verse 3 4. and the ingraued forme of his person and bearing vp all thinges by his mightie word hath by himselfe purged our sinnes and sitteth at the right hande of the Maiestie in the highest places and is made so much more excellent then the Angels in asmuch as hee hath obtained a more excellent name then they For vnto which of the Angels said he at Heb 1 5 any time Thou art my sonne this day begate I thee And againe I will be his Father and he shall be my sonne Or vnto which also of the Angels said Heb 1 13. he at any time Sit at my right hande till I make thine enemies thy foote-stoole §. 2. By this man namely Christ vvere all Colos 1. 16 17. things created vvhich are in heauen and which are in earth things visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers All things were created by him and for him and hee is before all things and in him all things consist Hee is the heade of the bodie of the verse 18 19 20. Church hee is the beginning and the first begotten of the dead that in all things hee might haue the preheminence For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulnes dwell and by him to reconcile all things vnto himselfe and to set at peace through the blood of his Crosse both the things in earth and the thinges in heauen Wherefore God hath also highly exalted Philip. 2 9. 10 11. him giuen him a Name aboue euery name that at the Name of Iesus euery knee should bow both of things in heauen and things in earth and things vnder the earth And that euery tongue shoulde confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lord vnto the glorie of God the Father For in him dwelleth all the fulnesse of Colos 2 9. the God-head bodily And in him are hidde all the treasures of Colos 2. 3. vvisedome and knowledge Vnto him is all power giuen both heauen and in earth Math. 28. 18 For the Father loueth the Sonne and Iohn 3 35 hath giuen all things into his hand The Father iudgeth no man but hath Ioh 5 22 23 committed all iudgement vnto the Sonne because that all men shoulde honour the Sonne as they honour the Father In his hand also are the keyes both of hell Reu 1 18. and of death And hee likewise hath the key of Dauid Reue. 3. 7. which openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth §. 3. VVherefore if any man be willing to Iohn 14 6. come vnto God our Sauiour Christ declareth himselfe to be the Way the Truth and the Light and that no man commeth vnto the Father but by him Hee is the doore by him if any man enter Iohn 10 9 in he shall be saued and shall goe in goe out and finde pasture He is the true light which lighteth euery Iohn 1 9 man that commeth into the world He is that preuailing seed of the woman Gene 3 15. which vvas promised in Paradise by God the Father vnto Adam that hee shoulde breake the head of the deuill He is that spirituall Rock of whō all our 1 Cor. 10. 3. Fathers did eate and drinke He is acknowledged and openly confessed Mark 5 7. by his greatest enemy to be the Sonne of the most high God Yea hee is confirmed by a voyce from Math 3 17 heauen to be that beloued sonne in whom God the Father is well pleased Hee is that sonne whom Dauid vvilleth Psalm 2 12 vs to kisse and embrace least he be angry and we perrish from the right way Hee is the Lord of Lordes and King of Reue 17 14 Kings and they that are on his side are called and chosen and faithfull Hee is the Lambe of God which taketh Iohn 1 29. away the sinnes of the world Hee is that kinde louing Samaritane Luke 10 34 which healed the wounded man that was found in the high-way halfe dead He is that gentle and compassionate Soueraigne Math 28 27 which freely forgaue his seruant the tenne thousand talents that hee owed vnto him He is that cheefe corner stone vvhich Acts 4 11 the Iewes counting themselues builders refused He is the Mediatour of the Newe-Testament Heb 12. 24. He is the end of the Lawe for righteousnesse Rom. 10. 4. vnto euery one that beleeueth Hee is the onely Mediatour betweene 1. Tim 2. 5. God and man He is both the power of God and the 1 Cor. 1. 24. wisedome of God He is our wisdome and righteousnesse 1 Cor. 1. 30 sanctification and redemption He is that Lord of life whom God hath Acts 3. 15. raised from the dead Hee * is our peace And the * Prince of Ephe. 2. 14. Heb 2. 10. our saluation He is the Sheepheard and Bishop of our 1 Pet. 2. 25. soules He is the Vine we are the branches Iohn 15 5 Heb 6 20. He is our high-priest for euer after the order of Melchisedecke Hee is our Aduocate vnto God the Father 1. Ioh 2 1 Hee is the reconciliation for our sinnes 1 Iohn 2 2 not for ours onely but also for the sinnes of the whole world Finally hee is the Authour and finisher Heb 12 2. of our fayth For without him we can do nothing Iohn 15. 5. §. 4. If any man thirst saith Christ let him Iohn 17 37 come vnto mee and drinke Hee that beleeueth in mee as sayth the verse 38 Scripture out of his belly shall flowe riuers of water of life I am the light of the world hee that followeth Iohn 8 12 mee shall not walke in darknesse but shall haue the light of life I am the bread of life hee that commeth Iohn 6. 35 to me shall not hunger and he that beleeueth in me shall neuer thirst I am that liuing bread which came down Iohn 6 51 from heauen of whom whosoeuer eateth hee shall liue for euer I am the resurrection the life hee that Iohn 11 25 26. beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall hee liue and whosoeuer liueth beleeueth in mee shall neuer die ¶ Of Christes comming into the worlde and the seuerall causes thereof §. 1. WEe when vvee were children saith the Apostle were in bondage Gala 4 3 4 5. vnder the ordinaunces of the world But when the fulnes of time was come GOD sent foorth his Sonne made of a vvoman made bond vnto the law to redeeme them which were bond vnto the law that we through election might receiue the inheritance that belongeth vnto the naturall sonnes §. 2. Man liued in the worlde for a time saith S. Augustine without the Lawe written Augustine to teach him that he was not a law to himselfe and a certaine time vnder the Law to make him finde by proofe
and maketh request for vs. Sathan and his Angels are fallen and Augustine haue no Sauiour but Man falling had through the great mercy of God a Mediatour and Sauiour to restore him namely Iesus Christ VVho as he stoode in our roome vpon Ambrose the Crosse and made satisfaction vnto his Father for our sinnes so nowe in heauen hee appeares as a publique person in our stead representing all the Elect that beleeue in him Yea the selfe same Christ vvhich dyed Augustine for vs heere vpon the earth maketh intercession vnto his Father for vs now in heauen And whatsoeuer his request was in our Ambrose behalfe heere on earth the same for substance it continues still in heauen §. 6. Before the fall of Adam saith S. Ierome Ierâ—me man could speak to God face to face but now Christ is his Intercessour And thys worke of intercession is the sole worke of Christ God and man not belonging to any other creature besides either in heauen or earth The worke of Christes Passion serueth Chrisostome as a satisfaction vnto Gods iustice for our offences and is as it were the tempering of the plaister by which wee may be healed but Intercession goeth further for it applieth the same satis-faction of Christ to vs and layeth the very salue to the sore of euerie penitent sinner Besides the vvorke of Christes Intercession Chrisostome or Mediation serueth not onely to preserue all repentant sinners in the estate of grace that beeing once sanctified and iustified they may so continue to the end but it also maketh our workes acceptable in the sight of GOD and causeth him to account them righteous through our faith in Christ §. 7. Christ our Sauiour beeing both our Heb 9 24 high Priest and Mediatour as the Apostle in his Epistle to the Hebrewes calleth him is not entred into the holy places that are made with hands which are similitudes of the true Sanctuary but is entred into heauen it selfe to appeare nowe in the sight of GOD for vs. Not that hee should offer himselfe often verse 25 26. as the High-priest among the Iewes entred into the Holy place euery yeere vvith other blood for then must he haue often suffered since the foundation of the world but nowe in the end of the world hath he appeared once to put away sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe And as it is appointed vnto men that verse 27 28. they shall once die and after that coÌ„meth the iudgement so Christ was once offered to take away the sinnes of many and vnto them that looke for him shall hee appeare the second time without sinne vnto saluation Againe among the Ievves many vvere Hebr. 7 23. made Priestes because they were not suffered to endure by reason of death but this man Christ because hee endureth euer hath an euerlasting priest-hood VVherefore verse 24. 25 he is able also perfectly to saue them that come vnto God by him seeing he euer liueth to make intercession for them For such an High-priest it became vs to verse 26. 27. haue which is holie harmelesse vndefiled separate froÌ„ sinners and made higher then the heauens which needed not daily as those High-priestes to offer vp sacrifice first for his owne sinnes and then for the peoples for that did he once when he offered vp himselfe §. 8. The same Christ likewise being come Hebr 9 11. 12. an High-priest of good things to come by a greater and a more perfit Tabernacle not made with hands that is to say not of this building neyther by the blood of Goates and Calues but by his owne blood entred he in once into the holy place obtained eternall redemption for vs. For if the blood of Bulles of Goates verse 13. 14. and the Ashes of an Heifer sprinckling them that are vncleane sanctifieth as touching the purifying of the flesh hovve much more shal the blood of Christ which through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without spot to God purge our coÌ„science from dead works to serue the liuing God And for this cause is he the Mediatouâ— of verse 15. the newe Testament that thorowe death which was for the redemption of the transgressions that vvere in the former Testament they which were called might receiue the promise of eternall inheritance For where as is a Testament there must verse 16 17 also be the death of him that made the Testament For the Testament is confirmed when men are dead and is yet of no force so long as he that made the same remaineth aliue c. §. 9. Doubtlesse saith S. Paule one wil scarse Rom 5 7 die for a righteous man but yet for a good man it may be that one dare die But God setteth out his loue towards vs verse 8 9 seeing that vvhile vvee vvere yet sinners Christ dâ—ed for vs. Much more then beeing now iustified by his blood we shall be saued from wrath through him For if when we were enemies wee were verse 10 reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more beeing reconciled we shall be saued by his life And not onely so but vvee also reioyce verse 11. in GOD through our Lord Iesus Christ by vvhom vvee haue novve receiued the attonement For God hath not appoynted vs vnto 1 Thes 5 9 10. vvrath but to obtaine saluation by the meanes of our Lorde Iesus Christ vvhich died for vs that vvhether wee vvake or sleepe we should liue together with him Wherefore if any man sinne wee haue 1 Ioh. 2 1 2. an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the iust hee is the reconciliation for our sinnes and not for ours onely but also for the sinnes of the whole world By him vvee haue redemption through Ephe 1 7 8 his blood euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes according to his rich grace vvhereby hee hath beene abundant toward vs in all wisedome and vnderstanding By him we are made the sonnes of God Iohn 1 12. if wee beleeue in his Name And of his fulnes haue all wee receiued verse 16 euen grace for grace By his blood also wee may be bold to Heb 10. 19 20. enter into the Holy place by the newe and liuing way which he hath prepared for vs through the vaile that is his flesh For we are made partakers of Christ if Heb 3 14 we keepe sure vnto the end the beginning where-with we are vpholden And we are iustified freely by the grace Rom. 3 24. 25. of God through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus whom God hath set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood For the blood of Iesus Christ the sonne 1. Iohn 1. 7. of God clenseth vs from all sinne And without sheading of blood is no Heb 9 22. remission §. 10. Seeing then that we haue a great High-priest Heb 4 14 vvhich is entred into Heauen euen Iesus
Law the Prophets ¶ Of Prayer and thankesgiuing §. 1. ASke saith Christ and it shall be giuen Math 7 7 you seeke and ye shall finde knock and it shall be opened vnto you For whosoeuer asketh receiueth and verse 8 hee that seeketh findeth vnto him that knocketh it shall be opened But let him that asketh aske in fayth and Iames 1 6 7 wauer not for hee that wauereth is like a waue of the Sea tost of the winde carried away neither let that man thinke that hee shall receiue any thing of the Lord. Therefore I say vnto you whatsoeuer Mark 11 24 yee desire when yee pray beleeue that yee shall haue it and it shall be doone vnto you Prouided alwaies that thou neuer aske Beza in prayer any such thing as seemeth good onely in thine ovvne conceite or fantasie but that thy peticion be euermore aunswerable to the word of God wholie limitted within the pleasure of his holy will For this is the assurance that we haue in 1. Iohn 5 14 15 God that if wee aske any thing according to his will hee heareth vs and if we know that hee heareth vs what-soeuer wee aske wee know that wee haue the peticions that we haue desired of him §. 2. Before thou prayest saith Sirach prepare Ecclê° 18. 22 thy selfe therevnto least thou bee as one that tempteth the Lord. For prayer is like a shippe in the Sea Plotinus which if it be good saueth all that is therein but if it be naught it suffereth them to perrish First therefore ere thou beginnest to Plotinus pray vnto GOD examine thy selfe what thou intendest to aske cast away from thee with a repentant hart all thy former iniquities then call vpon him with a lowly and humble spirit and hee will assuredlie heare thee releeue thy necessity quiet thy conscience and most ioyfully comfort thee §. 3. And when thou prayest be not as the Math 6 5. hypocrites for they loue to stand pray in the Sinagogues in the corners of the streetes because they woulde be seene of men Verily I say vnto you they haue theyr reward But when thou prayest enter into thy Math 6 6 chamber and vvhen thou hast shutte thy doore pray vnto thy Father which is in secret and thy Father which is in secret shall reward thee openly Also when yee pray vse no vaine repetitions verse 7. 8 like the Heathen for they think to be heard for their much babling Be ye not like them therefore for your father knoweth whereof ye haue need before you aske him §. 4. Furthermore vvhen thou enterest in to pray let thy prayer be to this end especially Pacuuius that God as he is mercifull so he will for his promise sake grant vnto thee those things which thou desirest if it stand with his blessed will otherwise so farre foorth onely to graunt thy peticion as it may tend to his glory thine owne good Desire him likewise that as hee is good to all that call vpon him so he will be mercifull Bâ—con vnto thee in forgiuing all thy offences past daily more more purifie thy hart through the powerfull working of his holie Spirit that thereby thou mayst be made both apt and able to vnderstand his truth dutifully to appeare obedient in the performing of his heauenly will by expressing the fruites of faith in thy life and conuersation Yea forget not to pray often vnto God Eugenius for the clensing of the impuritie of thine heart and carefully endeuour to restraine that the corruption thereof breake not out either to the hurt of thy selfe or to the harme of any other Moreouer thou oughtest in thy prayer Hemingius not onelie to make peticion vnto God for thy selfe but also for the happy estate and prosperitie of thy Prince and for all others that by him are placed in authoritie for of them dependeth the peace and tranquilitie of the weale publique And of this matter dooth the Apostle S. Paule himselfe admonish vs vvhere hee saith * I exhort therefore that first of all 1 Tim 2 1 2. supplications prayers intercessions and giuing of thanks be made for all men for Kings for all that are in authoritie that wee vnder them may leade a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlines honestie §. 5. Acknowledge your faultes one to another Iames. 5. 16 and pray one for another saith Saint Iames that yee may be healed For the prayer of a righteous man auaileth much if it be feruent Elias was a man subiect to the like passions Iames 5 17 as we are and he prayed earnestly that it might not raine and it rained not on the earth for three yeeres sixe months Afterward hee prayed againe and the Iames 5 18 heauen gaue raine and the earth brought forth her fruite The prayer also of Moises so mightilie preuailed in the presence of his Maker that it seemed as it were to stay the very power of God from powring downe his vvrath vpon the people and caused him to say * Let mee alone Moises that my vvrath Exod 32 10 may waxe hote against this Nation to destroy them As if hee should haue said to Moises as he said to Lot * Get thee hence for I can Gen 19 22 doe nothing till thou be gone Wee reade likewise that after Hezekiah had receiued a speciall commaundement Esay 38 1 2 3 c. from God to set the affaires of his house in good order to prepare himselfe to die hee beeing vnwilling so soone to forsake his life feruently prayed to the Giuer of time obtained so much fauour through his earnest petition that his raigne vvas afterward more enlarged by the length of fifteene yeeres §. 6. Let no man saith Saint Bernard be vnmindful Bernarde to pray often vnto God for prayer is a vertue that greatly preuaileth against temptation against all assaults of infernall spirits against the false delights of this lingering life and against the motions of our owne flesh And like as by reuerent fasting and Erasmus abstinence the bodily passions of man are to be cured so by feruent prayer and supplication vnto God the pestilent infections of the minde are to be healed Pray therefore as the Apostle counselleth 1 Thes 5. 17 continually And vvatch in the same with thankesgiuing Colos 4 2 Yea watch and pray that yee enter not Mark 14. 38 into temptation And what-soeuer yee aske in prayer if Math 21. 22 yee beleeue yee shall receiue it §. 7. VVhether yee eate or drinke or vvhatsoeuer 1 Cor 10 31 yee doe saith the Apostle let all be done to the glory of God Giuing thankes alwaies vnto him that Ecclê° 32 14 hath made thee and replenished thee with his goods For vvee ought euermore to be as forward Pet. Mart. in giuing thankes to God for the seuerall blessings
Adam out of the earth The second of man without woman as Eue of Adams ribbe The third of man woman as we are all now borne into the world The fourth and last of a virgine without man as Christ our Sauiour of the blessed virgine Mary And of all the creatures of GOD vnder the Sunne saith Lyra there is none Lyra. more noble and greater then Man for all things in the VVorld are â—ut vnder his power §. 7. O Lord how manifold are thy workes Psalme 104. 24 25 saith Dauid in wisedome hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches so is the sea great wide for therin are things creeping innumerable both small beastes and great There goe the shippes and the Leuiathan verse 26. also whom thou hast made to play therein They that saile ouer the Sea tell of the Ecclê° 43 24 25 perrils thereof and when we heare it with our eares we meruaile thereat For there be strange and wonderous workes diuers manner of beastes and tâ—e creation of Whales Yea such men see the vvorkes of the Psalm 107 24 25. 26 27 c. Lord behold his wonders in the deepe For hee coÌ„maundeth and rayseth the stormie winde and it lifteth vp the waues therof They mount vp to the heauen and descend downe to the deepe so that theyr soule melteth for trouble They are tossed to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and all their cunning is gone Then they cry vnto the Lorde in theyr verse 28 29 trouble and he bringeth them out of theyr distresse He turneth the storme to calme so that the wau◠〈…〉 ereof are still When they are quieted they are gladde verse 30. and he bringeth them to the Hauen where they would be Let them therefore confesse before the verse 31 Lord his louing kindnesse and his vvonderfull workes before the sonnes of men And let them exalt him in the congregation verse 32 of the people and prayse him in the assembly of the Elders For by his word hee stilleth the vvinde Ecclê° 43 23 and by his counsel he appeaseth the deepe and planteth Ilands therein §. 8. Beholde saith Salomon the vvorke of Ecclesi 7. 15 GOD for vvho can make straight that which he hath made crooked I know saith hee that whatsoeuer God Ecclesi 3. 14 shall doe it shall be for euer to it can no man adde and from it can none diminish for God hath doone it that they shoulde feare before him §. 9. Among the Gods saith Dauid there is Psalm 86 8 none like vnto thee ô Lorde neyther is there any that can doe like thy workes Thou hast made thy wonderfull workes Psalm 40 5. so many that none can count in order to thee thy thoughts towards vs I vvoulde declare and speake of them saith hee but they are moe then I am able to expresse §. 10. VVho can as the Psalmist saith declare Psal 106 2 the noble actes of the Lorde our God or shew forth all his prayse Which made heauen earth the sea Psaâ— 146 6 and all that therein is And which keepeth his fidelitie for euer VVhich also verse 7 executeth iustice for the oppressed and giueth bread vnto the hungry Psalme 147 8 9 Which couereth the heaueÌ„ with clowdes and prepareth raine for the earth and maketh the grasse to growe vpon the Mountaines Which giueth to beasts their foode and feedeth the young Rauens that cry vnto him Prayse him magnifie him as much as Ecclê° 43 30 ye can yet doth hee far exceede exalt him with all your power and be not weary yet can ye not attaine vnto it Neither may the number of his workes be counted For * his works are wonderfull Ecclê° 11 4 his works are glorious secrete vnknowne are his workes among men And * wee haue seene but a few thereof Ecclê° 43 32 Ecclê° 16 21 For the most * part of them are hid §. 11. To finish therfore this first poynt I will say as Iesus the sonne of Sirach saith As for the wondrous works of the Lord there Ecclus 18 5 6. may nothing be taken from them neither can any thing be put vnto them neyther may the ground of them be found out But vvhen a man hath done his best hee must beginne againe and when hee thinketh to come to an end he must returne againe to his labour Also * when vve haue spoken Ecclê° 43 27 much vvee cannot attaine vnto them But this is the summe of all that GOD is all Hee onely hath set his works in good Ecclê° 16 26 order froÌ„ the beginning and part of them hath he sundred from the other when hee first made them Hee hath garnished them for euer and verse 27 28 theyr beginnings so long as they shall endure they are not hungry nor wearied in theyr labours neither cease from their offices None of them hindereth another neither was any of them disobedient vnto his words For all his workes are exceeding good Ecclê° 39 16 and all his commaundements are doone in due season A man neede not to say VVhat is this Ecclê° 39 21 VVherefore is that For hee hath made all things for their owne vse Yea hee alone hath garnished the excellent Ecclê° 42 21 vvorks of his vvisedome And he is froÌ„ euerlasting to euerlasting for euer vnto him may nothing be added neyther can hee be diminished hee hath no neede of anie Counseller ¶ What Man is by nature how short and vncertaine the dayes of his life are And howe sure it is that after this life ended we must all appeare before the Iudgement seate of God to receiue euery man his wages or reward according to the works which he hath doone in this life WISDOM 2. verse 23. 24. God created Man without corruption and made him after the Image of his owne likenes Neuerthelesse through the enuy of the deuill Death came into the world ¶ Of Man and of his naturall inclination §. 1. WE reade in the third of Genesis that when Almightie GOD pronounced the heauie sentence of his great displeasure conceiued against our first Father Adam for tasting the fruite of the forbidden Tree hee closed vp the end of his speech with this Period telling Adam that as concerning his body hee was created of no better thing then the very dust of the earth and Gene. 3. 19. that into dust he should be turned againe VVee reade also that the Prophet Dauid in the 144. psalme demaunded of God this question saying Lord what is Man Psal 144. 3. that thou regardest him or the sonne of Man that thou thinkest vpon him And being sufficiently instructed by the holy Ghost hee presently giueth aunswere in the same place to his owne question saying * Man is like to vanitie his dayes are verse 4. like a shadow that vanisheth §. 2. VVhat is Man saith Sirach Whereto
that a man hath not according to that he hath not This yet remember that he which soweth 2 Cor. 9. 6 7 sparingly shall â—eape also sparingly hee that soweth liberally shall reape also liberally As euery man wisheth in his hart so let him giue not grudgingly or of necessitie for God loueth a cheerfull giuer §. 6. Because saith the Lord there shall bee Deut 15 11 euer some poore in the Land therefore I commaund thee saying Thou shalt open thy hand vnto thy brother vnto thy needie and vnto thy poore in the land Bestow thy treasure then according to Ecclus. 29. 11 12. the coÌ„maundement of thâ— most High and it shall bring thee more profite then golde Lay vp thine almes in thy secret chambers it shall keepe thee from all afflictions Lay not vp treasures for your selues vpon Math 6 19 20 21 earth where the moth and canker corrupt and where theeues digge through steale but lay vp treasures for your selues in heauen vvhere neither the moth nor canker corrupteth where theeues neyther digge through nor steale For where your treasure is there wil your harts be also §. 7. If thou wilt be a good Merchant or a Augustine gainefull Vsurer giue that which thou canst not keepe that thou maist receiue that which thou canst not loose Giue a little that thou maist receiue a hundred fold giue a temporall fading possession that thou maist receiue an euerlasting inheritance And vvhat-soeuer thou giuest giue it Augustine freelie for hee neuer giues in vaine that giues in zeale Neither doe I remember that euer I Ierome read of any one that dyed an euill death vvho willingly exercised the vvorkes of mercie For they haue the prayers of manie and it is vnâ—ossible but that their prayers should be heard §. 8. Giue vnto the most High according as Ecclê° 35 10 hee hath enriched thee looke what thy hand is able giue with a cheerefull eye For the Lord recompenseth wil giue verse 11. thee seuen times as much Stretch out thine hande vnto the poore Ecclus 7 32 and needy that thy blessing and reconciliation may be accomplished Be as a father vnto the fatherlesse and as Ecclus 4 10 an husbande vnto their mother so shalt thou be as the sonne of the most High and hee shall loue thee more then thy mother dooth §. 9. Charge them that are rich in the vvorld saith Paule vnto Timothie that they bee 1. Tim. 6. 17 18. 19. not high minded and that they trust not in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God which giueth vs aboundantly all things to enioy That they doe good and be rich in good workes and be ready to distribute communicate laying vp in store for themselues a good fouÌ„dation against the time to come that they may obtaine eternall life For hee that giueth almes layeth vp for Tob 4. 9. himselfe a good store against the day of necessity Because the almes of a man is as a thing Ecclê° 17 20 sealed vp before God and he keepeth the good deedes of men as the apple of the eye and giueth repentance to their sonnes and daughters At the last also shall he arise reward verse 21. them and shall repay theyr rewards vpon theyr heads Giue almes therefore of those thinges Luke 11 41 which thou hast Giue of thy bread to the hungry giue Tob 4 16. of thy garments to the needy and naked and of all thine abundance giue almes and let not thine eye be enuious when thou giuest thine almes For nothing doth so much commend a Ambrose Christian as commiseration and charitie §. 10. Let it not at any time grieue thee to doe Plotinus good vnto the poore and needy but rather couet to be liberall in thy gifts to such as want and are distressed for the almesdeedes of the liberall doe more profit the giuer then benefite the receiuer Haue alwaies compassion on the poore Caluine the blinde the lame and endeuour by good counsell to comfort him that is afflicted in conscience Forget not often to visite the sicke to Gueuara relieue them that are in bonds to succour poore Orphanes and to defend the cause of the widdow and oppressed For pure Religion and vndefiled before Iames 1 17. God euen the Father is this to visite the fatherlesse and widdowes in their aduersitie to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world Also like as all things else that are bred vpon the earth are all created and ordained Cicero for the vse commoditie of man so man for the benefit of man is begotten borne into the world to the end they should continually doe good by helping one another And they vvhich exercise almes righteousnesse Tob 12 9 shall be filled with life But euery one that sinneth is an enemie Tob 12 10 to his owne soule §. 11. Almes saith Tobie is a good gift before Tob 4 11 the most High to all them vvhich vse it And it is better to giue Almes then to Tob. 12. 8. lay vp gold Say not vnto thy neighbour Goe and Prou 3 28 come againe and to morrow I will giue thee if thou now haue it For he that giueth vnto the poore shall Prou. 28. 27. not lack but hee that hideth his eyes shall haue many curses Giue almes therefore of thy substance Tob 4 7 and when thou giuest thine almes let not thine eye bee enuious neither turne thy face from any poore body least that God turne his face from thee Giue part of that which thou possessest Iraeneus though thy gift amount to no more in value then the poore vviddowes two mites Giue also at the first asking for the gift Socrates is not worth thankes vvhich is often craued Besides the gift which is grudginglie Plato giuen may well be called a stonie loafe which although it be hard yet it is needfull to be receiued of him that is hungry §. 12. Hee that hath mercie vpon the poore Prou 19 17. lendeth vnto the Lorde and the Lorde vvill recompence him that which hee hath giuen For GOD so greatly loueth the poore Ierome that what-soeuer good deede is done vnto any of them for the loue of him he taketh it as it were doone vnto himselfe And hee shall vndoubtedly finde many Leo. great blessings at Gods hand who letteth not the poore and needy depart from him without comfort §. 13. But vvhen thou mindest to distribute or giue any thing vnto the poore thou Rom 12 8 must euer-more obserue this rule therein namelie to doe the same as the Apostle counselleth with simplicitie Not causing a trumpet to be blowne before Math 6 2 3 4. thee when thou giuest thine almes as the hypocrites doe in the Sinagogues and in the streets to the end they may be seene and praysed of men For verily I say