wholesome words which thou hast heard of me in fayth and loue which is in Christ Iesus That worthy thing which was cōmitted to thee keepe through the holy Ghost vvhich dvvelleth in vs. And to Titus Aboue all thinges shevve thy selfe an example of good vvorkes vvith vncorrupt doctrine vvith the vvholesome vvoorde vvhich cannot be reproued This is that which though we alledge in the last daye for our selues we shal not be disliked or reiected But alas our kinde and maner of preaching whether we regarde the vtterance of speach or affection of our hearts doth farre differ from this nay it is almost cleane contrary to it for it giueth no life to those which are dead in sinne it hath no power to strike in sunder or to vnloose the holde of sinne no sharpenesse to cutte a sunder the cordes of wickednesse it can not enter to the diuiding a sunder of the soule and spirit the ioyntes and the marowe neither can it discerne betweene the thoughts and intentes of the heart and why our woordes are of our owne making and not such as the Spirit of God teacheth our matter for the most part is the deuises of men the dispositiō of our hearts prophane worldly and carnall our intent and purpose is to get honour and worldly preferments No maruayle therefore though our labours be cursed and not blessed and wee our selues in the day of iudgement be reiected for as I haue taught before it is not the woorke done but the maner of doing that pleaseth our heauenly Father So that those onely which preach the worde in faith hope loue feare and all maner of watchfulnesse in season and out of season being ready as to deale vnto the people the Gospel of God so also if necessitie require their owne liues for the confirmation of their flocke those I say only shall reape the fruite of their labours with great ioye and gladnesse euen eternall lyfe wherein they shall shine as the starres of heauen As for others who haue in preaching the worde sought themselues their owne praise and commoditie hauing litle or no care of Gods heritage that it might be saued of which sort be those whereof I haue already spoken a litle before though they say in the day of iudgement Lorde Lord haue we not prophecied in thy Name yet they shal be sent away to their owne place of punishment as workers of iniquitie If then the outwarde worke of preaching which is so profitable vnto the Church for the saluacion of soules shal be reiected being separated from the pure maner who dare alledge casting out of deuils and the working of great miracles which onely appertaine to the safety of body Let not therfore the Papists reioyce though they were able to confirme euery point of their religion by a great miracle whereas in deede they are not except we will iudge their vaine forged miracles to be done by the finger of God for yf these myracles be separated from the true maner of doing the Fathers will the dooers themselues are but workers of iniquitie as Christ most truely termeth them in the verse following and therefore so farre from being iustified by these or any other workes of charitie being separated from the true maner of doing that thei shal be vnto them sufficient matter of condemnacion Well it is neither preaching nor working of miracles that can deliuer the preacher or any other from the sentence of death in that day neither any other which proceedeth not from the right maner of doing the Fathers will. But in asmuch as the wicked ones which beare the shewe of Christianitie may both in the outwarde worke and in a certaine maner of doing come verie nere vnto the acceptable doing of the Fathers will which in appearance they do verie much resemble it shal be verie profitable to serch a litle deeper if by any meanes we can finde how many and what be those gifts which the wicked ouer and besides these may alledge for themselues because thei are cōmon to them with the godly It is certain by the doctrine of our sauiour Christ in the Gospel of Matthew Mark Luke that the wicked may willingly heare vnderstand ioyfully receyue professe the worde yea indure for a season falsely perswade them selues to beleeue So is it witnessed of Simon Magus that he hearde Philip preaching vnderstood him ioyfully receiued his doctrine and that he beleeued was baptized and continued with Philippe in these wordes Then Simon him selfe beleeued also and vvas baptized and continued vvith Philippe and vvondered vvhen he savve the signes and great miracles that vvere done Notwithstanding Peter affirmed to his face that he had no parte nor fellowshippe in that businesse because his heart was not ryght in the syght of God but full of gall and bitternesse and that he was in the bonde of iniquitie Moreouer they may relieue and succour greatly and highly esteeme of the ministers of Christ thinking nothing to deare for them So Paule witnesseth of the Galatians saying And the triall of me which was in my fleshe ye dispised not neither abhorred but ye receiued me as an angel of god yea as Christe Iesus What was then your felicity for I beare you record that if it had bin possible you would haue plucked out your ovvn eyes haue giuen thē vnto me Yet they afterwarde as it followeth in the same place esteemed him as an enemie in somuch as he sayeth he doubted of them Againe they may abstayne from euill and do the outward works of charitie wherby they seeme very ryghteous vnto men as did the Scribes Pharises they may giue their goods and landes vnto the church as did Ananias and Saphira they may bee lightned with the knowledge of the trueth taste of the heauenly gift the good worde of God and the powers of the worlde to come and be made partakers of the holie Ghost and yet fall from the grace receyued as it is in the 6. and 10. chap. to the Hebrewes Finally they may suffer banishmēt and persecution for the outward profession of the trueth yea they may do all the outward workes in seruing of God helping their neyghbour which the godly doe but when the question shall be demaunded of Christ who in deede and in trueth is his brother sister and mother he wil answere Whosoeuer shal do my fathers vvill vvhich is in heauen the same is my brother sister mother Now seeing how farre sinners and vngodly men may resemble the deare children of God yet be voyde of the graces of regeneration let vs looke into our selues into our hearts cōsciences whole maner of our life that we may see know in all our actions wherin we differ frō the wicked how we do our Fathers wil for it behoueth euery true Christian cōstrained with the loue of Christ to do all these works before mencioned in constant faith in sure
and holy bread offeringes carnall fastinges crossinges anointinges with infinite moe of the same sorte All which inuentions of men are directly contrary to that worship which our Sauiour Christ witnesseth to consist in Spirit and trueth and therefore iustly condemned For if bodily exercises which may be well vsed are neither profitable of them selues neither anye parte of the worshippe of God doe we not iustlye abhorre and detest the traditions which are after the commaundements and doctrines of men And nowe as it is certaine that they fayle in these thinges so also in the ende whereby all our actions must be measured and esteemed For in that they ascribe righteousnesse in parte to their workes which they haue done they may with as good reason challenge a part of the glory of their redemption whereby the Lord of necessitie must be robbed of his honour to whome belongeth all glory and dominion Thus much I haue spoken only of skilful malicious and obstinate Papists not of the poore ignorant ones which neither haue knowen the trueth neither haue their conscience set fixed in heresie Albeit I dare affirme that neither these neither any other obstinate and wilfull heretike or ignorant person doeth or can doe the Fathers will Because as heresie is strong to coÌ„demne so ignorance is blinde and causeth vs to fall into the pit of condeÌ„nation Seeyng therefore that this doctrine of our Sauiour Christe condemneth Atheists Infidels Iewes Libertines Papists and al other sects of heretikes ignorant persons euery one that is not of the true Church of God we had neede with all care and studye to trie and examine the very bottome of our heartes and rippe vp all the inwarde and secret corners of our consciences least we also be iustly reprooued and condemned by the same For assuredly we must all in the day of iudgement be tried and made knowen to the worlde by the practise of this doctrine to the glory of God the comfort of our owne hearts whether we haue truelye tasted of the gifte of God in Christ or no but if we do content our selues with the shadowes of inwarde godlynesse as with the outwarde vse of Baptisme and the Supper of the Lorde with lippe seruice and such externall kinde of profession denying the power thereof in our heartes and workes wee deceyue our owne heartes we depriue our soules of the ioyfull fruition of Gods presence and walke as fast as can be towards the place of darkenesse and endelesse destruction For this is the doctrine of the Sonne of God Not euerye one that sayeth vnto me Lorde Lorde shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but he that doth the will of my heauenly Father which is in heauen Goe to then you carnall and worldely Protestants that saye Lorde Lorde God be praysed and God be thanked for all his giftes c. I demaunde this of you in the person of Christ whose seruant I am though most vnworthie shewe me this your fayth and professed religion by your workes and iustifie it before me the Church of god For was not Abraham our father iustified through woorkes when he offered Isaac his sonne vpon the altar Was not Rahab the harlot iustified through woorkes when she had receyued the messengers and sent them out another way Knowe therefore for a certeintie all you that professe the feare of God that fayth professed without woorkes is dead Yea as the bodie without breath so fayth without woorkes is cleane dead and therefore but a shadowe of the true fayth which woorketh by loue But ye wyll say We knowe and beleeue that Christ is the Sonne of god What then the deuils beleeue also tremble yea and confesse IESVS wee knowe and Paul wee knowe but who are yee Yea but wee by Baptisme and the Sacrament of thankesgiuing are become the professours of Christ Was not Iudas a professour also yea a preacher and a worker of miracles But wee are no enemies and persecutors of Christ as he was No more were those dispersed Christians to whome Iames wrytte nay they suffered manye troubles for the outwarde profession of the trueth whome notwithstanding he condemneth for want of workes These thinges therefore are but clokes of hypocrisie and wordes of lyes whereby Satan carryeth away manye from the wayes of godlinesse and life into the paths of wickednesse and destruction It is not then the outwarde shewe of Christianitye in countenaunce worde and worke that auayleth any thing but onely a newe creature in Christ In consideration whereof I heartily desire and beseeche you all from the hyghest vnto the lowest both to flye this damnable corruption of worldly and carnall men and to giue all diligence to keepe and obserue this heauenly maner of doing the Fathers will. Take vnto you aboue all thinges fayth ioyne vnto faith hope vnto hope loue and brotherly kindenesse vnto brotherly kindenesse reuerent feare of the Maiestie of GOD vnto a reuerent feare a continuall and â—â—cefull watchfulnesse in all good workes For if these be amongest you and abound more and more according to the measure of the gift of Christe they will make you that ye neyther shall bee idle nor vnfruitefull in the profession of Christ and his Gospell But he that hath not these thinges what face and countenance so euer he carrieth of religion wisedome learning and vertue he is blinde and can not see farre into the mysterie of godlinesse or els hath through ingratitude altogether forgotten that he was purged from his olde synnes Seeyng then by this meanes not onely an entring shall be ministred vnto you into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lorde and Sauiour IESVS Christ but also your effectuall calling and eternall election shall be fully ratified vnto your owne heartes and consciences so as you maye knowe perfectly that nothing can separate you from the loue of GOD if there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of loue if anye fellowshippe of the Spirit if anye compassion and mercie thinke on those thinges which you haue now heard fulfill these things and you shal neuer fall but the God of peace shal be alwayes with you neither shall the comforter euer depart from you But peraduenture some will say O Lorde who is able for these things In deed in respect of man it is vnpossible but with God as all other things so this is possible and hath bene by his power wrought in man For doeth not the holy Ghost witnes of Dauid that he was a man according to Gods own heart of Hezechia that he did vprightly in the sight of the Lord according to al that Dauid his father had done of Iosia that he turned to the Lorde with all his heart and with all his soule and with all his might according to all the lawe of Moses of Zacharie and Elizabeth his wife that they were iust before God and walked in all the ordinances of the Lord without reproofe of Nathanael that he was an Israelite
the 2. Epistle to the Corinth the 5. chap. the 14. verse For the loue of Christ constrayneth vs because vve thus iudge that if one be dead for all then vvere all deade And he dyed for all that they vvhich liue should not hēceforth liue vnto themselues but vnto him which died for them rose againe Wherefore as the doer of Gods wil doth abstayne from euil because it is contrary vnto the wil of God and doeth good because he is constrayned with the loue of him which is onely good so the hypocrite contrarily abstaineth from euyll for feare of punishment and doth the thing which seemeth good not constrained with the loue of God but mooued of his owne will by desire of prayse or hope of reward Finally the hypocrite in all his counsels wordes workes doeth although he sometimes playnly perceyue it not more and oftener regarde the feare fauour and prayse of men and his owne priuat cōmoditie and pleasure then the feare fauour praise of God commoditie of his brethrē Seeyng therfore that the life of these men consisteth in a shewe of godlines not in the power therof in the outward works not in an acceptable maner of doyng in carelesse securitie not in a reuerēt feare to displease God in a wauering mind not in a resolued purpose to perseuer vnto the end in the staying of the riuers of sinne neglecting the fountaine to conclude in seeking themselues rather then the glory of God cōmoditie of their brethren Let vs not onely detest and abhorre it with all our heartes and soules but also examine euery one his own estate and condition that we may see whether we do truely stande in the grace of God or no. For assuredly if the outwarde workes of our Christian calling be done in this sorte and maner they neyther are nor can be vnto vs the pledges and seales of our saluation but rather the subtile sleyghts of Satan and the deceites of sinne whereby these two myghtie enemies of our redemption bewitche vs and depriue our heartes of the sure hope of our promised inheritance and saluation Let him therefore that standeth both take heede least he fall and labour also to become not only a continuall eschewer of these euills but a newe creature framed according to the image of Christ But alas I feare me if all English Protestants woulde confesse freely to Gods glory and their owne shame the whole corruption of al their thoughts in this behalfe we should see such a huge masse and lumpe of hypocrisie as no man is able to cōceiue in heart muche lesse vtter in worde For then no doubt a great nomber would say All my religion is mere dissimulation all my glorious profession of the Gospell is nothing but a vayne shewe of Christianitie yea my whole life tryed and wayed in the balance of Gods law is lighter then vanitie it self And I woulde to God that wee were all come to this humble and godly acknowledging as of all other our sinnes so especially of this secure and carelesse hypocrisie wherein almost all professours are so drowned that except the most mercyfull God by his mighty and strong hande doe rayse them vp by faith and repentance they shall perish euerlastingly without any hope of redemption Nowe therefore deare brethren for the loue of God let vs not put our trust and confidence in these and such lyke lying words as to say The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lorde and to call Christ Lord Lord Master Master or to say I am baptized I knowe the trueth I professe the Gospell and such like because except we can iustifie this outward profession of our faith to be syncere and pure by the integritie of our workes our sauiour Christ telleth vs heere that we shall neuer enter into the kingdome of heauen Thus much for the former sort of professors their maner of cōuersation their final destruction contained in these wordes Not euery one that sayeth vnto me Lorde Lorde shal enter into the kingdome of heauen Nowe followeth the seconde sorte in these wordes But he that doeth the vvyll of my heauenly Father vvhich is in heauen Wherein Christ describeth the lawfull heires of his Fathers kingdome by their fruites all which fruites be comprised in this one sentence Which do my Fathers vvill Wherfore we must learne and know that the doyng of the Fathers wyll is of two sortes First syncere and also perfect which kinde of doyng is to be founde and seene onely in the natural Sonne of God Christ Iesus for his Father gyueth this testimonie of him that in him he is well pleased The second syncere onely and imperfect Nowe as the former is peculiar to the naturall Sonne so this latter is onely proper to the adopted sonnes of god Who therefore are most fitly and wisely by it described in this place of our Sauiour for he meaneth not here the perfect doyng of the Fathers will for then no fleshe shoulde be iustified in the sight of God but the syncere faithful obseruation of those things which are agreeable vnto the will of God the obseruers wherof shall enter into the kingdome of heauen which words though they be not plainly expressed yet they are necessarily to be supplyed as is before declared Nowe considering that the doyng of the Fathers will declareth who shall be saued let vs heare what the doing of the Fathers will is The knowledge hereof ariseth of two things which are necessarily required to the acceptable working of the same that is to say the workes of the lawe or actions thēselues the maner of doyng the whole want of either of which is a manifest token eyther of infidelitie or hypocrisie For the first that works are necessarily required to the accōplishment of the Fathers will the scriptures in many yea almost infinite places do teach a few whereof to auoyd tediousnes in so plaine a matter I haue chosen for the cōfirmation of this doctrine In the 5. of Deut. the meeke faithful seruāt of God Moses cōmandeth all Israel not onely to learne know the ordināces lawes of god but also carefully to obserue them saying Heare O Israel the ordinances and the lawes which I propounde to you this day that ye may learne them and take heede to obserue them Againe in the 10. of Deuter. hee hath written to the same effect these wordes And nowe O Israel vvhat doeth the Lorde thy God require of thee but to feare the Lord thy God to walke in all his wayes to loue him and to serue the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soule c. Wherein by the way is to be noted that the Lord God requireth not only the workes themselues consisting in his wayes feare loue and seruice but also the right maner of doyng in these words with all thy heart and with all thy soule Iosua as he succeeded Moses in the
dayes of our life For as that seruice of men which is done by constraint carelessely and negligently is iustly hated and reiected so the Lorde hateth and reiecteth all seruice of man which proceedeth not from this chearefull loue and earnest zeale of his glorye Let vs then adioyne vnto the two former this excellent gift of loue which as it expelleth carelesse securitie colde affection in the seruice of GOD hatred strife contempt in dueties due to men whereof ariseth a fayned corrupt maner of seruice so it causeth and encreaseth the pure and vndefiled maner of doing the Fathers will wherefore it is recorded that they that dwell in loue doe dwell in God and God in them because he is loue The fourth gift is a reuerent feare of God a principall and a singular point of wisedome most fit and conuenient for his children to haue and practise towards their heauenly Father in all their counsels and works For such is the pride of our nature the dulnes of our heartes and the lacke of wisdome that we should behaue our selues presumpteously securely and rashly before the presence of our heauēly Father were it not for this reuerent feare trembling we haue receiued at his hand for the obteining of a more pure syncere maner in his seruice worship Neither must we thinke as some haue falsely imagined to the great hurt of the Church taught that this feare in vs proceedeth frō any diffidence or distrust in the accōplishment of Gods merciful promises towards vs but rather from a most vehement sorow inward feeling bred in our hearts by the earnest cōsideration of the heauie burthen of all our sinnes and the deepe serious waying of the euerlasting wrath of GOD most iustly deserued So the blessed Apostle teacheth in the seconde to the Corinthians saying Beholde this thing that ye haue bene godly sorie what great care it hath vvrought in you yea vvhat clearing of your selues yea what indignation yea vvhat feare yea hovv great desire yea vvhat zeale yea vvhat punishment In which words we see how the spirit of god maketh that godly sorow which the Corinthiās shewed for their great contempt of Christian discipline in the matter of excōmunication to be the mother author of this reuerent feare which we owe vnto God alone in that he is our master for he saith If I be your master where is my feare Neither is this feare giuē vnto vs to be any occasion of distrust or despaire for that is peculiar to the seruile slauish feare of those which are meere seruāts no children But contrarily to make vs wise prouident carefull and circumspect in all the actions of our life lest we either by an euill worke or corrupt maner of doing iustly procure against vs and kindle the wrath of so mercifull a Father Also it stirreth vp our heartes to most zealous and effectuall prayers as we see in the example of Christ himself who in the daies of his flesh did offer vp prayers supplications with strong crying teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death and was also heard in that which he feared What cryes teares prayers supplications the Apostle meaneth the history of Christ his passion suffrings doth plainly expresse so as it is needlesse to stand thereupon Only this is to be noted that seeyng this feare was in Christ who was free from all sinne it ought not to be thought to be any sinnefull infirmitie but rather a singular meane to helpe and keepe vs within the bonds listes of Christian obedience Therefore we are cōmanded of the Spirit of God after this sort to serue and please our heauenly Father as in very many other places of the scripture so in the 12. to the Hebr. especially in these wordes Wherefore seeing wee receiue a kingdome which cannot be shaken let vs haue grace wherby we may so serue God that we may please him with reuerence and feare The reason is added For euen our God is a consuming fire Likewise S. Peter in the first Chapter of his 1. Epistle giueth the same precept of feare to be obserued in the whole course and race of our life saying And if ye call him Father which without respect of persons iudgeth according to euerie mans worke passe the time of your dwelling here in feare In which two places not onely feare is commaunded but two most effectual reasons are rendred thereof First we must reuerence tremble and feare God because he is a consuming fyre ready to burne vp and consume all false worshippers and hypocriticall professors of his feare Secondarily because he will iudge euery man without regarde of person according to his workes We must therefore feare him lest our workes be found such as cannot abide the fierie triall of the Spirite of truth and sinceritie and the righteous iudgement of the law of libertie For certainly there shal be iudgement mercilesse to him that in a reuerent feare of God sheweth no mercie And therefore to make an ende of this most necessarie point of doctrine we must with both handes yea with all our heartes embrace the feare of the Lorde without the which no man can please and serue God aright And the rather for that the wisest amongst men Salomon ascribeth vnto those that feare the Lorde blessednes and to them that doe not hardnes of heart his woordes be these Blessed is the man that feareth alway but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into euil Yf then we be desirous to worship our God aright according to his will we must haue our heartes kept in awe by this most worthy and excellent gift of feare that we may auoyd hardnesse of heart presumption of minde securitie of conscience and all other negligent carelesnes which as they be cōtrary to this heauenly grace of the holy spirit of God so they breed and cause a most corrupt and abominable maner in seruing of God. The fift last gift is a continual careful watchfulnes against all the enemies of the former graces cōmended vnto vs not only for the retaining keeping of them but for the daily growing increasing in the same vnto the measure of the age of the fulnes of Christ that at his comming we being founde waking watching with the wise virgins not stumbring and sleeping with the foolish ones may be ioyfully receyued into the bridegromes chāber to reigne with him in glory for euer For seing we haue so many so mighty malicious enemies which most subtilly go about to root out of our hearts al the foresaid graces to fil vs ful of all iniquitie we are necessarily in all sobriety of perseuerāce with al maner of praier and supplication to watch diligently in faith in hope in loue in feare that we may stand fast continue vnto the end in doing accōplishing our Fathers wil in despite of all the aduersaries of
wil. To doe the Fathers will is in faith hope loue and feare with all maner of carefull watching and perseuerance to worke those things which be commaunded in the Lawe and worde that GOD thereby may be glorified for to doe the thing commaunded and faile in the maner of doing is an halfe and maymed yea rather no seruice of God at all to faile in both is Atheisme to fayle in the worke and yet to boast of the affection of the minde and to be perswaded to haue the right maner of doing is carnall libertie and licentious presumption Contrarilie to haue and delight in both is sound godlynesse pure and vndefiled Religion euen before God the Father And therefore our sauiour Christ in the sixte of Matthewe giuing vnto his Disciples a right and a lawful fourme of praying commandeth them and in their persons all the faithfull to desire God to giue them grace not onely to doe the thinges commaunded but also to obserue this right maner of doing in this peticion Thy vvill be done in earth as it is in heauen meaning by doing of the Fathers will the things he hath commanded being agreeable to his will and by saying In earth as it is in heauen the right maner of doing whereby appeareth the necessitie of both these pointes whereof we haue spoken For he saith not Let that be done in earth which is in heauē or let those things be done in earth which God hath decreed but Let them be done so and in such maner as they be in heauen that is to say purely readily willingly zealously reuerently and continually to the glorie of God and the comfort of his people For the will of GOD at all tymes in heauen and in earth yea and in hell also is alwayes done and fully accomplished neyther can there come any thing to passe but that onely which the Lorde hath decreed In consideration whereof our Sauiour chargeth vs in the petition as wee haue heard both to doe the Fathers will which is necessarie and also to doe it so as it is done in heauen the which onely maketh our ministerie and seruice acceptable vnto him Nowe that we see the trueth and necessitie of this doctrine concerning the doing of Gods will let vs more particularly applie it vnto our selues that we maye the better knowe whether we be the doers of the worde and not onely hearers which can haue no hope and assurance of saluation And to let passe all those that swarue from the sounde doctrine of trueth and godlynesse as Atheistes and infidels which haue neither workes nor any grace of regeneration and Iewes which are voyde of true faith in the crucified Messias let vs examine by the rule of this trueth all those that seeme to embrace Christe Iesus and his true Religion as Libertines Catholickes and carnall Protestantes The Libertine and carnall Protestant are by it most iustly condemned because they haue no workes at all neither any soundnesse of faith or Religion but onely a false perswasion and vaine shadowe of both as the Apostle Iames teacheth in the whole treatie of his Epistle The Catholicks though they haue many outwarde and glorious woorkes to alledge for them selues yet they faile altogether in the maner of doing for not onely their iudgement by false doctrine is corrupted in that they teache that workes in parte doe iustifie that they are accepted the better for the vertue and intercession of Sainctes departed that the sacrifice of Christe his oblation onely washeth awaye sinnes committed before Baptisme Lastly that a temporall punishment heere and in Purgatorie can satisfie and sufficiently recompence that transgression whereby the perfecte Lawe and infinite Iustice of God is broken but also they fayle in all those poyntes which we haue taught to appertaine to the right maner of doing the Fathers will. Touching faith they teache and beleeue that it is a poynt of humilitie contrary to presumption to wauer and doubt of our saluation And therefore calling vpon God in this maner they shall neuer receiue any thing at his hand Touching a stedfast hope which onely looketh vnto Iesus Christe the Author and finisher of our saluation and that glorie which he hath purchased for vs in the presence of his Father they can neuer haue it both because their faith is wauering from whence this hope must proceede and also because they holde and teach that there be other places then heauen for the soules of men to rest in after this life Touching loue and charitie which principallye respect the saluation and profite of our brethren doe they not most vncharitably and flatly against the edification of the Church of GOD which in all publike actions vnder paine of damnation must be regarded teach and beleeue that ignoraunce of Gods religion is the mother of deuotion doe they not reade the word pray and giue thankes in a strange language and vnknowen tongue doe they giue which is not theirs to giue absolution from sinnes of meere loue and not for money Finally doe they vexe grieue torment persecute and burne the bodyes of Gods Saintes after two or three light conferences and disordered examinations because they loue their bodyes and the saluation of their soules No verely these thinges rather doe manifestly declare not onely that they are destitute of charitie towards men but also of pure loue towards god For he that sayeth he loueth God and hateth his brother he is a liar for how can he that loueth not his brother whome he hath seene loue GOD whome hee hath not seene As for the true feare of God howe can it be in them seeyng that they holde that Gods eternall wrath against our sinnes eyther past or to come can iustly and sufficiently be appeased by tryfling pardons and bulles giuen of mortall men and to be short considering that they teach that all sinnes following baptisme must be purged not by the blood of Christ but be counteruailed and so remoued by good workes as they falselye terme them or pardons and absolutions of sinfull men or equall punishment here in earth or in purgatorie the LORD forgiue them they know not where Lastly for carefull watchefulnesse to retaine all the foresayde graces howe can it be in them seeyng they are voyde and destitute of these gracious giftes of GOD If therefore they haue anye as in deede they haue much it is not neither can bee for these thinges but to maintayne and increase their vsurped power and aucthoritie of both the swordes And therefore knowing euerye man to be by the instinct of nature giuen to acknowledge GOD and with some kinde of watchefulnesse to serue him they haue out of the follye and vanitye of their owne braynes drawne out a kinde of seruice which standeth onely in outwarde ceremonies and bodily exercises wherein they haue bene and are very watchefull as in saying certeyne number of masses prayers diriges and such like in doyng of penaunce goyng on pilgrimage vsing of holy water
in deede in whom was no guile of the Centurion that there was not the like fayth in Israel of Anna that she liuing a widdowe foure score and foure yeeres went not out of the TeÌ„ple but serued God with fasting and prayers night and day finally of all the primitiue Church both men and women immediatly after the ascension of Christ that they continued with one accord in the Apostles doctrine felowship in breaking of bread in prayers supplications eating their meate together with gladnes singlenes of heart praysing God yea that the multitude of them that beleued were of one heart and of one soule neither any of them said that any of that which he possessed was his owne but they had all things common Wherefore seeing we are compassed with so great a cloud of witnesses of kings of Prophets of Iewes of Gentiles of men of women which haue serued the Lorde in this right maner of doing let vs also cast away euery thing that presseth downe and the sinne that hangeth so fast on let vs runne with ioye pacience in this straight race which is set before vs without wearines and fainting For doubtles the want of those things ioyned with the practise of the contrary vices are the causes of all the punishments of God that are or haue bene in the world For whence commeth warre famine pestilence translation of Monarchies Kingdomes ouerthrowes of families Townes Cities whole Countries but from this that we doe not the will of our heauenly father as it is done in heauen For want whereof we that liue nowe in this peaceable land flowing with milke and hony and in the light of the Gospel shining vnto vs for the space of twentie golden yeeres are of all other most inexcusable For who can tell repeate the warnings whereby God in mercie hath called vs to repentance and reformation of our liues But who hath shed foorth as yet the Christian teares of repentance Not foure yeres agoe the Lord did as it were with his owne hand set a starre in the heauens whereof the wisest Astronomer that liueth can giue no reason Since that we haue bene admonished by a great and strange Comete in the ayre by earthquakes inundations of waters all which signes foreruÌ„ners of Gods wrath are returned to him again as being vnable to mollifie our stony hearts that we might turne vnto the lord Onely his glorious Gospel abideth with vs but alas it grieueth me to consider howe litle place it findeth in our hearts how carelesly receiued and how generally by the life conuersation of Christians it is defamed discredited so that I greatly feare that within short time it also will depart from vs and by the commaundement of God goe vnto a people which shall as the Thessalonians did receiue it not as the word of men but as it is in deede the worde of god Well in the meane time for the better auoyding and turning away the iudgements of God which hang ouer our heads namely this present plague whereby the Lorde in mercie hath visited this Citie I am to request in the Lordes behalfe the right honorable the Lord Maior of this Citie and the reuerend Father the Bishop that they would ioyne together in gathering together the people and calling a solemne assemblie and sanctifiyng a generall and publicke fast according to the commaundement of God and the necessitie of this present time This dutie and christian exercise is the rather to be done least our English Church for want thereof may through ignorance iudge it either altogether vnnecessarie or not much materiall But if this cannot be obtained to be done in a publicke solemne maner with all zeale and feruentnes in prayer and hearing the worde of God which I most heartily wishe and desire then I doe admonishe euery one priuately both to vse this and all other good meanes to turne from vs and this Citie all those punishments which our sinnes haue most righteously deserued For it is not the cleane keeping and sweeping of our houses and streetes that can driue away this fearefull messenger of Gods wrath albeit as I approue these lawfull ordinarie meanes so I mislike the desperate tempting of God which I heare to be in some but the purging sweeping of our consciences from all the stincking filthe and drosse of sinne deliuereth from the feare and perill of all euill and maketh vs pure and holy vessels meete for the holy Spirit of God to dwell in If you will imploy all your labours studies and cares hereunto and offer vp this sacrifice of praying fasting preaching and thankes giuing euen from the morning vnto the euening according to the example godly practises of our fathers which haue gone before vs who knoweth deare brethren yf the Lorde will returne and repent and leaue a blessing behind him euen the precious treasure of his glorious Gospel which now we haue and the benefit of helth which as yet we want But if this exhortation and request shall fall to the ground and bring forth no fruit as commonly the woorde of God doth amongst vs such is the hardnesse of our stonie heartes then your sinne lieth at the doore and abideth but my dutie though in great weakenesse and feare is discharged Nowe therefore I commende vnto you both this speciall and singular woorke of publike and solemne fasting and all other godly woorkes with faith hope loue feare and watchfulnesse wherein consisteth the syncere doing of the Fathers will desiryng and beseeching you all to receiue approue and fulfill them vnto your liues end that you may enter most ioyfully into the kingdome of heauen Thus much by good occasion I haue spoken concerning the two sortes of professors nowe I am to speake by order of the Apologie defence of the former sort for the auoyding of the finall sentence of condemnation conteyned in these wordes Manie will say vnto me in that day Lorde Lorde haue we not by thy Name prophecied and by thy Name cast out deuils and by thy Name done manie great workes In these wordes Christ bringeth in not the vnlearned but the learned and those that seemed to be the chiefest and best professors of the Gospell reasoning with him selfe touching the matter of entring into the kingdome of heauen They alledge for themselues two principall and worthie workes not common vnto all but almost proper and peculiar â—iftes to the Ministers and Apostles of Christ that is to saye preaching the word ment here by prophecie and working of myracles vnderstoode by casting out deuils and doing many and great workes It may seeme strange and marueylous in our eyes that those which can in trueth alledge for them selues these two workes shoulde be secluded from the kingdome of heauen seeing that of preachers it is witnessed that because they turne many vnto righteousnesse they shal shine as the starres for euer euer of others that whosoeuer shal
commendation But to let passe the vtterance of speache lette vs come to the affection of the minde the generall disposition whereof I touched briefely before to witte that we shoulde laye aside all desire of shewe of humane knowledge and purpose onely to reioyce in the knowledge of Christ crucified the particular affections required to make our prophecying or preaching acceptable vnto God as they are commaunded in diuers and sundrie places of the worde so the Apostle reioyceth that he obserued in a good conscience this heauenly kinde of preaching In the first chapter of the first Epistle of Peter the holie Ghost commendeth vnto the ministers of Christ an earnest care a willing heart a ready minde a zealous desyre to become ensamples to their flockes saying Feede the flocke of God vvhich dependeth vpon you caryng for it not by constraynt but willingly not for fylthie lucre but of a readie mynde not as though you vvere lordes of Gods heritage but that yee may bee ensamples to the flocke Also our Sauiour Christ the chiefe shephearde of the flocke as appeareth in the tenth of Matth. Gospell sending out his Disciples to the lost sheepe of the house of Israel chargeth them wholly to depende vpon him to gyue freely without respect of filthie lucre to feare nothing in the execution of their office to be fully resolued in their mindes to lose their lyues for his sake finally to keepe them selues in all respects pure and innocent as doues Whereunto agreeth that commandement of Paule to Timothie touching the ordination of Ministers whereby he teacheth that euery minister ought to be watchefull sober modest louers harborous a louer of goodnesse wyse ryghteous holy temperate and vnreprouable So that by these precepts and commaundementes it euidently appeareth with what care of the flocke willingnesse and readines of minde desire by example to edifie boldenes of heart confidence in God loue of Christ and his sheepe with what full purpose with losse of lyfe to perseuer vnto the ende and lastly with what contempte of all worldly prayse and with what zeale of Gods glorie euery minister ought to approue his ministerie vnto Christ the consciences of his flock But if we wyll see these preceptes put in vre and practise let vs diligently marke the lyfe and conuersation of the Prophets and Apostles especially of Saint Paule who as he was the chiefest in worke so the playnest in declaration hereof and compare in euery particular his behauiour in the execution of his ministerie with ours He sayeth Though I preache the Gospell I haue nothing to reioyce of for necessitie is layde vpon mee and vvoe is vnto me if I preache not the Gospell For if I doe it vvyllingly I haue a revvarde but if I doe it agaynst my vvyll notvvithstanding the dispensation is committed vnto mee But which of vs doeth not reioyce and is glad when he hath preached a fewe sermons with lyking and prayse of mortall men What dumme dogge doeth terrifie his owne heart from sinne with this woe agaynst him selfe for not preaching the Gospell or who doeth not for lucre feare and prayse of men rather then willingly of a ready mind feed the poore flocke of Christ Paul though he was free from all men yet he made him selfe seruāt vnto all that he might winne the more vnto the Iewe he became a Iewe to them that were vnder the lawe as though he were vnder the lawe to the weake he became as weake and in deede he was made all things to all men for the Gospels sake that he might be partaker thereof But where is that Minister amongst vs which through loue humbleth him selfe and beareth with the infirmities of ignorance lacke of knowledge wisdome and discretion in his flocke and felow brethren Nay which of vs with Paul beateth downe his bodie and bringeth it into subiection lest in preaching to others he him self become a castaway the Lord pardon vs this our offence For I feare me the care we haue of our mortall bodies farre surmounteth the care we haue of the saluation of our selues or of our brethren Paul did please all men in all thinges not seeking his owne profit but the profit of many that they might be saued but as for vs though many I graunt doe please all men in all thinges yet they seeke their owne profit and gaine not the profite of any one that he might be saued For in deede they make marchandize of the worde of God they are couered with the clokes of shame and walke in craftinesse they handle the worde of GOD deceytfullye preaching them selues and not Christe Iesus the Lorde nor them selues the seruantes of his people and that which is most lamentable of all they gyue great and iust occasion why the ministerie of reconciliation shoulde bee euill spoken of and despysed Contrarywise Paule he spake of Christe as of synceritie as of God in the sight of God he cast of the clokes of shame and walked in declaration of the trueth he approoued himselfe to euery mans conscience in the sight of GOD he preached Christ Iesus the Lorde himselfe a seruant for Iesus sake and to conclude he gaue no occasion of offence in any thing but in all things approued himselfe as the minister of God by the worde of Trueth and by the power of god Seeing therefore many of vs be fallen away from our first loue and former zeale and haue imbraced this present worlde which yf the Lorde be not more mercifull will choke in vs all the graces of GOD we had neede to looke vnto our selues betimes and to frame our selues according to the example of this blessed Apostle in the carefull and syncere dispensation of our ministerie least our preaching bee though profitable to others yet damnable to our selues Moreouer Paule was gentle towardes his flocke as a Nurse cherisheth her children exhorting and beseeching them as a father teaching openly and through euery house keeping nothing backe that was profitable but shewing vnto them all the counsell of God and to shutte vp all in one worde he was verie readie and wylling to deale vnto them not the Gospell of God onely but also his owne soule because they were deare vnto him Beholde here in Paule as in a most cleare glasse a perfect paterne of a good and faythfull seruant of God and on the other side our miserable imperfections and sinfull degenerating from the same This kinde of preaching is that onely wherein we may reioyce which is acceptable to God profitable to his Church comfortable to the speaker This is that true and perfect paterne of preaching which Paul committed to Timothie both in respect of the vtterance and of the disposition of the minde which he chargeth to be kept and obserued that he might be an example to them that beleeue in worde in conuersation in loue in spirit in faith and in purenes saying Keepe the true paterne of the
hope in pure loue in reuerēt feare in great care study to please God with zeale of gods glory tender loue of his brethren with ioye in the holy Ghost with a resolued purpose without wearines fainting to cōtinue vnto the end knowing that those only shal be blessed which shal continue vnto the ende This is our liuing holy acceptable sacrifice vnto God this onely is our reasonable seruing of him wherin whosoeuer continueth shal neuer perish but be trāslated frō death to life If we wāt this though we heare often knowe much speake neuer so wel of the Gospel make neuer so much of preachers reioyce for a time in the trueth yet I say if this faith hope loue feare and watchfulnes be absent we are bastardes no children hypocrites no Christians for whome remaineth nothing but a fearefull looking for of iudgement and violent fire which shal deuour al the aduersaries of God and his trueth I speake this not to discourage any or to driue the weake consciences into distrust but to awake the slouthfull to terrifie the proude secure presūptuous protestāts also to stir vs al vp to a more vigilāt care in working our saluatiō How necessary this is to be preached vrged the ignorāce error of many the want of loue feare of God in this land citie doth sufficiently witnes I therfore to make an end of this matter cōmende this doctrine from Iesus vnto you all beseeching you for the mercies of God to receyue it into your soules to beleeue it in heart to cōmend it in word diligently to practise it in life with al your strength might to maintaine and defende it against all aduersarie power of Satan and his ministers The answere of Christ in the verse following containeth two points First he denieth these men to be his seruants Secondarily he sendeth them awaye banisheth them for euer out of his presence saying And then I will professe to them I neuer knew you meaning by knowing acknowledging For the Greeke worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth not onely a bare knowledge of a thyng but an acceptation or approouing which we call acknowledging so that it is all one as if he shoulde say Albeit you haue by prophecying working miracles professed your selues to be my seruants called me Lorde and Master yet because you did not those things which I commanded you I did neuer acknowledge you to be my seruāts now I do professe vnto you the same O what a terror and griefe of heart is this to heare the Sauiour of the world in whom onely there is hope of mercie and lyfe to denie and openly professe that hee neuer acknowledged vs to be his seruāts The seruaunt to be forsaken of his louing Master the subiect of his godly Prince the childe of his naturall parents the wyfe of her deare husband is matter of vntolerable griefe and deadly sorow But for a man to be forsaken of the Redeemer of mankinde and that openly in the presence of all creatures without hope of recōciliation whose heart doeth not quite fayle him and melte away euen to thinke therof O then what a hell of tormentes shall it be to the soule eternally to feele it Go to then you yong and desperate ruffians you carnall licentious Protestantes reioyce in your youthfull and wanton pleasures cheare your hearts in the dayes of your vanitie walke in the wayes of your owne lustes enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season despise vnderstanding wisdome deuise your wittie prouerbs against the iust deride and mocke at the wayes of the godly suffer not your consciences to accuse you cast awaye the feare of Gods wrath out of your hearts withdraw no pleasures from your mindes yet know this for a certaintie that God wil bring you and euery worke to iudgement with euery secret thing whether it be good or euill at what time you shal knowe and feele by miserable experience what it is to heare this voyce of Christ Depart from me ye vvorkers of iniquitie As this deniall of Christ shal be most terrible vnto the cursed company of al reprobates so it shal be most ioyful to the litle flocke of Gods heritage For they shall not onely reioyce in that God shall be glorified in the destruction of all their enemies but especially in that they shal be acknowledged of Christ as his faithfull seruants and deare brethren and be aduaunced into the inheritance of his Fathers kyngdome in comparison of which honour all the glory and pompe of the earth is nothing els but lothesome beggery Touching the seconde poynt of this answere we are to note and obserue first the sending of them away the reason therof For the first he sayeth Depart from mee signifying thereby that although they in outwarde shewe and profession seemed to gather with Christ as his seruantes and therefore were accompted amongest the nomber of Gods elect Yet nowe when all mens heartes and secrete thoughtes are opened and reuealed eyther to their endelesse destruction or eternal comfort whereby the godly shall easily be discerned from the vngodly then euen preachers themselues woorkers of miracles and all other dissembling professours of the Gospel shal heare with great sorowe and griefe this finall sentence of death and damnation Depart from mee If any man do aske me whyther they shall goe from Christ or where they shall abyde out of his presence I answere briefely into euerlasting fire as our Sauiour Christ him selfe doeth wytnesse in the 25. of Matthewe saying Depart from mee yee cursed into euerlasting fyre vvhich is prepared for the deuill and his angelles Yf then deere brethren preachers of the Gospell and workers of miracles shall be throwen from the presence of God into vtter darkenes as woorkers of iniquitie for want of the true maner of doyng the Fathers wyll O Lorde what shall become of all those Ministers which receyuing temporall things of the people of God redeemed by the blood of Christ doe in the hardnesse of their heartes refuse to minister vnto them spirituall and to feede them with the heauenly foode of the worde vnto eternall lyfe But because no admonition can moue them to repentance reformation of this haynous offence agaynst God and his people I leaue them to answere for themselues vnto Christ at the dreadfull daye of iudgemēt at what time I feare me that as they haue bene dum in this life concerning the sounding out of the mighty word of god so they wyll be altogether dumme and speachlesse when Christ shal cal for a wise diligent and watchefull discharge of that stewardship which they haue vsurped and horribly abused in the Church of god As for Atheists Idolaters blasphemers sorcerers despisers of magistracie murtherers adulterers fornicators oppressors vsurers and such like abominable sinners how can they escape the vengeance and iust recompence of their rewarde seeyng that preachers of the worde and