and your distressed causes vpon his backe and rest contented that he careth for all his owne And thus much for the fourth circumstance to bee considered in healing the man which was the meanes or partie by whom he was healed THE SECOND SERMON OF THE DVTIE OF OVR DELIVERANCE The second Sermon THe second branch of the exhortation vz. what was the cause of his sicknesse drawne out of these words sinne no more It appeareth here that sinne was the cause of his sicknesse and sinne is the cause of our troubles griefes losses hurts dangers or damages whatsoeuer yea of sicknesse be it of body or of minde That this may better appeare let vs search out the originall of sicknes sorrow and griefe and we shall finde that before sinne entred there was neither sicknesse sorrow nor griefe but as soone as euer sinne entred the other were inflicted as a iust reward for sinne When where and how sinne entred you may finde plainly in Genes 3. When. It entred euen then when our first parents were created in their happie estate of innocencie like to the image of their Creator perfectly righteous in the soule and all the parts thereof throughly sound in the body and the constitution thereof yea both in body and soule free from any griefe vexation or sorrowe Sinne entred in Paradise Where our parents being placed there The meanes The meanes whereby he entred was by the subtill perswasion of the Serpent the diuels instrument and by our parents voluntarie hearkening and yeelding thereunto to disobey and breake the commandement of their Creator which so soone as euer they had done the curse of God for the same fell vpon our parents for sin If we will set downe what it is it is nothing else but the transgression of the law of God 1. Ioh. 3.4 Presently after the transgression of the law of God entred the reward or punishmēt of this their transgression which was mortalitie in stead of immortalitie Mans miserable case after his fall weaknes in stead of strength sicknes in stead of health toyle and trauell in stead of continual rest and peace sorrow and sadnes in stead of ioy and comfort the earth to yeeld nothing but brambles briers and bushes though it bee tilled in stead of plentie of good fruite to trauaile vp and downe as pilgrimes vpon the face of the earth in stead of perpetual possession of Paradise and though they thus prolong their toyling daies for a time yet at lēgth enforced to yeeld to natures course and to dye in stead of liuing for euer the life of the Angels All this is apparant in the third of Genesis You haue heard now the first man that euer sinned euen Adam the first man that as a merit for his sinne euer was sicke or troubled euen Adam You haue heard what happy case he was in before he sinned and what wofull estate hee was in after his fall a creature full of sorrow toyle trouble feare griefe vexation digging and deluing planting and sowing and yet but to reape little increase and though hee was before a most pleasant plant of the Lord seated in a most fertile soyle yet now through sin is he euen become a filthie puddle and standing poole of all iniquitie a seruant to Satan and a poore prisoner to the diuell Hence let all Gods children learne to affect holinesse of life The vse and lothe the life of the wicked yea euen all the motions obiects and occasions of wickednesse so farre as the very garment stained with sinne shal be vnto them odious and lothsome You haue heard now the roote to bee infected and the bole poysoned and withall you haue heard the cause of this infection The roote and bole are our first parents they sinned and presently vpon their sinne came shame for a fault and all kinde of troubles and diseases as their due desart Let vs now examine a little whether this poyson hath not infected all the branches I meane Adams posteritie which posteritie we our selues are Herein let vs consider that Adam and Euah were not priuate persons Caluin in Psal 51. ver 7. but such as had in them the state of the whole world what good Adā had he had it for his whole posteritie All men in Adam haue sinned what euill soeuer hee brought vpon him through sinne it was to bee propagated vpon his whole posteritie Therefore it is that Dauid crieth and saith Psal 51.6 Contra Pelag. qui dicunt peccatum non esse haereditarium sed sola imitatione ex Adamo profectum Genes 6.5 Behold in sinne my mother conceiued me Wee bring sinne with vs from our mothers wombe and therefore sicknesse and sorrow the stipend of sinne And the Lord saith that the imaginations of mans heart are euill continually Hereupon it plainly followeth that euen al of vs may impute our sicknes our sorrow weaknes and wants troubles and torments dangers and finally death it selfe to our sinnes as the originall and first cause of them That sicknesse and death did take hold vpon all Adams race euen euery one of vs for sinne Paul maketh very plaine thus By one man sinne entred into the world and death by sin Rom. 5.12 and so death went ouer all men for as much as all men haue sinned Vers 18. And by the offence of one man the fault came ouer all vnto condemnation Vers 19. And by one mans disobedience many were made sinners Now let vs come to proue by example out of the word how in Adam his posteritie for sinne God hath inflicted sometime sicknesse sometime sores sometime troubles of bodie sometime griefe of minde Vpon his owne children as louing corrections to make them more diligent schollers in Christs schoole Vpon the wicked either to draw them to repentance if they belong vnto Gods kingdome or if they hardned their harts as Pharaoh then to make them euen beginnings of the flashings of hell fire And first let vs see out of the word how for sinne the Lord hath afflicted his owne Church with sicknesse trouble danger c. In Genes 6. appeareth that because the sonnes of God contrary to his commaundement ioyned in mariage with the daughters of men I meane the wicked seede and for other great sinnes amongst them committed when after a long time of repentance giuen them by the Lord they would not amend the Lord destroyed them and the whole world Noe and his familie excepted with water When Dauid had grieuously offended the Lord with Berthshebah the wife 2. Sam. 11.4.17 murther vpō Vriah the husband and after all this by labouring to cloake his sinne the Lord therefore inflicted vpon him these troubles 1. His owne sonne Ammon to defile his sister Tamar 2. Sam. 13.14 Vers 29.30 31 32. 2. Sam. 16.22 and commit incest with her 2. One of his sonnes to kill another 3. And in the end as a iust recompence for his adulterie the Lord suffered
our soules for healing our sicknesses the good Samaritane to bind vp our wounds the euerlasting high Priest for bearing our infirmities euen Iesus Christ the righteous that thereby our sinnes the originall of our sicknesses may be blotted out and cleane clensed and from Christ we may heare this comfortable voyce Arise and walke c. Be whole for thy sins are forgiuen thee My beloued in the Lord No sounde course but this to saue vs from perishing except this through course be taken neuer looke for sauing sound and continuing health but euen with Gehezi to die a leprous man Now as I haue spoken of particular men for particular sinnes diuersly diseased so may I speake of whole countries kingdomes and places who for sin and iniquitie haue been plagued Some with sudden destructiō Genes 19. as Sodom Gomor Some with captiuitie as the Israelites vnder the Babylonians 2. Chro. 36. Some with hauing the godly wise and aged Counsellors taken from thē as Esay threatneth the Iewes Esay 8.1.2.3.4 1. King 20. 2. King 6.19 2. King 17.29 Some with death and famine as was Samaria and Ierusalem and as this our nation of late and some with the disease of the pestilence burning ague and bloody issues as this our owne land first not long since in the South parts We haue felt the same and now these two yeres last past in our Northerne parts And seeing it hath been proued that these corrections and punishments flow from our owne disobedience and wilfull rebellion From whence these punishments flowe therefore if euer the effect wee desire to haue remoued let vs first take away the cause which is our sinnes Sublata causa tollitur effectus and assure our selues the effect will cease which is Gods fearefull punishments Doctrine These proofes examples and vses being thus laid downe this doctrine following shall bee the conclusion of it vz. what euill soeuer wee suffer either in body or minde we may impute it to our sinnes Psal 38.5 as the originall and first occasion thereof whereupon may bee gathered a second doctrine Caluin in Ioh. cap. 5. vers 14. Non sunt fortunae hominum calamitates sed totidem sunt castigatoriae ferulae Our sicknesses diseases or griefes bee they inward or outward proceed not from fortune or by chance Amos. 3.6 but by the foredecreed counsell of the highest that they may bee as so many checkes vnto the pride of our sinnes the truth hereof being granted there ensueth an exceeding comfort to the conscience A comfort carefull of Gods seruice vz. that our heauenly father taketh no delight nor pleasure in punishing vs and therefore doth hee neuer seuerely scourge vs Calu. ibid. but whē he is highly offended by our transgressions and perforce vrged to change mercie into iudgement The Lord is haled on to iudgement by our sinnes his louing countenance into seuere corrections And thus much generally haue I set downe and proued the cause and originall of sicknesse sorrowes troubles and death itself in all men liuing vpon the face of the earth as they are Adams branches and posteritie Now least the godly man for conscience sake persecuted or for his further triall of the Lord afflicted should be too much dismaied and thinke his persecutions were but iust plagues for sinne and his crosses no comforts contrary to the sweete promises of the Gospel in that behalfe How and for what end afflictions are laid vpon the godly therefore let vs search how and in what sort they are laid vpon the godly The nature and condition of all troubles both of body and minde in respect of their first originall are qualified to the children of God and true Christians not by any dignitie or desert at all of their owne but as Elisha healed the bitter and venemous waters by casting salt into them Note well so the bitter and intolerable sting of death the bitter and vnsauorie sicknesses and diseases both of our bodies and our soules are healed the nature of them changed the poyson remoued by the sauourie salt of Christ his blood yea all sicke halt lame and withered men haue their griefes eased by the troubled persecuted scorned scoffed and crucified body of our Lord Iesus Christ as this sick man was healed in his body by troubling the cleere water Christ his blood shedding being in iudgement of wicked men as vnlikely to worke vs any good as salt to make fruitfull or muddy water to make a lame man whole In this Christ Iesus our debt for sinne is discharged and vpon his crosse is the obligation of ordinances that was against vs fastned Reuel 3.18 and he is the very purgation that cleanseth the sauing eye-salue that giueth light Matth. 3.17 Collos 1.13 2. Pet. 1.17 and the wel-beloued sonne of God by whom our cries are conueied to his father in whom he receiueth and heareth our plaints and for vvhose sake wee enioy all the blessednes and good things that euer we haue Christ wholy altered the nature of afflictions to his owne Church Now therefore in this Christ our alone Sauiour sicknesse to his faithfull members is as comfortable as health affliction as sweete as peace aduersitie as acceptable as prosperitie death as welcome as life the graue as a most sweete perfumed chamber for the bodies of the Saints to lie in for they can with S. Paul say Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus It makes them not feare death but rather in Gods appointed time desire it in seeing the miseries of this present life and by a liuely faith soaring vp into the vnspeakable ioyes of the life to come And therefore they say with Paul We know that if this earthly tabernacle of ours be dissolued 2. Cor. 5.1 we haue a building giuen of God not made with hands but eternall in the heauens And Christ Iesus whether wee liue or die is vnto vs both in life and death aduantage yea we seeing that while we liue 1. Thess 5.10 Phil. 1.21 we are naked in this world we sigh desiring to be clothed with our house which is from heauē And seeing while we are here iournying vpon the earth wee are absent from our head and husband therefore we desire to be dissolued Philip. 1.23 and to be with our husband Sauiour which is best of all And finally seeing there is nothing in this world but corruption Eccles 1.1.2 alteration and vanitie we waite we looke and long for the day of our refreshing when we may foreuer lift vp our heads meete our elder brother in the clowdes and receiue the incorruptible crowne of glorie laid vp in store for all the Lords elect ere euer the foundations of the world were laid Thus Gods children may reioyce when the wicked shall howle and weepe they shall bee satisfied as it were with marrow and fatnesse yea euen when they seeme to be
FOVRE SERMONS PREACHED AND PVBLIKELY TAVGHT BY RICHARD LEAKE Preacher of the word of God at Killington within the Baronrie of Kendall and Countie of Westmerland immediatly after the great visitation of the pestilence in the foresayd Countie Ezechiel 24. vers 13. Thou remainest in thy filthines and wickednesse because I would haue purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not bee purged from thy filthines till I haue caused my wrath to fall vpon thee AT LONDON Imprinted by FELIX KINGSTON for Thomas Man 1599. TO THE WORSHIPFVLL M. THOMAS STIKELAND AND M. IAMES BELLINGHAM Esquires and two of her Maiesties Iustices of the peace within the Baronrie of Kendall and countie of Westmerland RICHARD LEAKE wisheth all graces needefull for this life and the continuall encrease of all graces pertaining to eternall life to the ende of their dayes IT is not vnknowne vnto your worships and to vs all round about what great and manifold dangers haue ouerspread all our countrie by the space of these two last yeares and more as well by dearth as also by strange fearefull diseases and sicknesses It is no lesse knowne vnto vs also how little good and small reliefe all outward meanes of remedie and comfort brought vnto the distressed ones in their extremities and who knoweth not how lamentable and wofull was the state of the afflicted one especially in such places as were infected with the pestilence and what feare came vpon vs all thorough that their affliction what mourning amongst them and daily deuises amongst our selues how to auoide escape dangers I wish from my heart that the originall breeding and first occasion of these lamentable times were as well knowne or herafter may be knowne of vs all viz. how that it was not infection of the ayre distemperature in their bodies much lesse the malitious and diuelish practises of witches or yet blinde fortune or any other such like imagined causes which were breeders of these euils But the masse and multitude of our sins in rebelling against the holie one of Jsrael these I say haue been the prouokers of the Almightie to make vs drinke of the cup of afflictions these haue pulled vpon vs al these plagues and brought vpon vs all these fearefull and afflicted times wherein we haue lately been which poynt that it might appeare plaine to the sight view of all my neighbours whose hearts haue awaked at the beholding of the said calamities I haue laboured in this little treatise following to make knowne what hath caused all these woes and who hath wrought and brought vnto vs better dayes as also what dutie we owe to the Lord for our gracious and long desired deliuerance Which I am bold to dedicate vnto your Worships and that for two respects first for that I perswade my selfe that you are both fauourable and also forward to entertaine and bid welcome all that bring the glad tidings of saluation whereby I am resolued that you will not only your selues accept and take in good part these my poore labours but also patronize countenāce and defend thē against al those who shall deride and scoffe at them as they doe at all good things in my self or others and secondly for that you be Magistrates and Iustices within those limits and precincts most parts whereof haue bin infected most pitifully and I am perswaded most iustly for those great and capitall sinnes which rule and raigne amongst vs as grosse Poperie and blinde superstition in very many places in so much that I am afraide that that abhominable Idoll of indignation the Masse is vsed in diuerse places about vs and that very boldly adde hereunto filthy drunkennesse abhominable whoredomes open profanation of the Sabbath vnlawfull pastimes with infinite many moe which the further they bee ripped into the more filthy stinch ariseth out of them These and such like sinnes I say being so pregnant and rise amongst vs I doubt not but as you espied them and heard them cryed against by worde and writing you with the rest of your associats ioyning with you will holde on in zeale of Gods glory the peace of Gods children and the discharge of your owne dueties that these sinnes may haue those lawes executed vpon them which most christianly is prouided in this land for restraining them which no doubt shall so greatly tend to the glorie of God the furthering of the couse of the Gospell and the flourishing estate of our christian common-wealth that in short space the excellent effects of this zealous gouernement shall proue the trueth and vprightnes thereof And thus briefely I cease committing this little worke and the issue thereof for acceptance at your Worships hands and all other that shall reade it to the wisedome of him who hath the disposing of the hearts euen of Kings and rulers euen one God and three persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Spirit to whome be glorie maiestie dominion and praise for euermore Your VVorships bounden Richard Leake To the Christian Reader THe occasion good reader of my offering this poore mite into the Lords treasurie and of sending abroade this fruit which the increase of my small talent bringeth forth vnto the Lords familie was this I pleased God by the space of two yeares together to giue our country in the North parts of this land a taste of his power in iudgement being prouoked thereunto by our manifold enormious sinnes he visited vs with many and grieuous sicknesses as first with the hot feuer after with the bloodie issue and lastly most fearefully with the extreame disease of the pestilence inflicted vpon many and shaken at all in our whole countrie And albeit neither I nor any of the people vnder my charge were infected therewith yet had we all of vs the cause thereof within our sinfull hearts as well as any others it had inuironed vs almost round about we had scarcely any way to turne vs but mourning might be heard so that we expected no better than neighbours fare Furthermore in this time and before as it is well knowne the Lord our God did chasten and punish this whole land with dearth and famine of bread and scarcitie of other victuals in diuers places since which time of tribulation it hath pleased him who is God blessed for euer amen to make knowne his power in mercie as he had before manifested the same in iudgement For be gaue plentie and cheapnes of bread and all kinde of victuals in stead of scarcitie and dearth hee extinguished the heate of sickenesses in those places where it was most feruent with-held it from those places vnto which it was most fearefully threatned so that then might be heard amongst vs mirth in stead of mourning songs in stead of doleful sighings gladsome salutations in meetings in stead of diligent shunning each of others presence for feare of infection The boistrous stormes of afflictions now driuen away and calme showers of comfort descending the cloudes of his heauie displeasure now
Salomon the builder of the temple in these words And the Lord said vnto him 1. King 9.3 I haue heard thy prayer and thy supplication that thou hast made before me I haue hallowed this house which thou hast built to put my name there for euer and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually Christ therefore in this temple perswading vnto newnes of life had the promise of his fathers presence to make his perswasion powerful as also to print in the hart of the hearer a more reuerend regarde and estimation thereof being deliuered Dauid a type of the militant Church Reade Psal 84. Psa 122.1.2 1. Chon 29.9 Dauid being a true type and figure of the Militant Church here on earth neuer came into the temple but his heart leapt for ioy his ioy was increased and his zeale kindled yea that which being out of the temple he could neuer attaine vnto was in the temple made partaker of Salomons temple a type of the spiritual temple Though that temple was a type and figure of the spirituall temple neuer made with hands and there is not the same vse of it now as there was then yet haue wee at this day two things Two things now resembling Salomōs temple Ioh. 4.24 that may fitly resemble that temple and where God wil as well heare the praiers and receiue the sacrifices of his Church being done in spirit and trueth as he would then The first is the godly societies and assemblies of the righteous Godly societies meete together for exhorting one another Matth. 18.20 wheresoeuer and whensoeuer they meete together according to the rule and warrant of Gods worde to such Christ hath promised his presence saying Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the middest of them The second is our ordinary assemblies and meetings together at the house of prayer Publike assemblies of the faithfull at the house of prayer to powre forth prayers to the Lord be partakers of the word preached and administration of the Sacraments Where such assemblies are employed to these aforesaid vses they are not as the Prophet calleth the temple in his time the den of theeues Esay 56.7 Ierem. 7.11 Mar. 11.17 but they are euen the blessed throne kingdome of Christ Iesus to whose faith and constancie Christ hath promised such power that euen the gates of hell shall neuer bee able to preuaile against them In these two temples as I may call them when we meete with our brethren it is not our duties to prate and chat of worldly matters but rather euery one of vs Heb. 3.13 to exhort one another while it is called to day least we be hardened through the deceitfulnes of sinne Yea to keepe the profession of our hope without wauering and to prouoke one another vnto loue and to good workes Heb. 10.23 24 25. not forsaking the godly fellowship that ought to bee amongst Gods children And to be carefull alwaies to cherish and embolden the weake putting them in mind of their miraculous deliuerance out of the kingdome of darknes into the kingdome and cleere light of the Gospell And thus much of the second part Of the third part which is the words of exhortation themselues wherein wee haue to consider these three branches following First a rehearsall of the benefit done to the man behold thou art made whole The principall cause of his long sicknesse from which Christ had now deliuered him was his sinnes and iniquities which I gather out of these words Sinne no more As if hee should say sinne hath bin the cause of thy former sicknesse if therefore hereafter thou wilt remaine a sound man sinne no more Thirdly what must be the effect of this miracle by Christ or the dutie of his deliuerance which is the subiect of this treatise euen true repentance set downe here by the former part of true repentance which is to sinne no more or to cease from sin Rom. 2.4 The bountifulnes of God ought to leade vs to repentance Of the first branch Behold thou art made whole Where first we are to consider that our Sauiour vseth a word of attention or to make the matter hee hath in hand take more effect saith Ecce Behold Psal 32. v. 5.7 The Prophet Dauid speaking of any extraordinary matter alwaies vseth an hebrew verbe importing the like which is Selah so likewise the seruant of God Moses vsing any vehemēt exhortation commonly hath this word behold or remēber as thus Behold Deut. 30.19 Exod. 20. I set before thee this day life and death blessing and cursing The Prophets of the Lord speaking either of the manifestation of Christ in his humane nature or of his second comming againe to iudgement or of any such great matter vseth this word behold As Esay Tell the daughter Sion Esay 62.11 Zach. 9.9 Matth. 21.5 Mal. 4.1 Behold thy King commeth meekely riding on an asse c. And Malachie Behold the day cōmeth that shall burne like an ouen and all the proud yea and all that doe wickedly shall bee stubble Apoc. 1.7 Behold be commeth with clowdes and euery eye shall see him c. and 22.7 Behold I come shortly Euen so here as a preface to the declaration of the benefit done to him Christ saith Behold giue eare consider well what I haue done for thee passe not lightly ouer that miracle I haue shewed vpon thee in giuing thee health Where we are to note Receiue his word miracles and mercies with attentiō that GOD would haue vs receiue his word his exhortations threatnings blessings and miracles with attention heede taking and waying well who it is that doth such things for vs and what is done as we ourselues O my countrimen and deare brethren in Christ Iesus for whose sake the Lorde hath moued me to penne this little treatise haue iust occasion to giue eare what the Lords Eccho soundeth in our eares daily Aboue many others the North parts after our great and late receiued deliuerances euen thus Behold thou art made whole c. VVhereunto let euery one of vs fill our families our meetings and conferences with this heauenly harmonie and sweete sounding melodie answering the former behold saying then sith it is so indeede My soule praise thou the Lord Psal 13.1.2 Psal 57.7.8 and all that is within me praise his holy name Awake thou my glorie awake lute and harpe I my selfe will awake right early And let vs one prouoke an other to praise the Lord of might for his miraculous mercies as Deborah stirred vp her owne soule and Barake to sing praise to God for their triumphant victories Vp Deborah Iudg. 5.12 c. vp arise sing a song arise Barak c. Euen so vp O Westmerland Comberland and Northumberland vp ye seuerall townes congregations and families euery particular soule whose safetie the liuing Lord by the shadowing wings of his
his owne sonne Absalon to rebell against him take away his fathers concubines and to lye with them Againe when Dauid in pride of hart numbred his people cōtrary to the Lords minde the Lord for a reward of his sinne infected the whole land of Israel with the disease of the pestilence 1. Chro. 21.14 in so much that there dyed of the sicknes 70. thousand men O my countrimen in the Lord Iesus I beseech you throughly and soundly let vs search to the bottome the originall and chiefe occasion of our so great and long a visitation and I am afraid we shall finde that not Dauids adulterie murther and proud heart alone haue procured these afflictions to fall vpon vs but a huge masse of many infinit sins more A masse of sins amongst vs crying for vengeance which this 40. yeeres by-past we haue till now hoorded and treasured vp against our selues till they made such a crye in the Lords eares for vengeance that though his mercie be great yet they haue enforced him at length to powre out vpon vs the violl of his wrath and by these afflictions to manifest vnto vs his indignation kindled against vs. The Lord giue vs eyes to see this hearts to be sorie and a care and continuall conscience euer hereafter to walke more carefully as in the Lords presence To returne againe to Dauid as you haue heard the Lord to haue dealt sharply with him in outward troubles for his sinnes so how he dealt vvith him by inwarde troubles griefes and sicknes of the minde Psal 6. and 38. and 55. and 77. his often complaining in these Psalmes quoted in the margent sufficiently doth witnesse Which Psalmes I wish the gentle reader to peruse and ruminate vpon them assuring him if he be distressed in soule for sinne thereby hee may receiue and finde comfort The Israelites offending God Num. 21.4 5 6. in murmuring against Moses and Aaron the Lords messengers were stung with fierie Serpents and destroyed with the meate in their mouthes Yea that excellent woman Myriam Aarons sister but once murmuring against Moses Exod. 12.1.2 for marying a woman of Aethiopia and because the Lord talked more familiarly with her then hee did with Aaron and her selfe Vers 10. the Lord for this sinne smote her with the disease of the leprosie that she was all ouer as white as snow Vers 14. till that Moses made earnest suite intercession to the Lord for her health Hezekiah was grieuously sicke both in bodie and soule 2. King 20. Esay 38.1 2. Chro. 32.14 Hosea chap. 8. and chap. 9. till in mercie God restored both to health Sinne and iniquitie was the cause of famine and sword threatned to the rebellious Iewes Often we finde in the Gospell that our Sauiour Christ giuing sight to the blinde or health to the sick vseth this speech Go thy way Mar. 2.5 thy sinnes are forgiuen thee as if hee should say sinne hath been the cause of thy long sicknes but now thy sins being pardoned which before as fetters chained thy feete thou maiest rise vp and walke as a sound man And of all other most excellent and memorable is that of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 11.30.31 where he telleth them that for the abuse and prophanation of the Lords Supper amongst them Prophaning of the Lords Supper caused death many of them are weake many sicke and many fallen asleepe that is dead Truly I am perswaded that one of the greatest and capitall crimes that hath puld these plagues vpon our countrie This holy Sacramēt greatly prophaned in our North parts of this land First by the pastor how and hath made vs a talke in the mouthes of the people of other countries is the grieuous and monsterous prophanation of this holy Sacrament the Supper of the Lorde being for so long a time so horribly prophaned both of pastor and people The pastor or at least hee that occupieth the roome of a pastor without all due care and consideration ministreth it to all alike without exception examination or making any separation of the vnholy from the holy the prophane from the sound professor the dogs and the swine from the sincere and sanctified people of the Lord who ought to vse the power of the keyes belonging to their calling if any such vncleane and vnsanctified people doe offer themselues to communicate themn by the power aforesaid to barre such men from the Supper vntill there appeare in them testimonies of repentance and change of manners This being the true and onely remedie prescribed by Christ himselfe both against such men and to take away all offences of the Church and finally to escape the iust vengeance of God that euer frō time to time haue fallen vpon the contemners of the Gospell and Sacraments But alas thee careles guides and vnsauourie salt The lets that stay them frō doing their dutie in this behalfe either because they are men-pleasers dare not or because they may bee attainted of some notorious fault themselues wil not or else because they are sillie simple ignorant sots and know not how to doe it doe still continue in their careles course to the vtter destruction of thēselues and many a poore soule vnder their charge The poore soules in great danger hereby vnlesse God in his great mercie take pitie vpon them These euill workers nay rather betrayers of the sillie sheepe of Christ either know not or at least care not for so many inuectiues as the godly fathers in the former ages of the Church haue giuen out most boldly both by word and writing against the pastors who suffer such monsterous prophanation of the holy Supper of the Lord as also the great care that Christian Churches haue still had to keepe themselues cleane from that pollution Amongst the multitude of the godly writers I cannot passe ouer but set downe that most excellent saying of Iohn Chrysostome in his Homilies vpon Matthew concerning this point whose words are these Chrysost in hom 38. in Mat. c. 27 No small punishment hangeth ouer your heads if knowing any man to bee taken in wickednesse you suffer him to be partaker hereof for his blood shall be required at your hands Therefore if any Captaine if the Consul himselfe if he that weareth the crowne come vnworthily barre him keepe him backe Against the vnlawfull fearing of any thou hast greater authoritie then he Therefore if a most cleere spring of water were committed vnto thee to keepe it onely to serue the flocke when thou diddest see beasts vse to strike and gore and most filthie swne come towards it thou wouldest not suffer them to goe downe into the water nor to trouble the spring And now when as the most hallowed spring not of water but of blood and the holy Ghost is committed vnto thee if thou shalt see men notoriously defiled with sinne come vnto it wilt thou not be angrie nor
Mentz Strang and vnnaturall persecution Vnnaturall and not heard of before persecution against the poore saints plagued with strange and vnwonted diseases as in Iohn de Roma a Iacobine the Lord of Reuest and the Lord of Opede Blasphemous derogating from the crowne and dignitie of Christ Iesus Blasphemies the washing away of sinnes in all men and arrogating the same to the Pope and his pardons plagued with sudden and present death as in the parson of Crondall aforesaid Last of all let vs by some few proofes out of the word confirme this which hath been illustrated both out of the examples of the Scriptures and the Acts and Monuments of our owne Church In the 29. Deut. 29.22 chapter of Deuteromie vers 22. Moses sheweth that the generation of the Israelites which was then for to come and the strangers that should come from a farre land shall say when they see the plagues and diseases of this land wherewith the Lord shall smite it Vers 24. Vers 25. Wherefore hath the Lord done thus vnto this land And they shall answer Because they haue forsaken the couenant of the Lord God of their fathers which he made with them And chapter 31.17 Cap. 31.17 They shall be consumed and many aduersities and tribulations shall come vpon them Then they shall say Are not these troubles come vpon vs because God is not with vs Of all other places in the Scriptures let the 28. of Deuteronomie Deut. 28. Leuit. 26. and the 26. of Leuit. be as glasses for all men to behold themselues in where you shal find for disobedience and breach of Gods commandements the Lord will inflict vpon them most extreame diseases and sores of the body as the pestilence Vers 21.22 Vers 27. a consumption the feuer the burning ague the botch of Egypt the Emerodes the scab and the itch He threatned to smite them in the knees Vers 35. in the thighs with a sore botch that they could not bee healed euen from the sole of their foote to the top of their head For other griefes of body and horrible tormēts of the mind that there is threatned against the obstinate offenders I wish the godly to peruse them thereby to be as bridles and stayes vnto them whensoeuer Satan by his suggestions laboureth to driue them therevnto Take the sower with the sweete And I wish that the wicked would in their boldnes to drinke vp sinne like water once giue a glance backe to these fearefull threats of the Lord and view what shall be the wofull ende of their grosse and abominable wickednesses I wish also that both these and all the aforenamed proofes together with the manifold examples out of the Scriptures and sundry histories of the Church before alleadged Let them be for a Christian Chronicle be in stead of a little Chronicle for all sick and sore men either in body or minde for all those that are strangely visited or grieuously afflicted to be exercised in wherein they may finde the Lords iudgements frō time to time executed vpon the wicked and abominable liuers without abatement controlement or dispensation fearing no power The wicked neuer able to stay Gods iudgements preuented by no policie stayed by no bribes nor abated by any medicine till such time as hee hath layed the honors houses habitations and whole posterities of the wicked euen with the ground The end of the wicked As may be seene of Ieroboam Baasha Ahab and Ioab that I say men visited with sicknes vpon a sound sauerie of the premisses may without delay enter into a serious speech and due consideration of their owne estate in regarde of sinne Search soundly without soothing your selues and if they finde that such sinnes as you haue heard here before to bee plagued of the Lord to rule and raigne in them or any sinne and transgression of Gods commandements then let them impute the cause of their visitation to their owne sinnes and wicked conuersation resoluing further that he will not withdraw it who hath sent it hee will not heale them who hath wounded them they shall not recouer of their sicknesse nor come downe from the bed whereon they lie till such time as the Lord see them broken hearted with Dauid and vowing to his maiestie the continuall sacrifice of a better life or at least if they passe that disease or fit vnlesse they from the heart repent let them looke ere it be long One being gone another will come vnlesse thou repent to come vnder the extremitie of some other that shall be as a beasome in his wrath to take all away Last of all I wish euen from my very heart roote in Iesus Christ that all of you my Countriemen for whose comfort especially I was moued to pen this little vnworthie treatise may search and throughly ransacke your hearts to the bottome for these sinnes vz. Murther contempt of Gods word persecution of Gods children couetousnes oppression killing pride despairing of Gods power Idolatrie lying against ones owne conscience despairing of Gods mercies which sinnes flourishing in the reprobates haue been fearefully plagued as you haue heard before Search till we finde them for they are amongst vs. Search further for wicked and vnlawfull mariages for whoredome murmuring against Gods faithfull magistrates or ministers And so the monstrous profanation of the supper of the Lord sinnes for committing whereof the Lord hath grieuouslie punished his owne people as plainely hath been proued yea and for many moe then all these would I haue you with your selues to make a particular and strict examination Pray you so likewise Ephes 1.17.18 and I beseech God euen the father of our Lord Iesus Christ that the eyes of your vnderstanding may be enlightened that you may discerne and clearely see how farre you haue entred a couenant and bound your selues in league with most of these sinnes and many other most abhominable sinnes Ouer all generally In many places as your horrible Atheisme affected ignorance grosse Poperie and in most places mocking and contemning the Lords ordinarie meanes of your saluation in seeing of them acknowledge your long and continued afflictions to be sweete corrections The Lord hath dealt easilie with you as yet in regarde of that fearefull and dreadfull condemnation they haue long since before this cried for as a stipend of desert due vnto them yea in vtter loathing of them and heartie griefe for offending God by them let vs all crie with the prodigall childe that for our sinnes we are not worthy to haue the heauens to couer vs the earth to beare vs Luk. 15.21 Iehouah to protect vs or Iesus Christ euer to be a Sauiour vnto vs yet here not to stay but in hope as our anker through faith as our hand by the promise of the reueiled word for our certainty to prease and post forward and with the Eagle to soare vp to the true phisition of
c. may be puld out of mans minds that no string or roote of vices at all may be remaining in men through the exercise of vertue which is to take man out of man and for a man being in the body to be without the body Thus farre Ierome And the same man a little after in the same treatise saith very excellently thus He that alwaies forgetteth things past and longeth for things to come sheweth that he is not content with neither that there is any perfection in this present world The aduersaries being by the examples of the diuers falles of the faithfull in all ages their humble confessions concerning their imperfections and the manifolde testimonies of the word to this end so hampered 1. Obiection See Cal. lib. 2. instit cap. 7. that they are grauelled and can go no further haue no refuge but are constrained to flye to the almightie power of God leauing what man can do of himselfe reasoning what is Gods power in man Answer We answere and doe not denie but God can perfectly regenerate vs in this life if hee will but why hee doth it not he hath many causes among the rest note these First that wee may diligently consider the power of sin how great it is and what effect it hath in man which we see cannot bee destroyed in vs but by little and little that by the speciall grace of the spirit and therefore we are so much the more to be afraid of it Secondly that when to this life we finde no end or stay of the conflict betweene the flesh and the spirit we may so much the more long for that blessed life wherein wee shall appeare before God perfectly regenerate and holy whereas if God should out of hand renew and totally sanctifie vs the dignitie should not bee of so great accompt with vs but now by little and little bringing the same to passe in vs the perfection thereof is so much the more deare vnto vs. Lastly for this cause God doth not perfectly here regenerate vs to the end that his power may bee made perfect in our weaknesse and when wee are saued by meere grace and not of workes he that reioyceth may reioyce only in the Lord. Obiection 2 Philip. 3.15 The Scripture say they attributeth perfection to the godly saying As many of vs as are perfect let vs be thus minded Answer When Paul reckeneth himselfe amongst the perfect he speaketh not of such a perfectiō of faith in vs Cal. in Phil. 3.15 as the Perfectists do imagine but hee speaketh there of the perfection of knowledge in respect of the only foundation of our saluation Iesus Christ when casting away confidence in all things vvee reioyce in the onely righteousnesse of Christ Iesus and setting all other things aside to attaine to the fellowship of his sufferings which may bring vs to the blessed resurrection So that this proofe which they vse as a daunt to driue vs from the trueth may wee vse as a sword to pearce them thorow who withstand so plaine a trueth Secondly it is true by comparison vz. If you compare persons with persons that there is more vertue and knowledge to bee found in one man then in another so the Apostles well instructed in Christ were called perfect in respect of them who being too much set vpon ceremonies of the Law were pulled asunder from the body it selfe So Noah for his life is said to haue been a iust and perfect man in his generation Obiection 3 They alleadge further that so earnestly to maintaine this imperfection is to make Christians slothfull which otherwise by preaching perfection would be pricked forward to the attaining thereof Answer I answere that the knowledge of a mans owne imperfection in this life doth rather stirre the godly forward to endeuour to attaine to perfection and euery day to goe stedfastly forward in the course of their calling to striue with the Apostle Phil. 3.11 if by any meanes they may attaine to the resurrection of the dead Which obiection being thus answered appeareth manifestly how wicked and directly against this sound and holesome doctrine of the vnperfect obedience of the faithfull in this life is that Canon of the Tridentine Councell Can. 18. sess 6. enacting thus If any man say that the commaundements of God are impossible to be kept euen of a man iustified and vnder grace let him be accursed And here for the summary conclusion of this point I cannot omit the testimonies of two ancient learned fathers concerning the premisses August contra duas epist Pelag lib. 4. c. 10. Augustine saying thus With what presumption doe they openly gainsay the Lords prayer wherein all the members of Christ doe cry with a true heart and daily voyce forgiue vs our debts And a most excellent saying is that of Cyprian Cypr. epist de mortal who saith We haue a combat with couetousnes with wrath with ambition we haue a daily and troublesome wrastling with the corruption of the flesh and with the entisements of the world If couetousnes be vanquished lust riseth vp if lust be suppressed ambition commeth in place if ambition bee contemned wrath galleth pride puffeth vp drunkennes allureth wickednesse cutteth off friendship and yet it pleaseth a man to stay long amōg these snares of Satan whereas wee ought rather to wish to make haste vnto Christ where we may bee freed from them all The last point that I haue thought good to note out of these wordes Sinne no more is the priuate and particular vse and application that euery one partaker of any deliuerance either spirituall or corporall from the Lorde must make to his own soule concerning such dutie as the Lord requireth of him which is this That the wordes and power of them should euer sound vnto his owne soule as a summon to bid him awake stand vp and walke no more in the course and waies of his former wickednes as thus O thou man whosoeuer thou bee who hast tasted most abundantly the sweete mercies of thy God escaped many dreadfull dangers passed many perils the Lord still preseruing thee and shadowing thee vnder the wings of his mercie till they were all ouerpast looke now to thy selfe how thou walkest hereafter not so loosely negligently and disobediently as thou hast done before sinne no more in vnthankfulnes as thou hast done sinne no more in contemning Gods long louing and gratious visitation sinne no more in prophaning the Lords day sinne no more by thy drunkennes adulterie Atheisme contempt of Gods word and many moe sinnes wherein thou hast been found faultie let Gods iudgements shaken at thee as a sword for thy sinnes terrifie thee let the same now remoued allure thee euer hereafter to walke and worke as in the presence of the Almightie And thus may euery priuate soule now saued from daungers sound out the alarme of his continuall dutie in manner and forme aforesaid euer labouring and striuing that the Lords