Supper came to him to wash his feet he refused no Lord thou shalt neuer wash my feet but wheÌ„ Christ told him that otherwise he shold haue no portion with him and had washed his feet then Peter who refused before now beggeth Lord not onely my feet but my head and hands also so it is with vs before wee taste of the sweetnesse and refreshment of Gods word to our wearied soules and the ioy thereof to our wounded and sorrowful consciences we esteeme of it as Aesops Cocke did of the Iewell hee found in the doung-hill wee had rather haue a grayne of Barley or any thing that testeth to the flesh or is agreeable to please our affections Gods word is as it were pearles cast before swine wee are rather ready to turne backe and teare them in pieces that offered them vnto vs then to giue them any thanks we refuse then with Peter the water of life but as soone as it hath touched our hearts and our soules haue found the refreshing sweetnesse thereof then wee will begge and importunately intreat Lord not onely this measure but a greater dayly of the knowledge and comfort of thy word fill my whole soule with the power thereof and stuffe all the corners of my heart with the aboundance of the same let it not onely be in my head to talke of it but in my hands to doe it and in my feet also in thy way to walke according thereunto This should bee our desire and estimation of Gods word for if wee be sicke to death as it were wee would esteeme much of that Doctour that could tell and shew vs what and from what cause our sicknes came and could giue vs a present remedy to restore vs to the perfect health of our bodies that wee should liue long but wee haue the infectious and deadly sicknesse of sinne euery one of vs in our soules Gods holy Word doth shew vs what our sicknesse is and by what way or meanes we came by it it offereth to vs present remedie not to restore the bodie to a kind of health that it may liue a miserable momentaneall life for a while but to restore the soule to perfect and true health that it may liue a blessed ioyfull and eternall ioy in heauen with God and his blessed Angels how then should we esteeme of this Physition Physicke To such a Physition of the body wee would thinke that we did owe our life who restored vs to the same to such a Physition of the soule then how much more do we owe this teÌ„poral miserable life for the defence thereof and how can we sufficiently value or loue the same we wold account of him much who would giue vs such a right whereby we should possesse the whole kingdoms of the earth peaceably yea or to be heire to any one kingdom but so it is that Gods word if wee beleeue the same maketh vs heires to the eternall Kingdome of Heauen and giueth vs sufficient right and title that wee shal bee peaceable possessours thereof in euerlasting Ioy and Glory infinite In a darke perilous way wee esteeme much of a Lanterne such is Gods word to our wayes of this life in a dangeâ—ous long iourney wee would esteeme much of a faithfull skilfull vnburdenable and sufficient guide readie to ouercome and encounter all perils or enemies of ours such is Gods word in the long wearisome and dangerous iourney of this life where when we meet with any temptatioÌ„ if we answere It is written and firmely beleeue the same in so resisting Sathan we shal ouercome his temptations and at last make him depart at least for a while from vs by the strength of this our Guide In a great and doubtfull matter knowing our owne simplicitie and foolishnesse we would much esteeme of a faithfull and wise counseller two wayes are set before our eyes one leading to death another to life to the wrong we more naturally encline then to the other therefore in this great matter of life and death eternall and the doubtfulnesse of these two waies at one of which enter wee must wee haue most great neede of this wise and faithfull Counseller whom wee should much esteeme and follow in all things Moses sheweth Israel what the value of this worde of God is what value they should esteeme it of when hee saith It is your life and your wisedome whereby you excel all other Nations therefore hee exhorteth them neuer to let it depart out of their mouh nor heart but continually to talk of it going in and comming out at home and in the fields night and day to meditate thereon to make it a signet vpoÌ„ their finger a frontlet betweene their eyes and to esteeme nothing neere vnto it nothing equiualent to it nor nothing aboue it Of the great estimation of the word and trueth of God we haue one notable example in the Scripture of the good and godly king Iosiah who when the booke of the Law of God being found by Hilkiah the Priest and presented to the King by Shaphan the Chanceller hee hauing heard the words thereof rent his clothes and went to the house of God with all the people of Iudah Ierusalem small and great the Priests and Leuites and there in audience of the whole people did reade the law himselfe in their eares shewing what estimation and reuerence euery King and people shold haue to the word of God we must heare and reade it with great reuerence as becommeth the word of the King of all kings and Lord of all lords to bee heard with the hand of faith wee must receyue it and with all estimation wee must lay it vp in the chest and coffer of our hearts to bring forth the fruit of obedience thereunto as becommeth good subjects naturall children faithfull seruants in our life and conuersation It is the most precious Iewell that a yong man can weare the greatest riches that he can possesse a chayne of gold about his necke true wisedome to his heart the faithfullest tutor to direct and gouerne him and the most delightfull pleasure greatest profit that euer he could wish for godlines is profitable vnto all things and hath a promise of this life and of the life to come It is to the aged their greatest honour their truest wisedome and grauitie when sicknesse and age oppresseth them it is a comfortable salue to their soules and the best company they can seeke to or desire it is the skilfulest Doctor that can best ease theÌ„ and it is the strong hand that bringeth them safe and sound thorow all griefe dolours temptations sicknesses and the passeouer of death it selfe vnto the kingdom of God the eternal ioyes of heauen Therefore let yong and old esteeme of it greatly and of the bearers thereof highly as of the ambassage ambassadours of the Prince of all Princes and Lord eternall ouer all Lordes and Potentates in this temporall and momentaneall world that receiuing
must passe and ouercome many temptations of Sathan the flesh likewise walke in the strait and narrow way of holinesse sanctification before thou come to the easie and spacious end of thy way to the full possession of that heauenly kingdome and eternall glorification through Christ Iesus thou must bee in labours before thou rest from labours thou must liue in the Lord before thou canst die in the Lord thou must liue the life of the righteous if thou wouldest wish to die the death of the righteous and thy last end to bee like theirs All the holy Patriarks Prophets Saints and Martyrs of God haue trode this narrow way before they obtayned the recompence of their reward vnto which they had respect if therefore thou haue any respect vnto the same and by hope looke for that which they fully now possesse follow and insist in their footsteps if thou wouldest tryumph and glory with them thou must also couragiously fight with them against the diuell and thine owne corrupt affectionâ— and concupiscence of the flesh which fayne would haue libertie and draw thee in that broad way of destruction but assure thy selfe in thy youth and in the way thereof that the greater liberty of thy flesh and affections here maketh the most strait incarceration and feareful plunging of soule and body in endlesse and easelesse torments of hell hereafter which thou mayest plainely behold and learne by the example of Diues Lazarus whereof the one in the broad way had his pleasures in this life but not a drop of water to coole his tongue after death the strait ende of his way the other had his miseries here without necessaries scarce for the flesh but after death which opened the large end of his way he was carried into Abrahams bosome in eternall ioyes for euer to remaine in their life Lazarus was compelled to beg from Diues crumbes of his bread at their death Diues was compelled to beg from Lazarus a drop of cold water there did straitnesse follow after ease and ease after straitnesse in their seuerall wayes Albeit the rich man in the Gospell walking in the broad way did bid his soule Eate drinke and take it ease for it had much laid vp for many yeeres yet God from heauen had decreed that the strait end of his way shold be neerer then he thought they should fetch his soule froÌ„ him that same night Albeit Nebuchad-nezzar walking in the broad way also in the pride of his heart said Is not this great Babel that I haue built for the house of my kingdome by the might of my power and for the honour of my Maiestie glorying so in the flesh yet he was cast into a great and wonderfull straitnesse while the word was in his mouth and driuen from men as a beast to eate the grasse of the fields Albeit Belâ—hazzar likewise walking in the same large way in the exaltation of his heart against God proclaimed a banquet sitting with his Princes wiues and concubines pampring giuing all pleasure to the flesh drinking wine in the vessels consecrated onely to Gods seruice which were brought out of Ierusalem not glorifying GOD but praysing his Idols of gold siluer and stone yet the end of his way was this the Hand declared on the wall that hee was weighed and found too light his kingdome was ended and giuen to others and that same night he was slayne presently so when he was highest vpon the top of his reioycing hill most suddenly he did fall lowest in the valley of mourning and pit of teares by lamentable destruction the vnexpected strait end of his broad former way The Sodomites knew little how neere fire and brimstone was neere them the primitiue world how neere them was the Deluge and all such that walke in this way of libertie of the flesh how neere subuersion of soule and bodie is at hand Therefore let vs walke in the right way if wee would sitte at Christs right hand let vs be sanctified here if we would be glorified hereafter let vs walke in the true path if we would attaine to the true end thereof and subdue the slesh with the affections thereof to the spirit and yoake of Christs obedience if in body and spirit for euer wee would raigne with him Let vs redresse our owne wayes and let euery one that calleth on the name of the Lord depart from iniquitie as the Apostle commandeth Timothie and in his person all yong men Flie from the lusts of youth follow after righteousnesse faith loue and peace with them that call on the name of the Lord for if any man purge himselfe from these hee shall bee a vessell vnto honour sanctified and meet for the Lord prepared vnto euery good worke Seeing also our course of life here is compared to a Way which wee must redresse according to Gods word therefore let vs walke in this life as in a way warily and working out our saluation in feare and trembling Considering with ourselues 1. First as in a way or iourney no rest is to be expected that is permanent vntill wee come to the end thereof so neither must wee looke for any permanent citie or solide rest in the way or course of this life vntill we come to Iesus Christ being dissolued to be with him who is the true end and rest of the true and narrow way the temple of that spirituall Ierusalem and Citie of all perfect light and ioy For the estate of his Church here is as the Boat wherein vpon the sea hee was with his Disciples euer tossed vp and downe in continuall labour so that except hee were our stay our rest and refuge wee should surely perish Our life here is a Warfare our enemie is euer pursuing as a raging Lyon seeking to deuoure vs therefore wee must be in continual defence of the life of our soules by his strength being armed who gaue his life for our soules vntill vnder his defence hauing fought a good fight and finished our course we be victorious and tryumph with him hauing receyued that immortall and incorruptible crowne of glory which is layd vp for vs and for all them that loue the comming of the Lord Iesus in glorie to glorifie vs with himselfe 2. Secondly in a way we euer goe forward and one step followeth another sicut vnda impelli tur vnda as one waue is enforced by another so also in the way of this our life wee poast to our end and our dayes passe more swiftly then a weauers shittle our life is as a flower that now springeth vp and with a blast fadeth as a water bubble now vp and now downe with an aire of wind as a smoake seene and gone presently as the fat of Lambes which suddenly is dropped away so that whether wee sleepe or wake whether we eate or drinke whether we go or sit still as in a ship wee are caried speedily with full sailes thorow the sea of this
by resisting that cruell raging Lyon Sathan who daily seeketh how to deuoure our soules and bodies which the Lambe of GOD hath bought to himselfe Let vs by the strength of Gods Spirit redeeme our selues froÌ„ his destroying iawes and in our youth shewe Gods strength in vs and while wee are young men let vs cast off the olde man of sinne and concupiscence of the flesh and put on Iesus Christ the new man walking with him in righteousnesse holinesse of life a glorious garment and blessed companion As Sampson being a young man killed the Philistims the enemies of God and his people so in our youth let vs endeuour by the speciall assistance of Gods grace strength of his powerfull Spirit to kill ouercome and subdue the cruell enemies of God and our owne soules saluation sin and our corrupt affections whom we beare about in our mortall bodies and who dippeth in the platter with vs yet like so many Iudases seeking to betray vs in the hands and power of our malitious and cruel enemie Sathan they giue vs their sweete milke to drinke but for our destruction they make vs sleepe vpon their knees but to abrace our strength and to make God abrace our name out of the booke of life to betray vs trecherously into the hands of our persecuting enemie and to cut off our heads in the midst of our drunken sleepe of sinne yea they sleep with vs as a snake in our bosom to sting vs to eternall death suspect then their venome and theâ—â— deceitfull wicked purpose let them not keep thee vnder the yoake of their slauerie but keepe them vnder thy commandements rule and subjugate thy necke vnder the light and easie yoake of Iesus Christ to obey him in all the powers of thy soule and members of thy body that so here on earth thou maiest be a member of his body militant and suffering in heauen hereafter a glorified triumphant member in eternal ioyes so thou shalt be happy reioyce that euer thou didst suffer the yoake in thy youth Saul Dauid SalomoÌ„ with many others in the Scripture were called to be Kings being yong men but wee in our youth are called to a more ample glorious and permanent a kingdome to bee kings and coheyres with Iesus Christ the onely begotten and welbeloued Sonne of God in that eternall kingdome of his Father which hee hath prepared for vs taken possession himselfe before vs and granted vs here on earth the pledge of his holy Spirit to begin our ioyes and his holy Sacraments as seales of his kingdome who will then deny such a honour in his youth to be a glorious King with Iesus Christ Salomon in his greatest glory was not so gloriously clothed as one of the white Lillies of the field but when thou shalt bee cloathed with the white long robe of the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ crowned with an incorruptible crowne of glory and life in euer-permanent ioyes eternally to remayne to behold the glorious face of the lambe of God associated to the blessed Angels and infinite companies of the glorified spirits Saynts praising continually and extolling his iustice and the infinite mercy and loue of the Lambe before his Throne in light perpetuall in glory vnspeakeable ioyes that cannot be expressed how blessed and happy shall bee thy estate in this kingdome to day thou art called to it yong to morrow thou knowest not if thou shalt enter by the passeouer of death in full possession thereof while then it is offred possesse thy selfe to day with the pledge and rights of it walke in the true way to it that at thy iourneyes end thou mayst be crowned an immortall King procrastinate therefore no time it is a gift and a great gift when God holdeth out his hand in thy youth to offer thee the rights and pledges of his kingdome the sooner thereby to thy greater comfort to possesse thee with them and yet in the meane time thou pull in thy hand from receyuing them vntill thou prooue the diuels slauerie verily when he hath pulled in his hand agayne froÌ„ offering albeit thou neuer so oft put out thine to receyue when thou shalt seeke it thou shalt not find it but as thou refusedst of God in thy youth to be a king and accepted of Sathan to be a slaue as thou refusedst to remaine in thy fathers house and to eate at his table but wandring in a farre countrie yeelded to be a Farmers hyreling and to eate with swine so except Gods extraordinary mercy the beams of his vnsearchable loue shine vpon thee thou maiest expect in age but terrour and fearefull torment of conscience and hereafter to receyue the iust reward and hyre of thy slauery in the bottomlesse sinck and deepe pit of perdition in endlesse and easelesse torments with Sathan thy master In thy youth then accept to be a king of God receyuÌ„e the rights and pledge of the Kingdome in thy heart shew that thou hast them by thy speeches thy workes and an holy life speake the language of the Kingdome learne it dayly more and more which is prayer and praysing of God the kingdome whereof thou art made an heyre is Heauen wilt thou know thy selfe and make others also know if truely thou belong to this Kingdome let thy thoughts bee heauenly thy words be heauenly gratious to God and man and offensiue iustly to none thy works and actions also heauenly and vpright before God man doing good according to thy power to all euill or the least iniury to none no not to thy enemy but good for euill in word and worke let all thy conuersation and course of life priuate and publike be heauenly as a lampe shining before others that resembling thy Fathers conditions and bearing his image in thy life thou maiest bee knowne to be a childe and sonn of the King of heauen and sometimes to bee a crowned king there thy selfe when thy father shal call thee home from thy trauelling to thy natiue country and kingdome as on earth in good example thou shined as a lampe before others so then in heauen to shine in glory as a bright lampe before his throne But some would thinke that this exhortation of redressing our waies had beene fitter for olde men then for youth because they are nearer death giuing of account of their waies where young men seeth that they may die they â—ee that they die and youth must haue it owne course and therefore their faults are not so much to bee obserued seeing they are rather â—tatis then hominis and so in time enough they may returne from their yong courses when age breaketh them and become good and graue men at last To such I answere that such excuses as these are but impostures of Sathan and the flesh age hath neede to see they end well the claudite of their life with a ioyfull plaudite of the assurance of Gods fauour and youth must take heede also
and curseth them that keepe not his commandements as God hath commanded in the first precept of the second Table of his Law that children shall honour theyr Parents with a double promise of this life and the life to come then command thou likewise and instruct thy children to honour God also and let this be thy first and chiefest care in the table of thy heart so shew thy selfe thankefull to God agayne When Salomon was to trie whose was the liuing childe for which the two women stroue to find out the same by the naturall affection of the true mother hee commanded the child to bee diuided in two wherewith as the true mother was much moued and displeased so the wrong mother cared not but was cōtented it should be so and so the veritie for the adjudging did appeare It is euen so with godly wicked parents and by this they may be knowne the wicked parents not hauing any conjunction with God thēselues they cannot know nor apprehend the ioyfulnesse thereof in others as in their children therefore they care not though they be destroyed by sinne and diuided asunder from the body of Iesus Christe but godly and true parents feeling in their owne hearts the sweet ioy of that blessed vnion with God through Christ they endeuour onely so to bring vp their children in the true feare and loue of God that they may be partakers also of that vnspeakeable comfort ioy of that conjunction with themselues and so haue true life in them yea before they should bee diuided from that comfort and life which they haue in that conjunction with Iesus Christ they rather would giue ouer that naturall title and right of comfort which belongeth iustly vnto them as parents as they did naturally beget them in sinne by the seed of man in the flesh to their owne image so their chiefe care and desire is that they may be begotten of a new supernaturally in the spirit vnto righteousnesse by the spirit of God to Gods image and by the immortall seed of the word of Iesus Christ God man and as they did dwell together on earth so for euer in heauen also they desire together to remayne This I say is the wish care and note of all godly and true parents and which euery one should haue or be knowne by and truely wee see oftentimes that children take example of their parents and walketh in their footsteps pressing to imitate them that they may the more be loued by them so that if the father bee carefully and godly disposed his sonne will feare lest the contrary disposition be deprehended in him at least by his father if he see that his father hate and detest drunkennesse fornication swearing or such sinnes surely if hee bee a naturall sonne and not a castaway hee will bee loth to commit any such or at least to his fathers knowledge or face and if he haue grace in him hee will doe that rather which hee knoweth to be liking and acceptable in his fathers sight the example whereof first consider in a truly godly obedient sonne Iacob who knowing that the daughters of Canaan displeased Izhak and Rebekah his parents he would not ioyne with thē in mariage but with his owne kindred commanded by his fathee as also the like after a maner in a counterfeit cast-away Esau his brother who seeing that to marry with the daughters of Canaan as hee had notwithstanding already done was displeasant and grieuous to his parents and that his brother Iacob had obeyed his father to doe otherwise in going to Padan Aram he went also tooke Ishmaels daughter to wife of his own kindred albeit a bastard generation such was the care albeit hypocriticall euen of this cast-away to please his parents Elies wicked sonnes also seeing their fathers godly disposition durst not before him commit such enormities as they did or to his owne knowledge vntill by the people it was reported so vnto him so that the good inclination of the father is a great awe band vnto the sonne as of the contrary the nature of the sonne is more apt to follow a lasciuious and impious father to wickednesse and vanitie then a godly graue father to piety and true wisedome Concerning this aptnesse of children to imitate their parents example in good or euill Christ himselfe also saith to the Iewes If ye were the sonnes of Abraham ye would doe the workes of your father Abraham but ye are of your fafather the diuell and the lusts of your father ye will doe therefore let all fathers in the good education of their children be as lampes themselues in their life that they may be followed by them and doe such things that therein they would desire their childrens imitation It is a great delight to parents to heare that their children are like vnto them but if they be like them in godlinesse it is a great ioy and comfort to others also For then they represent and resemble the Image of Iesus Christ the common Sauiour and Father of all men as he was the character and expresse Image of his Father in Iustice Mercy and Holinesse so they being likewise the image of Christ againe in holines and sanctity of life being holy as he is holy and hauing that honour to be like the King of all kings thereby brother to the Prince of princes of whose kingdome it may be truely said His ego met as nec tempor a pon◠without limitation or prescription of time Ioy infinite and Eternitie without end In the 127. Psalme Dauid calleth children by three titles First Behold saith he children are the inheritance of the Lord to shew that they should bee educated and brought vp by their parents with such care as though they were not the children of men but of God and consider what care a man hath and respect vnto his inheritance that it be not abused any way or spoyled the like greater care hath God our heauenly Father that our children which are his inheritance for of these is the kingdome of heauen be not negligently or euilly brought vp to dishonour his name who should honour him The heyre of a king and kingdom must be so educated that hee may be found worthy of the crowne The children of the faithfull are heyres to the King and kingdome of Heauen Therefore their parents as tutors to whom they are concredit for a time must trayne them vp so carefully in pietie and and the obedience of God their heauenly father that they may bee found worthy of the inheritance of that Kingdom and Crowne of glory purchased by the blood of Iesus Christ our Lord their parents may bee found faithfull so in discharging their dutie therein to God and them Secondly Dauid calleth children the Lords Reward shewing that as God of his grace doth giue to parents children as a testimony of his loue to their earthly pleasure comfort and seruice so
of the Apostle generally Let all things be doâ—â— decently in loue without dissimulation being as the spring from whence our reuerence and honouring one of another should proceede and the end likewise to bee loue out of a pure heart and of good conscience and of faith vnfaâ—â—ed Thirdly and last of all let euerie young man according to the prescript rule of Gods worde take heede vnto his way of godlinesse and religion to redresse cleanse the same which indeed is the most profitable vocation of all others for as the Apostle saith Godlinesse is great gaine and for bodily exercise it profiteth little but godlinesse is profitable vnto all things which hath the promise of the life present and of that that is to come Salomon also Prou. 14. 27. saith that The feare of the Lord is a well-spring of life to auoid all the snares of death it is a most precious jewell the comfort glory and value whereof surpasseth all vnderstanding the straight way whereof albeit displeasant hard to the flesh for a time yet it is most delectable pleasant to the spirit and soule for euer It is a tree hauing albeit gall in the roote yet hony in the top whose fruit endureth for euer And in the feare of the Lord is an assured strength Therefore seing it is more amply spokeÌ„ of before I cease now with this exhortation only of th' Apostle to al yong men concerning the same Let euery one embrace the grace of God that bringeth saluation vnto all men which hath appeared and teacheth vs that wee should denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and that we should liue soberly and righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the mighty God and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purge vs to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good workes forgetting that which is behinde and endeuouring our selues to that which is before and following hard toward the marke for the price of the hie calling of God in Christ Iesus hauing our conuersation in heauen continually from whence wee looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ counting all thinges dung that wee may win him and may bee found in him endeuouring onely that wee may know him and the vertue of his resurrection and the fellowship of his afflictions and bee made conformable to his death that at last we may be fashioned likewise vnto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able euen to subdue all things vnto himselfe In the meane time whatsoeuer things are true whatsoeuer things are honest whatsoeuer things are iust whatsoeuer things are pure whatsoeuer things pertaine to loue whatsoeuer things are of good report if there bee any vertue or if there be any praise let vs thinke on these things to doe the same and the God of peace shall be with vs here by grace and wee with him for euer hereafter in glory We must redres our waies the Prophet saith here In taking heede thereto according to Gods word We must not then read heare or know onely the word of God but practise do the same in purging taking heed to our waies according thereunto It is that good seed that Christ speakes of which must not only be receiued with ioy but must be retained and laid vp in a good and honest heart to bring forth good fruite according to the measure of Gods grace We must doe as Israel did Exo. 19. 7 8. and 24. 3. when Moses proposed Gods Commandements vnto them they answered All that the Lord hath commanded wee will doe not heare or know them onely So Moses commandement and exhortation to the people Deut. 4. 6. Behold I haue taught you ordinances and lawes as the Lord my God hath commanded me that yee should doe euen so within the land whither yee goe to possesse it keepe them therefore and doâ— them for that is your wisedome c. The peoples desire to Moses againe was chap. 5. 27. Goe thou neare and â—eare all that the Lord our God saith and declare thou vnto vs all that the Lord our God saith vnto thee and wee will heare it and doe it The condition also that God maketh by Moses that hee will exalt blesse them is chap. 28. 1. If thou shalt obey diligently the voyce of the Lord thy God and obserue and doe all his Commandements which I command thee then the Lord thy God will set thee on high and all these blessings shall come vnto thee c. So 19. 9. Keepe therefore the wordes of this couenant and doe them that yee may prosper in all other thinges that yee shall doe So 30. 14. The word is very neare vnto thee euen in thy mouth and in thy heart for to doe it Iohn the Baptist Matth. 3. 8. said vnto the Pharisies that which all men shoulde doe Bring forth fruits therefore worthy of amendement of life And now also is the axe put to the roote of the trees therefore euery tree which bringeth not foorth good fruite is heweâ— downe and cast into the fire And Christ our Sauiour saith Matt. 7. 17. Euery tree is knowne by his fruites for euery good tree bringeth forth good fruit and a corrupt tree bringeth forth euill fruits A good tree cannot bring forth euill fruit neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit For doe men gather grapes of thornes or figges of thistles Therefore so let our light shine before men that they may see our good workes and glorifie God our heauenly father For as in Morall Philosophie it is said Omnis virtus in actione consistit all vertue consisteth in action so truely in diuine and true Philosophie it may be likewise said that all Religion and Christian vertues consisteth in practise and not in pratling of them onely The figge-tree that Christ accursed had a faire shew by his leaues a farre off that he was like to haue fruit also but because he had none therefore by Christs curse hee withered presently It is not a faire shew likewise or pretence and profession of religion that God doth accept but wee must with our outward shew haue the inward substance and life of Religion good workes proceeding of true faith and loue Wee must not onely professe in word but in deede and action also imitating not onely Christs sayings but his holy life and doings Luke 6. 46. hee saith But why call you mee Master Master and doe not these thinges which I speake A seruant not onely acknowledgeth his Maister in word but must also in deede hee must not onely heare and know his Masters will but except hee doe it also hee shall be beaten with many stripes Luk. 12. Mat. 7. 21. Not euery one that saith vnto me Lord Lord saith our Sauiour shall enter into the Kingdome of heauen but hee that doth my Fathers
will which is in heauen Many will say vnto me in that day Lord Lord haue we not by thy name prophesied and by thy name cast out diuells and by thy name done many great workes And then will I professe to them I neuer knew you depart from mee yee that worke iniquitie Whosoeuer then heareth my words and doth the same is like the wise man that buildeth his house vpon a rocke c. Seeing God soweth the seede of his word in our hearts hee looketh for a ripe haruest of good works if he hath planted vs as vines in his vineâ— yard or oliue branches in the stock Christ he looketh that in him wee should bring forth sweete grapes and shew that wee liue in him by bringing forth good and pleasant fruit in him Gal. 5. 25. If we liue in the spirit let vs walke also in the spirit Wee must not like that barren and vnprofitable fig-tree Luk. 13. 7. delay to giue fruite to our Maister from yeare to yeare lest we be cut down and throwne ouer the hedge for euer in his fierce wrath but in our youth and tender age we must bud and bring forth sweete pleasant fruits such as he expecteth Christ Iesus abolished the curse of the Law by his comming but hee came not to take away the Law it selfe and the Prophets but to fulfill them As hee therefore perfitly obeyed Gods Lawe so that there was no sinne at all found in him so must his members here on earth striue in some measure to obey Gods Lawe and to come to that perfection that is here permitted by Gods Spirit to the elect to attaine vnto and that there be no sin found raigning in them For there is none no not one man in this world but sinne is found in him neither was there euer any other waies except Iesus Christ God and man but wee must striue and endeuour by the powerfull operation of Gods sanctifying Spirit assisting vs euery one of vs that if sinne abide in vs and the law of sin bee in our flesh yet that it beare not dominion or ouer-rule ouer vs but that in the spirit wee may haue the law of righteousnesse subiugating and weakening the other daily more and more till at the last by grace both soule and body bee captiuated vnto Christs obedience and take on his yoake that both likewise hereafter may bee in and with Christ victorious and triumphant in glory Amongst Pastours Whosoeuer shall obserue and teach Gods Commandements their reward shall be great they shall be called great in the kingdome of heauen so amongst the hearers and flocke Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it The true Pastour maketh his voice sound like Arons bells before his flocke And the sheepe heare his voyce and hee calleth his owne sheepe by name and leadeth them out And when hee hath sent forth his owne sheepe hee goeth before them and the sheepe follow him for they know his voyce Where to see the necessity of good works doing of Gods word therin we may consider the dutie both of the true Pastours of Christ and of the true sheepe of Christ with both their markes whereby so they may bee easily knowne the one not to bee Woolues in Lambs skins theeues robbers and hirelings the other not to bee sheepe of another Pastour or pasture True Pastours here then must goe before their sheepe first by an incorrupt doctrine or voyce and secondly by the footesteps of an incorrupt conuersation and life Concerning the first Christs charge to Peter is Louest thou me tâ—en feede my flocke So that Pastours loue to Christ is approued before God to their owne conscience and before men by feeding only his flocke the woe of the contrary whereof is set downe plainely Ezek. 24. 2. Wo â—ee to the shepheards of Israel that feede themselues should not the sheepheards feed the flockes Also 2. Tim. 4. 1. Pauls charge to Timothie I charge thee therefore before God and before the Lord Iesus Christ which shall iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearing and in his kingdome Preacâ— the word be instant in season and out of season improue rebuke exhort with all long suffering doctrine So here is Christs charge and the Apostle of Christs charge the one to Peter the other to Timothy and so to all Ministers that they should make their flockes heare their voice and sound the same before them For as Iohn was a voice in the wildernesse to prepare the way of the Lord at his first comming in humilitie so they must bee now voices crying in the desart of this world to prepare the way against the Lords second comming in glorie by Repent bringing low euerie high vnhumbled hill and by Beleeue exalting and comforting againe euery low valley and humbled soule in Gods presence so they must loose and binde open and shut set life and death before euery one and Wâ—e bee to them if they preach not the Gospell or therein loue their owne glory and praise of men more then the glory of God seeing the King hath sent them out to call all men to his banquet to eate of the fat calfe God hath made them Angells to cry before that last day Rise dead folke in sinne prepare to come to Iudgement cast off the corruption of the lustes of the flesh put on renouation of the spirit be sanctified in body and soule that in both hereafter you may be also glorified they haue concredit to them the trumpet of Gods voice at whose sound the high and proud walles of the Iericho of euery mans heart must fall and therefore must compasse them blow the trumpets diligently and often They are sent that they should preach the Gospell to the poore heale the â—roken hearted preach deliuerance to the captiues and recouering of sight to the blind that they should set at libertie them that are bruised and that they should preach the acceptable yeare of the Lord. This then is the voyce that they should vtter and this is the voyce the true sheepe should follow and know Concerning the second marke of true Pastours to wit their going also before their flocke in good example and holy life according to their owne voyce doing the same Christs charge likewise to his Apostles is Matt. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in heauen The neglect and transgression whereof hee sheweth in the Scribes and Pharisies whose righteousnesse except theirs exceeded hee telleth his Disciples they should neuer enter in the kingdome of heauen Matt. 23. 2. in these wordes saying The Scrbes and Pharisies sit in Moses seate and therefore whatsoeuer they bid you obserue that obserue and doâ— but after their workes doe not for they say and doe not as alas too many such in these our daies doe The Apostlte Paul also Rom. 2. 21. to this effect saith
and doe not then follow the chiefe Pastor Iesus Christ onely who hath gone before vs in a most perfect and holy example of life as for him hee riseth or falleth to his owne Master and is to be left to God whose seruant he is For that the hearing and knowledge onely of Gods voyce and word is improfitable to our saluation without the practising of the same in an holy life and conuersation by a true faith in Christ the Apostle Paul testifieth Rom. 2. 13. For the hearers of the law saith hee are not righteous before God but the doers of the law shall bee iustified And the Apostle Saint Iames 1. 22. giueth an expresse coÌ„mandement to all Christians saying Be ye doers of the word and not hearers onely deceiuing your owne selues so that we deceiue our selues greatly when we thinke that we haue done our dutie when we haue heard and knowne Gods word no the diuell and reprobates doe so also but to vs who looke to bee saued by Christs blood passion the word of God must bee powerfull to saluation God working with it in our hearts begetting and increasing a liuely and true faith in vs which must shew it selfe by the fruite of charitie and good workes when God speaketh vnto vs vttereth his voyce by our ordinary Pastors we must take heed if we haue that inward feeling which the Apostles confessed they had at the hearing of Christ Luke 24. 32. for the same spirit which wrought in them then worketh so now also in the hearts of the Elect And they sayd betweene themselues did not our hearts burne within vs while hee talked with vs by the way and when hee opened to vs the Scriptures Let vs consider if we haue this fire of the mouing and quickning spirit of God who worketh together with his word in our hearts let vs examine if by this powerfull operation of hearing Gods word faith and repentance bee begotten or encreased in our hearts Let vs try againe if this repentance bee true by abstaining by Gods grace euer thereafter from sinne that it raigne not in vs and if our faith bee liuely by not onely abstaining and abhorring so from euil but also doing good and godly workes according to our power the measure of our faith and Gods grace in vs following the example of the poore widow albeit we haue but little yet thereof to impart somewhat to Christs members laying it vp so in his treasurie then we are the truesheep for the Pastour maye preach and we duely heare his voyce but except he goe before in a holy life and we follow after in a sanctified conuersation talke that wee haue faith as wee will yea that thereby wee could remooue mountaines cast out Diuells and worke many miracles as many reprobates shall pleade at that day in Christs name wee are notwithstanding but as tinckling cimballs if wee haue not charitie and good workes and shal receiue that fearefull Away from mee I know you not Christ is offered to vs in his word we must not onely take him in our mouth by hearing but by a liuely and true faith wee must chew and eate him by vnfained loue charitie digest him and by our good workes holy conuersation shew that we are renewed ingrafted and growne in him so that hee may be not onely ours but vs and wee not only his but him he is that fruitfull vine if we be then in him we must bee fruitfull branches the fig-tree was commanded to be cut downe because it did beare no fruit the naturall Oliues were reiected because they lost their fatnesse if they had beene the sonnes of Abraham they had done the workes of Abraham if we be the sonnes of God by adoption and true members of Christ wee must learne of him for hee was humble and meeke wee must be holy as he is holy else wee haue no parte in him It is not enough to heare the Kings seruants message but without excuse wee must come to his supper and eate of the fat killed calfe in the white wedding garment of holinesse and a godly life Hee that saith that hee loueth God and yet hateth his neighbour he is a lyar and he that saith that hee loueth God and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyar also the reason is giuen by the Apostle plainely 1. Iohn 5. 3. For this is the loue of God that we keepe his Commandements and his Commandâ—ments are not greeuous And also In this wee know that wee loue the children of God when wee loue God and keepe his Commandements The thing that Iesus Christ the first the last sheweth that hee tooke notice and knowledge of in the seuen Churches to whom he writes in the Reuelation and vnder their name to his whole Church militant to the end is I know thy workes Reuel 2. 2 9 13. 19. and 3. 1 8 15. Also when that glorious Iudge of all flesh shall come and all his holy Angells with him and shall sit vpon the throne of his glorie there to iudge and reward all the Nations of the earth that shall be gathered before him hee shall iudge euery one according to his workes for in that great and last day he shall say vnto the sheep at his right hand Come yee blessed of my Father inherit yâ—e the kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world the reason For I was hungred and ye gaue me meate I thirsted and yee gaue me drinke I waâ— a stranger and you lodged me I was naked and you clothed me I was sicke and you visited me I was in prison and you came to me And the contrary shall hee say to the reprobate goates at his left hand who did not the same and must depart into euerlasting paine For albeit it be most true that faith onely iustifieth before God whosoeuer beleeueth that Christ is the Sonne of God shall bee saued because God he seeth the heart and searcheth the most inward deepest cogitations thereof and many hath beleeued with the theefe at the last houre and in Gods mercy haue beene saued so onely by faith Yet as the Apostle saith Iam. 2. 24. Wee see that of workes a man is iustified and not of faith onely because wee cannot enter into the heart to perceiue and behold the inward faith but by the fruits wee see it onely and that a man by such a fruitfull true liuely faith is iustified for good workes which alas in these daies are rare as faith loue their roote is colde and almost none left vpon the earth are the way wherein wee must walke to iustification albeit not the matter or cause thereof they are not the euidence of our faith as saith the Apostle Iames 2. 18. Shew me thy faith out of thy workes and I will shew thee my faith by my workes There is their nature vse they are the assurance to vs of our election and the makers sure of the same and
whosoeuer hath time meanes and opportunitie as few are but hath in some measure to doe good workes whereby their election may be confirmed to their owne conscience their faith in Christ shewed and testified before the world God their heauenly Father thereby glorified and his children their brethren therby strengthened and yet notwithstanding doth not verily howsoeuer they say that they haue faith Gods Spirit word testifieth the contrarie and that it is a dead faith they brag of which Sathan himselfe hath and trembleth verse 19. which being dead in it selfe can neuer apprehend nor apply that true life of the soule Iesus Christ and his righteousnesse the godlies onely comfort for faith worketâ— with by works as the fire doth by heate through workes is faith made perfit as the Apostle testifieth and as hee reasoneth Iames 2. 14. What auâ—â—leth it my brethren though a man saith hee hath faith when he hath no workes can the faith saue him For if a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of daily foode and one of you say vnto them depart in peace warme your selues and fâ—ll your bellies notwithstanding you giue them not those thinges which are needefull to the body what helpeth it Euen so the faith if it haue no workes is dead in it selfe And after confirmation of this by the example of Abraham Rachab he concludeth For as the body without the spirit is dead euen so the faith without workes is dead Wee see then that as workes without faith iustifieth not For whatsoeuer is done without faith is sinne euen so faith without workes being dead iustifieth no maÌ„ before God and that it is neither sufficient to Pastour to preach and know Gods word except in practising it he go before his flocke by good workes nor that it is sufficient to the people or sheepe who would bee accounted of Christs sheep-folde to heare or know Gods voyce except they also follow and practise the same by good workes following the holy and vnspotted life of Iesus Christ the Lambe in whom they hope to bee saued Let therefore Pastor and people old and yong from the highest to the lowest striue by a holy life and fruitfull of good workes to shew themselues to bee true branches in Iesus Christ the vine and liuely members of his blessed body and as he who hath called vs is holy so let vs be holy in all manner of conuersation as becommeth the Gospel of Christ zealous of good workes Not hearing or knowing our Masters will onely but in taking heed to our wayes to redresse the same according to his word and will reuealed therein executing and doing the same and when we haue done all that we can doe confessing and acknowledging our selues to be vnprofitable seruants so shall we be assured in our owne consciences by Gods spirit that we are sheepe of his pasture and children of his inheritance so shall wee bee knowne by the world by our confession and profession of Christ in an holy and christian life to be members of his Church and Kingdome also and so at last we shall be found worthy in Christ to walk with the Lambe when he who gaue his life for vs here shall giue vs eternall life with himselfe for euer hereafter According to thy word that is making thy holy word O Lord the rule and square according vnto the which we may take heed vnto our wayes and redresse the same We see then here first the excellencie and great vertue and vse of the word of God It is a rule according vnto the which wee may and should redresse purge and rectifie our sinfull vncleane and erronious wayes It is that breath of God which breatheth life in the face of the soule of man as by the word of God in the first creation was man raysed out of the earth and placed in the garden of Paradise so by this word of God which is neere vs in our mouth and heart is the new creation and regeneration of the heart of man whereby his soule is raysed from earthly and carnall affections and placed in the pleasant garden of Christs church to eate of the tree of life and liue with him for euer It is the voyce of God that is dayly heard in the garden of his Church not onely asking euery Adamite and sinner but shewing him also where and in what estate he is by sinne and Sathan calling him not to a curse for sinne but a blessing and inuiting him to come to the seed of the woman to that tree of life and second Adam Father and Sauiour of our spirits Gods word is a Lampe that shineth euer in the candlesticke of his true Church to direct our footsteps in the path to life euerlasting with himselfe It is that two-edged Sword that powerfully proceedeth out of his owne mouth which pierceth thorow the inward cogitations of the heart to redresse the same and diuideth the marrow of the bones to giue fatnesse to the soule It is that seed which beeing sowed and layd vp in a good and honest heart maketh euery Christian to bring foorth acceptable fruit vnto Gods glory and their owne soules comfort It is the Power of God to saluation to all them who beleeue the same It is that Instrument or Spade which diggeth about the rootes of our hearts to make vs sweet and fruitfull to our long suffering and patient Master lest we should be pulled vp by the rootes ere the axe of Gods wrath should bee put to our rootes and wee be cut downe and throwen ouer the hedge of the vineyard into vnquenchable fire Gods word is that Snedding knife which cutteth away the rancke leaues of sinne which with their darkenesse doe ouer-shadow our soules and keepe away that comfortable ripening sunne of Gods fauour to shine vpon vs that our sowre grapes may become sweet It is a Hammer to beat downe euery high exalted hill or proud cogitation of the heart that as Gyants would rebell and fight against God It exalteth euer the low valley or humbled dejected soule euen to the throne of God in confidence boldnesse It is that sâ—â—ngstone of the sonne of Dauid whereby euerie Christian and souldier of Israel must kill that mighty Gyant the reuiler of God and enemie of his seruants who seeketh not to giue their bodies to the fowles of the ayre but their precious soules to the hell-crowes of sinne and the deuouring vultures of eternall torments It is the knife whereby the fore-skin of euery Christians heart is circumcised and cut away before hee can be in the new couenant of grace or be counted a true Israelite in spirit it is the gladdest tidings that euer came to the soule and the true testimony or witnesse-bearer of Iesus Christ search the Scriptures for they testifie of him it is a Christians life My words are life saith light and life and without the comfort of the same our life is death and our light Cimerian darknesse
is so restrained in many places the mouths of Gods seruants so shut vp and the veritie repressed and bound as it were is Alexander the Copper-smiths profite will cease if Paul preach where Gods Arke commeth in place Dagon must fall and if Iesus Christ in such humilitie be suffered to bee acknowledged the Sauiour the Hie Priests honour iurisdiction and profit must cease if Daniel be suffered hee will discouer the Priests knaueries and Elias will shew that Baal is no God nor heareth not when Moses commeth with the Tables of the Law from the mount the golden calfe must downe if when Michaiah commeth to speake the truth freely he beleeued Zidkiiah the falsflattering Prophets with their hornes of yron should be put out of credit fauour and authoritie if Iohn the Baptist should be obeyed then Herod must put away his Herodias And where Gods sincere and pure word only getteh place and libertie downe must goe idolatrie and not a relict or hoofe thereof remaine tyrannicall authoritie of these who with Diotrephes loueth the preheminence and to rule as lords ouer the Lords inheritance must bee trod downe vnder the humble feete of Iesus Christ and of his word who pratleth against Gods true seruants with malitious words not therewith content neither they themselues receiue the brethren but forbiddeth them that would and thusteth them out of the Church The triple crowne must yeelde to the crown of thornes al popish ethnish apish ceremonies must fall downe before this Arke of Gods pure worde where the worde of Christ who came to serue getteth right place gracious Lord must cease Caeser must haue that which belongeth to him and all pastours with Paul must graunt themselues to bee seruants onely to Christs flocke for his cause their right title is the most honorable that they can haue euen the title which Iesus Christ is called by to bee Sheepheards of soules where Gods word shineth their shining before the flock must not be in gold silkes but in good workes where Gods word ruleth their rule and gouernement must be onely by Gods word their scepter that scepter which subiects scepters to it selfe their crowne their flocke you are my crowne saith Paul their sword not temporal nor Caesars but that two-edged sword that is in Christs mouth Gods and all their authority from Christs commission onely As my Father sent me so I send you where Gods sacred Law commeth there they must not worship the golden calfe of profit onely neither can Alexanders Diana bee so fat vnto him but with Moses they must looke onely for the reward of God Christs kingdome is not of this worlde in it then they must not looke for any recompeÌ„ce Paul saith I haue fought a good fight c. from henceforth is laid vp for me a crowne c. there is the reward hee looked for I goe saith Christ to my Father to prepare a place for you this is Christs promise For in the world you shall haue affliction and if you were of the world the world should loue you but because you are not as I am not therefore it hateth you In it then nor of it Pastours must not thinke their reward to bee and if in the world of the same they haue here their reward it is to bee feard that they shal neuer haue any other but as the world loueth theÌ„ they the world again that their coÌ„demnation is like to bee with the world also Therfore where Christs word taketh place worldly profite and full bagges must depart and albeit the Minister must liue of the Altar to supply necessitie yet Christ for Christ and his glorie onely must bee preached pride in the hie Priests and auarice in Iudas was the first betraier of Christ pride and auarice now is and euer shall be the only betraier of Christ and his cause and they know little the power of Christ in their heart or soule as they preach his name with their mouth who with Zebedeus sonnes here seeketh onely for their prefermeÌ„t because they haue followed him but they who truely follow him must denie here se suos sua take vp their crosse and follow him The same is his answere to all Ministers as it was to Peter who when hee asked what they should haue because they followed him he answered that they should sit on twelue seates with him and iudge the twelue Tribes of Israel so he saith to euery Minister that followeth him truely as they did not that hee shall be so or so powerfull in the world for hee hath chosen the weake ones of the world but that hee shall sit at his right hand with him in his kingdome when he shall iudge all the Tribes and Nations of the world they then who pertaine vnto that kingdome will desire that great reward honour only more then all the honour and kingdoms of the world with their glory esteeming all as dung to win Christ many soules vnto Christ to know the power of his death resurrection in themselues and see it in their flockes But who pertain not to this kingdome they wil preferre their owne profite before all things if the preaching of Gods word hinder or take away their profit with Alexander that Diana goe not downe they will stirre vp kings kingdoms cities rulers and people against Paul and his preaching and if thirtie pennies may be had Christ Iesus shall be betrayed with a kisse If this light and fire of Gods word should come in place it would consume like Moses rod or serpent the serpentine and profitable fire of purgatorie If it were preached plainely vnto Gods people and to the soules of men that we must come onely to Christ who callâ—th and commandeth vs aske of the Father who can denie vs nothing through him according to his will and that the King against whom wee commit the offence onely can forgiue the same Where should the golden pardons of the Pope goe or the profit of the confessors if it bee preached that Christ the Master had not a hole to repose his head in nor so much mony as could pay tribute for him and â—or Peter And if it be reported how Peter Acts. 3. said Siluer or golde haue I none where shall the princely pallaces of the seruants goe the great treasured heapes of golde they lay vp Paul soiourned in a poore Tanners house that dressed leather and when hee sent for his cloake and his scrolles he maketh no mention of any great treasure but hee laid vp his treasure in heauen where the moath the canker nor the theefe coulde not come gaining and treasuring by his Talent many soules to God Peter got a great treasure and conquesed much when at his Sermon so many soules were conuerted to Christ ioyned to the Church But these fat woolues and dumbe dogges they care not for such a treasure or conquest woe be to them for they doe not the worke of the Lorde at all