corporall death there is a spirituall death and there is an eternall death Which of these deaths were the Moabites to dye The letter of my text is for the corporall death This corporall death is a separation of the soule from the bodie it is called corporall in respect of the spirituall it is also called a temporarie death in respect of the eternall This death corporall or temporarie is twofold either naturall or accidentall if accidentall it is subdiuided into a violent or a voluntarie death and is common as well to the godly as to the wicked inflicted vpon them by Gods iust iudgment for the sinne of Adam This is the wages of sin and this is the way of all sinfull flesh All must once dye We may a long time wrastle with the dangers of this world both by Land and Sea thousands may fall on our right hand and ten thousands on our left while we stande we may haue so good store of friends that we may well say with the Shunamite 2. King 4.13 I neede no speaking for me either to the King or to the Captaine of the Hoste I dwell among mine owne people where I can command we may walke in the light of the sunne that is our prosperitie may be waxen so great that we want nothing we may haue sailes and oares at pleasure as Antiochus seemed to haue who thought in his pride to make men saile vpon the dry land and to walke vpon the Sea 2. Mac. 5.21 we may thinke our selues to be in league with death and in couenant with the graue and so promise to our selues many a prosperous and pleasant day as many as are the sands of the Ocean yet a time shall come when all these things shall proue but vanitie and Moab shall dye All must once dye A great d Dr. King B. of London Lect. 20 vpon Ionas pag. 264. Prelate of this Land for this point hath well fitted this comparison As one that shooteth at a marke sometimes is gone and sometimes is short sometimes lighteth on the right hand sometimes on the left at length hitteth the marke so Death shootes at Noble men beyond vs at meane men short of vs at our friends on the right hand at our enemies on the left at length hitteth our selues The longer her hand is in practise the more certainely she striketh Looke into the fift of Genesis there shall you finde that Death was ayming at e vers 11. Enosh 905. yeares and at last smote him at f vers 14. Kenan 910. yeares at g vers 5. Adam 930. yeares at h vers 20. Iered 962. yeares at i vers 27. Methushelah 969. yeares but in the end ouerthrew them all Now shee strikes sooner within the compasse of fewer yeares within 60. yeares or 70. she seldome stayes 80. yeares And sometimes shee strikes vs in our youthfull dayes yea in the day of our natiuitie All must once dye Moab shall dye All must once dye Death It is of all miseries the last and the most terrible A holy k Apud Lud. Granatensem Exercit de Orat. Medit. Father hath made against it this exclamation O Death how bitter is the remembance of thee How quickly and suddainely stealest thou vpon vs How secret are thy paths and wayes How doubtfull is thy houre How vniuersall is thy signiorie and deminion The mighty cannot escape thee the wise cannot hide themselues from thee the strong loose their strength before thee the rich with their money shall not corrupt thee Thou art the hammer that alwayes striketh Thou art the sword that neuer blunteth thou art the snare wherein all must be taken thou art the prison wherein all must lye thou art the Sea wherein all must perish thou art the paine that all must suffer thou art the tribute that all must pay In a word thou art such a one as Almighty God washeth his hands of thee and cleareth himselfe in plaine words by the mouth of the Wiseman saying Wisd 1.13 that he neuer made thee Surely thou hast thine entry into the world by the very enuie and craft of the Deuill This exclamation against Death is very iust in some sense for Death may be considered in a double respect one way as it is in its owne nature another way as it is changed and qualified by the death of Christ. Death in its owne nature is a punishment of sin a plague a curse or fore-runner of condemnation the very gates and suburbs of Hell it selfe and in this respect the forecited exclamation hath due place But on the other side death being changed and qualified by Christ his death it is no more such it is no more a punishment of sinne it is no more a plague it is no more a curse For it is become a blessing it brings an end to all our miseries it giues full deliuerance to all our miseries it giues full deliuerance from all dangers it is made vnto vs a passage a way an entrance into euerlasting life it is like a portall or litle gate by which we passe from out this litle prison of our bodies into the kingdome of Heauen The graue meane while is but a resting chamber sweetly perfumed by the Death of Christ for our bodies from whence at the sound of the last trumpet our bodies shall awake and rise and be receiued into the paradise of heauen to enioy the most comfortable presence of Almighty God there If death now changed and qualified by Christ his death be a blessing if it be but a passage from this wretched life to that happiest estate in heauen why should death be feared This is a Case of Conscience and may be resolued There are two sorts of men in the world the one of them who liue in their sinnes and dye without repentance the other of them who with vnfeigned repentance and faith in Christ doe leaue this world The first haue great reason to feare Death Death being vnto them the very gate and introduction into the Hell of the damned of whom we may well say as Christ said of Iudas Math. 26.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it had bin good for them had they neuer bin borne The second haue no reason to feare Death Death being vnto them as the gate of Heauen To such Optimum est nasci its best that they are borne and the next best for them is mature mori to dye in a good houre Their birth is to them a preparation to eternall happinesse whereof their Death giues them full possession The consideration whereof made King Salomon the wisest of Kings or men praferre diem mortis diei ortûs it made him preferre the day of death before the day of birth his words are Eccles. 7.3 Better is the day of death then the day that one is borne Hence is it that most righteous Iob chap. 17.14 calls Corruption his father for as chilren haue fathers for their comfort so had Iob death and rottennesse
as the manner of men is to speake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Athanasius Disput contra Ariam in Niceno concilio for our imbecillitie God thus speaketh he descends to our capacities and that men may in some measure know him he will bee knowne as man by passions or affections by complaining by repenting by grieuing by fainting By these he signifies not what he is indeed but what is needfull for vs to know of him For we well acquainted with the vse of these naturall passions in our selues may the better guesse at the knowledge of that God to whom we heare them ascribed by translation By translation not properly or as one well sayth per figuram non naturam by a figure not by nature or as the Schooles speake quoad effectum non quoad affectum in the effect not in the affection So Aquinas Par. 1a. qu. 21. art 3. C. But hauing intreated else where of this question Whether there be any affection or passion in God in my 17. Sermon vpon Hoseah chap. 10. I now say no more of it Onely I conclude it affirming with Gregorie Moral lib. 20. cap. 23. that God is Sine Zelo Zâ—lans sine irâ irascens sine dolore poenitentiâ poenitens sine misero corde misericors sine praevisionibus praesciâ—ns that God is zealous without zeale angry without anger grieuing without sorrow repenting without penitencie pitifull without pitie foreknowing without foresight There is no passion at all in God Thus haue you my answere to the question euen now propounded The question was How God may be sayd to complaine of our sinnes to be burdened with them or to be grieued at them sith in himselfe he hath all pleasure and content My answere is He cannot be said so to doe in a proper sense and vnderstanding because God is not obnoxious to any passion but improperly in a figure abusiuely metaphorically by an Anthropopathic and metonymically he may well be sayd so to doe he may well be sayd to complaine of our sinnes to be burdened with them and to be grieued at them So he complaineth against Israel here in my text I am pressed vnder you as a Cart is pressed that is full of sheaues Hitherto haue I stood vpon the first Interpretation of these words depending vpon the intransitiue or newtrall signification of the Hebrew verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am pressed The other Interpretation growing vpon the transitiue signification of the same verbe is put in the Margent of our newest English translation and thus it is I will presse your place as a Cart full of sheaues presseth It is the very reading of Tremellius and Iunius Ionathan doth not much varie from it nor R. Abraham and other Hebrew Doctors nor the wise men of Spaine as Pagnine hath obserued Our new expositors for the most part doe mention it Calvin and Danaeus Brentius and Winclelman Mercerus and Quadratus Christopherus à Castro and Petrus à Figuiero I will presse you In an old English Bible It may be Taverners translation I find this place thus Interpreted I will crashe you in sunder like as a wayne crasheth that is full of sheaues I will crash you or I will presse you the meaning is the same and thus I paraphrase it I the Lord Iehovah your Lord God will presse your place wheresoeuer it shall be But how Either as a cart full loaden with sheaues presseth the earth and whatsoeuer else it passeth ouer or as a cart full loaden presseth the sheaues in the threshing floare or as a cart full loaden with sheaues is it selfe pressed I will presse you as a cart full of sheaues presseth or is pressed By this second Interpretation of my text my text is Comminatorie The Lord threatneth to punish Israel for their sinnes to punish them non levi manu aut viribus languidis not with a light hand or languishing force sed magno nisu acrobore but with great endeuour and strength I will presse you as a cart full of sheaues presseth or is pressed God euer iust and immutable assigneth to like sinnes like punishments We for sinning come not short of the Israelites May we not then well expect their punishments Yes doubtlesse we may and this Commination may be aswell to vs as to them I will presse you as a cart full of sheaues presseth or is pressed From this Commination we may take this lesson God will neuer suffer sinne to escape altogether vnpunished He will not His commination of punishment giuen in Paradise to the transgressor of his law iâ— a proofe of this truth The Commination is Gen. 2.17 In the day that thou eatest thereof of the tree of knowledge of good and euill thou shalt dye the death Adam transgressed the Law it was his sinne the punishment of it in him and his whole posteritie is death Hitherto belongeth that malediction Deut. 27.26 which is repeated Gal. 3.10 Cursed is euery one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Booke of the Law to doe them Now God is euer true in his sayings and he euer performeth what he saith If thou then faile in the performance gf any one Commandement of his Law or of any braunch thereof the Curse layeth hold on thee and obligeth thee to punishment In the first Chapter of the Epistle to the Rom. vers 32. we know it to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Law of God his righteous and iust Law his Law of Nature that they which doe such things as are there rehearsed are worthie of death Art thou filled with vnrighteousnesse with fornication with wickednesse with couetousnesse with maliciousnesse Thou art worthie of death Art thou full of enuie of murther of debate of deceit of malignitie Thou art worthie of death Art thou a whisperer a backbiter a hater of God Thou art worthy of death Art thou despiteful or proud or a boaster or an inuentor of euil or disobedient to thy parents thou art worthy of death Art thou without vnderstanding or without naturall affection Art thou a couenant breaker or implacable or vnmercifull Thou art worthie of death It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Law of God his righteous and iust Law his Law of Nature that they which commit such things are worthie of death They are worthie of death and death must be their wages It must be so So true is my Doctrine God will neuer suffer sinne to escape altogether vnpunished For the further illustration of this truth I might produce the suffrages of the auncient of Austine and of Gregorie But hauing elsewhere done that in my 18. Sermon vpon the 10. of Hoseah I will not now againe doe it and what need I draw from the Riuers when I am full of the fountaine Yet may I not end without making some vse hereof My first vse shall be to reprooue such as teach otherwise as Socinus Osterodius Gittichius and other the enemies of Christs satisfaction They will thus argue if God will neuer
the Iewes for their prerogatiue nor Ierusalem for her goodly buildings From this vnpartialitie of God in his workes of iustice my proposition stands good Whosoeuer doe imitate the Heathen in their impieties are in the Lords account no better then the Heathen and shall be punished as the Heathen Will you a reason hereof It is because the Lord takes impietie for impietie wheresoeuer he finds it and for such doth punish it And he finds it euery where For the eyes of the Lord Å¿ 2. Chrâ—n 16.9 runne to and fro throughout the whole earth and are in t Prâ—u 15.3 euery place to behold as well the euill as the good His eyes are u Iere. 16.17 vpon all our wayes he seeth x Iob 34.21 all our goings he y Iob 31.4 counteth all our steps no iniquitie is z Iere. 16.17 hid from him This doth the Prophet Ieremie Chap. 32.19 wall expresse Thine eyes O Lord are open vpon all the wayes of the sonnes of men to giue euery one acccording to his wayes and according to the fruit of his doings This the very Ethnickes guided onely by Natures light haue acknowledged Sybilla in her Oracles could say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Almightie and inuisible God he onely seeth all things Hesiod could say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God hath an All-seeing eye Plautus could say a Capte ivi Est profecto Deus qui quae nos gerimus auditque videt Doubtlesse there is a God who both heareth and seeth whatsoeuer we doe And b Metamorph. lib. 13. Ovid could say Aspiciunt oculis superi mortalia iustâ—s There is a God aboue who hath iust eyes beholdeth all the doings of mortall men c Thales interregatus an furta â—â—mâ—â—um Deos fallerent Nec cogiâ—ata â—nqâ—it Valer. Mar. lib. 7 cap. 2. Dioge Laert. lib. 1. in Thal s. Thales of Miletum the wisest of the seauen being asked whether mens euill deeds could be kept close from God! No sayd he nor their euill thoughts The Hieroglyphicke the mysticall or aenigmaticall letter whereby the Egyptians would haue God to be vnderstood was an eye And why so But as d Hierâ—glyph lib. 33. Pierius saith because Deus ille optimus maximus the great God of Heauen is mundi oculus the eye of the world It may be such was the conceit of that auncient e Augustin Father who sayd of God that he was totus oculus wholy an eye He giues his reason quia omnia videt because hee seeth all things All things are to the eies of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 naked and opened seene as well within as without So saith the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews chap. 4.13 All the impieties of man in deed word or thought are manifest vnto the Lord he seeth them all and for impieties will punish them Well saith f De constantiâ lib. 2. cap. 16. Lypsius Culpae comes iustissimè poena semper est Paine is alwayes the companion of a fault And g Jbid. cap. 14. againe Cognatum immo innatum omni sceleri sceleris supplicium Euery wickednesse brings a punishment with it As the worke is so is the pay if the one be readie the other is present h Lipsius de constant lib. 2 c. 13. Neuer did any man foster within his breast a crime but vengeance was vpon his backe for it If there be impietie there cannot be impunitie Witnesse the blessed Apostle S. Iames chap. 1.15 Sinne when it is finished bringeth forth death And S. Paul Rom. 6.23 The wages of sinne is death Many are the texts of holy Scripture which I might alledge to this purpose I will for this present trouble you but with one It is Psal 34.16 The face of the Lord is against them that doe euill to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth From these now-touched considerations first that Almightie God in iudgement accepteth no persons then that his Al-seeing eye beholdeth whatsoeuer impietie is done not onely in our workes and words but also in our most retyred thoughts thirdly that in iustice euery impietie is to receiue a due punishment from these considerations my position stands firme and vnmoueable Whosoeuer doe imitate the Heathen in their impieties they are in the Lords account no better then the Heathen and shall be punished as the Heathen Here let all good Christians be admonished with their greatest carefulnesse to looke vnto their wayes that they walke not in the by-pathes of sinne to imitate the Heathen in their impieties Qui attrahit ad se culpam non potest effugere poenam sayth i Comment in Hebr. 12. Hugo Cardinalis Thinke not that thy prerogatiue of being a Christian can be a shield vnto thee Christianus k August enchir ad Laurent ca. 5. nomine non opere A Christian in name not in deed may be called a Christian but is no Christian l Bernard Sentent Christianus as he is haeres nominis Christi so must he be imitator sanctitatis A Christian is heire to the name of Christ and therefore must be a follower of Christ in holinesse A Christian sayth S. Austine if he be the Author of the Booke m Lib. 1. cap. 6. de vita Christianâ A Christian is a name of iustice of goodnesse of integritie of patience of chastitie of prudence of humilitie of courtesie of innocencie of pietie A Christian is he who is a follower of Christ who is holy innocent vndefiled vnspotted in whose brest there is no wickednesse who hurts no man but helpeth all He that can truely say I hate not mine enemies I doe good to them that hurt me I pray for them that persecute me I doe wrong to no body I liue iustly with all men hic Christianus est he is a Christian But if in the profession of Christianitie a man liues the life of a Heathen the name of a Christian shall doe him no pleasure If he take delight in the n Galat. 5.19 workes of the flesh in adulterie fornication vncleannesse laciuiousnesse drunkennesse hatred variance wrath strife or any like sinne God will forsake him the holy Angels will flie him the blessed Saints will detest him the Reprobate shall bee his companie the Deuils his fellowes hell his inheritance his soule a nest of scorpions his bodie a dungeon of foule spirits and at last both bodie and soule shal eternally burne in fire vnquencheable Wherefore dearely beloued suffer a word of exhortation o Ecclus. 21.1.2.3 Haue you sinned Doe so no more Flee from sinne as from the face of a Serpent For if you come too neere it it will bite you the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a Lyon slaying the soules of men So sayth Ecclus chap. 21.2 Flee from sinne as from the face of a Serpent Sinne It s like a leauen that will leauen the whole lumpe It s like a scab that will infect the whole flocke It s like
people it reacheth to the highest to the Priests to the Princes to the King himselfe Of Priests and Princes carried away into captiuity you will make no doubt when you see the same proued of Kings Yet may you know by 2 King 17.27 that the King of Assyria when he had vanquished Hoseah King of Israel did carry into captiuitie the Priests of Israel You vnderstand of Priests carried into captiuity see now the like of Kings and Princes See 2 King 24.14 It is a very eminent place There it is affirmed of Nabuchodonosor King of Babel that he carried away all Ierusalem and all the Princes and all the strong men of warre euen ten thousand into captiuity and in the verse following that he carried away King Iehoiachim King of Iudah into Babel and the Kings mother and the Kings wiues and the Eunuches and the mighty of the Land carried he away into captiuity from Ierusalem to Babel And all the men of war euen seuen thousand and carpenters and lock-smiths a thousand all that were strong and apt for war did the King of Babel bring to Babel captiues I could tell you of the like misery befallen other Kings of Iudah of King Manasseh 2 Chron. 33.11 how he was taken by the hoast of the King Ashur was put in fetters was bound in chaines and was carried to Babel And of King Zedekiah 2 King 25.5 how he was taken in the deserts of Iericho by the army of the Chaldees had his eyes put out was bound in chaines and carried vnto Babel But what need I amplifie this point By the places already brought you see my doctrine established namely When God punisheth a nation with captiuity for their sinnes he spareth neither Priest nor Prince nor King Is it true Beloued Doth God punish a nation with captiuity for their sins Let vs make this Christian vse of it euen to powre out our soules in thankfulnesse before Almighty God for his wonderfull patience towards vs. The sins of such Nations as haue beene punished with captiuity were they more heinous in Gods eyes than ours are Dearely beloued far be it from vs to iustifie our selues Let the example of the proud Pharisee be a warning to vs. He for all his smooth prayer registred Luk. 18.11 O God I thanke thee that I am not as other men extortioners vniust adulterers or euen as the Publican I fast twice in the weeke I giue tithe of all that euer I possesse For all this his smooth prayer he found no fauour with God No maruell For his heart was swolne with pride with pride towards God towards his neighbour and in himselfe Gracias ago O God I thank thee there was his pride towards God Non sum sicut caeteri I am not as other men There was his pride towards his neighbour Ieiuno bis in sabbato I fast twice in the weeke There was his pride in himselfe O God I thanke thee He is not reprehended for giuing thanks to God but for his proud and presumptuous boasting of himselfe The great Patriarch Abraham prayeth leaue to speake vnto the Lord and giues a reason of his request Gen. 18.27 I am but dust and ashes so lowly was Abraham conceited of himselfe when he was to speake to God But this Pharisee puffed vp and swolne with pride boasteth as though hee were not made of the same mould with other men O God I thanke thee I am not as other men c. But leaue we the Pharisee in his pride he is not to be a patterne of imitation for vs. The Publican is he whom we must follow Gerit typum omnium poenitentium all that will truly repent must take him for an ensample He stood afar off would not lift vp so much as his eyes to Heauen smote his breast and said O God be mercifull to me a sinner He stood afarre off a B. King in Ion. Lect. 38. pag. 514. not daring to approach to God that God might approach to him He would not lift vp his eies to Heauen for he knew heauen to be the seat of that Maiesty which by sinning he had prouoked vnto displeasure He smote his breast as the arke of all iniquity as it were punishing himselfe with stripes that the Lord might forbeare to punish him And after all this with a fearefull heart and trembling tongue he called vpon his Sauiour and said O God be mercifull to me a sinner b Pet. de Palude Dom. 2. post Trin. enar p. 364. Oratio breuis valdè fructuosa It is a short prayer but full of fruit O God be mercifull to me a sinner be mercifull I say not to me thy creature thy seruant or thy childe but be mercifull to me a sinner My whole composition is sinne whatsoeuer I am in body or soule so farre as my manhood and humanity goeth a Sinner and not onely by mine office and calling because I am a Publican but euen by nature and kinde it selfe a Sinner O God be mercifull to me a sinner This Publican is set for a patterne vnto vs. Wee must with him confesse our sins vnto the Lord. Let no man boast himselfe of his owne innocency integrity or vprightnesse Quando mare sine procellis tunc nos sine peccatis saith c Apud Pet. de Palude Dom. 11. Trinit p. 356. Chrysostome when the sea is without stormes then are we without sinnes But the sea is neuer free from stormes nor we from sinnes In vaine then is it O sinfull man that thou exaltest thy selfe as if thou were iust Remember what Christ saith at his closing vp of this parable of the Publican and Pharisee Omnis qui se exaltat humiliabitur euery one that exalts himselfe shall be brought low Adam exalted himselfe and death was his recompence Gen. 3 19. Pharaoh exalted himselfe and he was drowned in the red Sea Exod. 14.28 Dathan and Abiram exalted themselues and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them vp Num. 16.32 Saul exalted himselfe and an euill spirit was sent to vex him 1 Sam. 16.15 Absolon exalted himself and he was hanged in an oake 2 Sam. 18 9. Nabuchodonosor exalted himselfe and he was driuen to seek his dwelling with the beasts of the field Dan. 4.29 Antiochus exalted himselfe and he died a miserable death consumed of wormes 2 Mach. 9.9 Herod Agrippa exalted himselfe and the Angell of the Lord smote him so was hee also eaten of wormes and gaue vp the ghost Act. 12.23 It is out of all controuersie Omnis qui se exaltat humiliabitur euery one that exalteth himselfe shall be brought low Let the consideration hereof beloued worke in vs a vigilancy to keepe the proud Deuill vnder that we swell not vp through a vaine perswasion of fleshly righteousnesse that we lift not vp our Peacocks feathers nor extoll our eye lids through a conceit of our owne deserts but in all humility pray we euer with the Publican O God bee mercifull vnto vs sinners and ascribe we
I deliuer in this position The ministerie of the word of God freely exercised in any nation is to that nation a blessing of an inestimable value I neede not be long in the proofe of this truth you already giue your assent vnto it The word of God it s a Iewell then which nothing is more precious vnto which any thing else compared is but drosse by which any thing else tryed is found lighter then vanitie it s a trumpet wherby we are called from the slippery paths of sinne into the way of Godlinesse It s a lampe vnto our feete it s a light vnto our paths Psal 119.105 It s the g Matth. 4.4 Luk. 4.4 Ierem. 15.16 Ezech. 3.3 Revel 10.9 Ezech. 2.8 Wisd 16.26 foode of our soules by it our soules do liue Deut. 8.3 It s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Pet. 1.23 incorruptible seede Seede committed to the earth taketh roote groweth vp blossometh and beareth fruit So is it with the word of God If it be sowen in your hearts and there take roote it will grow vp blossome and beare fruit vnto eternall life In which respect S. Iames chap. 1.21 calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an engrafted word engrafted in your hearts able to saue your soules Sith the word of God is such doth it not follow of necessitie that the ministerie of it freely exercised in any Nation will be to that Nation a blessing of an inestimable value Can it be denyed The Prophet Esay chap. 52.7 with admiration auoucheth it How beautifull vpon the mountaines are the h Nahum 1.15 feete of him that bringeth good tidings that publisheth peace that bringeth good tidings of good that publisheth saluation that saith vnto Zion Thy God reigneth S. Paul is so resolued vpon the certainty of this truth that Rom. 10.15 he resumeth the words of the Prophet How beautifull are the feete of them that preach the Gospell of peace and bring glad tidings of good things Conferre we these two places one with the other that of Esay with this of Paul and we shall behold a heape of blessings showring downe vpon them to whom God sendeth the ministers of his Gospell for they bring with them the word of saluation the doctrine of peace the doctrine of good things and the doctrine of the kingdome Such is the Gospell of Christ First it is the word of saluation The Gospell of Christ is called the word of saluation first because it is the power of God vnto saluation as S. Paul speaketh Rom. 1.16 It is the power of God vnto saluation that is it is the instrument of the power of God or it is the powerfull instrument of God which he vseth to bring men vnto saluation And secondly because it teacheth vs concerning the author of our Saluation euen Christ Iesus An Angell of the Lord appeared vnto Ioseph in a dreame and saith vnto him Ioseph the sonne of Dauid feare not to take vnto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceiued in her is of the Holy Ghost And she shall bring forth a sonne and thou shalt call his name i Luk 1.31 Iesus for he shall saue his people from their sinnes Matth. 1.21 He shall saue his people that is he shall be their Sauiour Iesus he is the Sauiour of his people merito efficacia by merit and by efficacie By merit because he hath by his death purchased for his people for all the elect the remission of their sinnes and the donation of the holy Spirit and life eternall And by efficacie because by the Holy Spirit and by the preaching of the Gospell he worketh in the elect true faith by which they doe not onely lay hold on the merit of Christ in the promise of the Gospell but also they studie to serue God according to his holy commandements An Angell of the Lord relating the natiuitie of Christ vnto the Shepheards Luk 2.10 11. saith vnto them Feare not For I bring you glad tidings of great ioy which shall be to all people For vnto you is borne this day in the Citie of Dauid a Sauiour which is Christ the Lord. Vnto you is borne a Sauiour where you haue what you are to beleeue of the Natiuitie of Christ He is borne a Sauiour vnto you Vnto you not onely to those shepheards to whom this Angell of the Lord speakes the words but vnto you Vnto you not only to Peter and Paul and some other of Christs Apostles and Disciples of old but vnto you vnto you vnto euery one of you in particular and vnto me When I heare the Angels words Christ is borne a Sauiour vnto you I apply them vnto my selfe and say Christ is borne a Sauiour vnto me In this perswasion and confidence I rest and say with S. Paul Gal. 2.20 I liue yet not I now but Christ liueth in me and that life which I now liue in the flesh I liue by the faith of the Sonne of God who loued me and gaue himselfe for me Christ is borne a Sauiour vnto me Peter filled with the Holy Ghost seales this truth Act. 4.12 There is no Saluation in any other then in the name of Iesus Christ of Nazareth There is no other name vnder Heauen giuen among men whereby we must be saued then the name of Iesus Christ of Nazareth Againe Act. 15.11 he professeth it We beleeue that through the grace of the Lord Iesus Christ we shall be saued It must be our beleefe too if we will be saued We we in particular must beleeue that through the grace of the Lord Iesus we shall be saued We shall be saued What 's that It is in S. Pauls phrase we shall be made aliue 1. Cor. 15.22 As in Adam all dye so in Christ shall all be made aliue St Austine Ep. 157. which is to Optatus doth thus illustrate it Sicut in regno mortis nemo sine Adam ita in regno vitae nemo sine Christo As in the kingdome of death there is no man without Adam so in the kingdome of life there is no man without Christ as by Adam all men were made vnrighteous so by Christ are all men made righteous sicut per Adam omnes mortales in poenâ facti sunt filij seculi ita per Christum omnes immortales in gratiâ fiunt filij Dei As by Adam all men mortall in punishment were made the sonnes of this world so by Christ all men immortall in grace are made the sonnes of God Thus haue I prooued vnto you that the Gospell of Christ is the word of Saluation as well because it is the power of God vnto Saluation as also because it teacheth vs of the author of our Saluation Secondly it is the doctrine of Peace The Gospell of Christ is called the doctrine of peace because the ministers of the Gospell do publish and preach Peace This Peace which they publish and preach is threefold Betweene God and man Man and man Man and himselfe First they preach Peace