grauen image Ex. 20.4 neither shalt thou bow downe to worship it The church of Rome saith it is godly to haue the church ful of images and to kneele downe before them to sette vp candels vnto them and with incense to honor them The scriptures teach vs that Christ by once offering himselfe on the crosse made perfecte for euer all them that be sanctified He. i0 i4 yet by the Church of Roome are they horrible heritickes that say there is not dayly sacrifice propitiatory for our sinnes in their Masse The scripture saith in the vse of the Lords supper Ma. 26.27 Drinke yee all of this The Papists say it is heresie to affirme that the laye people shoulde drinke of the Lords cuppe Moreouer our Sauiour Christ instituted a sacramente of thankesgiuing as he saieth doe this in remembraunce of me They make it a sacrifice propitiatorye for the quicke and the dead hauing not one sillable of Gods word for the same Christe gaue breade they say there is no breade Christ gaue wyne they saye the substance of the wine is cleane vanished away Christ sayd when he gaue bread this is my body and when he gaue wine this is my bloud they say when the one or the other is giuen that it is both the bodie bloud I omit their mixing of diuerse corrupt doctrines their vnfruitefull and dangerous ceremonies I omit that they haue made it a common marchandice to buy◠soules out of purgatorie and how◠they haue made of this heauenly mysterie a perpetuall matter of idolatrie by leading the people in their eleuations to worship the creature in steede of the creator For if it should be throughly declared how they haue wrested and wroung the wordes of Christes institution it might seeme to al men that haue the feare of God very maruelous but this which hath beene spoken may suffice 247 The keyes of the kingdome of heauen are all one with the power of binding and loosing of remitting and reteining sinnes AS God to teach Pharao what he would doe in Egypt by 7. yeeres of plentie 7. yeeres of famine did vse two sundry dreames of kine and eares of corne the surer to resolue him of his purpose in the same so Christ to teach vs what he doth for mankind in ordeyning the ministerie of the worde and Sacramentes vseth two similitudes the one of keies the other of binding and loosing that we may knowe the better the fruite and force of it Touching the keyes he speaketh of heauen as of a house whereinto there is no entraunce for men vnlesse the doore be opened Mat. 16.19 Nowe we all of Adams race are shut out of heauen as Adam our progenitor was out of Paradice through our offences and sinnes For no vncleane thing shall enter into it Reu. 21.27 Io. 3.16 But God of his loue and fauour towardes vs hath giuen vs his Sonne his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue eternall life which is the inheritance reserued in heauē for vs. 1. Pet. 1.4 Ro. 10.14 We cannot beleeue vnlesse wee heare his word We heare not his word vnlesse it be preached Wherefore when God the father sent his sonne Christ and Christ sent his Apostles Luk. 4.18 Esay 61.1 Mar. 16.15 Lu. 24.27 as his father sent him to preach his worde to men that they who repented and beleeued in Christ should haue their sinnes forgiuen them the faithlesse and vnrepentant should not be forgiuen then he gaue authoritie as it were to open heauen to the faithfull and to shutte it against the wicked Which office to shut and open because in mens houses it is exercised by keyes 2. Kin. 18.18 Esa 22.22 the stewarde of the house is said to haue the keye of it to open it to shut it therefore Christ the principall steward of Gods house is said to haue the keye of Dauid Reu. 3.7 he gaue his Apostles the keyes as it were of the kingdom of heauē when he made thē his stewardes to shut out to let in 1. Co. 4.1 Ro. 5.12 Ro. 6.23 Pro. 5.22 The other similitude of binding loosing is to like effect For we are al by nature the children of sin therfore of death Nowe sins are in a manner the same to the soule that cordes to the bodie the endlesse paynes of death that is 2. Pet. 2.4 1. Pet. 3.19 the wages of sinne are like to chaines wherewith the wicked are bound in hell as in prison Frō these cordes of sin chaynes of death eternal mē are loosed by christ whē their sins be remitted their sins are remitted if they beleeue in him If they beleue not their sins are reteined whose sins are reteined they cōtinue bound For he that beleeueth not shal be condemned Io. 3.18 he that beleeueth shal be saued None shal be cōdemned but they whose sins are reteined to bind them with the chaynes of darknes none saued but they whose sins are remitted and the cordes vnlosed by which they were holden 2. Co. 2.16 Wherefore sith the gospell is preached to this end a sauour of life to life vnto beleeuers Esay 61.1 vnto the vnbeleeuers a sauor of death to doth as we reade of Christ that the Lord sent him to preach deliuerance to the captiues and opening of prison to them that are bounde in like sort his ministers whom he sent to preach it are saide to binde and loose Mat. 16.19 18.18 Io. 20.23 to retain and remit sinnes So that both these kinds of speech import the same that is signified by keyes For to bind and to reteyne sinnes is to shut to loose and to remit sinnes is to open the kingdome of heauen 248 There dwelleth no goodnesse at all in our flesh IT is the part of a good Christian and a wise man to know himselfe and to knowe the nature of this flesh which we beare about with vs which fighteth alwayes so mightely against the spirite to know the waywardnes of our heart and the weakenes of our minde But many which neither knowe God nor thēselues are so far frō this that they thinke al their ability is of thēselues that they haue iudgemēt the light of reason and the ordering of their owne ways c. But we must humble our selues vnder the mightie hande of God and acknowledge that we are nothing Ro. 7.18 We must confesse with S. Paule I knowe that in me that is to say in my flesh dweleth no good Our Sauiour Christ sayth Io. 3.6 that which is borne of the flesh is flesh and that which is borne of the spirite Gen. 8.21 is spirite And God sayth The imaginatiō of mans hart is euill from his youth He hath made vs not we our selues he knoweth vs and not we our selues This is his saying and his iudgement of vs and this wee finde true For our will is froward and our
and passiō destroyed death also in the same victorye was disarmed and maymed 1. Cor. 15.56 For sinne is the sting of death when death had lost his sting was conquered in Christs resurrectiō frō death Sathan also lost his strēgth power which only rested vppon them which through sin were in daunger to death Ro. 6 1◠for the rewarde of sinne is death Finally because hel onely deuoureth those which through sinne and death are slaues vnto sathā it followeth that when the other three were by him so mightily vanquished hell also with all the daunger thereof was subdued and we deliuered from all their tirannie 16 The end of our redemption OVr Lorde Iesus Christe hath payed the price of our redemption and hath deliuered vs frō the captiuity of sinne sathan deathe and hell that we might walke before him in holinesse and righteousnesse al the dayes of our life Luc. 1.75 Ro. 6 3. Moreouer wee are baptised into the death of Christ and as we are pertakers of his death so should we be pertakers of his resurrection to the end that as Christe is risen from death so also wee shoulde rise from the death of sinne vnto the life of righteousnesse 1. Pet. 3.7 Rom. 8.17 Furthermore by the benefite of Christs passion we are made heires of God with him children of light And therefore wee should walk according to our calling haue no fellowship with the workes of darknesse neither passe our tyme in vaine delights but put on the lord Iesus Christe and not satisfie the lustes and desires of the fleshe Wee are also by profession citizens of heauen Eph. 2.19 and of the housholde of God our conuersation therefore shoulde bee in heauen with a manifeste declaration of the contempt of this miserable worlde and the transitory vanities in the same 17 Christ is the true shephearde OVr Lord Iesus Christ hath promised that if we hold him for our shepheard hee will not suffer the Diuel to haue any aduauntage of vs but he wil dispence the vertue and power of God his father whiche shall ouercome all hys enemies Io. 10.11 Eze. 34.23 Esa 40.11 and therefore we shal bee well defended if wee haue Iesus Christ to bee our captaine and guide For the which cause we must learne of him to bee Sheepe and to walke in his obedience and to cōmit our selues to his protection and that we may do so wee muste consider the frailtie that is in vs For when wee once know that we should quickly be ouercome of Sathan if we were not vpholden and maintained by a greater vertue it wil be as a spurre vnto vs to moue vs to haue our whole recourse vnto GOD and to call vppon him with alhumblenes carefulnes 18 Wee cannot merit Gods fauour IF wee stande in talke of acquiting our selues before God it is certaine that wee can finde nothing in our selues worthye suche a reconciliation or that maye come any thing neare it And therefore it standeth vs vppon to search our neede and want in Christ Iesus how by the price of his blood we are reconciled to God his father Io. 15.5 2 Cor. 3.5 and that wee haue free accesse giuen vnto vs so that we may boldelie and confidently call vppon him 19 Iesus Christ muste sanctifie our prayers SO often as the faithfull doe settle themselues to pray vnto GOD they muste knowe that all their prayers must be sanctified and consecrated by the blood of our Lord Iesus Christ For if in prayer wee doe not ground our selues vppon the grace of the onelye Mediatour that was giuen vs we must needes be in doubte and perplexitie all our prayers are polluted and vncleane There is no meane to sanctifie them and to make them stande good and stedfast before God vnlesse they bee watered by the bloud of Christ Iam. 1.6 Mat. 11 24 as the scripture also sheweth that if we pray not in Faith and certainty we shall neuer profitte any thing at all When we come vnto God we must be out of doubt that we pray as it were by his mouth and his wil must be a rule that can neuer deceaue vs He. 11.6 so that we may not swarue from it the least iott that may be neither to the right hand nor to the left For God will not be prayed vnto but after his owne will and not according to the fantastes of men 20 Christ the onelie mediator and why so called OVr Sauiour Christ is not onlie called a Mediatour in respect hereof that hee reconciled vs to God by his deathe at once But because hee appeareth now before the Maiestie of God to th' end that wee might be heard by his meanes 1. Tim. 2.5 For these are two thinges whiche cannot be sundred as namely the death and passion of the sonne of God and that he now maketh intercession for vs. Moreouer Iesus Christ is called the onely Mediatour not onelie because he now maketh intercession for vs but also because he suffered death for vs and therefore we cannot giue this office vnto the saincts but wee muste make them our redemers and so cast Christ cleane away the whiche is an horrible blasphemie 21 The Gospell a necessary witnesse of our saluation IT were to smal purpose that Iesus Christ had redemed vs from euerlasting death and had shed his blood to reconcile vs to God vnlesse wee were certified of this benefitte by meanes of the Gospell for it is faith that bringeth vs into possession of this saluation And although we finde it not but in the person of our Lorde Iesus we must needs come thither yet if we haue not this keye of faithe Iesus Christe shall bee as it were straunge vnto vs and all that he suffered will nothing at all profit vs as indeed it doth not thē belong vnto vs 22 Wee are called by the Gospell WHensoeuer the Gospel is preached wee haue to knowe and consider that it is to make vs pertakers of Iesus Christ that being ingrafted in him Heb. 2.11 wee mighte haue parte and portion in all his riches whatsoeuer he hath may be ours For seeing it hath pleased him once to become our brother we neede not doubt but in taking vppon him our poore wretched estate he hath made such an exchaunge with vs that we might be riche in him By the preaching of the Gospell God calleth vs vnto himself and it wil be neither in vaine nor lost labour if we come accordinglie 23 The perfection of Wisedome GOD hath giuen vs the perfection of wisedome in the holy scriptures and therefore no man shoulde geue himselfe to fables and foolish questions which are not profitable to edification but cleaue faste and content himselfe with the worde of God and with the trueth of doctrine conteyned in the same For the which cause wee are commaunded to try all thinges 1. Th. 5.21 and keepe that which is good For the Diuel cannot so culour his
of Israel the punishment of this sinne of fornicatiō which was so fearful among the people of Israell is brought in of the Apost P. to bring all men to such fear of God as may restrain them from it Neither let vs commit fornication 1. Cor. 10. saith the Ap. as some of them cōmitted fornicatiō fel in one day 23000 The life of man beeing so pretious vnto our heauenly father as it is it cannot be a smal sin that prouoketh the Lord to proceede in iudgement euen to the death of so great a number therefore is this notable punishment not without great reason ioyned to fornication which was the cause therof For commonly this sinne is little regarded hauing natural infirmitye set beside it in the vsual speech of mē to hide it withall But the holy Ghost doth not so match it in his speech hee doth not set before our eies in a cloak of natural infirmity wherby we shold the lesse feare it but putteth vpon it the garment that indeede belongeth vnto it euen a cloake bathed with the blod of 23000. There is a great difference between these two cloakes the one is far vnlike the other In the eyes of the holy Ghost this sin is fearfully stayned with much blood in the sighte of fornicators there is nothing in it with is not natural kindly so diuers are their iudgements and so great is the disagreement of their opinions The Apost P. reasoneth against fornicators by the worthinesse of our bodies 1. Cor. 6.16 which are the members of Christ Do ye not knowe saith he that he whiche couplth himself with an harlot is one bodie For two saith he shal bee one flesh Certain it is that the body of ā harlot can be no member of Iesus C. And the fornicator by the testimonye of the Apost is become one body with her Gen. 2.24 Mat. 19.5 Mar. 10.8 Eph. 5.31 hauing the same coniunctiō with her in wickednesse that the husbande hath with his lawfull wife in holines and by the appointment of the Lorde There is great cause therefore why the holy Ghost should so earnestly perswade vs to fly fornication making that sinne aboue all other to offende against his owne body whiche doeth commit it 59 Of maried folkes ADultery and fornication beeing forbidden the godly louing and chaste life of married folkes must needes be commanded Which that it may be performed almightie God requireth of his children that they do match themselues with such as feare him and serue him after his worde Such hath he promised to blesse As for those that marry for riches beauty and such outward things when there is not the feare and true worshippe of God ioined withal Ps 128. Gen. 6 2.3 they haue alwaies tasted of most greeuous plagues from the hand of the Lord. Moreouer wee knowe that if any thing must be kept holy in the whole life of man it is the faith which the husband plighteth vnto the wife and the wife promiseth vnto the husband All contractes and promises which wee make must faithfully be obserued but if we make comparison we shall finde that mariage not without great cause is named the couenant of God Solomon sheweth by this worde Pro. 2.17 that God beareth rule ouer mariage hauing it vnder his garde and protection And for this cause if the husband breake his promisse whiche hee hath made vnto his wife he is not periured onelye towards her but towards God Deut. 5.18 Ex. 20.24 Asmuch is to be said of the wife that she doth not onely wrong to her husband but to the liuing God For vnto him shee is bound inasmuch as God wil haue the care of mantayning mariage whereas it is ordeyned by him and he himselfe the author of the same Therefore when we heare this worde adultery we ought to holde it as execrable and accursed and let vs know that except we be sober continēt Heb. 13 4. chast and modest God hath vs in great hatred and our life is infected before him For if our persons are counted pretious and our liues held deare in his sight he will also that the loyalty and mutuall faith which ought to bee betweene the husband and the wife be in price and estimation Mat. 5 28. Tit. 1.15 that suche an honorable and holy thing as mariage is be not set forth vnto reproche And this ought to teach vs that God wil not haue a man to cast an vnchastey vpon the wife of his neighbor beecause God hath already coupled her vnto her husband he will him to bee her shadowe and that when we think on euil and set our mindes on anye vile lust we ought to stand in fear of that sentence which is pronounced by the holy Ghost as namely that GOD wil take vengeance on al them which violate and defile the holy coniunction which he hath set foorth in his owne name 60 Of mariage and why it was instituted Seing that in lawful mariage there is Gods blessing it is manifest that in whoredome there is nothing but cursednes Wherefore wee muste not delight in whoredome but rather abhorre it Ps 128. seeing that therein there is nothing but wickednesse and euill successe whereas in mariage there goeth a blessing They which are maried must not with all greedinesse followe the lusts of the flesh and their sensuality taking their pleasures and desirs after their inordinate concupiscences but the ioye that the faithfull maried folkes ought to haue is that they should confes that it is God that hath knit them together for to be vnited in such wise that the one should not desire to be seperated from the other but that in this vnion man should knowe that it is not good for him to liue alone and therefore should loue his wife whom God hath geuen vnto him to be with him and to helpe him the wife also to knowe that she hath bene taken out of the side of man and therof made a woman that she might bee an helper to man and therefore should geue her selfe wholly to obeye her husband That they should confesse that they are in a very honorable estate as the sonne of God hath well declared and that it commeth not from the inuention of mans braine but from the most auntient institution of God Also that God hath made them pertakers of marriage to the ende they should possesse their vessels in honor and sanctification and not in filthinesse and vncleannesse Likewise if they haue children they shoulde acknowledge that they are the instruments whereby God doth increase his Church and the greater number of children they haue let them reioice Let them reioice so much the more cōfessing that the blessing of God is the more vppon them and that God doeth greatly honor them when they are made fathers and mothers of so great a flock They that want this knowledge and vnderstanding and which doe not so reioice though they be maried that they
Iewes haue a vaile before their eyes leasts they should behold the glory of God in the face of Christ 161 Why our Sauiour Christ came in the flesh WHen as Gods iust wrath against sinne committed by our first parents was so greuous that no creature in heauen in earth was able in any parte to appease the same Io. 1.14 by the vnestimable goodnesse of God his onely and dearelibeloued sonne became a sacrifice to appease his wrath and displeasure and to reconcile vs vnto his Father and by his death and passion procured for vs reconciliation with his Father remission of sin righteousnesse before God Col. 1.20 and eternal life in heauen These be the fruits and benefittes that wee haue by Christs comming in the fleshe If the highnes and excellencie of the meane of our saluation in parte or in al could haue otherwise bin wrought the wisedome of God woulde neuer haue giuen his sonne to death to procure the same benefites for vs. But that he might declare howe odious and displeasant sinne was in the sight of God he let vs by this meanes vnderstand that the offence therof could not be taken away nor mankinde to him be reconciled but onelye by the bloud of the immaculate lamb Christ Iesus his sonne Good Christians therefore must assuredlye perswade themselues Ro. 5.10 that they haue reconciliation with God remission of sinne iustification before God sanctification of the holy Ghost Eph. 1.7 and the heritage of eternall life by the excellencie and fulnes of Christes death and passion onely onelye I say and by nothing els For as it was said before Christ is the onely full and perfect meane of our saluation 162 Faith in Christ the meane of our saluation THere is one onely meane whereby the benefites of Christes passion and victorie are applyed and do also redounde vnto vs and that is onelye faith in Christ Iesu and no other thing which faith it pleaseth almightie God to accept for righteousnesse And this righteousnesse it is which onely standeth before God and none other as we are plainely taught by the Scriptures and especially by the doctrine of S. Paule Which righteousnes thus rising of faith in Christ the apostle calleth the righteousnes of God Phi. 3 9. where he speaking of himselfe vtterly refuseth the other righteousnes which is of the law that he might be found in him not hauing his own righteousnes which is of the law but the righteousnes of Christ which is of faith Againe the same Apostle writing of the Iewes which sought for righteousnes and founde it not and also of the Gentiles which sought not for it and yet found it sheweth the reason why because saith hee the one sought it as byworkes and the law Ro. 9.30.31.32 came not to it who not knowing the righteousnes of god seeking to set vp their owne rightesonesse did not submitte themselues to the righteousnes which is of God the other which were the Gentiles and sought not for it obteined righteousnes that righteousnes which is of faith c. Also in an other place of the same epistle S. Paule writing of the righteousnes which commeth of faith calleth it the righteousnes of God in these wordes Ro. 3.25 whom God saith hee hath set forth a reconciliation through faith in his bloud to declare his righteousnes by the forgiuenes of the sins that are past c. By which righteousnes it is euident that the apostle meaneth the righteousnes of faith which almightie God now reueileth and maketh manifest by preaching the gospell but if wee desire to see yet more plainely this righteousnesse of God how it is taken in S. Paule for the righteousnes of faith and therfore is called the righteousnes of God because it is imputed onely of God to faith and not deserued of man In the same his chapter vnto the Romaines his words be manifest The righteousnes of God saith he is by faith of Iesus Christ vnto all and vppon all that beleeue 163 We are iustified by the grace of God in Christ and not by workes NO workes of the law can iustifie men that is to say in gods iudgment acquite and discharge them from sinne from accusation and damnation of the law reconcile them vnto God and make them perfect righteous good and blessed The grace of God alone in Christ Iesus doth these thinges and therefore hee that thinketh beleeueth and teacheth otherwise despiseth the grace of God maketh Christ vnprofitable and therefore maketh also the whole doctrine of the Euangelistes and Apostles voyde and of none effect For the Apostle Paule teacheth plainely that noe flesh shall be iustified in the sight of God by the workes of the law Ro. 3.20 For by the lawe commeth the knowledge of sinne but now without the law is the righteousnes of God declared by faith in Iesus Christ For all they that beleeue are iustified freelye by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus Also in another place hee saith a man is not iustified by the workes of the lawe but by the faith of Iesus Christ For in Christ our Lord Gal. 2.16 as in the true and liuing sonne of God is inclosed fulnesse of grace and all heauenly treasures the which he keepeth not vnto himselfe alone but according to his pleasure and according to our necessitie he bestoweth them vppon vs so that wee shall not want at all anye of those thinges which are requisite vnto our righteousnes perfection and saluation Mat. 28.18 Mat. 11.28 All power is geuen vnto him in heauen and in earth For the which cause he calleth all men vnto him and will heale all our infirmities 164 Howe faith doth iustifye AS the passion of Christ serueth to none but such as do beleeue so neither doth faith as it is onelye a bare qualitye or action in mans minde it selfe iustifie vnlesse it be directed to the bodie of Christ crucified of whom it receaueth al his vertue And therefore these two faitâ— and Christ Iesus crucified must alwaies ioyntly concurre and go together As for example when the people of Israell were commaunded of Moses to looke vp to the brasen serpent neither coulde the serpent haue helpeâ— them except they had looked vp Num. 21. noâ— yet their looking vpwarde haue profited them vnlesse they had directed their eyes vpon the saide Serpent set vp for the same purpose for them to behold So our faith in like case directed to the bodye of Iesus our Sauiour is onely the meanes wherby the merites of Christ are applyed vnto vs and we now iustified before God according to the doctrine of S. Paule who in expresse wordes defining vnto vs what this saith is and howe it iustifieth saith If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus Ro. 10.9 and beleeue in thy heart that god raysed him from death thou shalt bee saued c. Besides this what action â—â— qualitie so euer is in maÌ„ either
to saluation and not conteining al necessary truth but that there are many articles of necessitye to be beleeued which are not conteined in the scriptures For so saith one of their champions Lindan li. 1. c. 10. The Apostles saith he would not commit certaine principall pointes of our religion to paper and inke thereby to perish and to be forgotten but they committed them to the faithful harts of christians As though those things remained more sure which be cōmitted to the fraile memory of feble men in this sinful world then those things that by the spirit of god are put in writing This is the cause why they blasphemously cal the sacred written word of God The Papists blasphemy a dead writing a dumbe Maister doubtfull and vncertaine A black gospell dead inke inkie diuinitye A nose of waxe a leaden rule c. This is the cause why they say that the scriptures take authoritye of the church Frier Soto and that without the authority of the Church the scriptures haue no authority As though the Maiesty of Gods wisedome and his trueth conteined in the scriptures depended vppon the authority of man For though the Church bee neuer so holie yet it consisteth of men which oftentimes haue and do erre when they leane not to the word of God Petrus de palude de potestate Papae Art 4. Herueus de potest Papae If they would hearken to Gods worde then would they not say that the Popes onely power passeth all the power of the whole Church besides And that the Pope by vertue and power is the whole church and so conclude theruppon that there is neither holy ghost nor interpretation or sense of the scriptures but onely in the Pope Indeed it is true that as the Scriptures were written by the spirit of GOD 2. Pet. 1.20 So must they be expounded by the same For without that Spirit we haue neither eyes to see nor eares to heare It is that spirit that openeth and no man shutteth the same shutteth Ma. 11.15 Reu. 3 7 and no man openeth The same spirit prepared and opened the heart of Lidia Act. 16.14 Io. 6.45 that she should geue eare to and consider the things that were spoken by S. Paule And in respect of this spirit the Prophet Esay saith Esa 53.13 Ier. 31 33. They shal be all taught of God But God hath not bound himself that this spirit should euermore of necessitie dwell in Roome Esay 62.2 but vpon the lowly and humble hearted that tremble at the word of God Chrisostome saith they that speake of themselues Chrisost de sancto ado spi falsly pretend the holy ghost And againe if any thing be brought vnto vs saith he vnder the name of the holy ghost besides the gospell let vs not beleeue it For as Christ is the fulfilling of the law and the proph so is the holy ghost the fulfilling of the gospel Now with what spirit the Bishops of Rome haue expounded vnto vs the holy scriptures it is so manifest and apparantly knowne that we need go no further but to their owne writings canons sufficiently to proue that the Pope is Antichrist 1. Io. 2.22 and that his prelats and disciples are the spirituall wolues of whom Christ in his gospell geueth warning Mat. 7.15 though they couer themselues neuer so closely vnder the clothing of Christes true sheepe Christ was humble and lowly The prophet in his owne person speaketh of him I am a worme and not a man ashame of men and the contempt of the people And S. Paule saith he humbled himselfe Ps 22.6 Phil. 2.8 and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the crosse Behold his parents his birth his cradle beholde his life his disciples his doctrine and his death All were witnesses to his humility He saith of himself the son of man hath not whereon to rest his head And to his disciples he saith Mat. 8.20 The Kings of the Gentils raigne ouer them they that beare rule ouer them are called gratious Lordes but you shall not be so Luk. 25.22 Ma. 11.29 And againe Learne of me that I am meek lowly in heart and ye shall finde rest vnto your soules Now on the other side if wee consider the condition of Antichrist beholde his birth his place his chaire his estate his doctrine his disciples and al his life there shal nothing be seene but pomp and vaine glory he is proud in life The image of Antichrist proud in doctrine proud in word and proude in deedes He is like vnto Lucifer and setteth himselfe before his brethren and ouer nations and kingdomes He maketh kings and princes to kisse his feete to cary his traine to hold his stirrop c. He claimeth power ouer heauen and earth Hee saith he is Lord ouer all the worlde the Lord of Lords and King of Kings that his authority reacheth vp into heauen down into hell that whosoeuer he blesseth is blessed and that it is cursed whatsoeuer he curseth He selleth merits the forgiuenesse of sinnes the sacrifice for the quicke and the dead He maketh marchandise of the soules of men He remoueth Kings deposeth the stats princes of the world He taketh vpon him the authority and name of the liuing GOD which made heauen and earth Extrauag Io. 22. euen the name of GOD the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ And in this pride hee exceedeth all others that haue bene wicked But some will peraduenture reply that the Pope at this daye is not called GOD but that hee abaceth and writeth himselfe by a title of humility and is called so the seruant of seruaunts Thus indeede he is written but marke how much the matter is amended Extra de Maior obedien This seruaunt saith I doe make holy the vnholy I do iustifie the wicked I doe forgiue sins I open and no man shutteth This seruaunt can say that whosoeuer obeyeth not him shall be rooted out and that he may dispence for any commaundement of the old or new testament 9 Que. 3. cuncta pet de pal de pot pa. Art 4. No man may iudge this seruant For they say the Pope is exempted from all law of man again neither all the clergy nor all the wholeworld may either iudge or depose the Pope Such a power this seruant of seruāts claimeth to himself what greater power may be geuen vnto God And this power the Pope at this day challēgeth as proper to his seat that he hath the authority which is due vnto Christ ouer his Church none may say he doth erre or aske why hee doth so Now the first Sheepes clothing wherewithall the false Prophetes and members of Antichristes schoole doe vse to hide and couer their deuelish hypocrisie is fasting prayer almes deedes The first sheeps clothing wherwith the false Prophets doe hide thēselues and outwarde holinesse of life The which things
against his law For in asmuch as the Lord hateth the euill it selfe he cannot but abhorre it wheresoeuer he shall find it whether in heart hand or tongue Whosoeuer hateth his brother saith S. Iohn is a mansteare We see hereby that not onely grosse euils come into reckoning before the Lord but euen hatred setled in the heart although the hand hath neuer beene stretched foorth to execute the same Neither commeth it before him as a trifling toye but it appeareth monstrous hauing no other shape vpon it nor other account made of it then of murther This was the cause why the Lord forbidding hatefull and malitious thoughtes in this commaundement woulde giue it no other name then murther teaching vs that howsoeuer wee nourish such thoughtes and make small account of them yet his iudgemēt is plaine that they be no better then murther when the hart of man is setled in them We may see in the Gospell how our Lord Iesus Christ hateth wordes which proceede from malice and anger and pronounceth that whosoeuer shall say foole to his brother shall bee worthy to be punished Mat. 5.22 Hatred towardes our brother is so greeuous in his sight that it stayneth and defileth what soeuer it toucheth bee it thought or word maketh it so heauie that the Lord can no longer beare it 55 We must absteine from wrong and iniurie THe Lorde in declaring that hee is displeased when one man doth iniurie to another sheweth vs thereby that this ought to withholde vs from doing wrong except we be bereaued of all sence And to the end we mighte better aduise our selues in this thing he declareth further Ex. 20.13 that there cannot be a murther committed but the earth therewith muste needes be polluted and defiled And as it appeareth in the booke of Numbers The effusion of mans blood in it selfe importeth a filth such a blot Num. 35.43 as scarse can be wiped out When mention is made of killing euen in a battle approued and allowed it appeareth 1. Chro. 22. that a man therby is become vncleane because wee mighte learn therebie to haue in greater horror and detestation the effusion of blood 1. Chro. 22 8. If an enemie be killed in open battell althoughe God pardon this because he which killeth him hath iust and lawfull cause and doth it for ne-nessitie yet notwithstanding it is said that the man which hath slaine him is polluted and made vncleane to the end we might knowe that God hath created vs to liue together in peace and that wee can giue neuer so little a blowe in anger to our brother but that we defile our selues and become by and by vncleane before the face of God Io 13.35 The persons of men must be accounted deare and pretious in our sight for vntill we be come vnto such perfection God will alwaies accoūt vs for murtherers If one strike his neighbour and kill him not yet is he alreadie a murtherer before God to the end God might declare vnto vs that howe euer wee esteeme them as light and little faults to bee the occasion of tumults and sedition Deu. 5.17 that hee notwithstanding shall not so account of them because they are al as weighty as murther 56 Of Anger and the effects thereof THe sonnes of Adam are of such a nature that they wil be feared doubted and cannot suffer to bee despised nor to receaue any signe of contempt If it seeme vnto anye one that any do labour to trouble him he is straightwaye moued with anger wrath and sodainly doth shewe it by contentions debates strifes and in outragious words and violent deeds He boyleth so vehemently with impatiencie and furie he hath so great desire to be reuenged for the iniury that he perswadeth himselfe to be done vnto him that he looseth al boldnes and cannot dissemble his naughtie stomacke and yet it seemeth vnto him that he is mightie and strong and that he behaueth himselfe in good order and that his heart is vpright because he suffereth none to hurt or bite him neither to tread him vnder foote But the holy Ghost by the mouth of Solomon pronounceth him to bee a foole Pr. 12.16 Mat. 5.25 A foole saith he in a day shal be knowne by his anger His meaning is not that the foole is satisfied to haue shewed his anger and wrath for a litle space and afterward returneth to be reconciled and to bee freindes againe with them with whom he was angry as euery one of vs must doe in following the goodnes of our heauenly father For he endureth but a while in his anger but in his fauour is life And for to follow him we must obey the exhortation of S. Paule Be angry saith hee but sinne not c. And againe let all bitternes anger and wrath crying and euill speaking bee put away from you with all maliciousnesse Eph. 4.29.31 c. We must not dwell long and abide in the company of the contentious for to knowe the wickednesse of his hart For for euery little thing done contrary to his will hee wil shewe by iniuries raging violences what he is within As Cain against Abell Corach Dathan and Abiram against Moses Gen. 4. Num. 16. 1. Sam. 27. Saul against Dauid the enemies of the trueth against the children of God Not onely among the Papists but also there where they boste of the reformation of the Gospell 57 The exposition of the seauenth commaundement IN the third commaundement of the second table the Lord our God doth not onely forbid all adultery fornication and al other vncleannesse in our bodies but also all impure thoughts and lustes of the heart He forbiddeth vs vnchast behauiour gluttony drunkennesse and all other things whatsoeuer may entice allure vs vnto vncleannesse He commandeth vs to kepe our bodies and soules chast and pure or if the gift of chastity bee not geuen vs then to vse the lawfull remedy appointed by God whiche is mariage for inasmuch as our bodies and souls are the temples of the holy spirit Deu. 5.18 Leu. 18.20 Deut. 23.17 Mat. 5.25 Esay 3.16 Ro. 13.13 Eph. 5.18 1. Th. 4. Heb. 13.4 wee ought to keepe them in all purenesse and not onely to absteine from the carnall act but also to be chast in heart wordes and behauiour The Lorde doth not only forbid adultery but also all vncourteous wrongful and intollerable liuing together he wil haue the life of maried persons to be ruled with charity How great a fault God iudgeth adultery may here be known in that hee hath condemned it with death the which maye more at large bee seene in Iob the thirtie and one chapter and Prouerbs the fift and six chapters 58 Fornication is forbidden Adultery is not onelye condemned and forbidden in this commandemēt but also fornication when both the offendors are single persons Fornication is forbidden in expres words in Deut. There shal be no whore saith the L. of the daughters
vnpossible for vs to be made aliue by being dead that death should be the meanes of our life furthermore that we must bee despised in the world and suffer vile reproches if we will raigne with Iesus Christ and yet the spirit of God telleth vs that it is most certain and therefore will haue vs beat downe al disputations and not reste our selues vpon our owne thoughtes and imaginations for seeing God hath appointed it soe 2. Tim. 2.11 Ro. 6.5 if wee will be his seruants we must staye our selues vpon his counsell and suffer our selues to be guided by him If we bee dead with Iesus Christ saith S. Paule we also shall liue with him By the word death the Apostle meaneth not onely the death of men when God taketh them from the earth 2. Cor. 4.10.11 Col. 3.3 but that we must beare the mortification of Iesus Christ in our bodies to the ende that his life may appeare in vs. For ye are dead saith he in an other place your life is hid with Christe in God euen as the life of trees is hid in the winter The trees in the winter are drie they seeme to be but dead wood without strength but yet their strength sheweth it selfe in the spring time Euen so the case standeth with the faithfull for while they are in this worlde their life is shutte vp in hope Ro. 8.24 Nowe that which we hope for as Saint Paule sayth is not seene the eye of man cannot attaine vnto it It followeth then that in dying wee must liue and liuing wee must dye not onely with one kinde of death but wee must die dayly wee must decay as touching the outward man for sicknesses pouertie afflictions and such like thinges are messengers of death which doe or ought to put vs in minde that our life is but a shadow that it is nothing and that therefore we should renounce the worlde and vtterly banish and reiect all the lustes and vanities of the same 133 All thinges must be forsaken for Gods sake A Faithfull man must alwayes more esteeme and loue God and his kingdome then his own life body wife children friendes and kinred and all thinges else which are in this worlde so that whensoeuer God shal cal vs away from these thinges we must willingly leaue all and followe God after the example of our father Abraham Heb. 11.17 Ge. 22 10. Mat. 10.37 For the Lord sayth in his gospell he that loueth father or mother more then mee is not worthy of me And he that loueth son or daughter more theÌ„ me is not worthy of me Wherefore al meÌ„ must cast away the care of temporall things consider that God in vs while we were sound and in health prouided sufficiently for vs and ours And that therfore nowe Ps 68.5 146.9 when as he hath appointed to call vs away from hence hee will not forsake our family especially seeing he is a father of the widows and fatherlesse but will prouide for them some other waye Io. 19.27 Christ on the crosse was coÌ„tent to haue coÌ„mitted his mother vnto Iohn So we also must coÌ„mend vnto God vnto faithful men those that are coÌ„mitted to our charge 1. Pet. 5.7 ought to be no further careful for theÌ„ but care for think on things eternal 134 Tribulation bringeth foorth patience IF we will shewe our selues to bee the sonnes of God then must our afflictions practise vs in patience except they do so the worke of god thorough our corruptioÌ„ is made voyd of none effect Ro. 5.3 Aduersities hinder not the glorie of the godly because in bearing them patiently they feele the helpe of God which nourisheth and confirmeth their hope therefore it is sure that they profitte but ill which learne not patience Neither doeth this let that there are extant in the Scriptures certaine complaintes of the godly full of desperation for God sometimes for a while doeth so vrge and represse those that are his that scarcely they can breath or thinke vppon consolation but straightwaies he bringeth againe to life those whom he had almost ouerwhelmed in the middest of death So that is alwaye fulfilled in them which the Apostle sayth 2. Cor. 4.8 9. we are afflicted on euery side yet are we not in distresse in pouertie but not ouercome of pouertie we are persecuted but not forsakeÌ„ cast down but we perish not Patience coÌ„meth not of the nature of tribulation wherby we see some are prouoked to murmur against god yea eueÌ„ to curse God but wheÌ„ as the inwarde meeknes which is infused by the spirit of god coÌ„solatioÌ„ which is suggested by the same spirite hath succeeded in the place of stubbornenes frowardnes tribulations are instrumentes to beget patience which tribulation can procure nothing in the wicked and obstinate but indignation and murmuring 135 Patience is a great vertue THe greatest part of men will easily grant that patience is a great vertue as it is in deede and yet there be verie fewe that knowe what it meaneth whereby it may soone be gathered that wee be not very hasty to be patient and to haue the vertue that we esteeme so much God therefore perceiuing such carelesnesse in men hath in diuers places namely in patient Iob set before our eies the thing that is so needefull for vs Iob. 1.20 for if wee bee not patient our faith must needs vanish away for it is not able to continue without the same Iam. 1.3.4 For the which cause it is the will of God that in the midst of the miseries of this worlde wee shoulde alwayes haue a quiet heart and be so well assured of his goodnesse as the same may make vs merrie and contented so that wee may boast our selues against Sathan and against all our enemies But howe were that possible if wee did not looke higher then the worlde and considered not that although our estate bee miserable in the opinion of the flesh yet ought we to bee contented with it seeing our God loueth vs. 136 True patience what it is WE commonly say that a man is patient although hee haue no point of true patience in him For whosoeuer suffreth aduersitie him do men call patient but let vs with all marke that to be patient it behooueth vs to moderate our sorrowe Rom. 5.3 If there be any aduersitie it must be asswaged by considering that God ceaseth not to procure our welfare continually Deu. 30.8 and that wee ought to be subiect to him and that it is good reason he should gouern vs according to his good pleasure Herein doth patience make it selfe to be knowen 137 The prouidence of God encrâ—â—â—eth the patience of the godly BY gods only sufferance it is that Tyrantes persecute that they spoyle men of their goods that they cast them into banishment into pryson and bandes and that they exercise all kinde of crueltie against them It is
motion and as they are selfe taught but it is God that giueth it and that of an especiall goodnes I will not the death of a sinner saith the Lord but that hee conuerte and liue Eze. 18.23 33 And how is that possible If we were able to turne our selues vnto the Lord it were a more excellent worke then to create vs and experience it selfe doth sufficientlye condemne vs. It is moreouer an vndoubted doctrine throughout the whole scripture For in euery place our Lord Iesus Christ giueth himselfe the prayse of turning vs shewing that he will soften our stonie hearts Eze. 11.19 20. Phil. 2.3 and make them bowe to obey him and it is his worke not onely to giue vs that we may but that we will and desire to obey his commandementes and to bee shorte there is nothing that the faithfull ought to doe so much as in this behalfe to giue God the glorie confessing that it is in him onely to turne vs that it is he onely that hath adopted vs in such sort that he must needes draw vs by the grace of his holy spirite The Lorde must open our eyes and eares also before we can attayne to this woonderfull wisedome which is conteyned in the gospell Deu. 29.4 Ro. 8.7 because the natural man vnderstandeth not any part of the secrets of God therefore it followeth that it is an especial gift of the holy ghost when he lighteneth our hearts in the faith of his truth 212 Howe we ought to repent THe true preparatiue to repentāce is to be pricked so nearely as we may feele the euill that is in vs condemne our selues for it we must learne to streine our selues to hold our selues as prisoners although the same fall out contrarie to our desire yet neuerthelesse wee must goe on still further that God may winne the vpper hand of vs. We must learn to hate our selues to take displeasure against ourselues and to be reuenged of our owne naughtinesse 2 Co. 7.11 according as the Apostle sayeth 2. Cor. 7. For repentance importeth that men should condemne thēselues and take vengeance on themselues when they see their whole life corrupted and that they should vse an holy anger against it In steede of desiring to bee reuenged of our enemies when they haue doone vs any harme wee should be chafed and angry with our selues yea and punish our selues for faultes when wee cannot frame our selues vnto the will of God Wee should euery man enter into his owne conscience acknowledge howe corrupt and damnable sinners wee are of our selues Mar. 1.15 confesse our sinnes and when we haue doone so let vs enter from them and behold the great mercie of God 213 The qualities of repentance ONe speciall qualitie of repentance is alwayes to bring with it remission of sinnes for where true repentance goeth before there remission of sinnes must necessarily followe after not that repentance deserueth remission of sinnes but because where God worketh repentance there he pardoneth sinne because of his promise Eze. 18.27 When the wicked sayth the Lorde turneth away from his wickednesse that he hath committed and doth that which is lawful and right Esay 55.7 he shall saue his soule a liue And againe let the wicked forsake his wayes and the vnrighteous his own imaginations and returne vnto the Lorde and he will haue mercy vpon him Here we see to whom forgiuenes of sinnes the mercie of God belongeth as namely to the penitent sinners to those that leaue sinne imbrace godlinesse to those that forsake their owne waies and imaginations and turne vnto the Lorde And as for such as walke on in their own waies and folowe the delightes of sin without any sorrowe or purpose to leaue them they haue nothing to doe with the mercie of God and though Iesus Christ had suffered an hundred deathes which could not be yet shall no vnpenitent sinner haue remission of sinnes by his death nor any other benefites of his passion for they belong onely to his Church and chosen people here vpon the earth He therefore that is not of the church he that is not grafted into Christ by faith he that is not a member of his misticall bodie can enioy nothing by Christs death If a mā abide not in me saith our Sauiour Christ he is cast foorth as a branch and withereth Io. 15.6 and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they burne We may reade also in an other place howe God barreth all stubborne sinners from his mercie Deu. 29.18.19 and doth most terriblie shoot out against them He that heareth the words of this curse and blesseth himselfe in his heart saying I shal haue peace although I walke according to the stubbornenesse of my owne heart thus adding drunkennesse to thirst the Lorde will not be mercifull vnto him but then the wrath of the Lord and his iealousie shall smoke against that man euery curse that is written in this booke shal light vpō him 214 Of Sacraments and what a Sacrament is THE Lorde hath added vnto the preaching of the Gospell most holy Sacramentes as namely Baptisme and the supper of the Lorde The Sacramentes are holy actions of the faithfull in the church of Christ ordeyned by the Lorde himselfe to be signes and seales of true doctrine first doubtlesse bearing witnesse that we are receaued of God into grace and into the couenaunte and that he is our God that he clenseth vs from our sinnes regenerateth and reneweth vs and adopteth or chuseth vs as sonnes and receaueth vs vnto the partaking and fellowship of all good thinges which of vs must bee kept holy and we must liue godly and innocently before him They are also testimonies that the true Messias in times past promised vnto the old Fathers from the beginning of the worlde is nowe exhibited or giuen of God vnto the Church of Christ I meane Christ our Lorde who truely gaue his flesh and bloud vnto death to redeeme vs with his flesh bloud to nourish vs vnto eternall life that we againe as the Church by him redeemed Lu. 22.19 should keepe in continuall memory the death of our Lord 1. Cor. 11.26 praise him extoll him and giue thankes vnto him The Sacraments are also to admonish vs of our duties that wee should lead our liues in true godlines brotherly loue hold that one religion with whose sacramentes we are separated also frō al other religions 215 A Sacrament consisteth of three partes SAcramentes doe consist of three partes the first is the outwarde signe the seconde is the spirituall or inwarde grace and the thirde part is the worde of Christes institutiō or promise which is as it were the life and soule of the Sacrament Water in Baptisme signifieth that as water naturally hath a propertie to wash and clense the filth from the bodie Io. 1.7 so doth the grace of God through Christes bloude wash away
hardened against the grace of God yet let him heare this worde of God and let it often fall into his eares Ier. 3.29 for it is as the Prophet saith a hammer which breaketh the stone in peeces and is able in the power of God to mollifie his heart or if the sinner be suncken downe so deepe that he will not rise it will crush him downe deeper that he may perish in sinne and so God saith to his Prophet Ieremie I will put my words into thy mouth and it shall be as fire Ier. 5.14 and this people shall be as wood and it shall deuour them And this is it S. Paule expresly witnesseth to be the onely meanes to glorifie God to preach the truth of his word vnto all for so saith hee we are alwaies a sweet smelling sauour of Christ vnto God as well in those that perishe as in those that be saued 2. Cor. 2.16 to the one a sauour of life vnto life to the other of death vnto death 237 The cause why the worde of God is despised BEcause the word of God is simple and teacheth vs not high and excellent thinges in the opinion of the world for this cause it is despised and men make no accompt to follow the way which it teacheth thinking it a great dishonour to be conformable to the same and that they should be scarce woorthy to liue Likewise men persecute at all times those that followe it as wicked and esteeme them vnworthy of life But those which despising the worde seeke out thinges which are in price with the worlde and follow them are reputed honest men and are placed alwayes in the most honorable place amonge worldlinges Which is the cause that they thinke themselues to be in good estate and of such force as they shall neuer perish Wherein they deceaue themselues Deu. 4.6 Leu. 18.5 Mat. 22.32 Mar. 12.27 for seeing the worde of God is our wisedome and vnderstanding and that he which doeth the thinges appointed by the same shal liue it foloweth that without this wisedome there is nothing but death 238 It is not for vs to knowe the times and seasons which the father hath put in his owne power BY the woorde of God wee are taught and instructed that the day of the Lorde shall come vpon vs as a theefe in the night When the light of the trueth is taken away when the heart of the good man of the house is at rest and his eyes are darkened that they cannot see and all his sences drowned in worldlye pleasures When wee care for nothing that is godly when we saye peace and rest then will the sonne of man come to iudgement then shall destruction sodainely fall vppon vs. Act. 1.7 1. Thes 5.2 Therefore let vs be readie for in the houre that wee thinke not will the Sonne of man come Of that daye and houre knoweth no man sayeth our Sauiour Christ no not the Angelles which are in heauen Mar. 13.32 neither the sonne himselfe but the Father What may wee thinke then of them that write Bookes and Almanackes and say and teach expresly that such a yeare and at such a time Christe shall come and with these speeches fraye and mocke the worlde Let men know that they are but mortall and that by nature they are vtterly blinde God hath giuen vs knowledge in measure we can not know asmuch as we would Let vs know that which is fitte for vs and speake that that is lawfull to be spoken Let vs thinke vpon the commandements of God to followe them and not search into his workes Luke 21.25 Esa 13.10 Eze. 32.7 Ioel. 2.31 3.15 to be curious in them for he that is curious in searching the maiestie of God otherwise then he hath reuealed in his word shall be oppressed and confounded by his glory Thus much we may well know that the Lorde will come that all fleshe shall appeare before him that the worlde the heauen and the earth the Sunne and the Moone shall haue an end Math. 24.29 42. that the day of the Lord shall come sodenly as a theife in the night This warning God hath giuen vs that we should not be taken vnawares but that we repent and stand in readinesse continually watching and praying euery minute of an houre that we may be caught vp into the cloudes to meete our Redeemer 239 Of the second comming of Christ THe Sonne of God shall come downe with maiesty from heauen the Trumpet of God shal sonnde and be hearde from the one end of the heauen to the other Then shall he be the iudge ouer al flesh Then shall hee shewe himselfe to be king of kinges Lord of Lordes Then shall he not come in humilitie meekenesse and mercye but with dread terror of iudgement and iustice Not with 12. poore Apostles but with so many thousande Angelles to attende vpon him Not in the preaching of the gospel and calling sinners to repentance but in the sound of a trumpet wherwith all the corners of the earth shall be amazed Then shall hee not saye Come vnto me all ye that labour and are heauie loaden Mat. 11.28 Mat. 15.24 and I will refresh you I am sent to the lost sheepe of the house of Israell He shall not say Father forgiue them for they know not what they doe but he will saye you haue beene ashamed of mee and my worde before men therefore now wil I be ashamed of you before my heauenly Father Then shall they that despised the woorde of God knowe what they despised and the blasphemers shall reape the fruite of their blasphemy Then the carelesse Shepheard and idle Minister which hath not to his power fedde the Lordes sheepe but neglected them and left them at al aduentures which folowing the lustes of his owne heart hath betrayed his flocke and giuen them to be a pray vnto the wolfe shall receaue a iust recompence for his treason Then the aduterer oppressour and vsurer shall haue their life layde open before them They shall see him whome they pearced thorough Reu. 1.7 They shall see his sworde readie drawne to slaye all his enemyes and shall fall downe for feare of him that sitteth vpon the throne But the hearts of the righteous shall reioyce They shall lift vp their heades see him in whom they haue trusted Then shall they say This is the day which the Lorde hath made Ps 118.24 let vs reioyce be glad in it Let vs reioyce vnto the Lorde let vs come before his face with praise let vs sing loud vnto him with Psalmes Such shal be the state and countenance honor maiestie of our God when he shal come down from heauen for our deliuerance 240 Christ is the Apostle and high Priest of our profession IF we be Christians we must learn to professe no other teacher nor no other Sauiour but Iesus Christ onely 1. Cor. 1.30 We must beleeue and
christian souldier to reioice in the mercy of God to be feruent in prayer to geue thanks to God in all things the heathens which haue no part in the kingdome of Christ are thankful for their life and liberty wealth glorye and worldly prosperity But Christians ought to be thankfull in persecution in thraldome in aduersity in shame in misery and death it selfe Who would think that a Lyon which by nature is fierce and cruell shoulde yeeld forth hony Iud. 14.8 yet Sampson found honye in the bodye of a Lyon Ionas was swallowed vp of a whale yet not hurt Ro. 8.28 We knowe saith the Apostle that al things worke together for the best vnto them that loue God The Apost reioiced in their persecution that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for Christs sake And P speaking of this perfection in the godly saith we reioice vnder the hope of the glory of God Ro. 5.2.3 Neither that onely but also we reioyce in tribulation c who hath not heard of the pacience of Iob his cattel were driuen away his houses consumed with fire Iob. 1.21 his children slaine his body striken with a scurffe his wife loathed him and his freinds forsooke him And yet in all these miseries he fretted not but pacientlye susteining his aduersity The Lorde said he hath geuen the Lord hath taken it blessed be the name of the lord And again Iob. 13. i5 though he slay me yet wil I trust in him What are wee then that are neither thankfull for riches nor for health nor for our pleasures nor in the aboundance of all thinges which abuse the good giftes of God to dishonor him who hath geuen them vnto vs. The earth is the Lords and all that therein is the worlde and they that dwell therein He openeth his hande and filleth all thinges liuing with his blessing Psa 89.11 Ps 145.16 Ia. 1.17 Col. 2.3 Let vs looke vp into the heauens There is GOD the Father of lights from whom euery good and perfect gift commeth There is our redeemer Iesus Christ in whome are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge When we see how mercifully and aboundantlye the Lorde hath dealt with vs in thinges concerning this life Let vs consider with our selues howe many good men and faithfull seruaunts of GOD lacke the same and haue not receaued these blessings in such measure as wee In all these thinges GOD speaketh vnto vs and sheweth that hee is the giuer and that we haue them at his handes and therefore that we vse them well and not be vnthankfull 244 We must not hide our talent in the grounde WHen we shall attaine vnto the light of the trueth through the might of Gods spirit in any acceptable measure we must not holde fast this treasure as it were lockt vp in a chest But we must communicat the graces of God vnto others doe the best we can to draw on the miserable ignorant people to the seruice of god and to cary about with vs the doctrin to publish it to all men when as it is cōmitted vnto vs as a treasure to bestow the gift which we haue receaued vpon our neighbours according to that measure of faith which GOD hath geuen vs. 1. Pe. 4. i0 Psal 119.171.172 Wee must not neglect those whom we might winne but we must gather as much company to the Lord as we can For we shal not need to feare that our blessing shal be diminished as the case stādeth in an earthly inheritaunce Ro. 14.29 the which when it is deuided into many partes euery one hath but a little For as for the heauenly inheritaunce we are very well assured that we lose nothing neither diminish any part of our right when we draw many of our neighbors yea an infinite multitude they al do encrease our glory and ioy When God calleth vs vnto him he goeth not to worke by portions as things either encrease or decrease in this worlde but we shall haue so much that as I said before our saluation shall bee so much the more encreased and our glory augmented when we haue gathered a multitude to our God 245 How Sathan hath bewitched the Papists THe Diuell hath bene no lesse enuious and hath no lesse preuailed in these latter daies then hee hath done in times past For now also hath he made many men to set forth the imaginations of their owne heartes and hath bewitched many to followe their damnable waies whereby the way of truth is blasphemed and for their owne traditions he hath made the word of the Lorde Iesus to be of none effect this work hath he wroght as we may see among the Papistes For whereas Christ hath taught vs to worshippe in spirit and trueth to drinke the wine in the sacrament of his body and bloude Io. 4.23 Ma. 26.27 1. Cor. 14.19 1. Cor. 10 27. Heb. 13.3 to praye in a knowne tongue to eate of any meats without scruple of conscience to vse holy matrimony in all estates as a remedy against sinne yet as though Christ were no prophet vnto vs they haue abrogated these his lawes and made other contrary of their owne This our eies haue seene and our eares haue heard and whether they wil or no they must needes confesse it Yet notwithstanding they flatter themselues in a maruelous madnesse and doing all thing contrary to the Lord Iesu they say still they cannot erre but they shall one day see and know that Christ is the onely Prophet of the newe testament and blessed be the Lorde who hath made vs this day to beleeue it and while yet the day of health and acceptable time is to hearken onelye vnto him and refuse all the vaine inuentions of men 246 The doctrine of the Papistes repugnant to the scriptures WE are taught by the Scriptures that Christ is ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of GOD the father and from thence and no place els Col 3.1 he shall come to iudge the quick and the dead yet contrary to this article of our faith and contrary to the nature of Christs humanity if we beeleeue not that Christ euen in his fleshe is still in earth with vs yea and that in a thousand places at once the church of Rome wil pronounce vs detestable heretickes The scripture teacheth that we haue redemptiō and iustification by faith in Christs bloud onely without the helpe of our owne vertues and good workes For S. Paule saith Ro. 3.18 Therefore wee gather that a man is iustified by faithe without the deeds of the Law And to the Ep. Ye are iustified by grace Eph 2.8.9 and that not of your selues it is the gifte of God not of woorkes leaste any man should bost And yet if we beleue not that our workes do help vs to our iustification and remission of sins the papists wil condemne vs as heretiks The Scriptures sayth Thou shalt make thee no
him Iob. 1.12 therfore he graunted his demaund yea euen to spite Sathan and to haue the greater triumph againste him in putting him to confusion because hee made full reckoning that Iob should haue cursed God to his face that is that he should haue blasphemed him with open mouth when he felt afflictions to come vpon him If Sathan had neuer vttered anye word nor made any such petition yet God was minded to punish his seruant and he minded it for iust cause the which he hath disclosed vnto vs and if the same were to vs vnknowne yet ought we to reuerence the iustice and counsell of God confessing that he is most righteous and vnpartiall in all his doings Ps 119.137 128 Afflictions be the rods of God vnto the iust ALthough in the outward apparance of the world and sence of the flesh the iust and perfect do suffer in this world the like and more greeuous afflictions then do the wicked yet is their estate nothing so miserable For they knowing that afflictions be the roddes of God their Father do aske deliuerance and are assured to obtaine the same And thus on what side soeuer afflictions do coâ—â— vnto the iust and perfect because they know that God is their defender and keeper they are not afrayde as discouraged and desperate but in all assurance they say with the prophet The Lorde is my light and my saluation whom then shall I feare Ps 27.1 The Lord is the strength of my life of whom then shall I be afraid They knowe this same because of the infallible promise Ps 50.15 145.18 call vpon me in the day of trouble and I will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifye mee The Lord is neere to all that call vppon him Mat. 11.28 Luk. 12.32 yea to all that call vpon him in truth Come vnto me sayth our Sauiour all yee that are wearie and heauie laden and I will refresh you Feare not little flocke for it is your fathers pleasure to giue you the kingdome And God is faithfull as the Apostle witnesseth which will not suffer his to be tempted aboue their power 1. Cor. 10 13. but will euen giue the issue with the temptation that they maye be able to beare it The wicked nowe cannot thus speake in deede for although they thinke themselues most safe and sure and make great account of their owne strength yet because they are hated of God he can well finde them out Ps 7.15 Ps 9.15 and bring their enterprises and counsels to nothing 129 Afflictions come for diuers causes IT is most certaine that al miseries take their originall and beginning at sinne but yet God afflicteth his seruants for diuers causes For as he doeth not take vengeance on some mens sinnes in this worlde but deferreth the punishmentes vntill an other lyfe that hee maye then vse them with more seuerity euen so ofteÌ„times he dealeth more hardly with his faithfull seruantes not because they haue committed greater sinnes then other men but to mortifye in them the concupiscence of the flesh Yea sometyme not respecting their sinnes hee onelye tryeth their obedience Pro. 17.3 or els exerciseth their patience Euen as wee see that the holye man Iob was afflicted that by his aduersitie his godlinesse might be the better knowne Wherefore there are two thinges to bee noted the firste is that iudgement doth oftentimes begin at the house of God 1. Pet. 4.17 and that hee ouer passing the wicked doth seuerely punishe his seruantes and doth more sharpely scourge in correcting the vices of his church The second is that there are diuers endes why he afflicteth men for he suffered Stephen and other of his apostles to be cruelly tormented as if they had beene wicked persons Act. 7.58 whereby we may gather that in the punishments of men the causes of the same cannot bee well discerned 130. Patience ouercommeth affliction WHatsoeuer he be that suffereth the trouble that is layd vpon him for Christes sake maye continue without yrkesomenes euen to the last ende We must not therefore call to minde how long we are afflicted 1. Cor. 9. He. 12.12 but we must haue respect vnto the ende So runne saith the Apostle that yee may obtaine Lift vp your handes saith the authour to the Hebrues that hange downe Heb. 12.1 2. and your weake knees Againe let vs runne with patience the race that is set before vs looking vnto Iesus Christ the authour and finisher of our faith What doth it profit a man to be painefull in any busines for a time and then to fainte and giue ouer before hee hath brought it vnto good effect doth hee not loose all his labour and trauaile What doth it profite the runner to runne if he faint in the middest of his race shal he haue the game or reward Not without cause therefore doth the scripture in so many places exhort vs to patience and perseuerance Let vs not therefore be weake or feeble 1. Thes 5.54 Heb. 6.12 but followers of them which through faith and patience inherite the promises which is euerlasting life after the trauaile and paine of this life 131. The patience of the faithfull is tride by afflictions BEsides the iust punishment of the open and notorious sinner there is also another cause wherwith God is moued to sende among men miserie affliction and griefes of this world as namelye to trye and proue such as be good and godly that their vertues may more shine among men to the honour and glory of God As siluer and golde saith Salomon is tride by fire Iam. 1.12 Pro. 17.3 so doth God proue and trye the heartes of men In this manner God proued his faithfull seruants Abraham Ioseph and Iob that by the tryall of their constancie their faith might be the more notable and famous and both themselues more in faith confirmed and God by them more glorified When God cast vpon Iob all these miseries which the scriptures mention his vnnaturall wife vnkind frendes with rash and vncharitable iudgement woulde needes perswade him that it was the anger of God and the iust punishment of his sinnes that brought all these thinges vpon him But hee staying himselfe vpon the testimony of a good conscience and the constancie of his faith assured himselfe of the good wil of God and therefore he tooke all patiently saying Iob. 1.21 The Lord hath geuen and the Lord hath taken away euen as it pleaseth the Lord so be it In which wordes we haue to learne the exâ—eeding comfort which the children of God take in the middest of troubles by the prouidence of God which extendeth it selfe to all thinges so that there is nothing so base or simple either without man or within man Mat. 10.29 which he neglecteth or is ignorant of 132 To be partakers of the life of Iesus Christ we must before die with him IF we iudge according to our owne fantasy we shal thinke it