make a statue thereof as good as the matter would permit so saith he a wise man and why not a Christian endued with vertue will shew it in riches if he be rich in pouertie if he be poore in authoritie if he be a Magistrate in health or sicknes according to his place quamcunque fortunam acceperit aliquid ex ca memorabile efficiet in whatsoeuer state he liue he will doe some praiseworthy thing therein On the other side as good workes are good and profitable so euill workes are dangerous and vnprofitable Psal 5.6 Rom. 2.25 2. Tim. 2.6 Eph. 4.30 For euill déedes are displeasing to God that hates all the workes of iniquitie Euill déedes disgrace our profession and Gods glory what lies in vs. Euill deedes make vs the slaues and vassals of Sathan and by them he dominéers ouer vs. Euill deedes hinder all spirituall exercises Deut. 28. for by them faith faints the conscience is hurt praier ceases and the holy spirit of God is greeued Euill déedes doe procure and pull on vs punishments both publike and priuate as warres famines pestilence and the like At a word euill deeds do merite eternall torments after this life For they that doe commit euill works haue no parte in Christs Kingdome Gal. 5.21 1. Cor. 6.10 neither shall possesse it And is it so Is death the stipend and wages of iniquitie What exhortation then is fitter then that of the holie Apostle Let not sinne therefore raigne in our mortall bodie that we should obey it in the lusts thereof That is Rom. 6.23 let vs not fréeze in the dregges of vngodlinesse Let vs not wallow welter in the puddle of wickednes Rom. 6 1â— Let vs compare and examine our liues and doings by the rule line of Gods lawes and statutes and where we finde our faultines and imperfection and who will be able to say My heart is cleane Since the righteous falles seuen times in a day therefore let vs hartily repent for the same and beséech God the Father to forgiue our offenses for the merites and Passion of his dearely beloued Sonne CHRIST IESVS Let the swearer and blasphemous person forsake his Oathes and vaine prophaning of Gods sacred name Let the abuser of the Sabbath and neglecter of Prayer and Sermons and Sacraments reclaime himselfe sanctifie the Lords Sabbath Let the enuious and malicious person lay aside his hatred and spitefulnes Let the couetous and gréedie mizer forsake his inordinate loue of money which is the roote of all euill Let the drunkard abstaine from drunkennes the fornicator from vncleannes and the hypocrite from counterfeiting and the lyer from slaunderous vncharitable reports and the brawler conteÌ„der from strife and dâ—ssention To be short let the ignorant of the mysteries of their saluatioÌ„ seeke to be filled with the knowledge of Christ spiritual vnderstaÌ„ding And let the breaker offender of Gods Lawes perswade himselfe that it is sufficient to haue speÌ„t the time past in waÌ„tonnes lusts concupiscences abhominable traÌ„sgressions and let him not suffer sinne to raigne swaye longer in his mortall bodie CHRIST our high Priest Heb. 7.26 that offered a full perfect sufficient sacrifice for our Redemption was holie innoceÌ„t vndefiled separate froÌ„ sinners higher then the HeaueÌ„s And this our holie high Priest hath saÌ„ctified vs by his Sacrifice that we should also be holy innocent vndefiled For Heb. 2.11 He that saÌ„ctifieth they which are saÌ„ctified are all of one And CHRIST gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie Tit. 2.14 purge vs to bee a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good workes Therefore we ought also as being sanctified by Christ our redeemer as being members of so worthy an head as being made conformable to so excellent an Image wée ought also to loath detest and abhorre sinne iniquitie Fâ—â—e from siâ—ne as froÌ„ a serpent for if thou coÌ„mest too néere it it wil bite thee Ecclus 21.2.3 the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a Lyon to slay the soules of men All iniquity is as a two edged sword the woundes therefore cannot bee healed saith the Wise man Consider how pestilentiall how horrible how fowle a thing sinne is and tell whether it bee a fit guest to be harbored lodged of vs or not What is it that makes a separation betwéene God and our sillie soules but sinne Hearken what the Lord saith by his holy Prophet Beholde Isai 59.1.2 the Lords hand is not shortned that it caÌ„not saue neither is his Eare heaâ—e â—hat it cannot heare but your iniquities haue separated betweene you your God and your sinnes hauâ— hid his Face from you that hee will not heare And how vn speakeable a losse is it to be separated and diuorced from GOD As almost euery one offers wrong to a Widowe because shee wants a protector So euery vncleane spirite and euery creature riseth vp against the soule that is a widow Psal 70.10.11 that is depriued of the GRACE OF GOD And the spirituall Foes that seeke such a soule take counsell together and say God hath forsaken that Soule Persecute and take it for there is none to deliuer it The Shippe that hath lost her Mast and Rudder and Gouernor yeeldes to the flawes and flouds is driuen hither and thither and tossed by euery Tempest and at last is dashed against a Rocke and is broken in pieces and the Citie that is besieged of most cruell enemies hauing no Walles nor Bulwarkes to defend it and no Garrison nor strength of Soldiours to protect it but the Citizens that are in it are in hostilitie and ciuile discord this cittie must néeds be sacked and ransacked Euen so the wretched soule destitute of the loue and fauour of God it is exposed to innumerable flouds of teÌ„ptations and is néere to shipwrack it is as a prey readie to bee torne and rent by her enemies Sathan the world and the Flesh and it is cast foorth by the very bodie that it quickeneth to vncleane spirites to be deuoured When the King remooues his Court all the Kings houshold and all the Courtiers depart with him and we say that the Court is remoued Ezek. 18.14 So when God departs from the soule all the Angels that are Gardians to the soule celestiall Courtiers depart also from it and the very good works which were formerly done are forgotten and doe léese their reward For so saith the Prophet If the righteous man turne away from his righteousnes and commit iniquitie and doe according to all the abhominations that the wicked man doth shall he liue all his righteousnesse that he hath done shall not be mentioned but in his transgression that he hath committed and in his sinne that he hath sinned in them shall he die Of the departing of this heauenly Court Saint Basin thus saies In Psa 33 Like as smoke driues away Bees and
according to the riches of his glorie that we may be strengthened by his spirit in the inner man God makes vs worthie of his calling and fulfils all the good pleasuâ—e of his goodnes and the worke of faith with power God giues vs euerlasting consolation and good hope through grace and doth comfort our hearts and stablish vs in euery word and good worke and is faithfull Iude. â—â—r 3.4 and will stablish vs and keepe vs from euill and is able to keepe vs that we fal not and to present vs faulties before the presence of his glorie with ioy Therefore pray we earnestly to God that he would so confirme vs wâ—th his grace that we may so runne that we may come to the goale of eternall happines For it is God alone that can and will grant this perseuerance vnto the end to those that vnfainedly beg it of him Therefore the holy Psalmâ—st speakes thus in the person of Christ Psal 36.8 I haue set the Lord alwaies before me for he is at my right hand therefore I shall not slide As if Christ had said I haue confirmed my saith by the consideration of the will of God For I knew that I should be offered vp a sacrifice for mankind by the speciall and vnspeakable determination of God and beholding and setting this decrée of God before mine eyes I see and assure my selfe that God is present with me stands on my right hand sustaines and helpes me therefore I turne not mine eyes from him and I am certainely perswaded that I cannot be ouercome and swallowed vp of these sorrowe And as Christ doth confirme himselfe so all the godly must know that when they are pressed with incumbrances and tentations they must promise to themselues certaine deliuerance For that which was auailable in Christ must needes be auailable in his members also And where are the Doctors of diffidence and distrust that teach men that they cannot ascertaine themselues of their finall perseuerance and therefore they must still remaine doubtfull since Dauid in the person of Christ doth not onely mention his confidence for the present time but also extends it to the time to come and therefore saies that he should not slide be shaken or mooued Psal 138.7 Say not what though Dauid could say Though I walke in the midst of trouble yet God will reuiue me he will stretch foorth his hand vpon the wrath of mine enemies and his right hand shall saue me And what though Paul said of the Corinthians 1. Cor. 1.8 that God would confirme them vnto the end that they might be blameles in the day of our Lord Iesus Christ And what though the same Apostle could say by inspiration that he was perswaded that neither death nor life Rom. 8.38.39 nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Yet how shall we be sure that we shall neuer fall away from our owne stedfastnes Consider what our Sauiour saith Ioh. 6.37 that all that the Father giueth vnto him shall come to him and him that commeth to him he casteth not away Ioh. 10.28 and that he giueth eternall life to his shéepe and that they shall neuer perish neither any shall plucke them out of his hand Consider what the Apostle saith Rom. 11 2â— that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance and that God is faithfull which will not suffer vs to be tempted aboue that we are able 1. Cor. 10 13. but will euen giue the issue with the tentation that we may be able to beare it Consider what Christ saith againe that the Gates of Hell shall not preuaile against his Church and children Matt. 16.18 Luk. 22.32 and what he saith to Peter I haue praied for thee that thy faith faile not Nay consider this that if thou be the shéepe of Christ if thou beléeue in him if thou cleaue vnto him Christ praied for thée as for Peter Ioh. 17.20 that thou maiest be one with him vnited to him and neuer fall from him Let the vnfaithfull reiect the wisedome of God against themselues yet the elect will not onely embrace it and cleaue vnto it but also defend it maintaine it and iustifie it For wisedome is iustified of her children Matt. 11.19 Matt. 13.8 Let the foules deuoure the séede that fell by the way side and the Samâ—e parth the seede that fel on the stoâ—e ground though if haue a temporaâ—te flourishing the thornes choake the seede that fell among thornes yet that seede that fals on good grouÌ„d brings foorth fruit one corne an hundred sold some sixtie folde and another thirtie solde that is Luk. â— 5 They that haue an honest and good heart beare the wâ—rd and keepe it and bring forth fruit with patience Act. 5. Let Ananias and Sâ—phira fall from sinceritie and let many Antichrists depart from the true Church and faith of Christ yet the Lords seale abideth sure on his elect and the holy Ghost hath giuen the censure 1. Ioh. 2.19 They went out from vs but they were not of vs for if they had bene of vs they should haue continued with vs but this commeth to passe that it might appeare that they are not all of vs Let Pharaohs heart be hardned at Gods correction and let him repell the scourges that should reforme him as the hard Anuill beares off the strokes of the hammer yet Paul and euery faithfull person that hath his stonie heart changed into a heart of flesh by the working of the spirit will be bettered by the terrors and threatnings and chasticements whereby God prepares vs to subiection and will presently crie out and say Lord what wilt thou haue me to doe Act. 9.6 behold I am readie to fulfill thy coÌ„mandement Now since good workes and continuance in well doing are so necessarie for the glorifiing of our heauenly Father and for the profiting and edifying of our neighbours and for the infiniâ—e reward promised to the godly and for the auoyding of the sharpe punishments threatned to the wicked there remaineth an instruction both for them that haue not began to doe well and for those that haue began to doe well To the swearer the fornicator the drunkard the malitious person the railer the vnmercifull the vniust in a word to them that wallowe in their sinnes without remorse the saying of Paul is to be proposed The wages oâ— sinne is death Rom. 6.23 If the sweet pleasures of sinne haue so sowre sawce and if the workers of iniquitie haue deadly pay and wages detest and abhorre sinne then as a biting serpent and at length begin to doe well and to embrace vertue The Prophet saies of the stiffe-necked Iewes Zach. 7.11.12 that they refused to hearken and pulled away the shoulder and stopped their
the trauell vpon a woman with childe and they shall not escape Luk. 21.35 And our Sauiour saith also that that day shall come as a snare on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth Very fitly may the comming of that great day be compared vnto a snare For as a bird or beast feares nothing lesse then the snare but they flee and wâ—nder freely and without feare in the fields and woods seeking their foode and yet by the câ—aft and Arte of men of which they are not aware they fall into traps and snares and so are slaine euen so vpon earthly men which dwell vpon the face of the earth and which still gape on gaine of the world the prouidence of God which such people thinke not of brings the iudgement of God suddenly and so holdes them entangled in eternall condemnation The day then of iudgement must néedes be vncertaine since Christ sets it forth by very sudden things to wit Noahs floud a théefe a snare And the cause of the vncertaine day thereof is that we should take héede beware watch pray and be prepared If the bird or beast did know of the snare before hand how carefully would they auoid it For if the bird or beast once escape out of the snare they will hardly returne to that place againe Against théeues men build strong houses and shut their doores with lockes and barres and kéepe their dwellings with dogges and watchmen and weapons If there were as great care for the soule and eternall saluation as for the life temporall and earthly treasures and possessions who would not be readie for the day of iudgement And as God hath hidden the time of this last iudgement from vs that we should daily and hourely expect Christs comming and be watchfull that that day finde vs not vnreadie and that the number of the elect may be fulfilled 2. Pet. 3.9 Reu. 6.11 and the remnant of the faithfull may be called by the Gospell to the Church of Christ and that our faith hope and patience may be tryed and we stird vp to repentance and that the vngodly that contemne the lenitie of God Rom. 2.4.5 and the space that he hath so bountifully granted for their amendment may be made more and more inexcusable 2. Pet. 3.8.9 so also God hath hidden the time of the iudgement from vs to bridle our curiositie that we should not enquire after his hidden and secret Counsels For Christ himselfe saies That of that day and houre knoweth no man Mar. 13.32 not the Angels which are in heauen neither the Son himselfe but the Father In which words our Sauiour would hold the mindes of the faithfull in suspence least by false imagination they should prefixe a day and certaine time for the last redemption For such is mens curiositie that neglecting things necessarie to be knowne they most scrupulously desire to know that which God hath not vouchsafed to reueale vnto them The Apostles themselues were attainted of this curiositie and for this cause Christ said vnto them when they asked whether hee would restore the kingdome to Israel It is not for you Act. 1.6.7 said he to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power Therefore to draw vs from this curiositie and to cut off all occasion of enquirie after that Christ had discouered of his comming and the occurrences thereof hee presently speakes of the vncertaine day and houre therof For hee would haue the day of his comming to be so looked for and hoped for as that none should presume to enquire when hee would come and he would haue his disciples to walke in such light of faith as that being vncertaine of the time they should patiently waite for the reuelation thereof And therefore we must take héede that we be not more carefull and curious in the seasons and moments of time then the Lord doth permit For the chiefest part of Christian wisedome consisteth herein that we containe our selues within the limits and precincts of the word of God And therefore when the Apostle for the consolation of the godly had fore-tolde some things of the last times and Christes comming hee immediately addeth against this curiositie But of the times and seasons 1. Thess 5.1 brethren saith he yee haue no neede that I write vnto you Yea why should it gréeue men to be ignorant of that day since the Angels of GOD know it not Were it not too great pride and too importunate desire for vs wormes and wretches that créepe on the earth to séeke to know more then the Angels of heauen Therefore let vs be willing to be ignorant of that of which God would haue vs to be ignorant Yea were it not the extreamest folly to be vnwilling to submit our selues to that ignorance which the very Sonne of God himselfe hath not refused to vndertake for our sake Indéede for that many haue thought that it becommeth not Christ to be ignorant of any thing they haue endeuoured to mollifiâ— the hardnesse of the spéech as they accounted it with their owne inuention And it may be that the malice of the Arrians who by this place laboured to prooue that Christ was not the true and onely God enforced them to this starting hole as to say that Christ knew not the houre of the Iudgement because he would not reueale it vnto other But séeing it is cleare that an ignorance is attributed to Christ common with the Angels some other fitter meaning must be sought out of these words For it is nothing to say that Christ is God and God is ignorant of nothing for there are in Christ two natures so ioyned in one person that each nature retaineth it owne proprieties and specially the Deitie did as it were rest and not shew it selfe foorth as often as for the accomplishing of the office of the Mediator it was requisite that the humane nature should by it selfe worke that which appertained vnto it Therefore it is no absurditie for Christ that knew all things as hee is God to be ignorant of something as he is man How else could he haue beene like vnto vs and subiect to griefe and heauinesse And it is a great absurditie for any to reply that ignorance which is the punishment for sinne beséemeth not Christ For first it is folly to thinke that the ignorance which is here ascribed to the Angels procéedeth from sinne and againe it is folly not to acknowledge that Christ tooke vpon him our flesh to the end he might vndergoe the punishments that were due to our sinnes And that Christ knew not the day and haâ—re of the last iudgement according to his humanitie it derogates no more from his diuine nature then that hee was once mortall and subiect to death Now questionlesse Christ in attributing this ignorance to himselfe had respect to the office enioyned him by his Father as he did when he said that it was not his
of the Armour or by the railing and reuiling of the Gyant himselfe but he held on with Heroicall fortitude and flew the monster As Dauid fought against Goliah and ouercame him by constant resolution so we are to fight against the vgly monster of wickednes and if we purpose to vanquish it Eph. 6.11.13 we must take to vs the whole Armour of God and stand fast Behold Noah that continued so iust and vpright in his time that the vniuersall deluge of iniquitie which had ouerwhelmed all flesh Gen. 6.6.9 and caused God to repent and be sorrie that he had made man that is to disauowe him to be his Creature could not pollute him Gen. 39. Behold Ioseph that could not be entrapped in the net of incontinencie by any alluring entisements and wanton dalliances and fond prouocations of his vnchast misteries Est 3.2 5.9 Behold Mordecai the magnanimous Iew that would not fawne on the proud Haman nor flatter him in his eminencie nor reuerence him either by bowing the knée or standing vp or mouing for him but preserued in his disdayning of him or rather of his haughtines and pride because he was an Agagite of the stocke of the Amalekites Deut. 25.18.19 whose memorie was to be rased out from vnder heauen for that they cruelly slew the wearie Israelites when they came out of Egypt Behold Daniel and the thrée young men his fellowes of which they so constantly resisted Idolatrie that they regarded neither the maiestie and power of the commaunding Monarch Dan. 3.18 nor the hatred and despight of their accusing enemies nor the firie heate of the flaming furnace and Daniel was so farre off from forsaking his religion that when the king had decréed that whosoeuer should aske any petition of any God or man for thirtie daies saue of the king he should be cast into the denne of Lyons assoone as he vnderstood of this degrée Dan. 6.10 he went into his house and his window being open in his chamber toward Ierusalem he knéeled vpon his knées thrée times a day and prayed and praised his God as he did aforetime So much did he dislike the practise of some politike temporisers that will euer apply themselues to the time and neuer rowe against the streame or bend against the tempest but will direct the course of their ship according to the blast of winde and will turne too and fro in any sort that they may arriue in the harborough which they haue conceited in their imagination Behold the blind man to whom Christ gaue sight how constant and firme he was in confessing that Christ was a Prophet and not a sinner for else said he He could not haue bene heard of God Ioh. 9.17.31 and opened mine eyes Behold the boldnes of Peter and Iohn who though they were straitly forbidden to preach any more in Iesus name yet they stoutly and couragiously answered the Counsell on this wise Act. 4.18 5.29.40.41 We ought rather to obey God then men Behold the Baptist how setled he abode in reproouing vice vngodlines Matt. 14. and how he had rather yéeld his head to be striken off then excuse the incest of tyrannous Herod Behold both Ioseph of Arimathea the noble Counsailour that retired not from his beléeuing and cleauing to Christ Mar. 15.43 when he was crucified and did hang vpon the crosse betwéene two malefactors but went in boldly vnto Pilate and asked the body of Iesus and those religious and deuout women that as they had ministred to our Sauiour in his life time of their substaÌ„ce despised the scoffing of the vnbeleeuing Iewes Matt. â—7 55 Luk. 24.1 so they forsooke him not in his last passion wheÌ„ the soule was separated froÌ„ the body but prepared odours for his buriall Behold how Nicodemus persisted in his loue to Christ and his doctrine Ioh. 3.2 Ioh 7.51 Ioh. 19.39 so that from comming secretly to him in the night he proceeded to defending of him in the open councell and from that to his manifest honouring of his buriall as though his knowledge and profession of the Gospell were as the morning light that goeth on by degrées til it shine cleerly Pro. 4 18. Mar. 8.24.25 Reu. 3.2 Reu. 2.13 Reu. 3.8.10 and like the sight of the blind man who first perceiued men walking as trées after sawe euidently Behold the Minister of the Epâ—esine Church who though for the name of Christ he were burthened yet he had patience and though he laboured yet he fainted not and the Minister of Pergaâ—â—us who kept the name Christ denied not the faith euen in the daies of bloudie persecution and the Minister of the Church of Philadelphia who retained alwaies some strength denied not Christ but kept the word of patience Behold the Martyrs that haue most couragiously endured torturing death for the profession of the faith of Christ Iesus Reu. 12.11 loued not their liues vnto the death nay accounted it the highest dignitie to spend their blood in and for the testimonie of Christ Niceph. Caâ—â—est l. 8. c. 36. As among infinite others it is memorable of Viâ—hâ—zanes the Eunuch of Sapores the Persian king whose instructor at first and after faithfull seruant he was that when by the kings commaundement he was to be brought foorth to punishment for that he professed the doctrine of Christ as a recompence of his many benefites bestowed on the king and his perpetuall loyaltie to the com-monwealth he desired that this one thing might be granted to him that it might not be reported and rumored that he was put to death as a Traitor or one that had bene disloyal to the kings house and that a Cryer might publikely testifie that Vsthazanes was slaine for no other cause but for that he did onely embrace Christian religion and therefore would not adore the Sun or exhibite diuine worship vnto it Which thing hauing obtained he died most quietly and reioyced that he had turned off a scandale and imputation from the Christian profession and that he was vouchsafed the honour to die vnder the name of a disciple of Christ Iesus Behold the most excellent professor of Christ Saint Paul that gaue vs this counsell to persist in well doing how firme he was in discharging his calling for preaching the Gospell to the Nations In his farewell to the Elders of the Ephesine Church he said And now behold Act. 20 2â—.23.24 I goe bound in the spirit to Ierusalem and know not what things shall come vnto me there saue that the holy Ghost witnesseth in euery citie that bands and afflictions abide me but I pas not at all neither is my life deare vnto my selfe so that I may fulfill my course with ioy and the ministration which I haue receiued of the Lord Iesus to testifie the Gospell of the grace of God No prediction of dangers could appall him for while he tarried in Caesarea