in vsing the meanes which God hath appointed whereby they denie themselues and adding to their labour constant prayer and inuocation they take vpon them an easie yoake and a light burden of their Sauiour the stronger man Repentance vndoeth the knot which tied the soule in this captiuity prayer renounceth all power in him that prayeth euen as among men he that asketh helpe of another and maketh daily supplication doth shew how little his owne ability can performe and how ill the matter goeth with him Thus sorrow for sinne repentance prayer and stedfast endeauour ioyned may worke a cure vnder God and that be done vnder the sasegard of the Almighty that none of himselfe can compasse Prayer and fasting was able to expell the deuill which the Disciples could not cast out Let this consideration correct their mistaking who hope to conquer and shake of their sinnes not vsing religious meanes and exercises No hope to preuaile in such combates without a full repentance with an absolute resignation of the soule into the Sauiours hand See heere the power of a poore captiue in himselfe fastened in the nets of his owne weauing entangled in the labarinth of his folly no way to saue himselfe His goods are in Peace Secondly the words yeeld vs this Doctrine Satan fighteth not against himselfe to disaduantage or disgrace his gouernment but keepeth close together and tieth his instruments in a strong confederacy that their vniting may make him more inuincible The words import so much His goods are in Peace Sometimes it must needs be otherwise with Christ and his Gospell for when vngodlines doth glue and cling together either among his owne or others hee commeth often with stir and diuision and renteth all in peeces for a time Heere then we find the case variable sometimes wickednes findeth great disagreement as experience teacheth sometimes great league and fellowship as both experience and this Text doe manifest so it is in the gouernment of Christ sometimes diuision and stir sometimes peace and vnion we may vse Solomons saying in this cause Eccles 9.2 All things come alike to all Therefore in such variety of times and accidents it is an vncertaine and groundlesse affirmation to make peace an infallible signe of the Church The Papists say and in some sort truly Iohn 10.16 we are all called members of one body vnder one head Christ Rom. 12. And by our Sauiour One Shepheard and one sheepfold therefore diuersity of opinion doth argue a false profession True indeede in the true members of Christs elected congregation but in the outward fellowship and face of an visible multitude not euer true where many are among vs that are not of vs the Apostle saith In that one sheepfold where Christ was Shepheard was not one Iudas found who had warre and treason in his heart and turned against his Master yet could the chiefe Priests and Pharisees and Pylate agree well enough in murdering him without traitors among themselues Outward peace to keepe conformity with others is not in the power of any but this approcheth neerest to the truth the true members of Christ are peacable and full of charitie and being linked vnder one head by faith doe accord among themselues but God setteth neere them enemies that loue not peace euen of their owne to be as thornes in their sides and to raise them from temporall securitie Harding complaines that before Luther came the people were vnanimes in dome of one minde in the house but since how many diuisions haue happened Concerning their spirituall consent in superstition I will vse the phrase of the Text The strong man armed kept his Palace and his goods were in peace Sarcerius an expositor maketh it a particular instance Qualia tempora fuerunt sub Papatu Of this sort were the Popish times May we speake of outward peace and temporall and not find these accusers faulty Christianity will haue this peace kept with Alients as an argument of the minde bent to vnitie that we may be mercifull as our heauenly Father is mercifull and kind to all that the glory of a quiet and peacable minde may shine forth to confound the censures of each ill willervnto Sion If by this kind of coniecturing or rather demonstration an equall iudge may giue sentence see whose fingers haue beene oftnest in treasons whose practises haue beene massacres who they are that stirre euery cole to fire the states of the world and to raise combustion This kind of peace as it hath beene hardly seene towards vs but when necessity made them quiet and God by prouidence tied their hands confounded their deuises so hath it beene a stranger among them that talke of peace To reuiue their vnquietnes by relation or shew their dissentions out of stories would sooner want time then matter Or to obserue distractions in the head the choosing of one Pope against another and the Church at the same time vnder more heads then one Whatsoeuer the sheepe were surely then there was not one shepheard The bones they haue cast among Princes that out of their dissentions they might bring their owne ends about cannot be vnknowne to him that knoweth any thing From whence we iustly may collect the head set vp for vnity did plot disagreement he was not here what he did professe neither led the members by a Christian-like direction If to set iarres and prey vpon the flocke be no good signe of a true shepheard this note of vnity is a poore signification for them Bell. prefat in lib. de Summo Pontifice Bellarmine doth plainly confesse that this state hath beene so shaken with enemies and bad liues of the Popes as also with grieuous Schisme that for the glory of it it stands not by it selfe but strangely supported by diuine preseruation manifested in their infirmity Indeed it often happeneth by a Syncretismus as the ancients cald it that in bred hatred and dissention weareth out by an enemie abroad so policy which the children of this world haue maketh states and humors otherwise differing among them to accord lest their walls which beganne to shake should fall downe quite if they kept not close together To this cause they haue a second helpe to mussle mens mouths and fetter their consciences that in some places none may dispute the Scripture which perhaps would raise stirre enough may not be read they will keepe peace though by taking away Gods weapon A guilty conscience is betrayed in this when all aduentures of triall in these conflicts are so debard and like it is if they had giuen so much liberty to their owne as we haue giuen both them and ours their remainder had beene grieuously impouerished and brought to a smaller quantity by this time As for our writings that turne the word of God speaking more generally into particular application they are affraid at their lookes neither can indure they should come to a publique view Then which argument fetchd from their depth of their
cassiering modesty and an honest minde will by wit and worldly reasons iustifie and make good So when the heart is set vpon pleasure and the desire beginnes to burne after some particular gaine politicke resolution perswades either it may be iust or not so bad as some thinke either a tollerable or a necessary euill Heereupon it followeth that among Christians some for their profit and content will defend those faults which the wiser Heathen haue detested in their writings As he could not haue dealt with Saul that came to him in his troubles but in the shape of Samuel 1. Sam 28.13 the witch said gods are come out of the earth so could he not haue the applause of the simple world but by an earthly diuinity when new found reasons and crafty proiects turne matters into another mould and rob the great theefe euen sinne of his owne appearance Neither could we haue among vs so much professing and little good dealing except there were this mysterie of hypocrisie Heere then wefeele him heere we haue iust cause to feare him daemon meridianus this Deuill at noone day is most dangerous As at first in Paradise and vnder the Serpent hee got the day so doth he in the Church of God and by his subtilty S. Bern. super cantica Ser. 33 Bernard complaind in his times that the Church of God had three aduersaries then did the night of Popery draw on farre brought in by the last of the three The first was the feare of the night when tyrants did persecute the Martyrs in the primitiue Church The second was the arrow that flyeth by day the fond opinions of heresie flying by the inuention of the supporters vpon the feathers of vaine glory But saith he the patience of the Saints ouercame the first and the wisdome of the learned destroyed the second The third was the pestilence in the darkenesse the sinne of hypocrisie and false appearance that nothing could with stand they name Christ and serue Antichrist they professe God and deny him also Therefore he taketh vp the complaint of Hezekia Behold in peace bitternes bitternes the Church was then worst of all Amara prius in caede martyrum amarior post in conflictu haeretieorum amariffima nunc in moribus domesticorum Bitternes at first in the death of Martyrs bitternes in corrupted manners May not reformation renew a complaint and say the world is alwaies like it selfe As the hottest weather doth soonest putrifie so abundance of peace and many blessings haue not these made the rottenes come neerer to the heart Let a generall discourse which cannot tarrie point at the tops of a few ill fruits and easiest discerned Our women turnd into the shapes of men our men and especially they of the gallants ranke growne effeminate Drunkenesse so great that to cast out this Deuill were a miracle indeede to bring in request againe the moderate and temperate liuing of ancient times And that euery age may bring vp some new monster fumum vendunt fumo pereunt the selling of fume immoderate smooking wasteth both the body and the purse a mischiefe vnheard of in former ages befitting no season but this of the doting and declining world Garments the memorials of sinne should teach vs our losses and our sorrow when Adam had forsaken God and his innocence forsaken him shame and necessity procured a couering for his nakednes But now they are not so much remembrancers of the old Cyp. de disciplina habitu Varg. as actors of new sinnes and plaine representations of each idle fancie S. Cyprian complained in his time that when God had said thou canst not make one haire white or blacke the women did confute the Scripture and turnd their haire to yellow the colour he did mislike as too ominous of hell fire malo praesagio futurorumcapillos iam tibi flammeos auspicaris with an ill presage of what was to follow they flamed already Now this colour is fallen about the necke and other places that poore whitenes the token of innocence and sincerity weareth out of request But these follies may plead custome and it seeme a vaine thing to contradict them This superficiall badnes being so confirmed and like to hold his owne cannot but suppose a worse whereon it builds Where the face of corruption appeareth outwardly any way it sheweth the inward parts to be worse deformed Yet thus must it be where truth doth shine so cleere and men loue darkenesse more then light if the Church yeeld not good fruit it must needs ouerflow with weeds knowledge doth make it ranke and proud And when the beames of supernaturall direction fall downe in so powerfull a manner yet obstinacie beateth backe these gracious offers refusing the influence strange and vnnaturall effects must needs follow For as the carcasse of a man is more noisome then the putrefaction of fruits and plants because the temper exceld them in the soundnesse so where much good is and blessednesse it selfe turned into surfeit those declinations are most pernicious We haue now seene the strong man armed keeping his Palace within and without the Church his strength and policy ioyned together but hitherto we haue onely traced him as Prince of the Aire Now let our discourse be sub tecto as well as sub dio see his mansion and enter his roofe a while that as his intents are to bring confusion and publique miserie we may now see the place of residence whence these plots and stratagems haue their hatching Euery man by nature is the child of wrath conceiued in sinne and being readiest to incline the worst way easily listeneth to this euill master He insinuateth himselfe by sweete and pleasant beginnings then custome giueth him possession at last the soule and body become the house and fall subiect to his gouernment Witchcraft doth sometimes manifest his hatred to the body when God giueth him leaue to torment the outward part of the creature in heauenly mercy giuing warning to euery spectator what it is to be vnder this hellish tyranny Such accidens come among vs for this end to draw vp the mindes loaded with earthly cares to these considerations These instances as strange things haue beene plaid and made matters of pastime but may serue for edification For thereby we learne the truth of eternall life If a bad spirit come and offer his seruice to torment we conclude there is a good spirit to saue that spirituall powers doe gouerne these earthly affaires and a Diuine power commandeth all We learne the loue of God that fuffereth him not to hurt all as well as some few the truth of religion which his slaues doe first renounce and then he markes them for his owne first they denie Baptisme then his owne Sacraments succeede to make them fast And why doth hee not sease vpon euery adulterous body the reason is God holds him in Or that hee snatcheth not away the soules of such as imagine mischiefe the cause is Gods
the scribe and wise man hath no share in this busines rather shut out God saith he hath chosen the foolish things of the world to condemne the wise 1 Cor. 1.27 and the weake things of the world to confound the mighty And addeth the reason that no flesh might glory in his presence Heerein then consisteth the words glory that going the more vnlikely way to worke it speedeth and where it speedeth not confusion followes immediately Let any without partiality see by what meane beginnings against what heate of persecution the strength of the Lord subdued hell and planted religion by the first conuerting of the Gentiles with the Apostles and their followers it may turne the Atheist and raise the most dull and frozen spirits into admiration In reforming religion we haue seene the like if the first hopes failed the second haue sped and by no power or policy of the earth doth the Gospell inioy prosperity If any intent of persecution or crafty dealing could haue giuen it a deadly wound the face of it had not beene left to appeare before this time to make show â—or the voice of it to speake for it selfe This must teach vs to carry a constant hope let the strong man mooue and his instruments thunder out their threatnings and where they thunder least colour their close deuises to confound all in the end a vaine expectation must be the fruit of such confidence and their owne confusion finish vp their labour This rocke cannot remooue nor the stronger side fall though it suffer many foiles 1. Esdras 4.41 and some disaduantage Let our conclusion goe with the Apocry phall History Diuers were seuerally conceited where was the greatest strength found some gaue it to Princes some to women and to wine but truth obtaind it from the rest she spake for him that spake for her so went the iudgement of the King and the cry of others Magnaest veritas praeualet great is the truth and preuaileth And so much for the first meanes whereby the stronger man subdueth the power of his word The second is his word of prouidence the mighty voice in operation at whose command all things moue and obey in Heauen and Earth The rising of some and the falling of others and in a word the falling of a sparrow the cariage of great and small meete in this gouernment Solomon will haue vs know Eccles 3.14 What he purposeth shall stand to it can no man adde and from it can none diminish that we might feare before him But heere his footesteps are hardly perceiued The strong Man swaieth so much and the worlds behauiour appeareth so strange that his presence seemeth very remote his Maiesty to keepe retyred and withdrawne As in the former word of sauing health the victory stood doubtfull in the eyes of carnall apprehension the case is heere the very same Claudian guided by vncertaine rules sheweth how they gaue him a halting opinion betweene contraries so many Eclipses doth this light suffer such thrusting there is against God and godlines such preuailing of the bad and pride withall that he meruailed the God of all things should be in the earth and giue no more proofe of his strength and victory In these termes hee openeth his doubtfull meaning When I see the glorious frame of Heauen and Earth the bounds of the Sea Summer and Winter fitly disposed in their seasons the courses of day and night so orderly to succeede I thought God had giuen these lawes by singular wisdome and adorned his gifts with such distinction But when I saw such darkenes vpon the affaires of men the proud and vngodly flourishing and the innocent vnder foote rursus labefacta cadebat religio religion beganne to faile Though his owne plaine reason did ground him well in part Yet did a Heathenish minde thus plunge him in distraction There is but a haires breadth betweene the practise of many Christians and this mans opinion if the best waies be not prosperous they are forsaken and howsoeuer men haue a meaning the double dealing is to common See then on what ground it stands Many times the Lord will not shew his might his enemie gets the vpper hand impiety will domineere no way to crosse it where is then this victory mentioned in the Text It appeareth that this obiection may be forcible because Dauid or the Author of the 73. Psalme confessed that his feete were almost gone when he beheld the prosperity of vngodlinesse But going at last into the Sanctuary hee beheld the slippery place of such doubtfull felicity and found the glory to be but small which a moment can bring to desolation or ioy in a dreame that endeth with the night when one awaketh May it not rather amaze the enemie and confound vngodlines when prosperity shall be great that destruction may be answerable Nothing can match with his wisdome that knoweth how to giue way to folly that he may plucke downe the power of it being growne ripe and defeat such aduancement in the height Aristotle truly sheweth a great man may not at all times declare himselfe among inferiours it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to wrestle among the weaker or dispute among the foolish 4. Ethic. 3. the world is too weake and base to receiue this strength of God in confounding the deuill If the Almighty should striue what place were left either for good or bad to finish their owne intentions or runne out their courses If his iustice did punish euery sinne who could indure it if he did reward euery vertue where were the patience of Saints of glorious in earth or their reward so great in heauen The world would too much ingrosse the loues of men if all things did runne smoothly as they would imagine See how vainely weake desires striue to fix a rest in the confines of this present State though such small occasion be giuen and the waies thereof fild with garboils and confusion Take one that liues in a troubled place suppose he be sicke and diseased in his body his friends leaue him or faile in their comforts and age hasten on the remembrance of his departure we shall often find the loue of life will make one so qualified to sticke in this mirie place and dote vppon these transitorie shaddowes For this cause the Lord sheweth his scourges rather then his benefits reseruing the beauty of absolute gouernment in the full lustre till another season yet here beginnes and layeth the foundation of his victory His workes although the beginning and the end cannot be of one forme want not to an indifferent beholder Satan and the malice of his instruments receiue many a grieuous foile the professors of his truth many encouragements and none shall want his ayd that duly craues it Helpe was promised to S. Paul when it seemed denied and he buffeted with Satans messenger This promisefaild not 1. Cor. 12.9 being a generall stay in hardest conflicts My grace is sufficient for thee