the thiefe doth the sentence of the Iudge when flegme and spittle shall so wofully besiedge thy life besides groanes stitches cold sweat and burnings thou must then forget thy fathers house and leaue all the world therefore let this day be vnto vs all as if it were our last Let not sin reign in our mortall bodies Heb. 10 27. for if wee sinne wilfully after we haue receiued the knowledg of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a certaine fearefull looking for of iudgement and fiery indignation Repentance is our guide and therefore Repent and doe the first workes If a man read ouer the morall writings of some Heathens Pri. sec he would pitty them to see their witty and carefull disquisition of true rest lead them to much vnquietnes They are like wandring Empiricks which in tables and pictures make great ostentation of cures yet can neuer approue their skill to their credulous Patients Many wrote of it none attained it Some placed true tranquilitie in a constant estate of outward thinges whereas these varie as often as the weather being got with care kept with feare lost with sorrow Others in such a temper of the soule as that it should neuer be affected with any casuall euents whereas while it is prisoner in the Dungeon of flesh and blood Seu. de Tranquill it is one while chearefull another while dull drowsie comfortlesse prone to rest loathing former resolutions Others hold the best way for peace to be when a man imployeth himself in some publike affaires then retyreth himselfe to his priuate studies thinking vpon the tryall of his ability nature of his businesses choise of his friends fore-imagining the worst in all casuall matters Nay further Sen. c vlt. in making the most of himselfe chearing vp his spirits with the variety of recreations and other indulgences Miserable comforters are all these Here is no mention of the greatest enemies Conscience of euill done and feare of euill to be suffered Can any man haue peace that is at variance with God and himselfe Or is that peace the peace of God which is thought to be with out him Ephesus is better instructed Repent and doe the first workes Jn aureis carminibus Pythagoras aduised that euery mans examination in priuate should runne vpon three Artcles Jn anrcis car minibus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherein wee haue transgressed that wee may repent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what good wee haue done that wee may hold out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what wee haue omitted which wee should haue done My second circumstance is more direct in as great a Laconisme and as perfect breuity as can possibly be described And therefore as Iustin Martyr spake of Aristotles booke de mundo In Apol. which he wrote to Alexander that it was the Epitome of all his Philosophie So may wee of this lesson of S. Iohn to Ephesus It is the summe of all his Diuinitie Repent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where if I would be contentious about words that cauill of Gregory Martin might giue sufficient occasion who taxeth reuerend Beza Greg. Mart. in a booke intitled A discouery c. auns by D. Fulke for translating the word Resipisce which saith hee should be rendred as the Vulgar Age poenitentiam I answer wee refuse those words which they translate Doe penance because they meane thereby satisfaction for sinnes past to be a necessary part of true repentance which is not contained in the Greeke word signifying onely a change of the minde that is not onely a sorrow for the sinne past but a purpose of amendment which is best expressed by the Latin word Resipiscere which is alwaies taken in good part as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in Scripture whereas the latine word poenitere and poenitentia may and are vsed in latin of sorrow and repentance that are too late as of Iudas griefe of minde which caused him to hang himselfe but not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Resipiscere and Resipiscentia and therefore the holy Ghost speaking of his sorrow vseth another word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We abhorre that translation which maintaineth satisfaction for sinnes by any suffering of ours as blasphemous to the satisfaction of Christ whose blood onely cleanseth vs from all sin 1. Ioh. 1.7 If the word Satisfaction were vsed by any fathers of the Church It was not that they had any meaning to satisfie the iustice of God by externall works but that by those outward tryals of their repentance the Church was satisfied which by their fall was offended the gouernours of the Church by such signes of true sorrow and amendment were perswaded to receiue them againe into the congregation from whence vntill sufficient tryall had of their repentance they were separated excluded But I remember my Text is doctrinall and morall Repent and doe the first workes whence this collection necessarily ariseth That Repentance and the practise of a holy life Doct. are the direct meanes whereby sinners are reconciled vnto God The proofs heereof are so many and pregnant throughout both Testaments that whatsoeuer is there written may serue for a testimony Al the Sermons of Prophets and Apostles proclaime this This was the charg of Ezekiel Say vnto them Eze. 13.11 As I liue saith the Lord God I haue no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue Turne yee turne ye from your euill waies for why will ye dye O house of Israell Ez. 33. This was the subiect of the preaching of Isai Wash yee make you cleane Put away the euill of your doings from before your eyes Is 1.16 Is 1. Of Ieremy Returne ye now euery one from his euill way and make your wayes and your doings good Ie. 18. Ie. 18.11 Of Hosea O Israell returne vnto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thy iniquity Of. 14.1 Mat. 3.2 Mat. 4.17 Hos 14. Of Iohn the Baptist Repent yee for the kingdome of heauen is at hand Mat. 4. Of Christ Iesus himselfe the beginning of whose preaching was Repent Mat 4. This was the end of his passion and resurrection that repentance and remission of sinnes should bee preached in his name amongst all Nations Lu. 24.47 Luke 24. How many promises are added vnto this If thou wilt put a way thine abhominations out of my sight then shalt thou not remoue Ier. 4. Ie. 4.1 If the wicked restore the pledge giue againe that hee hath robbed walke in the Statutes of life without committing iniquity hee shall surely liue bee shall not die None of his sinnes that hee hath committed shall bee mentioned vnto him if hee hath done that which is lawfull and right Ez 33.15.16 Hee shall surely liue Ez. 33.15 Iob prayed for this a space to repent Are not my dayes few cease then and
EPHESVS VVARNING BEFORE HER WOE A SERMON Preached at Pauls Crosse on Passion Sunday the 17. of March last By SAMPSON PRICE Bachelour of Diuinity of Exeter Colledge in Oxford Imprinted at London by G. ELD for Iohn Barnes dwelling in Hosier lane neere Holborne Condut 1616. To the Right Honorable the Lord Viscount Lisle Lord Chamberlaine to the Queenes Maiesty and Lord Gouernour of his Maiesties Cautionary Towne of Vlushing Mercy and peace RIGHT HONORABLE THat Speech of Salomon is Eccl. 12 12. â—lc Alex. l. 1. str p. 1. Hic scripto ille vece praedicat Animae sunt soetus Orationes Id. ib. Mar. 12.41 43. Cyp. Tr. de op elcemos 〈…〉 and must continue true of making many books there is no end while the world continueth occasion will not bee wanting of speaking and writing Our Church hath many deseruing Labourers who by voyce and pen seeke to build vp the walles of Ierusalem My desire is to cast my Mite into the Treasury as that poore widdow did whom our Sauiour commended not considering quantum sed ex quanto de disset how much but of how much she offered respecting rather the affection of the giuer then the quantity of the guist This Sermon by the earnest sollicitation of some religious hearers and my deare fauorers was brought from the Crosse to the Presse and is now licenced to be a generall Remembrancer of all those who shall read or heare it Spartian in vita Adrian Imp. to whom I wish as happy a memory as that of Adrian who perfectly euer afterward knew them that had but once spoken vnto him 〈…〉 In Morall actions and ciuill affaires feare oftentimes hath hindred the memory of the wisest as it is recorded of Demosthenes that hee was at a Nonplus beeing to speake before Philip King of Macedon and as it fell out to Theophrastus before the Areopagites of Athens But a holy feare of Gods name must bee the ground of our Remembrance and Repentance Your Honour hath obtained a blessed report for your Noble Vertues and imitation of your Heroicall Brother Sir Phil. Sidney I haue therefore aduentured to dedicate this poore labour vnto your protection to lodge safely from the snarling of biting censurers as vnder the couert of Minerua's shield Your honorable countenance so lately and cheerefully ready to call me from this stipend which I enioy amongst many louing and worthy friends to a more ample maintenance though God disposed otherwise of it hath obliged mee to acknowledge by that little cunning which my right hand hath S. Olauâ— in Southwarke so great a Kindnes I can seale my thankfulnes by no better a testimony then this Ps 137.5 crauing still the continuance of your honorable fauour God the great rewarder continue his blessings vnto you and your Honorable Lady and hopefull children and at the resurrection of the Iust crowne hee you all with euerlasting glory Your Honors in all duty SAMPSON PRICE EPHESVS WARNING before her Woe Lord Iesus begin and end REVE 2.5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and doe the first workes or else I will come vnto thee quickly and will remoue thy Candle sticke out of his place except thou repent WHen the sinne of the old World did multiply and grew a burthen to the Earth the Sonnes of God taking them wiues of all which they chose whether Virgins or married vnto others the most of them being Gyants Mercerus â—unius in Gen. not onely in stature but in cruell conditions according to Philo and Damascen infamous for their tyrannie ouer others bringing them in subiection and eating their flesh Theod. q. 84 â—n Gen. euery imagination of the thoughts of their hearts onely euill continually It repented the Lord that he had made man on the Earth Gen. 6.6 It is Verbum nostra paruitati accommodatum a word applied to our weaknes Chrys ho. 22. in Gen. to expresse the greatnes of their sinnes Quae misericordem Deum indignari fecerunt which compelled the mercifull God to be angry Non perturbatio sed iudicium quo irrogatur poena Aug. li. 15. de ciu c. 25. saith Austin It is no perturbation in God but an imposition of punishment Rup l 4. in Gen. Rupertus calleth it an argument of his pittie shewing that he is loth to punish Sixe ages he did forbeare them a thousand yeares and more and gaue them Noah to preach repentance 120. yeares before hee purged that Augaeum stabulum with a deluge of waters The Sinnes of Sodom and Gomorrha were exceeding great Gen. 19.24 before fire and brimstone were rayned downe by the hand of Christ from Iehouah his father as Marcus Arethusius in the Syrinian Councell doth interpret that place Syriniens conc c. 16. against the heresie of Photinus that held Christ not to haue bene before his Mother His Cup of wrath is neuer full mixt with red Wine Psal 74.8 to poure out the same with the dreggs thereof till the measure of our Crimson and Scarlet sinnes be filled in He sendeth Watchmen to blowe the Trumpet and warne the people but if they take not warning their blood shall be vpon their owne heads Ez. 33.4 If the Rod of his mouth and Breath of his lips so the word is called Is 11.4 cannot preuaile hee taketh away this Candlesticke And when once a Church shal loose Prophets which are ready to teach Seers to foretell Ge. 20 7. 1 Sa. 9 9. 2 Pet. 1.13 1 Cor 3.9 Lu. 12.42 Ez. 47.10 Remembrancers to put in mind Husbandmen to plow vp Stewards to distribute Fishers to catch men Starres to giue light and Shepheards to feed all blessings depart and curses follow Yet now it is threatned to Ephesus Remember It was truely acknowledged by Clemens Alexandrinus that Bona est ars terrere ne peccemus It is a good art which terrifieth from sinning yet as Aust fatherlike Aug. Ep. â— 8 Si terrerentur et non docerentur improba quafi dominatio videretur If those that erre should be terrified onely and not be taught it might seeme a kind of tyrannie Sed rursus si docerentur et non terrerentur vetustate consuetudinis obdurarentur But againe if they should be taught and not terrified custome would harden them and make them pace but slowly to the way of eternall life Therefore S. Iohn Legatus a latere The Ambassadour who leaned on his Lords breast partly by instruction and partly by correction seeketh to win these collapsed Churches whose reprehension may stirre vs vp to hearken whose threats may make vs feare whose fallings may make vs stand Our sinnes are as theirs wee haue the luke-warmenes of Laodicea which in this place I once proposed as a warning c. 3.16 Adde to this the little strength of Philadelphia v. 8. Imperfection of works with Sardis v. 2. searching the depths of Sathan with Thyatira Nicholaitans c. 2. v. 24. as in Pergamos
Ierom. amidst their greatest pompe and triumphs had euer one at the backe of the Chariot to pull the Conqueror by the sleeue and so oft as the people shouted to crye to him againe Memento te hominem esse Remember thou art a man A lesson which Simonides the first humane inuentour of the art of memorie Tully taught Pausanias King of the Lacedemonians at a banquet being desired to speake something of greatest importance which for the present was taken scornfully but afterwards in a famine the King confessed the wisdome of the heathen man It was the morning voice of Philips boy Pharaohs Butler forgat Ioseph Gen. 40.23 Gen. 41.51 Da. 2.8 Mat. 16.5 Sab. l. 10. c. 9. Pli li. 7. c. 24. Vola ter l. 21. Ioseph forgat all his toyle and all his Fathers house Nebuchadnezzar dreamed but the thing went from him hee forgat his owne dreame The Disciples forgot to take bread with them Messala Coruinus after a sicknes forgot his owne name Another mencioned by Plinv hauing a great fall Zuing. Theat forgot his owne Mother Gregorius Trapezuntius in his old age the Greeke tongue wherein he had excelled Theseus the white sayle which his father charged him to set vp if he returned a victor into Crete and vsing a blacke one it was dismall to Agetus Orbilius forgot his Alphabet Caluisius the names of those with whom hee conuersed daily Curio the Iudge forgot the cause he should haue giuen iudgement vppon Atticus the Sonne of Sophista the names of the 4. Elements The Thracians their Arithmeticke so that they could not count aboue the number of 4. Ephesus here forgat her first workes her first loue and therefore is roused vp Memorie is the Diarie Ephâ—â—merides and looking glasse of a Christian It belongeth to thinges past as Sense doth to things present and Hope to thinges future Tully called it the print or trace of things Quintilian the ground of all learning Plato the mother of the Muses Aristotle the Scribe of the Soule The Physitian the Lawyer the Mathematician the Merchant holds his booke of accounts or remembrancer to be his canticum canticorum the most comfortable booke that he hath Many haue bene recorded for strange memories Portius Latro who neuer needed to read any thing which he had once written Aeltus Adrianus remembred the names and acts of all his Soldiers Carmides of Greece any thing which he had heard Mythrydates was able to speake 22. languages Caesar a Roman Dictator was able to write speake and heare others discourse at one and the same time Erasmus of Roterodame had a memory like a Net Blessed Iewell vsually began not to commit his Sermons to heart till the ringing of the Bell. In vita eius It is a singular gift of God an extraordinarie perfection of art which made Pythagoras beg memory of Mercury being commanded to aske what hee would except immortality and hee should haue it But according to the obiect it is more commendable There is Memoria vitanda The remembrance of iniuries seeking reuenge as Iuno neuer left her Troian enemy but by Sea and land persecuted him which made him expostular Tantaene animis coelestibus irae Better it were for such to haue Virg. as Themistocles wished the art of forgetfulnesse rather then the art of this memory You know how it was rewarded in Caine Esau Absolon Haman There is memoria timenda Gods remembrance of our sinnes in regard whereof Dauid prayed Remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions Psal 25. So in our Lyturgy Remember not Lord our offences Psal 25.7 nor the offences of our fore-Fathers that is to punish them in vs. There is Memoria petenda the remembrance of vs in mercy Dauids appeale Lord remember Dauid and all his afflictions Psal 132. and the good Theefe Psal 132 1. Lord remember mee when thou commest into thy kingdome Luk. 23. Luk 23.42 There is memoria tenendâ— A remembrance of God I remembred the Lord. Ion. 2. Of his name I haue remembred thy name O Lord in the night ion 2.7 and haue kept thy law Psal 119. We must remember his maruellous workes that hee hath done Psal 119.55 his worâ—ers and the iudgements of his mouth Psal 105. Psal 105.5 Wee must remember his Sabaoth Remember the Sabaoth day to keepe it holy Exo. 20. Not that wee should remember God but one day in seauen Exo. 20.8 but that if we would be forgetfull yet we should remember him one day in seauen at the least We must remember Christs passion to this end we receiue the Eucharist This doe in remembrance of mee Luk. 22. We must remember death iudgdement Luk. 22.19 and hell We must remember our Parents Remember that thou wast begot of them and how canst thou recompence them the things that they haue done for thee Eccle. 7. Our pastors Remember them which haue the rule ouer you Ecc. 7.28 who haue spoken vnto you the word of God Heb. 13. And here our falls appeare to be remembred Heb. 13.7 by Ephesus Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen whence issueth this doctrinall obseruation That it is the duty of those who haue fallen from any grace Doct. to looke back vpon their former estate The Lord himselfe is a witnesse to the truth of this point Thus saith the Lord of Hostes consider your wayes Hagg. 1.7 Hag. 1. A Method which the Prophet Zephanie vsed vnto the Iewes for hauing rebuked them for their notable crimes Zeph. 1.6 Idolatry fraud and cruelty turning back from the Lord beeing cloathed with strange apparrell and setled on their lees then threatning the cutting downe of their MarchaÌ„ts that their goods should become a booty and their houses a desolation that the mighty man should cry bitterly that their blood should be poured out as dust and their flesh as the dung that neither their siluer nor gold should be able to deliuer them he exhorteth them to consider their estates Zeph. 2.1 Gather our selues together yea gather together O Nation not desired Repentance will make a man gather himselfe and all his wits together which afore were dispersed and wandred vp and downe in vanity Excutite vos Iunius translateth it search trye fanne your selues This course the Prophet Dauid took I thought on my wayes and turned my feet vnto thy testimonies Psal 119. This was the practise of Peters repentance Psal 119.59 howsoeuer hee followed his Maister a farre off yet hee came into the high Priests house and sate downe when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the Hall Better it had been for him to haue been without freezing then to stand by the fire with so many infectious lepers It was a cold night that took away his heat of loue No doubt hee heard many hard passages vpon his Maister one boasting that he had cast downe the Nazarite another that hee had tumbled him in Cedron another that