spirit of meeknesse for hee must apply the plaster according to the wound Hee can be no compleat Surgion that hath but one salue and that for some greene wound only to clense and heale it What if he meete with an old festere soare that is cauterized and must haue corsiues to eate out the dead flesh if this be not had doth he not through his ignorance vnskilfulnesse kil the man doubtlesse such Ministers are neuer able to acquite themselues of the blood of such mens souls in the last day And preached vnto him Iesus By his text wee may iudge of his Doctrine the text of Scripture being a cleare prophecy of Christs humiliation and of Christs exaltation no doubt the scope of Philips Sermon tended principally to conuince the iudgement of this Eunuch in the truth of both of them how that euery part and particle of that prophecy had it determination and period in the Lord Iesus Christ And herein will teach vs That Christ Doct. Christ the subiect matter of true preaching is the subiect matter of the Gospel yea the subiect matter of al true preaching Christ and him crucified is the whole scope of the whole Scripture Yea the Doctrine of the law it selfe is but a Scholemaster to leade vs to Christ For the more clearly the law hath conuinced the conscience of sinne the more ready shal we be to go out of our selues and to seeke Saluation in Christ The matter then of true preaching is Iesus Christ. We preach Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 2. And hence it is that the Gospel is called the Gospell of Iesus Christ Mar. 1.1 and the World of Christ againe whom we preach Col. 3. saith the Apostle speaking of Christ Paul calls the Galatians Folish Galatians for not obeying the truth Gal. 3.1 Before whose eyes saith hee Iesus Christ hath beene euidently set foorth and crucified amongst you And hence is it that the same Apostle placeth all his happinesse in Christ and Christ alone God forbid saith hee that I should reioyce in any thing but in our Lord Iesus Christ He is the only King Priest Prophet of his Church And all true happinesse and felicitie consisteth in the true knowledge of him This is life eternall to know thee to be the true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Ioh. 17.3 Now the grounds of this are First Reas 1 because life and Saluation come from him hee is our Suretie Sauiour by whom through whom we come to stand iustified in Gods sight according to that of the Apostle Paul Christ is made vnto vs wisdom and righteousnesse sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1.30.31 and all to this end that hee that glorieth might glory in him Reas 2 Secondly because without him we could haue no full or perfect reconciliation with God his Father It pleased the Father that in him all fulnesse should dwell Col. 1.19.20.21 and hauing made peace through the blood of his Crosse by him to reconcile all things to him whether they be things on earth or things in heaven Thirdly by his death hee hath destroyed death Reas 3 and triumphed ouer death O Death I will bee thy death O Death where is thy sting and againe Thanks be to God who hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.55.57 Vse 1 This serues then to informe all the Lords watchmen how to preach and what to preach euen Iesus Christ and him crucified and to apply the same close to the conscience of euery man in such wise as some change and reformation may follow Pitie it is to see how many Teachers now a dayes doe chuse out hard texts of Scripture and make learned discourses theron shew much reading for Fathers and humanity of whom it may truely bee sayd that they preach many of them themselues and not Christ is preaching Gods ordinance was it ordained then my Brethren to please the eare or to prick the hart Neuer let a Preacher think that he hath preached Christ as hee should vnlesse by his preaching hee bring men to Christ For as all lines doe meete in the point of the Center so must it bee the end and scope of a Ministers function to bring men Christ Vse 2 And as Ministers are thus regulated for their preaching so people are likewise taught what doctrine to desire to heare and to rest satisfied in Euen such kinde of preaching as serues most clearly to set out Christ I know not how it is come to passe in this old age of the world Men haue got them Athenian cares To preach Christ and him crucified is too homely a thing men delight in nouelties and must haue their preacher sore alofte in sublimitie of doctrine or else hee is not worth the hearing these are wanton Christians that now begin to play with the word as little children with their bread O let vs labour with our owne harts herein and learne to prize that ministery wherein we may se and discerne the true estate of our soules And withall let vs labour that wee may bee cast into the mould of the Gospell That our Iudgments wils affections may stoupe to the Scepter of the Lord Iesus for without this wee preach but in vaine and you heare but in vaine yea the word shall become at last the wofull sauour of death vnto death vnto you Vse 3 And last of all since that Christ is all in al to be preached heard to life and saluation this serues iustly to taske the Church of Rome and may giue vs to know whether they or we are in the safest condition touching Saluation Let it bee duely thought vpon and considered whether they or we rest most on Christ magnifie Christ and the allufficiency of his sufferings Doe we looke to merit by our owne works doe wee mingle his blood with the blood of martyrs in way of satisfaction for sin doe we ioine with the intercession of Iesus Christ the Intercession of Angels or Saints or doe we not rather rest wholly vpon him Surely this is not the least argument to assure vs of the truth of our Religion against the Church of Rome that wee can rest wholly and totally vpon Christ VERSE 36. And as they went on their way they came to a certaine water and the Eunuch said See here is water what doth hinder me to bee Baptized PHilip hauing thus preached Iesus Christ vnto him and that through him alone we must looke for life saluation through faith in his name And hauing likewise preached vnto him the necessitie of being Baptised into Iesus Christ that thereby wee put on Christ are ingrafted into him and admitted into his Church For howsoeuer euery thing is not here recited that Philip preached vnto this man yet considering the Text of Scripture Philip had in hand and the question of the Eunuch here it is our of all question that Philip had
No man hateth his owne flesh Eph. 5 29. but nourisheth and cherisheth it Now if a man may not take away the life of another much lesse his owne life Reas 2 Secondly death in it selfe is an euill inflicted vpon man for sinne The day thou eatest thereof Gen. 2.17 thou shalt dye the death Now death being a punishment for sinne a man cannot seeke it but he seekes his owne iudgement Reas 3 Thirdly it argueth want of naturall affection and makes men more vnnaturall and bruitish then the very beasts which howsoeuer they may teare and goare one another yet will neuer hurt themselues Now the more vnnaturall any sinne is the greater the sinne is Fourthly it is an iniury to the State wherein a man liues to the King to the Country to the Church to a mans friends and family for euery man is pars rei publicae a part of the State wherein hee liues both politique and Ecclesiastique now to depriue himselfe of life is as much as within him lyeth to mayme that body whereof he is a member Reas 5 Fiftly life is the gift of God it is he that is the Author of life and to him belong the issues of death what to doe then haue we to diuide asunder those whom God hath so nearely knit together This cannot bee done by a mans selfe without manifest iniury against God and extreme hazard and danger vnto a mans own soule Reas 6 And last of all this course is as fruitlesse as comfortlesse it rather procures then preuents misery and it is much to be feared that whilst by this meanes they seeke to shun some temporall calamitie they procure vnto themselues eternall misery verifying the Prouerbe of the fish that leapeth out of the Frying pan into the fire Vse 1 This serues then to shew the hainousnesse of their sinne that stay not vntill they be led but leade themselues into misery especially such as despairing of Gods mercy become their owne executioners by hastening their ends Such sinne against Christs bloud and put the lye vpon all the principall attributes of God such as are his loue his power his truth his mercy and the like as if he were not able to help or that he had forgotten to be gratious Let euery man take heed of Sathans assaults in this kinde the deepenesse of whose policy and malice is seene in nothiâ—g more then in soliciting men vnto sinne and then afterwards in taintering the same to the vtmost pin and all to draw men into desperation But what shall we doe to resist these temptations Quest when Sathan shall solicite vs to this sinne Contemplate much and often Answ 1 Of Gods loue which is such as can neuer be altered or changed Can a woman forget her childe Esa 49.15 and not haue compassion on the sonne of her wombe yet will not I forget thee saith the Lord q.d. this were a thing impossible Now all the Loue in the creature is but as a drop of a bucket in comparison of the loue of God 2 Contemplate of Gods faithfulnesse who keepeth couenant with a thousand generations He abideth faithfull 1 Ioh. 1.9 and cannot deny himselfe Hath he said it and shall he not doe it Who hath resisted his will 3 Contemplate of the infinitenesse of Gods power who can make our crimson sinnes as white as snow and can as easily couer a multitude of sinnes as one in his seruants I haue put away thy transgressions as a cloud Esa 44.22 and thy sinnes like a mist Who for my names sake saith the Lord will put away thy sinne 4 And lastly contemplate much and often of the greatnesse of his mercy that he is a God of mercies Neb. 9.17 Psal 145 9. and the father of all consolation His mercies are ouer all his workes That hee is rich in mercy and hath a multitude of mercies in store for such as sue for mercy Psal 103.13 Hee remembreth whereof we be made he considereth that we are but dust As a sheepe to the slanâ—â—â—er Here we haue the third circumstance at first propounded The illustration of Christs passion and that is the illustration of his Passion the meaning is that as an innocent and harmelesse sheepe that had beene altogether profitable and commodious As a sheep and no way iniurious or hurtfull vnto any thus went Christ to his death Wherein the Spirit of God will teach vs that as sheepe and Lambs especially the Paschall Lambe in the time of the Law being offered in sacrifice were liuely representations of Christ the true Paschall Lambe slaine from the beginning So it was Christ himselfe in whose death there was an end put vnto them all who was that Sacrifice for sinne in whom his Father was well pleased Who as the Apostle saâ—th Heb. 9.12 Not by the bloud of Goates and of Calues but by his owne bloud he entred in once into the holy place hauing obtained eternall redemption for vs for all those sacrifices in the time of the Law serued but till the time of reformation came Now Christ in his death being thus compared vnto a sheepe in regard that he went so voluntarily vnto his death doth commend vnto vs this doctrine That Christ did voluntarily Doct. Christ wenâ— willingly to his death Ioh. 10.18 willingly and freely lay downe his life It was not by constraint but he offered vp the same freely as he saith I lay downe my life that I might take it againe No man taketh it from me but I lay it downe of my selfe I haue power to lay it downe and to take it againe Rom. 5.19 So Paul By the disobedience of one many were made sinners so by the obedience of one many are made righteous Phil. 2.8 He was obedient euen to the death on the Crosse And surely had not this death of Christ beene voluntary it had neuer beene acceptable with God I haue saith Christ a Baptisme to be baptised with Luk. 12 20. and how am I strained vntill it be accomplished Thereby manifesting that his earnest desire after the accomplishment of the worke of mans redemption yea those who crucified Christ were not more willing to doe it then he to suffer himselfe to be crucified This truth doth most manifestly appeare throughout the whole history of Christs passion when he told his Disciples the things he was shortly to suffer at Ierusalem at the hands of the Iewes Peter intreating him to fauour himselfe was called Sathan for his paines Get thee behind me Sathan When Christ was come vp to Ierusalem hee did not withdraw himselfe as at other times And albeit hee knew that Sathan had put it into the heart of Iudas to betray him yet kept hee accustomed time and place of prayer where Iudas might be sure to haue him Yea when the company came with swords and staues to apprehend Christ what did he but as it were offer himselfe into their hands by asking them saying whom seeke
ye and when they said Iesus of Nazareth Christ plainely affirmed and denyed not saying I am he Yea by how much the more he feared so lately in the Garden when Gods wrath was poured out vpon his soule and hee constrained to sweat water and bloud and to pray thus vnto his Father Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me By so much the more vndaunted is he when that soule-affliction of his is ouer to meet his aduersaries in the face that sought his life that so hee might accomplish the will of his Father And albeit the Maiestie of his word were such that when hee said Ioh 18. I am he the Souldiers that came to take him fell backwards to the ground And that hee was able as hee told Peter to command a legion of Angels if hee pleased Yet notwithstanding Christ suffers himselfe to bee led by them to bee carried to Pilate the Romane Iudge and when he comes before him what saith Paul 1. Tim. 6.13 He confessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate And when he came to the place where he was to suffer how doth he behaue himselfe but praying vnto his Father for his very enemies Father forgiue them Non compulsu patris sed consensu sui Bern. they wot not what they do And so readily and willingly resigneth vp his soule into the hands of his Father Not more by his Fathers command as with his owne voluntary consent Vse 1 Seeing then that Christ so readily and willingly did vndergo his death It may teach vs first of all to admire his loue towards sinners that thus willingly himselfe became a sacrifice for sinne This loue of Christ wee are neuer able to comprehend If Dauid in contemplation of Gods goodnesse towards man in the worke of Creation could say Psal â— 4 Lord what it man that thou hast such respect vnto him or the sonne of man that thou so regardest him O how much more haue we cause to cry out and say considering his wonderfull and vnspeakable mercy towards vs in the worke of Redemption Lord what is man 1. Ioh. 4.9 c. In this saith Saint Iohn appeareth the loue of God towards vs because he sent his onely begotten Sonne into the world It was the Lords manner of reasoning with Abraham Now I know thou louest me Gen. 22.12 because thou hast not spared thine owne sonne c. How much more haue wee cause to say Hereby we know the loue of Christ Iesus towards vs c. and to breake out with the Apostle Paul and say Rom. 9. O the deepnesse c. Vse 2 Secondly this loue of Christ towards vs thus willingly laying downe his life a ransome for vs should fire vs to an holy resolution to suffer any thing for his sake that hath suffered so great things for ours What are we that wee should think it much to part with goods name libertie and life it selfe for his sake who hath readily and willingly layed downe his life for our sakes Excellent was that resolution of Ignatius I value not my life at such a price that I should loue it more then my Lord. And being to bee deuoured by wilde beasts I am saith he Gods corne let me be ground between the teeth of the Lyons that I may be fit to make pure bread So shall I bee a true disciple of Christ And let euery Christian labour to get this resolution in his owne soule that neither tribulation nor distresse Rom. 8.35 nor persecution nor famine nor nakednesse nor perill nor sword c. can be able to separate him from the loue of Christ Vse 3 If Christ thus readily and willingly dyed for vs then there is no other satisfaction for sinne If men or Angels or any other creature if Masses or merits or any such like could haue satisfied the iustice of God then needed not Christ to haue suffered all these things at the hands of sinners But there is nothing in Gods account auaileable to put away sinne saue onely the death and suffering of the Lord Iesus And as a Lambe Here we haue the second part of the illustration as Christ is resembled vnto a Sheepe so hee is likewise vnto a lamb Which prophecie wee see fulfilled in Christ who being asked of the chiefe Priest and Elders the Text saith Hee answered them nothing Mat. 27. â—â— So meeke and quiet was Christ as a Lambe in his death And as a Lambe Christ may well be resembled vnto a Lambe in diuers respects 1. In regard of harmelesnesse no creature being of the like harmelesse disposition as a Lambe is 2. In regard of meeknesse and patience and in that respect especially is Christ here resembled vnto a Lambe And as in the whole course of his life so especially in his death according to that prophecie of old He did not cry Isa 42.2 nor lift vp nor cause his voyce to bee heard in the street Ier. 11.19 I was like a Lambe or an oxe that was brought to the slaughter 3. In regard it was that sacrifice that aboue all others doth most clearely point out Christ who is called the Lambe slaine Reu. 13. â— from the beginning The paschall Lambe aboue all other sacrifices in the Law was the clearest representation of Christ 1. The bloud thereof must bee first shed 2. Sprinkled vpon the doore-posts that so those families might escape the destroying Angell So is it the sprinkling of Christs bloud by the which the Lords wrath is appeased and we come againe to be reconciled vnto him 4. A Lambe was one of those cleane creatures in the time of the Law No creature is more free from pollution then the Lambe is his feeding is sweet and cleane delights not in mire and filth as the Swine doth Thus is it with Christ and thus is his holinesse and purity shadowed out vnto vs by the similitude of a spotlesse Lambe slaine from the beginning Seeing that Christ is thus resembled vnto a Lambe Vse in regard of his harmlesse disposition his meeknesse and patience In regard that by his bloud the destroying Angel passeth by vs as also in respect of that holinesse and purity of his nature This may serue to admonish vs. Wherein we are to imitate Christ as a Lambe 1. To labour to bee like vnto Christ in our sufferings that is that we put on vs the same mind that is with meeknesse and patience to suffer wrongs imprisonment disgrace from the world 1 Reu. 12.11 who suffered so many things for our sakes 2. That we get our hearts besprinkled with the bloud of Christ as the Israelites with the bloud of the Lambe and our consciences purified from dead workes to serue the liuing God whose bloud cleanseth vs from all sinne and frees vs from the wrath to come 3. And last of all that we bee holy as he is holy and rest onely vpon him who is our righteousnesse hauing in him all
there no Wherefore God hath exalted him Col. 2.14.15 and giuen him a name c. He hath spoyled Principalities and powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing ouer them againe Christ dyed for our sins Rom. 4.25 and rose again for our iustification For as it will nothing cōfort a man condemned to death to know that one hath sued to the Prince for his pardon and life vnlesse he haue obtained the same euen so wee being all cast men by the Law by reason of our sinnes it will yeeld small comfort to a distressed soule to know that Christ hath interceded betwixt God and vs for our pardon and wrestled with death the deuill with Principalities and powers except we know that he hath triumphed ouer them Except wee 〈◊〉 this we can haue no comfort for when Paul would furnish himselfe with strength against the time of triall he comforts himselfe in this Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen Rom. 8.33 it is Christ that is dead nay rather which is risen againe and sitteth at the right hand of God making request for vs. And here-hence he triumpheth thus What shall separate vs from the loue of God Verse 35 c. We are taught then Vse not to separate those whom God hath ioyned together Christs death and his resurrection must goe together otherwise it is nothing to beleeue the one vnlesse we beleeue the other That hee dyed for my sinnes is not sufficient that hee rose againe for my iustification seales vp all sound comfort for being iustified through faith in him we are at peace with God Againe in that Christ vas first humbled before exalted Doct. Godly must through afflictions enter into glory Wee may further note what must be the condition of his members They must follow him and through afflictions enter into glory Euery member must be made conformable vnto Christ the head according to the proportion of strength and grace receiued to suffer with him And hence is it that the Apostle Peter exhorteth thus 1 Pet. 4.12 Beloued thinke it not strange concerning the fiery tryall which is to try you as though some strange thing happened vnto you but reioyce inasmuch as ye are made partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shal be reuealed yee may be glad also with exceeding ioy Afflictions now are the Lords trodden path to heauen And hence is it that the Apostle Paul reioyced in his sufferings and in his bands I now reioyce Col. 1.24 saith he in my sufferings for you and fill vp that which is behinde of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh Indeed all the afflictions of all the members of Christ are but as a remnant in respect of the afflictions of Iesus Christ for of him it was prophecied thus I haue trodden the wine-presse alone Esay 63.3 Gal. 3.13 and of all people there were none with me Hee was made a curse for vs. So that now the afflictions that are laid vpon his members are not inflicted vpon them as a curse for that hath Christ borne for them being made a curse for vs but they now become the louing chastisements of a louing father which bring forth at the last the quiet fruits of righteousnesse to all them that are thereby exercised Yea all the godly in their sufferings they doe but beare a part with Christ therein to bee made conformable vnto Christ their head and therein are pronounced blessed Blessed are ye when men reuile you c. and againe Mat. 5.11.12 1 Pet. 4.14 Blessed are ye if ye be railed vpon for the name of Iesus for the spirit of God and of glory rests on you Verse 13. Inasmuch as ye are made partakers of Christs sufferings But how shall I know that I suffer with Christ Quest and so looke to haue my sufferings sanctified vnto me By comparing our sufferings with the sufferings of Christs Answ in three things First Christ receiued his Crosse as a cup giuen him of his Father to drinke of And herein looked not so much to the malice of Iudas that betrayed him nor of the Iewes that pursued him to his death as to God his Father without whose counsell purpose and will they could doe nothing It is an excellent thing when in our miseries and troubles wee can ouerlooke the instruments and take notice of Gods owne hand correcting vs as Dauid in Shemi his rayling Secondly Christ receiued his Crosse not grudgingly impatiently or vnwillingly but readily willingly and patiently with a meeke subiection of his will to his Fathers will in all things Father if thou be willing Luk. 22.42 remoue this cup from me Neuerthelesse not my wil but thine be done So it is a good signe of a heart prepared to suffer to whom afflictions shal be sanctified indeed when we can with patience and humble submission submit our selues vnto the Lords good pleasure in suffering Thirdly and lastly Christ suffered for this end that he might abolish sinne and destroy him that had the power of death that is the deuill so then if our afflictions produce this happy fruit and effect in vs as that they worke in vs the happy worke of mortification vnto sinne and to our former euill wayes so as wee can say with Dauid Before I was afflicted I went astray but now haue I learned thy commandements This is an excellent signe that our afflictions through Christ are sanctified vnto vs. Let vs come to the vses Vse 1 Seeing then that Christ was thus humbled before exalted and that we that are his members must through afflictions enter into glory This may teach vs then in the middest of all our sufferings whatsoeuer to consider what great things Christ hath suffered for vs. When wee finde any paine or misery bitter vnto vs it will be an excellent meanes to sweeten the same to consider what bitternesse there was in the whole sufferings of Christ Hee dranke the full cup of his Fathers wrath and displeasure for sinne Now why should wee startle so much at shame disgrace or some small affliction what we may meet withall here since the Prince of our saluation was thus consecrated through affliction Surely the consideration of this may quell those repining thoughts which may times arise in the hearts of Gods children afflicted that neuer were so grieuously afflicted as they this was Iobs case who complained Iob 6.2.3 that his misery was heauier then the sand and this was likewise the case of the Church Behold Lam. 1.12 and see if any sorrow were like vnto my sorrow c. But consider that this is but the time of thy tryall thy triumph is at hand If wee looke vpon Lazarus on the dung hill Ioseph in prison and Dauid in exile their case might seeme most miserable But this is but the time of their humiliation their exaltation followed this at hand 1 Cor. 15. If in this life we haue only hope in
Blessed is he to whom the Lord imputeth no sinne and in whose spirit there is no guile Bee glad oh ye righteous and reioyce in the Lord. But who are righteous And be ioyfull ye that are true of heart Ver. 10. Heare we Dauids prayer for such Psal 125.4 Do good to those that bee good and vpright in heart Whereas that man that wants this soundnesse of heart in doing of good duties he doth but loose his labour they are but abhomination vnto the Lord As it is said of Amazia 2. Chron. 25.2 He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord but not with a sound heart Now the grounds of this are Reas 1 God hath commanded it Gen. 17.1 Walke before me and bee thou perfect or sincere Reas 2 Secondly it is onely comfort a Christian hath in all that we do that the same is performed of vs in singlenesse of heart In the world we see the best duties of a Christian traduced and oftentimes they are called Hypocrites for their paines and mocked and derided as Dauid was when he danced before the Arke But this was Iobs comfort when his friends layed such an imputation vpon him Iob 27.5 I will not part with my innocency saith he vntill I dye And this was Hezechias his comfort at such time as hee was summoned to death Isa 38.3 Remember Lord that I haue walked before thee in truth and with an vpright heart Reas 3 Thirdly it is that which distinguisheth a true Christian from an hypocrite who may go as far in the worke done as the best Christian in outward performances The thorny ground and the stony ground went wondrous farre our Sauiour sheweth that these receiue the word with ioy and beleeue for a time Matth. 13. onely the good ground are they which with honest and good hearts heare the word and keepe Reas 4 And last of all God hath appointed a day in the which all our actions shall be iudged and scanned not as they haue seemed to men but as they haue beene indeed and in truth before God We must al appear before the iudgment seat of Christ 2. Co. 5.10 that euery one may receiue the things done in his body according to that hee hath done whether it be good or bad Vse 1 It may serue to admonish euery one in the feare of God that we labour after this sinceritie and puritie of heart without which no dutie that we can performe can finde acceptation with God But how shall I know in the performance of holy duties Quest that my heart is thus qualified There are many markes and tokens of this integritie of heart Answ whereby it may bee discerned amongst the rest these Marks of a sincere heart First it is discerned by the manner of performance of any dutie it doth the same humbly keeping an eye still vpon it's owne wants in doing of them fearing still that something may be amisse that may hinder the Lords gracious acceptation of them a sincere heart is still ready to complaine of its best actions and dare not present any seruice it doth vnto God further then it hath the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ to couer all the imperfections of the same Secondly it is discerned by the ready and chearfull performance of holy duties God loueth a chearfull giuer This was the great commendation of the Church of the Romans Ye haue obeyed from the heart the forme of doctrine that hath beene deliuered vnto you Thirdly with much affection and loue Psal 119. So Dauid O that my wayes were so direct that I might keepe thy statutes c. Fourthly it is the propertie of a good heart to haue an eye vnto all the commandements of God to the duties of the second Table as the first This was the great commendations of Cornelius when he could say Act. 10. Wee are all here before God to heare whatsoeeuer is commanded vs of God So Dauid I shall not be confounded whilest I haue respect vnto all thy commandements And lastly it wil do them constantly not by fits when he is in a good mood but at all times in prosperitie as in aduersitie in sicknesse as in health which an Hypocrite doth not for so saith Iob Doth an hypocrite pray alwayes Iob 21. The meaning is he doth not Secondly this may serue for matter of singular consolation vnto the godly that can approue themselues vnto God that whatsoeuer they do in his seruice and worship they do the same in singlenesse of heart such need not to doubt but they shall meet with the Lord in his owne ordinance And albeit they may haue in them many wants and infirmities yet this singlenesse and integritie that is in the heart makes amends for all and causeth the Lord to passe by them all An husband beares with many infirmities of his wife so long as she keepeth her faith to him in the maine duties of Matrimoniall loue So dealeth the Lord with his seruants so long as they keepe their hearts vpright with him See we this in King Asa a catalogue of whose infirmities the Scriptures affoord vnto vs as namely that he tooke not away the high places that in his displeasure hee cast the Lords Prophet into prison that hee oppressed his people that in the time of his sicknesse he sought to the Physitian and not to the Lord. And yet for all this see the account the Lord made of this man the Text saith 1 Kin. 15.14 Asas heart was vpright with the Lord all his dayes The Lord so regarded that as that he passed by all the rest And he said I beleeue that Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God Philip hath no sooner put the question Doct. A Christian must be readie to giue an account of his faith 1. Pet 3.15 but the Eunuch makes the answer readily and willingly It is a commendable duty in a Christian to giue an account of his faith whensoeuer he shall be demanded it is an Apostolicall iniunction Sanctifie the Lord in your hearts and be ready alwayes to giue an answer to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you And hence is it that Christians are exhorted To keepe the profession of our faith without wauering Heb. 10.23 See this in Paul in his boldnesse before Felix I confesse vnto thee Act. 24.14 that after the way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers The grounds of this we haue heard before The vse serues to perswade to this duty Vse as a most necessarie fruit and consequence of faith Psal 116.10 I beleeued and therefore did I speake What faith beleeueth the mouth will speake Hee that is afraid to make an open confession of Christ hath not as yet by a liuely faith put on Christ But is a Christian bound at all times to giue an account of his Quest Faith and of his Religion he doth professe to