they prophesie If Christ Iesus in the new Testament approueth this then such ought not to bee heard that haue not the same approbation But Christ Iesus from heauen in the chosen vessell Saint Paul Acts 9.12 sending him to Ananias that hee might lay his hands vpon him and receiue sight Vrim and Thummim science and good conscience knowledge and holinesse to beare his name before the Gentiles which maketh the proposition If in nature order doe sound against such irregular persons then it cannot be well pleasing to God that any in the Lords name without the Lords appointment should meddle with the Ephod or deale with the sacred things of God But Peter Martyr vpon the 1. of Sam. 14. saith Spectanda est in ecclesiasticis Eutaxia in politicis autem parendum est In Ecclesiasticall lawes good order must be considered but in politicall wee must obey And to thrust in a mans selfe without an assignement is against order which is ingrauen in euery mans person euen from the head to the foote For is not the head a tower the eyes watchmen the eye-lids windowes for light the mouth a doore to let in prouision the tongue a speaker to call for that which is needfull and to examine that which is doubtfull be not the cares spies to listen the hands seruitors the feet messengers to carrie and recarrie â—1 â—â—al the teeth grinders of natures prouision is not the pâ—llat a taster the stomack a kitchin wherein all things bee prepared for the benefit of nature that so the whole body bee preserued as the closet of the soule All which being held in that order that God hath set them doe cry against the disordered furie of men in the ministeâ—ie that runne before they are sonâ— Yea not onely Diuinity reason and nature but Christian policie proclaimeth that if Iudget Iesticâ—â— in their Sessions suting for correction of vice in the Kings name first plead their commission then ought no man in the name of the King of heauen preach without his assignement For application It sâ—rueth to teach vs that as many â—s â—aue any feare of God ought to heare with all meeknesse Such Ministers and messengers of the Lord that haue receiued their calling from the Church which is that which Saint Iames giueth for doctrine Iom 1.21 Wee being called bee the Lords seruants therefore wee must doe our masters message and hee that doth but his masters message no more ought not to be blamed nay ought to be beleeued For whatsoeuer the Lord by his messengers sayeth must bee beleeued and being commanded by them who are first commanded by the Lord they must be obeyed Therefore the Lord in this our text commanding high and low rich poore to sanctifie themselues speaketh vnto vs here present Wherefore this day wee ought to obey this commaundement as we will answere it at our vttermost perill Vse 2 The second vse serueth for reproose first concerning the Papacie whose vocation is scarce sufficient to giue them a lawfull assignment to bee Ministers of the Gospell and of the Sacraments For the right of those orders whereby they were ordained to sacrifice for the quicke and the dead vndermining the sacrifice of our Sauiour we denie to be one and the same with the most iust and equall lawes which the Lord made touching the necessity of vocation The third vse Vse 3 Yea this lastly serueth to teach vs to confute condemne the irregular and preposterous course of the Separatists Anabaptists and Familists that runne before they are sent and take vpon them to ordaine and send forth Ministers being no Ministers themselues Wherefore such as go forth without the ordinance of the Church as Heretickes and Schismatickes doe are not to bee receiued nor heard of such as feare God For what truth may hee deliuer from God that hath his calling froÌ„ man and not from God what Sacraments may hee administer that hath no lawfull calling to the ministery what profit may he bring vnto the people himselfe not brought vp nor sent of God euen as much as Saint Peter that fished on the wrong side of the ship al night and caught nothing so much good and no more may we looke to come by their ministerie that in contempt of the Churches ordination and imposition of hands runne vp and downe gathering vnto themselues a heape of hearers who are not taught as you haue heard from God by Ieremy but from Ieremy by Ieremy and so doe Toto coelo errare à coelo feed vpon mans inuentions in stead of the immortall food of Gods word Hence it commeth that diuines turne religion into disputation and stand more vpon science then good conscience to get themselues a name by leading the poore people into a thousand pitifull opinions In the first and best daies of the Church it was farre otherwife vnto which glorious dayes the Lord Iesus brings vs and that soone lest Christians turne Iewes and Christianity be turned into Atheisme and let euery good Christian say Amen Now a word Doct. 2 as they bee the words of the Prophet in the name of the Lord. Ieremiah speaketh from the Lord Therefore of God hee must learne his dutie From whence I beseech you Fathers and brethren let vs confirme our iudgements that the Ministers of God are not before hand to bee taught their lessons of men but they must first learne both matter and manner what to speak and how to speake from God before they teach men The truth of this our example leadeth vs to For Ieremy speaketh from God and not from man This doctrine runneth with the current and streame of the liuely waters Exod. 3.12 The Lord said to Moses I will bee with thee Exod. 4.12 and I will be with thy mouth and will teach thee what thou shalt say Of the Iudges of Israel it was said Iudg. 3.10 And the spirit of the Lord came vpon him and he iudged Israel It is the Lords appointment Isa 6.6 with a coale from his Altar to inflame the tongue of his messenger Because to whom a Minister is to performe his dutie of him hee is to learne his dutie Ephes 6.17 But in teaching of men a Minister is to performe his duty to God 1. Cor. 4.1 3.10 Therefore wee must not speake what we will nor how wee list but all must be both for matter manner as God will So saith the Prophet 1. Reg. 22.14 Whatsoeuer the Lord saith vnto me that will I speak Yea so saith the false Prophet Numb 23.3 Whatsoeuer the Lord sheweth vnto me I will tell thee And this is that which the Prophet Isay prophecied of our blessed Sauiour that before he should be sent forth of the Father to preach it was said Luk. 4.18 that the spirit of the Lord God is vpon me therefore hath the Lordannointed me he hath sent me to preach good tidings c. To conclude this If some Magistrates will scorne to learne
haue abused life for sildome doth hee dye well that liueth euill O my soule come not in to their habitation woe be vnto them for they follow the way of Caine are cast away with the deceit of Balams wages And now I turne vnto you the seruants of the Lord that haue as great care to keepe sinne from their soules as sicknesse from your bodies I beseech you in the feare of God and in the waightie consideration of your own sinnes euen for the Lords sake for your poore soules sake and for Iesus Christes sake that was made sinne for vs 2 Cor. 5.20 hearken to the counsell of our Prophet crying aloud in the audience of you all O Ierusalem wash thy heart from wickednesse detest and abhorre thy former sinnes forsake thy old way walke in newnesse of life cast away the workes of darkenesse and put on the Armour of light Rom. 13.12 Prou. 24.16 Hate all sin past care to preuent sinne to come and entertaine it not offering it selfe againe For the iust falleth and riseth againe but the wicked fall into mischiefe And this endeauouring the blessed spirit will helpe our infirmities and our heauenly Father make vs white in the blood of the Lambe Apoc. 7.14 For this is not the worke of flesh and blood although man bee spoken vnto as though he had power to doe it but it is the action and worke of the whole Trinitie and yet it is commanded as it were our worke Ephes 1.10 because God worketh in vs not as in stockes and stones but as in reasonable creatures for wee by the worke of his grace worke together with him yet still so as that sanctification is still wholly from God For first 1. Thes 5.23 â—â—t 3.5 Ephes 2.26 God the Father sanctifieth by giuing his Sonne God the Sonne sanctifieth by mortifying our sinnes by his blood and the holy Ghost sanctifieth by applying the vertue of Christs death and resurrection vnto vs. Ioh. 3.5 And we may be said to sanctifie our selues when we applie our will desire and endeauour in the vse of the meanes ordained of God And thus much bee said for the generall Now let vs in Gods feare fall vpon the particulars And first sanctification is an action teaching vs that true religion and vndefiled consisteth not in a speculatiue or contemplatiue profession but in an actiue and practiue conuersation in holinesse for knowledge without obedience encreaseth punishment Luk. 12 47. Mat. 7.22 24. Luk. 11.28 Iam. 1.23 25.27 For not euery one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome but he that doth the will of the Father For pure religion and vndefiled before God the Father is this to visit the fatherlesse and widdowes in their aduersitie Mary and Martha will doe well so they be both in one house so will Christian profession and practise if they meet both in one soule Let a Christian take it a shame to bee like an Athenian that is to know what appertaineth vnto vertue but not to practise it And the God of heauen make vs all not only knowers speakers Preachers and professors of Gods word but doers thereof that we may be saued Doct. 2 Againe as it is a worke so it is a worke that may not be performed by an Atturney but by our selues in our owne persons for our selues must doe it for the commandement is Wash thy c. From whence the doctrine is that God requireth of euery Christian that hee performe the parts of Gods worship and the duties of charity actually himselfe vnto God and men before hee depart hence for himselfe and not by others for him Our learned aduersaries beare the world in hand that as we come to earthly Princes by mediators and solicitors so Christians ought to come to the Prince of Princes For they hold it presumption to prease into the presence of the King of heauen without the mediation of many If our God did feare the treasons of any or did not know or remember the wants of all his children himselfe or if hee could not heare all the sutes of all the world at one instant and if hee had not appointed his onely Sonne to be the onely meanes in whom wee haue promised accesse then their perswasion might haue passed for doctrine But the contrary on Gods part to vs is true Therefore let vs know that other mens good workes shall do no good for vs nor others prayers for vs without our owne workes and prayers for our selues For nothing more beloued brethren hath spoiled Church and Common-wealth then doing duties non per se sed per alium It hath brought ignorance into the Church and briberie into the Common-wealth which moued our renouned Soueralgue King Iames in his Basiliâ—on Doroâ— l. 2. p. 35. to giue this charge to the Prince his Sonne that be spare not any paines in his owne person to see iustice executed giuing for instance his most worthie Grand-father of famous memory whose honour was to bee stiled and called the poore mans King And in the 55. page his Maiesty counselleth the Prince once a yeere to visit the principall parts of the kingdome not referring to Vice-royes but to heare the complaints himselfe and to decide the principall matterâ— in his owne person And here you see the exercises of religion and parts of Gods worship must bee done actually personally of euery one of the Lords seruants for themselues This you call for at our hands the Preacher must be resident say you and must preach for himselfe and must not the hearer heare for himselfe also why say you one to another go you to day to Church and serue God for me and I will serue God for you to morrow This conceit moueth certaine to prepare Bead-men to pray while they theÌ„selues play But learne of our Prophet the parts of Gods worship must be performed of euery one of vs for our selues for anothers faith can not saue vs wee must pray for our selues for our requests are gâ—aâ—eed according to our owne faith Be is vnto thee as thou be leâ—â—â—st Therefore repent for thy selft confesse thine owne sinne rather then another shall declare it doe good workes for thy selfe for to giue blackes and large almes is good but one pennie with thine owne hand is a precious sacrifice in the eyes of God Remember the saying Galaâ—b 6.10 While we haue time â—â—e vs we our selues dâ—â— good vnto all men 1. The reason iâ— because the Prophet giueth it for doctrine Habac 2.4 For the iust shall liue by his owne faith marke the word his 2. Because wee may as well see by another mans eyes as goe to heauen by another mans workes 3. Because the question in the day of daies shall not be what other men haue done for vs but what wee haue done for our selues Mat. 35.42 that is whether with our owne hands wee haue giuen meate to the hungry drinke to the thirsty harbour to the stranger clothes to the
though pecoâ—tum were only sinne in the inferiour No no whatsoeuer is sinne in any one in omnibus est peccatum otherwise it worketh straightnesse to others libertie to our selues As it is in certaine that professe irregularitie and thinke it lawfull themselues to doe any thing and yet censure and find fault with other mens vertues theÌ„selues flowing full of all vice These be such that wheÌ„ they get between the pot and the wall despise gouernment and speake euill of those that bee in authoritie Some you shall see who being vnwilling to vse a Ceremonie themselues iudge straightly all others as hainous offenders that vse it and other that vse it themselues yet find fault with such that doe but so But touching these things indifferent Ro. 14.3.14 15.12 1. Cor. 8.8 and 9.10 10.23 I pray you learne not to iudge that in others which you refuse your selues for albeit our religion be but one yet our consciences through the ignorance that is in them may be diuers This being practised of vs will moue vs to cast the first stone at our selues Ioh. 8.7 Remember how that the Lord Iesus was angry with S. Peter Ioh. 21.22 for being a busie-bodie in Iohns matters Therefore plow vp your own fallow and sow your owne ground wash your owne hearts pull first the beames out of your own cies least the Lord reproue thee as he did Saint Peter with what is that to thee Lastly this doctrine speaketh to you my Lord and to your brethreÌ„ the Magistrates of this honourable Citie whom God hath made as an eye to see as the mouth to reproue and as the hands to correct sinne The Lord aboue requireth at your hands that especially you looke to your selues that you sin not especially in such sinnes you censure in others and that you beare with others in that wherein you are tempted your selues For the sinnes of the heads indanger all the members For what is more absurd theÌ„ if they I say that should cleanse and wash Ierusalem the Citie the Church and Common-wealth of blemishes and wickednesse should happen to be full of spots themselues Without the eye no other member can doe his office neither hand nor foote can doe his function without sight It hath been said of old that the religion and sanctitie of the people is in the religion of the Prince Wherefore reuerend Fathers and Iudges of others I humbly pray you for your owne sakes for the Churches sake for the CoÌ„mon-wealths sake for the Lords sake take knowledge of your owne hearts and know that when you haue moates in your eyes they breed beames in others And I beseech you look to it that they grow not to be beames For you fall not alone but your currant is as the maine Ocean that drowneth other in perdition But I haste to the substance The Prophet doth not here coÌ„mand Ierusalem to wash her feete only with the Disciples nor her hands with the double minded nor her head only with 8. Peter but her hears not the outside only but the inside also Doct. 2 From whence the holy Ghost commendeth this doctrine That outward holinesse without the heart goe with it is an abomination before God All religion as is only for fashion Ioh. 11. is like Mary without Martha like Lazarus without Christ For comming vnto the Sanctuary of the Lord praying and receiuing of Sacraments hearing of Sermons fetching many a fained sigh and speaking many an ignorant Amen the thinking that the sanctifying of the Sabbath lieth in the putting on of their best apparell and such like when as in the meane while with the Iewes Isai 57.8 it may be said behind the doores and posts thou hast set remembrances of deepe hypocrisie and open idolatrie If wee come with such hearts before the Lord the same reproofe is for vs that I say speaketh cap. 1.11 What haue I to doe with the multitude of your sacrifices saith the Lord I am full of the burnt offerings of rammes and the fat of the beasts and I desire not the blood of bullocks nor of lambes nor of goates For the outward exercises of religion without the cleannes and sinceritie of the heart is abominable vnto the Lord. Ioh. 1.16 Therefore saith the Lord Wash you make you cleane c. And to this end our Sauiour giueth a caueat Take heed of the leuen of the Scribes and Pharisees Luk. 12 1. which is externall worship For the Lord is wearie of our knee-prayers our lip-labours without the heart Esay 29 13. our time-seruing hearers who draw neere the Lord with their mouth and honour him with their lippes but their heart is farre from him as he saith himselfe And yet not so farre Pro. 16.2 but the Lord seeth well enough where they be for he pondereth the spirits Oh consider this you that pray and preach and giue and forgiue to be seene of meÌ„ there be but too many that confesse their faults and weepe for their sins too and but for shew onely many come through Cathedrall Churches and kneele downe by a pillar as though they prayed but their hearts bee not cleane nor vpright with God This humor waiteth vpon vs all Roâ— 14.17 Luk. 17.20 happie is hee that entertaineth it not For it maketh all that we doe fruitlesse before God Therefore I beseech you in all the exercises of religion let vs pray with Dauid Not vnto vs O Lord Psalm 115.1 not vnto vs but to thy name giue the praise Vse 1 The vse is to reproue such as deceiue themselues with shewes and shadowes in stead of substance that take Christ in their mouthes religion in their eyes mortification in their for fasts their holinesse in keeping their canonicall houres and their deuotion only in holding vp their hands and crossing their fote-heads For in this seruice wee deceiue our brethren with shadowes offend our God with shewes and our selues with sinnes wee depriue our heares of knowledge our liues of holinâ—â— and our selues of saluation Galath 6.7 But God is not mocked for whatsoeuer a man soweth that shall he also â—eape Vse 2 The second vse teacheth vs that there is no seruice acceptable to God except the whole heart goe with it As all the workes of Gods mercy to vs vnlesse God come with it is vaine so all our workes and words to God vnlesse the hâ—â—â— goe with it be likewise all in vainâ— It is not good wordes not holy Psalmes nor yet an outward good practise that the Lord regardeth 1. Cor. 14.15 Match 6.1 â— except the heart goe with it Take head sâ—ith Christ ye giue not your almâ—â— before men to be seem of them 1. Reg. 8.47 If they turne againd vnto their heart in the land to the which they be carried away a 〈◊〉 c. Let vs therefore deare brothren clense out hearts and in our externall workes of Gods worship send them vp together with the worke without