the children of God wee are ready to giue ouer to dissemble and conceale our selues with Nicodemus as though wee were ashamed of Christ whereas wee should rather shew our selues to be ashamed of their wickednesse and our owne spirituall cowardice The Seruing-man will bee diligent and faithfull in his Maisters domesticall businesses and outward imployments hee will carefully obserue and note his Masters disposition and nature what things delight and please him what not And if his master bee of a right generous disposition that he vse to preferre good seruants then will he serue him diligently many yeares and the doubtfull hope of vncertaine preferment giueth life and courage to him to vndergoe ioyfully and willingly any paines heat cold wet dry night day are all alike to him and hee is ready to hazard limme and life in his masters quarrell But what is the haruest of his labours Some preferment by his Master or Masters procurement yet is his Master but a man and therefore vnconstant he is but a man therefore hee may leaue his former goodnesse and because hee is but a man the floure of grasse hee may dye before the time therefore saith Dauid Psalm 146. 2. 3. O put not your trust in Princes nor in any childe of Man c. But howsoeuer Seruice is no heritage but the Lords seruice is heritage hee hath no sonnes no daughters no kinsfolkes but his onely Sonne which he gaue a ransome for vs the price of our redemption and adoption that wee might be his Sonnes and coheyre with his owne Sonnes of the Kingdome of glory Now will the Seruingman doe this and that nay hee cares not what vpon vncertaine hopes of trifles and shall not we much more ioyfully and faithfully serue the Lord enduring with patience the afflictions of this present time seeing that wee haue a Master that is most good most mercifull most true who hath promised plentifully to reward his Seruants and is most willing and most able to performe his promises Why doth not the hope of this reward incourage and giue life vnto vs faithfully to serue him and ioyfully to suffer for him It is because infidelity lurketh in the heart it is because wee are not his Seruants wee haue no delight in such kinde of seruice nor in seruing such a Master And forasmuch as wee are carnall wee will in such sort serue bodily Masters for the good of our bodies but we will not serue the Lord for the both temporall and euerlasting felicity of body and soule Such like bruit beasts are sure that they haue bodies and they daily feele that they require maintenance therefore are they so labourious for the time present and so prouident and carefull for the time to come but whether they haue soules they are not very sure neither whether they be immortall neither what shall become of them do they much regard From whence then proceedeth this bodily niggardship and spirituall prodigality and dissolutenes that for a crust of bread they will sell the kingdome of heauen but from Infidelity and Atheisme Lastly the poore man that about ten twelue or twenty yeares hence or hee knowes not how soone shall haue a Lordship befall him or some great liuing can in the meane space farre more patiently indure pouertie the hope of inioying the same before his death doth reioyce his heatt in the greatest want and though he be doubtfull whether he shall liue and haue the benefit thereof yet is it no small comfort to him that his posterity shall be raised out of the dust But we poore and miserable wretches being sure that the inheritance promised is not farre off death making a passage and entrance to the same are little or nothing comforted therewith yea though the time of life be almost expired that one foote is euen in the graue already though I say we be so neere to our inheritance yet haue wee no reioycing therein because wee are more in loue with this nasty and muddy cottage than with the glorious pallace of heauen distrust infidelity and the loue of this world doth so deepely possesse our dead and darke hearts Thus much of the dehortation But labour for the meat that endureth to eternall life which the Sonne of man shall giue vnto you for him hath God the Father sealed These words contayne the Exhortation The matter of the exhortation is meate which is declared 1. By the effect or efficacie proceeding from the immortall nature thereof which endureth to eternall life 2. By the Author or Giuer which the Sonne of man shall giue vnto you This Authority and Office of the Sonne is confirmed by the primarie or principall cause thereof that is the Assignement and Designement of the Father according to the euerlasting decree of his counsell in calling him for him hath the Father sealed But for meate Meate in this place is quite opposite and contrary to the former signifying metaphorically in generall all things belonging to newnesse of life in speciall the doctrine of the Gospell For as the body is fed with meate so the soule is fed by the word of God through the efficacy and vertue of the spirit which begetteth Faith in the soule whereby the soule is quickened for of it selfe it is dead therefore seeing that faith is the life of the soule that is well compared to meate which increaseth and preserueth faith and that is the Gospell onely 1 Pet 1. 23. Also the same Apostle saith as Babes desire the syncere milke of the Word It is a known principle in Philosophy ex quibus nascitur aliquid ex ijs pascitur Whereof we are bred thereof are we fed Now our bodies are bred or created out of the great world that is the firmament and the elements therefore are we sustained maintained and preserued by the same till the appointed time of our dissolution euen so our soules are regenerate and borne a new of the word and the spirit not to temporall but to eternall life Which endureth to eternall life These words are the effect of the Gospell The Gospell is such meate as it maketh the soule immortall working in the soule faith of the promises therein contained and an assured hope of the performance thereof in due season This meate being immortall maketh the soule immortall but the other is perishing therefore it cannot free the body from corruption And heerein appeares the difference of these meates First the vertue and strength of bodily food wherewith it feedeth is naturall being infused into it in the creation and continued till the end by generation and production But the vertue and strength of this meate is the spirit of regeneration descending from aboue inlightning and sanctifying whom hee will And as meate without the naturall strength thereof is but a dead corps and cannot feede so the Gospell without the spirit which is the life thereof is a dead letter to him which receiueth the same which killeth but feedeth not for then is it liuely
iustice mercy Heere is matter for the reasonable soule to worke and feede vpon but this is animall bread enduring but to temporall life not quickning or reuiuing the soule to eternall life Therefore there can no bread of life bee gathered out of this world but the liuing bread must come downe from heauen that must quicken and sustaine the soule to eternall life It is liuing bread not onely because it hath life in it selfe but also because it giueth life vnto vs which are dead which worldly bread cannot doe For other bread must come to a liuing stomacke as the matter to the workeman but this liuing bread commeth to a dead stomacke to giue not onely foode but life also to the same which it doth by the spirit which quickneth whom hee will And hee that hath the spirit hath life from whence proceedeth spirituall hungar and thirst and consequently spirituall digestion of Christ the liuing bread but hee that hath not the spirit hath not life therefore though Christ be offered to him yet is hee not quickned nor fedde therewith for the word of God is to him but a dead letter euen as restoratiues and nourishing meates are to a liuelesse corps Therefore let vs not labour for bodily meate pampering and fulfilling too much the brutish appetites of those corruptible carkasses which are a burthen and wearisomnesse to the sanctified soule Let vs rather labour to suppresse the intemperate and inordinate desires and lusts thereof least that obeying them in the lusts thereof wee be transformed into the nature of euill beasts or ciuill Epicures as very many are in these latter euill dayes wherein there are not so many conuerted from Popery to Protestancy as doe reuolt from true Christianity to manifest Pharisaisme to Ethnicall ciuility Epicurisme and flat Atheisme the Deuill catching more this way then escape out of his hands the other way Labour not for the preferments promotions pompes and vaine flourishes of this transitory world all which things are but momentary and being persecuted with enuy and accompanied with inseperable griefe and sorrow affoord no true felicity nor yet hearty reioycing to the possessours thereof Let vs rather labour to curbe these high aspiring thoughts moderating these flying and groundlesse imaginations with sobriety and sad wisedome Labour not for worldly wisedome and knowledge For the wisedome of God in his workes is vnsearchable neither can the ground of his workes be found out So that when wee haue done all this is all that wee haue learned namely that wee now know nothing whereas beeing vnlearned wee thought we knew or might know something and haue onely gotten some discerning of our ignorance and want of knowledge Moreouer whatsoeuer it is it dyeth and perisheth together with the braine not helping forward the soule one haire bredth towards the attainment of eternall blisse for otherwise Satan might haue cause of hope at least some mitigation of endlesse despaire But let vs labour for the meate that indureth for euer whereby our soules and bodies are preserued eternally Let vs labour that we may attaine to the knowledge of God in the saluation of our soules by faith in Christ This is true wisedome Let vs labour for the spirit of Regeneration that wee may bee deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God This is true liberty Let vs labour for the assured hope of our eternall inheritance in the kingdome of heauen This is an euerlasting and true kingdome Let vs labour that wee may bee truely perswaded of the forgiuenes of our sinnes and that we are in the fauour of God This is true comfort ioy delight and pleasures Let vs labour to know God to be our God and protectour which is our safety both from our temporall and spirituall enemies Let vs labour to be partaker of all spirituall blessings from aboue which proeeed from the Father of lights Let vs labour for this meate that is able to make our soules and bodies immortall not like vnto Manna which our Fathers haue eaten and are dead but he that eateth this meate shall liue for euer It is the precious balme that will preserue our soules and bodyes from corruption that they shall neuer see death Which meate the Sonne of man Iesus Christ hath giuen vnto vs euen the Sonne of God incarnate and made man hee is the spence and store-house out of which wee must receiue this euerlasting foode for all the treasures of the Father are hid in him of whose fulnesse we shall receiue and our soules shall bee satisfied with God The Law affords no meat vnto vs it is a destroyer not a Sauiour the Leauen of the Pharisees euen Popery which is a masse and the head of all heresies and Satanicall policies is no meate but poyson And as for bodily meate and drinke which passeth by the mouth into the belly it is of short continuance Neither the Law nor the prudent nor the wise nor the Scribe nor the disputer of this world can affoord any part of this euerlasting food vnto vs. These are drye barren hungry and fainty deserts But Christ is the true Manna that came downe from heauen which who so eateth shall not hunger any more He is the rocke out of which doe flow the waters of life and hee that drinketh thereof shall neuer thirst any more For thus hath God the Father decreed in his euerlasting counsell and called him from all eternity that through the assumption and mediation of the man-hood hee should conuey this immortall meate and spirituall treasures vnto vs. Therefore the bread of life can wee haue from none but from the Sonne for the decree of the Father cannot be altered neither can the calling of the sonne be in vaine There is no wisedome knowledge saluation else-where to be found saue onely in the Sonne the truth of all which things may appeare outwardly vnto vs by his miracles which no man could worke but hee that was sent of God who heereby testified of his Sonne that by beleeuing in the Sonne wee might haue life through him not through our selues nor any other FINIS Mark 7. 21. 22. Heb. 4. 12. Ephes 6. 4. Psalm 119. 96. Psalm 146. 2. 3. Iob. 5. 13. Mat. 5. 16. Eph. 3. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Rom. 6. 13. 1 Cor. 6. 13. 1. Tim. 6. 8. Esay 55. Prou. 8. 3. Hest 5. 11. 12. Psalm 146. 2. 3. 1 Pet. 1. 23. Math. 9. 6. Iohn 3. 13.
causes of delay doe wee finde long is it ere wee come and when wee are come wee haue forgotten to bring our haruest-tooles with vs our mindes hearts affections memories are at home and on our worldly affaires therefore wee thinke the time long and vnlesse short worke be made many will shorten the time with sleeping and the rest of the day shall bee spent in vaine pleasures foolish talking vngodly iangling and ieasting and doing many kindes of businesses which we conceiue wee may doe without any great danger of Lawe being like to young children which delight to play in Sand-heapes dunghills and miry puddles but to be set to the Schoole of nurture and learning t is as bitter as gall and wormewood vnto them Againe how doe wee carke and care labour and cast about and euen breake our braines with study and plotting how to compasse and purchase Farmes Houses Lordships Offices and places of preferment But how nought worth and vile doe wee esteeme this precious Pearle the Kingdome of God The kingdome of Heauen is not worth the caring for it is not worth the labour wee imagine that it may bee purchased with any trifle with any supposed good thought a word in the houre of death How brutish and sottish are many great and wise worldlings which seeing an earthly Lordship so long in purchasing doe notwithstanding thinke to purchase the kingdome of God in a moment yea to haue it at commaund when they list Beleeue well and hope well from the teeth forward is all that they will giue and this can they giue at any time without the least hinderance to their sinfull lusts in any thing We will trauell by Sea and Land into farre countries passing by dangerous gulfes Rockes Robbers Pirates Tempests and amongst these will wee hazard goods and life it selfe for the increase of our goods and when we haue gotten all we can we can make nought but meat drinke and cloth of it but whatsoeuer wee make thereof it is but a perishing and corruptible toy hauing matter of contempt yea of sorrow and griefe in it For what troubles doe riches oft times bring to the owners thereof Eccles 5. 12. But as for those true and immortall riches faine would wee haue them but wee will not wet our foote for them nor abide the cold ayre to breath on our faces wee will not vndergoe the least displeasure of any man for them nor sustaine the smallest losse of any thing nor hazard the least thing that we haue In trauelling into farre Countries we are altogether vnsure to returne againe yet shall not that hinder vs. If wee sustaine any great losse we will once try againe the later voyage may chance to saue it selfe and recouer the other But there is no such trauelling for these euerlasting treasures And though wee bee sure with labour and diligence to finde and obtaine the same yet will wee hardly stir to the doore yea though they bee brought offered and euen inforced vpon vs yet will wee not pull the hand out of the bosome so drowzie so lazie are we If proclamation should bee made in time of dearth and famine that such a Prince had sent a thousand quarters of Corne for the poore and so many pounds of gold and siluer to be distributed among the poore indebted and that hee would send shortly to euery port a vessell laden with wheat and if it were but Beanes what running and flocking together would there be what striuing contending complaining laying open of our wants of our debts of our charge of children what watching and looking for that which were to come what running to the Sea-shore climing vp of steeples and cheering of our hearts in hunger with hope of expected foode In Esay 55. This proclamation is made with a loud and high voyce Hoe Euery one that thirsteth come to the waters come buy Wine Milke Hony Bread without money In extremity of bodily want wee would giue all that we haue for bread and water In our spirituall want we are called to come and take freely without money or mony-worth but who comes who moues or listens to the voyce of the crier This spirituall foode is not worth the comming for it is not worth the labour though we may haue it freely They that loue the hippes hawes rootes and mast of this world cannot abide this heauenly foode it is no more meate for them then Pearles for Swine The Onions Garlickes and Leekes of Egypt euen the fruites of this earth is the fittest for them and sauoureth best to their tast they are like young children that delight to lye groueling in the ashes eating coales and clay thus are they bereft of vnderstanding like to Nabuchadnezar Dan 4. the wilde Woods Forrests and company of beasts is fitter for them then the communion and fellowship of Saints The ciuill flickering harlot and stew-house doth best befit the Whoremonger and adulterer the Ale-house is fittest for the sottish Drunkard the kitchin for the greedy glutton the dunghill for the muddy Mamonist a puft and windy blast of vaine-glory for the proud and rotten flesh of pride This proclamation is also made Prou. 8. 3. Wisedome crieth besides the gates before the city at the entry of the doors Ver. 2 Omen I call to you c. Ver. 6. Giue eare for I will speake of excellent things Ver. 18. Riches and honour are with me euen durable riches and righteousnes my fruit is better than gold euen then fine gold and my reuenues than fine siluer yet for all this shee is not heard for folly doth not comprehend wisedome neither are incorruptible treasures receiued of corruptible and mortall bodyes How eagerly doe many hunt after promotion the windy titles of honour and how glorious and wise are they if they can creepe into fauour and speciall respect with Princes What a world of contentment pleasure and ioy is the aduancement of their houses vnto them Hest 5 11. 12. What hot pursuite euen to the last gaspe doe many make after earthly preferment but to seeke to be in fauour with God with Christ with the Angells to be honoured of God to be heyres with Christ to bee fellow seruants with the Angells who almost much regardeth Moreouer in our hot pursuits after the profits and prerogatiues of this world wee will goe on forward with a constant and steady course and tread downe vnder foote euery thing that hindereth Whatsoeuer the world thinke or say of vs wee care not if wee may but accomplish our desires If men count vs couetous ehurlish vaine-glorious high-minded wee regard not their speeches If the poore curse vs and brand vs with the markes of oppression cruelty and tyranny yea if wee haue but some great person to backe vs we will care almost for no man but how inconstant in a good profession are wee How fearefull How soone offended How soone weary of well-doing How faint-hearted If the world frowne on vs as it alwaies hath done on