Cartwright confesse this subscription to bee taken from the Greeke Scholiast Of this same iudgement are the ancient Fathers For the Greek church it contents mee to name Chrysostome for the Latine church Ambrose Many more might be alleaged who compasse this assertion like a Cloud of witnesses and warrant it to bee true by their testimony Eusebius affirmeth the Euseb lib. 3. cap. 4. same and citeth Sophronius as consonant vnto him with them agree many of the Recents such as Bucerus Bullengerus Hemmingius Pellicanus and others to whom none will deny the testimony of godly sound and learned Diuines But howsoeuer this Epistle was written to Titus by name yet doth it appertaine to all that succeede him in the like calling teaching thē what to do in gouernmēt of the house of God so we come to the words In all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mark The threefold duty of a Bishop what the Apostle sayth in all things not in one thing but in all be an ensample Some things thou hast to doe as a Christian some things as a Pastor and some as a Bishop As a christian 1. To liue as a good Christian be holy in thy selfe and teach others holinesse by thy ensample As a Pastor Preach the word of God in season and out of season As a Bishop counsel and admonish 2. To teach as a good Pastor in wisedome correct with compassion ordaine with discretion rebuke and if need be cut off with aurhority Episcopi prima Nazian Orat. 21. Apologet. fugae cura vt Ecclesia dignus sit deinde vt Sacrario atque it a demum praefectura The first care of a Bishop should bee to liue like a good Christian and member of the Church Next like a good Church-man seruing in the 3. To rule as a good President in the Church Sanctuarie thirdly like a good President or ouerseer of others in the Church Many not marking this distinction of the Apostolicke precepts in these Epistles vnto Timothy and Titus are miscaried in their iudgemēt not considering that the precepts giuen to them as to Christians are common to all Christians and the precepts giuen them as Pastors appertaine to all Pastors but should not bee extended to all Christians and the precepts giuen to them as Bishops appertaine onely to such as are Bishops In all things All things are How a Bishop should behaue himselfe in things good euill and indifferent either simply good or simply euill or the indifferent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which is good the Apostle willes him to doe it with diligence and deuotion that which is euill hee would haue him abhorre it with hatred and detestation Doe I not hate them O Psal 1 39. 21 Lord that hate thee doe I not contend vvith them that rise vp against thee I hate them as if they were mine vtter enemies It is the great prayse of the Angell of Ephesus I know thou canst not forbeare Reuel 2. 2 them which are euill That which is indifferent he wil haue him vse with discretion that so in all things hee may shew himselfe an ensample The rule of discretion in the The rule of things indifferent vse of things indifferent is to consider expedience All things are lawfull but all things are not 1. Cor. 10. 23 expedient Expedience againe requires two conditions whereof the one respects thy selfe the other thy neighbour The condition respecting thy selfe is set downe by the Apostle I may doe all things but I will not 1. Cor. 6. 12 come vnder the power of any thing for it is dangerous when indifferent things by custome become necessarie and keepe the heart of man vnder such commandement that he cannot be without them this is to come vnder the power of them The other condition of expedience respecteth thy neighbour shortly set down by the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Cor. 14. 26 let all be done to edification Let vs follow those things which concerne peace and wherewith one Rom 14. 19 may edifie another and againe Let euery man please his neighbour Rom. 15. 2 in that which is good to edification And thus much for the first word of our Text. In all things A good Bishop or Pastor is the Stampe or Signet of the Lord. An ensample The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deriued from the common verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a forme made by ingrauing impressiō or any kind of beating such as as we see are stampes seales or signets which at the pleasure of the maker receiue such forme in themselues as by them they would haue imprinted in an other In this sense the word it selfe is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a forme of doctrine and the Romanes are praysed that Rom. 6. 17 they had obeyed from the heart vnto the forme of doctrine whereunto they were deliuered Euen as mollified waxe receiues such a print or forme when it is applyed to the stampe as is in the stampe it selfe Such stampes and ensamples Themselues should bee stāped with Gods image that they may imprint it in others 1. Pet. 5. 3 also should al good Bishops and Pastors be Saint Peter exhorts them to bee ensamples to the flock 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such an example did S. Paul shew himselfe looke on them who so walke as yee haue vs for an ensample 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philip. 3. 17 there he vses the same word requiring nothing of Titus but that which in his owne person hee had practised before him It standeth then for a warning to vs all that wee should take heed with what forme wee are engrauen our selues whose Image and Superscription do we carry for as a signet can make no impression in the waxe but such as it hath in it selfe so if Christ bee not formed in thy heart how canst thou form him into the heart of another Or at An admonitiō to Church-mē that it is a fearfull laesae Maiestatis to falsifie the seale of the great King lest if God of his great mercy imprint that form in another which is not in thy selfe make others Christians by thy ministry thou not being a good Christian thy selfe if hee communicate that forme to an other which thou hast vitiat and corrupted in thy selfe Is not thy iudgement the greater Againe I say let vs remember we are the signets of the euerliuing God and should carrie the similitude of God in ourselues that we may communicate it vnto others It is a point of high treason to falsifie the seale of the great King or to stamp his people with any other Image then his owne The Lord preserue vs that we be not guilty of this fearefull laesae Maiestatis It is not then left free to any Bishop or Pastor of whatsoeuer It is not free to Bishops or Pastors to liue as they list they should be examples vnto others dignity or place in the
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR A most Heauenly and Fruitfull Sermon Preached the sixt of August 1615. At the Translation of the right Reuerend Father in God the Archbishop of St. Andrewes to the Sea thereof By Mr. WILLIAM COVVPER B. of Galloway DAN 12. 3. They that turne many to righteousnesse shall shine as the stars for euer euer Imprinted at London by G. P. for Iohn Budge and are to be solde at his shop at the great South-doore of Paules and at Britaines Bursse 1616. TO THE RIGHT Honourable my Lord SANCHAR MY LORD THere is one Starre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which from diuers Offices receiueth sudry names saith Pisida Constantinopol It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a nunce of the night and therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It returneth againe and declares the approaching of the day then is it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such a one haue I been at this time The funerall of the late Archbishop of S t Andrewes the new function of his successor gaue occasion of both I was inuited vnlooked for to the interring of the one that I might speak to the liuing for the dead and from him There Hesperus ouershadowed vs with darke and dolefull countenance Inioyned againe to preach at the entrie of the other there Phosphorus proclaimed the comming of a bright and ioyful day which I pray God may long continue Blessed be the Lord who still conserues a Ministrie in his Church One generation passeth another Eccles 1. 4 commeth but the earth remaineth much more he who formed Iam. 1. 17 it for in him falleth no shadowe of change Before the Ruler of the world stand these Oliues Zach. 4. which furnish oyle to his Candlesticke In his hand are the seauen Reuel 1. 12. starres no smoke of the bottomlesse pit can vtterly quench their light If one of them goe downe from our Horizon another ascends Elijah may be taken away but one commeth after him in the Spirit and power of Elijah Moses dyed but The God of the Spirits of all flesh raised vp Ioshua with whom he wrought no lesse powerfully then with Moses By Moses he brought Israel out of Egypt by Ioshua hee entred them in Canaan By Moses hee destroyed one Nation of the Egyptians by Ioshua he discomfited seauen Nations of the Cananites Moses diuided the red Sea and Ioshua parted Iordan into two Moses darkned the Sunne that it shined not Ioshua detained it that it went not downe according to the ordinary course Nimrod for all his might cannot build vp where IEHOVA will cast downe Neither can Sennacherib for al his pride preuaile against the Citie which God will protect They are fooles who fight against heauen Sidonians in their treatie Act. 12. 20 with Blastus for Herod his peace might learne them more wisdome they imagine to quench the light of Israel by cutting away comfortable instruments from the Church but they are deceiued for the Church is like a tree whose branches hang downe to the earth and may be cut off though not without diuine permission but the roote is in heauen which stil sendeth out others in their roome I haue penned this Sermon to stoppe the mouthes of misreporters as I preached it without paring or adding any thing except a little discourse of the Religion of our Antipodes And doe now dedicate it to your Lordship as one who being a present Auditor thereof can best beare witnes to the truth of my relation And I trust your Lordship will also accept it as a testimony of that loue which I owe vnto you for your constant profession of God his eternall truth in this declining age and your most sincere affection in all your speeches euer auowed to his Maiesties seruice whereunto as your Lordship acknowledgeth your selfe to be bounden beyond others of your ranke So I pray GOD your Lordship may continue faithfull in both vnto the death Your Lordships owne in Christ W. B. of Galloway A Most Heauenly and fruitfull Sermon Preached the sixt of August 1615. TIT. 2. 7 8. In all things shew thy selfe an ensample of good workes with vncorrupt doctrine with grauity and integritie And with the wholsome word vnreprouable that hee which withstandeth may bee ashamed hauing nothing concerning you to speake euill of My helpe is in the name of the LORD THese words read in Two parts of this Text. your honourable and Christian audience beloued in our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus containe two things First the duty of a good 1. Duty of Pastors Bishop or Pastor toward his people This is plainly set down hee should bee an ensample in word in worke in doctrine in life Next the duty of Christian 2. Duty of people people toward their Bishop or Pastor and this is closely set downe or as we say by way of consequence for this same precept which bindeth the one to bee an exemplar bindeth the other to bee conformable to the exemplar In the entry we are to warne Warning in the entry you that wee come not here this day to ordaine a new Bishop in the Church but to enter an old and approued Bishop vnto a new charge in the Church Neither haue I chosen this Text so much for him as for the edification of vs all who are in this holy calling I wish vnto all the rest the like wisedome in gouernment dextetity in doing and feruent zeale against the common enemy that hath been euident in him I blesse them as the Elders of Israel blessed Ruth the wife of Booz and mother of our Lord. God make them like Ruth 4. 11. Rahel and like Leah which twaine did build the house of Israel and I pray for the performance of that promise in them which God hath made to his Church by Zacharie that the meanest seruant in the house of GOD this day may become like Dauid and they who now in light and grace are like vnto Dauid may increase Zach. 12. Col. 2. 19. with the increasings of God till they become like an Angell of God Titus stablished by S. Paul Bishop of Creta hauing charge of all Churches in that I le This Epistle was written by St. Paul from Nicopolis in Macedonia to Titus whom the Apostle had taken from an other charge in the Church for hee was his companion in his peregrinations and fellow-helper in the worke of the Lord and now had bound him and burdened him with a particular care of the Churches of Creta and set him downe Bishop there Creta is an I le in the Mediterranean sea famous for this that it had in it an hundreth Cities The charge not of one but all of them is committed to Titus to teach and gouerne them and to plant Preachers in euery one of them the subscription of the Epistle so stiles him Titus the first elect Bishop of the Cretians Some of the contrary-minded as namely Mr.
Church to liue as he pleaseth and then thinke that he should be followed in all that liketh him Let this pride bee left to Antichristian Prelates and their Pope Caracalla that bloudy and incestuous Emperour learned it from his Step-mother Iulia and they haue receiued it from him Imperatoris esse leges dare non accipere their liberty they esteeme a lawe and their authority an argument good enough No thou art otherwise bound by the lawe of God thou must first bee formed by him thy selfe and according to that forme and none other must thou conforme his people S. Paul exhorts the Corinthians 1. Cor. 4. 16 to bee followers of him but expounds himself in another place Be ye followers of mee as I 1. Cor. 11. 1 am of Christ Yee are the light of the world take heed that the light Math. 5. 14 Luke 11. 35 which is in you bee not turned into darkenesse they who walke not according to this rule are blind Mat. 15. 14 Acts 9. 15 Such an ensample was S. PAVL who carried the message of Christ in his mouth the image of Christ in his life the markes of Christ in his body and pernicious guides of the people For where the blinde leadeth the blinde both must fall into the ditch A worrhy ensample was Saint Paul A chosen Vessell to beare the name of his Lord for he carrieth the message of CHRIST in his mouth the image of Christ in his life the markes of Christ in his body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and such an ensample willeth he Titus and all other Bishops and Pastors to be first in themselues and then to shew it out vnto the others Shew thy selfe an ensample or as the word in the originall more significantly imports 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exhibite thy selfe an ensample for the shewe of a good that is not endeth in shame Cum nihl simulatum sit diuturnum All Christians are bound to All Christians are bound to be ensamples shevving out Gods image to others be good ensamples vnto others for as no King will admit in his treasurie counterfait money nor suffer it to go for currant in merchandize among his people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macar hom 30. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 euen so a soule vnlesse it haue in it the image of Christ by secret light ingrauen is not meet to bee gathered into the heauenly treasure and the holy Apostles Merchants of the kingdome reiect it as counterfait money not rightly stamped which should not be receined among Saints But howsoeuer this be a common But they are most bound who come nee rest the Lord by a holy calling dutie required of all Christians certaine it is the neerer men come to the Lord in a holy calling the more are they bound to be ensamples of holiness vnto others In the order of Nature wee see the elements seated one aboue another and according to their place they excell one another in purity the earth is the lowest element most remote from heauen and it is the grossest the water naturally compasseth the earth and is purer then the earth the ayre is aboue the water and purer then the water the fire againe is aboue the ayre and a purer element then the ayre the Spheres of Heauen compasse all and are purer then the rest As the world so the Church How the whol Church is a circle the centre and circumference whereof is the Lord. is a circle the Centre and Circumference whereof is the Lord he is the Centre which drawes al to himselfe and in whom all his Saints shall meete in one at the last hee is the Circumference which compasseth vs about to keepe in his Saints that none of them goe from him Let it bee supposed that there are many circles betweene the Centre and the Circumference but these which are neerest the Centre are likest vnto it I will be sanctified Leuit. 10. 3 sayth the Lord in all that comes neere me the neerer by place calling thou come to the Lord the more requires he to be sanctified in thee When the Army of Israel camped in the Wildernesse they were cast in a quadrant three of their Tribes on the West three on the East three on the South and three on the North in the middest of them was the Arke they were all bound to be holy but these Leuites who came neerest the Ark and carried it were bound to be more holy then others In the Reuel 4. 4 new Testament the Church is cast in forme of a circle in the middest whereof God hath his throne all enioy his presence for they are round about him but as yee may see figured by S. Iohn in the type thereof they who are neerest the Throne excell others in holinesse When the Lord proclaimed A fearefull example of iudgment on such as corrupt their waies in a high and holy calling his Lawe vpon Mount Sinai the people were parted in 3. rankes some stood in the valley and might not touch the Mount vnder paine of death others were permitted to goe vp to the Mount as Aaron Nadab Abihu Exod. 24. 11. with the Nobles of Israel these saw the glory of God Ioshua was there also yet none but Moses Verse 18. went vp to the Mount and entred in the cloud That fearefull example of Nadab and Abihu consumed with strange fire from heauen because they became profane and presumptuous to offer strange fire to the Lord euen after that God had preferred them to such high dignitie and place aboue their brethren it should be an aw-band to all those whom GOD hath set neere to himselfe by a holy calling that they corrupt not their wayes before him but as they are warned by MALACHY They keepe themselues in the Spirit lest the like strange wrath from GOD should sodainely ouertake them Of good workes By this same Three rankes of good workes Tit. 2. 12 Apostle in this Chapter good workes are diuided into three rankes for they are eyther workes of Piety toward God or of Equitie toward our neighbour or Sobriety toward our selues and these bring out a threefold fruite most sweet and excellent for by them first God is glorified secondly thy neighbour is edified thirdly thy owne conscience comforted and confirmed in the assurance of thy saluation Of the first speaks the Apostle Let Seruants shewe all faithfulnesse that they may adorne Tit. 2. 10 the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things there wee see that our The threefold fruit of them good works are an ornament to the Gospell Of the second and first also speakes our Sauiour Let your works so shine before men that they seeing them may glorifie Math. 5. 16 your Father that is in heauē there we see that God is glorified by our godly life and men thereby are edified and moued to do it Of the third speakes S. Peter Make sure your calling and election 2. Pet. 1.