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
we may the better beare an euen hand in the vse and practising of them as God may be glorified and we comforted we must embrace and follow the exhortation of Saint Paul where hee saith That Godlinesse it great gaine if a man bee content with that hee hath 1. Tim. 6.6 wherein ensueth many profitable lessons for the better performing of these two duties both for Gods glory and our comforts The Pilgrims iorney towards Heauen Part. 2. IN this second part is contained a more carefull and speedy going forward in feeking to come to the knowledgment of the true way which leadeth euery true Pilgrim to his wished desire that is eternall rest and happinesse to raigne with Christ our Sauiour and his Church in the kindome of God his Father for euermore And in this part is set downe three speciall consequents to bee obserued and followed The first is a speedy beginning and going forward in Christian religion set downe by Salomon in Eccle. 12.2 saying Remember thy maker in the dayes of thy youth or euer the dayes of aduersitie come which may bee called the young mans taxe The second is likewise set downe in the Pro 23.26 saying My sonne giue mee thy heart and let thy eyes haue pleasure in my wayes which may be called the Christian mans sacrifice The third is the prayer of Moyses in the Psal 90.12 saying Teach vs O Lord to number our dayes that we apply our hearts vnto wisdome and may fitly be called the godly mans request In these three notes or parts are set downe many godly and profitable lessons and instructions to bee followed of euery true Christian which is carefull of his owne saluation and seeketh for the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof with such obedience of life and conuersation as may be agreeable vnto the holy word of our God And for that God would not haue vs to loose our labour but he would haue vs seeke and find to aske and receaue to runne and obtaine therefore the Apostle saith So run as you may obtaine 1. Cor. 9. As there is a heauen so there is a way to heauen one way Adam came from Paradice and by a nother way hee must returne to Paradice the passage is not so stopt but there is a way though a straight way and therefore few doe finde it but onely those which are like Iacob that dreamed and saw a Ladder which reached from earth to heauen and the Angels discended and ascended by it to shew that no man ascended to heauen but by that Ladder This Ladder is Christ which saith I am the way in Iohn 14. there hee biddeth vs to follow him If wee must follow Christ let vs see how hee went to heauen hee began betime for at Twelue yeares of age hee sayd I must goe about my fathers businesse Hee made speed for Iohn saith 21.25 that hee spake and did more good things in three and thirty yeares then could be written Salomon sheweth when it best time to sow the seed of vertue that it may bring forth the fruite of life and make a man alway ready to dye Let him remember his Creator in the dayes of his youth and so all his life shall runne the middle like the beginning and the end like the middle for if the minde be planted in sinne in the time of youth sildome any goodnesse buddeth out of that stock for vertue must haue a time to grow the seed is sowne in youth which commeth vp in age As the Arrow is directed at the first so it flieth all the way ouer or vnder but it neuer findeth the marke vnlesse it be leuelled right in the hand So they which make an euill beginning forspeake themselues at the first and wander out all their race because when they should haue directed their life aright they wandred cleane contrary way Therefore God requiring the first borne for his offring the first fruits of his seruice requiring the first labours of his seruants because the best season to seeke God in is to seek him early Therefore Wisdome saith they which seeke mee early shall finde but to them which deferre shee saith yee shall seeke mee but yee shall not find me therefore the holy Ghost cryeth so often This is the acceptable time this is the day of saluation to day heare his voyce c. So hee which taketh time is sure but hee which looseth time oftener faileth then speedeth for when golden oportunity is past no time will fit for it therefore linger not with Lot for if the Angell had not snatched him away he had perished with Sodom for his delay Samuell began to serue God in his minority and was made a Prophet Timothie began to read the Scriptures in his child-hood and was an Euangelist Daniell beeing in captiuity in Babilon and a yong man would not bee changed from the seruice of his Lord God but prayed dayly vnto him yea though hee were therefore put into the Lions Den yet the Lord deliuered him from the Lions and brought him in great estimation with the King and also a great Prophet Dauid beeing the yongest of his bretheren could not abide to heare Goliah to raile of his God tooke in hand to fight with him and slew him when none of the hoast durst Ioseph beeing the yongest of his bretheren but Beniamin being sold by his bretheren into Egipt and there because he would not defile the law of his God by committing fornication with his Mistresse was wrongfully throwne into prison yet the Lord his God deliuered him forth and brought him in great fauour with King Pharao and was made ruler ouer all his kingdome Therefore this doth teach vs how God doth loue and regard timely beginners in religion so to serue him accordingly so that they which are yong need not to trye the snares and allurements of the world or the issues and effects of sinne which old men haue laid before them but go a merrier way to obtaine their wished desire that is this saith Salomon Thou must remember thy Creator which did make thee which hath elected thee which hath redeemed thee which dayly preserueth thee which will for euer glorifiâ— thee And as the kinde remembrance of a friend doth recreate the minde so to thinke and meditate vpon God will supply thy thoughts dispell thy griefe and make thee cheerfull Now if thou wouldest haue this ioy comfort and pleasure to belong vnto thee and wouldest escape those thousand miseries vexations and vanities which Salomon by many weary and tedious toiles sought to make naked before thee and yet held all but vanity when hee had found the right way Thou must saith he remember thy maker in the dayes of thy youth and then thy happinesse shall bee as long as thy life and all thy thoughts whilest thou remainest on earth a fortresse of the glory of heauen this is the summe of Salomons counsell Salomon findeth man seeking happinesse out of the way he pittieth to
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
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
if it be feruent Ia. 5.16 not that the prayer of the wicked auaileth any thing for Sal mon sayth their prayer is abominable therefore it is sinne if it be neuer so feruent but the person must be iust that is he must be iustified by a true and a liuely fayth in Christ Iesus our Lord. By this thou mayest know whether thy prayer be acceptable with God or noe Thus much for the benefit and necessity of praier Now for the manner of praier there might be as much said but for tediousnesse I will say no more but the parts thereof and so end for this duty The first is to whom we should pray The second is the cause why we should pray The third for the things for which wee should pray The fourth the Mediator which we should pray by The fifth and last the affection which we should bring to pray Now wee are to speake of the third dutie which Saint Paul doth admonish vs of saying In all things giue thankes 1. Thess 5.18 These three duties are badges or Cognizances of a Christian souldier that is to reioyce in the mercy of God to be feruent in praier and to giue thankes to God in all things The heathens which haue no part in the Kingdome of Christ are thankfull for their life liberty wealth and glory and worldly prosperity but Christians ought to be thankefull euen in persecution in thraldome in aduersity in shame in misery and in death it selfe Who hath not heard of the patience of Iob his heards of cattle were driuen away his houses consumed with fire his children slaine his body stricken with scurffe and manginesse his wife loathed him and his friends forsooke him what did Iob in all these miseries what thought he or what spake he his patience in suffering and his words of thankesgiuing doe teach vs how to beare aduersity the Lord saith Iob hath giuen and the Lord hath taken it blessed bee the name of the Lord. What are we then that are neither thankfull for riches nor for health nor for our pleasures in the aboundance of all things who hath giuen them vnto vs the earth is the Lords and all that therein is the world and all that dwell therein he openeth his hand and filleth all things lyuing with his good blessings Let vs looke vp into the heauens there is God the Father of lights there is our Redeemer Iesus Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge when wee turne in our beads when wee see our fare and furniture on our tables when wee see our seruants and children about vs when wee see our money and houses and lands let vs thinke with our selues how many good men and faithfull seruants of God lack the same haue not receiued these blessings in the same measure as wee haue done in all these things God speaketh to vs and saith I haue giuen them thee thou hast them at thy hands vse them well and be thankfull for them If a man should declare what causes wee haue to giue thankes vnto God for all his benefits and blessings noe man could make an end their is noe beast in the ground nor fish in the Sea nor bird in the ayre nor star in the heauens noe lease on the tree no corne in the field no sand in the shore no drop of water no sparke of fire but God hath giuen them all for the sonnes of men so much are wee bound alwaies to giue thankes to God and to say with the Prophet O Lord our God how excellent is thy name in all the world Let vs confesse before the Lord his louing kindnesse in his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men But who is able to render thankes sufficient to God for that hee giueth vs the knowledge of his Gospel maketh vs know the secrets of his will This is a great blessing and farre aboue all the other comforts of this life they that haue not this are in darkenesse and in the shadow of death wee haue to praise God wee must say I thank thee O God for thou hast deliuered me frō this body of death thou hast translated mee vnto thy selfe that so I may remaine with thee in glory thus whether so euer yee turne what state or part of life or death so euer yee consider whether yee be in trouble or peace things present or things to come heauen or earth life or death you shall alwaies finde causes to bee thankefull What haue you that haue not receiued saith the Apostle therefore to teach man to be thankfull to his maker hee was not made in Paradice the place of ioy and happinesse but hee being made out of Paradice was brought into Paradice to shew how al his ioy and happinesse came from God and not from nature that hee might know where to bestow his thankefulnesse therefore Dauid to perswade all men to thankefulnesse saith It is a good and pleasant thing to be thankefull if wee loue goodnesse and pleasure we are bound to be thankefull All things which wee receiue in this life are giuen vs least wee should want meanes to serue God then because the Apostle requireth for all things as it hath beene shewed to be thankefull to God he is not thankefull before God which thankes him onely for his benefits but hee is thankefull indeed which thanketh him for his chasticements it may be while the Lord giueth many will say blessed bee the name of the Lord but when the Lord taketh who will say blessed be the name of the Lord when the Lord did take Iob sayd blessed bee the name of the Lord. Now that it hath bene spoken of these three principall duties of a Christian the Apostle for the consirmation and strengthening thereof like a father which is come to the end of his life who because he hath but a while to speake heapeth vp his lessons together which he would haue his sonnes to remember when hee is gone setting downe in foure next verses following these foure admonitions two negatiue and two affirmatiue the first two negatiue are Quench not the spirit 2. despise not prophesying the affirmatiue are Trye all thinges and keeepe that which is good 2. Abstaine from all appearance of euill His first aduice is Quench not the spirit 1. Thes 5.19.20.21.22 that is when a good motion commeth welcome it like a friend and crosse it not with thy lusts the second admonition teacheth how the first should be kept that is despise not prophesying and the spirit wil not quench because prophesying doth kindle it the third admonition teacheth how to make fruit of the second that is trye the doctrines of them which prophesie and thou shalt not beleeue error for truth but hold the best the fourth admonition is the summe of all and commeth last because it is longest in learning that is to abstaine from all appearance of euill for he which can abstaine not only from euill but from the appearance of euill that