the corrupted wounds of a sicke body and to take away or to feare with an hot Iron the rotten flesh in cutting or searing hath no pittie of the weake man to the end that in curing his sore and healing his wound by cutting and searing he may shew him pittie Euen so our most wise God that celestiall Physition and heauenly Surgeon smiteth and afflicteth vs that hee may heale vs cutteth and seareth vs that he may cure vs. Heb. 12.6.7 Deut. 32.39 Amo. 3.2 Psa 89.31.32 Good Christians are much grieued when God is dishonored AS a water pot or a Viall full of liquor if suddenly it be ouerthrowne doth shed and scatter the liquor So a deuout and godly Christian abounding with teares being mooued and troubled with sorrow because of the iniuries dishonour wrongs and blasphemies committed against the Lord doth presently powre out great aboundance and as it were mightie streames of salt and bitter teares Luke 19.41 Psal 119.136 Math. 26.75 Disobedient Children EVen as a long and a prosperous life is promised vnto obedient sonnes So on the other side all disobedient vnthankfull and obstinate Children are assured of the punishment of infamie ioyned with diuers and great oâ— lamities and torments Exod. 20.12 1. Sam. 2.22 1. King 1.25 c. Deut. 21.18 c. Pro. 20.20 Ephe. 6.2 The end of our Calling LIke as if her Maiestie to shew her puissance against a forraine power should call foorth one or two of her subiects who are most beholding vnto her to Iust and turney in her presence for her honor they wold no doubt straine all their strength in this seruice yea and their liues too Euen so much more ought we that are Christians to performe this dutie to our God and Prince who hath called vs out by name to fight for his honour to be a chosen and peculiar people vnto himselfe to stand on his parts to shew forth his vertues and to be zealous of good workes yea and that wee might the better performe this seruice he hath furnished vs with his owne armour and weapons yea and his owne hand is with vs too though all men see it not and therefore we must endeuour to doo valiantly and to doo our best to answere the expectation of our heauenly king and prince Tit. 2.13.14 Psal 130.4 1. Pet. 2.9 Cantic 8.6 The Churches variable estate vpon earth LIke as the day and night doo one follow another So likewise in the administration of the Church here vpon earth Christ suffereth a continuall intercourse betweene peace and persecution Christ is to be serued and pleased before our selues or others AS the maister of those seruants that are borne in his house or whome hee purchaseth doo pretend that they doo him wrong when they spend any time either to their owne particular profite or in the seruice of others So may Iesus Christ much more iustly complaine of vs that are his two-fold seruants namely by birth and by purchase if wee imploy euen neuer so little of our liues to serue and please our selues the world or the diuell our enemies 1. Cor. 6.19 Math. 16.24 Luk. 9.23 Rom. 12.2 It is spirituall Adultrie to forsake Christ and loue the world EVen as a woman may rightly be called an Adulteresse that giueth her body to other men and setteth her loue on an other So they which flie from Christ and forsake him being their spirituall husband by setting their loue on this world or any thing therein doo commit adulterie against Christ Iam. 4.4 Ephe. 5.30 1. Cor. 6.17 Christ is sent of the Father AS fire sendeth forth both heate and light but neither heate nor light sendeth fire so the father sendeth both Christ and the all knowing comforter and hee is vnsent Christ and the holy Ghost are of the Father AS both the light the heate are of the fire So Christ and the holy Ghost both are of the Father the one begotten the other proceeding and the Father onely is of himselfe and of no other Christ is to be loued for sauing of vs. 1 LIke as if thou fallest into a deepe ryuer being in apparant daunger of drowning if any man should cast the a rope or himselfe leape into the water to saue thy life thou canst not sufficiently confesse and acknowledge thy selfe his debter to doo him pleasure and seruice all the daies of thy life So likewise wee were not onely in daunger of falling into hell but were alreadie fallen euen from our infancie and dayly through our sinnes fell deeper and deeper Yet Christ cast vs not in a rope to pull vs vp and saue vs but threw himselfe into our sea of woe into our hell to be short into horrible death wherein wee were drowned to plucke vs foorth and therefore with great zeale and affection we are bound to say Lord wee are bound to loue honour serue please and obey thee in all that we may with our whole hearts all the dayes of our life 2 Like as if thou werst vpon a Scaffold ready to be beheaded for thy drunkennesse or adulterie and thereupon shouldest haue a pardon and so thy life saued vpon condition that thou shouldest fall no more thereinto thou wouldest no doubt willingly and heartily promise yea with thy hand subscribe and with thy tongue sweare that thou wouldest neuer more commit adulterie or drunkennesse but that thou wouldest abhorre all Tauernes Ale-houses and drunkerds all whores and bawdes and so amend thy life Now seeing Iesus Christ hath saued thee not from an apparant daunger of death but euen from death it selfe and not from the death of the body but from euerlasting death who requireth of thee to amende thy life which thou art bound so to doo yea thou oughtest cheerefully and earnestly promise and faithfully vowe to reforme and amend and to shun all occasions that might procure thee to displease and offend him Counsell EVen as out of an Apothecaries shoppe where verie wholesome medicines precious oyntments and most pleasant perfumes are solde sometimes commeth most ranke and deadly poyson So very often from men greatly experienced and deepely learned do come very pestilent pernitious and treacherous Counsels The right knowledge of Christ crucified 1 AS Elizeus when hee would reuiue the childe of the Shunamite went vp and lay vpon him and put his mouth vpon his mouth and his hands vppon his hands and his eyes vpon his eyes and stretched himselfe vpon him Euen so if thou wouldest bee reuiued to euerlasting life thou must by faith as it were set thy selfe vpon the Crosse of Christ and applie thy hands to his hands thy feete to his feete and thy sinful heart to his bleeding hart and content not thy selfe with Thomas to put thy finger into his side but euen diue plunge thy selfe wholly both body and soule into the woundes and bloud of Christ 2. King 4.34 2 As the dead Souldier tumbled into the graue of Elizeus was made aliue at the very touching of his body Euen so shalt
2 As a Dead man in his graue cannot stir the least finger because he wants the very power of life sense and motion So likewise no more can he that is Dead in sinne will the least good Nay if he could either will or doo any good he could not be Dead in sinne 3 Euen as a Dead man in the graue cannot rise but by the power of God So no more can hee that is Dead in sinne rise but by the power of Gods grace alone without any power of his owne Iohn 3.3 Ephes 2.10 4.24 Phil. 2.13 Deuise of the wicked AS the Egges of the Cockatrice hatched are full of poyson Euen so are the deuises of the wicked and the execution of their enterprises hurtfull Esay 59.5 The Diuell fearefull and enuious 1 LIke as if an enemie of great might hauing also an aduantage of vs by reason of the ground wherein he hath planted himself be dreadful to vs so as we haue good cause to feare him Euen so much more we ought to bee afraid of the Diuel hauing the like or greater aduantages of vs. Ephe. 6.11.12 2 As a good Midwife is carefull to helpe the woman in trauell and saue the child Euen so the Diuell contrariwise is ready to hinder and hurt the Church to destroy her seede Reue. 12.2.3 God Delighteth in the conuersion of a sinner AS a Father taketh great ioy and comfort when his Sonne who was wilde vnthriftie and vngodly becommeth modest thriftie and religous Euen so it is a Delightfull and acceptable thing to God when any sinner is conuerted from his wicked and lewde course and now liueth Christianly Luk. 15.23.24 Dissentions AS Bees when they striue together and are stirred vp through some vehement motion with throwing of dust are brought into order and appeased Euen so men when they are tossed and tormented with troublesome broyles perturbations and passions if they would remember dust whereinto of necessitie they must be turned and neuer forget death which they shall neuer bee able to escape they would easily bestayed pacified and quietted would represse keepe within compasse their strangling lusts and vnruly appetites which cannot indure to be tamed and ruled by reason How to encounter with Death 1 LIke as if a man were to fight with a Dragon his best way to deale with him is to pull out his venemous sting Euen so the Dragon wherewith euery Christian man is to encounter is Death whose sting is sinne therefore that we may not take the foyle of Death we are in all our life to labour to bereaue him of this his sting 1. Cor. 15.56 2 As the Philistines that they might the better deale with Sampson cut off his haire where his strength lay So also euery one of vs that wee may the better deale with Death are to cut off our sinnes which bee the strength of Death Iud. 16.5 c. Death 1 LIke as hee that is to passe ouer some great and deepe ryuer must not looke downeward to the streame of the water But if he would preuent feare hee must set his foote sure cast his eye to the banke on the furthest side Euen so he that draws neare Death must as it were looke ouer the waues of Death and directly fixe the eye of his faith vpon eternall life 2 Like as if a poore man should be commaunded by a Prince to put off his torne and beggerly garments and in steade thereof to put on royall and costly robes it would be a great reioycing to his heart Euen so much more ioyfull newes must this be vnto all repentant and sorrowfull sinners when the King of heauen and earth comes vnto them by Death and bids them lay downe their bodies as ragged and patched garments and prepare themselues to put on the princely robe of immortalitie No tongue can bee able to expresse the excellencie of this most blessed and happie estate 3 Euen when a man was to offer a Bullocke or Lambe in sacrifice to God he must leaue his offering at the Altar and first goe and be reconciled to his brethren if they had ought against him So much more must this bee done when men are in Death to offer vp themselues their bodies and soules as an acceptable sacrifice vnto God Rom. 12.1 4 As Trauellers not thinking of the Sunne setting are ouertaken with darkenesse before they be aware So doth Death sodainly come vpon many that neuer thought of it neither haue learned to die nor what shall become of them when they be dead so that it behooueth all Christians that wil be saued to watch to stand stedfast in the faith of Christ to quite themselues like men and to be strong and to do all that they do in loue 1. Cor. 16.13 5 As earthen vessels are alike subiect to danger breaking whether they be new or olde made So likewise all men are open and subiect to Death alike whether they be yong men and in their lusty and flourishing age or they be old men and well strooken in yeares 6 Like as if a man shal come into a Potters ware-house where he shall see a large Table set full of Pots some old and some new some little and some great and shall demaund of the Potter which of them all shall first be broken he may well say for answer That which shall fall first to the ground Euen so among men he dieth not first that is elder but he that first falleth to the ground that is commeth first to his graue Psal 2.9 Esay 30.14 Reue. 2.27 7 Like as if a Begger should be commaunded to put off his old ragges that he might be cloathed with rich costly garments he would not be sory though he should stand naked a while till he were wholly bestripped of his rags So likewise when God calls a man to Death and bids him put off his old ragges of sinne and corruption and be cloathed with the glorious roabe of Christes righteousnesse there is no cause why he should be loth to die seeing his abode in the graue is but for a space while corruption be put off 2. Cor. 5.1 2. 8 As bread of all other nourishment doth sustaine the body So aboue all things a continuall thought of Death is wholesome for the soule 9 As yong schollers who hauing spent their time diligētly at their bookes return from the Vniuersities to their friends and are welcommed home both of father mother brother and sister euery one preasing forward with great desire to kisse them and to make the greatest demonstration of ioy and gladnesse that may be for their happie returne So in like maner when true Christians die depart out of this world where they are as it were at schoole to returne to their fathers house God himselfe is the first that biddeth them welcome and willeth them to enter into the ioy of their Lorde and Father Iesus Christ is the next which taketh leadeth them into the Pallace of the
the cōuersation of the wiues 1. Pet. 3.1 Euen so much more may the maister of the family do vnto God and his Church honourable seruice not only by sanctifying his house by the word of faith but also by hauing alwayes in a readinesse verie notable matter to further the building of Gods dwelling place 2. Timo. 1.5 3.15 Act. 16.1 3 As the disorder of one Priuate family namely of one Micha of Ephraim was an occasion that Idolatry did spread thorow the whole Tribe of Dan and so continued many yeares Iudg. 17 18. Chap. Euen so contrarily Gideon being stirred vp by the goodnesse of God to the reformation of one meane family in Manasseh was the cause of a very great deliuerance to the whole natiō from most mightie and cruell enemies and most abhominable Idolatrie for the space of fortie yeares Iudg. 6 7. 8. chap. Curious Questions to be auoyded 1 AS it is sufficient for one that would bee heated or warmed by the fire that hee stand neare it for if hee put his hand into it he shall surely bee burned So they that presume to dispute and Question about God about hell c. further then the word reuealeth falleth into blasphemie and so into hell fire 2 As a boysterous noyse or hidious sound grieueth the hearing ouer aboundance of meate noyeth the stomacke grieuous burthens bee wearisome to the bearer continuall raine hurteth the earth and ouermuch of any thing is noysome and hurthfull So doo difficult Questions quickly ouercharge weake and meane wits Rashnesse to be eschued especially of the godly 1 AS hee that is soonest wearied that knoweth not how far his iourney is So worketh hee and goeth about his businesse with tediousnesse till repentance ouertaketh him who well knoweth not the estate and manner thereof before 2 As the enemie lying neare the Walles is the cause why the Citie dooth watch and take diligent heed So when your enemie diligently waite and marke you then will you doo nothing Rash or void of reason Resurrection of all at the latter day 1 LIke as at the last day the bodies of the righteous and faithfull shall rise againe vnto immortalitie glorie and honor the greatnesse wherof the eye hath not seene nor the eare heard nor the hart of man conceiued So the vnrighteous and reprobate shall rise againe with their very bodies vnto euerlasting shame and both body soule shall goe into hell with the diuell and his Angels there to abide euerlastingly Esay 66.24 Mark 9.44 Math. 25.30.46 Ioh. 5.28 29. Act. 24.15 2. Cor. 5.10 Dan. 12.3 Reue. 20.13 2. Pet. 2.4 5 6. 2 Like as the vngodly in this word haue with their bodies taken their owne pleasure ioy and delight Euen so in the life to come they shall be plagued and punished with euerlasting paine and torments in the same bodies 3 Like as when we see seed sowne to putrifie and corrupt we are yet in good hope that it will spring vp againe with fruit for vnlesse it be dissolued it cannot rise againe So in like manner we must hope of our owne bodies being buried when we see their corruption yet wee must then bee most certainely perswaded that they shall rise againe for death doth not so much waste the body as the corruption of it Act. 16.8 1. Cor. 15.1 2 3 4. c. Ioh. 5.28 11.24 Act. 24.15 Repentance 1 LIke as if a Noble man or Gentlemans seruant were for committing of treasony fellony or murder condemned and going to the place of execution his Lord or Maister of meere fauour and good wil should not only by suit to her Maiesty procure a pardon for his life and so deliuer him from that villainous death which for his deserts he had worthily deserued but also should adopt and take him for his Sonne heire shuld this fellow after this his deliuerance goe and say I will now be idle take my pleasure and follow mine owne phantasie and neuer endeuor to please or pleasure my Lord or maister but rather I will seeke to hurt displease him euerie way that I can What shall wee say in this case Be not these most wicked and desperate words And doth not such a fellow deserue most grieuous punishmēts Euen so the like say they who either by word or deed say that Christ hath redeemed vs by his death hath purchased for vs forgiuenesse of sins righteousnesse and so deliuered vs from hell and made vs the Sonnes of God and heires of heauen wherefore wee will stand like idle persons or rather doo more wickednesse and liue as we list c. Christ our Sauiour doubtlesse died not for such nor satisfied for their offences no nor yet merited heauen for them to the end that they should spend their dayes in Idlenesse and heape sinne vppon sinne and become altogether wicked but that they seeing his great loue and how greatly sinne displeased him seeing hee was willing to redeeme them from sinne Sathan death and hell should no more commit sinne but loue honour and obey him thanke him put their trust in him and worke vertuous and good works plenteously not as bond seruants to escape hell for so much as Christ hath deliuered them neither yet thereby to winne heauen which he by his passion hath purchased for them but as naturall Sonnes for the glorie of God mooued thereto by motion of the holy Ghost and by faith and loue For godly Christians doo vndoubtedly feare to sinne so much more then the wicked doth by how much more they know that God dooth in this present life punish his legitimate children more then bastards Rom. 6.4 Gal. 5.14.2 Timo. 2.19 Tit. 2.11 c. Luk. 1.75 Eph. 1.4 2.10 1. Pet. 1.15 1. Pet. 4.17 18. Iere. 25.12 Iona. 1.12 2 As for examble like as if an Astrologer should tel an ambicious Cardinall that he should bee Pope although he did put an vndoubted trust therein yet for all that hee would not be idle but would vse all meanes possible to attaine and come to that dignitie Euen so the children of God the surer they are that Christ hath redeemed them so much the more they vnderstand the great good will of God towards them and therefore they are alway forced more and more by Repentance and godly conuersation of life to make certaine vnto themselues the knowledge of their election and redemption in Christ 2. Pet. 1.10 3 Like as the fire without heate or warmth is no true fire So is it a cleare matter that faith without Repentance is no true faith Luk. 19.8 23.40 41 42. Act. 2.37 19.18 19. 4 As it is the nature of some cloth if it bee stayned when it is wet the staine will seeme to bee easily washed out but being drie it will appeare againe Euen so some men thinke that they haue Repented when they haue done it to halfes and therefore they are to repent againe as those that breake out of prison are brought thither
also conserue and nourish vs in the same by the right vse of his holy Sacraments and wil make vs to grow and wax strong and accomplish the worke which he hath begunne in vs and al this by his Sonne Iesus Christ 25 As it is not enough that a shepheard doo onely gather his sheepe into the fold or sheepecoate but also that hee prouide meate for them and pasture Or as it is not sufficient that a Maister doo onely entertaine his seruant into his seruice by giuing him his Liuerie coate badge whereby hee is openly knowne to be his man but also that hee prouide and giue him meate and drinke dayly to feede him So surely dooth the Lord with vs in these Sacraments For by baptisme doth hee admit vs to his seruice and by the Supper doth hee feede vs that we perish not with hunger 26 Like as mans body is nourished and sustained by bread and Wine So also our soules are sustained spiritually with the body of Christ giuen for vs and with his bloud shed for our sakes Iohn 6.32 33 35. 1. Cor. 11.24 25. 27 As bread nourisheth our bodies So thereby we learne that Christes body hath most singular force spiritually by faith to feede our soules Ioh. 6.50 55 56. 28 And as with Wine mens hearts are cheared and their strengths confirmed So we learne also that with his bloud our soules are refreshed thorow faith 29 And further as surely as we know that we haue receiued the bread wine with our mouths and stomacks So surely thereby we are assured that Christ maketh the faithfull beleeuers partakers of his body and bloud Ioh. 6.54 63 64. 30 As those which haue eaten sweete Comficts and seede for the most part on delicate Cates haue sweete breathes Euen so must there needes bee found a sweete smelling Odour in all the words and workes of those which are fed with this spirituall and heauenly foode the bodie and blood of Christ and in whom Christ dooth dwell for they do all things for the profit and edification of their brethren and the glory of God 31 Euen as the Gospell which of it owne nature is the word of life and saluation is yet turned by the wicked vnto the sauour of death So the Sacraments also which are instituted by God vnto the saluatioÌ„ of men are notwithstanding receiued by the faithlesse and the vnwoorthie communicants vnto their condemnation and iudgement and yet do they not desist in respect of God to be true Sacraments still 32 As a sicke man feeles no comfort or nourishment when he eateth meate and yet it preserueth his life So the weake Christian though he feele himselfe not nourished at the Sacrament by Christs bodie and blood yet he shall see in time that his house shall be preserued thereby vnto euerlasting life 32 Like as Souldiers when they receiue their pay do binde themselues to their Captaine by solemne oath Euen so we when we are partakers of the holy Sacraments which God hath appointed in his Church by the which he bestoweth vpon vs spirituall gifts do bind our selues to him by the same oath 34 As we see with our eyes that the bread is broken for vs So we are certainly confirmed in our faith that the bodie of Christ was giuen vnto death for vs. 35 As certainly as we see that the bread and wine to be present So certainly do we beleeue that the bodie and blood of Christ is present with vs also yea we do not beleeue that it is the Supper of the Lord except his bodie and blood be present with vs. 36 As things set before the eyes do mooue the sight Euen so the Sacraments moue the heart to beleeue 37 Euen as sure as we take the bread in the Lords Supper and eate it with the mouth of the bodie and drinke the wine So verely certainly euen at the same instant with the mouth of our faith we receiue the verie bodie and blood of Christ and there it doth as actually comfort and sustain the soule as doth the bread and the wine nourish and comfort the heart and the outward man 38 And as verely as the most soueraigne plaister and salue laid to a wound or soare draweth out the filth and healeth it so verily and really doth the bodie and bloud of Christ thus receiued put away the soares and deformities of the soule and not only maketh it whole but also pure clean without scar wrinkle and spot and so maketh it a delectable louely faire spouse in the sight of God 39 As when many Windows be opened in an house the more light may come in then when there is but one opened Euen so by the perception and receiuing of the Sacraments a Christian mans conscience hath more helpe to receiue Christ then simply by the word preached heard or meditated and therefore the Sacraments may well be called seeable sensible taste-able and touchable words 40 As the Diuel entred into Iudas by the soppe which Christ gaue him yet not that he receiued an euil thing of him but because he did receiue it badly and with an euill mind Euen so the vnworthie communicants eate and drinke their owne damnation not by the eating of the bread and wine which are holy signes but because they receiue the same without faith and repentance hauing in euil conscience 41 As the word Sacramentum was a form of a solemne â—â—h in war wherby the soldier did vow destinat himself to serue his Generall and the Generall in like manner did binde himselfe to his souldiers So also by the vse and institution of the holy Sacraments after that God hath promised that he will be our God and giue vnto vs saluation he doth in like manner binde vs as it were with a solemne oath before himselfe before Angels and men that we will serue him and none other Soule 1 LIke as to be healthie in our bodies it is not inogh not to haue the plague or a plurasie but generally to be free from all diseases Euen so to be holy in our Soules we must be clean from all spots and defilings and we must take the whole lawe of God as an vniuersall rule of all our thoughts affections words and deeds to the end to keepe it from point to point and not to omit any thing which is there commaunded vs. 2 As sweete Oyle powred into a fustie vessell looseth his purenesse and is infected by the vessell So the Soule created good and put into the corrupt bodie receiues contagion thence Rom. 5.13 3 Like as if a man should borrow a thing of his neighbour and vse it so as he doth quite spoyle it he would be ashamed to bring it againe to the owner in that manner and if he doo the owner will not receiue it Euen so vngodly men in this life do so staine their Soules with sinne as that they can neuer be able to giue them vp into the hands of God at the day of death
letter as hee had wont to doo and that were a great bondage and wearisomnesse to binde him vnto it still nay it were altogether rediculous and childish in him indeed So now though we be charged to rest vpon the Saboth yet when we are not ouercharged with those Iewish ceremonies which they being children had giuen thē as furtherances vnto them let vs not complaine before we haue cause neither murmure against God because we cannot be so licentious as we would seeing we be at such libertie as we be and as it pleaseth the Lord to bestow vpon vs and let vs bee so much the more carefull to rest by how much we haue but this one thing to attend vpon and are made free from many other which might hinder vs. Deut. 6.8 9. Gal. 4.3 10 As they preposterously labor to reform the church that haue no care to reforme themselues and vndiscreetly complaining of wants and disorders there do not practise better orders in their houses vpon themselues and theirs do hinder it and keep them backe Euen so they that labour for more meanes to sanctifie the Sabbath and are carelesse in practising those that they haue doo stay such good blessings as God might otherwise bestow vpon his Church this way Notorious Sinnes LIke as a man is much more to be blamed which goeth out of his way in the cleare Sunne at noone-tide then he which goeth by night with a candle Euen so such men deserue much more to be punished for committing of foule and notorious Sinnes now vnder the cleare light of the Gospel then in the time of the Lawe Sinne couered by Christs innocencie AS a garment or cloake do serue to couer our bodies Euen so the innocencie iustice holinesse of Christ Iesus doth serue to couer our Sins before the iudgement of God to the end that there appear no one spot of them in his sight Gal. 3.27 Sinner 1 LIke as God is much pleased with the praier of the iust Euen so much more he doth delight in the amendment of the Sinner for it doth little profit for the one to multiply his prayers if the other do not diminish his sinnes 2 As an earthly Father when his childe is sicke he will not cast him away but take pitie vpō him So much more our heauenly Father when a Sinner humbleth him selfe before him and lamenteth his sinnes wil shew his fatherly affection towards him that repenteth 3 As the night in the first dawning of the day in which though the darknesse remaine and be more in quantitie then the light yet when the Sun hath alreadie cast some beames of light in the aire then the breaking of the day appeareth Euen so the conuersion of a Sinner is not wrought all at one instant but in cōtinuance of time and by certaine measures and degrees So that he that is in the first degree of his conuersion when the holy Ghost by the meanes of the word inspires him with some spirituall motions and begins to regenerate and renue the inward powers of his soule Sinne. 1 LIke as that mans disease is most perillous which lyes sicke and feeles not his sicknesse nor cannot complaine of one part more then an other for then the disease hath equally troubled the whole bodie So likewise they which lie wallowing in sin so forgetting God and all goodnesse that they feele no remorse of conscience for their sinnes are desperate and almost past all recouerie 2 As vertue must be imbraced in heart in affection in countenance word and deed or else we are found breakers of the Lawe of God So likewise Sinne must be abstained from as wel in heart in affection in countenance and word and also in deed 3 Like as the dead body lies rotten and stinking in the graue fearefull and loathsome to looke on and grieuous to remember Euen so when we lie buried in Sinne wee stinke in the sight of God he cannot abide to looke on vs nor will remember vs. 4 And as when the body lyeth on sleepe in the bed which is an Image of our graue can neither see feele heare taste smell vnderstand nor yet mooue out of the place vntill it be awaked nor can take any pleasure at all in any one creature of God So we when we lie sleeping and wallowing in Sinne wee neither see the maiestie of God with the eyes of our faith nor feele his mercies offered vnto vs in and by his deare Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus nor yet can taste at all how sweete the Lord is our eares are stopped from hearing good counsell wee perceiue nothing at all of Gods goodnesse towards vs his word is not sauerie vnto vs neither yet be wee mooued or stirred vp to doo any one good worke of charitie Rom. 13.11 5 Like as Carrion dooth not onely smell euill it selfe but infects all that come neare it So likewise that man that is defiled with any notorious Sinne doth not onely defile all things that he takes in hand but all such as keepe him companie so that Sin hath greater force and strength to defile other things then goodnesse hath to make other things holy 1. Cor. 15.33 2. Timo. 2.16 17. Rom. 6.23 6 As a beast ouer-laden is readie to sinke vnder his burden except there bee present helpe at hand to ease him Euen so wee are in daunger to sincke into the pit of perdition by reason of our great and grieuous burden of Sinne except wee flie to Christ who onely and alone can vnburden vs and ease and refresh vs. Math. 11.28 7 Like as if wee doo suspect any vncleannesse in vs wherefore the Prince or any Noble man should loath or abhorre the sight of vs wee would take great paines to remoue put it away Euen so much more we ought with all diligence and speede that may bee to put away that vnclean Sinne and filthinesse that doth seperate and make diuision betwixt vs and God and that hideth his face from vs that he will not heare vs. Esay 59.2 Iere. 5.25 8 Like as if there were an Apostume about the stomack of a man or in his bowells it would be neuer a whit the worse for him if it were seene that it might be launced Euen so that man that thinketh himselfe to be whole and sound because he wil not see his sinne and disease he must needs be voyd of all wit and reason 9 Like as a man that hath a disease or soare in his bodie before hee can be cured of it hee must see it feele the paine of it and be in feare least it bring him into danger of death after this hee shall see himselfe to stand in need of phisicke and he longeth til he be with the Phisitian when he is once come to him hee desireth him of all loues to help him and to shew the best skil he can he wil not spare for any cost then hee yeelds himselfe into the Phisitians hands perswading himself that by Gods blessing
be able more easily to ouercome his master sinnes So likewise he that would be able to beare afflictions and the crosse of all crosses namely death it selfe must first of all learne to beare small crosses as sicknesses in body and troubles in mind with losses of goods and of friends and of good name which may fitly be tearmed little deaths and the beginnings of death it selfe so he must first of all acquaint himselfe with these little deaths before he can well be able to beare the great Death of all 35 Euen as he that hath a Sonne which is in good and perfect health and a seruant that is exceeding sicke dealeth more roughly and seuerely with his sonne then with his seruant not because hee loueth his seruant more then his sonne but because he would if it might be restore his sicke seruant to his former health but his sonne whom he loueth most dearely he reproueth checketh taunteth and correcteth Euen so our louing God sometimes afflicteth his deare children whome hee most tenderly loueth Heb. 12.6 7 Gal. 6.14 2. Tim. 3.12 Rom. 5.3 Mat. 5.10 and doth suffer them to be exercised with wants with hunger and cold with weepings and wailings with sighs and sorrowfull sobs with nakednesse and want of harbour with heauinesse of heart vexation of soule with sicknesse of bodie and want of libertie and with a thousand other calamities and cares and in the meane time suffereth the wicked and vngodly ones of the world to want nothing hee giueth them health wealth and libertie worldly honour and dignitie and what not meaning and purposing by these meanes if the fault be not in themselues to bring them to know to feare to honour and to serue him by whose prouidence and appointment they haue and enioy all those good blessings and so be cured and healed of the sores and sicknesse of their soules 36 As the skilfull pearle seller and cunning lapidarie doth willingly suffer the Indian diamond or adamant to be smitten and strooken with great and weightie blowes because he knoweth well that the hammer and anuill will sooner be bruised then the diamond or adamant will be broken So likewise our most wise God yea onely wisedome it selfe suffereth men of excellent vertues of vnquenchable loue and charitie and inuincible constancie to fall into diuers temptations and great afflictions and to be plunged deepe into manifold miseries because he will haue their inward graces to breake out and so shine before men that they seeing the constancie of his Saints may glorifie God which is in heauen 37 As a Mother that waines her childe layeth wormewood or some other bitter thing vpon her breast to make the childe loathe the milke So likewise God makes vs often feele the miseries and crosses of this life that our loue and liking might bee turned from this world and fixed in heauen 38 As rawe flesh is loathsome to the stomacke so is euerie sinner and vnmortified man loathsome vnto God till the Lord by Afflictions mortifie in him the corruptions of his nature and specially the loue of this world 39 As Horses that are headstrong and either keepe not their right pace or turne out of the way be rained and kept in with the bridle So the Lord bringeth vs backe from our headinesse by one Affliction calamitie or other 1. Cor. 11.32.2 Cor. 1.4 40 Like as if any shrewde childe purpose to flie from his schoole-maister or refuseth to keepe the schoole diligently there are messengers straightway sent for him to bring him backe So likewise God dealeth with vs who sendeth his messengers to wit troubles the pestilence and other diseases to bring vs backe to himselfe Heb. 12.6 41 As a Maister can in no wise be said to hate his scholler when he fetcheth him into the schoole with his rodde from playing the treuant euen so no more doth God hate vs when he calleth vs backe from our leaude wayes by his correction Psal 5.4.5 42 As in a house where there are many children the rod is necessarie or as in a Citie subiect to diuers diseases and where there is an euell ayre Phisitions are needfull So likewise in the house of God where there are many childrē enclined to euil the rod of Affliction is many times more necessarie then bread Psal 119.67.71 43 As a mad man is angrie with the Phisition chaseth him away and throweth away the medicine but a wise man that is sicke of a corporall disease sendeth for the Phisition taketh drinke at his hand thanketh him yea and giueth him a reward So when God the soueraigne Phisition of our soules visiteth vs with Afflictions and giueth vs wholesome medicines we must not be like mad men reiecting the hand of God but receiuing the medicine wee must giue him thankes and blesse him after the example of Iob. Iob. 1.21.22 44 As corne that is shut vp and closed in the huske and the chaffe commeth not forth if the eare be not beaten and so tarrieth still in the chaffe if it be not fanned Euen so the like hapneth to the children of God if they bee not beaten and fanned by tribulations to be seperated from the chaffe of the world and the pleasures and impediments that be in it 45 As the beasts that go by the way and see on the side of them faire fields assaying to go to them running vpon the hedges of thornes if they feele the sharpe pricks they go backe and returne into the way So likewise whē the children of God go out of the right way to heauen to go to the fields of this world and of the flesh God maketh them to come vpon the thornes of Afflictions to the ende that by their prickings they may turne backe againe Hose 2.6 46 As golde by fire is seuered and parted from drosse so singlenesse of heart and true Christian simplicitie is best seene and made most euident in troubles and Afflictions In prosperitie euery man will seeme godly but Afflictions do drawe out of the heart whatsoeuer is there whether it be good or badde Psal 26.2 47 As the obedience of Christ in the crosse was a gratefull sacrifice to God So our obedience in al Afflictions and troubles pleaseth God not for it selfe but in respect of faith whereby it is seuered from the punishments of the vngodly is layde vpon the altar of Christ through touching of whom it is sanctified and accepted of God Iob. 19.25 48 As myrrhe notwithstanding it be sharpe and bitter yet it healeth wounds and preserueth from putrifaction So the crosse and troubles of the Saints though it be irkesome to the flesh and grieuous yet it destroyeth not but healeth rather 49 Like as when a mother willing to weane her child shall say vnto him night and day My child it is time to weane thee thou art growne great inough and I am with child my milke is corrupt it will make thee sicke yet he is so fond of the breast that he can not forsake
the sea which of his name is yet called the Icarian sea Euen so the Ambitious the higher they rise in glorie the more they approach the heate of Gods wrath and so do melt and fall into the gulfe of eternall confusion Act. 12.21 1. Pet. 5.5 4 As he that is condemned to be hanged hath no liking of the Ladder because he knoweth that the higher hee climbeth the nearer he is to his death and therfore could be content the ladder should be either broken or burned if he might haue his desire Euen so ought wee to detest Ambition and pride and endeauour to denie and mortifie the same as knowing that to desire greatnesse is to desire mishap and that pride and arrogancie is the highest step where-from man is cast headlong into vtter ruine Math. 23.12 2. Sam. 18.9 2. King 11.1.15 5 As a man hath no cause to boast of his wickednesse and miserie So in his vertues doth his Ambition pride grow take encrease and nourishment causing him many times the more vertue he is endued with the more to be proud 6 As poison put into good and wholesome meate maketh it mortall so Ambition and pride taking occasion of Gods graces to boast it self doth by such sacriledge turne vs vnto destruction 7 As the Peacocke so full of faire feathers hauing only two foule feet standing proudly in the circle and contemplation of his bewtiful traines so soone as he seeth his feet which he thinketh to be foule straight humbleth himself and abateth and seeketh to hide his feathers euen so much more ought euerie good Christian by the feeling sight and apprehension of many his foule sinnes and vices and corrupt and peruerse passions that raigne in him to humble himselfe and to abate his Ambition and pride ingendered of a few feathers which haue onely some small beginning and appearance of bewtie 8 As the more directly that the Sunne lieth vpon vs the lesse is the shadowe of our bodie as at noone wee may see by experience and a little before and after Euen so the lesse that we arrogate and ambitiously boast of our selues the greater gifts and graces of God are wee endued withall 1. Cor. 4.7 9 Like as men would laugh at a poore man if hauing precious garments lent him to act and play the part of some honourable personage vpon a stage when the play were at an ende he should keepe them as his owne and bragge vp and downe in them Euen so such are they to whom God imparteth his gifts and graces when in lieu of yeelding the praise and glorie of the same to him that is the author and giuer of them they ambitiously assume and take it to themselues 10 As a tree the higher it is the greater force the winde hath of it and euerie little blast will bee puffing at it so that the sooner and greater is the fall thereof So the Ambitious man the higher he climeth the greater is his fall Of sumptuousnesse and excesse in Apparell 1 AS those that build faire Sepulchers for their dead corps whereas it should be a warning to them that they must die and therevpon cause them to reiect all Ambition pride and vanitie yet thereof they take occasion to vaunt and boast So likewise whereas our garments should be a continuall memorie of sinne to humble vs yet we as if we would euen spite God do procure sumptuous and gorgious Apparell to testifie our Ambition and pride 2 As a Theefe by lawe burned in the forehead for theft ought so oft as he looketh in a glasse and perceiueth the skarre thereof to thinke vpon and detest his inclination to that vice So our garments being as the skarre in the forehead of our first parents and our selues for their Ambition in that they sought to be like vnto God should by the onely sight of them put vs in minde to renounce all pride and Ambition Gene. 3.7.21 Esay 3.18 3 As euerie seede bringeth forth hearbes or fruite according to his kinde as Lettice seed Lettice Thistle seede Thistles Euen so if the heart be humble and modest the garment for the body will be euen so but if the heart be proud and Ambitious it will shew forth some kinde of excesse and pride in Apparell notwithstanding whatsoeuer lawes to the contrarie 4 As the body being of more valew then the garment we will sell or pawne forth the garment for to feede the body Euen so ought we to leaue all affection to bewtifie our bodies the better to tend to the adorning of our soules 1. Pet. 3.3.4.5 1. Timo. 2.9 5 Like as if wee dwell in a borrowed house looking weekely when we must depart we will neuer trouble our selues with any cost or fitting of it as we would do if we were sure to remaine in it all the dayes of our liues Euen so for so much as the body is but a house lent vnto the soule from whence it looketh daily to depart there is no reason then why we should be so carefull to cloathe this body with braue and costly Apparell which shortly must rot and perish and so to neglect the soule which is immortall 6 As men commonly do care to be more honestly apparrelled when they are to meete at some banquet or marriage or to come before some honorable personages then ordinarily when they company with inferiours Euen so in like manner wee as concerning our bodies doo accompanie with men like vnto our selues but as concerning our soule with God and his Angels to whom it is lifted vp now by faith but at death really therefore it is repugnant to all order and reason to care more for the bewtifying of the body with sumptuous Apparell then adorning of the soule 7 Like as if a Taylor when he hath made a garment a great deale too long and large being reproued shall haue no excuse but that he had too much stuffe but this shift will not be accepted for they would tell him that he should haue made the garment after the measure of the body but not according to the quantitie of the stuffe Euen so they that haue plentie of goods and do not imploy them after the measure of their vocation and as beseemeth the profession of a reformed Religion but wasteth them in superfluitie and excesse do expose and set themselues to the skorne and greeuous reprehension both of God and his Angels Luk. 16.1.2 Sopho. 1.8 Application of Gods word 1 AS Phisitions do heale diuers diseases with diuers things as necessitie requireth So the word of God must be rightly applied according to the qualitie of the sinnes of the people 2 As a carefull and skilfull Surgion who hauing Patients that are diseased with sundry greeuous woundes and sores and hauing prouided drawing Plaisters and Corasiues for the same dooth not commit them to his Patients that they should lay and applie them to their sores and wounds least they should withdraw and keepe backe the same plaisters from their sores and wounds and
the liquor So it is with the Creature when God doth appeare in perfect glory in regard wherof the Angels themselues are said to couer their faces least they should behold it how much more then hath man who is but dust and ashes and whose life is in his nosethrils iust cause of feare Esa 6.2 Psal 29.3 c. 2 As the Aduouterous Woman hath no more to doo with her husband nor with any thing of his for because of the transgression of this principall law and Couenant and the breach of the faith of Wedlocke Euen so they haue no more to do in the Couenant of God which by worship of other â—ods haue broken the chiefe point thereof and loosed the faith due vnto one God alone Deut. 5.6 7. 3 Like as if a man would take to his wife a common woman out of the open stewes and would first of all prescribe vnto her in this sort If thou wilt abide in this fellowship of our Wedlocke first it is necessarie that thou abstaine from all other men and keepe the faith and Couenant of marriage whole and vnbroken onely to mee else thou canst not bee my wife nor I thy husband if thou doo with mee take others and returne vnto thy accustomed filthinesse of whoredome So likewise the Lord dealt with the Israelites who were vsed before in Egypt to the worshipping of other Gods who charged them first to cast away the gods which their fathers serued in Mesopotamia and in Egypt and to serue and worship him onely otherwise he would be no God to them nor they a people for him Iosua 24.14 And so the case is now betwixt God and vs. Church 1 AS a Ship in the midest of the Sea goeth not toward the hauen vnlesse it haue a prosperous gale of winde Euen so the Church of God goeth not to his wished hauen to wit the Kingdome of heauen vnlesse it be blowne with the Spirit of God and directed and set on by the same spirit 2 As a woman that is barren yet after a long time childeth Euen so it is with the people of God though they be neuer so fewe and the Church neuer so small yet God will multiplie and increase it 3 As the flowers of water Betonye with the leaues and sprigs though they die often and yearely yet the roote is ay-lasting from which they come and to which they belong so though discipline and the outward bewtie of the Church change and often die yet the Church is lasting and of all continuance 4 As in the blew Lysimachus Cowe-wheate and winter Sauorie and likewise the Affodill the lower partes and braunches of them begin to flower So in many Churches and families the inferior persons begin to professe God first and shewe foorth themselues by an holy profession 5 As the hearbe Sophia groweth especially and best where as there hath bene in times hast any building now laide waste So many cannot grow well and waxe rich inough without the Church be laid waste many growe best where they haue pulled downe all but the Church groweth best where Poperie is vtterly defaced and pulled downe 6 As the flowers of Goates-beard and Sansprge do alwaies bend toward the Sunne So the Church bendeth alwaies to Christ 7 As by the description of the Facon and nature of the true Meum the common vsed is found counterfeit So by the description of the true Church the common reputed is found false 8 As the diseases of the body be of two sorts some cureable and some incureable which are to death So the Church though it be subiect to sundrie falles cannot erre in foundation to death for the errors of Gods children be cureable 9 As where the dead carkasse is thither resort the Eagles Euen so where are men that truly beleeue in Christ there is the Church 10 As false and counterfeit Coyners who would not haue men to know and discerne their money by the finenesse of Gold and Siluer and by the touchstone but by the waight by the sound by the stampe by the colour which they may easily falsifie Euen so our aduersaries the Papists would make vs beleeue that the true Church cannot be knowne by these two markes to wit the sincere preaching of the word and the administration of the Sacraments according to the institution of Christ but rather by certaine outward markes to wit by antiquitie multitude succession of places and persons by miracles and reuelations which markes in very deed are common both to the pure and sound Church and also to the impure and corrupt Church 11 Like as if one should tie or fasten to the body of a man some peece of flesh bone or sinew were it done neuer so cunningly yet that should not be counted or called any part or member of that body seeing it receiueth neither life nor motion from the soule thereof but doth wholly depend vpon the cunning and workemanship therof So we confesse that here vpon earth is a Church a fellowship and communion of Saincts that is to say the congregation of the faithfull not gathered together by the will of man humane reason or worldly inuension but thorow the holy Ghost not tied or limited to any one place but distributed according to Gods good will and pleasure to the which Church hypocrites and such like are ioyned and tyed but not vnited or participating like as members thereof Mat. 16.17 1. Cor. 12.3 12 As a heape of wheate though it haue chaffe in it is yet called wheate or as a tunne of Wine though it haue Lees in it is yet called wine or as a field wherein tares appeare with the wheate is a corne field Euen so the visible Church is the Church though it consisteth of good and bad and be mixed of the elect and reprobate yet are they called Gods Church for the elect sake and haue their denomination from the better not the bigger part Math. 25.32 3.12 13.47 2. Timo. 2.20 13 Like as a wife is a wife although shee obey not her husband as long as shee keepeth the faith shee plight in marriage and defileth not her selfe with an others bedde Euen so is it in the Church that although shee be manifoldly vndutifull towards her husband Christ Iesus eyther by Atheisme or by Idolatrie yet she remaineth still the wife of Christ 14 As a wife that hath broken her saith and promise made in Wedlocke is not forthwith out of the account of a wife vntill shee being conuicted thereof be for that cause diuorced from her husband Euen so the Church notwithstanding her spirituall adultries is not vnchurched nor ceaseth to be reputed a Church vntill such time as the Lord by taking away from her the ministerie of the word and the administration of the Sacraments hath as it were by bill of diuorse disauowed her by taking away from her all her Iewells and Ornaments wherewith hee bewtified her when first he contracted with her 15 Like as a Garden or Vine decayeth
with our much heate and drought except after the planting thereof it be by showers watered Euen so the Church with ouer much heate of afflictions withereth away except afterwardes it bee moystened by the water of the holy Ghost which is the sincere preaching of the Gospell 16 As there be three formes in one and the selfesame Schoole and be not all alike taught and yet make not sundrie schooles but containe sundrie schollers and learners in one selfesame schoole So likewise is the Church not made many neither by alteration of times neither by difference of places nor by chaunges of orders and dispensations 17 As there be in one Schoole diuers Vshers diuers teaching but yet all tending to one end to wit to attaine learning and so to come to the Vniuersitie Euen so the true Church of Christ before the Lawe and vnder the Lawe and since in the time of the Gospell haue beene diuers instructors as Prophets Apostles Pastors and teachers but yet all ayming at one marke and labouring to bring the people to the Kingdome of heauen 18 Like as it is not in the power of any man to dispense minister or distribute any parte of that nourishment which hee receiueth in at his mouth vnto any member which either is mortified and dead in his bodie or that is cut off from the same Euen so it is vndoubtedly to be beleeued that neither the death passion and bloud-shedding of our Sauior Christ nor his Sacraments nor any of the graces of the holy Ghost nor any good worke in the world doo or can any thing profit to remission and forgiuenesse of sinnes or saluation to any person which is out of the Catholique Church as long as he shall so stand and continue out of the same 19 Like as if a subiect knowing the Letters of his Prince and also his Seale should because that hee knoweth them wel and alloweth them to be his presume and take vpon him to counterfeit his Princes Letters or Seale he should be no true subiect but a Fellone and a Traytour Euen so if the Church because that shee knoweth the Scriptures of the olde and newe Testament to be the true and infallible word of her Lord and Sauiour and the Sacraments to be his Seales should presume or take vpon her to alter Gods word I meane the scriptures that be cōteined in the Canonical bookes of the old new Testament or to counterfeit the Sacraments that is to say to minister them otherwise then her Lord and maister hath instituted and appointed in his word she ought not to be called the true Church but the most trayterous harlot of Antichrist 20 As it is great folly for a man that hath a mote in his eye to growe into such a chafe or dislike with it that so he should bee vnthankfull for his eye Euen so it is much more follie for men to seperate themselues from our Church and wholely to condemne it by reason that there be some imperfections and wants in it which is a meanes to breede vnthankfulnesse by forgetting the manifold blessings which wee haue receiued and doo still enioy which is the readie way to prouoke God rather in his iustice to take away these good benefites that we enioy alreadie then in mercie to prouoke him to encrease them more 21 As the glory of God is shewed most herein that he defendeth his spouse and hath bewtified her with gifts frō aboue that she might be a pure and vndefiled spouse chaste and holy vnto himselfe Euen so this is our greatest glory of what state or condition so euer we be to be members of this Church by the Communion whereof wee are his members 22 As a man will not wittingly bestowe a Diamond vpon him that thinkes it to be but a peece of Glasse or a Pearle of him that esteemeth it to be but a graine of salte Euen so the Lord will not bestowe his blessings but vpon those that by his Spirit shall knowe and feele what they are for if they feele them not and know not what they are then they are not yet of Gods house or Church Heb. 3.6 23 As it is not inough to set or sowe a garden with good hearbes and seedes and then let it alone but there must be a Gardiner to ouersee it to dresse it and often to weede it Euen so it is not sufficient for a Church to haue the word planted and sowen in it but there must be diligent painfull Preachers Pastors continually to water and gouerne it or else it will growe barren and fruitlesse 24 Like as if the land be not often tilled but lie barren it will bring forth nothing but briars thistles and nettles Euen so if Churches be not continually laboured by Preaching and Catechising they will waxe secure and so bring forth nothing but ignorance Atheisme superstition idolatrie and all wickednesse of life 25 As the armie of heauen is innumerable and the sand of the sea vnmeasurable Euen so God will multiplie his Church Iere. 33.22 26 As the Bride pertaineth to none but to the Bridegroome So likewise the Church pertaineth to Christ alone Hose 2.19 2. Cor. 11.2 Iohn 3.29 27 As euerie true friend to the Bridegroome reioyceth to see the Bridegroomes voyce obeyed Euen so euery godly man is glad to see euery member of the Church to frame themselues to the obedience of the word of Christ 28 As a Giant is too strong for meane men of middle size and as his voyce and looke is fearefull to his enemies So likewise will God be to all such as rise vp against him and his Church Esa 42.13 29 As a waste grounde broken vp and rid of those things wherewith it was ouergrowne and the fruitfulnesse thereof hindered is by good husbandrie brought to flourish and to be fruitful euen so such is the state of the Church when after persecution it pleaseth God to send peace and prosperitie thereto Esay 33.1 2. 30 As men hedge their grounds round about to keepe them from being spoyled with cattell Euen so GOD dooth fence his Church and those which feare him round about that they may be defended against all euils 31 As the groundes are eaten wasted deuoured and rooted vp when the hedges and fences thereof are neglected and suffered to lie open Euen so it fareth with the Church and with them that professe the name of God when hee is prouoked with their sinnes in withdrawing his friendly defence and fatherly protection from them 32 As the Shipmaisters are such as haue cunning to guide the ship wherin both themselues and other men do saile So almightie God maketh choise of such to guide his Church as can gouern themselues and so many as are committed to their charge 33 As that bush which Moses saw was burning but not consumed Euen so the Church of God must be tried in the fire of affliction but not destroyed Exo. 3.2 34 As the Moone is sometimes eclipsed and sometimes in
hungrie to know and beleeue there is meate in the world except he knew the place and the man that had it for him that he might resort vnto him Or as it is in vaine for one to confesse his disease and sicknesse vnlesse he know some good and skilfull Phisition who might helpe him So likewise it shall profit vs nothing at all to know or confesse our sinnes if wee bee ignorant of the Mediator that should take them away Iohn 1.29 1. Timo. 2.5 Math. 11.28 Christ the soueraine salue for our soules 1 LIke as if the sicke person should seeke out such a Phisition as either could not or wold not cure him his labour also were vnprofitable and all one as if the needie man should go to one for an almes that were as needie as himselfe Euen so wee being sicke of our sinnes in our soules must be carefull that we go and run to such a cunning Phisition as we are sure both can and will for his abilitie and compassion cure and heale our infirmities and hath a salue for euerie sore and maladie Luk. 3â— 46 47. Act. 10.43 2 As it was in Egipt in the great dearth and famine of corne none could haue any foode of Pharao the King but by the hands of Ioseph whom he had made Ouerseâ—â— and Ruler of the land in his name for when they cried to him for bread he said Go ye to Ioseph and what he saith to yoâ— doo ye Gene. 41.55 So likewise it is now in the famine and dearth of our soules for spirituall foode wee can haue nothing to feede our hungrie soules from the King of Heauen but by the meanes of the true Ioseph which is Iesus Christ who is ordained of his Father to rule and gouerne all things in his name so that he sendeth vs to his sonne when wee aske any thing of him for in him hee is well pleased and for his sake onely and for no mans else doth he bestowe this benefite vpon vs. 1. Iohn 5.11.12 Iohn 8.24 Christ 1 LIke as our armes hands feete and the rest of our members are nourished not of and by themselues but of and by the meate that is conueyed into our mouth and head Euen so wee are nourished not of and by our selues but by the vertue that is powred in the head of Christ Iesus Heb. 2.11 Ast. 17.28 2 Like as the Sun with his light beneficially comforâ—eth all the world So Christ the Sonne of God reacheth his benefites vnto all men so that they will receiue them thankfully and not refuse them disobediently Psal 19 1.2 3 As the Sun is the well-spring of liuely power So Christ giueth life euerlasting to all beleeuers 4 As the Sun with his brightnes driueth away cloudes and foggie Mystes So Christ the sonne of God sitting at the right hand of his Father is the conquerer of Tyrants and Hereticks 5 As the Sun in winter when he is most farthest off from the Pole is most nearest the earth so the sonne of God is most neare vnto the godly ones in miserie and giueth â—hem helpe and saluation 6 As it is a most certain token of death to a sick man as Hypocrates saith if hee dreame that the visible Sunne is hidden obscured and darkned so likewise a most cerâ—aine death of the soule is nigh at hand if our Sonne Christ be darkned by abolishing or corrupting of the true doctrine 7 As the sunne giues light plentifully to the whole world and yet keepe the selfe same light within it selfe Euen so our Sauiour Christ God and man hath the perfect fulnesse of all goodnesse in him selfe and yet giues part to vs as he thinks good not loosing any peece of that he hath himselfe but lightning our darknesse with that light which he hath within himselfe 1. Cor. 1.30 8 As the fountaine from which all men doo draw water and from which the small creekes and armes doo runne and flowe is said to haue water of it selfe and yet commeth not as of it selfe but from the spring which dayly feedeth it and from the flowing streames and is sufficient for all men to drawe out off Euen so Iesus Christ hath life in himselfe to wit the fulnesse of life wherewith he liueth and quickneth his and yet hath hee it not as of himselfe as he witnesseth in an other place that hee liueth because of his father Iam. 5.26 Carnall profession LIke as all those that were borne of Abraham were not the children of Abraham So likewise all that professe the Gospell are not partakers of the Gospell 2 As it is not vsuall to curbe in the horse in his race but before hee beginne to runne Euen so those which bee by nature cholericke melancholike are by reasons and perswasions to be wonne and restrained before they begin to be angrie Contempt of Christ AS a strumpet loueth the tokens that her louer sendeth her better then her louer himselfe and in time of pouertie shee will vtterly forsake him So Christ is our louer and mans soule is shee whome he loueth hee hath giuen vs tokens as pledges of his loue to wit all kind of riches and good things whatsoeuer wee possesse in this this world now if for loue of keeping these things in time of persecution we forsake our louer wee be abominable strumpets vnworthie to be beloued of him Christ suffered in his soule for our saluation 1 AS the Holocaust or whole burnt offering the whole and euerie whit beeing chopt and cut into peeces was altogether put into the fire and burnt and so it was by a speciall name called the Whole burnt offering Euen so not the body onely but also the soule of Christ euen euerie whit of his humanitie was burnt and consumed in the fire of affliction as a perfect Holocaust and a whole burnt offering for our sinnes Leuit. 16.5 c. Esay 53.20 2. Cor. 5.21 Heb. 2.14 2 As wee haue sinned both in our bodies and soules So likewise Christ was made our propitiation who purposely and answerably did suffer both in body and soule 3 As an armie of souldiers doo altogether get the victorie and not any one of them asunder and yet for all that each one singly is profitable in fight for the attainment of victorie Euen so the sufferings of Christ as his death and bloudshed his hatred his shame and ignominie c. both of his body and of his soule all together doo sufficiently merite but each one in seuerall is profitable and helpeth thereunto Christes victorie ouer Sathan LIke as if two enemies fight together and the one let the other chuse his weapon himselfe and appointe the other what weapon hee is to vse if hee which is dealt so withall doo vanquish and ouercome the other the greater is his glorie which dooth so ouercome So likewise Christ and Sathan fighting Sathan did chuse to fight with him in the flesh the weakest of many weapons yet euen with that weapon did Christ ouercome him which got
Christ the greater glorie and gaue Sathan the greater shame Christ suffered and died as he was man AS the precious stone called the Carbuncle to see too is like an hotte burning cole of fire shining exceeding brightly the which feeleth no fire neither is it molten chaunged or mollified therewith If thou shalt take it and close it fast in a ring of lead and cast it into the fire thou shalt see the lead molten and consumed before thy face but the Carbuncle remaining sound and perfect without blemish as before for the fire worketh vpon the leade but vpon the Carbuncle it cannot worke Euen so Christ our Sauiour being in the hotte scorching fire of his torments suffered and died as hee was man but as hee was GOD hee neither suffered nor died the fire of his afflictions wrought then vpon his manhood but his diuinitie and godhead continued perfect and vtterly vntouched The Crosse maketh peace AS in a ciuell gouernment and common-wealth nothing is more occasion of war then ouermuch peace So in the Church and among Ministers of the Church as nothing is more pernicious then too much quietnesse so nothing more ceaseth priuate contentions oftentimes arising amongst them theÌ„ the publike Crosse of persecution The personall vnion of Christ. AS a certaine soule beeing ioyned to a certaine body maketh one certaine person as Peter Paul Iohn So the eternall word of the Father tooke vnto it that flesh of the virgine that is to say made the same so proper vnto it selfe that from hence commeth and proceedeth that person which is called Christ Christ the resurrection and life 1 LIke as in a perfect body when the head hath sense and motion the hand that is of the same body hath also sense motion conuenient for it So likewise Christ being the resurrection and the life as there is spirituall life in him so euery member of his shall feele in it selfe spiritual sense and motion whereby it is raised vp from sinne and liueth vnto God Ioh. 5.25 6.63 2 As the Burgesse of a Towne in the Parliament house beareth the person of the whole Towne and whatsoeuer he saith that the whole Towne saith and whatsoeuer is done to him is also done to al the towne So Christ vpon the Crosse stood in our place and bare our person and what he suffered wee suffered and when he died all the faithfull died in him and so likewise as hee is risen againe so are all the faithfull risen in him 3 As Christ by the merite of his death wipeth out our iniquities and by his bloud clenseth our consciences from all mortall sinne So in like manner by his resurrection from death he declareth himselfe to be righteous and in all respectes perfectly pure according to the law of God Rom 4.25 Psal 16.16 Christ hath prepared a place for vs in heauen LIke as if a man were assured that there were made for him a great purchase in Spaine or Turkie so as if he would but come thither hee might enioy it he would not forbeare to aduenture the daungers of the Sea and of his enemies also if need were that so hee might come to his owne Euen so seeing that Christ Iesus hath made a purchase for vs in heauen and there is nothing required of vs but that we will come and enioy it wee ought to refuse no paines or feare in the way but carefully to striue to get in Luk. 13.14 Christ our Intercessour LIke as he that would know whether the sunne shine in the firmament must not clime vp into the cloudes to looke but search for the beames thereof vpon the earth which when he sees he may conclude that the sun shines in the firmament Euen so if wee would know whether Christ in heauen make intercession for vs let vs ransacke our owne consciences and there make search whether we feele the spirit of Christ crying in vs Abba Father As for those that neuer feele this worke of Gods spirite in them their case is miserable whatsoeuer they be Rom. 8.26 Calamitie EVen as a cloud darkneth the ayre and couereth the sunne So Calamitie and miserie maketh cloudie the mind of man taking from him all his ioy it leaueth him bare and naked without comfort and full of sorrow 2 Like as lightnings do smite whatsoeuer they find in the earth except the Lawrel tree as Plinie affirmeth Euen so great Calamitie is able to take away and to ouerthrow whatsoeuer is in man or that hee hath saue onely firme and constant vertue for constant vertue is a goodly Lawrell tree euer flourishing and greene and will not be consumed burnt vp nor destroyed with any fire that breaketh out of the cloudes be it neuer so fierce nor with any violence of torments and troubles whatsoeuer Rude and wanton Children LIke as when any are stinged with the poyson-ful sting of Serpents foorthwith they labour for remedie against the same least the wound rot and put them to further annoyance Euen so such Children as bee infected and diseased with wanton Idlenesse being also destitute of good maners and learning must be sent to the schoole to be cured of their maister with the rodde of correction and vertuous education False Christians LIke as among a great sort which are striken with extreame sickenesse and diseases some doo alwayes scape as it pleaseth God So it is to be hoped that among an infinite number of false Christans God will touch some to bring them backe from the filthinesse and corruptions of the worlde and to leade them to the fearing of himselfe It is impossible to know who is a true Christian before he die LIke as in a ground sowed with diuers seedes no man can certainly knowe some seede from an other which shall bring forth fruite and which shall not yea though it haue alreadie put foorth yea and that more is though it be eared Euen so no one man can know an other man throughly to bee a Christian which is the greatest felicitie that is before the end of his race because no man is to bee counted happie before his deathes day by reason of many miseries and calamities which may befall him Christ the cause of our resurrection and life 1 AS the first Adam was the roote of all mankind and he conuyed sinne by sinne death to all that sprang of him Christ onely excepted So likewise Christ the second Adam which is the roote of all the elect conueyeth life both in body and soule to al that are vnited to him and by the vertue of his resurrection they shall rise againe after this life 2 Like as the power of the Godhead of Christ when â—he was dead in the graue raised his body the third day So also shall the same power of Christ his Godhead conuey it selfe vnto all the faithfull which euen in death remaine vnited vnto him and raise them vp at the last day Why God afflicteth his Children AS a godly and wise Surgeon purposing to cut
body he suffered in his soule the heauie wrath and indignation of his Father and the extreame tortures and torments of hell for a time no lesse then the the reprobates that be there alreadie and no lesse then all we by iust desert should haue suffered for euer if Christ had not done it for vs and yet fewe or none for all this will shead one teare giue one grone or sigh once from the bottome of his heart Christ his goodnesse considered there was neuer any creature dealt so vnkindly with him as man doth AS sometimes it falleth out that a Henne sitteth vpon Ducks egges and with her diligent sitting and the heate of her body she doth hatch and bring them forth and when they be able to follow her she clucks them and after her maner as though they were her naturall Chickens she doth call them about her but they being not of her but the Ducks kinde though by her they haue beene hatched and of her haue receiued life and though shee hath a continuall care to bring them vp and to defend them from such enemies as seeke to deuoure them yet neuerthelesse they will follow and seeke after that wherevnto by nature they are inclined and giuen when shee is scraping and scratching in the earth to finde them foode they will be in the water mire or foule puddle after their kinde she may cluck and walke alone they will not keepe her companie vnlesse perhaps in some daunger when the Kite is readie to catch them for some succour they will flie to her howbeit at the length when she perceiueth them to be vnnatural and vnkinde to her she doth forsake them and giue them ouer Euen so our sweete Sauiour Christ Iesus hauing taken great pains for vs and hauing humbled himselfe euen in the lowest degree of all humilitie that can be named as in comming downe out of his fathers bosome being most perfect most holy and omnipotent God being euery way equall and in nothing interiour to his Father to take our weake fraile and feeble nature vpon him and sinne excepted to haue a perfect feeling of all our miseries infirmities as wearisomnes of body hunger and thirst and such others and besides the induring of these many yeres together hauing suffered a most cruell death and euen at his death vpon the Crosse hauing tasted and taken a full cup of his Fathers furie and indignation which was indeed filled and prepared for vs as a iust reward for our sinnes and should haue beene our owne cup and our owne portion for euer and euer had he not euen then taken and supt it vp to cleare and to free vs from it Againe after all these things hauing still continued his humilitie in suffering death to keepe his bodie three dayes in the graue and euen as it were to treade and trample vpon him and then manger death hell diuell and Iewes hauing risen againe and being ascended and gone vp to his Father where now vntill his comming againe to iudge the quicke and the dead he sitteth at the right hand of maiestie and power He now speaketh and calleth vnto vs by his Prophets Apostles and Ministers and willeth vs to remember what case and estate we were â—n before he died and suffered all these things for vs and he would haue vs to know to be sure and neuer to forget that if he had not suffered death here vpon earth as hee did we should neuer haue found any way or entrance into heauen the celestiall ioyes and pleasures of the Lords saints saluation and eternall life should neuer haue beâ—onged vnto vs wee should haue had no more to do with them then they that liue without faith and die infidels The horrors of hell and the stinking lakes of vnspeakable shame confusion torments endlesse death and damnation should haue beene our inheritance lot and perpetuall portion Christ therfore doth daily put vs in mind that we be not our owne but his and that we bee the greatest and dearest purchase that euer was made in heauen or in earth and that the like price and cost was neuer bestowed vpon any creatures as vpon vs. When the Angels which were in heauen in the presence of their creator did once offend they were hurled out and cast into hell Christ would not bestow vpon them one pennie of all that great price and rich raunsome which he paied for vs he would not then become man to shed one drop of bloud for them but for our sakes hee spared not one drop but shed all The Hen that himselfe speaketh of was neuer so diligent and carefull to gather her chickings vnder her wings as he hath euer beene most ready to shroude and to protect vs against all the enemies of our soules and bodies Many mothers shal sooner forget the children of their owne wombe and vtterly forsake them before Christ will forsake vs yea he will neuer forget nor forsake vs vnlesse we first forget and forsake him Now therefore wee being his so dearely bought and so truely paid for hee calleth vpon vs euery day he clocketh vs and looketh for vs that we should follow him and treade in such steps as he hath appointed that we should not range at randome but keepe our selues within the hearing of his voice and our liues within the limits of obedience vnto the same these things he looketh for at our hands But we deale with this most kind most louing and most mercifull redeemer and Sauiour of our soules bodies euen so as the vnnatural vnkind Ducks deale with the Hen of whom they haue receiued life they regard not her clucking neither we Christs calling when shee is seeking and prouiding for them on the faire drie and wholesome earth they will bee in some foule water filthie mire or stinking puddle And when the Lord Iesus calleth vs to integritie of life to doo the thing that is iust and right in his owne eye and to speake the truth according to the knowledge of our hearts then will wee with greedinesse pollute our soules and bodies with al wickednes and things that be abominable then will we oppresse our brethren not caring who sinke if our selues swimme then will we not sticke to speake lies euen to Gods owne face And when the Lord calleth and sendeth vs to seeke heauenly things wee presently returne to the foule puds of the world carnal delights and vaine yea vile pleasures So that wee euer take the contrarie way to that which Christ commaundeth Christ calleth for our harts to haue them in truth and sinceritie with all diligence to attend vpon his pleasure and to waite on his will he would haue vs not in part but wholly to giue them vnto him and without the heart hee will receiue and take in good part at our hands and lips nothing But wee on the other side giue nothing lesse to God then our hearts There is nothing that may and cannot commaund our hearts haue them at pleasure sooner
Curtesie 1 AS the tree is knowne by his fruite the gold by the touch and the bell by the sound so is a mans birth by his beneuolence his honour by his humilitie and his calling by his Curtesie 2 As the peg straineth the Lute strings so Curtesie stretcheth the heart strings 3 As it belongeth to the Sunne to lighten the earth with his beames so it pertaineth to the vertue of a Prince to haue compassion and be Curteous to the miserable Courts of Princes AS it was a saying sometime of Asia that it was no praise neuer to haue seene it but to haue liued soberly and temperatly in Asia was praise worthie Euen so it were no great matter neuer to haue seene the Courts of Princes but to haue liued Christianly in those Courts were a speciall worke of God in his children Spirituall Doctrine of our soules 1 AS God workes in his creatures that after winter comes Summer and after a storme comes faire weather So in the spirituall Doctrine of our soules first hee teacheth repentance preacheth the Lawe threatneth vengeance for sinne castes downe man in his owne sight and lets him looke euen into hel with feare of conscience for his disobedience but afterwards he comforts him rayseth him vp and heales him Math. 9.13 Desires of the flesh how they are quenched LIke as the Dropsie desires and longeth after drinke and drinke greatly increases it Euen so euill Desires and corrupt affections if they bee followed doo much increase but being refrained they decrease The Deceites of the world are daungerous 1 AS they which walke in a myst do not see it so well as they which stand vpon an hill from it Euen so it fareth in discerning the Deceites and dissimulations of the world whose propertie is to blind them that come to it to the end they may not see their owne estate Euen as a Rauen first of all striketh out the poore sheepes eyes and so bringeth to passe that shee may not see the way to escape from his tyrannie 2 Like as a mans naked body tossed and tumbled among many thornes cannot but be much rent and torne and made bloudy with the prickes thereof So a worldly mans soule beaten with the cares and cogitations of this life cannot but be vexed with restles pricking of the same and wounded also with many temptations of sin which follow vpon it Discord AS Musicke if the harmonie of the strings be not consonantly fitted the sound is not sweete nor acceptable to any good and tunable eare Euen so if Christians doo disagree amongst themselues they are vnacceptable to God Diseases of the mind AS the wounds of the body with often rubbing and chafing are made sometimes incurable Euen so the Diseases of the mind if they be exasperated and stirred vp will more and more rebell and draw the partie in whom they are to sinne more greedily then euer he did before Death of the body not to be feared 1 LIke as a traueller who hauing passed many daungers reioyceth greatly whē he approacheth neare vnto his own contrie or home Or as a man who willingly departeth out of a ruinous house ready to fall vppon his head Euen so a godly Christian can take no pleasure in this transitorie world seeing each day he draweth nearer to an end then other where the pleasures that he receiueth are nothing to the paines hee suffereth and his delights doo cost him so deare Phil. 1.23 2 As men locke vp their best apparell in a chest meaning to weare them againe Euen so are the Dead bodies of the faithfull buried in sure and certaine hope of rising againe to life euerlasting And therefore none ought to feare Death or be vnwilling to die 3 As money borrowed is to bee paide againe with thankes and good will So the life that wee haue borrowed of God is to bee yeelded vp with cheerfull countenance and thankes Dunsticall writers AS the sauour of the beast Panther seemeth sweete to none other then vnto bruite beastes So is Scotus and other Dunsticall writers to sharpe quicke and good wits most foolish Whereas vnto doltes and dawes they are as deare as any darling Decree or purpose of God AS no man is able neither King Prince nor Potentate to stay stoppe or hinder the course of the Sunne Moone or Starres So likewise can no man stay let or hinder the Decree purpose determination or coūsell of God Pro. 21.30 Decrease of renued holinesse AS when a theefe goeth about to spoyle any man of his goods if hee offer to breake in at the broadside of his house he is straightway espied and receiueth the repulse but if he vndermine the house he may bee within it and on the dweller before he bee aware So when as Sathan commeth as it were bluntly to a Christian and doth at the first dash moue him to forsake and renounce God by infidelitie his malicious purpose is soone espied and for the most part so carefully resisted that hee hath not any hope euer to preuaile by that meanes and to robbe the regenerate man of his renewed holinesse So that he is driuen to take another way by the end for he will neuer giue ouer and to goe more closely to worke Day of Iudgement terrible to the wicked 1 AS Cornelius being a iust man and feared God was yet affraid when hee saw the Angell Euen so much more shall the wicked be astonied and confounded at the presence of God at the Day of Iudgement Act. 10.2.3.4 2. Thes 1.9.10 2 Like as when the boughes of the Fig tree bee tender and that it beginneth to bring forth leaues it is a certaine token that Summer is neare Euen so treasons pestilence warres famine Earthquakes c. are the Prefaces or Prologues to sorrowes and shew that the Day of Iudgement is neare euen at the doores Math. 24.32 Math. 13.28 Death of Christ. 1 AS the hearbe Panax or Panace hath in it a remedie against all diseases So is the Death of Christ against all sinne sufficient and effectuall 2 Like as the storme and tempest of the Sea was pacified and ceased as soone as Ionas was cast into it Euen so by the Death burial and resurrection of Christ the wrath of God was truely and indeed pacified that calmenesse might be giuen vnto the troubled consciences of sinners and a most sure attonement and peace made betwixt God and vs. Iona. 7.2 c. 3 Like as a Corrasiue which being applied to the part affected eateth out the venime and corruption Euen so the Death of Christ by faith applied frettethout consumeth the concupiscence and the corruption of the whole man Displeasure foreseene AS a man doth receiue more at wil and with lesse daunger the stroke which hee foreseeth So a Displeasure foreseene and prouided for and before perceiued doth lesse annoy him Death 1 AS no man may maruaile at a thing burnt that might be burned or at a thing molten that was to be melted So is it not to
King and saith Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world Then come the Angels who carry them like Lazarus into Abrahams bosome to reioyce for euer with them and with the other holy Fathers Math. 25.21 34. 10 Like as some pleasant companions and merily disposed will often say that God fauoureth a man when he taketh away his wife by Death especially if she be euil and of bad condition So likewise if this be true we may safely say that God bestoweth a maruellous grace vpon vs and doth vs the greatest pleasure that may be when as by Death he deliuereth vs froÌ„ our flesh which is the most treacherous and disloyal wife that can be and which doth so torment the poore mâ—nd with whom she is married that she vexeth disquieteth her silly husband with the greatest and most intollerable griefe that may be 11 As we see in the seasons of the year that from the beginning to the end they are appointed of God that in such sort that all the meÌ„ in the world thogh they shuld imploy all their whole force counsels and endeuours to the contrarie were not able to alter them Euen so likewise may we be assured that our liues are so limited and bounded by God that neither king nor Prince power nor Potentate can any manner of wayes shorten or prolong them Yea and that which may wonderfully comfort vs so often as we remember it that God doth oftentimes prolong our dayes by the meanes of wicked tyrants which would cut them off by Death As Moses and Daniel were Exod. 2.2.3 c. Dan. 3. toto 6.5 c. 12 As the brazen Serpent was so far from hurting the Israelites that contrariwise it healed them So after the same sort Death is now so farre from hurting any godly Christian that on the other side that if affliction as a firie Serpent sting vs or if any thing else hurt vs presently it is helped and redressed by Death 13 Euen as a Bee stinging a dead body takes no hurt but by stinging aliue body many times looseth both sting and life together So likewise Death so long as it stung mortall men which were dead in sinne was neuer a whit the worse but when it stung Christ once who is life it self by and by it lost both sting and strength 14 As they which wil needs play the hob-goblings or the night-walking spirits as wee call them all the while they speake vnder a hollow vault or leape foorth with an vgly vizard vpon their faces they are so terrible that hee which thinkes himselfe no small man may perhaps bee afrighted with them But if some lusty fellow chaunce to step into one of these and cudgel him well fauoredly and pull the vizard from his face then euery boy laughes him to scorne So it is with Death who was a terrible bulbegger and euery man afraid of him a great while but Christ dying buckled with this bulbegger and coniured him as we may say out of his hollow vault wheÌ„ as the dead comming out of the graues were seene in Ierusalem and puld the vizard from his face when as hee himselfe rising left the linnen cloathes which were the vizard of Death behinde him Math. 27.52 53. Ioh. 20.6 15 As that Asse called Cumanus asinus ietting vp down in a Lyons skin did for a time terrifie his maister but afterwards being descried did benefit him very much So in like manner Death stands now like a silly Asse hauing his Lyons skin puld ouer his eares and is so farre from terrifying any that it benefits all true Christians because by it they rest from their labours and if they be oppressed with troubles or cares when they come to Death they are discharged Death as an Asse doth beare these burdeÌ„s for theÌ„ 16 As he that felleth a tree vpon which the Sunne shineth may well cut the tree but cannot hurt the Sunne Or as he that powreth water vpon yron which is red hot may well quench the heate but he cannot hurt the yron Euen so Christ the Sonne of righteousnesse did driue away the shaddow of Death and as glowing yron was too hot and too hard a morsell for Death to digest 17 Like as all the while that Adam did eate any other fruite which God gaue him leaue to eate he was nourished by it but when he had tasted of the forbidden tree he perished So Death had free leaue to deuour any other man Christ onely excepted but when it went about to destroy Christ then it was destroyed it selfe 18 Euen as those barbarous people called Cannibals which feede only vpon raw flesh especially of men if they happen to eate a peece of rosted meate commonly they surfet of it die So likewise the right Canniball the only deuourer of al mankind Death I meane tasting of Christs flesh finding it not to be raw such as it was vsed to eate but wholesome and heauenly meate indeede presently tooke a surfet of it and within three dayes died 19 Euen as when Iudas had receiued a sop at Christes hand a non after his bowels gushed out So likwise Death being so sawcie as to snatch a soppe as it were of Christs flesh and a little bit of his body was by and by like Iudas choked and strangled with it faine to yeeld it vp againe when Christ on Easter day reuiued 20 As a fire goeth out when al the fuel is spent but burneth as long as that lasteth So Death died when sin ceaseth but where sinne aboundeth there Death rageth 21 As the little worme that groweth out of the tree gnaweth and consumeth the tree of whom it hath his beginning So Death groweth and waxeth out of sinne and sinne with the body it consumeth 22 Like as if one that is about to shoote a Gun bee vnsteadie at the letting of it goe he misseth altogether and al that he prepared for it afore is in vaine Euen so at the end of this life are the diuels most busie to turne vs from the right marke that our former trauaile and labour may be lost for as much as they know that there remaineth but a very small time of life So that if the soule escape theÌ„ now they shall afterward goe without it for euer 23 Euen as mightie enemies doo besiege lay assault to a Citie So the diuels compasse the soule of man at the houre of Death with violence subtiltie to take possessâ—on of the poore soule to apprehend it and bring it to hell 24 Like as if an old siluer goblet bee melted and new fashioned after a beautifull manner then is it better then afore and neither spylt nor destroyed Euen so haue wee no iust cause to complaine of Death whereby the body being deliuered from all filthinesse shall in his due time be perfectly renued 25 As the Egge-shell though it bee goodly and faire fashioned must bee opened and broken
that the young chicken may slip out of it Euen so none otherwise doth Death dissolue and breake vp our body but to the intent that we may attaine vnto the life of heauen 26 As the mothers wombe carrieth the child seuen or nine moneths and prepareth it not for it selfe but for the world wherein wee are borne Euen so this present time ouer all vpon earth serueth not to this end that wee must euer be here but that we should bee brought foorth and borne out of the body of this world by Death into another and euerlasting life Ioh. 16.21 27 Like as a childe out of the small habitation of his mothers wombe with daunger and anguish is borne into this wide world Euen so goeth a man thorow the narrow gate of Death with distresse and trouble out of the earth into the heauenly life For to die is not to perish but to be first of all borne aright 28 As the brazen Serpent which hauing the forme and proportion of a Serpent was yet without byting without mouing without poysoning Euen so though Death be not vtterly taken away yet thorow the grace of God it is so weakned and made voide that the onely bare proportion remaineth 29 Euen as when the maister of the Shippe perceiueth that he is not wide from the hauen place where he must land and discharge he sayleth on forth the more chearfully and gladly So likewise the nearer we draw vnto Death where we must land the more stoutly ought wee to fight and withstand our ghostly enemies 30 Like as he that goeth a far iourney hath vncertaine lodging trauaile and labour desireth to return home to his owne country to his father and mother wife children and friends among whom he is surest and at most quiet by meanes wherof he forceth the lesse for any rough carefull path or way homeward Euen so all we are straungers and pilgrimes vpon earth Our home is Paradise in heauen our heauenly Father is God the earthly father of all men is Adam our spirituall Fathers are the Patriarkes Prophets and Apostles which altogether waite and long for vs. Psal 39.5 6. 1. Pet. 2.11 2. Cor. 5.1.2 Phil. 3 2â— Heb. 13.14 31 Like as when a man liue in a darke miserable prison with this condition that he should not come forth till the walles of the Tower were fallen downe vndoubtedly he would be right glad to see the walles begin to fall Euen so our soule is kept in within the bodie vpon earth as in captiuitie and bonds now assoone as the bodie is at a point that it must needs fall we ought not to be sory therefore for by this approacheth our deliuerance when we out of the prison of miserie shal be brought before the most amiable countenance of God into the ioyfull freedome of heauen Psal 142.7 32 Like as it is no grief for a man to go sleep nor when he seeth his parents and friendes lay them downe to rest for he knoweth that such as are a sleepe do soone awake and rise againe So when we or our friends depart away by Death we ought to erect and comfort ourselues with the resurrection 33 As a good Housholder maketh prouision for himselfe and his familie and buyeth afore-hand fewell victualls and such things as he hath need of for a moneth or for a whole yeare c. according as hee is able Euen so much more ought a ChristiaÌ„ to prouide before his Death that which concerneth not onely one moneth or one yeare but an eternitie that hath no ende 34 Like as faithfull seruants waite for their maister So in like manner wee ought to looke for the comming of Christ when hee shall call vs out of this wretched world by Death Luk. 12.36 37 38 39 40. Math. 24.42 c. The time of our Death vnknowne LIke as Christ wold haue his last coÌ„ming to be hidden from men So also hee would haue the time of their Death for the very same cause to be vnknown vnto them vnlesse that he openeth the same vnto some either by particular reuelation or by probable coniectures Mat. 24.36 How to Draw neare vnto God LIke as hee is said to depart from God which doth abandon and giue himselfe to the lustes of the world by which he Draweth neare vnto the diuell So likewise he which departeth from these is said to Draw neare vnto God and so cleaueth vnto him by faith and true obedience Iam. 4.8 No Diuinitie except it be against God is prescribed to the Minister AS there is no Lawe by the which a Preacher for his doctrine may be punished if he speake not against the Prince So there is no Diuinitie by the which a Preacher is particularly prescribed or generally ordered if he speak not against God the mightie prince of peace Desires of heauen AS they that are straungers in a forraine countrie and haue parents and great wealth in their natiue soyle being hardly entreated where they soiourne and vppon the point to returne home into their countrie are vndoubtedly very glad thereof euen already they seeme to see their houses lands and possessions and in their conceites doo talke with their parents and feele a feruent Desire to be soone there Euen so we if wee remember that we haue treasures of eternall riches an vndefiled inheritance immortall incorruptible which is reserued for vs a heauenly Father that loueth vs in his welbeloued sonne our elder brother Iesus Christ in glory the Angels and holy Spirits inioy and that we their felow Burgesses haue our portion in al these goods and are euen vpon the point to be really in heauen with them we ought then to be rauished with a feruent desire to be lifted vp thither Phil. 1.23 Rom. 7.24 Daunces AS Apothecaries do couer their bitter Pilles with some sweete substance whereby to make them goe downe the easier So the Diuel vnder the sport and pleasure of Daunces maketh men to swallow lustfull desires and albeit they proceed to no greater iniquitie yet is this a mortall wounde to the soule considering that we knowe that such lusts are accursed in the sight of God Exod. 32.6 18.19 1. Cor. 10.7 1. Pet. 4.3.4 5.8 Rom. 12.2 2. Tim. 2.22 Iudg. 21.21 Ephe. 5.3 4 16.18 The Dutie of Parishioners to their Ministers 1 AS they that sit at a Table do eate chewe and digest their foode So they that be Parishioners and heare the word of God ought to listen vnto it meditate vpon it and print it in their hearts that so they may receiue the nourishment signified by the word and dutie to feede commended to the shepheards of Christs flock 1. Thes 5.12 Phil. 2.29 2. Cor. 7.15 Hebr. 13.17 2 As in meate we are not so much to seek licorousnesse as health So must it be in the preaching of the word for Ecclesiasticall assemblies be not lâ—ke to common Playes whereto men resort for pleasure but in Sermons we are to looke for that which is health
together Euen so Faith grounded vppon Christes passion Faith giueth the sappe of loue loue blossometh foorth in good workes And therefore in Faith we must be constant in loue feruent in workes diligent and in doctrine we must keepe order we may not let the effect presume before the cause nor the daughter before the mother 3 As workes without Faith make but a Pharisaicall hypocrite Euen so Faith without workes maketh but a carnall Gospeller 4 Like as the flame of fire burneth the wood without helpe of the light and yet the flame cannot bee without the light Euen so is it assuredly true that Faith alone consumeth and burneth away sinne without the helpe of works yet that the same Faith cannot be without good workes And therefore if wee see a flame that giueth no light we know by and by that it is but vaine and painted Euen so when we see not some light of good workes in a man it is a token that he hath not the true inspired Faith which God giueth to his chosen to iustifie and glorifie them with all So that most certaine it is that the loue of God and a mans neighbour doo of necessitie goe ioyntly together with Faith 5 Like as with the rysing of the Sunne there goeth ioyntly of necessitie the spreading foorth of his beames and his light Euen so of necessitie loue and good workes follow Faith in those that are iustified in so much as hee that loueth not and liueth well abideth in death 6 Like as that body wherein there remaineth no feeling or moouing liueth not And yet it followeth not thereupon that feeling and moouing are the cause of life but life is the cause of moouing Euen so the efficient cause of our iustification is God for the obedience passion and death of Christ onely And Faith is the instrument wherby we take hold of Christ our righteousnesse So then the loue of God and a mans neighbour must of necessitie followe Faith in him that is iustified Like as moouing and feeling do of necessitie follow life But loue and good workes cannot proceede but of Faith like as there can grow no good fruites but of a good tree 7 As wee commonly say that white haires make an olde man and yet our meaning onely is that they declare him to bee an old man Euen so when we say that woorkes doo iustifie it is ment that workes do but declare whom is iustified Iam. 2.18 8 Like as in the fire the light and the heate are ioyned together for mans vse yet the heate onely warmeth So likewise Faith and workes goe together in mans life and conuersation But yet it is Faith alone without workes that saueth 9 As the hand hath a propertie to reach out it selfe to lay hold of any thing and to receiue a gift But the hand hath no propertie to cut a peece of wood of it selfe without a sawe or knife or some such like instrument and yet by the helpe of them it can either diuide or cut Euen so it is the nature of Faith to goe out of it selfe and to receiue Christ into the heart As for the duties of the first and second Table Faith cannot of himselfe bring them foorth no more then the hand can diuide or cut Yet ioyne loue to Faith and then can it practise duties commaunded concerning God and man 10 As in regard of substance although the eye bee neuer alone yet in regarde of seeing it is alone Euen so though Faith subsist not without hope and loue and other graces of God yet in act of iustification it is alone without them all 11 Like as when any one of the Israelites were stung to death by fierie Serpents his cure was not by any Physicke or Surgerie but onely by casting of his eye vp to the brazen Serpent which Moses had receiued by Gods commaundement Euen so in the cure of our soules when we are stung to death by sinne there is nothing required within vs for our recouerie but onely that we cast vp and fixe the eye of our Faith on Christ and his righteousnesse Iohn 3.14.15 Forgiuenesse of sinnes onely from God 1 LIke as the Prince onely hath power to Forgiue and pardon fellonie or treason in his subiects Euen so God onely hath power to Forgiue sinne Mar. 2.7 c. 2 As that man is a Traytor who being a subiect himselfe will take vpon him to pardon treason or fellonie in another subiect Euen so is he a Traytor to God that will take vpon him to pardon that sin that is committed against God 3 Like as no man can forgiue debts but the Creditor to whom the debt is due So no man can forgiue sinnes against whom there is no sin committed but he onely that is hurt and offended by the sin and that is God either immediatly or by meanes Esay 43.25 4 Like as if one doo forgiue an other mans debts the debtor is abused if he do belieue that he is discharged of the bond of his debt and the Creditor hath wrong done him without whose knowledge and will the debts belonging vnto him are forgiuen and his debtor discharged which forgiuenesse he doth make void immediatly and doth neuerthelesse claime the debt vpon his debtor Euen so likewise if any man doo forgiue sinnes which be not done against himselfe he deceiueth him whom he forgiueth and sinneth against him also to whom the offence was done which hath the power only to forgiue or withhold the offences done vnto him and so he doth both not discharge the party that is guiltie and doth offend him also into whose right he doth vnaduisedly intrude 5 As men do not giue almes at any time to a stout begger who although he haue need yet will not confesse it and craue almes gently acknowledging his pouertie Euē so no more will the Lord giue vnto vs any spirituall almes to wit Forgiuenesse of sinnes vnlesse we shall humble our selues before him with true feeling of our pouertie and miserie Math. 9.13 11.28 False Doctrine 1 AS the herbe Blattaria wheresoeuer it bee strewed or laide the Mothes and Bats incontinently find it out and come vnto it So corrupt Doctrine wheresoeuer it be dispersed by and by such people as are corrupt wil flocke vnto it 2 As a dramme of the roote of Solanum somniferum causeth Idle imaginations two drams causeth madnesse and fower drams killeth one So a litle False Doctrine maketh an idle head Feeling of Faith and other good graces which we are indued with is not alwaies alike and the same in vs. 1 LIke as we are not alwaies alike disposed at one time as at an other So we haue not alwaies alike desire to see or to heare the word of God or to read it or to confer with our brethren which are more aduaunced in the knowledge and zeale of the true and right maner of worshipping of God then we are And likewise the spirite of God doth not touch and stirre vs vp alwaies
world and are come to heauen God the author of all callings AS the Generall in the field appointeth euerie particular man his particular standing and office in which he must liue and die Euen so it is God that appointeth euerie man his particular place and standing and function wherein hee must continue to the ende of his life vnlesse God call him to some other God forsaketh his children sometimes and leaueth them to themselues 1 AS a mother sets downe her young childe and hides herselfe suffering it to crie and breake the face not because shee hates it but that shee may teach it to depend vpon her and loue her Euen so God giueth grace to his children and yet againe sometime hee doth in part withdrawe it from them and then they faile in their duties sundrie waies and this he doth to make them ashamed of themselues and to cause them to put all their confidence out of themselues in the merites of Christ 2 Like as the Corne fielde that is plowed and sowne with good Corne but yet for a time it neither giues rooting beneath nor so much as a shewe of any blade appeares aboue Euen so God grauntes his seruaunts the holy meane of saluation namely preaching prayer Sacraments and yet holds backe the efficacie of his spirit for a time Can. 2.4 5. 3 Like as the prisoner who hath escaped the hand of his Gayler hath an affection to runne a thousand myles euerie hower But hauing happily his Boltes on his legges he cannot for his life but goe very softly galling and chafing his fleshe and so with much griefe falleth againe into the hands of his keeper Euen so God giueth his children a strong affection to obey his will but hee lettes them faile in the obedience it selfe Rom. 7.22 23 24. 4 As the trees in the winter season that are beaten with wind and weather bearing neither leafe nor fruite but looke as though they were rotten and dead because the sap doth not spread it selfe but lies hid in the roote Euen so the manner of Gods forsaking his elect is when hee hides his graces for a time not by taking them quite away but by remoouing all sense and feeling of them Psal 77.7 8 9. The Godhead of Christ. 1 LIke as when a man sleepeth the soule is not seuered from the body but lieth as it were dead and exerciseth not it selfe Euen so the Godhead of Christ lay still and did not manifest his power in his manhood but did as it were lie a sleepe for a time that the manhood might suffer and thus the manhood seemed to bee forsaken Math. 27.46 2 Euen as the Altar in the olde Lawe did sanctifie the sacrifice that was offered vpon it and made the same propitiatorie So also the Godhead of Christ the Altar whereon hee offered his humanitie sanctified the same and made it propitiatorie and meritorious for all mankinde 3 Like as in Christ incarnate there be seuerall things and not seuerall persons So in the Godhead there be seuerall persons but not seuerall thinges Philip. 2 6 7. Hebr. 1.3 4 As Honie and Oyle being mixed together cannot be called either Honie or Oyle because when things are mingled together they cannot retaine a name of one of the simples Euen so the Godhead of Christ cannot be chaunged into his manhood or yet mingled with his manhood Because the properties of the Godhead cannot agree with the properties of the manhood nor the properties of the manhood with the properties of the Godhead For as the Godhead cannot thirst no more can the body be in many places at once God the refuge of the comfortlesse 1 AS the Rockes that are hard to be clambred vnto are good refuges for the afflicted to flie vnto from the face of their pursuers So God is the safetie of all such as in distresse doo flie to him for succour Psal 18.2 2 Euen as the Birdes and foules of the ayre that they may escape the nets and snares of the fowlers are wont to flie vp on high So we to auoyd the infinite snares of innumerable temptations must flie to God and lift vp our selues from the corruptions lying vanities and deceitfull slights of the world God vseth the ministerie of all AS in a great house there bee many vessels of sundrie sortes to diuers vses not onely of Gold and Siluer but also of wood and earth some for honour some for dishonour So likewise in the outward societie of the Church there bee men of all sortes appointed for diuers ends as apt and meete vessels for the Lord and some otherwise c. 2. Tim. 2.20 21. God no partiall Iudge AS drie wood is apt to burne greene wood though not so quickly will bee consumed with fire Euen so both strong and weake high and low rich and poore one and an other goe to wracke when God punisheth impietie and wickednesse Ezech. 20.47 A Godly man is a mightie man though he be neuer so poore LIke as precious stones though they bee cast into the mire yet they loose not their bewtie nature and propertie So likewise men indued with honestie replenished with goodly vertues and well acquainted with the true worshipping of the most high and gracious GOD although they be silent as men in their graues and are had in contempt of the world yet haue they not lost their dignitie and the true honour proper to Christians which consisteth not in the wealth and renowne of this world but in holinesse in righteousnesse and in the faithfull imitation of Christ God the life of the soule AS the Soule is the life of the body Euen so God is the life of the Soule and his spirit is the soule of our soules and the want of fellowship with him brings nothing but the endlesse and vnspeakable horrors and pangs of death The holy Ghost God AS Christ is called the word of God not a word of Letters or Syllables but a substanciall word that is beeing for euer of the same substance with the Father Euen so the holy Ghost is called the vertue of the most highest not because hee is a created qualitie but because he is the substanciall vertue of the Father and the sonne and therefore God equall with them both Guiltie before God AS in the malladies and diseases of the body that disease is most dangerous that hath possessed and seazed vpon the body and yet the bodie feeleth it not So likewise in all Gods iudgements to stand Guiltie before God is most daungerous because a man standeth Guiltie befor God many yeares and yet neuer feeleth it The Graces of the holy Ghost cannot finally be abolished 1 AS coales vnder ashes and as Sappe in the roote of the tree in the winter season are hid and couered and appeare not for a time at all in the braunches Euen so the common gifts and Graces of the holy Ghost may bee lost and extinguished but the giftes proper to the Elect cannot they may indeed be diminished
cattes and dogges which haue bene brought vp any long while in their houses Euen so much more they ought to loue and fauour their seruants that haue done them long and faithfull seruice 3 As it is vnpossible that he that hath no skil in Musick can make an other man a Musitian Or as it is hard for a Scholler to learne that thing well that his Maister teacheth ill Euen so it is vnpossible that a Maister that is naturally negligent should make his seruant diligent Marriage euer esteemed for encrease of the Common-wealth AS he is counted no good Gardiner that being content with things present dooth diligently proine his old trees and hath no regard either to impe or graffe yong fettes because the selfe-same Orcharde though it be neuer so well trimmed must needes decaye in time and all the Trees dye within fewe yeares Euen so he is not to be accounted halfe a diligent Citizen that being content with the present multitude of Citizens hath no regard to encrease the number by lawfull Matrimony Mercie LIke as he that is without compassion in beholding an other mans wounds shall haue no bodie to pitie him if at any time he be hurt himselfe Euen so he that with pitie doth raise vp his neighbour being fallen shall haue many to relieue and comfort him if he himselfe fall into any calamitie Iam. 2.13 Mat. 5.7 Rom. 12.8 Prou. 3.3 4. 14.22 31. 16.6 19.17 The Miserie of worldlings 1 LIke as we see the Mules of Princes go all the day long loaden with treasure and couered with faire cloathes but at night shaken off into a sorrie stable much brused and gauled with the carriage of those treasures Euen so rich men that passe through this world loaden with gold and siluer and do gaull greatly their soules in carriage thereof are dispoyled of their burthen at the day of death and are turned off with their wounded consciences to the loathsome stable of hell and damnation 2 As we be iustly moued to pitie by beholding the momentany miseries of men and the distressed state of their bodies being consumed with sores and sicknesse and euen at deaths doore Euen so much more ought we to be grieued at the most fearfull state of worldlings for the eternall miserie of their soules not dying but being alreadie cleane dead in sinne and yet liuing in that state which leadeth to vnspeakable torment and the hotte burning furnace of the wrath of God Mercies of God 1 AS a riuer continueth running still Euen so the Mercies of God do daily light on the faithfull 2 As the ryuer hath a swift course So the Mercies of God helpe at a pinch Psal 46.1 c. 3 As a ryuer is deepe Euen so the Mercies of God are great neither can the bottome of them be sought out of any man 4 And as the ryuer hath this propertie as hath also all other water to binde and therfore doth not the earth dissolue because as the Phylosopher saith the water bindeth it in Euen so the Mercies of God do bind vs vnto himself or else we should dissolue and become Sathans sinke and puddle 5 As a begger will neuer goe foorth a begging vntill such time as hee can haue prouision or maintenance at home So wee will neuer come to Christ for Mercie so long as we see any goodnesse in our selues Psal 32.4 6 As a sparke of fire is in comparison able to drie vp all the water in the Sea Euen so no more is all the wickednesse of man vnto the Mercies and mercifulnesse of God 7 As no man is so thankfull for health as he that hath beene in continuall sicknesse So no man feeleth the Mercie of God that is not truly humbled in his owne sight Mans nature to be mortified 1 AS the seede of right Artichoke if the point of it bee not broken bringeth foorth the prickley Artichoke or Thistle So the best Mans child if his corrupt nature be not mortified wil bring forth nothing but vngodlinesse 2 Knecholme growing of it selfe bringeth forth fruit but being planted it bringeth foorth none But Mans nature if it bee suffered to grow of it selfe is vnfruitfull but beeing planted in Christ becommeth fruitfull in good workes 3 The superfluous moysture of Elecampane beeing dried vp it commeth fittest to his full vertue and is hot in the third degree but though the superfluitie of euill bee mortified in vs yet wee our selues will neuer come to our first perfection except we be quickned by Gods spirit c. A Mind troubled 1 LIke as a great and deepe wound cannot bee touched with ones hand thogh neuer so softly but with some griefe to the partie Euen so a troubled wayward Mind hard to please thinketh scorne of euery thing and is offended with the least word spoken 2 As the sicke-man cannot away with the sight of his wife blameth the Physition is grieued at his friend that comes to visite him yet being gone is displeased againe at their departure Euen so is the wauering way and trade of life and the wandering and inconstant mutabilitie of the Mind which seldome doth arriue at the quiet and desired port and hauen 3 Euen as they are queasie stomacked and are disquieted with vomiting doo leape from one Ship to an other that they might find some ease thereby vntill they perceiue themselues nothing the better but yet doo the same still that they did before carrying their vomite as we may say still about with them where euer they goe So in like manner they which euer anon choose now one and now an other trade of life doo rather entangle themselues in cares troubles of a discontented Mind then be discharged and rid there from 4 As it sometime falleth out that one receiueth an iniurie is grieued and studieth to reuenge an other beeing author of a wrong reioyceth at other mens harmes and fecks to keepe him stil vnder whom he hath once opprest Euen so is the Minde it selfe at warre with it selfe and through contrarie repugnant affections is rent and in a manner torne in peeces Magistrates dutie to their subiects 1 AS that medicine is more to bee allowed which healeth the parts of a mans body then that which vtterly burneth away the same So is that Magistrate more to be praysed which by correction causeth euill doers to amend then hee which by death and execution vtterly taketh the same away 2 As God is aboue all men the soule more excellent then the body and the kingdome of heauen more precious then earthly treasures So likewise doth the chiefe principall end of the Magistrates charge and office consist in the establishing and maintaining of the puritie of doctrine in the holy ministerie seruice of God the holy administration of the sacraments the inuocation of Gods name the order of Ecclesiasticall Discipline Rom. 13.4 1. Chro. 15.1 22.6 2. Chro. 14.3 c. 15.8 c. 17.6 c. 29.1 c.
doo the will of my Father saith Christ which is in heauen Euen so is it often said that a hood maketh not a Muncke neither rounding or powling neither yet a long Gowne or a square Cap or Tippet maketh a true Apostle or Minister but he is counted to bee the assured Minister of Christ which both is able and can by sound doctrine exhort and comfort the gaine-sayers thereof and also doth diligently goe before the people of God by good example of life and vertuous conuersation 48 As it is the dutie of Iudges which doo sit in iudgement as concerning matters of life and death to shut the one eare to the accuser and to reserue the other for him that is accused after the example of great Alexander So likewise it is the part of Ministers to be ready to make answere to euerie question of the Law of God for he that is ignorant in Gods Law he may assure himselfe that he can by no meanes be Gods Minister Mind 1 AS we vse not the troubled water vntill it bee cleared againe So must we not vse our Mind being moued and angrie but suffer it first to be pacified 2 As out of the vessell which is filled with liquor the â—yre is expelled So out of a Mind replenished with verâ—ue and godlinesse all kind of vanities be voide Member of Christ falleth not finally AS a mans arme taken with the dead Palsie hangs by and receiues no heate life or sence from the rest of â—e Members or from the head yet for all this it remaines still vnited and coupled to the bodie â—nd may againe be recouered by plaisters and phisicke So after a greeuous fall the child of God that feeles no inward peace comfort but is smitten in conscience with the trembling of a spirituall Palsie for his offence neuerthelesse in deed remaines before God a member of Christ which shal be restored to his former estate after true and vnfained repentance Memorie AS the leaues of a booke which is sildom vsed wil cleaue fast together Euen so the Memorie waxeth dull if it be not oft quickned A Minde ruled by reason AS the ship which hath a strong ankor may safely stay in any hauen So likewise a man which hath his Mind ruled by reason will liue peaceably and quietly in any region of the world The Minde of man 1 AS Trees planted and set by the waters side seeme faire and pleasant adorned with store and varietie of fresh and greene leaues So likewise doth the Minde of man being garnished with godly knowledge moysâ—ned with the water of Gods diuine spirit flourish shine with the bright beames of vertue and spread abroad his boughes both of faith toward God and also yeeld foorth the fruite of Christian workes toward his neighbour Psal 1. 3. Esay 17.8 2 As the eye of the bodie although it behold all otheâ— things yet it cannot see either it selfe or some other partâ— of the bodie euen those which are nearest vnto it So it fareth with the Mind of man the eye of the soule it ranged ouer the whole worlde aboue the highest heauens anâ— beneath the bottom of the earth and yet it is a straunger 〈◊〉 home most ignorant of the owne estate 3 As we see in running Riuers that the force of the water is greatly diminished when as the currant thereof is turned into seuerall litle streames and that both the heate and light do loose much of their vertue when as they are dispearsed abroad into large and open places So likewise it happeneth to our Mindes when as they are applied vnto seuerall studies which sometimes are contrary one to the other so that we thinking through an ambitious desire to do many things in the end effect and bring to passe nothing as we should do 4 As Porke betokeneth vncleannesse from which we must abstaine and beasts did signifie that beastly affections should be killed So the Minde and will must be renued that it may allow chuse and do such things as please God 5 As the bodie being alwayes oppressed with labour looseth his strength and so perisheth So likewise doth the Minde of man oppressed with the cares and pleasures of this world loose all her force lust and desire that she had to the rest to come of eternall life and so dieth not onely the death of sinne but hasteth what she can to hate abhorre all vertue 6 As a ship hauing a sure Ankor may lye safe in any place So the Mind that is ruled by perfect reason is quiet euery where Merite or desert not to be looked for for well doing 1 LIke as if one say the Prince hath bestowed a great Office vpon such an honest man this betokeneth â—ot wherefore but vpon what maner of person the Prince â—estowed it Euen so in like maner if we say that God wil â—iue glory the kingdome of heauen and euerlasting life â—o them that walke vprightly this teacheth vs what maner of men the Lord will giue the inheritance vnto but not for what cause mouing him he will giue it vnto them Eze. 36.22 Math. 18.27 25.34 Luk. 17.7 9 10. Gal. 1.15 3.18 2 As he which is wicked and dooth wickedly hurteth himselfe and not God Or as hee that hath the health of his bodie and doth by good dyet keepe and preserue it dooth hee therefore deserue any reward at the Phisitions hands Verely no for he doth it not for the Phisitions profit but for his owne Euen so likewise he that by the gift of God hath obtained the health of his soule and by his grace doth the things that belong to the preseruation of the same shall we say that he dooth Merite or deserue any reward at Gods hand because that he is made such by his grace and gift and doth now through his helpe aide and assistance keepe the same grace for his onely profite and commoditie either by earnest beliefe or by vnfained loue or by assured hope or by well doing and patience in aduersitie and trouble c. 3 Like as if any man that hath a state or interest for terme of yeres and a taking of profit in a peece of ground by another mans liberall graunt doo also claime to himselfe the tytle of proprietie dooth hee not by such vnthankefulnesse deserue to loose the verie selfe possession which hee had Or like as if a bonde Slaue beeing made free of his Lorde doo hide the basenesse of the estate of a Libertine who is made free by maumission and not by byrth and boaste himselfe to bee a Free-man borne is hee not woorthie to bee brought backe into his former bondage Euen so althougâ— good woorkes proceede from the grace of God yeâ— they doo please him and are not vnprofitable to the dooers of them but rather they receiue for rewarde the most large benefits of God not because they deserue but because the goodnesse of God hath of it selfe appointed this price vnto theÌ„ But what spitefulnesse is this
subiect to many cares anguishes and vexations Mercilesse Men. 1 AS beasts are not eaten vntill they be dead boyled or rosted Euen so Mercilesse Men whilst they liue will do no charitable deeds or workes of mercy to the poore vntil death hath theÌ„ in his pot ther boyle them after his maner only at their death in their last testament they wil perhaps leaue some Legacies to be giuen when they bee dead but death must be sure of theÌ„ before the pore be sure of a pennie It were better done by much to relieue the poore with their owne hands in their life time it is not amisse that they doo good then but it were better done before Ezech. 16.49 Prou. 14.31 19.17 21.13 Math. 5.7 2 As oftentimes yong children the more the Father doth cocker and dandle them the lesse they care for him and if he say vnto them I wil haue this or that done none so readie to bid him commaund and doo it himselfe as his owne children So it many times falleth out with vs God our heauenly Father hath blessed vs and blessed vs againe and yet when he saith I will haue you to be mercifull and pittifull to your needie brethren like stubburne children we sit still and stop our eares as if we heard not Math. 9.13 Prou. 11.17 Luk. 6.36 Mich. 6.8 No difference of Men after death AS Trees growing in the wood are knowne some by difference of their trunkes or bodies some by the properties of their boughes braunches leaues flowers and fruits but this knowledge is had of them whiles they stand grow are not consumed but if they be committed to the fire turned into ashes they cannot be known for it is vnpossible that when the ashes of diuers kindes of trees are mingled together the tall Pine-tree should bee discerned from the great and huge Oke or the mightie popler from a little lowe shrube or any one tree from an other Euen so Men whiles they liue in the wood of this world are knowne some by the stocke of ancestors some by the florishing leaues of their words eloquence some in the flowers of beautie some in the fruits of honestie many by their sauage ignorance and barbarousnesse and some by their mild lenitie and kindnesse but when death doth bring them into dust and hath mixed and mingled them al together then their ashes earth dust cannot be discerned or knowne for when the ashes and dust of all are mingled together then shall there appeare no difference betweene the mighty Princes of the world and the seely poore soules that are not accounted off of the learned and vnlearned betwixt rich men and beggers or betweene the wise and the foolish Man is borne to loue God 1 AS Birds of all sorts do desire the ayre fishes seeke for water and the fire of the earth mounteth flameth vp towards the Elementall fire and all things seeke their place and centre and doo tend towards the same Euen so we ought to seeke after our God who is our onely rest our centre and onely God 2 As flouds and ryuers with great force runne into the Sea because they came out of the Sea Euen so we ought to loue God to aspire towards him in al feruencie of loue to drawe neare vnto him who is that vnmeasurable Sea of all goodnesse from whence we came for hee hath made vs after his owne similitude likenesse Gene. 1.26 3 As we are bound to keepe the precepts commandements of God So are we most strickly bound to loue honour and obey himselfe 4 Euen as the Horse is ordained to runne the Oxe to plough and the Dogge to hunt So is Man borne aboue all things to loue God Masse AS an harlot who setteth her body to sale dooth paint her selfe to all lasciuiousnesse and vncleannesse doth scrout her selfe with rings Iewels and putteth on costly apparell therewithal to allure to her selfe companions whose substance she may wast away Euen so that whore of Babylon called the Masse commeth abroad set out as it â—ere with Gold and Iewels whilst shee doth vse certaine holie lessons and songs out of the word of God wherby she doth easily deceiue the ruder sort and the simple who deceiued with the outward shew do think her to be a very chast virgin who indeed is a most filthy harlot hurting her companions more then the vilest harlot that may be Vnlearned Ministers are not to be admitted vntill they be fit AS an Egle so long as her yong ones be not very fledge and throughly feathered she doth not suffer them to goe out of the neast and to flie abroad but after they be perfectly winged and in their beautie strength of their feathers she throweth them out of the nest that they may flie and exercise their wings and feathers and vse them to the end wherefore they haue them Euen so our Sauiour Christ that heauenly Eagle after his resurrection commaunded his Disciples to stay at Ierusalem as it were in a neast and not to depart thence vntill in the day of Pentecost he had filled them with the grace of the holy Ghost and then hee commaunded them that passing through the world and trauelling through diuers coastes of the earth they should publish abroad and spread farre and neare the Gospell of his kingdome Act. 1.4 2.2 3 4. Math. 28.19 The Misteries of Gods word are not to be opened to the wicked AS a Marchant that is expert and skilfull in his profession and facultie will not open nor shewe his richâ— wares and costly marchandise vnto those whom he wel knoweth will not buy them which do come into his shoâ— or ware-house either as curious persons or as crafty spies and subtill searchers not with any purpose to buy buâ— to doo some euill and calleth vnto him onely thosâ— whom hee knoweth to be verie willing and desirous to buy Euen so the Lorde his manner is not to open his heauenly Mysteries and the deepe secrets of his sacred and most holy word vnto them whom hee perceiueth and seeth plainly to seek after them vainly and curiously or with a wicked mind and corrupted purpose to search them out to the end they may tread and trample them vnder their feete and dooth call them onely to the true knowledge of his Lawes and ordinances and doth instruct and teach them whom he is sure will profit them selues and others thereby Matth. 7.6 12.38 39. Luk. 23.8 9. When Man in trouble seeketh for comfort from the world he seeketh for life in the house of death AS the blood in the body of a Man being corrupted with a poysoned Arrow dooth by and by flie to the heart euen seeking and hoping as it were to finde some remedie and helpe there and yet dooth euen so soone as it toucheth the hart find death wher it sought for life So Men when they are sore pressed with calamities do make the world their first refuge and
the roote be not fatted with new and fresh dung it will wax barren with feeblenesse Euen so no lesse needfull in Christes Church bee these three Officers to wit Magistrates Ministers and Labourers for it becommeth Magistrates not to suffer wronges and thefts oppressions and iniuries to be done and to maintaine Gods law and them that bee the Preachers thereof yea and to see the land kept from insurrection and inuasion of forraine enemies it also appertaineth to the Ministers and Preachers to labour faithfully to weede and cut away the voide braunches of sinne with the sword of Gods word and to Labourers it belongeth to worke and labour bodily and carefully to get out of the earth bodily sustenance both for themselues and others All these estates be so needful to the Church that none may well be without other foâ— if Magistrates and men to gouerne the people by lawâ— and wisedome should want then theeues and wicked liuers would so increase that no man could liue in peace and if Preachers should want then the people woulâ— wax wild in all vice and sinne through ignorance and fâ—â— default of knowledge of Gods word and so perish eueâ—lastingly And if Labourers and Artificers should bâ— lacking in the Common-wealth then both Magistratâ— and Ministers should become Husbandmen Laboureâ— and handle craftes men or else must die for want of natâ—ral foode 2 Like as if there were but one Horse or one sheepe in the world yet if hee had Corne and grasse as nature and kind hath ordained for such a beast hee would liue well enough by himselfe without any helpe of other of the same kind But if ther were but one man in the world although he had all the good and wealth therein yet for want of other he would die or at least he would be worse then if he were not liuing Principles are necessarily to be knowne AS in a Pothecaries shop wher the knowledge of such things is set forth and professed it is a great shame if common and no lesse profitable simples should be vnknowne So in a Church or family of the faithfull where the knowledge of such matters is professed it is great shame if common and no lesse needful Principles should not be well and rightly vnderstood Persons of men in Christianitie not to be regarded AS Echium or Tipers Buglosse seede is like a Serpents head yet bringeth an wholesome hearbe and remedie against Serpents So a man vncomely may haue good graces and be an helpe to men against the wicked Prudence and prouidence in worldly affaires AS in times past it did suffise if men were not hurt or annoyed by brute and wilde beastes but afterwards â—en vse them for their gaine and commoditie as to bee â—ouered with their skins to feede on their flesh and to be â—ealed with their gall or inward parts So ought we not â—â—ely to beware least our enemie doo hurt vs but also to 〈◊〉 him for our vtilitie and profit Princes and Magistrates are especially to eschue vices 1 AS the Eclips of the Sunne is the cause of death and destruction So is an errour or vice which is an Eclips of vertue in a Prince a great calamitie and a pernicious plague vnto the people and presageth the like fall in the apish immitating multitude 2 As the Hart when he can finde no pasture is poore and bare of flesh and void of strength when he is hunted and pursued Euen so are the Princes and Rulers of those countries which by the iust iudgement of God are oppressed and ouerrun with forraine nations Psal 42.1 3 As a great braunch cut from a tree bringeth downe a number of small ones with it Or as a great Prince commeth forth of his Pallace a multitude doo follow him Euen so do subiects ordinarily follow the example of their Prince and Magistrate whether good or bad for whatsoeuer he doth it seemeth that he commaundeth it Deut. 17. 16. c. Iosu 1. 8. 1. Sam. 2.30 4 Euen as from the Sap of a tree dooth proceed that strength wherwith the boughs do florish and bring forth fruit So from a godly Prince and magistrate such iustice vertue and godlinesse doo proceed that thereby all the people are mightily moued to true Religion aright worshipping of God due obedience and honestie of life and conuersation 5 Like as when in mans body the Hart dooth not impart vnto the members the vital spirits but the artiries are stopt shut vp and the bloud forsaketh the vaines it is a signe of death that the partie in this case is either alreadie dead or else he wil die shortly Euen so when kings Princes of the earth are tyranical towards their loyal subiects withdrawing from them pity mercy loue liberalitie it threatneth doth prognosticate the ruine of theiâ— kingdomes but through the mercy clemencie and loue of Princes their kingdomes doo mightily florish and the Princes themselues doo enioy great tranquilitie securitie and peace Prou. 20.20 Esc 10.3 6 Euen as among the pretie sweete Bees that Bee only which leadeth ruleth al the rest either hath no sting or at the least doth not vse it So clemencie and mercy agreeth with none more in all the world then with a Prince Prosperitie and wealth maketh not a man truely happie 1 AS children do much wonder and prayse those players which on the Scaffold be apparelled in pide and peeuish garments So fooles they be that wil deeme them happy who be loaden either with wealth or braue attire 2 Like as we see horses when they be much pampered to kicke to be fierce not to abide the rider EueÌ„ so Prosperitie maketh men drunken as it were bringeth them on sleepe and no maruaile for as the common saying is Fulnesse ingendreth fiercenesse Dan. 4.1 Psal 30.6 3 As a morning cloud that at the Sun rising vanisheth away Euen so shall the Prosperitie of the wicked be 4 As the Grasse on the house top which for lacke of roote withereth afore it can grow vp to bee mowen or to serue to any other good vse Euen so is also the florishing Prosperitie of such men Cities and landes as by manifold wickednesse prouoke Gods wrath and indignation against them Psal 37.1 2. 129.6 7. Esay 37.27 Preachers of the Law when need requireth are no disturbers of the peace of the Church AS the skilful Physition who giuing a sharp purgation to his surfitted patient which for a time doth disquiet all the parts of his bodie may truely bee accounted a distemperer of his patients health for euen as a purgation notwithstaÌ„ding it maketh much rumbling in the patients bowels and seeme for a time to disease all the members yet afterwards procuring perfect health to his body cannot therefore in truth and in deed be called the disquietter thereof So surely those Ministers notwithstanding they minister some bitter purgation out of the word to such silly poore patients in Christ as haue surfeited long vpon some points of
the first dash Regenerated but this Regeneration riseth by degrees and being once begun then it proceedeth faire and softly and by little and little encreasing euerie day till we come to euerlasting life in the heauens 2 Euen as that begger which hath but a patched or an ouerworne robe had euer need to be carefull in peecing and mending the same least otherwise his nakednesse appeare vnto all So surely this Regeneration or righteousnesse of ours beeing in respect of our selues but a torne and tottered robe wee had need euerie houre to labour and exercise our selues in the repayring thereof least our filthinesse breake foorth and euen to sigh and to groane vntill we be with our house which is from heauen 2. Cor. 5.3 Reue. 3.18 16.15 Righteousnesse not in vs. 1 AS an euill tree cannot bring foorth any good fruit nor a rotten or worm-eaten seed can engender any thing but like it selfe So we for so much as our thoughts our affections our words our actions and generally our whole life and nature being examined it shall bee found that in vs there is nothing but vanitie and the verie matter of death and damnation and that we neither doo nor can doo any thing that may be able to abide the Righteous examination of the iustice of God but onely to flie to him for mercie Math. 7.17 18. 12.33 Psal 51.7 53.2 3. Ose 2.3 Luk. 15.18 18.13 14. Rom. 3.10 11 12. 2 As they that are sicke of the Dropsie who by reason of the grosenesse of their bodies seeme to bee in good estate notwithstanding they be ful of nothing but water and euil humors which in the end are the cause of death Euen so such as are arrogant presumptuous and puffed vp with a vaine conceite of their owne Righteousnesse though they be in great credit reputation in the world yet before God their state is miserable and abhominable Luk. 16.15 3 As Marchants who praise and esteeme their wares and marchandise more then they are worth and as olde Images newe gilded ouer which outwardly hath some glistering and shew but within are nothing but dust and durt or as counterfeit money which is naught how goodly a print so euer it hath Euen so all our Righteousnesse vertues and good workes when they shall be examined and prised by those which knowe them as by the spirit of God and his word they are altogether iudged as old ragges torne tied together and patched vp againe Esa 64.6 Dan. 9.5 c. Phil. 3.8 4 Like as if a man would boast of his strength health and yet were subiect to a thousand diseases Or of his knowledge and yet were ignorant of all good learning Or of his riches and yet were indebted and endaungered to the whole world would not one mocke him as an Idiote and a foole Euen so wee as well shew our ignoraunce and what slender vnderstanding we haue when wee will attribute any Righteousnesse to our selues and boast our selues in it be it neuer so little Iere. 9.23 5 As the basest Gold though it bee rayed with some durt is alwayes more precious then the brightest Copper or Lead that a man can find Euen so the Righteousnesse of a Christian man though it bee defiled through many infirmities and imperfections yet notwithstanding is more to be esteemed then all the Righteousnesse of hypocrites and Infidels 6 As there is no man so hard to be healed as hee that thinketh himselfe to be hoale For as much as he alwayes refuseth counsell of the Physition and will take no remedies nor keepe any good diet or gouernement of himselfe which should be meete and healthfull for him Euen so likewiset here is no man farther off from the Righteousnesse of God then he that hath some opinion of himselfe For such commonly are obstinate and cannot without great difficultie bee brought from the perswasion which they haue conceiued of their owne Righteousnesse 7 As newe Wine with the strength of the working thereof will breake old Bouels so that if it should be put into them it should bee but spilt and lost Euen so they who haue placed Righteousnesse in the outward exercises of Religion cannot sauour taste or receiue the doctrine of Righteousnesse by faith onely in Christ Math. 9.17 The Righteousnesse of Iesus Christ which is one onely may be distributed to all the faithfull 1 AS the soule of man is wholly throughout the whole body and euerie part alike Euen so is the Righteousnesse of Iesus Christ wholly in the body of the whole Church as the soule to giue it life and to mantaine it So that it is altogether in euerie of the particular members to make them strong whole stout and of courage to doo all their Offices and duties Or as the voice of a man which beeing heard of a great many persons is in such sort receiued of euerie one of thē prouided that they be attentiue that the same is wholly vnderstood without being diuided or sundred in any respect And as the face of a man may bee receiued in many Glasses and wholly represented to all without any diuision or seperation of the same 2 As an old rotten tattered garment cannot be comely peeced with newe whole and sound cloath Euen so they that plant and place their Righteousnesse in fasting and other externall exercises cannot admit that Righteousnesse that commeth onely and wholly by Christ Math. 9.16 3 As the Israelits were forbidden to cloath themselues with Linnen and Wollen made in one garment So likewise must all true Christians at this day put vpon them the Righteousnesse of Christ Iesus onely not mingling it with their owne merits Deut. 22.11 4 As the Sunne when hee riseth obscureth and darkneth the light of the skies dismisseth scattereth them Euen so the Righteousnesse of faith which for Christ his sake is imputed vnto vs doth vanquish the darknesse and as it were driueth away the night of the glorie of mens workes 5 As the sinne of Adam was the cause of condemnation vnto eternall death So in like manner the Righteousnesse of Christ is the cause of iustification vnto eternall life Rom. 8.1 2. Religion LIke as in labour or worke he that begunne last ought with the more diligence to redresse his slacknesse and recompence his late comming So he which lately began to professe and imbrace Religion vertue or godlinesse ought with the more feruentnesse and zeale to endeuour to attaine the same Reading of Bookes 1 AS they which be thirstie first doo drinke and at leisure doo behold the fashion of the cup if it bee engrauen or bee marked So ought we first to Read things that be most profitable then if leisure will serue vs wee may note and consider things elegant and trim 2 As it is more profitable oft to dung the ground then much and that at one time So is it more for one vtilitie to Read with moderatnesse dayly then at one time and that greedily 3 As a
not bee confounded one with an other but euery seed will haue his proper hearbe Euen so the bodies of men although they bee mingled together yet euerie body shall receiue his owne flesh at the generall day of iudgement 3 Like as seed cast into the earth during the cold and stormes of winter smally appeareth or not at all but as soone as the Spring commeth it sprouteth foorth and flourisheth growing more and more vntill the Haruest come and then it recompenceth the Husband mans labour with plentiful encrease Euen so our bodies though they fall as seeâ—e into the ground are not neglected of God who regardeth the smallest graine and vilest seede but shall one day bring them out of the graues where they were laid in a far better case then they were before 4 As in winter time by the nipping Frost the trees loose their leaues and the grasse withereth but at the Spring they both receiue that which they before seemed to haue lost So likewise though men die each in his order now one and then an other yet they perishe not but shall liue againe at the last day when the euerlasting Spring shall bee without either Autumne or Winter 5 As God giueth life vnto the Infant inclosed in the Mothers wombe and maintaine the same after a secret and wounderfull manner vntill the tenth moneth when it can be there râ—â—ained no longer but must bee brought foorth into the world Euen so God in whose hand is life and death keepeth vs aliue in the middest of death the bodies which were cast into the earth at the sound of the last vnknowne trumpe liuing vntill then after a wonderfull sort shall arise at which time the graues and euery place wher our bodies died shal yeeld vp the dead that were in them when as they shall truely liue and that for euer 6 As the Ashes in the night time so couereth the fire that no sparke thereof nor any light appeareth in the house but yet it may easily be kindled reuiued by drie straw or a small match Euen so our life that cannot die lieth as a sleepe in our mortified bodies which God in his good time by his mightie word and power can and will awake 7 Like as in sleepe which is as deaths kinsman no part doth his dutie the eyes see not the eare heareth nothing wee can neither feele nor walke but euerie member is as dead ouerwhelmed with sleepe when as in the meane time the mind liueth euer moueth and the next morning approaching rayseth vp the body when as euerie member and part performeth his wonted worke and more liuely refreshed by sleepe Euen so though our carcases being in terred seeme to bee depriued of all sence and moouing yet they perish not but when the last and euerlasting morning shall arise vpon them at the end of the world they shall rise againe and the earth shall yeeld them far more glorious when as God hath purged away the corruption and filthinesse of them as by the meanes of sleepe 8 As in the Lawe the offering of the first fruites and all the fruites of the earth were sanctified So also by Christ the first fruites of them that sleepe the promise of the rysing againe of our bodies to life euerlasting is to vs confirmed and assured Exod. 23.16 34.26 Leuit. 23.10 Deut. 26.2 c. 1. Cor. 15.20 Colloss 1.18 Reue. 1.6 9 Like as it would make glad the heart of a lame man or cripple to heare that all his limmes should bee restored againe perfectly as they were at the first Or as it would greatly reioyce the heart of a poore naked begger to heare that hee should bee cloathed with most precious garments of Silke and Gold Euen so much more ought all Christians to bee ioyfull and glad to heare that they shall be restored to all integritie of bodie and soule at the general Resurrection and so be cloathed with most perfect pure innocencie of life for euer and euer 10 As Hearbes dead in winter flourish againe by the raine in the spring time So the dead Corpes that lye in the dust shall rise vp to ioy when they shal feele the deaw of Gods grace Esay 26.19 11 As the same seede in substaunce that is sowne springeth againe yet altered in forme and fashion Euen so our bodies shall rise againe the same in substaunce but maruellously altered in qualities 1. Cor. 5.37 38. 12 As our bodies except they consume rise not again yet altered in forme and fashion Euen so our bodies shal rise againe the same in substance but maruellously altered in qualitie 13 As often as we rise from sleepe hauing our wearie limmes refreshed and as it were reuiued so that we feele our selues in better case and abilitie to do any manner of thing then before Euen so we should often remember that death vnto the godly is but a resting of their wearie bodies and bones till they rise againe exceedingly bettered by immortalitie and glorie and therefore termed by the name of sleepe 1. Thes 4.13 14. 14 So bright and so glorious as one starre appeareth aboue an other So much shall the state and condition of our bodies at their Resurrection excell the state and condition that they are now in during this time of immortalitie 1. Cor. 15.41 15 Like as the Husbandman taketh no thought nor sorrow for the seede that is cast into the earth because he hath a sure trust and hope that it shall come again with a plentifull and an exceeding recompence Euen so the faithful are not so vnmeasurably heauy and sorrowful for the death of their faithfull friends as the heathen and vnfaithfull are which haue no hope or beliefe of the Resurrection Reue. 14.13 1. Thes 4.13 14. 16 Like as if impotent and miserable men as experience sheweth can by art euen of ashes make the most curious workemanship of glasse Euen so we may in reason thinke that the omnipotent and euerliuing God is able to raise mens bodies out of the dust 17 As the Goldsmith by his Art can sunder diuers mettals one from an other and some men out of one mettall can draw another Euen so much more may we think it possible for the Almightie God to raise mens bodies being dead and turned into dust and mingled with the bodies of beasts and other creatures or one mans bodie with another 18 As the cloud tooke vp the very true bodie of the Lord yea euen the whole perfect Christ So likewise shal all godly persons bee taken vp into the aire to meete the Lorde their God that they may liue with Christ their Lord and head for euermore Act. 1.9 1. Thes 4.17 19 Like as the roote giueth all vertue and sappe vnto the tree Euen so is the matter of the Resurrection of the dead thorow Christ the chiefest greatest and true principall point of the word and affaires of God Esa 26.19 1. Pet. 4.6 20 As the wicked vnbeleeuers haue in this
newnesse of life 2. Cor. 5.19 Saluation onely in the Church 1 AS Sothern-wood will grow no where but in Gardens where it is planted So the godly wil not grow any where but in the Church and body of Christ where they are engraffed 2 Euen as it was necessarie that they which should be saued from the floud should be in the Arke So likewise all they that will be saued from the floud of Gods wrath must of necessitie bee in Christ and so in the Church Gene. 7.1 c. Sacrament of the Supper compared with the Paschall Lambe 1 AS the Paschal Lamb was instituted eaten the night before the children of Israel were deliuered out of Egypt So likewise was the Supper of the Lord instituted and eaten the night before wee were deliuered from our sinnes Exod. 12.1 c. 1. Cor. 11.24 25. c. 2 As the Paschall Lambe was a very Lambe indeed Euen so the Sacrament is very Bread and Wine indeed 3 As the Paschall Lambe was called the Lords passeouer or passing by of the Lord which destroyed the power of Pharao deliuered him So the Sacrament is called the body and bloud of the Lord which destroyeth the power of the diuell and deliuereth vs. 4 As the Children of Israel were but once deliuered from Egypt notwithstanding they did take euery yeare a Lambe to keepe the deed in perpetuall remembrance Euen so Christ our Sauiour bought and redeemed vs but once for all although the Sacrament thereof be often distributed and broken among vs to keepe the benefite in perpetuall memorie 5 As many as did eate the Paschall Lambe in faith and beleeued Gods word as touching theyr deliueraunce from Egypt were as sure of the same thorowe faith as they were sure of the Lambe by eating of it So as manye as doo eate of the bodie and blood of Christ by faith and beleeue Gods word as touching theyr deliueraunce from Sinne Death Hell and damnation are as sure of theyr deliueraunce thorow faith as they are sure of the bread by eating of it c. Sinne how carefully it is to be auoyded 1 AS the diseases of the bodie and corporall death doo much disquiet and trouble our mindes that wee commonly tremble and quake at the onely mention of them Euen so howe much more ought wee to feare the sicknesse of the soule and death of the same which commeth by reason of sinne then which there can bee no greater nor more fearefull calamitie come vnto vs. 2 Like as euerie man dooth auoide so much as in him lyeth the paine miseries diseases and death of the bodie Euen so howe muche more ought wee to decline and eschewe the death of the soule and the causes of these euilles which bee Sinnes and offences and feare the anger of God which wee so by our transgressions doo procure 3 As the Physition seeing in a Glasse by the water the diseases within the body by skill and learning searches out the cause of the disease and ministers good things for the same Euen so wee in looking into the Glasse of Gods word shall soone perceiue the diseases and infections of Sinne which are in vs and the cause thereof and so wholesomely minister some profitable and comfortable remedies for the same 4 As little theeues beeing let in at a window will set open great gates for greater theeues to come in at Euen so if wee accustome our selues to commit little Sinnes and let them raigne in vs they will make vs the fitter for greater offences to get the aduantage of vs and to take hold on vs. 5 As all kind of wild beastes escaping out of the snare will take heede least they come there any more yea though they should bee in bondage euen vnto man the most excellent of all other creatures Yet man by Sinne falling into the snares of Sathan cannot beware though hee shall bee in bondage to the most cursed of all creatures 6 As a drunken man whilest hee ingorgeth aboundance of Wine feeleth no discommoditie thereby but afterwards he seeth and feeleth the inconuenience of the same So in like manner Sinne whilest it is in committing dooth darken the light of reason howbeit afterwards the conscience arysing sheweth both the vglinesse of Sinne and the absurditie of the fact and so vexeth the soule more grieuously then if all the world accused him of the same Sacraments are not corrupted by the wickednesse of Ministers 1 LIke as there is no difference betweene the selfe-same image or figure of any thing imprinted or sealed with a Ring or signet of Golde and with a signet made of yron or wood Euen so the word and Sacraments being ministred by a lawfull Minister although otherwise a wicked and an vngodly Minister yet be the same Word and Sacraments of the same vigour strength and efficacie as when they be ministred by a man of excellent vertue and godlinesse For as the Father shall not die for the childe nor the childe for the Father So the Minister shall not die for him that receiues at him nor the partie that receiues for the euilnesse of the Minister for euery one shall sincke in his owne sinne so that the Minister which doth so wickedly corrupt the holy Sacramēts and holy ordinances of God ministreth them to his own damnation and iudgement Deut. 24.16 Ezech. 18.20 2. King 14.6 2. Chro. 25.4 1. Cor. 11.29 2 Like as among men if a Letter be sent so that the hand and feale of him that sendeth it be well knowne it maketh no matter who or what manner of man be the carrier Euen so it ought to suffice to know the hand and seale of our Lord in his Sacraments by what lawfull Minister so euer they bee brought for the malice or leaudnesse of man cannot change the nature of the ordinance of God And therefore the vertue and efficacie of the word and Sacrament consist and depend not vpon the worthinesse or vnworthinesse of the Minister but in and vpon the commaundement ordinance power and authoritie of God onely 3 Like as Gold is Gold of whom so euer it be giuen or receiued Euen so likewise is the Sacrament whether it be giuen by a good or bad Minister For Iudas although he were a theefe yet hee Preached and baptized whose doctrine and baptisme was as well the doctrine and baptisme of Christ as was Peters and Andrewes Iames and Iohns Ioh. 6.70 12.6 4 Like as if the Treasurer or Receiuer of a Prince doo deliuer forth false counterfeit money in stead of good the Office whereunto hee is called cannot make it other then false and counterfeit money because he dooth not execute his Office faithfully but doth chaunge the good money which hee receiued to distribute by the commaundement of his Lord and Maister into that which is not the same that he receiued to be distributed and by this meanes they which shall haue receiued the same shal be deceiued and spoyled On the other side although he were
he both can and will helpe him after this he comes to his former health againe So in like manner euerie man is wounded with the deadly wound of Sinne at the very heart and he that would be saued and escape damnation must see his Sinne be sorrowfull for it and vtterly dispaire of his owne strength to attaine saluation thereby Furthermore hee must see himselfe to stand in neede of Christ the good Phisitian of his soule and long after him and crie vnto him with deepe sighes and grones for mercie after this Christ Iesus wil come with a plaister of his own heart blood which being applied he shall finde himselfe reuiued and shall come to the assuraunce of the forgiuenesse of all his sinnes Psal 51.1 3 8 12 17. 10 As a man that hath lost wife goods and children should be much grieued So hee that hath committed great Sinnes ought to bee as a man brused betweene the wall and the doore 11 Like as a man is more to bee blamed which goeth out of his way in the cleare Sunne at nonetide then hee that misseth his way by night with a candle Euen so are men more to be punished for such foule Sinnes as they commit in the cleare light of the Gospell then in the time of the Law 12 As of clouds when they be vanished away there is nothing seene Euen so the Sinnes of God people when hee forgiueth them are clearely put both out of sight and remembrance Esay 44.22 13 As Opium Hennebane and other things extreamely cold hide not paine but make the body so astonied for a time that he feeleth not the paine but afterward when it commeth to it feeling the disease and paine is commonly more grieuous then before So Sinne and want of zeale c. hide not from torment of conscience but make the soule so astonied for a time that it feeleth not the torment yet afterward when it commeth to his feeling againe the torment is more desperate then before 14 As it would not auaile or profit a Citie diligently to watch at one gate and keepe it shut against the enemie if in the meane while al the rest stood wide open to him So likewise it is to no purpose to keepe ourselues from one Sinne or vice vnlesse we make account and conscience to abandon our selues from all other vices 15 Like as Surgions when they must cut off any part of the body vse to lay playsters to it to mortifie it that being without sense and feeling it may bee cut off with lesse paine Euen so in like manner we are to vse all helpes and remedies prescribed in the word which serue to weaken or kil Sinne that in death it may be abolished 1. Cor. 9.27 Gal. 5.24 Col. 3.5 2. Timo. 2.21 16 As a debt doth binde a man either to make satisfaction or else to goe to prison So likewise our Sinnes binds vs either to satisfie Gods iustice or else to suffer eternall damnation 17 As we see by experience that a ship which leaketh is more easily emptied at the beginning then afterward Or as a ruinous house the longer it is let runne the more charge and labour will it require in the repairing Or as we see that if a man driue a naile with a hammer the moe blowes hee giueth to it the more hard it is to plucke it out againe Euen so that man that committeth Sinne vppon Sinne and by perseuerance therein thinketh to finde the redresse thereof more easie hereafter then now is greatly deceiued 18 As a riuer that glideth and runneth very swiftly vntill there bee a damme or beame put ouertwhart then it makes a swelling and a roaring neither by any meanes will be quiet So mans Sinfull life doth passe quietly without any noyse till the beame of Gods iustice ouertwhat him 19 As a round bowle throwne downe a steepe hil neuer ceaseth or stayeth till it come to the foote bottome thereof So likewise mans corruption of it selfe as prone to Sinne as a bowle to runne downe a hill neuer ceaseth to sinne till it receiue the reward thereof which is death Rom. 6.23 20 As Gun-powder and a rotten tree fired at the roote neuer ceaseth burning till they bee all consumed So the wicked will neuer giue ouer their Sinning till all hope of eternall life be vtterly taken away 21 As Tinder catcheth the least sparke and is kindled thereby So likwise out corrupt nature is easily prouoked and drawne to Sinne. 22 As the Viper conceaueth her young to her owne death So also man admitteth Sinne into his heart but to his owne great hurt 23 Like as the Midwife is busie about a woman in trauaile to bring forth the child into the world So busie also is Sathan vntil he hath brought forth the monstrous birth of Sinne in mens conuersations 24. As huge as the Sea is yet one may taste the faltnesse of it in a drop So likewise in one Sinne we may see how ill fauoured the rest be Rom. 13.13 25 As the forbidden nee when it promised our parents knowledge tooke their knowledge from them So euerie Sinne giueth other wages then it promiseth Gene. 3.6 26 Like as if a man passe by some high daungerous place in the night when he cannot see hee is not afraid but if yee bring him backe againe in the day and let him see what a steepe and daungerous way he came hee will not bee brought the same way againe for any thing So it is in Sinning for men liuing in ignoraunce and blindnesse practise any wickednesse and doo not care for Gods iudgements but when God of his goodnesse bringeth them backe and openeth their eyes to see the downfall to the pit of Hell and the iudgements of God due to their Sinnes then say they they will neuer Sinne as they haue done but become new men and walke in the way to eternall life 27 As it is the nature of a Canker or Gangreene to runne from one ioynt to an other from toe to the foote from the foote to the legge from the legge to the thigh till it haue wasted and destroyed the life of the body Euen so we giue Sinne but an entrance it will soone ouer if spread the whole man and if the diuell may bee suffered but to put one talent in our hearts he will presently wind himselfe into vs his head his body and all 28 As men which worke in mynes and coale-pits vnder the earth are troubled with nothing so much as with dampes which make their candle burne darke and somtimes put it quite out Euen so euerie mans Sinnes are the dampes of his heart which when they take place doo dimme the light of his iudgment and cast a myst ouer his mind and darken his vnderstanding and reason 29 Like as if a man should commit such an heinous offence as that he could no other way escape death but by the Princes pardon he neither would nor could be at rest til by one meanes or other
righteousnesse and of peace and ioy in the holy Spirit attending vntill hee finish in vs the communication of that light ioy holinesse and glorie that we shall haue perfectly in heauen Ephe. 1.13 14. 3 As among men when things that passe too and fro though they bee in question yet when the Seale is put too they are made out of doubt Euen so when God by his Spirit is said to seale the promise in the heart of euerie particular beleeuer it signifieth that hee giues vnto them euident assuraunce that the promise of life belongs vnto them Ephe. 4.30 Sluggards AS the Drunkards drinketh till he hath drunke all the money out of his purse and all the wit out of his head and all goodnesse out of his heart that there is no difference between him and the beast except it be in this that the beast can goe and keepe his way which the drunkard cannot doo So the Suggard sleepeth in all securitie and neglecteth his businesse and puts off all care for doing of all his duties vntill he hath slept all thrift out of his shop and all his friends out of his companie and all Gods graces out of his hart and all comfort out of his soule and all strength out of his body and all conscience out of his dealing till his stocke be spent and his occupying decayed and his customers gone and Gods spirit gone and all be gone and till nothing be left but feare and shame with pouertie penurie and a bare head and feeble shoulders to beare off the blowes Singing of Psalmes 1 AS that is a godly sorrow that driueth vs to prayer a blessed heauinesse that maketh vs seeke vnto the Lord So that is a godly mirth that endeth with Singing of Psalmes and heauenly ioy that at the least wise maketh vs more fit to serue God 2. Cor. 7.10 Col. 3.16 Ephe. 5.18 Iam. 5.13 2. Chro. 35.25 2 As no man can truely pray without the feeling of his wants So no man can Sing from his heart vnlesse he haue some perswasion of Gods fauour and so as affliction driueth him to pray so mirth mooueth him to Sing Act. 15.25 3 As all knowledge is increased especially by hearing reading and conferring about the Scripture So all affections are most of all stirred vp by meditation prayer and Singing of Psalmes Psal 147.1 4 Like as when the light of the Gospell came first in Singing of Ballads that was rise in Poperie beganne to cease and in time was cleane banished away in many places So likewise the sudden renuing of them and hastie receiuing of them euery where maketh vs to suspect least they should driue away the Singing of Psalmes againe seeing they cannot stand together of which wee are so much the more iealous because we see that in other places also where these bee not receiued in yet the Singing of Psalmes is greatly left ouer that it had wont to be 5 As the vngodly haue a grace in their wickednesse and are the better liked of among the vngodly though indeed they are then most deformed So this singing of Psalmes maketh vs comely before God and louely in the eyes of his Church when we hauing prepared our harts therevnto do sing with affection with reuerence with vnderstanding Psal 331. Reue. 14.3 6 Euen as a costly garment may be comely in it selfe yet shall it not become vs vnlesse we be fit for it and it be well put vpon vs So though to sing be neuer so comely in it owne nature yet it becommeth not vs except we be prepared for it and do sing Dauids Psalmes with Dauids spirit Ephe. 5.19 Colloss 3.16 2. Chro. 29.30 7 Like as the expert Phisitions vse for the most part to annoynt the brinks of the Cuppes with hony when they minister their bitter potions to sicke children least they should abhorre their health for the bitternesse of theyr drinkes Euen so the holy Ghost perceiuing that mankind is hardly trained to vertue and that we be very negligent in things concerning the true life indeed by reason of our great inclination to worldly pleasures and delectations hath inuented and mixed in his forme of doctrine the delectation of Musicke by the Psalmes to the intent that the commoditie of the doctrine might secretly steale into vs whilst our eares be touched with the plesantnesse of the melodie so that for this ende be these sweete and harmonious songs deuised for vs that such as be children either by age or children by maners should indeed haue their soules wholesomely instructed though for the time they seeme but to sing onely Sinne the cause of affliction AS no man ought to accuse and blame the Phisitian as though he were the onely occasion of the corrupt humours within the bodie notwithstanding that he hath brought and driuen them out that a man may euidently see and perceiue them but the misbehauiour and vntemperate diet of the man himselfe is the very right occasion and the onely roote thereof Euen so we ought not to ascribe any blame or fault vnto God if he send vs heauinesse paine and trouble but to thinke that it is a medicine and remedie meete for our sinnes and euery man to ascribe the veâ—ie cause and occasion thereof vnto himselfe and his owne sinnes and to referre blame to nothing else Dan. 9.5 6 7. Ionah 1.12 Our Spirit must striue to ouercome the flesh LIke as the Spirite farre passeth and ouercommeth the flesh in Christ Euen so must it do in vs also that we haue more respect vnto God and vnto life euerlasting then vnto this our worm eaten flesh Sinnes of others are not to be imitated or to be our excuses LIke as if in walking thou shouldest see him fall that goeth before thee thou goest not to fall with him but thou art to be so much the more circumspect that thou fall not as he did Euen so we are to remember that those foule falles and grosse faults of Dauid and of S. Peter and of others are set before vs first that they should be to vs as a mirror of the frailtie and weaknesse of man to acknowledge that if we be exempted and freed it is by the grace of God and secondly that we should so much the more stand vpon our guard and be watchfull least we likewise fall Sorrow for imminent daunger of death warre hell c. AS there was great lamentation in Syon because of Gods iustice for their sinnes Or as there was great lamentation for Pharao in Egypt because hee was a Lyon in the land and a Dragon in the Sea and as there was great Sorrow fasting mourning and weeping among the Iewes because the King had decreed their deaths Euen so wee the inhabitants of England haue great cause of lamentation fasting mourning and weeping because death is scaling our windowes the beastes of the fields to wit the Pope and the Spaniard hungring to deuour our bodies to spoyle our Countrie and to shed our bloud as water vpon the