called a kingdome and therefore euery godly one shall bee a king in heauen How commeth this kingdome by grace or desert By the onely grace of God in Iesus Christ Declare the same more euidently First it is the blessing of God and therefore of grace Secondly it is giuen to vs as to heires not as the wages of a seruant which commonly deserueth more then a sonne Thirdly it was prepared for vs from the beginning of the world and therefore is of the meere loue of God and not of merit So much of the sentence What is the reason of it When Christ was an hungred they fedde him when hee was a thirst they gaue him drinke when he was naked they clothed him when he was sicke and in prison they visited him Doth not this reason plainely strengthen the doctrine of merits For. Not so seeing for importeth not heere the cause but the effect as wee say Summer is come for flowers doe spring and It is a good tree for it bringeth forth good fruit these are effects and not causes Moreouer if Christ would haue taught merit then would hee haue chosen the greatest and chiefest workes as of his owne worship in the first table else some might iustly complaine that they were not rewarded according to the measure of their good workes hauing yeelded a greater obedience to the first table then others Why then doth Christ choose those workes of the second table Because they are most manifest to the world following therein the custome of earthly Iudges who insist most vpon plainest proofes either to conuince the guiltie or cleere the innocent so Christ pronounceth his sentence rather according to workes then to faith and those of the second table rather then of the first because that workes are visible and faith inuisible and for that it is easier to play the hypocrite in the obedience of the first table then of the second Why doth Christ heere vse so long a catalogue of these workes To teach vs to exercise mercy in all those duties and not content our selues with any one of them How could they doe these things vnto Christ whom most of them did neuer see When they did any of them to the poore then they did it vnto him What gather you of this That it was a great honour to lodge Angels at vnawares in stead of strangers but this is a farre more excellent honour whereunto Christians are called being assured that in receiuing the poore they receiue Christ himselfe which should stirre vp the bowels of mercy and compassion in vs towards them seeing not so much as a cup of cold water shall bee vnrewarded But how is it that they being then immortall seeme not to know the meaning of this dutie It is set downe not to note ignorance but to teach vs the exceeding bountifulnesse of Christ which is able to astonish them in the middest of their greatest knowledge for the more men know of God the more they wonder at the vnsearchable wisedome of God So much of the former sentence What is the latter It is spoken to the wicked Depart from mee yee cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the diuell and his Angels VVhat is the equitie of this speech It is likewise answerable to their owne desires that in their life thrust away from them the day of the Lord and bid Christ depart When doe the wicked say so to Christ When they refuse to know his will when they disdaine the ministerie the poore and the stranger or doe not prouide for them according to their abilitie What are the parts of this his iudgement First to bee depriued of Gods presence as it is a great part of glory to be continually in his presence Secondly to be euerlastingly tormented in hell fire What is the reason of this sentence It is cleane contrarie to the former in leauing those duties vndone And although the former good workes were not the causes of saluation yet these euill workes are the very next cause of damnation How can that bee Because the best workes of the godly are imperfectly good and cannot deserue life but the euill workes of the euill are perfectly euill and therefore deserue death What is to be considered in their answere Their exceeding wretchednesse whiles they liued heere that neuer considered whom they reiected in reiecting the poore Hitherto of the iudgement What say you to the execution of it Contrarie to the order of the sentences it shall beginne at the wicked for to the end the Angell that shall presently take binde and cast them into hell may attend our Sauiour Christ returning his elect triumphantly going into heauen the sentence must be first executed vpon the wicked Beside that it is agreeable to the order of iustice the Lord appointeth in the Law that the malefactors should be executed in the eye of the Iudge and the godly also that shall see it to abide euerlastingly DAN chap 12. vers 2.3 2 And many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake some to euerlasting life and some to shame and perpetuall contempt 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and they that turne many to righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer and euer WHat is the scope of this place The scope of the Prophet is to hold the faithfull afflicted in a constant course of duety and obedience to the Lord by consideration of the rich reward of the godly and fearefull punishment of the wicked at the second glorious comming of Christ It seemeth by the word many that all shall not rise There seemeth indeed to bee some aduantage giuen to the Iewes who of the first Psalme gather that there is no resurrection of the wicked which notwithstanding is manifestly confuted euen by this place it selfe where it is said that many shall awake to shame euerlasting And when he saith many the word is not restrained to either the iust or wicked but as many of the good should awake and not all so many of the wicked should awake and not all How then is this to be taken It is taken seuerally by it selfe as one whole which is diuided into his parts As if he should say an infinite number shall awake an infinite or a great number of iust and an infinite or great number of the wicked And the like forme of speech to this is vsed of the Apostle Rom. 5. vers 15.19 he saith that many are dead by the sinne of Adam and yet in the 18. vers he sheweth that by those many hee meaneth all and so speaketh that all were condemned in Adam Likewise in the 18. vers it is said that the benefit of Christs death commeth to all meaning the faithfull that by faith are one with Christ as we were all naturally with Adam yet in the 15. and 19. verses those that he called all he tearmeth many Although if he speake of the wicked by themselues and of
to his comming then the former How so Because it hath more arguments then the former First in that they receiued their masters goods wherof they were to giue an account secondly in that their iust reward is more liuely declared What is the parable A certaine housholder about to goe into a strange countrie gaue to each of his seruants a portion of his goods answerable to their estate and abilitie to occupie vntill his returne and as they occupied so they receiued their reward What is the meaning of the parable Christ is the housholder Luk. 19.11.21 the heauens are the strange countrie in regard of vs whither when Christ ascended he distributed his gifts and graces to his Church to occupie them in this life and to render a iust account of them vnto him at his next comming Did not Christ bestow his graces vpon his Church before his ascension No doubt but in regard of the exceeding great graces which hee bestowed after his ascending his former gifts were accounted but as nothing although in the elect they were sufficient to saluation What gather you of this First the exceeding mercy of God in giuing so liberally vnto men and secondly his wisedome in giuing more to some and lesse to others and yet to the least a talent that is to say very much What is the vse of this First if a faithfull seruant will bee carefull for the account of perishable monie much more wee for the Lords spirituall money VVhat secondly If they grudge not at the measure of others much lesse should wee grudge at the greater graces of God in other men and if they rested in their masters wisedome and iudgement who might faile much more should wee rest in the iudgement of our God who cannot faile nay rather we are assured that whatsoeuer he bestoweth vpon any one is for the good of all for euery one hath his portion in other mens gifts If God bestowed his gifts according to the qualitie of men then there is desert in them Not so for although some naturall men excell others in wit and iudgement whereby they are furthered to the discharge of their temporall affaires Phil. 1.6 2.13 yet it is not so in the spirituall seeing the beginning proceeding and perfection thereof is the free gift of God So much in the distribution of talents What consider you in the occupying of them That if men labour earnestly for gaine in vsing worldly money much more should we in the vse of the spirituall especially seeing the best aduenturers may bee crossed in the gaine of their merchandise but the gaine of this spirituall merchandise is most assured when it is employed according to the mind of the giuer How did they occupie their talents He that receiued fiue gained fiue more and hee that receiued two gained likewise two more VVhat learne you of this That the gaine should be answerable to the receit VVhat gather you from thence That no man should measure himselfe by another mans foot as if it were enough to doe as others doe but as God hath measured out his graces to vs so should we practise neither ought he that receiues but two talents to take an occasion to doe nothing because he cannot do so much as others which haue receiued fiue but to labour faithfully according to the gifts which God hath bestowed vpon him What further ariseth out of this That a Christian man ought to know the measure of his gifts so that he be neither proud nor ouerweening thereby the better to know his account Did all that receiued talents gaine accordingly No for the third receiuing but one talent hid it in the ground vntill his masters returne and occupied it not at all which setteth out the sluggishnesse of the vnfaithfull seruants VVhy did he chuse to set downe their vnfaithfulnesse in the least and not in the most Because otherwise men failing in the least would thinke the fearefull iudgement not to belong vnto them Is this iudgement proper onely to the sluggard No it agreeth aswell to all those that seeke their owne gaine and not their Lords how earnest so euer they seeme to bee in the vse of their gifts eating the bread of carefulnesse and drinking the water of affliction Psal 127. Hitherto of the talents and the vse of them What consider you in the accounts First that the day of account shall come although the time indeed short seeme long in our iudgement Therefore wee must continue without fainting in the earnest practise of godlines for if the certainety of the masters comming maketh the seruant watchfull who notwithstanding may die before his master come home and his master also die before the taking of accounts much more should we continue our watch who are vndoubtedly assured of the comming of Christ and of our appearance before him Secondly the accounts must bee faithfull for if the master may bee deceiued in his accounts yet our master Christ cannot bee deceiued and if good seruants haue beene found faithfull without rendring accounts let vs much more be faithfull being assured of our accounts which we shall giue What was the reward of the faithfull seruants Two fold one in honour another in ioy the honour was first in the word of commendation of a faithfull seruant which is an excellent thing especially comming from God and secondly in the singular rule and preferment ouer others according to their place which is set forth in their fellowship with their master both at table and in iudgement yet not of desert but of the free grace as the former gifts were What is the reward in ioy In partaking their masters ioy which is vnspeakeable in God for none knoweth it but hee that enioyeth it and therefore neither Angels nor men can conceiue it So much of the reward of the faithfull seruants What is it of the vnfaithfull Not only in depriuing them of those good things before mentioned but also by the flat contrarie a casting of them into perpetuall dishonour and torments vnspeakeable So much of the parable of the talents VVhat is the meaning of the other parable of sheepe and goates The same in effect with the former sauing that heere the parable is very short and the rest of the doctrine plainely deliuered without any parable What haue we to consider heerein Two things first the preparation to the great iudgement and secondly the iudgement it selfe What consider you in the preparation First the glory of Christ in his appearance secondly the ranging of all persons by the Angels Wherein shall the glory of Christs comming appeare Partly in himselfe and partly in the things belonging vnto him at his comming What is it in himselfe That suddenly breaking out of the heauens his glory shall be of such singular brightnesse that approching vnto the sunne it shall bee darkened and the moone shall lose her light for if when our Sauiour Christ was transfigured vpon the Mount Thabor being then mortall his face did
more we ought to haste to humble our selues vnto God sith the blood of Christ is the only sacrifice for sinne Is the guilt of sinne in all men alike Esra 9.6 No for as the sinne increaseth so doth the guilt both in regard of the greatnes and of the number of our sinnes as appeareth out of this text whereas sin is said to bee gone aboue their heads so the guilt to reach vp to the heauens When the sinne is gone and past is not the guilt also gone and past No but when the act of sin is gone the guilt remaineth alwaies as the strong sauour of garlick whē the garlick is eaten or as the marke of the burning when the burning is past What is contrary to the guilt of sinne The testimonie of a good conscience which is perpetuall ioy and comfort yea and a heauen to him that walketh carefully in Gods obedience as the other is a torment of hell ROM chap. 6. vers 23. 23 For the wages of sinne is death but the gift of God is eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. SO much of the guilt what is the punishment It is the wages of sin sent for the guilt Is the punishment limited in the word which shall come for sinne It cannot wholly be laid downe Deut. 29.20 28.61 it is so manifold and so diuers and therefore it is said that they shall come written and vnwritten Against what are these punishments addressed Against the whole estate of him that sinneth for whereas executions vpon obligations vnto men are so directed as they can charge either the person alone or his goods and lands alone so as if the Creditor fall vpon the one he freeth the other as if hee fall vpon the person he cannot proceed further then vnto his bodie the execution that goeth out from God for the obligation of sinne is extended to the whole estate of the sinner Can you draw this great number and diuersitie of punishments to certaine heads Yes for they are either in this life or in the life to come What are they in this life They are either in the persons themselues or in the things that belong vnto them What are they in the persons themselues They are either in the whole person bodie and soule ioyntly or in the parts seuerally What are they in the whole ioyntly Matth. 12 33.34.35 A necessitie of sinning but without constraint vntill they be borne againe by the grace of God What are they in the persons seuerally In the soule and in the bodie apart What are the vpon the soule apart Ephe. 4.17.18.19 When God striketh it with an ignorant spirit with want of iudgement to discerne betweene good and bad with forgetfulnes of holy things or hardnesse of heart which although they be for the time least felt yet are they more fearfull and dangerous then those the sense whereof is presently sharpe VVhat are they vpon the body apart Deut. 28. Hunger thirst wearinesse want of sleep all kinde of diseases euen to the itch which few make account of thereby to feele the anger of God and punishment of sinne VVhat are they in the things belonging vnto them Matth. 15.22 7.1.2 Calamities vpon their wiues children families goods and good name Hitherto of the punishments in this life What are they in the life to come Luke 16.22 They are most horrible first in the soule of the wicked 23. which after this life goeth immediatly to hell vntill the day of iudgement Secondly at the day of iudgement the bodie shall bee ioyned to the soule Matth. 10.28 both to be tormented in hell euerlastingly so much also the more as they haue had more freedome from paine of bodie and anguish of soule and losse of outward things in this life Is the punishment of all sinnes alike No for as the guilt increaseth John 19 11. Matth. 11.20.21.22.23.24 so doth the punishment and as the smallest sinne cannot escape Gods hands so as we heap sins he will heap his iudgemēts Hauing heard of the miserable and vnhappie estate of man by his sin guilt and punishment what is the remedie appointed of God for the recouerie of this cursed and damnable estate The word of God especially preached 2. TIM 3. vers 13 14 15 16 17. WHat is the word of God It is the will of God contained in the scriptures of the old and new Testament What is the Scripture It is a doctrine of sauing men written by inspiration Who is the author thereof God alone who inspired the hearts of holy men whom he chose to be his Secretaries to write it Which be those Scriptures The Testament Old and New What is contained in the old In the old Testament are the Law Prophets 1. The Law which are the fiue bookes of Moses Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers Deuteronomie 2. The Prophets which are either in Poesie and the same either Doctrinall only as Salomon Prouerbs Ecclesiastes Canticles Ieremies Lamentations Iob. both doctrinal and foretelling things to come also as Psalmes Prose which are either Historical as Iosuah Iudges Ruth 1. Samuel 2. Samuel 1. Kings 2. Kings Ezra Nehemiah Hester 1. Chronicles 2. Chronicles Doctrinal and foretelling things to come which are Prophets called Greater 4. Esay Ieremy Ezechiel Daniel Smaller 12. Hoseas Ioel. Amos. Abdias Ionas Micheas Nahum Habbacuck Sophonie Aggei Zachary Malachy Hitherto of the bookes of the old testament what are the bookes of the new They are of things reuealed before the writing of them which are either Historicall either of Christ Matthew Marke Luke Iohn His Apostles as the Acts. Doctrinall as the Epistles of Paul to the Romanes 1. Corinthians 2. Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1. Thessalonians 2. Thessalonians 1. Timothy 2. Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrewes Iames. 1. of Peter 2. of Peter 1. of Iohn 2. of Iohn 3. of Iohn Iude. After the writing of them as the Apocalyps What are the proper markes by which these bookes may be discerned from all other First they are perfectlie holy in themselues and by themselues whereas all other writings are prophane further then they draw some holines from them which is neuer such but that their holines is vnperfect Secondly they are perfectly profitable to instruct to saluation in themselues and all other imperfectly profitable thereunto further then they draw from them Thirdly a perfect concord between these writings notwithstanding the diuersity of persons by whom places where and times when and matters whereof they haue written Fourthly the admirable maiesty and force that is in them to incline mens hearts from vice to vertue 1. Cor. 1.17.21.24 2.15 Fiftly that in so great a plainenesse and easines of stile there shineth so great a maiesty 1. Tim. 5.21 Sixtly that there is such simplicity in the writers who neither spare their friends nor themselues Lastly the working of the spirit in the hearts of Gods children to assure them that these are
and driueth vs to seeke for a mediatour which is Christ alone figured in the mediation of Moses If the promise of grace take away sinne and the Law increase sinne if it take away the conscience of sinne and this doth cause a conscience and remorse of sinne it seemeth that the Law is contrarie to the promise of grace Not a whit for the Law would also take away sin and the conscience of sinne if any man were able perfectly to performe it so that the Law causeth no sinne of it selfe but by reason of our corruption and is a furtherance to the saluation that is by grace Tell vs then how the Law serueth to the helping forward to the iustification which is by the free grace of God The Law shutteth all men and all that is of man vnder sinne not to this end that they should perish but contrariwise that they might be saued that beleeue Make that more plaine The Apostle compareth the Law to a Iustice of Peace or a Sergeant which arresteth such as transgresse against it and laieth them in prison not that they should perish with hunger cold or stinch of the prison but that when they feele their miserie and that of themselues and their workes they cannot get out of it they should flie to the free pardon and grace of the Prince And therefore not to be contrarie to the promise of grace but to helpe towards the obtaining of it How is this further cleered The Apostle compareth the Law to a garrison which is set in a towne to keepe men in seruitude which haue not subiectly mindes to their Prince to the end that comming to a iust and dutifull obedience they may be freed from the terror and seruitude of the garrison How else It is compared to a Tutor or Guardian which keepeth the child vnder age straightly whereby he hath a delight to come out of his nonage and to enioy the libertie of a sonne for so by the terror of the Law we are stirred to seeke after Christ VVhat other qualitie hath it of an Vsher As an Vsher directeth the steps of the child and instructeth him so the Law after it hath brought vs to Christ directeth vs in the way we haue to walke so that it hath two notable and worthie effects one to chase vs vnto Christ and the other to teach vs how to walke when we are come vnto him VVhat further vse hath the Law in the regenerate It hath three vses in the regenerate first as a light it directeth Secondly as a prick it inciteth because God commandeth them Thirdly it frameth to humilitie whiles by it we vnderstand we are farre from fulfilling of it ROM chap. 2. vers 14 15. 14 For when the Gentiles which haue not the Law doe by nature the things conteined in the Lawe they hauing not the Lawe are a Law vnto themselues 15 Which shew the effect of the Law written in their hearts their conscience also bearing witnes and their thoughts accusing one another or excusing AFter the doctrine of the creation and gouernment what followeth The treatise of the Law VVhat Law The Morall law VVhy so Because it was before the Gospell for it was giuen to Adam in his integritie when the promise of grace was hidden in God Must it therefore be first in vse Yea verely touching the former dutie or vertue of the Law which is to shew vs our dutie and the sinne and the punishment thereof VVhy is it said that the Law was not before Moses That is to be vnderstoood of the written Law in the table of stones by the finger of God but that law was written in the beginning in the heart of Adam and Eue. VVhat is the Law It is a doctrine commanding the perfection of godlinesse and righteousnesse and being handled in euery booke of the Scripture it is summarily contriued first into ten words or ten commandements and then into two which comprehend the whole summe of the Law which are now to be spoken of VVhat are the rules that serue for further profiting vnder the Law The first rule is that we haue the true knowledge and right vnderstanding of the Law without the which it is vnpossible to reape any of the former fruites For how can a man acknowledge the breach of that law which he knoweth not or how can he serue him in the endeuour of performance of it vnlesse he vnderstand his Masters will VVhat is the second That the Law is spirituall reaching to the soule and all the powers thereof Declare this second rule more at large The Law chargeth the vnderstanding to know euery dutie euen all the will of God It chargeth the iudgement to discerne betweene good and euill betweene two good things which is the better It chargeth the memorie to retaine it chargeth the will to chuse the better and leaue the worse it chargeth the affections to loue things to be loued and to hate things to be hated Doth the Law require these alike of all No but according to the sex growth in age difference of calling as more of a man then of a woman of a yong man then of a childe of a publike person then of a priuate man What is the third rule That the Law is perfect not onely charging the soule but also the whole soule not only to know discerne retaine will and follow good but to doe the same perfectly So in condemning euill it condemneth all euill and in commanding good it commandeth all good What is the fourth rule When the Law forbiddeth or commandeth any thing it forbiddeth and commandeth all meanes thereunto What is the fifth rule Whatsoeuer the Law commands it forbids the contrarie and whatsoeuer it forbids it commandeth the contrarie Why is euery commandement set foorth vnto vs by the second person of the singular number rather then by you or no man or euery man That euery particular man may know that God speaketh vnto him What gather you of that That God wisely preuenteth that commō speech that which is spoken to all men is spoken vnto none As it is the manner of men who can confesse that God is mercifull and righteous and yet doe shift the matter to the generall as if it did nothing belong vnto them So much of the generall rules that belong to the commandements Of how many sorts are the duties of the Law Of two of our duties to God and of those to our neighbour What are those towards God Of his worship and therefore to be preferred before the other towards our neighbour How may that further be shewed By the punishments for the breaches of the first table are more seuerely punished then the breaches of the second As he that reuileth the Magistrate shal beare his sinne but he that blasphemeth God shall be stoned to death What gather you of this The craftie practises of the Papists who make men beleeue that chiefe godlinesse doth consist in the workes of the second table as in charitie
fellowes yet that hee knew not what sinne was vntill hauing commenced Doctor in the schoole of the holy Ghost through the knowledge of the Gospell hee vnderstood this Commandement And therefore it is no great maruell if the great Doctors in Popery remaine ignorant of this Commandement Why what is in it It doth not onely condemne the euill desires Psalm 143.2 Rom. 7.7 but all pronenesse to sinne together with the cause from which the same by the iust iudgement of God commeth and therefore by this Commandement especiallie are all men conuinced of sinne What learne you from hence The errour of the Papists is euidently confuted that hold that we haue free will to doe good or euill Gal. 5.16.17 whereas we cannot but sinne in coueting euill vntill we be borne a new If we sinne necessarily and cannot but sinne then it seemeth we are not to be blamed Yes the necessitie of sin doth not exempt vs from sinne but onely constraint What are the sinnes against this Commandement Either without vs or within vs. What is the sinne without vs That which Adam first committed so farre only as he sinned against his posteritie and not against God directly which we also haue committed in Adam by the Law of propagation and generation For as Adams felicitie should haue bin ours if he had stood in it so was his transgression ours What familiar example is there to make this plaine A man being a slaue his progenie to all posterities shall be slaues A man also being attainted of high treason the attaint of blood reacheth to his posteritie The young serpents and woolues that neuer stung men nor deuoured sheep are notwithstanding worthie to die So much of the sinnes without vs. What are the sins within vs Iames 1.14 Rom. 1.22.23 The depriuation of good and the naturall corruption of being prone to euill which also hee hath at the first minute and moment of his conception Against the Pelagians that teach that sin commeth by imitation How is this sinne noted out vnto vs In that other sinnes haue their speciall names where this properly is called sinne because it is the puddle and sincke of other sinnes and for that also the more it is pressed the more it bursteth foorth as mightie streames that cannot bee stopped till God by his holy spirit restraine it What is the second sinne within vs Wandering and euill thoughts though we neuer like of them How can that be reckoned for sinne which is reiected as soone as it is hatched Euen the rising of such a thing in our minds argueth our corruption of nature for were not that inborne corruption it could not once enter into our thoughts further then it were offered vnto vs by some outward tentation of the diuel or of the world as it was vnto our Sauiour Christ And although in the incorrupt estate of a man hee might dutifully haue thought of the transgression of the Commandement with a perfect hatred of it yet the same should not haue beene as now it is suddenly rising in the mind without thinking or meditation of the naughtines and hatefulnesse thereof where now these thoughts rise suddenly and the hatred and detestation commeth after and is not in such perfection as then it should haue beene Wheras the Lord our God hath the eyes of his glory so pure that hee will not allow of the least corruption in the temple of our hearts where he seateth himselfe and cannot abide that they should be made a thorow-faire for euil thoughts to goe vp and downe as it were ietting in them but will haue all whipped out What is the third sinne within vs When there is a wandring wicked thought with some liking though we reiect it Hither may be referred first vain sudden wishes then dreames which haue some euill in them and yet not from any liking of those things when a man is awake and which a man awake misliketh So much of the Commandement What is the vse of it To teach vs aboue all other commandements that we are miserable and wretched by nature subiect to the curse and wrath of God What followeth to be spoken of The sum of the whole Law because it is a thing annexed to all the Commandements What is the summe Luk. 10.27 Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy mind and with all thy vnderstanding and thy neighbour as thy selfe taken out of Deut. 6.5 and Leuit. 19.18 What is the summe of this summe Loue which consisteth in two heads to wit the loue of God and of our neighbour VVhat vse is there of this short summe Very great both to shew the maruellous wisedome of God and also for singular profit that redoundeth thereof Wherein appeareth the wisedome of God That sith it was great cunning to contriue the whole will of God into ten words it must needs be more wonderfull to bring all vnto two VVhat is the profit that redoundeth vnto vs It ariseth of the twofold vse of the Law before spoken namely first that we being humbled might be thereby driuen vnto Christ Secondly that thereby we might be directed to his obedience VVhat profit ariseth of the first vse concerning humiliation That men being brought to a neerer sight of their sinnes might bee the more earnest to come vnto Christ How shall that be That when all our sinnes are gathered and mustered into one troope or heape they may appeare the greater to cast vs downe the more as a man owing sundrie debts vnto diuers or vnto one man in the particulars is confident of his abilitie to pay all as long as he heareth they are but all small summes but hearing the whole summe despaireth of the paiment of it Or when as there be many souldiers comming against their enemie but yet here there scattered they doe not affect vs with so great feare as when they be gathered and ranged in order and are all vnder one sight or view Shew the same in our loue towards God In that it should bee done in simple obedience of the whole man that is all the functions both of soule and body which is impossible for any man to doe VVhat are they of the soule Namely two of the mind and of the affections VVhat are they of the mind The vnderstanding and iudgement vnto both which is memorie annexed VVhat is vnderstanding The vnderstanding is that whereby wee must know perfectly all but wee are ignorant of many things and those which wee know wee know them but in part and that which we know we iudge not aright of nor remember as wee ought Secondly the will whereby we must perfectly loue the knowne good and perfectly hate the knowne euill of which we come a great deale shorter then of the other VVhat are they of the body All the members parts and graces of the body as beautie strength c. which should be wholly bestowed in the seruice of God but the wandring of our eyes in
corruption that cleaueth vnto the best of our good workes be taken away But when our sanctification here begun shall bee perfected in the world to come shall we not then bee iustified by an inherent righteousnesse No but by the imputed righteousnesse of our Sauiour Christ which being once giuen vs is neuer taken from vs. How is this pollution conueied into the good workes which God worketh in vs There is beside the worke of his owne hand through the operation of his holy spirit a pollution in vs and an infection of ours which commeth from the sin that dwelleth in vs as cleere water put into an vncleane vessell or running thorow a filthie channell receiueth some euill qualitie thereof Wherein doe our good workes faile of Gods Iustice Partly in the instrumentall causes from which they proceed and partly in the finall cause or end whereunto they aime What are the instrumentall causes hindering the perfection of our workes First our vnderstanding in that the worke is not done with knowledge absolute and throughly perfect Secondly in that our remembrance is infeebled and doth not so fully retaine that which the vnderstanding conceiued Thirdly in that the will and affections are short of their dutie Last of all in that the body is not so apt and nimble for the execution of good things as is required Expresse this by a similitude We are in the Instrumentall causes like to a common labourer which being hired by the day worketh with one hand whereas both are required or worketh a piece of the day being hired for the whole What is the finall end wherein good workes faile In that we haue not a direct eye to Gods glory or the good of our neighbour as is required but looke a squint as it were at those duties which are enioyned to vs like to such artificers as prefer their owne credit in their skill before their masters profit If then it be so that sinne cleaneth to our best workes are not our good workes sinne and are not all euill workes equall No doubtlesse bee it farre from vs to thinke it for their imperfection is sinfull but the good worke is not a sinne and euen in bad actions as hath been said some are lesse euill then other How is this pollution taken away Exod. 28.36.37.38 By the intercession of our Sauiour Christ through which our good workes are of account before God VVhat doctrine is here to be gathered A doctrine of great comfort to the children of God to stirre them vp to abound in good workes sith they are acceptable to God in Christ Iesus for where men know any thing to bee delightsome to their Prince they will with all endeauour striue for it Matth. 12. how much more ought we to be pricked forward to the seruice of God who quencheth not the smoking flax nor breaketh the bruised reed yea Matth. 10. which forgetteth not a cup of cold water giuen in faith and for his sake VVhat other reasons are there to stirre vs vp to good workes We ought to remember Gods benefits bestowed vpon all his children as our Election Creation Redemption Calling Iustification Sanctification continuall Preseruation and then particularly such blessings as God hath seuerally bestowed vpon euery one of vs. Are not the iudgements of God also to bee thought vpon for furtherance to this dutie Yes verily to make vs feare to offend in our waies Remaineth there yet any more Good companie Psal 119.63 Pro. 13.20 which with Dauid wee must cleaue vnto not the noblest or of greatest account but the godliest for if we will auoid such a sinne we must auoid all company that delight therein which is no lesse dangerous then good companie is profitable VVhat gather you of this That whosoeuer maketh no choice of companie maketh no conscience of sinne as those that dare keepe companie familiarly with Papists thinking that they may keepe their conscience to themselues VVhat are the parts of sanctification Two first Mortification secondly viuification or a rising to righteousnes What is mortification Mortification is a continuall dying vnto sin slaying killing deadning of sinne proceeding from the vertue of Christ his death and buriall What is the sinne that must be mortified First our naturall corruption or old man called originall sinne which is a readinesse and pronenes to that that is euill and a frowardnes and backwardnes to that which is good called also flesh or the body of sinne Col. 3. Then the fruits thereof which are called the members of that body What is mortification of sinne further compared vnto Col. 3. It is set forth by the name of ragges and filthie stained clothes which wee are loath to looke on as it which we should cast off and lay aside What is Viuification or Quickening or rising to righteousnesse Rom. 6.4.5 It is a rising to newnesse of life proceeding from the power of Christ his resurrection Hitherto of Sanctification What is redemption It is the happie estate that the children of God shall haue in the last day 1. THES chap. 5. vers 19.20 19 Quench not the Spirit 20 Despise not prophecying BY what meanes doth God effect these things and how ruleth he till the last day By the meanes of his spirit and word ioyned together according as the words doe make mention What meane you by the spirit of God to this place That power of God which worketh in the hearts of men things which the naturall discourse of reason is notable to attaine vnto Being incomprehensible how may wee come to some vnderstanding and sense of it By the things whereunto it is compared first Acts 2. Heb. 1. Ioh. 4. Matth. 3. Acts â— to wind to shew the maruellous power of it in operation Secondly to oyle that is of a hote nature that pierceth and suppleth Thirdly to water that cooleth scoureth and cleanseth Fourthly to fire that seuereth drosse and good mettall How is the operation of it Diuers as softening and hardening enlightening and darkning which it worketh after a diuers maner by the word in the hearts of the elect and reprobate according to the good pleasure of God and secret will only and after that according to the good pleasure of his reuealed will and so the lawfull vse thereof is rewarded with a gratious encrease of blessing and the abuse punished with further hardnes to condemnation Is by the word prophecying onely meant the preaching of the word No but by a figuratiue speech all those outward meanes whereby God vseth to giue his holy spirit as are the Sacraments and the discipline of the Church ouer and aboue the preaching of the word which being principall of all is heere set downe for the rest Before we enter into this watter there are some difficulties to be auoided in these words and first I aske why the Apostle hath 〈…〉 spirit before the preaching of the word meaâ—â— by prophecie considering that by and after preaching of the word the Lord giueth his