Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	body_n	bring_v	death_n	8,551	5	5.4004	4	true

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13341	Of the markes of the children of God and of their comforts in afflictions. To the faithfull of the Low Countrie. By Iohn Taffin. Ouerseene againe and augmented by the author, and translated out of French by Anne Prowse.; Des marques des enfans de Dieu. English	Taffin, Jean, 1529-1602.; Prowse, Anne.	1590 (1590)	STC 23652; ESTC S118085	100,800	270

vngodlie for an end of his felicitie Yea if we were called to suffer death for the name of Iesus Christ 2. Not to feare death What other thing is this death but after a long conflict the day of victorie the birth of a blessed soule after a great trauaile the hauen desired after so furious tempests the end of a dangerous and troublesome voyage the healing of all wounds and sicknes the deliuerance from all feare and terrour the accomplishment of our sanctification the gate of heauen the entrance into paradise the taking possession of the inheritance of the father the day of our mariage with the Lambe the inioying of our desires Who is it then among vs who feeling with S. Paule the bondage of sinne would not crie out with him Alas wretched man that I am Rom. 7.24 who shall deliuer me from this bodie of death And feeling the good that death bringeth vnto vs will not also say with him I desire to be dissolued Phil. 1.23 and to be with Christ If death wherewith God threatned our first parents is a feeling of the wrath of God in the soule in the body because of sinne Gen. 2.17 Wee may well say that death and life are two twinnes vnited and knit together vntill the separation of the soule and the bodie and this separation which is coÌ„monlie called death is rather the deadlie stroke of death the bodie beeing then exempt from paine and the soule from vice corruption waighting vntill the rest of death bee swallowed vp in victorie at the day of the resurrection It is then an abuse to call life a continual death and to call that death which is the end of a thousand deaths and the beginning of the true life It is then also against reason that wee haue horrour of that which we ought to desire and desire the continuance of that the onlie end whereof bringeth vs to eternall felicitie And to this end Saint Chrisostome saith verie well that it which is called life and death haue deceaueable visours Life deformed and accompanied with manie miseries calamities hath a faire pleasant visour which maketh it to bee desired and Death so faire happie and to be desired hath one deformed and fearefull Let vs put off then saith he these visours we will change our minds when wee shall finde vnder the faire visour of life nothing but matter of heauines and displeasure and vnder the soule hideous visour of death such a beautie and felicitie as we shall incontinently be taken with her loue So long as we liue we haue cruell enemies which neuer cease making warre with vs whome wee can neuer vanquish but by death And indeed wee cannot make the world to die in vs except we die our selues Sinne which is in vs liueth in vs and fighteth against vs vntill wee dying it also die with vs. And by death alone the deadlie assaults of Satan our chiefe enemie die foorthwith But yet why should we feare it which cannot come vnto vs but by the will of him who is our heauenlie father yea and at such a time as he appoynteth As Dauid said Lord my times that is to say Psal 31.16 all the minutes of my life are in thy hands There is no creature more enemie to man nor more able to hurt than the diuell And indeed he is called the enemie the murtherer Mat. 13.39 Iho. 8.44 1. Pet. 5.8 Iob 1. 2. and the roaring Lyon seeking whome he may deuour But the historie of Iob sheweth plainlie that GOD holdeth him brideled so as hee can attempt nothing nor goe either forward or backward more than GOD will permit him And this which is more he hath not power to enter so much as into the swine Luk. 8.32 without the leaue of Christ What is this then that wee should feare men Are not they also vnder the prouidence power and gouernment of our GOD It is GOD saith Hannah the mother of Samuel 1. Sam. 2. â— who weigheth their enterprises so as they cannot passe one ounce of the waight ordained of GOD. It is he that slaieth and maketh aliue againe 1. Sam. 2.6 which bringeth downe to the pit and lifteth vp againe he maketh poore and maketh rich he abaseth and exalteth To bee short It is he alone as Dauid saith Psal 115.3 which doth whatsoeuer he will Now wee doubt not but he will do that which he hath promised vs and wee knowe that he hath promised vs yea and that he hath taken vpon him to make vs happie If then the doctrine of the prouidence of God importeth that he hath not onlie ordained in his eternall counsell the end and issue of his worke which is his glorie and the saluation of his elect but also the fit meanes according to his infinite wisedome and requisite for the execution and accomplishment of it let vs be assured that there is no creature that can let or alter his wil as Saint Paule saith If God be for vs who shall bee against vs. Let vs also bee assured Rom. 8.30 that whatsoeuer happen vnto vs is the way whereby he hath ordained to leade vs to life and euerlasting glorie Saint Paule speaking of Iesus Christ saith Col. 1.16 that all creatures are of him stand by him and are for him As also he saith in an other place that of him and by him and for him all things are Wherefore then doo wee feare our enemies Ro. 12.36 seeing euen this that they are is by the power and will of him who is our head and sauiour for asmuch as they can neither enterprise nor consult neither yet bee aliue one moment without the will of Christ And besides this seeing their life and being is for him and for his seruice that they might be to his members as fire to purifie them a rod to correct theÌ„ medicines to heale them a bridge for them to passe vpon ouer the desert of this world into the land of promise ladders to helpe them to ascend into heauen instruments to glorifie them as a knife that cutteth the cords by which we are held in the earth hindered to go vnto God to be where Iesus Christ our head is Also what threatning can the most mightie of the world threaten vs with more horrible to make vs turne from the seruice of God than those wherewith God threatneth all those that turne away from him Mat. 10.28 Luk. 12.24 Feare not saith Iesus Christ those that can kill the bodie and yet so and when GOD will and the bodie which within a verie little after must needes die and can doo nothing more but feare him who after hee hath killed the bodie hath power to throwe both soule and bodie into euerlasting hell fire him I say vnto you feare indeede In like maner what promises can the world make vs greater or more certaine to draw vs vnto it than those which our God hath made

Iesus Christ Rom. 5.1 And this peace and beginning of life surmounteth al vnderstanding Philip. 4.7 as Saint Paule doth witnes God his children doo feele And indeed it is a thing rauishing our soules with ioye vnspeakable when GOD maketh the brightnes of his face to shine vpon vs As also Dauid sheweth Psalm 80. wheÌ„ he asketh so oft of God this grace for a full measure of all felicitie As touching the bodie the first degree of life lieth in this that the afflictions of it be not onlie mitigated made light by this life of the soule reconciled to God and feeling ioye through the brightnes of his countenance Rom. 8.27 Heb. 12.6 but also are conuerted being the fruits of the loue of God towards vs into saluation and glorie The second degree of life may bee considered in the seperation of the soule and the bodie The second degree of life the which improperlie as touching the faithful is called death For euen as touching our bodies although they goe to rot in the earth yet being then deliuered and free from all sicknes from hunger thirst heate cold and from a thousand other torments which of their nature are a kind of death they goe to rest in their beds Esay 57.1 as Esai saith and being deliuered from their labours and trauailes Apoca. 14.13 they are blessed as Saint Iohn saith And this rest proceeding from the fauour of God cannot properlie be called death but is to them a kind of life But speciallie the soule theÌ„ entreth into the possession of the second degree of life For being deliuered from the bodie she is carried vp by the Angels into the bosome of Abraham Luk. 16.22 Luk. 23.43 and into Paradise with Iesus Christ exempted then from ignorance from incredulitie froÌ„ mistrust from couetousnes ambition enuie hatred feare terrour lustes and from all other passions vices and corruptions which are deadlie in theÌ„ which also bring forth the fruites of death And contrariwise is then fully sanctified victorious and assured against Satan Hell sinne and all other enemies waiting after that with great ioye for the accomplishment of her glorie in the resurrection of her bodie The third degre The third degree of life shall bee at the glorious comming of Iesus Christ when our bodies being awaked out of their sleepe they shall rise againe all renued bodies incorruptible 1. Cor. 15.42 spirituall and immortall Philip. 3.21 yea fashioned like to the image of the glorious bodie of Iesus Christ And so being ioyned together againe to their soules 1. Thess 4.17 they shall be together caught vp into the clowdes before our Lord Iesus Christ in the ayre Ephe. 4.10 Ioh. 14.2 Ioh. 17.24 and exalted aboue all the heauens into the house of God our father 1. Thess 4.17 Then also shall be the accomplishmeÌ„t of the life of our soules reunited to their bodies being together where Iesus Christ is and with him as members of his bodie his brethren and his spouse vnited to him by him to God the fountaine of life And by this vnion inioying a communitie in all his goods and of this incorruptible inheritance 1. Pet. 1.4 which can neither faile nor fade away referued for vs in heauen Then shall God wipe all teares from our eyes Reue. 21.4 death shall be no more neither shal there be any sorrow crie or trauaile any more All these old things shall be gone away God shall make all things new Then shall we be before the throne of God Reue. 7.14 and shall serue him night and day in his Temple and shall be led by the Lambe to the liuing fountaines of waters Reue. 19.7 Then shall be the day of our mariage with the Lambe when being clothed with pure bright raiments wee shall sit at his mariage banquet Then shal we be like vnto the Angels If our bodies shall shine then as the Sunne Matth. 22.30 what shall the brightnes of our soules be Matth. 13.43 Then our pilgrimage being finished we shall be indeed the citizens of this heauenlie and holie Ierusalem Bern. meditation 9. which shall bee all of pure gold like vnto the cleere glasse Reue 21.18 hauing the foundations of the wall garnished with pretious stones whereof also the twelue gates are twelue pearles which hath no need of the Sunne nor of the Moone to shine in it because the brightnes of God shall be the light of it and the Lambe him selfe shall be the candle of it O how happie shall the citizens be that shall liue in such a Citie See then what good things are signified by life euerlasting and the three degrees of it But Saint Paul lifteth vs vp yet higher into the contemplation of this life which wee shall inioy after the resurrection Then 1. Cor. 15.24 saith Saint Paule Iesus Christ shall giue vp his kingdome vnto God his father as if he should say Father behold those whom thou hast giuen to me before the foundation of the world they were lost thou diddest send me to saue them I haue redeemed them with my bloud thou hast appoynted me King ouer them they are my kingdome which I haue gotten and which I haue so guided and gouerned that hauing sanctified and deliuered them from all their enemies I haue brought giuen and presented theÌ„ vnto thee that hauing as touching my selfe accomplished the worke charge which thou haddest enioyned me froÌ„ this time forth thou maiest be king raigning immediatlie in them and filling them with all happines and glorie Then shall there be no creature either in heauen or in earth that shall haue any domination or Lordship There shall bee neither King nor Prince 1. Cor. 15.28 neither Master nor Lord. There shall bee neither father mother husband nor wife There shall be neither Prophet Doctor Minister nor Pastour There shall be neither riches nor estates All the enemies also of Iesus Christ shall bee destroyed for euermore death being swallowed vp into victorie and Satan with his angels and all the reprobate being cast into the bottomlesse pit Contrariwise the Elect being fullie sanctified shall bee lifted vp both in bodie soule aboue all the heauens The worke of Christ shall be finished And all being done Reue. 21.6 The verie same offices which Christ hath receiued shall exercise for the accomplishment of our saluation to be a King a Priest and a Prophet and to sit at the right hand of God shall cease but so as the fruites and the incomprehensible benefits gotten by theÌ„ vnto the church shal euer abide to his euerlasting glorie But what shall that be then God the Father the Sonne and the Holie ghost one onlie God shall be immediatlie all thinges both in this man Christ and in all vs the members of his bodie The Godhead I say shall be in the man Iesus Christ and in vs King Prince father riches life and

Heb. 12.11 but grieuous but after it bringeth the peaceable fruites of righteousnes And before he had said That God chastiseth vs for our profite that we might be partakers of his holinesse Prosper in son ex Aug. â— The goodnesse of God saith S. Augustine is angrie with his children in this world that hee may not bee angrie with them in the life to come and by his mercie he vseth some temporal seueritie to exempt theÌ„ from euerlasting vengeance According vnto this S. Bernard made this praier vnto God Lord burne and cut in this temporall life that thou maist be mercifull to me in the life that is euerlasting And it is the same that S. Paule teacheth saying When we are iudged and afflicted 1. Cor. 12.32 we are nurtured of the Lord that wee might not be condeÌ„ned with the world And to this purpose Dauid protesteth that before hee was afflicted bee went wrong Psa 119.67 but now saith he I keepe thy commandements A game It was good for me that I was afflicted Psa 119 71 that I might keepe thy statutes Medicines are giuen either to heale diseases or to preueÌ„t theÌ„ and therefore are verie requisite for the health and life of man Nowe what bee these afflictions but medicines of our soules as also S. Augustine saith This which thou so lamentest is thy medicine and not thy punishment As in a house where there are manie children the rod is necessarie as in a Citie subiect to diuers diseases where there is an euill aire Phisitions are needfull so in the house of god where ther are manie children inclined to euill the rod is many times more necessarie than bread and in such an hospitall full of diseases and sores as the Church is for out of it they are dead it is a great fault if there be not Phisitions and Surgeons to heale the corruptions of our soules to keep vs from offending God from falling into death Many accustomd to delicate meats haue their mouths out of tast after falling sick they take bitter drinks to recouer againe the health of their bodies let vs chearfully doo the same for the health of our soules And indeede behold the difference betweene a madd man and one that is sicke of a corporall disease The mad man is angry with the Phisition chaseth him away and throweth awaye the medicine but the other sendeth for a Phisition taketh drinke at his hand thanketh him yea and giueth him a reward So when God the soueraigne Phisition of our soules visiteth vs and giueth vs wholsome medicines let vs not be like mad men reiecting the hand of God but receiuing the medicine let vs giue him thankes and blesse him after the example of Iob 2. In words afflictioÌ„ of heart Furthermore howsoeuer the goods and other commodities of this life ought to bee helpes to lift vp our hearts to the spring from whence they come that is to the goodnesse and power of God to prayse him our corruption and affection to the world dooth turne them quite contrarie to thornes and hinderances so as God oftentimes cutteth them off or taketh them away or mingleth theÌ„ with afflictions to turn vs from euill to draw vs vnto him and the better to dispose vs to his seruice Experience sheweth that in bankets and feasts men talke of the world but where sicknesse death and burials are they talk of euerlasting life It is also seene that riches lift vs vp in pride and insolencie and that pouertie bringeth vs downe and humbleth vs that in prosperity we triumph and feele not the force of the spirituall instructions and teachings but being afflicted with sicknesse or anie other way theÌ„ we are godly people wee confesse that all flesh is but grasse and that we haue here no abiding Citie To be short our infirmities tending vnto death make vs to lift vp our vnderstanding and affections to a better life Then God who is good and dooing well vnto men who taketh not pleasure in our euills afflicteth vs not but to wake vs the better to sanctifie vs in his obedience purifying our affections and by the sorrowes of troubles maketh vs to abhorre our corruptions the verie cause of them He doth as the good keeper of a vine Iohn 2. who cutteth his vine that it may beare more and better fruite not suffring it to grow wilde in leauing too mame boughes on it And as we cut the winges of hennes and other birdes that they should not flie away and be lost so God cutteth off from vs the commodities of the flesh to keepe vs downe that we lift not vp and destroy our selues with vain confidence pride We see also that the corne shut within the chaffe commeth not foorth if the eare be not beaten and that it tarieth stil in the chaffe if it be not fanned The like hapneth to the childreÌ„ of god if they be not beaten and fanned by tribulations to be seperated froÌ„ the chaffe of the world and the pleasures impediments that be in it The Prophet Oseas when he would shew how God wold turne away his people from following idolatrie Hose 2.6 I will hedge saith he thy way with thornes wherein hee giueth vs to vnderstand that as the beasts that go by the way see on the side of them faire flelds assaying to goe to theÌ„ running vpon the hedges of thornes if they feele the sharpe prickes they goe backe and return into the way So when the children of God goe out of the right waye to heauen to goe to the fieldes of this world oâ— the flesh God maketh theÌ„ to come vpon the thornes of afflictions to the ende that by their prickings they may turne backe againe When a Mother willing to weane her childe shal say vnto him night and day My childe it is time to weane thee thou art growen great inough and I am with childe my milke is corrupt it will make thee sick yet he is so fond of the breast that he caÌ„not forsake it but if the Mother put worm wood or mustard vpoÌ„ the breast the childe sucking it and feeling the bitternesse hee quite forsaketh it without sucking anie more Euen so though the preachers preachvnto vs and exhort vs to forsake the corrupt milk of the world and of the flesh yet we seeme dease still and are alwaies backward vntill God put vppon these cursed teates the mustard and wormwood of afflictions to weane vs. We haue also of our owne nature too much considence in our selues 3. In confidence in humane meanes so as we know not what it is to hope in God against hope to trust to him without gage in the hand So the riches estates traffiques the leaning vpon men on the husband to the wife on the father to the children on the good Prince to the Subiects are vnto vs as vayles that keepe downe our sight vppon the earth and as staues for

and your endles comfort Your Honors in the Lord most humble A.P. To the faithfull of the Low Countrie IT is not without reason right deare and worshipfull bretheren that the Church of Christ is called militant vpon earth and compared as well to a woman in trauaile of child from the beginning of the world as to a ship vpon the sea tossed with tempests and to a field tilled vpon which the plowe is drawne to cut it The present estate of the Church exercised by so manie dissipations assailed so mightelie by continuall warres the mother and nurse of all calamities and afflicted by reuolts by Libertines by people prophane and by so many heretiques is to vs a liuelie mirrour a manifest seale and an example good to be marked Now as the infirmitie of the flesh which dieth not in the verie children of God but at their death taketh from thence and from other matter occasion of temptations most dangerous and many assaults so the bounden duetie affection which I beare towards you driueth me to testifie vnto you the feruent desire which I feele continuallie in my heart of your comfort constancie and perseuerance in the way of saluation For this cause it is that in my voiage froÌ„ Germanie I made this little treatise Of the markes of the children of God of their consolations in their afflictions the which being GOD be thanked returned J was willing with the aduise of my brethren and fellowes in the holie Ministerie to put to light dedicate vnto you to the end that reading it you might knowe and feele more and more the incomprehensible grace of GOD towards you by the testimonies of your adoption and the full assurance of the certaintie of it and that in the middest of your so long and heauie afflictions you might bee partakers of the vnspeakable comforts which GOD setteth forth to his children in his word whereby also you feeling your selues truelie happie you maie constantlie perseuer in his holie trueth and obedience of his will aspiring with conteÌ„tment and ioy of the holie Ghost to the inioying of that kingdome of glorie the right and possession whereof is purchased for you and kept in your head Iesus Christ Finallie J pray God with all my heart to shewe me this fauour that this my little labour may bee acceptable vnto you and that it will please him to blesse it by the efficacie of his holie spirit to your comfort and saluation and to the aduancement of the Kingdome of our Lord Iesus Christ Harlem 15. September 1586. Your humble brother and seruant in Christ Iohn Taffin Minister of the holie Gospell in the French Church at Harlem The matters that are handled in this Treatise 1 OF the great and incomprehensible happines of the life euerlasting promised to the children of God 2 How wee knowe that wee are the children of God 3 How euerie member of the Church ought to applie to himselfe the markes of it to assure himselfe of his adoption and saluation 4 How wee ought may assure our selues that wee are the children of GOD although the markes of our adoption be in vs but small and weake 5 That the Apostacie and reuolt of some who haue made profession of the true religion ought not to cause vs to call in doubt either the doctrine or our adoption 6 That afflictions ought not to make vs doubt of our adoption but rather to confirme vs. 7 That the afflictions which come vnto vs were foretold and therfore they ought to confirme vs in the assurance of our adoption 8 That the children of GOD haue at all times been afflicted and yet beloued of God 9 That the common afflictions of the children of Adam are to the faithfull because of the excellent fruites of them testimonies of their adoption and of the loue of GOD towards them 10 Of the afflictions for Christes sake and of the fruites of them 11 Other fruites of the afflictions for the name of Christ 12 An exhortation to perseuer constantlie in the trueth of the Gospell in the time of persecution not to feare death for man to keepe himselfe from Apostacie and dissimulation To vse the holie Ministerie To walke in the feare of God and to pray vnto him 13 Holie meditations and praiers Of the markes of the children of God and of their consolations in their afflictions To the faithfull of the Low Countrie Of the great and incomprehensible felicitie of the euerlasting life promised to the children of God CAP. 1. SAint Paul hath verie aptlie set forth vnto vs the incomprehensible excellencie of the felicitie of the childreÌ„ of GOD saying That the eye hath not seene 1. Cor. 2.9 the eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man what things God hath prepared for those that loue him According to this sentence Saint Augustine tending to the same butt saith of the goodnes of grace Aug. Enarrat 2. Psal 26. Tom. 8. Let your hearts goe beyond all that you are able to comprehend and stay not your selues at the greatnes and excellencie of it which you imagine but say yet this is not it for if it were it it could not enter into thy thought and heart This happines then cannot bee comprehended by vs according to the greatnes and excellencie of it so long as wee dwell in these earthlie mansions 2. Cor. 5.1 1. Cor. 13.9 where we knowe God but in part and darkly Notwithstanding seeing the same Apostle addeth that the holie Ghost who searcheth the most deep things of God 1. Cor. 13.12 hath giuen vs some reuelation 1. Cor 2.10 Seeing also he praied to God for the Ephesians That he would open the eyes of their vnderstanding Ephe. 1.18 that they might knowe what is the hope of their vocation and what are the riches of the glorie of his inheritance among the Saints we should be too vnthankful to God and enemies of our owne comfort if wee should make curtesie or refuse to vnderstaÌ„d that which it pleaseth him to reueale vnto vs by his word Now in it this felicitie is oftentimes signified by the promise of life euerlasting and not without reason For in our felicitie Life euerlasting comprehendeth the felicitie of the childreÌ„ of God two poynts may and ought speciallie to bee considered first the greatnes and excellencie of the good thing secondlie the long continuance and surenes of it Now both the one and the other is noted by these words life euerlasting For by life is signified the greatnes of the felicitie and by euerlasting the infinite length of it As touching life wee may consider three degrees as wel in the bodie Three degrees of life to the body and to the soule as speciallie in the soule The first degree of life as touching the soule The first degree of life is ment by this peace of conscience and ioy of the holie Ghost which wee receiue and feele being reconciled to God in

called the house of God to giue vs to vnderstand Ephe. 2.19 that those that abide there are by good right accompted the childreÌ„ and household of God Furthermore when after wee haue protested in our Creede that wee beleeue the holie Church vniuersall we adde the communion of Saints the forgiuenes of sinnes the rising againe of the bodie and the life euerlasting is not this to assure vs that those that are the members of the Church haue a communitie in all these treasures and goods of it and consequently that they are the children of God and inheritours of euerlasting life According vnto this S. Luke also saith resolutlie Act. 2.47 that God ioyned vnto the Church those that should be saued The which is confirmed by the Prophet Ioel saying Ioel. 2.32 that there shall be saluation in Sion And S. Paule himselfe sticketh not at all 1. Thes 1.4 to call those that are the members of the Church the elect of God But yet so much the more to resolue vs let vs consider the marks of the true church touched here before The first is the pure preaching of the word of God Now Iesus Christ saith my sheepe heare my voyce and they follow me Ioh. 10.27 shewing thereby very manifestly that this is one marke to bee the child of God Ioh. 8.47 to heare the voyce of his sonne Iesus Christ As also he saith in another place 2. Cor. 5.18 Ephe. 6.15 Act. 14.3 Act. 20.32 Act. 13.26 Act 5.20 Phil. 2.15 that is of God heareth the voyce of God And indeed seeing that the preaching of the Gospell is called the ministerie of reconciliation the Gospell of peace the word of grace of saluation and of life as without doubt God by the ministerie of his word presenteth Reconciliation peace grace saluation and life So they that are the members of the Church heare and receiue the word shew therein that they are partakers of all these benefites and consequentlie the children of God The second mark of the Church consisteth in the Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords supper As touching Baptisme it is a seale sure warrant that the sinnes of those that receiue it are washed away by the bloud of Christ Act. 22.5 Rom. 6.4 Tit. 3.5 Gal. 3.27 that they are ingrafted and incorporate into his death and resurrection that they are regenerate that they haue put on Iesus Christ Whereof it followeth as S. Paule affirmeth Gal. 3.26 that they are the children of God The like assurance of our adoption is giuen vs in the Lords supper For if the bread and the cup 1. Cor. 10.16 which are giuen to the members of the Church are the communion of the bodie and of the bloud of Iesus Christ it followeth that in this communioÌ„ of Christ they haue the foode and life of their soules And that consequentlie as the children of GOD they shall obtaine life euerlasting according to the protestation of Christ He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud Ioh. 6.54 he hath euerlasting life The third marke of the Church of God is the inuocation of the name of God in the name of that onlie one lesus Christ Now Psal 14 4. Gen. 12.7 Act. 2.21 Act. 9.14 as all the seruice of God is oftentimes signified by this inuocation So Saint Luke noteth the faithful and children of God by this description that they call vpon the name of the Lord. As on the contrarie side Psal 14.4 it is said of the reprobate that they do not call vpon the name of God And indeede when the members of the Church ioyne together and lift vp their praiers vnto God Matth. 6.9 saying Our Father which art in heauen and so calling him father by the commandement of Christ they may well assure themselues that God doth acknowledge them for his children and that he wil make them feele the fruit of their praiers according to the promise of Christ Mat. 18.19 that whatsoeuer they shall with one consent aske of GOD it shall bee giuen them By this that is aboue said it manifestlie appeareth how euerie member of the Church may and ought to assure him selfe to be the child of God and to acknowledge all other members of the Church with him in like manner to be the children of God If any alledge that we may thus accompt such a one for the child of God who possiblie is an hypocrite and may after shewe himselfe a reprobate we answere that such discourses are contrarie to charitie so much recommended vnto vs by Saint Paule 1. Cor. 13. noting amongst other properties of charitie that she thinketh not euill or is not suspitious but that she beleeueth all things and hopeth all things Wee ought then to hold the members of the Church for the children of GOD. vntill that departing from it or discouering their hypocrisie they shewe themselues reprobates Furthermore as GOD would that al those to whoÌ„ he vouchsafeth to bee father should acknowledge the Church for their mother so let vs not doubt but being borne againe and nourished in the Church our mother we may call God our father and abiding vnited to the familie of the mother let vs not doubt but that wee bee the heires of the father Thus much for the outward markes Now let vs come to the inwarde markes As to the blind and deaffe the opening of their eyes and eares is needfull clearelie to see and heare the voyce of him that speaketh Of the inward marks of our adoption So being of our owne nature both blind and deaffe as touching vnderstanding the holie spirit is hee that openeth our eyes and eares to comprehend thereuelation of our adoption and to feele in our harts the assurance of it ingendring in vs faith which is as it were the hand by which wee apprehend this great benefite whereof also the fruites and effects as well of the holie ghost dwelling in vs as of the faith that is in vs are the principall most assured markes to giue vs knowledge of our adoption A ccording wherevnto Rom. 8.16 Saint Paule saith that the Holie ghost giueth testimonie to our spirits that we are the children of God so as hauing receiued this spirit of adoption wee crie with all assurance Abba father 1. Ioh. 3.24 This is it also which S. John teacheth vs saying we know that he abideth in vs by the spirit which he hath giuen vs. 1. Ioh. 4.13 Also By this we knowe that we dwell in him and he in vs because he hath giuen of his spirit vnto vs. In like manner the Apostle S. Paule affirmeth Rom. 5.1 that by the peace and quietnes which we feele in our consciences before GOD in the free forgiuenes of our sinnes by the bloud of Iesus Christ we shewe and prooue that wee are iustified by faith and so the children of God Wherein to confirme vs he saith in another place that after wee

haue beleeued wee are sealed by the holie spirit of promise which is the earnest penie of our inheritance Ephe. 1.13 vntill the redemption of the possession purchased to the praise of his glorie First he sheweth there that faith is as it were the seale whereby the Holie ghost imprinteth in our hearts for our assurance that wee are the children of God Furthermore as in a thing that is bought there is somtimes giuen an earnest penie to wit some part of the monie agreed on as well for the beginning of the paimeÌ„t as by consequent for the assurance that the bargaine shall be held firme so the holie ghost who by faith ingeÌ„dreth peace and ioye in the hearts of the faithfull is the earnest penie assuring vs by this beginning of the spirituall blessings which God promiseth to his children that he holdeth vs for his possession purchased to the praise of his glorie and that at the length he will gather vs into the full inioying of the inheritaÌ„ce of heauen Hereunto it is also that goodly gradatioÌ„ leadeth vs which is proposed of the same Apostle Rom. 8.28 saying Those whoÌ„ God hath before knowne those hee hath also predestinate to be made like vnto the image of Iesus Christ and those whoÌ„ he hath predestinate he hath also called and those whom he hath called he hath also iustified and those whoÌ„ he hath iustified those he hath also glorified For all will confesse that those that are elected and predestinated to be made like vnto the image of Iesus Christ are the children of God as also they who in his eternall counsel and decree are glorified Now they who being lightened with the knowledge of the Gospell beleeue that their sinnes are washed away by the bloud of Iesus Christ through his satisfaction and so are called and iustified are elected and glorified before God as S. Paule teacheth here it followeth then that they are the children of God And this is so certaine that the Apostle opposing the will power of GOD against all impediments addeth If GOD bee on our side who shall bee against vs Rom 8.30 Bern. ser 5. in dedica templi S Bernard teacheth the selfe same thing verie aptlie saying we are certain of the power of God to saue vs but what shall we say of his will who is he that knoweth whether he bee worthie of hate or of loue who is he that hath knowne the will of the Lord or who hath bin his counseller It behoueth that herein faith helpe vs and that trueth succour vs. That that which is hid concerning vs in the heart of the father may bee reuealed vnto vs by the spirit and his spirit testifying vnto vs may perswade vs that wee are the childreÌ„ of God that he perswade it vs I say in calling and iustifying vs freelie by faith which is as it were a meane or passage from the predestination of GOD to the glorie of the life euerlasting The same thing is it which S Augustine meaneth saying Aug Hom. in Ioan. 35. Wee are come into the way of faith let vs hold it constantlie it shall leade vs from degree to degree euen vnto the chamber of the heauenlie King where all the treasures of knowledge and wisedome beeing hid wee may learne and behold the reuelation of our election From hence proceedeth yet another fruite seruing vs for a marke to assure vs more more that we are the children of God when we loue God and our neighbours for his sake whereof also followeth the hatred of euill and an earnest desite to render obedience to God For if it be so as Saint Iohn saith 1. Ioh. 4.19 that our loue to God commeth of this that he hath first loued vs The loue that we beare vnto him is a testimonie that he loueth vs. As also Iesus Christ maintaineth and sheweth that by the signes of loue Luk. 7.47 which the sinful woman gaue him God loued her greatly and had forgiuen her manie sinnes So the brightnes of the Moone is a certaine argument that the Sunne ministreth whollie to her for otherwise she hath no brightnes at all And in sommer the heate that is felt in the stones set against the Sunne is a signe that the Sunne shineth vppon them Of our owne nature and first generation we are vnprofitable to all goodnes and inclined to al euill Rom. 3.10 as Saint Paule very largelie setteth forth vnto vs writing to the Romanes If then on the contrarie wee walke in the feare God giuing our selues to his seruice and occupying our selues in all good works is not such a chaunge a testimonie of our regeneration and consequentlie of our adoption The tree is knowne by his fruit saith Iesus Christ Matt 7.17 If then wee beare the fruit of iustice holines and of charitie wee are trees planted in the garden of God by his holie spirit and so consequentlie the childen of God Charitie saith Saint Iohn 1. Ioh. 4.7 is of God and he that loueth is borne of God and knoweth God As then the heate and light of a coale is a signe that it hath fire and as the moouing and actions of the bodie are certaine signes that it liueth that the soule is within it so the testimonie of the holie ghost in our hearts the peace quietnes of our consciences before GOD feeling our selues iustified by faith this loue towards God and our neighbour this chaunge of our life and desire to walke in the feare and obedience of God are assured tokens of our adoption as also this that we are members of the Church of Christ hearing his word participating with the holie Sacraments and calling vppon God in the name of Iesus Christ are testimonies that wee are the children and houshold seruants of God and heires of eternall life How euerie member of the Church ought to applie vnto himselfe the tokens of it to assure himselfe of his adoption and saluation CAP. 3. NOw although the tokens before mentioned are certaine to assure vs that wee are the children of God yet there are two sorts of temptations which aboue all other tend to shake vs. The one proceedeth of our selues either for lacke of applying to our selues the testimonies which God giueth to the members of his Church to assure them of their saluation or through the feeling of a want as wee thinke but rather of the smalnes or weaknes of those tokens of adoption here aboue alledged The other temptation commeth vnto vs froÌ„ some other where and coÌ„sisteth speciallie in two points To wit in the reuolt of some hauing made profession of the true religion and in the grieuous and long afflictions which are ordinarie to those that followe the doctrine of the Gospell Now as there is nothing of greater importance than the saluation of the soule so there is nothing that doth more grieuouslie afflict and trouble the tender consciences desirous of eternall life than the doubts feares not to

true It is verie true that in preaching the Gospell hee saith Ioh. 3.39 not I am come to saue Simon Peter Cornelius the Centurion Marie Magdalen and so of others He nameth no man by his name that was giuen him by men either at their circumcision or at their baptisme or otherwise for so might we yet doubt of our saluatioÌ„ thinking that it might be spokeÌ„ not of vs but of some other that should haue the same name But when thou hearest that Iesus Christ is come to saue sinners either renounce the name of a sinner Matt. 9.13 1. Timo. 1.15 or confesse that hee speaketh to thee and that hee is come to saue thee Make then boldly this conclusion Iesus Christ is come to saue sinners I acknowledge my owne name for I am a sinner therefore he is come to saue me And also when he saith Come vnto men all ye that trauaile are heauilie laden Math. 11.28 and I will refresh you Thou must marke well these words all ye for seeing he saith all ye he speaketh to all those that trauaile and feele the heauy burthen of their sinnes Wherfore shouldest thou doubt then whether hee speake to thee Conclude rather on this manner seeing he saith all ye he speaketh then also to me promising to comfort me And to this purpose saith S. Paule that there is no differeÌ„ce of men before GOD Rom. 10.12 but the same who is Lord ouer all is rich towards all those that call vppon him Haue thou then recourse vnto him and beleeue in him thou art assured that he will also be rich in mercie euen vnto thee If there were two or three hundred inhabitants of some towne banished for some offence and after a generall pardon should be published that all the banished of such a towne should haue free libertie to returne thether with all assurance to enter againe vppon all their goods and honors suppose that thou wert one of those banished and that he that hath giuen the pardon were a faithfull and true Prince wouldest not thou beleeue that thou wert comprehended in the pardon although thy name were no more expressed than the names of the other banished and that returning to the towne thou shouldest againe bee placed in thy goods Now Gen. 3.24 we haue bin banished from the kingdome of heauen by the transgression of Adam Iesus Christ dying for these banished persons causeth a generall pardon to bee published by the preaching of the Gospell with permission yea with commandement to returne into heauen He is a true King yea the trueth it selfe and the abolishing of this banishment the reentrie into heaueÌ„ hath cost him verie deere 1. Pet. 1.19 euen the shedding of his most precious bloud What occasion then hast thou to doubt of thy pardon returne into heauen For although thy Christian name bee not expressed yet if thou be of the number of the banished he speaketh to thee behold thy name thou art there comprehended Beleeue that he speaketh in trueth and that his wil is such towards thee as he declareth to thee by his word But let vs passe further to the Sacraments which serue greatlie to resolue vs to beleeue that wee are the children of God The Sacraments are as it were a visible word August in Ioan. hom 19. representing the grace of the Gospel But more then that they are communicated to thee and thou receiuest theÌ„ Is not this to put thee as it were into reall possession of thine adoption and to giue thee assurance of euerlasting life The Pastour preacheth vnto all the grace of the Gospell in the name of Christ But in thy Baptisme he directeth his speach to thee by name to assure thee of the forgiuenes of thy sinnes and of thine adoption as S. Paule saith that those that are baptised haue put on Christ and that so they are the children of God Gal. 3.27.26 And it is as if a Prince hauing called backe againe all the banished amongst whoÌ„ thou shouldest be one calling vnto thee by name amongst the other banished by a letter sealed of thy pardon and of reestablishing thee in thy goods Should not this be to assure thee As touching the holy supper Iesus Christ hauing published by his Minister that his flesh is meate indeed and his bloud drinke addeth that whosoeuer eateth his flesh and drinketh his bloud Ioh. 6.55.56 he hath life euerlasting He calleth thee among others to his table and giueth thee of the bread and wine namelie to assure thy person that he died for thee and that he giueth thee his bodie his bloud yea himselfe all whole and all his benefites that thou shouldest bee with him the child of God and an inheritour of life euerlasting If the diuell or thy conscience trouble thee to doubt of thine adoption assure thy soule against such a temptation by the communication of the holie supper Say boldlie Satan canst thou denie that I haue been at the holie supper that I haue receiued bread and wine I haue seen touched and tasted it thou canst not denie it Further canst thou denie that this bread and wine were giuen me for seales and sure pledges of my communicating with the body and bloud of Christ 1. Cor. 10.16 Saint Paule saith plainlie that the bread which I haue receiued is the communioÌ„ of the bodie of lesus Christ Seeing then thou canst not denie but that I haue receiued the bread and wine and that the bread and wine are the communion of the body of the bloud of Christ I haue then communion with the bodie and bloud of Iesus Christ thou canst not denie it True it is that there are some who being outward members of the church baptised in it hearing the word and communicating at the holie supper shewe themselues after hypocrites declaring that they were neuer indeede the children of God But wee cannot say therefore that the reuelation and testimonie of the will of God coÌ„tained in his word and sealed by the Sacraments are doubtfull or vncertaine For GOD who offereth his grace in his word and hath sealed it by the Sacraments is faithful and speaketh truelie reuealing vnto vs and assuring vs that he will take vs for his welbeloued children in Iesus Christ And he can neither lie nor deceaue as is alreadie said But these are vnfaithfull men who reiecting the testimonies of the will of GOD towards them depriue themselues by their incredulitie of the grace which was offered vnto theÌ„ doing this dishonor to Christ to coÌ„pt him a lier 1. Ioh. 5.10 As the Sunne then ceaseth not to giue light and brightnes although some man shutteth his eyes that he may not see it nor bee lightened and as meate ceaseth not to bee good and nourishing although it be receiued without profite of a stomack euill disposed So if manie vnwilling to beleeue that the will of GOD is such as he hath declared by his word reiecting

Then thou must coÌ„tinue also accustome thy selfe to read heare the word of God thinking alwaies that God speaketh to thee for the saluation of thy soule praying him that he will giue thee grace by his holie spirit to profite to his glorie and thy saluation And thou shalt feele at the last that which is said to sicke men that haue lost their tast that thy appetite will come to thee by eating And that the word of God and the participating of the bread and wine in the holie supper shall be to thee more sweet Psalm 119.103 than honie to the mouth Psal 19.11 as Dauid saith Manie sicke persons hauing neither taste nor appetite eate notwithstanding and receiue noriture So though in reading and hearing the word of God and communicating at the Lords supper thou feelest not any tast or appetite yet in continuing thou shalt receiue some noriture for thy soule And if it seemeth to thee that thou forgettest by by that which thou hast read or heard practise for thy soule that which thou dooest for thy bodie because the meates digest abide not in the bodie thou returnest to eate meat again euerie day So be thou so much more diligent to heare and reade the word and to communicate at the holie supper without leesing anie one meale for thy soule when GOD offereth it thee And as the corporall meate though it passe away yet there remaineth alwaies some noriture for the bodie so shall this spiritual meate be to thy soule Yea it may be that at one sermon thou shalt heare and remember one sentence which shall serue thee as it were for a passeport a ladder or wings at thy neede to conduct thee by and by comforting strengthening thee to lift thee vp into heauen If then when thou goest to reade or heare the word of God or to communicate at the Lords supper thou praiest to God as thou oughtest daylie to do that he will giue thee his spirit that thou maiest profite and so doest continue coÌ„stantlie in these spirituall exercises This disposition this holy affection obedience shal serue thee for sure testimonies of thine adoption thou shalt without doubt feele increase of the graces of God Finally there are some who hauing had liuely feelings of their faith with coÌ„fort ioy in their coÌ„sciences The fift temptation by the interruption of the graces of God walking besides in the feare of God are afterwards greatlie troubled when these graces seem to be dead in them falling into doubt mistrust of their saluation or into crimes sinnes too vnworthie the childreÌ„ of God For satan hereby indeuoureth to perswade them either that they neuer had the true faith or that God hath cast them off taking from them the gifts and graces of his holie spirit but both the one and the other conclusion is as false as the author of them is a great lier And indeede if the trees which haue flourished borne their fruite in sommer are in winter without fruite without leaues yea and without apparance of life dooth it followe therefore either that they had not life in sommer or that they are dead in the winter When men go to bed they rake vp the fire which did burne if thou marke it verie neere there is no apparance either of heate nor of brightnes dooth it followe therfore that there had been no fire or that it is then quenched or dead Contrariwise hauing been couered ouer night men kindle againe in the morning the same fire that was hid couered and the trees that seemed to be dead in the winter flourish and beare fruite a while after If thou seest a drunken man not hauing for a time the vse of reason nor anie feeling of it wilt thou say therefore that he neuer had a reasonable soule or that hauing had it it is now dead A bide a fewe houres and thou shalt be conuict of the contrarie And so of that that thou hast not presentlie the feeling or effects and fruites of faith can it followe that thou neuer hast had them or that hauing had them thou hast lost them Matt. 26.74 When S. Peter renounced Iesus Christ three times cursing himselfe was his faith quenched On the contrarie Iesus Christ hauing praied to God that his faith should not faile Luk. 22.31 and being without doubt heard faith remained in him but verie weake and sore beaten but not destroyed nor quenched Dauid hauing committed adulterie murther Psal 51. acknowledged his sinnes and offences praying to God that he would not take his holie spirit from him Then he had not lost it rather it abode in him but as a fire couered with ashes so as it is said without hauing anie feeling of it to keepe him from such a headlong fall Faith then may bee in a man without kindling and being kindled it is not out although it be not perceiued for a time Yea but wilt thou say the Apostle to the Hebrues sheweth that there be some Heb. 6 4 5 6. who hauing been lightened hauing tasted the heauenlie gift hauing been partakers of the holie ghost and tasted the good word of God and the power of the world to come fall backe and leese these graces yea without hope euer to recouer them againe What assurance then can I haue that faith abideth in me and that GOD will yet make me to feele it hereafter For as he hath shewed mercie vnto Dauid and to Saint Peter so dooth hee exercise his iust iudgemeÌ„ts vpon other as vpon those of whome the Apostle spake before Wee denie not but that there bee reprobates that are greatlie lightened in the knowledge of the mysteries of saluation which the Apostle termeth here to bee partakers of the holie ghost and yet that such apprehensions tastings and feelings as he proposeth followe not thereof For reading or hearing the testimonies and representatioÌ„s of the mercies of God toward his Church of the loue of Iesus Christ towards his elect and of the excellencie and felicitie of eternall life they conceaue these things in their vnderstanding for the greatnes of them they are after a sort moued and when they talke of them they seeme to be partakers of them But the difference that there is betweene them the children of God lieth chieflie in this that the apprehensions and feelings of the reprobat are such as a maÌ„ may haue in the reading or telling of an historie which toucheth vs nothing at all but the feelings of the children of God are as of a matter that toucheth themselues Let vs consider for example the historie of Ioseph Who is hee that reading attentiuelie how Ioseph was sold of his brethren Gen. 37. carried into Aegypt put in prison and the sorrowe that Iacob had Gen. 39. vnderstanding that he was deuoured of a wilde beast that would not bee mooued with compassion towardes Ioseph and Iacob Who is hee that reading how Ioseph

that he doth any thing for him to clothe him with the liuerie of his seruants as also when any one shall be receiued for a Prince into any countrie he may well cast some peeces of golde or siluer amongst the people to shew his liberality but the honors and dignities are distributed among his fauourits GOD wil not feast our bodies with the seruice of our soules He is liberall and iust therefore will recompence Spirituall conflicts with Spirituall Crownes and accept our labors not according to the vilenes of our harts but according to the dignity of his greatnes seeing also that he crowneth not in vs our workes August but properly his owne Of one and the selfe same seruice there is one recompence of a King and an other of a Merchant so as when we would content our selues with earthly goods God might answere with better reason than in old time Alexander the great that it were enough in regarde of vs that shoulde receiue it but not in regard of him that should giue it vs. They that knowe the vanity of worldly thinges haue no contentation but in heauenly things yea Manuel Aug. cha 3 and will say with Saint Augustine Lorde if thou shouldest giue mee all that thou hast created in the world that shoulde not suffice thy seruant except thou gaue mee thy selfe As also he saith in another place All aboundance which is not my God is to me scarcitie 2. In the life to come Wee must then set before vs the reward promised in the eternall life wherwith without al doubt Moses was liuely touched in his hart when he refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter choosing rather to bee afflicted with the people of GOD than to enioy for a small season the pleasures of sin esteeming the reproch of Christ greater riches than al the treasures of Aegypt For saith the apostle he had respect to the reward which also he receiued not in this present life wherin he was afflicted vntil his death but in heauen whither hee lifting vp his eies feared not the furie of the King but held fast as if hee sawe him that is inuisible The same Apostle writing to the Hebrevves that beleeued sheweth very well that they also did vnderstand this reward For he beareth them witnesse Heb. 10.34 that they had taken ioyfullie the spoyling of their goods knowing that they had a better riches inheauen which abideth for euer Wherein also he confirmeth them adding this exhortation Then cast not off your confidence which hath great reward The fruite in the life to come incomprehensible first for the greatnesse Rom. 8.18 Now although as touching our selues we can not comprehend what this reward shall be yet ought we certainly to beleeue it that it is most certaine because Iesus Christ hath promised it and most excellent seeing that Saint Paule affirmeth that the suffrings of this present life are not woorthie of the glorie to come which shall be reuealed in vs. As also he sayth in an other place 2. Cor. 4.17 That our transitorie afflictions which indure but a small time and are gone in a moment shal bring forth in vs an eternal waight of glorie maruelous excellent And to giue some taste in waighting for the ful reuelation and inioying of it let vs note in this last sentence of Saint Paule the comparison that hee maketh of our afflictions that are swift and passing in a moment and the eternall waight of glorie maruellous excellent which they bring foorth For true it is that our outward man decayeth as hee said meaning thereby the losse of health of riches honours friendships aliances and other such aides and commodities of this life and the life it selfe but in the meane time the inward man is renued euery day by an happy and excellent chaunge in goods and honours that are spirituall heauenly and eternall And indeede what is all that which we suffer and lose here for Iesus Christ in respect of the infinite and incomprehensible good things which we shall recouer in heauen whereof also we haue a feeling in this present life Are we constrained to forsake a fleshlie father Beholde the heauenly father which offereth himselfe at hand who alone properly is our Father as is saide before Iohn 9. What lost the man borne blinde beeing cast out of the Synagogue and refused of the Scribes and Pharisies when Iesus Christ met hym and receyued hym If any spoyle our worldly goods God offereth vs the Kingdome of heauen If the earth will not beare vs the heauens open to receiue vs. If the people of the worlde driue vs away the Angells offer their presence acknowledging vs their companions in glory If men curse vs those wordes are but winde and God in the meane time doth blesse vs turneth euen the curses of our enemies into blessings as Dauid speaketh 2. Sam. 16 12 If we be thrust out of our offices or dignities Iesus Christ giueth vs things more excellent making vs kings and priests to God his father Rene. 1.6 If our parents disdaine vs wil not know vs Christ is not ashamed to auow vs and call vs his brethren Heb. 2.12 If we be depriued of the succession inheritance of our parents Christ acknowledgeth vs the heires of God his father and fellow heirs with him Do any make vs weep for sorow Christ presenteth him selfe to wipe away our tears to turne our sorows into perfect ioy Are we not receiued into any town to be an inhabitant there God giueth vs freedome in heauen to dwel in that heauenly Ierusalem the streets whereof are paued with sine gold the wals are made of pretious stones the gates are pearls whereof the son of god is the temple the sun Are we put to death it is to enter into a better life ful of ioy and glorie And indeed let vs consider here the woÌ„dersul goodnes of God A she knoweth that we are too much tied to goods dignities and other commodities of the flesh that in stede of willingly laying vp our tresure in heaueÌ„ we lay it vp in earth he so disposeth that we shal be persecuted for his name doth therin as a good faithful Tutor who takyng the mony of his pupill putteth it out to profit or buieth for him good rents with it And hereunto tendeth that which Dauid sayeth Psal 56.9 Thou hast nuÌ„bred my fleetings do theÌ„ put my tears in thy bottle are they not noted in thy register This beeing true how much more wil he put the drops of blood which we shed for his name into his barell and in his Register the reproches the flittings the losses of father mother lands and other goods the imprisonments the other afflictions and aboue all the deaths which we indure for his seruice and glorie As also it is written Psa 116.15 Right deare in the sight of God is the death of his Saints And to what ende

vs to keepe vs in his seruice and in his house promising vs euerlasting life Now the Church is his house and this good GOD hath called you my brethren thither and hath receiued you He hath nourished you in it sometime He hath there giuen you the seale of your adoption He hath begun to clothe you with the liuerie of his children and hath fashioned you like to the image of Iesus Christ A great part of your way is past In this your trauaile of childhood you haue passed manie torments If the greatest tormeÌ„ts come the happie deliuerance approacheth He that shall continue vnto the end Mat. 14.13 shall be saued They that are reuolted and doo reuolt make you to feele in their vnhappines how happie you are to be the children of God elected to eternall life 3. To keep our selues from apostacie and dissimulation For it is vpon this election and so vppon the good pleasure of God that your perseuerance doth depend Acknowledge in it both his infinite mercie supporting you and pardoning you daylie so manie faults and sinnes and also his incomprehensible goodnes leading you as it were by the hand to the inioying of eternall life Abhorre you and detest that miserable yea cursed and vnhappie state of these Apostates that ye may also hate and detest the ambition and the pride the euill conscience the despising and abuse of the gifts of GOD the loue of the world and those other vices which threwe them headlong into ruine And on the contrarie loue search and follow all that which God hath ordained to nourish godlines faith charitie humilitie in vs and other gifts and graces which proceed from the election and are meanes ordained by the prouidence of GOD to guide vs to the happines promised to those which shall continue vnto the end Keepe your selues hereafter from these false Nicodemites who to auoid the crosse will abandon by a sacrilege vntollerable their bodies to idolatrie and so consequentlie to the diuell in reseruing as they say their hearts vnto God Will the most careles husband among them content himselfe if his wife giuing ouer her bodie to whoredome should say vnto him that she keepeth neuerthelesse her heart vnto him 1. Cor. 6.19 Ye are not your owne saith S. Paule yee are bought with a price Then glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which both appertaine vnto God Againe 2. Cor. 7.1 Clense your selues from all filthines both of bodie and spirit finishing your sanctification in the feare of God Perseuer constantlie in the Church which is your mother 4. To vse the holie ministerie that you may bee the heires of the father It sufficeth not to keepe your soules from poyson ye must nourish them that they may liue Rather than we will suffer our bodies to die of huÌ„ger wee will sell all to get bread and wee would runne through the fire in such a case to saue it At the least let vs followe those that in the time of famine forsake their Countries to finde foode The soule is more precious than the bodie Ioh. 6.27 And therefore must wee labour more to haue the bread abiding vnto eternall life than for it that perisheth Alwaies thinke with your selues our soules must liue and it is to tempt GOD to desire to liue without foode Therefore wee must seeke foode that wee maye liue Now true it is that to reade and meditate the worde of GOD in the house and to keepe there the familie is a holie exercise and very profitable for the noriture of the soule Col. 3.16 Psa 1.2 Act. 17.11 Deut. 6 Psa 119 Act. 2.42 It is coÌ„maunded of GOD and such as are negligent in this duetie shewe that they haue no care of the life of their soules yet this doth not suffice Wee must confesse the name of God and call vpon him in the assemblie Wee must heare the sermons 1. Tim. 3.15 and communicate at the holie Sacraments wee must ioyne and keepe our selues vnited with the Church which is the piller and sure ground of trueth and the mother of the children of God This onelie title of mother giuen to the Church Gal. 4.26 teacheth vs that there is no entrance into the life that Iasteth euer except wee bee conceiued in the wombe of this mother that she beare vs and bring vs forth giue vs sucke of her breastes finallie except shee hold and keepe vs vnder her conduct and gouernment vntill being vnclothed of this mortall flesh we be made like vnto the Angels Act. 11.26 In ancient time the faithfull were called disciples For the Church is also called the schoole of Christians wherein according to the infirmitie that is in vs we must be the disciples of Christ all the daies of our life This Church is also often signified by a Temple and the holie ministerie is ordained of GOD to build it Therefore whosoeuer despiseth it 2. Cor. 3.6 cannot be builded in this Temple to be there a liuing stone 1. Tim. 3 15 Heb. 3.6 Ephe. 2.19 2. Cor. 3.8 This Church is the house of God the faithfull his household seruants children Therfore whosoeuer doth not enter and abide in the Church cannot call himselfe the child or household seruant of God The preaching of the Gospel is the ministerie of the holie ghost of life of glory whosoeuer refuseth to heare it hath not the spirit of Christ and consequentlie pertaineth not vnto him Rom. 8.9 so abideth in death and euerlasting shame See how ye must thinke in your selues of the benefite vtilitie yea and the necessitie of the holie ministerie to say with Dauid Psal 84.2 O Lord of hosts how amiable are thy tabernacles My soule desireth greatly yea and longeth after the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh reioyce in the liuing God Blessed are they which dwell in thy house and praise thee continuallie Let the tast and need of this spirituall food cause those that are now depriued of it to say with Dauid Like as the Hart desireth the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O God My soule is a thirst for God Psal 42.1 yea euen for the liuing God saying Alas when shall I come to appeare before the presence of God When we shal be depriued of our countrie wife husband traffick goods dignities and other thinges pleasant to the flesh let all these bee nothing to vs but let vs say with Dauid I haue asked one thing of the Lord which I will still require that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life Psal 27. to behold the faire beautie of the Lord and carefullie to visite his temple If Dauid a man excellent in faith and all vertue a prophet and as an Angell amongst men confesseth so roundlie and so often the neede that himselfe had to bee in the Temple of the Lord feeling himselfe as it were rauished with a most

feruent desire of this benefite what ought wee to feele in our selues who are yet so ignorant so weake so corrupt in the middest of so manie dangers Say then from the heart with the same Dauid Psal 26.8 O Lord I loue the habitation of thy house the place where thine honour dwelleth And that good God and almightie father who hath care to nourish our bodies yea and prouideth for the nourishment of the little birds will without doubt heare your desire and wil prouide for the nourishment of your soules Moreouer accomplishing his promise made by Esay Esay 44. of powring out of waters vpon the drie ground hee will make you to growe as the grasse and as the willowes by the riuer sides for the ioye and comfort wherof one shall say I am the Lords another shall call himselfe by the name of Iacob an other shall subscribe with his hande I am the Lords and shall call himselfe by the name of Israel 5. To walk in the feare of God But vnderstaÌ„d farther that the Gospel wherof ye make profession is a doctrine not to flie about in the vnderstaÌ„ding but to take seate in the hart not in the tongue to talk onlie but in the life and holie works Then be ye doers of the word not onlie hearers deceauing your selues God hath adopted you for his children Iam. 1.22 but on this condition that the image of Christ may shine in you God hath chosen and called you to be his Temples and to dwell in you by his holie spirit 1. Cor. 6.19 1. Cor. 3.16 Remember yee that the temple of God is holie and that it is not lawfull to defile it nor to put holie things to prophane vses God hath created you for his glorie and Christ hath redeemed you that ye might be his Remember then that you must bee consecrated and dedicated vnto God neither to thinke say nor doo anie thing but to his glorie Ye are dead to sinne Rom. 6. but liuing to GOD by Iesus Christ Applie not then your members to bee instruments of of iniquitie to sinne but applie you vnto God as being of dead made aliue and your members to be instrumeÌ„ts of righteousnesse to God Rom. 6.18 Yee are made free from sinne by Christ but it is to bee seruants to righteousnes Remember that which S. Paul saith that if ye liue according to the flesh ye shal dy Rom. 8.13 but if by the spirit ye mortefie the deeds of the flesh ye shal liue they that are of christ Gal. 5.24 haue crucified the flesh with the concupisceÌ„ces of it If ye liue in the spirit walke also in the spirite Gal. 5.25 As out of fire proceedeth inseperablie heate and brightnes in like manner if ye haue receiued Christ for iustification ye must haue him also for sanctification If yee haue hope to see Christ as hee is 1. Cor. 1.30 1. Iho. 3.2 3 Heb. 12.14 purifie your selues as he is pure following peace with al men and holinesse without which none shall see God Remember what the faithful soule saith I haue washed my feete Can. 5.3 how shall I file them againe The band betweene GOD and vs is holinesse inasmuch as it appertaineth to his glorie that hee which is holie haue no acquaintance with iniquitie and vncleannes 1. Pet. 1.15 2. Cor. 6 Be ye then holie for I am holie saith the Lord. What participation is there saith Saint Paule of righteousnesse with vnrighteousnes what fellowship hath light with darkenesse what agreement hath Christ with Belial or what part hath the beleeuing with the infidel or what agreement hath the Temple of GOD with Idolls For yee are the Temple of the liuing God wherefore depart from amongst them and separate your selues sayth the Lorde and touch not anie vncleane thing The ende of our regeneration is that there may appeare in our life an holy melodie and consent betweene the righteousnesse of GOD and our obedience Yee haue vnderstoode here before that the desire of the heart to consecrate your selues to God is a marke of your election and adoption But see yee that this desire may shew it selfe by the workes of godlines and charitie If you make profession that ye know Christ Ephe. 4.20 know ye according to the doctrine of S. Paul that yee haue not knowne him as ye ought if ye mortifie not the olde man Col. 2.13 and put on the newe walking in righteousnesse and true holinesse God hath drawne you out of the power of darkenesse and hath transported you into the kingdom of his beloued Sonne Walke ye then as the children of light Renounce this cursed boudage of Sathan Shew that ye are faithfull and not traytours to Iesus Christ Be ye without reproch and single harted The children I say Phil. 2.15 of God vnreproueable in the midst of this crooked and peruerse nation Among whom ye shine as lightes in the worlde which beare before you the worde of life Tit. 2.11 Shew your selues to feele the wholsome grace of God which teacheth you to renounce all infidelitie and worldlie lusts to liue soberly iustly and godly Thinke in your selues that the friendship of the world is enmity to God And that ye cannot be friendes to the world Iam. 4.4 but that yee must needes be enemies to God Eph. 5.11 Haue no fellowship with the vnfruitful works of darknes but rather reproue them so as your holy conuersation may serue for a reproofe and checke to such as walk disorderly Iob. 28.28 Remember what God said to man The feare of the Lord is true wisdom Esay 33.6 to depart from euil is vnderstanding Let the fauour of God be our treasure walke as it were before him Gen. 17.1 as he coÌ„manded Abraham Think that ye are not your own to liue for your selues according to your owne wisdome pleasure but that ye appertaine vnto God that ye might liue vnto him and according to his wisdome and will reuealed vnto vs in his word That man hath much profited who knowing that he is not his owne hath taken away from himselfe and his owne reason all lordship dominion to resigne it to God to suffer himselfe quietlie to be guided according to his pleasure There is no vice more common more pernicious or more hard to cure than the loue of our selues and therefore there is no lesson more necessary than it which Iesus Christ taught his apostles That to be of the nuÌ„ber of his disciples Mat. 16.14 we must renounce our selues Renouncing then your selues hate ye that which is euill and cleaue vnto that which is good inclined by brotherly charity to loue one another Procure things that are good Col. 3.12 not onely before God but also before men If it be possible so much as in you lieth haue peace with al men Be yee as the elect of God holy and beloued clad with the bowells of compassioÌ„

punish vs yet more rigorouslie than hetherto thou hast done that for one stripe wee should receiue an hundred If thou shouldest transport the kingdome of thy sonne from vs to the Turkes and the Iewes If thou shouldest send such a famine of thy word as running through the forrests to haue some refreshing and finding none our soules should faint Yea Lord if thou shouldest throw vs down into hell we confesse that it were verie right and yeeld our selues guiltie acknowledging that we haue well deserued it Notwithstanding O good God and father there is mercie with thee yea thy mercies are infinite to swallowe vp the multitude and grieuousnes of our sinnes Thou art a God gracious pitifull slowe vnto wrath abounding in mercie and trueth keeping mercie for thousands pardoning iniquitie transgression sinne Thou hast said that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that hee turne and liue Conuert vs then O Lord that we may be conuerted and that we may liue before thee We are poore sinners we confesse it but yet thy sonne Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners Behold vs then O Lord not in our selues for wee are vnworthy of thy grace but behold vs in the face of thy sonne Iesus Christ and for his sake bee at tone with vs and be mercifull and fauourable vnto vs that in the multitude of our sinnes the greatnes of thy grace may shine if thou regard our iniquities who is he that is able to stand before thee Wee haue been vnfaithfull but thou remainest still faithfull Thou canst not renounce thy mercie and goodnes we haueforsaken thee but thou hast promised not to forsake vs. Wee haue forgotten thee but thou hast said that though a mother should forget her childe yet wouldst not thou forget vs. Thou hast made a couenant with vs wherein thou hast promised to pardon our sinnes and to remember our iniquities no more Thou hast promised that though our sins were as red as scarlet thou wouldest make them as white as wooll if they were as red as crimson that they should be made as white as snowe We are heauie laden and labour with our iniquities But Iesus Christ hath called vs to him and hath promised to refresh vs. Haue pitie theÌ„ on vs O Lord haue pitie vpon vs. Let our miseries moue the bowells of thy mercie Forgiue vs O our GOD forgiue vs for thine owne sake for the glorie of thy name and for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake Impute vnto vs the goodnes that is in him that the euill that is in vs may not be imputed Thou hast pumshed the iust that thou mightest pardon the wicked Accept thou the merites of his death and passion for satissaction of all that is in vs worthie of thy wrath and indignation and make vs to feele the fruites of our reconciliation with thee If thou wilt afflict our bodies haue yet pitie of our soules If thou wilt impourish vs on the earth depriue vs not yet of the riches of heauen If thou wilt take away the bread of our bodies yet leaue vs the spirituall bread of our soules Though wee bee in reproach among our enemies yet let not thy name be blasphemed Though we bee accursed of the world yet let vs bee blessed of thee Though the world hate vs yet let thy loue abide vpon vs. O Lord we are thine forsake vs not Thou hast saide I am the Eternall this is my name I will not giue my glorie vnto Images nor my praise vnto another For thine owne sake then euen for thine owne sake haue mercie vpon vs. For why shall thy name bee blasphemed for our sakes Not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name giue glorie and honour in shewing foorth the riches of thy graces of thy truth and of thy might Thou art the God of glorie sanctifie thy name in drawing light out of our darknes and lift out of death making perfect thy power in our infirmitie and thy great grace in our vnworthines to thy praise and glorie Heare the blasphemies of thine enemies boasting them selues in their counsels and their forces triumphing and reioycing in our confusion as if we were not thy people thy children thy Church as if wee were cast off of thee as if thou were not able to helpe or keepe vs. Neuerthelesse thou art our creatour and wee are the worke of thy hands Thou art our shepheard wee are thy flocke Thou art our father wee are thy children Thou art our God wee are thine inheritance Thou art our redeemer wee are the people whome thou hast bought It is thou also O our God who by thy word alone hast created the heauen and the earth the sea and al that is in them it is by thee that all things liue be and haue their mouing it is of thee by thee and for thee that all things are It is thou which dooest whatsoeuer thou wilt And there is neither counsell wisedome nor strength against thee Represse then O Lord the rage and furie of thine enemies breake their forces dissipate their counsels confound them in the bold enterprises which they haue taken in hand against thee and thy sonne lesus Christ Maintaine the rest of thy flocke which thou hast kept vntill this day Establish againe the Churches that are ruined and dispersed Suffer not the memorie of thy name to be abolished from the earth rather let thy word sound and thy Gospell bee preached where it hath not yet been heard to gather thine elect vnto thee and to magnifie thy name And that so wee may see it florish more more and the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord to bee aduanced for euer more Amen The necessitie and benefite of affliction GReat trouble and vexation the righteous shall sustains By Gods determination whilest heere they doo remaine Which grieuous is and irksome both for flesh and bloud to beare Because by nature we are loath to want our pleasure heere And eke because our enemie that auncieat deadly foe Satan with cruell tyrannie the worker of our woe Doth still prouoke the wicked sort in sinne which doo delight To please themselues make great sport to vexe vs with despite Yet doo the righteous by the crosse moe blessed things obtaine Than anie waie can be the losse the dolor or the paine The losse is that which in few daies would passe fade and decay Euen of it selfe the gaine alwaies can no man take away All earthly estimation the crosse may cleane deface But heauenlie consolation the soule dooth then imbrace Afflictions worldly pleasures will abandon out of minde Then is the soule more earnest still the ioyes of heauen to finde These worldly riches goods and wealth by troubles may depart Then inward ioyes and sauing health may wholly rule the heart In trouble friends doo start aside as cloudes doo with the winde But Gods assistance doth abide to cheare the troubled minde Jfwe should feele these losses all at once by sudden change We may not be dismaid withall though it seeme verie strange Iob lost his frends he lost his wealth and comfort of his wife He lost his children and his health yea all but wretched life When all was gone the Lord aboue did still with him remaine With mercie kindnes and with loue asswaging all his paine Teaching him by experience that all things fickle be Which subiect are to humane sence and yeeld all miserie But godlinesse within the heart remaineth euer sure In wealth and woe it is her part true comfort to procure Affliction turn'th these worldly ioyes to greater paine and woe Because the loue was linck'd with toyes religion is not so For when mans heart doth most delight in pleasure wealth and pride Religion then will take her flight she may not there abide Where by our soules in wofull plight continually remaine Yet haue not we the grace or might from such lusts to refraine In which estate mest willingly though tending right to hell We compt our chiefe felicitie and loue therein to dwell Therefore the Lord which is aboue regarding vs below With mercie pitie grace and loue that alwases from him flow Doth mix with griefe these earthly things wherein we doo delight Which to our soules all sorow brings or else remoou'th them quite Then dooth the holie word of God most comfortable seeme Which we before we felt the rod mere follie did esteeme The world which earst most pleasant was now loathsome seem'th to be It doth appeare as in a glasse all fraught with miserie Then feare we hell then flie we sinne then seeke we heauen the more To vse good meanes we then begin which we despisde before Then can we pray then can we call to God for strength and grace Which things before might not at all with vs haue anie place Then heare we with attentiuenes then read we with all care Then pray we with great feruentnes no trauaile then we spare Then shall we see feele and confesse the state wherein we dwelt To be nothing but wretchednes though worldly ioyes we felt Because the soule by godlinesse more comfort doth receaue In one day than by worldlinesse for euer it can haue Then we with Dauid shall confesse that God from heauen aboue By humbling vs doth well expresse his mercie and his loue For ere we felt the scourging rod we er'de and went astray But now we keepe the law of God and waite thereon alway Then forreligion loue the crosse though it doo bring some paine The ioy is great small is the losse but infinite the gaine FINIS

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