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A09434 A godlie and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Iude, containing threescore and sixe sermons preached in Cambridge by that reverend and faithfull man of God, Master William Perkins, and now at the request of his executors, published by Thomas Taylor, preacher of Gods word ; whereunto is prefixed a large analysis, containing the summe and order of the whole booke, according to the authors owne method, to which are further added, foure briefe tables to direct the reader ... Perkins, William, 1558-1602.; Taylor, Thomas. 1606 (1606) STC 19724.3; ESTC S100865 274,393 200

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childe of God or no for if he haue the spirit of God he is his and if he haue these holy motions and desires to pray and can send out these cries vnto God vnfainedly he hath the presence of the Spirit and he that hath not this spirit in these blessed fruites of it is none of his Thirdly these words are added to teach vs that when wee pray wee must doe it our hearts for where the spirit of God dwelleth thēce must prayer proceed but his abode is in the heart and therefore prayer that God many acknowledge it to proceed from the spirit must bee hartie and so of all other spirituall duties Colloss 3. singing with grace in your hearts Rom. 1. whom I serue in my spirit where the Apostle expresseth a reason why prayer should proceed from the heart because prayer is of the same nature with faith and the spirituall worship of God yea indeede is a part of it answerable vnto God himselfe who is a spirit but all these are seated in the heart and spirit and consequently prayer it selfe ought so to be neither is it the outward action or words which is simply the worship of God but so farre as they consent and proceed from the heart Which teacheth vs that whatsoeuer religious dutie wee are to turne our selues vnto wee are first of all therein to approoue ou● hearts vnto God Fourthly that there may bee a distinction made betweene the true beleeuer and the hypocrite and carnall man The hypocrite he prayeth outwardly for forme and fashion the naturall man in affliction prayeth of compulsion as a man that is racked and tormented without any loue of God at all both of them without any inward sense or rectified disposition of the heart but the beleeuer hee prayeth in the heart and in faith the spirit of God disposing his heart aright vnto prayer Quest. How doth the holy Ghost direct the heart Answ. By fiue waies or meanes first by illumination whereby hee reueileth God to man as also his owne estate both of them in part Secondly by conuersion whereby hee turneth the heart vnto God once made knowne Thirdly by direction whereby hee directeth the heart to deale as with God himselfe taking it from outward meanes Fourthly by feruent and constant desire● for things spirituall or temporall Fifthly by faith whereby we can rest on God for the accomplishment of the things wee haue heartily desired Quest. Whether may we not pray to the holy Ghost seeing here it is said praying in or by the holy Ghost Ans. We may not onely pray in or by him but vnto him for although wee haue no particular example hereof in the Scripture yet wee haue sufficient warrant for the three persons being vndiuided in nature must be also vndiuided in worship and one being worshipped all must be worshipped Secondly wee are baptized into the name of the holie Ghost as well as of the Father and Son and therefore hee is to be prayed vnto euen as they are Ob. But wee are not commanded to pray any where by the Father or Sonne as here by the holie Ghost which argueth that the holie Ghost is not the author of our prayers as they are Answ. The Apostle here would haue vs obserue an order in the working of the Trinitie for all the three persons are authors of our prayers the Father and Sonne make vs to pray but by the holy Ghost the holy Ghost maketh vs pray but more immediatly for he is the immediate author of our prayers which teacheth that when we pray it is not of our selues but from the spirit which stirreth and sendeth vp heauenly requests for vs herein then wee must renounce our selues magnifie the grace of God within vs and shew our selues thankfull by entertaining carefully such holie motions of this most holie Spirit of God Vers. 21. And keepe your selues in the loue of God looking for the mercie of our Lord Iesus Christ vnto eternall life THese word● containe the second rule of the Apostle tending to the preseruation of faith and true religion concerning loue and it is indeede of speciall vse and direction for the framing of our liues Christ calleth the loue of God and men the summe of the whole law Paul calleth it the end of the Commandements This caused Paul to keep faith good conscience 2. Cor. 5.14 The loue of Christ constraineth vs. Now for the better informing of our vnderstandings and our furtherance in obseruing this rule fiue things are to be considered first what is meant by the loue of God Ans. Wee are to vnderstand by the loue of God a diuine vertue in the hearts of the beleeuers whereby they loue God and Christ properly and simply for himselfe rest in him and cleaue vnto him as the most absolute good for by Gods loue in this place is not meant that loue wherby God loueth man but whereby man loueth God Quest. Why doth the Apostle here omit the loue of man Ans. Because the loue of man to man is included and to bee vnderstood in the other as a fruit necessarily flowing from it for first whē a man loueth his neighbour herein after a sort he loueth God for then is God loued not onely when our affection of loue is directed vnto himselfe but also when his ordinances his creatures image and other things partaining vnto him are loued Secondly the Apostle Paul calleth the loue of the neighbour the fulfilling of the law which cannot be vnlesse we include also therein the loue of God or rather it within Gods loue and ioyne them both together Now if the loue of man be the fulfilling of the law how much more is the loue of God which by the same reason must include the other Thirdly it is a true rule in Diuinitie that the first Commandement must bee included and practised in all the nine following as being the foundatiō of them all Now the maine dutie of the first Commandement is the loue of God which must goe with the practise of all the other so as al the duties of the other Cōmandements are included in the same The second point is whether this loue of God bee in man by nature or giuen by grace Ans. It is not from nature but a gift of grace following faith and iustification Ioh. 14.14 If yee loue me yee will keepe my commandements both which proceed from one beginning as no man then can by nature keepe the Commandements so no man can by nature loue God aright Rom. 8.5 The wisedome of the flesh that is mans best things his best thoughts and affections is enmitie to God therefore can there be no true loue of God in nature 1. Tim. 1.5 The end of the commandement is loue out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and faith vnfained Againe wee must first beleeue that wee are loued of God before wee can loue him 1. Epist. Ioh. 4. We loue him because he loued vs first It will bee obiected here
for mercie Thirdly wee learne hence to waite by our hope in Christ for life euerlasting euen to the death that must be the white which must euer be in our eye at which wee must continually direct our aime We haue many examples of holy men who haue gone before vs in this dutie Iacob when hee was making his will inserteth and as it were interlaceth this speech O Lord I haue waited for thy saluation Gen. 49.18 Moses had his eye euer vpon the recompence of reward Heb. 11.26 Iob would trust in the Lord yea although he should kill him Iob. 13.15 Dauid was much and often in this expectation of the Lords mercie Psal. 40.1 In waiting I haue waited on the Lord that is I haue instantly waited and mine eyes haue failed me whilest I haue waited for my God Psal. 63.3 and Psal. 16.9 My flesh shall rest in hope his hope was that his flesh should rise againe vnto life euerlasting Obiect But how cā we nourish this hope will some man say seeing we are so tossed perplexed with so many miseries and grieuances in this life Ans. Paul meeteth with this obiection Rom. 1.3 We reioyce in tribulation Qu. How can we doe so Ans. When wee subiect our selues vnto God in afflictions he sheddeth abroad his loue in our hearts and this breedeth patience which bringeth foorth experience and experience hope which maketh not ashamed being the helmet of saluation and our anchor which staieth our ship in the troublesome sea of this life Fourthly if wee must by our hope waite on Christ then in all our requests and petitions vnto God we must abide the Lords leisure not limiting him or prescribing the time vnto him of hearing for herein our hope must exercise it selfe Further from the obiect of this waiting which is the mercie of God we may learne diuers points first that there is no such merit of worke as the Papists dreame of for then might we waite for iustice and of due lay claime to life eternall But here we haue another lesson read vs namely that the Saints of God iustified sanctified and so continuing for to such Iude wrote as verse 1. must waite for the mercie of God vnto life eternall Yea let a man keepe all Gods Commandements hee shall merit nothing he doth but his dutie In the second Commandement the Lord saith he shewes mercie on thousands but who are they euen to them that loue me and keepe my Commandements If Adam had stood in innocencie he could not haue merited any better estate than hee was in how much lesse can wee since the fall nay Christ as hee was man alone could not merit nor did not but in regard of the personal vnion But the Papist will here say that life eternal is promised vpon condition and if wee can keepe the Commandements wee may merit I answere if wee keepe the condition of our selues wee may merit indeed but this is impossible for euen our keeping of the condition were of mercie and mercie and merit will neuer meete and stand together Secondly if we waite for mercie in Christ then must wee altogether despaire in regard of our selues of euer attaining life euerlasting for hope sendeth a man out of himselfe and causeth him wholy to relie himselfe vpon Christ. Thirdly if we must waite for the accomplishment of mercie which tendeth to life euerlasting then much more must wee in our dangers or troubles waite for Gods mercie in our deliuerance If wee must waite for the greater wee may for the lesse Hab. 2.3 At last the vision shall speake and not lie though it tarrie waite And Isai. 28.16 He that beleeueth maketh not haste This meeteth with mans corruptiō who in present trouble will haue present help or else he wil fetch it from hell it selfe from Satan and Sorcerers but such neuer learned to waite on Gods mercie for saluation for then could they waite his leisure in lesser matters for health and ease and with more comfort make farre lesse haste Secondly from the second effect or fruite of hope namely that it deceiueth not nor disappointeth him that hopeth note first a difference betweene humane or carnall and religious or Christian hope The former often deceiueth men at least when death commeth all such hopes perish but the second neuer deceiueth a man in time of need no not in death it selfe Secondly hence a man may and must beleeue his owne perseuerance in grace for where this hope is such a man cannot fall wholie from Christ for then his hope should disappoint him neither from his owne saluation because this hope laies hold on the mercie of God vnto eternall life and herein can neuer frustrate his expectation or make him ashamed Thirdly if our hope bring vs to the fulnes of happines and to the accomplishment of mercie hereafter then it bringeth vs to the beginnings of this happines euen in this life for the beginning of life eternall is in this life and standeth in the conuersion of sinners vnto God and in amendement of life and whosoeuer hath true hope hee is thereby stirred vp vnto daily repentance and reformation of life 1. Ioh. 3.3 He that hath this hope purgeth himselfe euen as he is pure Now there is none of vs but wee say wee hope for life eternall and looke to bee saued by the mercie of God in Christ it standeth vs thē in hand to trie the truth of this hope within our selues and manifest the truth of it vnto others and both these by this note namely that we finde it to purge our hearts and liues and that it conforme vs vnto Christ for if we hope to be like him after this life we must labour to resemble him euen in this life by being in some measure pure holy innocent meeke louing c. euen as hee was for otherwise if our liues be not in some reformation of our selues and conformitie to our head sutable to the profession of our hope it is but pretence of hope and will make men in the end ashamed Vers. 22.23 And haue compassion of some in putting difference and others saue with feare pulling them out of the fire and hate euen that garment which is spotted by the flesh THese words containe the two last rules tending to the preseruation of the faith both of them teaching how we may and are to recouer and restore those who are fallen or declining from faith or good conscience For the better vnderstanding whereof consider in the words two things first the way to begin this recouerie which is in the end of vers 22. By putting difference Secondly the manner how they are to be recouered expressed in both the rules the former concerneth Christian meeknes Haue compassion on some the latter concerneth Christian seueritie and other saue with feare Concerning the former the way of this recouery is to put a difference that is by Christian wisedome to distinguish betweene offenders For our direction wherein wee must know that
men in the right vse of them namely when it worketh this perswasion in their hearts that til their persons please God they can neuer vse them well and then onely hee is pleased in their vse of these when as their persons first please him Qu. What is the thing then condemned in these seducers Ans. The very sin condemned is that in the vse of the creatures of God they are not guided by reasonable much lesse this spirituall knowledge but onely by nature sense and appetite as the beast is and no otherwise which is the cause of all intemperance Hence note the proper cause of the abuse of all Gods blessings vnto couetousnes pride surfetting drunkennes and other sinnes of that kinde namely because though men haue by nature the vse of reason yet in the vse of these things they lay it aside and follow their own sense and appetite so farre are they from being guided by that higher knowledge which is wrought by the spirit of God Secondly from the reprehension we are taught to labor for spirituall knowledge whereby we may be led into the right vse of these temporall things for then and not before shall we vse them as pledges of Gods mercie in Christ vnto vs as the beasts cannot and shall hardly be drawne to their abuse in riot and intemperance as these seducers were Thirdly in that they are said to bee guided only as the beast which is without reason that is by nature sense and appetite note the practise of the Diuel which is to keep men if he can in their naturall knowledge and will not suffer them to attaine to that which is spirituall yea and which is more hee corrupteth also that naturall knowledge which men haue A notable experience hereof we haue in the Church of Rome which of a famous Church is become hereticall and schismaticall the reason of it is because the Diuell hath turned all their religion and doctrine into a natural doctrine religion the maine points whereof are grounded vpon naturall reason and the learning and Philosophie of the Heathen and Gentiles As iustification by workes merits Purgatorie with the rest Others not a few amongst our selues also are deluded by this subtilty of Satan who suffereth many men to liue ciuilly and honestly among their neighbours but will not brooke that they rise any higher they must content themselues to liue by naturall knowledge Hence many men plead they know enough namely to loue God aboue all and their neighbour as themselues and that God is mercifull c. which is nothing but a sleight of the Diuell still to hold them in their naturall knowledge and so within his owne power The second point is the sinne it selfe and propertie of it In those things they corrupt themselues This sin of intemperance causeth men in the abuse of meate drinke and apparell to corrupt themselues here then are two things to be spoken of wherein the whole nature of intemperancie is sufficientlie comprised First of the abuse of the creatures secondly of his corruption that thus abuseth them Concerning the former the abuse of the creatures is foure waies first in excesse whē men vse them beyond their calling habilitie or that which nature requireth this maketh the heart heauie forbidden by Christ Luk. 21.34 Secondly in curiositie when men are not content with ordinarie meate drink apparell but deuise new fashions of apparell and new kindes of waies of stirring vp and whetting of appetite Thirdly in affection when men so addict themselues to meates and drinks as they cannot bee without them The Minister must not be one that loueth to sit at the wine nor giuen to wine The affection is here condemned when he cannot sit without the pot at his elbow for else it is indifferent for his health sake he may drinke a little wine Paul willeth that the ioy in the creature bee as no ioy Those also are reproued that drinke not for strength but for drinke sake for although they neither are drunke nor surfet yet this very affection is a sinne Fourthly in time when these good creatures are vsed vnseasonably Eccles. 10.16 Wee be to the land whose Princes rise early to eate A woe is also denounced against those that rise early to drinke wine Isai. 5.11 that is out of season The rich man for that he was clad in purple and fared deliciously euery day is branded with a note of intemperance in not obseruing this distinction of times These bee the waies whereby the creatures are abused The second point is how intemperate persons in these things corrupt thēselues namely foure waies first in regard of their bodies vpon which by their sin of intemperance they call sundrie sicknesses diseases yea and hasten their death Secondly they deface Gods image making themselues worse than the beasts themselues Thirdly they destroy their soules for no drunkard or riotous person shal inherit heauen 1. Cor. 3. Fourthly they ouerthrow their families in wasting th●ir substance to the maintaining of their intemperance and so bring ruine to the places where they liue Vse In these seducers we haue a glasse wherein to behold the state of our daies and times in which intemperance hath taken place not only in prophane houses but euē in religious places where reformation is professed A common practise it is to drink with glasses without feete which must neuer rest also by the bell the die the douzen the yard and other measures then vse Tabacco or other meanes to sharpen appetite still an horrible sin exceeding this sin of these seducers themselues Secondly seeing intemperance bringeth iust corruption and in the end destructiō vpon the offenders we must make conscience of sobrietie and temperance this is the end of Gods grace which hath appeared to teach vs to liue soberly Tit. 2.12 And whosoeuer cannot obtaine thus much of himselfe to deny the abuse of creatures will neuer attaine to the deniall of himselfe for Christ his sake and is as yet a man of no religion But for the defending of this murthering sinne some things are alleaged 1. Ob. Gen. 43. vlt. Ioseph and his brethren did eate drink and were drunke together Hagge 1.6 The people are threatned to drinke but not to drunkennes wherfore drunkennes is not vnlawfull yea it is a curse to drinke and not to be drunke Ans. These places may indeed be thus translated but then drunkennes is taken two waies first for excesse in drinking of which the places alleaged speake not Secondly for liberall or plentifull drinking and this may bee done in a holie manner So Ioseph with his brethren eat and dranke liberally and plentifully but not excessiuely so the people were threatned in Hagge to drinke but not to sa●ietie and plentifulnes 2. Ob. Ioh. 2. It is said the guests had well drunke yet Christ turned water into wine still and commaunded the Ministers to draw forth Ans. This only sheweth what we may doe namely vse the creatures of
they which take libertie to sinne and vnto them addeth this fourth That they haue followed the way of Caine. In which first we will shew the meaning of the words and then obserue the doctrines In the former consider two things first what is the way of Caine secondly why they are said to walke in this way of Caine. The way of Caine is that course of life which Caine took vp to himself in following the lusts of his owne heart against the will of God It is described in Gen. 4. of which way there be seuen steps or degrees but euery one out of the right way The first step was his hypocrisie he worshipped God by offring sacrifice as Abel did but his heart was not a beleeuing heart as Abel● was his worship was outward ceremonious but not in spirit and truth for his heart was an euill heart of vnbeleefe The second his hatred of his owne onely and naturall brother prosecuting him with wrath and indignation testified by the casting downe of his countenance vpon him the reason of all which was because his own works were euill and his brothers good 1. Ioh. 3.12 so as his brothers offering being accepted and his reiected he feared that Abel might get the birthright and become the Priest Prophet and King in the familie and euery way as he deserued be preferred before him for thus much is signified in these words Genes 4.7 that if he did well Abels affection should bee subiect vnto him and he should hold his rule ouer him The third his murther whereby hee slew his righteous brother The fourth his lying vnto God saying he knew not where his brother was hauing slaine him and extenuating his sinne denied himselfe to be his brothers keeper The fifth his desperation after that God had conuicted him and pronounced sentence against him for being cursed for his sinne he cutteth himselfe off from the mercie of God in saying My punishment is greater than I am able to beare The sixth his securitie and carelesnes hee regardeth not his sinne nor the conscience of it but busieth himselfe in building a Citie and calleth it after the name of his child that seeing his name was not written in heauen he might yet preserue his name and memorie in the earth The seuenth and last which was the highest step of his way was his prophanenes for from thencefoorth he cast off and contemned all the care and practise of Gods worship which appeareth Gen. 4.26 Then men began to call vpon the name of the Lord. Which wordes haue relation to the whole chapter going before concerning Caine and his posteritie who had vtterly reiected the seruice of God and betaken themselues to other affaires Caine himselfe to his building Lamech to his lust being the first founder of Polygamie for hee tooke vnto him two wiues Iabal to the framing and pitching of Tents Iubal to Musicke Tubal Caine to other curious works But when Enoch was borne then men began to affect better things to call vpon the name of the Lord then the true worship of God formerly neglected began to bee restored This is the path wherein Caine walked The second point is in what regard these seducers are said to follow Cain● way and that is in regard of all these seuen sinnes but especially in the hatred and crueltie which he practised against his brother for as he was bloodily and maliciously minded towards his brother though he gaue him good words till he saw his time conuenient to execute his conceiued malice so is it with these seducers they may seeme for the season otherwise affected yet indeed they carrie a hatefull affection to the Church of God and against those also that endeuour in the building vp of the same Doct. Hence first note that the way of Caine is the high and broad way of the world The Turks and Iews follow Caines footsteps in the profession and practise of all prophanenes in that they denie and despise the Messias the Sonne of God yea and persecute with a deadly hatred all Christians and are neuer satisfied with the spilling of their blood The way of the Papists also is the way of Caine carrying within them the same heart towards Protestants which Caine did towards Abel without any conuiction of them either of heresie or of wickednes and no otherwise than Caine they now carrie themselues quietly and silently till opportunitie may serue them which if it were offered we should feele and haue fearefull experience of the fruits of a Cainish heart in them as Abel did Besides the doctrine of the Romish Church teacheth the way of Caine for it stādeth wholy in outward Ceremonies borrowed partly from the Iewes partly from the Heathen yea it traineth vp men to bee hypocrites because it is onely a dumbe and dead shew without any power or life of godlines Againe it teacheth desperation in that by it no man ought to be assured of his saluation for that were presumption as also that a man must satisfie the iustice of God for his sinnes and can neuer obtaine pardon without confession of all his sinnes in the eare of the Priest And to come neerer home euen among our selues this way of Cain is not vnbeaten our hypocrisie lying malice but aboue all our prophanenes will conuince vs hereof Doe not men goe backward in religion as those that shake off the waies of God Is not the Gospell of farre lesse reckoning among vs than it hath been heretofore Is that wholsome doctrine not lesse respected now than it was twentie yeeres agoe and much lesse therfore obeyed which is a manifest argument that Caines way is generally the beaten way of this age 2. Doct. Secondly wee must be warned to turne out of the way of Caine into the waies of God Qu. Which is the way of God that wee may walke in it Ans. It is altogether contrarie to the way of Caine for first in Gods way is sinceritie God is worshipped in the spirit and not in hypocrisie Secondly loue of God and men testified in word and deede opposed to Cains hatred Thirdly in Gods way is faith which resteth vpon Gods mercie and prouidence euen against feeling both in life and death opposed to Caines desperation Fourthly wisedome whereby the heart is stirred vp to seeke Gods kingdome peace of conscience inward ioy and in the second place for the things of this life Fifthly in Gods way is faithfulnes and constancie men that begin in the spirit end not in the flesh but are faithfull to the death whereas the way of Caine is to begin with sacrifice but end in profanenes This is the way of God in which we must walke vsing all good meanes whereby wee may be both set and contained therein especially the word preached and the Sacraments which meanes the very Pharisie himselfe could acknowledge when he said to Christ Master thou teachest the way of God truly So the Prophet Esay saith Ye shall heare a voyce behind you