within vs. The Lord will be in his temple for euer Now what a singular comfort should this be to vs alway in that we haue the great God of heauen and earth residing in vs What an honour is it to vs that the king of kings should keepe his court continually in vs Let vs be thankfull to him for this fauour Be not like the thanklesse swine that swallowes downe the fruit but lookes not to the treee from whence it fell And so much for the first doctrine CHAP. 6. Men may be Gods House Husbandry though they be not so holy as is meet Doct. 2 SEcondly in that the Apostle cals the Corinthians who were factious fleshly litigious and somthing too disorderly Gods field building I cōclude that mē professing Christ as they did must not for some enormities be by by reputed abiects or men that are not in grace with God or as men that are fallen from God and cut off from Christ Dauid Salomon Hezekiah and Peter sinned grieuously but yet they were neuer wholly forsaken of God nor voyde of true grace though for a time it was cast as it were into a swoone and lay obscure as fire in ashes or as the act of reason in a man that is starke drunke or fast asleepe Though thou fauour of the smoake of sin and be vp to the wayst in iniquitie yet if thou labor to come forth and dost purge thy selfe by penitency thy case is not desperate it is not damnable If thou beest weake and fleshly as these Corinthiant were yet if thou wilt warre with thy flesh and contend against thy weaknesse if thou doest labour constantly to subdue thy lusts and doest truly repent of thy sinne so soone as thou dost espie it then despaire not but assure thy selfe that thou art in Gods fauour and that thou art one of his plants a liuing stone of his spirituall building and enioying his fauor in this life thou shalt also see his face to the solace of thy soule in the life to come Amen Morning prayer for the Family O Eternal Lord God who art great and fearefull and shewest mercy to them that loue thee and keep thy commandements we haue committed iniquity and haue done wickedly before thine eyes we haue rebelled against thy Maiesty haue transgressed against thy lawes we haue bin vnmindful of thy mercies do continually sin against thee so that to vs appertaineth open shame and confusion of face for euer yet compassion and forgiuenes is in thee there is mercy with thee that thou maist be feared Haue mercy therfore vpon vs we humbly pray thee and according to the multitude of thy compassions put away our transgressions Encline thine eare O Lord and heare Looke vpon vs in thy Sonne Christ Iesus and in him be reconciled to vs. Giue vs the feeling of thy grace and an assurance of thy princely pardon Put thy Spirit into our hearts wee beseech thee and cause vs to walke in thy waies Breake our marble hearts asunder take away their stoninesse and mollify them with the oile of thy grace Cause vs to hate leaue our sinnes and to warre with all our lusts Draw vs and we will run after thee conuert vs we shall be conuerted Incline our hearts vnto thy testimonies and keepe vs in thy feare Teach vs O Lord to number our daies that we may apply our hearts vnto wisedom Thou art our creatour forsake not the worke of thine hands Cause the light of thy countenance to shine vpon vs and let thy tender mercies come vnto vs. Direct our steps in thy word stay vs and we shall be safe Leaue vs not vnto our selues but susteine vs by thy grace Prosper the works of our hands and giue successe vnto our labours Let our going out and coming in be blessed and cause thine Angels to protect vs. Thou art our Father prouide thou for vs and preserue vs. Thou hast wedded vs vnto thy selfe as an Husband suffer vs not to goe an whoring from thee Thou hast bene beneficial to vs thou hast giuen vs thy Gospell thou hast sent vs thy Prophets thou hast honored vs with peace and prosperity and hast giuen vs great deliuerances our health our friends our liberty all our being and well being all that we haue euen all is of thee thou giuest vs our rest in the night thou makest vs sleepe in safety and renewest thy mercies to vs in the morning infinite is thy loue innumerable are thy fauours toward vs we beseech thee therefore O Lord giue vs thankfull hearts vnto thy Maiesty Open thou our lips that our mouths may shew forth thy praise grant vs grace to dedicate our selues vnto thee Blesse we pray thee thy holy Church and be good vnto thy people Giue not the soule of thy Turtle done vnto the Beast Be fauourable vnto Sion and build the wals of Ierusalem Increase thy kingdome destroy thine enimes Blesse thy seruant Iames our noble king find out his enimies set thy selfe against them and make his crowne to flourish on his head Be mercifull we beseech thee to all other States amongst vs giue eare to the cry of thy Saints not to the cry of our sins Grant O Lord that we may all of vs serue thee in the vnity of faith with vnanimity of spirit that so glorifying thy name in this world we may be glorified of thee for euer in the world to come Heare vs O Lord we beseech thee and grant vs these our requests for the merits of Iesus Christ alone vnto whom with thee and the holy Ghost be rendred all honour praise and power this day and for euer Euening prayer for the Family GRatious God and mercifull Father in Iesus Christ we do here bow downe the knees of our soules and bodies in thy presence offering vp this our Euening sacrifice of praise praier vnto thee giuing thee vnfeigned thanks for all thy fauours towards vs for electing vs vnto eternall life for creating vs according to thine image for redeeming vs by the bloud of thy Son for sanctifying vs by thine holy Spirit for our health peace and liberty for clothing and feeding vs for protecting and prospering of vs this present day and for that great and admirable deliuerance vouchsafed to this whole State and kingdom from that barbarous and bloudy confusion plotted almost performed by the wicked the children of Babel thy name O Lord be praised for these and all other thy mercies Forgiue vs we beseech thee our great vnthankfulnesse and all the rest of our sins our ignorances wilfulnesses negligences presumptions all other our transgressions rebellions O Lord forgiue them all vnto vs for Iesus Christ his sake Wash them al away in his bloud naile them fast vnto his crosse bury thē in his graue Cloth vs we pray thee with his robes and honour vs with thy Spirit Worke in vs godly sorrow and remorsefull spirits Mortify our sinfull lusts and adorne vs
the people what can bee exspected at their hands besides profanenesse and Atheisme vnlesse God in mercy do restraine and guide them For the wickednesse of Ministers is serpens malum doth creepe like Iuy and spread like a leprosie and is as pestilent and infectious as the Plague Therefore the Lord saith From the Prophets of Ierusalem is wickednes gone forth into all the land Wherefore let euery Minister behaue himselfe in Gods house discreetly He that hâ—th his word let him speake it faithfully let him handle it sincerely and withall let his life be honest For other wise as Nazianzâ—ne teacheth He reacheth that with one hand which he raketh away with the other he both abuseth his place and dishonoreth his Maister If euer he meane to doe good let him be good As the fire must be hot before it can heâ—te the stander by so if thou desirest to make other men religious be religious thy selfe be first hot thy selfe and thou are likely to make thy neighbour that stands by thee and lookes vpon thee feruent and hot also CHAP. 8. Ministers must haue skill as well as will to discharge their office THirdly a Workeman must haue skill to performe his worke So should a Minister For what should hee do with Gods sword thaâ— knowes not how to vse it It is sharpe and piercing it is fit therefore that he which is to handle it should haue skill to vse it that he may know when to shake it and when to sheath it when whom where and how deepe to strike with it Ministers are to weâ—re the keâ—es oâ— Gods kingdom at their girdles Lesâ— therefore they should locke when they ought to loose and open wheâ— they ought indeed to shut they musâ— be men of knowledge and not nouâ—ces voyd of good vnderstanding anâ— dexterity to performe their duty Paul requires that a Minister should be apt to teach If he be not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 able and apt to teach how shall he b◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a teacher as euery ministeâ— ought to be If he be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnlearned how shall he be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a scribe able to interpret the Oracles of God learnedly The Minister of God must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diuide and cut out the worde of trueth aright vnto the people But how shall he be able to diuide it rightly when he cannot 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diuide at all because he wants the knife of knowledge wherewith he should diuide it What though a man haue a plough if he know not how to plow What if he haue a net know not how to cast it What though he haue a salue if he knowe not how to apply it And what though a man haue an axe if he haue no skill to vse it So what can that man do that hath the word of God which is as a plow a net an angle a salue and an axe if he haue no abilitâ— no actiuenesse and skill to vse and handle it The eye is the light of the body if it be blind how darke is that body Ministers are the light of the world and as the Eyes of the Church Now if they be destitute of light and sight the world must needs be darke and that Church must needs be blind or else God the Father of lights must conferre sight and light and illuminate them extraordinarily Esay saith that the Lord gaue him the tongue of the learned that hee might knowe to minister a word in due season to him that is weary Good shepheards and thriuing merchants had need to haue knowledge and experience Ministers are the Shepheards Merchants of Almighty God therefore they should haue skill as well as will to keepe his sheepe and husband his wares that his gaine may be the greater and his fold the fuller This is the note saith that holy Martyr of God Bishop Hooper to know the Bishops and Ministers of God from the Ministers of the Diuell by the preaching tongue of the Gospell The Priests lippes shall preserue knowledge saith the Lord. It is a precept and not a promise And the people were inioyned to seeke the law at his mouth Therefore in reason he should be skilfull in the law It is labour lost to seeke a thing where it is not In vaine do men gâ— to a VVell that hath no water in it Now if the Priests in the time of the Law were by Gods appointment to be men of knowledge is it fit that the Ministers of the Gospell should be ignorant especially there being so much knowledge in the world as there is at this day Ministers are Gods Nurses but if their breasts bee drie how shall his children thriue that are committed to them Ieremy writeth of a calamity which befell the Israelites wherein the tongue of the sucking childe did cleaue to the roofe of his mouth for thirst and in which the children and sucklings did swoone in the streetes and for hunger died in their mothers bosome A very pitifull and sore distresse Verily as lamentable is their condition which neuer haue the bread of Gods word broken vnto them and the sweete milke of wholsome exhortations and instructions powred out before them to feede vpon Ministers are Gods Messengers therefore they should haue knowledge to deliuer their message discreetly They are seers and ouer-seers therefore they should haue eyes to see and ouer-see They should be able to discerne betweene vice and vertue betweene light and darknesse betweene truth and falshood betweene Sarah and Hagar betweene a Iudas and a Ionathan lest they take the one for the other as Ixion did the cloude for Iuno And if the blinde doe leade the blinde both of them are like to fall into the ditch Those ministers then that cannot teach the people in some competent manner are too defectiue not much vnlike a cypher which fils a place and increaseth the number but signifies nothing and something like to Players which do sometimes represent the persons of Princes but are not so themselues Xanchius saith that they only are called of God vnto the Ministery which besides their godly conuersation are able to deliuer wholsome doctrine vnto the people Quos enim eligit ac vocat for those whom God doth elect and call to any function he doth also endow them with such necessary gifts as are meet for that function CHAP. 9. Ministers must be faithfull and painfull FOurthly a labourer must be diligent faithfull and industrious And such a one must euery Minister shew himself to be It is required in the disposers of Gods secrets as Ministers are that a man be found faithfull Preach the word saith the holy Ghost be in stant in season and out of season Cursed is he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently If we be diligent in our owne affaires how much more diligent should we be in Gods
the Lord and he shall nourish thee The wicked that are strangers and enimies vnto his Church from the wombe he will surely punish He will breake their teeth and crack their iawes They shall melt like ice and consâ—me like snailes He will carry them away as with a whirlewind in his wrath Thou O God shalt bring them downe into the pit of corruption the bloody and deceiptfull men shall not liue out halfe their daies Finally seeing we are Gods field building we are al taught to loue one another We are not two houses but one we are not two fields but one And therfore as one we ought to loue and embrace one another It were a prodigious sight to see one stone in a building to iustle with another We are as Liuing stones in Gods spirituall building let vs therefore by loue lie close by one another let vs not iustle one another If an house be deuided against it selfe how shall it stand We are Gods house houshold-seruants therefore we must not be diuided against our selues lest his house fall downe vpon our heads Diuision is a forerunner of destruction Therefore as one stone in a building beareth vp another somtimes a little one bearing a greater and sometime the greater bearing a lesser euen so let vs beare vp and beare with one another let vs not fly out of the wall let vs not stomacke enuy one another alwaies remembring that we are the stones of one building and all laid by one Maister-mason Corne in one field plants in one Orchard trees in one wood flowers in one garden and vines in one vineyard do grow together without molesting and hindring one another They stand together without discontentment they shroud and harbour one another We are the corne of Gods field the plants of his orchard the trees of his wood the flowers of his garden and the vines of his vineyard and therefore we should stand together without contempt discontentmeÌ„t we ought to shroud and shilter one another Now therefore as the elect of God holy and beloued put on the bowels of mercy kindnesse humility meekenesse long suffering Put away wrath anger malice cursing and hate not one another For he that hateth his brother is in darkenes But let vs loue one another for loue coÌ„meth of God and euery one that loueth is borne of God Wouldest thou know that thou art in the state of life Then loue thy brethren We know saith Iohn that we are translated from death to life because we loue the brethren he that loueth not his brother abideth in death Wouldest thou know that thou louest God Then loue the children of God For euery one which loueth him that did beget loueth him also which is begotten of him Wouldest thou abide in the true light Then loue thy brother For he that loueth his brother abideth in the light there is none occasion of euill in him Wouldest thou be like the Lord that did beget thee Then loue for God is loue Wouldest thou be obedient vnto God TheÌ„ loue thy neighbour for his commandement is that thou shouldest loue thy neighbor as thy selfe Finally wouldest thou shew thy selfe a true disciple of Christ thy Sauiour Then loue thy fellowes For by this shall all men know saith Christ that ye are my disciples if ye haue loue one vnto another Let vs therefore affect one another with true loue We are the sons of one father the children of one mother the teÌ„ple of one God the field of one husbandman the house of one inhabitant the branches of one vine the stones of one bilding and the plants of one field let vs therfore keepe peace with our selues embrace one another in the armes of amity So shall Gods house continue his throne shall endure his field shall prosper we our selues shall flourish our ioys shall be increased and our enimies shall be defeated of much aduantage Thus much concerning the instructions which arise out of the consideration of these two titles together It remaineth now to set downe those that may be gathered from theÌ„ being distinctly considered by themselues And of the former first CHAP. 4. We must keepe our selues wholly for God We must be content with his husbanding We must striue to be fruitfull in good things They are to be dispraised that are barren FIrst forsomuch as we are GODS field we must beware that we giue not our selues to any from him We are not our own to dispose of as we list our selues but his that hath bought vs and taken vs in for himselfe Let vs therefore take heed that we suffer not our selues to be sowne with corrupt seed to be set with the plants of wickednesse Let not the diuell sow the tares of wicked errours and filthy sinnes within thee Thou art Gods keepe thy selfe cleane and pure for God Secondly seeing we are Gods field let vs be content with his husbandnig of vs. The ground doth patiently beare the Plowman and his Plow the sower and his seed without the least resistance So let vs be content to beare with meekenesse Gods plough and his ploughmen his seed and sowers Let vs endure all things which he hath in his wisdome ordained to breake vs vp to make vs faire and fertile his Word his Sacraments his Ministers his Orders Let vs not repine and storme against them but subiect our selues and beare them meekely without resisstance Thirdly we are taught to be fruitful vnto God in faith loue repentance and obedience The good ground which receiueth good seed is very profitable to the owner sending forth plenty of fruit EueÌ„ so we being sowen with the good and wholesome seed of Gods word we ought to bring forth fruit aboundantly that our owner may haue a plentiful crop It is a cursed ground that receiues seed yet affoordeth either nothing or nought but weedes We are Gods field aâ—d therefore we should not be like the field of the sluggard that is ouergrowne with thornes nettles If a field be broken vp with the plough and if good seed be not sowen therein it will bring forth more store of weeds then if it had laine vnplowed So if the seeds of Christian vertues be not sowne in our heartes and fructify in our liues now that we haue ben broken vp with the plough of Gods word we shall more abound with the stinking weedes of wickednesse then if we had neuer felt that plough Let vs therefore looke to our selues and labour to be fruitfull in good thing Apply thine heart to instruction and thine eares to the words of knowledge He that followeth after righteousnesse and mercy shall find life righteousnesse and glory Now that we may be fruitfull we must performe these duties following First we must roote those sinfull weedes out of our hearts which oppresse and choke them Breake vp your fallow ground and sow not among the
with all thy graces Open our eyes that we may see thy will and incline our hearts to follow it Direct vs in thy waies and keepe vs from declining from thee Teach vs so to frame our liues before thee in this word that we may liue for euer with thee in the world to come Be merciful O Lord we beseech thee to thy Church and to all her faithfull members comfort them with thy comforts and inrich them with thy graces Blesse this kingdome wherein we liue pardon the sins of all estates amongst vs and continue thy Gospell to vs and to our posterity to the end of the world Looke vpon thine annointed Iames our souereigne Lord king adorne his heart with all regall and Christian vertues vphold his scepter prolong his reigne laugh his foes to skorne Blesse our gracious queene Anne Prince Henry and the rest of their princely progeny Be mercifull to all other orders amongst vs aswell Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill and as thou aboundest in thy mercies towards vs so grant that we may striue to abound in all thankfulnesse towards thee Finally O Lord for our selues we beseech thee to take vs to thy fatherly protection pardon the weakenesse of our praiers watch thou ouer vs to our good giue vs such rest sleep that we may be the fitter enabled to serue thee the next day in our general and speciall callings Heare holy Father from the heauens and grant vs all these our requests for Iesus Christ his sake thine onely Sonne and our onely Sauiour to whom with thee and thine holy Spirit one most wise glorious and eternall God be rendred all power praise glory this night for euer Amen Trin-vni Deo gloria FINIS Deut. 32.11 Deut. 32.13 Deut. 32.5 15.21 Ex. 8 3.14 Nouem 5. An. 1605. 1. Cor. 3.16 1 Thes 5.23 a 2. Cor. 11.2 b Chedia 1â— c 2. â—â—g 18. d 2. Paulus e Iesse 1. Salamo a Acts. 8.3 b 1. Tim. 1.12 c Gal. 1.13 d Gal. 1.15.16 e Zach. 2.8 f 1. Tim. 1.13 g Ps 19.13 i 1. Tim. 13 Acts. 9.1 k Rom. 11.33.34 l Is 50 2. a Gal. 1.1 b 1. Cor. 4.7 c Psa 75.6 d 1. Chron 29.12 Iob. 32.8 Iam 1.5 e Prou. 29.23 Mat. 23.12 Iames. 4.6 f Iosh 10.13 g Isay 38.8 h Mat. 7.2 i 1. Cor. 3.7 k 1. Pet. 5.5 l Matth. 2. m 1. Câ—r 16.10.11 n Mat. 25. o Gal. 5.13.26 a 1. Cor. 4.13 b Exod. 20.18.19 c Gen. 22.1 d Gen. 22.12 e Act. 16.14 f Luk. 8.15 g 2. Cor. 4.7 h Rom. 1.16 i 1. Cor. 1.21 k Gal. 1.8 l 1. Cor. 1.21 m Ps 68.70 n Amos. 7.15 o Mat 4 19. p 1. Cor. 4.9.13 q 2. Cor. 5 20. r 2. Cor. 5.18 a 2. Tim. 4.10 a 1. Tim. 3.1 b Eph. 6.17 c 1. Chron. 15.2 d Ezeck 3.20 a Mat. 20. c Heb. 5.4 d Luk. 10.2 e Rom. 10.15 f Ier. 23.21 g Num. 4.19 Ministers must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 2. Tim. 2.15 b 2. Cor. 4.2 c 2. Cor. 1.12 d 2. Cor. 2.17 e 2. Cor. 6.3 f 2. Tim. 1.13 g 2. Tim. 2.22 h 1. Tim. 3.2.3 In Mat. 25. i Exod. 28.30.36 k Gen. 6.14 l Exod. 35.38 m Mat. 7.5 n Ps 50.16.17 o Mal. 2.9 p Reu. 3.1 q Exod. 27.20 r Ps 93.5 Isay 52.11 Å¿ Ps 25.14 u Mar. 10. â— Leuit. 6.13 x Mat. 5.16 y Mat. 5.13.14 z Eccl. 5â— 6.7.10 a Mar. 6.20 b 1. Tim. 4 1â— c Act. 20 28. d 1. Cor. 9 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 e Rom. 2 2â— f Lu. 12.47 g Iam. 4.17 h Ier. 23.15 i Ier. 23 28. a Heb. 4 1â— b 1. Tim 3.2 2. Tim. 2.24 c 2. Tim. 2 d Math. 6.22 Mat. 5.14 e Iam. 1.1 f Isay 50.4 g Mal. 2.7 h Lam 4.4 Lam. 2.11 12.19 i Pro. 29 1â— k Mal. 2.7 l Mat. 15.14 a 1. Cor. 4.2 b 2. Tim. 4.2 c Ier. 48.10 d Pro. 27.23 e Iob. 1.7 f 1. Pâ—t 5.8 g Mat. 23.15 h Pro. 27.18 i 2. Thes 3.10 k Act. 20.20.27.31 l Act. 20.28 m Ephes 4 12. 1. Pet. 5.2 n Gen. 31.40 o Ezek. 16.49 p Pastoris est pascere nâ—n deglubere q 2. Cor. 12 14. r 1 Cor. 9.17 Å¿ 2. Cor. 11.23 t Iude. 3. u Reu. 2.2 u Pro. 11. â—6 x Pro. 27.18 y Exod. 8.24 z Act. 20.30 a Isa 65.5 b Iudg. 15 4. Note c 2. Cor. 8.12 d Gal. 6.7 e Ier. 17.10 f Heb. 4.13 g Iob 42.2 h Heb. 10.31 a 2. Cor. 9.7 b 1 Chron. 29.6.9 c 1 Cor. 9.17 d Iob. 20.12 Prou. 4.16 f 1. Pet. 5 2 g Act. 2â— 24 a Neh. 4.17 b Eph. 6.12 c Ier. 1.17 d Ez. 3.9 e Ier. â— 8 f Tit. 2.15 g Isai 58.1 h Mich. 3 8. i Kin. 18.18 k 2. Sam. 2.9 l Isay 50.7 m Isay 50.6 n For sheep maâ— be driuen to the â—acks but Lions must be fed at the staues end lest â—hey feed on them that would â—â—ed them o Isa 58.1 p Gal. 6.1 2 Tim. 2.25 a Gen. 15.11 b 2. Cor 4 1. c Psa 119.105 d 1. Pet. 2.5 e Ouid. f 2. Pet. 1.13 g 1. Tim 4 13.15.16 h Mat. 20.8 i Eccl. 11.6 k Gal. 6.9 l Nehe. 9 12. m Exâ— 27.20 n Psal 15. o Ex. 29.38 p Isa 62.6 7. q Luk. 9 62. a Psal 94.4.5 b Psal 5.9 Psal 10.7 c Is 59.8 d 1. Tim. 3.2 Tit. 1.7 e 1. Cor. 11.16 f Mar. 3. 24 25 g 1. king 3.26 h Nehe. 4. i Iosephus k 2. Tim. 3.24 l 1. Ioh. 4.8 â— Thes 5.22 m Rom. 12 18. n Ouid. o Rom. 12.16 p Rom. 15.1 q 1 kings 21.3 r Mat. 10.16 Tit. 1.8 Å¿ Rom. 15 5. t Eph. 5.23 u Eph. 4.3 Gal. 5 26. Eph 5.27 w Luk. 23.12 Act. 4.27 x Rom. 15.6 y Morbida sâ—la â—ecus totum â—orrumpit ouiâ—e z Mark 9.10 a Psa 133.1 b Ioh. 13.35 c Virg. a Iohn 15.1 b Heb. 3.4 c 1 Cor. 3.6 d Psal 127. â—1 e 1 Cor. 15.10 f 1 Pet. 5.10 g 2 Cor. 5.19 h 2 Cor. 2 15.16 a Isa 55.11 b 2. Cor. 2.15.16 c Isa 50.7 d Ier. 1.8.18.19 e Eze. 2.3 â— Acts 18 9.10 f Iosh 1.5 Heb 13 7. h Heb. 1.12 i â—am 1.17 Isa 46.10.11 k Psa 84.12 a 1. Cor. 3 8 b Dan. 12.3 c 2. Tim. 4.7.8 h Pet. 5.4 e Mat. 10 â—1 f Mat. 20.8 a 2 Cor. 3 9. b 2 Cor. 5.2 18. Act. 20.28 1 Cor. 12.28 c Iob 25.6 d Isa 57.15 e Iob 33.23 f Psal 116.12.17 g Psa 145.2 h Psâ— 4.3.8 i 1. Sam. 2.30 k Leuit. 10.3 a Eph 5.1 b Tit. 2.7 8. a 1 Thes 2.2.3.4 b 2 Tim. 24 c Eph. 6.2 2.2 d 2 Cor. 10 4. e Act. 6.2 f Aug. Note g 1. Tim. 5.8 h Ioh. 21.3 i Mark 6.3 k 2. Tim 4.13 l Act. 20.34 m 1. Tim. 3.4.5 a Conâ—er the 1. Cor 3.6
wickednesse and he will not alwaies winke at it The Lord is not so slow but he is as sure Lento gradu ad vindictam ira diuina procedit sed tarditatem supplicij grauitate iudicii compensat Though it be long before he strike yet he striketh home when he doth strike and recompenseth his slacknesse with his sharpnesse It will not serue their turnes when they haue committed sacriledge to wipe their mouthes with the adulterous woman and to say Wee haue not committed iniquity or to thinke with those in the Psalme God hideth away his face and will neuer see For the Lord regardeth all that is done His eyes are vpon all the waies of men His throne saith Dauid is in the heauen his eies will consider his eie-liddes will try the children of men The wicked and him that loueth iniquity doth his soule abhorre Wherefore brethren be now admonished with all lowlinesse and truth of heart to reuerence your Ministers to obey their Ministery to imitate their vertues to countenance them and pray for them And robbe them not of that which in conscience is their right but rather straine your selues that they may not lacke but haue sufficient maintenance to mainetaine their estates to the credit of their calling which is most honorable and holy And so doing you shall animate and incite them to walke diligently in their office you shall remoue mâ—ny troubles impediments from them you shall adorne your high calling you shall declare your loue to the Gospell your subiection to the Word you shall stop the mouthes of the wicked and shew your selues vnlike to them and like to the godly deuout of former ages you shall demonstrate your honour honorable conceipts of Gods honorable holy Embassadours finally you shall draw others on to do their duty by your Christian ensample and so glorifying God you shall be glorified of God with that glory which of his grace in Christ he hath from all eternity prepared for his Saints This shal suffice for the office and honour of Ministers It remaineth now to speake of the office and honour of the People contained in the words ensuing Trin-vni Deo gloria 1. COR. 3.9 Ye are Gods Husbandry ye are Gods Building CHAP. 1. The words are explained and their sense declared THE Apostle hauing shewed the Corinthians what he was with the rest of his fellow-ministers he doth in these words shew them also what they themselues are Now before we weigh anchor and launch forward with our vessels into the deepe it wil be first conuenient for vs to break the ice by the explicatioÌ„ of the words to prepare a way for the collection application of the doctrines Ye Euen ye Corinthians ye that are not Iewes but Gentiles yea ye that are ouer-carnall and something factious of what sex or sort soeuer Are Ye are now Gods Husbandry and Building notwithstanding those infirmities which I reprehend and dislike in you Gods The word God vsed properly is sometimes taken personally as in Iohn 3.16 for God the Father in the Acts 20.28 for God the Sonne and in the Acts. 5.3.4 for God the holy Ghost Which three are not three seuerall Gods but three distinct persons subsisting in the Godhead For there is but one God in nuÌ„ber And sometimes also this word is taken essentially as in Iohn 4.24 And so it may be very fitly taken as I thinke in this text And so by God we may vnderstand all the three persons to whom the Godhead doth in common without inequality diuision and transmutation appertaine For the Scriptures plainly teach that we are an house belonging to them all We are the Fathers house Ephes 2.22 And the Sonnes house Eph. 3.17 Heb. 3.6 And the holy Ghosts 1. Cor. 3.16 and 6.19 All things whatsoeuer that are not meerely wicked belong vnto them equally by vertue of their absolute Lordship and dominion ouer all Husbandry The originall word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated huâ—bandry doth properly signify a field or peece of ground tilled husbanded and wrought vpon or a field on which the husband-man bestowes his worke and labour Building the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated Building hath three distinct significations in the new Testament First it signifieth the action of building in a metaphoricall signification as in the 2. Cor. 10.8 And in Ephes 4.12 Secondly it signifieth the things which do build or edify spiritually as in the 1. Cor. 14.3 Thirdly it signifieth a thing builded or an house as in Mat. 24.1 And in the 2. Cor. 5.1 And so the word is vsed in this text Now the Church of God for this speech of Paul is not exclusiue but includeth all faithfull Christians in all other Churches besides as appeareth by comparing this place with Ephes 2.21 and 1. Tim. 3.15 and 1. Pet. 2.5 I say the Church of God may be compared to a field and Hâ—use for the proportion congruity that is betwixt them which is manifold First fields haue their boundes and houses haue their compasse or limits which they cannot passe and so hath Gods Church Secondly euery field is layed and limited by some man euery house hath her compasse set her by some man or other so it is with Gods Church The Lord hath appointed her bounds hath giuen her a compasse which she shall not transcend and passe Thirdly euery field is taken in ouâ— of the open champion or common by some man For no field can make it selfe especially no plowed-field There must needs be a man to make it and to appoint it to such an vse And as euery house is built by some body so is the Church God hath taken her in out of the vast wildernesse of this wicked world he hath imparked her with the pales of his mercy he doth fence her in with the quickset hedge of his gracious protection he doth separate her froÌ„ al other grounds and make her the field and garden of his owne delight And the same God also doth build and reare her vp to be an house or temple The Lord saith the Psalmist doth build vp Ierusalem and gather together the dispersed of Israel He healeth those that are broken in heart and bindeth vp their sores As by him we receiue the life of nature so likewise by him we do receiue the life of grace He breatheth into vs the breath of life corporal and spirituall He is the fountaine of all liuing waters the root from which the iuce of true Christian life doth issue and proceed vnto vs. And as we are made men by him so are we also made new men and therefore Paul cals vs his workmanship For he doth hew vs out of the rocke Christ Iesus He cuts vs and squares vs out He reares vs vp and ioynes vs together by the bond of his Spirit and by the links of true loue as it were with pins and with lime soulder And
by Yea they may perswade themselues so thereof as that they may coÌ„ceiue a kind of ioy therefore in their hearts and yet for all they are deceiued Some that haue suddenly fallen into a swoone haue imagined that they saw goodly sights and many frantick persons will sing and hallo as if they were in a very good condition whereas indeed their case is pittifull Euen so some of the Reprobate may fall into such a fit of spirituall swoone and phantastick phrensie of the mind as that they may both think better of their estates then they are indeed and reioyce also within themselues as if they were right good men and happy being neuerthelesse in truth the very Refuse of mankind the Obiects of Gods wrath and as it were the Center of his iudgements Yea further they may so carry themselues outwardly as that they may seeme vnto men that doe not see the heart the true meÌ„bers of the Church and as plants in Gods fiâ—ld But blazing starres are not true starres but fading meteores a foot of wood is not a foot indeed and painted fire is not fire Euen so what shew soeuer they make yet are they not indeede her members they are not GODS plants indeed They may be in Gods house but they are not of Gods house they may be in his field but they are not of his field Goates and sheepe may be together in one fold though they be not of one flocke Cockle good come may bee in one Barne Theeues and True men may be in one field strangers and seruants guests and children in one house And all is not that which it seemes to be All is not grasse that looketh greene nor all bloud that is red Sathan can transforme himselfe into an Angel of light all is not gold that glisters hypocrites may seeme religious and men of woluish dispositions can for need walke like sheepe in sheepe-skins When the great Gold-smith shal come to try them with his Touch-stone hee will finde them copper and not good gold When the windes shall blow hard against them when the flouds shall come and dash against them they shall fall flatte downe to the ground because they are not as liuing stones founded vpon the rock Christ but weakly built vpon a weake and sandy foundation And a day will come when the Husbandman will view his field and will separate the corne of his owne sowing and carry it home into his barne from the tares of the enemy how faire and fresh soeuer they seeme to be and will binde them in a bundle and cast them into the fire Now this prerogatiue is not meerly titâ—lar and veâ—ball but very commodious comfortable and excellent For Christ dwelleth in this field the Spirit of God dwelleth in this house and they that dwell therein shal haue their iniquity forgiuen And whosoeuer are of this house of this field shall continue so for euer For the couenant of God made with them is euerlasting The gifts and the calling of God are giuen without repentance and he wil preserue and guard them by his power through faith vnto saluation And their mother also which is the Church shall alwaies be the palace and paradise of his delight He will carry her vpon his backe like an Eagle he will shadow her with the wings of his grace and will continue constant in his loue for euer For his loue vnto her is euerlasting and his mercy endureth for euer Secondly seeing the Church is Gods House and Husbandry shee must acknowledge no Lord no Head no King but God Her obedience her homage her loyalty her virginity belongs to him as to her soueraigne Lord and onely absolute Husband She is not her owne therefore shee must glorifie God to whom of right she doth pertaine Thirdly Ministers ought to be the more diligent faithfull and alacrious in the execution of their function For the labour which they take and the paines they do bestow are bestowed vpon Gods House vpon Gods plowed-field They labour not in mens fields not in the house of men but in the house and field of almighty God who is able to recompence the faithfull and to punish the vnfaithfull therefore they should be the more carefull circumspect laborious in their calling taking heed what seede they sow what plants they set and both what and how they build Fourthly seeing the Church of God is his field house we ought all to labour to be assured that we are of it For out of it there is no saluation And when we are in it we must keep our selues in it and not straggle out and leaue it Men take grear delight to dwell in faire houses and to walke in pleasant fields The Church of God is a goodly house and a pleasant and greene field My welbeloued behold thou art faire and pleasant also our bed is greene the beames of our house are cedars Christ delighteth and dwelleth in her Let vs therefore like her and loue to liue within her They that leaue her leaue him For he is her Husband and Inhabitant therefore she cals him her Welbeloved and he cals her his Spouse My spouse is a garden inclosed And she crying out vnto him saith thus O thou that dwellest in the gardens O fountain of the gardens O well of liuing waters So then he which forsakes her forsakes him He which leaues her leaues his garden and he which leaues him leaues her fountaine euen the welspring of her life and the scaturidge of all true comfort Let vs therfore keepe our selues within the borders of the Church lest we walke in the valley of death We must needes be either in Gods Temple or in the diuels Synagogue either in Gods field or in the diuels field And whensoeuer wee see the face of a true Church in any place let vs take heed that we do rend not our selus froÌ„ her and leape out For this were so much as lay in vs to runne out of Gods field and to runne away from Christ who frequenteth the flockes of his sheep and delighteth to be in the assemblies of his people Let vs therefore be wise and not forsake the fellowship or aggregation that we haue among our selues as the manner of some is but let vs exhort one another that so much the more because ye see that the day of Christs second coming draweth neare Iude makes it a property of those that were fleshly had not the Spirit what shew soeuer they made to be makers of sects men of a schismaticall and contradictorious spirit that like not the beaten way but loue to walke in a way by themselues though it be full of mud and mire Considering also that the Church is Gods house husbandry it were a worke beseeming the honour of Princes and all Potentates in all their territories and dominions to defend and foster her that so they may
the meeke glorious by deliuerance Are they watchful and laborious to work thy ruine Be not dismaid For the Lord that guardeth thee will not slumber The Lord is thy keeper he is thy shadow at thy right hand Do they menace and trouble thee Be not discouraged for the eyes of the Lord are vpon thee Great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord diliuereth him out of al. But malice shall slay they wicked and they that hate the righteous shall perish Do they traduce and disgrace thee Hearken vnto me saith the Lord ye that know righteousnesse and in whose heart is my law Feare ye not the reproch of men neither be ye afraid of their rebukes For the moth shall eate them vp like a garment the worme shal eat theÌ„ like woolâ—l I euen I am he that comfort you Who art thou that thou shouldest feare a mortall man and the sonne of man which shall be made as grasse Yea but sathan that roaring and hungry Lion doth assault thee and seeke to deuoure thee Be nothing daunted for Christ Iesus the Lion of the tribe of Iudah is stronger then he His eyes are as a flame of fire able to discerne his stratagems his feet are like vnto brasse able to tread him downe and tame him and his good will is so great vnto vs as that none shall plucke vs from him and destroy vs. Are we disturbed with temptations Doth the flesh contend against vs Do false teachers labour to peruert vs Yet let vs not leaue our order and leese our courage For these may warre against vs but they shall not win they may contend but they shall not conquer they may disturbe vs but they shall not deâ—urbe vs. For God will confirme vs vnto the end he will not suffer vs to be seduced he will not permit vs to be tempted aboue our power Howsoeuer we may be weakened yet he will not suffer vs to be wholy wasted but with the temptation he will vouchsafe to giue vs an happy issue Premipâ—tâ—st Ecclesia non opprimi oppugnari potest expugnari non potest The Church of God may be pressed but it cannot be oppressed Sathan may besiege her but he cannot batter her to the ground and sack her He may fight against her but he cannot vanquish her For the Lord will defend and guard her He will neuer leaue her nor forget her Can a woman forget her child and not haue compassion on the sonne of her wombe Though they should forget yet will not I forget thee Behold I haue grauen thee vpon the palme of mine handes I haue loued thee with an euerlasting loue and I will preserue thee The Lord shall reigne for euer for the preseruation of his Church He hath laid her vpon a firme foundation and hath made the barres of her gates strong Carefull and good husbands haue a speciall regard of their grounds and houses We are Gods ground we are his house and therefore we may perswade our selues that he hath a very singular care ouer vs to preserue and saue vs. He is the Sauiour of all men but especially of those that beleeue He forsaketh not his Saints saith Dauid they shall be preserued for euermore Though they fall yet shall they not be cast off for the Lord putteth vnder his hand to lift them vp againe Men when they see their houses weake exposed to wind and weather do vse to vnderprop them to plant trees about them to defend them Euen so vndoubtedly the Lord being priuy to our weakenesse doth support vs with the props of his grace and doth enuiron vs with the tall and strong Cedars of his power For he taketh delight in them that feare him and attend vppon his mercy He will neuer turne from them to do them good Yea saith the Lord I will delight in them to do them good We may not thinke that God will bee carelesse of his house if forgetfull man be carefull of his In like manner also wise thrifty husbands seeing their fields subiect to be wasted with cattell and their corne to be troden downe and eaten vp do vse to compasse them with pales or other fences to ouersee them Euen so the Lord doth inclose his Church and ouersee her for her good and is exceeding viligant ouer her He taketh the Foxes which marre his vines he killeth the Boares he driueth out the beasts he mendeth her hedges he repaireth her ditches and hath a speciall care that his corne his vines and plants be not tooted vp spoiled If men respect their fields so diligently it were horrible wickednesse for any man to imagine that God will neglect his especially considering that he payd so deerely for it as he did considering also he is able to keepe it safe without toile or wearinesse and is not subiect to forgetfulnesse Eightly seeing the Church is Gods field and house we ought in no case to wrong her nor any of her members For the iniury that is offered vnto her doth redound vnto him and he accounteth all the wronges as done vnto himselfe which are done by their enimies vnto them In all their troubles he is troubled and they that touch them to do them harme do touch the very apple of his eye It were a dishonest and wicked part in any man to spoile his neighbours field or to pull downe or set fire on his house what horrible wickednesse then is it for any man to fire Gods house to waste and make hauock in his field If any man shall destroy the Temple of God him shal God destroy For the Temple of God saith Paul is holy which ye are The Church of GOD is a citty sought out and not forsaken of the Lord. He hath clothed her with the garments of saluatioÌ„ he hath couered her with the robe of righteousnesse and as a bride doth tire her selfe with her iewels so doth the Lord adorne her with his graces and put the golden chaine of immortality about her necke Now darest thou oppose thy selfe against her on whom God hath bestowed so great cost Wilt thou maligne her whom he doth loue and in his loue hath chosen to himselfe Wil the Lord make his Church an eternal glory and shall she sucke the breasts of Princes and â—ilt thou hate and disgrace her or any of her children Did Paul persecute Christ himselfe because he persecuted his members So Christ from heauen told him Now wilt thou be reputed a persecutor of Christ Iesus Hast thou none to persecute none to maligne none to trouble but him that dyed that thou mightest liue not dye What none If thou wilt needs persecute spoile then persecute thine owne corruptions spoile them make hauocke of thy lusts which fight against thy soule and labour to subdue thee Trouble not the Church of God do
thornes Be circumcised to the Lord and take away the foreskin of your hearts Secondly we must labour to be partakers of Gods word hungring and thirsting after it as after food It is the Plough that must breake vs vp it is the beetle that doth beat our clotty hearts it is the seed that must be scattered vpon them and it is the raine also that makes the seed spring vp and grow It is the meanes indeed the blessing is from the Lord. Wherefore laying aside all maliciousnes all guile simulation enuy and all euill speaking as new borne babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby Thirdly when the seed is sowne let it find roome within vs. Let vs giue it liberty to roote and spread it selfe in our heartes As a ship cannot saile without sea-roome so the seed cannot grow without earth-roome We must therefore giue the seed of Gods word roome in our heartes we must yeeld vnto it we must giue it passage in vs we must locke it vp in the closet of a faithfull heart and beleeue it The word hath bene vnprofitable to many because it was not mixed in them with faith Fourthly we must not only heare the word but we must let it worke in our liues we must expresse it in our conuersations Be ye doers of the word and not hearers onely only saith Saint Iames deceiuing your owne selues For if any man heare the word do it not he is like vnto a man that beholdeth his naturall face in a glasse For when he hath considered himselfe he goeth his way and forgetteth immediately what manner of one he was He that heares does not is like him that eates and thriues not Fiftly because the blessing commeth from aboue we ought therefore earnestly to begge a blessing of God vpon the knees of our soules that his word may take deepe roote in our hearts downewards and bring forth fruit plentifully in our liues vpwards and that as the Sunne doth whiten cloth resolue the snow melt the hardest yee and giue light vnto the world so his word may melt our hearts and whiten them and so dispell the darkenesse of our mindes as that we may repent of all our sins and see the riches of his grace and may haue light to come out of the waies of darkenesse and to walke before him in the wayes of life Sixtly we should set before our eyes that great reward which God will bestow vpon all such as are fruitfull in good workes and abound in the fruites of the Spirit They shall haue heauen earth and all things whatsoeuer are needfull and fitting for them And the more they doe exceed in grace the more they shall excell in glory Seuenthly we ought to consider diligently the examples of Gods children dead and aliue that haue bene are full of good fruits good deeds and who shine in Christian graces before all other men and hauing their patterns set before vs as scholers haue their copies we should stir vp ourselues and study to resemble them yea go before thē Many mē thinke skorn that any should go beyond thē in foolish fashions and vaine attire wherefore then should we be content through our dronish heauy disposition that any should strip vs in the race of Christianity and be more plentiful and ranke in bearing the fruits of righteousnes then we our selues are especially considering that we haue the plough of Gods word the seed of wholesome doctrine the sweet shewers of heauenly counsels exhortations admonitions and dehortations as plentifully among vs as they haue amongst them and more plentifully too it may be One man striues to haue as good corne as another why then should not we labour to be as rich in grace as our brethren Lastly if we would be fruitfull we must beware of the cares of the world that they do not like thornes choke the seed that is sowen in vs ouershadow it We must also take heed that it be not washt away with the waters of afflictions skorched with the burning heat of persecutions And finally we must take heed of the examples of the wicked and that sathan the birds of hel do not steale it from vs pick it out of our hearts Fourthly those are to be condemned that take vpon them the name of Gods field or husbandry and will needs be reputed his seruants and yet are either barren as an heath or fruitfull in nothing but in the vnfruitful works of darknes as drunkēnesse ignorance couetousnesse malice enuy swearing pride idlenesse and vncleannesse The field that receiueth the raine that fals often on it and brings forth herbes fit for the husbandman receiueth a blessing of God but that which bringeth forth thornes thistles is reproued and is neere a curse and the end of that field is burning We are Gods field his plough hath bene amongst vs fifty yeares together alwaies going vpon vs. His seed hath bene continually scattered vpon vs all this time He hath watered vs richly with the raine of heauenly instructions and the Sunne of righteousnesse hath all this time shone vpon vs with his most glorious Gospell Now if we shall bring forth nothing as too many do but the thornes of iniquity the thistles of vngodlinesse the nettles of fleshly lusts and the noisome weeds of wickednesse what can we looke for but a curse What do we else deserue but that he should make vs desolate as a desert and burne vs vp with the fire of his wrath The Lord said concerning his vineyard in Iudea that because he bestowed much cost vpon it it brought forth nothing but wild sowre grapes he would take away the hedge thereof and breake downe the wall Yea saith the Lord I will lay it wast briars and thornes shall grow vp it shall not be cut nor digged I will also command the cloudes that they raine no raine vpon it Wee are Gods Vineyard here in England he hath hedged vs about he hath built a tower made a wine-presse amongst vs he hath sent his workemen among vs he hath enuironed vs with many outward blessings he hath set watchmen to keepe vs and he hath long expected good grapes and a fruitfull vinetage But alas our grapes are generally sowre and wild our grapes are the grapes of gall our clusters are bitter our wine is the poison of Dragons and the cruell gall of aspes Our ingratitude is great our enormities are horrible our wickednesse is abominable We walke according to the stubbornenesse of our harts we haue made our browes of brasse and our foreheads of marble We draw on sin as it were with cart-ropes adde drunkennes vnto thirst Our dealings do testify as much to our faces All the toile that hath bene taken with vs doth seeme to be euen lost in the most The bellowes are burnt the lead is consumed in the fire the founder melteth in vaine The word