action hath passed from thee for which thou cansts not bring thy ground thence the same will cast thee in iudgement This is that our Sauiour telleth the Iewes the word that I speake shall iudge you at the last day Thirdly this iudgement of Christ shall be most strict and accurate 1. In regard of the persons that shall be iudged who shall bee enquired into and brought to giue accounts of themselues not only generally as men or Christians but in special according to the particular places and courses of life wherein they were set in this world For exampleâ— publike persons must giue account for theÌ„selues and others that haue been committed vnto them magistrates for their people ministers for their flockes both of them how they entred how they ruled how they walked in out before their people what faithfulnes they vsed in discouering and discountenancing sinne and vngodlynes how diligent they haue beene to drawe and force men to the keeping of the two tables how they haue acquitted themselues from communicating in other mens sinnes and whether they haue faithfully in their places denounced and executed the iudgements of God whilest both of them haue stood in the roome of God In like manner priuate men must be counteable noâ— onely for themselues but for all those that are vnder their charge as Fathers for the education of their children masters for the instructing and gouerning of their seruants and family tutors for their care or negligence towards such as are committed vnto them for the rule of the Law is generall and will take fast hold vpon many a soule that thinke it enough to looke to themselues that whosoeuer hindreth not that sinne which he can hinder by good meanes committeth it Be now thine owne iudge whether thou hast well looked to one when thou hast neglected to reforme the disorders of such as God hath put vnder thy power Thou hast not a person in thy house but if it any way perish vnder thy hands thou must giue account of the life of it to the parents of it or to the Magistrate the parent of the country in like manner there is not the meanest soule in thy family but if it perish by thy default for want of instruction correction or wise gouernment of it thou shalt be called before the God of the spirits of all flesh and shalt be arraigned and condemned for the blood of that soule And this is not to beare the burden of that soule which beareth the waight of it owne sinne but to beare thine owne sinne in not preuenting that euil from him which by thy negligence came vpon him Secondly it shall bee strict in regard of the things either receiued of vs or done by vs. Account must be made what goods of our Masters we haue receiued both for the kinds and measure What number of talents were committed to our trust If one or moe how we haue laid them out what we haue gained whether we haue faithfully returned this gaine to our master as hauing sought his aduantage and not our owne how we haue husbanded our opportunities and redeemed our times how we haue employed the gifts of our minds vnderstanding iudgement wisedome learning memorie how we haue vsed or abused to sinne the strength health and beautie of our bodies how we haue iustly and charitably receiued in and retailed out the matter of our maintenance and reuennew And in all these lesser things if our vnfaithfulnesse be found out let vs neuer looke to haue greater matters committed vnto vs for the things that are done by vs they shall all be straitly iudged whether they are conformable to the law the rule of righteousnesse or acceptable by the Gospel the restorer of our righteousnes Eccl. 12.14 God will bring euery worke into iudgement good or euill open or secret for all things are naked before him with whome we are to deale he planted the eare and must needs heare and formed the eie and therefore must needs see things secret and couered with darkenesse Hence is he said to haue bookes and to open them because all things are as certainely recorded and registred by him as if he had registers in heauen to keepe roles and records of all that euer were or shall be to the end Yea he hath not onely his owne bookes of iudgement in heauen but for more surenesse that nothing escape him he hath millions of bookes of record in earth that shall all helpe forward his iudgement and giue testimonie to the righteousnesse of it so as euerie mouth shall bee stopped at that day and these are the bookes of euery mans particular conscience which howsoeuer they bee now shut or as roles folded vp yet shall they also then be opened and vnfolded to giue witnesse of whatsoeuer any man hath spoken or done in the flesh be it good or euill 3. This iudgement shall be strict in regard of euery mans words Iude 15. In this iudgement hee shall rebuke all the vngodly of all the cruell speaâ—kings which wicked sinners haue spoken against him For if of euery idle word we must giue account to God much more of euery wicked word Euery man thinketh words are but winde and hee may speake his minde and hee hath done but in this iudgement by thy words thou shalt be iustified or by thy words thou shalt be condemned and though thou when thou hast spoken thy minde against thy brother hast done the Iudge hath not done with thee 4. It shall be strict in regard of euery mans thoughts for euen these are not so free as men say they are nor shall goe scot free for euen they are bound to the conformitie of the law as well as our words and actions The commandement is very expresse Thou shalt worship the Lord with all thy heart and all thy thought and all thy strength and when the Apostle Paul would note the damnable estate of the Ephesians before they were called to the faith he setteth it forth in this that they then followed the will and counsell of their own thoughts Adde hereunto that the Lord Iesus is the seer the searcher and iudge of the heart and therefore hereby shall the throne of his iudgement be advanced aboue all the tribunals in the world in that the most secret thoughts and reasonings of mens hearts cannot escape him which the highest seats of iustice amongst men can take no notice of at all Vse 1. Let this doctrine abate somewhat the pleasure of sinne which most men swallow vp so delightfully yea and glorie in their iniquitie when they can carrie it so close and cleare away that men see it not and can stoppe the cry of their â—eared conscience for the present but remember that God hath written it vp and the time hasteneth when that conscience of thine now in a dead sleepe and seared vp shall be awakened and become as a thousand witnesses against thee that if all other
that through his name all that beleeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes THe occasion of this worthie sermon breathed not onely by an Apostolike spirit but from such an instrument also as was worthily accounted a pillar of the Church is laid downe in the former verse which containeth an abridgement of the most of the Chapter going before included in these three points 1. Cornelius his obedience in sending for Peter Then that is hauing so good a ground euen a commandement from God by the ministerie of an Angel I sent for thee to Ioppa which was somewhat aboue 30. miles from Caesaria Immediately as soone as euer I had receiued the commandement without delay yea or deliberation which being dangerous diuine things admit not of Secondly his kind entertainement of Peter to encourage him and thou hast well done to come Thirdly his preparation and readines of himselfe and his to heare whatsoeuer God by Peters ministerie shall enioyne them Now therefore we all he would haue that holy doctrine communicated to his family friends and kinsfolks here present before God the place of Gods pure worship is the place of his presence to heare with attention vnderstanding affection and obedience for all these goe to the hearing eare all things for that is sound obedience which is vniuersall to one commandement as well as an other euery one beeing of like authoritie and necessitie that are commanded thee of God for Peter himselfe must be confined within his commission and speake only what God commandeth neither are hearers bound to receiue any thing else The Apostle Peter by this speach perceiuing both the occasion and scope of their meeting as also the readines and attention of his hearers addresseth himselfe to speach Then Peter opened his mouth and said The phrase of opening the mouth some thinke to be but a more full kind of speach as we say I heard it with myne eares or I saw it with myne eyes But we must conceiue it rather to be fetched from the Hebrewes who in this forme of speach signifie not the vttering of any triuiall or vulgar matter or in a slight or carelesse manner but the relation of some excellent matter of great moment and that in graue and serious manner and not without premeditation and preparation such as is fit to atâ—eÌ„d things of worth and weight Thus is it it vsed Psal. 78.2 I will open my mouth in a parable I will declare sentences of old Iob. 33.1 Behold I haue opened my mouth my tongue hath spoken in my mouth my words are in the vprightnesse of my heart and my lippes shall speake pure knowledge Yea our Lord Iesus himselfe when he begunne his most heauenly sermon on the mount is said to open his mouth and say Whence 1. we haue the doctrine in the sermon following commended vnto vs to be for the matter of it graue and high and neerely concerning the saluation of men wherein are laid downe the maine grounds of all religion and whatsoeuer we are to beleeue concerning Christ vnto saluation as we shall see when we come to open the seuerall points 2. We are secretly incited that seeing the holy Ghost hath opened the mouth of such a worthy instrument we are also to open our eares yea our hearts to let in the matter following that as it proceeded out of the treasurie of a good and sanctified heart so we also may hide it in good hearts as in good treasures to bring it forth as our needes and occasions shall require 3. Ministers must come with their mouthes open and not only not to be dumb dogs which cannot or seale vp their lips and will not protest against the sinnes of the times but also must haue care to speake the words of wisedome iudgement sobrietie for if the holy men of God Prophets Apostles nor the sonne of God himselfe did not preach without preparation and due consideration both of what how and to whome they spake how much more should ordinarie Ministers vse all diligence in fitting themselues to speake from God and for God and euen as God himselfe would speake to his people 4. Euerie Christian may hence also take vp his dutie namely that he neuer open his mouth but to edification For it is attributed to euerie iust man that his mouth speaketh wisedome and his tongue talketh of iudgement he iudgeth of his speaches before he let them passe the doore of his lippes and of the vertuous woman is said She openeth her mouth with wisedome and the lawe of grace is in her tongue Now the sermon following consisteth of three parts The first is an entrance or preface in the two first verses 34.35 2. The proposition or narration that Iesus Christ was the Messias now exhibited in the flesh and Lord of all vers 36. 3. A confirmation of that narration partly from the Apostles and partly from the Prophets witnesse 1. For the Apostles they witnessed of such facts of Christ as argued him First a Prophet vers 37.38 Who went about doing good and healing c. for these miracles serued to confirme his heauenly doctrine Secondly a Preist vers 39. Whome they slewe and hanged on a tree which noteth his sacrifice Thirdly a King prooued by three arguments 1. By his rising from death vers 40.41 2. By sending out his Apostles to preach vers 42. 3. By his comming to iudge all flesh vers 42. 2. The same truth is confirmed by the witnesse of all the Prophets vers 43. In the preface Peter maketh way vnto his doctrine three wayes 1. By remoouing from himselfe an imputation of leuitie and suddaine change of his mind which might otherwise haue beene obiected against him for all men knew that he beeing a Iew had beene very respectiue least at any time he should come neare an Heathen or Gentile such as Cornelius and his companie were for so it appeareth by his answer in the vision vers 14. yea and after his vision he was full of doubts whether he might adventure into their companie till the Lord ads to his vision a voice bidding him go in to Cornelius doubting nothing vers 20. Peter therefore most ingeniously in the first place acknowledgeth an error that had stucke by him namely in accounting now after Christs death and resurrection whereby he brake downe all partition walls such as were vncircumcised an vncleane company and like dogges and swine to whom holy things might not be cast and offred 2. That the Lord had remooued this error manifestly teaching him both by vision and voice that his grace did now extend it selfe ouer all sorts of men and therefore that he came not of his owne head mooued by temeritie or rashnes but vpon good ground to teach euen the Gentiles the misteries of their saluation 3. He gets not audience only and attention but authoritie also to his doctrine by shewing what a good conceit he had of Cornelius and his companie that he had
former This Righteousnesse is a grace of God whereby the beleeuer is inclined vnto honest actions according to the prescript of Gods law When I say a grace of God I vnderstand that righteousnesse whereof a man in the state of grace is by grace made partaker and exclude all that originall righteousnesse which was set in the nature of man by his creation whereby he was wholly conformable to the image and righteousnesse of God further saying that the beleeuer is hereby inclined to honest actions three things are implied 1. That this righteousnesse is not that imputed righteousnesse of Christ which is a most exact conformitie of the humane nature of Christ with all his actions and suffrings performed of him in our stead with the whole law of God whereby we are wholly couered as with a garment in the sight of God but rather a fruit of that namely that infused and inherent righteousnesse wrought in the heart of euery beleeuer by the singer of the spirit whereby the image of God is daily renewed and repaired in him and so himselfe inclined to workes of righteousnesse to which he is now created 2. That subiect of this righteousnesse is the Beleeuer for all the workes of vnbeleeuers whose mind and conscience are defiled Tit. 1.15 inward or outward cannot be other then sinne and vnrighteousnesse 3. That the next efficient cause of it is liuely faith beeing the instrument of the holy Ghost by which he begetteth this righteousnesse wheresoeuer it is now faith produceth this righteousnesse in vs not as it is an excellent gift of God nor as an excellent qualetie in vs but only as it is an hand or instrument apprehending and laying hold vpon Christ who iustifying vs by his owne righteousnesse imputed and by his spirit regenerating and sanctifying our natures is the verie proper cause of this infused and inherent righteousnesse The last words in the description according to the prescript of Gods law shew that then a worke is righteous when it is framed according to the right rule of the law of God it being the onely perfect rule of all righteousnesse Mens laws are rules also but imperfect and no further yet so farre bind as they are agreable vnto Gods The second point is the working of righteousnesse wherein 1. the order 2. the manner The order is in the words first to feare God and then to work righteousnesse all the duties of loue must be founded in faith and the feare of God for whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne and the feare of God is the very seede and life of all true obedience which the wise man implyeth when he calleth it the head and beginning of wisedome that looke as all sence sloweth from the head so all heauenly sence and motion from the feare of the Lord. Which sheweth that many men beginne at the wrong ende in the matter of their obedience some thinke they doe God high seruice if they come to Church say some prayers heare a sermon things not to be dissalowed but know not how fâ—rre they are from pleasing God herein because they bring not hearts renewed with faith and repentâ—nce nor soules possessed with hope loue and the true knowledge of God without which the Lord accounteth their sacrifices but maimed and professeth his hatred against them others place all their holinesse and obedience in the workes and duties of the second table If they be liberall to the poore iust in their dealing sober and ciuill in their conuersation though they liue in grosse ignorance of God and his word vtterly carelesse of the wayes and worship of God yet conceiue themselues in as good case as any other man which is all one as to account that man a liuing man who hath no head the feare of God being to true religion euen as the head to the bodie of a man besides that they thrust the second table into the place of the first inverting the order of God yea they pull and breake a sunder the two tables which the Lord hath so nerely conioyned Now for the right manner of working righteousnesse it appeareth in these rules 1. It setteth all the rule before it and endeuoureth in all if it were possible to fulfill all righteousnesse for seeing all the commandements of God are truth and righteousnesse they are all without exception to be obserued And this although it be necessarily implied in the text yet is it else-where expressed Deut. 5.29 Oh that there were in them such an heart as to feare me and keepe all my commandements A second thing required is diligence which must needes attend feare How diligent a vertue feare is appeareth in Iacob who beeing to meete his brother whom he feared could not sleepe all night and in Abraham who hauing a most difficult commandement to slay his sonne yet rose early and went three dayes iourney without reasoning the matter But what mooued him hereto surely the Lord himselfe sheweth the true cause Gen. 22.12 Now I know that thou fearest God seeing thou hast not spared thine only sonne 3. Delight in the workes of righteousnesse which also attendeth the feare of the Lord Psal. 112.1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord he delighteth greatly in his commandements both to thinke of them to speake of them and to doe them Whereas the worldlings heart speach and affection is taken vp with his gaine commoditie rents and income For as the feare of God it selfe is not a seruile and slauish feare for punishment no more is that obedience which proceedeth from it forced or wrung out but as it is such a feare as delighteth greatly in Gods commandements so the obedience is such as is offred from a willing people like a free will offring which they must only offer whose heart encourageth them and whose spirit maketh them willing 4. Continuance in working for this is another propertie of the true feare of God that it respecteth not only all the commandements but alwaies and seeing Gods feare is to keepe the heart continually and that man is blessed that feareth alwaies this inseperable fruite of it working of righteousnesse must neuer wither or faile in the godly who are exhorted to passe the whole time of their dwelling here in feare to walke with God as Henoch did and to haue their conuersation in heauen that is their whole practise and course and not a part of it only Hence therefore is affoarded an other ground of exhortation namely that howsoeuer this is not such a righteousnesse as wherein we can stand before Gods iudgement seat not beeing euerie way answerable to the lawes perfection yet we want not good reason to take vp the practise of it in the manner prescribed Seeing 1. it is commanded by God Psal. 4.6 offer to God the sacrifice of righteousnesse 2. It pleaseth him and makes vs also pleasing vnto him for the former Psal. 11.7 The righteous Lord loueth righteousnesse the
free remission of sinnes 357 Preaching the ordinance of Christ. 231 Preaching of Christ wherein it standeth 248 Priuiledge of a Godly man what it is 31 Promises of God all accomplished in due season 199 Prophetical office of Christ. 83 Publike persons must giue accounts for themselues and others in the iudgement day 268 Q QValities of Christs raised bodie are not diuine properties they beautifie but not deifie it 166 R REasons against seeking to witches 120 Reasons why it was necessarie Christ should rise againe 159 Reasons why God delayeth to answer his children 201 Reasons why Christ must so manifest his resurrection 207 Reasons why the Apostles were specially commanded to teach the doctrine of the last iudgement 250 Reasons to grow vp in the strength of faith 323 Religion what and wherein it standeth 21 Remembrance of iudgement to come a notablemeanes to further godlinesse 251 Remission of sinnes what 325 Remission of sins how receiued 355 Resurrection of Christ not onely remooueth euills but procureth all our good as in 5. instances 177 Right and possession of eternall life issueth from remission of sinnes 340 Righteousnesse of the Iudge and last iudgement described 264 S SAluation assured beleeuers from Christs resurrection 179 Saints in heauen wholly called from three things and the Saints in earth in part from the same 187 Saints in heauen enioy fiue things which the Saints in earth doe also in part 189 Satans Tyrannie ouer the soules of men more fearefull then that he exerciseth ouer their bodies 104 Scriptures ascribe that often to the instruments which belongeth to God the principall efficient why 321 Sermons which plainest teach Christ are the best 249 Sinne set out in the most vgly visage of it 141 Sinnes carried neuer so secretly shall come into a cleare light 272 Sinnes compared to debts 328 Sorcerie of sundrie kindes condemned 117 Spirituall possession very common prooued at large by sundrie instances 107 Strictnesse of the last iudgement laid open 268 Sure grounds that God loueth a man 349 T TEmptations of sundrie sorts foyled by holding the Article of remission of sinnes 342 Tender affection to forgiue our brethren a good signe that God hath forgiuen vs. 356 The tyrannie of Satan ouer those whom hee bodily possesseth discouered fiue waies 101 The touchstone of triall of our words and deedes is the word of God 267 Three actions of faith helping forward the free confession of it 315 Thoughts must be iudged of as well as our workes 271 To beleeue in the name of Christ what 336 Two things especially hinder the care of the last iudgement 277 Truth of faith as much to be laboured for as saluation it selfe 321 V VErtue of Christs death applied two waies 143 Vnbeleeuers damned alreadie how and why 322 Vnregenerate men haue all the mad properties of madde or possessed persons prooued 104 Vse of Christs crucifying at large 140 W Why God suffereth the deuill to possesse the bodies of men in all ages foure reasons 99 Why God suffereth the deuill so to tyrannize abuse and torture them whom hee possesseth reas 4. 102 Why God permitteth a power of curing to them of whom we may not seeke cure 122 Why the wicked preuaile against Christ who had preuailed against the Deuils themselues 127 Why Christ was rather to be hanged on a tree then to die by any other kind of death reas 4. 136 Why Christ must die in Ierusalem the theatre of the world 139 Why Christ would still vaile his glorie after his resurrection 167 Why Christ rose no sooner nor would deferre his rising againe no longer then the third day 195 Why Christ would not shew himselfe to all the people after that hee rose againe 218 Why Christ chose such meane men for his witnesses 221 Why the Apostle inferreth so many testimonies together concerning Christ. 285 Whosoeuer would haue his works and words abide the triall of the last day must trie them before hand 265 Wicked men shall be iudged by him against whom all their villanies haue beene committed 255 Wicked men alreadie iudged fiue waies 259 Wisedome of God in euery thing to be subscribed vnto 213 Witches and all seekers to them condemned 120 Witnesses of Christs resurrection of sundrie sorts 213 Witnesse of the Apostles to be beleeued as infallible 208 Word preached what vse it hath both to the vnconuerted and conuerted 236 Word preached opposed by the deuill and all wicked ones and therefore is from God 239 Working righteousnesse what and wherein 25 The manner of it in foure things 28 Good Reader the faults escaped in printing are some but neither many nor much marring the sence I will therefore referre either the passing by or amending them to thy owne curtesie Zach. 4. Psal. 47.9 Dan. 4.7.17 Exod. 18.21 Rom. 13.3 Iob. 29.8 Psal. 2 Isa. 44.18 Exod. 12. Ioshua 5.7 Iudg 6. Exod. 23.6 Deut. 16.20 Optiâ—a respub quae maximè leges minimè rhetores audiat 2. King 11 12 Gal. 2.9 vers 5. Cyprian Pleonasmus Matth. 5.2 Psal. 37.30 Prou. 31.26 The parts of the sermoÌ„ 3. Observ. 1. A mappe of humane frailtie in the Apostle A patterne of speciall grace in the 〈◊〉 Apostle Iob. 34.19 Why God accepteth not of persons reas Deut. 9.6 Ezeck 16.3 Rom. 9.18 Whosoeuer would be like God must not accept of persons Prou. 24.24 1. Tim. 5.21 Mal. 2.6 Iam. 2.2 1. Cor. 3.4 1. Kin 22.37 Ioh. 7 23.24 Isa. 65.1 Isa. 57.15 Gal. 3.23 1. Cor. 1.26 If outward things could bring vs into acceptance with God we might set our hearts on them Ier. 9.24 We must stand naked in Gods iudgement seeing no outward thing can commend vs to him Gen. 27.26 Iob. 1.8 Luk. 1.6 Feare of God Matth. 10.28 Isa 8 1â— Gen. 33.3 â—rou 14.13 â—ehem 5.15 Prou. 8.13 Quod supâ—a homines est time homines te non terrebunt August Reu. 21.8 Prou. 10.24 Pilatus multis divexatus Calamitatibus sibiipsi manum intulit Euse. lib. 2. cap. 7. Entrop lib. 7. hist. eccles c. 7. Ier. 32. Psal. 128.2.3 Psal. 112.3 To worke righteousnes what it is Eph. 4 24. Iusâ—e agere est age re ex praescripto 〈◊〉 Prou. 1.7 The right manner of working righteousnes in 4. things Deut. 5.19 Prou. 23.17 Prou. 28.24 1. Pet. 1.17 Philip. 3.20 Motiues to the practise of righteousnesse How the person and worke of a beleeuer caÌ„ be accepted of God Comfort the godly in that God is the God of the abiect We must accept theâ— that feare God because God himselfe doth Psal. 16.3 2. King 3.14 Iudg. 3.15 By peace what is meant 1. Peace with God by three things 2. Peace with men 1. others Eph. 2 13.14· 2. With a mans selfe 3 Peace with the creatures Iob. 5.23 Observ. 1. Isa. 57.21 Difference betweene true and false peace 2. Cor. 5.12 Isa. â— Iob. 20.5 Eccles. 6.7 Amos. 8.9 Prou. 14.13 1. Thess. 5.3 The best way to come by peace in the want of it Psal. 84.9 Christ was preached to Israel two
to strike the wicked and vngodly with terror and dread seeing the Lord Iesus shall come from heauen in such power and maiestie and all to iudge and condemne them whom when they shal see arraied with vengeance against them no meruaile if they be driuen to their wits ends yea as it is with guiltie malefactors when they see the iudge comming in so honourably attended so shall it be here this very glorie of Christ shall strike them with feare horror and amazednesse and force them to all miserable and unauaileable shifts and to wish if it were possible that the rocks would fall vpon them and crush them to peeces so as they might neuer come before his presence for the great day of the Lord which is to all the wicked of the world a blacke day a cloudy day a dismall day this day is come and they cannot abide it Secondly this iudgement shall be righteous and according to the truth Rom. 2.2 We know that the iudgement of God is according to truth Heb. 1.8 Thy throne O God is for euer the scepter of thy kingdome is a righteous scepter Thou louest righteousnesse and hatest iniquitie Hitherto is to be referred that of Daniel 7.9 who saith that this iudge shall sit vpon a great white throne alluding to the white Ivorie throne of Salomon but infinitly more glorious the whitenesse be rekoning the puritie and righteousnesse both of the Iudge and the iudgement for euery man shall receiue according to his workes Here shall be no conceilment of things for he will bring euery secret into iudgement hee will lighten all things that are hid in darknesse and make the counsells of the hearts manifest Here shall be no daubing or saluing vp of bad matters in corners no pleading of lawyers who craftely cloud the truth of causes for gaine no respect of persons no fauouring for the sake of any freinds nor feare of foes or any displeasure Here shall be no inducement by gifts which blind mens eyes to peruert iudgement the purest gold of Ophir shall guild no matters here for what shall gold or siluer pearles or Iewells doe when heauen and earth shall be on a light fire Here shall be no sanctuaries nor priuiledged persons or places to hinder the course of iustice hence shall be no appeales but euery person shall receiue an eternall sentence of euery cause according to the truth and equitie of it for else the Iudge of all the world should not doe right Vse 1. To comfort Gods children who in this world are herein conformed vnto Christ for the most part causes and sentences passe against them and their light is darkned their innocencie by the might and mallice of the wicked troden down but then shall they be sure of the day God will cause their vprightnesse to breake out as the sun in his strength for when wickednesse shall turne the sinner into hell righteousnesse shall deliuer their soules from death 2. To teach them to possesse their soules in pacience when they see the confusions that are in the world to beware of reuenge but commit all as Christ himselfe did to him that iudgeth righteously We must be content for a while to see our righteous waies depraued our good repaied with euill by euill men and be so farre from thinking hence that there is no prouidence or care in God ouer his children as that we must necessarily conclude hence this iudgement day Obserue the rule Eccles. 3.16 When thou seest in the place of iudgement wickednesse and iniquitie in the place of iustice thinke in thy heart surely God will iudge the iust and the wicked for there is a time for euery purpose and worke and Chap. 5.7 If in a countrie thou seest oppression of the poore and the defrauding of iudgement and iustice be not astonied at the matter for hee that is higher then the highest regardeth it The same ground doe the Apostles often lay to raise this same exhortation vnto patience in enduring wrongs as Philip. 4.5 Let your patient mind be knowne vnto all men the Lord is at hand Iam. 5.7 Be yee also patient and settle your hearts for the comming of the Lord draweth neere As if these holy men had said with one mouth looke not to haue your right here in this world as neither the wicked haue their hyre but wait the appointed time as the husbandman doth for the weekes of haruest and this time is the comming of the Lord before which time neither is the full recompence of righteousnesse giuen to the Saints nor punishment rendred vnto the wicked in the full measure of it Grow not wearie of well doing though ye meete with nothing but discouragements no◠out of loue with the practise of pietie although the world hate you for it as it did your head before you for in due season yee shall reape if ye faint not 3. This teacheth men carefully to looke to all their workes and waies that they be iust and iustifiable such as will hold water as we say For there is a day of triall when all those causes which they haue by mony freinds or wicked pollicie contriued and ouerwaied in shall be brought about againe into a cleare light and put into the ballance of equitie it selfe where they shall be found too light And thinke seriously with your selues how causes words and actions will abide the triall o◠that day which euen for the present can bring no sound comfort to the heart but rather heauinesse to the heart accusation and guiltinesse to the conscience feare in the thoughts and shame in the face if any man should know how impiously and iniuriously they haue beene contriued how many oppressions wrongs cruelties vsuries reuengefull suits only commensed to make men spend their goods and loose their peace how much of many mens estates would giue a loud witnesse against their owners but that men will not so long before hand trouble themselues with such thoughts Well looke to thy selfe whosoeuer thou art If thy conscience now accuse 〈◊〉 or can accuse thee but thou wilt either stifle it or stop thine eares against the crie of it know that it hath a voice and will doe good seruice to this iudge one day a thousand witnesses cannot doe more then it will doe it will bring backe old reckonings which Christ hath not reckoned for and set them in order before thee when thou that canst find none now shalt haue leysure inough to looke into them but all to the breaking of thy heart and increase of thy torment that thou didst not till too late looke into thy reckonings Now to all such as mind hereafter to look into so maine a business as this is I will for the present commend only one rule whereby they may discerne whether their actions will abide the triall that abideth them and that is this If the word of God doe now approoue them they will then be iustifiable but whatsoeuer word or