for y t theâ— haue light to direct them by so they that direcâ— theÌ„ selues in their calling by the light of y e worâ— goe aright and vpright because God doth giue them Therefore it is sometimes vsed for knowâ—ledge gotten by reading and hearing the worâ— preached Thirdly the day of the Lorde shall noâ— come soudenly and vnlooked for vppon the chilâ—dren of light stealing vppon them as it were theefe in y e night for y t they be endued with godâ—ly knowledge and therefore liue in continuaâ— expectation of his comming and watch lookinâ— for it Lastly we are to exhort one another whilâ— it is called to daye and also to obey them 〈◊〉 whome God doth speake to day both because 〈◊〉 knowe not whether hee will speake to vs any more and also least we be excluded out of his 〈◊〉 as our Fathers were Darknesse THe Darknesse of dongeons in prisons where prisoners are voide and destitute of all comfort doth shadowe vnto vs the terriblenesse and fearfulnesse of Hell The workes of darknesse are so called either of ignoraunce of the doer which the Darknesse of the minde causeth or because they are commonly done in the night or closely out of sight or else because the dooers of them dare not and loue not to come to try their doings by the light of the Word or else because the rulers of the Darknesse of this worlde worke them in the reprobate Darknesse should make vs remember what we somtime were and what we be now called vnto and how we should therefore walke and lead our liues leaste wee declare our selues to be vnfaithfull and shewe that wee loue Darknesse better then light which is flat damnation Dawbers AS Dawbers that dawbe Walles with Morter which was neuer tempered cannot make those walles continue for that the morter crumbleth away So false and lying Prophetes that speake in the name of the Lord that which he neuer commaunded them can not make their wordes true or to come to passe as they haue promised Death THe death of all men doth admonish vs of the trueth and constancie of gods worde and how certayne that is which he once hath vttered The Death of the godly which yeelde their soules to god ioyfully shoulde make vs consider y t though death be the last enimy that shall be destroyed that is to say abolished yet he is already swallowed vp by our Sauiour Christe in victory and his sting taken away and so after a sort for euer destroyed because his power of hurting and harming Gods people is taken from him When righteous and mercifull men dye and are taken of the earth It is time for vs to looke for euilles which God will sende vppon vs for our sinnes from the sight and greefe of which God hath taken them away By this that all men dye wee are taught that all men are sinners When we see howe harde a thing it is for a man bee hee neuer so good or so welbeloued to finde another man to suffer Death for him We are to consider the vnmeasurablenesse of the loue of Christe who died for vs not onely when we were moste sinfull wretches but also moste spitefull enemies to him Further death shoulde teache vs to dye to sinne As the bandes of matrimony are set free by the Death of one of the married couple So are we by Christe made deade to the Law and freeed from the yoke seruitude and bondage of it When wee see God plague vs with the sicknesse and Death of greate numbers Then are we to enter into our selues diligently to spie the cause thereof And especially to looke whether our grosse contempt of the Worde and vnreuerent abusing of the sacrament haue not procured the same Deade men can doe nothing that liuing men should doe So when we are deade in sinne wee coulde doe none of those thinges which declare and shewe foorth our life in Christe As great a myracle therefore as it is for deade men to bee raised againe So is the chaunge that Christe hath made in those that be his Christe by dying not onely ouercame death but also him that had Lordshippe ouer Death that is the Diuell and that to this ende that Death now shoulde be no more fearefull and terrible to vs. Defence ALl outwarde means of Defence when men passing by God put their confidence in them are but vaine As Siluer Golde Horses Charriots high Towres strong Walles victualles â—trong men valiant captayns honorable persons â—age graue couneellers c. Put not therefore â—our trust in princes nor in y e sonnes of men for â—n theÌ„ ther is no help But know y t he is accursed that maketh flesh his arme Therefore though some trust in Chariots and others in Horses yet the people of God aduaunce their standerdes in the name of the Lorde And when their mighty enemies are brought downe and fallen they rise and stande vpright Dewe AS the morning Dewe soone after the sonne rising vanisheth away So the strength glory prosperity and pride of the Idolaters is by God soone brought to naught Debters IF we when we haue poore and needy debters pitying their pouerty do forgiue their debtes and then thinke that by good right we may challenge loue and the more loue where we haue moste forgiuen then are wee to thinke howe much and how deepely we are bounde to loue Christ by whom so manye and so great thinges are forgiuen vs. Dearth DEarth is procured to countries and nations by their great and grieuous offences especially by Idolatry whereof we haue example in the dayes of king Achab next by periury as appeared in the dayes of King Dauid three and ready to kicke against their keepers so is it with very manye men the more temporall blessinges and worldly commodities God heapeth vppon them the more they kicke againste him and will be the lesse ruled by his Ministers and Word Father THe naturall pietie and compassion that Fathers and mothers haue towardes their infants doth teach vs how much greater the compassion of our heauenly Father is towardes vs his children And if our Parents are ready to giue their infantes good thinges when they begge or craue then much rather we shall be denyed nothing if we in faith do begge and craue of God And if Parents be carefull according to their abilitie to prouide thinges needfull for their children how can we want any thing at the handes of our GOD which he knoweth to be good and needfull for vs Also Christe hath therefore in praying taught vs to to call him father that we might be admonished to come with such reuerence as Children owe vnto their Fathers that we come not in confidence of our selues or anye thing in vs but in confidence of his mediation by whom in whom we are made the
which haue seene him shall say where is he The tokens then of pryde that abound and are plentiful amongst vs do shew sharpe vengeance and iudgementes at hand Because the Daughters of Sion are hautie and walke with stretched out neckes and with wandering eyes walking and minsing as they goe and making a tinckling with their feet Therefore the Lord shal make the heades of the Daughters of Sion balde and the Lord shall discouer their secreat partes For god doth resiste the proud and giueth grace to the humble and meeke Pleasure WHen we see foolishe men drowned in voluptuousnesse and pleasures and not hauing any regarde to godlinesse honesty or comelinesse then are we to remember Salomons admonition that pleasure is neuer comely for a foole and most commonly the immoderate loue of pastime bringeth them to pouerty and beggerie Raine THe Raine maketh the new mowen grasse freshly to spring againe and showers so comfort the earth that it yeeldeth the fruites thereof Euen so shall Christe refreshe foster nourishe and cherishe his people As a raging Raine beateth the Corne downe and washeth away al before it so when one poore man oppresseth an other commonlye it is without pittie or mercy Raine and snow falling from heauen retourneth not thither againe but watereth the earth and maketh it fruitfull Euen so the worde that commeth out of Gods mouth shall not retourne voyde but shall accomplishe and bring to passe that which God will and shall prosper in that wherevnto he sent it The raine falling from Heauen and causing the earth to yeelde her fruit was at all times and is still to all ages an open and a plaine euident testimonye of the goodnesse of God so that no man can excuse him selfe of ignoraunce The earth that drincketh in the raine that commeth oft vppon it and bringeth foorth nothing profitable for the vse and behoofe of man sheweth what is to be hoped of that man whome the knowledge of the Worde doth in no part reforme Rasour AS a sharpe Rasour with the least touch that can be shaueth and cutteth so doth also the tongue of a mischeuous lying man Rebellion WHen we see a stubborne frowarde and vnruly Woman brawle skoulde chide and rebel against her husbād we are diligētly to look into our selues how y e case standeth betwixt vs God for commonly y t expresseth vnto vs our vnrulinesse rebellion against God but all that resist God shal be confounded for rebellion is as y e sinne of witchcraft and transgression is wickednesse and Idolatry Therefore Samuel saide to Saule because thou hast cast away the worde of the Lord therefore the Lord hath cast away thee from being king To resist man whome God hath set ouer men is to rebell against GOD. Wherefore God him self hath set vpon rebellion and contumacy against magistrates parentes no lesse penalty then death His wonderful iudgments against such are to be seene in Core Dathan and Abiron and also in Absolom Reede A Reede shaking too and fro with euery little small winde declareth the inconstancy and mutability of the common sort of people whome euery small trifle doth cause to alter their minde and iudgement When wee see any passe by a brused reede and not breake it we are to remember that our sauiour Christ did beare with many infirmities in those which were his least hee shoulde breake of or quench those good thinges which began to appeare in them And of him we are also to learne by bearing and forbearing to cherish and foster such good as we see beginneth to liue and growe in our weake brethren Reward AS the price or best game for running cannot bee obtained of any that eyther runne not or else giue ouer afore they be at the end of their race so none canne attayne the celestiall Crowne of glory but they which perseuer in the right trace of Christianity vnto the end And as they which runne in a race hauing onely regard to the reward make them selues as light and as nimble as they can and therefore throw awaye whatsoeuer is heauy or may hinder their swiftnesse so we in our course to heauen hauing that glory onely before our eyes shoulde throw from vs sinne which like an heauy burthen hangeth vpon vs and whatsoeuer else may hinder vs in the way and course to life euerlasting Yet in this course the greatest paines that can bee taken and the greatest perfection which is possible for men to attaine vnto is not meritorious neither can deserue life And therefore our Lorde and sauiour teacheth vs when wee haue done all that is commaunded vs to say and confesse that we are vnprofitable seruaunts though hee of his meere liberality for our better comfort and encouragement in all good things hath promised large and liberall rewards Robbery WHen we see men which haue no conscience in getting liberall to the poore and to other things in common intendment good Then are wee to put them in minde that God hateth and abhorreth to accept robberye or theeuerye for burnt offerings To loue gifts and to hunt after rewardes in princes and men of Authority is cozen germain to robbery Rockes AS y e rocks that are hard to be clambred vnto are good refuges for the afflicted to fly vnto from the face of their pursuers So God is the safetye of all such as in distresse do flye to him for succour As hee that setteth the foundation of his howse vpon a firme rocke may bee sure that the Foundation shall bee able to beare the waight of that which shal be set vpon it and that no raine or floude shall wash it away so hee that buildeth his faith vpon Christe as he is set out and preached vnto vs in the gospell shall be sure that hell gates that is all the power force and cunning of the Diuel shall neuer be able to preuaile against him Rodde SO oft as the childe seeth the rodde he is to cal to minde these lessons following First that it is fit for the back of him that wanteth wisdome and that therefore correction is necessarye for him that is to be enstructed and taught For correction and instruction is the very way and path to life Wherefore they must thinke that if Father or Master spare his rodde that he loueth not his Childe but that then hee loueth him when he beginneth to chasten him betimes For naturally folly is bound to the heart of euery childe But the rod of correction doth driue it or scowre it away Therefore parents should not with-hold correction from their children For as the commō prouerb is birtch breaketh no bones neither moderate correction bringeth daunger or death but oftentimes it bridleth and keepeth backe him that otherwise woulde runne headlong into hell and so is a meane to saue his soule For it bringeth him
if they be compared with Christe seeing as they are not worthy so much as to vnbuckle his shoes Sicknesse WHen we are grieuouslie sicke we are to call to minde the greatnesse of our sinnes For if there be nothing sound in our fleshe it is because of Gods anger And when there is no rest in our bones it is because of our sinnes Yet we are with this to comfort our selues that it is Gods louing chastisement to the ende that we should not be damned with the worlde Therefore though sinne be the cause of our affliction and sicknesse and though we be brought euen vnto deathes doore yet let vs with true and vnfained repentaunce crye vnto the Lorde he will heale vs and deliuer vs from our griefes And let vs looke about that our vnreuerent abusing of the holy misteries of Christes body and bloud be not a cause that many be sicke and many dye amongest vs. Siluer AS pure as Siluer is beeing seuen tymes tryed and fined so pure is the worde of GOD. With such labour and diligence as we would seeke for Siluer and search for treasure with the like we shoulde studye for the knowledge of God in his Worde For the wisedome therein learned is more worth then Siluer more gainefull then Gold more precious then pearles and without all comparison to be preferred before any thing which we can desire He that loueth siluer shall not be satisfied with siluer and he that loueth ritches shall be without the fruit thereof Though wicked couetous men do heape siluer togeather as dust and gold as the mier of the streats yet the Lord shall spoyle thē Further the sight of siluer and golde and such like as passing throgh the fier consume not shold admonish vs to endeuour that our workes maye be such as maye abyde the touch-stone of the Word and the fier of Gods examination Moreouer it was neither siluer nor golde neither anye other earthly thing how precious soeuer it was that could redeeme vs but onely the bloud of the immaculate and vnspotted lambe Iesus Christ. Schoole-maister AS a Schoolemaister serueth not for his scholler continuallye but till such time as the scholler may grow to some good abilitie to goe forward at his booke by his owne study So the Lorde feareth his people with his lawe not alwayes but till such time as they haue sufficiently learned to know them selues and therefore to flie from them selues to Christ Iesu who freeth them from the cursse and condemnation of the law Sleepe AS often as we rise from sleepe hauing our weary limmes refreshed and as it were reuiued so that we feele our selues in better case and abilitie to do anye maner thing then before so often we should remember that death vnto the godly is but a resting of their weary bodyes and bones till they rise againe exceedingly bettered by immortalitie and glory and therefore termed by the name of sleepe But loue not sleepe least thou come to pouerty Open thine eyes and thou shalt be satisfied with bread Sleepe is sweete to him that trauayleth and taketh paines whether he eat little or much Silence SIlence in open places is to be obserued of women as a token of their dutifull subiection where vnder God hath put them Men also ought to be swift to heare and slow to speake for in much speaking sinne cannot be wanting Smoake AS Smoake vanisheth and commeth to nothing so the wicked and vngodly perish at the presence of God As smoake vanisheth and passeth away so heauen and earth and all that in them is shal vanish and passe away Sparrow IN time of persecution when we cannot be suffered to frequent the assemblies of those which truly serue the Lord. The state of the poore sparrow or swallow which are there suffered to build their nestes and haue their young seeme to vs more happy then our owne so great a desire haue we if we be godly to be with them among whō or at whose meeting Christ hath bound himselfe by his promise to be present The sale of sparrowes and such other small birdes in markets or other places shoulde bring to minde that seeing these fell not nor were caught without the prouidence of God it can not be but that he whose prouidence extendeth and stretcheth to such smal thinges should also haue a speciall care regarde and eye to those that are his Speaking AS it were a madnes or at the least a great folly for one man in communication with an other to speake in a tongue which the other vnderstandeth not so is it much more for a man to speake to a multitude or a whole congregation in that sort or order And where God graunteth not to people to haue his word so spoken and preached vnto them that they may vnderstand it is a manifest token of his anger and wrath against them for their vnbeliefe Spottes AS spottes deface the things they light on which ought to be cleane so false prophets and false brethren defile and staine the societye and felowship of Christians Snaile AS a Snaile melteth and consumeth to slime and earth so shal God consume the wicked and bring them to naught Snares WHen we see diuers and sundry snares and engines set for beastes vermine and foules and we see those that haue escaped diuers in the ende to be trapped in one or other then are we to remember that though some wicked doe at times seeme to escape the heauie iudgements of God yet in the end they shall be snarled Sodome WHen we here read or by any means remember the heauy fearefull and terrible iudgements of God vpon Sodome and Gomorrha and the places adioyning which God destroyed with fier and brimstone from heauen Then are we to looke about and to consider what and how much more intollerable estate and condition remayneth for vs if we continue contemptuous refusing and misusing the messengers of God now sent to vs. Sunne WHen we see the sunne shine in his full brightnesse and beauty then we are to remember that that light is but for a season But that God which is for euer and euer is the euerlasting light of his Church But in the meane season the constant course of the Sunne accordinge to the appointmente of God in the beginning teacheth vs our obedience to our creator That the Sunne staide his course in the dayes of Ioshua that it returned backwarde in the dayes of Ezechias and that it withdrewe his lighte at noone daies in the death and passion of our Lord and sauiour sheweth the glory and omnipotency of God who canne whensoeuer it pleaseth him chaunge the whole course of nature and make it serue whatsoeuer turn pleaseth him Souldier A Souldier taketh wages of them for whome he fighteth and goeth on warfare Therefore a minister of the gospell may lawfullye
the condemned in the house of their God Wisdome Wisedome is better then al maner of warlike prouision and furniture Yet when in Gods matters and in matters of life to come wee are allured and intised away by worldly wisedome and fleshly reasons then are we to beware and take heed of consenting because the wisedome of the fleshe is enimity against God it is not subiect to the law of God neither can be When we heare in the pulpit Rethoricall flowers of speach and an ouermuch affection and seeking to shew learning Then let vs call to minde that preaching ought not to be in the intising wordes of mans wisedome but in the plaine euidence of the spirite and of power that the faith of the hearers may rest not in the wisedome of men but in the power of God Wise. THe rebukes of the Wise are more profitable to be hearkened vnto then the pleasant songes and melody of fooles The continuall vnkindnesse and vnthankfulnesse of nations for the manifold benefites which God bestoweth vpon them causeth God against the day of deserued destruction to make their wise men fooles and to cause their wisedome to perishe from them When we wonder that so many wise and learned men doe not know nor embrace the euident and cleare truth of the gospell then are we to call to mind that it is not the wisdome of the world but of God and that therefore no man can know it But he to whom God by his spirite doth reueale it But as for all the thoughtes and conceits of the wise of this worlde God knoweth that they are but vaine VVood. WOodes that grow thick are meete for euil men to lurcke in shoulde make vs remember how great a mischiefe disobedience to God is and that that was the firste cause that made men ashamed and afrayd to shew their face and therefore to seeke couert to hide them in Wood serueth to kindle and keepe fier tale-bearers stirre vp and nourishe stryfe Drye wood is apt to burne and greene wood though not so quickly will be consumed with fier so both strong and weake high and low ritch and poore one and an other goe to wracke when God punisheth impietie and wickednesse VVhoore THey that forsake their husbandes and giue them selues ouer to straungers and so become cōmon Whores do represent to vs the state of those which leaue God the truth which some time they professed and commit Idolatrye and cleaue to superstitions VVomen WHen we behold women we shoulde thankfully acknowledge the goodnesse of God who prouided them to be helpes and comfortes vnto men Women also thereby are admonished to be aunswearable to their creation in their doinges and dealinges A woman in trauaile in the middle of her sorrow cryeth in her paynes euen so is the estate of God his Children in the middest of persecution and as a woman then desireth with speede to bee deliuered so God will bee at once auenged vppon the enemies of Gods Church As the heart of a woman faynteth and yeeldeth in trauaile so the hartes of strong men faint when God will bee enemies afflict and scourge their countrie And when women preuayle with men in their suites by great importunitie Then are we to remember that by prayer without ceasing we shall obtayne our requestes of God Wordes WHen we see men giuen to bee full of wordes and delighted with much prating then let vs remember that in many wordes there can not want iniquitie and that for euery idle word that scapeth vs wee shall bee called to account at the last day Howbeit hee that sinneth not in worde must needes bee a perfect man and well able to bridle his affections Wormewood THe bitternesse of Wormewood representeth to vs the bitternes of affliction and oppression Iudgement is as bitter as wormwood when a man by it is vntruely oppressed and condemned Wrestler IF they which runne or wrestle for the best game doe of their owne accorde abstain from all thinges which may eyther make them short winded or hinder their lightnesse strength or nimblenesse much more then we should willinglye cast of and abstaine from all those things which might hinder vs in the way and course of euerlasting life The wrestler obtaineth not the crowne or garland exeept he striue for it according to the lawes of wrestling so ministers are not to looke for any rewarde except they doe their diligent endeuour to do their duties faithfully Wolues WOlues breaking into a flocke of sheepe deuouring some scattering the rest doe resemble false Teachers which creepe into the church of God and bring to destruction those whom they can allure within compasse of their nets and deuide and seperate the rest by dissention and debate World SUch safety as sheepe haue amongest wolues such must the Ministers of God looke for in this Worlde For the loue of the World and the loue of God can not abyde togeather in one and the same man But this is the comfort of the children of God that the World with all the desires thereof shall passe away but they that seeke to fulfill the will of the Lorde shall abide and endure for euer If the Worlde therefore hate vs it is no matter it hated Christ first And there is one and the same cause of hating both because Christ and all his true followers do witnesse vnto the Worlde the wickednesse of their workes For it is a continuall worke of the spirite in all those which are therewith endued to conuince the worlde of sinne Whosoeuer therefore ioyneth in friendship with the world foorthwith becommeth the enemy of God Loue not then the world nor the thinges that are in the world For if any man loue the worlde the loue of the Father is not in him Woork-men AS oft as we paye Woork-men their hire we shoulde thinke how much better doe they which labour in the Church of God for the saluation of our soules deserue the reward allotted and appoynted them for their paines and therefore we should gladly bestow it Wormes THe Palmer Worme the canker Worme the Grashopper the Catterpiller and such like deuouring the fruites of the earth doe inuite and stirre vs to repentaunce seeing they are sent of God to plague vs for our sinnes When we take small Wormes in our handes then we are to remember that God needeth no greater nor mightier souldiers to tame the proudest Prince vpon the earth Yokes WHen we see cattell and Horses strong yong and wanton breake their Yokes and bandes then we are to consider the great estates of this world who being exalted in honour and aboundding in wealth though they knowe the waye of the Lorde and the iudgements of their God yet can not submit their neckes to the yoke of the Lorde or be subiect to his discipline yet
abroad their filth But God ruleth the raging of the sea and stilleth the waues thereof Whereby wee vnderstande his great power and might and that there is none in ability like him Sedition FEare the Lord and the king and meddle not with them that are seditious for theire destruction shall rise sodainly and who knoweth the ruine of them Sepulchres SEpulchres and Tombs which are costly builte and richly adorned and haue nothing within them but a stinking Carkas and rotten boanes doe aptly represent the notable goodly outward shewes which hipocrites make their hearts being full of all wickednesse and corruption Seedes AS the seed once sowed wheresoeuer it pleaseth God to grant his blessing vnto it whither the sower sleepe or wake or whatsoeuer hee doeth and howsoeuer hee is occupied groweth encreaseth till it come to maturity and ripenes so y e worde by the minister of God being scattered wher God worketh withal by his holy spirit there it bringeth a greate meruailous an vnlooked for encrease As a number of things shold yeerely decay come to naught except seedes of them were saued whereof they are by sowing renued so the people that beare Gods name vppon earth shoulde in the day of visitation of their sinnes be cleane and vtterly destroied as Sodom and Gomorah but that God spareth some remnant to be as it were a seed for the encreasing of his Church and people againe Seedes y t are sowed except they corrupt grow not again so our bodies except they cōsume rise not again And as the same seede in substance that is sown springeth again yet altered in forme and fashion euen so our bodies shall rise againe the same in substance but meruellously altered in qualities so our bodies except they consume rise not againe yet altered in form fashion euen so our bodies shall rise again the same in substance but meruellously altered in quality Such as the seede is such is the life of y e which proceedeth from it As therfore of mortall corrupt seed men are first borne to this mortall and corruptible life so must wee of the immortall incorruptible seede of the word be borne againe to a life immortall and incorruptible if we will liue euer Serpent THe sight of a serpent shoulde bring to minde the subtilty malice of the diuell whereby he deceiued and seduced oure first father Adam and induced him to transgression and disobedience and also it should make vs the more heedful and carefull to espy his crafts to withstand his malice seeing that we are eazlier nowe to bee ouerthrowne by reason of our corruption then Adam was afore his fall We also that are ministers shoulde also thereby learne to be wise considering the manifolde daungers which are incident to our calling Seruaunts THe diligence of our man-seruants and maide seruaunts in attending vppon vs and doing their duties vpon hope of finding help friendship at our handes is a good lesson as well to teach vs howe diligently we ought to be in pleasing God and also how well content we shoulde be to tarry his leasure for those graces mercies which we look for at his hand A wise seruant is a great pleasure to his Lord master but a lewd seruant always prouoketh him whome he serueth to anger A discreet seruant is better then a lewd sonne shal deuide the heritage amongst y e brethren As impossible as it is at one and the same time for one man to serue two diuers sundrye masters for y t he cannot be diligēt imploy him self about vpon the busines of the one but hee must needs neglect the others affairs so impossible is it for man to addict him self to God ritches When we see our seruants at our beck and commandement and diligent to do those things which we appoint them then we should remēber by how better right equity wee all creatures shoulde redilye obey the voice of God our creator and of Christ our redeemer If thy calling be to be a seruant care not but if thou maist bee free vse it rather For he that is called in the Lorde to bee a Seruant is the Lordes Free-man But learne that the propertye of a good Seruaunt is to giue all reuerence to his master obeying him in all thinges and that in singlenesse of heart and in the feare of the Lorde endeuouring alwayes to please him yea though he be froward executing the trust that is committed vnto him aswell in his masters absence as in his presence If a liberall good and bountifull master to his seruauntes can not but bee very angry and much offended if any of them deale cruelly with their fellows how much more iustly shall God withdrawe his mercy from them that deale vnmercifully with them that liue amongst them If men be bountifull vnto such seruants whose faithfulnesse diligence they haue good trial of as wel in their absence as presence on y e contrary side angry seuere sharp to them which deceiue their expectation do not answere the trust which is reposed in them how much more iustly shall God put the like difference in rewarding or punishing the good endeuours or negligence of them to whome he hath committed seruices of trust in his people and Churche As men haue iust cause with more sharpnesse and greater seuerity to punish those seruauntes to whome they haue shewed theire minde and will and yet their businesse is neglected then others who therefore doe it not because they knowe it not So GOD to whome soeuer hee hath reuealed moste and vppon whome he hath bestowed moste greatest giftes of knowledge them if notwithstanding they bee negligent in vsing their gifts to the profite of Gods Church will he most seuerely and sharply aboue all other punish Seruauntes be they neuer so diligent in executing that which is committed vnto them yet cannot iustly vaunt themselues that they haue done any more then bounden duety So we then when wee haue trauailed as much as for vs is possible yet are to confesse our selues vnprofitable seruauntes It is an olde saying Seruice is no heritage Therefore when we see seruaunts when they haue serued a time chaunge their masters and are eyther masterlesse or serue others then let vs remember that so vnstable and vncertaine is our condition in the Churche of GOD except wee haue the spirite of freedome namely the spirite of adoption of children and so by Christe and in Christe be truely made free Men are their seruauntes to whose commaundementes they yeelde all obedience Therefore if wee obey sinne wee are the seruauntes of sinne and our wages is death But if we obey God then are wee the seruauntes of obedience to righteousnesse and our ende is euerlasting life For the moste part some priuate respect of commodity and the seruice
of theire owne bellies is the cause that men stirre vp diuision and contention in the church of God contrary to the doctrine receiued and deliuered vnto vs in the word Shepheard WHen we see Sheepe well kept by reason that they haue a good diligent painefull Shepheard who carefully prouideth as well to feede them as to folde them Then are wee to remember that the people of God can wante nothing because God is their shepherd For he feedeth his he gathereth his Lambes into his armes and carrieth them in his bosom and guideth them that be with yong But when wee see idle shepheards that suffer their sheepe to runne astray and to scatter and perish Then wee are to lament the state of the church wherein wee see such idol ministers as these idol shepheards doe represent to abound and if we our selues be such then are wee to tremble at the woe and heauye iudgements of the Lorde pronounced against vs by his prophets God him selfe will seeke vp his sheepe he wil find that which was lost and bring again that which was driuen away He wil bind vppe that which was broken and will strengthen the weake hee will cause them to lye in a good folde and to feede in a fat pasture hee will remedy all their euills by setting a shepheard ouer them euen his Christ. Shepheards that doe but beare the name of shepheards shew no care of their flock and do small or no duty to them God shall depriue them both of strength wisedome and iudgement The losse of a good diligent painfull shepheard is the discipation and scattering abroad of the sheepe When wee see numbers of people for want of the word in their owne parishes doe stray and scatter abroade hither and thither to heare the word then are we to lament this present estate and to haue compassion vpon that people because they are as sheepe scattered and dispersed without a shepheard The diligence of a shepheard in seeking vp any of his sheepe y t are gone astray is an example to vs to spare neither paine nor diligence to reduce them which are gone astray frō God by reason of any error And the ioy of a shepheard in finding of his shepe again sheweth how ioyfull the conuersion of a sinner ought to be vnto vs. Shepheards that refuse no paine nor perill but do endanger that most certainly their life do represent vnto vs the goodnes of our Christ who moste frankly and freely gaue his life for vs. When we see shepheards careful and diligent about their flocks to feede and cherish them then we are to call to minde that it is the cheefe and almost y e only means wherby Christ doth require his ministers to testify their loue towards him namely the feeding of his sheepe It is lawfull for a shepheard that feedeth a flocke to eat of the milk of it Therefore it is lawfull for the ministers of the gospell to bee partners of the temporall blessings of their hearers Sheepe SHeepe driuen to the shambles to be slaine representeth to vs the state of Gods Children and people here vpon earth Sheepe vnrulye to be driuen and running hither and thither astray out of the waye shew to vs our owne vnrulinesse and aptnesse to straye out of those wayes which God hath appoynted for vs to walke in That sheepe brought to be shorne or to be slaine are dumbe and open not their mouth it representeth vnto vs the great and wonderfull patience of our Christ in dying for vs which we are also to learne at his example As sheepe do represent the people of God so the good pastures and pleasaunt waters doe represent the worde of the Lord wherewith he feedeth his and the treading downe of the pasture and the troubling and stirring of the water whereby it is made thicke and foule sheweth foorth the corrupting and mingling of the word with humaine inuentions and dregges of mans braines Sheepe in the countrie which abounde with wild beastes lost or run astray out of the custody of their sheepheard represent vnto vs the dangerous estate of mē so long as they are not broght or continue not vnder the custody and safe keeping of our Lord Iesus Christ. If it be lawful on the sabboth to pull sheepe or other cattell out of a pit or ditch whereinto it is fallen and wherin it woulde otherwise perishe how much more is it to do good to relieue any kinde of necessitie of our neighboure the same day Further the very sight of sheepe and goates should make vs call to minde the state of men at the last daye of iudgement and make vs carefully to endeuour that the notes and markes of Gods sheepe maye be found in vs that we may be parteners in the sentence come yee blessed c. Amongest other markes this is the principall that as sheepe harken to the voyce of their sheepheard so we giue eare to and obey the voyce of Christ. When we see sheepe in the butchers shop appointed for the slaughter then are we to remember that such is the condition of the godly in this wicked and frayle life When we see sheepe from going astray retourned home to their folde and flocke again Then let vs remember that we lately in y e dayes of ignoraunce were astraye and lately by the benefit of almighty God who hath suffered the sonne of knowledge to shine amongest vs returned to the sheepheard and bishop of our souls Shettle THE sliding to and fro of the shettle in weauing do admonish the weauer how speedely and fast his dayes of this life do slyde away Shield AS a shield defendeth the body from blowes and woundes so the great mercy and fauour of God defendeth those which are his from euil Ships SHips in which men are carryed in safety thorough the raging seas shoulde make vs remember Gods heauy iudgement vpon the world in drowning it for sinne and to giue him thankes for his great mercy that he would not vtterly destroy mankind but taught him to frame the firste ship that euer was for the safegarde of him selfe and his family As a ship beeing neuer so great and huge is turned about with a very small rudder whither so euer it please the maister of the ship to direct it so the the tongue though it be a small member oftentimes ouer-ruleth the whole body and setteth it out of course Shoes WHen we see broomes and other thinges bartered for old shoes then are we to detest the intollerable corruption of bribing officers who for the price of a payre of shoes or such a trifle are ready to peruert iustice and to sell the cause of the poore which is able to giue him nothing The sight of shoes shoulde cause vs to remember how vile and base the moste excellent and moste reuerend ministers of the Worde are