of the hope of men which doeth depende of it which Iesus Christ our sole onely mediator hath done and suffered for vs. 1. Tim. 2.5 What then can these poore wretches finde there that can serue either to the glory and seruice of God or to their owne saluation I did not stand to prooue that which I said of it because there are whole treatises thereof wherein the impieties horrible blasphemies wherof it is full are touched particularly and so well by the grace of God laid open that there is not this day any childe in our Churches who is not already resolued readily to giue an answer thereof and to satisfie all those who will be content with reason That the Apostates haue no faith Chap. 12. LEt vs passe on further come to the faith which is the chiefest instrument that God doth vse to our saluatioÌ„ Rom. 10. which is waÌ„ting in the Apostats as wel as the other two aboue named for considering the word of the Gospel which is the word of the promise 2. Cor. 4. is called theword of faith becaus it is the seed therof without which it can not be brought forth seing that the spirit of God is called the spirit of faith because he is the author thereof as wel as of other vertues 1. Pet. 1. how can the Apostates be faithfull being destitute of the spirite of God who is the husbandman that watereth the heart as it were a peece of ground to receiue faith of the word which is the seed that is sown to bring it forth if they think that true faith consisteth only in the approbation of the truth of the scriptures they deceiue themselues and haue no more faith then the Deuils or Simon Magus of whome it is written Acts. 8.9 that he beleued and was baptized though in deede he had onely a shew and an appearance of faith For the true faith is in the hart Rom. 10.10 as the Apostle sayth With the hart man beleeueth vnto righteousnes with the mouth man confesseth to saluation And is as well knowen by her effects as by the circumstances which do accompany her whereof the one is a good conscience 1. Tim. 1. and the feare of God without which it can not stand for the mercy and grace of God which faith setteth before it selfe in his promises and wherupon she resteth as vpon her true ground is promised onely to those who walke aright before his face and who feare to offende and disobey him as the Prophet sayth Psal 103. verse 17. The louing kindnes of the Lorde endureth for euer and euer vpon them that feare him and his righteousnes vpon childrens children vnto them that keepe his couenant and thinke vpon his commandements to do them Furthermore in another place he sayth Psal 119.1 Blessed are those that are vpright in their waies and walke in the lawe of the Lord blessed are they that keepe his testimonies Psal 73.1 and seeke him with their whole heart Also in another place Yet God is good to Israell euen to the pure in hart Now I would willingly knowe whether the conscience of the Apostates can be good hauing left God and broken so villanously the allegiance which they had an hundred and an hundred times openly and solemnly sworne vnto him infringed the holy couenant which they had made with him stamped with their feete the pretious blood of Iesus Christ which had beene spilt to ratifie the same reiecting his word and the admonitions and reproofs that could possibly be made vnto them in his name blaspheming this day the trueth and religion which they haue followed a thousande thousande waies and afterwarde seruing Idoles without any ende and omitting no kinde of superstition whereto they do not adioine themselues making the cruellest war that they can to all good persons only for this cause that they are purposed to be more loial towards God and more constant in his seruice then they haue bene applying them selues vnto those whome they knowe to be weake to seduce them and cause them to stumble like themselues Finally making open profession of all impieties blasphemies sacrileges and abhominations of Antichrist being altogether resolued as they themselues say to â—liue and die in that estate I aske whether these resolutions be not of such persons as are altogether lost impenitent and desperat And who can not looke for any thing els at Gods hands but his wrath and terrible iudgement with a heat of fire which shal deuour them and all his aduersaries And if they yet haue any conscience which is not altogether seared with an hot iron I appeale vnto themselues whether it serue for any thing els theÌ„ in stead of an apparitor or tormentor or Deuill to vexe greeue theÌ„ day night not suffering them to take any rest at all which thing the good conscience doth not but comforteth resolueth the man that hath it in all his affaires and suffreth him not to become pale or wanne in his aduersities yea though it shoulde chaunce that the world were dissipated and the heauen shoulde flye here and there in shiuers and peeces yet woulde it maintaine him constant stable and vnmoueable in all these tumults For as the Apostle sayeth Rom. 2.15 As it is good or euill so it doeth accuse or excuse vs and as he whom it acquitteth can not giue ouer when it is good 〈◊〉 when as it is euill and doth accuse vs none can stande or abide before it The Apostates theâ— hauing an ill conscience can not haue a good faith and so being not good it is not any longer faith 1. Tim. 1. Ephe. 4.5 For there is but one true faith aâ— there is but one true God and one onely true Church And being without faith howe can they liue Seeing the iust liueth only by faith Abac. 2. How can they be in the fauour of God seeing without faith it is impossible to please him Heb. 11.6 How can they be iust seeing without faith no righteousnesse can be approued before God Rom. 3. What place can they haue in the kingdome of God Ioh. 3.3 Seeing none is admitted vnto it that is not borne anew and none can be borne anew but by faith which doeth purifie our heartes Act. 10. and make vs newe creatures Moreouer what good workes or good fruites can they bring foorth without faith Eph. 2. Which doth ingraft vs into Iesus Christ that we may be well able to beare fruite howe can they defende themselues from the Deuill 1. Pet. 5.18 who walketh about as a roaring lyon to espye howe he may ouertake vs without our armor that is to say without faith which is the onely target wherewith we couer â—ur selues that we may auoide the shot of his â—iery dartes What stedfastnes or ioy can they â—aue in temptations when they are assaulted either of prosperitie or aduesitie of the world â—r
cause themselues to be enrolled and when first they muster vnder their captaines that there is no trouble no labour no citie no force that shall encounter with them which they are not able to foyle and ouerthrowe and yet neuerthelesse be discouraged and dismayed as soone as they come to any assault or skirmishe or els to any sore encounter wherein it behooueth them to bestirre themselues and shewe in deede their vertue and valour So they which neuer had assayed the enemies of Iesus Christ nor borne the bruntes and assaultes which the deuill the world the fleshe the Antichrist and all their troupes do raise against him and all those that follow him thought that the profession of the Gospell had bene but a play or sporte and vnder that hope entred into the Church of God But perceiuyng the euill intreatie whiche the children of God receiue in it at the handes of the world they continued not long in it without repenting and seeking the meanes by the which they might withdraw themselues from it Ioh. 6. with some honest cloake if it might be possible because they could be content to followe Iesus Christ as those who hoped to haue liued of free cost in his company and to finde alway the tables furnished but not as Simon of Cyren vpon coÌ„dicion to cary his crosse after him I appeale vnto your conscieÌ„ces O ye Apostates is not this the truth of it If the kitchin of the Huguenotes had bene as fatte as that of the Chanons Bishoppes Abbotes and Cardinalles of Papistry and the ReligioÌ„ which we follow as easie to the flesh as Antichristes you would doutlesse haue stayed with vs being yet at this day conuinced in your owne consciences at least if there remaine any at all in you that the â—ruth is on our side and that the seruice done vnto God in our Churches is wholy administred accordyng to the rules and ordinances which he himselfe hath left vs in his word and that contrariwise the Popes and all his adherents Religion is nothing els but meere trifles and toyes and vayne ceremonies which light headed men haue inuented and established in â—he Church of God of their owne braine Psal 119. wheÌ„ the candell of the word of God was extinguished and put out which ought euer to go beâ—ore vs as a light to lighten and guide vs in all â—hinges which we do to serue him for we can â—ot swerue neuer so litle from it but we shall â—umble by and by like silly blind men consiâ—eryng that the whole seruice of God to be â—ue and lawfull must be measured by obedience which can onely be grounded vpon his lawes and holy decrees 1. Sam. 15. For if we wil go about to do any thing which concerneth his seruice except that which he himselfe hath expressely prescribed he will say vnto vs that whiche is written in the Prophesie of Esay Esay 1.12 who required or sought these things at your handes Let the Apostates then giue glory vnto God and cease if they caÌ„ from blaspheming agaynst the spirite of God against the doctrine of the Gospell against the Church against Iesus Christ to conclude agaynst the truth and wisedome which they themselues haue iustified and approued when they were as yet in their right wittes and when as the deuill which is entred into their hartes with seueÌ„ other spirites worse then himselfe had not troubled their myndes as he hath done since they are departed from the house of God and let them accuse rather their owne foolish inconstancie whiche hath caused them to giue ouer the best side without all comparison and the surest the most honorable that can be chosen by reasonable meÌ„ namely God his side of whiche Dauid speaketh Psal 16.5 The Lord is the portion of mine inhetaunce and of my cuppe thou shalt maintayne my lotte the lynes are fallen vnto me in pleasant places yea I haue afayre heritage And moreouer I will prayse the Lord who hath giuen me counsayle my reynes also teache me in the â—ightes I haue set the Lord alwayes before me for he is at my right haÌ„d therfore I shal not slide And â—n another place yet I was alway with thee Psal 73.23 thou â—ast holdeÌ„ me by my right hand thou wilt guide me â—y thy counsail and afterward receiue me to glory What the wretchednesse of the Apostates is Chap. 3. BVt now let the Apostates stay themselues here a while to consider into what a â—eepe pit and gulfe of wretchednesse and miâ—eries they haue cast themselues into leauyng God who is the welspring and fountayne of â—ife alfelicitie Psal 36.8 in whom alone consisteth all â—he good that we caÌ„ euer desire looke or hope â—or and who alone by his aboundance is able â—o satisfie and content all our appetites and â—onely by the brightnesse of his countenance Psal 16. â—o make vs perfectly happy The happy and eâ—ernall life sayth S. Augustine coÌ„sisteth in that we liue with God and of God that is to say that he himselfe be the soule whiche doth animate and quickeÌ„ vs and the foode which doth â—ourish vs. O God sayd Dauid Psal 23. thou art my portion and all my good and in the 23. Psalme The Lorde is my shephearde I shall not want which is to say that we may handle more particularly that which he saith in generall into what danger so euer I fall thou shalt be my Sauiour in darknesse thou shalt be my light in warre thou shalt be my defender in sicknesse thou shalt be my Phisition in sorrowe and wearinesse of mynde thou shalt be my comforte in my feeblenesse thou shalt be my supporte in perplexitie thou shalt be my counsaile when I am gone astray thou shalt be my guide being fallen thou shalt take me vp agayne standing thou shalt maintayne me in pouertie thou shalt be my treasure in miserie thou shalt be my felicitie in payne thou shalt be my solace in sinne thy mercy shal be my iustice in iudgement thy grace shal be my absolution to coÌ„clude in death thy spirit shal be my life There is nothing then that can be waÌ„tyng vnto vs in God in whom are all thinges what didst thou thinke O thou most wretched creature when as thou forsookest him to yeld thy selfe ouer vnto Idols Psal 115.5 which cannot teach thee any thing being dumbe nor see thy miseries beyng blinde nor heare thy prayers beyng deafe Ier. 10. nor defend thee beyng vnable nor goe and come to succourthee Hab. 2. being notable to bestirre theÌ„selues at all doest thou not serue this day for an example to verifie the saying of the Prophet Psal 115.8 that those which serue and worshyp them are like vnto them hauing no more sence or vnderstanding then they haue for it is not needefull to alleadge any other argument to proue that thou art depriued of all iudgement then the onely exchange and permutation which thou hast made of god to
couenant making vs partaken of his grace of the remission of al our sinneâ— by the perfect obedience which he yeelded in our name Phil. 1. euen to indure for vs the death of the crosse and to beare the curse which was inioyned by the law Gal. 3. to the end he might acquite vs. Considering then that Iesus Christ is the only mediator of the agreement and couenant which may be handled betweene God men and that the Apostates departing to Antichrist his side do separate themselues from him thence it may be inferred necessarily that they are without God being without Christ as Saint Paule shewed the Ephesians writing to them after this maner Ephe. 2.11 Remember that ye being in time past Gentils in the flesh and called vncircumcision of them which are called circumcision â—n the flesh made with handes that ye were I say â—t that time without Christ and were aliens from â—he common wealth of Israell and were strangers from the couenantes of promise and had no hope and were without God in the world If then these who had not as yet beene called by the preaching of the Gospell during the time of their â—gnorance and infidelity were reputed by the Apostle to be without God because they were without Christ howe much more by greater â—eason may we auouch the same of those who â—fter they haue bene illuminated and had tasted of the word of God and also beene made partakers of the Holy Ghost being willingly departed from the knowledge of the trueth which they had receiued haue trode the sonne of God vnder their feete and esteemed the blood of the couenaÌ„t wherby they were sanctified a thing prophane committed so horrible an iniury against the spirite of grace It must then be concluded that as the Apostates haue treacherously forsaken God so he for his parte hath iustly renounced them and giuen them ouer for a pray as sayth the Prophet Psal 81.12 I gaue them vp vnto the hardnes of their heart and they haue walked in their owne counsailes and also as sayeth the Apostle as they haue made 〈◊〉 account to acknowledge God Rom. 1.28 so God hath giuen them vp to a spirite voyde of all iudgement that they may commit things which are not seemely These are then the guides which these poore blinde men haue to lead and counsell them in their affaires Rom. 8. namely the concupiscence of their owne peruerse heartes a reason altogether dulled Ephe. 2. their vnbridled senses the wisedome of the fleshe which is nothing else but death and ouer and besides all that the Deuill who is the prince of darkenes and the spirit that doth worke in the children of disobedience being thus guided can they faile sone to stumble into the pit As the Apostates are without God so are they without Christ Chap. 7. VVE haue shewed in the chapiter going before that the Apostates are without God Let vs now shew that they are also without Christ without a Mediator which shall be very easie to do 1. Tim. 2.5 For as there is but one God as the Apostle sayth so there is but one Mediatour betweene God and men namely Iesus Christ Furthermore as Iesus Christ is a Mediator of the new couenant to reconcile the chosen to God the father make him to be their God as he is his and that with full assurance they may lay hold of him and call vpon him as their father Ioh. 17.2 so God doth giue them vnto his sonne to instruct and lead them to saluation and vnto the life to which they are ordeined So that it can not be but that he that hath the Eternall for his God hath also Iesus Christ for his Mediator and contrariwise he that is depriued of the one must be also bereaued of the other Moreouer following Antichrist making open profession of his religion as wel by workes as by wordes and bearing his name his badge his cognisance how can they appertaine to Iesus Christ seing he is a mortall enemy vnto him 2. Thes 2.8 Matt. 6.24 and Whome he shall consume with with the spirite of his mouth and shall abolishe with the brightnesse of his comming None sayd Iesus Christ can serue two masters Especially when their natures and dispositions be so farre different and disagreeing How then can it be possible to set at one Iesus Christ with the Pope Whose doctrine life manners counsels and ende are altogether contrary And if they can not be made to agree betwene themselues Matth. 12.30 how is it possible that one man should betake himselfe to them both Also He that is nor with Christ is against him he that gathereth not with him scattereth As he said himselfe to note his and causeth them to be knowne A man may then be knowne to be a Christian when he is vnited with his head vnseparably and that with him he doeth labour to gather that is to say to make the Church populous and to increase multiply the number of the citizens of the kingdome of God When as then there is any man seene who contrarily doth striue glory to employ all his meanes and power to hinder the establishing of the Church and who withdraweth all those he can fearing nothing more then to see it to take roote or hath greater despite then to see it to florishe and beare fruite may it not be sayd of him when he is so bent and animated against Iesus Christ that he is his enemy and a true member of Antichrist Sithens he fighteth with so great a courage to defende and maintaine him in that kingdome and possession which he hath partly by craft and hypocrisie and all such euill and wicked meanes partely by violence and too too great fauour which some vndiscreete princes haue borne him vsurped vpon the sonne of God whome he hath robbed of his glory and of all his prerogatiues and dignities striuing yet at this with his adherents to burye wholly the remeÌ„brance of his name Furthermore considering the case standeth so that by two markes those are knowen who do belonge to Iesus Christ Ioh. 18. namely when they are not of the world and be of the truth who will say that the Apostates appertaine vnto him who haue forsaken him and his company to returne to the world For Papistry whereto they haue retired 1. Ioh. 2.16 is nothing els but the world that is to say the lust of the flesh the lust of the eâ—es the pride of life And there is neither Realme nor Empire vpon the earth wherein sloth dainties pleasures whoredomes dissolutenes pride banqueting feasting ambition with all kind of vanities and excesse abound more then in the Romaine Court and in the pallaces of their Cardinals Archbishops Bishops Abbots and Priors neither wherein there are men more effeminate and corrupt then those who followe the Popish Court By reason whereof the heares of women are attributed vnto them
receiue any thing from him And to speake the truth in one word he is all in all and without him we are nothing but vanitie Let vs conclude then that sithence he is our blisse whosoeuer is seperated from him doth abide in perpetuall curse That the Apostates being separated from Iesus Christ are also depriued of his spirite Chap. 9. THe miserie of the Apostates may easily be knowen by the former reasons hauing first of all forsaken God the Father and then the sonne to wit our Sauiour and Mediatour Iesus Christ It remaineth nowe to shew how for the confirmation of their miseries they are also destitute of the holy Ghost and by consequent depriued of the CoÌ„munication societie of the most blessed and holy Trinitie that is to say in a word of the whole Deitie so that to rule and gouerne them there remaineth onely vnto them the deuill the worlde their flesh and concupiscences But when we say that they are destitute of the holy Ghost we vnderstand that of the spirite of sanctification and regeneration which is giuen vnto the children of God to seale in their harts their adoption and as a pawne and pledge to assure them of the inheritance of the life which is promised and prepared in heauen for them for as concerning the spirit of prophesy gift of working miracles Numb 23. ver 7. 24 Num. 24.5 1. Sam. 19.23 Ioh. 11.51 Mat. 24.24 2. Thes 2.9 Ezech. 36.26 we knowe it hath bene giuen vnto Balaam and vnto Saule to Caiphas and to Iudas and also that it may be granted vnto false prophets and vnto Antichrist and to the reprobate to whom it pleased God to communicat the same But that spirit which is giuen vnto the children of God to change their stony harts into harts of flesh to sanctifie them to kindle in them a fire which stirreth them vp to all good workes not to seeke in them any other glorye then that which is of God no doubt the Apostates are destitute of such a spirite yea they neuer had it For as S. Ihon saith 1. Ioh. 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwel in him he in vs because he hath giuen vs of his spirite Seing then they haue not remained stedfast in Iesus Christ but voluntarily are departed from him may it not be therof inferred that the spirit of God was neuer coÌ„municated vnto them considering it is giueÌ„ only to streÌ„gthen a man against temptatioÌ„s to make him so firme resolute in his wil that he may perseuere in the faith vnto the end For it is called for this cause the spirit of strength and power from an high Esay 11.2 Luk. 24.49 Because that meÌ„ which otherwise by their nature are so weake feeble that the shaking of a leaf or the voice of a damosell will astonish them be by him made not only inuincible against al assaults but also victorious against the Deuill and all other their enemies which hath bene seene by experience in the Apostles and Martyrs who indued with this spirite haue by his force vanquished and made subiect the world vnto Iesus Christ haue ouercome not onely the threatnings the fury violence of tyrants but also the feare and horror of the fire of wild and sauage beastes and other cruell torments which were prepared for them by the enemies of the truth Moreouer to whome doth it appertaine to bestow the spirite of Iesus Christ Mat. 3.11 Ioh. 7.38 Who is he that doth baptize with the holy ghost and with fire Who promised it vnto all those who should beleeue in his name saying He that beleeueth in me as saith the Scripture out of his belly shall flowe riuers of water of life Nowe he spake this as the EuaÌ„gelist doth adde of the spirit which they that beleeue in him should receaue Now then if he giue it to those only which beleue in him how caÌ„ he impart it to those which blaspheme him who crucify him again Luk. 11. stap him vnder their feet Furthermore this spirit is coÌ„municated to those who are of the children Rom. 8. Gal. 4. of the houshold The Apostates then being no more of the house or family of God which they haue giuen ouer altogether how can they any more receaue this spirit which is the signe and gage of the adoption of his children seing that whosoeuer is filled with this spirite is the child of the light and walketh in the light not communicating in anye wise with the workes of darckenes but rather reproueth them according to the occasion offred vnto him and seeketh the assemblies of the faithfull whereunto he bringeth according to the measure of grace which he hath receaued either a Psalme a hymne or some spiritual song there in the midst of all the companye of the Saints to sing publikely with them the praises of God Considering then that the Apostates this day fly our assemblies that they desire in their harts that they were dispersed and seeing vnto this ende the vehementest of them all do employ their goods frieÌ„ds which they haue as in this country of Aniow the church of Anger 's Saumeur haue tried and finally that they haue no greater care at this day then to go the first to Masse to beare the taper in procession of their Idol to do penance vnto it because they had for a time forsaken it some amonge them haue with great charges reedified set vp againe the altars in their Temples Idols images which they theÌ„selues before in detestation of idolatry had broken downe and all to fitters And to be short seing I say that there is no superstition no impietie no worke of the deuil darknes in al papistry to which they feigne not themselues to cleaue is it possible that the spirit of God which calleth it self is a spirit of truth that is to say Ioh. 14.17 ful of singlenes of sinceritie of simplicitie and integritie should dwel with such hypocrites which with vs for a while haue frequented our sermons feigned themselues to haue loued and liked them now the Papists Infidels go to the Masse other idolatries which they approue by their presence couÌ„tenance Wisd 1. For it is written that the spirit of God abhorreth euery one that plaieth the masker and is disguised And who as we do the fashion of garments change yeare by yeare their faith their religion their customes And although they haue assaied the true religion that which God hath prescribed vnto vs by his worde neuertheles they could not buckle themselues vnto it nor hold it fast imitating in that the nature of the ChamelioÌ„ who as they say can represent change himself into al colors except white Now if the Scribes Pharises be so often accursed by Iesus Christ Mat. 23.13 for hauing bene hipocrits in one reâ—igion onely by how much more stronge reason are the Apostats
ill which she receiued of her louers whom she followed and resolued in the end to leaue them and returne to her husbande saying I will goe and returne to my first husbande for at that time was I better then now But this conuersion hath hapned to those onely who fighting against temptations and being not able to vanquishe them because of their weakenes haue yeelded themselus hoping to take heart againe and fight after they had shrunke away the grace of God assisting them to declare and make manifest his power in their infirmitie 2. Cor. 12. which can not be looked for at their handes who in pride of hearte not being pressed with any other temptation then with their owne concupiscences nor led with any other counsel then their owne carnall wit haue willingly departed from the Church as it were making no account of God or of all his blessings hoping to find a better party thē in his house howsoeuer it should fall out it should be euer open vnto them whensoeuer it pleased them to returne after they had assayed other estates But these poore soules doe deceiue themselues making their reckoning thus without their host of whose wil aduise they make no account as though the one and the other were in their power and as though they had the keies of the kingdome of heauen tied at their girdles to open and shut go out and come in at all times whensoeuer it pleaseth them For as God speaketh by his Prophet My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your wayes my wayes Esay 55.8 sayth the Lorde for as the heauens are higher then the earth so are my wayes higher then your wayes my thoughtes aboue your thoughtes Gal. 6.7 They must not then thinke that God will suffer himselfe to be so mocked and that he doeth apply himselfe to all their foolish vaine imaginations as they dreame nor that it is in their power to returne vnto him when they list Rom. 9.16 For all this is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God alone which sheweth mercy Phil. 2. and doeth graunt both will and power to performe to whome soeuer he will A man sayth Saint Augustine to this purpose may kill himselfe but so that being deade he can not raise himselfe to life againe Psal 36. So when we haue once separated our selues from God by consequent from life which doeth not abide any where else but onely in him let vs not thinke that there is any one who hath that power besides him nor that it can otherwise be brought to passe then by a true repentance from which the Apostates being excluded Heb. 6. the wrath of God doth hang ouer them and so consequently they abide in death which they shewe euidently then when they are exhorted to returne vnto God and to enter againe into his church For they neuer finde themselues ready to performe it but still delay driue it of vntil such time as the wheele of the iudgement of God going ouer them al at once euen then when they are not aware therof they find themselues crushed and ouer whelmed on the sodaine like Esope his frog 1. Ioh. 2.19 Also S. Iohn taketh Apostacy for a signe of reprobation whē he saith If they had bene of vs that is those whom God hath elected they would haue cōtinued with vs but leauing our company they haue sheewed therby that they were neuer of vs though they haue beene with vs no more then corrupt humours which are not mēbers of the body though they be in the body or the tares which are not of the wheat although they be in the same field with the wheate Rom. 10. For if the continuing in faith and the confession of the same be an argument certayne proofe of our election the forsaking thereof contrariwise shall it not be a marke and token of reprobation Heb. 10. And if the sinne against the holy Ghost be an enuious and obstinate hatred that the diuells and men that loue lying doe beare to the trueth of the Gospell Heb. 6.4.10.26 which is as contrary vnto them as light to darknes what is it possible for a man else to iudge of the Apostates who hauing receaued followed approued beleeued and confessed the trueth for a time do now reiect and blaspheme it do condemne it by worde deed haue it in greater detestation then those who neuer made profession thereof then that the spirit of God being vtterly departed frō thē hath geuē place to the spirit of blasphemye Mat. 12.44 which findeth the house empty swept and garnished then he goeth and taketh vnto himself seuen other spirits worse then him self which being entred dwell ther so that the end of such men is a great deale worse then the beginning whereof we shall haue experience euery day in many who are as it were trumpets to soūd the battell to good mē furies which cease not gadding rūning here ther to incense stirre vp all contentious and troublesome persons that they can meete with all like vnto themselues against the Church And as a candle of tallow if it be put out hauing bene once lighted it stincketh a great deale more then if it had neuer bene burned and as pott likewise wherein there hath ben some precious liquor if after ther should be mingled some other which were naught al that rottē together would yeld a most corrupt and filthy smell so the good things being corrupted with the euil in these wicked men haue made thē worse by the halfe And as among the enemies of Iesus Christ there was none worse or more traiterous then Iudas when he was sequestred from his company wherein he had heard so manie good lessons and seene so many notable examples And as among the Christians of the primitiue Church the heretickes and blasphemers who did seperate themselues from the body of the Church were of all the wickedest so in these last times the Apostates haue ben found to be the dreggs of our Church when as they were tryed Mat. 9. The naughty humors which doe impaire the health of the body which haue bin cast out the soueraigne phisition purging thē The huskes and chaffe which haue bene seuered from the graine by the fanne and flayle Mat. 3.12 god sweeping his flower and to be the verie scumme which commeth out of the pott whē as the fire is first brought nere vnto it to make the flesh sethe which is in it the drosse which hath ben drawen from the gold whē the goldsmythe putteth it into the fornace to purifie it The excrements which haue bene cut of Ezech. 14. Wisd 3.6 from the body to bewtifie it and make it faire when God as a barber tooke the rasor and scissers to paire the nailes and cut the haires thereof Esay 7. Finally though our churches be diminished by the departing of the
name done many great workes And then will I professe to them I neuer knew you depart from me ye that worke iniquity Let vs then conclude that the praiers which are made at home priuatly done by some particular man can not be acceptable vnto God if he be not a member of the Church and he can not be a member of the Church except he be vnited with the body the head For those that thus withdrawe them selues from the assemblies whatsoeuer exercise of religion they performe in their houses they make a sect by themselues and by consequent are excōmunicated The seconde is that a faithfull mā ought not to withdraw himselfe from frequenting of the assemblies which be made in the name of God by his people in certaine daies that are appointed wherin they are called together to sanctifie publikely his name for the reasons which followe First of all it is forbidden them Heb. 10.24 Let vs consider one an other sayeth the Apostle to prouoke vnto loue and to good workes not for saking the fellowship we haue among our selues as the maner of some is but let vs exhort one an other that so much the more because ye see that the day draweth neere For if we sinne willingly after we haue receiued knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a fearefull looking for of iudgement and violent fire which shall deuour the aduersaries And afterward when God commandeth euerye one so expresly to sanctifie the day of rest is it not to the end that the people may inore conueniently assemble themselues to heare the worde of God preached and by their confessions praises and publike praiers whiche they make together ioyne and vnite themselues still more and more in the one and selfe same faith and religion and waite for the performance of the promises which God hath made to be in the midst of such assemblies and to powre vpon them aboundantly his spirite his graces fauors and holy blessings as Dauid saith As the devv of Hermon vvhich falleth vpon the mountaine of Sion Psal 133.3 there the Lorde appointed the blessing life for euer And this is the reason why this good wise king esteemed so much these holy assemblies that there was nothing in the world more deare and pretious in his eyes then to be in the middest of them at the dayes wherein they were called together as it appeareth by an innumerable multitude of places in the Psalmes Psal 26.8 O Lord I haue loued the habitation of thy house the place vvhere thine honor dwelleth Psal 43.3 And in an other place Send thy light thy truth let thē lead me let them bring me to thy holy mountaine and thy tabernacles Againe other where Psal 138.1 I vvill praise thee vvith my vvhole heurt enen before the Gods vvill I praise thee I vvill vvorship tovvards thine holy temple praise thy name because of thy louing kindnes for thy truth And in many other places he sheweth the delight which he had to resort to the publike cōgregatiōs of the church the singular pleasure contentation of minde he receiued in them doth teach euery one by his example to seke after frequent thē because there is no better means to preserue nourish increase faith thē that to be edified in the knowledge feare of God in all true kind of godlines religion 1. Cor. 14. Ephes 4. as the Apostle teacheth the Corinthians the Ephesiās Moreouer those that abstaine frō thē do they not detest the church of God Iesus Christ who is euer in the middest of those that are gathered together in his name Doe they not make themselues vnworthy of the great blessings that God imparteth to them so aboundantly 1. Cor. 11. Matth. 18. as though they were heathen and publicās Do they not forsake the company of Iesus Christ of the Patriarchs prophets Apostles of al the elect children of God which are all members of the church Deut. 23. To go to the bastards the Ammonits the Moabits who by the ordināce of God were in old time banished from the tabernacle and from the couenant of God O wretched soules which do not knowe the dayes of their visitation who turne their backes to the sheepehearde when he seeketh them and shut the dore on him when he commeth to knocke But to come to the ende of this speech and treatise I say in a word that the delayers whatsoeuer faith they suppose or feigne themselues to haue They are indued with none at all for the true faith is alwayes ioyned with confession as the Apostle saith which ought to be publike and in the sight of men Rom. 10. Matth. 10. Matth. 5. for our light ought not to lye vnder the bushell but to be Set on high vpon a candlesticke to lighten all those that come into the house We ought to beare the badge of our Sauiour Iesus Christ in our foreheades Apoc. 7. which is the place most eminent and apparant in all our bodie we ought not to hide our scarfes nor to turne our coates nor feare to be knowne by our liuery to the souldiers of Iesus Christ He hath died for vs not secretly in an vnknowne corner or closed frō the knowledge of the world but in the open place of the sculles where they had wont to execute the guiltie and euil doers Iohn 19. and was lifted vp on high on the crosse betweene two theeues and hath dronke swallowed vp this shame ignominy in the middest of the world that we might be honoured before God What vilanous and detestable ingratitude then is in them which woulde dissemble that and conceale such an act to as all the trumpets in the world can not sufficiently sound and spread abroad He is not ashamed euen nowe that he is in his glory to acknowledge and auouch vs for his brethren and shall we be ashamed to confesse him to be our Sauiour God by his grace and perfect goodnes grant to the delayers to know and vnderstand betime the great fault which they commit by dissembling so long that they may by a true repentance speedily preuent the fearefull iudgement of God which hangeth ouer their heads if they hasten not So be it