our estate in our selues howe wee are short of all duties vnfitte to serue our God in al true obedience finding many treasons and rebellions in our selues being ignorant in his truth also when we profite not by the word by praier neyther preuayle as we would agaynst our imperfections infirmities and corruptions then we doubt of the Lordes loue towards vs suspecting of his work in vs fearing least al our former profession be in vain and can see nothing that should giue vs comfort of the fauour of God towardes vs. Thus we suppose the loue of God and his fauour to be inconstant measuring them by our infirme and weake faith or by the scant measure of our obedience But what shoulde such a one doubt of the grace of God who seeing his wants loathing his sinnes stryuing against them louing the word vnfaynedly desiring to haue a heart to pray without hypocrisie labouring for a new life beeing angry with him selfe for sinne and that he can no more profite by the worde in knowledge true zeale humility loue patience and desiring hartely that he may neuer start from the obedience of God and his word Can it be that when the Lorde loued vs before we were ye when we were his enemies before our calling of his free mercye that he wil now loath vs leaue and forsake vs vtterly when he hath begun his owne worke in vs Could he loue vs when we were in our sinnes without remorse of conscience and can he now hate vs when we indeuour to leaue our sinnes and are vexed that we can no more grow in godlinesse and obedience Could he loue vs when we were voyde of his grace and vnsanctified and can hee abhorre vs when hee hath begun sanctification in vs by his worde and spirite shall wee measure the loue of God by our infyrmities or shall wee thinke that his loue lasteth no longer then wee stande in full obedience In deede wee must continue grounded in the trueth and Paule after the mention of the constant estate of the faythfull prayeth still for the increase of grace because wee can not bee perfecte in this earth But God who beginneth and calleth vs is faythfull The. 5.24 Thes 3.3 which will also doe it yea hee is faythfull whiche will stablishe vs and keepe vs from euill Furthermore what moued the Lord to beginne any beginning of grace in vs did not his owne free mercie and loue and the same cause also mooueth the Lorde to continue and holde out his mercies begunne to his saintes vnto the ende So Gen. 18. Gen. 18.18 God reasoneth and taketh occasion from his owne mercies to bee still mercifull vnto Abraham So that God doth not measure his mercy by our faith or obedience but by his owne loue and nature that as his loue is eternall so his mercyes haue no ende Oh dâ—uinity vnspeakable Oh infinite loue Oh gracious mercye Oh the wonderfull goodnesse constancye truth and faithfulnesse of so louing and kynde a God towardes vs poore miserable vyle wretches and crauling Wormes But as for the contemners of grace and they which herevpon shal presume of their good estate without good testimonye of the Lordes worke in them not louing his worde not hearing nor obeying the same nor beeing carefull to mortifie seuerall sinnes in them not caring but neglecting to refourme them selues and their familyes by the worde nor exercising Prayer a necessarye fruite of faith c. Let suche bee assured that the Lorde hath not begunne his woorke in them yet nor made them priuye to his eternall and free loue But they are voyde of the earnest peny of the spirite of God and in danger to be damned from the presence of God For he shall come in flaming fire â— The. 1.8.9 rendring vengeaunce to them that know not God nor obey vnto the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ which shal be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power This might make the contemners and neglecters of the word to tremble if their heartes were not closed vp to destruction Therefore if we want the effectes a fore say e or haue them but in a shew or in hipâ—â—â—â—sie let vs feare for the hypocrites may goe very far so as in outward apperaunce there appeareth no difference betwéen them and the children of God Let vs then beware that our harts deceiue vs not For hypocrites may confesse their sinnes and that to the seruants of God may also craue forgiuenesse desiring the prayers of the Godly but more for the escaping of the punishment of sin Exo. 10.16.17 Acts. 8.24 then the hatred of the sinne it felfe as Pharao did and Simon Magus Hypocrites may seeme to haue a great tast and ioy in the happy estate of the righteous and a desire to haue part of their felicity as Balaam Num. 23. â— 24.4.5 excelling in some gifts of knowledge yea they are forced to blesse and fauour the righteous but al this as men in a traunce 1. Kin. 21.2 27. They may repent after a sorte with Achab who yet was solde to do wickedly and as Iudas who hung himselfe For the repentance of hypocrites is not ioyned with a hatred of their sinne nor a desire of change and amendment neither yet with the hope of Gods fauour but either they are ouercharged altogether with the horror of the punishment of sinne but not of the sinne it selfe and so dispayre or else they harden their heartes agayne in their sinnes and so purpose not vnfeyned amendment of life therefore though they seeme to rerepent often yet are neuer the better But the godly as they tremble shook at the horror of the punishment of sinne so they also hate sinne it selfe desiring and longing for a new change in them selues and a through amendment panting thirsting breathing and vnfaynedly longing to taste more and more of the fauour of God Furthermore hypocrites maye striue for the defence of religion inferre scriptures for their purpose may finde fault with the ignorant and dumbe ministery maye boast them selues to be of God as Abilah did Chr. 13.4 vers 9.10 Yea they may be hot against papistry and idolatry and yet faint from the true faith in God and bee hurtfull and mercilesse towardes the saintes of God as Asâ— the king was Chr 15 9.6 16.10.2 Yea hypocrites may after a sort reuerence the ministers of God and doe good thinges whilest the preachers are with them furthering religion and countenancing after a sort good things for the time â— Chro. 24. â— 6 Mark 6.20 as Ioash did in the dayes of Iehoiada the priest And as Herod in the dayes of Iohn the Baptist And yet in the ende turne againe to idolatry and slea those that rebuke them as Ioash did 2. Chr. 24.21 Hipocrites may assemble with the saints of God to holy exercises and frequent the same as Achitophell did with Dauid Psa 55.13.14 They
desires chast vnto him not intangled with the loue of the world our owne pleasures and filthy lustes For Christ loueth not to match with the soule that is set in the loue of this worlde or where vncleannesse is resident Oh therefore I pray you let vs ioyne handes and heartes with him let vs euen this day make a new couenaunt with him yea let euery one of vs in our souls mourn lament that we haue let out our lusts thoughts affections and members to Sathan heretofore and plaied the harlots with him I say let this day be a witnesse with vs that we haue affianced our heartes vnto Christ O let me not speake or intreat in vaine it wil be your own hurt deare brethren We can except nothing againste this heauenly sutor neither in his person parentage riches loue nor in the couenaunts which he maketh with vs. He may except many thinges against vs but passing ouer al occasions he freely loued vs when we were his enemies he chose vs before we were and visited vs when we were miserable harlots and outcastes redeemed vs when we were captiued of Sathan washed vs and bathed vs in his owne precious bloud when we were grieuously defiled and desperately forlorne he trymmed vs with his owne beauty and righteousnesse when we were vglesome in our selues cloathed vs in his owne garmentes when we were naked Finally he decked vs that hee might loue his owne goods in vs and came in the time of wooing in his own fleshe pitched the field against sathan and sinne who had taken vs captiue and to whom we had giuen our selues as slaues and so as a valiant champion fought for his spouse iustled with all the powres of hell Math. 16. and shooke the foundations of it brake the yron gates thereof that they shall not preuaile against his spouse and brought vs out from thence restoring vs most wonderfully euen by his paineful death and blouddy passion Also he hath left vs pledges and pawnes of his loue and that he wil returne in his time to take vs home to his own heauēly pallace For his sacramentes are as rings and regal giftes tokens and remembraunces of his loue to bind vs to him againe who hath so dearely redeemed and purchased vs by a costly and bloody price so as he hath left worthy remembrances of his valiant acts and noble exploites yea his Royal Stratagemes and princely pollicies and skilfulnesse to shift off all the fiery dartes of the aduersary haue easely bewrayed them selues who in that spiritual battaile hath foyled nay cleane destroyed and triumphed ouer al his and our enemies hauing gotten a ful conquest and victory for his church and spouse Thus this noble and ventrous Knight hath dearely purchased a Spouse to him selfe O wonderful loue O mercy vnspeakable O inuincible courage of an Heroicall spirite But ah alas our wilful and damnable frowardnesse that yeeldeth not to this heauenly and louing Sutor If this wil not mooue vs what wil moue vs If this causeth not our heartes to melt nothing can Oh stony heartes harder then the flint that are not broken at this and colder then the stone Chalazias which the fier can not heat if this kindle not feruent loue in our heartes againe vnto Christ For who can deny loue to such a stedfast louer or can say nay to such a paineful Sutor Now therefore if there be anie Bowels of loue in vs deare Christians let vs bee mooued at this and sith he tooke such payne to winne vs most vyle and vnworthy of his loue what if it coste vs oure pleasures commodities our credite our friends yea or our lyfe it selfe to followe him Let vs not strayne courtesie at these thinges to loose so incomparable a Iewel It may be here wil be reply made the I spend many wordes in vaine sith no man denieth this suite but all men plaucibly entertaine Christ and come to the banquet of his word and Sacraments c. The worldly couetous man running headlong after his profites maketh great account of Christ that he shal stande him in steed the meere ciuill men also haue this hope they here his worde sometime at their leasure they looke for saluation in Christ onely and so they diet them selues with Christ thinking they make merrie with him So the adulterers murtherers deceiuers iesters swearers lyers railers contemners drunkerds proud men belly Gods Epicures Athists and such others they are content to aforde Christe a roome in their mouths and many admit of his word to lye on their deskes and scattered in their parlours desiring to be married and ioyned vnto him hoping to haue life with him So that there is no man but wil bid Christ welcome if it please him to math with them But I aunswere al that talke of Christe all that kisse him al that smile on him al that bid him welcome and wold haue a good tourne at his handes are not Christes For so long as we remaine worldlinges couetous méer ciuil men adulterers murtherers deceiuers iesters swearers liers raylers contemners drunkerds proud men belly Gods epicures Athists c. 1. Cor. 6.9.10 Ephe. 5.5 Gal. 5.19.20 We haue no inheritaunce in the kingdome of God and Christ And therfore nothing to do with him For what agreement hath righteousnes with vnrighteousnesse or what communion hath light with darknesse What concord hath Christ with Belial 2. Cor. 6.14.15 Or the beleeuer with the infidel c We must therfore flie from at appearaunce of euil If we wil haue felowship with Christ Iesus For so long as we are companions with euill men delighting in their cōpany suffering euil vnrebuked in others or nourishing euil in our selues we haue not truely yeelded vnto this suite Be not therefore companions with such Ephe. 5.6 vers 11. yea haue nothing to doe with the vnfruitfull workes of darknesse but euen reprooue them rather Let no man therefore deceaue him selfe with vayne hope and speeches for for such thinges commeth the wrath of God vppon the Children of disobedience Ephe. 5.6 Let vs then haue fellowship with Christe Iesus eating and drinking of his heauenly banquets and making merry with him that we may ioy in the strength of our saluation This we see two of the reasons which Solomon vseth both as arguments of perswasion and also as part of the suite which Christe maketh to his Spouse Now in this 2. verse before Solomon doth not set downe any more reasons or go on forward in the suite he interlaceth one circumstance of the lets which hindred the spouse in her comming on For I wil not precisely draw euery circumstance to his owne proper place in the diuision made but note them as the text most fitly giueth occasion and yet not altogether confusedly nor improper to the diuision it selfe which I set down before I sleepe saith she but my heart waketh c. As if she should say These amorous speeches and friendly offers of my loue do much
and loose ministery I say therefore againe intreat the ministers of your parrishes and call vppon them yea charge them but reuerently in the feare of God with an humble spirite that they haue care of you to fulfil the ministery inioyned them of the high God vpon paine of his displesure and as they wil aunswere before God for you and your families in the dreadful day of iudgement when they shall giue an account for your soules Heb. 13.17 Oh it shaketh my trembling ioyntes and dissolueth my sinnewes with feare to thinke what woofull euydence shall bee brought in againste the carelesse ministery by the Soules of their charge which perishe for want of instruction when they shall stande vp in plea againste them to testifie vppon their heads saying Ah alas we neuer receiued instruction by our Pastors we maye thanke them in part of our damnable destruction which haue not sought to bring vs vnto God nor taught vs the way of truth nor laboured to turne vs from our sinnes being without knowledg themselues kept vs in ignorance and blindnes flattering vs in our sins But now wo alas Hosh â— 6 we perish because we had not the knowledge of God Me thinkes I see the woeful wringing of handes the trickling teares distilling from their eyes the condemning of themselues by speechlesse silence their heads hanging downe and the diereful dent of doleful death to cease vpon them Yea me thinkes I heare their shiftles shifts their shouting shrames crying out of their damnable estate For what shiftes can they haue before the alseeing and iust iudge of all the world Shal pretence of lawes excuse them if they can say I haue read seruice to them and the common booke of Prayer and done al that law require For herewith they thinke they haue stopped mens mouthes But they slander the lawes of our Prince which require as I suppose most of those gifts in the ministers that should be admitted which Paule mentioneth to Titus Howsoeuer it be ouerseen of those that haue admitted such but lawes of men countenance of Magistrates nor the example of others shal not bear vs out in the glorious and fearefull presence of the great God who shal sit as sole iudge ouer al persons and causes But if thou hast not fedde the Lordes people and preached the Gospel thogh to read the worde is good to read the booke of common Prayer is good yet thou shalt not be excused sith it pleased the Lorde not simply by his word but Through preaching to saue them that beleeue As the publique ordinary means in his Church Yea and the lawes of the realme require such to be admitted as are able to teach 1. Cor. 1.21 2. Tim. 4.1.2 And Paule giueth a precise charge to Timothie to preach the word But some man wil say that I wander from my text to speak thus much of the dumbe and carelesse Ministers I swerue not from it at al. For if the Spouse straitely chargeth them of Ierusalem where God was to be inquired after in his worde to further her to her loue then is it necessarie that the neglect of this duetie in the Pastors which chiefly should helpe that way shoulde be found fault with al especially where their owne daunger is greatest for we know how the Lorde hath threatned such in the law I speake not this of the ministerie that men shoulde insult vppon the same with reproch for our owne loosenesse haue made vs reprochful ynough to the worlde but rather that men shoulde praye for the state hereof the more carefully beeing so deformed Neither doe I speake to whette the tongues of men for it is their glorie to deface the ministerie neyther yet of sinister affection againste anye as the Lorde knoweth But I speake from a heart pitying the estate therof That if it might please God the loose ministerie may see their danger and so be mooued to reforme them selues with grace God grant them Amen And I speake the more of that state now because many are here present of that calling This title of Daughters as it is a Metaphorical speech borrowed from the fellowship of Virgins before their marriage and in the time of their suit as Psalm 45.14 may appeare so also this name of Virgins in the ninth Chapter of the Prouerbes signifieth the Preachers of the worde Prou. 9.2 as Prophetes Apostles c. where wisedome sendeth out her Maidens to call men to her heauenly and riche banquet so the Daughters of Ierusalem may not improperly signifie the teachers in this place For their lips shoulde preserue knowledge and the people shoulde inquire the lawe at their mouthes as the prophet Malachi saith Mal. 2.7 adding also a strong reason to mooue the people to inquire and the pastor to teach because he is the mâ—ssenger of the Lord of Hosts Now shal we think that the Lorde will send vnfit messengers blind men and babes of his ambassage or errande that shall not speake foorth their message Will Princes wisely prouide to send wise and learned men on their ambassage And shal we deny the Lord his wisdome and foresight but we thinke anye good ynough for the Lords errand But al such as they run before they are sent so the Lorde sendeth them in his iustice to punishe the sins of men as we heard before Hosh 9.7.8 Now followeth If yee finde my welbeloued tell him I am sicke of loue The like diligent inquiry after Christ the Spouse maketh Canticles 3.1.2 Read it I pray you where she maketh streight search as for a thing of high price So that she desireth after Christ so much the more how much the more she was beaten backe of others yea she euer languisheth after Christ contemning all other things in respect of him As Paule counted all thinges vile dung in comparison of Christ Iesus These are all speeches of loue she woulde haue the Godly specially the teachers to commend her in their prayers vnto God This speech I am sicke of loue is to discouer the heart and loue of the faythfull towardes Christ that they cannot tell how to loue him ynough The worldly men neuer trouble themselues with this loue neither pine of this heauenlye and spirituall loue sicknesses It is rather sicknesse to the earthly minded men to hear of this loue or to be required to loue the Lord againe But they are meruellous fain of the worlde which is an euil sicknesse as Solomon sayth Well let vs my deare brethren laboure to affect our hearts more with Christ Iesus casting of al lets to studie of his loue and require of all the Godlye and of the faithfull Pastors that they woulde further vs in this loue The Spouse seemeth to be impudent here to spread abroade her loue towardes her Sutor For our louers are ashamed to haue it knowne that they are sicke of loue so also the worlde is ashamed to be sick of loue for Christ Iesus but the Spouse openly confesseth and bewrayeth
CERTAINE VErie worthie godly and profitable Sermons vpon the fifth Chapiter of the Songs of SOLOMON Preached by BARTIMEVS ANDREAS Minister of the word of God Published at the earnest and long request of sundrie well minded Christians ESAY 62.6.7 I haue set watchmen on thy walles O Ierusalem which all the day and all the night continually shall not cease yee that are mindfull of the Lord keepe not silence And giue him no rest till he repayre and vntill he set vp Ierusalem the praise of the worlde 2. TIM 2.19 But the foundation of God remayneth sure and hath this zeale The Lord knoweth who are his and let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitie AT LONDON Printed by Robert Walde-graue for Thomas man 1583. TO THE RIGHT honorable and my very good Lorde Henrie Earle of Huntington Lorde Hastings Hungerforde Botreaux Mullens Moyles of the most honorable order of the garter Knight Lord president of the Queenes Maiesties councel established in the North parts Bartimeus Andrewes wisheth increase of all true honour and the fruition of all those blessed promises which concerne this life and the life to come Amen BEING at the last ouercome right honorable by the long and earnest request of diuers Godly and wel disposed christians to yeeld my consent to the publishing of this to homly and simple a worke I forthwith was resolued in my selfe to dedicate the first fruits of my labour in this kinde of wryting vnto your honour as to a most worthy MECOENAS and conuenient Patron both of all learning and good causes And albeit at the first blush it may seeme some what straunge vnto your honour that I should presume to present you with so simple a gift being vnworthy the view of so honorable a personage and wise Yet because I do it not as one expecting anye temporall benefite or preferment at your hand as the maner of the worlde for the most part in such matters is But as a token rather of my speciall good will and duety towards you and an argument of thankfulnesse vnto God for his graces in you as also to minister some occasion of increase and going forwarde with constancy and Heroicall spirite in so good gracious and Godly wayes as you haue turned your feete to steppe in already I perswade my selfe therefore of your facile and curteous nature and good will in accepting of the same And euen this small duety of wryting is one point of the honouring and gratifying of our betters and those to whom we stand charged from the Lorde to perfourme duties of reuerence and honour Especially when we see the Image of God by the seconde creation to shine in them as it doth breake forth in your honourable and vertuous brest by many worthy and commendable graces and vertues with the plausible approbation fame and report both of the wise and Godly I speake not this as one that would fill the trompe of flattery with the winde of vaine-glorious praise to seeme to speake for your honour to the worlde for that is not my maner sith your vertuous religious and Godlye wayes speake for them selues to your great commendation and your euerlasting praise in Christe Iesus But I speake of the worke of God in you right honorable that God might haue his iust glory in his owne worke and your selfe might also be incouraged with comfort to proceede and increase in that good course so as the worke of God which is begun might be perfited in you For sure it is my very good Lord that the enemy of mankind seeketh to beset as all men so specially those whome the Lorde beginneth to frame to him selfe but chieflyest those that are as it were ouer frayghted with the aboundaunce of the troublesome affayres of this present life by reason of their great calling For they whom God calleth to so great honour riches and dignity are as one wisely wryteth set vpon the mayne sea of occasions in daunger to bee drenched and swallowed vp of the tempestuous rages and surging waues of diuers temptations if the Lorde doe not mightely by his grace support and vnderstay them But when God standeth by them and frameth their heartes to the loue of his truth then doth he reape great honour and glory at their handes VVhich he highly priseth and reckoneth off insomuch that he hath honorably spoken of such by his Prophetes that they shoulde bring much glory to his Church Esay 49.23 60.16 and be nursing fathers and nursing mothers therevnto yea the glory of LEBANON euen of great personages shal come togeather to beautify the place of my sunctuary saith the Lorde for I will glorify the place of my feete Esay 60.13 For the seruice which such shoulde doe to his Church was not a seruile condition but a beautifying of his Church as it is there called and a glory euen vnto him selfe And vndoubtedly blessed are those Princes Nobles honourable and worshipfull who them selues imbracing and obeying the truth sincerely become presidentes and examples in their owne persons to allure others to the fellowship of the church to the loue of the worde and true religion For the fall or vprising of many after a sort dependeth vpon the publique persons whom God hath lift vp in high places ouer others Insomuch as the eyes of the multitude are bene vpon the examples of publique persons Furthermore wee see from time to time howe the Church of God not without great cause accounted highly of such personages as those by whom they receiued speciall blessings from the Lorde So the church of Israel Psal 21.6 made precious account of DAVID that worthy Prince as one that was set of God as blessings for euer Meaning as a benefite and testimony of Gods fauour vpon his people EZEKIAH NEHEMIAH Neh. 1. 2. Hag. 1.14 Ier. 40. 2. Chr. 35.25 ZERVBBABEL GEDALIAH c. were great blessings to the Church who greatly lamented the losse of thē Also IOSIAH his death was lamented with a doleful lamentation of al the church of IVDA And sure it is that our Church hath great cause to magnifie the mercies of God towards vs in trusting vs with so gracious a IOSIAH as our Soueraigne Princesse ELIZABETH as by whose gouerment the church hath receiued many blessings The losse of whome if our sinns should procure which the Lord keep far from vs would yeeld no lesse occasion for vs to complayne and say then the Churche of IVDA had Lamen 5.20 at the death of IOSIAH when they sayd Our life the breath of our nostrels the annoynted of the Lorde vvas taken in their nets of vvhome we sayd vnder his shadow vve shall be preserued aliue among the heathen Herevnto god hath added further matter of ioy and thankfulnes vnto his Churche in that many nobles worthy personages of this land both learned Godly and wise among whom your honour hath not the least roome are faythfull Patrons of the cause of
Religion And therefore if the church reuerenced highly accounted of such if the godly teachers of the church commended such and gratifyed them by wryting of some such duety as the Apostle IOHN did the elect Lady and HIEROM 2. Ioh. 1. that vertuous Lady LETA GAVDENTIA to incourage them in the truth to shew their thankfulnes for them vnto God why may not we in our times likewise gratify our noble worthy personages with some such duty to shew forth our thankfulnes and reuerence towardes them as also to minister occasion by such means as we can of further proceeding in all religious and godly wayes with zeal to aduance gods glory in his church For we should all step out for the defence and aduancement of Gods gospell glory For the true honor of al men standeth in this chiefly that they imbrace the word which is the wisdome of God sith without religion there is no true honour Therfore Prou. 8 VVisdome layeth claime to all the honor kingdom of princes Pro. 8.15.16.18 as without whom they wanted al true honor Yea she challengeth to her selfe al true wisdome councel vnderstanding strength and honour c. Also els where SOLOMON a prince of greatest honoâ—â— wisdome setteth down plainly Pro 4.8 ver 14. that they which imbrace wisdome shal haue great honor they which exalt her shal be exalted theÌ„ selues For God crowneth them with honour which honour his word But strippeth al such naked of honor renoum before him which do not honor his word Therefore the gouernours of Israel were charged to be alwayes conuersant in the booke of the law day night that they might learne to feare the lord their God Deu. 17.19 adding a great reason that by such meanes they should prouide for their own safety and for the good estate of their posteritie Verse 20. Yea it was promised to DAVID as a speciall prerogatiue that so long as hee helde the Lord to be his Father and made him his God by trusting in him and imbracing the testimonies of his word Psa 89.26 ver 28.29 that the Lorde would not fayle him but establishe his couenaunt with him yea and with his seede for euermore So that such as set their delight in the word of God carry with them store of blessinges from the Lord both for them selues and for their posterity And we see that the Lorde doth not otherwise promise to prosper the affayres of men then as they are carefull to know his will in his word Hereof it was that the Lorde promised the lyke successe vnto IOSHVA For after he had incouraged him to obey his worde Iosh 1.7 ver 8. shewing that therein stoode all true prosperity he addeth this exhortation Let not this booke of the Lawe depart out of thy mouth but meditate therein day and night that thou mayest obserue and doe according to all that is wrytten therin then shalt thou make thy way prosperous and then shalt thou haue good successe For the Lorde knew that sith IOSHVA stood in great perill of temptation euery way by the reason of the waightynesse of his calling and dignity therefore also he sheweth that hee had greatest neede of the meanes to vnderstay himselfe and to be acquainted with the Lordes priuy Councell reuealed in his worde to direct him in all his actions So DAVID made the worde of God his Councellers Psa 119.24 without whom he woulde doe nothing For he knew that it behoueth such to imploy their honour glory estimation riches and credite as handmaydes to further Gods glory And then no doubt they are to expect greate blessinges from the Lorde with immortall prayse and euerlasting honour with Christ Iesus I doubt not therefore right honourable but all these blessinges shall be accomplished vpon you as also vpon your posterity sith you loue and imbrace the religion of the true God and the truth of his worde who will not see you want that honour that he hath promised to his most excellent Saintes And now here I present vnto your Honour this poore Tallent of myne which may it please you to accept at my hand as of one that wisheth all happynesse vnto you and yours in the Lorde humbly crauing that your fauourable wisedome would supply the wants of this thing and that this so simple a gift as it is may be accepted of you rather for my good meaning in the thing and the ende wherefore I doe it then for the vallue of the thing it selfe Doing your honour to vnderstande that you are not to expect any flourishing speeches garnished with Rhetoricall flowers and figures or any cunning sleightes of mans wisedome or paynted eloquence with affected wordes but hauing an eye to the matter and not to the maner to expect a simple and plaine handling of that which is intreated off For my desire is not to be seen in the heighth and intricate questions of mans wisedome but in the basenesse and simplycity of the Gospell that it may appeare in the power thereof Thus right honourable surceasing from adding any further wordes of discourse and remayning ready to vndergoe all lawfull duetyes towardes your honour which God any maner of wayes shall inable me to doe I humbly commit your honourable Lordship with the right honourable that vertuous Lady the Countesse your wyfe euen to our good and mercifull God who euermore preserue you and yours in al blessed safety both of body and soule be present with you gouerne and guyde you by his gratious spirite and heape vpon you all heauenly blessings and shew forth the riches of his grace vppon you that you may holde out with all constancy in his truth vnto the ende so as you glorifying him in this lyfe may be receiued vnto eternal glory and felicity with him in the lyfe to come through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Your honors humble to command in the Lord Bartimaeus Andrewes To the Christian Reader IT was not in vaine Christian reader that the ancient fathers of the Church worthy and Godly wryters vsed alwayes preuentions in some preface or Epistle before their workes to reclaime their writinges from suspition and reproch in so much as the Church of God neuer wanted enuious malicious and captious aduersaries who with their slaunderous tongues and dispightfull lawes sought to teare in pieces or by Zoylous vpbraydings to blemishe or by reprochfull speeches and lyspings to cancell the credite of whatsoeuer was godly wisely carefully and to good purpose penned downe by them These times yeelde occasion of no lesse suspition of like intertainment to be giuen to good thinges written for the comfort and help of the simple and ignorant especially wheÌ„ they are to proceede from so vnworthy an instrument and so vnskilfull an indictor as my selfe when the writings and workes of so famous godly men haue gone before as great torchelights or as the Sunne at noone dayes and I to come after in so
lowe a course should seeme as a starie borrowing light from others and yet so as giuing light to some But because God hath his glory aswell of the interiour plances and fixed startes in their order and degree as of the Sun and the great lights in their excellencie I doubted not but was perswaded that in my calling degree measure place assigned me of God I should both do good and be helpful to the simple at least ignorant if not to the learned and also should bring some glory vnto that God from whom I haue receiued that vvhich I haue Casting mine eyes therefore of from the scornefull reproches of the worlde from the malice and enuie of the caâ—pers and from the suspitious heart of them which suspect all things and finally from the regard of mortall men my heart being directed to the Lord on whom onoly I waite mine eyes turned toward his Church whoÌ„ I dearly tender in the Lord I was forced to yeelde to this worke which I haue taken in hand yet so that after the request of many which hard these fewe Sermons that follow not with out some comfort and profite as they saide I yeelded to trie what I coulde doe in penning of them as I vttered them so neere as I could after which thing done and beeing seene of some althoâ—gh I neuer thought to haue it passe out of my hands yet had I it not onely coppied out by others but also I was exceedingly charged by them that I should dishonour God in concealing of the thing and should doe great iniurie to many soules which might reape special comfort thereby themselues being witnesses against me of that comfort and benefite which they should want by the withholding therof insomuch as it was likely to be preferred vnto publishing without my knowledge or consent if I had not yeelded For which causes I haue taken in had to prefix these few words Humbly intreating that no man misiudge of this my poore trauaile Now if any marueil at these long excuses preceeding any other matter it is therefore that I might satisfie the godly in rendring a reason of the publishing hereof being of my selfe timerous and suspicious of mine owne workes as such which I recken vnworthy the publike view of men But God grant it may profite the simple and godly at least for whose sake I haue chiefly done it Also of the otherside to staye the mutterings of the malicious enuions suspitious men Now in that I haue laboured so neere as I could to pen it downe in such maner as it was vttered by me hauing some notes of the same deliuered vnto me so as by the reason of the exhortations the matter will seeme more rarely a great deale in reading then when it is vttred with liuely voyce and godly zeale vvhereby it hath the greater force to moue being the ordinarie meanes appointed of God to saue men yet because writings do longe seede memorie then vvords spoken they vvhich wanted the vse of the first shall yet haue the benefite of the vvritten letters to their longer remembrance I am therfore humbly to craue of the christiaÌ„ reader that thou accept these first fruites of my labor in this kind of vvriting if ther be any thing vvorth the accepting as I hope and am persvvaded thou shalt finde them not altogether barin though the homlinesse of exhortation and basenesse of style may want plausibilitie to some yet the matter vvill sauour comfortably to those which are seasoned vvith grace and in whome God hath begun in deede a true Christian calling and humbled in a true sight of themselues so as they are able to surueie their owne hearts and to discry their vvants and infirmities The first part of the chapiter the calling of the chuâ—ch or faithfull and are therewithall carefull to make supply of their vvantes by thirsting after grace the means wherby the same is offered conueied into the faythfull For my labour was in the handling of this fifth Chapiter of the CANTICLES to lay forth as I could the calling vvhereby Christ calleth his Church and faythfull to the participation of his heauenly riches and the suite which he maketh to bee entertained of his Church with some reasons of waight annexed vnto his suite to make it the more forcible that men might be made priuie vnto the means of their calling which is the first part of the Chapiter in generall Then secondly I haue noted hovve the faythfull come on by degrees and in what manner they obey their Christian calling The second part the maner of their comming on or obeying of their calling what stovve proceedings they make vvhat lets they meete withal how they hang of and on a long time with the Lord or euer they conclude and make vp the match with him in their heartes Novv though these things are displayed in figures and presented to vs in darke speeches by SOLOMON yet shall vve by the grace of God see the sence meaning and vse of them by the Scriptures In these two parts of this chapter with the particulers that shal be noted out of them in the processe of the matter I doubt not but vvhosoeuer shal read with a single eye vnto the ende shall finde both instruction and much comfort to his soule and conscience therein For in the first Sermon and part of the second the suite of Christ calling his Churche to obedience and to the pertaking of his grace is handled with such reasons alledged by him as might mooue any tractable nature to yeeld vnto his suite The other three Sermons with most of the second are spent in shevving the manner how the godly come on in their calling how they obey First the lets which the saints of God meete withall And first the manifolde lets and incumbraunces both at home in themselues and abroad in others which fetter tye the children of God are discouered hovv hardly slowly they proceede in their christian course yea howe long or they enter into it till the Lord as it were force them forward and finde them out in their delayes Hauing in themselues so many pulbackes lurking in their ovvne nature First lets in our selues which make their hearts so drovvzie and vntovvard as they seeke shifts to â—oorde of the Lorde and not to aunsvvere their inwarde calling and when they are comming on they finde them selues vnfiâ—te slovve and vnapt euen to those duties vvhiche they dâ—sire heartilye to performe whereby they feele sometime this discommoditie that vvhen they seeke after Christ Iesus coueting to bee refreshed and satisfied vvith his Loue they finde him as it vvere stepped aside as thoughe the Lorde absented him selfe from them had reiected them and woulde not bee founde of them For the Cloudes of the infirmities of the Saintes of GOD are so greate sometimes in their ovvne sighte vvhen they are truely humbled and so thicke that they blem sh the sighte of Gods fauoure so
receiued sith he hath taken possession of all riches and wanteth nothing but is able euery way to doe vs good If this reason can preuaile with mē in earthly matters and benefites Oh what shame is it that the same shoulde not preuaile with vs in heauenly suites wherein standeth the life of our souls So God reasoneth with Israell many times for his benefites that he is able to pleasure them therefore they ought to admit of him to be their God Thus Christ hers after a sort boasteth of his riches as sutors make many brags of their wealth but Christ hath all true welth in déed so as we may rest on his word It is sure a strong argument to perswade vs if we saw into it aright to grant to his loue sith so rich a sutor vouchsafeth to make offer vnto vs. Neither doth he require any rich dowry at our hands only to find a faithful obedient spouse of vs which he himself also worketh in his Thus christ offereth liberally of his riches to al his people to allure thē to take part with him to be married vnto him for as I sayd Solomon in the person of a husband or sutor of a wife or maydē as louers describeth the loue which is betweene Christ his church Now Christ commeth into his gardē church on earth diuers wayes to reueale discouer his heauenly riches to vs. First by himself in his own persō in the dais of his flesh and by his owne ministerie enioyned him of his father he came to redeeme and saue his spouse beeing lost and to feoft her into his eternall inheritance layde vp in the heauens hauing also committed the euidences and free deed of his gift to his Church namely his worde Also he commeth by his Ministers whom he sendeth as spokesmen and friendes for so Iohn calleth himselfe the Bridegromes friend Io. 3.29 Albeit then that Christ be ascended in to his heauenly pallace yet he ceaseth not dayly to become a Sutor vnto vs by his preachers discouering by his Gospel Col. 1.27 al his heauenly glorious riches to cause vs to be enamored vpon him For as the Sutors and Woers boast them selues of their wealth landes riches c. that they might the sooner speed and make large offers of feoftments into lands to obtain those whome they loue so our Christ setteth out him selfe as a very rich and wealthy woer who is able to bestow a very rich dowrie on his wife who also commeth of a very noble famous honorable parentage rich friendes is himselfe a rich heyre yea the onely heyre of all thinges and yet most sweetely louingly and fauourably abaseth him selfe to match with a poore miserable naked and despised maiden hauing no friendes voyd of succour out of apparell diseased and helplesse who Ezek 16 in the day of her byrth was destitute no eye pittied her cast out in the open fieldes to the contempt of her person in the day of her byrth yea left in her own bloud naked and despised But this sweet and mercifull sutor touched with the bowels of pittie had compassion on her when she could not pittie her selfe oh dolefull estate and desperate but Oh gracious and liberal loue which promised life to the dead comfort to the distressed and beautified her with his owne garments and iewels yea visited her in the time of loue comming in his owne person to woo her vnto himselfe See then the exceeding loue of Christ Iesu towards vs miserable and vnworthy wretches inuicting and calling vs to the participation of his riches so incomparable but wee are scorneful and high minded which play as the coye Dames which are sullen and selfe willed that say many waies and loue many sutors Yea we foord of Christ that most louing and gratious woer setting lighte by him as one to homely and base to graunt oure loue vnto Oh vnkindnesse intollerable oh intractable frowardnesse oh damnable refusall of so healthful offers yet suche is our nicenes that we hold aloof from so happy offers and yet perswade oure selues we shal speed wel ynough Can it be that the Lorde will take this at our hand that when he hath offered to match his son so basely for our benefit we should hold scorne of his mercifull offers no no he will surely reuenge it vpō vs. Wel we sée that Christ is set out vnto vs as one that hath eat drunk gathered al his cōmodities that is as one that hath possession already of all thinges is vnder no mans gardenership and liberally offereth to participate the same to his church Eat O friends drink and be merry O welbeloued We see here the franck liberality of Christe who hourdeth not vp to himselfe but largely giueth foorth vnto others yea hee chéereth vp his guests most comfortably noting that as Christe feedeth his Church on earth with the spirituall dainties of his worde c. So after this life he calleth them to the participation of his heauenly and eternall ioyes Eat drink c. This is part of the suit containing matter of exhortrtion to mooue the spouse to participate of the heauenly riches which he offereth vnto her and conueyeth them into the hearts of the beleeuers by the preaching of his word wherby he assureth them of the right title of life communicating the riches of his grace and life vnto them and we eat and taste of these heauenly benefites here on earth by faith so that vnlesse wee thorough fayth receiue the word and feede of it we can haue no part with Christe in his riches So also through faith we feede vpon Christ in deede in the Sacrament of the supper and are nourished by his body and bloud into a new life of holines and righteousnes here and vnto eternal life in the resurrection of the iust Wherefore Christ is described here as one that banqueteth his spouse But as these are wordes that doe containe part of his suite so also they include a seconde reason which he vseth The second reason and it is drawn from his liberal kindnesse and frée heartednesse in offering to participate his riches to his spouse For if Christ had bene neuer so able to pleasure his church or neuer so rich glorious yet if we were not sure that he would be liberall and depart from his riches but that he kept al to himself it booted vs nothing but sith Christ abounding in all riche treasures and heauenly doth also depart as it were from them to imploy his riches on vs this should greatly perswade with vs me thinks to yeelde to his request and take this franke offer at his handes So that all his speech is ful of reasons and arguments to perswade But pity it is to see how worldly men are blockish at these things ye we al shew our contempt and neglect of these rich offers of the Lord towards vs. But what excuse can wee forge to shift of this so wonderful a loue that
we should set so light by it Is it because hee commeth no more in his owne person vnto vs Why the Heauens must containe him til he come to iudgement Acts. 3.21 What is it because he is poore of low degree or meane personage his riches are without price his parentage is of God his person is moste amiable What then is it because hee speaketh by others as his spokesmen and those men thraught with infirmities as our selues In deede this sticketh in the stomack of many for they contemne the word which is the suit of Christ because it is spoken by men so they esteem the sacred word as of men and not of God Surely he could haue sent the troup of his mighty glorious Angels to make his matche but he hath himselfe spoke in his owne person first nowe continueth his suite to vs in his behalfe by his ministers and faithfull seruantes For he hath put his treasure in earthy vessels that the excellencye of that power might be of God not of vs. 2. Cor. 4.7 Also We are ambassadors in Christs steed as though God did beseech you through vs so we pray you in Christes steede to be reconciled vnto God 2 Cor. 5.20 So as the Lorde hath ordeined Pastors and teachers in his church euen of men in his own name Paul he likewise labored to present the people a pure virgine vnto God 2. Cor. 11.2 Let vs not therefore my brethren despise the meanes which God hath ordeined to saue vs by and to make vp the match betweene his sonne and vs in our heartes least wee prouoke the Lords displesure If some great Prince should send of his nobles as ambassadors vnto any of vs or to a man of poors estate to beg his daughter for his onely sonne meaning to preferre her so honourably and his sonne louing her entirely were it not great discourtesye to refuse and woulde he not easily graunt to it so sith God sendeth oute his ministers to beg our soules for his deare sonne and requireth that we wil bestow our selues vppon him were it not a great contempt againste God and a worse daunger to our owne soules if wee shal refuse so gratious an offer Now as God vouchsafeth this honour to his ministers as to bee Suters for his sonne to his Church to call them to the heauenly banquet So they must not labour to winne the Church to them selues and to prefer their owne glory As the Pope which woulde haue the Church at his commaundement and so commit whooredome against Christe Or as many vaine glorious teachers which preach them selues not Christe Also seducers sectuaries c. They all play as the fals harted man which beeing put in trust to speake to a mayden for another doe wooe and make suite for them selues to tourne the liking of the mayden to their owne persons Thus many teachers playe the wantons with the Spouse of Christ Iesus when they should learne of Paul to present her perfect vnto Christe Howbeit the church of our times hath many wanton Sutors that wooe for them selues and not for Christe It is requisite that sith the ministers of the worde are to speake for so noble and heauenly a personage who is a rare Phoenix and the onely Sonne of the liuing God sent to his chosen Spouse vpon earth to offer the match of life to vnfould and discouer all the secretes of his heauenly and eternall loue spirituall and princely riches of his grace that they deale in these waightie matters moste reuerently wisely religiously carefully and faithfully to speak the Gospell and message of Christ as they ought to speake it and not to vtter themselues in preaching of Christ For many which preach the trueth after a sort yet ah alas nothing regarde the weight of this so honorable and holy ambassage For there are some which thinke Christe too base to bee preached simply in him selfe and therfore mingle with him too too much the wisedome of mans eloquence and thinke that Christe commeth nakedly vnlesse cloathed with vaine ostentaion of wordes Others esteeme him too homely simple and vnlearned vnlesse he bee beautified and blazed ouer with store of Gréeke or Laten sentences in the pulpits some recken of him as solitarie or as a priuate person with out honor and pompe vnlesse he bée brought foorth of them very solemnly accompaned and countenaunced with the auncient Garde of the fathers and Doctors of the Churche to speake for him or els he must be glosed out and painted with the frooth of Philosophi Poetry or such like And so regard not to preach Christ crucified to the Iewes A stumbling blocke to the Grecians folishnes but to them which are called both Iews Grecians Christ is the power of God and the wisedome of God 1. Cor. 1.23.24 I do not speake against learning wisedome the knowledge of tongues or the fathers abolishing all vse of them but highly esteming of the firste as the Lordes giftes and graces and reuerencing the Fathers as worthy instruments which the Lord vsed for their time And all these are necessary tyme person place and fit occasion seruing But I wold gladly Christ might appeare in his power by the pure handling of the Gospel though it be counted foolishe preaching of the world 1. Cor. 1.21 Yet it is the ordinary meanes appointed to saue them that beleeue And sure I cannot otherwise thinke of many which study to preach them selues and to haue their giftes yea some times those giftes which they haue not to be knowne rather then the power of God in his Gospel then of Babes and yong children which hauing any gay thing about them that they themselues think highly on thinke all men should delight in their gayes therefore they are alwayes pointing at their gay brooches pointes laces c. shewing euery one where they are gay So these men which preach them selues are alwayes poyncting at their gaye eloquence or giftes which they set more by then the pure handling of the worde But we are in Christes stéede to make suite for him to the soules of men wherefore we must deale faithfully with him For a wicked messenger faelleth into euill but a faythfull ambassadour is preseruation Prouerb 13.17 I therefore beloued though moste vnworthy to open my mouth in Christes behalf vnto you yet as one apoynted a sutor in the Lords cause and his Churches doe beseech you in the bowels of Iesus Christ that you woulde be wonne vnto him espousing both body and soule to be at his heauenly pleasure O despise not so gracious offers Let it not be your pride to say often nay to the Lordes suite it is more curtesie to let him speede at the first And though we haue heretofore listened to the suite of Sathan and he hath had his pleasure at our handes which might giue the Lorde iust cause to cast vs off and not to continue anie more his suite to vs yet if we will returne from our sinfull loue of
Sathan and sinne the worlde and our owne selues to match with Christ Iesus and bee gouerned vnder him hee will vouchsafe to embrace vs and receiue vs to fauour Oh therefore good people as you loue your owne souls let me intreate and in intreating let me obtaine that you will vnfeignedly loue Christ Iesus againe I maye not leaue you til I obtaine at your handes O that I coulde so vndermine your hearts and vse my speech so as I might preuaile with you and speede for so gracious a sutor and louer Alas my deare brethren we haue serued our owne lustes too too long already For is it not sufficient for vs that we haue spent the time past of the life after the lust of the Gentiles walking in wantonnes lustes drunkennesse pride selfeloue couetousnes gluttony drinkings and such other abhominations 1. Pet. 4.3 Let the rest of our life be consecrate vnto God for we haue played the filthy harlots too much and haue mocked with the Lord a long time We haue made many fayer promises and shewes of loue but in vaine some of vs for we haue turned to our owne filthines againe and not liued chaste in our soules before the Lorde so as it is wonder that he hath not giuen vs a bil of diuorcement al this time and turned vs out of doores Let vs therefore humble our selues before the bill of diuorcement be published against vs. Alas let not the loue of this world though it séeme neuer so gorgious rich and precious in our eyes deceiue vs so that our loue shoulde be set vpon that and Christe shoulde be gainesayd who hath beene at great cost with vs. Some refuse to ioyne with Christ because they are wedded to their pleasures and profits and are loth to be weaned from them Some thinke Christe to homely and plaine for them and not gallant ynough to maintayne them in their pride in their great ruffes gorbellies broadred heare and a thousande such vanities which hinder them from matching with Christ The courtlike minions drowned in their pleasures are ashamed of the playnes of Christ for they that are in kinges housen weare soft apparell but Christe is without such pompe Othersome refuse him because he is deformed and worne with afflictions being loath to vndergo the crosse with him Othersome imbrace him willingly so farre as their pleasures and commodities reache and as they may liue easely but when Christ looketh to haue their loue in trouble in pouerty in shame in dishonor then they leaue him as most faithlesse and shamelesse strompetes Other some vse Christ as a band to couer their vnchast and filthy life and as a cloake to couer their vncleannesse when in professing of him they thinke to set a good face on the matter countenance themselues by him though they priuily nourish pamper most vile beastly affections yea vglesome monsters at home as a harlot which taketh a husband is bear his name as an outward honesty and yet let out her body most shamelesly to other men who cutteth off her selfe by her vnfaithfulnesse from her husband So shal al such haue a bill of diuorcement and bee vtterly caste off from Christe Iesus vnlesse they repent Christ I say is come into his Garden by his ministers and ouerlooketh his Church labouring by his worde to draw men more neere vnto him for his word is his errande or suite which he maketh to vs and the free deed of feofment which hee maketh to his Spouse of his inheritaunce so as we must by faith set our hand to it doing all seruices and loyalties due to the Lorde who holdeth the prerogatiue ouer vs. Yet we refuse to make sure this our estate vnto vs or to match with Christe affiauncing our selues wholy vnto him both body and soule to be sanctified to the vse of holinesse and righteousnesse Surely there is iust cause that we should yeeld to this suite to eat of his pleasures with him to make merry with Christ in this his roial banquet and to match our selues to him In deed there is a great inequalitie in the match that the sonne of God should come downe from heauen indued in our â—â—â—she to espouse him self to mans soul which was forfeited into the hand of sathan and hel so as modesty might seeme to be an excuse to hold vs backe but it is not that which hindreth vs but euen pride selfeloue contempt ignorance worldly mindednesse and such like Cast off therefore al lets and yeeld ouer your selues to the Lorde sith he hauing all riches offereth to participate the same with vs and intreateth vs so to doe by his seruantes If we seeke for a rich match Lo he is most rich If for honor and dignity he is most honorable and king of al kings If for pomp he hath al the glory of his father If for beauty and person he is most beautifull and personable If for pleasure he hath all true pleasures If for ease he offereth true rest and ease euen to our soules If we seeke to match with an honest stock who is more honest gratious louing and holy then the sonne of God Who loketh not to our person beauty riches stock or pareÌ„tage for we come al off the rotten poore beggerly deformed Psal 44.3 and defiled race of Adam but beholdeth vs in him selfe and as the Hebrwes speake pleaseth him selfe in vs and so sanctifieth vs in him self to become a noble generation and kingly priesthood 1. Pet. 2.9.10 yea he hath mercy on her that was not pittied Hosh 2.23 Thus we see that Christ in whom all riches are without measure is not a niggarde to kéep theÌ„ to himself but most frankly frely he imparteth theÌ„ al to his church and participateth euen his own glory with his saintes so as he hath giuen charge to his angels to becom the princely gard of his quéen which is the company of the beléeuers whom the Lord sanctifieth to be holy without spot and wrinckle For we must not looke to be at our owne wil and follow our owne minds but must be at the commandement of our spiritual husband Christe Iesus to doe his will renouncing our owne will and corrupt affections and become new creatures For they that are Christes haue crucified the flesh with the lusts desires thereof Gal. 5.24 and let him that is in Christ become a new creature 2. Cor. 5.17 And this is it that frayeth men from Christ because they are loath to vnder go his burthen and yoke to cast of the world leuing theÌ„selues behind theÌ„ to follow Christ And true it is vntil we are truely won vnto christ affianced to him by faith forsaking our own selues we are in the state of damnation Let vs therfore vpon paine of damnation forsake our selues the world Sathan sinne and our owne worthines and stand to the Lords curtesie yea let vs wed our selues to him seruing him with obedient heartes preseruing our thoughtes affections and
sleepe and make them drouzie For when my heart in the beginning of my calling began to yeelde towards the Lord and to be somewhat wakened then the pleasures of sinnes past the shame of reproches which I saw to be vttered of the world against the Godly the basenes of the Gospell the daungers of trials in the professing of christ Iesus the glittering and deceiuable pleasures of this life the holding of friendship with the worlde and worldly friends but especially the manifolde daungers and intollerable waightines of this high calling of the preaching of the word to deale with it purely and sincerely as in the sight of God from God through Christ these thinges helde tacke with me a long time and a thousand other thinges amazed me so as I aunsweared my calling at the first but as one a stammed or in a sleepe or dreame Let euery man therefore among you in good earnest deale with his owne heart for it is full of deceitfulnesse Euery moouing of the hearte and hopping for ioye after Christ is not a right moouing For so he that receiued the seede with ioye Math. 13.20 might haue beene in Christ who yet vannished againe Thou mayest thinke that thy heart is maruailous affectioned after Christe and that thou ioyest in him when as thy affection truely tryed is altogeather carnal and filthy Yea many no doubt perswade them selues that they haue Christ sure in their heartes that they are in his fauour that they are euen hugged in his armes and that they shall bee saued by him as well as the best which yet neuer so much as truely knew Christ nor tasted of him and are furthest off from being saued by him A man would think beloued that there could not be any such deceitfulnsse in mans hearte that when they are most sure they should be most deceiued The reason is because they perswade themselues to be of Christ if they do but speak of him though the fruictes and effectes of Christs residence are not to be seen in them For when Christ truely taketh possession of men occupieth the roome of their harts there his death is strōg to expell Sathan the worlde sinne euil thoughtes yea to destroy and pull downe sathans kingdome Also his resurrection is not idle in his saints but sanctifieth the heart thoughts minde will affections and vnderstanding yea reformeth the whole man within and without that he is chaunged and becommeth a new creature his words lookes gestures and all his members bewray a holy and spiritual chaunge which although it be not wrought all at once but by degrees yet men must not loyter and flacke their pace to aspire to perfection I haue marked by experience within these fewe yeares that many whom the Lord hath called to the loue of his Gospell from their former euil and ciuill life that they haue bene very diligent and painefull in hearing the worde at the first neglecting their callings and trades yea more then was expedient sometimes yet after a while when they had somewhat waded in the worde that they haue come to some knowledge or some other gift haue againe much neglected the worde prayer and other holy exercises both in publick and also in their priuate families and so againe somewhat sleeping in their pleasures and profites Thus men sleepe and are easly drawne to it but let them take héed that their hearts sleepe not It standeth Christians in hand to looke to them selues sith they haue so daungerous a nature and deceauable as also so hurtful enemies of Sathan and the world Many a man and woman when God calleth them and their hearts begin to ayme after the Lorde and they are forced to acknowledge the power of his word and to condemne and find fault with their corruptions yet they sleepe One deferreth of the Lord with this excuse Oh I haue a trade and I must follow it I could find in my hart to heare the worde and to doe as other do but I must liue and I please God as wel sayth another in my trade c. as in going to Sermons Here is a sleepe that falleth vpon men that they might not wake at the Lords call and suit Why God promiseth not to blesse any man in his calling though he prospereth the contemners to their condemnation somtime to make them inexcusable vnlesse they are carefull to obey his word and wil. And it is a greater worke to worship God and to heare his worde is a part of his worship then to labour in our trade I bind no man from following his calling but to bee diligent in it yet so that the Lorde haue his part at our handes and that wee serue not oure owne turnes and the worlds and so neglect the Lordes worship yea and our owne saluation which is brought vnto vs by the preaching of the gospell Others there are whose heartes somewhat melt at the word praier and good things would fain haue part in thē but eyther some seueral sinnes which they do not thoroughly set them selues against and vse means to mortify but they breake forth at euery occasion so as they are a sléep againe and yet the heart may haue some waking after Christ These do hinder them make their heart almost a sléep and faint vnto any duties or els wanting the means to stir them vp being of themselues lubbrish to seek the means hauing their minds too much occupied in the world or els shame deteining them or feare of laws taking holde of them of the wicked spying them out c. they neglect all good meanes that may do them good Thus euery man may complain and say I am asleepe but few see the daunger of their sleepe and so labor to stirre vp themselues from sleep as the spouse doth here but it is to be feared that many men are a sleepe euen in their hearts which hope better of themselues and that is a dangerous sleepe Awake therfore truely out of sleeep and sinne not Let vs therfore good christians in the loue of Christ Iesus and of our own soules searche and suruey all the corners of our harts that there lie hid nothing in vs that may holde vs back frō following of Christ yea let euery one of vs say here Lord we are at hād to wait vpon thée our souls body doth delight in the liuing God That we may thus shake of al sleepy drowzy worldly cares affections and watch to wayt vpon the Lordes call that we may be ready willingly at a beck to imbrace him heartely in our soules which grace God graunt vs. Amen Thus we see in this circumstance of the lets that is interlaced here in a word what lets are with in vs which make our hearts heauy to looke vp to Christ Iesus Yet we must note that the spouse laboured to waken herself and giueth not place to sleeping but museth and calleth to minde her louers voyce making suit to be intertained Oh sayth shee This is
vnfitnesse to heauenly thinges as also the hardnesse of repentaunce that so we may bee humbled and forced to seeke vnto God to obtaine grace to grow vnto perfection and to be thankful to God for his owne worke in vs. Partly also that we should not lift vp our selues to contemne the smal beginninges in our brethren but labour to drawe them on sith we haue found it hard in our selues So that the difficulty of the thing would stir vs vp to vse the meanes the more carefully to increase As the hearing of the word exercising our selues in it with cōtinual earnest praier This answere of the the spouse the former sléeping she cōplained of in her selfe bewrayeth our vntowardnes that wrangle with the Lorde a long time before we yéeld and haue many out Lanes to turne a side from him If therefore men will prooue themselues to belong to Christe though they feele many lets in them selues yet that shall not excuse them but they must labour against all lets and indeuour to resemble the Image of Christ Iesus in righteousnesse and holines hating sinne in them selues and in others no more intangle themselus in the pleasures of sinne But they féel the power of Christes death as I sayd before mortifiyng in them the corruptions of their nature Gal. 5.24 wherby they crucify the flesh with the lusts and desires therof And so are changed within and without in their heartes and in their maners and become holy euen as God which hath called them is holy 1. Pet. 1.15 But me thinkes I heare some reply yea taught euen now that the faithfull come very hardly on and now ye looke for great thinges at our handes and exact very precisely a great chaunge Men are but men and we can doe no more then we can do and as God will giue grace and euery man can not be a like neither can euery man shewe that which is in him nor handle his tongue but we hope to doe as well as the proudest professor of them all And a thousand such sleightes men haue to deceiue them selues and to deny christ in effect These are goodly shiftes that shal neuer stand for payment Men are but men say they I answere so long as they are but men they are not in Christ they must be more thē natural men 1. Cor. 6.11 for such know not the thinges that are of God 1. Cor. 2.14 They muste bee sanctified and cleansed by Gods spirit from their corruptions for fleshe and bloud can not inherite the kingdome of God but must be chaunged 1. Cor. 15.50 And where they say men can do no more then they can do and God requireth no more I aunswere God requireth more then we can doe of our selues for we haue nothing as of our selues no not to think a good thought but God worketh in his both to wil and to doe of his owne good pleasure Now God requireth holinesse faith obedience c. Phil. 2.13 which we can not doe therfore he requireth more of vs then we can doe of our selues that we by his grace may be inabled to do that which of our selues we can not do When they adde as God will giue grace they seeme to charge the Lorde priuely of iniustice and cleare them selues as faultles if they perishe for want of grace and so would blasphemously arraigne the Lord as gilty of their perishing When they see not miserable men as they are that the cause is in them selues that God with holdeth his graces from them And further how shoulde the Lorde giue grace to them which despise his word and the ministery thereof Whereby the Lorde conuayeth the graces of his spirite into the hearts of his Children and increaseth the same graces by the same meanes And yet despising grace offered like desperate and brainelesse men will blame the Lorde as cause why they want grace Oh say they euery man can not be a like nor shewe that which is in them but hope to doe as as wel as the greatest professor of thē all c. Here they think they haue stroken dead al the professors at once and haue quitted them selues like men but though all haue not graces a like yet all must striue by like meanes to come to grace and perfection by diligent hearing reading and musing of the worde by Prayer and vse of the Sacramentes and such like to grow on in holinesse But these poore wretches are neuer aunsweared but seeke euen to lull them selues yea and that their heartes a sleep that they might not heare the voyce of Christe speaking by his Ministers But let vs my deare brethren cast off al delaies and not be sluggish as they which are loath to rise to open vnto Christe But willingly leape out of our beds and renounce all worldly cares pleasures profites friendes and such other hinderances as the spouse is taught psa 45.10 That we may hasten to Christe for our liues that we may be imbraced of him which grace he grant vs. It followeth verse 4. My beloued put in his hande at the hole of the doore and my inwarde partes were moued towardes him or groned after him or were troubled for him as the same Hebrewe wordes import in Ieremy Chapiter 31.20 These speeches of the gestures of loue are not to be carnally vnderstoode but they note that Christe whome Solomon as you haue hearde presenteth to vs in the person of a Sutor vseth all tokens of spirituall iestures and shewes of loue that may be to allure his Spouse to loue him againe Not that Christe commeth downe in his owne person now to intice men to his loue But as I haue sayde he presenteth him selfe to bée seene of vs in his Gospell as in a glasse 2. Cor. 3.18 where hee appeareth in the glory of his father vnto vs. For by his worde he putteth in his hand as it were at the dore of our harts vseth his faithfull Ministers as soliciters of his cause to his Churche and faithfull who feele in deed the hand power of Christ in his worde by preaching so as they are rauished and inamored vpon him In deed some take the putting in of the hand for smiting and afflicting his Church and so trāslate the worde following And my bowels trembled at him So the sense after their meaning is that the Church beeing slacke and slow to grow in faith and obedience was afflicted rebuked and corrected of Christ whereby she was terrified and forced with feare to regarde more earnestly the call of Christ Iesus And indeed true it is that the lord calling his saintes and they being very slow of thē selues he vseth whyps and corrections to spurre them forwarde of his greate loue and we are often made more quicke and ready to obey our calling when the Lord some way afflicteth vs. For our nature is so vntamed so proud so lofty sturdy and rebellious that the Lord is faine to ioyne with his word many crosses and trials
dumpes a while that after in his good time hee might the more recouer our zeale loue fayth hope patience and waiting on the Lorde that wee may say with Dauid Psal 77.7.10 I sawe it was but mine owne infirmitye In which Psalme Dauid speaketh of greate tryalles and so causeth his Sayntes to make so muche the more of his mercy and fauour howe much the more Sathan and our incredulitie seeketh to hide it from vs. And this hyding of Christ is described here of Solomon by the figure of louers which sometime by shewing of strangnes one to the other mak one the more faine on the other Likewise Christ by his strangenes somtimes kindleth the desire of his saints the more towards him So Christ shewed himself strange to the woman of Cananea was of a verie grown countenance not vouchsafing to answere her a while Math. 15.22 and when hee answered it was as a man would thinck a verie churlish answere but al was to stir vp and trie her faith Somtime also Christ séemeth to leaue his church afflicting it so that when it séeketh after him he séemeth to be awaie Which somtime dismaieth the Godly they thinck that the Lord neglecteth them as Dauid complaineth Why hidest thou thy face in the needfull time of trouble and againe Why art thou so far from my health from the teares of my complaint The like complaints he maketh Psalm 89.46 to the ende and Psalm 69.17.18 And this last manner of Christes holding off by afflicting his Sayntes doth amaze them when they see the Churche of God left in the Bryars and the wicked tryumphing For wee thinke that the Lord put vp too many iniuries at the handes of his enemies I sought him but I coulde not finde him c. See how the Spouse though in a maze and mammering at the absence of her loue yet lingreth after him and seeketh out for him but as yet she findeth him not neyther will hee aunswere when shee calleth This should not discourage vs or put vs off from inquiring after God though he seem to absente him selfe for a time and though wee haue not out of hande the knowledge fayth zeale loue obedience or that measure of repentaunce which wee woulde fayne haue yea though we haue often craued for some grace at the hande of God wayting long for it and yet he seemeth to denye it vnto vs in not graunting that grace which wee pray for yet let vs not giue ouer but still pray and euen wrastle with the Lorde till wee obtayne the blessing For God deferreth off long sometime before hee will heare that hee might trye oure Faithe for hee will bee tyed neyther to time meanes nor measure so as wee muste not prescribe him neither when how or how farre he shall graunte oure requestes onelye lette vs still bee inquiring after him and calling vppon him seeking him whereas hee is to be founde euen in his word and when hee is to be found which is so long as hee maketh offer of his grace by his worde This inquiring after God is a part of his worshippe as wee may gather from the contrary Zephany 1.5 where God threatneth to cut of al that sought not after God nor inquyred for him So then wee see what a damnable state all those are in what so euer they are which doe not seeke after God aright in his word and are not daily inquiring after his will to do it but rather turn themselues away wilfully when the Lorde seeketh to finde them As they doe which contemne the woorde will not heare it or hearing it are not mooued with Zeale to followe after God and walke in his wayes increasinge in the knoweledge of his will but thinke it euen a drudgerye to bee compelled or called on to heare the woorde or at leaste waye counte it a needelesse thing But let vs bee stirred vp beeloued to vse all meanes wherebye wee maye shake off all suche lettes as hinder vs that wee maye open vnto Christe and seeke after him euen then when hee seemeth as it were to bee turned asyde that we maye neuer let him slippe vtterlye from vs nor giue him cause by our scornefull behauiour to departe from vs leaste wee after seeke him with teares when hee will not be founde Thus at this time we haue seene some of the letts of the spouse too morrow if God will we shall see the rest so far as time shall permit The Lord our good God make all this fruitefull vnto our Soules that wee by his grace may ouerstride all lettes to imbrace Christe and seeke after him so as hee maye abide with vs for euer by his grace here and we abide with him in his Heauenlye Kingdome for euer and euer Amen Let vs pray c. The third Sermon IT followeth in the seuenth verse The watchmen that went about the Citie found me they smote and wounded mee the watchmen of the wals tooke away my vaile from me We heard yesterday concerning the lets in nature which hindred the Spouse in her comming on and how many stayes men meet with al in their Christian calling Also we haue seene that the spouse for slowing the time had some what to do afterward when she would faine haue found her loue that he with drew him selfe for a time which was some trouble to her And sure it is when men driue off long or they come to the obedience of the Gospel it is a corzie to them when they are called to see how they driue off the time with the lord God correcteth such slackinges in his saints by many means Well here the spouse inquiring after Christe her husband and hauing ouer stryded al lets in her selfe maketh report what lets shee found abroad in others And how the malice of the false and enuious teachers burst out aganst her that they abused her greatly Some vnderstand this of the Godly teachers that they found the Spouse and smote her with reprehensions of the worde and tooke away the vaile of her ignoraunce from her But because she still inquireth for her husband and louer and that of others of Ierusalem after for that she could not be satisfied by the watchmen which rather hindred her I take it therfore without question to be ment of the wicked teachers which are so farre from helping forwarde of the Godly that they pine at the zeale and diligence of Gods children labouring to disgrace them and hazard their profession to discredite among the wicked pulling off their vaile dealing roughly as roynishe rufflers to boysterous to handle or louingly intreat the tender Spouse of Christe Iesus Yea some are not ashamed to saye none are worse then those great professours and these that talke moste thus they strengthen the hands of the wicked and raylers opening the mouthes of the enemies to blaspheme euen the Gospell it selfe discountenauncing the true seruauntes of God causing them to mourne whome the Lorde hath not caused to mourne Ezek. 13.
as they doe or to serue the presēt time but zealously inquireth the more after her make euē in the midst of the contempt of men not being satisfied of the euil watchmē turneth to the godly in Ierusalem saying vers 8. I charge you O daughters of Ierusalem if you finde my welbeloued that you report to him that I am sick of loue shee now rowzeth vp her selfe and is rered vp an end after the pushes of the enuious watchmen yea she ouerstrideth these perils that albeit shee saw some hang behinde and othersome to let what they could yet she recouereth her zeale and becommeth of an inuincible corage The second part of the manner of her comming on Heere therefore is the second part of the manner of the spouses comming on namely the recouering of her zeale and inquiring more busily after Christ when she saw what lets were in the waie and contemning all lets she boldoly chargeth the godly of Ierusalem for that shee knewe saluation should come from Sion and the word of God from Ierusalem that they would direct her and further her vnto Christ praying for her and commending her to the Lord signifiing her earnest affection constant loue towards Christ Iesus Thus the godly should not cease to inquire after God stil and not be hindred by the wicked but continue in confessing Christ imbracing his worde with carefulnes musing conferring and reading of it which prayer and calling vppon God that so others also should be stirred vp by their example As after followeth vers 17. For it is not enough to shake handes with Christe when all other plausibly entertaine him when princes countenance his Gospel and in a calms and sunshine day But we must also when troubles arise when fals teachers shal seeme to depraue the trueth yea when princes shal gage batel against Christ Otherwise we shall prooue our selues to be but timeseruers In déed it is somwhat and that which fewe come vnto to countenaunce the gospel to speake ride and go in the behalf of the preachers and godly men and to further the preaching of the worde euen nowe in the time of our Halcion daies But this is not al. Wee must prepare and adresse our selues for foule weather and stormy trials and to be forward though al other shoulde flip backe We must not alone then confesse Christ Iesus with others and perfourme the exercises of Religion when others doe onely but also apart by our selues as Zach. 12.13 They should mourne euery family apart and their wines apart by themselues for a man may pray when others pray or with his familie and heare the worde or conferre of it when others doe and yet bee a verye hypocryte For it is a daungerous signe of Hypocrisie if a man haue a delighte to praye to heare the woorde or to talk of it or to be occupied in any godly exercise onelye when others are occupied in them or when hee is in company or may bee seene or harde and hath not a ioye and delighte also to bée occupied in suche holy exercises euen alone and apart by him selfe thoughe none bee with him heare him nor see him Wee see that often times men hardlye come to this to bee zealous when other are zealous to praye when other praye to confesse when other confesse and to exercise the worship of God when other doe but also be zealous and forwarde in Religion when others hang backe or become enemyes this is rare and seldome amongst men It were good therefore if men woulde goe many times aside by themselues and in the closet of their owne harts deale with God humbling themselues praying earnestlye fasting apart by themselues that they might bee the more fit to doe good to themselues and others So then we see the zeale of the faythfull must breake oute more and more though it be insulted vppon by men and sought to be vndermined yea we shoulde study to procure and stirre vp our housbandes wiues housholde kindred neighbours and friendes As we read they of the church should shew their zeale not only in being forward themselues but calling vppon others as Esay 2.3 Come let vs goe vp to the mountaine of the Lorde c. Also Iosshua in the 24. Iosh 14 15. Chapter of his booke exhorting the people to serue God in truth bad◠them consider what they would doe But I sayth he and my houshold wil serue the Lorde If then this be the duties of Christians one to further another as they can not tarrying one for another as men straint curtesie in this point how much more should the Minister bee forwarde in Godlinesse knowledge and zeale notwithstanding all lets to towle on the people with them vnto God Yea this is required of all magistrates rulers richmen headboroughes of parishes that they should be forwardest stirring vp others by their example But for the most part they are flowest in the lords causes but let not vs tarry vppon others the more we haue forslowed the time the more we are bound to redéem it The spouse rescueth her selfe from the abuse of the euill watchmen and turneth to them of Ierusalem wher the Lorde was then onely resident by his ministery in his temple inquiring of the Lorde in his lawfull and ordinary meanes euen the ministerye of his word whereby both he instructeth his Church and the Church and faithfull againe consult with the Lorde We shoulde therefore make our recourse to the lawfull ministery of the word and cal vpon yea and charge our Pastors and ministers if they are slow to the execution of their charge that they reueale and discouer Iesus Christ vnto vs. And because this wil séeme somewhat saucely mallepertly done that the people should cal vpon and charge their ministers to be careful c. I must be faine to vndershore my exhortation in this point by some example For I speake no other thing then that which Paule exhorteth the Collossians vnto in his Epistle to them chapter 4. ver 17. Say vnto Archippus looke vnto thy ministery which thou hast receiued in the lord that thou fulfill it So that Paule woulde haue the congregation by admonition to stirre him vp And sure Paule coulde haue admonished him him selfe in his owne person but he layeth that charge on the Collossians that they ought them selues to spurre forward their Pastor if he waxe colde and the Pastor him selfe shoulde not refuse to be admonished by his church or people but it must be done of them with reuerence If Archippus was to be stirred vp to his duety by the people who yet laboured in some measure in the Church what shall be sayed to those that laboure not at all neyther can a way with admonition but are deafe at suche doctrine as concerne their duety Or what shal be sayde of those Archministers which are appointed to ouer see the rest yet some of them are so farre from charging them to teach as they doe after a sort maintaine a dumbe
her languishing after him This sicknes of loue many sweet souls labour of some that long after the worde hauing it not at home doe mourne for it and are faine to seeke els where for it If many were sick of that disease there were exceeding hope of happy health for such Some poore soules lye panting after Christ and pine for his comfort and residence in them who beeing ouercharged with the sight of their infirmities and seeing them selues so farre behind hand to some worthy persons of the saintes of God also so vnapt to duties and are so feareful of the euidence of their owne sinnes desiring to grow in holinesse and obedience that they thinke euery hower manye dayes till they haue more fully tasted of Christ But to these Christe commeth willinglye and amiablye as one that will not breake a bruised reed nor quench the the smooking flaxe Now followeth vpon this charge a a conference betweene the spouse and the maidens of Ierusalem standing in two questions with their aunswears The conference in two questions with their aunsweres to the 18. verse And secondly the fruites of this conference is noted in the 17. verse as we shal see afterward The first question First questiō verse 9. O thou fayrest among women what is thy welbeloued more then other welbeloued what is thy welbeloued more then an other louer that thou doest so charge vs. Here they of Ierusalem inquire the cause why shee maketh more account of her welbeloued then of any other and what singuler thing shee saw in him more then in other For her zeale had kindled the loue of the Godly And Solomon purposely noteth herein how the Godly seeke to edyfie one the other by religious conference When they adde That thou so chargest vs or causest vs to sweare or takest an oth of vs for so the Hebrew word importeth as else where so in the 13. Chapiter of Exodus verse 19. Where Moses sayth that Ioseph had made the Children of Israel swear that they would cary his bones with thē out of Egypt For this spéeche is of great emphasis and force binding all men by a pryuye othe to helpe forwarde and edifie one another but as I haue noted afore especially the Ministers of the woorde are bounde by a solemne and doubble Othe as it were to expresse their care this way These speeches therefore are to discribe the vehemencye of loue which shoulde bee in the Sayntes towardes Christe that they shoulde neuer bee satisfied with his loue Wee therefore shoulde be still inquiring after Christe in his Church of his Seruauntes especiallye of his ministers who shoulde bee the mouth of God vnto vs till wee encrease and come to a full and perfect age in Christe Iesus Ephe. 4. And truely it can not bee but where the heart is truelye taken vp with the loue of Christe there will bee an excéeding ioye in his word and a desire to enquire of him more and more in the same The wiseman noteth the effect of the word when it is truely resident in the heart Pro 6.22 If my word be in thy hearte it shall leade thee when thou walkest it shall watch for thee when thou sleepest and when thou wakest it shall talk with thee Meaning that when the hearte is possessed with the word then the mind thoughts tongue and members are in some practise of it So Dauid Psa 37.31 The mouth of the righteous wil speak of wisedome and his tongue wil talk of iudgement for the loue of God is in his hart and his goings shal not slide So that the slack hearing of the word the smal longing after it the little ioy to talke of it is a token of very litle loue or none at al towards Christ and they are enemies to the Spouse which being watchmen doe not comfort her shewing her the way to Christe in his word but rather discourage hold her back But let them the truly loue Christ be euer inquiring after him cōforting one another conferring meditating praying stirring vp one another so that by these meanes as the Spouse doth here with the Godlye wee may growe on in knowledge and obedience The minister shoulde alwayes bee Catechising his people inquiring what Christ is what cause they haue to loue and make much of him aboue all other where he is how he is to be found and labour to make them pryuie to all the counsel of God as Paule did Acts. 20. and that from house to house Also th◠husband shoulde be examining and furthering his wife the wife inquyring of the husband I pray you husband sith you should be the mouth of God to me at home helpe me in knowledge let vs often pray togeather let vs read the worde and heare it comforting one an other by it The parents shoulde be trayning vp their Children to know Christ the Masters the Seruauntes For such charge is giuen in diuers places Read I pray you Deut. 4.9 6.7 and 11.19 So that we shoulde by all meanes draw other on by our example And sure it is who so euer doth not helpe to further the kingdome of Christe and the saluation of men after a sort is against him And they are vnworthy to be counted in the flocke of Christe which bestow not their care on him and labour not to gather togeather For our sluggishenesse suffereth the kingdome of God to fall when yet we are all called to further the same He that is not with me is agaynst me sayth Christe and he that gathereth not scattereth abroade Mat. 12.30 But manye which wil seem to offer curtesie to the Lorde bear him good wil in worde yet neuer mooue foote nor bestowe coste nor seeke any way to preferre Gods glory or the preaching of his Gospell neither yet to redresse sinne neither loue those vnfaynedly that feare God And truely I know not howe a man can haue any true perswasion of faith in God and true loue to his neighbour or anye comforte that hee shall perseuere to the ende when hee is not prepared in some measure to suffer with Christe euen in trouble and to further him in Peace countenauncing his Saints to the vttermoste of his power and to succour them when they are any wayes molested and afflicted And when he laboureth not to stand by the ministers of the worde in the defence and confirmation of the gospel which were the effectes and fruites which caused Paul to be so well perswaded of the Philippians Phil. 17. For whē a man steppeth backe from the defence of the gospell for feare of trouble or for losse of his credite goods estimation c. and neglecteth the seruauntes of God in their distresse not vpholding to their power their credite and good estate it is a harde signe of starting aside from God to this present worlde as Demas did I speake this by occasion of the Spouse which stirreth vp other by her zeale séeking help and furtherance of the
any of his Sayntes Oh howe fayne woulde I that I were as readye and able to doe as much good in furthering of Christs Kingdome as anye of vs haue furthered the kingdome of Sathan and sinne before oure calling Oh that you all present had suche taste with mee of the excellencye of Christe Iesus as you might all saye with one voyce I will goe with you and will seeke Christe with you Oh that my sinnes and yours woulde permit the Lorde to blesse my laboures among you this day as also at all times and in other places of his Churche As some soules might bee gayned to him by my poore mynisterye that it may bee the ioy of my hearte Yea woulde to God that manye soules among you mighte bee so affected vnto Christe in trueth being turned from your owne wayes that ye might say as Dauid did to Abigail Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who sent thee this daye to meete vs 1. Sam. 25.32 blessed bee this day Blessed bee this sermon or counsel and blessed be thou which haste kept mee this daye from suche an euill c. and caused mee to haue a sight disliking of my former life such a tast of Christ Iesus that I vtterly abhorre my self for my sinnes hartely imbracing Christ Iesus vowing hereafter to indeuour to walke in al the wayes of God I speake grosly vnto you brethren and abase my selfe to mooue your affections to the loue of God for the loue of Christ Iesus euen constrayneth me there vnto for your good Let no man therefore abuse my homelinesse of speech in this point being to your edifying and gayning of glory vnto God But let vs I praye you beloued consent togeather in one to seeke after Christ with his Church til we haue founde him out that we may safely assure our selues of his loue to the ende as the Spouse doth afterwarde which grace God for Iesus Christ his sake graunt vnto euery one of vs Now followeth the aunswere to the second question of the maydens in this conference verse 18. My beloued is gone downe into his garden to the beds of spice to feed in the gardens and to gather Lillies Some make this verse the beginning of the sixt chapiter But I read this and the verse following with the fift chapiter For that they haue most proper relation to al the matter going afore in this 5. chapiter and is alienate and vtterly impertinent to the matter following in the sixt chapiter Especially sith it is a knitting vp of al the matter of her complaintes in her beginning and comming on also a ful conclusion of her loue a fit answere likewise to the second question in the dialogue and conference had with her companions and so a ful conclusion of the whole She signifieth to her companions that her loue is descended into his garden and Church on earth being conuersaunt amongst men in his owne person sometime also by his Ministers by his worde and Sacraments finally by his spirite properly in his saintes For by these meanes Christ is sayd to be come down among his and to be resident in his Church euen to the ende of the worlde For Christ is not of the number of the non residentes but testifieth to his Church saying Feare not I am with you to the endes of the worlde Solomon vseth a figuratiue or metaphorical speech borrowed from the cituation of Ierusalem that they went down hil and discended to go to their out gardens for Sion was a great hil whereon the Citye was built In this answere also the church hath relation to her former suit made to Christ chap. 4 ver 16. that he woulde come to his garden and eat his pleasant fruit also to the aunswere which was giuen her that he had taken possession of his riches and was come into his garden so that as Christ is in heauen with all his riches so is hee also in his garden on earth solacing himselfe and gathering daily fruite in his church Ioh. 15.16 by his ministers whom he sendeth that they may bring foorth more fruite for true it is that albeit Christ hath all riches in him selfe and needeth not any yet doth he gather fruite in his church at the handes of his seruauntes In so muche as they yeelde obedience vnto him and are in this respect called the firste fruites of his creatures because they are consecrate sanctified and set apart from the worlde Sathan and sinne to serue the Lorde and are called his Portion and inheritaunce in manye places But the fruite which they yeelde is not their owne proper or naturall in them but supernaturall and from aboue springing out of the fountayn of the Lords good pleasure and will is also framed graffed nouryshed and increased in them by his worde preached For all these thinges the cause efficiente the instrumentall meanes with the effecte thereof is pithily comprysed in fewe wordes by the Apostle Iames in the firste Chapter of his Epistle at the 18. verse where he sayth Of his owne will begate hee vs by the worde of trueth that wee shoulde bee as the first fruites of his creatures Also the graces of Gods spirit are called fruites Gal. 5.22 The qualities likewise necessarily incident to repentance are caled fruits Mat. 3.8 Which metaphoricall speeches import the God looketh to reape fruite at our handes in his church that we may grow from faith to faith from strength to strength from grace to grace til we come to ful ripenesse in Christ Iesus to be gathered into his barne of eternal felicity in his comming These fruites that the Lorde gathereth and reapeth at oure handes are his owne then insomuch as he worketh them in his saints that he may receiue his owne with aduantage crowning his owne workes in vs. It were expedient therefore that we labour to be fruitful in all heauenlye knoweledge and obedience that Christe comming downe to visite his Garden or church as it is set down in the sixt Chap. ver 10. he finde vs not empty or fruitlesse that he should haue no pleasure in vs and so bee forced to cast vs vp to the spoyle Sure it is the more is the pity the Lorde should find but smal fruite among vs if he should suruey our Churche in this land Hee hath lent vs the name of his Church and giuen vs a lease of his garden 21. yeres hath added to that three yeres more from yeare to yeare but alas we haue bene il tennants to the Lord his church is little stored by vs his hedges walles are as it were pluckt down by manye lying in decay For where true discipline shold build vp the breaches of the Lords fence should keepe out the noisom beasts the lion the wolf the bear the swine doggs such hurtful cattel and beasts we ah alas haue this gardē of the Lord hindred by such Lions woolfs priuy scorpions foxlike papists swinish Athists brutish belly gods enuious dogs which al
with others would easily shew their nature against the people of God if they had oportunitie and yet they are hatched oh pitiful danger and nouâ—ished euen in the lap of the church Thus many Cankers breede in the bowels of the church heresies fonde opinions familists Brounists and such other Thus by such meanes as lamentable it is to see the graft of godlinesse and zeale is hindred And through the neglect of officers magistrates rather then laws these beastes swarme in our Church Also drunkards swearers whores adulterers proude pecockes raylers contemners of God and his word prophanations of the Sabboth and an innumerable kindes both of sinners and sinnes which ouergrow the church as a wildernesse which because magistrates doe not laboure to roote out so carefully as they ought the Lord doth strangely consume som sinners by the fire of his wrath froÌ„ heauen Which al shold be cut off by discipline or at least way bee forced to some reformation Can it be that the Lord wil trust vs any longer with a Lease of his garden we abusing him in such maner so as we greeue the Lords soul with our vnfaithfulnes and cause his soule to hate vs. Esay 1.14 Who bestoweth such cost on vs we prosper so little as hee can gather very few Lillies amongst vs he wanteth the fruit of our hearts and lippes as faith loue feare obedience charity thankesgiuing prayse inuocation hearing his word professing his name c. But some perhaps wil say why it is in as good case as we found it the same discipline laws and doctrine are stil which was in the beginning of her maiesties raign so the Lords garden and church is not impaired and it shal bee left in as good case as it was found and better then heretofore Sure the Lorde doth not plaÌ„t a vineyard let it out to stand or be kept alwaies at a stay but to bee tilled and dressed that it maye grow and prosper to bring foorth more fruite For hee requireth that men bestowe their care labour wisedome and trauail vpon it that hee maye haue it more furnished and fenced For hee tataketh payne him selfe aboute his Churche to that ende that sinne may bee suppressed and Godlinesse aduanced But the Lorde make vs truely thankfull in Christ Iesus for those beginninges and proceedinges of his church which we haue that he hath planted his worde true religion amongst vs countenancing the same his truth with the authoritye and sworde of our gratious Princesse Elizabeth as also with many worthy learned godly and noble Councellers as also other learned Patrons of his Church without whom we should find to our great misery and the spoyle of religion howe hardly the Lordes garden should be at al kept without them But our sinnes yea our contempt and neglect of the word of God and his glory doe hinder the Lorde from blessing vs with that encrease which otherwise wee mighte enioy yea our sinnes betraye the state of our Churche and lande and deserue the losse of so Princely a Deborah and other woorthye personnages wherewith our Church is inriched yea that the Lorde shoulde take away all the walles and defences of our church and land giue vs ouer to the spoile Let vs therefore if we beare any good will to our Church or Countrye labour to purge oure selues from al corruption and to repent vs of oure sinnes that we may bring foorth good fruits such as the lord may haue pleasure in that hee may haue a delight to abide among vs. For it is the sinnes of a land that causeth the Lordes wrath to smoke against the same but our land I suppose haue exceeded the old world Sodom and Gomorrha Israell Iehuda and al landes in straunge sinnes so that if in comparison Ezec. 16.51 Iudah and the inhabitants thereof iustified Sodom for that their sinnes exceeded the sinnes of the Sodomits Then we haue iustified al Nations in comparison of our sins and therefore are in daunger to al the feareful plagues that are mentioned in the booke of God vnlesse we speedely therfore repent I feare we shal tast of such iudgementes as that the stranger that shal come from a farre land Deut. 29.22 shal saye when they see the plagues of this land and the diseases therof wherwith the Lord shal smite it because it shal be fearefully destroyed except they repent Oh wherefore hath the Lorde done thus vnto this lande and ver 24. and ver 25. how feirce is this great wrath And it shal be answered because they haue forsaken the couenant of the Lord God of their Fathers and haue sinned againste the Lorde Let vs al then my deare brethren be humbled with Godly sorrow that may cause repentaunce vnto saluation not to be repented of Being offended with our selues that we haue not sooner and more earnestly inquyred after Christ praying the Lorde to beautifie his Garden and Churche of this land with such sweet flowers as he may please him selfe in vs and we may grow and prosper in al fruites of the spirit I can not finish this chapiter to daye because of time and the matter of the conclusion though in few words yet includeth very comfortable and heuenly matter which cannot in a few words be vttered I wil therfore defer it til to morrow when by Gods grace I shal finish the whole Now the Lord our good God sanctifie our hearts to conceiue the excellencye and féele the sweetnesse of the wordes of the mouth of Christ Iesus that we being our selues purged and sanctified by his word and truth may carefully labour that others with vs may truely be affected towards him that we may ioyn togeather in seeking of Christ so as in the ende finding him in his worde and Sacramentes and feeling of him by his spirite our soules and bodies may become cleane and well tilled Gardens beautified with al heaueÌ„ly fruits of his spirite as that Christ may haue pleasure to walke in vs to dwell and make his abode in vs vnto the ende and in the ende we also may be receiued with him into his heauenly Garden of eternal ioye to dwell continue and abide with him in the company of al the glorious Angels and fellowship of the heauenly saintes in the presence of God his Father for euer and euer Amen Let vs pray c. The fift Sermon or lecture YEsterday we heard beloued a part of the description of Christ concerning his spéech and swéet thing of his mouth with the excellency of his doctrine also the second question of the maydens concerning the place where he vsed with the aunswere betweene which was interlined what fruit came by this conference and how the Godly at Ierusalem were kyndled with loue to Christ by the example of the Spouse whereby she answereth to her companions making them priuy to the place of his abode shewing how the church is his Garden and that he delighteth to be conuersant there yea the soule of euerye
of Gods promise in them selues which concerne euerlasting life yea and desiring to feele that comfort of his loue which for the time they can not feele Which I dare warrant to that soule that feeleth these in truth that they are sure arguments certain and infallible tokens that he is one with Christ For as that member which is a sléepe benoumed brused or hurt do not cease to be a mēber of the body though it looseth some strength for the time but is after recouered to strength and féeling again so euery hurt or wound which the saints of God haue of their infirmities is not by and by a cutting off from Christe For this continual societie or vnity of Christ with his Church is not for a time but for euer not onely in the whole Church but also in euery particuler member thereof Rom. 8.35.38.39 Paule triumpheth in the person of the beleeuers that nothing coulde seperate them from the loue of God which is in Iesus Christ our Lord. Though therfore many od thoughtes or surmises may incumber vs for a time so long as we dislike them in our selues stryuing against them groning for grace of God to suppresse them yet we may boldely saye with the spouse I am Christes and Christ is mine for so long as we hold him ours hauing a true hearty and longing desire after him so long wee are his Of this vnitye commeth necessarily that certainty of perseueraunce and of saluation 2. The certeinety of perseuerance and saluation of the saints which the Saintes of God haue in this life which is the second thing that I noted vnto you out of this conclusion of the Spouse For looke of what condition the roote and stock is concerning the vnity and abiding of the same condition and nature are the braunches but Christ the true root and Vine is eternal therfore his Church or company of the beleeuers which are the braunches of that Vine are eternal The head is eternal therfore the body and members are eternal The foundation of that spiritual house neuer decayeth therfore neyther the building The husband of the Church is euerlasting and can not perishe therefore the company of the beleeuers which are his wife can neuer perishe For the reason of the consequence of these argumētes standeth in the nature of those qualities that are in God and not in the nature of the things them selues For as Christ can not cease to be eternal no more then his father can so the state of the godly can not cease to be eternal vnles God and Christ shoulde cease from their eternity For whatsoeuer quality is resident in the nature of God is alwais the same because the Godhead is not mutable nor contrary in it selfe but alway like it selfe Wherefore vnlesse God and Christ shold cease to be them selues the Church or beleeuers which were elect before al time can not cease to be eternal in so much as the loue wherewith he loueth his eternal and chāgeth not For Io. 13.1 Those whom he loueth to the ende he loueth them So that the Godly which haue once in truth tasted of the loue of God can no more perishe then the loue of God it selfe can perish or his mercy come to an end This causeth the spouse in the confidence of Gods fauor to assure her selfe that Christ is hers Now as this is true in the whole Church that it is permanent and can not perishe but be saued So is it true in euery member wherby they may be assured of saluation in them selues and of their perserance How soeuer the Papists would hold soules in vnstablenes in suspence and doubt of their saluation alway Certaine it is that in some measure the children of God haue assuraunce of their saluation in this life though not at al times alike nor al men alike assurance That the Church or elect in general can not but be saued there is no man I suppose that doubteth But if any doubt I wil set down such proofs as come into my mind wherin the perseuerance of the elect shal easily appear but we must looke into thē with the eyes of faith for the eies of reason are not able once to looke vp into these misteries of faith psa 125.1.2 They that trust in the lord are as mount Sion which standeth fast for euer can not be remoued Also psa 89.30 God promiseth his mercies shal be eternal to Dauid after hee addeth that if his children sin Then I wil visit their transgressiō with the rod their iniquity with strokes Yet my louing kindnes wil I neuer take from him nor falsify my truth This being true in Dauid is also true in euery beléeuer Esa 43.4.7 he sheweth that as God maketh a precious account of his people loue them so they should be called by his name intitled to his inheritance he could not neglect their saluatiō but he must also neglect his own glory Likewise in his 49. chap he inferreth the church Esai 49.14 and verse 15 cōplaining that the lord had forsaken thē but the lord answereth that his loue surpasseth the dearest loue of mothers towards their children so as he can not forget them vnles he forget him self In so much as He hath grauen them in the palme of his hands and they are euer in his sight and verse 1◠The Lord Christ affirmeth Math. 16.18 That as the church is founded in him self So it should neuer perishe neither the gates of hel should preuail against it The like certainty of the saluation of the beléeuers our sauiour Christ auoucheth Ioh. 10. ver 28.29 That they which are his sheepe obey the voice of his worde shal neuer perish but haue euerlasting life Confirming his assertion by a reason drawn frō the nature of God his father that it was as impossible for any which truly beléeued in christ Iesus obeyed his voice to perish as it was for God his father him selfe to be ouercome which cā neuer be therfore nether can the beleeuers be frustrate of life saluation For he reasoneth that because his father he is one his father was of al power absolut that none cold euer master him or preuaile against him therefore none could euer master him or preuail against him therefore none could preuail against Christ him selfe being equal with his father in infinit power Therefore also consequently none can preuaile against the saluation of his elect which are in Christ Iesus So that God hath layde vp the saluation of euery beleeuer in him selfe in the heauens 1. Pet. 1.4.5 without the reach of Sathan hel the Pope and sinne so as we can not be defeated of it Yea none can depriue any of the Godly and faithful of their saluation vnlesse they first robbe God of his infinite power set Christ a side from that glory wherewith his father hath glorified him Yea shal I speake further But in reuerence of Gods frée grace the
latter daye hauing assuraunce that we shal dye happely and well yea that we may haue the eyes of faith to looke into our saluation so farre as wee maye saye with Simeon Lorde now lettest thou thy seruaunt depart in peace according to thy worde â—uk 2.29.30 for myne eyes haue seene thy saluation Also that we may with Iob stand perswaded through saith that our redeemer lyueth and that we shall See God not with other but with these same eyes â—ob 19.25.27 In the meane time let vs labour to glorifie oure God by oure obedience fayth loue and newnesse of life that we maye shewe how we are one with Christe by this that he maye liue in vs and we maye dye so our selues that so we may in this lyfe bee sure of saluation afterwarde For what myserye is it to lyue and in the ende not to bee sure of saluation To this purpose Iohn in his first Epistle chapiter 3. verse 2. sheweth that the loue of God is great in that he hath admitted vs to be his sons after he addeth That we are euen now the sonnes of God but it doth not appeare what we shal be that is we see not now fully what glory the Lord hath layd vp for vs. But we are assured that we shal be like to the sonne of God So then the faithfull haue their comfort and assuraunce in this lyfe of obtayning life after Also Paule affirmeth vnto Timothy 2. Tim. â— That he was sure from hence forth there was layd vp for him the crowne of righteousnesse which the lord the righteous iudge should giue him at the last day And because we shoulde not make exception and saye yea Paule was a notable instrument of God I easly beléeue he might be sure of life but I am nothing to Paule c. therefore he addeth That crowne is not layd vp onely for me but for al them also that loue his comming or appearing For sure it is God hath committed vs to the custody of him that wil neuer see vs perish and he againe moste carefully committeth vs to his father Ouerlooke I pray you with all diligence that heauenly prayer of our Sauiour Iesus Christe in the 17. Chapiter of Iohn especially from the sixth verse to the ende Which is full of moste Heauenlye and wonderful comfort if the Lorde giue vs eyes and hearts to see and vnderstand it aright Christe there noteth these qualities chiefly in his saints After the fountayn of their election discouered which issueth out of the free loue of God he saith of them that they kéep his worde 2. They acknowledge all good thinges to come from God thorough Christ receiuing them thankfully as from him also they receiue his wordes and are assured that hee came from God And because he was to leaue his Disciples and to departe concerning his corporal presence hee therfore committeth them in this sort to his father saying Verse 11. I am now no more in the worlde these are in the world and I come to thee O holy father keepe them in thy name euen them whom thou hast giuen me that they may be one as we are This vnitie he prayeth for in al that shold after beleeue that they may be one in God and Christ as be and his Father was one O wonderfull care of so gracious a Patron In these wordes Christe sheweth that as the father and the somâ— are one so as they can not be seuered so also they which are in Christ in whome these foresayde effectes are to bee founde in trueth in some measure are one with God and Christ so as nothing can deuide nor seperate them asuÌ„der Which is a wonderful comfort to the Saints of God that their happy life and eternal being is necessarilye after a sorte ioined with the life and eternal being of God and Christe He meaneth not that the saints are so one with God as he shoulde bee hominified with man and man deified with God For this foolish and doltishe blasphemye of the Family of loue is so absurd as it were a folly to spende any speech in the confutation thereof But as the godly are in Christe and so sure of saluation so they must not loyter in hope and neglect their calling now because men are subiect to this sliding our Sauioure Christ in that 17. of Ioh. Iohn 17. ver 15. prayeth that his father woulde keepe them from euil sanctifying them in his trueth which is his worde For that is the ordinary means and instrument whereby God vpholdeth his children and we abide in him and hee in vs so long as we abide in his doctrin 2. Iohn 9. which is easily seene in this that Sathan séeketh nothing more then to weaken our fayth in the worde raysing vp so many opinions sects and heresies therefore this should stirre vs vp to watchfulnesse Thus we see the Spouse might lawfully conclude of the certaintie of her vnity and perseuerance with her husbande Yea al of vs by her example should labour to haue the like perswasion of our selues affiancing our selues also vnto Christ praying for the fruits of the spirit of adoption in vs that we being careful to keepe the word to beleeue and receiue it that being assured that Christ was sent of God a sauiour vnto vs maye imbrace him heartely with al his heauenly riches stryuing to ouerstride al lets that might hinder vs from coÌ„ming to him being zealous of his glory truth stirring vp others by our example professing his name boldly exercising all godly exercises hearing his word praying oft heartly vnto him ioyning in the company of the godly beeing humbly thankfull vnto God for his greate mercyes in Christe so as euery one of vs may be bolde in truth and feeling to say I am Christs and Christ is mine O let vs indeuour our selues my deare brethren that we may haue a liuely tast assurance of this heauenly and spirituall communion vnity coniunction society and felowship with Christ Iesus that we may stande perswaded of his eternal loue towards vs and of our owne saluation in him For alas it maketh me tremble to think what a miserable state the doubtful vnbeléeuers which labour not to haue any assuraunce of life shall come vnto Who as they neuer were in Christ nor tasted not in truth of the effects before mentioned so shall they be without christ in eternal paine banished from the presence of God of his glorious angels without the fauor of God without life it selfe But let not those be dismaied which doubting sometime yet in the middest of their doubt desire to be sure of Gods fauour for the vnbeleeuing doubters haue no suche desire in truth resting vpon the word and waiting for further grace and assurance I know our nature wil neuer make an end of replying against the certainty of our saluation because of the imperfections and infirmities of the Children of God beeing ful of distrust many times For when we consider
either of sicknesse pouerty reproch losse of friends losse of goods crosses in wise in Children in families in affaires hauing enemies stirred vp againste vs and such like that his worde and admonitions might sincke the more deepely into our heartes Which fruite Dauid felt by afflictions when he sayd Before I was afflicted I went wrong but nowe I keepe thy word Psal 119.67 So then the Lorde is fayne to vrge vs to obey often times Furthermore some sinnes which wee see not a long time in oure selues by the worde yet thorough our owne blindenesse the Lorde by some rod traceth out in vs and haleth vs foorth before his iudgement seat causing vs to bring in euidence againste our selues that conuicted in our owne conscience at the bar of his iudgement seat we might confesse our selues and humbly sue for pardon And this fruit we haue not simply by the affliction it self in so much as the wicked also are afflicted oftentimes and yet profit not by it but being taught the vse of it by the word the doctrine of the word sincketh the deeper when some triall is annexed as the souls that are truly humbled can beare good witnesse with me by their owne experience but if wee are still blockish and sullen that wee murmure and bristle vp oure affections against Gods corrections secretly in our hearts though our mouthes are silent and so not stirred vp to profite in repentaunce by them then wée loose the vse of them But the Spouse she trembled at the Lordes hande and rose to open It is a good signe when with reuerence men tremble at the word ioining with that fear a purpose to keepe the woorde and obey it in our heart Otherwise the wicked are forced spite of their teeth sometime to tremble at the worde as Foelix did Act. 24.25 but they seeke shiftes to cast of the handes of the Lords obedience without purposing to obey But as I saide this place may be vnderstood of the louing iesture of Christ who by his worde allureth the godly so as the spouse testifieth she was affectioned towardes him For this effect the worde worketh in the faythfull that their heartes doe melt at Gods threates 2. Kin. 22.11 19. repenting them of their backwardnesse as Iosiah did and ioy in the sweete comfort of his worde and promises reckoning of them aboue all riches and pleasures as Dauid did Psal 119.111 and else where Other some vnderstand this place as though Christ left off knocking and departed when hee had receiued so churlish an aunswere of his Spouse whereby her hearte was smitten with sorrowe repenting her of her slacknesse which may well agree to that which followeth where shee findeth her loue departed when shee had opened The Doctrine of which sense wee shall haue fitter occasion to note afterwarde verse 5. I rose vp to open to my welbeloued and my handes did drop down myrrh and my fingers pure myrrh vppon the handles of the barre Here the spouse beginneth somewhat to rowze vp her selfe seeking at the call of Christe to be reconciled vnto him And first shee sheweth that all her purest naturalities or ciuil sobernes which she highly thought of at the first or her good workes or whatsoeuer shee coulde present Christe with all of her owne were nothing to procure his fauour or draw his loue towardes her For he is not to be founde by them neither needeth he oure Myrrh to annointe him withall So then we must not come in our owne garmentes but away with al beauty of nature and flesh and blood and on with a pure fayth and a good conscience in which Christe hath delight The Romish Church therefore and al the iustitiaries they preparing themselues with their owne workes annoyntinge and trimming themselues with their owne ciuility naturalities and morall coniectures are but as painted Harlottes that driue Christe farre from them though they seeme to carry him in their bosomes But he wil not be takē in their beauty for it is but as a menstruous cloth vnto him It may also be that the Myrrb may be vnderstood of the blessing sweet sauour of the gospel which Christ powreth by the preaching therof into the harts of the faythfull so as they are annointed with it and made swéete yea are also brought to repentance and to seck after God in his word As the spouse heere perfumed with the sweet odours and moistened with the smelling ointment which is spiritually to bee vnderstood of the graces of Gods spirite which her loue had left behinde him she ariseth to open and séeke after him ver 6. I opened to my beloued but hee was gone and past my heart was gone when he did speake I sought him but I coulde not finde him I called but be aunswered mee not Secondly lets without Here the spouse beginneth to complaine of the lets she founde without and first the absence of her husbande whereby after she found some discommoditie in that others afflicted her vers 7. For she sheweth that shee got some courage and gathered vp her spirites so as she openeth vnto him desyring to imbrace him yet she found le ts abroade also which partly dismayed her as the absence of her louer and partly tyed or hindred her though in the end she preuayleth For finding her loue slipt aside shee fainted and hearing his voyce which so affected her and wroght vpon her that she swounded for sorrow and her heart failed her Which yet caused her to seeke the more earnestly after him but he wōld not be found nor answere So that Solomon inferreth Christ taking displeasure that he was not graunted vnto at the first and therfore turneth a side also the faithful mourning after him and repenting that they imbraced him not at the first Wherin we sée the state of a fainting soule that longeth sore after Christe such a one as Dauid bewrayeth in him selfe Psalm 42.1 whose heart thirsted after God as the weary and chased heart doth after the water brooks And after he sayth verse 6. Why hast thou forgotten me Why go I mourning so heauily c. For the thirstie soule that longeth after Christe Iesus in trueth and would fayne yeelde obedience vnto him and haue assuraunce and full pledge of his loue making haste to Christe inquyring after him in his worde groning sighing and calling after him by Prayer Sathan the enuious and malicious man enemie of our soules seeketh to stirre vp our incredulity to steppe betweene vs and Christe presenting to our eies oure sinnes past oure present infirmites our sinnes before oure calling and since our calling oure wantes lacke of zeale our litle profiting by the woord and a thousande other bye thoughtes that wee should seeme not to bee neere Christe but as though hee had turned his backe vppon vs had cast vs of agayne and helde scorne of vs and as though all our former beginnings had beene in vayne So we wee beginne to languish the Lorde also sometime leaueth vs in oure