conclude when men are wicked yea in a high degree of vngodlinesse we shewe the cause in one word when wee say they are gracelesse Therefore if the feare of the greatest The vse with exhortation discommoditie or desire of the benefit of the greatest good in anie thing may moue vs to seeke for it to auoide the one and possesse the other let then the goodnes of vertues moue vs to seeke after them to attaine vnto them let vs embrace them and euermore liue in the holy practise of them for nothing worse then to want them and nothing more profitable then to haue them It followeth Brethren The parties exhorted all those hee meaneth as had attained 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fratres vterini to faith in Christ and did make profession of the Lord Iesus verse the first whome here hee calleth by The meaning the name of brethren as vsuallie the Apostle Saint Paule also doth in his Epistles who tearmeth those to whom he writ euen the Gentiles brethren not by nature not by nation nor by kindred but by profession Doctrine The Prophets before Christs comming a thing to be noted though they spake vnto their owne nation and people of one stock yet in their prophecying Note well they did call vpon the people by the name of Israel Children of Israell Inhabitants of the land and so forth but neuer by the name of brethren as Peter begun in the Act. 2. 19. and the Apostles elsewhere to shew a difference of the lawe and the Gospell euen in the messengers the one sort messengers of the lawe were seuere and spake further off from affection of loue the other publishers of glad tydings were louing messengers of peace spake as to children of their father and brethren in Christ as the Apostle doth here In which hee sheweth first his loue to them whome hee wrote vnto In which grace ministers must InstructioÌ„ for ministers teach if euer they will do good Rancor and malice are not fit for preachers of peace neither cholerick passions in proclaiming ioy by the promises of the Gospell loue abandoneth the one bridleth the other yet so as there remaineth a godly zeale to rebuke sinne as we see the Apostles did Doctrine Secondly he declareth his great humility equalizing the saints all of them the meanest as the greatest with himself an other vertue for ministers a vertue A pattern for ministers of incomparable estimation It is the stadle where God will cock vp his graces a chest for his secrets his owne lodging place there delighteth he to dwell It is Humility commended Esa 57. 15 Mat. 11. 29 the grace which hath the promise of grace and one of the vertues by which Christ himself commended himselfe vnto his disciples therein to bee followed of them It procureth loue it allureth mens hearts to haue a good liking of such yea and winneth reuerence for he that humbleth himselfe shall bee exalted This is not spoken to take away order PreuentioÌ„ of an obiection in superiority but onely to beate downe pride that men may walk in humility Neither may hence the inferiour presume to chalenge equalitie because the superiour descendeth lower then his place It is humility in the better when he maketh himselfe meaner then hee is but it is arrogancie in the other to aduance themselues thereby beyond that they are If men in authority finde any so presumptuous let them claime their due to suppresse that pride which they may doe with commendation Doctrine Againe hence may bee noted that men by profession of Christ become coÌ„ioyned Iam. 1. 18. in a fraternity and brotherhood They haue God to their father who hath begotten them by his word the Church is their mother that bare them for she is called his wife they haue all one elder brother the Lord Iesus al in him taught by Christ to call God father Mat. 6. Therefore let vs acknowledge this brotherhoode not onely by calling so Vse and exhortation one another as the custome was in the primitiue Church but by liuing as brethren in the dueties of loue Let vs not be called Rabbi for wee are brethren Mat. 23. 8 Let there be no dissension amongst vs as Abraham said for we are brethren Be Gen. 13. 8. at peace one with another O how amiable Psal 133. 〈◊〉 a thing is it for brethren to dwell together in vnity But ah alafle hath our profession brought vs to any such practise where is any thing lesse then loue seeke for vnity and behold enmitie Loue is not Euery man for himselfe as we now vse but it is carefull for other whom wee little regard The life of loue is brotherly kindnes but what shall I say more we haue lost this goodnes kind to none no not to our owne kindred carefull for none but for our selues Selfe loue hath withered vp all brotherly compassion that we cannot shew forth any workes of mercy with coÌ„misseration But where loue is waÌ„ting there God is lost for God is loue where this brotherhoode is neglected there the commandement of loue is not regarded and where this is out of vse there is nothing rightly performed Therefore let vs better bethinke our selues hereof remembring our profession to minde this duetie beleeue wee cannot our vnion with Christ without communion of his Church and pray wee cannot to GOD but with regard of brotherhood saying Our father If then wee haue either truth in professing soundnes in beleeuing or a right minde in praying wee must walke in loue towards our brethren for preseruation of this holy fellowship eâ—en vnto the end Amen Giue rather diligence This word rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The exposition Luk. 11. 28 is not here a note of choise as if men might choose whether they would bee diligent or no but it is a preferring of one thing before another and is also a secret correction of the ill disposition of naâ—ure which hath a rather that is a will and desire to the things of this life then to seeke diligently after heauenly vertues the good things of the life to come And it is as if hee had said Though by A Paraphrase nature you be apt to bee diligent for the things here for bodies welfare yet I aduise you for soules safetie to giue rather diligence to get heauenly graces Doctrine In which hee teacheth that men naturally make an ill choise preferring things of the world which haue an end before things spiritual which haue no end And this we suck from the breasts of our first parents Adam and Eue who beleeued Satan before God in hope of earthly good aduentured the Lords displeasure and the losse of Paradise for the gaine of an apple Esau would despise his birth right for a mease of pottage the Gadarâ—â—s would want Christ rather then their swine Israelites desire the flesh pots in Egypt before the heauenly Manna Demas biddeth adue to
THE SINNERS SAFETIE If heere hee looke for assurance By Richard Barnerd Preacher of Gods word at Worsop in Nottingham-shire Coloss 3. 1. If yee then be risen with Christ seeke those thinges which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God AT LONDON Printed by H. L. for T. M. and Ionas Man and are to be sold at his shoppe at the West doore of Paules Anno Dom. 1609. To the Chiefe Officers the Gentlemen domesticall Attendants and to the rest of the Familie of the most Reuerend Father Tobias the Lord Archbishop of Yorke his Grace the chiefest good is hartily wished GEntlemen I vvish you vvell I hope you doubt not in my loue to you all I offer this my labor to some as desired in lieu of good vvill and kindnesse receiued My best thoughts are tovvardes you in the best things Naturall fauorits vvorldly friends wish good to the body that doe I but vvithall the soules safety vvithout vvhich no good You do heare the excellent truths of God by one of whom it hath been said He doth regnare in pulpitis I doe graunt it vvho can deny those gifts yet let your loue pardon my folly and reiect not my well meaning though I set before you a candle at noone The matter is not amisse if the rudenesse of speech make it not distastefull if so it were a fault Loue doth not loath vvhat is good wholsome meat meanely cookt is acceptable to a hungry stomacke What hath been heard vvith the eare may nowe bee seene with the eye a double remembrance the other lesse this of more continuance I hope the fruit vvill bee answerable The text is a speciall iewell set forth with precious pearles The argument is of weight How a poore sinner may haue assurance of the greatest happinesse The exhortation sheweth our slowness but the necessity of the thing requireth our diligence good reason therefore What matter so vvoorthy our trauel to gaine all vvithout this is but loss We liue here in pleasure and ease is this our comfort are vve at home then is there not to come a weal vnspeakeable or a woe intolerable vvith sorrovve to liue in paine both in time and euer beyond all time Sinners vve be hence conclude vvâ—e must death and that double By this apprehension is nothing but horror of Hell Assurance of happinesse concludes safety and ioy of Heauen One of desert but this not vvithin compasse of merit it is Gods gift in mercy comfortable a ioy vnspeakeable Wee all shall see the Lord in the last day albeit Atheisticall Athenians mocke at the doctrine of the Resurrection but we al shal not alike behold him as vvee doe not alike desire his coÌ„ming Some shall see him a lamb and apprehend fierce vvrath and say Oh mountains couer vs. Some the lyon of Iudah and conceiue ioy and in comfort cry aloude Hosannah Good cause vvhy they haue peace by assurance of pardon and it is the day of their redemption that did they seeke for diligently this they expected desired earnestly and in the end enioy the revvard To stirre you vp heerevnto is the drift of my present endeuour VVe all need spurring heauie harts and leaden heeles loaden we are with iniquitie so slovve to goodnes that all our daies vvee hardly get any grace permanent Gentlemen accept I pray you my kindness read vvith a mind ayming at the end which I propose Serious meditation helps memory and settles iudgement but in practise stands the life vvhich getteth also commendations You are in eminent place tongues on both sides talke at liberty our defence is innocencie No way can ye so glorifie God as by practicall professioÌ„ nor advaunce before the enemie the honour of the most Reuerend your Lord and Maister more then by a holy conversation so doe and it shall bee also your glory If heerein my labor further any thing it shall be my ioy and if we continue in vvell dooing it it doubtlesse wee shall obtaine mercie Which the Lord grant euen so Amen From my Studie at Worsop Nouemb. 12. Your louing Friend euer in the Lord Richard Bernard The Sinners safetie if here he seeke for assurance 2. PET. 1. 10. Wherefore Brethren giue rather diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye doe these things ye shall neuer fall THE Apostles desire The Apostles drift with the coherence is that with Profession men should ioyne Sanctification therfore in the 5. verse he exhorteth those to whom hee writ that they should giue all diligence to fly the corruption which is in the world through lust this is the maine proposition or lesson intended And to bring theÌ„ therunto he first teacheth them the meanes how to attain to a holy conuersation by adding vertue to vertue one grace to another as hee sheweth in the An instruction to ministers 5. 6. and 7. verses A duetie of a minister who is a spirituall PhysiciaÌ„ of the soule not only to shew the malady or aduise his Patient to haue care to his health but also to prescribe the meanes how diseases may bee remoued and health preserued Salomon commendeth the feare of God Pro. 1. 7. The feare of God is the beginning of Wisdome and in Chap. 2. prescribes the meanes to come to the vnderstanding thereof in the 1. 2. 3. and 4. verses My sonne if thou wilt receiue my words and hide my commandements within thee c. In the fifth verse hee concludeth and saith Thâ—n shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord and find the knowledge of God In like manner Peter in Act 2 after he had accused the Iewes for putting Christ to death resteth not in manifesting their miserie but readily teacheth them how they may acquite themselues and escape the deserued iudgement for such a sinne To shew miserie without remedy is to lodge the heart in sorrowe without reliefe meanes must be shewed with the matter the way with the appointed iourney the minde possessed with the one testeth not content without the other Therefore must ministers after the Apostles example obserue this order as both reason and necessity it selfe requireth After the Apostle hath prescribed the meanes hee vrgeth reasons to inforce the practise of the doctrine by vse of the meanes the reasons are because wee should not be idle and without fruit in our profession verse 8. because else we are blinde and cannot see afarre of and also forgetfull of a great and incomparable benefite that wee are purged from our old sinnes verse 9. because otherwise wee cannot haue assurance of our saluation which reason is in my text verse 10. In which againe to vs ministers is An other instruction to ministers commended with the Apostles wisedom to be able to shew meanes to attaine to that he would haue them doe his godly care also to haue them to vse and not to neglect the meanes which hee hath prescribed vnto them Therefore doth hee presse them with so many reasons
hearts that they neuer depart from him Ier. 32. 40. Lastly we may establish our thoghts vpon the ground of a mans saluation The foundation of God remaineth sure his 2. Tim. 2 19. free mercie in Christ Iesus chusing some to euerlasting life no inducement in maÌ„ before we haue being our end is appointed nothing good foreseene in vs mouing God no way in vs is there cause at all of our happines but begun froÌ„ Gods free good pleasure and established in Christ out of whom wee may not suppose any least thing that may be beneficiall to worke mans saluation or to procure good to vs which is not freely giuen of God and obtained by Christ alone without any respect of vs at all Whence a penitent sinner may thus coÌ„fortably reason Gods I was before I had my beeing in my beeing by corruption of nature hee found me his enemy yet did he not hate me but shewed his mercie vnto me he ordained me before the world that caused him in time to bring me into the world my sinnes did not hinder the passage of mercy because in Christ he would be satisfied for mee I will therefore surely conclude that God remaining one in mercie Christ Iesus alway wel-pleasing to his father the cause of my saluation beeing stil one and the same I will not doubt damnation for falles of infirmity when as Gods mercie and Christes merit preuented the same in mine obstinate standing in rebellion Thus by meditation may wee strengthen and settle our selues in assurance to be saued Praise the Lord. It pleaseth God to afford his childreÌ„ By diuine inspiration more in musing on heauenly comforts then when mens thoughts are bestowed vpon other things he aydeth them with his spirit who openeth our eies to see the secrets of the kingdome of God and to know the things that are giuen vs of God 1 Cor. 2. 12. Rom. 8. 10. who giueth testimony to our spirit that we are the children of God which witnes also is true and not lying as Iohn saith This is the spirit of adoption by which we are sealed and the earnest which he giueth when he taketh vs to be his Haue I then the spirit of Christ I am Christs and in him there is no coÌ„demnation Rom. 8. 1. Now least we be misled by Satans delusion and take it for the holy spirits inspiration By sanctification How to know the perswasion of Gos spirit from Sathans delusion see Rom. 〈◊〉 2. 5. 11. 15. 16. there is a third thing to be added that is sanctification For if we haue the spirit of God we are led by it wee walke not after the flesh but sauour the things of the spirit which quickneth our mortall bodies by it wee doe mortifie the deedes of the flesh by it we are without feare and dare come to God cry Abba father this spirit helpeth our infirmities in prayer it maketh request for vs with sighes that cannot be expressed This is the witnessing of Gods spirit with our spirit it is not a bare motion but a true perswasion from the effectuall graces which it worketh in vs causing vs to liue in newnesse of life This spirit witnesseth not to our spirit if it bee adulterous nor to our drunken spirit nor to our sweating lying blasphemous and rayling spirit nor to our prophane and mocking spirit if such we be that we are the sonnes of God no no for our conscience telleth vs that such are the sonnes of the Diuel and all perswasion of saluation is but Sathans deceiueable delusions to secure vs in sin The holie spirit will not say wee are coheires with Christ certaine of heauen whilst we walke on in wickednes hee teacheth in the scripture the contrarie and sheweth that there is no peace Esai 57. 21. Psal 9. 17. Mat. 25. to the wicked they shall go into hell and all the workers of inâ—quity Vse Therefore let vs not think otherwise but it is the spirit of Sathan and not the holy Ghost that worketh an imagination of any certaintie of salâ—ation whilst wee liue vnsanctified in our thoughts vnchanged in our speech and vnreformed in our conuersation We see that assurnace may bee had by the foresaid meanes it must make vs striue by these means for it which if we obtaine O blessed are we saluation is come vnto vs the comfort of all comforts Through this assuraÌ„ce thogh we fall we rise againe and doubt not of The benefits which arise vnto vs by hauing assurance mercie when we repent We ioy to heate of death because we are perswaded to be with Christ which is best of all we feare not man that onely can kill the bodie for that our soules are in safety This maketh vs desire to bee taken from hence and to be dissolued This maketh vs loue and long after the comming of the Lord Iesus saying how long Lord wheÌ„ Lord O come Lord Iesus come quickly Reue. 6. 10. 22. 20. This to conclude freeth vs froÌ„ all dread of any euil that may befall vs from the rigour of the law it caÌ„not condemne vs if it do Christ Iesus acquiteth vs froÌ„ terror of conscience it dare not accuse vs if it do Christ will speak for vs froÌ„ deaths sting dead stroke it hath not right to rule ouer vs if it do it s but a while Christ hath got the victory froÌ„ the fierce wrath of the Iudge in the last day when he shal be before vs Angels on one hand diuels on an other about vs the world burning in millionâ— of thousaÌ„ds conscience accusing crying out to the mountains to couer them hell gaping ready to deuoure all to whome Christ shall say Go ye cursed with the Diuell his angels Math. 25 But what terrour can this be to the penitent assured of life none at all The Diuels cannot daunt vs the repentant hath his pardon Angels will not disclaime vs they here haue waited vpon vs God will acknowledge vs we haue his spirit the assurance of his loue And can the Iudge Iesus Christ condemne vs who is our sauiour and hath by his death acquited vs Lastly we are freed from the horrour of hell where Diuels damned ghosts bee where paine is endless the place darknesse the persons punished with fire and brimstone remedilesse their noise is hydeous weeping and wayling for time lost and not recouerable howling lamentably crying for time present and paines intollerable they gnash with their teeth one vpon an other their conscience accusing coÌ„ntinually tormenting They languish with paine wishing to die but they shall remaine and euer bee though liuelesâ—e that their torment may be endless Sithen assurance of saluation here deliuereth vs from the dread of these things what cause haue wee to vse all meanes to get so great and vnspeakable a good Oh let vs then meditate seriously pray for the spirit ardently and liue here conscionably that wee may bee therefore certaine of our saluation and
you thereby haue a true signe and token from God of his loue euerlasting and shall neuer fall from him the like is that in the Psalme 15 6. He that doth these things shall neuer fall Vse Therefore to attaine to the benefite of this promise let vs here looke to the condition which is carefully to exercise our selues in these vertues afore mentioned First well doing keepeth vs from euill euery gift of grace is a sentinell to First reason watch against the opposite vice seeking entrance to the heart Hold sobriety drunkennesse getteth no place chastity preserueth from dishonesty feruency of spirit cannot abide luke-warme to lodge with it light liketh not of darknes righteousnes of vnrighteousnes knowledge of Ignorance nor godly humility of Sathanicall pride and arrogancie looke how much we haue of goodnes so much aduantage get we against wickednes euery vertue aduancing it selfe and keeping it proper place in the soule when the contrary vice asâ—aileth it Sathan suggesting and by outward obiects inticing the heart to yield thereunto Secondly these vertues are the fruits Second reason of the spirit whence a maÌ„ may coÌ„clude that hee hath the spirit and hee which hath this hath Christ without whom no redemption no saluation These vertues are pleasant flowers which gathered are asweete nosegay to garnish our soules with for the Lords delight They are the guarison of the holy Ghost lodged in the soule to keepe out such euils as yet haue not entrance and to bridle ill motions of the heart daily arising that we perish not Thus much of theÌ„ in generall But let vs if but briefly weigh them in particular and the goodness of them will more allure vs to loue them Faith is the crowne of graces and the The commendations of seuerall vertues Faith roote of vertues it maketh morality by the lawe to turne into Christianity by the Gospell without it we caÌ„not please God by it we make the word preached profitable and by it wee apprehend Christ who satisfieth iustice asswageth wrath bringeth downe mercy and heauen gates are open for vs and wee enter and take possession Vertue integrity the generall word Vertue for a speciall which is the brest-plate of righteousness keeping countenance without blushing it is the ioy of the spirit and maketh men bold as a Lyon it dare answere at the barre to the best say truely Not guilty it desireth tryall and therein alwaies getteth approbation and credite of euerie cause not fearing malice though lying and deceipt manage the matter with all the friends that may be made it maketh man looke vp chearefully vnto God and so resteth quiet in his owne innocency Knowledge it is the candle of the soule Knowledge the rule of actions the discerner of causes the Iudge of controuersies the guide of affection the bridle for the tongue and the life of conscience and the first motor to obedience it saueth from errour condemneth heresie and standeth alwaies for verity if peruersenesse of spirit turne it not into sophistry Temperance knowledge is the first motor this is moderator it qualifieth TeÌ„perance allayeth extreames it is in nothing violent it preuenteth liking before lookeing it stoppeth rage of lust and brideleth appetite it discusseth causes with deliberation it ordereth words with discretion hot spirits by it may expostulate iniuries done without contention by it knowledge telleth his tale wisely and integrity is bold with safety Patience is the mother of peace a strong back to beare all burthens it Patience saith nothing to reuiling speeches and is not an auenger of priuate iniuries it waiteth for accomplishment of promises long it is the daughter of humility and the safe conductor of integrity by it we possesse our soules and the enemy getteth not aduantage it is neuer in want dwelling alwaies with contentment Godliness this is the chiefe goodness Godliness by sense we are better then the creature sensless by reason better then the beast by religion better then man onely hauing reason but godlynesse is the quintessence of religion it is the especiall fruit of faith sincerities comfort the principall end of all learning the perfection of all knowledge the creatures admiration and here to the mightiest in the world their highest exaltation godlinesse is great gaine it hath the promise of this life and of the life to come Brotherly kindnes the procurer of loue Brotherly kindness the disposition of the heart to doe good to other it graunteth fauour to euerie frined it liueth euer in charity it is mercifull and lendeth it is ready to doe pleasures and liberall without delay it is the goodnes of a mercifull heart pliable to euery good worke Loue is the last which is the fruit of Loue. 1. Cor. 13. brotherly kindness the grace which the Apostle so highly extolles and neede not here to be stoode vpon but I will conclude it with that absolute commendation that Loue is the fulfilling of the lawe And thus we see what reason there is for vs to haue these excellent vertues and to exercise our selues in them that we may neuer fall otherwise we are without certainty of our saluation and tokens of eternall comfort The loose and careless liuer the vicious Reproofe to the leud vicious and leud man is heere vtterly left hopeless he cannot looke for heauen the scripture tels him that there hee hath no enheritance he that committeth sin is of the Diuel the reward is death the 1. Iohn 3. 8 Rom. 6. 23. Psal 9. 17. wicked shall goe into hell and all the people that forget God If any for better satisfaction would know for what sinnes in particular death is threatned and for which men are denyed heauen they shall finde that euery sinne vnrepented of procureth damnation but it pleaseth the holy Ghost to number vp many particulars the places not vnfit to be mentioned to see and consider of them Rom. 1. 29. 30 are reckoned vp Rom. 1. 29. 30. reckoned vp 23 sins three and twenty sins Vnrighteousness fornication wickedness couetousness maliciousness full of enuie of murther of debate of deceipt taking all things in euill part whisperers backbiters haters of God doers of wrong proud boasters inuenters of euill things disobedient to pareÌ„ts without vnderstanding couenaÌ„t breakers without naturall affection such as can neuer be appeased mercilesse for which not onely they that doe them but also that fauour them that doe them are worthy of death In 1. Cor. 6. 9. 10. are set downe ten kindes 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. ten sorts of vicious persons of vicious persons Fornicators idolaters adulterers wantons buggerers theeues couetous drunkerds raylers and extortioners which shall not inherit the kingdome of God In Galathians 5. 19. 20. Gal. 5. 19 20 workes of the flesh 17. are particularized seauenteene workes of the flesh Adulterie fornication vncleannesse wantonnesse idolatry witchcraft hatred debate emulations wrath contentions seditions heresies enuie murthers drunkennesse