the same bringeth foorth much fruite for without me can ye doo nothing Euen so say you of light No man is an instrument of any light to others but as he himselfe is in the stemme Christ from whom commeth all light In him men giue much light and shine vnto many both farre and néere by Word and writing c. 4 There are many branches of the Candlestick The branches are chieflie the Ministers of the Church and the varietie noteth their diuers degrees and orders These all grafted in the stemme and growing out from the stemme do also giue light in the Sanctuary A great honor to themselues when they do giue light and a great comfort to the beholders that sée their light Thus to shine is rightly and truly to shine in Gods house and all glorie els pompe and port and state is vtter vanity if this be away The light was euer in the Church and so diligent should Ministers be that their sound should be heard still still as the Lord willeth In season and out of season holy day and worke day if the place require it and tenne thousand times happy that seruant whom when his maister commeth he shall finde so doing I lay no burdens on any mans backe but the Lord that called hath inioined the worke accounted vs faithfull and put vs in his seruice He he it is that hath deliuered out his money and will looke for a reckoning that lent vs his light and will one day aske what wee did with it He gaue it not to be put vnder a bushell but to be shewed out to all that are in the house O that Hee may giue the feeling remembrance of it Then will not loyterers condemne labourers and thinke it vnfit to preach too often curiositie shalnot put out the candle a quarter of a yéere together or censure diligence and plainenesse in others for want of it Euery mans labour shal be accepted for the end whereunto they are directed and godly ioy in euery mans well doing That snake of enuie will flye away where discouragement hath growen cōfort will spring that God may be pleased and his Church profited by all mens measures and abilities He that walketh in the midst of the Candlesticks séeth the light or darknesse of them and wil remooue any one that amendeth not being faultie 5 This Candlesticke had bowles knops and flowers to adorne it and beautifie it withall The bowles figuring againe the spirituall gifts wherewith God Almighty doth beautifie his Pastors and Teachers which are as lights in his Church as Wisedome Learning Eloquēce Tongues and such like teaching also these Ministers that as Bowles do containe and kéep water or wine so should they conteine and euer kéepe doctrine and exhortation to coole and comfort the consciences of men bringing as the good Scribe out of their store things new and old The knops and flowers seruing for delight well represented what pleasure and contētment Godly people should take in a godly Teacher placed by Gods gratious prouidence ouer them They will not treade vpon them but smell to them not cast them at their heeles but set them in their bosomes as trulie pleasing flowers vnto them Still gold is the matter and pure gold to shew out by way of shadow the excellencie of Christ and of his faithfulll Ministers in him and for him 6 There were againe seauen Lampes and oile in them for this light The number of Seuen noting sufficiencie as indeede the Lord neuer faileth his Church of what hée knoweth néedefull Oyle commonly signifieth the Gospell and Faith kindled in the hearts of men by the efficacie of the Ministerie and the lampe shadoweth out a good conscience Because as oyle cannot be kept in a broken lampe but in a whole so is true Faith euer preserued in a good conscience hurt the conscience loose faith loose the Holy Ghost and loose eternall life This is prooued by the blessed Apostle when he saith Fight a good fight hauing faith a good conscience And againe The end of the commandement is loue out of a pure heart and of a good conscience of faith vnfeigned Furthermore as the only lampe emptie and drie could not light those foolish Virgins to the Bridegroomes chamber so neither can a good conscience as Philosophers spake of it that is honest externall action saue a man without there be also the oyle of the knowledge of the Gospell of Christ Lastly as a Lampe of glasse is brittle and soon broken so the conscience is a very tender thing and quickly may becrakt if not cleane broken A iust cause to make men chary what they doo 7 Snuffers and snuffe-dishes are appointed for these lightes wherein we may also profit and bee instructed For first in that GOD leaueth not the least and basest thing to their willes but himselfe appointeth and preand prescribeth all we very truly learn how odious in his seruice mens meere inuentions be and how he euer tyed men to his owne commandement not suffering them to doo what séemed good in their own eyes and to salue vp the matter with their good intents Amongst then many other things in the Word euen this also should haue his force in our hearts to beat vs from will-worships and to make vs carefull to learne how God will be serued and so onely and euer to serue him Secondly this is a great comfort to Ministers and to all the faithfull of God who are also here shadowed namely that although my gifts be not such as to set me high in the Tabernacle yet am I not therefore vtterly vnprofitable or vnfit or reiected of God But if I may be among the meanest vessels of the Sanctuarie and of the Church If I may be but as the Snuffers or Snuffe-dishes as a doore keeper as a besome or an ash-pan wherof mentiō wil be made hereafter euen this shall well please me herein will I reioyce thanking my God right humbly that hath looked vpon me in that measure Euery faithfull man or woman cannot be great and haue great places in the Church the body hath diuers members and all good and made by God the Church hath diuers degrees of Beléeuers and yet all Beléeuers and loued of God so if you be one in any place blessed be God for it Your ioy shall be eternall also and incomprehensible Thirdly for the vse of these Snuffers you know they serued to make the lampe light shine more bright So shadowing out that the doctrine of the Church must be pure bright and light not mixed with darknesse and snuffes in it and to this end the Lord hath discipline in his Church and disputations so to cleere when obscuritie groweth and to set things well that went awrie Discipline is profitable when it is rightly exercised by men authorised but if men not authorised by means not allowed will be snuffing of lights indéede rather aiming to put them out than
of the sacrament not to be reserued 423. Breast-plate 410. how it informed the priest of God his will 411. the twelue stones in it with names signified that God cared for euery particuler man 412. Bush burning and not consumed 33. Buriall Pompei was without the honour of it 425. C. Calling Moses was called being forty yeeres old 22. we must answere readily when God calleth 34 52 53. our calling is not to bee misliked for some defects 51. in performance of duties we must looke not to our selues but to our calling 78. and both to God and our calling 264. we must vse warinesse in it reckoning of enemies 207. in it wee must bee stronge and cheerefull 214. Hinderers thereof to bee remooued 301 we may not passe the limits of it 322. those that rush into a calling rashly are confounded 39. Calling of Ministers see Ministers Golden Calfe 439. euerie error in Religion is as it were a Calfe 442. Canaan is ours but in the way thither we must reckon of enemies 207. and looke for lets 212. for wee must passe by Marah 238. and fight with Amalech 290 291. we are directed to the true Canaan by Gods word 207 466 in trauailing thither we must not looke backe to Egypt 209. Candlesticke 393. Catechising 127 333 370 196. Cattell die when God is displeased 109. Cato denied diuine prouidence 425. Ceremoniall law the diuision thereof 358. a shadow of Christ and ended in Christ 376 377 402 187. Change of Prince dangerous 6. Change of estate not â—o be feared 25 29 30. No change in God 42 38 426 72 210. Childrens dutie 54 they should not be brought vp in ignorance 196. their differences are known to god who is first who is secoÌ„d 198 Cheerefulnesse in our calling 214. and in Gods seruice 364. Cherubins 387. the stretching of their wings signifieth the protection of Christ 388. their faces one towards another signifieth the consent of the old new Testament 389. God spake from betwixt them ibid. c. Christ his death brought encrease of Christians 4. hee was called an Angell because sent to be our deliuerer 31. 32 hee vniteth diuers houses and Nations 186. he wholely freed vs both from originall and actuall sins 191. he is not to be found out of the church 202 370. he cooleth enlightneth his Church as the cloud and pillar did the Israelites 208. he was the Angell that went before the Israelites 216. his loue to his Church 412. his blood though sufficie at for all yet not helpfull to all 416. hee maketh our prayers acceptable 427 428 how hee now speaketh to his Church 390. Christ was prefigured by Ioseph 4. by Moses 26. by the Lambe in the Passouer 186 187. 188 189 190. c. by the tree that made the bitter waters sweet 237. by Manna 275 383. by the Rock 287 by the blood of the couenant 356. by the Ceremonies of the law 376 377. by the Arke 382 by the Mercie-seat 386. by the table of shew-bred 391. by the candlestick 393. by the most holy place 400. by the altar of burnt-offering 403. by the high Priests Ephod 410 412. Christ his humanitie prefigured by the cloud 357. in the Altar of incense the wood signified his Humanitie the gold his Deitie 428. the vniting of his diuine nature to his manhood 382. the Lambe being without blemish did signifie his puritie 186. being a Male did signifie his spirituall strength 187. being of a yeere old did signifie his experience of infirmities 187. his annointing presigured by the oyle 414. his righteousnesse by the Priests garment 421. his protection of his Seruaunts by the stretching of the wings of the Cherubins 388 his eternall Priesthood by the budding of Aarons rod 383. the Maiestie of his Kingdome by the crowne of gold about the â—rke 382. and about the Altar of sweete perfume 428. His comming in the flesh prefigured to be in the Euening of the world 189. that hee should bee taken from amongest sinfull men 188. his humiliation by the brasen Altar 428. his suffering without the Citie 418. that hee shold not die by by after he was borne 188. that he shold die but once in one place 404. that he shold not putrifie in the graue 382. that he should rise againe by the budding of Aaronsâ—od â—od 383. that he should haue glorie in heauen after his ascention 428. Church of God compared to a Shippe 219. 220 221. True Church and false Church 220. The true Church shall haue Victorie ouer her enemies 227. there is an Vnion betwixt God and it 232. when God will 242. we must reioyce at the welfare of it 302. it is where Christ is 383. it was prefigured by the Arke 384. it is the keeper of the Scriptures 385 by the Tabernacle 400. the puritie of it 401 the rich grace of it ibid. it neuer quite fayleth 33. 414. God his loue to it 55 56 61. Christ his protection of it 206. 388. it is neuer forsaken but her enemies cursed and fauourers blessed 218 219. it increaseth in persecution 10 201. Our Church was before Luther 137 219. Churches built 365 366. Church-robbers 204 430. Liberalitie to the Church 464. Church-Officers Sworne-men c. 114. Church-meetings loued of God 374 403. Church is Gods house 367 it is graced by God 465 reuerence is due to it 371 372. it must be repaired 373. the outward glorie and glistering of it 378 392. the true beautie of it 394. refusall to goe to the Church will bee punished 64. reasons why we should not refuse 316. we must come to the Church cheerefully 365. exaÌ„ples 368 369. 370 we must not go out of the Church before the end of prayers sermoÌ„ 375. The distinct places in our churches coÌ„pared with the roomes of the tabernacle 400. Cloud did guide and protect the Israelites 207 208 216 465. Cloud that couered Moses a figure of the humanitie of Christ 357. Clergie men 303. Colledges built 367. Colours of sinne 9. Communion tables 326. 403. they are more ancient than stone Altars 404. Consecration of the Priests 413. it sealed to their consciences their vocation 414. Condemning must not goe before hearing 12. Conscience tortured by Popish doctrine 139. Good conscience is the preseruer of faith 396. Conscience is as the face of the inward man 461. Remorse of Conscience 170 105. Conuenticles of the wicked 8 371. Constancie in suffering affliction 226 227. Constancie in loue where we once haue loued 286. Constancie a vertue in a Iudge 349. Constancie in Religion ibid. CoÌ„tentation 167 243 268 279 293 361 362. Courtiers should not be drawne from Gods seruice by pleasure profit c. 23 98. Couetousnesse 108 150. 170 265 292 it is a blot in a Iudge 315. Counsaile if good to be receiued from an Inferiour 313. Councellors are Kings eyes and eares 311. Cookes must so dresse meate for other mens bodies that there bee care had of their owne soules 193 194. Courage is a propertie of a
they can They will rake they will scrape they will hoord and muckervp their wicked Mammon is their GOD and their Chest their hope in time of néede But what became of Manna it selfe when it was kept contrarie to Gods liking Wormes bred in it as you sée it stanke and no wayes serued to their vse that so disobediently had laide it vp Euen so so shall it euer bee with this Crue let them make their reckoning of it and rest assured Ill gotten goods shall not prosper nor the thirde heire bee the better for them Our eyes daylie sée what may teache our hearts if GOD bee within vs and this notable place of rotting Manna would neuer bee forgotten 7. Yet the sixt day they reserued and it corrupted not Uerie true and let it neuer goe out of your minde whilest you liue For vpon the sixt day they were commaunded to gather both for that day and the day following ver 5. which was the seauenth day and the Sabbath to the end they might rest vpon the Sabbath and not goe out to gather and it corrupted not No more shal any goods you get and gather with the will and good liking and by the commaundement of Almightie God that is truly lawfully and with a good conscience but the Lord shal blesse that basket and that store to you whilest you liue and to yours when you are gone and though it bee but little yet hee shall make it sufficient to sustaine your selfe to bring vp your Children and to doo what they which haue thrice as much as you comming in cannot doo Your Children againe after you maintayned with that which you haue well gotten shall prosper either in learning or trade so that they shall come to great Places often and to bee Great menne to carie such Offices of credite as are in the Countrie or Tewne where they dwell and leaue Gods mercies againe to their Children after them to a thousand generations louing and fearing Gods holy Name and kéeping his Commaundements when the quite contrarie shall come to passe with the goods ill gotten as you haue séene 8. Forget not to marke héere also the great care that GOD hath of his Sabbath that it bee kept holy according to his appointment when hee will not suffer these Israelites to gather so much as his Manna for their foode vppon the Sabbath day but appointeth them to doo it the day before May not a good soule thus reason then with himselfe or her selfe Good Lorde what doo I vppon the Sabbath day This people of his might not gather Manna and may I safelie gad to Faiers and Markettes to dauncinges and drinkinges to wakes and wantonnesse to Beare-baytinges and Bull-baytinges with such like wicked prophanations of the Lords day May I bee absent from the Church where Gods people are gathered together in his Name he in the midst of them walking about my Closes and grounds sending my Seruaunts and Cattle to Townes with corne which I haue solde before because I will not spare them on the wéeke daies and so forth Are these works for the Sabbath Is this to keepe holy the Sabbath day Can I answere this to my God that giueth me sixe daies for my selfe and taketh but one day to himselfe of which I rob him also No no assuredly I shall not be able to endure his wrath for these thinges one day and therefore I will leaue them and regard héereafter his holie Sabbath better than I haue done Yes assuredly this is a sound and a blessed Reason and therefore I pray God to set it in our hearts since now a-daies there is so much offending this way 9. When came this Manna from Heauen in the day or in the night In the night when the dewe fell downe this Heauenly bread fell with it and in the morning as hath béene noted verse 14 When the dewe ascended this lay all scattered vpon the earth to be gathered till the heate of the Sunne melted it away ver 21. What a swéete Note doo I sée heere namely that when his Children sléepe and are at rest Gods prouidence for them sléepeth not but worketh and giueth thinges for their vse and for their comfort for their health for their life for their aduancement vnto honour Groweth not the grasse when wee sléepe and the best hearbs for our health and vse Come not the swéet showers when we sléepe that make the Husbandman reioyce and sing Peter was a sléepe in the prison the next day to suffer death by cruell tyrannie watched and warded and bound with chaines neither was there any helpe in mans eyes for him only the little flocke of Gods Children gathered together in the house of a religious woman prayed for him but the prouidence of God was not sléepe which watched ouer him and his life and sent his Angell to deliuer him in such miraculous manner as you reade of euer and euer leauing vs a Testimonie of his care loue mercie and power as shall be good for vs the swéetnesse whereof I am not able to reach vnto but crie with the Prophet from my heart O blessed blessed is the man that hath the Lord for his God! it is better to trust in him than in all the Princes of the world And if he be on our side wee neede not care what man can doo against vs. Such another Example is that of king Ahasuerosh not able to sléepe but calling for the Chronicles and hitting vpon that place where Mordecai his loyaltie and faithfull seruice was mentioned thereby enquiring what had béene done for him and so exalting him to great honour Poore Mardocheus was a sléepe when this was done and little thought of such a matter But his swéete and gracious God was not on sléepe you sée sending from Heauen his Manna that is his comfortable Mercie to his Childes honour and his whole Churches good by his aduancement Shall wee euer then fall from this God by distrustfull feare that thus careth for his when they be on sléepe Lord Lord giue vs the vse of these thinges and strengthen our Meditation to an immoueable Faith and strong comfort in Thee euermore Consider the olde generations of men saith the wise Sirach and marke them well was there euer any confounded that put his trust in the Lord Did euer any continue in his feare and was forsaken or euer any call vpon him and was despised No no no no. And therefore lay it vp in your heart marke the Scriptures If wee beléeue that he hath made our bodies shall wee not also beléeue that hee will prouide for them séeing the creation is greater than the preseruation Hath hee care ouer the wicked to doo them good and will hee not much more reioyce to doo his Children good Did the Lord loue vs when wee were his enemies and will he leaue vs succourlesse when we are reconciled to him in so déere a price as his owne Sonnes precious blood O if he did vs
comfortablie will aunswere I knowe whom I haue beleeued and I am sure that in loue hee hath adopted mee to bee his Childe that hee is true in his promise and powerfull in performance And these three so strengthen my heart that no want of merit no consideration of my owne vilenesse no greatnesse of the future blessednesse canne cast mee downe from the height of hope wherein I am soundlie rooted This is the three-folde corde c. To this effect haue many other Fathers written also but I omit them Lastly this example of God in this place as it teacheth patience and long suffering when we are abused so doth it notablie also teach cōstancie in loue where we once haue loued A thing worthie following if I had not béene too long in this Note I will therefore reserue it to some other place onely now praying you to remember whom you resemble if this grace be in you and from whom you swerue if it bee not It is enough to mooue a Childe of God 6. Of this striking of the Rocke there is often mention made in the Scriptures and therefore a thing worthie good consideration Hee claue the hard rocks in the Wildernes and gaue them drinke thereof as if it had beene out of the great depthes He brought waters out of the stonie rock so that it gushed out like the riuers Againe in another Psalme He opened the rocke of stone and the waters flowed out so that riuers ranne in drie places For why he remembreth his holy promise and Abraham his seruant The things we may thinke of are these The fall of Moses and Aaron at this time The figure and allegorie of this rocke Concerning the first reade what is written in the Booke of Numbers Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rocke and Moses said vnto thē Heare now yee Rebels shall we bring you water out of this rocke And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron Because yee beleeued me not to sanctifie me in the presence of the children of Israel therefore yee shall not bring this congregation into the Land which I haue giuen them Héere you sée it reuealed that Moses and Aaron staggered at this matter and offended the Lord. Whereby we are notably taught that although there be many in this world who through the grace that is giuen them fight a good fight hauing faith and a good Conscience yet there is not one frée from all sinne sauing Iesus Christ alone But euen Moses himselfe héere that Great light hath his darknes and his infirmitie Hee that had wrought such Great miracles and deuided the maine Sea through the power of him that now biddeth him strike the rocke yet héere hee doubteth and fainteth in Faith as God himselfe witnesseth of him Truly therefore said the Prophet Dauid If the Lord shall marke what is done amisle Who Who shall be able to abide it And the Apostle likewise There is none that is righteous no not one All haue gone out of the way And in the sight of God can no flesh liuing be iustified Let not Sachan then amaze vs with our imperfections for the swéetest Roses haue their prickels and Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance On the other side againe Let not Sathan tempt vs to a conceipt of purity or perfection either in our selues or others for if Moses fall if Dauid fall if Samuel fall if Iob fall if Abraham fall and all haue fallen who shall say my heart is cleane Beware of these extremities both wayes walking in the middle way take holde of Christ by him fearing no imperfection and for him flying all vaine thoughts of absolute integritte Againe learne heere and forget it neuer what an odious thing in the sight of God any doubting in him is which yet the Doctrine of Rome so laboureth to maintaine For when for this onely fault the Lord is so moued with his déere seruant Moses that he reiectech him from conducting his people into the promised Land and burieth him in the Desert certainly we may not entertaine doubting in our hearts touching any promise of his and especially in so great a matter or in such a graund Article of Faith as the Remission of sinnes is 7. For the second thing namely the Type you reade in the Apostle that this rocke was Christ that is a Figure of Christ With which kinde of phrase would the Romish Teachers not wrangle that Great contention about the Sacrament néeded uot For to giue the name of the thing signified to the signe signifying was neuer strange among learned men and in this very particular of the Sacrament S. Augustines words are well knowne Non dubitabat Dominus dieere hoc est corpus meū cum signum daret corporis sui The Lord doubted not to say This is my bodie when he gaue a signe of his body To which end also speake other of the Fathers abundantly if it were any purpose here to enter into his matter 8 For the thirde thing namely the Allegorie thus is it noted by the learned That when all mankind was to be smitten by the Law for sinne yet through the infinite loue of God the Rocke onelie was smitten that is Christ of whom the Law laid hold for vs hée submitting himselfe for vs was smitten off it for vs. Thus saith the Prophet He was smitten for our transgressions and with his stripes we are healed Other Scriptures also That God so loued the world that he gaue his onely be gotten Sonne to suffer c. That he himselfe bare our sinnes in his body on the tree c. This blessed rocke thus smitten for vs hath gushed out swéete water for vs to drinke to coole that scalding heate of burning sin in our soules which els would quickely kill vs and be our bane Whosoeuer drinketh of the water that I shall giue him saith this our Rocke and Sauiour shall neuer be more a thirst but the water that I shall giue shall be in him a well of water springing vp to euerlasting life But let no man thinke that this water that is the swéete and cheering comfort of the Gospell is to be got by mans merites as some teach but euer remember the Prophets words Ho euery one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and ye that haue no siluer come buy and eate come I say buy wine and milke without siluer and without monie c. The Prophets words are sull of force First calling to All to come and excepting none which is a great cōfort thē offering mercy without money that all cursed cogitations of workes and worthes in our selues might euer die and be abhorred Come vnto me all ye that trauell and are heauy laden and I will refresh you not your owne merits and works The blood of Iesus Christ clenseth vs saith the Apostle from al sin al sin I say againe and not our workes
office let vs wait on the office or he that teacheth on teaching Or he that exhorteth on exhortation he that distributeth let him do it with simplicitie he that ruleth with diligence hee that sheweth mercy with cheerefulnesse To the Corinthians There are diuersities of gifts but the same spirit And there are diuersities of administrations but the same Lord And there are diuersities of operations but God is the same that worketh all in all c. To the Ephesians againe He therefore gaue some to be Apostles some Prophets some Euangelists some Pastros Teachers for the repairing of the Saints for the worke of the ministerie and for the edification of the bodie of Christ Till we all meete together in the vnitie of faith and that acknowledging of the Son of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ c. Thus some men are indued with Gold some with Siluer some with blew silke some with purple and so forth that is with seuerall gifts graces all profitable in some sort for the building of the Sanctuarie such as God hath giuen such must they bring offer such shall be accepted For to this end also pleased it God to appoint such seuerall things that poore and meane persons might be able to offer and no man exempted for want of power the verie poorest being able to offer goates haire and that their meane gift to him was as welcome as the greater gifts of the rich To teach vs at this day to despise in no man what God himselfe accepteth well and despiseth not For had they in those daies that were able to offer Gold Siluer precious stones blew silke and so foorth disdained the poorer sort that brought Goates haire Badgers skinnes a little Shittim wood and such like grieuously would God haue béene displeased with it And so assuredly now if any man vpon whom God hath bestowed more shall proudly scorne and deride him that hath lesse â—et ioyning with his little to build Gods Sanctuarie as wel as he that hath much God will sée it abhorre it punish it Away then with all disdaine and scorne in this matter humbly acknowledge that as some men want what thou hast of Learning Wisedome Eloquence and other good giftes to build with all so dooest thou want as much of others who as farre excell thée as thou in thine owne opinion doost excell others O hatefull pride in this behalfe too much too much in some that should be wiser neuer since the world was more than now We trudge froÌ„ place to place to féede our fancies we choose wée iudge wée censure wée shoote our boltes in euery corner neuer remembring this and other places telling vs of the seuerall powers of men and GOD his good acceptance of the meanest Let it mend and let it end before God end vs and al this pride to our lasting paine Joy in them that bring any offering to this worke béeing the best they are able and knowe it as true as any thing is true that the harmelesse simplicitie of some shepeheards in the olde Church did sometimes more profit the Church than the great exquisite fine or delicate but a little too proud learning of some others A learned man of our time saith very wel Euery man must walk in his place contentedly Non omnes possumus esse Caesares They that brought not gold nor siluer nor precious stones yet did good Offices if they brought but wood or stone If we cannot attaine to be In primis to haue the first place yet it is praise worthy if wée may haue the second or the third In the building of the Temple after this Tabernacle they that laide the foundacions nay that digged places to lay the first stone in that hewed and squared the stone and the timber were of lesse reputation and account than those that carued guilded the Temple yet was the others worke and labour far more necessarie They that till the land and sow the séede that thresh and grinde the corne are of lower place than those that liue in Princes courts yet is their labour seruice far more néedefull In mans bodie the souereigntie is the head the eyes and eares as in place so in dignitie excelling the hands and feete yet cannot the eye say to the hand I haue no need of thee nor the head againe to the feet I may be without you The greater may not despise the lesse nor the lesse murmure against the greater c. Here therefore Basils spéech is good Attende tibi ipsi Looke to thy selfe For euery one hath in his own house accusatoreÌ„ testem iudicem an accuser a witnesse a Iudge Accusat te conscientia testis est memoria ratio iudex Looke then to thy selfe to thy conscience to thy memory to thy reason and thou shalt censure thy selfe if thou liue not in thy place accordingly without either enuie of superior or coÌ„tempt of inferior Surgunt indoctiet coelum rapiunt nos cum doctrinis nostris in infernum detrudimur The vnlearned rise and get Heauen saith S. Augustine and we with our great learning are cast into Hell Thus haue good men estéemed of their brethrens meaner gifts and not despised them They offered their earerings and Iewelles which were ornaments to them and obserue their zeale learning by it that nothing ought to be so deare vnto vs which we cannot finde in our hearts to bestow willingly to the seruice and honour of God Qnaeprius luxui iam Tabernaculo seruiunt Those things saith One that serued for superfluitie before now serue for Gods Tabernacle Euen so should our bodies that haue béene wanton sinfull seruing sinne serue the Lord in his holy feare and such humane learning as hath serued error may be applied to Religion and serue God c of which we spake in the spoiles of Egypt 3. But with what hart were these offerings to be made The Lord also expressed that when he saide Whose hart giueth it freely v. 2. in the 35. Chap. v. 5. Whosoeuer is of a willing heart let him bring this offering to the Lord. Againe v. 21. And euery one whose hart incouraged him or lifted him vp and euery one whose spirit made him willing And v. 22. as many as were free harted c. By all which Repetitions you sée what an eye God hath euer to the heart of one that dooth any thing to him yea although the thing it selfe be commaunded as héere such offerings were Forced seruice God regardeth not but will haue euer our wil concurre cheerefully hartelie Wherfore in that Great offering of Dauid and the people towards the building of the Temple which Salomon built note it and marke it diligently what a mention is made of such a hart as well as of such such gifts The people reioiced wheÌ„ they offered willingly for they offered willingly vnto
the Lord with a perfect heart Againe in 〈◊〉 17. v. O my God thou tryest I know the heart and hast pleasure in righteousnesse I haue offered willingly in rhe vprightnesse of mine heart all these things I haue also found thy people which are here to haue offered willingly with ioy The Apostle also witnesseth that God loueth a cheerefull giuer and what is done grudgingly that is with a sparing nigardly hart or of necessity that is against a mans will as loth to be euill reported off all that be it whatsoeuer the Lord despiseth and regardeth not to which agréeth that aduise of the wise-son of Sirach Giue vnto the most High according as he hath inriched thee and looke what thine hand is able giue with a cheerefull eye With a cheerefull eye I say againe and doo you mark it For the Lord recōpenceth and will giue thee 7. times as much meaning as thou giuest with such a cheereful eye Such a matter in al offerings gifts and duties to God is willingnesse cheerefulnesse hartinesse making good that Saying of S. Augustine Nemo inuitus benefacit etiamsi id quod bonum est facit Euen a good deede vnwillingly done is not well done Were this considered of people that for feare of lawe or such like respects come to Church and to the holy Communion without al conscience loue of such as cannot be drawne to giue any thing to the poore to reparatiō of their Church to the Minister that preacheth the Word of life vnto them is in Gods stead sent by him directed and inabled by him for their saluation more than by méere authoritie and strength of the law the Magistrate they shal be forced vnto surelie it would work some better disposition in them I would hope so draw from a gracious God reward vpon willing duties which now perish without any profit to them from him because they are altogether forced He is able to make it felt and considered 4 The fourth point is to what end these offerings should be euen for a Sanctuarie saith the Text that is for a place to offer Sacrifices in and to heare the lawe in as wée now speake to make a Church For this Sanctuarie was in steade of a Church vnto them till Salomon built the glorious Temple The fauorites of Rome often obiect to the Professors of the Gospell that we haue no Churches built by any of our Religion c. To whom true answere is made that first our bodies are the Temples of the holy Ghost therefore were there no other Temples than these yet God might dwell in vs and we be his Secondlie this people of the Iewes and our Forefathers had no such Churches as now be but worshipped the true God in Tabernacles or tents in the wildernes before this Sāctuarie was made then in this Sanctuarie which was moueable also frō place to place Thirdly Jesus Christ in the Mountaines in Ships such like places taught the people they heard his word beléeued Iohn Baptist in the prison preached Christ and that was his Church Paul did like begat disciples to Christ in his bands He preached taught two yeares together in his owne house hired in Rome Thereupō it hath bin said that our Fathers true godly men indéed had dark Churches light harts afterward counterfet Christians had shining Churches and darke harts Men became like the Disciples of Christ in that error of theirs when they so gazed vpon delighted in and doted vp ō the outward forme and matter of the Temple cōming to their Master to shew him the building of the Temple and saying to him Maister see what manner stones and what manner buildings are here how it was garnished with goodly stones and with consecrate things To whom Christ answered Are these the things that ye look vpon As if he should haue saide this is but lightnesse in you to eye so much these things for they are not the things that I most estéeme And therefore the time will come when not one stone shall be left vpon an other which shal not be throwen downe Earthly temples and Churches haue an vse whilest God pleaseth but true Religion may bée without them and God rightly serued if none were But now there are Churches in the World and did the Papists builde them all No No Assuredlie the Iewes and the Gentiles did build most of them and their labours we inioye Some peraduenture were built or repaired by men of Romish Religion Princes Bishops or others but what said their great man Campion preaching at the nerall of Sir Thomas White Surely saith he this they did in maxima rerum vilitate et multorum opibus adiuti in a time of great cheapenesse of euery thing and helped with the riches of many men Thus could he sée and say before discontentment made him Popish and blinde Popery made him blinde also Constantine the Great built Churches before euer Popery was hatched Charles the Great built Schooles of diuinitie and Vniuersities in Germanie Fraunce Italy not for Popery but for the Bible to be taught in and Saint Augustines workes reade at their tables Edward the third King of this Realme loued Wickleff adorned the Vniuersities and speaking honorablie of the bountie of Princes blameth accuseth greatlie the spoile and ouerthrow of Churches by Popes The Britans auntientinhabiters of this Nation as Beda witnesseth had their Churches and Temples and yet no Popery Therefore all was not done by papists The varie papists themselues confesse the contrarie Churches then wée haue and not built by them which yet if wée had not wée might bée Gods people Worthy persone in our daies which haue built Colledges inriched Cities with many such other good works would also haue built Churches if wée had wanted c. 5 To what end would God haue this Sanctuary builded That I may dwell among them saith the Lorde Hee that hath Heauen for his seate and earth for his footestoole dwelleth not in Temples made with hands Neither is included in any place But because there he gaue them visible signes of his gratious presence and was not called vpon in vaine but with effect and profit to all men that rightlie made their refuge to him therfore such mercie is called euen dwelling among them God is not changed in these daies but still kinde comfortable to his people And therefore euen our Temples also are his house in which he is trulie worshipped and euer present to heare our true prayers and to send vs away with his comfort as then he did Which vse and end of the Church is a matter of great good to all minds that rightlie and religiouslie will meditate of it and be instructed For if it be his house where he dwelleth and is present if it bée the house of prayer and the worship of God with what zeale and desire should we go
shall heare God that deceiueth not speake vnto you knowing that as these people of the Iewes were tied to the Propitiatorie so are we now to Christ in his word The Table of the Shew bread 1 THou shalt also make a table of Shittim wood of two cubits long c. The building and parts you must read in your Bible This Table againe was a third figure of Christ who is propounded of God to his Church as a table furnished with all dainties and contents Nothing is wanting in him that we can want and is good for vs to haue but aske and you shall haue seeke and you shall finde He is the riches of God to all that beléeue in him The Shew bread vpon this Table represented the word and the preaching of the same whereby as by bread man is fed strengthened and continued aliue The one thus worketh to his bodie the other effecteth it to his soule A great blessing is the one a farre greater is the other And therefore labour not for the meat which perisheth saith our Sauiour Christ but for the meate which indureth to eternall life c. It was called Shew bread because it alwaies shewed it selfe before God For it was not lawfull to remooue the olde before they brought and placed their new and so it neuer wanted vers 30. In Hebrew the bread of faces because it euer stood before the face of God as a continuall remembrance of the twelue Tribes of Israell The being of it continually figured how preaching ought to be continuall 2 When as the Israelites did eate of the same wheate whereof the Shew bread was made the same being of the first fruites of their corne offered they were thereby admonished by type and sigure to eate and drinke euer as if they sate before God and were his guestes And that the bread meate whereon they fed was in some sort holy and consecrate to God to be vsed therefore soberly and reuerently The like good meditation may we haue at this day although we haue not the same Ceremonie For whose are all the creatures we vse for the refreshing of our bodies but the Lords And should we then abuse them riotously prophanely wastfully and wickedly as many do The fault is manifest the truth and right is as manifest Such as be Gods will note it and amend it if there be any fault giuing thanks both before and after for such goodnes as we little deserue and vse them well 3 Thou shalt also make dishes to set the bread vpon for it and incense-cups and couerings and goblets c. Deseruedly was that Bishop commended which solde the holy vessels in the time of famine to relieue the poore with the money and excused himselfe to the Church That because GOD neyther eateth nor drinketh therefore hee needeth no dishes nor cups But to haue said thus in the time of these Ceremonies and by that pretext to haue robbed the house of GOD of those things had not beene well For euerie thing hath his proper time As then to take them away being commaunded for Types and figures had béene euill so now to bring them in without commaundement and to kéepe figures when the truth and bodie is come is also vnlawfull Which might yéeld a sober minde due contentment against the idle and superfluous furniture of Popish Churches neither to desire it when it is wanting nor to like it whē it is present Neither is the Church now in her infancie nor true beléeuers in their minoritie but shadows are gone Christ is come his true worshippers worship him in spirit and truth Moses and the Prophets are read and preached mens hearts are opened by the holy Ghost in the ministerie of the word being powerfull and strong Good life is sought and sinne is reprooued Prayers are offered vp vnto God in a tongue vnderstood the Sacraments administred dulie according to their Institution this is a blessed beautie in a Church though there be neither Gold nor Siluer shining vpon the walles The truth and comfort of conscience shining within vs is far more excellent c. The Candlesticke ALso thou shalt make a Candlestick of pure gold of work beatē out with the hammer shal the Candlestick be made his shaft and his branches his bowles and his knops and his flowers shal be of the same Six branches shall come out of the sides of it c. A fourth figure of Christ is this Candlesticke and of other good things also taught by it mystically As first the whole Candlestick beeing an instrument of light noteth out fitly that euen so Christ is the light of his church which light of his in his holy Scriptures he proposech continuallie to Men Women that will reade them The Heathens Pagans had their Religion but because they had not this Candlesticke Christ therefore they had no light but were vaine in their thoughts and their foolish hart was ful of darknesse They turned the glorie of the incorruptible God to the similitude of the image of a corruptible man and of birds and foure footed beastes and of creeping things They turned the truth of God into a lye and worshipped and serued the Creature forsaking the Creator c. The Faithfull haue this Candlesticke and therefore their Religion is true they haue light and know what they worship Their actions and manners also are directed aright for they are made to sée what truly pleaseth what truly displeaseth not following their owne imaginations and willes dooing what séemeth good in their owne eyes but what God hath commanded that doo they 2 The Candlesticke was in the Sanctuarie or Church and the light of the Word whereby Christ shineth should be in the Church that all the congregation thither comming might sée and receiue the comfort of it This is the true beautie of a Church indéede as hath bene saide and therefore either their ignorance or their malice was monstrous who set Candlestickes of Gold and Siluer and Shining brasse in their Churches but could not abide the word vnlesse it were in a strang tongue all light but that light was regarded banners and pictures and silkes and smelles and all beautie but not the Scriptures Therefore séeing they had not the true Candlesticke Christ in his Word giuing light their glorie was vanitie and their light was grosse and grieuous darknesse 3 The Candlesticke as you sée in the picture of your Bible had an vpright stemme and six branches issuing out three on either side of the stemme The stemme represēted Christ from whom all light groweth euen as the six brāches come from the stemme The branches are set in the stemme and so are all that giue light set in Christ The branche saith our Sauiour cannot beare fruite of it selfe except it abide in the vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me I in him
and worketh righteousnesse is accepted In the Gospell therefore there is now no difference of meates but all meate frée with Thanks-giuing That which goeth into the mouth defileth not the man but that which commeth out of the mouth that defileth the man saith our true Teacher Christ Iesus and wée must marke it His Apostle after him Saint Paul I know and am perswaded through the Lord Iesus that there is nothing vncleane of it selfe but vnto him that iudgeth any thing vncleane to him it is vncleane Whatsoeuer therefore is sold in the Shambles eat yee and aske no question for conscience sake Neuerthelesse there shall come in the latter dayes some that shall forbid to marry and command to abstaine from meates which God hath created to bee receiued with Thanks-giuing For it is sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer But these forbidders and commanders are departed from the Faith giue heed vnto the spirits of errour and doctrines of Deuils They speake lyes through hypocrisie and they haue their consciences burned with an hot iron O note these things earnestly with your selfe and acknowledge Gods goodnesse in thus plainly fore-warning vs long before of that which wée sée in these dayes fulfilled Vnto the pure saith the same Apostle all things are pure but vnto them that are defiled and vnbeleeuing nothing is pure but euen their minds and consciences are defiled c. That Commandement to abstayne from things offered to Idolles and from blood In the Acts of the Apostles was but for a time and is ended also in Christ or els it was no Ceremonial law But you thinke per aduenture with your selfe may not the Church in these dayes also forbid some kinde of meate as flesh c The answere is that cause and circumstance must bée considered Ciuilie the Magistrate may that is for the good of the Common-wealth in maintaining Mariners for seruice in helping the yong bréed of Cattle that victual may be more cheape by sparing the eating for a time and so foorth but not for Religion and Conscience as if one meate pleased God more than another for as you heard Peters sheete with all sorts of meates confuteth that many other Scriptures also which yoâ— may read your selfe ouer But what if one pretend the Magistates law being indéed popish and making difference of meates for religion You must néedes confesse such an one is an Hypocrite and therefore odious to God who hateth hypocrisie and cannot be mocked And what if hée do it in déede for Religion Then hée denyeth in effect that Christ is yet come and hath taken away this Ceremoniall Law of vncleane meates and as the Apostle saith of Circumcision that if we be circumcised now Christ profiteth nothing so is it true also that if wée yet hold a difference of meates for Religion and Conscience Christ to vs is no Christ and wée shall perish What if I sincerly in regard of the Magistrates Ciuill Law for the good of the Land forbeare to eate any flesh vpon times named by Law yet well knowing my libertie in Christ You doe most well and would God the Land had more of these that would obey godly Lawes according to their meaning and abandon all sinfull ryot and libertie contrary to them GOD should bée pleased the Magistrate pleased our Countrie profited and wée knowen to God and man for people of gâ—ouernment and order 2 But how did God in this Law of his call that vncleane which himselfe had made and saw to be good as all his workes were good Surely in respect of Creation and of themselues nothing is euill or vncleane but in respect of vse forbidden as God hath libertie to forbid at his good pleasure without impeachment of himselfe or of his Creature Euen as the Tree of Knowledge of good and euill hurt not of it selfe or the apple but the transgression after Commandement the thing in it selfe good but the vse forbidden If you say that which goeth into the mouth defileth not and therefore not the apple it is true for the apple defiled not but the breach of Gods Commandement You shall not eate So that euer it was true The Kingdome of GOD is not meate or drinke c. 3 How were beastes called vncleane in the time of Noah when they entred into the Arke before this Law was made except of themselues and their Nature they were so I answere you truely they were then so called not in respect of any fault in themselues or of eating but in regard of the Sacrifices from which God did then exclude them as here hée did from being eaten And as well might God then at his good pleasure choose what he would haue offered for Sacrifice and what not as now what he would haue eaten and what not all being his and his prerâ—gatiue to doe with his owne as hée pleaseth As now therefore that which was forbidden to be meat is called vncleane yet not so in Nature but in regard of vse therof forbidden so then was that called vncleane which was forbidden to be Sacrificed and not for any euill nature at the Creation but only because of this prohibition of vse that way Now let vs a little looke at the words of the Chapter 1 In the Chapter you sée three sorts Namely beasts of the Land Fishes of the Sea and Foules of the Ayre and these are distinguished or noted by Names and by Signes The Names that are héere set downe Wée are not so well acquainted with some of them because in those East-parts there were diuers creatures not knowne to vs in these Countries by their Names The Signes therfore is the best note for vs and in the beasts they are these diuiding the hoofe and chewing the cudde for so saith the Text. Whatsoeuer parteth the hoofe and is clouen footed and cheweth the cudde amongst the beasts that shall ye eate But if hée did the one and not the other or neither hée was vncleane Read the words your selfe You saw before that these were but shadowes of other things For doth God regard Oxen saith the Apostle and careth hée for diuiding or not diuiding the hoofe chewing or not chewing the cudde who made them all as they are and could haue made them all of one sort otherwise than héereby to resemble berter matters No. And therefore consider with your selfe that in this difference of beastes the Lord shadowed out a difference of men and women in this world some cleane and some vncleane The cleane beastes resemble the Godly and Elect which being clensed by Faith in Christ from their sinnes and sanctified by the Spirit of GOD earnestly and feruently loue the Word of God heare it learne it embrace it Night and Day meditate of it labouring to kéepe it by framing all their words and works counsailes and actions according to it The vncleane beasts resemble the wicked and reprobate that despise the Word and liue
vncertaine as I will marrie one of the Daughters naming none Of all which points the Law hath large discourse and many questions which you may best learne of them that are Professors of that knowledge vnto whose good aduise as I said before I hold it the safest way euer to haue recourse vpon any occasion For a building well made and vpon firme ground will stand with comfort against all assaults and obiections cast out either by Satan desirous to trouble our consciences or by euill tongues enuying our peace Tenthly touching Poligamie whether it is lawfull for any man at once to haue two or more wiues The truth is plaine No. For God made but one Adam and one Eue that neither man might expect moe Wiues nor woman moe Husbans at once than one And in this first institution expresly it was said A man shall leaue father and mother and cleaue to his wife not wiues and they two not they three or more shall bee one flesh Also when Lamech brake this Lawe by hauing moe wiues and after him both Iewes and Gentiles followed this libertie Christ the true teacher calleth them to the first institution and plainely saith From the beginning it was not so repeating the former Scripture they two shall be one c. The Apostle S. Paul following this truth saith for auoyding of fornication let euery man haue his wife not wiues let euery woman haue her owne husband not husbands Againe let the husband giue to his wife due beneuolence not to his wiues And the wife hath not power of her owne body but her husband Let a Byshop be the husband of one wife not of many as then was vsed of too many still and euer vsing as you sée the singular number not the plurall Further you know that marriage representeth the couenant betwixt Christ and his Church and therefore is called a mysterie but Christ hath onely one Church and the Church hath onely one Christ therefore pluralitie of wiues or husbands is a fault and may not be indured The good peace and vnitie that ought to be in married couples is thus broken and the house filled with brawlings and heart-burnings factions diuisions and all vngodlinesse Therefore very Reason teacheth vs to abhorre Polygamie Good Gouernours mooued herewith haue euer by their imperiall and godly lawes punished it and forbidden it as might be shewed if it were fit But you will say the godly Fathers in the old Testament had many wiues God suffered it c. You must then againe consider with your selfe touching them that suffering and allowing or commanding differ much Suffered it was commaunded or allowed simply neuer Secondly latter lawes take away former and Christ by calling men to the first institution of Marriage tooke away that permission and sufferance of Moses Thirdly Priuiledges doe not ouerthrow a rule And therefore although God hauing promised to make Abrahams seede as the starres of the heauen for multitude was pleased to suffer varietie of wiues for a time as a fit meanes spéedily and greasly to increase that posteritie of-spring yet was not a taking away of his certaine rule but when the cause ceased by a multitude procéeding from Abrahams loynes the thing suffered only for that end ceased also and may net any further be followed Fourthly wee truely answere againe that we liue by lawes and not by examples And touching faultes in the Fathers wée well must remember the wordes of God to the Iewes by Ezekiel his Prophet In Praeceptis meis In my Commandements you shall walke and not in the commandements of your Fathers And againe in this Chapter After the dooings of the Land of Aegypt wherein yee dwelt shall yee not doe neither after the maner of the Land of Canaan whither I will bring you c. But after my Iudgements shall yee doe and you shall keepe My Ordinances to walke therein for I am the Lord c. Thus of marriage making kéeping Now a litle of Diuorce and seperation might be added if there were not more cause in these sinfull times to exâ—ort al married couples to mutuall loue faithfulnes to patience and quietnes to the vtter abandoning of al vaine wicked imaginations suspicions ielousies than to speake of breakings departing one from the other to the great offence of God grief of friends ill example to others euermore apt to learne what is euill than what is good I wil therfore spare this paines and rather intreat all those that feare God often to remiber yong Tobâ—e his prayer that God in mercie would grant to him his wife that they might become aged together to which she said with him Amen We read of the Indian womeÌ„ that though their husbands haue diuers wiues yet they did by al means indeauor to continue in loue with him and when he dieth she that was best beloued with great ioy and glorie that she was so goeth into the fire with his Corps and burneth with his dead bodie Such continuing affection in those that know not God must needs be a condemnation to all tickle tickle starting aside in such as know God and his commaundement in this behalfe Holy constant and continued Matrimonie is like say some to that little Citie Zoar where Lot was saued when to the Mountaine he was unwilling to goe and in filthy Sodom could not be safe To liue licentiously is to liue in Sodom to liue single hauing the gift is to escape into the mountaine Such as flying from the one cannot attaine to the other hauing not the gift giuen of God in litle Zoar that was betwirt both that is in holy wedlocke which is the middle estate may be saued Euer therefore make much of it and lightly and vniustly breake not in sunder that holy knot Sweetnesse is the Sister of Loue as bitternesse is the Sister of hatred Marriage loue then being an holy loue will in all troubles tast contentment and comfort though not one way yet another still to the preseruing of the knot and of Christian cohabitation The two Kyne that carried the Arke of God kept one path turned neither to the right hand nor to the left so should married couples doe saith S. Gregorie seeing by the profession of the Christian faith they also carry the Arke If the Glasse which you looke in should returne your countenance sad when you are merie or merrie when you are sad were it not a great fault in the Glasse Certainly so is it if married couples differ and be not merrie together sorie together contented together and either of them euer as a true glasse to the other shewing such agréement as is fit for them till God and time shall breake their dayes of and take the one of them to him The Wife of Augustus Caesar Liuia being asked of one how she did liue in such peace with her Husband the Emperour who had his infirmities some
all that mourne The Angel at his birth Beholde I bring you tydings of great ioy that shall bee to all the people that is that vnto you is borne this day in the Citie of Dauid a Sauiour which is CHRIST the LORD Why a Sauiour An other Angell told the blessed Virgin because hee should saue his people from their sinnes This is the true fréedome and Christian Iubile we speake of If the Sonne make you free you shall bee free in deed Bee it knowen vnto you therefore saith the Apostle men and brethren that through this Man is preached vnto you the forgiuenes of sins And from all things from which ye could not bee iustified by the Lawe of Moses by him euery one that beleeueth is iustified Thus Rom. 6. Galat. 3. and in many 〈◊〉 places Thirdly in this Iewish Iubile there was a returning to their Lands and former possessions which were alienated from them so by this Christian Iubile euen this fréedome proclaimed by Christ we returne to our old Paradise againe from whence we were cast by sin that is to the inheritance of the sonnes of God in Heauen the true Paradise from which wée shall neuer bée remooued any more O ioyfull Iubile then if wée féele it that by the Trumpet of the Word is preached vnto vs in Christ Hee that hath eares to heare let him heare 4 Besides these two Iubiles thus instituted of God you haue a third in these dayes instituted of the Pope to get vnto him from foolish people great summes of money The first Authour whereof was Boniface the eight who deuised to promise vnto all them that would come to Rome in the yeare 1300 and after that euery hundreth yeare to séeke pardon for their sinnes a full remission of all their sinnes After him Clemens the 6. who was made Pope in the yeare 1342 finding the swéete of this deuise and thinking euery hundreth yeare too long cut it of in the middest and according to this Mosaicall Iubile made his Romish Iubile euery fiftieth yeare promising like pardons and indulgences to all commers After him came Sixtus the fourth in the yeare 1473. and hée thought fiftie yeares too long also and cut it of once againe in the middle appointing euery 25. yeare a Iubile But sée the desire of money in these holy fathers When this time also was too long to tarry for pardon-money and they were ashamed to shorten it againe they deuise that certaine appointed persons should goe into all Countries with pardons to sell and offer to fooles that would buy them by which pardons they should receiue as full remission of all sinnes as if they had come in the yeare of Iubile to Rome to fetch them Which grosse abuse was the meanes God so hauing appointed to stirre vp Luther to preach against that abuse and so was drawen on to other points till light brake out of darkenesse c. 5 In the 20. Verse the Lord méeteth with an obiection of some men that might happily say what shall we eate the seuenth yeare for wée shall not sowe nor gather in our increase c And most graciously and comfortably he answereth it I will send my blessing vpon you in the sixt yeare and it shall bring foorth fruite for three yeares c. The like swéet promise Verse 19. Sée then and sinke it into your heart soundly what God is able to doe for you touching all worldly necessaries if you will obey him and trust in him Such a promise in Exodus hée made also to kéepe all things in safetie for them at home while they were at Hiorusalem seruing him according to this Lawe And what losse had the Shepheards when they left their flockes in the fieldes and went to the childe Iesus according as the Angel had told them Let this place againe strengthen your faith against all obiections of flesh and blood made from naturall reasons and causes as they sééme to men For if the Lord be able euen then when the earth is weakest hauing béen worne out with continuall tillage 5. yeares together to make the 6. yeare bring foorth a triple blessing inough for that yeare for the 7. yeare and for the 8. yeare till haruest were readie what vnseasonable weather what barennesse of land what this what that shall make a man dispaire of Gods prouidence for things néedfull Leaue God to himselfe and to his Almightie power doe you your dutie feare him loue him serue him obey him with a true heart call vpon your children and seruants to doe the like and you shall sée the louing kindnesse of the Lord to your comfort These things shall be cast vpon you and hée that knoweth your charge and gaue you that charge will neuer faile you nor them of what is fit You sée héere what hée can doe and let it profit you I will tell you the féeling of my heart further in this point and thus I reason Can God bée thus strong when the land is weake and will he be thus strong to the comfort of his seruants Why then cannot he be or why will he not bée strong in my weaknes in your weaknes in euery man womans weakenesse that beleeue in him Away feare away I may not hearken vnto thée when I am weakest he wil be strongest For his power is best seene in weaknes and I will trust in him drawing an Argument with Dauid from my weaknesse to mooue him and not to discomfort me Heale mee O Lord for I am weake My weakenes shal driue me vnto thée not from thée I wil tarry thy good leasure Lord strengthen me Lord comfort me and vnder the couering of thy wings let me be safe from al temptaions displeasing thée and hurting mée Amen Amen 6 In the 29. Verse If a man sell a dwelling house in a walled Citie hee may buy it out againe within a whole yeare after it is solde c. First this and such other Lawes confirme our trading and dealing one with another by buyings and sellings assuring vs that such contracts are lawfull and with a good conscience one man may vse them with another Secondly we sée and learne that GOD doth not only know and regard the greater matters of Kingdomes and Princes affayres but euen the meaner actions also of men and the very smallest things are not hid from him Therefore doe iustly in all trading knowing that God his eye is vpon thee and then looke for a blessing he shall not faile thée 7 Moreouer if thy brother bee fallen in decay and impouerished with thee thou shalt relieue him c. It is not ynough to abstayne from taking that which is not mine owne but I must giue that which is mine owne where need is For mercie and humanitie to distressed persons smell sweete in the nostrils of the Lord and haue many blessings assured 8 If thy brother impouerished sell himselfe vnto thee thou shalt not compell