Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	fruit_n	young_a	zeal_n	18	3	8.5926	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09376	A cloud of faithfull witnesses, leading to the heauenly Canaan, or, A commentarie vpon the 11 chapter to the Hebrewes preached in Cambridge by that godly, and iudicious divine, M. William Perkins ; long expected and desired, and therefore published at the request of his executours, by Will. Crashawe and Tho. Pierson, preachers of Gods Word, who heard him preach it, and wrote it from his mouth.	Perkins, William, 1558-1602.	1607 (1607)	STC 19677.5; ESTC S2273	415,205	614

his life and when he dieth he shal be able to worship praise God On the other side take notice of it he that liues in couetousnes in profanenesse in fornication and wantonnes for the most part so dies Come to a couetous man at his death and talke with him and you shall finde nothing in him ordinarily but rauing talking about his bargaines his billes and indentures other worldly things And so wee may say of other lewd liuers looke what minde they had while they were liuing that shall you find most in their mouthes while they are dying which shewes plainely that as men liue so they die But some will say that oftentimes the godly man raues and speakes lewdly and it may be profanely before his death Ans. It is true indeed the best man is not freed from any kind of bodily sicknesse but is subiect to them as well as the wicked as to burning feuers and such like by the violence and rage of which diseases they are often driuen to raue to speake fondly and sometimes lewdly yea it may be profanely But what is that to the purpose for thogh a godly man for the time of his fit cannot expresse the grace of his heart but rather the corruption of his nature yet whē he hath recouered himselfe he is sory for the same is then ready willing to praise God with all his heart So that if wee would die well as Iacob did praising God then let vs lead our liues as he did namely by faith and the direction of his word and promises Then come death when it will and how it will wee may indeede be sore assaulted by sickenesse and temptation but yet we shall neuer be ouercome for God is faithfull that hath promised an issue to his children in temptatiō 1. Corinth 10.13 Lastly whereas Iacob worshipped God at his death Here we learne that sound zeale will neuer decay Many men haue zeale indeede but it comes onely from the strength and soundnesse of their bodily constitution and looke as strength decaies so doth that kind of zeale But sound zeale will not decay and weaken with the body but as Dauid saith of the righteous Psal. 92.13 15. will flourish like a palme tree and growe like a Cedar in Libanon it shall still bring forth fruit in a mans age and flourish This wee see was true in Iacob for though he were old and feeble with sicknesse yet he sheweth forth sound zeale in his heart at the houre of his death Euen so will it be with vs that professe religion if zeale be sound in our hearts it will shew it selfe and the older wee are the more fruits of grace wee shall bring forth and then shew forth more true zeale than in yonger yeares For though bodily strength decay yet sound zeale will neuer decay but when strength faileth then will zeale flourish if it bee sound like to the palme tree which will bud and sprout though the roots of it bee cut off Wherefore if wee would shew forth zeale in our age we must get soundnesse of it in our youth for that will put forth it selfe in the time of death And thus much of Iacobs example Iosephs Faith VERSE 22. By faith Ioseph when he died made mention of the departing of the children of Israel and gaue commandement of his bones WEe haue heard in the former verses the seuerall examples of the faith of the three Patriarchs Abraham Isaac and Iacob Now in this verse the holy Ghost setteth downe the example of Iosephs faith The words in this verse are plaine and easie neede no exposition They are a plaine and briefe summe of the ende of the 50. Chapter of Genesis Let vs therefore come to the points of doctrine and instructions which are to bee learned and gathered forth of the words First note in generall the great resemblance of this example with the former of Ioseph a godly sonne with Iacob a godly father for both of them shew forth their faith when they die For it is said of both By faith when hee died So that in ground and circumstance of time they both agree Herein we may obserue first that the good examples of Superiours vvhether they be ciuill or Ecclesiasticall are of great force to bring other men on and to make them forward in the duties of religion their zeale as Paul saith to the Corinthians in the case of almes prouoketh many Iacob the father beeing a worthy Prophet and Patriarch giuing an holy and blessed example vnto Ioseph and his children doth shew forth at his death most notable behauiour wherein hee worthily expresseth the trueth of his faith Now his example works with Ioseph and he in his death behaues himselfe in the same manner that his godly father did before him and therfore superiours must look to all their sayings and doings carefully that they may bee worthy examples to their inferiours to drawe them on in religion and in the feare of God Secondly hence inferiors also must learne to follow the godly holy and religious examples of their gouernours and superious whether they be ciuill or Ecclesiasticall as we may see in this place Ioseph doth imitate the godly example of his father Iacob Hereof Saint Paul giueth straite charge vnto the Philippians saying Brethren be followers of me and looke on them which walke so as ye haue vs for an example Phil. 3.17 And in the next Chapter exhorting them to honest conuersation hee biddes them doe those things which they had heard receiued and seene in him But are these duties practiced among vs bee the elder sort teachers of good things to the yonger doe the yonger follow their elders in wel-doing nay verily but such are our times too many among vs both those that giue and those which follow good examples are as signes wonders as the Prophet speaketh they are made a reproach a by-word among men and are foully disgraced by odious tearmes Isay 8.18 But this indeede is a practice of Ismael that mocked Isaac Genesis 21. ver 9. And we againe must vndoubtedly know that vnlesse it be reformed that hand of God which hath beene stretched out against vs in manie fearefull iudgements will not be pulled backe but stretched out still till it bring vs to destruction for God will not suffer his ordinances to be contemned and his holy ones to be abused hee looketh for better fruites at our hands and therefore wee must learne of these godly Patriarches both to giue and to followe good examples In the example of Ioseph more particularly wee are to obserue two points 1. Iosephs faith 2. The actions of his faith whereby it is commended For the first it is saide that by faith Ioseph when hee died c. Ioseph for ought wee finde in Scripture had not such meanes to come by faith as his Auncestors had before him For the three Patriarches Abraham Isaac and Iacob had otherwhiles the appearance of GOD vnto

friends or childrens bodies cast into the earth to feede wormes burnt by fire or eaten by fishes reason saith they are gone they can neuer be againe We haue Gods word and assured promise The dead shall rise with their bodies shall they rise Esay Wee must therefore beleeue it if we will be of the faith of Sarah God said to her Age and barronnesse shall haue a childe she beleeued it He saith to vs Dust and rottennesse shall liue againe nay hee hath often said it and shall not our faith acknowledge the voice of our God and beleeue it as she did But let vs come to personall promises as hers was for this is generall God hath promised grace and pardon to euery penitent and beleeuing soule yet no man is partaker of the sweetnesse hereof without the bitternesse of many temptations to the contrary giuing him occasions of doubting and often euen of despairing of Gods fauour What must a man doe in this case euen beleeue though he feele no reason why to beleeue and hope aboue hope Such was Abrahams and Sarahs faith And for it as they were registred in the Storie of Genesis so both here and in the Romanes Chap. 4. remembred againe and commended for it Now suppose that thou after thy comming to God by faith repentance fall into temptations of desertion wherein to thy feeling Gods heauy hand wrath hath seized on thee the diuell layeth thy sins to thy charge tels thee thou art a damned wretch for thou wert euer an hypocrite and neuer hadst faith that therfore God is thy enemy In this case wherein in reason or in feeling there is not the least hope of saluation what must thou doe despaire God forbid For that is the downfall into hell No but hope when there is no hope keepe faith when there is no feeling And to strengthen vs herein remember the faith of Iob tried and sifted so as fewe haue beene who though the arrowes of the almighty stucke in him and the venome thereof drunke vp his spirits Iob 6.4 Yet euen then he beleeued and would not giue ouer nor let goe his hold and said Though thou bring me to dust yet will I not forsake thee no though thou kill me yet will I trust in thee So in the furie of temptations when the venome of Gods wrath seemes to drinke vp our spirits then must we beleeue and in the pangs of death when God seemes ready to kill vs then must wee trust in him In such cases is the life of faith to be shewed when reason and feeling say God is a terrible Iudge faith must say he is a mercifull Father In our health and welfare and feeling of Gods fauour this exhortation may seeme tedious but if wee belong to GOD if it be not past already the time is sure to come when this doctrine will bee needefull for the best of vs all Thus we see the excellencie of this womans faith which is the more commended by reason of these two so great hinderances Now follow the effects of her faith which are diuerse some laide downe in this verse and some in the next Receiued strength to conceiue seede And was deliuered of a childe In these words are two effects First by power of her faith shee was inabled to conceiue which afore she did not though there were the same reasons in nature why she should Secondly shee was deliuered of a childe in her olde age and that childe was Isaac who is therefore called the promised seede and the childe of the promise Out of the consideration of these two we may learne diuerse good instructions for seeing they are so neere a-kin in their natures wee will speake of them both ioyntly together First here we may see that nothing is so hard or difficult which God hath promised but faith can compasse it and bring it to performance Christ b●d the blinde see the lame to goe he spake they beleeued and they were healed So here God promiseth a barren olde woman a childe shee beleeueth and loe she conceiueth and brings forth a Sonne The vse of this doctrine is for two sorts of people First many in our Church being ignorant when they are moued to learne religion answere Alas they are simple or not booke-learned or they are dull and heauy witted or they be olde and weake and therefore they can learne nothing or if they doe they cannot remember it But heere is nothing but vaine excuses For they want not wit to learne religion if they haue wit to buy and sell to knowe a faire day from a foule good meate from ill deere from cheape Winter from Sommer If they haue wit to practice the ciuill actions of the world they haue wit enough to conceiue the grounds of religion and to get so much knowledge as may suffice for a ground of that faith which will saue their soules So that they want nothing but grace and diligence to vse the meanes To them therfore here is matter of good aduice Let such a man learne but one promise of God out of the holy Scripture as this Seeke first the Kingdome of God and all things else shall be giuen vnto you Math. 6.33 or this Cast all your care on him for he careth for you 1. Pet. 5.7 or this He that cōmeth vnto me I cast him not away Iohn 6.37 or but this Aske and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall finde Math. 7. Let him learne but one of these when they haue learned it beleeue it and let their soules daily feede on that faith And they shall see what will followe euen a wonderfull blessing vpon that poore beginning This their faith will so content and please their hearts that it will vrge them forward to get more and will make them both desirous capable of more knowledge and grace and will make them euen hunger and thirst after knowledge and grace whereas he that knoweth no promise nor beleeues it contents himselfe in ignorance and errour And this shall euery one finde that will carefully vse the meanes that God appoints and will begin to learne but one lesson at the first For as olde barren Sarah beleeuing Gods promise conceiues and brings forth So olde simple plaine dull Country-men beleeuing but one promise of Gods word shall conceiue and bring forth daily more and more blessed fruites of knowledge and grace Secondly others who haue made better proceedings in religion doe see their sinnes and doe much bewaile them but they cannot ouercome their corruptions yea many there are to whom their sinnes and inward corruptions are more greeuous and burdensome then all bodily wants or miseries in the world yet see they not how to conquer their corruptions but alas are oftentimes foiled by them to their great discomfort Let these men know the want of faith is the cause hereof for that they doe not sufficiently ruminate and consider the promises of God made in that behalfe nor vse the meanes

obey And thus much of the third fruite of the Patriarchs faith The fourth fruite of their faith followeth And confessed that they were strangers and Pilgrimes on the earth Heerein we are to consider diuers points 1. The Text saith They confessed that is they professed openly what they were and what their religion was and that not onely amongst themselues but before the face of Gods enemies and heathen men Gen. 23.4 Abraham tolde the people of the Land of Canaan that he was a stranger and a forrainer among them And when Iacob came before Pharaoh hee confessed that both his dayes the dayes of his Fathers were dayes of Pilgrimage Gen. 47.9 Now affirming so openly that they were strangers in those Countries they intimated a plaine deniall and dislike of the religion and idolatry of those heathen Countries and proclaimed themselues to be of another religion so that this is true which here is said of them that they made confession and profession of their estate and their faith and that to the enemies of God Hence we learne that we are not to be ashamed of that holy profession of Christian religion to which wee are called Our calling is to professe the Gospell and religion of Christ now to many it is a reproach ignominie but we must learn this special lesson by the example of these men that howsoeuer the world iudge of Christ and his religion yet we hauing entred into this holy profession and being called hereunto must neuer be ashamed of it much lesse denie or forsake the same In the primitiue Church it was a cōtemptible thing both among the Iewes Grecians to be a Christian to the one the Gospell was a stumbling blocke to the other a laughing-stocke 1. Corin. 1.23 And yet Paul professed openly that hee was not ashamed of that holy Gospell Rom. 1.16 And so it ought to be with vs we professe Christes religion and therefore wee must not be ashamed of it Some there be that knowe but little yet haue a good minde to religion but when they see some do nothing else but make a mocke and a iest of religion they are thereby daunted and held back from the open profession and embracing of it But if we looke to be saued by faith as these men were we must learne by their example not to be ashamed of the profession of Christianitie whereto wee are called but must followe this notable example of Abraham and the Patriarchs who were not ashamed nor afraid to testifie their profession among the Heathen whensoeuer any occasion was offered for whosoeuer is ashamed of Christ in this world Christ will be ashamed of him at the day of Iudgement be-his Father in the world to come Luke 9.26 To goe further These Patriarchs professe two things 1. That they were strangers 2. That they were Pilgrimes A stranger is one that hath his abode not in his owne but in a strange Country though he trauaile not And a Pilgrime is one that is going through a forraine Country to his owne home Abraham Isaac Iacob were strangers because they dwelt as strangers in Tents not in their owne Countries where they were borne but in that strange Country whither God had called them and they were Pilgrimes because they were alwaies ready to goe thence whithersoeuer GOD would call them and in all places wheresoeuer they were still they waited on God and sought to him for the kingdome of heauen Now this was not proper to these Patriarchs but is also common to all Christians that looke to be saued by the same faith for Dauid long after them cōfesseth vnto God Psal. 39.12 that he is a Stranger and a Pilgrime or soiourner with him as all his Fathers were And euen we also must followe their faith in the practice of this profession dwelling here on the earth we must testifie professe our selues to be both Strangers and Pilgrimes But how will some say shall we be answerable to this profession Answer For the practice hereof we must doe these 3. things 1. We must vse this world and the things therof as though we vsed them not 1. Cor 7.31 The temporall blessings we here enioy wee must so vse as though they were not ours but as strangers doe onely for the present occasion but we must not set our hearts thereon And the rather to perswade vs heereunto let vs consider the practice of these godly Patriarchs They had the promise of the Land of Canaan distinctly absolutely so as no man in the world hath more right to any thing that he possesseth then they had to this Land yet when they came into it they enioyed it and all things therein as strangers and possessed nothing but did euen buy ground to bury their dead in And so must wee vse the things that wee haue in this world for our houses we must vse them as Strangers doe an Inne and for our goods we must vse them as Pilgrimes doe other mens goods where they stay for a night we must so vse them alwaies as being ready and willing to leaue them the next morning or at any time when God shall call vs away Secondly we must cast off all things in this world that may any whit hinder vs in our iourney to the kingdome of heauen like vnto good trauailers who will carie nothing with them in the way but that which may further them to their iourneyes end and if any thing hinder them in the way they will cast it from them and rather lose it then be hindred from their home But what is that which is burdensome vnto vs in this our iourney to heauen This S. Paul sheweth when he saith 2. Tim. 3.6 that certaine simple women are laden with sinne Behold sinne is that that ladeth v● and the Author to the Hebrewes calleth sinne the thing that hangeth on so fast and presseth vs downe Heb. 1● 1● Therefore if we will be good trauellers and pilgrimes towards the kingdome of heauen wee must take heed of all sinne for that will hold vs downe that we cannot goe one step forward but will draw vs backeward vnto hell for the way is straite that leadeth vnto life and the gate narrow and few there be that can enter into it Math. 7.13 He that would come hither must come with an humble and pure heart for the gate will not suffer any that is laden with sinne to enter therein The prowd man whose heart is puffed vp with pride and the couetous man whose heart is enlarged with desire of gaine the ambitious man who i● with childe with worldly pompe state and the luxurious and voluptuous man who fats himselfe with earthly and carnall pleasures all these are growen too big to enter into this straite gate But the meeke in spirit who lead an humble and innocent life these shall tread this path though it bee narrow and enter in at this doore though it be straite And therefore we must cast off

scourged The fourth is Bonds and imprisonment The fift is stoning verse 37 They were stoned The sixt is this They were hewen asunder These were all worthy fruits of faith being endured for religions sake but the particular points might heere be obserued haue beene handled before and therefore I pas●e them ouer The seauenth kinde of suffering is this they were tempted These words by the change of a letter in the originall may be reade thus They were burned And some doe so translate it thinking that they that writ or copied out this Epistle at the first did put one letter for another Their reason is because examples of grieuous punishments are mentioned both before and after this and therfore they thinke this should be burning which is a sore and grieuous death But wee may safely and truly reade the words thus They were tempted conceiuing heereby that they were enticed and allured by faire promises of life to forsake their religion So the same word is vsed by Saint Iames saying Euery man is tempted when hee is drawen away by his owne concupiscence and is enti●ed Iames 1.14 If any aske why this kinde of triall in tempting should bee placed among such cruell torments I answere because it is as great a triall as any can be For it is as dangerous a temptation to ouerthrow religion and a good conscience as any punishment in the world This appeares plainly in Christs temptations by the Diuell for in those three Satan bewraies his malice and craft against Christ and his Church most notably Now Satan not preuailing with the two first makes his third and last assault from the glory and dignity of the world for shewing vnto Christ all the Kingdomes of the world and the glory of them hee saith All these will I giue thee if thou wilt fall downe and worship me Math. 4.9 Indeede Christes holy heart would not yeeld vnto it but that it was a grieuous temptation appeares by Christs answeres For in the former temptations he onely disputed with Satan out of Scripture but when this temptation comes Christ bids him as it were in passion auoide Satan signifying thereby not onely his abhorring of that sinne but also the danger of that assault by the world And indeede these temptations on the right hand as wee may call them will most dangerously creepe into the heart and cause shipwracke of faith and a good conscience All Dauids troubles and persecutions could not bring him to so greeuous sins as did a little ease rest A huge great Armie cannot so soone giue entrance to an enemie into a Citie as riches and faire promises neither can bodily torments so soone preuaile against a good conscience as will worldly pleasures and faire promises In regarde whereof wee must take heede that wee bee not deceiued by the world for the view of the glory and pompe thereof will sooner steale from a man both religion and good conscience then any persecution possibly can do And indeede who doe so oft change their religion when trialls come as they that haue the world at will The eight example of suffering is this They were slaine with the sword There can be nothing saide of this which hath not beene spoken in the former examples and therefore I omit it The ninth and last example of suffering is this They wandred vp and downe in sheepes skinnes and Goates skinnes being destitute afflicted and tormented That is being either banished or constrained by flight to saue their liues they wandred vp and down in base attire and were destitute of ordinary foode and comfort and so in great affliction and torment Heere wee see these seruants of GOD were driuen from their owne Country friends and families by persecution Whence we obserue that in time of persecution a Christian man may lawfully flie for his safety if hee be not hindred by the bond of priuate or publique calling For these seruants of God here cōmended for their faith did flie when they were persecuted and that by faith therfore the action is lawfull as I might prooue at large but that I haue spoken of it heeretofore VVhen our Sauiour Christ knewe that the Pharisies heard of the multitude of Disciples which he made Ioh. 4.1.3 hee left Iudea where they had greatest iurisdiction and came into Galile for his safety The Prophet in the old testament did fly as Elias from Iezabel 1. King 19.3 And so did the Apostles in the new and that by Christs direction Math. 10.23 Obiect 1 But some will say Persecution is the hand of God therfore no man may flie from it for so he should seeme to flie from God himselfe Ans. Wee must consider persecution two waies first as it is the hand of God secōcondly as it is the worke of the wicked enemies of Gods Church For them God vseth sometimes a● instruments in laying his hand vpon his Church either for chastisement or for triall Now a Christian being persecuted for the truth and hauing libertie to flie cannot bee said to flie from Gods hand vnlesse he went away contrary to Gods command as Ionas did beeing sent to Niniue and beside he knowes that is impossible But his intent is to flie from the wrath of his enemies to saue his life for the further good of Gods Church Again the reason is not good To say persecution is the hand of God therefore a man may not flie from it For so might a man conclude that non● ought to flie from sicknesse or from warre both which a man may doe with a safe conscience not beeing hindred by some speciall calling Obiect 2 But euery one is bound to testifie his faith religion before his enemies and therefore may not flie in persecution Answ. True indeede a Christian man must so testifie his faith if he bee called thereto of God but if God giue him liberty and opportunitie to flie then he will not haue him at that time to iustifie his religion by that meanes Obiect 3 But if it be lawfull to flie how then comes it to passe that some of Gods children when they might haue fled would not but haue stood to iustifie their profession vnto death Ans. We must iudge reuerētly of thē thinke they did it by som special instinct motiō of Gods spirit as appeareth by their patience constancy in their greatest torments Examples hereof wee haue in our English Acts and Monuments in men worthy of notable commendations for their constancy and zeale for the truth of the Gospel Quest. If flight in persecution may bee an action of faith Whether may not the minister of Gods word fly in time of persecution Answ. There be some cases wherein the Minister may lawfully fly 1 When that particular Church and congregation ouer which he is placed is dispersed by the Enemies so as he hath no hope to gather and call them back againe then no doubt hee may flie till his congregation be gathered againe 2 If the persecutors doe specially

home-borne traytor seekes to deliuer the heart into the possession of Satan and so to defraud God of his right Againe the heart is mans Treasury from whence come all actions good and badde now if it bee well kept and guarded the Lord will dwell in thy heart and thence will proceede the issues of life but if it bee left open for corruption to enter and take place then is it made an habitation for the diuell If a citie were besieged about by bloody enemies the inhabitants thereof would set watch and ward in euery place to keepe out the enemie so wee hauing originall sinne as a fierce enemie compassing vs about for to work our destruction some way or other must labour to haue our hearts guarded with a watch of grace that our corruption may not let in Satan there to dwell or to haue any abode But will some say how shall we get a watch that may thus keepe our hearts Answ. Wee must labour that the word of God may dwell plentifully in our hearts and there as the scepter of Christ to be held vp by the grace of faith ruling our wills and affections bringing into subiection euery thoght to the obedience of Christ. In such a heart Christ dwells who is stronger than Satan and here can neither corruption set open the doore to Satan nor Satan enter but all things are in safetie Also the actions that proceede hence shall be the issues of life beeing holy and pleasing vnto God And thus much of the second point The third duty to bee performed for our continuance in the faith is this Wee must runne with patience the race that is set before vs. In these words the holy Ghost borroweth a comparison from the games of men that did runne a race and thus we may conceiue it The race that the Holy Ghost propounds vs to runne is the race of Christian Religion the parties that must runne in this race are all Christians men or women high or lowe not one excepted the price and crowne for which we runne is euerlasting glory the iudge of the runners is the Lord himselfe who hath appointed this race vnto euery Christian in this life who also will giue the reward to euery one that runneth well In this comparison wee may obserue many good instructions First in that Christian religion is compared to a race We are taught that euery one that professeth religion must goe forward therein growing in knowledge faith piety and in euery grace of God He that runnes a bodily race must neither stand still nor goe backward for then then he shall neuer get the price but still goe forward to the race ende So must euery Christian goe forward in grace following hard towards the marke for the price of the high calling of God If wee care not for eternall life then we may take our ease and let grace alone but if wee tender our owne saluation wee must goe on in the graces of religion as a runner doth goe forward in his race This beeing wel obserued would rowze vp our drowzie Christians that make no progresse in religion Secondly this resemblance of Christianity to a race teacheth vs al to striue to go one before another in knowledge faith and holy obedience thus runners doe that run a bodily race Also in the world the manner of men is to labour and striue to goe one before another in riches preferment in fine apparell and in all bodily delights now shall men striue to bee first in these transitory things and shall wee neglect our duty about these spirituall graces wherein the more we excell the more acceptable wee are to God and shall bee more glorious in the world to come Thirdly seeing Christianity is a race wee must remember to be constant therein till we come to the ende of our faith euen the saluation of our soules It hath beene the manner of our people to turne in religion with the State and Time and yet to this day many thousands come to our assemblies that would turne to Popery if that abhomination should be set vp againe for say they It was a merry world when that religion was vp But this is not the property of good runners If wee would haue the crowne of life we must hold true religion constantly vnto the death Lastly like good runners we must minde our way and haue our hearts set vpon the ende of our race which is euerlasting life Each ordinary traueller is very inquisitiue of his way and all his care is to goe the neerest way he can to his iourneys ende Behold wee are trauellers and our iourney is to heauen we must therefore endeauour to goe the straightest way we can to come to life euerlasting neither must we make delaies in this way but vse all helpes to further vs herein for the matter is of great importance whereabout we goe Here some will say We like this well but true religion hath alwaies many enemies and fewe hearty friends besides if a man run this way hee must runne alone and suffer also many crosses and reproaches Answ. This is most true and therefore the holy Ghost addeth That wee must runne this race with patience We must not be discouraged because of these crosses and afflictiōs but labour with patience to beare that part of affliction what euer it bee that shall light vpon vs in our iourney This is Christs counsell to his Disciples Luke 21.19 Possesse your soules in patience as if hee should say If you would saue your soules you must labour to beare all crosses that fall on you with patience In the parable Luk. 8.15 They that receiue the seed in good ground are they which with an honest and good heart heare the word and keepe it and bring forth fruite But how with patience Euery one that heares Gods word makes conscience thereof shall haue enemies to scoffe and mock and to afflict him which the diuell sets a-worke to hinder the growth of the word in his heart but must he therefore cease to bring forth fruite no hee must bring forth fruite with patience And so must we doe in the race of true religion for crosses afflictions and mockings will come but these stormes must not turne vs backe nay the more they beate vpon vs the more must we arme our selues with patience by which wee shall be able to beare them all And thus much for this third duty as also of the exhortation vnto Constancie in the faith after the example of all these godly Fathers FINIS The Printers Aduertisement CHristian Readers in most part of these printed Books yee shall finde the faults heereunder set downe already amended to your hands onely in some fewe of the Copies wherein they past vs vnespied they had neede to be corrected with your Penne viz. Page 160 line 20 sinne for sonne p 358 line 24 they iolly for the iolly p. 359 line 30 Ismael for Israel And in all the Copies there is a vvrong Title escaped in the Page 384 viz. Moses faith for Moses Parents faith Exod. 33.15 1. Cor. 10.6 Heb. 10.38 2. Cor. 5.7 1. Pet. 1.9 Gal. 3.3 2. Tim. 4.10 1. Ioh. 3. ●● Heb. 6. 1. Pet. 1.7 Phil. 5.14 Luke 1.79 a Ier. 22.15 c. to the end b 1. King 11.11 1. Sam. 2.30 Psal. 37.4 Heb. 11.5 Verse 10. Verse 24. c. Heb. 12.39 The Coherence Verse 1. Math. 3.17 Acts. 4.12 Psal. 16.6 Math. 12.36 Gen. 1.31 Gen. 2.25 3.21 Iohn 1.3 Rom. 5.1 Apoc. 21.27 Chap. 12.24 Genes 4.10 Psal. 56.8 Habbak 2.11 Eccles. 10.20 Psal. 116.115 Luke 21.19 Reu. 6.10 2. Example Henoch Verse 5. 1. Cor. 15.20 1. Cor. 15.20 2. Kings Genes 3.19 Gen. 5.24 Verse 6 Genes 5.22 Amos 3.3 Gen. 17.1 Psal. 116.9 Genes 24.40 Genes 50.20 Genes 39.9 Acts. 15.9 Psal. 2. Micha 6.7.8 2. Timoth. 3.16.17 1. Timoth. 4.4.5 Deut. 17.17 18.19 Psal. 2. 1. Timoth. 3.2 c. Exodus 20. Math. 7.12 1. Cor 10.31 1. Cor. 14.26 1. Cor. 10.24 Gen. 22. Exod. 11.2 Math. 11.29 Iohn 13.13.14 15. Heb. 4.16 7.25 10.22 Psal. 10.11.12 13. Esay 36.18.19 c. Esay 28.15 Psal. 14.1 1. Iohn 2.23 Tit. 1.16 1. Timoth. 5.8 Malach. 3.14 Psal. 73.13 c Verse 17. Verse 1. Verse 28. Psal. 116.11 Verse 11. Verse 12. Psal. 31.19 Luke 16. Psal. 139. Iohn 8.41 44. Rom. 6.20 Psal. 17.14 Luke 16.25 Luke 4.6.7 Iohn 8.44 Gen. 3.4.5 3. Exsample of Noah Commaundements 3. 4. 1. Kings 6.15.16 1. Thess. 2.20.21 2. Cor. 12 2 1. 2. Cor. 2.15.16 2. Cor. 3.18 Deut. 32.33 Gen 18.19 Gen. 24.63 Ioh. 8.56 Gen. 12.8 ●2 9 33.10 1. Sam. 15.23 Isay 66.3 Prou. 30.8 Psal. 1.2 Luke 2.51 Phil. 4 11. Exod 20.12 2. Tim. 2 2● Num. 21.8.9 Gen. 20.7 2. Chro. 32.31 1. Pet. 1.16 Leuit. 10.1.2 Iohn 3.16 Math. 8.9 Num. 6.23 Luke 24.50 Leuit. 19.31 Isa. 8.19.20 Math. 1. Gen. 33.3 Gen. 18.17.18.19 Amos 3.7 Luke 16. Isa. 6.11 Exodus 2.3 Exod. 2.3 1. Sam. 10.23 1. Sam. 16.12 1. King 8.3 Psal. 110.2 Psalm 16. Phil. 3.14 Math. 21.19 Gen. 18 3● Philip. 1.10 Eccles. all ouer Titus 1.15 Math. 19.24 Dan. 5.1.3 Mat. 5. 1. Pet. 4.14 Mat. 19.29 Philip· 28 29. Math. 5.11 Exod. 3 1● Exod. 11.8 Dan. 9. Psal. 42.11 Gen. 5.22 Gen. 39.9 Exod. 12.27 Exod. 23.18 Leuit. 3.4 2. Chr. 35.12 Exod. 12.13 1. Cor. 5.7 Math. 26.18 Luke 22.7 11. Math. 26.28 1. Cor. 10.4 1. Cor. 5.7 Luke 22.49 Numb 21. Verse 8. Isay 37.26 1. Cor. 10.4 Numb 20.11 Ezek. 9.4 Psal. 32.7 Exod. 14 11 12. Exod. 14. ●● 2. Kings 9.35.36 Acts 12.23 Isa. 54.17 Genesis 17.2 and 18.18 Ephe. 6.16 Psalm 3.6 Iosh. 6.20 Ephe. 2.12 Gen. 17.27 Exod. 18 1●.12 Iude 4. Deut. 29.19 20. Hebr. 12 1. Math. 1.5 Iosh. 2.20 Iosh. 29.10 11. Iosh. 2.11 Marke 10.17 Iosh. 6.22 Heb. 6.17.18 Ioh. 2.18 21. Gal. 4.22 Iudges 6.12.14.16 Math. 8.3 Gen. 14. 1. Iohn 3.7 Pro. 20.7 1. Cor. 6.9 Math. 7.12 ● Rom. 13.7 Ephes. 3.20 Psal. 21.3 Acts 12.4 Deut. 20.2.3 ● Kings 17. 2. Kings 4. 1. Cor. 15.20 Acts 17.28 Cant. 8.6 Exod. 32.32 Iohn 1.12 Heb. 4.2 Rom. 15.4 Exod. 14.20 Isa. 43.9.10 12 Dan. 6.10