with vs but we should take that course which this Ieweller by his practise here prescribeth vs who resigneth vp all that he had in the world that he might buy this treasure of Gods word Let vs doe the like Augustine Nos ipsos pro illa margarita demus non quia tanti vateamus sed quia plus dare non possumus Let vs giue our selues for this pearle of great price not because we are worth somuch but because we haue no more to giue Minus dat vt plus accipiat hoc fac tu Da modica accipe magna da temporalia accipe aeterna da terram accipe coelum This Ieweller hath a wonderfull bargaine in giuing vp his state and interest to this world for liuery and seisin of this better purchace of the world that is to come For as Augustine saith he giueth the lesse to receiue the more doe thou the like Giue meane things and receiue greater for them giue temporall things and receiue eternall giue earth and receiue heauen giue golde and receiue God As thou forsakest father and mother to cleaue to thy wife so forsake father and mother wife and al be it neuer so neere and deere vnto thee to cleaue to God To sell all that we haue is to renounce the lusts of the flesh and of the minde and so to shake off the world which inticeth vs to wickednes as Ioseph shaked his cloake from him Genesis 39. and left it with his mistris egging him to vncleannesse But this is that that breaketh off the bargaine and keepeth vs from this purchase we endure well enough to heare of the pleasure and profit of this purchase but we like not the couenants we are loath to be touched in our worldly state or to alter the condition of our life the doctrine of repentance and the Gospel of Christ teaching vs to deny all vngodlinesse and worldly vanity and to liue soberly iustly and vprightly in this world is grieuous vnto vs Tit. 2. and we cannot abide it The children of Israel hearing of the fruitfulnes of the promised land of Canaan Num. 14 buckled themselues in al the haste vnto the battell and marched towards it eger of the present possession of it but hearing the place was inhabited with Giants they hung downe their heads and their hearts failed them and altred quite from the men they were before their fancies were set vpon Aegypt again So many hearing by Gods spies that came from heauen of the ioy and happines laid vp in store for vs in the life that is to come especially of saint Paul who was rapt vp to heauen and was full of reuelations 2. Cor. 12 and discoursing of the vnspeakable riches of his kingdome rauisheth the hearers with these delightfull tidings that the eie hath not seene the eare hath not heard 1. Cor. 2 neyther can the heart of man conctiue the things that God hath prepared for them that loue him men I say heartned with such consolation they take stomacke to themselues and are zealous and hot in spirit after it to winne and enioy it But withall vnderstanding that the way is narrow Math. 7 and the doore streight that leadeth into it and that there wil be some difficultie in our passage our hearts grow heauy and our iourney is dashed and our whole minde is set vppon retiring vnto Aegypt and to embrace this present world He that hath earnest occasion of speech with another man A similitude coueteth to find that man alone and free from other busines when as God would speake to vs he would find vs in this case he would haue vs loue men sequestred and put apart from the world Therefore when hee was to commune with Abraham Gen. 12 he willed him to be priuate to resigne his natiue soyle Vr of the Caldeans and to inioy his blessed presence to forget his owne kinred and his fathers house And because that cares are the daughters of riches which as thornes do choake the good seed of the worde in worldly minded men the Lord enacted in the state of Israel that cleargy men Deut. 18 seperated and put a part to the ministrie should not haue worldly hereditaments and possessions as other of the tribes that their minds whilest they were in their holy ministration might not be distracted and miscaried with them As also it was a constitution among them Leuit. 〈◊〉 that he that was bunched and crooked in the backe shuld not serue minister in the temple For this defect and impediment of body is a hindraunce to their eies that they cannot lift them vp to heauen as they shuld So such as are distorted and crooked in mind and haue their affections always stooping looking on the world are no fit persons to serue before the Lord and to enter into his courtes Mortifie we therfore all our worldly lusts and slay we them down right with the sword of the spirit Let vs not imprison in the bowels of our soules such sinnes as we like best and keep them aliue as Saul did Agag 1. Sam. 15 whom God commaunded should be put to death but let vs hew them in peeces as Samuel did Agag in Gilgal before the Lord and beate them as small as the dust of the earth If we pitty our sins as Ely did his sons 1. Sam. 2 when we ought to punish them God will punish them and wil bring a great iudgement against vs for them Oh heauy and most grieuous is that commination of the Lord against Achab 1. King 20. for demissing Benhadad Because saith God thou hast let goe out of thy handes a man whome I appointed to die thy life shall goe for his life The like sentence is gone out against all that saue aliue that sinne they should destroy they shal die for it If ye liue saith Saint Paul after the flesh ye shall die Rom. 8 but if ye shall mortifie the flesh by the spirit ye shall liue Thus Paul maketh two men of one the one the outward and the other the inward man both which are vnited in one yet are they so sundry as they cannot agree in one but the generation of the one must be the others corruption the life of the one must be the death of the other and therefore to saue and keepe aliue the one we must needes mortifie and put to death the other What a good match we shall make in coping away the pleasure of the world for the ioyes of heauen at that generall county day wherein the bookes and scrolles of consciences shall be laid open plainly will appeare at what time all those things that we haue here gathered together will do vs no good where no manner of excuse may serue our turne where there wil be no place of any refuge for vs. Here there haue bin found some places of small succor in the time of danger Gen. 3 Genes 18 Gen. 19 1.
grace of God who is able to build further to giue thee an inheritaÌ„ce among those that are sanctified the Lord sanctify these my labors direct them to his glory and the common saluation Farewell A Table setting out the seuerall Contents of the Chapters of this Booke CHap. 1. Of the purport and necessary vse of this parable Folio 1. Chap 2. That the worde of God is all kind of Treasure Folio 16 Chap. 3. That the word of God is a Pearle of great price Folio 33 Chap. 4. That the word of God is a Treasure that is hidden and wherefore it is so called Folio 55 Chap. 5. Of this Merchant man his taske imposed vppon him for the attayning vnto this Treasure and Pearle of great price Folio 73 Chap. 6. Of the gladnesse of this Euangelicall Merchant vpon the finding of this Treasure and Pearle of great price vnder which the ioy which the saints of God do feel by the power of his worde typically is shadowed Folio 89 Chap. 7. By the example of this Merchaunt who did hide his Treasure the necessitie not onely of the hearing of the worde but also of the faithfull hiding it in our hearts is manifestly euicted Folio 110 Chap. 8. That this heauenly Treasure is to be preferred and esteemed of vs aboue all earthly riches Folio 125 Chap 9. That God and the world cannot agree together Folio 141 Chap. 10 Of the necessitie of our mortification and the abiuration of all our worldly lustes vnder the person and example of this Ieweller who made a simple sale of all that he had for the purchase of this Treasure and Pearle of great price euidently euicted Folio 157 Chap. 11. That all our endeuours are to redound to the glory of God and to tend onely to a spirituall end as is liuely shadowed in the example of this Marchant whose bargaine of sale of all his temporalls was only for the purchase of this heauenly Treasure Folio 174 Chap. 12. An Exhortation to the loue of the worde and the spirituall life the purport of the premisses Folio 188 ¶ Faultes escaped in the printing I pray thee correct thus Pag. 7 line 26. reade Gelbea Pag. 15. l. 19. scarcirie for security Pag. 28. l. 4. Sisara for Siâ—opa Pag. 36. li. 9. distant for descant Pag. 51. l. 13. eareth for eateth twise Pag. 55. li. 2. reade omnipotent Pag. 56. l. 11. reade it was not the Pag. 59. lin 4 for Coelo reade Celo Pag. 71. li. 9 for nullique read nuila Pag. 74. l. 14. wages for wayes Pag. 82. lin 13. whole for holy Pag. 84. l. 23. reade Was not this Pag. 87. l. 19. reade and rudiment Pag. 87. last line reade kabish Pag. 105. lin 12. reade in that Pag. 115. lin 2. dele to the Pag. 123. lin 23. moate for moath Pag. 126. li 8. read This gospel-like Goldsmith Pag. 130. lin reade coruscant Pag. 133 l. 5. reade loath the word Pag. 135 lin 14. reade Bochri Pag. 136. line 20. reade delights of the worlde are in steede of nurses Pag. 153. line 6. for so reade in Pag. 154. line 4. reade fauour of Pag. 157. line 2. reade abiuration Pag. 160. l 27. Christ for christians Pag. 176. line 7 reade Athenian The best Purchase for which the Spiritual Marchant-aduenturer selleth all that he hath Mat. 13 CHAP. I. Of the purport and necessary vse of this Parable THese two Parables as Pharao his twoo dreames of the seauen fatte kine seauen eares of corne Genesis 41 are in effect but one Both of them chalke out the way that we must walke that we seeke not happinesse out of the way as Eâ—â—â— hunting venison Genesis 27 was preuented of his blessing It is wonderfull how the world is greedie of the world striuing for it as beggars for a doale preying vpon it Iob 8 as the Eagles on the altares and as the busie Birdes vpon Abraham his sacrifice Genesis 11 These raue with Rachel Giue me children â—r else I die Giue me worldely riches Genesis 10. pleasures and desires or else I die doating vpon this Dittie with the ruder rowt Happy are the people who are in such a case Psalme 144 whose sheepe bring forth thousands ten thousands in their streets c. which the Singer of Israel mendeth with his harpe trebbling and quauering melodiously in this manner Yea happy are the people who haue the Lord Iehouah for their God Now Numb 12 because it is our custome to set worser things first and to esteeme more of onions the flesh-pots of Aegypt than of heauenly manna with the older Israelites to preferre trash before treasure swine before our Sauiour with the greedy Gergesines Mathew 19 to turmoyle our selues with Martha about manie things Luke 8 Luke 10 Luke 3 and neglect the chiefest thing which was Maries choice here the Holy-ghost answering like Iohn Baptist too what shal we doe setteth vs as it were in the kings hie way that leadeth vnto heauen that guides vs to a treasure of incomparable value to a Pearle and Purchase of the greatest price and profite whatsoeuer Hitherto our Sauiour hath spent much speech about the preaching of the Gospel which else-where hee termeth Matthew 4 The Gospel of the kingdome and in this place The Kingdome of heauen because it is the key that openeth heauen doore and the right path that brings vs to heauen sampling it to triuiall and trifling things that are of common vse in certain former speciall Parables as to Corne Leauen Mustard seed and a Field in the which with good wheat tares and darnell and other wild weedes did spring vp and grow together Now because these meane comparisons should not cause vs deeme the Gospel to bee meane he matcheth it heere with matters of most moment with a Treasure with a Pearle of inestimable riches to reforme our iudgement in spiritual cases that we shuld set more highly by them then we doe as there is good reason why Dauid was so highly conceited of the scriptures as defining them Psalme 119 hee doubteth not to prize them aboue great spoyles for value and thousands of gold and siluer yea all manner of riches Psalme 19 Psalme 119 and to preferre them before the hony the hony combe for sweetenes and when he endeth to define he beginneth to admire Wonderfull are thy testimonies I haue seene an end of all perfection but thy commandement is exceeding broade vnderstanding infinite The necessitie of this Treatise Psalme 107 This doctrine is more than necessary for these dangerous dayes wherein the greater sorte abhorreth this meate and their souls as saith the Psalmograph is at deaths doore The Diuell the Bel-wether of the Polititians of our time resembleth in conditions A similitude subtile souldiers in the wars who hauing won a Castle or strong Tower do stop and shutt vp all passages by the walles that none by any secret entry may come in the deuill
nothing but a sad and austeare stile delight thee here is law agreeable â—o thy humour Is thy heart so obdurate as nothing but iudgement and terror can soften â—â—â— repaire vnto the Prophets whose dreadful comminations are hammers and thunderboltes and as scepters of yron to beate them vnto powder Art thou light hearted and of a iocund and delightsome nature heere is psalmodie and harmonie for thy fancie Art thou philosophically and grauely bent and delightest thou to heare concise and curious sentences Psal 78. the Lord here openeth his mouth in parables and declares vnto thee hard sentences of old Reade Iob Ecclesiastes the prouerbes of Salomon and there are quicke inuentions sutable to thy vaine Last of all art thou nice and curious in thy reading and doth nothing but Chronicles and antiquitie affect thee there are none such braue antiquaries as the pen-men of the Scripture the admirable actuaries historians of all times Thus euery kind of way whither soeuer we turne our selues and name what we will we haue here a tresure to beare out al our wants So as it seemeth not vnlike a princes armory A simiiltude which affoordeth plenty of all sorts of armor and implements of warrefare sutable to euery condition of person whether of tall or low stature whether of strength or weaknesse of body What is worldly treasure which we esteem so much but base and vile in comparison of this which we esteem so little Paul not being able to find out with himselfe a worser thing to which he might compare it likeneth it to dung Phil. 3. A homely comparison yet fitting right the nature of the thing For what is it else being considered as it is what is the substance stance of our chiefest treasure as of gold siluer or the Onix stone but the very guts and exhalation of the earth Luke 16. The gorgeous glutton who was in the ruffe robed in purple what was the matter of it but the wooll of dead beasts and what was the die and colour of it but the excrements of the shel fish His lawnes and daintie diapers what were they but the barke and the skinne of the flaxe His delicate dishes sent from his dresser what were they but the carcasses of beastes birds and fishes his pompous pallace was nothing else but a confused lump of earth congested together And if I should leade you with a long discourse and recite of particulars I must brand them on the foreheads with Salomons make Eccle. 1. Vanitie of vanities and all is vanitie There is nothing earthly stable and permanent The word of God only endureth for euer Our life passeth away swiftly like a post â—ur youth wax soon old fortune often frowâ—eth and riches ebbe and flow A similitude Isai 4. as the waters of the sea and resemble harlots who do nothing but flatter coozen and forsake vs. The people that calleth thee blessed deceiueth thee saith the Prophet Isai Trust not this flattering and deceitfull world which will kill thee with culling thee as Ioab did Amasa and Iahel did Sisopa It wil promise thee one thing and giue thee another thing as Laban who promised Rachel vnto Iacob Gen. 29 and foisted in Leah It promiseth thee prosperitie and it giueth thee aduersitie tempering poison in a golden challice like the whoore of Babylon What did all the treasure and pleasure of Aegypt availe to help Pharao when as in the height and top of his gallantnesse Exod. 14. the waters ouerwhelmed him the depths couered him and his whole hoast did sincke to the bottom like a stone Nabucad-nezzar had trussed vppe much treasure and had brought in the wealth of the whole world into his exchequor and treasurie at Babylon he stalked in his galleries and crowed pertly like a cocke vppon his dunghill Is not this great Babel which I haue built Dan. 4. for the honour of my kingdome But his comb was soone cut he soared vp so high in the lightnesse of his mind euen as the bird by the lightnesse of her feathers but he was made come downe with mischiefe enough and of the other side brought as low driuen from his court and courtly retinue and dieted couched and driuen among beastes Baltasar braued it passingly for a time and who but Baltasar but this lustinesse lasted not Dan. 5. for imediately he saw vpon the plaster of the wal his definitiue doome which brought him to his dumpes perplexed his thoughts dissolued his ioynts knocked his knees together and what good then did all his treasure do him Most miserable therefore and wofull is their estate who preferre this earthly which is so fraile and fickle before the celestial treasure of the worde which abideth for euer wherevnto shall I liken such a generation They are like vnto dogges A similitude who will not depart from the drie bone they gnaw vpon for any peece of money or like Aesops cocke that hauing found a great iewell in the dunghill is desirous to permute it with a barly kartell If thou fearest that thy corne will foist in lower ground to preuent such mishap Aug. in Psal 89. thou caust hoist it vp to a higher granerie Thy â—â—â—asure which thou cofferest hoardest vp â—â—earth will canker and corrupt in this case therfore be as prouident for thy soule as thou 〈◊〉 carefull of thy corne for the sustenance of thy body lay vp such prouision as is needfull for it in the highest loft where it may lie safely be as forward to lift thy soul to heauen as thou art to lift vp higher vpon any occasion thy graine heere in earth if thou askest how and art herein desirous to bâ— taught I answere with Augustine the pullies gables ladders instruments hereunto belonging are thy wel qualified and godly affections Thy loue is the captaine that giueth the onset the foote of the soule according 〈◊〉 this proposition of S. Augustine Amor men pondus meum Amore feror quocunque feror My loue is my burden whither soeuer I am carried it is loue that carieth me Base account 〈◊〉 made of some kind of money in a double respect partly because the substaÌ„ce is but baseâ— and partly because it is false and counterfeiâ— Such is the treasure which the world yeeâ—â— deth vs Psal 12 the word of God onely is of simplâ— substance purer theÌ„ gold yea then fine gold purer then the siluer which hath bin seaueâ— times in the furnace purified Bagge vp therefore such money as is currant and will be sure to goe for payment it the resurrection of the iust A similitude Send thy treasure thither whither thou art sure to goe as thâ— merchant-factor laieth out his mony abroad to be repaide it at home A similitude We are here trauellers and pilgrims vpon earth and haue no certaine dwelling place As trauellers cannot carry any great burdeâ— with them neither is it wisedome to bestow â—â—st there where ye
rellise onely the sweetnes of Gods word It fareth with vs A similitude as with the Gentlemans hawke who being hooded and blinded is sluggish and hath no pleasure to followe his game and to soare alost but being vnhooded he taketh his flight with delight enogh pursueth his pastime so we whom the god of this world hath blinded with earthly cogitations haue no heart or stomacke vnto heauenly matters and perceyue not being sensuall and carnall men the things that are of God but if God vnhoodeth vs and openeth vnto vs the eies of our mindes then wee flie vp as the hawke on high wee looke vppon heauen and haue our whole conuersation in heauen and do place all our pleasure and felicitie in heauen As one nayle or wedge is driuen out with another A similitude so one pleasure doth expel another The ioy and pleasure of the holy Spirit chaceth away the paltrie pleasure of the world Wherefore such who are affrighted and dismayed within themselues at the preaching of the word haue not yet learned Christ or vnderstoode what is the nature and operation of the word The name of the gospel desciphereth plainely the nature of the Gospel It is called Euangelium which signifieth Bonum nuntium that is a glad message and tydings of great ioy Beholde sayth Christ his heauenly harbenger Gabriel Luke 3. vnto the shepheardes I bring you tidings of great ioy which shall be vnto all the people Beholde what ioy this is it is not a slender and light kind of ioy appertaining vnto some few but it is a great and vniuersall ioy belonging vnto all This ioy in some sorte is familiarly layde open vnder the plaine similitudes of haruest men and of souldiers at the end of their haruest at the diuiding of their booties Isai 9. They haue reioyced before thee according to the ioy of haruest and as men reioyce when they diuide a spoyle And what is the subiect occasion of this ioy the Prophet there telleth thee The yoake of their burden the staffe of their shoulder the rodde of their oppressor hast thou broken as in the day of Midian The Turke taketh a great company of prisoners and putteth them to his gallies A similitude and galleth and wasteth them with most cruell bondage Their king sendeth his sonne with great power to procure their gaole deliuery what ioy and gladnesse is there now as you imagine in the hearts of these captiues vpon so happy newes Yet let vs further presse this sweete and comfortable doctrine by making this the case A similitude A serpent hath bitten a man vnto the death with his venemous mouth and there is no other meanes to preserue his life but an other mans death some man must die by licking him whole and by taking away his rancke contagion with his tongue wel some base man of no reputation may serue this turn yet life for life that must be the ransom But the case is quite contrary a miserable mā hath beene stung by this serpent and rather than he should die the king sendeth his only begotten sonne whome he nourished in his bosome whome hee made heyre of all with his sweete lippes which were full of grace to licke his contagious and putrifying sores and to die for him Or A similitude if you please let vs paraphrase thus there are notorious theeues for capital crimes committed to the gaole and the doome of death by the searlet Iudge is giuē out against them and they must be executed all the sorte of them But loe as God would haue it in the meane time commeth the Kings sonne with his retinue and guarde about him at the sight of whome these enormous caitiues out of their grates and prison holes crie with a lowde voyce saying Saue vs maister lest we perish The Kings sonne hereat amazed and standing still asketh his followers what this clamorous and shreeking out-cry meaneth They answere in this wise they are famous malefactors whome thy father hath imprisoned and adiudged vnto death for their due demerites and they are foorthwith to be led out to execution and to suffer death as traytors in the highest degree But the bowelles of this young Prince moued with their dolefull and most extreame estate commaundeth them to be slayde and offereth himselfe as a ransome and redemption to his father for them Whose heart is so stony that will not be mollified and broken in peeces vpon tydings of such strange and vnspeakeable ioy Our case is euen the same and this is the benefit which we haue by Christ the obiect of our ioy the subiect of the Gospel which wee preach vnto you By him wee haue deliuerance from the thraldome of Satan Psal 107 being fast bound in miserie and yrons By him we that haue beene stung by the Serpent the old red dragon are healed againe And by his red blood the ransome of our sinnes he hath pacified the wrath of his Father and hath deliuered vs his prisoners appointed vnto death For this cause Psalme 126 let our tongues be filled with laughter and our hearts with ioy And let vs gladly entertayne all such as bring this happy legation vnto vs. The longing expectation which our Fathers had of this Iohn 8. lifted vp their hearts and through this they were comforted before he was exhibited Abraham did see Christ but a farre off and greatly reioyced wee haue him nigh at hand and possesse him in deede whom they had but in hope and therefore wee haue argument of greater ioy than they If Solomon so reioyced 1. King 8. and al Israel wyth him as the earth it selfe rang with the noyse they made when they brought the Arke of God into the Temple of God much more ought wee to reioyce hauing had the liuely Arke Psalme 48. the Sonne of God among vs and hauing seene the louing kindnesse of the Lord in the midst of the temple The Easterne Magicians Matth 2. at the sight but of a starre which conducted them to the way where Christ was to be borne were exceeding glad we haue Christ himselfe directing vs in the way that wee are to walke therefore we ought in duty to go beyond them in ioyfulnesse If greate mirth and melody was in the fathers house Luke 16. for the ioyfull welcome home of the prodigall sonne whenas we prodigal children come home vnto our father and do his holy word we shall likewise heare of ioy and gladnesse that the bones which he hath broken may reioyce If Iohn the Baptist leapt in his mothers wombe Luke ◠vppon the comming of the mother of Christ into his mothers house how shuld we leape and skippe like young Vnicornes whenas Christ by his worde entreth into our soules Finely saith Chrysologus Chrysologus A letter comforteth but no longer than when the party is present that did send it A bil of debt bindeth but it hath no further vse when the hand-writing
his deuotion for vpon the commendation of Iob his disposition which God had made vnto him how that he was a iust man and one that feared God Iob 1 Behold how this iugler priuily vndermineth him diueth to the depth of him sitteth at the heart and reines of him snatcheth at the secret intendment of his mind that Iob his religion stood with good policie for thus he descanteth vpon Iob his deuotion Doth Iob serue God for nought Hast thou not made a hedge about him and about his substance and about all that he hath on euery side Thou hast blessed the worke of his hands and his substance is increased in the land But stretch out now thy hand and touch that he hath to see if he will not blaspheme thee to thy face as if he should haue saide hee worketh on the surer side and playeth vpon the aduantage his gaine is his godlinesse but touch him in his purse and crosse him awhile in his estate and substance and the case will soone be altered with him and Iob I will warrant you will not proue the man you take him for Thus he doth like Pioners in the warres A similitude who digge at the foundation wherevpon the whole weight of the building leaneth He doth not deny a matter manifest such attributes and praises as God doth giue to Iob but he wrangleth and cauelleth about the maner which he knew well enough if it had bin true would haue ouer-throwne all the matter Well this will be a bone wherewith he will choake vs vpon our death beddes let vs deliuer our selues of it as wee can whether we haue serued God for nought is the question propounded to vs to assoile our inclinations and inward affections at that time wil be throughly canuised Let vs proue them therefore and examine them before Psalm 111 that there be no frawd and wickednesse in them so shal they be able to stand in the iudgement and congregation of the iust Set therefore this watch-woord of the Apostle before thy race 1 Cor. 9 So runne that thou mayst obtaine Apoc. 1 Let God be Alpha and Omega with thee the beginning and end of all thine actions Fasten not the anchor of the ship of thy heart vpon the daungerous sea of the loue of this world Gather vp thy wits and set downe in thine accounts how much thou hast deuoted thy self vnto the world and how litle vnto God It is with vs A similitude as it is with the wind-mill which grindeth not the corne into meale without a gale of wind which may turne it round about we cannot turne vs to any good action vnlesse we may be puffed and rocked to and fro with the winde of worldely vanitie Good workes are as good wine but done in a bad mind we mingle worme-wood and gall with it and do like the Iewes who tempered gall in their cup of drinke that they gaue to Christ The diuell recoyleth and goeth backe not by our doing good but by our doing well It is that that maketh him to reel as the rammes hornes did the huge walles of Iericho Iosua 6 As Ieremy saith Cursed is he that dooth the woorke of God negligently so no doubt Gods curse shall light vpon those that do it deceitfully and that doe it not with a faithfull heart But there are hypocrites among true christians as Saul among the Prophets But the glorie of God which should be the end of euery good worke is the touchstone that trieth our works of what worth they are whether they be of gold or any other baser substance Sichem and Emor were circumeised aswell as Iacob and his sonnes Gen. 34 but if was but counterfeit holinesse that was in them for they only regarded the goods of Gods people and not the good of Gods glorie This much they not obscurely insinuated in their words vnto the people saying their substance Genes 34. cattel and flockes shal be ours There is no reckning to be made of such religion which is grounded on a carnal intention What father esteemeth that obedience of his sonne A similitude shewed him for a feare of loosing his possessions and not for loue in a naturall disposition Whatsoeuer good we do whatsoeuer euill we suffer the maine motiue thereof must be the honor and glory of his name So our Saviour teacheth vs in many places of the new instrument Mat. 5 Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake Againe Mat. 10 ye shal be brought before Kings and rulers for my names sake Againe he that looseth his life for my sake Mat. 10 Again he that forsaketh father and mother for my sake and the Gospel Luke 1â— God wil say to such as he said Gen. 15 to Abraham I will be thy exceeding great reward Wherefore let vs say to God as Iacob said to Esau Gen. 33 Let my Lord go before his seruant and I will follow according to the pace of the cattell which are before me and as the children be able to endure Let God goe before and we wil trace his foote-steppes as he shall enable vs. It is said in the Iudges Iudg. 9 that Abimelech their Iudge and principall ruler did cut off braunches from the trees and did beare them on his shoulders and said vnto his fellowes What ye see me do haste and do the like So whatsoeuer we see Christ do let his example be our imitation who made Gods glory the scope and drift of all his proceedings Euery handy-crafts-man A similitude in euery kind of worke doth obserue the paterne that his master giueth him and frameth it to that end which he before had purposed for if he shall make it to an other vse to please his own fancy his maister maketh refusall of his workemanship and his labour is lost wherefore that that we do may be pleasing to our Lord and master and acceptable in his sight let vs with holy Dauid Psalme 16. set the Lord before our eies and we shall not do amisse Therefore God would that the two Chorubins with stretched out wings shuld couer the mercie seat where God gaue his answers Exod. 25 to insinuate that when wee intend any good we desire not ostentation to be seene so man seeing that God when hee would shew mercy pleased that the place wherein hee would appeare should bee thus shadowed and couered As Christ willeth the Spouse in the Canticles that Shee would set him as a seale vnto hir heart and as a signet vpon her arme Cant. â— So let vs make God and his glory the obiect of our eyes the scope drift and marke at which we onely ayme in the whole course of our life so shal we make with this heauenly Ieweller an exceeding good purchase receiue with him an euerlasting inheritance an incomparable crowne of glory all treasure and happines in the kingdome of God worlde without end CHAP. XII An