Ho. 38. ad pop de humilitate quiete opus mihi reddis impossibile thou makest me think it impossible to be done For I cannot think but if it were possible to be done thou who art so earnest in speaking of it wouldest not faile in performing it Yea it makes men hate goodnesse and blaspheme the author of it Thou that maketh thy boast of the Law thorough breaking the Law dishonorest thou God for the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles thorough you Ro. 2.23 Indeed we should be all teachers Let the word of God dwell in you plenteously in all wisdom teaching and admonishing your own selves in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs Col. 3.16 Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works and let us exhort one another Heb. 10.24 But facilior est per exempla quam per praecepta docendi via the easier the stronger and indeeed the more generally required way of teaching is by examples rather then by precepts Fire and water are said to be good servauts but bad masters Now fire and water are emblems of the holy spirit whose work if it make thee docible in respect of obeying to be a good servant it is to thy profit and and benefit But if it make thee docible onely in respect of commanding onely to be a good master it is to thy hurt and damage The Pharisees were good masters requiring much of others They bind heavy burthens and grievous to be born and lay them on mens shoulders But they were bad servants practising little themselves They themselves will not move one of those burthens with one of their fingers Mat. 23.4 They turned the work of the holy Ghost the quite contrary way they were not like Christ who did both do and teach for they taught much and did little Their righteousnesse was Verball 2. It was also formall only in outward appearance woe be to you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrits for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter but within they are ful of extortion and excess Mat. 23.25 This must needs be a hainous evill and highly offensive unto God for as much as it goes about to mock and deceive him which is impossible because hee sees the heart as well as the hand and therefore in vain do we cleanse our hands if we do not also purge our hearts from wickednesse The Apostle forbids eye-service to be done to our bodily masters but happy are wee if to our heavenly master wee rightly perform it For then we will do it with heart as well as with hand because his eye is equally on both The Syrians thought the Israelites God to be the God of the mountaines and not of the vallies 1 Kings 20.23 Belike they thought he could not see them there Yes he seeth the lowest vallies of the heart Thou understandest my thoughts long before Ps 139. as well as the loftiest mounting of the hand According to the cleannesse of my hands in his eye-sight Ps 18.24 Yea as a curious prayer regardeth not the matter or forme of the window through which he looketh but onely the businesse that is done within so God may be said to look carelesly on the outward appearance in comparison of his earnest observation of the substance For many times he takes no notice of outward uncleannesse when he sees inward cleannesse As also certainly never any other notice of outward cleanness when he sees inward cleanness For God seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but God regardeth the heart 1. Sam. 16.7 Strive therefore rather that thy leprous hand may be cleansed then thy clean hand lepred by putting it into thy bosome Exod. 4.6 The lack of this inward truth makes the Hypocrit that he can endure no tryall For he makes a fair shew in the fair sunshine of of prosperity but is blown away like chaffe before the wind of affliction And why he hath no root therefore he cannot endure the Crosse Or if he bear it Lu. 23.26 it is but as Simon either for another to suffer or but half way he will bear it but not be fastened to it he is a good doer but a bad sufferer he can be patient when he hears no reviling thankfull when he endures no crossing humble even to despair himself when other men honor him but sincerity is patient in reproach thankfull in losse semper idem even like mount Sion which cannot be removed Else alas what do we but beat the air It is not the good fight of faith when we fight without opposition A whited wall is not thoroughly discerned till it be digged Ezekiels digging the wall brought him to see the inner abhominations Ez. 8.8 The hypocrits keep their conscience like Isaiahs closed book Is 29.11 It is sealed no man can read it but the time will come when the bookes shall be opened and the dead shall be judged according to things that are written in the book Rev. 20.12 Yea when Isaiahs sealed book shall be turned into Zachariahs flying book filled with the curse of God Zac. 5.1 Jacob got a blessing by counterfeiting his elder brother Esaus hands but beware of counterfeiting our elder brother Christs hands for God is not blind as Isaac was therefore it will surely bring a curse upon us and not a blessing Wee may with the Gibeonites beguile the Church for a while with a shew of old bottles ripenesse of wisdome Clouted shooes reformation of affection Old clothes and mouldy bread humblenesse and abstinence in conversation as if our Kingdome were not of this world as if our conversation were no nearer then Heaven when notwithstanding our hearts are nearer then our heeles unto the Earth when we are of the earth earthly and wholly earthly minded and so we may be spared for a while and keep a room in the Church but onely as hewers of wood heapers up of wrath against the day of wrath increasers of fuell for that flame of Tophet the burning whereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a river of brimstone doth kindle it Is 30.33 Thirdly their righteousness was partial with nice and foolish and preposterous difference For they did not onely call some commandents little as may be gathered by that Mat. 5.19 whosoever shall break one of the least of these Commandements And by that Mat. 22.36 Which is the greatest Commandement But farther contrary to all sense and reason they made least account of the greatest and greatest of the smallest matters Ye tyth mint and cumin and have left the weightier matters of the Law Judgment mercie and faith Mat. 23.23 Behold their hypocrisie in both First in the former For can any thing be little that concerneth him who hath no measure Can the offence of his infinitenesse be lyable to lesse the nan infinite punishment Or can he love God that stroketh him on the one cheek and striketh him on the other or that
in that he led captivity captive Eph. 4.8 8. Q. Is there need of sitting or use of seats in Heaven A. No for glorified bodyes are not subject to weaknesse 1 Cor. 15.43 Rev. 21.4 9. Q. Why then is Gods throne and his sitting thereon mentioned Dan. 7.9 Rev. 4.2 A. To set forth God to our capacity by the similitude of a Judge 10. Q. Is not then the right hand of God here properly to be understood A. No for God is a spirit Joh. 4.24 11. Q. What meaneth this then And sitteth on the right hand of God A. It is a borrowed or figurative speech signifying his supreme dignity above all creatures and his government over his Church Eph. 1.20 21 22. and his mediation Rom. 8.34 and his power over his enemies 1 Cor. 15.25 12. Q. What doe you gather for practise out of all aforesaid of the sixth article A. That I must now endeavour to ascend unto Christ in affection Col. 3.1 and in conversation Phil. 3.20 Secondly that I must hope to ascend to him at last bodily and in person Thirdly that I may not think of receiving Christ corporally in the Sacrament because so he is in heaven and shall be to the end Act. 3.27 Fourthly that I must be constant in Gods service seeing Christ hath triumphed over the Kingdome of darknesse Fifthly That I must goe boldly to the Throne of grace Heb. 4.16 Sect. 16. Of the seventh Article or next following 1. Q. WHat is the seventh Article or next following A. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead 2. Q. VVho shall come A. Christ in his humane nature Act. 1.11 10.42 17.31 Ioh. 5.22 3. Q. From whence and whither shall he come 4. From thence that is from heaven Come that is to us on earth as Act. 1.11 4. Q. When shall he come A. It is not revealed Mat. 13.32 5. Q. How shall he come A. In power and great glory Mat. 24.24 30. Luk. 23.30 6. Q. How or wherein shall this judgement be A. Only in trying and in rewarding or answering 2 Cor. 5.10 7. Q. Shall all works then be rewarded or answered according to their worth or merit A. Evill works shall but good works rather according to their evidence and testimony then according to their merit In which sense the word for is to be understood Mat. 25.35 Luk. 7.47 8. Q. But how shall all works be truly tried A. Gods knowledge and our own consciences shall agree as Register books to discover all Rev. 20.12 Gen. 4.7 Num. 32.23 9. Q. Shall there be any other Iudgement A. Yes every soul shall be particularly judged at the hour of death Eccles 12.17 Heb. 9.27 Luk. 16.22 10. Q. What needeth then a second judgement A. Not to amend or alter any thing formerly done Eccles 11.3 but to confirm all publickly by the voice of all 1 Cor. 6.2 And that the body may also be judged 2 Cor. 5.10 11. Q. What mean you by the quick and the dead A. All mankind that shall be then at Christs coming quick and alive or dead and departed 12. Q. What learn you for practise out of all aforesaid of the seventh article A. To rejoyce that he who is my Saviour shall be my judge 2 Tim. 1.12 Secondly to wait and prepare for that which is so certain and uncertain and terrible Mat. 13.35 Thirdly to avoyd secret as well as open sinning because all must come to light 1 Cor. 4.5 Sect. 17. Of the eighth Article or next following 1. Q. WHat is the eighth Article or next following A. I beleeve in the Holy Ghost 2. Q. What is it to beleeve in the Holy Ghost A. To put my trust in him as in my God and sanctifier as before in the first and second Articles 3. Q. How can he God who is said to be sent Joh. 14.26 15.26 and to be received Joh. 20.22 Act. 19.2 and to be given Joh. 14.16 A. That is spoken not in respect of his person but of his gifts or effects 4. Q. Is the Holy Ghost then another from the Father and the Son A. He is another person Ioh. 14.16 another Comforter though they be one in essence 1 Ioh. 5.7 5. Q. What is his personall propriety A. Proceeding equally from the Father and the Son Ioh. 15.26 6. Q. Why is he called holy A. Because he is the worker of holiness Rom. 1.4 the spirit of sanctification 7. Q. How far doth he prevail in this work A. To make us spirit that is spirituall Ioh. 3.6 and partakers of the godly nature 2 Pet. 1.4 8 Q. And is this which is proper to the Elect the alone and onely work of the holy Ghost A. No he worketh many other works common to the reprobate in faculties both temporall as courage Iud. 6.34 14.6 and artificiall skill Ex. 31.3 and also spirituall as understanding the truth Mat. 7.22 and rejoycing in it Mat. 13.20 9. Q. But is the work of regeneration alike in all A. Yes in nature and quality if we respect Adoption Justification and the application of Christ to us though not in quantity if we respect sanctification and faith and the application of us to Christ for in that respect it may be divers in the same person or subject at divers times as the Sun is in his light and heat 10. Q. May the Holy Ghost be then finally and totally lost in the regenerate A. No though in respect of sense for a time he may seem lost as Ps 51.10.12 yet he never finally faileth in the elect Pro. 24.16 Ps 37.24 11. Q. Hath the Holy Ghost been alwaies a worker A. Yea and that not onely in creation Gen. 1.2 and illumination 2 Pet. 1.21 but also in sanctification Ier. 1.5 12. What meaneth that then Joh. 7.39 The holy Ghost was not yet given A. It must be understood of the full revolution of the holy Ghost and exhibition of his miraculous gifts after Christ 13. Q. What doe you learn for practise out of all this aforesaid of the eighth Article A. To worship one God in three persons Secondly to seek and ascribe grace and holinesse from and to the right author Iam. 1.17 Thirdly to take heed of resisting the holy Ghost Act. 7.51 and of grieving the holy Spirit of God Eph. 4.30 lest I disprove my regeneration and quench the Spirit 1 Thes 5.19 Sect. 18. Of the ninth Article or the next following 1. Q. WHat is the ninth Article or the next following A. The holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints 2. Q. What word is wanting here A. I beleeve 3. Q. Why not I beleeve in A. Because that implyeth trust and confidence which we must yeeld to God 4. Q. What mean you by the word Church A. Gods chosen and called people Act. 20.28 5. Q. When were they chosen A. Before the foundation of the world Eph. 1.4 6. Q. When were or are they called A. In their severall times and turns 7. Q. Whence
blessed Mat. 5. Blessed are ye for your knowing because ye do what ye know and blessed are ye for your doing because ye know what ye do blessed are ye internally for the peace of your consciences is unto you a continual feast blessed are ye externally for your light shineth before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Blessed are ye supernally for God is not ashamed of you to be called your God for he hath prepared for you a Citty Blessed are ye in things temporal in things spiritual in things eternall In things temporall read the 28. of Deut. Blessed shalt thou be in the City and blessed also in the field blessed shall be the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy ground and the fruit of thy cattle blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in and blessed when thou goest out In things spirituall for your understandings shall be illuminated your wills rectified your affections sanctified your old man mortified your new man quickned and ye wholly made accepted in the beloved In things eternall for there is an inheritance immortall undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved for you in heaven where ye shall have joy without sorrow health without infirmity pleasure without satiety life without death and indeed I cannot tell you what but this I may warrant all that ye would and nothing that ye would not as appeareth Psal 16.11 In thy presence is the fulness of joy and Psal 17.15 When I awake up after thy likeness I shall be satisfied with it Blessed are ye in the present Tense which I adde as a vantage to the former Notes as being indeed the speciall of all even now already ye have obtained it Now whiles ye dwel with Mesech and have your habitation among the tents of Kedar now whiles ye live in this vale of tears in this sea of glasse in this dungeon of the flesh now even now blessed are ye Blessed are ye in the unchangable decree of God the Father who hath elected you in the Incarnation of God the Son who hath redeemed you in the effectual operation of God the holy Ghost who hath sealed you Blessed are ye in the knowledge of God who hath called and justified you in the knowledge of the Church who hath received and acknowledged you in the knowledge of your selves your own consciences testifying together with Gods Spirit bearing witness with your spirits that yee are the children of God Blessed are yee for though yee shall not take possession of it till your soules be parted from your bodies Eccl. 12.7 and though ye shall not have the compleat perfection of it till your bodies be raised again and reunited to your soules Heb. 11. yet even in this life ye have the pawn and pledge of it 2 Cor. 1.22 Arrham spiritus the earnest of the Spirit a pure heart and good conscience and faith unfeigned 1 Tim. 1.5 And now concerning the present business Of the Visitation which is the occasion of our meeting and of my present speaking I need say nothing of it for my Text hath said all already If ye know these things blessed are ye if ye doe them To or for our quickning to this or any other duty what need more be sayd then this that our professed burthen of blessednesse our hoped weight of glory dependeth equally on our knowing and doing our duty Neither can I judge any of you my hearers to have need of more application of this unto you This assembly consisteth especially of three sorts Churchwardens Ministers Visiters And each of these concerning the businesse in hand I hope I need question no otherwise then Saint Paul questioned Agrippa Beleevest thou the Prophets I know thou beleevest So I now to you Are yee prepared and ready to doe your duties I know yee are prepared To the Churchwardens why should I make other question seeing the businesse is not new but very antient and of frequent use and seeing they are taught their lesson not by rote but by book having Articles to direct them whereof to consider and whereto to answer To the Ministers why should I make other question seeing their lips are to be the preservers of knowledge Mal. 2.7 and their foreheads the stamps of holiness Exod. 28.38 I may say therefore for them as the parents of the born blind man answered for their sonne concerning his blindnesse and recovery Hee is old enough ask him he shall answer for himself Joh. 9.20 To the Visitors what need I make other question seeing they cannot bee ignorant that hee who saith to them I have said ye are Gods addeth also immediately but ye shall die like men yea and in another place professeth himself to be the Visiter of Visiters Namely that in case of forsaking his Law and not walking in his Judgements he will visit such offences with the rod and such sinne with scourges Psal 89.31 What need I then say any more of this businesse yet I remember a passage of Mr. Latimer that man of the worn-out-age being challenged and taxed for somewhat spoken by him before and concerning the King he answered Would ye have me preach before a King and say nothing of a Kings duty This made mee to think it unfit for me to preach at a Visitation and say nothing thereto properly belonging To avoid this therefore I offer to your consideration and reformation two abuses which I take to be no small ones for they touch our coppyhold as I may say or rather our Freehold the honour and dignity of our Sacraments The first concerneth the former Sacrament Baptism and namely in this that it is grown a common custom to keep children from Baptism till the moneth be up for the Mothers churching sake some for state some to save charges But if the childe bee dead bom the parents grieve to look upon it and speedily commit it to the earth and shall not the apprehension of spiritual death be also grievous and make us speedily seek the remedy to bury that death in Christs death Circumcision was a bloody and cruell a tedious and grievous Sacrament as may appear by that forty years forbearing of it for journeying sake Josh 5.6 and by the prevailing of Simeon and Levi two men for there be no more mentioned to the Massacre of all the Males in a whole City being newly circumcised Gen. 34.25 Yet that Sacrament might not be omitted past the eighth day But our Sacraments as St. Augustine observeth Aug. Ep. 118. are numero pancissima observatione facilima few and easie and shall wee presume then to delay Baptism which is to us in stead of Circumcision till the moneth bee up The Minister is required to bee speedy in ministring it in case of danger And doth not this also binde the people to shun delay and to prevent danger Yea the Common Prayer book in the beginning of private Baptism injoyneth that Baptism be not delayed past the first