He that hath this worldes good and seeth his brother in neede and shutteth vp his compassion from him how dwelleth the loue of God in him 1. Iohn 3. ver 17 O cursed loue of money that caryeth men from the loue of God It is no maruaile that Saint Paul saith The loue of money is the root of all euils 1. Tim. 6.10 For he saith there that they which would be rich fall into temptation and into a snare and into many foolish and noysome lustes which drowne men in destruction and perdition O will some man say if the wordes of Saint Paul are so strictly to be taken how could some that haue bene preachers of the Gospell couet riches and loue money so much as they haue done Is it not found by common experience that neuer any haue bene more couetous or more loued money or haue sought riches and worldly pompâ— more then some that haue preached the Gospell Shall we say that such Lighters walke in so dangerous a way Doe such forsake the true and liuing God and worship an idol Surely God is no respecter of persons such are so farre off from all excuse that of all others they fall into the deepest condemnation for while they take vpon them in wordes to set forth the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ and giue so fowle example in deede what doe they but pull downe the dignitie of the Gospell causing the weake to stumble and the blinde to wander out of the way To returne to our matter for laying vp the good foundation against the time to come I will conclude with two sayings of the scripture the one of king Salomon the other of the prophete Isay Thus saith Salomon He that hath mercie vpon the poore lendeth vnto the Lorde and the Lorde will recompence him that which he hath giuen Prouerbes 19.17 And thus saith the Lord by Isay That thou deale thy bread to the hungrie and that thou bring the poore that wander into thine house when thou seest the naked that thou couer him and hide not thy selfe from thine owne fleshe then shall thy light breake forth as the morning and thine health shall growe speedily Thy righteousnesse shall goe before thee and the glorie of the Lorde shall imbrace thee Then shalt thou call and the Lorde shall answere thou shalt crie and he shall say heare am I. If thou take away from the middes of thee the yoake the putting forth of the finger wicked speaking if thou power out thy soule to the hungrie and refresh the troubled soule then shall my light spring out of the darkenes and thy darkenes shall be as the noone-day And the Lorde shall guide thee continuallie and satisfie thy soule in drought and make fatte thy bones and thou shalt be like a watred garden and like a spring of waters whose waters faile not and they shall be of thee that shall builde the wast places c. Isay chap. 58. verse 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. The Lorde for his sonnes sake giue vs grace to followe this holy precept that we may attayne eternall life The end of the first Sermon THE SECOND Sermon 1. Iohn Chap. 5. 7 For there are three which beare recorde 〈◊〉 heauen the Father the word and the holy ghost and these three are one 8 And there are three which beare record in the earth the spirite the water and the bloudâ—â— and these three agree in one 9 If we receyue the witnes of men the witnes of God is greater for this is the witnes of GOD which he testified of his sonne 10 Hee that beleeueth in that sonne of God hath the witnes in himself he that beleeueth not God hath made him a lyar because he beleeued nâ—â— the record that God witnessed of that his sonne 11 And this is that recorde that God hath giuen vnto vs eternall life this life is in that his son 12 He that hath that sonne hath that life and he that hath not that son of God hath not that life 13 These things haue I written vnto you that beleeue in the name of the sonne of God that yee may know that ye haue eternall life and that yee may beleeue in the name of that sonne of God EVerie worde of God is pure Prou. 30.5 The whole Scripâ—ure is giuen by diuine inspiration and is profitable c. 2. Tim. â— 16 And what soeuer things haue bene writen afore-time haue bin writen for our learning Ro. 15.4 It is our dutie â—hen aâ— humble and obedient schollers of Christ to giue care vnto euerie part of Gods word And moreouer aâ— some parts thereof doe principally excell so are wee the more willinglie to learn them Such is this which I haue now read vnto you as you may perceiue by the cause for which S. Iohn affirmeth he wrote it saying These things haue I writeÌ„ vnto you which beleeue in the name of that son of God that ye may know that ye haue eternall life and that ye may beleeue in the name of that sonne of God ver 13. What higher point then this for a man to know that he shall be saued What greater ioye and felicitie can be fall vnto any Indeede many doe holde that it is vnpossible for anye man while hee liueth here to knowe for certaintie that hee shall be saued How can any man tell say they that he shall be saued Can any goe vp to heauen and there see that his name is written in the booke of life The Papistes proceede yet further and they say it is pride wicked arrogancy for 〈◊〉 man to affirme that he doth knowe he shall be saued Humilitie they say doth teach men alwaies to stand in doubt Most true it is that their doctrine of mens merites must needes breed all doubting and pride intoleâ—able it is for any man to say he knoweth his owne good works doe merite or deserue eternall glorie in the heauens and that he is sure he shall haue it for the same But let these passe with their Antichristian doctrine giue eare to S. Iohn who saith These things haue I written that ye may knâ—w that ye haue eternall life and that ye may beleeue c. But before we handle the words let vs see how they depend vpon the former part of this Chapter In the first verse you see it is thus writen Who soeuer beleeueth that Iesus is the Christ is borne of God This is euen the ground of this whole matter namely that the newe and spirituall birth goeth inseparably with faith for he saith who so euer beleeueth that Iesus is the Christ speaking of the true and liuely faith he is borne of God 〈◊〉 so he is the child of God Whereupon it followeth on the other side that who soeuer is not regenerate but committeth the deedes of the flesh though he seeme to beleeue yet he hath not the true and liuely faith but that which the holy Ghost calleth a dead faith hee is not the childe of God
may know that they shall haue eternal life Let this stānd firme and vnremoueable vnles wee will gainesay the Apostle Come then to the second point it is deemed great arrogancy and pride by the Papistes for any man to affirme that hee is sure hee shall be saued yea the Iesuites cal it dānable false illusion and presumption I wonder how they will answere here to S. Iohn woulde he of purpose write these things to bring men to a damnable illusion and wicked arrogancy Hee saith hee wrote these things euen to this end purpose for so much his words import that they which beleeue in the name of the sonne of God may know they haue eternall life Why did not the Iesuites in their annotations say somewhat vppon these wordes Is it not translated amisse Surely they translate it euen thus These thinges write I vnto you that you may know that you haue eternall life which beleeue in the name of the sonne of God How then Is there not some figuratiue or mysticall speech in these words They cannot for shame say so Then it must needes follow that the Papists are proud arrogant yea blasphemous in accusing S. Iohn that he leadeth the faithfull into a damnable illusion Is it not some one speech or once vttered by Saint Iohn If it were but one speeche and once vttered it were enough and fully sufficient to confirme the matter being vttered by the spirite of truth but in deede Saint Iohn vseth the like speeche more then once or twise For in the third chapter of this Epistle vers 14. he saith We know we are translated from death to life because wee loue the brethren And in the same Chap. ver 19. And by this we know that wee are of the truth and shall perswade our hearts before him Also Chap. 4. ver 13. By this wee know that we dwell in him and he in vs because he hath giuen vs of his spirite Then let vs proceede vnto the thirde point which is that by what way or by what meanes we may attaine to the assurance of our saluation No man needes to doubt but that S. Iohn hath shewed the onely waye and means seeing he saith These things haue I written vnto you c. that yee may know that ye haue eternall life Hee doth not then send vp men to search in the secret counsel of God to see whether their names be written in the booke of life neyther doth he will them to rely vppon some speciall reuelation but wil haue them to know that they haue eternall life by those thinges which he hath written vnto them Then are we to seeke the way and meanes in that which he hath written But heere it may be demaunded whether these words These things haue I written be to be vnderstoode of that which goeth before in this Chapter of all that he hath writen in this Epistle Indeede almost the whole matter of this Epistle tendeth to that purpose as any that shall aduisedly reade it ouer may easily perceiue but yet it is specially to be referred to that which he hath spoken before in this chap. touching the full victory that wee haue in Christ through faith and touching the six witnesses which faith is supported by Heere wee are first to note how farre they be awry which woulde haue some assurance and hope to bee saued and let go the way and meanes by which they shoulde attayne that assurance When they heare of a certainty of life why shoulde not wee be perswaded say they that God will saue vs as well as others And yet the things which S. Iohn saith he hath written that men may knowe they haue eternall life they neyther know nor care to know they hold this principle that it is God onely which doth saue men and vppon this they rest not considering by what meanes he doth saue them as if a man should say that hath grounds it is God alone that feedeth al flesh he only maketh the corne to growe I care not therefore for plowing or sowing if he will feed me I shall be fed if he will not what can I helpe it Will not all men laugh at such folly Will not euery simple man say if he will haue the Lord God to giue him corn for his sustenance he must vse the means that is he must plowe he must sowe yea reape and carry into his barnes Euen so God alone bringeth men to eternall life and giueth the knowledge and certaintie thereof but he doth it by meanes and he that will come to it must vse those meanes He must come to this that Saint Iohn saith These thinges haue I written vnto you that beleeue c. that yee may knowne yee haue eternall life Will a man knowe it or haue it and yet let passe the thinges which are written by which hee is to knowe it and to haue it Christ willeth the Iewes to search the scriptures affirming that they doe beare witnes of him Iohn 5. He that will knowe Christ the sauiour of the world in whome the father doth giue vs life eternall he must knowe him by the scriptures The true faith is grounded vpon the witnes which the three witnesses from heauen that is the father the worde and the holy ghoste doe witnes If a man doe not knowe what recorde these doe beare how can he tell what to beleeue What maner of faith then haue all they which hearken not to the voice testimonie of God which the holy Apostles Prophets haue deliuered in writing but follow their owne blind imagination These neuer consider why God hath reuealed his counsels or why he sent Prophets and Apostles yea and his owne sonne to publish the testimony let vs take heed that we be not of this company which indeede is a very great company that haue no care to harken what the three which beare record in heauen haue witnessed There is an other sort of men which also are much awrie touching the way and meanes to saluation These doe search the scriptures they reade they heare they labour for knowledge yea they holde that men may and ought to come to the assurance of their saluation and professe that they be sure thereof themselues If you demaunde of them a reason of all matters they can from the worde of God satisfie you with good reasons All this is highly to be commended whye or how are they then awrie They be awrie which separate and put asunder those thinges which God hath coupled together They stand strictlie vpon the written worde of God tell them of putting asunder the thinges which God hath coupled together and they will also denie it Yea they will constantly promise and professe that if you can shewe them any thing which they put asunder from that which God hath coupled it vnto they will be ready to amend their fault I would that were true for wee should not then haue so many carnall gospellers neither would there be so
FOVRE SERMONS VPON SEVErall partes of Scripture Preached by GEORGE GYFFARD Preacher of the worde at Mauldin in Essex AT LONDON Printed by Thomas Iudson for Tobie Cooke and Robert Walker 1598. The Textes of the foure Sermons THE FIRST SERMON 1. Tim. 6. Chap. ver 17.18.19 Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high minded and that they trust not in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God which giueth vs abundantly all thinges to inioye c. THE SECOND SERMON 1. Ioh. chap. 5. ver 7.8.9.10.11.12.13 For there are three which beare record in heauen the Father the worde and the holy ghost and these three are one c. THE THIRD SERMON Hebrewes 12. ver 16.17 Let there be no fornicator or prophane person as Esawe which for one portion of meate solde his birthright c. THE FOVRTH SERMON Rom. 6. ver 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11 12.13.14 What shall we saye then shall we continue still in sin that grace may abound God forbid c. TO THE RIGHT worshipfull Master Edward Lewkenor esquire one of her Maiesties Iustices of the peace in the countie of Suff. and to the right vertuous and christian Gentlewoman Mistris Susan Lewken or his wife grace with all aboundant blessings of this life and the life to come THe complaint of many both learned and verie godlie persons that the Church is burthened and incoÌ„bred with too great a multitude of bookes is not made without cause being grounded vpon the most holy worde of God as also confirmed by experieÌ„ce in that good houres are vnprofitablie spent pietie with true holynes not a little hindred and impaired Howbeit it seemeth rather to be directed against vaine friuolous and trifling pamphlets wherein lewde and ignorante persons haue onely taste and delight but especially against moÌ„strous inuentions vncleane and impure writings which doe infect and defile both doctrine manors thereby deseruing as a most contagious and pestilent ayre to be consumed and dissolued with fire from amongst the people of God and not against the wise and learned trauailes of godly men whose whole purpose and indeuour is to profite the Church and to further the knowledge and religion of the Lorde For varietie of good and profitable bookes seemeth to be necessarie and therefore would not be wanting both for the increase of knowledge and learning because one man or a fewe see not all thinges as also for that euery man writeth not in one forme and maner and therefore cannot answere the capasitie of euerie one for some fitte themselues sor smale and meane capacities and some for learned and great vnderstanding Besides one hath neede of one speciall instruction and one of another this man delighteth in one comforte and remedie against his temptation and an other in that which best aunswereth his infirmitie Furthermore Sathan hath daylie newe deuises to assaile the faith of Gods elect and to drawe theÌ„ into sinne neuer heard of before which the Lorde by his spirite doth not onely reueale to some of his seruants aboue others but prouideth remedies accordinglie which because they cannot be ministred alwayes by worde of mouth they are to be made knowne by writing to them that stand in neede And surely the bountie riches of Gods mercie are so large and his care of mans saluation and happines so great that euen as he hath prouided variety of creatures for euery mans tast and vse so hath he prouided varietie of spiritual graces for euery mans benefite delight to the end that euery man might profit with coÌ„fort pleasure or else be left without all excuse The consideration of which reasons and some others Right worshipfull caused me after I had obtained at the handes of that worthie Minister of Iesus Christ Master Gyffard these fewe Sermons whereof he is the Author to publish them in print to the view of the world Not therein respecting so much mine owne gaine and commoditie as the good and benefite of the Church of God Whereof J conceiue no little hope both by reason of the fruite and benifite which haue redouÌ„ded to the comfort of many by his former workes as also for the excelleÌ„cie of the doctrine conteined herein the which I rather commit to the iudgemeÌ„t of the learned and wise Christian reader then to commend them my selfe least in praysing them for want of iudgement wisedome J should in stead of beautie bring disgrace vpon them Whatsoeuer they be J thought it meete to Dedicate them to your worshippes moued thereto with many respectes And first of all that J might publikely testifie my dutie and thankefull heart for your great kindenes and manifold courtesies bestowed not only vpon me but vpon them that are as neerly linked vnto me as my selfe Of the which if I should be vnmindfull J were worthie of the reward which the Lacedemonians appointed for vnthankefull persons But especiallie the great accompt and honour that you haue obtained in the hearts of many of the best and wisest ChristiaÌ„s for your singular godlines rare Christian vertues do turne mine eyes froÌ„ many others vpon you as comfortahle lightes shining in the midst of this crooked generatioÌ„ as liuely examples to your brethren and worthie ornameÌ„ts to the profession of the Gospel And J haue ioyned you together in this dedicatioÌ„ not only for the neer band wherewith you are so nighly ioyned together in mariage but also for that you do not only striue together in one course to obteine the high price of your calling and that euerlasting crowne of glory reserued for you in the heauens but also for that you are mutual helpers one to another to the performaÌ„ce of all ChristiaÌ„ duties but speciallie in the wel gouerning and trayning vp of your housholde which thereby as a fruite of your rare and holy labours the Lord hath so blessed as that the heauenly estate behauiour thereof may be a presideÌ„t to many families if it would please the Lorde to giue them heartes to confirme themselues thereunto But I cease to say so much as I knowe least in speaking the truth might procure enuie and seeme to flatter you whoe of all other haue least delight in that veine The onlie thing which I ought in dutie may safely do is first to pray vnto God that he would saue preserue you yours from the manifolde subtilties of Sathan and the dangerous baites alluremeÌ„ts of this world and to finish the good work that he hath begunne in you vnto the day of Iesus Christ SecoÌ„dly most huÌ„bly to request you that you would take in good parte this simple gifte that J offer vnto you interpreting all thinges both in regarde of it and my selfe in the best parte and with that affection J offer it to you And thus once againe beseeching almightie God to blesse and coâ—tinue you many happie yeeres 〈◊〉 your owne comfort and the gooâ— of the Church as also to be fauourable vnto the holy Ministrie which hath many yeeres continued