and chafing with him selfe and accoumpteth them but fooles dastardes ignoraunt beastes and men of no iudgement in the Lawe because they haue tolde him the trueth and foorthwith he séeketh other Aduocates and Procters which shall better satisfie his honour At the last be lyghteth vppon such a one as hath no conscience nor feare of God neither serueth any other God but golde and syluer He séeeth that the man is wilfullie bent to be reuenged of his neighbour whatsoeuer it cost him and to dâ— him a displeasure he followeth his affection and telleth him that his case is good although it be the shamefullest matter that can be deuised Then is he glad that he hath founde such a one as he woulde haue and he accoumpteth him the learnedst and the wisest man in the world But what commeth héereof in the ende when the matter is come to be tried the sentence of iudgement is giuen not by the aduocate nor by the Procter nor according to the affection and appetite of the plaintiffe but it is giuen by the Iudge him selfe according to equitie and lawe And when the man is ouerthrowne maister Procter goeth his waye and leaueth him in the myer he hath his desire he hath pluckt the goose he hath his money paide and then he hath no more care neither of the Client nor of the cause and so the man hath lost his will and also his paines and charges Euen so it fareth with this corrupte flesh of ours in matters of Faith and Religion If we heare any reasons which flatter vs in our sinnes we are straight way ready to embrace them and we accoumpt them forcible learned profound argumentes But if we heare any reason which tendeth to the beating downe of this flesh of ours then we let it passe by our eares as the winde we iudge it to be but a foolish argument and to no purpose and we make no accoumptes thereof not considering that the Lord the righteous iudge at the last day when the secretes of of all hearts shall be opened shall not pronounce the sentence of iudgement according to the reasons which we haue framed as procters to cloak and couer our sinnes nor according to the corrupt affections of our flesh but according to the equitie and iustice of his most holy blessed woord as Christe sheweth vs that the woord which he speaketh vnto vs Iohn 12.48 shall iudge vs in the last daye For if we would call to minde the iustice equity of the righteous iudge it could not be that we should so foolishlie set our affections vpon the flattering reasons of such wicked procters Let vs take héede then that we doo not cloake or couer our sinnes with the examples of Naaman the Sirian of Paule or of Nicodemus béeing wrasted against the trueth but let vs sée what is euidentlie and plainly commaunded vs by the woord of God and there we shall finde that a liuelie faith and open confession are vnseperable in a true Christian As the Soule and lyfe as fyre and heate as the Sunne and bryghtnesse can not be seperated so can wée not seperate a true Fayth from the confessing of the Lorde Iesus For if wée beléeue in the heart then Christe dooth dwell in our heartes by Faith Ephe. 3.17 and if Christe be there it is not without his holie spirite and therefore Paule sayeth That if any man haue not the spirite of Christe Rom. 8.9 he is not of Christe Nowe where the zeale of the spirite is there must néedes be confession For howe is it possible that God should be in the heart and the Deuill in the tongue the hands and the other parts of the body which take their life from the heart and are gouerned thereby Saint Iames speaking of the nature of the toÌ„gue sayeth Iam. 3.9.10 That out of the same fountaine there can not come sweete water and bitter nor out of the same mouth blessing and cursing By the tongue we blesse God the Father and by the same we curse men which are made after the Image of God Howe can this be so Euen so may I say also by the tongue we confesse that we are redeemed by the blood of Christe and with the same we blaspheme his most holie and blessed name How can this be so It cannot be that faith in the heart should be constaunt vnlesse the tongue also do constauntlie continew in confessing praysing and glorifying the Lord Iesus For faith is not a dreame or an idle fancie or a lyght imagination conceyued in the braine but where soeuer it is it sheweth it selfe accordinglie as appeareth notably in the exsample of Ieremie who was wearie of forbearing and could not forbeare as he sayeth I am had in derision euerie daye and euerie one mocketh me Iere. 20.7.9 for since I spake and cryed out of wrong and proclaymed desolation the woorde of God was made a reproche vnto me and I was had in derision daylie then sayde I I will make no more mencion of him nor speake any more in his name but his woord was â—n mine heart as a burning fyre shut vp in my bones I was wearie of forbearing and â—ould not forbeare If then the woorde of God be as a burning fire shutte vp in our bones howe is â—t possible but that it should sende foorth â—he lyght and heate of open confession 〈◊〉 speake not this good brethren to fauour â—nd allowe a number of rash and enraged â—pirites which without wisedome and disâ—retion will counterfeyt them selues to be â—ealous professours of the Gospell which will crie out against they can not tell what without kéeping any measure withâ—ut searching the occasions without conâ—dering the circumstaunces which doo â—nelie serue to trouble and offende the weake and to hazarde and put in daunâ—er those which truelie serue God And â—o cullour their phrensie and furour they alledge the zeale of Ieremie which was wearie of forbearing and coulde not forbeare But these are more like the glorious Elihu the Buzite then the zealous Ieremy the Anatothite for Elihu the Buzite one of the comforters or rather discomforters of Iob crieth out Beholde I am full of matter Iob. 32 18. and the spirite that is within me compelleth me beholde my bellie is as the wine that hath no vent and like the bottelles that burst therfore will I speake that I may take breath c. Euen so many nowe are lyke the newe wine which must breake the vessell vnlesse it haue issue But we must learne that as the spirite of God can not be idle in the heart of man so dooth it not compell any man to passe the lymittes and bondes of Christian modestie It dooth not allowe the zeale which is without knowledge and spirituall wisedome Rom. 10.2 And therefore the Apostle sayth That the spirites of the Prophets are subiect vnto the prophetes 1. Cor. 14.32 As he him selfe shewed by experience for although he was most excellent in the giftes of
all excusable And secoÌ„dly by the lawe of nature which God hath ingrafted in their hearts their owne consciences eyther accusing or excusing them The Iewes he condempneth by the written lawe of God which they read and heard continuallie yet not withstanding were daylie transgressours of the same so that they which were without the lawe did perish without the lawe and they which were vnder the lawe were iudged by the lawe and therefore that bothe Iewes and Gentiles were all sinners and depriued of the glorie of God were iustified fréely by grace through the redemptioÌ„ that is in Christ Iesus which he prooueth bothe by the ensample of Abraham who about fouretéene yéeres before he was circumcized was counted iust only by faith and by the sentence of Dauid who pronouÌ„ceth That man only blessed whose iniquities are for giuen whose offences are couered and to whome the Lorde dooth not impute his sin Afterward he maketh a comparisoÌ„ of Christ with Adam of Death with Life of the Lawe with Grace In the sixt Chap. he descendeth from Iustification to Sanctification shewing them by an argument taken of Baptisme That they which were baptized in Christe were baptized into his death And therefore as Christe was raysed vp from the dead by the glorie of God the Father so they also should walke in newnesse of life not giuing their members seruaunts to vncleannes and iniquitie but making them seruants to righteousnes and holines of life Which that they might the better doo he sheweth them in the next Chapter of the right vse of the Lawe and of the bent ready will which euerie Christian ought to haue to the vttermost of his power to performe the law of God and with the vertue of his spirit to striue against the flesh And then he setteth downe the conclusion of the first part of his Epistle next after his salutation to wit That there is no condempnation to them which are in Christ Iesu which walk not after the flesh but after the spirit because the spirite of adoption which they haue receyued in their harts wherby they cried Abba Father dooth so seale in them the hope of euerlasting life that nothing â—s able to seperate theÌ„ froÌ„ the loue of God which is in Iesus Christe their Lord. Now in the thrée Chapters following the .9.10 â— 11 He disputeth Of the iust reiecting of the Iewes and of the free calling of the Gentiles Wherein after that he hath in the last Chapter layde downe the foundation thereof in the frée election purpose of God Who will haue mercy on whome he will haue mercie and whome he will he hardeneth and dooth of the same luÌ„pe of clay make some vesselles of honour some of dishonor some vesselles of mercy to shewe foorth his goodnesse and some vesselles of destruction to be glorified in his power Now in this tenth Chapter least God should séeme vniust in reiecting those whome he had ordained to be vessels of wrath He sheweth an other seconde cause of the casting away of the Iewes because they were ignoraunt of the righteousnes of God and went about to establish their owne righteousnes and would not submit them selues to the righteousnes of God And because the Apostle S. Paul did long for nothing so much Rom. 10.3.4.5 as that Israel might be saued so that for their sakes he desired to be seperated from Christe for his brethren which were his kinsmen according vnto the flesh He therefore beginneth héere to instruct them in the faith of Christe teaching them That Christe was the end of the lawe for righteousnes vnto al beleeuers And shewing them that the promise of God in Deuteronomy Deut. 30.14 The woord is verie neere vnto thee euen in thy mouth and in thy heart for to do it Was it therfore spoke because they were not able of them selues to performe the â—awe of God and to obtaine righteousnes thereby but that in that place God dooth signifie the woord of faith which we doo preache which is néere vnto thée in thy mouth and in thy heart for If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and beleeue in thine hart that God raised him againe from the dead thou shalt be saued In which péece of Scripture we haue two thinges to consider first That we are iustified only by faith in the death and resurrection of Christ Iesus SecoÌ„dly That we must shewe foorth the fruite of our faith to confesse him with our mouthes But because the confession of our mouthes is first set downe in this place as well in the sentence of Paul and also in the woords in Deuteronomy The woord 〈◊〉 neere vnto thee euen in thy mouth and â—n thy heart I haue thought it best at this â—me to followe the same order which the â—oly Ghost dooth vse in this place and to speake first Of the fruite of confession And secondly Of the tree of faith rooted and grounded vpon the death and resurrection of Christe Rom. 10.9 If thou shalt with thy mouth coÌ„fesse the Lord Iesus c. The Apostle beginneth héere first with the Mouth because the Tongue is one of the principallest partes of mans body as S. Iames sayth If a man sinne not in woord he is a perfect man able to bridle the whole body For if the tongue be well vsed he compareth it to a little bit which ruleth the Horse be he neuer so fierce vntamed and to a rudder which though it be small yet it gouerneth the huge Ships béeing tossed assaulted with many blustering stormes and tempests But if it be ill vsed he sayth It is a world of wickednes it defileth the whole body it setteth a fire the course of nature and is it selfe set on fire of hell And therfore Anacharsis the Philosopher béeing asked What was the best wholsomest part of any thing and what the wurst and most vnholsome When it was thought that he would haue made aunswer of two seuerall partes to a double question he aunswered in one single woorde saying The Tongue Because béeing well vsed it is of all partes of mans body the best and on the other side béeing yll vsed the wurst and therefore if we imagine the case â—o be thus that we should carie about with vs two boxes whereof the one conteyneth most deadlie Poyson and the other a soueraigne Remedy against all diseases what great héede would we take vnto them least if the one of them should run out we should be most daungerouslie infected or if any of the other should be spilt we should loose so precious a Iewel In the Tongue there is bothe there is venemous Poyson and there is also a soueraigne Medicine for all infirmities and maladies and therefore what great care â—ought we to haue least eyther by abusing it we be infected or otherwise by out negligence loose the right vse thereof To rehearse all the poysons of the Tongue as Rayling vaine babling filthy talke lying slaundering cursing
to bring his people home to repentance amēdmēt of life the one is by the loouing countenaunce of his mercy the other is by therod of correction procéeding from his iustice if the one will not serue hee must must needes put in vre the other The Lord giue vs grace to returne truly vnto him that we may be brought to amendment of life rather by the mildnes of his mercy then by the rigour of his iustice And the Lord long preserue our gracious Princesse Elizabeth that she may haue a long happy and prosperous raigne ouer vs that we may a long time in peace and tranquillity inioy the glorious gospell of Christ and vnder her lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie and the Lord confound all the bloody interprises of trayterous Rebels and as he hath alwayes hetherto discouered and preuented their deuises so the Lord of his mercy discouer them and preuent them heareafter But déerely belooued whatsoeuer troubles doo happen vnto vs let vs alwayes remember that saying of our Lord and Sauiour Mat. 10.28 Feare not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soule But rather feare ye him which is able to destroy both body and soule and to cast them both into hell fyre feare him Luk. 14.26 Mat. 10.37 He that looueth father or mother or wife or children or brethren or sisters or lande or liuing or his owne life more then me is not worthy of me If any man vvill be my disciple let him take vp the crosse and follovv me But here I thinke I heare some of you say a mong your selues it is an easye matter to talke of constancie in bearing the Crosse and suffering affliction for the name of Christ but it is not so easye to performe it indéede There are many of you of the ministry which exhort to constancie in the profession of the Gospell which if any trouble should come are likely to turne your coates as soone as any other What we should doo in the like case 2. Cor 3.5 Phil. 2.13 God onely knoweth who is the giuer of all strength and without whom wee are not able to thinke a good thought but it is God which woorketh in vs both to will and to performe It may be that some which make the greatest brags say with Peter though all men in the vvorld should be offended by thee Math. 26.33.35 yet vvill not I be offēded though I should dye vvith thee yet vvill not I deny thee Ioh. 13 37 Lorde vvhy can not I follovv thee novv I vvill lay dovvne my life for thy sake It may be I say that they shall bee the first which shall deny and forsweare but good people the question is not what I or be or any other particular man shall doo but the question is what ought to be doon of euery Christian and therefore we must euery one of vs pray vnto God continually that he wil vouchsafe to account vs woorthye to suffer any thing for the name of Iesus Christe and that he wyll giue vs patience to endure whatsoeuer his mercifull hand shall lay vpon vs. Some may paraduenture thinke that this doctrine of patience to suffer for the name of Christe is not needefull to be preached at this time when all thinges are in quiet But is not he a foolish Souldiar which will neuer thinke vpon his weapons and armour vntyll the howre come that he must hasten into the feelde And howe vnwise then is that Christian whych will neuer thinke vppon hys armour of patience vntill the time come that the Crosse shall sodainly be layd vpon him Let vs thinke vpon our weapon in time déere brethren let vs pray for it day and night that so wee may finde comfort in the day of tryall 1. Pet. 1.7 that the tryall of our fayth béeing much more precious then gold may be found to our prayse and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ Let vs set before our eyes the example of our Lord and Sauiour 1. Pet. 2.21 who as Peter sayth did suffer for vs leauing vs an example that we should follow his steppes Let vs looke vnto Iesus the author and furnisher of our fayth Heb. 12.2 who for the ioy that was set before him endured the Crosse and despised the shame and is set at the righte hand of the throne of God The scholler is not aboue his Maister Mat. 10.24 Ioh. 13.16 nor the seruaunte aboue his Lord nor the embassador greater then him that sent him wherefore if they haue called the Maister of the house Belzebub how much more will they reuile them of the housholde If they haue called the Maister Christ himselfe a glutton and a drunkarde and a companion of Publicanes and sinners Mat 9 34 11.19 and a caster out of Deuils through the Prince of the Deuils how much more will they giue reprochefull woordes vnto the schollers If they haue cruelly intreated the Lord himselfe with haling him about frō place to place with blasphemous lyes and false accusations with whips and scourges prickes and thornes buffets and blowes mocks and mowes cordes and ropes scoffing and spitting rayling and reuiling nailes and gibbet thirst and vineger réede and speare and lifting him vppe betwixt two theeues leauing no droppe of blood in all his blessed body howe can the seruaunte looke for any better let vs also call to minde the ioy which is layd vp in heauen for those which suffer any thing for the professing of the Lord Iesus as hee sayth Blessed are ye when men reuile you Mat 5.11 and persecute you and falsly speake all manner of euill against you for my sake Reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen for so they persecuted the Prophets before you Mat. 23.35 euen from the blood of Abel the righteous vnto the blood of Zacharias the sonne of Barachias whom they slew be-tweene the temple and the Aultar 2. Cor. 11.25 Rom. 8 18 S. Paule was most cruelly persecuted stoned beaten with rods imprisoned yet he counteth all his afflictions not worthy of the glory which should be reuealed vnto him Blessed is the man vvhich endureth temptation Iam. 1.12 for vvhen he is tryed he shall receiue the crovvn of life which the Lorde hath promised to them that loue him Last of all let vs call to remembraunce the heauye iudgementes of God which from time to time haue béen shewed vpon them which haue not continued constant in the confessing of the Lord Iesus Iulian the Emperour who for his moste wilfull renouncing of his Lord and Sauiour Hilar. is called the Apostata was counted at the firste a gracious and religious Prince But afterward being drawen away with the vain intisements of Philosophy he began to account the Gospell of Christ to be but foolishnes be persecuted the professors of his name with many scoffes and tauntes saying that they must doo
they professe they knowe God Titus 1.16 but in their workes they deny him 2. Pet. 2.1.3 and therefore Saint Peter dooth call them Hereticks which deny the Lord that bought them which Heretikes Paul dooth bid vs reiect and auoyde after once or twise admonition Titus 3.10 The Papists doo teach this doctrine very earnestly that Hereticks ought to be auoyded and for this cause with their reasons of refusall and their Popish shauelings créeping frō place to place they perswade mē to absent them selues from the church teaching them that it is a damnable thing to commmunicate with Hereticks Then in this point we agrée bothe in one that Hereticks if they can by no meanes be reclaimed must be reiected But héere onely lyeth the question who are they which by Gods word are cōdemned for Heretikes Tertull. Quodcunque aduersus veritatem sapit est Haeresis etiam vetus consuetudo Whatsoeuer dooth sauour against the trueth if it be obstinately defended it is an Hearesie although it be neuer so auncient a custome But the Apostle Saint Peter ◠Peter 1.3 dooth more perfectlye discribe an Hereticke by two markes and propertyes There shall be saith he false teachers among you which shall hring in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 damnable Heresies first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denying the Lord that hath bought them and secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they shall for lucres sake make Marchandise of you with fayned wordes Nowe who séeth not that these two points are plainely and fully accomplished in our aduersaries for firste they deny that the Lord hath bought them they call the Lord Iesus their Sauiour they confesse that he dyed vpon the Crosse but they denye that he bought them with his death for if he bought them with his owne moste precious bloud what néede they to bee bought againe with Popes Pardons Indulgences Mans Merits Masses Dirges Trentals or any such paultrie deuises and lewde inuentions of man And who knoweth not that all these thinges are nothing but subtill practises too picke mennes purses and too make Marchaundise of Soules for coueytous Lucre. Then thease are the Hereticques whiche we must auoyde which denye the Lorde that bought them which to inritch themselues defende such monstrous opinions as do all derogate frō the death and passion of Christ Titus 1.16 which professe that they knowe God but in their works they deny him Our Sauiour Christ is annoynted of God to be our Kinge our Priest Luke 1.33 and our Prophet Our King as the Angell saide to Marie he shall raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shall be no ende Psal 110.4 Hebr. 4.14 7.26 Our Priest as the Prophet saith the Lord hath sworne and will not repent thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchizedec And our Prophet Luke 4.18 Math. 17.5 Iohn 1.18 Hebr. 1.2 because the spirite of the Lorde hath annoynted him to preach the Gospell vnto the poore and he is the belooued sonne of God whom only we must heare who beeing in the bosome of the Father hath declared him vnto vs. Then whosoeuer doo teach vs that any man can rule the hearts of men Psalm 2.9 Math. 9.6 Colos 1.13 Psal 110.1 Rom. 16.20 Rom. 6.6 Mich. 7.19 1. Cor. 15.55 1. Peter 1.3 or forgiue sinnes or destroy the power of darkenesse or make his enemies his footestoole or treade downe Sathan vnder his féete or kill the olde man with all his concupiscence with the power of his spirite or raise vp the new man in holinesse and righteousnesse or vanquish sinne Hell Death and damnation or establish in vs a hope of the inheritaunce of euerlasting life but only our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe that man denyeth the kingdome of Christe And whosoeuer dooth offer Sacrifice for the quicke and the dead but onely the Lord Iesus who béeing the last Priest the Priest for euer did offer himself once vpon the Crosse for the sinnes of all mankinde as the Apostle saith Heb. 9 2◠He appeared once to put away sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe and Heb. 10.10.14 Sanctificati sumus per oblationem Iesu Christi semel factam we are sanctified by the offering of the body of Iesus Christ once made for with one offering hath he consecrated for euer them that are sanctified he denyeth the eternall Priesthood of Christe and whosoeuer affirmeth that anye mortall man can dispence with the worde of God or that the Bible ought to be locked vp and that our faithe ought to be grounded vpon the Popes decrées decretales or vpon any Dunses or Doctors or Fathers or Counsels whatsoeuer he denyeth our Sauiour Christ Math. 17.5 to be our Prophet the welbelooued sonne of God whom onely we must heare and therefore the Papists howsoeuer they haue the name of Iesus often in their mouthes 2. Pet. 2.2 yet indéede they deny the Lord that bought them and therfore Titus 3.10 are suche Heretiques as are to be auoyded But we must confesse our Sauiour Christ to be onely our kynge to gouerne the heartes of his electe people with the vertue of his holy Spirit and as for the wicked Rom. 8.14 to crush them with a Scepter of Iron Psalm 2.5 to break them in peeces like a Potters Vessell onely the Priest which offered hymselfe without spot to God Hebr. 9.14 to purge our consciences from dead workes to serue the lyuyng Lorde and onely the Prophet by whom in these last dayes Hebr. 2.2 Deut. 18.18 the Lord doth speake vnto vs and whome God promised to Moyses that he would raise him vp amonge his Brethren whome who so euer should heare Gen. 3.15 12.3 should not be destroyed We must confesse that he onely is the seede of the woman which hath brused the Serpents head Isa 7.14 the seede of Abraham in whom all the Nations of the world should be blessed The Childe whiche a Virgyn should conceiue and beare call his name Emanuell whome many kynges and Prophetes haue desired to sée we must confesse him to be our Iesus by whom we are saued and that vnder Heauen there is no other name giuen nothyng in Earth nothyng vnder the Earth nothyng in Heauen nor in the Heauen of Heauens Actes 4.10 no vertue no power no strength no name els that is named in which or by which we can be saued but onely by the name of Iesus of Nazareth Math. 3.17 Iohn 1.1 2. Cor. 4.4 1. Cor. 1.24 Actes 3.15 Hebru 2.10 12.2 1. Cor. 2.8 Iohn 10.11 14 We must confesse him onely to be the welbelooued sonne in whom the Father is well pleased the woord of God the Image of God the power and wisdome of God the Prince of life the Prince of saluation the Prince of faithe the Lorde of glorie the Heir of all things in Heauen and earth We must confesse him to be the onely good Shéepeheard by
whom we must be gathered Iohn 10.7 and brought home vpon his shoulders the onely doore by whom we must enter Math. 9.12 Math. 17.5 Iohn 1.4 5.26 1. Cor. 3 11. Ephe. 2.10 the onely Phisicion to cure our maladyes the onely Maister whom we must heare the way the trueth the lyfe the light the foundation and chéefe corner Stone on whome onely wee must builde our onely hope and consolation our wisdome iustification Math. 12.21 1. Cor. 1.30 Math. 11.27 Ephe. 2.18 1. Tim. 2.5 Iohn 4.10 7.38 sanctification and redemption the only Mediator and Aduocate betwixt God and maÌ„ whose bloude onely dooth purge vs from all our sinnes We must confesse hym to bee the onely giuer of the warer of lyfe whereof whosoeuer tasteth shall neuer thirste Iohn 6.51 but it shall bee in his belly as a Fountaine springing vp to eternall lyfe the onelye bread of lyfe whych came downe from Heauen of whom whosoeuer eateth shall liue for euer Rom. 13.14 Gal. 5.16 the onely riches whereby our pouertie must be releeued the onely rayment wherewith our nakednesse must be couered The victorious Lion of the Tribe of Iuda Gen. 49.10 1. Cor. 15.55 by whom all our enemyes are subdued the Diuil unchained Hell gates destroyed death swallowed vp in victorie Ephe. 2.16 Colos 2.14 the wrath of God slaine the law crucifyed sinne vanquished and abolished and we our selues made partakers of the euerlasting Crowne of glorie Ephe. 2.22 4.15 2. Cor. 11.2 We must confesse him to be the onely head of the body the onely husband of his deare Spouse the Church The Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending which was and is to come euen the almighty for euer the holy and true Apoc. 1.8 3 7. which hath the Key of Dauid which openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth who by his incarnation natiuity circumcision exile Baptisme fasting temptation doctrine miracles agonyes bloudy sweate paynefull passion Math. 16.27 Luk. 24.52 Hebr. 8.1 10 12. 1. â—hes 4.16 death resurrection and ascention ouercame all our enemyes and now sitteth at the right hand of God the father almighty making intercession for vs and shall come at the laste day to iudgement in the twinkeling of an eye with the blaste of a trumpet and sound of an Archangell to iudge bothe the quicke and the dead If we thus confesse the Lord Iesus héere in earth Math. 10 3â— then haue we a comfortable promise that he will likewise confesse vs before his â—ther which is in Heauen Hebr. 2.11 he will not be ashamed to call vs brethren he will giue vs this honourable title to be called Heires of God fellow Heires with Iesus Christ Rom. 8.17 And thus much of the first part how euery Christian muste with his mouthe confesse the Lorde Iesus Of the second part which is that we must beleeue in heart that God raysed him vp againe from the dead because it conteyneth the Article of iustification a matter large and waighty not lightly to be posted ouer but requiring a longer discourse as béeing the cheefest principle of Christian Religion I am therefore purposed God willing to intreate therevpon to morrow at the firste morning prayer In the meane time let vs meditate vpon this which we haue learned alreadye that not onely our soules but our whole bodyes are made to glorifie God the Creator 1. Cor. 6.19 Christe Iesus the Redéemer and the holy ghost the sanctifier and as all the body so especially the tongue Phil. 2.11 that euery tongue should confesse that Iesus is the Lord to the glory of God the Father we haue heard also where we must confesse the Lorde Iesus as in all places Psalm 22.22 so especially in the middest of the congregation and amongst our brethren because we are not borne to our selues 1. Pet. 4.11 1. Thes 5.11 but first to the honour and praise of the name of God and then to the edification instruction and comforte of our brethren Ephe. 6.4 and last of all to the godly bringing vp and reléeuing of our selues and our familyes in the feare and nurture of the Lorde We haue hearde all those reasons aunswered which are drawne from the example of Naaman Paul and Nicodemus to cloake and couer that dissembling in religion which is flatly and plainely condemned by the worde of God because that if Christ doo dwel in our harts by faithe Ephe. 3.17 it is vnpossible that the Diuell should be in the tongue and the other meÌ„bers of the body which haue their life of the heart and are gouerned by the heart and also because God béeing a iealious God Exod. 20.5 will suffer no part of his Spouse to be giueÌ„ to any but to himselfe alone we haue heard also the sundry sorts of the policies of worldly wise men which are all contrarie to the true and constant confessing of the Lorde Iesus therewithall the manner how they must repent and ameÌ„d which is by casting away all respect of feare or fauour of meÌ„ or of the losse of lande liuing yea and of the life it selfe constantly with the mouthe to confesse the Lord Iesus and so much the rather because if anye trouble or persecution should come Rom. 8.28 yet all things will worke for the best to those that loue God We haue heard the plagues and heauie iudgements of God shewed all vpon those which for any worldly respect haue renouÌ„ced the Lord Iesus as also vpon theÌ„ which haue sought by violence to enforce others therunto Titus 1.16 And last of all we haue heard the manner howe we must confesse him not onely in worde but also indéede that he is our Iesus that is our Sauiour and therefore will saue vs is also able to saue vs being the heire of all things in Heauen in earth and therefore that without all wauering Actes 4.12 we hope assuredly to be saued by him looke for no saluatioÌ„ in any other if we thus confesse him in this world he will also confesse vs before his father Luke 12.8 Hebr. 2.11 Rom. 8.17 before his holy Angels in HeaueÌ„ he wil acknowledge vs to be his brethreÌ„ fellow heires wheÌ„ he shal pronouÌ„ce the ioyfull seÌ„teÌ„ce Come ye blessed of my father inherit you the kingdoÌ„ prepared for you froÌ„ the foundations of the world Then shall we be with the Lambe and go whether he goeth then shall we make an other ioyefull confession with heauenly Harmonie and moste pleasaunt melodie when we shall accompany the Archangels Thrones Powers Dominions Cherubins Seraphins Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs Virgins Confessours Angels Elders and innumerable thousands of Saints and with a new Songe for euer glorifying our Lord Iesus saying Apoc. 4.8 5.11 Thou Christ which was slaine art worthy to receiue power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glorie and blessing Holy
T it 2.14 but that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purge vs a peculiar people vnto him zelous of good workes And thus our especiall care ought to be to frame Christ in the hearts of men 2. Cor. 3.6 And therefore Saint Paule saithe that God Idoneos nos fecit Ministros noui Testamenti he hath made vs able Ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the spirite for the letter killeth but the spirite giueth life Luke 16.16 Lex et prophetae vsque ad Iohannem ab eo tempore regnum dei annunciatur The Law and the Prophets continued vnto Iohn and from that time the kingdom of God is Preached whereby we are giuen to vnderstand that we are especially the Ministers of the new Testament to Preache the kingdome of God that is the Gospell of Iesus Christ not that we ought not to Preache the Lawe also for the teaching of the law is very necessary Firste Rom. 3.20 5.20 7.7 Gal. 3.21 4.1 Psa 1.2 19.7 119.105 Math. 5.17 to make vs acknowledge our owne wretchednes and miserie Secondly to be as it were our Schoolemaister to leade vs vnto Christ And last of all to reueale vnto vs the will of our heauenly father whereunto euery Christian must indeuour to the vttermost of his power to frame his life and conuersation But for that our chéefest labour ought to be to sprinckle the soules of men with the bloud of Iesus Christ 1. Peter 1.2 Heb. 9.14 and by his death and passion to purge their consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing Lorde What though some doo abuse the liberty of the Gospell and of the doore of saluation doo make vnto themselues a window vnto all wickednesse what though some by abusing Christes benefites doo shew themselues vnworthy of the same what though many come to the Supper without their wedding garment yet we must follow the ensample of our heauenly Father who Math. 5.48 maketh the Sunne to shine vpon the good and bad and the Raine to fall vpon the iust and vniust we must follow the seruants Luke 14.17 which were sent to bid men to the Mariage we must bid all bothe worthie and vnworthy and if any doo come which are vnworthy hauing not their wedding garments God will not condemne vs but them he will not saye to vs why did yee bid him why did ye let him enter Math. 22 1â— but he will saye vnto the vnworthy guest freend how cammest thou heather hauing not thy Wedding garment take him binde him hand and foote and cast him into vtter darkenesse where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Wee must followe the good Sheepeheard Luke 15.4 which if he haue but one Sheepe lost will leaue ninetie and nine in the Wildernes and go and seeke that one which is lost And therefore if in the whole congregation there be but one which with Dauid Ps 6.3 38.4 dooth grone vnder the burthen of sinne and therefore néedeth comfort and all the rest be abusers of Christian libertie there is no reason that for the great multitude of the abusers he should be depriued of comfort for whom Christ dyed And thus ye sée first the wisdom which is required in them that will be profitable labourers in the Lords Haruest that they know how to labour how to chuse the Séeds how to Sowe it with discretion how to bruse the cloddes and knottie affections of mens hearts by the threatenings of the lawe but especially how to molliâ—ie them and water them with the swéete dew of Gods mercies and with the comfortable promises of the Lorde Iesus Christe Then yee which are nowe to take the Office of the Ministerie vpon you are héere to trie and examine your selues whether ye be able thus to labour in the Lordes Haruest or no and if ye be not assure your selues the Lorde dooth not send you ye respect the liuing to féede your selues and not your knowledge to féede the flock and therefore Iohn 10. â— are ye Hierlings ye are theeues and murderers ye come in at the windowe and not at the doore Christ Iesus And as for you which now either for want of knowledge or otherwise for want of age are not admitted at this time into the Ministerie be not therefore discouraged but rather accompt it to be a token of the mercifull prouidence of God that he would haue you to tarie the time vntyl he himselfe shall call you and make you fit for that function and with this persuasioÌ„ apply the scriptures and no doubt the Lord will blesse bothe you your studies the better Paul will haue the Minister to bee no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no young Plant 1. Tim. 3.6 not greene timbered but to be seasoned for a time with the knowledge of Gods worde and with grauitie and integrity of life For if the chéefe beames and Rafters of the house be made of gréeue Timber there is great daunger least the Timber shrinke and so the fall of the house be great The Minister must be one of the Beames to vpholde the house of God and therefore séeing ye are yet but gréene wood as I am sure your owne conscience dooth witnesse vnto you let it not gréeue you to be seasoned for a time that ye may be made fit for the building of the Lorde And héere by the way I am to make my humble petition to you my Lorde that as your Lordship hath had a godly care and taken a good course that none should be admitted at this time but such as for their learning and knowledge are of great hope and towardnesse So also an order may now be taken that they may be driuen to some godly exercises wherby not onely the good gifts of God may be continued and increased in them but also Isa 56.10 the blinde guides and dombe Dogges which are already crept in may be in time reformed You must deale with all these Ministers as the Eagle dooth with her young Birdes as many as can looke stedfastly vpon the Sunne so many dooth she nourish the rest she turneth out of the Nest as vnfit to be kept You must set before them all Math. 4 2. 1. Cor. 14.29 1. Tim. 4.13 the beames of the sunne of righteousnes Iesus Christ appoint them godly exercises to the increase of their knowledge and as many as cannot abyde thus to looke vpon the sunne of righteousnesse so many should be turned out of the nest as vnfit to serue in your Lordships Dioces And thus if their Talent be exercised then no doubt their Talent shal be increased Math. 25.20 and God will double his holy spirite in them so that in short time they shall be able bothe to exhort with wholesome doctrine Tit. 1.9 Act. 1.4 6.3 Luk. 24.49 and also to improoue the gainesayers and except they haue these giftes and graces of the holy spirit and
of good workes with vncorrupt doctrine with grauitie and integrity and with the wholesome word which cannot be reproued that he which withstood him might be ashamed hauing nothing against him to speake euill of and for this cause there was placed in the breast Plate vpon Aarons heart Vrim and Thummim that is Exod. 28.3 light and perfection to signifie that he should not only haue light in knowledge but also integrity in conuersation for this cause also God giueth the Lawe in Leuiticus that Leuit. 21.7.14 18. the Priest shall in no case take to wife an Whore neither mary any woman that is polluted but that he shall take a Maide to wife and so be holy vnto his God and in the same Chapter he will haue his Priests to haue no blemish in their body neither any mishapen mēbers whereby is foreshadowed and signified the perfectnes which ought to be in their liues and conuersations for otherwise if they preache the worde of God and haue no care to reforme their liues thereafter then are they not gatherers Luk. 11.23 Psal 50.16 but scatterers and God will say vnto them as he saithe by the Prophet Dauid What hast thou to do to declare mine ordinaunces that thou shouldest take my couenant in thy mouthe seeing thou hatest to be reformed and hast cast my words behinde thee When thou seest a Theefe thou runnest with him and hast been partaker with the adulterers thou giuest thy mouthe to speake euill and with thy tongue thou forgest deceipt thou sittest and speakest against thy brother and slaunderest thine owne Mothers sonne and therefore what hast thou to doo to preache my lawes or to take my couenaunt in thy mouthe A Wall hath on either side great squared stones and in the midst small pibbles grauell if one of the great stones which vpholde the building doo slip away then all in the midst will soone clatter after The square stones of the Wall of Gods building are on the one side the Magistrates and on the other side the Ministers if one of these doo fall away then are they guiltie not onely of their owne condemnation but also of the bloud of as many as perish by their fall and euil ensample and therefore we ought all to pray vnto God continually that he will giue vs grace so to reforme our lyues that we may euery one of vs say vnto our flockes as Saint Paul said vnto the Phillipians Brethren Phil. 3.17 be ye followers of men and looke on them which walke so euen as ye haue vs for an ensample for many walke of whom I haue tolde you often and now I tell you weeping that they are enemies of the crosse of Christ assuring our selues that although we talke neuer so much yet vnlesse with our talking we ioyne walking and so by our liues and conuersations giue ensample to our flocks we are nothing but enemies of the crosse of Christ we cause the Gospell of Christ to be euill spoken of we drawe from Christ bothe our selues and others and throwe bothe them and vs into the pitte of perdition and then are we like vnto that Idiot which standing on the Sea shore and seeing straungers passing by dooth crie aloude vnto them away away the tide is at hande The Trauaylers looking backe and seeing the Foole to stand still they begin to say amongst themselues Surely the man dooth but iest if this were the time of the tide he would surely pack away himselfe we neede not to make any such haste but by and by the Tide commeth indeede and ouerwhelmeth bothe the negligent foole and the carelesse Horesemen Euen so if we say vnto the people The Tide commeth doo this or thou canst neuer be saued doo this or els thou art damned for euer and in the meane time stirre no foote our selues the common people séeing our carelesse negligence they straight way murmure amongst themselues If these heauie iudgements of God were true they would amend them selues and thereupon they beginne to be carelesse also and so in the end bothe are ouerwhelmed Apoc. 21.8 Isa 30.33 not with the waues of the Sea but with the Lake burning with fier and Brimstone which is the seconde death and with Tophet the burning whereof is fier and much woode and the breath of the Lord like a Riuer of Brimstone dooth kindle it Then dearely belooued If we teach well and liue wel Chris in Math. 23. we are become Iudges of all men but if we teache well and liue ill we are become condemners Rom. 2.1 bothe of our selues and others for by teaching well and liuing well we teach other men how they shall liue but by teaching well and liuing ill we teach God how he shall condemne vs and therefore let euery one of vs endeuour to follow not the ensample of the Pharisies which binde heauy burthens Math. 23.4 and laye them vpon other mens shoulders but they them selues will not so much as put too one of their least fingers but the ensample of the holy Apostle Saint Paule 1. Cor. 9.27 to beate downe our bodies to bring them into subiectiō least by any meanes after we haue preached vnto to others we our selues become reprobates 1. Pet. 5.3.4 that we may be ensamples to the flocke as Peter saith that when the chiefe Sheepeheard shall appeare we may receiue the incorruptible crowne of glory which Christ Iesus hath prepared for them which loue him I speake not this good brethren to accuse any man nor yet to excuse my selfe the Lorde is my witnesse For I acknowledge my selfe aboue all others to be a most miserable and wretched sinner the Lord be merciful vnto me and to vs all and giue vs all grace héereafter so to a mend our liues that by our euill ensample none be compelled to start back from the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ But howsoeuer we of the Ministerie are not able fully to expresse our doctrine in our liues and conuersations as we are not Angels but men and therefore béeing flesh and bloud may fall and doo fall and haue sundrie imperfections yet good people this ought to be no cause why ye should challenge vnto your selues any more liberty to wallow in sinne and wickednesse For although the Minister were most wilfully bent to worke all vncleanesse euen with greedines yet if he sit in Moyses Chayre Math. 23.3 Chris in Math. 23. if he be called to be your Pastor ye must follow the exhortation of Christ himselfe to obserue whatsoeuer by Gods worde they commaund you but not to doo after their workes For as Chrisostome saythe vpon that place Si bene vixerent c. If they shall lyue well it is their owne gaine if they shall teach well it is your gaine then take ye yours and doo not curiouslye meddle with that which appertaineth vnto others The Earth is vile the Gould is precious wil any man despise the precious gould because the earth
nor death nor Angelles nor principalities nor powers nor thinges present nor thinges to come nor height nor deapth nor anie other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the looue of GOD which is in Christe Iesus our Lord. Argolandus the Prince of Affrica â—ganne to laye a foundation when he came to Charles the great the king of Fraunce and was purposed to haue forsaken his Heathenish superstition and to haue embraced the true Religion of Christe But when he sawe thirteene poore folkes simplie arrayed to be set at meate before Charlemaigne he asked him what he meant to entertain such simple wretches in his presence The king made aunswer These be they whome I keepe alwaies before me in remembraunce of my maister his freends And beeing demaunded of what maister and of what freends He sayde Of my maister Christe and his twelue Apostles who liued in poore and base estate heere vpon earth If the case be so said Argolandus that your maister vseth his freends no better I care not greatlie for his freendship neither doo I meane to be anie of his freends And so the Heathen Prince refused to become a Christian because he did not consider that the Crosse was alwaies a companioÌ„ of the Gospel of Christ and that the children of God were to be iudged and measuâ—ed not by outward prosperitie but by inward graces therefore with shame â—he gaue ouer his building so that it might iustly haue been said vnto him This man beganne to builde and was not able to make an ende But we must consider that the charges of a Christian building is not to imagine that we shall leade a softe easie quiet ritch delicate and pleasaunt life in honour â—itches daintie fare pride and pleasures of the world But we must sit downe so make our accouÌ„pts That we must be content to forsake all we haue Luk. 14.33 for the name of Christe and patientlie to submit ourselues to all troubles whatsoeuer for the bolde and open confessing of the Lord Iesus our sauiour For so doth our maiâ—er Christ foretell his Disciples when â—e sayth vnto them Beware of men Math. 10 1â— Iohn 16. â— for â—ey will deliuer you vp to the councelles â—nd scourge you in their Sinagogues They â—hall excommunicate you yea the time â—all come that whosoeuer killeth you shall thinke he dooth God good seruice If ye were of the world Iohn 15.19 16.20 the world would looue his owne but because ye are not of the world but I haue chosen you out of the world therfore the world hateth you Ye shall weepe and lament but the world shall reioyce Now therfore that we christian Soldiers may in time be carefull for sufficient furniture against the day of trial and thinke vppon our haruest before the hower doo come that the stroakes shall light vpon vs and learne aforehande what duetie we owe vnto our cheefe captaine Iesus Christe and how we may in all thinges please him for as Paule sayth No man that warreth will entangle himselfe in the affaires of this life 2. Tim 2 4.5 because he woulde please him which hath chosen him to be a Soldier and if anie man striue for a maisterie he is not crowned except he striue as he ought to doo That vve may therefore endeuour in time to knowe howe we ought to striue and as vvise builders sit downe and cast our accoumptes before vve â—ake that vvorke in hande to be professours of the Gospell of Christe I trust that this Treatise vvill be some thing auayleable to prouoke vs therevnto if the Reader thereof will not so much respect and looke for any â—urious and artificiall handeling of the same as ponder and laye vppe in his â—eart the proofes and reasons vvhich â—re simplie and plainlie therein conteyâ—ed I vvas purposed also to haue penâ—ed the seconde parte of this Texte vvhich I handeled in the same place â—e next morning following But because I shall haue occasion to â—treate more at large of that article â—f Iustification in an other vvorke vvhich I am determined by Gods asâ—taunce heereafter to publishe I â—ue thought good nowe to omit it â—d in steede thereof to ioyne an oâ—her Sermon which I made too before in the same place the last time that Ministers were there ordained That as in the first Sermon generallie all meÌ„ maie learne how to striue and how to cast their accoumpts in their Christian profession so in the second especially Ministers may learne the same which are as it were captaines and cheefe builders vnder our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ It may peraduenture seeme vnto you a tedious thing that so large a Treatise should at once be vttered vnto the people but you may easilie consider that the matter which we had then in hand was not to be posted ouer with quick speede and celeritie but that euen as in the Apostles time Ministers were appointed with fasting prayer so it was behoouefull that I should at that time with continuance in preaching and praier keepe the people occupied longer then the wunted maÌ„ner and withdraw them from their accustomed diet And againe if nowe in penning the discourse I haue in some places enlarged it I trust you wil not denie but that the waightinesse of the matter dooth greatlie require it The Lorde giue grace bothe to me which haue vttered this doctrine out of his holy woord and also to you which shall reade the same that beeing watered with the dewe of his holy spirite it may so reforme vs renew vs and builde vs vp into the perfect building of Christe that we may euerie one of vs discharge our dueties in our seueral vocations and let our light so shine before men that they may see our good workes and glorifie our Father in heauen Amen Farewell in Christe Iesu from VVarrington the. 8. of Maie Anno. 1582. Yours in the Lord Simon Harwarde A godlie and learned Sermon against the subtill practises of dissembling Neuters Rom. 10.19 〈◊〉 thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt beleeue in thy hart that God raised him vp from the dead thou shalt be saued THe holie Apostle S. Paul the elect vessell of God the seruaunt of Iesus Christe and the Doctor of the Gentiles writeth this Epistle â—o all that were in Roome beloued of the Lord called to be Saintes which were â—o instructed before by Andronicus Iunia Vrbanus and others that their faith was published throughout all the world In which Epistle as I declared vnto you yesterday after that he hath saluted them in 〈◊〉 Lord he first prooueth vnto them That â—o man can be saued by him selfe and by â—is owne merites but that bothe Iew and Gentile were in themselues condempned The Gentiles were condempned by the â—nowledge which they had by the creatures 〈◊〉 God because by the creation of the world â—ey knewe that there was a God and therâ—re if they did not feare him as God they were left
amiable are thy Tabernacles My soule longeth yea and fainteth for the courts of the Lord for mine heart and my flesh reioyceth in the liuing God The sparowe hath found her a house and the swalowe a nest for her where she may â—ay her young euen hard by thine aultars O Lord of hoastes my King and my God Where the Prophete Dauid is gréeued that the sparowes swalowes had more accesse to the Church of God then he had There are many now a dayes which will say that they beare as good a soule toward God as they which resort so often to the Church and that they can serue God as well at home as in the Church But these must learne of the Prophete Dauid to prayse God not onelie at home but in the assemblies also as he â—ayteh vnto God Psa 68.26 Psa 22.22 I will declare thy â—ame vnto my brethren in the midst of â—he congregation I will sing prayses vnto thee For otherwise if we doo not séeke to â—et foorth the glorie of God as well publiquelie in the assemblies as pruiuatly in our Families our hearts are not aright before God Héere then they are condemned which béeing Land-Lordes and Men of Worshippe doo disdaine to come into the Congregation of God to coÌ„fesse Gods name vnto their brethren and in the middest of the assemblies to sing prayses vnto him but will haue the Seruice of God done priuatlie in their Chambers and in their Closets These are farre vnlike to the holy Prince and Prophet Dauid the annointed of God Psal 42.4 who led the people into the house of God and accoumpted nothing so déere vnto him as openlie in the assemblies to coÌ„fesse the name of God vnto his brethren And therefore he sayth Psal 26.8 Psa 27.4 O Lorde I haue looued the habitation of thine house and the place where thine honour dwelleth One thing haue I desired of the Lord that I will require euen that I may dwel in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to beholde the beautie of the Lord and to visite his holy Temple For although that cannot but be most true Math. 18. â—0 which our sauiour sayth that Whersoeuer two or three be gathered together in his name he will be in the midst of them and whatsoeuer they aske they shal receiue Yet this priuate praier ought not to take away publique prayer but much more establish it For if God will â—are the prayers of .ij. or .iij. being gathered together in his name how much more wil â—e heare a whole coÌ„gregation Rom. 15.6 when with â—e hart one voice they shal glorify God â—e father of our Lord Iesus Christe If the prayers procéede froÌ„ a faithfull heart God â—ill heare Ezechias in his bed Hoster in â—er chaÌ„ber Iob vpon the dunghill Daniel Isa 38.2 Hest 4.16 Iob. 2.8 Dan. 6.16 Ionah 2.1 Exod 15.1 Iosu 10.12 1. Reg. 17.20 19.8.9 Acts. 10.2 30. Luk. 6.12 Math. 27.46 â—n the den of LioÌ„s Ieremy in the prison Ioâ—s in the Whales bellie He will heare the people of Israel in the land of Egipt Moâ—s and Aaron in the wildernes Iosua in â—is warres Elias in the house of the widâ—ow of Sarepta in a Caue of the mouÌ„t Noreb Cornelius at home in his owne â—ouse Simon Peter in the house of Simon â—he Tanner Paule in the Ship and on the 〈◊〉 banke and our sauiour Christe on the mouÌ„taines in the fields in the garden â—n the Crosse So that in euery place the â—ord is nigh vnto all the call vpon him I â—y vnto all that call vpon him in trueth Psal 145.18 notwithstaÌ„ding this dooth God especially â—quire of euery christian that we should all â—ogether publiquely in the assemblies make â—en confession of our Faith in the Lord â—esus vnto the lande and praise of God And therfore miserable is their blindnes and intollerable is their arrogaÌ„cie which thinke they may serue God sufficientlie in their houses and doo therfore abstaine from publique prayer and from the open confession of their faith in the Church of God wherin first they rob God of his honour and commit Sacriledge in kéeping back their tongues from the publique coÌ„fessing their bodies from the open glorifying of the name of the Lord Iesus Secondlie they cut them selues off from the mysticall body of Iesus Christe for Christ is the head Ephe. 1.22 Ephe. 4.15.25 and we are the body one head hath but one body And thus as Paule sayth We are all members one of an other And therefore as one body we should be all of one faith all agrée in one trueth and all with one hart one voice lawde and magnifie the name of God and who soeuer by schismes deuisions dooth seperate him selfe from his brethren and cut him selfe off froÌ„ the Church that man dooth cut him selfe off froÌ„ the misticall body of Iesus Christ Thirdly they shew intollerable pride and arrogancie for what proude wretches are they which take vpoÌ„ them to condempne the congregation of Christe which is assembled togeather in his holy name and to accoumpt them heâ—tiques for whome Christe shedde his â—ood and howe vilie doo they thinke of â—eir brethren Psal 22.22 which will not vouchsafe 〈◊〉 pray to make confession of their faith â—gether with them They are wurse a â—reat deale then the Phariseis for they â—though they were proude hautie and â—d aboue all others disdayne the Publiâ—nes yet they did not refuse to come to â—e Temple because the Publicans reâ—rted vnto it For S. Luke sheweth how â—e Pharisey the Publican Luk. 18.10 came bothe 〈◊〉 the Temple together And therefore â—ey which denie or disdaine to come to â—e Church eyther they make vs wurse â—en Publicans or else they them selues â—e wurse then Phariseis Fourthlie they giue great offence vnto â—hers by their yll ensample especiallie Psa 42.4 〈◊〉 they be such as should leade the people to the house of God I meane Landâ—des and Gentlemen for if they pray â—elie at home the poorer sort say straight â—ayes within them selues why may not â—e pray also at home séeing we haue all â—e Lord and Maister in heauen for inâ—riours are called Apes of superiours Herodian â—cause whatsoeuer they sée done of them they thinke that they may doo the like Seneca and Graauissimus morbus est qui a capite diffum ditur That disease is most perillous which commeth from the head And therefore Woe be to him by whome offences come Mat. 18.6.7 it were better for him that a myll stone were hanged about his necke and that he were drowned in the bottome of the sea Last of all they which refuse to come into the Congregation of God Psal 22.22 to confesse the name of God amongst their brethren they condemne and despise the holie ordinaunce of God For God hath ordained in holy woord commaunded That his people should come together to
make publique confession of their faith in the blood of Iesus Christ to pray for things necessarie to heare the sacred and blessed woord of God to be thankfull to him for all his benefites to receyue his holie Sacraments And he which slieth from these thinges which are so often commaunded by the Lord God in flying from the Church he flyeth from the Celestial Ierusalem he flyeth from his own saluation he flyeth from God him selfe What caused the Iewes to lament so pittifullie to wéep by the Riuers of Babilon and to hang their Instrumentes vpon the Willowes Psa 137.1.2.3 saying How shall we sing the song of the Lorde in a â—traunge lande If I forgette thee O Ierusalem let my right hand forgette to play â—f I do not remember thee let my tongue leaue vnto the roofe of my mouth if I â—oo not remember Ierusalem in all my mirth No doubt when they were captiues â—n Babilon they prayed vnto the Lorde â—ut therefore they wept by the waters of Babilon because they could not visite the Temple of GOD in Ierusalem there to make publique confession of their Faith â—nd openlie to magnifie the name of the God of Iacob And in the same place the Rulers enuying that Daniel should be set â—uer them caused the King to confirme â—nd seale a decrée that Dan. 6.7.10 Whosoeuer should â—ke any peticioÌ„ of any other God sauing â—nly of the King for the space of thirtie â—nyes he should be cast into a den of LioÌ„s 〈◊〉 man might thinke it to be but a small â—ffence to abstaine from praying openly or the space of thirty dayes Daniel might â—r so short a time haue prayed to God in â—eart onely or he might haue prayed seâ—retlie in his bed and in his Closet But he knewe that his whole body was made to glorifie the name of God and therefore when the decrée was published he went into his house and his windowe béeing open in his Chamber towardes Ierusalem he knéeled vpon his knées thrée times a daye and prayed and praysed his God as he had done aforetime He opened the windowe towards the Cittie that all men might sée that he serued the Lord his God not with heart onelie but with the tongue the knées and the whole body Peter denied his maister in mouth But no doubt Math. 26.70 in heart he beléeued in him and he denied him not for feare of loosing his worldlie goodes but for feare of present death not willinglie and of set purpose but through the infirmitie of his flesh because he sawe his Maister forsaken of his fréendes and taken of his enimies and therefore could finde out no other way to saue his lyfe but in heart he styll beléeued in the Lord. Héere some peraduenture may iudge this fault of Peter to be somewhat excusable But moste certainlie it was a wicked and an heinous offence and vnlesse the Lorde had looked vppon him wherby he went foorth and wept bitterly no doubt it had béene to his vtter condemnation and destruction bothe of body and soule Math. 10.33 For our sauiour sayth Who soeuer shall deny me before men him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaâ—en And it is not sufficient not to deny Christ vnlesse we doo in all places openly confesse him fréely reprooue those which blaspheme his holy name For we are not â—orne to our selues but first to the glorie of God as Christe commaundeth vs To let our lyght so shine before men Math. 5.16 1. Pet. 2.12 4 11. that they may see our good workes and gloriâ—ie our father in heauen And secondlie to â—he edifying of our Brethren and to win them vnto Christe as Paule sayth Exâ—ort one another and edifie one another 1. The. 5.11 And Saint Iames sayth If any man hath â—rred from the way Iam. 5.19 and some man hath conuerted him let him knowe that he which hath conuerted a sinner from going a stray out of his way shall saue a soule from death This is the lawe of God in Leuitticus Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart Leuit. 19.17 but thou shalt plainly â—ebuke thy neighbour and suffer him not â—o sinne Where the Lord dooth accoumpt â—t the extréemest hatred that can be to â—atter our neighbours in their sinnes We are coÌ„maunded by the woord of God â—hat For as much as we are all members of â—he same body in Iesus Christe we should be charitable one to an other and doo good one to an other by all meanes possible Nowe if it be accoumpted charitie to féede the body howe much more is this charitie to féede the soule with holy admonitions and godlie instructions And if we be bounden by the law of God Exod. 23.4 That when wa see our enimies Oxe or Asse going astray we shall bring it home againe Howe much more ought we when we sée the soule of our brother going astray to séeke by all meanes possible to bring it home againe Saint Iohn willeth vs That if any man bring not the doctrine of Christe 1. Ioh. 2.10.11 we receyue him not into our houses neyther byd him God speede for he that biddeth him God speede is pertakar of his euill deedes And therefore if thou heare or sée a man which holdeth any wicked opinions and heresies if thou doo not instruct him to the vttermost of the power but sufferest him to continew in his errour and blindnesse and biddest him God spéede thou art partaker of his wickednesse And if thou heare any man blaspheme the glorious name of Christe if thou doo not saye vnto him Exod 20.7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine Eccl. 23.11 A man that vseth much swearing shall be fylled with wickednesse and the plague of God shall neuer depart from his house Thou art partaker of his iniquitie and the same plague which hangeth ouer him for his blasphemie in speaking the same is due vnto thée for thy silence in hearing For if thou doo not confesse Christe thou doost denie him as our Sauiour sayeth He that is not with mee is against mee Luk. 11.23 and hee that gathereth not hee scattereth And therefore we must euerie one of vs in such manner confesse the Lorde Iesus with our mouthes that by our confession other may be edified and the greater that the assemblie is the more boldnesse should be in our confession There are many of vs which before one or two will paraduenture rebuke a swearer which blasphemeth the name of Christe But if it be in a Feast or in a Banquet or otherwise before many then wée are verie mannerlie and ciuill we dare not speake for feare of offence we accoumpt it a point of modestie to beare with their wickednesse But what is this else but to kéepe the honour of God for holes and préeuie corners and to offer vp sacrifice openlie to the deuill Iohn 12.43 What is this else But to looue
and by Saint Iohn 1. Ioh. â— not to receyue them into their houses nor to bydde them God spéede much lesse to ioyne them selues in any league or amitie with them or to suffer such to haue any dealing vnder them Abraham refused to take of the King of Sodom so much as a thread Gen. 14.23 or a shoâ— latchet least he should say Eâ—dr 4.3 I haue enritched Abraham Zerobabell would not suffer the Samaritanes to lay lyme and stone in the building of the Lord. 1. Reg. 13.16.18 The young Prophete for eating bread with the wicked olde Prophete was denowreâ— of a Lion Euse lib. 4. Cap. 14. Nicepb lib. 3. Cap. 14. Euse in vit Const lib. 1 Cap 11. Iohn the EuaÌ„gelist would not tarie in the same house with the heretique Cerinthus Constantinus to trie his men commaunded that all which would not doo sacrifice to Idolles should be thrust out of his seruice and when many for feare obeyed the coÌ„maundement he put them all away Psa 110.6.7 for he would suffer none to serue him which would not also serue the Lord and he knewe that they could not be faithfull to men which were vnfaithfull vnto God Theo. lib. 2. Cap. 6. Liberius going into banishment refused all the gifts of the Emperor and his wife saying Let them giue those thinges to Auxentius and Epictetus their Arrian heretiques Ephe. 5.11 2. Cor 6.14 we must haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darknesse nor any way yoake our selues with Infidelles Leuit. 19.19 We are commauÌ„ded by the lawe of God not to plowe with an Oxe and with an Asse nor to sowe our ground with diuers seede nor to make our garmentes of Linsey wolsey Wherefore we must auoide all mingling of contraie Religions and in no wise ioyne our selues with the wicked but endeuour our selues that we may say with Dauid Psal 110.6.7 Mine eyes shall be vnto the faithfull of the lande that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfite way he shall serue me There shall no deceiptfull personne dwell within my house he that telleth lyes shall not remayne in my sight O Lorde doo not I hate them which hate thee Psa 139.21.22 and doo not I earnestly contend against those that rise vp against thee yea I hate them with a perfect and vnfeyned hatred as they were mine vtter enimies But what is the cause why these pollitique worldlie wise men doo so familllarlie ioyne them selues with the wicked and so many wayes withdrawe them selues from the true confessing of the Lorde Iesus Surely this is onelie the cause for that they are afeard least a chaunge should shortlie come whereby they might be compelled eyther with shame to turne their coates or else incurre great daunger of suffering for the name of Iesus Christ Saint Iohn sheweth Ioh. 12.48 howe many of the chéefe Rulers beléeued in Christe but because of the Phariseis they durst not confesse him least they should be cast out of the Sinagogue for they looued the prayse of men more then the prayse of God As many there are nowe which would gladly professe the true faith of Christe and yet because they are eyther TenauÌ„ts to such Landlordes or Seruaunts to such Maisters as are backwarde in Religion and frowardlie bent to superstition or else because they are afeard of afterclaps and perilles which may héereafter ensue they dare not with their mouth confesse the Lord Iesus These doo not consider that which our Sauiour Christe sayth That who soeuer will be his Disciple Math. 16.24 Luk. 14.27 must take vp his crosse and followe him Nor that which the Apostle sayth That we must through many afflictions Acts. 14.22 enter into the kingdome of God and that they which will liue godlie in Christ Iesu must suffer persecutioÌ„ Neither doo they consider 2. Tim. 3.5.12 that trouble and affliction is profitable yea and necessary for the Church of God For whome the Lord looueth he chasteneth Pro. 3.11 Apo. 3.17 Hebr. 12.6.7.8 and scourgeth euerie Sonne that he receyueth If ye endure chastening God offereth him selfe vnto you as vnto sonnes For what Sonne is he whome the Father dooth not chasten If therfore ye be without correction whereof all are partakers then are ye bastardes and not sonnes Psa 119.67.71 Before I was afflicted sayeth Dauid I went astraye but nowe I keepe thy woorde it is good for mee that I haue beene afflicted that I may learne thy statutes Iohn 15.2 When the Vine groweth out of order it must be husbanded pared and drest when the bodie aboundeth with euill humours Eccle. 2.5 1. Pet. 1.7 it must be purged Golde must be tryed in the fire before any precious worke be made thereof Stones must be hewed and Tymber must be squared before wée can rayse vp any buylding Corne must be thresht Grapes must be prest before we can haue eyther bread or wine And all this is wrought in vs by trouble and affliction for affliction is the sickle which dooth pare and dresse the braunches it is the purgation which doth purge our soules from our former wickednesse and driue vs to repentaunce and amendment of life it is fire wherein the Golde is tried it is the toole whereby we are hewed and squared and made sit for the building of the Lord it is the instrument whereby we are thresht and prest and made as pure spiritual wheate fit for the Garner and storehouse of euerlasting ioyes And therefore Ignatius sayde when he was brought to be cast into the den of Lions Thus it behoueth me to be grounde with the teethe of Lions that I may be made a sweete manchette for the Lord. The Faith of a Christian is compared to Camamill which the more it is tread vpon the more it dooth florishe and the better it dooth prosper as Paule sheweth Howe the outward man must perishe before the inwarde man can be renued 2. Cor. 4.10.16 and we must beare in our bodyes the dying of the Lorde Iesus that the lyfe of Christe maye be made manifest in vs. And what is the cause now why many doo liue so careleslie and carnallie setting their mindes wholie vppon the glorie and riches and vaine pleasures of this world and hauing no care at all eyther of the honour due vnto the name of the immortall God and the setting forwarde of the glorious Gospell of Christe or of the saluation of their owne soules Surely the cause is onely this for that they are drunken with too much prosperity the outward man dooth not perishe they doo not carie about in their bodies the dying of the Lord Iesus For I am fullie perswaded that there are a great nuÌ„ber in England which nowe doo shewe them selues carnall and carelesse which if GOD should laye vppon them his rodde of correction would become much more holie and farre more zealous for the trueth of God Our Lord God hath two waies
Cittie and place where hee himselfe should come it appeareth that our Sauiour dyd not shew himselfe like these corner créepers 2. Tim. 3.6 these Howletes Night Birdes whiche doo créepe into Houses and lead captiues Women laden with sinnes but he would haue hys commyng to be openlye knowne to all the Countrie Omnis qui peruerse agit odit lucem Euerie one that doth euil hateth the light neither commeth he to the light least his déedes should be reproued but he which dealeth trulye commeth into the light Vt manifesta fiant facta ipsius quod secundum Deum fiant That his deedes might be made manifest that they are wrought according vnto God And therefore if there were nothinge els to cōdemne these popish shauelings which beinge disguised doo créepe about from place to place to perswade the people to withdrawe their obedience from their natural Soueraigne to whom it is due and to giue it to a forraine Prelate a Priest of Rome this one thinge were sufficient to bewray them and to discredit their cause for that they are ashamed to shew their faces and doo vse such harde shiftes such subtill practises and sleightie deuises to kéepe them selues close that thei may not be called to their answer whereas most certenly Trueth seeketh no corners as héere you see how our sauiour Christ dooth send his seuentie Disciples as it were forerunners to make proclamation of him in euery Cittie and place where hee himselfe should come whiche though it were perillous for according to the wordes of our Sauiour in the thirde verse It was nothing els but to sende Lambes among wolues Luk. 10.3 yet was there more respect to be had of the trueth then of any daunger of death what so euer When our Sauiour hath thus sent foorth his seauentie Disciples before him into euery Citie and place where hee him selfe should come he beginneth now their charge in these wordes whiche I haue reade vnto you The Haruest is great and the Labourers are but few pray therfore the Lord of the Haruest to sende Labourers into his Haruest whiche peece of Scripture might fitly bee deuided in two partes the first is An exhortation to prayer that we pray to the Lorde of the Haruest to send foorth Labourers into his Haruest The seconde contayneth The reasons of the Exhortation whiche are two first because the Haruest is great and secondly because the Labourers are but few But I think it best at this time not to inuert the words of our Sauiour but to intreate vpon them orderlye as they lay in the text First of the greatnes of the Haruest Secondly of the small number of the Labourers Thirdly of the meanes wherby that small number shall be encreased if we perfourmed our dutie to praye vnto the Lorde of the Haruest to sende foorth Labourers into his Haruest Firste our Sauiour Christe telleth them that the Haruest is great whereby hée signifyeth the number of the faithfull which hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and haue an earnest desire to heare to receaue and to imbrace the heauenly treasure of his most holye and blessed word And thus doth our Sauiour oft name the Congregation of his faithful people by the name of Haruest Ioh. 4.35 when he saw the Samaritanes commyng to him out of Sichem he sayd behould lift vp your eies looke on the Regions for they are white already vnto the Haruest Math. 9.37 And in the Gospell after Saint Mathew he sayth Surely the Haruest is great c. where he dooth vse the selfe same wordes which he dooth in this place although to another purpose For there he hath especially respect vnto the people on whom he had compassion when he saw them dispersed and scattered abrode as it were Shéepe hauing no Shéepheard and therefore he sayde Surelie the Haruest is great but the labourers are but few pray c. But héere he hath respect not so much vnto the flock as vnto the Disciples themselues that although they sawe but few among the Iewes which fauoured his doctrine and therefore might hardly conceaue any hope of dooing any good yet they should not dispaire For the Haruest was great howsoeuer in their iudgemēt the nūber of the faithfull was but small Rom. 11.2 yet they should not be discouraged For the Haruest was great Elias being in a Caue in the Mount Horeb 1. Re. 19.10.18 was in a māner discouraged when he saw all the Prophets of God slaine his Altars broken downe and he left alone whose life they sought also But the Lord appeared vnto him and comforted him saying Rom. 11.4 I haue reserued vnto my selfe in Israell 7000. men which haue neuer bowed their knees to Baal nor kissed him with their mouthes Here then we that are Ministers are to learne not to be dismayed although we sée but small fruite of our labours but to go on forwarde diligently and painefully in the worke of the Lorde knowing that the Haruest may be greater then we do imagine although in our iudgement ther be few or none which returne vnto repentaunce yet there may be seauen thousand in the sight of God therfore although we may say with Peter I haue trauailed all night Luke 5.5 and haue taken nothing yet we must remēber that we say also Neuerthelesse at thy cōmaundemēt O Lord I will still let downe the Net Semper tibi pendeat hamus In quo non credis gurgite piscis erit The Church is called an Haruest and therefore we must not looke that it should increase and growe to perfection all at once but by little and little and that with much a doo for as the seede is first cast into the ground then couered with cloddes afterward kept vnder with Frost and Snowe and when it is growen vp it is parched with heate almost choaked with briars and weedes and beaten downe with stormes and tempests at the last with much labour it is brought into the Barnes Euen so the Séede of Gods worde when it is sowen in the hearts of men it is longe before it take any déepe roote and hardly dooth the fruit appeare and when it is spronge vp it is parched with the heate of many troubles and miseries it is almost choaked with the briers brambles of voluptuous liuing and the thornie cares of this world it is beaten downe with the stormes tempests of sundry temptations at the last with much a doo it dooth make vs fit to be receaued into the Barnes of euerlasting ioyes then onely is the Haruest perfectly purged for so lōg as we remain heer in this vale of misery we must looke for nothing els but to haue the tares mingled with the wheate the chaffe with the graine the wicked with the good the goates with the shéepe therefore the church is cōpared to a family or household which conteineth not only sons but slaues also Rom. 9.21 2. Tim. 2.20 not all vessels to
God continually Who more wretched sinners then Publicanes Math 9.9 Luke 19.6 yet were Mathew and Zacheus the faithfull children of God Who more blinde and obstinate then the Pharisies yet was there amōgst them a godly Nicodemus Ioh. 3.3 7.50 19.39 which was desirous to be instructed by Christ and resisted his companions the Pharisies and thought nothing to déere to be bestowed to the honouring of his Lord and Sauiour Who were more wilfully bēt to withstande Christ the true Messias then were the Iewes to whom he was sent As the Scripture saithe Iohn 1.11.47 he came vnto his owne and his owne receaued him not Yet were there some Nathaniels true Isralites Lu. 2.25.37.38 in whom there was no guile some Symeons which feared God and looked for the consolation of Israel and some godly Annas which serued God day and night with fastings and prayer and confessed the Lord Iesus to all that looked for redemption in Ierusalem so that howsoeuer the seuentie Disciples might imagine the Haruest to be but small yet indéede as Christ telleth them héere the Haruest was great Then dearely belooued we are héere to learne not to measure the Haruest of Christe according to our owne fancies 1. Re. 19.10.18 for if the spirite of Elias could not discerne one when in déede there were seuen thousand how much lesse are we able to perceaue the greatnes of Gods Haruest whose eyes are nothing so bright nor iudgement so cléere nor knowledge so perfect as was in the holy Prophet of God But rather we ought to prayse God continually for the great increase which hee dayly addeth vnto his Haruest and for the blessing which he giueth to the course of his holye worde making the same to fructifye and increase to hundreds and thousands and to praye vnto him incessantlye that as he hath alreadye drawne a great parte of Christendome from vnder the Yoake of Antichriste so it would please him to continue his goodnes and to increase his Haruest daily more and more to the glorie of his holy name and the aduauncement of his kingdome which the Lorde of his infinite mercy graunt for the merits and intercession of his dearely belooued sonne Iesus Christ and thus much for the first part how the Haruest is great Now that our Sauiour Christ hath told his Disciples of the greatnesse of the Haruest he sheweth them in the next place of the small number of the labourers the Labourers saith he are but few By this worde Labourers he meaneth true and faithful Pastors for otherwise of other labourers the Iewes did want no store they had their Leuits they had infinite Sinagogues and therin a great company of Lawyers and Scribes they had their Priestes which challenged to sit in the Chayre of Moyses they had their Pharesies the expounders of the Lawe which were in great estimation of learning and holynesse and how then were the Labourers but fewe Wee must vnderstande that our Sauiour speaketh not of false Hierlings but of true Pastors not of those which beare an ydle name and title of Pastoures beeing Pastores a pascendo tanquam montes a mouendo that is feeders of feeding as mountaines of moouing but of those that doo carefully and painefully feede the flock of Christe And of these the number is very small so that God may still say as he saithe in Ezechiell Ezech. 34.6 Dispersus est grex meus c. My flock is scattered through all the earth and there is none that doth seeke and search after them This phrase of spéeche to call the Ministers Labourers and their Office a labour is often vsed in the holy Scriptures Nos sumus cooperarij Dei saythe Paul 1. Cor. 3.9 We together are Gods Labourers I am in feare of you Gala. 4.11 least I haue bestowed on you my labour in vaine Si quis Episcopatum desiderat 1. Tim. 3.1 bonum opus desiderat If any man desire the office of a Bishop he desireth a good worke It is a worke non honos sed onus not an honour but a burthen or if it be an honour yet hath it alwayes a burthen annexed 1. Tim. 5.17 The Elders which rule well are worthie of double honour Maxime ij qui laborant verbo doctrina especially they which labour in worde and doctrine By all which places we of the Ministery are admonished of our dutie that we ought to be labourers not loyterers not to liue idely and securely but to be painefull workemen in the Haruest of the Lorde Saint Paul had no better reason to perswade the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Actes 20.28 to take heede vnto themselues and to all the flock whereof the holy Ghost had made them ouerseers then to tell them that the Church which they had the charge of was the Church of Christe which he had purchased with his owne bloud neither can there be any thing which ought more to stirre vp vs which be héer present to painefull labour and carefull diligence then to remember that we are appointed labourers to worke in the Haruest not of men but of the Lord and in that Field which Christ hath purchased with his owne most precious bloud We are called the Salt of the earth Math. 5.13 and therefore we ought to season the people of God with the knowledge of his holy word we are called Math. 5.14 Math. 6.22 Apoc. 1.20 the eies of the body the stars of heauē the light of the world therefore we must séeke to driue away all ignoraunce and darkenesse not putting our lightes vnder a Bushell but setting them vpon a Candlestick Isa 56.10 to giue light to all the housholde We are called Watchmen and therefore we must not let the enemie come in while we sléepe and delight in sleeping for as God saith by the Prophet Ezechiel Ezech. 33.6 If the Watchman see the Sword comming and blow not the Trumpet and the people be not warned and so they perish with the Sworde they are perished for their iniquitie but their bloud will I require at the watchmans hand We are called heere Labourers and therefore we ought to labour in the Lordes Haruest dilligently and faithfully Ier. 48.10 For as the Prophet saithe Cursed is he that dooth the worke of the Lorde negligently if this be the worke of the Lorde to punish the wicked and destroye them with the sworde as the Prophet dooth in that place describe then howe much more shall we accompt it to be the worke of the Lord to edifie the soules of the simple to sowe in their hearts the seede of Gods worde to bringe them to repentaunce and amendmēt of life this is the worke of the Lord and cursed is he that dooth the worke of the Lord negligently We are called the Angels and Messengers of the Lord of Hoastes Math. 2.7 the Ministers of Christ 1. Cor. 4.1 and dispensers of the secrets of God and
required this at your hands that ye should take the sacrameÌ„t of my bloud which I shed for al meÌ„ froÌ„ the common people so to make my supper rather an excoÌ„munication then a Communion who required this at your hands that ye should rather thrust your children into Abbeis Couents there to liue an idle a Swinish life being pampered vp with all dilicious fare which may stir theÌ„ vp to all filthines theÌ„ to set theÌ„ to some homest occupatioÌ„ Gen. 3.19 2. Thes 3.12 to get their liuing with the sweate of their browes to the profit and furtherance of the Common wealth Who required this of you that ye should accompt it a more meritorious work to gilde an Image their to cloathe a poore naked man and a better déede to go a gadding on Pilgrimage to séeke dead bones then to tarie at home and visite the poore members of Christ which laye sick and bedred lame and impotent 1. Iohn 1.7 Eccle. 12.7 Luke 23.49 Actes 7.59 Apoc. 14.13 who required this at your hands that ye should make any other Purgatorie then the bloud of Iesus Christ which dooth purge you from all your sinne or that ye should place your holynesse in kissing of Reliques créeping to crosses choyce of meates contempt of mariage sprinkling of holy water ceÌ„sing of Herbs boughes auricular shriuing in consecrated war Agnus Deis Crucifyres Palmes Creame Spittle Salte Oile Ashes Bels Beads Ladies Psalters Portuises LegeÌ„daries MaÌ„s merits work of supererogatioÌ„ Shrines Roodes Tapers Frankencense Masses Dirges Trentals Buls Pardons Indulgences and all such trashe and trumpery wherof there is no mention at all in my holy worde Who required these things at your hands if I neuer required them but rather forbad them and commaunded the cleane contrarie then are ye no faithfull labourers 2. Peter 2.3 ye labour for your owne gaine to make Marchandise of soules for Lukers sake but ye are no labourers in my Haruest Apoc. 22.19 to bring increase into my Barnes and therefore ye are accursed and haue no part in the booke of life Thus good brethren ye sée how we shall be faithfull labourers we must Deut. 4.2 12.32 Pro. 30.6 adde nothing to the woord and take nothing from it neither to decline vnto the right hand nor to the left for if it be vnlawfull to adde or to chaunge Gala. 3.15 or to abrogate any thing in the Will and Testament of men how much lesse shall it be lawfull to put too or to diminish or to disanull any thing in the Will and Testament of the euerliuing God and if in making of the Tabernacle Exod. 25.40 2. Cron. 8.14 or building of the materiall Temple it was not lawfull for the workemen to doo any thing but what the Lorde appointed how much lesse may the builders of the spirituall Temple the Church of God decline from that rule which God hath prescribed in his holy worde Moreouer that we may be faithfull labourers this is required of vs that we auoide all flatterie and without respect of persons doo bouldly that Message Gala. 101 whereunto the Lorde shall send vs knowing that if we seeke to please men Ezech. 13.12 we cannot be the seruaunts of Christ â—ech 13.18 The Prophet denounceth an woe against those which sowe Pillowes vnder mens elbowes and crie peace peace where as no peace is and God dooth threaten by Ieremie that hee will come against those Prophets which haue sweete lips Ieâ— 10. and flatter men in their sinnes Woe be to them which speake good of euill and euill of good which put darkenes for light and light for darkenes which put bitter for sweete find sweete for sower Pro. 12.2 Disperdat Dominus omnia labia adulationum the Lord â—ut out all flattering lips saith the Prophet Dauid and as flattering lippes are abhominable in all meÌ„ so especially they ought to be abhorred of vs which are the Messengers of the Lord of Hoasts We must all Ephe. 6.19 open our mouthes bouldly to publish the secret of the Gospell Howsoeuer it be a daungerous thing for Lot to reprooue the filthy and beastly Sodomites Gen. 19.7 assaulting his house yet he must not cease still to say I pray you my bretheren Proâ— â—0 2 doo not so wickedly Howsoeuer the wrath of a King be the roaring of a Lion and he that dooth prouoke him to anger dooth hazard his owne life yet if Princes offend the Prophet of God must say the Princes are rebellious Isa 1.23 companions of theeues euery one loueth bribes they iudge not the fatherles nether doth the widdowes cause come before the Ezech. 22.27 the Princes of Iuda are like rauening wolues sucking bloud and destroying soules for couetous Lucre. Although it must cost Iohn Baptist his life yet must he not cease to say to Herod Math. 14.4 It is not lawful for thee to haue thy brother Phillips wife And not onely the wicked but the godly also wheÌ„ they fall they must be bouldly sharply reprooued so that Nathan must say vnto Dauid thou art the man 2. Sam. 12.7 it is thou that hast done this deede doubt not but the Lord will so worke with it that thy smiting shall be taken for a benefit Psa 141.5 and thy reproouing for a precious balme which will not breake his head howsoeuer the wicked doo kick spurne against thy godly admonitioÌ„s yet no vnthankfulnes of the world ought to driue them froÌ„ performing thy duty but that the more stormy tempests that the weather dooth bring the more painefull thou shouldest be in the Haruest of the Lord What though thou be sent as Christe héere sent foorthe his seuentie Disciples as Lambes among VVolues Luke 10.5 What though thou be Sawde in péeces with a Sawe of wood as the Prophet Isay was or haue a Naile of Iron driuen into the Temples of thy head with Amos or be beheaded with Iohn Baptist or be Stoned with Steuen or slaine with the Sworde with Iames or most cruelly put to death with Peter Paule and the rest of the Apostles or haue thy portion among the blessed Martirs of God whereof some were deuoured with wilde Beasts some burnt with fier and Faggot some broyld vpon hoate coales some hanged some drowned some torne in péeces with wilde Horses yet must you alwayes remember the comfortable promise of Christe Math. 5.10 that great shal be thy rewarde in Heauen Blessed is the man that endureth temptation Iam. 1.12 for when he is tryed he shall receaue the Crowne of life which the Lorde hath promised to them that loue him Thus must the Ministers labour faithfully and not onely faithfully but willingly as Peter sayth feede the flock of Christ 2. Peter 5.2 which dependeth vpon you caring for it not by constraint but willingly not for fylthy luker but of a ready minde For if the laboring Seruaunts which are hyred to doo
with the vnbeléeuers thou shalt be cast as an vnprofitable seruaunt Mark 9.44 Ezech. 34.1 1. Cor. 9.16 Luk. 16.26 Apoc. 14.11 into vtter darkenesse where shall be weeping gnashing of teeth where the worme neuer dyeth and the flame neuer goeth out where woes thou shalt finde on euery side and nothing but woes and of all woes this is the greatest that there shal be no ende of thy woes Where thou shalt alwaies consume and yet neuer be consumed alwayes burne and yet neuer be burnt away alwayes die and yet neuer giue ouer to death but haue paines vnquencheable intollerable easelesse endlesse and hopelesse from the which the Lord of his infinite mercy for his sonne Christ his sake deliuer vs all and giue vs grace so to vse our Talents in this vale of miserie that when our accompts shal be made we may be founde acceptable in his sight and héere that ioyfull saying O ye good and faithfull seruaunts Math. 25.21.23.34 yee haue beene faithfull in little I wil make you Maysters of much enter into the ioyes of your Lorde come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you froÌ„ the beginning of the world Thus deerely belooued ye see the thyrde propertie which is required in him that shall labour in the Lords Haruest that Luk. 12.46.45 he must be dilligent and that if he let any perish for want of foode then doth he smite his fellow seruaunts and murder them with a murder which before God is of all others most horrible and therefore if when we haue murdered a man although it be but by chaunce medley yet the remembraunce of it dooth gréeue vs vexe vs terrifie vs torment vs and make our flesh to quiuer shake and tremble how much more ought ye to auoyde the wilfull murder of so many thousand soules which perishing by your wilful negligence and ignoraunce 2. Thes 1.8.9 because they know not God are thrown headlong into euerlasting perdition and if the bloud of meÌ„ that are slaine béeing behoulden with the eies of the body dooth moue pitty and compassion howe much more ought it to gréeue the eyes of your hearts and spirits to sée the bloudshed of the soules 2. Sam. 22.15 which bringeth death eternall When Dauid in the Haruest time being in the Caue of Adullam did greatly longe to drinke of the water of Bethlehem sayd O that some man would giue me to drinke of the waters of Bethlehem there could not well any water be fetched because the Garrison of the Philistines which were Dauids enemies were then in Bethlehem Notwithstanding when thrée of Dauids mighty Captaines saw how greatly their King loÌ„ged for that water they valiauntly brake thorough the Hoaste of the Philistines and drew water out of the Wel of Bethlehem and brought it vnto Dauid when Dauid sawe what they had done he refused to drinke of it and sayde O Lord be it farre from me that I should doo this Is not this the bloud of the men which went in daunger of their liues And so he would not drinke of it but powred it out for an offering vnto the Lorde Now if Dauid would not drinke once of the water of Bethlehem because it was brought vnto him with the ieopardie of thrée mens liues how much lesse ought ye not onely to eate and drinke but also to cloathe your selues yea and delight your selues in pastimes and plesures not once but euery day not with the dauÌ„ger of thrée mens liues but with the manifest murder of so many hundred soules And therefore as in the Solemnization of Matrimonie in this Church of Englande the Minister dooth firste charge the parties that are to be maried as they will aunswer at the dreadfull day of iudgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be opened that if either of them doo knowe in themselues any impediment why they may not lawfully be joyned together in Matrimonie that they confesse it Euen so I am to charge you before the Lord Iesus Christ and as you will aunswer at his appearaunce that if any of you doo know in your selues any secret impechment that either ye want the inward calling not to respect the liuing but to doo good in the Church of God or els that ye haue not the giftes of Nature fitte for that function or that yee feele not your selues so mortified with the spirite of sanctification that ye haue good hope to liue according to your profession to despise the worlde and painefully to discharge your duties that ye vtter it or at the least wise withdrawe your selues from rashelye entring into so high a calling Otherwise assure your selues that ye doo nothing els but plucke the vengeaunce of God vpon your owne heads But some of you say that ye haue no other way to liue and therefore vnlesse ye â—e nows made Ministers ye must néedes he brought to extreame beggerie I aunswer Ps 33 19. 34 8. 112.1 â— 3 that if the Lord be willing to deliuer you from pouertie he is able to deliuer you and he will deliuer you by a farre more lawfull meanes if ye will serue him and feare him 1 Tim. 1.5 1. Pet. 3.16.21 Tit. 1.15 and although he should neuer bring you out of it yet how much better were if for you to liue here in perpetuall begger is with a quiet conscience then with the best benefice in this Realme to haue a hell in your consciences in this worlde and euerlasting death in the worlde to come for then Mar. 8.36.37 what will it profit a man to win the whole world and loose his own soule or what shall a man giue for his soule ye must remember the counsell which Paul giueth to Timothie 1. Tim. 5.22 Psalm 38.4 not to be partakers of other mens sinnes our own sinnes are a burthen too heauie for vs to beare and altogether intollerable then what a desperate case are we in if we doo also charge and loade our selues with a heape of sinnes committed by other men Ezech. 3.18 whose bloud must be required at our hands if they be not dilligently lye warned and reclaymed from their wickednes that they may repent liue The fourth propertie which must be in the labourer is that he labour with bothe hands that is both with life and doctrine for otherwise if he be painfull in teaching and haue no care to expresse the same in life and conuersation then dooth he but build with the one hand and pluck downe with the other with the one hand he gathereth together and with the other hand he scattereth abroade and then he is no good labourer in the Haruest of the Lorde and therefore Saint Paul biddeth Timothy 1. Tim. 4.15 Act. 20.28 take heede vnto himselfe and to his doctrine and continue therein for in so dooing he should saue himselfe and theÌ„ that heard him And he willeth Titus Tit. â— 7 abooue all things to shew himselfe an ensample
Mamples Crosier staues Miters not with sundrie such sottish ceremonies foolish gestures as haue bin vsed héeretofore in the creating of popish Bishops and Priests greasie shauelings and Idolatrous Massemongers but simplye and plainely with laying on of hands and with prayer And for this cause my Lorde hath thought it conuenient at this time not to ordayne the Ministers secrety in his Closet as hath beene wickedly practised of others heeretofore but to bring them into the face of the congregation to the end that we altogether might with one heart and one voyce praye vnto the Lorde of the Haruest that hee will make them profitable Labourers in his Haruest And nowe therefore deare brethren let vs not accoumpt this busynesse A Spectacle to bee gazed vpon but let vs all with one accorde lifte vp our mindes vnto the Father of Heauen thorough the merits and intercession of his welbelooued sonne Iesus Christ Let vs pray vnto the Lorde of the Haruest that hee will graunt not onely to these which are nowe to be sent foorth but also to all vs which are sent already the grace of his holy and comfortable spirite Luke 24.49 that he will endew vs with power from an high that he will so powre out vpon vs the spirite of wisdom and vnderstanding Cor. 4.3.4 Ephe. 6.19 that we may know the myseryes of his will that he will so open vnto vs the dore of vtterance that we may bouldly publish the secret of the Gospell that we may with discretion wisely painefully faythfully and dilligently feede the flocke of Christe which he hath purchased with his bloud so that no vnthankfulnesse of the world may discourage vs or driue vs from the performing of our dutie that we may fulfill our Ministerie Colos 4.17 1. Tim. 4.16 and continue in doctrine not to put our handes to the Plough and then to looke backe againe as many in these our dayes preach dilligently for a time while they haue nothing but when they haue gotten good liuings then the fat â—ennes laye no Egges For if we thus looke backe agayne Luke 9.62 then we haue our iudgement denounced against vs by Christ him selfe that we are not fit for the kingdom of God Let vs also pray vnto God that he will roote out all rauening Wolues all Hierlings Timeseruers and dombe Dogges 2. Thes 3.1 Psa 51.18 which hinder the course of the Gospel that he wyl giue his word free passage and builde vp the walles of Ierusalem that he wil giue vnto vs al the spirite of sanctification that we may let our light so shine before men Math. 5.16 that they may see our good woorkes and glorifye our Father in Heauen that so we may labour with both handes in the Haruest of the Lorde with exhortation and conuersation with life doctrine whereby there may be plentie of pure spirituall Wheate to the lawde and prayse of God and great heapes of true beleeuers to be gathered into the Barnes of euerlasting ioyes And finally that he wyll blesse all Schooles of Learning with increase in all godly knowledge and graunt vnto all Students that they may alwayes haue his feare before theyr eyes and make this the chéefe end of all their Studyes the glory of his holy name the profit of the Church and the maintenaunce of the common wealth whereby the number of true Labourers may be increased for the Haruest is great and the Labourers are but few And thus good people that I may nowe draw to an end yée haue heard out of this charge giuen by our Sauiour Christe vnto his seuentie Disciples all such profitable Lessons as my slender Tallent would suffer me at this tyme to delyuer vnto you Much more might be spoken heare Math. 21.22 Ephe 3.12 Iam. 1.6 Hebr. 4.16 Luke 11.9.10 of the manner how we ought to pray to the Lord of the Haruest that we must pray in faith grounded vpon Gods promises with full assuraunce that our request shall be graunted and that he will not forsake his church and againe that we should be touched inwardly Rom. 8.26 Iohn 4.24 1. Ioh. 5.14 Psalm 25.1 with the want of the thing that we desire and therefore that we praye in spirit and trueth in heart lament as well the small number of true and faithfull Labourers as also the great aboundaunce of Wolues and Hierlings Luke 18.1 Rom. 12.12 1. Thes 5.17 Colos 4.2 and that we ought to continue in praier although we haue not our requests at the first but that Théeues murderers doo dayly créepe in more more and that we must pray onely Iohn 1â— 13 1. â—im â— 5 1. Iohn 2. â— Math. 3.17 for the merits and intercession of Iesus Christ who is only the mediator betwixt God and Man in whome the Father ir well pleased that the Flocke may not perrishe for which he shed his bloud Psalm 50.15 Iam. 1.5 and finallye that we ought to direct our prayers onely to the Lord of the Haruest who is onely able to heare vs Ioel. 2.52 Actes 10.26 Apoc. 19.10 Rom. 1.25 and onely of power to helpe vs and not to any Saint or Angell in Heauen ascribing that to the Creature which is due vnto the Creator who be blessed for euer and euer But because these matters require a larger discourse then the weakenesse of my voyce wyll nowe permitte me to vtter I haue thought good rather to passe them ouer bréefely then by continuing my speach either to weary you and my self or to withhould you any longer from a far more learned exhortation which shall immediatly be giuen you The Lord of his infinite mercy giue vs grace so to laye vp these profitable Instructions in our hearts that as we haue heard them attentiuely so wee may bring foorth fruite accordingly that we of the Ministerie maye with all wisdome and discretion feede the Flocks committed to our charge that we may labour so dilligentlye faithfullye and paynefully in the woorke of the Lorde that no vnthankfulnesse of the worlde may driue vs which haue now put our hands to the Plowe to looke back againe that wee maye take heede vnto our selues and to our doctrine and continue therein whereby we maye saue our selues and those that heare vs that we may not gather with the one hand and scatter with the other hand but labour with bothe hands with worde and lyfe as well by our agreeing together with brotherly looue and gooing hande in hand together in the woorke of the Lorde as also by all integritie holynesse and purenesse of liuing least while we preach vnto others 〈◊〉 selues become reprobates And the 〈◊〉 â—e out the dew of his holy spirit 〈◊〉 you that are the hearers that the séede which we sawe amongst you may neither 〈◊〉 out of your hearts by Sathan as the seede by the high way side is deuoured by the Powles of the ayre nor choaked with the Briars and Brambles of voluptuous liuing and
⧠Two godlie and learned Sermons preached at Manchester in Lancashire before a great Audience both of Honor and VVoorship The first containeth a reproofe of the subtill practises of dissembling Neuters and politique worldlings The other a charge and Instruction for all vnlearned negligent and dissolute Ministers And an Exhortation to the common people to seeke their amendment by prayer vnto God By Simon Harward Preacher of the woord of God and Maister of Arte late of Newe Colledge in Oxfoord Si Deus nobiscum quis contra a nos Homo Deo lutum figulo ¶ Imprinted at London by Iohn Charlewood and Richarde Ihones 1582. ⧠The Preface to the Christian Reader FOr as much as the profession of a ChristiaÌ„ 2. Tim. 4.7 Ephe. 6.11 1. Thes 5.8 is in the holie Scriptures ofteÌ„times compared vnto the life of a soldier because we are as it were sworne in the SacrameÌ„t of Baptisme to fight manfullie vnder the banner of Iesus Christe not onelie against the vaine and wicked entisementes of the fleshe whereby we are drawne to the abhominable lustes and pleasures of voluptuous liuing and against the dauÌ„gerous assaultes of Satan the Prince of this world which seeketh continuallie to deuoure vs and to drowne vs in the pit of desperation confusion but also against the subtill snares of the world which either by ritches and the glorie â—hereof dooth prouoke vs vnto coueâ—ousnesse or else by slaunderings reuiâ—nges iniuries and oppressions dooth â—rre vs vp to impatiencie hatred enuie â—nd malice we are therefore to call to remembraunce coÌ„tinuallie that notable propertie and qualitie of a Christian Soldier to arme our selues with patieÌ„ce against the daie of triall that we may as Saint Paul sayth to Timothie Suffer affliction â— Tim. 2.3 as good Soldiers of Iesus Christe And this dooth our Sauiour teach vs in the Gospell after the Euangelist Saint Luke Luk. 14.31 when he asketh the question VVhat King going about to make warre against an other King dooth not sit downe and take councel whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him which commeth against him with twentie thousande VVhereby he dooth admonishe vs to ponder and weigh our strength and abilitie beforehand and not rashlie and careleslie to enter into the battaile And therefore as that Captaine is greatlie to be condempned which wil not prouide for any helpe and furniture vntill the time doo come that the onset must be giuen and the stroakes begin to flie about him And as that Soldier sheweth him selfe verie carelesse and negligent vvhich will neuer thinke vpon his armour and weapons vntill the time doo come that he must enter into the combat Euen so that christian is ouermuch giuen to carnall securitie vvhich being a Soldier in the Spirituall warfare of Christe vvherin the victorie bringeth no earthlie triumph but the incorruptiple crowne of glorie and the losse is not the death of the body onelie but the casting of bothe body soule into hell fire vvill not yet once sit downe to take councell aforehand of his abilitie nor once remember his weapon of patience nor once by praier make prouision for it vntill the houre doo come that euen now the trumpet dooth crie alarum and his enimies fal vpon him Of which sort of Soldiers I am afeard there are verie many in the Realme of EnglaÌ„d vvhich because the Lord hath giuen vs many happy plentifull and peaceable yeeres vnder our gratious Princesse Elizabeth the Lord loÌ„g preserue her Maiestie and giue vs grace so to repent and amend our sinfull liues that for our wickednesse and vnthankfulnesse her daies be not shortned do therefore lothe to heare the preaching of the armour of patience and not once remeÌ„ber to pray vnto God for the obtaining of the same But rather they seeke by their pollicies to ioyne them selues in league with the enimies of Christe that if trouble and affliction should come they may auoide the daunger not by patience in suffering for the name of Christe but by a trayterous shrinking from their Lord and sauiour And these may well be compared to the Ostridge who when there was a battell between the foure footed Beasts and the Birds to please the Beastes shewed foorth his hoofe and to make the Birds beleeue that he was of their side he put foorth his byll winges and so preteÌ„ding to take part with bothe was in deede traytor to bothe And therfore wheras of late beeing appointed by my very good Lord the Bishop of Chester I preached a Sermon at Manchester in Lankashire as concerning the bolde constant confessing of the Lord Iesus and the patient suffering of affliction for his names sake I haue thought good to publishe the same in writing to the view of those Christian Soldiers into whose handes it shall please God to send it that therby they maie learne bothe the faithfulnesse which they owe vnto their grande captaine Iesus Christe and the prouision which they ought to make in time for the armour of patience and also be admonished howe they shall sit downe and take councell and make their accoumpts of the charges which are required to a Christian mans profession And this our sauiour dooth reach vs by an other similitude taken of the wisedome which ought to be in a builder VVhich of you sayth he beeing minded to builde a Tower Luk. 14.28 dooth not first sit downe and count the costes and charges whether he haue sufficient to performe it or no least that after he hath laide the foundation and is not able to finishe it all that beholde it beginne to mocke him saying This man beganne to builde and was not able to make an ende Euen so all we which builde our selues vppon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Iesus Christe him selfe being the head corner stone must first sit downe and cast our accoumpts whether we be able to performe it or no. In what manner must we reckon our charges First whether we be fullie resolued to shewe foorth the fruite of our profession in our liues and conuersations For otherwise vnlesse with hearing we ioyne dooing with professing expressing Our sauiour sheweth vs Math. 7.27 That we build not vpon the rocke but wee are like vnto the foolishe man which buildeth vpon the sande where the raine falling and the floods running and the windes blowing doo beate downe the house so that the fall thereof is great And secondlie we must count our charges whether we be thorowlie determined by the grace and assistaunce of God whome we call vpon continually for helpe strength succour constantlie with the mouth to confesse the Lorde Iesus and with patience to take vp our crosse and followe him so that Neither father nor mother nor wife nor children nor brother nor sister nor farmes nor Oxen nor lande nor liuing nor golde nor siluer nor worldlie promotion nor tribulation nor anguishe nor persecution nor famine nor nakednesse Rom. 8.35 nor perill nor swoorde nor life