thine own soule by all things that are louely by all loues to deny vngodlines and worldly lusts and to liue righteously soberly and godly Wouldst thou not be perswaded to reason didst thou indeed loue any of these as in word thou professest to doe but when all admonitions reprehensions exhortations or whatsoever good couÌ„sel given in the name of Christ shall not yet be entertained for the loue of Christ but fall vpon the heart like the hammer on the anvill that strikes but enters not or like a ball from a wall be smitten backe into the face of him that sent it with scorne and contempt of him his message and his Minister too say what thou wilt thy tongue belyes thine heart Christ is not he whom thy soule loveth when thou wilt doe nothing for his sake take it for a conclusion he hates Christ that hates Christianitie Vse 2 2 Vse is for Exhortation that seeing wee haue so faire an obiect of loue as Christ is we would place our loue there and bestow it on him who best deserues it This is a verie good point to put in practise Wee haue ignorant and worldly mindes wee know not the high Excellencies of Christ Iesus and therefore doe not affect them The world and worth of it we know and loue but too well Againe Sathan and our wicked hearts doe blinde our eies that wee cannot iudge aright of things it is with our mindes as it is with our eyes things that are a farre off though of greater bigger circuite yet seeme far lesse then those things that are neerer at hand The earth and earthly pleasures they are hard by we taste see and handle them we finde the sweetnesse of them by their present possession their natures agree with ours they are carnall and so are wee and therefore they will sort with our sensuall desires But now for Heauen and it's Ioy for Christ and his graces and glories they are matters a far off out of our kenne we heare much talke of them in word but our fleshly mindes cannot raise vp themselues so high as to conceaue the true worth of them by that which we heare spoken of them such spirituall things fit not with our earthly dispositions and therefore when we heare of them take away a few faint desires that dye of themselues we haue otherwise indeed no great liking of them we fulâ—â—ll euery of vs more or lesse the Prophecy of Esay foretelling how corruptly men would iudge touching Christ and his conditions euen wee thinke that He hath no forme nor comelinesse and when wee shall see him there 's no such beauty that wee should desire him Looke how meanely the Iewes esteemed of Christ in his abasement vpon Earth so doe Christians now iudge of him though in his glory they see no such great excellency as men speake of in Christ in his graces his word his ministers his seruice that they should be so much carried away with the loue of him or his How often doe men aske that question in their hearts Which the daughters of Ierusalem asked the Church What is thy beloued more then another beloued O thou fairest among women what is thy beloued more then another beloued that thou dost so charge vs What need such adoe such calling and seeking and enquiring of the Watchmen of the citty such charging of vs to tell him to thee if wee finde him is there any such singular dignity in this thy beloued aboue others so men in their hearts and tongues doe enquire strangely touching Christ and religion they wonder what great matters we finde in Christ and his seruice what good they get by so much prayers preaching running to Sermons and hearing by such strictnesse in their liues and all this for the loue of Christ conscience of his commandements they see not where the benefit is and it euen angers them that others should admire what they see not for any thing they perceiue grace desires not so mmch law as God the communion of Christ hath not so much delight in it as that wiâ—h they call goodfellowship filthy pleasures rellish sweeter then the ioyes of the spirit and peace of a good conscience they can loue the world the things in the world bee it an impure strumpet the very image of the divell aswell nay rather then Iesus Christ. The brightnes of Gods glory expesse image as he is called of his person This doctrine of louing Christ soundes strangely in the eares of carnall men Wherefore that wee may make a right vse of this instruction two things are to be obtained before we shall loue Christ. 1 Knowledge of Christ what are his excellencies in himselfe and benefits toward vs. This knowlede is the mother of affection What the eye sees not the heart rues not and t is true on the other side what the eye sees not the heart ioyes not Wherefore all meanes must bee vsed to get a distinct knowledge of Christ in all the forenamed particulars e Perfectly we shall not know him in this life neither shall we perfectly loue him but so farre as the word hath described him to vs we may and must know him 2 Holinesse of heart for Christ and all things in him are holy heauenly and spirituall and our affections will never take to them till they bee made like to them heauenly and spirituall 't is indeed naturall to loue some things but to loue God that 's from grace this affection is found only in the church 't is the soule calls Christ wellbeloued those that are regeneraâ—e whose hearts are sanctified those virgins are spoken of in the third verse of the first chapter who haue smelt the odor of the sweet perfumes oyntments of the Grace of Christ shed abroad in their hearts these loue Christ and none els When thus the eyes of our mindes are enlightned and our sinfull hearts changed then shall wee begin vnfainedly to loue admire those treasures of knowledge and Wisdome those exceeding riches of grace glory which are stored in the person of our Lord Iesus Christ wee shall then looke vpon all that good is the world which before we loued and magnified now comparing it with Christ wee shall conclude with the Apostle The things which were advantage to mee the same I cannot loose for Christs sake and iudge them to bee dung that I may winne Christ. It wil be with vs as it was with the daughters of Ierusalem before spoken of who at first ignorantly and somewhat scornefully asked the spouse what was her beloved that shee sought so much after him but when shee had at large described him in all his excellencies and told them This is my beloued this is my loue O Daughters of Ierusalem Now their eyes are opened and their hearts touched they are as desirous to goe seeke him as the spouse her selfe and now they begin to enquire of her O thou fairest among women whether is thy beloued gone whether is he turned asiae that we may goe and seeke him with thee chap. 6. 1. Now the lord open our eyes by his spirit that wee may cleerely see and ardently loue Christ to whom with the father c. FINIS Gell. noct Attic. lib. 1. cap. 15. Iob. 21. 14. 1. Cor. 7. 20. Act. 4. 12. Rev. 22. 20. 1. Ch. 5. 10. Psal. 45. 2. Ioh. 3. 34. Heb. 1. 9. Ioh. 1. 14. Coloss. 2. 9 Phil. 2. 9. Mat. 17. Act 9. Revel 1. 1. Ioh. 3. 2. Prov. 8. 3. Esa. 42. 1. Mat. 3. 17. Rev. 1. 20. Mat. 6. 21. 14. Ioh. 15. Esay 3. 3. Cant. 5. 9. Heb. 1. 3. Phil. 3. â— Cant. 5. 16
man is taken prisoner by the sword in battle or circumvented by some stratagem or fraudulent guile Such is the Condition of Godly men many times who by some furious and vehement assault of temptation are wounded overthrowne taken led away captiue and clapt vp in irons vnder the guard of some strong vnruly lust or other or else by some subtle sleight and snare privily laid for their soules haue their heels intrapped in the ginne and for a while are caught as a prey for Sathan But now during this straightnesse what sighes and sorrowes doe possese the Godly heart How tedious aud irksom is this bondage How doeth he long till his heart bee againe enlarged that hee may run the race of Gods Commandements Life it selfe is vnpleasant till this liberty be obtained againe Wherfore many a harty prayer is sent vp to Heaven dayly to intreate God for his enlargement willingly doth he embrace all meanes of freedome gladly doeth he run and rest in him that onely bringeth deliverance vnto captiue prisoners with the Israelites in Aegipt he is even weary of his life for the oppression and cruell tyrannie vnder which he is holden which makes him in the bitternes of his soule cry out vnto God for deliverance frō his heavy bondage Often taking vp that Complaint of the Apostle Rom. 7. 24. O Wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death These are the severall degrees of this bondage which was the second part proposed to be handled 3 I come in the third place to consider the greatnesse and grieuousnes of this spirituall bondage which will appeare by comparing it with outward bodily slavery Now spirituall slavery is worse then corporall in three respects 1 In regard of multitude of masters In corporall seruitude 1 master may haue many seruāts but for 1 servant to haue two or more masters is a thing vnreasonable and vnpossible suppose they were both good much more if they bee bad Miserable therefore is the estate of a sinfull man who when he serues fewest serues three at once 1 his lusts 2 Satan working powerfully in his sinfull corruption 3 God himselfe For the first it may be some one wicked affection is his master and yet there is worke enough to please that but when many lusts at once beare sway ouer a man like many tyrants in one Citty Lord what combats broyles and tumults be there in that mans heart when pride cōmands one thing covetousnes another when vncleane lusts draw one way ambition another voluptuousnesse a third a man had need then to study and take thought for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof and all litle enough to please these hard and cruell taskmasters Againe he hath another master and that is Satan who inspires these corrupt affections of mans heart with much rage and hellish fiercenesse and is that grād Pharoah who setteth al those inferior officers a work who therefore is called the spirit that worketh in the Children of disobedience Ephe. 2. 2. Ouer whom although he alone may seeme to challenge all power and authority as ouer the only subjects of his kingdome yet wee knowe that besides both these they haue another supreame and soveraigne Lord 1 God himselfe against whose governement although they do rebell yet can they not withdraw themselues from vnder his power and jurisdiction God is king let the earth be neuer so vnquiet and the haters of the Lord shall be subiect vnto him He will haue to do with them in spight of their hearts They feare him as slaues against their wills both to do his will whilst he vseth them to effect by them his owne most holy purposes and also to suffer his will in their iustly deserued punishment Thus wicked men are mastered on all hands and no way free either from sin or punishment 2 In regard of the meanes of escape a servant hardly vsed may find meanes to shift himselfe of his master It is not so with a sinner runne away from his master he cannot for he beares him alwayes about with him in his bosome his sinne still keeps him company and goe he whither he will Satan doggs him stands at his right hand nay possesseth his very heart so plying him with temptations and ill suggestions that he cannot goe a foote from his service T is true the case is so sometimes with a wicked man that he changeth his master but seldome comes a better If he escape the tyranny of one sinfull affection he falls vnder the command and power of another as bad So you shall haue a very spend-thrift turne a miserable niggard but this is only like a prisoner that remoues his bolt from one legg to another and such exchange is only done vpon compact He leaues one vice that he may the more freely giue himselfe to another so that he changes his master but not his servile condition Some raigning sinne or other will alwayes cleaue to his soule lie downe with him in his graue and sinke him downe to Hell And as for the eye of Gods revenging justice he sees it open vpon him to take notice of his doings and his hand alwayes lifted vp to smite him trembling alwayes to thinke that he hath no meanes to hide his sinne from Gods knowledge no power to prevent no strength to beare the heauy stroke of his wrath when it shall light vpon him 3 In respect of the reward the world hath scarce afforded masters so without all humanity Tyrannicall and cruell as not to be pleased with the faithful seruice of a slaue or not to reward him in some degree of courtesie for his seruice A sinner is miserable both wayes as he cannot please his master so he cannot hope for a reward For take a man that hath quite spent himselfe in the seruice of some one of these imperiall and cruell Lords who hath done all that he can in giving full content and satisfaction vnto them yet they rest not there are yet new commands and further injunctions so that when it seemed villany was come to the height and that mens witts and strengths did faile them for further plots and practises there 's yet a powder plott behind some new strange vnthought of piece of bad seruice to be performed Sinne and Satan are restlesse and mercylesse tyrants neuer contented still exacting crying craving compelling to new tributes and homages And now when a man hath worne out himselfe in their seruice spent his yeares and strength his wealth and good name and body and soule and al vpon them what is then his reward for this his trusty and true seruice A courtesy thinke you Nay a very Hell of vnkindnesse shame reproach misery and many other punishments euen in this life but for that other Hell damnation fire snares and brimstone and stormy tempests of Gods furious indignation this is their portion and the guerdon of their obedience Satan did for a while promise faire and performe little helping them
seeke for a change of their present condition viz. 1. the ' euill of the present estate in which they are 2 The good of another whereto they may come both are seriouslie to be thought on in this businesse forasmuch as there is no estate worse then the slauery of sin and punishment nor any better then the libertie of grace and glorie Wherefore let me earnestlie entreat you to bend your meditations vpon these two points First thinke with your selues how miserable a thing it is for a man to liue all daies of his life like a slaue and die like a villaine how wofull is the case of that poore creature which is at the command of euery base affection led and driuen hither and thither according as euery wicked desire and hellish inspiration shall provoke it wearying it selfe in the wayes of wickednes and taking a great deale of paines to worke out its owne everlasting miserie Thinke what strange folly it is for a man to content himselfe with a few poore commodities pleasures that sinne can afford for a day or two the very enjoyning whereof do but make him more vnhappy No man that is wise would buy the greatest of such contenments for one of the panges of an ill conscience which accompanie them The time comes on when he must part with all his delights and be turn'd out of the world naked of all comfort grace and favour This is it that cutts him to the heart and one serious thought of it quite dasheth all his jollity and contentment Feares are vpon him on euery side making him to liue vncomfortable because he knowes he shall die vnhappily But now turne our thoughts on the other side and consider how happie and glorious the condition of the Saints is whom God by his grace hath set at libertie from the service of sinne Whether you looke vpon them here in this life in the estate of grace or hereafter in the estate of glorie their freedome is euery way blessed and desireable Free they are from the commanding power of sin being now led by the spirit of Christ and not by the spirit of the Diuell free from the terrors of an euil conscience free from the terrors of death hell and iudgment free vnto every noble imployment in Gods seruice apt to pray much readie to here much able to meditate much delighting in sanctifying the Sabboth chearefull forward and willing hearted to every good worke A blessed estate if we haue either grace or witt to iudge aright of it I confesse gracelesse fooles haue another esteeme of it Tell them of praying reading the word of God singing of Psalmes hearing and repeating of Sermons and keeping of the Sabbath ye kill them dead rather they had you should set thē to any the painfullest drudgerie in the world Counsell them to refraine gaming drinking and ill companie to bridle their vngodly and naughty affections to converse with such and such men of godlie and religious liues and to be coutent to be ruled by reason and Gods word All this is euen as much as if you should put them in the stockes or clap a paire of fetters on their heeles Let them liue in a familie where all exercises of religion are stricklie obserued and no libertie given to any lewd practise they are as wearie of it as a prisoner of the Iayle or one that is in little ease and they thinke it seauen yeares till they be gone to some other place where they may liue as they list Thus men of perverse minds and corrupt judgments censure Gods seruice to be no better then a sad dull wearisome and slauish drudgerie Vngodlie men that thinke theirs no mirth but in madnesse no sport but in doing mischife no contentment but in pleasing the Diuell and wicked lusts no libertie at all but in licentiousnesse of liuing Be I beseech you better informed and knowe that a subiect is a free man though he serues his Prince and obey his lawes A Sonne is a freeman although he liue in feare and awe of his Parents A servant is a freeman though he liue in conformity to the lawes of a Christian master and the orders of a Christian familie And so a Christian man is then free yea most free when hee submits himselfe to the lawes of God as an obedient subiect of his kingdome This freedome he enjoyes in part in this life but fully in the world to come when he shall be perfectly freed from all sinne and miserie when there shall be no feare of being vnhappy because no possibilitie of being sinfull Certainly my Brethren if there be in vs any sense of our present miserie or expectation of the future happinesse of the Saints we cannot choose but sigh within our selues with many prayers wishes and longing desires that we also may be delivered from the bondage of corruption into this glorious liberty of the sonnes of God If now for conclusion of all you aske me by what meanes this freedome may be obtained I answere briefly there is no meanes but one and that is Iesus Christ. All the libertie we haue is his purchase and from his gift for as you haue heard we are bondslaues vnto sin partly in regard of the punishment of it partly in regard of the ouer-ruling power thereof Now t' is Christ that sets vs at libertie from both Christ by his blood purgeth vs from all our sinnes by taking the guilt and punishment thereof from vs. Christ by his spirit delivers vs from the power and dominion of sinne that it raigns not in our mortall bodies hauing sanctified vs by sending the holy Ghost into our hearts For where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty as the Apostle speakes 2. Cor. 3. 17. So that euery way Christ is he that bestowes on vs our manu-mission according as he himselfe here speaketh if that sonne shall make you free then are you free indeed wherefore this only remaines that we should goe vnto Christ seeke and sue vnto him for our enlargment intreat him to here the crie of a prisoner and captiue and in compassion of thee to afford his helping hand for thy delivery Pray him to put himselfe betweene Gods wrath and thy soule making peace for thee in heauen by his bloody and meritorious sacrifice pray him to send forth into thine heart the spirit of sanctification to regenerate and renew all the powers of soule body freeing them from that law of sinne which naturally is in thy members that by the power of that inward grace thou maiest be able thenceforth to giue vp thy soule and bodie vnto God as seruants of righteousnesse and holinesse Confesse to him and say O Lord other Lords besides thee haue ruled over me who haue robbed me of all grace peace comfort happinesse honour and libertie long haue I liued in greuious thraldome miserably oppressed and streightned on every side Satan the world the affections of sin haue plaid the vnmercyfull tyrants ouer me
our Religion and to approue our selues to be indeed good Christians by being honest Tradesmen iust Magistrates painefull Ministers c. so that we may not neglect one calling for another seeing God is served glorified by our faithful discharge of both alike and therefore we must abide as the Apostle commaundes vs in that vocation wherein we are called not shifting from one to another not taking libertie to be idle in our particular lawfull imployments that so wee may be diligent in Gods seruice Wherefore they are iustlie to be reproved not onelie who vtterlie forsake all imployments of this life to the end they may wholie consecrate themselues to spiritual devotion but such also who though they forsake not vtterlie yet neglect more then is fit their civill vocations It is either waie a misguided zeale either to withdraw ones selfe from humane society neglecting al service to our neighbour vnder a pretence of more devout seruice to God as Popish Votaries vse to doe or as manie doe who grow carelesse of their lawful affaires whiles they busie themselues about exercises of religion I would be loath to discourage anie man for his forwardnes in matters of religion I know well wee shall finde everie where ten monstrouslie prophane to one indiscreetlie zealous yea a hundred that neglect Gods service to follow their owne busines for one that doth otherwise Yet giue me leaue to tell you that there is a fault among some in the world who suffer dammage not so much by Gods service as by their owne indiscretion whiles by vnnecessarie iournies conferences entertainements and such like occasions touching matters of religion they put al their necessarie businesse out of order If such men suffer decaie in their estates they must blame themselues Religion is not in the fault which where it is truelie taught teacheth man prudence how to order his estate with iudgement The want whereof giues occasion to most to imagine that the greatest part of such mens religion lies in their eares because they loue to heare much but not to doe This fault should be amended where it is to be found to the end that religion be not scandalized as a profession that doth impoverish men I confesse it is not an easie matter to giue generall rules that may befit all callings and conditions of life to proportion out the times of Gods service and our owne imployments yet these things I shall commende to your considerations 1 That in parting our time betweene religious and civill affaires we shall doe best to follow Gods owne directions who hath allotted a larger proportion to our owne temporall businesses then to his spirituall service sixe daies for those one day for this Not but that he must haue the glorie of some time and all the businesses of everie daie but on the seaventh day he requires we should more immediatlie and wholly intende his service And know this for a truth that could reason or Gods commande perswade people to harken to Gods counsell diligentlie and seriouslie to attend all the dueties of Gods worship vpon the Lords daie they should finde a larger increase of grace and better successe in their affaires by that one meanes wel vsed then now by manie neglected 2 You may obserue a diuersitie in mens callings some afford more leasure some lesse Where more may be spared it cānot be better bestowed then vpon God to glorifie him and vpon a mans owne soule to saue it but where lesse may be spared something yet may be set apart for religion This is certaine there is no calling of neuer so busie imployment but enough time may be spared for some good duties without hindering the world and enough preserved for the world without robbing of God were we wise to doe well did not covetousnes voluptuousnes and other vilde affections befoole vs and make vs vnthankefull vnthrifts of this shortnesse of life and grace were our eies cleared vp that we could looke perfectlie into the end of all things reason and religion would teach vs that much of our time would bee spent better then it is Surelie men will say hereafter how much better had it beene had I spent such an howre in praier which I wasted in idlenes such a night in examining my heart vpon my bed and watering my couch with my teares of repentance which I spent in revelling gaming and other vngodlie practises how much better had it beene if I had gone to the house of God when at such a time I went about needlesse disports that such a daie had beene spent in praier and fasting which was passed awaie in complements of visitation and entertainements But we trifle awaie our time and then complaine we want time for Gods service and service of our callings The service of our lusts haue eaten vp that which was to be bestowen vpon God and the remainder the world must haue that Wherefore let vs learne wisedome and seeing wee can almost at any time finde an houre halfe a daie a whole daie or more to spare from our businesses for by matters Let vs doe as much for God as we will doe for the world and besides the seaventh day which is his owne let vs giue him somewhat of the sixe other an houre to heare a Sermon as well as twaine to our selues to sit idle lie or ill imployed to spend halfe an houre in praier reading meditation as well as three houres at a feast to spare once a quarter a daie for the humiliation of thy soule in fasting praier and examination of thy sinnefull hart as wel as thou sparest odde daies enough for thy pleasure This were wisedome and spirituall thriftines and be bold on it my brethren that things being thus ordered with moderation and godlie discretion much time will be gained for Gods service without crossing or hindering of our worldlie affaires Thus much of these questions now let vs come to make some application of the point to our practise Vse 1 The first is for the discouerie and reproofe of those evill thoughts and practises of men who iudge the service of God to be an vnprofitable and dangerous imploiment Manie there are that thinke as that evill sloathfull servant spake Mat. 25. 24. Master I knew thou wast a hard man in most mens estimation God is a hard Master that lookes for much labour and paies but small wages This corrupt opinion of God his worship is an old festered sore in the heart of man deepelie setled in his thoughts and not seldome blistering out vpon his tongue Your words haue beene stout against me saith the Lord to the Iewes in Malachie his time Mal. 3. 13. 14. and wherein had they spoken stubbornelie against him Ye haue said saith God it is in vaine to serue God what profit is it that we haue kept his commandements and walked humbly before the Lord of Hosts Therefore wee count the proude blessed even they that worke wickednesse are set vp and they
all his contentments In short every man hath his welbeloved in some kinde or other but it is not the beloued here spoken of No my brethren these men loue not Christ say they what they will they make little reckoning of him Come to the triall of it and you shall see it so The old saying's true Vbi Amor ibi Oculus where we like there we looke or as Christ saith where our treasure is there will our hearts be also Mat. 6. 21. Consider then your selues in your thoughts what is it you most thinke of Is it of Christ of his excellencies of his benefits Can you take pleasure in describing to your soules the glorious and gracious qualities of his person musing attentiuely vpon such admirable excellencies so farre surpassing all that in this world can be called either gracious or glorious Are our hearts often warmed with heauenly ioie when in our private meditations we recount with our selues what great things he hath done and will doe for our soules To thinke how mightelie he hath wrought in vs by his spirit to make vs aliue and keepe vs aliue when we were once dead in sins how sweetly he perswades our will and stubborne affections to yeeld obedience how forcible hee assists vs against most powerfull temptations Can we reioice to thinke what happynes we haue in his favour that he is a faithfull friend to vs in all our necessities to whom wee may repaire for counsell and comfort Doe his consolations refresh our spirits that when sinne wounds vs his stripes heale vs When Sathan accuses vs he is our advocate to plead for vs when sorrowes and paines are vpon vs he speakes peace vnto our Soules that in all wants troubles we can surely pray vnto him and poure out our soules into his bosome who only giues them rest Doe we often meditate on that happynes he will one day bring vs vnto when hee shall make vs like himselfe most glorious in our bodies most righteous in our soules most blisfull in all and that for ever Be our thoughts my brethren on these things Run our desires and wishes this way Oh what strangers are such meditations from most mens hearts they thinke what they shall eate what they shall put on how they shall bring the yeare about how they shall pay this debt purchase that field that house provide to raise such a sonne to marry such a daughter to grow rich to get high places titles and offices how to follow their pleasures and liue at hearts ease how they may effect their wicked designes oppresse a man and his inheritance revenge such wrongs as haue beene done them by their neighbours and watch them an ill turne to be even with them yea these be the great and mighty imployments of mens thoughts where about they busie themselues and often breake their sleepe day and night the whole weeke the whole yeare their mindes run vpon these things when they be at Church at praier in hearing at any good exercise the heart still wanders about such matters euen at this present Is it not euen so my bretheren which of vs can excuse our selues and say my heart is innocent Consider we againe the practises of men whether they will stand with the loue they professe to Christ we will doe much for one that wee loue especially if it be one that can doe much for vs. Now what saith our Saviour If you loue me keepe my commandements Ioh. 14. 15. If Christ be our beloved his coÌ„mandement must be so too Whosoever hates the law hats the Lawgiver also Take a view then of mens practises we shall see they make a very scorne of Christ of his coÌ„mandements Looke vpon them in their families you cannot finde any foot-steps of religion no constant praier morning and evening no reading of the word no instruction of children and seruant no duties of devotion whereby you shall know them from Papists Atheists or Infidels See them in the publike worship of God and there is nothing but negligence and profanenesse seldome at church if any businesse else be to be done when they are there they are carelesse in praier in hearing of the word read or preached nothing is remembred for which they are a â—ote the better Looke vpon them in their private conversation they are full of all vngodlines vnrighteousnes and vnsobernesse horrible swearers that cannot speake but they must blaspheme profane despisers of Gods word and worship deriders of preaching and preachers in a word enemies to all godlinesse and piety of life which by reproaches and vnchristian revilings they seeke to blast in whoÌ„soeuer they see it grow extreamely ignorant knowing nothing distinctly in matters of Religion not able with any vnderstanding to giue you a reasonable account in any point of their faith In ciuill dealing meÌ„ that are vnfaithfull vntrustie vnmercifull In their carriage prowd disdainefull luxurious wanton and vncleane persons May we belieue such men when they say Christ is their beloued Surely we cannot though they should sweare it What loue Christ yet not know him except it be by his name loue him And yet despise his seruants his service his Ministers make a iest at his word and put off with a scoffe the counsels and rebukes which out of it are brought to them Loue Christ Yet set thy mouth against heauen and in thy rage and hellish surie discharge thy blasphemies vpon his soule his body his blood his wounds his name vpon all that is pretious in him and not to be named but with devotion Wilt thou say thou louest Christ when thou hast no heart to thinke on him to talke of him to be in his presence in the assemblies of Gods people in publike at sermon at sacraments at private praiers Is he thy friend And yet art though loath to haue any thing to doe with him in such places in such exercises In fine wher 's thy loue to Christ whilst I see thy vngodly life whereby thou dishonourest Christ and shamest the name of a Christian If by these practises we shall know thy loue of him whereby I mervaile shall we know thy hatred of him But brethren be not deceiued God will not so be mocked delude thy selfe thou maist but Christ thou canst not with such faire glosses it is not him whom thou louest it is some thing els thy pleasures thy wealth thy lusts the world the Diuell These be the things whereon thy affections dote whereto thy desires are fastned these things thou canst serue let theÌ„ commande any thing thou art at a becke to doe it it is thy felicitie to be imploied by them If any will crosse thee in these thy courses admonish thee rebuke thee perswade thee thou canst not brooke them thou countest them thine enemies that thus trouble thee when thou art entreated by thy loue to God thy loue to Christ thy loue to his word by thy loue to his Ministers by thy loue to