distruction yea wee haue gone through tedious deserts but as for the way of the Lord wee haue not regarded it what good hath pride brought vs or what profit hath the pompe of riches brought vs. All these are passed away like a shadow and as a Post that passeth by and wee are consumed in our owne iniquities This is the lamentable complaint of such men as runne amisse and followed a wrong course in their actions of this life these are they which pursued riches honour pompe and such like vanities and forgat that great and weighty businesse for which they were sent these are they who were esteemed happy men in this world and thought to run to a most fortunate course in that they heaped vp much riches together and aduanced themselues and their posterity and families to great dignities and so become gorgious glorious and dreadfull to others and finally obteined whatsoeuer their lust and concupiscence desired this made them seeme blessed to the worldly thoughts and the way they ranne to be most prosperous and happy but the Scriptures of God are wholy and manifest against such and thundreth many woes and curses against them for why hath God giuen reason and vnderstanding vnto men but to serue him and praise him vpon earth Therefore so soone as wee come to yeares of discretion and begin to vnderstand wee should then begin a new life and serue him whom all creatures doe serue with vs or else our vnderstanding is vaine Now therefore because the militant Church here vpon earth are but Pilgrims and strangers not hauing here in this worldly wildernesse any certaine place of abode but trauaileth for one eternall in heauen and hauing dayly many enemies to encounter withall therefore it standeth euery child of God vpon and those that loue their owne saluation to haue a due regarde and a true examination of their liues and conuersations least they bee drawne away from their true seruice and obedience which they owe vnto their God and Creator and so follow the intisements of their enemies to bee drawne away from God Now that wee may the better voyde the danger of our enemies wee are to distinguish truly betweene spirituall carefulnesse and worldly carefulnesse and how can wee haue a truer Iudge for the triall thereof then our Sauiour Christ himselfe who hath deciphred it in the story of Martha and Mary For when our Sauiour Christ entered into the Village where Martha and Mary dwelt and so into the house then they shewing their thankfull mindes to Christ againe the one by receiuing him into her house and the other by enterteining him into her heart as he was God hee was receiued of Mary and as hee was man hee was receiued of Martha but Mary made choise of the better part and was preferred before her sister and although the care of Martha in entertaining of Christ is not to bee misliked yet Maryes diligence in hearing his doctrine is of purpose preferred to teach vs that it is much better with Mary to study in the word and so first to seeke the kingdome of God then with Martha to labour in the world and so to neglect that heauenly kingdome and yet notwithstanding such is the corruption of this rusty age that our greatest care is to prouide for this present life as the riche man in Luke the twelfth inlarged his Barnes wherein to put his store for many yeares but wee neuer or very late remember to prouide for the life to come like that other rich man in Luke 16. that neuer thought of heauen till hee was tormented in hell These sisters were godly women and both earnest fauourers of Iesus Christ and yet in the manner of their deuotion there is such difference that the wordly affection of the one may in some sort be misliked in respect of the godly exercise and practise of the other Martha is fore incombered with much seruing but Mary is at tentiue to heare the word of God for if it be a matter of cost or trouble if they cannot heare the word preached without some hinderance to their worldly businesse and some extraordinary charge to their pursse then like the Gadarinites they are content to take their leaue of Christ and his word and had rather loose that heauenly pearle then they would part from their worldly pelfe but let Christians learne first to seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and then to prouide for the things of this life Now while Mary was carefull for the food of the soule Martha was curious to prouide food for the body her greatest care was to entertaine Christ and to make him good cheere to testisie her thankfull minde vnto him that had raised her brother Lazarus from death to life therefore hee was worthy to bee well entertained It was well done therefore of Martha to shew her thankfull minde vnto Christ but it was not well done at that time to shew her selfe thankfull in that manner for shee was to heare the word for at that time Christ preached the word it was then no time for her to spend in other affaires and to neglect the greatest affaire which is the meanes of our saluation there is a time wherein wee ought to labour in our vocation and a time wherein wee ought to heare the word And as wee may not vtterly neglect our lawfull callings to follow Sermons so must wee not bestow the Sabaoth which is consecrated to the seruice of God in following the workes of our vocation All things haue their appointed time saith the VVise man Eccle. 3. and euery thing is seemely in his conuenient season but when things are done preposterously and out of order there followeth confusion Although Martha did not heare Christ yet shee did labour for Christ many in these dayes will neither labour for Christ nor heare Christ but as the Israelites were weary of their iorney in the wildernesse and loathed that heauenly Manna so these men are weary of euery godly exercise and are cloyed with the word of God Yet behold how our Sauiour Christ reprooueth Martha and excuseth Mary for when Martha complained of her sister to Christ that shee would not helpe her and seeming after a sort to blame our Sauiour for winking at it requiring him to see the matter amended but Christ reprooueth Marthas curiositie and then excuseth yea commendeth Maryes care saying vnto her Martha Martha thou carest and art troubled about many things but one thing is needfull Mary hath chosen the better part which shall not bee taken from her one thing is necessary saith Christ and what is that one thing euen to heare the word of God preached which is the power of God to saluation to euery one that beleeueth A man may better want all things then that one needfull thing and yet wee desire all other things and neglect that one thing which is so needfull this one thing hath Mary chosen and therefore hath chosen the better part Marthas part
of his death and resurrection meaning thereby that we which are ioyned vnto Christ as an impe is to the stock of a tree ought so to liue of his life as there may not appeare any deformity in vs but that as he hath dyed so wee must dye also and as hee is risen againe so wee must rise againe likewise wee must dye vnto sinne and rise againe vnto newnes of life for that is the death and the life which hee speaketh of How shall wee know that wee bee in him and are made partakers of his graces but by our â—ndeauoring of our selues to keepe his commandements and soothly the only mean to know and to be assured in our selues that we dwell in Christ and Christ in vs is our keeping of his commandements as Iohn teacheth adding further that our knowing that he dwelleth in vs is by the spirit which he hath giuen vs because that by that spirit wee endeauour to follow him and to frame our selues to his will whereby we yeeld proof of the vnion that is between him and vs for euen as the children of the world witnesse themselues to be alone with the world by following their worldly lusts ambition coueteousnes and pleasures which may be likewise sayd also of the members of Sathan So in like case the Christians shew themselues to be made one with Christ by his holy spirit when they follow Christs steppes and make his life to serue them as a most perfect rule to lead their liues by What remaineth then to be done in this case soothly that we on our parts doe enforce our selues by eschewing all flothfullnesse which being hurtfull and noysome in this behalfe for as much as it is of such importance that we cannot neglect it without wilfull disappoynting our selues of our saluation and soueraigne felicity This way is narrow and rough I confesse it is so as all Christians doe and so doth Christ himselfe say it also for in as much as thereby we must forsake our selues to follow Christ which is very painfull and hard to the flesh which desireth nothing but her owne pleasures and commodities no doubt but wee feele it to bee verry bitter and burthensome but what for that yet must we take that way without stepping aside one way or other for that is the only way which after many labours and hard pinches leadeth in the end vnto life As for the other way it is very broad faire and accompanied with great pleasures but the end thereof saith our sauiour leadeth vnto death Now to consider that it is much better to go by labour to rest by tribulation to ioy by death to life then contrariwise to go by rest to labour by ioy to tribulation and by life to death and looke what estate commeth last shall bee euerlasting What thing then should hold vs back or hinder vs in the race ' if it bee the world with all the goodnes honours and pleasures thereof let vs vnderstand that all those things passe away like an arrow which is shot at a white or marke the trace whereof is not perceiued any more by the roughnes and vneasines of the way Let vs consider how there is nothing soe vneasie nor rough which becometh not easie and smooth by continuall vse If it bee the infirmity and weakenesse of our nature let vs thinke vpon him which hath promised to stand by vs to helpe vs and to strengthen vs who being good will helpe vs being almighty wil also strengthen vs conditionally that we pray to him continually Aske saith hee and it shal be giuen vnto you seeke and you shall finde knocke and it shal be opened vnto you Prouided alwaies that wee on our side doe striue our selues for he helpeth not them that are idle and doe nothing hee giueth his spirit but it to such as feeling their owne feeblenesse and being displeased there-with doe earnestly desire and craue his spirit for helpe to such as nothing asketh nothing hee giueth it is euen hee himselfe that worketh in vs both the will and deede how-be-it not so long as wee our selues sleepe not so long as wee fould our armes a crosse and much lesse so long as wee resist him The Kingdome of GOD saith IESVS CHRIST suffereth violence and the violent pluckt it to them and who bee those violent they which beeing inflamed with great desire and zeale to fashion them-selues like to their head and doe violence and force to themselues to the intent that their nature and flesh being restrained and brideled may not cast any impediment in the way of Gods spirit which worketh in them those which feele themselues cold and lasie whether it bee in praying to God or in giuing him thankes for all thinges those that doe quicken and stirre vp themselues without suffering them-selues to goe on and to be ouer-come of their flesh Those which take paines to marke all their owne thoughts and affections and to restraine them from passing their bounds and from rouing a stray setting a sure watch vpon their mindes and following the counsell of the wise Because that from the mind commeth the welspring of al euil and finally they which by CHRISTS spirit doe incessantly crucifie the flesh with the lusts thereof And of a truth wee bee of our owne nature so contrary to GOD and so bent to the seeking of our selues and our affections are so headie and vehement and we be haled vnto euill with so great force of our flesh that we must not thinke that GOD can haue his dominion in vs vnlesse wee vse great force to ouercome and subdue our selues vnto him To conclude that they onely true marke of all Christians and right beleeuers is loue without the which a man may well talke of Christ and of the Gospell and may well haue the Sacraments and all the godly ceremonies that can be deuised and yet all shal be nothing Constancy in going forward vnto the end of our race THe fift part in this happy iorney is Constancy perseuerance to the end for if thou begin by time find the way and go a right and continue not vnto the end thy reward is with them of whom Paul saith their end is worse then their beginning There is nothing in our life which suffereth so many changes as our deuotion hot and cold in and out of and on not in one mood so long as the Sparrow sits vpon the ground Thus man is roulled vpon a wheele that neuer standeth still he is vpon the side of a hill where it is easie to slide and hard to get vp the flesh therefore the Apostle mooued with pitty seeing man stand vpon such a slippery ground as it were in a ship ready to sinke he crieth to them that stand surest take heed least yee fall that is when thou hast put on the armor of light and art in the spiritual field to fight the Lords battaile against the world the flesh and the deuill turne not backe like Demas but
if it be feruent Ia. 5.16 not that the prayer of the wicked auaileth any thing for Sal mon sayth their prayer is abominable therefore it is sinne if it be neuer so feruent but the person must be iust that is he must be iustified by a true and a liuely fayth in Christ Iesus our Lord. By this thou mayest know whether thy prayer be acceptable with God or noe Thus much for the benefit and necessity of praier Now for the manner of praier there might be as much said but for tediousnesse I will say no more but the parts thereof and so end for this duty The first is to whom we should pray The second is the cause why we should pray The third for the things for which wee should pray The fourth the Mediator which we should pray by The fifth and last the affection which we should bring to pray Now wee are to speake of the third dutie which Saint Paul doth admonish vs of saying In all things giue thankes 1. Thess 5.18 These three duties are badges or Cognizances of a Christian souldier that is to reioyce in the mercy of God to be feruent in praier and to giue thankes to God in all things The heathens which haue no part in the Kingdome of Christ are thankfull for their life liberty wealth and glory and worldly prosperity but Christians ought to be thankefull euen in persecution in thraldome in aduersity in shame in misery and in death it selfe Who hath not heard of the patience of Iob his heards of cattle were driuen away his houses consumed with fire his children slaine his body stricken with scurffe and manginesse his wife loathed him and his friends forsooke him what did Iob in all these miseries what thought he or what spake he his patience in suffering and his words of thankesgiuing doe teach vs how to beare aduersity the Lord saith Iob hath giuen and the Lord hath taken it blessed bee the name of the Lord. What are we then that are neither thankfull for riches nor for health nor for our pleasures in the aboundance of all things who hath giuen them vnto vs the earth is the Lords and all that therein is the world and all that dwell therein he openeth his hand and filleth all things lyuing with his good blessings Let vs looke vp into the heauens there is God the Father of lights there is our Redeemer Iesus Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge when wee turne in our beads when wee see our fare and furniture on our tables when wee see our seruants and children about vs when wee see our money and houses and lands let vs thinke with our selues how many good men and faithfull seruants of God lack the same haue not receiued these blessings in the same measure as wee haue done in all these things God speaketh to vs and saith I haue giuen them thee thou hast them at thy hands vse them well and be thankfull for them If a man should declare what causes wee haue to giue thankes vnto God for all his benefits and blessings noe man could make an end their is noe beast in the ground nor fish in the Sea nor bird in the ayre nor star in the heauens noe lease on the tree no corne in the field no sand in the shore no drop of water no sparke of fire but God hath giuen them all for the sonnes of men so much are wee bound alwaies to giue thankes to God and to say with the Prophet O Lord our God how excellent is thy name in all the world Let vs confesse before the Lord his louing kindnesse in his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men But who is able to render thankes sufficient to God for that hee giueth vs the knowledge of his Gospel maketh vs know the secrets of his will This is a great blessing and farre aboue all the other comforts of this life they that haue not this are in darkenesse and in the shadow of death wee haue to praise God wee must say I thank thee O God for thou hast deliuered me frō this body of death thou hast translated mee vnto thy selfe that so I may remaine with thee in glory thus whether so euer yee turne what state or part of life or death so euer yee consider whether yee be in trouble or peace things present or things to come heauen or earth life or death you shall alwaies finde causes to bee thankefull What haue you that haue not receiued saith the Apostle therefore to teach man to be thankfull to his maker hee was not made in Paradice the place of ioy and happinesse but hee being made out of Paradice was brought into Paradice to shew how al his ioy and happinesse came from God and not from nature that hee might know where to bestow his thankefulnesse therefore Dauid to perswade all men to thankefulnesse saith It is a good and pleasant thing to be thankefull if wee loue goodnesse and pleasure we are bound to be thankefull All things which wee receiue in this life are giuen vs least wee should want meanes to serue God then because the Apostle requireth for all things as it hath beene shewed to be thankefull to God he is not thankefull before God which thankes him onely for his benefits but hee is thankefull indeed which thanketh him for his chasticements it may be while the Lord giueth many will say blessed bee the name of the Lord but when the Lord taketh who will say blessed be the name of the Lord when the Lord did take Iob sayd blessed bee the name of the Lord. Now that it hath bene spoken of these three principall duties of a Christian the Apostle for the consirmation and strengthening thereof like a father which is come to the end of his life who because he hath but a while to speake heapeth vp his lessons together which he would haue his sonnes to remember when hee is gone setting downe in foure next verses following these foure admonitions two negatiue and two affirmatiue the first two negatiue are Quench not the spirit 2. despise not prophesying the affirmatiue are Trye all thinges and keeepe that which is good 2. Abstaine from all appearance of euill His first aduice is Quench not the spirit 1. Thes 5.19.20.21.22 that is when a good motion commeth welcome it like a friend and crosse it not with thy lusts the second admonition teacheth how the first should be kept that is despise not prophesying and the spirit wil not quench because prophesying doth kindle it the third admonition teacheth how to make fruit of the second that is trye the doctrines of them which prophesie and thou shalt not beleeue error for truth but hold the best the fourth admonition is the summe of all and commeth last because it is longest in learning that is to abstaine from all appearance of euill for he which can abstaine not only from euill but from the appearance of euill that
thee art thou my sonne my sonnes giue me their hearts and by this they know that I am their father if I dwell in their hearts for the heart is the temple of God therefore if thou be his fonne thou wilt giue him thy heart because thy Father defireth it thy Maker desireth it thy Redeemer desireth it thy Sauiour desireth it thy Lord and King and thy Maister desireth it which hath giuen his sonne for a ransome his spirit for a pledge his word for a guide the world for a walke and reserueth a kingdome for thine inheritance Now if wee would consider the right way whereby we may giue our hearts vnto God the counsell of him whoe speaketh nothing but the very truth and he himselfe is the truth that is our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ which saith where your treasure is there will be your hearts also therefore let our conuersation be in heauen and vpon heauenly thinges that wee may thereby make our trasure there and so wee shall haue our heartes there placed where our enemies cannot take it from vs thus much for this note as hath beene said now it followeth in the next Now if wee haue not remembred our Lord and Creator in the daies of our youth and withall haue not giuen our hearts vnto him whereby we might become religious and to increase in vs renewed hearts and mindes for the better vnderstanding and finding out the right path-way which leadeth vnto eternall happinesse therefore I say if wee haue not prepared our selues and done this already as hath beene declared in this second part it is then now high time to begin to remember God and to giue our hearts vnto him in age or else to forget him for euermore for the gray-head which looketh euery day for his last Sabaoth when hee shall rest in the graue had neede to pray twice asmuch heare twice as much do twice as much to prepare sacrifice of his body and soule ready and acceptable vnto GOD because the night is at hand when he cannot pray nor heare nor repent any more It is said the Diuell is very busie because his time is short but an ould mans is shorter therefore if youth had neede of legges age had neede of winges therefore in the next consequence it is further to bee obserued what further duties wee are to proceede in as followeth Moyses in the 90. Psalme vers 12 saith teach vs to number our daies that we may apply our hearts vnto wisdome this Psalme was compiled by Moyses as may appeare by the title At what time the spies returned from the land of Canaan and God for the murmuring of them pronounced that all which were aboue twenty yeares ould should die in the wildernesse except Caleb and Iosua that encouraged their bretheren to goe into Canaan Now when Moyses heard the sentence of death pronounced against him-selfe and all the Iewes which came out of Egypt except onely two That all should die before they came to the land which they sought for he prayeth thus for himselfe and the rest Teach vs O LORD to number our daies that wee may giue our hearts vnto wisdome that is seeing wee must needs dye and that our dayes are short teach vs therefore to thinke vpon death that wee may dye in thy feare O Lord and so to liue againe for euermore this sheweth vs that the consideration of our mortality will make vs apply our hearts to godlinesse therefore Moyses thinking of his death runneth to wisdome as a remedy against death Therefore wee must come to some Schoolemaister which is like Saint Iohn Baptist what shall wee doe that wee may growe in knowledge as wee grow in yeares Teach mee saith Moyses to number my dayes that I may apply my heart to wisdome whereby Moyses telleth vs that this was one of his helps which made him profit in the knowledge of God To remember his daies as a man which hath a set time for his taxe listneth to the clock counteth his houres So wee haue a set time to serue God worke while it is day Iohn 9.4 saith Christ what hee doth meane by this day the Apostle sheweth vs saying This is the day of saluation that is This life is the day wherein wee should worke our saluation this is a long taxe therefore wee had need to remember our dayes and loose not a minuit least we be be-nighted before our work be done As God hath numbered our dayes so we must learne to remember our dayes or else it seemes we cannot apply our hearts to wisdom that is vnlesse wee thinke vpon death wee cannot fashion our selues to a godly life though we were aswell instructed as Moyses was This we find dayly in our selues that the forgetfulnes of death maketh vs to apply our hearts vnto folly and pleasure and all voluptuousnesse that contrary to his aduice worke your saluation we worke our damnation therefore this is the fruite which commeth to a man by numbring or remembring his dayes God teacheth man to apply his heart to wisdome and that is his lesson which he giueth for that purpose Remember thy dayes that is thinke that wisdom is a long study and that thou hast but a short time to get it and this will make thee get ground of vertue Therefore fiue things are to be noted in these words first that death is the heauen of euery man whether hee sit in the throne or kept in a cottage at last hee must knock at deaths doore The second is That mans life is decreed and his bounds appointed which he cannot passe Thirdly that our dayes are few as though wee were sent into this world but to see it Fourthly the aptnesse of man to forget death rather then any thing else Lastly to remember how short a time wee haue to liue will make vs to apply our hearts to that which is good For the first poynt is that as euery man had a day to come into this world so hee shall haue a day to goe out of this world we are not lodged in a Castle but in an Inne where we are but guests therfore S. Peter calleth vs Pilgrims and strangers we are not citizens of the Earth but citizens of Heauen And therfore the Apostle saith We haue here no abiding citty but we looke for one to come as Christ saith My Kingdome is not of this world so we may say my dwelling is not of this world but the soule soreth vp-ward whence it came and the body stoopeth downeward whence it came euery man is but a tennant at will and there is nothing sure but death In Paradice we might liue or die euery thing and euery day suffers some eclips and nothing standeth at a stay but our Creator calleth to another let vs leaue this world our fathers summoned vs and we shall summon our children to the graue So in an houre wee are and are not wee may well bee called earthen vessells for we are soone changed what
man is so perfect as can be in this sinfull life put all these together and it is as if S. Paul should say Quench not the spirit by dispising of prophesying neither dispise prophesying because all do not preach alike but rather when you heare some preach one way and some another way doe you trye their doctrines by the Scriptures as the men of Berea did and then chuse that which is best and soundest and truest hauing alwayes such an eye to the truth that thou abstaine from all appearance of error so zealous the holy Ghost would haue vs of our fayth that wee set no atticle vppon our religion but that which is an vndoubted truth The spirit is quenched as our zeale our faith and our loue are quenched with sinne euery vaine thought euery vaine word and euery wicked deed is like so many droppes to quench the spirit of God some quench it with the busines of this world some quench it with the lusts of the flesh some quench it with the cares of the mind some quench it with long delayes that is not applying the motion when it commeth but crossing the good thoughts with bad thoughts and doing a thing when the spirit saith doe it not some-time a man shall feele himselfe stirred to a good worke as though hee were led to it by the hand and againe he shal be frighted from some euill thing as though he were reprooued in his eare then if he resist he shall streight seele the spirit going out of him and heare as it were a voice pronouncing him guilty and shall hardly recouer his peace againe therefore Saint Paul saith grieue not the spirit shewing that the spirit is often grieued before it bee quenched and that when a man begins to grieue and checke and persecute it that is vntill hee seeme to haue no spirit at all but walketh like a temple of flesh It is ment by the spirit the gifts and graces of the spirit the spirit of God is the spirit of wisdome and the spirit of truth No man saith Paul can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy ghost Againe the spirit helpeth our infirmities the same spirit beareth witnesse with our spirit that wee are the children of God it is hee that leadeth vs into all truth and openeth our hearts to vnderstand and guideth our feete into the way of peace O dispise not the wisdome of the spirit refuse not his helpe but seeke it that you may be strengthned Comfort your selues in his testimony of your adoption quench not the light he hath kindled in your hearts disdaine not his leading abuse not his mercy Abuse not the time of your visitation let not so great mercy of God bestowed on you be in vaine fulfill not your owne wils Abstaine from fleshly iusts walke in the spirit defire the best gifts and let euery man as hee hath receiued the gift so minister the same to another as good disposers of the manifold graces of God Dispise not prophecying THis admonition is as it were the keeper of the former for by prophecying the spirit is kindled and without prophecying the spirit is quenched and therefore after Quench not the spirit saith Paul shewing that as our sinne doth quench the spirit so prophecying doth kindle it this you may see in the disciples that went to Emaus of whom it is said when Christ preached vnto them out of the law and the Prophets the spirit was so kindled with his preaching that their hearts waxed hot within them This is no maruell that the spirit of man should be so kindled and reuiued and refreshed with the word of God for the word is called the food of the soule take away the word from the soule and it hath no food to eate as if you should take food from the body the body would pine therefore Salomon saith without preaching the people perish therefore hee which loueth his soule had no need to dispise prophecying for then hee famisheth his owne soule and is guilty of her death Prophecying is the preaching and expounding the word of God and hee is called a Prophet and doth prophecy that openeth vnto vs the will of God dispise not therefore to heare the word of God preached turne not away thine eare from vnderstanding God giues power to his word that it may worke according to his good pleasure it will let thee see the weaknesse of thine error and settle thee in the way wherein thou shouldest walke if it had beene dangerous for thee to heare the prophecying of the Gospel he would not haue sent his disciples into the world to preach it if Lidia should not haue liked to heare Paul preach how might she haue known God if those great numbers which heard Peter and were conuerted had dispised prophecying and would not haue heard him declare the grace of the gospell vnto them they had neuer considered the great mercy of God nor sought to bee instructed in their saluation faith commeth by hearing saith the Apostle This hath beene the meanes by which Christ hath giuen knowledge to Kings and Princes and all nations it hath pleased God saith Paul by foolishnesse of preaching to saue them that beleeue 1 Cor. 1. dispise not then to come to the Church of God to pray with the congregation of the faithful to heare the Scriptures of God read and expounded it is the blessing of God offered vnto thee he that dispiseth it shal be dispised of the Lord and he shal be left in darkenesse thus much for the negatiue parts which we must not doe It followeth to try all things and keepe that which is good AFter dispise not prophecying it followeth trie all things as if hee should say but for all that trie prophecying least thou beleeue errour for truth for as amongst Rulers there bee bad Rulers so among Preachers there bee false Preachers this made Christ warne his disciples to bee ware of the leauen of the Pharisies that is of their false doctrine this made Iohn say trie the Spirits therefore wee reade in the Acts 17.11 How the men of Berea would not receiue Pauls doctrine before they had tried it and how did they trie it It is said they searched the Scriptures this is the way which Paul would teach you to trie other whereby he was tried himselfe thereby you may see that if you vse to read the Scriptures you shal be able to trie all doctrines for the word of God is the touchstone of euery doubt like the light which God made to behold all his creatures so is the Scriptures to decide all questions euery doubt must come to the word and all controuersies must be ended at this tribunall the Scripture must speak which is right and which is wrong which is truth and which is error and all tongues must keepe silence to heare it A man trieth his friend before he trust him and shall not wee trie our faith which must saue vs Saint Paul saith Let euery