hearts with renewed ioyes in the holy Ghost and after that they are exhausted with our infirmities and miseries renewed faith will like afresh Rom. 14. 17. Heb. 12. 11. hand draw new supplies from God the fountaine of our ioy vntill they be replenished and ouerflow Yea it will make our ioy not like that of worldlings in the fact and not in the heart momentany and mutable like the cracking of thornes vnder a pot whilst the brushie fewell of prosperity feedeth it but constant and permanent euen in afflictions and Rom. 5. 3. Iohn 16. 22. nothing shall be able to take it from vs. It will fill our hearts daily with the comforts of the Spirit when as being daily renewed it doth afresh assure vs of our communion with God and that Christ and all his benefits doe belong vnto vs which either respect this life or the life to come §. Sect. 5 Of diuers other benefits which follow the daily renewing of our faith Fifthly the daily renewing of our faith is the most effectuall meanes of our vnfained repentance For what can bee so powerfull an argument to make vs mourne for our sinnes with bitter griefe as with the eye of faith to looke vpon him whom by our sinnes we haue pearced and through the wound in his side to see his heart so replenished with diuine loue and as it were supplying the place of that blood and water that issued out of it and what can make vs more hate sinne or to resolue to please God in all holy and righteous duties then beleeuing that the Lord being so infinitely iust and abhorring sin with such implacable hatred that he spared not his onely begotten and most dearely beloued Sonne but when he bore our sinnes caused him to beare also our griefes and sorrowes wounded him for our transgressions and bruized him with the paines of death and fearefull burthen of his wrath for our iniquities to beleeue also that he is towards vs so infinitely merciful that he gaue his Sonne to vs and for vs to suffer all these torments for a time that wee might not suffer them for euer that he wounded him for our transgressions that we might be healed by his hurts cleansed and purified from the guilt punishment and corruption of all our sinnes with the streames of his blood acquitted by his condemnation and reuiued by his death For who is so audaciously desperate as to dare by voluntarie sinning prouoke such a Iustice who is so hard-harted and vngratefull as would be inticed with the baites of worldly vanities to neglect in any thing to please so infinite a goodnesse So what can more powerfully moue vs to flee all sinne and to practise with all diligence all Christian duties of holinesse and righteousnesse then by faith not only to inioy Gods present blessings in their owne worth and excellency but as earnest pennies and first fruits pledges and pawnes of heauenly and eternall reward wherewith God of his free grace hath promised to crowne all our labours and Illi terrena sapiunt qui coelestia promissa non habent Illi breui huic vitae se totos implicent qui aeterna nesciunt c. Hieronym ad Celantiam holy indeuours whereas if there were no beliefe and expectation of reward wee should faint vnder the waight of afflictions languish in the performance of Christian duties which are so ill esteemed and accepted in the world and be wholy taken vp in the pursuite of earthly vanities because we haue entertained no better hopes For as one saith They sauour earthly things which beleeue not heauenly promises They wholy addict themselues to things that belong vnto this transitory life which apprehend not those things which are eternall They feare not to sinne who thinke that it shall haue no punishment and finally they become slaues to their vices who expect not the future rewards of vertue c. Sixthly by this daily renewing of our faith wee shall bee strengthened against all the tentations of our spirituall enemies so as they shall not be Ephe. 6. 17. able to hurt and wound vs whether these darts be cast against vs from the right hand or from the left For faith as an impenetrable Shield enableth vs to ouercome and beate back tentations arising from worldly prosperity whilst apprehending heauenly and euerlasting excellencies it maketh vs to contemne these base and momentanie vanities and the tentations which arise from crosses and afflictions by perswading vs that they are the straight way that leadeth to happinesse that they are not worthy Acts 14 22. Rom. 8. 18. 2. Cor. 4. 17. 2. Tim. 2. 12. the glory that shall be reuealed that these light and moment any afflictions worke for vs afarre more exceeding and eternall waight of glory and that if we suffer with Christ we shall also raigne with him Finally faith thus dayly renewed not onely effectually perswades vs vnto an holy resolution of leading a Christian and godly life but also powerfully enables vs to performeall the duties thereunto required with alacrity and cheerefulnesse ioy and delight for it moues vs to consecrate our selues wholy to the seruice of him who hath graciously redeemed vs out of the hands of all our spirituall enemies and to testifie our loue and thankefulnesse vnto him who hath done all this for vs by our new obedience It vnites vs vnto Christ and applieth vnto vs the vertue of his death by which sin is mortified and crucified in vs we vnto it to the world so that we wil no longer serue them in fulfilling worldly and carnall lusts and the vertue of his resurrection whereby we are enabled to rise from the death of sinne to holinesse and newnesse of life It giueth vnto vs with spirituall life spirituall motion it cleanseth and changeth our hearts and taking away the old it worketh in vs a new nature which is actiue and operatiue in all holy and righteous duties and diligent and cheerefull in the performance of them And whereas before we either did them not at all or but in outward shew formally and coldly and that not without much paines and difficuly it enableth vs now to performe them like naturall actions with much ease and delight so as wee can say with Dauid that the Law of God is our Psal 119. chiefe delight better vnto vs then thousands of gold and siluer and sweeter then the hony or hony-combe And with our Sauiour that it is our meate Iohn 4. 34. and drinke to doe the will of our heauenly Father And as vnnaturall motions are not without outward violence lasting no longer then it lasteth but natural are easie and permanent as the Sun shineth and the riuer runneth of their owne accord freely and without compulsion so by helpe of this new nature which faith worketh in vs our actions and motions in the waies of godlinesse are easie and pleasant which vnto corrupt nature were euen in respect of the outward act harsh and
the world vse such spite and spleene towards the most outragious offender that euer liued as it doth to the Saints and seruants of God for the truth sake For towards them oftentimes it quite blunteth the poynt and edge of humane lawes and commonly moderateth and mitigateth the extreme rigour of them in their punishments but against the faithfull it sharpeneth the poynt and edge where none is yea deuiseth new lawes when the old restraine their malice And whereas they content themselues with those punishments which the lawes determine against the most notorious and hainous offenders and when they are forced for the safety and preseruation of humane societies to execute them they doe it as the Law requireth and oftentimes with some pity and compassion contrariwise when they haue to doe with those who being Gods faithfull seruants haue made themselues liable to their lawes they sport themselues in their torments and out of meere malice to them for their Religion and piety they execute the Lawes with all sauage cruelty adding both by their words and actions many outrages ouer and aboue those punishments which the Law requireth as we see in the example of our Sauiour Christ and the theeues crucified with him For whereas they contented themselues with their simple death without any additaments of malice they could neuer satisfie their spitefull rage in vexing and tormenting our Sauior Christ but vsed him with all contumelious reproch spitting vpon and buffetting him scourging and crowning him with thornes scoffing and deriding him mocking and moing at him giuing vnto him when he thirsted gall and vineger and insulting ouer him in mirth and triumph when they saw the bitter anguish of his soule The which also is to be obserued in the examples of those punishments which haue been inflicted vpon most hainous malefactours as murtherers traytors paricides and vpon the innocent Martyrs of Iesus Christ if wee compare the one with the other Of which no other reason can be giuen but that the world loueth her owne and hateth those which belong vnto God affecting the persons of wicked men and setting themselues onely against their crimes not out of any loue towards God or simple hatred of their sinnes as being transgressions of his Lawes but out of selfe loue because their offences are against humane lawes which if they should not be preserued and maintained obserued and obeyed societies could not subsist nor the safety and welfare of their owne estates bee otherwise vpheld Whereas contrariwise it maligneth and hateth euen the very persons of the godly as being the members of Iesus Christ onely for their profession of Religion and practice of holy duties and in these respects can neuer sufficiently disgorge its malice against them §. Sect. 2 That it hath alwayes been the lot of the godly to bee persecuted in the world Now the meanes to remoue the former impediments are manifold The first is to consider that it hath alwayes from the beginning of the world been the lot of Gods children to be persecuted of the wicked in which regard it is vnto vs a notable and comfortable euidence that wee loue God and are beloued of him when the wicked world maligneth and pursueth vs with all rage and cruelty for righteousnesse sake For thus Cain persecuted Abel because his seruice was accepted of God Thus Pharaoh and the Egyptians raged against the Israelites when they did but make mention of going into the Wildernesse to offer sacrifice Thus the wicked Kings and more wicked Priests persecuted Gods true Prophets the Scribes and Pharises the Apostles of Iesus Christ the idolatrous Emperours the Christians of the Primitiue Church and the limmes of Antichrist the holy Martyrs because they professed Gods true Religion and brought forth the fruits of it in their holy practice More particularly Dauid often professeth that he was maligned by his wicked enemies without cause onely because he did that which was good and sought in all his courses to be approued of God And the Apostle Paul in many 2. Cor. 11. 23 24 c. words setteth downe the grieuous persecutions which hee often suffered at their hands who were enemies to Gods truth But as these holy Saints of God were not by all these persecutions discouraged in their course of godlinesse but the more boysterously the stormes of malicious rage blowed against them the more firmely and constantly they held the cloke of their Christian profession and holy practice according to that of Dauid Many are my persecutors and mine enemies yet doe I not decline from Psal 119. 157. thy testimonies so must we doe in this case following their good example if we would haue any comfortable assurance that God will thinke vs worthy to be ranked in this number And this argument taken from these examples our Sauiour vseth to arme his Disciples against this discouragement Reioyce saith he and be exceeding glad seeing your reward is great in Mat. 5. 12. heauen for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Yea our Sauiour Christ himselfe hath begun to vs that wee may not feare to pledge him and hath drunke the deepest draught in this bitter cup of worldly persecutions For what mischiefe could hell it selfe raise vp out of her infernall bowels what cruell rage and exquisite vexations and torments could malicious wit deuise which were not inflicted vpon this innocent Lambe the Lord our righteousnesse Now what can be a more effectuall reason to moue vs with all patience and cheerfulnesse to indure the greatest extremities for Christs sake then to remember what grieuous torments he hath suffered for vs who were strangers and enemies vnto God and the children of wrath as well as others For if our great and glorious Generall and Soueraigne King hath thus exposed himselfe to the extremest dangers and thrust himselfe into the thickest crowd of enemies where he hath receiued grisly and mortall wounds that hee might rescue and recouer vs who were taken captiue by them and set vs at liberty how valiantly should we fight his battels euen vnto blood against the enemies of our saluation especially considering that he looketh vpon vs incourageth vs to the fight supporteth and strengtheneth vs with his grace and holy Spirit defendeth and succoureth vs when we are ouer-matched raiseth vs vp when wee are foyled and holdeth in his hand the Crowne of victory being ready to set it vpon our heads when wee haue finished the fight And this argument our Sauiour vseth to incourage vs in all our sufferings and persecutions Remember saith he the word that I said vnto Joh. 15. 20. you The seruant is not greater then his Lord. If they haue persecuted mee they will also persecute you And so likewise the Apostle Peter For as much then 1. Pet. 4. 1. saith he as Christ hath suffered for vs in the flesh arme your selues likewise with the same mind for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin c. The which
liueth an entrance into thy Kingdome not onely by the assurance of faith and hope but also by letting him haue a liuely taste of those heauenly ioyes which thou hast prepared for him Moderate his griefes and paines that they may not hinder his soule from mounting aloft in diuine contemplations and secretly whisper vnto his heart sweet comforts by thy Spirit when as he is through weaknesse insensible of outward consolations Inflame his heart with feruent loue towards thee and his brethren yea euen his enemies for thy sake that he may bee assured that his sinnes are forgiuen of thee because thou giuest him grace to forgiue all men Strengthen him against the tentations of all his spirituall enemies and manifest thy power in his weaknesse by giuing vnto him a full and finall victory ouer them Frustrate the malice of Satan defeat his policies and confound his power that he may not preuaile against him in this last conflict Arme him against the feare of thy wrath and seuere iustice by assuring him that Christ hath appeased the one and satisfied the other Comfort him against the feare of death by perswading him that Christs death hath swallowed it in victory pulled out the sting thereof and made it harmelesse yea exceeding profitable as seruing now for a passage to glory and happinesse and by strengthening him to apply vnto himselfe these consolations by a liuely faith Weane his heart from worldly cares that they may bee no distractions to hinder him in his heauenly iourney and let the assurance and taste of immortall ioyes take away all lothnesse to leaue earthly comforts Set a guard of thy blessed Angels about him and let them serue as thy Messengers and Ministers to conuey his soule as soone as it is separated from his body into thy Kingdome that it may bee there crowned with glory and immortality Finally wee beseech thee giue vs all heere present an holy vse of these examples of our mortality that thereby our hearts being weaned from the world wee may make it our chiefe businesse to prepare our selues against the day of death and Iudgement that so wee may with ioy and comfort appeare before thee when thou shalt bee pleased to call vs to giue vnto thee an account of our Stewardship Heare vs we beseech thee in these our suits and supplications for thy Sonne and our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake to whom with thee and thy holy Spirit be ascribed all glory and praise power and dominion both now and for euermore Amen A Prayer for Children O Almighty God and my most gracious Father in Iesus Christ I humbly confesse that I am a most wretched sinner and altogether vnworthy to bee in the Couenant of grace and saluation For I was not onely conceiued and borne in sinne and corruption whereby thy glorious Image was defaced in me but I haue added thereunto many actuall sinnes by breaking thy Commandements in thought word and deed whereby I haue deserued thy iust anger in this life and eternall death in the world to come But seeing thou hast vouchsafed to receiue me into thy Couenant of thy free mercy giuing me the signe thereof the Sacrament of Baptisme and hast sent thy Sonne Iesus Christ to dye for and by his death to redeeme the young as well as the old I beseech thee for his sake to pardon all my sinnes and to wash them all away in his most precious blood to receiue me into thy loue and fauour and to make mee thine owne child by adoption and grace Giue me thine holy Spirit to sanctifie rule and gouerne me that according to my age and small ability I may labour to serue thee Make me daily to increase in grace as I increase in yeeres inlighten my mind with the knowledge of thee and my Sauiour Christ and his truth Sow in me the seeds of faith and let it shew it selfe assoone as I am capable thereof in repentance and true obedience Make mee louing dutifull and awfull to my Parents and Gouernours and let mee learne by obeying them in my tender youth to obey thee in my riper age Giue me grace to hearken to their good admonitions and instructions and to profit and amend by their reproofes and chastisements Make me humble courteous and meeke modest and sober diligent to please in all good things and vertuous in my whole course of life that so I may increase in fauour with thee and all good men And as I beg these benefits at thy hands so I yeeld vnto thee all humble and hearty thankes and praise for all benefits both spirituall and temporall vouchsafed vnto me and namely for that it hath pleased thee to giue mee quiet rest and sleepe this night past and hast safely preserued mee from all perils and dangers to which my fraile life is daily subiect Continue O Lord thy loue and fauour towards mee for euer and especially this day take mee into thy fatherly protection preserue mee from sinne and perill and grant that being diligent and industrious in learning such good things as are taught me I may increase in knowledge and profit by instruction in such vertues and good qualities as are fit for me O Lord blesse and preserue my father and mother my brethren and sisters with all other my kindred and friends together with thy whole Church and grant that we may liue in thy fauour dye in thy faith and after death inherit the ioyes of thine euerlasting Kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and thy holy Spirit be all honour and glory both now and for euermore Amen FINIS Faults escaped in Printing Page 27. line 23. reade be in the Church p. 29. l. 12 r. internall booke p. 30. l. a fin 8. r. he hath made p. 33 l. 5. r. The will of God and l 7. r. will and most free p 28. l. 11 r. and make men p. 42. l. 12. r. Sunne p 30. l. 17. r. strong corruptions p. 52. l. 7. r. act of p. 57. l a fin 11. read end that we may p. 62. l. 23. returne to their p 66. l. 30. r. for the scanning l. 36. r. yet it neuer l. 39. r. bare act 41. Thesi p. 71. l. 3. r. strong wind l. 37. r. freed from p. 73 l. 4. r. when ceasing and l. 38. r. vpon vs. p. 74. l. 5. r. carry it quietly p. 75. l. 35. r. in a storme p. 85. in Margine l. 15. 16. r. bons viri p. 95. l. 24. r. not deuided and line 2◠r. Chap. 2. Of piety which is the summe of the first Table § Sect. 1. page 125. line 17. reade dominion ouer all p. 125. l. 17. r. one lawfully and l. 33. r. not men p. 128. l. 16. r. God and vs. p. 138. in Margine l. 2. r. The manner p. 140. l. 13 r. dampe it p. 142. l 4 r in our neighbours p. 156. l. a fin 9. r. Frier like affectation p. 179. l. last r. any intercision p. 181 l. 7 r. in
or speciall The generall is either the creation of all things of nothing or the gubernation of them being made by his prouidence The speciall execution of his decree respecteth either Angels or men To say heere nothing of Angels wee are to know that God hauing created the earth of nothing did make man of the earth in respect of his body and breathing into him the breath of life did create him a liuing soule that man was created according to Gods owne image in wisedome holinesse and righteousnesse made Lord of all the creatures and happie in the vision and fruition of God and his fauour and of the ioyes and pleasures of Paradise That being created good and yet but mutable God left him to the freedome of his will and to be tempted of the deuill Vnto which tentation when hee had yeelded by transgressing Gods commandement in eating of the forbidden fruit he fell from this estate of happinesse into the state of sinne misery and death The which sin is imputed vnto vs who sinned in his loynes he being no priuate person but the roote of mankind and the corruption of his nature deriued vnto all his posterity by naturall propagation the which we call originall sinne whereby Gods image is defaced in vs and we disabled vnto all good and made prone vnto all euill From which originall corruption which is the fountaine of all maliciousnesse haue sprung the cursed streames of actuall transgressions whereby wee haue broken Gods whole Law and euery commandement of it in thought word and deed both by omitting the duties which are commanded and committing the sinnes which are forbidden Whereby we haue made our selues subiect to the curse of the Law and all the plagues and punishments therein threatned both temporall and eternall out of which miserable estate and condition it was altogether impossible to recouer by our owne meanes or the helpe of any or all the creatures §. Sect. 10 Of our recouery out of our misery And this was the execution of Gods decree in respect of mans creation fall and misery Vnto which we must adioyne the knowledge of our recouery out of this wretched condition To which purpose we must know that when we were thus deepely plunged into this state of death and condemnation and in respect of our selues or any meanes of our owne hopelesse and helpelesse for our recouery it pleased the Lord of his meere grace and free mercy to send his Sonne into the world to take our nature vpon him and therein to worke that great worke of our redemption The which hee did perfectly performe both by his merits and efficacie The former hee did by satisfying Gods iustice both by his actiue obedience in fulfilling the Law for vs and by his passiue obedience in suffering death in his body and the anger of God in his soule The which is a sufficient price of redemption for all that doe apply it because he that did this for vs was God and man And so as his humane nature made him capeable of these sufferings so the diuine nature which was the Altar vpon which this sacrifice was offered sanctifyed the gift and gaue vnto it infinite value and dignitie so as it became a sufficient and fit satisfaction for sinne For as sinne being nothing in it selfe but a priuation became of infinite guilt in respect of the infinite Maiesty of God offended by it so the sufferings of Christs humane nature though temporary became of infinite value in respect of the dignity of the person who suffered being God and man And as thus Christ saued vs by his merits so also by his efficacie applying the vertue of his merits vnto vs by his Spirit and Word which begetting in vs a liuely faith that bringeth foorth the fruits of vnfained repentance we performe thereby the Couenant of grace and so are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits which are therein promised For in the preaching of the Gospell this couenant is proclaimed and we are effectually called to the knowledge and participation thereof God giuing Christ vnto vs to be our Sauiour and vs to Christ to bee saued by him yea vniting vs vnto him in one mysticall body whereof hee is the Head and we his members by vertue whereof as we are partakers of him so haue we also right and interest vnto all his benefits Of which vnion the chiefe bond on Gods part is his holy Spirit and on our part a liuely and iustifying faith which is wrought in vs by the preaching of the Gospell made effectuall by the inward operation of the Spirit of God and confirmed and increased by the vse of the Sacraments which are the seales annexed to the Couenant to assure vs that God will not faile to performe all his promises And these things are the obiect of our sauing knowledge or the maine points which we are to know vnto saluation and to inable vs to walke in the way of a godly life that leadeth vnto it The which I would not heere haue touched were not this knowledge necessary heereunto or would haue handled them more fully and exactly but that I feared that they would cause this Treatise too much to swell and farre to exceed the limits which I haue proposed vnto it and also considered that there are already published many Catechismes and summes of Diuinity in which all men at their pleasure may finde these and many other the like points of our Christian Religion thorowly discussed CAP. VII Of the quantity and quality of sauing knowledge and how necessary it is to a godly life §. Sect. 1 Of the quantity of knowledge and the diuers degrees of it THe next point to bee considered in our knowledge is the quantity and measure of it the which is imperfect in the greatest perfection which in this life can be attained For as the Apostle though he had receiued aboundance of the Spirit and such reuelations as were not lawfull to bee vttered confessed of himselfe together with others We know but in part and see 1. Cor. 13. 9 12. 8. 2. through a glasse darkely and if any man thinke that hee knoweth any thing namely in perfection he knoweth nothing as he ought to know For wee 2. Cor. 5. 7. Heb. 11. 1. walke by faith and not by sight And faith is of things vnseene and not in vision and fruition Neither can wee attaine to perfect knowledge vntill we attaine vnto perfect happinesse which is not in this life but the life to come when we shall see God face to face and shall know as we are knowne not by the knowledge of faith which is but by hearing signes semblances and reuelations but of vision fruition and most firme experience For the perfection of our knowledge heere consisteth most in the knowledge and acknowledgment of our imperfection and not in the high degree of quantitie but in the sincerity and truth The which knowledge discouereth our ignorance that we may bewaile it and
estate both in respect of the time present and to come In respect of the present a good conscience will make vs beare and brooke all estates not only with patience but also with comfort and ioy in the holy Ghost If we be in prosperity and abound with Gods blessings it warranteth vnto vs the lawfull vse of them and witnesseth vnto vs that we are heires and right owners and not thieues and vsurpers that they are Gods talents which being imployed to aduantage for Luk. 19. 17. Matth. 25. 21. the glory of our great Lord and good of our fellow seruants they shall be doubled and redoubled when we are called to giue account of them that they are pledges of Gods fauour in this life and earnest-pennies of euerlasting ioy and happinesse in the life to come If we be in aduersitie and affliction a good conscience like the good Angell holding vs by the hand in this firie furnace will secure vs that wee shall not receiue any harme For it will testifie vnto vs that these curses in their owne nature are through Gods mercy turned into blessings that they are testimonies of Gods loue seeing as many as he loueth he chastizeth and signes of our Apoc. 3. 19. adoption for the Lord correcteth euery sonne that he receiueth and they are Heb 12. 6. Rom. 8. 37 38. bastards and no sonnes whom he correcteth not That they will not separate Gods loue from vs but our loue from the world That they are not poysons to kill vs but medicines to cure vs of our spirituall diseases fannes and files and fires to winnow vs from our chaffe scowre vs from our rust and purifie vs from the drosse of our corruptions Finally that whatsoeuer they seeme to flesh and blood yet they shall worke together for the best Rom. 8. 28. to them that loue God and that though they be bitter and vnpleasant for the present yet they shall bring foorth the quiet fruits of righteousnesse to Heb. 12. 11. them that are exercised thereby In respect of the time to come a good conscience doth giue vnto vs truely and according to the Scriptures this comfortable and ioyfull euidence that we shall continue euer to be holy and happy perseuering to the end in Gods grace vnto saluation not by vertue of our owne strength but through the power and promises of God For he hath assured vs that he will put his feare in our hearts that wee may Ier. 32. 40. not depart from him That though we haue many fierce Wolues to assault vs and be but silly weake Sheepe vnable to make resistance yet our Shepherd Christ being infinitely stronger then they none shall be able to pull Ioh. 10. 28. Ioh. 13. 1. Ier. 31. 3. vs out of his hand That whom God loueth he loueth with an euerlasting loue and to the end that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance and finally that though we be many wayes tryed yet the Lord will neuer suffer 1. Cor. 10. 13. vs to bee tempted aboue our power but will giue a good end and issue to all our tentations §. Sect. 3 That a good conscience maketh vs cheerfull in Gods seruice Lastly a good conscience maketh vs cheerefull and diligent in Gods Esa 30. 21. 1. Ioh. 2. 27. seruice and willing to doe all things which are pleasing in his sight So the Prophet speaking of the faithfull saith that they should heare a voyce behind them saying This is the way walke ye in it when yee turne to the right hand and when ye turne to the left That is besides their outward teaching in the Ministery of the Word they should haue an inward teacher to direct and admonish them euen the Spirit of God speaking vnto them in the heart and conscience And this is that which Dauid meaneth where he saith that his reines did teach him in the night season that is the voyce Psal 16. 7. of conscience which did shew him the wayes of God and mooued him with cheerefulnesse to walke in them The which is the maine end at which the conscience aimeth in witnessing and sealing vnto vs all the former comforts For therefore the conscience giueth vnto vs that comfortable testimonie that wee are deliuered out of the hands of all our spirituall Luk. 1. 74. enemies to the end that we should not still serue them but worship our Lord and Redeemer in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our liues that he hath bought vs at so deare a price that we should glorifie him 1. Cor. 6. 20. in our soule and body because they are not our owne but his who hath redeemed them that we are freed from sinne that it may no longer raigne in Rom. 6. 12 18. our mortall body but being deliuered out of this cruell tyrannie we should become the seruants of righteousnesse that our consciences are purged from Heb. 9. 14. dead workes that we may serue the liuing God that wee are reconciled vnto God by the death and sufferings of Christ that we may aboue all things esteeme our peace with him which was so dearely purchased and not bee inticed with the hire of the whole world to doe any thing displeasing vnto God or which might breake or disturbe our peace with him seeing this were to vnder-value this inestimable price as being of lesse worth then worldly vanities and to tread the precious blood of Christ vnder our filthy Heb. 10. 26 29. feete as an vnholy thing and euen to despite the Spirit of grace with which we are sanctified Therefore it witnesseth vnto vs that we are sanctified that we may be made carefull to bring foorth the fruits of sanctification to his glory that hath called vs out of darkenesse into this marueilous 1. Pet. 2. 9. light and out of the bondage of sinne and Satan into the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God That though our sanctification be imperfect and Rom. 8. 21. stained with many corruptions yet through Christ it is accepted of God to this end that we might be made more cheerefull and diligent in seruing so gracious a Lord. For what greater incouragement can there be vnto vs in the performance of all good duties then to bee assured that our labour of loue shall not be lost and that whatsoeuer we doe shall be taken in good part and richly rewarded though neuer so imperfect if we desire and indeuour to doe the best we can Finally a good conscience giueth vnto vs this comfortable testimony that we are most happy in all estates that no estate though neuer so much crossed and afflicted may discourage vs from going on in the wayes of godlinesse seeing no misery can make vs miserable but euen our afflictions themselues shall aduance our happinesse and that we shall neuer lose either grace or glory but constantly hold out in the Christian race of godlinesse and righteousnesse vntill we be crowned with the
meanes is the consideration of Gods Iudgements Psal 130. 4. executed on the wicked which are so many instructions vnto vs to feare God and auoide his displeasure that we be not partakers with them in their punishments So the Psalmist saith that the righteous seeing the destruction of the wicked should feare God and deride their folly and the Apostle Psal 52. 6. telleth vs that the former examples of Gods Iudgements were written for 1. Cor. 10. 11. our learning that they might admonish vs to take warning by their harmes lest we fall into the same euils The third meanes is the diligent reading and hearing of the Scriptures which are called The feare of God Psal 19. 9. because they worke his feare in vs. And thus the Lord inioyneth the King to haue the Law with him and to reade therein all the dayes of his life that hee Deut. 17. 19. may learne to feare the Lord his God For in them are contained many Commandements inioyning many exhortations moouing and many reasons perswading to this feare Feare the Lord with reuerence and reioyce Psal 2. 11. with trembling Let all the earth feare the Lord let all the inhabitants of the earth stand in awe of him for he spake and it was done he commanded and it stood fast O feare the Lord all ye his Saints for there is no want to them that Psal 33. 8 9. 34. 9. Isa 8. 13. Heb. 12. 28. feare him The fourth meanes is to deny our selues and our owne wisedome and when God commandeth any thing not to aske counsell of carnall reason vnto which the more we incline the more the feare of God abateth in vs as we see in the example of Eue who following sense and reason obeyed the deuils aduice and cast off the feare of God And this the Wiseman implyeth Bee not wise in thine owne eyes but feare God and Pro. 3. 7. depart from euill The fifth meanes is to meditate often on our owne infirmities and weakenesse and of the malice and might of our spirituall 1. Pet. 5. 8. Eph. 6. 11 12. Phil. 2. 12. 1. Cor. 12. 10. enemies which will make vs worke out our saluation with feare and trembling and whilest we stand to take heede of falling The sixth is to remember our end daily and continually as first the day of our death which will worke our hearts to Gods feare as the Psalmist implyeth and Psal 90. 12. secondly the day of Iudgement and end of the world which is called The 2. Cor. 5. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Pet. 3. 11 14. terrour of the Lord because it is a notable meanes to worke his feare in our hearts The last and chiefe meanes whereby all the rest are made effectuall is feruent prayer For it is no naturall faculty or habit but the gift of God which he promiseth to put in the hearts of the faithfull that they Ier. 32. 39 40. may not depart from him and is to bee obtained by faithfull and effectuall prayer As we see in the example of the Psalmist who prayeth the Lord to knit their hearts vnto him that they might feare his Name Psal 86. 11. §. Sect. 4 Of humility what it is and the causes of it The last vertue required is humility whereby knowing and acknowledging Gods power iustice maiesty goodnesse mercy and infinite perfection and our owne vilenesse and vnworthinesse imperfections and sinfull corruptions we doe renounce all glory and praise as not belonging vnto vs and ascribe it wholly vnto God vnto whom alone it rightly appertaineth So that it is the nature of humility to vilifie and abase our selues in our owne sight euen to the ground as the word importeth to cast off all opinion of our workes and worthinesse and in the sight and sense of our sinnes and corruptions to acknowledge our selues worthy of Gods most heauie punishments in this life and the life to come and contrariwise to ascribe all glory and praise vnto God alone euen of all the good we haue in vs or is done by vs from whom alone we haue it according to that of the Psalmist Not vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy Psal 115. 1. name giue the glory And of Daniel O Lord righteousnesse belongeth vnto Dan. 9. 7 11. thee but vnto vs confusion of faces because wee haue sinned against thee The causes of this humility are first the knowledge and acknowledgement of Gods infinitenesse in all excellency goodnesse and perfection in which he is so incomprehensibly glorious that when we come in his presence it maketh vs to vilifie and abase our selues what opinion soeuer before wee had of our owne worth and excellencie euen as the light of a Glow-worme is quite dazeled when the glorious beames of the Sunne doe shine vpon it Thus in the sight and sense of Gods glory and maiesty Ezechiel was cast to the ground Manoah concluded that hee should Ezech. 2. 1. Iudg. 13. 22. Esa 6. 5. die Esayas cryeth out Woe is me for I am vndone because I am a man of vncleane lips c. for mine eyes haue seene the King the Lord of hosts And Iob hauing seene the Lord abhorred himselfe and repented in dust and ashes Iob 42. 6. Especially if wee consider that this God mighty and glorious in himselfe is so infinitely gracious vnto vs in conferring vpon vs so innumerable benefits and aboue all that inestimable gift of his onely Sonne to worke that great worke of our Redemption The consideration whereof will make vs to humble our selues with Iacob and to confesse that we are lesse then the least of Gods mercies and to say with Dauid Who am I and my 2. Sam. 7. 18 22. house that thou hast brought me hitherto wherefore thou art great O Lord God for there is none like thee c. Secondly the knowledge and acknowledgement of our owne vilenesse and vnworthinesse both in regard of our bodies which are but dust and ashes as Abraham acknowledgeth and in respect Gen. 18. 27. of our soules which howsoeuer they were created according to Gods Image in wisedome holinesse and righteousnesse yet through the fall of our first parents and the corruption deriued from them vnto vs they are wholly defiled in all the powers and faculties of them with originall corruption and loaded with the guilt of innumerable numbers of actuall transgressions whereby we are made subiect to the wrath of God the curse of the Law the plagues and punishments of this life and eternall death and condemnation in the life to come In which regard wee haue just cause to humble our selues with the prodigall sonne and to say with him Father I haue sinned against heauen and earth and am no more Luk. 15. worthy to be called thy sonne And if there be any good thing in vs or done by vs to acknowledge with the Apostle that wee haue it of Gods free 1. Cor.
conceite but sinners to repentance We shall make our selues fit hearers of the glad tidings of the Gospell and intitle our selues to all the gracious comforts of Gods holy Spirit according to that of the Prophet cited applied by our Sauiour The Spirit of the Lord is vpon me because he Esa 61. 1 2 3 Luke 4. 18. hath anointed me to preach the Gospell to the poore and meeke he hath sent me to binde vp and heale the broken-hearted to preach liberty and deliuerance to captiues and recouering of sight to the blinde to set at liberty them that are bruized to comfort them that mourne giuing vnto them beautie for ashes and the oyle of ioy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heauinesse Moreouer by this humiliation wee may come to the assurance of the remission of our sinnes for if we humble our selues and pray seeke Gods 2. Chro. 7. 14. face and turne from our wicked waies then will the Lord heare from heauen and will forgiue vs our sinnes and heale our plagues as wee see in the example of Manasses one of the greatest sinners that euer liued who humbling himselfe greatly before the God of his Father and seeking 2. Chro. 33. 12. and suing vnto him for pardon the Lord was intreated of him and heard his supplication Finally if wee thus dayly humble our selues the Lord hath promised to lift vs vp and exalt vs to furnish vs with all Jam. 4. 6. 1. Pet. 5. 5 6. Luke 1. 53. Matth. 5. 3 4. sauing graces to fill and replenish our emptie soules with all good things to cheare vs in our mourning with the comforts of his Spirit and to make vs blessed in the eternall fruition of his heauenly Kingdome §. Sect. 5 Of the daily confession of our sinnes and iudging our selues for them Thirdly vnto this daily renewing of our repentance is required an humble confession of our sinnes which must be of vnknowne sinnes generally Psal 19. 13. Psal 51. 4 5. of knowne sinnes particularly with the aggrauation of them by their seuerall circumstances Especially wee must acknowledge and lay opne the roote and fountaine of them our originall corruption from which they haue sprung and flowed and then the cursed fruits and filthy streames that haue issued from them but aboue all we must not forget in this our confession those speciall sinnes vnto which we are most enclined and wherewith we haue most offended and dishonoured God nor those sinnes which we haue committed lately and since the last time of renewing our repentance And withall we must iudge and condemne our selues Gen. 32. 10. Ezra 9. 6 7. Dan. 9. 4 5. as vnworthy by reason of our sinnes the least of Gods mercies and most worthy of the greatest of his iudgements and punishments comming into Gods presence as Benhadads followers before Ahab and acknowledging that if wee had our desert death and condemnation were due vnto vs. 1. King 20. 31. Psal 51. 4. 1. Cor. 11. 32. And this we must doe to iustifie the Lord when he iudgeth and to glorifie his name in giuing vnto him the praise of mercy and forgiuenesse and that thus iudging our selues we may not be condemned of the Lord. Neither are we to stay here vnder the sentence of the Law but to flee vnto the throne of grace begging mercy and forgiuenesse at the hands of God for his owne names sake for his truth sake in his couenant and gracious promises and for his Christs sake his merits satisfaction and obedience performed for vs. The fruit and benefit of which humble confession is the full assurance of the remission of all our sinnes grounded vpon the truth of Gods promises For If we confesse our sinnes hee is faithfull and iust 1. Iohn 1. 9 to forgiue vs our sinnes and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse And againe Hee that hideth his sinnes shall not prosper but hee that confesseth Pro. 28. 13. and forsaketh them shall haue mercy Both which wee see verified in the example of Dauid who whilst he concealed his sinne found the hand of God Psal 32. 3 4 5. 2 Sam. 12. 13. heauie vpon him which vexed his very bones and made him roare in sence of paine But when hee confessed and acknowledged his sinne the Lord forgaue him all his iniquities §. Sect. 4 Of our detestation and hatred of sinne Fourthly there is required heereunto an hearty hatred and detestation of all sinne To which end we must consider that it is an offence against Gods infinite Maiesty and supreme Iustice and that nothing in the world is so contrary vnto his most pure and holy nature nothing so odious and lothsome vnto him as appeareth by his most iust seuerity in punishing of it with most sharpe and grieuous punishments For though our first parents in the state of innocency were his most excellent and best beloued creatures yet for one transgression he reiected them and punished not onely them but also all their posterity with temporall punishments of all kinds and euerlasting death and condemnation both of body and soule Though the world and the creatures therein were his excellent workemanship yet when it was defiled with the sinne of man it was with all its inhabitants sauing those which were reserued in the Arke destroyed with an vniuersall deluge For sinne hee consumed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone from heauen and reiected the whole nation of his beloued Israel from being his people Yea when our Sauiour Iesus Christ the Sonne of his loue bore our sinnes as our surety he spared him not but caused him in his body to suffer most grieuous punishments and in his soule to beare the full viols of his wrath till his Iustice by his all-sufficient sufferings was fully satisfied The which considerations must make vs daily to renew our hatred against all our sinnes which God so mortally hateth and especially those which cleaue fastest to our corrupt nature and vnto which we are most inclined because by them wee doe most often displease and dishonour our gracious God and louing Father And to proclaime continuall warre against them that we may vanquish and subdue mortifie and crucifie them and seriously to resolue with our selues that we will vpon no conditions liue any longer in them but renounce and forsake them with our vttermost indeuour how pleasant and profitable soeuer they haue formerly seemed to our carnall appetite §. Sect. 5 Of our feare and care that we be not circumuented with sinne Fifthly in consideration of our owne frailty and infirmity and the malice and subtilty of our spirituall enemies we must daily and continually feare that we be not ouertaken with the deceitfulnesse of sinne nor Pro. 28. 13. 1. Cor. 10. 12. Rom. 11. 20. caught in these snares of the deuill which ought iustly to bee so odious and lothsome vnto vs and haue our hearts taken vp with feruent and zealous desires to preserue our soules
13. 18. contrariwise in all our contracts we must carefully shunne and auoyd all guile and deceit all hollow and double dealing tending to the vndermining Micah 7. 2. and circumuenting of our neighbours So the Apostle exhorteth that no man goe beyond or defraud his brother in any matter because the Lord 1. Thes 4. 6. is the auenger of all such for as the Psalmist saith he abhorreth the deceitfull Psal 5. 6. and blood thirstie man More especially we must in all our dealings obserue truth in all our words and not onely speake it from our lips but also from Zach. 8. 16. Psal 15. 2. our hearts hating auoyding all subtill equiuocations and mentall reseruations as tending to circumuent and deceiue those with whom we deale Secondly fidelity in all our promises performing them although it be to Vers 4. our owne hindrance vnlesse he to whom they are made doth release vs of them Thirdly iustice in all our actions giuing euery man his due and dealing with others as we would haue them to deale with vs. Fourthly charity and compassion in remitting our right in whole or in part when as the bargaine prooueth hard and to the great losse and hinderance of our poore neighbours who are not able to beare it And lastly patience and contentednesse when we sustaine any damage and detriment or be otherwise crossed or ouer-reached in any of our contracts either purposely by those with whom we deale or by some casualty or accident which could not bee foreseene Contrariwise in all our contracts we must auoyd lying and that which is equall vnto it equiuocation For the getting of treasures by Pro. 21. 6. a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seeke death And againe Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished but he that gathereth by labour Pro. 13. 11. shall increase yea though a man could by lying get the whole world what would this profit him seeing thereby hee shall lose his owne soule For liars shall not onely be excluded out of the Kingdome of heauen but also haue their portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the Apoc. 22. 15. 21. 8. second death With like care wee must auoid in our dealings all perfidiousnesse and breach of promise although it tend to our great aduantage seeing God will not blesse goods gotten by breach of couenants and though we should thriue by such courses our worldly gaine will in no sort recompence our spirituall losse We must shun also all kinde of vniustice in our contracts seeing though it bring in present gaine yet no profit in the end For the treasures of wickednesse profit nothing but righteousnesse deliuereth Pro. 10. 2. from death Likewise we must auoyd all vncharitablenesse raysing our gaine out of our neighbours losse but as fellow-members of the same body we must aduance as much as in vs lieth our mutuall profit and in some equality thriue together Finally we must not through impatiency murmure and repine fret and fume when wee meete with any crosses or losses in our contracts but be content sometime to lose as well as gaine and to this end we must not haue our eyes too much fastened vpon secondary causes and inferiour meanes which perhaps are exceeding crosse and faulty but lift them aboue the earth and fixe them vpon the most wise prouidence of our good and gracious God who gouerneth all things which seeme most contingent and casuall and so disposeth of them as is most for his owne glory and the spirituall good and euerlasting saluation of all those that loue and depend vpon him §. Sect. 4 That we must sell only things saleable More especially there are diuers duties required of vs in our buying and selling As first that the seller be the true and lawfull owner of that hee selleth or his deputy appointed by him and that the buyer doe not for priuate gaine buy any thing from any man whom he thinketh not to haue any right to sell it In which respect they grieuously offend who buy or sell stolne goods if they know of it and they who sacrilegiously sell and buy the liuings of the Church and such things as are freely consecrated to the seruice of God Secondly the seller ought to sell and the buyer to buy such things onely as are vendible and may iustly bee bought and sold In which regard they offend who sell or buy the gifts of the Spirit as Simon Magus or holy things which belong to God and those who sell and buy Iustice or iniustice by bribery giuen or taken either to fill their owne purses Amos 2. 6. Esa 5. 23. Esa 1. 23. or to peruert right They also who sell and buy truth and lyes as false witnesses and they that hire them to giue false testimony But they most of all who for corruptible things sell their soules vnto sinne as Achab did which Christ redeemed with his most precious blood Thirdly wee ought to sell onely such things as are fit for sale or knowing them to bee otherwise to acquaint the buyer with it and so to pitch a lower price according to their lesser value Otherwise wee are not to sell things falsified in respect of their substance and such as are mixt and corrupt for such as are pure and good which is a common fault among Merchants and Tradesmen in these dayes who for their greater gaine adulterate their wares and iumble and intermingle things of a different degree in goodnesse selling them all at the best rates Fourthly we are bound to sell those things only which are some way profitable for the Church and Common-wealth either for necessary vse or for ornament and delight Neither ought wee to benefit our selues by such things as are vnprofitable vnto others and much lesse by such as are in their owne nature hurtfull and pernicious vncharitably raising our owne gaine out of our neighbours losse As those that sell popish pardons and bookes to ignorant people who are likely to be seduced by them such also as further them in their superstition and idolatrie obscene pictures and bookes full of ribaldry and all prophanenesse fit for nothing but to poison and corrupt such as see and reade them §. Sect. 5 That we must set and sell our wares at an equall price Fifthly we ought in selling and buying to set our wares at an equall price the best rule whereof for the most part is the ordinarie price of the market which valueth things not simply in their owne worth but with consideration of all circumstances as scarcity plenty time and place and not according to the price wee gaue lesse or more nor onely respecting whether we gayne much or little whether we get nothing or lose thereby For as of necessity through the change of prices we must sometimes lose so it is alike necessary that we should gain at another time to repaire these losses and maintaine our state And
who were worthily reiected in Adam both for the guilt of his sinne and the corruption of our nature which we haue deriued from him Now this benefit of Christ giuen vs of God to bee the foundation of our election and saluation may be vnto vs a most forcible argument to make vs loue God aboue all things who hath so loued vs that hee hath not spared to giue his onely begotten and dearely beloued Sonne vnto vs and for vs euen vnto the death that wee by him might attaine vnto eternall life and happinesse and also to expresse this loue by labouring and indeuouring to serue and please him in all the duties of a godly life For what should withdraw our hearts from God which he hath tyed vnto him by such a bond of loue that was much stronger then death it selfe why should any hire intice vs to neglect his seruice and to serue Satan the world and our owne lusts by committing any knowne sinne vnlesse it be of equall value to that gift that God hath giuen to vs and for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquity and appropriate vs vnto himselfe for his own seruice But ten thousand worlds cannot match this gift and why then should we lose the benefit of it by neglecting the seruice of God and hiring our selues to worke wickednesse for the base hire of worldly vanities §. Sect. 2 That the work of redemption should mooue vs to serue our Redeemer in all duties of a godly life Againe as Christ our Sauiour giuen vnto vs by God his Father so also the great worke of Redemption wrought by him may serue as a most powerfull argument to mooue vs vnto the diligent performance of all the duties which belong to a godly life For though the worke of our Creation and preseruation are inestimable benefits yet this much exceedeth them being farre aboue all humane conceit and so vnspeakeable that it can neuer be sufficiently expressed and magnified by the tongue of men and Angels Yet let vs take as we are able some slender view of it and with rauishing wonder admire and adore the rest which we are not able to comprehend And consider first what wee were who were thus redeemed Rom. 5. 8 10. to wit mortall men dust and ashes weake and of no strength strangers sinners yea enemies vnto God and our owne saluation Secondly from what we were redeemed namely out of the greatest and most desperate misery which could possibly bee incident vnto any creature For Christ hath deliuered vs from the wrath of God the curse of the Law and all the fearefull plagues therein threatned temporall and eternall from the miserable bondage and captiuity of sinne and Satan from death hell and euerlasting condemnation both of body and soule and that when we were so desperately and vnrecouerably plunged into these fearefull miseries that wee were vtterly vnable to helpe our selues yea when all the power of men and Angels was altogether vnsufficient to doe vs any good Thirdly consider who redeemed such poore sinfull wretches out of this wofull plight euen the glorious Sonne of God equall to his Father in power and Maiesty hee vouchsafed to pitty vs in our misery and to take vpon him our deliuerance Fourthly consider the meanes which he vsed to effect this great worke of our Redemption namely by humbling himselfe in taking vpon him our nature and vniting it in a substantiall and inseparable vnion vnto his Diuine nature that so he might in our stead doe and suffer whatsoeuer was necessary for our saluation Fifthly consider the manner of effecting this great worke or the meanes which hee vsed that he might redeeme vs namely by offering himselfe vnto God his Father as a sacrifice for our sinnes and an all-sufficient price for our Redemption and to suffer in his body and soule all those punishments which were due vnto vs for our sinnes As all the miseries of his life pouerty and meane birth flight from his enemies the tentations of the deuill hunger wearinesse the persecutions scornes reproches and slanders of the world and wicked men And those especially which he indured a little before his death for he was betrayed by his owne Apostle and forsaken by the rest apprehended by his enemies and by them most iniuriously and barbarously abused and haled from one Iudgement seat to another falsly accused wrongfully condemned blindfolded buffeted rayled at spit vpon scorned and mocked whipped crowned with thornes and crucified and so suffered for vs that cruell ignominious and accursed death of the Crosse and his Fathers wrath due to our sinnes which made him to sweate drops of Blood and vnder the waight of this intolerable burthen to complaine as a man forlorne and forsaken of God All which he willingly meekely and patiently suffered for vs that he might redeeme vs out of the hands of all our enemies and purchase vs vnto himselfe Psal 100. 2. as his owne peculiar people So that wee are now his by a treble right for he hath made vs and therefore we are his euen his home-borne seruants who owe vnto him our birth and being hee preserueth vs and giueth vnto vs all the good things which we inioy and so we are his hired seruants who owe vnto him all loue and duty for the rich wages of his bounteous benefits and finally he hath redeemed vs out of the hands of our mortall enemies by giuing for vs not siluer or gold or any corruptible 1. Pet. 1. 17 18. thing but himselfe and his owne precious Blood as a price to satisfie his Fathers iustice for our sinnes and therefore we are no more our owne but 1. Cor. 6. 20. his by the Law of Redemption What then remaineth but that we yeeld vnto our Sauiour his owne right which hee hath so dearely bought and seeing he hath giuen a price for vs which is of ten thousand yea infinite times more value then his purchase O let vs not defraud him of his bargaine but deuote our bodies and soules wholly to him that we may glorifie him by our seruice and be sorry that we haue no more to giue vnto him Wee owed our selues vnto him before by right of creation but by our sinnes robbed him of his due by selling our selues ouer to Satan as his slaues for the base hire of worldly vanities and now hee hath againe made vs his owne by giuing himselfe as the price of our Redemption and therefore let vs not againe depriue him of his right and defraud him of his seruice which if we vngratefully doe there remaineth no further sacrifice Heb. 10. 26. for sinne He hath giuen himselfe for vs and shall we thinke it too much to giue our selues to him He came not to be serued but to serue and to giue Mat. 20. 28. his life a ransome for many and shall the seruant detract his seruice when his Lord and Master his King and Soueraigne hath abased himselfe to doe seruice for him Hee hath
tentations that they shall not be able to doe vs any hurt For whereas those who liue in their sinnes and neglect the duties of a godly life doe giue vnto him all aduantage against them and by leauing off the brest-plate of Righteousnesse doe lie open to his poysonous darts so as he may easily perswade them that they are subiect to Gods wrath and the curse of the Law seeing they continue in their sinnes that they are not ingrafted into Christ seeing they bring forth no fruits of holinesse and righteousnesse that they are out of Gods fauour seeing they haue no care to please him by performing such duties as are acceptable in his sight and finally that they are not the children of God because they are nothing like him nor reformed according to his image nor heires of heauenly happinesse seeing they haue not purged themselues as it becommeth those who haue this hope Contrariwise when we keepe this brestplate of Righteousnesse fast buckled vnto vs wee may without danger repell all his fiery darts seeing we are assured that we are in Gods fauour whilest wee labour in all things to please him that wee are in Christ seeing without him wee could doe nothing that we are Gods children seeing we resemble him Ioh. 15. 5. in holinesse and righteousnesse and labour after perfection as he is perfect That we are freed from the curse of the Law and the guilt and punishment of all our sinnes seeing we feele the vertue of Christs death effectuall in vs for the mortifying and subduing of our corruptions And finally that maugre all the malice of our spirituall enemies we shall attaine vnto heauenly happinesse seeing our mercifull God hath graciously promised that he will reward our temporary seruice with this inestimable and eternall wages and crowne his owne graces in vs and the fruits which wee haue brought forth of them in the Christian duties of a godly life with endlesse ioy and immortalitie §. Sect. 5 That by a godly life we are prepared against the day of death The fourth benefit of a godly life is that thereby wee are continually prepared against the day of death so that the manifold euils Heb. 9. 27. which accompany it cannot hurt vs nor the dreadfull terrours thereof daunt and dismay vs. For howsoeuer it is appointed that all must die and this sentence like the lawes of the Medes and Persians is irreuocable yet to those that walke in the waies of godlinesse the nature of death is quite changed and the sting thereof taken away For of the last and greatest euil it is made vnto them a preparatiue to the chiefest good of an enemy it is become a friend of a Sargeant to arrest vs and imprison vs in hell it is become a ioyfull messenger sent of God to deliuer vs out of all worldly miseries and to bring vs into the ioyes of heauen In which regard the Wise man saith that howsoeuer Pro. 14. 32. the wicked is driuen away in his wickednesse yet the righteous hath hope in his death And that riches profit not in the day of wrath but righteousnesse deliuereth Chap. 11. 4. from death that is from the sting of death and all the euils that doe accompany it And the Spirit of God pronounceth them Blessed Apoc. 14. 13. that die in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them Namely that they may be crowned with ioy and immortality The which if it were well weighed might iustly not onely free the faithfull from the immoderate feare of death but also make it appeare precious in their eyes as it is in the sight of God and moue them Psal 116. 15. Phil. 1. 21 23. August in 1. Epist Ioan. with the Apostle to desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ seeing that is best of all and as one saith not to die patiently but to liue with patience and to die with ioy For who reioyceth not when after a wearisome pilgrimage hee approcheth neere vnto his owne Country when after a dangerous passage wherein hee hath beene tossed and turmoiled with aduerse windes and tempestuous stormes hee is ready to arriue safely in the long expected hauen when after his dayes labour hee commeth to receiue liberall wages and when after a dangerous and doubtful fight hauing conquered all his enemies hee is to be presented by the holy Angels before his Soueraigne King that hee may receiue the Crowne of victory And howsoeuer death hath many terrours which doe accompany it yet to those that haue serued God in the duties of a godly life they need not seeme terrible seeing against euery blow they haue their ward against euery poyson their soueraigne antidote They must leaue the world but they must goe to heauen forgoe their riches but for them enioy heauenly treasures bee depriued of momentanie delights but that they may attaine vnto euerlasting ioyes lose the comfort of all their friends but in lieu of it shall haue the sweete society of the Saints and Angels yea the fruition of God himselfe and his Christ and holy Spirit whom to enioy is to bee perfectly happy Yea but it is a grieuous sight to behold our friends mourning for our departure but this is recompenced with the hope of our happie meeting and the present ioyes of our heauenly entertaynement by the rest of our friends that are gone before vs. Yea but death is a straight and paynefull passage but it bringeth vs to a spacious and glorious Palace In our bodies wee are afflicted with many griefes of sicknesse but these are eased with the inward peace of conscience and comfort of the Spirit Wee are in euery part of our bodies racked with paine but they are onely the throwes that goe before our heauenly birth whereby we are borne to euerlasting and immortall glory Our bodies must be buried and corrupt in the earth but being sowne in corruption they shall arise incorruptible and our mortall shall 1. Cor. 15. 42 43 put on immortality our weaknesse strength and our basenesse glory Finally if liuing in Gods feare wee dye in his fauour wee may bee strongly armed against all the terrours of death and expect it at all times with a ioyfull countenance §. Sect. 6 That by leading of a godly life we are assured to be freed from iudgement condemnation Lastly by leading of a godly life wee may be assured that wee shall bee freed from Iudgement and condemnation in the world to come For if we liue here in the feare of God our sinnes shall not come into Iudgement because they are already iudged in Christ who hath satisfied Gods Iustice for them and payed our debt to the vttermost farthing If wee haue beene carefull here to play the good Stewards and dayly keeping our reckonings straight receiue our acquittance and discharge before wee sleepe sealed with the blood of Christ applied vnto vs by a liuely and renewed faith wee shall haue nothing to account for
sinnes whereby the conscience would be defiled And so hauing nothing to lay to our charge or to accuse vs of before God sauing humane frailties and infirmities for which we haue as it were a pardon of course sealed by the blood of Christ the conscience becommeth peaceable and speaketh nothing but good and ioyfull things vnto vs testifying the remission of our sinnes our reconciliation with God and that we and our workes are accepted of him So that if with vprightnesse of heart we will serue the true Melchisedech in the duties of a godly life he will be vnto vs not onely a King Heb. 7. 2. of righteousnesse but also a King of peace For dying for our sinnes and rising againe to iustifie vs he hath at his departure left this rich legacy to all his true Disciples Peace I leaue with you may peace I giue vnto you The Ioh. 14. 27. and 16. 33. which is not to be esteemed a gift of small value seeing as the Apostle telleth vs it passeth all vnderstanding being one of those fruits wherein Phil. 4. 7. the Kingdome of heauen and our euerlasting happinesse is begun in vs in this life for as he saith The Kingdome of God is not meate and drinke but Rom. 14. 27. righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost The which may effectually mooue vs to all Christian and holy duties of a godly life seeing these first fruits of heauenly ioy are incomparably of more value then a whole haruest of all earthly happinesse euen in their present worth as bringing with them more sound comfort and contentment more durable and lasting ioy and also because they are sure euidences and earnest-pennies of our heauenly Inheritance and full fruition of euerlasting blessednesse §. Sect. 7 That a godly life causeth constancy and perseuerance vnto the end The fifth benefit which we shal receiue by a godly life is that if we once with a firme resolution earnest indeuour set our selues to serue please God we shall continue in this estate notwithstanding our manifold infirmities and corruptions which make vs daily prone to fall into sinne For they who are once receiued into couenant with God haue not onely the gracious promise of the remission of their sinnes but also haue the meanes offered vnto them yea wrought in them by God of vnfained repentance whereby turning vnto him from their sinnes and renewing their faith which is the condition of the couenant in the assurance that they are all pardoned in Christ they may with peace and comfort proceed againe in their course of godlinesse as if they had neuer failed in it nor gone astray Neither doth the Lord onely as a gracious Father prouide fit nourishment for his children to preserue them in their health and strength but like a skilfull and wise Physician soueraigne medicines to recouer them when they are sicke and weake and not onely affoordeth vnto them meanes to keepe them whole and sound but the precious Balme of Gilead the blood of Christ applyed by faith and the salue of all sores of sinne vnfained repentance to heale them when in the spirituall conflict they are hurt and wounded The which he proudeth for them and as it were putteth it into their hands by his earnest exhortations O Israel turne vnto the Lord thy God for thou hast falne by thine iniquity Take Hos 14. 1 2. vnto you words and turne to the Lord Say vnto him Take away all iniquity and receiue vs graciously And againe As I liue saith the Lord God I haue Ezek. 33. 11. no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue Turne ye turne ye from your euill wayes for why will ye dye yee house Ier. 8. 5 6. of Israel Yea he is displeased with them and sharply reprooueth them if they neglect this medicine when he offereth it vnto them that they may be cured Why is this people slidden backe by a perpetual backsliding they hold Ier. 31. 20. fast deceit they refuse to returne no man repented him of his wickednesse saying What haue I done c And if thus they are not moued to returne his bowels are troubled and yearne with compassion as the Prophet speaketh and he is sorry that they sorrow not as wee see in the example of our Sauiour Christ who wept ouer Ierusalem because they would not make vse Luk. 19. 41. of the acceptable Day whilest it lasted that they might repent and so escape Gods imminent Iudgements Yea he doth not so leaue them but effectually worketh in the hearts of his faithfull and chosen Ones this repentance Act. 5. 31. which he requireth for he giueth repentance to the house of Israel Ezek. 36. 26. Zach. 12. 10. he taketh away their stony hearts and giueth them hearts of flesh hee powreth the Spirit of grace vpon the house of Iudah and causeth them to bewaile their sinnes The which may be vnto vs a singular incouragement in our Christian course when as wee are assured that notwithstanding our many frailties and infirmities wee shall not be cast off and though we haue many foiles and fals yet we shall not lie still and perish in our sinnes seeing the Lord giueth vnto all his that feare and serue him the grace of vnfained repentance so as they rise againe and recouer their former estate of holinesse and withall his wonted grace and fauour as though they had neuer sinned and with it their wonted peace of conscience and ioy in the Holy Ghost §. Sect. 8 Of the benefits which a godly life bringeth at the houre of death And these are the benefits which accompany a godly life whilest we continue in the world the benefits which it bringeth when by death we are to depart out of it are also great and inestimable For when all worldly blessings faile and like miserable comforters leaue and forsake vs when being in greatest agony and distresse wee stand in most neede of helpe then the consolations which it bringeth doe exceedingly cheere and refresh vs. For the good Spirit of God which hath ruled and guided vs throughout the whole course of our liues doth not leaue and forsake vs at the houre of death but then especially doth accompany and assist vs and the more our afflictions and griefes abound the more it causeth our consolations to abound also For it sealeth in our hearts and consciences the assurance of the pardon and remission of all our sinnes and saith vnto vs as sometimes Christ to the sicke of the palsie Sonne be of good comfort thy sinnes are Matth. 9. 2. forgiuen thee It incourageth vs against the feare of death by assuring vs that it hath lost its sting and therefore though like a serpent it still hisse yet it is not able to doe vs any hurt It causeth the beames of Gods loue to shine cleerely in our hearts by which they are so warmed and cheered that the
occurrent The which ioy far exceedeth all the ioyes of the world For they satisfy not but leaue the soule empty so that the ioy of one pleasure doth but stirre vp the appetite to hunger after another which if it should not be inioyed leaues nothing but sorrow behind whereas this as our Sauiour speaketh is a full ioy in the fruition of God partly in sense and feeling according Iohn 15. 11. to that of the Psalmist O taste and see that the Lord is good Psal 34. 8. and partly in the assurance of faith which maketh vs reioyce in expectation of full fruition Worldly ioy is short and momentany like the crackling of thornes vnder a pot which causeth a suddaine blaze as suddenly Eccles 7. 6. goeth out but the ioy of the Spirit is lasting and permanent and Iohn 16. 22. no man as our Sauiour saith can take it from vs. That consists in eating and drinking and the inioying of such company as are like our selues but this in the soules fruition of her beloued Spouse whose loue is Cant. 1. 2. better then wine seeing his fauours are so full of rauishing delight that the heart is not able to containe them as we see in the example of the Spouse in the Canticles who being brought by her Bridegroome into his banketing house was so filled that she euen surfeted of his delicacies which forced her to cry out Stay me with flaggons Comfort me with Cant. 2. 4 5. apples for I am sicke of loue Of which sweete and gracious entertainment of the faithfull soule the Psalmist also speaketh They shall bee abundantly Psal 36. 8. satisfied with the fatnesse of thy House and thou shat make them drinke of the riuer of thy pleasures Finally the ioy of worldlings accompanieth their prosperitie but when the euill day commeth it leaueth and forsaketh them and is turned into sorrow and griefe of heart but the godly reioyce euen in their tribulation affliction in their assurance of Gods loue and because they know that they shall worke together for their good these light and momentany afflictions causing vnto them a farre Rom. 5. 3. Rom. 8. 28. 2. Cor. 4. 17. Iam. 1. 2. most excellent and an eternall waight of glory They account it all ioy as the Apostle Iames speaketh when they fall into diuers tentations knowing that the tryall of their faith worketh patience And when they are persecuted for righteousnesse sake they being blessed in their sufferings reioyce Matth. 5 10 11 and are exceeding glad because their reward is great in heauen And thus the Apostle saith that the Thessalonions receiued the Word in much affliction 1. Thes 1. 6. and with ioy in the holy Ghost And that the Hebrewes tooke ioyfully the spoyling of their goods knowing themselues that they had in heauen a better and induring substance The which ioy is a supernaturall gift and fruit of the sanctifying Spirit which all cannot attaine vnto but the faithfull only and therefore the Apostle prayeth for the Romans that Rom. 15. 13. the God of hope would fil them with all ioy and peace in beleeuing that they might abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost It is a priuiledge wherin wicked men haue no portion but is peculiar to the godly in whom the Kingdome of God is begunne in this life which none inioy but they Matth. 6. 33. which seeke also his righteousnesse seeing it consisteth not onely in peace Rom. 14. 17. and ioy in the holy Ghost but also in righteousnesse as the Apostle speaketh and therefore seeing those things cannot bee separated which God hath conioyned we must labour after righteousnes if we would be partakers of this ioy vnto which if we doe attaine we shall assuredly be filled with it For if the Apostle reioyced in it as in his Crowne Phil. 4. 1. 1. Thes 19. 20. and ioy when he had beene a meanes of conuerting others and bringing them into the way of truth and righteousnesse and if the Apostle Iohn reioyced so greatly that he professeth he had no greater ioy in any outward Ioh. Epist 2 4. and Epist 3. 3 4. thing then when he saw his children walking in this way then what inestimable ioy must this needs cause vnto vs when our selues by walking in the way of holinesse and righteousnesse doe attaine vnto the assurance of our owne happinesse §. Sect. 5 The last speciall priuiledge is Christian liberty The last speciall priuiledge peculiar vnto the godly which the Spirit bringeth is Christian liberty whereby being freed out of the hands of all Luk. 1. 74. our spirituall enemies we serue the Lord in holinesse and righteousnesse without feare and so attaine vnto the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God seeing his seruice is perfect freedome and haue power and dominion ouer all the creatures so as wee may vse them to all purposes both for necessity and comfort hauing full right and interest in them by our adoption The which priuiledge also is a fruit of the Spirit according to that of the Apostle Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty And is deriued vnto 2. Cor. 3. 17. vs when as the holy Ghost by a liuely faith applyeth vnto vs the vertue and efficacy of Christ Iesus his death and satisfaction whereby this liberty was first purchased for vs in which respect our Sauiour also challengeth vnto himselfe this power and prerogatiue of setting vs at liberty as being our alone Redeemer who hath deliuered vs out of the hands of all our spirituall enemies If saith he the Sonne shall make you free you shal be free Ioh. 8. 36. indeed We were subiect to the wrath of God but our Sauiour hath freed Gal. 3. 13. vs from it and by satisfying his Iustice hath reconciled vs vnto him We were vnder the curse of the Law but hee hath freed vs by being made a curse for vs. Wee were the wretched slaues of Satan and in the state of death and condemnation but hee by his death hath destroyed him that had Heb. 2. 14 15. the power of death that is the deuill that he might deliuer them who through the feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage Wee were seruants to the world and the vassals of the earthly Mammon but Christ hath ouercome the world both for himselfe and all his Elect Ioh. 16. 33. and so set vs at liberty out of this thraldome Wee were the seruants of sinne which made vs slaues to all other enemies and obeyed it in the wicked lusts thereof for as our Sauiour saith Hee that committeth sinne Joh. 8. 34. is the seruant of sinne For his seruants wee are whom wee obey whether of sinne vnto death or of obedience vnto righteousnesse And though with the Rom. 6. 16. Iewes wee were ready to boast of our freedome and as it were out of our store to promise liberty vnto
of the fruits of this hatred from which diuers impediments doe arise that hinder many in the wayes of godlinesse And these are either internall in the minde and iudgement or externall in the words and actions of the former sort there are two notable hinderances and discouragements The first is the false iudgement and erroneous opinion of wicked worldlings shewed in their hard and harsh bitter and vncharitable censures of the godly whereby they condemne their persons and all the good graces of God in them with all the vertuous actions which are done by them as euill and faultie Their feruencie of deuotion in religious exercises they iudge to be grosse hypocrisie their wisdome and Christian prudence they repute wilinesse and subtilty their simplicity folly their zeale 2. King 9. 11. madnesse their patience Stoicall apathy and stupidity their frugalitie niggardly auarice their bounty lauish wastfulnesse their Christian forbearance and long-suffring pusillanimity and base cowardize their seuerity cruelty their resolute and absolute obedience to Gods Law they condemne as no better then rebellion against Princes and Magistrates their contempt of the world and earthly vanities is reputed by them cynicall and melancholike sottishnesse and folly In a word if wee set our selues seriously to please God nothing that wee can doe will please the world but all is taken at the worst and euen our best vertues will be branded and blemished by their vniust and vncharitable censures as blameworthy and vicious But that this may not discourage vs in our Christian courses let vs consider that this hath beene euer the portion of all Gods children to be condemned by his enemies Thus the Prophets were censured to be opposites to Princes and States the Apostles to be seditious Matth. 11. 18. persons and brochers of nouelties Iohn the Baptists abstinence Matth. 26. 8. and austerity was counted deuillish Maries loue and bounty reputed needlesse and lauish wastefulnesse Yea our Sauiour Christ himselfe escaped not these false and vniust censures but had his best actions blemished with the malicious censures of wicked men His miracles done by the vertue of his diuine nature were deemed to be done by the power of Beel-zebub the prince of the deuils For his benigne sociablenesse he was iudged a boone-companion and a friend to Publicanes and sinners and all his gracious words wrested and misconstrued vnto the worst sense which wit and malice could giue vnto them And therfore if we will walke in their steps we must looke for the like measure which both our fellow seruants and our great Lord and Master haue found before vs. Againe let vs remember that we stand or fall to our owne Master and as it will doe vs little good to be approued of the world when he condemneth vs so as little hurt to be condemned of the world when God and our consciences doe approue and iustifie vs. Finally let vs know to our comfort that the day will come when all these vniust censures and sentences pronounced by the mouthes of malicious men shall be wholy reuersed and all the sorrow and griefe caused by them swallowed vp with rauishing ioy when we shall heare that last sentence of approbation pronounced by our Lord and Sauiour Well done good and faithfull seruant c. applauded Matth. 25. 23. by the acclamation of all the Saints and Angels §. Sect. 5 Of worldly contempt vnto which the godly are liable The other impediment whereby the world laboureth to discourage all that in the sincerity of their hearts feare and serue God is to Mal. 3. 17. haue them aboue all other men in greatest contempt and basest esteeme For whom God prizeth as his choysest Iewels the world vilifieth as abiects and the refuse of all things whom the Lord honoureth with the glorious titles and priuiledges of his owne children and heires apparant to his heauenly Kingdome the world despiseth as men vnworthy to liue in any humane society And no sooner are they admitted into that holy and happy communion with God and fellowship of his Saints but presently worldly and wicked men shunne them as vnworthy their company For as the vniust man is an abomination Pro. 29. 27. to the iust so he that is vpright in his way is abomination to the wicked And this was that stumbling blocke which being cast into the way hindred many of the Rulers from following Christ and from imbracing and professing that truth of which their consciences were conuinced because they feared lest hereby they should impeach their reputation and expose themselues to the contempt of their consorts louing the praise of men more then the praise of God This kept the parents Ioh. 12. 43. Joh. 9. 23. of the blinde man from confessing Christ and iustifying his miracle because the Iewes had decreed that if any man did confesse that Iesus was Christ he should be put out of their Synagogue and banished from their societies and publique assemblies Which impediment if we would remoue wee must learne to esteeme basely of the worlds estimate and neither to thinke better of our selues when it honoureth vs nor worse when it vilifieth and despiseth vs. To which purpose let vs consider that when wee are for righteousnesse sake most contemned in the eyes of the world wee are most magnified in the eyes of God and contrariwise when we haue most the applause of men in our euill courses we are esteemed of God most vile and abiect according to that of our Sauiour That which is highly esteemed amongst Luk. 16. 15. men is abominable in the sight of God Let vs remember that we cannot immoderately affect the applause of men and maintaine faith and a good conscience For as our Sauiour demandeth How can yee beleeue Ioh. 5. 44. which receiue honour one of another and seel not the honour that commeth from God onely That we can neuer hold out constantly in our course of Christianity vnlesse we can with the Apostle esteeme it a very small 1. Cor. 4. 3. thing to be iudged of mans iudgement and can be content with him by honour and dishonour euill report and good report to goe forward in the duties 2. Cor. 6. 8. of a godly life which if wee performe with neuer so much diligence zeale yet if therein we doe not ayme chiefely to please God more then men we shall not be the seruants of Christ but of the world Gal. 1. 10. seeing we will be willing to lay aside our profession and holy practice when the world censureth and condemneth them Let vs know that it will little auaile vs at the day of death or iudgement to haue had the approbation and applause of men when as God and our owne consciences shal condemne vs nor be any cause of griefe at that day when we call to minde that for the pleasing and honouring God in all Christian duties we haue displeased the world and brought our selues into contempt with men when as the
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Is it not A TREATISE OF SECVRITIE Diuided into two Bookes THE FORMER INTREATING OF CARNALL SECVRITIE AND HARDNES OF HEART Wherein the Nature Originall and Causes of it are displayed and described the Kinds of it distinguished and the Differences betweene them expressed the Signes whereby it may be knowne shewed with the Preseruatiues and Remedies whereby we may be kept from falling into this dangerous disease or recouered if we be alreadie fallen THE LATTER INTREATING OF SPIRITVALL AND CHRISTIAN SECVRITIE Wherein is shewed what it is the Causes and Effects of it and the Meanes whereby it may be obtayned and preserued Published as an Antidote against the dangerous Securitie of these last Times By IOHN DOWNAME Batchelar in Diuinitie and Preacher of GODS Word ZEPH. 1. 12. And it shall come to passe at that time that I will search Ierusalem with Candles and punish the men that are setled on their lees that say in their heart The Lord will not doe good neither will doe euill LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1622. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Sir Henrie Mountagu KNIGHT Baron of KIMBOLTON Viscount MANDEVILLE Lord President of his MAIESTIES most Honorable Priuie Counsell And to the truely Noble and Vertuous Lady the Lady MARGARET his Wife J. D. wisheth all temporall happines with the confluence of all spirituall Graces in this life and eternall blessednesse in the life to come Right Honorable and my most honored Lord and Lady AS long peace and prosperitie are the common causes of carnal securitie and hardnesse of heart so these the vsuall forerunners of fearefull punishments seeing in this desperate Disease which we may fitly call the stone in the heart more gentle Medicines will not effect the cure For when mens hearts are come to brassy or flinty hardnesse nothing will melt them without some extraordinary worke of the Spirit but the fiery furnace of Affliction nothing will bruise and breake them but the heauy hammer of Gods dreadfull iudgements And this is manifest in the examples of all Ages which are left vnto vs in the Scriptures to giue vs warning As of the old world Sodome and her bordering Cities and of the Israelites Gods owne best beloued people all which as they were lulled asleepe in the Cradle of carnall Security with the pleasing and bewitching tunes of peace and pleasure so were they alwayes when they least suspected it surprised vpon the suddaine in their lethargie of sinne with some remarkable plagues and punishments And therefore considering with my selfe that our long peace plenty and prosperity hath infected the most that liue in our land with deepe security and retchlesse carelesnesse and caused them to dreame that this Sun-shine will neuer set I could not chuse but suspect and daily expect the neer approching of the other and that the darke night of affliction and calamity will ere long surprize vs vnlesse the loude cries of Gods Ministers doe speedily awaken vs out of our lethargie and moue vs to meet the Lord and preuent his iudgements by turning vnto him in vnfayned repentance In which regard being appoynted and called by God to bee one of his though least worthy watchmen whose office requireth that we should not only our selues keep the spirituall watch but also as much as in vs lyeth awaken others I thought it my duty by giuing warning of these approaching dangers to rowze vp as many as I could out of this sleepe or rather lethargie of securitie And because my voyce were farre too weake though I could as the Lord requireth lift it vp as a Trumpet to be heard of all the people of this Land I haue indeuoured to conuay the sound thereof as it were by these paper Pipes euen vnto the most remote places and to those especially where the liuely voyce of Gods faithfull watchmen is rarely heard either because the meanes of their maintenance by sacriledge and Church-robbery or symonicall fraud is taken away or because dumbe or idle and sleeping watchmen doe hold their places without any care to performe their duty as neither keeping the watch themselues nor being either able or willing to keepe others waking The which my labours I haue made bold to dedicate vnto your Honors To you my Lord I confesse not without some presumption as not being hitherto known vnto you yet herein not vnexcusable in that it proceedeth from a desire to shew how much I honor you for your profession and protection of Gods true and sincere Religion in that Honourable place vnto which God hath called you your loue to Learning and fouour towards the Learned But to you Noble Ladie in whose notice and vndeserued respect I haue beene more happie I haue deuoted this poore part and mite of my worthlesse Workes that liuing in these Paper Monuments as it were in my longest lasting posterity I may euen after death hath imposed silence still testifie vnto the world mine humble loue and vnfayned thankefulnesse for your manifold and great fauours vouchsafed vnto me and how