the Rose of the field and the Lillie of the vallies Moses of old posed the whole world with this question Enquire of the dayes of olde which were before thee and froÌ„ the day that God created man vpon the earth yea euen from the height aboue to the depth beneath if euer the like thing were knowne That a people should heare the voyce of the Lord speaking out of the middest of the fire But now we may pose Moses say O Moses then God spake by an Angell out of the middest of the fire but now O man of God was euer the like as this heard That God himself in the nature of man should sit amidst his disciples and teach the. This is that the spirit of God so magnifieth That at sundry times and in diuers manner God spake heretofore in his Prophets but in these last dayes by his only Sonne And if the word deliuered by an Angell was stedfast what shall become of them that refuse and neglect the Sonne of God now speaking vnto them O most ingratefull and brutish are the sonnes of men who seeke not to vnderstand this mysterie so anciently prophesied of so fully performed and so manifestly declared Me thinkes I heare all other creatures of heauen and earth say Oh that God had vouchsafed vs such a blessing such a tie such a fauour for then had wee had beene most happy The quires of Angels say Oh that God had ordayned to vs so vnspeakeable a fauour as to haue beene vnited to our nature But Christ tooke not vpon him the nature of Angels but tooke vpon him the nature of children that being tempted himselfe and suffering hee might succour them that suffer and are tempted Who would not then in consideration hereof giue himselfe a whole burnt offering vnto his God and consecrate his whole life if the terme thereof were euen from the first Adam vnto the ende of the world as a votiue seruice vnto the glory of this God Oh vncircumcised hearts and eares of those who neither care to heare nor to vnderstand this blessed mysterie For if they would diligently seeke they should find that God would manifest himselfe vnto them euen in their indiuiduall flesh by the sanctifying power of his holy Spirit and by pertaking of his diuine nature whereby they should see with open face as in a mirrour the glory of the Lord and be changed into the same image from glory to glory euen as the spirit of the Lord. In no wise shold they be as those wretches in whose flesh Sathan and not God is manifested who are indeed incarnate diuels as the prouerb is whom Sathan hath so sifted to the bran and winnowed to the chaffe that no remainder of any godlinesse or goodnesse is leaft in them in whom Sathan is Totus in toto totus in qualibet parte as Aquinas saith of the soule Their imagination euill their minde ill their meaning ill their will obstinate their vnderstanding darkned their eares itching after vanities their eyes adulterous which cannot choose but sinne their mouth blasphemous their an open graue of fulsome slanders their hands rough and cruell their feete swift to shed bloud their whole body a cage of vncleane birdes their life and conuersation a stye of stinking swines flesh an Acheldema of oppression a Caluarie of dead spoyles their ende a puddle of loathsome impieties But those that secke God doe vnderstand this mysterie and shew forth this manifestation in themselues hauing lift vp their heads as gates their minds as dores and the king of glory is come in vnto them and is manifested in them by their faith in Christ by their good workes among men by all the fruites of his graâ—ious spirit and by their ioyfull departure hence being assured of a farre better rest and happinesse in their maisters kingdome The custome of the Aethiopian Church which liue vnder Prester Iohn is to obserue the feast of the Epiphany as their chiefe and principall festiuitie at which time God shewed himselfe both to Iew and Gentile in this manifestation by a starre Thereby acknowledging and that most truly that this blessing is the beginning and fountaine of all other blessing in Christianitie whatsoeuer and ought most sollemnly to bee obserued and most diligently to be considered especially of vs that were Gentiles Goe foorth therefore yee daughters of Sion euen all religious and denoute soules and behould King Solomon your Christ with the crowne wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart Go foorth I say from out the fashions and fancies of this world both with readinesse and resolution as men do to meete their new king If you be malefactors he will pardon you vpon repentant reconciliatioÌ„ throgh Christ Iesus and will receiue you to fauour If you bee already his seruants and citizens of the citie of God goe foorth to meete him with your presents of good workes and holinesse as your homages of fealtie If you be friends and allyance as are all deuout Soules doe that often which hee hath bidde you doe in remembrance of him that is offer the sacrifice of thankefulnesse receiue the cup of saluation call vpon the name of the Lord that so you may shew the Lords death all your life long vntill his comming againe So shall your eyes bâ— opened that you shall not onely vnderstand this Great mysterie of Gods manifestation in the flesh but also see it Iustified in the Spirit Oh blessed Emanuell encrease our faith O Eternall and most mightie Iehouah Elohim whose seate is in heauen whose footestoole is in earth whose chariots are the clouds whose might is in the great waters whose power is euery where whose displayed glory is in heauen where angels are they attendants and where all the blessed dominations and thrones doe thee dayly homage where the innumerable company of elected Saints doe vncessantly prayse thee where thine habitation is light that none can approach vnto thy cloathing Maiestie and honor thy wisdome incomprehensible thy mercy vnspeakeable and thy iudgements past finding out Looke downe looke downe most mercifull Father in Christ from thine holy place the seate of mercie vpon me a most miserable distressed wretch O hearken thou to my prayers which I sinfull soule powre out from an vnfained heart Open vnto my soule this great mysterie of thy manifestation in our flesh that I may know and comprehend with all Saints the height length breadte and depth of the vnsearchable riches of thy grace in Christ Iesus our Lord. For thou diddest so loue the world that thou gauest thine onely begotten Sonne that who so beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life This diuine loue of thine is incomprehensible this gift inestimable this deliuerance vnutterable and this felicitie incomparable My heart burneth with in me and the sparkes of deuotioÌ„ arise from the center
them to the minde and thinke of nothing but whatsoeuer things are True honest iust pure louely of good report of vertue or of praise which wee haue learned receiued and seene in Gods children these things they thinke on and doe that are the Lords Indeed hypocrites and the reprobate are sayde in Scripture to be sanctified in respect of their outward calling and in their partaking of the externall preaching of the word and Sacraments receiued but the godly onely who are inwardly renued by the power of the Spirit haue this sâ—nctifying grace to expell all full consent from their hearts to offend God and to labour striue after righteousnesse Yet whiles the godliest liue in this world they cannot attaine to a full expulsion of the euill and introduction of the good but these two remaine like to opposite parties in a pittched field combating and skirmishing the one with the other that the most holy cannot do what they would And as in the twilight or dawning of the day the light that we see is not vtterly voided of darknesse neither is the darkenesse altogether without light and as in warm water the heate is mixed with cold so the reluctations of the flesh and spirit that the godly haue in this world haue no fellowship the one with the other no more then those different qualities yet they may remaine in one subiect either acting his owne part not seuerally albeit distinctlie Sarah the wife of Abraham is a president in this kinde who beleeued the promise of God made vnto her concerning her issue being moued thereunto by the holy Ghost yet being impatient of delay enforced thereunto by the flesh shee giues her mayde vnto her husband so that one and the same worke euen in the deerest of Gods children may in respect of the spirit be praise worthy in respect of the flesh bee blameable Sanctification in it selfe is most perfect but when it is considered in the man that is sanctified it is imperfect and varies by degrees and encreases by reason of the dayly slips and slidings of the best whereby their goodnesse is ofttimes greatly hindered and neuer in this life perfected which is the reason that the Scripture calleth this our Godlinesse sometimes a pledge of the spirit to assure vs Gods fauour and somtimes an earnest which is to be made vp neuer to be taken away So that wee see this Godâ—ines in Gods children albeit it bee ofttimes verie weake and feeble in respect of their many infirmities yet it is reaâ—ll because it is rooted in the inward parts and God requireth trueth from thence whereas the vnregenerate haue formes and fruites also of holynesse but their fruites are like those Apples that growe about the bankes of the dead Sea or Asphaltique Lake looke on the inside and you shall see nothing but earthlynesse sensualitie and diuellishnesse But those that haue this name of Godlinesse written in their hearts by the finger of God are iustified by their faith and this Godlinesse is a fragrant flower and holy fruite of that their holy faith Thy euer looking after the sequell of this Holines which is Happinesse reserued for them in the heauens for God bringeth his children by this way of Holinesse to the life of Happinesse there being great difference betwixt the Way that leadeth vnto the kingdome of heauen and the cause of our attaining both the way and eternall life which is the gift of God through Iesus Christ our Lord. What now can disturbe or distract the peace of Gods holy ones seeing they haue such pledges assurances and earnests of Gods fauour that they shall neuer vtterly faile or fall away from God Oh this blessed securitie and happy peace of conscience Is more to bee desired then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then the honey and the honey Combe called of the most wise the Continuall Feast There is their absolute contentment of this Godlinesse Thus Godlinesse benefiteth vs in this life and blesseth also in our death yea after death Pretious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints They are carryed of Angels into the euerlasting habitations Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours Most blessed therefore are the people that are in such a case that know this Mysterie and practise this Godliâ—â—sse for in themselues albeit not of themselues they are the vesselles of honour by Illumination their life the rule of Christianisme by sanctification their pedigree iâ— in descent from the royall Priesthood by deuoute inuoâ—ation their practise is to Purge themselues for the hope of heauen by Mortification their reputation is not to runne to the same excesse of ryot with others in hope of Glorification but their whole life is Euangelilicall yea Angelicall as the Apostle speaketh For theyr Conuersation is in Heauen Yet for all this wee see wise men seeke Greatnesse few Godlinesse For if wee bestowed but halfe the diligence to bee godly as wee doe to be great wee should haue more pietie and lesse wicked policie And that 's the reason why Mammon hath so many Schollers and Christ so few Followers For most men desire to know the mysterie how to be great but few desire to know how to bee good Machiauels Prince Lipsius Politeques Bodins Commentaries and Bookes of such subiects are matters preciously accounted of by some whereby they imagine to become great in practizing these principles whiles the booke of God and other meanes to reduce them to bee good are neglected Many men bind themselues for terme of time to learne a mystery how to thriue and rise in the World and oft-times with much hardnes intollerable bondage endure the attainement thereof But wee see how few tâ—ere are that can endure I will not say seuen years Apprentiship no scarce seuen houâ—es seruice to vnderstand and know this Mysterie of Godlines in Christ to whose seruice all Christian men are bound by the law of God and their vow of Baptisme to bee as obliged Votaries all their life long A thousand woes then must needes attend them that are not acquainted with this Mysterie of Godlinesse who are eyther plunged into the Deepeâ—esse of the Diuell being so chained and fettered by him in their vngodly courses that they cannot rayse themselues out of this bottomlesse pitte or else are misled by the mysterie of iniquity which busily worketh euen amidst the Church Both by lying wonders and wonderfull lies being strong delusions to beleeue lyes as was long before prophesied or else are besotted with the vanity of the world which is Altâ—gâ—ther set vpon wickednesse For there bee many Antichrists in the World and in a Countrey where all or the most part be Negroes It is no blemish there to be blacke And that 's the cause of our dulnesse in thiâ— point that wee liue so secure and wicked without any desire to know
vnderstand how to bee godly Such are they that haue Iacobs voice in prating of Godlinesse but Esâ—us hands in practising vnhappinesse Such are they that professe a Linzie woolsâ—y Religion beeing hatefull to God because they are not reall hatefull to the World because they are religious albeit they be but in shew and hurtfull to themselues because they are hypocrites and deceyue themselues with seeming Godlinesse These are such as are misled with the mysterie of iniquity such a one was Pope Paul the third who at his end sayde Now shall I know three things whereof I doubted all my life to witte whether there bee a God or Hel or whether the soule be immortall O damned Infidell Such another was Leo the teâ—th who accounted the Gospell of Christ a Fable and shewing his Fauouriâ—es saide See what heapes of treasure I haue gathered by that fable of Christ O wretched miscâ—eant The doctrines that pleaseth those that are thus misled with the mystreie of iniquity are traditions amphibolous equiuocations mentall reseruations and the like deuises Their Religion is policy their faith eyther implicite or wauering like that of Lucius consisting of words or wonders with Moses Egyptius as Ruffinus recordeth would not admit of nor endure that Lucius should lay his handes vpon him but tolde him that hee would rather beleeue his eyes then his eares that is he would rather embrace the Religion which is seene then that which is only heard And for them that without blushing say There is no God and blot out all Religion with one dash or with Zenaherib Holofernes and Phâ—raoh scoffe at Godlinesse or with Rufus entertaine the Religion of the place where they liue what euer it be or turne Religious godlinesse into worldly policie by practising as I sayde Machiauels Prince Bodins Commentaries Lipsius Politiques and such like Discourses That of Saint Paul is verified of them For if oâ—r Gospell be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the eyes of them that beleeue not lest the light of the glorious Gospell of Chrict who is the Image of God should shine vnto them For to these it is euen yet a hidden mysterie And in such fearefull case are all light headed Zebuls scoffing Iebusites scorning Cains vile Iulianists impious Lucianists and contemners of all piety religion and godlinesse But Beleeuers consider That the vngodly shall bee turned into hell and all the Nations that know not god and the whole creation on groneth to bee deliuered from such burthens as these miscreaÌ„ts are Who tread vnder foot the son of God and account the bloud of the new testament as an vnholy thing whereby they are sanctified and do despite the spirit of grace And Beleeuers see euen by the veâ—y glimpse of right reason that nothing but man maketh account of greatnes God doth not for with him is no respect of persons Nature doth not for the children of Princes are borne naked as wel as the Cottagers and death assayleth the Court as well as the cart Goodnes onely is that wherein God delighteth and good men tender it as their breath Godlinesse beeing the gracious mother and goodnesse the holy daughter Lastly they that beleeue know that godlinesse hath the promise of this Life to be gracious in Christ and of that to come to bee glorious in Christ and therefore it is the onely thing they desire to know It is the one thing necessaâ—ie they practise it is the Manna of their soules the ioy of their hearts the touchstone of their actions the Gynosura of their affections the Dauids harpe for their â—ares the Word for theyr mouthes the Mirrour for their liues the path for their feet the station for theyr watch the salue for theyr griefes the Key of Heauen and the Heauen on Earth To thee therefore O Lord doe I lift vp my heart in the mercies of thy Sonne Christ Iesus Doubtles O holy and heaueÌ„ly father man disquietâ—th him selfe in vain for thou didst make him righteous but he after the vanity of his owne hart which is falne from thee haue sought many inuentions Thou O God canst not please vs with thy patieÌ„ce nor humble vs with thy present and future iudgements nor allure vs with thy gracious promises Such is the peruersitie of our infirm natures such is the pâ—euishnes of our corrupt condition such is the euil of guilt action that we haue in vs Thy lessous are al of peace and wâ—e runne counter into controuersies euery day deuising to our selus an opinion a fancie a faction and to make good these what stone do we not mouâ— what corner do we not raâ—sâ—ckâ— what earnestnes and acrimonie do we not apparantly reueale or else like some stupid or dul beast we haue no sence or feeling at al of thee or of thy greatnes but liue onely to liue and to delâ—ght our selus with our selus in our grosse mistakings If we pretend religion Satan tempteth vs with faction if puritie with hypocrisie if zeale with vncharitable ioaloâ—sie O Lord some yeares haue I liuâ—ed wretched man that I am among other of thy seruants knew not whether there were a Iesus a Christ an holy Ghost or no So besotted haue I bin with the loue of the world so befooled with mine own fancie so plunged into the darke deepeues of the diuel and so transported with the fashions of others who know as little and vnderstand as little or lesse then my selfe But now O Lord God loâ—king backe into the misery of my selfe I shudder and tremble seeing a far of a mystery wherof as yet I could neuer attain the knowledge albeit I haue obserued many of my brethren with great diligence and zeale to abound in all Godlinos forwardnes saÌ„ctiâ—ony gladly hearing frequenting conferring following after the light that shined vnto them in the darknâ—s of this Life yea aduenturing their liues their liuelyhoodes their credite and esteeme among the sonnes of men and accompting all things else as dung in respect of the knowledge and seruice of their heauenly Maister To me O Lord among other the rest of thy seruants this is a great mysterie that haue felt in my selfe no minde no meaning thereunto What shall I doe O Lord in this my misse led and misperswaded estâ—te I now perceiue O Lord by that glimpse of right reason which maketh euery man vnexcusable and by that sparke of light which enlightneth euery one that coÌ„meth into the world that my sinnes my sinnes my great and griâ—uous sinnes like to some huge mountaine haue vpreard themselues betweene me and this most glorious light dimming vp mine eyes that I cannot see and damming vp that heauenly splendor which should enlighten mee and haue set such a controuersie betweene thee and me that my soule is like vtterly to bee diuâ—rced from thy loue vnlesse thine eye of pittie consider me O looke vpon mee deere and tender hearted Father
Iesus Christ how wonderfull are thy workes in all the world For out of the mouthes of Preachers sometimes very babes and suckâ— lings thou hast ordained strength that thereby thou mightst make thy power the more to be knowne in suppressing the rage and fury of Sathan the enemie of all mankind by such weake and feeble instruments And this thou hast done O Lord of thine vnspeakable mercy in Christ considering that we are but dust and cannot endure the presence of an Angel to speak vnto vs much lesse are wee able to behold thee in thy glorious brightnesse Nay O Lord no man can see thee and liue Eternally therefore blessed be thy goodnes O God for ordaining so sacred and so â—afe a meanes for our â—nowledge and acknowledgeâ—ent of thee and of him whome â—hou hast sent Christ Iesus our Lord For it hath pleased thee 〈◊〉 put thy word into the mouthes 〈◊〉 men to publish it vnto vs. Thou hast clothed their hearts â—ith thy righteousnesse to furâ—â—sh them with grace Thou â—ast added the power thereof 〈◊〉 thy sacred spirite to guide vs to all truth thou hast shewâ—â— the effects thereof in the sanâ—â—itie of our liues good works 〈◊〉 thy great glory Thou hast giuen vs the ioye â—ereof in the songs of holy ones 〈◊〉 our solaâ—e and the end thereâ—â— in the saluation of our sinfull â—ules and bodies to our eternall â—â—licitie in heauen O Lord who can sufficiently â—â—â—toll thy Maiesty for this thy â—â—rpassing fauour towards vs â—et vs entreate thy goodnesse for Christ his sake to stirre vp and â—uicken â—our dull hearts to a thankefull acceptance of this thy blessing Make vs to loue the preaching of thy word that sacred Ambassage from heauen that wee may bee throughly reconciled vnto thee Make it the sauour of life vnto vs and let iâ— in no wise bee the sauour of death vnto vs or any of vâ— Make vs to thinke reuerently of these whom thou hast seperated and sent to be the lighteâ— and guide of this world cause vs to esteeme of them preciously to loue them heartily to pray for them effectually and to heare them with all possible respects fulnes as people knowing that 〈◊〉 that hearetâ— them heareth thee hee that receyueth them receyueth thee hee that regardeth them regardeth thee and hee that doth for them doth for thee as people knowing it is thy Word they preach thy holy will they teach thy heauenly worshippe and diuine seruice they entreat â—s to embrace as people knowâ—â—g that the glorie thereof is â—â—ine the good thereof is ours â—â—en to the sauing of our selues â—â—d children in both worlds O King of Heauen giue vs â—â—ermore of this Manna the â—ngels foode of this water of 〈◊〉 of this celestiall treasure of â—is fruite of life of those songs 〈◊〉 Sion of this speech of Canaâ—â—â— of this salt of the earth of â—â—is light of life of this dew of â—ermon of this name of Iesus 〈◊〉 this eternall Gospell by the â—eaching of thy holy will As â—e heare it O Lord let it diâ—ill into our soules as thy holy â—â—â—ction Let it stirre our harts 〈◊〉 thy power Let it bowe our â—ils to thy obedience as thy â—â—unsell Let it sanctifie our 〈◊〉 as thy ordinance let it â—â—epare vs throughout for thee 〈◊〉 Lord and for the glory of thy â—ace for euer Humble our hearts with the remembrance what wretches we were without this reuelation of thy Sonne Say vnto vs you were dogs and might not eaâ—â— the childrens breade you were hogges and might not haue these pretious pearls cast vnto 〈◊〉 you were as vncircumcised Pâ—listines as cursed Canâ—anitâ—â— as diuelish Samaritans as Heâ— theniâ—h Pagans as Turkish Iâ—â—â—â—dels But I haue washed purgâ—â— purified and sanctified you wiâ—â— my grace I haue called you my name and I will blesse yoâ— for euer O Lord God Graunt thâ—â— wee may eate but the crumâ—â— vnder thy table that wee 〈◊〉 touch but the hemme of thy vâ— sture that thou wilt but speaâ— the Word onely and we wretches shall liue shall bee healeâ— shall bee happie to thy prayse 〈◊〉 euer Say Lord vnto our soules am your saluation So shall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and bee gladde all our 〈◊〉 so shall wee study to set 〈◊〉 thy honour and will vow 〈◊〉 sacrifices of thankefulnesse 〈◊〉 of soule and body in our 〈◊〉 and children for euer O heare vs King of Heaâ—â—â— and grant these blessinges 〈◊〉 thine to be continued vnto vs 〈◊〉 to our seed to al our generatiâ—â— for the merites of thy deare â—â—ne Christ Iesus our most â—â—â—â—acious Redeemer Amen GOD BELEEVED on in the World Explication THat the World should beleeue in God is the mystery of mysteries First that the World should beleeue in GOD in the vnitie of his essence and Trinity of existence Then to beleeue God in the verity of his written word And lastly to relye vpon God in the assurance of his loue for his promise sake this I say to know is eternall life and for the World to know it is a world of wonders For how should the World come by this sauing knowâ—edge 〈◊〉 Take the World as in â—oly writ it sometimes signiâ—ies the reporbate of whome Christ sayth I pray not for the â—orld that is for the reprobate of the world these beleeue not Take it Cosmographically for the frame of heauen and of earth contayning the firmamentary and elementary regions these parts are not â—apable of such mysteries â—ut vnderstand it of the Eâ—ect people of God inhabiâ—ing within the limites of the knowne Christian world and â—else where dispersed and scattered vpon the surface of the whole earth as it is taken in this place and then this mystery will bee reuealed vnto vs. For otherwise as the world 〈◊〉 more generally taken for the people of the world It is altogether set vpon wickednesse The World receyues not the Spirite of truth The Worlde knownes not God The world is at defiance with God as may plainely appeare by the contrariety betwixt God and the woâ—ld The spirit of God being loue ioy peace long suffering gentlenesse goodnes faith meekenesse and temperance The Spirite of the World being adulterie fornication vncleannes lasciuiousâ—es idolatrie witchcraft hatred variance emulation wrath strife seditions hypocrisies enuyings murthers drunkennesse reuellings How could it euer be thought that these thinges so contrariantly opposit should euer accord Yet behold this great mysterie for this malignant contrariant exorbitant refractory World is conquered by holy saith in the bloud of Christ and multitudes of millions in the World albeit not of the World Liue loue and beâ—eeue in God amidst the furious cruell and deadly rage â—atred and bloudy cruelty of many miscreants and infidell worldlings So that now God hath purchased by faith a world of people to himselfe called out of the vniuersall masse and multitude of people in the World to know and acknowledge him to be their God and Sauiour This is the sence of these words And the sacred
Scripture calleth this cause The spirit of faith or the spirite â—f beleeuing Gods second cause of our â—eleeuing is his blessed and â—oly word read and preached 〈◊〉 the ordinarie means of our â—ith which worketh vpon â—wo forcible and perswasiue â—enses the eye and the eare â—he one for the reader of the word the other for the hearer of the word preached or read For the eare God hath ordayned a voyce to call vpon â—s by the paynes of preaching For the eye his sacred word is written or printed that it may be read and vnderstood of vs and our children and this is the cause of our beleeuing which is called The word of Faith Aske a Christian then why he beleeues the Trinitie in Vnitie and Vnitie in Trinitie his answer is because the Scripture records it there is the word of faith but reply vpon him and aske him why he beleeues the scriptures his reason is without reason in himselfe for he saith The finger of God is there If you vrge and say Why doest thou beleeue and I do not I heare the word as well as thee Saint Paule will answer with an out crie O depth That is a matter of amazement not of argument saith S. Ambrose But what might be the cause that stayeth and vpholds the hearts of the sonnes of men along the misery of this life in this word of beleeuing Surely eternall life the saluation of our soules the last article of our Christian faith is the finall cause and anchor-holde of out beleeuing in Christ Iesus For the hope whereof the holy ones of God purge theÌ„selues both in soule and body that they may be acceptaâ—le vnto God through Iesus Christ our Lord. And thereâ—ore S. Peter calleth eternall â—ife the end of our beleeuing â—uen the assured glorification â—f soule and body which by â—aith wee expect in the other world In respect whereof also it is that this faith goeth not alone like some bankrupt but is royally attended with a troupe of good works semblable to the causes thereof For the spirit of faith is not barren but is in continuall motion in stirring and quickning vp the harts of gods children euery day to goodnes Neither is the word of faith verball onely But liuely and mightie in operation and sharper then any two edged sword enters throgh euen to the diuiding of the soule and the spirit and of the ioynts and the maâ—row and is a discerner of the thought and the intents of the heart The people of God therefore whose hearts are thus powerfully moued by the spirit of faith to beleeue and thus effectually counselled by the word of faith to liue well endeauour nothing else but that their liuing may be answerable to their beleeuing that so their soules might bee saued For this sacred faith of Christ first of all purifieth the heart now if the fountaine be cleare and cleane the whole streame that issueth thence will be cleane also Secondly this faith of Christ worketh by loue and bringeth foorth good workes I should euer therefore distrust that I neuer was a true beleeuer vnlesse I felt my heart sanctified by grace and my and working the deedes of haritie This doubtlesse was â—he faith of the primitiue â—orld while the bloud of Christ was yet warme in the â—earts of those beleeuers Witnes all those Churches â—olledges Hospitalls Enâ—owments Rents Reuenews â—ands Liuings Pensions and â—â—l other such donations and â—onsecrations appropriated â—nd giuen to the maintenance of religion and learning to â—he succour of the poore and â—o the perpetuating of Gods worship here on earth vntill â—he second comming of Christ. For the people then liued and beleeued as men knowing that the faith of Christ is not fruitlesse and that by the fruites therof they are assured of their election past and of their perfection by Christ to come that their good deedes should follow them where nothing else â—ould and that according to the proportion of their workes wrought in earth by grace in Christ they should through the mercie of God and not of merit bee allotted a portion of happines hereafter in the heauens And therefore vnderstanding their weldoing here to be necessarie to their well being for euer they studyed nothing else but to goe on in that race of goodnesse that they might attaine at the last the blessed end thereof euen the reward of mercy promised vnto them by the word of faith written vnto them in the bloud of our faith sealed assured vnto theÌ„ by the death of our faith stirred vp moued herevnto by the spirit of faith Christs vicegerent on earth whose they were encouraged thereunto by the bloud of so â—any faithfull beleeuers that â—yed for the faith of Christ â—nd continue therein vnto â—heir liues end by the exubeâ—ant and abundant riches of Gods mercy in Christ Iesus their Ruler and Redeemer O Blessed Paule faithfull and beleeuing was the world when as yet the bloud of Christ was warme in meâ—s hearts and when the faithfull beleeuers inflamed with the loue of God and ouerioyed with the glad tydings of the Gospell thus bespake Gods seruants that preached thâ— faith vnto them Blessed in thâ— Lord will our goods pleasâ—â—â— you Behold we lay them dowâ— at your feete will our eyes 〈◊〉 you good Take ought of ouâ—â— that is neere and deere vnto 〈◊〉 euen our right eyes Will our liues steede you Wee esteeme theâ— not for the testimonie of the faitâ— of Iesus Christ as for all manner of tribulations that can happen for Iesus Christ sake We accompt them not worthy 〈◊〉 the glory that shall bee receiued A blessed and beautifull â—ace of time it was O Paule when the prime beleeuing Christians had no other fault â—ound in them no not by â—heir verie enemies as Plinius â—ecundus an heathen testifieth 〈◊〉 Traian the Emperour but his was all hee could certifie â—gainst them to the state that â—hey oft times assembled â—emselues together before â—ay in the caues and holes of the earth to sing Psalmes â—nd prayses to the Lord of â—ife Christ Iesus which seruice for feare of persecution they durst not performe publikely O then was the time hoâ—y Paule that faith wrought â—y Gods loue and not by selfe loue by good workes and not by goodly wordes what time the beleeuing Christians were knowne not â—o bee of the tribe of Naphtaâ—â— giuing goodly wordes but of the tribe of Ioseph beeing fruitfull boughes euen fruitfull boughes by a Well whose branches run ouer the wall When Placilla the wife of Theodosius a beleeuing Empresse would resort vnto the Almes houses and Hospitalâ—s of the poore to see them succoured and releeued and when her nice Gentlewomen that wayted oâ— her would dehort and disswade her not to debase her selfe to come into such meane places and neere such nastie people shee with teares in her eyes would reâ—ply and say O I wouâ—d not doe thiâ— and this onely
sayest but lot vs all heare what the Lord sayeth and let that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bee our religious Ephod to put vpon vs. Let them speake that haue liued in contentious striuings if in all that time they were not betweene the hammer and the Anuelle in eminent perill of beeing dashed into peeces and haue been at last constrayned for releefe to creepe into houses and there ledde captiue seely women laden with sinnes and carried with diuers lusts which are euer learning and neuer could attaine the knowledge of the truth Consider therefore Brethren what hath beene said and God giue vnto vs vnderstanding in all things that concerne our saluation and Gods peace Commâ—ne with your owne heart whether the motiues that stirre you vp to contentions and strifes waigh more then these directions of Gods Spirit But looke that you pâ—ize them by the measures of the Sanctuarie Light of God Sight of Faith Charitie Construction not by Faction Singularity Preiudice for doubtlesse whatsoeuer our heauâ—ly Father hath not planted shall bee râ—oted vp Thus onely seeking hereby to procure the peace of mens Consciences that they may with cleare sight behold this mystery of Godlinesse and endeauouring the quiet of the Church that euery holy one may possesse his soule in patience I shall euer pray to God where euer I am that the peace of God may bee euer vpon the Israel of God Yours much obliged in the Lord Iesus William Loe. Errata sic corrigantur Pag. 21. lin 26. for Tearchers reade Teachers Pag. 48 in the mar â—eade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibidem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pa. 50. 1. 25. for iuslice reade iustice pag. 59. ma. reade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. 82. lin 11. into which I had falne pag 86. lin 1. for Manifested reade was iustified pag. 114. in the mar r. Ex. se. pag. 126. in the mar reade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibidem for speraâ—e reade spirare p. 152 line 21. for assist r. assist vs. page 178. l. 25 for would read could pag. 184. li. 10. for hae reade hee page 116 for expecting read expect page 206. l. 26 for Chrst ienioyned readâ— Christ enioyned Great is the Mystery of Godlines 1 Tim. 13. 16. EXPLICATION GReat is the misery of mankind both by originall attainder mâ— being conceiued bred and borne in sinne and also by actuall transgressions of thought word and deed whereby man becommeth more and more euery day the miserable bondslaue of Sathâ—â— A figure of this wofull estate was represented vnto vs in the twofold bondage of Gods Children the people of Israel the one in the slauery of Egypt the other in the captiuity of Babylon Into the first the Israelites were plunged in the persâ— of their Ancestors in whose loynes they discended into Egypt were thereby subiected to the crueltie of Pharaohs tyranny and needed a deliuery to rid them thence Into the second their own actuall fresh bleeding sinnes cast them for thereby they prouoked God to wrath who in his iust iudgement deliuered them to the rage and force of their enemies who led them away Captiue and in that wretched estate had they remayned if they had not also from them beene graciously deliuered Semblable was the wofull estate of Mankind had not Iesus Christ the eternall Son of God deliuered vs both from the one and the other This deliuerance of Mankind from out this wofull and lamentable condition whereunto wee were plunged in the loines of Adam originally and by our owne sinnes actually is the greatest mysterie that euer the world knew and is therefore called the Great mysterie of Godlines For wee beeing now deliuered by the life and death of Christ Iesus from this originall attainder of high treason and by holy grace purchased by the power of his Passion Resurrection and ascension beeing restored to our bloud and freed from the rule raigne and rage of sinne this great misery of mankind is turned into a great mysterie of Godlines and wee once wretches and miserable miscreants are now become good godly and a choice company of holy ones This mystery theâ—efore is called the mysterie of Gods will for it is Gods will wee should bee good This is the will of God euen your Sanctification Sometimes it is called the mysterie of faith as the meanes of becomming good for our hearts are purified by faith otherwise it is a mistie and misled faith that bringeth not forth goodnes And here it is called the Great Mysterie as the ende of our godly profession which is the greatest blessing that euer could come to man which is our Vnion with God in Christ and thereby life euerlâ—sting And assuredly this Vnion with Christ can neuer bee obtained but by godlines without the which no man shall see God Great then is this mystery for the Reuelation of this openeth vnto vs all other mysteries and therefore it is Great It sheweth vnto vs the mystery of the great Whore the mysterie of iniquitie euen the historie of the Papacie as noble and memorable Philip Morney stiles it which misguideth so many thousand soules and plungeth them into the misery of error and vngodlinesse euen into the deepe darkenesse of Sathan lewdnesse of life and finall despaire in death It sheweth also vnto vs the mystery of the last day which is that Wee shall not all dye but wee shall bee all changed and that in a moment in the twinckling of an eye by Gods last trumpet Godlinesse then is a mysterie yea surely for it is an hidden and vnknowne secret to the wise and prudent that is to those that thinke themselues wise and are not and it is a reuealed known mysterie to babes and sucklings that is to those that as little children subiect and submit themselues to the wise and learned in God For he that wil be somwhat with God must be nothing in him self for He that thinketh himselfe somewhat when he is nothing he deceiueth himselfe Godlinesse is a mysterie because it hath beene hid with God from the worlds foundation who they are that in time should be godly and should come to the true knowledge of this mysterie And it is a mysterie because it was not made knowne to some ages of the world in full reuelation but was reserued for the glory and greatnesse thereof vnto the last times euen vntill the reuelation of Iesus that the Sonne of God whose pretious bloudshedding hath made so many holy ones in the sight of God the Father And lastly it is a mysterie for that it is euen yet hid in Gods iust iudgement to them that are lost in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that beleeue not lâ—st the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ who is the image of God should shine vnto them This sacred mysterie is also called Great both in respect of the matter
Euen because this sacred spirite of the eternall God Rebuketh the world of sinne of righteousnes and of iudgement It rebuketh the world of sinne because the wicked world beleeueth not which is the Sinne of Sinnes as I may so say but is fraught with furious spirits of blind ignorāce and desperatefolly which cast thousands into fires and waters of misperswasion and misbeleefe and these worldlings are caught away with vnpure spirites of sensuall security which possesse them both with dumbnes deafenesse that they can neyther speake of God but in their blasphemous cursinges and swearings nor heare of God without great wearisomnesse and discontent This sacred spirite also rebuketh the world of righteousnesse because sayeth Christ I goe the right way vnto the Father but the world is ledde by witte worshippes will worships and other such deuises of singularity conceited righteousnesse of mans many inuentions Some with Anabaptisme which is the diuell in an Angell of light and some with Iesuitisme which is a subtil slie Antichrist in the Church And this holy spirit rebuketh the world of Iudgement because the Prince of this world is iudged already and the vnbeleeuers his vassalls and slaues are iudged with him and are reserued for the further iudgement and vtter darkenesse of these vnpure spirites that are already in chaines to be brought forth in the great audite of Christ and end of the world For what deuoute soule trembleth not yea shuddereth not with horror to know that Sathan is the God of this world and to conceiue that seuen spirites of euil yea Legions of vncleane spirites may obsesse possesse and hellifie the soule and bodie of one man or of one woman I wonder that the whole frame and fabrique of nature shaketh and quaketh not to beare and heare those hellish and diuelish miscreants that when the seruants of GOD preach solemnely soberly seriously in the power zeale and abundance of their spirit say to them as Festus sayd to Paul This man is beside himselfe much learning makes him mad and say to others as the Iewes to the Apostles when they had receyued the gift of the holy spirit These men are drunke with wine or else take vpon them in the diuelish and damnable pride of their owne hearts to direct the whole world in the misperswasion of their own singular and priuate spirite not in order to God as they pretend but in confusion to the diuell as the ende shewes So did Iohn of Leidon Nipper Doling Chreiton and others of that crew of wretched miscreants who at Munster in their enraged and rebellious route cryed out being led by a cursed spirite of their owne nothing but Depose kill murther meaning those sober and moderate Christians that withstoode their brainesicke fury and Anabaptisticall fanaticall folly and in all that outrage pretended nothing but that they were guided thereunto by the spirite So doe those that are engaged into the spirite of Antichrist and enraged with the poysoned cup of the strūpet of Romish Babylon her spiritual fornication who speak write and practise prepensed wickednesse as did Cardinal Como to Parrie the traytor what time hee intended nay receyued their consecrated host with the saide Cardinall to kill our late Queene Elizabeth of pretious memorie signifying by letter vnto him that the then Pope Gregorie the thirteenth as by the Credentiall note included in the letter he might see doubted not but that the same spirite which moued him to so good a worke as to kill the Queene would certainely assist him to the performance thereof Oh barbarous spirite of brutish Popery So do those that scoffe at the gifts of the Spirite in their brethren saying to those whom they see reuearing and yeelding obedience to the power of Gods grace and counselling others to be guided gouerned thereby Oh Sir you are so full of the spirite that it runs out of your nose Oh sir the spirite moueth you This and the like hellish language I say is an amazement vnto good men to thinke there should be any fo damnably prophane and so desperately wicked especially among Christians who professe in their holy Creede to beleeue in the holy spirite and acknowledge that in the power of that spirit They liue moue and haue their being yea and they feele themselues oft times quickned from the dulnesse of sinne by the same spirit vnto the motion and life of grace wherby they are made vnexcusable And professe further that they beleeue that they shall bee raysed vppe out of their dust and from the bands and fetters of the graue by the operation of this powerfull and blessed spirite vnto eternall glory by that mighty working whereby it is able to subdue all things vnto it selfe This I say is a great consternation and amazement vnto a Christian heart and causeth oft times many good soules to quake and shudder to see and behold such desperate scornings and reprochful contumelies among such as professe they beleeue in God The serious consideration whereof I am perswaded would eftsoones trouble the mindes of many other with grieuous distractions and disturbances had not the holy booke of God in two most pregnant places of the new Testament set foorth to the life both of the Apostacie of faith and irregularity of good manners which the spirit of God prophesyeth should happen in these last and worst ages of the world For Saint Paul teacheth the Bishoppe of Ephesus That the spirite speaketh euidently That in the latter times some shall depart from the faith and shall giue heede to spirites of error and doctrines of Diuels The spirites of error are such in whome there is no sound trueth of GOD but mingled and mangled with humane traditions no conscience of good but iustifyings of their owne inuentions The doctrines of diuels are prohibitions of marriage and superstitious abstaining from meates as the Text speaketh And I take those spirits of errors and doctrines of diuels are no where to be foūd in the Christian Church more pregnant for we must not looke for them among Turkes and Pagans because this Prophesie reuealeth what shall happen in the Church and amongst professors of Christ but in the Papacy only which in the later times that is some sixe hundred yeares agoe or thereaboutes vtterly fell away from the verity of the faith of Christ and gaue heede to the spirites of errors doctrines of diuels intending nothing else thereby but the subuersion of the Primitiue purity of Religion and conuersion of the internall beauty of the Church of Christ into an externall and pompous lustre of humane policie And againe Saint Paul sheweth by the euidence of the same spirite That in the last dayes which are these worst dayes of ours should come perillous times wherein men should bee louers of themselues couetous boasters proud cursed speakers disobedient to parents vnthankefull vnholy without naturall affections truce breakers false accusers intemperate fierce no louers at all of
great glory to iudge both the quicke and the dead Come Lord Iesus Come quickly O holy spirit of purity and power assist my weake and feeble spirit to bee lift vp vnto thee in prayer Oh righteous God and most merciful Father in Iesus Christ to whome the spirites of the iust are always and euery where lift vp remember mee in thy great goodnes For I acknowledge and confesse vnto thee my many and manifolde infirmities wretchednesses and wickednesses both in the sinnes of my body and also in the sinnes of my soule Now a long time O Lord I haue bin grieuously teÌ„ptead with the spirits not of infirmitie only which dwell in my flesh but with foule filthy spirits of pride ambition enuie worldly pollicie other vile vaine deceitfulnes of mine own heart and oft times with lothsom and vgly spirits of lust adultry gluttony druÌ„kenes wantonesse many other such like euills which haunt me daily eyther in thought word or deed and seeke to harâ—our in my polluted flesh giuing me no rest nor respite but are still seeking and daily assayling to ruinate and run ouer me and are dayly fighting and troubling me I haue sinned O Lord I haue sinned I haue done euil in thy fight and these euills are punishments vnto mee for the same It is I Oh Lord it is I and it seemeth to me that it is none but I that euer sinned so hainously against thee I seeme to my selfe of all others to be the most miserable most distressed and most wretched creature on the earth What shall I doe O Creator of heauen and of earth Thou preseruer of mankinde whether shal I flye from these vgly Monsters that thus pursue my soule and daylie seeke to preuaile against me I know not where to be safe from them but onely to flye vnto thee Oh Lord who onely canst still the raging and the roaring of the great waters when they arise and swell who onely canst chaine the Diuell when hee is â—rampant and ready to deuoure and who onely canst cast out the vncleane spirite with a worde that they neuer enter any more Now therefore come I to thee O King of Saints shewing to thee my malady my misery my moâ—rning how I lye here among the graues of the deade and torment my selfe being possessed with the rage and hell of my misdeedes and crie after thee O sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon mee and deliuer mee by the power of thy might by thy stretched out arme and by one touch of thy sacred goodnesse that it may dispossesse Sathan the strong man of his hold that it may heale me and cast out the vncleane spirites and may vtterly abandon sinne shame and Sathan farre from me and from my dwellings Take from mee for Christ his sake mine owne wretched spirit of infidelitie pride mallice and vnconstancie and grant vnto me O Lord in steed thereof thy blessed spirit of truth humilitie charitie and perseuering constancy Oh take from me O Lord mine owne spirit of vncleanenesse couetousnesse flouthfulnesse and bestow vpon me in steed thereof thine holy spirit of purenesse liberalitie and of all carefull and Christian circumspection Take from me deare Father mine owne spirit of crookednesse wherwith I haue beene vexed and bowed together for many yeares and grant mee thy Spirit of power to raise me vp and thy strength that I may resist sinne in these dayes of my combating that I may so resolutely deuoute my selfe to theâ— and to thy sacred seruice that I may neuer more hearken to subtill and enticing spirits of pleasure of errors of impietie O sacred spirit that didst moue vpon the waters in the creation of the world now moue the streames and fountains of my life in my regeneration and new birth Shake the very foundations of my soule that the image of Christ Iesus may bee repayred in me which I vile wretch by my sinnes haue miserably deformed and defaced O blessed spirit help mine infirmities heale my imperfections compassionate my miseries and make intercession for me with sighes vnutterable which will haue no nay That I may feele my selfe comforted by thee the spirit of consolation in all the wayes of godlinesse that I may perceiue my selfe to bee led on into all truth and veritie and may at the last assure mine owne spirit by thy blessed testimony that I am a child of thy gratious adoption O blessed Iesus that wast declared mightely to be the son of God by the powerfull spirit of sanctification and by rising from the dead that didst vanquish vtterly abandon all the powers all the houres of darkenesse and spirits of error and misbeleefe remoue farre from mee all heathenish Pagan and Popish idolatrie all confidence in any creature all flattering of mine own-selfe that the pure light of thy reuealed truth may shine into my heart that I may euer worship thee in spirit and truth as thou hast commanded And O God make my life holy innocent modest and honest in thy sight that I may see my heart repayred and renued by thy spirit of grace to walke before thee in godly and sincere integritie of conuersation all the remainder of my wretched dayes So am I assured Sathan shall neuer circumuent me nor the world deceiue me or mine owne flesh intice mee or enforce me from thy holy and sacred directions but if I fall I shall rise againe if I turne away at any time I shall returne againe So shall I euer magnifie thy name and multiplie prayses vnto thy maiestie and ascribe vnto thee honor and praise all my life long Grant these mercies vnto me O father of comfort and power for thy couenants sake made vnto mankinde in the iustification of thy Sonne Christ Iesus both for the sanctitie of his life for the suffering of his death and for the continuall intercession and mediation of his eternall priesthood hee now sitting at thy right hand for vs in Maiâ—stie and great glory and remaining a Priest for euer after the order of Mâ—lchisedech Behold vs wretches O holy Ghost whose soules cleaue vnto the ground quicken vs with thy might and lift vs vp from the grossenesse of our corruption to our spirituall beeing in Iesus Christ that wee may liue in the spirit loue in the spirit pray in the spirit and bee led thereby continually into all good actions being thereby purged and purified both in our spirits soules and bodyes from all dead and damnable workes of the flesh the world and the diuell That so at the last wee may through thy fauour O God bee perfectly vnited vnto thee in the spirit of sanctification in this life and in the euerlasting spirit of thy power be brought to our glorification in the other life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen GOD SEENE of Angels Explication THis Manifestation of God in the flesh and iustification in the Spirit was so apparant and the glory thereof so great that it filled heauen and earth with the brightnesse of
scriptures call those the Worlde whom God hath thus called out of the world because for their sakes onely this world was made and this world is as yet preserued and all things continue as from the beginning But when God hath his full number of these his chosen people out of the world then this world shall haue an end and there shall bee a new Heauen and a new earth wherein shal dwell righteousnesse To these his redeemed people in the world God made his promises both of the promulgation extension and augmentation of this Kingdome of Iesus Christ his Sonne First that the extention thereof should be as large as is the expansion of the Heauens and so great that it should encircle and surround the earth Secondly that the dominion thereof should bee from sea to sea And from the riuers vnto the end of the world The kings of Tharsis and of the â—sles should bring presents yea all Kings should fall downe before him at nations should serue him Thirdly that Christ should â—edeeme vs to God by his bloud â—ut of euery kindred and tongue and people and Nation Fourthly that there should â—ee so great a multitude of beleeuers of all Nations Kindreds people and tongues which stand before the throne and before the â—ambe that no man should bee â—ble to number them The performance of which â—rophesies and promises God shewed most powerâ—â—lly in the very commencement of this conquest of faith â—or Peter conuerred in one â—ermon three thousand and 〈◊〉 another Sermon fiue thouâ—and soules that beleeued and â—â—â—â—rned to God from their inâ—quities So mightily yea so â—uddenly grew the word of God and preuayled yea 〈◊〉 is ttuely obserued both by Suetonius in the life of Nero and by Tacitus in the first booke of his Historie beeing enemies to Christ Christians and also by Tertullian a friend to Christians in his Apologeticall exhortation to the Gentiles that the multitude of beleeuers was so great in the Primâ—tiue Church euen amidst those furious bloudy butcheries and wofull persecutions that their strength and puissanâ—e if they should haue waged warre was oft times a feare and terror euen to the veâ—ry persecuting Emperours themselues This was exceeding strange that a World of people so dissonanâ— so dissolute so aliant so repugâ—nant to God and to goodnesse should become so plyable so flexible so obedieÌ„t 〈◊〉 submit and subiect themâ—â—lues to the yoke of Gods ceâ—â—estiall direction And albeit this very acte â—f beleeuing may seeme very â—aruellous vnto vs in it selfe â—et the strange means whereâ—y this victorious conquest was wrought by Christ in â—educing the world to the act â—f faith was indeed incompaâ—ably wonderfull and aboue mans capacitie to conceiue For Christ Iesus the Sonne of God when hee made this conquest of the World by faith did not proclaym to the world as king Cyrus did wheÌ„ he intented his conquests great pay worldly promotions magnificent titles and honourable entertainements for his voluntaries and Followers neither did Christ proffer as the diuell did All this will I 〈◊〉 thee shewing all the kingâ—omes of the world if thou wilt fall downe and worshiâ— me nor as the licentious Turk doth grants libertie of wiueving to what number of women men will of thriuing by what callusions and deuises men can so they doe no violence to all that embrace his Mahumetanisme nor yet as the most Turkish Pope vseth who grants pardons and indulgences from all kinde of punishments to all his Peccadilloes whatsoeuer For then Christ doubtlesse might haue had followers on a sudden more then enough But behold and consider the iniunctions motions and perswasions that Christ vsed to moue the world to beleeue and then tell me Beloued in our Lord if this be not a secret and hidden Mysterie The very first mandate that Christ ienioyned to those that meant to follow him was Reâ—â—nt yee that is Bee of another â—inde and leade another life 〈◊〉 you haue done heretoâ—â—re Become new creatures â—â—at is leaue off to doe euill 〈◊〉 learne to do good This was no lesson for the â—â—lfe louers of the world to â—â—arne and of these there is an â—â—finite number By this doctrine Christ â—â—ight lose all the nice of the world and all that were wedâ—ed to their owne selfe liâ—ings Another iniunction was â—n the world if you will bee mine you shall haue augariation and your hearts shall bee pierced â—hrough with many sorrowes This was no coppie to bee taken out by the effeminate delitious and delicate persons of the world A third was You shall bee hated of all men for my names sake saith Christ. This was no condition to obligue faint and false hearted cowards of the world A fourth was He that loues his life shall lose it This was not the way to winne a worldling notwithstanding all these and other such like more conditions and entertainments euen to exquisite torments yeâ— I say what euer could be sayd or done to the contrary by the infidell party in all the bloud and but chery of Gods Saints behold yee the power of God in this wonderfull conquest of the world by faith For a Centurion beleeueâ— euen to life albeit Christ is absent from doing any act speakes this in the words of a beleeuer Say the word onely O Lord and my seruant liueth A Canaanitish woman beleeues to health if she might eate but the crums thâ—â— fall â—â—om the table or touch but â—he hemme of Christ his veâ—ure The good theefe beleeues 〈◊〉 saluation in Christ Iesus â—hom he beheld fastened to â—â—rosse laden with disgraceâ—â—â—l reproches and scoffings forlorne and forsaken of the â—hole world strugling in his 〈◊〉 dolours gasping gaping 〈◊〉 weltring in his owne â—oud Oh wonderfull power 〈◊〉 faith Oh maruellous work â—f God! Is there any reason 〈◊〉 bee yeelded hereof Are â—â—ere any causes of this so rare 〈◊〉 maruellous a change in the â—eart and resolution of man â—o surely Mans reason in this â—ynt is but as a beast as Iereâ—ie sayth But Almightie â—od hath his reasons for it â—ost pregâ—ant most powâ—â—full For this beleeuing in â—hrist being an act of the vnderstanding assenting to Gods diuine truth at the commandement of the will so moued by the grace and spirit of God sheweth that it is the power onely and spirit of God that inclineth our hearts to beleeue as the first mouing cause thereof This was the reason why Lydia the Thyatirian hearkned to Paules preaching which many other did not that heard the word notwithstanding as well as she For the Text saith God opened the heart of Lydia that she attended the the words of Paule that is to say She attended not vntill God openeth her heart The inuisible finger of God being as you see a golden key to vnlocke our steely hearts that may see perceiue and be moued to seeke after God for our saluation And this is the reason why â—he
to approach neere vnto God and the full perswasion of faith to die in that so wee may goe on from faith to faith vntill wee haue our perfect blisse in Christ for euer Albeit our condition be that wee liue in these last and worst times as Lot in Sodome and as Abraham in Vr of the Chaldes yet hauing the rocke of our faith in Heauen the Father determining the word directing the holy Ghost mouing and these 3. are one hauing the records of our faith on earth the Spirit witnessing to our Spirite that wee are the sonnes of God the water of Baptisme the seale of our Redemption in Christ the bloud of the holy Martyres as the signes of the power of faith in weakenesse and these three aâ—gree in one wee may bid defiance to the Diuell and quiet our conscience in Christ for euermore Concluding that wee can be iustified no other way in the sight of God but onely by this holy faith in the bloud of Iesus but beeing there by onceiustified wee are in direct order towardes God wee are through the gate and in the happie way that leadeth to Abrahams bosom euen eternall life For God can direct vs in the best way vnto himself that leadeth to euerlastiâ—g felicitie in turning vs from â—ur euill wayes and returâ—ing vs to himselfe by reâ—entance and so on to good workes the assurance to our â—elues of our election in CHRIST from good workes to Gods mercy and â—rom thence to glory whereâ—nto this faith teacheth vs â—hat CHRIST is already â—ntered and whether hee â—ill vndoubtedly bring all â—hat loue him that looke â—nd long for his comming â— consummate and perfect â—is our holy seruice in the Heauens where is the fulnes â—f ioy and happinesse in the presence of God for euermore O Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeleefe and encrease my Christian faith WOnderfull art thou O Lord God in thy manifold works maruellous in thy Almighty power and vnsearchable in thy diuine secretes The goodly frame of heauen and of earth shew shy power the disposition of all things therein tell of thy great wisedome and the passages of so many millions of particulars point out this gracious prouidence in all and yet the workes of thy mercies surpasseth all this For which O heauenly Father wee magnifie and praise thy name and multiplie our thankefulnesse vnto the in Iesus Christ from day to day For it hath pleased thee good Father to elect vnto thy selfe and to call â—ut of this Worlde out of this world I say beeing â— sincke of sinnefulnesse a deepe â—den of despayre an Asphatites of â—ll filthinesse a dead sea of sensuâ—lity the vale of the children of Hinnon a Babylon of beast linesse a Sodome of sorrow a Gomorrah of vngodlinesse a Seboim of security an Adamah of Adulterie and a world of wickednesse to chose I say one of this route a remnant of people to bee thy beloued Spouse and wife of the Lambe to bee a royall Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar people the loue of Christ all faire vndefiled and without spotte the onely Doue to bee like an Orchard inclosed a well sealed vp a fountaine of liuing water a Paradise of all pretious delectable and desirable fruites and to be the mysticall body of Christ which hee doth quicken with his owne spirite And these heauenly Father thou hast sealed with thine owne fignet dignified with thine owne fauours and as it were diâ—sied by thine effectuall and sauing grace in giuing them the holy faith of thy Christ and our Iesus thine onely sonne and our Sauior to purifie their hearts to purge their consciences from dead workes to serue thee the Father of light and life and so to be blessed by thee with light and life euerlasting O Lord now behold mee poore silly wretch that lyes here beneath in this miserable world creeping in the dust and crawling in mine owne infirmities My soule cleaueth vnto the ground my belly vnto the earth I haue nothing in mee but sinne sensuality aâ—d shame Blind I am in mine owne vnderstanding for I know thee not obstinat in my will for I little â— regarde thy Counsels corrupted in mine affections for I haue no minde vnto thee My parents were of this world I am borne in the world and the world is all my silly selfe looketh after I cannot attaine to so much at to know my selfe how then shuld I know and discerne thinges aboue my selfe much lesse vnderstand the things that appertaine vnto thee O Father and to the glory of thy Kingdome Euery good and perfect gift commeth feom thee who art the Father of lights O bowe downe thy goodnesse then vnto mee most mercifull Father and extend thy bounty vnto me poore wretch that most humbly desires thy grace and fauour that thou wouldest bee pleased to giue mee a portion and measure of thy blessings in the faith and fauour of thy sonne Grant vnto mee faith O Lord without the which I cannot please thee without the which I cannot hope for any good nor haue any euidence of these things which are not yet euident without the which I cannot come to Christ nor doe any good works nor bee raysed from sinne nor know thee O God nor resist the Diuell nor ouercome the world nor be iustified nor bee saued O blessed Father grant this mercy vnto mee without the which I desire not to be without which I cannot bee but a Cimmerian wretch a stranger vnto thee an Atheist a profane person an Infidell a cast away and a Firebrand of Hell What prayse can bee to thee O Lord in the deepe in the land of obliuion in the place of the damned Shall the dead praise thee shall the bottomlesse pitte celebrate thee shall the damned sing vnto thee no no The beleeuing the repenting the sorrowfull soule for sinne whome thou shalt shine vpon with the light of thy countenance in the faith of Christ that soule O God that soule shall euer bee magnifying thy mercies extolling thy goodnesse and celebrating thy greatnesse fro age to age What euer I doe what euer I thinke what euer I say without it hee seasoned with this grace of faith it is sinne O blessed plant of Paradise O heauenly Iewell of incomparable valuation Deare Father bestowe this blessing vpon me shut not vp my life with vnbeleeuers which shall neuer see thy face but rectifie me in al parts to the right vse of the sacred meanes of obtayning this fauour of faith It commeth by hearing of thy Word O sanctifie mee throughout that I may attentiuely hearken what the Lord will say For hee will speake peace vnto my soule and loue to his Saintes that they returne not to folly O holy Lord Looke backe vpon mine humbled Suite signe my petition for thy tender mercies sake in Christ. So shall my Sacrifices bee alwayes acceptable vnto thee as Abels my conuersation holy as Enochs my preaching powerfull as Noahs my offeringes delectable as Abrahams so shall I contemne
you peace My people sayth GOD shall sit in the beauty of peace and in the Tabernacles of my protection Desire you dainties You shall be satisfied when his glory shall appeare Desire you wine You shall bee filled with the plentie of this house and shall drinke of the riuers of gladnesse Doth Musicke delight you Here Cherubin Seraphin continually doe crie Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Saboth In a word what delectable thing soeuer can come into mans imagination It is here in full aboundance to be found For God hath spoke it Come and I will shew thee all good O wretched sonnes of men whose teeth are sette on edge with the crudities of this world that they cannot taste of the delicacies of that other world For the Fathers haue eaten sowre grapes and the childrens teeth are set on edge as Ezechiel speaketh Wee must therefore abstaine from the rawe and vnwholesome thinges of this Life if wee meane to confirme our teeth and conforme our taste to sauour Heauen and these glorious thinges of God The best of Gods people that euer were in the world could expresse the glory of this place but by Negatiues albeit they had an extraordinary inspection into it Aske the Prophet Esaias and Saint Peter the Apostle they will tell you That the things which eye hath not seene neyther hath eare heard neyther came it into mans heart are which God hath prepared for them that loue him And Saint Augustine sayeth That the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him Our faith cannot conceyue our hope cannot comprehend our charitie cannot apprehend for it surpasseth our thoughts our vnderstanding our desires Let this bee our comfort that this glory may be obtayned expressed or conceyued it cannot be Augustine sayeth that he can tell sooner what is not there then what is there When the Queene of Sheba came to Solomons Court and heard his wisedome saw the house which hee had built obserued his dyet viewed the dwellings of his seruants noted what seruants robes the manner of their service and recounted the whole burnt offerings which were offered in the house of the Lord euerie day The text sayth that shee stood amazed and there was no Spirit in her and when shee came to her selfe shee vttered these words It is true that I heard in mine owne land of thee O King howbeit I beleeued not the report vntill now I see it but the one half was not told me for thou hast more wisedome and prosperitie then I heard by report Right so O my soule shalt thou say when thou commest into this heauenlie Court and beholdest and knowest God as he is known and seest the new Hierusalem the Feast of the Lambe the Mansions prouided the milke white roabes of the Saintes their attendants vpon God and the continuall Alleluiah sung by the quire of Heauen thou wilt say O it was not the least particle of this glorie that wee heard of beneath when we were in the earth for this glorie farre surpâ—sseth all that euer wee heard or could imagine neyther indeed could wee beleeue the same but now O King of Heauen assuredly they are fully blessed that alwaies stand before thee and behold this thy Maiesty and surpassing glory Hence was it that Holy men of God oft sighed and earnestly desired when they meditated of this glory to be with Christ. I desire to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ sayeth Paul Aye mee that I am constrayned to dwell with Mesech sayeth Dauid And in another place When shall I come and appeare before the presence of the Lord If I haue found grace in thy sight O Lord shew mee thy face sayth Moses And to this purpose God sendeth his dearest children bitter pilles of affliction oft-times in this life to weane them from the pleasures of this world The world troubleth mee saith S. Augustine and yet I loue it what would I doe if it did not afflict me Surely it would befoole vs as it doth too many who rather then they would forsake any part or parcell of the World they will desperately and diuelishly forsake their God and the glory of heauen and in their hearts wish God to keepe it for him selfe and let them enioy their pleasures and pastimes in this present life O blinde and barbarous folly of the sonnes of Adam who hath bewitched you Would you see the inuisible things of God They are seene sayth Paul by the visible God being considered in his workes Christ is receyued vp in glory ascend thou by these degrees vnto Christ O my soule that he hath reuealed vnto thee Say vnto thy selfe when thou viewest the world and the glory thereof both in the frame of Heauen and in the fabrique of the earth If O Lord thou grantest vnto vs such goodlie thinges in this our prison what hast thou prepared for vs in thy pallace of Heauen If here thou affoordest so liberally thy blessings both to friendes and foes what hast thou prouided in heauen for friendes onely When thou beholdest the surpassing beauty of the heauens say O my soules How delectable are thy dwellings O Lord of Hosts my Spirite fainteth for desire to dwell in the Courts of thy house for euermore For all Nations are before thee as nothing and they are accounted lesse then nothing and vanity When wee consider again that there are three principall places in this vniuerse to witte Hell the World and Heauen The first vnder the earth the second aboue the earth the third aboue the visible heauens The first a place of darkenesse the second a place mixt both with light darknesse the third is altogether light The 1. a dungeon of despayre the second a vale of teares the third a Paradise of incomparable delights and delicacies whose heart desireth not after those water-brookes whose soule seeketh not after those ioyes of Heauen where is the fulnesse of ioy and happinesse for euermore For there is health without sicknesse youth without age fulnesse without famine plenty without penury gâ—ory without infamy peace without warre and in a word all good without euill Now therefore O yee sonnes of men Marke Sayth Saint Augustine Heauen is to bee solde and God requires no other price for thee to buy it but thy selfe it is worth so much as thou art giue God thy selfe and thou shalt haue it But obserue thou must not present thy selfe to God in this exchange a worldling a sinner a cast-away but thou must become iust good holy and worthy of the same not of thy selfe but beeing iustified sanctified and bettered by the holy faith and Spirit of thy God in Christ Iesus in whom wee all are accounted worthy so shalt thou by his merites obtaine a Kingdom where the fire dooth not burne nor the ayre infect nor the water drowne noâ— the earth tremble vnder thee where there is no commet to presage thee euill no thunder to terrifie thee no lightning to daunt thee no thunderbolt
to consume thee no tempest to affright thee no colde â—o molest thee no heate to offend no plague to kill thee no calamity to afflict thee O Christian soules endeauour to ascend to your Christ Iesus vnto and into this glorie and bee not discouraged eyther with the long distance from you or with the maruellous height aboue you For with as much faciâ—itie as the Diuels were deâ—ected from Heauen in Gods â—ispleasure you shall be lifted â—p to Heauen by the fauour of Christ. The hand of the Lorde of Hostes that cast them out â—nto the bottomlesse pitte â—hall bee stretched foorth to â—eceyue you vp into glorie â—nd that in a moment in the winckling of an eye Oh how amiable are our goings towardes the Lorde of Hostes Sanctuarie in the progresse of diuine vertues Humility doth lift vs vp aboue the earth Pouertie in Spirite aboue the water Contrition aboue the ayre Good workes aboue the fire Faith Hope Loue Discretion Constancie Temperance Righteousnesse aduanceth vs aboue the seuen Planets our conuersation aboue the Emperiall Heauens Purity of heart dooth bring vs vp to the sight of God and vnto the glory of the blessed For three places God hath appointed hâ—â— Children to liue in the Wombe this Earth the Heauens In the wombe in a narrow place for a short time some nine monethes In the earth a place of greater extent and a longer season some seauentie yeares And lastly in Heauen a place of extent without limit and for terme without time euen for euer and euer And as the second place farre exceedeth the first both in largenesse of Extent and in continuance of time so the third place of our most happie being incomparably surpasseth the second in both for it is without limmit of locall scite and without all determinatioÌ„ of time for length of dayes O Christ come vnto vs and into vs with these thy graces that wee may come to thee and into that glory where thou ruâ—est and raignest with God the Father and the Holy spirite for euermore O Lord lift vp mine heart vnto theâ— O Eternall God and most mercifull Father in Christ Iesus who dwellest in the thrones of immortality and blisse vouchsafe to looke vpon vs thy humbled Creatures that lye here beneath and groane to bee deliuered from the bondage of our corruption into the freedome of thy goodnesse Thou hast taken vp from vs our Lord Iesus and hast set him at thy right hand in Maieâ—ty and great glorie O when shall wee come â—nd behold the beautie of thine â—ouse and the blessednesse of thy Saintes Lâ—sten Lord vnto our supâ—lications and for our Aduocates â—ake that pleades our cause beâ—ore thee in heauen Let vs be dissolued that we â—ay bee with thee and with our â—eloued Iesus Who for vs men â—â—me downe from Heauen and â—as humbled to deâ—th that wee might liue with thee for euer Behold O Lord God how wee runne after him in the sweet sauour of his diuine perfumes WheÌ„ hee liued here with vs on earth he disdayned not Matâ—eâ— a publican hee abandoned not Peter a denyer of him nor cast away Paule a perâ—ecutor nor despised Marie Magdalen a courtezan nor refused to hear a Cananaatish woman the blinde the lame the dumbe the deafe yea the possessed with diuels hee had compassion vpon Therefore now wee wretches here beneath albeit our conâ—â—tion is farre worse then any of those yet wee conceiue comfort that now in his glorified estate he will also grant vs his pittie and compassion and by the power of his grace whereby hee is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe will conquer our stubborn and disobedient hearts and makâ— them plyable and conformableâ— to his sacred Lawes That we may not reason in our vnderstanding nor enclineâ— our affections downewards but as he is receiued vp in glory so we may set our selues and soules to seeke and search after him in all heauenly things O Lord the dead prayse thee not they that goe downe into the pit doe not remember thee what benefit is there in our blood what glory is there to thee in the land of obliuion where thou art not once thoght vpon O God let the deuouring and despayring gulfe bee the portion for the diuels and the damned that neuer seeke thee in thy beloued Let that vale be for the children of Hinnon that bottomlesse pit for the Locusts that lake of brimstone for thy Christs enemies that second death for the desperate that weeping and wayling for the heathen that hath not knowne thee that hell for the dâ—spisers of thy Sonnâ— that euerlasting fire for the Abaddon and his seruants but as for those that sue for fauour vnto thee and lye at thy mercy gate for grace and beg but the crums let them be deliuered because of thy beloued let them reioyce on thy saluation let them see the sight of thy saints and bee glad with the light of thy countenance for euer O speake comfortably vnto their soules and let their hearts euermore reioyce before thee Oh tender hearted Father giue them a tast in this life of the happinesse of the other and a glimpse of that glory wheâ— into Christ Iesus is receiued That so our hearts may bee enflamed our wills enclined our affections setled and our whole selues knit vnto thee that neither sinne nor Sathan life nor death things present nor things to come may separate vs from the loue and exceeding thirst and desire of beeing where Christ our treasure is Let not the diuell with any of his subtill and slie delusions carrie vs downeward in tempting vs with our vnworthinesse our euill our wretchednesse in putting into our mindes that we are predestinate and ordayned of old to destruction and that whatsoeuer we do â—r say or pray it auailes not for â—t cannot alter thy decree and so â—y this meanes cast vs into desâ—erate carelessenesse But O Lord â—each our soules to reason and â—ommune with our owne hearts 〈◊〉 going vpwards where Christ â—esus is receiued vp in glory that â—e beleeuing and louing thee our God liuing in thy grace calling â—pon thee dayly may worke out â—ur saluation with feare and â—embling And do thou O God ascertain â—ur conscience that these things â—re the actions and affections of â—ose that are ordayned to blisse â—â—d life euerlasting in the merits of thy deare Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord. To this blessed purpose assist vs O God in all the occurrences of our life at home and abroade in businesse and in leasure in prosperitie and aduersitie in sickenesse and in health that we may still haue our minds lift vppe vnto thee through the power of our Prince of peace Christ Iesus and euer vse these things of this life to further our saluation in him that at the last when wee shall come 〈◊〉 our fatall and finall dissolution iâ— this world the way of all flesh we may bee receiued vp by thy goodnesse and ministerie of thy blessed Angels into those