to passe their destruction as likewise contrarily Rom. 8.28 all helpe to saluation to those that loue God and are loued of him againe and there is no creature which doth not by and by make a couenant with vs when we are once firmely knit and vnited vnto him Hosea 2.20 I will euen mary thee vnto me in faith fulnes sayth the Lorde and thou shalt knowe the Lorde And in that daye I will heare sayth the Lord I will euen heare the heauens and they shall heare the earth the earth shall heare the corne and the wine and the oyle and they shall heare Israell Whereby we may easily gather that all creatures draw neere vnto the children of god and do chearish them as soone as they see them come into fauour with God and contrarily that they slide backe and start aside from those who are bereaued of his grace For it is a generall rule which we ought euer to remember Leuit. 25. Deut. 28. namely that the grace and loue of God is the ofspring of all benediction and that his wrath on the other side is the fountaine of all male diction so that without the one nothing is blessed and with the other all things are cursed What then can these wretched Apostates doe who eating drinking going comming whether they sit or stand whether they walke or lye still are euer musing in their bed at the table within and without the house before and behind them of the wrath of God with a firebrand in his hand ready to consume them If they will turne aside Amos. 5.19 they shall meete with a Lyon as sayth the Prophet if they will returne thinking to flee and saue themselues on the other part there will by and by a Beare start out before their eyes and if to assure themselues on all sides they will come to their house againe and leane their hand on the wall they shall finde in it a Serpent whiche will â—ite them which is as much to saye as that â—hey can neither finde hole nor secret corner wherein they may hide themselues from the wrath of God which is exceeding fearefull â—o all those to whome he sendeth it as the Apostle sayeth He. 10.31 That it is a fearefull thing to fall into the handes of the liuing God Which may euidently appeare by the examples propounded vnto vs in the Scriptures Gen. 4.14 as in Caine who hauing slayne his owne brother for religion and fled from the face of God that is to saye hauing giuen him ouer and the Churche which was gathered together in his fathers house neuer had afterward aâ—ye reste of conscience but as a man vexed with furie went heere and there like a vagabound and runnagate with a fire whiche did consume him and with an vnquietnes of minde whiche suffered him not to reste in anye place 1. Sam. 18.10 Saule likewise when the spirite of God had forsaken him and was departed from him did not the cuill spiriâ— foorth-with come vpon him and since thâ— tyme neuer ceased to torment him vntiâ— he had throwne him headlonge into despaire Iudas also after he had betrayed Iesus Christ Ioh. 13. and that the Deuill by reason 〈◊〉 his couetousnesse had once entered into his heart and had drawne him awaye from thâ— true Churche whiche was the companye oâ— Iesus Christ and his Apostles to reconcile himselfe vnto the Priestes and Pharisies and to make him to enter againe into their Sinagogue had he euer any quietnes in his soule after that did he euer thinke of any thinge but onely howe he might destroye himselfe hopyng though in vayne by this meanes to rid himselfe out of that fearefull griefe wherewith his conscience was vexed and tormented And they of whome mencion is made in the Prophetes Apoc. 6.16 cap. 9. and in the Reuelation of Saint Iohn who hauing receiued the badge cognisance of the beast and hauing dronke of the cup of hir whoredomes abhominations not hauing repented seing themselues in the ende ouerwhelmed with the iudgementes of God for hauing euer beene coupled with Antichrist will they not say to the mountaines fall on vs and to the earth open thy selfe deâ—our and swallowe vs vp quicke to the ende â—â—ey may escape by this meanes if it were posâ—â—le the great griefe and anguishe of minde â—herein they liue All which testifie plainely â—nto vs that the wicked who seperate themâ—elues from God and will exempt themselues â—â—om his obedience are so pursued by his iuâ—tice that they can neuer take any good rest â—â— their mindes Also the holy Scripture saith â—hat in whatsoeuer happy florishing estate they be whatsoeuer prosperitie they haue whatsoeuer riches or goodes they do possesse â—o whatsoeuer honours and dignities they are exalted and whatsoeuer delicacies and sweete pleasures they mioye yet notwithstanding they are neuer at rest nor at quiet in their mindes Esay 49. Psa 34.16 For as Dauid saith The face of the Lord is against them that do euill to cut of their remembrance from the earth And their conscience which waiteth continually on them as it were a Sargeat neuer ceaseth to threaten them and to set before their eyes continually the wrath of God and his arme which is alwaies stretched foorth to beat them downe And I pray you what other thing is hell eternal fire gehenna and the bottomlesse pit where the Deuill and the reprobate shall be condemned to remaine for euer then this horror and liuely apprehension and feeling of the wrath oâ— God which doth pearce and goeth cleanâ— through them Iam. 2.19 As Saint Iames saith that thâ— Deuils beleeue there is a God and tremble There is nothing that causeth the Angels in heauen to be contented and happie but onely the feeling of God his loue towardes them which they read and plainely see expressed in his face and in the earth likewise there is nothing that doth comfort the children of God and vpholde them in all their afflictions but his great and incomprehensible loue towardes them which they see vnfolded in his word in his sacramentes and in the whole order of the church and aboue all in the face and death of his sonne That is it which Dauid desired aboue all things sal 4.6 as it appeareth Many say who will shew vs any good But Lord lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs. Thou hast giuen me more ioy of hart then they haue had when their wheat and their wine did abounde I will lay me downe and also sleepe in peace for thou Lord only makest me dwell in safetie And contrariwise there was nothing that he grudged at so much nor that grieued him so sore as when he sawe the libertie taken away by the tyrannie and violence of Saule from resorting with the people of God vnto those places whereas he â—iscouered his face vnto them Psal 42.1 As the hart â—rayeth for the riuers of water so panteth my â—ule
of the minde as the ripenes of witte vertue and learning if all these be not blessed of God and accompanied with his grace they can neither profite nor benefite anie way him who possesseth them but contrarily without the blessing of God all will turne to his misery Esay 5 1 Tim 6.9 his riches shall serue to no other end but to set on fire and continue his desires to puffe vp his hearte with pride to cause him nether to regard nor make acoumpt of his poore neighboures to put his trust in vaine corrupt and vncertaine thinges to be at superfluous prodigall expences and which is a great deale worse and most dangerous Luk. 3. to withdrawe him from the kingdome of god to let as thornes weedes to hinder the good seed of the word of god from growing and fructifying in him His frendes in stead of good counsaile wil flatâ—er him Mat. 13.22 will seeke by him their owne profite â—ot his They will withdraw him froÌ„ the feare â—k seruice of God to entice him to follow the â—anities of this world In prosperity they will â—ugh with him sooth him vp but in aduerâ—ty they wil flitte forsake him Concerning â—he bodily goodes as health they wil abuse it to â—ugh sport leap dance play to hauÌ„t company 〈◊〉 feasts to quaffe to coÌ„mit folly excessewith â—ut al measure their strength they wil employ to beate strike maime rauishe steale spoile and oppresse in euery respect al those whome they suppose to be weaker then themselues lesse able to make resistaunce They will vse their beautie and good fauour if they haue anie be it either in their speach or in their countenance in steade of a baude to seduce and circumuent all those with whom they can acquaint themselues into whose fauour they can insinuate As for the goodes of their minde as it might be quicknes and dexteritie of witte they will employ them to inuent craftes and subtities to cosen and deceiue those with whome they haue to deale and to boaste when by some subtill slight they shall haue gotteÌ„ allured some one to intrappe him in their net if they haue learning it will serue but to pusse theÌ„ vp to vaunte of and by a vaine ostentation to cause themselues to be esteemed among men to conclude it is not possible for a man without God who is the chiefest good to vse or acquaint him self with any other good thing For al creatures be good god by his owne testimony after be had created all thinges in sixe dayes 1. Tim. 4 4. approued that which he had done without any exception spake of his workes that all in generall euery one in particular were good Gen. 1.31 that is to sayâ— commodious necessarie pleasant profitable wholesome But in that consideration that he do by his grace blesse the vse of them For as the Apostle saith 1. Tim. 4.5 They be all sanctified by the worde of God and thankes geuing vnto the faithfull only and to those which haue knowen the trueth For as he sayeth in another place Tit. 1.15 vnto the pure are all things pure but vnto them that are defiled vnbeleeuing is nothing pure but euen their minds consciences are defiled Is not then the condicion of the Apostates wretched that being without God without his grace they are also miserable in all things that is to say that the bread which they eate the bed whereon they lie the verie coate and shirte which they put on the light which doth lighten them the woode and fire which warmeth theÌ„ the aire which they breath in the water wherewith they wash themselues the earth which doth beare and nourish them and al thinges generally which they vse are vncleane vnto them Leuit. 26. Deut. 28. and bringe a wretchednes vpon them For ther is nothing but the word of God which we beleue and obserue the obedience which we performe vnto him and the feare of his name wherein we walke that doth make vs holie and happie in all thinges As the Prophet saieth Psal 1.2 that he which delighteth in the Lawe of the Lord and in his Lawe doth meditate daye and night shall be like a tree planted by the riuers of waters that will bringe forth her fruite in due season whose leafe shall neuer fade so whatsoeuer he shaldo shal prosper And in an other place Psal 119 165 They that loue thy law shal haue great prosperity they shall haue no hurt And as they who loue God serue him doe prosper in all their affairs vnder his fauour blessing so the wicked who go astray from him blaspheme him thoughe that for a time they haue the winde at will though it seeme to them to the whole world that all things do fall out vnto them according to their minde neuertheles al their felicitie in the ende being accursed and not fauored of god doth finish in great misery As Dauid also saith Psal 1.6 The way of the wicked shall perish But as the wicked caÌ„ not be happy without god being the author of all felicity so they can be no lesse being seperated froÌ„ Iesus Christ who is the only means therof He is the blessed seede which at his coÌ„ming by his obedience first hath takeÌ„ away all the malediction which had bene brought into the worlde by the disobedience and rebellion of our first parentes against the commandementes of God And then secondly hath brought afterward againe the blessing which God had promised to Abraham for him Gal. 3. and his seede That is to saye for those that should beleue in the promise to him made This is also the reason why among other names which are giuen vnto him by Esay this is one amongst the rest namely the name of Prince of peace Esay 9.6 Peace in the Hebrue tongue signifieth prosperity and happy successe it seemeth theÌ„ since the spirit of god hath so named Iesus Christ that he woulde teach vs by the name which he giueth him that he onely at this present is the spring of happines of all good whatsoeuer in the world So the Angels bringing tidinges of his birth into the world Luk. 2.11 told the shepheards of Iudea to whom they disclosed it first Vnto you is borne this day in the city of Dauid a Sauiour vers 14. which is Christ the Lord. Glory be to God in the high heauens peace in earth and towardes men good will And the Prophet speaking of his kingdome sayd Psal 27.3 The mountaines and the hilles shall bring peace to the people by iustice vers 6. And a litle after in the same Psalme He shall come downe like the raine vpon the mowen grasse and as the showers that water the earth Also we see that the Apostle in all his Epistles doeth wish euen in the beginning vnto those to whome he writeth the
of the Lord saith Dauid is reuealed to them that feare him and his couenant to giue them vnderstanding And doth not Iesus Christ say I giue thee thankes ô Father Mat. 11.25 Lord of heauen earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise men of vnderstanding and hast opened them vnto babes It is so Father because thy good pleasure was such The conclusion then of all the discourse of this chapter shal be that the Apostates being out of the Church are depriued of the word of God of all the benefits which do redound of the inioying therof And though some of them haue bookes thereof yet that doth profit them no more then it doth the Iewes to haue the Bible wherof they haue not the true sence and what auaileth it sayth the Prophet Esay Esay 29.11 to haue a booke that is sealed vp or els open and not to know the letters and characters wherewith it is written The Apostates are depriued of the Sacraments aswell as of the word Chap. 11. THe second instrument which God vseth to entertaine preserue and assure alwayes more more the life which he hath communicated vnto it by his word and promises and which he hath receiued by the faith which he attributeth vnto it be the 2. Sacraments to wit the Baptisine the holy Cōmunion that god hath instituted and annexed vnto his word as seales to confirm helpe our faith 〈◊〉 props pillers to hold stay it on both sides so that it abideth stable and inuincible against all the tēptations wherwith it might be hurt assalted of the vse benefit which might be reaped of them the Apostates do voluntarily depriue themselues when they depart from the fellowship of the church for being seperated from it the baptisme can no more serue thē for a tokē to testifie declare thē to be mēbers therof or that they appertaine any longer to the father the Sonne or the Holy Ghost whose house dwelling place they haue forsaken And euen as if a knight hauing receiued that order of the King made promises taken the accustomed oths if afterward through some hatred or mislike he should depart from that promise troth which he had giuen in token whereof he should send him back his order to signifie vnto him that he would afterward be freed released from his oth So the Apostates hauing giuē ouer the couenāt of God haue also by the same meanes forsaken the tokēs marks therof so that they can not at this present call God any more their father whose children they are not or Iesus Christ their Sauior whose mēbers sheepe they are not or the Holy ghost their director guide whose tēples they are not any lōger although they haue receiued their external signe of baptisme neuertheles they haue not the vertue efficacy nor the thing which is represented thereby so that it may be sayd of thē that they haue a body without a soule they haue a ring not a husband the deds titles without possessing emoying the inheritāce the scepter the crowne the armes without the kingdome and that which they haue can serue them to no other vse out to prooue declare their disloialty and to make them inexcusable in the iudgement of God when as they shall appeare before him For as a man can not haue a more certaine and euident proofe against a theefe to conuince and condemne him then to finde the purse which he hath lately cut in his owne handes so it is not possible to alleage or bring a more cleere argument against the Apostates to prooue that they be disloiall vnto God then to shewe the couenantes of God which they haue broken yet printed and ingrauen in their bodies And as the Apostates are departed from Iesus Christ who is the substance of the sacramentes and of the Church which is the people of God wherein they are administred and receiued where they onely can shew forth their vertue become wholesome so they haue depriued themselues of the whole fruit which they might haue reaped by their baptisine staying in the Church as to assure themselues they were members of the Church and comprehended within the couenant of God and that their sinnes were forgiuen them and washed away in the blood of Iesus Christ that the holy Ghost was communicated vnto them to sanctifie them and in begetting getting them a new by litle litle to change their nature and become new creatures which be no small graces or things lightly to be accounted of Also they are at this present wholly depriued of the communion of the Lorde which is one of the excellentest meanes that we haue to confirme and strengthen the vnion and fellowshippe which we haue with Christ Ioh. 6. For in it we eat his flesh and drinke his blood that he may dwell in vs and we in him inseparably as the foode which is neuer separated frō the body of him that doth eat it after it be once changed into his substance Nowe if it be asked to what ende they haue withdrawne themselues from the table of Iesus Christ disdaining the exquisit and pretious meates that are serued thereon to feede those that come vnto it in a sure hope of an eternall and most happy life It may be answered that it was done that they might be partakers of the table of Deuils 1. Cor. 10.21 where they can not eate or receiue any thing but venome and all kindes of poysons For the Masse whereto they haue this day so great deuotion that they runne wheresoeuer it is song the first to ring to it and to answer in it to helpe as varlets of the chamber to attire the foole that sheweth them this sport what is this but a mysterie of iniquitie 2. Cor. 2. much more expectable then can be named amōg men as denying open renoūcing of the blood and the death of the sacrifice and of their whole redēption of Iesus Christ The head of al iniquity idolatry and to conclude the vtter ouerthrow as wel of the saluation of men as of all religion For the Deuill neuer made a greater breach into the church of God thē whē he established that because he did at once bury as it were in a tombe of forgetfulnes first of all the honor of God Exod. 20. Mat. 4. who is more dishonored blasphemed by this masse then by any thing that euer he had inuented since the beginning of the world Heb. 9.28 10.10 Secōdly the whol benefit of Iesus Christ which is groūded wholly vpon the oblation made by him of himselfe to make satisfaction for all our sins by this satisfaction to procure vnto vs for euer a general remission pardon which this enemy of mankind hath by the meanes of the masse translated to his abhominable priesthood and facrifice of Papistrye And finally all the meanes of the saluation
AN EXCELLENT AND LEARNED TREATISE OF APOSTASIE MADE BY the most reuerend and godly learned man M. Iohn de l'Espine Minister of the word of God in the Churche of Anger 's in the Dukedome of Anjou DIRECTED AGAINST THE Apostates in the Churches of France Written first in the French tongue by the author him selfe and now faithfully translated into English The contentes of the booke appeare in the page following ANCHORA SPEI * Imprinted at London by Thomas Vautrollier dwelling in the Black-friers neare Ludgate Anno. 1587. THE CONTENTES OF THE CHAPters following in this Treatise The Preface Chap. 1. That there is want of iudgement in the Apostates Chap. 2. What the wretchednes of the Apostates is Chap. 3. That God departeth from the Apostates Chap. 4. That the Apostates are euer pursued by the Iustice of God whiche suffereth them not to haue any rest in their consciences Chap. 5. That the Apostates are without God though they thinke and defend the contrary Chap. 6. That as the Apostates are without God so they are without Christ Chap. 7. That the Apostates being departed from Iesus Christ are miserable Chap. 8. That the Apostates being separated from Iesus Christ are also depriued of his spirite Chap. 9. That as the Apostates haue giueÌ„ ouer God which in the authour of life so also they do coÌ„teÌ„ne those meanes which they may vse to come vnto him Chap. 10. That the Apostates are depriued of the Sacraments as well as of the word Chap. 11. That the Apostates haue no faith Chap. 12. That the Apostates are without the Church Chap. 13. That it is a most dangerous thing for the delayers of time who knowe the true Churche not to adioyne themselues presently vnto it Chap. 14. What the causes are whiche hinder the delayers from comming to the Churche and how light and friuolous they are Chap. 15. TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL MAISTER THOMAS RANDOLPH Esquire Maister and Comptrouller of her Maiesties Posts and one of the Chamberlaines of her Highnesse Exchequer THOMAS VAVTROLLIER Printer wisheth prosperitie in this life and the ioyes of the life to come OVR Sauiour Christe Right Worshipful and most Christian Gentleman setting forth the state of the kingdome of heauen by the parable of the seede Matth 13. teacheth that some felvpâ—n stony ground where it had not much earth and â—one it sprange vp because it had not depth of earth and when the Sunne rose vp it was parched and for lacke of rooting withered away which our Sauiour himselfe in the 20. verse of the same chapter expoundeth to be he who heareth the word and incontinently with ioy receiueth it yet hath he no roote in himselfe and dureth but a season for assoone as tribulation or persecution commeth because of the word by and by he is offended The trueth of which doctrine hath bene most euident in the Churche of God in all ages Gen. 18. Lot his wife will needes looke backe to filthy Sodome because it is a rich and a pleasant place and the olde sonnes of Israel rather then they will suffer a litle aduersitie as the people of God will returne into Egypt an accursed land so they may haue their Leekes their Garlike and Onions and many will rather returne to Caiphas and to the pallace of thâ— High Priest Heb. 13.13 then they will goe forth with Iesuâ— Christ out of the Campe bearing his reprocheâ— refusing vtterly to drinke of the cuppe of thâ— Sonne of God to weare his cognisance and arâ— ashamed of the choller of his order and wilâ— at no hand suffer any thing with Iesus Chrisâ— who hath suffered all thinges for them tâ— raigne and to be glorified for euer with himâ— And surely very miserable experience hereoâ— in these laste times may dailye be seene in thâ— Churches about vs as those of France and other places so many for the heate of persecution and least they shoulde beare the crosse of Christ haue and daily do returne to that spirituall Egypt and mystical Babylon the mother of all abhominations Among many reuolts and defections there hath bene none more fearefull and horrible then that most dreadful Apostasie which befell not long since on Saint Bartholomewes day in the Churches of Anjou so many falling away which neuer since returned to the sheepefolde of Christ which moued this excellent and godly learned man Maister I. de l'Espine Minister of the word of God in the Church of Anger 's to write this most excellent Treatise vnto them that they might remember from whence they be fallen that they may see howe they haue defiled the Temple of God and made sad his holy spirite and the holy Angels to be in sorowe and heauines beholding their fall in betraying the son of God and in sclandering the sufferings of his glorious Martyrs banished driuen from â—heir countries and houses depriued and forsaken of their fathers mothers wiues children parents friends cast into dungeons amonge Toades and Serpents bound and fettered with â—ll crueltie and outrage by hangmen and executioners mangled afflicted and tormented But alas these haue refused this so great an honour 1. Pet. 4. Rom. 8. as to communicate with the passions of Iesus Christ and to be made conformable vnto his image in suffering with him and for the profession of his moste glorious Gospell This godly and learned Treatise written by the Author in the Frenche tongue for the vse and benefite especially of his owne Church being deliuered and commended vnto me by a reuerend and learned man faithfully translated into English I thought it a meditation very necessary in these times for the Church of England also who although nowe God be praised she neede notto shrinke for any fiery triall yet she knoweth not how neare the Lord his visitation is Mat. 25. and our Sauiour teacheth his seruants continually to watche That I haue presumed to dedicate it vnto your Worshippe 〈◊〉 thinke fewe men will aske and no man ought to maruaile who knoweth your zealous and most Christian profession and the great duties wherein I stand bound to your Worship for your great fauour and assistance in my distresses and afflictions Onely I beseech you tâ— receiue it as a signification of my thankefulâ— mind in dutie towards your Worshippe The Lord giue you grace still to continue euen tâ— the ende to blesse you here with all increase of Worship and with all spirituall ioyes in heauenly things in his most blessed Sonne Christ Iesus London From my poore house in the Blacke-Friers this present 9. of May. 1587. Your Worships in all dutie THOMAS VAVTROLLIER Heb. 6.4 It is impossible that they whiche were once lightened and haue tasted of the heauenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and haue tasted of the good worde of God and of the powers of the world to come If they fall away should be renewed agayne by repentance seyng they crucifie agayne to them selues the sonne of God and make a mocke of him
vse to come vnto him Chap. 10. IN the couenant which God hath made with his people he doth promise to geue vnto theÌ„ his spirit his word which are two things vnseperably knitt together to worke the saluatioÌ„ of men as it is written in Esay Esay 59.21 This is my couenaÌ„t with them saith the Lord my spirit that is vpoÌ„ thee my words which I haue put in thy mouth shall not departe out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of the seed of thy seede sateth the Lord froÌ„ heÌ„ceforth for euer For as in the bringing forth of the frutes of the earth the seed is first requisite afterward the husbandmaÌ„ tilleth the earth maketh it fit to receaue the seed cast theron so in the regeneratioÌ„ of meÌ„ the word of god which is an immortal seed is first necessary then the spirit who as an husbaÌ„dmaÌ„ prepareth our hearts to receiue it to make it fructifie in them But the Apostates haue it at this day in disdaine conteÌ„pt 1 Pet. 1.23 2 Cor. 2.16 nay ther is nothing more odious vnto theÌ„ It is vnto theÌ„ the sauor of death vnto death and the cause of it is that as the euil doer taketh no plea sure to heare the seÌ„teÌ„ce wherin his death is pronounced vnto him nor to se the gibet wheron he must be executed so these traitors can not abide to heare the worde of God wherin their condemnation is written wherein they see the gallowes set vp wheron they must be hanged and punished for there disloyalty They are like vnto those that are sicke of the drowsie euill who will not be awaked but dye in their sleepe and as they doe exasperate themselues against those that woulde come nighe their bed and twitch them by the eare to hinder them from sleping therby to deliuer them from death wherevnto they runne by sleepe so the Apostates woulde neuer meete with anie that might awake them and tell them of their disease and laye before them the great dangers wherein they are and if by chaunce they fall in companie where their fault is shewed them and the great offence which they haue geuen vnto the Church of God they will either bringe them to another matter or else by and by geue them the slipe finally they are like vnto ill pay maisters who cannot abâ—de to heare any talke of their debtes because they will not discharge them And like vnto those who had rather die then to heare the newes of death leaste they shoulde take some fearefull conceite thereof The occasion then that causeth the worde of God to be so odious vnto them is not in it selfe which as the Prophet sayeth Is sweeter then the honie and the honie combe Psal 19.10 But in that they do reiect it who because they haue their heartes full of gall can not taste nor feele the sweetenes thereof As those who haue some inflammation in the roofe of their mouth can not eate breade nay they abhorre it though it be the best foode and most sauorie that may be founde for among all other meates there is not one wherewith in time we are not wearied glutted be it neuer so daintie notwithstanding any sauce prepared for the seasoning thereof yet we are neuer weary of the taste of breade Nay there is not so much as sugar and honie but they seme vnsauorie of an ill taste without it And as those who hauing sore eyes can not abide the light though it be the pleasantest and most delectable thinge that can be desired although the onely cause which maketh them to flie it is not in it but in the euill disposition and desease of the eye which can not receaue it In like manner that that causeth the Apostates to haue in such abhomination the word is nothing but their owne desease for that at this present their eares and heartes are vncircumcised They go often to the sermons of these paltrie friers taking pleasure to heare their blasphemies lyes and slauerings and do feel themselues like rauens or filthy beasts on carrions and rotten things hauing more delight in that then to eat the foode of Angels and to refresh themselues with the pure word of God which as a sweete breath proceeding from the mouth of God doth quicken all those on whome it is breathed And they are like vnto those that grudged at the stincking garlick which they had left in Egipt Num. 11.5 and preferred it before Manna that was sent them downe from heauen And vnto Adam who gaue more credit vnto the speach of the Deuil then to the word of God chosing rather to tast of the tre of knowledg of good euil against the expresse commaundement which had bene giuen vnto him and by that meanes make himselfe mortall wretched for euer then to enioye peaceably the fruite of the tree of life and in obeying the wil of god to become he and his children happy for euer and vnto Esau who esteemed more a messe of pottage then the birthright wherevnto were annexed the promises of the couenant of God Gen. 25 33 Luk. 8.37 and by consequent a certaine and euerlasting happines And to the Gadarens who had a greater care of the losse of theire hoggs Mar. 5.17 then of Iesus Christ and his word to which are adioyned all manner of temporall corporall and spirituall blessings And vnto Iudas who loued rather thirty peeces of siluer with a gibbet and a miserable death then saluation and an assured happines with Iesus Christ for the Apostates are as much or rather more wretched then all those aboue named because that departing willingly froÌ„ the church they do depriue theÌ„selues not onely of the participation that they shoulde haue therein of the treasures Coloss 2 Iohn 1. and knowledge of the wisedome of god which are bestowed geueÌ„ as a pledge vnto it but also of the fulnesse of Iesus Christ that is to say of all the goodes which his father will distribute vnto vs by his meanes by his grace which they loose by their sliding back which is worst Heb. 10 the hope also of euer recouering it againe for the meanes thereof is wholly taken away from them when as they loose the fruition of the word of God which is called in the Scripture The word of reconciliatioÌ„ 2 Cor. 5. because it is the instrument which God doth vse to reconcile vnto vs him and to adopte vs for his children and to regenerate vs and make vs new creatures Gen. 1. And as in the beginning god vsed his word onelie to create the heauen the earth and all that is contained in them so wheÌ„ he woulde renue the worlde and draw it from the corruption whereunto it was fallen by the sinne and disobedience of our parents he hath wrought it by his worde which he hath sent vs in these latter dayes first by his
ill which she receiued of her louers whom she followed and resolued in the end to leaue them and returne to her husbande saying I will goe and returne to my first husbande for at that time was I better then now But this conuersion hath hapned to those onely who fighting against temptations and being not able to vanquishe them because of their weakenes haue yeelded themselus hoping to take heart againe and fight after they had shrunke away the grace of God assisting them to declare and make manifest his power in their infirmitie 2. Cor. 12. which can not be looked for at their handes who in pride of hearte not being pressed with any other temptation then with their owne concupiscences nor led with any other counsel then their owne carnall wit haue willingly departed from the Church as it were making no account of God or of all his blessings hoping to find a better party thē in his house howsoeuer it should fall out it should be euer open vnto them whensoeuer it pleased them to returne after they had assayed other estates But these poore soules doe deceiue themselues making their reckoning thus without their host of whose wil aduise they make no account as though the one and the other were in their power and as though they had the keies of the kingdome of heauen tied at their girdles to open and shut go out and come in at all times whensoeuer it pleaseth them For as God speaketh by his Prophet My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your wayes my wayes Esay 55.8 sayth the Lorde for as the heauens are higher then the earth so are my wayes higher then your wayes my thoughtes aboue your thoughtes Gal. 6.7 They must not then thinke that God will suffer himselfe to be so mocked and that he doeth apply himselfe to all their foolish vaine imaginations as they dreame nor that it is in their power to returne vnto him when they list Rom. 9.16 For all this is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God alone which sheweth mercy Phil. 2. and doeth graunt both will and power to performe to whome soeuer he will A man sayth Saint Augustine to this purpose may kill himselfe but so that being deade he can not raise himselfe to life againe Psal 36. So when we haue once separated our selues from God by consequent from life which doeth not abide any where else but onely in him let vs not thinke that there is any one who hath that power besides him nor that it can otherwise be brought to passe then by a true repentance from which the Apostates being excluded Heb. 6. the wrath of God doth hang ouer them and so consequently they abide in death which they shewe euidently then when they are exhorted to returne vnto God and to enter againe into his church For they neuer finde themselues ready to performe it but still delay driue it of vntil such time as the wheele of the iudgement of God going ouer them al at once euen then when they are not aware therof they find themselues crushed and ouer whelmed on the sodaine like Esope his frog 1. Ioh. 2.19 Also S. Iohn taketh Apostacy for a signe of reprobation whē he saith If they had bene of vs that is those whom God hath elected they would haue cōtinued with vs but leauing our company they haue sheewed therby that they were neuer of vs though they haue beene with vs no more then corrupt humours which are not mēbers of the body though they be in the body or the tares which are not of the wheat although they be in the same field with the wheate Rom. 10. For if the continuing in faith and the confession of the same be an argument certayne proofe of our election the forsaking thereof contrariwise shall it not be a marke and token of reprobation Heb. 10. And if the sinne against the holy Ghost be an enuious and obstinate hatred that the diuells and men that loue lying doe beare to the trueth of the Gospell Heb. 6.4.10.26 which is as contrary vnto them as light to darknes what is it possible for a man else to iudge of the Apostates who hauing receaued followed approued beleeued and confessed the trueth for a time do now reiect and blaspheme it do condemne it by worde deed haue it in greater detestation then those who neuer made profession thereof then that the spirit of God being vtterly departed frō thē hath geuē place to the spirit of blasphemye Mat. 12.44 which findeth the house empty swept and garnished then he goeth and taketh vnto himself seuen other spirits worse then him self which being entred dwell ther so that the end of such men is a great deale worse then the beginning whereof we shall haue experience euery day in many who are as it were trumpets to soūd the battell to good mē furies which cease not gadding rūning here ther to incense stirre vp all contentious and troublesome persons that they can meete with all like vnto themselues against the Church And as a candle of tallow if it be put out hauing bene once lighted it stincketh a great deale more then if it had neuer bene burned and as pott likewise wherein there hath ben some precious liquor if after ther should be mingled some other which were naught al that rottē together would yeld a most corrupt and filthy smell so the good things being corrupted with the euil in these wicked men haue made thē worse by the halfe And as among the enemies of Iesus Christ there was none worse or more traiterous then Iudas when he was sequestred from his company wherein he had heard so manie good lessons and seene so many notable examples And as among the Christians of the primitiue Church the heretickes and blasphemers who did seperate themselues from the body of the Church were of all the wickedest so in these last times the Apostates haue ben found to be the dreggs of our Church when as they were tryed Mat. 9. The naughty humors which doe impaire the health of the body which haue bin cast out the soueraigne phisition purging thē The huskes and chaffe which haue bene seuered from the graine by the fanne and flayle Mat. 3.12 god sweeping his flower and to be the verie scumme which commeth out of the pott whē as the fire is first brought nere vnto it to make the flesh sethe which is in it the drosse which hath ben drawen from the gold whē the goldsmythe putteth it into the fornace to purifie it The excrements which haue bene cut of Ezech. 14. Wisd 3.6 from the body to bewtifie it and make it faire when God as a barber tooke the rasor and scissers to paire the nailes and cut the haires thereof Esay 7. Finally though our churches be diminished by the departing of the
Heb. 10.26 If we sinne willingly after we haue receiued the knowledge of the truth there remayneth no more sacrifice for sinnes But a fearefull lookyng for of Iudgement and violent fire whiche shall deuoure the aduersaries To the Reader THere is some space of time expired since that I purposed to write some litle treatise of Apostasie and especially since the slaughter committed on Saint Bartholomewe his day in the which there chaunced a most horrible fearfull reuolting in all our Churches so that of three partes two of them at the least slipped backe of those which in the beginning entered into it with so great readinesse and courage that it seemed they would continually abide in it without a mind euer to departe whatsoeuer temptation shoulde offer it selfe vnto them Neuerthelesse I had hitherto deferred the same hoping that the feare being ouerpassed which as a storme and vehement wind had carried them away from the sheepefold and hauing had leisure to settle themselues and gather their wits together they might either of themselues returne or else be easily called backe againe by the voice of their pastors But perceiuiÌ„g that the most part of the Apostates do not only slumber harden themselues in their sins but also become contemners of God and blaspeme without shame his word and the true religion and not content with this striue by all meanes to withdrawe those from the house of God which continued stedfast in his seruice and to hinder those that desire to enter into it againe I deemed it not meete to dissemble any longer but to be necessary to put in execution the charge which God hath giuen his seruants whom he hath placed in the Church not onely to pronounce remission of sinnes to all those who by a liuely faith vvill lay hold of it through the preaching of the Ghospell but also the vvithholding of the same from all those vvho vvith an hard and obstinate heart do stillreâ—ect the vvordes and promises of saluation Which must not seeme strange seeing the Ministers of the Ghospell be not onely ordained to vnloose absolue those that beleeue but also to binde and condemne those that remaine obstinate in their infidelitie For vvhich cause God seeing the stubbornnes and hardnes of the Ievves doth send vnto them his Prophet Esay to blind and harden them yet more Esay 6.9 Go saith he and say vnto this people ye shall heare in deede but ye shall not vnderstand ye shall plainely see and not perceiue Make the heart of this people fat make their eares heauy and shut their eyes least they see with eyes and heare with eares and vnderstand with their hearts and conuert and he heale them Which afterward was oftentimes alledged against the Iewes by Iesus Christ Matth. 13. Mark 14. Luk. 8. Acts. 28. Rom. 11. his Apostles to condemne their obstinacy And as Moses publishing the law said to the people that in it he set before their eies life death according to their obedience or disobedience towardes the same so S. Paule writeth that the one the other are represented in the Gospell according as the men to whom it is preached are faithfull or vnfaithful We are 2. Cor. 2.15 saith he vnto God the sweete sauour of Christ in them that are saued and in them that perish that is to say to the one the sauour of death vnto death to the other the sauour of life vnto life And Iesus Christ also as Simeon said to the Virgin is not he as well appointed for the fall as for the rising againe of many in Israell Luk. 2.34 And as he is to some sanctification and saluation is he not likewise to others a blocke of stumbling and of offence a snare and a net vnto all those which abide in vnbeleefe If then it chance that any Apostates or delayers of time vvill spare so much leisure as to reade this treatise I desire them that it may be with great attention and that vvithout any passionate or preiudicate minde they vveigh all the reasons and argumentes of the same setting alvvayes that before their eyes vvhich Iesus Christ spake to his Apostles that vvhatsoeuer they shoulde binde on earth by his vvorde shoulde be ratified firmly bound in heaueÌ„ To the end they may not deceiue themselues in their discourses vaine imaginations esteeming the thoughtes of God to be as their thoughts his waies as their wayes coÌ„trarie vnto that which the Prophet sayth Let all of vs therefore giue place vnto the worde of God and let vs beleeue that it shall be sure for euer endure eternally And considering that by the decree and irreuocable ordinance of God it is necessary that all knees should bende to do homage vnto Iesus Christ let vs rather choose to acknowledge and embrace him nowe for a Sauiour and welspring of life then in the ende be constrained to auouche him and finde him as the Deuils a iudge that will not be intreated and a consuming fire A TREATISE OF APOSTASIE MADE BY M. I. DE L'ESPINE MInister of the word of God in the Churche of Anger 's The Preface Chap. 1. THE inconstaÌ„cie of men is a thing which cannot be but most wonderfull vnto those who will coÌ„sider it well which may be perceâ—ued diuers wayes but especially in the varietie and alteration of their purposes affections and in that they can not find any state of life in this world whiche may either wholly satisfie their humor or in which they an abide and rest any long time for being by â—and by glutted with the thing whiche they â—resently enioye they do either with grief deâ—re that which is not any more in their power â—r els long for those thinges which they could â—ot as yet obtaine and when they haue obtaiâ—ed them they will loath them aswell as those which earst they had enioyed And are like vnto those who hauing a queasie stomake finde nothing wel seasoned for their tooth or as sick bodies whiche are not able to finde any good resting place in bed wheresoeuer they be layd And although God by an especiall fauor doth call some of them into his house Heb. 6.4 and bringing them into his church doth adopte theÌ„ into his familie to lighten theÌ„ and to make them taste of the heauenly gift and of the good word of God to make theÌ„ partakers of the holy ghost of the powers of the world to come which is a coÌ„dicion the best that can be chosen or desired in the world and the which alone is able to bring contentement and a perfect felicitie to all those that can obtaine it Neuerthelesse there are some so crooked froward that hauing tasted of it do in the ende loath and disdaine it aswell as the other Though in deed the dwelling in the house of God be so happy a thing Psal 84. that the silly doorekeepers of the same ought to account themselues more happy for hauing a
began to come to himselfe againe and to returne to a good iudgment S. Peter likewise who by the doctrine works and example of Iesus Christ had a long time bene instructed and informed in his company in which he had bene borne-withall iâ— his ignorance and other infirmities and receiued infinite fauors of his maister Mat. 26.69 neuertheleâ— he denied him and at such time as he ought to haue bene nearest vnto him to haue assisted and comforted him Nowe all these aforesayd had for a time left God and were worthye through their ingratitude and disloyaltie to haue bene vtterly reiected of him but he did not execute the rigour of his iudgement against them Luk. 15.4 nor rewarded them as they had deserued because in deede they were his children but hath sought them himselfe as poore silly lost sheepe which were altogether ready to perishe if he by his great mercy and grace had not soone preuented them And all this good did betide them because he had neither giuen them ouer nor forgotten them as he had bene forgotten of them because this deepe roote of the good pleasure of God did still reserue and retaine in it some sappe and iuice to keepe them from withering and dying But the Apostates who willingly and of set purpose not being forced by any constraint haue reuolted from God Heb. 6.6 of whome we see so great a number in these latter daies what hope can remaine in them sithence they can not be renewed againe by repentance Heb. 10.26 seeing there remaineth no more sacrifice for their sinnes and seâ—ng they crucifie againe vnto themselues the sonne of God and make a mocke of him the Apostle doth propound vnto them nothing els but a fearefull looking for of iudgement and violent fire which shal deuoure the aduersaries Moreouer being no more participant of the prayers of the Church or of the prayers of Iesus Christ Ioh. 17.9 who going to his death declared that he prayed not for the world and by consequent they were excluded from the Communion of saintes what hope is there of their saluation I know well enough that the most part of them doe iest at those things which we say and that they doe not beleeue either the word of the Apostle or ours But they ought to note that which S. Paule speaketh 1. Cor. 10.22 namely that neither we nor they are stronger no nor so stronge as God that we should preuaile against him Matth. 5.18 Also the heauen and earth shall perish but one iotte of it shall not passe till all be fulfilled and to conclude that which the wise man sayth that men commonly make great discourses in their mindes but whatsoeuer they thinke the counsaile of God getteth the vpper hand and what imagination soeuer we haue to the contrary he remaineth stable firme and immoueable If then the Apostates hauing cast themselues out of the Church doe giue no more place or authoritie to the worde of God or to any admonition which may be made vnto them in his name it is time lost to speake vnto them as experience teacheth euery day those that will yet make proofe thereof And what shewe or likelihood soeuer they make that they haue a desire to returne to vs againe they do it either to deceaue vs or to content in some sort those of whom they haue yet some regard and not for any good wil they beare vnto it Let vs therefore leaue them in their filth following the counsaile of Sainte Iohn He that is vniust let him be vniust still Apoc. 22.11 he which is filthy let him be filthy still and he that is righteous let him be righteous still and he that is holy let him be holy still Let those notable sayings of the Prophet neuer be blotted out of our harts Blessed are the people that be so Psa 144.15 Psal 33.12 yea blessed are the people whose God is the Lorde And this likewise Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord euen the people that he hath chosen for his inheritance As also this Psal 73.27 They that withdrawe themselues from thee shall perish thou destroyest all those that goe a whoring from thee As for me it is good for me to drawe neere vnto God therefore I haue put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy workes That the Apostates are euer pursued by the iustice of God which suffereth them not to haue any rest in their consciences Chap. 5. VVHen we sayd that the Apostates hauing left God are also in like maner reiected of him It must not be vnderstood generally as though God were altogether departed from them for filling all things as the Prophets save there is no part of the worlde which is not replenished with his essence but we vnderstand onely that he is separated from them as touching his grace his mercy his spirite his sanctification faith remission of sinnes repentance and all meanes of their saluation For as concerning the power wrath and iustice of God they can not so escape but that they shall be pursued incessantly For there is no meane betweene the mercye and wrath of God Ioh. 3. and it is necessary that whosoeuer doth disdaine his grace should in the ende taste of the rigour of his iustice But now the case standeth so that the wrath of God abideth vpon vs vntill such time as it be turned away and auoided by a true faith in the Gospell Heb. 10. that is stronge and stable vnto the ende The Apostates then who all at once haue not onely made shipwracke of their faith but also of the Gospell of God of Iesus Christ and of all religion haue they not day and night waking and sleeping the sword of the wrath of God continually hanging ouer their heades Numb 22.23 but as Balaam his asse perceiued the sword which pursued him before his maister who rode vpon him so such men are so blinded by the Deuill and their owne lustes that they can not perceiue the iudgements of God which are at their heeles and follow them steppe by steppe O that their eies were open as the eyes of Elisha and his seruant 2. King 6.17 then should they see about them millions of deuils ready to destroy them as the seruants of God saw themselues enuironed with an infinite multitude of Angels to defend and saue them though in deede they thinke nothing lesse they being vnto them inuisible neuertheles they ought to consider the danger to be so much the greater because hidden enemies are euer more dangerous then those who are altogether open and knowen So the Deuils and all the gates of hell yea and all the creatures which are in heauen and in earth be enemies vnto those that are enemies vnto God and to those from whome he hath withdrawen his fauor and there is not one of them which doth not with all her might and maine striue and contend to bring
after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God when shall I come â—nd apeare before the presence of God And not onely Dauid but also the whole church in all â—ges hath euer in her greatest afflictios sought â—nd founde her principall consolation in the countenance of God Let vs therefore heare what she saith Turne vs againe O God Psal 80.3 and â—ause thy face to shine that we may be saued And 〈◊〉 litle after Turne vs againe O God of hostes vers 7. Cause thy face to shine and we shall be saued As â—e saith in an other place also Psal 34.5 They shall looke vnto him and runne vnto him and their faces â—hall not be ashamed A man who euery where would fly the light of the sunne and seeke to â—iue in darkenesse would he not be most miserable abhorring the fairest the pleasantest the most necessarie creature that God hath placed in the world What will then become of the Apostates who flie the face and presence of God which is a light in which there is no darkenesse 1. Ioh. 1.5 and of which as of the sunne all the earth ought to reioice when as by his grace he sendeth downe his cleare light and bright beames vpon her For as the moone looking vpon the sunne by her aspect doth receiue from him all her beautie and brightnesse so we receiue of God alone all the vertue and perfection that is in vs when as it pleaseth him to looke vpon vs with the eye of his mercieâ— And as the earth is commonly desert barren and not inhabited in those regions which lye farre distant from the sunne hauing neither delight nor commoditie that either may draw strangers to frequent it or else allure the inhabitants to remaine abide in it so when God is departed from any realme prouince citie house or priuate person all is darke and out of order in it and there is neither delight nor any good at all that can reioice or content him that dwelleth therein Cicero The olde Philosophers had wont to say to cause friendshippe to be more commendable and amiable to the whole world that without it man his life was loathsome and vnsauery and that in the society and trafficke of men it did serue to that vse that falt doth in meates that is to say to season them and cause that the one take pleasure and delight to liue and occupy with the other Which is true daily experience doth teach vs that when we power out either our ioyes or our sorowes in the bosome of our friendes such communications serue greatly to increase the one and diminishe the other But there is no comparison betwene the friendship of men which is inconstant and vncerteine and the â—oue of God which is neuer more sure and ready then when all the other fade and faile as saith the Prophet Psal 27.10 Though my father and my mother should forsake me yet the Lord will gather me vp Ought we not then to feare contrary to the Apostates least God shoulde turne away his louing countenance from vs looke vpon vs with an angrie eye as Dauid Hide not thy face from me Psal 27.9 nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure Psal 143.7 And in an other place Heare me speedely O Lorde for my spirit faileth hide not thy face from me else I shal be like vnto them that go downe into the pit Consider in what a perplexitie the Church is that is to say the true spouse of Iesus Christ as soone as she feeleth not her husbande by her and howe she will not cease seeking of him both day and night not being able to take any rest vntill she hath found him Cant. 3.1 In my bed by night sayth she I sought him that my soule loued I sought him but I found him not I will rise therefore now and go about in the citie by the streetes and by the â—en places and will seeke him that my soule loâ—â—h I sought him but I founde him not The â—â—chmen that went about the citie found me to whom I said haue you seene him whome my soulâ— loueth When I had passed a little from them the I found him whom my soule loued I tooke hold on him and left him not till I had brought him vnto my mothers house into the chaÌ„ber of her that conceiued me By these words we may gather how great the desire of the Church is to be euer in the presence and company of her espouse and the sorow which she conceiueth when as she misdoubteth his departure from her be it neuer for so short a space and we may note also the difference which S. Augustine maketh betwene the true and the bastardly Church the one saith he resembling a good woman who being chast and loiall towardes her husbande whom she honoreth and loueth intierely doth dread nothing so much he being present then least he should depart very speedily from her and being absent least he tarie long before he returne vnto her home againe And the other contrariwise who being vnfaithfull vnto her husbande and not contented with his company hath one or many louers desireth nothing more then if he be absent then that he tarie long before he returne and if he be present she feareth nothing more than that there shoulde befall vnto him some business wherby he might be constrained to abide a 〈◊〉 continue with her a longer space then she desireth The Apostates then who hauing nothing in more horrour then to come before God and appeare in his presence in the companies which assemble themselues together in his name and who would for very shame and â—emorse of conscience which doth pricke and â—ting them incessantly that none should euer â—alke of any Christian assembly or any exerâ—ise of true religion but that all the worlde â—ccording to their example should returne to â—heir former abhominations do they not shew â—uidently by this by what spirit they are led â—nd that they haue forsaken the chast and hoâ—est Church to returne to the vnchast and disâ—iall synagogue in which they are euer vexed â—nd tormented with the feare which they haue â—ontinually to be preuented by the sodame â—omining of the Lorde and by his iudgement â—nlooked for euen as the adulterous woman 〈◊〉 in a perpetuall feare mistrust to be found â—nd taken in her fact by the sodaine returne of â—er husbande Let not those then who reuolt â—om God voluntarily as we see a number eâ—erie day thinke euer to be at quiet or safety whatsoeuer they do to finde rest being pursuâ—d by the Sergeantes and ministers of the iuâ—â—ice of God among whom the principall and most combersome is their owne conscience and afterward as many creatures as are in heauen in earth and in hell For as S. Paule sayth The wrath of God is reuealed manifestly from heauen Rom. 1.18 that is to say from all parts vpon allinfidelitie and vnrighteousnes
Apoc. 9.8 by Saint Iohn in the Reuelation Where we may beholde a most notable â—nd ample description of their pompes riotes â—nd all their royall magnificences Apo. 17.4 vnder the figure of the great Whore arayed in purple â—nd scarlet and guilded with gold and pretious â—ones and pearles hauing a cuppe of golde in her hand sull of abhominations and filthines of her fornication And the mortall hatred likewise which they al beare vnto the truth which they caÌ„not abide to be published without woÌ„derfull griefe passion of minde nor without spilling cruelly the blood of the faithfull witnesses of Iesus Christ and that in such aboundance that they and the whole earth are drunken and ouercharged therewith All the world seeth euery daye the attempts and practisâ— which they worke by their Ambassadors whome they sende forth into all quarters like a companie of Furies to shake all the cornerâ— of heauen and earth to stir vp by all meaneâ— they may the great Princes Potentates thaâ— they should hinder their abuses from being descried and that the trueth shoulde not bâ— knowen nor the kingdome of Christ establiâ—shed Seeing then that the Apostates are reâ—turned to the worlde and are gone againe tâ— the campe of Antichrist and doe employe aâ— their fetches and forces to quench the light 〈◊〉 the Gospell and to hinder the aduancement 〈◊〉 the truth may we not iustly say of them thaâ— they are the enemies of Christ For those thaâ— are of his flocke and are his sheepe 〈◊〉 Ioh. 10.3 heare hâ—voice and obey him acknowledging him foâ— their sheepeheard follow him as their lighâ— They are neither afraid nor ashamed to confesse his name publikely by their testimony to confirme the whole doctrine which he hath preached and are not held backe from following of him by the remembrance of the hatred of the world which might be set before their eâ—es of the losse of their goods of the danger of their life of a thousand other incoÌ„modities which doe accompany all those that make a true and right profession of the gospell The Apostates then who wil not beare these burdens nor submite themselues to these condiciâ—ons can not be the disciples of Iesus Christ neither can he receiue them otherwise into his schoole and companie Moreouer did he not say that no man could be his disciple except he were resolued indeede to abide constant and â—table in his doctrine vnto the end those then who for a time haue receiued followed and apâ—roued it tentations comming haue slidde â—acke from it haue they not shewed thereby â—hat it had neuer taken roote in theire heartes that the profession thereof which they made for a tyme was but in shewe and outward apâ—earance onely which action he hath in abhoâ—ination aboue al other things which he doth â—eclare by effectie when departing from Ieruâ—lem Math. 21.19 finding by the citâ—e a figge tree without fruite which had but leaues only cursed it at the same time Neither ought it to be marueiled at if god who is for euer true who loueth a rouÌ„dnes sincerity in al things caÌ„ not suffer long in his house such hypocrites disguised persons without discouering and making them knowen When a branche of the vine is shred of shall we say it is yet of the vine or any member to be yet of the bodie after it is cut of If then the Apostates not staying the censure or iudgement of the Church haue preueÌ„ted it haue excoÌ„municated themselues seâ—uering theÌ„selues of their owne accord not only from the body but also from the head what caÌ„â— they looke or hope for at Iesus Christ his haÌ„dâ— from whom they are altogether separated did they not euedently shewe by that that they were not the plantes which God the Fatheâ— had planted Mat. 15.13 For if they had bene of the number he woulde not haue rooted them vp Ioh. 10. And that likewise they were neuer of the fould oâ— Iesus Christ for who were able to plucke oâ— take them out of his handes by force and also that they were neuer well grounded for thâ— house which hath not his grounde vppon thâ— sande but vpon a stronge rocke can not fall oâ— be beaten downe by anie winde that blowetâ— vpon it nor by any tempest or waue that beaâ—teth teth against it To conclude Mat. 7.24 they haue shewed by this their reuoulting that they were neuer of the seede or of the children of Abraham to whom the promises of saluation and blessings doe belonge Gen. 15.5 For such are as the starres of heauen which are so fastened and fixed within the firmament that they can neuer be moued out of the place wherin they were set in the beginning So likewise the children of God being â—nce in the kingdome of heauen they do abide â—n it as in their houses and dwell therein withâ—out euer departing from thence as the Prophet saieth Psal 65.4 Blessed is he whome thou choosest and cauâ—est to come to thee he shall dwell in thy Courtes Psal 23.5 And in an other place Thou doest annointe my â—eadwith oile and my Cuppe runneth ouer Doutâ—s kindnes and mercy shall follow me all the dayes 〈◊〉 my life and I shall remaine a long season in the â—use of the Lord. Wherunto that agreeth which â— spoken by our Sauiour Christ in S. Iohn Ioh. 6.37 all â—ut the Father giueth me shall come to me and â—m that cometh to me I cast not away Whereby â— appeareth plainely that when the chosen are â—nce entred into the fould of the shepeheard it â— to abide therein and to be nourished in the â—me for euer and therefore S. Iohn speaking â—f those who in his time had reuolted and forâ—ken the church saide they were not of vs 1. Ieh 2.19 for if they had bene of vs Iud. 13 they would haue continewed with vs. What shall we saye then of those wandring starres which could not stay themselues in the house of God to be coÌ„tinually partakers therein of the brightnes of the Sonne of righteousnes which doth shine daye night without end and for euer but that they are all eclipsed and haue loued darkenes rather then light the company of the deuill who is the Father a murtherer from the beginning more theâ— Iesus Christes Ioh. 8.4 who is the waye the life and the trueth That the Apostates being departed from Iesus Christ are miserable Chap. 8. BY the reasons and argumentes which wâ— haue heretofore rehearsed we haue sufficiâ—ently proued that as the Apostates are without God so also they are without Christ Whereof it may be inferred that they are moâ—miserable for who can be happy without Goâ— who is the welspringe and fountaine of liâ—â— and all happines and without whome all othâ—â— goodes are nothing but a curse and miserie Fâ—â— the temporall goodes as are riches possessioâ— and frends the corporall goods as helth streÌ„gâ—anâ—â— beauty the goodes
Apostates neuerthelesse they are not the worse for it nay they are therby made more healthfull and better disposed And as man his body being ful of corrupt humours is so much greater and bigger but one the other part weaker and more vnable to all other workes so our Churches were in deede greater and more populous when that greate multitude of Apostates which haue forsakē vs were with vs but they were neither so healthfull nor so readie to performe their dutie as they haue bene since because such hypocrites being mingled with others were nothing els but an heape of offences and stones of stumbling to make them fall Hitherto we haue spoken onelye of those who hauing bene entred into our Churches and hauing abode in them some tyme some more some lesse haue withdrawen themselues not for anye fault that they could finde either in the doctrine that we preache or else in the prayers and confessions which we make or in the Psalmes which we sing or in the Sacramentes which we administer or in the discipline which we obserue or in the whole course and order which we followe in ruling and gouerning our Churches For thankes be to God we knowe what we worshipe Ioh. 4.22 1. Cor. 9. Leu. 26. 1. Pet. 3. and that we walke not at randome being readye at all times to render an accompte by the worde of God of the hope which is in vs and of all our actions to anye whosoeuer will require it It was not them either a feare which they had to offend God staying with vs or else a hope that they could more sincerely or purelye serue him in other places that hath made thē to leaue our cōpany but if they would giue the glory to God confessing freely and readily the cause of their reuoult they wold say that it was because they loued more to serue the flesh then the spirite and to enioy these delicates of the world then to beare the crosse of Iesus Christ But whatsoeuer it be they haue declared that they were not the children of the promise nor of the seed of Abraham which is not like vnto the planetes which are errant in their motions but as the starres of the firmament that is to say those which are immoueable and permanent in the place of the firmament wher they were once fixed Gal. 4.3 and also if they had bene the children of the free woman they woulde haue stayed in the house for euer and would not haue bene driuen out as the children of the bondwoman who haue no parte of the inheritaunce That it is a most dangerous thinge for those that knowe the true Church not to adioyne themselues presently vnto it Chap. 14. IT remayneth now before we shutt vp our treatise to speake also of some who in deede confesse that the Church which we follow is the true church and that it is built according to the platforme that Iesus Christ and his Apostles haue left vnto vs and yet they dare not adioyne themselues therunto Some being held backe with many vaine feares and other by as many friuolous hopes that they do propound vnto themselues They may well be compared vnto Tantalus who dieth for hunger thirst though he hath by him great abundāce wherwithall both to eate drink this differēce only being excepted that is betwene him thē that the meates do fly Tantalus whē he would approche vnto thē they cōtrariwise flye the meates whē they come neare thē For they haue as I may say the Church set vp and open at their dores and yet will not take the paines to take three steps to enter into it to be fed with the celestial bread Which doth shew that they doe not muche hunger after it and by consequent that they make themselues vnworthy of the administration thereof vnto them For the benefits of God are onely for those which doe desire and long after them not for the other who doe disdaine them as the virgine Marie sayeth in her song Luk. 1.53 He hath filled the hungrie with good thinges and sent away the riche emptie To which that agreeth also which Iesus Christ sayd Matth. 5.6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousnes for they shall be filled And in an other place Ioh. 7.37 If any man thirst let him come vnto me and drinke He that beleeueth in me as sayth the Scripture out of his belly shall flow riuers of water of life Which he spake of the spirit that they should receiue who should beleue in him And Esay agreeing vnto this Esay 55.1 sayth Ho euerie one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and ye that haue no siluer come buy and eate Come I say buy wine and milke without siluer and without mony Wherfore do ye lay out siluer not eat bread And your labour without being satisfied Harken diligently vnto me and eate that which is good and let your soule delight in fatnes Incline your eares and come vnto me heare your soules shall liue and I will make an euerlasting couenant with you euen the sure mercies of Dauid By all these places of the Scripture it may appeare that the Gospell the grace of God the remission of sinnes all spirituall blessings be not offred but onely to those who desire them not geuen but to those who seeke them yea and asking them it is forbidden Mat. 7.6 to geue that which is boly vnto Doggs or to cast pearles before swine Iames. 1. that is to say vnto prophane men which loue rather the mucke of this worlde Mat. 11. then all the rithes of the kingdome of heauen which was gredely longed after by them in old tyme as it were snatched by those who were more vehement so great was the presse and multitude of those which striued to enter therin first and were not kept back from running and aduaūting themselues vnto it with any feare they had of the threatnings of tyraunts or of the losse of their goods or of most cruell torments which they sawe prepared for them if they folowed the Religion of Iesus Christ For they counted nothing more deare then the readie suffring of Martyredome to be crowned with glory which he doth promise in heauen to all those which shall neither be ashamed Mat. 10.32 nor affrayd to cōfesse his name beneath here in earth But at this present men be so cowardly and so faint hearted that the most part of them draw backe and looke one vpon another lingring who shal be the last to follow the captaine And they thinke that their cowardise is not seene when they do forgo some friuolous excuses to cloke it withall But before we come to the confutation of their excuses and to take away the visarde wherby they would dissemble ther hypocrisie we must propound vnto thē some certaine infallible Axiomes it shall serue for a rule to direct them for a light to lighten thē in
caÌ„ coÌ„tinue it vnto theÌ„ can defend it a gainst al those that wold take it away froÌ„ theÌ„ as theprophet saith Psal 31.15 my times are in thy haÌ„d deliuer me froÌ„ the hande of myne enemies and from them that persecute me Furthermore in another place ye that loue the Lord Psal 97 10 hate euill he preserueth the soules of his saints he will deliuer theÌ„ froÌ„ the haÌ„d of the wicked light is sowen for the righteous and â—ye for the vpright in heart reioyce ye righteous in the Lord giue thanks for his holy remeÌ„braÌ„ce Againe in an other place Psal 17.8 He kepeth al his bones not one of theÌ„ is brokeÌ„ al these places do teach assure vs that no creature whatsoeuer can hurt vs either in our bodies or any thing else but by the permission will of God who keepeth vs as the apple of his eye hideth vs vnder the shadow of his winges Moreouer what reason is there to preserue the life of the body which is so vayne so shorte and moment anye so vncertaine so frayle and miserable in this worlde to loose the happye and eternall life aswell of the bodye as of the soule in the kingdome of heauen Psal 36.9 Ioh. 14.6 Ioh. 6. Abac. 2. For God being the well of life and Iesus Christ the waye truth and the life and the worde of God and faith being the two meanes whereby God graunteth life vnto vs if we be depriued of both these that is to saye of all causes and meanes of life as we are in deede being out of the Churche be not the delayers aswell as the Apostates wonderfullye deceaued seeking and hoping to finde life in the worlde Rom. 14.8 where there is nothing but death and malediction Furthermore do we not appertaine vnto Iesus Christ aswell concerning the body as the soule 1 Pet. 1.18 Who hath redeemed vs by his death and payed our ransome not with golde siluer or other corruptible thinges but with his precious bloude 1. Cor. 6.20 which was the greatest price which could be esteemed in the worlde Seing then we now belong vnto him and not vnto our selues and that he is Lord of our life and of our death is not the one and the other in his disposition to doe with them as it shall seeme good vnto him And ought not we also to consecrate them wholly vnto his honour and to haue them euer ready to employ in his seruice And casting away all feares and dread that may withdraw vs or keepe vs backe from doing our dutie resting wholly vpon the prouidence of God Mat. 28.20 who hath promised to be alwayes with vs and to haue so great a care of our soules and bodies Mat. 10.30 that euen one heare shall not fall from our head without his will and speciall ordinaunce Good God what maketh vs I praye you so to loue this life wherein there is no kinde of libertie no rest no pleasure that is perfect and that is not entermingled with a thousand griefes sorrowes and bitter vexations and where at all howers of the daye we are constrained to fee and heare against our willes innumerable thinges which grieue vs and which is worse wherein we can not walke three stepps but we shall meete with some offence that shall cause vs to stumble daungerouslye and offende our good God to whome we are so much bounde And alas what doth make vs likewise to haue so great a feare of death which is at this present so vnarmed 1. Cor. 15. that there is not so much as one stinge lefte vnto it to pricke vs withall Act 2.24 nor a chaine or coarde wherewith to binde vs which is the dore and entraunce into the kingdome of heauen and as a commissarye appointed and sent of God to put in possession and enioying of life glorye honour Rom. 8. peace ioye rest and all the perfect and abfolute felicitie which we possesse not here in earth but onelye by hope Where is the faith which we ought to haue of eternall life which can not be in our heartes but it shall send awaye presently all feare of death Luk. 24. Where is the spirite of strength and vertue from aboue that olde faith of the Martyres wherwith they haue astonished the most cruell and fiercest tyrauntes of the worlde Math. 12.24 and made Beelzebub himselfe the prince of the Deuills with all his troupes and legions to tremble in Hell Where are the inuincible courages which neuer yeelded either to the yron or to the fyre or to the teethe of Lyons or to threateninges or to armyes or to anye torment that was set before them He. 11.33 were it neuer so cruell and horrible For they had euer that before theire eyes If God be one our side Rom. 8 3â— who can be against vs And that which the Prophete sayde seing the rage of his enemyes Psal 118.9 The Lorde is with me Therefore I will not feare what man can doe vnto me The delayers then thinke to be at more sauegarde being one mens part then on Godes and that following the bande of the Idolaters and blasphemers they can not fall into the daungers whereunto they see the children and seruantes of God subiecte who do serue him and walke in his feare But Dauid is not of this opinion It is better to truste in the Lorde Psal 108.12 then to haue confidence in man It is better to truste in the Lorde then to haue confidence in Princes And otherwise Giue vs helpe against trouble for vaine is the helpe of man Thorough God we shall do valiauntly for he shall treade downe our enemies Then to assure our selues sufficientlye both liuing and dying we can not doe better then to coÌ„mit our selues to his protection who hath in his handes the keyes of life and of death Apoc. 1.18 The delayers alleadge also vnto those that doe exhorte them to come into the Churche to laye open themselues and to make publicke profession of their faith as God hath commaunded them that the feare wherein they are of the losse of their goodes doth hinder them Luk. 1.1 and that they will not be poore and naked as commonlye those are who make true profession of the Gospell Yea but I demaunde of them who hathe bestowed these goodes vppon them and to what ende they haue bene geuen vnto them is it not God who being more liberall towardes them then towardes manye others doth make them welthier then their fellowes that he may binde them vnto himselfe more straightlye and giue them occasion to loue him more and serue him with a more willing hearte and yet that which ought to drawe them nearer vnto him and make them more deuoute affectionate toward his seruice is that which doth withdrawe them and maketh them altogether to forget it Good Lord can they thinke that such a haynous ingratitude shall in the ende remaine
19. and to followe him readily lefte Father mother wife children friendes houses and all other thinges euen to nettes and boates And after they had continued a space in his company and perceaued the great treasures of the knowledge and wisedome of God that flowed out of his mouth as it were out of a liuely spring then they forgat altogether the commodities ease which they had in their houses hauing not any mind to returne vnto them for the pleasure and contentement that they receaued of the wordes of life which he preached vnto them Ioh. 6. Mat. 9.9 Luke 19.2 S. Matthew leaueth his custome his chief traffique Zacheus the chiefe receauer of tribute a man riche and welthie giueth liberally the halfe of his goodes to the poore and restoreth fourfold if he had taken away from any man by forged cauillation so sone as the one and the other had knowne Iesus Christ and the great benefites which he brought from heauen to those which would receaue them on earth And after that Iesus Christ was ascended vp into heauen and the holy Ghoste being descended vpon the Apostles and the Church beganne to growe and â—â—ultiply in Ierusalem All those that beleued were they not together making all thinges coÌ„mon and selling all the possessions and goodes to impart them vnto all according to euery one his neede Whereby it may appeare that that which was propouÌ„ded heretofore is most certaine namely that the sence and feeling which we haue of Iesus Christ and of the heauenly treasure which he bringeth vnto vs doth impaire and diminish much the value of the earthly and bodily goods the desire and loue whereof beguineth by litle and litle to fade away assoone as we haue tasted of the other which are sound and stable and which bring a true ioy vnto all those that doe possesse them Moreouer is there any good thing more to be desired then the peace the rest of the spirit and that our harts be euer constant and setled to beare moderately all chances mutations and alterations that may happeÌ„ without troubling them or being amafed at them Nowe there is nothing but the faith which we haue in Iesus Christ that can bring vnto vs this great benefit for it is he alone that is the Prince of peace Rom. 5. and who is able to stil the stormes Esay 19. torments of our consciences when they are oppressed with the feare which they haue of the wrath and iudgement of God because of our sinnes Ephe. 3. and that he dwelleth by faith in our hartes doth make vs feele in them by his spirite the remission that he hath obtained for vs by his death But otherwise the desires doe neuer cease troubling them and it is not possible for a man that is desirous to take any sound sleepe to rest at his ease because daye and night he is euer dreaming how he may satisfie all his couetous lustes but it is in vaine for they are insatiable and infinite Euery man then is miserable who for the feare he hath of forgoing some corruptible goods which doe but torment him loseth goods incorruptible which woulde by and by content him if he woulde receiue them when they are profered vnto him But the moste parte of men thinke no more then brute beastes of any other life but of this And therefore also they are not carefull but onely to seeke those thinges which can set the fleshe at ease for that short time which they haue to liue in this world without remembring at all what they shall aske when by death they shall be constrained to forsake them It is of them of whome Dauid speaketh Psal 49.18 when he sayth While he liued he reioyced himselfe and men will praise thee when thou makest much of thy selfe he shal enter into the generation of his fathers they shal not liue for euer man is in honour vnderstandeth not he is like beasts that peâ—â—ish Such persons seeme to be accursed as the Serpent was because as he so they also liue with earth and yet are not afraid that their hearts being buried in the earth do rotte as all other things which are couered therwith It is here where they make their paradise like Moules For as Iesus Christ sayth Matt. 6.11 Where their treasure is there will their heart be also where their heart is there will be their God and where their God is there will their paradise be O poore soules that for an apple as I may say do giue ouer not earthly paradise as our first parents did but the kingdome of heauen where the maiestie and glory of God doth shew it selfe openly to the blessed spirits that be with him Mat. 18.8 Here it is here it is I say where we should vse violence vnto our selues and plucke out not our eies if they cause vs to offend not cut of our hands if they giue vs occasion to stumble as Iesus Christ aduiseth vs but cut downe euen to the roote this cursed desire which entangleth our harts hindreth them froÌ„ lifting themselues vp on high from meditating and seeking those things that are heauenly as all Christians that are regenerate that is to say dead and risen againe in Iesus Christ ought to do which those neuer did in whom sin raigneth as yet So that they are more possessed of their goods theÌ„ they possesse theÌ„ more seruants to their own affections then to God They say also that the feare which they haue of persecution and losing their ease and rest doth withholde and keepe them backe from adioyning themselues to the Church Mat. 10. Whereby they shew themselues to be of a lither and cowardly hart and altogether vnworthy of Iesus Christ refusing to go with him to the battell that he maketh in their behalfe against their enemies wherein they are sure to beare away the victorie going vnder his banner and conduct and besides that first to enioy a glory and immortall praise afterward an eternall and heauenly kingdome in which they shall triumph for euer 2. Tim. 2.12 For this is a true saying that if we suffer with him we shall also raigne with him if we deny him he will also deny vs. But I would gladly demaund of them whether they desire or hope one day to enter into paradise and whether there be any other way to leade vs thither then that which the sonne of God hath traced out vnto vs who sayth himselfe Luk. 24.26 that he ought to haue suffred and to enter into his glory To which also that agreeth which Saint Paule sayth Act. 14.22 That by many afflictions we must enter into the kingdome of God 2. Tim. 3.12 And in another place All those which will liue in the feare of God and of Iesus Christ shall suffer persecution For it is an ordinance of God which is generall that if we be partakers of the glory of his sonne Rom.
rather of power of loue and of a sound mind How can they then that are destitute of this spirit assure thēselues in their consciences that they are Christians But I do maruel much howe these persons thinke that they may be of the church of Iesus Christ in the mean time be freed frō persecutiō seing Iesus Christ hath foretolde to all his disciples that in the worlde they should suffer affliction and that if he hath bene hated persecuted in the world Ioh. 15.20 Chap. 16. so shall they be also purposing to teach thē therby that iniuries persecutions can by no meanes be auoided of thē Wherefore Lactantius saith that it is the poesie of the true church 1. Tim. 13. to do good suffer euill in being the piller and the prop of truth Ioh. 8.44 as it were a witnes thereof considering that the truth is hath bene of al antiquity odious vnto the deuil who is the father of lies to all men who by nature are vaine liers but aboue all other to Princes great Lords who loue to be flattered Psal 39. 116. Is it possible that either the true ministers seruāts of God cā make a true profession of preaching thereof or his children beleue folow it not raising against thē by by the ioint hatred both of men and deuils So that the painters which woulde draw her haue giuen vnto her a sword in her hande which she thrusteth throgh the throte of him that beareth her 3. Esd 4. But that ought not to astonish vs for howsoeuer it stādeth she wil in the end remaine victorious ouer all her enemies And we are certaine that God who is the Father thereof will vphold all those that will freely embrace her wil destroy not only those who by hatred because they are possessed by the deuill do reiect fiercely resist it but also those who for feare lest they should incurre the hatred the euil wil of the world do loue rather to dissemble delay time with the enemies thē to ioyne thēselues to the companies of her friēds put themselues vnder her banner to defend her Ought we not to thinke that to preserue faith and other graces and vertues which God hath ingrafted in vs it is needefull that they should be practised And that without exercise they doe rust and become in tyme cankered as Iron in the ende come to nothing It is then for our profite that we shoulde haue enemies whiche make warre continually agaynst vs to exercise vs. For that maketh vs vigilant strong and ready as Sainte Paule sayth My power is made perfect through weakenes 2. Cor. 3.9 verye gladlye therefore will I reioyce rather in my infirmities that the power of Christ may dwell in me Wherefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproches in necessities in persecutions in anguish for Christs sake for when I am weake then am I strong Seneca sayth that vertue will fayle and fade away if she haue not an aduerfary who in exercising of her doth make her to florish Let not the delayers then alledge anye more either their persecutions or their infirmities to excuse themselues withall from entring into the Church for both the one and the other ought to driue them vnto it The crosse because it is an occasion to fight and fighting a meane to come vnto the glorye honour rest crowne happines and felicity whereunto they aspire and their infirmity to the end they may be strengthened for the church is the schoole wher al vertues are learned but especially magnanimity constancy which do stil accōpany faith to cause her to contemne death threateninges Mat. 16. dangers prosperity aduersity and all other frayle and corruptible thinges Is it possible that hearing so many excellent promises of God Psal 46. whereby he doth make vs certaine for euer of his presence and fauour and that he will neuer forsake vs either in fyre or water but wil keepe vs euer in our ingoinges and outgoinges whether soeuer we walke Esay 43.2 Psal 83. Psal 121. And after seing so many examples of those who being vpholden by the spirite of God in the church haue bene inuincible against all temptations and tormentes Heb. 11. is it possible but that we should be encouraged And although we were more fearful then heartes is it possible I say that following so many valiant captaines and champious we should not be vnder their conduct as bould as Lions Hasten you o ye delayers to enrowle your selues among the company of olde beatē souldiers that neuer fledd back for any assault whatsoeuer was made against them and who continually esteemed the glorye of God and of his trueth dearer then all the dainties of the worlde There be some also that feare to be expelled out of their owne countrye where they are had in honour and haue great offices and gorgeous houses where they their wiues and their children be at their ease and well prouyded of all those thinges they neede dare not commit themselues to the church lest that perfecution comming they be in daunger to loose all their commodities To aunswer particularly to all that which they obiect I saye first that the true countrey of a Christian man as saith S. Basill is the Church wherein he is borne a newe and where he hath his father Ioh. 3. his mother his bretheren and friendes his dwelling his goodes his inheritaunce And I say furthermore that it is the best happiest and most delightfull and pleasantest soiourning that is in all the world For it is the gard on which God hath plated which he himselfe hath tilled and wherein he taketh all his delight where the trees of righteousnes the blessed plantes of the house of God the tree of the knowledge of good and euill and the tree of lyfe which is alwayes greene are to be found besides there are the cleere riuers and springes of the water Cant. 4. of lyfe springinge to life eternall There are also the sweete flowers the smellinge of the lillye the roses the camphire the spikenarde the Lauender saffron calamus cynnamon with the trees bearing incense myrrhe aloes with all other chiefe spices Apoc. 21. And to conclude there is the golde and pretious stones the most rare and excellent that can be founde Esay 5. desired and wished for It is the vine of the Lorde which he hath adorned withall the greatest excellencies that can be wished to take his pleasure therein If then God do contente himselfe to dwell therein as in the stateliest pallace as in the gallantest garden of pleasure that he hathe shoulde not this dwelling like vs Moreouer is not our habitation in heauen Phil. 3. since we are heauenly plantes as Plato sayde and that we are risen with Iesus Christ Wherefore then haue we our heartes still in the earth to seeke the thinges that are beneath why doe we not
lifte vp our selues to heauen where our treasure is Coloss 3 when it was demaunded of Socrates from whence he was He aunswered I am a citizen and burgesse of the worlde Shewing by his aunswere that a good man ought to esteeme the whole earth to be his countreye and that there is no place so desolate or so waste nor any Nation so barbarous in whiche God doth not lodge and place his when it pleaseth him to call them from their natiue countrye to place them els where where hee knoweth they will fructifie best As we see in the examples of Abraham Ioseph Mardochie Daniell all whiche came to highe estates out of their owne countrye There was an oulde father who sayd that honest men yea euen the faythfull ought to be like vnto Torteises and Snayles and carye still their houses aboute with them For they whiche builde in one place thinkyng euer to dwell there deceiue them selues and do not consider that the condition of the Christians in this world is not to haue any certaine house or Citie Eb. 13. 1. Cor. 4. Heb. 11 but to be in it as trauailers pilgrimes now in this place anone in another And so passe therein as pilgrimes and strangers not restyng our affections in any place but so long as God shall appoint Briefly we ought to builde purchase and possesse as though we possessed not and vse the worlde and all the thinges that are therein as though we vsed it not as the Apostle sayeth that The fashion of this worlde goeth awaye and there is nothing certeine therein 1. Cor. 7.30 If our earthly affections were well mortified and the worlde were well crucified vnto vs and we vnto the world as we ought to be we shoulde not be so curious or so coy in all these things which doe but serue for the body and for this present life as we are For verie little or nothing at all is needefull to content a minde which desireth nothing but that which is necessary to maintaine it selfe This vnsatiable desire then which we haue to dwell at our ease and onely caring to leaue our houses well stored and furnished of all thinges that may be desired for delight can not proceede from any other cause then from too too great desires of those superfluous things and of a false opinion which we haue that without those thinges we can not liue coÌ„inodiously For if we coulde content our selues with the thinges which are necessarie for the preseruation of this life we coulde not haue so little but it would suffise vs. We would not feare that seruing God lodging foode or garmentes should neuer fayle vs in what place soeuer we should be were it in the middest of Scythia Gen. 28.11 Iacob slept at his ease though he were in the fieldes in the rawnes of the night and had but a stone vnder his head for his boulster 1. Kin. 19.6 Elias contented him selfe for a meale to haue but a cake baked vppon coales and a pott of water Mat. 3.4 So Ihon who was apparalled but with cammels heare and was nourished but with locustes and wilde honie was contented therewith Luke 19. The Apostles hauing barlye bread with two or three little fishes broyled vpon the coales with a little water desired no more Dan. 1. Daniell and his fellowes which were fedde onely with herbes were fatter and in better case then the other children which were serued with the Kings dishes And Iesus Christ the sonne of God being in the worlde had not where to lay his head and yet none of all these euer wanted any thing that was necessarie for the preseruation of their bodelye life Trew it is that God sometimes to proue and put in practise the faith of his children and seruauntes or else to make them knowen that they may serue for examples to others doth driue them to great necessitie so that it seemeth he will giue them ouer or else that he hathe forgotten them But he neuer faileth to be readye at the â—erie houre and instant wherein they haue most neede of his helpe making them to vnderstande and proue aboundantlye the remembraunce that he hath of his promise and care to succour his when nederequireth Whereof Paule warneth the Corinthians and all of vs 2. Cor. 4.8 that we be not discouraged Though sometymes being in affliction we be brought to the pinche sayeth he yet are we not in distresse being in pouertye we are not destitute being persecuted we are not forsaken being caste downe we perishe not Psal 66.9 And Dauid to this purpose sayeth He holdeth our soules in life and suffereth not our feete to slippe for thou O God haste proued vs thou haste tried vs as siluer is tried thou haste brought vs vnto the snare and laide a streight chayne vppon our loynes Thou hast caused men to ride ouer our heades We went into fyre and into water Heb. 13. but thou broughtest vs out into a welthie place I will goe into thy house with burnt offrings and will paye my vowes Hauing then so manye promises of God that he will not leaue vs Mat. 6. 1. Pet. 5. nor giue vs ouer that in seeking his kingdome and his righteousnes all temporall charges shall ouer and besides be administred vnto vs Let vs then caste all our care vppon him and assure our selues that he wil be carefull to prouide all thinges that shal be necessarye in what place soeuer we doe remaine I saye necessarye and not superfluous for what neede haue wee of them when we maye be without them And moreouer they hinder vs and encrease the cares and vexations of our mindes and finallye they serue for nothinge else but to kindle and stirre vp the concupiscencees of our fleshe Which we shoulde mortifie Ye Iam. 4.3 aske Saiethe Saincte Iames And ye receaue not because ye aske amisse that you might consume in youre owne lustes Let vs then take heede that we so rule all our affections that hauing our foode and wherewithall to couer our bodies that is to saye our daylye breade whiche we aske euerye daye of God we contente our selues therewithall And then we shall knowe by experience that God neuer faileth to prouide in tyme for all the necessities of all those that hope in him and call vppon his name For that which maketh as so to mistruste pouertie and to feare that entring into the Churche to serue God sincerely wee shoulde haue great discommoditie through the wante of manye thynges is because we couet to many thynges to satisfie not our necessities but rather our delights and pleasures When then our desires shall be well gouerned and brought vnder the yoke of reason whiche will keepe them vnder through sobrietie and temperance we shall not feare but that we shall haue euer in all sufficiencie that which is needefull for vs. If they feare the losse of their offices and that keepe them backe from the seruice of