The compasse of a Christian directing them that be tossed in the vvaues of this vvorlde vnto Christ Iesus Matthew xj Chap. 28. v. Come vnto mee all yee that trauaile and are heauie laden and I well refresh you c. LONDON Imprinted by Iohn Wolfe for Iohn Harison the yonger dwelling in Pater noster rowe at the signe of the golden Ancâ—râ— 1. CAP. A description of the naturall corruption wherewith mankinde is infected by the contagion of sinne 2. CAP. By what meanes maens corruptioÌ„ is made knowne vnto him and of the endes of the Lawe 3. CAP. Man knowinge his corruption by the Lawe is thereby humbled and drawne to repentance and prepared to receiâ—â— the promisses of the Gospell 4. CAP. Of faith and the nature and effectes t 〈…〉 of offred in the Gospell To the right worshipfull his singuler good benefactour M. William Webbe Alderman and Shriue of London A. P. wisheth al ioy peace both of body and soule with happines in the Lords euerlasting AFter I had called into my remeÌ„brance your worships great liberalitie and bountifulnes towards me at sondrie times and on thother side my own ingratitude vnthankfulnesse for the same I began to thinke with my selfe that there was some christian duetie neglected of me which ought of necessitie to haue beene performed The consideration whereof hath moued me to put my penne vnto paper and to write as foloweth hoping therby although not fullie to recompeÌ„ce your goodnesse towards me which I am neuer able yet to discharge some parte of christian duetie by shewing my selfe thankfull vnto you againe for the same Not by preseÌ„ting anie â—arthlie gift which I am not able neither sure I am do you looke for anie such thing at my hand but rather by bestowing vpoÌ„ your worship a litle handfull of spirituall and heauenlie crommes which I who am a poore wretch haue through earnest prayer found and gathered vp vnderneath the table of the Lord. And therefore although they be but fewe and verie smale yet be cause they are such as were onelie takeÌ„ from his Table I do not doubt but that you will accept of them Crommes also I call them because they are nourishing and such as do feede although not the bodie to a temporal life yet both soule bodie vnto a spirituall and heauenlie life which is not for a time but euerlasting if they be eaten with the teeth of a true faith which worketh by loue disgested in the stomake by the heate of perfect patience constant perseuerance therein vnto the end And thus being receiued it is no matter how small the quantitie bee which we receiue of it Knowe you not what is written a litle Leauen leaueneth the whole Math. â—â— lumpe of down What is smaler in the whole world theÌ„ a litle graine of mustard seede yet if the same be sowne in fruitfull grounde the increase is wonderfull for it groeth vp to a great tree that the fowlâ— of heauen maie make theire nestes in the branches thereof To these such like similitudes is the worde of God compared which sheweth vnto vs the efficacie streÌ„gth therof For the seede of the worde of god is so pretious of such power that if neuer so small a graine thereof do fall on the ground of an huÌ„ble heart it bringeth forth fruit verie plentifull 30. 40. 60. 100. fold c. according to the wisdome of the sower the goodnes of the grouÌ„d which it is sowed vpon For let vs hold this alwaies as a certaine rule that there is neuer anie fault to be found in the sower nor in the pretious seede of the worde which is sowne but the fault if there be anie must needes be founde out in the grounde which receiueth it which if there be path waies it lyeth Luke â— a loft and can not enter but the foules of heauen take it awaie or if it be stonie ground which receiueth the same it hath a litle eÌ„trance but lacketh roote therfore as soone as the sunne of persecution coÌ„meth vpon it the same withereth also can not prosper or els if the grouÌ„d be thornie the thornes growe vp with the seede choake the same so that it can not bring forth fruite accordinglie By the path waies is ment either those Papistes vvhose heartes are so hard troden with the feete of mens traditions and are so farre ouertaken with the credite of man his vaine imaginations that the worde can take no place in theÌ„ or els those Atheistes which are of no religion and therefore come to the seruice of God rather of custome then of conscience to profit thereby By the stonie grounde is ment those mouth gospellers which seeme in the time of peace to bee verie religiouse but when aniâ— trouble or daunger commeth then they fal awaie and do not continue because it was onelie in theire mouthes and not in theire heartes which is the rooting place where it ought chieflie to haue bene And by the thornie grounde we vnderstand those couetous men of the world which haue a greater care to become rich then righteous and therefore oftentimes preferre the Luke 5. veâ— trieing of theire Oxen before the Lordes table yea and they desire Christ to depart out of their coastes before they woulde beare the losse Mark 5. ver of theire swine Well then these things being well weighed and considered vpon maie bee a good meane to procure vs vvith more circumspection to looke into our selues and search out the ground of our owne heartes before we come to the reading and hearing of the vvord preached lest we beinge anie of these vnfruitfull groundes shoulde returne without profitte nay that which is more euen worse then when we came vnto it for it is vnpossible that the word light for vs to examine ouâ— affections by froÌ„ the which euerie worke doth proceed and so we findinge the Lord to be the heade Springe from whom floweth all the good vvhich vve doe may in euerie of our vvorkes confesse our ovvne vnprofitablenesse and so bring vnto him in all and euerie of our vvorks that acceptable Sacrifice of a contrite broken heart which he vvill neuer despise c. 〈◊〉 â—1 1â— The Lord vvho is rich in mercy greate in glorie heape vpon your worshippe the riches of his grace blesse and sanctifie you both in body and soule and happely finish that which he hath in you so gratiously begonne to the glory of his name and your owne comforte in Iesu Christ our Lord. Amen London 1582. May. 26. Your worshipes most humble 〈◊〉 commaundement A. P. A Description of the natural corruption wherewith mankind is infected by the contagion of sinne IT is a verie lamentable thing to beholdâ— that bottomles sinkâ— of corruption and sin which lyeth hâ—d in maÌ„â— nature and yet farre more lamentable to behold his grossâ— and monstrous blindnes which is so palpable yâ— although there be no sparkell of goodnes
bare vse of these outward ceremonies or shadowes was so much as yâ— Lord did require or looke for at their hands supposing him to be affectionated like vnto a common strumpet who alwayes looketh vnto the gifte neuer respecteth the minde or qualities of the giuer They had forgotten that the Lorde vvill haue mercie and not sacrifice Osâ— 6. 6. and therefore made no conscyence in falsifying their weight making their measure small and price Amos. 8. 5. 6. great that they might bie the pore for siluer the needie for shovves Yea and in the time of theire newe moones sabaothes also they thought euery day to be ten till these feastes were ouerpassed that they might beâ— at whome againe to vtter their refusâ— corne thinking all yâ— time loste which was spent in the seruice of God preferring eueÌ„ the basest of their odde reckoninges that made any thinge for their priuate profit before it And this was the cause why the Lord did abhorre their sacrifices which otherwise he both commanded and commended But we may speake much more profitablie of this in applyinge the same vnto our time sor were not their sacrifices in that time of the lawe as pretious in the sight of God as our sacramentes are nowe vnder the Gospell And are not our sinnes also of this age as monstruous as euer were theirs And what is behinde tâ—â—â— that those our seales of Baptisme and the Lordes Supper which wee make so much accounte of and so smoothelye shrowde our selues vnder should not be as loathsome in the eyes of God as euer were theirs at that time Surely I can perceiue no reason to the contrary so long as wee are holden in them without remorse of sinne or care vnto newnesse of life whereunto they were appoynted For these outwarde seales are so farre foorth profitable vnto vs as we are partakers of those spirituall graces which are figured vnder them in Baptisme Therefore we haue to consider our â—ree forgiuenesse of sinnes washed away in the bloud of Christ that as Christ died and was buried for our sinnes Rom so wee also shoulde die vnto sinne that it haue no more rule in our mortall bodies And as Christ is rysen againe froÌ„ the dead death hauing no more dominion ouer him so wee should after liue in newnesse of life offering vp vnto God our bodies and soules which he hath purchased and redéemed vnto him selfe The Lordes Supper also is a meane to refresh and renue our dull memories in these so greate mercyes and benefites bestowed vpon vs in Christ that euerye daye wee may become more thankefull then other for the same These considerations or profitinges in the obseruation of the Sacramentes beeinge layde aside there remayneth not one sparke of Religion or holynesse in them as the holye Prophet Dauid moste plainelye prooueth vnto vs out of the fiâ—tie Psalme where hee saith I vvill not reprooue thee for thy sacrifices Psal 50. 8. and burnt offerings vvhich haue not beene continued before me saith the Lord. I vvill not take a bullock out of thy house or goates out of thy folde the vvhole vvorlde is mine and all that therein is But what followeth Offer to god praise and paie thy vovves vnto the moste 14 highest Loe these are the dueties which the Lorde doeth chiefly loâ—ke for at our handes for by offring of praise is meant no other thing then a continuall thankfull remembrance of the great benefites bestowed vpon vs in Christ which the Lordes supper doeth The Lordes Supper liuelie represent vnto vs as I haue before shewed by paying or performing our vowes Wee are taught also manfullye to fight vnder yâ— banner of Christ against Baptisme the deuill the worlde and our owne fleshe whereunto we haue bound our selues vnder the seale of baptisme as by a solemne oath made in our behalfe by two or thrée witnesses These I say are the thinges which wee must haue our chiefe respecte vnto in the partaking of those outwarde elementes or els they can bringe no profit vnto vs there is no religion in them and therfore so lothsome vnto the Lord that in no wise he can digest the same but is ready euen to belche against it yea it shal be saide vnto those in the endâ— which do frequent them in this sorte Who hath required these things at Esa 1â—â— your handes Surely the knowledge of this can not but be very profitable for our time if wee would let it take some roote in our heartes For who seeth not that the most parte of men are caried away with a blinde perswasion of religion holinesse which they themselues doe thinke to be truely in them because they doe resorte vnto the outward ceremonies commaunded in the word and although all those duties wherefore these spirituall exercises are ordeyned be cleane shut out of theire lyues they make no conscience of it at all but without blushing will set an impudeÌ„t face vpon it yâ— they are as good christians as any can be although theire liues do testifie vnto the whole world that there is not one sparke of true and vnfayned christianitie in them Well I can thinke more of this then nowe ray leasure will serue to condemne at large Yet thus much may I say that Christ can haue no enterance into vs nor we any way vnto him except the path be first prepared by repentance by an vnfayned acknowledginge of our sinnes with earnesâ— stryuinge to better our conuersation Shut vp thy hearte from these things and thou dost so much as in thee lyeth to wall thy selfe about with brasse that Christ by his spirit may haue no enterance into thee and prouokest him in like sort so to hedge vp his mercies and graces from thy soule that thou shalt neuer haue any parte in them Howe miserable then will thy case be for hauing once shut out thy selfe from Christ the way to heauen also is shutte vp from thee hell gapeth with open mouth ready to receyue thee and yâ— deuiles waite with great diligence to carry thy soule into the euerlastinge tormentes thereof Looke vnto it therefore and let vs be wise for if the entertainement of Christ will bee a meane to set vs frée from all these miseries what greate diligence ought we to vse in preparinge a way for him that he may haue free passage vnto vs. Certaine it is that before he can come the way must bee prepared and there is noâ— other meane to prepare the same but by repentance For our barraine heartes are that very desart which yâ— Prophet Esay speaketh of where the Lordes Esai 40. 3. 4. way must be prepared before his comming by filling vp euery lowe valley and daungerouse hoale which is our ignorance and infidelitie that must be filled vp with the true knowledge of God by beating downe euery high mountaine that is our pride and arrogancie which must be beaten vpon with the mattocke of Gods iudgements till such time
and see howe all the powers of his bodie are chaunged â—nto tremblinge and feare his â—nâ—es which before were so stiffe nowe doe willingly yeelde them selues vnto the grouâ—de with weeping and wringing oâ— hands to craâ—â—e pardon labouringe by all meanes and wayes that hee can deuise or procure euen with greate importunacie that he 〈◊〉 obtaine the same willingly yeeldinge him selâ—e vnto the prison to the â—etters and to the hote yron so that he may escape with life he weigheth not these other punishmentes yea and the more terible the sentence of death is which the iudge doth pronounce against him the more is his feare and labour to aauoyde the same Hereby you see then as in a cleare glasse what it is in trueth to confesse our sinnes and by what meanes we are brought therevnto For as the thiefe or wicked person can not bee brought vnfayâ—edly to confesse his facte before it hee made knowne and hee himselfe attached to appeare beâ—ore a iudge to bee condemned for the same so likewise the case standeth with euery one of vs who by nature are no better then theeues and murderers before the Lord that we can by no meanes bee brought in trueth to yelde vnto the same before the monstrousnesse and vgly shape of these our sinnes with the paine and penaltie due thereunto bee set before our owne consciences and we as it were summoned before Gods iudgement seate to be condemned for the same you see also the fruit and effectes which folowe the true acknowledgment of our sinnes which is feare trembling weeping wringing of handes and importunate sute euery kinde of way for pardon and the reason is verie good for if the face of an earthly Iudge which can but kill the body bee so terible vnto that partie which is brought before him for his facte what shall wee thinke then or howe terrible is the face and sentence of that eternall and heauenly Iudge of Iudges who after hee hath killed Apâ—â— 20. 11. can cast both bodie and soule into hell fire and from whose countenance flyeth away both the heauens and the earth Well then these comparisons beinge well thought vpon and we so perfectlie experienced in the lesser which is before man will willingly I doubte not yeelde vnto the trueth of the greater which is when anie mans conscience for sinne doth sommon hâ—â— before the Lord. Let vs not therefore hereafter bee anie more so blinde and ignorant as to thinke that we are come to greate perfection in Christianitie before we are entred into the first steppe that appertayneth vnto the trueth thereof which is the vnfayned acknowledginge of our sinnes vnfayned I call it when these passions of the minde before repeated are stirred vp in vs through the sighte thereof otherwise it is fayned and to noe purpose For if wee call to minde the testimonie of holie scripture to prouâ— and confirme the same we shall see it and as in a glasse behold it very plentifully prooued and sufficiently euery way warranted vnto vs howe that this hath alwayes bene the Lordes purpose and intent dealinge with all his children elect in the beginning of theire calling euen so to humble theire soules with the sight of their sinnes that they were almost fettered in the chames of desperation as we may see it in the poore Publican who seemed Luke 18. 13 so vile in his owne eyes That hee durst not lift them vp to heauen So likewise the people of the Iewes Act. 2. 37. which were conuerted at the preaching of Peter and the rest of the Apostles were in such distresse and trouble of minde for theire sinnes that they could not tell which way to wind out of it But being pricked in their heartes cried out vnto the Apostles and saide men and brethren what shall we do Which doth importe a marueylous distresse that they were in A notable example of this also we haue in the sixtenth of the Actes in the Act. 16. 3â— conuersion of the keeper of the prison who when hee sawe the greate power of God in shaking the foundation thereof for the delyuerance of his Saintes came tremblinge and quakinge in marueylous feare sayinge What shall I doe that I maye bee saued Which requeste doth giue vs to vnderstand that he iudged him selfe to be no better theÌ„ a condemned wretch In like maner the Prophet Abacuk speaking of the beginning of his calling saith thus of it When I heard my bellie treÌ„bled my lips shooke at the voice rottennesse Abacuk 1. 1â— entred into my bones and I trembled in my selfe that I might be spared in the daie of the Lorde See here the Prophete taketh these troubles anguishes of mind which hee was brought into by the hearing of the word as a warrante vnto his owne soule that the Lord would spare him in the day of euill A verye apte proofe we haue of this also in the booke of kings where it was said vnto Iosias the kinge that because his hearte 2. King â—â— 19. 20. did melt when he heard the booke of the Lawe read and those iudgementes pronouÌ„ced which the lord pretended to bring vpon Ierusalem and the temple for the sinnes of Manasses because I say his heart did melt he rent his clothes wepte at the hearing thereof therfore the Lord tolde him that these miseries shoulde not bee in his dayes but that he shoulde be gathered to his fathers in peace and not see them And what should I saye of Dauid the king who beeing a man after Gods owne heart yea and also a figure of Christe what wonderfull distresses anguishes of minde soule was he in not only in the beginning of his calling but also throughout his whole life as it appeareth very plentifully in the Psalmes where he vttereth these voyces Many saye vnto my soule there Psal 3. 2. is no helpe for him in his God and agayne I fainte in my mourning Psal 6. 6. and cause my bedde euerie night to swim with my teares and agaâ—â—e howe long wilte thou forget me O Psal 13 1. 2. Lord for euer how long wilt thou hide thy face from me howe long shall I take counsell with my selfe hauing daily wearines in my heart and againe there is nothing sounde Psal 38. 3. in my flesh because of thy displeasure there is no rest in my bones because of my sinnes and againe my heart trembleth within me the Psal 55. 4. 5. sorrowes of death are fallen vppon me feare and trembling is come vppon me and an horrible feare hath couered me yea his troubles Psal 42. 7. were such and his temptations came so thicke one in the neâ—ke of another that his soule refused comforte and Psal 77. 2. it seemed vnto him that the Lorde had vtterly reiected his soule * reade the 88. Psalme Thus you see it plainely proued out of the word of God how the Lorde hath alwayes dealte with his children in calling them vnto
sometime by yâ— certaintie of the day that it shall come and the terriblenesse thereof when it commeth as Sainte Luke paynteth it out There shal be trouble perplexitie Luke 21. 25. 2â— amongst nations the sâ—â— and the waters shall rore and mens hearts shall faile them for feare and for looking after those thinges that shall come vpon Mat. 24. 27. the earth sometime by the suddenesse of it euen as the lightning shineth out of the East and goeth vnto the West so shall the comming of the Sonne of man be And sometime by the vncertaintie Mark 13. 3â— of the houre whether at euening or at midnight at the cock crowing or in the dawning least if he come suddenly should finde you sleepinge Sometime also by the vigilantnesse crueltie of our enemie the deuill who goeth about like a deuouring and roring Lyon continually seeking whom 1. Pet. 5. 8. he may deuoure But how little account wee make of all these fatherlye warnings and admonitions all those which haue eyes to see may see it and let all them that haue heartes of fleshe Eze. 36. 26. and 9. 4. lament and mourne for the same that they may be spared from the euill day not perish with the careles worlde but especially with our owne Lande with whome it cannot be but that the Lord hath a great controuersie vnles we should thinke that the most highâ—st doth speake wordes in vayne nay Esai 45. 19. he saith not in vaine vnto the séede of Iacob séeke ye me it is not for nought that the Lord hath continued yâ— preachinge of his worde amongst our nation this many yeares rysinge vp early late to send Prophets Preachers Iere. 7. 13. and wise men vnto vs who haue pyped very sweetely and mourned very lamentably vnto vs. And Mat. 11 17. therefore if we will not daunce at their 〈…〉 th nor wéepe at theire mourning that is if we wil not reioyce at yâ— great mercies and sweet promisses of God which he offereth vnto vs by them nor tremble and feare at the mournful longe of his heauie plagues and iudgements which he thundereth out aginst vs by theire mouthes In like sort if we will needes harden our hearts like an Adamant stone stop our eares Zic 7. 11. 12. to shut out the graces of God froÌ„ our soules which he so plentifully offereth vnto vs yet let vs knowe that a Prâ—phet hath bene amoÌ„gst vs and yâ— grace mercy by the preaching of yâ— Gospell hath bene generally proferred vnto our Lande that thereby we may beâ— cleane without excuse and our bloodâ— iustly vpon our owne heades For if they bee worthie of stripes for theire ignorance which neuer saw any light of knowledge howe much more worthy are they of punishment who through longe continuance of the true light shyninge amoÌ„gst them haue almost forgotten what darknesse meaneth if they take not the benefit of it but remaine still vnfruitfull and vnthankfull for the same Surely this is the estate of our nation at this day for haue we not had the Gospell so longe time amongst vs that the most of vs eyther neuer sawe or haue almost cleane forgotten what poperâ—â— meaneth Well looke vnto it therefore and let vs not thinke our selues to bee happier then other Landes because we haue the Gospell vnlesse we bringe forth such fruites of repentance and newenesse of life as the same doth require at our handes For to that ende hath he sent it amongst vs and therefore if it take not his effecte wherefore it was sent yet let vs be sure that the Lorde will bee knowne to be Kinge at the Last and it shall bee saide vnto vs as the holie Ghost doth testifie in a certaine place Prou. 1. 24 30. because I haue called and yee refused I haue stretched out my hand and none would regarde but ye haue despysed my counsell and woulde none of my correction therefore I will also laugh at your destruction and will mocke when your feare commeth like sudden desolation and your destruction as a whiâ—le winde when affliction and anguish shall come vppon you then shall they call but I will not answere they shall seeke mee early and shall not finde mee and why the reason is added because they refused knowledge and did not chuse the feare of the Lord they woulde none of my counsell but despysed my corrections And what other thinge is if but a castinge awaye of the Lâ—des counsell when we will not giue such entertainement vnto his worde as the same requyreth at out handes or how much better is it theÌ„ a despysing of his corrections when we wil not be warned by so many spectacles of his anger applying them rather vnto second causes and so take occasion thereby vnto greater securitie This sinne of casting away or despysing the Lords counsel how greatly it doth displease him our Sauiour Christ doth make knowne vnto vs by pronouÌ„cing of so grieuous woes against those cities of Iuda â—at 11. 2â— wherein he had preached most done most of his great workes because they repented not affirming that it shoulde be easier for Sodom Gomorrham yâ— iudgemeÌ„t day then for them For saith he if the great workes which are done amoÌ„gst you had bene done in theÌ„ they had repented long agoe in sackcloth ashes and may it not as well be saide of England in this respect also that it shall be easier for Fraunce Flastderâ— Spaine and for Rome in the iudgement daye then for them For who knoweth howe wonderfull theirâ— repentance shoulde haue beene earâ— this time if they hadde the Gospell preached amongst them so longe as we haue had the same And besides that theire wante of it hath made them to commit many sinnes through Ignorance because they knewe no better but our hauinge of it hath left vs cleane without excuse so that now wee haue no cloke for our sinnes Iohn 15. 22 and therefore in conclusion our condemnation must needes be farre more iust and greater then theires excepte wee repent in time Thus much haue I thought good to speake vnto yâ— carelesse which are so soundly lulled asleepe in Iezabells bedde a bedde of securitie that if it be possible some of them may bee awaked whylest the Ebr. 3. 8. day is present prepare them selues to come vnto Christ For admitte it be so that many haue gotten greate and excellent knowledge by the preachinge of the Gospell yet what is this knowledge without repentance surely euen deade For who knoweth not that practise is it which giueth life therevnto as the Apostle witnesseth in a certaine place where heâ— hath these wordes though I had all knowledge and knewe all secretes â—ea if I had faith that I coulde remoue 1. Cor. 1â— â— moue mountaines and had no loue it coulde profit me nothing And as repentance or newnesse of conuesation is that which giueth life vnto our knowledge so also it abandoneth from
shall no flesh be iustified in the sight of God Furthermore Deut. 28. 26 Gal. 3. 10. lam 2. the Law doth iustifie none but those which are the fulfillers of it and none can fulfill the same but those which are free from sin both in birth thought and action but we are polluted in all these as it hath been before declared Christ alone is hee in whom this perfection and cleannes is to be found he only hath fulfilled it for vs and is iustified by the same before his father and hath also borne the punishmente due vnto vs for breakinge of it that we which beleeue might be made iust in his iustice and not in the iustice of the lawe which is so farre from iustifying of vs that if but the least title thereof shoulde be laide vpon our consciences without Christ it would eueÌ„ condeÌ„ne vs downe to the bottome of hell and therfore it must needes be that they do marueylously abuse the Lawe and Christ Iesus in like sorte which will be iustifyed by it they abuse the Lawe in presuminge to be iustifyed by that which is appointed to humble them and Christ Iesus also in taking vpon them his purenes and persection in so much as hee alone was appoynted of his Fathâ—â— to bee the fulfiller of it They abuse him also in makinge hys death and suffringes to be of none effecte but caste them in the duste as things needelesse for so reasoneth the Apostle to the Galathians If righteousnesse be of the lawe then Christ Gal. 2. 21. dyed without a cause And againe in another place If they which are Rom. 4. 14 of the lawe be heires faith is made voide and the promise of none effecte Here you see then what a grieuous absurditie they fall into that doe séeke iustification in the Lawe which was onely giuen foorth to reueyle vnto vs the perfection and holynesse of God and our owne imperfection and vilenesse that hee alone might be founde true and we lyers hee iuste and wee vniuste and yet contraryâ— to this office which the Lorde hath appoynted it vnto and contrary vnto the Lawe of our owne members which wee sâ—â— to bee rebellious and againste the Lawe of God wyll presume vpon the purenesse and perfection thereof as if the strength of it did rest within the compasse of our filthy bowels and so make our selues equall vnto God a marueylous pride and doth very well declare vnto vs who it is that is Antichrist And thus muche for the first abusers of the Lawe Secondly the other sort which doe 2. Lawe abused by dispaâ—â— abuse it are those that doe dispaire because they see themselues not able to doe the same it hath beene sufficiently declared already that yâ— Law was not giuen foorth to the end that we should doe it but rather to shew what we are not able to doe that thereby we might be driueÌ„ from our selues and from the Lawe also to seeke for helpe elswhere For sure it is that if we do rest in our selues or in any * Righteousnes actiue is to looke to be iustified by doing of good deedes and by the ments of man 2 Cor. 3. 6. 7 Actes 15. 10. actiue righteousnes of the Lawe the ende thereof must needes be desperation for this cause the Lawe without Christ is called in the Scripture A minister of death the killing letter ay â—â—ke that neyther we nor our fathers were euer able to beare and let it be so or let it be that debt of ten thousande talentes which we are neuer able to pay nay and our estate on the other side so poore and needy as we are not able to discharge the least mite thereof as in trueth we are not yet let vs knowe that the same is limited and hath no further anâ— horâ—tie then to humble vs and therefore they which doe let it passe any further vpon them do not rightly vse the Lawe but rather greatly abuse the same to the depriuinge of them selues from all hope of saluation iâ— they returne not in time and come vnto Christ who theÌ„ and at that time doth chiefly and onely call them as it is in the 11 of Matthew Come vnto Mat. 11. â—8 me all ye that are vvearie laden and I vvill ease you take my yoke vpon you and learne of me that I am meeke and lovvlie in hearte and ye shall finde rest vnto your soules for my yoke is easie my burden is light here you see then howe greatly they ouershoote them selues which do charge the Lord with vnpossible things as if he did require such a duety at their hands lay such a heauy intollerable burden vpoÌ„ their nâ—ckes as it is impossible for theÌ„ to beare for this place doth plainely confute them and make theire camllation to be of none effecte which telleth vs that the Lords burdeÌ„ is light his yoke easie and therefore if any mans conscience be so ouerburdened with the sight of his sins that be falleth into desperation let him not thinke that it is the Lorde which hath laid this burden vpon him but rather that he himselfe hath drawne it vpon his owne necke by abusing the Laws through infidelitie because he coÌ„meth not vnto Christ for yâ— end of the Law is faith in Christ and not desperation True it is yâ— euery one seeth â—â—t this and therefore when the stinge of death at any time is awaked vp in theire coÌ„sciences they looking no other way for â—asment but into the actiue righteousnesse of tâ—e Lawe which the more theâ— looke into the further they are froÌ„ helpe and the deeper they plunge theÌ„ selues into sorrow so that in the ende it must needes come to passe yâ— they fall into wonderfull diseases anguishes both of minde and soule as if they were in yâ— present torments of â—el fire Hence it is also yâ— those woful heauy outcryes doe arise I am damned I haue sinned against the holy ghost my sins are so greate yâ— God wil neuer forgiue 〈◊〉 and therfore wish that they had neuer bene borne or yâ— theire liues were câ—t short by some vnlawfull meanes as hanging drowning cutting sticking with theire own hands are ready oft times to execute vpoÌ„ theÌ„ selues But to leaue there which are so far gone standing or fallnig to theire own 〈◊〉 and come vnto those who in theire distresses troubles of minde bodie haue some sparkle of the seede of God in them For sure it is that the deare children of God â—st times are verie far gone this way and brought as it were euen to yâ— lowest pit of fortâ—w where they can hardly perceyue any comfort at alâ—nay rather do shew some tokeÌ„ of reprobatioÌ„ in their anguishes As it may seeme vnto him who is not wel experienced in yâ— afflictions which are common vnto Gods child en 〈◊〉 cause of which great breach yâ— the enemie hath made into them may very well d ee in their owne selues which