Asa the King of Iudah insomuch that the King of Iudah was faine to hyre the King of Aram to assist him And there continued wars betwéene Asa and Baasha all their dayes to the great terrour and vndoing of the subiects on both sides Wherefore the Lord sent Iehu saying Forasmuch as I haue exalted thee out of the dust and thou notwithstanding hast walked in all the wayes of Ieroboam and hast made my people Israel to sinne behold I will take away thy posteritie and will make thy house like his house So hée dyed hauing raigned foure and twenty yeares Iehu was a Prophet in his time Par. Who was the fourth King Past 1 King 16 8.9 Ela the sonne of Baasha Hée continued at Tirzah where Zimri his seruant killed him as he was drunke in his Stewards house after hée had raigned two yeares 1 King 16 9.10.11 to 19. Zimri raigned as King in the roome of Ela whom he had slaine He also slew all that pertained to Baasha euen euery one that were his friends or wel-willers according to that which the Lord had spoken by his Prophet Iehu because he and Ela his son had enforced the people of Israel to sinne against the Lord. When the people were in campe against Gibethon had heard that Zimri had slaine the King did set himselfe as king in his throne 1 King 16.16 to 28. they made Omri Captaine of the hoast King ouer Israell And when Zimri saw that the Citie Tirzah was taken hée went into his Palace and burnt himselfe and the Kings house and so dyed Then the people were diuided into two parts the one halfe followed Tibni the sonne of Ginath to make him king the other followed Omri to make him king But the people that followed Omri preuailed So Tibni dyed and Omri raigned twelue yeares wickedly as did Ieroboam and so dyed Par. Who was the fift king of Samaria Past Ahab his sonne 1 King 16 29.17.18.19.20.21.22 1. to 41. who did worse in the Lords sight then all that went before him And for the greater increase of his wickednesse hée marryed the Daughter of the Zidonian king who brought him to set vp Baall as a God And thus hée continued two and twenty yeares Hée had 450. false Prophets 1 King 7.1.2 to the end 18.1 to the end 19.1 to the end 2 Kin. 1.2 Eliah the Prophet of the Lord was in his time and an hundred other Prophets who laboured all that they could to conuert him But hée neuerthelesse encreased in wickednesse and slew all that called vpon the name of the Lord. Almighty God made the heauens as brasse and the earth as iron for the space of thrée yeares according to the words of Eliah insomuch as that there was a great dearth and famine But the Lord prouided miraculously for Eliah by the hands of the widow of Sarepta and by other meanes In the third yeare the Lord sent Eliah to Ahab who with his wife Iezabel excéeded in crueltie killing the Lords seruants and séeking in all Nations to finde him also But when Eliah met the King hée tolde him to his face that his sinne was the cause of Gods displeasure against Israel Afterwards Eliah and the people agréed that the God who answered by fire whether it were Baal or the God of Israel the same should be taken for the true GOD from thence forth And when the people had séene that Baal could doe nothing in the time of néede and the great power of God so admirable they cryed out and said The Lord is God the Lord is God And then the Lord of his mercy gaue them raine at the prayer of Eliah And yet notwithstanding this great worke of God by the hand of Eliah Iezabel the Quéene sought to kill Eliah so that hée was faine to hide himselfe and to flye from place to place as hée did before But the Lord had speciall care of him The assurance whereof was manifested vnto him by the miraculous worke of God renting the mountaines breaking the rockes and shaking the earth Iezabel his wife caused Naboth to be slaine that shée might enioy his Vineyard and againe the Lord of his mercies sent his Prophet Eliah to reproue him that hée might repent Afterwards Ahab was slaine in the battell with the king of Siria and hée was buryed in Samaria but his armour and his Chariot being washed in the poole of Samaria the dogs licked his bloud according to the word of the Lord after he had raigned two and thirty yeares Par. Who succeeded this wicked King Ahab in Samaria Past 1 King 22.51 2 King 1.1 to the end Ahaziah his sonne But he did worse as the holy Ghost reports For hée walked in the wayes of his Father in the wayes of his mother and in the way of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat And when hée was sicke hée consulted with a witch hée dyed when hée had raigned two yeares Eliah was his Prophet through the mercy of God from whose mouth hée might haue knowne the minde of the Lord but hée would not Therefore in signe of Gods fearefull iudgements his Captaines ouer fifties were destroyed with fire from heauen at the prayer of Eliah Par. Who was the ninth king Past Iehoram his sonne 2 Kings 1.17.3.1 to the end 9. to the end Hée was not so wicked as his father nor so wicked as his mother For hée tooke away the Image of Baal that his father had set vp and yet hée cleaued to the abhomination of Ieroboam which made Israell to sinne and departed not there-from The king of Moab paid tribute vnto the king of Israell but when Ahab was dead hée refused to pay as he had done before Then king Iehoram tooke with him the king of Iudah and the king of Edom with all their power and went to warre against the king of Moab And when they came to a place where they wanted water Elisha being earnestly requested declared vnto them what successe they should haue against Moab and the Lord ministred vnto them a whole valley of water without winde or raine according as Elisha had said Hée was slaine of Iehu after hée had raigned twelue yeares 2 Kin. 4.1 to the end 5.1 to the end 6.1 to the end 7. to the end 8.1 to 16. Elisha was in his time who wrought many wonderfull things for the confirmation of his zeale and faith in the Lords businesse but it tooke no effect in him Par. Who succeeded Iehoram in Samaria Past Iehu a Captaine dwelling in Ramoth Gilead the sonne of Iehosaphat 2 Kin. 9.1 to the end 10.1 to the end the sonne of Nimshi according as the Lord had appoynted Hée slew Iehoram and his Wife Iezabell whose flesh the Dogges did eate according as the Prophet had foretolde Hée slew Ahabs Priests and all the sonnes of Ahab as the Lord had said Hée threw downe the Image of Baall and all that appertained vnto him Wherefore the Lord promised him that his
a witnesse because the conscience is a thousand more then needes euen so repentance towards God that is deferred needes no witnesse because when it commeth the conscience doth accuse it doth witnesse it doth condemne it doth iudge and it is many times ready to execute As Honey doth make sowre things sweet euen so I must tell you that the sight of my sins doth make things that are in their nature sweet to others sowre to me As he that is in extreame heate will be glad with a little cooling as hee that is in extreame sicknesse will be glad with a little ease and as hee that is in extreame hunger will be glad of a little food euen so I good reuerend Sir extreamely tormented wth the waight of sinne miserably vexed with the guiltinesse of conscience and heartily frighted with the feare of Gods deserued iudgements wold be glad with a little comfort with a little ease with a little pittance or crumme of recreation For mee thinkes I see Birds swimme and Fishes flye all things are so crosse and so contrary vnto me Me thinkes I see the lake Troglodides thrise sweet and thrise bitter in one day and me thinkes I see the shoare Lepanthus in the morning sending forth a sweet pleasant calme but in the euening lightning and thundering Some perswade me that by faith onely I shall haue comfort in conscience and saluation which glads mee and is sweet vnto mee for a while others disswade me and say vnto me that I must obtaine it by Faith and Workes which presently dampe mee and are as hot thunderbolts vnto me I am as in a mismaze or labyrinth Ariadnes thread would winde mee out but conscience still puls me in As Diues being in hell did wish and desire that his brethren might be warned lest they also should come to that place of torments so I being thus perplexed doe heartily wish and desire Almighty God that not onely my naturall brethren but all people may be warned by Gods word that they may make conscience of his Sabaoths and that they may specially regard zealous men lest they be tormented in conscience as I am Tell me therefore tell me I humbly pray you tell me what shall I say what shall I doe or what way or course shall I take in hand to be reconciled to God to haue peace in my owne conscience and to haue assurance that my soule shall be receiued into the fellowship of the Saints in heauen amongst whom there are some that I most heartily desire to see A comfortable Confection for a sorrowfull Sinner Pastor YOu discourse so philosophically of naturall things as makes you séeme yet to me a naturall man in which discourse I obserue two speciall questions or rather obiections well worthy the answering One is your perturbations for sinnes committed the other is your doubt whether Faith Works or Faith onely iustifieth To the first I answere that your great griefes perturbations in soule and conscience are not arguments or notes of reprobation but rather of Faith of Iustification which is begunne in you For by how much you haue the sense and féeling of your sins by so much the more you haue the assurance of mercy as hée who hath the sense and féeling of his naturall disease hath some assurance that he is not in danger of death And by how much dangerous the disease of the body is found to be so much the more vehement and bitter a corosiue must be vsed but first a Corasiue then a Lenitiue Euen so Christ Iesus the holy Physitian heales the soules of great sinners by suffering them to call to cry to vexe to grieue and euen to roare with the surpassing greatnesse therof and afterwards when the extremitie and bitternesse of the passion is past then hée heares then hée grants and then hee receiues to mercy vsing therein the practise of a good naturall Physitian who ministreth not medicine to a maladye when it is raging and at the worst but when it is somewhat mitigated asswaged and abated And it is iustice with God to doe sometimes as hée is done vnto he cals cryes earely and late and man will not heare he offers mercy earely and late yet man will not estéeme of it No maruell then if man call and cry and God will not heare him if man call and cry for mercy and God will not by and by heare him Hope confidently in Gods mercy constantly and resolutely abide therefore and wait the Lords leasure be strong and he shall comfort thy heart You haue the example of Dauid of Ezekias of Peter and many others who called who cryed who wept and roared bitterly who hoped in God and were resolute at last the Lord heard them As for your other scruple or doubt concerning faith with workes or faith without works the places befitting this purpose are farre more then néede or conueniency will suffer me to vtter That faith onely iustifieth Paul hauing no good worke but rather being full of guile and crueltie as his owne story sets forth was iustified by faith only which makes him in great humility and thankfulnesse to preach the same in all that his Epistle to the Romanes and in many places of his other Epistles to the other Nations S. Iames in his Epistle catholicall writes no lesse when as he saith Iames 2.15 Shew me thy faith by thy workes and I will shew thee my faith by my workes meaning workes that follow a true iustifiing Faith and not workes annexed as iustifying with Faith S. Peter setting forth the excellencie of Faith saith 1 Pet. 1. that the triall therof is much more excellent then gold meaning a tryall in tribulations after iustification and not before S. Iohn approuing Iustification also by faith 1 Iohn 1. magnifieth the mercies of God in Christ and concludes all men vnder sinne The allowance of faith onely is manifestly proued by Christs owne examples who healed all manner of diseases vpon sinners by Faith onely and also forgiuing sinnes which was in effect the office also of Iohn Baptist Mat. 3. And againe the vse of ceremonies in the Law forced no farther for Iustification then to faith in the Messiah I must say in another sort if righteousnesse come by the Law that is to say if righteousnesse come by workes then Christ dyed in vaine and our Faith is of none effect And I must say as S. Paul said 1 Cor. 15. If there be no resurrection then are we of all men most miserable euen so if faith and workes doe iustifie then am I with you and with infinite thousands more of all men most miserable Gen. 11. As Nimrod with his builders were far wide when they thought with the strength of their hands to worke their way to heauen and the Pharisee when he boasted of his vprightnesse euen so are they that think to obtaine saluation by their workes farre wide and cleane out of the right way Like the
holy pure and immaculate substance incorporated in an humane body where it became sinfull This great and innarrable creature so wonderfully wonderfull was made and framed of nothing as other creatures were As when a man makes a blast or breath out of his mouth it procéedeth not of his nature but of the ayre which he draweth in the strength of nature enforceth out not the same but some other euen so the Almightie breathed into Adam the breath of life to wit it came out of his mouth not out of his nature nor out of this ayre about vs but euen of nothing The naturall man cannot extinguish or decay the soule because it hath production not from him but from GOD onely As the body is the instrument of the soule so the soule is the instrument of God Par What be the affections of the soule Past They are motions first and then acts eyther good or euill There is also a custome grounded or fixed in the soule to good or euill which hardly can be remoued Par What difference make you of Soules or how many sorts of soules be there Past Trées hearbs plants and such like haue a soule but it is onely effectuall for growing Beasts are said to haue soules sensitiue féeling and perceiuing things present Man is said to haue a soule reasonable and hauing both the former Par. Doth God daily create soules as men come into the world Past It were very offensiue to affirme the same for then wée should inferre that God in the beginning when he created all things left something vnperfect or vndone Though sinne possessed the soule originally the sixt day in which Adam was created yet God created afterwards no new but preserued the selfe same soule by his diuine wisedome whereby it may be said he worketh alwayes and yet not after the same manner as at the first Par. I remember that you said the soule was created pure holy and immaculate how came it to passe that it was so sodainly ouerthrown by contagion corruption and such like Past The breach of Gods commandement was the cause of that corruption Such is the nature of sinne that it seazeth vpon the soule possessing it with all filthinesse and so consequently dispossessing her of all former integritie As in a sanctified and pure soule the beames of Gods truth and clearnesse doth shine euen so in a soule once touched or tainted with disobedience all deformities and workes of Satan will appeare As the body feareth death and other hurtfull things euen so the soule that continueth in Gods fauour not onely shunneth grosse sinnes but also small sinnes because they also proue very pernicious Par. Proue the immortalitie of the Soule Past The immortalitie of the Soule is substantially proued by the resurrection of Christ God said to Moses I am the God of Abraham of Isaac and Iacob Whereupon Christ concludeth that Abraham and the faithfull shall liue for euer If our soules were not immortall no reward to the godly nor punishment to the wicked were to be expected Then as S. Paul said we of all men were most miserable In this life the soule doth nourish the body with much care but being fréed from the body it nourisheth it selfe with diuine contemplation Par. Why did the Serpent tempt Euah and not her husband Past As the Serpent being a most subtile creature was a fit instrument for the Diuell to traduce sinne and disobedience into the woman euen so the woman being a goodly garish and an intising creature was a fit Instrument to traduce sinne into Adam and so consequently into euery man Par. How did the Serpent tempt her Past He tempted her with the promise of greater felicitie and glory which he effected by alledging profit and omitting the penaltie Sometimes the Diuell peruerteth Scripture giuing it a false glosse or a wrong interpretation as he did of that Psalme when he tempted Christ himselfe Par. Why did God so seuerely punish so small a sinne and all mankinde for one mans sinne Past There were two reasons one was to declare how loathsome a small sinne is to his Maiestie withall to declare that a small sin doth deface and disgrace the holy Image of God in man Par. Why did God create all other creatures first and man last Past Thereby to declare his singular mercy and prouidence in preparing and in making all things ready méete and fit for man against he came giuing no place for him nor for his posteritie to depend vpon themselues neyther yet to be doubtfull of any thing that might satisfie the body content the eye and delight the heart for all things were ready Par. Whence haue we the names and the right vse of these creatures Past Euen from Adam for we read that God brought euery creature or rather euery creature came of his owne accord being commanded of God and presented himselfe before Adam Par. How were all things made and created Past They were made euen of this word Let as though hée would declare thereby his excéeding power to whose will or Let there was no let or stay but all things had a present prosperous progresse Par. Whereas in the creation of Adam God spake of himselfe plurally Gen. 1.26 to wit Let vs make man after our owne likenesse declare vnto mee somewhat briefly and materially what God is by whom as you say all things were so wisely ordered so effectually performed and miraculously maintained and preserued Past The Epicures Atheists and such like are compared to the Hircanian fishes from whom comes neither good nor euill because they are not danted with the feare of God nor delighted with his loue But you I finde by this to be far otherwise minded and therefore reuerently and in the feare of his holy Maiestie I will answere you God before the creation was perfect and after the creation was the same God is vnknowne according to his essence and infinite according to his Maiestie He illuminateth spirituall things he illustrateth intellectuall natures and he is the highest amongst intelligible things No man is able to attaine vnto the essence of a Star much lesse of God As a man standing vpon the shoare of the Sea séeth not the bredth and depth of it euen so the Angels in heauen and the Elect on earth may sée God really yet not comprehend the depth of his greatnesse nor the height of his euerlasting essence In regard whereof he answered Moses when he desired to know what he was with few words of innumerable difficultie and incomprehensiblenesse Exod. 3.14 saying I am that I am As though hée had said Though I did declare my selfe vnto thée what I am yet canst thou not comprehend mée neyther yet he to whom I send thée When he was to comfort Abraham and to set him forward as an example vnto all his posteritie for faith and an vpright life Gen. 17.1 he said vnto him I am God all-sufficient As if he had said Feare not in me is
ten Fathers before the Flood by the ten Fathers after the Flood and by the twelue Patriarches succéeding them Par. What particular obseruation shall I make for the better vnderstanding of this Ceremoniall Law Past There are diuers necessary obseruations but specially these sixe which by way of interrogation you must finde out 1 The Tabernacle 2 Feast dayes 3 Sacrifices 4 Sacraments 5 Sacrificers 6 Sabaoth Par. Tell me first of all what the Tabernacle was Past The Tabernacle was a place principally dedicated for religion whiles they were in the wildernesse trauelling towards Canaan It was made by the Lords commandement of brasse of siluer and of gold as an whole entire worke or one thing to containe diuers things but parted with vaâ—es into thrée roomes Par. What was the first roome of the Tabernacle Past The first roome was Southward containing an Altar of earth whereon burnt offerings were made by the people themselues and also by the priests on the Sabaoth day and on feast dayes Par. What was the second roome of the Tabernacle Past It stood Northward it was called holy and it was made and framed with Sethim wood and couered with gold that it might not rot and that the priests might burne incense thereon both morning and euening There was the table of gold whereon was set the shew bread which was not lawfull for any man to eate but for the priests when it was stale and they were to supply it with new against euery Sabaoth In this roome were set diuers instruments which were for the seruice and dedication of the Temple Par. What was the third roome or part of the Tabernacle Past The third part of the Tabernacle was Westward called the holiest of all made of Sethim wood but couered within and without with fine gold In this roome was the Arke of the couenant which represented God himselfe Therein were the two Tables of the law the golden pot Aarons rod and the Mercy seat couered with Cherubins and shadowing the Arke This most excellent workmanship of the Almighty with the Arke and all the appurtenances continued amongst the people of Israell vntill the death of Eli the high priest at which time the Arke was taken by the Philistines in a great battell and it continued as a pilgrime tossed too and fro in priuate mens houses vntill the death of Saul the king then king Dauid being moued with the zeale of God and being grieued that the Arke of his Maiesty was so exiled and banished ioyned with the Leuites the priests and Nobles of the land to fetch it to Ierulalem Par. Now I would heare what is conuenient concerning feast dayes which you spake of Past There were diuers feasts vsed in the ministrations of the law especially these fiue The feast of Easter Pentecost Trumpets Tabernacles New Moone Par. Tell me briefely concerning the feast of Easter Past Easter was one of the great solemne feast dayes in the which all the people of Israell were commanded to come vnto Ierusalem wheresoeuer they inhabited ouer the world that then and there they might eate the Passeouer in the commemoration of their deliuerance out of Egypt and also in expectation of the holy Messiah which was for to come who in Ierusalem according to that time should be the true Passeouer or Pascall lambe offered vpon the crosse Par. What was the feast of pentecost Past The feast of Pentecost or Whitsontide was another such like feast or holy assembly full 〈◊〉 dayes after Easter thereby to continue the remembrance of that time in which God gaue them the two Tables of stone written with his owne hand and also to haue relation by a spirituall expectation to the abundant graces of God in Christ which shortly after his Ascention was to be sent downe vpon his Apostles in signe of clouen tongues Par. Set me downe I pray you the feast of Tabernacles Past It was a feast of seauen dayes continuance which was solemnized for to put the people in remembrance of their estate when they were in bondage vnder Pharao and when afterwards they were in the wildernesse without house or habitation full fortie yeares that thereby they might be taught to endure with the greater patience in the consideration of their better and more continuing habitaon which in time to come they should haue in Canaan and afterwards in the holy kingdome of heauen Par. There remaineth yet one more of the feasts which you named to wit the feast of new Moones Past The feast of new Moons was the beginning of euery month in which the people were bound to offer burnt offerings vnto the Lord. Par. You spake vnto me of Sacrifices I pray you tell me somewhat thereof and how many kindes or sorts there be Past Sacrifices were of sundry sorts or kindes especially foure The first kinde was a burnt Sacrifice or oblation which was offered by the common people vpon the Altar as they would and as they were able The second kinde of Sacrifice was that which the priests onely offered for the sinnes of the people according as euery man was able after this manner for the gouernors they offered a Goat The third for the poore they offered a payre of Turtle doues or two yong Pigeons The fourth for other of lesse ability the tenth part of an Epha Par. What was the third kinde of Sacrifice Past The third kinde for sanctification or consecration of the priests was of thrée sorts 1 a Calfe 2 Ramme 3 red Cow Par. What was the fourth kinde of Sacrifice Past The fourth kinde was a Sacrifice or oblation of reconciliation or of attonement which the high priest offered for himselfe when he appeared before God in the holy place vnder these speciall kindes to wit A yong Cow A Bullocke Two hée Goates Aaron was to cast lots which of these two hée Goats were to be offered and which should escape Par. You spake of Sacraments tell mee I pray you how many Sacraments there be the difference betwixt the old and the new and how I may know the difference betwixt a Sacrament and a Sacrifice Past Sacraments in the time of the Law as in the time of the Gospell were in number two Circumcision and Paschal Lambe before Christ Baptisme the Lords Supper after Christ Par. Now declare the difference betwixt the old Sacrament and the New Past The old did promise Christ for to come the new doth performe him already come Againe the old were but figures shadowes and relations of things to come The new are the very same indeede the most perfect and most substantiall matter Par. What difference is there betwixt a Sacrament and a Sacrifice Past In Sacrifices men offer and giue vnto GOD in Sacraments GOD offers and giues vnto men Par. Declare vnto me the sixt particular to wit of Sacrificers who they were and what else is fit to be learned therein Past Sacrificers were the priests as was Aaron and his sonnes They were men seperated and segregated from ill and