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
who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets HEBREWES 1.2 Hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Sonne whom he hath appointed heyre of all things hy whom also he made the worlds HEBREWES 1.3 Who being the brightnesse of his glory and the expresse image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himselfe purged our sinnes sate downe on the right hand of the Majesty on high CHAP. I. THE blessed Authour of this excellent Epistle whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I strive not mainly seekes to set up Christ the Lord in his threefold office as shadowed out of old in the types of the Law and exhibited now alate in these dayes of the Gospel It seemed a hard saying to the Hebrewes Durus est hic sernâ— Ioh. 6. that the Gospel should have the better hand of the Law Iesus of Moses He therefore makes it his first work to set a difference and to prove a precellency of the New above the Old Testament which albeit they concurre in the Authour of both God yet come they to a threefold difference whether we looke upon 1. the Preachers there his servants the Prophets here his sonne and heyre Or 2. the Hearers there the Fathers here Vs for whom some better thing was provided Heb. 11.40 Or 3. the manner of Revelation there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in many peeces and after diverse fashions here fully and lastly together and at once Or 4. the time of dispensation there of old or long since here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in these last dayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which cap. 2.5 he calls the world to come The next thing he does is to advance Messiah above Moses whom yet he names not Ne limine impingat for avoyding offence at the first entrance and that because he is preferred by God himselfe above the very Angels as he proves by many plaine testimonies And there-hence afterward infers that the doctrine of Christ is farre more attentively to be heard that is to be beleeved and obeyed than the speech of Angels Gal. 3.14 that is than the Law ordained by Angels in the hand of Moses a Mediatour Now the commendation he there gives our Saviour stands in a stately description of his sacred person his threefold office and stupendious workes which he did either as God And these are creation for he made the worlds and preservation for he upholds all things by his mighty Word Or secondly as God with us whether we consider him in the state of Humiliation he purged our sinnes by Himselfe or of Exaltation he sate downe on the right hand of the Majesty on high Thus our Apostle wadeth at first into that Profundum sine fundo that fathomlesse depth of Divinity giving his Hebrews a briefe of the whole ensuing businesse in these three first verses and purposely beginning his Epistles with mention of God of the Fathers and of the Prophets the very names of whom he knew well were precious and pleasant to Hebrew eares the better to insinuate and get within them At sundry times The lively voyce was ever in the Church from the beginning of the world to the death of the Apostles The sum also and substance of the Law and Gospel was one and the same in all ages which made Saint Paul say Act. 26.22 that he spake no other thing than what the Prophets and Moses spake before him Onely things were delivered at first more darkly and briefly afterwards more plainly and plentifully 2 Tim. 1.10 life and immortality being brought to light by the Gospel so that a man may runne and reade Habac. 2.2 The cloud went before the people while Moses led them which under Joshua vanished The veile was upon them in the reading of the Old Testament But we all with open face behold as in a glasse the glory of the Lord 2 Cor. 2.14 18. Mark 4.11 To us it is given above those of old to know the mysteries of the kingdome of heaven that great mystery for instance God manifested in the flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 To Adam was promised it should be the seed of the woman but whether of Jew or Gentile not a word was told him Abraham after this the Hebrew was given to know that of his seed should come the Messiah but of what Tribe nothing was revealed To Iacob indeed it was shewed that of the Tribe of Judah should Shiloh come but whether male or female 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tranquillator salvator à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tranquillitas Vnde Latinum â—alvere salvus salvare Amama nothing certaine David was assured that a son of his should sit upon his throne for ever but till Esay t' was not knowne that he should be borne of a pure Virgin that a woman should compasse a man Behold a Virgin that famous Virgin the Originall sets it forth with an accent spoken of Gen. 3.15 shall conceive and beare a sonne Ier. 31.22 Isai 7.14 The very place of his birth was not set forth till Michah Mich. 5.2 Dan. 9.24 nor the just time till Daniel Thus by degrees and peece-meale as I may so say God spake of old to our Fathers by his servants the Prophets Every age almost brought forth some new thing touching the Babe of Bethlehem â—apt up in the swath-bands of the holy History either in expresse and evident termes and testimonies or else in mirrours and miracles John Baptist Fibula legis gratiae Chrysolog the buckle of the Law and Gospel as one stiles him pointed Christ out with the finger And although he sent his Disciples to aske him the question Art thou he that should come c. for the which is it unworthily agitated by Tertullian in three severall places yet this he did not for his owne satisfaction much lesse out of envie and ambition as that Father mistooke it but for their better information Matth 11.9 Between John that was more than a Prophet and Malachy the last of Prophets the Jews place cathimath cazon the sealing up of prophecy In stead whereof succeeded say they Bath-qôl the divine Eccho or Oracle whereby after prophecy ceased future things were revealed from heaven But Malachy whom Tertullian calls the limit and land-marke of both Testaments prophesied about 400. yeares afore our Saviours birth Malach Limes inter Vetus Novum Test Zachary and Haggee much about 500 Daniel and Ezechiel 600 Esay and Jeremy 700. as the divine Chronologer computes it Jonas and Hoseas 800 â—ncholcer Elias and Elishah 900 Salomon 1000 David 1100 Sampson 1200 Gideon 1300 Joshuah 1400 Moses 1500 Joseph 1600 Jacob 1700 Isaac 1800 Abraham plus minus 2000. As before him Heber Sem Receptior sententia est Melchis non alium fuisse quam Shem c
Herod saw John Baptists head which he had lately cut off in our Saviours fame as Theodoricus that tyrant did the head of Symmachus whom he had slaine in the mouth of the fish that was set before him Math. 14.1 At that time Herod heard of the fame of Jesus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and he said to his boyes This is John Baptist hee is risen from the dead The Jewes of that time and he it seemes for company had embraced that dotage of the Pythagoreans touching the transmigration of soules out of one body into another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore John saith he is surely revived in Jesus This might be his opinion then and more that he tels the trouble of his mind to his servants for a secret hoping belike the world should be nere the wiser But it fell out wee see somewhat otherwise for that which he spake then in secret is now preached on the house-top This was but one of the Devils anodynes and would not do the deed He betakes him therefore to another course and will be a Sadducee another while a sect that denied the Resurrection of the body and the immortality of the soule that so he might blunt the sting of his awakened conscience that haunted him like a fury for the slaughter of the innocent Baptist Thus much may be gathered out of Matth. 16.6 compared with Mark 8.15 Haec est eninâ— vis Verbi Dei saith Beza on that text This is the mighty worke of the Word on an exulcerate conscience God smites the earth that is earthly-minded men that are no better than earth earth earth when they heare the Word of the Lord with the rod of his month Is 11.4 and with the breath of his lips doth he slay the wicked Those pharisees Math. 22.15 for instance that were toties puncti repuncti 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 minimè tamen ad resipiscentiam compuncti as one speaketh for why they had made voyd the counsell of God when they heard our Saviour refusing to be reformed hating to be healed whereas diverse of the common sort who had by their instigation crucified the Lord of glory when the Word came close and found them out in their sins were prickt at heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act 2.37 Prov. 23.32 thy felt their sins as so many stings of an adder pricks of a dagger yea as so many bearded arrows in their flesh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and were added to the Church To the former 2 Cor. 12.7 Gods Word was a savour of death to death the axe therof laid to the root of their rotten consciences out them down as fuell to hel-fire To the latter Math. 3.10 2 Cor. 2.16 it became a savour of life unto life a seed of immortality an effectuall instrument not of conviction only but of conversion also Iam. 4 5 6. For think ye saith S. James that the Scripture saith in vaine The spirit that is in you c. doth it shew you your naturall corruption and no more Not so for it saith not only that is convinceth but it giveth more grace it converteth also It brings not only to the birth as Ephraim that foolish child Hos but carrieth the soule thorough the narrow womb of repentance into the light of eternall life And this is the powerfull and proper effect of the good Word of Gods grace ever good to them that are good Mic. 2.7 or that but wish to be good Psalme 119.4 5 6. It is indeed like the water of jealousie Num. 5.27 28. For when it is received into a good and honest heart it cleares it and makes it fruitfull as when into a corrupt heart it rottes it and makes it worse Abigails speech smote Nabal into a qualme that caused his death when the same tongue blessed David and drew blessing from him Rahab was melted with that message wherewith the King of Jericho was hardned Mannah to the rebels turned into putrefaction and stank Moses his rod while hee held it in his hand budded and brought forth fresh almonds the same rod when he cast it from him turn'd into a Serpent The living words of dying Prophets took hold of those refractaries in Zachary Zach. 1.6 and slew them Those two witnesses are by some interpreted to bee the two Testaments the Old and the New Gods giving power unto them is the authorizing of them They are cloathed in sackcloth that is disguised and obscured hidden from the vulgar they spet fire as it were and plague their enemies as the Arke did the Ekronites But who are they Saint Austin answers Adâ—ersarius est nobis quamdiu sumus ipsi nobis quamdin tu tibi inin iâ— us et inimicum habebis sermenem Dei Aug. The Word of God is adversary to none but such as are adversaries to themselves and such as shall in that name have him for their utter enemy at length who shall come in flaming fire rendring vengeance to all that know not God 1 Thess 1.8 Math. 11.20 and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then shall hee shake such off as dust off his feet when they come to him for salvation and worthily for they have prejudged themselves already unworthy of eternall life Acts 13.46 because they have put away from them the Word of lift which they ought to have pul'd to them rather with both hands earnestly as David did Psal 119 48. and is therefore now triumphing in heaven as one that did not the will only but the Willes of God Acts 17. â—2 when others chose rather to do not the will but willes of the flesh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 2.2 and do therefore of the flesh reape corruption Gal. 6.8 Surely as the raine commeth down and the snow from Heaven and returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater So shall my Word bee that goeth forth out of my mouth it shall not returne unto mee voyd but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it Esay 55.10 11 saith the Lord. Section 4. FOurthly are the Scriptures of God This may further informe us of their perfection and sufficiency to our salvation as proceeding from God Al-sufficient from whom comes every good gift and perfect giving All Scripture as it is given by divine inspiration so is it profitable to all purposes to teach truth convince error correct vice direct to vertue comfort under the crosse that the man of God Minister or other may be perfect and entire wanting nothing The Law of the Lord is perfect saith David 2 Tim. 3.16 Iam. 1.4 Psal 19.7 the whole book of God is perfect with an essentiall perfectioÌ„ every part thereof with an integral perfectioÌ„ This cannot be said of the law of nature
fixed which yet are fashtned here below these resemble coyne which is white in it self but draws a black line after it Or water in great mens kitchins which having clensed other things is it selfe fit only for the sink Unsavoury salt is hardly fit for the dunghill nor a wicked Minister for any place but hell Certainely hee is the worst creature upon Earth and who are Devils in Hell now but such as once were Angels in Heavens Pop. Rom. Carbone pollicente quipiam addente jusjarandum cum exsecratione vicissim juravit se illi nom credere Suadet loquentis vita non oratio Neither helps it any whit that their tongues are so smooth in speaking good Divinity while their hands are so rough with Esau in uttering false The Bethshemites fare the worse for being a City of Priests their priviledge doubled their offence 1 Sam. 6.19 And God would not permit Aaron the passions of another man because he was a Priest It was at the funerall of his two sons that hee is forbidden to weep Levit. 10.6 Hee must not so much lament the judgement as magnifie Gods Justice in the deserved death of those two drunken priests They comming off their ale-bench likely brought strange fire by fire they perish Immediatly therupon charge is given to Aaron and his sons that they drink not wine nor strong drink Verse 9. when they go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation lest they dye Moreover Moses said to Aaron This is that which the Lord hath spoken Verse 3. I will be sanctified in all them that draw neare unto mee How sanctified may some say Austin answers Aut à nobis aut in nos Either by us while we preach painfully live hoilly or else on us by our just and utter destruction Seldome do loose-lived Ministers escape the visible vengeance of God forasmuch as they stumble with the Lanthorne in their hands and the words of reproofe in their mouths therefore will he seed them with gall and wormwood Ier. 23.15 By living otherwise then they teach they teach God to condemne them they carry Vriahs letters and put a sword into Gods hand as it were wherewith to undoe theÌ„ Balaam Satan's spelman as one cals him though hee blessed Gods Israel and wished well to their heaven yet for his contrary courses and counsell to Balack he was so far from inheriting with them that he was cut off by them Hophni and Phineas because they made the service of God to stink by their stinking courses so that men abhorred it for their sakes like as the Donatists pretented to do the Church for the evill life of Cecilian an ill end befell them Commonly God sensibly rejects such even in this life either rooting them out by death and making their places spue them out or else by blasting their gifts Zach. 11.17 drying up their right armes putting out their right eyes causing the night to come upon their divination and utterly refusing to be glorified by them Well it may be that they may live long as Saul did after his rejection and the Pharisees after they had fallen into the unpardonable sin The Devill also gave them many thankes as he is said to have done the Popish Priests in Hildebran's time Anno 1072 Math. Paris Hist for furnishing Hell so fast with so many soules as had perished by their default Rasis sacâ—ificulorum vertiâ—ibus magnatum galeiss stratum inferni pâ—vimentum esse proverâ— b. o screbatur And better he would thank them doubtlesse when he should meet them in hell the pavement whereof was commonly said to bee pitcht with shavelings skuls and great mens crests But surely Christs will chashiere them as the Tirshata did those turn-coat Priest * Ezra 2.61 62 63. Matth. 7. and wash his hands of them for ever Yea though they can produce and prove that they have prophecied in his name and by his name done great Miracles if neverthelesse they be workers of iniquity and albeit they have taught others Yet themselves have not done the Will of his Heavenly Father 〈◊〉 Ministers may as files 〈◊〉 others themselves remaine rough as Cariers beare bags of many for the use of them to whom they are sent A blind man may beare a torch to the lightning of others and a stinking breath sound a Trumpet with great commendation The lifelesse Heaven gives life and the dull whetstone sharpeneth Iron Noahs Carpenters that made the Arke perished in the stood and Aeneas his Pilot saved the ship Medijs palinurus in â—ndis c. and was drowned himselfe The Toades-head may yeeld a pretious stone Busonites of great vertue Medicorum tituli â—edicamenta siâ—â— pyae des veâ—ena â—â—ctant and wholesome sugar be found in poisoned cane Saint Paul gives us to know that a man may Preach profitably to others and yet himselfe be a cast-away Nolite igitur magis eloqui magna quam vivere D. Bedd concio ad Câ—â—â— saith One. Vivite concioninibus concionamini moribus Let your lives be a transcript of your Sermons your Precepts enlivened by your practise which should be as a visible coÌ„ment on the audible Word A Minister of any man had need to bee godly Mal. 2.5 6. Acts 11.24 2 Tim. 2.15 Else profanenesse will easily go out from the Prophets of Jerusalem Ier. 23. â—5 throughout all the Land as Jeremy hath it In him that is sent to winne soules saith a Divine his mouth eyes hands feet gesture conversation all had need be exact and exemplary Mention is made in the Ecclesiasticall History of one Bonnus a Church-man Sosom lib. â— cap. 28. Hominis vita magno omâ—itum consensu probatur jâ—m id non leve praejuditiâ—â— est quod nec â—â—stres repeâ—tant quod câ—lâ—umnâ—entur de Luthero Erasmuâ— Acts and Monuments who was never seen by any man to be angry or heard to sweare lye or utter any thing rash light or unbeseeming himselfe And M. Bucer whiles hee was here in England brought all men into such admiration of his integrity that neither could his friends sufficiently prayse him nor his enemies in any point find fault with his singular life and sincere Doctrine The like is reported of Master Bradford Now what a thing was this to slaughter Envy to stop an open mouth Acts and Mon. to rejoyce his friends and to cloath his enemies with their owne shame This was to shine as a light in the darke World yea as the Sunne in his strength which although some men curse as the Atlantes because it scorcheth them others hate sometimes because it discovers their deeds of darknesse Atlantes solem Orientem Occidentemque dira imprecatione contucatur ut exitialem ipsis agrisque Plin. lib. 5. cap. 8. Godwins Heb. Antiq. yet are they so convinced and dazeled with its beauty and brightnesse that few can forshame speake against it The High-Priest was the chiefe God on Earth and
of Mysteries and Allegories which minister Questions rather than edifying which is in Faith 1 Tim. 1.4 and are no better faith one at best then the froth of the Scriptures But how weakly and corruptly these exercises were performed by those slubbering Priests and blind Pharisees of old our Saviour partly shewes and confates in the Gospell And how poorly and slenderly by the Friars and postillars alate is well to be seen in their writings at this day extant Scarce was there any Commentary on the Bible for many hundred years better than the glosse of Orleans Hugo de sancto Claro and Peter Comestor by all which the Scriptures were as a clasped Scriptures were as a clasped book even to the simpler sort of their Clergy Certain Monkes there were that took it for a singular glory to write upon the Revelation but such wretched Note as Thomas and Nicholas and after them to mend the matter Passavantius made upon that excellent Work De civitate Dei Wherby they have bemired and utterly marred the sense of it as Erasmus shews in the Proverb Asinus ad paleas Scultet Annal. dec 2 p. 117. Apocalypsis saith Faber the Augustinian comes of Apo re and clipsor velo And Alexius Grad the Dominican as Bucer relateth it said that he had read somewhere in the Dictionaries that Cephas signifieth a head and that therefore Peter was head of the Church This buzzard saw not what the Evangelist had so plainely set downe that Cephas signifieth a Rocke to be skilfull in the Greek tongue was in those dayes superstitious but to be an Hebrician was little lesse then hereticall Latine was so ill understood of many of their Priests that he held himselfe sufficiently well excused from paving the Church-way with the rest of his neighbours that could alledge for his purpose that of Jeremy Paveant illi Alex. Cook ego non paveant Another for Sumpsimus read Mumpsimus and because he had long used it so would not alter it for any admonition Parens when he was young begging an almes according to a superstitious custome of those times had this answer from a Fryer Becman de Orig ling lat Nos pauperi fratres nos nihil habemus an piscimus an caro an panis an misericordia habemus And if any went about to shew them their bard and barbarous mistakes they shrowded themselves under that of Gregory In vita Parei operib praefix Non debent verba coelestis or aculi subesse regulis Donati Now God hath graciously removed this Remora to the profitable reading of his sacred word by stirring up studious men to labour after learning which was almost banished out of the world and all places ore-spread with basenesse and barbarisme Look how in the first plantation of the Gospell in Europe he shipped the Arts before into Greece that they might be Harbingers unto it as Tertullian speaketh or as Hierom the munition to batter the sorts of the wise meaning of send the souldiers soon after So in the reviving of the Gospell in the late Reformation there seemed to goe before it a general resurrection of all humane learning and the effectuall means of all this that nobâ—e invention of Printing which seems reserved to the waightiest times of the Church even the revealing of the Westerne Antichrist Melancth Chron l. 5. Wherunto that Easterne Antichrist hath lent us his hand I mean the Turke that never did any good to Christendom but this and this against his will in sending the Greeke tongue by the sack of Constantinople and ruin of Greece into these Westerne climates Thus canes lingunt ulcera Lazari Gods will is done by the wicked though beside their intention He hath given gifts to men even to the rebellious Psal 68.18 common gifts of illumination interpretation c. That he may dwell on Earth to wit in his Religion and Worshippers who being wise Merchants besides the pearle of price seek also other goodly pearles Mat. 13.45 46. make much of common gifts bestowed many times upon unsound and unsanctified Interpreters for their behoofe and benefit It is well said in the Law that apices iuris non est ius It is as true in Divinity that the letter of the word is not every where the Word of God but the right meaning therof Gods Word foolishly understood is none of his Verbum Dei stolidè intellectum non est verbum Dei saith Theodoret. The occasion scope phrase of the Holy Ghost coherence consent with other places is well to be weighed For our help hereunto and that we may read with judgement Christ in his wonderfull Ascention gave gifts to men some Apostles Rom. 10.14 Gal. 3.2 Act. 8.30 Mal. 2.7 some Prophets c. with charge not only to propound to his people the word in grosse but also fruitfully expound it rightly divide it fitly apply it be as so many speaking Commentaries upon it non libro sed labro conservantes scientiam bringing forth new and old store as good Scribes and speaking home to mens hearts to edification exhortation and comfort 1 Cor. 14.13 This this is to do the work of an Evangelist for every sound is not Musicke nor every Pulpit-Discourse preaching and is therfore perhaps tearmed prophecying by Saint Paul because the matter of Preaching in those daies was the Scriptures of the Prophets in opening whereof the Servants of God were then especially conversant As also now the Church blessed bee GOD abounds with those that want for no parts that spare for no paines but as Candles waste themselves to give light to others and as clouds sweete themselves to death for common benefit lay forth their talents to the utmost that they may lay all knots and cragges levell pave men a path-way to Christ and so give them the knowledge of Salvation by the Remission of their sinnes Luk. 1.77 Thus Paul reason'd with the Jews of Thessalonica out of the Scriptures opening and alledging c. laying it before their eyes as the word signifies and making it as cleare as the noone-day light by expresse testimony of the word and due deduction therehence Acts 17 3,4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ob oculos ponens iâ— tam manisestè exponens quà m cernimus quae spectanda proponuntur Beza that this Jesus whom J preach unto you saith the Text is Christ And this is still the guise of all godly Preachers to ground their Discourses upon the written word pressing the people either with the very direct words or firme consequences as our Saviour dealt by the Sadduces Math. 22.32 And Saint Paul by the Corinthians 1 Ep. 7.10 To the married J command yet not J but the Lord let not the wife depart from her husband In so many words the Lord hath not said it but plainly for the sense when hee said Therfore shall a man leave Father and mother and cleave to his wife And againe That which God hath ioyned together let no
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