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A15434 Thesaurus ecclesiæ: that is, the treasure of the church consisting of the perpetuall intercession and most holy praier of Christ, set forth in the 17. chapter of the Gospel by S. Iohn: which in this treatise is plainly interpreted, with necessarie doctrines enlarged, and fit applications enforced. Willet, Andrew, 1562-1621. 1604 (1604) STC 25704; ESTC S102754 86,296 210

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authoritie wit knowledge take heed that ye rob not God of his glorie in abusing these gifts to your owne pleasure as riches to pride and wantonnesse authoritie to oppresse or do wrong wit to deceiue knowledge to maintaine errour for they that thus hide their talent shall haue the reward of the vnthriftie seruant both to lose the talent and to be cast themselues into vtter darknesse Mat. 25. 30. How shall blasphemers that prophane Gods name drunken and gluttonous persons that make their bellies their gods proud men that make flesh their arme how shall they escape or with what faces can they appeare before the throne of Christ whō they haue so much dishonoured Happie then are they which make Gods glorie the end of their life the scope of all their actions as the Apostle saith Whether ye eate or drinke or whatsoeuer ye do else do all to the glory of God 1. Cor. 10. 30. Then come death come sicknesse come hell it selfe such a one shall not be dismaid his faithfull seruice shall not be forgotten the remembrance of his obedience and testimony of his conscience shal be as the anker-hold of his soule as the Prophet Dauid saith Psal. 119. This I had because I kept thy commaundements I haue finished the worke which thou gauest me to do Christ did not onely begin the worke committed vnto him but did finish and make an end thereof as he him selfe said vpon the crosse Consummatum est it is finished Iohn 19. 30. This Scripture teacheth vs that it is not sufficient to make a good beginning or to enter into the professiō of Christs seruice but we must continue proceed therein and hold out vnto the end So our Sauior saith Math. 24. 13. He that endureth to the end shall be saued Reu. 2. 26. He that ouercommeth and keepeth my works to the end to him will I giue power ouer nations What did it profit Herode to reuerence Iohn and to heare him gladly and to do many things and after to cut off his head Marke 6. or the yong man to haue bene trayned vp in the keeping of the law and afterward to depart from Christ for the loue he had to his possessions Marke 10 Therefore Dauid saith Teach me thy law and I will keepe it to the end Psal. 119. 33. He wel knew that his constant and enduring seruice should be acceptable vnto God Like as he that runneth in a race vnlesse he hold out to the gole obtaineth not the price and therefore S. Paul saith I haue finished my course 2. Tim. 4. 7. As it auailed not Lots wife to haue gone out of Sodom and after to looke backe nor yet the Israelites to haue departed out of Egypt and afterward to long for the fleshpots again so they shall neuer come to Canaan that are wearie of weldoing and do as it were runne themselues out of breath before they come to the end of their race The meanes then whereby we may be strengthened to continue and make our obedience perfect are these first to renounce our owne strength to acknowledge all our power and actiuitie to goodnes and our abilitie to proceed to perfection to be of God as the Prophet saith Isay 26. 12. Thou hast wrought all our works for vs and therefore the Church prayeth Psal. 68. 28. Thy God hath appointed thy strength stablish O Lord that thou hast wrought in vs. So shold we pray vnto God to assist vs with his grace and so vphold vs by his spirit that we fal not Secondly we must take heed that we rashly enter not into Christs seruice but do beforehand ca●t all the perils and daungers that may ensue as he that buildeth an house will count the cost that it will stand him in Luke 14. 28. This is the cause that many making a shew of zeale hauing not layed a good foundation are constrained with shame to giue ouer Thirdly a continuall circumspection and watchfull care is necessary that we walke on by feare alwaies doubting our owne weakenes and suspecting our strength as the Apostle sayth Let him that standeth take heed lest he fal 1. Cor. 10. 12. Wherefore let vs endeuour to be like out maister Christ to grow to perfection and to finish the worke which God hath imposed vppon vs. Many haue good thoughts and spirituall motions but they do not nourish them they are as vnripe grapes or as vntimely fruit Such are compared to negligent builders who are next to pullers downe Prouer. 18. 9. He that is slouthfull to do his worke is the brother of a great waster Ye are wasters thē not workmen destroyers not repairers pullers downe not setters vp that giue ouer in your course and faint in weldoing Vers. 5. And now glorifie me thou Father with thine owne selfe with the glorie which I had with thee before the world was This is the fourth reason of our Sauiour his request for his glorification and it is taken ab aequo from the equitie thereof and the right which he had to this glorie it was his owne from all beginning so that he prayeth onely for the manifestation of that glory in his whole person of God and man which was due to his godhead before the world was From hence then this comfortable doctrine is concluded that as this great glory of Christ being due frō al eternity to his godhead was decreed to be manifested also in his humane nature so likewise the glorie of Christs members which shal be giuen vnto them in the kingdom of God was before ordained appointed in the counsel of God before all worlds This Moses testifieth in the Psal. 90. 2. Before the mountaines were made and before thou hadst formed the earth and the world euen from euerlasting to euerlasting thou art our God Thus the Apostle witnesseth That we were predestinate in Christ to be to the praise of his glorie Ephes. 1. 12. This the scriptures testifie of the brethren of Antioch that as many as were ordained to eternall life beleeued Act. 15. 48. S. Paul also testifieth of Clement and other his fellow labourers that their names were written in the booke of life Phil. 4. 3. Therefore in the Reuelation 4. 6. is the world compared to a sea of glasse because all things are open before God and he from the beginning did foresee and appoint whatsoeuer shoud fall out in the world as all things in a glasse are conspicuous and euident Like as Mat. 20. 2. the husbandman agreeth aforehand what to giue to the labourers before yet they had wrought in the vineyard so the Lord in Christ appointed saluation to his elect before they had done either good or euil The Apostle sheweth the reason hereof why the Lord according to his gracious purpose hath chosen vs in Christ. Eph. 3. 10. That the manifold wisedome of God might be made knowne according to the eternall purpose which he wrought in Christ Iesus our Lord. As the vnspeakable wisdome of God herein
reason of Christs petition for vnitie taken from the very fountaine and originall thereof namely their election and fore-ordaining vnto glorie for this cause they are glorified in Christ that they might expresse and shew forth this godly vnion and spirituall coniunction Hence then we learne that such as are ordained vnto life and euerlasting glorie are prepared of God vnto good workes first and to the seruice of loue in this life before they shall be admitted to the next 1. So the Apostle saith As he hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue Ephes. 1. 4. And againe Ye are his workmanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes which God hath ordained that we should walke in them Ephes. 2. 10. Then both good works were ordained for the elect and the elect ordained to walke in good workes 3. The holy Apostle thus testifieth of himselfe Who shall deliuer me from euery euill worke and preserue me to his heauenly kingdome 2. Tim. 4. 18. He assureth himself that God will giue him grace to abstaine from euill workes seeing he had ordained him for his kingdome Christ concludeth Zacheus to be the sonne of Abraham and child of saluation because he had expressed liuely fruites thereof in his large restitution and bountifull charitie Luke 19. 8. 3. Like as Dauid being deputed and appointed to the kingdom of Israell doth in the meane time prepare and addresse himselfe to walke vprightly as he saith I will do wisely in the perfect way til thou commest vnto me Pfal 101. 2. so all they which are ordained to Christs euerlasting kingdome should walke in Dauids steps As the bride prepareth and trimmeth her self for her husband though alreadie espoused so the elected alreadie by Gods gracious electiō espoused vnto him in Christ must adorne and trim themselues by holinesse and vertue that they may be readie to solemnize the euerlasting mariage feast in heauen 4. For they must first shew themselues faithful in litle whom the Lord should afterward make rulers of much Mat. 25. 23. They must first shew their faithfulnesse in seeking Gods glorie in earth before they can receiue glorie from God in heauen 5. First then seeing glorie is first giuen and decreed to the elect then followeth their godly vnitie and fruitfull loue and the first is bestowed that the second may follow not this first foreseene that the other might be decreed We see that election is not grounded vpon the foresight of mens workes but these are fruites and effects of eiection not causes and beginners of it as the Apostle sheweth That the purpose of God might remaine according to election not by workes but by him that calleth Rom. 9. 11. Secondly we haue here a certaine rule giuen vs whereby we may discerne our election namely by the fruitfull works of vnitie and charity which are as seales and pledges of that glorie which is decreed to be giuen vs in Christ. Thus S. Peter exhorteth Wherefore brethren giue rather diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye do those things ye shall neuer fall 2. Pet. 1. 10. And S. Iohn saith We know we are translated from death to life because we loue the brethren 1. Ioh. 3. 14. There are two bookes whereby euery man shall be iudged the booke of life and the book of euery mans conscience as S. Iohn testifieth The bookes were opened and another booke was opened which is the booke of life Reu. 20. 12. The booke of the conscience is a true copie of the booke of life here a man shall find how it is written there The record of a mans conscience is a certaine and infallible euidence of the record in heauen Thus S. Paul found written in the booke of his conscience that because he had fought a good fight kept the faith he doubted not but that a crowne of righteousnes was laid vp for him 2. Tim. 4. 8. Wherefore by the workes of grace let vs striue to be assured of glorie let vs now ●ay as the Church fertilitatis suae conscia ●eni frater exeamus in agrum Thus the Church knowing her selfe to be fruitfull ●s Ambrose well applieth that place saith ●o Christ Come let vs go forth into the field my brother Cantic 7. 11. We must now bring Christ into our field to shew him our fruites that he may afterwards bring vs into his barnes to enioy his glorie Verse 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one A third reason is here contained of Christs petition for vnitie in his members namely from the adiunct of perfection they cannot be made perfect without it neither can any man be a compleat Christian and true member of Christ vnlesse there be a coniunction also with Christs bodie So that to this perfection there are three degrees of vnion expressed the first of Christ the Mediator with God his Father Thou in me the second of Christ with his Church I in them the third of the members among themselues That they may be perfit in one 1 Here then where Christ saith I in thē we are taught that there is no true peace concord or vnion but in Christ. So our Sauiour saith That in me ye might haue peace Ioh. 16. 23. and the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 following the truth in loue there is no sound and true loue but in the truth 2 Dauid fretted in himselfe and was disquieted he could find no rest nor peace till he went into the Sanctuarie of God Psal. 73. 17. Thus Saint Paule sheweth that while he was vnder the law he found nothing but death and condemnation But I died and the same commaundement which was ordained vnto life was found to be vnto me to death Rom. 7. 10. But after he was come to Christ then he found that there was no condemnation to them that were in Christ Iesus Rom. 8. 1. It did not helpe the Apostle that he was a Pharise a circumcised Hebrew Philip. 3. 5. confederate with the high Priest Act. 10. 1. all this he counted as doung in respect of the knowledge of Christ. 3 The peace friendship and confederacie of men is like the tempering of iron and clay together that will not be ioyned Dan. 2. 43. And like as when a man leaneth vpon a broken staffe the shiuers thereof will runne into his hand 2. King 18. 21. such is the peace and loue of the world it in the end turneth to hatred Such was the friendship betweene Abimelech and the Sichemites a fire went out from the one and cōsumed the other Iud. 9. 20. 4 For peace is one of the fruites of the spirit Gal. 5. 22. therefore as a man cannot gather grapes of thornes nor figges of thistles so neither is true peace to be expected in the world without Christ. 5 First then all externall peace which is not combined and knit together by
to our knowledge to ad affection to our iudgement zeale to our vnderstanding cōscience feeling Many seeme to know much but there is withall a coldnesse in their heart Happy it is with those that when they heare the word do not onely conceiue and vnderstand it as Herode did Marke 6. 20. but their hearts are inflamed as the two Disciples while Christ preached vnto them found their hearts burne within them Luke 24. The Prophet Dauid saith O how I loue thy law Psal. 119. 97. whereof Ambrose well saith Diligere amplius est quàm custodire hoc necessitatis est timēs illud charitatis To loue is more then to keepe this is of feare and necessitie that proceedeth of charitie So o●r obedience to God should proceede from a willing affection and louing heart That as God delighteth in the faithfull My delight is with the children of men Pro. 8. 31 so our delight may be in God that we may say with the prophet The desire of our soule is to thy name and to the remēbrance Isa. 26. 8. So shall we be sure that if we desire his waies now the Lord wil delight in vs for euer and cause vs to enter into his euerlasting ioy FINIS Iud. ● 4● lib. 〈…〉 Cantic 1. 2. Psal 134. Lib. 5. in L●● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ad Cel●●tium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 56. 8. Luk. 〈…〉 1. Thes. 5. 17. 〈◊〉 de obit Theodo●ii Xen. lib. 1. de Cyri 〈◊〉 Prou 4 23. aduer Luciferius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 King 3. ●d C●esiphon● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mark 11 3● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lib 1. de Genes 〈◊〉 Ioh. 11. Math. 26. 1. Thess. 5. 17. Math. 14. 31. Luk. 22. 61. Mar. 10. 4● 1. King 8. E●●d 17. 2. King 2. Apoc. ●● Numb ●1 9. Act. 7. 56. H●b 9. 14. Leuit 1. 15. Leuit. 2. 13. Doctr. 1. Plutarc de garrulitat In L●c. ca. 11. Doct. 2. Difference betwixt the pr●uer● of Ch●●st and of his members Christ praieth not in heauē now as he did in the earth Tract 10● in Ioann● How Christ is the Mediatour of his church How Christ appe●eth before God for vs. Lib 22. mo●al cap. 13. Doctr. 3. Ad Eusta●h●●m Vers. 1. Doct● 1. The gesture required in prayer God Christs father otherwise then ours Doct. 2. Pray with confidence Doct. 3. The appointment of times is from God Against Astrologers We must wait the acceptable time All gifts must 〈◊〉 vsed to Gods glory The Pope not Christs Vicar Lib. 2. de vocat gent. cap. 6. Ser. 19. in Psal. 119. Doct. 2. ●ternall life onely giuen to those that are giuen to Christ. Christ died not for all ●lection certaine In Mat. Homil 13. Doctr. 1. What things make the life o● man miserable Enemies to euerlasting life confuted The desire which we ought to haue to euerlasting life Doct. 2. Of the necessitie of the knowledge of God Heretickes enemies to the Trinitie confuted Against Atheists Ignorance dangerous Doct. 3. No saluation without faith in Christ. Diuerse heresies against the natures person of Christ. De Isaacho cap. 8. Doct. 1. Man cannot chalenge any thing from God by his merits Doct. 2. Continuance to the end Doct. 3. Christ merited not for himselfe Doct. 1. The word of God profitable onely to the elect The attentiue hearing of the word a marke of our effectuall vocation In Psal. 119. Doct. 2. In 2. Tim. cap. 1. Doct 3. Examination of doctrines Doct. 2. Gods word is chearfully to be heard Doct 3. Our knowledge of Christ must be certaine Against carnal professors Doct. 4. The Minister must be assured of his calling How Ministers are acertained of their calling Doct. 1. Christ a Mediator onely for the elect There is a world onely of the elect and faithfull Lib. 5. in Luc Whether the wicked may be prayed for Worldlings without the compasse of Christs praier Doct. 1. Christ God of himselfe August tract 19. in Ioann No accesse to God without Christ. De Fide lib. 3 cap. 3. Doct 3. All must be re●erred to Gods glorie which we ask in our praiers Doct. 1. Christ not present now in the world in his flesh The reasons of Christs bodily absence Against the carnall presence in the Sacrament Our desires must be in heauen Doct. 2. Our comming to God is by prayer Against neglect or discontinuance in prayer Against hypocriticall prayers Conc. 2 in Psal. 33. Doct. 3. Man hath no power of himselfe to keepe himselfe Against free will De Ecclesiast docum c. 56. Doct. 4. The loue of Christians must be in the truth Doct. 1. They which are once truly graft into Christ cannot finally fall away Iustifying faith cannot be lost Doct. 2. Some reiected from the beginning The doctrin of Predestination a spur to godlines Doct. 3. The certaintie of Gods word Gods foreknowledge not the cause of mens workes De Predest lib. 1. cap. 15. Doct. 4. Gods word worketh true comfort The danger of those that are ignorant of the word Doct. 1. The faithfull hated in the world A dangerous thing to hate the seruants of God 1. Chro. 16. 10. Hom. 11. in Exod. Doct. 2. Against separation from the Church Cont. Cres● lib. 3. cap. 35. 3. degrees of worldly men Doct. 3. Life not corruptly to be desired Serm. 20. in Psal. 119. Against a pre posterous desire of death Why the Scripture vseth repetitions Of vaine and idle repetitions Of the word Selah vsed in the Psalmes Hierom. Marcella Tom. 4. Doct. 1. The word of God onely conuerteth Mat. 3 11. Col. 4. 6. Heb. 4. 12. All truth necessarie to saluation to be found in Scripture Doct. 2. God sendeth none but enabled with gifts Ad Furiam Doct. 3. All gifts deriued vnto the Church by Christ. Ephes. 4. 16. 〈◊〉 merited not for himselfe Lib. 5. de fid cap. 7. Doct. 1. Christ praieth for all beleeuers to the end of the world Care of posteritie Doct. 2. Faith a rare thing where is no preaching Doct. 3. Augustine Doct. 4. Why God would haue the holy life of his faithful knowne to the world Mat. 18. 6. The dange● of giuing of●ence Doct. 1. We are elected to walke in good works ●lection not of workes but by grace Two books the booke of life the book of a m●ns conscience Three kinds of false peace Paulin. Tom. 4. Doct. 3. Gods loue best knowne by the graces of sanctification Doct. 1. The prayer of Christs mediation Doct. 2. The faithfull shal be in the same place with Christ in heauen Doct. 3. They that wil see Christ face to face in heauen must see him by faith here Hom. in Mat. 13. Heb. 6. 19. Doct. 4. Christ how said to be predestinate Assurance of heauen is neither impossible nor yet easie to be had The blindnes ignorance of the world Lib. 5 in Luc. Ignorance a sufficiēt cause of condemnation Doct. 2. Al holy knowledge deriued from Christ. A vaine labor to seeke for true wisdome without Christ. Amb. serm 14 in Psal. 1 19. Doct. 3. God will neuer leaue his Church destitute of his word Ambros. Epist 60. Doct. 4. Knowledge without sense and feeling fruitlesse We must not onley vnderstād the word but ioy in it Serm. 20. in Psal. 119.
Ieremie Before I formed thee in the wombe I knew thee Ier. 1. 5. God had knowne approued and chosen the Prophet euen before he was borne 3. For like as Dauid was annointed and appointed to be King long before he entred to his kingdom and Moses was dessigned to be deliuerer of Israel forty yeares before he exercised his office so the elect of God were long ago ordained to saluation though the accomplishment thereof they must expect with patience 4. And this God did to the praise of the glorie of his name Ephes. 1. 6. 6. ●or herein appeared loue not that we loued God but that he loued vs ● Iohn 4. 10. This is Gods great goodnesse that hath prepared for vs an euerlasting kingdome before as yet we were 5. Seeing then that God in his gracious decree of electiō hath sorted out some to euerlasting saluation we must take heed of 2 gulfs that we fal not into them the one is of superstition not to thinke with the Papistes that it is presumption to be sure of that which God hath most surely and certainly decreed the other is of presumption that men without good ground be not too confident in their hope thinking to be saued whatsoeuer they do but that as the Apostle saith We worke out our saluation with feare and trembling and labour to adde dayly somewhat to our assurance that as saint Peter saith We giue dili●ence to make our calling and electiō sure and seale the same vnto our soules by the fruits thereof This assurance of saluation is neither impossible to be had as the Papist thinketh nor yet easie to be had as the carnal Protestant thinketh It may be had but with much study and faithfull endeuor and godly care by feare and trembling Happie are they which by Gods grace haue attained to this gift and heauenly worke as all wee which beleeue in Christ shall in good time before we go hence by Gods grace attaine vnto it then shall we with patience runne out our course and nothing can happen so grieuous which this happie assurance of heauen will not make easie vnto vs. That we may say with Prophet Dauid I had fainted if I had not beleeued to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the liuing Psal. 27. 13. Ambrose saith well Manipulis beatae vitae si quid accidit aduersi tanquam sterilis auena al●sconditur c. By this bundle of our hope of eternal life if any thing fall out crossely it is hid as wild oates or weedes in an handful of corne that like as in a peece of good wheate a few weeds are not seene no more is aduersitie felt where heauen is hoped for The seuenteenth Lecture Verse 25. O righteous father the world also hath not knowne thee IN these verses following the meanes are expressed whereby we may attaine vnto euerlasting glory described in the former verse and they are two the knowledge of God vers 25. and the liuely sense and feeling of Gods loue verse 26. First in this verse our Sauior sheweth that the world is vtterly ignorant of God and void of true knowledge 1. As the Euangelist testifieth He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not Iohn 1. 10. So the Apostle rehearseth out of the Psalme There is none that vnderstandeth none that seeketh after God Rom 3. 11. 2. Such a worldly man was Pharao who prophanely said I know not the Lord neither wil I let Israel go Exod. 5. 2. Such an ignorant person and blasphemous wretch was the messenger of the King sent for Elisha Behold this euil saith he commeth of the Lord why should I waite on the Lord any longer 2. Kin. 6. 33. 3. Like as a foole or ideot knoweth not the way into the citie such fooles are all wordly men that know not the way which leadeth to the celestiall Ierusalem Eccles. 10. 15. who are herein worse then the oxe or asse which know their owner and their masters crib Isay 13. but these haue no knowledge of God who made them and dayly feedeth them 4. The cause of this ignorance of the world is the hardnes of their heart Eph. 4 18 because through their corrupt and froward affections they corrupt that light of nature which they haue Because when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankefull but became vaine in their imaginations and their foolish hart was full of darknesse Rom. 1. 21. 5. We see then what a dangerous thing it is not to haue the knowledge of God and to be ignorant of his wayes all such are as yet of the world and being of the world are vnder the regiment and kingdome of Satan vnder Christs protection they are not for he prayeth not for the world Iohn 17. 9. This should be a caueat to all those who some of contempt some of negligence care not for the knowledge of God or his word Ambrose well saith Leprae medicina verbū est contemptus vtique verbi lepra mentis est The word is the medicine for the leprosie of the soule the contempt then of the word maketh the soule leprous Though a man had no other sins to condēne him yet ignorāce cānot be alone but hath other sinnes following it it were a sufficient cause of condemnation that he regardeth not to know God as the Prophet saith My people go into captiuitie because they haue no knowledge Isay 5. 13. But I know him and these haue known that thou hast sent me We know God because Christ first knoweth and by him and from him his members also know so that Christ to his church is the fountaine and author of all spirituall knowledge 1. No man hath seene God at any time the onely begotten sonne which is in the bosome of the father he hath declared him Iohn 1. 18. 2. Nicodemus til he came to Christ was ignorant of the first principles of Christian religiō he knew not what it was to be born again Iohn 3. The holy Apostle could not find out true knowledge at the feete of Gamaliel nor in the sect of the Pharises he was taught the Gospell by no other meanes but by the reuelation of Iesus Christ Galat. 1. 12. neither had Zacheus euer be come the child of Abraham if he had not come downe from the figge tree and followed Christ Luke 19. 3. So that as the Israelites could neuer haue found out the way to the promised land through the vast and vnknowne wildernesse vnlesse Christ had gone before them in a cloudie piller by day and a fiery piller by night and like as Moses could neuer haue described the forme and fashion of the tabernacle if the Lord had not first shewed it him in the mount so as impossible it is without Christs direction in his word to find out the way to eternal life He is therefore that oliue tree that doth conuey into the candlesticke
of the church that oile and fatnesse whereby the light thereof is cherished and preserued Zach. 4. 4. For none in heauen or in earth was found worthy to open the book of Gods secrets and to looke thereon but onely the lambe Reu. 5. 3. 9. The booke had remained sealed still if Christ had not taken the booke out of the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne and opened the seales thereof 5. First then their blind endeuor is condemned which by the light of nature thinke to find out the truth The Philosophers among the heathen and wise among the Gentiles much busied themselues to find out the truth but they labored in vaine The three wise-men that came from the East did not content them selues with their humane wisedome and natural experience but followed the conduct of the starre to seeke for Christ. If Saul must haue a prophet to tell him what was become of his fathers asses to find out heauen hath much more need of a propheticall light Secondly all carnal and secure persons are admonished that if they desire knowledge they should seek it at Christs hands in his word it is no maruell that so many yet continue in ignorance seeing they despise the meanes of knowledge Heauen cannot be scaled without Iacobs ladder the top whereof resteth vpon Christ Gen. 28. One well saith Nemini credas tuum nisi praeeunte lucernae istius luce processum sit fides itineris tui praeuia sit tibi iter scriptura diuina Trust no man to direct thee vnles this light go before let faith be the foreman in thy iorney and let thy way be by the scripture Verse 26. And I haue declared vnto them thy name and will declare it Here our Sauior promiseth the perpetuall assistance of his spirit and continuall declaration of his word to his church that as he had preached and declared it so he would still instruct his seruants not leaue his church destitute of the ministerie of his word 1. Thus the Lord promiseth by his prophet I will make my couenant with them saith the Lord my spirit that is vpon thee the words which I haue put in thy mouth shal not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of the seed of thy seed saith the Lord from henceforth euen for euer Isay 59. 21. 2. Thus our Sauiour leauing the world ordained his Apostles in his stead to be witnesses of him to the ends of the world Act. 1. 8. The Apostles also constituted Euangelists as Timothy 2. Tim. 1. 6. To second their work the Euāgelists ordained Bishops Pastors and Elders in euery citie Tit. 1. 5. to finish the work of the Gospell 3. For like as it is not enough to sow the corne and cast it into the earth but it must haue both the first and latter raine Ioel 2. 23. so it is necessary that Apostles other succeeding Ministers should water that which Paul and the other Apostles had planted 1. Cor. 3. 6. And like as after the house is builded it must be continually repaired lest through the idlenesse of the hands the house drop through Eccl. 10. 18. so after the foundation laid and building finished by Christ and his Apostles the chiefe builders others must be raised vp to repaire the ruines of Gods house 4. Therefore as Saint Paul saith Christ gaue some to be Apostles some Prophets some Euangelists some Pastors and teachers for the gathering together of the saints the work of the ministery the edificatiō of the body of Christ Eph. 4. 11. So that al these offices are necessary Prophets to assist Apostles and Euangelists to second Prophets Pastors and teachers to succeed Euangelists that all the Saints in all ages may be gathered together and the whole body of Christ edified 5. How much then are we to giue thankes vnto God for this his prouident care ouer his church neuer leauing the same destitute of his word which we see to the praise of God this day for God hath furnished this Church of England with such abundance of learned pastors as I thinke few churches in the world may compare with it So that as Elias ascending left his spirit doubled vpon Elisha as Ambrose well noteth O haereditas preciosa in qua plus haeredi relinquitur quàm habetur mirum in modum plus Helias gratiae dimisit in terris quam secum portauit ad coelos A precious inheritance wherein more is left to the heire then was first had Elias leaueth more grace in earth then he caried to heauen so I doubt not but many faithfull seruants of God departed this life haue transmitted their spirit and giftes double vpon their posteritie Seeing Christ then hath such care to instruct his flocke as he hath declared his word so doth yet and will further declare let no man despise this so great riches but profit more and more by the ministerie of the word that the oftener it is declared the greater may be our increase in faith that as Gods graces are doubled vpon our teachers so they may be multiplied also vpon the hearers That the loue wherewith thou hast loued them may be in them that is they may haue a liuely sense feeling of the loue of God that as they abound in knowledge so they may also be quickned in the liuely feeling and apprehension of it 1. This is that which the Apostle saith That ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth length depth and height and to know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge Ephes. 3. 18. 19. 2 Such sense of the loue of Christ the Apostle Paul had who thus in particular professeth of himselfe Christ loued me and gaue himselfe for me Gal. 2. 20. Thus also the prophet Dauid spake from his inward feeling of Gods goodnesse toward him how deare are thy thoghts toward me ô God how great is the sum of them Psal. 132. 17. 3. Like as Iob saith I haue heard of thee by the hearing of the eare but now mine eye seeth thee Iob 42. 5. so they which haue only a speculatiue knowledge of God do heare as with the eare but they that haue an inward feeling and experience of his loue do see him with the eye this the prophet Dauid calleth the tast of the soule Tast ye and see how gracious the Lord is Psa. 34 8. Like as Manna though pleasant to the sight yet was more pleasant to the tast so is the mercie and loue of God more ioyous felt and comprehended then vnderstood onely and apprehended 4 For we are commanded to loue God with all the heart soule and mind Mat. 22. 37. God must not only haue our mind and vnderstanding but our heart and affectiō we do not otherwise honour God with all our strength 5 Hence then we are taught a most nenessarie point of Christian doctrine that we should labour