him the oppressed of a Patrone Thus doeth Iob cleere himselfe in the 29. of Iob. I deliuered the poore that cried and the fatherlesse and hym that had none to helpe him the blessing of him that was ready to peryshe came vppon me and I caused the widowes hart to reioyce I was the eie to the blind feete to the lame I was a father to the poore and when I knewe not the cause I sought it out diligently I brake the iawes of the vnrighteous man pluckt the pray out of his teeth Thus did Iob discharge him of the defence hee did owe vnto them lendyng his eye vnto the blind to spie out the right of his cause and his hande to the oppressed to plucke the pray out of the vnrightecus mans teeth Mare and besides this the whole land hath title to a defence and saftie by them fromsinne Forsimre and wickednes vnpunished â—â—keth the lande giltie of blood and bringeth the wrath of GOD vpon it Which wee haue notably prooued vnto vs in the 21. of Dent. A man is founde dead it is not knowen who sine him the elders and iudges must come foorth and measure to the Cities that are rounde about hym that is slayne the Elders of the Citie next to the slayne man must take a Heyfer out of the droue and bring it into a stony valley and strike of the Heyfers necke and washe theyr hands ouer the Heifer that is beheaded testifie say Our hands haue not shed this blood neyther haue our eyes seene it O Lord be merciful to thy people Israell and lay no innocent blood to the charge of thy People Israel and so the blood shal be forgeuen them so shal yee take away crie of the innocent blood This care and prayer was there to vnburden the lande of blood euen when the malefactour coulde not be founde and this confessing of a kinde of guiltinesse in the Elders and Iudges next vnto that Citie for that yf iustice had beene straightly looked vnto by them it is credible the malefactor durst not haue approched so neare Thus woulde the Lord teache vs that wickednesse vnpunished crieth out against the 〈◊〉 wherein it is committed Nowe seeing by the expresse commaundement of God there was suche care taken to purge the land of murder or manslaughter when the authour thereof was vnknowen And that not otherwyse then by sacrifice prayer and solempne protestation before the Lorde of theyr innocencie eyther for doeyng it or seeing it done they were discharged of the daunger thereof What conscience and care ought yee and all other that sit in iudgemeÌ„t to haue that you make not your selues and this lande guiltie of the blood by winking at sinne and wickednes especially by letting the murtherer that is manyfest escape you And yf the whole land where wickednesse committed against the second Table is winked at bee founde guiltie of the blood wee stande in greater danger of that iniquitie that directly concerneth the glory of God I meane the offences doone against religion and the true woorshyp of GOD And the whole lande is to looke for defence against so great daunger at the Magistrate his hande And because it is a duetie they owe vnto vs it standeth them vpon to seeke the peace of their owne conscience in that calling which cannot be other wife compassed then in the true discharge of that which is det and due on theyr behalfe That which is recorded in the 22. of Iosua doth notably direct magistrates with what care and vigilancie they are to deale against corruption in the worship of god It is woorth the notyng to obserue howe they were afrayde of the Altar erected by Iordan insomuche that they geathered them togeather to goevy to warre against theyr brethren so soone as they heard that an Altar was builded in that place Albeit their brethren had no ill meaning in that matter Naye as afterward they doe professe their meaning therin was very good godly but coÌ„science of duty experieÌ„ce of plagues where suche offences as there they feared had escaped without punishment made them ielous ouer euery occasioÌ„ afrayd of euery light suspition as appeareth by the speache which they had to theyr brethren Haue we to litle say they for the wickednesse of Peor whereof wee are not cleansed vnto this day yee are turned this day from the Lord and euen to morowe hee wyll be wroth with all the congregation of Israell Did not Achan trespasse greatly in the execrable thing and wrath fel on all the congregation of Israel and this man alone perished not in his wickednes The Lorde put it into the minde of our magistrates in lyke maner that when soeuer they shall heare of an Aultar erected in any secrete corner of this land false worshyp vsed they make no delay vntyll they haue seene the offence punished Wee see theÌ„ what cause magistrates haue to watch ouer euill and what occasion wee haue to commend them to God by feruent prayer that they may sincerely serue the Lorde in so great a callyng leaste the whole lande shoulde be araigned before the iudgement seate of the highest and all found guiltie of much blood outrage and Idolatrie which hath long laide vpon the land vnpunyshed which plague the Lorde in mercy keepe farre from vs. Iustice and Iudgement they are the strong holdes and fenced places of this land they are the keyes of our Countrey they keepe vs better then all the Blocke-houses or places of defence wheresoeuer they are better able to encounter with our enimies then any garyson of men howe well practised soeuer they may bee But contrarywise the neglect of iustice is woorse then rebellion it pulleth Princes out of theyr thrones maketh the lande cast out her inhabitants ioyneth with forra ne power openeth the gates of all our castles and houldes taketh the weapon from the warriour taketh the hart from the valiant Souldier wisdome and forecast from the wise CouÌ„cellour poisoneth al our munitioÌ„ And in the fifth of Esai The Lorde vnder the similitude of a Vine doeth most liuely declare how he wil deale with his people when iudgement and righteousnesse can not be founde among them He wil breake downe the wal thereof and it shal be troden downe he will take away the hedge and shal be eaten vp It is our part therefore to pray for our magistrates those that be in place of iustice that they may looke to the cause of the Widowe Fatherlesse and oppressed that they may purge the lande of blood by takyng punishmeÌ„t vpoÌ„ malefactours that they may haue courage and the feare of GOD that they may hate couetousnesse so that our Prince may sit sure among vs our holdes strongly fortified our hedges still vpholden that we may long inioy peace to the better honouryng of our god And theyr owne safetie doeth require great care in this behalfe Shalt thou reigne saith the Prophet to Iehoikim because thou closest
thy selfe in Cedar Did not thy father eate drinke and prosper whē he executed iustice and iudgement when he iudged the cause of the poore hee prospered was not this because he knewe me saith the Lorde but thine eies and thy heart are only for the couetousnesse and for oppression therfore thus sayth the Lorde of Iehoikim he shal be buried as an Asse is buried The Lawier he must deale iustly geue euery man his owne for hee is the liuing lande marke that limitteth men their inheritaunce that pointeth out their right and title howe farre it goeth and so breaketh controuersie and telleth euery one in his doubtful cause where his clayme and title lieth what lawe and equitie wil beare him in and where it will forsake him Hee I say is a liuing lande marke that by true opening of the lawes boundeth euery man within the compasse of his owne title And because of that doeth highly deserue of the common wealth as a most necessarie and profitable member thereof Suche men are the common treasure house of the Lord whereunto the euidences of euery man are committed and they put in trust withall to reserue for euery man his title that when hee is incombred for his right they shoulde out of that Treasure house of the lawe bryng good euidence for him and so foorthwith cleare his innocencie The lawe is the house of euery man where beeing tossed with many stormes abroade hee findeth a place to hide his head in and beyng in safetie doeth boldly contemne both winde and weather quietly take his rest For being tossed with iniuries either in body goodes or name we haue no house of refuge rest beside the law no sanctuarie in our vniust vexation besides that The place which they serue GOD in who are ministers of the lawe is very high and honourable the good they may doe very muche yf GOD geue them conscience and care of it The hurt in lyke manner is exceeding great where the feare of God doeth not rule For is it not a merueilous mischiefe to remooue the landmarke of any man It is that sinne that had a solemne curse called for against it by the ministerie of the Leuites whereunto al the people were commaunded to saye Amen And what diuersitie or difference is there betweene him that setteth in the lande marke and so boundeth a man shorter and him that eyther by wresting of the lawe or hyding the true meaning of it is an occasion of cuttyng short or empayring the true Title of any man Euery man wil graunt that yf a man of no conscience had the custodie of all the Euidences of this lande hee might doe muche mischiefe by cancellyng crossing interlining putting in and out at his pleasure hidyng or shewyng renting or reseruing as him lusteth And is not this perfourmed whyle the lawe is made to speake that they knewe in trueth it did neuer meane and too burye that in silence which it was appointed to geue testimony and witnesse vnto And if all this were nothyng what can bee so miserable as when a man hath ben al the day abrode in the stormes and tempestes at night when he commeth home hee shal finde his house in that case that it can neither holde out wind nor rayne And do not many who are forced by reason of the Stormes and Tempestes abroade to take them to this their house and harborowe I meane the Law finde the tempest often as grieuous there as before they dyd in the playne woulde to God there were none turned out of theyr owne doores in the middest of the storme without any hope at all of harborowe from thence or if a man that had ben dogged to his owne doores by Theeues hauing gotten his house vpon his head beginneth to breath himselfe and reioyse for his good escape thinking all to be safe and suspecting no harme who coulde sufficiently bewayle him if in the middest of his Triumphe they bee founde in his owne house that fall vppon him and murther him And is not the lawe the house of the troubled and vexed man Yea Westminster Hal is the poore mans house And therefore doeth he pay taxe and subsidies that it might bee an house of defence vnto him able to keepe out winde and weather how tempestious soeuer If a man that is oppressed and wronged abroade in anye part of this lande shall bring his matter vnto hearyng at Westminster Hall looke that yee bee good vnto him in his owne house let him take no harme at home His griefe is great enough abroade It hath alwayes euen by the lawes of man beene counted an haynous offence to vexe and annoy a man in his owne house What ye thynke of the matter I cannot tell this I am assured of it is his due to be well dealt withal there and yee are to answeare the Lorde not onely for denying but also for delaying and deferring of iudgement For why the man hath right and title in his good cause vnto as speedie a dispatche at your handes as possibly may be had And therefore Iob professed that hee had not weeried the eyes of the wydowe with waytyng long for helpe before it came It is a true saying of that Heathen man Bis dat qui citò dat He doubleth his gift that geueth it speedily It was a griefe to Iethro Moses his father in lawe to see the people stande from morning to euening about Mose waiting for the dispatch How would hee haue taken it if hee had seene men which commonly happeneth heere among vs to waite frō tearme to tearme nay from yeere to yeere Wee are all of vs seuerally to deale righteously with our brethren in all our conuersation with them and thereby declare the loue wee beare them And the Lord hath appointed vs to shew this loue not only vnto them but vnto the thinges that bee deare vnto them as goodes and good name euen vnto these hath the Lord bounde vs aswel as to theyr persons For wee muste thus intermedle one with another and finde succour one from another And theyr name and goodes by his appointment goe through our handes and charge aswel as his person and must finde succour there This is the charge from our God that when any thing of theirs passeth through our handes it finde that affection towardes it which may geue testimony of our brotherly good wil to them and witnes our obedience vnto god And the same GOD that forbiddeth the murder of his bodye forbiddeth also the stealth of his goodes And the same God that hath bound ouer our loue good affection to his body hath in like maner doone it towardes his goods Hardly shal any mā be perswaded that he is louing vnto him who is empayryng him in any thing that is deare precious vnto hym alwayes gayning by his losse The poore man whose money muste passe through the handes of the Merchant the Farmer the Draper c. By that time that euery one
soule out of aduersitie Solomon thy sonne shal raigne after me The benefites are not lightly regarded that are receiued in aduersitte For the present sense and feeling of the miserie doeth greatly enhance the price thereof And therfore Dauid tooke away all occasion of doubting when he pawneth for assurance of his word so great a matter as was his thankfulnes for his deliuerance out of aduersitie For it could not be that he should forget to redeme so great a gage And in this highest degree of gifts commeth this benefite commended vnto vs for it is the grace of God that bringeth saluation And bringing of saluation prooueth our estate to haue been damnable before It is not only miserie thē that we were plunged in before this benefit came but a miserie of miseries for we were holden vnder the thraldome of death damnation Such a benefite deserueth thankfull remēbrance it speedeth where any perswasion will preuaile such a gift a man would thinke should find fauor prosper whither soeuer it turneth Hauing succeded so great and grieuous a miserie how can it but haue the cast of most boūtiful sweete mercie We may learne by this that hath bin said what the cause is why the holy ghost saith not simply The Gospel teacheth and exhorteth vs but sayth the grace of God which bringeth saluation teacheth and exhorteth vs for it is the Gospel that he meaneth and yet he calleth it The grace of God that bringeth saluatiō to make vs more mindeful of the matter This maner of perswading by giftes and benefites vsed of the holy Ghost may learne vs a profitable lesson howe to withstande temptations vnto sinne whatsoeuer to witte by keeping fresh in memorie the seuerall benefites of God towardes vs making them as bulwarkes against our sinfull assaultes so that when they allure vs we may thus answere them The God who hath redeemed my soule from al aduersitie doeth forbid it me The grace of God to whom I owe my saluation doeth denie it vnto me The goodnes of that God of whō I haue receiued life health honour wealth deliuerance out of these and these troubles preseruatiō from the murtherer euil tōgue and slaunderer doeth desire me that for all the good will that euer he hath borne me I would not consent vnto it If any Prince should by speciall pardon deliuer a subiect frō death that by law and Iustice had deserued it and after aduaunce him to some place of honour in the Lande hard and vnthankful were his heart if those sutes especially of the prince which brought with them the remembrance of this mercie for their better enterteinment shoulde nothing be regarded and in verie deede the benefites receiued from our God should be notes of remēbrance vnto vs for his seueral sutes against sinne and shoulde be alwayes at the albowe iogging of vs to remember him when sinne would pull vs from him And with these or such like speeches to sounde in our eares That Lord that tooke thee off the Ladder when the sentence of euerlasting death had passed against thee biddeth thee nowe remember him that God who hath picked thee out of so great a multitude that continue in their infidelitie hardnesse of heart and obstinacie and blessed thee with speciall knowledge comfort and confidence in him nowe willeth thee not to forget him It shall bee profitable for vs to beholde this in practise which nowe in doctrine can not but delight vs. Ioseph warring with the wicked attempts of his Mistres who would haue intised him to cōmit wickednes with her beareth off al her wicked assaults with this armor For the very remembrāce of his Maisters good wil benefits towards him brideleth him so that he dare not assent vnto her shamefull demaund euē in respect of the iniurie that he should doe vnto a maister so good and well deseruing at his hands Beholde saieth Ioseph vnto her my maister knoweth not what he hath in the house with me but hath committed all that he hath into my hande there is no man in this house greater then I neither hath he kept any thing from me but onely thee because thou art his wife How then can I do this great wickednesse The benefites of his maister towardes him seeme so great a matter in his eyes that he would learne of that impudent and shamelesse woman if impudencie it selfe could happely find out any colour of reason or excuse for so great and grieuous an offence How then sayth Ioseph after he had recited the great kindnes of his master can I possibly doe so great wickednesse not thinking otherwise but that shamelessenes it selfe would blush at such vnkindnesse and vnthankfulnesse as that was with shame inough begin to giue ouer as one who had nothing more nowe to aunswere in so foule a matter There is no man so base but in respect of some benefite receiued from God hee speaketh that sometimes in his heart which Ioseph vttered in woorde to witte there is no man greater then I but there are fewe that inferre therevpon as Ioseph did how then can I doe such wickednesse against him that hath made me the greatest It were a godly aduauntage had of Pride to make this gaine of our mounting and aspiring thoughts which would perswade vs that we be the greatest and thus to replie vpon them If I bee such a one howe then can I lie sleeping in securitie ignoraunce of God and his worde malice and vnmercifulnesse being sworne enemies to his kingdome that hath thus aduaunced me You see by this that hath beene sayd what is the vse of God his benefites euen to be the bane of vngodlinesse to smite thorowe this old man of ours this corrupt nature directing the Speare of Gods grace euē to the heart roote of Sinne when it stirreth within vs So that sinne shall no sooner put out the head but we calling to mind some one or other speciall benefite of God shall bee readie with that same weapon of his grace to runne vpon it and wound it at the heart Therefore we see what necessitie lieth vpon vs except we wil exceede in all vnthankfulnesse to yeeld our selues obedient scholers vnto this Teacher euen the grace of God which bringeth saluation Hauing spoken thus much of the scholemaister order requireth to tell you what the lesson is which this good Schoolemaister would so gladly learne vs and that is this To denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and to liue soberly iustly and godly in this present worlde Let vs see what this great grace requireth of vs euen deniall of vngodlinesse and worldly lustes Thus doth the spirit of God begin with vs for we are so wretched and wicked matter that we must be weeded ere any thing may safely be sowen or planted in vs This monstrous cōtagion Leprosie are we admonished of in the order of teaching vsed by the holy ghost generally throughout the scripture In the Moral law almost all precepts were negatiue Thou shalt
in his worde lesse Religion lesse obedience lesse good conuersation as for them that take his benefits and with them doe warre against him their place is taken vp alreadie in the nethermost pit if the Lorde giue not great repēcance therfore brethren for Gods cause let vs hasten our beeter acquaintance with him who by benefits hath so long time cōmended him selfe vnto vs and let it be our shame that he shoulde thus long bee a stranger vnto vs that of so long time hath had so louing dealing with vs Let vs ioy more in his delights set our heartes more vpon that he commandeth and commendeth vnto vs so shall we come out of their rancke which in heart say Who is the Lorde that wee should serue him Which men by his benefites haue receiued no earnest of their saluation no pledge of any speciall good wil no assurance of true safetie no delight in his loue no more familiarite with him nor greater comfort of him who are no more drawne out of the worlde and her delightes to follow him who hath in so sundrie giftes witnessed his good will called them vnto him and pledged these as earnests that his owne glorie abideth for them Now would I see where wee might set them if not in his ranck who haue so often bene fetched vp from the loue of the world by so many messengers of Gods mercie and yet haue so little ioy to be aboue and so hungerly pursue the pleasures and profites here below as if they had neuer no not in meditation had the sight of any other delights The benefites then lead vs vnto the Lorde when in them we see him to bee our father make the more hast to come to him hauing an eye to the endlesse life he calleth vs vnto comming more in desire from these things here below and getting more holde and more hope aboue shewing as well in prosperitie as aduersitie that we are not wedded in our lust and desire vnto worldly goodes in wealth by not beeing letted by it to followe the way that God doeth set before vs nor yet to deale mercifully with our neighbours and to walke humbly with them in affliction by holding our selues well contented insomuch as we want not him who is a plentifull portion and the best veritage The last note of vngodlinesse is this they say what profite shall we haue if wee call vpon him These are no speeches of the tongue as I haue saide before but the sense of the heart No man so euill that maketh not some reckoning of his prayers howe some do value them we cannot be ignorant The holy Ghost when he hath reproued the people for their out warde worship in sacrisices willeth them to call vpon the Lorde in the day of trouble promising that he will heare them and they shall glorifie him making prayer a special worship of God and setting it before the outwarde sacrifices in the 4. of Deut. it is made the peculiar prerogatiue of the people of God because there are none in such a case as they be who haue their Gods so nigh them as our God is nigh vnto vs in all that we call vnto him for Then must it needes be that they are in an euill taking that see no fruit of their prayers it being the speciall blessing of the people of God to haue him nigh in their prayers by graunting their petitions But for asmuch as it is sayd to be the voice and affection of the heart and no man being asked wil giue out so slenderly of his praiers Let vs come to a further examination of it The most sort of men haue no profite by their prayers because they make not conscience to knowe and doe those things which the Lorde by his worde hath reuealed to be pleasing in his sight Whatsoeuer we aske sayth S. Iohn wee receiue of him because we keepe his commaundements and doe those thinges which are pleasing in his sight No maruail then if those be farre from hauing their prayers heard of the Lorde who haue neither knowledge nor liking of his woorde And a great sort of others who in professiō haue receiued his woorde when they want any thing if they see meanes how to come by it either pray not at all but forthwith vse the meanes either else if they pray it is but of fashion as being in their iudgement sure and safe alreadie if they see no likelihodde to attaine it being without hope they let praier fal So if any thing fal out where there was the worke of an ordinarie meane it steppeth betweene God and his prayse darkeneth the light of prayer If otherwise any thing come where prayer for want of fayth was let downe that is put ouer to miracle or fortune therefore in heart and of experience they cannot say that they are anie whitte beholding vnto their prayers But we learne in the Booke of God that the godly pray in matters moste harde to be brought to passe and most vnlikely in regarde of anie vsuall and ordinarie meanes and yet are heard and giue him the praise There are named in the 107. Psalme diuers matters that seeme to be mere casual comming without all meanes yet prayed for graunted and with prayse returned to the giuer and vnder those are all other also vnderstood that may be thought to be as casuall There is mention made of the mariners in the Sea tossed with tempests now hoysed vp nowe plunged downe till their heartes faile within them yet when they pray vnto the Lorde they are heard of him and then do they giue him thankes Other casuall things are mentioned and all comprehended But in the last verse the holie Ghost maketh it only the wise and godlie mans worke to vnderstand this in trueth to comprehend it and by true and inwarde assurance thereof to giue him the prayse for it The vngodly therfore in ordinary things are hindred by the meanes inextraordinarie they see nothing but chance and therefore they say What profite shall we haue if we pray The children of God knewe that nothing is pure vnto them vnlesse it be sanctified with prayer and therefore they reforte to him in all their necessities by prayer They poure their griefes into his bosome with desire to obteine that they might prayse his mercies and they surely finde if they continue asking either deliueraunce either else a tollerable condition which doth assure them that it is not in vaine to seeke the Lorde and that the ende will be happie Praier for benefites acknowledgeth God to be the giuer and maketh prayse to bee giuen in trueth not to pray to God is to be an vtter enimie to his glorie not to pray particularly as necessitie requireth is to enuie him his praise and the practise of Dauid in particular considerations making his prayers and Psalmes doeth reprooue it The Papists take God his grace to bee throwne downe indifferently And men not experienced of his goodnesse
of the law when visions reuelations were often and vsual yet were they then subiect to the word to be cried by it nay to be ouerruled of it According as we reade If there arise among you a Prophet and geue thee a signe or wonder and the signe or wonder which he hath told thee come to passe saying Let vs goe after our gods thou shalt not hearken vnto the words of the Prophet yee shal walke after the Lord your God and shall keepe his commaundementes and hearken vnto his voyce but that Prophet shal be slaine because he hath spoken to thrust thee out of the waye wherin the Lord the God cōmaundeth thee to walke If in the times when visiōs reuelations had their best alowance and the most lawful title that euer they had all that notwithstanding they were to geue vp their account vnto the written woorde of God and frō thence to receiue their Quietus est We may not then in those times receiue suche wares vnder the alone warrant of their own weights when faith must fight against miracles and reuelations for the woorde whiche in the infancie of the Church was helped by miracles vnto the woorde How can there be any true gedlinesse among this people among whom God is not licenced to speake in his woorde what pleaseth him but the woorde strained by their spirite to speake after the liking of miserable men Great is the vngodlinesse likewise of those men who hauing banished superstition and fantastical reuelatiō yet for al that leaning vnto the hold of their profession of the trueth as vnto a sufficient fortresse doe not submit themselues to any often and earnest vse of the woorde and prayer with conscience and care to haue theyr wayes reformed by it and with perswasion of any great necessitie that they haue of it We can not geue our selues vnto these dueties vnlesse we shal be in the expectation and looking after the hope of an other life therfore very fitly doeth the Apostle ioine vnto these seueral duties that we haue hearde of this speache Waiting for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the mightie GOD our Sauiour Iesus Christe For it cannot come to passe wee should be taken of from things here below vnlesse we be assured els where No man wyllet goe thyngs assured for vncertaine Faith must geue vs assuraunce of greater glory from GOD ere wee can let goe the houlde that we haue heere Therefore it is made a speciall note of God his Children necessarily ioyned to his worship to be in expectatiō of the latter day and the glory therof When Paul wil set out the commendation of the Thessalonians and fame that was geuen out of them in all places he doeth no otherwise commend them then that they were turned from idols to serue the liuing God and to wayte for his sonne from heauen which should bestowe vppon them this benefitete to deliuer them from the wrath to come And in the seconde to the Thessa. perswading them by that which was in mosle reuerence and regarde with them and likest to bring them into the earnest consideration of his words he frameth his speach thus I beseech you brethren by the cōming of our Lord Iesus Christ and our gathering together and vniting vnto him So that the looking for the last day semeth to him to be in great reuerēce regard assured expectation among them when he maketh their reuerence vnto that the matter and ground of this exhortation And when he laboureth to lift them of the earth cōmonly he reareth them vp with no other instrument than this the waiting for the glory hope of another life In the 3. to the Col. he reasoneth thus When Christ which is your life shal appeare then shall you appeare with him in glory mortifie therfore your earthly mēbers vncleanes couetousnes which is Idolatry And in the 3. to the Phil. opening the meane of their stay frō hunting after the earth w the false Apostles which minded earthly thinges He sayth thus But our conuersation is in heauen from whence wee looke for a Sauiour euen the Lorde Iesus who shal chaunge our vile body that it maye be like his glorious body In the xi to the Hebrues the obedience of Abraham in leauing his owne coūtrey not knowing where he should become is ascribed to this that he waited for a Citie that had a foundation whose maker is God for al things in the world are subiect to corruption The great things that are spoken of Moyses in accounting the rebuke of Christe to be of more value then the treasures of Aegypt and his not fearyng the fury of the kyng is onely imputed to this that he was as if he had seene him that is inuisible The comming of the glory of that great God was alwaies before his eies The greatnesse of the thing and the excellencie of it is noted in these woordes The glory of the great God our Sauiour Christe It is the same glory the great God our Sauiour Christe inheriteth that we waite for It is worth the waiting for there is cause why wee shoulde be mooued to sobrietie hauing so great thinges in expectation We beseech you saith Paul that ye would walk worthy of god who calleth you to his owne kingdome and glory The glory of this worlde deseleth our eyes and therfore must we be drawne vp by meditation of greater thinges before we shall bee able to let these be of small reckoning with vs The greatnesse of that glory once throughly digested woulde set these in a base and lowe place it would make them vanish assmoke from our presence The expectation of a transitorie kingdome when it is once deuoured and digested by hope we see it maketh men neglect liues goodes landes friendes children and countrey to hazarde all The merchant that is in expectation of some great gaine we see into what vnknowen countreis into what daungers by the Seas he wil commit himselfe The great regarde and care that is had euery where to the thinges heere below the greedy followyng after them the careful pursuing of pleasures profites and honors do plainly speake that the hope of another life is not yet setled in the heartes of a great number Let vs cal to remembrance how that this is our day to waite it is our time to serue when Christ which is our life shal appeare then shal we be glorious and appeare with him in glory There is no pleasure which the lord hath not matched with some griefe and paine to take of if it might our delite and to fasten it in surer thinges If the glory of God cannot preuayle with vs yf it cannot chaunge our taste howe shall wee looke for renewment If so great hire as is his owne glory cannot allure vs brutish senselesse must our nature needs be What a greater argument can wee haue of our blockishnesse then that so great things can get no more attendance
from afoording either countenaunce or speache of incouragement in this cause The Lord had a special purpose in it and we are therfore to drawe speciall instruction frō this that there did neuer greater wāt appeare neither moe infirmities breake out of the Apostles then when the worke of our saluatiō was in hand For had they geuen but the least helpe vnto that worke how should men haue beene kept from matching them with Christe in the matter of mediation For many be so mad that notwithstanding the best of them coulde not helpe with a comfortable countenance when our saluation was to be procured yet wil they haue the meanest of them at least felowes with Christe at halfe of the Mediatorship for they wyl not be perswaded but that they must pray vnto them and so haue them fellowes with Christ in the office of intercession Howe hath the holy Ghoste met with man his infirmitie herein and remoued all stūbling blockes that we might haue free passage to the alone Mediator betwene God man the man Iesus Christe Who can deny but that the only wise God did foresee what great folly superstition many would fal into with the Apostles and Saints of God and therefore would haue the work of our saluation so cleare voyde of any helpe from the Apostles that the chiefe of them could not be kept from sleeping at the beginning neither from periurie forswearing after a litle farther proceeding in the same For so farre were they from helping our saluation forwarde that being requested to watche and solace their Maister with their sight in his agonie that they are daunted lie like dead men And when they are wakened and reproued for that they would not watch one houre by by they fall faste a sleepe againe so that no manner of comfort can be had from them And no maruell for the Almightie had determined that the cōbate should be single perfourmed of one alone and therefore it could not he that Peter and Christe should suffer togither In deede there were twoo the eues crucified with him but there was no doubt which thing the learned doe wel note that the sacrifice for sinne should haue any supply from their suffering The forme of prayer which our Sauiour Christ vsed vnto God the father when he entred into this agonie doth likewise tel vs what pain anguish he did susteine For sundry times he made this petition vnto god O my father if it be possible let this cuppe passe from me Let vs ceasse to maruell that the Apostle did beare no part in it for this his praier doth declare that Iesus Christ had his hands ful of it Let vs not maruell why the Apostles had no more lust nor affection to deale in it for Iesus Christ him self if he had followed the sence persuasion of his flesh had flatly refused it fainted at the first neuer haue gone thorowe with it O my father if it be possible lot this cuppasse Howe heauy a waight of our sinnes was vpon him not onely is bewrayed by his praier but also by the drops of bloud that fel from his face and by his often passage as a man greatly distressèd and in sore anguish frō his Apostles to the place where he prayed and from thence to them again Sometimes waking them seeking comfort from the sight of them and sometimes againe intreating his father for fauour Neither doth he this once away but sundry times doth he renewit make oftē attemptes to haue ease by it This was the beginning of this his cōflict much anguish was in it as you haue heard litle comfort comming from any yet the farther he proceedeth the more his paine increaseth and the lesse comfort he feeleth Before he had the sight of his Apostles albeit they could not be kept waking for his comfort nowe they all flee forsake him saue Peter who did abide by it a while but in the ende did forsweare him His father whom before he did attempt to intreat now standeth foorth taking the place of iustice and the seate of iudgement summoneth all his seruantes to appeare answeré for their sinnes Thē the sonne of man Iesus Christe commeth foorth to the barre appeareth in the person of al sinners there stādeth he to receiue sentence and afterwards execution accordingly which could be no slender punishment for it must be a sufficient satisfaction for the sinnes of all his seruantes It could be no litle blowe that he did beare for why it was such a one that the sinnes of all his seruantes did die of it Howe could it be a little stripe or stroke that was the death of so manse sinnes Nay vniuersally of all the sinnes in his seruantes When hee went vnder it this speache of his O God my God why hast thou forsaken mee did sufficiently testifie what waight and burden he had of it Before he was forsaken of men and his dearest Disciples had left him Now sinne hath set his father against him and hee feeleth him an vtter enimie vnto him For that hee wrestled not with an ordinarie and vsuall kinde of death his wordes to his father doo bewray He was to beare the punishment for sinne which must touch him els how shuld we be persuaded that the punishment was sufficient and meete for such a matter Beholde a true ballance wherein to waye sin a Glasse that will giue vs the true sight of sinne Looke vppon this glasse yee which think that at your last houre ye shalde wel enough able to driue away sin with a sigh Behold this spectacle ye that take sinne in yong men to be the grace of those yeeres so slender a matter in olde men that it can not abide the least breath or sight of one that hath gray heares You see when sinne is to be answered the Apostles left it and Christ him selfe did sundrie wayes declare that he had enough of it We may see sufficiētly by this that they neuer felt the sting of it who in their speeches remedies appointed to redresse it doe giue out so slenderly of it There is one thing whereof we are especially to be admonished that we neuer make our selues guiltie of so great vnduettfulnes against our God as to call his diuinitie into question because he was hūbled vnto this anguish paine in our person and bewrayed such sence and feeling thereof in our nature For how doe wee answere the Lord if we will let him haue no longer any honour from vs for that he was so greatly humbled for vs Hereby we may sufficiently see and discerne what a cursed and counterfait Christ that is which H. N. hath brought into the world For H. N. his Christ was not first God then after whē he was to suffer made man but first man after by his suffering was Godded with god He gaue no special argumēts of good will vnto vs by his passion suffering for himselfe
had the greatest benefite by it in somuch as that he could not haue bin saued without it He is not this true Christe who offred him selfe a sufficient price for al the sinnes of his seruantes for hee leaueth euery one to answere for his owne sinne telling him that he him selfe and no other is to answere for it And therefore looke what the sinnes of H. N. his Christ cost him the same price must they pay for theirs if they will beleeue him All the helpe that they haue from him is that hee hath paide his money before them so that nowe they shall not neede to trouble them selues either about the price to spende any long time in learning what is required neither yet about the manner to vnderstand where and howe it is to be paide If any doe meruell howe H. N. can make away this so plaine an historie let them vnderstande that it is well knowen to those who be any thing acquainted with him that to sinke any historie H. N. will require no more then one single shot of an Allegorie The Lorde graunt that they which thus abolishe the true Christ his office to set vp so cursed a creature in his place may be looked to in time before they shall drawe others into the same condemnation Christ Iesus gaue him self for vs to purge vs that we might be a peculiar people vnto him selfe zealous of good works Here are all the carnal gospellers condemned who liue in hope that vnder the coūtenance of their profession all libertie of life will well enough bee borne out that make Christe his death to be nothing els but a bawde vnder their lewde life Here may we see that the Lorde hath not laide downe his life to purchase no other thing at our handes beside a profession of the trueth but that hee bought with his bloud a zealous addicting of our selues to christian conuersation It is a wonder to see howe the wicked will boast of the benefite of Christ his bloud howe mightie it is to merite howe sufficient to saue from sinne But for all that will they not giue ouer anye libertie of life that before they haue enioyed whereas it was giuē to purchase a newe conuersation aswell as a new professiō For he gaue him selfe for vs that we might giue ourselues vnto him a peculiar people zelous of good works Let vs marke it then my brethren that hee gaue himself for vs to haue the honour of a christian life frō vs He left his life for vs that our life might be let out to honour him He made not so slēder a purchase with so great a price as that if he had a good sigh or a good worde at our last breath that would suffize him his life was giuen for the purchase of a zealous giuing of our liues to the works that please him And therfore doeth the Apostle tel vs that we are not our own mē to frame our life after our owne liking but are to serue the Lorde both with our body and with our spirite because they are the Lordes bought of him with a price If we humble not our selues to a zealous following of good works we withhold the Lords due for he hath paide a great price to purchase a good life at our handes Hee hath with no small price but dearely bought of vs the honor of a life led in zealous obedience vnto his word For we are not barely to giue some good words either els to shew some good countenance towards religion christian conuersation but to haue our conuersation declare that we are affected with the same and become studious of such an estate of life Such men declare themselues to be that peculiar people for whome the Lorde laide out his life As for those who walke so inidifferently betweene true religion and false that a man can not discerne whether they are more enclined vnto As also those that walke so euen betwene a ciuill life and a christianlike behauiour that the difference is not easilie discussed they do declare themselues as yet not to bee affected in desire toward those duties which the Lord hath laid vpon his Nowe where this purchase of his hath taken place they are become a peculiar people zealous of good workes If colde christians haue so litle comfort from the death of Christ what shall become of them that are sworne enimies either to true religion or els to good life christian behauiour It is saide here by the Apostle That we must be purged to become a peculiar people vnto our God zealous of good workes which office of purging the holy Ghost performeth not by miracle but by meanes wherin we haue great cause to be thankfull vnto God that whereas our foode was exceeding grosse vnder the gouernment of the Pope as hauing onely for diet the inuentions of man Nowe that pure and fine foode of the worde of God is not only made lawfull vnto vs but also liberally laid out for vs But herein againe we are both to confesse and acknowledge our want that seeing we are not voyd of sinne while we remaine in this fleshe and therefore haue neede to be often purged clensed our purgations for all this so great a change so good a constitūtion of the minde vnder the Gospel be now at this day nothing diuerse frō those that were vsed in that great grossenes which we had vnder the Pope The Canon lawe I confesse might purge somewhat in those times of ignorance when because the foode was so grosse the minde could not but be full of great and grieuous humors but nowe the constitution of our minds being altered by reason that the foode is so cleane diuerse from that it hath bene howe cā it purge to any purpose Let vs therfore euery one pray that seeing by reason of this good diet of the Gospell the state and constitution of our minde is chaunged in steede of the Canon lawe which passeth ouer many daungerous humors and purgeth them neuer a whit by reason of the great grossenesse that is in it wee may haue rules and Canons out of the worde of God which will pearce further purge other humors whereof we haue great store and those such as do greatly blemishe the Gospel and causeth so great slaunder vnto our profession as hindreth many from cōming therevnto How often doth the whole body of this Realme assemble togither in that high court of Parliament to redresse those euils that are amōg vs either in body goods or name making new statutes and repeling olde according as by that wisedome and experience whiche God hath giuen them they see and perceyue any daunger either present or shortly like to fal vpon them But as for the church which Sathan maliceth infinitly more and therefore maketh many sorer assaultes against the same how slenderly in all such assemblies is her estate thought vpon And what statutes are there made to preuent the practises of Sathan Or what olde
The trueth is we are perswaded of the excellencie of them and therefore in all suche places alledged for the waiting of his comming there is the benefit set foorth with it and the greatnesse of it which pointeth at our darkenesse and vnbeliefe herein and telleth vs that the glory of this world standeth as a cloude betwene it and our sight To concludle set vs inlarge our hope by meditation praier enter into some consideration of the length breadth and depth of that glory so shal we see such a portion in it as will comfort vs euen in our greatest afflictions countiing it a great honour that we are vouchsafed his seruice as the Apostles haue doone Now we are to consider of that which is the third thing in this our diuision to wit what was geuen to make vs good schollers in this his doctrine and to become a people zelously geuen vnto good workes The gift is so great as himselfe for he gaue himself for vs He laide not downe his life at the plesure of his aduersaries being otherwise vnwilling but franckly and freely of his owne accord did yeeld it vp for vs This is that which wee esteeme aboue the benefite often times the minde of the geuer Great gifts are darkened when they come from an vnwilling mind leese their commendation but a willyng mind aduaūceth the least gift that can be No man taketh my life frō me saith our Sauiour Christ but I laid it downe of my selfe His wyllingnes also appeareth in this that he went forth to meete them asking of them whom they sought confessing him to bee a man As his aduersaries did not compel hym by violence to leaue his lyfe no more did good deseruing on our part procure him therunto And therfore S. Iohn doth herein note a speciall thing that he began with vs and prouoked vs vnto loue and not wee hym This loue was voluntarie and not forced It had likewise the preheminence of beginning and prouoking and was neither borne nor begotten of any former benefite of ours to himward In this gift that was geuen we are to remember not onely that moment of his passion wherein hee passed immediatly from life to death but also the whole course of his life while he had his aboade with vs heere vppon earth For hee serued vs with his life as well as with his death performing in it all that obedience which the Lord requireth of man And this obedience vnto the law could not be vrged of duety vpon hym who was Lorde of the Law in his owne name and for himselfe but onely in respect of vs whose cause and person he was content to sustaine Touchyng his life what a rare argument token of good wil was this to begin withal that he would be abased so farre for vs as to lay downe the maiestie and glory wherin he was nothing inferiour to his father and to take vpon him the estate and condition of a poore and miserable seruaunt to leaue the highest estate in heauen to goe vnder the basest condition here vpon earth to chaunge the highest dignitie with the basest condition the greatest glory with the greatest infamie the place that hath superioritie ouer all with that which is to serue all What is the glory of all kingdomes in the world if they were ioyned together to the glory of heauen and yet how impossible were it to intreate him who is king of the leaste Islande in the worlde to chaunge his estate with a seruant to leaue the glory of his kingdome and to imbrace the estate of the meanest subiect seruant in the land What subiect how friendly soeuer in former times he had been to the prince could after long sute preuaile thus muche with him and behold the king of heauen and Lorde of life doe◠force this friendshippe vpon his enmies It requireth our earnest meditation of the matter to consider the greatnesse of the goodwill that lyeth vnder it for it hath neuer before or since beene hearde of that the sonne his lyfe shoulde bee thee price too purchase vnto the seruaunt his freedome that the sonne shoulde be solde to serue to the end the seruant nay enemie might be made free Wonder at this worke thou earth and be amased at it yee heauens for from the beginning if all your registers were searched the like shal not be heard of at any time to haue happened The gift had bene exceeding great if we should haue had no more at his handes then is the seruice of his life lead in all maner of obedience for our sake heere vppon earth but after this obedience vnto the wil of his father in al duetie accomplished he himself must passe through death and so become a slaine sacrifice for the sinnes of his seruants Wherin let vs a litle behold the weight of such a work so shal we make the better account of hym who hath wrought it for vs Let vs behold his behauior when the time approched of his appearing before the iudgement seate of the righteous God for sinners Which although it be but the entraunce into his passion suffering wyl notwithstanding let vs haue some sight tast wherby to discerne how heard a worke he had in hand When he was to enter the answering of sinne he went as appeareth in the Gospel after Saint Mathew into a place called Gethsemane saying to his disciples Sit ye heere while I goe and pray yonder While hee was on the way he begā to waxe heauy sorowful and greenously troubled Insomuche that hee complayning of his griefe vnto Peter and the two sonnes of Zebedeus whom he toke with him saith vnto them I feele my hart heauy vnto death tarry ye here watch with me The paine pressed him so sore that he craueth the comfort of theyr presence in that combat Ye may well consider that it is no small matter which driueth the soone of God to intreate his Disciples to watch with him But are they able to afforde him any helpe In trueth they can geue no help vnto the matter hee hath in hand It is no great thing that is required and yet for all that it cannot bee obteined It is no great matter to looke on though the matters which be in doeing were neuer so daungerous and yet the Scripture doeth tel vs that the chiefe of the Apostles coulde not holde vp theyr heads and helpe their maister at his desire while hee yet was but in the beginning of his conflict with so much as a comfortable countenance no not after he had cōplained of their great vnkindnes expostulating the matter with them had vsed these wordes towardes them What could ye not watch with me one houre A wonderful matter that Peter the prince of the Apostles shoulde bewray so great weakenesse that beyng sundrie tymes requested by his maister could not performe towarde our saluation so litle a matter as is the looking on So farre was he