as the very Angels of God in Heauen Another proofe of this point wee haue in the Prophesie of Ieremie where the Lord speaketh thus Stand in the wayes and behold and atke for the olde way Ierem. 6.16 which is the good way and walke therein and what then ye shall finde rest for your soules And that wee may yet more fully see into the truth of this doctrine that grace and peace true godlinesse and sound tranquilitie and quietnesse doe euer accompany one another let vs weigh these reasons following First Reasons 1 whosoeuer is truely gracious is deliuered from the troublesome carriage of an ill conscience whereupon must needes ensue marueilous great ease for sinnes vnrepented and vnpardoned doe lye wonderfull heauie and are vnto the soule euen as an ouerweighty burden is vnto a Ship which is ready euer and anon to sinke it and to cause it to be ouerwhelmed and swallowed vp of the Waters this burden CHRIST IESVS doeth remoue as soone as euer hee beginneth to dwell in the heart by his holy Spirit freeing vs from the terrour of a guiltie conscience and from the accusations and clamour and continuall complaints of the same Secondly as the guilt of sinne is quite taken away so is the power thereof greatly weakened by him whereupon much peace and quietnesse must necessarily follow For that partie is in great slauerie and bondage that liues vnder the dominion of sinne being alwayes tossed and turmoyled with one vnruly lust or other which makes him euermore vnquiet and restlesse as the raging waues of the Sea or if at any time hee haue a little case his torment is afterwards redoubled now from this raigning power of iniquitie all godly men are exempted according to that of the Apostle Paul who speaking of regenerate men saith that the olde man is crucified in them Rom. 6.6 that the body of sinne might be destroyed that hencefoorth they should not serue sinne to which purpose he also addeth Sinne shall not haue dominion ouer you vers 14. Thirdly whosoeuer is indued with sauing grace is freed from many doubts and feares concerning his estate and concerning such perils as may befall his body for as touching the charge and care of prouision and protection the Lord himselfe vndertakes it for him so that hee may and must quietly and cheerefully labour in his calling and neuer trouble himselfe with the successe but leaue that vnto God who hath promised to care for those that cast their care vpon him and to be a defence vnto those that commit themselues vnto him It must needs be very burdensome vnto the mightiest man that is although hee haue many thousands comming in by the yeere to take vpon him the maintenance of himselfe and of those that doe depend vpon him for hee cannot but be many times mistrustfull of his estate in regard of many casualties which he is subiect vnto and so be perplexed and distracted with feare that he shall not be able to maintaine his port and to vphold his dignitie in such sort as he desireth and what a quieting then must it of necessitie be vnto the heart of a man to haue this burden taken off his shoulders vnder which others doe walke so heauily and to be freed from a number of carking and vexing thoughts by relying on Gods gracious prouidence for all the meanes of this temporall life Fourthly and lastly grace freeth such as haue it from the feare of death and of hell which causeth those that are vnder the guilt and power of sinne to be in marueilous great bondage all their life long as the writer of this Epistle witnesseth Chap. 2. vers 15. For albeit vnregenerate men put away from them the thoughts of death as much as possibly they can yet when any grieuous sickenesse is vpon them or any the like messenger of death approcheth vnto them and doth as it were knocke at their dores they are commonly very much disquieted and in very sore distresse and anguish but as euery one is more religious so his desolution and departure hence is lesse terrible vnto him nay vsually no newes can be more welcome vnto such than that they must shortly leaue this sinnefull and wretched world for then they know they shall make an happy change and instead of the Earth enioy Heauen Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours Reuel 14.13 Isa 57.2 Psal 16. their bodies rest in the graue as in their beds and their soules goe to the full fruition of that rest which was but begunne heere vpon the earth Which serueth in the first place for the confutation of their errour which iudge a Christian life to be of all other the most tedious and troublesome Vse 1 fullest of feare and of vexations which imagine that the professours of the Gospell are perpetually as it were vpon a racke in so much that for their owne parts they would more willingly sit all day in the stockes than be at religious exercises and chuse rather to liue in Bridewell than in those places where they shall be tyed to the outward performance of Christian duties But what sayth the Lord concerning this matter doth not hee auouch that the state of a Christian is a state of rest and of peace and which shall we giue credite vnto eyther the wise God or foolish men But some will say how can it be that their estate should be so full of quietnesse Obiect seeing that they are continually subiect to afflictions and persecutions temptations as the Scriptures themselues besides daily experience do euidently shew Those doe not at all breake off their quietnesse so long as they keepe their peace with God Answere for they are but as it were stormes and boysterous windes that beate at the windowes and vpon the outside of the house so that their inward man to wit their minds and consciences are nothing disquieted thereby or if they be it proceedeth not from the hauing of grace but from the want thereof and as they grow more religious so their hearts are still more calme and quiet Secondly heere is matter as of incouragement Vse 2 to cause men to enter into the course of christianitie because howsoeuer it be a warfare yet it is not a dangerous but a safe warfare so also of singular consolation vnto those that haue already made entrance into the same For whereas all men desire to liue at hearts ease they doe indeed take the ready way thereunto for it hath bene before sufficiently confirmed that religion bringeth men vnto rest and quietnesse and therefore let them expect it and pray for it and they shall be sure not to misse of it Now because our rest and peace is eyther more or lesse according to the measure of our holinesse and our sanctification in this life is but in part and therefore our rest also imperfect this should make vs long for the day of our glorification when wee shall be indued
his loue encrease our loue and knit our hearts the faster vnto him Hitherto hath reached the first Appellation the second doth now offer it selfe to our examination My faire one Here seemes to be a wonder that the Church is faire who said of her selfe that shee was blacke Cant. 1.4.5 But a greater wonder that Christ should say that she was faire for man may be deceiued but Christ cannot Surely man may praise one to be faire when it is nothing so but Christ cannot doe so Man wee know may erre in his iudgement for want of skill and knowledge taking that for faire which is foule being abused by his ignorance in discerning formes and complexions but Christ cannot because in him are hid all the treasures of knowledge and vnderstanding Colos 2.3 Man we know may pronounce a false sentence though he had a true and sound iudgement for want of sight in beholding the partie either his eyes may be dimme or else the members of the body may be couered and kept from his sight but Christ cannot because his eyes are as flames of fire to behold all things most clearely Reuel 1.14 and all things doe stand naked and open before him Hebr. 4.13 Man we know will lie and flatter speaking often contrary to his iudgement and sight to curry-fauour with men and women but Christ cannot because hee is truth it selfe Ioh. 14.16 He cannot speake dissemblingly to please any but as the very truth is so doth he alwayes speake Man wee know through a foolish and besotted loue may take one to befaire which is foule according to our prouerbe Quisquis amat ranam ranam putat esse Diam Who so doth loue the frogge in dike He thinkes the same Diana like So strongly doth affection leade a mans minde to a false iudgement but Christ cannot because he respects no mans person aboue another but doth teach the way of the Lord truely Matth. 22.16 Finally man we know will extoll and commend a little very highly and a small beautie in his sight will seeme to be very great but Christ cannot because he is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Reuel 19.16 Then seeing that Christ who cannot erre in iudgement who doth see all things most plainely who will flatter no person but speake according to the truth who through loue cannot mistake but take euery thing as it is who lastly doth dwell in glory and Maiestie vnspeakeable doth here praise his Spouse and commend her fairenes we may well see by it that her beauty doth excell and that in pulchritude she is most admirable From hence then let vs gather this Doctrine Doct. that the Church of God is faire and beautifull in the eyes of Christ her husband Large commendations are giuen vnto it in this book often but I will onely touch a place or two the first shal be out of the first Chapter the other out of the fourth In the first chapter and fourteenth verse we find these words spoken by our Sauiour vnto his Spouse My loue behold thou art faire behold thou art faire thine eyes are like the doues And in the fourth chapter and seauenth verse he doth speake thus vnto her Thou art all faire my loue and there is no spot in thee Dauid also speaking of her in the 45. Psalme vers 13.14 doth break out into these words and say The Kings daughter is all glorious within her clothing is of broydred gold shee shall be brought vnto the King in raiment of needle-worke And whereas the Saints of God that stand on Mount Sion with Iesus Christ the Lambe and haue his Fathers name written in their foreheads are described out at large vnto vs in the fourteenth chapter of the Reuelations and the beginning thereof Amongst other things there ascribed vnto them this is one That in their mouthes there is found no guile and that they are without spot before the throne of God vers 5. In a word it is said in Reu. 19.8 that there is granted vnto the wife of Christ That she should be arrayed with pure fine linnen and shining and that this fine linnen is the righteousnesse of Saints Thus in few words it is apparent that the Church is faire and beautifull in the eyes of Christ Not Reason that she glittereth with outward and sensible beautie which as it is remoued from the roote of Iesse that had no forme in it to be desired Esay 53.2 so are his branches and members burnt and swootie as if they had lien among the pots Psal 68.13 but this her beauty is inward and according to that which is in the heauens aboue Psal 45.13 It standeth not in a faire white skinne or in a goodly complexion and well made body nor yet in gorgeous garments or rich externall ornaments whether the same doe respect the bodie of man or the outward worship of the Lord but it standeth in the glorious and glittering robes of Iesus Christ and his righteousnes which we call Iustification and in the precious and most shining ornaments of the holy Spirit and his graces which we terme Sanctification Doubtlesse our Sauiour doth not looke vpon the Church as shee is in her selfe by nature and as she is polluted by many sins and transgressions but he doth behold her as she is iustified in himselfe hauing all her iniquiâ—â—es done away through his death and passion and standing most iust and vpright in the sight of God his Father through the imputation of his righteousnesse and obedience and as she is sanctified already in part by the working of the Spirit through the Word and Sacraments and shall be hereafter in whole when she is receiued vp into the heauens and there really married vnto him in all ioy and felicitie for euermore For as a man who doth loue his Bride well doth not fixe his eyes vpon her blemishes and defaults but doth ouerlooke them and behold onely her comely parts her parentage her friends her beautie her wisdome her modestie her dowrie her rich ornaments and such things alone as may commend her and make her to be gratious in his eyes so deales here our Sauiour lesus Christ though his Spouse haue many imperfections and blemishes about her yet he doth set none of them in the sight of his countenance but casting his eyes as it were ouer and besides them he doth onely behold such things in her as are most comely and excellent He doth see how she is borne againe and made a new creature by the working of his holy Spirit Hee doth see how shee is clensed from all her sins by his blood and bitter passion He doth see how she is clothed with his righteousnes and with that perfect obedience which he yeelded vnto his Father in all the points of his law He doth see how she is re-created and made againe in some part according to his owne Image in vnderstanding and holines in faith hope loue feare humility patience know ledge and many other graces abounding in
Wife M ris Elizabeth Stephens R. W. wisheth all happinesse both in this world and in the world to come IN the Sermon following there are lapped vp right Worshipfull some twelue points of diuine inspiration which are most needfull in this corrupt age wherein we liue of all mens due and deepe consideration The first is that Christ and his Church are contracted together in a thrise blessed marriage The second is that the Church doth beare a tender hearty loue towards Christ her bridegrome The third is that the estate or condition of Gods childe is the best estate or condition in all the world The fourth is that Chirst himselfe is there teaching of men where his word is truly taught deliuered vnto men The fift is that the fruit benefit of Gods word is imparted onely vnto the Saints The sixt is that the best that are are to be taught and schooled in the wayes of God The seauenth is that Christ doth loue his Church and people well The eight is that the Church of God is faire and beautifull in the eyes of Christ The ninth is that holy Christians need not the mediation of Angels or Saints departed this life for the oblation of their prayers vnto the Almighty The tenth is that the spouse of Christ is sometimes too carelesse of Christ and falls a sleepe in the bed of carnall delights The eleuenth is that Christians must not continue in their sins but arise from the same leaue them The twelft and last is that all that doe belong to Christ must leaue this world goe after Christ These points are handled seauen of them more at large exprofesso by way of doctrines but the other fiue more succinctly vpon certaine accidentall occasions At your leasure I pray you consider of them I doubt not but that you haue your portions in them The text from whence they are drawne may well be applied vnto you for euery word therein doth fit you well One part of it you may speake with the Church of Christ and the other part of it you may heare with the Church from Christ. And as some things in it may comfort you so other things also in it may excite you The Appellations may be your consolations and the exhortations may be your excitations In the world there are many euils yea in the congregation of the righteous there are too many infirmities Our loue to Christ is too cold it must be kindled Our attendance at the gates of wised me is too seldome it must be doubled Ourfailing in our duties is too great it must be lessened Our sight in seeing the loue of Christ towards vs is too Diuine it must be cleered Our beauty in the inner man is too small it must be increased Our drowsines in good things is too heauy it must be lightned Our continuance in sinne is too long it must be shortned Our cleauing to this world is too strong it must be weakned Finally our following afte Christ is too slow it must be hastned To further this heauenly work this little booke may help vs for most of the things therein are touched and vrged vpon vs with forcible reasons of perswasion In token of my good will and the vnfained loue which I beare vnto you both I here present it vnto you both consecrate it to your Worships The God almighty giue it a blessing and make it effectuall vnto the soules of men I will not trouble you with many words but draw to an end As you haue begun well so proccede let your good works be more at the last then at the first Be still for God in all his wayes and God will still be for you in all your wayes Aduance him and hee will aduance you protect his Saints and shelter them refresh the deare members of Christ and nourish them so shall you heare this sweet sentence pronounced vpon yount the last Come ye blessed of my Father inherit ye the kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world And so I end and commit you and all yours to the gratious protection of that good God that doth watch ouer you beseeching him so to multiply his graces vpon you that you may see many good and happy dayes in this wretched world and enioy euerlasting blessednesse in the blessed world to come Your Worships in all holy duties to be commanded Richard Webb THE FIRST SERMON OF CHRISTIAN LOVE Canticles 2. verse 10. My welbeloued spake and said vnto me Arise my loue my faire one and come thy way AS I was pondering with my selfe what text I might best take for this time and for this place it pleased the good and gracious hand of our God to direct me to this portion of Sacred Writ as containing in it matters most correspondent to the day now celebrated to this worthy assembly now congregated For as the day is now kept for the honor of Christ in memoriall of his Ascention from the earth to the heauens and as this assembly is an assembly of Christians who must arise after Christ so this text in hand is a text of Christ and of his Church Of Christ as it were alreadie ascended yet in mercie speaking to his Church of the Church yet below yet in dutie to ascend after Christ In regard whereof I doubt not but that those things which shall be now spoken will be vnto you most sweet and profitable like apples of gold with pictures of siluer according to Salomons Aphorisme in Prou. 25.11 where he saith A word spoken in his place is like apples of gold with pictures of siluer But not to insist any further vpon other matters by way of Preface I will descend vnto my Text. In the verses next going before it is declared what mercie the Lord Iesus Christ did shew vnto his Church in comming vnto her notwithstanding all her sins Though her iniquities were like to hils mountains which might iustly haue staied him from comming vnto her yet he in the multitudes of his cōpassions towards her was cōtent like a Roe or yong Hart to leape or skip ouer them all and in kindnesse to draw neere vnto her notwithstanding the same And howsoeuer he did not as it were come openly into her house disclosing himselfe vnto her plainely and fully as it were face to face yet he did stand behinde her wall and there looked in vpon her through the grates and windowes of his Gospell reueiling himselfe so far vnto her as was needfull and conuenient both for her present consolation and also for her future saluation The which that wee might the better conceiue shee her selfe giues testimonie of him and shewes what words he did vse vnto her and this shee doth in this present verse which now we haue in hand In which if we consider of all matters well we shall finde two principall points concerning that Gospell spoken off before by which our Sauiour did discouer himselfe vnto his Spouse
yet they will loue him in their words They can crie out and say We loue the Lord Iesus Christ as well as the best of you all he is not worthy to liue that doth not loue him it were well that the ground would open to sincke him in c. Thus can wicked men giue good words but where are their workes Surely in this corrupt age of ours wee can talke much but walke but a little word it much but worke it but a little our mouthes are bigger then our hands which is a thing monstrous in nature as well said Saint Bernard Monstrosa res est sedes prima vita ima lingua magniloqua manus otissa sermo multus fructus nullus It is a monstrous thing to haue the chiefest roome and to liue the basest life to speake much with the tongue and to doe nothing with the hand to vse many words and to bring forth no fruit But as Iames the Apostle said Shew me thy faith by thy workes Iam. 2.18 So may I say Shew me thy Ioue by thy workes There are foure things in all heartie and sound louers which must needs be in thee if thou doest loue Christ aright The first is that they long still to be ioyned together and to enioy one the other The nature of loue is such that wee desire still the enioying of that which is loued Ammon was very sick through loue and his flesh did pine away because hee could not enioy his sister Thamar whom he loued 2 Sam. 13.2 The second is that they are bountifull and liberall one vnto the other Loue saith Paul in 1 Cor. 13.4 is bountifull So was Booz to Ruth whom hee loued Ruth 3.15 and so was the Centurion to the Iewes whom hee made much of for hee built them a Synagogue Luk. 7.5 The third is that they are obsequious and obedient one vnto the other Loue can hardly deny any worke which the partie beloued doth require Hereof was it that Delilah said to Sampson in Iudges 16.15 How canst thou say I loue thee when thine heart is not with me thou hast mocked me these three times and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth The fourth and last is tollerance or enduring of troubles one for the other for the loue that Iacob did beare to Rahel seauen yeares of hard seruitude seemed but a short time Gen. 29.20 And for the loue that Sechem did beare to Dinah he was content to be circumcised and to suffer the cutting of his flesh though it were very painfull vnto him Gen. 34.19 Now in all these things examine thy loue towards Christ In the first place tell me doest thou long to be with Christ Art thou willing to die and to leaue this world to goe vnto him Doest thou wish with the Apostle Saint Paul to be dissolued to be with him Philip. 1.25 Art thou desirous to haue him come to Iudgement Doest thou cry out with the Spouse Come Lord Iesus come quickly Ren. 22.17.20 In the second place tel me Dost thou bestow any thing vpon Christ Art thou willing to let go thy goods and riches for the honor of Christ Art thou readie to relieue his Saints according to their need and thy abilitie Doest thou ioyne with others in building vp his Church and in bestowing some maintenance vpon his worship In the third place tell me Doest thou obey him and doe according to his Commandements Art thou readie with Abraham to leaue thine ovvne countrey and to goe vvhither he shall send thee Wilt thou forsake that vvhich hee doth forbid and follovv that vvhich hee doth command If yee loue me saith Christ beepe my Commandements Ioh. 14.15 And a little after he saith againe If any man loue me he will keepe my Word Vers 23. So that those loue not Christ vvho doe not keepe his Commandements In the fourth and last place tell mee Doest thou suffer any trouble or miserie for Christs sake Art thou vvell pleased to take vp thy crosse to goe after him Canst thou be content to die for his sake as the Prophets and Apostles haue done By these markes or tokens wee may know whether wee loue Christ or no if we haue them we loue him but if we haue them not wee loue him not howsoeuer wee perswade our solues or boast before others to the contrarie And so much of the second sort namely of those that vaunt of their loue towards Christ and yet doe want it Now let vs come to the third and last sort which is of those that would be informed what manner of loue it is that is pleasing to Christ In it you must obserue foure remarkable qualities The first is that it must be great and not small we must loue him more then our fathers or mothers or brothren or sisters or husbands or wiues or lands or goods or life it selfe Matth. 10.37 Lzk. 14.26 The second is that it must be singular and not common we must loue onely Christ and none else we must not ioyne others with him Whom haue I in heauen saith Dauid Psal 73.25 but thee and I haue desired none in the earth with thee Well therefore said the Church in Cant. 1.6 Shew me O thou whom my soule loueth where thou feedest where thou liest at noone for why should I be as she that turneth aside to the flockes of thy companions Her care was onely to goe after Christ We cannot serue God and Mimmon together Mat. 6.24 We must not part our loue Christ must haue all as the woman by Gods law must haue but one husband so the Church must haue but one Congregation Doubtlesse as an honest man cannot endure that another man should haue a portion in his wife so will not Christ endure that any other should haue with him a portion in his Church for he is a iealous God Exod. 20.5 The third is that it must be totall and not partiall we must loue him not with the loue of the soule alone or with the loue of the body alone but with the loue both of body and soule together Ye are bought with a price saith Paul 1 Cor. 6.20 therefore glorifie God in your bodie and in your spirit for they are Gods And whereas the soule and body doe consist of many parts our Sauiour must haue the loue of all those parts Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soule and with thy strength saith Moses to Israel in Deut. 6.5 So that Christ must not haue onely the loue of the eye to behold his workes the loue of the eare to listen to his words the loue of the tongue to talke of his wonders the loue of the feet to goe to his Temple the loue of the hands to doe his businesse the loue of the memorie to remember him the loue of the minde to plod vpon him and the loue of the heart to long after him but hee must haue all these loues together The fourth and last
giuen of them These are they which are not defiled with women for they are Virgins these follow the Lambe whithersoeuer he goeth these are bought from men being the first fruits vnto God and to the Lambe Reu. 14.4 Thus you see how we should goe after Christ and be well content to leaue all the world to follow him The reasons to moue vs herevnto are these First Reason because he is our husband and we are his wife Ephes 5.26 For the wife must follow her husband and forsaking all other friends must cleaue onely vnto him Gen. 2.25 Secondly because he will then take a great delight in vs and satisfie himselfe in our loue according to that which is in Psal 45.11.12 where it is said Hearken O daughter and consider encline thine eare forget also thine owne people thy fathers house So shal the King haue pleasure in thy bewtie for hee is thy Lord and reuerence thou him Thirdly because wee are dead to the world and a liue in him Câ—l 3.3.4 Lastly because he will liberally reward all such as doe come after him Verily saith he I say vnto you that when the sonne of man shall sit in the throne of his Maiestie ye which followed me in the regeneration shall sit also vpon twelue thrones and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel And whosoeuer shall forsake houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my names sake he shall receiue an hundred-fold more and shall inherit euerlasting life This reproues those that care not for Christ Vse but followes this world altogither Whatsoeuer they be whether rich or poor high or low wise or vnwise bond or free male or female certaine it is that they are none of Christs Hee will disclaime them and not approue them for his owne If any man saith he come to mee and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and his owne life also he cannot be my Disciple And whosoeuer beareth not his crosse and commeth after mee cannot be my Disciple Luk. 14.26.27 wherefore let this worke repentance in the harts of worldly men and turne them to the louing Lord. As this doth serue to reproue all such as preferre the world before Christ so it may serue also to prouoke vs all to preferre Christ before the world Surely it should moue vs to set him still before vs and pricke vs forward to goe after him if a man were in a farre country farre from his friends and neerest kinsfolkes though his eyes did behold the fairest pictures his eares heare the sweetest musicke his mouth tast the daintiest meate his body lie vpon the softest bed and all his senses compassed about with the rarest obiects of tenne thousand yet would his heart be at home vnlesse hee were bewitched as the poets faine of Vlisses whom the cups of Circe did make to forget his natiue country and faithfull wife So cuen so vnlesse we be inchanted with the witchcraft of the deuill all the trash and pelfe of this world cannot hold vs here below but our harts will mount vpward and be fixed vpon our Bride-grome in whose presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at whose right hand are pleasures for euermore and all our trauell will especially tend to attaine vnto our country in the heauens and to celestiall Ierusalem that is aboue For wee are here as strangers and pilgrimes vpon the earth 1 Pet. 2.11 and our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or corporation whereof wee are members is in the heauen Phil. 3.20 Surely our earthly houses are not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is rather an Inne to lodge in then a permanent mansion to abide in 2 Cor. 5.1 wherefore I pray you let vs euermore set our hearts vpon Christ and follow him It is recorded in the greeke and Romaine stories that Hypsicrataea did so excedingly loue her busband Mâ—â—hridates King of Pontus that when hee was put to flight and enforced to wander vp and downe the woodes and deserts to saue his life she attyred in mans apparrell did follow him euery way through thâ—â—â—e and thinne reputing her kingdome her wealth her country and her happinesse to be there where her husband was So after the same manner if we be so faithfully affected to our most sweet and louing husband in the heauens we must not settle vpon our lees nor set our affections on things that are below but follow on hard though it be through the thorny path of persecution or the strait way that hee is gone before vs wee must count all things but dunge and drosse in respect of him Phil. 7.8 If any man would here know how wee must goe after Christ Obiection the answere is that we must doe it first by contemplation Answere secondly by desideration thirdly by determination fourthly by conuersation or imitation By contemplation wee euermore thinking of him and hauing our thoughts in heauen where hee is 2 Cor. 4.18 By desideration wee euermore desiring to be in his presence and to haue a fellowship with him in ioyes vnspeakeable Col. 7.1 Phil. 1.23 2 Cor. 5.8 By determination we euermore resoluing with our selues to cleaue continually to him and to repute all things but trash in respect of him Act. 11.23 Phil. 3.8 Reu. 12.11 By conuersation or imitation wee euermore labouring to doe as he hath done and to walke in such steps as hee is gone before vs. Ephes 5.2 Ioh. 13.15 Math. 11.29 Oh my brethren striue and contend to follow Christ after these waves if there be any thing that will hinder you from the same cast it away Heb. 12.1 Be it that the right hand or the right eye should cause you to offend herein yet spare them not cut off the one and pull out the other Math. 18.8.9 There are many Lords doubtlesse striuing for vs. The world with her pleasures allures many to follow her but pretend what she will in truth her word is Decipion I will deceiue you The flesh would haue man a seruant to her lusts shee wants not her baites wherewith to beguile him but in truth her word is Inficiam I will infect you Satan strongest of the three vsurpes superiority ouer man hee craues that man should fall downe and vvorship him he vvante not promises enough faire in shew but in truth his word is Interficiam I will destroy you Iesus Christ our lawfull Lord bee also calls vpon vs and exhorts vs to serue him he hath life in the one hand durable riches and honour in the other and in truth his word is Reficiam I will refresh you Now in this strife to vvhom shall vvee yeeld our selues but vnto him vvho cries Reficiam Let vs therefore doe as vve are here vvilled for to doe come away and then doubtlesse vvee shall vvant nothing Habent enim omnia qui habent Christum habentem omnia For they haue all vvho doe enioy Christ the Lord of all And so I end and commend you to God and to the vvord of his grace vvhich is able to build further and to giue you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified To the vvhich inheritance the Lord bring vs all for his sonnes sake to vvhom vvith the father and the holy Ghost one eternall God and three distinct persons be all honour and glory ascribed both novv and euermore Amen FINIS