faithful thē selues can not cut off them selues from their owne saluation nor forfait it because it is not layde vp in them selues but in God in whose custody it is True it is we giue God cause in our selues to frustrate all his graces towardes vs But God will accomplishe his worke and finishe it in his seruaunts Neither let any Libertine hereof conclude that he will liue he careth not how because if I beleeue I am sure al my sinnes cannot loose my saluation I answere faith is neuer seuered from obedience nor from a good conscience 1. Tim. 1.5 and a pure heart which spring from faith which is careful to please God so as such haue no fayth but an opinion of fayth Neuertheles I affirm it to be true that the sinns infirmities and falles of the Saintes of God can not frustrate their saluation because God looketh not on them but in Christe Shall this therefore ad courage vnto men to sinne God forbid nay they which are truelye humbled as they know that God wil not for their sins cast them away So they dare not for their liues to sinne vpon hope though they are manye times foyled sore of their infirmities So that although I herein minister comfort to the troubled soule so I must say to those that presume vpon these great and eternal riches of Gods grace making his mercies a bawde for their sinnes certainly they are without all true loue to God and must not once looke for any comfort but be assured that as yet they are voyde of the benefite of saluation and are in a damnable and Hellishe estate For beeing without the Church in that they shew foorth no fruites of obedience to the worde c. they can not looke for saluation sith without the Church there is no saluation Without Noahs Arke was no life All perished in Iericho that were not in Rachabs house so in the Church onely is saluation without nothing but hell and damnation Euery man therefore must labour to be a member of the church of Christ yeelding obedience to the calling of God by the preaching of his word that they maye bee flocked into his folde and Church For men must know that election must not be seuered from an effectuall calling which worketh in time in the true beleeuers It is a blessednesse in deed that we are elected but if our election be not ratified by the spirite of sanctification and that we haue not good euidence of it in our owne conscience what shal it boot vs Therefore the Psalme 65.4 After they of the Church had complayned of their sinnes as le ts to their Prayers before God so as they beganne to suspect their owne estate because of sinne they conclude to the comforte of their conscience that their blessednesse stood not in them selues but in the election of God Blessed is be whom thou choosest and causest to come vnto thee So as these two are ioyned togeather namely election and calling or vocation in the passiue sense that is that God causeth his to come for none come of them selues Now therefore it is expedient that we make our election sure by good workes 2. Pet. 1.10 Yet muste we not measure our election by our good workes or the perfection of them For we see when the seruants of God suruey their hearts to gather comfort by their calling or by those graces which they haue tasted off to looke on their faith hope obedience loue towards God or their neighbours alasse when they ouerlook al their best works that they can reckon vp yet they can not haue comfort in them if they shall onely stay in them but they must from the effectes of theire calling which if they be in trueth are good euidences and argumentes of comfort looke into this originall of their happinesse Blessed is be whom thou chusest c. For this is the fountaine of blessed es vnto vs. Then in the second place we may say blessed is hee whome God causeth to come to him and he the feareth God louing and obeying his worde carefully and vnfeinedly c. Which al fruits of our calling are not causes of oure happinesse but testimonies and warrantes through the earnest of the spirite that we are happy But it may seeme somewhat nakedly affirmed of the Spouse without proofe when she professeth her selfe to be her beloueds and that her beloued is hers when she addeth no reason of it For albeit many grant that they which are truely in Christ and in the fauour of God they are happy they can not but doe wel and are of the sure grounde But here standeth the question and difficulty of the cause howe euery man may knowe that hee hath part in that vnity of Christe and how a man maye bee sure of saluation in this life To come to this point wee must first consider that that which is spoken in the scriptures concerning the saluation of the Church or elect in general with the causes effects therof is spoken also of euery member of the Church and is true in both As for example if it bee true that the Churche or Elect were loued and elected of God before the beginninges of the Worlde then this is true euerye faythfull beleeuer was elected before al times Agayne if the Churche bee called to the participation of the graces of God then euery faithful beleeuer is Also if the Churche bee holye then euery one of the Churche is also in time called to bee holy If the church be redeemed and the sinnes therof pardoned that it be sanctified iustified saued and glorified in the ende then euerye beleeuer which is of the church is redeemed his sinnes pardoned is iustified sanctified in time saued and glorified in the ende If the Church or elect in general can not perish but is permanent induring and sure of saluation then neither any one member of the church can perish nor be lost but is permanent and sure of saluation Nowe this wee must consider when I speake of the assurance of the Children of God I vnderstande not such a certantye as is not mingled at all with any doubtfulnesse For the best assured is not alwayes alyke perswaded of his saluation neyther haue all men a like feeling of the comfort and assurance of eternall health For sometime it is in the Ecclipse and the comfort of Gods fauour is intercepted from vs by the cloudes of our infirmities so as the eyes of our faith are dazeled But at sometimes at least the Children of God haue some good assuraunce of their saluation though for the most part they seeme to hang in a mammering Also othersome haue not so full a sight of it as others haue Partly because of manye corruptions in their nature which they labour not so earnestly to purge as they ought Partly also because the proportion of faith or the knowledge of God is not a like in al but some more some lesse But we shall in vayne speake of
receiued sith he hath taken possession of all riches and wanteth nothing but is able euery way to doe vs good If this reason can preuaile with mē in earthly matters and benefites Oh what shame is it that the same shoulde not preuaile with vs in heauenly suites wherein standeth the life of our souls So God reasoneth with Israell many times for his benefites that he is able to pleasure them therefore they ought to admit of him to be their God Thus Christ hers after a sort boasteth of his riches as sutors make many brags of their wealth but Christ hath all true welth in déed so as we may rest on his word It is sure a strong argument to perswade vs if we saw into it aright to grant to his loue sith so rich a sutor vouchsafeth to make offer vnto vs. Neither doth he require any rich dowry at our hands only to find a faithful obedient spouse of vs which he himself also worketh in his Thus christ offereth liberally of his riches to al his people to allure thē to take part with him to be married vnto him for as I sayd Solomon in the person of a husband or sutor of a wife or maydē as louers describeth the loue which is betweene Christ his church Now Christ commeth into his gardē church on earth diuers wayes to reueale discouer his heauenly riches to vs. First by himself in his own persō in the dais of his flesh and by his owne ministerie enioyned him of his father he came to redeeme and saue his spouse beeing lost and to feoft her into his eternall inheritance layde vp in the heauens hauing also committed the euidences and free deed of his gift to his Church namely his worde Also he commeth by his Ministers whom he sendeth as spokesmen and friendes for so Iohn calleth himselfe the Bridegromes friend Io. 3.29 Albeit then that Christ be ascended in to his heauenly pallace yet he ceaseth not dayly to become a Sutor vnto vs by his preachers discouering by his Gospel Col. 1.27 al his heauenly glorious riches to cause vs to be enamored vpon him For as the Sutors and Woers boast them selues of their wealth landes riches c. that they might the sooner speed and make large offers of feoftments into lands to obtain those whome they loue so our Christ setteth out him selfe as a very rich and wealthy woer who is able to bestow a very rich dowrie on his wife who also commeth of a very noble famous honorable parentage rich friendes is himselfe a rich heyre yea the onely heyre of all thinges and yet most sweetely louingly and fauourably abaseth him selfe to match with a poore miserable naked and despised maiden hauing no friendes voyd of succour out of apparell diseased and helplesse who Ezek 16 in the day of her byrth was destitute no eye pittied her cast out in the open fieldes to the contempt of her person in the day of her byrth yea left in her own bloud naked and despised But this sweet and mercifull sutor touched with the bowels of pittie had compassion on her when she could not pittie her selfe oh dolefull estate and desperate but Oh gracious and liberal loue which promised life to the dead comfort to the distressed and beautified her with his owne garments and iewels yea visited her in the time of loue comming in his owne person to woo her vnto himselfe See then the exceeding loue of Christ Iesu towards vs miserable and vnworthy wretches inuicting and calling vs to the participation of his riches so incomparable but wee are scorneful and high minded which play as the coye Dames which are sullen and selfe willed that say many waies and loue many sutors Yea we foord of Christ that most louing and gratious woer setting lighte by him as one to homely and base to graunt oure loue vnto Oh vnkindnesse intollerable oh intractable frowardnesse oh damnable refusall of so healthful offers yet suche is our nicenes that we hold aloof from so happy offers and yet perswade oure selues we shal speed wel ynough Can it be that the Lorde will take this at our hand that when he hath offered to match his son so basely for our benefit we should hold scorne of his mercifull offers no no he will surely reuenge it vpō vs. Wel we sée that Christ is set out vnto vs as one that hath eat drunk gathered al his cōmodities that is as one that hath possession already of all thinges is vnder no mans gardenership and liberally offereth to participate the same to his church Eat O friends drink and be merry O welbeloued We see here the franck liberality of Christe who hourdeth not vp to himselfe but largely giueth foorth vnto others yea hee chéereth vp his guests most comfortably noting that as Christe feedeth his Church on earth with the spirituall dainties of his worde c. So after this life he calleth them to the participation of his heauenly and eternall ioyes Eat drink c. This is part of the suit containing matter of exhortrtion to mooue the spouse to participate of the heauenly riches which he offereth vnto her and conueyeth them into the hearts of the beleeuers by the preaching of his word wherby he assureth them of the right title of life communicating the riches of his grace and life vnto them and we eat and taste of these heauenly benefites here on earth by faith so that vnlesse wee thorough fayth receiue the word and feede of it we can haue no part with Christe in his riches So also through faith we feede vpon Christ in deede in the Sacrament of the supper and are nourished by his body and bloud into a new life of holines and righteousnes here and vnto eternal life in the resurrection of the iust Wherefore Christ is described here as one that banqueteth his spouse But as these are wordes that doe containe part of his suite so also they include a seconde reason which he vseth The second reason and it is drawn from his liberal kindnesse and frée heartednesse in offering to participate his riches to his spouse For if Christ had bene neuer so able to pleasure his church or neuer so rich glorious yet if we were not sure that he would be liberall and depart from his riches but that he kept al to himself it booted vs nothing but sith Christ abounding in all riche treasures and heauenly doth also depart as it were from them to imploy his riches on vs this should greatly perswade with vs me thinks to yeelde to his request and take this franke offer at his handes So that all his speech is ful of reasons and arguments to perswade But pity it is to see how worldly men are blockish at these things ye we al shew our contempt and neglect of these rich offers of the Lord towards vs. But what excuse can wee forge to shift of this so wonderful a loue that
the voyce of my beloued knocking c. We should thus learne to rouze vp our selues from worldly sleepes by musing of that which we haue heard out of the word and when sathan would bring vs a sléep in these sweete pleasures of this life and profites we shoulde thus make vse of this doctrine and reply vpon all temptations saying Oh I heare the voice of my beloued Christ Iesus by the preaching of his worde calling out vpon me that I should beware of such sleepes I may not be wooed from him In euery tentation a man maye make vse of this reply Let not sathan or sinne or the world so soone whisper in our ears to allure vs to any vncleannes but let vs straight way answere Oh I heare the voice of Christe calling me another way I must waight vppon him and obey his word c. But I cannot go forward with this matter any further at this time because the time cutteth me off you shal heare the rest of the suite and reasons in the after noone by the grace of God And the Lord our God giue vs al the true vse of this doctrin that we may make gaine of it in our hearts to the Lord so as these reasons of our heauenly suter Christe Iesus may mooue vs in truth that we seeing his greate riches and spirituall treasures with the eyes of faith and also hauing the offer of them made vnto vs by the preaching of his word may cast off al lets and incumbraÌ„ces what so euer and willingly imbrace Christ with all his riches that we may communicate with him and may be fruitfull in all obedience towardes him all our life Which grace God graunt for Iesus Christe his sake both to vs and to all Nations and his whole church c. Amen To the which Christ with the Father and the holye Ghost be all honor glory maiesty dominion and power now and for euer Amen Let vs pray c. The second Sermon After Prayer as is before mentioned following thus IN the former part of this day beloued in the Lorde we haue hearde of two reasons which were vsed of the husband to mooue his spouse to participate with him in his riches and to imbrace him The one drawne from his excellent dignitie and eternall riches and possessions which he had already receiued The other taken of his kindnesse and liberall offers to participate the same his riches to his Spouse which as I sayde included in it a part of the suite it selfe Also we haue hearde of one circumstaunce of the second part of the chapiter concerning the maner of the spouses comming on and namely of the lets in her selfe which somewhat tyed her at the firste Yet so as she stirreth vp her selfe notwithstanding with the meditation of the suite and voyce of her husband or sutor All these circumstances with the vse of them we haue already handled Now it followeth in the 2. verse wherein the suit is stil continued Open vnto me my sister my loue my doue my vndefiled c. This second suite as it were is noted by Solomon to be mentioned by the spouse her selfe making report of the exceding loue of her sutor Christ Iesus who spak to her so amiably gratiously honorably ye so carefully as he was loath for her owne good to lose his labor Therfore christ is brought in as one renuing his suite again again and continuing it as hee doth euen to this day by the preachers of his word Yea he hath long come a wooing vnto vs. Wherefore I pray you my brethren let him now come a speeding open your heartes vnto him enlarge your bowels towardes him imbrace and hugge him thorough faith yea set your whole loue on him The like speeche of knocking and opening we haue in other places as namely in the 3. chapter of the Reuelation verse 20. Behold I stand at the doore and knocke if any man heare my voyce and open the doore I wil come in vnto him and wil sup with him c. Which speeches import the Christ is alwayes calling vpon meÌ„ and vouchsafeth to come to them by the preaching of his word crauing entertainment God â—â—ocketh diuers wayes Yea he knocketh aloud at euery mans hearte and that sundry wayes First by his word First by his word as by an ordinary meanes to awaken men And howe long hath the Lorde continued knocking to vs by his word And yet alas few open vnto him None can deny but the Lordes voyce hath shaken euen the foundation of their heartes ye euen the most vngodly ones though they refuse to heare the voyce of the charmer charme hee neuer so wisely So he knocked earely and late to the people of Israel by his Prophetes but because they refused to heare his voice the Lord forsooke them gaue them ouer in the end to be a dispersed people Secondly Secondly by his spirite the lord knocketh by his spirit for meÌ„ caÌ„not deny but many instincts motions of Gods spirite haue knocked at their heartes though they haue rebounded again men haue queÌ„ched the spirit so as the Lord hath punished them with the spirite of slumber that they shoulde haue eares to heare and should not vnderstand eyes to see and not perceiue hearts to know should not beleeue least they shold be conuerted I should heal them saith Christ Math. 13.15 Thirdly Thirdly by his iudgementes Christ knocketh by his iudgements works by signes in the heauens aboue tokens in th earth beneath The constellations of the heauens threaten strange alterations exchaÌ„ges great calamities the strange wonders haue their lowd voices as vntimely thuÌ„ders fiery appearances vnknown commets Also beneath vniuersal earthquaks practised conspiracies reports of warrs the Romish Antichrist seeking to subuert the trueth dangers at home daÌ„gers abroad Which al are forewarnings knocking 's for our good to waken vs cause vs to trim vp our selues for our bridegroms comming to entertaine him in our hearts here below that we may be entertained with him at his comming into the heaueÌ„s Fourthly Fourthly by his mercies he knocketh by his mercies benefits as a most gentle and friendly knocking so that the heauens the earth sonne moone starres foules beasts fishes fruits the daily kindnes of God are arguments of his suite to mooue vs to open vnto Christ But of al these the knocking of his word is vehement and mighty for our good if wee can sée it or had hearts to open vnto it Open vnto me c. When such speeches exhortatioÌ„s ar vsed in the scripture that is not left to the power wil of maÌ„ to open as els where 2. Tim. 2.21 If any man purge him self froÌ„ these he shal be a vessel of the Lorde vnto honor sanctified and prepared to euery good worke So Heb. 4.7 To day if you wil hear his voice c. Also Io. 3.3 He that hath this hope in himselfe purgeth himselfe euen
as hee is pure These spéeches attribute not to man any thing of him selfe For albeit God requireth vs to open to come to him to purge our selues and to heare c. yet all these are borrowed from the lord who worketh them in his saints by his spirite and God requireth obedience at our handes Iohn 6.44 Christ saith no man cōmeth vnto me vnles my heuenly father draweth him Also the means of our purging is in the word for Ioh. 15.3 Christ affirmeth that his Disciples were cleane by his worde Yea God worketh both the will and the déed of his owne good pleasure Phil. 2.13 Notwithstanding here arise disputations in the fleshe Either we wil challenge too much to our selues or els wilfully set against the Lordes grace offered and so cease doing wel saying if I be chosen then whatsoeuer I do I shal be saued if I be a reprobate then what soeuer good I do I shal perishe Thus men murmure againste God and woulde bring him to account of his owne workes sitting like proud men in the seate of the Lordes iudgement arreigning him as though they would compel God to hold vp his hand at the barre O intollerable pride Oh damnable blasphemy If thou art chosen then shalt thou in time feele of the fruite of thy election in Christ by holinesse and sanctimonie For therfore hath God elected his that in time they may be called to be saintes Rom. 1.7 1. Cor. 1.2 Yea he hath chosen vs before the foundation of the world that we shuld be holy and without blame before him Ephes 1.4 So then this is the euidence of our election and so of our saluation if we labour for holinesse and a new life For so God sanctifieth his vnto a new life and refourmeth them to haue their hearts open that so being renued they open vnto Christ So that it followeth not that if thou art elect what soeuer thou dost thou shalt be saued But if thou art elect then God calleth thée in time vnto sanctification to renounce sin and thine owne lusts and so causeth thee to make sure thy election by good fruits as are mentioned Col. 3.12 As the elect of God holy and beloued put on tender mercy kindnes humblenes meekenes c. with al the furniture of the new man And read I pray you the first Chapter of the second Epistle of Peter verses 5.6.7.8.9.10.11 So then who soeuer is in Christ must become a new creature 2. Cor. 5.17 And who so euer neuer tasteth of true mortification holinesse and newnes of life forsaking sin and vngodlines can neuer haue euidence of saluation but remaine still in damnation and the wrath of God abideth vpon him And as for the other obiection where they say that if they be reprobates c. what so euer good they do yet they shal be damned This followeth not neither so as they take it For although the purpose of God in the reprobate can not be altered yet they must know that the cause of their destruction is of them selues who beeing left of God to them selues in the matter of their condemnation do perish of them selues and wilfully despise the sacred meanes of life hardning their heartes and shutting them vp againste Christe by that malice which is resident in their own nature Then how soeuer man murmureth against God calling them to obedience as thogh God required some vnlawful or vnresonable thing at their handes Yet let them know that howsoeuer the wicked perish in their contempt not shewing the fruits of election so shut vp the gate against christ it is the iust iudgement of God On the other side the children of God being sanctified and their harts renued by his spirit they opē vnto Christ For the regenerate as god worketh in them by his spirit wherby the praise of their regeneration belongeth vnto God so their actions are both actiue passiue Actiue in the God hauing reformed altered their wils nature by his second creation they will good things desiring the lords wil to be accōplished in them And passiue in that though they are reformed yet by the reason of the remnāts of sin which remaine in the saints not fully purged they still haue néed of the lords aide to go through in their calling As Paule doth insinuate whē praying that God wold make thē worthy of their calling 2. The. 1.11 fulfil the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the worke of faith with power He sheweth that the Godly must stil be continued and holden vp of God to the ende But they neglect not the hearing of the worde prayer and all the soueraigne meanes of their saluation For they know that as God worketh all in all so he hath appointed ordinary meanes to cause his graces to be effectual in his saints as the preaching of his word 1. Cor. 1. the vse of the Sacraments and prayer c. And sure it is who soeuer is in the way of life delighteth in these meanes But he that contemneth or neglecteth these meanes neglecteth his owne saluation hauing no true taste of Christ and so open not vnto him in so much as the doore of vtterance is closed vp in them their heartes not beeing opened by the keyes of the worde which beeing committed to Peter and the Apostles haue successiuely beene deliuered to the ministers of the word In deed the Lord must first open our heartes booring through our ears as Dauid speaketh by his spirite yet this hindreth not but that the worde openeth them also by preaching conueying as it were the spirite into the hearts of the faithful and therfore is called the ministry of the spirite 2. Cor. 3.8 I will not stand to confute the Maniches nor the Minium spirituales which deuide the spirite from the worde when the worke togeather in the faithfull neither wil I trifle with the Scholiastes and Papistes affirming that freewil though it be holpen by grace Yet is it in vs to deserue righteousnes c. they may easely be confuted by the former places alleaged I need not delay time to frame any seuerall conclusions against them in any Syllogistical forme I conclude therefore generally that they which open vnto Christ doe open by the grace of God clensing and preparing their hearts thervnto through his worde and so as a fruitful cause bringeth foorth necessary effectes of faith obedience And they which do not open being left in their own sins by the iust iudgement of God through their owne fault open not and not through any defect or fault in God or in the meanes whereby hee offereth grace but they refuse it Let vs therefore craue that God would vouchsafe to opē our eies that we sleep not in death Also to open our eares hearts minds and souls and forbeare them by his spirite that his worde may enter and Christ may haue place in vs that we may open vnto him at his suite and request and so we may heartely byd him
with others would easily shew their nature against the people of God if they had oportunitie and yet they are hatched oh pitiful danger and nouâ—ished euen in the lap of the church Thus many Cankers breede in the bowels of the church heresies fonde opinions familists Brounists and such other Thus by such meanes as lamentable it is to see the graft of godlinesse and zeale is hindred And through the neglect of officers magistrates rather then laws these beastes swarme in our Church Also drunkards swearers whores adulterers proude pecockes raylers contemners of God and his word prophanations of the Sabboth and an innumerable kindes both of sinners and sinnes which ouergrow the church as a wildernesse which because magistrates doe not laboure to roote out so carefully as they ought the Lord doth strangely consume som sinners by the fire of his wrath froÌ„ heauen Which al shold be cut off by discipline or at least way bee forced to some reformation Can it be that the Lord wil trust vs any longer with a Lease of his garden we abusing him in such maner so as we greeue the Lords soul with our vnfaithfulnes and cause his soule to hate vs. Esay 1.14 Who bestoweth such cost on vs we prosper so little as hee can gather very few Lillies amongst vs he wanteth the fruit of our hearts and lippes as faith loue feare obedience charity thankesgiuing prayse inuocation hearing his word professing his name c. But some perhaps wil say why it is in as good case as we found it the same discipline laws and doctrine are stil which was in the beginning of her maiesties raign so the Lords garden and church is not impaired and it shal bee left in as good case as it was found and better then heretofore Sure the Lorde doth not plaÌ„t a vineyard let it out to stand or be kept alwaies at a stay but to bee tilled and dressed that it maye grow and prosper to bring foorth more fruite For hee requireth that men bestowe their care labour wisedome and trauail vpon it that hee maye haue it more furnished and fenced For hee tataketh payne him selfe aboute his Churche to that ende that sinne may bee suppressed and Godlinesse aduanced But the Lorde make vs truely thankfull in Christ Iesus for those beginninges and proceedinges of his church which we haue that he hath planted his worde true religion amongst vs countenancing the same his truth with the authoritye and sworde of our gratious Princesse Elizabeth as also with many worthy learned godly and noble Councellers as also other learned Patrons of his Church without whom we should find to our great misery and the spoyle of religion howe hardly the Lordes garden should be at al kept without them But our sinnes yea our contempt and neglect of the word of God and his glory doe hinder the Lorde from blessing vs with that encrease which otherwise wee mighte enioy yea our sinnes betraye the state of our Churche and lande and deserue the losse of so Princely a Deborah and other woorthye personnages wherewith our Church is inriched yea that the Lorde shoulde take away all the walles and defences of our church and land giue vs ouer to the spoile Let vs therefore if we beare any good will to our Church or Countrye labour to purge oure selues from al corruption and to repent vs of oure sinnes that we may bring foorth good fruits such as the lord may haue pleasure in that hee may haue a delight to abide among vs. For it is the sinnes of a land that causeth the Lordes wrath to smoke against the same but our land I suppose haue exceeded the old world Sodom and Gomorrha Israell Iehuda and al landes in straunge sinnes so that if in comparison Ezec. 16.51 Iudah and the inhabitants thereof iustified Sodom for that their sinnes exceeded the sinnes of the Sodomits Then we haue iustified al Nations in comparison of our sins and therefore are in daunger to al the feareful plagues that are mentioned in the booke of God vnlesse we speedely therfore repent I feare we shal tast of such iudgementes as that the stranger that shal come from a farre land Deut. 29.22 shal saye when they see the plagues of this land and the diseases therof wherwith the Lord shal smite it because it shal be fearefully destroyed except they repent Oh wherefore hath the Lorde done thus vnto this lande and ver 24. and ver 25. how feirce is this great wrath And it shal be answered because they haue forsaken the couenant of the Lord God of their Fathers and haue sinned againste the Lorde Let vs al then my deare brethren be humbled with Godly sorrow that may cause repentaunce vnto saluation not to be repented of Being offended with our selues that we haue not sooner and more earnestly inquyred after Christ praying the Lorde to beautifie his Garden and Churche of this land with such sweet flowers as he may please him selfe in vs and we may grow and prosper in al fruites of the spirit I can not finish this chapiter to daye because of time and the matter of the conclusion though in few words yet includeth very comfortable and heuenly matter which cannot in a few words be vttered I wil therfore defer it til to morrow when by Gods grace I shal finish the whole Now the Lord our good God sanctifie our hearts to conceiue the excellencye and féele the sweetnesse of the wordes of the mouth of Christ Iesus that we being our selues purged and sanctified by his word and truth may carefully labour that others with vs may truely be affected towards him that we may ioyn togeather in seeking of Christ so as in the ende finding him in his worde and Sacramentes and feeling of him by his spirite our soules and bodies may become cleane and well tilled Gardens beautified with al heaueÌ„ly fruits of his spirite as that Christ may haue pleasure to walke in vs to dwell and make his abode in vs vnto the ende and in the ende we also may be receiued with him into his heauenly Garden of eternal ioye to dwell continue and abide with him in the company of al the glorious Angels and fellowship of the heauenly saintes in the presence of God his Father for euer and euer Amen Let vs pray c. The fift Sermon or lecture YEsterday we heard beloued a part of the description of Christ concerning his spéech and swéet thing of his mouth with the excellency of his doctrine also the second question of the maydens concerning the place where he vsed with the aunswere betweene which was interlined what fruit came by this conference and how the Godly at Ierusalem were kyndled with loue to Christ by the example of the Spouse whereby she answereth to her companions making them priuy to the place of his abode shewing how the church is his Garden and that he delighteth to be conuersant there yea the soule of euerye
desires chast vnto him not intangled with the loue of the world our owne pleasures and filthy lustes For Christ loueth not to match with the soule that is set in the loue of this worlde or where vncleannesse is resident Oh therefore I pray you let vs ioyne handes and heartes with him let vs euen this day make a new couenaunt with him yea let euery one of vs in our souls mourn lament that we haue let out our lusts thoughts affections and members to Sathan heretofore and plaied the harlots with him I say let this day be a witnesse with vs that we haue affianced our heartes vnto Christ O let me not speake or intreat in vaine it wil be your own hurt deare brethren We can except nothing againste this heauenly sutor neither in his person parentage riches loue nor in the couenaunts which he maketh with vs. He may except many thinges against vs but passing ouer al occasions he freely loued vs when we were his enemies he chose vs before we were and visited vs when we were miserable harlots and outcastes redeemed vs when we were captiued of Sathan washed vs and bathed vs in his owne precious bloud when we were grieuously defiled and desperately forlorne he trymmed vs with his owne beauty and righteousnesse when we were vglesome in our selues cloathed vs in his owne garmentes when we were naked Finally he decked vs that hee might loue his owne goods in vs and came in the time of wooing in his own fleshe pitched the field against sathan and sinne who had taken vs captiue and to whom we had giuen our selues as slaues and so as a valiant champion fought for his spouse iustled with all the powres of hell Math. 16. and shooke the foundations of it brake the yron gates thereof that they shall not preuaile against his spouse and brought vs out from thence restoring vs most wonderfully euen by his paineful death and blouddy passion Also he hath left vs pledges and pawnes of his loue and that he wil returne in his time to take vs home to his own heauēly pallace For his sacramentes are as rings and regal giftes tokens and remembraunces of his loue to bind vs to him againe who hath so dearely redeemed and purchased vs by a costly and bloody price so as he hath left worthy remembrances of his valiant acts and noble exploites yea his Royal Stratagemes and princely pollicies and skilfulnesse to shift off all the fiery dartes of the aduersary haue easely bewrayed them selues who in that spiritual battaile hath foyled nay cleane destroyed and triumphed ouer al his and our enemies hauing gotten a ful conquest and victory for his church and spouse Thus this noble and ventrous Knight hath dearely purchased a Spouse to him selfe O wonderful loue O mercy vnspeakable O inuincible courage of an Heroicall spirite But ah alas our wilful and damnable frowardnesse that yeeldeth not to this heauenly and louing Sutor If this wil not mooue vs what wil moue vs If this causeth not our heartes to melt nothing can Oh stony heartes harder then the flint that are not broken at this and colder then the stone Chalazias which the fier can not heat if this kindle not feruent loue in our heartes againe vnto Christ For who can deny loue to such a stedfast louer or can say nay to such a paineful Sutor Now therefore if there be anie Bowels of loue in vs deare Christians let vs bee mooued at this and sith he tooke such payne to winne vs most vyle and vnworthy of his loue what if it coste vs oure pleasures commodities our credite our friends yea or our lyfe it selfe to followe him Let vs not strayne courtesie at these thinges to loose so incomparable a Iewel It may be here wil be reply made the I spend many wordes in vaine sith no man denieth this suite but all men plaucibly entertaine Christ and come to the banquet of his word and Sacraments c. The worldly couetous man running headlong after his profites maketh great account of Christ that he shal stande him in steed the meere ciuill men also haue this hope they here his worde sometime at their leasure they looke for saluation in Christ onely and so they diet them selues with Christ thinking they make merrie with him So the adulterers murtherers deceiuers iesters swearers lyers railers contemners drunkerds proud men belly Gods Epicures Athists and such others they are content to aforde Christe a roome in their mouths and many admit of his word to lye on their deskes and scattered in their parlours desiring to be married and ioyned vnto him hoping to haue life with him So that there is no man but wil bid Christ welcome if it please him to math with them But I aunswere al that talke of Christe all that kisse him al that smile on him al that bid him welcome and wold haue a good tourne at his handes are not Christes For so long as we remaine worldlinges couetous méer ciuil men adulterers murtherers deceiuers iesters swearers liers raylers contemners drunkerds proud men belly Gods epicures Athists c. 1. Cor. 6.9.10 Ephe. 5.5 Gal. 5.19.20 We haue no inheritaunce in the kingdome of God and Christ And therfore nothing to do with him For what agreement hath righteousnes with vnrighteousnesse or what communion hath light with darknesse What concord hath Christ with Belial 2. Cor. 6.14.15 Or the beleeuer with the infidel c We must therfore flie from at appearaunce of euil If we wil haue felowship with Christ Iesus For so long as we are companions with euill men delighting in their cōpany suffering euil vnrebuked in others or nourishing euil in our selues we haue not truely yeelded vnto this suite Be not therefore companions with such Ephe. 5.6 vers 11. yea haue nothing to doe with the vnfruitfull workes of darknesse but euen reprooue them rather Let no man therefore deceaue him selfe with vayne hope and speeches for for such thinges commeth the wrath of God vppon the Children of disobedience Ephe. 5.6 Let vs then haue fellowship with Christe Iesus eating and drinking of his heauenly banquets and making merry with him that we may ioy in the strength of our saluation This we see two of the reasons which Solomon vseth both as arguments of perswasion and also as part of the suite which Christe maketh to his Spouse Now in this 2. verse before Solomon doth not set downe any more reasons or go on forward in the suite he interlaceth one circumstance of the lets which hindred the spouse in her comming on For I wil not precisely draw euery circumstance to his owne proper place in the diuision made but note them as the text most fitly giueth occasion and yet not altogether confusedly nor improper to the diuision it selfe which I set down before I sleepe saith she but my heart waketh c. As if she should say These amorous speeches and friendly offers of my loue do much
affect me so as I am forced to listen but yet as a far off as one in a dreame or drouzie hauing mine eyes heauy but my faith is not vtterly extinguished for that my heart is pricked and mooued at him but I am so fettred with the things of this life and my corrupt nature lingereth about these earthly vanities so that I am as in a sléepe and slumber when my loue speaketh For the spouse complayneth of her vntowardnes finding fault with her selfe and accusing her selfe of her flacknes Solomon therfore here in the person of the spouse discouereth the estate of the faithful noting how hardly they are throughly brought on vnto Christe and how long it is or euer we yéelde to his suite so as he hath much a do to get any aduauntage at our heartes they are so inuironed with the loue of the thinges of this life For the worlde holdeth her owne in vs so long as it can and we naturally wedded therevnto securely sléeping in the inticing deceiuable pleasures therof do suffer the vanities of this life to seke too too deeply into our bowels for horor promotions dignities titles credite riches possessions and the company of those that we haue pleasured in before our calling doe make sore assaults vpon men that the lord cannot easily vndermind them a long tyme. And what is the reason that men sleepe in these earthly pleasures and profites euen then when their heartes are by many priuie motions of the spirite affectioned or moued towards Christ after a sort Or why are men so hindred from yeelding wholy vnto christ by these transitory things For sooth because Sathan abuseth the lawfull thinges of this life to poyson man withall For vnder the title of lawfulnes sathan beguileth and bewitcheth the heartes of men to breake foorth into al intemperate vse of profites and pleasures as thus to eate drinke to bye sell to exchaunge to labour in a trade to marry to prouide necessaries of this life to be in honor to be rich to vse profits and pleasures to weare apparell and such like are thinges in themselues lawful now sathan inueigleeh men closely rounding them in the eare perswadeth them that sith they are lawful men may vse them at their pleasure and satisfy their destres in thē to the full thus he stealeth the greatest part of mens heartes to the world crouding vp the Lord but in a corner of their heartes yea thrusteth him altogeather out sometimes taking their pennyworthos of the worlde but letting the Lorde and his kingdome fal to the ground Howbeit Christe teacheth vs to take another course Math. 6.33 First to seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and then all other things shall be cast vnto vs. Also Paul teacheth vs to vse these thinges as though we vsed them not hauing our affections remoued and freed from them least they become incombrances to fetter and cloy vs that we fayle in heauenly duties Lo then how the saints of God also are many times holden a loufe from following of Christ and listening to the voyce of his worde euen then when their heartes linger after him Thus haue they lets in them selues and vntowardnes to keep them from a choerful following of Christ But we must valiantly striue against these lets and ouerstryde al stumbling blocks to hasten towards him whom we loue For we shal be sure to be holden backe ynough yea euen our selues finde delaies to driue off the time in following our God calling vs. For the pleasures and profites of this life do so ceaze vppon our affections to take them vp into the seruice of the world sathan and sinne that we haue smal lust to serue God as is required Any of all the saintes of God can easely testifie with me that euen when Christ hath by the preaching of his worde somewhat drawne our heartes towardes him yet we make stay at euery smal let vnlesse we are marueilous watchful ouer our selues For how hath the Lorde made suite to vs and presented it to our heartes by many priuy motions of his spirite which we quench againe sometimes hauing our heartes possessed againe with filthy lusts We make many beginninges and commings on But alas if sathan make neuer so little suit to vs in the behalfe of our own lustes pleasures or profits how soone are we a sleepe at Christes suit but marueilous waking vnto the suit of Sathan though sometime the heart goeth against it Some are loath to be weaned from their vaine companie when they haue yet some lingring in their hearts after Christe Some haue much a doe to renounce speciall sinnes that haue deepely rooted and strongly ruled in their nature afore their calling Othersome loath to yeelde vp their pleasures gaminges profites riches estimation honor promotions c. I meane not that they shoulde vtterly cast off their honor or calling but renounce the ouermuch loue of thē which holdeth them frō following of God sincerely or furthering of religiō carefully Othersome are holden a sléep in the cares of this life some ouercharged with the troubles of a family and crosse thinges in their housholde become drowzie and slacke to listen vnto Christe so as many step backe againe If God cal some ruffian or famous wicked man or one that hath beene a companion of vaine persons then this commeth into his head if I take this course and follow the hearing of his word and keepe company with the Godly sure the worlde wil point me out I shall be laughed at of my companions and so shall become a signe to nod the head at amongst men Thus shame disputeth with many men when God beginneth to turne their heartes and to worke in them a disliking of their former life so as men aunsweare their inward calling but as men in a sleepe and halfe amazed til God worke further in them Also when God beginneth to frame the heart of some honorable or worshipful man to the obedience of his Gospel to here it and preferre the preaching of it then these replies are made of the worlde which hold them in a slumber for the time Syr say they you shall loose your estimation in the court and among the great men you shall not be so regarded as you haue beene such grauitie and melancholike passions of sadnes as the Gospell bringeth beseemeth not your honorable and worshipful estate These are the engines of sathan yea these are his charmes wherby he laboureth to lull euen the Godly a sleepe that they might not cheerfully waight vppon their calling But the saints of God though in their beginninges these thinges may somewhat weigh with them for a time yet certainely if their heartes doe truely lye after Christe they striue exceedingly with them selues by prayer vnto God till they haue gotten the mastery in these things My selfe most miserable and wretched man that I am haue had good experience of the daungerous pulbackes and lets which lye hid in our nature to lull men a