quiet minde for there is a manifold vse that commeth of them First they serue notablie to curble our proude mindes and to tamâ—â—â—e wanton lusts of the flesh which in our prosperitâ—e is ouermuch pregnant insulting and preuayling ouer the motions of the spirite When as Peter was commended by his Maister Christ for his good confession Matt. 16 hee was so perte and proude of this prayse as hee presumed afterwarde most malapertlie to gainesay him The spouse in the Canticles Cant. 3 being commended by her bridegroome for her suspassing beautie in comelines resembling the tents of Kedar and the Curtaines of Salomon grew thereby so audacious as shee talked and communed so familiarlie with him as one friend with another putting forth questions asking him where he fed and where he did lay at noone Zebedeus his two sonnes Matt. 20 because they were so happie as by fleshlie consanguinitie to bee allyed to Christ they presentlie were so bolde as to clayme a prerogatiue and libertie by it to chalenge the left hande and right hand in his kingdome Wherefore because worldly fauour and prosperitie do so puffe vs vp with pride as wee forget our selues it is exceeding good that we fall into temptations which are good schoolmaisters to traine vs vp in the knowledge of our selues A similitude The maister that hath a seruant lying sicke if hee seeth that wine is hurtfull for him giueth commandement to alay it with water which may abate the heat operation of the wine so God our good maister seeing vs his seruants to be very sicke of sinne and perceiuing that the wine of worldlie prosperitie is poysonable vnto vs hee slacketh the power and hurtfull effect of it by mixing the water of tribulation with it A similitude That Gentleman that hath a Hawke of great account will vouchsafe the paines himselfe in attending and dieting him hee will coy and stroke him with his owne hand and smooth his feathers and taketh great delight in the often looking on him but as he doth thus so he likewise hoodeth him fâ—st tyeth him by the feete vnto the Pearch If this seemeth strange to him that hath no skill is not acquainted with the reason of it but shall first demaund why he tendeth and tendereth him so much Answere will be made because hee so loueth him If further it be asked why then he hoodeth lyeth and fettereth him it will be answered leâ—st the Hawke which he so loueth should escape and flie from him so the Lorde dealeth with his beloued people hee feedeth and cockereth vs because we are his darlinges and hee greatly loueth vs but hee hoodeth vs and bindeth vs therewithall vnto aduersitie because wee should not depart away from him roauing and scouting after our owne libertie Thus heedfullie did he tende and looke vnto Dauid as any man can looke vnto his hawke 1. Sam. 16.17 prosecuting and following him with fauour vpon fauour caâ—ling him from a shepheard to the gouernment of a kingdome putting a new heart into him and indewing him with the spirit of prophecie in verie ample measure in giuing him a famous field against Goliah so renowning him by the slaughter of the Philistins as his name grewe most glorious and hee became the staffe and subiect of the dittie of the damsels of Israel who playing vppon their pipes and musicall instruments sung with one consent and with sweet concent Saul hath slaine his thousand but Dauid his tenne thousand These things God did for him because hee so loued him But least hee should bee too proude by them the Lord hooded him and tied him to the pearch in stirring vp Saul to be his persecutor by whose persecutions he was so insnared and surelie tied as he could not flie away for the verie snares of death did ouercome him and the paines of hel it selfe did ouertake him Ioseph was his fathers onelie birde God made him not onlie gracious in the eyes of his father but also amiable and delightfull to his mistresse nowe least this culling him shoulde bee a meane as it were to kill him as by hurting his soule and alluring him from God hee was solde from his father by his brethren into Egypt Gen. 27 Gen. 29 and was quite cast out of fauour by his mistresse and by his maister fast bound in the prison as a hawk vnto the pearch 1. King 19 The Lord was euer louing to Elias and hee vsed familiarly to talke with him as a father with his sonne or one friend with an other now least he should be ouermuch conceited with this abundant kindnes and be too fond vpon this fauor the Lord mixed trouble with prosperitie and sent Iezabel to persecute him Ezechiel Ezech. 2. was mightily inspired with the spirit and had manie reuelations but that these should not make him dote vpon himselfe and to esteeme too highlie of himselfe hee heard this voyce alwayes sounding in his eare Sonne of man that for all this fauour and loue of God he should knowe himselfe that hee is but man Paul had a liuelie feeling hereof â— Cor. 12 as hee himselfe acknowledgeth for least the abundance of Reuelations shoulde extoll him the Angell of Sathan was sent vnto him to buffet and humble him Afflictions therefore serue verie well to tame and keepe vnder our sinfull affections Secondlie God sendeth afflictions to his Saints that not being burthened with earthlie prosperitie wee might goe the lighter and speedyer vnto God and flie as it were a birde vnto the hill It so often happeneth to wayfayring men that espying in their trauelling a delightfull greene hill A similitude they take occasion to slacke their iourney to goe out of the way to sit downe and rest themselues vpon that hill Wherefore to preuent and cut off such occasions of lingring and loytring whilest we are in this life which is as it were out way hee taketh away from vs all vaine shewes of pleasures that not beeing miscarried with the vanitie of such flowers which adorne this greene hill we might still goe forwarde and make more haste to heauen As God permitted Pharaoh to afflict the Israelits Exod. 1 that they might haue a longing of their departure from Egypt and loue the land of Canaan so God would haue vs his children to be afflicted that wee might desire to depart froÌ„ the Egyptian bondage of our sinne and couet our spiritual inheritance and Canaan in the kingdome of heauen If a man that trauelleth into a farre land maie there obtaine his hearts desire and liue as him listeth he wil not much desire to returne to his own Countrie to liue in aduersitie For Iacob was willing inough to soiorne with Laban so long as Laban well entreated him but when he was vnciuilly demeaned and his face was not towarde him as it was before he forthwith resolued vpon his departure and acquainted Rachell with it Thirdly God exerciseth his seruants with afflictions to terrifie them
from sinne and therby to giue them knowledge of his hatred of sinne For albeit that God remitteth some mens sinnes without afflicting them for their sinnes as the theefes vpon the Crosse whose sinne and punishment hee remitted 〈◊〉 23 〈…〉 saying This day shall thy soule bee with mee in Paradise As the Publicans who vpon his submisse sute for mercie for his sinne â—uâ—e 23 without further iudgement went out of the temple iustified and released and absolued of his sinne and as Peters lewd abiuration of the faith and deniall of his maister without further processe of iustice according to the desert of his enormous sinne vpon his repentance was discharged of his sinne receiued into grace and restored againe vnto his office of Apostleship Lachrimas Petrilego satisfactiones non lego saith S. Ambrose I reade of Peters teares but I reade not of Peters satisfaction for his sinnes 〈…〉 And finallie as the Palsie mans whose sinnes hee forgaue him as soone as hee sawe him without inioyning anie other thing vnto him yet commonlie it is Gods course with afflictions and rebukes to punish men for sinne and therefore for the most parte iudgement doth begin at the Lords house that the vilde man and sinner maie tremble before him Fourthlie God suffreth vs to bee afflicted here that we may be happy elsewhere to bee crucified with Christ in this world to be glorified with him in the world to come So that the troubles of this life ground vs in the hope of another life of the generaâ— resurrection and iust retribution that therein shal be giuen according to our deedes either good or euill It agreeth with Gods iustice to punish sinners and to be mercifull to his seruants nowe because his seruants are heere punished and his enemies comforted there must be an inuersion exchange of times that they may be succoured and the other tormented and this is at the generall day of reckning and after our death vpon the departure of the soule out of the bodie which immediatly goeth to heauen or to hell at what time is fulfilled the saying of Abraham to the rich glutton Luk. 1â— Sonne remember that thou in thy life time diddest inioy thy pleasure and Lazarus paine but now is he comforted and thou art tormented Fiftly God afflicteth vs to make vs conformable to the image of his sonne who suffred al afflictions If our good maister hath suffred such sorrowes for vs euill seruants why should not wee reciprocallie endure sorrowes for so good a maister He is a cowardly and dastardly soldior A similitude who seeing his captaine to bee wounded and slaine in the field before his face will not stand to it abide the triall and take such part as the captain doth before him We haue Christ his name and are called Christians because that we should liue as Christ did If thy bridegroome Isaac commeth out a foote thou must imitate Rebecca come down froÌ„ thy cammel go a foot with him Christ walked here in al aduersitie and contempt and hatred of the world and wilt thou be mounted on thy stately stead and labor to aspire to the top of al prosperitie yet be a Christian It cannot so be come down walke as Christ hath appointed you to walke and suffer afflictions as the deare sons of God as the sonne of God did Thus haue we a manifolde vse of afflictions God giue vs grace to make this vse of them The fift Chapter Of the prodigall son his confession of his sins a most necessarie effect of our true repentance THe prodigall sonne hath hitherto bin occupied about zealous meditations but whilest he mused the fire kindled and now at the last hee speaketh with his tongue Bethinking himselfe how he might pacifie his father hee thinketh it expedient and not without good iudgement to beginne his satisfaction with a dutifull confession Giue glorie to God my sonne sayth Iosua â—osue 7 vnto Achan when as he perswaded him to confesse his sinne insinuating thereby that God is greatlie glorified by the confession of out sinnes Hee that will not confesse his sinnes before God argueth great pride and boldnesse of minde and that he sorroweth or careth little for them It is a requisite and most needfull dutie and the saints of God commonlie do vse it It was Dauids chiefe comfort when the hand of God was verie heauie on him and hee had a fierce combate with many strong temptations For whilest he dolefully displaieth them vnto vs ripping them vp by their seuerall circumstances after this maner Psal 32 My bones consumed away through my dayly complaining for thy hand is heauie vpon mee day and night and my moysture is like the drought in Summer He ranne vnto this as vnto his last refuge saying in this wise I will knowledge my sinne vnto thee and mine vnrighteousnes haue I not hid I said I will confesse my sinnes vnto the Lord and so thou forgauest the wickednes of my sinne In many of his Odes and heauenly Hymnes the kingly harper harpeth vppon this note but most tunable and melodiouslie in the fiftie one Psalme Psal 51 hee trebbleth and quauereth and capereth vpon it I knowledge my sinne and my sinne is euer before mee Agaynst thee onelie haue I sinned and done this euill in thy sight that thou mightest be iustified in thy saying and cleere when thou art iudged Beholde I was shapen in wickednesse and in sinne hath my mother conceyued me Daniel Dan. 9 did the like and the briefe and forme of his confession is this We haue sinned wee haue done wickedlie Esdras and Nehemias Esdr 9 Nehem. 1 made such confessions openlie for the people And wee are taught the like in that copie of prayer which is set vs by Christ Matt. 6 when as we acknowledge our selues to bee debters and doe pray vnto God that hee woulde pardon and forgiue vs our trespasses Saint Iohn 1. Ioh. 1 commendeth this dutie vnto vs in the first of his Canonicall when as hee sayeth If wee confesse our sinnes he is faythfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes Leuit. 16 Confession of sinnes was Gods own ordinance instituted by him in the old church and commanded to be solemnlie obserued celebrated before the face of the church by the priest at the feast of Purification the priest laying his handes vppon a Goate and publiquely confessing the sinnes of the people By this wee must haue accesse vnto God and this is the doore by which we must enter into fauor with him We must not dote vpon our own merits and righteousnesse which is nothing if we will bee suters and speeders in our sutes but we must come as poore men with praier and submission 〈◊〉 similitude He is a fond fellow who sitting by the way side to beg the deuotions of people passing by sheweth them his golde and boasteth himselfe of his wealth and substaunce This is not the meane to
iron which could open it though the golde be of a better substance by nature then the iron yet in respect that it serueth not to so good an ende he is but a foole who refuseth the iron key to make choyse of the golden God promiseth vnto vs the treasures of his grace if we will striue to enter into this gate wee see manifestlie that a golden key that is riches and prosperitie in this worlde will not open it but the iron key so row and aduersitie will open that which is shuâ—te and bring vs to aboundaunce Oh therefore if we bee wise take wee this in our hande and let vs goe to the locke with it Before the grape can yeeld his orient pleasant wine A similitude the iuyce thereof must first bee pressed out by the force of the Winepresse Wee muste first bee pressed and oppressed with afflictions before our best iuyce can bee wringed from vs and wee can more euidentlie shewe our faith and patience If God mightilie blesseth our estate enricheth vs with wealth backeth vs with friends encreaseth vs with children Iob. 1 what maruell is it if we doe serue God Do we serue God for nought as the diuell said of Iob But the case is now altered it is rather to be maruelled if in such an estate wee doe not forget God and neglect to serue him Prosperitie leadeth vs farre from God with the prodigall son and aduersitie bringeth vs home againe with him and therefore God sendeth it When the young childe runneth from the mother and will not come vnto her A similituâ— the mother causeth one to make it afrayde with a vizard or the like and immediately the child runneth to the mother We are as yong children who neuer runne to God but when aduersitie and feare driueth vs. No sooner God prospereth vs A similiâ— but we looke from him our eyes are onely vpon him in our need We are like dogs who so long as they are hungrie they fixe and fasten their eies vppon their maister but hee no sooner casteth downe a crust or a bone but they presently looke downwarde and they runne after that but when that is eaten their eies as before are lifted vp againe and they beholde their maister Gen. â— The more the waters of the flood encreased the more the Arke of Noah was lifted vp the more the waters of our trouble doe encrease the more we do lift vp our hearts vnto God The more God afflicteth vs the better we learne him A similitude An Inkeeper will better take knowledge of that guest that bestoweth some blowes of him then hee will of him who spendeth much money of him Gen. 4â— Ioseph his brethren would not vouchsafe to know him in the time of their prosperity but famishment made them to go into Egypt and to finde him out When God striketh a lande with famine wee howle and crie vnto him then wee come with our sackes to Egypt and then we bring our best presents to the man â—od 11 The more the people of Israel were persecuted the more feruentlie cried they vnto God wee are these old Israelites the more we are afflicted the more we are obedient â—eâ— 9 The conuersion of Saul began at his affliction which made him a Paul hee was no sooner stroken with a lightning to the ground but the heart of him was lightned and he saide vnto God Lord what wilt thou haue me do Affliction is one of the strings belonging to the Lords bowe which he maketh readie agaynst the face of vs when we do withstand him whereby he slayeth our sinnes in vs. What mooued Adam to a better remembraunce of himselfe and the commaundement of God Gen. 3 but the knowledge of his nakednes the voyce of God which called him in the Garden the hard taske he did put him vnto to digge the ground and with his sweate to get his liuing all the dayes of his life his casting out of Paradise whereby he liued as a banished man vpon the face of the earth God followed him with his iudgements that he might make him partaker of his mercies and draw him to himselfe The like course was taken with Dauid in his sinne when he wilfullie had committed adulterie and murther God not onely sent him his Preacher Nathan to rebuke him of his sinne but he sent him afflictions to drawe him from his sinne as the incest committed with his daughter Thamar by her brother Ammon the slaughter of his son Ammon the sedition of his sonne Absalon his ciuill insurâ—ection his most fearefull execution All these as summoners cited his conscience to appeare at gods Court constrayned him to come home to God in all obedience from whom he had so started by his former disobedience The Scriptures do euerie where set downe vnto vs this vse that we may make vnto our selues of afflictions that they serue vs as wandes to driue out the dust that is in our clothing and make vs leaue our sinnes and returne to God Deut. 30 After a vehement coÌ„mination of many grieuous iudgements ripped vp and denounced by Moses against the Israelits hee inferreth this clause as the sequel of them that they shall turne into their harte and by them learne to looke into their sinnes and returne vnto the Lord. Answerable wherunto is this saying of Osea Oâ—ea â— Come let vs returne vnto the Lorde for hee hath spoyled vs and he will heale vs. Ezechiel Ezech. 7 singeth the selfe same song when as hee sayth Calamitie shall come vpon calamitie I will doe then according to their wayes The Prophet Ieremie Ieâ—e 2. telleth the Israelites that howsoeuer at that time they turned their backes and not their faces yet in the time of trouble they should bee altered and should say vnto God arise and help vs. To this ende Dauid thus powreth out his spirit and prayeth vnto God Psal 81 Make their faces ashamed O Lord that they may know thy name Mala â—n m quae nos premunt ad deum ire compellunt saith that learned Gregoâ—ie Afflictions which do presse vs do compell vs to return to God King 18 The Israelits being vexed with a most grieuous famine in the time of Elias were reclaimed from their wickednes and called home to God Chro. 26 King Manassâ—h afflicted with miserie and iron deuoâ—tlie and zealouslie gaue himselfe to praier Iohn the Baptist by thundering out the iudgements of God against Sadduces and sinners â—at 3 wrought their conuersion If the prodigall sonne had not beene afflicted but might haue liued at libertie pleasure abroad we should not haue heard of his comming home But it was affliction that was his best instruction and wrought his conuersion If we suruay the causes why God afflicteth vs The causes for which god sendeth afflictions we shall learne much patience troubles shall not come vnto vs as Iaylors vnto prisoners but we shal indure them with a
As if hee should haue sayd I dare not and I doe not make sute vnto thee to bee as I was before and to bee taken for thy sonne I am vnworthie of such fauour I haue so disgraced my selfe I haue beene so dislike thee that I cannot bee thy sonne vouchsafe mee that mercie that I maie belong vnto thee that I maie haue a roome and seruice in thy house among the companie of thy hyred seruants I will not bee thy sonne but Lorde make mee thy seruaunt Psal 85 For better it is for mee to be a doore keeper in thy house then to keepe swine abroade One thing therefore doe I desire of thee euen that I may dwel in thy house for euer For there the swallow hath found her a nest and the sparrow a place wherein to hide her selfe euen thy altars ô Lord my king and my God Of this example let vs make a godlie vse and let vs learne humilitie it will auaile vs much as it did this man Matt. 7 Enter saith Christ into the straite gate which must bee by humilitie For we cannot passe through a narrow gate but by stowping low vnto it And better it is to stoupe too much then an â—uch too little otherwise he may receiue a knocke and be repelled backe Matt. 4 Our Sauiour Christ preached often of humilitie because it might be better learned of vs Of whome did he make choice to be his followers but humble and base fishermen Whom hee so peremptorilie charged with this dutie as he told them flâ—tlie that vnlesse they were lowlie and humble like children Matt. 18 they should not be saued Luk. 2 Christ by humilitie was exalted to all dignitie When he was borne in a stable and laide among beasts he was applauded and glorified by Angels When as hee was circumcised the eight day as a sinner he was then named Iesus which signifieth a Sauiour When he was numbred among the wicked and betweene two theeues crucified the whole heauen was then obscured Matt. 27 and the Sunne and Moone eclipsed and hee was by his father by signes and woonders glorified and by the Centurion standing by and seeing them publiquelie magnfied A lowlie man without pride is like an innocent Doue without gall 〈◊〉 similitude 〈◊〉 similitude A tree that is planted in the lower ground is safer then that which standeth higher vpon a loftie mountaine for the windes and tempestes haue more power ouer it He that is the lesser is the greater saith Christ Luk. 14 The greater because his rewarde shall be greater the greater because he is like vnto Christ who is greatest of all A similitude As ashes do keep and preserue fire so our humilitie whereâ—y wee consider our selues to be but ashes keepeth and cheerisheth the fire of the spirit The deeper and lower that the pit is A similitude the holesomer and sweeter the water of it is so the lowlier and humbler thou art the more delightfull and gracious art thou vnto God Thou canst neuer loose by thy godly humilitie for it will extoll thee and bring thee vnto dignitie Paul who in humilitie confessed himselfe to be the least of the Apostles 1. Cor. 15 in labours through God who wrought mightilie with him hee exceeded and surpassed all the rest of the Apostles The Baptist who thought so meanlie of himself Matt. 3 as hee thought his hande not woorthie to vntie Christes shooe Christ vsed that hand to a higher office and did put it to his heade and was baptized of it The Centurion who adiudged himselfe vnworthie to receiue Christ into his house Mat. 8 Christ did commend him and did preferre him aboue all the people of Israell Matt. 18 But Capernaum that looked proudly and stared vp to heauen the Lord depressed and threw it downe to hell When Christ was to manifest his tranfiguration Matt. 17 which made to his glorie hee shewed it but to three but when he was crucified which made to his contempt he was seene of all he would be lifted vppe and hanged in the ayre that all the worlde might seâ— him It is not amisse to conceale such things which maie tende vnto our praise and to make them knowne to fewe but it is to good purpose to publish our defectes and manifest them vnto all Thou hast no iust cause and argument of thy pride but thou hast matter inough to prouoke thee to be humble Vide vnde veneris crubesce vbi es ingemisce â—ernard quò vadis contremisce Looke from whence thou art and bee ashamed where thou art and be grieued and whither thou shalt and be terrified We see sometimes a man in respect of his wit little wiser then an Asse and yet be setteth and rufleth in his silkes and is adorned with his rings and costlie iewels his outward burthen is better then himselfe and this man is proude because of his riches which an Asse might bee as well that is his sumpter Iade and carrieth vpon his backe more riches then his maister The proudest vpon earth when hee is buried in the earth is as meane as the vildest here on earth A similitude In Chesse play there are diuers degrees of persons There is the King the Bishop the knight the rooke and there is the abiect and paultrie pawne these haue their differences and roomes by themselues according to their degrees while the game lasteth but they are all one when they are put into the bagge Death maketh the begger the King alike all are one with him when he hath vs in his bagge There are eares of corne in the time of haruest to be seene in the fielde that are higher then others A similitude but when the Reapers cutte them downe they are bounde vppe togither and then this difference appeareth no more betweene them for they are threshed and beaten out togither Let vs therefore laying aside all pride bee humble and meeke as it becommeth Christians and as Christ himselfe by his owne example teacheth vs. The eight Chapter How God out of euill things bringeth forth good as making the sinnes of the prodigall sonne the occasion of his humble and dutifull confession IF the prodigal sonne had not beene so sinful he had not returned to his father so sorowfull From the excesse of his iniquitie did spring this his dutifull and conformable humilitie This commendeth both the goodnes and wisdom of God to vs who can make our sinnes redound to his praise and from a matter so vilde can extort and wring out such a vertue from vs. Is not hee a wise workeman who cannot onely skilfully graue in golde and siluer A similitudâ— and improoue the purer substance but also can make vse and benefite of the drosse and can applie it to good seruice It is so with God who is this cunning craftsman who not onelie engraueth in the hearts of his Saints his refined mettall the markes of