affection and the reason is because they haue one spirit to guide them all Act. 4.32 Esay 11.6.7 56 Euen as in the field there groweth vp not onely sound corne but also tares cockell and darnell Or as in the Floore there is not onely pure Wheate but also Chaffe and as in the Nette there is not onely good things but bad as filth and such like So in the militant and visible Church the field floore and Nette of the Lord there are not onely sincere and faithfull but also hypocriticall and faithlesse worshippers of GOD not onely constant and vpright dooers of the word but also vaine and idle talkers of the same yea not onely such as with good consciences pure hearts and faith vnfained do serue the Lord and his Church but such also as be reprobate to euerie good worke whose ende is to bee cast eternally from the presence of God and to bee burned as chaffe in the fearefull furnace of Gods wrath and euerlasting indignation 57 As the appetite of a woman ought to be to her husband so the appetite of the Church ought to be to Christ Cant. 5.7 58 As the woman bringeth forth her children in sorow and paine Euen so the Church bringeth forth in griefe of member and losse of limmes 59 As a woman must be obedient to the voyce of her husband and learne of her husband at home euen so the Church that is good must be ruled by Christ and not rule Christ Christes scholler and not Christs schoolemaister 60 Euen as Iohn that bare witnesse of Christ did confesse that he was not worthy to loose Christes shoo-latchet Euen so the Church though it beare witnesse of Christ in respect of credit and authoritie is not worthy to loose Christes shoo-latchet 61 Like as when Christ put forth himselfe and began to be knowne to the people Iohn said It behoueth me to wax lesse and him to wax greater So when the Church hath giuen a man to vnderstand of Christ and that Christ beginneth to appeare vnto vs the Church decreaseth in authoritie and estimation like Iohn and Christ encreaseth and waxeth greater in authoritie and credit 62 As the light of the Sun auaileth not him that lieth in a darke and close dungeon where is alwayes night and neuer day Euen so the graces of God doo nothing helpe those that lie in darknesse and shadowe of death vntill they haue accesse into the Church of Christ and so to be of the number of the faithfull Ephe. 2.19 Rom. 5.10 63 As a builder or chiefe maister of any workes doth not offend in building but because it hapneth sometimes that being occupied with other thoughts and fantasies not pertaining to the building he doth sometimes slide and faile in his worke Euen so it cannot be gathered by the force of the promise made to the Church that all things alwayes are rightly defined in the Church for the greater part ouercommeth the lesser and the worst the better 64 Like as when Hester had procured safetie for the Iewes and libertie to reuenge themselues vpon their enemies it is said that many of the people of the Land became Iewes Hest. 8.17 Euen so considering Christ hath procured freedome from hell death and damnation for all that beleeue in him we should labour aboue all things to become new creatures ioyning our selues alwayes to the true Church of God 65 As the body is blinde that wanteth eyes to see withall and lame maymed or deformed whereof the shoulders armes hands or other principall parts are wanting or displaced and disordered So in like maner that body of a Church cannot be said to be perfect and entire wherein there are not Ministers of the word who by the light thereof may direct the people in the wayes of God or Elders that may discouer and descrie euery matter that may threaten any daunger to the body or Deacons who may distribute liberally according to that that is in their hands for the reliefe of the poore 66 As Christ himselfe when he was rayled vpon gaue no euill words againe Euen so the true Church of Christ is knowne in this that it suffereth persecution and doth not persecute againe 67 As wise King Salomon iudged her to be the true mother of the child which had such compassion on it that she had rather forgo the whole then haue it diuided and dismembred and the other to be the harlot that had ouer-laine her childe which had also consented to the death of the other childe Euen so in like maner we may discerne euidently the Romish Church of Antichrist by her bloodie persecutions from the true Church and spouse of Christ the one with sworde and fire seeketh alwaies to quench the truth the other through the spirit of lenitie to win men to the same the one by compulsion violent oppression the other by perswasion meeke intercessiō the one by the sword the other by the word the one goeth about to peruert and depraue the other seeketh all meanes to conuert and saue 68 As a King is stablished in his Kingdome when his godly Lawes are taught and kept and that Realme is strongly builded and blessed of God where good order is mainteined So is Gods Church and congregation well and surely builded where Gods word and Religion is purely taught sinne punished and vertue embraced 69 Like as whatsoeuer is in the body receiuing no life nor power from the body is not properly a part of the body howsoeuer it seeme to be ioyned to the body So the wicked although they be in the outward face of the Church yet because they are not partakers of the spiritual life thereof by Christ are not truly to be iudged members of it 70 As in euery well ordered Kingdome the whole Realme should be of more authoritie then the King So the Church ought to be of more authority then the Pope though he were Prince thereof 71 As the Arke was carried from place to place and neuer rested in one certaine place So likewise the millitant Church here on earth hath no certaine place but is posted from piller to post Iosu 3.14.17 1. Sam. 4.3.4 c. 72 As in the body of a man there is a full furniture of all members needfull to the discharge of their seuerall duties which are knowne both how many they are and what they are Euen so likewise is it in the Church 73 As the want of a member as one eye or a hand breedeth griefe So in like maner the want of a member in the Church as a faithfull Minister which is the eye or of a Deacon which is the hand must needes be greeuous 74 As the disorder of a member in the body as to haue an eye where a nose should be or a foot for the hand c. causeth both horror and griefe So the like disorder in the Church of God must needes be horrible and greeuous 75 Like as in the body of man euery member hath his seuerall function to
then Christ Iesus who with the death of his own heart gaue life to our bodies and soules If the world doo but a little smile vpon vs and giue vs but an alluring looke and a faire word wee will by and by follow it and bestow vpon it all our attendance If the diuell himselfe can make vs belieue that wee shall either haue profite or pleasure by dooing his will our hearts minds wils al are readier for him then for Iesus Christ O matchlesse yea monstrous madnesse they that seeke our destruction can sooner with a pleasant looke then Christ with the giuing of his life for vs haue vs at commandement Christ would haue vs to mortifie our earthly members as fornication vncleannesse inordinate affections euill concupisence and couetousnesse which is Idolatrie But alas we nourish pamper and cherish all these The Lord would haue our conuersation in heauen but we are altogether carnally and earthly minded The Lord would haue our feete to stand within the gates of Ierusalem but we loue rather to bee trampling the streetes of Egypt Babylon and Sodom The holy Ghost would haue vs to fight a good fight to finish our course after the will of God and to keepe the faith not onely in words but also in life and deedes Indeed wee are apt and ready to fight and striue for worldly promotion honour dignitie reuenues and riches but for heauen and heauenly things we will neuer striue take no paines nor once trouble our selues wee will haue it with ease and all manner of pleasures or else not at all farwell it The courses we take here in this life are very bad and the end vnlesse we repent is like to be worst of all And whiles we haue no care to keepe good consciences it is vnpossible for vs to keepe faith If Christ and Sathan should stand before vs the one pointing vs to heauen and eternall felicitie but the way to it full of troubles griefes and sorrowes the other pointing to hell but the way to it full of delicates pleasures and daintie delights and let God call and the diuell call yet the diuell it is to be feared is like to haue the greater number to follow him for those short pleasures Christ but a few to follow him because they must go loadeÌ„ with Crosses and afflictions dayly experience doth teach vs no lesse seeing all our actions are carnall and haue onely but little outward shew and no taste at all of true godlinesse nor so much as any rellish of the spirit and loue of Chriâ—â— Some will abstaine from the committing of any grosse sinnes now and then and yet not that in any true and sincere loue to God but either for feare of shame and punishment in this world or else feare of vengeance in the world to come which both are vnprofitable for the Lord hath no pleasure in forced seruice hee will haue it voluntarie with the heart and proceeding of loue not of a seruile feare otherwise it shall bee numbred with the rest of our sinnes This doth greatly condemne vs that though we doo not such things our selues yet wee can without trouble of conscience griefe of heart or vexation of mind see and heare the Lords name blasphemed his Sabboth vnhalowed Idolatrie committed parents dishonored whoredome theft murder and Couetousnesse commonly vsed and all the lawes of God vtterly contemned and it shall neuer offend the greatest number so much as a thorne in a foote or a blaine or push vppon a finger This vndoubtedly is euen to forsake God in the plaine field and to be afraid to serue him in truth and sinceritie least we should therby purchase mans displeasure vnlesse therefore wee learne to serue him better in more truth with greater zeale in singlenes of heart we haue nothing else to looke for but that he will forsake vs both in this world leauing vs destitute of his assistance that our enemies may pray vpon vs and also in the world to come in giuing out against vs his malediction curse woe and sentence of death Math. 25.37 Psal 15.2 Pro. 23.26 Col. 3.5 Phil. 3.20 Psal 122.2 2. Tim. 4.5.6.7 Math. 25.41 Breakers of the fourth Commaundement 1 AS those parents that bring not their sonnes daughters being of yeares of discretion on the Sabboth day to the Church to be partakers of the holy exercises as preaching prayer Catechising and Sacraments do transgresse this Commaundement So in like manner those paâ—ents greatly offend heerein that bring their yong children to the Church on the Sabboth dayes who either by their crying or running vp and downe the Church doo both trouble themselues the Minister and the people that the word preached the prayers vttered caÌ„not with reuerence be so well heard as otherwise they might And no lesse do they offend herein that bring their Hawkes Hounds or Dogs to disquiet the Congregation 2 As Magistrates Schoolemaisters as also all Artificers and Handicrafts men ought to abstaine from their Offices and callings on the Sabboth day because they are impediments to hinder their zeale and attentiuenesse that they ought to giue to God in his worship and seruice that day So contrariwise if God will not haue them exercise their vocations and trades being lawfull and necessarie then much more he will not haue them exercised in vnlawfull and vnnecessarie works as in gayming dycing daunsing carding drinking rioting other vanities of this world whereby they are not onely drawne from the company of the holy Congregation but also doo thereby defile their bodyes which they ought rather to sanctifie and keepe holy Christ commeth of the Father AS the Sunne remaineth the same and is not lessened by the beames which it spreadeth abroad So neither is the substance of the Father lessened or changed though he haue the Sonne an Image of himselfe Christ not to be denied in persecution AS the Serpent when he seeth he shall come into mans hands defendeth his head either by gathering himselfe into a circle or thrusting his head into a hole leauing the other parts open to the wounds So likewise we must do in time of persecution euen keepe Christ our head from wounds howsoeuer our bodies suffer Curiositie 1 AS the Phisitions do speak of the members of a mans body that they are made and composed of forme substance strength and greatnesse and placed and disposed very coÌ„ueniently to shew their effects and operations So likewise in euery Commonwealth God hath raised vp some men either Ciuilians or Diuines furnished them with such graces and gifts as are necessarie to effect such things as he hath before determined now if the foote will take vpoÌ„ him to execute the office of the hand or that the hand wil needs walk as the foote if the eare wil striue to see and the eye to heare it would be a very vaine foolish thing for them to enterprise such things seeing they haue not bene made and framed thereto In like maner we striue in
should keepe and fulfill the same will allow and take for payment our well meanings and good intents without either knowing or learning the same his will and mind 1. Sam. 13.9 c. 15.8 c. 2. Sam. 6.6 1. Chro. 13.9 10. Ioh. 16.2 Act. 6.12 c. Edifying of others LIke as they that carrie Muske or other sweete Odours about them cannot be hid but must needes bee made knowne to all and that others must needes smell them Euen so godly and faithfull men that carrie in their harts the Gospell of Christ must needes make others partakers of the same Epicurisme the fountaine of sinne AS the moyst and waterish grounds bring foorth nothing but Frogs and Toades So the belly and waâ—rie stomacke that is stuffed like a tunne bringeth foorth nothing but a drousie mind foggie thoughts filthie speeches and corrupt affections Equalitie in marriage 1 AS two Palfreyes or two Oxen of vnequall stature cannot bee coupled vnder one yoke So a Noble woman matching with a man of base estate or contrarily a Gentleman with a begger cannot bee consorted or coupled vnder the bands of wedlocke 2 As the Lord commaunded that an Oxe and an Asse should not bee yoked together because the match is vnequall Euen so it is an vnlawfull thing for the faithfull to marrie with Infidels or else to haue any thing to doo with them Deut. 22.10 2. Chor. 6.14 A great Errour for a man to thinke he shall be saued when he is dying if he say Lord haue mercy vpon me 1 LIke as if an arrand Theefe should thus reason with himselfe and say I will spend my dayes in robbing and stealing I feare neither arraignment nor execution for at the very time when I am to be turned off from the Ladder if I do but call vpon the Iudge I know I shal haue my pardon behold a most dangerous and desperate course Euen so the very same is the practise of carelesse men in the matter of their saluation for a man may die with Lord haue mercy in his mouth and perish eternally except in this world he enter into the first degree of eternall life Math. 7.21 Ioh. 5.24 2 As euery wound killeth not the man So euery Errour depriueth not man of saluation 3 As the naturall partes beeing wounded or infected bringeth death So those Errours that destroy the fundamentall heads of the trueth bring euerlasting destruction vnlesse the Lord preuent them with repentance Ouermuch Ease and pampering of the belly is a great prouocation to sinne AS with a pyle or stacke of small and dry wood the fire is quickly kindled and caused mightily to flame out Euen so the outragiousnesse of carnall and fleshly lust is greatly prouoked moued and stirred vp through ryoting daunsing banquetting quaffing gulling swilling and continuall feeding and pampering of the belly and by taking the body from good lawfull and honest exercises and giuing it to Idlenesse slothfulnesse and ouermuch Ease and rest from labours The fearefull Estate of many people 1 AS the Smythes Stithie the more it is beaten the harder it is made Euen so commonly the hearts of men the more they are beateÌ„ with the hammer of gods word the more dull secure and sencelesse they are 2 Like as when a Malefactor on the day of Assise is brought forth of the Iayle with great boltes and fetters to come before the Iudge as he is going all men pittie him and speake comfortably vnto him But why so because he is now to be arraigned at the barre of an earthly Iudge Euen so such is the Estate case of all impenitent sinners which is farre more miserable then the case of this man for they be fettered in bondage vnder sinne and Sathan and this short life is the way in which they are going euery houre to the barre of Gods iustice who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lordes there to be arraigned and to haue sentence of condemnation giuen against them We must giue diligence to make our Election sure AS men are carefull in the world and painfull ynough to make assurance of landes and goods to themselues and their posteritie Euen so we ought to be more careful and diligent to make our selues the ElectioÌ„ of God which is more worth then all the world beside 2. Pet. 1.10 The Elect are ordained to leade a godly life AS the Sunne was ordained to shine in the day and the Moone in the night and that order they keepe yea euery creature in his kinde obserueth the course appointed vnto it by creation as the grasse to growe and trees to â—ring forth fruite So likewise the Elect were ordained to this ende to leade a godly life and therefore if we would â—ither persuade our selues or the world that we are indeed â—hosen to saluatioÌ„ we must be plentiful in all good works and make conscience of euery euil way Ephe. 1.4 2.10 2. Thes 2.13 2. Timo. 2.21 Gods loue to his Elect. AS Ioseph loued all his brethren but Beniamin he loued with a more speciall loue and therfore he gaue messes of meate to them all but Beniamins messe was fiue times as much as the rest So God giueth libertie to all his creatures as a good a louing God in so much that the earth is full of his mercies but his loue to his Elect children by Christ is a thousand times more then the rest for them he vpholdeth in their integritie and doth set them before his face for euer Gen. 43.34 Psal 104.24 41.12 The Elect cannot finally perish AS an Elme or an Oke casts their leaues in the winter yet abideth their sappe still in them Esay 6.13 Euen so shall the holie seede continue in their substance so that though there appeare no fruites outwardly to our grosse sences yet the sure ground and substance which he hath there planted remaineth and though it haue no outward seale in our sight yet hath it a sure seale in Gods sight for the Lord knoweth it to be there which is sufficient Election to saluation doth not abolish but establish the second causes 1 AS God hath limited to euerie man the tearme of his life but withall he hath ordained and appointed that for the preseruing thereof he shall both eate and drinke Euen so God hath ordained necessarily that the Elect must be saued yet by such meanes as he hath appointed in his wisedome for the bringing of them to it to wit by hearing the Gospell preached by beleeuing in Christ by amending their liues by praying to God c. 2 As he that should abstaine from foode and say that he need it not to liue by should directly fight and striue against the will and pleasure of God and so tempt him So likewise they that say that being Elect they need not beleeue the Gospell nor amend their liues for the attaining to the kingdom of heauen do tempt God reuerse his prouidence striue against his will and so farre as in them lyeth abolish the
of the sacred Scriptures rightly diuided neither can there be any more wel-commed pardon proclaimed to men then that which containeth the free forgiuenesse of sinnes And there cannot a more happie newes bee published abroad then that which concernes the inheritance of euerlasting life Notwithstanding the Preacher himselfe be carelesse be Leprous be filthie bee beastly or vile yet the godly Hearer will not forsake this heauenly foode or make light account of this wholsome medicine lightly esteeme this Gold or reiect this pardon thinke scorne of this newes but feede hungerly vppon it applie it in time lay it vp in his heart yeelde all reuerence vnto it and delight onely therein as in the very ioy of his soule 9 As a poore Prentise that is very desirous to learne his occupation throughly in euery point who notwithstanding his Maister doth dayly reuile him call him Asse and dolte yea and somtimes doth surely swinge him yet will he accept the same in good part and by no meanes be driuen from learning the misterie of his Trade because it bringeth in the end a pleasure with profit So likewise euerie Christian Hearer of the word should be so addicted to the loue thereof that neither respecting some outragious affections nor yet weying at all the disordered wordes which vnaduisedly passe from some Preachers mouth but regarding rather the matter in hand should wholly fixe their minds thereon assuring themselues that albeit the same seemeth sower at the first to flesh and bloud yet in the end it wil bring quiet rest to their soules Mat. 11.29 Hebr. 12.11 10 As the Anuile or Stithie the more it is hammered the harder it is So the most Hearers of the word now a dayes haue their harts so hardned in sinne and their consciences so seared vp with an hot yron that the hammer of Gods word cannot breake them in peeces nor zealous preaching approach to the quicke as it did before in the Apostles c. Psal 95.8 Rom. 2.5 Ephe. 4.19 1. Timo. 4.2 Iere. 23.29 Act. 2.41 8.12 11 As it is the beastly nature of some Horses to kicke at his keeper which prouides him prouender So is it the marke of a degenerate mind for any man to murmure at the iust reprehension of his Pastour 12 As a Glasse-windowe receiueth in the light so soone as it shineth but withstandeth euerie tempest or shower that beates at the same So should euerie Christian Hearer bee readie to receiue the light of the truth when hee heareth it preached and bee likewise as carefull to withstand and reiect euerie errour or false Doctrine that dooth slip from him which will after mooue a tempest in his conscience by the sence of Gods iudgement 13 As a Riddle or Syue letteth the cleare water issue foorth quite and keepeth onely the Chaffe or the mud that swimmeth aloft Or as a daintie and delicate Dogge which when one offereth him a good morsell of meate will scornefully cast his head aside and catch a Flie So in like manner the malicious Hearer whatsoeuer good morsell of Doctrine or instruction shall be proffered him by the Preacher the same shall surely fall to the grounde but if any vaine or vnsauorie matter shall slippe from him whereby hee may sustaine any reproach that shall bee sure to be catched and marked and to bee cast in his teeth c. 14 As the Thistle which if it bee stroked vpwardes will not lightly molest a man but beeing stroked downewards dooth pricke him So surely many Hearers of the word preached so long as their Ministers doo Preache pleasant things they seeke not to stirre them at all or bee displeased with them both so soone as hee beginneth to rubbe them a little on the gall and to touch them home to the quicke then they kicke and storme at the same Esay 30.10 Ierem. 11.21 Amo. 7.12 Mich. 2.11 2. Tim. 4.3 15 As meate the more a man receiueth the more it distempereth if it bee not digested So the more a man learneth and the more he Heareth the greater is his sinne if he grow not by it 16 As the Auditors of Ezechiel did willingly come and sit before him and Heare him but they iested at his words and would not doo as he taught them Euen so many will giue Preachers the Hearing but with their mouthes they iest it out and make no more reckoning of their Sermons then they doo of a Fidler and his song and not so much Ezech. 33.30 31 32. 17 As Naash the Ammonite said who would make a couenant with the men of Iabesh Gilead vpon condition that hee might put out all their right eyes and bring all that shame vpon Israel So likewise many Hearers of the word will in effect say to the Lord we are content to bee thy children and to heare thy Preachers thou shalt bee our Father so that wee may haue what we will say what we will and doo what we will 1. Sam. 11.2 18 As where the word is not preached there the people perishe So where it is plentifully deliuered and the people negligent in Hearing of it and not obeying it there is deepe damnation and vtter destruction shortly to be looked for Zepho 3.1 19 As stonie grounds mingled with some earth are commonly hot and therefore haue as it were some alacritie and hastinesse in them and the Corne as soone as it is cast into this ground it sprouteth out very speedily but yet the stones will not suffer the Corne to bee rooted deepely beneath and therfore when Summer commeth the blade of the Corne withereth with rootes and all So likewise is it with those professours and Hearers of the word who haue in their heartes some good motions by the holy Ghost to that which is good they haue a kinde of zeale to Gods word they haue a liking to good things and they are as forward as any other for a time and they doo belieue but these good motions and graces are not lasting but like the flame flashing of straw and stubble neither are they sufficient to saluation 20 As they that haue any bodily diseases if they refuse the Physick ministred vnto thē reape no profit at al albeit the Physition offer them medicines a thousand times Euen so the Preacher of the word shall doo no good by his preaching vnlesse his Hearers and auditours attentiuely marke and carefully practise the same 21 As the wicked and vngodly in old time when they were reprehended by the Lords Prophets for their sins and wickednesse did either denie their fault committed as Kaine and Gehesie Gene. 4.9 2. King 5.25 Or else they were angrie and vsed reprochfull words and sought reuengement As king Herord vnto Iohn Baptist Mark 6.17 The Elders to Steuen Act. 7.57 Or else they craftily and couertly excused themselues as Saule did 1. Sam. 15.20 Euen so do the wicked and vngodly Hearers of the word when their sinnes and wickednesse are spoken against and laide open by faithfull Preachers whereas
daunger of shipwracke Euen so we in this our pilgrimage must cast from vs the most precious things we enioy if it be our eye or our hand if they hinder vs in the race of godlinesse and doo presse vs downe so that we cannot goe on chearefully as we ought Mat. 5.29 30. 18.8 Husband the head ouer his wife 1 LIke as the head seeth and heareth for the whole bodie ruleth and guideth the body and giueth it strength of life Or as Christ doth defend teach and preserue his Church and is the Sauiour comfort eye heart wisedome and guide thereof Euen so must the Husband be head vnto his wife in like maner to shew her like kindnesse and after the same fashion to guide her and rule her with discretion for her good and preseruation and not with force and wilfulnesse to intreate her 1. Cor. 11.3 Ephe. 5.23 24 25. c. 2 Euen as the Maister is to counsel his seruant and likewise to heare the good counsell of his seruant as Naaman heard his seruant 2. King 5.13 14. So in like manner the Husbandes dutie is to counsell and admonish his wife yet so as that when he fayleth in dutie hee is to heare her good counsell admonition either concerning heauenly matters or worldly affaires shee notwithstanding considering her estate and condition vnder him and in humilitie confessing her selfe to be the weaker vessell 3 As when a Lute or other musicall instrument two strings concurring in one tune the sound neuerthelesse is imputed to the strongest and highest Euen so in a wel ordered Houshold there must be communication and consent of counsell and will betweene the Husband and the wife yet such as the counsell commandement may rest in the Husband Gene. 3.16 1. Pet. 3.1 Col. 3.18 Ephe. 5.22 4 Like as the Church must depend vpon the wisdome discretion and will of Christ not follow what it listeth So must the wife also rule and applie her selfe to the discretion and wil of her Husband because the gouernment and conduct of euery thing resteth in the head and not in the body Ephe. 5.24 1. Cor. 14.34 Numb 30.7 5 As it were a monsterous matter and the meanes to ouerthrow the person that the body should in refusing all subiection obedience to the head take vpon it to guide it selfe and to commaund the head So likewise were it for the wife to rebell against the Husband Hypocriticall heretickes 1 AS the Card-thystle or Teasell hath Celles and Cabbins like the Honie combe and in them first white flowers but after their falling away a bitter seede So the wicked haue their Sinagoges and a faire shew of words but in the end bitter fruites 2 As the heads or knoppes of Card-thystle are hollow within and for the most part hauing Wormes within So the chiefe ring-leaders of the wicked haue hollow harts and commonly the worme of conscience gnawing them Hiding of faultes AS they are very hardly cured which haue no sence nor feeling of their disease for example those that haue the Lethargie and the Phrensie Euen so none are more hardly brought to goodnesse then they which doo Hide their faultes The Husband and wifes dutie 1 AS the auncient Counsellers of King Saloman gaue wise aduise and counsell vnto Rehoboam King of Israel to the ende that hee might winne the loue and good liking of the people speake kindly vnto them said they and they will serue thee for euer after which counfell not being followed great inconuenience and mischiefe after befell vnto him c. Euen so likewise if the Husband bee desirous to procure the loue of his wife and to winne her to God or if the wife would also procure the loue of her Husband and winne him to God then they must drawe on one an other with sweete and gentle words of loue speaking kindly one to an other because gentle wordes doo pacifie anger as water quencheth fire but if they shall vse taunts or wordes of reproach and despight one against an other much hurt may ensue thereof For a little leauen sowreth the whole lumpe 1. King 12.7 c. Prou. 15.1 2 As the spitefull Iewes which hated the Lord Iesus would not vouchsafe to giue him his name when they talked of him or with him but to shew their vtter dislike of him they vsed to say Is this he or art thou hee that wilt doo such a thing Is not this he c. Againe whither will he goe that we shall not find him They would not say Is not this Iesus Christ Or the Sonne of God This is a most despightfull kinde of speaking and dooth bewray aboundance of malice that was hidden in their hearts Euen so it sometimes falleth out betwixt the Husband and the wife betwixt the Father and the Sonne betwixt the Maister and his Seruant c. That they could speake dutifully one to an other but contempt and disdaine and anger and malice will not suffer the one to affoord vnto the other their names and their titles least they shoulde bee put in minde of those duties which these names require where out Sathan sucketh no small aduauntage Whereas many times the verie name of a Husbande or Wife Father or Sonne Maister or Seruaunt c. doth greatly so much helpe to perswade the mind and to winne the affection yea the very mentioning of these names doo oftentimes leaue a print of dutie behind in the conscience Ioh. 7.11.15.35 3 As the mistresse Bee abideth alway in the Hiue and will not suffer any Bees to bee idle and those Bees that should worke and labour without shee sendeth them to their worke and whatsoeuer any of them bringeth home shee marketh receiueth saueth and disposeth it vntill the time come that it must bee occupied and when the time commeth that it must be occupied then shee distributeth euery thing according as reason requireth and those Bees that abide within shee causeth them to weaue and make the faire Honie combes after the best manner and she taketh care that the young Bees bee well fed and orderly brought vp but when they come to that age and to that point that they bee able to worke shee sendeth them out with one the which they follow as their guide and Captaine Euen so a good House-wife must abide within the house and those her seruants which must worke abroad shee sendeth them to their worke they that must worke within shee sendeth them to it and such prouision as is brought in she receiueth it and that which must be spent of it shee parteth and diuideth it and that which remayneth of it shee layeth it vp and seeth it kept fafe vntill time of neede and shee is carefull that that which is appointed to be spent in a twelue month bee not spent in a month 4 As he that poureth water into tubbes full of chincks and holes thinking to fill them looseth his labour Euen so the Husband that prouideth things necessary for house keeping shall
doo the will of my Father saith Christ which is in heauen Euen so is it often said that a hood maketh not a Muncke neither rounding or powling neither yet a long Gowne or a square Cap or Tippet maketh a true Apostle or Minister but he is counted to bee the assured Minister of Christ which both is able and can by sound doctrine exhort and comfort the gaine-sayers thereof and also doth diligently goe before the people of God by good example of life and vertuous conuersation 48 As it is the dutie of Iudges which doo sit in iudgement as concerning matters of life and death to shut the one eare to the accuser and to reserue the other for him that is accused after the example of great Alexander So likewise it is the part of Ministers to be ready to make answere to euerie question of the Law of God for he that is ignorant in Gods Law he may assure himselfe that he can by no meanes be Gods Minister Mind 1 AS we vse not the troubled water vntill it bee cleared againe So must we not vse our Mind being moued and angrie but suffer it first to be pacified 2 As out of the vessell which is filled with liquor the â—yre is expelled So out of a Mind replenished with verâ—ue and godlinesse all kind of vanities be voide Member of Christ falleth not finally AS a mans arme taken with the dead Palsie hangs by and receiues no heate life or sence from the rest of â—e Members or from the head yet for all this it remaines still vnited and coupled to the bodie â—nd may againe be recouered by plaisters and phisicke So after a greeuous fall the child of God that feeles no inward peace comfort but is smitten in conscience with the trembling of a spirituall Palsie for his offence neuerthelesse in deed remaines before God a member of Christ which shal be restored to his former estate after true and vnfained repentance Memorie AS the leaues of a booke which is sildom vsed wil cleaue fast together Euen so the Memorie waxeth dull if it be not oft quickned A Minde ruled by reason AS the ship which hath a strong ankor may safely stay in any hauen So likewise a man which hath his Mind ruled by reason will liue peaceably and quietly in any region of the world The Minde of man 1 AS Trees planted and set by the waters side seeme faire and pleasant adorned with store and varietie of fresh and greene leaues So likewise doth the Minde of man being garnished with godly knowledge moysâ—ned with the water of Gods diuine spirit flourish shine with the bright beames of vertue and spread abroad his boughes both of faith toward God and also yeeld foorth the fruite of Christian workes toward his neighbour Psal 1. 3. Esay 17.8 2 As the eye of the bodie although it behold all otheâ— things yet it cannot see either it selfe or some other partâ— of the bodie euen those which are nearest vnto it So it fareth with the Mind of man the eye of the soule it ranged ouer the whole worlde aboue the highest heauens anâ— beneath the bottom of the earth and yet it is a straunger 〈◊〉 home most ignorant of the owne estate 3 As we see in running Riuers that the force of the water is greatly diminished when as the currant thereof is turned into seuerall litle streames and that both the heate and light do loose much of their vertue when as they are dispearsed abroad into large and open places So likewise it happeneth to our Mindes when as they are applied vnto seuerall studies which sometimes are contrary one to the other so that we thinking through an ambitious desire to do many things in the end effect and bring to passe nothing as we should do 4 As Porke betokeneth vncleannesse from which we must abstaine and beasts did signifie that beastly affections should be killed So the Minde and will must be renued that it may allow chuse and do such things as please God 5 As the bodie being alwayes oppressed with labour looseth his strength and so perisheth So likewise doth the Minde of man oppressed with the cares and pleasures of this world loose all her force lust and desire that she had to the rest to come of eternall life and so dieth not onely the death of sinne but hasteth what she can to hate abhorre all vertue 6 As a ship hauing a sure Ankor may lye safe in any place So the Mind that is ruled by perfect reason is quiet euery where Merite or desert not to be looked for for well doing 1 LIke as if one say the Prince hath bestowed a great Office vpon such an honest man this betokeneth â—ot wherefore but vpon what maner of person the Prince â—estowed it Euen so in like maner if we say that God wil â—iue glory the kingdome of heauen and euerlasting life â—o them that walke vprightly this teacheth vs what maner of men the Lord will giue the inheritance vnto but not for what cause mouing him he will giue it vnto them Eze. 36.22 Math. 18.27 25.34 Luk. 17.7 9 10. Gal. 1.15 3.18 2 As he which is wicked and dooth wickedly hurteth himselfe and not God Or as hee that hath the health of his bodie and doth by good dyet keepe and preserue it dooth hee therefore deserue any reward at the Phisitions hands Verely no for he doth it not for the Phisitions profit but for his owne Euen so likewise he that by the gift of God hath obtained the health of his soule and by his grace doth the things that belong to the preseruation of the same shall we say that he dooth Merite or deserue any reward at Gods hand because that he is made such by his grace and gift and doth now through his helpe aide and assistance keepe the same grace for his onely profite and commoditie either by earnest beliefe or by vnfained loue or by assured hope or by well doing and patience in aduersitie and trouble c. 3 Like as if any man that hath a state or interest for terme of yeres and a taking of profit in a peece of ground by another mans liberall graunt doo also claime to himselfe the tytle of proprietie dooth hee not by such vnthankefulnesse deserue to loose the verie selfe possession which hee had Or like as if a bonde Slaue beeing made free of his Lorde doo hide the basenesse of the estate of a Libertine who is made free by maumission and not by byrth and boaste himselfe to bee a Free-man borne is hee not woorthie to bee brought backe into his former bondage Euen so althougâ— good woorkes proceede from the grace of God yeâ— they doo please him and are not vnprofitable to the dooers of them but rather they receiue for rewarde the most large benefits of God not because they deserue but because the goodnesse of God hath of it selfe appointed this price vnto theÌ„ But what spitefulnesse is this