whereby we may appeare cleane holy and righteous before God and shall we returne to plunge our selues againe in the cursed and damnable filthinesse of our corruption and vice I haue washed my feete saith Christes spouse Cant. 5.3 how shall I soyle them againe We must either remaine filthy and infected in the sight of God or else wee must be washed againe in the bloud of Iesuâ— Christ doe wee not then make too good a penyworth either of our soules or of the shedding of Christes bloud let vs therefore to this purpose thinke vpon the earnest exhortation of the Apostle saying He that despiseth Moses law dieth without mercy vnder two or three witnesses Heb. 10.28 Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye he shal be worthy which treadeth vnder foote the sonne of God and counteth the bloud of the testament an vnholye thing wherewith he was sanctifyed and doth despite the spirit of grace For we know him that hath said vengeance belongeth vnto me I will recompence And againe the Lord shall iudge his people 3 The second benefit of this kingdome is peace euen this peace with God and in our consciences wherof S. Paul speaketh saying Being iustifyed by faith we are at peace with God through Iesus Christ Rom. 5.1 In the fourth book cap. 5. As we haue at large before declared let vs heere remember First what it cost Iesus Christ it was requisite that in his soule he should feele the fearefull terrors of Gods wrath and indignation when he bowed his face to the earth that hee might lifte vp ours to God that we might finde his so fauourably enclined toward vs when he through anguish and feare sweat water and bloud thereby to minister rest and quietnesse to our soules to be shorte when hee sought against the powers of hell to reconcile vs to God yet doth euen one sinne disturbe this peace and kindleth Gods wrath and indignation against vs and wee must either abide plunged and swallowed vp in terrible anguishe and feare or else we must bee freed therfro by the sufferings of Iesus Christ If after a long woful war peace be once coÌ„cluded how feareful are men of breaking of it least they should fall againe into like afflictions And shal we be so vnthankfull to Iesus Christ and such enemies to our owne good that for a little fleshly pleasure for obeying our couetous affections our ambition lustes and other corruptions we should offend God and break this blessed peace kindling his terrible wrath against our soules and so bringing them into cruell and perpetuall torments truely we doe but too euidently declare that either we are one desperate or that wee make small acccompt of those terrible feares that Iesus Christ indured for vs yet is there no such tormentor as a conscience burdened with sinne 4 The third fruit of this kingdome is the ioy not the ioye of the worlde and of the flesh accursed in the sight of God but as Saint Paul addeth Iohn 16.21.24 Iohn 15.11 Mat. 24.51 Ioy of the holy ghost which Iesus Christ hath promised vs saying your ioy shal be full and shall neuer be taken from you Heere is a singuler benefite for as the incomprehensible torments of hel are in the holy scriptures signified by the weeping and gnashing of teeth that shal be among the reprobate so is the felicitye of the elect signified by this ioy as Iesus Christ noteth where he giueth vs to vnderstand that in the day of iudgement God will say to all the faithfull Mat. 25.21 Mat. 26.37.38 Heb. 5. 7. Enter into your maisters ioy This ioy did Iesus Christ purchase with many sorrowes and teares as the history of the Gospell doth note that himselfe said Now is my soule heauy euen to the death And the same doth the Apostle writing to the Hebrewes affirm saying In the dayes of his flesh he offred vp praiers supplications with strong crying to him that was able to saue him froÌ„ death he was also heard in that which he feared Were it not therefore meer madnes and folly to conuert this soueraigne felicitie of ioy so dearely purchased for vs by Christ into damnable sorowes and teares yea euen into weeping and gnashing of teeth by giuing our selues to sinne and so drawing vnto vs the effect of this common and true sentence For one pleasure a thousand sorrowes 5 It is a coÌ„mon saying that men shuld not open or read any letters that come when they are ready to sit downe to meate for feare of troubling the benefit of meat or drinke by some bad newes therein peraduenture contained how miserable then are wee who euen already tasting this ioy of the kingdome of heauen doe voluntarily disturbe and conuert it into teares by offending God for in truth we might finde matter enough of sorrow if wee could but apprehend what a woe it is to departe forth of the kingdome of God to become bondmen to the diuell our capitall enemy this woe being indeed the iust reward of sinne If at a marriage feast there should chance some such debate that some one of the company should perhaps hurt or kill the Bride the whâ—le feast and all the triumphes thereof would be dashed and conuerted into weeping and mourning And what doe we when being in this in the kingdome of heauen we commit any iniquity but kill both soule and body euen with euerlasting death true it is that hauing offended God we do not so soon seele this sorrow trouble of minde and this commeâ—h of our owne dulnesse not because we deserue it not but because God beareth with vs otherwise vndoubtedly the onely feeling of one onely sinne would drowne vs in sorrowe and feare of Gods wrath let therefore the remembrance of this kingdome which consisteth in righteousnes peace and ioy of the holye ghost cause vs to abhor all iniquity to the end that amending our liues we may retaine this blessed kingdome of heauen and neuer change this righteosnes into iniquity this peace into war trouble of conscience and this ioy into weeping gnashing of teeth 6 And that we may the more earnestly be stirred vp hereunto let vs consider the difference between the kingdom of heauen of satan if the kingdom of heaueÌ„ consisteth in righteousnes peace and ioy of the holy ghost the kingdome of satan contrariwise must needs consist in wickednes trouble of conscience sorrow and heauines let vs therfore imagine a man whose sins being imputed to himself he must appeare before God clothed in wickednes sin to receiue sentence of eternall death and in him let vs coÌ„sider the fear terror arising of his apprehension feeling of Gods wrath displeasure let vs marke his gnashing of his teeth his howling lamentations yea euen himselfe dissolued into weeping teares Gen. 4.13 Mat. 25.5 Act. 1.28 Gen 27.18 Heb. 12.16 Apoc. 6 16. Luke 13.30 Apoc. 9. 6. Let vs look vpon Cain exclaiming that his paine is
the head our steadfast abiding in the doctrine of truth and vnion in the faith of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe are all wrought by the ministerie of the woorde which Iesus Christ hath ordained in his holye Church To bee short that preaching is as it were the knitting and ioyning of the sinewes to vnite the faithfull into one bodie Whosoeuer therefore despiseth or reiecteth this order and benefite of Iesus Christ hee tendeth onely to scatter the Church or vtterly to destroy it Neither is the light of the sunne yea euen meat or drinke so necessarie and profitable for the preseruation of this present life as is the ministery for the vpholding of the church and bringing vs to saluation and life euerlasting 10 The premises throughly considered do also teach vs the reason why God where he might haue vsed the seruice of Angels to reueale vnto vs the doctrine of saluation Act. 8.26 and to instruct vs by the reading of his word vouchsafed to speak vnto vs by the ministerie of men like vnto our selues whereof we haue sundrie notable examples The Eunuch treasurer to Queene Candâ—ces read vppon his chariot the booke of the prophet Esaye Act. 9.9 God was not satisfied with this his affection and dutie neither did he send an Angell to expound it vnto him but imploying the ministerâ—e of man he sent him Philip. When Iesus Christ appeared to Paul and conuerted him yea euen spak vnto him he could also haue instructed him himselfe Act. 10.3 or haue sent some Angell to doo it but he contrarywise sent him to Ananias that at the mouth of an aÌ„ he might learn his will The Angell sent to Cornelius the Centurion to declare vnto him that his praiers and almes were come vp before God in liew of teaching him appointed him to send for Saint Peter that of him he might vnderstand the doctrine of saluation What man therefore is he that now dare either by expectation of reuelation from heauen or by contenting himselfe onely with reading presume to reuerse or controll the order established in the wisdome of God for the teaching of men and the bringing of them to saluation by the ministerie of men What confusion might insue of such rashnes and presumption What ingratitude against God to contemne such an honour and reuerence doone vnto men and a benefite of such greate excellencie yea euen of profite and necessitie Truely therefore inasmuch as the preaching of the Gospell is tearmed the kingdome of God Col. 4. such as doo despise and reiect it doo make themselues not onely vnworthy thereof but also most wretched and accursed instrumentes to aduance the kingdome of sathan Rather therfore apprehending the incomprensible treasure of the ministerie of the woorde let vs with the Prophet Esay and the holye Apostle Saint Paule saye O howe beautifull are the feete of them that bring gladde tidinges of peace and doo also bring gladde tidinges of good things 11 Neither must wee imagine or thinke with our selues Esa 52.7 Rom. 10.15 that being a little entered thereinto we neede not to heare anie more preaching for euen all the daies of our liues must wee be Christs schollers in the schoole of his Church vnder the ministerie of men As also the faithfull in olde time were called disciples whereby the holy Ghost signifieth vnto vs Act. 11 26. that the children of God must continue daily disciples and so learn in Christs schole vntill that departing out of the same they ascend into heauen And in deede such as being impotent and weake when they haue some voyage or iourney in hande and therefore doo take a waggon or a horse and when they haue ridde some fifteene or twentie leagues doo not straight waie without consideration of they businesse leaue theyr horse or chariot but doo retayne the same vntyll they come to theyr iourneyes ende but our iourney wyll neuer bee at an ende vntyll that by death wee bee lyfted vp into heauen The forwardest among vs as the holy Apostle Saint Paule saith doo yet knowe but in parte 1. Cor. 12.13 Ephes 4.13 And the ministerie is ordayned to profite vs vntyll wee become to bee perfect men and haue attayned to the perfect measure and full age of Iesus Christ as the same Apostle more at large doeth teach vs. And this perfection and age of man is neuer accomplyshed vntyll death And truely as the office of the ministerie consisteth in feeding the flocke of Iesus Christ by the preaching of his holie woorde so this woorde Foode doeth teach and admonish vs that as for the time of our lyuing and beeing in this worlde wee doo stande in neede of foode for our bodyes so can wee not forbeare preaching and teaching for the feeding and nourishment of our soules vntill we be lifted vp into heauen 12 But wert thou as skilful as Saint Paul yet must thou confesse that thou still standest in need of the holy ministerie 1. Cor. 14.3 2. Tim. 3.16 For preaching is ordained not onely to teach vs that which wee knowe not but also to reprehend our vices to exhort vs to our duties to comfort vs and to strengthen vs in the faith and obedience of God Whatsoeuer hee bee therefore that knoweth himselfe hee doeth sufficiently by these reasons and considerations vnderstande that hee hath neede of the holy ministerie all the dayes of his lyfe Schollers haue nothing to learne but knowledge and that euen of humane doctrine and therefore theyr studies haue a limitation but preaching is ordayned not onely for increase of knowledge but also to teach vs to put our knowledge in practise that is to say to aduaunce vs continually more and more in faith and amendement of lyfe wherein we shall neuer be perfect vntyll death By the premises then it doth appeare that euerie one that hath anie purpose to obeye this exhortation of Iesus Christ and of Saint Iohn where they saie Amend your liues must resolue to ioyne with the Church of Christ that diligently and carefully they may heare his worde all the dayes of theyr lyfe Also that it is the duetie of euerie Christian to put in practise this saying of the Prophet Esaie Esa 2.2 In the latter daies the mountaine of the house of the Lord shall bee prepared in the toppe of the mountaines and all Nations shall flow vnto it and many people shall go and saie Come let vs goe vp to the mountaine of the Lorde to the house of the God of Iacob and hee will teach vs his waies and wee will walke in his pathes And that wee may inioye such a benefite let vs euen feele in our selues that burning affection and desire which that excellent Prophet Dauid had Psal 27.4 that with him we may praie to God to giue vs grace that wee abide and remaine in his temple all the dayes of our liues 13 Some there are that confesse that indeed it is their duetie to doe this but they can not
saith Saint Paule 1. Thes 4 â— Colos 3.5 euen your sanctification and that yee should abstaine from fornication Againe Ephe. 5.3 Mortifie your members which are on the earth fornication vncleannesse inordinate affection and euil concupiscence In another place he proceedeth farther saying But fornication and all vncleannesse let it not be once named among you as it becommeth Saints If these admonitious do not sufficiently penetrate our consciences to resolue vs to Amend our liues and to flie from whoredome the rather to abhorre it let vs note what punishments God inflicted vpon fornicators and adulterers Wee haue alreadie touched the example of his horrible iudgement in killing 23000. 1. Cor. 10.8 Iewes in one day for whoredome which Saint Paul propoundeth to diuert vs from the like offence for feare of the like punishment But especially wee are to feare the sentence of death and euerlasting damnation pronounced by the Soueraigne iudge against whoremongers Whoremongers 1. Cor. 6.10 Heb. 13.4 sayth Saint Paule shall not inherite the kingdome of God What shall then become of them The Apostle aunswereth that God shall condemne them And because the world hath neuer beene free from scorners who apprehending no part of Gods iudgementes haue endeuored likewise to diuert others from feare thereof Ephe. 5.5 Saint Paule hauing vrged the consciences of the Ephesians in saying Yee know that no whoremonger no vncleane person hath any inheritance in the kingdome of Christ and of God hee addeth Let no man deceiue you with vaine wordes for for such thinges commeth the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience And this word Commeth he doth vse as if hee had euen pointed vnto it and shewed it discending out of heauen Saint Iohn describeth vnto vs this wrath and condemnation in a fearefull manner Apoca. 21.8 saying The portion of the whoremongers shall bee in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death And to the ende to make them the more sensibly to feel that God hath reiected them Saint Paul commaundeth that they should bee excommunicated and that we should forbeare to conuerse with them 1. Cor. 5.9 vnlesse to the end to bring them to repentance 16 To conclude let vs note the liuely pregnant reasons that Saint Paul propoundeth to make vs to abhorre whoredome Know you not saith he that your bodies are the members of Christ 1. Cor. 6 15. Shall I then take the members of Christ make them the members of an harlot First let vs remember that our spirituall vnion with Christ concerneth not the soule only but also the body For wee are members of his flesh and his bones Ephe. 5.30 Otherwise wee should haue but a weake hope of the resurrection if the coniunction implyed not the whole person coÌ„posed both of the body and soule And this our coniunction with him is such that wee are all one with him as being members of his body taking life from the same spirit as he also saith Hee that is vnited and conioined to the Lord is one selfe spirit But what of al this 1 Cor. 6.17 Euen the same that S. Paul saith Hee that committeth fornication taketh a member from the body of Christ maketh it a member of a harlot And indeed as he addeth He that coupleth himselfe with a harlot is one body as it is written Two shall be one flesh It must therefore of necessitie follow either that Christ must together with the member of his body be taken and vnited to the harlot which euen to imagine is most horrible or els the member must be plucked from the body of Christ when it is coupled and vnited vnto the harlot which also is detestable as he sheweth saying God forbid 17. His second reason is this Euery sin that man coÌ„miteth is without the body but he that committeth whoredome sinneth against his owne body Which some do note as if whoredome did therein print some greater blemish of villanie and infamie then any other sin As also S. Paul speaking of sinne against nature saith Rom. 1.24 They haue defiled their owne bodies betweene themselues Otherwise that he sinneth against his owne body in that he the whore with whom he sinneth are one body Besides that beeing an excellent member of the body of Christ he sinneth deeply against his body in pulling it off from the body of Christ and making it a member of a villanous whore and thereby becomming one body with her 18 Saint Pauls third argument is this Our bodies are the temples of the holy Ghost But the holy Ghost cannot abide in any vncleane or polluted place We do therfore by whoredome driue away the holy ghost make our selues an habitatioÌ„ for the vnclene spirit which is the Deuil To conclude he saith 1. Cor. 6 we are no longer our owne why Because God hath bought vs with a price In that he deliuered his son Iesus Christ to the death for vs. And therefore as he addeth we are to glorify God in our bodies in our spirits which are his not to commit such villanous sacriledge as forsaking God to giue to a whore that which is not our owne but Gods 19 What are we then to do 1. Cor. 6.18 Euen to the end to amend our liues according as Iesus Christ admonisheth commandeth vs we are to put in practise the same wherto Saint Paul exhorteth vs saying Flie fornication therby declaring that it is our dutie so to abhor it that in liew of seeking after it we flie from it Hierome in his Epistles Greg. in his Moralles as froÌ„ a most pernitious damnable and accursed pestilence and to the same purpose let vs remember the saying of Saint Hierome Oh how sharpe is the fruite of whoredome It is more bitter then Gaule and more cruell then the sword and diligently let vs meditate vpon the saying of another Doctor When whoredome hath once taken holde of a mans vnderstanding shee will hardly suffer him to thinke of any goodnes For the desires of man are as it were glued together Of the suggestion of the flesh commeth imagination of imagination conceite of conceite affection of affection delectation of delectation consent of consent action of action custome of custome dispaire of dispaire excuse of excuse boasting and of boasting of sinne condemnation If therefore through the infirmitie of our flesh we feele in our selues the first steppes to this corruption let vs either breake off or preuent the rest that follow least we ascend to the highest from whence the fall is no lesse then certaine and horrible damnation Of Dances Chap. 18. ANd hereto will we yet adde two kindes of pleasure or voluptuousnesse Dancing and playes And we wil begin with dancing as with that which many times ministreth occasion of whoâ—dome before spoken of As it is not meete to condemne al recreation and pastime so is it no reason to alow dancing in maner as
For sith from them we cannot expect this soueraigne felicitie namely to liue in peace in honesty and piety vnlesse they also be guided or strengthened by the spirite of God in their charge our desire and necessitie to enioye it doe sufficiently admonish vs feruently to praye vnto God for them And whereas Kinges were in those dayes idolaters hee addeth this farther reason that God desiring the saluation of all men that is to saye men of all callinges and that they should be brought to the knowledge of the truth wee might by our praiers obtaine that the idolatrous and peruerse Magistrates might be conuerted and saued as well in respect of themselues as for the happy conduct and gouernment of their subiects 12 Now if we be bound to pray for idolatrous and peruerse Magistrates how much rather for those whome God hath already in mercy vouchsafed to illuminate or adopt for his children and to constitute to be protectors and nurses in his Church Pro. 11.14 Both reason and experience doe shew what a benefite it is to haue such Iudg. 2.19 8.33 1. Sam. 7 13 Where the Gouernour is vnwise saith Salomon the people are scattered And it is with them as with a shippe that wanteth a Pylot or guide We read that when the iudge or gouernour of Israel was dead the people returned to their wickednes And it is noted in this historye that all the time of Samuel the hand of God was heauye against the Philistines and it is truely a great fauour and grace of God when he giueth vs good Magistrates as Hyran King of Tyre said vnto Salomon 2. Chro. 2 11. Iob. 34.30 Esay 3.3 Because God loued his people he made thee to raigne ouer them and contrariwise he maketh an hypocrite saith Iob to raign for the sinnes of the people And in the same sence doth God threaten to send children to be Princes and effeminate persons to beare dominion Sith then it is so great a benefite of God to haue good holy and vertuous Magistrates is it not our partes feruently and continually to pray to God still to send vs such to preserue them to guide them by his holy spirite and to blesse their counsails and labours to his glory and to the good and saluation of his people 13 It also hath beene the continuall custome of all Christian Churches to make publique supplications for Kinges Princes and Magistrates and thereof wee haue a formularye written by that good Father and Doctor Tertullian And the reformed Churches of our dayes doe also recōmend and ordinarely vse the same dutie for in trueth there is no seruice that the Magistrates ought more to desire and require of their subiects then that they should praye for them And in this respecte Dauid a King after Gods owne hart and endewed with such excellent graces knowing neuerthelesse how highly he stoode in necessitie of the praiers of his people framed them that excellent praier for their prosperitie which we doe reade of in the twentith Psalme Eusebius reporteth that the Emperour Constantius Euseb in the life of Const lib. 1. lib. 4. Euseb in his Ec. hist lib. 10 and cap. 8. lib. 1. of the life of Const the Father of great Constantine protected his house by the praiers of such as feared God Also that his Sonne Constantine the great imitated his pietye For knowing as the saide Eusebius writeth that the praiers of good men those that feared God did greatly conduce to his preseruation he instantly required them to pray for him and commaunded the Bishops by name to imploy themselues in this duetye and contrariwise he reproued the Emperour Licinius for banishing the Christians out of his Courte alleadging this reason that hee depriued himselfe of the fruit of their praiers 14 Seing the fruit of praier for the Magistrate is such how vnthankfull are those subiects that will not feruently employe themselues therein especially considering the good and prosperity that themselues are to reape thereof we may truely say that the vsuall negligence of the people in employing themselues in this duetye doth many times procure God to giue vs Kinges and Magistrates in his wrath to chastice our ingratitude and slackenesse in matter of such importance That we may therfore amend our liues according to the exhortation of Iesus Christ let vs diligently employe our selues in this so profitable necessary a dutie wherby we may alwaies haue good holye and vertuous Magistrates that vnder their conduct and gouernement we may liue happily and beare to them all loue and reuerence yeelding vnto them voluntarilye all subiection and obedience and employing our bodies and goods in their seruice and assistance with assurance that in so doing and in praying vnto God for them as is aforesaide the Lord will blesse them and vs with them and by them Of the duety of the Pastor and Minister of Gods woord to his congregation Chap. 8. IT now remaineth that wee speake of the duties of the Pastors and Ministers of Gods worde to their Congregations and of their congregations vnto them As concerning the Pastors dutye the same may be referred to the principall end of their vocation togither with whatsoeuer is requisite thereunto This end is the saluation of the soules redeemed with the bloud of Iesus Christ as the Apostle writing to Timothy doth note saying Take heed vnto thy selfe and vnto learning 1. Tim. 4.16 continue therein for in doing thus thou shalt saue both thy selfe and them that heare thee This is their principall end euen to saue soules and indeed S. Paul applieth to his Ministery this sentēce of Esay spoken in the person of the Lord I haue ordained thee to be a light to the Gentiles Esay 49.62 Acts 13.47 1. Cor. 3.1 Acts 13.26 Rom. 1.16 2. Cor 5.18 that thou maist be a saluation to all the ends of the earth True it is that God onely is the Sauiour also that he can saue without the ministery of men but it pleaseth him so to vse their seruice that S. Paul therfore calleth the Ministers of the word coadiutors and workemen with God therefore the doctrine that they preach is tearmed the worde of saluation and the power of God to saue all that beleeue likewise where the holy ministery is called the ministery and word of reconciliation with God the same is only to teach vs that where we be by nature the children of wrath and consequently in death the ende of the holy ministery is to withdraw saue vs by reconciling vs to God and making vs acceptable to him in his welbeloued sonne 2 Heerto must we also referre the saying of S. Paul that Iesus Christ gaue some to be Apostles Eph. 4.11 some to be Prophets some Euangelistes some Pastors and teachers for the gathering togither of the Saintes for the worke of the ministery and for the edification of the body of Christ. For sinne by seperating vs from God did engender this cursed dissipation
wherein euery one being a pray vnto Satan runneth and casteth himselfe headlong into death and euerlasting destruction But the end of the ministery tendeth to assemble from this dissipation the elect in Iesus Christ to make them pertakers of that saluation that is in him And this doth the other similitude of the building of the body of Christ confirme for as they which are seperate from Christ our life are in death so the meanes to reuiue and saue them resteth in this that we be builte and engraffed into the body of Christ that we may be saued in him and thereupon doth S. Luke say that by the preaching of the Apostles God did dayly adde to his Church such as should be saued In this sence also are Ministers called Fathers Acts 2.42 engendring children to God because he vouchsafeth so to vse their ministery 1. Cor. 4.15 that they who by nature are the children of the deuill doe become the children of God and heires of euerlasting saluation The principall end therfore of the holy ministery is to withdrawe men from death and destruction Cipri in his Ser. of fall and to make them partakers of saluation and life euerlasting And therfore as S. Ciprian saith The shepheard can receiue no greater hurt then in the hurte of his flocke and this doth S. Paul sufficiently shew in his owne person saying I feare least when I come 2. Cor. 12.20 I shall not finde you such as I would and least my God abase me among you and I shall bewaile many of them which haue sinned alreadye and haue not repented of the vncleannes and fornication and wantonnes which they haue committed 3 And indeede as they which shal be saued by their ministery shal be as S. Paul calleth them their crown Phil. 4.1 glorie ioy in the day of the Lord they that shal win most to righteousnes shal shine as the Starres for euer so contrariwise Dan. 13. 3. the bloud of such as shall perishe through their owne negligence shall be required at their handes as the Lord doth protest by the Prophet Ezechiell saying Sonne of man I haue established thee to be a scoute ouer the house of Israel thou shalt giue eare to the worde of my mouth Ezech. 3.17 and shalt warne them from me When I shall say to the wicked thou shalt surely dye and thou giuest not him warning neither dost admonish him to departe from his wicked way that he may liue the same wicked man shall dye in his iniquitie but his bloud will I require at thy handes Heb. 13.17 Prosper of Contemplatiue life li. 1. God also establisheth Pastors ouer his flocke as the Apostle saith vpon condition to be accomptable vnto him for them in the day of iudgement If he saith a good old father to whom the dispensation of the word is committed be afraide or ashamed to reproue offenders albeit for himselfe he lead a holy life yet shall hee perishe through his silence And so what shall it auaile him not to be punished for his owne sinne when he shal be punished f r the sinnes of others 4 Now to satisfie this end of the saluation of men by the ministery the first principall duty consisteth in preaching the worde of God Rom. 1.16 which S. Paul therfore calleth the power of God to saluation to all that beleeue and this is it that hee teacheth in the sentence before alleadged saying Take heed vnto thy selfe and vnto learning for in doing thus thou shalt saue both thy selfe and those that heare thee The same maye wee also note in the other sentence 1. Tim. 4. 16. where the Lord saith I haue ordained thee a light to the Gentiles that thou maist be a saluation to the ends of the earth Acts 13.47 And truely how are the ministers the light of men to saue them but by preaching Christ also if it be so that we be saued by faith that faith commeth by hearing the word of God likewise that we cannot heare without a preacher It followeth the duty of the minister is to preach so to saue Rom. 10. Marc. 16.15 In this sence doth Christ commaund his Apostles to goe preach throughout the world adding this that he that beleeueth shal be baptised shal be saued for this cause doth S. Peter commaund them to feede the flock of Christ cōmitted vnto thē 1. Pet. 5.2 And S. Paul so earnestly cōmendeth this duty to Timothy and in his person to al Ministers 2. Tim. 4.2 Preach the worde saith he be instant in season and out of season improue rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine yea he adiureth him in the name of God and of our Lord Iesus Christ who shall iudge both the quick and the dead in his apparition and kingdome 2. Tim. 4.1 to employe himselfe in this duetie whereby he declareth that they cannot neglect this dutie but they must hainouslye offend God and feele the vengeance of the soueraigne Shepheard of the sheep whē he shal appeare in iudgement as S. Paul also saith Woe be to me if I preach not The same Apostle saith If any man desireth to be a Bishop 1. Cor. 9.6 1. Tim. 3.1 he desireth an excellent worke But all titles and professions be knowen by the workes proper vnto them as hee is knowen to be a tailor that cutteth out and soweth garmentes he a shoemaker that maketh shoes hee a phisition that imploieth himselfe in curing of sicknesses and so of others And so likewise is a Bishop a Pastor and a Minister knowne in that he preacheth and teacheth the word of God 5 Howbeit as the Phisition who ordeineth a potiō which in liew of health procureth death is not a Phisition but a murderer so is it with the Pastors that doe preach lyes in stead of trueth and the inuentions and traditions of men in stead of Gods word and therfore did Iesus Christ enioyne his Apostles to teache men to obserue all that he had commaunded them Mal. 28.20 and the same doth Ieremy note Ier. 1.6 saying The Lord stretched foorth his hand and touched my lips and said vnto me Beholde I haue put my words in thy mouth The same doth the Lord also teach to Ezechiel saying Sonne of man I haue made thee a watchman ouer the house of Israel Ezech. 3.17 and 33.7 Thou shalt hearken to the woorde of my mouth and shalt warne them from me This duety is very plainely and expresselye by the Lord commended vnto al Prophets and Ministers in that speaking to Moses he saith Deut. 18.18 I wil raise them vp a Prophet like vnto thee from among their brethren and I will put my woordes into his mouth and he shall saye vnto them all that I shall commaund him 1. Cor. 11.23 It is therefore their duety to propound nothing to the Church either in doctrine or for the seruice of God but what they haue
place Exod. 20 I am the Lord thy God that hath brought thee out of the land of Egipt keepe my statutes and my lawes and doe them Again Leuit. 19.36 Prophane not the name of my holines for I will be sanstified among the children of Israel I am the Lord that do sanctifie you Leuit. 22.32 and that haue brought you out of the land of Egipt to be your God Moreouer he commandeth all parents to shew their children of this bond wherein they stand bound to obey his commaundements saying When thy sonne shal hereafter aske thee saying What mean these testimonies and ordinaunces and lawes Deut. 6.20 which the Lord our God hath commaunded you thou shalt say vnto thy sonne Wee were Pharaohs bondmen in Egipt but the Lord brought vs out of Egipt with a mighty hand And the Lord shewed signes and wonders great and euill vpon Egipt vpon Pharaoh and vpon all his householde before our eyes And brought vs out from thence to bring vs in and to giue vs the land which he sware vnto our fathers Therefore the Lord hath commaunded vs to doe all these ordinances and to feare the Lord our God that it may goe euer well with vs and that hee may preserue vs aliue as at this present Michens 6.1 And whereas their children in the dayes of Micheas did not walk according to this bond to obey Gods commandements he sharply reproueth their ingratitude saying My people what haue I done to thee or wherin haue I grieued thee Answer me for I haue caused thee to returne out of the lande of Egipt c. And this doth he alledge to shew that he had iust cause as the prophet declareth to take the mountains and the foundations of the earth to witnes and iudge of his iust complaint and accusation against the ingratitude and disobedience of his people 4 If the deliuery from the bondage of Egipt were iustly obiected to the people of Israel to remember them of their duetye to loue God and to walke in his holy ordinances how much rather ought this name Iesus by aduertizing vs of our deliuerye from the bondage and cursed tiranny of the deuil and out of the furnace of euerlasting fire make vs bonde and affectionate to the loue of Iesus and louing him with our whole harts to amend our liues according to his commaundement Zachary the Father of S. Iohn Baptist saith in his song that this was the oath that hee sware to their father Abraham Luke 1.73 that he would giue to his people That being deliuered out of the hands of their enemies they should serue him without feare in holines and righteousnes before him all the daies of their liues Here doth he speake of the deliuery which Iesus hath purchased for vs in sauing vs from the power of the deuill of hell and of all our other enemies What an ingratitude were it then in vs that the remembrance of this name Sauiour putting vs in minde of this happy deliuerance from the power of the deuil and other our enemies should not so kindle our harts as wholy to dedicate them to his seruice and to thinke our selues blessed if we could please and obey him in amending our liues 5 But this obligation will the more plainely appeare if we consider the reason of this name added by the Angell saying For hee shall saue his people from their sinnes Firste he sheweth that sinne is the way to destruction and death euerlasting Rom 6.23 as the Apostle Saint Paul saith The reward of sinne is death Now in as much as God is righteous it was expedient for our saluation that this Sauiour the righteous should by dying for vs satisfie for our sinnes Rom. 6.6 Rom 6. Col. 2.11 and as there is in vs besides the sinnes that dayly we haue and doe commit the olde man that is to say the vice and corruption the fountaine of the same so this Iesus crucified with him this olde man and corruption which Saint Paul so often tearmeth sinne and the body of sinne to the ende to mortifie him in vs and so to deliuer vs from him that through our transgressions we should no more fal into the pit of hel S. Paul writing to the Romains doth at large represent vnto vs these two benefits of Iesus the first tending to iustifie vs in the sight of God the other to testifie our iustification to the glorie of Iesus And therefore the same Apostle maketh as it were an inseparable coniunction of those two benefites saying Iesus Christ is made vnto vs wisedome 1. Cor. 1.30 and righteousnes and sanctification and redemption 6 The consideration of the first benefite That hee hath satisfied for our sinnes should most liuely kindle our heartes to loue him feruently and so in folowing his commandement to amend our liues If I should owe a man some notable summe of monie and not hauing wherewith to paie hee in compassion should acquite me the greater the debt were the greater cause should I haue the more should I be bound to loue and please him as Iesus Christ himselfe sayde vnto Simon Luke 7.40 But who is able to comprehend the greatnesse of the debt of our sinnes which this Sauiour hath paide for vs that they might not bee imputed vnto vs but bee quite discharged and blotted out How great therfore should our loue be towards him as also our care and feruent affection to obey him when he cōmandeth vs to amend or how much ought we to abhor the displeasing of him wherby we againe binde our selues to euerlasting death 7 As concerning the other benefite Inasmuch as hee hath wyth himselfe crucified our olde man and so put to death our vice and corruption What a madnesse were it in vs to reuiue nourish and maintaine these our Sauiours enemies and mortall poisons of our soules euen the souldiers of that infernall Pharaoh which labour agayne to plunge vs in the furnace of eternall fire If wee see a mad dogge euerie man laboreth to kill him and therefore what should wee thinke of him that should seeke to preserue him or after hee were dead to reuiue him againe if hee might Woulde not men thinke him to bee an enemye to mankinde yea euen worthy to bee rooted out and is not this sinne and corruption in man euen as badde as a madde dogge Are not the bitinges thereof deadly This madde dogge hath Iesus Christ slaine in crucifying him with himself that so hee might die in vs. Are not we therfore verie miserable wretches that will hearken to the world and the flesh and so reuiue nourish and maintain sinne in vs as delighting in the damnable bitings thereof which breede vnto vs euerlasting death Our olde man sayth Saint Paul was crucifyed with Iesus Christ to the end the bodie of sinne might bee extinguished Rom. 6.61 6. 8. that wee might no more serue vnto sinne Againe Beeing deliuered from sinne yee are made the seruants of
greater thē he is able to beare vpon Iudas who feeling his cōdemnation for the auoiding of the apprehension of death killed himselfe vpon Esau hauing sold his birthright for a messe of red pottage wept because he see no remedy for his mithap vpon those who apprehēding the cōming of Christ to be their iudge do cry to the rocks and mountains saying Fall vpon vs and hide vs from the wrath of the lambe In breefe vpon al those that seeking after death death shall flye from them to the end that dying they may liue and liuing they may alwaies dye On the other side let vs beholde a faithfull man the childe of God in his soule possessed of this kingdome of heauen assured that the righteousnes of Christ shal be imputed vnto him wherby he shal vndoubtedly be iustified in the sight of God feeling peace and quietnesse in conscience and replenished with spirituall ioy is there any man that is not vtterly desperate or besides himselfe that will not accompt such a one to be blessed and the other accursed let vs therefore haue alwaies the state of this kingdom of heauen in our view that abhorring our vice and corruption we may tremble at all motions to offend God and so constantly resisting the world the flesh and the deuil wee may endeuour more and more to amend that in our soules wee may retayne this blessed kingdome which consisteth in righteousnes peace and ioy of the holy Ghost The eleuenth cause of amendment taken of the kingdome of heauen signifying the Ministery Chap. 11. WE haue before declared that by the kingdome of heauen is signified also the holy Ministery this kingdom of heauen and holy ministery doe represent vnto vs many notable reasons that doe binde vs ought to make vs affectionate to amendement First the same which Iesus Christ himselfe saith to his Apostles Luke 20.16 is spoken and ment by all faithfull Pastors Hee that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and in this same sence doth S. Paul testifie of the Thessalonians When ye receiued of vs the word of the preaching of God ye receiued it not as the word of men 1. Thes 2.13 but as it is indeed the worde of God 2 When we go to hear a Sermon we are to think with our selues that we are going to heare God speake vnto vs by the mouth of a man and therfore let vs in all humility reuerence and faith hearken vnto him and let vs beleeue that hee declareth vnto vs these things which we ought to beleeue to be saued which we ought to do in obedience to the wil of God and for the amendmēt of our liues let vs be desirous to know it attentiue to heare it readye to beleeue it to yeeld to God all obedience let vs thinke that we cannot despise that which in the Sermon is preached vnto vs but we must also therby declare that we doe not beleeue either that it is God that speaketh or that the doctrine is true and as it were a great impiety Mat. 10.14 Mark 6.11 and horrible incredulity euen to thinke it so the iudgement that he wil execute against the contemners of his word shal be most fearful Whosoeuer saith Iesus Christ wil not receiue heare your words Gen. 19. whē you depart his house or the town shake of the dust of your feete for a witnes against them whereby I say vnto you it shal be easier for Sodom and Gomorra in the daye of iudgement then for that towne Let vs represent to our view this fire falling from heauen burning and consuming the towne of Sodome Gomorrha and others there about with all the men women and children Mela. Chron. lib. 2 Egesippus l. 4 c. 18 young olde and all then cattel euen the verie towns and conuerting the Cities thereof into a stinking and polluted lake for the compasse of eight Dutch leagues with other notable testimonies of Gods wrath And let the contemplation heereof make all such to quake for feare as despise and contemne God when he speaketh to them by the mouths of his seruants the ministers 3 When our Lord Iesus Christ by breathing vpon them had inspired the Apostles with the holy Ghost Iohn 20.22 Acts 13.46 hee also gaue vnto them and to all faithfull pastours power by preaching of the worde to binde the vnbeleeuers and to vnbinde such as conuerting themselues should truly beleeue in Iesus Christ Whereupon Saint Paul beholding the stubbornnes of the Iewes who obstinatly reiected the doctrine of the Gospell he bound them with protestation that he was free from theyr bloud that forsaking them in the bonds of their incredulity vnder the power of Sathan he went to preach to the Gentiles Now if we see an offender bound fettred brought before this Iudge and thence carried to the fyre who wil not take compassion and horrour thereat How then are men so senselesse and dull as in theyr incredulitie and obstinacie in euill dooing not to apprehend the bondes of theyr sinnes whereof Sathan hath taken hold to pull them into eternall fire 4 Moreouer if the simple ignoraunt and such nations as neuer heard the preaching of Gods worde by offending God doo make themselues worthie of death and eternall damnation What excuse may they pretend in the iudgement of God to whom he hath reuealed his will by the preaching of holy doctrine in case in sted of amendement they remaine obstinate in euill dooing Luke 12.47 The seruant sayth Iesus Christ that knoweth his masters will and doth it not shall bee more grieuously punished than hee that knew it not For as we haue before declared so it is not simple transgression but euen contempt and misprision agaynst the maiestie of God If beeing vppon thy iourney thou knowest not the right way and some man comming by sheweth it vnto thee art thou not well worthie to go astraie and loose thy selfe if voluntarily and wittingly thou takest another cleane contrarie But what doo the ministers of the word in theyr sermons Doo they not shewe the waie to heauen to the end that men may take and follow the same Or doo they not declare in how many sorts men by straying amisse doo take the path to hell with the remedyes howe to retire and turne backe therefro 5 But doo the ministers of the word thinke it inough to say Beholde yonder is heauen or the ware to heauen walke therein Do they not also shew what benefites wee haue receiued of the Lord for the which wee are bound to loue serue and worship him and withal to amend How oft doth Moses and other of the Prophets propound the great benefite of the peoples deliuerance out of Egypt thereby to induce them to obedience But especially howe many earnest exhortations to amendement doo the Apostles gather in propounding the incomprehensible benefit of our redemption wrought by Iesus Christ Is it not then an intollerable ingratitude to denie to
6. Heb. 2.14 rose againe for our iustification when by dying he mortified our old man by rising againe raised vs vp into newnes of life when by his death he destroyed him that had the empire of death did he not by destroying this kingdome of Satan bring the kingdom of heauen nearer vnto vs And in deed this kingdom of heauen was neuer so neare our fathers other the beleeuing Iews in old time Wel had they the promise that the seed of the woman should bruse the serpents head but we do see the performance thereof in Iesus Christ who by his death hath ouercomen the deuill and the power of Hell Well had they the pascall lambe to figure vnto them that for the auoyding of eternall death they must be washed in the bloud of Christ But as Iohn the Baptist euen with his finger pointed to this Lambe Iesus Christ saying Behold the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Iohn 1 2â— so this lambe did afterward really shed his bloud for the remission of our sinnes to free vs from eternall death Well did they stay and ofter innocent beastes in sacrifice as it were laying their sinnes vpon them that by their death signifying the death of Iesus Christ to come they might haue as it were an assured pledge of the remission of their sins consequently hope of life But there was not as yet any payment or satisfaction for sinnes And therefore these sacrifices were as it were bonds with sureties wherein man the principall debtor Coloss 2.14 acknowledgeth the debt Iesus Christ vndertooke as a pledge and surety 5 In this sence did Iesus Christ in his death make ful paymeÌ„t for the sins of al the elect consequently also of those that liued vnder the first testament as the Apostle saith which also S. Paul vnder the same coÌ„sideration termeth the former sins Coloss 2.14 Heb. 9.15 Rom. 3.24 not that they were not pardoned to the beleeuing Iews But because vntil that day there was no price laid downe for the satisfaction of Gods Iustice And in that sence dothe the same Apostle say that he nailed those obligations to his crosse as hauing then satisfied discharged the same And therefore were the expiatorie sacrifices circumcision with other like ordenances of the law abolished at his death Neither could they haue been kept as necessary but that they would still haue been witnesses that Christ stood yet bound Besides not content to haue by this abolition as it were canceled these obligations he hath also ordeined Baptisme and his holy supper to be vnto vs as it were authenticall acquittances and witnesses of payment made 6 It is likewise the benefite for the which he coÌ„mandeth vs to amend adding this reason For the kingdome of heauen is at hand For it is as if he had said Behold this is the time that I will breake the serpents head and destroy him that hath the empire of death and banish the prince of the world Now do I goe to make payment for al the sins of the elect to crucifie the old man that he may no longer raigne in them to purchase for them newnesse of life To be short to reestablish them in state requisit coÌ„uenient for the children of God Is not the kingedome of heauen then very neere at hand Amend therefore for it is time that you feeling your iustification and attonement to be made with God shold be at peace in your consciences should renounce the deuil the flesh the worlde and your selues mortifie the olde man who is crucified with me and become new creatures by vertue of my resurrection But if contrariwise you remayne hardened in your sinnes and will not giue ouer and mortifie the ambition pride couetousnes fraude whore dome insolencie dronkennes ryot hatred enuy malice and other corruptions and doe not amend by growing in al good workes shal you not so much as in you lyeth quench the kingdome of heauen that is in you and with most villanous ingratitude treâ—d vnder foote this incomprehensible benefit heere offered The heathen that neuer heard speaking hereof for their continued impenitency shall be iustly coÌ„demned The Iewes who had some knowledge albeit obscure and a farre off shal be more grieuously punished because they did not amend But you to whom this kingdome of heauen is neare at hand vnlesse ye amend shall incurre a condemnation without comparison more horrible and fearefull And the beleeuing Iewes who neuer sawe this kingdome of heauen but from far off and obscurely and yet as the Apostle saieth to the Hebrewes did beleeue it and reioyced and walking in the feare of God did amend Eph. 3.9 shal be your iudges to your confusion 7 We are furthermore to consider the preaching of the Gospel signified also by this kingdome of heauen Iesus Christ saieth Verily I say vnto you among them that are begotteÌ„ of women arose not a greater then Iohn Baptist Heb. 11. notwithstanding he that is the least in the kingdome of heauen is greater then he He doth not heere meane that the least in the christiaÌ„ Church shal either in piety or in glory in the kingdome of heauen excel Iohn Baptist but that they shal be greater Prophets then he that is to saie that they shal be able more amply perticulerly and euidently to speake of euery thing that concerneth our redemption saluation in Iesus Christ And indeed what euident assured knowledge hath there been reuealed to the Christian Church concerning the person of Iesus Christ that he was conceaued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Mary very God and very man likewise of his offices that he hath receaued the anoynting of the holy Ghost to be our Priest king Prophet Consequently of his sufferings death resurrection ascentioÌ„ into heaueÌ„ of the certitude of our iustification saluatioÌ„ not by workes but by grace by the merits of his death Moreouer how the Gospel of saluation was directed to the Gentils wherby there was reuealed to the world a mistery secret Mat. 11.11 which as S. Paul saith hath from the beginning been hiddeÌ„ in God coÌ„teining a wonderful wisedome then reuealed to the Angels And albeit the ancient fathers weâ—e neuer destitute of the spirit of God Yet had they it not euer without coÌ„parison so plentifully as it hath bene communicated by the preaching of the Gospell 2. Cor. 3.8 And therefore doth S. Paul call it in excellency the ministery of the spirite And Iesus Christ termeth it regeneration Mat. 19.28 as wheÌ„ he saith to his Apostles ye that haue followed me in regeneration shall sit vpon twelue thrones Truely therefore in regarde of the preaching of the Gospell Iesus Christ did saye that the kingdome of heauen was at hand and that therefore we must amend As indeed Mat. 19.28 what excuse may we pretend if hauing such a sonne of light before our eyes we be neuerthelesse giuen