therefore during his life the Offendour was confined to the City of refuge as to a Prison And David when he was hunted from the Prophet sled to the Priest as one that knew that Justice and Compassion should dwell in those breasts if any where Venerable Beda tels us that the Ancient British Bishops rejected Austin the Popes Legate because hee shewed not himselfe gentle and humble amongst them as became a Minister at the first meeting And holy Hooper though his life was so pure and good that no kind of slaunder could fasten any fault upon him Yet there is mention made of a certaine Citizen who having in himselfe a conflict of conscience came to Master Hoopers doore for counsell But being abashed Acts and Mon. fol. 1366. saith mine Authour of his austere behaviour durst not come in but departed which he afterward by the helpe of Almighty God did find and obtaine This might bee no fault in him but in the other that should have sought to him But hereby wee see how much it behooves Ministers to be curiously observant of their whole deportement that they may lay forth themselves and the talents concredited unto them for the best advantage of their Lord and Master becomming all things to all men that they may winne some And this the rather because the World expects from such though unjustly Angelicall perfection and looks round about us to see if they may find ever a hole in our coate thorough which they may evade and slip the cords of our doctrine CHAP. VII A Second Exhortation is now to be addressed to all of all sorts and that is to stirre men up to a thrâ—efold duty 1. To be thankfull to God that gave us his Word and to his ancient people the Jewes by whose hands hee conveyed it to us Gentiles 2. To reade it diligently 3. To rely upon it confidently both for counsell and comfort Sect. 1. BE thankfull first and chiefly to God for entrusting us with this true treasure for concrediting unto us these lively Oracles for drawing so neare us and dealing so familiarly with us as he hardly ever did with any before us For what nation is there so great that hath God so nigh unto them Deut. 4 7 8. Mich. 6.7 8. Esay 5. and that hath statutes and iudgements so righteous c. He hath shewed thee O England What is good and may justly demand as of old what cold I have done more for thee that I have not yet done Deu. 33.29 32. Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord c. Before the Covenant with Abraham all nations were alike respected but after it was said J will be thy God Gen. 17 7. and the God of thy Seed the Church was divided from the rest of the world as light was from darkenesse in the first Creation as the Sabbath from other dayes by divine consecration Act. 14.16 as Goshen was from the rest of Aegypt in that wonderfull separation All other Nations he suffered to walke in their own waies to sit in the dale of darknesse and shadow of death but in Judah was God knowne his name was great in Israel Psal 76.1 2. In Salem was his Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Sion Hence that beautifull Land though part of the Continent is called an Ile Esay 20.6 Deut. 7.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as separate from other peoples 〈◊〉 and the inhabitants therof are called Gods peculiar his inclosures the people of his purchase that comprehended as it were all his gettings the sheepe of his pasture yea his son his first-borne to whom he gave for a childs-part right iudgements and true Lawes Hos 11 34. Exod. 4 2â— good Statutes and iust Commandemâ—nts Nehem. 9.13 He shewed his word unto Jacob his acts unto the children of Israel He hath not dealt so with my Nation c. Psal 147.19 20. By the dim light of nature they might get some glimpse of God as a Creatour not as a Redeemer of his eternall power and Deity rendring men without excuse not of the riches of his patience leading men to Repentance Hence David Psal 93.5 Having declared the testimonies of the power of God Rom. 1.20 Rom. 2.4 that are to be seen in the very waves of the Sea concludes the Psalme with Thy testimonies O Lord are very sure intimating that there is no certain or comfortable knowledge of God to be got but only thence Neverthelesse those poore Ethniks for their unthankfullnesse for that little they had and because that when they knew God after a sort they glorified him not as God Rom. 1.20 neither were thankfull God gave them up to a reprobate sense as likewise he did the idle servant to the tormentour for not improving his one talent O then what will he do or rather what will he not do to us that have made so little of so many advantages Psal 8â— 15 Cant. 2.12 Psal 84. that have heard the joyfull sound the voyce of the Turtle so long in our Land that have seen the face of God so frequently and familiarly in his Ordinances had the everlasting Gospell so puerly and powerfully preacht amongst us even the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret since the world began but is now made manifest and by the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the Commandement of the everlasting God made known to all Nations for the obedience of Faith To God only wise be therfore glory through Christ Jesus for ever Rom. 16.25 26 27. The greatnesse of this inexplicable benefit will the better appeare to us if we consider it as cloathed with these ensuing circumstances First that this good Word of God is come to our hands after so many ages so perfect and entire wanting nothing that no part of the holy Canon is perished not a haire of this sacred head missing Next that we have it so exactly and exquisitely rendred and translated into the vulgar tongues A priviledge that our fore-Fathers wishâ— well to but obtained not It were a great grace saith Lambert the Martyr if we might have the word of God diligently and often read and sung unto us in such wise that the people might understand it Then should it come to passe that Crafts-men should sing spirituall Psalmes Acts and Monuments fol. 1015. sitting at their work and the Husband-man at his Plow as wisheth S. Hierome Bugenhagius a famous Divine of Germany was so joyfull of the Dutch Bible in translating wherof out of the Hebrew and Greek Originals he and some other learned men had laboured together with Luther Melch. Adam in vita Bugenhagij that every yeare he invited his friends on that day of the Moneth whereon the worke was finished and called it the Feast of the translation of the Bible Thirdly that we have the whole will of God in so little a room in so portable a Volume Jn reading many
maugre their malice runnes as the Apostle speaketh and is glorified This these wicked Popelings see and are grieved Psal 112.10 they gnash with their teeth and melt away yea they gnaw their tongues for paine and torment of their sores Rev. 16.9 10. they blaspheme the Name that is Invidiâ Siculi non invenere tyranni Majus tormentum the Word of God which hath power over these plagues and repent not to give him the glory Sed in hoc ulcere non ero unguis it shall suffice to have pointed at it Section 2. SEcondly is it the very Word of God that we reade in the Bible and is Hee the undoubted Authour thereof this then informes and advertiseth us of the surpassing dignity and supereminent excellency of that thrice-sacred Booke above all humane writings whatsoever That which David said of Goliahs sword may be fitly applyed to the sword of the Spirit 1 Sam. 21.9 there is none to that And as of the river Pison in Paradise that compasseth the land of Havilah it is recorded that there is gold and with an emphasie Gen. 2.11 12. the gold of that land is good There is also Bdellium and the Onyx stone The other three rivers have nothing said of them in comparison of this first though they doubtlesse had their severall commendations So stands the case betweene this and all other Bookes though suo genere never so praise-worthy Prov. 31. Many daughters so Authours have done vertuously but this excells them all There was not such a man as Job Iob 1. nor can there bee such a Booke as this in all the earth Hence it is called the Bible that is the Booke by an excellency as the onely Booke Auferantur de medio chartae nostrae procedat in mediuÌ„ codex Dei In Psal 57. Ego odi meos libvos saepè opto eâ—s in crire c. Luther in Genes 1 4. Evangesâ—i libri sunt Apostolici an iquâ—â—ilque Prophetarum oracula quae nos manifestò â—â—siruunt c. suscipiamus igitâ— ex sermonibus divinitùs inspiratis quaestionum solutionem Chemnit ex Theodoâ—et And the Word is that which should bee ever sounding in our eares and the Scriptures as being to all other writings as Josephs sheaâ—e was to his brethrens or as the Sunne to the lesser Starres Hence that of Saint Austin Away with our writings that roome may be made for the Booke of God And that of Luther I heartily hate mine owne bookes and could wish them out of the world because I feare they keepe men from spending so much time in reading Gods Booke the only fountain of al true wisdom And that of Constantine the Great wherewith he opened the Councell of Nice Yee have the New Testament and the Old which plainly instruct us what to judge in divine matters Out of these therefore let us fetch answers to al questions that shall be moved amongst us as the High-priest did of old at the Oracle for they have God for their authour and are the platforme of that wisedome that is in God himselfe 1 Cor. 2.6 7. Excellent things are in Scripture-phrase said to be things of God as tall trees high mountains famous cities I have wrastled with my sister with wrastlings of God Gen. 30 â— said Rachel that is with great wrastlings and have prevailed How much more may the Bible bee said to be of God which sets forth its precious and peerlesse worth sith he uttered some of it with his own mouth and so might say as Joseph did once to his brethren Behold you see that mine owne mouth speakes and wrote other some with his owne finger as the Decalogue Deut. 5.22 and so might say as Paul to Philemon I Paul have written it with mine owne hand vers 19. That one short Epistle to Philemon sith we are fallen into the mention of it though about so low and abject an object so poore and petty a matter as the receiving againe of a fugitive bondslave yet with what admirable pithinesse and powerfulnesse of speech is it set forth Plena lacertorum roboris epistola Scultet observat singulis ferè verbis singula argumenta saith one Not a word but hath its waight not a syllable but hath its substance Those Epistles written as is pretended by Paul to Seneca they have his name indeed but not the least dram or drop of his spirit they savour not of his Apostolicall majesty and gravity which shineth even in this the least of all his Epistles Paulum quatiescunque lego videor mihi n n verba audire sed tonitrna In brevitate verborum est luxuries rerum Origen As often as I reade Saint Paul saith Hierom me thinkes I heare not words but thunders In fewnesse of words he hath all fulnesse of matter saith Origen and sets a grace and a glosse upon meane matters in his manner of handling them How much more when he treats of Predestination or any such profound mystery as in that lofty and lively Epistle to the Romanes which Melancthon was wont to call the confession of our Churches and thought it time well spent to goe over it a matter of ten severall times in his ordinary Lectures The truth is it is such as never could any man think speake or write sufficiently of its worth and excellency M. Perkins adviseth in reading the Scriptures first to beginne with the Gospel of Saint John and this Epistle to the Romanes after with the Prophet Esay because these three bookes bee as the keyes to open the right understanding of the rest Saint Jerome doubts not to affirme of that prophecie of Esay Quicquid est sanctarum scripturarum quicquid potest humana lingua proferre aut sensus concipere in eâ— volumine continetur that whatsoever other peece there is of holy Scripture whatsoever mans minde can conceive or tongue expresse is contained in this one booke Esay himselfe calls it a great Booke wherein but little was written chap. 8.1 We may safely call it a little book wherin great things are written even those mirabilia of the Law Hos 8.12 and magnalia of the Testimony or Gospel for so that Prophet in the same chapter divides the holy Scriptures into the Law and Testimony Esay 8.20 as into its integrall parts To the Law saith he and to the Testimony Now the Gospel is often called the Testimony by Saint John especially because it testifies of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whose very name Jesus is a short Gospel the very summe and substance of all the good newes in the world The nativity preaching persecution apprehension death resurrection ascension of our Saviour yea and latter comming to judgement is lively set forth by this one Prophet Esay whence hee was called by a Father the Evangelicall Prophet The Babe of Bethlehem is wrapt up as it were in the swathing-bands of both Testaments Christ is both the subject and object
Owles abroad in so bright a firmament blind as beetles in a land of light darke in Goshen amidst so many meanes and mercies in the land of uprightnesse doe yee deale unjustly and not behold the Majesty of the Lord Isa 26.10 O generation see ye the word of the Lord Have I beene a wildernesse to the house of Israel a land of darknesse and of the shadow of death Ie. 2.31 How is it then that yee are still sottish children without understanding wise to doe evill but to doe good yee have no knowledge Ieremy 9.3 2 Chron. 13.5 Ought yee not to have knowne as Abijam said to Ieroboam and all Israel should ye not all know the Lord from the least to the greatest Hab. 2.14 Should not the earth be silled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea These are the times if ever wherein God hath powred forth his spirit upon all flesh Ioel 2.28 stretched forth his hands to us all day long Prov. 1. lifted his voyce in the high places of the City caused the Candle of his Gospell to shine full faire upon this kingdom for so long together Matth. 11. so that we have beene lifted up to Heaven as Capernaum in the abundance of meanes and plenty of outward priviledges In the time of Pope Clement the sixth when as Lewis of Spaine was chosen Prince of the Fortunate Ilands and was gathering an Army in Italie and France the English Embassadour then resident at Rome together with his company gat them home as not doubting but that Lewis was set up against the King of England Robertus Avisburiensis than which they could not imagine there was any more fortunate Island under heaven Was it so then over-spread with Aegyptian darkenesse what would our fore-fathers have judg'd had they had our happinesse to live in these glorious dayes of Alexandria in Aegypt Ammianus Marcellinus observeth that once in a day the Sunne hath been continually ever seene to shine over it In the Iland of Lycia the sky is never so cloudy saith Solinus Vnde Horat cam claram vocat but that the Sun may be seene Semper in sole sita est Rhodos The Rhodes is ever in the Sunne-shine saith Aeneas Sylvius And Tacitus tells us that here in Britany the Sunne in Summer neither riseth nor falleth but doth so lightly passe from us by night In vita Agricolae that you can hardly put a difference betweene the end and beginning of the light This is indeed chiefly true of us in respect of the bright and beautifull sun-shine of the truth Other Countries sit in darkenesse and shadow of death like the Valley of Sciâ—ssa neare the Towne called Patrae Locus radijs solis ferme invisus â—ce aliam ob causam memorabilis Solin c. 12 which being shaded by nine high His is scarce ever visited by the beames of the Sun But to us as to Zabulon and Nephtali is a great light risen Matth. 4.16 Now when a master sets up his servant a great light to worke by hee lookes to have it done both more and better Nihil in Hispania â—tiosum nihil sterâ—â—â— Solin cap. 36. So here Surely it should bee with us as they say of Spaine that there is nothing idle nothing barren there But a lasse it fals out farre otherwise for some have not the knowledge of God 1 Cor. 15.34 to their shame be it spoken but are as bard and rude every whit in very fundamentals and have the same bald and base conceits of God and his will as the blind Heathens had Let me tell you a Pulpit-story and that 's no place to lye in of an old man above sixtie who lived and dyed in a Parish where besides the word read continually there had beene preaching almost all his time and for the greatest part twice on the Lords Day Pembles Serm Mischâ—â—fe of Ignorance besides at extraordinary times This man was a constant hearer as any might be and seemed forward in the love of the Word On his death-bed being questioned by a Minister touching his faith and hope in God you will wonder to heare what answers hee made Being demanded what he thought of God hee answers that he was a good old man And what of Christ that he was a towardly yong youth And of his soule that it was a great bone in his body And what should become of his soule after he was dead That if he had done well he should bee put into a pleasant greene meddow These answers astonished those that were present to think how it were possible for a man of good understanding and one that in his dayes had heard by the least two or three thousand Sermons yet upon his death bed in serious manner thus to deliver his opinion in such maine points of Religion which infants and sucklings shold not be ignorant of Oh who can sufficiently bewaile and expiate the grosse ignorance found in the greater number as rude and raw in Scripture matters as if they were not reasonable creatures though in other things wondrous acute and apprehensive And for the better sort that runne to and fro to increase knowledge Dan. 12.4 some smattering skill they have got but it s wofully indistinct and ill bottomd It would puzzle them shrewdly after so much teaching to give a good account of their faith Surely as Lactantius wittily said that there was never lesse wisdome in Greece then in the time of the seven wise-men so may it be justly complained of the extreme want of knowledge in the abundance of so many means of knowledge That little men have got is for most part ineffectuall and hath little influence into their hearts and lives They use it as some do artificiall teeth more for shew then service or as the Athenians are said to do their coyn to count and gingle with only striving more to an ability of discourse then to an activity of practise to talk of it then to walke by it The very entrance of Gods word giveth light c. Psalme 119 1â— Iohn 3. In agris Sardâ— reperitur animal perexiguâ— simileque araeneis sorma solifuga dicta quod diem sug at Solinus c. 1 Acts 28.27 But this is condemnation that is hel above grouÌ„d that light is come into the world c. like the creature called solifuga the day is to theÌ„ as the shadow of death These mens ignorance is not meerely privative as was that in our Saviour as man only nor naturall as in infants nor invincible as theirs that lived in the midnight of Popery but wilfull and affected Vt liberius peccent libenter ignorant saith Bern. they winke with their eyes as the Pharisees they shut the window lest the radiant tresses of the sun should trouble them in their sleep they are wilfully ignorant 2 Peter 2. Psalm 50. with those in Peter whiles they cast Gods word behind them and bespeake
curse upon him his pretended studies charged to help the Lord against the mighty Iudg. 5.23 how coursely was he used at first in that City of Geneva Some for Calvin called him Cain others in contempt of him named their dogs Calvin many kept from the Lords Supper out of hatred to him their painful Preacher nec pauci erant scelerati saith he on his death bed à quibus indignissima multa sum perpessus there were not a few wicked person who dealt most unkindly and unworthily with me At length being cast out of the Towne by an ostracisme though afterwards recalled surely said he if I had served men Certè si homini bus servivissem est Contra Wolsaeus semetipsum detestatus est quod Regi pocius quaÌ„ Deo studusset placere Seult Annal. 332. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I had been but ill requited for all my love and labour But God be thanked I have served him who never leaves his but whiles they be preaching lustily on earth he is interceding instantly for them in heaven Rev. 8.3 The spirit also hemmes them in as it did S. Paul Act. 20.22 he comprehends and keeps them so that when a man 's owne strength would fall oose this supernaturall strength stayes and strengthens it This M. Calvin felt and confessed a little afore his death to his fellow Ministers that came to visit him that the Lord so confirmed and comforted him Calvin morteturi Oratio ad collegas apud Melch. Adam invita Calvini pag. 106. who was by nature timorous and faint-harted that he was no whit daunted or discouraged by the injuries and indignities of his greatest enemies but chearefully went on with the work of the Lord Jesus who with the same right hand raised his servant John wherein he held the seven Angels of Asia Rev. 1 17 20. SEC 3. LAstly let Ministers sith it is Gods Word they handle Gods Arke they beare Gods Altar they wait at Gods errand they go on be holy and unreproovable in their whole course expressing God to the World as much as may be Be cleane ye that beare the vessels of the Lord yet that are the vessels to beare his holy Name to the people Esav 42 11. Acts 9.15 Let holinesse to the Lord bee writen on your frontlets nay on your pots and on the bridles of your horses In the Leviticall Priests nil plebeium reperiebatur nil populare Zach. 14.20 saith Ambrose nothing vulgar or ordinary was to be found Speciall order was taken that they should be neither bleare-eyed nor blemished nor any other way deformed or defective Neither might they at any time serve at the Altar till they had washed in the Laver lest they dye The very workmen were filled with the spirit of wisdome Exod. 30.20 for the making of their vestments the high Priests especially who came forth Os humerosque Deo similis like an earthly God in his glorious and gorgeous attire every peece whereof was mysterious and significant By his linnen breeches there are that thinke hee was minded and admonished of purity Sunt qui per feminalia pontiâ—icis puritateÌ„ c. D. Predeaux Lect. de vestibus pag. 38. by his girdle say they he was taught discretion by his embroidered coate heavenly conversation by his golden bells sound doctrin by his pomgranats godly living by his humerall patience in bearing other mens infirmities by his Rationall or brestplate carefulnesse for the faithfull by his Mitre a right intention and by the plate thereof an open profession of holinesse Remarkable it is that when Aaron and Miriam had murmured against Moses and were both alike in the transgression Miriam only was smitten with leprosie and not Aaron Chrysostome saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homil. in Coloss 3. it was for the holinesse and honour of the Priesthood and lest the leprosie on his person should redouÌ„d to the dishonour of his Office How much more careful should such then be of sin which defileth much worse than any leprosie or jakes whatsoever as our Saviour shewes in the Gospell Mat. 15.18 19 How should they see to it that their doctrine though it bee carpt at yet it may be sound speech that cannot bee condemned and for their persons and practises though they bee nibbled at yet both may be unrebukable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tit. 2.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 6.24 Ministers should be as the Cedars of Libanus Cant. 1.17 tall and that admit not of any worme that of covetousnes especially 1 Tim. 6.10 which boareth thorough the conscience Yea as the tree of Paradise sweet for tast and faire to look upon as Absolom in whom there was no blemish from head to foot as Saul higher by head and shoulders in goodnesse than the rest of the people as Daniel who could be found no fault with save in the matter of his God as John Baptist who lived so strictly that by some hee was taken to bee the Christ yea as Christ himselfe that imparallell patterne of perfection who lest us a coppy saith S. Peter that we should write after in that he did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 2.21.22 He preached many times t is Theophylacts observation upon Math. 5.2 when yet he opened not his mouth viz. by his holy life and wounderfull words So must a Minister 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Every thing in him had need bee edificatory and exemplary He should go before the flock John 10.34 The custome of the Easterne Country it seemes was for Shepheards not to drive their Sheep but go before them Let no man despise thy youth saith Paul to Timothy How shall I helpe it 1 Tim. 4 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. ad Mign. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if they do might he say Why bee thou an example of the beleevers in word and conversation The word rendred example signifies such a thing as makes the stamp upon the coyne or the mould for the bullet The Ministers life is the life of his Ministery and Teachers sins are the teachers of sins For the people are led more by their eyes than by their eares the eyes of their Understandings like Jacobs sheep being too firmely fixt on such party-coloured objects Malac. 2. as say well and do worse cause their affections to bring forth spotted fruits But God will cast dirt in the faces of irregular and irreligious Levites that cover foule sins as Elies sons did under a white Ephod that have Vrim without Thummim on their brest-plates bells without pomgranates on the borders of their garments that Pharisee like speake by the talent Meritò praeseâ—t Cicâ—ro Catonè Socraâ—â— quonâ—â— hujusdecta illius facta laudantur De amicitia work by the ounce that Lizard-like make prints with their feet dash them out with their taile and as the Lap-wing cry aloft as if their affections were there
they no where use it to eighteene in the hundred But in Turkey Sands his Relation of the West Relig. though every Visier and Bassa of State is reported to keepe a Jew of his private Councell whose malice wit for they are generally found to be the most nimble and Mercuriall wits in the world and experience of Christendome Blunts voyage into the Levant p. 114. with their continuall intelligence is thought to advise most of the mischiefe which the Turke puts in execution against us Yet generally they are so hated of the Mahometans that they use to say in detestation of a thing In execrationibus dicunt Iudaeus sim si fallo Sanctius in Zach. 8.13 I would I might die a Jew then or Let mee be a Jew if I deceive thee And Biddulph tells us that in Constantinople and Thessalonica where are so many thousands of them if they but stirre out of doores at any Easter-time betweene Maunday-Thurseday at noone and Easter-eve at night the Christians among whom they dwell will stone them because at that time they derided buffeted and crucified our Saviour Thus as they use to say poore soules amongst themselves Moses Gerundinensis there is an ounce of the golden calfe in all the punishments that befall them so no doubt there is a pound of that direfull and dreadfull execration His blood be upon us and our children for the which wrath is now come upon them to the uttermost They cloathed themselves with a curse Psal 109.18 and it is come into their bowels as water and like oyle into their bones Their mouth is still full of cursing and bitternesse Rom. 3. They curse the Lord Christ in a covert abbreviature of his name calling him in relation to his death on the Crosse Iesum Iudaei corruptè improbè scribunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 adeoque sub tribus literis abbreviatis intelligunt vocabula 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deleatur nomen ejus Si transcas Iudaeuâ— Zeloten audâ—es 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ethnice spurle quod nuper Wormatiae petulant a lole cens praetereuntibus nobis acclamabat Par. in Rom. 11.25 the woofe and the warp They curse also his servants closing their daily prayers with a Maledic Domine Nazareis calling them Gentiles nay bastard Gentiles nay divels in their salutations by craft and under a shew of courtesie Therefore also are themselves become a curse among the Gentiles as was fore-prophesied by Zachary Zach. 8.13 as who should say God make thee as a Jew The Turkes whom they call Ishmaelites will not suffer them to turne Turke unlesse they will be baptized as neither will the Papists suffer them to turne Christians unlesse they will quit all their goods to the Christians under pretence that those goods They entertaine Christians with Shedwilcom welcome divell Hei Isord Sands his Survey of West being gotten by usury are part of the divels works which in baptisme they professe to renounce This is cold comfort to men of their mettalls and a maine meanes to keepe them Jewes still stiffe in their owne religion which yet is part of their calamity For they pay to the Pope and other Princes in Italy a yeerely rent for the very heads they weare Ibid. Besides other meanes to rack and wreck them in their purses at pleasure they being used as the Friars to suck from the meanest and to be sucked by the greatest This is a pressure they grievously groane under and doe therefore call so loud for their long-lookt-for Messiah Tantis exposâ—unt ululatibus D. â—rideaux Lect. crying Let thy kingdome come quickly and in our daies Bimberah Beiamenu Lights Miscell That earthly kingdome they meane that the Disciples of our Saviour also being sowred with the leaven of the Pharisees so dreamt and doted on and wherein they will not endure that Chrstians should have any share or interest Rather then any such thing should be they would crucifie their Messias a hundred times over they say And as for those few Jewes that turne Christians in Italy they pretend that they are none of them Blunts voyage but poore Christians hired from other cities to personate their part Thus hath God to all other their plagues and punishments Mat. 13.14 Mar. 4.12 Luk. 8.4 Ioh. 22 40. Act. 28.26 Rom. 11.8 added this worst of all of a fat and hard heart according to that of the Prophet so often cited in the New Testament against them He hath given them the spirit of slumber unto this day Ezr. 10.2 But yet there is hope in Israel concerning this Act. 3.17 Ioh. 16.2 Rom. 10.2 for they have rejected the Gospell not out of meere malice but ignorantly out of a blind zeale Besides blindnesse is but in part happened to Israel Rom. 11.25 26. it is not a totall nor a finall obstinacy untill the fullnesse of the Gentiles be come in and so all Israel shall be saved This he calls a mystery because no man can conceive how it should be But yet he would not have us Gentiles ignorant of it that remembring our ingagement Ioh 4. and that salvation is of the Jewes wee may further their conversion by crying day and night Psal 14.7 O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion c. and not hinder it as the Papists doe by their abhominable idolatries and exactions and the common protestants by their damnable oathes and blasphemies a sinne that they very Turkes punish and the Jewes assigne for the cause wherefore the Turkes have so prevailed against us And lastly as the best of us may doe by our dulnesse to this duty of pittying and praying for them and so promoting their conversion for the which neglect they have I feare an unanswerable action against us CHAP. VIII SEcondly is it God that speakes in the Scriptures and Writes to us these great things of his Law mee thinkes we should not need be exhorted 1. To reade it diligently 2. To rest upon it confidently for instruction and comfort Sect. 1. REade it first Quid est S. Script nisi quaedam Epistola omnipot Dei ad creaturam suam Greg. Ovid. for it is Gods Epistle for our sakes Written 1 Cor. 9.10 for our Admonition 1 Cor. 10.11 and Consolation Rom. 15.4 quid Epistola lecta nocebit Study it for it is Gods Statute Book Peruse it for it is our Fathers Will and Testament wherein we may find our owne names written as David did Psal 40 7. In the Volume of thy Booke it is written of mee that J should doe thy will O God and as the Church in Hosea did Hee found Jacob in Bethel Hos 12 4. and there he spake with us So what was said to Joshua Iosh 1.8 J will not leave thee nor forsake thee was said to every good soule Heb. 13.5 that shall reade in the booke of the Law as he did day and night that shall esteeme it
of Promise Psal 119.8 yet he will not forsake us For he hath said and it is five severall times repeated in Scripture for more surety 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 13.5 as Pharaohs dreame was J will not leave thee or if I doe yet J will not forsake thee So many Notes there are in the Originall for our better Assurance Oh incomparable comfort Who is then amongst you that feareth the LORD and yet walketh in darknesse and hath noe light let him trust in the name of the LORD and stay upon his GOD. But if this most savoury and saving course please you not Walke another while in the light of your owne Fire Esa 50.10 11. and in the sparkes that ye have kindled Not the fire of the Sanctuary that shadow'd out the will and wisdome of God in his Word but in the sparks of your owne tinder-boxes of your owne imaginations and conceits strange fire carnall plea's the mis-givings of your unbeleeving hearts Esa 55.1 This shall ye have of mine hand ye shall lye downe in sorrow The soule is ready to hang her comforts on every hedge to knocke at the doore of every creature for reliefe to use the meanes as Mediatours to shift and sharke in every bie-corner for Comfort and is hardly drawne to buy of CHRIT without money would gladly come with her cost or if not soe then shee stands off in a sinfull shamefac'dnesse But this is not the way Christ must be All and in all Ephes 6.14 Revel 1.13 Charitatem de signat Inter mamillas amoris sedes Cor. Pareus 1 Pet. 1.13 and it will never be well till we gird up the loynes of our minds with the girdle of Truth or rather with that golden girdle wherwith Christ is girt about the papâ— which betokeneth his entire love to us and trust perfectly on the grace that by him is brought unto us Satan deales by the soule as Joshua did by the men of Ai gets it out of the city out of the strong-hold of the Promise and then doth what he will with us Good therfore is the counsell of Saint John Little children keepe home 1 Iohn 2.28 1 Ioh. 3. â—3 Heb. 6.13 if ye abide in Gods Commandements ye abide in God Now this is his Commandement that we beleeve on the name of his Son Jesus Christ and become followers of them who through Faith and Patience have inherited the Promises The Patriarches in their tiresome and troublesome pilgrimages lived by them died upon them and would not be buried but where they had received them giving commandement concerning their bones Father Latymer when he stood at the Stake ready to shed his heart-blood for the Truth which was one of the three things he so heartily praid for in the time of his imprisonment and obtained he lifted up his eyes toward Heaven with an amiable and comfortable countenance saying 1 Cor. 10 Faithfull is God who will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able and so afterwards shed his blood in the cause of Christ The which blood Acts MonumeÌ„ts fol. 1579 saith Master Fox ran out of his heart in such aboundance that all the godly that were present did much marvell to see the most part of the blood in his body to be gathered to his heart and with such violence to gush out his body being opened by the force of the fire The same Authour reporteth of Alice Benden Martyr that being kept in prison nine weeks with bread and water sequestred from her loving fellows she continued in great heavinesse till on a night as she was in her sorrowfull supplications rehearsing Why art thou so disquieted O my soule Ibid fol. 1797 c. And again The right hand of the most high can change all this she received comfort in the midst of her miseries The like he relateth of Mistris Joyce Lewis of Manchester Martyr that about three of the clock in the morning before she was to suffer Sathan who never sleepeth especially when death is at hand began to stir himself busily shooting at her those fiery darts Ibid fol 1826 which he is wont to do against all that are at defiance with him But by conference with Christian friends and especially by the sweet and precious Promises of Christ Sathan was vanquished and she comforted She overcame the great red Dragon by the blood of the Lambe and by the word of her testimony 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 she loved not her life unto the death Revel 12.11 Death is the king of terrours saith Job of all terribles the most terrible saith Aristotle Nature shrinks at the apprehension and approach of it at the least motion or mention of it and her boldest champions that seem to out-brave death and to dare it to a duell calling for it as Gaal once did for Abimelech Iudg. 9.28 â— with Increase thine army and come out yet when death comes in good earnest they are not able to look it in the face with blood in their cheeks Death ceiseth on them as a mercilesse officer Ps 55.15 as a cruell Land-lord as he that took his fellow by the throate and threw him into prison as Gods executioner as the messenger of eternall death yea as the Divell himself Hence those unutterable anxieties and anguishes those doubts and perplexities those horrours and amazements those terrors and tortures those convulsions of soule that hell above ground a very foretast and handsell of eternall torments This makes them catch as fast hold on the hints of life as Joab did on the hornes of the Altar play as loth to depart out of the world as Lot out of Sodome willing to be slaves or any thing with the Gibeonites so that they might live here rather then to depart hence Which if they must needs and there be no remedy they go out of life with as ill a will as the unjust steward did out of his office as the Jebusites did out of their Jerusalem as Adam out of Paradice yea as the Divell out of the demoniack raging raving rending tearing fuming foaming Yea it is a just wonder how any such can dye in their right wits that dye not partakers of the Promises Luk. â— Egredere ó anima mea c. that see not their owne names written in them as in Gods Book of life This this is that that will make a Simeon sing out his soule an Hilurion chide it out a Bradford put off his cappe and praise God when the keepers wife came to tell him he must be burnt the next day a Taylour fetch a friske at the stake a Hawkes clap his hands over his head in the flames and others sing Psalmes till the fire and smoake had stopt their breath A cordibus suis facti sunt fugâ—tivi Tertull. When a Cain cast out from Gods presence and bereft of the comfort of his Ordinances becomes a fugitive from his own conscience and thinks
every bush a man and every man an Executioner Isa 7.2 a butcher to doe him to death Ahab mournes and goes softly upon a message of death 1 Sam. 28. â—0 1 Sam. 15.37 Ahaz and his company tremble as the trees of the wood Saul faints and fals flat upon the Earth as a beast Nabal lyes dead in the nest like a block Adrian warbles out that dolefull ditty Carion Chron. Animula vagula blandula Quae nunc abibis in loca c. Silly soule whether art thou wending Another seeing her deare children slain afore her Cratificlia mater Cleomenis apud Plutar. in Cleom. and her selfe ready to be served in like sort uttered only this word Quo pueriestis profecti Poore children what 's become of you Anxius vixi dubius morior nescio quo vado saith a third Carefull I have lived doubtfull I dye whether I go I wot not 2 Cor. 5.1 â— But we know saith the Apostle for himself and his Corinthians that when our earthly tabernacle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our clayie cottage shall be dissolved we have a building of God a house not made with hands eternall in the Heavens And for this we groane earnestly desiring to be dissolved to loose from the shore of life and to launch out into the main of Immortality forasmuch as we know not we think or hope only but by the certainty of Faith grounded on the Promise we are well assured that we shall be then at home with Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 1.23 which is far far the better Look how the Disciples when they had bin tossed all night afore upon the Sea A transcendent expr ssion Ioh. 6. â—1 after they had once taken Christ into the ship were immediately at shore So he that hath fouÌ„ded his faith upon the word of Christ which dwelleth plentifully in him what measure soever he hath met with here yet no sooner takes he death as conquer'd by Christ into his bosome and bowels but he is immediately landed at the key of Canaan at the kingdome of Heaven The fore-thoughts hereof fils his heart with unspeakable and glorious joy fortifies his spirit against the fear of death which he hath learn'd out of Gods word to be to him neither totall nor perpetuall Rom. 8.10 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 His Funerall preached by M. Rich. Stocke and causeth him to over-abound exceedingly with comfort as S. Paul speaketh O that ioy O my God when shall J be with thee said that heavenly sparke now ready to be extinct the young Lord Harrington I am by the wonderfull mercies of God saith another upon his death-bed as full of comfort as ever my heart can hold and feele nothing but Christ with whom I heartily desire to be M. Rob. Boâ—ton Another reverend Divine of our Church the day before he died called eagerly for the holy Bible with these very words Come O come M. Iohn Holland Bachelour of Divinity death approacheth let us gather some flowers to comfort this houre All other comforts he knew were but Ichabods without this and therfore turning with his own hands to that 8. chap. to the Romanes M. William Leigh B.D. and Pastour of Standish in his Souls solace against sorrow he gave me the book saith the Reverend man that relates it and bad me read At the end of every verse he made a pause and gave the sense in such sort with such feeling as was much to his own comfort but more to our joy and wonder Having thus continued his meditation and exposition for the space of two hours or more on the sudden he said O stay your reading what brightnes is this J see have you light up any candles To which one answered no it is the Sun-shine for it was about five a clock in a cleare Summers-evening Sun-shine saith he nay my Saviors shine Now farwell world welcome Heaven the Day-starre from on high hath visited my heart O speake it when J am gone and preach it at my funerall God dealeth familiarly with man J feele his mercy J see his Maiesty whither in the body or out of the body J cannot tell God he knoweth but J see things that are unutterable So ravisht in spirit he shut up his blessed life with these blessed words O what an happy change shall J make from night to day from darknes to light from death to life from sorrow to solace from a factious world to an heavenly being Mistris Kath. Brettergh of Bretterhoult in Lancashire in her life annexed to her funerall Sermon c. One more yet and that of the weaker sort and sex but strong in Faith and ready in the Scriptures wherin she used to read eight chapters a day at least This was her constant task in her health and the fruit therof she reaped and received in her sicknesse and at her greatest need Once indeed being conflicted by a temptation of Satan she cast her Bible from her and said it was indeed the book of life but she had read the same unprofitably and therfore feared it was become to her the book of death But another time when the temptation was vanished and comfort recovered she tooke her Bible in her hand and joyfully kissing it and looking up toward Heaven she said that of the Psalme Ps 119.71 72. O Lord it is good for me that J have bin afflicted that J may learn thy statutes The Law of thy mouth is better to me then thousands of gold and silver During the time of her sicknes she rehearst for her comfort many texts of Scripture but especially the eighth to the Romans and the 17. of S. John many times concluding and closing up that she read or repeated with prayer and most comfortable uses and applications therof to her self crying out est-soon O happy am I that ever I was born to see this blessed day O praise the Lord for he hath filled me with ioy and gladnes O the ioyes the ioyes the ioyes that J feele in my soule O they be wonderfull they be wonderfull they be wonderfull O how mercifull and marvellous gratious art thou unto me O God c. And this my soule knows right well and this my soule knows right wel which speech of her assurance she often repeated Her last words were My warfare is accomplished and mine iniquities are pardoned Isa 40.1 Ps 7 5. Lord whom have I in Heaven but thee and I have none in Earth but thee My flesh faileth and mine heart also but God is the strength of my heart Vna est in â—â— pida mihire medicina â—e vaelor patriâ—â— oâ— verax 〈◊〉 â—otensque maâ— Nath. Chytâ— and my portion for ever He that preserveth Jacob and defendeth Israel he is my God and will guide me unto death Guide me O Lord my God and suffer me not to faint but keep my soul in safety And with that she yeelded up the ghost a sweet Sabbaths sacrifice on Whitsunday being the last of May 1601 Now what but the mighty word of God which is his power to salvation could have thus filled the heart and mouth of a weak woman at the time of death with such unconceivable comfort and who would not read and rest stedfastly on such a word of Gods grace â—â— 19.7 â—oh 5.25 Ps 119.50 â—ev 12.11 â—oh 8.31 34. â—rov 6.21 〈◊〉 59.21 as rejoyceth the heart and enlightneth the eyes quickneth the spirit and comforteth the conscieÌ„ce armeth us against Satan and subdueth sin preserveth us from all evill and abideth with us for ever O hide this word in your hearts Ps 119.11 have it ready at your heads as Saul had his speare and pitcher â— Sam. 26.11 Prov. 6.22 23. let it lead you walking watch you sleeping talke with you waking For the commandement is a lamp and the Law is light yea every word of God is pure he is a sheild to them that put their trust therin we had better saith one Malemus carere â—â—lo terra omniâ—â— elementis c. Seâ—â—ecce â—â—s in Paedago â—to Christians want meat drink the light of the Sun we had better be without aire earth all the elements yea life it selfe then that one sweet sentence of our Saviour Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden c. FINIS