litle corner to abide in it then if they had in other places the most rich gorgeous stately buildings in the whole world But that befalleth these kinde of men which the Poeteâ— and fables do record of the moone who desiryâ—ng her mother that she might haue a garment made fitte and proportionable for heâ— body she excusing her selfe sayd my daughter howe can that be since thou hast a bodye subiect to so many changes and alterations and which neuer anye space reteyneth the same forme Euen so it is not possible to fitte these men which are so inconstant and vnstable of any estate wherein they can abide and although to couer their shame and to cloake somwhat their inconstancie they seeke some vayne and friuolous excuses striuing to â—ay the fault of their lightnesse vpon that side which they had chosen raysing all the false rumors seladers that they can imagine to diffame it to shew that they haue not forsaken â—t without great cause neuerthelesse when all things shal be narrowly searched all the blame will light in their owne neckes and in the end â—t will appeare that euen as one can not fitte a garment for him that hath a body mishapen â—or a shooe for him that hath a stubbed foote â—ot because of the imperfection of the garmeÌ„t â—r shooe but because of the body and of the â—oote to which they should be fitted so these â—inde of men cannot finde any estate whiche â—oth beseeme them or is altogether answeraâ—le to their appetite onely because of the deâ—ulte and corruption of their myndes which â—e peruerse crooked for as a body stronge well made caÌ„ aswell beare the great coldes and intolerable sharpnesse of winter as the extreamest heates of sommer so a mind well disposed and aswell instructed is euer like vnto it selfe and doth not change according to the diuersitie of chances which happen vnto it but hauing foreseene that in all kinds of life there is pleasure and payne sweete and sower and a like successioÌ„ and recourse from the one to the other is neuer but well resolued happen what will but in all mutations remayneth stedfast and as a quadrate and fouresquare body is euer firme and stable on what side soeuer it be layd That there is want of iudgement in the Apostates Chap. 2. VVHat can then be sayd or iudged oâ— these wretched Apostates of our dayes who haue so disloyally betrayed and denyed Iesus Christ forsaken the Church for the redeeming and sanctifying whereof he yeldeâ— himselfe to death and reiected the doctrine oâ— the Gospell which was sent vs downe froÌ„ heauen by the spirite of God Ephe. 5.25 2. Pet. 1. Heb. 1. 1. Tim. 3. receiued of all thâ— Patriarches preached by the Prophetes Iesuâ— Christ and his Apostles beleued and approueâ— in the world and sealed by the death and blouâ— of so many millions of Martyrs and faithfull witnesses all which with great constancie and inuincible courage haue confessed and maintayned it euen before Kinges and Emperours being not astonyed either with their presence or threatninges or with most cruell tormentes which were prepared for theÌ„ or with any danger which either could be set before their eyes or els which they theÌ„selues could coÌ„ceiue what ca they alleage to colourther Apostasie They will in deede coÌ„dene in the coÌ„pany of infidels which allow all that they say take pleasure â—n their talke our ReligioÌ„ in generall yea there â—e some so farre gone and so shamelesse that they dare openly name it euill But when any do vrge them to shew or note some particular â—ointe either in the doctrine or discipline or â—ls in the whole order whiche we vse in our Churches that may with reason be reprehenâ—ed theÌ„ they become as dumbe as dogges and â—ewe vnto all meÌ„ of iudgemeÌ„t good vnderâ—aÌ„ding that they are but backbiters that it â—s not any waÌ„t or colour that they haue espied â—n the religioÌ„ that hath caused theÌ„ to reuolte or â—indered theÌ„ from perseuering constaÌ„tly in the â—me as many haue done vnto the ende But â—at it was their own affectioÌ„s which make all â—ose vnstedfast incoÌ„staÌ„t which are not able to rule and gouerne theÌ„ and a grief of mynde which caÌ„ not beare the burtheÌ„ weight of the crosse 1. Tim. 3. which is ioyned with the profession of the true religion And finally a rashnes and raging of the passions whiche beare rule in that kind of men do egge theÌ„ forward and carie them away in all their intents and actioÌ„s more by a blind and vnbridled furie then by a prudent sage couÌ„saile if there had bene in theÌ„ but the least sparke of wit and discretioÌ„ before they had embraced the Religion should they not haue listened to the couÌ„sell of Iesus Christ Luk. 14.24 followed the exaÌ„ple of those who inteÌ„dyng to build a great sumptuous house do before the vndertaking therof cast an accounte of the cost charges which must be bestowed thereon lest that not hauyng well weighed their wealth taking more in haÌ„d then they are able to performe they be constrained with shame in the end to leaue their worke vnfinished or of the king who going to warre with another forecasteth diligently whether his power bâ— sufficient to ouercome his enemy fearing least that he assaulting him beyng but weake he should be vanquished and put to flight Our Apostates likewise ought they not before they embraced the Religion to haue coÌ„sidered first of all the incommodities and commodities they shoulde reape thereby and that no man is meete to follow Christ which is not resolued to expose himselfe to the haâ—red Math. 5. reproches iniuries and persecutions of the whole world that hath not a crosse continually loden on his shoulders to the whiche he be ready to be nailed and tyed vp for the confession of the name of God when as his houre shall come Math. 10. whiche also is not ready to giue ouer with a chearefull harte father mother wife children Math. 19. frendes houses landes honors estates kindred goods riches pleasures rest libertie life and all whatsoeuer he accounteth most deare and precious vnto him in this world to follow Christ And who to coÌ„clude accordyng to the example of Moses Heb. 11.25 doth not rather chose to suffer aduersitie with the people of God then to enâ—oye the pleasures of sinne for a season esteeâ—nying the Crosse and rebuke of Christ greater â—riches then all the glorie and treasures not oneâ—y of Egipt but also of all the Realmes and Empires of the whole earth If the Apostates â—ad bene wise and well aduised they ought to â—aue forecast all these thinges in their myndes before they entred into the Church and after â—o haue considered whether in takyng of this â—arte vpon these caâ—â—â—ons and conditions their â—trength were sufficient to sustaine theÌ„ which they did not but as freshwater souldiers who for want of experience thinke wheÌ„ they
cause themselues to be enrolled and when first they muster vnder their captaines that there is no trouble no labour no citie no force that shall encounter with them which they are not able to foyle and ouerthrowe and yet neuerthelesse be discouraged and dismayed as soone as they come to any assault or skirmishe or els to any sore encounter wherein it behooueth them to bestirre themselues and shewe in deede their vertue and valour So they which neuer had assayed the enemies of Iesus Christ nor borne the bruntes and assaultes which the deuill the world the fleshe the Antichrist and all their troupes do raise against him and all those that follow him thought that the profession of the Gospell had bene but a play or sporte and vnder that hope entred into the Church of God But perceiuyng the euill intreatie whiche the children of God receiue in it at the handes of the world they continued not long in it without repenting and seeking the meanes by the which they might withdraw themselues from it Ioh. 6. with some honest cloake if it might be possible because they could be content to followe Iesus Christ as those who hoped to haue liued of free cost in his company and to finde alway the tables furnished but not as Simon of Cyren vpon coÌ„dicion to cary his crosse after him I appeale vnto your conscieÌ„ces O ye Apostates is not this the truth of it If the kitchin of the Huguenotes had bene as fatte as that of the Chanons Bishoppes Abbotes and Cardinalles of Papistry and the ReligioÌ„ which we follow as easie to the flesh as Antichristes you would doutlesse haue stayed with vs being yet at this day conuinced in your owne consciences at least if there remaine any at all in you that the â—ruth is on our side and that the seruice done vnto God in our Churches is wholy administred accordyng to the rules and ordinances which he himselfe hath left vs in his word and that contrariwise the Popes and all his adherents Religion is nothing els but meere trifles and toyes and vayne ceremonies which light headed men haue inuented and established in â—he Church of God of their owne braine Psal 119. wheÌ„ the candell of the word of God was extinguished and put out which ought euer to go beâ—ore vs as a light to lighten and guide vs in all â—hinges which we do to serue him for we can â—ot swerue neuer so litle from it but we shall â—umble by and by like silly blind men consiâ—eryng that the whole seruice of God to be â—ue and lawfull must be measured by obedience which can onely be grounded vpon his lawes and holy decrees 1. Sam. 15. For if we wil go about to do any thing which concerneth his seruice except that which he himselfe hath expressely prescribed he will say vnto vs that whiche is written in the Prophesie of Esay Esay 1.12 who required or sought these things at your handes Let the Apostates then giue glory vnto God and cease if they caÌ„ from blaspheming agaynst the spirite of God against the doctrine of the Gospell against the Church against Iesus Christ to conclude agaynst the truth and wisedome which they themselues haue iustified and approued when they were as yet in their right wittes and when as the deuill which is entred into their hartes with seueÌ„ other spirites worse then himselfe had not troubled their myndes as he hath done since they are departed from the house of God and let them accuse rather their owne foolish inconstancie whiche hath caused them to giue ouer the best side without all comparison and the surest the most honorable that can be chosen by reasonable meÌ„ namely God his side of whiche Dauid speaketh Psal 16.5 The Lord is the portion of mine inhetaunce and of my cuppe thou shalt maintayne my lotte the lynes are fallen vnto me in pleasant places yea I haue afayre heritage And moreouer I will prayse the Lord who hath giuen me counsayle my reynes also teache me in the â—ightes I haue set the Lord alwayes before me for he is at my right haÌ„d therfore I shal not slide And â—n another place yet I was alway with thee Psal 73.23 thou â—ast holdeÌ„ me by my right hand thou wilt guide me â—y thy counsail and afterward receiue me to glory What the wretchednesse of the Apostates is Chap. 3. BVt now let the Apostates stay themselues here a while to consider into what a â—eepe pit and gulfe of wretchednesse and miâ—eries they haue cast themselues into leauyng God who is the welspring and fountayne of â—ife alfelicitie Psal 36.8 in whom alone consisteth all â—he good that we caÌ„ euer desire looke or hope â—or and who alone by his aboundance is able â—o satisfie and content all our appetites and â—onely by the brightnesse of his countenance Psal 16. â—o make vs perfectly happy The happy and eâ—ernall life sayth S. Augustine coÌ„sisteth in that we liue with God and of God that is to say that he himselfe be the soule whiche doth animate and quickeÌ„ vs and the foode which doth â—ourish vs. O God sayd Dauid Psal 23. thou art my portion and all my good and in the 23. Psalme The Lorde is my shephearde I shall not want which is to say that we may handle more particularly that which he saith in generall into what danger so euer I fall thou shalt be my Sauiour in darknesse thou shalt be my light in warre thou shalt be my defender in sicknesse thou shalt be my Phisition in sorrowe and wearinesse of mynde thou shalt be my comforte in my feeblenesse thou shalt be my supporte in perplexitie thou shalt be my counsaile when I am gone astray thou shalt be my guide being fallen thou shalt take me vp agayne standing thou shalt maintayne me in pouertie thou shalt be my treasure in miserie thou shalt be my felicitie in payne thou shalt be my solace in sinne thy mercy shal be my iustice in iudgement thy grace shal be my absolution to coÌ„clude in death thy spirit shal be my life There is nothing then that can be waÌ„tyng vnto vs in God in whom are all thinges what didst thou thinke O thou most wretched creature when as thou forsookest him to yeld thy selfe ouer vnto Idols Psal 115.5 which cannot teach thee any thing being dumbe nor see thy miseries beyng blinde nor heare thy prayers beyng deafe Ier. 10. nor defend thee beyng vnable nor goe and come to succourthee Hab. 2. being notable to bestirre theÌ„selues at all doest thou not serue this day for an example to verifie the saying of the Prophet Psal 115.8 that those which serue and worshyp them are like vnto them hauing no more sence or vnderstanding then they haue for it is not needefull to alleadge any other argument to proue that thou art depriued of all iudgement then the onely exchange and permutation which thou hast made of god to
name done many great workes And then will I professe to them I neuer knew you depart from me ye that worke iniquity Let vs then conclude that the praiers which are made at home priuatly done by some particular man can not be acceptable vnto God if he be not a member of the Church and he can not be a member of the Church except he be vnited with the body the head For those that thus withdrawe them selues from the assemblies whatsoeuer exercise of religion they performe in their houses they make a sect by themselues and by consequent are excōmunicated The seconde is that a faithfull mā ought not to withdraw himselfe from frequenting of the assemblies which be made in the name of God by his people in certaine daies that are appointed wherin they are called together to sanctifie publikely his name for the reasons which followe First of all it is forbidden them Heb. 10.24 Let vs consider one an other sayeth the Apostle to prouoke vnto loue and to good workes not for saking the fellowship we haue among our selues as the maner of some is but let vs exhort one an other that so much the more because ye see that the day draweth neere For if we sinne willingly after we haue receiued knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a fearefull looking for of iudgement and violent fire which shall deuour the aduersaries And afterward when God commandeth euerye one so expresly to sanctifie the day of rest is it not to the end that the people may inore conueniently assemble themselues to heare the worde of God preached and by their confessions praises and publike praiers whiche they make together ioyne and vnite themselues still more and more in the one and selfe same faith and religion and waite for the performance of the promises which God hath made to be in the midst of such assemblies and to powre vpon them aboundantly his spirite his graces fauors and holy blessings as Dauid saith As the devv of Hermon vvhich falleth vpon the mountaine of Sion Psal 133.3 there the Lorde appointed the blessing life for euer And this is the reason why this good wise king esteemed so much these holy assemblies that there was nothing in the world more deare and pretious in his eyes then to be in the middest of them at the dayes wherein they were called together as it appeareth by an innumerable multitude of places in the Psalmes Psal 26.8 O Lord I haue loued the habitation of thy house the place vvhere thine honor dwelleth Psal 43.3 And in an other place Send thy light thy truth let thē lead me let them bring me to thy holy mountaine and thy tabernacles Againe other where Psal 138.1 I vvill praise thee vvith my vvhole heurt enen before the Gods vvill I praise thee I vvill vvorship tovvards thine holy temple praise thy name because of thy louing kindnes for thy truth And in many other places he sheweth the delight which he had to resort to the publike cōgregatiōs of the church the singular pleasure contentation of minde he receiued in them doth teach euery one by his example to seke after frequent thē because there is no better means to preserue nourish increase faith thē that to be edified in the knowledge feare of God in all true kind of godlines religion 1. Cor. 14. Ephes 4. as the Apostle teacheth the Corinthians the Ephesiās Moreouer those that abstaine frō thē do they not detest the church of God Iesus Christ who is euer in the middest of those that are gathered together in his name Doe they not make themselues vnworthy of the great blessings that God imparteth to them so aboundantly 1. Cor. 11. Matth. 18. as though they were heathen and publicās Do they not forsake the company of Iesus Christ of the Patriarchs prophets Apostles of al the elect children of God which are all members of the church Deut. 23. To go to the bastards the Ammonits the Moabits who by the ordināce of God were in old time banished from the tabernacle and from the couenant of God O wretched soules which do not knowe the dayes of their visitation who turne their backes to the sheepehearde when he seeketh them and shut the dore on him when he commeth to knocke But to come to the ende of this speech and treatise I say in a word that the delayers whatsoeuer faith they suppose or feigne themselues to haue They are indued with none at all for the true faith is alwayes ioyned with confession as the Apostle saith which ought to be publike and in the sight of men Rom. 10. Matth. 10. Matth. 5. for our light ought not to lye vnder the bushell but to be Set on high vpon a candlesticke to lighten all those that come into the house We ought to beare the badge of our Sauiour Iesus Christ in our foreheades Apoc. 7. which is the place most eminent and apparant in all our bodie we ought not to hide our scarfes nor to turne our coates nor feare to be knowne by our liuery to the souldiers of Iesus Christ He hath died for vs not secretly in an vnknowne corner or closed frō the knowledge of the world but in the open place of the sculles where they had wont to execute the guiltie and euil doers Iohn 19. and was lifted vp on high on the crosse betweene two theeues and hath dronke swallowed vp this shame ignominy in the middest of the world that we might be honoured before God What vilanous and detestable ingratitude then is in them which woulde dissemble that and conceale such an act to as all the trumpets in the world can not sufficiently sound and spread abroad He is not ashamed euen nowe that he is in his glory to acknowledge and auouch vs for his brethren and shall we be ashamed to confesse him to be our Sauiour God by his grace and perfect goodnes grant to the delayers to know and vnderstand betime the great fault which they commit by dissembling so long that they may by a true repentance speedily preuent the fearefull iudgement of God which hangeth ouer their heads if they hasten not So be it