him he declareth his entire loue vnto him for a kisse among men A kisse a token of loue among men hath alwaies gone currant for a pledge and pawne of kindnesse which is professed by it For because by our mouthes we do drawe our spirits and thereby doe vnfolde the secrets of our hearts and do vtter our thoughts by the outward ioining together of our mouthes wee doe promise an agreement and coniunction of hearts Gene. 45 Hence it is that Ioseph when he opened and reuealed himselfe vnto his brethren and would poure out his loue in the greatest measure vpon them among other notes and tokens thereof hee affectionatly fel vpon their necks and kissed them Luke 7 Mary Magdalen the sinner when shee was conuerted to testifie her loue which shee did beare to Christ shee did cast downe hir selfe at the feete of Christ and most humbly kissed them Matt. 26 When Iudas the traitour studied with himselfe what course might be the best to bring Christ vnto his death he could not deuise a more subtil shift thē vnder a kisse a pretence of kindnesse to couer his villany Cant. 1 When as the church in the Canticles sueth to her spouse to shew his loue vnto hir she intreateth her husband Christ that he would bee so fauourable as for to kisse her with the kisses of his mouth that is that hee would manifest and declare his affections by manefest and good tokens The father therefore protesteth all loue and good wil vnto his son and as a seale and confirmation of it he bindeth and sealeth it vp with a kisse so as now he may fully satisfie himselfe and make no doubt of it That which is here typically shrowded and shadowed vnder a parable is plainly and substantially in euery one of vs verified For this is gods behauior towardes vs his lost children whome vpon our returne he generally kisseth For doth not he most manifestly shewe his loue towardes vs as if he should kisse vs when as his lips are so ful of grace as he thus affectionately and graciously greeteth vs As I liue Ezech. 1◠I will not the death of a sinner but rather that hee doth returne and liue This is to be esteemed as the kindest most comfortable kisse that may be giuen vnto vs of the like sort is this comfort Iohn 3. So God loued the worlde as hee gaue his only begotten son that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting And this This is my beloued sonne Matt. 3 in whome I am well pleased heare him As the father thus kisseth vs so doth the sonne that we might kisse him Psal 2 least he be angry with vs. Who doth not wonder at these gracious wordes which proceede from his mouth appertaining vnto all Matth. 1◠Come vnto me all ye that labour and are heauy loaden and I will ease you To the same purpose serue the Sacraments of the church which are seuerall sweete kisses and as it were the earnest peny to confirme the couenant that God bath made vnto vs. And truly he ioineth himselfe closely vnto vs and streightly embraceth vs and as it were kisseth vs when as by baptisme hee doth receiue vs into the lap of the church incorporateth vs into his holy congregation maketh vs the mysticall body of his sonne espousing vs vnto him and with him intituling vs vnto his blessed inheritance purchased by his bloud in the kingdome of heauen The like he doth by the mystical supper by which we are instructed that hee is the same who kisseth and cherisheth vs as sustaining vs with his blessed bodie and bloud which he gaue and shed for vs to saue and preserue vs both bodies and soules vnto eternall life To these may be numbred all his kinds of benefits which are inestimable and vnspeakeable of which there is no end by all which he imbraceth vs with the armes of mercy and kisseth vs with the kisses of his mouth It is our duty in regard of this to shew loue to him who hath so loued vs yea who hath loued vs when as we loued not him who whilest we were enemies hath vouchsafed to die for vs. Let his kisses therefore kindle our affections and drawe vs on to kisse him againe who is our loue our doue our beloued our bridegroom our sauior But how may we iustly be ashamed of our selues that wee haue forsaken our own spouse haue cōmitted filthines with strāge flesh we haue wrought folly in Israel and haue cōmitted fornication with the baude of Babilon 〈…〉 who with her craft hath caused vs to yeeld and with hir flattering lips hath enticed vs The whore of Rome hath bewitched our heartes and hir painted face hath rauished our affections But take wee in time the aduise of sage Salomon and let vs prudently follow it 〈…〉 Heare me now therefore O children and harken vnto the words of my mouth Let not thine hart decline to her waies wander thou not in her paths for she hath caused manie to fall down wounded and the strong men are all slaine by her Hir house is the way vnto the graue which goeth downe vnto the chambers of death The fift Chapter Of the Roiall robe giuen by the father vnto the prodigal sonne when he was in presence WE haue hitherto discussed diuers main pointes of rare and strange fauour shewed by the father to his sonne a far off and somewhat we haue spoken of his gestures and actions of loue towards him when he drew nigh vnto him but now far greater remain to be intreated of admirably expressed when hee was in presence with him Now had he fit time and iustice required it and his sonnes sinnes deserued it that he should rip vp vnto him his defaults past and cal to his remēbrance the offences of his youth to call him to account of the time mispent and to lay open the booke of conscience before him Some seuere father if he had such a sonne would haue ratled him roundly and woulde haue either constrained himselfe to seeme inexorable or otherwise would not haue accepted of him but vpon cōditions of amendment of maners of an absolute obedience afterwards But this father is so fatherlie and ful of fauor as he cannot giue himselfe to rigor and austerity but assoone as he seeth him his loue is set on fire and burneth towards him so as the coles that follow are kindled at it for assoone as he hath him he most courteously enteraineth him graciously greeteth him with all louing kindnes Hee suffereth him not to conclude his speech though he knew wel enough that he had not much to speake He should haue spoken on and saide as hee purposed Make mee one of thy hired seruants but the father interrupteth him by his hasty calling to his seruants for him giuing more then hee himselfe would haue requested or his mind conceiued For immediatly while the words were in his mouth
moue out of the place wherin he was before we know not what we doe while we open our eares to vaine wordes and shut them against the wordes of eternall life They that are of God saith our Sauiour Christ will heare Gods word Iohn â— And hee concludeth that such as are otherwise affected are not of God 〈◊〉 similitude When a man discourseth of the gold of India of such things which he sawe or readeth of in histories touching the same such as haue a purpose to trauel thither wil diligently harken to that which he shal report but others who neuer look to haue doings there care not what he saith nor will take no heed thereto So when as we preach to men of God of the kingdome of heauen of the treasures which God hath laid vp in store for them that loue him such as haue a desire to goe to heauen to see God face to face to bee partaker of his ioyes will giue eare to the preaching of his holy word but such as haue no mind euer to come thither account not at al of our labour and ministry and make no conscience in hearing our preachings The estate of this people is exceeding daungerous and the contempt of Gods worde is the next â—ore to damnation it selfe The Pâ—almograph touching the most perillous estate and extremitie of the Israelites saith that when their soule abhorred all kind of meat they were next vnto deaths dore As the outward man without outward meate perisheth so the inward man without his inward and spirituall foode decaieth This is another meate then wee are aware of and the want of this exceedeth far the want of other meat Therefore God by the mouth of Amos threatning an intolerable and most fearefull famine hee saith hee will not sende a famine of bread but a famine of the worde of God the breade of eternall life This breade in vertue infinitelie surmounteth all other kindes of breade and delicates whatsoeuer What Nectar and Ambrosia may compare with this Is there any mortal meat that is so restoratiue that it can reduce the dead to life againe it cherisheth and refresheth vs whilest we are aliue but it auaileth vs nothing when wee are deade But the word of God nourisheth our dead soules and raiseth them vp from their dead works to serue the liuing God Ezechiel verie plainely teacheth so much by a liuely demonstration of drie bones Ezech. 37 which the Prophet by the mighty power of the worde brought from death to life againe There is no sinner so obdurate by a long continued habit and custome of sinne and hath lien so long dead as hee stinketh with Lazarus in his coffin and graue through the corruption of his sinnes but he may bee mollified changed and reclaimed finally reuiued and raised vp and restored to the church as Lazarus to his friendes by the heauenlie voice of Christ Let no man therefore proceed so far in extreame impietie as in their great danger of vtter shipwrack in the sea of this world to forsake this anchor hold their onely succour and the hornes of the Altar which they must lay hold vpon Adam after his grieuous and dangerous fall had no small benefit by hearing of the word Gen. 3 I hearde saith he thy voice in the gardeÌ„ for he was comforted with the promise of saluation by our Sauiour Christ the seede of the woman that should breake the serpents head A similitude The ciuill magistrate first of all punisheth a roague and sturdy vagabonde with the whip but the second time more grieuouslie by cutting off his eares but if hee take him hauing lost his eares as a horrible offendor in the highest degree hee putteth him to death So if thou wilt not amend with the Lordes stripes he wil further grieue and vexe thee with Scorpions and if as a runnagate from his presence he findeth thee without eares to listen to his words he will prepare the instrumentes of death to grind thy hairy scalpe Prou. 7 Therefore deere Christian bee in time warned that thou maist be wel armed Call wisdom thy sister and vnderstanding thy kinswoman Seeke for heauenly knowledge as thou seekest for earthlie gold and it shall bee giuen thee So shalt thou not swarue with the prodigall sonne from thy fathers commandements but thy soule shall stil dwell and inherit the land thou shalt be satisfied with the pleÌ„teousnesse of his house as out of a riuer Let vs therefore open the eies of our soules that wee may see our horrible and abhominable ignorance the hellish fiend and furie of our soules Let vs pray with Dauid and say â—sal 13 Open mine eies O lord that I sleepe not in death Giue me vnderstanding I shall search thy lawe yea I shall keepe it with my whole heart â—sal 119 Endue vs more and more with knowledge that thy couÌ„sels may be deere vnto vs sweeter then the hony â—sal 119 or the hony combe Then shall wee enter into thy gates with praise and into thy courts with thanks Our feet shall stande still in thy gates oh Hierusalem we shal walke before thee all the daies of our life Those foure holy beastes which Ezechiel did see were full of eies Ezech. 8 because they were full of the knowledge of God and what saith the scripture They walked before his face Lord giue vs eies we shall walke in all true waies and al false waies we shal vtterly abhor We shal walke before thy face and not take our vagaries with this wandring wight after our wicked pleasures this grace the Lord giue vs for his holy names sake The fift Chapter Of selfe loue pride and presumption another cause of his departure from his father IT appeareth by the proude petition of his portion that he had a great coÌ„ceit opinion of himselfe that hee was enough able without his fathers helpe if he were at his own hand to dispose of himself And this his selfe loue was the beginning of his sinne the breeder of his bane and the roote from whence all his flowing mischiefe sprung Pride and selfe loue Pride and selfe loue the cause all euill A similitâ— is the fountaine of al vice and the enemie of all vertue Trees that are planted in mountaines and high places do soonest loose their leaues and beautifull blossomes through the violence of the winds A man that looketh downe from a steepe high A similitâ— tower hath neede of a staied and well ordereâ— braine or else he may soone be in danger of falling In fishermens nets the frie A similitude and Menowes and smaller fish run thorow when as the greater caÌ„noâ— passâ— the net The proud and great men and Princes of Hierusalem were taken prisoners and by Nabuchadnezzar led into Babilon when the baâ—â— and meaner people generally were enlarged and set at libertie In the mountaine of Geâ—boa Saule his armorbearer and the proud princes of Israell
PORTRAITVR of the prodigal sonne Liuelie set forth in a threefold Discourse 1 Of his Progresse 2 Of his Regresse 3 Of his ioyfull welcome home Published by Samuell Gardiner Batchler of Diuinitie Ezech. 18. vers 23. Haâ—e I anie desire that the wicked shoulde die saith the Lord God or shall he not liue if he returne from his wayes AT LONDON Printed by P. S. for Nicholas Ling and are to be solde at his shop at the west end of Powles 1599. To the Right Worshipfull sir Hierome Bowes Knight all externall and eternall happinesse WHatsoeuer my learning and iudgement is sure I am it is the gift of God Euerie gift of God the more it is occupied the more it is encreased euen as fire the more it is blowen the brighter it burneth or as a sworde which the more it is scowred the more it glistereth or finally as corne which the more it is grinded Matt. 2â— the more flower it yeeldeth The parable of the Talents insinuateth so much and dayly experience sheweth no lesse I doubt not therefore but that this my small talent put out vnto the exchaÌ„gers by his good grace vpon it working in the harts of those that shall borrow it shall be returned to my master with aduantage The pittaunce of oyle of the widowe womans remaining in hir pitcher â—ing 4 was so encreased through the goodnesse of God by the hand of his Prophet as she had not only ynough to supply hir daylie wants but sufficient remayning to make payment of her debts The Lord our God hath raysed vp a Prophet from among our brethren â—â—ut 18 by whose blessing I doe hope that this litle oyle of heauenlie knowledge which God hath powred into the vessell of my soule shall receiue such encrease as besides sufficiencie to serue common needes somewhat shall redownd to discharge my iust debtes due to you and others Wherefore right worthie Knight take from my haÌ„ds this deserued labour by your kindnesse vndeserued It is most due vnto you for sundrie due respects For first the dedication of bookes to men of merite hath bin a very ancient and common custome deducted from the practise of the primitiue church and since by the ancient fathers schoolmen and nowe by the learned of our time and age put in common vse What you merite of mee I spare to shewe because I woulde not bee thought to flatter you and the rather because your religious loue hath beene of late so publiquelie signified as it seemeth a thinge needlesse by mee to bee rehearsed In a word good Knight I owe vnto you as much as it is lawfull for a man to owe and therefore I entitle this treatise vnto you in steed of a parcell of the grand arrerages that are comming vnto you Moreouer if Saint Iohn did not amisse in superscribing his second epistle which hee made to his elect Ladie and his thirde epistle 2. Iohn 3. Iohn vnto his beloued Gaius I cannot be blamed for consecrating these the fruites of my studies to my electe and most beloued Knight Luk. 1 Nay if Saint Luke inscribed his gospell to his most noble Theophilus which signifieth a friend and louer of God sithence I am assured that I haue hapned vppon another Theophilus and louer of Gods worde I thinke you very worthie of this historie of Saint Luke And this was the principall inducement that moued me to giue you this book for howsoeuer I might alledge aliaunce and worldly respects many yet the regarde of your zeale and religion is more moouing then any You being both of iudgement rightly to conceiue of it and of worship and countenance sufficient to defend it I coÌ„mit it vnto you you vnto the almighty who make your ancient and worshipfull name famous stil in earth and engrosse it and register it in the booke of the righteous in the life that is to come Your worships to be commaunded SAMVEL GARDINER To the Religious Reader THou hast here good Reader a Manuel of mellistuous meditations which this scripture of scriptures and this storie the storehouse and library of learning aboundantly fruitfully yeeldeth vnto thee Here is the iuice of that pleasaÌ„t grape that pure new wine Matt. 9 which being put into new vessels refresheth and maketh glad the hart of man here is that oile Psal 104 euen the grace of God which maketh him to haue a cheerefull countenance No Nectâ—r and Ambrosia which the Poets faine to bee the drink and meate of the Gods may compare with this The Manna of the Israelites Psal 78 and the Angels food which the Lord did send vnto them is nothing aequiualent proportionable vnto this Iohn 6 for those that did eat of that are all dead but whosoeuer tasteth and feedeth vpon this he shall liue for euer For this giueth nourishment vnto dry and deade consciences and putteth life into them Ezech. 37. as the word of God in the mouth of Ezechiel did to dry and deade bones The spirit speaketh euidently throughout this whole discourse how as the lord is iust in punishing of sinners so is hee as mercifull vnto those that doe repent As in his lefte hande hee holdeth out a sworde readie for to wound vs so with his right hand he putteth forth a shield whereby to defend vs. The Lord is like vnto a louing father who reclaimeth his ryotous and vnruly sonne with the rod of his displeasure but being corrigible and reformed by his discipline hee throweth away his rodde and in mercie embraceth him of euerie side Rom. 2 Tribulation and anguish shall bee vpon the soule of eueryman that doeth euill to the Iewe first and also to the Grecian but to euerie man that doth good shall be honor and glorie â—al 6. and as many as walke after his waies peace shall be vpon them and mercie and vppon the Israell of God So as heere hee harpeth with the kingly harper vppon these two stringes and his antheme and songe is of mercie and Iudgement and about these two pointes is all this storie spente Psal 101 Each seuerall man shoulde bee anothers looking glasse but this man is a spectacle in the Theater of this worlde for all men to looke vppon In whome wee may see the riches and bountie of the grace of God towardes vs Esai 59 howe his hande is not so shorte but hee can saue nor his eares so thicke but hee can heare nor our sinnes so greate but he can and will release vppon our returne with this prodigall man vnto him Heere is fulfilled the Aphorisme of the Prophet in the mouth of the Lorde Ezech. 18 I will not the death of a sinner but rather that hee repente and liue And this of the Psalmographe Truely Psal 73 God is good vnto Israel and to those that be of a true hart Yea to those that are of a bad hart too as this mans presideÌ„t example teacheth vs. We should rather
altogither dead vnto euerie good worke As long as our feete stand in thy gates O Hierusalem we are well inough For who so dwelleth vnder the defence of the most high shall abide vnder the shadowe of the Almightie But herein is present daunger to depart from him and forsake his commaundements A similitude The young Chickens so long as they are vnder the Henne and are couered with her winges are out of ieopardie but if they straggle and wander abroade they are snatched vppe by the Vulture and rauenous Kite so wee are sure vnder God his protection for hee shall defend vs vnder his winges and wee shall bee safe vnder his feathers his faithfulnesse and truth shall bee our shield and buckler but if we flitch from him and take our vagaries after our owne desires wee shall fall forthwith into the pawe of the Lion and the mouth of the Bear and expose our selues as a pray vnto the diuell similitude If a mans sonne sickeneth in his fathers house or bee in anie want the father easilie recouereth his health and supplieth his necessities but if he sickeneth or falleth into neede in a farre Countrey farre distant from his father his father by no meanes can restore or benefite him If thou beest neuer so sicke in soule or otherwise distressed if thou beest in Gods house and a member of his Church hee will giue thee medicine to heale thy sickenesse and he will deliuer thee out of al thy troubles but if thou cuttest off thy selfe from the societie of his house and fellowshippe of his saâ—â—es and rangest farre after the carnall lustes of the flesh and of the minde there is no health or saluation for thee thou must first returne from whence thou piddest depart else thou canst not in anie wise be cured If God bee thy shepheard thou canst want nothing Psal 22 for Dauid setteth downe that for a 〈◊〉 conclusion But what Prince or Potentate oâ— sonne of man can say so of himselfe that hee is in that case that hee wants nothing The harlot in the Reuelation presumed so much Reuel 3 and made her proude bragges that shee was rich and wanted nothing but shee lyed lewdlie not knowing that shee was naked poore and miserable Onelie Christ his poore and tender sheepe may truly say so much For hee hath brought vs into greene pastures hee hath ledde vs to the waters of comfort he will conduct vs to the pathes of righteousnesse for his names sake Albeit we haue riches at our desire in this world and leaue the rest of our substaunce to our babes yet is that ryches without Gods good grace the onelie true ryches verie fearefull pouertie Psa 58 Wee shall hunger like dogges and go about the Citie Wee shall eate and not be filled we shall drinke and not bee satisfied wee shall bee couered with clothes and shall not be warmed sayth the Prophet Aggâ—â— Aggâ— â— Ionas Ionas 3 was greatlie ioyfull of his Iuie bush but this comforte continued not because God frowned on him For God sent a worme which in one night did cate it vp and this his shelter was taken from him and his heade immediatlie with the heate of the sunne â—ked and his heart through exceeding griese panted A worme shall gnawe and consume our worldly wealth and then like Ionas our bodies and soules shal be vexed and sore troubled and wee shall roare for anguish and vexation of spâ—rit Wee cannot moderate and quench our thirst by putting salt unto our mouthes similitude oâ— extinguish fire by putting Oyle into it it is onelie God who satisfieth vs worldlie riches are like salt making vs more chirstie and greedâ—er of more The couetous alwayes want not onelie that hee hath not but that also which he hath for hee keepeth it by him and dare not vse it no not when neede requireth it hee is neuer sufficed Sed crescit aniâ—â— nummi quantum ipsa pecunta crescit but couetousnesse encreaseth with his money he is euer in necessitie Wherfore if thou thiâ—stest come vnto me sayth Christ and I will refresh thee 〈…〉 If thou dost hunger open thy mouth wide saieth God and I will fill it 〈…〉 Delight thou in the Lorde and hee will giue thee thy hearts desire 〈◊〉 3â— It is a preposterous and madde course to feede anie creature with a contrarie diet disagreeing with his nature feede a horse with hay and not with flesh a Lion with flesh and not with grasse mans bodie with breade and not with poyson mans soule with God and not with the world The prodigall sonne not feeding on this foode pined with hunger not tasting of this sweetnes tasted of bitternes not hauing thiâ—â—ches sell to all necessitie 〈◊〉 when hee departed from Gods presence Gen. 4 wâ—◠〈◊〉 branded runnagate vpon the face of the 〈◊〉 Aâ—ar when shee departed from Abrahams hoâ—se what found shee abroad but pouertie and affliction Gen. 16 There was a fierce famine in the land of Egypt where Ioseph was not so must there needeâ— bee a horrible want there where our God is not The Lions hunger â—sâ—â— 32 and suffer â—hrist saith the proâ—â—â—â— Dauid but they who put their trust in the Lord â—â—â—ant no manner of thing that is good A cruâ—ll people like vnto Lions shall sâ—erue and perish but God his deare seruants in the time of scarcitie shall haue inough Doest thou desire riches Psal 112 Riches and plentousnessâ— we which rise Desirest thou beautie He is faiâ—â—â— thâ—â— the sonnes of men Cant. â— Thou arâ— fairer my Loue. Desiresâ—t thou life Iohn 14. I am the life sayeth the Lord and whosoeuer beleeueth in me yea though he weâ— dead yet shall he liue Desirest thou saluation He shall saue hee people from their sinnes To conclude Matt. 1 they shall want nothing that lead a godlie life 〈◊〉 the Lord is their portion and their ioynter he shall maintain their lot their lot is fallen into a faire ground yea they haue a goodlie inheritance for hee shall giue them their hearts desire and that not denie them the request of their lippes He shall seede their mouthes with good things Psa 20 Psal 103 making them strong and lustie like an Eagle he filleth the hungâ—â— with good things Luke 1 and the proude hee sendeth emptie away Wherefore seeke the Lord and your soules shal liue for they that seeke after strange gods shall finde much trouble let not him therefore bee the least of our desire who giueth to euerie one what he can desire The xii Chapter Of the miserable slauerie of the prodigall sonnes wherein the slauerie of sinnes is manifested THe Prophet Esay flowting the fondnes of worldly men who doe waste their wits and imploy their whole endeuors and euen consume themselues to attaine so worldly vanitie 〈◊〉 59 saith They weaue the spiders web The Spider laboureth much to verie little purpose for her wearisome webs are wouen
in effect the same dittie making Gods mercie the effect of his seeing vs. Psal 33 The eyes of the Lord are vpon the iust and what then his eares are open vnto their prayers Psal 33 Come vnto me saith the same Prophet in gods person and ye shall be lightned It cannot be but where there is most light A similitudâ— the place must bee warmer and therefore in the full Moone the nights are warmer because the light is stronger so let God behold vs with the brightnes of his countenaunce and let the light of his loue shine in our hearts and they shall bee warmed with the zeale of the spirit and the fire of his mercie will be kindled within vs. The presence of Gods face is admirable and vnspeakeable for it rauisheth our hearts and suddenlie changeth them and draweth them to obedience If the Sunne stoode still in Gibeon and the Moone in the valley of Aialon Iosua 10 and the mightie walles of Hiericho came topling to the ground at the voyce of God by his seruant Iosua Iosue 6 no maruell it is though our sinnes come tumbling downe and we returne to God with the prodigall sonne when God himselfe beholdeth vs a farre off to this purpose and hath compassion of vs. Psal 104 For the vast earth trembleth at his look if he but toucheth the mountaines they do smoke Finallie as all mercie is present towardes vs when Gods eyes doe behold vs so all miserie and calamitie dooth befall vs when his face is turned from vs. Hereupon saith Dauid When thou turnest away thy face they are troubled Psal 104 if thou takest away their breath they die return vnto their dust Dauid once perswaded himselfe that his estate was so sure as it could not bee altered when hee spake in this wise Psal 30 I sayd in my prosperitie I shall neuer be remooued thou Lord of thy goodnes hast made my hill so strong But the euent did put an other song into his mouâ—h and made him to recant and reuerse this proude boasting saying Thou didst turne thy face from mee and I was troubled Wherefore praie wee the Lorde to beholde vs that hee woulde by no meanes turne awaie his face from vs least as Dauid sayth if hee maketh himselfe as though hee seeth vs not wee bee as they that goe downe into the pitte Least all our prayers bee made in vaine and our sâ—tes doe take repulse hee saying vnto vs as vnto the olde Israelites When yee shall stretch out your handes Esay 1 I will hide mine eyes from you and though yee make manie prayers I will not heare you for your handes are full of blood But the prodigall sonne his former disposition considered Mercy is to be shewed to the wicked the present compassion of the father had of him is woorthie to bee obserued For hee was a man wholie swallowed vppe of sinne wilfullie walking after his owne wicked wayes there was no feare of God before his eyes Yet the father rebuketh him not in his indignation neither dooth hee chastice him in his heauie displeasure but hee rather chooseth to prosecute him with fauour which hee did not deserue then persecute him with iudgement which was most due vnto him Teaching vs the like mercie that we would shew to such who beseech our mercie howesoeuer in regarde of their vilde inclinations they bee vnwoorthie of it There is none can bee lewder and more infamous then this fellow vpon whom such abundant fauour was extended to signifie that how so euer the persons are qualified yet their miserie by vs must compassionatly be respected Matth. 5 It is the expresse commaundement of Christ that we should be merciful as our heauenly father is mercifull Now how he is charitably disposed to the wicked herein it is euident in that he maketh the sun to arise on the euil and the good Matt. 5 and sendeth raine on the iust and vniust The hauen is a refuge and reliefe to all that ariue thereat A similitude whether good or bad as it succoureth innocents so it often doth protect robbers God is the hauen to whom whosoeuer at any time doe driue they shall rest in safetie If thou dost help and relieue vnworthie with them doubtlesse will resort vnto thee Gen. 18 some who are worthie Abraham confusedly without any difference harboring all straÌ„gers amoÌ„g them vnawares receiued likewise Angels It is Salomons aduice Pro. â—5 Rom. 12 and Paul ratifieth it That if our enemie doth hunger we do feede him Let vs measure others by our selues and let vs doe to others in their wants which wee would wish might be done to vs in the like necessities If God shoulde shew his mercie onelie to the good where should the wicked and sinner appeare What should become of vs who are borne in wickednes and doe nothing else but bring foorth vngodlinesse Wee will not exhibite anie kindnes to our neighbor in his extremitie because his life offendeth vs and yet wee craue daylie for helpe at Gods handes though hourly diuersly and grieuously we offende him With what face canst thou so often begge of God and art so cruell to a begger at the gate that comes but seldome to thee Among the fiue thousand who were fed by Christ with fiue loaues and two fishes Iohn 6 there were without doubt some euill disposed people yet Christ dooth not sunder and diuide them from the rest but equallie without respect of persons relieued them togither It is a pithie saying of S. Ambrose Ambrose Misericordia non iudicat de meritis sed miserijs Mercie doth not consider of mens merits but of their miseries It is the fashion of the worlde before they bestowe vpon anie their almes to make a scrutinie and inquitie of their liues There must come question vpon question before a poore begger can haue the smallest deuotion This we may well call Scrutinium diabolicum a diuelish scrutinie For so it is in deed wheÌ„ as a needy person doth implore our charity and we weary him with words but do very slenderly help him with our works This trick we first of al lerned of the diuel who teÌ„pting our sauiour in his extream pouertie questioned with him as we doe with the poor whether he were good for to the like effect he expostulateth thus Matt. 4 If thou saith he be the sonne of God cast thy self down making a great doubt whether he were such a man as were worthie to be relieued in this his extremity but of this matter I spare further to intreate because I haue particularly discoursed at large of it in my booke of almes This I haue thought good to admonish thee of by the way vnder the example of the fathers charity vnto his wicked sonne that thou maist likewise dispose thy self to be mercifullie affected euen to wicked people That so thou mightest imitate thy heauenlie father Matt. â— and bee perfect as Christ