senslesnesse of heart as afterwards it fell out in their children the Scribes and Pharisees to whom all things that Christ Iesus spake seemed parables so that they knew not the mysteries of the kingdome of heauen but had eies and saw not eares and heard not hearts and minds and vnderstood not the things that were taught them And as God doth lay iudgements vpon the soules of men which are the most grieuous so doth he also on their bodies euen for their defects and wants as we see in the Corinthians In their bodies amongst whom many were sicke many weake and many smitten with the stroake of death because they came negligently and vnpreparedly vnto the Lords table and so doth his heauy hand lye vpon many now adaies being strucke with the pestilence and such like plagues of God for coming profanely irreligiously and hy pocritically to the word and Sacrament not in outward appearance for ought that we can see but before the Lords eyes who searcheth the heart and reines and layeth his corrections according to the measure of mens inward prophane and lewd disposition Now this he would not do vnlesse he could proue thē guilty but indeed he is able to indight them to produce witnesses against them that these these haue bene their secret sins such and such vile thoughts they had at such a Sermon at such a Sacrament and their hearts were wandring about their pleasures and profits they were ful of malicious and reuengfull imaginations and intents nothing regarding Gods presence nothing affecting nor reuerencing his ordinances and these things he can make their owne consciences to testify against them therefore doth iustly plague thē for the same And as in this life so at that great assises at the last day the Lord will lighten things that be hid in darknesse As in this life so in that which is to come and make the counsell of mans heart manifest and bring euery secret thing to iudgement whether good or euil that al may receiue according to their works If then all shall be at that time iudged and rewarded according to their thoughts most sure it is that God well obserued the same while they liued vpon the face of the earth and kept the same in his booke of records Vse 1 Since the Lord marketh Sincerity in Gods seruices whether men come in loue and in sincerity or for fashion and in hypocrisie let this teach vs to present our soules before the Lord and to serue him soundly and religiously not onely behauing our selues in as orderly a manner as others doe but in as holy a manner as we can Diuers there are that will repaire to Gods house as often as the best and make a colourable shew of reuerence in Gods worship sitting modestly in the view of the congregation not gazing hither and thither nor expressing any vnseemly behauiour yet neuerthelesse except God see their hearts well exercised all that men behold and take notice of is nothing worth Isaiah 58.2 They seemed to be very forward of whom the Prophet Isaiah maketh mention they would inquire after the ordinances of iudgement and iustice and seeke the Lord and not by fits and starts but daily they would be at euery lecture of the Prophets and obserue euery Saboth marke what was deliuered make repetition of the same and if there were any thing that they vnderstood not they would aske direction and search out the meaning of it and yet the Prophet is bid to cry out against them with full mouth Cry aloud saith GOD lift vp thy voyce like a trumpet and shew my people their transgression and to the house of Iacob their sinnes And that because they came with hollow and hypocritical hearts as their vnholy and vnrighteous behauiour afterwards did witnesse to their faces And therefore that must be looked vnto that we satisfy Gods eyes as well as mens and to that end search out and cast forth all the leauen of hypocrisie that is in our hearts for if we doe not find it out God will and if we spare our selues God will not spare vs. Well we may delude our owne soules but God is not mocked outward seruing of him may make the Minister thinke vs vpright cause our neighbors to esteeme vs good Christians but except God approue of our hearts we are neuer the better for the good opinion that men conceiue of vs. This is for the exceeding comfort of such as are true-hearted and that in a double respect 1 In regard of that approbation which the Lord will giue vs if he be a witnesse of our sincerity and faithfulnesse Vse 2 Consol in regard of 1. Discouragement If we come to the Sermon in obedience to Gods ordinance with a desire to get grace thereby if wee come to the Saerament that we may haue communion with our head Christ Iesus and that the new Testament or couenant of God may be sealed and cōfirmed vnto vs if we see our weakenesse and labour to get strength against it if we bewaile our corruption and striue to get victory ouer it if we perceiue the imbecillity of our faith and would haue it increased or want of repentance and would haue it renewed or defect of loue and would haue it augmented and so come to Gods holy feast with an hungry appetite we may comfortably partake of his heauenly mysteries and whatsoeuer we imagine of our selues God wil reward vs according to that integrity which hee seeth in vs. Well was it for Nathaniel that his heart was knowne vnto Christ for otherwise he had lost the praise of his vprightnesse And so is it with many Christians if one should demaund of them whether they had faithfull hearts or not the answere of many would be I hope well but in truth I dare not say so much and therfore this is not the least part of their happines that god discerneth the truth of their hearts better than they themselues do and whereas there is some deceitfulnesse in the most sincere and plaine heart that is if there be any endeauor to shake it off the Lord will certainly pardon and remoue the same 2 Secondly 2. Of slanders here is matter of consolation to those that are sound hearted in regard of the clamors and slanders that are raised against them they are vsually charged to be all hypocrits troublers of the places where they liue and such as altogether serue their owne turnes in that profession of religion which they make and here is their comfort the Lord knoweth their hearts and he will cleare the innocent and make their righteousnesse shine forth as the noone day as he will iudgeand condemne all hypocrites so will he manifest the faithfulnesse of his owne seruants Iob 16.19 and this was Iobs comfort when his friends accounted him a dissembler My wit nesse is in the heanens saith he and my record is on high Labour not for the meat that perisheth but for
vnto his Father for a blessing to be bestowed vpon the receiuing of it not onely vpon those that were then present but vpon all that should afterwards to the end of the world faithfully partake of the same In that Christ Iesus seekes the blessing of this ordinance from the Lord Doct. 6 the doctrine is that The vertue and efficacie of the Sacrament The vertue of the Sacrament is from Gods owne hand See the Sermon on Iohn the 6. is from Gods owne hand through the mediation of Christ Iesus God giues it and Christ procures the benefite of it vnto his people and this is common to all other ordinances and seruices with the Sacrament To this purpose it is said that Moses gaue not that Manna vnto the Israelites in the wildernesse from heauen Doct. 5 but my Father saith Christ giueth you the true bread Iohn 6.32.33 which giueth life vnto the world that no Minister nor creature in heauen or earth can bestow vpon any First Reasons 1 one generall reason of this doctrine is that euery good giuing and euery perfect gift is from aboue and cometh downe from the Father of lights Iames 1.17 Now what more excellent perfect gift can there be then the body and bloud of Iesus Christ and therefore if God be the author and giuer of all other good things this must of necessity proceed from his bounty in a speciall manner A second cause why God wil haue the disposing of his graces in his owne hand is that there might be a difference betweene him and all his Ministers and that he might retaine that prerogatiue for Christ Iesus alone for he it is that giueth the meate which endureth to euerlasting life And the reason is because the Father hath sealed him that is the Lord hath authorized him by the broade seale of heauen and will et none to be copartners with him in that office he is the Lord Treasurer of all graces and therefore he must blesse his ordinances vnto vs if euer we looke for benefite thereby In which regard Iohn Baptist saith I baptize you with water that is all that he could do as for washing of the heart and purging of the conscience that he attributeth wholly vnto Christ Iesus Matth. 3.11 He will baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire Iohn would not arrogate that vnto himselfe lest he should treacherously lay claime to that which is proper vnto the crowne The like faithfulnesse in giuing God his due we see in the Apostle Paul who saith I haue planted Apollos watered 1 Cor. 3.6 but God giueth the increase thereby intimating that the best Ministers are but as Gardeners in the Lords Church they can but put the scions into the stock or the roote into the ground And as possible it is for a man to make a tree as for a Minister to make a Christian and as possible to put sap into a dead blocke and to make it grow and flourish and bring forth fruit in aboundance as for a Minister to put into any the least drop of grace or to adde any whit vnto it where it is already wrought Thirdly the Lord wil haue the vertue of the Sacrament to be in his owne power to bestow where how he will that there might be a difference betweene Communicants to wit betweene the good and the bad If it were in mens hands to dispose and did consist in the deede done as ignorant Papists imagine men would bestow it promiscuously and wicked hypocrites should haue as good a share as those that are truly religious and the worst speed as well as the best for men cannot search the hearts of their people to see with what prepararation they come and there is that loue in them which is a thing commendable that they desire all might be faued If Moses could haue giuen euery man in Israel grace when he gaue them the Manna he would haue done it he that could haue bene content that his name should be razed out of the booke of life for their sakes would not haue stuck with them for such a matter If Abraham could haue circumcised Ismaels heart when he circumcised his flesh he should not haue bene excommunicated for his prophanenesse but God hath alwaies heretofore and doth still keep this power in his owne hand that so he may enrich with grace those whom he thinketh fittest and deale with euery one as he knoweth their hearts 1 Cor. 10. Moses was the Minister of Baptisme to those that passed through the red sea yet with many of them God was not pleased for onely those that are good in his sight shall taste of his good gifts And therefore Christ praieth not for the world but onely for those which he hath chosen out of the world Iohn 17. such as shall beleeue through the preaching of the Gospell that they may be partakers of the benefite of his ordinances First for instruction Vse 1 if euer we would speed well when we come to the Sacrament let vs make the Lord our friend sith the distribution of grace pertaineth to him alone let vs seeke it at his hand and not bring any sinne with vs which may offend his glorious presence which if we can do we may and must expect a blessing from him It is not the goodnesse of the Minister that can do it though it be a good comfort to haue a holy mans praier for vs it is as possible that a man should appoint where the raine shall fall as where grace shall fall and though it should be concluded by Parliament what daies it should raine and in what parts of the land it were of no force for God alone hath the ordering of the cloudes and so hath he also of the graces of his Spirit Secondly Vse 2 this maketh for the comfort of such as come preparedly vnto the table of the Lord with a true heart though burdened and wearied with many corruptions Christ hath praied that the Sacrament may be effectuall vnto them and therefore it shall be so and he hath praised God for giuing it vnto his people and therefore it shall not be in vaine neither their owne weaknesse nor the meanenesse of the Elements nor the imperfections of the Minister shall hinder the powerfull working of Gods ordinance But we are base creatures Obiect and the Minister is no better then he should be Indeed if Grace were to be fetched out of such dirty ditches as we are we could looke for little good Answer but God is a cleare fountaine and from his fulnesse shall we receiue grace vpon grace But alas neither we Obiect nor our Minister can pray so earnestly nor praise God so heartily when we communicate at the Lords table as God requires and we ought to do What of that Answer were not Christs praiers and praises such as must needes be pleasing to the Lord If they were as cannot be denyed let vs neuer be discouraged for
TEN SERMONS tending chiefely to the fitting of men for the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper Wherein amongst many other holy instructions the Doctrines of sound repentance and humiliation and of Gods speciall fauours vnto penitent sinners and worthy Communicants are largely and effectually handled The six first by I. Dod. The foure last by R. Cleauer Whereunto is annexed a plaine and learned metaphrase on the Epistle to the COLLOSSIANS written by a godly and iudicious Preacher There is also set before the Sermons a short Dialogue of Preparation containing the chiefe points that concerne the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper taken for the most part out of the Sermons following and collected into a method for the benefit and ease of those that desire direction in this matter LONDON Printed by William Hall for Roger Iackson and are to bee sold at his shop neere the Conduit in Fleet-street 1610. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL THE LADIE ANNE COPE WIFE TO SIR ANTHONY COPE of Hanwell and to her vertuous daughter the Lady ELIZABETH COPE wife to Sir WILLIAM COPE of Hardwicke increase of grace and all true happinesse c. IT is a thing better knowne then well considered of that in the mysticall body of Christ Iesus euery member hath his seuerall office whereon it must attend the weakest as well as the strongest and in the familie of the great Ruler of heauen and earth each seruant hath his seuerall talent which hee must imploy the meanest as well as the worthiest To deny my selfe to bee a member of that body a seruant of that family I cannot without iniurie to God and myselfe To professe to bee such a one in word and in deed to denie it were no lesse dishonourable to my head to my master then discomfortable to my selfe What then is to bee done I bethought my selfe for the auoiding of these rockes what seruice I might performe and in thinking this which J haue now done was offered to my consideration whereby as an vnderling in Gods houshold for want of greater abilitie I haue done my best endeauour to put foorth to the best aduantage others talents which else to the griefe of many would haue beene hidden at least if not vtterly lost For the doing whereof I had rather vndergoe the censures of such as are curious and carnally disposed then depriue those of a benefit that are religious and spiritually minded Let it not bee offensiue vnto your Ladiships that I haue presumed to offer these Sermons vnto publike view sheltered as it were vnder your names for I had sundry motiues which euē enforced me thus to do First in regard of the matter therein contained much of it being deliuered in your hearing and all of it suting vnto your affections whose religious care for the preparing both of your selues and of those that depend vpon you for the worthy receiuing of the holie Sacrament is well knowne vnto those that are acquainted with your conuersation in Christ Iesus Secondly in regard of the Authors whose affection I perswade my selfe is such towards you in sundry both Ciuill and Religious respects that they would most willinglie consecrate themselues and their labours to your further building vp in Christ Iesus Lastly in regard of my selfe who for many speciall fauours receiued doe acknowledge my selfe vnrequiteablie indepted and indissolublie bound vnto your Ladiships And hauing nothing of mine owne of any worth whereby to testifie my vnfained thankefulnesse I haue borrowed of others for this purpose and withall annexed my hand-writing that if my ingratitude should heereafter appeare I might by a publike censure bee condemned and made ashamed for the same Thus hoping for pardon of my boldnesse and for fauourable acceptance of my good meaning in this behalfe I humbly take my leaue recommending your Ladiships to the Lord and to the word of his grace who is able to perfect that good worke which hee hath begunne in you both Your Ladiships much bounden and in all Christian duties to bee commanded IOHN WINSTON To the Christian Reader LOOke not good reader to find in these Sermons an absolute discourse of this subiect of preparation to the Sacrament for that was not intended by the authors but onely the excitement of their present auditors as they saw occasion whereby yet I doubt not but a Christian heart shall finde great furtherance in that worke of preparation Furthermore let it please the Reader to bee aduertised that the texts handled in this booke haue neither so many doctrines gathered from them as the authors could haue done nor so many vses enforced vpon the doctrines but onlie such as were thought most meete for their present auditorie In this which I haue done I had as the approbation so also the helpe of those that preached these Sermons following for the reuising and perfecting of diuers things yet so as their leasure could afford and therefore what defects soeuer shall be found in the maner of penning let them bee imputed to mee if the Printer bee not faultie not vnto them who were content to put a finger but not their whole hand to this worke Iohn Winston A SVMMARIE COLLECTION OF THE HEADS OF Doctrine handled in the Sermons following The Doctrines of the first Sermon on PROV 28.13 1 HIding of sinne hindreth all true prosperitie 2 Hee that would haue pardon for his offences must bring before God an acknowledgement of the same 3 Hee that would bee assured of Gods fauour must ioine reformation with his confession 4 Whosoeuer confesseth his faults and endeauours to amend them shall finde mercy from God how sinfull soeuer hee hath beene in former times The doctrines of the second and third Sermons on ISA. 1.16 1 Whosoeuer would haue God to wash him with the blood of his sonne must wash himselfe by godly sorrow 2 Christians must haue regard to the manner of their good works as well as to the matter 3 All penitent persons must learne to doe well 4 Euery one must haue a principall care of the duties that pertaine vnto him in his owne place 5 Workes of mercy are very acceptable vnto the Lord. 6 In matters of Religion men must hearken vnto God and not vnto flesh and blood 7 If wee become truely penitent neither the greatnesse nor multitude of of our sinnes shall hinder our saluation 8 God looketh for truth not for perfection at the hands of his children 9 Those that haue soundly repented shall not onely haue spirituall graces but also corporall blessings bestowed vpon them The Doctrines of the fourth Sermon on 2. CRON 30.18 1 IT is the dutie of all gouernours to pray for them that belong vnto their charge 2 Whosoeuer would receiue mercy from God in the Sacrament must come with a sincere heart thereunto 3 So long as wee labour to keepe the substance of Gods worship willinglly though wee faile in some circumstances vnwillingly God will bee mercifull vnto vs. 4 God doth accept and will fulfill euery faithfull praier that is
Micah 7.8 there is none that can take more delight in following after their recreations and pleasures that doe most affect them then the Lord doth in shewing himselfe fauourable vnto those that seeke mercie and grace from him in thevse of his ordinances If yee consent to obey Obiect The next thing that might hinder and dismay them from turning vnto the Lord by sound repentance is that he is so holy and righteous and his law so strict and rigorous and they so sinfull and rebellious that it were in vaine for them to goe about to yeeld obedience thereunto they should neuer attaine vnto it and therefore as good for them neuer to begin the worke as not to accomplish and finish the same And thence it is that a number sit downe as sluggards and neuer set one foot forwards in the way of godlinesse because they imagine that there is a greater difficultie in Euangelicall obedience then indeed there is little knowing what Gods meaning is Ans when hee calleth vpon vs to be obedient For his purpose is not to vrge vs to a perfect fulfilling of the Law such as was required of Adam before his fall but onely that wee should doe our best endeauour and labour to conforme our selues to his will as neere as wee can if there be a true sincere loue and a harty consent to shew our selues dutifull and loyall subiects to him in all things it is as much as hee exacteth of vs. The doctrine to be learned from hence is this that God accepteth of penitent persons Doct. 9 the will for the deed as for the fulfilling of the Law in absolute perfection that Christ alone hath performed hee hath paid our debt and canceld the band Coloss 2. and taken away the hand-writing that was against vs Now this onely remaineth for vs that wee haue a good inclination and a willing mind to performe our dutie and labour to the vtmost of our strength so to doe seeing and bewailing our manifold imperfections errors and failings in euery one of our seruices which if wee can doe God will be as well pleased with vs through his beloued sonne as if wee had keept the whole Law without any departing from it at all either to the right hand or to left That which is spoken in the matter of communicating vnto the necessities of the Saints in the Epistle to the Corinths to wit 2. Cor. 8.12 if there bee first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not holdeth as true in all other seruices that wee are accepted with the Lord according as wee are inwardly affected albeit our actions be not answerable to our desires for hee that hath a ready minde to doe what hee can and doth the same would be as ready to doe a great deale more if his abilitie did serue and therefore the Lord will shew his gracious acceptance of that which is done by him though it bee neuer so little as well as if it had beene a matter of farre greater worth Now that the true purpose and intent of the heart is that which God principally regardeth in his seruants may be made yet more cleare by examples taken out of the Scriptures We may reade in Genesis what God saith of Abraham Gen. 22.16.17 By my selfe haue I sworne saith the Lord because thou hast done this thing and not spared thine onely sonne Therefore will I surely blesse thee And why Isaac was not slaine but Abraham withdrew his hand from him and spared him yet because he was content to kill him and made all things ready for the sacrificing of him God accounteth it as good and rewardeth it as well as if hee had killed him indeed So Dauid had but a purpose to build the Temple which worke was afterward laid vpon Salomon and by him performed yet the Lord giueth him a good testimony and a large reward for his readinesse that way hee was content to spare him because hee had beene at great paines before 1. Chron. 17. in shedding the blood of many enemies of the Church and some remained yet still to be subdued by him yet this he telleth him for his comfort 2. Chron. 6.8 Whereas it was in thy heart to build an house vnto my name thou diddest well that thou wast so minded And besides this hee biddeth Nathan to carrie him this message that the Lord would build him an house and would raise vp his seed after him 1. Chron. 17.10.11.12 and imploy his sonne in that honorable seruice of building an house vnto the name of the Lord and that hee would establish his throane for euer And there is reason why God should accept of the will as well as of the deed for 1 First Reasons why doe wee thinke hee will haue regard vnto the deed because it is his owne worke and is not the will his worke as well as the deede that is most certaine for the Apostle saith to the Philippians Phil. 2.13 It is God that worketh in you both the will and the deed of his good pleasure And therefore if wee can beleeue that he is pleased with our good actions wee may be as well perswaded that hee is delighted with good motions and holy desires that are stirred vp in our hearts by his owne good spirit 2 Another reason why God taketh such small things in good worth Psal 103. Mat. 3.17 is because hee is both in name and nature a father yea an heauenly father and therefore hath compassion of those that feare him euen as an earthly father hath of his child that serueth him Now hee that is a mercifull and wise and louing father as those will bee euer most mercifull to others that haue tasted most of Gods mercie to themselues when hee seeth that his child doth as well as hee can though it bee but simply and poorely yet hee will shew his liking of it and commend him for it Note and so will God deale with vs though we cannot do things perfectly yet if we do them obediētly he wil shew his loue approbation of vs and of our works When a litle child doth cheerefully aime shoote at the mark which his father proposeth vnto him though by reason of his weaknes he shoote very wide and short Yet it is as well accepted of his father as if he did hit the white and the like fatherly dealing shal we find in God that if we befaithfull in a little he wil esteeme of vs as if wee performed a great deale more Indeed when we haue put off the image of the first Adam haue put on the Image of the second Adam and haue changed the earth for heauen then wee shall not onely obey truely The perfection of a Christian heere Nehem. 1.11 but perfectlie but heere it is in truth and so it must bee esteemed one degree of perfection to see our owne imperfections And that was in
you may raigne with his owne sonne therefore doe you lead such a life as becomes heires of such a kingdome and adorne your selues with such graces as may beseeme the spouse of Christ and those that are the chosen people of the Lord euen such as are called vnto holinesse and vnto whom God hath manifested his loue and seeing hee hath forgiuen you so many sinnes and doth continually passe by so many of your infirmities doe you put on tender mercy c. he reckneth vp diuers of those particular vertues whereby hee would haue them shine forth before men and first he willeth them to put on tender mercy not only to haue but to put on a mercifull heart many haue this grace which doe not put it on that is doe not stirre vp their hearts nor make them sensible of the wants and necessities and distresses of their poore brethren the bowels of compassion are not so moued within thē that they out of a fellow-feeling of their griefes doe proceede from pitying of them to releeuing of them but the Apostle would haue men so to be indued with these graces that they put them forth for the vse of others as occasion is offered The next vertue which wee must put on is kindnesse wee must not be fierce nor froward tart nor sower in our speeches or cariage but be affable and amiable in our conuersation that so we may not discourage nor discountenance those that haue to speake or deale with vs. But how may we attaine to this kindnesse get humblenesse which is the next vertue for whence commeth it to passe that men are so harsh and rough so loud and full of crying in their speeches that very true reason is because they are proud therefore the same mind should bee in vs that was in Christ Iesus who was still ready to beare with infirmities and to pray for his sorest aduersaries The next grace is meekenesse which consisteth in this that wee bee not busie and violent in our owne priuate matters but content to part with our owne right so farre as Gods glory and a good conscience doe require Another vertue is long suffering which is fitly ioyned with the former for some might say Obiect I haue shewed meekenes and peaceablenesse in my behauiour but all will not serue the turne I am still vexed with vnkindnesse and indignities and must I still put vp all yes surely you must suffer long Answ therein imitating the Lord himselfe for hath hee not borne long with you did not he spare you many yeeres before your conuersion and are you so reformed now that you neede not his long suffering and patience Oh Obiect but those with whom I haue to deale are very full of infirmities and defects Beare with them then vers 13. Answ you are not without imperfections your selfe they put you to the triall now you know not how soone you may put them or some others to the like and therefore seeke rather to mend faults then to finde faults and to helpe men out of them rather then to bee imbittered against them for the same But there is a quarell betwixt vs and what shall wee make of that The Apostle telleth you how to make briefe worke how to make the best cheapest most Christian end of all controuersies that is freely to forgine one another Obie Obiect But who could euer put vp such wrongs and sit downe by such iniuries Answer Answer Christ Iesus could and therefore it is added Euen as Christ Iesus forgane you euen so doe ye There is none of the elect of God but must be driuen to confesse that our Sauiour hath passed by farre greater matters in him then hee can doe in any man yea and doth so still euen euery day and houre or else it would goe full ill with him which being so they would not sticke to forgiue and forget one anothers trespasses and offences of what kind and of what degree soeuer These vertues if wee can get and exercise it is certaine that we haue the wedding garment and therefore may boldly and comfortably stand before him that hath pure and fiery eies for say that he hate all iniquitie as indeede hee doth with a deadly hatred if we do so too God and we are of one mind and of on side he will neuerlay any of our sins vnto our charge Thus haue wee heard what the wedding garment is now it is further to be considered Who must bestow the wedding garment Reuel 19.7.8 how we may come by it and the way is to goe vnto Christ Iesus for it for his spouse must be cloathed and decked by himselfe who is the Bridgrome and therefore he exhorteth the Church of the Laodiceans that was poore and miserable and blind and naked to buy of him white raiment Reu. 3.17.18 which is the righteousnesse of Saints Renel 19.8 that their filthy nakednesse might not appeare but bee couered through the righteousnes of Christ which maketh vs as righteous heere Psal 31. as we shall bee when wee come to heauen though we cannot see it so clearely nor apprehend it so fully Now we see where it may be bought the next question will be how it must be bought And for answer thereunto How it must bee gotten we must know that three things are to be performed The first is Put off our ragges that we must put off our owne filthy and ragged cloathes to wit our sinfull and corrupt natures and our bad and vile conuersation as the Apostle willeth the Ephesians Cast yee offeoncerning the conuersation in time past Ephes 4.22 the old man which is corrupt through the deceiuable lusts This then is the first dutie by sound and hearty repentance to make a riddance of all grosse sinnes and to purge our selues as much as possibly we can from all infirmities for certaine it is that the wedding garment can not be obtained vntill wee bee fit for the same The old man and the new will not agree together Wherefore when the Prophet Isaiah exhorteth men to come and buy Isa 5.5.7 c. he saith Let the wicked forsake his waies and the vngodly his own imaginatiōs c. now then we forsake them when with purpose of heart wee cleaue vnto the Lord and depart from iniquitie and that is as farre as any man huing can goe to intend and desire to doe all good duties and to leaue the contrarie euils The next thing required of him that would buy this white raimēt is Desire it that he must much esteem and desire it for the thirstie soule alone shall be satisfied with good things Now that we may get this spirituall affection Isa 55.1 we must labor to haue a sight of our miserable estate while we are naked and destitute of this raiment and of our happy case when we shal be adorned therwith which being well considered of will make vs more to affect it then all the treasures of
you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Iesus Christ And considering that the blessing of all labour dependeth vpon the Lord our beginning is with hearty prayer vnto God for the grace and fauour of God to be freely giuen together with all blessings both of this life and of that which is to come from GOD the Father and from our Lord Iesus Christ to you Colossians yet not all that dwell in that citiy but to those which by faith are Saints and brethren not in the flesh but in Iesus Christ Verse 3. We giue thanks vnto God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ alwaies praying for you And that you may haue further testimony of our loue towards you know you that we do continually both pray giue thanks to God for you whom to separate from all false Gods I call the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Verse 4. Since we heard of your faith in Christ Iesus and of your loue towards all Saints For the report of your profession and piety in Iesus Christ and of your loue towards all Saints is come vnto vs. Verse 5. For the hopes sake which is laid vp for you in heauen whereof ye haue heard before by the word of truth which is the Gospell Which both profession and loue we know to be sincere in that they are vpholden in you through the hope expectation of a treasure laid vp not on earth but in heauen which hope you haue conceiued not of your owne fantasie or of the word of any man but by the word of truth that is to say the Gospell Verse 6. VVhich is come vnto you euen as it is vnto all the world and is fruitfull as it is also among you from the day that ye heard and truly knew the grace of God And if you aske what is that truth or Gospell verily none other then that which is preached among you now which is not among you alone but is preached in all the world a certaine note of the truth therof there hauing neuer bin nor euer shall be any doctrine which hath leauened so great a lump of dow as is the world but only the Gospell And for further assurance that it is the truth of God I offer this to your consideration that as in other places of the world so among you it hath brought forth fruit euen from the first time you haue truly and sincerely acknowledged this grace of God Verse 7. As ye also learned of Epaphras our deare fellow seruant which is for you a faithfull Minister of Christ Where if you say we know not what doctrine is preached in all the world nor what fruit it hath brought forth although it be no other thing then the common constant report which many may bring vnto you yet to ioyne neare vnto you and to ridde you of all doubt which is the true Gospell of Christ it is euen the very same that you haue learned of Epaphras whom if you loue me you must loue as being my beloued fellow seruant in Christ yea if you loue your selues you must respect him as being a faithfull Minister of Christ for you Verse 8. VVho hath also declared vnto vs your loue which yee haue by the Spirit Who made manifest vnto vs your true loue not onely naturall but that especially which is spirituall whereof the Spirit is the author Verse 9. For this cause we also since the day we heard of it cease not to pray for you and to desire that yee might be fulfilled with knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding And as we giue thankes for your good and so for the same cause that you haue well begun both because you should not go backe againe and for that you haue not attained to perfection euen from the first day we heard of you we neuer giue ouer praying for you making this suit that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and vnderstanding whereof the holy Ghost is the Author Verse 10. That ye might walke worthy of the Lord and please him in all things being fruitfull in all good workes and increasing in the knowledge of God Not that you should content your selues with a bare knowledge and contemplation of heauenly things but that you walke worthy of those whom the Lord hath called to such honor to a full and whole pleasing of him both by bringing forth frunt in euery good worke and by being increased in the knowledge of God Verse 11. Strengthened with all might through his glorious power vnto all patience and long suffering with ioyfullnesse Wherein because there are many difficulties and hinderances laid in your waye our suit also is that you may be strengthened with all manner of strength according to that glorious power which being in God he is able to furnish you with that euen with ioy you may be able to beare all troubles how grieuous and how continuall soeuer they be Vers 12. Giuing thanks vnto the Father which hath made vs meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light And as we giue not ouer praying for you so doe we not cease to giue thanks to God the Father because that it is he that by his holy Spirit hath made vs fit to haue a part in the inheritance of Saints whom whether we consider as they are in this world by reason of the comfort and true knowledge of God or as they shall be in the world to come by reason of their perfect blessednesse may well be said to be in light Vers 13. Who hath deliuered vs from the power of darknesse and hath translated vs into the kingdome of his deare Sonne This parte of our inheritance standeth first in that God with a mercifull hand pulled vs out both of the present darknesse of ignorance and disobedience and from that which is to come euen the most fearful punishment of them both And secondly it standeth in this that the same God hath translated vs into the kingdome of his most deare Sonne which being here begun shall be accomplished in the life to come Vers 14. In whom we haue redemption through his bloud that is the forgiuenesse of sinnes In which his deare Sonne we haue a full redemption whereof one parte which is our iustification we haue already receiued waiting for that which remaineth euen the redemption of our bodies all which redemption is purchased vnto vs in the obedience of the Sonne which obedience was specially and most significantly declared in the shedding of his bloud Vers 15. VVho is the image of the inuisible God the first borne of euery creature This Christ that you may know what plentifull and rich redemption you haue in him to the end that you may rest in him alone is thus set forth vnto you as followeth As touching his person standing of two natures he is the most liuely and expresse Image and character of God not only of
his qualities if yet there were any qualities in the Godhead but of his very nature and essence in whom we behold God which is inuisible and touch him which is vnfeelable which is the principal heire of all the creatures in the world in whom wee that beleeue haue right vnto them Vers 16. For by him were all things created which are in heauen and which are in earth things visible and inuisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all thinges were created by him and for him For by him all thinges are created in heauen and in earth visible and inuisible euen the Angels themselues to the worshipping of whom ye are seduced and amongst them all of what degree or place soeuer they be whether they sit in Thrones or whether they haue Lordship principalitie or power ouer other Angels all things are made by him and for him Vers 17. And he is before all things and in him all thinges consist Wherefore he is before all things and all things haue their continuance and are vpholden by him Vers 18. And he is the head of the body of the Church he is the beginning and the first borne of the dead that in all things he might haue the preeminence And as touching his office which he executeth in respect of both natures he is the head of the Church which is his body and he is the first fruites and first begotten of the dead not onely in respect that himselfe is risen but also that he is the authour of resurrection which is here begun shal be perfected in the last day when he shall change these vile bodies and make them like his glorious body Vers 19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell For in him it is the good pleasure of GOD that the grace of the Spirit should without measure fully dwell Vers 20. And by him to reconcile all things vnto himselfe and to set at peace through the bloud of his Crosse both the things in earth and the things in heauen That by him he might reconcile vnto himselfe making peace by the death of his crosse betweene God and all men whether it be they which hauing beleeued in him before his coming are now in heauen or those which beeing in earth doe beleeue in him Vers 21 And you which were in times past strangers and enimies because your minds were set in euill workes hath he now also reconciled Wherefore hauing reconciled all vnto himselfe he hath reconciled you also which benefit that it may be the better esteemed consider what ye were when he reconciled you strangers from GOD yea enimies in your very vnderstanding which is the chiefest and therefore much more in other parts which enmity was made manifest by your euill works Vers 22. In the body of his flesh through death to make you holy and vnblameable and without fault in his sight I say now he hath reconciled you in his humaine nature like vnto ours by his death to the end he might make you holy and without spot and blamlesse in all sincerity as before himselfe 23. If yee continue grounded and stablished in the faith and be not moued away from the hope of the Gospell whereof ye haue heard and which hath bene preached to euery creature which is vnder heauen whereof I Paul am a Minister And this reconciliation know no otherwise to belong vnto you then ye abide grounded and setled in faith and be not carried away from the hope you haue heard in the gospell the truth whereof appeareth in that in so short a time it hath bene preached to al nations vnder the cope of heauen of which gospell I my selfe am a Minister 24. Now reioyce I in my sufferings for you and fulfill the rest of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his bodies sake which is the Church Wherein it ought not to dismay you that I am in bonds seeing my selfe doe reioyce in it seeing it is not for redemption which Christ alone hath wrought but for the confirmation of your faith and example of your patience and seeing thereby are fulfilled the passions which are yet wanting vnto the body of Christ which is the Church which must be like vnto Christ her head in suffering that it may be like vnto him in glory And finally since it is not for your good alone but for the good of the whole body of Christ which is the Church Vers 25. Whereof I am a Minister according to the dispensation of God which is giuen me vnto youward to fulfill the word of God Whereof as of the Gospell I am a Minister and that by the ordinance of GOD who committed a stewardship vnto me that in you might be fulfilled the word of God vers 26. which is the mystery hid since the world began and from all ages but now is made manifest to his Saints I meane the secret of the Gospell so worthily called for that it hath bene hidden from all times and generations hitherto and now is made manifest not to all but to his Saints vers 27. To whom God would make knowen what is the riches of his glorious mysterie among the Gentiles which riches is Christ in you the hope of glory Euen to as many as God of his good wil would make knowen the glorious riches of his secret among the Gentiles which glorious riches is Christ in you the same alone by whom we may hope for glory vers 28. VVhom we preach admonishing euery man and teaching euery man in all wisedome that we may present euery man perfect in Christ Iesus The same also whom we do preach partly admonishing all sorts of men and partly teaching all sorts of men all heauenly wisedome thereby to present men of all sorts perfectly wise and blessed through Iesus Christ vers 29. VVhereunto I also labour and striue according to his working which worketh in me mightily whereunto I labour sore striuing forcibly which yet would be vnfruitfull were it not that God worketh by his Spirit mightily with my Ministery The end of the first Chapter CHAP. 2. Vers 1. For I would ye knewe what great fighting I haue for your sakes and for them of Laodicea and for as many as haue not seene my person in the flesh THAT which I say of my grieuous labour and strife for all men is truly verified of you for I would not haue you ignorant of the great agony and strife for you and for those that are in the Church of Laodicea and others that are about you in the Countries of Phrigia notwithstanding that they neuer saw my person vers 2. That their hearts might be comforted they knit together in loue and in all riches of the full assurance of vnderstanding to know the mysterie of God euen the Father and of Christ And my care and thought is that through the preaching of the Gospell you might be comforted at the heart by a knitting setling together
this meanes circumcision is taken away so likewise is taken away difference of all meates and dayes Therefore as in Christ no man should condemne you for the vse of any meate and drinke or in respect of a feast day whether it be new Moone or the three solemne Sabbaths so if any man either ignorantly or maliciously do condemne you you shall not need to feare their iudgement verse 17. Which are but a shadow of things to come but the body is in Christ Considering that these things were but shadowes which haue no more place Christ the head being come verse 18. Let no man at his pleasure beare rule ouer you by humblenesse of minde and worshipping of Angels aduancing himselfe in those things which he neuer saw rashly puft vp with his fleshly minde Now hauing spoken of the Elements of the world which are the ceremonies of the law I come to the vaine Philosophy I gaue you warning of against the which I obserue this rule that you giue no man of what shew soeuer this power ouer you that for his owne lust in matters pertaining to God he vsurpe authority howsoeuer the doctrine he bring carry a shew of humility as for example those that teach the worshipping of Angels as meanes to come more easily to Christ In which thing what do they else but thrust thēselues into things they neuer knew only grounded vpon a proud conceit of their fleshly minde notwithstanding their great pretence of humility verse 19. And holdeth not the head whereof all the body furnished and knit together by ioynts and bands increaseth with the increasing of God Which errour ought so much the more to be abhorred as they which are infected with it do not indeede whatsoeuer they do in word hold Christ fast which is the head of the Church of whō the whole body as it were by ioints and bonds being furnished and compact together is enriched increased with an increase which God both alloweth and giueth verse 20. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the ordinances of the world why as though ye liued in the world are yee burdened with traditions Now seeing you are dead with Christ by whose death you are deliuered from the ceremonies of Gods owne law wherewith as with certaine rudiments the people of the Iewes were trained to further perfection which now they haue attained vnto in the doctrine of the Gospell why as though you liued stil in the world do you suffer your selues to be charged with the ceremonies of the world verse 21. As Touch not taste not handle not I say that which you and your false teachers say Touch not such a thing taste not such a meate handle not such a one verse 22. Which all perish with the vsing and are after the commandements and doctrines of men All which things seeing that through the vse of them they are consumed haue no strength to life euerlasting especially being nothing but the doctrines and commandements of men verse 23. Which things haue indeede a shew of wisedome in voluntary religion and humblenesse of minde and in not sparing the body neither haue they it in any estimation to satisfie the flesh I deny not but that they haue a colour and shew of wisedome partly in that in them there is a worship ouer and aboue that which God hath commanded to whom no seruice is sufficient which we can do partly through a kinde of humility and partly in a hard vsage of the body which yet are of no price seeing they are of things wherewith the flesh is filled CHAP. 3. Vers 1. If ye then be risen with Christ seeke those things which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God BEing through faith ingrafted and incorporated into Christ as hath bene said as your selues professe as touching sinne dead and buried with him and as touching newnesse of life quickned and risen againe Now if in truth you be risen with Christ then as Christ rising remained not here on earth but ascended vp into heauen where vnder God as touching his manhood he is exalted in power and maiesty aboue all powers and principalities in heauen and earth so you by seeing seeking after the graces that come from aboue ascend vp whither he is gone vers 2. Set your affections on thinges which are aboue and not on things which are one the earth And to the intent you may carefully seeke after them ye must first fauour and set your affections vpon the things that are aboue and consequently not to set your affections vpon either the former corruptions of false doctrine or else vpon the defilements of a corrupt conuersation of life or finally vpon the perishable transitory things of this base world all which are meere earthly verse 3. For yee are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God Vnto which distaste of earthly things you are called in that you beeing risen with Christ are consequently dead with him Where if haply you should obiect that there is small wisedome to quitte your former life not being assured of another and should aske how it should appeare you liue seeing besides the afflictions you are exposed vnto you feele the dayly incumbrance of sinne which dwelleth in your mortall bodies It is true that it is not so apparant as that which is hidden from the world and of your selues not so fully and feelingly vnderstood Howbeit that ought not to dismay you first for that it is laid vp with God who is a true keeper of it And secondly for that as your life is hidden so is Christs life and glory who is the head Verse Isay 60 17.19 and 65.19 Mat. 17. 4. When Christ which is our life shall appeare then shall ye also appeare with him in glory And lastly for that when Christ of whom you haue life shall be made manifest in glory then shall you also with him appeare glorious verse 5 Mortifie therefore your members which are on the earth fornication vncleannesse the inordinate affection euill concupiscence and couetousnesse which is idolatry Wherefore being assured of another life mortifie your members that are earthly and carnal If you aske what I cannot reckon vp all but I will touch some those specially that you are infected with wherby you may easily conceiue of the rest such as are fornication vncleane behauior wantonnesse euill concupiscence and coueteousnesse which besides the excessiue desire of goods is a kind of idolatry for that men do put their trust in riches that are couetous Verse 6. For the which things sake the wrath of God commeth on the children of disobedience For euery one of the which the wrath of God commeth on those that remaine in them Verse 7. Wherein yee also walked once when ye liued in them And the rather mortifie these sinnes as in times past you haue practised them when being giuen vnto them your naturall corruption as a kind of life gaue power and mouing for the practise
Nehemiah and in those of his time O Lord I beseech thee let thine eare now harken to the praier of thy seruant and to the praier of thy seruants who desire to feare thy name Hee could not say that they did so feare his name as they should but this they could say that they desired to doe it better which desire was a fruite of the grace it selfe This should instruct and incourage vs still to bee doing in the seruices and workes of God Vse Oh but wee finde many imperfections Obiecti and many wants and weakenesses in our selues What of that If we aime at perfection Answ and haue respect to euery commandement of God and come as neere the marke as we can the Lord will accept vs according to that wee haue and not reiect vs for that we haue not If wee could obey perfectly to what end were Christ his obedience and if God should looke after none but those that can fully please him in all things hee should bee a Lord and a master without subiects and seruants Psalm 130.3 If thou O Lord saith Dauid shouldest marke what is done amisse who should stand Therefore though wee cannot pray with that feeling heare and read with that profit sing Psalmes with that ioyfulnesse and cheerefulnesse of heart as wee should though wee cannot forgiue our enemies long for Christ his comming haue such a tender feeling of the afflictions of the Saints nor attaine to such heauenly meditations night or day as wee doe desire and as God doth command yet let vs not bee discouraged if we striue to bring our wicked flesh to the performance of these duties and though we haue much adoe with it yet if wee draw it as a Beare to the stake vnto Gods worship and to the performance of Gods duties in publike and priuate and when we feele most backwardnesse and vntowardnesse in our nature yet wee consent in our very soules that the Law of God is holy and good and iust and that our wils and affections are indeede very corrupt and rebellious but we would rather then all the world that things went otherwise with vs that sinne might bee subdued and grace planted in steede thereof and it is our continuall griefe that God should bee so gracious and kind and liberall to vs and we can be no more obedient and loyall and seruiceable vnto him if I say wee find such a heart within vs we need not be dismaied but may cheerefully goe on with full perswasion and vndoubted resolution that the Lord will be mercifull vnto vs and take our obedience in good worth Onely that wee may not deceiue our selues let vs bee euermore carefull to vse the meanes whereby wee may grow better and auoid the meanes whereby wee may bee made worse As was more largely taught in the former Sermon in the end of the 3. Doctrine For if one say that hee desireth heauen and yet will neuer frequent Sermons nor good companie where hee may bee instructed nor vse any priuate or publike exercises of religion whereby hee may bee edified he is no more to bee regarded then a sluggard that pretendeth that hee meanes to haue a good crop and yet will neither manure nor plow nor sowe his ground but when others are labouring hee is sleeping or loytering as no man will euer looke that the one should haue a plentifull haruest of Corne so will no wise man beleeue that the other shall obtaine a plentifull crop either of grace heere or of glory hereafter Yee shall eat the good things of the Land Before hath beene shewed that all repentant sinners shall haue the blood of Christ to wash and clense their soules now in these words is declared that they shall not onely haue spirituall grace but also right vnto and the right vse of all the benefits of this life Whence this doctrine may be gathered that Obedience to Gods commandements Doct. 10 though it be not perfect True obedience brings outward presperity Deut. 28.1.2 c. brings the blessing of God vpon vs for outward things as well as for inward This is promised in Deuteronomie where Moses speaketh thus vnto the people of Israel If thou shalt obey diligently the voice of the Lord thy God and obserue and doe all his commandements which I command thee this day then the Lord thy God will set thee on high aboue all the nations of the earth And all these blessings shall come on thee c. Blessed shalt thou bee in the Citie and blessed also in the field c. and so he goes on shewing that true and faithfull obedience is that which bringeth all maner of blessings for body and soule for name and estate yea and for seed and prosperitie also 1 Tim. 6. 4.8 And therefore the Apostle telteth Timothy that goodlinesse is great gaine and that it hath the promises of this life and of the life to come in which regard Dauid saith I haue beene yong and now am old Psal 37.25 yet I saw neuer the righteous for saken nor his seed begging their bread Hee had seene and so may wee that children of great men haue broken forth into many horrible sins and so haue beene brought to a strange and miserable and violent death and to many wofull straites and extremities before their death but hee neuer saw neither shall wee see the godly seed of godly men forsaken of God and men and left as vagabonds to beg their bread but God hath euer had and still will haue a speciall care of them and euer made al necessarie prouision for them either hee himselfe by a more particular prouidence of his casteth sufficiently of these outward things vpon them or blesseth their labours so that they are made a meanes of maintenance vnto them or if they faile that way hee moueth the hearts of some or other of his seruants to pitie them and to supply their wants so that whatsoeuer their necessities be they are freed from that curse that is denounced against the seed of the wicked to wit Psal 109. â—0 that they should wander vp and downe as vagrants begging their bread and making a trade of that vile and wretched course of life And there is cause why we should rest fully resolued of this point Reason that none of Gods houshold shall euer want necessarie reliefe Because all will yeeld that hee is the gouernour of heauen and earth and the disposer of all things in them both and then they must grant further that those that are best and doe best shall speed best because God loueth them most and how then can we make question whether or no the Lord will bestow vpon them a competent measure and a comfortable vse of these earthly blessings seeing all is in his hand and hee wisheth so well vnto his owne people especially seeing hee hath straightly charged vs not to care what wee shall eat Math. 6.25 or drinke or what wee shall put on but first