The Sophies of Perâ—â—â— offered corporeall Math. 2. Myrhe vnto Iesuâ— in the swadling clouts and Nicodemâ—â— Iohn 19.39 brought Myrhe to hâ—â— buriall the one preaching bitternesâ—â— in his life and the other proclaminâ— no les bitternesse in his death and yeâ— such a bitternes as without which oâ—â— fruite would neuer haue bene sweeteâ— nor our actions to God acceptableâ— To liue with Christ is bitter to thâ— flesh but to dy with Christ more bitter and yet of absolute necessity we must both liue and dy with him if wâ— will appeare with comfort before thâ— Father If thou long after the Sweete oâ— heauen doe not then repine to foretaste the Bitternes of the earth The sharp battaile must be fought beforâ— the golden crowne be got But hauing risen out of her sinne and put away these Barres that in fore time kept the spirite of Iesus from entring in vnto full operation what ensueth Her beloued vvas gone and past A correction for late repentance yea very iust and equal that if man wil repent at his leasure hee should meete with the spirit of comfort at Christes latest pleasure But here was not an end of her hearts sorrowe As he was gone past her feelinge so immediately herevpon she remembreth his former speaches kinde and reasonable the remembrance wherof smiteth her to the heart wherevpon she soundeth is ready to departe away in a qualme When she at first hearde him crying bareheaded Open my sister my loue my Doue myne vndefiled for mine head and locks suffer the nights tempest then shee lay tumbling in her sin and regarded not his sugred voice Then shee returned her sluggish answer with interogatories implying Impossibility thinking Christ had nothing els to do but to waite her lazye leasure Well noâ— at last though at her own leasure shâ— ariseth and looketh for the comfortable presence of Iesus his spirit but alas he is gone and past Hee gone anâ— past now her memory presenteth hiâ— former speaches vnto her conscience Her conscience pondering vpon theâ— speaches straight it accuseth and condemneth her soule of Ingratitude oâ— Churlishnes and abusing of the spirit oâ— Iesus She thus charged and condemned of her conscence she through thâ— waighte of the burden falleth downe in a spirituall trance her hearte ouerwhelmed with sorrow And is here anâ— end no Shee seeketh her beloued within her without her but findeth him not And is there an end no She calleth Sâ— cryeth vpon her beloued but he answereth not Seeke she him in the leaues oâ— the sacred Bible or seeke she him elsewhere she meeteth not with him Caâ— she and cry she neuer so earnestly vpon him in her morning noone-tyde and euening prayers yet he speaketh not peace vnto her consience Oh judgment of all Iudgements vnto the wicked and the sharpest correction of all corrections to the sonnes and daughters of God VVhen the wicked haue despised the voice of wisdome rejected her Correction what shall befall them Salomon saith Prov. 1.27 28. That when affliction and anguish shall come vpon them Then shall they cal vpon her but she shal not answere they shal seeke her early but not find her meaning Not at all Esau shall seek Repentance with teares but shall not finde Repentance though his hearte break Iudas shall Repent his trecherie but shal not find the comfortable face of Repentance though hee hang himselfe As for the sonnes daughters of God if they deferre Repentance and greue the spirit of Iesus they shal not scape scot free Many times shall they tosse their naturall Reason and turne ouer the leaues of the Gospell but yeâ— for a season not finde anie comforâ— within them any solace without theâ— Many times shall they call for Comfort in prayer but colde praiers shaâ— they make rysing with as heauy hartâ— as they kneeled downe seeing yet nothing in God but angry face a frowning countenance Who hath spenâ— any yeares in Christianity knowe not this by experience he that saieth he hath spent some yeares in truth oâ— Christianisme yet was neuer plunged in this pit eyther he hath walke in perfection of obedience beyond manie or that which is more to be feared he hath bene for the time buâ— in a deludinge dreame But how comes it about that she meteth not with her beloued or witâ— the spirit of Iesus seing she could noâ— Rise out of her sinne but by the spirit of Iesus seing she could not put asidâ— the Barres that before hindered thâ— free worke of Iesus except therto shâ— had the helpe of his hand which hand is his spirit how could she be said not to find or feele the spirite of Iesus seeing she could not persist in seeking calling after her beloued were it not that she had the spirit of Iesus True it is that Iesus and his spirite were not passed away nor yet absent from her Nay in very deed they wer present touching her heart and guiding her hand in all this her comfortles toyling but how They were present in preparing her spiritual temple to an after banquet Christ by his spirit was sweeping her heart VVith an hard stubbed broome that so shee might not onelie be halfe but wholie swept prepared to a glorious mariage Should a sicke person say that the phisitian is neuer present but when there is ease in the sicknes Is not the Phisitian as well present when he ministreth bitter Pilles for cleansing the stomake as when afterwards the stomake cleansed he administreth sugred receipts But as the poore patient crieth out the dead flesh cutting out oh that I had a Chirurgian indeede for he would not torment me after such a butcherlike manner euen so the spiritual Patient languishing vnder the burdeâ— of sinne whereof the Memory speaketh the conscience accuseth still he thinketh the beloued far away when the Beloued is hard by working the soules good as fast as he may Dauid being iâ— extreme trouble he cryeth out Psal 10.1 whâ— standest thou so far of Iehouah hiding the in the tyme of affliction Good man because the lord cast a myst of afflictiâ— about him he therefore jmagined thâ— Lord to stand a loofe alas it was bâ— the want of cleare sight for the Lorâ— was neuer more neere him Nay ouâ— Beloued Dauid Iesus himselfe on thâ— Crosse rored out Mark 15.34 My god my god whâ— hast thou forsaken me Alas sweete sauiour encompassed with our infirmâ—ties but without sin God was neâ— nerer then at that time as it appearâ— presently after when he lastly cryed Iohn 19.30 Tetelestai It is finished that is the whol worke of mans Redemption is finished Christ then was not absent wholie in his spirit to this poore sinner for shee had Faith by vertue whereof she Rose by vertue whereof she Sought by vertue wherof she called vpon God Had she not Beleued shee woulde not haue sought ease had shee not hoped shee would not haue continued seking had she not loued the
spirite of Iesus she would not haue sowned for Loue nor her hearte bene ouer-swaied by the recordating his former speeches In a word therefore shee Beleeued she Hoped she Loued that is she was endued from aboue with the holy guiftes of Faith Hope Loue the holy Trinity from the Trinity in vnity Christ was present in the beginnings of his spirit only absent in the full Reueale of Mercy of forgiuenes of Syns remission If faire means will not preuaile to cause vs arise out of sin then wel done it is of our father and a worthy worâ— of mercy to whip vs to briech vs â— so bring home the prodigall once â— lost Son If when with much patiencâ— hee hath awaited our Rising and witâ— sweete meanes allured vs to converâ— yet we will not arise yet wee will noâ— convert Let vs expect a famine of thâ— body a famine of the soule an Iliâ— of Crosses in our way To open thâ— heart freely for entertaining the Spâ—rit of Iesus and hauing opened not tâ— receiue him what greater crosse Tâ— seeke after the spirit of Iesus ey to crâ— and call for the grace of God by mucâ— and often prayer and yet to be denie the thing wee seeke for to misse thâ— grace wee call for Oh what great crosse then this If peace of consciencâ— be a sweete gyft passing all vnderstaâ—ding of man then the wante of thâ— peace with a thorow feeling of thâ— want must be as bitter gall passing â— the conceit of man If Prov. 15.15 a good heart â— a continuall feast then a bad accusinâ— condemning heart must be a continuall famine He that once hath bene wel burnt with this fyre and bit throughly with this Scorpion will bee afraide for euer after of abusing Gods call of turning his grace into wantonnes And shal not som mens harmes teach others to beware hauing seene another vnder the lash of halfe-despaire shall not that feare thee fright thee from nousling Sinne Satans snake in thy bosome Iust then should it be for God to leaue thee crying with Caine My punishment is intollerable Gen. 4. with Saul to say Slea me and with Achitophel to cry Com halter and strangle me for I haue abused the goodnes of my God But a great mercy of God it shall bee to lash thy heart to wound thy Conscience to confounde thy affections and for a tyme to kindle a feeling of hels fyre in thy brest that so thy stubble burnt vp thy sinne consumed and the inwarde man once purged of the sinne thou hast slept in thou so maiest meete with the comforte of God hiâ— spirite and the amiable countenancâ— of Iesus But is this torment of Conscience all the punishment inflicted on oâ— huswife newly risen out of sinnes beâ— No what followeth The watchmâ— of the city founde me they smote mee aâ— wounded me the watchmen of the walle tooke my Vaile away from mee Here is â— newe skirmish a new rod stiept in vineger a sharpe bitte to the flesh Hâ— soule before perplexed within her lazy flesh now vexed without Certainâ— watchmen finde her finde her againsâ— her will they smite her wound heâ— and take away her vaile She dwelt iâ— a City and the City had watchmeâ— wakefull watchmen the little Mouâ— could not styr but the Cat had her bâ— the throate Hee leaps at her anotheâ— smites her another wounds her another puls as it were her Skin oueâ— her heade and this is the fruite of hâ— late repentance of her late resurrectâ—on of her obedience almost ouer-late She ariseth at her owne leasure and therefore is Whipped of God at his pleasure When she laye slugging and snorting in sin suffering Iesus to stand without in the night cooling his toes then she demed her selfe most master but nowe at last she fyndes that shee wished not to finde that Christ is Head an ouer-ruling heade able ynough to bring a proude soul vnder and sufficient for humbling the rebellious flesh This Citie shadowes out the World and False-Church into the which Iesus somtimes steppeth to cal from sleepe such as the Father hath giuen vnto him The Watch-men of the City that is within lodged in the streets of the city they shadowe out the worldlings Ciuil maiestrate The vvatch-men of the walles or hiest partes of the City doe liuelily denote the Ecclesiastical or false spirituall Rulers who stande a lofte to ouer-watch the city and by their tempests trumpets sond to giue warning of aâ— aduersary to the worlds state By theâ— finding her for she no doubt had leâ—ned to bevv are of men is argued theâ— industrious watchfulnes by their smâ—ting wounding vnvailing her is sheâ—ed their studious care of keeping â— their Citizens in subjection to theâ— vvorldly state This vvatchfulnesse anâ— Care of theirs argues the worlde moâ—â— witty in their darke generation theâ— are the childeren of lighte Christiaâ— magistrates and ministers may be seâ— to schoole of these men these beinâ— more watching caring to keepe theiâ— worldlings in subjection to the Princâ— of Darknesse then are they for causing continuing subjection to the Lorâ— of lighte But to pursue the Sinners story Shâ— being disquieted in her soule througâ— the absence of her beloued what dotâ— she she seekes al about and calles anâ— cryes but findeth and heareth of noâ— comforte What doth shee then dotâ— she goe back againe to her sinful bed â—nd so sleepe it out with the residue of the citie Doth she say vnto her soule Soule seing ther is no more comfort to bee had though thou haue shaken of thy former sinne seeing there is no more solace in seking after Christ go back againe my soule and glut thee in sinne go sleepe on againe with the cities bone companions saith she so doth she so If so she had saide she had saide like a number of false Christians in these dayes If so she had don she had had a nomber of companions in this swynish age wherin hauing taken the start of profession they twine to their first crookednesse and sucke vp their former vncleane vomit so making 2. Peter 2.20 their ende worse then the Beginning Or doth shee say within her selfe Cursed am I of God reprobated am I of God there is no mercy or saluation for me therefore come yee cursed hands and strangle me take vp a dagger and stab me goe to som cursed water drown thee doth she say thus doth shee â— thus If she had said so she should â— haue lacked fellowes If so deuellisâ— she had don she should haue found desperate soules in these dayes Bâ— none of these wickednesses shee doâ— what then doth shee Shee takes aâ—wer her Tent on her back throuâ— the city she ploddeth if happily shâ— may meet with comfort elswhere seâ—ing it was not there finding not coâ—forte at home shee laboureth to finâ— comfort from home her feete that bâ—fore were washed for sleepe are noâ— washed and fitted to voyage abroadâ— a signe she was
THE SINNERS Sleepe VVHEREIN CHRIST WILling her to arise receiueth but an vntoward answer By HENOCH CLAPHAM EDINBVRGH PRINTED BY RObert Walde-graue Printer to the Kings Majestie An. 1596. Cum Priuilegio Regio TO THE TVVO VERTVOVS GENTLE-WEOMEN THE RIGHT WORshipfull M. RICHARD and THOMAS OGLE their Wiues HENOCH CLAPHAM wisheth all good things in Christ Iesus SEnding Right Worshipful some tokens vnto my friends in ENGLAND I could not but pull out not my purse but my pen and dispatch the two subsequent Exercises vnto you as a signe of my Soules wish My boldnes needeth your pardons and my homely stile your favorable constructions The first I haue ever found and the second I presume wil never be lacking Let the prophane puft vppe with BAALS leaven swell like a Toade they shall sooner burst than you haue cause to repent holy Zeale Blessed Fore-guides God hath given vnto you both with more comfort may you followe Christ with your Crosse They that will not through Pride and Carnalitie be contented to beare the Crosse shall haue no benefite by Christ his Crosse but as they deserue be crossed out of the book of Life And so with the bowing of mine heart I end Edinburgh 1595. Your poore Cuntry-man desirous euer tâ— shewe himselfe thankfull vnto GOD for you H. Cl. THE SINNERS SLEEPE The Song of SALOMON Chap. 5. Verse 2.3.4.5.6.7.8 The Text. 2 I slept but mine heart vvaked at the voice of my Welbeloued that knocked saying Open vnto me my Sister my Loue my Doue my vndefiled for mine head is full of dewe and my Locks with the droppes of the Night 3 I answered I haue put of my coat how shall I put it on I haue vvashed my feete howe shall I defile them 4 My vvelbeloued put his hand by the hole of the doore and mine heart being affectioned towards him 5 I rose vp to open to my Welbeloued and mine hands dropping downe Myrrhe and my fingers pure Myrrhe on the handles of the Barre 6 I opened vnto my vvelbeloued but my vvelbeloued vvas gone and past mine heart was gone because of his speach I sought him but I could not finde him I called but he answered me not 7 The Watch-men that vvent about the Cittie found me they smote mee and wounded me the vvatch-men of the Walles tooke away my vayle from me 8 I charge you oh Daughters of Ierusalem if you finde my Welbeloued what shall you tell him That I am sicke of Loue. SALOMON that peaceable Roy of Israel during whose raigne the bloody sword of David was sheathed even this Salomon for his peace became the glorious type and fore-figure of Christ Iesus not of Christ comming from Isa 63.1 Edom Bozra with his bloody garments of conquest for in that David was figure but of Christ the 1. Chro. 22 7.8.9 compared with 2. Cor. 6.16 peaceable builder of the newe Testaments Church signified by his rearing of Zions materiall Temple wherein by his holy spirit he would dwell as a loving amiable Spowse This Salomon of Israel for this Peace and Spowsage is throughout al this Most excellent Song a glorious peculiar type and significatour of IESVS annointed King Priest and Prophet to his Church he introduced in the person of a Spowse and sweet holy Lover shee brought in as a woman espoused and sometimes considering the divers estate of the church according to divers times and occasions as a woman woed suted vnto In these verses read a part of the Church is set downe vnder the person of a woman slugging and sleeping in her bed at the door of whose lodging her beloved standeth knocking calling vsing divers motiues to cause her arise and open vnto him to whome notwithstanding she returneth a sleepie sluggish answer insinuating a deniall wherevpon her beloved departeth After that Shee as better advised ariseth openeth searcheth calleth but he wold not be found or heard off Shee not resting heere traveleth farther for the finding of her beloved what time vnawares shee falleth into the hands of the Cities watch who intreat her fowlie beating her wounding her snatching away her vaile But escaping with life she still setteth forward in her holy pilgrimage and so soon after meeteth with the daughters and chaste damsells of Ierusalem to whom she commendeth her estate straightly desiring them if so they happely meet with her beloved they would vouchsafe to signifie her estate vnto him namely That shee was sick of Loue. And this is the very full argument of the Text redde It may aptly therfore diuide it selfe first into a mutuall colloquie or conference betwixt Christ and the sinfull soule contained in the two first verses read secondly into the issue of that conference in the residue vntill the 9. verse In the Conference and therevpon onely at this time is considerable first the time intimated in these wordes I slept but my heart vvaked secondly the speakers and their speach The first speaker and his speach is given in these wordes It vvas the voice of my vvelbeloued that knocked saying Open vnto me my Sister my Loue my Doue mine vndefiled for mine head is full of the dewe and my locks with the drops of the night The second speaker namely the sinfull soule and her speach lieth in these words I haue put off my coate howe shall I put it on I haue vvashed my feete howe shall I defile them The time of this conference was as the sinfull soule acknowledgeth when shee Slept namely in her Flesh and yet then Awake But in another part namely in her heart or spirite I slept saith she what time my beloued came vnto me knocking c. She that before shamed not to excuse her flesh laid downe in the bedde of Securitie tâ— sleepe she now acknowledgeth how lewdlie then she was occupied And iâ— every thing that is written be writteâ— for our learning as indeede it is theâ— this teacheth vs not to bee abashed tâ— confesse our former or present sleepâ— estate that is that such daies moneth and yeares of our life haue bene slep away in the flesh the damnable worâ— of the flesh There bee three sortes oâ— Sleepe mentioned in the Scriptureâ— The first sleep is that necessarie reâ— which occupieth the bodie after traâ—uell so slept Iudg. 4.21 Sisera in Iaels Tent. Thâ— second sleepe is the rest of the bodâ— after the dissolution of the soule 1. King 2.10 David departing this life is said tâ— sleep with his Fathers The third kinâ— of sleep is to lie in a naturall carnal sinful vnrepentant estate Hereof Paâ— speaketh when he saith Ephes 5.14 Awake thâ— that sleepest and stand vp from the dead that is from the workes that haue introduced the first death as also deserue the second death wherein thou yet sleepest And to ly in sinne may well be said to sleepe in sinne first because the sinner thinketh that sinne is as necessary for the comfort of his flesh as sleep for the wearied body secondly
but vnperfectly buâ— as for Gods Lawe it teacheth perfectlie by converting the soule and opening the eies of the spirituall blinde As the first light is a check to the soul so the second being cherished kepâ— burning by the oyle of God his spirit is able to saue the soul but if this lighâ— be once quenched and put out howâ— great and fearful shal be that darknes Well shee heares Christ calling he from sleepe her own heart witnessetâ— that it was Christs voice and yet aâ— afterwards she giueth scope of sleeping to the flesh A right fearfull estate and an estate wherein I feare too many at this day do stand namely doâ— heare and knowe Christs holy voice calling them from sleeping longer iâ— theft adulterie prophaning the Lords day drunkennes c. and yet ly still in their sin as not minding to part with it Of such a one what saith Moses after this manner Deut. 29.19.20.21 He that heareth the vvordes of the Curse namely against sinne and blesseth himselfe in his heart saying I shall haue peace although I walk according to the stubbornes of mine owne hart thus adding drunkennes vnto thirst the Lord vvill not bee mercifull to him but then the vvrath and iealousie of the Lord shall smoake against that man and every curse that is vvritten in this booke shall light vpon him and the Lord shall put out his name from vnder heauen c. A terrible judgement but from a just God who will race persons and their houses and families be they never so potent from the face of the Earth if so they be founde nourishers of their sinne when they heare Gods worde cursing their sin If therefore the light and vnderslanding thou art endued withall do not leade thee vnto repentance feare lest it proue a check-soare to thy conscience and seale thee vp excuseles against the day of vengence Davids knowledge led him to repentance when he cried Psal 51.4 Against thee against thee onely haue I sinned for with this Confession he made Conversion he turned from his sin But IVDAS Iscariot his knowledge caused him after this Confession I haue betrayed innocent blood to runne vnto the rope anâ— therewithall to take vengence on that throate that had breathed out wicked covetous counsel against the Lord oâ— Life so adding one murther to another If while we speake vnto thee and thy sinne thy conscience secretly telleth thee this is Christes voice it is God his holy worde that thus smites on my sinne awake and sleepe no longer therein let not sinne dominere and rule in thy mortall members quench not the spirit but obey his motion to repentance giving therwithall thanks to our God who should so mercifully fore-warne thee lest otherwise thou should bee damned So much brieflie for the time of Christes Call togither with the estate she then stood in Now followeth the speaker Christ and his speach It vvas the voice of my vvelbeloued The poore sinfull soule awaked and making rehearsal of things passed she nowe entitleth CHRIST vvelbeloued whome before in her sleepie estate she no doubt tooke but for a troubler of Israel SALOMON saith Prov. 28.23 Hee that rebuketh a man shall finde more fauour at the length than he that flattereth with his tongue As this is verified here where he is nowe called Welbeloued as being worthie loue whome before she neither loued nor kindlie intreated so shall it ever appeare in the end that who vnwoorthilie haue refused our wholesome counsell and correction shall once even in that appointed time be of another minde The wicked shal in Hell when it is al too late affirme and cry out Such and such were vvorthie to haue beene beloued for their calling of vs to Repentance howsoever we then hated them As for the Elect they shall once in this life leaue sleeping in sinne neither then shall they deferre to justifie such as before they condemned for Repentance is an altering of the iudgment and a renuing of thâ— affection Let this therefore stirre vp every man to Heb. 13.13 exhort one another especially the ministers of the word 〈◊〉 giue no rest vnto sleepers in transgresion howsoever the wicked raile vpoâ— them and intreate them right rudelâ— for the day shall come hereafter wiâ— they nil they wherein they shal turn their tongues and accompt vs worth of loue and good liking Lev. 19.17 Hate not tâ—â— brother in thine heart but plainlie rebuâ— him and suffer not sinne vppon him â— though he should say Let him not Mâ— begrowe in his sinne But how came Christ vnto her 〈◊〉 a voice by what kinde of voice by knocking voice vnto this knocking the holy Ghost alludeth when hee telleth the Revel 3. Luke-warme people of Laodicea that he stood knocking at their doore the worde in the originall signifying To * dosse vvith the horne as doeth the strong necked beast with the maine force of his head As Christ ordinarilie for the awaking people from sinne doth send a liuelie voice not a confused Noise so that voice is a powerfull knocking voice not a bare reading nor a smooth calme preaching but a powerfull thundring out and incessant beating vpon the door of the sleeper the portal of the conscience vnrepentant Isai 58.1 Cry aloude saith IEHOVAH to Isaiah spare not sounde out thy voice like a Trumpet If the sleepie sicknes haue ceazed on a man he must not be whispered in the eare but scourged on the sides In a wrong boxe are these men that exclaime on the preachers because they thunder out Curses against sinne whereas alas God hath ordained nothing but Curse for sinne If they like not the curses let them casâ— away the Cause of a Curse namely their sinnes Rom. 6.23 for the wages of sinne is death If men be so foolish as to suffeâ— sinne to mos-begrowe them and as canker to eat their hearts through yeâ— wee the Lords watch-men must noâ— cease to sound the trumpet but knocâ— till their heartes awake either it shal become the savour of life vnto life by repenting or the savour of death to death by still sleeping Iude 22.23 Some wee must saue by fearing them saith Iude and others by pulling them out of the fire If we sawe a brother plodding the waters towards a whirle-poole or Syrtes wee woulde feare him back by alâ— meanes and if we sawe another in the fire we would not stand speaking with Eli the Priest Thou doest ill my sonne c. but we wold snatch hold of some limbe and violentlie pull him out because of the present danger Easier dealing is for bruized reedes broken hearts but knocking and rougher bits for an vnbroken Mule and vntamed Heifer To what end knocketh Christ at the portall of her conscience Open vnto me saith he so that the end of his voice and knocking is to gaine Entrance Why did IEHOVAH call forth Adam to the end hee should come forth and appeare To what end did Noah prophesie of
the deluge to the end that they should prevent the judgment by repentance To what end did Christ so preach to Ierusalem but that thereby hee might gather them vnder his wing as a hen gathereth her chickens To what end doeth the Lord stirre vp many in these daies to knocke at the doores of festered Consciences but that they would open vnto him and let his spirit enter not the spirit of adulterie enter for that is there alreadie not the spirit of pride to enter for that is there alreadie not the spirite of the world or hypocrisie to enter for they are there alreadie but to the eâ— that Christ by his holy spirit rightâ—ous spirit chaste spirit loving spiriâ— might enter They that will not opâ— their hart to make this change namâ—ly to send out Satan and to receiueâ— Christ to send out the vncleane spiriâ— and to take in the holy it is pittieâ— their life But why doeth Christ craâ— this soule to open to him can he no without voice and knocking enter yeâ— he can but his ordinarie revealed wiâ— is otherwise namely by the 1. Cor. 1.18.21 liuely voice of preaching to beget faith anâ— that preaching with authoritie as diâ— Christ not coldlie or weaklie as diâ— the Scribes and Pharisies A man caâ— burst open a doore without a key buâ— ordinarilie hee vseth a key so can thâ— spirite of Christ burst open an harde heart without the spirituall key of Dauid displaied by preaching but ordinarilie hee vseth the key of preaching As a man is said to open the door but not without a key even so the spirite of God is saide to open the heart but not without preaching And as the â—ey is saide to open the doore but not without the help of mans hand even so the word preached is saide to open the hard heart but not without the hand of Christ which is his Spirite What great cause haue wee then not onely to praye that God would send Preachers into his Harvest but also that hee would graunt his spirit to accompanie their preching that so God his holy workman his spirite and his holy toole and instrument the worde preached concurring togither many hearts may bee opened to due attending the worde as was the Act. 16.14 heart of Lidia the Thyatirian to PAVLS Sermon Nowe as he calleth knocketh at the portall of her conscience so he vseth therewithall many sweete alluring titles saying Open vnto me my Sister my Loue my Doue mine vndefiled If the King of the Land should come vnto the doore of some base woman inhabiting his Land who stoode in traiterlie estate at her doore shoulâ— knock intreating entrance vnder thâ— tearmes of Sister Loue Doue peâ—fect one and that with a pardone iâ— his hand could her heart be so hard aâ— to lie still in her bed and not rather to arise hastilie come and open fall at hiâ— feet and beg pardon Our annointeâ— IESVS who hath received all poweâ— in Heauen and in Earth hee ever bâ— the voice of his written word calleth and knocketh at our doore with I beseech you brethren I beseech you sisters desire you in the bowels of IESVS and many other sweet speaches he oftentimes vseth if happily any thing might moue vs but oh alas how many arise from the dead how many leaue sleeping in sinne howe many open a free heart vnto IESVS that so entring Rev. 3.20 he might suppe vvith vs and we with him When Iesus came into Luke 19.8.9 Zacheus his house and hee entertained him with holy restitution Iesus tolde him that Salvation was come vnto his house Happie man he that as verily had obtained salvation as received the Saviour But in these daies men feare least the receiving of IESVS bring trouble povertie and death vnto their house whereof anone in his place and therfore Christ may knock and call at his pleasure for they will obey at their leasure but the daye will come that shall pay for all Open vnto me my Sister Christ in a certaine Sermon saith that These are my brethren sisters that hear the word of God and keepe it but here hee calleth her Sister as also vndefiled or perfect one that is so far from doing his will as shee refuseth it and doth her owne will keeping her heart barred against Christ when hee would haue had her open This terme therefore and the other doe not properlie appertaine to her present sleepy estate as yet she lay in an vnrepentant estate for so shee was no visible Church or member of a Church neither in that presumptâ—ous sinne could she warrant the applying of mercie in Christ the word being against her For to whome one gâ—ueth himselfe as servant to obeye his seâ—uant is he whome he doth obey Rom. 6 1â— but she heere gaue her selfe as servanâ— to obey vnrighteousnes therefore seâ—uant to vnrighteousnes But shee is termed of Christ in regard of her firâ— election which hereafter shuld be seâ—led vnto her heart by an effectuall câ—ling what time the power of his caâ— should appeare by mooving her to rise and seeke after Christ with thâ— crosse on her necke denying her selâ— for following after Christ So that may wel say he calleth her Sister Loâ— Doue vndefiled because she was calleâ— to be a Sister a Loue a Doue as also to liue in an vndefiled estate Brethreâ— and Sisters we are to Christ being 〈◊〉 him our Mediatour reconciled to thâ— Father Christ the Sonne of God be nature wee sonnes and daughters 〈◊〉 God by adoption and brethren and sisters to Christ by the handfast and betrothment of faith which makes vs Ephes 5.30 members of his body of his flesh of his bones So that thereby wee are not onely his Brethren and Sisters but also his Loue Spousesse Doues we are called to be for Mat. 10.16 Innocencie and harmlesnes The Naturians affirme the Doue to be without gall and sure I am wee are commanded to be without Bitternesse Vndefiled wee are called to be as also to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect Of every which title much might be saide which heere I passe by but from the whole this wee are to learne that as in regard of our Election knowne to God wee are to him from the beginning knowne for Sonnes Daughters as also Brethren and Sisters to Christ even before wee can with Iacob and Esau do good or evill So the calling of a Christian is for to stand in vnion with Christ in obedience and holy service to him as to our head and spirituall husband to harâ— not so much as our enemie and finâ—lie to bee holy in all our wordes aâ— workes as beseeming the children God brethren and sisters of Chrâ— these that professe themselues suâ—jects of the Kingdome of Heauen not the World If a Monarch and gret Kiâ— should call vs to bee his brethren aâ— sisters oh we would stirre our stump and endevour our selues therevnto trow if we heard the King