at some-body Infinite are the quarrels that people picke with their Preacher On the contrary I haue heard some highly commend the Sermon Oh it was a rare Sermon hee is an excellent man it was the best Sermon that I euer heard hee is an admirable Preacher It is well but I will aske thee What rare effects did it worke within What wonders wrought it in thee what excellency what goodnesse hast thou receiued or gained by it Blesse not thy selfe in commending the Preacher rest not in the naked commendations of his Sermon Account that an excellent a rare and a good Sermon which produceth rare effects in thee makes thee better then thou wast before and stirres thee vp to excell in vertue Account him admirable and wonder then when hee worketh wonders in thy soule Thy Preacher cares not so much for thy verball commendations as thy reall Good conuersation is his best commendation his commending stands in thine amending and thy godly practise is his best praise The Sheepe that saith nothing commends his Sheepeheard when her skin is whole her fleece faire and her selfe wel-liking He heares well that doth well he learnes well that liues well and thy knowledge is praise-worthy according to thy practise And he onely doth proue a good Hearer which heares the truth in humility beleeues it in simplicity and obeyes it with alacrity The Word of GOD is our foode our eares are our mouth but this meate is not like bodily food turned into vs but we by beleeuing and obeying it are turned into it Now hee is the onely happy hearer that is translated into the Word so as that he may be able to say I liue but yet not I but the Word of GOD doth liue within me And this is when a mans reason will affections are brought vnder the Word and when his conuersation being transformed is now conformed to the Word Of the Sacraments THE oath of Souldiers to their Generall was called Sacramentum by which name also water in Baptisme and Bread and Wine in the LORDS Supper are vsually called Because as Souldiers when they receiued the presse-mony did solemnely sweare to their Captaine or Generall that they would bee faithfull and loyall to him So we whiles we partake of these holy Mysteries instituted of GOD in His Church doe binde our selues with the like Vow that we will liue and die in his cause and seruice And as they at the taking of that Oath gaue their names to their Emperour or Commander and were receiued into his protection So wee when wee receiue these Sacraments doe likewise giue our names vnto CHRIST and are receiued into his tuition that vnder his banner wee might fight a good battell keeping faith and a good conscience And as there wee doe yeeld ouer our selues vnto GOD so GOD doth binde Himselfe to vs by Pacts and Promises after a manner sealed vp Sacraments are signes of things being one thing and signifying another Euery Sacrament is a Mysterie but euery Mysterie is not a Sacrament Sacraments are not Nata but Data Not Naturall but by Diuine appointment And their dignity depends vpon their Authour They are not the better because the Minister is good that doth deliuer them nor the worse because hee is euill They are such as hee is in whose authority they are giuen not as hee is by whose Ministery they are dispensed And though they bee hurtfull to them that deliuer them being wicked yet they are profitable to them that receiue them being Prepared And though the Receiuer haue a peruerse faith or come vnprepared and in sin yet hee may pertake of a true and entire Sacrament if wee respect the signes and not the things represented by the signes In Sacraments there is a change not of Substance but of vse not of Nature but of condition For by these elements consecrated there is a signification obsignation exhibition of CHRIST and His benefits Sacraments are necessary in respect of GODS Commandement and as they bee meanes of receiuing CHRIST yet simply not the defect of Sacraments but the contempt of them doth damne a man If a man would haue them but cannot and dies in the desire of them no doubt he may be saued But indeed he that may but cares not for them and so departs questionlesse as he scorned the signes so he shall be depriued of the grace It is iust that he should misse of the Kernell that cared not for the Shell that he should loose the Land that contemned the Lease or Deed that hee should be depriued of CHRIST the Bread and Water of Life that regarded not the Water and Bread of CHRIST There are two Sacraments Baptisme and the LORDS Supper By Baptisme wee are admitted into the Church receiued into the seruice of the blessed TRINITY and haue our sinne remitted though not at first extirped A man is borne a sinner but by Baptisme hee is made a Saint A man is by birth a limme of the diuell but by Baptisme hee is made the member of CHRIST A man may bee new borne and not Baptized but hee is not so if hee skorne to bee Baptized There are some that make small account of Baptisme but for my selfe I make more reckoning of my Baptisme then of all the riches in the world as knowing that these can neither helpe nor hurt so much as the other and that the comtempt of these may stand with a mans saluation whereas the contempt of Baptisme is punished with damnation By the LORDS Supper wee are nourished and preserued in the Church In those hallowed signes of Bread and Wine CHRIST IESVS and all his Merites are signified sealed vp and exhibited vnto euery worthy Receiuer For as there is in an Obligation or Legall Instrument an assurance and conueyance made of mony goods or lands from one to another So in the Sacrament vnder these elements there is a most sure conueyance and exhibition of CHRIST IESVS vnto euery prepared Communicant And although wee take the Bread by it selfe and the Wine by it selfe yet wee must not imagine that CHRIST is giuen by peece-meale but two signes were ordained to shew that wee haue perfect food in CHRIST For it is but an hungry dinner where there is no meate and a dry feast where there is no drink Now to signifie that CHRIST is Meate and Drinke vnto vs and that in Him wee shall haue a full refection therefore two signes one of Bread which strengthens the heart another of Wine which allaies the thirst and make it merry were by CHRIST ordained Of Communicants I Do much wonder at the foolish auersnesse and peruerse folly of many men that make so small account of this Blessed Sacrament that they must by feare of Lawes be driuen to it They are out of charity they want good cloathes they are not yet at leasure they alledge I wot not what their very excuses doe accuse them Who bids thee be out of charity Why art thou not reconciled Who
are the diuels harbingers for hee lodges not but where they haue taken vp his lodging for him There are some vse to minish their sinnes either they are not great or they are not many Sure it is that the smallest sinne that can bee beeing the offence of the greatest Maiesty deserueth death and therefore is great enough to destroy the soule and though there were but one yet that were one too many For one foote of a bird taken or one wing belimmed may cost her her life One hole in a Ship may sinke her One bullet may kill as well as twenty The smallest sin is in it nature mortall yea the omission of the smallest duety which the Law of GOD requireth deserueth eternall death For cursed is euery one which continueth not in All Things which are written in the booke of the Law to doe them If the smallest curse of GOD bee too great to suffer then the smallest sinne against GOD is too great to doe As I therefore desire to escape all curses so will I by the grace of GOD bee carefull to auoide all causes and will neuer count that little which might make mee sustaine so great a losse as is the forfeite of my soule Of the Gospell THE Gospell is good newes from heauen of remission of sins reconciliation to GOD redemption from hell death and condemnation and of resurrection to life and glory by the merites of our LORD and SAVIOVR IESVS CHRIST O happy newes O ioyfull tydings What newes more welcome to prisoners then of a Goale-deliuery What more pleasing to malefactours then to heare of their Princes pardon What would a blind man more willingly heare of then that his eie-sight shall bee restored to him Or what better tydings can bee brought to a man sea-beaten and spent with labour then that hee shall most certainely obtaine an hauen where hee shall most safely rest free from the malice of Pirates and fury of all foule weather Yet for all this the Gospell with many findes but poore acceptance It is because men haue no thorough feeling of their miseries they feele no misery and therefore affect no change What cares a clunch for learning or good manners that blesseth himselfe in his rudenesse and inciuility What cares a man for meate that feeles no hunger What doe you talke to him of cloathes that feeles no cold nor nakednesse The lacke of things causeth estimation the sense of lacke When men haue beene worne with warres how pleasing is the newes of a true and constant peace When a man feeles his disease and sees death staring in his eyes O how welcome is the Physition How welcome should hee bee that would bring him newes of a medicine which hee might easily haue that would cure him and set him vp againe When Sea-men haue beene long at Sea and spent their victuals and water euen a pound of bread would bee worth a pound in siluer and a little fresh water how welcome would it bee vnto them And if men would but duely consider of their captiuity slauery miseries and necessities into which they are driuen by sinne and wherein they are inwrapped they would bee glad to heare of deliuerance And beautifull should be the feete of those which shall bring vnto them glad tydings of peace I will therefore examine my selfe by the Law that I may bee brought to esteeme of the Gospell I will mediate of my slauery which I am brought to by transgressing the Law that I may duely respect the liberty which is Preached in the Gospell Mine owne bitternesse shall make mee delight in this Sweetnesse and mine owne vngraciousnesse in this so great a Grace Of the Law and the Gospell THE Law saith doe this and thou shalt liue The Gospell saith Beleeue in the Lord IESVS and thou shalt be saued In the Law there is seuerity but in the Gospell mercy In the Law there is reserued no repentance but by the sentence thereof hee that sins must die But the Gospell admits repentance and promiseth life to him that turneth vnto GOD. The Law terrifies but the Gospell pacifies The Law discouers sin but the Gospell couers it The Law requires a mans owne iustice but the Gospell Preacheth pardon in the iustice of another to wit of CHRIST The Law is written after a sort in the hearts of all men Pagans and Christians but the Gospell is not so generally knowne to all And the Gospell was not first and then the Law But the Law was first and then the Gospell To finde out my sinnes I will veiw the Law but to reade my saluation I will looke into the Gospell To despaire of my selfe I will weigh the Law but to hope in CHRIST I will receiue the Gospell If I were disposed to stand vpon my good deeds I would sticke to the Law but being desirous of mercy I will flye to the Gospell If I would stand vpon my iustice I wold plead the Law but crauing Grace I go to the Gospell Yet this will I doe because the Law is the rule of good workes I will endeuour to keepe it with care and conscience Yet euery day will I pray and say GOD bee mercifull to mee a sinner Of Good and Euill GOOD is more ancient then euill Sanctity is elder then sinne vice is yonger then Vertue There was first an Angell then a diuell First a Man then a sinner First a True-man then a thiefe In good no man can bee too much in euill no man can bee too little Hee that would encrease in good let him thinke hee hath yet too little Hee that would decrease in euill let him remember still hee hath too much The way to learne vertue is to vnlearne vice Hee taketh the ready course to become good which repenteth of his euils And Hee onely will proue a Saint which feelingly confesses himselfe to bee a sinner Of the Church Vniuersall THE Holy Catholique Church is the Corporation or Communion of Saints Triumphant in Heauen and Militant on earth This is the Mysticall Body of CHRIST who is the onely Head thereof by whose SPIRIT euery Member thereof is animated as euery part of the naturall body is animated of the soule And from which Head euery true mysticall Member deriueth all Spirituall life sense and motion And as the Moone receiueth her light from the Sunne so doth the Church receiue all her brightnesse both of grace and glory from IESVS CHRIST This Church is the Vine of GODS delight the Spouse of CHRIST His Faire One His Wel-Beloued GODS House and Citty the LORD and Keeper whereof is GOD the Wall His omnipotent Grace and gracious Omnipotency the Watch-towers are His Prouidence and Omniscience Her Ensignes or Armes are Faith Righteousnesse Peace Charity and ioy in the Holy GHOST Her foundation is the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles Her Gate is CHRIST Her Religion is the seruice of the blessed TRINITY Her Citizens are all poenitent and true Beleeuers and all the Saints of GOD. This is the
from Him and though shee brought Him into the world yet Hee redeemed her out of the world Some out of vanity will call her the Queene of heauen shee is in truth a Saint in heauen shining in heauenly glory more then any Queene or Empresse in earthly here below yet shee is not the Queene of heauen For her Son receiued not his Royalty of her neither hath Hee inuested her with any other Royalty then such as Hee hath bestowed on all whom Hee hath loued and washed from their sinnes whom Hee hath made Kings and Priests to GOD. It is the pleasure of some to call her our Lady a Title which shee knowes belongs not to her though perhaps endowed with greater grace and glory then any other Saint besides For CHRIST IESVS is our onely LORD and hers as well as ours and as Hee receiued not His Lordship from her so Hee hath not bestowed it on her Hee is the onely Head and Husband of the Catholique Church Militant and Triumphant whereof His mother is not a Mistresse but a Member and which hath indeed a LORD but not a Lady This onely will I adde he that speakes or onely thinkes a thought dishonourable of the Mother it is pitty hee should receiue any honour by her SON Of the Incarnation of Christ THE WORD was made Flesh Hee that was true GOD became also true Man without diuision of Person or confusion of Natures assuming that Hee had not and continuing what Hee was Being Creator Hee became a creature that wee creatures might be brought into fauour with our great Creator Being GOD Hee was made Man that what wee had lost by man wee might recouer by Him that was GOD and Man Being GOD Hee tooke the nature of man vpon Him and marryed our flesh vnto His Deity that man which was for his adultery separated frō his GOD might by Him who was truely Flesh be marryed and ioyned anew vnto his GOD. It was miraculous that a Virgin chast shold bring forth a Sonne but not to be doubted of considering Gods Omnipotēce For He that could make the world of nothing Hee that was able to take Adā out of the earth He that could giue Sarah a child in her old age He that made Aarons rod bud He was as able doubtlesse to make the wombe of a virgin fruitfull For with him nothing is impossible if he doe but speake the word it is done It is strange that God should bee man that a virgine should be a mother that the mother should bee daughter to her owne sonne and that a mortall and weake woman should conceiue bring forth the immortall and Almighty God But let vs turne vp our eyes to God and grant that he is able to doe that which wee are not able fully to comprehend In things of wonder we must ascribe the reason of worke to the power of the worker In a word our Sauiour by his Incarnation hath honoured both sexes Mans in taking of his shape and Womans by being conceiued borne brought vp by a Woman And so amends hath beene made in that Sexe For as a Woman brought sinne into to the world so a Woman also brought forth and brought vp that SAVIOVR by whom alone wee are deliuered from our sinnes As by a Woman came Sinne Sicknesse Sorrow Bondage Errour Death So in a Woman came a Sauiour for Sinners a Physitian for the Sicke a Comforter of the Heauy-hearted a Redeemer for Captiues a Guide for Straglers and euen Light and Life it selfe for them that sit in darknesse and in the shadowe of Death Of Miracles A Miracle is some extraordinary thing done by the power of God aboue the course of nature such as was the creatio of the world of nothing the diuiding of the red sea the standing of the Sunne in the dayes of Iosua the Mother-hood of that vntouched Maiden the turning of Water into Wine and such like Some things may bee aboue nature as the conuersion of a sinner or true saith in Christ which is aboue created and corrupted nature and yet no miracle being common ordinary and vsuall in the Church Some things are strange and wonderfull yet no miracles because there are naturall causes of them though perhappes not certainly discerned alwayes nor of all as Comets Earth quakes Eclipses excepting that Eclipse of the Sunne at the Crucifixion of Christ which to see it was ashamed and amazed so it is maruailous but not miraculous that the Crocodile should eate and not moue his neatheriaw that the Salamander should indure the fire vnburnt that Pismires shold prouide for Winter that the King amongst the Bees should onely want a sting that a Worme should worke out Silke and that a Spider should draw a Webbe out of his owne bowels to intangle the Flies with Furthermore some things are strange and beyond nature yet not miraculous not truely miracles because they are done by the power and assistance of the Diuell as are many things said and done by such are possessed of Diuels Miracles were wrought in the Primitiue Church very often till the Christian Faith was sufficiently confirmed but now hauing beene so aboundantly confirmed so generally beleeued hee were himself a very wonderment that will not now beleeue it without a wonder And because that Antichrist shall come with his lying wonders that is either not true but appearing to bee true or truely tending to maintaine his lies and errors therefore we must take heed of wonders that we be not by new wonders misled and drawne away from the old way For his wonders serue not to confirme the faith but to try the faithfull This is a Lesson neuer to be forgotten No signe no wonder no miracle must withdraw vs from Christ and his faith but and if any Man or Angell should preach otherwise then we finde written in the holy Scriptures or shall presume to adde to substract from or to change the faith receiued wee are to hold him as accursed If there arise among you a Prophet or a dreamer of dreames saith Moses and giue thee a signe or a wonder and the signe wonder which he hath told thee come to passe saying Let vs goe after other Gods which thou hast not knowne and let vs serue them What then Thou shalt not quoth he giue eare to the words of the Prophet or dreamer of dreames Why so For the LORD your GOD proueth you to know whether you loue the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soules Of Marriage MArriage is the Coniunction of but one man and but one woman for if it were lawfull to haue two wiues at once our Sauiour would not haue said that hee that puts away his wife except for adultery and marries another commits adultery The Man and his Wife are a matrimoniall Creature the Man is as the soule and the Woman is as the body The Man as Soule is to animate and rule the Woman as body is to be animated and ruled