vs to walke in we should shew our selues to be called to his grace and gift of faith which good workes and life who so hath not doth shew himselfe not to haue such a faith in Christ as is required in vs. To Christ must we come and follow him with acheerefull mind that he may teach vs for he is our maister lowly and humble of heart he is to vs an example wherby we must learn the rule to liue well Moreouer he is our Bishop and our high priest which did himselfe offer vp for vs his owne blood being the only mediator betweene God and men who now sitteth at the right hand of God the father being made our aduocate making intercession for vs who doubtles shall obtaine for vs whatsoeuer we shal desire either of him or else of his father in his name if so be that we thus desiring shal beleeue that he wil so do for thus hath he promised therefore let vs not doubt if we sinne at any time to come with repentance and with sure trust to the throane of his grace with this beleefe that wee shal obtaine mercy for therefore came hee into the world that hee might saue sinners by his grace This is verily Christ Iesus which shall come at a certaine time appoynted by his father and shal sit in great maiesty to iudge all men and to render to euery man the workes of his body according to that he hath done whether it bee good or euill And he shall say to them which shall be on the right side which in this world did looke for the good things to come that is to say life euerlasting Come yee blessed of my father enioy the kingdome that hath beeene prepared for you from the beginning of the world but to them which shall be on the left hand he shal say Depart from me yee cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the Deuill and his Angells and then shal the end be when Christ hauing vanquished all manner of enemies shall deliuer vp the kingdome to God the father A breefe Description of Christ CHrist is described first by his person secondly by his office In his person wee are to note first that Iesus Christ is true God secondly that he is true man thirdly that the person of Christ is but one in which there is to wit the deuine and the humane natures He is prooued to be God because hee is the sonne of God and because his deuine maiesty is declared by vndoubted testimonies first by his might and power in working miracles secondly by his essentiall sanctity and thirdly his resurrection from the dead because hee quickned and gaue life vnto himselfe The office of Christ is heere breefely touched first because hee is Iesus that is the sauiour of his people Mat. 2.21 secondly because he is Christ that is anoynted with the fulnesse of the spirit aboue measure Esay 61.1 Psal 45.7 Iohn 3.34 Acts 20.38 to be a Prophet a Priest and a King and so our Lord not only by reason of our creation but especially because he bought vs with his blood and purchased vs for peculiar people and Church for himselfe The Apostle Paul in the first to the Cor. 1 30. saith that Christ is made of God the father righteousnes vnto vs and that is to be considered in two poyntes first is in discharging vs of our sinnes and the punishments due for the same the second is in presenting ve blamelesse before his heauenly father in such perfect obedience as the law cannot reprooue or iustly charge with any want of obedience according as the Apostle sayth that Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse to all that beleeue That is Christ hath fulfilled the whole law and therefore as many as haue true fayth in him are compted righteous before God as if they had fulfilled the law themselues And also discharged the punishments which were due for our sinnes and so thereby wee are receiued vnto grace and accepted before God as righteous in Christ The Prophet declareth plainely of Christs obedience saying Hee hath onely taken on him our infirmities and borne our paines and was wounded for our offences and smitten for our wickednesse for the paine of our punishments was layde vpon him and with his stripes are wee healed Esa 53.2.3 Likewise Saint Peter affirming that Christ his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the tree that wee beeing deliuered from sinne should liue vnto righteousnesse by whose stripes wee are healed 1. Pet. 2.24 All this is performed in Christ for vs who hath satisfied in his sufferings for our sinnes and wrought our full discharge in that hee perfectly kept the whole law and euery commandement thereof in the behalfe of vs that bee his for hee beeing God and aboue the law as Lord and giuer thereof needed not to haue beecome a subiect therevnto for himselfe therefore it appeareth plainly that hee went vnder that obedience in oâ—â— names and for vs and that the same obedience of his is auaileable for vs that bee his as it is written that as by one man his disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one which is Christ shall many also be made righteous The tree must bee good before the fruite bee good and therefore wee our selues must bee made righteous before any good fruits of righteousnesse proceed by faith as righteous in Christ whoe is made of God the Father our righteousnesse before the Lord will take in good part any thing that shall proceede from vs. For the Apostle prooueth plainely that our good workes and holynesse of life going before doe not iustifie vs or make vs righteous For it is written that God which is rich in mercy for his great loue wherewith hee loued vs euen when wee were dead in sinnes hath quickened vs together with Christ by whose grace we are saued Ephes Therefore no workes then those went before to quicken vs seeing it is sayd that when wee were dead in sinnes not onely sinnes but dead in sinne God hath quickened vs This prooueth plainly that our good workes and holynesse of life did not procure righteousnesse to bee in vs when the matter is cleare that wee are dead in sinnes when he in mercy quickned vs. So that wee ate not to looke for any righteousnesse to bee in vs but onely in and by Christ whoe is made of GOD the Father righteousnes vnto vs according as the Apostle â—aith to the Cor. that Christ is made sinne for vs which knew no sinne that we might be made the righteousnes of God in him it is not that Christ did sinne for in him was no sinne at all But by way of imputation that is our sinnes being imputed vnto him and he take them vppon him whereby his righteousnes was imputed vnto vs that we might be made accepted righteous before God in him We must therefore bee grafted into Christ and then draw power from him to bring forth fruit that
shall be pleasing vnto him and acceptable in his fight according as our Sauiour Christ sayth As the branch cannot beare fruit of it selfe except it abide in the Vine noe more can yee except yee abide in Me. Thus is Christ made our Redeemer Deliuerer Reconciler Mediator Intercessor Aduocate Hope Comfort Protector Defendor Strength Health Satisfaction and Saluation his blood-shedding his death and all that euer he did is ours and doth euery true faithfull Christian as good seruice as though they had done it themselues so that Christ hath left nothing vndone that might pertaine to our saluation Thus haue wee found the hidden treasure which hee that findeth it truely will sell all that euer he hath or euer he would loose it as Paul saith in the 16. to the Rom. 25. verse The Path of a Christian to walke in NOW it followeth in this fourth part to learne and know how all true Christians should walke in the truth of this way for as Christ is the onely way it selfe so is hee also the truth whereby wee must walke for all the wayes of God are truth and mercy both for who so doth feare the Lord him will hee teach and direct such with his spirit to follow the right way Psal 25.12 Wherefore receaue the truth loue the truth and beleeue the truth otherwayes if thou refuse the bread of life and digge vnto thy selfe a Cesterne that will hold no water then shalt thou lead thy dayes in wilfulnesse and dye in sinne thy bloud shall bee vpon thine owne head and thou shalt not see the glory of God death and damnation shall bee thy portion because thou hadst pleasure in wickednesse and didst not giue thy heart to receiue loue and beleeue the truth To this end the Apostle exhorteth the Thessalouians saying Wee beseech you bretheren exhort you in the Lord Iesus that yee increase more and more as yee haue receiued of vs how yee ought to walke and to please God That is as the Apostle should say wee command you not nor vse any force but intreat you with all patience and meeknesse that you will haue a regard and loue your owne soules and thinke and doe those things which may please God you are they to whom the promise was made God hath called you out of darknesse into his maruelous light hee hath not dealt so with euery nation neither haue they knowne his iudgments Wee come not to you in our owne name saith the Apostle We haue charge to preach the Gospell to all nations therefore wee speake vnto you in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ wee shew you the way that you may walke in it wee declare vnto you the will of God that you may be saued Wee haue opened vnto you the whole treasure of Gods mercy wee haue led you to the throane of grace and made you see the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world wee haue preached vnto you the remission and forgiuenesse of your sinnes through his name if you beleeue you shall bee saued if any man preach vnto you otherwise then thaâ— you haue receaued let him bee accursed It is not enough that yee beleeue yee must also walke and liue accordingly to knowledge this is the will of God for wee are his workemanship created in Christ Iesus to good workes which God hath ordained that wee should walke in them Ephe. 2. For the grace of God hath appeared that bringeth saluation vnto all men and teacheth vs that wee should liue soberly and righteously and godly in this life looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the mighty God and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ Titus 2. In this sort saith the Apostle hath our teaching been among you that you might shew forth your faith by your workes for it auaileth you nothing to say you haue faith if you haue no workes because the faith that hath no workes is dead thus wee are taught by the workes of our Lord Iesus hee saith not euery one that saith vnto me Lord Lord shal enter into the kingdome of heauen but he that doth my Fathers wil that is in heauen Againe euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen downe and cast into the fire Thus hath our Lord God commanded vs to be like our Father which is in heauen to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works thus the Apostle taught thus the Church of God this day teacheth it requireth faith as the instrument and meanes to apply the merits and passion of Iesus Christ for our saluation and good workes as fruites and witnesses of our faith Whosoeuer learneth aright and beleeueth the Gospel as he ought groweth and goeth forward from vertue to vertue if he were ignorant before he commeth thereby to knowledge if he were weake he groweth in strength if hee were wicked hee turneth vnto godlinesse For as we haue beene taught that wee are saued by faith in Christ without the works of the law which doctrine though it be most true most soundly proued and flatly concluded Ro. 3.16 yet being vnderstood a misse as Pauls writings sometimes are 2. Pet. 3.28 it hath beene the decay of all good deeds and brought in Epicurisme al vngodlinesse it is true in deed that eternal life is the gift of God through Iesus Christ Ro 6.23 yet this gift is bestowed only vpon those for whom it is prepared Math 20.23 which haue exercised themselues in the workes of mercy Math 25.35 for in respect of God our election standeth sure certaine from al eternity for it hath his seale The Lord knoweth them are his 2. Tim 2.19 and I know whom I haue chosen Ioh. 13.18 but in respect of our selues it is vncertaine and therfore we must striue to make our calling election sure by good works albeit it is sure in it self for asmuch as God cannot change yet wee must confirme it in our selues by the fruits of the spirit knowing that the purpose of God electeth leth sanctifieth and iustifieth vs these are the wayes to come to heauen though they bee not the cause for Christ is the only cause therefore we must keepe the way if euer wee meane to come to heauen For as we are ordained to the end so are we ordained to the meanes which bring vs to the end If God hath predestinated any to eternall life he hath also predestinated them to the means whereby they must attaine eternall life that is faith and a good conseience For the end of Gods law is loue which cannot be without a good conscience neither a good conscience without faith nor fayth withou the word of God therefore it is certaine that whosoeuer is to be saued shal at one time or other before they depart out of this life bee called truely to beleeue and shal endeauour by all meanes as Paul did to keepe a good conscience towards God and man Acts 24.16 For that which is
is good because it prouideth for this life but Maries part is better because it leadeth to eternall life it is good to bee occupied about our calling to get our liuing but it is better to bee occupied in hearing the word which is able to saue our soules As the head and the foote are both needfull in the body so Mary and Martha are both needfull in a common-wealth therefore God hath giuen two vocations vnto man the one earthly by his labour as hee sayd vnto Adam Thou shalt eate thy bread with sweat of thy browes the other is heauenly as is written Thou shalt serue the Lord thy God in holynesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of thy life so there is an actiue life which consisteth in the practising of the affaires of this life wherein man sheweth himselfe to bee like himselfe and there is a contemplatiue life which consisteth in the meditation of diuine and heauenly things wherein man sheweth himselfe to bee like the Angells for they which labour in their temporall vocation doe liue like men but they which labour in spirituall matters liue like Angels when these heare the word then GOD speaketh vnto them and when they pray they speake vnto God so that there is a continuall conference betweene GOD and them because they are continually exercised in hearing and praying As for all other things whether they bee honors promotions pleasures riches and what not they serue onely for maintenance of this present life which is so short and subiect to mutability but the word of God is the food of the soule the bread of life that immortall seed which bringeth forth vnto eternall life Let the word of God therefore be precious vnto vs alwayes because it is so permanent Againe the spirituall minds are heauenly and looke vp because their minds are aboue where their treasure is but the carnall minds are earthly and looke downe like beasts because their treasure iâ— below As the Serpent grouels vpon the earth so doth the Serpents seed and hath not so much as the countenance of grace Therefore as God hath giuen these vocations vnto euery true Pilgrim to bee exercised therein during this present life the one for himselfe the other for God And for that wee may the better as it were beare an euen hand in the practising and exercising of them as God may be pleased and wee comforted Let vs therefore take those directions for the same as God hath appointed by his word otherwise wee should not be able to walke aright but wander cleane out of the right way For if we doe not aske councell at Gods word but trust in flesh and bloud wee are sure to runneawry for as the difference is betweene the body and the soule the one mortall to liue but a short time the other immortall to liue for euer euen so must our exercise and reuerent care bee in our seruice towards them both Now for the bodily estate the Apostle saith If wee haue food and raiment let vs be therewith content 1. Tim. 6. and Salomon beeing both wise and rich prayed for a competent liuing saying Lord giue mee neither pouerty nor riches onely grant mee a necessary liuing Pro. 30.8 Againe the Apostle exhorteth vs to haue our conuersation without couetousnesse beeing content with such things as wee haue besides many other like places for the same purpose Now the worldly man hath no contentment but a continuall desire of worldly riches which is but a false treasure to trust vpon but Saint Paul sheweth vnto vs a riches which euery true Christian ought to couet and desire saying Godlinesse is great gaine if a man be content with that hee hath 1. Tim. 6. Out of these words issue many profitable lessons and instructions for all true Christians to obserue and follow for a Christian shall finde little ioy in riches but shall finde great ioy in the holy Ghost they shall finde little peace in the world but shall finde great peace in conscience Now when the Apostle had found out the disease of couetousnesse hee like a skilfull Physition goeth about to pick out the greedy worme which maketh men so hungry for wealth and then setteth such a glasse before them which hee calleth contentation that will make a shilling seeme as great as a pound and a cottage seeme as faire as a Pallace c. that hee which hath but twenty pounds shall be as merry as he which hath an hundred pounds If wee heare and vnderstand them with the same spirit that Saint Paule writ them then will they so worke vpon our hearts that euery man shall goe away contented with that hee hath like Zacheus which before hee had seene Christ knew nothing but to scrape but as soone as hee had heard Christ all his minde was set vpon giuing This was the first day that Zacheus seemed rich to himselfe when riches seemed dung vnto him and godlinesse seemed riches for when wee contemne riches then shall wee seeme riche because no man hath enough but hee which is contented for wee shall be couetous vntill wee become religious Therefore he that will haue contentation must leaue his couetousnesse in pawne for it for what hath brought vsury and simony and bribery and cruelty enuie strife and deceit into the world and made euery house an Inne and euery shoppe a market of othes and lyes and fraude but the superfluous loue of money and therefore name couetousnesse and thou hast named then the mother of all these mischiefes Of them which seeme to bee wise there bee no such fooles in the world as they which loue money better then themselues but this is the iudgement of God that they which deceiue others deceiue themselues and liue like Caine which was a vagabond vpon his owne land so they are beggers in the middest of their wealth for though they haue vnderstanding to know riches and a minde to seeke them and wit to finde them and policie to keepe them yet they haue a false sight and bleered eye that when their riches lye before them they seeme poore and hee which hath so much seemeth richer then they It is a wonder to see men compassing about seeking what they may get such loue is there betweene men and money that they which professe good will vnto it with their harts will not take so much paines for their life as they take for gaine therefore no maruell if they haue no leisure to sanctifie themselues which haue no leisure to refresh themselues Our Sauiour Christ knew what hee spake when hee said No man can serue two Maisters meaning God and the world therefore the Apostle saith The loue of this world is enmity to God signifying such emulation is betweene these two that God cannot abide the world should haue a part and the world cannot abide that God should haue a part therefore the loue of the world must needs be emnity to God And so no couetous person is Gods seruant but his enimy
for this cause couetousnesse is called Idolatry Now the Apostle to make vs to loue godlinesse hee calleth it by the name of great gaine heare wee may see that God doth not command men to bee godly onely because it maketh for his glory but because godlinesse is profitable to vs. Also for godlinesse is not called gaine in respect of God but in respect of vs it is gaine to vs but it is duty to him so it is not called a health in respect of vs because it is the health of our soules so it is not called a kingdome in respect of God but in respect of vs because wee are intituled to the kingdome by this difference from the reprobates Now put all the good things in the world together and the goodnesse of all is found in godlinesse to shew that the godly are as well as merry as content with their loue towards God and Gods loue towards them as other are with health and wealth and pleasure Therefore it is said of the godly The feare of the Lord is their treasure But the riches of the world are called earthly transitory snares dung as though they were not worthy to bee counted riches and therfore to draw the earnest loue of men from them the holy Ghost brings them in with such names of disdaine to disgrace them with their louers But when hee comes to godlinesse which is the riches of the soule then hee calleth it great riches heauenly riches vnsearchable riches euerlasting riches with all the names of pleasure and all the names of happinesse The worldly man hath a kinde of peace and ioy and riches but it cannot be called great because they haue not enough they are not content as the godly are therefore godlinesse hath his honour to be called great gaine Riches makes bate but godlinesse makes peace riches breeds couetousnesse but godlinesse brings contentation riches makes a man vnwilling to dye but godlinesse makes a man ready to die therefore onely godlinesse hath this honour to be called great riches such ioy such peace is in godlinesse and yet no man couets it For this is the quality of vertue it seemeth nothing vnto a man vntill he haue it but when hee hath found it hee will not then loose it againe for all the world because it brings him to be contented with that he hath Now because contentation is of such a nature that it can please it selfe with pouerty aswell as riches as though it had all which they wanted and this contentment wee owe to godlinesse because it is not possible for a wicked man to bee contented but the godly man hath found that which all the world doth seeke that is enough It is sildome seene that contentation is found in riches therefore the Apostle teacheth vs to seeke it in godlinesse saying Godlinesse is great riches and this riches the world seldome thinketh of but when Godlinesse commeth vnto a man it saith Peace be in this house peace be in this heart peace be in this man and this is the signe whether Godlinesse bee in a man if hee haue ioy and contentment with that he hath if he haue much he can say with Saint Paul I haue learned to abound if he haue little I haue lâ—arned to want that is if we haue much as Abraham as Lot as Iob as Iacob c. Yet it cannot corrupt his mind for though the godly man be full of riches yet his heart is not rent his minde is not troubled his countenance is not changed because he remembreth that these things were giuen him to do good such a commander is contentation that wheresoeuer shee setteth foote an hundreth blessings waite vpon her in euery disease shee is a Physitian in euery strife shee is a Lawyer in euery doubt shee is a Preacher in euery griefe shee is a comforter Therefore if wee see a man contented with that hee hath it is a great signe godlinesse is entered into him for the heart of man is made the temple of God and nothing can fill it but God alone Therefore blessed is the man whom godlinesse doth make rich saith Salomon and bringeth no sorrow of heart with it Pro. 10.22 these are the riches which at the last wee must dwell with when all the rest which we haue lyed for and sworne for and fretted for and broken our sleepe for and lost many a Sermon for will forsake vs like seruants which change their Maisters then godlinesse shall seeme as great gaine vnto vs as it did to Saint Paul and hee which loued the world most would giue all that hee hath for a dram of faith that he might be sure to goe to heauen when he is dead though he went towards hell so long as he liued Thus wee may see the fruites of godlinesse and the fruits of couetousnesse for if wee bee couetous wee shall neuer haue enough although we haue too much but if we bee godly wee shall haue enough though wee seemed to haue nothing therefore what counsell is there to be taken herein but as our Lord Iesus councelled his Disciples Bee not friends to riches but make you friends of riches and know this that if wee cannot say with Saint Paul in what estate soeuer we are in wee haue learned therewith to be content that is whether we be riche or poore in health or sicknesse or in any other estate whatsoeuer if contentation be not there then godlinesse is not yet come vnto that man for the companion of godlinesse is contentation which when shee commeth will bring vnto vs all good things Thus much for this first part wherein is contained the beginning of our Pilgrimage iourney beeing strangers here placed in this world and withall hauing all other creatures giuen and made in subiection for the vse and seruice of man And so consequently man himselfe while he remaineth a Pilgrim to ferue God his Creator with true faith obedience and holynesse of life all his dayes and that all earthly things be made indifferent for the vse and seruice of man with a breefe note how the most part of this world doe runne contrary in this point and doe not take care of that duty and businesse for which alone they were created and placed here in this world and is also declared what great dangers and destructions such runners away fall into with an admonition to all true Christians which are but strangers and Pilgrims in this world and hauing many enimies to encounter withall and for the auoyding the dangers of them wee ought to bee carefull to distinguish truly betweene spirituall and worldly care which is recited in the story of Martha and Mary by our Lord and Sauiour Christ himselfe Also that God hath giuen two vocations vnto men the one heauenly and spirituall for the soule the other earthly and temporall for the body therefore as God hath giuen these vocations to euery Christian to beexercised therein the one for our selues the other for God and that
giue therefore their tribute is set downe by equall measure euery man must homage his heart which is euen the continent of all and gouernour of mans house which sits on the bench like a Iudge to giue the charge and teacheth the toung to speake the hand to worke the feete to walke the eare to attend the eye to obserue the minde to choose the flesh to obey This heart we must present to God like a burnt sacrifice wherein all is offered together A wise toung a diligent hand a warie foote a watchfull eare a humble minde an obedient flesh put all together and it is but thy heart My sonne saith God giue me thy heart This mite God will haue for all his benefits which wee may best affoord him but thy almes to the poore thy counsell to the simple thine inheritance to thy children thy trauell in thy vocation but thy heart vnto God hee which is a spirit requireth the spirit and delighteth to dwell in the hearts of men God here plants himselfe as in a Castle which is alwayes besieged with the world the flesh and the Diuell if thy enimy get a thought or a word or a worke yet hee hath but raised the walls but and if hee take the heart then the fortresse is left for that time all our thoughts words and workes are in captiuity vnto him Therefore giue God thy heart that hee may keepe it not a peece of thy heart nor a roome in thy heart but thy whole heart in the 6. of Deut. hee asketh all thy heart all thy soule all thy strength there hee requireth all least wee should keepe a thought behind Yet is thy heart but a vaine heart a barren heart a sinfull heart vntill thou giue it vnto GOD and then it is the temple of the Holy Ghost and the Image of God so changed and formed and fined that God calls it a new heart So the heart is all and cheefe in request because if there bee any goodnesse it lieth in the heart and hee which giueth the heart giueth all for out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaketh the eye looketh the eare listeneth the foote walketh to doe good or euill Wee see Dauid is called a man after Gods owne heart but because when God said Giue me thy heart his spirit answered like an Eccho I giue thee my heart goe my heart vnto thy maker thy bridgroome hath sent for thee put on thy wedding garment for the king himselfe will marry thee Therefore let al suiters haue their answers that the heart is married already and say God hath my heart and he shal haue it but take heed that thy heart doe not deceiue thee and say it is Gods when it is the worlds but by this thou shalt know whether thou hast giuen it to God or no if it bee gone and set forward to God althy members will follow after it the tongue wil praise him the foote will follow him the eare will atend him the eye will watch him the hand wil serue him nothing wil stay after the heart but euery one goeth like hand-maides after their mistris This Christ verifyed saying Make cleane within all shal be cleane Saint Paul teacheth vs to make melody to the Lord in our hearts Ephes 5. shewing that there is a comfort of al the members when the heart is in tune and that it sounds like a melodie in the eares of GOD and makes vs reioyce while wee serue him wee haue an ensample hereof in Christ which said it was meate and drinke for him to doe his Fathers businesse Therefore Salomon picketh out the heart for God speaking as though hee would set out the pleasants and farest and easiest way to serue him without any grudging or toile or wearinesse touch but the first linke and all the rest will follow so set the heart a going and it is like the poise of a Clocke which turnes all the Wheeles one way such an oile is vpon the heart which makes all nimble and corant about it therefore it is almost as easie to speake wel and doe wel as it is to thinke wel if the heart indite a good matter no maruel then though the tongue bee the penne of a ready writer but and if the heart bee dull all is then like a left hand so vnapt and vntoward that it cannot turne it selfe to any good The life and conuersation of a man testifieth what is in the heart and the tongue wil hardly keepe secret what is therein Our Sauiour Christ verifieth this when hee saith either make the tree good and his fruite good or else make the tree euil and his fruite euill for the tree is knowne by his fruite for a good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things and an euill man out of the euill treasure bringeth forth euill things Therefore the tongue will not praise because the heart doth not loue the care doth not heare because the heart doth not minde the hand doth not giue because the heart doth not pitty the foot will not goe because the heart doth not stirre so that all stay vpon the heart thus to shew that hee deserueth all euen the Lord our God which bringeth all Againe God requireth the heart shewing that the things of this world are not worthy of it no not a thought for if the heart bee the temple of God hee which giueth it to any thing else committeth sacriledge and breaketh that Commandent Giue vnto God that which is Gods Math. 22. Againe that all should so consent with the heart that wee should speake as if our heart did speake pray as if our heart did pray heare as if our heart did heare giue as if our heart did giue remit as if our heart did remit c. As the Apostle saith Doe all things hartily Colos 3.23 Which if wee could doe nothing that wee doe should any way trouble vs because nothing is troublesome but that which goeth against the heart God will not haue vs to speake to him nor come to him for any thing vnlesse wee bring our hearts vnto him for the tongue without the heart is a flattering tongue the eye without the heart is a wicked eye the eare without the heart is a vaine eare the hand without the heart is a false hand hee which gaue but a mite and bringeth his heart bringeth more then he which offereth a Talent God delighteth himselfe in giuing and therefore hee loueth a cheerefull giuer but hee cannot giue cheerfully which giueth not his heart for hee which giueth God his lippes insteed of his heart teacheth God to giue him stones in steed of bread that is a shadow of comfort for comfort it selfe Of all the suters that come vnto vs it seemeth there is none which hath any title to claime the heart but God which challengeth it by the name of a Sonne As if hee should say thou shalt giue it to thy Father which gaue it to
Christs spirit which shall haue dwelling in vs heere and whereby wee shall haue repressed all our former affections Saint Iohn protesteth that whosoeuer putteth his trust in Christ doth purge himselfe after the example of Christ To bee short there are infinite places touching this poynt in the holy Scriptures and though there were no more but this one that is vttered so often namely That the vnrighteous shal not inherit the kingdome of God it might bee enough to content vs withall and to put vs in feare and make vs to come to the true and earnest repentance It is comfortably sayd God hath commanded vs to beleeue in his sonne and for beleeuing in him he promiseth vs euerlasting life so that all they which beleeue in Christ taking him for their Sauiour and applying to themselues al the benifits which he hath purchased for vs by his death are in the right way But who bee these beleeuers euen they sayth the Apostle which walke not after the flesh but after the spirit they which take paynes to frame them-selues to the will Christ into whose body they are grafted and vnto whom they bee knit together as his liuely members they which endeuour to loue God and to giue ouer the loue of themselues and of the world they which haue their whole conuersation in heauen they which loath their former life and for feare of falling there-into againe doe the more watch and looke the wariler to their thoughts deuices words and deeds they which feeling their owne weakenesse and infirmities make incessant praier to God for the spirit of strength and steadfastnesse and they which feele their coldnesse vnlustinesse doe craue the spirit of feruentnesse earnestnesse they which do in the time of aduersity keepe themselues from murmuring endeuor to be patiēt they which be thinke themselues of Gods benefits yeeld him thankes for them they which striue themselues to succor the poore needy both in body soule and at a word they which crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof For in so much that they in whom these fruits are not found wee make the talent of faith to preuaile in such manner as hath beene said cannot be said to bee in the number of true beeeuers and faithfull ones notwithstanding though they pretend some countenance of honesty and therefore much-lesse can those bee said to bee of that number in whom the workes of the flesh are aparant But some fleshly Christian will say still that as for him he is clothed with the righteousnesse of Christ and that the perfect obedience which Christ hath yeelded to God his Father in satisfying the law is imputed vnto him as if he himselfe had yeelded it And to bee short that he is reckoned for righteous by his faith so as none of all his imperfections are to bee made account of If thou list to beguile thy selfe thou maist but it wil be to thy harme and confusion indeed Christ laieth not our sinnes to our charge if wee beleeue a right in him neither shall all our imperfections hinder the vertue and efficacie of his death But to beare thy selfe in hand that Christ holdeth thee for righteous when thou giuest thy selfe to vnrighteousnesse and hast no other care but to follow thine owne inordinate lustes it is not only a doing great dishonour vnto him but also a scorning of him for his redeeming of thee But Saint Iohn saith manifestly that as Christ is righteous so hee that worketh righteousnesse is righteous and that hee which sinneth is of the deuill yea and he saith moreouer that the thing wherein the children of God doe shew themselues to differ from the children of the deuill is that the one sort worke righteousnesse and the other sort worke sinne And of a truth I cannot tell how Gods true Children who are al true Cristians could otherwise be better marked out then by their aplying of themselues night and day to doe what-soeuer is pleasant and acceptable to their heauenly father whome because they know to be righteous they also doe wholy endeuor themselues to doe righteous thinges wherein they shew themselues to be borne of God as Sainr Iohn sayth further If you know that God is righteous know ye also that whosoeuer worketh righteousnes is borne of God Moreouer how can it come to passe that the true Christians should not giue themselues to righteousnesse seeing they haue Christs spirit to guid them for he that hath not Christs spirit sayth the Apostle is noe Christian which beeing holy of himselfe cannot but driue foreward the party to all holines whom he possesseth And it cannot be but that he must needes bring forth his fruites which are louingnesse goodnesse quietnesse mercifulnesse meekenesse faithfulnesse mildnesse and stayednesse to be short it cannot be but that hee must needes alter the whole man both within and without to make a new creature of him For sith that CHRISTS life was not set forth vnto vs all onely to make aledgement of it or to make a wondring at it in wordes but to be followed by vs it is the marke wherevnto wee must bend in drawing to perfection as neere as is possible and as much as our frailty can afford And otherwise seeing we be towled therevnto by Iesus Christ himselfe not only in wordes but also in examples which are as liuely portratures of the life which wee ought to lead heere in wayting for his glory and glorious comming againe wee cannot exempt our selues from it without preiudice of our saluation no nor yet without be wraying that we haue no lust to it for were we rightly desirous to become happy and to attaine to the endlesse life which is promised vs in CHRIST wee could not shew it better in taking the way thereto whereby wee may and must attayne vnto it And that way is none other then to beleeue in Christ and to walke as he walked and that is Saint Iohns meaning where he sayth that hee which sayth he dwelleth in Christ ought to walke as he walked that is he ought to endeauour to liue as be liued And certes it is not possible that they which are vnited and knit vnto Christ as his members should not be touched with desire to resemble him and to follow his steppes for the very thing wherein the vnion and coniunction is shewed is that the members doe shew themselues to be of the same that the heade is and where that is not done it is an euident proofe that the member is rotten senceles and voyd of life which is in the head Not without cause therefore doth Saint Paul say that we must be of the same mind which Iesus Christ was of for thereby his meaning is to giue vs to vnderstand that we which are members of Christ must be answerable to him in vnion of affection and will which thing he teacheth yet more plainely in another place where he sayth that we be grafted into Christ after the likenes
remember the comfort of Elisha that there bee more with thee then against thee and that the tempter can ouer-come nonê but them which yeeld Take example of Zacheus beeing called by Christ immediatly forsooke the world and embrased the Gospel for all that serue God are like the seruant which receiued a print in his eare after the maner of the Iewes in token that he would serue his Master for euer The Apostle doth not teach vs these phrases to doubt of our saluation or of the mercy of God but of our Constancy in his seruice nor least we fall from our election but least wee fal from our righteousnesse this is a godly feare and blessed is he saith Salomon not he which standeth in feare of Gods mercy but hee which standeth in feare of his owne frailty Pro. 28.14 As Iob which feared all his workes Iob 9 28. Wee must haue confidence towards God but diffidence towards our selues for God wil be true to vs if wee bee true to him This feare is not contrary to faith but cannot be without it therfore take heed least yee fal is take heed least yee sinne Therefore the holy ghost crieth so often be faithfull euen vnto the death be not weary of well doing take heed least yee fall for when thou art weary of thy goodnesse God doth not compt thee good but weary of thy goodnesse and when thou declines from righteousnesse God doth not compt thee righteous but reuoulted from righteousnes according to the saying of the Prophet If the righteous turne away from his righteousnesse and commit iniquity and doe according to all the abominations that the wicked man doth shal he liue All his righteousnesse that he hath done shall not bee mentioned but in his transgression that hee committed and in his sins that he hath sinned in them he shall die Ezek. 18.14 As Gods mercy endureth for euer so our righteousnes should endure for euer euery thought word and deed of a faithfull man is a step towards heauen in euery place he meeteth Christ euery good thing putteth him in minde of God hee seeketh to finde him and when hee hath found him he seeketh him still hee is not satisfied because at euery touch there commeth some vertue from him Iacob serued seuen yeeres for Rachaell and after them seuen yeeres more and when hee had serued so many yeeres they seemed vnto him as nothing because he loued her he which serued so long for Rachael serued all his life for heauen and if he had liued vntill this day hee would haue serued God still and thought it nothing because he loued him To haue the Arke but a while doth more hurt to the Philistians then benefit them so to serue God but a while doth more damage vs then helpe vs for happier is the child that which neuer began then Iudas whose end was worse then his beginning Wisdome is angry with him which leaueth his righteousnes to become worse the vine would not forsake her grapes the Oliue would not forsake her fatnesse the fig-tree would not leaue his sweetnesse but the bramble did he is not the vine nor the Oliue nor the fig-tree but he was a bramble made for the fire which leaueth the ioyes Let the dogge turne to the vomet and the swine to the walow but thou like Abraham hold on thy sacrifice vnto the euening euen the euening of thy life and then a full measure shal be measured vnto thee The way to heauen if men would bend themselues as much to doe good as they beate their braines to doe euill they might goe to heauen with lesse trouble then they goe to hell our idle houres are enough to get wisedome and knowledge and faith til wee were like Saints among men But if thou looke only to thy steppes and tel the rubbes which lye in the way thou shalt goe fearefully and vnwillingly euery thing shall turne thee aside and euery Shale shal step before thee and take thy Crowne from thee But then lift vp thine eyes from the earth and looke to Christ calling the spirit assisting the father blessing the Angells comforting the word directing the Crowne inuiting and then the fetters shal fal from thee and thou shalt rise like the sonne and maruel how the thing could seeme so hard and be so easie when you doe well remember that ye change not for worse and doing so you shall continue vnto the end and receiue the blessing of eternall happinesse as our Sauiour Christ sayth he that continueth vnto the end shall be blessed And we may the better hold on be constant in going foreward vnto the end it is good to make speed and for this cause the Apostle sayth So runne that ye may obtaine 1. Cor. 9.24 which is the swiftest pace of a mā as though he should goe faster to heauen then to any place els in the world his meaning is this that as a man doth watch and runne and labour to be rich quickly so he should heare and pray and study and vse all means to be wise quickly Thus the Apostle vnderstandeth when he biddeth vs adde as if he should say when thou art in the way to continue and knowest good from euill euery day kill some vice and euery weeke sow some vertue and make thy two talents fiue talents and thy fiue talents tenne talents and euer be doing good and at last it shall be opened because thou hast knocked Christ sayth the kingdome of heauen is gotten by violence therefore a man must be earnest and zealous in religion for zeale is the loue of God and pleaseth God Saint Iames sayth be swift to heare we must be swift to pray swift to obey swift to doe good for he is not cursed only which doth not onely the Lords busines but he which doth it negligently Iere. 48.10 that is hee which doth any thing before it like him that would bidde his freinds first farewell and follow Christ after The Hound which runneth for the hare runneth as fast as possibly he can and shall hee that runneth for heauen creepe more stowly then the Diall our Sauiour saith not that his father is glorified that we bring forth frute but that we bring forth much ftuite for is it not better to bee vessels of gold then vessels of brasse God hath placed vs here in a race to runne we must therefore so runne that we may attaine the prise wee are grafts of the Lords planting we must grow to the height and breadth of a tree and bring forth fruit we are Pilgrims and strangers and passe by the wildernesse of this world into our heauenly resting place wee may not stay by the way but must remooue our Tents and continually march on forward vntill that day come when we shall enter into the land of promise Now that we may the better with strength walke constantly by continuall increase in godlinesse in this our holy iourney towards heauen let vs therfore embrace these comfortable duties
that we should reioyce in any thing but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ nay rather they are become our enemies because we beleeue in Iesus Christ crucified because we say as Gods word teacheth that Iesus Christ is the only aduocate to the father for our sinnes and that he hath with one suffering consecrated for euer them that are sanctified and that the blood of Iesus Christ his sonne clenseth vs from all sinne for this cause are they become our enemies Let vs nothing feare their trecheries and attempts let vs keepe that is good and hould it fast vntill death now that we haue tasted of the good word of God and haue receiued the comsort of the Gospell Let vs not despise it nor be weary of it let vs pray to God that he wil establish the loue of his truth in vs and that he wil open the eyes of their harts bring them to be partakers of those mercies which yet through ignorance they haue despised Now when we haue tryed by the word which is truth and which is error what shall we them doe keep that which is best that is to say as the truth we must keepe and hold the truth that is defend it with thy tongue maintaine it with thy purse further it with thy labour in danger and trouble losse and displeasure come life come death thinke to doe as Christ did seale the truth with his blood so thou must seale it with thy blood or else thou dost not keepe it but let it goe Well did Paul put trie before chuse for he which tryeth may chuse the best but hee which chuseth before he trye taketh oft the worst before the best Now it followeth in this last admonition Abstaine from all appearance of euill AFter trye all things and keepe the best followeth abstaine from all appearance of euill as if he should say that is like to bee best which is so far from euill that it hath not the appearāce of euil that is like to be truth which is farre from error that it hath not the shew of error whereby sheweth that nothing should be brought into the Church or added to our religion but that which is vndoubted truth without suspition of error it is not enough to be perswaded of our faith but we must be assured of it for religion is not built vppon doubts but vpon knowledge Heere we may maruell why Paul biddeth vs abstaine from all appearance of euil because sin and heresie and superstition are hippocrisie that sinne hath the appearance of vertue and heresie hath the appearance of truth and superstition hath the appearance of religion but this the Apostle doth note that there is no sinne nor heresie nor superstition but if the Visor be taken away from it it will appeare to be sinne and heresie and superstition though at the first sight the Visor doe make it seeme none because it couereth the euill like a painted sepulcher vppon wormes and rotten bones Therefore keep your selues not only from doing those things which are euill but also from all appearance of euill offend not the conscience of thy brother that he may haue no occasion to thinke euil of thee commit not adultery and withdraw thy selfe from the company of such vnthrifty light and suspected persons be not like to them that are such lay not out thy money to vsury nor doe any thing whereby others may thinke euill of thee beware of vncharitable conueyance of thy money be no Idolater and leaue of to do any thing that may bring you into suspition of Idolatry giue not thy honour unto any creature which is proper vnto God haue no fellowship with their workes beare no shew no appearance of liking their euill goe not as they goe liue not as they liue Saint Paul reprooueth the Galathians saying yee obserue dayes and monethes and times and yeares I am in feare of you least I haue bestowed on you labour in vaine Gal. 4. so doth he the Collossians 2. If ye bee dead with Christ from the ordinance of the world why as though yee liue in the world are yee burthened with traditions as touch not tast not handle not so doe the Idolaters you should not be like vnto them they are the children of darknesse you are the children of light they will not be like you and forsake their false Gods why should you then become like vnto them forsake the God that made the heauens the earth you cannot make them ashamed of their errors and to embrace the truth why then should you betray the truth and be partakers with them in error The King Antiochus sent to Ierusalem and to the Citties of Iuda that they should follow the strange lawes of the country many of them chose rather to die then to be defiled with vncleane things and so to breake the holy couenant which God gaue them Machab. 1. Therefore abstaine from all appearance of euill be not like the wicked of this world you are the salt of the earth you should not bee partners of their corruptions but powder and season them You are the light of the world you may not be partakers of their darknesse but lighten and guide them dessemble not but serue God in the simplicity of your hearts and in the sight of the world let it bee written in your foreheads what you thinke in your harts why should any man be ashamed of Gods truth Thus wee haue heard the care of the Apostle in teaching the Thessolonians three principall duties of a Christian that is to reioyce to pray and to giue thankes as hath beene declared more at large and withall for the confirmation thereof in the verses following foure admonitions which are as fortresses to hould vp those duties that is 1. quench not the spirit 2. dispise not prophecying 3. trie and examine all things and so hold fast that which is good the last is abstaine from all appearance of euill which hath also beene declared Now when the Apostle had taught them these lessons and set them forward in the race of true Godlinesse like a good Pastor which hath care ouer his flocke he doth not thus leaue them but withall giues them a friendly farwell in the next verse saying Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I pray God that your whole spirit and soule and body may bee kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ 1. Thessalonians 5. verse 23. That is as if the Apostle should say our God is the God of peace hee giueth peace and quietnesse to his Church he doth mussell the Lion maze the Tyrant make blunt the Sword and quench the Fire prepared against his seruants hee giueth his Sonnes peace and quietnesse among them-selues hee abhorreth discord and malice betweene bretheren God is loue saith Iohn and hee that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God and God in him hee that loueth not his brother abideth in death God hath made vs all members
one bewray the lightnes of the other what thing in the world is soe massie and soe weightie as the truth Therefore as the prophet saith If ye will heare the voyce of God harden not your hearts as they did in the prouocation and as in the day of temptation in the wildernes it is noe sinne to yeilde vnto God it is noe shame to lay apart all affections and to change our mindes to the deniall of all vngodlynes and imbracinge of true holinesse It is the part of a good Christian and a wise man to know himselfe and to know the nature of his flesh which hee beareth about him which fighteth alwayes so mightily against the spirit and to know the waywardnesse and crookednesse of his heart and the weaknesse and vanity of his mind Many are so farre from this they thinke all their ability is of themselues I haue saith one iudgement I haue the light of reason I haue sence I haue vnderstanding and Counsell and the ordering of mine owne way thus say they that neither know God nor themselues The will and power to doe well is of God and not of our selues therefore we must humble our selues vnder the mighty hand of God and acknowledge that we are nothing we must confesse with S. Paul I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good Ro. 7. Againe it is not in him that willeth not in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy Ro. 9. Our Sauiour Christ sayth that which is borne of the flesh is flesh and that is borne of the spirit is spirit Iohn â— And God sayth the immagination of man heart is euill from his youth Gene 8. this is his saying and his iudgement of vs this we find true for our will is froward and our vnderstanding blind therefore sayth the Prophet O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himselfe neither is it in man to walke and direct his steppes Iere 12. Againe the steppes of man are ruled by the Lord. How can a man then vnderstand his owne way Behold as the clay is in the Potters hand so are you in my hand O Israell I mould you and frame you to my glory sayth the Lord. Iere. 18. When the Apostle putteth the Corinthians in mind of that good successe which God gaue vnto his ministers among them hee sayth such trust haue we through Christ to God not that wee are sufficient of our selues but our sufficiency is of God Cor. 3. Christ sheweth this to his disciples saying ' I am the Vine you are the branches he that abideth in mee and I in him bringeth forth much fruit for without mee yee can do nothing Iohn 15. To the Collossians Paul saith It is God that worketh in you both the will and the deed euen of his good pleasure Colloss 2. It is God that disposeth our goings and turneth our hearts as seemeth him best hee is able to make of the stones in the Streetes children vnto Abraham hee is able to take away our stony heartes and giue vs heartes of flesh The Consideration heereof leadeth vs to seeke help and comfort by prayer at the hand of God and because wee stand in need of continuall help either to giue vs somthing that is good or to deliuer vs from that is euill the Apostle biddeth vs pray continually for the eares of the Lord are open to the righteous therfore saith Christ aske and it shall be giuen you seeke and yee shall find knoek and it shal be opened vnto you Math. 7. Let vs therefore go boldly to the throne of grace that we may receiue mercy and find grace to help in time of need Dauid a man according to Gods own heart prayed diuersly Open thou mine eyes lighten my darkenesse direct my feete into the way of peace incline my heart O Lord vnto thy testimonies establish O God that which thou hast wrought in vs take not thy holy spirit from vs bee thou our helper in trouble O forsake vs not veterly Dauid beeing a great prophet of GOD found no way to attaine vnto knowledge of the will of God vnlesse God would open his vnderstanding and endue him with his spirit faith is the gift of GOD or else was the Apostles praier in vaine therefore without the grace and mercy of GOD wee can doe nothing to the setting forth of his glory and to the attayning vnto our saluation The Apostle saith vnto the faithfull Let your conuersation bee in heauen from whence you looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ Yee were once darkenesse but now yee are light in the LORD walke as children of the light approouing that which is pleasing to the Lord. The great day of the Lord shal be dreadful and come sodainely vpon the wicked but to you it shall not seeme sodaine which feare the LORD and put your trust in him and take all care to bee in readinesse against his comming Arme your selues therefore strongly the enemy is the diuell with all his force your strength standeth not in your owne prowesse or man-hood but in the mighty power of God put on therefore the brest-plate of faith and loue hee that beleeueth shal be saued hee that abideth in loue abideth in God and whosoeuer putteth his trust in him shall neuer be confounded For the grace of God that bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared saith the Apostle and teacheth vs to deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and that wee should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ which gaue himselfe for vs that hee might redeeme vs from all vnrighteousnesse and purge vs a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous giuen to good workes Titus 2.11.12 Therefore wee must not alwaies be children but grow vp and increase and profit more and more for wee must neuer rest walking till wee come to God if we haue faith wee must proceede from faith to faith if wee haue loue wee must abide and increase in loue if wee haue zeale wee must endeauour to bee consumed with zeale if wee bee liberall to the Saints distressed wee must double our liberallity and that with cheerefulnesse if wee read the Scriptures wee must goe on and continue in praier so wee must still increase till wee come to perfection Let vs bee led forward saith the Apostle vnto perfection Hebr. 6.1 As God hath ordained a heauen for all true faithful Pilgrims so hath he appointed a way to come to it which way hee that trauaileth not shall neuer come to the end of his race for there be many wrong waies as there are many errors but there is but one right way as there is but one truth To knit vp this part with that warning and exhortation of the Apostle saying Let vs drawe neere with a true heart in assurance of faith sprinckled in our hearts from an euill conscience and washed in bodie with pure water let vs hold the possession of the hope without wauering for hee is faithfull that promised for if wee sinne willingly after that wee haue receiued the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a fearefull looking for iudgement and violent fire which shall deuoure the aduersaries Hebr. 10.22.23.26 So it cannot be that they which were lightened and haue tasted of the heauenly gift and were become pertakers of the holy ghost and haue tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the world to come and they fall away should be renued againe into repentance crucifying to themselues the sonne of God a fresh Heb 6.4.5.6 The Apostle therfore admonisheth the faithfull to haue discretion in their walking saying Take heed that yâ—e walke circumspectly not as vnwise but as wise redeeming the time because the daies are euill Wherefore bee yee not vnwise but vnderstanding what the will of the Lord is Speaking vnto your selues in psalmes and hyms and spirituall songs singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts Giuing thankes alwaies for all things vnto God the Father in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ Now as al these parts of Scriptures going before in this Booke are needfull special means to teach all true Christians to walke the right way towards heauen whereby we may bee able not only to walke aright but also to make a right and sound reason of our religion agreeable to the word of God a sound reason of our faith and a sound reason of our saluation agreeable to the same word of truth and so to continue to the end of our race then shall wee bee made happy for euermore and be procured happy in the great day of our Lord by our Lord and you blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome of heauen which is prepapared for you from the beginning which kingdom grant vs Lord for Christ Iesus sake Amen FINIS