thing I pray is required saith g Musc in Psal p. 357. A. Quaeso quid magni exigitur cum idem coniugi suo debeat vxor one when euery Wife owes the like to her husband What want of equitie is in these conditions let any man iudge Or put case these termes were vnreasonable Yet this husband is an heauenly King you see and that makes amends for all lighteneth the burden and qualifieth the seeming tartnes of these Articles But it s come to Calvins saying h In Psal 45. v. 11. Hereupon groweth it that we be so stately and proud we will none of Christ because we consider not how precious a treasure God offreth vs in his onely begotten sonne If this vnthankefulnesse letted not it would not grieue vs after the example of Paul i Phil. 3.8 to account whatsoeuer we set most store by to be but dung and right nought that Christ might enrich vs with his riches Worthy therefore to be blamed are all those who because they must keepe themselues chast from whooring after their owne pleasures and profits yeeld obedience to Christs will suffer troubles for his name renounce their superstitions and corruptions for his sake cannot will not accept those treaties of communion with himselfe which in loue he tendereth vnto them What sayd I Worthy to be blamed Nay their contempt of the royaltie of his person and richnes of his portion being considered they are worthy to be excluded from euer hauing share in that excellent GLORY which he hath prepared for his owne Vse 4 Fourthly Is Israels Spouse an heauenly King What reuerent regard and good well-come ought we then to afford Gods Ministers Exhortation to make much of Levi who labours in matching vs to Christ who come vnto vs and deale with vs about a Match with Christ Iesus Wee know what respect Rebeccah gaue Eliezer Abrahams servant k Gen. 24.31.32.33 when hee came vnto HER about a Match with the Patriarch Isaack his Masters sonne how much made on a Princes messenger to a poore mans daughter about such a matter should be wee may easily coniecture and shall not we account the l Isa 52.7 Rom. 10.15 feete of them beautifull that bring vnto vs the glad tydings of peace and that tell vs that the sonne of God would faine be married vnto vs God forbid but we should Alas alas then what an heauie inditement at the day of iudgement will be brought IN against the vnthankfull world for the bad entertainement that it yeelds vnto the Lords Levites and labourers in this busines We come from the King of heauen as his Ambassadors we talke with people about this Spouse and according to the talent which the Lord hath lent vs we acquaint them with the comelines of his feature the statelines of his person the greatnes of his portion we direct them how to entertaine him shew them the way how to obtaine him c. And yet lamentable it is to consider some deride vs some disgrace vs and many deale vniustly with vs. Men and brethren what shall wee doe Shall we desist Hath the Lord taken an