large discourse sheweth that by patience we are commended and presented to God that anger is repressed the tongue refrayned the minde gouerned and man thereby on euery side perfect True then is the Apostles saying auouching that patience maketh vs perfect and entire lacking nothing But now that the Apostle here saith that by pacience we are made perfect we may note that perfection is double One perfection there is of the substance of thinges as he that beleeueth constantly vpon Christ without wauering is perfect in faith for hee hath the perfection of the substance of faith Who so holdeth the doctrine of Christ as the infallible word of trueth and therunto cleaueth immoueably as to the anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast hee hath the word of God perfectly concerning the substance Who so constantly continueth in the Heb. 6. profession of his religion that neither with blast of vayne perswasion neither with storme of cruel persecution he be remoued is perfect Thus men in this world may be perfect in vertues when they haue the true substance of the vertues for which they are commended There is another perfection which is of degrees which is such as cannot be encreased in any degree as to haue such faith as that we need not to pray Lord increase Luke 17. our faith to haue such knowledge as wee neede not with Dauid desire further to be enstructed in the wayes of the Psal 25. 119. 86. Lord to haue such patience as that cannot be augmented such perfection as in nothing canbe encreased thus no man is perfect in this infirmitie and weaknes of nature by patience we grow to perfection of the substance of sundrie vertues but not to perfection in degrees but to such a measure as of men in this life may be attayned whereunto the name of perfection is geuen Thus both men in holy Scripture and things are sometimes called perfect as Iob Zacharie and Elizabeth and others yet not absolutely but either in comparison of the wicked and vngodly then whom the Saints are more holy and in comparison perfect either because the Saintes excell in the greater part of their life in excellent vertues as S. Augustine auoucheth and another father to like purpose Men 2. De meritis remis c. 2. are called perfect not that there is no imperfection in thē but because they are commended with a great heape of vertues Or finally because that measure whereunto wee grow and those vertues whereunto we aspire and clime are reputed in the Saints for perfect by the imputation of the perfection of Iesus Christ whereby all the vertues of the Saints are accepted with God Seeing then by patience vnder the manifold afflictions of this life we increase in vertue and growe to be entire perfect and as lacking nothing shall we not thereby be moued to holde fast the exhortation and proposition of the Apostle Brethren count it exceeding ioy whē you fall into diuers temptations knowing that your triall of faith bringeth foorth patience and let patience haue her perfect worke that you may be perfect and entire lacke nothing And these are the three reasons wherefore wee ought to count it exceeding ioy when we fall into diuers temptations These things thus set down the Saints might haue obiected 3. A preoccupation against his doctrin It were good thus to do we deny not but it is not so soon done as easilie spokē as thogh we were able of our selues thus in our afflictions to moderate our selues that whensoeuer we be afflicted to accoūt it exceeding ioy This obiection the Apostle answereth I know this is not a qualitie in the power and strength of nature but it is a speciall grace and gift of God in our affliction to comfort our selues that we be not cast downe nor faint hearted but rather be glad and reioyce Therefore it is to be asked of him which onely geueth this heauenly wisdome In which place there may two things be obserued 1. The obiectiō which might haue been made 2. Then the answere thereunto 1 The obiection is Wee cannot of our selues thus beare the crosse we haue no such strength in nature there is nothing more vnpleasant or vnsauourie to the flesh then is the crosse We know that in vs that is in our flesh Rom. 7. dwelleth no good thing of our selues as of our selues wee cannot so much as thinke a good thought How vnequall 2. Cor. 13. are we then to the bearing of so heauie a burthen Wee must needes sinke vnder the crosse wherefore in vaine O holy and blessed apostle in vain assuredly is this doctrine preached vnto vs. 2 The answere hereunto is this I know that this is a hard doctrine to the flesh I confesse wee are vnable of our selues to performe it this is the speciall grace gifte of God to account our afflictions exceeding ioy vnto vs. Therefore is it not to be hoped for in our selues but from him to be praied for wherfore if any man lack wisdome let him aske it of God which geueth to all men liberally and reproacheth none and it shal be geuen him but let him aske it in faith and wauer not In which answer foure things are to be considered 1 What this wisdome is It is the doctrine of the crosse here specified namely to endure patiently whatsoeuer God layeth vpon vs and to know that God in singular loue correcteth all those with the rodde of affliction whom he purposeth to make heires of his eternall glory This to knowe is wisdome farre greater then the wisdome of men This wisdome standeth in two things 1. In knowledge that we wisely vnderstand the causes for which we are thus afflicted of God as that partly for the punishmēt of our sinnes as the princely Prophet recordeth For iniquitie Psal hast thou chastened man partly for the more manifestation and plainer triall of our faith as Abraham Iob Israel the seruant and people of God partly for the aduauncement of Gods greater glory that thereby in the deliuerance of men from their calamities hee might be more glorified Finally that hereby wee being touched 1. Cor. 11. might repent lest that wee perish with the worlde Hereof to haue true vnderstanding and knowledge is a great point of wisdome euen of this wisdome whereof the Apostle speaketh As the wisdome how to beare the crosse consisteth in knowledge and vnderstanding of the ends wherefore it is inflicted and laide vpon vs so also it consisteth in an inward feeling and iudgement when in our heartes soules and consciences we haue sense and feeling of the comfort of the spirite which in afflictions of this life and in the crosse wherunto we are subiect vpholdeth and supporteth vs and with assured hope of safe deliuerāce in due season vnderproppeth vs This point of wisdome to feele inwardly the comfort of the spirite was in holy Iob who therefore in the Iob. 19. midst of all his miseries and in the
they shewe their riches wherewith they are indued This seemeth to haue been cōmitted by mē in their publique meetings in S. Iames his time wherein they measured esteemed Christian religiō the faith of Christ Iames 2. according to the outward appearance of men reputing those that caried greatest pompe and shew the most religious By which meane the poor which were religious in deede became vile contemptible and disdained Which euil hath ouerwhelmed our church countrey for now in these times wherein Lady money Queen riches raigne ouer men as it neuer did more in the worlde euery man is so much esteemed and regarded how much he is worth and as he is great in honor and so according to his riches and honor so is his estimation be they otherwise murtherers extortioners oppressors caterpillers vsurers couetous adulterers epicures blasphemers drūkerds or what soeuer Thus the wicked for riches and worldly pompe are regarded the poore for their basenes are contemned thrust to wall ouerruled be they neuer so honest Whereby it commeth to passe that seeing all thinges now are measured and esteemed by riches glorie and worldlie pompe and no regard of honestie no rewarde for vertue no place for religion therefore all men geue themselues to heaping and hoording vp of riches to brauerie of apparrell to hunting after honor and worldly preferment that for the one or the other they may be esteemed amōg men Thus couetousnes pride ambition and vainglorie is fostered nourished and chearished greatly vertue religion true honestie is depressed and cast downe Thus to measure esteem the religion and faith of Christ by outward appearance and in Christian assemblies and publicke meetings to preferre the rich wealthie honourable and pompous persons with the contempt and disdaine of the poore brethren is one way wherby the faith of Christ is had in respect of persons 2 Moreouer men haue the faith of Christ in respect persons when in the Sacraments of the Church we haue respect to mens persons as by ministring the Sacramēts with greater reuerence and care to the rich then to the poore when at the Lords table we disdaine to ioyne the the poore and the rich together The Sacraments equally belong to all like reuerence ought to be vsed in ministring them to the poore as to the rich the Lords table is common to all whereat saith Saint Chrysostome the subiect differeth not from the Souetaigne and Prince neither 2. Cor. hom 18. the Priest from the people To parte them therefore in the administration of Sacraments and to preferre the rich with the contempt of the poore is also to haue the faith of Christ in respect of persons which is here condēned Thus the rich mightie and honourable who disdain herein their poore Christian brethren sinne thus such ministers as herein please and delight the humors of the wealthie with discountenancing of the godly brethren offend also 3 Professors and hearers haue the faith of Christ in respect of persons when they heare the word of God only for the mans sake not for the words sake or when they heare it of this man and not of another because of his person Wherein many greeuously offende in our dayes Such as wil heare none but those that haue taken degrees of schoole Which thing though it be worthely accounted of among all wise men yet therefore contemning others which haue not like degrees yet happely equall talents is respect of persons Such as will heare this man because he is formall and not another because hee refuseth some ceremonies in the Church or this man because he refuseth and not another because hee admitteth these indifferent things they also haue the faith of Iesus Christ in respect of persons Such as heare this man because hee is euer inueying against Bishops pluralities two liuinges Albeit they scarce make one and contemne such as haue the liuinges and therein labour as learnedly as painfully as fruitfully as others they in like manner haue the faith of Christ in respect of persons Thus they heare the word nowe not for the wordes sake but for the mans sake thus they decline from the thing to the person and so are partiall in their hearing For the word is the word whether a Doctot of diuinitie preach it or a man learned yet not graduat whether one subscribing to ceremonies or not subscribing whether one with one liuing or with two liuings whether this mā As they term small charges or benefices or that man preach it Wherefore not indifferently to heare it of al but for this or that respect to heare it of one not of another is to haue the faith of Christ in respect of persons and a sinne worthely condemned euen in them which in outward shew pretend greatest holines perfitest religion most feruent zeale to the word which vnlesse they leaue therof vnfeynedly repent I protest vnto thē in the feare of God that they doe against duetie that they flatter themselues in their owne follie that their religion is not pure and vndefiled before God that they haue the faith of Iesus Christ in respect of persons and therfore are guilty of great iniquitie and vngodlines beefore the Lord euen of peeuish curiositie The Paschall Lamb was commanded to be eaten the quarters the head the feete the purtenance it had been great peeuishnes and vaine Exod. 12. curiositie for the people to haue said Wee will chuse this peece and we that we the quarters and we the head wee the feete and so euery one what him lusted where all were commaunded to eate all Euen so is it peeuishnesse for vs to chuse what wee will heare or of whom when we must heare al the will of God and that of all Preachers Finally in this kinde they sinne before God most horribly who therefore will not heare their owne or other Prechers because they inueigh sharply against their pride their brauerie their flaunting ruffes their coloured haire their diuersitie of starches their borowed frilles such like vanities against their vsuries extortions couetousnes blasphemies and all manner iniquitie This is also a great point of vngodlines a manifest token of counterfet religion a plaine argument of halting hypocrisie and the hauing of the faith of Christ in respect of persons by the Apostle no doubt as other kindes condemned To Heb. 13. heare one with disgrace of another to heare straungers with disdainfull contempt of our owne Preachers to run Acts 20. 28. 1. Pet. 5. 2. and hurrie after new men and let our ordinarie Pastors whom the holy ghost hath placed ouer vs to preach and speake to the walles is not onely discredite to them and great discouragement so that they labour not with ioye but with great greefe which is a thing vnprofitable to the Heb. 13. people but also disobedience to the lawes rebellion against God neglect of duetie a point of resistance vnto the holy Ghost by whom they are placed ouer vs. 4
of the soule and spirite is deade so fayth vvithout vvoorkes is deade also That vvhen the soule is out of the bodie the bodie is voyde of office of action and all things which argue life So fayth destitute of good workes sheweth no duetie of loue giueth no testimonie of life hath no signe or force and efficacie profiteth not is like a deade carkasse is but an idoll or shadowe of fayth And this is the conclusion These things thus setdowne howbeeit it maie plainely appeare what the drifte and scope of Saint Iames was onelie to beate downe the pride of hypocrites who bragged and boasted of faith without the fruites of iustification and righteousnesse and not to oppose himselfe agaynst Saint Paul who in so manie places prooueth that wee are iustifyed by fayth without the woorkes of the lawe and thereunto alledgeth the same Abraham for example of iustification by fayth whome the Apostle vseth for iustification by workes as Rom. 4. Gal. 3. our aduersaries oppose them and set the one agaynst the other as if the spirite of GOD in them were deuided yet that all doubting and halting betwixt diuerse opinions may bee remooued all controuersie which in appearaunce seemeth great betwixt these Apostles may bee taken away that the controuersie betwixt vs and our aduersaries may the better bee appeased and all occasion of abusing this place for their iustification by works before GOD secluded there are foure things diligently to bee examined and discussed wherein the whole matter consisteth 1 What fayth Saint James meaneth when in this place hee so inueyeth against it 2 In what sense iustification is to bee taken in this controuersie 3 VVhat woorkes hee meaneth woorkes before or after fayth when he ascribeth iustification to woorkes 4 What manner of men and people he dealt withall and to what persons he speaketh 1 Touching faith all men almost boast thereof Faith is diuerse all men glorie therein yet the hundred thousand person scarsely knoweth aright what true sound and iustifying fayth meaneth in respect whereof and in regard that the sundrie signification thereof breedeth controuersie betwixt vs and our aduersaries in the matter and argument of iustification therefore may we profitablie consider thereof The acceptions and significations of faith vsuall and common are chiefly fiue 1 Is ciuill faith consisting in vpright dealing and keeping touch worde and promise with men Of which the Philosophers speake much and M. Cicero giuing the deriuation of the name and worde 1. Off. saith that faith is so called because that is done which is sayde The Prophet Dauid seeing faithfulnesse to Psal 12. perish and decay in men touching the trades and businesse of this life complayneth thereof before GOD Helpe Lorde there is not a godly man left for the faithfull are perished from the children of men and the decay hereof Ieremie lamenteth in like manner let euerie one take heede of his neighbour and trust not in anie Iere. 9. brother for euerie brother will vse deceyte and euerie friend will deale deceytfully This faith is the truth and constancie which ought to bee in our deedes and wordes and the keeping of promise in matters of this life and is therefore called ciuil faith as being conuersant in ciuill things 2 There is also faith which is hystoricall which is the knowledge and confession of the things to bee true which wee reade in the olde or newe Testament Thus in generall wee call the knowledge of these things faith The knowledge of the Articles of our beliefe is called Christian fayth The knowledge of things indifferent is called faith The knowledge of the storie which Rom. 14. the diuels themselues had is called faith the diuels beleeue they beleeue the storie of the creation of the Iames 2. worlde and other things therein contained they beleeue the storie of Christes life death passion sufferings miracles to bee true yet are not saued This faith is historicall because it beleeueth onely the storie written as they that beleeue the Chronicles of Englande Fraunce Irelande Italie Germanie that such Cities Townes Riuers Mountaines are therein haue faith and are sayde to giue faith thereunto To beleeue that Carthage was destroyed by the Romanes Numantia by Scipio Hierusalem by Titus and Vespasian the Kingdome of Israel to haue ended when Shalmanaser the King of Assiria ouercame them the Kingdome 4. King 7. of Iudah and Hierusalem by Nabuchodonosor of Babel who caried them into captiuitie into Babylon that the Babylonians were subdued by the Medes and 4. King 25. Persians that GOD made the worlde that Christ was borne of a Virgine that hee was conuersant vpon earth thirtie yeares or thereaboutes that hee was put to death by the malice of the Iewes through the treason of Judas that hee rose againe and aftetwarde ascended and so therein to go no further is an historicall fayth which is common to men and diuels to Turks and Christians the godlesse and godly the righteous and the wicked 3 Sometimes fayth is taken for the power which is giuen men whereby they are able to worke and doe great miracles That fayth which there about is conuersant is called a fayth myraculous as occupied in 1. Cor. 25. doing miracles Saint Paul so vseth it when he saith to one is giuen the worde of wisedome by the same spirite to an other the worde of knowledge by the same spirite to another is giuen faith by the same spirit Wherof Theophilact saith not faith of doctrine but faith of Theophilact signes which when they are wrought haue power to moue mountaines In which sense in the next Chapter Paul is to bee 1. Cor. 13. vnderstoode where intreating of the faith which consisteth in working of miracles saieth If I had faith so that I coulde mooue mountaines out of their places and haue no loue I were nothing Which kinde of faith Saint Ambrose affirmeth may bee euen in them Ambrose which are wicked and not of good conuersation Which our Sauiour putteth out of doubt when to manie Mat. 7. which prophecied and wrought miracles in his name hee sayde Away from mee ye workers of iniquitie I knowe you not This fayth was euen in the traitour Iudas who with the rest wrought miracles and did wonders among the children of men This faith also if it Luke 10 stay in working of miracles profiteth nothing to saluation 4 Moreouer faith is applied to the outwarde pretence of men when in wordes and shewe they seeme to beleeue in Christ yet are carelesse of the fruites of sanctification and righteousnesse whereby faith is knowen vnto the world This is the faith of hypocrites and therefore called hypocriticall Saint Iames calleth it deade fruitlesse barren This faith beareth great sway and swinge in the worlde ruleth and reigneth in the most part of men and in the common multitude of professours whereof the number is infinit which professe great faith great holinesse great religion yet are
they shal be deuoured of hellish torments So that both here and there their owne consciences shall feede and gnaw vpon them and the recordation and remembraunce of these corruptible vanities wherein they onely trusted shall as it were continually eate them vp and consume them And this is no small parte of their miserie and finall destruction which he denounceth against them for the which in despayre and without hope they must weepe howle as they are foretolde by the holy and blessed Apostle The third and last thing wherin their miserable destruction 3. Thing wherin their destruction calamitie standeth and finall calamitie consisteth is that they haue heaped vp treasure for the last dayes These are the treasures of the wicked which shall not helpe but hurte them in the daie of the Lord. For thus prophane rich mē hourd and heape vp treasure of Gods iuste wrath heauy displeasure and deserued indignation against themselues in 2. Cor. 5. the daie of vvrath and indignation vvhen all men shall stande before the throne of Iesus Christe to giue an accompte Rom. 2. of their vvorkes and to receaue according to that they haue done in their bodies bee it good or euill Then shall they lye open on euery side to the iuste iudgements of God and wil they nill they they shal heare the fearefull sentence of destruction against them Then shall their sinnes be reuiued in the midst of their bowels then shall their consciences finde no reste then shall they day and night feele death working in their hearts and hell shall stande before their eyes yea sinne shal be at their right hande and satan at their lefte destruction shal be without to consume them and the immortall worme of conscience within their soule to gnawe them God aboue to condemne them the deuill beneath to take and carie them to fire and brimstone in that bottomlesse lake that burneth for euer wherein their fire faileth not and Isay 66. their vvorme dieth not This is the treasure which prophane riche men lay vp for themselues against the latter dayes Some expound these wordes otherwise you haue heaped vp treasure against the latter day that is in these latter daies wherein you should watch and pray continually that you might be thought worthy to escape the Luk. 21. wrath to come when you should seriously expect and looke for the appearing and comming of Christ in glorie to giue iudgement against all men and to rebuke all Jude 14. 15. the vngodly among them of all their wicked deedes which they haue vngodly committed and all their cruell speaking which vvicked sinners haue spoken against him you giue your selues to heaping hourding vp of riches as if there should be no end eyther of your life or of the world it selfe and the nearer you grovve to the end of the vvorld the more couetous you are you heape vp treasure for your selues against the latter dayes what wickednesse is this Couetousnes ought alvvaies and at all times to be auoided as the roote and mother of all wickednesse but 1. Tim. 6. most especially towards the cōming of Iesus Christ least by worldly carefulnes vve become forgetfull of his comming therfore our Sauiour Christ preparing his disciples against his comming in glorious maiestie to sit in iudgement and to pronounce sentence against all the worlde Luc. 21. aduiseth them aboue other thinges that their heartes be not ouercome and oppressed with dronkennes surfetting and the cares of this world least he come vpon them vnawares notwithstanding euen against this time to be dronken and drowned in couetous desires is great vngodlines And thus doe men heape vp treasure for the last daies Some hereof make this sence Goe to now you rich men you thinke to heape vp riches enough to serue you vnto the last day and to the very ende of the world and therein shewe your extreame couetousnes and vngodlines For what a sinne is this that men shoulde thinke themselues able by themselues to heape and boarde vp enough to serue vnto the last dayes and to the end of the world But to augment and increase their miserie and to paint out their destruction in more liuely and in more fresh colours the Apostle may seeme to haue meant of the heaping vp of the treasures of Gods vengeance and iudgements against them in the latter daies in the day of iudgement And these are the particular circumstances which out of this place in my iudgement may bee gathered whereof thus saith our Apostle Go to now you rich men weepe and howle for the miseries which shall come vpon you your riches are corrupt your garments are moath-eaten your siluer and golde is cankred and the rust therof witnesseth against you and shall eate your flesh as it were fire ye haue heaped vp treasure for the last dayes God for his mercies sake graunt vnto vs such grace from his holy Spirite that wee thereby first seeking the kingdome of heauen and the righteousnes thereof may according to his mercifull promise obtaine all other things necessarie for this present life and that we throgh his speciall grace being risen in all fruites of righteousnes and workes of true sanctification with Christ may seeke the things which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God and effectually setting our affections vpon heauenly things and not vpon thinges vpon the earth may also so put our trust and confidence in the Lord that if riches increase and multiplie vnto vs by his goodnes yet we may not set our hearts vpon them but that euen in this life we may with all our might maine lay vp for our selues treasures in heauen where neither rust nor moath doeth corrupt and where theeues breake not in and steale least that we setting our affections with prophane persons vpon vncertaine riches thereby wee treasure and heape vp for our selues treasure of Gods iust iudgements and wrathfull displeasure and so be subiect to this sharpe commination and threatening of finall destruction From which he deliuer vs that suffered bitter death vpō the crosse for vs euen Iesus Christ our Sauiour To whom with the father the holy ghost be praise in the great congregation of the saints now and for euermore Amen Iames Chapter 5. verses 4. 5. 6. Sermon 24. Verse 4 Behold the hire of the Labourers which haue reaped your fieldes which is of you kept back by fraud crieth and the cries of them which haue reaped are entred into the eares of the Lorde of hostes 5 Ye haue liued in pleasure on the earth in wantonnes yee haue nourished your hearts as in the day of slaughter 6 You haue condemned killed the iust and he hath not resisted you IN these wordes are reckoned vp the sinnes and euils of prophane rich men for which this so dreadful a destruction is denounced against them And it is the second branch of the first part of this Chap. in particular The euils and
sheepe among wolues and for his sake and the Gospels to be brought before Iudges scourged in Sinagogues expelled and excommunicated their assemblies and euery where euill entreated and spitefullie handled by his owne example exhorteth he thē to beare all these things and willeth them with inuincible courage Iohn 16. and patience to take vp their crosse and follow him And elswhere forewarning them of their oppressions therin he willeth them to be of good cheare and beare their afflictions with patience In the world saith he you shall haue trouble but bee of good cheare I haue ouercome the world The holy Apostle Saint Paul to like purpose perswadeth Rom. 12. men not to faint in heart not to cast downe their heads as discomfited but in the midst of their afflictions and miseries to reioyce Reioyce in hope be patient in tribulation continue in prayer Which condition inseperably ioyned with the profession of the faith ought not to seeme strange vnto the Saints neither to moue them Which S. Paul considering councelleth them to stand fast 1. Thes 3. in the faith and not to be moued with these afflictions because they were thereunto appointed of God The proposition therefore of this place is that the Saints of God must arme themselues against all manner afflictions and therein reioyce exceedingly Come there life or come there death come prosperitie or come miserable aduersitie come there sicknes or come there health come there wealth or come there woe come there persecution or come there pestilence come there sworde or come there famine come there captiuitie or come there any other miserie we must be prepared and armed thereunto and hold fast the proposition of the Apostle Brethren count it exceeding ioy when you shall fall into diuers temptations In this proposition many thinges may bee obserued worthy our consideration 1 That the Saints must coūt it great ioy when they fall into temptations and do suffer afflictions in the world Wherin the ioyes of Gods saints and the ioyes of the wicked are distinguished The wicked reioyce some in one vaine thing of this world some in an other accounting sicknes pouertie imprisonment ignominie miserie persecution famine nakednes sword death and such like afflictions as euils wherefore they shunne them by all meanes they abhorre thē as infallible tokens of the heauie wrath of God his iust hatred against them which suffer them as appeared by the sentence of Eliphas Iob. 4. against holy Iob who condemned him for wicked because he was afflicted and by the censure of the wicked who Isai 53. iudged Christ as reiected of God because he was plagued and smitten by him And the Iewes in like maner so iudged of them vpon whom the tower of Silo fell and whose Luke 13 bloud Pilate mingled with their sacrifice slaying them when they were offering esteeming them for wicked because of their punishment Finally by the sentence of the Barbarians in Melita who seeing a Viper springing out of the fire to rest vpon the hand of the Apostle S. Paul Acts 28. accounted him for a murtherer and a wicked person But so doe not the Saints for they know that these afflictions by the blessing and grace of God tende to their furtherance and saluation in Iesus Christ Wherefore they therein reioyce exceedingly and preferre this ioy before all worldly ioy whatsoeuer Insomuch as in the midst of their miserie and in their tortures torments they haue triumphed as the holy Apostles being afflicted beaten and smitten for the testimonie of Gods trueth departed and went out of the councell reioysing of whom S. Chrysostome Act◠5. saith The Apostles were scourged they reioyced they were bound and imprisoned and they thanked they Homil. pop Antioch 54. Rom. 5. were stoned and they preached The blessed Apostle Paul of himselfe and the rest beareth the like recorde that in their troubles they reioiced We reioyce saith he in trouble knowing that trouble bringeth forth pacience pacience experience experience hope hope maketh not ashamed because the loue of God is shed abroade in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is giuen vnto vs. The holy and blessed martyrs haue in like maner counted it exceeding ioy when they fel into temptations wherin they being by the will of God aboue the strength and course of nature haue triumphed whereas then the wicked shunne these as simply euill the saintes embrace them as testimonies of loue whereas the wicked in their miseries frette fume and fome at mouth for rage and anger stampe stare murmure and mutter against God yea and blaspheme him in extreeme desperation as Saint Reuel 16. c ver 11. 21. John in his Reuelation auoucheth the Saints reioice with ioy vnspeakable and glorious as in wholsome documents of their life corrections of their infirmities prouocations to praier inuitements to GOD repressors of naturall corruption encreasers of zeale and meanes whereby they are made conformable to the image of the sonne of Rom. 8. God Whereas the wicked herein faint and fall into dispaire and reioice in other thinges onely the Saints and holy men of God make affliction the greatest matter of their mirth and to suffer for Christ and his Gospel their soundest ioy remembring the proposition of the Apostle here set downe Brethren count it exceeding ioy when you fall into sundrie temptations Let worldlings then reioyce in their riches and glorie in their wealth let them reioyce in their pleasures and delight themselues in ambition and honour let them make their bankets bellie cheare and riotousnesse their ioy let them counte for their greatest happinesse and felicitie worldly securitie and vacation from all trouble yet this is the ioy the mirth the delight the pleasure the felicitie and happinesse of the the Saints wrongfully to suffer affliction and this they count vpon earth their exceeding ioy and therin they haue their reioycing Let the wicked in their miseries Exod. 7. grow from worse to worse as Pharao by his afflictions waxed worser and more impacient let them vse violent 1. King 31. hands vpon themselues as Saul in daunger of the vncircumcised Philistines fell vpon his owne sword and perished and many other at the losse of their riches the spoile of their goodes the departure of their friends and other afflictions murmured against God yet the Saintes holde vp their heads relie vpon God humbling thēselues before him vnder the crosse and count it exceeding ioy when they fall into manifold temptations 2 The worde Fall into is not without signification whereby the Saints of God are taught that they may neither procure neither hastē their owne crosse nor deserue at the hands of the worlde thus to be afflicted The Papists which in manie places and at sundrie times lay heauie crosses vppon themselues as beating their owne flesh scourging their owne bodies wearying and wasting themselues with long tedious and troublesome pilgrimages fall not by the will of God hereinto but
and so manie kinds of temptations there be that the Apostle may worthily call them manifolde and diuers 3 Finally the ends wherfore they are infflicted are diuers therefore in that respect also they may not amisse be counted diuers Some times we are afflicted to the ende we should be humbled some times we are afflicted to the ende we should be tried some times we are afflicted that in the nature of Gods blessings we may better be instructed some times we are afflicted that God may be glorified some times we are afflicted that our sinnes thereby may be remitted sometimes we are afflicted that the pride of our hearts may be repressed and sinfull desires mortified some times we are afflicted that his loue towards vs may the more liuely be expressed some times we are afflicted that thereby the world may be hated of vs sometimes we are afflicted that we may be more zealous in praier for deliuerance some times we are afflicted that we in afflictions made conformable and like the image of the sonne of God togither with him may be partakers Rom. 8. of his glorie As therefore euery thing serueth not for one purpose neither is euery medicine ordained for euery maladie so neither hath euery temptation one end wherefore it is inflicted but many ends there are of many afflictions so that in respect of their sundrie ends they are also diuers manifold partly then in respect of the manifold instruments whereby God afflicteth men partly in respect of the sundrie kinds of temptations partly in respect of the manifold ends which in afflictions god respecteth they may well be called and tearmed diuers and manifold And these are the things in this proposition the first branch of the diuision to be obserued Brethren count it exceeding ioy when you fall into diuers temptations 2 The proposition ended the confirmation which is 2. Confirmation the second thing here followeth which containeth the reasons and arguments which the Apostle vseth whie the Saints should be comforted vnder the crosse and count it exceeding ioy when they fall into diuers temptations The reasons are three 1 From honest comelines in the Saints It is comely honest and a thing decēt in the Saints paciently to haue their faith tried by afflictions of this life the faith of Gods Saints and seruants is tried the Saints therefore in afflictions must reioyce and be pacient No man doubteth but it is a comely and honest thing for Gods children paciently to suffer the triall of their saith And that afflictions make manifest triall and proofe of our faith the holy Gene. 22. Scriptures of God aboundantly teach vs. When Almightie God would haue the faith of Abraham to shine and appeare glorious vnto the world he tempted him by willing him to sacrifice his onely sonne Isaac in whom only vvas the hope of all the promises Hereby his faith vvas tried Moses vvriteth that the manifold troubles vvhich Deut. 8. the Israelites for fortie yeares suffered in the vvildernesse vvere to trie them To vvhich end God is said to send false Deut. 13. Prophets among the people thereby to trie their faith vvhether they vvould cleaue stedfastly to God Saint Paul 1. Cor. 11. thereunto subscribing affirmeth that there must be heresies among them that they which are approued may be knowen Dauid the princely Prophet speaking of the Psal 105. afflictions of Ioseph in Aegypt confesseth the end thereof to haue beene the triall of his faith When he writeth that God tried him vntill the appointed time was come for his deliuerance Zacharie prophecying of the blessings Zach. 13. which should be vpon the true seruants of God after their clensing and clearing from all idolatrie and shewing that al such as should enioy those excellent blessings notwithstanding should bee tried with manifold afflictions saith that God would bring thar third part reserued to himselfe through the fire and would fine them as siluer is fined and trie them as gold is tried Saint Peter telleth 1. Pet. 1. the Saints that they were vnder manifold temptations that the triall of their faith being much more precious then golde that perisheth though it be tried in the fire might be found to their praise honour and glorie at the comming of Iesus Christ And thus seeing the ende to be the triall of the faith of the Saints he calleth affliction 1. Pet. 4. the fierie triall Thinke it not strange dearly beloued concerning the fierie triall which is among you Wherein hauing an eie to the comparison so vsuall in scripture wherby the Saints are compared to gold and siluer who are tried by affliction as these mettels are by fire calleth affliction fierie triall The Angell willed Iohn to write to Reuel 2. the Church of Smyrna to exhort them not to feare any of the things which the diuell should lay vpon them to trie them whereby it is more cleare then the Sunne in his brightnesse at noone day That afflictions are for the triall of the faith of men they are as the touch-stone to trie gold from copper as the fornace to discerne siluer frō drosse as the sieue or fan to sift the chaffe from the wheat Wherefore as that is counterfet not true gold which beareth and abideth not the touch-stone that drosse and dregges which carieth not the fining that dust and chaffe which suffereth not the sifting so that faith which will not abide trial by affliction is weake imperfect wauering and vnseemely in any Christian Whereas then ciuill and morall vertues are then soonest tried when their obiect is present whereon they may worke as fortitude in daunger chastitie in pleasure temperance in present dainties and delicates anger when we are prouoked so the faith of Gods children is then most manifest when affliction are present to trie them And as the starres and moone shine not at noone day when the Sunne shineth in his glorious beautie so neither doe the vertues of Christians then appeare when men are in prosperitie but in the night and mist of affliction Seeing then it is a comely and honest thing in the Saints of God to haue proofe and triall of their faith and other vertues to bee made and this triall is made specially by afflictions and troubles of this life then no doubt ought the Saints paciently to suffer affliction and to count it exceeding ioy when they fall into diuers temptations in as much as the triall of their faith bringeth foorth their inward vertues and afflictions are therefore sent to make trial of the faith of Gods children and this is the first reason or argument of the confirmation lying secretly in the word triall 2 Another reason set downe manifestly is drawen from the vtilitie and profite which commeth by bearing afflictions by bearing paciently the miseries and afflictions of this life the most singular vertue of patience is wrought in vs. If affliction and triall of our faith bring vnto vs the worthie vertue of patience
v. 10. slaunder he promiseth like reward vnto that affliction also Blessed are they which suffer persecution for righteousnes sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen blessed shall you be when men reuile you and persequute you and say all manner of euill saying against you for my sake falsly reioice and be glad for great is your reward in heauen Thus then if we endure pouertie and miseries therunto annexed if we endure temptation of persecution slander reproach and such like we are pronounced blessed Hereunto Saint Peter subscribeth who exhorting men patiently 1. Pet. 3. to beare persecution and affliction for righteousnes sake reasoneth from the rewarde which with Iames he calleth blessednes Who will harme you if you follow that which is good notwithstanding blessed are you if you suffer for righteousnes sake Yea feare not their feare neither 1. Pet. 4. be troubled And a little after touching the reward of our patient abiding and suffering for Christ he calleth it happines and blessednes if you bee rayled on for the name of Christ blessed are you for the spirite of God and of Christ resteth on you Who then is spoiled of his goods for Christes profession who suffereth persecution for Christian religion who endureth imprisonment for the testimonie of his conscience who abideth patiently the triall of his faith by sundrie temptations is both by Christ and his holy Apostles accounted blessed The rewarde of our patience then is happines and felicitie Wherein the Apostles defend a paradoxe and an opinion contrarie vnto the iudgemēt of men of this world for the world holdeth them onely for happie who abound in wealth who haue all things at their pleasures willes who neuer come into any misfortune neither are vexed or afflicted with any miserie or calamitie But such as are pressed with pouerty distressed with greefe tempted by afflictions assaulted with miserie subiect to calamitie these they count for cursed miserable of all men most wretched as they in the Prophet counted our Sauiour to bee Isai 53. in wofull plight because he was vnder the rodde of his father and thereby plagued and the wicked condemned the Wisd 3. Saints and censured them miserable and their ende greeuous because they suffered paine and were tried in afflictions among men From whose iudgement and opinion Saint James dissenting calleth and counteth them which endure temptations happie Let worldlings then count prosperitie their felicitie let Epicures count plenteousnes of bread their happines let greene and flourishing youth make the desiers of their hearts their blisse let other men count worldly delights carnall pleasure wicked mammō vaine pompe quiet rest and continuall securitie their cheerest good and only ioy in this world yet with Iames must all the Saints count the triall of their faith the exeresse of their patience the bearing of the crosse the suffering of affliction the enduring of temptations their happines and felicitie and holde the sentence of the Apostle for sure Blessed is the man that endureth temptations If happines and felicitie be the reward of our patience and all men by instinct of nature desire happines as the very heathen philosophers haue in their learned writings plentifully discoursed shall there be any man or woman so carelesse of himselfe so voide of reason so farre from knowledge so great an enemie to his soules health which shall refuse the burthen of the crosse seeing patient endurance purchaseth our happines Let vs in the feare of God addresse our selues to the bearing of the crosse let vs arme our selues against the day of affliction let vs in full assurance of hope indure the temptations which are laide vpon vs that thus induring we may receiue our ful reward euen eternal blessednes for euer 2 This reward of our endurāce shal then be geuen when we are tried the crowne is promised after our contentions the hire is rendred after our labour If then wee will enioy the reward and haue our blessednes in the king dome of God then must we in this world be tried by affliction The doctrine of this place is that we must first suffer before we be rewarded first be tried before we be recompenced Which thing Saint Paul preacheth vnto Timothie setting downe the labour before the hire and the contending before the crowne No man saith he is crowned 2. Tim. 2. 2. Tim. 4. except he striue lawfully The same Apostle setteth downe his trauel before his reward and his labour before his recompēce when he saith I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith frō hencefoorth therefore is the crowne of righteousnes laide vp for me which the righteous iudge shall geue mee at that day and not me onely but all those that loue his appearing There is no price where there is no striuing there is no garland where there is no goale to runne to there is no crowne where there is no triall of masteries there is no victorie where there is no enemie there is no hire where there is no labor there is no happines where there is no triall by temptation Now the full triall of man is not at once or twise but in the whole course of his life so that the whole life of man is nothing els but a continuall triall and warfare vpō earth striuing and strugling against all afflictions miseries calamities and troubles of this world In which contention and conflict if we acquit our selues like men and in inuincible constancie endure temptations to the end we shall bee blessed whereof our Sauiour Christ assureth Mat. 10. 24. Reuel 2. vs He that continueth saith he vnto the end shall be saued And the Angell to the Church of Smyrna Be thou constant and faithfull vnto death and I will giue thee the crowne of life When therefore to the ende of our life and in the whole course thereof we bee pacient when to the ful measure of our trial which is in the ende of this mortall condition we endure temptations then shall we bee blessed for blessed is the man which endureth temptations for when hee is tried he shall receiue the crowne of life If our trial then must goe before our happines which is geuen vs in reward and our labour before our hire then do those Christians flatter and deceue them selues who thinke to be pertakers of this reward without affliction in this life Seing the triall of our faith by troubles must goe before our happines Vaine therefore and slouthfull too dainty and too delicate are they who refusing the burden of the crosse and the induring temptatiōs hope to attaine to this happines by wallowing in wealth by stretching thē selues vpon their beddes of downe by pampering and puffing vp of their flesh with riotous life by pricking and prankinge vp them selues in intollerable pride by weariing and wasting their bodies with carnall pleasures with liuing at harts ease and in all securitie in this world for the Apostle
treatise touching outwarde temptations he now proceedeth to the third place in this first Chapter handled which is concerning internall and inwarde temptations of the mind whereby men are pricked forward and mooued to euill proceeding from Satan who by our owne concupiscense and carnall desires solliciteth vs to mischiefe wickednesse The summe whereof is this men may not impute their euill temptations to God neither make him the authour thereof seeing our owne desires do tempt vs and carie vs away to wickednesse and we beare about in our owne bosomes naturall corruption which snatcheth and catcheth euery occasion of comitting euil wherehence all sinne groweth and buddeth as from a stocke and roote and death ensueth and followeth sinne at the heeles as the reward and wages Rom. 6. thereof 1 The first thing in these wordes and this discourse is the proposition of the place whereby their errour is confuted and condemned who hold and affirme that when they are prouoked pricked to euill they are thereunto prouoked and tempted by God which lay the cause of euill concupiscense corrupt affections wicked temptations yea and of sinne it selfe vpon God and say God prouoked and stirred me vp to this euil God seduced and led me into this temptation God mooued and sollicited me to this sinne This the Apostle remouing as an horrible errour from the hearts and mindes of men giueth them this aduice in this present proposition Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God When pleasure prouoketh when pride pricketh whē malice boileth when couetousnesse assaulteth when reuenge kindleth when feare discourageth or any other thing tempteth vs to euil we may not impute this to God and therby thinke our selues excused Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God is not the cause of this temptation neither may our sinnes be referred vnto him The trueth of this proposition shall the better be vnderstood and knowen if we consider that there are specially three kindes of temptations in holy Scripture mentioned thus distinguished in the regard of the ends of euery one of them 1 One temptation is called the temptation of proof because the ende thereof is the proofe of men that thereby there may be had a triall of our faith patience constancie with other vertues in vs whatsoeuer And it is thē when either some worke is commanded vs of God which is harde and grieuous vnto the flesh as was that temptation of Abraham who from God was willed to offer and sacrifice Gen. 22. vp his onely and deare sonne Isaac whom he had begotten in his olde age in whom onely was the hope of the accomplishment of all Gods promises vnto him the heire of his goods the seede of his posteritie the very ioy of his heart which thing was commanded for the triall of his faith patience and obedience that he thus tried might be knowen and manifested to the world and his vertue and obedience an example and patterne to all posteritie to imitate and follow for euer Or els when some heauie crosse great miserie strange affliction is laide vpon vs for the triall of our hearts whether from an vnfeyned faith we loue God or no as was the temptation of Iob Job 1. 2. ◠whose crosse was heauie whose miserie was great whose afflictions strange that thereby his patience being tryed he might be thereof an example to all the Saints Thus was he tempted his children destroyed sodenly his goods taken from him violently his body diseased strangely his wife vpbrayding him wickedly his friends rebuking him sharpely What greater crosse could bee laid vpon man bereft of children spoiled of goods abused by his wife cōdemned by his friends sore in body sick in minde what miserie herewith is to be compared yet al to prooue him Like temptation was that of Tobias who sleeping vnder Tob. 2. the wall of his house his face vncouered the dongue of Swallowes fell into his eies and he lost his sight therewith tempted for triall God saith Moses tempted his people fortie yeares leading them vp and downe the wildernes Deut. 8. to humble their hearts to trie their faith to prooue their patience and so make triall of them whether they loued the Lord their God or no. Or finally this temptation is when God sendeth heresies false doctrines errors among men thereby to trie the true Saints of God and the vnfeyned seruants of Iesus Christ This end almightie God respected in the temptation of Israel vnto whom hee sent false Prophets working miracles and shewing also wonders among men thereby to trie his people To which Deut. 13. purpose the holy Apostle affirmeth that therefore heresies 1. Cor. 11. must needes bee among men that they which are proued might be knowen Thus the Church of Christ hath alwaies been tempted In the time of the Apostles many false teachers and sundrie damnable heresies were sproong vp among them as both Paul in sundrie his Epistles and Peter in like maner 1. Cor. 15. 1. Tim. 4. 2. Pet. 2. aboundantly doe testifie After the time of the Apostles in the succeeding ages how many heresies sproong vp whereby the Church was tempted and tried who is conuersant in the writings of the auncient Fathers who is occupied in the turning ouer of Ecclesiasticall stories who is seene in the Chronicles of all times which knoweth not Our time not voide of like temptations for now the Libertines are reuiued the Anabaptists are raked out of hell againe the familie of loue a masse of all mischiefe a world of all wickednes a confusion of heresies is fresh in our daies Papists Seminaries Iesuites newe sectes of popish heresie swarme in euery corner of our Countrey euen among our selues and as it were out of the bosome of the churchmen arise speaking peruerse things drawing Acts. 20. vnder colour of religion and godlines many Disciples after them wherby the peace of Hierusalem is disturbed which to vs also as to other commeth to passe for the triall of the Saints and the proofe of the godly God then sēding these or like things vnto men doth it not to solicite stir or moue them to any euil defectiō or falling from the faith but to trie them to make them know them selues to exercise their vertues to cause them more immouably to cleaue vnto him that they being constant and patient vnder all manner temptations may finally attaine to eternall saluation In which temptations how so euer the instruments thereunto vsed by God be wickedly affected yet in all thinges respecteth he that which tendeth most vnto his owne glorie and the benefite of his Church and so is he neuer to bee charged as the cause of wickednesse among men 2 Beside the temptation to proue there is a temptation also of presumption whereby men are moued to Rom. 2. tempt God too much presuming of his goodnes abusing his patience despising the mercie and long suffering of God flattering
but of debt Rom. 4 Rom. 11. And againe in the question of election If it be of grace it is no more of works els were grace no grace if of works it is no more of grace for then were workes no more works This contrarietie Saint Augustine confessing sheweth that grace fauour and free gift cannot be mingled Epist 120. with works and therefore concludeth and defineth what grace or free gift is Haec est gratia This is fauour free gift grace which is geuen freely not for the merites of the worker but by the mercie of the geuer Seeing therefore that wee which were all by nature the children of wrath the sonnes of Adam subiect to eternall death and Eph. 2. damnation replenished in minde heart and will with iniquitie and sinne compassed about with thick darke and mistie cloudes of error and wickednes loathing heauen and louing earth caried away of our owne desires to work wickednes with greedines are now not for our merites but of Gods meere mercie not by our workes but by his Eph. 4. grace not of our deserts but of his owne will begotten againe and regenerate We must referre this whole work to his good wil and account his goodnes for the only efficiēt cause of our regeneration Whereby it appeareth that he is the fountaine of all goodnes and that our wickednesse must not be imputed vnto him The regeneration then of Gods Saints a most manifest testimonie of his goodnes sheweth that he is ōly author of good not of euil which th'apostle here prouing addeth of his own wil begat he vs. 2 The good will and fauour of God being the first and efficient cause of regeneration The second cause which is the instrumentall cause and meane whereby wee are regenerate is the word of God which Saint James expresseth in this place in this manner of his owne will he hath begotten vs with the word of trueth In which place he slideth and falleth into the cōmendation of the worde of God the chiefe thing in this laste parte to be obserued Which words are as it were the circumscribing and setting foorth of the word of God and the gospell of Christ whereunto is attributed specially aboue all other wordes that it is the word of trueth Which addition the Prophet Dauid geueth to Gods word because therein onely is the Psal 86. sound trueth to be found and in no other In which word as in many other places he desirous to be instructed geueth that addition to the word that it is trueth Teach me thy waies O Lord saith the Prophet and I will walk in thy trueth And in another place calling the word of God by Psal 119. the name of trueth saith Thy word endureth for euer in heauen thy trueth is from generation to generation Our Sauiour Christ in his most holy praier to God hereunto subscribeth who desiring that the Disciples might be sanctified Iohn 17. with the trueth sheweth that by the trueth he meaneth the word and gospell Sanctifie them saith he with thy trueth thy word is trueth This name of excellencie this marke of difference S. Paul geueth vnto the gospell 2. Cor. 13. 3. Gal. C. 5. 7. 2. Cor. 6. 7. 1. Col. 5. Ephes 1. 13. Heb. 10. 16. Ephes 4. aboue other words whē he affirmeth he could do nothing against the trueth but for the trueth Who vpbraiding the Galathians for reuolting and sliding away frōthe gospell crieth out O you foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you that ye should not beleue the trueth To like purpose exhorting the Ephesians to be constant in the profession of the gospell calleth that the profession of trueth where fore he thus exhorteth Let vs folow the trueth in loue the gospel the profession of the trueth it is therfore an excellent ornament and an honourable addition in this place geuen to the word of God that it is the word of trueth And this addition to be called the word of trueth most fitly agreeth vnto the holy word and Gospell of Iesus Christ and that in foure respects and for foure chiefe considerations 1. in respect of God 2. in respect of Christ 3 in respect of the holy Ghost and spirite of God 4 in respect of the particular things them selues in the word contained 1 In respect of God the word and Gospell is the word of truth because it is Gods word and Gospell who is true and cannot lie therefore this his word is then the word of truth That this word is Gods word and Gospell it is euident 1. Rom. 1. Cor. 1. 1. Rom. Saint Paul calleth it therefore the power of God to saluation to al that beleue and in another place the preaching of the crosse is to them which perish foolishnes but vnto vs which are saued it is the power of God he saith in the beginning of his Epistle to the Romās that he was seperated to preach the Gospell of God and cleering him selfe from the surmised suspicious of his aduersaries 2. Cor. 11. he thus writeth haue I therefore offended because I abased my selfe that you might be exalted and that I preached freely the Gospell of God vnto you Saint Peter subscribeth thereunto the time is come that iudgement beginne first at the house of God if iudgement beginne first at vs what shal be the end of those that beleeue not 1. Pet. 4. the Gospell of God And this God who is the author of this word and Gospell is true and cannot lie Balam the Numb 23. prophet could say of God that he is not a man that hee should lie neither as the sonne of man that he should repente Moyses in his song beareth recorde to the truth of God perfect saith he is the worke of the mightie God for Deut. 32. all his waies are iudgements God is true and without wickednes iust righteous is he Samuel telleth King Saul that indeede the strength of Israell wil not lie nor repente 1. Kings 15. John 8. Rom. 3. for he is not a man that he should repent Our blessed Sauiour Christ speaketh of his father and saith I haue many things to say and iudge of you but he that sent me is true and the things that I haue hard of him those spoake I vnto the world Saint Paul defending Gods trueth saith Rom. 3. Let God be true and euery man a lier as it is written that thou maiest be iustified in thy words and ouercome when thou art iudged And for this cause holy Dauid calleth god Psal 31. the God of truth into thy hands I commende my spirite thou God of trueth Seing the Gospell is the word Gospell of God and God the God of trut hand cannot lie thē must needes this word be true and the word of truth 2 As in respect of God the author thereof the Gospell may rightly be called the word of truth so in respect of Christ who is the matter the very substance
the fayth of the Saints Which who so euer performeth not bereaueth himselfe not onely of the name of a Christian but of the verie nature of man sayeth Lactantius Lib. 6. c. 11. because it is a dutie of humanitie to helpe in the necessitie and perill of man To the excellent prayse whereof it pertaineth that the supplie of the Saints neede and the ministring to their want is called a sacrifice As Saint Paul calleth the beneuolence of the Philippians sent vnto Philip. 4. him by Epaphroditus their minister a sacrifice of a sweete smelling sauour vnto GOD and the authour to the Hebrues stirring the people thereunto willeth Heb. 13. them to bee mindefull of ministring to the necessitie of the Saintes because with such sacrifices GOD is pleased To the offring whereof vpon the aultar of the needy brethren many things might moue Christians and true professours of pure and vndefiled religion 1 That in his law and Gospel the Lorde requireth this duetie of loue and seruice to be done to whom seeing we are infinitly indetted we herein must be obedient Touching which duetie what commaundements haue we Leuit. 19. in the holy Scripture Did not Almightie God charge Israel that they should leaue the gleaning of their haruest and the remainder of their vintage that the poore might thereby bee releeued Gaue hee not to the same Deut. 15. people commaundement that when they came into the land of their inheritance if any of their brethren fell into pouertie they should giue vnto him and not bee grieued Isai 58. therewith that so they might be blessed from God Doth not God call the hypocrites who pretended religion to this point and propertie of seruice and holie worshippe to breake their bread to the hungrie to call againe the wanderer to cloath the naked and not to despise their owne flesh Doeth not our blessed Sauiour Luke 6. exhort men to this effect of religion and therein to imitate the example of God Doeth not Saint Paul perswade men to distribute to the necessitie of the brethren Rom. 12. Doth hee not desire the Church of Galatia to Gal. 6. doe good vnto all men but specially to the housholde of faith Doeth hee not will Timothie his scholer to 1. Tim 6. charge the riche men of the worlde to bee riche in good workes and readie to distribute Exhorteth not the Heb. 13. Apostle to the Hebrues to communicate and distribute to the poore and needie because thereby God is well pleased Doe not sundrie other Scriptures sounde to the same sense and purpose Seeing Almightie God in his lawe the Prophets in their writings our holie Sauiour in the Gospell the blessed Apostles in their Epistles haue hereunto mooued then no doubt the verie viewe and recording of this commaundement might mooue all such as professe pure Religion and vndefiled before God to this duetie of charitie 2 Neither this onely but also the remembrance of our frailtie and ficklenesse of our worldly condition must moue to charitie For such as are riche to day may be poore to morrowe our riches are vncertaine our state miserable our condition variable our selues may neede to morrowe who to day wallow in all wealth we may come to pouertie which now abound in plentie wee may bee pinched with penurie which nowe enioy prosperitie To the ende therefore that we may finde mercie in miserie let vs shewe pitie in our prosperitie knowing this that who so shutteth his eares to the crie of the poore shall crie himselfe and not bee heard Our Sauiour auoucheth that with what measure wee Prou. 21. Matt. 7. meete vnto other other shoulde meete with the same vnto as also if we meete in a plentifull measure of mercie wee shall haue plenteous mercie shewed vs againe if wee meete in a harde measure of senslesnesse and want of feeling our brethrens want wee our selues shall bee vnpityed in the time of our anguish This Apostle affirmeth that there should be condemnation James 2. mercilesse to him that sheweth no mercie For assuredly whosoeuer in censuring and rashly condemning his brother or not in relieuing and helping him in destresse sheweth himselfe cruell currish hard hearted and mercilesse shall finde Almightie God and men also hard seuere mercilesse and rough agaynst him It is good therefore men should thinke of themselues in their brethrens persons and recount that wee our selues in perill deserue not to bee deliuered if in daunger wee stretch not out our helping hande to others neither in necessitie to be pitied if we succour not in neede such as are destressed This frailtie and changeablenesse who so weigheth and considereth a right shall easily be moued to this propertie of religion and duetie of loue which Saint Iames commendeth 3 That we are members each of each other and all members of one bodie might it not moue vs to mutuall succour In the naturall bodie if one part be grieued the 1. Cor. 12. others are all disquieted if the hee le be pricked the head stowpeth the backe boweth the eyes looke the fingers feele the handes holde and euerie part endeuoureth to remooue the griefe and when our Christian brethren and sisters suffer shall we be senselesse When wee are full shall wee thinke no man emptie VVhen we are housed shal we thinke no man to be harbourlesse When we are clothed shall we perswade our selues that no man then is naked If we be whole is no man sicke If we be sound is no man sore If we be free is no man bonde If vvee bee vvarme is no man colde If vvee abound doeth no man lacke Shall nature teach our members mutually to helpe one another and shall not the bonde of spirituall incorporation teach vs one to suffer with another one to succour another The Pellican when hers are sicke with her owne blood succoureth them and shall we not helpe in their neede our needie brethren redeemed and raunsomed with the bloud of Christ Whome assuredly we haue not for our head neither yet are we his Saints nor felow members of this his misticall bodie vnlesse we bee carefull to succour them in the time of their neede 4 If wee require example God is rich in mercie and goodnesse hee giueth aboundantly to all men and reprocheth none vvhose example our Sauiour commendeth vnto vs to mooue vs thereby to the workes of mercie Be ye mercifull euen as your heauenly father Luke 6. is mercifull 5 If we looke for a president our Sauiour Christ is our patterne who laide downe his life for vs that wee should lay downe our liues much more our goodes for the brethren 1. Iohn 3. 16. 6 If reward may allure vs we haue not onely therefore promise of encrease and multiplying our store here as we see was performed to the widow of Sarepta whose meale in tubbe and oile in cruse though there of dayly were spent decreased not because in destresse she relieued 3. Kings 17. Pro.
10. 24. 2 Cor. 9. 6. 8. 9. 10. Phil. 4. 19. Elias the Prophet but also of eternall blessing yea to be receiued to the eternall kingdome of Iesus Christ if we shew mercie For earthly things to reape heauenly for temporall eternall for transitorie perpetuall how great a change how singular a mercie how incomparable a rewarde Of all artes therefore sayth Chrysostome the Homil. 33. ad pop Anti. Basil fol. 109. 2. pag. Prou. 19. most gainefull and of all vsurie the onely commendable when by giuing to the poore we lend to vsurie vnto the Lord as the wise man writeth 7 If punishment may terrifie vs then let vs recount that as God promiseth exceeding great rewarde both temporall and eternall to the mercifull so he threatneth grieuous punishment both in this life and in the life to come to the mercilesse which thing should moue vs. 8 Finally if we consider that by the Apostle it is set downe as a propertie and effect of true religion without which our religion is but counterfetting our holinesse but halting our deuotion but dissimulation before God thereby shall we be stirred vp to this dutie Wherefore if either the care of Gods commaundements or regard of fraile condition either remembrance of inseparable coniunction in the mysticall bodies or example of the father either president of Christ or promise of reward either threatning of punishment or respect of true religion can doe any thing with vs then let vs be remoued to the relieuing the brethren and to the performance of this duetie of loue wherevnto by the Apostle wee are exhorted The second effect wherein religion appeareth is innocencie Innocencie 2 propertie or effect of religioâ— of our liues that we keepe our selues vnspotted of the worlde which in all those which professe his name in all times in all places in all people God required as the true marke of religion VVherefore when he called Gene. 17. Abraham from the idolatrie of Mesopotamia to the true seruice religion and worship of himselfe God required this as an effect of his vnfeigned religion Walke before me and be perfect When he had established a gouernement among his people and taught them his true Leuit. 11 20. c. religion he requireth holinesse innocencie integritie in them as the effect of their religion Be ye holy for I the Lord your God am holy Our Sauiour Christ the authour Mat. 10. 18. of Christian religion calling his from the impuritie of the worlde willeth them to be innocent as doues and to be as babes without maliciousnesse and so to testifie their religion S. Paul prescribing a religious sacrifice Rom. 12. vnto the newe people of God forewarneth them to take heede of worldly corruptions and not to fashion themselues thereunto to which purpose that counsaile to Timothie serueth singularly let euerie one which calleth vppon Iesus Christ depart from 1. Tim. 2. iniquitie Saint Iohn exhorting men to shewe their 1. Iohn 2 vnfeigned religion by renouncing all worldly wickednesse requireth them not to loue the worlde nor the things therein Finally Saint Iames here describing religion by certaine inseparable properties and effects against hypocrites who pretended religion yet were carelesse of charitie and innocencie of life thereof sayeth in manner following Pure religion and vndefiled euen before God the father is this to visit the fatherlesse and widowes in their aduersitie and to keepe himselfe vnspotted of the world To bee cleare from the sinnes and workes of worldlings and wicked persons to refraine from fleshly lustes and carnall desires wherinto men are naturally cast headlong is to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world which the Saints of God must do that they may bee pure and holy in bodie and minde in soule and spirit in thought and worke that as chast virgins they may bee presented 2. Cor. 11. blamelesse before Iesus Christ Now the spottes wherewith men are stained as they are all maner iniquitie and sinne whereunto worldlings are giuen so are they these especially 1 couetousnesse 2 Vsurie 3 Extortion and oppression 4 Drunkennes and surfetting 5 Adulterie and fleshly vncleannesse 6 Pride and arrogancie 7 Ambition and vaineglorie 8 Contention and enuie 9 Maliciousnes and hatred with the like vvherewithall as mens liues are defiled so their religion is corrupted herewith who so is stained their religion is not pure and vndefiled before God for this is pure religion before God the Father to visite the fatherlesse and vviddovves in their aduersities and to keepe himselfe vnspotted in the vvorld The spirituall man therefore vvho vvill haue his religion to bee pure and vndefiled before God must abstaine from all the vvorkes of the flesh must be cleane from adulterie fornication vncleannes void of riot vvantonnes excesse luxuriousnes far froÌ„ couetousnes vvhich is worshipping of images guiltlesse of murther enuie sedition brawling contentions not geuen to pride ambition vaine confidence but studious of chastitie temperance meeknes gentlenes curtesie mercie modestie patience long suffering goodnes and all manner of vertue wherein true and vndefiled religion consisteth Which thing God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ the God of all grace and goodnes graunt vnto vs that we walking in faith vnfeyned in loue not counterfet in innocencie vnspotted may in all righteousnes and holines of life glorifie him in this present world and after this life ended may liue with Christ for euer in his eternall kingdome To whom with the holy Ghost be all power dominion and maiestie both now and for euer Amen The Analysis or resolution of the seconde chapter of Saint Iames. This secoÌ„d Chap. conteyneth two places Whereof 1. is of not contemning the poore in respect of the rich christian religion not admitting this respect of persons from ver 1. to 14. where there are two things noted 1. The proposition and state of this place that the religioÌ„ and faith of Christ must not be with respect of persons v. 1. 2. the proof of the proposition contening 2 argumentes Whereof 1. FroÌ„ example of such as doe the like therin 3. things 1. The example it selfe 2. 3. 4 2. The euil therin condemned 5. 6. 7. 3. The conclusion 8. 9. 2. From the nature of the lawe which they traÌ„sgresse therin also ar 3. things 1. Proposition v. 10. 2. Confirmation v. 11. 3. Conclusion v. 12. 13. 2. Is of good workes to be ioined with faith Wherein there are 3. things noted Namely 1. The proposition and state of the place That faith is vaine and dead wherwith good works are not ioyned v. 14. 2. The proofe of the place conteyning 4. reasons or arguments From 1. A similitude 15. 16. 17. 18. 2. An absurditie 19. 3. Aâ—rahams example 20 21. 22. 23. Rahabs example v. 25. 3. The conclusioÌ„ 1. Made vers 24. 2. Repeated ver 26. THE SECOND CHAP. OF S. IAMES THE FIRST VERSE THE NINTH SERMON Verse 1 My brethren haue not the faith of our glorious Lord Iesus Christ
milke of the worde with the exceeding comfort of the Sacraments and bringeth vs vp vnder the most wholsome discipline of Iesus Christ that we might be holy blameles before him through loue Whō if we agnize not and recount as our mother neither may we presume Ephe. 1. to thinke God to bee our father for such mutuall coniunction there is betwixt God and his Church as who so hath not her for his mother cannot haue God for his father as S. Cyprian very well writeth Christians therefore De simpli praelato and the vnfeined professours of true religion hauing the Church for their common misticall mother are a misticall and spirituall brotherhood among themselues 3 Neither that onely but they are also begotten with one seede of their new birth and regeneration which is Iames 1. the immortall seede of the word This the Apostle Saint James hath foretolde and foretaught vs when disputing of the causes of our new birth he sayeth of his owne will begate he vs with the worde of truth that we should bee the first fruits of his creatures Saint Peter therunto subscribeth 1. Pet. 1. being borne againe not of mortall but of immortall seede of the worde of God Saint Paul thereunto agreeth protesting to the Church of Corinth that he 1. Cor. 4. had begotten thē through the Gospel VVherfore as men springing from the same seede of the same parents are brethren in nature so Christians in hauing the same seed of the word of God whereby they are mistically begotten againe and regenerate are spiritually brethren so reputed so that the saints of God are to be counted brethren because they are all begotten with the immortall seed of the word of God the instrument of their regeneration 4 If Christ vouchsafe vs the name of brethren and so we haue him as a common brother then are we therefore also brethren by right among our selues For as those men which haue one third for their brother are brethren among themselues in nature as Iames Ioses hauing Iude Matt. 13. for their brother so that he being one third brother to both they must therfore be brethren betwixt thēselues so all Christians hauing Iesus Christ as their elder brother are brethren by grace among themselues also Now that Christ is our brother and so vouchsafeth vs it is apparant Iohn 20. therof assuring vs he telleth Mary that she must go to his brethren the apostles tell thē that he was ascended to his father and their father to his God their God Now Matt. 22. that which in speciall was spoken vnto them our Sauiour applieth generally to all the Saints who so shall doe my fathers will which is in heauen the same is my brother sister and mother The author to the Hebrues auoucheth the same out of Dauid I will declare thy name to my Psal 22. Heb. 1. 2. brethren in the middest of the congregation will I praise thee And a little after inferring this as graunted he sayeth It became him in all things to bee like his brethren that hee might bee mercifull and a faithfull high Priest in things appertayning to God Finally Saint Paul those whome hee knewe before hath hee also predestinate to bee like the image of his sonne Rom. 8. that hee might bee the first borne among manie brethren Christians then hauing Christ as their elder brother are therefore called brethren by right among themselues 5 Finally inasmuch as the Saints diuide the same inheritance among them therfore are they called brethren For brethren they are as Aristotle writeth among whō the Ethico 9. same inheritāce is diuided yea they which diuide the same lands liuing patrimony possessiō goods or riches are cōmonly reputed brethren the sons saints of god cōmunicate the same inheritance diuide the same kingdome of their heauenly father among them are coheires ioint-heires of the heauenly patrimonie eternall life therefore brethren S. Paul exhorting Christians to vnitie loue draweth his reason from the inheritance of the Saints we Ephe. 4. haue all one hope of calling we all cōmunicate the same inheritance of eternal life we all looke for the same kingdome therefore must we liue in concord and vnitie Saint Peter sheweth in like manner that there is one inheritance one common kingdome the same promises of life 2. Pet. 1. to all the Saints of God wherefore he saith that they all are by the same promises made partakers of the same heauenly nature In regard therefore of their inheritance which is one to all the Saints they are also brethren And this diuine and heauenly brotherhoode is violate and broken when either by erronious doctrine or corruption in religion or dissention in opinion or disdainfull contempt the poore and true Saints are disquieted and troubled Frater fere alter almost another equall of like condition The diligent consideration of this holy brotherhood greatly nourisheth amitie and cherisheth loue among the Saints whereunto respect of persons is opposed and therefore the more effectually to mooue them to loue whereof hee afterwarde speaketh the Apostle in the first place noting the persons calleth them brethren which brotherhood carefully remembred shall both remoue respect of persons from them cherish loue in their hearts and bosoms whose condition calling is like equall The Saints whom he calleth brethren being the persons 2. The thing it selfe whom he admonisheth in the next place commeth the thing it selfe whereof they are admonished that they haue not the faith of Christ in respect of persons wherewith true loue true charitie true religion cannot stande nor consist wherein the Saints are giuen to vnderstand that they must not professe Christian religion in respect of persons as reuerencing regarding respecting the rich and wealthy men of the world and neglecting disdaining contemning the poore but rather in their publike meetings and assemblies brotherly and louingly to embrace one another without disdainig the poore brethren who being of the same heauenly and holy brotherhood wherby they are of equall condition before God ought not then to be contemned or neglected of men haue not the faith of our Lord Iesus Christ in respect of persons 1 What is here ment by faith Christian religion the true seruice of Christ the profession of the Gospel whereunto respect of persons is contrarie For if pure religion and vndefiled before God be this to visite the fatherlesse and widowes in their aduersities and to regarde the poore in their miseries as before was taught vs then contrarie hereunto is the contempt of the poore and preferring of the rich which respect of persons is here condemned 2 Christ is called the glorious Lorde in this place sometime to like purpose is he called the Lord of glorie by S. Paul to the Corinthians when he sayth that none 1. Cor. 2. of the Princes of this world did know Christ for had they knowne him they would neuer
in your doings and become iudges of euill thoughts The force of which place is that such as in publike assemblies and generall meetings of men preferre the rich and great men of the worlde but disdaine and reprochfully dispise the poore offende and are iudges of euil thoughts do amisse iudge and that corruptly such therefore as respect mens persons do euill respect of persons is therefore euill To preferre a rich man for his gold rings sake or for his apparels sake and to contemne the poore for his vile rayment and pouerties sake is sinne To place the rich in worshipfull place albeit vnworthie and to disdaine the poore neuer so vertuous neuer so honest neuer so godly is iniquitie be fore God and a thing by the Apostle condemned Wherein the rule of equitie is broken the law of iustice is violate which requireth that that be giuen to euerie one which appertayneth to euery one VVhich Saint Paul also expressing willeth that we giue euery one their dutie tribute to whom tribute custome to whom custome feare Rom. 13. to whome feare honour to whome honour belongeth Now to whom belongeth greater honour then to such as are vnfained professours of Iesus Christ Honour and glorie saieth Aristotle is giuen in token of vertue and what vertue is greater then religion the true faith in Iesus 1. Rethoriâ—o Christ Such therefore as are religious and professe the faith of Christ vnfainedly albeit they be pooe are they to whom honour belongeth To haue the rich in account for their wealth brauerie and the poore in coÌ„tempt for their bafenesse and beggerie is contrarie to equitie and iustice Which thing who so doth is partiall and a iudger of euill thoughts in following a false rule of difference making riches the rule of difference and deseruer of honour when riches are not but faith and religion all such are worthily condemned for that they are more moued with outward pompe then true pitie worldly countenance then Christian calling thinking saith Baeda and Vpon thiâ— place iudging within themselues that a maÌ„ is so much the better how much the richer which to thinke is great partialitie and worthie to be condemned This place taketh not away degrees of honour from men neither denieth it honour or worship to be giuen to men of honour or worshippe albeit wicked and vnworthie neither preacheth the apostle disordered confusion as the Libertines and Anabaptists in former times haue and now phantastica land vnbrideled spirites doe who would remoue degreles of honour and calling not onely out of the Church but I feare out of the common wealth also For the Scriptures haue taught vs the Prophets haue confirmed by examples our Sauiour Christ hath willed and the Apostles haue inioyned honour to be giuen euen to the idolatrous vnworthie wicked persons S. Iamet here onely teacheth not to esteeme or iudge of the faith and religion of Christ in men by their outward appearance neither in the publike meetings of Christians to reuerence honour preferre the wealthy and rich men of the world being prophane wicked with the disgracing discountenancing and disdaining of the poore which are religious as the words themselues import when to the rich men say sit here in a good and worshipfull place and to the poore sit there or sit vnder my foote-stoole which argueth disdainfull contempt of the poore brethren For if in spectacles and theatrical sights in election of officers in parliaments in assises and sessions and in al well ordered assemblies and meetings of men there is difference of men and comlinesse of persons obseured how much more in ecclesiasticall meetings and christian conuenticles ought there an order to be obserued wherof the primitiue church was carefull appointing their place for the ministers theirs for the laitie theirs for theÌ„ which were to be catechised theirs for them which were to doe penaunce and make open acknowledgement of their offences The same was ratified by counsels confirmed by fathers and for the businesse of the Churches or the reprouing of mens vices and correcting of them which fel both Tertulian and S. Ambrose writeth that there Apolog. 39. vpon 1. Tim. 5. 1. were seueral places for certaine persons assigned the shadow whereof and as it were the print and token in our Churches remaine in the seates of Bishops in consistories and such like So then all difference and degrees of men are not here forbidden but in Christian assemblies to respect the rich with the contempt and disdaine of the poore is condemned in this example As such then as preferre a man for his gold ring or gay garments but contemne the poore for his vile and miserable condition making outward pompe riches glorie when they should make soundnesse of faith the zeale of religion the sinceritie of the heart and care of Gods glorie the difference of men therein greatly offended So when we haue the faith of Christ in estimation for the persons sake and iudge of religion by riches wealth honour we offend in like maner in hauing the faith of Christ in respect of persons and by this example are here condemned By which it commeth to passe that rich men wealthie men honourable men oftentimes puft vp and swelling with pride that euery were they are regarded disdain and coÌ„temne all other thus often times vile men vnworthy prophane vngodly are exalted and those in whom vertue flourisheth faith shineth wisedome appeareth are suppressed and not regarded which is a thing intollerable in Christian profession Hereby men are partiall in themselues and become iudges of euill thoughts being euill affected in so great a matter 2 In which example the Apostle condemneth two The euils in such as respect mens persons euils 1 The peruersenesse of their iudgements which thus respect the persons of men 2 Their madnesse And for the first euill whch is the peruersnesse of their iudgement thus saith the Apostle hearken my beloued brethren hath not God chosen the poore of this worlde that they should be rich in faith and heires of the kingdome But you haue despised the poore Their iudgement is naught and peruerse who iudge contrarie vnto God this men do which honour the rich which are prophane and wicked contemne the poore which are godly For God contemneth the proud and wicked be they neuer so rich neuer so wealthie neuer so noble neuer so honourable Psal 18. 1. Pet. 5. regardeth the huÌ„ble godly be they neuer so poore neuer so miserable neuer so base of condition Thus god accounteth not of men for riches wealth honor nobilitie but for godlines faith religion and vertue then men iudging contrariwise hereunto are peruerse in iudgement That God honoureth the poore whom men contemne and despise the Apostle teacheth in that he calleth them to be rich in faith and heires of the kingdome promised vnto those which loue him To contemne the poore whom God accounteth of and to disdaine them whome God honoureth is great
peruersnesse in iudgement Our Sauiour Christ shewing whom Almightie God hath called Matt. 5. to eternall happinesse in his euerlasting kingdome pronouÌ„ceth the poore in spirit to be heires therof wherfore he saith Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the kingdome of heauen So then such as by the miserable condition pouertie of this life haue their minds and spirites brought vnder and tamed to obey God are they whom God hath chosen to be rich in faith heires of the kingdome of heauen This thing the blessed virgin acknowledging affirmeth such as of whome no account Luke 1. is made in the world and are altogether vile in the eies of men by God to be aduaunced euen to heauenly dignitie and therefore sayeth that God had put downe the mightie from their seate and exalted them of low degree Saint Paul disputing of the calling of men to eternall saluation by the preaching of the Gospel shewing that the poore of this worlde haue the chiefe rowme and place in the eternall election of the Saints writeth thereof in this wise to the Church of Corinth brethren you see your calling howe that not manie wise â— Cor. 1. after the flesh not manie mightie not manie noble are called but GOD hath chosen the foolish things of the worlde to confound the wise God hath chosen the weake things to confounde the mightie vile things and things which are despised in the worlde hath God chosen and things which are not to confound the things which are that no flesh should reioyce in his sight Such Leuit. 26. Jere. 31. 1. Cor. 6. as were vile weake miserable poore base hath God called to be heires of his kingdom To these hath God made promise of good things euen that he would be their God they should be his people These are the Lords inheritance Exod. 19. 1. Pet. 2. and his portion for euer these are a chosen genetion a holy nation a roiall priesthoode a peculiar people vnto the Lord. Though then their condition be miserable in the worlde albeit they be implicate and inwrapped in basenesse pouertie yet are they replenished with spiritual treasure and chosen of God to be rich in faith and heires of his kingdome Seeing God so regardeth esteemeth and honoureth the poore of this world that in the inheritance of his heauenly kingdome he preferreth theÌ„ before the rich and proude of the people then is it great peruersnesse of iudgement to preferre the rich whom he reiecteth and contemne those whom he honoureth with the glorie of his heauenly kingdome Which place as it worthily condemneth the vanitie and peruersnes of their iudgment which preferre the prophane rich men of the world to the poore which are godly religious so is it also full of singular consolation and comfort for the poore thus dispised of men For if they haue an eye to the heauenly kingdom wherunto they are called by God what is more excellent If they regard eternall life whereof they are heires by Iesus Christ what is more glorious If they looke vnto the immortal incorruptible inheritance which is laid vp reserued for them 1. Pet. 1. in heauen what is more singular If they record recount with themselues that they are chosen of God to be rich in faith what is more comfortable Which dutifull consideration swaloweth vp as a bottomles gulfe deuoureth Rom. 8. all the miseries afflictions calamities of this world while wee holde fast the principle of the Apostle that all the afflictions and suffering of this life are not to be compared vnto the glorie which shal be reuealed to the children 2. Cor. 4. of God whose momentanie and light afflictions cause vnto them a farre more excellent waight of glorie while they looke not to the things which are present but to the things which are to come neither to those which are seene but to those that are not seene for the things which are seene are teÌ„porall but the things which are not seene are eternal This consolation incouragement paciently to endure the pouerty basenes of their life is herehence ministred by the apostle when to condemne such as haue the faith of Christ in respect of persons of peruersenes of iudgement he sayth Hearken my deare brethren hath not God chosen the poore of this worlde to bee rich in faith and heires of the kingdome which he hath promised vnto those that loue him That the Apostle sayeth hath not God chosen the poore of this world that they should be rich in faith c. it followeth not that therefore hee casteth off all rich men But here is mention made of the choosing of the poore partly for their comfort partly to beare downe the intollerable pride and insolencie of the prophane rich men partly to teach that God chooseth not men to his eternall inheritance for any thing whereof the worlde accounteth Otherwise it is true that God our of all estates of men chooseth certaine whome hee will make rich in fayth and heires of his kingdome which consisteth of all estates degrees and conditions of men seruants and maisters princes and people rich poore base and honourable for God would all men to be saued 1. Tim. 2. 2. Pet. 3. and to come to the knowledge of the truth God hath chosen the poore to be heires of his kingdom but you haue despised them to despise them whom God hath chosen to contemne them whom he accouÌ„teth of is in iudgement to swaâ—ue from God which is peruersnes for to oppose our selues to God in our iudgemeÌ„t and therein to be contrarie vnto him to preferre those whom he refuseth to refuse them whom god preferreth to honor theÌ„ whom God reiecteth to reiect those whom God honoreth is waâ—wardnes peruersnes in iudgmeÌ„t wherof they are guilty which honor rich prophane persons dispise the poore which are godly which is the first euil in these respecters of persons by the apostle here condeÌ„ned 2 The second euill in them is madnes it is a kinde of frantikenes madnes for men to reuerence honour and preferre those before the godly brethreÌ„ whoÌ„ they for many causes ought rather to accouÌ„t execrable cursed The prophane rich men for sundry causes ought to be held as execrable cursed theÌ„ to honor prefer exalt these is a kind of madnes This do the respecters of persoÌ„s who seeing a maÌ„ come in with a gold ring on his finger in good â—y apparrell say Sitte thou downe in a good place but to the poore in vile rayment say with contempt Sitte there â—or here vnder my footstoole The respecters of persons therefore are not onely peruerse in iudgement but mad after a manner also That the rich ought rather to be counted and helde â—s cursed then to be honoured and preferred before the â—oore brethren the Apostle sheweth and that for 3 great â—uils and sinnes which commonly raigne in the prophane â—ich men of
this world 1 The first euill for the which the prophane riche Tyranny â—en are to be held as execrable is their tyrannie they â—ppresse the poore by tyrannie Men are oppressed by tyannie diuers waies 1. When they are imprisoned afflicâ—ed persecuted cruelly by the rich and mighty men of the â—orld then are they oppressed by tyrannie The poore â—rethren the holy men and Saints of God for the profesâ—on of the faith for the religion of Christ for the defence â—f the word of trueth by the mighty men of the world aâ—y wise afflicted are oppressed by tyrannie Thus were â—e Apostles of Christ by the cruell Scribes Pharisies and â—rinces of the people by tyrannie oppressed when for the â—ospels sake they were imprisoned scourged excommuâ—icate and persecuted Pylat Herod conspired together Mat. 27. â—o oppresse our Sauiour Christ by tyrannie Thus was Acts 7. â—aint Steuen the blessed Martyr oppressed by the tyrannie â—f the Iewes and for the religion of Christ persecuted vnâ—o death Thus the Prophetes by the tyrannie of their â—rinces as Isai Jeremie Amos and the rest haue been opâ—ressed Thus the holy men of God the poore Saints and â—rethren in Fraunce in Flaunders in Italie in Spaine are â—ppressed by tyrannie Thus the renowmed Martyrs in â—ur own countrie and nation not long since haue in like â—anner by tyrannie beene oppressed After like manner â—â— the time of the Apostle the poore brethren were oppressed by the tyrannie of rich men wherefore the riche ought rather to be accounted execrable and cursed then with disdainefull contempt of the poore brethren to bee preferred and honoured of men 2 The rich oppresse the poore by tyrannie when in the trades of this life they deale hardly deceitfully vncoÌ„scionably extremely This oppression God expresly forbade his people the Israelites in the law When thou sellest Leuit. 25. ought to thy neighbour or byest ought of him you shall not oppresse one another Saint Paul forewarneth 1. Thes 4. of this oppression Let no man oppresse or defraude his brother in bargaining for the Lord is an auenger of such things When the rich men haue gotten commodities into their hands and make the poore pay therefore what themselues lust when they make the poore pay deere wheÌ„ they might affoord it cheaper when rich men geue mean wares to the poore for the best euill for good putrified corrupt for sound curraÌ„t theÌ„ they oppresse the poor by tyrannie This oppression in all times and in al commonwealths in all coastes and countreyes of the worlde is vsed whereby the poore through the tyrannie of the rich are oppressed For which the rich ought to be accounted accursed 3 The poore are oppressed also by tyrannie of the rich and wealthie when they wryng them by vsurie forfeitures exactions impositions and vll manner extortioÌ„ As the rich oppressed the poore by tyrannie in the time of the Prophet Isai where against he crieth out and complayneth Isai 3. What haue ye to doe that ye beate my people to peeces and grinde the faces of the poor saith the Lord euen the Lord of hostes Almighty God in the Princely Prophet Dauid crieth out against this tyrannous oppression Doe not all workers of wickednes knowe that they Psal 14. eate vp my people as they eate bread Thus were the people oppressed by the tyrannie of the riche in the time of Micheas the Prophet whereof he spake in this wise They hate the good and loue the euill they pluck their skinnes from them and the flesh from their bones and they eate Miche 3. vp the flesh of my people and flay off their skinnes from them they breake their bones and choppe them in peeces as for the potte and as flesh within the cauldron Thus the Prophet condemneth their Iudges officers rulers and rich men of the land for their cruel extortioÌ„s exactions oppressions whereby they might be very well compared to Wolues Beares Lions and sauage Beastes which rent and teare the flesh from the bones the skinne from the backes the partes from the body so outragious is their crueltie These cruel persons for their tyrannous persecution and oppression may be compared to the fish Sargus which haunting the Aegyptian sea oppresseth the little fishes catching al their meat and reliefe from them They are not vnlike the fish Scarus which some take to be the Gilthead or Goldenie Which fish chaweth cud like a beast and deuoureth all the little fishes which meete him Such are the rich men of this worlde against the poore for like Sargus they deuour the meat sustenance and liuing of the poore and eate vp the laboures of their hands and the sweate of their browes licking and wiping the fatte from the beard of the poore Like Scarus they deuour the poore of the land and eate vp the people as it were bread These growe rich of the pouertie waxe fatte of the need feed ful of the emptines cloath themselues of the nakednes house theÌ„selues by the vnharbouring prank vp theÌ„selues by the penurie make themselues mery by the miserie of the poore and so oppresse them by tyrannie for which they should be held accursed 4 Finally rich men oppresse the poore when they weary and waste the bodies of the poore with toilesome labour vnrewarded as the Landlord vseth the poore Tenant the rich the poore without hire to whom they doe seruice for whom they labour toile and moile for feare afflicted and oppressed by their tyrannie HereÌ„ce is it that in sundrie places of the land the poore Farmer is compelled to carte to carrie to plowe to sowe to fetch to beare to doe all manner busines for the tyrannous oppression of the Gentleman Thus and by like meanes the rich oppressing the poore by tyrannie ought rather to be accouÌ„ted accursed then with the contempt and disdaine of the poore to be preferred Seeing therefore the rich by sundrie waies afflict the poore for the which we should hold theÌ„ as execrable it is a point of madnes for men through partiall respect had to their persons to honour them with contempt of the poore which are godly 2 Another and seconde euill for which they ought to be helde accursed is their crueltie and vnmercifulnes Vnmercifulnes For they drawe the poore before iudgement seates either for their profession and religion as in the time of the Apostle was vsuall For for the profession of Christian religion the holy Apostles the blessed Martyrs the faithfull seruants of Christ were drawen before seates of iudgement as in the whole booke of the Actes of the Apostles Acts 5. c in the stories Ecclesiasticall by Eusebius Nicephorus Socrates and others written is apparantly euident Or els for their debts they cruelly handle them and other for matters of no great waight or when loue woulde forgeue all bring them before seates of iudgement sue them in the lawe wearye them with this Court or that and shewe all vnmercifulnes against them Thus
no flesh and the chiefe knowledge of sinne come by the morall lawe then doe not the woorkes of the morall lawe iustifie more then the workes of the ceremoniall lawe of God 3 That lawe whose workes Saint Paul excludeth from being meanes of mans iustification causeth wrath Rom. 4. as in the same disputation is auouched but to cause wrath is not proper to the ceremonies of the law which were rather giuen to reconcile the people to God but to the morall lawe which thundereth out the fearful wrath Deut. 27. Gal. 3. of God against all transgressions Therefore not onely not the ceremonies but neither the morall workes of the law do iustifie vs before God 4 Finally S. Paul to the Church of Galatia handeling the same argument and question of iustification Gal. 3. and therin prouing that vve art not iustified by the works of the lavve he reasoneth from contraries by the lavve vve are held accursed therefore thereby vvee are not saued and iustified His antecedent or former proposition he proueth by the lavve it selfe vvherein it is thus vvritten Cursed is euery one that continueth not in all Deut. 27. things that are vvritten in the lavv to do them Novv this curse is not so much vnderstood of the breach of the ceremonies as of the moral precepts to the transgression vvhereof from 15. verse to 26. verse setting dovvne seuerall curses as against idolatry disobedience of children to their parents remouing of land markes vvhereunder he condemneth all iniuries and extortions not counselling and helping our neighbour hindering the right of the straunger fatherlesse and vvidovv incest buggerie priuy hurt briberie 36. verse he concludeth Cursed saith he is euerie one that abideth not in all things that are vvritten in this booke to do them Citing therefore that place in the matter question of iustification vvhich he applieth to faith altogether taketh frō works speaketh not of the ceremonies of the lavv only but of the moral precepts also so of all the vvorks of the lavv vvhich both in vvhole and in part are denied to iustifie vs before God Albeit this controuersie betvvixt the Ievves and Acts 15. 5. Gal. 1. 11. Rom. 4. 9. the Apostles began about circumcision vvhich the Ievves vvould haue annexed to faith the Gospel as necessarie to euery one which should be saued as appeareth yet the Apostle rising from the part to the vvhole from circumcision to all the lavve of Moises excludeth not only circumcision but all the vvorkes of the lavve from iustifying vs before God It follovveth not therefore because faith and vvorks are both in gods Saints togither therfore they haue the same effect namely to iustifie before God For albeeit man hath at once feete handes eares and eyes yet followeth not that they serue to one vse but to seuerall the feete to walke the handes to touch the eares to heare the eyes to see so albeit in the Saints there is both faith and good workes yet by faith not by workes are we saued and iustified before GOD. In the Sunne there are together both heate and light yet is not the light but the heate and influence cause of the bringing foorth of earthly creatures and fruites of the ground and by the light not by the heate it shineth vnto men In the Element of water naturally there is moysture ioyned with colde yet to purge and wash is proper to the moysture not to the colde to coole proper to the coldnesse rather then to the moysture So in like manner albeit fayth and good woorkes bee in the Saints at once yet are men iustified by faith and beleefe not by woorkes which in deede are not good but in as much as we are iustified by faith in Christ from whence as fruites from a tree they spring vnto men and are manifest to the worlde by order and consideration faith going before as the cause gendering good woorkes as effects in the Saints of God To applie iustification to workes as well as to faith is a deceit and fallacie from the accident in applying that to one which is proper to another because both are ioyned together Saint Origen vpon the 3. Rom. sheweth that faith alone without works saueth whereof he giueth the theefe for exemple and the woman to whom Christ said thy sins are forgiuē thee thy faith hath made thee whole Origen in Rom. 3. Now that we say faith and workes are ioyned together so inseparablie as that faith without workes is dead according to this infallible doctrine in them which are alreadie iustified it is true not simplie For in men to be iustified they are not for in them first faith is whereby they are iustified and afterwardes good workes follow In the poore publican there were no good works Luke 18. but faith was in him whereby moued he hūbled himselfe said O God be merciful vnto me a sinner so destitute of workes he departed iustified The theefe who through Luke 23. faith intreated our Sauiour Christ that he would remember him when he came to his kingdome thereby was iustified yet had no good workes apparant with his faith Faith therefore in men to be iustified is without workes but being once iustified workes as soone as occasion is ministred shew themselues in the Saints of God according to this doctrine Truely therefore saith Saint Augustine When the Apostle saith wee suppose or conclude Defide operibus c. 14. that a man is iustified by faith without the works of the lawe he doeth it not that men professing and obteining faith should despise the workes of righteousnes but that euery man might know that by faith he may be iustified And writing to Sixtus the priest he saith The Saints haue Epist 105. Sixto good works in as much as they are iustified but to bee made righteous they haue none To Honoratus hee speaketh in like manner Good Epist 120. Honorato workes beginne after that we are iustified but we are not therefore iustified because good works went before iustificatiō Thus must we wisely distinguish times and persons the time before iustification when faith is alone from the time when we are iustified at what time faith and workes are ioyned together The persons to be iustified in whom faith only is required fom these which are iustified already in whom besides faith good workes must also shine and flourish For they together with faith receaue also the holy Ghost and Spirite of sanctification as saint Luke Acts 10. 44. Gal. 32. Rom. 4 3. Tit. 5 Ephes 1. 13. recordeth to haue hapned the Centurion and Saint Paul auoucheth to the churches of Galatia Rome Ephesus to his Scholer Titus And this spirit receaued with our iustification is not idle but worketh so in the saints as that he draweth them from sinne and pricketh them forward to al good works that they may be filled with the fruites of righteousnesse which are by Iesus Christ vnto the glorie and
also beleeue there is one God yet tremble they in desperation VVherfore then if a man shoulde describe vnto vs faith in this manner it is faith to beleeue there is one God this definition declaration or description of faith were altogether imperfect neither is this the faith wherby a man may bee saued for the deuils themselues haue as good a faith as this and yet are not saued As then it were absurde for any to say that the deuils shall be saued which no man affirmeth vnlesse hee be voide of knowledge bereft of reason enwrapped in errour doting through follie so it is no lesse absurde for men to seeke to bee saued through that faith which is common vnto the deuils also yet can not saue them which thing our Apostle here teacheth and telleth vs thou beleeuest there is one God thou doest well the deuils beleeue also and tremble To make a plaine euident and apparant difference Credere deum Credere deo Credere in deum betwixt true faith and feigned the faith of the Saints and the shadowe of faith in the wicked the holy auncient and reuerend fathers haue shewed that it is one thing to beleeue that God is and another thing to beleeue God and another thing to beleeue in God 1 To beleeue that God is is to beleeue there is a God and the same the creator and the gouernour of heauen and earth which the verie sight and view of the creatures and the frame of the worlde doth teach all Nations and people be they neuer so rude neuer so sauage neuer so barbarous as the heathen man and Oratour of the Romaines Tullie in sundrie of his bookes and 1. Lib. de natur deorum 1. Tuscul 1. de Legib. workes hath confessed And the verie deuils themselues Seeing the wonderfulnesse of his woorkes the omnipotencie of his power the incomprehensiblenesse of his wisedome the terrour and seueritie of his iudgements and the excellencie of his Maiestie are also forced will they nill they to beleeue and perswade themselues there is one God This faith then is common to the heathen and to the Saints vnto men and vnto deuils and therefore therby can we not be saued 2 To beleeue God is to beleeue Gods worde to be Psal 145. true to beleeue that God is faithfull in all his sayings and holy in all his workes Which thing albeit the wicked sometimes seeme to doe yet simplie can they not be saide to beleeue God For if they either beleeued him to be true in his promises or constant in his threatnings then would they neither so maliciously persecute vertue neither so greedilie follow after vice as experience doth teach they dayly do If they beleeued God then either the hope of heauen promised in mercie to the righteous or dreade of damnation threatned in iustice to the wicked woulde withdrawe them from wickednesse but neither the one neither the other doth perswade them therefore do they not rightly beleeue God 3 To beleeue in God is not onely to beleeue that God is neither only to beleeue all things in his holy word to be most certaine and most sure but also particularly to embrace and specially apply vnto our owne selues all the promises made by God the father in his son Iesus Christ both concerning mercie and also remission of sinnes vnto the Saints to relie rest and stay onely vppon his mightie power to haue all hope of happinesse in his onely fauour to perswade our selues of true righteousnesse release of sinne imputation of iustice eternall saluation onely through his deare sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ the righteous who onely died for our sinnes and rose againe Rom. 4. 1. Pet. 3. Rom. 10. for our iustification who onely once suffered for vs the iust for the vniust to bring vs to God who onely is the fulfilling of the law for al that beleeue and therefore alone of god for vs made wisdome iustification sanctification 1. Cor. 1. redemption that according as it is written he that reioiceth let him reioice in the Lord. This faith who so hath from God doeth not onely beleeue God is neither alone acknowledge him as a most mightie Lorde and most iust iudge neither onely perswade himselfe generally the things in scripture contained to be true which in some sort is common both vnto men vnto deuils to the Saints and to the wicked but also doth loue God as a father full of all mercy hope in him for pardon of sinnes as in the onely fountaine of grace and goodnesse and this faith is chiefly proper vnto the Saints in whom also it bringeth forth the fruites of righteousnes that in them God in all things may be glorified through Iesus Christ To beleeue therefore that there is one God is faith more large and generall then may be accounted sounde and liuely faith whose proper marke and specifical difference is to applie the sure promises of mercie by God made vnto the Saints vnto our selues which neyther the wicked of the world neither the deuils do therefore by that their faith can they not be saued yea rather as vtterly without all hope through feare of endlesse damnation they tremble But a man might say that the faith of Gods elect seruaunts is not voide of feare for to be voide vtterly of feare is a thing most wicked Wherefore Paul hauing in many wordes noted the wickednesse of the naturall Rom. 3. and vnregenerate men setteth downe this as the full measure of their iniquitie the feare of God is not before their eyes True it is there is feare in the Saintes which God himselfe commendeth vnto vs by his Prophet to whom shall I haue respecte but to such as are poore humble Isai 66. in heart and tremble at my sayings This feare Salomon commendeth as the beginning of wisedome and Saint Prou. 1. Paul opposeth it to wicked presumption be not high minded but feare and requireth it in the Saints as a Rom. 11. marke of saluation worke out your saluation with feare and trembling This feare proceedeth from loue and Philip. 2. care we haue to please God loth in any thing to offende him as our father most mercifull most bounteous and louing not so much for feare of receyuing punishment as for care not to loose the benefite of mercie as Saint Augustine wisely hath obserued Epist 120. Honorato Mat. 25. But as for the feare and trembling of wicked men and damned spirites it is alwaies through remembrance of Gods iudgementes and their owne endles torments which in hell they shall suffer which are prepared for Satan and his Angels They feare because hee alwaies threateneth torments neuer promiseth reconcilement alvvaies appeareth rigorous neuer fauourable alvvaies dreadfull neuer amiable wherefore they carying daily in their breastes and bosomes tormenting furies which holde them day and night vnder dread of endlesse destruction when they see continually the countenaunce of God against them armed with all the weapons of
deade without workes Which thing Saint Iames to insinuate giue vs to vnderstād he breaketh forth into these words but wilt thou vnderstande O thou vaine man that the faith which is without workes is deade was not Abraham our father iustified through workes when he offered vp Isaac his sonne vpon the altar Wherein first let vs with Illericus see the annotation and obseruation or note of Cardinall Caiatan one of the Romish clergy vpon these wordes wilt thou vnderstand O thou vaine man that faith which is without works is Cardinall Caietane deade Marke reader saith he that James meaneth not that faith without workes is deade because it is manifest that we are iustified by faith euen without workes as appeareth by infants baptized and in olde folke also baptized and forthwith deceasing and dying but he meaneth faith without workes that is faith refusing to worke is deade vaine and not able to iustifie Thus euen one of their owne who would herence conclude the necessitie of workes in the matter of iustification spoke that same which we all speake and defende and for which wee are wrongfully condemned of them that faith which is not prepared to doe well when occasion is offered but then refuseth to worke is deade and profiteth nothing for as much as true faith worketh alwaies when matter occasion and opportunitie is offered through loue as Saint Paul auoucheth This sence of Saint James if the Romanistes Gal. 5. would holde if not with vs yet with their owne Cardinall there should remaine out of this place no controuersie at all betwixte vs and them in the matter of iustification This foretold the words of the Apostle are plaine the storie euident the matter manifest therefore a briefe and pataphrasticall running ouer them may bee sufficient Wilt thou vnderstand saith he ô thou vaine man that faith without workes is dead Faith in men iustified destitute of workes or as Caietane saith refusing to doe well when occasion is offered is dead indeede for that all the Saints shewe foorth their faith in the practise of workes and vertue The apostle Saint Iames also here calleth hypocrites and men vaunting and boasting of faith without the fruites of righteousnesse emptie or vaine borowing his similitude from barrelles or other like vessels which the emptier they be the more they doe sounde and rumble so likewise these men the voider they are of true faith the more they prate and prattle therof the lesse substance they haue of sound religion the greater shewe and sound they geue and therefore may bee well called vaine or emptie Was not Abraham our Father iustified when he offered Gen 17. Gen. 18. his sonne Isaac vpon the Altar was he not iustified through workes Moses recordeth that when Abraham had obteined a Sonne according to the promise which was made vnto him by God both when he talked with Abraham and gaue him circumcision the seale of the couenant and also in the day of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha he was commaunded to goe to the mount Gen. 22. Moriah and there to offer vp that Sonne whom GOD had witnessed should be his heire and in whom all the nations of the world should be blessed Which thing Abraham willingly obeying causeth his Asse to be sadled wood to be prepared fire and a knife to be in a readines and the next morning he and his sonne and two of his seruantes tooke their iourney towardes the mount Moriah there to offer vp Isaac Abraham a farre off seeing the place commaunded his seruants to stay laide the wood vpon Isaac tooke the knife and fire in his owne handes and so with his Sonne came to the place which the Lord appointed Where hee taketh and bindeth his sonne hee stretcheth out his hande for the knife to haue cut his throate This his obedience the Lord seeing sendeth his Angell stayeth Abraham from touching the childe and saith vnto him Now I know that thou fearest God in that thou hast not spared thy sonne for my sake This was the worke of Abraham whereby he made manifest and declared his liuely faith for which work S. James saith he was iustified that is knowen to be iust This his faith wrought with his workes and was effectuall and fruitfull through his obedience and through that worke of his obedience was his faith made perfecte declared to be sound shewed to be true knowen to be liuely and acceptable before God and man Who the more he by his obedience shewed his faith the more was his faith thereby knowen to be perfect not that his faith or any mans faith in this world can be perfect and absolute 1. Cor. 13. on euery part For we haue here no gift in the highest degree of perfection which may not daylie be increased and all men must learne in humilitie of their Spirites dailie to praie with the most holy Apostles Lord increase our faith But in as much as by good workes our faith Luke 17. daily riseth and groweth to greater measure of perfection and is daily more and more thereby confirmed and knowen to be perfect as the more often the tree bringeth foorth fruit the more plainly is it knowen to be good it is called perfect That Saint James here saith of Abrahams faith that it was made perfect by workes wee may not therence conclude that the beginning and first rising and springing vp of faith is from God but the consummation and perfection thereof from our selues and our own works For what were this but intollerable pride in ascribing the lesse to God the greater to our selues the beginning of good to him the consummation and accomplishment to our selues to chalenge and arrogate praise vnto our workes and to derogate from his glorie where against the Princely Prophet Dauid prayeth when he saith Not Psal 115. vnto vs ô Lord nor vnto vs but vnto thy name geue the praise For were the beginnings from God but the perfection in our works then looke how much more excellent the perfection and ende of euery thing is then the beginning and the consummation of faith then the entrance or inchoation thereof so much more praise shoulde belong to vs then to God himselfe Which thing to desire were great vngodlines to attempt were horrible pride boldly to chalenge were not onely shamefull presumption but the full measure of all iniquitie Wherefore let vs learne a better profession and ascribe all in all vnto God who both beginneth and also maketh perfect whatsoeuer is perfect in vs hee it is that Philip. 2 worketh in vs both to will and also to perfourme according to his good pleasure From whom we haue all 2. Cor. 3 our sufficiencie who of our selues as of our selues are not able to thinke a good thought much lesse to make perfecte any thing in our selues but all our sufficiencie is from God from whom euery good and euerie perfecte Iames 1. gift proceedeth as from the father of lights So
that not onely the beginning of faith but the increase and perfection therof is from him For which cause as the Apostles prayed to Christ Luke 17 who is God blessed for euer for increase of saith so S. Paul and Saint Peter ascribing the perfection establishment and consummation of all things vnto GOD haue therefore praied vnto God as plainly appeareth in their Epistles The God of peace that brought againe from Heb. 13. the dead our Lord Iesus the great Shepheard of the sheepe through the bloud of the euerlasting couenant make you perfecte in all good workes to doe his will woorking in you that which is pleasaunt in his sight thorowe Iesus Christ to whom be praise for euer and euer Amen And Saint Peter And the God of all grace which 1. Pet. 5. hath called vs vnto his eternal glorie by Christ Iesus after that ye haue suffered a little make you perfect confirme strengthen and stablish you to whom be glorie for euer and euer Thus then the beginning continuance and encrease yea the perfection and establishment of the very faith of Abraham was onely from God as the cause yet is it knowen to be perfect and declared so to be before men through workes as the Apostle witnesseth and the Scripture was fulfilled when by his obedience it did clearely appeare how truely it was written of Abraham by the Prophet Moses that Abraham beleeued and it was Gen. 15 imputed vnto him for righteousnes So that his worke is said in the Scripture to haue made the testimonie of Moses true cleare and euident that Abraham beleeued and that his faith to that word of promise that one of his owne loines and bowels should be his heire was imputed vnto him for righteousnes This being the argument of Saint James from the example of Abraham that what faith was in him the like ought to be in all Gods Saints and that as his faith was ioyned with the worke of obedience to God when occasion was ministred so ought the faith of euerie one of the children of God to be bewtified accompanied shewed foorth through good works The conclusion is inferred You see then how that a man is iustified of workes that is The conclusion made proued and knowen to men to be iust and righteous before God by workes and not by faith onely not of a colde dead bare barren fruitlesse idle faith onely such a faith as is in words when we say we haue faith though we haue no workes Of which faith hypocrites so much glorie and make boastein vaine as of that faith which is no true faith And this conclusion must agree in the same sence of tearmes wherein the example was proposed and the tearmes herein to be noted are specially two Iustified and faith Iustified in the example proposed signifieth to be knowen for iust not to be made iust Faith signifieth that bare profession whereby in words we say we haue faith and the religion of Christ Such faith was not in Abraham therefore neither is any other man by such a faith reputed for righteous And their wordes thus in the same and right sense taken the conclusion is true a man is not iustified by faith onely but by workes faith onely in wordes maketh not men to bee knowen for righteous among men but faith in workes and deedes These things thus set downe in the example of Abraham 4. Reason the fourth and last argument which faith in gods Saints is not without workes is drawne from Rahab the vittailer tauerner hostesse or harlot of Ierico whose example teacheth the same that Abrahās did that the faith of Gods Saints is not fruitlesse or void of good works for she also was iustified through workes when she receyued the messengers and sent them out another way The storie is recorded in the booke of Iosua wherein it is set downe that at what time as Iosua by the counsell and Iosua 2. commaundement of God purposed the siege and sacking of Ierico the Citie he sent before him two men to spie out and to view the land and the Citie which thing comming to the eares of the King of Ierico that there were such men come to the house of Rahab hee sent to her to send him the men she seeing that being perswaded they were the true seruants of the God of heauen earth and that the lande should bee giuen by God into their hands wherin her faith consisted she hid the men and tolde the messengers of the King that they were gone and so sent them away who being gone shee came to the spies and tolde them how their feare was vpon the inhabitants of the land therefore desired she them that as she had shewed them mercie so they would shewe he◠mercie when the Citie should be destroyed This was promised a signe and warning was giuen shee sendeth them away and so they escaped This her facte Saint Iames commendeth affirming that thereby shee also was iustified euen knowen for righteous and declared thereby to the spyes of Iosua and to all Israel The force of this place then is this as Abraham through bare and naked faith deserued not the prayse of iustice righteousnesse and iustification before men so neither did Rahab but as Abraham hauing occasion thereto shewed his fayth by his holy obedience so Rahab shewed the vnfeignednesse of her fayth by her sauing and sending away safely the messengers of Josua and so both of them were iustified before men and in the vewe of the worlde not by faith onely that is bare faith but by workes whereby their faith was shewed and made manifest In these two examples all men are contained whether Iewe or Gentile whether righteous or prophane and openly wicked Abrahams example containeth all Iewes and all men of vertue and godlinesse Rahabs example containeth all Gentiles straungers from Gods people all wicked persons which yet through the grace of GOD are planted in the Church and made members of the bodie of Christ wherein the diuersitie of the argument consisteth Thus the holie Apostle culled and picked out two most diuerse and vnlike examples the one of a man the other of a woman the one of Gods people the other of a straunger the one of one godly the other of one wicked to the ende that thereby he might teach men that none neither man nor woman neither Iewe nor Gentile neither of the people of GOD nor straunger neither godly nor wicked can bee reputed or reckened for iust and righteous before GOD in deede whose praise appeareth not in the practise of vertue and good workes by which they are shewed and knowen for righteous before men So that in none vvhat kinde or condition what people or nation what coast or countrie so euer they bee of true faith can bee void and destitute of vvorks as by these arguments novv appeareth most manifest Novve the Apostle againe repeateth the conclusion The conclusiō repeated that as the bodie voyde
carelesse to walke woorthie their profession and indeuour not to bee fruitefull in the woorkes of righteousnesse to the glorie of GOD therefore is their faith vaine idle detestable and shamefull in the sight of GOD. 5 The last kinde of fayth is Christian faith which is a sure trust in the mercie of GOD through the merits of Christ vndoubtinglie perswading our selues of remission of our sinnes by his righteousnesse and of eternall saluauion by his passion whereby hauing peace in our consciences with GOD wee rest and walke in obedience vnto his commaundements Whereof the Prophet speaketh The iust shall liue by fayth Abac. 2. Rom. 3. Saint Paul Wee conclude that a man is iustified by fayth without the woorkes of the lawe Againe beeing iustified by faith wee haue peace with GOD through Iesus Christ our Lorde To the Church of Rom. 5. Ephes 2. Ephesus VVee are saued by grace through faith and that not of our selues it is the gift of GOD neither of woorkes least any should boast And againe by Christ wee haue boldnesse and entraunce with confidence Ephes 3. by faith in him Of this faith Paul alwayes speaketh when hee entreateth of iustification which wee obtayne onelie by this faith in Iesus Christ And Gen. 15. Rom. 4. Gal. 3. this is the fayth whereby Abraham vvas iustified before GOD when it was auouched Abraham beleeued and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse And this faith is neuer idle in the Saintes of GOD hauing iust occasion ministred but it woorketh through loue and hath moste singular ornaments Gal. 5. and vertues ioyned vnto it as inseparable companions in all those that are truelie iustified as inuocation of GOD gratefull memorie for benefites receyued pacience and inuincible constancie vnder the Crosse bounteous liberalitie and louing mercie towardes the distressed Saints in their necessities obedience to the worde of truth mortification of our earthly members renouation of the spirite of our mindes with the woorkes of sanctification which as effectes of fayth make it shine and bee manifest in the sight of men There then being many acceptions of faith whereof speaketh this Apostle not of the last as Paul doth but of the second and of the fourth That he speaketh of the second it appeareth in the 19. verse hee speaketh of that Verse 19. faith which is common to men and to diuels for hee sayeth thou beleeuest there is one God thou dost well the diuels also beleeue and tremble Now the diuels haue no true nor iustifying faith that were absurd to graunt for they beleeue not in Christ neither hope they for mercie but tremble in despaire at the iudgement of God but their faith is to beleeue there is one God to acknowledge the things contained in the scripture of the old and new testament to be true to confesse Christ to be the son of god but neither Messiah nor mediator for thē That he meaneth faith in the 4. sense which is the outward presēce of faith which is rather a shew shadow thē any substāce rather an imagination and conceyued opinion of faith then faith in deed as when we say we haue fayth and in wordes pretende it It appeareth also out of the Apostle For Saint James speaketh of that faith when men Verse 14. Verse 19. say they haue fayth as himselfe in the proposition of this place speaketh What auaileth it my brethren though a man saith he say he hath faith whē he hath no worke Can his faith saue him The Apostle inueieth against a bare pretence of faith against that faith vvhich is in vvordes onely vvhich is a verball faith As also Saint Thomas of Aquine their angelicall Doctour confesseth S. Thomas vvho expounding the similitude in the fifteenth and sixtenth verses expressed follovving the same sense of faith saieth As liberalitie in vvordes helpeth not the poore vnlesse meat and other necessarie things be giuen ministred so neither that faith vvhich is in vvords can saue vs. Thus hee expoundeth Saint Iames of verball faith vvhich in vvordes onely consisteth Seeing then Saint Paul speaketh of a true liuely and fruitfull faith vvhereby vve liue Iames of a dead rotten barren faith vvherby men are counted dead they speake of faith in diuerse significations and therefore are not contrarie neither to bee opposed neither can one and the same effect of iustification before GOD bee applyed vnto both these kindes yea the faith vvhereof Paul speaketh iustifieth before God and the faith vvhereof Iames speaketh dooth not therefore speake they not of one kinde of fayth For vvhich cause the conclusion of Saint James cannot be ment of the faith mencioned in Saint Paul but of another vvhen hee saieth ye see then that a man is iustified through vvorkes and not of faith onely This faith then is the faith of diuels and hypocrites not the faith of Christians And so the place serueth nothing at all against the doctrine vvhich vvee out of Paul preach that vve are iustified by faith onely by a liuely faith onely But not by a bare dead or fruitlesse faith onely vvhich vvith Saint Iames vvee also preach vnto the worlde Thus the aduersaries of Vpon 2. chap. ver 15. 16. the gospell play in the word faith and make a doubtfull argument out of Saint Iames from the manifold signification of faith when they conclude that faith onely doeth not iustifie vs. 2 Now as faith is manifolde so iustification or to Double iustification Psal 32. Rom. 4. iustifie is double There is iustifying before God which is to be reputed as righteous to haue our sinnes forgeuē and our iniquities pardoned in the sight of God which is the righteousnesse and iustification mentioned of the prophet and remembred of Paul Blessed is that man whose vnrighteousnes is forgeuen and whose sinnes are couered blessed is that man vnto whom the Lorde imputeth not sinne This iustification is by faith as Moses confesseth in Gen. 15. Rom. 4. Abraham and Paul by his example proueth in the rest of the Saints Abraham beleeued God and it was counted vnto him for righteousnesse Of this iustification Paul to the Romanes Galathians Ephesians Philippians and in all other places speaketh whensoeuer he affirmeth that wee are iustified by faith by which men onely are iustified before God As there is iustifying before God which is through saith So is there iustification before men which is to be shewed declared and knowen of men to be iust and righteous And this iustifying is by works which onely shewe foorth our faith to the knowledge of men and make it knowen to the worlde that we are righteous and iust indeede Thus by his obedience as the fruites of his faith was Abraham iustified in offering his sonne the offering whereof made him not righteous before God but his faith but it made him knowen to men to haue beene iustified before God through faith and so hee was iustified before men through works Thus to be iustified by works with
vs vnto himselfe in honorable wedlocke as it were wherfore he saith to his church I will Osei 2. marrie thee to my self for euer yea I wil marrie thee vnto me in righteousnes in iudgement in mercy compassion I will euen marrie thee in faithfulnes and thou shalt know the Lord. Of this heauenly mariage S. Paul speaketh to the elect saints of Corinth I am iealous ouer you 2. Cor. 11. with godly ielousie for I haue prepared you to one husbād to present you as a pure virgin vnto Iesus Christ The saints elect of God in the receate of the holy Sacramēt of baptisme haue pledged and plighted their faith and trouth to God being then married to God betrothed to Iesus Christ we ought not to leaue our first loue and Reuel 2. 4. betake our selues to worldly creatures but wholy to depend relie and rest vpon him and cleaue inseperably to him who hath freely loued vs in his beloued sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. The case thus standing then vvith vs to set our affections vpon earthly thinges to force and bende all our loue to vvorldly vvealth riches and honour is nothing els but the losse of our faith to God the breach of the knot bond of loue to him the violating of matrimoniall chastitie tovvard the almighty vvhereby vve become adulterers and adulteresses against the Lord. The impure vvicked persons of this vvorld vvhose onely care is the encrease of their wealth and honour are therfore adulterers and adulteresses against God and by the Apostle here so termed ye adulterers and adulteresses Almighty God hath sent his onely sonne of his vnspeakable loue to ioyne vs vnto himselfe in heauenly mariage by an inuiolable coniunction by him are we purged frō all iniquitie to be a pure spouse vnto him immaculate Tit. 2. 2. Cor. 11. and vndefiled before God that he might make vs vnto himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spotte or wrinkle or any such thing Shall we so soone forget our heauenly Eph. 5. cōiunctions shal we so soone forget that inestimable benefite shall we so soone falsifie our faith trouth to God Shall wee burie in obliuion so greate louing kindnesse of the Lorde shall we violently rente in peeces the bonde of couenant with so solemne protestation knit betwixt God and vs shall wee make a diuorce from him who loued vs forlorne and loued vs freely without any portion of goods to commende vs to followe the straunge loue of the world ô we adulterers adulteresses in so doing Wherefore as they which haue giuen their faith mutually and plighted their trouth each to each other and haue so knit the knot of matrimonie and are ioyned in honourable mariage together leauing their owne louers ioyne themselues in straunge loue are adulterers and adulteresses and so both called and counted euen so they which by solemne protestation haue in baptisme betrouthed themselues to GOD leauing him and giuing themselues to the straunge loue of the worlde and worldly thinges commit adulterie agaynst GOD and by Saint Iames are called adultresses and adulterers Ye adulterers and adultresses know you not that the amitie of the world is enmitie with God Thus to loue the world immoderately as doe the wicked is to hate God to professe friendshippe thereto is to proclaime warre against God to geue our selues inordinately to worldly things is to play the adulterers and adultresses against the Lord for which thing here men are sharply reprooued Yee adulterers and adulteresses know you not that the amitie of the worlde is enmitie with God 2 The reproofe premised the reason followed why the lustes and desires of worldly thinges should be auoyded and cannot bee followed without adulterie against God and the reason is from contraries the loue of God and of the world are contraries therfore they cannot agree together neither consist in one and the same person For if we loue the world we must needes hate God and if we loue God we must hate the world we cannot loue both at once and together for the amitie of the world is enmitie with God and he that maketh himselfe a friend of the worlde professeth as it were open hatred against God The loue of the world is for men to make thē selues seruants and slaues to worldly desires and corruptions The loue of God is to preferre him before all things and wholly to dedicate our selues to his seruice in holines Luke 1. righteousnes acceptable before him Betwixt which two there is such contrarietie as how much a man is inclined to the one so much hee declineth from the other how much he is wedded to the world so much he is alienated from the Lord. For as a woman the more shee groweth in loue with another man the lesse loue she hath and the lesse liking of her husband whom in fine she hateth and loatheth Euen so we rauished with worldly desires the more we loue them the lesse we loue God by the meanes whereof in fine we also hate him And as a wise husband cannot abide his Spouse wantonly to sport and play with an adulterer neither wil he part stakes in matrimoniall and secrete dueties of mariage with any other so neither will God and our Sauiour Christ suffer vs his spouse to dallie and sport with Sathan and this present world wherby we runne a whoring from him O then you adultresses and adulterers who are tickled with the inticements choaked with the cares rauished with the loue of worldly lustes know you not that the loue of this world is enmitie with God and that in louing the world you growe in hatred with God So that you cannot loue the world but you must leaue god cōmitte adulterie and fornication against him How contrarie these two loues be and how impossible it is for vs to loue both God and this world at once and together it may appeare by our Sauiour himselfe Mat. 6. who telleth vs that no man can serue two masters being contrarie one to the other for either he shall hate one loue the other or leane to the one and despise the other that we cannot serue God and riches God Mammon 1. Iohn 2. the Lord this world are contrarie masters so that none can serue thē bothtogether The holy apostle Iohn subscribeth to his master and ours Iesus Christ who exhorting men not to loue the world neither the things therin reasoneth from the contrarietie betwixt the loue of God of the world Loue not the world nor the things therein If any man loue the world the loue of the father is not in 2. Cor. 6 him Saint Paul rightly demaundeth as a matter impossible what fellowshippe hath righteousnes with vnrighteousnes what communion hath light with darkenes what concord hath Christ with Beliall God being righteous hath no fellowship with the worlde which is wicked and lieth altogether in sinne God being light and the father 1. Iohn 5 Iames 1
1. Ioh. 1 Ephes 6. 2. Cor. 4 of lights in whom also there is no darcknes at al hath no communion with Sathan the prince of the darcknesse of this world Christ being holy hath nothing to do no concord with Beliall the Prince of wickednes So that these cannot dwell in the heart of man together as in the fountaine of loue being so contrarie and opposed Truely therefore saith Saint Augustine the loue of the S. Augustine world and the loue of God cannot stand or consist together no more then the same eyes at once can looke vpon heauen and earth in the same instante Being therefore so contrarie God and the world it cānot be but that such as make themselues friends with the world become enemies vnto God Wherof they to whom Saint James speaketh not ignorant are sharply reprooued for louing the world with the hatred of God Ye adulterers and adultresses know ye not that the amitie of the world is enmitie with God whosoeuer therefore will be a friend of the world maketh himselfe the enemie of God And this reason of the holy Apostle holdeth not only in the propounded matter of ambitious and couetous desires which men cannot loue and loue God also but it holdeth in all worldly wickednes and loue of earthlie things whatsoeuer which men cannot possibly loue and loue God together For then might a man be holy and wicked godly vnrighteous all together for they which loue the world are wicked and vnrighteous as the worlde 1. Iohn 5 Leuit. 11 2◠c. it selfe lieth in wickednes and such as loue God are godlie and holy euen as God him selfe is holy That wee cannot possiblie geue entertainment to God and to the world together and at once loue them God and the world contrarie as appeareth in foure things both the reason is their contrarietie for things contrarie cannot dwell at once in the same person And the contrarietie betwixt the loue of the world and the loue of God in foure things appeareth 1 In the repugnancie of their nature GOD is by his nature pure holy vndefiled without contagion of Leuit. 11. 19. 20. sinne and without permixtion of any euill But the worlde is altogether wicked defiled with sinne spotted with many blemishes of vnrighteousnesse full of all contagion deadly poyson of iniquitie So that in nature there is a contraietie betwixt thē Naturally therefore being contrarie wee cannot loue them both together 1. Iohn 5. 2 As their natures are contrarie so are their precepts contrarie for other things by God other thinges by the world are inioined wherein the contrarietie betwixt thē appeareth God commaundeth mercie liberalitie pitie compassion the world perswadeth crueltie mercilesnes couetousnes hardnes of heart violence iniurie and oppression God commaundeth holines sanctification to be fruitfull in all good works to his glorie and to encrease therein to ripenes and a full measure in Iesus Christ But the world moueth vs to filthie conuersation to defile our selues with carnall lustes and all vngodlines to wearie waste our selues with all fleshly pleasure that wee may be vncleane in soule and in body God commandeth vs not to lie but speake the trueth one to another not to backbite not to slaunder not to deceaue not to circumuent or defraud one another not to sweare vainly not to curse bitterly and infinite the like but the worlde would haue vs to lie counterfette slaunder deceaue circumuent sweare curse banne and geue ouer all the powers of our mindes and partes of our bodies to committe iniquitie Hom. 22. vpō Matth. Seeing one commaundeth thee saith Chrysostome to geue of thine owne goods the other violently to take the goods of others one to embrace chastitie the other to follow intemperancie the one to loue sobernes the other to delight in gluttonie how is it possible we shoulde obey these precepts being so contrary so seem to loue them both together 3 As their precepts are contrarie so are the qualities of them which loue the one and the other contrary For other things please God other things the world Other qualities are required in such as loue God other things and qualities in them that loue the world The louers of God must be ledde by the spirite of God walke in the spirite of God and bring foorth the fruites therof as loue ioy peace long suffering gētlenes goodnes faith meeknes temperance and such like they must be indued with mercie humblenes of minde kindnes forgeuing one Ephes 4. Col. 3. another euen as Christ forgeueth vs. But the seruants and louers of the world are possest with crueltie mercilesnes wrath ennie currishnes contention fornication vncleannes wantonnes hatred debate emulation sedition murther drunkennes gluttonie and the workes of the fleshe 1. Cor. 6 Gal. 5. Ephes 3. Col. 3. Iohn 4. Psal which who committe shall not inherite the kingdome of God and of Christ The louers of God are pure vnrebukeable blamelesse before him in loue seruing him in spirit in trueth But the seruants of the world are corrupt deceitfull from the wombe defiled with sinne flattering God with their mouth and dissembling with him in their double toung The seruants of God and such as loue him are sober and temperate but the louers of the world make their bellie their God whose end is damnation whose glorie is to their shame being earthly minded Seeing therfore the Philip. 3. qualities of the louers of God and of the louers of the world are contrarie and diuers it cannot be that the same should loue God and the world both together 4 Finally the very loue it selfe is in qualitie contrarie for the loue of God is pure chaste and holy spirituall but the loue of the world is impure vncleane prophane and sensuall wherefore no man canne loue god and the world Yea rather they which endeuour to become friends of the world make themselues therby the enemies of god Wherefore my deare brethren beloued in Iesus Christ if we be the elect of god chosen by him out of the world to loue him and serue him in such holines as is acceptable vnto his diuine maiestie If we be the professed Souldiers of Christ to fight vnder his displaied banner against Sathan and the world shall we as backsliders from god traitors vnto Christ enemies of our owne saluation prophaners of our Christian profession geue our selues to the loue of the world and committe fornication against god Cleaue thereunto in league and bonde of friendshippe and so become enemies vnto the Lorde our god almightie Let vaine wicked ambitious and contentious persons let greene flourishing youth who thinke to loue god and the world also herence learne that they cannot loue both and that in making friendship with the world they fall at variance with God It is God that speaketh in his Apostle it is the spirit of truth which informeth vs it is Christ in his minister that openeth his mouth and assureth