saith Hee that beleeueth hath euerlasting life And Saint Paul saith by grace ye are saued Ioh. ◠36 Ephe. 2.8 By things to come I meane the accomplishment and performance of our saluation which in this life we doe patiently waite for and expect by hope therefore hope is sometimes vsed in the same sence that faith is as in the eight to the Romaines Saint Paul saith we are saued by hope that is by Rom. 8.24 hope our faith is supported and wee are comforted til we haue the end of our faith euen the saluation of our soules Againe this difference is betweene faith and hope that faith doth imbrace and apprehend Wherein faith and hope agree the promises of things and hope the things whereof the promises are made onely in this faith and hope agree that they haue alwaies respect vnto one and the selfe same benefits As for example when Abraham Gen. 17.19 was promised to haue a sonne in his olde age he did verily beleeue it but with hope did expect the performance thereof many yeares He was promised also the land of Canaan to him and his seede he did verily Gen. 17.8 beleeue it should be accomplished but yet hee did onely enioy the same by hope Thus we haue seene briefely the difference betweene faith hope and loue as also how they agree in one but of loue we shalspeake more God willing in the last Chapter Now let vs proceede a little further in our purpose to shew the excellencie and worthines of faith whereby we are assured of things inuisible as though wee saw them Things inuisible are plainely seene with the eyes of faith-Heb 11.3 with our bodily eyes if not more assured Through faith wee vnderstand the world was made by the word of God so that the things which we see are not made of things which did appeare Through faith we are assured of our election before the foundations of the world were laide God hath chosen vs saith Saint Paul in Christ before the foundation of the Ephes 1.4 world that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue Through faith wee are assured of our reconciliation with God for God was in Christ saith the Apostle and reconciled 2. Cor. 5.19 the world vnto himselfe not imputing their sinnes vnto them Through faith wee are assured of our redemption iustification and sanctification Ye are of him saith Saint Paul in Christ Iesus 1 Cor. 1.30 who is made vnto vs wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Through faith we are assured of our adoption that wee are the sonnes of God The spirite Rom. 8 16 beareth witnesse vnto our spirites saith the Apostle that wee are the children of God Through faith wee are assured that wee haue the spirit of God Know ye not that the 2. Cor. 13.5 spirite of Christ dwelleth in you except ye be reprobates Through faith wee haue the true knowledge of God and of Christ and in the ende euerlasting life This is life eternall to know God the father and whome hee hath Ioh. 17.3 sent Iesus Christ Lastly through faith we are assured that nothing shall separate vs from the loue of God for those whome God once loueth to Ioh. 13.1 the ende he loueth them I am perswaded saith Saint Paule that neither death nor Rom. 8.38 life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor thinges to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall bee able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our If we haue faith nothing can separate vs from God Lord. See thē the excellency of faith which may yet againe be considered fower maner of waies In respect of God in respect of our neighbours in respect of our selues in respect of the deuill and of the world In respect of God we feele peace of conscience Being iustified by faith wee Rom. 5.1 haue peace towardes God through Iesus Christ our Lorde Wee haue hope of the glorie to come Wee haue accesse vnto the 8.21 Heb. 4.16 throne of grace In respecte of our neighbours we haue mutuall concord godly loue and charitie In respect of our selues wee haue patience in afflictions reioycing in Rom. 5.3 tribulations ioye in the holye Ghost dying vnto sinne liuing vnto righteousnesse In respect of Sathan our faith fighteth for Ephe. 6.16 vs against his temptations and in respect of the world wee doe by little and little ouercome it This is the victorie which ouercommeth the world euen your faith 1. Ioh. 5.9 What should we say more If thou haue faith all things in heauen and earth make for thee if thou want faith al things in heauē earth hel make against thee if thou haue All thinges make for the faithful as al things make against the infidels faith thou art rich without any other thing if thou want faith thou art poore possessing al other things if thou haue faith thou maiest bee bolde as a Lyon if thou want faith thou wilt tremble at the shaking of a leafe if thou haue faith thou needes not feare the Faith a strong fort against our enemies force of thine enemies but for want of faith the heartes of people faint within them The wicked flie saith Salomon and no man pursueth them contrariwise the faithfull will say with Dauid God is our hope Pro. 28.1 and strength a helpe in troubles ready to bee founde Therefore will wee not feare Psal 46 1.2 3. though the earth remoue and though the mountaines fall into the depth of the Sea the hils shake at the surges of the same Againe Dauid saith though thousands had Psal 3.6 hemd me in on euery side yet would I not feare And againe I will say vnto the Lord O my hope and my fortresse he is my God Psal 92.1.2 in him will I trust surely hee will deliuer thee from the snare of the hunter and from 3. the noysome pestilence he will couer thee vnder his wings and thou shalt bee safe vnder 4. his feathers his truth shall be thy shield and buckler thou needst not bee affraid of the terror of the night nor of the arrowe that flyeth by day nor of the pestilence that 5. walketh in the darkenesse nor of the plague One faithfull man better in fight then a thousand infidels that destroyeth at the noone day a thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hande but it shall not come neere thee Behold then I beseech you the 6. force of faith blessed is the man that hath 7. the Lord for his God Psa 144.15 Now hauing hitherto heard the excellencie of faith and what profit we receiue therby it shall not be amisse to note for our further comfort and consolation what worthy praise commendation the Scripture hath alwaies giuen vnto faithfull men and women what
lay no more vpon his children then they shall be able to beare but will giue the issue with the temptation And this promise hath the Lord alwaies fulfilled to his Saints faithfull children in all ages Whereof wee haue innumerable examples in the Scripture and the Acts and Monumentes of the Church howsome were stoned hewen a sunder slaine with the sword drawen in peeces of wilde Looke for examples in the scriptures and Acts and Monumēts how God hath strēghned his children in most gneuous torments horses rosted vpon gredirons some cast vnto wilde beastes to be deuoured some their skins fleyed off their shoulders innumerable burned vnto Ashes in flaming fire or consumed by some other torment deuised by cruel and bloudy tyrants In this lost age of the worlde that bloudy beast of Rome hath endeuored to be like other tyrants that were before him in crueltie But in all these torments the Lord sustained his Saints and children and gaue them great patience to endure what paines or punishments soeuer that could be inflicted vpon them so true is that saying of the spirite of God The Lord The beast of Rome hath endeauoured to exccede all tyrants before him in crueltie 2. Pet. 2.9 knoweth how to deliuer them that are his out of temptation Wherfore euery Christian ought to take boldnesse in all afflictions euen as Saint Paule did when he was deliuered for a time out of the mouth of that Lyon at Rome The Lord assisted me saith he and strengthned me and I was deliuered from the mouth of the Lyon meaning from cruell Nero Emperour of Rome that bloudy tyrane Whereof also he taketh further 2 Tim. 4.16 17.18 assuraunce for time to come saying in the same place and the Lord wil deliuer me The faithfull are assured that God will either deliuer them orgiue thē strength patience to endure Acts. 20.25 How Gods children are marty red and deliuered out of the hand of their enemies Mat. 10.28 Rom 15.4 will preserue me vnto his heauenly kingdome here then is that assuraunce which euerie one ought to haue in God Paule was sure he should be deliuered he was sure hee should be preserued yet no doubt hee did know that he must bee martyred one time or other as not long after he was how was he then deliuered His body and soule were preserued vnto Gods euerlasting kingdome Therefore our Sauiour Christ biddeth vs not to feare death nor tyrants for they can kill but the body but rather to feare God that can cast both body and soule into hell fire Althese things are written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might haue hope Let these examples euer bee before our eyes let vs serue God truely in our callings let our trust be wholly in him then shall we neuer want patience in afflictions but rather reioyce in tribulations which shall Rom. 5.3 bring forth patience Let vs still remember this saying of Saint Peter it is better if the will of God be so that we suffer for well doing 1. Pet. 2.20 then for euill for hereunto are wee called as Christ suffered for vs leauing vs an example that wee should follow his steps Let vs oftentimes call to remembraunce that sweete saying of our Sauiour Blessed are they which suffer persecution for righteousnesse Mat. 5.10.11 sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen Blessed are ye when men reuile you and say all manner of euill sayings against you falsely for my sake reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen Let vs neuer forget these most comfortable sayings of Saint Paule That all the afflictions of this life are not worthie of the glorie that wee shall haue in the life to come That we need Rom 8.18 31. not feare the force of anye tyrants for if GOD bee with vs who can be against vse who spared not his owne Son but gaue him for vs all to death how shall hee not withhim giue vs al things also Who shal lay No tribulation nor persecution canseparate the faithfull from God anything to the charge of Gods chosen It is GOD that iustifieth who shall condemne It is Christ which is dead yea rather which is rysen againe who is also at the right hand of GOD and maketh intercession for vs. Who shall separate vs therefore from the loue of God Shall tribulation or anguish or persecution or famine or nakednesse or sworde At it is written for thy sake are we killed all the day long wee are counted as sheepe for the slaughter neuerthelesse in all these thinges wee are more then conquerours through him that loued vs. Last of all let vs bee assuredly perswaded as Sainte Paule was that neyther Vers 38. death nor lyfe nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor 39. things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall bee able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. This assurance of faith wee ought to haue in our God in all our tryals temptations and afflictions whatsoeuer Let vs therefore bee faithfull and patient vnto the death then Christ will giue vs a crowne of life which he hath purchased for vs by his death and passion A Praier for Patience O Righteous God and mercifull father how wonderful art thou in al thy works and who is able to comprehend the secrets of thy iudgements Thou bringest man vnto destruction by and by thou sayest come againe O yee children of men thy wrath lasteth but the twinckling of an eye but in thy presence there is life for euermore heauinesse may endure for a night but ioye commeth in the morning I acknowledge O Lord that all my corrections are ten thousand times lesse then my deseruings therefore I pray thee good Lord stil correct me to amendment but plague mee not to my destruction And because ther is no chastisement but is grieuous for the present season though after it bringeth forth the quiet fruit of righteousnes to them that are exercised therin therefore I most humbly beseech thee O my good God and father to giue vnto me in al my tryals and temptations that most excellent gift of patience quietly to beare and suffer whatsoeuer thy gracious goodnesse hath appointed to lay vpon me for the tryall of my faith for the glorie of thy name and for the good example of others Yea O Lord I most instantly intreate thee to let patience haue her perfect working in me so shall I be perfect lacking nothing and howsoeuer it shal please thee to dispose of my body and goods yet graunt me good Lord this benefit that I may possesse my soule in patience so whether there come sickenesse come health come life come death or come what wil come I may say with patient Iob the Lord giueth and the Lord taketh blessed be the name of the Lord. This mercy O my good God vouchsafe to
in christendome France Germany and many other countries may be produced for witnesses yea I am perswaded that the King of Spaine himselfe which at this day is content to be in this respect at the Popes command to runne to go to fight when he bids him woulde also confesse this The Spanish cleargy the drudges of popery truth if he were not affraide of his cleargy the very drudges of Popery The Turkes and Sarasens neede not trouble themselues to make warre against Christendome for wee haue them that by name and profession are Christians which doe trauel in paine as a woman ready to be deliuered till they heare or see all christendome together by the eares But let Spaine aboue all take heede lest while they prepare A good caueat for Spaine their forces to fight against christians their countrie be ouerthrowen by Turkes and Barbarians And as for that beaste of Rome and the Cittie and country thereof which a long The iudgement of the whore time haue fed and pampered such a blouddy beast and beastly whore Let her I say assuredly knowe that her sinnes are come Reuel 18.5 vp into heauen and God hath remembred her iniquities and will rewarde her as shee hath rewarded other and giue her double according to her workes and in the cuppe which she hath filled to other shall bee filled to her the double In as much as she hath glorified her self liued in pleasure so much shal she haue torment and sorrowe for she saith in her harte I sit as a Queene and am no widdow and shall see no mourning Therefore shall her plagues come at one day death and sorrow Ver. 8. When God iudgeth there is no end of torment and famine and she shal be burnt with fire for strong is the Lorde God that will condemne her Yea God doth dayly destroy her with the breath of his mouth but shal vtterly abolish her at the brightnes of his comming which 2. Thess 2 8 shal be at the day of iudgement And that this day is at hande this is not one of the least signes that nation shal rise against nation kingdome against kingdom as now is to be seene in christendome that Tokens that the day of iudgement is at hand brotherly loue kindnes among christian nations is waxen colde iniquitie abounding euen as our sauiour foretolde shoulde come to passe before the end of the world Therefore let all the wicked ones of the Mat. 24.7.12 world specially they that haue receiued the marke of the beaste in their right Reue. 13.16 hand or in their foreheade howle crie and weepe for the iudgement of the great day is comming But O heauen reioyce of this 18.20 and ye holy Apostles and prophets martirs for God hath giuen you iudgement vpon The godly reioyce for the iudgement of the whore Luk. 21.28 the beast and let all the godly and faithfull people in the worlde bee glad and lift vp their heades with ioy because their redemption draweth neare Thus haue wee seene howe the bondes of brotherly loue and kindnes are broken and rent asunder throughout all the landes of christendom And I would to God ther were no breach of this brotherly loue and kindenes among those christians which liue together in one land vnder one christian Prince hauing all one God one faith one baptisme one true religion that we would walke worthy Contentions among Christians lamentable Ephes 4. 1 2 3 4 5.6 of the vocation whereunto wee are called in all humblenes of mind and meeknes with long suffering supporting one the other through loue endeuouring to keep the vnity of the spirite in the bonde of peace euen as we are called in one hope of our calling and that wee woulde all speake one thing that there were no dissentions among vs but 1 Cor. 1.10 that wee woulde bee knit together in one mind and in one iudgement So should God be glorified so should all our Princes good and godly lawes be obeyed The fruit of Christian concord so should the mouthes of our aduersaries bee stopped so shoulde vertue florish and righteousnes should looke downe from heauen vpon vs so should Sion reioyce and Israel would be glad to see brotherly kindnes maintayned among vs. God is not the authour Galat. 6 16 of confusion but of peace and as many as follow this rule the God of loue and peace bee with them Amen A Prayer for brotherly kindnes O Most wise and mightie creator Lord of heauen and earth who by thine infinite wisedome hast knit mankind together in a most wonderfull order to this end that wee shoulde shew all frendlines and brotherly kindnes one to the other and as in all other liuing creatures of this worlde so specially in man thou didst at the beginning infuse into his breaste this secreat force of nature that we should like and liue together in godly fellowship societie among our selues but so it hath fallen out by reason of sinne the malice of Sathan that as in all other good things so especially in this we do degenerate and grow out of kind one man careth not for another but eueryman for himselfe selfeloue is strong and headdy but brotherly kindnesse weake decayed Therefore good Lord I beseech thee renew agayne in me and in all people by the benefite of grace that which we haue lost by sinne and corruption that as we are all brothers by creation so all nations if it be thy will may shew natural kindnes one to the other but specially graunt grace O Lord to me al Christians that as we are nowe knit together againe by a more neerer bond of religion christianitie so we may shew our selues in all dutifull kindnes to be the children of one God members of one bodie heyres and coheyres with Christ Iesus of eternall saluation purchased vnto vs by his death and passion to whom with God the Father God the holy Ghost bee all praise and glory for euer Amen Of Loue or Cheritie Chap. 8. IT is the manner of cunning and curious golde-sinithes that worke onely vpon fine and pure gold euermore to put vnto their worke some priuie signe or marke whereby they will know their owne doinges from others that vse not so fine gold as they doe The very same thing in a sorte our skilfull and perfect workeman Sainte Peter seemeth to doe in this excellent peece of worke now in hand he hath beaten out all his linckes of the purest and finest golde hee hath so curiously lincked one lincke in the other riuited the same fast with the hammer of Gods worde that it cannot bee perceiued where the soldering is Now being about Saint Peters chaine made all of pure gold to finish his chaine he addeth this last linck of loue vnto it which serueth him as a priuie signe or marke to know this chaine made all of purified gold from all
for hee maketh the Sunne 45. to rise vpon the euill and the good and his raine to fall vppon the iust and vniust On the contrarie saith Christ if yee loue them that loue you what reward shall yee haue doe not the Publicans euen the same Be ye 46. perfect therefore in loue euen as your heauenly Father is perfect To giue our goods 47. only to such poore as we loue and like such as we know wil blaze the same abroade and to hate other whome we should loue is not to be perfect but partiall in loue and so for such loue we shal haue no thanke of GOD. We haue spoken before of brotherly-kindnesse that doeth keepe it selfe within some limites but this Loue wherof now we speake hath no bounds but extendeth it selfe ouer Loue hath no bounds all the world euen to our verie enemies He that cannot loue his enemies for Christs sake is not perfect in loue God loued vs when we were his enemies wee must follow God in this respect Be followers of God saith Rom. 5.6 Saint Paul and walke in loue euen as Christ hath loued vs and so forth Beloued saith Eph. 5.1 Saint Iohn If God so loued vs we ought also to loue one another The loue that God hath 1. Ioh. 4.11 shewed vnto vs is infinite and vnmeasurable wee must therefore endeauour to loue God and our enemies for his sake in some We must loue our enemies because God loued vs being his enemies measure Or else Woe Woe be vnto vs. We must loue God because hee loued vs first and wee must loue our enemies for Gods sake because he loued vs when we were his enemies This doctrine by how much more it is hard for flesh and bloud to performe because it is against our fleshly nature which is euermore desirous of reuenge by so much If we cannot forgiue we must pray God to change our hearts Mat. 18. 24. more ought wee to desire God to change or mollifie our hard harts that we may be readie to forgiue others one hundred pence seeing God is so kind to forgiue vs ten thousand talents alwaies remembring this definitiue sentence of Christ If yee forgiue not other their trespasses no more wil your heauenly Father forgiue you your trespasses Mat. 6.15 Therefore Christians are taught daylye to pray the Lord to forgiue them as they doe Mat. 6.12 forgiue others that is if wee doe not forgiue others then wee desire the Lord not to forgiue vs which is most fearefull if wee haue any grace to consider ofit This then is to be When wee pray doe not forgiue we sinne grieuously perfect in loue as farre as we can attaine to perfection in this life to loue God with all our harts with all our soules and with al our strength our neighbour though our enemy as our selus The which thing because no mā can do in such absolute sort as he ought therefore we cannot bee perfect in loue til Wē cannot be perfect in loue in this life we haue laide down our fleshly nature be clothed with immortalitie but we must doe the best we can and though we cannot loue God and our neighbors as we should yet we must forgiue our enemies freely as wee are commanded yea loue them euen as our dearest frendes though they bee our mortal enemies and haue sworne our death yet wee must loue them not with a fayned We must pray for our enemies Luk. 23.24 Act. 7.60 but true Christian loue and praye for them that God woulde change their harts and forgiue them euen as Christ and Saint Stephen prayed for their persecutors saying To forgiue iniuries is giuen vnto vs of God Lorde lay not this sinne to their charge This loue which causeth vs to suffer iniuries patiently and to forgiue them freely is the speciall gift of God and giuen onely to his 1 Cor. 13.4 elect Therefore Saint Paule saith Loue suffereth long and is curteous Loue enuieth 5. not loue doth not boast it selfe it swelleth not it disdayneth not it seeketh not her 6. owne things it is not prouoked to anger it 7. thinketh no euill it reioyceth not in iniquitie but reioyceth in the truth it suffereth all thinges it beleeueth all things it hopeth all thinges and indureth all thinges Why then he that hath this lincke of loue hath Loue hath all vertues included in it all these vertues included in it O rich chain where one lincke is bedecked with so many precious pearles contrariwise then it must needes follow that they which can suffer no iniuries they that are of a currish nature and not curteous they that enuy at other mens good successe prosperitie they that are puffed vp with pride and vaine glorie Vices contrary vnto the fruits of loue as a bladder with winde they that will commende none but disdaine all they that are not contented with their owne but seek other mens by deceite or oppression they that not onely thinke euill but study to deuise mischiefe they that are sory to haue truth knowen reioyce in iniquitie These and such like whosoeuer they are of what calling or degree soeuer they be of haue not receiued this badge of loue whereby they should be knowen to be true christians Last of all S. Paul saith that loue neuer Verse 8. falleth away but abideth with vs in this life shall continue with vs for euermore in the life to come O then let vs make much of Loue and charitie for it is a surpassing Loue a surpassing treasure treasure It is no maruell that Sainte Peter would not finishe his Chayne before this lincke of loue were aded vnto it That must A glorious Chaine that beginneth with faith and endeth in loue Happy are they that weare this chaine 2. Pet. 1.8 needes be a golden and glorious chaine that beginneth with faith and endeth in loue hauing lincked vnto them both all graces and vertues whatsoeuer happy yea thrise happy are they that weare this Chaine surely they shall neuer be bound in euerlasting chaines If these things saith S. Peter be among you and abounde they will make you that ye shall neuer be idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lorde Iesus 9. Christ But he that hath not these thinges as faith loue the rest is blind cannot see farre of and hath forgotten that hee was 10 purged from his old sinnes wherefore breethren giue all diligence to make your calling election sure for if ye do these things ye shal neuer fall but by these meanes an 11 entring shal bee ministred vnto you aboundantly into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whome with the Father and the holy Ghost bee all prayse glory power and maiestie from age to age world without end A Praier for Loue or Charitie O Blessed Lord God most louing mercifull Father for as much as thou hast shewed vnto mankind thine infinite vnmeasurable loue not onely in creating vs of the dust of the earth then preferring vs to be lords ouer all the works of thy hands but also and especially hast manifested this thine vnexpressable kindnes towardes vs in giuing thine onely beloued sonne to death for vs that hee might bring vs vnto life to this end that in a thankeful remembrance of this thy so great loue kindnes we should shew our loue to thee againe to our neighbours and brethren for thy sake Grant therefore vnto me good Lord that I may loue thee aboue all thinges and my neighbour as myselfe not onely my frends and those that do me good but also mine enemies because thou louedst mee when I was thine enemie that I may neuer suffer the sunne to go down vpon my wrath but with all gentlenes and from my hart I may suffer iniuries and forgiue myne enemies O Lord if thou wilt vouchsafe to receaue me into thy seruice giue vnto me thy badge of christian loue or charitie whereby I may be assured that I am thy seruant let the fire of this loue breake out from me into flames of good works that I may be ready to do good vnto all but specially vnto them that are of the houshold of faith This grace vouchsafe vnto me and to all christians for his sake in whom thou art wel pleased So shalt thou O God dwel here in earth with me and I shal euermore dwelhere and in heauen with thee to whom with thy blessed sonne our Sauiour and the holy Ghost our euerlasting comforter be all lande and honour for euer and euer Amen FINIS Laus Deo honos
Here is no boasting of faith without workes here is no reioycing in works without faith here is no vertue without knowledge no knowledge without temperance no patience without godlines no godlines without brotherly kindnes no kindnes among brethren without godly loue or charitie Begin with faith end in loue for faith worketh by loue so shalt thou be sure to haue the end of thy faith euen the saluauation of thy soul which is the thing that I hartely wish vnto thee me Thus do thou shalt liue thus liue thou shalt neuer Gal 5.6.1 Pet. 1.9 Heb. 12.2 die Vale in authore salutis Farewell in Christ the author finisher of thy faith Thine in the Lorde Radford Mauericke A view of Saint Peters Chaine See gentle Readers see a Chaine of peerelesse price is offered heere t' adorne your mindes withall Accept it I you praye and vse it with aduice it may you comfort bring when world threat'ns thral Iewels Gems and corrall pearles and precious stones came from the earth to earth they must againe No pleasure in this life is free from greefe grones the greatest ioyes are often mixt with paine This Chaine therfore you may accoūt as treasure sure for it hath had the triall of the fire Put case these papers heere will not long time indure yet is the ground worke sure if you desire Eternall blisse with holy saintes and Angels bright where teares and greefes are banisht farre awaye This Chaine wil keep your feet to tread the path aright vnto that blessed life that dures for aye Enclinea while your eares to heare Saint Peters voice haue faith in Christ first planted in your brest Remember next of vertues all to take the choice good knowledge will you bring to vertues rest Sobriety forthwith in heart you must imbrace dame patience must stand fast by your side Consider then to runne religions godly race that godlines with you may still abide Haue louing kindnes too vnto your brethern deare let godly loue your christian hearts enflame Ames deeds are surely good they do the needy cheare If you do this it will encrease your fame Now haue I don forsoth both tong pen are at a stay my muse is dul my vaine is dry your pardō do I pray The contents of the booke Of Faith Chap. 1. Of Vertue Chap. 2 Of Knowledge Chap. 3 Of Temperance Chap. 4 Of Patience Chap. 5. Of Godlines Chap. 6. Of Brotherly kindnes Chap. 7 Of Loue. Chap. 8 SAINT PETERS CHAINE Of Faith Chap. 1. FOr as much as there is ingrafted in the minds of al mē a natural disposition and inelimation greedily to desire such things as seeme either most faire and beautifull or else most sweete and acceptable vnto our outward sences as Eua desired the forbidden fruite because it was faire to the Gen. 3.6 3.6 eye and Adam affected the saine by too much harkening vnto the perswasions of his wife And the carnall Israelites preferred their grosse feeding in Egypt before Numb 11.4.5 heauenly Manna for that it did better relish their fleshly tast and the wicked Sodomites would grope with their hands after they were striken with blindnesse to find out Lots doore and Rahel would forgo Gen. 19.11 for a time the company of her husband for the great desire shee had vnto Leahs Mandraks which as wee may gather out of the Canticles haue a verie fragrant and 30.15 Canti 7.13 and odoriferous sauour For as much therfore I say as it is our wanton eyes our itching eares our daintie tast our fine smeling or our grosse handling that must aduise vs with their deceitfull counsell to make choyse of things that seeme most pleasant to the contentation of our seuerall senses and disordered desires what maruaill is it Mans senses deceiueable that this rich Gem and precious Iewel of faith lyeth hidden among vs regarded of so few yea despised troden vnder feete of many Is it because there is no excellent or vertuous operation in it Not so but because the vertue thereof is so diuine and precious that it cannot be comprehended by our earthly senses Our eyes are dimme they cannot see it our eares are dull they cannot heare it our tast is glutted and cannot relish it our fingers are benummed they cannot feele it our noses are stopped they can not smell it Obiection But some happily will say that faith is a spirituall thing that cannot be seene therefore the senses of our earthly bodies cannot perceiue it but the soule which is the chiefest parte of man being also spirituall hath not she power to looke into such secresies I graunt that faith is a spirituall thing which cannot be seene with our bodily eyes for it is the ground of things hoped for and the euidence of things which are not seene I graunt also that the soule of man is a spirituall Heb. 11.1 and inuisible substaunce but yet it doth not follow that she is able of her selfe to vnderstand the secresies of faith for one inuisible thing doth not alwaies know the secresies of another as for example the deuill The deuil knows not our thoghts Heb. 4.12.13 who is inuisible doth not know the secrete thoughts of man which are also inuisible but only God knowes them nothing more doth the soule vnderstand the vertue and secrete operation of faith except it bee first reuealed by the spirite of God This is proued most plainely by that saying of Saint Paul The naturall man cannot 1. Cor. 2.14 perceiue the things that are of God Nowe when the Apostle speaketh of the naturall man we must needs confesse that vnder the word man he comprehendeth both partes of man soule and body for the body without soule is not a man but a lumpe of flesh or a carkesse so thē it is plaine by the words of Saint Paul that the soule of a man vnregenerate No man vnregenerate doth know the secresies of faith doeth no more know the secresies of faith and the things that are of God then the body doth Moreouer if wee consider the principall parts and powers of the soule since the fall of Adam shall we perceiue any thing therin but meere darknes and ignorance What is our reason vnderstanding euen of them that haue the finest wits is it not meere foolishnes Is not our knowledge blinded Is not our freewil vtterly lost decayed Can we make choyce of any thing that is good Surely no for if the verie regenerate do but knowe in part as the Apostle saith then doubtlesse the naturall man knoweth nothing 1. Cor. 13.12 in respect of true knowledge for which cause the same Apostle speaking vnto such natural men how wittie soeuer they be in their owne conceite sayth plainely if they thinke they know any thing meaning 1. Cor. 8.2 in the misteries of God they know nothing sayth he as they ought to know Wherefore we may affirme for certaintie without any
other mens worke that shall goe about to counterfaite the same with any base golde or copper that hath not beene tried by the perfecte touchstone of the word of God nor weighedin the ballance of the sanctuary And this is done surely to great purpose for as no golde-smith be he neuer so skilful can make any worke of his finest golde but some shifting mates or other will counterfaite the same in Copper and double-gilde it ouer with golde in such sort that except it betryed two or three times by the touch it shall not appeare that it is counterfaite Euen so Sainte Peter knowing that there Many counterfaiters of vertue in the world would arise many such deceauers in the last age of the world that would counterfait his Chaine making shew to the world that they haue faith vertue knowledge temperance patience godlines and brotherly kindnes when in truth being tryed by the touch it is nothing so hee therefore me thinketh addeth of set purpose vnto his Chaine this golden True loue can hardly be counterfaited A similitud linke of loue which cannot well bee coloured or counterfaited For as the Camelion can chaunge himselfe into any colour except it be white so the wicked impes of Sathan can counterfaite euery vertue except it be loue and charitie the which thing when they would also goe about to doe the heate of their malicious stomaks euer more be wraie them by this lincke then of loue charitie it shall appeare who are truely vertuous and who are counterfaite hypocrites and dissemblers Furthermore this loue whereunto Saint Peter here exhorteth vs is a true note wherby the children of God are knowne and a badge which euerye Christian ought to Loue the badge of Christians weare Therefore loue may bee called the badge of Christians Noble and gentlemen wee see that their retinue and attendants may be knowne when they receiue any man into their seruice giue them a badge or recognisance Euerie souldier in the fielde Similies knoweth of what band he is by the ensigne that is borne before him Christ Iesus therefore that most noble and victorious Captaine that hath vanquished sinne death and hell to the end hee might haue his souldiers and Christ will haue his souldiers knowne from Sathans seruants knowne from all other hath assigned vnto them a peculiar badge or recognisance such as cannot bee countersaited and it is indeede this loue which S. Peter speaketh of By this saith Christ shall all men Ioh. 13.35 know that yee are my Disciples if yee loue one an other This badge of loue must bee plated fast not in the sleeue but in the harts of Christians the Mettal whereof this badge Loue must be in the hearte of loue is made doth farre exceede al golde or siluer for golde will not appeare if it bee couered with any other thing but loue the closer it is hid in the heart the brighter wil it shine throughout all the parts of the body Like vnto a precious stone called the Topaze that glittereth or shineth best in the Loue like vnto a precious stone that shineth best in the darke darke And indeed how can it be otherwise Can it bee darke in that house where the Sunne shineth in through the Glasse windowes Nay can that place of the firmament bee darke where the Sunne abideth No verily much lesse can that soule and body of man be dark where God himselfe which is all light remaineth Now God is loue as saith Saint Iohn Beloued 1. Ioh. 4.7 let vs loue one an other for loue commeth of God euery one that loueth is borne of God and knoweth God contrariwise he that loueth not knoweth not God for God is loue Againe he saith No man hath seene 8. GOD at any time if wee loue one another God dwelleth in vs and his loue is perfect Vers 12. in vs. Againe he saith God is loue and hee that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God and 16. and God in him What diuine and heauenly thing then is Christian loue and charitie How doth this one lincke beautifie this golden Chaine Who would not bee in loue with such a Iewell where God himselfe is engrauen in the middest Many thinke they Loue a principall Iewell are safe when they haue a Crucifixe of gold siluer or copper hanging about their neckes though their harts be ful of hatred sinne and mallice But O beloued here is a rich and precious Iewell worthie the wearing the Crucifixe is but a fayned and false picture of the body of Christ whereby if thou take Crucifixe dangerous not heede thou mayest soone commit Idolatrie â—…fat least the very wearing of it be not Idolatrie but if thou haue this Iewel of loue in thine hart then thou needest not feare the force of thine enemies for thou hast God abiding with thee and if God be with thee who can preuaile against thee There bee Rom. 2 31. indeede poore Politicians nowe a daies which think it good policie but it is against Diuinitie though thou bee no Papist but percase a Newter or an Atheist to haue a Poysonfull pollititians Crucifixe alwaies hanging about thy neckes for say they if the Spaniards who are poysoned Papists should inuade this land they will vse thee well for thy Crucifixe sake But it is sounder Diuinitie better agreeing with Christianity in thy confidence that Hee that hath confidence in God wil defie Gods enemies thou hast in God to defie both Pope and popish Spaniards the open and professed enemies of God and of Christ his annointed and to harbour loue in thine heart whereby thou mayst assure thy selfe to be the souldiour of Christ who is able to defend thee will defend thee trusting in GOD if it be for his glorie and thy saluation from the force of all enemies whatsoeuer Surely this fearefulnes that is in the harts of people as it doth argue great wickednes and guiltinesse of their consciences so it is a A guiltie conscience cannot be bold Iohn 4. 17. manifest signe that the loue of God is not in them For as S. Iohn saith herein is loue perfect in vs that we should haue boldnes not onely in this life against our enemies but also in the day of iudgement Againe he saith There is no feare in loue but perfecte 18. loue casteth out feare and hee that feareth is not perfect in loue if therefore thou wilt not be afraide of thine enemies in this life nor of damnation in the life to come entertaine Loue casteth out fere true loue and Charitie in thine hearte and mind Loue God aboue al thy neighbour as thy selfe for therein consisteth the Mat. 22.37 whole law and the Prophets as our Sauiour Christ doth witnesse And Saint Paul saith Rom. 13.9 the Law is fulfilled in one word Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe Againe loue hurteth not his neighbour therefore is loue the fulfilling
to shewe brotherlye kindnesse yea the magistrate as well as any other notwithstanding to speak all in a word it is not Not the magistrate but the law that putteth malefactors to death the magistrate but the law that putteth malefactors to death Wherefore this force of nature doeth still remaine vntaken awaye that brotherly kindnes must be shewed one to another as wee are all men made by one workmaster of one mettall though cast in diuers moldes Now that one man doth loue his owne degrees of brotherly kindnes country men better then another and in that country his kindred before other and in that kindred his owne familie before an other and in that family his wife and children before other it commeth also to passe by the secrete force of nature For as in birds beastes and fishes though birds will company with birds beasts with beasts and so forth yet euerie of them haue their seuerall fellowships as before wee haue noted So likewise though in generallitie man will company with man and in a sorte shewe kindnes one to another yet nature hath her working in vs also euen in this that by how much more we are lincked together by any bonde of familiaritie and friendship of countrie or kindred by so much more wee will shewe kindnes one to the other for that in deed is right brotherlie True brotherly kindnes kindnes and most agreeable vnto nature For as we cannot shewe kindnes to all men at one time so it were vnnaturall and such vnnaturall wretches there are many in this land to be vnkind vnto our owne country Vnkind countriemen that will helpe other countries rather then their owne men kindred neighbours and friends and to seeke opportunity to shew kindnes vnto other countries or to them wee neuer sawe before This you will saye is kindnes but it is vnnaturall kindnesse such as is odious before God and man Now as there are some which turne naturall into vnnaturall kindnesse so the most part of people that are irreligious and liuing in this declining age of the world are growen so barbarous hard harted inhumane and brutish insomuch that it seemeth this naturall kindnesse is almost extinguished in them And if I may speake by waye of comparison we shall finde that not onely bruite beastes do excell many men in this natural kindnes one toward the other but also in declaring their naturall affection vnto man more then one man sometimes doth vnto another Fewe natural men without religion and godlines doe loue theyr wiues as the turtle doth his make no woman can shewe more kindnes vnto her children then the Pellicane doth to her young If vnreasonable creatures can match nay ouermatch many of vs in these two pointes of natural kindnes then what shal we thinke of the rest Againe histories do record what great affection brutishe beastes haue shewed vnto mankinde Pliny reporteth that in the cittie of Ceston an Eagle being brought vp by a young maide loued the maide so well that it woulde flye abroad and kill foules and bring them home to the damsell and when she died the Eagle died with her As strange a thing as this wee reade of an Elephant which was in the warres at what time Pirrhus subdued the citie of Argos which elephant after hee perceiued that his maister was slaine went vp and downe among the dead soldiers to seeke his maister which being founde the Elephant brought his bodye being dead to a safe place where the Elephant after much mourning dyed for sorow What should I speak of the affection and naturall kindenesse that horses and dogges do shewe vnto their maisters wee do daylie see something before our eyes but histories do reporte much more Of Horses that Alexander king of Macedon that Iulius Caesar Emperour of Rome that Antiochus king of Siria had each of them a horse who bearing vnto their maisters such affection would suffer no other to ride vppon them but onelye their maisters vnto whome they would crouch and kneele downe to the ground to receiue them vppon their backes It would bee too long to rehearse the tenth historie that doth recorde the kindenes which dogges haue shewen vnto their maisters Lisimachus that noble Grecian had a dog named Durides that loued him so well that euen at Lisimachus death the dog died also Hiero had another dogge that ran willinglie into that flame of fire where his maister did burne and so dyed with him Titus Sabinus dogge as Fulgotius saith neuer forsooke his maister in prison when any one gaue the dogge bread or meat hee brought it vnto his maister in prison and when his maister was thrown into the riuer Tyber the dogge was seene to doe what hee coulde to lifte vp his maisters heade out of the water thinking his maister had bene aliue These and many other such do writers reporte of the kind affection that bruite beasts do beare vnto mankinde which I haue noted onely to this ende that these monsters in nature and not men may bee ashamed to see howe farre they degenerate from that naturall kindnes which was once giuen vnto them when they shall see euen bruite beastes to excell them therein The want of this naturall kindnesse is is not the least cause of so many vnnaturall murthers villanyes and conspiracies in the world And if this naturall kindnes were of force among vs though some care neither for God nor religion as a great many doo not yet they woulde not bee so vnkinde as in the hardenes of theyr heartes to tourne awaye theyr faces from theyr owne fleshe which many times they see readie to perish for want of thinges necessarie whome they might well releeue wyth their superfluitie Insomuch that though it was once sayde Homo homini Deus that man shoulde bee louing as God vnto man Yet now it is proued contrarie in a great many that Homo homini non lupus as the Prouerbe is sed daemon Men rage not like wolues but more like deuils one against another And the longer wee liue the worse one age is more hatefull than another and this age seemeth to shew lesse naturall kindnes than former ages For who seeth not or rather what hart lamenteth not to see how this natural kindnes which should be between man man doth cool decay daily Is it not now come to this passe among a great many that one man is not regarded of another that countrie men disdaine one the other that kinsmen reproch the one the other that neighbours deceiue one the other that no man will trust one another no not his brother Subiects are disloyall towards their prince children are vnnaturall towardes theyr parents people haue no heartie loue towards theyr pastours many pastours loue more the fleeces than their sheepe euerie man loues himselfe fewe of the common sorte care as they shoulde for the common profite of theyr Countrie Thus hath selfe loue euen bannished naturall loue and kindnes out of our coastes I
speake yet still of naturall kindnes as wee are brothers by nature and creation Insomuch that most certainly we now liue in those last dayes and perillous times which the Apostle S. Paule foreprophesied 2. Tim. 3.1 shoulde come before the end of the world when men shoulde bee louers of their owne selues couetous boasters proude cursed speakers disobedient to parents vnthankfull vnholye without naturall affection truce breakers false accusers intemperate fierce despisers of them which are good traitours headye high minded louers of pleasures more than louers of God hauing a shew of holynesse but hauing denyed the power thereof all which thinges are most certainly fulfilled in our time But leauing to discourse farther of naturall kindnesse and of such vnkinde naturall men as this age yeeldeth I must come to the chiefest thing that ought to bee spoken of in this Chapter euen vnto christian brotherly kindnes which the Apostle Saint Peter in anie case woulde haue vs to linke vnto the sixe former vertues for Christians must not onelye shewe brotherly kindnesse one to another because wee are brothers by nature and creation but chiefelye and principally because wee are also brothers by grace of redemption by profession and religion because wee haue one God one faith one baptisme one sauiour and redeemer And is this brotherhoode neerer and dearer than the other O farre dearer by nature and creation we are brothers according to the flesh but by grace wee are knit Brothers by redemption nearer and dearer then by creation together in vnitie of spirite by nature wee inioye heere in a fraternitie the temporall thinges of this worlde and that neyther but by vsurpation or tolleration but by grace wee inioy through hope those durable riches which shall neuer fade By nature we are the sonnes of men but by grace wee are made the sonnes of God The same spirite bearing witnesse with our spirit that we are the children of God If wee bee children Rom 8.16.17 wee are also heires euen the heires of God and heirs annexed with Christ if so be that wee suffer with him that wee maye also bee gloryfied wyth him By nature wee are heires heere of temporall inheritances but by grace wee are heires and coheires wyth Christ Iesus of eternall glorie in a worde by nature or rather by corruption of nature we are the children of wrath and damnation but by grace wee are restored vnto life and saluation If by nature therefore wee ought to shewe kindnesse to our brothers according vnto the flesh howe much more vnto them that are brothers both by nature profession This Argument from the lesser to the greater doeth the Apostle Saint Paule vse when hee would perswade his beloued Philemon Brothers both by nature profession Phile 16. to shewe kindnesse vnto Onesimus an old seruant of Philemons I beseech thee sayth the holy Apostle Saint Paule for my sonne Onesimus whome I haue begotten in my bondes that thou wouldest receiue him for euer not nowe as a seruant but aboue a seruant euen a brother beloued speciallie to mee howe much more to thee both in the flesh and in the Lorde Heere then was brotherly kindnesse to bee shewed both because Onesimus was once Philemons seruant and of his familye in which respect Saint Paule as the learned doo note doeth call Onesimus Philemons brother according to the fleshe as also because hee was now a brother according vnto grace Furthermore as there are degrees of brotherly kindnesse according to nature so also according to grace for though loue whereof wee must speake in the next chapter Degrees of brotherlie kindnes according to grace doeth extende it selfe farre and neere to all the children of God alike that are dispearsed thoroughout the whole worlde yet christian brotherly kindnes doth shewe it selfe by degrees which sheweth a differrence betweene loue and brotherly kindenes according to country kindered affinitie fellowship and so foorth It was godly brotherly kindnes in Moises so earnestly to pray the Lord to pardon his country people Exod. 32.31 the children of Israel though therein he had chiefely respect vnto Gods glory or els to rase his name out of the booke of life In like maner it was christian brotherly kindnes in Saint Paule to wishe himselfe Rom. 9. 3. separated from Christ for his brethren that were his kinsemen according to the flesh And the same brotherly kindnes haue all the faithfull though not in so great a measure euen vnto this daye The faithfull husband doth chiefelie desire the saluation The fruites of brotherly kindnes of his wife the wife lykewise of her husbande faithfull parents the saluation of their children children ought to beare the same affection vnto their parents so brothers and sisters so neighbours and friends so kinstolke countrey folke should beare this Christian brotherly kindnes one to the other For these vertues which wee had first giuen vnto vs by creation are not taken away by grace of redemption but rather restored Therefore Saint Paule saith Be ye affectioned Giftes of nature restored by grace of redemption to loue one the other with brotherly kindnes And the author to the Hebrues faith Let brotherly loue continue And againe forsake not the fellowship that ye haue among your selues as the manner Heb 12. 1. of some is And Saint Peter in the second Chapter of his first Epistle saith Honour 1. Pet. 2.17 all men loue brotherlie fellowship Therefore the saintes of God in the primitiue Church are commended in the third of Act. 3.42 the Actes because they did continue not onely in the Apostles doctrine but also in Christians should liue together in godly fellowship fellowship If these Christians were commended for that they continued in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship howe are many that beare the names of Christians in this age to be condemned for that they agree neyther in the Apostles doctrine neyther in brotherly kindnes and Christian felowship but deuide separate themselues one from the other How are all the nations in Christendome deuided and rent asunder the one from the other a token that the latter day draweth The bonds of Christian fellowship broken neer Are not almost al the bonds of christiā fellowship brotherly kindnesse broken Doth not one christian nation thirst for the bloude of an other Nay will all the bloude of all the true Christians in Europe quench the thirst of that blouddy beast of Rome that doth nothing els but seeke to make hauocke of the church of God and that vnder the pretence of holines and religion Surely it is most certaine that Antechrist that spirituall whore of Babilon hath not onely made drunken the most part of the Kinges and Princes of the earth with the cup of her fornication but also hath beene the very The pope the bellows of discention bellowes which out of hell mouth hath kindled the coals these many yeares of most parte of the warres