according to the goodnes of their cause but rather abusing their authoritie to the hurt of the good and to the maintenance of the bad in their lewd and sinfull practises If honest men had neuer so good a cause and neuer so good a conscience yet if they brought them no bribes they were likely to goe by the worst and if sinnefull and wretched persons had neuer so ill a cause yet if they presented them with great gifts they should carie it from all others Now the Prophets purpose being to bring these men to repentance hee saith Seeke iudgement that is Search diligently what ought to bee done according to your places and when you know it see that that you practise it Whence ariseth this point that It is a note of true repentance Doct. 5 and of an honest and sincere heart to discharge the duties that belong vnto vs in our places and callings For looke what is here said of Magistrates Euerie one must doe his owne dutie and men of higher places that if they would manifest the soundnesse of their repentance and the vprightnesse of their hearts they should leaue off their oppression and fall to equall dealing betwixt man and man the like holds in all other callings and among men of all sorts and degrees to wit that they put to their vtmost endeauour to finde out what are the works of that vocation wherein God hath set them and accordingly to doe the same reforming the speciall things wherein they haue faulted heretofore This Iob sets downe as a marke that hee was no hypocrite though his friends iniuriously charged him to be such a one because hee was carefull of those good duties that did pertaine to him in his place both as hee was a Magistrate and as hee was a rich man in both which respects hee shewed all good faithfulnes for as hee was a Magistrate hee saith I releeued the poore that cried and him that had none to helpe him Iob 29.12 The blessing of him that was readie to perish came vpon mee and I caused the widowes heart to reioice I put on iustice and it couered mee my iudgement was a robe and a crowne c. Neither would hee shift off matters to ease himselfe and to free himselfe from paines and troubles but saith hee If I knew not the cause I would search it out diligently and though the pray were in their hands nay as it were in the mouthes of those that were strong and fierce as Lyons Yet he saith that hee would breake theiawes of the vnrighteous man and plucke the pray out of his teeth Hee would aduenture himselfe for the innocent in a righteous cause though it were with as great danger as for a man to pull the pray out of the iawes of some hungrie and sauage wild beast that would be ready to deuoure any that should come neere him Then as hee was a rich man Iob. 29. Iob 31.16 hee sheweth that hee disposed his wealth to that end which God had appointed I was saith hee a father vnto the poore I restrained him not of his desire nor caused the eies of the widowe to faile I did not eate my morsels alone but the fatherlesse did eate thereof And from his youth hee grew vp with mee as with a father c. I sawe none perish for want of clothing nor any poore without couering but their loines blessed me because they were warmed with the fleece of my sheepe Further that this faithfulnesse in a mans owne calling is a notable testimony of an honest heart and of a good conscience it appeareth by the speech of our Sauiour where he approueth himselfe and his actions vnto his father saying Father Iohn 17.4 I haue glorified thee on the earth how prooues hee that I haue finished the worke which thou gauest me to doe Many times men set vpon workes which God neuer commanded them to doe but which their owne flesh and Satan bade them do or if they begin to goe about good workes that the Lord commandeth they doe not goe thorow with the same as Christ Iesus did and therefore they neither bring glorie to Gods name nor comfort vnto themselues by that which they doe but this is it indeed that will stand men in steede when they shall come to make their accounts before the Lords iudgement seate if they can truely say Lord I haue done the worke that thou didst appoint mee I haue beene exercised in those businesses and affaires which thou diddest enioyne me haue gone thorow with the same So when the Lord Christ Iesus would commend a worthy seruant what is the commendation that hee hath giuen him Matth. 25. that hee hath faithfully imploied those talents and gifts that his master committed vnto his trust 1. Cor. 4.2 vnto his best aduantage And this as the Apostle speaketh is required of disposers that euerie one be found faithfull That is that they discharge euery one the duties that pertaine vnto them in their places withall due care and conscionable regard This serues for the iust reproofe of those that make some shew of Christianitie Vse 1 and would faine goe vnder the name and number of sound professors of the Gospell and yet are most vnfaithfull in their owne charges Many are good neighbours abroad but bad gonernors at home They can aduise others for the best but they haue no care at all to order their owne families in the feare of God Many husbands are kind and courteous abroad but churlish and vnmercifull to their yoke-fellowes and to their Children and seruants at home Many wiues will seeme religious who yet are not helps in their familie obedient to their husbands fearing to offend them nor seeking in all good and lawfull things to content and please them Such masters and husbands and wiues can haue little comfort of their faithfulnesse when they faile most in those things wherein the power of godlinesse should most shew it selfe namely in discharging a good conscience where they are tied so to doe by the neerest and strongest bonds And this is a great fault in diuers seruants who when they haue gotten a little knowledge of religon and can discourse of some points thereof begin to thinke that then they haue a dispensation to be idle and slothfull headstrong and masterfull testie and impatient when they are told of their faults and the like Oh this is a wofull vse that they make of their reading and hearing the word of God Titus 2.9.10 if they had well obserued that which most concernes them they should haue found that the Lord commandeth seruants to please their masters in all things not answering againe and to shew all good faithfulnesse that they may adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things Ephes 6.5 And againe Seruants bee obedient vnto them that are your masters according to the flesh with feare and trembling in singlenes of your hearts as vnto Christ And no lesse effectuall
they were at their feasting merry together at which times many faults escape young people which they take little notice of but Iob considered thorowly of them and was euer mindefull and carefull to vse the meanes of God for the remitting and purging away of the same that his childrens soules might not bee infected nor Gods anger prouoked thereby A rare example worthy the imitation of all godly parents Note yet imitated but of avery few for how small is the number of them that are thus iealous and fearefull of themselues and if they faile of this godly care for their own soules how can they be iealous with a godly iealousie of the soules of those whom God hath committed vnto their charge Now the reasons why we must bee as ready to speake to God in praier as to them in precepts are these 1 First Reasons because God commandeth vs to pray one for another Now if those that are not tyed vnto vs by any neere bonds Iam. 5.16 Gods command are to be recommended vnto God in our praiers much more those whom God hath more especially vnited vnto vs either by nature or by dutie seruice on their part to be performed vnto vs. Yea Christ Iesus straitly commandeth vs to pray for our enemies Mat. 5.44 Now if that be a bounden dutie how much more is it to pray for our friends especially if withall they bee Gods friends seeing they by our praiers may bee much helped and without them much endangered The Prophet Samuel vnderstood that this was a dutie when hee accounted the neglect hereof to bee a sinne against God as in that booke it appeareth that hee did for when the people were frighted and humbled both by the words of Samuel and by the myraculous work of God in sending extraordinarie thunder and raine in the time of wheate haruest and thereupon came vnto Samuel saying 1. Sam 12.19 Pray for thy seruants vnto the Lord thy God that wee die not his answer was God forbid that I should sinne against the Lord verse 29. and cease praying for you A second reason is because except they ioine petitions vnto God with instructions vnto them No blessing to be expected without praier 1. Cor. 3.6.7 they can looke for no blessing vpon the good lessons they giue vnto them All planting and watering is in vaine except God giue the increase and if wee would haue any increase it 's good reason we should seeke it at his hand by praier Therefore both of them must bee ioyned together wee must doe the best wee can and then say as Noah did Gen. 9.27 Lord perswade Iaphet to dwell in the Tents of Sem. Except the Lord did perswade the heart as well as Noah did the eare hee knew all that he could doe was but lost labour Thirdly vnlesse they pray for a blessing No thankfulnesse vnlesse that haue gone before they can neuer be so thankefull for any good that is wrought vpon such as are vnder them They haue had no hand in pulling downe Gods hand vpon them and therefore they haue no heart to giue him praise for the same but when any gouernour or superiour hath had a strong hand in drawing downe the mercies of God vpon any that depend vpon him and seeth the good effect of his praiers and of his teares this cannot but make him glorifie and magnifie the Lords goodnesse for hearing and granting their requests in remoouing euill things or bestowing good things vpon such as are vnder their iurisdiction This serueth for the reproofe of those Vse that thinke they haue done as much as they need For Superiours sufficienly discharged their consciences if they haue called their children and seruants whole familie to the word and Sacrament and to be examined before they receiue the same though in the meane while they neuer call on the name of the Lord to blesse them and the meanes and to bee good and gratious vnto them where they failed in preparing themselues When Iacob was to send his sonnes into Aegypt to buy food of Ioseph he praied instantly that God would vouchsafe to be with them to giue them prosperous and good successe in the businesse they went about God almightie giue you mercy saith hee in the sight of the man Gen. 43.14 Now if he thought it his dutie to pray for them when they were to come before Ioseph which was but an vnder-gouernour in Aegypt how much more should wee count it our dutie to pray for such as belong vnto our charge when they are to come before the whole Trinitie euen before that God that is the soueraigne Lord and King of heauen and earth full of glorie and full of maiestie how much more I say should wee desire that they might finde fauour in his eies especially considering that Iacobs sonnes went but for the food of their bodies which they might either haue or want without any extraordinarie hurt vnto themselues whereas those that are to be partakers of Gods ordinances are to be suters vnto him for the food of their soules and so bee euerlastingly saued if they can obtaine it or else take their bane and bee liable to Gods heauie displeasure and in danger of iudgement inward and outward in bodie and soule not onely in their life time but for euer after if they repent not for their disorderly and contemptuous approching vnto him in his holy seruices so that there is much more reason wee see that gouernours should bee earnest with the Lord for those that are vnder their rooffe then there was for Iacob then to be earnest for his sons and therefore let all those bee humbled and reformed that haue beene slacke and negligent in the performance of this dutie Secondly Vse 2 let inferiours heere bee admonished that as gouernours are to sue vnto the Lord in their behalfe the husband for the wife For Inferiours parents for their children masters and mistresses for their seruants so they on the other side are to bee gentle and humble and tractable that their superiours may haue good incouragment and good successe in the supplications that they make for them Wee doe not read that Hezekiah at any other time dealt so earnestly with God in the cause of the people as at this time hee did and what mooued him to be so importunate now euen this that hee saw they had hearkened vnto his perswasion and taken great paines to come to Ierusalem from all quarters of the Land and being there hee perceiued that they had some sorrow and remorse for their former impietie and some desire to become better for the time to come now when hee discerned that they came on so fast and that they were halfe healed already hee bendeth all the force and strength of his praiers for the obtaining of mercy and fauour for them and so found that good effect that hee desired and expected And that was it that made Dauid so plentifully and
And why knowing in your selues that you haue in heauen a better and more enduring substance If their riches had bene of such value as they made shew of as the world takes them for they could not haue bene so quickly taken from them but sith they had betaken them to their wings these faithfull ones knew that heauen which was reserued for them in stead thereof was farre more excellent and more durable and therfore full glad were they that for the cause of God they had made so happy and so blessed an exchange Verse 1. Blessed are those that are vpright in the way c. And vers 2. Blessed are those that seek him with their whole heart These words hauing been expoūded before offer vnto vs this doctrine That whosoeuer would haue sound happines must haue a sound heart So much sincerity as their is Doct. 2 so much blessednesse there wil be and according to the degree of our hypocrisie wil be the measure of our misery It is not in the action done or in the words spoken that blessednesse consists but in the quality of them that all be done and spoken soundly and sincerely this is required Psalme 15. that he that will be a member of the Church militant on earth and of the Church triumphant in heauen must Walke vprightly and speake the truth from his heart And againe in another Psalme a question is made to the same effect Who shall dwell in the mountaine of the Lord and who shall stand in his holy place Psal 24.3.4 and the answere is He that hath innocent hands and a pure heart which hath not lift vp his mind to vanity nor sworne deceitfully In which words we haue a discription of a sound hearted man 1 By his actions that he dealeth vprightly and so hath innocent hands 2. By his affection that he lifteth not vp his minde to vanity that is setteth not his heart on any earthly thing in which sence that Phrase is vsed in the originall Ier. 22.27 3. By his speeches that he hath not sworne nor any way spoken deceifully The reasons to confirme this point are drawne from the great inconueniences that will follow on the contrary for if there a be in any fraudulent and deceitfull heart 1 First there is a deadly quarrell Reasons and mortall enmitie betweene God and him for who are they that are reconciled to the Lord God hath a quarrell against hypocrites whose sins are couered by the righteousnesse of his sonne so that they shall not be imputed vnto them euen they In whose spirit there is no guile And what wil follow then for those Psal 32.3 whose hearts are full of fraude and deceipt but that they must needs be destitute of all hope of the pardon of their sins and so consequently lye open to the strokes of Gods vengeance due vnto the same 2 And as their persons are hatefull to the Lord so are their seruices abhorred of him He loaths their seruices for indeed they are not the seruices of God but of Sathan and of our owne flesh and therefore be they neuer so glorious in outward shew and let them pretend neuer so much zeale in the performance of them yet the Lord hath them in vtter detestation As we may plainly see in the hypocritical Pharises they would be euery where praying with great deuotion and very often fasting with great austerity blowing a trumpet to giue notice vnto men of their almes-deeds and liberality and striuing with al their might by externall obseruations to winne themselues the praise of holy and zealous men yet for all this our Sauiour sharply rebuketh thē saying Luk 16.15 Yee are they which iustifie your selues before men but God knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed before men is an abomination in the sight of God It is as loathsome vnto him as carions or toades or any such creatures as mans nature doth most abhorre can be vnto vs. Thirdly this is another misery of hypocrites They liue in cōtinuall danger that they liue in continuall feare and danger there are holes in their maskes at least their wil be and their double dealing shal be seene into it shall sometime or other come to light how they haue abused Gods presence and dissembled with their bretheren by making faire shewes and pretences of that which they neuer meant their sins shal not alwaies ly hid but either they wil giue ouer all in time of persecution as the stony ground did or in hope of promotion as Iudas Achitophel did Luk. 8.13 so discouer their false-heartednes or else it shall be drawne forth by their speeches in their merriments or in their distempers or else Gods spirit in godly men shall destroy it by working in their hearts a vehement suspicion of them and causing them with a iudicious eye more narrowly to pry into their works and waies By one such meanes or other God will lay them open to the view of the world so that being in such perill they cannot but haue a fearefull heart and a restlesse conscience And to this purpose notable is that saying of Salomon He that walketh vprightly walketh boldly or surely but he that peruerteth his waies shall be known Whence it is apparant that the vpright man needeth not to feare any thing he needeth not to bee afraid of ill men for though they may disgrace him they cannot shame him he needeth not to bee afraide of good men for the oftner he speaketh to them and conuerseth with them the more he is approued by them neither needeth he to bee afraid of God for hee that searcheth the heart and the reines knoweth and alloweth of the integrity of their soules They haue no cause of feare for the present because all things goe well with them neither is there any for afterwards because all things shall goe well with them for they shall neuer fall away from God None can plucke them out of his hand Ioh. 10 29. Ioh. 4.4 Sathan cannot because he that is in vs is stronger then he that is in the world sinne cannot because grace will preuaile against it the world cannot because this is our victory 1 Ioh 5.4 whereby we ouercome the world euen our faith And the Apostle concludeth generally for all other matters that neither death nor life nor Angels Rom. 8.38.39 nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. What followeth now on the contrary part for hypocrites but he that peruerteth his way that is alloweth himselfe in any ill course though neuer so secretly shall be knowne that is his vile and wretched dissembling shall bee detected if not in this world yet when the thoughts of all hearts shall be made manifest they shall be found out first or last and therefore they
howsoeuer he hath slipped in time past who is also one of the members of the same Church these two shall giue you to vnderstand of all things that may concerne you that are done in those parts Vers 10. Aristarchus my prison fellow saluteth you and Marcus Barnabas sisters sonne touching whom ye receiued commandements If he come vnto you receiue him Aristarchus in loue saluteth you vers 11. And Iesus which is called Iustus which are of the circumcision These onely are my worke fellowes vnto the kingdome of God which haue bene vnto my consolation So doth Marke and Iesus whom that you may be prouoked to loue againe I would haue you to vnderstand that touching Aristarchus he is my fellow prisoner for the Gospell touching Marke he is sisters sonne to Barnabas that notable seruant of God of whom you haue had commandement that if he come vnto you you should receiue him accordingly And touching Iesus his conuersation hath bene such as thereby he hath gotten the surname of Iust ANd of them all three together there are great causes why you should respect them for that they are of the race of the Iewes with whom God hath made speciall couenant especially seeing that of so great a number of Iewes that are here onely these three helpe to aduance the kingdome of heauen by giuing assistance vnto me vers 12. Epaphras the seruant of Christ which is one of you saluteth you and alwaies striueth for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect and full in all the will of God Epaphras saluteth you betweene whom and you there is a speciall bond by reason whereof euen now absent from you yet hee is one of you and being as you know a worthy seruant of Christ in the Ministery of the Gospel whereby his prayers are more effectuall he prayeth continually with great strife and earnestnesse for you that hauing entred into the holy profession of the Gospell you may stand and abide in it with dayly encrease both in the knowledge and obedience of the whole will of God vntill such time as by death you shall be complete and perfect men in Christ vers 13. For I beare him record that he hath a great zeale for you and for them of Laodicea and them of Hierapolis For howsoeuer I am not priuy to his priuate praiers yet I dare be bold so to write because I my selfe am witnesse how notwithstanding his absence he burneth in much loue towards you towards the brethren in Laodicea and Hierapolis the rather for your sakes which may either be furthered by their good or hindered by their ill estate verse 14. Luke the beloued Physitian greeteth you Demas Luke the Physitian one worthy to be beloued saluteth you and so doth Demas verse 15. Salute the brethren which are of Laodicea and Nimphas and the Church which is in his house Salute the brethren in Laodicea from me especially Nimphas his family which for their piety and good order in it I may not vnfitly terme a little Church verse 16. And when this Epistle is read of you cause that it be read in the Church of the Laodiceans also that ye likewise reade the Epistle written from Laodicea And when you haue read this Epistle in the Church to testifie your communion as in all other good things so especially in this sacred treasure of the word of Christ procure it to be read in the Church of Laodicea as of the other side that you also reade the Epistle which was written from Laodicea verse 17. And say to Archippus Take heede to the ministery that thou hast receiued in the Lord that thou fulfill it Tell also Archippus your Pastor and ordinary Minister from me that he looke more diligently to his charge of ministery which he hath receiued of the Lord that he do it not by halues but that he performe it in euery respect both of cheereful teaching of good example of life vnto the flocke verse 18. The salutation by the hand of me Paul Remember my bands Grace be with you Finally I haue sent you also my salutations not by the hand of my Scribe Secretary as the other salutations but by mine owne hand whereunto for a close of my letters I adde my request vnto you that you would in your prayers remember my bonds for the obtaining of whatsoeuer my captiue estate doth require And further my humble prayer is for the grace of God to be with you and so I am assured that it will be FINIS
both him and his banquet in comming with the most foule and loathsome garments of the old man which doe more displease the eyes of the Lord then the most base and beggarly raiment in the world can doe the eies of an earthly King 2 Secondly the manner of Gods proceeding viz. 1 That hee conuinceth the consciences so that they are speechlesse 2 That he condemneth the persons vnto vnuoidable and yet vnsupportable torments Then the King came in Verse 11 From this title which is attributed vnto the Lord this doctrine ariseth that God is the onely absolute King ouer all the whole world Doct. 1 Hee it is that is blessed and Prince God the king of the whole world 1. Tim. 6.15 the King of Kings and Lord of Lords This Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged after that the Lord had made him being the mightiest Monarch in the world to become more wretched then the poorest man in the world liuing as a beast for seuen yeeres together after that I say the Lord had abased him and raised him vp againe hee acknowledged that God was the King of all the earth whereas hee thought before that he himselfe had been shewing what manner of King he is Dan. 4.31.32 namely the most high euerlasting of an vnresistable power so that all the inhabitants of the earth are to bee reputed as nothing in comparison of him And the reason why the Lord doth challenge vnto himselfe this title Reason to bee the only absolute gouernour of all the world is this that all power whatsoeuer is deriued from him and limited by him so that all changes and alteration proceede from his al-ruling hand and therefore good cause is there that he should haue the glory of all This reprooueth them Vse 1 that in words will acknowledge the Lord to bee the onely ruler of heauen and earth but in their deeds deny it for what doe they neuer care to get the knowledge of his lawes much lesse to obey them nay they refuse to vnderstand the statutes of the Lord and rise vp in open rebellion against him and yet none more ready then such to cry out of others that they are disloyall subiects such as care not for authoritie and the like Indeed those that are such are much to be commended But in truth they themselues in the meane while are the notablest rebels in that they stand out against the Lord of hosts But they will vaunt and boast that they carry themselues loially towards their Prince and are carefull to obey authoritie suppose for thetime that they doe yeelde outward obedience to the lawes which yet few such doe yet if they doe not submit themselues to Magistrates in and for the Lord all their loialtie is nothing worth for the Apostle Iude speaketh of some that had mens persons in admiration because of aduantage Iude 1â— against whom he pronounceth a woe they would fawne vpon such as were in authority haue them in high admiration Oh they were worthy men their commandements much to be respected so that if they would haue them lie or sweare or commit any villany they would be at their becke and why for their own aduantage that they might get some commoditie or clime to some preferment c. that was their drift and further then to serue themselues they regarded neither the persons nor places of those that were in gouernment all their crouching was for aduantage sake nothing for conscience sake Secondly Vse 2 sithence our God is the soueraigne Lord King of heauen and earth therefore when wee are to stand in his presence and to draw neere vnto his table let vs with all reuerence and due preparation and with all feare and care and good conscience present our selues before his Maiestie The holy Ghost himselfe giueth this aduice concerning an earthly Ptince that if any bee to sit at table with a great Ruler Prou. 23.1.2.3 hee should looke vnto his carriage and restraine his appetite and not behaue himselfe rudely and vnmannerly now if this bee a point of wisedome when a man is to feast with one that is farre his superiour to wash his hands to haue respect of his apparell and if hee haue any suit better then another to put that on and in no sort to carry himselfe disorderly and vnbeseeming such a presence if I say a man would and should deale thus before an earthly Prince that if there be any failing can but giue him a rebuk and check or inflict vpon him some outward punishment how much more carefull and circumspect should wee be when we are to sit at the Lords table who looketh not so much to the externall behauiour as to the inward disposition of the soule and if hee finde vs vnprepared and vnworthy cannot onely smite vs in the outward man but cast both body and soule into hell Thirdly Vse 3 this is for singular comfort vnto all Gods people seeing the Lord their God is the onely Monarch of the world that exerciseth his kingdome from generation to generation this should strengthen them against all crosses and losses and troubles and temptations that though men would tosse them vp and downe and trample them vnder their feet and for that end doe euermore plot and practise against them yet it shall goe well with the righteous for the Lord raigneth ouer their most mortall aduersaries and though the times change and mens affections change yet their king is vnchangeable the same for euer in mercy and goodnesse towards all his true hearted Subiects hee hath turned euery thing to the good of his Church heretofore and so will he deale with his faithfull seruant still euen to the end of the world And thus much of the person of God that he is a King Now for his behauiour he doth not onely prouide for his guests but is there present himselfe in the assemblie of Saints to see the guests not but he saw them before but this is spoken for our capacitie to signifie that as God doth see through vs so he will let men know and feele and finde that hee perfectly discerneth what they are and with what hearts they appeare before him Doctr. 2 whence ariseth this point that The Lord taketh notice of euery guest that sitteth at his table Gods cie is vpon all his guests There are many commers but not all of one disposition therefore doth hee take a view of them that their intertainment may be according to their condition and preparation that if they be good they may speede well if bad they may receiue according to their ill deserts This is euidentin Zephania Zephan 1.12 where it is said that the Lord will search Ierusalem with lights not that the Lord needeth candles or torches but to shew that there are many darke corners in mens hearts where sinne lies lurking which if we will not search the Lord will and finde out euery corruption therein as men by burning Lamps come to the sight of
be made truly religious by which our mindes that are blind may be inlightned our hearts of crooked may be made straight of proud may be made humble and of fraudulent may be made true and faithfull And those meanes are the Word the Sacrament Prayer and the like which are the steps whereby we must ascend vnto this honorable estate for it is as possible for men to make stayres to climbe vp vnto the sky as for vs without these to ascend vnto heauen by any deuices of our owne framing The word is the key that must open hell gates to set vs at liberty from the bonds of sinne of Sathan and of death and to vnlocke heauen gates that we may haue entrance into glory in which respect it is that Christ saith vnto Peter that he would giue vnto him and consequently to all Ministers of the Gospel the keyes of the kindom of heauen that is the dispensation of the word which maketh the way vnto heauen ly open to al such as by faith receiue the same into their hearts So that we shold not come vnto the means with a base cōceit or light estimation therof but with a large ample desire and expectation of taking benefit thereby If men can once espy a way how they may rise in the world either to great wealth or promotion they wil be most industrious and laborious in that course they will refuse no paines in seedes time though the weather be vnseasonable and cold and their worke euery way troublesome but they will put themselues to it with all care and industry in hope though it be but an vncertaine hope of bettering their estate So those that liue by faires and markets wil nor faile one of them ordinarily neither heate nor cold winde nor raine nor any the like impediments shal hinder them from pursuing their commodity and why then should we be negligent and play the sluggards while our seedes-time lasteth the Lord biddeth vs plough vp the fallow ground of our hearts that hee may sow therein the seede of life which will neuer faile to yeeld vs a plentiful haruest if we can waite vpon him for the same And why should we be slack and carelesse when our chiefe market daies and faire daies come and not rather set our hearts and endeuours to seeke after those things which all that seeke shall finde and being found will make vs men for euer This should be an encouragement vnto vs Vse 3 not to thinke any thing too much that we can doe or suffer in or for the profession of Christianity Oh but it is an hard matter may some say to fast and pray Obiect and mourne and grieue our hearts continually for our sins Difficulties in Christianity and when we haue done all to be derided and maligned persecuted and slaine for a good cause and besides all these to feele Gods hand scourging vs sometimes with pouerty and want sometimes with feares terrors sometimes with temptations and inward conflicts c. These things seeme very great and very tedious indeed Answ to flesh and bloud but in truth they are but small yea matters of nothing if we consider what is the vse of them and what wil be the end of them therefore let vs remember for our cōfort when wee are in this strait and difficult and vnpleasant way Note that wee are going to be installed into a kingdome and who is there that being offered a Baronrie or a Lordship yea though it be but a Farme if so be he will take the paines to come for it who is here I say that would take exception and say Alas the aire is clowdie and the weather vncertaine nay it begins to raine or haile or snow alreadie and therefore I will euen stay at home and neuer wet my foote for the matter Nay if there be but likelyhood of some smaller gaine the weather fowle and the waies deepe and themselues somewhat out of temper also yet they will aduenture to goe through all and rather ferry ouer than come short of that profit that is offered how much more then ought we to breake through all impediments and swallow vp all difficulties with the consideration of this that our iourney tendeth not to the getting of some small commoditie or to the purchasing of some worldly possessions or to the obtaining of any earthly preheminēce or preferment whatsoeuer but that we are trauelling towards our owne countrey where we shall receiue an inualüable and eternall crowne of glory And albeit we must passe through many rough and craggie and thornie waies and meete with sundry things that wil be very irksome and vnpleasant yet let vs account withall that we shall find many sweet comforts and ioyes vnspeakeable and glorious in the middest of our pilgrimage and in the end shall haue the fruition of that happines which will make amends for all And this was it that made the Apostle Paul so comfortable in the middest of al his sufferings Therefore we faint not saith he but though our outward man perish 2. Cor. 4.16 17 yet our inward man is renued daily For our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre most excellent and an eternall weight of Glory Where we may note that when he speaketh of the happinesse of another life he magnifieth the same exceedingly both for the worth of it for the continuance of it calling it a farre most excellent and eternall weight of glory To be excellent is much to be most excellent is farre more to be far most excellent is yet an higher degree but when he calleth it a farre most excellent and withal an eternall weight of glory it maketh a great addition vnto all the former and sheweth that it is inded an inconceiueable vnutterable happines that in the heauen wee shal enioy but one the other side hee counteth his affliction light and momentany because it passeth as it were in a thought and is a thing of nothing being laid in the ballance against the neuer-sading blisse that we shall shortly come vnto And as for that weight that is in the tributions of this life it is but as an heauy bagge of gold that will make the heart of the owner light in the very cariage of it and so much the more light by how much weightier it is And therefore by all these motiues we should perswade yea euen compell our soules vnto patience vnder the crosse of Christ and to perseuerance in the practise of all the duties of godlinesse a patterne of which patience we haue in the Hebrewes Who after the had receiued the light endured a great fight in afflictions Hebr. 10.33.34 Partly saith the Apostle while ye were made a gazing stocke both by reproches and afflictons and partly while ye became companions vnto them which were so tossed to and fro For both ye sorrowed with me for my bonds and suffered with ioy the spoyling of your goods
vnto his Father for a blessing to be bestowed vpon the receiuing of it not onely vpon those that were then present but vpon all that should afterwards to the end of the world faithfully partake of the same In that Christ Iesus seekes the blessing of this ordinance from the Lord Doct. 6 the doctrine is that The vertue and efficacie of the Sacrament The vertue of the Sacrament is from Gods owne hand See the Sermon on Iohn the 6. is from Gods owne hand through the mediation of Christ Iesus God giues it and Christ procures the benefite of it vnto his people and this is common to all other ordinances and seruices with the Sacrament To this purpose it is said that Moses gaue not that Manna vnto the Israelites in the wildernesse from heauen Doct. 5 but my Father saith Christ giueth you the true bread Iohn 6.32.33 which giueth life vnto the world that no Minister nor creature in heauen or earth can bestow vpon any First Reasons 1 one generall reason of this doctrine is that euery good giuing and euery perfect gift is from aboue and cometh downe from the Father of lights Iames 1.17 Now what more excellent perfect gift can there be then the body and bloud of Iesus Christ and therefore if God be the author and giuer of all other good things this must of necessity proceed from his bounty in a speciall manner A second cause why God wil haue the disposing of his graces in his owne hand is that there might be a difference betweene him and all his Ministers and that he might retaine that prerogatiue for Christ Iesus alone for he it is that giueth the meate which endureth to euerlasting life And the reason is because the Father hath sealed him that is the Lord hath authorized him by the broade seale of heauen and will et none to be copartners with him in that office he is the Lord Treasurer of all graces and therefore he must blesse his ordinances vnto vs if euer we looke for benefite thereby In which regard Iohn Baptist saith I baptize you with water that is all that he could do as for washing of the heart and purging of the conscience that he attributeth wholly vnto Christ Iesus Matth. 3.11 He will baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire Iohn would not arrogate that vnto himselfe lest he should treacherously lay claime to that which is proper vnto the crowne The like faithfulnesse in giuing God his due we see in the Apostle Paul who saith I haue planted Apollos watered 1 Cor. 3.6 but God giueth the increase thereby intimating that the best Ministers are but as Gardeners in the Lords Church they can but put the scions into the stock or the roote into the ground And as possible it is for a man to make a tree as for a Minister to make a Christian and as possible to put sap into a dead blocke and to make it grow and flourish and bring forth fruit in aboundance as for a Minister to put into any the least drop of grace or to adde any whit vnto it where it is already wrought Thirdly the Lord wil haue the vertue of the Sacrament to be in his owne power to bestow where how he will that there might be a difference betweene Communicants to wit betweene the good and the bad If it were in mens hands to dispose and did consist in the deede done as ignorant Papists imagine men would bestow it promiscuously and wicked hypocrites should haue as good a share as those that are truly religious and the worst speed as well as the best for men cannot search the hearts of their people to see with what prepararation they come and there is that loue in them which is a thing commendable that they desire all might be faued If Moses could haue giuen euery man in Israel grace when he gaue them the Manna he would haue done it he that could haue bene content that his name should be razed out of the booke of life for their sakes would not haue stuck with them for such a matter If Abraham could haue circumcised Ismaels heart when he circumcised his flesh he should not haue bene excommunicated for his prophanenesse but God hath alwaies heretofore and doth still keep this power in his owne hand that so he may enrich with grace those whom he thinketh fittest and deale with euery one as he knoweth their hearts 1 Cor. 10. Moses was the Minister of Baptisme to those that passed through the red sea yet with many of them God was not pleased for onely those that are good in his sight shall taste of his good gifts And therefore Christ praieth not for the world but onely for those which he hath chosen out of the world Iohn 17. such as shall beleeue through the preaching of the Gospell that they may be partakers of the benefite of his ordinances First for instruction Vse 1 if euer we would speed well when we come to the Sacrament let vs make the Lord our friend sith the distribution of grace pertaineth to him alone let vs seeke it at his hand and not bring any sinne with vs which may offend his glorious presence which if we can do we may and must expect a blessing from him It is not the goodnesse of the Minister that can do it though it be a good comfort to haue a holy mans praier for vs it is as possible that a man should appoint where the raine shall fall as where grace shall fall and though it should be concluded by Parliament what daies it should raine and in what parts of the land it were of no force for God alone hath the ordering of the cloudes and so hath he also of the graces of his Spirit Secondly Vse 2 this maketh for the comfort of such as come preparedly vnto the table of the Lord with a true heart though burdened and wearied with many corruptions Christ hath praied that the Sacrament may be effectuall vnto them and therefore it shall be so and he hath praised God for giuing it vnto his people and therefore it shall not be in vaine neither their owne weaknesse nor the meanenesse of the Elements nor the imperfections of the Minister shall hinder the powerfull working of Gods ordinance But we are base creatures Obiect and the Minister is no better then he should be Indeed if Grace were to be fetched out of such dirty ditches as we are we could looke for little good Answer but God is a cleare fountaine and from his fulnesse shall we receiue grace vpon grace But alas neither we Obiect nor our Minister can pray so earnestly nor praise God so heartily when we communicate at the Lords table as God requires and we ought to do What of that Answer were not Christs praiers and praises such as must needes be pleasing to the Lord If they were as cannot be denyed let vs neuer be discouraged for
you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Iesus Christ And considering that the blessing of all labour dependeth vpon the Lord our beginning is with hearty prayer vnto God for the grace and fauour of God to be freely giuen together with all blessings both of this life and of that which is to come from GOD the Father and from our Lord Iesus Christ to you Colossians yet not all that dwell in that citiy but to those which by faith are Saints and brethren not in the flesh but in Iesus Christ Verse 3. We giue thanks vnto God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ alwaies praying for you And that you may haue further testimony of our loue towards you know you that we do continually both pray giue thanks to God for you whom to separate from all false Gods I call the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Verse 4. Since we heard of your faith in Christ Iesus and of your loue towards all Saints For the report of your profession and piety in Iesus Christ and of your loue towards all Saints is come vnto vs. Verse 5. For the hopes sake which is laid vp for you in heauen whereof ye haue heard before by the word of truth which is the Gospell Which both profession and loue we know to be sincere in that they are vpholden in you through the hope expectation of a treasure laid vp not on earth but in heauen which hope you haue conceiued not of your owne fantasie or of the word of any man but by the word of truth that is to say the Gospell Verse 6. VVhich is come vnto you euen as it is vnto all the world and is fruitfull as it is also among you from the day that ye heard and truly knew the grace of God And if you aske what is that truth or Gospell verily none other then that which is preached among you now which is not among you alone but is preached in all the world a certaine note of the truth therof there hauing neuer bin nor euer shall be any doctrine which hath leauened so great a lump of dow as is the world but only the Gospell And for further assurance that it is the truth of God I offer this to your consideration that as in other places of the world so among you it hath brought forth fruit euen from the first time you haue truly and sincerely acknowledged this grace of God Verse 7. As ye also learned of Epaphras our deare fellow seruant which is for you a faithfull Minister of Christ Where if you say we know not what doctrine is preached in all the world nor what fruit it hath brought forth although it be no other thing then the common constant report which many may bring vnto you yet to ioyne neare vnto you and to ridde you of all doubt which is the true Gospell of Christ it is euen the very same that you haue learned of Epaphras whom if you loue me you must loue as being my beloued fellow seruant in Christ yea if you loue your selues you must respect him as being a faithfull Minister of Christ for you Verse 8. VVho hath also declared vnto vs your loue which yee haue by the Spirit Who made manifest vnto vs your true loue not onely naturall but that especially which is spirituall whereof the Spirit is the author Verse 9. For this cause we also since the day we heard of it cease not to pray for you and to desire that yee might be fulfilled with knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding And as we giue thankes for your good and so for the same cause that you haue well begun both because you should not go backe againe and for that you haue not attained to perfection euen from the first day we heard of you we neuer giue ouer praying for you making this suit that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and vnderstanding whereof the holy Ghost is the Author Verse 10. That ye might walke worthy of the Lord and please him in all things being fruitfull in all good workes and increasing in the knowledge of God Not that you should content your selues with a bare knowledge and contemplation of heauenly things but that you walke worthy of those whom the Lord hath called to such honor to a full and whole pleasing of him both by bringing forth frunt in euery good worke and by being increased in the knowledge of God Verse 11. Strengthened with all might through his glorious power vnto all patience and long suffering with ioyfullnesse Wherein because there are many difficulties and hinderances laid in your waye our suit also is that you may be strengthened with all manner of strength according to that glorious power which being in God he is able to furnish you with that euen with ioy you may be able to beare all troubles how grieuous and how continuall soeuer they be Vers 12. Giuing thanks vnto the Father which hath made vs meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light And as we giue not ouer praying for you so doe we not cease to giue thanks to God the Father because that it is he that by his holy Spirit hath made vs fit to haue a part in the inheritance of Saints whom whether we consider as they are in this world by reason of the comfort and true knowledge of God or as they shall be in the world to come by reason of their perfect blessednesse may well be said to be in light Vers 13. Who hath deliuered vs from the power of darknesse and hath translated vs into the kingdome of his deare Sonne This parte of our inheritance standeth first in that God with a mercifull hand pulled vs out both of the present darknesse of ignorance and disobedience and from that which is to come euen the most fearful punishment of them both And secondly it standeth in this that the same God hath translated vs into the kingdome of his most deare Sonne which being here begun shall be accomplished in the life to come Vers 14. In whom we haue redemption through his bloud that is the forgiuenesse of sinnes In which his deare Sonne we haue a full redemption whereof one parte which is our iustification we haue already receiued waiting for that which remaineth euen the redemption of our bodies all which redemption is purchased vnto vs in the obedience of the Sonne which obedience was specially and most significantly declared in the shedding of his bloud Vers 15. VVho is the image of the inuisible God the first borne of euery creature This Christ that you may know what plentifull and rich redemption you haue in him to the end that you may rest in him alone is thus set forth vnto you as followeth As touching his person standing of two natures he is the most liuely and expresse Image and character of God not only of