holy stubbornenesse of the Cananitish woman who against all aâ—saults of hard temptations shewed an vndaunted mind and continued stiffe in her purpose and after two repulses presseth on the third time for if God doth not grant presently at our first request he doth not despise his suppliants f Augustinus in Psal 65. tractatu 6. 10 primam Iohan. epistolam but whetteth their desires at the last neareth that wished voice woman great is thy faith bee it vnto thee euen as thou wilt Matth. 15. 28. The third that he might try their constancie and as it were clense them with the g Hieronymus super Abacuâ— Prophetam fire of tribulation and make them appeare more pure Thus stood the case with Iob whom neither the driuing away of his flockes nor the losse of wealth in his heardes nor the sudden death of his children by the ruine of a house nor the loathsome and ouerspreading botches wherewith his body was couered could withdraw him from patience and the deuill but to no purpose and all in vaine assaulted him for by none of these calamities was hee alienated from his obedience due vnto God but stood stedfast and immoueable An example and h Tertullianus de Patientia witnesse vnto vs in the spirit and flesh in his soule and body of true patience that neither for the losse of worldly goods nor of our most dearest beloued nor for the troubles and griefes of our owne bodies wee should faint or fall from God For what a pegeant did hee in that man make of the deuill what a trophe did hee erect to his glory by him the enemie of his glory who at all the lamentable messages which were brought neuer vttered word of discontentment but euer answered blessed be the name of the Lord and reproued his wife as a foolish woman wearied with afflictions one rushing in vpon the necke of another and perswading him to vnlawfull meanes for the auoyding and ending of his suffered miseries c. As the fining pot is for siluer and the furnace for gold so the Lord tryeth the hearts Prou. 17. 3. Iam. 5. 11. Fourthly God in the slownesse of bestowing his benefits commendeth them i Augustinus Chrysost hâ—m 67. in cap. 20. Matthaei Afflictiones sunt 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gemistus Pletho 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et de his olimplura scripsi ad Psal 130. for such things as wee haue for a long time desired are most delightsome and pleasant vnto vs when they are obteyned in a moment and for a little season hee may hide his face from vs but in euerlasting mercy will hee haue compassion Esay 54. 8. for hee will surely come and not stay Abacuc 2. 3. the later the more comfortably therefore aske seeke knocke Matth. 7. 7. God keepeth that for thee which he will not giue at thy first demaund that thou mayest learne to be an earnest suiter and so obteine great things at his hand Vse Then let vs not vtterly bee discouraged and growe Vse heartlesse if God doe not presently when we euen with passionate and enforced prayers desire comfort and deliuerance answer and heare our petitions but defer his helpe and seeme to passe by our petitions offered For it is vsuall with the Lord to k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theocritus recompence the slacknesse of his comming with abundance of comfort and he that is resolued to be a deuoted seruant of God must beleeue things to flesh and bloud incredible hope for things delayed and loue God though he shew himselfe an enemie and notwithstanding all these continue constant to the end Let vs therefore commit our waies vnto the Lord and trust in him and hee shall bring it to passe Psal 37. 5. And for ourselues not bee sluggish and drowsie in prayer Luke 18. 1. For God doth many times effect his determined purpose by meanes which seeme contrary So when hee will make supply of the best wine he commandeth that water should be filled Ioh. 2. 7. he first killeth then quickneth carieth downe to hel before he bringeth vp to heauen 1. Sam. 2. 6. Ioseph must be worshipped of his brethren this God had long before so appointed but to preuent it they sell him for a slaue yet the same meanes by which they sought to l Gregor Mag. mâ—ralium in Iobum lib. 6. cap. 12. auoide the decree manifested by a dreame furthered the fulfilling therof and they honoured him whom they hated And this is one of Gods m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Haeliodorus in Aethiopicis wonders to bury his children as it were in the graue of miseries and then to raise them vp from death to life Thus the three children are cast into the fiery furnace extraordinarily heated and Daniel into the Lyons den yet these are deliuered and aduanced to the greatest and most high places Dan. 3. 28. 6. 28. Thus God sheweth himselfe wonderfull in his Saints Psal 4. that is leadeth gouerneth and deliuereth them from dangers by admirable meanes which passe the apprehension of our reason and the deepest reach of our vnderstanding For Gods diuine helpe recouereth forelorne humane hopes and supplying grace n Philo Iudaeus apud Eusebium Historiae Eccles lib. 2. cap. 5. beginneth where heartlesse nature endeth And about the ninth houre Iesus cryed with a loude voyce Eli Eli lammah sabacthani that is my God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Cryed with a loude voice In this clause the qualitie of Christ his complaint is expressed and that it was exceeding vehement vttered with great and earnest enforcement of speech for in the daies of his flesh he did offer vp prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares vnto him who was able to saue him from death Heb. 5. 7. And out of question the Apostle had an especiall respect in these wordes vnto those which Christ in his passion with o Paraus in locum compassion now vttered Christ tooke vpon him in respect of the essence our whole humane nature soule and body and therewithall the blamelesse naturall and vncorrupted affections of both of the soule as naturall p Damascenus Orthodoxae fidei lib. 3. cap. 20. Nicetas in thesauro l. 3. c. 37. Ambrosius de incarnationis Dominicae sacramento cap. 7. Danaeus in Isagoges parte 1. cap. 43. Polanus in Syntagmate Theologico lib. 6. cap. 15. ignorance for he increased in wisdome and stature Luke 2. 52. And thus he knew not that there was q In hac 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 explicanda multum se euercuerunt Patres sed facilis est omnium quaestionum responsio non requisiuisse Christum maturas ficus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nam non erat earum tempus sed prococes siue grossos Aretius in quaestionibus in Euangelium Marci quaest 48. de varietate fructuum ficut arboris Theophrastus de causis plantarum lib. 5. cap. 1.
2. 9. Therefore blessed be the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessinges in him Ephes 1. 3. Vse 4 4. This cherisheth in vs good hope and from hence ariseth a certaine and vndoubted persuasion for the obteining of eternall life for as Christ must suffer and so enter into glory Luk. 24. 26. in like manner we must be saued so many for whom he died he carried our sinnes vpon his body on the tree by whose woundes we are healed 1. Pet. 2. 24. and hath put out the hand writing of ordinances which was against vs and contrary to vs he euen tooke it away and fastened it vnto the crosse and hath spoiled the principalities and powers and made a shew of them openly and tryumphed ouer them in the same crosse Coloss 2. 14. Vse 5 5 Herein is an example propounded vnto vs for imitatition Christ is ledde out of his owne citie to be vniustly executed why should not we then willingly for his sake leaue our houses and children other benefits of this life especially seeing hereafter wee shall receiue a superabundant recompence in heauen Math. 13. 29. And as Christ now ready to enter into his glory left this earthly Citie so let vs willingly forsake this earthly tabernacle and house 2. Corinth 5 1. y Bernardus de Ascensione and that in affection so that we loue not the world in effect that we both in soule and body vtterly renounce it in desiring perfection breathing and endeauouring to bee made one spirit with the Lord and thus followe Christ to the place of his passion and suffering bewayling our selues as he aduiseth the women of Ierusalem and mournefully lamenting the brittle and miserable condition of our estate Luk. 23. 28. When they came to the place which is called Caluary they crucified him They crucified him This kinde of death was alwaies accompted 〈◊〉 base reproachfull and grieuous appointed for a punishment to such men as were of the worst condition and 〈◊〉 Lypsius de Cruce lib. 1. cap. 12. 13. Petrus Faber semesirium lib. 2. cap. 8. desperately wicked Base for seruants and slaues most vsually did vndergoe the same whereof the Crosse carried the name to be called a seruile punishment for the common rascall people of meanest and least reputation such as differed not much from seruantes and bondmen Sometime also it was inflicted vpon free men of no seruile condition but such as were degenerate from their birth dishonesting their stocke by wickednesse and outragious offences as theeues robbers murtherers and such like reproachfull for it is branded with a curse by God himselfe Deut. 21. 23. and therefore was it obiected vnto the Christians by the heathen a Arnobius contra nationes siue gontes lib. 1. to the discredite and infamie of their profession that Christ whom they worshipped for God was nayled to the Crosse that he was a man put to the worst death for his desertes b Miâ—utius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Octanio and the Iewes in reproach call him c Munsterus in annotationibiâ— ad Euangelium 〈◊〉 Matthaeum HeÌ„braite ab ille edituÌ„ quaÌ„ contemptibiles sucre christiani mâ—nifestâ—m est ex Turtul Apolog cap. 16. Sic Christum 〈◊〉 dis 〈…〉 1 per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 voc◠〈…〉 Iulianus Imperator in Epistolis hanged or crucified d Chrysostmus homil 2. epist ad Rom. And hereof it came that if any man of place or qualitie did receiue the Gospell and professe Christ presently in all hast his alliance and kindred and friendes would come and disswade him from his purpose by this onely reason what doest thou worship such an one who was condemned crucisied and died among theeues and suffered so many and so great extremities And out of question from hence proceeded those protestations and speeches of the Apostle confronting as it were the dishonourable and slaunderous reproaches of Christ vsuall in their times As that Rom. 1. 16. I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ and we preach Christ e Decruce quomodo scandaluÌ„ stalitia sapientia sit vidâ— ForsteruÌ„ in Lexico hebraico in radice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et Seâ—uerceuÌ„ in primuÌ„ caput 1. Epist ad Câ—r PhagiuÌ„ in suis annotat ad Paraphrasin Chal. Deut. cap. 21. Iesus crucified a scandall to the Iewes and foolishnes to the Gentiles 1. Corinth 1. 23. 29. And God forbid that I should reioice but in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ Galath 6. 14. As also those attributes of the Crosse so often mentioned how full soeuer of disgrace they seemed vnto the world and the men thereof as when they name it the shame of the Crosse Heb. 12. 2. and the scandall Gal. 5. 11. And concerning the sharpe and grieuous paine of the torment or to vse the wordes of Innocentius f Lib. 1. de contemptu mundi siue de misaria humanae conditionis cap. 26. in quo de innumevabilibus speciebus agritudinis the vnsufferable sufferance thereof out of all question it was most extreame and painefull if either we consider the manner of the punishment g Augustin in Ench. c. 53. 〈◊〉 Misericordiae genus est cito occidere for the persons to bee crucified were most forceably stretched vpon the Crosse and fastned vnto it by nailes pearcing through their handes and feete and then lifted vp on high or the continuance of their suffering for leysurely by little and little and with much lingring amids most horrible and intollerable paine finished their liues 〈◊〉 the end which is the best in any punishment being deferred so that it was not without cause stiled by the h Actione quinta in Verrem Romane Orator the most cruell and hideous punishment and of others most i Drogo de mysterio passionis dreadfull and terrible and by way of extremity the k Paulus receptarum sententi 〈…〉 l. 5. cap. 17. ad 〈◊〉 Caiâ—cius de arbore 〈◊〉 Andreas Libanius de vniuersitate originibus rep lib. 4. ad opus dici tâ—rtij Hexameri Ciuilians tearme it the chiefest or greatest for so Paulus the Lawyer ranketh the principall punishments vsed in his time Crucifying burning beheading and placeth the Crosse in the highest roome as that which excelleth the rest and hence came that vsuall prouerbe that when any would wish the greatest l Plautus 〈◊〉 Pseudolo dignus mala cruce apud Verâ—ium Flaccum in vocabulo masculin euill he could to another it was in this forme abiin malam crucem goe and be hanged m Paulus recep tarum sententiarum lib. 5. cap. 12. And here it may be enquired but religiously and with reuerence what pretence the Iewes had for there was noâ— cause to enforce and vrge Pilate with such earnest vehemency as they did that Christ might be crucified The answere is easie and offereth it selfe at hand They accused him but falsly of sedition and desire to inuade the kingdome
proper attributes the first of her kindred his mothers sister from the state and condition of life the a Filiam potius fuisse put at Caluinus in commentarijs suis ad Iohennis Euangelium wife of leophas The second from the Country or place of birth Mary Magdalen for b Buntingus in Itinerarij sacri tom 2. Magdala ciui tas siue castrum in occidentale littore maris Galilei sita est habetque planitiem magnam quam D. Marcus c 8. Dalmanutham vocat Magdala was a Castle or Citie wherein shee was borne The forme is the vtterance of the words and that twofold To his mother Woman behold thy sonne to the Disciple Behold thy mother The Euent The Disciple tooke her home vnto him which obedient action is amplified from the circumstance of time from that houre Then stood by the Crosse of Iesus his mother All fower Euangelists make mention of these women Math. 27. 55. 56. Marc. 15. 41. Luc. 8. 2. 23. 15. 5. And S. Iohn in this place For the remembrance of the righteous shall be blessed But there seemeth to bee some opposition or contrariety amongst them in the relation of this history for all the other affirme that they stood a farre off Iohn here in manifest termes that they stood neere vnto the Crosse of Iesus This doubt is soone remoued for wee may vnderstand it that c Augustinus de consensu Enangelistarum lib. 3. cap. 21. Daneus in Enangelium Marci quaestione 66. Iansenius in Harmonia cap. 144. they stood in a distance truly said both to bee neere because they were in the sight of Iesus and farre off in respect of the multitude who enuironed him with the Centurion and Souldiers Or wee may conceiue that the women accompanying Christ our Lord after hee had commended his mother to the care of Iohn the Apostle beganne to goe backe out of the throng of the people and so further off beheld the things which afterward were done But this is admirable that Iohn testifieth of these women for when the Disciples fled and made no appearance forsaking their master Peter denied the Priests scorned him the Iewes were all in an vprore his pensiue and carefull mother and the beloued Disciple stood neere to his Crosse with Mary Cleophas and Mary Magdalen women by nature d Euripides in Medea weake and fearefull e Arnoldus Carnotenfis de 7. vltimus Christi verbis Shee which is a thing most grieuous now died and could not die and concealing the inward torment of her griefe shewed outwardly another countenance so that by it could not be knowne the crucifying of her soule and crosse of her spirit in which shee was a liuing sacrifice well pleasing God c. And here mightest thou see two Altars set vp one in the Soule of Mary the other in the body of Christ Christ offered his flesh Mary her spirit so that she seemed not to stand neare the f Bonaventura in stimulo ameris parte 1. cap. 3. Crosse but to be fastned to the Crosse with her sonne And this was that sharpe two edged sword whereof Simeon prophesied that it should pearce through her soule Luc. 2. 35. The weake sex of women sheweth it selfe here more manlike and of better courage then the Apostles What wee are to gather from hence for instruction let vs heare Saint Paul teaching vs Brethren you see your calling how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weake things of the world to confound the mighty and vile things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen and things which are not to bring to nought things that are 1. Cor. 1. 26. 27 c. Lot is laughed to scorne of the vncleane Sodomites and his admonitions derided but he is preserued and hath a place prouided for security then the Lord rayneth vpon them g In praesenti quod suturuÌ„ est Deus voluit declarare iudicium quando super impium populum Gehennam misit è coelo Saluianus de gubernatione siue prouidentia Dei lib. 1. Hell out of Heauen a shower of fire and brimstome for as their sinne was extraordinarie so likewise i Ì„s the punishment Gen. 19. 26. Dauid the least among his brethren young and the keeper of his fathers sheepe is made choise of to be made king annointed with the holy oyle though the other were tall goodly personages for God seeth not as men 1. Sam. 16. 7. Who more contemptible and vile in the eye of the world then Lazarus full of sores extreame poore a beggar pined with hunger cast at the Rich mans dore as a thing abominable and there could not obtaine so much as the crummes from his Table to supply his wants but none more deare beloued of God for being dead hee is carried by the hands of Angels into heauen and placed in Abrahams bosome Luc. 16. 23. And they are tryed with mockings and reproaches tortured vpon the racke and sundry wayes afflicted of whome the world was vnworthy Heb. 11. 36. The h Augustinus in quaestionibus in 〈…〉 s â—ounm Testamentum quest 1. de v rbis Domni serm 59. de Ciuitate Dei lib. 18. cap. 49. lib. 22. cap. 5. Apostles in number few ignorant of all liberall sciences not skilfull in Grammar not armed with Logicall arguments not furnished with Rhetoricall inchanting perswasions but poore rude fishermen sent to cast the nets of saith into the wide sea of the world inclosed in it great fishes learned Philosophers a thing of the most wonder because of the raritie for seldome such are caught Thus Augustine and so i Lib. 1. hist r. Ecclesiasticae c. 18. Zomen maketh mention how in the Councell of Nice an aged Christian simple and vnlearned conuinced brought to the faith a subtile Sophister by the power of the word himselfe confessing it to be so who before deluded and scorned the Bishops and shifted off their arguments when they disputed with him Vse first Fond therefore and vntrue is the position of Cardinall k Lib. de Lcclesia militante 4. cap. 18. nota decima 5. Bellarmine and other Papists who make temporall felicity and worldly glory a note of the Church whereby it may bee knowne and an vnseperable attendant on the faithfull for first the Scripture is manifestly opposite to this their opinion which doth euery where teach that the wicked flourish and spread forth their greene boughes in this life when the godly are withered with sorrowes Iob 21. 7 8. Psal 73. 5. c. And therefore the Prophet desireth that hee might talke with God of his iudgements and bee informed why the way of the wicked doth prosper and why all they are in wealth that rebelliously transgresse c. Ierem. 12. 1. Abacuc 1. v. 3. expostulateth this case with the Lord. And it
vse and that serueth both for instruction and also for comfort that we alwaies cast our selues vpon God and depend on him For it is blasphemous that the Papists haue done k In Psalterio beaâ—ae Mariae corrupting the words of that Psalme from whence this testimonie is alleged turning them thus O Lady in thy hands I commit my spirit vnderstanding the virgin Mary And let vs not doubt what shall become of vs when we are dead as the Heathen who haue no future hope so l Spartianuâ— in Adrianâ— Adrian the Emperour now at the point of death is reported to haue made these verses Animula vagula blandula Hospes comesque corporis Quae nunc abibis in locae Pallidula rigida nudula Nec vt soles dabis iocos which a Renerend * Doct. King now Bishop of London in his 8. Lecture vpon the Prophet Ionas Prelate of this land thus sometime englished My floting fond poore darling Bodies guest and equall Where now must be thy lodging Pale and starke and stript of all And put from wonted sporting But we be taught by the holy Scriptures that there is a kingdome prepared for vs Matth. 25. 34. and immortalitie purchased by Christ 1. Pet. 1. 4. Therefore let euery one make Dionisius prayer his owne Sweet Lord Iesu thy last word vpon the crosse bee my last word in this life and when my speech is taken away that I can vtter no more words accept the sighs and desire of my heart so that I may rest among those who shall come from the East and from the West and sâ—t down with Abraham Isaac Iacob in the kingdom of heauen Mat. 8. 11. Thirdly we must not listen and giue eare to the patrons and Vse 3. defendors of the apparition of Ghosts and spirits which they themselues first misâ—ed doe imagine that they bee the soules of men departed now broyled in Purgatorie or tormented in hell and would perswade others to enterteine the same error But it is without all controuersie that neither the soules of the godly nor wicked after they bee once dissolued from the body doe wander in earth for there is no returne from death Iob 20. 9. the spirit passeth and commeth not againe Psal 78. 39. and in what place the tree falleth in the same it lyeth Eccles 11. 3. So Dauid answereth the demand of his seruants asking why he mourned not for his young sonne being now dead when hee was before so sorrowfull Can I bring him againe any more I shall goe to him but he shall not returne to me 2. Sam. 12. 23. These visions then and apparitions are nothing else but the deceits and illusions of Sathan m Augustinus de Ciuit. Dei lib. 13. cap. 8. For the soules of the godly are at rest the soules of the wicked in torment vntill the bodies of the one shall rise againe vnto eternall life and of the other vnto euerlasting death Neither of n Tertullianus de Anima their owne accord nor by the commandement of any else doe they wander vp and down but euill spirits practise this craft to faine that they are the soules of the departed and if a o Chrysost in 8. Math. hom 29. serm 4. de Lazaro cry bee heard I am the soule of such an one this Proceedeth from the fraud and treacherie of the deuill For God doth not permit that any one once dead should come again and tell the liuing what things are there done and to this end that we should rather beleeue the Scriptures then any other reports And indeed from hence p Athanasius quaestionibus ad Antiochâ—nos quaest 11. ariseth many grosse errors for the deuils can take vpon them the shape of men and by this meanes spred abroad their lyes Therefore the voices which some say they do hear are nothing els but old wiues fables childish mockeries no smal number wherof haue been deuised by the crafty iugling and q Insigne exemplum de Monachis Aurelianeâ—sibus recitaâ— Sâ—â—idâ—nus lib. 9. 〈◊〉 annum 34. Et alterum Chitraeus de Parocho quodâ—m lib. de vita morte hanc flultitiaÌ„ nimâ—am hominum credulitatem salsè derideâ— Erasmus in Exorcismo siue Spectro similes olim in Pagâ—nis saâ—erdotilus fraudes deprehensas fuisse patefactas refert Theodoretus lib. 5. historiâ— cap. 22. S 〈…〉 plura desideret consulat Aretium problematuÌ„ part 2. loc 146. Titulo de spectras â—auaterum de spectris lemuribus c. cosening impostures of Baals Priests whereof both the records of our owne times and the histories of former ages will afford plentifull examples I conclude therefore with that religious and discreet admonition of Saint Augustine r De vnitate Ecclesiae cap. 16 Let no man say that therefore it is true because hee or shee affirmeth that sleeping or waking they haue seene such and such a vision but remoue farre out of your minds these either forgeries of deceitfull men or wonders of lying spirits Father into thy hands I commit my spirit I commend my spirit that is my soule for the word spirit is oftentimes in Scripture vsed in this sense as Eccles 12. 7. 1. Corinth 2. 11. Heb. 12. 23. and doth aptly expresse the nature thereof that it is spirituall and therefore immortall The soule is not subiect to death neither doth it perish with the s Tertul. de resurrectione carnis Irenaeus lib. 2. cap. 63. 64. 65. Cyprianus de duplici Martyrio Ambrosius de fide resurrectionis cap. 31. 32. Fulgentius ad Mominium lib. 1. Barnardus in 8. versuÌ„ Psal 91. body wherefore they are manifestly distinguished Gen. 2. 7. where Moses thus speaketh The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrels the breath of life and man became a liuing soule In which sentence there bee included three arguments confirming this truth the first the soule is not made of the earth but inspired of God the second that it is called an t Pelargus in locum Phagius in suis ad Paraphrasin Chaldaicam notis Imbreathing a diuine and heauenly thing the third and last in the word of the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 duall number signifying not life but liues long life this present now and the future hereafter Againe when Cain had murthered Abel his bloud is saide to cry vnto God Gen. 4. 10. and the word there vsed in the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Originall is as much as to complaine for exceeding u Martyrium Abelis ad omnia mundi tempora pertinet nostras mentes de animae immortalitate futuro iudicio poenis de vita aeterna conuincit Buchalcherus in Chronologia griefe where there is no mention of the body but the bloud the receptacle of the soule if therefore it doth make complaint then liueth with God and accuseth his vnnaturall brother And so the soules of them that were killed for the
word of God * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and for the testimony which they maintained are said to crie with a loude voyce vnder the Altar for vengeance Reuel 6. 9. 10. Furthermore it is an vsuall phrase in Scripture concerning the dead that they are gathered to their people as of Abraham Gen. 25. 8. and Aaron Numb 20. 24. therefore that people is and liueth for this cannot truely bee affirmed of the bodies laid and rotten in the graues because they bee no people but carkases and so come not to the company and societie of the Saints And for this cause the Iewes call the place of buriall the house of the liuing x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore the soules of the faithfull departed doe liue eternally in the sight of God And that testimony of our Sauiour Christ is most pregnant whereby he doth strengthen and comfort his Disciples against the terror and cruelty of persecutors in this sort Feare yee not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soule Math. 10. 28. And beside all this the dead are often in Scripture stiled y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inter mortem somnum ista est 1. Somnus obrepit nescientbus sic mors 2. Somnus quieteÌ„ praestat laboribus mors curis miserijs omnibus 3. Somnus non animaÌ„ sed corpus occupat Mors non animam sedâ— corpus occidit 4. Somnus alijs laeta alijs tristiae offert somnia Mors alijs solatia alijs tormenta 5. Somnus habet â—esurgendiâ—spem mors resuscuandi 6. Somnus recreator est corporum vt TertuluÌ„anus de anima redintegrator virium probator valetudinis pacator operum medicus laborum ita morsrenouat recreat reparat hominem 7. Somnus facile cedit inclamanti mors Christo excitanti Et apud virtusâ— lioguae authores Grecae Latinae Mors somnas appellatur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nam sic Lycophron in Cassandra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orpheus in Argonauticis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Eumenisi Aesehili mortui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicuntur Callimachus Epigramate 14. 21. Moschus Iudillio 3. Virgilius 10. Aeneid Dura quies ferreus somnus Horatius Carminum lib. 1. 24. Perpetuus sopor sleeping as 2. Sam. 7. 12. 2. Chron. 9. 31. Dan. 12. 2. 1. Corinth 15. ver 18. Iairus daughter Math. 9. 24. of whom it is remarkeable that Saint Luke saith cap. 8. 55. how when Christ raysed her to life her spirite came againe therefore it was not extinguished with the body And Paul desired to be dissolued and to be with Christ Phil. 1. 22. Lastly to conclude our Lord and Sauiour thus reasoneth against the Saduces who denied the resurrection from the dead and the immortality of the soule Math. 22. 32. Those whose God the Lord is by an euerlasting couenant they must also liue euerlastingly for he is not the z Zanchius de operibus creationis Parte 3. lib. 2. cap. 8. Hemingius in Syntagmate loco De statu animae post mortem corporis God of the dead but of the liuing And the reason is for no eternall couenant is made or kept but with those who liue also eternally because if one part of the confederators vtterly perish then the league made cannot be perpetuall but ceaseth For how can it performe that which it hath promised or how can God make his promise good vnto it except he preserue it aliue But God is the God of Abraham Isaacke and Iacob and therefore they liue And so much hitherto of this for it were needles to heape vp many arguments and proofes for confirmation of that whereof no a Est integer liber Augustini de immortalita te animae Aeneae Dialogus de eadem Nicetas in Thesauro lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 16. Christian doubteth much lesse fitting to adde the reasons of Philosphers b Si cui animus sit Philosophorum rationes cognoscere quibus animae immortalitatem confirmant consulant Platonem l. 10. de Repub. l. 10. delegibus â—eiusdem etiam Pheâ—onem Axiochum Apologiam Socratis Ciceronem Quaestionum Tusculan lib. 1. Xenophongem Institutionis Cyri lib. 8. Macrobium Cardani etiam de hac materia Integrum tractatum Marsilium Ficinum Antonij Poli libros septem de veritate animae rationalis ad Gregorium 13. Bodinum in Theatro Naturae among which it cannot bee denied but that some are demonstratiue yet many thorney and hard to bee vnderstood and scarce intelligible euen to those who are most conuersant in their writings Therfore to end with the words of Nemesius c Lib. de natura homini cap. 2. Let the doctrine of the holy Scriptures suffice content vs whose proofe is infalliable because inspired of God This may be a powerfull motiue to stirre vs vp to the practise of holinesse and abstinence from sinne and all vncleannesse knowing that after this life the soule shall returne and be reunited to the body raysed from death and so eyther enioy eternall happinesse or bee tormented with endlesse punishment for there is a double sentence Goe yee cursed into euerlasting fire appointed for the diuell and his angels or Come ye blessed and possesse the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world Math. 25. 34. 41. and they shall come forth that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life and they that haue done euill into the resurrection of condemnation Iohn 5. 29. for the vnrighteous shall not inherite the Kingdome of heauen 1. Corinth 6. 9 neyther any vncleane thing enter into the new Ierusalem Reuel 21. 27. And indeed this is the onely or chiefe reason why men runne headlong into all kind of wickednesse and defile themselues with most vile and base vncleannesse because this opinion is deeply setled in their hearts that the soule and the body doe perish together Wisdome 2. v. 3. 4. And by this you may easily iudge what spirit it is by which the Bishops of Rome are led For it is reported of d Grinaeus Leo the tenth that he procured two famous Philosophers to dispute before him the subiect matter of whose discourse was touching the state of the soule after death the one reasoning so strongly as he could for the immortalitie thereof the other against it and the determination being referred to himselfe as the chiefe moderator tooke vp the controuersie with this conclusion that the speech of the former seemed to bee true but the latter better pleasing and made a more cheerefull countenance adding that the old verse of * Redit in nihilum quod fuit ante nihil Cornelius Gallus liked him wel That which sometime nothing was nothing becomes again But wee must hold this for an vnquestionable and vndoubted truth that God is iust rewardeth the righteous and punisheth the wicked For many of them that sleepe in the dust soall awake some to euerlasting life and some to shame and perpetuall contempt Dan. 12. 2. And hauing
is but a nest of of straw and clay soone shaken a peeces many haue seene a faire bright morning who neuer beheld the euening as the Sodomites Gen. 19. 24. vpon many the Sunne hath sett in the euening to whom it neuer appeared rising in the morning So was it to the rich glutton in the Gospell Luc. 12. 20. And for this cause let vs liue soberly iustly and godly in this * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now present world Titus 2. 12. For now is the acceptable time now is the day of saluation 2. Cor. 6. 2. heere life is either lost or kept and what shall it profit a man to get the whole world and loose his soule Matth. 16. 26. And therefore let vs worke forth our saluation with feare and trembling Philip. 2. 12. and bee carefull least at any time our hearts be ouerladen with surfetting and drunkennesse and the cares of this life c. Luc. 21. 34. And so I close vp this point with the holy prayer of the Apostle The God of peace sanctifie vs throughout that our spirits and soule and body may be kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus 1. Thessal 5. 23. But Iesus said Father forgiue them they know not what they doe Hitherto hath been opened some antecedent circumstances of this prayer now followeth the prayer it selfe which Christ made vpon the Crosse In which as in the rest nothing is of little respect nothing to be neglected Among s Pelargus in 7. Christi verba men it is vsuall that wee obserue carefully the last wordes of our friends especially such as are vttered vpon their death beds and esteeme them either as t Plato in Apologia Socratis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prophesies of future euents or as testimonies of their nature and faith for that one day of our departure from hence doth as it were giue sentence of the qualitie of all the daies before past Therefore some called the testaments and last wills of men the looking glasses of their conditions Much more are those words of Christ remarkeable and worthy deepe consideration vttered then when he was ready to vndergoe and suffer a shamefull death for the reconciliation of our sinnes and are as the swanlike song before his funeralls and that not onely an euident witnesse of his innocencie patience and other vertues and certeine infallible proofes of his tender loue toward his Church and wholesome instructions how we may die well and happily but also the perfection of all those actions which are propounded vnto vs for imitation The Holy Ghost hath vouchsafed to record in Scripture the last speeches of the Saints as of Iacob Gen. 49. 1. 2. c. Moses Deut. 31. 32. Ioshua 24. Dauid 2. Sam. 22. 23. Zachary the sonne of Iehoiada 2. Chron. 24. 22. Stephen Act. 7. 6. In all which though there be something worthy especiall note yet aboue all these passing speeches of Iesus Christ our Sauiour Apostle and high-priest of our profession Heb. 3. 1. are deepely to bee engrauen in our hearts To come then to the doctrine and instruction of this place nothing is heere done without the will of God for it is expresly said of the Apostles in their prayer after they were cast out of the Temple and sent away with sharpe threatning by Annas Caiphas the Elders Scribes and others of the kindred of the High Priest that whatsoeuer he suffered was before determined by the counsell of God to be done Act. 4. 28. Therefore in his great extremities and agony in the garden Math. 26. 39. where he swet bloud and the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 clodded droppes trickled vpon the earth Luk 22. 44. an example singular and without Parallel hee acknowledge God for his louing Father When wee wrastle and struggle with most grieuous calamities and bee compassed about with greatest sorrowes yet euen then wee must vndoubtedly perswade ourselues that God standeth no lesse kindly and gratiously affected toward vs then if we did enioy the greatest worldly ease and pleasure that could be and were free from all trouble and griefe whatsoeuer for whom he loueth he doth chastise Prou. 3. 16. And the greatnes of his loue appeareth thus for we are now corrected that hereafter wee might not bee condemned 1. Corinth 11. 32. and feele the Rodde of a father to amendement not the sword of a Iudge for punishment And therfore the Apostle enformeth vs after this fort my Sonne despise not the chastening of the Lord neither faint when thou art rebuked of him for he scourgeth euery sonne whom he doth acknowledge if you bee without chastisement whereof all are partakers then are you bastards and not children Moreouer we had the fathers of our bodies which corrected vs and wee gaue them reuerence should we not much rather be in subiection vnto the father of spirits that we might liue for they verily for a few dayes chastised vs for their own pleasure but he correcteth vs for our benefite that we might be partaker of his holinesse Heb. 12. 5. 6. 7 c. And hereby is brought to passe that many eminent vertues doe spring vp and flourish in vs as Faith 1. Pet. 1. 5. 6. Prayer Esay 26. 16. Patience Iob 1. 21. Humility 2. Chron. 32. 26. Obedience 2. Sam. 15 25. 26. And Dauid else where doth freely and from his heart acknowledge that before he was afflicted he went astray and therefore good that he was troubled Psalm 119 67. 71. For as the stars shine brightest in the darkest night and sweet spices when they are bruised smell most pleasantly so true Christian profession is most apparant vnder the Crosse Therefore wee glory in tribulation saith the Apostle Rom. 5. 3. For God striketh not with a purpose to wound but heale and hee is not more acceptable amiable pleasant and familiar then after he hath made triall of vs by some meanes or other and the sunne of his fauour and loue doth not at any time shine out more clearely then after a showrie darke and tempestuous day But of this point more hereafter Let vs not then grow out of heart though we doe vndergo many calamities and suppose that Gods fauour is lesse towards vs when we be hardly handled vnder them For u 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clemens Alexand. nearest to God fullest of sorrowes A Christian is a x Christianus Crucianus Lutherus Crosse bearer and as one y Seneca de prouidentia ca. 3. 4. no Christian spake in this respect not vnchristianly fathers and mothers do not in one and the same manner shew themselues louing and indulgent to their children c. and God beareth a fatherly mind and affection towards good men and putteth them to labour sorrow losses that so they may gather some strength and betryed and hardned fitted for himselfe and this is no cruelty but a conflict Righteous Abel dedicateth the Church in bloud Gen. 4. 8. Great Elias is weary of his life and
cap. 11. est insignis locus apud Anselmum in libro de miseria hominis sed quuÌ„ longior esset quamuis lectu digrâ—ssimus eum de industria transâ—ribere oâ—isi I exercise my selfe in the workes of vertue yet doe I not recouer life by merit but by pardon grace can haue no entrance there where desert before hath taken vp the roome To end let the publishers of desert who despise the oracles of sacred Scripture and decline the iudgement of diuine truth make their appearance before the Tribunal of the Sorban and giue eare vnto a Ethicorum ad NichomachuÌ„ lib. 8. cap. 14. Aristotle who saith that wee can neuer requite the benefits receiued from God and our Parents which one sentence doth vtterly ouerthrow the sandie foundation whereupon the merit of condignitie is builded and shew that there is sounder heads in the Philosophers schooles than in the Popish Church It were to be wished that b De Iustificatione l. 5. cap. 7. Bellarmine who will neither heare the Scripture nor Aristotle would heare himselfe speake where he thus concludeth that in respect of our owne righteousnesse or rather certeinty of our vnrighteousnesse and danger of vaine-glory it is the safest course to repose our whole confidence in the onely mercy and goodnesse of God Which one speech of his is the very sponge which wipeth out with one blot the whole Aiax of this Sophister c Tilenus Syntagmatu Theologici parte 2. cap. 48. de meriritâ— operum painted out and described in those his fiue bookes written of Iustification Woman behold thy Sonne The circumstance of time when Christ vttered these words is very remarkable For if we consult with humane reason it may seeme that all this which he now doth should haue beene disposed of and perfected long before especially considering that hee was not onely man but God also and therefore knew the time of his passion which also hee foretold vnto his Disciples Math. 26. 21. Marc. 8. 31. Luc. 9. 22. But there is in this his deed some thing which wee ought both to know and follow for euery action of Christ in Moralls is our instruction Therefore that now and not before he doth manifest his care for the fafety protection of his mother when he was ready to fulfill the decree of God for the reconciliation of Mankind to bee made by his death and not long after gaue vp the Ghost great consent is there and agreement between the precepts of the first and second Table yet to be placed in their seuerall order that so the duties towards God must haue the precedencie and that follow which belongeth vnto man as issuing and flowing from the other * Rollecus in locum Euang. Those things which God commandeth are carefully and in the first place to be performed Therefore so soone as Abraham receiued the charge to sacrifice his sonne which was reuealed vnto him in the night very earely in the morning hee ariseth and fitteth himselfe to the worke enioyned Gen. 22. 3. Christ will not haue that disciple whom he calleth to goe home and celebrate his Fathers funeralls but presently follow him Math. 8. 21. And when he sendeth out his Apostles to preach the Gospell they must make haste and salute no man by the way Luc. 10. 4. not thereby forbidding the common offices of ciuilitie but the hinderance of their calling wherfore not vnfitly doth one of the ancient e Iohannes Climachus gradu 4. de obedientia Diuines call obedience the graue of our will the denyall of our minde shewed by the body and in respect hereof maketh euery Christian a holy souldier whose compleat armour is the shield of faith beating downe all thoughts of disloyaltie the sword of the spirit whereby all aduerse suggestions are killed the brest-plate of mildnesse and patience by which we receiue contumelies the stinges and darts of reprochfull speeches the helmet of saluation which is prayer a spirituall safegard furthermore he must not be foot-bound but haue one ready for euery seruice wherein he shall be employed the other standing stedfast and immoueable in earnest prayer and humble supplications and we are therefore bound to follow God commanding and to obey his will because we are his seruants Thus Dauid acknowledgeth that he would doe his good will for hee had prepared or pierced his care Psal 40 6. which forme of speech is taken from those solemne ceremonies vsed among the Iewes when one sold and gaue himselfe into the seruice of another which what they were vnder Moses we may read Exod. 21. 5. when a seruant louing his Master and will not goe out free he is brought to the Iudges and set to the doore or post and his Master shall bore his eare through with an awle and then he shall serue him for euer that is the * Theodoretus in exod quaestione 45. Paulus Phagius in suis annotationibus ad Chaldeum Paraphrasstem yeere of Iubily the boared eare signifying his attention to listen to that which is commanded and the standing at the doore where this is done that he should not go forth without the leaue and permission of his master For the vse of this doctrine the religious soule must obserue two things first the motiues inducing to this duety secondly the signes or tokens manifesting the same For the Motiues they be diuers 1 Let vs set before our eyes Christ Iesus our Lord who was obedient to the father vnto the death euen of the Crosse Philip. 2. 7. and in his Agony prayed with a submission Father if it be possible let this cup passe from mee but if I must drinke thereof thy will bee done Mat. 26. 39. 42. 2. Wee must behold the examples of the Saints as of Dauid 2. Sam. 16. 26. For when hee was persecuted and driuen out of his kingdome by his owne sonne he thus resigneth himselfe ouer vnto God willing the Priests that bare the Arke before him to carry it againe into the City not doubting but if he found fauour in the eyes of the Lord he would bring him to see it and the Tabernacle hereof but if he haue no delight in him then he should doe as to himseemeth good c. 3. Let vs but looke vpon the Creatures for they are obedient the Angels doe his will Psal 103. 21. the sea stayeth his waues and passeth not the appointed bounds Iob. 38. 11. God speaketh to the Whale and hee casteth out the runnagate Prophet vpon the land Ionas 2 11. and Psal 105. 34. in the plagues of Egypt the Lord spake and there came Locusts and darknesse and tempest c. all at the day appointed yea oftentimes they obey contrary to their nature the Moone waiteth standing still Ioshua 10. 13. and the Sunne goeth backe 2. Chron. 32. 31. 4. Heare the blessings promised from mount Gerasimsim Deut. 28. 1. 2. for in keeping the commandements there is great reward Psal 19. 11. and listen to the curses