that wee can not finde in our heartes to forgiue them Surely euen this because wee doe onely looke upon the hurt done unto us we muse upon that we make much adoe about that and so marveilously weigh what losse we haue by it on euery side but in the meane while wee doe not consider the soule of him that did vs the iniurie continuing in impenitencie for then wee should be driuen to pitie him for the daunger before God and not hate him for our losse before man The want of this is the onely cause then why wee be so hatefull and malitious towardes our enemies which haue iniuried vs because we looke upon our owne harme and not on the harme of the soule of man before God but wee must doe it certenly the Lorde Iesus commaundeth us Pray for your enemies doe good to them that hate you and here biddeth us loue as he loued us euen enemies to him Well then good brethren thus yee haue heard how by the loue that Christ loued us wee be taught to frame our loue one towardes another euen towards our enemies in pitying them praying for them that they may be brought to amendment not for the hurt done vnto vs but for the auoiding of the hurt of their soules I haue bene somewhat more long in this matter of loue towardes our enemies because I know it is so hard a matter for flesh and blood to be satisfied in this point to stay from revengement it is marveilous neere growen into the corruption of our nature and therfore it must be more carefully taken heed of us and we must bende our force more to resist it and so shall we not onely be hearers of this lesson of our Lorde Iesus but also followers of the same And yet further when he saith that we must loue one another as he loved us he giueth vs to understand that our loue must be sincere without respect of gaine or aduantage Such loue then as is commonly amongst vs Norffolke men will not serue that is to loue a man as long as we can get any profit by him and then farewell no our loue must not be so but it must be as Christ loued vs which was not for any great gaine I trow that he hoped to get at our handes and yet this is so common amongst vs as is marveilous there is scarsely found amongst vs any other loue then that which is for gaine a lamentable thing If we haue money enough we make our account to get friends enough and without mony or hope of gaine we shall hardly finde any great store of friends Is this the loue good breethren which ought to be amongst vs Alas no such loue may be found amongst the very deuils in hell and yet we will be Christians forsooth yea and protestants to but it is but onely in name for Christ saith that among his true schollers loue must not be for advantage but as he loued vs. Moreouer we are hereby taught also that our loue must not be dissembled in faire countenance outwarde within nothing but rancour and malice it must not be in a faire flattering outward shewe but it must be as he loued us euen in very deede from the bottome of our heart from our heart from our heart from our heart Oh this must be marked good brethren The Lorde Iesus seemeth to plucke vs English men by the sleeue and condemne our faire flattering dissembled loue which raigneth so commonly among vs Such faire lookes sugred wordes louing salutations and courteous embracings as is marveilous as though there were such perfect loue and friendshippe amongst vs as could possibly be required and yet such deepe dissembled hatred and spight in the bottome of our breastes as we would if we could euen pull their hearts out of their bodies and eate them with garlicke as they say Alas good brethren is this Christian like is this as Christ loued vs No no it is Iudas-like faire kisses false dissembling harts Is there not a God in heauen thinke you to reuenge it yes no doubt and I warrant vs we shall feele it if we doe not repent We thinke we haue done notable finely when we haue made a man a faire countenance and in the meane while practise his death if we can we go slily on with the matter and laugh in our sleeue when wee haue thus done as though there were not a God in heauen that did see view and try all the secret thoughts of our deepe dissembling heartes and spie out all our crooked waies and when we haue made faire with all the earth will then call our crooked practises to account Did that cruell wretch Cain any thing preuaile when dissembling his cruell malice towardes his brother he made faire words with him till he gate him in the broad wilde field alone and then fell upon him and killed him did it any thing preuaile with God I say that none was at the deede doing to accuse him needed God any such thing which was privie to his wicked malicious thoughtes No but he bringeth in the very blood which he shedde and the earth which receiued the bloode to bring euidence against the man to condemnation what shall we say then will our faire lookes and sweet words one to another prevaile before God when there is nothing so in our hearts but murther and malice No I warrant you hee will bring in account euen the very secret wicked thoughts that we conceiue upon our beds he will bring in euen our pillowes to beare evidence against vs to our condemnation if this geere be not amended looke as smoothly on the matter as we can God will haue an assaying with vs when we haue made all whole with man Wherefore good breethen in the feare of God let us looke to this geere let us giue eare to Iesus Christ his teaching that commaundeth our loue one toward another to be as his was towardes vs and away vvith this same dissembled loue vvhich raigneth so amongst us this Iudas loue theese loue deuils loue and let vs like good Christians here in Norffolke once at the length beginne to imbrace Christes loue true loue unfained from the bottome of the heart and sincere to the glorie of our God and comfort of our soules And thus much for this part where we are commaunded that our loue should be as Christs loue toward vs now it followeth By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye loue one an other This is an other reason to perswade to the obedience of that commaundement which he hath giuen in the verse before that we loue one an other as he hath loued vs for that men shall thereby take them to be his schollers his disciples Christian men This is an argument which carieth with it great force to perswade amongs men for there is none but he will say he is a Christian euery man will say so yea and euery man would gladly so be
was the cause of the death of Christ Therfore this true liuely faith of Gods people is so farre from making men lie wallowing in their sin that untill such time as they haue it they neuer haue a perfect hatred of their sinne then onely when wee haue faith and neuer till then begin we to take pleasure in those things which are allowed and liked of God For this true liuely faith maketh vs new creatures beareth vs a new maketh vs the children of God whereas by nature we are the children of Gods anger that hee can neither loue vs nor any thing that we doe Then begin our blind hearts to be lightned to perceiue our sinne which before we did not see then beginneth our hard heart to be softened and effectually touched with griefe and horrour of our sinne which before wee did like well of whereas we had a delight in deceit and craft flatterie and briberie now we begin to abhorre it and to loue plaine and simple dealing whereas before we were covetous hard hearted vnmercifull usurers oppresours now we begin to hate it and to study after pity and compassion The selfe same tongue that had a pleasure to talke of filthinesse lying blasphemie now is framed a new to hate all cursed speaking and hath a delight to speake the truth and talke of godlinesse and to reprooue wickednesse To be short when we haue this true and liuely faith wrought in vs by Gods spirit we are then framed a new by the same spirite into an inward lothing of our sinne and continually pricked on forward to striue against our sinne by true repentance and not to say we purpose to continue in our sinne but to labour continually against our sinne Let vs therefore good brethren diligently enter into our selves and examine the thoughts of our hearts whether we haue our delights in our craft subtiltie whordome fornieation vncleannesse and such like whether wee set downe with our selues to abide in it yet a certaine time and if wee finde such an vncleane filthy and beastly heart in our selues let vs not flatter our selues good brethren vndoubtedly there is no true faith in such a heart but onely a fleshly and carnall perswasion there is not the spirit of Christ which ouercometh sinne and death the deuill in vs continueth firme steadfast and strong euen in the great and terrible day of the Lorde there is not that spirite in vs but the spirit of the world which perisheth with the world the spirit of Satan which shalbe confounded with Satan and the Spirit of the flesh which bringeth forth in vs the workes of the flesh and darkenesse and therefore shal come to nought with the deeds of the flesh Let all those therefore that haue shadowed them selues vnder the name of the gospell and say they doe beleeue and say they haue faith and yet when they come home nearer to themselves into their owne bosome and finde no loue there to the gospell to Christ to holinesse and righteousnesse but a lust liking and pleasure in all their wonted sinne let them once for all be answered out of Gods blessed worde that they haue no portion with the gospell that they pertaine not to Christ not his sanctification and holinesse and let all such as by these filthy beasts which pretend the gospell and yet haue such abominable heartes and carnall liues are caried away to mislike Christes glorious gospell and to forsake the truth therein thorough these carnall professours let all such as haue bin drawne away by them I say be answered that the Sonne of God neuer taketh such carnall professours for his that they be no true gospellers that they be none of his members none of his faithfull but meere members of Satan transformed into an angell of light and therefore that although they cloake them selues with the name of the gospell and can say Lord Lord and Christ Christ that they may more safely worke all sinne and wickednesse to the shame of the gospell Christ yet in the great and terrible day when all must yeelde up their accompts he shall giue sentence against them Depart from me ye cursed caitiffes workers of iniquitie I neuer acknowledged you for mine depart from me into euerlasting torments to the deuill and his angels to whome alwaies you appertained and whome in heart you serued there shalbe weeping wailing and gnashing of teeth Wherefore let vs all humble our selues under the hand of God abuse not his gospell so many of us as the Lord hath called to tast of the sweet cōfort in his gospell let the fruit of it appeare in our life and conuersation to the glory of Gods gospell For the Lord is a seuere reuenger of the blasphemie done to his heauenly gospell if wee shall seeme to professe it and through our conuersation cause it to be ill spoken of Wherefore good brethren let vs remember our selues that we are called to an holy calling the Lorde is holy and loueth holinesse that hath called vs we are called to holinesse and not to filthinesse let us walke then in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life Thus then good brethren you haue heard the wayes and meanes of our salvation handled before the iudgement seate of God at large how we are delivered from sin death hell and Satan by the meanes that Iesus Christ in our nature hath ouercome them all for us that so many as take hold of him by faith should be deliuered from eternall destruction and haue everlasting life ye haue hearde that this true faith is not to beleeue generally but to reach all that Christ hath done unto our selves not to say with the tongue wee beleeue but to feele in the heart not with a worldly perswasion of the flesh but with an inward perswasion of Gods spirit that sealeth all these same in our hearts ordinarily by the preaching of the worde whereby we are transformed into the image of Christ and renevved in the inwarde heart to haue our delight and pleasure to walke in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of our life all this we haue heard as it hath pleased God to giue me wisdome and knowledge out of his word to vnderstand it and vtterance to deliuer it I haue bene peraduenture longer in handling the matter then some would haue wished to whome these principall groundes of religion are knowen well enough and peradventure therewith all looked for more curious speeches in handling of the matter but such must understand that my purpose is to instruct the ignorant in the waies and meanes of their salvation not to speake to the eares of men but to the heartes of men if I can that the deuill may be pulled out from thence and Iesus Christ planted there I will neuer so abuse Gods blessed worde to satisfie the vaine humour of men so long as I liue by Gods grace it is sufficient for me that I know Iesus Christ and
Lord Iesus vseth here charging vs to loue one an other as he hath loued vs that is that it maketh vs inexcusable before his iudgement seat if we can not finde in our heart to loue one an other seeing he so dearely and tenderly hath loued vs. It carieth with it also a further thing to be considered and thought of and that is this that it serueth for a notable and most excellent patterne for vs to trye and examine our loue by it whether it be sincere and sound or no for when he saith Let your loue among your selues be such a kinde of loue as mine was towardes you he condemneth all fayned and vaine loue all corrupt loue gainfull loue tongue-loue false loue and such like and biddeth looke as his loue was towards vs so let our loue be one towards an other his loue was not towards vs when we were his friends but euen then he loued vs when we were his enemies and gaue his life for vs this is a speciall point to be considered of vs good brethren and pithely to be waied for it toucheth vs very neere we be so corrupt in iudgement and measure all things so by our owne ease that we thinke it sufficient if we haue made some countenance of loue to them that neuer did us harme when as in the meane time we rage like cruell beastes against those which haue but a little touched us with harme and iniurie and we thinke we may doe it lawfully it is so generall a thing and toucheth the corruption of our nature so neere that if he doe or speake but any ill by vs vvee thinke vve may very iustly be incensed against him Yea but was the love of the Lord Iesus so in that maner nay he loued us euen when we were his enemies and telleth vs that our loue must be in like maner one towards another not only to them that loue vs but also to them that be our enemies Our Saviour Christ telleth vs that the very heathen will so loue one another as long as they haue no harme and we would be ashamed being Christians to be no better then they we say wee are Christian men and not heathen let vs then I pray you proceed one steppe further then the heathen who will as fast as wee for our liues love them that doe them good let vs I say go one steppe before them follow our Sauiour Christ who biddeth vs loue one another as he loued vs not as the heathen use to loue Oh saith one I could be content to loue him if hee had not so railed upon me and done me so much spight and villanie I could haue bene content to haue borne it but it is too too no man can beare it and I pray thee hath he done thee more spight then thou hast done to the Lord Iesus Christ I trow not thy spight and villany hath put the Lorde Iesus to death and wouldest thou haue him not hate thee for thy spight done to him as thou doest thy brother for the harme he hath done unto thee thou shouldst be in hell then straightwaies Looke now then I pray you whether it standeth vs not in hand to put well in practise this lesson that our Lord Iesus Christ here teacheth vs when he saith our loue among our selues must not be to avenge our spight to wrecke our malice but euen as he loued vs to be content to forgiue our greatest enemies put our hatred and malice out of our hearts against them Iesus Christ teacheth vs to pray for forgiuenesse at Gods hand euen as we doe forgiue others would we thinke it a good prayer to pray to God in this manner O Lorde God if my sinnes towards thee had bene but a few and small I could haue bene content thou shouldest haue forgiuen them unto me but because they be so many and so spitefull now I would haue thee euen poure out all thy displeasure vpon me for so doe I use to do with them that do offend against me therefore I pray thee deale euen so with me now good Lorde for after this maner I do use to forgiue them that offend me I use to doe the worst I can to them either by worde or deede therefore I pray thee doe the worst to me thou canst were not this I pray you to pray for vengeance upon our own head yes surely and certenly euen so do we as oft as wee dare pray the Lords prayer and yet can not finde in our hearts to forgiue offences done against vs. Good brethren let vs not deceiue our selues the Lord Iesus flatly telleth vs we shall neuer be forgiuen unlesse we can be content to forgiue others let vs say what we will the Lord Iesus saith so we shall neuer be forgiuen unlesse wee can forgiue others there is no remedy the truth hath spoken it let vs flatter our selues as long as vve vvil we cannot be forgiuen unlesse we forgiue therefore if euer we will be forgiuen at Gods hand unlesse vve vvill be throwne into the pit of hell let us forgiue and away with these fond brabbling excuses to say they be so many and so great I can neuer forgiue him Wouldest thou be contented that the Lord Iesus should answere thee so when thou comest unto him for forgiuenesse If he should say unto thee O silly poore soule I could be content to forgiue thee if thy sinnes had not bene so many and so great but because they are so huge so hainous I can not forgiue thee go thy wayes to hell for I can not finde in mine heart to forgiue thee wouldest thou be content with this answer at the Lords hands for thy sinnes I trow not And yet cruell hearted tyrant thou canst be content to say so and thinke so of them that haue not offended thee the thousand parte so much as thou hast done the Lorde thy God Doest thou thinke then thou canst so sâ—â—ly escape the Lord thy God thou canst not thou canst not and therefore there is no remedie but either thou must forgiue or surely thou shalt neuer be forgiuen looke now to it as thou wilt and fling avvay from God as fast as thou wilt they be vvordes of the Lord Iesus vvhich can not lie Let us for Gods loue looke unto them it standeth vs in hande thinke vve to be forgiuen of God our great and intollerable sinnes and can not be content to forgiue small sinnes in comparison No surely it can not be The Lord Iesus setteth out this matter more largely in the 18. of Matthevv by the example of a king vvhich minded to take a reckening of his seruants vvhereof one was brought unto him which did owe him a thousand talents he not being able to pay commandement was giuen that he his wife and children should be sold and paiment made the man with pitifull teares fell dovvne at the feet of the king desiring him onely to beare with him for
cast before our eyes a thousand clouds and mysts of hypocrisie and securitie to blind our selues with all that we should neuer see our owne perill and danger vtterly to burie in vs altogether the remembrance of the last iudgement that we might more safely sleepe in our deadly securitie and sinnefull behauiour to our vtter destruction both of our soule and bodie therefore it is notable here that the Apostle calleth vs to the iudgement seat of God for such kinde of doctrine hath great force to waken vs more liuely out of such perill danger when we commonly vse to tumble and wallow without feeling for as long as we thinke we haue to deale but onely with man we take vpon vs to rage like cruell beasts without al reason coÌ„science in oppressing one an other in deceiuing one an other we coÌ„mit all abhominable wickednes in corners in the darke night thinke we be in excellent good safetie because our naughtines caÌ„not be espied nor tried out by men but alas the Apostle saith we must all appeare before the iudgement seate of God when all the men in the earth haue done with vs and can finde out none of our naughtines then must the Lord beginne to try out our wickednesse and shall he in like manner thinke you be constrained to give vs ouer as one not able to bewray our lewdnesse No no all the secret thoughts of our hearts are open vnto him all our subtill practises which we contriue neuer so closely are every one of them apparent to his eyes and he will sit in iudgement vpon them and euen condemne vs for them to everlasting torment if wee doe not now repent while he gives time Yee see then it standeth vs in hand to put this lesson well in practise to avoide the danger now in this time of mercie which otherwise will fall vpon vs. And away with all vaine gloses and visours of hypocrisie whereby we vse both to deceiue our selves and others and let vs learne now at last to walke in simplicitie before our God and in plaine dealing with men For otherwise there is no remedie when we haue wrangled out the matter never so stoutly before men it must be brought notwithstanding in hearing before our God whome wee can not with all the fetches of our subtill heads neither deceive nor abuse And yet it is a wonder to see how boldly men dare deale with God and how impudently they dare behave themselves in his presence what wickednesse we dare commit even before his eyes without all feare of his iudgement seate as though he had neither eye to see out our lewdnesse nor sword to punish nor yet iudgement seate to condemne Wee dare boldly in the open presence of our God commit filthy adulterie fornication all vncleannesse which wee durst not for our lives be so bold as doe in the presence of a child of xiii yeres old for feare of his presence that could bring vs to a little shame here in the world yet sticke nothing at all like bruite beasts to commit all such villany in the presence of our God who hath his iudgement seate to condemne vs eternally Doth not this sufficiently bewray our blockishnes that there is no feare of God in vs at al when we dare so proudly checke against his maiesty and do vtterly seâ—â— to bury vp all the remeÌ„brance of his iudgment that we might like filthy swine wallow and tumble our selves in all wickednesse and abominations without controlment But like miserable caitiffes which dare be so bold with our God to make no account of his maiestie and doe so lightly esteeme of his iudgement continually in our sinnes without repentance vvee shall be haled before his iudgement seat in spite of our teeth when we vvould be glad to haue the hils mountaines to fall vpon vs to hide vs from his presence but all shall not prevaile This sentence must stand more firme sure then heauen and earth that all of vs must appeare before the iudgement seate of God wherfore good brethren let vs not abuse this time of mercy but now repent while God giveth vs time for afterwarde is a time of iudgement without mercy to all those that dare so horribly abuse Gods maiesty do not study to repent while they haue time let vs now while we liue vpon this earth set daily before our eyes the continual remembrance of Christs comming to iudgement that wee flatter not our selues in our sinnes and the more carefully must we looke vnto it because we see what blockish heathenishnes the vvorld is grovven vnto for lack of practising this lesson for vvhat is the cause of all the disorders grovven amongst men all outragious dealing but that men forget themselues and think nothing of their appearance before the heauenly iudge What is the cause of such flattery craft among vs such fetches shiftes devices to deceive one another such swearing forswearing what is the cause I say of all this but only that men doe not effectually consider vvith themselues of the day of iudgement vvhen all matters shalbe righted all secrets revealed craftie iuggling vvith God man disclosed meÌ„ I say do not think upoÌ„ this therefore do harden themselues in their sinne And especially here in Norffolke it is a marvelous thing to see hovv vve haue so shaken off all feare of God utterly buried the remembraÌ„ce of his iudgement if vvee can once deuise shifts subtilties to delude Iustices Iudges and Gods magistrates that the lavv of man can not take hold of vs vve thinke our selues as sure and â—â—â—e as can be if vve can find out any colour or fetch that can not be espyed by man in the iudgement seate vvee on as slily vvith the matter as can be think all cock sure And though the matter be never so well knovvn vnto our consciences wheÌ„ vve do iniuries vnto others yet if there be no vvitnesses of the matter or evident proofe by lavv to convince vs vve thinke vve be as safe as can be if vve be dealt vvithall by good men to deale uprightly vvith men according vnto conscience oh vve be straightvvaies vpon them vvhat sirrha vvhat knovve ye by me vvhat can ye charge me vvithall vvhat vvitnes haue yee against me if ye haue any thing to charge me vvithall I vvill ansvver it thus vve play the iolly fellovves in advancing of our selues setting vp our crest if nothing can be prooved against vs by man And vvhat if no man liuing can charge thee vvith any thing thou miserable caitiffe that things can not be laid out plainly by vvitnesses evidences before men dost thou thinke therefore to escape scotfree at Gods hand so to escape his iudgement vvhat if there be no maÌ„ that can charge thee hast not thou vvithin thine ovvne breast a guest at home euen thine ovvne conscience that chargeth thee of a thousand
matters more strongly and more fiersly pursuing the matter then a thousand vvitnesses So could that cruell beast Cain that bathed in the blood of his brother vvrangle vvith God after that manner What doest thou meane to aske me of my brother saith he what have I to doe with him am I my brothers keeper is he not old enough to keepe himselfe He thought forsooth he had made sure vvorke on all hands vvhen he had gotten his brother into the broad fields far from the presence of men that none could espie him to beare vvitnesse of the fact but the Lord findeth out this cruell tiger and subtill foxe bringeth in vvitnesses enough to condemne him that vvere present euen at the deed doing Thy brothers blood saith God crieth aloud for vengeance in mine eares doest thou thinke to escape scotfree in my iudgement because no mortall man can testifie of it the blood vvhich I put into thy brothers body and thou cruelly didst let out the same that same blood hath a lovvd voice before my iudgement seate to beare vvitnesse against thee and to call for iustice at mine hand to revengement the verie earth vvhich opened her mouth to receiue the blood is another loud vvitnes before me to condemne thee vvhat saist thou to the matter vvhat hast thou to say for thy selfe Alack poore soule he standeth as dumb as a block before his iudge hath not a vvord to ansvvere in his defence against these vvitnesses but like an obstinate rebell against Gods maiesty doeth murmure against God that he is hardly dealt withall and that his punishment is greater then he is able to indure that he is oppressed and throwne downe with the fierce wrath of God Let vs see then what we can prevaile with all our shiftes and subtilties here where wee thinke no man can charge vs no witnesse against vs the Lord needs no such witnesse in his iudgement seate he can call all his creatures to witnesse against vs the very house wherein we commit wickednesse our conscience in our breast witnessing thereunto the darke night the ground we tread vpon the bedde we lye vpon all the creatures of God about vs when we are committing wickednesse shall be sufficient testimonies against vs. The matter that we so subtilly contriue in our braines for to wind in our neighbours and deceive them euen the very matters them selves shalbe sufficient before our God to stand against vs to condem nation The pen ynke paper parchment scribe subtill pety-fogger and whatsoever haue bene instruments with vs in our craftie deuises whatsoever of Gods creatures we haue vsed or rather abused thereunto shall testifie their humble obedience to their creatour to our condemnation yea euen our owne hands that wrote our tongue that spake our feete that went our heart that devised our body that executed must needs stand in iudgement as an army of witnesses to condēne vs. What did it availe that miserable caytiffe that he could use his legges and feete to meete his Master and his armes to imbrace him and his tongue falsly to speake wordes of pretensed friendship Haile master his mouth like a trusty frend to kisse him what could all these prevaile I say when God pursued him more narrowly and haled him more neerely vnto his iudgement seate what did they prevaile Alas poore damned creature his conscience was made his hangman The Lorde needed no other witnesse to bewray the false meaning of his fained friendly heart then his owne conscience within his breast that spake so lowd against him to his condemnation that he could not abide but cruelly caused his owne selfe same legges and feete to carry him to his owne death and the selfe same hands to hang vp his body to dispatch his life and then which is most lamentable when he thought to be ridde from his Iudge then alas did he but begin his torments which never can be ended So horrible a thing it is to fall into the hands of so mighty a Iudge O good breethren let vs lay vp these examples deepe in our hearts to bring in continuall remembrance before our eyes the iudgement seate of God that we may learne to feare his maiestie and stand in awe of his dreadfull iudgement seate that we be not so bold with our God to dally with him and as it were play with his nose as they say thinking our selves sure enough when we can make faire weather with men and with our smooth lookes sugred wordes and faire countenances subtilly intrappe our brethren Alas good brethren this geere will not be good stuffe with our God when hee calleth vs to answer the matter in his highest court of parliament it vanisheth away as smoke Those same Iudas kisses be to common against vs and which worse is it is holden almost no sin nay I am afraid it is accounted of most of vs a notable point of pollicie as without which we could not be able to live amongst men to flatter speake faire and as it were to creep into mens bosoms whereas within there is nothing but falshood and a double heart and yet we are growen to this brutishnesse as though God had no iudgement seate that we thinke we could not otherwise live amongst men unlesse we play on both hands with God and the world and we haue made it as it were an infallible rule and brought it to a common proverb Nescit regnare qui nescit dissimulare He knoweth not how to keepe his owne that knoweth not how to dissemble fayne flatterie faire speech is called holy-water of the court and I can not tell what I know not what is in the court for I am no courtier but I am sure that we haue too much of such holy-water amongst vs here in Norffolke faire words and false hearts sugred talke and subtill meaning it is too too common the Lorde be mercifull vnto vs as though God did not see vs view vs marke vs and even register vs vp vnto his iudgement seat well good brethren let vs not deceiue ourselves all this our faire subtiltie is no more but Iudas kisses and vndoubtedly vnlesse we in time repent we shall with Iudas at the hand of Almighty God taste of the like vengeances for God will not be mocked although during our life wee come not to the gallowes or to fordoe our selues as he did yet our God hath his iudgement after this life will hang vs vp in hell with Iudas everlastingly all of vs if we doe not repent yea although we do weare velvet coats on our backes all shall not save vs there is no remedy we must all appeare before the iudgement seat of God therfore let vs now think upon it whiles we have time that vve may be in a readines when it commeth for therfore we are summoned in that court we must appeare Away then with all these counterfaited devises which be so common amongst vs
our condemnation it is no sleight nor slender stuffe but sound proofe out of the word of God here is no counterfeit deeds no forged evidences but such as are sealed and ratified by the Sonne of God himselfe which testifieth of himselfe that his comming was not to disanull them but to fulfill and accomplish them wee must not then thinke but that this geare that is here brought in against vs will stand and be allowed euen before the Lord in his tribunall seate because it is nothing but his owne word by the which he telleth vs he will iudge vs and though heaven and earth passe yet that word never passeth wherefore it standeth vs now in hand to see how this matter may be answered on our part we had need to looke about vs and seeke for as good stuffe for the answering of the matter to our discharge as is brought in against vs to our condemnation or else the Lord knoweth we be in miserable case vnlesse we haue as sure profe out of the selfe same word of God for our discharge there is no remedy but we perish euery mothers child for the Lorde can not goe against his worde let vs see then good brethren how we can answer the matter and let vs beware that we bring not our ovvne cauills against God not the deuices of our ovvne braine nor that vvhich vve thinke good of our selues unlesse it haue his ground on the vvord of God vvhich onely must be the great court rolles that this heauenly iudge vvill use in this court And this is one speciall cause that mooveth me to handle the matter of our saluation before the throne of God not as here upon earth because euery fond devise of our ovvn foolish head seemeth to vs vvhile vve keepe vs here belovv to be most excellent sound as nothing can be more euery toy trifle that liketh vs seemeth to be so firme strong as God must needs yeeld unto our liking but it shalbe far othervvise vvhen is commeth to be handled before God all such imaginations must needes vanish avvay as smoke before the iudgement seate of God nothing can abide his presence there but only his ovvne blessed vvord and that vvhich is grounded upō it Let us therefore so examine the matter of our saluation as it may stand steady strong before the eternall God against Satan sinne all the povvers of hell Let us come novv to the ansvvering of the matter There hath come proofe against vs as ye haue heard out of the vvord of God that vve are all of vs accursed of Gods ovvne mouth because vve haue transgressed his lavv and holy commandements this is prooued against us vvhat shall vve say can vve deny it not unlesse vve vvill denie God himselfe for it is prooued unto us out of his vvord that all of vs haue sinned none but sinneth vve can not then deny that if that be graunted the other must needs follovv that vve are therefore subiect to the curse of God eternall death because it is vvritten that the reward of sinne is death Cursed is every one that doeth not abide to fulfill all that is written in the booke of the law it is then apparant that the vvrath of God is pronounced upon us for our disobedience to God that can not be denyed vvhat shal vve say then vve stand before God to ansvver the matter vvhat shall vve say to it I am afraide a great number of us are far to seeke in these lavv points of our saluation although vve be othervvise neuer so excellent cunning skilfull in other lavv matters to handle them marueilous subtilly vvisely I am afraid for all that vve are farre to learne in these most chiefe waightie causes of life death eternall And yet I know we be not altogether without our answers such as they be very simple God knoweth slender far unmeet to come before so glorious a iudge in so waightie causes We doe not deny but we haue broken these blessed commandements of God we confesse that but in the meane time vve haue our shifts gloses to assvvage the matter withall vve can alledge for our selues that although vve haue broken Gods cōmandements offended God yet they be not so great offenses as deserue any great punishment herein vve be marveilous eloquent to paint out the matter to make our selues beleeue that our sins be not so great because we see other men haue done greater or because vve see our selues void of notorious crimes such as be punished by the magistrate vve can very readily alledge for our selues what man I trust I am not so great a sinner I thank God I am no theefe I labour truly for my liuing nor I am no murtherer or cōmon whoremaster such like and hereupon we set our selues in a good stay neuer busie our selues to answer the matter any further before the throne of God but conclude with our selues that God must be good vnto us because vve be not so notorious sinners as outragious men be Yea good brethren but will God be so answered think you wil this stand for good euidence before the throne of God Doth the vvord of God say Cursed be euery one that doth not abide in the greatest commandemēts as in abstaining from murther man slaughter whordom these such like doth it speak on this matter only no it goeth further saith Cursed be every one that doth not abide fulfill all that is written in the book of the law it doeth not say some part but all so forth in the rest Although thou be no whoremaster nor murtherer yet be a swearer thou hast not fulfilled al. And therfore the Apostle S. Iames reproueth such kind of people as dare so boldly blanch vvith Gods commandements to think themselues in good case for doing one or tvvo of the commandements neglecting the rest He telleth vs Whosoever should filfill all the cōmandements yet breake but one of them is guiltie of the whole burthē of the law which threatneth curse to the transgressours breakers of any one yea euen of the lest as Christ Iesus also vvitnesseth yea further Gods commandemēts be so pure deare and precious that they are to be fulfilled and done not only with our outward body but especially with our heart for the commandements of God are spirituall so saith Paul pearce euen to the heart God that giueth them is not God of our bodies only but also of our soules therefore giueth us lavves not only to tye our hands frō doing euill but the heart also frō thinking deuising euill because he is a God that loueth pure truth sincerity not only in outward shevv but especially in the in ward heart as testifieth the Psalm Therfork Iesus Christ doeth tell vs that they be broken not onely whē our body
is no law I trow forbiddeth this vnlesse I say the law of the purse And if thou say I can not there be able to liue I answer thee first seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and all other things needfull shall be giuen vnto thee as ouerplus So we see there is nothing can excuse us before God vnlesse we get vs preachers I know there be other kind of excuses that vve frame unto our selues as we thinke sufficient to exempt vs from the preaching of the word but let vs not deceiue our selues vnlesse there be preaching the people perish vnlesse they haue beleeued they are damned and beleeue can they not without preaching Away therfore with all vaine excuses which might make vs thinke our selues well enough without preaching these gloses will not serue before God the Lord will haue his people taught there is no shift otherwise we shall all of vs answer for it so many of vs as haue our hands stained with the blood of them that perish And let all of vs in the feare of this our God fall seriously to meditate of this geare and now at the length begin to make more diligent and careful preparation for the preaching of the word then hitherto we haue done seeing it so standeth vs in hand vnder paine of damnation God may otherwise saue vs as I haue told you if he will but it hath pleased him to let vs vnderstand that he will haue vs saued by preaching if we shal not be carefull and carefull againe to prepare for that meanes of our saluation surely we shall declare our selues either to be wiser then God esteeming his heauenly wisdome but base and foolish or else plaine contemners of God in despising so heauenly and wholsome ordinance Wherefore good brethren if ye will be saued get you preachers into your parishes that may instruct you in the wayes and meanes of your salvation against that day that yee must appeare before this iudgement seate bestow your labour cost and trauell to get them ride for them runne for them stretch your purses to maintain them we shall begin to be rich in the Lord Iesus and so much riches also of this world we shall haue as our God shall make vs contented withall and then our ioy shall be full in the last day when we must leaue all these earthly things receiue at the hands of the Lord Iesus an heauenly an euerlasting crowne Thus farre then good brethren how we are discharged in this iudgement seat from the euerlasting curse and condemnation which euery one of us haue fallen into by breaking Gods cōmandements ye haue heard how we are discharged from this punishment by Iesus Christ who hath fully taken it upon him ouercome it how it is made ours applied vnto us by faith not such a faith as the deuils haue but such as teacheth unto us all that euer Christ did for us maketh Christ dwell with us not in our tongues but in our hearts not in a wauering maner but in a true certenty not by a vaine perswasion of the flesh by the liuely witnes of Gods spirit all this to be deliuered unto vs by no other ordinary means but onely by the preaching of the word Here is then the full waies means of our saluation declared unto us to be in Christ onely in Christ in no worke deed or merit of ours or any saint or angell for us but in Christ alone none other herein remaineth our whole comfort ioy which passeth all the ioyes of the earth But I haue yet one thing more to answer which the deuill might bring into the head heart of the carnall gospeller hereby What saith that filthy Epicure this is sweete doctrine in deede now I may take my pleasure at will liue at lust in my sinne for I beleeue in Christ therfore must needs be saued it maketh no matter I will sin my belly full for I beleeue that Christ hath borne the burthen of my sin therfore what need I care I answer these abuses of Gods mercy that if there be any such that either hath such a blasphemous tongue to speake or an heart to purpose to sinne or one minute of an houre to continue in sinne because he beleeueth that Christ hath paid the punishment of his sinne if there be any such that thus say or purpose I say with the worde of God that such haue no sparkle of true faith for the word of God setteth forth unto vs this true faith not such a faith as filleth the heart with sinne and all uncleannesse as these carnall Epicures speake of but such a faith as maketh the heart pure such a faith as doth not incourage men to sinne but such a faith as maketh men to hate their sinne lothe abhorre it because this true faith of Gods people proceedeth frō the spirit of Christ maketh Christ dwell in vs by his holy spirit which spirit of Christ can neuer dwell in one and the same heart with sinne wickednes in such maner as to be at agreement with it to like well of it take pleasure in it but continually striveth and struggleth against it And although sin doe continually hang on vs yet this spirit of Christ dwelling in vs will not let sin raigne rule in vs therefore such carnall wretches as shall loue sinne take pleasure in their sinne doe sufficiently declare that they haue no part nor fellowship with Gods spirit consequently no true liuely faith They haue no part of the spirit of Christ that suffered death for sinne but the spirit of Satan the authour of sin the spirit of the world the imbracer of sin the spirit of the flesh the nource of sinne for it filleth the heart with the fruits not of the spirite but of the flesh lust whordom fornication uncleannesse wantonnes vanity filthinesse couetousnes extortiō usury oppression pride contempt disdain flattery dissimulation idolatry witchcraft hatred malice division drunkennes gluttony c. And I warrant them let these carnal swine that thus wallow in their sinne taking their full ioy pleasure in it yet say stoutly that they haue a beleefe that Iesus Christ hath paid the punishment of their sin let them I say enter a litle more deep into their own heart they shal find a thing within them that shal speak the clean contrary euen their own cōscience doth cry aloud within their brest if they would let it speak that they beleeue no whit at all of the discharge of their sin by Christ for then they would not loue like wel of their sin which was the cause of the death of Christ Is it like they hold any thing of Christ which ioyne hands with the wicked Iewes to put Christ to death They neuer therfore haue any true faith in Christ unlesse they detest their own sin which
him crucified The matter of our saluation is waightie and such deepe matters can not be passed ouer in a vvorde or tvvo and the best of vs all can neuer learne it too much nor heare it too often it must be our comforts and our onely ioy in death and after death it must be that vvhich must sticke by vs vvhen vve must shake handes with all the world and say farevvell father farevvell mother farewell my dearest friends farewell my riches wealth and vvorldly ioyes it must then be our only ioy to say vvelcome Christ vvelcome heaven welcome euerlasting ioy Happy shalbe the day and blessed shalbe that houre when vvee shalbe crowned with an euerlasting crovvne of glory vvhen all teares shalbe washed from our eyes The Lord God for his deare sonnes sake graunt vs to haue heartes and mindes to long after it and to say with the holy Apostle I desire to be dissolued and be with the Lord Christ and that we effectually thinke upon it take our profit of all this that hath bene taught vs let vs pray to the Lord our God that he will giue his holy spirite to write it deepe in our heartes and seale it in our consciences that it may bring forth fruite in us to the comfort of our conscience and glorie of our God O most mercifull God and heauenly Father c. Iohn More THE THIRD SERMON Ioh. 13. 34 35. I give you a new commandement that ye love one another as I haue loved you that you even so love one another by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye haue love amongst your selves WE haue heard good brethren heretofore sufficiently I trust out of the fifth to the Corinthians declared unto us how we are cleared and discharged before the iudgement seat of God reconciled unto our good and gratious God by the means of his deare sonne our only Lord Saviour Iesus Christ our only reconciliation and attonement applied vnto vs by the holy spirite of god working in our hearts a true a liuely faith which taketh hold of all the righteousnes ransome satisfaction of Christ and makes it ours wherby we are iustified and holden as righteous being clothed with the righteousnes of Christ so our conscience pacified before the throne of Gods glorious maiestie All this I say we haue sufficiently heard uttered unto us out of the blessed word of God this is the chiefest most principall thing that wee must labour for during the vvhole scope of our life and our onely comfort in our death and our onely life after death and therefore I trust it hath beene well marked of us and considered in our hearts deeply imprinted Now it followeth that knowing how we be set at one with god we do also indeavor our selues to be at one with mā for which purpose I haue chosen out this piece of Scripture which you heard now read vnto you which containeth a short exhortatiō to loue a short lesson soone learned that we loue one another in a word it is no more but that we haue sincere loue one with an other it is an easie lesson soone borne away the dullest memorie that is here present may easily beare it away and the simplest wit among vs may without any great discoursing of the matter straightwaies vnderstande it that we neede not pretende any excuse of simplicitie and dulnesse whereas the playnnesse and shortnesse will straightwaies convince vs. It is then a lesson soone learned which we haue here taught vnto vs to loue one an other if nothing els were required but as schollers in grammer schoole to conne it by heart and say by rote we might dispatch it in a minute of an houre but alas good brethren because it is in Christs schoole wee must not onely like grammer schollers haue it by heart but like Christs schollers haue the feeling and loue of it in our hearts not onely by rote like children say it with our mouth but like Gods children practise it in our deedes And herein good Lord how smally haue we profited this xv yeares learning the practise of this lesson in Christs schoole or if we haue learned it how soone haue we forgot it or if we haue both known it and thought vpon it in what case are we that so generally haue vsed continually against our owne conscience knowledge to doe contrarie vnto it VVell for that which is past let vs repent and now in the feare of God let vs beginne more deepely to consider the thing especially seeing the deare Sōne of God exhorteth vs thereunto and saith I giue you a new commandement that ye loue one an other if a prince or any noble personage speake vnto vs exhorting vs to any good thing wee vse to giue attentiue care and for the authoritie of the person the words haue credite with vs that we dare not doe contrarie thereunto for feare of loosing their good will and fauour what shall we then say to our Sauiour Christ the king of kings aboue all the nobles vpon the earth who doth here exhort vs to loue one an other shal we make none account of his words but without regard fling them at our heeles not caring for the losse of his heauenly fauour who gaue his owne selfe to the death to purchase our life Surely we should then declare our selues to be worse then the bruit beasts who yet vse to haue some regard to their masters that feede them and shew them fauour If we should not then carefully take heede vnto those things which are spoken vnto vs of the Lord Iesus Christ who hath so dearely loued vs euen the very bruit beasts should be sufficient to condemne vs. Let vs therefore in the feare of God looke vnto it not slenderly and with dull eares and hard hearts consider of it for it is the deare Sonne of God that speaketh vnto vs that requireth of vs that we loue one an other If he had but slenderly handled our matter concerning our redemption we had beene but in slender case if we shall nowe giue but slender eare vnto that which he speaketh vnto vs and make it as a thing of course surely we prouoke his iudgement against vs whose maiestie we dare so boldly abuse if it be high treason to cast off the words of a prince make no account of them what shal we say of the reiecting the words of this our heauenly prince and Sauiour Ye see then it standeth vs in hand diligently to heare prudently to marke and deeply to waigh these wordes which here be spoken for they are the wordes of the Lord Iesus who of his vnspeakeable loue hath giuen him selfe for vs. And yet further then this if we consider the circumstances of the time when these words were spoken it will make vs yet a little more carefull to thinke vpon them It was at such time as he was now neare his death for in the verse going
before he told them he was going from them These words were vttered then by our Sauiour Christ when he was going to his death as a thing specially to be marked of vs which he knew to be most needefull for vs and therefore of vs more to be considered and marked yea and neuer to be forgotten but alwaies deepely imprinted in our minde You know those things that are spoken of men lying vpon their death bedde vse to pearse much that commonly the words be neuer forgotten but still almost as fresh in memorie as when they were newe spoken those words which be spoken by a louing father vpon his death bed vnto his childe take great effect in a good childe if a tender father at the point of death doth call his sonne vnto him and vttereth these or such like words Oh sonne thou seeest in what case I am I am euen now readie to goe from thee these be the last words that I shall speake vnto thee remember them well thou shalt neuer heare me more speake I must goe from thee yet for a remembrance that thou maist thinke vpon me when I am gone I will giue thee one lesson from my mouth while I liue that thou maist remember me when I am dead as long as thou liuest I charge thee therefore as thou louest me doe this or that c. thou knowest I haue had many troublesome daies for thee much cost and paines I bestowed vpon thee nowe I must goe from thee thinke vpon this that I charge thee euen as thou louest me if a tender hearted father giue this or such charge vnto his sonne vpon his death bed will it not make the heart of any naturall childe to bleede in his bodie to heare such tender wordes of his louing father alas those louing wordes neuer be forgotten of any naturall childe and good sonne vnlesse he be an vnthrift and past all grace which careth neither for father nor friend liuing nor deade Euen so in like manner will these words of our Sauiour Christ spoken at his death pearce the hearts of any of the children of God vnlesse they be bastards and no sonnes we can not if we loue the Lord Iesus but remember this his last lesson which he giueth vs for his farewell And I am sure vnto the children of God it pearceth a thousand times more their tender hearts to heare them so louingly taught of their louing Lord then any other rough manner of dealing because they be children and not slaues and therefore serue of loue and not of slauish feare although it be sometime needefull for the best of them to feele of the louing correction of their louing father for the taming of their wilde flesh But because in the house of God all be not children which haue the outward coūtenance of children but there be a great companie of dissembling hypocrites which take the libertie of the Gospell to liue after the flesh doe nothing but only make a mock of all louing kind of dealing laugh in their sleeues when they heare any such exhortations because they wil not be taught by faire meanes and as ye would say by maner of intreatie therfore the Lord Iesus for their cause especially dealeth after an other sort here in this sentence and calleth this same his admonition to loue not onely a friendly exhortation as by way of request but also a commandement Not onely a matter of intreatie forsooth to doe or not to doe as best liketh vs but a speciall commaundement to be done whether we will or no whether we like it or not like it vnlesse we will abide the penaltie of disobedience And herein then he dealeth with us not only as a louing friend to exhort but also as a prince of authoritie to command that if we should violently cast off from vs all kinde of friendly admonitions here and thinke we haue escaped wel because we haue broken in sunder all the fast bonds of louing exhortations we should yet vnderstand he is our Prince that hath his iudgement seat to arrayne vs there to answer the breach of his blessed commandement and that we should not thinke or say Oh I will indeede loue my brethren but it shalbe at leisure when I see my time and when I thinke best but rather thinke because it is commanded vs we must doe it whether we will or no not at our pleasure but at the pleasure of the commander vnlesse we wilbe guiltie of his curse in his iudgement seat So then ye see what we haue to marke in this where the Lord Iesus doth not onely exhort but commaund vs to loue one an other that is that we not only haue a cold affectiō thereunto but that we be liuely touched with the authoritie of the commander setting before our eyes his princely iudgemēt seat where he will bring in triall all stubborne breaches of his blessed commandements although they be neuer so smoothly passed ouer in this life Ye see then this hath or at least vvise ought to haue a vvonderfull vvaightie force vvith it vvhere the Lord Iesus falleth a commanding and therefore ought of vs deepely to be considered and not coldly for fashion imbraced because it is the Lord Iesus that not onely vvilleth but commaundeth it But alas it is a vvonderfull thing to see the authoritie of the Lord Iesus so smally regarded among vs if once the vvill of a prince be but knovvne it is a vvonder to see hovv readie vve are to frame our selues thereunto but if he fall a commanding vvho doe not then tremble at his displeasure But the Lord Iesus may intreat pray and beseech nay straightly charge and command and for all that not regarded of a straw It declareth certenly good brethren that there is no feare of God among vs but onely a certaine worldly feare of man and yet the one killeth the bodie alone the other throweth both soule and bodie into hell fire eternall Oh good brethren let vs not deceiue our selues it is the Lord Iesus that commaundeth vs let vs obey he chargeth vs to loue one an other let it be done not onely said but done done done Let vs earnestly repent that we haue beene so slacke in doing this commandement for our Sauiour hetherto that we haue done nothing but onely make a mocke of it oh it is his mercie that hath saued vs hetherto and hath not throwne vs downe to hell as we haue deserued but in mercie hath kept vs till this day let vs nowe from henceforth thinke earnestly vpon this commandement of our Lord Iesus Christ and now begin to practise it that there may be loue among vs and not such brabbling brawling and contention as we see daily and is too lamentable but like to good schollers in the schoole of the Lord Iesus let vs haue loue and peace among vs and surely then he will dwell among vs and protect vs for euer Nowe it is said in the text that this commaundement
a time and he vvould pay him the vvhole the king taking compassion upon the man forgaue him the whole debt this man being so discharged went his vvay and found one of his fellovves that ovved him a certaine small trifling peece of money and ragingly caught him by the throate commaunding him to pay that he ovved the poore man amased fell downe at his feete with vveeping teares humbly besought him to be good unto him and he vvould pay him all The other vvould not heare but cruelly commaunded him to be cast in prison and there the poore man lay The king hearing of this crueltie called him and saide I forgaue thee the vvhole debt vvhen thou besoughtest me oughtest not thou to haue had compassion upon thy fellow also as I had on thee the king in great displeasure cōmanded him to be deliuered to the tormentours Euen so saith our Saviour Christ vvill my heauenly Father doe to you unlesse you forgiue one another from the bottome of your heartes your sinnes and offences done one to another This is the doctrine of the Lord Iesus it is not mine they be his ovvne vvords and therefore they must be marked It is a vvoonder to see how much vvee can make of a smal offence done unto us how small account we make of our great offences done to God if one do but a litle contrary to our mind in any smal matter oh we make it so great a matter we haue never done with it and hardly shall a man bring vs to any good agreement we be so hard hearted it will not out of our stomacke but we must be reuenged strait waies vve will waite him at the advantage once in our life time to be euen with him if we can What is this els but to prouoke Gods fearce wrath and indignation vpon vs and to heape Gods iudgement vpon vs Iesus Christ telleth vs euen so will our heauenly father deale with vs. Doeth it not now then stand vs in hand to forgiue one another to put malice and hatred out of our hearts and now at the length to learne perfectly this lesson at our Sauiour his hand to loue one another as he loued vs not onely them that doe us good but euen our enemies and them that hate vs. True it is wee must neuer loue the sinne of our enemies nor of none els but alwaies be in deadly hatred with that but yet we must loue and pity the person of our enemies that is in dangered thereby And if this were well waighed you should see that we had more need to pity then to hate our enemies If there be any iniurie or harme done unto vs either by word or deed they that doe it are guiltie of hell fire so saith Iesus Christ would it not pitie our hearts to see any in the torments of hell alas yes if we were not worse then bruit beasts we would take pitie vpon them and surely in that case are all those vvhich doe vs harme vnlesse they repent and therefore the Lord Iesus pitied the case of them that put him to death because he knew in what dangerous estate their soules were whereas they in spight and rage against him were so blind that they could not see it but alas he saw it and pitied their case and prayed saying O Father forgiue them they can not tell what they do they are euen almost in the gulfe of hel and yet see it not they are so blind in their rage that they run headlong to hell and neuer thinke upon it The same affection must be in vs towardes our enimies if we be of the same spirite of Christ we must pitie their case that haue done any harm or iniurie against vs thus think O Lord God this their fact is damnable before thine eyes they haue deserued hel fire and yet O Lord they see it not Good Lord giue them hearts and mindes to see their sinne that they may see in what daunger they be in and so turne unto thee and repent Thus you see how we must pity our enemies and pray for them doe what we can to bring them out of the danger there is none without so much naturall affection but he will pitie the life of any thing being in danger if it be but an oxe or an asse to put it out of the mire if he could there is none so brutish that will suffer the life of a beast to perish if he can helpe it much more is the life of man to be pitied being in danger but much more is the everlasting life of the soule of man to be tendered being in daunger while thine enemie rageth against thee with all despite and villanie his poore soule is in perill to be drowned in the gulfe of hell oughtest not thou to pitie his estate and reach out thine hand to helpe him out and not like an unmercifull man to plunge him downe to be drowned that thou mightest reuenge thy spite and malice for the iniurie harme he hath done vnto thee There is none so cruell that woulde deale so with a very beast If vve had receiued any harme at any beastes handes either a stroke with an horse his foote or such like if wee should happen to see the poore beast after that in perill of drowning is there any so cruell that he might be revenged of the harme done unto him would let the poore beast starue or else violently push him headlong and holde downe his head to drowne him Surely none would doe it vnlesse he were worse a thousand fold then a beast What do we meane then seeing the soules of our enemies in so great perill by continuance in their sinne that we doe not pitie their case to pray for them to helpe them out but rather to revenge our malice doe sooner push them in forwardes headlong to destruction Nay rather what doe wee meane in pushing them forwarde to destruction to throwe our selues downe headlong with them to the pit of hell For what is it els when we beare hatred spite and malice against them It is murther before God and therefore guiltie of hell sire Haue wee not then notably prevailed against our enemies when for pure spitefull loue and reuengefull good will towards them wee vvill euen iumpe with them into the dungeon of hell This is not to loue one another as the Lord loued vs well then good brethren I pray you let us looke unto it vvee must loue one another yea euen our enemies for so did Christ loue vs his enemies we must loue their soules and pitie their soules and helpe them euen as we can vvee must not so much regarde the spite they haue done unto us as the daunger their soules be in before God and this may make vs to stay our rage and reuengement against our brethren vvhen they haue offended us for what is the cause that we be so out of patience with them that haue done us iniurie