himselfe expresse as we haue shewed in saying Col. 2.14 God so loued the world that hee gaue his only begotten sonne vnto death that whosoeuer should beleeue on him should not perish but haue life euerlasting This also doeth our Apostle renowne in the fourth Chapter verse 10. Herein is loue Iohn 3.16 not that wee loued God but that hee loued vs and sent his onely begotten sonne to be a reconciliation for our sinnes Where the loue of God is set in the first place for the cause efficient and principall his sonne sent for the cause materiall and to be a reconciliation for our sinnes for a cause finall nothing required of vs but that we beléeue in him and loue one another for him as he hath loued vs. If the consideration hereof were throughly layed to hart it would quickly remooue all proud opinion of our owne merit which is thus excluded by including the merit of Christ as alone the sufficient sacrifice propitiatorie for our sinnes and it would swallow vs vp with an admiration of the excéeding loue of God toward vs Epe 318. The height the depth the length the breadth whereof is incomprehensible and make vs ashamed of our owne corruption Gold and siluer and pretious stones being of no valew all the Sacrifices and ceremonies of the old Law being of no worth his blessed and glorious Angels being insufficient to effect our ransome whoÌ„ he so loued he spared not his owne onely sonne who was in his bosome more deare vnto him than the signet of his owne right hande who willingly said also Loe I come and gaue him to the death by his death to redéeme Psal 40.6 7 Heb. 10 5 â—â— vs according to that swéet saying of S. Peter We were not redeemed by siluer or gold 1. Pet. 1.18.19 or by any other corruptible things but by the pretious bloud of Iesus Christ as of a Lambe immaculate and without spot And wee in the meane while wretched men and women straine at euery curtesie and thinke euery thing too much we do in loue towards our brethren whom wee should not onely loue by supplying their wants in the expeÌ„ce of our goods as before we haue shewed but also loue by laying downe our liues for them by the expence of our bloud if néede so require as our Apostle by this example of our blessed Sauiour teacheth vs saying here in is loue that hee laide downe his life for vs wee ought therefore to laye downe our liues for the brethren 1. Ioh. 3.16 There remayneth in this clause yet one worde that further amplifyeth this loue of God in the greatnes thereof vnto vs For besides that it hath pleased him to make vs euen vs that were his enemies to be his sonnes to be his heires and ioynt heires with his owne natural sonne of such an inheritance that is immortall and that of his méere loue by gift not deserued by vs but purchased for vs by the pretious death and passion of our blessed Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus he vouchsafeth for the further assurance of our faith herein coÌ„fort of our soules to cal himself our father for adopting vs in his welbeloued Son Eph. 1.7 as his welbeloued Son by nature is not ashamed as the authour of the Epistle to the Hebrews wel obserueth to cal vs euen vs that were adopted from a thing of naught his brethreÌ„ saying Hebr. 2 16. I wil declare thy name vnto my brethren so God his Father the Father by excellencie disdaineth not to cal himselfe our Father saying 2. Cor. 6.18 I wil bee your Father and ye shall be my sonnes and daughters The worde Father is a swéet worde and serueth to be obserued for many vses First it confirmeth al the former doctrine of GOD his louing vs fréely for as the childe receiueth nothing but from his Father and his Father bestoweth all things vpon him fréely in regard onely that he is his Father the childe deseruing not the least iotte of his loue So God being our Father it followeth that we receiue all from him our being our lyuing our mouing Act 17 28 benefites Temporall blessings Spirituall that of his owne méere loue because he is our Father without any desert or merit of ours Secondly it expresseth more sensibly the tender mercie and compassion of our good God vnto vs for thereby wee vnderstand that he tendreth vs as a Father according to that of the Prophet Like as a father pittieth his owne children Psal 103 13 euen so the Lord hath compassion on them that feare him Fatherly and Motherlie loue we know to bee verie great and none know it but they which are veri Patres Fathers indéede their bowels are mooued with more than an ordinarie affection toward their childreÌ„ as appeareth by the example of the harlot whose compassion was kindled toward her childe wheÌ„ she heard sentence giuen 1 King 3.26 and the sword drawen to haue it diuided God in like maner testifyeth Hos 8.11 that his hart is turned in him that his repentance is rouled together euen as a fathers doth wheÌ„ he taketh in hand to punish his childe he will beate him and he will not beate him loath he is and therefore though he doeth it hee doeth it vnwillingly so doeth also our heauenly Father he doth not punish vs with his heart saieth Ieremie in his Lamentations Lamen 3 33 but besides this his compassion farre excelleth in that not onely it reacheth further than is possible for any naturall affection to reach vnto but also for that it is immutable it neuer changeth A mother may forget the fruit of her wombe A Father may turne away his face from his owne sonne and renownce him for euer But though a woman should forget the fruite of her wombe yet would not forget thee Esa 49.15 saith the Lord for I am the Lord and am not chaÌ„ged Therfore the Apostle saieth Rom 11.2 His gifts and callings are without repentance And the Euangelist sayeth Iohn 13.1 Whome hee loueth hee loueth vnto the ende And right Honorable and beloued there is not a greater comfort vnto our soules and consciences in this our present heauinesse and distresse than this to consider that hee is our Father that doeth thus correct vs who though he be iustlie displeased with vs and his wrath fore kindled against vs for our sinnes yet herein he sheweth himselfe to be infinitely gratious and mercifull vnto vs in that hee hath taken the rod into his owne hand not deliuered it into their handes that hate vs to strike vs therewith The Spaniards hath often hoped to haue got this rod into their hands and haue as it were snatched to haue pulled it vnto them that they might haue bene Gods executioners A bloudie day had that bene beloued for the corps whom you haue séene honorably and reuerently in peace caried to their graues you should haue séene them lying waltering in their
man plough vp his fallow ground sowe no more among thornes Ierem. 4 4. Let euery man cast away the abhominations of his eies and of his heart yea Eze 20.7 let vs all turne to the Lorde with fasting wéeping and mourning Ioel. 2.13 renting our harts and not our garments Oh let it be far from vs that this complaint that the Prophet Ieremie taketh vp against Ierusalem should be taken vp against vs. O Lord thou hast stricken them but they haue not sorrowed thou hast consumed them but they haue refused correction they haue made their faces harder then a stone and haue refused to returne For if notwithstanding these iudgements of God we continue still in those sins which haue thus sore kindled his wrath if in this day of our visitatiō wherein the Lorde calleth to wéeping mourning to sackcloth ashes we fal to eating drinking that is to our wonted gluttonie drunkennes other abhominations Let vs assure our selues that the wrath of God will still burne and his arme be stretched out still vntil hee hath laide our land waste and this Citie without an inhabitant As therefore it standeth euery man vpon to mend one so to you right honorable and your worshipful assistants it belongeth to reforme them that will not reforme themselues and betimes to cut off all the workers of iniquitie from the Citie of the Lord. And for a more generall redresse of all abuses and corruptions both in our Church and common weale we ought earnestly and continually to pray vnto almightie God to put into the heart of our most Noble and blessed Soueraigne the kings Maiestie both constantly to withstand all oppositions of men of corrupt mindes and to hasten as he hath most zealouslie begun the full amendment of whatsoeuer is amisse euen to the making of a couenant betwixt God and his people that they shall séeke the Lorde and that whosoeuer will not séeke the Lord God of Israell that he be slaine whether hee bee great or small man or woman as did Asa King of Iudah For God will not be reconciled vnto vs 2. Cro. 15.12 vntill we yéelde vnto him For hee is our Father and wée are his Children for our sinnes therefore doeth he thus smite vs And as the Father ceaseth not his punishing hand so long as his Sonne continueth obstinate No more now he hath begun wil hee giue ouer vntill wee humble our selues vnfaynedly before him For since our sinnes haue in this sort incensed his wrath as we must néeds confes though his mercie vnto vs that are his children appeareth herein that the finall end of this visitation tendeth to the perfecting thorow his mercie which triumpheth ouer his iustice of our eternall saluation Iam. 2 yet his angrie countenance sheweth it selfe no lesse vnto vs in the manner thereof then the anger of a displeased Father appeareth in his face when hee chastizeth his disobedient childe whom he loueth for his good And thus haue I shewed vnto you right Honorable and beloued how in this visitation wee may receiue both singular comfort ouer them that are departed and for our selues who yet remaine to be disposed of by his good will and pleasure and also perceiue God his iust displeasure and anger against vs for our sinnes It remaineth that we procéede in the pursuit of God his mercie to vs which we haue shewed to haue bene excéeding great in making vs to be his Sonnes and shal now shew to be excéeding greater in considering of the originall and fountaine from whence this so vnspeakable a mercie floweth vnto vs. For the verie original spring is the loue of God for so our Apostle affirmeth Behold what loue the Father hath giuē vnto vs Which also our Sauiour Christ confirmeth saying So God loued the Worlde Iohn 3.16 that hee gaue his onely begotten Sonne c. and that not an ordinarie but an extraordinarie loue for so the wordes importeth and which the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which our Apostle here vseth also signifyeth For this word signifyeth what maner with an admiration so that the text is to be read thus behold what maner of loue the Father hath giuen vs For so is this word also vsed Mar. 13.1 What maner of stones and what maner of building as if they should say not ordinarie but extraordinarie stones not ordinarie but extraordinarie buildings are here So in the 8. of Matt. 27. after our Sauiour had stilled the raging of the Sea the men marueiled saying What maner of man is this as if they should say what rare and singular man Such a loue then is the loue of God whereby hee hath chosen vs to be his children as is past vnderstanding as is extraordinarie as is a wonder of wonders therefore here set forth by two words of wonderment Beholde what maner And beloued you shall the better beholde and consider how admirable and wonderful a loue it is wherewith God hath loued vs If ye obserue first on whom he hath-bestowed it Secondly in what sort hee hath bestowed it And thirdly by what persō he hath effected it He hath bestowed it vpon vs and hee hath bestowed it gratis in maner of a gift and he hath effected it by his owne onely Sonne our blessed Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ whom he gaue vnto death for vs. For the first it is said that he gath giuen his loue to vs For our selues if wee had bene the friendes of God or had in any wise deserued any small matter at his hand the loue had not bene so great as louing vs that had loued him according to that our Sauiour saith of our maner of loue one towards another If yee loue them that loue you Math. 5.46 what rewarde shall ye haue doe not also the verie Publicanes and most notorious sinners thus The Iewes tolde our Sauiour that the Centurion was worthie for his deserts towarde their Nation that hee should heale his seruant which had it ben true the benefite bestowed vpon him Luk. 7.4 had not bene so great But the Centurion acknowledgeth himselfe vnworthie not pleading any desert for there is no such matter indéede of desert on our part to God-warde for we were the vtter enemies of God and this enmitie was wrought betwixt God and vs by reason of our sins For as God by reason of our sin was at enmity with vs Ephe 2.3 in which respect we are called the childrē of Gods wrath so we were at vtter variance or defyance with him Iob. 2 9. cursing him to the face as Iob his wife did councell him which also the Apostle Rom. 8.7 testifyeth when as he sayeth The wisdome of the flesh is an vtter enemie to God for it is not a subiect therefore a rebell to the Law of God neither otherwise can be In that therefore God through Iesus Christ yéelded on his part to loue vs we continuing our disobedience and hatred towards him how great must
that his loue be For if the partie wronged shall yéelde vnto him that doeth the wrong and shall séeke his good will and his good what rare loue do we account it yea so rare as is seldome the more is the pittie to be séene among vs. This loue of God therefore in this poynt is a rare loue and excéeding admirable in that hee loued vs being his enemies and sought after vs when wee sought not after him according to that he saieth by the Prophet Esay 65.1 I haue offred my selfe to be found of them that asked not For so the verbe Passiue there vsed is to bee translated Like as the Apostle Ro. 10.20 rendreth it I haue bene made manifest For otherwise the sence of the first comma in that swéete sentence cannot be perceiued I offered my selfe saieth God to bee founde of theÌ„ that asked not I was found of theÌ„ that sought mee not I saide behold mee beholde me to a Nation that called not vpon my name And as by the ministerie of his Prophets in former time so by our Ministerie now doeth he still seeke after vs that continue still our enmitie to him For wee are the embassadours saith the Apostle 2. Corinth 5.20 for Christ as though God did beséech you thorow vs we pray you in Christ stead that ye bee reconciled vnto God The greatnesse therfore of God his loue towards vs in this behalfe doeth the Apostle S. Paule highly as it deserueth renowne Doubtlesse saieth he for a righteous man one can scarcely be found that will die but for a good man it may bee one dare die but God magnifieth his mercie vnto vs Rom. 5 that when we were his enemies Christ dyed for vs. And againe when wee were enemies we were reconciled vnto him by the death of his Sonne This he prosecuteth in many words in the 2. Ephes but especially in the 4. verse in these words But God which is rich in mercie thorow his great loue wherewith he loued vs euen when we were dead in sinnes that is his mortall enemies he quickned vs together in Christ Thus wee sée how in this respect this holy Apostle magnifyeth the greatnesse of Gods loue and grace Ephe 2 7. calling it the exceeding riches of his grace for that he loued vs when we were his enemies And therefore doe wee not accounte them worthily enemies to the grace of God who doe obscure or rather denie this his great grace operibus praeuisis by workes fore-séene and I know not what the Lord Iesus himself saw no such workes fore-séene when he taught vs to say we are vnprofitable seruants we haue done but that which was our dutie to doe This our Apostle sawe no such fore-séene workes and there fore he renowneth this loue of GOD Rom. 11. â— because hee loued vs first saying in the 4. chap. 10. Herein is loue not that we loued God but that hee loued vs first and againe in the 19. verse We loue him for he loued vs first This doctrine then teacheth vs that by grace we are saued and therfore not by works alone nor by grace and workes together for workes and grace cannot goe together in the worke of iustifycation for so the Apostle reasoneth If it be of grace it is no more of works or else were grace no more grace but if it be of workes it is no more grace or else were worke no more worke Aug de fide et oper Cap. 14 Well therefore saith S. Augustne concerning good workes Sequutur iustificaâ—uÌ„ non praecaedunt iustificandum they follow him that is iustifyed they goe not before him that is to be iustifyed For by the way this is to be noted that though workes saue vs not yet we are the workmanship of God created in Christ Iesus vnto good works for to glorifie him that saued vs according as Zacharias sayth in his song Wee are deliuered from the hands of our enemies that wee might serue him without feare all the dayes of our life in holinesse and righteousnesse before him And the grace of God saieth the Apostle vnto Titus that bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared and teacheth vs that we should denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and that wee should liue soberly and righteously and godly in this present world And our Apostle maketh this to be our dutie namely to purge our selues wherof if time would permit to come to the handling of the part which is the second parte of our text we would by the grace of God more largely speake Secondly this doctrine teacheth vs to loue one another which lesson this our Apostle inferreth vpon the loue of God 1. Thes 4.9 in the 11. verse of this Chapter Beloued if God so loued vs wee ought also to loue one another 1. Iohn 3.18 So S. Paule sayeth We are taught of God that is by the example of God Iohn 2.16 to loue one another and that not in worde and in tongue giuing onely faire words Goe in peace be filled bee warmed and giue naught and thinke naught but in deede and in truth that is wee ought to manifest our loue vnto all by dealing faithfully and truely with all men and to them that are in want by ministring vnto their necessitie For hereby is loue proued as by a touch-stone If any man hath this worlds goods 1. Ioh. 3.1 and seeth his brother want and shutteth vp his compassion froÌ„ him how dwelleth the loue of God in him as if hee should saye Such a man neither loueth God nor man And beloued now is the time if euer you will that you must manifest your loue to God by tender compassion on them that are in néede I néed not to vtter vnto you the great miserie of the poore of this Citie and of the Suburbs thereof the want of the Widdow and of the fatherlesse and of the poore man of occupation who in this time wanteth woorke and therefore wanteth foode for him and his familie Their crie is come before you out of this place and you haue most honorably and charitably considered of it I beséech you in the tender bowels of the Lord Iesus consider of it still for the sicknesse thus still though not in so great measure the Lord be euer praised for it continuing the Winter so hard approching and none or litle worke as they say stirring the number of the poore their necessity do encrease daily your liberality therefore must also encrease Rather then the poore should want make a banke for the poore it would be the most honorable banke that euer was made and most profitable for the aduenturers Let him that hath twentie thousand pound cast in two thousande Let him that hath ten thousand pound cast in a thousand Let him that hath a thousand cast in a hundreth let him that hath an hundreth cast in ten I know I shall be censured by many to speake like a foole but I regard not their censure For this
proportion is not like to his that saide let him that hath two coates giue one to him that hath none and let him that hath meate do likewise nor like vnto his that said Halfe of my goods I giue to the poore Luc. 3.11 Nor like vnto his that said Sell all that thou hast and giue to the poore Luc. 19.8 Mat. 19.21 Nor like to theirs that sold their houses and possessions and brought the price to bee distributed to them that wanted Act. 4.34 Luc. 21.2 Nor like hers that hauing but two mites cast them into this banke being all the liuing she had being content to worke for more Yet as the meaning of these sayings and examples is not to set any iust rate but to shew that charitie must ouer-flowe in time of common necessitie so my meaning is not to prescribe vnto your wisedomes either a iust proportion or a maner of taxing but to shew how farreforth in liberalitie euerie one without compulsion of his owne willing and voluntarie minde for Hilarem daâ—orem diligit dominus 2. Cor 9.7 The Lord loueth a chéereful giuer ought to excéede to relieue the great miserie of them that are in want And this to doe in regard of that loue wherewith God haue loued vs for hee loued vs before wee loued him he loued vs when wee were his enemies and therefore his example not onely teacheth vs to loue such as are our friendes which stand in néede or to loue them who as they haue done vs no good so they haue done vs no hurt but euen them that haue wronged vs we ought to helpe Farre therefore ought these though vsual yet vnchristian spéeches be from vs shall I loue him that hates me shal I do him good that hath wronged me Alas beloued God stood not vpon these tearmes with vs he loued vs when we were his enemies when wee blaspheamed him Math. 5 4â— shal not we by his example who also doeth good to the iust and the vniust causing his sunne to shine his raine to fall on them indifferently shall not wee I saye by his example learne to blesse theÌ„ that curse vs Mat. 5.44 to pray for them that persecute vs to doe good to them that wrong vs Let vs not deceiue our selues in boasting that wee are the children of God for vnlesse this affection in some measure be in vs we are no sonnes of God nor God any Father of ours But to procéede in magnifying further this loue of God the Apostle affirmeth that this loue which is bestowed vpoÌ„ vs is in maner of a gift gratis For he hath giuen it vs. Some men deserue loue for some good turnes or deserts that they haue done and so make him to bee a friend which before was an enemie as Iacob won Esau Gene. 32.20 But who hath giuen to the Lord first and he shall be recompensed Esa 40.13 Rom. 11.35 So the Lord demandeth by his Prophet and by his Apostle and who euer haue stood forth aÌ„swerd to the demaund I haue giuen Not Abraham for he acknowledgeth himselfe to bee dust and ashes Not Dauid for he prayeth Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant Gene. 18 27. Psal 143. Iob. 28 20. O Lord. Not Iob for he confesseth If hee should iustifie himselfe his owne mouth would condemne him God hath not set his loue to sale vnto vs for if he had whereby should or could we haue procured it should we haue giuen him a thousand Rammes to vse the wordes of the Prophet Micah or ten thousand riuers of oyle Mic. 6.7 should wee haue offered him the fruit of the bodie for the sinnes of our soule Psal 50.10 none of all these earthly things are ours they are all his so he testifyeth All the beasts of the field are mine Eze. 18.4 and so are the cattle vpon a thousand hilles And as the soule of the fathers is mine sayeth the Lorde so is the soule of the sonnes And more generally The earth is the Lords and all the fulnesse thereof the rounde worlde and all that dwell therein Psal 24.1 But were these earthly things all ours yet were they all too base to buy the least parcell of God his heauenly grace and loue towards vs. For what comparison is there betwixt earthly things and heauenly things betwixt things temporall and transitorie and things spiritual and eternall The string whereupon many and especially the Church of Rome doeth harpe in this respect is our righteousnes but what our righteousnes is Yea al our righteousnesses are the Prophet Esay telleth vs Esa 64 6. when hee saith they are as a stained cloth which lotheth the eyes of them that beholde so that with displeasure and detestation they turne from it Our righteousnesse therefore in it selfe considered without the merit of Christ by whom they are accepted as fruits of our faith they are too much stained and therefore too base to procure the aboundant riches of the loue of God And this we must néedes of our selues confesse if we be not caried away with too great a selfe-loue weening of our selues for euen our conscience which is a thousand witnesses witnesseth against vs the manifold corruptions which cleaue vnto the best and most holy worke that we doe The trueth therefore of this doctrine remayneth inuinsible and néedeth no further testimonie of any man that that eternall loue of God wherewith hee hath so loued vs as to make vs his children and heires is of his frée gift bestowed and giuen vnto vs according as our Apostle here sayth Behold what loue the father hath giuen vnto vs that wee should be called the Sonnes of God and according to that the Apostle saith Gal. 3.22 The promise by the faith of Christ Iesus is giuen to them that beleeue for this one worde giuen so often repeated by the Apostle if there were no further argument to prooue the fréenes of God his loue and grace towardes vs is sufficient to stoppe all mouthes that open themselues to the derogation thereof But yet further to remooue all opinion and conceit of our owne worthinesse and to set foorth the loue of GOD to bee beyond all measure GOD to aunswere the vtmost tittle of his iustice and to cancell all obligations and hand-writings against vs for our sinnes finding nothing in vs whereby to saue vs according as one well confesseth to him Nihil inuenis vnde salues multum inuenis vnde damnes August de verbis Apost ser 16. thou findest nothing for which thou maiest saue vs but thou findest much for which thou maist damne vs. God I saie sent his onely Sonne Christ Iesus who is with the Father and the holy spirit God blessed for euer to take on him our nature Rom. 9.5 and therein to satisfie the whole seueritie of his iustice and to pay the vtmost farthing of our debt The greatnesse of the loue of God in this behalfe doeth our Sauiour