S. Paule forewarneth vs. I beseech you brethren marke them diligentlie which cause diuision and offences among you contrarie to the doctrine which ye haue receaued and auoide them And Dionisius Bishop of Alexandria tolde Nouatus That it was more grieuous to breake y e vnity of the Church then to commit idolatry for this saith he was punished but with the sworde but the other with the opening gulph of the earth swallowing vp the Authours and confederates thereof Et non dubitatur sceleratius esse commissum quod grauius erat vindicatum And there is no doubt but that was more heinosly committed which was more sharply and seuerely punished Before the wall fell downe commonlye some riftes appeared and some of the stones fall out before Hierusalem was destroyed the intestine and ciuill contentions of the seditious more grieuously afflicted them within then the rage of the Enemy assaulting them without before the Turkes gat the East the Empire was diuided into twaine and so gaue entrance to y e enemies of Christ by diuision which florished in streÌ„gth glory wheÌ„ it was but one And before this our natiue land couÌ„try was at any time subdued ouerruÌ„ by forreÌ„ enimies ther were first secret mutinies practises grudgings mislikings iarrs diuisioÌ„s garboils among the domesticals here at home God turne his face from our sinnes and blot out our offences in the blood of his sonne make vs not a rebuke vnto the foolish and such as go about with lies that these rifts and deuisions these scismes and breaches of established peace and order while euery one wil like or mislike wil censure controll whatsoeuer is not aunswerable to y e leuell of his owne conceite while euerye one hath a song hath a vision hath a fancie hath a reuelation hath an interpretation by himselfe forsaking the fellowship we should haue among our selues be not causes of stormes be not bitter in the end be not sharpely punished bee not eyther sad presages of imminente further mischiefes or speedie meanes to hasten gods wrath and heauie hande agaynste vs. It was the earnest and vnfained prayer of Daniell in the like case and it shall be our parts and dueties so to poure out our feruent prayers euery one with Daniell O Lorde God to thee belongeth righteousnesse to vs open shame and confusion I beseeche thee O Lord let thine anger bee turned away from thy Citie Hierusalem thine holy mountaine we doe not present our selues before thee trusting in our own righteousnesse but in thy great and tender mercies O Lord heare O Lord forgiue O Lord consider and doe it not for our sakes but for thine owne sake O Lord my God It shall be I say both our wisedome and our safetie y t our duetie and the discharge of a good conscience thus to pray thus to prepare and build an Arke with Noe befoâ—e the flood come vpon vs to return and repent in time with Niniuie To offer vp the Calues and Bullockes of our lippes With Ose To sprinckle the postes of our harts with the blood of the pashal lambe and not to goe out of our dores least the distroying Angell find vs without and so smite vs with the Egâ—ptians to keepe our selues in the foulde for feare of the woolfe and not forsake the fellowship that wee haue among our selues as the manner of some is It is the manner of some to turne with the spiders breath the sweete ioice of flowers into poison to seek knots in rushes where all things are plaine and smooth to stumble at euerie strawe that stoppeth the course of their eger spirite to breake the bondes of peace and so to single and seuer themselues by themselues wel we are here tolde it is no new or strange thing it is the manner of some it hath beene it will be and therefore we are not greatly to be moued therewith it is the manner of some and therfore being thus armed and forewarned thereof we may the better auoide and withstand the like proceedings But howsoeuer it be y e maner ouersight of some yet according to that earnest obtestation of S. Pauâ—â— to the Philippians and to vs all in them If there be anie consolation in Christ if anie comfort of loue if anie fellowship of the spirite if anie compassion and mercie let vs be like minded hauing the same loue being of one accord and of one iudgemeÌ„t that nothing be done through contention or vaine glorie but that in meekenes of minde euerie one esteme another better then himselfe And whatsoeuer things are honest whatsoeuer aâ—e iust and pure whatsoeuer things are of good report whatsoeuer things pertain to loue if there be anie vertue or if there be any praise let vs thinke on these things and so consider one another to prouoke vnto loue and vnto all good workes For the end of the commandemeÌ„t is no other but loue that commeth of a pure hart of a good conscience and of faith vnfained from which while some haue erred they haue turned to vaine iangling they woulde bee doctors of the law and yet vnderstand not what they speake nor whereof they affirme S. Augustine said of the Donatists and Cirumcellions In omnibus sacramentis mecum sola charitate non mecum In all the doctrine of the sacraments they agree with me onely in loue and charitie they are not with me Sed in his paucis in quibus non mecum non prosunt eis multum in quibus mecum But in those fewe thinges in which they are not with mee those manie things doe not profite them wherein they are with mee Wherefore aboue all thinges saith Sainte Peeter Haue feruent loue among your selues for loue shall couer the multitude of sinnes Dearelye beloued sayth Sainte Iohn Let vs loue one another for loue commeth of GOD This is my commaundement sayth our Sauiour that yee loue together euen as I haue loued you for loue doth not euill therefore is loue the fulfilling of the Law But on the contrary though I speake with the tongues of men and of Angels and yet haue not loue I am euen as sounding brasse or as a tinckling Cimball Loue suffereth long and is curteous loue enuieth not is not puffed vp boasteth not her selfe disdaineth not other is not prouoked to wrath thincketh no euill reioyceth not in iniquitie but reioyceth in the truth And if loue and charitie did remaine in vs these good effects and quallities which may wel be sought and wished for but are rarely to be found would also abounde among vs. I might here saie much but I hasten to the ende the matter is verye large but the time I see is passed Let vs searche and peruse the whole volume of Gods booke Howe many examples howe many preceptes how manie threatnings how many parables contraries similitudes figuratiue and plaine speches howe many prouocations and motiues in all places and euery where are set downe to induce
A SERMON preached at Paules Crosse the 〈◊〉 Februarie Anno Dom. 1583. By I. Hudson Maister of Arte of Oxon. Through thy commaundementes I get vnderstanding therefore I hate all vvicked 〈◊〉 Psal. 119. Imprinted at London by Thomas Purfoote and are to be solde at his Shop ouer against Sainte Sepulchres Church 1584 Heb. cap. 10. ver 19. SEeing therefore brethren that by the bloud of Iesus wee maie bee boulde to enter into the holy place By the new and liuing way which he hath prepared for vs through the vaile that is his flesh And seeing we haue an high Priest which is ruler ouer the house of God Let vs draw neere with a true hart in assuraunce of faith sprinckled in our hartes from an euil conscience and washed in our bodies with pure water Let vs keepe or let vs hold fast the profession of our hope without wauering for he is faiâ—hfull that promised And let vs consider one an other to prouoke vnto loue and to good workes Not forsaking the fellowship that we haue among our selues as the manner of some is but let vs exhort one another and that so much the more because yee see that the daie draweth neere WHen Moses would exhort and stir vp the people of Israel to all diligent regard and accomplishment of their duetie described in the lawe after breefe rehersall of the great woonders and manifold benefices wherewith the lord God had both strengthned their wauering faith and susteyned their mortall liues in that their longe and wandring pilgrimage in the desart he speaketh as a most effectuall collection to excite them therevnto putteth downe the coÌ„tinual presence of God still ready to heare defend them with the excellencie and equitie of those there enioyned ordinaunces and lawes which should be their vnderstaÌ„ding their wisedome and glory among al people For what nation saith he is so great vnto whoÌ„ gods come so neere as the Lorde our God is neere vnto vs in al that we call vnto him for And what Nation is so great that hath ordinances and lawes so righteous as is all this lawe which I set before you this daye The same argument and reason inferred then as most forcible to worke obedience in the harts of those olde stubborne people vnder the lawe whiche had but a shadow of good things to come and was onely a Schoolemaister vnto Christ ought much more to be effectuall among vs in these daies and times of grace seeing the Lord commeth nearer vnto vs then he diâ— vnto them seeing we enioy the trueth body substance of those their figuratiue shadowes and haue precepts of doctrine ordinaunces and lawes by so much both more honorable and more profitable and higher then theires as they haue receaued a farre more excellent name and are seales and coÌ„firmations of better promises then they had For to theÌ„ God camâ— neare in fire and lightning in stormes and thunders and most terrrible manner on y e mountaine to declare his wrath against sin But vnto vs in fauor and goodnes in reconciled loue bowels of mercie freely pardoning and remitting our sinnes vnto them he spake by Angels and prophets and appeared by the ministrie of his seruant by whom he gaue a lawe But vnto vs by his dearely beloued and onely begotteÌ„ sonne by whom he hath giueÌ„ grace truth Unto them 〈◊〉 gaue the couenant of boÌ„dage of feare 〈◊〉 for a time Unto vs y e law of libert◠〈◊〉 â—doptioÌ„ eternal life for euer So thaâ—â—he declaration of sin coÌ„minatioÌ„ of pâ—â—â—â—hmeÌ„t to be inflicted by y e law were 〈◊〉 such price reuerence among theÌ„ much more should the promulgation of grace and free remission of sinnes be now acceptable vnto vs And if the ministration of condemnation as S. Paule saith figured in stone were glorious much more shall the ministration of righteousnesse by fayth in Iesus Christ exceede in glory And therfore seeing it is more directly saide and applyed vnto vs Christians now then it was euer to the Iewes that the Lord commeth so neere vnto no people as vnto vs Neither is there any Nation that hath ordinaunces and lawes so righteous so excellent and profitable as are all those wherein our Christian duetie is limited and described vnto vs It is also requisite that we duely consider and regarde the prerogatiue of this our calling vnto whome God in mercie stooping as it were so lowe doth discend and come neere and carefully obserue those his righteous lawes and precepts whereby wee maie approche and draw â—eere in all obedience vnto him againe Both which wee haue heere accordinglâ— set downe vnto vs in the scope of this present Scripture conteining a short abridgement and recapitulation not onely of this present Epistle to the Hebrues but euen of all the whole Gospell it selfe and of all our Christian life and duetie as wherein the effect and summe of all is contriued and knit vp Which although it contain matter more copious and plentifull then can exactly be discussed at one time Yet for our better and more orderly proceeding in so large a fielde and compasse may well be deuided into two generall partes and braunches First a theoretical position or doctrine of knowledge respecting our beleefe and faith as how neere the Lorde in mercie by the reconciliation of his sonne commeth downe vnto vs And secondly an application of this doctrine or hortatorie illation to the performaunce of all suche dueties as are answerable thereunto and requisite to the direction of our conuersation and life The first againe conteineth chiefely two thinges First the abrogation of the Iewish Priesthoode of their dayly sacrifices and legall obseruations and rights and secondly a confirmation of our finall attonement wrought with God and redemption by the bloud of Iesus once offered for all vpon the Alter of the Crosse wherby he hath made perfect for euer those that shall bee saued Both which bicause by way of allution or collation they are here set downe and deliuered in one I will also so proceede ioyntly to handle them in one and not deuide them in discourse of my speache In the second part again to be performed in our behalf whereby wee shall approche and come neare in obedience vnto God are required specially three thinges faith to enter and conduct vs in the way hope to strengthen and vphold vs to the end and thirdly loue and charitie to the comfort and encouragement both of our selues and other Our faith must not be naked or solitarie but clothed and accompanied with attendaunce of these properties a true harte and a good conscience so as both â—ur bodies and mindes maye be sprinckled and washed from all contagion of sin our hope must not bee wauering and vnconstant fitting and turning like our earthly affections after the variable nature of the obiect wheron they are placed but stedfast and vnmoueable grounded on the faithfull and vnchaungeable promises of almightie God And our loue must not
and remorse of conscience for a time not at all to the quenching but increasing of their flames Yet euen their laughing as saith Salomon is mingled with sorrow their mirth doth end in heauines Be glad saith he oh thou yong man in thy youth and let thy hart be merrie in thy yong daies follow thou the waies of thine owne hart and the lust of thine owne eyes but be thou sure that god will bring thee into iudgement for al these thinges although the bread of deceate be sweete for a white and thou wax fâ—tte and shining as saith Ieremy with the fruites of oppression and wrong Yet euen this night when they haue taken awaie thy soule thy mouth shalbe filled with grauel thou shalt carrie nothing with thee neyther shall thy pompe followe thee thou shalt vomite vp againe as Iob saith the riches that thou hast deuoured and God shall drawe them out of thy bellie Although the strong man for a season seeme to keepe all thinges in rest and quiet yet shall the goodman of the house come at an houre when thou thinkest not and giue thee thy portion if thou watch not with hipocrits And although as saith the Prophet Amos discribing y e maners of the careles wordlings they put away the euil day far from them and approch without feare to the seate of iniquitie though they lye vppon beddes of Iuerie and eate the lambes out of the flocke and the calues out of the stall though they sing to the sounde of the violl and inuent instruments of musicke like Dauid though they drinke wine in bottles and annoint themselues with the sweetest oyntementes though their excellencie as Iob saithe mounte vppe to the heauens and their heades reache vnto the cloudes though all the sheaues of the fielde must bowe vnto them and the Sunne and the Moone stoope downe at their presence yet shall they flye awaie as a dreame and passe as a vision of the night yet shall they bee as dunge for euer and the sinne of their youth shall lye downe with them in the dust yet shall they flye from the yron weapon and the bowe of steele shall strike them through the Heauens shall declare their wrekednes and the earth shall take parte against them Loe this is the portion that the wicked manne maye looke for and the heritage that hee shalt haue at the handes of GOD. Heere is then a looking glasse and mirrour for vs all to knowe and discerne our selues euen the testimonye of our conscience to trye whether wee bee in the fayth and so in the righte waye to the holye place or noe Here is a measure that reacheth euen vnto you and to you all of what degree condition or calling soeuer you bee there is no immunity there is no exemption and it is not lyke Lesbiae regula to bee made longe or shorte to bee wrested or applyed according to the quantitye or quallitye of the person but euerye thing vprightly to be squared by the leuel and due proportion theroff Aboue all you Magistrates and iudges you men of higher place of authority and myght vpon whose direction y e gouernment the rest of the inferior sort dependeth looke not way not measure not your liues and happie estate by this outward pompe and glory of the worlde which is but a flying shaddow and shall not follow you to helpe in the day of wrath But looke into your selues and into your own consciences enter into your chamber common with your harts without flatterie and knowe for câ—rtaintie that who so runneth on the race of sinne without remorse of conscience shall bee seuerely punished without compassion and there is no respect of persons with God his eyes behold the poore and his eyelids trieth the children of men he hath made the small as wâ—l the great and careth for both a like hee standeth in the congregation of Princes he is a iudge among Gods and a God among Iudges He hath saith Iustine Martir both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A iust eye and reuenging eye It is truely saide of Seneca Quicquid a vobis minor expauescit maior hoc vobis dominus minatur whatsoeuer the inferior doth feare at your handes a greater Lord doth threaten the same to you againe and therefore it is good and wholesome counsell giuen by Agatho a Ruler a Prince a Maiestrate must remember three thinges first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that hee ruleth and gouerneth men of the same nature and condition with himselfe secondly that hee â—ule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to equity â—o iustice and lawe euen with a good conâ—ience and thirdlie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that â—ee shall not alwaies beare rule and goâ—erne but in the end giue account of his â—â—ewardship and stande or fall vp the witâ—esse of his owne conscience A notable â—xample of whiche good conscience reâ—uired in a magistrate we haue described â—n the person of Iob. I deliuered saith hee â—â—e poore that cryed and the fatherlesse â—nd him that had no helper the blessing â—f him that was readie to perrish came vpon me and I caused the widdowes harte 〈◊〉 reioyce I put on iustice and it coueâ—ed 〈◊〉 my iudgement was as a roabe and a â—owne I was the eies to the blinde and â—â—ete to the lame I was a father to the â—â—ore and when I knew not the cause I â—â—ught it out diligentlie I brake also the 〈◊〉 of the vnrighteous man and plucke 〈◊〉 praye out of his teeth The lyke 〈◊〉 wee haue sette downe in the person of Samuell I haue walked saith hee before you from my childehoode vnto thiâ— daie beholde here I am heare record oâ— me before the Lord and before his annointed whose oxe haue I taken or whosâ— Asse haue I taken whom haue I hurte tâ— whom haue I done wrong or of whosâ— hande haue I receaued any bribe to blinâ— mine eyes therewith God graunt thaâ— they that sit in Samuels place may in theiâ— liues keepe the like good conscience anâ— at their death make the lyke confessioâ— with this of Samuell and theâ— as Esai saith Who shal dwel with the deuourinâ— fire who among vs shall dwell with the â—uerlasting burninges that is with thâ— glorious Maiestie of GOD Hee thaâ— walketh in iustice and speaketh righteoâ—â— thinges refusing gaine of oppressioâ— shaking his handes from taking of gifte stopping his eares from hearing of blooâ— and shutting his eies from seeing euill anâ— so drawing nere with a true hartes princâ— led from an euill conscience Hee saiâ— the Prophet shall dwell an high his dâ—fence shalbe the munition of rockes breaâ— shall be giuen him his waters shalbe 〈◊〉 and his eies shall behoide the King in 〈◊〉 glory And therefore saith Dauid keepe innocencie and doe the thing that is right for that shall bring a man peace at the last Here I might make in iust and necessary complaint for the decay of vpright dealing and corruption of mens consciences in euerie