hardened against the grace of God yet let him heare this worde of God and let it often fall into his eares Ier. 3.29 for it is as the Prophet saith a hammer which breaketh the stone in peeces and is able in the power of God to mollifie his heart or if the sinner be suncken downe so deepe that he will not rise it will crush him downe deeper that he may perish in sinne and so God saith to his Prophet Ieremie I will put my words into thy mouth and it shall be as fire Ier. 5.14 and this people shall be as wood and it shall deuour them And this is it S. Paule expresly witnesseth to be the onely meanes to glorifie God to preach the truth of his word vnto all for so saith hee we are alwaies a sweet smelling sauour of Christ vnto God as well in those that perishe as in those that be saued 2. Cor. 2.16 to the one a sauour of life vnto life to the other of death vnto death 237 The cause why the worde of God is despised BEcause the word of God is simple and teacheth vs not high and excellent thinges in the opinion of the world for this cause it is despised and men make no accompt to follow the way which it teacheth thinking it a great dishonour to be conformable to the same and that they should be scarce woorthy to liue Likewise men persecute at all times those that followe it as wicked and esteeme them vnworthy of life But those which despising the worde seeke out thinges which are in price with the worlde and follow them are reputed honest men and are placed alwayes in the most honorable place amonge worldlinges Which is the cause that they thinke themselues to be in good estate and of such force as they shall neuer perish Wherein they deceaue themselues Deu. 4.6 Leu. 18.5 Mat. 22.32 Mar. 12.27 for seeing the worde of God is our wisedome and vnderstanding and that he which doeth the thinges appointed by the same shal liue it foloweth that without this wisedome there is nothing but death 238 It is not for vs to knowe the times and seasons which the father hath put in his owne power BY the woorde of God wee are taught and instructed that the day of the Lorde shall come vpon vs as a theefe in the night When the light of the trueth is taken away when the heart of the good man of the house is at rest and his eyes are darkened that they cannot see and all his sences drowned in worldlye pleasures When wee care for nothing that is godly when we saye peace and rest then will the sonne of man come to iudgement then shall destruction sodainely fall vppon vs. Act. 1.7 1. Thes 5.2 Therefore let vs be readie for in the houre that wee thinke not will the Sonne of man come Of that daye and houre knoweth no man sayeth our Sauiour Christ no not the Angelles which are in heauen Mar. 13.32 neither the sonne himselfe but the Father What may wee thinke then of them that write Bookes and Almanackes and say and teach expresly that such a yeare and at such a time Christe shall come and with these speeches fraye and mocke the worlde Let men know that they are but mortall and that by nature they are vtterly blinde God hath giuen vs knowledge in measure we can not know asmuch as we would Let vs know that which is fitte for vs and speake that that is lawfull to be spoken Let vs thinke vpon the commandements of God to followe them and not search into his workes Luke 21.25 Esa 13.10 Eze. 32.7 Ioel. 2.31 3.15 to be curious in them for he that is curious in searching the maiestie of God otherwise then he hath reuealed in his word shall be oppressed and confounded by his glory Thus much we may well know that the Lorde will come that all fleshe shall appeare before him that the worlde the heauen and the earth the Sunne and the Moone shall haue an end Math. 24.29 42. that the day of the Lord shall come sodenly as a theife in the night This warning God hath giuen vs that we should not be taken vnawares but that we repent and stand in readinesse continually watching and praying euery minute of an houre that we may be caught vp into the cloudes to meete our Redeemer 239 Of the second comming of Christ THe Sonne of God shall come downe with maiesty from heauen the Trumpet of God shal sonnde and be hearde from the one end of the heauen to the other Then shall he be the iudge ouer al flesh Then shall hee shewe himselfe to be king of kinges Lord of Lordes Then shall he not come in humilitie meekenesse and mercye but with dread terror of iudgement and iustice Not with 12. poore Apostles but with so many thousande Angelles to attende vpon him Not in the preaching of the gospel and calling sinners to repentance but in the sound of a trumpet wherwith all the corners of the earth shall be amazed Then shall hee not saye Come vnto me all ye that labour and are heauie loaden Mat. 11.28 Mat. 15.24 and I will refresh you I am sent to the lost sheepe of the house of Israell He shall not say Father forgiue them for they know not what they doe but he will saye you haue beene ashamed of mee and my worde before men therefore now wil I be ashamed of you before my heauenly Father Then shall they that despised the woorde of God knowe what they despised and the blasphemers shall reape the fruite of their blasphemy Then the carelesse Shepheard and idle Minister which hath not to his power fedde the Lordes sheepe but neglected them and left them at al aduentures which folowing the lustes of his owne heart hath betrayed his flocke and giuen them to be a pray vnto the wolfe shall receaue a iust recompence for his treason Then the aduterer oppressour and vsurer shall haue their life layde open before them They shall see him whome they pearced thorough Reu. 1.7 They shall see his sworde readie drawne to slaye all his enemyes and shall fall downe for feare of him that sitteth vpon the throne But the hearts of the righteous shall reioyce They shall lift vp their heades see him in whom they haue trusted Then shall they say This is the day which the Lorde hath made Ps 118.24 let vs reioyce be glad in it Let vs reioyce vnto the Lorde let vs come before his face with praise let vs sing loud vnto him with Psalmes Such shal be the state and countenance honor maiestie of our God when he shal come down from heauen for our deliuerance 240 Christ is the Apostle and high Priest of our profession IF we be Christians we must learn to professe no other teacher nor no other Sauiour but Iesus Christ onely 1. Cor. 1.30 We must beleeue and
the oppressors the couetous and cruel vsurers is the depriuation and loosing of the true and heauenly riches which are much more precious then all the transitorye treasures of this life 67 Of riches and how they hurt OVr Lorde Iesus Christ verye aptly in his Gospel compareth riches and worldly pleasures to thornes for as thornes haue fayre greene leaues and beautifull blossomes and flowers that may allure a man to reach at them so if he take holde of them hastily he shal be sure to be pricked with them Mat. 13.22 So there seemeth to be a certaine beautie and sweetenesse in riches therby to purchase worldly pompe and pleasures but if a mā with greedy desire reach at thē 1. Tim. 6.9 they will wound him pearce him to the hart For riches worldly pleasures pricke in getting they pricke in keeping and they pricke in departing and cōmonly they wound a man so greuously that without repentance they kil him for euer Rightly therfore are they resembled to pricking dangerous thornes there is nothing that doth so fully possesse the minde of man nor so mightely pull it from God and the care of saluation as the studie of riches and worldlye pleasures Wherefore our Sauiour Christ sayth that it was as easie for a Camel to passe thorough the eye of a needle Mat. 19.14 as for one whose heart was possessed with desire of riches to enter into the kingdome of God The same thing in effect he also teacheth in the parable of the rich man that made a feast for the marriage of his sonne and sent his messengers to bid the guestes and they refused to come pretending sundrie excuses Math. 22.1 c. One sayd I haue bought fiue yoke of Oxen and must needes goe proue them I pray thee haue me excused Another sayd I haue bought a farme and must go see it I pray thee haue mee excused The thirde sayde Luk. 14.16 I haue married a wife and therefore I cannot come By this feast is meant the communion of the gospel benefit of our saluatiō purchased by Christ To this feast mē are called by Gods messengers that is by the faithfull ministers of Gods worde the excuses made shewe what causes commonly they are that with hold mens minds frō obeying the word of God cōming to the gospel that is the cares of the world the study of riches the pleasure pompe of this life noted by these 3 kinde of things whereof our sauiour Christ speaketh in the same place And would to God these impedimentes had choaked the word of God hindered the hearing of the gospel in Christes time onely were not of greater force in the harts of men at this day in England Mat. 6.24.27 c. And the cause thereof is the care of the world loue of riches which maketh thē to haue no regard of the worde of God nor of their owne saluation 68 Howe riches ought to be vsed IF a man be rich hee must vse the goods he hath in his handes and that in doing homage vnto God which he cannot doe vnlesse he be cōtent therwithal to resigne thē vp to forgoe them then vse them as it is meete There are two thinges requisite if they that haue possesse riches Mat. 5.3 Ps 62.10 will vse them aright First of al they must be poore in spirit that is to say they must not be tied to their riches but when it shall please God to make them poore they render vp the whole into his handes and desire nothing but to haue their cōtentation in him Secondly while it pleaseth God they shall enioye their riches which they possesse that they knowe howe to vse thē moderately that it be not to glut themselues with them and to hurte their neighbours to make themselues gorgeous braue aboue their estate but alwaies vse them so as God hath commanded 1. Pet. 5.7 And if we be poore God will prooue our patience by this meanes and haue vs to depende wholely vppon him Ps 40.17 Hee that hath much must not trust in his wealthe he that is poore and low must know that hee hath his Father in heauen and that the blessing of God is better then all the kingdomes and treasures of this worlde When we haue scraped togeather all that wee can possiblie desire if God blowe vppon it it will all goe to winde but if God blesse vs Esa 40.24 bee it neuer so little that hee hath giuen vs it will suffice vs it will be ynough for vs to liue from hande to mouth for Gods hand shall continually be stretched out vppon vs to content vs. So then seeing God hath set downe this rule that men content themselues with that he giueth to euerie one it is certaine 1. Tim. 6 9 that whosoeuer coueteth to be riche he cleane casteth off the yooke submitteth not himselfe to Gods order Wherefore let vs take heede to our selues be content to be nourished in this worlde knowing that God hath reserued this office to himself as that we aske craue at his handes our dayly bread Let vs worke Mat. 6.11 do our duties in our vocations Luk. 11.3 And if it please god to encrese vs moreouer beyond our hope and cause our riches to growe let vs yeelde him praise and thankes for the same 69 We must haue an assured faith and a contented minde THere are two things without the which we shall neuer be able to performe any acceptable obedience vnto God in this eight cōmandement The first is an assured faith in the promises of God that he will prouide for vs thinges necessarie aswell for the bodie as the soule and that he hath charged himselfe aswell with the care prouision for the one 1. Pet. 5.7 as for the other This faith if it were true would consume many feares cares of our minde for worldly matters Mat. 6.33 so that we might apply our selues vpon the care of better things This did the holy ghost knowe very wel therfore mening to cure couetousnes he maketh the plaister of faith saying Let your conuersation be without couetousnes Heb. 13.5.6 Iosh 1.5 Ps 118.6 for he hath said I wil not faile thee nor forsake thee When our heartes shal be fully perswaded that the Lorde will not leaue vs nor forsake vs we cannot be so greatly tormented with the care to liue and to obtaine necessarie things for vs hauing so strong assurance for it as is his promise who hath made al things of nothing with his worde The seconde thing is Ps 33.6 to finde a contented mind with that which we haue already And therfore to stay in it as in a poreportion with great thankfulnes of hart to our God for it bearing our port countenance in all our doings accordingly without any exceeding whatsoeuer For if once our affections shal ouerflow the bankes of
The Lawe saith pay thy debt the gospell saith Christ hath paid it The Law saith thou art a sinner dispaire and thou shalt be damned the gosple saith thy sinns are forgiuen thee be of good comfort thou shalt be saued The law saith make amends for thy sinne the gospell saith Christ hath made it for thee The lawe saith the father of heuen is angrye with thee the gospell saith Christ hath pacified him with his blood The Law saieth where is thy righteousnesse goodnesse and satisfaction the Gospell saith Christe is thy righteousnesse goodnesse and satisfaction The law saith thou arte bound and endebted to mee The gospell saith Christ hath deliuered thee from them all He that beleeueth not Gods worde beleeueth not God him selfe the Gospell is Gods worde therfore he that beleeueth not the gospell beleeueth not god himselfe 31 Difference betweene the Lawe and the Gospell THere is nothing more necessarie and comfortable for troubled consciences then to be well instructed in the diffecence betweene the Law and the gospell and therfore is the church of Rome muche to blame in this behalfe because it confoundeth together these two being in nature so diuers and contrarye one from the other as threatnings and promises things tēporall with things eternall soroweful things with glade tydings death with life bondage with freedome c. teaching the people that whatsoeuer the Lawe saith the gospel confirmeth and whatsoeuer the gospell saith the same is agreeable to the law and so make they no difference betwene Moses and Christ saue onely that Moses say they was the giuer of the old law and Christ is giuer of the new and more perfect law And thus imagine they the gospell to bee nothing els but a newe Law giuen by Christ bynding to the promises thereof the condition of our dooings and deseruings no otherwise then the old law And so deuyde they the whole lawe after this distinction into three parts the Lawe of nature the law of Moyses and the Lawe of Christe And as for the Gospell they saye it is reuealed for none other cause but to shewe to the worlde more perfect preceptes and counsailes then were in the olde lawe to the fulfilling whereof they attribute iustification and so leaue the poore consciences of men in perpetuall doubt and induce other manifolde errors bringing the people into a false opinion of Christ as thoughe he were not a remedy against the law but came as an other Moyses to giue a newe lawe to the worlde Furthermore as they make no difference beetweene the nature of the Law and nature of the Gospel confounding Moses and Christ together So neyther do they distnict or discern the time of the law and the time of the Gospel a sonder Gal. 3.24 For where S. Paule bringeth in the lawe to bee a Schoolemaister limiteth him his time vnto Christ and saith that Christe is the ende of the Law that is Mat. 5.34 Ro. 10.4 whereas the Lawe ceaseth there Christ beginneth and where Christe beginneth there the law endeth They contrariwise make the Law to haue no ende nor ceasing but giue to it immortal life and kingdome equall with Christe so that Christ the lawe together do raigne ouer the soule and conscience of man which is vntrue For either Christe muste giue place and the law stande or els the law the condemnation and curse of the law I meane must ende and Christe raigne For both these Christ and the Law grace and malediction cannot raigne and gouerne together 32 Of the true worship of GOD. The Lord our God doth straight lie charge vs in the firste commaundement of the firste table that we reserue vnto him onelie Ex. 20.2.3 Mal. 1.6 Mat 10.28 Ier. 10.7 Ps 135.6 hys whole honour not giuing anye parte thereof to anye other That wee loue and feare him aboue all that wee acknowledge him alone to bee our gouernour and guider of al things of whom we receaue all our benefittes And finally that we make our prayers to none other but to God alone For inasmuch as he is God alone and besides him there is no other Iam. 1.17 Ro. 10.14 and can and will doe all thinges for vs which are needfull aswell for our soules as bodies Wee must not goe vnto them which are no Gods neither any other where to seeke those things which cā be perfourmed and geuen vs by none but God onely The man that will truely examine himselfe in this commaundemēt must well consider with himselfe what doubting and mistrusting he hath of Gods helpe in aduersitie what vnlawfull meanes hee hath vsed to helpe him by in his seeldome or carelesse resorte vnto him in his prosperitie aduisedly considering that the lawe requiring soundnesse in our whole nature aswell in thought Deu. 27.26 as in deed accurseth him that continueth not sounde in all that is commaunded By this meanes we shal be brought to see what neede wee haue of the obedience and bloudshed of Iesus Christ Gal. 3.24 and so shall the Lawe be come our Schoolemaister to bring vs vnto Christ 33 What signifieth the deliueraunce out of Aegipt VVHereas the Lorde maketh mētion in the beginning of his lawe Ex. 20.2 of the deliueraunce from the bondage of Egipt we muste vnderstande that as concerning the bodie it is peculierly to bee referred to the people of Israel Howbeit it doth indifferently belong vnto vs all in that we are redeemed by Christ from hel the diuell sinne and death For wee are the children of Adam by nature accursed and inheritors of death Eph. 2.3 wee haue nothing in vs but sinne and so consequentlie we muste needes be accursed before God Let men please◠magnifie themselues as they liste yet beholde their birth beholde their nobilitie they are but bondslaues of Sathan they haue a sinke and bottomelesse gulph of corruption in them they are worthy that the wrathe and malediction of God should fall vppon their heades breifly being banished from the kingdome of heauen they are giuen ouer to all misery wretchednesse Now our Lord God by the hand of his sonne hath hence deliuered vs. He hath not sent a Moses as to the people of auncient tyme but not sparing his only sonne he hath deliuered him to death for vs. Io. 3.16 Being then ransomed with so deare and inestimable a price as is the holie and sacred bloud of the sonne of God We ought wholly to yeald our selues vnto him So then in steade that it was said to the auncient people that God had deliuered them out of the land of Egipt it is now saide that wee bee redeemed from the bondage of Sathan to liue vnto the Lorde Ro. 14.8 1. Cor. 6.19 as the Apostle speaketh that we are not our owne Wherefore it behoueth the faithfull that they presume not on the libertie to doe what seemeth them to liue euery one after his owne luste For our Lord Iesus Christ therefore died and rose againe and reuiued
vnfaithfull vnto GOD and to his Church we shoulde be like them which suffer the sheepe to be deuoured in sparing the Wolues 73 Of true and false witnesses VVHEN we witnesse or speake truth against the wicked for to send him to death though we saue not his life Yet do we not cease to be true witnesses and to saue liues For in purchasing the punishment of the wicked wee are cause that diuers doe liue in peace and reste and thus doe wee preserue and saue liues the which is a very acceptable thing before GOD who will haue the Magistrates to punish the malefactor Deu. 17.9 Ro. 13.3 i. Tim. 2.2 vppon the othe of two or three witnesses that the euill being purged we might lyue in peace Nowe if the Lorde be carefull of such temporall and corporall sauing and preseruing Let vs vnderstande that by a farre stronger reason he taketh care for the spirituall and eternall sauing of liues as he hath alwayes shewed when he raysed vp true men which haue geuen themselues to shew the way of trueth vnto his people as were Noah Abraham Lot Moyses Iosua the iudges the holy kings and Prophets And not content heerewith Hee hath sent his owne sonne who not onely was a true and faithful witnes for to preache deliuerance as a minister and seruaunt but by himselfe hath made the purgation of our sins sheading his moste precious bloode for the eternall redemption of our soules And if the deliueraunce of our soules be so pretious before God Heb. 1.3 9.12 Ro. 8.32 that he hath not spared his owne sonne It folloeth therefore that we must be careful thereof before all other thinges Otherwise we are great contemners of God and renounce to be saued and redeemed by Iesus Christ the which is to do him great iniury and consequently to put our soules in bondage with the Deuill Nowe for to be carefull of our deliueraunce we must as Iesus Christ hath sent vs his Apostles and disciples for to be true witnesses vnto vs and asmuth as lay in their ministerye haue deliuered vs from death and dānation euen so still now we shoulde demaunde of him such Pastors and Ministers which wil be true witnesses and declare nothing vnto vs but the pure word of God to the which if we cleaue by faith repentance 2. Tim. 4.3 Io. 8.44 they shall deliuer our soules But as they are the most profitable witnesse which preach vnto vs Iesus C. euen so the most exquisit deceiuers ar they which vnder the shadow of religiō do set forth mens traditiōs doctrines of diuels vaine speculatiōs and subtil questiōs For such so much as they can do shut vp the kingdome of heauen from men and doe deliuer them vnto the Deuill 74 Wee muste not vpholde the slaunderer but beare with our brethrens infirmitie IN the worde of God not only those are charged with this sinne of false witnesse that first set on foote and erect a false tale to the discredite of their neighbour but those also that by their approuing of it and eares willingly opened vnto it doe vphold the same For notwithstanding it were set vp yet must it of necessity fal down againe if it shoulde finde none that would by the receiuing and approuing thereof vnderpropp it and as it wer lende their shoulders vnto it Therfore it is said by the holy Ghoste in Exodus Thou shalt not receaue a false tale Ex. 23.1 neither shalt thou put thy hande with the wicked to be a false witnesse It shall not excuse vs that we were not the first authors of it neither yet that many aswell as we did beleeue it but we are taught to take heede how we giue credite to report euen strengthened with the approbation of many whereof notwithstanding wee our selues haue no certayne knowledge that we be not so hasty to giue sentence in our hart and much lesse in place of iustice vse our testimonye against any vpon no sufficient ground moued onely by the speech reportes that runne abroad We are taught neither to goe nor ioyne with the mightie to witnesse a false matter for fauour or feare neither yet vpon a kinde of foolish pittie to honor the poore and to ioyne with them in their vniust cause so pretious woulde the Lorde that the regarde of his trueth should be It is not lawfull for vs to agree with any against God And as for the easie eare that so soone receiueth the slaunderers report the holye Ghost geueth the medicine for it in the prouerbes Pro. 25.23 As the North winde saith he driueth awaye the rayne so doth an angry countenance the slaundering tongue It is the ouer good entertainement that the slaunderous tongue findeth that cherisheth it for the heauie countenance driueth such guestes cleane away It is forbidden as a sinne against this ix commaundement to blaze abroad the infirmities of our brethren and therefore wee must admonish one another and so to hide sinne and iniquitie we desire you brethren saith S. Paule admonish them that are vnruly 1 The. 5.14 comfort the feeble minded beare with the weake be patient towardes all men It is forbidden to expounde thinges that might bee well taken into the worse parte and for some litle blemish to deface the whole It is commaunded vs to shew foorth our zeale against sinnes that be alreadye rype in our selues Mat. 7.3.4 and to turne it that way to be reuenged vpon them when it woulde be so gladly occupyed in suspecting and surmising euil in others which either is not so at all or at the least not so cleare as in our selues So that alwaies this bee our rule from the sight of our owne sinnes to proceede to the reprouing of others 75 The exposition of the last commandement IN the former commaundementes Ro. 7.7 Ge. 6.5 8.12 God would suppresse our will and affections but in this tenth commandement in playne wordes hee forbiddeth all inwarde desire whatsoeuer is vnlawfull to be done as the rebellion of the flesh all corruption of the olde man all blot of originall sinne he vtterly inhibiteth al euil thoughts light motions sodaine affections yea though we neuer fully purpose them neither consent willingly to do them Pro. 20.9 Ro. 7.23 Ep. 4.22 Col. 3.9 Ro. 6.6 Concupiscence wherewith wee loue our selues and seeke our owne cōmodity only not caring for others and are wholy in our nature corrupted is the very selfe same vice or originall sinne wherunto we are borne or subiect God requireth of vs holines and cleannes and not onelye outwarde righteousnes of works but the mind spirite and the powers of the mind perfection and holines such as he him selfe is indued withal And because that al mē are corrupted therfore vnperfect by nature in mind thought also in it selfe by this commaundement we are all conuicted and found guiltie of sinne before God as is more at large taught in the seauenth and eight chapters of S.
him Iob. 1.12 therfore he graunted his demaund yea euen to spite Sathan and to haue the greater triumph againste him in putting him to confusion because hee made full reckoning that Iob should haue cursed God to his face that is that he should haue blasphemed him with open mouth when he felt afflictions to come vpon him If Sathan had neuer vttered anye word nor made any such petition yet God was minded to punish his seruant and he minded it for iust cause the which he hath disclosed vnto vs and if the same were to vs vnknowne yet ought we to reuerence the iustice and counsell of God confessing that he is most righteous and vnpartiall in all his doings Ps 119.137 128 Afflictions be the rods of God vnto the iust ALthough in the outward apparance of the world and sence of the flesh the iust and perfect do suffer in this world the like and more greeuous afflictions then do the wicked yet is their estate nothing so miserable For they knowing that afflictions be the roddes of God their Father do aske deliuerance and are assured to obtaine the same And thus on what side soeuer afflictions do coâ—â— vnto the iust and perfect because they know that God is their defender and keeper they are not afrayde as discouraged and desperate but in all assurance they say with the prophet The Lorde is my light and my saluation whom then shall I feare Ps 27.1 The Lord is the strength of my life of whom then shall I be afraid They knowe this same because of the infallible promise Ps 50.15 145.18 call vpon me in the day of trouble and I will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifye mee The Lord is neere to all that call vppon him Mat. 11.28 Luk. 12.32 yea to all that call vpon him in truth Come vnto me sayth our Sauiour all yee that are wearie and heauie laden and I will refresh you Feare not little flocke for it is your fathers pleasure to giue you the kingdome And God is faithfull as the Apostle witnesseth which will not suffer his to be tempted aboue their power 1. Cor. 10 13. but will euen giue the issue with the temptation that they maye be able to beare it The wicked nowe cannot thus speake in deede for although they thinke themselues most safe and sure and make great account of their owne strength yet because they are hated of God he can well finde them out Ps 7.15 Ps 9.15 and bring their enterprises and counsels to nothing 129 Afflictions come for diuers causes IT is most certaine that al miseries take their originall and beginning at sinne but yet God afflicteth his seruants for diuers causes For as he doeth not take vengeance on some mens sinnes in this worlde but deferreth the punishmentes vntill an other lyfe that hee maye then vse them with more seuerity euen so ofteÌ„times he dealeth more hardly with his faithfull seruantes not because they haue committed greater sinnes then other men but to mortifye in them the concupiscence of the flesh Yea sometyme not respecting their sinnes hee onelye tryeth their obedience Pro. 17.3 or els exerciseth their patience Euen as wee see that the holye man Iob was afflicted that by his aduersitie his godlinesse might be the better knowne Wherefore there are two thinges to bee noted the firste is that iudgement doth oftentimes begin at the house of God 1. Pet. 4.17 and that hee ouer passing the wicked doth seuerely punishe his seruantes and doth more sharpely scourge in correcting the vices of his church The second is that there are diuers endes why he afflicteth men for he suffered Stephen and other of his apostles to be cruelly tormented as if they had beene wicked persons Act. 7.58 whereby we may gather that in the punishments of men the causes of the same cannot bee well discerned 130. Patience ouercommeth affliction WHatsoeuer he be that suffereth the trouble that is layd vpon him for Christes sake maye continue without yrkesomenes euen to the last ende We must not therefore call to minde how long we are afflicted 1. Cor. 9. He. 12.12 but we must haue respect vnto the ende So runne saith the Apostle that yee may obtaine Lift vp your handes saith the authour to the Hebrues that hange downe Heb. 12.1 2. and your weake knees Againe let vs runne with patience the race that is set before vs looking vnto Iesus Christ the authour and finisher of our faith What doth it profit a man to be painefull in any busines for a time and then to fainte and giue ouer before hee hath brought it vnto good effect doth hee not loose all his labour and trauaile What doth it profite the runner to runne if he faint in the middest of his race shal he haue the game or reward Not without cause therefore doth the scripture in so many places exhort vs to patience and perseuerance Let vs not therefore be weake or feeble 1. Thes 5.54 Heb. 6.12 but followers of them which through faith and patience inherite the promises which is euerlasting life after the trauaile and paine of this life 131. The patience of the faithfull is tride by afflictions BEsides the iust punishment of the open and notorious sinner there is also another cause wherwith God is moued to sende among men miserie affliction and griefes of this world as namelye to trye and proue such as be good and godly that their vertues may more shine among men to the honour and glory of God As siluer and golde saith Salomon is tride by fire Iam. 1.12 Pro. 17.3 so doth God proue and trye the heartes of men In this manner God proued his faithfull seruants Abraham Ioseph and Iob that by the tryall of their constancie their faith might be the more notable and famous and both themselues more in faith confirmed and God by them more glorified When God cast vpon Iob all these miseries which the scriptures mention his vnnaturall wife vnkind frendes with rash and vncharitable iudgement woulde needes perswade him that it was the anger of God and the iust punishment of his sinnes that brought all these thinges vpon him But hee staying himselfe vpon the testimony of a good conscience and the constancie of his faith assured himselfe of the good wil of God and therefore he tooke all patiently saying Iob. 1.21 The Lord hath geuen and the Lord hath taken away euen as it pleaseth the Lord so be it In which wordes we haue to learne the exâ—eeding comfort which the children of God take in the middest of troubles by the prouidence of God which extendeth it selfe to all thinges so that there is nothing so base or simple either without man or within man Mat. 10.29 which he neglecteth or is ignorant of 132 To be partakers of the life of Iesus Christ we must before die with him IF we iudge according to our owne fantasy we shal thinke it
vnpossible for vs to be made aliue by being dead that death should be the meanes of our life furthermore that we must bee despised in the world and suffer vile reproches if we will raigne with Iesus Christ and yet the spirit of God telleth vs that it is most certain and therefore will haue vs beat downe al disputations and not reste our selues vpon our owne thoughtes and imaginations for seeing God hath appointed it soe 2. Tim. 2.11 Ro. 6.5 if wee will be his seruants we must staye our selues vpon his counsell and suffer our selues to be guided by him If we bee dead with Iesus Christ saith S. Paule we also shall liue with him By the word death the Apostle meaneth not onely the death of men when God taketh them from the earth 2. Cor. 4.10.11 Col. 3.3 but that we must beare the mortification of Iesus Christ in our bodies to the ende that his life may appeare in vs. For ye are dead saith he in an other place your life is hid with Christe in God euen as the life of trees is hid in the winter The trees in the winter are drie they seeme to be but dead wood without strength but yet their strength sheweth it selfe in the spring time Euen so the case standeth with the faithfull for while they are in this worlde their life is shutte vp in hope Ro. 8.24 Nowe that which we hope for as Saint Paule sayth is not seene the eye of man cannot attaine vnto it It followeth then that in dying wee must liue and liuing wee must dye not onely with one kinde of death but wee must die dayly wee must decay as touching the outward man for sicknesses pouertie afflictions and such like thinges are messengers of death which doe or ought to put vs in minde that our life is but a shadow that it is nothing and that therefore we should renounce the worlde and vtterly banish and reiect all the lustes and vanities of the same 133 All thinges must be forsaken for Gods sake A Faithfull man must alwayes more esteeme and loue God and his kingdome then his own life body wife children friendes and kinred and all thinges else which are in this worlde so that whensoeuer God shal cal vs away from these thinges we must willingly leaue all and followe God after the example of our father Abraham Heb. 11.17 Ge. 22 10. Mat. 10.37 For the Lord sayth in his gospell he that loueth father or mother more then mee is not worthy of me And he that loueth son or daughter more theÌ„ me is not worthy of me Wherefore al meÌ„ must cast away the care of temporall things consider that God in vs while we were sound and in health prouided sufficiently for vs and ours And that therfore nowe Ps 68.5 146.9 when as he hath appointed to call vs away from hence hee will not forsake our family especially seeing he is a father of the widows and fatherlesse but will prouide for them some other waye Io. 19.27 Christ on the crosse was coÌ„tent to haue coÌ„mitted his mother vnto Iohn So we also must coÌ„mend vnto God vnto faithful men those that are coÌ„mitted to our charge 1. Pet. 5.7 ought to be no further careful for theÌ„ but care for think on things eternal 134 Tribulation bringeth foorth patience IF we will shewe our selues to bee the sonnes of God then must our afflictions practise vs in patience except they do so the worke of god thorough our corruptioÌ„ is made voyd of none effect Ro. 5.3 Aduersities hinder not the glorie of the godly because in bearing them patiently they feele the helpe of God which nourisheth and confirmeth their hope therefore it is sure that they profitte but ill which learne not patience Neither doeth this let that there are extant in the Scriptures certaine complaintes of the godly full of desperation for God sometimes for a while doeth so vrge and represse those that are his that scarcely they can breath or thinke vppon consolation but straightwaies he bringeth againe to life those whom he had almost ouerwhelmed in the middest of death So that is alwaye fulfilled in them which the Apostle sayth 2. Cor. 4.8 9. we are afflicted on euery side yet are we not in distresse in pouertie but not ouercome of pouertie we are persecuted but not forsakeÌ„ cast down but we perish not Patience coÌ„meth not of the nature of tribulation wherby we see some are prouoked to murmur against god yea eueÌ„ to curse God but wheÌ„ as the inwarde meeknes which is infused by the spirit of god coÌ„solatioÌ„ which is suggested by the same spirite hath succeeded in the place of stubbornenes frowardnes tribulations are instrumentes to beget patience which tribulation can procure nothing in the wicked and obstinate but indignation and murmuring 135 Patience is a great vertue THe greatest part of men will easily grant that patience is a great vertue as it is in deede and yet there be verie fewe that knowe what it meaneth whereby it may soone be gathered that wee be not very hasty to be patient and to haue the vertue that we esteeme so much God therefore perceiuing such carelesnesse in men hath in diuers places namely in patient Iob set before our eies the thing that is so needefull for vs Iob. 1.20 for if wee bee not patient our faith must needs vanish away for it is not able to continue without the same Iam. 1.3.4 For the which cause it is the will of God that in the midst of the miseries of this worlde wee shoulde alwayes haue a quiet heart and be so well assured of his goodnesse as the same may make vs merrie and contented so that wee may boast our selues against Sathan and against all our enemies But howe were that possible if wee did not looke higher then the worlde and considered not that although our estate bee miserable in the opinion of the flesh yet ought we to bee contented with it seeing our God loueth vs. 136 True patience what it is WE commonly say that a man is patient although hee haue no point of true patience in him For whosoeuer suffreth aduersitie him do men call patient but let vs with all marke that to be patient it behooueth vs to moderate our sorrowe Rom. 5.3 If there be any aduersitie it must be asswaged by considering that God ceaseth not to procure our welfare continually Deu. 30.8 and that wee ought to be subiect to him and that it is good reason he should gouern vs according to his good pleasure Herein doth patience make it selfe to be knowen 137 The prouidence of God encrâ—â—â—eth the patience of the godly BY gods only sufferance it is that Tyrantes persecute that they spoyle men of their goods that they cast them into banishment into pryson and bandes and that they exercise all kinde of crueltie against them It is
causes to his wisdome knowne bringeth out such effectes as be sometimes rather hurtful then beneficiall vnto men Therefore when we see infections sicknesses or such like wee must looke further then into the course of nature and vnderstand that there is a GOD and an ouerruler of nature that doth these thinges This is not true only in those things that appertaine to nature but in those also that are done by the will of man or as we saye prophanelie by fortune or chaunce where as in deede to speake truelye there is neither fortune nor chaunce Ma. 10.26 That which we call fortune is nothing but the hand of God working by causes and for causes which we know not Chaunce and fortune are Gods deuised by man and made by our ignorance of the true almightie and euerlasting GOD. 42 God by his prouidence preserueth all THose things which GOD made by his worde he gouerneth and preserueth with his euerlasting prouidence as testifieth our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles in diuers places of the holy Scriptures For in the hee is said to reste the 7. day from all his workes it is no otherwise to bee vnderstood then that hee ceased from the creation of the heauen the earth Gen. 2.2 which we see not that he left of to gouerne the same and to preserue it For he beareth vp all thinges as the Ap. saith by his mighty word Heb. 1.3 The which thing ought to bring no small consolation to the mindes of the godly for so they learne to rest and stay themselus on Gods prouidence without the which not so much as one hair of their head Luk. 21.18 can perish For hee which feeleth by Faith that al thinges depend vpon God he beleueth also that he falleth into the handes of God when he forsaketh all thinges and entreth into death 143 The right considering of Gods prouidence WHen God vseth worldly meanes and serueth his turne by men as by instruments hee doeth it not to lessen or to diminishe his owne authoritie but contrariwise to shewe that he hath the guiding of them and that if he do but command or hisse as he saith by his Prophet Esa 5.26 7.18 men muste neede go forward to execut his will yea and the very Deuils of hel are cōpelled vnto it And although they be vnwilling that it is vtterly against their intent yet notwithstanding God driueth them by violent power to execute the things that he hath ordeyned in his prouidence And so wee see now after what sorte we must consider Gods prouidence namely that he hath a care of the whole world Io. 5.17 Ps 104.29 and watcheth ouer all his creatures not onely to forsee what may happen as some fantasticall personns imagine that God beholdeth the thinges as it were a far of which are heere beneath and then prouideth for them afterward but also which is more that nothing may be done which he hath not determined so as his will is the rule of all things And therefore it behoueth vs to minde well the prouidence of God to the entent that when any aduersity commeth vppon vs we may alwayes haue respect vnto the first cause 144 Nothing commeth but by Gods Prouidence GOD hath not created the world to leaue thinges in such sort that Fortune as men term it might gouerne all but hee intendeth to the maintayning of his creatures as hee doth Therefore when wee call GOD the maker of heauen and earth Ps 33.6 Wee must not restraine it to one instant but wee muste beare in minde that like as GOD hath framed the world so all power is still in him and hee disposeth thinges heere beneath so as he hath a care of vs Ma. 10.30 and the haires of our head are numbred yea and hee guideth our footesteppes so as nothing commeth to passe which is not foreappointed by his prouidence Besides him there is none sette ouer the Worlde nor none sette ouer the earthe Iob. 34.13 whiche beetokeneth that his creating of the worlde and his gouerning of it are thinges that goe ioyntlye together If we imagine that GOD gouerneth not all things but that some thinges happen by chaunce or fortune 1. Tim. 1.17 wee doe great iniurie vnto God to whom alone all praise and honor is due It is moreouer a cursed blasphemie if wee should thinke that the deuil coulde do any thing without the licence of god for it is asmuch as if we should make the deuil a parti-creator of the world Let vs learne therefore that there is an inseparable band betwene these two thinges namely that God createth all thinges and that he gouerneth all thinges 145 The prouidence of God is not onely generall OVr Sauiour Christ extendeth the carefull prouidence of God to Sparrowes and to the haires of our head to the ende no mā shoulde thinke or imagine that it is onely a generall prouidence as many do in these dayes which as they dare not deny that the world is gouerned by the wisedome and power of God so they thinke it an absurde thing to teach that God is occupied about all particular creatures especially then of the meanest sort And therefore they expound these wordes of Christ and other such like sentences of scripture to be spoken by Hiperbole that is a manner of figuratiue speech passing all truth thereby to signifye meane truth But I would learne of such men what it is that sauing the nature of his godhead may in this respect bee spoken of him more then trueth Ge. 17.1 1. Sam. 2.3 seeing he is almightie of infinite knowledge and is present in all places So much as they shall exempt from Gods disposition in hys creatures so much shal they with dishonor of God pull from his almighty power and infinite wisedome We may not thinke it is any disgracing◠of the maiestie of God to drawe the same his prouidence to the preseruation direction euen of his meanest creatures for he worketh not as men do with labour and griefe or torment of minde his very will is inough is do or alter all things as hee seemeth best And this is the greatest proofe of his exceeding maiestie that he seeth all things that he disposeth and worketh al thinges that he directeth all his creatures to that ende for which in the beginning he made them and yet is the Lord alway righteous and his iudgements true 146 The faithful are surely setled in gods prouidence THe godly when the heate of persecution riseth to th' end that they may not forsake their Lord and captaine First they perswade thēselues as truth is indeed that affliction cōmeth not to them by chaunce or fortune or by the malice of mē but by the certaine knowledge prouidence of that god which is by Christ their heauenly merciful father who neither cā do it for any euil vnto thē nor suffer thē to be further tempted then by his grace they shall bee able to