required this at your hands that ye should take the sacrameÌ„t of my bloud which I shed for al meÌ„ froÌ„ the common people so to make my supper rather an excoÌ„munication then a Communion who required this at your hands that ye should rather thrust your children into Abbeis Couents there to liue an idle a Swinish life being pampered vp with all dilicious fare which may stir theÌ„ vp to all filthines theÌ„ to set theÌ„ to some homest occupatioÌ„ Gen. 3.19 2. Thes 3.12 to get their liuing with the sweate of their browes to the profit and furtherance of the Common wealth Who required this of you that ye should accompt it a more meritorious work to gilde an Image their to cloathe a poore naked man and a better déede to go a gadding on Pilgrimage to séeke dead bones then to tarie at home and visite the poore members of Christ which laye sick and bedred lame and impotent 1. Iohn 1.7 Eccle. 12.7 Luke 23.49 Actes 7.59 Apoc. 14.13 who required this at your hands that ye should make any other Purgatorie then the bloud of Iesus Christ which dooth purge you from all your sinne or that ye should place your holynesse in kissing of Reliques créeping to crosses choyce of meates contempt of mariage sprinkling of holy water ceÌ„sing of Herbs boughes auricular shriuing in consecrated war Agnus Deis Crucifyres Palmes Creame Spittle Salte Oile Ashes Bels Beads Ladies Psalters Portuises LegeÌ„daries MaÌ„s merits work of supererogatioÌ„ Shrines Roodes Tapers Frankencense Masses Dirges Trentals Buls Pardons Indulgences and all such trashe and trumpery wherof there is no mention at all in my holy worde Who required these things at your hands if I neuer required them but rather forbad them and commaunded the cleane contrarie then are ye no faithfull labourers 2. Peter 2.3 ye labour for your owne gaine to make Marchandise of soules for Lukers sake but ye are no labourers in my Haruest Apoc. 22.19 to bring increase into my Barnes and therefore ye are accursed and haue no part in the booke of life Thus good brethren ye sée how we shall be faithfull labourers we must Deut. 4.2 12.32 Pro. 30.6 adde nothing to the woord and take nothing from it neither to decline vnto the right hand nor to the left for if it be vnlawfull to adde or to chaunge Gala. 3.15 or to abrogate any thing in the Will and Testament of men how much lesse shall it be lawfull to put too or to diminish or to disanull any thing in the Will and Testament of the euerliuing God and if in making of the Tabernacle Exod. 25.40 2. Cron. 8.14 or building of the materiall Temple it was not lawfull for the workemen to doo any thing but what the Lorde appointed how much lesse may the builders of the spirituall Temple the Church of God decline from that rule which God hath prescribed in his holy worde Moreouer that we may be faithfull labourers this is required of vs that we auoide all flatterie and without respect of persons doo bouldly that Message Gala. 101 whereunto the Lorde shall send vs knowing that if we seeke to please men Ezech. 13.12 we cannot be the seruaunts of Christ â—ech 13.18 The Prophet denounceth an woe against those which sowe Pillowes vnder mens elbowes and crie peace peace where as no peace is and God dooth threaten by Ieremie that hee will come against those Prophets which haue sweete lips Ieâ— 10. and flatter men in their sinnes Woe be to them which speake good of euill and euill of good which put darkenes for light and light for darkenes which put bitter for sweete find sweete for sower Pro. 12.2 Disperdat Dominus omnia labia adulationum the Lord â—ut out all flattering lips saith the Prophet Dauid and as flattering lippes are abhominable in all meÌ„ so especially they ought to be abhorred of vs which are the Messengers of the Lord of Hoasts We must all Ephe. 6.19 open our mouthes bouldly to publish the secret of the Gospell Howsoeuer it be a daungerous thing for Lot to reprooue the filthy and beastly Sodomites Gen. 19.7 assaulting his house yet he must not cease still to say I pray you my bretheren Proâ— â—0 2 doo not so wickedly Howsoeuer the wrath of a King be the roaring of a Lion and he that dooth prouoke him to anger dooth hazard his owne life yet if Princes offend the Prophet of God must say the Princes are rebellious Isa 1.23 companions of theeues euery one loueth bribes they iudge not the fatherles nether doth the widdowes cause come before the Ezech. 22.27 the Princes of Iuda are like rauening wolues sucking bloud and destroying soules for couetous Lucre. Although it must cost Iohn Baptist his life yet must he not cease to say to Herod Math. 14.4 It is not lawful for thee to haue thy brother Phillips wife And not onely the wicked but the godly also wheÌ„ they fall they must be bouldly sharply reprooued so that Nathan must say vnto Dauid thou art the man 2. Sam. 12.7 it is thou that hast done this deede doubt not but the Lord will so worke with it that thy smiting shall be taken for a benefit Psa 141.5 and thy reproouing for a precious balme which will not breake his head howsoeuer the wicked doo kick spurne against thy godly admonitioÌ„s yet no vnthankfulnes of the world ought to driue them froÌ„ performing thy duty but that the more stormy tempests that the weather dooth bring the more painefull thou shouldest be in the Haruest of the Lord What though thou be sent as Christe héere sent foorthe his seuentie Disciples as Lambes among VVolues Luke 10.5 What though thou be Sawde in péeces with a Sawe of wood as the Prophet Isay was or haue a Naile of Iron driuen into the Temples of thy head with Amos or be beheaded with Iohn Baptist or be Stoned with Steuen or slaine with the Sworde with Iames or most cruelly put to death with Peter Paule and the rest of the Apostles or haue thy portion among the blessed Martirs of God whereof some were deuoured with wilde Beasts some burnt with fier and Faggot some broyld vpon hoate coales some hanged some drowned some torne in péeces with wilde Horses yet must you alwayes remember the comfortable promise of Christe Math. 5.10 that great shal be thy rewarde in Heauen Blessed is the man that endureth temptation Iam. 1.12 for when he is tryed he shall receaue the Crowne of life which the Lorde hath promised to them that loue him Thus must the Ministers labour faithfully and not onely faithfully but willingly as Peter sayth feede the flock of Christ 2. Peter 5.2 which dependeth vpon you caring for it not by constraint but willingly not for fylthy luker but of a ready minde For if the laboring Seruaunts which are hyred to doo
swearing blaspheming the name of God It were a matter too long tedious and likewise the time will not suffer me discourse of all the soueraigne vertues of the ToÌ„gue as Blessing praysing the name of God calling vpon him by prayer instructing of our brethren reproouing wickednesse setting vnitie and concorde amongst men and coÌ„fessing of the Lord Iesus But héere we are only to coÌ„sider the chéefest vertue of the ToÌ„gue which is With the mouth to coÌ„fesse the Lord Iesus And the chéefest poison which is To deny renounce our Lord and Sauiour The Apostle héere requireth of euery Christian That he shal with the mouth confesse the Lord Iesus Because as all the body is made to glorifie God so especiallie the tongue is as Paule sayth Let euery tongue coÌ„fesse that Iesus Christ is the Lord Phil. 2.11 to the glorie of God the Father Hebr. 13.15 Let vs offer the sacrifice of praise alwayes to God That is the fruite of the lippes which confesse his name and this the Prophet Hosea dooth call the calues of our lyppes Hose 14.2 Dauid sayeth I beleeued and therfore I spake Psal 116.10 Signifying therby that There can be no true beleefe in the heart vnles the tongue delight to talke of the same Math. 12.34.35 For of the abundaunce of the heart the mouth will speake A good man out the good treasure of his heart bringeth foorth good thinges and an euill man out of the euill treasure bringeth foorth euill things About what thing soeuer the heart of man is occupied the tongue will most commonlie be talking of the same The Ship man will talke of his windes the Soldier will reckon vp his woundes the Shéepheard will be telling of his shéepe and the Plowman of his Oxen. If a man â—elight in Hawkes Horses Houndes or â—ny pastime whatsoeuer his talke wil be according to his delight and howe can it â—hen be but that if our hearts and soules delight in the Lord our tongues should also praise him confesse him and glorifie his holy name Shall the knowledge of Christe haue lesse obedieÌ„ce of our toÌ„gues then the vaine and transitorie desire of worldly pleasures Shall worldly things haue our tongues at commaundement shall the glorious name of Christe haue no portion therein This can not be déere brethren that there should be any true saith in the hart except it draw the toÌ„gue to the confessing of the same Our bodies are called the temples of God Knowe ye not that ye are the temple of God 1. Cor. 3.16.17 that the spirit of God dwelleth in you If any man defyle the temple of God him will God destroy for the temple of God is holy and that are ye And therfore it is Saâ—riledge Church-robbery to plucke our tongue or any part of our body froÌ„ God For we are Temples and Saints conseâ—rated and sanctified vnto God And for â—his cause dooth Paule beséeche vs for the tender mercie of God That we offer vp not onely our soules 1. Cor. 6.19.20 but our bodies also a liuing sacrifice holy and acceptable vnto God And telleth vs that Our body being the Temple of the holy ghost we are not our owne but are bought with a price And therfore we should glorify God both in our bodies and in our soules for they are Gods They are Gods That is God made them and Christe Iesu redeemed them and bought them with a price not with siluer nor golde but with his owne most precious blood God made not onely soule but body also and our Lord and sauiour Christe gaue his body and shed his heart blood vppon the Crosse not onely for soule but for body also and not onely soule but body also shall liue for euer in the worlde to come then séeing that God created bothe body and soule and Christe with his body and soule did paye the raunsome bothe of body and soule and bothe body and soule shal be partakers of euerlasting glorie in the worlde to come We must as Paule sayth Glorifie God bothe in body and in soule for they are Gods 1. Reg. 19.18 The Lord sayth vnto Elias That he hath reserued vnto him seauen thousande people which neuer bowed their knees to Baall nor kissed him with their mouthes He dooth not say Which haue not beleeued in Baall in their harts But Which haue giuen neither knee nor mouth nor any part of their body to any other but to the Lord God of Israell Nabuchadnezzar required nothing of Shidrach Meshach and Abednego Dan. 3.19 but that They shoulde in bodie fall downe and worshippe the golden Image But ther chose rather to be cast aliue into the boate fierie Furnace The Kinges Commissioners required nothing of Mattathias But 1 Mach. 2.19.37 That he should outwardlie doo Sacrifice vnto the Idolles at Modin But he would rather dye then consent vnto it God is a ielous God and therefore will suffer no part of our bodie to be giuen to any grauen Image nor to any other but him alone as he sayth in his commaundement Thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worshippe them Exod. 20.5 for I the Lorde thy God am a ielous God Whereby you sée that no part of our bodies ought to be giuen from God but that we should with euery part of vs glorifie God our creator and Christe Iesu our redeemer and the holy Ghost our sanctifier which hath made our whole bodies holie Temples vnto the Lord. And as with euerie part of our body we must set foorth the lawde and praise of God so especially with our tongue Phil. 2.11 That euery tongue may may confes that Iesus Christe is the Lord to the glory of God the Father Dauid séemed to be in better case when he was in the house of Achis or in the land of Iorden or in Hermonim or in the mount Mizar then if he should haue béen in the TeÌ„ple of God in the midst of Saules boast and all his enimies Psal 42.4.5 yet he sayth him selfe I powred out my very heart because I had gone with the multitude and led them into the house of God with the voice of singing and prayse as a multitude that keepeth a feast Why art thou so cast downe O my soule and why art thou so vnquiet within me O my God my soule is cast downe within me because I remember thee from the land of Iorden Hermonim and from the mount Mizar When Dauid was in the lande of Iorden in Hermonim or in the mount Mizar no doubt he prayed vnto God and gaue him thankes for all his benefites Yet because by reason of his enimies he could not come to the Temple of God to glorifie God as well in body as in soule He therefore crieth out with gréefe of hart Psa 84.1 â— â— Why art thou so cast down O my soule and why art thou so vnquiet within me And in an other place O Lord of hoastes howe
and chafing with him selfe and accoumpteth them but fooles dastardes ignoraunt beastes and men of no iudgement in the Lawe because they haue tolde him the trueth and foorthwith he séeketh other Aduocates and Procters which shall better satisfie his honour At the last be lyghteth vppon such a one as hath no conscience nor feare of God neither serueth any other God but golde and syluer He séeeth that the man is wilfullie bent to be reuenged of his neighbour whatsoeuer it cost him and to dâ— him a displeasure he followeth his affection and telleth him that his case is good although it be the shamefullest matter that can be deuised Then is he glad that he hath founde such a one as he woulde haue and he accoumpteth him the learnedst and the wisest man in the world But what commeth héereof in the ende when the matter is come to be tried the sentence of iudgement is giuen not by the aduocate nor by the Procter nor according to the affection and appetite of the plaintiffe but it is giuen by the Iudge him selfe according to equitie and lawe And when the man is ouerthrowne maister Procter goeth his waye and leaueth him in the myer he hath his desire he hath pluckt the goose he hath his money paide and then he hath no more care neither of the Client nor of the cause and so the man hath lost his will and also his paines and charges Euen so it fareth with this corrupte flesh of ours in matters of Faith and Religion If we heare any reasons which flatter vs in our sinnes we are straight way ready to embrace them and we accoumpt them forcible learned profound argumentes But if we heare any reason which tendeth to the beating downe of this flesh of ours then we let it passe by our eares as the winde we iudge it to be but a foolish argument and to no purpose and we make no accoumptes thereof not considering that the Lord the righteous iudge at the last day when the secretes of of all hearts shall be opened shall not pronounce the sentence of iudgement according to the reasons which we haue framed as procters to cloak and couer our sinnes nor according to the corrupt affections of our flesh but according to the equitie and iustice of his most holy blessed woord as Christe sheweth vs that the woord which he speaketh vnto vs Iohn 12.48 shall iudge vs in the last daye For if we would call to minde the iustice equity of the righteous iudge it could not be that we should so foolishlie set our affections vpon the flattering reasons of such wicked procters Let vs take héede then that we doo not cloake or couer our sinnes with the examples of Naaman the Sirian of Paule or of Nicodemus béeing wrasted against the trueth but let vs sée what is euidentlie and plainly commaunded vs by the woord of God and there we shall finde that a liuelie faith and open confession are vnseperable in a true Christian As the Soule and lyfe as fyre and heate as the Sunne and bryghtnesse can not be seperated so can wée not seperate a true Fayth from the confessing of the Lorde Iesus For if wée beléeue in the heart then Christe dooth dwell in our heartes by Faith Ephe. 3.17 and if Christe be there it is not without his holie spirite and therefore Paule sayeth That if any man haue not the spirite of Christe Rom. 8.9 he is not of Christe Nowe where the zeale of the spirite is there must néedes be confession For howe is it possible that God should be in the heart and the Deuill in the tongue the hands and the other parts of the body which take their life from the heart and are gouerned thereby Saint Iames speaking of the nature of the toÌ„gue sayeth Iam. 3.9.10 That out of the same fountaine there can not come sweete water and bitter nor out of the same mouth blessing and cursing By the tongue we blesse God the Father and by the same we curse men which are made after the Image of God Howe can this be so Euen so may I say also by the tongue we confesse that we are redeemed by the blood of Christe and with the same we blaspheme his most holie and blessed name How can this be so It cannot be that faith in the heart should be constaunt vnlesse the tongue also do constauntlie continew in confessing praysing and glorifying the Lord Iesus For faith is not a dreame or an idle fancie or a lyght imagination conceyued in the braine but where soeuer it is it sheweth it selfe accordinglie as appeareth notably in the exsample of Ieremie who was wearie of forbearing and could not forbeare as he sayeth I am had in derision euerie daye and euerie one mocketh me Iere. 20.7.9 for since I spake and cryed out of wrong and proclaymed desolation the woorde of God was made a reproche vnto me and I was had in derision daylie then sayde I I will make no more mencion of him nor speake any more in his name but his woord was â—n mine heart as a burning fyre shut vp in my bones I was wearie of forbearing and â—ould not forbeare If then the woorde of God be as a burning fire shutte vp in our bones howe is â—t possible but that it should sende foorth â—he lyght and heate of open confession 〈◊〉 speake not this good brethren to fauour â—nd allowe a number of rash and enraged â—pirites which without wisedome and disâ—retion will counterfeyt them selues to be â—ealous professours of the Gospell which will crie out against they can not tell what without kéeping any measure withâ—ut searching the occasions without conâ—dering the circumstaunces which doo â—nelie serue to trouble and offende the weake and to hazarde and put in daunâ—er those which truelie serue God And â—o cullour their phrensie and furour they alledge the zeale of Ieremie which was wearie of forbearing and coulde not forbeare But these are more like the glorious Elihu the Buzite then the zealous Ieremy the Anatothite for Elihu the Buzite one of the comforters or rather discomforters of Iob crieth out Beholde I am full of matter Iob. 32 18. and the spirite that is within me compelleth me beholde my bellie is as the wine that hath no vent and like the bottelles that burst therfore will I speake that I may take breath c. Euen so many nowe are lyke the newe wine which must breake the vessell vnlesse it haue issue But we must learne that as the spirite of God can not be idle in the heart of man so dooth it not compell any man to passe the lymittes and bondes of Christian modestie It dooth not allowe the zeale which is without knowledge and spirituall wisedome Rom. 10.2 And therefore the Apostle sayth That the spirites of the Prophets are subiect vnto the prophetes 1. Cor. 14.32 As he him selfe shewed by experience for although he was most excellent in the giftes of
and by Saint Iohn 1. Ioh. â— not to receyue them into their houses nor to bydde them God spéede much lesse to ioyne them selues in any league or amitie with them or to suffer such to haue any dealing vnder them Abraham refused to take of the King of Sodom so much as a thread Gen. 14.23 or a shoâ— latchet least he should say Eâ—dr 4.3 I haue enritched Abraham Zerobabell would not suffer the Samaritanes to lay lyme and stone in the building of the Lord. 1. Reg. 13.16.18 The young Prophete for eating bread with the wicked olde Prophete was denowreâ— of a Lion Euse lib. 4. Cap. 14. Nicepb lib. 3. Cap. 14. Euse in vit Const lib. 1 Cap 11. Iohn the EuaÌ„gelist would not tarie in the same house with the heretique Cerinthus Constantinus to trie his men commaunded that all which would not doo sacrifice to Idolles should be thrust out of his seruice and when many for feare obeyed the coÌ„maundement he put them all away Psa 110.6.7 for he would suffer none to serue him which would not also serue the Lord and he knewe that they could not be faithfull to men which were vnfaithfull vnto God Theo. lib. 2. Cap. 6. Liberius going into banishment refused all the gifts of the Emperor and his wife saying Let them giue those thinges to Auxentius and Epictetus their Arrian heretiques Ephe. 5.11 2. Cor 6.14 we must haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darknesse nor any way yoake our selues with Infidelles Leuit. 19.19 We are commauÌ„ded by the lawe of God not to plowe with an Oxe and with an Asse nor to sowe our ground with diuers seede nor to make our garmentes of Linsey wolsey Wherefore we must auoide all mingling of contraie Religions and in no wise ioyne our selues with the wicked but endeuour our selues that we may say with Dauid Psal 110.6.7 Mine eyes shall be vnto the faithfull of the lande that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfite way he shall serue me There shall no deceiptfull personne dwell within my house he that telleth lyes shall not remayne in my sight O Lorde doo not I hate them which hate thee Psa 139.21.22 and doo not I earnestly contend against those that rise vp against thee yea I hate them with a perfect and vnfeyned hatred as they were mine vtter enimies But what is the cause why these pollitique worldlie wise men doo so familllarlie ioyne them selues with the wicked and so many wayes withdrawe them selues from the true confessing of the Lorde Iesus Surely this is onelie the cause for that they are afeard least a chaunge should shortlie come whereby they might be compelled eyther with shame to turne their coates or else incurre great daunger of suffering for the name of Iesus Christ Saint Iohn sheweth Ioh. 12.48 howe many of the chéefe Rulers beléeued in Christe but because of the Phariseis they durst not confesse him least they should be cast out of the Sinagogue for they looued the prayse of men more then the prayse of God As many there are nowe which would gladly professe the true faith of Christe and yet because they are eyther TenauÌ„ts to such Landlordes or Seruaunts to such Maisters as are backwarde in Religion and frowardlie bent to superstition or else because they are afeard of afterclaps and perilles which may héereafter ensue they dare not with their mouth confesse the Lord Iesus These doo not consider that which our Sauiour Christe sayth That who soeuer will be his Disciple Math. 16.24 Luk. 14.27 must take vp his crosse and followe him Nor that which the Apostle sayth That we must through many afflictions Acts. 14.22 enter into the kingdome of God and that they which will liue godlie in Christ Iesu must suffer persecutioÌ„ Neither doo they consider 2. Tim. 3.5.12 that trouble and affliction is profitable yea and necessary for the Church of God For whome the Lord looueth he chasteneth Pro. 3.11 Apo. 3.17 Hebr. 12.6.7.8 and scourgeth euerie Sonne that he receyueth If ye endure chastening God offereth him selfe vnto you as vnto sonnes For what Sonne is he whome the Father dooth not chasten If therfore ye be without correction whereof all are partakers then are ye bastardes and not sonnes Psa 119.67.71 Before I was afflicted sayeth Dauid I went astraye but nowe I keepe thy woorde it is good for mee that I haue beene afflicted that I may learne thy statutes Iohn 15.2 When the Vine groweth out of order it must be husbanded pared and drest when the bodie aboundeth with euill humours Eccle. 2.5 1. Pet. 1.7 it must be purged Golde must be tryed in the fire before any precious worke be made thereof Stones must be hewed and Tymber must be squared before wée can rayse vp any buylding Corne must be thresht Grapes must be prest before we can haue eyther bread or wine And all this is wrought in vs by trouble and affliction for affliction is the sickle which dooth pare and dresse the braunches it is the purgation which doth purge our soules from our former wickednesse and driue vs to repentaunce and amendment of life it is fire wherein the Golde is tried it is the toole whereby we are hewed and squared and made sit for the building of the Lord it is the instrument whereby we are thresht and prest and made as pure spiritual wheate fit for the Garner and storehouse of euerlasting ioyes And therefore Ignatius sayde when he was brought to be cast into the den of Lions Thus it behoueth me to be grounde with the teethe of Lions that I may be made a sweete manchette for the Lord. The Faith of a Christian is compared to Camamill which the more it is tread vpon the more it dooth florishe and the better it dooth prosper as Paule sheweth Howe the outward man must perishe before the inwarde man can be renued 2. Cor. 4.10.16 and we must beare in our bodyes the dying of the Lorde Iesus that the lyfe of Christe maye be made manifest in vs. And what is the cause now why many doo liue so careleslie and carnallie setting their mindes wholie vppon the glorie and riches and vaine pleasures of this world and hauing no care at all eyther of the honour due vnto the name of the immortall God and the setting forwarde of the glorious Gospell of Christe or of the saluation of their owne soules Surely the cause is onely this for that they are drunken with too much prosperity the outward man dooth not perishe they doo not carie about in their bodies the dying of the Lord Iesus For I am fullie perswaded that there are a great nuÌ„ber in England which nowe doo shewe them selues carnall and carelesse which if GOD should laye vppon them his rodde of correction would become much more holie and farre more zealous for the trueth of God Our Lord God hath two waies
they professe they knowe God Titus 1.16 but in their workes they deny him 2. Pet. 2.1.3 and therefore Saint Peter dooth call them Hereticks which deny the Lord that bought them which Heretikes Paul dooth bid vs reiect and auoyde after once or twise admonition Titus 3.10 The Papists doo teach this doctrine very earnestly that Hereticks ought to be auoyded and for this cause with their reasons of refusall and their Popish shauelings créeping frō place to place they perswade mē to absent them selues from the church teaching them that it is a damnable thing to commmunicate with Hereticks Then in this point we agrée bothe in one that Hereticks if they can by no meanes be reclaimed must be reiected But héere onely lyeth the question who are they which by Gods word are cōdemned for Heretikes Tertull. Quodcunque aduersus veritatem sapit est Haeresis etiam vetus consuetudo Whatsoeuer dooth sauour against the trueth if it be obstinately defended it is an Hearesie although it be neuer so auncient a custome But the Apostle Saint Peter ◠Peter 1.3 dooth more perfectlye discribe an Hereticke by two markes and propertyes There shall be saith he false teachers among you which shall hring in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 damnable Heresies first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denying the Lord that hath bought them and secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they shall for lucres sake make Marchandise of you with fayned wordes Nowe who séeth not that these two points are plainely and fully accomplished in our aduersaries for firste they deny that the Lord hath bought them they call the Lord Iesus their Sauiour they confesse that he dyed vpon the Crosse but they denye that he bought them with his death for if he bought them with his owne moste precious bloud what néede they to bee bought againe with Popes Pardons Indulgences Mans Merits Masses Dirges Trentals or any such paultrie deuises and lewde inuentions of man And who knoweth not that all these thinges are nothing but subtill practises too picke mennes purses and too make Marchaundise of Soules for coueytous Lucre. Then thease are the Hereticques whiche we must auoyde which denye the Lorde that bought them which to inritch themselues defende such monstrous opinions as do all derogate frō the death and passion of Christ Titus 1.16 which professe that they knowe God but in their works they deny him Our Sauiour Christ is annoynted of God to be our Kinge our Priest Luke 1.33 and our Prophet Our King as the Angell saide to Marie he shall raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shall be no ende Psal 110.4 Hebr. 4.14 7.26 Our Priest as the Prophet saith the Lord hath sworne and will not repent thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchizedec And our Prophet Luke 4.18 Math. 17.5 Iohn 1.18 Hebr. 1.2 because the spirite of the Lorde hath annoynted him to preach the Gospell vnto the poore and he is the belooued sonne of God whom only we must heare who beeing in the bosome of the Father hath declared him vnto vs. Then whosoeuer doo teach vs that any man can rule the hearts of men Psalm 2.9 Math. 9.6 Colos 1.13 Psal 110.1 Rom. 16.20 Rom. 6.6 Mich. 7.19 1. Cor. 15.55 1. Peter 1.3 or forgiue sinnes or destroy the power of darkenesse or make his enemies his footestoole or treade downe Sathan vnder his féete or kill the olde man with all his concupiscence with the power of his spirite or raise vp the new man in holinesse and righteousnesse or vanquish sinne Hell Death and damnation or establish in vs a hope of the inheritaunce of euerlasting life but only our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe that man denyeth the kingdome of Christe And whosoeuer dooth offer Sacrifice for the quicke and the dead but onely the Lord Iesus who béeing the last Priest the Priest for euer did offer himself once vpon the Crosse for the sinnes of all mankinde as the Apostle saith Heb. 9 2◠He appeared once to put away sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe and Heb. 10.10.14 Sanctificati sumus per oblationem Iesu Christi semel factam we are sanctified by the offering of the body of Iesus Christ once made for with one offering hath he consecrated for euer them that are sanctified he denyeth the eternall Priesthood of Christe and whosoeuer affirmeth that anye mortall man can dispence with the worde of God or that the Bible ought to be locked vp and that our faithe ought to be grounded vpon the Popes decrées decretales or vpon any Dunses or Doctors or Fathers or Counsels whatsoeuer he denyeth our Sauiour Christ Math. 17.5 to be our Prophet the welbelooued sonne of God whom onely we must heare and therefore the Papists howsoeuer they haue the name of Iesus often in their mouthes 2. Pet. 2.2 yet indéede they deny the Lord that bought them and therfore Titus 3.10 are suche Heretiques as are to be auoyded But we must confesse our Sauiour Christ to be onely our kynge to gouerne the heartes of his electe people with the vertue of his holy Spirit and as for the wicked Rom. 8.14 to crush them with a Scepter of Iron Psalm 2.5 to break them in peeces like a Potters Vessell onely the Priest which offered hymselfe without spot to God Hebr. 9.14 to purge our consciences from dead workes to serue the lyuyng Lorde and onely the Prophet by whom in these last dayes Hebr. 2.2 Deut. 18.18 the Lord doth speake vnto vs and whome God promised to Moyses that he would raise him vp amonge his Brethren whome who so euer should heare Gen. 3.15 12.3 should not be destroyed We must confesse that he onely is the seede of the woman which hath brused the Serpents head Isa 7.14 the seede of Abraham in whom all the Nations of the world should be blessed The Childe whiche a Virgyn should conceiue and beare call his name Emanuell whome many kynges and Prophetes haue desired to sée we must confesse him to be our Iesus by whom we are saued and that vnder Heauen there is no other name giuen nothyng in Earth nothyng vnder the Earth nothyng in Heauen nor in the Heauen of Heauens Actes 4.10 no vertue no power no strength no name els that is named in which or by which we can be saued but onely by the name of Iesus of Nazareth Math. 3.17 Iohn 1.1 2. Cor. 4.4 1. Cor. 1.24 Actes 3.15 Hebru 2.10 12.2 1. Cor. 2.8 Iohn 10.11 14 We must confesse him onely to be the welbelooued sonne in whom the Father is well pleased the woord of God the Image of God the power and wisdome of God the Prince of life the Prince of saluation the Prince of faithe the Lorde of glorie the Heir of all things in Heauen and earth We must confesse him to be the onely good Shéepeheard by
God continually Who more wretched sinners then Publicanes Math 9.9 Luke 19.6 yet were Mathew and Zacheus the faithfull children of God Who more blinde and obstinate then the Pharisies yet was there amōgst them a godly Nicodemus Ioh. 3.3 7.50 19.39 which was desirous to be instructed by Christ and resisted his companions the Pharisies and thought nothing to déere to be bestowed to the honouring of his Lord and Sauiour Who were more wilfully bēt to withstande Christ the true Messias then were the Iewes to whom he was sent As the Scripture saithe Iohn 1.11.47 he came vnto his owne and his owne receaued him not Yet were there some Nathaniels true Isralites Lu. 2.25.37.38 in whom there was no guile some Symeons which feared God and looked for the consolation of Israel and some godly Annas which serued God day and night with fastings and prayer and confessed the Lord Iesus to all that looked for redemption in Ierusalem so that howsoeuer the seuentie Disciples might imagine the Haruest to be but small yet indéede as Christ telleth them héere the Haruest was great Then dearely belooued we are héere to learne not to measure the Haruest of Christe according to our owne fancies 1. Re. 19.10.18 for if the spirite of Elias could not discerne one when in déede there were seuen thousand how much lesse are we able to perceaue the greatnes of Gods Haruest whose eyes are nothing so bright nor iudgement so cléere nor knowledge so perfect as was in the holy Prophet of God But rather we ought to prayse God continually for the great increase which hee dayly addeth vnto his Haruest and for the blessing which he giueth to the course of his holye worde making the same to fructifye and increase to hundreds and thousands and to praye vnto him incessantlye that as he hath alreadye drawne a great parte of Christendome from vnder the Yoake of Antichriste so it would please him to continue his goodnes and to increase his Haruest daily more and more to the glorie of his holy name and the aduauncement of his kingdome which the Lorde of his infinite mercy graunt for the merits and intercession of his dearely belooued sonne Iesus Christ and thus much for the first part how the Haruest is great Now that our Sauiour Christ hath told his Disciples of the greatnesse of the Haruest he sheweth them in the next place of the small number of the labourers the Labourers saith he are but few By this worde Labourers he meaneth true and faithful Pastors for otherwise of other labourers the Iewes did want no store they had their Leuits they had infinite Sinagogues and therin a great company of Lawyers and Scribes they had their Priestes which challenged to sit in the Chayre of Moyses they had their Pharesies the expounders of the Lawe which were in great estimation of learning and holynesse and how then were the Labourers but fewe Wee must vnderstande that our Sauiour speaketh not of false Hierlings but of true Pastors not of those which beare an ydle name and title of Pastoures beeing Pastores a pascendo tanquam montes a mouendo that is feeders of feeding as mountaines of moouing but of those that doo carefully and painefully feede the flock of Christe And of these the number is very small so that God may still say as he saithe in Ezechiell Ezech. 34.6 Dispersus est grex meus c. My flock is scattered through all the earth and there is none that doth seeke and search after them This phrase of spéeche to call the Ministers Labourers and their Office a labour is often vsed in the holy Scriptures Nos sumus cooperarij Dei saythe Paul 1. Cor. 3.9 We together are Gods Labourers I am in feare of you Gala. 4.11 least I haue bestowed on you my labour in vaine Si quis Episcopatum desiderat 1. Tim. 3.1 bonum opus desiderat If any man desire the office of a Bishop he desireth a good worke It is a worke non honos sed onus not an honour but a burthen or if it be an honour yet hath it alwayes a burthen annexed 1. Tim. 5.17 The Elders which rule well are worthie of double honour Maxime ij qui laborant verbo doctrina especially they which labour in worde and doctrine By all which places we of the Ministery are admonished of our dutie that we ought to be labourers not loyterers not to liue idely and securely but to be painefull workemen in the Haruest of the Lorde Saint Paul had no better reason to perswade the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Actes 20.28 to take heede vnto themselues and to all the flock whereof the holy Ghost had made them ouerseers then to tell them that the Church which they had the charge of was the Church of Christe which he had purchased with his owne bloud neither can there be any thing which ought more to stirre vp vs which be héer present to painefull labour and carefull diligence then to remember that we are appointed labourers to worke in the Haruest not of men but of the Lord and in that Field which Christ hath purchased with his owne most precious bloud We are called the Salt of the earth Math. 5.13 and therefore we ought to season the people of God with the knowledge of his holy word we are called Math. 5.14 Math. 6.22 Apoc. 1.20 the eies of the body the stars of heauē the light of the world therefore we must séeke to driue away all ignoraunce and darkenesse not putting our lightes vnder a Bushell but setting them vpon a Candlestick Isa 56.10 to giue light to all the housholde We are called Watchmen and therefore we must not let the enemie come in while we sléepe and delight in sleeping for as God saith by the Prophet Ezechiel Ezech. 33.6 If the Watchman see the Sword comming and blow not the Trumpet and the people be not warned and so they perish with the Sworde they are perished for their iniquitie but their bloud will I require at the watchmans hand We are called heere Labourers and therefore we ought to labour in the Lordes Haruest dilligently and faithfully Ier. 48.10 For as the Prophet saithe Cursed is he that dooth the worke of the Lorde negligently if this be the worke of the Lorde to punish the wicked and destroye them with the sworde as the Prophet dooth in that place describe then howe much more shall we accompt it to be the worke of the Lord to edifie the soules of the simple to sowe in their hearts the seede of Gods worde to bringe them to repentaunce and amendmēt of life this is the worke of the Lord and cursed is he that dooth the worke of the Lord negligently We are called the Angels and Messengers of the Lord of Hoastes Math. 2.7 the Ministers of Christ 1. Cor. 4.1 and dispensers of the secrets of God and
shall be pronounced Giue an accompts of thy stewardship Luk. 16.1 thou maist be no longer Steward The Texte saith that the euill Stewarde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was first accused to his Maister that he wasted his goods and then he was called to his reckoning Euen so shall all blinde guides dombe Dogges vnfaithfull Stewards Idole Sheepheards slouthfull loiterers first be accused to God and then called to their accompts who shall be their accusers euery slothfull and vnfaithful Steward of what calling soeuer he be shall haue thrée accusers Rom. 2.15 The first is their owne conscience for that will be as good as a thousand witnesse Iuuenal Nocte dieque suum gestare in pectore testem A corrupt conscience is called a continuall Hangeman Gen. 4.7 it is sinne laying at the doore of our hearts it is called of the Prophet Esay a Worme that neuer dyeth and a Sea which alwayes rageth without rest Isa 66.24 1. Tim. 4.2 of Paul a fearing with a hoate Iron and in the Epistle to the Hebrewes Hebr. 10.26 a terrible looking for of iudgement and violent fier to deuour the aduersaries and therefore as often as they call to minde remember how they haue eaten the fat Ezech. 34.3.4 cloathed themselues with the Woll but that they haue not fed the Sheepe nor strengthened the weake nor healed the sick nor bouÌ„d vp the broke nor brought againe that which was driuen away nor sought vp that which was lost but haue ruled their slocks with rigor and cruelty this corrupt conscience Rom. 2.15 wil be as good as a thousaÌ„d witnesses to accuse coÌ„demne theÌ„ before the throne of God Isa 57.21 2. Tim. 1.7 Sap. 17.10.11 There is no peace to the wicked the Lord hath sayd it but they shal cary in their brests feare terror tormeÌ„ting furies coÌ„tinually citing theÌ„ before the tribunall seat of Christ And if there be any which with vayne pastimes and pleasures of this worlde doo driue away the remembraunce of Gods iudgements for a time yet are they neuer the better for it for although they séeme to reioyce yet as Salomon sayeth Pro 1.14.13 20.17 Euen in the laughing the hart is sorrowfull and the mirth dooth end in heauines Although the bread of deceipt be sweet in the mouth for a while yet in the end the mouthe shal be filled with Grauell although for a time they liue without remorse of conscience Luke 11.21 and the stronge man dooth so possesse all things that all things seeme to be quiet yet in the end they shall be neuer the better for it no more then the stall fedde Oxe is the better because he knoweth not that he is taken out to the slaughter house for a sodaine death will haue the greater feaâ—e 1. Cor. 1.12 And therefore good brethren let euery one of vs endeuour as much as we can to kéepe the testimonie of a good conscience for as of all the treasures and pleasures in the worlde a quiet conscience is the greatest Pro. 15.15 as Salomon saith a good conscience is a continuall feast so it is the greatest horrour in the world to make Shipwrake of a good conscience 1. Iohn 3 21. for if our hart condemne vs God is greater then our heart and therefore let euery one of vs labour faithfully and painefully in the Lords Haruest let vs as good stewards giue vnto the household their portion of meate in due season that whensoeuer we must leaue our flocks we may euery one of vs in the testimonie of a good conscience say as Paule saide to the Elders of Ephesus Act. 20.26.27 I take you all to recorde this day that I am pure from the bloud of all men for I haue kept nothing back but haue shewed you all the counsell of God The second witnesse which shall accuse thée if thou be an euil Steward is the crie of the poore people which by thy negligence are pinched with the famine of the worde of God Amos. 8.11 for if in plaging of the body of goods that be true which the wiseman saith Ecclc. 35.15 that the teares which runne downe from the Widdowes cheekes go vp into heauen and the Lord which heareth them doth accept them and that which Iames saith Iam. 5.4 the crye of the poore dooth enter into the eares of the Lorde of Hoastes and that which Dauid affirmeth that Psal 56.8 God dooth put the teares of his Saints in his bottell how much more shall the teares and the cry which commeth by the plaging of the soule go vp into the eares of the Lord of Hoasts when the People shall huÌ„ger thirst for the foode of Godsword thou hast none to giue them when they shall crie for their portion of meate and thou hast none neither for thy selfe nor for them This crie goeth vp into heaueÌ„ and the Lord which heareth it dooth accept it when he calleth thée to thy reckoning he will one day remember it The thirde witnesse which shall accuse all euill Stewards is the hurt dammage which is done in the Lords Haruest by their negligence Gen 4.10 for if the voice of the bloud of Abell did crie out of the earth for vengeance and if in building of houses with the oppressioÌ„ of the poore one stone doo crie vnto another â—bac 2.11 one beame crie against an other woe be to him that buildeth of bloud How much more shal the bloud of the soules of meÌ„ the maintaining of our wealthy estates by the perishing of so many soules cry continually out of the earth to the Lord for vengeance And thus if thou be an vnfaithfull and negligent Steward thou hast three accusers continually citing thee before the throne of God and the Lord which heareth their accusations will one day call thee to thy reckoning when he himselfe shall descende from heauen with a showte 1. The. 4.16.17 and with the voice of the Archangell with the trumpet of God and thou shalt meete him in the Cloudes where thou shalt see heauen aboue thee ready to receaue the saints of God Hell beneathe thee gaping to deuoure thee round about thee the world burning the Elements melting with heate thine owne sinnes on the one side of thee and the sinnes of all those which haue perished by thy negligence on the other side of thee behinde thee the Deuill ready to accuse thee within thee a conscience already condemning thee and before thy face the terrible Iudge accompanied with thousands of Angels calling thee to giue an accomptes of thy Stewardship And if it be founde that Luke 12.48.45.46 thou hast not giuen to the Househoulde of God their portion of meate in due season but hast smitten thy fellow seruauÌ„ts and giuen thy selfe to eate and drinke Math. 25.30 and to be dronken then moste assuredlye thou shalt be cut off and haue thy portion
amiable are thy Tabernacles My soule longeth yea and fainteth for the courts of the Lord for mine heart and my flesh reioyceth in the liuing God The sparowe hath found her a house and the swalowe a nest for her where she may â—ay her young euen hard by thine aultars O Lord of hoastes my King and my God Where the Prophete Dauid is gréeued that the sparowes swalowes had more accesse to the Church of God then he had There are many now a dayes which will say that they beare as good a soule toward God as they which resort so often to the Church and that they can serue God as well at home as in the Church But these must learne of the Prophete Dauid to prayse God not onelie at home but in the assemblies also as he â—ayteh vnto God Psa 68.26 Psa 22.22 I will declare thy â—ame vnto my brethren in the midst of â—he congregation I will sing prayses vnto thee For otherwise if we doo not séeke to â—et foorth the glorie of God as well publiquelie in the assemblies as pruiuatly in our Families our hearts are not aright before God Héere then they are condemned which béeing Land-Lordes and Men of Worshippe doo disdaine to come into the Congregation of God to coÌ„fesse Gods name vnto their brethren and in the middest of the assemblies to sing prayses vnto him but will haue the Seruice of God done priuatlie in their Chambers and in their Closets These are farre vnlike to the holy Prince and Prophet Dauid the annointed of God Psal 42.4 who led the people into the house of God and accoumpted nothing so déere vnto him as openlie in the assemblies to coÌ„fesse the name of God vnto his brethren And therefore he sayth Psal 26.8 Psa 27.4 O Lorde I haue looued the habitation of thine house and the place where thine honour dwelleth One thing haue I desired of the Lord that I will require euen that I may dwel in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to beholde the beautie of the Lord and to visite his holy Temple For although that cannot but be most true Math. 18. â—0 which our sauiour sayth that Whersoeuer two or three be gathered together in his name he will be in the midst of them and whatsoeuer they aske they shal receiue Yet this priuate praier ought not to take away publique prayer but much more establish it For if God will â—are the prayers of .ij. or .iij. being gathered together in his name how much more wil â—e heare a whole coÌ„gregation Rom. 15.6 when with â—e hart one voice they shal glorify God â—e father of our Lord Iesus Christe If the prayers procéede froÌ„ a faithfull heart God â—ill heare Ezechias in his bed Hoster in â—er chaÌ„ber Iob vpon the dunghill Daniel Isa 38.2 Hest 4.16 Iob. 2.8 Dan. 6.16 Ionah 2.1 Exod 15.1 Iosu 10.12 1. Reg. 17.20 19.8.9 Acts. 10.2 30. Luk. 6.12 Math. 27.46 â—n the den of LioÌ„s Ieremy in the prison Ioâ—s in the Whales bellie He will heare the people of Israel in the land of Egipt Moâ—s and Aaron in the wildernes Iosua in â—is warres Elias in the house of the widâ—ow of Sarepta in a Caue of the mouÌ„t Noreb Cornelius at home in his owne â—ouse Simon Peter in the house of Simon â—he Tanner Paule in the Ship and on the 〈◊〉 banke and our sauiour Christe on the mouÌ„taines in the fields in the garden â—n the Crosse So that in euery place the â—ord is nigh vnto all the call vpon him I â—y vnto all that call vpon him in trueth Psal 145.18 notwithstaÌ„ding this dooth God especially â—quire of euery christian that we should all â—ogether publiquely in the assemblies make â—en confession of our Faith in the Lord â—esus vnto the lande and praise of God And therfore miserable is their blindnes and intollerable is their arrogaÌ„cie which thinke they may serue God sufficientlie in their houses and doo therfore abstaine from publique prayer and from the open confession of their faith in the Church of God wherin first they rob God of his honour and commit Sacriledge in kéeping back their tongues from the publique coÌ„fessing their bodies from the open glorifying of the name of the Lord Iesus Secondlie they cut them selues off from the mysticall body of Iesus Christe for Christ is the head Ephe. 1.22 Ephe. 4.15.25 and we are the body one head hath but one body And thus as Paule sayth We are all members one of an other And therefore as one body we should be all of one faith all agrée in one trueth and all with one hart one voice lawde and magnifie the name of God and who soeuer by schismes deuisions dooth seperate him selfe from his brethren and cut him selfe off froÌ„ the Church that man dooth cut him selfe off froÌ„ the misticall body of Iesus Christ Thirdly they shew intollerable pride and arrogancie for what proude wretches are they which take vpoÌ„ them to condempne the congregation of Christe which is assembled togeather in his holy name and to accoumpt them heâ—tiques for whome Christe shedde his â—ood and howe vilie doo they thinke of â—eir brethren Psal 22.22 which will not vouchsafe 〈◊〉 pray to make confession of their faith â—gether with them They are wurse a â—reat deale then the Phariseis for they â—though they were proude hautie and â—d aboue all others disdayne the Publiâ—nes yet they did not refuse to come to â—e Temple because the Publicans reâ—rted vnto it For S. Luke sheweth how â—e Pharisey the Publican Luk. 18.10 came bothe 〈◊〉 the Temple together And therefore â—ey which denie or disdaine to come to â—e Church eyther they make vs wurse â—en Publicans or else they them selues â—e wurse then Phariseis Fourthlie they giue great offence vnto â—hers by their yll ensample especiallie Psa 42.4 〈◊〉 they be such as should leade the people to the house of God I meane Landâ—des and Gentlemen for if they pray â—elie at home the poorer sort say straight â—ayes within them selues why may not â—e pray also at home séeing we haue all â—e Lord and Maister in heauen for inâ—riours are called Apes of superiours Herodian â—cause whatsoeuer they sée done of them they thinke that they may doo the like Seneca and Graauissimus morbus est qui a capite diffum ditur That disease is most perillous which commeth from the head And therefore Woe be to him by whome offences come Mat. 18.6.7 it were better for him that a myll stone were hanged about his necke and that he were drowned in the bottome of the sea Last of all they which refuse to come into the Congregation of God Psal 22.22 to confesse the name of God amongst their brethren they condemne and despise the holie ordinaunce of God For God hath ordained in holy woord commaunded That his people should come together to
make publique confession of their faith in the blood of Iesus Christ to pray for things necessarie to heare the sacred and blessed woord of God to be thankfull to him for all his benefites to receyue his holie Sacraments And he which slieth from these thinges which are so often commaunded by the Lord God in flying from the Church he flyeth from the Celestial Ierusalem he flyeth from his own saluation he flyeth from God him selfe What caused the Iewes to lament so pittifullie to wéep by the Riuers of Babilon and to hang their Instrumentes vpon the Willowes Psa 137.1.2.3 saying How shall we sing the song of the Lorde in a â—traunge lande If I forgette thee O Ierusalem let my right hand forgette to play â—f I do not remember thee let my tongue leaue vnto the roofe of my mouth if I â—oo not remember Ierusalem in all my mirth No doubt when they were captiues â—n Babilon they prayed vnto the Lorde â—ut therefore they wept by the waters of Babilon because they could not visite the Temple of GOD in Ierusalem there to make publique confession of their Faith â—nd openlie to magnifie the name of the God of Iacob And in the same place the Rulers enuying that Daniel should be set â—uer them caused the King to confirme â—nd seale a decrée that Dan. 6.7.10 Whosoeuer should â—ke any peticioÌ„ of any other God sauing â—nly of the King for the space of thirtie â—nyes he should be cast into a den of LioÌ„s 〈◊〉 man might thinke it to be but a small â—ffence to abstaine from praying openly or the space of thirty dayes Daniel might â—r so short a time haue prayed to God in â—eart onely or he might haue prayed seâ—retlie in his bed and in his Closet But he knewe that his whole body was made to glorifie the name of God and therefore when the decrée was published he went into his house and his windowe béeing open in his Chamber towardes Ierusalem he knéeled vpon his knées thrée times a daye and prayed and praysed his God as he had done aforetime He opened the windowe towards the Cittie that all men might sée that he serued the Lord his God not with heart onelie but with the tongue the knées and the whole body Peter denied his maister in mouth But no doubt Math. 26.70 in heart he beléeued in him and he denied him not for feare of loosing his worldlie goodes but for feare of present death not willinglie and of set purpose but through the infirmitie of his flesh because he sawe his Maister forsaken of his fréendes and taken of his enimies and therefore could finde out no other way to saue his lyfe but in heart he styll beléeued in the Lord. Héere some peraduenture may iudge this fault of Peter to be somewhat excusable But moste certainlie it was a wicked and an heinous offence and vnlesse the Lorde had looked vppon him wherby he went foorth and wept bitterly no doubt it had béene to his vtter condemnation and destruction bothe of body and soule Math. 10.33 For our sauiour sayth Who soeuer shall deny me before men him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaâ—en And it is not sufficient not to deny Christ vnlesse we doo in all places openly confesse him fréely reprooue those which blaspheme his holy name For we are not â—orne to our selues but first to the glorie of God as Christe commaundeth vs To let our lyght so shine before men Math. 5.16 1. Pet. 2.12 4 11. that they may see our good workes and gloriâ—ie our father in heauen And secondlie to â—he edifying of our Brethren and to win them vnto Christe as Paule sayth Exâ—ort one another and edifie one another 1. The. 5.11 And Saint Iames sayth If any man hath â—rred from the way Iam. 5.19 and some man hath conuerted him let him knowe that he which hath conuerted a sinner from going a stray out of his way shall saue a soule from death This is the lawe of God in Leuitticus Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart Leuit. 19.17 but thou shalt plainly â—ebuke thy neighbour and suffer him not â—o sinne Where the Lord dooth accoumpt â—t the extréemest hatred that can be to â—atter our neighbours in their sinnes We are coÌ„maunded by the woord of God â—hat For as much as we are all members of â—he same body in Iesus Christe we should be charitable one to an other and doo good one to an other by all meanes possible Nowe if it be accoumpted charitie to féede the body howe much more is this charitie to féede the soule with holy admonitions and godlie instructions And if we be bounden by the law of God Exod. 23.4 That when wa see our enimies Oxe or Asse going astray we shall bring it home againe Howe much more ought we when we sée the soule of our brother going astray to séeke by all meanes possible to bring it home againe Saint Iohn willeth vs That if any man bring not the doctrine of Christe 1. Ioh. 2.10.11 we receyue him not into our houses neyther byd him God speede for he that biddeth him God speede is pertakar of his euill deedes And therefore if thou heare or sée a man which holdeth any wicked opinions and heresies if thou doo not instruct him to the vttermost of the power but sufferest him to continew in his errour and blindnesse and biddest him God spéede thou art partaker of his wickednesse And if thou heare any man blaspheme the glorious name of Christe if thou doo not saye vnto him Exod 20.7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine Eccl. 23.11 A man that vseth much swearing shall be fylled with wickednesse and the plague of God shall neuer depart from his house Thou art partaker of his iniquitie and the same plague which hangeth ouer him for his blasphemie in speaking the same is due vnto thée for thy silence in hearing For if thou doo not confesse Christe thou doost denie him as our Sauiour sayeth He that is not with mee is against mee Luk. 11.23 and hee that gathereth not hee scattereth And therefore we must euerie one of vs in such manner confesse the Lorde Iesus with our mouthes that by our confession other may be edified and the greater that the assemblie is the more boldnesse should be in our confession There are many of vs which before one or two will paraduenture rebuke a swearer which blasphemeth the name of Christe But if it be in a Feast or in a Banquet or otherwise before many then wée are verie mannerlie and ciuill we dare not speake for feare of offence we accoumpt it a point of modestie to beare with their wickednesse But what is this else but to kéepe the honour of God for holes and préeuie corners and to offer vp sacrifice openlie to the deuill Iohn 12.43 What is this else But to looue
good for euill and looue them which hated them and blesse them which curssed them and in all his life he made a mocke of Christe and called him the Carpenters sonne and the man of Galily But what came of it in the ende when he sawe his death at hande he cryed out with a desperate mind Vicisti Gallilaee O thou man of Galiley thou hast gotten the victory Ioh. 4.25 The Iewes saw manifestlye that Christ was the Messias Act. 3.6 the sonne of God which was promised they sawe the power of his Godhead by all the miracles Ioh 8.46 7.40 2.9 which were wrought not onely by him selfe but by his Apostles in his name they sawe the innocencye of his lyfe the maiesty of his woord the certiâ—nde of his prophesies they saw his mighty omnipotencie by turning the water into Wine Mat. 14.19 by féeding so many thousandes with a fewe barlie loues and a fewe fishes Mar 4.39 by commaunding the Sea and Winde by giuing sight to the borne blinde by making the deafe to heare the dumbe to speake the lame to goe the dead to ryse Luk. 8.30 17.14 Ioh. 4.18 by clensing Lepers by casting out deuils by telling them the very thoughtes and cogitations of their hearts They saw all thinges fulfilled in him which the Prophets had foretold them as Zachery Zach. 9.9 of the King which shoulde come poorely and riding vpon an Asse Isa 53.3.10 Esay of the laying downe of his soule an offering for sinne Dauid of his féete and his hands bored Psa 22 16 18 of the thirst vineger and of the casting lots for his garments also which Moses had foreshadowed vnto them by his sacrifices vpon the Aulters Num. 21.9 Ioh. 1.29 and by the lifting vp of the brasen Serpent They hearde Iohn Baptist a Prophet and more then a Prophet not declaring in woord but poynting out with his finger Mat 27.51.45 Luc. 23.45 The Lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world They saw how at the time when he was crucified the vayle of the Temple burst and darknes ouershadowed the earth They saw how gloriously the body of Christe was risen againe out of the graue Mat. 27.65 Math. 28 4.5 and they knew well enough that it coulde not be stolen away by vnarmed Disciples from so many harnised Souldiars as they had placed to kéepe the graue Act 1.11 2.3 5 41. 7.60 They saw this his wonderfull resurrection witnessed by the testimony of men Women and Angels They perceiued the giftes of the holy ghoste which after his visible ascention he powred out most plentifully vpon his Apostles and Disciples And they sawe also his Apostles Disciples which were alwayes conuersaunt with him so stedfastly to beléeue in him that they did not onely suffer greate tribulation for the professing of his name but also endured most cruell death sealing theyr profession with their owne blood as with a most certaine testimonie Col. 2.9 which surely they would neuer haue don vnles they had séene the godhead to dwell corporally in him All these thinges the Iewes sawe well enough and yet notwtstanding all these testimonies of meÌ„ of Angels and of God himselfe saying from heauen This is my well belooued sonne Math. 3.17 17.5 in whom I am well pleased Notwithstanding I say all these thinges confirmed with so many witnesses beholden with so many eyes and as it were handled with theyr owne hands yet they would not confesse the Lord Iesus to be theyr Messias but obstinately renounced theyr Lorde and Sauiour but howe did the Lorde plague them for thys their offence euen with the plague which is threatned by the Prophet Isa 6.9 Mat. 13.14 Rom. 11.8 that theyr hearts should be made fat and their eares heauy and their eyes blinde least they should see with their eyes or heare with their eares or vnderstande with theyr hearts and be saued They mocked and scorned our Sauiour and his Disciples and now they theÌ„selues are made a scorne and a laughing stocke vnto others lyuing in miserable slauery and bondage and being lamentably scattered abroade ouer the face of the earth so disdained and hated that vnto this day the verye name of a Iewe is odious thoroughout all the world They will not confesse the Lord Iesus to be their Messias but they looke for an other Messias But looke they doo looke they shall and they shall neuer sée him vntill the day of vengeaunce then they shall see him whether they will or no but as a iudge and not a Sauiour To descende from the Ievves to examples of latter time God hath shewed sufficient tokens of his iudgementes euen in mans memory to terrifye vs all and to teach vs what a horrible thing it is to renounce the true fayth of Iesus Christ Fraunces Spera after that he had in Citadell professed the Gospell of Christ after warde by the threatning of the Popes Legate in Venis and by the desire which he had of worldly riches he renounced openly recanted his fayth and religion but he was by and by stricken with horrour desperation and confusion he felte the torment of hell in his conscience he desired to be in the place of Iudas Caine â—e looked for Belzebub to call him to a â—aste he cryed out that he was a reproâ—te from the beginning and that the â—eath and passion of Christ could nothing â—uaile him He wished that he might reâ—aine tenne thousande yéeres and more 〈◊〉 the flames of hell fyre so that at the â—ste he mighte conceaue some hope of an â—de but that he could hope for nothing â—ut euerlasting destruction both of bodye â—nd soule he cryed out alas that curssed â—ay alas that curssed day that euer he renounced his Lord and Sauiour and at â—he last in a desperate mynde he stranged himselfe and so ended his wretched â—se with a most miserable death So also Stephen Gardener Act. mo pag. 1992 when there â—ame a Bishoppe vnto him lying on his death Beddeâ— and put him in remembraunce of Peters denying his Maister aunswered againe that hee had denyed with Peter but that he could not repent with Peter So also one Rockwood at the poynte of death staring and raging sayde that â—he was vtterly dampned and béeing willed to aske mercy cryed out all all too late all to late I might rehearse also the death of diuers others as Hales Thorneton Smith and many others of whose death we may not iudge but commit iudgement to him to whom it belongeth but most certainly it was horrible fearefull in the sight of man I might also declare the gréeuous plagues wherewith God hath punished the persecutors of theÌ„ which haue professed the name of Christ Herod soughte by all meanes possible to roote out the name of Christe and to destroy the babe Iesus but in the ende hee was plagued with a desperate minde so that he
whom we must be gathered Iohn 10.7 and brought home vpon his shoulders the onely doore by whom we must enter Math. 9.12 Math. 17.5 Iohn 1.4 5.26 1. Cor. 3 11. Ephe. 2.10 the onely Phisicion to cure our maladyes the onely Maister whom we must heare the way the trueth the lyfe the light the foundation and chéefe corner Stone on whome onely wee must builde our onely hope and consolation our wisdome iustification Math. 12.21 1. Cor. 1.30 Math. 11.27 Ephe. 2.18 1. Tim. 2.5 Iohn 4.10 7.38 sanctification and redemption the only Mediator and Aduocate betwixt God and maÌ„ whose bloude onely dooth purge vs from all our sinnes We must confesse hym to bee the onely giuer of the warer of lyfe whereof whosoeuer tasteth shall neuer thirste Iohn 6.51 but it shall bee in his belly as a Fountaine springing vp to eternall lyfe the onelye bread of lyfe whych came downe from Heauen of whom whosoeuer eateth shall liue for euer Rom. 13.14 Gal. 5.16 the onely riches whereby our pouertie must be releeued the onely rayment wherewith our nakednesse must be couered The victorious Lion of the Tribe of Iuda Gen. 49.10 1. Cor. 15.55 by whom all our enemyes are subdued the Diuil unchained Hell gates destroyed death swallowed vp in victorie Ephe. 2.16 Colos 2.14 the wrath of God slaine the law crucifyed sinne vanquished and abolished and we our selues made partakers of the euerlasting Crowne of glorie Ephe. 2.22 4.15 2. Cor. 11.2 We must confesse him to be the onely head of the body the onely husband of his deare Spouse the Church The Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending which was and is to come euen the almighty for euer the holy and true Apoc. 1.8 3 7. which hath the Key of Dauid which openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth who by his incarnation natiuity circumcision exile Baptisme fasting temptation doctrine miracles agonyes bloudy sweate paynefull passion Math. 16.27 Luk. 24.52 Hebr. 8.1 10 12. 1. â—hes 4.16 death resurrection and ascention ouercame all our enemyes and now sitteth at the right hand of God the father almighty making intercession for vs and shall come at the laste day to iudgement in the twinkeling of an eye with the blaste of a trumpet and sound of an Archangell to iudge bothe the quicke and the dead If we thus confesse the Lord Iesus héere in earth Math. 10 3â— then haue we a comfortable promise that he will likewise confesse vs before his â—ther which is in Heauen Hebr. 2.11 he will not be ashamed to call vs brethren he will giue vs this honourable title to be called Heires of God fellow Heires with Iesus Christ Rom. 8.17 And thus much of the first part how euery Christian muste with his mouthe confesse the Lorde Iesus Of the second part which is that we must beleeue in heart that God raysed him vp againe from the dead because it conteyneth the Article of iustification a matter large and waighty not lightly to be posted ouer but requiring a longer discourse as béeing the cheefest principle of Christian Religion I am therefore purposed God willing to intreate therevpon to morrow at the firste morning prayer In the meane time let vs meditate vpon this which we haue learned alreadye that not onely our soules but our whole bodyes are made to glorifie God the Creator 1. Cor. 6.19 Christe Iesus the Redéemer and the holy ghost the sanctifier and as all the body so especially the tongue Phil. 2.11 that euery tongue should confesse that Iesus is the Lord to the glory of God the Father we haue heard also where we must confesse the Lorde Iesus as in all places Psalm 22.22 so especially in the middest of the congregation and amongst our brethren because we are not borne to our selues 1. Pet. 4.11 1. Thes 5.11 but first to the honour and praise of the name of God and then to the edification instruction and comforte of our brethren Ephe. 6.4 and last of all to the godly bringing vp and reléeuing of our selues and our familyes in the feare and nurture of the Lorde We haue hearde all those reasons aunswered which are drawne from the example of Naaman Paul and Nicodemus to cloake and couer that dissembling in religion which is flatly and plainely condemned by the worde of God because that if Christ doo dwel in our harts by faithe Ephe. 3.17 it is vnpossible that the Diuell should be in the tongue and the other meÌ„bers of the body which haue their life of the heart and are gouerned by the heart and also because God béeing a iealious God Exod. 20.5 will suffer no part of his Spouse to be giueÌ„ to any but to himselfe alone we haue heard also the sundry sorts of the policies of worldly wise men which are all contrarie to the true and constant confessing of the Lorde Iesus therewithall the manner how they must repent and ameÌ„d which is by casting away all respect of feare or fauour of meÌ„ or of the losse of lande liuing yea and of the life it selfe constantly with the mouthe to confesse the Lord Iesus and so much the rather because if anye trouble or persecution should come Rom. 8.28 yet all things will worke for the best to those that loue God We haue heard the plagues and heauie iudgements of God shewed all vpon those which for any worldly respect haue renouÌ„ced the Lord Iesus as also vpon theÌ„ which haue sought by violence to enforce others therunto Titus 1.16 And last of all we haue heard the manner howe we must confesse him not onely in worde but also indéede that he is our Iesus that is our Sauiour and therefore will saue vs is also able to saue vs being the heire of all things in Heauen in earth and therefore that without all wauering Actes 4.12 we hope assuredly to be saued by him looke for no saluatioÌ„ in any other if we thus confesse him in this world he will also confesse vs before his father Luke 12.8 Hebr. 2.11 Rom. 8.17 before his holy Angels in HeaueÌ„ he wil acknowledge vs to be his brethreÌ„ fellow heires wheÌ„ he shal pronouÌ„ce the ioyfull seÌ„teÌ„ce Come ye blessed of my father inherit you the kingdoÌ„ prepared for you froÌ„ the foundations of the world Then shall we be with the Lambe and go whether he goeth then shall we make an other ioyefull confession with heauenly Harmonie and moste pleasaunt melodie when we shall accompany the Archangels Thrones Powers Dominions Cherubins Seraphins Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs Virgins Confessours Angels Elders and innumerable thousands of Saints and with a new Songe for euer glorifying our Lord Iesus saying Apoc. 4.8 5.11 Thou Christ which was slaine art worthy to receiue power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glorie and blessing Holy
therefore we ought to dispense the word faithfully in season and out of season 2. Tim. 4.2 knowing that if any doo perish thorough our default a seuere accompt shall be required at our hands We are called builders to edifie build the body of Christ Isa 49.17 Ephe. 4.12 15. that is his Church and to ioyne it vnto the head Christ and therefore we muste labour painefully and take heede where we laye our foundation that we build not vpon the sand but vpon the foundatioÌ„ of the Prophets and Apostles Ephe. 2.20 Iesus Christ himselfe béeing the chiefe corner Stone We are called Luke 6.39 the leaders of Gods people to leade them into all trueth and therefore we must take héede that we haue alwayes the word of God a Lanterne to our feete and a light vnto our pathes Psal â—19 105 for otherwise if the blinde leade the blinde Math. 15.14 they shall bothe fall into the Ditche we are called Sheepeheards and Pastors and therfore we ought to feede the stock committed to our charge or otherwise there is no loue of Christ in vs. Iohn 21.15 For our Sauiour mooued the question thrife to Peter Simon thou sonne of Iona doost thou loue me his aunswer was Lord I loue thee Lorde thou knowest that I loue thee Then feede my Sheepe feede my Lambes And therefore it is vnpossible that there should be any sparckle of the loue of Christ in our hearts except we haue a care to feede those Lambes for when he shed his bloud Ezech. 34.4 to strengthen the weake to heale the sick to binde vp the broken to bring home that which is driueÌ„ away to seeke that which is lost and to defend theÌ„ froÌ„ being deuoured of the wild beasts of the field which we câ—Ì„ neuer do vnlesse we be able to interpret the scriptures to apply them to the instruction comfort of the people therefore 〈◊〉 â—3 2 〈◊〉 2.24 Paul requireth in the Minister that he be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sit to teache alâ— commauÌ„deth Timothy to shew himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rightly deuiding the worde of trueth 2. Tim. 2.15 not onely and barely reading for that were to giue whole loaues vnto Children for the which they should be neuer the better but cutting and deuiding the worde of trueth Math. 4.19 Luke 5.5 and as it were breaking vnto them the bread of life We are Fishers of men and therefore we must at Christes commaundement continually let downe our Nets We are called Gods Stewards Luk. 12.42 16.1 and therefore we ought to be faithfull and wise and giue vnto the Household of God their portion of meate in due season Happy is the Seruaunt whom the Maister when he coÌ„meth shall finde so dooing We must euery one of vs be as it were Gen 41.57 another Ioseph that when the Aegiptians are pinched with famine they may finde reliefe at Iosephs hande The first thing then that is required in a Minister is that he haue knowledge and vnderstanding how to doo his Embassage how to feed with discretion first with Milke and theÌ„ with stronge meate how to labour in the Lords Haruest how to builde how to leade the people of God how to watch ouer them how to lighten their hearts and to season them with the knowledge of Gods holy worde The Prophet saith Math. 2.7 that the lippes of the Priest must preserue knowledge that the people may seeke the lawe at his mouth For he is the Messenger of the Lord of Hoastes and not onely should their lippes preserue knowledge but they must euen eate the rowle of Gods booke Ezech. 3.2 3. Apoc. 10.9 and fill their bowels with the volume thereof whereby is signified the profounde and deepe knowledge and inward digesting of the worde of God which ought to be in euery Minister Esai 56.10 The Prophet dooth greatly complaine of the blinde watchmen which cannot sée and the dombe Dogges which cannot barke and God denounceth a seuere iudgement against them saying Ezech. 13.3 Woe be vnto the foolish Prophets which follow their owne spirite and haue seene nothing Exod. 28.33 About the skirts of the robe of Ephod were goulden Bels alwayes sounding to signifie that the Priest wheresoeuer he went should be able to found out the worde of trueth and therefore we which are called to be labourers in the Lords Haruest to instruct the people in the worde of God Let vs first learne how we must doo it for labour wee neuer so painefully 2. Tim. 2.5 yet if wee labour not as we ought to doo our labour is all in vayne The labouring Husbandman must firste be able to choose good Seede and then to Sowe it with discrescion euen so the Minister must first be able to disseuer the trueth from falsehood light from darkenesse and meate from poyson and then to vtrer his Doctrine applying it to the profit and comfort of the hearers The Husbandman must fyrste Plowe the Soyle and bruse the Cloddes before hee commit the Séede vnto the ground euen so must the Minister fyrst bruse the cloddes and knotty affections of mens hearts by the Preaching of the Lawe and then Sowe therein the sweete promises of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ Some are of this iudgement that onely the lawe and the threatnings of God against sinne ought now to be preached bothe because the manners of men are growen to be so wicked and desperate that they haue néede of a sharpe and desperate remedie and also because that Christian libertie the more it is preached the more it is abused I confesse these thinges to be true and too true the Lorde be mercifull vnto vs But how so euer sinne be increased and Christian libertie abused yet good brethren we must so procéede in teaching that rather Christe be framed in the hearts then Moses and that rather by acknowledging Gods benefits men may be drawen to loue him then be driuen by feare to flie from him For if Christe doo come into our hearts it is vnpossible but that he should bring with him new vertues new actions new motions and a spirite sanctifying all thinges and where Christe is not receaued there is it in vaine to speake of any morrall vertue or vice whatsoeuer Eph. 3.17 If Christe doo dwell in our hearts by faythe then must it néedes follow that wee should bee rooted and grounded in looue and saye with the Apostle 2. Cor. 5.14.15 The loue of Christe constrayneth vs for this wee knowe that if Christe dyed for vs wee which liue should not liue vnto our selues but liue vnto him which dyed for vs and rose againe that as he gaue his body and bloud vpon the Crosse for vs so we should giue our bodyes and soules to serue him and shew our selues thankfull for the worke of our redemption knowing that he did not therefore die for vs that we should wallow in sinne and wickednesse
T it 2.14 but that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purge vs a peculiar people vnto him zelous of good workes And thus our especiall care ought to be to frame Christ in the hearts of men 2. Cor. 3.6 And therefore Saint Paule saithe that God Idoneos nos fecit Ministros noui Testamenti he hath made vs able Ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the spirite for the letter killeth but the spirite giueth life Luke 16.16 Lex et prophetae vsque ad Iohannem ab eo tempore regnum dei annunciatur The Law and the Prophets continued vnto Iohn and from that time the kingdom of God is Preached whereby we are giuen to vnderstand that we are especially the Ministers of the new Testament to Preache the kingdome of God that is the Gospell of Iesus Christ not that we ought not to Preache the Lawe also for the teaching of the law is very necessary Firste Rom. 3.20 5.20 7.7 Gal. 3.21 4.1 Psa 1.2 19.7 119.105 Math. 5.17 to make vs acknowledge our owne wretchednes and miserie Secondly to be as it were our Schoolemaister to leade vs vnto Christ And last of all to reueale vnto vs the will of our heauenly father whereunto euery Christian must indeuour to the vttermost of his power to frame his life and conuersation But for that our chéefest labour ought to be to sprinckle the soules of men with the bloud of Iesus Christ 1. Peter 1.2 Heb. 9.14 and by his death and passion to purge their consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing Lorde What though some doo abuse the liberty of the Gospell and of the doore of saluation doo make vnto themselues a window vnto all wickednesse what though some by abusing Christes benefites doo shew themselues vnworthy of the same what though many come to the Supper without their wedding garment yet we must follow the ensample of our heauenly Father who Math. 5.48 maketh the Sunne to shine vpon the good and bad and the Raine to fall vpon the iust and vniust we must follow the seruants Luke 14.17 which were sent to bid men to the Mariage we must bid all bothe worthie and vnworthy and if any doo come which are vnworthy hauing not their wedding garments God will not condemne vs but them he will not saye to vs why did yee bid him why did ye let him enter Math. 22 1â— but he will saye vnto the vnworthy guest freend how cammest thou heather hauing not thy Wedding garment take him binde him hand and foote and cast him into vtter darkenesse where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Wee must followe the good Sheepeheard Luke 15.4 which if he haue but one Sheepe lost will leaue ninetie and nine in the Wildernes and go and seeke that one which is lost And therefore if in the whole congregation there be but one which with Dauid Ps 6.3 38.4 dooth grone vnder the burthen of sinne and therefore néedeth comfort and all the rest be abusers of Christian libertie there is no reason that for the great multitude of the abusers he should be depriued of comfort for whom Christ dyed And thus ye sée first the wisdom which is required in them that will be profitable labourers in the Lords Haruest that they know how to labour how to chuse the Séeds how to Sowe it with discretion how to bruse the cloddes and knottie affections of mens hearts by the threatenings of the lawe but especially how to molliâ—ie them and water them with the swéete dew of Gods mercies and with the comfortable promises of the Lorde Iesus Christe Then yee which are nowe to take the Office of the Ministerie vpon you are héere to trie and examine your selues whether ye be able thus to labour in the Lordes Haruest or no and if ye be not assure your selues the Lorde dooth not send you ye respect the liuing to féede your selues and not your knowledge to féede the flock and therefore Iohn 10. â— are ye Hierlings ye are theeues and murderers ye come in at the windowe and not at the doore Christ Iesus And as for you which now either for want of knowledge or otherwise for want of age are not admitted at this time into the Ministerie be not therefore discouraged but rather accompt it to be a token of the mercifull prouidence of God that he would haue you to tarie the time vntyl he himselfe shall call you and make you fit for that function and with this persuasioÌ„ apply the scriptures and no doubt the Lord will blesse bothe you your studies the better Paul will haue the Minister to bee no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no young Plant 1. Tim. 3.6 not greene timbered but to be seasoned for a time with the knowledge of Gods worde and with grauitie and integrity of life For if the chéefe beames and Rafters of the house be made of gréeue Timber there is great daunger least the Timber shrinke and so the fall of the house be great The Minister must be one of the Beames to vpholde the house of God and therefore séeing ye are yet but gréene wood as I am sure your owne conscience dooth witnesse vnto you let it not gréeue you to be seasoned for a time that ye may be made fit for the building of the Lorde And héere by the way I am to make my humble petition to you my Lorde that as your Lordship hath had a godly care and taken a good course that none should be admitted at this time but such as for their learning and knowledge are of great hope and towardnesse So also an order may now be taken that they may be driuen to some godly exercises wherby not onely the good gifts of God may be continued and increased in them but also Isa 56.10 the blinde guides and dombe Dogges which are already crept in may be in time reformed You must deale with all these Ministers as the Eagle dooth with her young Birdes as many as can looke stedfastly vpon the Sunne so many dooth she nourish the rest she turneth out of the Nest as vnfit to be kept You must set before them all Math. 4 2. 1. Cor. 14.29 1. Tim. 4.13 the beames of the sunne of righteousnes Iesus Christ appoint them godly exercises to the increase of their knowledge and as many as cannot abyde thus to looke vpon the sunne of righteousnesse so many should be turned out of the nest as vnfit to serue in your Lordships Dioces And thus if their Talent be exercised then no doubt their Talent shal be increased Math. 25.20 and God will double his holy spirite in them so that in short time they shall be able bothe to exhort with wholesome doctrine Tit. 1.9 Act. 1.4 6.3 Luk. 24.49 and also to improoue the gainesayers and except they haue these giftes and graces of the holy spirit and
with the vnbeléeuers thou shalt be cast as an vnprofitable seruaunt Mark 9.44 Ezech. 34.1 1. Cor. 9.16 Luk. 16.26 Apoc. 14.11 into vtter darkenesse where shall be weeping gnashing of teeth where the worme neuer dyeth and the flame neuer goeth out where woes thou shalt finde on euery side and nothing but woes and of all woes this is the greatest that there shal be no ende of thy woes Where thou shalt alwaies consume and yet neuer be consumed alwayes burne and yet neuer be burnt away alwayes die and yet neuer giue ouer to death but haue paines vnquencheable intollerable easelesse endlesse and hopelesse from the which the Lord of his infinite mercy for his sonne Christ his sake deliuer vs all and giue vs grace so to vse our Talents in this vale of miserie that when our accompts shal be made we may be founde acceptable in his sight and héere that ioyfull saying O ye good and faithfull seruaunts Math. 25.21.23.34 yee haue beene faithfull in little I wil make you Maysters of much enter into the ioyes of your Lorde come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you froÌ„ the beginning of the world Thus deerely belooued ye see the thyrde propertie which is required in him that shall labour in the Lords Haruest that Luk. 12.46.45 he must be dilligent and that if he let any perish for want of foode then doth he smite his fellow seruaunts and murder them with a murder which before God is of all others most horrible and therefore if when we haue murdered a man although it be but by chaunce medley yet the remembraunce of it dooth gréeue vs vexe vs terrifie vs torment vs and make our flesh to quiuer shake and tremble how much more ought ye to auoyde the wilfull murder of so many thousand soules which perishing by your wilful negligence and ignoraunce 2. Thes 1.8.9 because they know not God are thrown headlong into euerlasting perdition and if the bloud of meÌ„ that are slaine béeing behoulden with the eies of the body dooth moue pitty and compassion howe much more ought it to gréeue the eyes of your hearts and spirits to sée the bloudshed of the soules 2. Sam. 22.15 which bringeth death eternall When Dauid in the Haruest time being in the Caue of Adullam did greatly longe to drinke of the water of Bethlehem sayd O that some man would giue me to drinke of the waters of Bethlehem there could not well any water be fetched because the Garrison of the Philistines which were Dauids enemies were then in Bethlehem Notwithstanding when thrée of Dauids mighty Captaines saw how greatly their King loÌ„ged for that water they valiauntly brake thorough the Hoaste of the Philistines and drew water out of the Wel of Bethlehem and brought it vnto Dauid when Dauid sawe what they had done he refused to drinke of it and sayde O Lord be it farre from me that I should doo this Is not this the bloud of the men which went in daunger of their liues And so he would not drinke of it but powred it out for an offering vnto the Lorde Now if Dauid would not drinke once of the water of Bethlehem because it was brought vnto him with the ieopardie of thrée mens liues how much lesse ought ye not onely to eate and drinke but also to cloathe your selues yea and delight your selues in pastimes and plesures not once but euery day not with the dauÌ„ger of thrée mens liues but with the manifest murder of so many hundred soules And therefore as in the Solemnization of Matrimonie in this Church of Englande the Minister dooth firste charge the parties that are to be maried as they will aunswer at the dreadfull day of iudgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be opened that if either of them doo knowe in themselues any impediment why they may not lawfully be joyned together in Matrimonie that they confesse it Euen so I am to charge you before the Lord Iesus Christ and as you will aunswer at his appearaunce that if any of you doo know in your selues any secret impechment that either ye want the inward calling not to respect the liuing but to doo good in the Church of God or els that ye haue not the giftes of Nature fitte for that function or that yee feele not your selues so mortified with the spirite of sanctification that ye haue good hope to liue according to your profession to despise the worlde and painefully to discharge your duties that ye vtter it or at the least wise withdrawe your selues from rashelye entring into so high a calling Otherwise assure your selues that ye doo nothing els but plucke the vengeaunce of God vpon your owne heads But some of you say that ye haue no other way to liue and therefore vnlesse ye â—e nows made Ministers ye must néedes he brought to extreame beggerie I aunswer Ps 33 19. 34 8. 112.1 â— 3 that if the Lord be willing to deliuer you from pouertie he is able to deliuer you and he will deliuer you by a farre more lawfull meanes if ye will serue him and feare him 1 Tim. 1.5 1. Pet. 3.16.21 Tit. 1.15 and although he should neuer bring you out of it yet how much better were if for you to liue here in perpetuall begger is with a quiet conscience then with the best benefice in this Realme to haue a hell in your consciences in this worlde and euerlasting death in the worlde to come for then Mar. 8.36.37 what will it profit a man to win the whole world and loose his own soule or what shall a man giue for his soule ye must remember the counsell which Paul giueth to Timothie 1. Tim. 5.22 Psalm 38.4 not to be partakers of other mens sinnes our own sinnes are a burthen too heauie for vs to beare and altogether intollerable then what a desperate case are we in if we doo also charge and loade our selues with a heape of sinnes committed by other men Ezech. 3.18 whose bloud must be required at our hands if they be not dilligently lye warned and reclaymed from their wickednes that they may repent liue The fourth propertie which must be in the labourer is that he labour with bothe hands that is both with life and doctrine for otherwise if he be painfull in teaching and haue no care to expresse the same in life and conuersation then dooth he but build with the one hand and pluck downe with the other with the one hand he gathereth together and with the other hand he scattereth abroade and then he is no good labourer in the Haruest of the Lorde and therefore Saint Paul biddeth Timothy 1. Tim. 4.15 Act. 20.28 take heede vnto himselfe and to his doctrine and continue therein for in so dooing he should saue himselfe and theÌ„ that heard him And he willeth Titus Tit. â— 7 abooue all things to shew himselfe an ensample
they be sent we must continually beare in minde this cōmaūdement of our Sauiour Christ that we praye vnto the Lord of the Haruest to send foorth Labourers into his Haruest Which cōmaundement because Christ gaue it in this place to his 70. Disciples Let vs of the Ministery firste apply it to our selues and learne heere our dutye which is that with all laboures we ioyne our prayers vnto the Lorde of the Haruest For if in temporall things nothing can prosper without the blessing of the Lorde as the Prophet Dauid saithe Psal 127.1 Except the Lord build the house their labour is but lost that builde except the Lorde keepe the Cittie the Watchemen watcheth but in vaine It is in vaine for you to rise vp earely and to lye downe late and to eate the bread of carefulnesse as we sée by experience euery day many rise early and lay downe late and eate the bread of carefulnesse but they prosper not because the Lord doth not build the house if worldly riches be the blessing of the Lord as Salomon saith it is the blessing of the Lorde which maketh men riche if in fishing in the Sea Luke 5.5 Peter may fishe all night catch nothing vntil our Sauiour Christe voutchsafe to come into the barge thē how much lesse shall we think that we can build the Lords house or watch ouer the flock of Christ or gather a rich haruest vnto the lord or catch the soules of mē with the spiritual net of gods word vnlesse with our rising early lying downe late eating the bread of carefulnes we alwaies let our praier supplicatiō be made to God with thāksgiuing Phil. 4.6 Iob. 31.27 Iobe saithe If my heart did flatter me in secret or if my mouthe did kisse mine hand this had bin an iniquity to be condemned for I had denyed the Lorde aboue where Iob maketh the ascribing of our temporall goods to our owne handie worke and saying Haec sunt opera manuum mearum these are the workes of mine owne hands to be nothing els but a denying of the Lord aboue How much more then doo we deny the Lorde aboue if in spirituall graces we doo not confesse and acknowledge that it is nothing for Paul 1. Cor. 3.6 2. Cor. 3.5 to Plant and Appollo to water except the Lord doo giue the encrease that we are not sufficient of our selues to thinke one good thought as of our selues but all our sufficiencie commeth of God who hath made vs able Ministers of the new Testament that Isa 6.5.7 Ierm 1.6.9 the Prophet Isay is a man of polluted lippes bēfore the Lorde doo purge them that Ieremie is but a Childe and cannot speake before the Lord doo put his woords into his mouthe and therefore that in all our endeuours we trust not to our owne wisdome to our owne learning to our owne pollicie to our owne gifts of nature but that in all our laboures we doo in feruencie of spirite Psalm 51 1◠pray with Dauid O Lorde open thou my lippes and then my mouthe shall shew foorth thy praise Héere also in that our Sauiour dooth commaund his Disciples to pray the Lord of the Haruest to send foorth labourers into his Haruest we haue to consider the tender care which euery Minister ought to haue of the Church of God still to pray vnto God for the same and not onely to pray vnto God but also with great griefe of hart to remember as well the small number of the faithfull labourers as also the great number of the peoples sinnes This vehement zeale and tender care for the Haruest of the Lord was in Moyses when he prayed so earnestly for the people that he sayde Exod. 32.32 O Lord pardon their sinnes or els raze me out of the booke which thou hast written Gen. 18 24. This was in Abraham for when he saw how the sinnes of the Sodomites had prouoked the scourge of God against them he prayed vnto the Lord and sayd Lord if there be but fiftie righteous in the Citie wilt thou destroy the place and not spare it for the fiftie righteous and againe behould I haue begonne to speake vnto the Lord and am but duste and Asshes If there lack fiue of fiftie wilt thou destroy them for fiue And againe what if but fortie And againe what if thirtie what if twentie And againe let not my Lord be angrie if I speake once againe what if but ten shewing thereby sufficiently the earnest zeale which he had 2. Pet. 2.7 for the saluation of the people This was in Lot who was vexed with the vncleane conuersation of the wicked for béeing righteous and dwelling among them in séeing and heareing vexed his righteous soule from day to daye with their vncleane and foule déedes This zealous care for the Lords Haruest was also in Samuel 1. Sam. 7.9 Psal 119.136 who cried vnto the Lord for Israell And in Dauid whose eyes gusht out with Riuers of water because his people kept not the Lawe of God This was in the Prophet Isay Isa 22.4 who in the aboundance of looue bewayled his bretheren which would needes perishe saying Turne away from me I will weepe bitterly labour not to comfort me for the destruction of the Daughter of my people Ierm 9.1 Ierem. 14.17 This was in Ieremy who cryed out O that my head were full of Water and mine eyes a Fountaine of Teares that I might weepe day and night for the slaine of the daughter of my people Let myne eyes droppe downe teares night and daye without ceasing Dan. 9.7.16.18.19 This was in the Prophet Daniel who when he heard out of Ieremie that the Captiuitie should continue seauentie yeares he turned his face vnto the Lord with fasting with Sackcloth and Ashes and prayed saying To thee O Lorde belongeth righteousnes to vs open shame and confusion O Lord I beseeche thee let thine anger be turned away from thy Cittie Ierusalem thine holy Mountaine We doo not present our selues vnto thee trusting in our owne righteousnesse but in thy great and tender mercyes O Lorde heare O Lorde forgiue O Lord consider and doo it not for our sake but for thyne owne sake O my God This was in the holye Apostle Sainte Paule Actes 20.31 Phil. 3.18 Rom. 9.1 who ceased not to warne euery man bothe daye and night with Teares and hee called God to wytnesse that hee spake the trueth howe hee had great heauynesse and contynuall sorrowe of heart for hys Bretheren and that for their sakes Luk. 19.41 he wished himselfe to be seperate from Iesus Christe This was also in the chéefe Shéepheard our Sauiour Christ who when he beheld the Citty Ierusalem and the iniquitie thereof he wept ouer it and cried out with gréefe of heart O if thou hadst knowen at the least in this thy day these things which belong vnto thy peace but nowe they are hidde from thine eyes and this ought
to be in all the Ministers of Christ to haue a zealous and a tender care of the Church of God which Christ hath purchased with his moste precious bloud and therefore our Sauiour dooth héere commaund his seuentie Disciples that in all their prayers they should not haue so much respect vnto themselues as vnto the Haruest of the Lorde and biddeth them pray the Lord of the Haruest to sende foorth labourers into his Haruest And this is the dutie not onely of the Minister but generally of all men Psal 137.5.6 to pray for the peace of Ierusalem and the prosperous estate of the Church of God Ephe. 6.19 to pray for the Ministers that vtteraunce may be giuen vnto them that they may opē their mouthes bouldly to publish the secret of the Gospell to pray 2 Thes 3.1 that the word of God may haue free passage and be glorifyed among them to pray for their Pastors Colos 4.3.4 that God wyll open vnto them the doore of vtteraunce that they may so speake the Misteries of Christ as it becommeth them to speake to pray with Dauid that the Lord will be fauourable vnto Sion Psa 51.18 and build vp the walles of Ierusalem And finally to praye heere with the seuentie Disciples that the Lord of the Haruest will send foorth labourers into his Haruest and this shall euery one of you performe a great deale more carefully if ye will call to minde either the great comfort which commeth vnto you by the paines of faithfull Labourers or els the miserable estate that ye stande in if ye want these Labourers For first what greater comfort can there be to a trauayler béeing in a straunge place and among his enemyes then to be well armed and to haue a good weapen to defēd him Neither can there be any greater comfort to vs that Psalm 39.12 are straungers and Pilgrimes in this vale of misery and continually assaulted with most cruell enemies the world the flesh and the Deuill then to be well weaponed with the sworde of the spirite Ephe. 6.17 Hebru 4.12 the word of God which shall cut downe sinne in vs and enter thorough euen to the deuiding a sunder of the soule and of the spirite of the ioyntes and of the marrowe Then we ought alwayes to pray with Dauid I am a straunger vpon earth Psal 119.19 O hide not thy commaundement from me What greater comfort to a man which walketh in darkenesse and in a daingerous place Ephe. 5.8 Psa 119.105 2. Pet. 1.19 Ephe. 5.8 then to haue a light to be brought vnto him Neither can there be anye greater comforte to vs which of our selues are nothing but darkenesse as Paule saythe then to haue the worde of God a Lanterne to our feete and a Candle shining in a darke place whereby we may be made light in the Lorde and walke as the children of light What greater ioye vnto a poore man then to shrowde himselfe vnder the winges of some Nobleman or Gentleman and to weare his Liuerie and Cognisance neyther can there be any greater ioye to a true Christian then to weare the Badge of a Christian which is a zeale to heare the worde of God Iohn 8.47 1. Ioh. 4.6 Iohn 10.27 that hearing Gods worde he may be knowne to be of God and hearing the voyce of Christ may be knowne thereby to be one of the Sheep of Christ and therefore such a one as cā neuer perrish There is no man but he would willingly be reconciled to his Landlorde or any other which is able to hurt either his body or goods The Gospell of Christ is called 2. Cor. 5.19 Math. 10.28 the worde of reconciliation whereby we are reconciled to him which is able to destroy bothe body and soule and cast bothe into Hell lier No man but he would willingly be saued Iam. 1.21 Rom. 1.16 Isa 12.3 it is called the worde of saluation which is able to saue our soules and therfore we ought with ioy to draw water out of the Wels of saluation as the Prophet speaketh ther is no mā but he would willingly be preserued frō errours falshood it is called 2. Cor. 6.7 Iohn 17.17 the word of truth No mā but if he haue any sparkle of grace he would willingly be deliuered frō the bondage of sinne iniquitie It is the Law of God Psal 19.7.11 119.9 which is perfect conuerteth the soule the Testimony of the Lord is sure giueth wisdom vnto the simple by thē is the seruāt of God made circūspect by teaching improouing 2. Tim. 3.16 correcting instructing they make the mā of god absolute perfect in al good works There is no mā but if he haue enemies suing him at Lawe for a péece of Land he would gladly haue the aduise of good and learned Counsellers our enemyes séeke to pluck from vs the kingdome of Heauen and therefore our delight ought to be in the statues of God for they are our Counsellers Psal 119.24 saith Dauid if we haue any suite we are desirous to know the end how that iudgement shall passe Christ saithe If any man receiue not my woords Ioh. 12.48 Sermo quem loquutus sum iudicabit eum in nouissimo Die the word which I haue spoaken shall iudge him the last day There is no man but if his Father haue made a Will and Testament and therein bequeathed vnto him any worldly goods or possessions he wyll read the Will ouer and ouer againe to see what his father hath bequeathed vnto him But the Minister dooth bring vnto you not the Testament of any mortal man but the Will and Testament of our Lord Iesus Christ Rom. 11 27. 2. Cor. 3.6 Hebru 8.8 9.15 1. Pet. 1.18 wherein he hath bequeathed vnto you not temporall riches but the euerlasting ioyes of Heauen purchased not with Siluer nor Gould but with his owne precious bloud How much more then ought ye to héere marke and commit vnto me morie this Will and Testament of our Lorde and redéemer When the Market day commeth that we must prouide for foode and rayement for our bodyes we wyll applye it dilligently to our great costes and charges Behoulde the Lorde hath appointed many dayes especially the Sabbaoth dayes to be the Market dayes of our soules wherein we may fréely prouide for some thing to the nourishment and comforte of our soules What a great care then ought wee to haue to resort vnto the Church Apoc. 3.18 Isa 55. ◠to buy Gould tryed by the fier that we may be riche and white rayment that we may be cloathed and as the Prophet saythe to buie Wyne and Mylke without Siluer and not so to care for the body which shortly shall be Wormes meate that we haue no care of the soule which shortly shall be in the companye of Angels There is none of vs but he would willingly conceaue some hope of eternall life and
be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of God and from the glory of his power great cause ye haue to lift vp your harts vnto the Lord earely and late and continually to praye vnto the Lorde of the Haruest to sende foorth labourers into his Haruest and not onely to praye for labourers but also to praye that the labours and paines of the labourers may be profitable vnto you Actes 16.14 For except the Lorde doo open the hart of Lydia she cannot so much as marke those things which Paul speaketh Neither can the word of God any thing profit you vnlesse with the planting of Paul 1. Cor. 3.6 and watering of Appollo God doo giue the increase and as the Prophet saith Ezech. 11.19 put a new spirit within your bowels and take away your stonie hearts and giue you hearts of flesh And therfore whensoeuer the séede of Gods word is sowen in your hearts praye vnto God that he will so water it with the dew of his holy spirit that it may take such déepe roote that Sathan be neuer able to plucke it awaye assuring your selues that the Diuill dooth goe about nothing so dilligently as to keepe you in ignoraunce and blindnesse 〈◊〉 and to snatche the seede of the worde Luke 8.12 out of your heartes least ye should beleeue and be saued When a mā hath taken away the weapon from his enemy then may he worke his pleasure and use him as he will Euē so if Sathan can pluck away our weapon The sworde of the spirit out of our hands then may he handle vs as he wil when we know not the trueth Ephe. 6.17 he may intangle vs in his snares at his owne will drawe vs vnto all wickednesse and mischiefe 1 Tim. 2.25.26 and therefore his chéefe endeuour hath euer béene to kéepe the people vnarmed and to maintaine his Bulwarke of ignoraunce blindenesse for this cause he sendeth his Messengers to sowe this doctrine in the hearts of men that Ignoraunce is the mother of deuocion that the Bible ought to be lockt vp and nothing to be heard but the traditions of his sonne the Pope that it is Heresie to heare the word of God that the people may indeede come to the Church to be Christened to be Maryed and to be buryed but in no case to pray or to heare the Gospell of Christ And thus the God of this world hath blinded their eies that 2. Cor. 4.4 the light of the glorious gospell of Christe which is the Image of God should not shine vpon thē Others thinke that if they come to the Church orderly customably to pray that then they haue gon far enough as for hearing the worde of God they make small accompts of it therefore if they can get such as can read thē morning euening prayer they care for no other labourers in the Haruest But these doo not consider that which Salomon saithe Hee which turneth awaye his eare from hearing the law euen his praier shal be abhominable Prou. 28.9 although hee patter vp neuer so many prayers yet vnlesse he shew therwithall a zeale to héer the word of God his praier is abhominable in the sight of God this is a plague of all plagues that that prayer whereby we should aske all good things at Gods hands that prayer shall be come abhominable An other spiritual plague is the taking away of the foode of our soules and the depriuing vs of the Gospell of Christ which the Lorde dooth threaten to all the contemners of his word Amos. 8.11 Behould the dayes come sayth the Lorde God that I will send a famine in the Lande not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water but a famine of hearing the worde of God and they shall wander from the North vnto the West from one Sea to another they shall runne too and fro to seeke the worde of God and shall not finde it Math. 21.43 And Christ dooth threaten the Iewes that for their vnthankfulnesse the kingdome of God the preaching of the Gospell should be taken from them and giuen to an other nation which should bring foorth the fruite thereof And surely if we consider our owne vnthankfulnesse in this Realme of England we shal be compelled to confesse that we haue deserued long a go to haue this plague to be brought vpon vs that the worde of God should be taken from vs and giuen to an other nation which shall bring forth the fruite therof For what one among a thousande hath any care for the heauenly foode of his soule what one among a thousand doth praye earnestly to the Lord of the Haruest to sende foorth labourers into his Haruest Naye we are rather glutted with it it is but a vile meate thinke we Numb 11.5 we had rather returne into Aegipt to feede on our Onyons Leekes and Garleeke then to taste of the sweet Manna the worde of the euerliuing God Iohn 1.10 The light came into the world and men looued darkenesse more then light The Lorde of his aboundant mercy Luk. 19.42.44 open our eyes that we may once sée those things which belong to our peace and know the time of our visitation that by our vnthankfulnes wee neuer deserue to haue the glorious Gospell of Christ to be taken from vs. Alas déere brethren we consider not the heauie iudgements of God which hange ouer our heads and shall moste certainely be powred vpon vs vnlesse we repent vs of this our vnthankfull contempt of the word of God It did nothing gréeue the Sodomites Gen. 19.16 when Lot was departed from them The olde world made no accompt of it Gen. 7.1 when Noah the Preacher of righteousnesse went from them entered into the Arke Amo◠7.10 Exod. 32.6 1. Cor. 10.17 All the lande of Iurie was not able to abide the words of Amos when Moses was away then were the people of Israell all merry they sate downe to eate drinke and rose againe to playe And so also it is with vs we rather wish that these labourers which we haue already should be taken away then that the number of them should be increased we had rather haue their absence then their presence their roome then theyr cōpany But I beséech you consider how in the end they were all most miserably plagued The Sodomites with fier brimstone from Heauen The old world with the floud ouerwelming the whole earth Exod. 32.27 2◠The Isralits with a lamentable murther staying euery man his brother and euery man his companion and euery man his neighbour The Iewes with a miserable captiuity in Babilō for the cause of their destruction was onely the despising of the Prophets of God as the Lord sheweth by his Prophet Ierm 29.18 I wil persecure them with the sworde and I will make them a terrour for all Kingdoms of the earth and a curse and astonishment and an
hissing and a reproche among all nations where I shall cast them because they haue not heard my words saith the Lorde When I sent vnto them my seruaunts the Prophets rising vp early and sending them but yee would not heare saith the Lord. But while they mocked the Messengers of God and despised his worde and misused his Prophets 2. Chro 36.16 beholde the Kinge of the Chaldaeans comming with a fearce and terrible Armie brake downe the Walles of their Cittie fiered their Temple burnt all their Towers destroyed Man Woman and Childe so that none escaped death but such as were ledde into Captiuitye and all the Goulde and Treasures bothe of the Temple and of the Noble men was all caryed awaye into Babilon The Lorde knoweth whether the like Captiuitye be reserued for vs or no and the Lorde graunt that the dayes of our Gracious Prince Elizabeth be not shortened for our vnthankfulnesse There was neuer Countrey that euer despised the Prophetes of God but it afterwarde felte the scourge of God and shall wee which are most guiltye of this synne be onelye frée from the punishment No no it cannot be but either we shall taste of a miserable Captiuitie in this world or els of a farre greater Captiuitie 2. Thes 1.8.9 when Sathan shall lead bothe body and soule into the bottomlesse pit of Hell there to be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of God and from the glory of his power These things good people if they were well pondered in our minds they would make vs continually to flie vnto God with feruent and hartie prayer and to say with Dauid Blessed art thou O God Psalme 119.12 18 19 33 35 97 135. O teach me thy Statutes open mine eyes that I maye see the wonders of thy Lawe teache me O Lord the way of thy Statutes and I will keepe it vnto the ende direct me in the pathe of thy commaundements for therein is my delight O how I loue thy law it is my meditation continually shew the light of thy countenaunce vpon thy seruaunt and teach me thy commaundements and they would make vs carefully to performe this which our Sauiour dooth commaund his seauentie Disciples To prave the Lord of the Haruest to sende forthe Labourers into his Haruest and not onely to pray for faithfull Labourers but also to put to our helping hands and to indeuour by all lawfull meanes possible to prouide for such as shall painefully labour in the Haruest of the Lord for otherwise if we will in words seeme to pray for them and then indéede can not finde in our harts to bestow any peny vpon them that the Labourers may haue their hier that they which sowe vnto you spirituall things Math. 10.10 1. Tim. 5.18 1. Cor. 9.11.14 Gala. 6.6 may in like māner reape of your carnall things that they which preach the Gospel may liue of the Gospell as the Lord hath ordeyned then are our prayers nothing els but mockeries and plaine Hipocrisie before God for outwardly we praye for them but inwardly we are not touched with the want of the thing that we desire Héere then is a Lesson for all Latrones as they are but Patrones as they should be that in bestowing their liuings they séeke not to enritche themselues by Sacriledge and Church robberie nor yet to prouide for such as will flatter them in their sinnes and sowe Pillowes vnder their Elbowes and crie Peace peace where as no peace is Ezech. 13.18 Ierem. 23.30 nor such as haue sweete lippes and will passe and repasse vnder their armes at their own pleasure nor such as are domb Dogges and cannot barke blinde guides and cannot see Isa 56.10 but that they trauaile to the vttermost of their power to place faithfull labourers in the Haruest of the Lord or otherwise they are accessarie to the murder of so many soules as perish And héere also is a lesson for you of the inferior sorte that séeing our liuings are so spoyled by impropriations that they are not able to maintaine Preachers amongst you for ye know that we haue but the chaffe and others the corne we the parings and other the Aples we the shels and others the Kernels and ye sée how euery day it waxeth worse worse so that he now dooth account him happiest which can pill the Church moste yet ye must not follow their wicked and desperate ensample but euery one contribute something to the maintenaunce of some learned Pastor to instruct you in the word of God which is able to saue your soules Set not your mindes so vpō worldly things Luke 14.18 as vpō your Oxen your Farmes and your Wiues that in the meane time Math. 13.46 ye neglect the Heauenly Supper which is prepared for you by Iesus Christe Ye must accompt the Gospell of Christ to be that Precious Pearle which when a Marchaunt man hath found it he selleth all he hath to bine it Phil. 3.8 Math. 6.33 ye must accompt all things but doonge so that ye may win our Lord Iesus Christ Seeke ye firste the kingdome of Heauen and then all things shall be giuen vnto you Spend not your substaunce in pride riot drunkennesse and excesse to the destruction both of your soules and bodies but bestowe it to the glory of God to the comfort of your brethren to the godly reléeuing of your familyes and to the saluation of your own soules Dauid saith Psalm 69. ◠O Lorde the zeale of thy house hath eaten me vp but we may say the zeale of our owne houses the pride and excessiue riotousnesse of our owne houses hath eaten vs vp but few of vs can say with Dauid O Lord the zeale of thy house hath eaten me vp Especially ye that are Landlordes and haue all the swéete and fatte of the earth ye are to looke vnto it that there be prouision made for Labourers in the Lords Haruest and that ye bestowe your portion liberally thereunto for what a great shame is it that ye whom the Lord hath blessed with so great aboundance should prodigally spende it all vpon your owne backes all vpon your owne bellyes all vpon your owne Kitchins all vpon your owne Stables all vpon Hanking and Hunting all vpon Whores and Hounds and nothing vpon the Church of God nothing vpon the honour of your cheefe Lord in Heauen nothing vpon the common wealth nothing vpon your brethren in Christe deerly bought with the bloud of Christ And what a shame is it that ye should accompt the liuings of the Church to be your owne to giue them to buie them to sell them to farme them at your owne pleasures in the meane time to thinke that the care of the Church dooth nothing appertaine vnto you As the Prophet requireth of Princes Isa 49 23. so also all inferior Maiestrates ought to be Nurcing Fathers Nurcing Mothers to the church of God Now the dutie of a Nurce is not onely to