one bewray the lightnes of the other what thing in the world is soe massie and soe weightie as the truth Therefore as the prophet saith If ye will heare the voyce of God harden not your hearts as they did in the prouocation and as in the day of temptation in the wildernes it is noe sinne to yeilde vnto God it is noe shame to lay apart all affections and to change our mindes to the deniall of all vngodlynes and imbracinge of true holinesse It is the part of a good Christian and a wise man to know himselfe and to know the nature of his flesh which hee beareth about him which fighteth alwayes so mightily against the spirit and to know the waywardnesse and crookednesse of his heart and the weaknesse and vanity of his mind Many are so farre from this they thinke all their ability is of themselues I haue saith one iudgement I haue the light of reason I haue sence I haue vnderstanding and Counsell and the ordering of mine owne way thus say they that neither know God nor themselues The will and power to doe well is of God and not of our selues therefore we must humble our selues vnder the mighty hand of God and acknowledge that we are nothing we must confesse with S. Paul I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good Ro. 7. Againe it is not in him that willeth not in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy Ro. 9. Our Sauiour Christ sayth that which is borne of the flesh is flesh and that is borne of the spirit is spirit Iohn â— And God sayth the immagination of man heart is euill from his youth Gene 8. this is his saying and his iudgement of vs this we find true for our will is froward and our vnderstanding blind therefore sayth the Prophet O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himselfe neither is it in man to walke and direct his steppes Iere 12. Againe the steppes of man are ruled by the Lord. How can a man then vnderstand his owne way Behold as the clay is in the Potters hand so are you in my hand O Israell I mould you and frame you to my glory sayth the Lord. Iere. 18. When the Apostle putteth the Corinthians in mind of that good successe which God gaue vnto his ministers among them hee sayth such trust haue we through Christ to God not that wee are sufficient of our selues but our sufficiency is of God Cor. 3. Christ sheweth this to his disciples saying ' I am the Vine you are the branches he that abideth in mee and I in him bringeth forth much fruit for without mee yee can do nothing Iohn 15. To the Collossians Paul saith It is God that worketh in you both the will and the deed euen of his good pleasure Colloss 2. It is God that disposeth our goings and turneth our hearts as seemeth him best hee is able to make of the stones in the Streetes children vnto Abraham hee is able to take away our stony heartes and giue vs heartes of flesh The Consideration heereof leadeth vs to seeke help and comfort by prayer at the hand of God and because wee stand in need of continuall help either to giue vs somthing that is good or to deliuer vs from that is euill the Apostle biddeth vs pray continually for the eares of the Lord are open to the righteous therfore saith Christ aske and it shall be giuen you seeke and yee shall find knoek and it shal be opened vnto you Math. 7. Let vs therefore go boldly to the throne of grace that we may receiue mercy and find grace to help in time of need Dauid a man according to Gods own heart prayed diuersly Open thou mine eyes lighten my darkenesse direct my feete into the way of peace incline my heart O Lord vnto thy testimonies establish O God that which thou hast wrought in vs take not thy holy spirit from vs bee thou our helper in trouble O forsake vs not veterly Dauid beeing a great prophet of GOD found no way to attaine vnto knowledge of the will of God vnlesse God would open his vnderstanding and endue him with his spirit faith is the gift of GOD or else was the Apostles praier in vaine therefore without the grace and mercy of GOD wee can doe nothing to the setting forth of his glory and to the attayning vnto our saluation The Apostle saith vnto the faithfull Let your conuersation bee in heauen from whence you looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ Yee were once darkenesse but now yee are light in the LORD walke as children of the light approouing that which is pleasing to the Lord. The great day of the Lord shal be dreadful and come sodainely vpon the wicked but to you it shall not seeme sodaine which feare the LORD and put your trust in him and take all care to bee in readinesse against his comming Arme your selues therefore strongly the enemy is the diuell with all his force your strength standeth not in your owne prowesse or man-hood but in the mighty power of God put on therefore the brest-plate of faith and loue hee that beleeueth shal be saued hee that abideth in loue abideth in God and whosoeuer putteth his trust in him shall neuer be confounded For the grace of God that bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared saith the Apostle and teacheth vs to deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and that wee should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ which gaue himselfe for vs that hee might redeeme vs from all vnrighteousnesse and purge vs a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous giuen to good workes Titus 2.11.12 Therefore wee must not alwaies be children but grow vp and increase and profit more and more for wee must neuer rest walking till wee come to God if we haue faith wee must proceede from faith to faith if wee haue loue wee must abide and increase in loue if wee haue zeale wee must endeauour to bee consumed with zeale if wee bee liberall to the Saints distressed wee must double our liberallity and that with cheerefulnesse if wee read the Scriptures wee must goe on and continue in praier so wee must still increase till wee come to perfection Let vs bee led forward saith the Apostle vnto perfection Hebr. 6.1 As God hath ordained a heauen for all true faithful Pilgrims so hath he appointed a way to come to it which way hee that trauaileth not shall neuer come to the end of his race for there be many wrong waies as there are many errors but there is but one right way as there is but one truth To knit vp this part with that warning and exhortation of the Apostle saying Let vs drawe neere with a true heart in assurance of faith sprinckled in our hearts from an euill conscience and washed in bodie with pure water let vs hold the possession of the hope without wauering for hee is faithfull that promised for if wee sinne willingly after that wee haue receiued the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a fearefull looking for iudgement and violent fire which shall deuoure the aduersaries Hebr. 10.22.23.26 So it cannot be that they which were lightened and haue tasted of the heauenly gift and were become pertakers of the holy ghost and haue tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the world to come and they fall away should be renued againe into repentance crucifying to themselues the sonne of God a fresh Heb 6.4.5.6 The Apostle therfore admonisheth the faithfull to haue discretion in their walking saying Take heed that yâ—e walke circumspectly not as vnwise but as wise redeeming the time because the daies are euill Wherefore bee yee not vnwise but vnderstanding what the will of the Lord is Speaking vnto your selues in psalmes and hyms and spirituall songs singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts Giuing thankes alwaies for all things vnto God the Father in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ Now as al these parts of Scriptures going before in this Booke are needfull special means to teach all true Christians to walke the right way towards heauen whereby we may bee able not only to walke aright but also to make a right and sound reason of our religion agreeable to the word of God a sound reason of our faith and a sound reason of our saluation agreeable to the same word of truth and so to continue to the end of our race then shall wee bee made happy for euermore and be procured happy in the great day of our Lord by our Lord and you blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome of heauen which is prepapared for you from the beginning which kingdom grant vs Lord for Christ Iesus sake Amen FINIS
shall be pleasing vnto him and acceptable in his fight according as our Sauiour Christ sayth As the branch cannot beare fruit of it selfe except it abide in the Vine noe more can yee except yee abide in Me. Thus is Christ made our Redeemer Deliuerer Reconciler Mediator Intercessor Aduocate Hope Comfort Protector Defendor Strength Health Satisfaction and Saluation his blood-shedding his death and all that euer he did is ours and doth euery true faithfull Christian as good seruice as though they had done it themselues so that Christ hath left nothing vndone that might pertaine to our saluation Thus haue wee found the hidden treasure which hee that findeth it truely will sell all that euer he hath or euer he would loose it as Paul saith in the 16. to the Rom. 25. verse The Path of a Christian to walke in NOW it followeth in this fourth part to learne and know how all true Christians should walke in the truth of this way for as Christ is the onely way it selfe so is hee also the truth whereby wee must walke for all the wayes of God are truth and mercy both for who so doth feare the Lord him will hee teach and direct such with his spirit to follow the right way Psal 25.12 Wherefore receaue the truth loue the truth and beleeue the truth otherwayes if thou refuse the bread of life and digge vnto thy selfe a Cesterne that will hold no water then shalt thou lead thy dayes in wilfulnesse and dye in sinne thy bloud shall bee vpon thine owne head and thou shalt not see the glory of God death and damnation shall bee thy portion because thou hadst pleasure in wickednesse and didst not giue thy heart to receiue loue and beleeue the truth To this end the Apostle exhorteth the Thessalouians saying Wee beseech you bretheren exhort you in the Lord Iesus that yee increase more and more as yee haue receiued of vs how yee ought to walke and to please God That is as the Apostle should say wee command you not nor vse any force but intreat you with all patience and meeknesse that you will haue a regard and loue your owne soules and thinke and doe those things which may please God you are they to whom the promise was made God hath called you out of darknesse into his maruelous light hee hath not dealt so with euery nation neither haue they knowne his iudgments Wee come not to you in our owne name saith the Apostle We haue charge to preach the Gospell to all nations therefore wee speake vnto you in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ wee shew you the way that you may walke in it wee declare vnto you the will of God that you may be saued Wee haue opened vnto you the whole treasure of Gods mercy wee haue led you to the throane of grace and made you see the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world wee haue preached vnto you the remission and forgiuenesse of your sinnes through his name if you beleeue you shall bee saued if any man preach vnto you otherwise then thaâ— you haue receaued let him bee accursed It is not enough that yee beleeue yee must also walke and liue accordingly to knowledge this is the will of God for wee are his workemanship created in Christ Iesus to good workes which God hath ordained that wee should walke in them Ephe. 2. For the grace of God hath appeared that bringeth saluation vnto all men and teacheth vs that wee should liue soberly and righteously and godly in this life looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the mighty God and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ Titus 2. In this sort saith the Apostle hath our teaching been among you that you might shew forth your faith by your workes for it auaileth you nothing to say you haue faith if you haue no workes because the faith that hath no workes is dead thus wee are taught by the workes of our Lord Iesus hee saith not euery one that saith vnto me Lord Lord shal enter into the kingdome of heauen but he that doth my Fathers wil that is in heauen Againe euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen downe and cast into the fire Thus hath our Lord God commanded vs to be like our Father which is in heauen to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works thus the Apostle taught thus the Church of God this day teacheth it requireth faith as the instrument and meanes to apply the merits and passion of Iesus Christ for our saluation and good workes as fruites and witnesses of our faith Whosoeuer learneth aright and beleeueth the Gospel as he ought groweth and goeth forward from vertue to vertue if he were ignorant before he commeth thereby to knowledge if he were weake he groweth in strength if hee were wicked hee turneth vnto godlinesse For as we haue beene taught that wee are saued by faith in Christ without the works of the law which doctrine though it be most true most soundly proued and flatly concluded Ro. 3.16 yet being vnderstood a misse as Pauls writings sometimes are 2. Pet. 3.28 it hath beene the decay of all good deeds and brought in Epicurisme al vngodlinesse it is true in deed that eternal life is the gift of God through Iesus Christ Ro 6.23 yet this gift is bestowed only vpon those for whom it is prepared Math 20.23 which haue exercised themselues in the workes of mercy Math 25.35 for in respect of God our election standeth sure certaine from al eternity for it hath his seale The Lord knoweth them are his 2. Tim 2.19 and I know whom I haue chosen Ioh. 13.18 but in respect of our selues it is vncertaine and therfore we must striue to make our calling election sure by good works albeit it is sure in it self for asmuch as God cannot change yet wee must confirme it in our selues by the fruits of the spirit knowing that the purpose of God electeth leth sanctifieth and iustifieth vs these are the wayes to come to heauen though they bee not the cause for Christ is the only cause therefore we must keepe the way if euer wee meane to come to heauen For as we are ordained to the end so are we ordained to the meanes which bring vs to the end If God hath predestinated any to eternall life he hath also predestinated them to the means whereby they must attaine eternall life that is faith and a good conseience For the end of Gods law is loue which cannot be without a good conscience neither a good conscience without faith nor fayth withou the word of God therefore it is certaine that whosoeuer is to be saued shal at one time or other before they depart out of this life bee called truely to beleeue and shal endeauour by all meanes as Paul did to keepe a good conscience towards God and man Acts 24.16 For that which is
THE PLAINE MANS PILGRIMAGE OR IOVRNEY TOWARDS HEAVEN Wherein if hee walke carefully he may attaine to euerlasting life By W. W. LONDON Imprinted by G. Eld and are to be sould at his house in Fleet-lane at the signe of the Printers Presse 1613. The Contents of this Booke Chapter 1. FIrst to serue God with true Faith and Obedience Chap. 2. Three speciall consequents to be followed First A speedy going forward in Christian Religion Secondly out of Prouerbs 23.26 My Sonne giue me thy heart Thirdly Moses praier Psal 19.12 Teach vs O Lord to number our daies Chap. 3. The benefit of the renued Man Secondly The nourishment of the renued Man Thirdly Out of the 14. of Saint Iohn ver 6. I am the way the Truth and the Life Chap 4. The path for a Christian to walke in Chap. 5. Three Christian duties to be obserued First Reioyce euermore Secondly Pray continually Thirdly In al things giue thanks Lastly 4. Admonitions 1. Quench not the Spirit 2. Despise not prophesying 3. Try all things 4. Abstaine from all appearance of Euill THE EPISTLE TO THE READER CHristian Reader I haue not compiled this worke for the delight of thy worldly mind but for a preparation for thy Pilgrimage toward Heauen that is to walke with God as Enoch did For whosoeuer entreth into consideration with himselfe of his humane nature shall easily perceiue that it is addicted to imitation And though indeed wee should liue by lawes and not examples yet by common experience we find that examples mooue more then lawes Therefoâ—â— what soeuer thou art high or low iudge charitably of this my worke Thus wishing thee good reader not only to look on the title but reade it to the end and I doubt not but thou shalt be preserued from prophanenesse Idolatry and superstition VVILLIAM The Pilgrims iourney towards Heauen AS GOD hath created all things for his owne sake and man beeing head of all is made Lord and Ruler of them and so consequently they to serue him hee I say is to consider and to counsell with God and his owne conscience why and wherefore and to what end he was created and sent hither into his world what to doe and wherein to bestow his dayes c then shall hee finde that for no other cause matter or end but onely to serue God with true faith and obedience in this life and by that seruice to enioy heauen and euerlasting saluation in the life to come this was the consideration of our redeeming fore told by Zacharie before we were redeemed that beeing deliuered from the hands of our enemies should serue God in holynesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our liues Of this consideration do ensue two consequents to be obserued whereof the first is that seeing our end and finall cause of beeing in this world is to serue God and so to worke our saluation with feare and trembling and whatsoeuer thing wee doe or bestow our time in which either is contrary or not profitable to this that is to serue God it is vanity and lost labour and will turne vs in time to griefe and repentance for that is not the matter for which wee came into the world nor whereof wee shall be demanded any accompt of Secondly seeing that our businesse and affaires in this world is to serue our maker with true faith and repentance and so to saue our owne soules and that all other earthly creatures are but here to serue our vses and to that end onely are they sent of God We should therefore bee indifferent to all these creatures as to riches or pouerty to health or sicknesse to honour or contempt c. And wee should defire but so much or little of them as were best for vs toward the attainment of our said end and but pretended for whosoeuer desireth seeketh or vseth these creatures more then for this runneth from the end for which he came hither And for that the most part of all that are in this world not onely Infidels but also Christians doe runne amisse in this point and doe not take care of that affaire and businesse for which alone they were created and placed here in this world Hence it is that Christ and his holy Saints both before the appearing in the flesh and after haue spoken so hardly and seuerely of the very small number that shall bee saued euen among Christians and haue vttered certaine speeches which seeme very rigorous to flesh and bloud and to such as are most touched therein as among other things that a greedy louer of this world cannot bee saued 1. Iohn 29. verse and those that greedily desire to bee rich fall into many temptations and noysome lusts which draw them into destruction and perdition and that such rich men doe enter as hardly into heauen as a Cammell through a Needles eye and the reason of which manner of speach doth stand in this that a rich worldling attending with his industry and care to heape vp riches as the fashion is cannot attend to that for which hee came into this world and so consequently can neuer attaine heauen except God worke a myracle and therby cause him to spend out his riches to the benefit of his soule and by grace to call him vnto the Gospell as often hee doth and so doe make lesse the Cammell in such sort as hee may passe the Needles eye whereof wee haue an example in the Gospell by Zacheus who beeing a very rich man and a great sinner presently vppon the calling of Christ hee beeing in a Figge Tree and so entring into his house but much more as appeareth into his heart whereby hee receiued faith and vpon the same did resolue himselfe to change his former life touching riches and at one blow to begin withall gaue away halfe of his goods vnto the poore and for the rest made a Proclamation that whosoeuer had any wrong at his hands hee should come and receiue foure times recompence for it and so by this conuersion hee was made fitte to enter into the kingdome of God for those things which are vnpossible to men are possible with God Further let vs consider and behold the great multitude of all sorts of people vpon earth and see what their traffique and conuersations are and whether they seeke after those things for the which they came into this world for few of them that seeke you shall finde thousands who spend their time in seeking after vanities as worldly honour glory riches and all fleshly and carnall comforts and contentments which are nothing but vanities and the capitall enimies of our soules O yee sonnes of men saith Dauid Psal 4. Why loue yee vanity and seeke after lyes Also will you haue the lamentation of such vnfortunate men as thus vainely and foolishly haue spent their golden dayes These are their owne words recorded by Scripture Wisd 5.7 in the end of their liues saying Wee haue wearied our selues in the way of wickednesse and
thee art thou my sonne my sonnes giue me their hearts and by this they know that I am their father if I dwell in their hearts for the heart is the temple of God therefore if thou be his fonne thou wilt giue him thy heart because thy Father defireth it thy Maker desireth it thy Redeemer desireth it thy Sauiour desireth it thy Lord and King and thy Maister desireth it which hath giuen his sonne for a ransome his spirit for a pledge his word for a guide the world for a walke and reserueth a kingdome for thine inheritance Now if wee would consider the right way whereby we may giue our hearts vnto God the counsell of him whoe speaketh nothing but the very truth and he himselfe is the truth that is our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ which saith where your treasure is there will be your hearts also therefore let our conuersation be in heauen and vpon heauenly thinges that wee may thereby make our trasure there and so wee shall haue our heartes there placed where our enemies cannot take it from vs thus much for this note as hath beene said now it followeth in the next Now if wee haue not remembred our Lord and Creator in the daies of our youth and withall haue not giuen our hearts vnto him whereby we might become religious and to increase in vs renewed hearts and mindes for the better vnderstanding and finding out the right path-way which leadeth vnto eternall happinesse therefore I say if wee haue not prepared our selues and done this already as hath beene declared in this second part it is then now high time to begin to remember God and to giue our hearts vnto him in age or else to forget him for euermore for the gray-head which looketh euery day for his last Sabaoth when hee shall rest in the graue had neede to pray twice asmuch heare twice as much do twice as much to prepare sacrifice of his body and soule ready and acceptable vnto GOD because the night is at hand when he cannot pray nor heare nor repent any more It is said the Diuell is very busie because his time is short but an ould mans is shorter therefore if youth had neede of legges age had neede of winges therefore in the next consequence it is further to bee obserued what further duties wee are to proceede in as followeth Moyses in the 90. Psalme vers 12 saith teach vs to number our daies that we may apply our hearts vnto wisdome this Psalme was compiled by Moyses as may appeare by the title At what time the spies returned from the land of Canaan and God for the murmuring of them pronounced that all which were aboue twenty yeares ould should die in the wildernesse except Caleb and Iosua that encouraged their bretheren to goe into Canaan Now when Moyses heard the sentence of death pronounced against him-selfe and all the Iewes which came out of Egypt except onely two That all should die before they came to the land which they sought for he prayeth thus for himselfe and the rest Teach vs O LORD to number our daies that wee may giue our hearts vnto wisdome that is seeing wee must needs dye and that our dayes are short teach vs therefore to thinke vpon death that wee may dye in thy feare O Lord and so to liue againe for euermore this sheweth vs that the consideration of our mortality will make vs apply our hearts to godlinesse therefore Moyses thinking of his death runneth to wisdome as a remedy against death Therefore wee must come to some Schoolemaister which is like Saint Iohn Baptist what shall wee doe that wee may growe in knowledge as wee grow in yeares Teach mee saith Moyses to number my dayes that I may apply my heart to wisdome whereby Moyses telleth vs that this was one of his helps which made him profit in the knowledge of God To remember his daies as a man which hath a set time for his taxe listneth to the clock counteth his houres So wee haue a set time to serue God worke while it is day Iohn 9.4 saith Christ what hee doth meane by this day the Apostle sheweth vs saying This is the day of saluation that is This life is the day wherein wee should worke our saluation this is a long taxe therefore wee had need to remember our dayes and loose not a minuit least we be be-nighted before our work be done As God hath numbered our dayes so we must learne to remember our dayes or else it seemes we cannot apply our hearts to wisdom that is vnlesse wee thinke vpon death wee cannot fashion our selues to a godly life though we were aswell instructed as Moyses was This we find dayly in our selues that the forgetfulnes of death maketh vs to apply our hearts vnto folly and pleasure and all voluptuousnesse that contrary to his aduice worke your saluation we worke our damnation therefore this is the fruite which commeth to a man by numbring or remembring his dayes God teacheth man to apply his heart to wisdome and that is his lesson which he giueth for that purpose Remember thy dayes that is thinke that wisdom is a long study and that thou hast but a short time to get it and this will make thee get ground of vertue Therefore fiue things are to be noted in these words first that death is the heauen of euery man whether hee sit in the throne or kept in a cottage at last hee must knock at deaths doore The second is That mans life is decreed and his bounds appointed which he cannot passe Thirdly that our dayes are few as though wee were sent into this world but to see it Fourthly the aptnesse of man to forget death rather then any thing else Lastly to remember how short a time wee haue to liue will make vs to apply our hearts to that which is good For the first poynt is that as euery man had a day to come into this world so hee shall haue a day to goe out of this world we are not lodged in a Castle but in an Inne where we are but guests therfore S. Peter calleth vs Pilgrims and strangers we are not citizens of the Earth but citizens of Heauen And therfore the Apostle saith We haue here no abiding citty but we looke for one to come as Christ saith My Kingdome is not of this world so we may say my dwelling is not of this world but the soule soreth vp-ward whence it came and the body stoopeth downeward whence it came euery man is but a tennant at will and there is nothing sure but death In Paradice we might liue or die euery thing and euery day suffers some eclips and nothing standeth at a stay but our Creator calleth to another let vs leaue this world our fathers summoned vs and we shall summon our children to the graue So in an houre wee are and are not wee may well bee called earthen vessells for we are soone changed what
power to be angry with her because shee commeth so like his sonne This is to put on Iesus Christ and this is the wedding Garment without the which no man can feast with the Lord this garment is called an armour because it defendeth vs from all the assaults of the deuill the flesh and the world this garment is called a light because it is the beauty and glory of them which weare it this garment is called a kingdome because none but Kings do weare it that is they which are inthroned into the kingdome of Christ and made kinges ouer the world the flesh and the diuill This Garment Saint Paul hath sent vnto vs to goe before the king of Heauen and earth A holy garment a royall garment an immaculate Garment an euerlasting Garment whereof euery hemme is peace of conscience euery pleat is ioy in the holy Ghost euery stitch is the remedy of some sinne and saueth them which weare it Thus if wee put on Christ wee are clothed with his obedience whereby our wickednesse is couered wee are clothed with his merites whereby our sinnes are forgiuen wee are clothed with his holy spirit whereby our heartes are mollified sanctified and renewed til we resemble Christ himselfe This is the Apostles meaning to put on CHRIST so that to put on CHRIST is to put on the new man with all his vertues vntill we bee renewed to the Image of CHRIST which is like a new man amongst men they which labour to be righteous and yet beleeue that CHRISTS righteousnesse shall saue them and haue put on CHRIST truely as Saint Paul would haue them and then wee shall heare the voyce Thy sinnes are forgiuen and then wee shall haue that blessing thy sinnes are couered Hee doth not put on CHRIST but putteth off CHRIST and putteth on Beliall which fashioneth himselfe to God and to the world for as Christs coate was without seame soe they must bee without stayne that weare it therefore when we haue put on this garment we must wash our selues and pick our wayes and chuse our worke that is we must not thinke as we did nor speake as wee did but remember that we haue changed our maister and to serue him with whom wee are bound Now to learne further how wee may apply Christ vnto vs the text wil catechise it in three names that is Lord Iesus Christ the Apostle seemeth to spell out the way vnto vs how we should weare this garment First we must put him on as Lord then wee must put him on as Iesus lastly we must put him on as Christ First as Lord that is our ruler to command vs our tutor to gouerne vs and our Maister to direct vs we must be no mans seruant but his we must also put him on as Iesus that is our Sauiour in whom we trust our protector on whom we depend our redeemer on whom we beleeue we must not looke for our saluation from Angells nor Saintes nor any thing besides him for the name of Iesus signifieth a Sauiour and is giuen to none but to him for he is the only Sauiour therefore when hee is called our saluation it implyeth that there is no sauiour besides him Also wee must put him on as Christ that is a king to rule a Prophet to teach a priest to pray and sacrifice and to pacifie the wrath of God for vs. For the name of Christ doth signifie that he was anointed a King a Priest and a Prophet for man A King to rule him a Priest to sacrifice for him a Prophet to teach him So then wee put on Christ as Lord which worshippeth none but him we put on Christ as Iesus which beleeueth in none but him we put on Christ as Christ which heareth none but him beleeueth in none but him furthermore when wee put Christ first on is when we are baptised then we are sealed and consecrated to his seruice For so soone as we came into the world we vowed to renounce the world the flesh and the Deuill and to serue God we haue put on Christ againe when we are called and sanctified that is when wee cast off the old man which is corrupt with the lusts of the flesh and the pride of this life with the cares of this world and put on the new man which is regenerate in righteousnes and holines to the Image of Christ We put on Christ againe when wee receiue his holy sacrament and are partakers of his body and blood that is the merites of his obedience and passion by fayth then Christ is become ours and dwelleth in vs and feedeth vs with his grace to eternall life Now when wee haue put on Christ in these three sortes which is our garment for this world after we shal put on Christ in heauen and bee clothed with his glory and that shall bee our last vesture which shall neuer weare out Thus hath it beene set downe what is meant by putting on Christ to clothe our selues with his righteousnesse and holynesse that is to beleeue that his righteousnesse shall supply our vnrighteousnesse and his sufferings shall stand for our sufferings because hee came to fulfill the law and beare the crosse and satisfie his Father for vs that all which beleeue in him might not dye but haue life euerlasting And that wee may the better and with more strength bee able to walke in this our right path and way towards heauen wee must pray vnto our mercifull God and with all our diligence seeke vnto the meanes for the obtayning the Iewell of our saluation that is a liuely iustifying faith according to the faith of Gods elect which faith is not mans opinion and conceit as when they heare the story of the Gospell and withall there followeth no good workes nor amendment of life though they heare yea and speake many things of faith but a right faith is the gift of God as the Apostle saith and commeth from him and wrought by the holy Ghost in vs and changeth vs turneth vs into a new nature and begetteth vs a new in God as we may read in the first of Iohn and killeth the old man and maketh vs altogether new in heart minde and will and in all our affections and powers of the soule and bringeth the Holy Ghost with her this faith is a liuely thing mightie in working valiant and strong euer dooing euer fruitfull so that it is vnpossble that hee which is endued therewith should not liue a godly and an holy life and alwayes bring forth fruites of good workes Such is his nature for quick faith in the heart and liuely moouing of the spirit driueth him and stirreth him therevnto Faith then is a liuely and a stedfast trust in the fauour of God wherewith we commit our selues altogether vnto God and that trust is surely grounded in our hearts by the word of God that it cannot bee remooued with any tribulation And such trust wrought by the holy Ghost through faith maketh a man
of one body there is noe respect of persons with him noe difference of learned and vnlearned wise or foolish rich or poore his will is that wee all should be as one of one mind and that wee should all thinke one thing and speake one thing and that wee should bee one fould vnder one shepheard and with one mouth glorifie the father of our Lord Iesus Christ For this peace Christ praied for saying sanctifie them through thy truth blesse them take away all bitternesse and swelling from among them make them Citizens of thy heauenly Ierusalem that they may liue in peace and loue one another that they may bee one as thou O Father art one in me and I in thee This peace we had need of the peace of conscience within our selues of peace from the rage and fury of the world and of peace of those that are of Gods houshold Let vs seeke peace at the hand of God and hee will stablish vs in the peace of the Gospell and so giue vs rest and peace of our soules Now that wee haue heard some profitable meanes declared to keepe vs constant from reuolting and turning backe but to perseuer still foreward in our race it is therefore needfull to consider how easily man may bee deceiued that so the better we may know the corruptions and weakenesse of our nature and therefore what cause wee haue euer to walke warily to take heed to ourselues and to pray vnto God that he will incline our hearts vnto his testimonies when I say man may be deceiued I meane not children or babes or the simpler sort of men onely but the learned the wise the politike the Kings and princes of the world the teachers and rulers of the people as appeareth by diuers examples To begin with Adam the first man when hee was in Paradice and made ruler ouer all beasts of the field and was full of graces and blessings of God he soone departed from the counsell of God and gaue eare to the Serpent so easily was he deceued Israel was as the apple of the Lords eye a people whom the Lord loued and to whom be gaue their hearts desire he deliuered them from Pharaoh and with an out-stretched arme led them through the red Sea who would haue thought so great mercies would euer haue beene forgotten or such a people so well taught in the knowledge of God and so often put in mind of their duties should either most part or all of them turne from God Moses was but absent a while he went aside to receiue the tables of the couenant in the meane time they made vnto themselues a molten Calfe and worshipped it they offered vnto it and said these be the Gods of Israell that haue brought thee out of the land of Egipt so easily were the wisest of them and Aaron and the whole multitude deceiued The Children after them forsooke the Lord and serued Baal and Astroth Iudg. 2. they haue turned their backs to me and not their faces sayth God by his prophet Ieremie 2. And was this offence of some small number were they but few or of the baser and simpler sort no they departed from God in great multitudes with ful consent and they warranted their doings by antiquity and by the custome of their fathers before them The Prophet sayth according to the number of thy Citties were thy Gods O Iudah and to the number of thy streetes O Ierusalem haue ye set vp altars of confusion euen Altars to burne Incense vnto Baal Iere. 11.13 Againe in another place he sayth a great multitude euen all the people that dwelt in the land of Egipt in Phathros answered Ieremie saying the word that thou hast spoken vnto vs in the name of the Lord wee wil not heare it of thee but wee wil doe whatsoeuer thing goeth out of our mouth as to burne incense to the Queene of heauen and to poure out drinke offrings vnto her as wee haue done wee and our fathers our Kinges and our Princes c. Iere. 44.16 c. Thus euen among that nation which God hath chosen vnto himselfe the Apostacie was so great the departure from true holinesse was so vniuersall that not only euery Citty but euery street was defiled with their Idolatry and besides the women with burnt-incense vnto other Gods A great multitude yea all the people with one consent cryed out against their prophets and preachers refusing to heare the word of God but maintained their superstitions The like may be sayd of the Scribes and Pharisies they were wise men they were learned and carried a great shew of holinesse yet they loued darknesse better then light they were blind leaders of the blind they dispised the commandements of God for their owne traditions and not only they but Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and people of Israell gathered themselues together against the Lord and against his Christ What shall I speake of those churches which the Apostles of Christ planted and watered and confirmed in the truth At Corinth Paul preached the gospell they reioyced at it gladly hee thanked God on their behalfe that in all things they were made ritch in him in all kind of speaches and in all knowledge Yet soone after they abused the holy misteries they denied the resurrection of the dead they became carnall and had enuying and strife contention among themselues The Galathians also reioyced so much in him that hee writeth thus of them I beate you record that if it had beene possible you would haue plucked out your owne eyes and to haue giuen them to me yet they did not abide in the truth but gaue eare to false Apostles and so were deceiued Therefore he reprooueth them saying O yee foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you that yee should not obey the truth Are yee so foolish that after yee haue begunne in the spirit yee would now be made perfect in the flesh yee did runne well who did let you that you did not obey the truth I am in feare of you least I haue bestowed labour in vaine Gal. 5. This frailety and weakenes of our corrupt nature hath shewed it selfe forth and hath appeared in all ages we and our fathers haue gone astray and haue followed after lyes the Lord hath looked downe from heauen vpon the children of men to see if there were any that would vnderstand and seeke God but all are gone out of the way they are all corrupt there is none that doth good no not one sayth the Prophet Dauid therefore the Apostle beseecheth the Church of Thessalonica that they settle themselues vppon a sure foundation and that they be not remooued from the truth he putteth them in mind what they haue heard and of whom they haue heard it and exhorteth them to continew stedfast therein Seeke therefore the kingdome of God and the glory thereof and seeke not your selues weigh truth and falsehod in an indifferent ballance soe shall the heauier weight of the