ministerie of death it fitly serueth for the taming and maistering of the rebellious flesh Euen so the Gospell containing the bountifull promises of God in Christ is as Oyle to powre into our wounds and as the water of life to quench our thirstie soules And it fitly serueth for the strengthening of the spirite 2 As the Diamond which beeing moystned in the warme bloud of a Goate may bee brused though otherwise it cannot bee hurt with any fire be it neuer so hotte nor broken with any violence bee it neuer so strong Or as the Horse which erst while was outragiously fierce is by gentle handling meekened and made handsome for the Saddle Or as the Dogge in like manner whose nature is churlish and vntoward which is agreeable to his name is yet by gentlenesse brought to doo that that is not incident to his nature Euen so some men whose harts cannot be mollified and softned by the terrours iudgements of the law are yet reclaimed wonne and made to relent by the milde and gentle perswasions and promises of the Gospell 3 As the Doue found no footing at the first sending Euen so the Gospel of Christ doth not alwaies find entertainment Gene. 8.8 Math. 10.14.10.3.19 Act. 13.51 4 As the seede sowne in the fielde as wheate bringeth forth graine and corne according to his nature and kind So the Gospell preached bringeth foorth out of a godly heart that which both in it selfe it teacheth that which it deliuereth to wit faith in Christ amendement of life the knowledge of God loue towardes God and our neighbour and such other fruites as are sowne and preached 5 As the lightning that breaketh out of the clouds shineth ouer all Euen so doth the Gospell of Christ 6 As men light not a candle to couer or whelme it vnder a bushell but on a Candlesticke to light all that are in the house Euen so the light of Christes Gospell may not bee hid nor made a seuerall thing as though it pertained to some certaine holy personnes onely nay it is the light of the whole worlde and pertaineth to all men and therefore ought not to bee kept from any Math. 5.14 7 Like as the Frogges of Egypt raysed out of the dust by the diuelish art of the MagiciaÌ„s cried out against Gods veritie calling againe by Moses and Aaron the people of God to the true libertie and worshipping of God Right so doo the Popes Legates and Papistes molest with their talke and speech the preaching of the Gospell the free deliuerance the Christian libertie and true seruice of God Exod. 8.7 8 Euen as a murtherer guiltie of death contemning the fauour which he heareth to be offered vnto him of a most mercifull King calleth and procureth to himselfe the more grieuous punishment So in like case if any hearing the Gospell of grace imbraceth not the same is to himselfe the authour of heauier punishment and condemnation Godly men 1 LIke as in the straite Seas the water ebs and flowes Euen so is it in the Godly as long as they liue in this world according to their owne feeling there is an accesse and recesse a comming and going of the spirite Psal 1â—â— 5.88 77.2 3.7 8. 2 As the lights and starres of the firmament doo giue light to all which are vnder heauen So the vertues of Saints and Godly men doo giue light to others to follow their example 3 As the Palme tree is least at the bottome and the higher it is rhe greater and thicker the braunches are but all other trees are contrarie So the Godly are most conuersant and haue the best part that is the soule in heauen but the wicked are contrarie 4 As a Panther hath fower clawes and no more on each foote behinde but fiue clawes and no lesse on each foote before So the Godly though they be weake to the world-ward yet they are strong to God-ward Mat. 11.12 5 Like as the filthie doo more and more wallow themselues in the myre and array and defile themselues too vilely So the Godly doo more and more applie themselues dayly to cleannesse and holinesse of life Reue. 22.11 6 As the Owle is howted and wondred at among other birds Euen so the Godly are often made a gazing stocke and a wonderment vnto the vngodly because the course of Godlinesse is most straunge and foolish in their eyes Lam. 4.3 1. Cor. 4.9 7 As all Birdes though hating one an other do wonder at the Owle So likewise all the wicked beeing enemies amongst themselues doo set their seuerall powers against the Godly Psal 22. Luk. 23.12 The reason is because they hate nothing neither any people so much as the truth and the professors thereof Math. 5.11.12 12.34 8 As Sheepe are simple but yet bring profit to their owners both when they are liuing and when they are slaine Euen so the Godly are not onely harmelesse and innocent as Doues and yet can discerne of true doctrine and false but they are also very profitable both in their life and death The vse of Gods Gifts to men AS a sheepe hath and beareth a fleece of Wooll not for himselfe but for the necessitie and benefite of men Euen so the Gifts of God which he giueth vs either spirituall or temporall we are not to keepe them onely for our selues but to supplie the necessities and wants of others Eccle. 11.1 2 3. Gods promises LIke as if an earthly King should promise one a liuing whilst he liued it would be an occasion that he should lessen his carefulnesse for earthly things Euen so how much more should Gods Promise make vs carelesse for worldly things which is King of all kings Hebr. 13.5 6 7. Iosu 1.5 Psal 118.6 2 Like as nutritiue cordiall medicines are not good for euery sicke person especially when the bodie needeth rather a strong purgation then a matter restoratiue Or as incarnatiue medicines for the time allay the paine of the Patient but after the griefe becommeth more greeuous Euen so the comfortable applying of Gods Promises are not so profitable for euery one that is humbled especially when their soules are rather to be cast downe then as yet to be raised vp so the sugred consolations may for a time ouer-heale the conscience abate some present grief but so as afterwards the smart will be the sorer and the griefe may grow the greater wherof ensueth this effect that coÌ„fort seemeth to cure for a while but through want of wisedome in the right discerning of the cause we minister one medicine for an other and so for want of skil the latter fit grieueth them sorer than the former God the Authour of mens afflictions 1 LIke as if a maÌ„ hauing receiued a greeuous wound should not care for the healing of it should not hasten to the Surgion or Physition nor should prouide any remedie but should sometime accuse his owne sloth and negligence for that he did not auoid the arrow sometime grinning should byte the
Curtesie 1 AS the tree is knowne by his fruite the gold by the touch and the bell by the sound so is a mans birth by his beneuolence his honour by his humilitie and his calling by his Curtesie 2 As the peg straineth the Lute strings so Curtesie stretcheth the heart strings 3 As it belongeth to the Sunne to lighten the earth with his beames so it pertaineth to the vertue of a Prince to haue compassion and be Curteous to the miserable Courts of Princes AS it was a saying sometime of Asia that it was no praise neuer to haue seene it but to haue liued soberly and temperatly in Asia was praise worthie Euen so it were no great matter neuer to haue seene the Courts of Princes but to haue liued Christianly in those Courts were a speciall worke of God in his children Spirituall Doctrine of our soules 1 AS God workes in his creatures that after winter comes Summer and after a storme comes faire weather So in the spirituall Doctrine of our soules first hee teacheth repentance preacheth the Lawe threatneth vengeance for sinne castes downe man in his owne sight and lets him looke euen into hel with feare of conscience for his disobedience but afterwards he comforts him rayseth him vp and heales him Math. 9.13 Desires of the flesh how they are quenched LIke as the Dropsie desires and longeth after drinke and drinke greatly increases it Euen so euill Desires and corrupt affections if they bee followed doo much increase but being refrained they decrease The Deceites of the world are daungerous 1 AS they which walke in a myst do not see it so well as they which stand vpon an hill from it Euen so it fareth in discerning the Deceites and dissimulations of the world whose propertie is to blind them that come to it to the end they may not see their owne estate Euen as a Rauen first of all striketh out the poore sheepes eyes and so bringeth to passe that shee may not see the way to escape from his tyrannie 2 Like as a mans naked body tossed and tumbled among many thornes cannot but be much rent and torne and made bloudy with the prickes thereof So a worldly mans soule beaten with the cares and cogitations of this life cannot but be vexed with restles pricking of the same and wounded also with many temptations of sin which follow vpon it Discord AS Musicke if the harmonie of the strings be not consonantly fitted the sound is not sweete nor acceptable to any good and tunable eare Euen so if Christians doo disagree amongst themselues they are vnacceptable to God Diseases of the mind AS the wounds of the body with often rubbing and chafing are made sometimes incurable Euen so the Diseases of the mind if they be exasperated and stirred vp will more and more rebell and draw the partie in whom they are to sinne more greedily then euer he did before Death of the body not to be feared 1 LIke as a traueller who hauing passed many daungers reioyceth greatly whē he approacheth neare vnto his own contrie or home Or as a man who willingly departeth out of a ruinous house ready to fall vppon his head Euen so a godly Christian can take no pleasure in this transitorie world seeing each day he draweth nearer to an end then other where the pleasures that he receiueth are nothing to the paines hee suffereth and his delights doo cost him so deare Phil. 1.23 2 As men locke vp their best apparell in a chest meaning to weare them againe Euen so are the Dead bodies of the faithfull buried in sure and certaine hope of rising againe to life euerlasting And therefore none ought to feare Death or be vnwilling to die 3 As money borrowed is to bee paide againe with thankes and good will So the life that wee haue borrowed of God is to bee yeelded vp with cheerfull countenance and thankes Dunsticall writers AS the sauour of the beast Panther seemeth sweete to none other then vnto bruite beastes So is Scotus and other Dunsticall writers to sharpe quicke and good wits most foolish Whereas vnto doltes and dawes they are as deare as any darling Decree or purpose of God AS no man is able neither King Prince nor Potentate to stay stoppe or hinder the course of the Sunne Moone or Starres So likewise can no man stay let or hinder the Decree purpose determination or coūsell of God Pro. 21.30 Decrease of renued holinesse AS when a theefe goeth about to spoyle any man of his goods if hee offer to breake in at the broadside of his house he is straightway espied and receiueth the repulse but if he vndermine the house he may bee within it and on the dweller before he bee aware So when as Sathan commeth as it were bluntly to a Christian and doth at the first dash moue him to forsake and renounce God by infidelitie his malicious purpose is soone espied and for the most part so carefully resisted that hee hath not any hope euer to preuaile by that meanes and to robbe the regenerate man of his renewed holinesse So that he is driuen to take another way by the end for he will neuer giue ouer and to goe more closely to worke Day of Iudgement terrible to the wicked 1 AS Cornelius being a iust man and feared God was yet affraid when hee saw the Angell Euen so much more shall the wicked be astonied and confounded at the presence of God at the Day of Iudgement Act. 10.2.3.4 2. Thes 1.9.10 2 Like as when the boughes of the Fig tree bee tender and that it beginneth to bring forth leaues it is a certaine token that Summer is neare Euen so treasons pestilence warres famine Earthquakes c. are the Prefaces or Prologues to sorrowes and shew that the Day of Iudgement is neare euen at the doores Math. 24.32 Math. 13.28 Death of Christ. 1 AS the hearbe Panax or Panace hath in it a remedie against all diseases So is the Death of Christ against all sinne sufficient and effectuall 2 Like as the storme and tempest of the Sea was pacified and ceased as soone as Ionas was cast into it Euen so by the Death burial and resurrection of Christ the wrath of God was truely and indeed pacified that calmenesse might be giuen vnto the troubled consciences of sinners and a most sure attonement and peace made betwixt God and vs. Iona. 7.2 c. 3 Like as a Corrasiue which being applied to the part affected eateth out the venime and corruption Euen so the Death of Christ by faith applied frettethout consumeth the concupiscence and the corruption of the whole man Displeasure foreseene AS a man doth receiue more at wil and with lesse daunger the stroke which hee foreseeth So a Displeasure foreseene and prouided for and before perceiued doth lesse annoy him Death 1 AS no man may maruaile at a thing burnt that might be burned or at a thing molten that was to be melted So is it not to
bee maruelled that any is Dead which was mortall and borne to die 2 Like as a man which walketh ouer a fielde couered with Snow and sees not his way but when he thinketh to runne on sodenly fals into a pit Euen so they which haue all things at will and swim in pleasures which as a Snow couereth their way and dazeleth their sight while they thinke to liue on reioyce still sodainly rush vpon Death and make shipwracke in the calme sea Delight THey that seeke in Plato Demosthenes and specially in the sacred Scriptures nothing but vtterance and eloquence Are like vnto those that delight in the onely colour and sauour of salues and medicines False Doctrines and inuentions of men 1 LIike as hey wood stuble put to the fire are brought to sudden consuming Euen so the Doctrines and inuentions of men not stablished by the word of God cannot beare the tryall of the holy Ghost but they by and by fall away and perish 1. Cor. 3.12.13.14.15 2 As there is no foode more wholsome then the foode of the word of God if it bee receiued sincerely as it is So there is none more noysome and hurtfull when it is marred with mixture of other things mingled with it then is the false Doctrine of men 3 As smoke hurteth the eyes and suffereth them not to see clearely So also doth peruerse Doctrine it dazeleth the eyes taketh away iudgement blindeth with error 4 As it is great foolishnesse to forsake the cleare fountaines and to drinke puddle water so it is great folly to leaue the sweete Doctrine of the Euangelists and to study the dreames of mens imaginations Discipline 1 LIke as if there were neuer so faire a garden or orchard planted and yet the same left without a fence or but with a bad fence so that somthing ere it were long shuld get in and so roote vp the hearbes and marre the plants Euen so is it in the Church where Discipline wanteth although there be neuer so sound and good preaching with Catechising against sin and wickednes yet the edge therof is so dulled that it is fruitlesse and of little force 2 Like as when a man goeth a stray and wandreth in some Forrest not knowing in what great danger it would no doubt be a great comfort to him to bee told of his errour and taught the right way Euen so the principall end of Discipline tendeth that euery member of the Church should walke in the feare of God and that if any one goe a stray he should be brought backe into the way of saluation Math. 18.15.16.17 3 Euen as when a man falleth into a ditch or deepe pit ready to be drowned he hath good cause to thanke him that pulleth him out and saueth his life So likewise we are to account our selues much bound and beholding to the Ecclesiasticall Discipline of Gods Church when wee through wickednesse and lewdnesse of life are ready to be drowned in hell then I say wee are by good documents exhortations reprehensions and publike admonitions hayled and drawne out of the same 4 As no Cittie Towne house or familie can maintaine their estate and prosper without Policie and Gouernment Euen so the Church of God which requireth more purely to bee gouerned then any Cittie or familie cannot without spirituall Policie and Ecclesiasticall Discipline continue increase and flourish 5 As the word of God is the life and soule of the Church So a godly order of Discipline is as it were sinewes in the body which knit and ioyne the members together with decent order and comelinesse It is a bridle to stay the wicked from their mischiefes It is a spurre to pricke forward such as bee slow and negligent yea and for all men it is the Fathers rodde euer in a readinesse to chastise gentlie the faultes committed and to cause them afterwarde to liue in more godly feare and reueâ—ence Drunken men AS one ouer-loaden with Wine can very hardly hide or keepe any meate in his stomacke So also the drunken man may keepe or containe in him no secretes Drunkards and Drunkennesse 1 AS Lot in seeking to make himselfe merry with wine did incurre thereby a perpetuall heauinesse Euen so all those that do practise the like are in great daunger of getting dishonestie and shame Gen. 19.32 2 Like as the immoderate drinking of wine was onely the cause of Lots abhominable and vile incest Euen so the like excesse in all other Drunkards is the onely cause why they do many things whereof being come to themselues againe they are then both sory and sore ashamed Pro. 31.4 1. Tim. 3.3 8. Tit. 1.7 Leuit. 10.9 Num. 6.3 Esa 5.11 3 As a man by reason is discerned from a bruit beast So when wine and strong drinke depriueth him of his vnderstanding and reason it depriueth man of man and placeth him in the degree of beasts Prou. 20.1.1 Cor. 6.10 5.11 22. 4 As there is no exercise more profitable for the children of God for their saluation or wherein God is greatlier glorified then in prayer thankesgiuing and praises to the Lord So is there nothing that sooner quencheth the vse of the same then Drunkennesse 2. King 16.9 Luk. 21.34.35 Eph. 5.18 Rom. 13.13 5 As long and sore raine moysteneth the earth and so conuerteth into mire that it cannot be tilled to bring forth fruite Euen so our bodyes distempered with too much drinke cannot receiue the spirituall Husbandrie neither yeeld any fruite beseeming the immortall soule Pro. 23.29 30. 1. Pet. 4.3 Mich. 2.11 6 As all men do desire to haue sufficient and competent showres of raine in their fields and closes so that they may be able both to exercise tillage and to enioy the plentie of their fruites and encrease Euen so in this field men should drinke but so much as behoueth least by excesse and Drunkennesse the very earth of their body being as it were turned into a very Fenne and Quagmyre may better serue to breede Woormes and Serpentes of vice and sinne then it should bee able to bring foorth the fruite of charitie 7 As whatsoeuer groweth in Fennes and Marshes bringeth foorth no fruite for therein doo breede Serpents and sundrie kindes of woormes which doo bring more horror and dread then encrease of victuall Euen so such are Drunkards being fit for no profit or commoditie for oftentimes in their Drunkennesse they know neither theÌ„selues nor any body else neither can they goe stand nor speake any thing that pertaineth vnto reason Esay 19.14 28.1 23 7. Amo. 2.5.15 8 As when there is too much raine the ground is vnfit for Tillage and turned to myre So when one is Drunken the spirituall tillage can take no force nor the soule bring foorth her fruites of Christianitie 9 As a Sip on the Sea without a guide leaning now on the one side now on the other so often in daunger So â—n like manner it often happeneth to the Drunkard who â—acketh the guide of reason