of the Gospel amongst vs for the death of thy sonne al that happinesse which we haue thereby also because thou hast chosen vs to life before we were and that of thy meere goodnes vndeserued fauor towards vs hast called vs in thine appointed time iustified vs by thy grace sanctified vs by thy spirit adopted vs to be thine own childrē heirs apparant to the great crown O Lord open our eies euery day more more to see and consider of thy great marueilous loue to vs in all these things that by the due consideration therof our harts may be drawne yet neerer vnto thee euen more to loue thee feare thee obey thee that as thou art enlarged towards vs in mercy so we may be enlarged towards thee in thanksgiuing as thou doest abound towards vs in goodnes so we may aboūd towards thee in obedience loue And sith deere father thou art neuer weary of doing vs good notwithstanding all our vnworthines naughtines therefore let the consideration of thy great mercy fatherly kindnesse towards vs euen as it were force our hearts and compell vs to come into thy most glorious presence with new songs of thankesgiuing in our mouths We pray thee O most mercifull God to forgiue vs all our vnthankfulnes vnkindnes prophannes great abusing of all thy mercies specially our abuse contempt of thy Gospel together with al other the sins of our life which we confesse are innumerable mo then can be reckoned vp both in omission of good things commission of euill We most humbly intreat thee to set thē all ouer to the reckning which thy son Christ hath made vp for them vpō his crosse neuer to lay any of them to our charge but freely forget all forgiue all Naile downe all our sins iniquities to the Crosse of Christ bury them in his death bathe them in his blood hide them in his wounds let them neuer rise vp in iudgement against vs. Set vs free of the miseries that are vpō vs for sin keep back the iudgements to come both of soule body goods and good name Be reconciled vnto vs in thy deere son concerning all matters past not once remembring or repeating vnto vs our old abhominable iniquities but accept vs as righteous in him imputing his righteosnes to vs our sins to him Let his righteousnes satisfie thy iustice for all our vnrighteousnes his obedience for our disobedience his perfection for our imperfection Moreouer we humbly beseech thy good maiesty to giue vs the true sight feling of our manifold sins that we may not be blinded in them through delight or hardned in them through custom as the reprobates are but that we may be euen weary of them much grieued for them labouring and striuing by al possible means to get out of them Good Father touch our harts with true repentance for all sin Let vs not take any delight or pleasure in any sin but howsoeuer we fal throgh frailty as we fall often yet let vs neuer fall finally let vs neuer lie downe in sin nor continue in sin but let vs get vpon our feete againe turne to thee with all our hearts seeke thee whilest thou maiest be found whilest thou doest offer grace and mercy vnto vs. O Lord encrease in vs that true and liuely faith whereby we may lay sure hold on thy sonne Christ rest vpon his merits altogether Giue vs faith assuredly to belieue all the great and precious promises made in the Gospell and strengthen vs from aboue to walke and abound in all the true sound fruits of faith Let vs walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Let vs feele the power of thy sons death killing sinne in our mortall bodies and the power of his resurrection raising vs vp to newnesse of life Let vs grow daily in the sanctification of the spirit and the mortification of the flesh Let vs liue holily iustly and soberly in this present euill world shewing foorth the vertues of thee in all our particular actions that we may adorne our most holy profession and shine as lights in the middest of a crooked and froward generation amongst whom we liue being gaineful to all by our liues conuersations offensiue to none To this end we pray thee fill vs with thy spirit and all spirituall graces as loue wisedome patience contentment meekenesse humility temperancy chastity kindnesse and affability and stirre vs vp to vse praier and watchfulnesse reading meditation in thy law and all other good meanes whereby wee may grow and abound in all heauenly vertues Blesse vs in the vse of the meanes from day to day make vs such as thou wouldest haue vs to be and such as we desire to be working in vs both will and deede purpose and power For thou O Lord art all in all thou wilt haue mercy vpon whom thou wilt haue mercy and whom thou wilt thou hardenest Haue mercy vpon vs therefore deere Father and neuer leaue vs to our selues nor to our owne wils lusts and desires but assist vs with thy good spirit that we may continue to the end in a righteous course that so at length we may be receiued into glorie and be partakers of that immortall crowne which thou hast laid vp for all that loue thee and truely call vpon thee Further we entreat thee O heauenly father to giue vs all things necessary for this life as foode raiment health peace liberty and such freedome from those manifold miseries which we lie open vnto euery day as thou seest meete Blesse vnto vs all the meanes which thou hast put into our hands for the sustenance of this fraile life Blesse our stocke and store corne and cattell trades occupations and all the works of our hands for thy blessing only maketh rich and it bringeth no sorrows with it Giue vs therfore such a competency and sufficiency of these outward blessings as thou in thy heauenly wisdome seest most needfull for vs. Moreouer we humbly beseech thee most louing Father in great mercy to looke downe from heauen vpon thy whole Church and euery member of it Be fauourable vnto Sion and build vp the wals of Ierusalem Behold with the eye of pity the great ruines and desolations of thy Church Heale vp the wounds make vp the breaches thereof in all Nations Regard it as thine owne flocke tender it as thine owne family dresse it as thine owne vineyard loue it as thine owne spouse Think thoughts of peace to it alwaies look vpon it in deepe compassion Blesse it with thy grace guide it with thy spirit defend it alwaies with thy mighty power scatter the deuises confound the counsels ouerthrow the forces of all that fight against it Specially we intreate thee deare Father to set thy self against that antichrist of Rome that man of perdition which setteth himselfe against thee and against all thy
against vs as most damnable transgressors of all thy holy commandements yea such as are sunke in our rebellions and haue many times often committed high treason against thy maiesty therefore thou maist iustly cast vs all downe into hell fire there to be tormented with Sathan and his Angels for euer And we haue nothing to except against thy maiesty for so doing sith therein thou shouldest deale with vs but according to equity and our iust deserts Wherfore déere Father we do appeale from thy iustice to thy mercy most humbly intreating thée to haue mercy vpon vs and freely to forgiue vs all our sinnes past whatsoeuer both new and old secret and open knowen and unknowen and thatfor Jesus Christs sake our only mediator And we pray thée touch our hearts with true griefe vnfained repentance for them that they may be a matter of continuall sorrow hart-smart vnto vs so as nothing may grieue vs more then this that wée haue offended thée béeing our speciall friend and Father Giue vs therefore deare Father euery day more and more sight féeling of our sinnes with true humiliation vnder the same Giue vs also that true and liuely faith whereby we may lay sure hold on thy Sonne Christ and all his merits applying the same to our owne soules so as we may stand fully perswaded that whatsoeuer he hath don vpon the crosse he hath done for vs particularly as well as for others Giue vs faith good Father constantly to beléeue all the swéete promises of the Gospell touching remission of sin and eternall life made in thy son Christ O Lord increase our faith that we may altogether rest vpon thy promises which are all yea and Amen Yea that we may settle our selues and all that we haue wholly vpon them both our souls bodies goods name wiues children and our whole estate knowing that all things depend vpon thy promises power and prouidence that thy word doth support and beare vp the whole order of nature Moreouer we intreate thée O Lord to strengthen vs from aboue to walke in euery good way to bring foorth the fruits of true faith in all our particular actions studying to please thée in all things and to be fruitfull in good works that we may shew forth vnto all men by our good conuersation whose children we are and that we may adorne and beautifie our most holy profession by walking in a Christian course and in all the sound fruits practise of godlinesse and true religion To this end we pray thée sanctifie our hearts by thy spirit yet more and more sanctifie our soules and bodies and all our corrupt naturall faculties as reason vnderstanding will and affections so as they may be fitted for thy worship and seruice taking a delight and pleasure therein Stirre vs vp to vse praier watchfulnesse reading and meditation in thy law all other good meanes whereby we may profit in grace goodnes from day to day Blesse vs in the vse of the meanes that we may daily die to sin and liue to righteousnes draw vs yet néerer vnto thée helpe vs against our manifold wants Amend our great imperfections renue vs inwardly more and more repaire the ruines of our hearts aide vs against the remnants of sinne Enlarge our harts to run the way of thy Commandements direct all our steps in thy word let none iniquity haue dominion ouer vs. Assist vs against our speciall infirmities master sins that we may get the victory ouer them all to thy glory and the great peace comfort of our owne consciences Strengthen vs good father by thy grace and holy spirit against the common corruptions of the world as pride whoredome couetousnes contempt of thy Gospel swearing lying dissembling and deceiuing O déere father let vs not be ouercome of these filthy vices nor any other sinfull pleasures and fond delights wherewith thousands are carried headlong to destruction Arm our soules against all the temptations of this world the flesh the diuell that we may ouercome them all through thy helpe kéepe on the right way to life that we may liue in thy feare die in thy fauor that our last daies may be our best daies that we may end in great peace of conscience Furthermore déere father we intreat thée not onely for our selues but for all our good brethren thy déere childreÌ„ scattred ouer the face of the whole earth most humbly beséeching thée to blesse them all to chéere them vp glad them with the ioy of thy countenance both now and alwaies Guide them all in thy feare and kéepe them from euill that they may praise thy name In these dangerous daies and declining times we pray thée O Lord raise vp nursing fathers and nursing mothers vnto thy Church Raise vp also faithfull Pastors that thy cause may be caried forward truth may preuaile Religion may prosper thy name onely may be set vp in the earth thy Sonnes kingdome aduanced and thy will accomplished Set thy selfe against all aduersary power especially that of Rome Antichrist Idolatry and Atheisme curse and crosse all their counsels frustrate their deuises scatter their forces ouerthrow their armies When they are most wise let them be most foolish when they are most strong let them be most weake Let them know that there is no wisedome nor counsell power nor policy against thée the Lord of hostes Let them know that Israel hath a God and that thou which art called Iehouah art the onely ruler ouer all the world Arise therefore O most mighty God and maintaine thine owne cause against all thine enemies smite through all their loines and bow downe their backs yea let them all be confounded and turned backward that beare ill will vnto Sion Let the patient abiding of the righteous be ioy and let the wicked be disappointed of their hope But of all fauour we intreat thée O Lord to shew speciall mercy to thy Church in this Land wherein we liue Continue thy Gospell amongst vs yet with greater successe purge thy house daily more and more take away all things that offend Let this Nation still be a place where thy name may be called vpon an harbour for thy saints Shew mercy to our posterity deare Father and haue â—are of them that thy Gospell may be left vnto them as a most holy inheritance Defend vs against forraine inuasion kéepe out idolatry and Popery from amongst vs. Turne from vs those plagues which our sinnes crie for For the sins of this Land are excéeding great horrible and outragious and giue thée iust cause to make vs spectacles of thy vengeance to all Nations that by how much the more thou hast lifted vs vp in great mercy long peace by so much the more thou shouldest presse vs downe in great wrath and long war Therefore deare father we most humbly intreate thée for thy great names sake for thy infinite mercies sake that thou wouldest be reconciled to this
pull them out of the pawes of this roaring Lion which goeth about continually seeking whom hee may deuour Theol. It standeth vs vpon indéed very seriously and carefully to looke to it as wée will answer it at the dreadfull day of iudgement For it is no small matter that we haue taken in hand which is to care for the flocke which Christ hath bought with his bloud Would to God therefore that wée would leaue striuing about other matters and striue together all about this who can pull most out of the kingdome of Sathan sinne and ignorance who can winne most soules and who can performe best seruice to the church This were a good strife indéede and would to God that we might once at last with ioined forces goe about it with one heart and hand ioine together to build vp Gods house If through our owne follies the worke hath béen hindred or any breach made let vs in wisedome and loue labor to make it vp againe If there hath béene any declining and coldnesse let vs now at last reuiue let vs stirre vp our selues that we may stirre vp others Let vs be zealous and feruent in spirit that wée may through Gods grace put life into others and rowse vp this dead declining cold age wherein we liue So shall God be glorified his church edified his Saints comforted his people saued his throne erected and the kingdome of the Diuell ouerthrowne Phila. What thinke you were the best course to effect this which you speake of Theol. This is a thing that must bée excéedingly laboured in of vs which are the Ministers and Preachers of the Gospell And héere is required diligence and as we say double diligence for the people are euery where very ignorant Some are stones altogether vncapable of instruction others are froward and wilfull Some will receiue the doctrine but not the practise some againe are altogether set vpon péeuishnesse and cauilling So that a man were better take vpon him the charge of kéeping Wolues and Beares then the charge of souls For it is the hardest thing in the world to reforme mens disorders and to bring them into order to pull mens soules out of the kingdome of Sathan and to bring them to God It is as we say an endlesse péece of worke an infinite toyle a labour of all labours I quake to thinke of it For men are so obstinate and irrefragable that they wil be brought into no order they wil come vnder no yoake They will not be ruled by God nor bridled by his word They wil follow their owne swinge They will run after their owne lusts and pleasures They will kicke and spurne if they be reprooued They will rage and storme if you goe about to curbe them and restraine them of their wils likings and liberties They wil haue their wils and follow their old fashions say what you will and doe what you can Is it not thinke you a busie péece of worke to smooth and square such Timber-logs so full of knots and knobs Is it not a tedious and irkesome thing to thinke vpon And would it not kill a mans heart to goe about it For how hard a thing is it to bring such into frame as are so farre out of frame Phila. Well sir you can but doe your endeuour and commit the successe to God You can but plant and water let God giue the encrease You are Ministers of the letter but not of the spirit You baptise with water but not with the holy Ghost If you therefore preach diligently exhort admonish and reprooue publikely and priuately studying by all good example of life and seeking with all good zeale care and conscience to do the vttermost that in you lieth to reduce them from their euill waies I take it you are discharged though they remaine stubborne and incorrigible For you know what the Lord saith by his Prophet If you doe admonish them and giue them warning then you shall bee discharged and their blood shall bee required at their owne hands Theol. You haue spoken the truth And therfore sith some must needs take vpon them this so great a charge it will bée our best course to labour much with them in Catechising and priuate instructions and that in most familiar and plaine manner For much good hath béene done and is done this way The ignorant sort must be much labored vpon this way and so no doubt much good may be done For in all labour there is profit Héerein we that are the Ministers of Christ must be content to bée abased and to teach the poore ignorant people in most plaine maner asking them many easie questions often questioning with them in most plaine and louing maner till we haue brought them to some taste and smacke of the principles of Christian Religion We must not be ashamed to vse repetitions and tautologies and to tell them one thing twenty times ouer and ouer againe héere a line and there a line héere a little and there a little precept vpon precept as the Prophet speaketh I know riht well nothing goeth more against the stomacke of a scholar and him that is learned indéede then to doe thus It is as irkesome and tedious as to teach A. B. C. Some can at no hand endure it But truely truely I finde now after long experience that if we will doe any good to these simple and ignorant soules we must enter into this course and wée may not be ashamed of it For it will be our crowne and our glory to winne soules howsoeuer wée be abased Let vs therefore be well content to stoupe downe that Christ may be exalted Let vs be abased that God may be honoured Let vs doe all things in great loue to Christ who hath said If thou louest me feede feede feede my flocke Let vs therefore testifie our loue to him by féeding his flocke Let vs doe all things in great loue and déepe compassion towards the poore soules that goe astray As it is said that our Lord Jesus was mooued to pity and his bowels did yearne to sée the people as shéepe without a shéepeheard Let it likewise mooue vs throughly and make our hearts to bléede to sée so many poore shéepe of Christ wandring and straying in the mountaines and wildernesse of this world caught in euery bramble and hanged in euery bush ready to be deuoured of the Wolfe Thus haue I shewed you what course in my iudgement is best to be taken for the deliuering of poore ignorant soules out of the captiuity of Sathan and sinne Phil. Now as you haue declared what course is best to be followed of your part which are the Ministers and Preachers of the Gospell so I pray you shew what is best to be done of vs which are the people of God Theol. The best counsell that I can giue you if it were for my life is to be much exercised in the word of God both in the hearing reading and meditation
outragious in these things yet there be some others which are well disposed and will no doubt make some conscience to frame themselues according to the rules of Gods word Theol. Well then for their sakes which are well disposed I will set downe some few directions Saint Paul in 1. Tim. 2. 9. willeth that women should array themselues in comely apparell with shame fastnesse and modesty as tecommeth women that professe the feare of God and not with broydered haire or gold or pearles or costly apparell The Apostle Saint Peter giueth like rules also for he saith speaking of Christian matrones and professors of holy Religion that their apparell must not be outward that is not consist so much in outward brauery as broydered haire gold put about c. as it must be inward that the hid man of the hart may be clothed with a meeke quiet spirit which is a thing before God much set by For after this manner saith he in times past the holy women which trusted in God did attire themselues as Sara Rebecca Rachel and such like ancient and graue matrones Phila. Wherein doth this inward cloathing specially consist Theol. In foure things which are set downe in the forenamed places to wit shamefastnes modesty a quiet spirit and a méeke spirit Phila. These be fine suites of apparell indeed I would all women would put them on and neuer put them off but weare them continually For they are the better for wearing though all other apparell be the worse Theol. If women would decke themselues inwardly with these foresayd vertues they would be vnto them as ornaments of gold and iewels of pearle For the woman that feareth the Lorde shall be praised Phila. But nowe I pray you sir set downe your iudgement for outward attire Theol. This is all that I can say touching that point that it must be as the Apostle saith Comely decent handsome neat and séemely not light nor wanton not lasciuious not immodest not offensiue Phila. But who shall iudge what is comely sober handsome modest c For euery man and woman will say their apparell is but decent and cleanly how gallant braue and flaunting so euer they be Theol. Herein the examples of the most godly wise graue and modest men and women are to be followed for who can better iudge what is comely sober and modest then they Phila. But we see some euen of the better sort in this matter are a little infected run out and goe beyond their bounds Theol. The more is the pity But alas we sée the sway of the time and the rage of the streame is so violent that it carrieth before it whatsoeuer is not setled and very déepe rooted And some godly and wel disposed persons whose hearts are not with these things but with God are notwithstanding perforce earied away with the violence of the wind and tide whose case though it cannot well be defended or excused yet it is much to be pitied and lamented Phil. Haue you any further directions touching this point Theol. There is one thing yet more to be added to wit that attire be according to mens places callings and degrées For that is not séemely for one that is séemely for another that becomes not one mans place that becommeth anothers For that is not méet for poore men which is méet for rich men nor that méet for meane men which is méet for men of note and great place Phila. Then you thinke it lawfull for kings princes and great personages to weare peerle golde siluer veluet c. Theol. Questionlesse it is lawfull for such in sober manner and easure to weare the most costly and precious things which the earth can affoord and that to set out the magnificence pompe and glory of their places And therefore such things are in them most comely and decent Phils But now adaies few will keepe within compasse few will know their places but the most part run beyond their bounds and leape quite out of their sockets Theol. True indéed For now adaies meane gentlewomen yea some gentlewomen of their owne making will ruffle it and braue it out in their attire like Countesses and Ladies of honour Plaine folke also in the Countrey will flaunt it like Courtiers and like good gentlemen and gentlewomen and they sée me to say in their hearts Fie of this plainnesse wée will no more of it wée will not take it as wée haue done So that now the old prouorbe is verified Euery Iacke will be a gentleman and Ione is as good as my Lady For now we cannot by their apparell discerne the maide from the Mistres nor the waiting gentlewoman from her Lady And thus we sée in this matter of apparell how all is out of ioynt Phila. Is there any more to be said in this ease Theol. There is yet another thing to be respected in this matter of attire Phila. What is that Theol. That it be according to mens abilities For it is lamentable to consider how poore men and women poore hyred seruants milke-maides and such like goe quite beyond their abilitie And more lamentable to sée what wretched and ill-fauoured shifts they make to compasse these things so sharpe and so eagerly are they set vpon them Phila. Well Sir now you haue sufficiently rolled the stone and at large satisfied vs touching the matter of pride which is the first signe of condemnation Now proceede to the second which is who redome and vnfold vnto vs out of the Scriptures the dangers thereof Theol. Salomon in his Prouerbs saith That the mouth of a strange woman or an harlot is as a deepe pit he that is a derestation to the Lord shall fall therein Wherein he plainly sheweth that those whom God detesteth and is excéeding angry with are giuen ouer to this vice And in another place he saith An whore is as a deepe dit oh and as a narrow pit Noting thereby that if a man be once fallen in with an harlot he shall as hardly get out againe as a man that is plunged into a very déepe narrow pit where he can scant stir himselfe The same Salomon in the booke of Ecclesiastes yeeldeth vs the reason héerof namely because shée is as nets snares bands wherein if a man be once taken he is fast enough for getting out I finde saith he more bitter than death the woman whose heart is as nets and snares and her hands as bands He that is good before God shall be deliuered from her but the sinner shal be taken by her We do therfore plainly see in what a labyrinth dangerous case they be that are left o◠God and giuen ouer to whoredome and harlots And therfore it is said Desire not her beauty in thine heart neither let her eie-lids catch thee For by a whorish woman a man is broght to a morsell of brend and the adulteresse hunteth for life which is precious Againe he saith Albeit the lips of
his word commandeth heauen and earth and the sea All creatures must be obedient to his will and subiect to his ordinance This is the cause why all things both in heauen earth and the sea do kéepe their immutable and vnuariable courses times and seasons euen because he hath charged them so to doe And they must of necessity alwaies at all times and for euer obey for the creatures must obey the Creator This act of Parliament was made the first wéeke of the world and neuer since was or can be repealed Phila. But to call you backe againe to the point we had in hand resolue me I pray you of this Whether many of the deare children of God do not in this life sometimes want outward things and are brought into great distresse Theol. Yes certainly For Eliah did want was in distresse Paul did want was in many distresses The holy Christians mentioned in the Hebrewes did want and were in maruellous distresses Many of Gods deare ones haue in all ages wanted and at this day also doe want and are greatly distressed But this is a most infallible truth that howsoeuer Gods children may want be low brought yet they are neuer vtterly forsaken but are holpen euen in greatest extremities yea when all things are desperate and brought euen to the last cast To this point most notably speaketh the Apostle saying Wee are afflicted on euery side but yet we despaire not we are persecuted but not forsaken cast downe but wee perish not The Prophet Ieremie also saith The Lord will not forsake for euer but though hee send affliction yet will be haue compassion according to the multitude of his mercies For hee doth not punish willingly or from his heart nor afflict the children of men The kingly Prophet saith Surely the Lord will not faile his people neither will hee forsake his inheritance The Lord himselfe saith For a moment in mine anger I hid my face from thee but with euerlasting mercy haue I had compassion on thee So then we may fully assure our selues and euen write of it as a most vndoubted and sealed truth that Gods children shall neuer be vtterly forsaken in their troubles Phila. Sith the care and prouidence of God is so great for his children as you haue largely declared what then I pray you is the cause why God suffereth his to bee brought into so many troubles and necessities Theol. Their profit and benefit is the cause and not their hurt For he loueth them when he smiteth them Hée fauoureth them when hée séemeth to be most against them He aymeth at their good when he séemeth to bée most angry with them He woundeth them that hée may heale them He presseth them that he may ease them He maketh them cry that afterward they may laugh He alwaies meaneth well vnto them he neuer meaneth hurt He is most constant in his loue towards them If he bring them into necessities it is but for the triall of their faith loue patience and diligence in prayer If he cast them into the fire it is not to consume them but to purge and refine them If he bring them into great dangers it is but to make them call vpon him more earnestly for helpe and deliuerance He presseth vs that we might cry we crie that we may be heard we are heard that we might be deliuered So that héere is no hurt done we are worse scared then hurt Euen as a mother when her childe is wayward threatneth to throw it to the Wolfe or scareth it with some pocar or bul-begger to make it cling more vnto her and bée quiet So the Lord oftentimes sheweth vs the terrible faces of troubles and dangers to make vs cleane and cling faster vnto him and also to teach vs to esteeme better of his gifts when wée enioy them and to be more thankfull for them as health wealth peace liberty safety c. So then still we sée here is nothing meant on Gods part but good As it is written All things worke together for good to them that loue God For euen the afflictions of Gods children are so sanctified vnto them by the spirit that thereby they are made partakers of Gods holinesse Thereby they inioy the quiet fruit of righteousnesse Thereby they attaine vnto a greater measure of ioy in the holy ghost Therby the world is crucified to them and they to the world Thereby they are made conformable to Christs death Thereby they are kept from the condemnation of the world Therby they learne experience patience hope c. So that all things considered Gods children are no losers by their afflictions but gainers It is better for them to haue them then to be without them they are very good for them For when Gods children are chastised it is as it should bée For to them the crosse is mercy and losse is gaine Afflictions are their schooling and aduersity their best Uniuersity It is good for me saith the holy man of God that I haue beene afflicted that I might learne thy statutes By his afflictions therefore hée learned much and became a good scholar in Gods booke and well séene in his Statutes and Lawes Hée grew to great wisedome and iudgement by his chastisments All things turned about in Gods mercifull prouidence to his euerlasting comfort For I say againe and againe that all things tend to the good of Gods chosen people And therefore that estate which GOD will haue his children to bée in is alwaies best for them Because hée who can best discerne what is best séeth it to bée best for them whether it bée sicknesse or health pouerty or plenty prison or liberty prosperity or aduersity For sometimes sicknesse is better for vs then health and pouerty then plenty Are therefore the children of God sicke it is best for them Are they poore it is best for them Are they in any trouble it is best for them because their good Father will turne it to the best Hee will oftentimes cut vs short of our lusts and desires because hée seeth wée will bane our selues with them Hée in fatherly care will take the knife from vs because hée séeth wée will hurt our selues with it He will kéepe vs short of health and wealth because hée knoweth wee will bée the worse for them He will not giue vs too much ease and prosperity in this world for he knoweth it will poison vs. He will not allow vs continuall rest like standing pondes for then he knoweth we will gather scum and filth He dealeth fatherly and mercifully with vs in all things euen then seeking our greatest good when we thinke he doth vs most harme And to speake all in a word hée bringeth vs into troubles and straits to this end especially that he may heare of vs. For he right wel knoweth our nature he is wel acquainted with our disposition He knoweth we will not come at him but when we stand in neede of
he haue destroied you and consumed you from off the face of the earth For remember I pray you what he saith in Deut. If I whet my glittering sword and my hand take hold of iudgement I will execute vengeance on mine enemies and I wil reward them that hate me I will make mine arrowes drunke with blood and my sword shall eat the flesh of mine aduersaries Phila. Truely Sir you may iustly feare that for our great contempt of the Gospell and generall coldnesse both in the profession and practise thereof God will take it from vs and giue it to a people that will bring foorth the fruit thereof Theol. Wée may well feare indéed lest for our sins especially our loathing of the heauenly Manna the Lord remoue our candle-sticke take away our siluer trumpets let vs no more heare the swéet belles of Aaron cause all vision to faile our Sabbaths to cease and bring vpon vs that most grieuous and sore famine of not hearing the word of the Lord spoken of by Amos the Prophet Then shall all our Halcion dayes and golden yeares be turned into wéeping mourning and lamentation God for his infinite mercy sake turne it away from vs. Phila. Amen Amen and let vs all pray earnestly night day that those fearful iudgements may according to Gods infinite mercies be held backe which our sinnes doe continually cry for and that his most glorious Gospel may be continued to vs and our posteritie euen yet with greater successe Asune No doubt it is a very great sinne to despise the word of God and I thinke there is none so bad that will doe it For we ought to loue Gods word God forbid else He that loueth not Gods word it is pitie he liueth Theol. These are but words of course It is an easie matter to speake good words And very many will say as you say but both you and they in your practise doe plainly shew that you make no reckoning of it you estéeme it no more then a dish-clout I thinke if the matter were wel tried you haue scant a Bible in your house But though you haue one it is manifest that you seldome read therein with any care or conscience and as seldome heare the word preached How else could you be so ignorant as you are Asune I graunt that I and some others are somewhat negligent in the hearing and reading of the word of God but you cannot say therefore we doe contemne it Theol. Yes verily Your continuall negligence and carelesnesse doth argue a plaine contempt Sure it is you haue no appetite nor stomacke to the holy word of God You had rather do any thing then either read or meditate in it It is irksome vnto you You read not two Chapters in a wéeke All holy exercises of religion are most bitter tedions vnto you They are as vineger to your téeth and smoke to your eies The immoderate loue of this world and of vanity hath taken away your appetite from all heauenly things And where as you shift it off with negligence as though that would excuse you the Apostle hits you home when hée saith How shal we escape if we neglect so great saluation Marke that he saith if we neglect Antile Belike you thinke men haue nothing else to doe but reade the scriptures and heare sermons Theo. I do not say so I doe not say ye should do nothing else For God doth allow you with a good concience and in his feare to follow the workes of your calling as hath béene said before But this I condemne in you and many others that you will giue no time to priuat praiers reading meditation in Gods word neither morning nor euening neither before your businesse nor after And although you haue often vacant time enough yet you will rather bestow it in vanity and idle pratling and gossipping then in any good exercise of Religion Which doth plainely shew that you neither delight in holy things neither is there any true feare of God before your eyes Antil I tell you plainly wee must tend our busines we may go beg else we cannot liue by the Scriptures If we follow Sermons we shall neuer thriue What do you thinke euery man is bound to read the Scriptures Haue we not our fiue wits Do we not know what we haue to do You would make fooles of vs belike But we are neither drunke nor mad Theol. That euery man of what condition soeuer is bound in conscience to heare and reade the word of God hath béen shewed and proued in the beginning of our conference But as for your fiue wits they will not serue your turne in these matters though you had fiftéene wits For all the wit reason and vnderstanding of naturall men in Gods matters is but blindnesse and méere foolishnesse The Apostle saith that the wisedome of the most wise in this world is not onely foolishnesse with God but indéed very enmitie against God And again he saith that the naturall man with al his fiue wits vnderstandeth not the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned Most prudently to this point speaketh Elihu saying There is a spirit in man but the inspiration of the Almightie giueth vnderstanding Antile I vnderstand not these Scriptures which you doe alleadge they doe not sinke into my head Theol. I thinke so indéed For the holy ghost saith Wisedome is too high for a foole Antile What do you call me foole I am no more foole then your selfe Theo. I call you not foole but I tel you what the Scripture saith which calleth all men though otherwise neuer so wise politike and learned very fooles till they be truly lightned and inwardly sanctified by the Spirit of God as appeareth Tit. 3. 3. Where the Apostle affirmeth that both Titus and himselfe before they receiued the illuminating Spirit of Gods grace were very fooles without wit and without all sense in Gods matters Phila. I pray you good M. Theologus let him alone For he will neuer haue done cauilling I see he is a notable cauiller Let vs therfore proceed to speake of the fift signe of Condemnation which is swearing Theol. It may well indéed be called a signe of condemnation For I thinke it more then a signe it is indéed an euident demonstration of a Reprobate For I neuer wist any man truly fearing God in his heart that was an vsuall and a common swearer Phila. I am flat of your minde for that For it cannot be that the true feare of God and ordinary swearing should dwel togither in one man sith swearing is a thing forbidden by flat statute And God addeth a sore threat to his Law that hee will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine but will most sharpely and seuerely punish that man Theol. You say true And God saith moreouer that if we doe not feare and dread his glorious and fearefull name Iehoua he will make our
the grosse sinnes of the world you will by and by say he is an hypocrite And thus you take vpon you to iudge mens hearts as though you knew with what affection these things are done Antile I confesse I am a sinner and so are all other for ought I know There is no man but he may be amended I pray God send vs all of his grace that we may please him and get to heauen at last Theol. Now you would shuffle vp all together as though you were as good as the best and as though there were no difference of sinners but you must learne to know that there is great difference of sinners For there is the penitent and the vnpenitent sinner the carefull and the carelesse sinner the sinner whose sinnes are not imputed and the sinner whose sinnes are imputed the sinner that shall bée saued and the sinner that shall bée damned For it is one thing to sinne of frailty another thing to liue in it dwell in it and trade in it and as the holy Ghost speaketh to sucke it in as the fish sucketh water and to draw it vnto vs with cart-ropes and cords of vanity To conclude therefore there is as great difference betwixt a sinner and a sinner as betwixt light and darkenesse For though Gods children be sinners in respect of the remnants of sin within them yet the Scriptures call them iust and righteous because they are iustified by Christ and sanctified by his grace and holy spirit And for this cause it is that S. Iohn saith He that is borne of God sinneth not Antile What I pray you did you neuer sin Theo. Yes and what then what are you the better Antile You Preachers cannot agree amongst your selues One saith one thing and another saith another thing so that you bring the ignorant people into a mammering and they know not on which hand to take Theol. The Preachers God bée thanked agrée very well together in all the maine grounds of religion and principall points of saluation But if they dissent in some other matters you are to trie the spirits whether they be of God or no. You must try all things and kéepe that which is good Antile How can plaine and simple men trie the spirits and doctrines of the Preachers Theol. Yes For the Apostle saith The spirituall man discerneth all things And S. Iohn saith to the holy Christians You haue receiued an ointment from that holy one and know all things that is all things necessary to saluation Those therefore which haue the spirit of God can iudge and discerne of doctrines whether they be of God or no. Antile I am not booke-learned and therefore I cannot iudge of such matters As for hearing of Sermons I haue no leasure to goe to them I haue somewhat else to doe Let them that are bookish and heare so many Sermons iudge of such matters For I will not meddle with them they belong not vnto me Theol. Yet for all that you ought to reade the Scriptures and heare the word of God preached that you may bée able to discerne betwixt truth and falshood in matters of religion Antile Belike you thinke none can be saued without Preaching and that all men stand bound to frequent Sermons but I am not of your mind in that Theol. Our Lord Jesus saith My sheepe heare my voice And againe he saith He that is of God heareth Gods word Yee therefore heare it not because you are not of God You see therefore how Christ Jesus maketh it a speciall note of Gods child to heare his word preached Antile But I thinke we may serue God well enough without a Preacher For Preachers are but men and what can they doe A Preacher is a good man so long as he is in the Pulpit but if he be out of the Pulpit he is but as another man Theol. You speake contemptuously of Gods messengers and of Gods sacred ordinance But the Apostle doth fully answer your obiection saying Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God and how can they heare without a Preacher In which words the Apostle telleth you flatly that you can neither haue faith nor serue God aright without preaching Antile When you haue Preached all that you can you can make the word of God no better then it is and some put in and put out what they list The Scriptures are but mens inuentions and they made the Scriptures Theol. We preach not to make the Word better but to make you better As for putting in and putting out it is a méere vntruth And whereas you say the scriptures were made by men it is blasphemy once to thinke it and you are worthy to receiue your answer at Tiburne Antile Now I see you are hot I perceiue for all your godlinesse you will be angry Theol. I take it to be no sinne to be angry against sinne For your sinne is very great and who can beare it Antile All this while you speake much for Preaching but you say nothing for Praier I thinke there is as much neede of Praier as Preaching For I finde in the Scriptures Pray continually but I finde not Preach continually Theol. No man denieth but that praier is most néedfull alwaies to be ioyned vnto preaching al other holy exercises for it is the handmaid to all But yet we prefer preaching aboue it because preaching is both the directour and whetstone of praier yea it stirreth vs aright in all spirituall actions and seruices whatsoeuer without the which wée can kéepe no certaine course but are euer ready to erre on this hand or that Now whereas you say you find Pray continually but not Preach continually you might if you were not wilfully blinde finde also Preach continually For the Apostle saith to Timothy Be instant Preach the word in season and out of season that is alwaies as time and occasion shall serue Antile You extoll preaching but you say nothing for reading I beleeue you condemne reading Theol. Doth hée that highly commendeth gold condemne siluer I do ingenuously confesse that both publike and priuate reading of the scriptures are very necessary and profitable and would to God it were more vsed then it is For it is of singular vse both to increase knowledge and iudgement and also to make vs more fit to heare the word preached For such men as are altogether ignorant of the History of the bible can heare the word with small profit or comfort Phila. It seemeth that this man neither regardeth the one nor the other because for ought that I can see hee careth not greatly if the Scriptures were burnt Theol. Oh sirrah you speake very malapartly you may speake when you are bidden Who made you a Iudge You are oue of his Disciples and that makes you to speake on his side Phila. No sir I hope I am Christs Disciple and no mans But assuredly I cannot hold my peace at your vile