together Euen so Faith grounded vppon Christes passion Faith giueth the sappe of loue loue blossometh foorth in good workes And therefore in Faith we must be constant in loue feruent in workes diligent and in doctrine we must keepe order we may not let the effect presume before the cause nor the daughter before the mother 3 As workes without Faith make but a Pharisaicall hypocrite Euen so Faith without workes maketh but a carnall Gospeller 4 Like as the flame of fire burneth the wood without helpe of the light and yet the flame cannot bee without the light Euen so is it assuredly true that Faith alone consumeth and burneth away sinne without the helpe of works yet that the same Faith cannot be without good workes And therefore if wee see a flame that giueth no light we know by and by that it is but vaine and painted Euen so when we see not some light of good workes in a man it is a token that he hath not the true inspired Faith which God giueth to his chosen to iustifie and glorifie them with all So that most certaine it is that the loue of God and a mans neighbour doo of necessitie goe ioyntly together with Faith 5 Like as with the rysing of the Sunne there goeth ioyntly of necessitie the spreading foorth of his beames and his light Euen so of necessitie loue and good workes follow Faith in those that are iustified in so much as hee that loueth not and liueth well abideth in death 6 Like as that body wherein there remaineth no feeling or moouing liueth not And yet it followeth not thereupon that feeling and moouing are the cause of life but life is the cause of moouing Euen so the efficient cause of our iustification is God for the obedience passion and death of Christ onely And Faith is the instrument wherby we take hold of Christ our righteousnesse So then the loue of God and a mans neighbour must of necessitie followe Faith in him that is iustified Like as moouing and feeling do of necessitie follow life But loue and good workes cannot proceede but of Faith like as there can grow no good fruites but of a good tree 7 As wee commonly say that white haires make an olde man and yet our meaning onely is that they declare him to bee an old man Euen so when we say that woorkes doo iustifie it is ment that workes do but declare whom is iustified Iam. 2.18 8 Like as in the fire the light and the heate are ioyned together for mans vse yet the heate onely warmeth So likewise Faith and workes goe together in mans life and conuersation But yet it is Faith alone without workes that saueth 9 As the hand hath a propertie to reach out it selfe to lay hold of any thing and to receiue a gift But the hand hath no propertie to cut a peece of wood of it selfe without a sawe or knife or some such like instrument and yet by the helpe of them it can either diuide or cut Euen so it is the nature of Faith to goe out of it selfe and to receiue Christ into the heart As for the duties of the first and second Table Faith cannot of himselfe bring them foorth no more then the hand can diuide or cut Yet ioyne loue to Faith and then can it practise duties commaunded concerning God and man 10 As in regard of substance although the eye bee neuer alone yet in regarde of seeing it is alone Euen so though Faith subsist not without hope and loue and other graces of God yet in act of iustification it is alone without them all 11 Like as when any one of the Israelites were stung to death by fierie Serpents his cure was not by any Physicke or Surgerie but onely by casting of his eye vp to the brazen Serpent which Moses had receiued by Gods commaundement Euen so in the cure of our soules when we are stung to death by sinne there is nothing required within vs for our recouerie but onely that we cast vp and fixe the eye of our Faith on Christ and his righteousnesse Iohn 3.14.15 Forgiuenesse of sinnes onely from God 1 LIke as the Prince onely hath power to Forgiue and pardon fellonie or treason in his subiects Euen so God onely hath power to Forgiue sinne Mar. 2.7 c. 2 As that man is a Traytor who being a subiect himselfe will take vpon him to pardon treason or fellonie in another subiect Euen so is he a Traytor to God that will take vpon him to pardon that sin that is committed against God 3 Like as no man can forgiue debts but the Creditor to whom the debt is due So no man can forgiue sinnes against whom there is no sin committed but he onely that is hurt and offended by the sin and that is God either immediatly or by meanes Esay 43.25 4 Like as if one doo forgiue an other mans debts the debtor is abused if he do belieue that he is discharged of the bond of his debt and the Creditor hath wrong done him without whose knowledge and will the debts belonging vnto him are forgiuen and his debtor discharged which forgiuenesse he doth make void immediatly and doth neuerthelesse claime the debt vpon his debtor Euen so likewise if any man doo forgiue sinnes which be not done against himselfe he deceiueth him whom he forgiueth and sinneth against him also to whom the offence was done which hath the power only to forgiue or withhold the offences done vnto him and so he doth both not discharge the party that is guiltie and doth offend him also into whose right he doth vnaduisedly intrude 5 As men do not giue almes at any time to a stout begger who although he haue need yet will not confesse it and craue almes gently acknowledging his pouertie Euē so no more will the Lord giue vnto vs any spirituall almes to wit Forgiuenesse of sinnes vnlesse we shall humble our selues before him with true feeling of our pouertie and miserie Math. 9.13 11.28 False Doctrine 1 AS the herbe Blattaria wheresoeuer it bee strewed or laide the Mothes and Bats incontinently find it out and come vnto it So corrupt Doctrine wheresoeuer it be dispersed by and by such people as are corrupt wil flocke vnto it 2 As a dramme of the roote of Solanum somniferum causeth Idle imaginations two drams causeth madnesse and fower drams killeth one So a litle False Doctrine maketh an idle head Feeling of Faith and other good graces which we are indued with is not alwaies alike and the same in vs. 1 LIke as we are not alwaies alike disposed at one time as at an other So we haue not alwaies alike desire to see or to heare the word of God or to read it or to confer with our brethren which are more aduaunced in the knowledge and zeale of the true and right maner of worshipping of God then we are And likewise the spirite of God doth not touch and stirre vs vp alwaies
be able more easily to ouercome his master sinnes So likewise he that would be able to beare afflictions and the crosse of all crosses namely death it selfe must first of all learne to beare small crosses as sicknesses in body and troubles in mind with losses of goods and of friends and of good name which may fitly be tearmed little deaths and the beginnings of death it selfe so he must first of all acquaint himselfe with these little deaths before he can well be able to beare the great Death of all 35 Euen as he that hath a Sonne which is in good and perfect health and a seruant that is exceeding sicke dealeth more roughly and seuerely with his sonne then with his seruant not because hee loueth his seruant more then his sonne but because he would if it might be restore his sicke seruant to his former health but his sonne whom he loueth most dearely he reproueth checketh taunteth and correcteth Euen so our louing God sometimes afflicteth his deare children whome hee most tenderly loueth Heb. 12.6 7 Gal. 6.14 2. Tim. 3.12 Rom. 5.3 Mat. 5.10 and doth suffer them to be exercised with wants with hunger and cold with weepings and wailings with sighs and sorrowfull sobs with nakednesse and want of harbour with heauinesse of heart vexation of soule with sicknesse of bodie and want of libertie and with a thousand other calamities and cares and in the meane time suffereth the wicked and vngodly ones of the world to want nothing hee giueth them health wealth and libertie worldly honour and dignitie and what not meaning and purposing by these meanes if the fault be not in themselues to bring them to know to feare to honour and to serue him by whose prouidence and appointment they haue and enioy all those good blessings and so be cured and healed of the sores and sicknesse of their soules 36 As the skilfull pearle seller and cunning lapidarie doth willingly suffer the Indian diamond or adamant to be smitten and strooken with great and weightie blowes because he knoweth well that the hammer and anuill will sooner be bruised then the diamond or adamant will be broken So likewise our most wise God yea onely wisedome it selfe suffereth men of excellent vertues of vnquenchable loue and charitie and inuincible constancie to fall into diuers temptations and great afflictions and to be plunged deepe into manifold miseries because he will haue their inward graces to breake out and so shine before men that they seeing the constancie of his Saints may glorifie God which is in heauen 37 As a Mother that waines her childe layeth wormewood or some other bitter thing vpon her breast to make the childe loathe the milke So likewise God makes vs often feele the miseries and crosses of this life that our loue and liking might bee turned from this world and fixed in heauen 38 As rawe flesh is loathsome to the stomacke so is euerie sinner and vnmortified man loathsome vnto God till the Lord by Afflictions mortifie in him the corruptions of his nature and specially the loue of this world 39 As Horses that are headstrong and either keepe not their right pace or turne out of the way be rained and kept in with the bridle So the Lord bringeth vs backe from our headinesse by one Affliction calamitie or other 1. Cor. 11.32.2 Cor. 1.4 40 Like as if any shrewde childe purpose to flie from his schoole-maister or refuseth to keepe the schoole diligently there are messengers straightway sent for him to bring him backe So likewise God dealeth with vs who sendeth his messengers to wit troubles the pestilence and other diseases to bring vs backe to himselfe Heb. 12.6 41 As a Maister can in no wise be said to hate his scholler when he fetcheth him into the schoole with his rodde from playing the treuant euen so no more doth God hate vs when he calleth vs backe from our leaude wayes by his correction Psal 5.4.5 42 As in a house where there are many children the rod is necessarie or as in a Citie subiect to diuers diseases and where there is an euell ayre Phisitions are needfull So likewise in the house of God where there are many childrē enclined to euil the rod of Affliction is many times more necessarie then bread Psal 119.67.71 43 As a mad man is angrie with the Phisition chaseth him away and throweth away the medicine but a wise man that is sicke of a corporall disease sendeth for the Phisition taketh drinke at his hand thanketh him yea and giueth him a reward So when God the soueraigne Phisition of our soules visiteth vs with Afflictions and giueth vs wholesome medicines we must not be like mad men reiecting the hand of God but receiuing the medicine wee must giue him thankes and blesse him after the example of Iob. Iob. 1.21.22 44 As corne that is shut vp and closed in the huske and the chaffe commeth not forth if the eare be not beaten and so tarrieth still in the chaffe if it be not fanned Euen so the like hapneth to the children of God if they bee not beaten and fanned by tribulations to be seperated from the chaffe of the world and the pleasures and impediments that be in it 45 As the beasts that go by the way and see on the side of them faire fields assaying to go to them running vpon the hedges of thornes if they feele the sharpe pricks they go backe and returne into the way So likewise whē the children of God go out of the right way to heauen to go to the fields of this world and of the flesh God maketh them to come vpon the thornes of Afflictions to the ende that by their prickings they may turne backe againe Hose 2.6 46 As golde by fire is seuered and parted from drosse so singlenesse of heart and true Christian simplicitie is best seene and made most euident in troubles and Afflictions In prosperitie euery man will seeme godly but Afflictions do drawe out of the heart whatsoeuer is there whether it be good or badde Psal 26.2 47 As the obedience of Christ in the crosse was a gratefull sacrifice to God So our obedience in al Afflictions and troubles pleaseth God not for it selfe but in respect of faith whereby it is seuered from the punishments of the vngodly is layde vpon the altar of Christ through touching of whom it is sanctified and accepted of God Iob. 19.25 48 As myrrhe notwithstanding it be sharpe and bitter yet it healeth wounds and preserueth from putrifaction So the crosse and troubles of the Saints though it be irkesome to the flesh and grieuous yet it destroyeth not but healeth rather 49 Like as when a mother willing to weane her child shall say vnto him night and day My child it is time to weane thee thou art growne great inough and I am with child my milke is corrupt it will make thee sicke yet he is so fond of the breast that he can not forsake
sauage and wilde beastes 5 Like as the Sunne being high at noone causeth short and small shadowes but being low in the Morning or Euening it causeth the same to appeare both broade and large So by how much the more a man is endued with vertue and Godlinesse by so much the lesse desireth the boasting and aduauncement of himselfe whereas on the contrarie part one endued with the smacke and smell of vertue will straight cracke bragge yea and make thereof his boasts 6 As Egges that be ful doo sinke in the water but those that are emptie doo swimme aboue So he that is adorned with true vertue and learning will not so much brag or boast himselfe as he that is otherwise 7 As no man is so thankfull for health as hee that hath beene in continuall sicknesse Euen so no man feeleth the mercie of God that is not truely Humbled in his owne sight 8 As it is honestie for a man when hee is bidden to a feast to be remooued higher then he offereth to sit rather then to bee remooued lower Euen so Humilitie in our dealings bringeth Honour and estimation Luk. 14.9 10. 9 As proud persons stay themselues vpon their owne strength that is stay vpon a reede and vppon the Ice of one nights freezing and are like vnto smoake that mounteth vp on high and so in going vp is scattered and consumeth to nothing Euen so the Humble man is a Rocke or a square body which is alwayes stayed on which side soeuer it be turned 10 As Brasse or Copper dooth make a greater sound and is heard further off then Gold whereas notwithstanding Gold is farre more excellent then it So eloquence ioyned with knowledge soundeth lowder and farther then Humilitie coupled with charitie and yet such Humilitie is farre better and more excellent then it 1. Cor. 8.1 13.1 11 As the high hilles after much Tillage are often barren whereas the low Vallies by the streames of waters passing through them are very fruitfull Euen so the gifts of God ioyned with a swelling hart are fruitlesse but ioyned with loue and the grace of Humilitie they edifie 12 As a tree the more deepely it is rooted in the earth the taller it groweth and mounteth the higher Euen so a man the more humble and lowly that he is the more and higher doth the Lord exalt him Math. 7.17 Luke 1.52 53. Iam. 4.6 13 As a building is so much the firmer and stronger as the foundation and ground-worke of the same is laide lower and deeper Euen so the ground-worke of Christian Phylosophie is vnfained Humilitie and the deeper that the same is laide and setled in our hearts the surer and more permanent will the building of our religon be Luk. 14.11 18.14 Math. 23.12 14 Euen as wee see sometimes two men about to goe into some sumptuous and stately Hall or house through a very low and narrow doore the one stouping and bending himselfe dooth passe through and goe in without harme the other stout not stouping nor bending at all but preasing in with great force hurteth his head and falleth backward Euen so such a stately and princely place is the kingdome of heauen the habitation of the Saints of God whose way is very straight as Christ affirmeth and the doore thereof is lowe and narrow So that that man which humbleth himselfe and stoupeth low doth enter into that most stately and princely house of the King of heauen but hee that is puffed vp with pride and swelled with insolencie cannot get in at that gate he falleth to the ground his pride doth throw him backward Math. 7.13 14 11.29 18.3 4. 15 As spices smell best when they are smallest beaten So are a Christians good works more acceptable to God when they are lessened by Humilitie 16 As pride and good conscience can neuer goe together So Humiliation is the beginning of all grace and religion and such as haue knowledge in Religion and many other good gifts without Humilitie are but vnbrideled vnmortified and vnreformed persons 17 As the Vallies are more vsually fertile then the hils for that the fatnesse of the earth is more easily carried thither by raines and showers So must it be with vs if wee will be filled with the graces and blessings of our God we must be Humble low and plaine as the vallies 18 As that great Oratour Demosthines somtimes spake of pronunciation who beeing demaunded what was the first second and third especiall point of Rhetoricke answered alwayes Action So may wee likewise say of true Humilitie that it is the principal part of Christianitie and as it were all in all yea the life and soule thereof so that it be true entire and vnfeigned 19 As the heauier the burthen is the more it presseth downe So likewise the moe and the more hainous that our sinnes bee the greater is and ought to be our Humiliation 20 As it is in the parts of holinesse the more they are practised by the body in the life and action the more they are confirmed and encreased inwardly in the soule So the more that a man giueth himselfe to the vse of all the outward exercises of Humiliation before men the more doth he humble himselfe in the sight of God 21 As trees growing on the top of hills haue a rough barke crooked knots long bowes and therefore vnmeete for any building vntill they bee fallen pilled squared drawne home and can do nothing of al these themselues So likewise we as long as we be wandring in the mountaines and wilde woods of this world being highly minded and in great wealth or authoritie aboue others as on an hill we haue froward proud minds and not meete for Gods house vntill we be Humbled and made lowly in our owne sights and fall flat downe at Christs feete and haue the rough barke of our old Adam pulled off and our crooked affections cut away bee mortified and drawne home by the preaching of his word and working of his holy spirit 2. Cor. 3.5 Ioh. 6.44 Hypocrites 1 AS the cotten head of the hearbes Lysimachus Fodefoote Dandelion and Fleabane which a blast of wind carrieth cleane away So likwise the Religion and zealous profession of Hypocrites when a little trouble or persecution ariseth are then carried cleane away 2 As the small hearbe Biscort hath smooth and plaine leaues like vnto hearbe Patience but in the earth hath a crooked roote So many beare a smooth countenance and a faire shewe outwardly seeming to take all well which inwardly haue a crooked and an euill heart in meaning 3 As the small Celendine springeth and flowreth at the comming of the Swallowes and Summer birdes withereth at their departing So many men professing Religion rise at the warme prosperitie of some and fal away at their departure into the stormie winter of aduersitie 4 As the Holeworte with the solide roote and Holeworte with the hollow roote neuer growe together the one by the other in the same garden
that they may immediately teach not seeking thereby to amend and make better themselues 2 As vessels that are to bee filled are bowed and made apt to receiue the liquor that is powred therein So ought a Learner to accommodate and applie himselfe that nothing of that which is profitably spoken doo scape him 3 Like as in meates one and the selfe same dish is diuersly set forth according to the inuention of the dresser and appetite of the eater Euen so in Learning one and the selfe same point is diuersly handled according to the discretion of the writer and capacitie of the reader 4 Like as choyse and good Wine looseth his verdure and strength if it bee put into a vile and vnpure vessell Right so a good word or sentence if it bee spoken of an euill man or Learning if it chaunce to a wicked man taketh none effect 5 As the Diamond enchased and set in Gold giueth a farre brighter glosse then if it were set in leade yron or other baser mettal Euen so the loue of godlinesse and vertue planted in a Learned mans breast bringeth forth farre greater and more excellent fruit then if an vnlearned man enioyed the same graces Lying of God and his truth most offensiue AS hee sinneth most grieuously which deceiueth trauelling men by shewing them a contrarie way Euen so much more hainously offendeth he that in matters of Religion doctrine and godlinesse doo bring men into errours through Lying because he doth therby as it were thrust them out of the kingdome of heauen Ezech. 13.6 8 10 19. Iere. 23.25 26 35. 14.14 Esay 9.15 16. 1. Cor. 15.15 Iam. 3.14 Lords Supper 1 LIke as in the person of Christ his manhood was seene on earth and his Godhead being not at all seene did notwithstanding great and wonderfull things without any chaunging or confounding of natures Euen so in the Lords supper we see the bread and Wine Christs body we see not which notwithstanding worketh in vs. 2 As the body of the Sunnes light aboue is in it selfe whole albeit it bee dispersed heare beneath So likewise Christ in heauen aboue is whole notwithstanding he suffereth vs in his supper each one to bee full partakers of his body and bloud when hee giueth himselfe vnto vs and yet without any diminition at all of himselfe when he offereth himselfe vnto vs which are weake without beeing inclosed in vs when he is receiued of vs and without any dishonour at all to his maiestie when he commeth into our small cottage and will haue our hearts to be his Temple and dwelling place 3 Like as the forbidden fruit which Adam and Eue did eate in the Garden of Eden by Sathans prouocation procured their death Euen so that heauenly Manna which Christ hath appointed for our spirituall foode in his supper dooth bring vnto the worthie receiuers thereof euerlasting life Gene. 2.17 4 As the sicke man the weaker hee knoweth himselfe to bee should so much the more earnestly desire meate both to receiue nourishment and to refresh his strength Euen so so farre off it ought to bee that our weaknesse should keepe vs from the receiuing the Lords supper that it ought rather to spurre vs forward to come vnto it that by it we might be strengthened in faith and repentance 5 As the word of God is all one whether it fall vppon the euill or vpon the good surely it is all one in the minds of the hearers So the Sacrament of the Lords body and bloud is all one whether it be receiued of the good or of the euill and as the Gospell in it selfe is the power of God to sauing it doth also saue but it is not al alike to the vnbeleeuing as it is to the beleeuing So the Sacrament is of it selfe the body of Christ but to the wicked which doo contemne it and to them which do receiue it vnworthily it is farre otherwise 6 As a mother hauing brought foorth her little one dooth not forsake it but nurseth and bringeth it vp So Christ hauing ordained Baptisme to bee as a seale and pledge of our spirituall new birth into his Church did institute the holy supper to the end that by participation in his body and bloud we might the more bee strengthned in this assurance that Christ is ours together with all his benefites and so feede our soules spiritually to life euerlasting 7 As a litle waxe powred vpon other waxe is made all one with it Euen so they that receiue the Sacrament of the Lords supper worthily abide in Christ and Christ in them 8 As the Child when he commeth to age is bound to honour his parents not onely for his begetting and bringing into this life but also because they haue fed and brought him vp and still do continue the same duties vnto him Euen so should it be with vs whome God hath as it were begotten into his Church through our Baptisme and to whome hee hath since in his holy supper ministred the foode of our soules in the Communion of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ for not onely our spirituall new birth by Baptisme but also the spirituall foode which that good Father giueth vnto vs in his holy supper doo binde vs to honour him yea and should thereto mightily induce vs considering that for foode of our soules hee hath deliuered his onely Sonne Iesus Christ to bee crucified for vs. 9 Like as if any man had a child so sicke that nothing coulde serue for his foode and recouerie but precious Pearles confected or preserued this child should be much bound to loue and honour his parents that for his reliefe had not grudged at such cost and expences Euen so wee shall deserue great reproofe of our heauenly Father who feedeth vs in his holy supper not with pearles but with the very flesh and bloud of his Sonne Iesus Christ in case wee should make no account to please him by amendment of life withall considering that as there is no comparison betweene pearles the body and bloud of Iesus Christ so the spirituall life of our soules is without comparison much more excellent then the life of our bodies 10 As meate and drinke ministred vnto the body doo maintaine the life motions and senses of the body So from the communion in the body and bloud of Iesus Christ which is the foode of the soule must proceed the spirituall and heauenly life cogitations affections words and deedes 11 As it were a straunge case if the body by eating and drinking should gather no sustenance and consequently want all motions sense and bodily operation So were it a monstrous matter that the soule communicating in the body and bloud of Iesus Christ should gather no spiritual foode that might bring foorth newnesse of life and holynesse in words and deeds 12 As the hololy supper is the table of Gods children the faithfull and members of the Church of Iesus Christ So the communicating thereat is a solemne protestation