forriners but Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets c. Ephes 2.19 By an other elegant similitude he sheweth in the same Epistle that all the liuely members of Iesus Christ are joyned to their head by Charitie saying Following the truth in loue we grow vp vnto him which is the head that is Christ By whome all the body being coupled and knit together by euery ioynt for the fourniture thereof according to the effectuall power which is in the measure of euery part receaueth increase of the body vnto the edifying of it selfe in loue Ephes 4.15.16 From that which is sayd we gather that Charity is the jnfallible marke of christians according to the sentence of the soueraigne Doctour A definition thereof By this shall all men know that you are my Disciples if you loue one another Io. 13.35 Let vs theÌ„ say that charitie is a guift of God who by his holy spirit for the loue of IESVS CHRIST doth inflame the hearts of his children with an ardent dilection which they beare him by reason of his infinite mercy towards them in their election vocation justification sanctification glorification hoped for according to his infallible promises of the which dilection proceedeth the humble and free desire to render him obedience and to witnesse by all good dueties a sincere amity to all men especially to the houshould of faith with whome we rejoyce that they were receaued into favour grace and haue obtained pardon for their sinnes remaining bound with a brotherly affection with them by reason of the loue of God our Father S. Augustine sayd in one of Epistles that charity is a vertue by the which we loue those things that are to be loued which agreeth very fitly with our charity towards God who loued vs euen when we were his enemies The Lord sayd of the woman sinner that her sinnes which had beene great were forgiuen her for addeth he she hath loued much Luk. 7.47 By this doe we know that we loue the children of God when we loue God and keepe his commandements For this is the loue of God that we keepe his commandemeÌ„ts and his commandements are not grieuous 1. Iohn 5.2.3 Who so loueth others hee hath accomplished the Law for that which is said Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not commit adulterie c. and if there be any other commaundement it is summarily comprehended in this point to wit Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe Loue doth not euill to his neighbour therefore is Loue the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13.8.9.10 The properties thereof are excellently described by the Apostle in these words Her properties Loue suffereth long it is bountifull Loue envieth not loue doth not boast it selfe it â—s not puffed vp it doth no vncomely thing â—t seeketh not her owne things it is not provoked to anger it thinketh not evill it reioyceth not in iniquitie but reioyceth in the â—ruth it suffereth all things it belieueth all things it hopeth all things it endureth all things 1. Cor. 13.4 c. What a patterne for vs all God who is Charity it selfe giue vs the grace that all the dayes of our liues we may cast the eye of our thoughts vpon this faire and liuely picture to learne to walke in charitie renouncing all impatience furie enuie arrogancy jmpudency couetousnesse violence malignity jniquity lying cruelty jnfidelity profanenesse jmpiety crimes directly contrary to christian charitie Let vs in order see some effects of charity Her effects which shew what shee is 1. It is the testimonie of Iustification already apprehended following that which the Lord sayd to the Woman sinner whereof hath byn spoken before 2. It is not altogether perfect in this present life but shall bee in the life eternall namely after the resurrection Charitie sayth S. Paul 1. Cor. 13.8 doth neuer fall away whereas as for the Prophesies they shall be abolished and as for the languages they shall cease as for knowledge it shall be abolished 3. Whether wee consider the houshold of Faith or other men Charity is well ordered To this purpose it is sayd Gal. 6.10 Whiles we haue time let vs doe good to all principally to the houshould of Faith 4. A seruile feare doth much hinder mens consciences in the execution of that which appertaineth to their dutie and in the exercises of patience whereto Charity remedieth as saith S. Iohn in his 1. Epistle chap. 4. ver 18. There is no feare in loue but perfect loue casteth out feare for feare hath painefulnesse and he that feare this not perfect in loue 5. The rule of indifferent workes and actions is Charity witnes the acts of the Counsell at Ierusalem the circumsicion of Timothie and such like in the christian primitiue Church To the weake saith S. Paul I became as weake that I might winne the weake I am made all things to all men that I might by all meanes saue some 1. Cor. 9.22 6. Charity is the end of the commandement of the law 1. Tim. 1.5 Mathew 22.37 c. Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thine heart with all thy soule and with all thy mind This is the first and the great commandement And the second is like vnto that Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe 7. It may be sayd that charitie is superiour and inferiour to Faith but in diuers respects inferiour by reason of iustification of her originall and of her measure For we are iustified by Faith Rom. 3.27 not by charity the which sheweth That we are iustified Iames. 2.18.21 From faith commeth charity and that which faith apprehendeth is assured and accomplished but charitie hath her progressions and increasings in summe faith is the measure of it and hee to whome God sheweth most mercy more that man loueth God and his neighbours Why charitie is the greatest But on the other side Charity is superiour 1. Because it shall neuer fall away and shall not be abolished in the life eternall but shall there be more accoÌ„plished 2. As it is a happier thing to giue then to receaue charitie imparteth the goods and guifts which it hath receaued and faith apprehendeth and keepeth the goods which God doth promise and present vnto it 3. In the righteousnesse begunne in those that are iustified in Iesus Christ who regardeth properly sanctification and regeneration Charitie hath â—he advantage ouer faith Whence it commeth that wee are iustified by faith not by charitie But it folâ—oweth not therefore that we are iustifiâ—d by Charitie although it bee greater â—hen Faith and Hope For in iustificaâ—ion there is no question to weigh the qualities of these vertues to say this is more proper to iustifie man than the oâ—her two but in them is considered the office the nature and the property of â—aith which consisteth in that onely which it apprehendeth and applyeth to â—he person which belieueth this righteâ—usnes of
our vnderstanding prefirring his loue before all other loues Louing nothing but in him and ruling the loue which we beare to all things whether to our Father to our wiues children kindred neighbours goods heritages and other things to to bee loued by that which wee beare to God who beeing our soueraigne creator Father and protector of whome we hold wholy all the good which we possese and hope for ought to be preferred before all creatures whatsoeuer they be the loue whereof should in no thing preiudice that of the creator Then the couetous who loue their goods and riches better then him The ambitious who set him behind their honours and estates The voluptuous who would not leaue nor abate any thing of their pleasures to obay him and follow his will Those also that loue the world and themselues more then God and his word are not truely faithfull what opinion soeuer they haue to bee so and what apparance soeuer they haue of it from elsewhere Charitie hath also a regard to our neighbours Now euen as the faithfull man cannot bee prouided with a true Faith if he do not loue God so it is necessarie that hee loue his neighbour if hee will bee knowne to bee faithfull for as sayth S. Iohn If wee loue not our brother whome we see how can wee loue God that is invisible besides that our neighbours being our brethren and members of Iesus Christ as wee are it is not possible that wee can remember that in our selues but we shall be stirred vp to loue them and shew that we loue them by all the good offices that wee can do for them And it sufficeth not but wee must also loue vertue and our dutie to acquite vs towards God and our brethren of that which wee are obliged to them for we do not only owe them assistance in their necessities but also the care which wee ought to haue as well of them as of their salvation to procure it with all our might and by all the meanes wee can These Loues draw on others with them For if wee loue God How farre Charitie tendeth our neighbours our dutie and vertue wee shall loue all other things to be loued as the celestall and jncorruptible things wee shall loue the companie of the good and seeke after it wee shall loue the word of God to be jnstructed exhorted comforted reproued and edified in all knowledge and all feare of God wee shall loue the light to be guided in all our wayes and not stumble wee shall loue peace and order in all thinges in the Church in the gouernment in husbandry and in our selues we shall hate to the contrary the loue of the world that is to say of honours riches and vaine and corruptible pleasures wee shal also hate the loue of our selues by the which wee might be drawne to the loue of many things quite contrarie to the will of God yea we shall little loue this present life and all our temporall commodities which might turne vs from the loue and desire of the Kingdome of heauen and of those things that are helthfull for vs. And for conclusion wee shall altogether hate vice and all the occasions which may drawe or summon vs therevnto the which we shall abhorte as a plague and a contagious sicknesse The third thtng ioyned to Faith Hope accompanieth faith FAith also is jâ—dissolubly ioyned with a certaine hope by the which wee patiently wayt for the effect of the promise which is made vs for the difference which is betweene Faith and hope is taken from their obiects which are different The obiect of Faith is properly the word of promise The obiect of faith of hope which it regardeth and receiueth by Faith and perswade her selfe to be certaine and indubitable and the obiect of hope iâ— the effect of this promise which it waiteth for without doubting at all at such time as god hath appointed to effect and accomplish it And although that somtimes it be very long and that betweene the promise and the effect thereof there is a long space and respite neverthelesse setting before vs the jmmutable and everlasting truth of him that made the promise it vpholdeth it selfe and relyeth vpon it as vpon a pillar or collom to patience vntil the hower that it shal please God to make vs know and feele in effect that which hee hath promised without precipitating or ouerthrowing it selfe into temptation whereby it might be assaulted by the length of the time which God taketh to effect that which he sayth We see that by many examples which the scripture sheweth vs in many as first in Abraham Proofe by example of Abraham who wayted for the effect of the promise which God had made about twenty fiue yeares without wauering or being any whit shooke with any doubt or mistrust that he had either that God had forgotten him or chaunged his will The Patriarks likewise in Egipt Of the children of Iacob after the promise receaued of the jnheritance which God had promised to giue them stayd long before they were established in the possession and fruition therof neverthelesse they neuer doubted but it should come to passe in time and season knowing well that word of God is euerlasting and that the Heaven and Earth shall passe before the least jot oâ— litle poynt therof shal be obmitted buâ— all that is contained therin shal be accoÌ„plished For it is not so with the word of God as with that of men who bejng mutable and variable in their counsels desires and wils cannot for these reasons assure the hope which may bee set vpon their word But God who iâ— jmmutable and who continueth still the same in his nature cannot promise any thing but the effect must follow yea the promise and the effect in him are one selfe-same thing and residing in him at the same jnstant which is the cause for the which the Apostle sayth Rom. 5. That hope maketh not ashamed And Esay sayth also that whosoeuer hopeth in God shal neuer be deceaued â—sal 25. of that which he looketh for from him And Dauid sayth Vnto thee O Lord I lift vp my soule My God I trust in thee let me not be confounded Let not mine enemies reioyce ouer me Also Psal 40. I wayted patiently for the Lord and he inclined vnto mee and heard my cry he brought me also out of the horrible pit out of the myrie clay and set my feet vppon the rocke and ordered my goings And also Psal 144. He is my goodnesse and my fortresse my Tower and my deliuerer my shield and in him I trust which subdueth my people vnder me Now this hope Fruits of Hope as sayth Gregorie the diuine is a fit and soueraigne remedy for all the miseries and calamities that can arriue to a faithfull man how great soeuer they be Heb. 6. Because as saith the Apostle It is an anker the which being cast not as
And even as in the time of the ancient people when walking by the horrible deserts of Arabia it happened that some one of them were bitten by Serpents to the end that of the poysoned byt death should not follow Nom. 21. hee lifted vp his eyes to behold the brasen Serpent that was set vp in the middle of the field and by the beholding of it was preserued from the daunger Iohn 3. so wee walking through the deserts of the world where happening that our desires sting vs with their venome and giue vs some mortall wound to be preserued from it the onely remedy is to lift vp the eyes of our Faith in the contemplation of Iesus Christ who is raysed aboue the heavens and to aske of God his Father in his name that he would quitte our debts as we quitte our debitours Of this obedience vertue and effect thereof is spoken in the Epistle to the Romaines chap. 5. verse 19. As by the disobedience of one man many haue beene made sinners also by the obedience of one many are made righteous Also in the 2. Epistle to the Corinthians chap. 1. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe not jmputing their sinnes vnto them Also in the Epistle to the Phillipians chapter 2. vers 7. He made himselfe of no reputation taking vpon him the forme of a servant and made himselfe in the likenesse of men and found in figure as a man he humbled himselfe made obedient to death even the death of the crosse And in the Epistle to the Hebrewes chap. 6. vers 11. Christ being become an high Priest of good things that should bee by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands that is to say not of his building Neither by the blood of Goates and Calues but by his owne bloud he entred once into the holy place and found eternal redemption And in the 10. chap. vers 8. having sayd before that sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offerings for sin thou wouldst not neither hadst pleasure therin which are offered by the Law Then sayth hee Loe I come to doe thy will O God he taketh then the first away to the end to establish the second By the which Will we are sanctified To wit by the obligation once done by the body of Iesus Christ It followeth in the definiton that of this Faith there commeth forth of the hearts of those that are justified a perpetuall peace joye and consolation Which is easie to be vnderstood for it is not possible that wee can bee assured and perswaded of the grace of God and of the remission of our sinnes of our salvation and of the everlasting blessing which Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs also of the justice and of the life and of a certaine hope of the Kingdome of Heaven and of that perfect and entire felicity which there waytes for vs for ever that we may feele in our hearts and in our consciences a peace a joye a rest a comfort and contentment vnseparable which is the cause that S. Paul in the Epistle to the Romaines chap. 5. verse 1. sayd Therefore being iustified by Faith we are at peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ and in the 14. chap. and 17. verse The kingdome of God is not meate and drinke but righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost And Iesus Christ in S. Iohn chap. 16. verse 20. Verily verily I say vnto you that yee shall weepe and lament the world shall reioyce ye shall sorrow but your sorrow shall be turned into ioye A woman when she trauaileth hath sorow because her hower is come but so soone as shee is deliuered of the child shee remembreth no more the anguish for â—oye that a man is borne into the world And yee now therefore haue sorrow but I will see you againe and your hearts shall reioyce and your ioye no man taketh from you Dauid also to this purpose in the 126. Psalme sung They that sowe in teares shall reape in ioy They went weeping and carryed precious seed but they shall returne with ioye and bring their sheaues And in Esay chap. 51. Euerlasting gladnes shall be powred on your heads And S. Iohn in his Apocalips chap. 21. verse 4. And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and there shal be no more death neither sorrow neither crying neither shall there bee any more paine for the former things are gone And Dauid in the 36. Psalme How excellent is thy mercy O God therefore the children of men trust vnder the shadow of thy wings They shall be satisfied with the fatnes of thine house and thou shalt giue them drinke out of thy pleasures It followeth in the definition that this Faith is accompanyed with assurance against all dangers and tentations The which is added to jnstruct the faithfull man that when by faith he is vnited with God and receaued his protection and safegard Rom. 8. nothing can mishappen vnto him but all matters and accidents of what nature and quality soever they can be further him to salvation as sayth S. Peter 1. Pet. 3. Who is it shall hinder you if you follow that which is good And S. Paul Rom. 8. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifieth who is hee that condemneth it is Christ which dyed yea rather which is risen againe which is also on the right hand of God and maketh intercession for vs who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ shall tribulation or anguish or persecution either hunger either nakednesse either perill either Sword As it is written for thy sake are wee killed all the day long and are counted as sheepe to the slaughter Neuerthelesse in all these things we ouercome through him that loued vs for I am sure that neither death nor life neither Angels nor rule neither power neither things present neither things to come neither height nor depth neither any other creature shall be able to sâ—parate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Dauid also in the 27. Psalme sayth The Lord is my light and my saluation whome shall I feare The Lord is the strength of my life of whome shall I bee affraide Though an hoast be pitched against mee I will not bee affrayd though warre be raysed against mee I will trust in God For in my trouble hee shall me hyde in his tabernacle in the secret place of his pauillion shall he hide me and set mee vp vpon a rocke Therefore will I offer in his Tabernacle sacrifices of ioye I will sing and praise the Lord. And in the 46. Psalme God is our hope and strength and helpe in troubles is ready to bee found Therefore will wee not feare though the earth bee mooued and though the mountaines fall into the middest of the Sea Though the waters thereof rage and bee troubled and the mountaines shake at the surges of
and washed in his bloud wee become as cleane and as white as snowe hauing neither spot nor wrinckle nor any thing else to bee reproued and condemned Now this Iustice by whose couering we escape the Iudgement of God is allowed vnto vs and applied by the Faith of Iesus Christ which is the cause that in Saint Iohn it is sayd that whoso beleeueth in him Ioh. 35. commeth not into Iudgment And for the which the Apostle to the Romanes speaking with great assurance sayth Rom. 8. who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifieth who is hee that condemneth It is Christ which died yea rather which is risen againe which is also on the right hand of God and maketh intercession for vs Who shall separate vs from the loue of Iesus Christ shall tribulation or anguish or persecution eyther hunger eyther nakednesse eyther perill eyther Sword As it is written for thy sake are wee killed all the day long and are counted as sheepe for the slaughter neuerthelesse in all these things wee ouercome through him that loved vs For I am sure that neither death neither Life neither Angels nor rules neither Power neyther things present neithings to come Neyther height nor depth neither any other creature shal be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. If by Faith we are assured to be justified before him and that this consuming fire which maketh all the creatures of the world to shake when it is once enflamed can neither annoy nor consume vs That when we consider it narrowly ought quickly to take that feare from vs that we may haue of all dangers for that which is the fearefullest of all to wit the wrath and anger of God can neither offend nor make vs affraid following then the exhortation and example of the Apostle we ought not onely to be resolued against the feare of Death but also insult ouer it as he did in saying O death where is thy victorie 1. Cor. 15. O Sepulcre where is thy Sting Now the sting of Death is sin and the power of sinne is the Law But thanks be to God who giueth vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ Then when wee shall see the day of Iudgement approch the which is fearefull to the Diuels and reprobates wee to the contrary ought to lift vp our heads being joyfull of his comming being well assured that it shall be the day of our full and entire redemption and deliuerance in the which we shall enioy all the goods which Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs and the fruite of our hope that is to say of the permanent and perfect happinesse which God hath reserued for his Children And if the children of Israell after they had passed the Riuer Iordan beginning to take possession of the Land which God had promised them had great occasion to reioyce and to comfort themselues so shall we haue when we shall see Iesus Christ appeare in his glory the second time and when we shall heare this pleasant and happie voice Math. 5. Come ye Blessed of my Father and possesse the Kingdome which hath been prepared for you from the beginning of the world ¶ The fowrth effect of Faith Mortification FAith also begets in vs mortification of the flesh and true repentance purifying our hearts as saith Saint Peter of disordinate passions Act. 10. lusts and â—ffections foolish loue auarice ambition and other like vanities Breife it â—s the meanes which God vseth to regenerate vs and to make vs new creaâ—ures and by consequent to cteate in vs â—ew thoughts new affections new â—peaches new actions and a new life Because it is accompanied with the Spiâ—it of God as it is written in Esay who â—eeing holy Esay 59. sanctifieth all those that â—re furnished therewith That is attributed to Faith because it is the Instrument wherewith hee serueth himselfe â—o regenerate man which we see in all â—hose that are faithfull who in a moâ—ent hauing been called and beleeued â—e word which was preached vnto â—hem haue been changed from carnall â—o spirituall and euen as a tree after â— hath been ingraffed bringeth other â—ind of fruite then it bare while it was wild Rom. 6. also by Faith ingraffed into Iesus Christ wee bring forth fruits through grace of an other kind then we did when â—ee walked in our owne wayes which we â—e in Zacheus Example Zacheus who beeing an insaciable â—ublican to heape goods vpon goods and to gather riches vppon Riches by hooke or by crooke without hauing any respect vnto Iustice and without bejng mooved to pitty the poverty of those which he ransomed cared for nothing so he might encrease and gather riches at any price Neverthelesse Iesus Christ having looked vppon him with his good eye and having vouchsafed to be his guest changed and transformed him jnto an other man so that of a covetous and lustfull man as hee was he became liberall and charitable and of one that was pittilesse and barbarous towards the poore and needy and those that had need of him he became gracious humane and tractable God did even change his heart in such sort that he did not content himselfe to restore fower fold to those that hee had ransommed but would giue and distribute the halfe of his goods to the poore We see that eveÌ„ in S. Mathew Mathew who bejng actiue and attentiue to gaine and to his profite when Iesus Christ had called him forgetting at the very jnstant that he heard his voyce all his desires and avarice forsooke his bancke his Apron his house and all his temporall commodities to follow him The Harlot likewise The harlot Luk. 7. whereof mention is made in S. Luke although shee were given over to all dissolution and steeped in all worldly and filthy pleasures neverthelesse bejng called to the Faith of the gospell she was presently so changed that one would haue sayd that her eyes had beene fountaines by reason of the aboundance of teares that ranne from them S. Peter also who was a great sinner as hee himselfe confessed and who onely amongst all his fellowes denyed Iesus Christ three severall times was in the end so strengthned by Faith that by reason of his constancy and firme jmmooueablenes hee was surnamed by the name of Peter S. Paul also who was a cruell blasphemer persecutor and furious and like a wild Bore Act. 9. Psal 80. who was broke jnto the Lords Vineyard to spoyle it and to devour vp all the branches having been called by Iesus Christ when hee went jnto Damascus there for to dissipate the Church wholy was so changed by Faith which God of his grace did jnspire in his heart that of a Wolfe that he was he became the greatest Pastor of his time in the Church and flocke of the Lord. Whereby wee see what is the power and force of Faith the which doth altogether
disordinately taking pleasure to doe evill and seeking the occasions and the meanes to follow and satisfie our worldly desires and appetites we should not be freed but should shew thereby that wee are yet slaues to sinne and that wee did not participate any whit in the benefits of Iesus Christ who came into the world to no other end but to deliuer vs from the miserable seruitude of sinne and set our consciences vppon full and entire libertie Wee must then endeavour and jmploye our selues with all our might to liue well to shew that wee are francke and free and that our condition is no more servile as it was in the time of our jgnorāce 1. Cor. 15. Instruction to holines of life Is it not a thing more than reasonable that we that are regenerate by the grace of god by the Faith of Iesus Christ who is the Adam that is to say the celestiall man should beare his jmage and his apparant token not onely in the forehead of our bodies but also in our whole life and in all our actions And we must to shew that we are children of Abraham and by consequent heires of the promise which was made him resemble the starres of Heauen in light Gen. 15. in brightnesse and in puritie the which may bee manifest to all the world not onely in prosperity that is to say when things happen to our minds and that the daies are faire and cleare but also in adversitie when the night seemeth very darke vnto vs and the darknesse spread vpon vs and all our affaires having beene created and since bought and redeemed by the grace of God to the end that God might bee glorified in vs. We must then withdraw our selues out of all myre and filthines and from all thinges in generall that might bee an occasion to the jgnorant and vnfaithfull to blaspheme the name of God Rom. 2. by reason of our wicked life and conversation But what if as sayth the Prophet the just can liue no otherwise but by faith because the reward of sinne is death must we not necessarily if wee bee faithfull and desire to come to life abstaine from all those things which may bring vs to death Abac. 2. Rom. 6. The Prophet asketh Psal 15. Who is he that shall conuerse in the Tabernacle of the Lord and that shall be so happie as to haue a sure habitation in his holy mountaine He answereth He that walketh vprightly and worketh righteousnes and speaketh the truth in his heart He that slandereth not with his tongue nor doth euill to his neighbours nor receaueth a false report against his neighbour Which he yet repeateth elsewhere saying Psal 24. Who shall ascend into the mountaine of the Lord and who shall stand in his holy place Euen he that hath innocent hands and a pure heart which hath not lift vp his mind vnto vanitie nor sworne deceitfully He shall receaue blessing from the Lord and righteousnes from the God of his saluation This is the generation of them that seeke him This is Iacob Then must all Christians to shew that they are true not hipocrites nor dissimulate studie and exercise themselues to follow vertue and to flye from and detest vice and that they endeauour to resemble Gods Angels otherwise they are but shame and scandall in the house of God to dishonour it the which should bee adorned and hung with all holinesse as it is written in the 93. Psalme Thy testimonies are very true holynesse becommeth thine house O Lord Miserie of the hipocrites and prophane persons for euer Such kind of folke thē as liue wickedly in the Church of god are like so many warts in a body which serue but to disfigure it and as rottonnesse in a peece of timber Wee must not thinke that wee can dwell long in Iesus Christ who is the true sappe of the vine if we beare no fruit for he that is barren and fruitlesse Iohn 15. is cast away and dryeth then is gathered together and cast into the fire where it burneth It is that which we ought to vnderstand if we doe not our duty to doe well and to withdraw our selues from all jniquitie as much as possible we can For to be able to rule the state of our life so well that we should not offend in any thing which is commanded vs of God in his law Rom. 7. it were jmpossible for vs to attaine to such perfection in this world But aa sayth S. Ambrose vpon S. Luke Our perfection consisteth more in affection then in effect As the Apostle sayth to the Romanes That the will is present with him but that hee findes not the meanes to performe that which is good It is then a great shame to a body that is in the Church of God to make profession of his religion in words and shew only if his life and manners be nor correspondant to the words which he hath in his mouth to the semblance which he maketh to be a Christian man as the Prophet sheweth very well in the 50. Psalme Call vpon me in the day of trouble so will I deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me But to the wicked he sayth What hast thou to doe to declare mine ordinances that thou shouldest take my couenant in thy mouth seeing thou hatest to bee reformed and hast cast my words behind thee For when thou seest a theefe thou runnest with him and thou art partaker with the adulterers Thou giuest thy mouth to euill and with thy tongue thou forgettest deceit Thou sittest c. To whom they are like Such people are like vnto a musty vessell wherein the good wine bejng filled it marreth and corrupteth presently or to a stinking channell by the which the faire cleare water which passeth through it corrupteth and stinketh Also doe all the graces of God which are powred vppon such persons they are so farre from waxing better thereby and amendment by the receit of them that to the contrary they grow worse and worse and it had been good for them that they had neuer tasted the good woord of God nor the heauenly guift nor the powers of the age to come because that it by reason they haue abused thereof serueth them for nothing but to keepe them the farther from God and to bind them to a more greeuous condemnation seejng that in themselues they crucifie the sonne of God and expose him to opprobry for the earth which often drinketh the raine that falleth on it and bringeth forth fruite to those that fill it receaueth the blessing of God but that which bringeth foorth Thornes and Thistles is rejected and neere vnto the curse whose end tendeth to be burned The second thing ioyned to Faith THe other thing which is inseparably joyned to Faith is Charitie Charity inseparably cōpanied with Faith and the loue which wee beare first to God louing him with all our heart with all our strength with all
Iesus Christ which is offered â—nto vs in the Gospell Charity hath an â—ther charge and property it loueth â—esus Christ which faith hath receaued â—ccepted and embraced for an onely Sauiour Therefore wee doe not well â—nderstand when we say that charitie â—ustifieth becaused it is greater then â—aith For first we presvppose confused â—hat which is in debate that by the dignity of his vertues the sinner be iustified before God faith it selfe doth not â—ustifie vs if we vnderstaÌ„d it so We haue but one onely iustice to subsist before the iudgement of God that is Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 1.30 and 2. Cor. 5.21 Secondly that which is said is thought simply spoken in some respect Charity is not simply greater then faith but in regard of the during of the holynesse of life begunne in vs. Thirdlie it is as if one should say A King is greater and more raised in dignity aboue some industrious Goldsmith his subiect then he maketh a bowle or a chaine of gould better then this goldsmith The head is more excellent theÌ„ the feet we ought then to walke with our head and not with our feet As much may bee sayd of other excellent parts of the body in comparison of some lesse which haue their proper vse And although there be some dissemblance or vnlikelyhoode in these examples yet this is firme that as the sences and the members of the body haue their obiects and distinct offices so must wee distinctly assigne to Faith Hope and Charity that which is speciall and proper vnto them without confounding by our vnaptnes that which God will haue distinct and distinctly considered whether Charitie giueth forme to Faith Those haue also deceaued themselues that haue maintained that charity giueth forme to faith and hath finished it like as the matter receaueth accoÌ„plishment of her forme And it is a vaine jmagination to thinke and say that the forme of one distinct quality onely is another quality distinct of the forme by the definition thereof The forme of faith sheweth it selfe in the intelligence and apprehension of the promise of grace that of charitie in the loue of God and of our neighbours the one and the other worketh by their nature and efficacy besides who is the man of vnderstanding that will maintaine that the thing ingendered hath the forme of the Ingenderer Now faith ingendereth hope and charitie whereof shee is the next cause Therefore neither the one nor the other ought to bee taken for the forme of faith To conclude as the morall vertues are not the formes of vertues intellectuall so neither charitie nor hope ought to be called the forme of Faith Besides the guift of charitie is most necessary for vs How necessarie the gift of charitie is because that other guifts how excellent soeuer they bee are of no estimation nor vse if charitie be from them Though I speake sayth the Apostle 1. Corinth 13. with the tongues of men and Angels and haue not loue I am as sounding brasse or a tinckling Cymbale Againe without charity men cannot find peace nor agreement in any companie whatsoeuer Hatred bringeth discord but charitie couereth all faults Prou. 10.12 1. Pet. 4.8 He that loueth his brother hee abydeth in the light and there is no occasion of euill in him 1. Ioh. 2.10 We walke now by faith not in sight Charitie shall be accomplished and made greater in euerlasting life without changing of sort but faith shall haue her accomplishment seeing the good denounced and belieued of all present We see now through a glasse obscurely but then we shall see face to face now I know in part but then I shal know as I haue also beene knowne 1. Cor. 13.12 Hope also shall then bee abolished all euill being done away the teares wiped from our eyes which shall see the things present which wee hoped for for the hope which is seene is not hope for why should any one hope for that which he seeth But if we hope for that which we see not then we wayte for it in patience Rom. 8.23.24 Then as we now possesse by hope this inheritance which S. Paul calleth incorruptible which cannot contaminate nor wither also wee shall one day bee in effect coheires with Iesus Christ to enioye this inheritance indiuisiblie and eternally The doctrine of charity as also that of faith and hope amply expounded in the bookes of the Prophets and Apostles is precisely and articularly comprehended in the catechismicke questions and answeres And as wee must drawe the summarie of the doctrine of Faith and of hope out of the symbole or creede of the Apostles and the dominicall praier that of charitie is found in the Decalogue That which repugneth against the articles therein contained ought to bee detested as erroneous and pernicious For following the precept of the Apostle 2. Tim. 1 13. We must keepe the true patterne of the wholesome words and the good intent by the holy ghost which dwelleth in vs. It is fitting also to auoyd all prophane and vaine babblings and the contradicting of a science falsly so named 1 Tim 6 20. In the consideration of the 10. article propounded in the Title Let vs first treate of the workes of charitie towards our neighbours 2. Let vs rise to the contemplation of the doctrine of good workes 3. Let vs speake as shortly as may bee of the vertues commanded and recommended to all Christians vnder these words Thou shalt loue thy God with all thy heart and thy neighbour as thy selfe 1. In the consideration of the first point heare treated generally let vs see the reasons which ought to mooue vs to Charitie towards our neighbours Afterwards what kind of works of charitie are the principall Also the rules to the which all may be referred Now although that the commaundement of God our dutie the doctrine of Faith of repentance and of the judgements and punishments temporall and eternall ought to induce all christians to true obedience towards the Lord notwithstanding it shall suffice to touch that which ought to mooue vs to charitie the obiect then the end thereof The commaundement of God ought to haue great sway which beareth that we should loue our neighbour as our selues If this friendship proceedes of a pure heart the effect thereof followeth at neede Let vs ioyne to the commaundement of the Faith of the christian that obayeth That worketh by charitie and it cannot bee that the regenerate man can be guided by the spirit of enuie rancour and crueltie for the markes of the disciples of the Lord is that they loue one another in him whose example aboue al in the behoofe of Charitie to his neighbours is set before his to instruct them as he said expresly to them the night before hee died and doth there exhort them most affectionately according as S. Iohn repeateth it in the 13.14.15 16. Chap. and his first Epistle serueth for a commentary to the commandement and to this example of the maister of whome