often to say vve haue seized vpon heauen let vs fly hence let vs fly hence Practice 6 Sixtly of Confidence against the terrors of iudgment for blessed is that seruant vvhom the lord shall find vvhensoeuer or hovvsoeuer he commeth thus trading For if god loued vs vvhen vve vvere his enimies did beare vpon vs the image of the diuell hovve much more shall he loue vs novve being reconciled bearing the image of sanctification in Christ Practice Last Lastly of Expostulation together vvith motion Can any one amongst you implead this Learning Is there a vvise man amongst you I hope he is not vviser then Solomon yet he accounted all things in the vvorld vexation vanitie vvhen he had once learned this lesson Is there any amongst you that makes an high accompt of himselfe his let not this stout hart of his stoope to vile vaine things of the vvorld Is there a frugall thrifty man amongst you that vvould enrich himselfe let him trad for this true gold of Ophir not vvith the shippers of king Ochasias trade for peacockes parrats parachitoes popiniayes for soe they may chance to haue their ships broken at Esiongeber all their proud peacokes be they vviues or vvātons all their paultrie popiniays be they giules or practises may suffer a fearfull vvrack vvith them In a vvord all of you are men ciuill men Marchant men that vvhich is more then all Christian men Will you knovve the best of all the only good for you yours then knovve that guiles are noe gaines for you to liue by in a godly conscience Nor noe good ground-worke for your posterity to liue on whē you are gone for the goodnes of god is extended to the thousand generatiō of thē that loue him endevoure to keepe his commandements Thus much of the vvhole text in generall The secōd lesson From the particular passages arise diverse lessons The first is dravven from the Object vvhich is a kingdome For frō hence vve learne That it is the mind of Christ Iesus that all his should be of a Royall mind therefore a kingdome is sett before them as a reward of mercie for their seruice The light of this appeareth forasmuch as gods kingdome is three fold to vvitt of Povver of Grace of Glorie Of Povver for god is not a brasen vvall but a vvall of fire to his chosen to surround encircle them What euer pleaseth him that doth he in heauen Psal 13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in earth in the seas in all deepe places And of him Rom. 11.36 through him to him are all things For the Lord is the Greatnes The Povver The Glory the victorie the maiestie for all are his in heauen in earth his is the Kingdome he is exalted as head ouer all soe preacheth Dauid in the booke of the Chronicles 1. Ch. 29.11 Dan. 6.26 and Darius the king of Babilō proclaymeth in his kingdome that all men should tremble feare before the god of Daniell for he is the liuing god steadfast foreuer his kingdome That vvhich shall not be destroyed And his dominion shal be euē to the end All his vvorkes shevve this for they all speake of his glory of his kingdome talke of his povver Thus you see here is a kingdome of Povver that the vveake may flie vnto it as vnto a city of refuge Secondly a kingdome of Grace soe CHRISTS forerunner saith Repent for the kingdome of god is at hand Matth. 3.2 Christ him selfe tells his Apostles that it is giuen vnto them to knovve the mysteries of the kingdome of heauen Luc. 8.10 Christs follovver sayth the kingdome of heauen Rom. 14.17 is not meat drinke but righteousnes peace ioy in the holy ghost Lastly he hath a kingdome of Glory For it is his pleasure to giue his children a kingdome it vvas prepared for them before the vvorld vvas Luc. 12.32 Mat. 25.34 Mat. 13.43 they shal shine therein as the sunne in the firmament The right of this appeares in reason that Christ vvould haue Christians regally minded because there is an opposition of kingdomes against this kingdome of Christ to vvit that of the kingdome of the beast of the vvhore the kingdome of Sathan the kingdome of this vvorld Apo. 16.20 The kingdome of the beast the Reuelation mentioneth Matth. 26. against both by vvay of disclayme Christ saith directly My kingdome is not of this vvorld The might of this kingdome of Christ appeareth that he should rule ouer the house of Iacob for euer Luc. 1.33 he should raigne till his enemies are put vnder his feete yea his very members by his grace shall raigne 1. Co. 15.23 For if by one mans offence death raigned by one man much more they vvhich receaue abundance of grace Rom. 5.17 of the gifte of righteousnes shall raigne in life by one Iesus Christ he it is that hath made vs vnto our god kings Preests vve shal reigne on the earth by santificatiō Apoc. 5.10 Yea vve shal iudge the collapsed angels Thus much for the probat of the learning hereof 1. Cor. 6.3 Practice 1 The life of this appeares First in the practise of the exaltation of our ovvne Christian spirits for euery one hath euer naturally vvithin himselfe a kingdome vvherein reason is the prince the sences the gard the vpper faculties of the soule the Peares the invvard sēces the commons the passions the rebbells Novve faith by grace ruleth ouer all these obtayneth the kingdome For passion must subiect it self to sence Sence to reason reason to faith faith to the spirit of god Thus is a kingdome sett vp in vs that vvill neuer be cast dovvne either by the plotte of Machiauell vvho imagined that religion did effeminate debase deiect the courages of Christians But the magnanimity of George Castriott prince of Epyrus of Iohannes Zisca Mirmidons of vvarre of Martin Luther of Huldricus Zinglius of such like both Laiques Cleriques vvortheis of the vvord doth vtterly confute that poore conceit of the secretary of Florence Machiauell This exaltation also vvil guide vs that vve be not deceaued by Sathan vvho offereth vs kingdomes to serue him Nor yet to dreame of an earthly kingdome vvith the flattering Herodians Matth. 4.8 misled Chyliasts Origenists or Millinaries for all these last three are one Practice 2 Secondly the life of this learning confuteth those that are of a base abjecte condition that either with the proud man sells their clayme for ayre as did Absolon for honor or vvith the couetous man for earth as did Demas for this present vvorld or vvith the Letcher for puddle as did Ammon for Thamar or else pavvne it as did Dauid Noah Peter or lose their clayme to this kingdome by neglecte contempt or
carelesnes 3. Ioh. 1.9 Lucae 16. or giue it avvay as Diotrephes did for preheminence as the Glutton for delight as the vvanton for pleasure as the envious for nothing but for vexatiō of mind as the desperate only for horror of conscience vvho destroy their bodies that the deuill may haue their soules Practice 3 Thirdly this teacheth vs not to be rebells in this kingdome not to partake vvith the beast vvho disposeth of kingdomes at his pleasure nor vvith the deuill vvho seekes to ruinate the states of kingdoms Rom. 6.12 but that finally vve resolue that sinne may not raigne in our mortal bodies as in a kingdome that vve should obey it in the lust thereof Rom. 5.21 but that as sinne hath raigned vnto death euen soe grace might raigne through righteousnes vnto eternall life by IESUS CHRIST our lord The third lesson The former was a kingdome but novve a kingdome of heauē is sett before vs wherein we may learne That God hath prepared a kingdome of heauen for those that in hope thereof purge themselues in the kingdome of grace By heauen vve vnderstand not that place betvvixt the earth Gen. 1.28 the Moone for that 's the heauen of fovvles for they are called the foules heauen Genes 1. nor yet the firmament vvherein are placed the sunne the moone 2. Cor. 12.2 starres but that third heauen into vvhich Paule vvas taken vp vvhere Christ sitteth at the right hand of god the father vvhere the soules departed are in rest vvhere all the elect in the end of the vvorld shal be as the angels shal shine as the sunne in brightnes glorie of god the father Of vvhich kingdome of heauen if you aske me vvhat it is I ansvvere it is a creature made of god in the begining vvhē he created the earth Gen. 1.1 If you aske me vvhere it is I ansvvere it is aboue these visible heauens If you aske me vvhy god made it I ansvvere for to shevve his glorie vnto his saincts therefore it is called a paradise of all delectable desireable things in the presence of god The house of god vvherein all the elect are gathered A kingdome vvherein god is king Christ is the prince the church the queene the subjects all the angells saincts Luc. 6.38 And it is called the kingdome of glorie vvherein not only vve receaue glory in good measure but pressed dovvne heaped vp running ouer In hope vvhereof all gods children purge prune themselues that they may bring forth much fruite 1. Ioh. 2.3 For vvhat vvill not a Christian soule doe labour striue struggle vvhile he is here that here after he may sitt in heauenly places vvith Christ Iesus Eph. 2.6 The right of this learning the reason of scripture shevves Apoc. 21.8 For noe vncleane thing entereth into this holy city nor any abhomination The meanes is therefore offered 1. Ioh. 1.7 euen the bloud of Iesus Christ vvhereby vve may be purged frō all our sinnes that vve may be cleane And gratious is the conversation of all gods children for their conuersation is in heauen allbeit they be in earth Phil. 1.20 First by liuing in christian charity For he that liueth in charity liueth in god Matt. 6.21 Secondly in affection for their hart is in heauen vvhere their treasure is Thirdly by right of inheritance for vvhere the head is there must the members be Christ our head is in heauen christians the members clayme their interest in him Gorranus in locum Or as our contryman sayth the conuersation of Christians on earth is in heauen 1. By meditation in the strength vvhereof they fly daily into heauen 2. By daily conference for they speake continually of those things that belong to the kingdome of heauen 3. By holy admiration for vvho knovveth the order of the visible heauens therefore much lesse can vve vnderstand the glory of the invisible 4. By speaking to our soules in holy soliloquies saying Who is or vvhat is there in heauen or in earth that vve desire but thee o lord god Lastly by attending gods leasure as the Patriarches did Gen. 49.18 soe doe they daily vvaite for their saluation The life of this learning consists in practise Practice 1 First of greuance for it is a thousand greeuances to see the madnes of the vvorld that vvhen as god hath prepared vs a kingdome this kingdome is preached daiely vnto vs yet it is sleigthed neglected as if vve told thē tales of Virginia Iob. 4.19 2. Pet. 1.14 1. Pet. 2.11 or of the Bermuthaes vvhere they neuer meane to goe And for asmuch as vve knovve that vve dvvel here in houses of clay in tabernacles of earth are but strangers pilgrimes yet that vve should haue noe more desire to goe to our mansions to repaire to our tabernacle made vvithout hands to reside in our ovvne country is a straine of extreame madnes Practice 2 Secondly of contentation in vvhat estate or condition soeuer vve are either vvith Abraham dvvelling in tents Heb. 9.10 yet still to haue an eie to the land of promise or vvith Paule not to looke on the things that are seene 2. Co. 5.1.2 but to knovve that if this earthly tabernacle be destroyed vve shal be sure of a better made vvithout hands Practice 3 Thirdly of confutation of those hellish spirits that make hast vnto the kingdome of darknes For say preach vvhat the lord Iesus vvill in his holy Testamēt that they should purge and purifie themselues for the hope of this kingdome Hosh. 5.4 yea if Hoshea preach neuer soe earnestly yet the Spirit of vvhordome vvilbe in the middest of some Exod. 16.5 If Moses Aarō preach of this kingdome shevve Signes vvonders 2. Ti. 4.10 yet the spirit of gluttony vvill desire the flesh potts of Egipte if Paule preach neuer soe povverfully yet the spirit of coueteousnes vvill cause Demas to forsake him Matt. 5.22 imbrace this present vvorld the spirit of vvrath vvill call his brother Racha though he be in dainger of a counsell Eph. 4.29.30 the spirit of enuie vvill sell innocent Ioseph the spirit of lying of peruersnes peeuishnes vvill greeue the spirit of god vvith rebellion vvhat soeuer can be sayd to the cōtrary Practise 4 The fourth is of purgation vvhich directeth vs hovve vve may be cleansed laying dovvne this first as a ground that noe man shall see god vvithout a purgatory but this is noe popish foolish cōceite of purging after this life vvithout ground or vvarrant of the vvord but our invvard effectuall purging by baptisme the lavacre of regēeratiō the vvashing of the nevve birth by Christs passiō where in he hath vvashed vs in his bloud by the vvord vvhich maketh vs cleane Aquinas by grace vvhich purgeth vs from all our sinne by
Iesus vvith his brethren Also they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine fellovvshipe in breaking of bread in prayers Heb. 4.16 Moreouer Let vs therefore goe boldly vnto the throne of grace that vve may find mercie find grace to helpe in tyme of neede Luc. 8.6 13. Fiftly from parables First of the seed vvhich fell on the stones vvhen it was spruÌ„g vp it vvithered avvay because it lacked moystnes The stones are they which vvhen they haue hard receaue the vvord vvith ioy but they haue noe roots vvhich for a vvhile beleeue but in the tyme of temptation goâ— avvay Secondly of the house built vpon the sand vpon vvhich the raine fell Matt. 7.27 1. Cor. 9.24 the flouds came the vvinds blevv â— beat upon that house it fell the fall thereof vvas great Thirdly from a race Knovve ye not sayth the apostle that they vvhich runne in a race runne all yet one receiueth the price so ruÌ„ne that ye may obtaine There are three sorts of races Italian Pythian Olympian There are three sorts of places Heauen a place of ioy hell of dolor the earth of labour It is as naturall therefore as it is to the bird to flie or for the oxe to labour or the sparkes of fire to flie vpvvards so it is for the sonnes of men to take paines labor For they that doe not pertake vvith the sonnes of men in labor here shall pertake of the paines of hell vvith the deuill here after Sixtly from the revvard of mercie Noah found fauor vvith god in the old vvorld Gen. 6.8 Gen. 19.19 because he continued in his seruice Lot because he held it out euen amongst the vncleane Sodamites Lastly from gods deuine dispensation for god vvilbe found of a people that seeke him not the reason is Ro. 10.20 because he preuents them vvith his grace For they are meerly passiue in their first conuersion he is the only agent For he preuented vs Englishmen novve the Israell of god but heretofore the abomination of Idolatry Apo. 20.15 But he that is not found vvritten in the booke of life shal be cast into the lake of fire brimstone And vve must take our tyme. For Esau found not place for repentance though he sought it vvith teares Psal 21.8 the right hand of god vvil find out all theÌ„ that hate him Thus you see the â—ight hereof The right is also most plaine for first vve must not be discouraged vvith vveake small beginnings for god vvill helpe Neh. 2.20 assist them that endevour For the people in the tyme of Nehemiah continued building albeit they held the svvord in one hand a trevvell in the other Neh. 4.17 the lord god of heaueÌ„ did prosper their resolutions But if vve looke backe it is to despise god therefore vve haue a caueat Remember Lottsvvife our vnfittnes so heauen is shevved For sayth Christ he that putteth his hand to the plough Luc. 9.62 looketh backe is not apt for the kingdome of heauen And not to goe forvvard is to goe backvvard sayth a father Luc. 14.30 herein vve make our selues ridiculous it vvilbe be sayd of vs this people began to build Heb. 13.8 but vvere not able to make an end Secondly Christ is the same yesterday today for euer The same objectiuely in this vvord Subjectiuely in his attributes of tender mercie as he is a father our god Effectually in his goodnes grace preuenting mercie Thirdly the example of Christ vvho seeketh vs till he find vs as the good sheepheard sought his vvandring sheepe soe Christ seeketh vs till vve become godly Christians carieth vs on his shoulders in our death reioyceth to bring vs to our home in the resurrection of the iust Lastly the promise of eternall life is made to none but to those that continue in vvell doing Rom. â— 7 the case is plaine in the prophecie of the prophet Ezekiel in the eighteene chapter there it is sett dovvne at large to vvhich I referrâ— the reader Practice 1 The practice of this is first a Confutation of those vvho either vvith Balaam vvish to die the death of the godly Act. 26.28 Apoc. 2.5 but care not to liue their life Or vvith Agrippa are almost persvvaded to be Christians Or to forsake their first faith as the church of Ephesus did Or stand still at one stay in a Saturnicall humor as the earth doth or like a mill horse goe in a round from thirty to sixty neuer the better or enuy others that perseuere goe on as Cain did Abell or like those Whom Paule speaketh of vvith Phygellus 2. Tim. 1.15 Hermogenes turne avvay or vvith Hymeneus 2. Tim. 1.15 Philetus fret as a cancer Or vvith Demas forsake Paule embrace this present vvorld 2 Tim. 2.17 For vvhat vvill it profitt a prentice to serue halfe his tyme 2. Tim. 4.10 lose his freedome in the end What did it profitt Lotts vvife to goe out of Sodom to goe tovvard Zoar vvhen shee lookt backe againe to Sodom What did it profitt Iudas to preach the gospell to doe miracles as is probable to be in compaine vvith Christ to sitt at meate vvith him in the end to haue a treacherous hart What vvould it haue profitted Christophorus Columbus or Vesputius Americus to haue sayled many daies nights if they had not continued their course The one then had surely neuer bine lord Admirall of Spaine nor the other could euer haue giuen the name of America to the nevve found land Practice 2 The second is of direction for are vve not all like the sunne alvvaies to be in motion Psal 92 13.14 Matt. 20.8 The sunne neuer staÌ„deth still nor goeth backvvard but by miracle soe vve that are the sonnes of god should neither stand still nor goe backe in gods seruice but vve should be a maruell vnto our selues to recall our courses Are not vve all plants inoculated into the true vine Then certainly vve shall grovve encrease bring forth Are vve not all seruants receaue vvages shall we be idle Are vve not all faithfull ones If it be but the least ingredience of faith though it be no bigger then a graine of mustard seed It vvill grovve to a great tree Matt. 31.31 a little leauen vvhich a vvoman taketh hideth in three pecckes of meale vvill leauen the vvhole lumpe In our seruice haue not vve made a strong covenant vvith god as Elisha did vvith Eliah saying as the lord liueth â— Reg 2.6 my soule liueth I vvill not leaue thee Practice 3 The third is of Expostulation Hovve many Ephramites are there amongst vs that are like vnto a spongious cloud noe sooner vvett but dry like vnto Gedeons fleece dry one vvhile in goodnes vvhile all their neighbours about them are
die for the lord Iesus Act. 10 11 He had learned this lesson of his master vvho had taught him That if any man vvould come after him he must deny himselfe take vp his crosse Matth. 16.24 followe him What other things then denying our ovvne frends our ovvne goods our ovvne selues doth that myrhe mortification that dying burying vvith Christ signifie vvhereof so oft is made mention in scripture For vve are but strangers pilgrims like the children of Israell in vvhose tvvo forty stations is figured resembled the race of a Christian For they came to Rameses the store house of the Egiptians from thence to Succoth so to Etham in the edge of the vvildernes From thence to Pihiroth at the red sea before Migdoll So on to Marah vvhere they vvere three dayes vvithout vvater there they murmur From thence to Elim vvhere they found tvvelue fountaines seauenty palme trees Thence to the red sea in the desert of Syn vvhere they had quailes Manna so on till they had finished forty tvvo stations a cloud by day a pillar of fire by night being their pilotts to guide them Matth. 1. And as Christ had in his generatiō three fourteenes From Abraham to Dauid from Dauid to the captiuity from the Captiuity to Christ vvhich in all make forty tvvo So if vve haue so many fleetings as Dauid calls them in the psalmes in our regeneration yet must vve goe on continue vntill vve haue finished our course We see it vvas so in Christ For being yet an infant he must flie into Egipte back againe into the land of Israell turne a side into the parts of Galilee for feare of Archelaus the the sonne of Herod In all his life from the crach to the Crosse vvhat see vve but stations of vvoe sorrovve He that shall but cast his eie to see Paules peregrination from place to place to Cyprus to Iconium Lystra Der be Antioch to Thesolonica Beraea Athens Ephesus Miletū Ierusalem tovvard Rome suffered shipvvracke at Mileta novve called Malta Lastly vvas beheaded at Rome What sees a man I say in all this his peregrination but a sea of sorrovve sobbs sighes a perfect resemblance of the travaile of regeneration The right of this appeares to gods children For they knovve that here they are but pilgrimes in respect of their stay pay vvay Noe stay Iob. 14. Thou shalt seeke me to morrovv I shall not be In respecte of pay Noe peny noe PATER NOSTER Poore is the entertaynement that a traueler shall find that hath noe mony Lastly in respecte of our vvay for euery day vve goe forvvards Secondly gods children knovve that they must not be here allvvaies 1. Cor. 15. in respect of their sinne vvhich causeth death For the angell of paradise must vvith his svvord cut the tvvine of this life before vve can tast the tree of the other life Thirdly in respect of the place wherein they liue vvhich Iob calls cottages of clay Job 4. God calls the land of the curse Genes 3. Dauid calls the land of the dead The philosophers tearmed the sublunary region vvhere vve enquire still vvhat state the moone is in And Barnard calls it the place vvherein vve liue by deaths for vvhatsoeuer flyes in heauen or goes vpon the earth or glides in the vvaters that is eateable vve bury in our stomackes so vve liue by their deaths Againe right reason shevves this that there must needs be a dissolution vve must goe from our selues First because our bodies are composed of diuerse qualityes vvhich cannot endure For a kingdome deuided against it selfe cannot stand Secondly from the morall cause vvhich is sinne sinne causeth death Thirdly from the counsellor to sinne vvhich vvas the deuill by vvhose enuy sinne entered death by sinne Lastly by the decree sentance vpon that sinne For as there vvent a decree from Augustus Cesar that all the vvorld should be taxed Luc. 2.1 So there is a statute in heauen concluded by the great Cesar of heauen earth that all men must once die Heb. 9. Fourthly gods children knovve that vvhen they goe from themselues they goe to their holy burgeshipe Phil 3.20 Ephe. 2.19 2. Cor. 5. Ioh. 14. to their sacred seruice to their heauenly entertaynment to their abiding place In a vvord this light of the scripture right of reason shevves this conclusion That if vve vvil not by denying our ovvne frends our ovvne goods our ovvne selues in respecte of Christ be buried vvith CHRIST be crucified vvith him suffer vvith him be made conformable vnto him vve shal neuer liue vvith him raigne vvith him or be glorified by him Practice 1 The practice of this is first of direction For in a Christianslife there is no faring delitiously euery day Luc. 16. Matth. 7. Noe going on in a broad vvay CHRIST directs it saith If ye vvere of the vvorld the vvorld vvould loue his ovvne but because ye are not of the vvorld but I haue chosen you out of the vvorld Ioh. 15.19 therefore the vvorld hateth you but a reall Christian must cast avvay all that hindereth his race as the blind man cast avvay his cloke Heb. 12.1 Ma◠10. follovved Christ For euery child of god must knovve that this a rule case that euery citizen of heauen is a stranger on earth so Jacob speakes to Pharoh So Dauid to god Gen. 4◠9 And Peter exhorteth therevnto that vvee should pass the tyme of our dvvelling in feare 1. Chro. 29 15. 1. Pet. 1.17 1. Pet. 2.11.12 againe he saith Dearly beloued I beseech you as strangers pilgrims abstaine from fleshly lusts vvhich fight against the soule haue your conuersation honest among the Gentiles that they vvhich speake euill of you as euill doers may by your good vvorkes vvhich they shall see glorifie your father in the day of your visitation Practice 2 The second practice is a full declaration of our misery gods mercie The Israelites doe not allvvaies march on forvvards to Elim vvhere are fountaines palme trees as before but retyres to Marah to the vvaters of bitternes The navigator doth not allvvaies saile before the vvind for then he vvould neuer learne to bring his tacke a boord It appeareth euidently that god vvho knovves vs knovves vvhat is best for vs therefore preuenteth our peeuishnes vvith his pitty For hovve vnvvilling haue gods deerest children bine to enter into his seruice to goe from themselues Moses excuseth himself that he is not elequent Ieremy saith that he is a child Lot lingereth to gett out of Sodom Confes lib 8.1 2 7. S Augustine hauing a long conflicte at Rome goeth to Millain to heare S. Ambrose yet being not satisfied for resolution He complaines sayth Hovve long lord hovve long shall I still say as the crovv sayth CRAS CRAS
THE MERCHANT REALL PREACHED BY VVILLIAM LOE Doctour of Diuinitie Chaplaine to the kings sacred maiestie and Pastour of the Englishe church of Merchants Adventurers residing at Hamboroughe in Saxonie MATTH 16.26 VVhat is a man profited if he shall purchase the vvhole vvorld lose his ovvne soule or vvhat shall a man giue in exchange for his soule Printed at Hamboroughe by PAULE LANG ANNO DOMINI 1620 To the right VVorshipfull SR. THOMAS LOVVE KNIGHT GOVERNOUR THE DEPUTIES ASSISTANTS AND GENERALITIE of that auncient much famous most vvorthy Companie of Merchants Adventurers residing at London Hamboroughe Middleborough else vvheresouer in the vvorld that trade for the other vvorld Grace Peace all prosperous successe in all their adventures both by sea land in CHRIST RIGHT vvorshipfull much endeered in the lord Promise is debt debt is due The dutie of my seruice the debt of my promise I novve make bold to tēder vnto you all The promise vvhich I made vnto you at London vvhere I began this taske by gods permission I haue finished at Hamboroughe novve tender performance Doct. Wilkenson It is not many yeares since that a learned Doctour of Divinitie vvho is novve vvhich god preaching in court at an honorable mariage out of the prouerbs The lord Hay his mariage She is like a Merchant shippe that bringeth her merchandize from a farre Prov. 31.14 called his sermon The marchant royall I haue the tearmed this THE MARCHANT REALL For that royaltie is vpheld by Realtie And vvise men vvishe ever rather to be Realls then Nominalls I could not conceaue in all the boke of god vvhere a marchant could bestovve his best thoughts better then vppon his ovvne character so lightsome for Edification so delightsome so liuely sett out by Christ himselfe for consolation VVherein every tittle is pretious every vvord a fullnes of matter every point pressing tovvard the marke the Period not only pointing to but putting you into possession of an eternal purchase In this purchase there is noe vvant but a vvonderfull fullnes of all royalty realty It is a mans greatnes to be greater then himselfe it is happines enough for a man to attaine his perfection at last VVere I a marchant did see heare Christ resembling his kingdome to my vocation I should conceaue veary highe thoughts purposes of resolution to attaine this pearle should beleeue that text punctually to concerne me For vvhat doe vve see here belovve but toyling turmoyling greeving vvishing hoping fearing vvearinesse yea vvretchednes in all VVhat doth the vvorld but besott vs vvith the loue of our ovvne trouble The godly knovve it is better to be vvise to god then happie in the vvorld And the reall Christian is euer limited euer avved vvith feare of excesse I knovve noe condition of mē more happie then Merchants Their veary youth is accompanied vvith many and many fold experiēced trialls both by sea and land vvhich may make them prudent Their mature age is blessed vvith a plentifull portion vvhich may make them thankfull their old age affordeth a very surplusage of marveilous fulnes vvhich may satisfie them In all this If they should build vp their tabernacle here sing a Requiē to themselues to their soules not to remember their eternall purchase vvhat can any man implead god for Solomons navie fetcht the gold of Ophir vvith the perill of a vvhole three yeares voyage but it vvas to build god an house a glorious house A blessed end Some that trauailed in that voyage brought home apes Peacockes A ridiculous Merchantdizing VVhat gaine vve for all our travaile labour if vve find not this Pearle but derision from god daunger in our liues noe good memoriall after vve are gone hence VVho is so foolish to loue the vvorld that breeds nothing but sorrovve Let them tell me that haue experience of manyfold occurrences in the vvorld vvhat find they in it but a smyling deceipt Not vnlike to the bee that haue hony in the mouth a sting in the tayle But vvhy doe vve desire so much Only to keepe it That is a most base thing If vve vvill Lay vp vvhere can vve repose our treasure more secure then in CHRIST treasury VVhat richer purchase then a kingdome The attaynement vvhereof I haue endeuored in this treatise The Pearle is Christ in heauen Charity on earth The one the obiect the other the effecte of faith The one the practice of this life The other the full possession of eternall life If euer you vvill vnite minds in vnitie you must take avvay all discord in Religion Then the vvhich nothing is so strong to vnite nothing so forcible to disseuer disvnite if it be in discord The distraction of minds causeth destruction of estates Can you loke for true seruice of your Apprētices or for carefull trust of your factors vvho that loue not your order IN ORDINE AD DEUM No assure your selues You heare not vvhat they doe Neither shall you knovve Their harts are alienated so are their actions their intendments their purposes Vnite them once in Religion They are yours absolute present or absent sleeping or vvaking by sea or by land Oh vvhat miserable distractions haue falne out by disasters in religion Nay about the robes apparell of the same Hovve can you thinke god should blesse Your negotiations vvith successe vvhen the minds of yours of vvhom you haue a tender care are rent a sunder Beleeue me I haue euer conceaued that the trade of Marchantdizing requires a vvhole man And this man must be a marchant Shall he not be reall Reall he cannot be to man that is not so to god Hovve can he be a faithfull seruant to his earthly master in his accompt that cares not vvhat audite he makes to his heauenly master Assuredly as he beleeues not in the one so he sleights the other There is a broode of fooles vvho like Shemei vvhile they seeke their servāts that is Riches lose their soules VVhat are else all false harted seruants factors vvho care not to lose this pearle vvith the price of their soules so they may attayne pealse It is a thousād pitties to see so many honest harts so miserably distressed in forraine parts vvith more thē lamētable disagreements of folly factiō Either part stryving strugling by all manner of meanes they can deuise to offend infest the other vvhiles in the Interim they neglecte their trades their trusts spend their dayes in miserable garboyles All that I can say for my selfe vvherefore I haue made this treatise speake novve in a dead letter that vvhich before vvas deliuered by the voice of a lyving man is only a desire of doing good If I doe seeme to any man Prodigall of my little yet this honest ambition you see vvill not suffer my one talent or if it be but a part of one to rust in the earth If this Discourse
of Merchants and Merchandizing be not so curiously hādled as the fulnes of the subiecte requireth yet let my endeered affections vnto you all make amends for the manifold defectes hereof It is that my vveakenes could afford It is the issue of noe curious brayne but I hope the symptome of an honest hart If from hence you vvould be pleased to dravve a Paralel of the cares trauailes perills aduentures you make here not for an earthly kingdome but for to attayne some modell of moderate liuely hoode And compare those labours vvith these you take for heauē you vvould easily see vvhat defecte there is I leaue that to your ovvne practice purpose shall euer pray to almighty god to make you all most happie in your selues by being reall Merchants for your ovvne soules happie in your seruants factors that may be reall in your trades trusts god make you prosperous in all your legall aduentures both by sea land To vvhose blessed guydance and sauing mercies I recommend you all resting Yours all in all respectfull duty observance VV. LOE Matth. 13. verse 45.46 Againe the Kingdome of heauen is like vnto a marchant man seeking goodly pearles who when he had found one pearle of great price he went sold all that he had bought it The Proëme BLessed beloued in the Lord JESUS Mine enterance into this text I made at London before those of your most vvorthy companie that are your carefull masters Creditors of your trusts your louing brethren Masters to seruants creditors of trusts to factors brethren both of companie of communion Of companie as you are all marchants Adventurers of communion as you are all orthodoxe Christians Mine enterance vnto you here is vvas both ciuill honest First by free election of your ovvne fellovvshipe Secondly by approbation of the state vvhence I came Thirdly by recommendation of his sacred majestie vnder his ovvne hand vvho pleased to grace me his vnvvorthy seruāt vvith his Royall letters of the most reuerēd Archebishope of Cāterbury who patriarchally tendered your peace Fourthly vvith attestatiō from the famous Vniversitie of Oxford vnder their seale from the Cathedrall Church vvhere I haue bene a mēber tvvo tvventy yeares one of the masters seuenteene yeares Thus from others had I enterance of vvhose recommēdations I acknovvledge my selfe most vnvvorthy Concerning my selfe I demurred after mine election a vvhole yeare halfe begged of god to resolue me touching my coming vnto you novve being come I doe protest in the sight of god his holy angells that I come not vnto you vvith any Italionated hart of implacabillity that cannot be appeased nor vvith any Hispaniolized hart of Iesuited nouelty nor vvith a Frenchified hart of singularitie nor yet vvith a Dutchified hart of neutrality all vvhich I speake not as of any nationall disgrace for the finest cambrick may haue many fretts frayes but I am come vvith a good an honest Englishe hart of Orrthodoxe Catholike syncerity Of the professors vvhereof there are tvvo mayne sorts vvhich I haue obserued in the Christian vvorld both of them striuing strugling for purity but in a differēt dissonant māner The one are seeming Puritans altogether led by faction Puritans in Actiō Puritans in Factiō The other are reall Puritans to vvhom all things are pure altogether busie in honest Actiō Puritans in factiō are all Papists Anabaptists Brovvnists Separatists all singularists vvhatsoeuer Tit. 1.15 sectaries vvhosoeuer that are merely nominalls Puritans in Action are all the pure in hart Matth. 5.8 vvho see god in his vvord in his vvorkes vvhile they are in this vvorld shall see him in the other vvorld in his displayed glory in the beatificall vision of Iesus Christ our blessed sauiour Into this blessed vision doe I desire to bring you Masters mortalls my louing countrymen blessed beloued in the lord Iesus And this text doth seeme punctually praecisely to point you Marchants out Wherein you may First see the Object of your pure faith Diuision vvhich S. Peter Calls the end of faith the end of euery thinge vvise men doe respect in all things this maine Obiect or end is the Kingdome of heauen euen euerlasting life the Catastrophe of your Apostolike Creede Secondly the resemblance specified in the text is the Word of your pure faith or the manner hovv you may be vvorded vnto this blessed end of your faith the Kingdome of heauen It only remayneth both for you me to beg of our god the spirit of faith vvhich vvill lead vs to this end guid vs into all truth by this meanes to the atchiuement of our blessed end If therefore there be here amongst you any one present of a regall royall disposition 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here is a kingdome for him or if there be any of a celestiall cōceipte here is the kingdome of heauen for him vvhich is more If any be curious to knovve vvhat this kingdome is like I vvill tell him It is like saith my text to a Mā 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Indeed for mā it vvas prepared by the merritts of the life death of a true man although not a meere man Iesus Christ both god man And it is like to a marchant mā vvhich vvord you ought to listē vnto for albeit euery Marchant is a mā yet euery mā is not a Marchāt Hovvbeit reall Marchāts principally in all their negotiations affaires doe not only attend but intēd this that so by any meanes they may attayne vnto it 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And not only to a Marchant man is this kingdome resembled but to a Marchant man that is a Ievveller For it is the most pretious Marchant-dizing in the vvorld to trade for this kingdome Moreouer it is not resembled only to a Marchant-man that is a Ievveller but to such a Marchant Ievveller that hath endovvments of grace As first dilligence to seeke 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 secondly Iudgment to chose thirdly Constancie to perseuere seeking vntill he find fouerthly skil to knovve vvhen he hath founde Lastly resolution both of readines to prosecute then contempt of the vvorld to abandon thirdly of full persvvasion to settle his hart Lastly of purchase to enioy that one only Ievvell of peareles priceles vvorth to vvit Christ in heauen Charity on earth the one apprehended by the acte of pure faith the other comprehended by the pure effecte of the same In comparison vvhereof ten thousand millions of vvorlds all the pearls that might be therein are not of any
esteeme or valuation in a reall religious Marchants accōpt These are the seuerall passages chouched in this text of the vvhich seuerally in order 1. The first lesson Out of these premises you may in the generall obserue this point of learning That It is the most prudent the most pretious most gainfull Marchant-dizing in the world to resolue to performe our earthlie vocation with a heauenly mind Mat. 7.24 Mat. 6.20 Mat. 10.16 Mat. 25.4 Mat. 25.21 This light appeareth from gods lampe For vvise men build vpon the rocke Treasure vp for heauen Expose their bodies to saue their heads as doth the vvise serpent Haue alvvaies this oyle in their lamps vvith the vvise Virgins Trade vvith the good faithfull seruant on this manner vntill Christ doth come soe these vvise Mat. 16.26 faithfull seruants enter into their masters ioy This is this royall vvisdome of this Marchant reall It is also most gainfull Marchant-dizing Christ sayth soe asking What doth it aduantage a man to vvinn the vvhole vvorld to lose his ovvne soule 1. Tim. 6.6 Paule preacheth soe Godlines is the great riches both for the price thereof rarenes continuance Insomuch that for the price thereof Christ didnot only say but pray pay Sayd vvhen he spake vnto the people prayed vvith teares strong cryes payed his dearest bloud The rarenes great for fevve find it The continuance constant fixt for once a Christian euer a Christian And also it is most pretious trading for the pretious stones in the breastplate of Aaron those many Exod. 28.10 manifold ievvells that the blessed deuine setts out the heauenly Ierusalem vvithal in the Reuelation Apoc. 21.19.20 Apoc. 2.17 the vvhitestone vvhich vvas promised to the church of Pergamus vvherein vvas a nevve name vvritten vvhich noe mā knevve but he vvhich receaued it may in some sort resemble but in noe vvise equalize any part or parcell thereof noe not in the least The right of this appeares in reason for it is the better part Maryes choyce Luc. 10.42 Mat. 5.6 Mat. 23.23 And blest are they that thirst after this righteousnes But vvoe belongs to them that tith mint commin annyse neglecte the principall parts of the lavve as Iudgment righteousnes mercie Againe I shevve it further That a kingdome deuided against it selfe cannot stand A deuided hart Hosh. 10.2 is not for god To speake Ashdod Hebrvve is a harshe language in the eares of the lord Iam. 1.8 a man of tvvo soules is vnconstant in all his vvayes a double tongued man is reproued a meere impossibility it is to serue tvvo masters God Mammon For soe the Philistimes had God Dagon The Ievves had God Chemosh Israell had God Baal Solomon God Ashtaroth Which sinne of theirs Philo a learned Ievve brandeth vvith the note of Double iniquitie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philo. Act. 4.32 1. Cor. 1.10 Matth. 13. Psal 27.4 Gods light doth punctually require this of all his children to haue one hart for one god one tongue to speake in the name of one mediator one principall master to serue in heauen one spirit to giude vs one rule the vvord of god to lead vs. This vvas that one thing that Dauid required One thing haue I desired of the lord that vvill I seeke after that I may dvvel in in the house of the lord all the daies of my life to behold the beauty of the lord to enquire in his temple Phil. 3.13.14 This is that One thing that Paul pressed soe hard for Brethren I account not my selfe to haue apprehended but this One thing I doe forgetting those things vvhich are behind reaching forth vnto those things vvhich are before I presse tovvard the marke for the price of the high calling of god in Christ Jesus Novve tell me vvhat good vvhat gaine vvhat price vvhat prudence is comparable to this heauenly trading reall Marchandizing Practice 1 The life of this Learning is manifold First it teacheth us to practise a vvhole absolute resignation of our selues Gen. 2.16 ours to god I am my vvelbeloueds he is mine saith the spouse in the Canticles Psa 119.125 I am thine o lord hid not thy commandement from me saith Dauid in the psalmes Gal. 2.20 Novve I liue not but Christ liueth in me saith Paule the Apostle Who is in there in heauē that I desire but thee Psal 72. who is there on earth that Irequire but thee o lord saith the svveet finger of Israel All vvhich oracles of gods saincts shevve that vve should be vvholy gods in all our businesses that vve may attayne at the last to be one vvith Christ Ioh. 17.21.22 as he is one vvith god Practice 2 The second is of resolution not to be the vvorlds in any case for Christ praied not for the vvorld Not to be our ovvne for gods children haue bene prodigall of their bloud euen to the death Nor to be quailed vvith feare of death for vve should rather suffer a thousānd deaths thē to forsake Christ Not to be vassalls either to profit or pleasure the tvvo poles vvhereon the vvorld is turned For pleasures are but bitter pills lapt in sugar gaines vvithout this godly Marchan-dizing are but giules of Corban gieues of Sathan to manacle vs. Practice 3 Thirdly it is for ansvvere to the curious vvho demaund hovv they should obtayne this prudency I tell them By hauing an eare to all gods commandements By listening to his counsels by yealding to his holy motions by consecrating themselues Holocausts to god as Mary Magdalen did vvhose eies vvhose hands vvhose teares vvhose touch vvere vvholy consecrated to CHRIST Practice 4 Fouerthly of pacification for Sathan vvill trouble those vvho are troubled vvith the busines of the vvorld vvith many temptations out cries of conscience As vvith doubtings of their saluation but you may ansvvere him shall not he liue for vvhom Christ died If Sathan accuse you that you haue greeuous sinns Ansvvere him but they are remitted but they are couered but they are not imputed for Christ his sake Psal 32.1 If Sathan reply say thou hast fayled in keeping of gods lavves Ansvvere him All the lavve is kept vvhen that vvhich is not kept is forgiuen If Sathan be instant reioyne vvith thee say an euill father hath sold thee Meaning Adam say thou againe but the good sonne of god hath redeemed me Thus shall a good man in the goodnes of his conscience taking care of all his vvaies pacifie appease the conflicts of his ovvne tempted conscience Practice 5 Fiftly of preparation against the terrors of death For death is svvallovved vp in victory Christ is vvholy in heauen as our head taking possession for vs Christians vve as his mēbers are there already in expectation conuersation Which caused Monica the mother of S. Augustine
like is imployed a necessity of marchantdizing for the distraction of commodities from one nation to another for furnishing the necessities of each country for the vpholding norishing of commerce peace amity amonge the people and inhabitants of the earth Lastly it is plaine by deuine dispensation of gods all ruling prouidence vvisdome in opening the secrets of all things as belongs to Marchants As first god himselfe that made the sea vvas author of shipping nauigation on the sea For the first modell of a shipp vvas the arke of Noah that after the flood cataclysme of vvaters vvas found vpon the mountaines of Armenia Againe god hath opened the vse of the needle card compasse as the abstruse secrets of nauigation that are only for their vse And hath caused nature in generall as the starres of heauen the vvinds the seas the art of man in the skill of nauigation to be as the attendants vpon their Marchantdizing Prov. 31.14 Therefore the Marchants shipp vvhich bringeth her commodities from a farre to vvhich a good vvife is resembled in the prouerbs is indeed the good husvvife of a common vvealth Can vve then thinke the abysse of vvaters for soe the scripture cals the Ocean vvas made for nother vse Psa 104.26 but for sight and vvondermente vvhen as Dauid tells you there goe the shipps describes gods marveilous perseruation of his seruants in those great vvaues There also is fish in great abundance vvhich by shipping is had thence for the vse of man yea the gospel of Christ Iesus had bene vnknovven vnto remote nations vnles by marchantdizing they had hard thereof yea and it pleased god to extēd enlarge the territories of his sonnes dominion by Pauls trauelling Act. 13. voyages made by sea in the shipps of Marchants All this shevves that Marchants their marchandizings are of god It remayneth that the men to vvhom this glorious kingdome of heauen is resembled doe vse their vocation legally that god may blesse them it that they may at the last become Marchants of that kingdome of heauen To performe their vocatiō legally they must doe it first conscionably then constantly and in so doing they shal be sure to end it comfortably To doe their vocation conscionably they must remember that it is not enough for a man to be in a lavvull calling but he must follovve it lavvfully Luc. 18.10 For god loueth aduerbs better then adiectiues That is god loueth that his children should doe all things lavvfully Luc. 5.5 and that to doe it by directiō of his vvord that vvhether they trade day or night by sea or land the vvord of god must be their loadstone compasse and Pilote as the pillar of fire pillar of a cloud vvere the guids of gods people in the vvildernes Auoyding in all their tradings all base couetousnes Genes 6. Galat. 5.13 Psal 107. Act. 21.5 vniust dealing When they build a shipp they must build her in faith as Noah did the arke vvhen shee it built they must serue one another vvith her in loue in all things vsing prayer For Paule before he vvent on ship board prayed vpon the sea shoare For in vaine else doe vve build shipps vnlesse god doe giue the blessing Secondly they must vse it constantly not be as the manner of some is to be constant only in vnconstantcie But rather by remouing all hinderances in your trading as namely Absolons foolish ambition Matchiuills diuelish pollicy all deluing trenching vndermyning one another in their gaines and commodities but constantly vsing the holy meanes of honest recreation helpes of deuotion to further one another in their holy calling Act. 20.24 So vndoubtedly you shall finish your course comfortably and end it vvith ioy that vvhen the auncient of dayes shall sitt dovvne death the sea Reuel 20.13 Matth. 25.21 the graue shall giue vp her dead you shal be sure of a comfortable Euge vvel done good and faithfull seruants enter into your masters ioy vvhich haue continued trading as I bad you vntill I came novve I vvilbe your euerlasting great revvard for euer vvhich revvard of mercy you did allvvaies trade for in all your negotiations busines Practice 1 The life of this learning is first of Caution that you should not be proud if riches encrease by your marchantdizing for the Tyrians and Sidonians vvere the greatest Marchants of the vvorld but being proud by reason of their riches the prophets did prophicie against them Es 23.1 Ezech. 27.2 Hovvle o ye shipps of Tharsis for your distruction shipvvrackes sayth the prophet And albeit they vvere come to perfect beauty in their Marchantdizing That their plankes vvere of the fine trees of Shenir their masts of the ceders of Lebanon their oares of the oakes of Bashan their bankes vvhereon they rovved of yuorie brought from Greece Italie Their sayles vvere of fine linnen vvith broydered vvorke brought from Egipte Blevv silke purple vvas their clothing vvast clothes Their marriners men of Zidon Aruad Their pilottes vvere prudent Their kalkers the skilfull men of Geball The Persians the men of Lud of Phut of Aruad the Gammadimes vvere their men of vvarre theyr saylers their souldiers From Tharsis they traded in siluer tinn iorn lead The men of Iauan Tubal and Mesech vvere their vndertakers From Togarmah they had horses horsemen mules They dealt from Dedan vvith Elephants teeth Peacokes They occupied vvith the Aramites in Emrauds corall pearle They dealt vvith the men of Iudah Israel in vvheat honny oyle balme With them of Damascus in vvine vvoole With them of Dan in Cassia Calemus in vvhat not So large vvas their marchantdizing soe encreased vvas their trade the marchants in all this vnthankfull grovven intollerable proud Therefore lamentation is taken vp for thē heire city distroyed their ships broken at sea they shipvvracked other Marchants hissed at them yea they became a terrour to themselues to others to this day vvere neuer any more in that glory reputatiō as they vvere before Take heede therefore of pride if you be lifted vp vvith riches let not your harts be lifted vp against god For kings the principall among the sonnes of men are borne naked euery thing is an helper to our being The heauēs giues vs light The ayre beath the earth her fruites the bees their hōny the veins their wine the shepe their woole the wormes our silke why then should Marchants be proud Hast thou gold siluer Hag. 2.8 Psal 50.10 Psal 24.1 Eccles 1.7 it is the lords saith Haggai Hast thou cattle they are the lords vpon a thousand hills Hast thou plate houshold stuffe vvhy the earth is the lords all that therein is Hast thou had much and novve hast not Gen. 33.11 Psal 78.70 he is the Ocean to vvhich all riuers runne
returne Hast thou health he hath the keyes of life death Let euery one learne therefore to confesse vvith Iacob that the lord hath dealt graciously vvith them 1. Chro. 29.14 vvith Dauid that recordeth his follovving the sheepe the evves great vvith young as for the regall state crovvne septer he attributeth all to god For sayth he of thee is all o lord Why then should Marchants be proud Let them record their prentiships their meane estate and giue god the glorie for the better Practice 2 The second passage is of confutation that you might not be deceaued in your holy calling vvith marchants of an vnholy calling the Iesuits I meane vvho are indeed as the deuine in the Reuelation saith the marchants of the earth earthly minded making Marchantdize of the vvord of god as Paule speaketh by their holy exercise as they tearme it and other Antichristian sleights like the Mōtibanks and Quacksaluers of the Latyan Lateran sinagogue For Christian marchants buy before they sell but these sell neuer buy as dispensations Indulgences deliuerāces out of Purgatory vvhich noe Geographer did euer portray in table card or map Christian marchants vvhen they haue sold lett the buyer enioy that vvhich is sold but these sell the vearie sight of things the buyer enioys them not as reliques of Saints heads sculls shoes handkerchers breeches and such like trash Christian marchants sell one thing to one man but these Antichristiā Montebankes sell the sight of one thing to a thousand Christian marchants haue certaine specificall kinds of Marchantdizing but these Antichristian Montebankes sell heauē and earth hell sell tovvling of bells places of sepulture dispensation for eating of meates marying of vviues false promise of heauen Friers coules vvhat not Christian Marchants compell none to buy their Marchandize but these Antichristian Montibankes doe curse vvith bell booke candle accompt all such as Athists Achrists that doe not buy vp their trash and popish trumpery Christian Marchants doe make holiday somtimes but these Antichristian Montebankes doe trade most on such dayes as are consecrated to gods seruice Christian Marchants haue sett places for their marts but these Antichristian Montebankes haue vvalls vvoods hollovve trees stockes stones miracles maruels at Sichem at Halas Bruxells compostella Loretto vvhere not vvhat not to encrease theire popish trading Iesuitticall Marchantdizings Practice 3 The third passage is of Detection in vvhich if you vvill take a revevve looke backe but into tvvo shopes of the Iesuits you shall see their trinkets both of profitt also of pleasure And although their vvare be but trash verball yet by the iniquitie of the times it is be come more rich more opulent then all the honest marchantdizing of the Christian reall Marchant First in this shopp of profitt you shall see that huge commodity of the yeare of Iubile The shopp of profitt vvherein you haue remission of sinnes in all the degrees of comparison Which yeare of Iubile vvas vvont to be euery fiftith yeare but novve in the popes Ephod Vtilitatis gratia it is thought meete to be euery fiue tvventith yeare euery centenary yeare though the fiue tvventith yeare in their accompt vvas the yeare imediatly before the centenary And that noe man might be ignorant of this yeare there are Siquisss set vp on euery post to be remembrancers thereof vnto you And if any man hinder any manner of person that is vvilling desirous to trauell to Rome in this Iubile it is a reserued case can be remitted by none but by the popes novvne self But there is some cause of enuy in all this that the Italians should be so neere their remission the Pollender the English Scot Irish should be so farr of from soe great a fauour Their second great commoditie is their Archiepiscopall Episcopall pall vvhich they make vvith great cost for sooth For the Nunnes of the order of S. Agnes doe offer tvvo vvhite lambes vpon the alter of S. Peter S. Paule at Rome iust at the tyme that Agnus Dei is singing Of the vvoll of the vvhich lambes these palls are made noe bishope can haue a pall but he must be a petitioner in all the degrees of comparison if he be Archbishope or bishope he payes pro rato tvventy or thirty thousand Duccatts yet for all this his successor shall not be the better for it for he must buy a nevve one albeit his predecessor should die the vearie next day after he hath bought it I should be to much iniurious vnto you if I should desire you to vevve a corner of their shop vvherin are anniuersary masses priuat masses priuiledged alters papall bulls vvhich they send ouer euen vnto Amerrica vvhere they compell the poore Indians to receaue them Insomuch that some shipes of Holland haue taken vvhole Cariques full laden vvith such trash for the misled Americans And that vvhich is vvorth the obseruations none may vent these commodities or buy or sell but he that hath the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name But I feare me I should be ouer much teadious vnto you if I should desire your patience to cast your eies into an other corner of their shop of profitt vvherein you may see their taxations Apostolicall as they call them in vvhich there are sett dovvne the prices of ordinations dispensations absolutions reuocations legittimations the like stuffe Insomuch that if a great king of Christendome were nowe aliue he might call a great duke that yet liueth his brother cosen nephevv sonne And you knovve it is noe lesse a vertue to keepe then to gett Therefore these Antichristian Marchants haue trickes to keepe to bring all the vvater to their ovvne mill First the vovve of single life vvherby none are occasioned to challenge a remaynder of goods in case of vvife childrē yea though a Clerique be conuicted condemned of neuer so criminall capitall a crime yet confiscation of goods to the state is not knovven vvhat it meaneth among them Secondly the election of the pope it kepte in the conclaue of the Cardinalls vvhich vvas vvont to haue its strenght among the suffrages of the people And it is thought that in France there is to the number of ten host of mē that are of some order or other of the papacie Thirdly to gett the fauor of great personages they haue their seuerall trikes deuises as to make their younger Sonnes Cardinalls Abbots Priors their collapsed daughters Abbesses Prioresses Recluses Fourthly they can curriefauor vvith kings in presenting them vvith pretty presents as vvith a rose in the tyme of yeare consecrated by the popes novvne self at the first comming A holy svvord a millitary belt a vvaxē Agnus Dei such like trash vvherevvith those pretty vvhite sonnes misled novices conceaue that they
an Onix a Jasper And all this to shevve hovve pretious his children are both in life death in his sight Right deare in the sight of the lord is the death of his saincts saith the Psalmist Psal 116. If their death be pretious their life much more The things prepared for his are resembled to pretious stones For in the description of the heauenly Jerusalem in the Reuelation by the Devine Apoc. 21.21 it is sayd that the foundation of the vvall vvas of all manner of pretious stones as of Jasper Saphir Calcedon of the Emeraude Sardoinx Sardius of the Chrisolite Beryl Topas of the Chrisoprasus Iacinth Amathyst The right of reason shevves this For god hath put more povver and beautie in stones that haue only being then in other Creatures that haue being sence reason Whereby he shevveth to vs his povver to snib controule our pride For vvhat beauty is so bright as the diamōd vvhat roseall hevve so amiable as the Corall vvhat skill haue any phisitiā so povverfull in medicine to cure as are many pretious stones Secondly god confirmeth herein the doctrine of election reprobation for as of stones so of mankind some are vile some are pretious And on the other side the rarest ievvells haue not that vertue as the loadstōe vvhich for lustre in respecte of other stones is but vile despicable Wherein vve may see that vvhen the most vile meanest things are taken into the hand of god vvhat rare vvonderfull effects he can bring to passe by them In a vvord all pretious stones procede from one and the selfesame matter vvhich is the earth yet see vvhat great difference there it betvveene the vile the pretious betvveene the currant counterfaite Euen so among the sonnes of men all are made of the one the same matter Yett vvhat difference there is betvvixt man man of the same mould betvveene brother brother of the same bloud euen asmuch as betvveene Simon Magus Simon Peter Cephas Caiphas Judas the traytor Jude the apostle yea vvhat differēce is in one mā vvhē god takes him into his hand as of a persecuting Saule to make him a preaching Paull Practice 1 The vse of this is first of Demonstration vvhat manner of persons they are that truly build tovvards heauen Paull telleth vs that if vve build not vpon the foundation that is Christ pretious stones vve shall suffer losse 1. Cor. 3.12 Those therefore that are true builders are reall Marchant ievvellers For the grace of god doth so much prevaile vvith them Psal 1. 1. Ioh. 3.3 that they become Jaspers greene florishing in good vvorkes Saphires purging themselues of Epidemicall diseases for the hope of heauē Calcedons curing fantasticall delusions all Enthusiasmes Anabaptismes the like fancies Carbūcles healing the falling sicknes of falling into the vvaters of coueteousnes Zanch. de oper Dei fires of contention Sardonixes as composed of two natures mortall spirituall by the one humbled by the other lifted vp Sardiusses in reioycing the hart for vvho can be more merry thē he that serues god Chrisolits driuing avvay agues both hott cold for the feare of god is the bath of sinners curing them of chilling cold of base idelnes the flaming heat of intemperat Zeale Beryls by kindling fire against the sunne the Zeale of the sonne of god euen eating them vp Apoc. 12.1 Topasses curing Lunacies trampling all sublunary things vnder their feete Chrysoprases shyning more in the night then in the light holding out the light of the truth against all the darknes of this vvorld Hyacinths hauing armore of profe against lightning for they are as innocent as doues therefore god vvill not hurt them Lastly Amatysts enioying quiet sleepe For god giueth his beloued sleepe in this life their death is as a very svveet repose rest in sleepe Practice 2 The second practice is of Information from the name generation production of pretious stones The name of them pretious for god knovves all his by their names The generation of pretious stones is rare euen from the devve of heauen in the mother of pearle the regeneration of gods children rare euen of the symle of heauen the grace of god in the bosome of their mother the church The production of pretious stones vvonderfull from the veines of the earth from the deapth of the sea from the bodies of vncleane creatures The renovation of gods children wonderfull from the dusty durty thoughts of the earth from the sleepenes of Sathan from the bodies of vvicked parents come eftimes good children Practice 3 The third of Detection for there are certaine pretious stones vvhich are transparent only soe are gods children like Nathaniell vvho vvas so translucēt that Christ pronunceth of him that in him there vvas noe guile Some are duske not transparent such a countefaite vvas Demas vvho shyned for a tyme but in the tyme of tentation fell avvay some are mixt vvhich are partly duske partly transparent Such are they that vveare Linsy vvoolsy in their garments plough vvith an oxe an asse changing their religion vvith William Rufus according to their profittable reason But all these may easily be knovven the true from the counterfait euen as pretious stones are by three manner of vvaies By the touch by the sight by the file If they be counterfaite touch them deale vvith them their dealing vvilbe as rough as Esaues hands albeit their voice be as oylie as Iacobs Looke vpon them not a good vvorke shall you see but their good vvorkes are as invisible as the holy ghost Try them vvith the file they vvill not abide the tryall but in the tyme of temptation fley avvay as the svvallous doe in vvinter Practice 4 Lastly of motion all pretious stones come of the earth their common parent but by the devve of heauen influence of coelestiall bodies doe become pure pretious Soe all gods children are all by nature from the earth earthly but by the loue of the god of heauen their father by the vnspeakable benefitt of the sonnes sufferings by the all powerfull operatiō of the holy ghost they are not by the will of mā but according to the purpose of the will of god rēewed becōe pure pretious from out all their contagion euill in the end shall suffer noe losse in their tryall For they as pretious stones are built vpon the euerlasting foundation Iesus Christ by vvhom they are conveyed to the heauenly building shall remayne in the heauenly Ierusalem vvith god for euer The sixt lesson Moreouer the Marchant to vvhom this kingdome is resēbled is not a Ievveller of ordinary Ievvells but one that seeketh goodly pearles so that hence vve learne That the high vvay to this kingdome of heauē is goodnes the studie of Goodnes is the Christian reall Marchants practice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
vvett another time drenched vvith drunkenes vvhile all their neighbours are sober of thirst after righteousnes For vvhat rest is there in our bones vvhen vve haue lost him vvho is the ioy of our harts Which caused Glouer the martire as it is recorded in the booke of acts monuments to cry out at the stake HE IS COME HE IS COME Hauing had before some conflicte of disconsolation novve perceuing Christs spirituall presence he cryes HE IS COME So likevvise one of the Greeke church cryed EURICA Ioh. 1. EURICA I haue found him I haue found him vvhom my soule loueth And Iohn the deuine told Nathaniel I haue found the Messias If vve vvil not seeke him to find him he vvil find vs our impiety vvill cry against our vnthankfullnes Psal 107.8 O that men vvould praise the lord for his goodnes for his vvonderfull vvorkes to the children of men Psal 50.22 Our sleighting of him O consider this ye that forgett god lest I teare you in pieces there be none to deliuer you Galat. 3.1 Our stupidity O Foolish Galatians vvho hath bevvitched you that you should not obey the truth before vvhose eies Iesus Christ hath beene euidently sett foorth Esai 1.2 crucified among you Our insensibility Heare o heauens giue eare o earth for the lord hath spoken saith Esayh I haue norished brought vp children they haue rebelled against me The heauie burden of our sinnes Ah sinnfull nation a people laden vvith iniquitie a seed of euill doers children that are corrupters they haue forsaken the lord Esa 1.4 they haue prouoked the holy one of Israell vnto anger they are gone avvay backvvard Deu. our extreame folly Ah foolish people doe you thus revvard the lord Why then doe vve not search try our selues First our vvayes vvorkes O that my vvaies vvâ—re directed that I might keepe thy statutes Our sinnes that lay vvast our consciences Jeremy laments saying Ier. 9.3 â— Oh that mine head vvere full of vvater myne eies a fountaine of teares that I might vveepe day night for the slaine of the daughter of my people Es 64.1 our iudgment Oh that thou vvouldest break the heauens come dovvne that the mountaines might melt at thy presence That vve might cry out vvith Dauid O that I had vvings like vnto a doue that I might fly hence be at rest Hovve many Iudaits are there amongst vs vvho like the devve in the morning as Hosea sayth glitter gaster but before noone vanish avvay to nothing soe vve are here in the morning but a fore night vve vanish avvay become like the mildevve that smutteth the corne You are here in the morning the devve of Hermon falls vpon you before night you shake it of Yea vvith Manna the angells foode are ye fed vvithall in the morning but before night ye doe as nice gentell vvomen vvith their flowers put them in their bosomes in the morning but ere night stravve them at their feete Practice 4 The fourth vse is of satisfaction for if you should demaund of me the question vvhat might be the causes that men perseuere not I ansvvere it is because they are like the tribe of Ephraim a cake on the harth not turned saith Hoshea vvhich must needs be burnt on the on side Hos 7.8 dovve on the other That is dovvnvvard earnest to the vvorld but vpvvard key cold tovvard god like a doue vvith our hart deceaued because they are fed vvith the vvind that is vvith vaine things their iniquity is bound vp Hos 13.12 Againe their harts are poysoned vvith the venime of sinne vvhich the zeale of gods truth cannot melt Suetonius in vita Caligulae For the naturalists say that the hart of a maÌ„ that is poysoned cannot be consumed vvith fire Practice 5 The last vse is of Motion if you belong to god knovve this that you shall continue constant to the end The golden chayne of gods predestination shevves this Rom. 8.30 That whoÌ„ he predestinate theÌ„ also he called whoÌ„ he called them also he iustified vvhoÌ„ he iustified theÌ„ he also glorifieth For it is not in him that vvilleth nor in him that runneth but in god that shevves mercie gods mercie acompanieth his ovvne The youth of gods children brings forth their middle age increaseth their grovvth in their old age they are compleat and full of fruite For such as be planted in the house of the lord shall euer florish in the courts of our god in the vtter invvard courts here in this vvorld vvhether they they be Layiques or Cleriques in the vvorld to come they shal be admitted into the holie of holiest for euer In the ninth place is shevved vvhat this reall marchant found in his perseuerance of search The text sayth ONE PEARLE OF GREAT PRICE In seeking good things a man shal be sure to find the best at last What this one pearle of great price is both auncient late deuines diuersifie The auncient as Chrisostome Origen say It is the Gospel found among the goodly pearles of the lavve for the lavve is the gospel concealed the gosple is the lavve reuealed Hillarie Augustine Ambrose say It is Christ in heauen farre fairer then the sonns of men Charity on earth the cheefe choise of the goodly theologicall vertues The late devines say It is sanctification so Beza Melanchton Another the Observation of the Commandements as Zinglius A third Charity as Feuerdentius Other say It is grace or faith the gift of grace as Fran Zuares All leuell at this that this one pearle of great price is Christ in heauen Charity on earth of both in order The ninth lesson First of Christ that he is One. Secondly that he is the only pearle peareles pricles And then of charity Of Christ his Onenesse this is the learning CHRIST Iesus is most one in the vnity of deuine essence truly one in the vnity with his electe yea wholy only One in the mediation for his electe The light of this appeares thus He is one vvith the father in essence I the father are one Iob. 10.30 One in substance coessentiall vvith the father One in nature by eternall generation one in name For he hath a name aboue all names one in number of existence as one in the vnity of the essence Where vpon the Orthodoxe faith is in Athanasius Creed The diety is all one The glory equall the majestie coeternall 1. Tim 2.5 Secondly he is one in vnion vvith his electe by one spirit and he alone doth mediate for his elect For there is one god one Mediator betvveene god maÌ„ vvhich is them a Iesus Christ Eph. 2.13 And novve in Iesus Christ yee vvhich once vvere farre off are made neere by the bloud of Christ He is one in essence but in the subsistence differing
deuine soules o you my masters mortalls tell me vvhat comfort can it be vnto you if you cōsider god essentially as he is a iudge euē a consuming fire casting vpon vs fire brimstone as he is the lord of hosts breaking the rockes as he is a master comming before vve are prepared Psal 11. as he is a king cōming to destroy his emmies to render vengance to them that hate him vvhat comfort haue you I say in these things But if vve consider him personally as he is One vvith vs. Psal 31.5 Act. 7.56 1. Pet. 4.19 Then vvith Dauid vve recommend our our soules into his hands Then vvith Stephen vve see heauen open Then vvith Peter vve committ our soules vnto him as vnto a faithfull creator Apoc. 21. And vvith the spouse vve loue vve looke vve long for him crie out come lord Iesus come quickly Practice 5 The fift practice is is of Mediation vvhere in I become an humble sutor to euery deuoute soule as Moses did to the Israelites I stād betvveene the lord and you to shevve you the vvord of the lord 1. Cor. 5.20 saith he and as Paule to the Corinthians For saith he vve are ambassadours of Christ as though god did beseech you through vs vve pray you in Christs stead that ye vvould be reconciled to god As they so I cast myself dovvne at euery mans foote beseeching him to remember that Mat. 5.18 as Christ is one soe not one iote of his word shall perish That it is an impossibility to serue tvvo masters Mat. 6.24 It is a hard matter masters Mat. 26.46 mortalls If vve cannot to find this One pearle spare One hovver seing he reioyceth more ouer One sinner that repenteth then ouer ninty Luc. 15.7 nine that neede noe repentance Let therefore all of vs cast our selues dovvne as the prodigall sonne did cry to our heauenly father make vs as one of thy houshould seruants and it sufficeth for vve are not vvorthy to be called thy sonnes Practice 6 The last is of Motion Let it never be sayd of any here I beseech you as Christ sayd to Iudas one of you shall betray me one of you is a diuell Mat. 26.21 but remember the tyme vvill come that tvvo shal be in one bed together one shal be receaued the other left alone Iam. 2.19 If you say that you beleeue that there is one god the diuell doth soe trembleth Hovve farre are you from the faith of deuils but vnlesse you beleeue as the doctrine is that god is one vvith you in the vniō of the spirit most one in himself in deuine essence vvith the father soly Apo. 18.10 vvholy one in his mediation to god for you It vvilbe sayd of you as of Babell alas their iudgment is come in one houre 1. Cor. 15.51 But behold I shevve you a mystery vve shall not all dye but vve shal be changed in a moment for vve liue not in certainty one day one houre one minuit If therefore this one houre be granted vnto you seeke this one in this one houre that you may be one vvith god in him for euer The tenth lesson In the former place vve haue hard his Onenes Novve lett vs see his pearelesnes pretiousnes For Christ is not only one but a pearle also of great price So then the doctrine is this That Christ Iesus our Sauiour is the one only pearle both peareles priceles vvhich vvas giuen as a ransome to redeeme vs from hell 1. Cor. 6.29 The Apostle Paule sayth so speaking indefinitly you are bought vvith a price but the price vvas priceles So Peter also ye are not bought vvith gold or siluer or pretious stones but vvith the bloud of Iesus Christ vvhich is vnvaluable matchles soe sayth my text in the resemblance of the pearle in the Hebraisme of great price The resemblāce very apposite both in Name Nature Generation Quantity Quality Phil. 2.9 For the first a pearle is rare in Name Soe Christ for god hath exalted him highly and giuen him a name aboue euery name Secondly a pearle is illustious in Nature So Christ Thou art fairer then the sonnes of men grace is povvred in thy lips because god hath blessed thee for euer Psal 45.2.7 thou hast loued righteousnes hatest vvickednes because God euen thy god hath anoynted thee vvith oyle of gladnes aboue thy fellovves Thirdly a pearle is maruelous in generation being ingendred of the devve of heauen in the mother of pearle on earth So Christ miraculous in his generation hauing his father in heauen his mother on earth Fourthly a pearle is small litle in quantity So Christ abased himselfe to nothing He like the sunne in the diall of Ahaz that vvas gone dovvne ten degrees backvvards Ioh. 14.28 So he ten degrees beneath his father The father is greater then I. Ten degrees beneath the angells For he made him lovver then the angells Psal 8.5 Ten degrees beneath men I am vvorme noe man yea ten degrees beneath vvormes for a liue doge is better then a dead lion Liuing Barrabas the murtherer acompted better then the dying lord Iesus Lastly pearle is soueraigne in effectuall qualities to cure infirmitys diseases among the people His bloud is a soueraigne antidote Math. 4.23.24 the sinners bathe to cure our burning feauers of incontinencie The feare of the lord is cleane endureth for euer the iudgmēts of the lord are truth they are righteous altogether Psal 19.9 Our phlethorie of pride to become litle children Our lethargie of forgetfulnes Remember thy creator in the dayes of thy youth whiles the euill dayes come not Marc. 10.15 nor the yeares approch vvherein thou shalt say Eccl. 1◠1 I haue noe pleasure in them Our staggers of inconstancie For vve shall not be afraid of euill tidings for our harts vvill be fixed in the lord Psa 112.7 And our apoplexie of coueteousnes For this reall marchant selleth all buyeth it saith this present text Thus you see the sutablenes of the resemblance Secondly this appeareth vnto vs from the Hebraisme vvhich sayth that this one pearle vvas of great price There are three states of singular eminency in the vvorld a preest a prophet a king In all these our Christ is supereminent Illoque TENUS SUPEREMINET OMNES Christ vvas a preest after the order of Melchisedec vvho vvas king of righteousnes for there vvas noe guile found in his mouth King of Salem for he made both one Without father on earth vvithout mother in heauen without begining vvithout ending Who vvas the temple August 4. li. de trin cap. 24. alter the preest the sacrifice him to vvhom it vvas offered A prophet of infallibility a voice from heauen spake it Heare him the soule that doth not heare him must be cut of from the people
vvho by his povver sends forth the prophetts Math. 17.5 Deu. 18. Mat. 23.34 Apo. 19.10 Psal 24.10 Psal 45.6 vvhose testimony is the spirit of prophecie A king of regall dignity euen the king of glory vvhose scepter is only righteousnes the extent vvhereof is ouer the vvhole vvorld the continuance beyond all tyme vvho after all tyme shall deliuer vp a kingdome purchased vvith his bloud that god 1. Cor. 15. may be all in all The right of reason thevves this also vnto vs. For there is valuation in pearle vvherein consisteth their dignity their lustre povver What valuation is comperable to Christs dignity vvhich surpasseth that of gold siluer Ye vvere not redeemed vvith corruptible things as gold siluer from your vaine conuersation receiued by the traditions of the fathers 1. Pet. 1.28.29 But vvith the pretious bloud of Christ as of a lambe vndefiled vvithout spot That of beasts cattle For thou desirest noe sacrifice Psal 51.16 though I vvould giue it thou delightest not in burnt offering That of angells Vnto vvhich of the angels sayd he at any time sit at my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footestoole Heb. 1.13 Ps 116.11 That of men for all men are liars Farre aboue the value of the offence For if through the offence of one many are dead much more the grace of god Ro. 5.15.16 the gift by grace vvich is by one man Iesus Christ hath abounded vnto many For if by the offence of one death raigned through one much more Shall they which receiue the abundaÌ„ce of grace the gift of righteousnesse raigne in life through one that is Iesus Christ Secondly there is lustre in pearle but in our Christ in his light vve shall see light Yea the deuils the reprobate see so much to make them vnexcusable Thirdly pearles are povverfull in their effects Gen. 49.8 Christ hath excellency aboue Juda preheminence ouer diseases povver of the influence of the sunne moone starrs yea ouer the graue death hell Practice 1 The vse of this is diuerse First of Accession Come ye Marchant Ievvellers that aâ—â— faithfull soules see vvhat Ievvells your Sauiour hath prepared for you 1. Cor. 12. Ioh. 14. Can. 1. they are such that cannot be expressed by vvords Yet is he gone to prepare them for you Jt remaines that you haue an affection to seeke runne after this your ievvell that you may at the last attaine him Come blessed soules that haue hope in CHRIST though your sinnes be as red as scarlet he hath made them of a pearle colour Let euery religious soule see his sauiour this pretious pearle hovve vile he hath accompted of himselfe being sold for thirty peeces of siluer hovve pretious he hath esteemed of vs that shed his pretious bloud for vs one drop vvhereof vvas vvorth ten thousand vvorlds And let the languishing soule come hither see hovve god hath giuen vs his only ievvell to be our JESUS What then vvill he deny vs vvith him For he made him of noe reputation vile in the sight of the vvorld that vve might be pretious pearles in the sight of god Practice 2 The second vse is of ExpostulatioÌ„ vvhat price is there that you can desire that is not to be found in this pearle of great price The price of your redemption is in his passion of absolution in his condemnation of remission of sinnes in his crosse of satisfaction in his sacrifice of nâ—vvnes of life in his resurrection of immortallity in the kingdome prepared for you of purgation in his bloud For he that vvas a diamond hath made himselfe a ruby all red in his ovvne bloud that vve might be diamondâ— in the sight of his father What vvould you haue One pearle vvithout peaâ—e He is this one For he is One god in the essence of the diety Ioh. 11. One creator that made heauen earth One man vvho died for vs. One lord paramount vvho hath the preheminence Matt. 23. Ioh. 10. Hebr. 10. One master not many One father One sheephard One sacrifice for our sinnes Practice 3 The third vse is of caution that vve bevvare howe vve become vile in gods sight for then vve become svvine Mat. 7.6 pearls must not be cast before svvine the deuill desireth to goe into such kind of creatures Matt 8 31. Ibidem hath permission so to doe But our case is as the case of Aaron vvhich had a robe bells a tunacle an Ephod the Vrim Thumim blevv silke fine linnen yet all these vvere none of his ovvne but ornaments ordayned by god to be put vpon him So vve haue noe pretiousnes in our selues but all our lustre commeth from this pearle Eph. 5.8 Ie. 14. Ecc. 1.2 Matt. 7. Matt. 25. Gen. 8.21 For vve are in ourselues darknes in the abstract Folly Vanity doggs hogs death damned If you vvill not beleeue me Moses vvill tell you that the imagination of mans hart is euill from his youth Iob vvill assertaine you for sayth he If I vvash my selfe vvith snovve vvater Iob. 9.30.31 make my hands neuer so cleane yet thou shalt plung me in the ditch mine ovvne cloths shall abhorre me Practice 4 The fourth vse is of feare trembling For S. Paul sayth if any man loue not the lord Iesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha 1. Cor. 16.22 that is accursed vvhen the lord shall come Yea surely they shal be accursed in their goods as the cursed things of Iericho their specious mansioÌ„s made a iakes their possessioÌ„ a bloudy Dan. 3.19 Acheldama their gaines as the cursed guiles of Corban their name as branded as Ieroboams their fame rotten Jf they be honerable god vvill lay their honor in the dust if noble they shal be vile base in his sight if learned their learning shal be a byvvord a hissing If he be a king he shal be made a beast vvith Nebuchadnezzer If a minion or fauorite he shal be hanged as vvicked Haman that loues not the lord Practice 5 The last vse is of petition vvherein I become an humble sutor vnto all that are here present that there may not be amongst vs a prophane person of a svvinish boorish condition that vvill tread this pearle vnder his feete For if there be any such most fearfull fatall is the expectation of his vvoe For saith the apostle vvhat punishment suppose yee shall he be vvorthy of vvhich treadeth vnder foote the sonne of god Heb. 10.29 counteth the bloud of the nevve Testament as an vnholy thing doth despite the spirit of grace But let euery one of vs be of Paules resolution to accompt all things doung dresse that vve may obtaine this pearle Ephes 3.14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 And for this cause I bovve my knees for you all vnto god the father
of our lord Iesus Christ Of vvhom is named the vvhole familie in heauen in earth That he might graÌ„t you according to the riches of his glory that ye may be strengthned in the inner man by his spirit That Christ may dvvell in your harts by faith that ye being rooted grounded by loue may be able to comprehend vvithall saincts what is the bredth length depth height And to knovve the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye may be filled with all fulnesse of god Vnto him therefore that is able to doe exceeding abundantly aboue all that vve aske or thinke according to the power that worketh in vs be praise in the church by Christ Iesus throvvout all generatioÌ„ for euer Amen The eleuenth lesson Thus you haue hard vvhat is meant by that One pearle of great price in heauen Novve see vvhat is that One pearle of great price on earth which this reall marchant findeth here The former interpreters haue expounded it to our hand shevving that it is Charity The learning then is That Christian Charity is that one only pearle in earth both peareles priceles vvhich is found only among the children of god The light of this appeares most euidently from S. Paules vvords 1. Cor. 12.31 1. Cor. 13. per tout Wherin first S. Paule sayth That he vvould shevve a more excellent vvay in the chapter follovving doth make it demonstrable The Analysis vvhereof is thus breefly First it callengeth the best things Secondly it combateth vvith the vvorst things and Thirdly it conquereth the last things Christian Charity callengeth the best things For angellical euangellicall eloquence vvithout Charity is as sounding brasse or as a tinckling cymball The gift of prophecie all knovvledge all faith yea miraculous faith in comparison of this is nothing Almes deeds martyrdome vvithout Charity profitteth nothing In the second place it combateth vvith the vvorst things In vvrath it suffereth long base couteousnes it caÌ„not endure for it is bountifull it is voyd of spight for it enuies not it is not frovvard for it doth not beast it selfe it is noe sovvlen bladder of pride for it is not puffed vp it is farre from reproach that it vvill doe noe vncomly thing it is so farre from iniury that it seeketh not its ovvne in it is noe bitternes at all for it cannot be provoked to wrath noe surmises of euill for it thinketh none noe vniustice for it reioyceth not in inquity but reioyceth in the truth beleeueth the good hopeth the best endureth all In the third place it conquereth the last things For vvhen the vvorld hath done it shall endure vvhen faith vvhich beleeueth all things of god hope vvhich expecteth all doe cease yet shall Charity vvhervvith vve loue god man endure for all eterinty It is also one Io. 13.34 for it is that one commandement from mount Sion vvhich is the complement of the other ten from mount Sinai vvhich Christ calls the nevve commandement affirmes that it is the marke of his chosen It is also a pearle of perfection for the Christians house vvhich he builds to god hath faith for its foundation vvhere vpon it is grounded hope the vvalls vvhereby it is erected but Charity is the roofe vvhich perfecteth couereth all It is of all price vvhether vve respecte the nearenes of it vnto vs It is not in heauen that thou shouldest say vvho shall goe vp for vs bring it vnto vs that vve may beare it doe it Neither is it beyond the sea that thou shouldest say vvho shall goe ouer the sea bring it vs that vve may heare it doe it But the vvord is very nigh vnto thee in thy mouth in thy hart that thou mayest doe it Or the breefnes The commandement is shortened that euery man might be vnexcusable that noe maÌ„ in the day of iudgmeÌ„t as saith S. Augustine might implead god or complaine that he could not retayne this lesson in his memory Therefore saith that father the vvord is this If yee loue me you vvill loue one another Matâ— 11.30 Or if vve respect the easines of this lesson It is an easie yoke For both old young rich poore vveake and vvhole may performe this duty Or if vve respecte the preâ—iousnes of it It is the bond of perfectioÌ„ yea pretious it is in all dimensions In lenght it endureth euer In breath it is dilated to all to the good of duty to the bad of pitty In deepenes it fayleth neuer it vvill not forsake a frend in misery noe nor in extremity noe not in death it selfe Cant. 8.6.7 For loue is as strong as death ielousie is as cruel as the graue the coales thereof are fierie coales a vehement flame Much vvater cannot quench loue neither can the flouds drovvne it if a man should giue all the substance of his house for loue they vvould greatly contemne it Or in height it is of a noble disposition it loues our frends in the lord our enimies for the lord In a vvord it is pretious in extension In this vvorld universall it doth good to all In the other vvorld it is eternall Pretious in this vvorld for vse for a mans faith is his ovvne proper good but Charity is profitable and vsefull to others In the other vvorld it is pretious for continuance for it endureth to the end in the end after the end vvithout end Ignatius Christs martyr shall conclude vvho saith that faith is the beginning of our Christianity Charity the end best pillovve vvhereon to repose our head at the last gaspe The right of this appeares in the subject of Charity for it svvimmes not in the braine vvith fancifull imaginary opinions but setleth in the hart by deuine and Christian affections It is not conceitfull but truly cordiall In the obiect it is pretious for god is the obiect thereof vvhatsoeuer god vvill haue beloued as men all men yea our enimies for that 's the exaltatioÌ„ thereof Angels saincts Christ himself according to his humane nature vvhereby he doth not disdaine to call vs brethren Lastly in the effects pretious for it bringeth vnto vs the ioy of the spirit peace of our conscience patience mercie bounty the like Practice 1 The vse of this is first of Confutation of the Papists vvho make Charity the forme of faith they argue thus If Charity be greater then Faith hope more pretious for vse continuance as Paule affirmeth Then are vve not iustified by faith only I ansvvere that these conclusions vvill as vvell follovve A king is better then a boore therefore he can till the earth better A man is better then a beast therefore he can runne svvifter then a horse he can carry more then an Elephant Who sees not the absurdities Let Faith haue her prerogatiues It is the cause of gods loue Galat. 5.6 For in Iesus Christ neither circumcision aueileth
shall I still say MODO Mâ—DO QUAE NON HABENT â—ODUM But the lord at last hard him shevved him a scripture Rom. 13.14 Not in chambering vvantonnesse not in striffe enuying but put on the lord Iesus vvhich scripture converted him and made him an orthodxe christian Practice 3 The third is of Caution to bevvare least vve goe not the rightvvay For Ierusalem vvent but it vvas backward Ier. 15.6 That is noe vvay for vs. The euill seruant vvent also Mat. 25.18 but he vvent diggd in the earth hid his talent that vvas noe good marchant The young man vvhom Christ bid goe Mat. 27.5 sell all vvent to but he vvent his vvay sorrovving for he had great revennevves Iudas vvent also but it vvas to hang himselfe Thus vve must haue a care vvhither vve goe 2. Corint 5 For vvhiles vve are in the flesh vve are pilgrimes from the lord Practice 4 The Fourth vse is of Expostulation Can any man implead god that he hath not shevved him vvhich way he should goe Hath not your eies seene it in greater lesser characters in his vvorkes in his vvord Hath not your eares hard it by profound Paules eloquent Apolloses Zealous Cephases Hath not your harts bine often touched vvith holy motions of gods spirit your consciences quieted therby Nay haue not your hands handled of the vvord of life Will you then still resist the spirit of god as your forefathers did before Practice 5 Let me move you in the last place seing vve are going on must goe on Let vs doe as trauelers doe goe forvvards still not looking backvvards to Sodom as Lotts vvife did but keepe our faces tovvards Ierusalem as Christ did Genes 19. Luc. 24. Secondly let vs goe on the right vvay seeking Christ in heauen Charity on earth Thirdly let vs be sparing as trauelers are not to ruÌ„ne to excesse of riott in spending our masters creditors goods â—uinating our ovvne creditts Lastly let vs not be detayned by trifles gevvgavves but let vs so runne on the race that vve may obtayne the goale shevve our readines to come to Christ he vvilbe most ready to receaue vs to immortallity glory for euer The thirteenth lesson It follovveth that this reall Marchant is so ready to purchase this pearle that he makes avvay all that he hath to haue it The text sayth HE SOLD There is an euill sale as buying selling in the church of god Matth. 21.12 vvhich Christ vvhips out There is an vnnaturall sale vvhen brother selleth brother as the patriarches did Ioseph Gen. 37.28 And there is a prophane sale vvhen a man sells diuinity for vanity as Esau sold his birthright for pottage But there is a good Gen. 25.33 godly sale vvhen vve sell earth for heauen the vvorld for god the cursed corban for Christ so did the apostollicall church vvhen they sold their possessions brought the price laid it dovvne at the apostles feete The collection Act. 4.45 or learning from this interpretation is this They that once haue tasted of god of Christ of the blessings of the other life doe easily renounce contemne despise all things which hinder them that they may not obtaine heauen make away with all such things that helpe theÌ„ on thither to procure purchase this pearle This is made cleare by reuelation and by reason By reuelation out of euidence of the vvord First by precept vve must first seeke the kingdome of god Matth. 6.33 Secondly by parable Luc. 8.7 The seed that fell among thornes vvas choaked Thirdly by mystery Luc. 10.22 2. Tim. 2.4 Mary made the best choise Fourthly by reseÌ„blance Noe man marcheth vvell on in the spirituall vvarfare vvhich entangleth himselfe vvith the things of this vvorld In the second place it is cleare First by the condition 1. Ioh. 2.13 If any man loue the vvorld the loue of the father is not in him Secondly it is cleare by an impossibillity Matt. 6.24 For noe man can serue tvvo masters God Mammon Apoc. â— Thirdly from the iudgment For the luke vvarme god vvill speve out of his mouth Lastly they that svvere by god Zeph. 1.5 Mâ—lchom are abhomination to the lord In the third place it is cleare from a distinction For all the things in the vvorld are of a threefold condition Some things are so good that god giues them to none but to his ovvne children as Faith repentance and so forth Secondly some are so bad that they are giuen to none but to the damned as impenitency hardnes of hart the like And some are of a mixt nature as are riches vvhich are neither good nor bad in themselues August ad Bonâ—faciuÌ„ Epist 70. but as they are vsed or abused these are giuen to good bad To the good least these things should be thought to be euill and so they vvere giuen to Abraham they are giuen to the bad least these things should be thought to be the cheefest good things Luc. 16. so they vvere giuen to the rich glutton Rom. 12.1 This is also cleare by reason For if vve must offer our bodies sacrifices to god much more our goods For the bodie is better them rayment Matt. 6.25 Iob 2.4 And a man vvould giue his skinne for his life Besides the godly knovve Heb. 12. 2. Cor. 7. Psal 102. 1. Ioh. 5. that by the contempt of the vvorld they are deliuered from the vvorlds holdfast From the vvorlds nothing From the vvorlds vncertaintie and from the vvorld iniquity Practice 1 The practice of this is first of lamentation Is it not a thovvsand pitties that there are many marchants so desperate that sett to sale their ovvne soules The coueteous Marchant for mony as did Demas Ecce 10.9 Hebr. 1â— The vvanton for pleasure as did Esau The imperious for ambition as Alexander the sixt sold his soule for the popedome Absolon for a kingdome And the vvicked man for is ovvne harts lust as did Ahab that sold himselfe to doe euill in the sight of the lord Is it not lamentable to behold other daingerous Marchant Aduenturers vvho paune their soules as did Noah Dauid Peter But let these take heed that they be as good husbands as they vvere by repentance or els they may paune them so that they may neuer redeeme them Againe is it not also lamentable that some carelesse marchants vvill lose their soules as carnall gospellers doe the like Oh vvhat a foolish thing is it to be carefull to keepe the chickin from the kite the lambe from the vvolfe the doue from the vermine to be carelesse to keepe our soules from the deuill O vvretched condition of the sonnes of men Practice 2 The second Practice is of difference Indeed there are some that are the children of this vvorld Luc. 16.9
his house for loue it vvould vtterly be contemned saith the Spouse in the Canticles Cant. 8 7. vvithout doubt if vve loue god vvith all our hart vve vvill deny him nothing of all Paule tells vs that vve are all concluded vnder sinne for vve haue all of vs sinned Let vs therefore make our peace vvith our all that vve may obtayne all then haue vve made the best bargaine that euer vve made in the vvorld For then vve shall be deliuered vp in the kingdome by CHRIST to god the father that he may be all in all vvhich god grant vnto vs all AMEN Novve are vve come vnto the last vvhich is this Marchants purchase Blessed vvas his deligence choise constancie skill readines contempt of the vvorld full persvvasion to obtaine so great a purchase for the text sayth he bought it The learning vvhereof is this The fiftenth lesson That it is the greatest purchase of the world so to buy sell in the vvorld that vve may purchase at the last the inheritance of the other vvorld Mat. 16.26 The truth of this appeareth First by Christs question For vvhat is a man profited if he should purchase the vvhole vvorld lose his ovvne soule Or vvhat shall a man giue in exchange for his soule This question poseth all vvorldlie purchasers all subtile exchangers Secondly this appeareth by parable vvhat did all those recusaÌ„ts gaine which vvould not come vnto the supper Luc. 14.16 vvhereunto they vvere so kindly invited One had purchased a farme another bought fiue yoke of oxen euen this they gained that they should not tast of that heauenly supper 1. Cor. 7 29.3â—.31 Thirdly it is plaine by apostolicall exposition of that supper But this I say brethren the tyme is short It remayneth that both they that haue vviues be as though they had none they that vveepe as though they vvept not And they that reioyce as though they reioyced not they that buy as though they possessed not they that vse this vvorld as not abusing it for the fashion of this vvorld passeth avvay In the seond place it appeareth by the rules of buying selling First vvho sees not his ovvne vvant therefore vve buy Rom. 3. We all vvant the grace of god vvho vvould not buy it if he sold all Secondly buyers desire to haue vvhat they vvant for their mony But this purchase is offered vvithout mony Esai 55.1 Phil. 3.8 or monies vvorth Thirdly they buy for a great price vvhat they vvould haue yea vve must account all things as doung to vvinne Christ Fourthly buying selling is by exchange Properly in this there is noe exchange as is shevved before out of Esay 55. 1. And Simon Magus vvas rebuked that thought the grace of god vvas to be bought vvith mony Was it not a blessed exchange for vs vvhen the ramme vvas taken for Isaac 2. Cor. â— 21 that is vvhen he that knevve noe sinne vvas made sinne for vs that vve might be the righteousnes of god in him vvhich caused Martin Luther oftimes to say in his prayers O god thou art my sinne I am thy righteousnes If you shall aske of me hovve this exchange is made I ansvvere in a vvord By faith the friuts thereof prayer good vvorkes For albeit vve haue nothing of our selues to giue yet it hath pleased god to giue himself in his sonne for vs. By vvhich free voluntary gift vve purchase pure gold that enricheth vs royall robes that cover our nakednesse pretious eie salue that maketh vs see The gold is our faith vvhich is much more pretious then gold that perisheth both in brightnes price profitt as S. Peter speaketh 1. Pet. 1.7 The garments vvhere vvith vve are couered are the rich robes of our sanctification Gal. 3.27 For as many of vs as haue bine baptized haue put on Christ Yea all the elect of god haue put on the tender bovvells of mercie kindnes humblenes of mind meekenes long suffering Coll. 3.12 For if we are not thus clothed vvith the robes of grace our filthines vvill appeare to god and vve shall become abhominable The eie salue vvherby vve see vvhat is it but the illumination of gods spirit vvherby vve see vvith Stephen heauen opened Heare vvith Paule things that cannot be vttered by vvords at the last enioy eternall rest vvith Lazarus in Abraham bosome The reason of this appeares from Solomons Counsell Prov. 23.23 Buy the truth Apoc. 3.18 sell it not also vvisdome instruction vnderstanding Secondly from the counsell of an angell I counsell thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou maiest be rich vvhite rayment that thou maiest be clothed that the shame of thy nakednes doe not appeare anoynt thine eies vvith eies salue that thou maiest see Marke vvhat is sayd he counselleth you that you may not distrust this counsell Esay 9.6 The prophet Esay tells you he is the vvonderfull counseller Thirdly from the obseruation of all the godly in all the ages of the vvorld Some haue stolne this purchase by doing good deeds secretly are revvarded openly Matt. 11.12 Some haue taken it by violence For the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence by such as are importunate vvith god day and night for it Others barter for it by leauing frends fauors all to haue this purchase Let all the great men of the vvorld that thinke of nothing els but of their purchasing rents and reuennevvs tell me vvhat purchase can be compared to this The light vvhereof the vvord hath shevved them the right vvhereof reason hath directed them in Practice 1 The first practice of this is of estimation For vvherein is any purchase in the vvorld to be esteemed as this or compared vvith this Either in respecte of continuance or the vvorth The continuance of this purchase is not only for our life time but eÌ„dures till our death yea after our death What purchase then is like this vvhich brings to the penitent pardon for sinns past preseÌ„t to come vvhich clotheth vs vvith the obedieÌ„ce of Christ in the fullfilling of the lavve which dignifieth vs vvith the titles of the sonnes of god the brothers of Christ Iesus vvhich gardeth vs vvith protection of angels turneth all our crosses curses into blessings giues vs his spirit to be our life makes our prayers incense in the nostrills of god makes his ovvne flesh vvhich he took of vs to be a pavvne for vs in heauen Tell me o you purchasers of the earth vvhat royalties of any earthly purchase can be compared to these But this is not all It continues in death For death is noe death to such a purchase but by a blessed exchange is made the vvay to heauen yea after death it continueth for by this purchase our bodies arise againe to life Phil. 3.10 vve haue a royalty to
iudge the vvorld yea the euill angells at the last to fitt together in heauenly places vvith Christ Iesus The vvord of it incomparable For no lesse then all Christ is our purchase that also according to both natures It is a fearefull thing vve knovve to fall into the hands of the liuing god but novve to fall into the hand of a god that died for vs. It is comfort vnspeakeble Behold nowe theÌ„ vvith the eies of your pretious faith your Christ in his humilitatioÌ„ redeeming you froÌ„ hell the povvers of darknes by his exaltatioÌ„ hath put you in possessioÌ„ of the kingdome of heaueÌ„ by liuery seisen in our owne nature Io. 14.2 For he is goÌ„e to prepare you a place Practice 2 The second vse is of direction If you shall aske me by vvhat vvay you may obtayne this purchase I ansvvere There is noe other way but to coÌ„fesse that we are poore miserable blind naked then vve shall seeke to supplie our vvants from this purchase Secondly to knovve that all good is in this purchase for vvithout Christ neither heauen nor earth is any thing nor men nor angells nor god himselfe is availeable to vs without Christ Thirdly vve must detest that foolish fullnes vvhich the papists dreame of to be in the chest of the church vvhere in not only they conceaue to be an ouer plus of Christ meritts but also of Martyrs saincts from vvhich treasure of the church the pope deriueth his plenary indulgences selleth those goodly purchases to the bevvitched slaues of his Romish captiuity But vve knovve in Christ dvvelleth all the fullnes of the godhead bodily that noe Romish miscreant hath any povver to dispose of any of this fullnes but only the spirit of our god vvho is Christs viceroy disposeth of this purchase a plentifull portion to saue our soules Lastly there must be an heauenly desire in vs to be svvallovved vp of the loue of god in Christ this is the meanes to obtaine this purchase Practice 3 The third vse is of Expostulation Tell you me all you great purchasers of the vvorld that ioyne house to house lay feild to feild till there be noe place that you may dvvell alone in the midst of the earth doth not a vvoe follovve you at your heeles Esay 50.8 Tell me ye that spoyle others Esay 33. are not spoyled your selues the vvhile shall not others spoyle you or yours that the broken titles you haue entered into the morgages you haue receaued the forfeitures that you haue taken may bring vvoe vnto you that are at ease in Sion rich in the mount of Samaria That your depopulations of countries improuements of lands rackings of rents grindings of the faces of the poore other such like Iesuiticall practices vvhich you blanch vvith this saying It is lavvfull for vs to make the most of our ovvne though thereby you make the least of all men els that deale vvith you That these things I say may be as bane bitternes vvrath vvormevvood to you yours that the old vvorld of the Ievves both in their tabernacle temple may vtterly condemne you in their zeale earnestnes for god Practice 4 The fourth vse is of entreaty Wherein I desire euery man that hath faith to examine it tell me if that man be not a starke foole vvhich beleeueth an idle dreame to be true Yet such is all the purchase of this vvorld Aske the Prophet Esay he vvill tell you chapter 29.8 Is not he a starke foole that doth giue credit to a traytor Seph 1.8 yet such is the vvorld that betrays vs vvith a kiss as did Judas or that serueth such a master that cannot helpe him For noe purchase but this of heauen can deliuer vs. Is not he a madman that prouideth snares to entangle himself and goeth to drovvne himself endeuoreth to quench fire not by casting on vvater but oyle So doe all the mad men of the vvorld that couet to be rich vvith vvorldly purchases not vvith this So Paule teacheth his scholer Timothy 1. Tim. 6.9 Yea is not a man possessed as it vvere vvith a lunaticke deuill vvhich doth oft cast him into the vvaters of affliction Matth. 17. vvhen he meets vvith many troubles in the vvorld by reason of his purchases many vnnecessary tedious suits in lavve vvhich doe miserably distract drovvne him ploung him into many manifold manifest garboyles turmoyles both of mind body goods good name Is he not as it vvere possessed vvith a spirit of infirmity that bovves him dovvne still to the earth as the poore vvoman in the gosple Luc. â—8 Yea doubtles the spirit of blindnes darkenes doomenes haue possessed all such vvorldlings that mind only earth earthly things neuer thinke of this heauenly purchase Practice 5 The last practice is of Motion tending to resolution I mention only tvvo purchases at this tyme. The one made by Abraham the other by Iudas Abrahams purchase vvas a sepucherir to bury in Gen. 23. It vvas the caue in Machpelah it cost him fovver hundred sycles vvhich is 33. h 6. s 8. d sterling This vvas a blessed purchase It vvas the dormitory for the bodys of his tribe to sleepe in vntill the last trumpet should call them to heauen Judas purchast to for thirty peeces of siluer but it vvas a miserable purchase euen an Acheldema a feild of bloud Mat. 27. But you masters mortalls I hope novve after all this that hath bine sayd vvill resolue euen all of you like reall Marchants to remember that vvhereas god hath purchased you from the earth to be heires of heauen Apoc. 14.3.4 1. Cor. 6.20 haue purchased you from among men to be a choise people vnto himself in a vvord hath purchased bought you vvith a price priceles peareles as you haue hard See that you glorifie god both in your bodies in your soules thinke noe price to deare to obtayne so rich a purchase as this euen the pearle of blisse euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our lord vvhich god grant vnto you for his mercies sake the merritts of his sonne into vvhose sauing mercies I recommend you committ you to the giudance of the holy ghost vvho may build further To vvhom vvith the father the sonne be ascribed all praise all povver all glory of vs here of the vniuersall church for euer Amen FINIS