eares that they should not heare yea they made their hearts as an adamant stone least they should heare the law and the words which the Lord of hoasts sent in his spirit by the ministerie of the Prophets There is no stone so hard as the Diamond yet the disobedient were as hard as the Diamond Let not vs Christians equall their hardnesse and let not vs be found harder then the Diamond so that the spéech of an auncient Father may be appropriated to vs when hee sayes that the Diamond though most hard Cyp. de dâ—p martyriâ— yet it is mollified and maistered with the blood of an hee Goate but that we doe not east aside our hardnesse nor as yet are softened by the blood of Christ who was the true scape goate Leu. 16.21 shadowed out in the types of the olde sacrifices vpon which Aaron was to put his hands and to confesse ouer him all the iniquities and trespasses and sinnes of the children of Israel and to send him away by the hand of a man appointed into the wildernesse and which was a true figure of Iesus Christ that beareth the sinnes of the people Moses strake the rocke with his rod Isai 53.4 Psal 78 2â—.2 and the waters gushed out so let the remembrance of Christes sufferings and the infinite benefites that wee receiue thereby pierce our hearts and draw forth teares of true repentance and of amendment of life Psal 78.8.9.10.11 For as the Israelites were a rebellious generation a generation that fet not their heart aright and whose spirit was not faithfull to GOD and the children of Ephraim being armed and shooting with the bowe turned backe in the day of battell and kept not the couenant of God but refused to walke in his law because they forgot his Acts and his wonderfull workes that hée had shewed them so what truer reason can be giuen of rebellion against Gods ordinances but our forgetting of Gods incomprehensible loue Rom. 8.32 Ioh. 3.16 who spared not his owne Sonne but gaue him for vs all to death and that so loued the world that hée gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whoseuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Shall wee so long exhilerate and encourage our spirituall foes by wallowing in the filthinesse of sinne and giue them occasion to say in their hearts O our soules reioyce Psa 35.25 wee haue deuoured them And shall wée not by our conuersion procure ioy to the holy Angels of GOD Luk. 15.7 that reioyce more for one sinner that conuerteth then for ninety and nine iust men that neede none amendment of life Let vs dash the young children of Babylon against the stones that is Psa 137.9 let vs destroy the broode of sinne in the cradle and infancie before it wholly possesse vs and let vs spéedily driue away the tentations and enticements to wickednes that wee may say with the man of God Psâ—l 18.37.38 We haue pursued our enemies and taken them and haue not turned againe till we haue consumed them â—e haue wounded them and they were not able to rise they are fallen vnder our feete Let vs beware how sinne take roote in vs for as inueterate maladies of the body craue long and sharpe curing and as cloath often and deepely dipped in the fatte hardly or neuer leeseth his colour so the inâ—eterate vices of the soule are not easily remooued and the corruption of the minde that becomes an habite cannot be washed away without much adoe Ier. 3.23 Can the blacke Moore change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may they also doe good that are accustomed to euill saith the Lord by his holy Prophet Let vs breake the bands of Sathan and escape out of his snare wherin he would hold vs at his pleasure and let vs not suffer him to deale with vs as the childe deales with the bird which he tieth with a threede by the foote permitting it sometimes to skip fréely but then pulling it backe when it thinkes to escape so let not Sathan tie vs by the vse and custome of iniquitie that though we séeme likely sometimes to flie from him yet he may drawe vs backe because we are fettered in the traps of sinne Let vs auoid and shun the baite of wickednes with the warie fish least if we swallow downe the baite the hooke also catch vs and then our ghostly Enemie leade vs hither and thither as the fisher drawes and carries the ensnared fish according as himselfe desireth At a word 〈◊〉 not the tumults of our sinfull desires breede in vs a spirituall deafeneâ— that we cannot heare the distinct and piercing sound of the word of God that doth admonish vs Heb. 12.1 To cast away euery thing that prâ—sseth downe and the sinne that hangeth so fast on as the dwellers by some places of the Riuer Nâ—us in Egypt Cic. in sâ—m Scip. called Catadupae can heare no sound because they haue gotten a deafenes by the continual rumbling of the Riuer that rusheth downe from high mountaines but let vs beseech God to open our eares both inwardly and outwardly that we may abandon vngodlines learne to doe well and pray vnfainedly vnto the Lord Psal 69.14.15.16 that he would deliuer vs out of the mire that we sinke not and that he would deliuer vs from them that hate vs and from the déepe waters and that the water floud may not drawe vs nor the deepe swallowe vs vp nor the pit shut her mouth vpon vs and that the Lord would heare vs For his louing â—iâ—dnes is good and turne vnto vs according to the multitude of his tender mercies Contrarily to them that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse to them that haue taken vp the crosse of Christ and follow him to them that sigh vnder the burthen of iniquitie to them that are desirous to remooue hence and to dwell with the Lord to them that loue prayer the word and all good workes this spéech of the Apostle is to be proposed Let vs not be wearie of well doing for in due season we shall reape if we faint not Hast thou begun to renounce sinne and to embrace righteousnesse Let not the old Prouerbe be verified of thee 2 Pet. 2.20.21.22 The Dogge is returned to his owne vomite and the Sow that was washed to the wallowing in the miâ—e For if thou after thou hast escaped from the filthinesse of the world through the acknowledging of the Lord and of the Sauiour Iesus Christ art yet entangled therein and ouercome the latter end is worse then the beginning for it had béene better for thée not to haue acknowledged the way of righteousnesse then after thou hast acknowledged it to turne from the holy commaundement giuen vnto thée As the Scripture doeth witnesse that Christ should not surcease in the progresse of Mediatorship Math. 12.20 Luk. 1.74 75. till â—ee brought iudgement into victorie that is till hee shewed
A GLASSE FOR THE GODLY CONTAYNING MANY COMFORTABLE TREATISES to perswade men from the loue of this world to the loue of the world to come and exhorting them with cherefulnes to passe through the crosses and afflictions of this life Full of spirituall comfort for all such as hope to be saued by Iesus Christ THE FIRST PART By R W Minister of Gods Word Amend your liues therefore and turne that your sinnes may bee put away when the time of Refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3.19 AT LONDON Printed by T P for Arthur Iohnson dwelling at the signe of the White Horse in Paules Churchyard An Dom 1612. The Treatises contained in the first part THE seeking of Heauen A whip for loyterers Hipocrisie vnmasked How to vanquish Sathan Practise must accompany profession The curbing of couetousnes Know this that God will bring thee to Iudgement TO The right VVorshipfull Sir Edward Seymour Baronet all increase of solide happines on Earth and eternall felicitie in Heauen SIR NOting seriously the great securitie of the age in which wee liue how men are addicted to profit and pleasure and how they either cursorily or else not at all doe contemplate and practise that which concernes the life to come I was animated to propose these my vnpolished labours to the view of Christian Readers He that searcheth and seeth the hearts and reines knoweth that the originall motiue exciting me to put pen to paper was a desire to bestow some Spirituall gift on the Church of God for the confirmation of the godly the consolation of the afflicted the awaking of those whom sinne like a poysonesome and drouzie Aspe hath lulled asleepe in obdurate and daungerous carelesnesse I haue endeauored according to the small portion of grace giuen vnto me to charme the deafe Adder and by blowing of the Trumpet to prepare the Lords Souldiers which must fight his battels vnder Christs banner against iniquitie to the end they may be circumspect and not preuented or circumuented by their spirituall foes that watch and walke continually seeking whome they may deuoure Many before me haue ranne a faire course in this race and haue thrust their sharpe sickle into this haruest in whose steps I gladly acknowledge my selfe to haue troden and I freely voluntarily confesse that my penury hath gleaned some bundles of eares that lay scattered in their copious fieldes To him that shall obiect my drawing of water out of the fountains of others and my resounding as an Eccho of their voyces I reply that as Aeschilus the Poet was accustomed to say that his Tragedies were but small dishes of great Homers Suppers so my slender repast may be called the fragments and reliques of the delicate dishes of Learned Christian and Godly Authors And to them that shall twi◠that heere is scarce ought written that hath not been published before what shall I retorte also But that either the forme is transformed or the language altered or at least the vsage of the latter Prophets and Euangelists imitated who haue repeated much and oftentimes verbatim trāscribed out of those that wrought before them as their purpose and occasion required Is not this euident in Deuteronomie the Cronicles and the Gospels Is Paul ashamed to write the same things to the Phillippians Nay doth he not esteeme it a sure and behoouefull matter for them Is not the generall Epistle of Iude the brother of Iames a compendious abridgement and recapitulation of the latter Epistle of Saint Peter Therefore an intent to prooue our doctrine consonant to auncient and approued writers as Oecumenius Theophilact and other aswell old as Moderne haue done is not to bee misliked nor reprooued But doe I frame an Apologie in this respect and not rather inferre with an eminent sound and profound Diuine that he that helps himselfe with the precedent workes of others cannot iustly be blamed since the holy Apostle affirmes that all things are ours and are ordained for helpes and furtherances to bring vs to CHRIST IESVS What successe will accompany my enterprise I leaue to him who though Paul Plant and Apollo water yet onely giueth the increase If I haue brought but the least stone or sticke that may serue for the promoting of Gods Edifice If I haue presented but one threed that may be vsed in the garnishing of Christ Sanctuarie If I haue reclaimed but one sinner from the path of perdition vnto the way of Paradise so that any shall heereafter say vnfainedly my Soule hath been bettered by this Booke this is the marke I aimed at and praised be God from whom all good and perfect gifts descend Some readers are still desirous of Novelties not regarding to performe what they haue formerly learned like guests that disdaine the meate that is set before them euer longing after change and varietie of dishes Some Readers respect not what they read so they be reading Like thirstie trauellers that drinke of euery fountaine not considering whether the water be wholsome or hurtfull Some Readers procure diuerse Books and boast of the store and multitude of thē though they apprehēd the doctrine but in small measure Like those that furbish many weapons and keepe them in their houses but are commonly vnexpert eyther to defend or offend when they are drawne to tryall Some readers vse Books more for shew and ostentation then for study of Godlines and reformation of manners Like Children that burne lamps and candles in the night but either watch not or else vse no exercise whence profit and commoditie may redound At a word some readers reprehend what they perceiue not or depraue what they vnderstand misliking matter or methode or phrase or all these Like the captious beholders of a garden that reiect hearbs and flowers whose vertue and operation they are jgnorant of and blame the contriuing and plotting of that which they haue often seene In this variable dispositiō of readers it is not possible to satisfie the appetite and expectation of all my confusion craues order my harshnes desires a sponge my shallownes longs for waight and depth and therefore I am vrged to intreate the skilfull to pardon the defects the curious to wink at the escapes the vnlearned to suspend their censure the resolued to beware of proposterous and intemperate zeale the lukewarme and them that are frozen in their dregs to suffer the words of exhortation finally I entreat all vnto whose hands these vnadorned Treatises shall come to embrace my good meaning in the armes of Christian loue and curtesie and to remember the blessed Apostles Maxime that a man is accepted according to that he hath and not according to that hee hath not if there be first a willing mind Finally least my preface resemble a swolne head disproportionable to the dwarfelike body following or become another Myndus that had ample gates it selfe beeing a very little Cittie and therefore the Cynick floutingly aduised the Cittizens to shut the gates least the whole Cittie
we are his disciples and schollers therefore since Christ is voide of deceit and no guile was found in his mouth if we desire to be true Christians 1 Pet. 2.1 1 Cor. 14.20 Ioh. 13.36 1 Cor. 13.5 1 Tim. 6.6.7 let vs lay aside all dissimulation and guile let vs be children in malitiousnesse but of ripe age in vnderstanding let vs remember that if we will be Christes schollers wee must be knowne by loue and if wee haue true loue loue is voyd of deceit and thinketh no euill let vs not forget that Godlinesse is great gaine if a man be content with that hee hath for wee brought nothing into the world and it is certaine that wee can carrie nothing out Luk. 6.38 let vs giue good measure to other if wee desire good measure from other and then wee shall haue measure pressed downe shaken together and running ouer let vs not pinch the weight the size the lawfull measure of any commoditie onely let vs abate the measure of one thing and what is that it is the measure of our iniquitie and vngodlinesse For such measure as we meate thereof vnto God such measure will he returne if we fill out our measure of sinne God will not spare and pinch the measure of punishments Gen. 15.16 though God suffer the Amorites for a time yet his vengeance falleth when the measure of their wickednesse is full and though the vngodly suppose to continue alwaies in their iniquitie yet God can cast a talent of lead vpon the mouth of the Ephah in which thâ— Woman sitteth that is God kéepeth wickednes in a measure and can shut it or open it at his owne pleasure And aboue all things let vs not forget that our life stands not in riches and possessions but that our daies are as a span a skadowe a flower a dreame and therefore we must prepare our selues for wée know not how soone we shall be called to the Barre of Gods Iustice and shall heare that voyce Luk. 16.2 Giue account of thy stewardshâ—p for thou mayest be no longer steward Let vs beare in minde the terriblenes of the last dreadfull iudgement wherein no bribe shall cleare vs no spokesman pleade for vs no shift and euasion discharge vs but all crafts shall be displayed and ill gotten goods shall giue euidence against the vniust owners and the bookes and recordes of mens owne consciences shall condemne them and then they shall wish too late O that we had neuer oppressed and defrauded for now wee feele too truely that GOD is auenger of all such tshings Lastly let vs still call to minde the vanity of earthly riches wealth and promotions when they are at length gotten by swearing lying wrong and deceit and the eternitie and incomparable ioyes of Heauen which God hath promised and Christ hath purchased for the godly and true repenters For what is gold and siluer but the bowels of the earth And what is worldly glory but a vanishing aire and breath And what is belly cheare but the foode of wormes Christ is a King and he will enrich vs and glorifie vs and nourish vs. One saith well Bernard ser 4. de aduentu domini O ye sonnes of men you couetous generation What haue you to doe with gold and siluer which are neither true good things nor yet your owne good things For what is gold but red earth and what is siluer but white earth And what makes them pretious but the couetousnesse of the sonnes of Adam which couetousnesse if it were taken away they would not be pretious If they be your owne take them out of the world with you Psal 49. But as you come naked out of your mothers wombe when you were borne so you shall returne naked to the earth the common Mother of all flesh when you die And it is easie to prooue that mans opinion makes money pretious for the things that are faire by nature doe obtaine estimation alike among all people as the brightnes of the Sunne the beautie of the heauen the profitablenes of the water other Elements but among the Indians and Ethiopians as Tertullian witnesseth De culta mulier gold siluer and Iewels were accounted as dirt and were woont to be worne but in â—â—aâ—â—ups and shooes onely for contempt and among the Ethiopians malefactours were bounden chaines of gold In the land of Hâ—uilah Gen. 2.12 there is good gold In the land of Promise in the heauenly Ierusalem in the land of the liuing there is gold indéed Reu. 3.18 Mat. 6.20 gold tried in the fire gold which neither moath nor rust can corrupt gold of more value then the richest mines of the whole earth can yéeld vp If wee must needes thirst after gold O let vs thirst after this gold let vs be couetous after these durable riches let vs lay vp treasure for our selues in Heauen and of vnrighteous Mammon perhaps not well gained and ill kept and worse laied out let vs make friends in time that when wee shall want Luk. 16.9 they may receiue vs into euerlasting habitations If we were Ethnicks and hoped for no life after this it might peraduenture be hard to cast aside our affection to earthly things But in that we looke for Heauen and those things which are in Heauen how can this be hard vnto vs Chrys hom â— â—n Aâ—â—â— Apost If one should say thus on the contrarie Loue and desire riches a Christian should be offended thereat and say How should I desire gold and earthly riches since I looke for Heauen and they hinder me from heauen Chrys super Psal 24. Euery thing that groweth when it is come to a due and conuenient measure of stature leaueth off to growe but the money of the couetous neuer cealeth to growe But let not our desire be vnsatiable resembling the fire the water the fishes the fire Chrys in aliquot scrip loca Basil â—om 7. in auaros Bâ—sil hom 7. Hexam that is so vehement in encreasing it strength that it takes hold on all things néere vnto it the water which rising from a small beginning encreaseth so fast that it swéepes away euery thing it méetes withall the fishes that deuoure and consume one another according to their strength and greatnes so let vs not oppresse and ouerthrowe the weaker and poorer sort when our store and plentie is encreased Let vs put off the loue of the things of this world that the loue of heauenly things may enter vnto vs Exod. 3.5 as Moses put off his shoes that he might talke with God let vs not put trust in the fléeting and fading ioyes of this life but despise them in comparison of colestiall and true pleasures as the woman of Samaria left her pitcher Ioh. 4.28 1. Ioh. â— 15 when she had heard Christ Let vs not loue the world neither the things of this world if any man loue this world the loue of the Father is not in
sweate of our browes And to cast off this oldnesse and corruption we must fight many skirmishes we must ouercome many temptations we must beare many tribulations Secondly we séeke eternall glorie not a Consulship of one yeare And the afflictions of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glorie that shal be reuealed vnto vs. Rom. 8.18 Who would not liue a poore and a priuate life ten yeares that he might be sure to abound in glorie and riches fiftie yeares 1. Cor. 9.25 Shall wee murmure then to brooke the short afflictions of this fading life that we may liue nay raigne for euer in glorie euerlasting All those that striue for a Maistery abstaine from all things they doe withdrawe from their bodie meate drinke and cloathes and annoynt themselues with oyle that they may striue and struggle naked nimble and giue their aduersarie no occasion to hold them for the flesh annointed with oyle is very hardly holden So wée must cast away the immoderate care for meate and cloathes and we must be annoynted with the oyle of Faith Loue and Mercie that earthly things hinder vs not and that Sathan get no opportunitie to lay hold on vs for he layes holde on vs by meanes of our sinnes And they that annoynt their bodies doe this to receiue a crowne that perisheth and to winne praise short fraile momentanie and vaine but we to receiue glorie endles incorruptible sound and stable At Rome the way to the Consulship was to be popular to deserue well of the Common-wealth and to bestowe manie priuate benefites But our way to heauenly glorie is holines vprightnes innocencie of life continuall worshipping of God and sincere loue of our neighbour For the grace of God that bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared and teacheth vs that we should denie vngodlines worldly lusts Tit. 2.11 12. and that we should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world Soberly and temperately in respect of our selues righteously and iustly in respect of our neighbors and godly holily in respect of the seruice and worship of GOD. This is the way to Gods kingdome which Christ expressed in one word when he saide that Wee must seeke the kingdome of God and his Righteousnes For it is not enough to séeke Gods kingdome or to wish for it but we must séeke and labour to performe that Righteousnes that is pleasing to God The pennie of immortalitie is not giuen to Loyterers in the market-place but to those that labour in the Lords vineyard Lastly it is Heauen to which we goe Matt. 11.12 and in which we séeke to raigne with GOD. But the Kingdome of God suffereth violence and they that take it must take it violently and perforce Wilt thou knowe the waye to Heauen Hebr. 11.36.37 Aske of them that haue walked in that way They will tell thée that they haue bene tried by mockings and scourgings by bondes and prisonments that they were stoned they were hewen asunder they were tempted they were slaine with the sworde they wandred vp and downe in Wildernesses and mountaines and dennes and caues of the earth clothed in sheepes-skinnes and goates skinnes being destitute afflicted and tormented He that will goe to the Indies to trafficke doth not refuse the labour of sayling He that will be cured of a grieuous disease reiecteth not a bitter medicine Hee that will buy a Farme first thinkes of the price So he that séekes for the kingdome of GOD must séeke and first thinke of his Righteousnes which is the way vnto it and of the Merites of CHRIST which are the price thereof and of a liuely and effectuall Faith whereby wée are made partakers of the glorie to come As for worldly cares what doe they auaile vs Nay how much doe they hinder vs Saint Basil sayes Epist 64. as a polluted glasse can receiue no impression of Images and visages so the soule possessed of worldly cares is not capable of the Illumination of the holie Ghost And Saint Austin sayes excellently Amor rerum terrenarum est viscus spiritualium pennarum that the loue of earthly things is the Birdlime of our spirituall feathers Let euery worldling knowe that spirituall things are onely néedefull and that Christ saith to euery one as to Martha Martha Martha thou carest Luk. 10.41.42 and art troubled about many things but one thing is needefull Mary hath chosen the good part which shall not be taken away from her Can the globe of the earth be mingled with the globe of the heauen how then can the soule containe the carefull loue of celestiall and earthly things Diuine thoughts flie from a soule that is forestalled with worldly desires Bâ—r. 〈◊〉 77 â—â—cat Nec misceri poterunt vana veris aeterna caducis spiritualia carnâ—â—buâ— summa imis neither can vanitie be ioyned and confounded with truth things eternall spirituall and high with things transitorie carnall and base so as at one time we may conceiue and perceiue things aboue and things beneath We sée how the Iuy doth claspe about the trée spreads it selfe and mounts vpward by the helpe thereof but at last it sucks and drawes away the iuyce and moysture of the trée and causes it to wither so excessiue care and pensiue care for worldly things doth loade the minde and choake the soule and make them vnable to aspire to heauenly felicitie Therfore we must imitate the custom of hawkers and hunters for hawkers are woont to couer their hawkes heads with hoods and suffer not their eyes to wander hither and thither least striuing to flie after the things which they desire naturally they be not so héedfull to their preie when time and occasion shall serue and hunters doe tie and couple their dogges that their sent may be sound and perfect for the game which they shall hunt So must we doe We must containe our mindes in the loue of God and in the care of heauenly things and not permit our affections to straie aside to the anxieties and distrustfull cares of this world Heauen is the preie which mans soule must follow this it must desire this it must take by violence this it must be carefull of and on this it must bestowe her chiefe desire and studie If it flie or runne out to other things it will not care for eternall things Therefore let vs remember the exhortation of the blessed Apostle Paul Col. 3.1.2 Seeke those things which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God set your affections on things which are aboue and not on things which are on the earth If we must séeke first the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse then those are to be reprehended who chiefly séeke search and hunt after the good things of this world and the delights and ioyes thereof pampering the fraile and sinfull body and neglecting the soule which is the mistresse and gouernesse of the body and neuer dieth It is
out he tempted Christ himselfe nay he often tempted him for it is said that the Diuell departed from him for a little season If this be done in the gréene trée what shall be come in the drie He that tempted Christ our Maister will also tempt his seruants either not to doe good or if they doe good to be proud of well doing and so through pride to poyson their vertuous actions that as the moth is bred in the garment and eates the garment and as the worme ariseth on the hearbe consumes the hearbe so the haughtie conceit and reputation which they haue imagined of their owne workes may cause them to loose the things which they haue wrought 2. Chron. 6.30 and not to receiue the reward It is he that though he cannot see the thoughts of the heart for that is proper to God alone yet because he searches out the affectioÌ„s of the minde by our spéeches and gestures and outward behauiour and constitution and complexion of body he labours busily to steale the hearts of men from God 2. Sam. 15. as Absolom did the hearts of the Subiects from his father Dauid As the Cole takes fire when it is put to it for that it was apt fit to take fire so sathaÌ„ notes the inclination and tempts accordingly some to Anger some to wantonnes some to gluttony some to pride some to contention some to couetousnes if resistance be not made the flame followes that bellowes the motioÌ„ breaks out into performance Aug. super Gen. li. 10. And yet oftentimes Sathan is deceiued by the outward lineaments of the bodie and the coniectures that hee gathers therevpon for if he could sée the inward Faith Constancie and other qualities of the minde there are manie whom he would not tempt and if he could haue seene the admirable patience of Iob he would neuer haue bene so often foyled and discomfited But when hee hath ensnared and bound anie in the Fetters of sinne as the Poet sayes of Mezentius the Tyrant Mortuae quinetiam iungebat corpora vinis Viâ—gil Aeneid 8. Componens manibusque manus atque oribus orae That hée ioyned dead bodies with liuely bodies laying hand to hand and mouth to mouth to the ende the dead should defile and corrupt the liuing So this cruell Tyrant and torturer of soules linkes the liuing soule to the loue of the world and the pleasures of sinne as to a rotten carkasse that at the last also the soule may be holden of eternall death It is he that knowes that we are born anew of the immortall seede of Gods worde and therefore he endeuors either to steale the worde out of our hearts Luk. 8.12 that it may not be rooted or hée withdrawes vs from the Loue hearing reading of it or else hee procures hatred slaunder against the minister that his person may make vs to loth the word It is he that traÌ„sfigureth himselfe into an angell of light not in regard of his substaÌ„ce 2. Cor. 11.14 for he is stil an angell of darknes but in regard of his colouring counterfeiting For by his glozes shifts superstitions hée will faine himselfe to be an angell of glorie sent from God out of heauen and will perswade men to obey his counsels It is he that alledgeth Scripture to seduce soules the rather and pretendeth pietie vnder the bare shew of Gods word but he bewraies hiÌ„selfe to be a subtle sophister For as Procrastes the Tyrant of the citie Corydallus dealt with his guests making them alwayes fit for his bed for if they were too long he cutte them shorter if they were too shorte he lengthened them with pieces of their owne bodies So Sathan in whose steppes also the Heretikes of all Ages haue walked applies scripture to his wicked purpose either omitting parte thereof if it serue not his Argument or else adding somewhat theretâ— and interpreting and wresting it to a wrong sense So hee cited Scripture in the tentation of GHRIST when hee set him on a pinacle of the Temple and saide vnto him Matt. 4.6 If thou bee the Sonne of God cast thy selfe downe For it is written that he will giue his Angels charge ouer thee and with their handes they shall lifte thee vp least at any time thou shouldest dash thy foote against a stone He produceth indéed a place of the Psalme Psal 91.11 as though God promised that his Angells should safegard and defend his children euen when they do despise the meanes that he hath ordained and when they prooue whether God will or can saue them without those meanes whereas God promiseth succour only to them that walke in their wayes which God hath set downe vnto them and therefore do obediently vse the meanes which God hath ordained For this cause he abridgeth or rather mangleth the Word and leaues out these words in all thy waves whereas hee should thus haue produced the intier Scripture Hee shall giue his Angells charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy waves And therefore when the diuell abuseth Scriptures in tempting of vs the safest way is to oppose Scriptures againe vnto him as CHRIST did Because it is certaine that God doth not contradict himselfe in scripture and therefore the Diuell citeth scripture in a false sence when hee alledgeth it to perswade vs to that which is repugnant to the manifest word of God It is he that is the spirituall Pharaoh that studieth how to stay all the male chidren of the Israelites Exo. 1.16 in the very byrth That is he goeth about to choake smoother eueÌ„ a good thought as soone as it ariseth in the minde that it may not growe to full age and ripenes It is hee that is the mightie Nimrod and Hunter of soules Luc. Flor. de gest Roman li. 1. cap. 7. and that famous Robber that séekes for the worthiest booties preyes and strikes off the heads of the Poppies with Tarquinius Superbus Robbers and Thieues goe not thither where there is hay and strawe but where there is Golde and siluer saith S. Chrysostome Chrysost hom 4 in Isai so Sathan bends all his might and maine to the sacking destroying of the best of all And as it is séene among Saylers that they which haue an emptie shippe feare not the assaulte of Pyrates who come not to sinke or take a shippe that carries no wealth but they feare Pyrates that haue a shippe fraught with Marchandize and riches because Pirates couet to come where there is golde siluer and precious stones so Sathan doth not so much pursue a sinner that is deuoide of vertue and godlines as the holy Chrysos homil 9. de Ozia godly and righteous that possesse the true Treasure And as Pyrates doe not set vpon the ship that is sailing foorth of the Harborough when they know it is vnfurnished of substaÌ„ce but then they endeuor by all assayes to apprehend it when it returnes home to
make a statue thereof as good as the matter would permit so saith he a wise man and why not a Christian endued with vertue will shew it in riches if he be rich in pouertie if he be poore in authoritie if he be a Magistrate in health or sicknes according to his place quamcunque fortunam acceperit aliquid ex ca memorabile efficiet in whatsoeuer state he liue he will doe some praiseworthy thing therein On the other side as good workes are good and profitable so euill workes are dangerous and vnprofitable Psal 5.6 Rom. 2.25 2. Tim. 2.6 Eph. 4.30 For euill déedes are displeasing to God that hates all the workes of iniquitie Euill déedes disgrace our profession and Gods glory what lies in vs. Euill deedes make vs the slaues and vassals of Sathan and by them he dominéers ouer vs. Euill deedes hinder all spirituall exercises Deut. 28. for by them faith faints the conscience is hurt praier ceases and the holy spirit of God is greeued Euill déedes doe procure and pull on vs punishments both publike and priuate as warres famines pestilence and the like At a word euill deeds do merite eternall torments after this life For they that doe commit euill works haue no parte in Christs Kingdome Gal. 5.21 1. Cor. 6.10 neither shall possesse it And is it so Is death the stipend and wages of iniquitie What exhortation then is fitter then that of the holie Apostle Let not sinne therefore raigne in our mortall bodie that we should obey it in the lusts thereof That is Rom. 6.23 let vs not fréeze in the dregges of vngodlinesse Let vs not wallow welter in the puddle of wickednes Rom. 6 1â— Let vs compare and examine our liues and doings by the rule line of Gods lawes and statutes and where we finde our faultines and imperfection and who will be able to say My heart is cleane Since the righteous falles seuen times in a day therefore let vs hartily repent for the same and beséech God the Father to forgiue our offenses for the merites and Passion of his dearely beloued Sonne CHRIST IESVS Let the swearer and blasphemous person forsake his Oathes and vaine prophaning of Gods sacred name Let the abuser of the Sabbath and neglecter of Prayer and Sermons and Sacraments reclaime himselfe sanctifie the Lords Sabbath Let the enuious and malicious person lay aside his hatred and spitefulnes Let the couetous and gréedie mizer forsake his inordinate loue of money which is the roote of all euill Let the drunkard abstaine from drunkennes the fornicator from vncleannes and the hypocrite from counterfeiting and the lyer from slaunderous vncharitable reports and the brawler conteÌ„der from strife and dâ—ssention To be short let the ignorant of the mysteries of their saluatioÌ„ seeke to be filled with the knowledge of Christ spiritual vnderstaÌ„ding And let the breaker offender of Gods Lawes perswade himselfe that it is sufficient to haue speÌ„t the time past in waÌ„tonnes lusts concupiscences abhominable traÌ„sgressions and let him not suffer sinne to raigne swaye longer in his mortall bodie CHRIST our high Priest Heb. 7.26 that offered a full perfect sufficient sacrifice for our Redemption was holie innoceÌ„t vndefiled separate froÌ„ sinners higher then the HeaueÌ„s And this our holie high Priest hath saÌ„ctified vs by his Sacrifice that we should also be holy innocent vndefiled For Heb. 2.11 He that saÌ„ctifieth they which are saÌ„ctified are all of one And CHRIST gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie Tit. 2.14 purge vs to bee a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good workes Therefore we ought also as being sanctified by Christ our redeemer as being members of so worthy an head as being made conformable to so excellent an Image wée ought also to loath detest and abhorre sinne iniquitie Fâ—â—e from siâ—ne as froÌ„ a serpent for if thou coÌ„mest too néere it it wil bite thee Ecclus 21.2.3 the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a Lyon to slay the soules of men All iniquity is as a two edged sword the woundes therefore cannot bee healed saith the Wise man Consider how pestilentiall how horrible how fowle a thing sinne is and tell whether it bee a fit guest to be harbored lodged of vs or not What is it that makes a separation betwéene God and our sillie soules but sinne Hearken what the Lord saith by his holy Prophet Beholde Isai 59.1.2 the Lords hand is not shortned that it caÌ„not saue neither is his Eare heaâ—e â—hat it cannot heare but your iniquities haue separated betweene you your God and your sinnes hauâ— hid his Face from you that hee will not heare And how vn speakeable a losse is it to be separated and diuorced from GOD As almost euery one offers wrong to a Widowe because shee wants a protector So euery vncleane spirite and euery creature riseth vp against the soule that is a widow Psal 70.10.11 that is depriued of the GRACE OF GOD And the spirituall Foes that seeke such a soule take counsell together and say God hath forsaken that Soule Persecute and take it for there is none to deliuer it The Shippe that hath lost her Mast and Rudder and Gouernor yeeldes to the flawes and flouds is driuen hither and thither and tossed by euery Tempest and at last is dashed against a Rocke and is broken in pieces and the Citie that is besieged of most cruell enemies hauing no Walles nor Bulwarkes to defend it and no Garrison nor strength of Soldiours to protect it but the Citizens that are in it are in hostilitie and ciuile discord this cittie must néeds be sacked and ransacked Euen so the wretched soule destitute of the loue and fauour of God it is exposed to innumerable flouds of teÌ„ptations and is néere to shipwrack it is as a prey readie to bee torne and rent by her enemies Sathan the world and the Flesh and it is cast foorth by the very bodie that it quickeneth to vncleane spirites to be deuoured When the King remooues his Court all the Kings houshold and all the Courtiers depart with him and we say that the Court is remoued Ezek. 18.14 So when God departs from the soule all the Angels that are Gardians to the soule celestiall Courtiers depart also from it and the very good works which were formerly done are forgotten and doe léese their reward For so saith the Prophet If the righteous man turne away from his righteousnes and commit iniquitie and doe according to all the abhominations that the wicked man doth shall he liue all his righteousnesse that he hath done shall not be mentioned but in his transgression that he hath committed and in his sinne that he hath sinned in them shall he die Of the departing of this heauenly Court Saint Basin thus saies In Psa 33 Like as smoke driues away Bees and
on Christ our Mediatour and Aduocate and to declare our faith by vertue and godlines of liuing that we may be absolued and preuaile against the daungerous enemies and accusees of our soules in the last and great day of iudgement For where our Sauiour saith That the houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voyce Ioh. 5.28 we must attentiuely consider that it is said that the houre of the last day shall come For because we doe often so much pursue the vanitie of this world therein passeth away the tediousnes of houres and times in that we are taught that the houre of iudgement shall come and we knowe not how soone this must make vs carefull and watchfull in the loue and embracing of godlines For they that affirme that all shall at the last be said how can they aunswere to that spéech of him that cannot lie when he speaketh of the resurrection and last iudgement saying They shall come foorth that haue done good Ioh. 5.29 vnto the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of condemnation In which words Christ sheweth that the twofold state of men shall appeare in the end of the world also and not without iust cause For as men haue béene diuerse in this life some elect some reprobate so euery one shall haue his reward and Christ shall gather all nations before him and separate them as the Shepheard separates the shéepe and goates setting the shéepe on the right hand and the goates on the left hand All shall liue indéed after the generall iudgement but there shall be a distinction of this life by the iudgement of Christ the iust Iudge For Christ béeing God that taketh no pleasure in iniquitie when he hath gathered the wheate into his gainer that is when he hath called and receiued the faithfull and godly to the perpetuall possession of his kingdome Matt. 3.11 then he will burnethe chaffe that is vnfruitful persons workers of iniquitie with fire that cannot be extinguished and the Angels shall goe forth and separate the euill from the iust Matt. 13.41 Mar. 9.41 and throwe them into the fornace of flaming fire where shall be wéeping and gnashing of téeth and the worme will neuer die This the Diuine expresseth in these words He that ouercometh shall inherite all things and I will be his God â—eu 21.7.8.27 and he shall be my son but the fearefull and vnbeleeuing and the abominable and murtherers and whoremongers and sorcerers and Idolaters and all lyars shall haue their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death for none vncleane thing shall enter into Heauen neither whatsoeuer worketh abomination or lyes but they which are written in the lambes booke of life The Apostle preaching to the Athenians Act. 17.31 said that God hath appointed a day in the which he will iudge the world in righteousnes As if Saint Paul had said that the circumstance and consideration of the time must stir vs vp to repentance and amendment of life for this is the time of grace in which men may be partakers of Gods mercie if they repent But if men stubbornely reiect the mercie of the Lord offered vnto them they must knowe that all men shall in the prefixed day be arraigned before Gods Tribunall seate which can neither be auoyded nor refused For albeit God suffer the vngodly for a time yet he doth it not for that he alloweth their wickednes but that by his forbearance he may allure them to repentance and if they contemne his kindnes and long suffering when he inuiteth them to his feare at length will they nill they they shall finde him a sharpe and seuere Iudge As he patiently for a long time expected the conuersion of the old world in the daies of Noah but at last said Gen. 6.3 That his spirit should not alway striue with man because he is but flesh and that his daies should be an hundreth and twentie yeares that is because men could not be wonne by Gods lenitie and long sufferance whereby as it were he stroue to ouercome them he would no longer stay his vengeance but definitely prescribe the terme of an hundreth and twentie yeares in which the inhabitants of the earth might repâ—nt before the Earth were destroyed Gen. 19.19.24.25 and as God patiently for a long time expected the conuersion of the Sodomites in the daies of Lot but at last for their hardnes of heart consumed them with fire and brimstone from heauen and their cities and that that grew vpon the Earth and as God patiently expected for a long time the conuersion of the Israelites sending his seruants the Prophets daily vnto them that they might be spared 2. King 17.13.14 but at last for reiecting and contemning of his admonitions and threatnings he destroyed Samaria Ierusalem so whosoeuer shall doe wickedly and yet shall thinke to escape Gods iudgement Rom. 2. â— 4 5.6.7.8 â— 10 despising the riches of Gods bountifulnes and patience and long sufferance not knowing that the bountifulnes of God should lead him to repentance he after his hardnes and heart that cannot repent heapeth vp as a treasure vnto himselfe wrath against the day of wrath and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God who will reward euery man according to his works that is to them which through patience in well doing séeke glorie and honor and immortalitie eternall life but vnto them that are contentions and disobey the truth and obey vnrighteousnes shall be indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish shall be vpon the soule of euery man that doth euill of the Iew first and also of the Grecian but to euery man that doth good shall be glorie and honour and peace to the Iewe first and also to the Grecian And why is the separation of the good and bad expressed by the comparison of the shéepe and goates but partly for the consolation of the godly who in this mixture of good and bad are manifoldly molested by the reprobate as the shéepe are by the goates partly for the instruction and admonition of the godly that we should be most studious in this life to cast aside the manners and malice of goates and to expresse the simplicitie and innocencie of shéepe When the world goes about to draw vs to the pleasures of youth and by addicting our selues to vanitie to forget God and his worship let vs call to minde what Salomon saith of this matter reioyce saith he Eccles. 11.9 ô young man in thy youth and let thine heart cheere thee in the daies of thy youth and walke in the waies of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes but knowe that for all these things God will bring thee to iudgement When the loue of the world and the desire of riches and honour shall moue vs to be vnconscionable vnmercifull readie
such death and tribulations are not a reproach vnto them but a thing glorious in Gods sight and pleasing vnto him Rom. 5.3 Therefore the Apostle saieth That we reioyce in Tribulations That is we iudge afflictions to be a glorious thing which God will after chaunge into glorie and this is the peculiar wisdome of the Church which the world perceiueth not Lastly hee affirmeth that there remaines a life and iudgement after the death of the bodie For if the death of the godlie be not neglected of God but is pretious in his sight and on the contrarie * Mors impiorum pessima vulgata translatio ex Graeco Psal 6.8 If the death of the vngodly bee euill there must néedes remaine a iudgement wherein this shall bee made manifest to all Tyrants shall receiue punishment for their crueltie but the godly shall be â—dorned w th eternall glorie For if God number the teares of the faithfull and put them into a Bottell Ps 34.21 How can he suffer the blood that is shed for the confession of his diuine Name to perish and vanish away to nothing Doest thou quake and tremble at the remembrance of that horrible day 2. Pet. 3.10 in which the Heauens shall passe away with a noyse and the Elements shall melte with heate and the earth with the workes that are therein shal be burnt vp Bee of good comfort For thy Iudge is also thy Sauiour he is thy Brother he is thy head and thou a member of his bodie Hee loues thée most ardently hee is thy Iesus That is SAVIOVR Patrone Aduocate Redeemer Intercessor Hee layed downe his life for thée Ioh. 5.24 He hath sworne with an oath that if thou belieue in him thou shalt haue eternall life He maketh request for thée and who shall condemne thée He coÌ„meth to finish the troubles of the World and to auenge himselfe of his enemies and to deliuer the godly from the hands of sinners and he commeth not to condemne thée but to absolue thée and not to torture thée but to rid thée from all miserie and to make manifest thy full Redemption and to frée thy bodie also from all calamities to performe that promise of eternall life which so often he hath made vnto thée in his sacred word For he that heareth his word belieueth God that sent him hath euerlasting life shall not come into condemnation but hath passed froÌ„ death to life Therefore as Christ saith Surely Reu. 22.20 I come quickly So thou mayest say with the Euangelist Amen euen so come Lord Iesus It is for the wicked that haue no part in Christ to tremble and be dismaied at the very mention of the great day For what haue they to doe with it Amos. 5.18.19.10 the day of the Lord is as darknes and not light as if a man did flie from a Lyon a Beare met him or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall and a Serpent bit him shall not the day of the Lord to the wicked be darknes not light euen darknes and no light in it Zach. 9.9 But the Prophet Zachariah bids the Daughter of Zyon to reioyce for the comming of her King And vpon good reason Isai 35.4 for as another Prophet testifieth The same day that brings wrath vengeance to the vngodlie brings a recompence and saluation to the godly For which cause the holie Apostle Paul sets this downe for a marke of the faithfull by which they may be knowne Namely 1. Cor. 1.7 2. Tim. 4.8 that they wayre for the appearing of CHRIST and loue his comming Therefore if we shall happeÌ„ to liue at such time as Christ shall come to Iudgement against the beholding of those ghastly signes which shall be ioyned with his CoÌ„ming we must coÌ„fort our selues with Christs promise that then our Redemption draweth neere that is that he will take vs to himselfe into heauen finally deliuer vs from all miseries In the meane time let vs belieue with the Apostle That there is layed vp for vs the crowne of righteousnes which the Lorde the righteous Iudge shall giue vs at that day not to vs only but vnto all them that loue that his appearing And when we sée the clowds of the Heauen let vs be admonished of these things For as when Christ Ascended Act. 1.11 a clowde tooke him out of sight and as Christ shall so come againe euen as he was takeÌ„ vp that is in the clowds 2. Thess 4.17 so the clowds shall as a Charret to lift vs vp to eternal glorie and we shal be rapt vp into the clowdes to meete the Lorde in the Aire Psal 20.3 c. When we heare the Thunder which is the terrible and mightie voice of God let vs suppose that we heare the lowde voice of the high Iudge pronouncing the Sentence both of the shéepe and goates When wee sée the swift and bright and sudden flashes and flakes of lightning Let them call to our mindes the sudden and vnexpected and * Epipháneian 2. Tim. 4.8 cleere and perspicuous comming and appearing of the supreme Iudge For as the lightening that lighteneth out of the one part vnder heauen shineth vnto the other part vnder Heauen so shall the Sonne of man be in his day Luk. 17.24 And since these things must be so For heauen and earth shall passe and be changed but the word of the Lorde abideth for euer what manner persons ought wee to be in holy conuersation godlines looking for and hasting vnto the coÌ„ming of that day of God by which the heauens being on fire 2. Pet. 3.11.12.13.14 shal be dissolued the Elements shall melte with heate But we looke for new Heauens and a newe Earth according to his promise wherein dwelleth righteousnes Wherefore seeing we looke for such things Let vs be diligent that wee may bee found of him in peace without spot and blameles Let vs take heed to our selues Luk. 21.34 least at any time our hearts be oppressed with surfetting and drunkennes and cares of this life and least that day come on vs at vnawares There are thrée Robes and Garments belonging to a true Christian The first is a Purple robe the second is a white robe the third is a golden robe If we will attaine to true happines and holines Iude. vers 23. wee must cast off our owne polluted rags and denie our selues and we must put on these rich pretious garments First we must be arraied in a purple garment dyed and dipped in the blood of the Sonne of God That is Gal. 3.27 wee must fréely receiue forgiuenes of sinnes and be reconciled to GOD through CHRIST and Faith in his blood and this is our Iustification Next Rom. 13.13 wee must be clothed with a white robe That is it becomes vs to be renued in the spirit of our mind and to serue God in holines and
of the Lord are with them that feare him and he will not admit the sinfull soule into the mysteries contained in his holy word If we will haue our hearing of the word to prosper we must remoue the curtaine of wickednes from our hearts 2. Cor. 3.15 else we shall heare without profite as the Iewes reade the lawe and vnderstand it not because the vaile is not taken from them If we will be rightly instructed and sanctified by hearing the word and bring foorth acceptable fruit we must breake vp the fallowe ground Ier. 4.4 and not sowe among thornes for if the good séede fall among thornie sinnes that naturally sprout and spring vp in vs they will choake all the good plants of holy doctrine that are graffed in our hearts If we will approach néere to God by hearing the word we must not bring a prophane and a wicked heart Leu. 10.3 as Nadab and â—bihu offered strange fire before the Lord for God will be honored in them that drawe nigh vnto him If we will growe in grace by our entrance into the Lords house we must looke to our feete how much more to our hearts when we come thither Matt. 22.11 and we must not thrust into the marriage feast not arraied in the marriage robe that is we must not presume to heare the word of God with a polluted vncleane and vnsanctified heart An honest and vertuous heart rinsed and clensed from the dregs of iniquitie makes vs chéerefull and forward and desirous to heare the word of God And as hunger is the best sawe for meate so the desire of the word is the best motiue and prouocation to the hearing thereof and where that desire is there the words of the Psalmist shall be heard How swéete are thy promises vnto my mouth Psal 119.103 yea more then hony vnto my mouth To be hungry for meate declares good health of bodie so to long for the word of God Hom. 2. in Isai argueth good constitution of soule saith Saint Chrysostome And why doe many get so little good by hearing It is because the honest and good heart is not in them that brings foorth the true desire of hearing When Diogenes was repelled of â—nâ—sthâ—nes he put his head vnder his staffe and said beate me Laerâ— l. 6. as long as thou wilt for thou shalt finde no staffe so hard that may driue me away from thee as long as thou speakest any thing that I may learne If our desire of diuine wisedome were answerable to Diâ—genes his desire of humane wisedome no labour no paines no busines should plucke vs backe from hearing of the word But therefore doe we neglect to heare because we desire not to heare and therefore we desire not to heare because we know not the true benefite of hearing and haue not the good heart that should excite vs to séeke it out For as the things which we behold a far off are represented bigger to our view then they are indéed and those things seeme big which are néere vnto vs so to a sinner that loues earthly things all things pertaining to God because they are farre from his eye and the whole knowledge of diuine matters appeares small contemptible and the ioyes commodities only of this world séeme fairer desirable because they are néere to his eye from this blindnes proposterous iudgement springs that difference betwéene corporall foode set on the table and spirituall foode deliuered in preaching For when we are inuited to a banquet we doe not refuâ—e as if we wanted not meate but when we are inuited to heare the word we oftentimes refuse as if we néeded no preaching When we sit at table we would gladly be serued with the best meate and care not before whom the course meate be set but in hearing the word as in the reprehension of some vice that chiefely makes for the soules health we remoue the best from vs and shift it off to other saying this toucheth him or him not me When we sit at table we would be first but when we shall heare the word we care not if we be last When we sit at table scarce any banquet séemes too long but when we heare the word almost euery sermon is tedious Lastly at table we eate often and almost daily the same foode without disdaine but in hearing the word we can scarse heare one spéech twise vttered without loathing And what is the cause of all this but for that our stomackes are queasie and our appetites decaied towards heauenly things Wherefore as the blinde Bartimaeus cast away his cloake Mar. 10. â—0 when he should come to Christ to receiue his sight of bodie so we must cast off our rags of sinne when we come to the word to receiue knowledge and our inward sight of minde For the feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge Pro. 1.7 Gods graces will not come to the heart nor remaine in the heart that is not clensed from wickednes if we will haue Christ to teach vs Mar. 4.34 as he expounded all things to his disciples apart we must also goe apart from iniquitie and the loue of the things of the world and we must earnestly beg that honest and good heart of him that seeth and ruleth all hearts that our soules being made vndefiled Virgines Reu. 14.3 may sing the Virgines song which none can learne but such as sing it Next we must heare and kéepe and retaine the word in our hearts that it may dwell in vs plenteously He that puts bread or any other meate into his mouth first chewes it and then conuaies it into his stomack so when we haue heard Gods word we must meditate on that we haue heard and we must consider what was spoken and how it was spoken and to what purpose it was spoken There is much adoe to kéepe the word when it is heard for the flesh and the diuell fight against the Spirit that séekes by the preaching of the word to be a new ghest in our soules 2. King 9.20 But as Iehu was knowne by his furious marching so an honest and good heart is knowne by zeale and earnestnes to finish a good purpose in hearing and keeping Gods word that it may dwell in vs. And as Iaakob when he wrestled with the Angell said I will not let thee goe Gen. 32.26 except thou blesse me so a true Israelite will say when he heares the word I will sixe it in my heart and I will not let it depart till it reforme my minde and bring foorth fruit Neither auailes it ought to heare the word except the heart kéepe it and faith engraue it deepely in the soule What did it profit Adam Gen. 3.11 to heare the commandement to abstaine from the trée of knowledge of good and euill when he neither beléeued nor kept it What did it profite Loâ—s wife to heare that commandement Gen. 19.17 Escape
it But rather as when thou art trimmed of the Barber thou lookest on the glasse to sée whether thou aâ—t well trimmed or not so when thou goest from hearing the word consider whether thou be made better or worse by the hearing Art thou learned Let the word of Christ dwell in thee plenteously and despise not the preaching and exposition thereof Though thou know much yet thou maiest be confirmed in knowledge though thou reade priuately with deuotion yet that which mooued thée not then nor séemed worthy to be obserued when another vtters it may worke on thy soule 2. Sam. 12.1 though Dauid were a singular Prophet yet Nathan roused him out of his securitie though Pharaoh remembred his dreame yet Ioseph made the interpretation thereof cléere vnto him Gen. 41.17 Art thou vnlearned pray that the word of Christ may dwell in thee plenteously and loue it earnestly and meditate thereupon continually and then thou shalt say with the Prophet Psal 119.98.99.100 by thy commandements O Lord thou hast made me wiser then mine enemies Psal 119.98.99.100 for they are euer with me I haue had more vnderstanding then all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation I vnderstood more then the Ancient because I kept thy precepts For true it is Ean es philomathès èse polumathés Isocrat that the Athenian Oratour wrote ouer his schoole doore in golden letters If thou loue learning thou shalt attaine to much learning Art thou poore or rich Art thou a father or a child Art thou a Maister or a seruant Art thou a Magistrate or a priuate person Of what ranke or condition soeuer thou art Let the word of Christ dwell in thée plenteously For if thou be tempted to sinne it will call to thy minde what is written and what thou hast read if thou doubt what is to be done by thy selfe or other it will direct thée in the right way if thou wouldest reprooue vice it will teach thee the will of the Lord if thou wouldest confirme truth or confute errour or comfort the afflicted there thou shalt be satisfied and learne the whole dutie of man Wherefore since they that are of God Ioh. 8.47 1. Io. 4.6 heare Gods words and they that despise it are not his children let vs shew our selues Gods children by hearing his word let vs remooue from vs the loue of the world that doth commonly hinder it let vs shun pleasures and cares that doe choake it let vs heare it with an honest and good heart and a purged minde and a sincere faith and a prompt will and an humble and reuereÌ„t feare of the Lord and daily and diligent praiers and supplications for the true vnderstanding thereof let vs kéepe it by continuall meditation and obedience and watchfulnes and profession and practise that so lodging the word of God as an heauenly guest in our soule and suffering it to dwel therein plenteously in all wisedome in this life in the life to come we may dwell eternally with that word Ioh. 1.1.4 which is God and which is life and may sit downe with Abraham Isaak and Iacob in his heauenly kingdome Amen THE HVMBLE CENTVRION Matt. 8.8 But the Centurion answered saying Maister I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe but speake the word onely and my seruant shall be healed THis is the answere of the Centurion to Christ wheÌ„ hee had desired him to heale his seruaÌ„t that was gréeuously pained with the palsie when Christ had said that he would come and heale him As if the Centurion had thus answered Maister I beléeue that thou art the Messias and Sauiour of beléeuers I beléeue that thou art the onely sonne of God I beléeue that thou art omnipotent able with a word to call remooue sicknesses diseases from maÌ„s body EueÌ„ as I haue my souldiours at coÌ„mand when I say to one go he goeth to another come he commeth and to my seruant doe this he doth it so if thou bid sicknes enter on a man it enters if thou bid sicknes depart from a man it departs if thou bid sicknes returne to a man it returnes if thou bid sicknes kill a man it kils him if thou bid sicknes not to touch a man it toucheth him not Since then I knowe thy Maiestie authoritie and power I suppose it needles to entreate thee to come to my house as if in thine absence thou couldest not heale my seruant or as if thou were like other Physitians that must behold the sicke patient and consider of many circumstances that are to be weighed in applying of medicines but it shall be sufficient if thou speake the word onely And what should I expect thy comming to mine house séeing I am a sinner and altogether vnworthy that thou shouldest enter vnder my roofe It is doubtfull which was greater and more to be admired whether the Centurions faith or the Centurions humilitie His faith is highly extolled by Christ himselfe Verse 10. when he said Verily I say vnto you I haue not found so great faith euen in Israel As if our Sauiour had said In Israel there are that doe embrace my doctrine and sticke to me and followe me and acknowledge that I am the lambe of God that taketh away the sinne of the world but these haue beene alwaies brought vp in religion and haue continually heard the prophecies â—ead that testifie of my comming in the flesh this Centurion is a stranger borne a Gentile naturally voyde of the knowledge of the lawes written by Moses and therefore forasmuch as he makes so excellent a profession of my power and worthines I am constrained to maruell and I must needes say that I haue not found so great faith euen in Israel Christ hath so fully and plenteously commended the Centurions faith that it needes no farther explanation or amplification vnles we should be exhorted to the imitation of it namely that in all our dangers troubles crosses and afflictions we relie wholly on the mercie of our onely Sauiour not distrusting but that he can and will at an instant and in a moment succour vs if he speake the word onely and see that it shall redound to Gods glorie and to our saluation Let vs then see what edification we may retaine by the Centurions humilitie when he saith Maister I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe If this were the same Centurion that S. Luke writes Luk. 7.2.4.7 of as some very learned men haue thought though there séeme some difference in the narration doubtles he was a Nobleman and appointed by the Romanes a Gouernour and a president of Capernaum the chiefe citie of Galile who so much loued the Iewish nation that he built a Synagogue for them and therefore the Elders of the Iewes were intercessors to Christ for him saying that he was worthy that he should doe this for him Yet this Centurion respecting neither the Noblenes of
was defiled and that he was cast downe to the pit and died the death of a man Where is Nebuchadnezar Dan. 3.15 that said who is that God that can deliuer you out of mine hands Is not this great Babel that I haue built for the house of the kingdome by the might of my power for the honour of my Maiestie Where is Edom 4.27 Obad. that because he dwelt in the clefts of the rocke and on high said in his heart Who shall bring me downe to the ground Though thou exalt thy selfe as the Eagle and make thy nest among the stars theÌ„ce will I bring thee downe saith the Lord. Where is the reioycing citie Niniueh Zeph. 2.13.14.15 that dwelt careles and said in her heart â—am and there is none bâ—sideâ—â—e how was she made wast and â—esolate like a wildernes for the flocks did â—â—e in the midst of her and all the beasts of the nations and the Peâ—câ—ne and the owle did abide in the vpper posts and the voice of birds did sing in the windowes and desolation wa vâ—oÌ„ the posts 2. Macc. 9.8.10 Where is Annochus that was so proud beyond the condition of man that he thought he might commaund the flouds of the Sea and weigh the high mountaines in the balance and reach to the stars of heauen Matt. 3.9 Io. 8.23.39 9.28 Where are the haughtie Scribes and Pharises that gloried of their honorable discent and that they were the disciples of Moses were not all these consumed in their pride and compelled to féele the puissant and yron scepter of the Lord and forced to confesse that all honour and glorie is to be ascribed to the highest If then the proud haue still vanished away as a vapor and cloud and haue perished in the imaginatioÌ„s of their owne harts let vs learne to be humble Gregor l. 25. Morâ—l either remeÌ„bring our miseries coÌ„sidering where we haue bene or fearing the senteÌ„ce of Gods iudgmeÌ„ts considering where we shall be or hauing an eye to the afflictions of this life considering where we are or contemplating the ioy of the supernall countrie considering where we are not by which fower considerations one saith Ieâ— 9.23.24 That humilitie is engraft in our minds and let not the wife man glorie in his wisedome nor the strong man glorie in his strength neither the rich man glorie in his riches but let him that glorieth glory in this that he vnderstandeth and knoweth the Lordâ— and let euery one say with the humble Centurion Maister I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe For why our soules naturally are depraued and corrupted with the pollution of originall sinne which is deriued from Adam our great grandsire by which originall pollution the Image of God after which we were at first formed is deformed in vs and all innocencie is defaced in vs and we are depriued of the knowledge of God and spirituall things and we are fraught with pride darkenes ignorance and vnholines Our soules being thus originally by the grace and mercie of the Lord they are made temples and dwelling places of the holy Ghost who formes and frames vs anew who shuts out at doores the old man with his deceiueable workes and brings the new man in possession which is created in holines and true righteousnes after the Image of him that at first created him and who refines our thoughts and casteth our mindes in a newe mould Isa 11.6.7.8 so that the Wolfe forgets his greedines and the Leopard his fiercenes and the Lyon his sauagenes and the Beare his rauenousnes and the Cockatrice his poyson Mic. 4.3 and the warriour turnes his speare into a sithe and sword into a mattock that is by the spirit of God we are regenerate new borne and made new creatures In that then our mindes which naturally are cages receptacles of pollution and vngodlines are made mansions pallaces and temples for the holy Ghost his sacred motions to dwell and lodge in we may iustly say Lord we are not worthy that thy grace and holy spirit should come vnder the roofe of our soules Againe by nature we are the children of wrath subiect to eternall death and of our selues we had no power or meanes to deliuer and saue our selues But God so loued vs that he gaue not an Arkangell or an Angell or a Patriarke or a Prophet to pay our ransome but he gaue his only and beloued sonne Iesus Christ to the death and the cursed and ignominious death of the crosse for vs wretched sinners that sate in darkenes and in the shadowe of death Christ is our Redeemer our mediatour our aduocate our Moses that stood in the gap betweene vs and Gods anger that made peace betweene God and man that cancelled the handwriting of the law that was against vs that brake downe the partition wall and of strangers made vs fellow citizens with the Saints and that combines and vnites our soules as members to himselfe by a liuely and sauing faith By this faith we apply the promises of mercie and Christs merites and worthines to our soules by this faith we appeare iust and vnblamable in the fight of God by this faith in Christ we are accounted as holy and righteous before the Tribunall seate of God as if we had neuer committed any sinne and as if we our selues had wrought that atonement satisfaction which Christ hath wrought for vs. In that then we are so metamorphosed and altered that of sonnes of damnation we are become heires of saluatioÌ„ we may iustly say O Lord we are not worthy that this vnconceiueable loue of God this all-sufficient satisfaction of Christ this iustifying faith should come vnder the roofe of our soules Againe who knowes not how manifold the afflictions of the godly are in this present world Sathan coÌ„tinually séekes to pray vpon vs the world labours to fashion vs like it selfe the flesh which we carrie about vs like an intestine traitour is readie to beguile vs and to draw vs from the narrowe way of life to the wide way of destruction Vnto these may be added the vnfaithfulnes of men the ingratitude of the world the maladies and sundrie infirmities of the body the anguish terrors of conscience the variable crosses and tribulations which coÌ„tinually succéed one the other as Iobs messengers reported il newes one vpon the other Iob. 1. If the God of coÌ„â—olation did not arme vs with strength to quench and repell the firie darts of the wicked with constancie to fight valiantly till we be more theÌ„ Conquerors in all tentations with patience to submit our selues to the blessed will of God in all changes chances of this mortall life and with firme hope of remission of sinnes by the blood of Christ and of obtaining eternall life by his intercession theâ—e surging and swelling flouds of tribulation would goe ouer our soules and ouerwhelme vs. In that then the holy spirit
himselfe conquerour ouer all his enemies so Christ hath deliuered vs out of the hands of all our enemies that wee should serue him without feare all the dayes of our life in holinesse and righteousnesse before him Wilt thou know then what is the best way of perseuering Christ sheweth Ioh. 15. â—0 when hee saieth If ye keepe my commaudements ye shall abide in my loue as I haue kept my Fathers commaundement and abide in his loue For it is not the specious and gay beginning but the vertuous and firme ending Mat. 19.30 that hath the recompence for many that are first shall be last and the last shall be first Hast thou begun to beléeue the Gospell Col. 1.23 and to professe the faith Continue grounded in the faith and be not moued away from the hope of the Gospell whereof thou hast heard and which hath beene preached vnto thée Eph. 2.18 19. and be thou rooted in the loue of God that Christ may dwell in thine heart by faith and thou mayst be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heigth and to know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge that thou mayest be fiâ—led with all fulnesse of GOD and hold fast thy profession Heb. 4.16 That thou mayest goe bouldly vnto the throane of grace that thou mayest receiue mercy and finde grace to helpe in time of neede For he that wauereth Iam. 1.6.7.8 is like a waue of the Sea tost of the winde and carried away neither let that man thinke that he shall receiue any thing of the Lord a double minded man is vnstable in all his wayes Hast thou begun to pray to the Lord and canst not see thy petitions by and by accomplished Pray alwaies and waxe not faint Call to minde the Parable of the vniust Iudge Luk. 18.4.5.6.7 whom the importunitie of the widdowe ouercame and forced to say that though he feared not God nor reuerenced man yet because the widowe troubled him he would doe her right least at last shee should come and make him wearie Heare saith Christ what the vnrighteous Iudge saieth Now shall not GOD the most righteous Iudge auenge his Elect which cry day and night vnto him yea though he suffer long for them Call to minde the woman of Canaan Mat. 15.22.28 who being a suppliant for her daughter so long continued crying Haue mercy on me O Lord the Sonne of Dauid and so long waited the Lords leisure till Iesus answered O woman great is thy faith be it vnto theâ— as thou desirest Call to minde the blinde men that would not be stayed by the rebukes of the multitude Math. 20.31 that willed them to hold their peace but redoubled their crie for mercie till they obtained their request Call to minde our Sauiour himselfe Matt. 26.44 Psal 123.2 how he repeated the same praier thrise in his agonie to teach vs that we must pray continually and that as the eyes of seruants looke vnto the hand of their maisters and as the eyes of a maiden vnto the hand of her mistresse so our eyes must waite vpon the Lord our God vntill he haue mercie vpon vs. Hast thou borne many aduersities and crosses and afflictions Ecclus. 2.1.2 c. Be constant vnto the end For if thou wilt come into the seruice of the Lord prepare thy soule to tentation settle thine heart and be patient ioyne thy selfe vnto him and depart not away that thou maiest be encreased at thy last end whatsoeuer commeth vnto thée receiue it patiently beléeue in God and he will helpe thée order thy way aright and trust in him waite for his mercie shrinke not away from him consider the old generations marke them well Was there euer any confounded that put his trust in the Lord or who hath continued in his feare and was forsaken or whom did he euer despise that called vpon him For God is gratious and mercifull and forgiueth sinnes and saueth in the time of trouble But woe vnto them that haue a fearefull heart woe vnto him that is faint harted and beléeueth not woe vnto them that haue lost patience For what will they doe when thâ— Lord shall visite them We must not still erspect easie and pleasant proceedings in performing of good workes When the children of Israel did trauell in the wildernes by Gods appoyntment Exod. 17. sometimes they wanted water sometimes their enemies set vpon them sometimes other aduersities pressed them yet at length they were put into the possession of the land flowing with milke and honie And when the eleuen tribes did fight against Beniamin Iudg. 20. by Gods commandement in two fights they receiued a great ouerthrowe but in the third battell they vtterly vanquished Beniamin Such difficulties doth the Lord now and then cast in the way of the godly for the greater triall of their faith and patience Howbeit this commonly is done by the fraude of the diuell and the subtiltie of his adherents Gen. 49.17 for he is as a Serpent by the way and an Adder by the path biting the horse héeles so that the Rider shall fall backward For as the hunter when he seeth the beast running into the nett of his owne accord makes no noyse nor yéelds foorth any shouting but if he perceiue the beast to goe a contrarie way he stops his course and by fraying forceth it to runne into the snare so the diuell whom he seeth to perish willingly and to passe their time in sloath and idlenes those he molesteth not but they that haue a diligent regard of their saluation and doe endeuour to doe vertuous and good déeds those he troubleth and terrifieth from their purpose that they may be entangled in his traps and cease from finishing of godly enterprises But the faithfull that know Sathans circumuenting enterprises as Saint Paul cals them 2. Cor. 2.11 and are acquainted with his practises must not foreslacke their forwardnes in the feare of God but must inuocate the aide of the Lord in all aduersities and tribulations and then they shall finde that as the diligent Physitian is euer attending on his patient Psal 145.18 Basil in hom in princip prouerb So the Lord is neere to all that call vpon him yea to all that call vpon him in truth and as the marriners that are woont to behold the Sunne in the day and the North starre or some other cléere starre in the night do thereby finde out a readie course in the Sea so if in euery tribulation danger and difficultie we lift vp our minds vnto God Psal 91.1.3.4 Because we dwell in the secret of the most high we shall alway abide in the shadowe of the Almightie surely he will deliuer vs from the snare of the hunter and from the noysome pestilence he will couer vs vnder his wings and we shall be sure vnder his feathers his trueth shall be our shield and buckler Hast thou béene
him Iam. 4.4 for the amitie of the world is the enimitie of God and whosoeuer will be a friend of the world maketh himselfe the enemie of God Let vs remember that wee are in the latter end of the world And therefore they that haue wiues 1 Cor. 7.29.30.31 must be aâ— though they had none and they that weepe as though they wept not and they that reioyce as though they reioyced not and they that buy as though they possessed not and they that vse this world as though they vsed it not for the fashion of this world goeth away that is let vs not fixe and tie our affections on earthly things Heb. 13. â—4 For we haue hâ—ere no continuing Citie but wee seeke one to come but let vs hunger and thâ—rst after â—ighteousnessâ— that we may be filled with eternall blessednesse through our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus Amen KNOW THIS THAT GOD WILL bring thee to iudgement Luk. 21.36 Watch therfore and pray continually that ye may be counted worthie to escape all these things that shall come to passe and that ye may stand before the Sonne of man WHen our Sauiour had shewed the terriblenesse of that last and great day wherein hee will come to iudge all flesh and to giue to euery one after his doings hee exhorts all men to haue these things in continuall remembrance that they may attaine to eternall blessednes escape euerlasting wretchednes For they that are drawne from sinne neither by the loue of God nor the desire of heauenly blessings nor by the embracing and following of vertue yet if they giue héede to that they heare they must néedes be terrified and consequently something refrained from euill by the expectation and looking for of this dreadfull iudgemâ—nt And therefore our Sauiour propounds this as a meaneâ— to reclaime obdurate and obstinate offenders and concludes the fearefull description of the day of doome with this admonition Watch therfore and pray continually that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to passe and that wee may stand before the Sonne of man And that which in this Euangelist is spoken briefely in Saint Matthew is expounded and amplified more largely where Christ saith Watch therefore Matt. 24.42 c. for ye knowe not what houre your Maister will come Of this be sure that if the good man of the house knewe at what watch the theefe would come hee would surely watch and not suffer his house to be digged through therefore be yee also readie for in the houre that yee thinke not will the sonne of man come Who then is a faithfull seruant and wise whom his Maister hath made ruler ouer his household to giue them meate in season Blessed is that seruant whom his Maister when he commeth shall finde so doing Verily I say vnto you he shall make him ruler ouer all his goods But if that euill seruant shall say in his heart my Maister doth deferre his comming begin to smite his fellowes and to eate and to drinke with the drunken that seruants Maister will come in a day when he looketh not for him and in an houre that he is not ware of and will cut him off and giue him his portion with hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Likewise our Sauiour saith in S. Marke Take heede watch and pray Mar. 13.33.34 c. for ye know not when the time is For the Sonne of man is as a man going into a strange countrey and leaueth his house and giueth authoritie to his seruants and to â—uery man his worke and commandeth the porter to watch Watch yee therefore for yee know not when the Maister of the house will come at euen or at midnight at the cocke crowing or in the dawning least if he come suddenly he should finde you sleeping And those things that I say vnto you I say vnto all men Watch. Now to the end we may be the more prepared and the more watchfull and the more earnest in praier let vs weigh with our selues first the dreadfulnes of the last iudgement secondly why the day thereof is not knowne thirdly whereunto the expectation and remembrance thereof is profitable 1. The dreadfulnes of the last iudgement The fearefulnes of the last iudgement the Lord describes in the foregoing words when he saith Then there shall be signes in the Sunne and in the Moone and in the Starres and vpon the earth trouble among the nations with perplexitie the sea and the waters shall roare and mens hearts shall faile them for feare and for looking after those things which shall come on the world Luk. 21.25.26.27 for the powers of heauen shall be shaken and then shall they see the Sonne of man come in a cloud with power and great glorie Thus also it is expressed in Saint Matthew Matt. 24. â—9 30.31 And immediately after the tribulation of those daies shall the Sunne be darkened and the Moone shall not giue her light and the Starres shall fall from heauen and the powers of heauen shall be shaken And then shall appeare the signe of the Sonne of man in heauen and then shall all the kinreds of the earth mourne and they shall see the Sonne of man come in the clouds of heauen with power and great glorie And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together his elect from the fower windes and from the one end of the heauens vnto the other The substance of Christs words is this that then all Elements and heauenly bodies shall both suffer strangely in themselues to affright the wicked and shall also work strangely on the wicked by casting vpon them diuerse torments as well of soule as of body and that all Creatures aboue and beneath shall be cryers and trumpetters to summon men before that horrible Tribunall seate which because they haue contemned therefore they haue persisted still in all vngodlines How the Sun shall be darkened the Moone shall not giue her light and the starres shall fall from heauen and the powers of heauen shall be shaken and the sea and floods shall roare in such ghastly sort that men shall be readie to yeeld vp the ghost through feare and anguish At this time we cannoâ— coniecture but the euent it selfe will declare and though the manner thereof be not knowne to vs yet to God it is well knowne But howsoeuer it shall be because the vse of the scripture is by the darkening of the Sunne Moone and Starres and by the like things as Christ héere foretels to discipher and signifie the extreame stormes and tempests of Gods wrath vengeance therefore those threatning predictions in the old Prophets may be applied to the last day of Iudgement in which they prophesie that the world shal be in such anguish perplexitie as that men shal thinke the Sun to be darkened the Moone to be bloodie the Sars