or by any â—uch louely n 1 Sam. 12. 10 c. Act. 3. 17. lenitiues and mittigations o 1 Cor. 4. 6. figuratiue translations and applications or p 2 Cor. 2. 4. 5 12. 20 13. 7. compassionate insinuations q 1 Cor. 12. 2 Reu. 2. 3 4 c. preambles of deserued praises vsed by Prophets or Apostles But for the matter of reproofe it selfe I must take leaue to say with Elihu r Iob. 32. 20 21. Let me not I pray accept any mans person for I know not to giue flattering titles in so doing my maker will some take me away And if any heerein for preseruation of mens credit professe better skill as Boaz told him that was so forward to redeeme his brothers and saying Å¿ Ruth 4. 4 5 what day thou buyest the field of the hands of Naomi thou must also buy 〈◊〉 of Ruth the wife of the dead to raise vp the name of the dead c. so must I tell that man whosoeuer he be that what day he shall be ready to redeeme mans credit from publique reproofe he must redeeme it also from that bill of complaint and strong plea which the great King and Lord of hoasts hath put into the court of our owne consciences for the maintenance of his owne honour saying t Mal. 1. 6. A sonne honoureth his Father and a Seruant his Master If I be a Father where is my honour and if I be a Mâ—stâ—r where is my feare v Verse â— Offer it now vnto thy Gouernour offer it to thy Father will he be pleased with thee or accept thy person saith the Lord of hoasts Arist Mr. Archippus the Lord so inable you to end as you haue begun now remaineth onely the fit season of edifying wherin wee desire your direction Arch. Concerning the season of edifying as there is a day time appointed by GOD for bodily labour w Psal 104. 21 22 23. when the Sunne riseth and the Lyons with the beasts of prey gather themselues selues together and lay them downe in their dens and then man goeth forth vnto his worke and to his labour till ti 〈…〉 ening so when Christ x Mal. 4. â— the Sunne of rightcousnesse is risen vnto men and the Diuell that y 1 Pet. 5. 8. roaring Lyon with his z Eph. 6. 12. principalities and powers of darkenesse are as driuen to their dens for Christ a Luk. 10. 18 beheld Satan as lightening fall from heauen at the Preaching of the Gospell then the b Rom. 13. 12 night is past as S. Paul saith and the day is at hand that is the c Esa 60 2. 25. 7. grosse darkenesse that couered people is remoued and the d Luk 1. 78 79. day-spring from an high visiteth them to giue light to them that sit in the shadow of death and â—o guide their feete in the way of peace e 2 Cor 6. 2. Behold now â—s the day of saluation saith S. Paul the day f Heb. 3. 13. of exhorting each other as the Apostle saith whiles it is called to day And as when the g Can. 2. 11. winter is past and the â—aine gone ouer the flowers appeare on the earth the time of the singing of birds is come the h Psal 104. 30. face of the earth is renewed the i Psal 65. 11 13. yeare is crowned with Gods goodnesse and the valleyes are couered ouer with corne they shout for ioy they also sing so where God sets vp his husbandry of sowing planting and dressing and doctrine distilleth as showres vpon the grasse and the Sunne of righteousnesse ariseth 〈…〉 with his heate to 〈…〉 and quicken mens 〈…〉 it should in this spring time of grace be as naturall vnto all new creatures to teach and admonish one another in Psalms Hymnes and spirituall Songs and as trees planted by the riuers of water to bring forth their fruit in their season and by mutuall prouocation to be filled with the fruits of righteousnesse For saith the Prophet k Esa 61. 11. as the earth bringeth forth her bud and as the Garden causeth the things that are sowne in it to spring forth so the Lord God will cause righteousnesse and praise to spring forth before all the nationâ— Now therefore is the time for our l Cant. 4. 13 c. Camphire and Spikenard Saffron and Calamus Cynamon and Frankinsence Mirrhe and Aloes with all the chiefe spicâ—s to flow forth from eâ—ch to other as if we were a fountaine of gardens a well of liuing waters and streames from Lebanon now as trees of righteousnesse should wee m Hos 14. 5 6. cast forth our rootes as Lebanon and our branches should spread our beauty should be as the O liue tree and our smell as Lebanon wee should n Psal 92. 12. c. flourish like Palme-trees and grow like Cedars we should flourish in the Courts of our God and still bring forth fruit in olde age and bee fat and flourishing to shew that the Lord is vpright and to fulfill that which is written of the trees of righteousnesse o Eze. 47. 12 their fruit shall bee for meate and their leafe for medicine p Hos 14. 7. they that dwell vnder their shadow shall returne and in q Pâ—o. 11. 30. winning soules the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life For if in this our day wee know not the things that belong to our peace if in this spring and summer-season wee haue nothing but leaues for a vaine shew and neither fruit for meate nor leafe for medicine if after so many yeares planting and watering digging about and dunging wee still frustrate the Lords expectation what can men expect but r Luk. 19. 42 43. the enemies to cast a â—â—ench about vs the Å¿ Mark 11. 13. 21 curse of the barren figge-tree to â—â—ize vpon vs and that woâ—â—ll doome t Luk. 13. 6. 7 Cut it downe â—hy cumbreth it the â—round Looke we to it if â—â— spring time the voice of â—â—e Turtle be not heard in â—â—r Land if this be not a â—â—me for birds to sing trees 〈…〉 bud and corn to sprout 〈…〉 hen then if in Summer â—â—d Autumne the corne 〈◊〉 not full in the eare the â—â—ees bee not laden with 〈…〉 it and the vines with â—â—usters when then Lift 〈◊〉 your eyes and looke on 〈◊〉 fields as Christ saith â—hough it bee all as dead â—inter in many places of â—â—e Land yet where the â—ord of the haruest hath thrust forth faithfull labourers blessed bee God the v Ioh. 4. 35. 36. fields are white already vnto haruest and hee that soweth and he that reapeth may reioyce both together and shall others now w Pro. 10. 5 sleepe in haruest as sonnes that cause shame May not the x Ier. 8. 20. haruest so passe and the summer bee ended as the Prophet saith and such sluggards neuer bee
2 Tim. 1. 5 vnfained faith which p Gal. 5. 6. worketh by loue that wee q Heb. 12. 13 may make straight steps to our feete in these r 2 Tim. 3. 1. last peâ—ilous times wherein Å¿ Rom. 2. 2â— the â—orme of Knowledge and t 2 Tiâ— 3. 5. shew of godlinesse haue so shrunke the sinews of the power thereof that few among many v Gal. 2. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 foote it aright according to the truth of the Gospell For vv Gal. 6. 7. God is not mocked x Iam. 2. 13. but hee shall haue iudgement without mercy that hath shewed no mercy and mercy reioyceth against iudgement Arist I call to remembrance this day a great fault of mine in a higher straine of mercy and I would to God it were not a generall fault of professors and yet it is generally lesse heeded Aqu. What is that I pray Arist Euen that which at first your complaint might haue minded vs of that wee haue suffered the duty of exhortation to be husht and put to silence amongst vs. For to what end hath the Lord put y Cant. 3. 11 hony milke vnder our tongues I meane the z 1 Pet. 2. 2. sincere milke of the word a Psal 19. 10 sweeter then hony and the hony-comb but that wee should looke to b Pro. 10. 21 lip-feeding as well as to hand-feeding And if a man should hereupon aske vs whether is greater the body or the soule as our Lord did in an other case c Mat 6. 25 whether is greater the body or the â—ayment might he not soone lay the finger to the soare If wee deale our bread to the hungry bodies onely may not d Mat. 5. 46 euen a Publican a Pagan doe so Euery foole thaâ— riâ—h is if they would buâ— e Mat. 6. 2. sound the trumpet anâ— play the hypocrites mighâ— winne the applause for doing such almes but f Pro. 11. 30. hee â— wise that winneth soules and he g Pro. 10. 21 the righteous man in Gods account that feedeth many with his lips Howsoeuer therfore naturall men h 2 Pet 2. 12 as bruit beasts made to be destroyed cannot sauour this i Ioh. 6. 27. food that endureth to eternall life yeâ— we that are k 1 Cor. 2. 17 spirituall and should discerne all things should be more sensible in l Rom. 8. 5. minding the things of the spirit Otherwise for vs to bemoane the Apostacy of the times to sigh for the abhominations of the land and to cry out as many doe on the m Ier. 23. 11 15. prophanenesse of Prophets from whom prophanesse is gone forth into all the land if in the meane time we forbeare lip-feeding and restraine those n Ioh. 7. 38. riuers of water of life that should flow from vs to quench this o Iam. 3. 6. world of wickednesse that being set on fire of hell may set on fire the course of nature among vs what is it else but as if men should looke to acquit themselues as mercifull neighbours by bewailing their neighbours house on fire and all-while forbeare the casting on of water to quench the same Aqu. You haue opened a veyne that may make our hearts bleede within for the bloud-guiltinesse of our neighbours soules and my soule hauing now in remembrance that speech of our Sauiour p Mat. 12. 30 hee that gathereth not scattereth is humbled in me to cry with Dauid the Prophet q Psal 51. 14 Lord deliuer mee from bloud-guiltinesse r Psal 19. 12. cleanse thou me from secret faults Arist And your so sensible remembrance cals to my minde what you and I with many others heard pressed to the full not long since by a Preacher out of Hebr. 3. where he Å¿ Heb. 3. 13. shewing that exhortation was inioyned as a preseruatiue against apostacy concluded thence that the neglect of the one attracteth the guilt of the other Aqu. What now remaineth but as euer wee hope to be t 1 Ioh. 1. 7. cleansed from this so great a guilt by the bloud of Gods owne Son so wee walke in the light and shew so v Luk. 7. 42. c. much the more loue in a future zealous performance of that which wee haue so much neglected And to this end I pray helpe call to minde with me what wee thence heard concerning the duty of Exhortation Arist Oh that this might bee as fully performed as it is seasonably moued But vnlesse your memory by better then mine I feare wee shall proue as slippery riuen vessels in vv Heb. 2. 1. letting slip much of that doctrine which then so x Deut. 32. 2 dropped and rained and showred vpon vs. Aqu. In this you may say to mee Lame helpe thy fellow For euen when I begin to remember feare takes hold on mee that I shall finde it to be with my memory as with many a false seruant who is deemed trusty till he be called to reckoning and this is a lamentable effect of our want of y Heb. 2. 1. earnest heed to the things wee haue heard O what a candle did God light within vs when that doctrine was taught vs But when by repetition conference and practise we should haue z Mar. 4. 21. set it on a candlesticke to giue light to our families and neighbours we in part did put it vnder a bushell And now the a Mar. 4. 24. 25. same measure is meated to vs which we measured to others as we had not for our Masters aduantage that which was giuen vs so that which wee then had is now in part taken from vs. And if all were taken from vs and our selues b Mat. 25. 30 cast with â—he vnprofitable seruant into vtter darknesse we had but our own deseruings Arist But though our memories may much fayle vs yet God who c Esa 66. 2. looketh to the contrite heart that trembleth at his word will d Heb. 13. 5. neuer fayle vs either in e 1. Cor. 11. 31. acquitting those that iudge themselues or in f Iac. 4. 8. drawing neare to those that draw neare to him Remember g Dan. 9. 20. c. whiles Daniel the Prophet was speaking and praying and confessing his sinne as we doe now in part the man Gabriel was sent vnto him with consolatory information as flying vpon the wings of the winde And while the h Luk. 24. 15 c. two Disciples were sad and perplexed in their conferences about their Master Iesus himselfe drew neare and rather then his truth should faile to be their sheild and buckler hee himselfe out of Moses and all the Prophets expounded the things concerning himselfe to cleare their scruples But loe who comes yonder I pray Aquil. If is euen Mr. Archippus himselfe who is best able to bring all to our remembrance that we heard from him and therefore lâ—t vs without delay
and hate not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children c. so farre forth as they p Psa 139. 21 hate Christ he meaneth he can not be my disciple Now what one of vs that is not q Rom. 1. 3â— without natural affection can keepe silence in seeing and hearing Father or Mother Wife or Child pearced to the heart or trampled vnder feete O how passionately how powerfully r Gen. 44. 17 18 c. pleaded Iudah against the bondage of young Beniamin when he fore-saw how that would euen pearce the heart of his old Father his life being bound vp in the lads life and bring downe the gray haires of his Father with sorrow to the graue How affectionately thinke wee said Dauid Å¿ Sam. 1â— 5 Deale gently for my sake with the young man euen with Absolom when all the people saith the Text heard the King giue all the Captains charge concerning Absolom Was not this young man now an old traytour Yea but he was his Sonne though most vnnaturall and because hee is a childe Dauid cannot cast off the naturall affection of a Father he is perplexed with care with feare of the blow before it fall on him he is sensible of his wounds before they bleede and when he once heareth that he was pearced to death he mournes he weepes he cryeth as if he could speake no other language t Vers 33. O my Sonne Absalom my Sonne my Sonne Absalom would God I had dyed for thee O Absalom my Sonne my Sonne So the Mother of that Child which by Kings Salomons sentence was presently to be diuided in two by a sword brought before the King â— a v 1. Reg. 3. 16 c. harlot though she were yet being the true Mother of the liuing child as soone as she saw the sword and heard the sentence pronounced out of her bowels yerning vpon her Sonne how did she presently powre it out with her lips saying vv Vers 23. O my Lord giue her the liuing childe and in no wise stay it What shall naturall loue thus pleade and cry against blowes and strokes and pearcing griefes but yet approching towards our Fathers or children And caâ— wee see and heare our heauenly Father blasphemed yea x â—eu 24. 11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pearced and striken through as the y 2. King 18 21. Hab. 3. 14. Hebrew word signifieth with blasphemies and curses and our louing Sauiour z Heb. 10. 28 29. troden vnder foote and a Heb. 6. 6 crucified afresh by wilfull sins and apostacies and shall not our spiritual loue make his case ours as he made ours his shal not our hearts rise our bowels yerne and our tongues powre out and speake in the behalfe of our mercifull redeemer and his Father and ours Wee see how affectionately righteous Lot spake in the behalfe of the two Angels of the Lord whom hee had entertained and how for preuenting the foule indignity tendered to them hee boldly aduentured not only the b Gen. 19. 5 6 7. safety of his owne person but also the c Verse 8. Virginity of his two daughters Likewise young Elibu was so full of d Iob 32. 5. kindled wrath in his makers quarrell that his e Vers 18 19 belly was as wine without vent ready to burst like new bottles and speake he would he saith that hee might be refreshed as if his soule had fainted within him at his long forbearance So Ieremy the Prophet full weary though he were of speaking in the name of the Lord f Ier. 20. 7. 8 because the word of the Lord was made a reproach vnto him and a derision daily so that hee had resolued to make mention of him no more yet he found himself g Verse 9. more weary with forbearing for his word was in his heart as a burning fire shut vp in his bones and hee could not stay And so Dauid the Prophet albeit for h Psal 69. 7. Gods sake he had born such reproach that shame had couered his face yet i Psal 119. 46 would he speake of Gods testimonies before Kings and would not bee ashamed yea so did the k Psal 69. 9. zeale of Gods house eate him vp and the reproaches of them that reproached God were so fallen on him that when his tongue could not preuaile for the honour of Gods name l Psal 119. 136. riuers of waters ranne downe his eyes because men kept not his law Whereunto then shall wee liken the men of this generation whose lips are sealed vp from any such testimonies of the loue and zeale of God They are like a sort of gracelesse children and faithlesse friends who hauing tasted some sweetnesse of profit or pleasure in the society of their friends and parents enemies they can familiarly and ioâ—undly talke and walke conuerse and commerce yea feast and sport with them and in the midst of all this see and heare their friends and Parents spitefully disgraced among them yea trampled vnder feete or stricken through and swallow vp al in sencelesse silence Fourthly and finally let vs heare the Lord pleading his owne quarrell by the Prophet saying m Mal. 1. 6. a sonne honoureth his Father and a seruant his Master if â— then bee a Father where iâ— my honour c. saith the Lord of hosts Now where in shal it be known that we honour God our Father oâ— Christ our Master Shall we come as the n Micha 6. 6. hypocrite saith before the Lord and bow our selues before the high God o Verse 7. will the Lord bee pleased with offerings and such formall complements of religious seruices wherein the hypocrite if he might be beleeued would not spare to p Verse the same giue the fruit of his body for the sinne of his soule Hee hath shewed thee O man what is good and wherein he will be glorified euen in this that wee q Ioh. 15. 8. beare much fruit and r Dan. 12. 3. Act. 11. 18. 13. 48. turne many to righteousnesse For as Å¿ Pro. 14. 28. in the multitude of the people is the Kings honour so this is as the t Cant. 3. 11. setting of the crowne on the head of the Lord Iesus when now in the day of his espousals euery priuate Christian u 1 Cor. 16 16. Rom. 16. 3 9 men and w Rom. 16. 12. Phil. 3. 3. women labour much in the Gospell and be helpers together with the Preachers that many may bee x 2 Cor. 11. 3. presented as a chast Virgin vnto Christ Now then priuate Exhortation being a helpe to y Iam. 3. 19 20. conuert and z Ioh. 1. 43 44 45. bring others to Christ yea and a meane whereby a a Prou. 9. 9. wise man may bee yet wiser and each b Heb. 10. 23 24 prouoke other to loue and good workes this therefore is a speciall duty whereto al beleeuers must
addict themselues that so many conuerts and much fruit may abound to the honour of God our Father and Christ our Master And otherwise for any professor to lift vp his eyes to heauen and to say Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name thy kingdome come c. and to cease from mutuall exhortation whereby his name is hallowed and his kingdome inlarged is as plaine grosse mockery as for a Plough-man and Goade-inch or a Carter and Seedes-man in a faire seede-time to lift vp their hands and pray Our Father c. giue vs this 〈◊〉 1. 8. day our daily bread and so withdraw their hands from the plough and with-hold the seede from the ground spending all the seâ—d-time in some other trifling businesse For as their Masters bread will soone faile another yeare if his fallowes be not turned and his arables sowne so the c Eze. 1â— â— 18. c. glory of the God of Israel will soonâ— by little and little deparâ— from among vs if the d Ier. 4. 3. faâ— low ground of mens hearâ— â— 2 be not broken vp and thâ— e immortall seede of thâ— 1 Pet. 1. 23. word sowne as wel by helâ— of mutuall exhortation aâ— by publike preaching Anâ— let this suffice concerning my first generall motiue Arist Mr. Archippus yoâ— haue so approued your firâ— motiue to our f conscienc◠〈◊〉 4. 2. in the sight of God that oâ— g hearts cannot but coâ—demne 〈◊〉 3. 20 vs of great defect our loue to God and oâ— Sauiour in the h fruit of oâ— Heb. 13. 15 lips whereby his namâ— might haue bin more bleâ—sed and praised and oâ— neighbours better edifieâ— And wee may with Ezra i Ezra 9. 6. blush to lift vp our faces and call God Father or Christ our Redeemer when wee consider how iustly God may stop our mouthes with that answere which Absolom gaue to Hushai k 2 Sam. 16. 17. Is this your kindenesse to your friend or as the Prophet answered the Priests that by their lame and sicke sacrifices despised the name of the Lord saying l Mal. 1. 8. offer it now vnto thy Gouernor will hee bee pleased with thee or accept thy person c. But seeing the Father of mercies is well pleased to accept vs as his schollers to be informed to the full vpon condition m Eze. 43. 11 if wee be ashamed of all that we haue done as we are at this day how hopefully maâ— you proceede to the rest of your motiues whereby we may be stirred vp to n Deut. 32. 6 requite the Lord in a better o Tit. 2. 14. zeale hereafter as becommeth his redeemed peculiar people and p Mat. 11. 19 children of wisedome Arch. Though happily you may feele as much terrour in my second motiue as shame in the former yet in your desire oâ— well-doing q 1 Pet. 3. 6. feare not my deare brethren with any slauish terror because there is r Psal 130. 4 mercy with the Lord that he may be feared with filiall feare and your happinesse it shall bee so to â— Hab. 3. 16. tremble now that you may haue rest hereafter for thâ— furtherance whereof I now proceede My second generall motiue is drawne from that royall law as S. Iames cals it viz. t Iam. 2. 8. Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe Here by our neighbour wee are to vnderstand not onely no nor chiefly his body and life food and rayment c. after which the v Mat. 6. 31. heathen seeke as our Sauiour speaketh but principally his soule For v Mat. 16. 26 what is a man profited if hee should gaine the whole world and loose his owne soule or what shall a man giue in exchange for his soule Now as there is for the body a x Ioh. 6. 27. perishing meate and rayment for which most men are so solicitous and laborious that Christ cals for a y Mat. 6. 31. diuersion of mens thoughts paines from these so there is for the soule z Ioh. 6. 27. a food enduring to eternall life and a a Esa 61. 10. robe of righteousnesse or garments of saluation and of these most professors are so carelesse and in a manner sencelesse that the Lord not onely b Reu. 3. 18 councelleth and c Ioh. 6. 27. Col. 3. 2. commandeth but with a d Esa 55. 1. c. solemne O-yes or cry calleth most earnestly euen on men already called that they should more minde and chafer and labour for these and e Prou. 4. 7. with all their getting get them Moreouer as f Ioh. 6. 35. Christ is the onely bread of life foâ— the soule and his robe oâ— righteousnesse its g Reu. 7. 14. 19. 8. rayment and the soule that h Gal. 3. 26 27. puts not on Christ anâ— i Ioh. 6. 53. eateth him hath no life in him so the onely meane whereby wee k Verse 63. spiritually eate and put on Christ is l Verse 40. 54 faith and the soule that liueth in vnbeliefe is m Eph. 2. 1. 1 Tim. 5. 6. dead though it liue being n Ioh. 3. 18. already condemned And now what is this fâ—â—th I pray whereby Christ is made our foode and rayment Is it possibly an idle historicall faith such as the o Iam. 2. 19. diuels themselues haue No neither surely a temporary fained faith such as p Mat. 13. 21 Luk. 8. 13. hypocrites haue no though therewith they could worke wonders q 1 Cor. 13 2 remouing mountaines and r Mat. 7. 22 23. casting out diuels in the name of Christ But it is the * Tit. 1. 1. faith of Gods elect which onely a Å¿ Mat. 20. 16 few among many professors obtaine euen a t 2. Pet. 1. 1. precious v 1 Tim. 1. 5 vnâ—ained faith which vv Acts 15. 9. purifietâ— the heart x Gal. 5. 6. worketh by loue and y 1 Ioh. 1. 7. walketh in the light being z 1 Tim. 1. 19 kept in a gooâ— conscience desiring in all things to a Heb. 13. 18 liue honestly as a Iewell is kept in a cabinet And this sauing-faith being ioyned with b Eph. 4. 13. knowledge of the truth whereunto all must c 1 Tim. 2. 4 come that will bee saued and with * 2 Thes 2. 13. sanctification of the spirit d Heb. 12. 14 without which no maâ— shall see the Lord eueâ— with the e Tit. 1. 1. acknowledging of the truth which is after godlinesse and it being not in man f Mat. 19. 6. to put a-sundeâ— what GOD hath coupleâ— together as for lacke oâ— knowledge all ignoranâ— persons are excluded from faith so are al the prophane for want of holinesse And therefore howsoeuer any of these whom the Scripture thus shuts vp in vnbeliefe may say vnto Christ in that day g Mat. 7.
mercies of the wicked are cruell Againe if wee looke to the rest of our neighbours not only those that haue a c Rom. 2. 20 forme of knowledge and d 1 Tim. 3. 5. shew of godlinesse but them also that haue e 1 Tim. 3. 13 purchased to them-selues a good degree great boldnesse in the saith euen among these see wee noâ— some f 2 Thes 2. 2 shaken in minde anâ— g Esa 1. 6. reuolting more more in a fearfull manner as I at first shewed out of Heb. 3. And these must be fetcht onward and stablished with the h Eccl 12. 11 words of the wise as with goads and nayles fastened by the Masters of the assemblies Others are i Gal. 6. 9. Heb. 12. 3. weary and fainting in well-doing and they must be k Pro. 27. 9. refreshed with the oyntment and perfume of hearty counsayle Sundry are l Cant. 2. 15 sicke of loue and m Pro. 12. 25. stooping vnder heauâ—nesse of heart they must be stayed with flagons and cheared with good words and words fitly spoken n Pro. 25. 11 like apples of gold in pictures of siluer Finally some are bruised by the o 2 Cor. 12. 7 buffets of Satan and pearced with p Ep. 6. 16. his fiery darts so that their q Iob 11. 20 hope is as the giuing vp of the ghost in this case our r Cant. 4. 11 lips must drop as an hony-combe and hony milke must be vnder our tongue that wee may giue them Å¿ Zac. 1. 13. good words and comfortable words and t Pro. 16. 24 pleasant words such as may be sweetnesse to the soule and health to the bones and more to be u Iob 23. 12. esteemed then our necessary foode Noâ— it being a vv Luk. 10. 3â— c. neighbourâ— duty not to passe by on theâ— other side with the Prieâ—â— and Leuite when we seâ— men stript and wounded but with the Samaritane to binde vp their wounds powring in wine and oyle and supplying their wanâ— with our store shall Christians x 1 Ioh. 2 20 who haue an vnction from the holy one and knowing all things should know how y Gal. 6. 2. to beare one an others burden and so fulfill 〈◊〉 Law of Christ shall they I say in the midst of all this passe-by on the other side not powring out z 1 Ioh. 2. 27 the anoynting which they haue receaued and so a Mat. 25. 18. hide their Lords treasure with the b Vers 26. wicked and sloathfull seruant Howsoeuer vnder c Vers 24. 25 pretence of difficulties and d Pro. 24. 12. blinde excuses they may for a while quietly e Gen. 49. 14. couch downe betweene two burthens their brethrens faylings I meane and their owne conniuence because looking through such false spâ—ctacles and not through the glasse of the word they may f Vers 15. see that rest is good Yet as surely as they g Num. 32. 6 c. sinnâ— against the Lord in thiâ— neglect of their brethren so h Vers 23. let them â—e sure their sinne will finde them out and then themselues will be â—ound little better then as mercilesse stewards anâ— Surgeons who being senâ— into the haruest and into the battaile with store oâ— foode and balme and witâ— strict charge therewith to refresh and reuiue the hungry labourers and wounded souldiors they goe and giue the gaze vpon them beholding some faynting in their hunger and others languishing iâ— their wounds and so passe-by them onely with thâ— courtesie oâ— thâ— day 〈◊〉 good wishes giuen them neuer bestowing either their foode or balme for the relieuing of any oâ— them Now if a man should aske the bordering neighbours that see and heare all this what they say anâ— deeme of such stewards and Surgeons happily they being not priuy to the store and charge committed to them may commend them as courteous quiet passengers that disturbed or abused no man but if ye aske the Lord of the haruest and the generall of the field when he heares of this will not he cry out and that iustly fie vpon such murderers And heere if ye recall to minde what before ye heard from the mouth of the Lord namely thâ—â— he who rebuking rebuketh not this neighbour hateth him in his heart in suffering sinne vpon him and thereto adde what he hath told vs by his Apostle viz i 1 Ioh. 3. 13 whosoeuer hateth his brother is a murtherer see yeâ— not how the former sentence k Zac. 1. 6. takes holde on all silent Christians as a l Eccl. 12. 11 nayle fastened and riueted to the m Psal 24. 9. doores of their hearts and consciences where the Lord yet n Reu. 3 20. stands and knocks o Zeph. 2. 2. before the decree bring forth execution that by p Mat. 5. 7. shewing mercy they may obtaine mercy and that their q Iam 2. 13. mercy may reioyce against iudgment r Deut. 32. 29 O that they were wise that they vnderstoode this that they would consider their latter end yea s 2 Cor. 5 20. in Christs steede I beseech such a one whosoeuer thou art not to t Rom 2. 4. despise the riches of Gods goodnes and forbearance and long suffering leading thee to repentance but that thou wilt be reconciled to God For if thou shouldest â— harden thy heart in imâ—enitency â— Vers 5. thou treasurest â—p to thy selfe wrath against â—e day of wrath when his soule-murdering sinne â—hat now lyeth lighter on â—y conscience then corke â— feathers will in that day â—eme heauier then the â—eight of vv Reu. 6. 16. the rocks and â—ountaynes O therefore that my x Dan. 4. 27. councell might be acceptable vnto thee and that thou wouldest imagine that the iustice of GOD should euen now meete thee while y Mat. 5. 2â— thou art in the way with such a greeting as he gaue z Gen. 4. 9. Cain saying Where are thy neighbours and brethren wilt thou answere am I my Brothers keeper Eye on it it was the speech of a a Verse the same murthering Cain and if thou b Amos 4. 12 prepare not to meete thâ— Lord with a better answere he will proceede saying c Gen. 4. 10. what hast thou done the voyce of thy neighbours bloud cryeth vntâ— mee from the earth Wâ— thou reply thou didst nâ—uer giue wound or deablow among them with sword or fist But thy neighbours haue soules as well as bodies and they may bee slaughtered without sword or fist Yea but for their soules thou wilt say thou didst neuer seduce them with error nor poyson them with heresie for thou didst seldome or neuer exchange a word with them about soule-matters A goodly answere as if a steward being called to reckoning for murthering his Masters seruants by detaining the meat and drink which hee should minister vnto
reforming the will and affections as for informing the vnderstanding and iudgement in f Pro. 2. 9. euery good path so that in all things concerning either faith or manners they are g 2 Tim. 3. 16. 17 profitable for doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of GOD may bee perfect throughly furnished vnto all good workes Arist Is there then I pray no vse to be made of mens workes and writings and of the great Booke of the Creatures in edifying soules Arch. As the Prophets and Christ himselfe vsed h Hos 12. 10. similitudes and i Mat. 13. 34 35. parables for illustration to make heauenly things sensible by earthly resemblances and examples of k Ier. 35. 24. men l Ier. 8. 7. birds m Esa 1. 3. beasts and of n Esa 1. 2. Ier. 5. 22. sencelesse creatures for prouocation and conuiction and as S. Paul dealing with Pagans disputeth with them o Acts 14. 13 17 24. c. by the principles of Nature and p Acts 17. 23 their own inscriptions and Poets and elsewhere against q 1 Cor. 15. 33. euill-speakers and r Tit. 1. 12. slow-bellies alledgeth the testimonies of their owne prophane writers to leaue them the more inexcusable so in like cases to the same ends may wee vse the same meanes prouided alwaies that it bee done respectiuely and sparingly Arist What meane you by that respectiue and sparing vse I pray tell vs fully your meaning for wee doubt too little respect is had of that Arch. First that for the conuerting directing and perfecting of soules wee carefully obserue and reuerently preferre the prerogatiue of the word of God For that is the hammer that Å¿ Ier. 23. 29. breaketh the rocke the stony heart in pieces the mighty engine to t 2 Cor. 10. 4. cast downe the strong holds of Sathan the quicke and powerfull sword of the spirit v Heb. 4. 12. sharper then any two-edged sword piercing euen to the diuiding asunder of soule and spirit of ioynts and marrow for crucifying the old man in a word it is not onely the Lauer that w Ioh. 15 3 cleanseth vs the immortall seed that x 1 Pet. 1. 23 regenerateth vs and the heauenly Charter that y Ioh. 8. 32. freeth vs from the power of darkenesse but it is the z Esa 11. 4. Psal 110. 2. rod and scepter of Christs mouth strength to conduct vs in the kingdome of grace and the a Psal 11 9. 105 lampe of our feete and the light of our pathes to leade vs in the narrow way to the kingdome of glory The more to blame are they who without the word and with speech vnseasoned with salt will bee forward to giue aduise and direction in matters of faith and manners and haue nothing to alledge but their me thinkes and me seemes as they vse to say and the opinion of the learned the precedency of great ones the example of multitudes such as are the ordinary intelligencers of their consciences wherein there is often as much rellish and good sauour as in the white of an egge As if such men had neuer read nor heard that b Psal 94. â—â— God knoweth the thoughts of man that they are vanity that c Pro. 14. 12 there is a way that seemeth right vnto man but the end thereof are the waies of death that d Iob 32. 9. great men are not alway wise and the e Mat. 7. 13. way of the multitude is the broad way â—â—ading to perdition Thesâ— are like foolish and presumptuous builders that will goe to work and leaue their tooles behinde them or set to build and lay aside line plummet rule and square or hang them at their backes trusting only to their own ayme and discretion Thou foole wilt thou offer that folly and presumption in edifying the Temple of the f Mal. 1. 14. great King and Lord of hosts whose name is dreadfull among the heathen which thou wouldest shame to g Verse 8. offer in building the Pallaâ—e of thy gouernour or the cottage of thy neighbour And yet how many otheâ—s are there who being ouer-hasty in rebuking lay aside the holy Scriptures profitable for reproofe and correction and all words of h Pro. 8. 6 righteousnesse i Act. 26. 25. truth and sobernesse and haue little else in their mouthes but that which is k Pro. 8. 8. froward and peruerse pouring out of their distempered stomackes and vnaduised anger those sayings of Racha foole and other such corrupt speeches and carnall threatnings such as l Iude veâ— 9 Michael the Archangell durst not bring forth against the Diuell contending with him such as God will not allow m Eph. 6. 9. in Masters dealing with their Seruants yea such as the Lord threatneth with n Mat. 5. 22 danger of the councell yea and with danger of hell too as a meete recompence for o Pro. 16. 27. the burning fire in their lips Secondly in our exhortations wee 〈◊〉 beware how we preferre p 1 Cor. 2. 4 the entising words of mans wisedome and q Verse 13. words which the wisedome of man teacheth before r 〈◊〉 1. 13 the forme of sound words and Å¿ 1 Cor. 2. 13 words which the holy Ghost teacheth as some loue to fill their moutheâ— with filed phrases and pomp of humane authors as if some raigning Iust of t Ioh. 5. 44 seeking honour one of an other by pleasing itchiâ—g eares had compelled them togather vp broken pieces of brasse into the Lords treasury to helpe forward the Lords building and to leaue so many golden plates which beare for credence the stampe of Gods spirit sleeping in the deck Must v Gen. 21. â—9 â—0 c. the bond woman and her sonne be cast out rather then the sonne of the free-woman should receiue scorne and disparagement from the sonne of the bond-woman And was it in Salomons time an eye-soare w Eccl. 10. 5. 7. to see seruants aduanced in Princes saddles And seemeth it a small thing in our eyes that in this worthy worke of Edifying the Lords Temple Vnderlings should be preferred before the Chiefetaines and Seruants before the Lords the holy Scriptures I meane which are called the Lords of Collections Can this be acceptable to God who is x 1 Cor. 14. 33. not the author of confusion but chargeth y Verse 40. all things to be done decently and in order And if in priuate exhortation this be not tollerable God graunt it may be duely considered of those who in Moses chaire aduance such things as should bee taught to know their distance though not by an vtter exclusion yet by a sparing admission z Ier. 23. 28. He that hath my word let him speake my word faithfully What is the chaffe to the wheate saith the Lord Or what is a Cor. 3. 12 wood
wee must doe all to the glory of God For otherwise m Verse 23. all things being not expedient in choise or vse that are lawfull and indifferent in their nature because though all things be lawfull for vs yet all things edifie not If men loue not to be vnder n Mat. 11. 29 Christs yoke learning of him who was meeke and lowly in heart as if the yoke of Christ were too heauy and soary for their faire necks but loue rather with Ephraim to be turned loose to their owne discretion and will o Hos 10. 9. as a heifer that is taught and loueth to treade out the corne as surely as they harden their hearts from that feare of watchfulnesse in all things which p Pro. 23. 17 should keepe their hearts from enuy of sinners and in the feare of the Lord all the day long so they q Pro. 28. 14 shall fall into mischeife as Salomon saith Yea into such mischiefe may they fall that they may goe r Luk. 17. 26. c. eating and drinking with the men of the old world and buying and selling building and planting with the men of Sodome to the Å¿ Iude ver 7 vengeance of eternall fire and the t 1 Pet. 3. 19. prison of hell Arist But say men this is a nouelty and strange doctrine that men should be thus yoked directed as babes in the choise and vse of things indiffereÌ„t And againe if in those things men should not be left to their owne discretion what stops and amazements will this cast in mens wayes Admit this say they and it shall not be with vs as with the Centurion who could say to his seruant goe and he goeth doe this and he doth it but euery seruant will first haue his warrant and direction of Gods word before he stirre Arch. First I answere that though Gods word call for stops and feares t Ier. 6. 16. saying stand ye in the wayes and see and aske for the old pathes where is the good way and u Pro. 23. 17. be thou in the feare of the Lord all the day long yet this is not to stop or fray men from readinesse and diligence in doing seruice but from wisedome in their owne eyes and foole-hardinesse w Pro. 3. 5 6 7 wherby men leane vnto their owne wisedome acknowledge not God in all their wayes that he might direct their pathes And concerning the obedience of seruants they could not lightly haue giuen a fitter instance wherein the spirit of God doth more striue to stop all such froward mouthes and peruerse lips charging x Col. 3. 22. 23. seruants to obey their Masters in all things not with eye-seruice as men pleasers but in singlenes of heart fearing God doing heartily whatsoeuer they doe as vnto the Lord and not vnto men and that also y Eph. 6. 5. with feare and trembling z 1 Tim. 6. 1. counting their Masters worthy of all honour and a Tit. 2. 9. pleasing them in all things not aunswearing againe and all this to be performed b 1 Pet. 2. 18 not onely to the good and gentle but also to the froward and the end of all is that c Tit. 2. 10. they may adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things and that the d 1 Tim. 6. 1. name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed So that a happy world may men say it would be for Masters if seruants could be brought to watch in all things according to the word Secondly if men were left to their owne dâ—scretion in things indifferent why then doth the word expresly charge them with so many directions iniunctions and restraints aswell in doing things indifferent as all things else Namely that e Phil. 2. 3. nothing be done of strife or vaine-glory f 1 Cor. 10. 33 noâ— with giuing offence g Rom. 15. 1 noâ— with seeking our own profit or pleasing our selues but let all things be done * Col. 3. 17. in the name of the Lord Iesus all h 1 Cor. 16. 14 in loue i Eccl. 3. 1. 8. 5 seasonably k 1 Cor. 14. 40 decently and in order and l 1 Cor. 10. 3â— all to the glory of God and m 1 Cor. 14. 26 vnto edifying Thirdly when men are loath to put themselues to the pay ne to n Ier. 6. 16. enquire for the good way and to o Prou 2. 4. seeke search for knowledge as for hid treasures as God commandeth then they verifie the Prouerbe that p Pro. 26. 16. the sluggard is wiser in his owne conceipt then seauen men that can render a reason q Iob 11 12 Vaine man would be wise though a man be borne like a wilde asses colte and r Ier. 51. 17 euery man brutish by his owne knowledge and the longer they liue without guidance of the word the more brutish neuer more Å¿ Rom 1. 22. playing the fooles then when they professe themselues to be wise euen more stupid then t Esa 1. 3. the oxe or asse as the Prophet Esay sheweth And is not this a strange pride that man so brutish u Psal 10. 4. 5 through the pride of his countenance should not seeke after God but puffe at all his opposites And the truth is because pride will not suffer them to enquire for God nor to desire the knowledge of the great things of his law they are well content that such things be nouelties to them still let God x Hos 8. 12 complaine and y Zeph. 1. 4 6. threaten neuer so much against it And if ye will haue the whole truth it is plainly thus that z Pro. 8. 13. pride and the euill way being copemâ—tes men are surely euill doers in those things wherein they are proud and a Ioh. 3. 20. they that doe euill in things indifferent as in things simply naught hate the light of Gods word and preferre their owne dimne reason and discretion as adulterers doe the twi-light before the day light and as false drapers doe their fâ—lse light before the clearest sun shine Arist But the Law consisting of things commanded or forbidden they cannot see say they how the Law should medole with things inâ—ifferent whose nature consisteth in permission being neither commanded nor forbidden vnlesse we deny the whole nature of things indifferent Arch. No can What say they then to all the former directions and limitations Arist They say they are certaine generall rules which are to be respected they confesse in the vse of things indifferent but say they men must bee wiseâ— then so to debase the law of God as to teach men thereby what foode rayment they should weare whither they should ride or goe on foote Arch. Yea but say I these generall rules and all such like except those that haue relation vnto Christ which properly belong to the Gospell are
Where the word rebuke is â—ot to bee vnderstood simply as if no manner of rebuke were to bee giuen to an Elder for in the same Chapter the Apostle speaking of an Elder in respect of authority as of age saith h Verse 19 2â— Them that sinne rebuke c. And i Leu. 29. 17. rebuke being an effect of loue it is to be rendred as a k Rom. 13. 8 due debt to euery neighbour as occasion requireth But the Apostle there prescribing the manner of exhortation in respect of seuerall sexes and ages would not haue an Elder to be rebuked without reuerence but to bee dealt withall as a Father with all humble modest respectiuenesse and not to be contemptuously handeled or conteÌ„ptuously lashed or â—erked with the scourge of the tongue as if he were a puny so much doth the l 1 Tim. 5. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greek word there import being far different from the word m Verse 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rebuke in the 20. vers Secondly we are to exhort our equals as n 1 Tim. 5. 1. brethren and sisters sugering the bitter pils of reproofe with the sweet promises of the Gospell and seeking to winne them with brotherly compassionate perswasions and not to goare them with sharpe reprehensions and taunts as if we intended our owne oftentation more then their edification Thirdly if they bee our inferiours we must o Tit. 2. 15. rebuke if neede bee with all authority that none despise vs by our authority p Deut. 6. 7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whetting our exhortations setting an edge on them as it is witnessed of Abraham that he so q Gen. 18. 19. commanded his children and his houshold after him that they kept the way of the Lord. Thus authoritatiuely must we deale with inferiors if neede require as I said before for otherwise it is not for r Eph. 6 9. Masters that know they haue also a Master in heauen to vse needâ—esse threatnings but Å¿ Phile. verse 8 9. for â—â—oues sake raâ—â—er to beâ—eâ—ch though they might be bolâ— to enioyâ—ne For want of regard to these differences many Parents with olde Ely and Dauid haue made by their too much indulgence many a wanton t 1 Kin. 1. 5 6. traiterous Adoniah and many children u 2 Sam. 2. 12 23. 29. sonnes of Beliall many mopish husbands â—aue made many a wiâ—e to pearch aloft and crow oâ—er them as w 1 Kin. 21. 5. 6. 7. c. Iezabâ—l did on Ahab and many fond Masters and Rulers haue made their x Pro. 29. 21. Seruants their vntimely heires and their y 2 Sam. 3. 7 8. c. vnderlings to loose the bridle before them and z Esa 3. 5. the base to behaue themselues proudly against the honourable Likewise on the contrary many inferiors hunting after feruency of spirit without humility and reuerence haue a Eccl. 10. 4. leâ—t their place and exasperated their superiors with little profit to them and lesse comfort to themselues Aqu. Now that you haue satisfied vs concerning the manner of exhorting both in respect of the persons exhorting and the parties to be exhorted we pray you to giue vs direction concerning the matters whereabout exhortation is conuersant Arch. Concerning the matters we deale withall in exhortation some good good things are of lesse moment as b Mat. 23. 23 Mint and Cummin some waightier matters of the Law as iudgement mercy and saith some euils are in comparison but as c Mat. 7. 3. moates and d Mat. 23. 24 gnats some as beames and camels likewise some â—ults are committed of â— ignorance and f Mat. 26. 41 infirmity e Acts 3. 17. and some of g Heb. 10. 26 2 Pet. 3. 5. wilfulnesse and h Psal 19. 13 Mat. 27. 18. presumptuous malice According to all those differences is our zeale and earnestnesse to be intended or remitted For when men are nice and scrupulous of Miâ—t and Cummin and traditions of men and make no conscience of Gods Commandements and weightier matters of the Law when men cannot endure moats and suffer beâ—mes straine gnats and swallow camels they be wray themselues to be no other then painted sepulchres and whited wals and no lesse then very i Mat. 7. 5. 15. 6. 7. 23. 23. hypocrites Consider therefore what I say it is not onely the blinde eye that cannot diseerne things that differ but the distempered eye too Some haue such fiery eyes sparkling with rage and sury that they cannot discerne any fault with loue and compassion with gentlenesse and meekenesse but with rigour and cruelty k Eccl. 7. 21. marke all that is done amisse not remembring that it is a l Pro. 19. 11 mans glory to passe ouer a transgression and that m 1 Pet. 4. â— loue couereth a multitude of sinnes and â—forgetting themselues and n Eccl 7. 22. Tit. 3. 3. Gal â— 1. that the Prophet Dauid saith o Psal 130. 3. If thou Loâ—d shoulâ—â—iest marke iniqâ—â—ties O Lord who shall stand My meaning is not as if our loue were to couer foule publique sinnes or â—uch priuate secret faults as are enormeous against Gods glory or our brethrens safety For p Deut. 13. 6. 8. piety towards God and q Acts 23. 17 charity to our neighbour requireth the detection of such malefactors as will capitally dishonour God or â—amnifie their brethren and in such cases a conceaâ—er may be no better then a consenter or a partaker as â—n the case of treason euery hypocrite can iudge Neither may our charity by complacence or conniuence be made a bawde to any other priuate iniuries or secret transgressions so to couer them as to suffer them vpon our brethren or our brethren to lye in them without rebuke which were r Leu. 19. 17 Mat. 18. 22. hatred of our brethren as I proued before But such Å¿ Luk. 17. 4. were they seauenty times seauen times reiterated with repentance our loue must so couer and passe ouer as that wee neither vnnecessarily blaze them with t Gen. 9. 22 23. 25. cursed Cham nor v Pro. 10. 12 contentiously or w Pro. 17. 9 spitefully repeate them nor heede them to be x Rom. 12. 19. reuenged of them but we must so couer them as wee may cure them and y Iam. 5. 20. conuert the sinner from the error of his way so shall we saue a soule from death hide a multitude of sinnes not only from the eyes of men out also before God Againe some on the contrary haue such watry eyes so abounding with pittifull colde humours as they cannot discerne any â—eynous offence with due seuerity a beame and a moate trouble them much alike they are z Bsa 30. 20. smoothing when they should be a Hos 6. 5. hewing and touch a skirt when they should rent the heart But hee that hath the