fastned as strangers amongst cruell enemies imprisoned They were vnnaturall if they did not it were vnreasonable to require they should not for wee not onely may thinke it lawfull but must also acknowledge it euen a necessary duty to desire death For is there till then in vs any perfect yea any pure obedience of God Doth not sinne as long as this life lasteth dwell in our members Is there any passage to the perfect life but by the first death The fish which is taken in the net out of the sea strugleth to get in againe and Adam thrust out of Paradise would faine haue beene within againe how much more should we be desirous to bee setled in the true Paradise in assurance neuer to bee put from thence Therefore also it is not onely our dutie to desire death but also as soone as any cleerly seeth Christ presently hee desireth to die For though his state bee neuer so pleasant though his life bee most delightful though hee excell in riches and pleasures and honours and knowledge and glory and sarre exceede all that euer were yet at the sight of Christ hee euen reioyceth to forgoe all the loue of the world falling away like the mantle of Elias when hee was rapt into heauen and so crieth with the Apostle I desire to bee dissolued that he may be with Crist For Christ is light and as soone as they see him they see also themselues and the worlds false happinesse his glory and their shame and filthinesse which maketh them wish for death that they may cease to sinne against God perfectly please him and enioy true happinesse with him for all sinne is blood in their eies and all worldly pleasures vanities But why then say you haue Heman the Ezrachite Psal 88. 15. 16. 17. and Ezekiah that godlie king Esay 38. 10. 12. 13. 14 and that man after Gods owne heart the sweet singer of Israel Dauid Psalme 6. 4. and 30. 8. 9 so prayed and taught others to pray against death Why Because they all were and would haue others to be in the feruent loue of God both to die and to liue Psal 6. 10. and 36. 10. 88. 11. 12. 13. Esay 38. 11. 12 Phil. 1. 23. 24. desirous to liue that they might amongst men vphold and further the true worship of God so to saue their brethrens soules and aduance the glory of God the more to die that they might perfectly obeying God fully please him and freed from all euill enioying all good with him most blessedly liue For not onely the Apostle Paul but all these and whosoeuer are grounded in the faith of Christ but especially all that haue strong hope to aduance the honour of God are in a straite as the Apostle speaketh Philip. 1. 23. and crusht on both sides euen with two contrary desires to be with Christ which is best of all for themselues and to continue amongst men which is most needfull for them So that this remaineth a manifest most necessary dutie and of all that haue truelie as Simeon beleeued in Christ performed namely thenceforth still to desire death though they also withall desired life for others death for themselues Yet all that desire death performe not a dutie for the wicked often desire to die but not duely for though they wish sometimes for it and be willing also to abide it yet do they not in heart desire it because they thinke it not a thing in the ordinance of God good and that for them but vtterly hate it holding it an extreame euill For they acknowledge as the trueth is it will depriue them of all ther delights which heere they desire and they cannot but at least feare it will take from them all pleasure and bring them to easelesse and yet endlesse paine and torments intollerable and yet vnspeakeable For the sentence of the vnchangeable God is already giuen The fearefull and vnbeleeuing and the abominable and murtherers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall haue their part in the lake Reu. 21. 8. which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death And the iust Iudge shall say to all woorkers of iniquity Go ye accursed into hell fire prepared for the diuell and his Angels hell fire where the worme Mat. 9. 43. 44. 48. neuer dieth and the fire neuer goeth out Wherupon this the Prophet auoucheth There is no peace to the wicked Esay 57. saith my God For in their strong hope they feele a stinging feare their greatest confidence is not without trembling of conscience Therefore fearing the euent of death to be for them as indeed it is most horrible they vtterly abhorre it they detest it extreamely How then say some should they seeke death so eagerly How should they murder themselues so willingly They doe it not altogether willingly but wittingly not freely but forced with feare of some supposed greater euill The troubles of this world the anguish of body the horrour of mind they are most impatient of they cannot they will not endure them and thereupon they sometimes preferre death before life lesse willing to liue in vexation then dying to try whether they shall feele what they feare euen deserued damnation for they are neuer willing to die but vnwilling to liue often and so work themselues endlesse woe in hope of supposed happinesse abhorring life not truly desiring death For how die they when they most voluntarily bereaue themselues of life not in loue of God longing to please him performing all seruice to him but either in paine of bodie or else anguish of mind either raging that they cannot satisfie their lusts or haue lost outward things immoderatelie loued for fearing if they die deserued torments if they liue they shall either continue in felt horrour or lose hoped for honour either impatient of Gods rod fretting against him that they so heauily feele his fury and cannot fiercely fulfill their malitious minds or freelie feede on the rest of their fleshly lustes or impotent in their desire of some false fondly conceiued good hoping with dreadfull doubting by death to better their state they choose rather to prooue the truth of Gods threats and of the terrors of their trembling minds then in life to remaine any longer rather abhorring life then any way truly desiring death Therefore in that Simeon duly desired death that which we heard of Simeon in the beginning is proued true to wit that he was iust and feared God For none but the truly religious none but they that by faith are assured they are before God righteous can rightly desire death For who would desire a change but for the better But all that are ignorant of God all the vnfaithfull what knowledge soeuer they haue cannot be in better case dead then they are now in liuing though most miserably pained nay they cannot be without iust feare when they forgoe this life to feele for euer the second death But the faithfull hauing their
consciences quiet and also ioyfull in Christ free from the feare of that death they haue deserued and assured by death to passe to that life which God to all faithfull hath promised earnestly wish to die in feruent loue of God and zeale of his glory that so they may cease from offending their good God and neuer cease magnifying his mercy shewing thereby that they are weary of the seruice and bondage of Sathan and sinne and assured after death to enioy the true life most fully glorifying God and most perfectly pleasing him for euer and therefore also they desire death not shortning their life but waiting his leisure and calling thereby glorifying God as in their liues they haue done and sought to doe For man was not borne at his owne will and therefore may not die at his owne pleasure Therfore they beg it of God referring themselues euer to his good will when where and how by death they shall glorifie him stil desiring it but neuer wilfully procuring it If any obiect that Sampson pluckt the house on his owne head as well as on the Philistines we must vnderstand that Sampson was a figure of Christ and therfore as it were offring himselfe to God a sacrifice first praied and then glorified God at his death more then al his life in killing so many of Gods enemies And because they waite the Lords leasure they not only wilfully murder not themselues but are carefull also lest foolishly vnwittingly they hasten it For all they are guilty of their owne blood that either by foole-hardie rash or vnwise behauing or with surfets drunkennesse or any intemperat vsing of themselues shorten their life Yea though they tender their liues neuer so deere yet are they in the guilt because they willingly vse the meanes that brings death Simeon had seene much in his many daies but when he saw Christ he was vnwilling to liue any longer to see more His desire accomplished his long longing at length is satisfied his feruent expectation with free ioy now fulfilled It is enough saith Simeon that I haue seene my Sauiour as Iacob said It is enough that my son Gen. 45. 18. Ioseph liueth How much more then should wee bee satisfied with this and in all thankfulnesse rest in it that we haue seene Christ not as Simeon in weakenes and basenesse but victorious most glorious ouer sin death and hell triumphing and are more assured then Iacob was that hee not as Ioseph vnder Pharaoh in Egypt liueth but in heauen with his Father in highest maiestie raigneth Lord ouer all hauing all power both in heauen and Ioh. 17. 14. 1. Iohn 3. 3. Rom. 8. 18. earth and moreouer where he is thither shall wee come and be like him and with him as fellow-heires reigne in the kingdome of our Father for euer Simeon knew Christ as soone as he saw him and embraced him as soone as he knew him and enioyed him as soone as he embraced him so some know the word of God as soone as they heare it and beleeue it as soon as they know it and feele the comfort of it as soone as they beleeue it But others heare it as though they heard it not like deafe adders which stop their eares at the voyce of the charmer So Pharao would not heare the voyce of Moses nor Baals Priests the voyce of Elias and others Exod. 5. c. 1. King 18. though they know it yet will not beleeue it as if God were vntrue so all malitious wretches that preserre the pleasures of sinne before the glory of God and others though they beleeue it yet can they not either presently or when they will feele the comfort of it much lesse the ioy which is offred by it namely the heart oppressed the desolate afflicted soule The seede is not cast all on a heape but it is cast abroad therfore where be the fruites of the spirit that you haue brought forth For the spirit of God is not like a dead potion in the stomacke which worketh not neither can we haue this spirit in vs and feele it not For if thou hast it it will leade thee as it did longing Simeon as wee haue hitherto seene to the Temple and when thou art there it will leade thee to Christ and when thou hast receiued and embraced him it will possesse thee with ioy and so with thankfulnesse and godly care to keepe him and to entertaine him and to be obedient vnto him nay also with a longing to bee loosed hence and euermore perfectly to please him Therefore beloued iudge your selues that ye be not iudged of the Lord. Thy seruant The godly would not leaue this priuiledge for all the riches in the world for that they are the seruants of God fellowes to princes and Angels for wee serue him whom Dauid Salomon Ezechias Iosias serued yea to whom a thousand thousands Dan. 7. 10. euen innumerable Angels minister Heb. 12. 22. euen him who is most blessed for euer Euery seruing man beares the cognisance of his master vpon his sleeue What then will the Lord say when he commeth and findeth vs marked with the badge of Sathan Surely he will say giue vnto Sathan Exo. 12. 22. 23. Eze. 9. 4. 11. Re. 10. 7. 3. 5. 6 that which is Sathans But all the houses of Israel are sprinkled with the blood of the Lambe and all mourners in Ierusalem are marked and all the chosen are sealed with the seale of the liuing God Well was it said the poore receiue the Gospell The young men are more forward in the trueth and more zealous then the aged the sonne then his father the seruant then his Master Once the younger Brother stole away the blessing from the elder therefore the elder hated him euen for his zeale And when was Iacob hated more then he is now When was he so hated and persecuted as he is now by Esau Yet in the old time men were more zealous in their age then euer wee heare of them to be in their youth yea they were zealous in the Lords businesse Age hindreth not Noah from building of the Arke when God commanded him age hindered not Simeon Gen. 5. 32. 6. 22. from reioycing and mirth when he beheld and embraced the Lord Iesus Christ Then old Simeon embraced Christ and he enioyed him with hearty ioy in zeale but now where is old Simeon There be but few of them to be seene comming to the Temple to receiue Christ but Dan. 1. 8. 1. Sam. 2. 3. 1. Ti. 4. 12. Phil. 10. Mat. 21. 15. now young men receiue him yong Simeons young Daniels young Samuels young Timothies and young Onesimus and the young infants beginne to speake againe The young haue him they are zealous and J hope they wil keepe him though old men neglect him Sathan thou hast too much for nothing already In peace c. Christ brings peace with him not the peace of the world but that peace which passeth all
neuer haue beene Papists But when they cast a mist before the eyes of men then the blind fell into the ditch which doth containe so many grosse corruptions For mine eies haue seene thy saluation For c. Because the holy Ghost by inspiration had de-declared vnto him that he should not die till hee had leene Iesus Christ therefore the same spirit led him to the Temple and shewed that which it promised and hauing seene the same he desired and wished to die and be released from this earthly prison that he might â—iue with God As idâ—e and euill wishes are vaine because they are not according to faith not grounded vpon the word of God so though we aske as cunningly as Iacob and as earnestly as the sonnes of Zebede yet if wee aske Gen. 27. 17. 18 19. 20. c. Mar. 10. 35. 37. Iam. 1. 7. not in saith according to knowledge we cannot obtaine But wee should aske so that we may receiue that we may not returne empty Therfore the ground whereon Simeon setled himselfe to wish for death was that hee had receiued a promise of God that he should be deliuered from this miserable life when hee had once seene the light of the Gentiles the Christ and now hee had seene his Sauiour and embraced the true Messias which was promised by the Father figured by the law spoken of by the Prophets foretold by the Fathers and pointed at by Iohn Baptist For thus he reasoneth Now that I see thy saluation according to thy word and therefore the condition is now performed let thy promise also be fulfilled Now let thy seruant depart c. For mine eyes c. Mine eyes haue seene c. Then we see that Christ was no spirit neither was his body a fantasticall body for if he were a spirit Simeon could not see him and if his body were a fantasticall body then could not he haue embraced him Therfore wee Iohn 11. Luke 29. Iohn 4. Luke 10. Luke 5. see that the words of the Scripture are true which saith that Christ was perfect man in all things sinne onely excepted For he sometime wept as at the death of Lazarus and like wise ouer Ierusalem Sometime he thirsted as at the Well where the woman of Samaria disputed with him and also sometime eate as at Marthaes house as also among Publicans and sinners and in euery thing shewed himselfe to be perfect man Haue seene c. O Lord saith he I desire now to be dissolued and free from the bondage of sin which so long hath inhabited in my mortall body for now he is come by whom thou hast promised to free and set vs at liberty he is come by whom thou hast promised to breake the Serpents head and he is come that will heale our infirmities and giue strength against sin and sathan by faith peace towards God through loue And now saith hee I haue embraced him and thankfully do receiue him I beleeue am perswaded that this is the same Messias whom the Father promised and the Prophets fore-told all Israel longed expected for who is the light of the Gentiles the glory of Israel and the God of the whole world So they which loue the truth of God and waite with desire to bee filled with the knowledge thereof such shall not die vntill they haue their harts desire with contemplation therof Acts 10. Acts 8. For as Peter was sent to Cornelius and Philip to the Eunuch so the Lord will stirre vp such of his seruants as may bee fit instruments to minister the same vnto vs. Iudas indeed died before the time and liued not to see Christ crucified but the Disciples which loued Iesus did see him die like an vndefiled innocent Lambe and that to their exceeding ioy and comfort when they vnderstood how that he suffered death for loue of them and for their redemption Now if Christ cannot hide him from such as hunger after him through loue then what shall we say of our Fathers which liued in the time of ignorance that longed to see his light although they had a mist cast before their eyes Surely such died not till they saw Christ and embraced him in their hearts And this is our iudgement concerning them that died in the time of Popery And likewise as concerning the rest which thought to be saued by Purgatory and Masses after that they are dead we say that they which sleep without oyle in their lampes they die ere they are aware of and ere they wish for it like the Philistines which sent for Sampson to laugh and mocke at him and to sport Iudg. 16. themselues vpon whom the house fell and destroyed them all or the Egyptians which thought that the waters had made passage for them aswell as for the Israeliers Ezod 16. both which died in and for their security because they were not watchfull nor prepared against the Lord called them Haue seene thy saluation Seeing now hee is come for whom Simeon longed what are the troubles that are past and the sorrowes that are come to an end so when wee haue our desires accomplished feeling the sound comfort of the Gospel what should we how may we thinke either on the length of time wherein we waited for them or the tediousnes or also grieuousnes of the troubles whereby wee haue obtained them Haue seene thy saluation As Moses died on the mount where hee saw the land of Canaan so the godly die in the sight of God and in Deut. 34. the contemplation of his glory like Stephen who at the very instant of his death saw the heuens open and Christ Iesuâ— sitting at the right hand of his Father and like Simeon Acts 7. here which desireth to bee loosed and no doubt shortly died viewing ioyfully and so thankfully beholding the Lord of life Beloued you are not ignorant that the great day of the Lord is neer at hand and therfore they that haue not yet seene Christ they that haue not yet embraced him but still sleepe without oyle in their lampes shal sodainly be ouertaken without the wedding garment and shall be cast into eternall torment for euer Haue seene c. There be many sights of Christ all goe not vp to the mount as Peter Iames and Iohn all see not his face with Matth. 17. Exod. 33. Iohn 13. 2. Cor. 12. 2. Moses all sleepe not in his lappe with Iohn all are not taken vp into heauen like Paul all embrace him not in their armes with Simeon But as pleaseth God so he sheweth himselfe vnto vs and all that loue him both see him and embrace him To some he shewes himselfe as in a glasse to some generally Mat. 20. to some particularly some he calleth early and some hee calleth late and there is no houre in the day wherein he calleth not some to get labour in his Vineyard To some he sheweth himselfe by Angels to othersome by visions Abraham saw
the saluation of God because hee came not from men nor from Angels nor by chance but from Luke 1. Luke 1. Matth. 2. Luke 2. Matth. 2. Luke 3. Marke 1. Luke 1. 15. Iohn 11. Matth. 27. God himselfe and therefore his Name was not giuen him after the manner of men which was that euery Father should name his owne child but so did not Ioseph for the Angell had giuen him direction for his Name The Virgin the Oracles the Babes the Sheepheards the Staire the Wise-men the voice of the Crier the diuels the leapers the sicke the dead the earth-quake the Sunne the Moone and all the creatures doe beare witnesse vnto the Sonne of God which is our saluation He is called the saluation of God because he is saluation according to Gods owne minde He came not to bring ease and liberty but he came to bring the spiritual sword and condemnation to all obstinate sinners yet saluation to the penitent I shewed you how many despised this jewell because they know not what it is worth how few Simeons there be in the Temple how few Nathaniels how few men that feare God these plants grow not on euery ground Who would be vnthankfull if hee knew what the Lord giues and what he forgiues Hee giues the sonne for the bastard the Lord for the seruant the righteous for sinners the innocent for the wicked and the Almightie Lord for the sinfull sonnes of men Doe you not maruel how you can offend this Lord willingly which hath done so much for you Heere I reprooue vnthankfulnes securitie and negligence striuing as it were to crucifie Christ againe as the wicked Jewes did who neuer prospered since the time that they said His blood bee vpon vs and vppon our seede They were not like Simeon who as foone as he saw him embraced him and reioyced ouer him There is no shew of grace in themwhich Mat. 27. 25. shew no liking of godlines neither in themselues nor in others for this is the first part of our conuersion to loue them that loue God and so they are drawne to the Sonne No man will builde an Arke vntill the Gen. 7. flood come no man will seeke for corne vntil the famine come and scarce Lot will bee gone out of Sodome before the time of execution of Gods wrath doe come vpon Gen 42. Gen. 19. them Wee preach vnto you and call vpon you wee haue euen wearied our selues among you wee haue reprooued you for sinne and wee must still reprooue you vntill you amend now therefore if there bee any grace in you if ye haue any knowledge any feare of God in you if you haue any goodnes in you if you haue any leasure to bee saued turne backe now from doeing euill come out of hell and plucke your limbes out of the clouches of the Serpent for verilie we haue not done so well in this city as the Niniuites did for all the preaching and teaching we haue had For who hath determined in his heart to amend his life Who hath left his pride Who hath restored that which he hath taken by extortion vsury and wrong Surely they that haue done thus are monsters I cannot see him he walkes inuisible and cannot be found The heauens trembled at the death of Christ the Sunne did hide his face the earth quaked the vaile of the Temple Matt. 27. 45. 51. 52. 53. rent in sunder the dead bodies rose out of their graues and all this was to shew that the Prince of the world suffered violence and that the Lord of life suffered death for the ransome of vs of all whosoeuer throughout the world doe beleeue the gospell and liue in obedience thereof and withall that hee suffering for sinfull and wretched man was a conqueror ouer hell and all euill and hath ouercome death The Scribes were against him the Pharises were against him the Rulers band thēselues against him the Atheists against him and all the spitefull and enuious Iewes against him whose birth was base whose life was contemptible and whose death was ignominious but God was with him in him by whose power he ouercame them all and so became the saluation of God Dauid being to encounter with Goliah Saul tooke 1. Sam. 17. and put on him his owne harnesse but hee could not weare it it was too heauy for his little bodie therefore he tooke nothing but a staffe and a few stones in a scrippe and so Dauid slew the pride of the Philistines and the feare of Israel And euen thus the Lord set his sonne to fight with the Prince of this world not with swords and targets bowes and bills but with the word and spirit of God with the which he hath ouercome and through him we also haue the victory Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people c. He speakes this to the end that the eies of all mankind may be fixed vpon him as the eies of all Israel were fixed Num. 22. vpon the brasen Serpent in the wildernesse that when they be stinged with the sting of that fierie serpent which deceiued our forefathers they may flie vnto him for help lost they perish in their sinne their blood bee on their owne heads Which thou hast prepared He was prepared long agoe as it doth most plainely appeare for the virgin which bare him the place of his birth the poore estate wherein he was his miracles his Apostles his torments his crosse his death his resurrection and ascension into heauen all these were foreshewed and fore-told long before they came to passe Therfore some said Who is this that is so often spoken of by Iohn 11. Luke 8. Matth. 27. Iohn 10. Marke 6. the Prophets Who is this that can doe many miracles that the Scribes and Pharises cannot doe that can raise the dead that can cease the windes that can calme the waters at whose suffering the earth quaked the Sunne hid his face darknes came ouer all and beeing dead rose againe by his owne power and ascended into heauen in the sight of a great multitude How can it be then but it must be knowne before the face of all people which was so manifest by dreames by visions by oracles by power by authority and euery thing For there was nothing which had not a tongue to speake for God Euery thing was prepared for him before hee came to bee reuealed hee came not in the beginning nor in the ending hee came not in the ending that wee which come after him might long for his second comming He came not in the beginning because that such a Prince as hee should haue many banners and triumphs before him Hee came not in the beginning because the eies of faith should not bee dazeled in him and lest they which should liue in the latter times should forget him and his comming which was so long before euen as you forget that which I haue said as soone as you are
three Angels Lot Gen. 18. Gen. 19. Iudg. 13. saw but two Manoahs wife saw but one and yet one was enough It is saide that Abraham saw Christ his daies but we see him cleerer then Abraham and cleerer then Iohn if we beleeue in him as we should Some see Iohn 8. Christ and not his saluation and some see his saluation and doe not embrace it We see Christ when wee heare his word and we embrace his saluation when we beleeue it they see him that heare him they embrace him that follow him Heere if they had heard me I would haue searched Ierusalem with lampes to see who sitteth in darkenes But how can they beleeue the word of God which heare it not how can they embrace Christ which know him not and all through ignorance hauing not the meanes to see him because their leaders are either blind guides sleepy watchmen or hireling sheepheards And surelie it is a wofull case when shepheards goe to taske and let their owne sheepe alone summer winter They sheare them but neither summer nor winter doe they feede them How should those people vnder their charge see Christ and his saluation when they are so debarred of the wholesome food and euen starued to death many thousands of their soules because they haue not the foode that nourisheth the soule vnto saluation and how many bee there that are as old as Simeon and yet haue not embraced Christ Iesus yea they know him not though they see him neither do they wait for his comming because they haue no desire to embrace him and therefore they defer that put it off from their youth to their middle age from their middle age to their old age from their old age to death and so they can haue no leasure in all their life to embrace him But to such as doe seek him wait for him with vnfained diligence we say as the Angel said vnto the woman at the sepulchre feare Iohn 20. not you seeke the Lord Iesus How is this world set to deceiue vs We can find leasure to doe euill at any time but we can find no leasure in all our life long to doe good that we may at length enioy the true saluation I haue somwhat to say to you of this parish A dainty was prepared for you and you let the strangers take it from you you were required to a fast and you did feast your selues you were required to come pray vnto the Lord and to humble your selues in his sight that he may turne away his wrath from you and you let the Temple stand open and empty for your parts and your shoppes were as open you were about your merchandize forsaking God and seeking to winne the vniust Mammon and the vanities of the world Thy saluation He came not by Angels or by men or by any other meanes but onely from the alone and eternall God He Matth. 1. calleth him thy saluation for his name was not giuen him by Ioseph nor by Marie but by the Angell of God Luke 1. Luke 3. Luke 14. Mat. â—7 Math. 2. signifying that he was come from heauen The Father saw him when he was borne the spirit came vppon him when he was baptized the Angels ministred vnto him in the wildernes his enemies subscribed vnto him vpon the Crosse the Virgin trauailed the starre walked the Wisemen came out of farre Countries to worship him Then is not this Iehouah the mighty God whose birth is glorious whose life is famous which death is meritorious None can take vpon him the authoritie of God but he on whose shoulders the Lord layeth it beeing sent of God and from God Then we see that our Sauiour is the true Sauiour sent from God for all creatures beare witnesse vnto him yea the very diuels with all the euils spirits doe obey his voyce at whose name all knees Mark 1. Phil. 2. shall bow He came not to bring health wealth pleasures or profits for the which if he had then multitudes of worldlings would haue followed him but hee came to bring saluation righteousnes peace truth and life Matt. 7. therefore few care for him Hee came to saue sinners not all sinners not euery one that sayeth Lord Lord Luke 5. but he came to saue penitent sinners which turne vnto God by their repentance Therefore he praieth in Iohn Iohn 17. for those onely that were giuen vnto him So soone as the seede is sowne the stones refuse it or the Sunne parcheth it or the thornes choake it and what comfort hath the Lillie among thornes Therfore wisedom taketh her vnto her wings and whispereth saying you shall seek Pro. 1. me before I come you shall seeke me but shall not find me because ye haue refused me when I offred my selfe to you Christ is their saluation that beleeue in him and make much of him and thankfully receiue him The godly he deliuereth from sinne but the wicked he leaueth bound in the chaines of their iniquity to be tormented of him which had tempted them thereunto whose will they alwaies endeuoured to fulfill and not the Lords and hee sheweth them a hand vpon the wall writing writing their condemnation and another catching them by the hairy scalp Dan. 5. which maketh all their ioynts to tremble and their harts to despair and he saith vnto them What dost thou heere without thy wedding garment How darest thou come to steale the childrens bread The Spirit of Saul worketh Mat. 20. 1. Sam. 16. in him in his bed and euery where and he calleth for the Harpe of Dauid to comfort his heart which cannot be comforted And this spirit saith to Iudas Thou hast betraied the Lord and crucified him therefore goe Math. 27. and hang thy selfe for euen at the preaching of saluation the horrour of damnation the marke of Caine sticketh within thee whosoeuer beleeuest not in Gods saluation But the godly heart goeth home hauing embraced this Gen. 4. saluation chewing the cud and reioycing like the Apostles which reioyced in that they were counted worthy to suffer for his names sake and they say O what a good Acts 5. 4. 1. banquet we haue had this day what delicious dainties hath God feasted vs with and so the Bee goeth loaden to the hiue and goeth longer in the strength thereof then 1. Reg. 17. Elias did Thy saluation The onely Sauiour is heere called saluation it selfe for if he were called a bare Sauiour only then you might likely vnderstand by some other Sauiour but heere is he is called saluation it selfe to shew that there is no other For there be more Sauiours but no more saluations as there be many waies to death and yet but one death The brasen Serpent was a figure of Christ that they which are stung by sin by fire and by the Serpent which Numb 22. Iohn 3. beguiled Euah may make speed because there is no remedy but to