not able to hurt your better part seeke not to gaine the fauor of the world for the whole worlde is not able to saue a soule but feare to offende him that is able to destroy both body and soule in hell and seeke to please him that is able to saue them both in heauen for euer Now followeth another fruite of Zaccheus conuersion namely his good confession for as hee beleeued with the heart vnto righteousnesse so hee confessed with the mouth vnto saluation When Zaccheus was mocked of the Pharisies it seemeth that he should stoope downe for shame but when he was thus reprooued reuiled by them the Scripture saith that he stood vp in signe of gladnesse As the Apostles went away reioicing that they were coūted worthie to suffer rebuke for the name of Christ so Zaccheus the Publican went forth reioycing that hee was reproched for the cause of Christ. Before Zaccheus was a Publican and therefore stood in sinne very daungerously like the house that is builded vpon the sand ready to bee ouerturned with euerie tempest but now Zaccheus is become a true Christian and therefore stands in righteousnesse very safely like the house that is built vpon a rocke free from any danger of falling Behold Lorde the halfe of my goods c. There are two parts of this confession The first is his gift to the poore the second is the restitution of his vniust gotten goods Before Zaccheus was an oppressor of the poore now hee is a great benefactor to the poore before hee was an encrocher vpon other mens goods now he is a distributer of his own goods before hee was a receiuer and a taker nowe he is a restorer and a giuer neither doth he giue sparingly but he giueth liberally laying vp a good foundatiō against the time to come Now hath Zaccheus found that pretious pearle and for ioy thereof he is content not to sell but to giue all that hee hath to enioy the same When the rich Ruler in the former chapter was willed to sel all that he had to giue it to the poore he went away very sorrowful for he was very rich but Zaccheus perhaps as rich as he is content of his owne accorde vnbidden to bestow halfe his goods vpon the poore and that with a cheerefull mind If Zaccheus had giuen only the third part of his goods no doubt but Christ would haue accepted it for he accepteth the widowes farthing because it was giuen with a willing minde but if hee had giuen all his goods to feede the poore as the Pharisies gaue their almes to be seene of men yea or his bodie to be burned as some Romans haue done to get renowne it should haue been to no purpose because it was done to a wrong end Now as Zaccheus was rich in the goods of this life so was he rich in faith also neither was it an idle or dead faith that Zaccheus had but it was a fruitfull a liuely faith a faith that worketh and laboureth by loue such as is required at the handes of Christians Saint Iames saith Shew me thy faith by thy workes and here Zaccheus doth shew his faith by his workes Before he was exercised in vngodly works which are the fruites of infidelity but now he is exercised in the works of mercy which are the fruits of a liuely faith Zaccheus is very liberall in relieuing the poore but he is liberal of that which is his owne so there are many now a daies that are very liberall but it is of that which is none of theirs for as Nahab Abihu offered strange fire vnto the Lord so these men offer strange goods vnto the Lorde There are some amongst vs that thinke to make amends for their vniust dealing by giuing part of that to some good vses which they haue gotten by bad meanes if they haue gotten a pound by vsury oppression they are cōtent perhaps to giue a pennie to relieue the poore But as it was not lawful for the Israelites to bring the price or the hire of a harlot into the house of the Lord so it is not lawful for vs to apply the gain of our ill gottē goods to the seruice of God The halfe of my goods I giue c. Zaccheus saith not I haue giuen as an vpbraider of God or I wil giue as a delayer that means to giue away his goods after his death when he can keepe them no longer but hee saith I giue to signifie that his wil is his deed that he meaneth not to take any daies of paiment for the matter For as before he ranne apace to see Christ and came down hastily to entertain Christ in his owne person so doth he here giue quickly to relieue Christ in his needy members This is Zaccheus last wil testament that he maketh before his death and seeth the same proued and performed before his eies If therefore we desire to do any good to any of our poore bre thren let vs learn of Zaccheus to do it quickly while we are aliue for time will preuent vs and death will preuent vs. I know there would be many that would bee willing to giue some part of their goods to the poore before their death as Zaccheus did but that they knowe not what neede themselues may haue there of before they die and therfore for the most part they will hardly forsake or leaue their goods till their goods forsake and leaue them But herein they shewe themselues to doubt of Gods prouidence as it were to distrust of his paiment who hath promised to repay whatsoeuer is giuen vnto the poore as it were lent vnto himselfe and y t not secretly though they did their almes neuer so secretly but the Lord wil reward thē openly as our Sauior speaketh Ma. 6. the wise preacher Eccl. 11. willeth vs to cast our bread vpō the waters that is to be liberal to the poore whose watry eies bewray their great necessity or as others expound it to hazard and aduenture some of our goods vpon our nee dy brethren as Merchantes do aduenture their goods vpon the seas for although they may seeme to bee in great perill and danger of perishing in the waters yet commonly it falleth out that by y e blessing of God they returne with greater profit So albeit the reliefe that is bestowed vpon our distressed neighbors may seeme to be lost yet as the wise mā saith after a time we shal find it againe and as the precious oyle descended from Aarons beard to the skirts of his clothing so certainely the oile of mercie and charitie which wee powre into the woundes of our distressed brethren shall descende into our owne soules and as the widdowes oile was increased in the cruse because shee relieued the Lordes Prophet so shall this pretious oile bestowed vpon the poore be returned vpon our heads in great measure Thus is Zaccheus liberall
by his power a pure substance of ayre between heauen and earth that fishes might multiplie in the seas foules in great abundance flie in the open face of the firmament tender plants hearbes flowers and trees in al variety grow and fructifie vpon the ground yea creeping things cattell and beastes increase in infinite number in pastures fields gardens orchards and groues all these to do thee pleasure Hath he not further giuen thee springs and riuers gold and siluer pearles and iewels euen plentie of streames stones and mettall to furnish thee with whatsoeuer for profit thou needest or for pleasure desirest Hath he not made thee Lord and ruler ouer al his creatures euen ouer the huge Elephants the Whale the strong Lyon and Vnicorne and horse of warre ouer the sauage Tigers Beares Wolues ouer the mighty Eagle Griffin Vultur Ostrich and Hawke Art thou not clad and defended fed and inriched cheared and renowned by these his creatures and that all the partes of thy body and sences of thy minde might bee partakers of his goodnesse and with his sweetnes refreshed comforted and delighted in great measure yea aboue all this hath hee not breathed into thy body an immortall soule that thou mightest remaine with him in glorie for euer Did hee not at the first frame thee like vnto himselfe that he might therefore loue thee as his sonne Did he not cast into thy spirit the beames of his wisedome that thou through thy vnderstanding mightest beholde him and his glorie and stirred vp sparkes of goodnesse in thy heart that thou mightest by thy affection imbrace him and his bountie and bee made perfectly blessed by his infinite happinesse who when Adam thy vngratefull father by distrusting him that had faithfully promised was throughlie able to fulfill his will and resolutely determined exceedingly to aduance him hauing giuen him this whole worlde in testimony thereof by discontenting his minde with the excellent estate hee was placed in of vnspeakeable loue vnlesse hee might bee as good as God himselfe proudlie desiring to make dust the fellowe of him who was from euerlasting infinitly full of wisedome power grace and maiestie and had done al this at the perswasion of the most traiterous rebell of his right gratious king and spitefull enemie of his most bountifull master euen then when this most villanous conspiring with Gods notorious aduersarie had deserued immortall hatred against him and all that pertained vnto him yea thee as yet vnborne but contained in him whose whole masse by his impious disobedience became by iust iudgement a temple of cursed estate for euer and for euer thou also thy selfe bringing foorth fruite of contempt of his lawe who is most holy merciful and mighty yet euen then I say of vnspeakeable pittie and compassion intended nay promised nay laboured to deliuer him and thee from that dreadfull vengeance which ye had purchased by your owne wicked and vngracious demerits and to reconcile you base abiects and vile castawaies and yet stubborne and spitefull haters of the great God Iehoua who when there was no meanes to be found in heauen nor seas nor in the earth nor vnder the earth but that hee should damne his onely begotten Sonne the very brightnes of his glory who neuer offended him but was an eternall delight vnto his soule and reioycing vnto his spirit that thou mightest be saued a grosse lumpe of slime and clay still vexing him by thy wickednes yet deliuered his sonne into the full power of Sathan to put him to a most shamefull death by the handes of most detestable persons and did cast him farre away out of his fauour and threw him downe into the bottomlesse pit of his vnsupportable wrath indignation that thou mightst bee placed betweene his owne armes in the kingdome of heauen in all royalty and glory as his deere and entirely beloued sonne Why therefore wast thou O my vnholy and vnthankful nature so ready and prone so violent and headlong to commit thinges lightly displeasant in his sight who in a manner and as far as it was possible slewe himselfe for thy safetie when he had no creature so disobedient vnto him as thee O thou my inwarde soule and spirit of my minde awake and stand vp to defend thy self for thou art besieged with mightie enemies the prince of darkenes the rulers of the ayre the spirituall craftines and policies of hell why arisest thou not thou sluggard thy foes in great number are prepared with many ambushments hauing a huge armie all maliciouslie bent with venemous darts to pearce thorow thy heart they are entred thy holde at all fiue gates of thy outwarde sences yea they haue broken downe thy inwarde doores and haue left thee but one window towardes heauen to escape by euen thy praiers whereto the spirit of God waiteth thy speedy comming make hast O thou heauie with sleepe or thou art taken by thy cruell enemies whose handes are of yron and their teeth of steele to grind thy very bones to powder hearken no longer to that stinking harlot thy wicked appetite which lying in thy bosome desireth nothing but thy vtter destruction she perswadeth thee that thou art in no present danger that she may reioice at thy miserable ende It may be thou art fed to the slaughter that though thou go on a little way in thy pleasant path thou maiest returne backe when thou wilt and thy little wandering will not greatly be regarded O thou vnwise and sottish of heart when wilt thou vnderstand Hath the sonne of God indured such paine for the smallest of thy sinnes and makest thou so light account of so grieuous crimes Doth the lawe thunder curses and plagues and euerlasting tormentes against thy least inordinate motions and didst thou not dreade to performe so shamelesse a practise Knowest thou not that the eyes of God and his Angels behold thee doing that thou wouldest be ashamed to do in the presence of vngodly men or vncleane beastes or doest thou not consider howe thou didst grieue the spirit of God who hath vouchsafed of his infinite mercie to dwell in thy bodie to this ende chiefelie that hee might mortifie thy carnall lusts Why didst thou then defile his temple which he hath sanctified to be an house for himselfe to dwel in take heed thou driue not out so worthy and noble a ghest by such swinish and fleshly behauiour who if he once depart then shalt thou be an hold for diuels and legions of damned spirits that they may stuffe thee full of all manner of iniquitie and then at length become pitch and brimstone to maintaine the fire of Gods scorching wrath in thy sinewes spirits and inwarde bowels drinking out in full measure the dregs of the wyne of his rage and fury and canst thou be so blind and rechlesse that for the vaine pleasure of sinne for a little while thou wilt constrayne God to torment thee euerlastingly who it may bee euen at this instant if thou wilt still trie his
faithfull Father Abraham beleeued before hee was circumcised so Zaccheus belieued before he was circumcised As Abraham left his countrey and all that he had when God called him so Zaccheus left his office and the most part of his riches when he was called by the sonne of God and as Abraham desirêd to see the day of Christ and saw it and reioyced so Zaccheus desired to see Christ and he sawe him and reioyced Now is Zaccheus a Gentile become the child of Abraham and not only he but his whole house also is become the house of Abraham for when Zaccheus is conuerted his whole house is conuerted As the master is such are the seruauntes if he bee godly and religious they prooue godly and religious if he bee an Atheist they prooue Atheists likewise Therefore keepe no companie with the wicked for it is most pernitious but associate thy selfe with those that feare the Lorde that thou also mayest learne to feare the Lord who for his mercie graunt that we may with Zaccheus be desirous to see Christ ioyfull to receiue Christ liberall to releeue the members of Christ and readie to make a mends when we haue wronged anie of our brethren that so with Zaccheus we may be heites of saluation and the true sonnes of Abraham to raigne with Christ in heauen for euer by the meanes and merites of him that dyed and rose againe for vs. To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all glory Amen FINIS A praier for the Morning O Lord prepare our hearts to pray O Lord GOD our heauenly Father wee thy poore and wretched creatures giue thee most humble and heartie thankes for our quiet and safe sleepe and for raising vs vp from the same Wee beseech thee for Iesus Christs sake to prosper vs this day in our labour and trauell that it may bee to the discharging of our duety in our vocations principally to thy glory nexte to the profit of this Church and common-weale and last of all to the benefite and content of our masters Grant deare father that we may cheerfully and conscionably do our businesse and labours not as men-pleasers but as seruing thee our God knowing thee to bee the chiefe master of vs and that thou seest and beholdest vs with thy fatherly eies who hast promised rewarde to them that faithfullie and truly walke in their vocation and threatned euerlasting death and damnation to them that deceitfully and wickedly do their works and labours We beseech thee O heauenly father to giue vs the strength of thy spirit that godlie and gladlie we may ouercome our labours and that the tediousnesse of their irksome labour which thou for our sinnes hast powred vpon all mankind may seeme to vs more delectable and sweet Fulfill nowe O Lord these our requests for thy sonne our Sauiours sake in whose name we pray as hee himselfe hath taught vs. Our father c. A godly praier to be said at all times BEcause I haue sinned O Lord and done wickedly in thy sight and prouoked thee to anger by my abhominable wickednesse making my body which thou hast ordained as a vessel for thine honor an instrument to most detestable filthines O Lord be mercifull vnto me and pardon me this great wickednesse looke not vpon me good Father with the eyes of iustice neither doe thou drawe against mee the sword of iudgement for then howe shall I that am but dust stand in thy presence when thy wrathful indignation commeth forth as a whirle wind and thy heauy displeasure as a mighty tempest seeing the earth trembleth the depths are discouered and the very heauens are shaken when thou art angrie Exercise not therefore thy fury against me that am but chaffe before the winde and as stubble against a flaming fire though I haue sinned grieuously in thy sight preferring my wicked desire before thy holy commandement esteeming the pleasure of a moment before eternal euerlasting ioyes nay which is worse making more account of vilenes and vanity and extreame folly and madnes then of the glory and maiesty of the most excellent wonderfull and blessed God nothing dreading his displeasure whose wrath maketh the diuels to quake burneth vnquenchable vnto the bottomles pit of hel whose might is so great that by the breath of his nosthrils he can in the twinkling of an eye destroy a thousand worlds yet am I bold prostrating my selfe before the throne of thy maiestie heartily to beseech and humbly to intreate thee that thou wilt not deale with mee according to my merites for I haue deserued y t thoushouldest raine down fire brimstone from out of heauen vpon me to deuoure me or to open the earth vnder me to swallow me vp quicke vnto hell but thou art gratious and ful of compassion and rich in mercies therefore do men put their trust vnder the shadow of thy wings I haue none in heauen to flie vnto but thee nor in earth of whom I may receiue any comfort but at thy fauorable hands which are stretched out day and night to receiue all that by earnest repentance turne to thee being ready to ease all those that are ladē with the burthen of their sin and to refresh their distressed consciēces In the multitude of thy mercies I approach vnto thee O Lord desiring thee to looke down from the height of thy sanctuary vpon me poore and wretched sinner and to wipe away mine offences to blot out my misdeeds especiallie this my vngratious vncleane and vngodly act that it may not come vp in remembrance with thee nor bee imputed to me for euer for thy sonnes sake O Lord in whome thou art well pleased in whome thou wast fullie satisfied vpon the crosse for my sinnes grant me free pardon and remission of that I haue so foolishly by my exceeding frailetie committed against thee in this shamefull deede But O thou my vncleane and vnthankefull soule my vngodly and rebellious heart what did I sinful wretch execrable caitife so blindly and desperately attempt Howe art thou become quite senselesse that thou wast so ready to anger thy most louing God and to prouoke thy most mightie Iudge that thou mightest satisfie thy filthie flesh suborned both by thine Gods most malitious aduersarie to grieue and vexe the spirit of the Lorde and to damne thy selfe for euer Hath not God of his singular fauour made the heauens of olde and placed the Sun and Moone in thē two glorious lights with innumerable starres a wonderfull workmanship for thy vse and benefit Hath he not lifted vp the cloudes by his strong arme and heaped treasures of raine haile and snowe to doe thee seruice Hath he not in the midst of the world laide the foundations of the earth that thou mightest haue a stable habitation and mightest from thence beholde euerie waie thou lookest the walles of his beautifull place Hath hee not gathered the waters into one place and made the drie land appeare and drawne forth