tongue to vtter Thou hast loued to speake all words that may doe hurt O thou false tongue Psal 52. therefore shall God destroy thee for ever he shall take thee and pluck thee out of thy dwelling and roote thee out of the land of the liuing I make no doubt but one of the reasons why our Prophet is called a man after Gods owne heart was for his plaine syncerity without closing or glozing and the faithfull agreement of his heart and tongue together For when his heart melted like waxe in the mid'st of his body his tongue straight cleaued vnto his gummes Psal 22. and if his heart be once hot within him at the sight of the vngodly the fire must needs be kindled with musing and the tongue giue vent vnto it Hee cannot keepe his tongue from singing Psal 39. Psal 28. when his heart danceth for ioy so violently the hearts beliefe breakes out into the mouthes confession But we are either sicke of that old Iewish disease to honour with the lipps when the heart is farre off or else both heart and tongue are so otherwise engaged that the setting forth of Gods glory shall breake no square between them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nothing is so much affected in these vnsetled times which Nazianzen long sithence observed as that Athenian Itch of bartering newes and fidling about matters that least concerne vs. Are your minds set vpon righteousnesse ô yee congregation and doe yee iudge the thing that is right ô yee sonnes of men Where are then our Mictam's of David in sounding forth the Lords praises by recounting the wonders he hath wrought for the setling of our salvation why are our discourses so wide from the chiefe point we should be talking of If the round world and all that is therein the blessings we daily enioy the dangers we continually escape the noble workes we successiuely behold and heare of yeeld not matter sufficient for the tongues glorying yet the meditation of the happinesse to come should fill the mouth with laughter Psal 126 and the tongue with ioy this apprehension should secure the lumpish flesh through a ioyfull hope Which is the third circumstance as you may remember that presented it selfe to our former consideration 7 My flesh also shall rest in hope As Aarons ointment distilled from the head to the skirts of his clothing Psal 133. so Gods blessings are imparted from one member to an other The method in Arts will lead vs from the beginning successiuely to the end but divinity begins in the middle and thence as from the center most commonly drawes lines to the whole circumference Here we see how from the heart affected the tongue gloryeth and from the tongues reioycing how the flesh is comforted If our Saviour wash but the Disciples feete Iohn 13.10 the whole body shall bee held as clensed so diffusiue is that good which the holy Ghost communicateth The body shall be partaker of the soules happinesse and at length blesse the time that ever it came to be the casket of a Iewell so pretious A strange matter that the flesh which is here so rebellious should presume on such quiet hereafter The flesh which is the grandmother of originall corruption Gen. 6. Gal. 5. the mother of so many actuall mischiefes the confederate with the Divell in the most of his temptations plots and invasions which profiteth nothing Iam. 1. Iohn 6. Rom. 7. 1. Cor. 15. Ioh. 6. hath no good thing in it nay is as it were death it selfe and cannot inherit the Kingdome of God should not only escape vnpunished but also rest and rest in hope and hope with confidence and be confident in the expectation of a joyfull resurrection Notwithstanding yet you heare what our Prophet saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hearts gladnesse the tongues glorying the soules happinesse is not all but besides this the flesh which is so fraile in life so fearfull in death so forlorne in the graue also that flesh of mine shall dwell in the dust securely Where by flesh he meanes not fleshly lusts which fight against the spirit but the body as it is separated from and opposed to the soule To such a carcase howsoever laid low and dissolued there is hope of a restoring And this no doubt was the reason that after the soule was departed to its last home a respectiue care was had for interring the corps amongst all Nations that ever professed civility How solemnely among the Iews were the Patriarchs buried together in the caue of Machpelah To be laid in the sepulchers of their Fathers was counted a blessing to posterity but to be left to be meate for the foules of the aire or a prey for beasts 1. Sam. 17. was the terriblest thing Goliah could thinke vpon to affright David with Much are the men of Iabesh Gilead commended 2. Sam. 2. for recouering the carcasses of Saul and Ionathan from the walls of Bethshan and honouring them with a decent funerall whereas it is added to Iehoiakim as the extremity of disgrace and misery that he should be buried with the buriall of an Asse drawen and cast forth beyond the gates of Ierusalem Ier. 22.19 All which proceeded from the hope which our Prophet here relyeth on For to what purpose were erected Tombes and Piramides or other the like Monuments Annointings Embalmings Baptizings or Washings of the dead vsed as the Apostle argueth 1. Cor. 15. but to testify the confidence they had that the dead should rise againe vpon this Iob sets vp his rest Cap. 19 26. though after my skinne wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God The same quietus est is brought forth by Martha as the general assurance of the people of God amongst the midst of Pharises Sadduces I know that my brother shall rise againe in the resurrectiō of the last day Iohn 11. 8 Thus they comforted themselues in the losse of friends and animated their trembling flesh against deaths gastly lookes But our provision for the flesh is in another kinde Wee feed it delitiously cloath it pompously no preservation or recreation shall be neglected no physicke thought too deare or troublesome to giue it the best content But how it shall be disposed in the graue and provided for the call of the last trumpe it puts vs into a melancholy to consider and bewrays the little hope we haue of our future hope hereafter I suppose it would grieue any of vs all to see a Church converted vnto base offices or holy things polluted by luxurious or superstitious Miscreants but know we not that our bodies are the temples of the holy Ghost and should there be no care taken for the keeping of these vessels pure and presenting them in the most decent manner to their Redeemer and Saviour 1. Thes 4.4 What hope may hee haue for rest that purposely thrusteth himselfe into vnnecessary tumults Or what happinesse can he
outragioussy Mark 5.7 What haue I to doe with thee thou Iesus thou Sonne of the most high God I should sticke on this point Beloued which is a great stop to the progresse of the Gospell For when the Preacher brings the words of the wise you come not provided with the eares of the attentiue Every learner will bee a censurer and an offender a correcter All are gone out of the way there is not one that doth good no not one and yet as the Lord complaineth by his Prophet Hoseah no man must striue Hosea 4.4 or reproue another for the people are as they that striue with the Priest And is not this a iust cause why as here he taxeth Ephesus so our Saviour in like manner should haue somewhat against vs And because we may presume to expostulate with the Iewes in Malachi Cap. 1. Ver. 2.6 Wherein and wherein doe wee so much transgresse Let me thrust into this great Haruest a little farther my sickle to remember our naturall dulnesse with a therein therein Atheisme and flattery are eminent in the Court therein our Saviour hath somewhat against vs Sacriledge grates the Church Symonie is forced vpon the ministery therein and therein our Saviour hath somewhat against vs. In the whole Cōmonwealth whē vsury growes a vocation drunkennesse and whoredome the practice of good fellowship stabbing and swearing a note of resolution oppression a kinde of Iustice and tythes the Preachers portion the demaines of such men who commonly are worst affected to Church or Religion bee not herein and herein many somewhats which our Saviour may most palpably vrge against vs Ieremie's booke Chap. 36.8 Chap. 2.1 and Ezechiel's role written within and without cannot containe the particulars I might here descend vnto Somewhat might bee had against Husbands that suffer their wiues and children to be Recusants when they themselues can straine to professe any conformity Somewhat against wiues who cōmanded to hearken at home 1. Cor. 14.35 will needs bee Teachers abroad being Antichrists cheifest factors to vent his superstitions who should bee as the fruitfull vine vpon the house Psal 128.3 but proue the twining Ivie that plucketh downe the wall Somewhat against Magistrates and Officials who are luke-warme or false-harted in Gods cause to the deluding of good lawes and increase of superstition Somewhat against Reformers who busying their tongues most commonly in things that pertaine not to them disable themselues through faction to doe good in greater matters Beloued brethren paritie is not purity nor the wisest preaching the wrangling about ceremonies nor the vilifying of faulty Ministers the profitablest lesson the ignorant people can heare zeale may runne without discretion and doe more hurt then good Then straine at Gnats and tythe mint and cummin when thou hast reformed the greater breaches of the law And here if I should goe farther more might bee had against sacrilegious hypocrites who pretend purging and intend pilling who are sweeping Gods House and prying into every corner not to restore the groat that is lost but to take away the penny that is left Achan's stoning and Belshazzar's doome and Iudah's hanging might lesson these men sufficiently from such dangerous medling with consecreated things whereto the old Embleme may serue for illustration if thou snatch from the Lords Altar with the ravenous Eagle but a gobbet of a sacrifice to cramme thy young ones some coale perchance may sticke vnto it which brought to thy nest will set all on fire And to draw to an end in this point who seeth not what a great deale more might bee had against Parents for indulgence children for ryot masters for hardnesse seruants for vnfaithfulnesse young men for idlenesse old men for covetousnesse Tutors for carelesnesse Schollers for dissolutenesse Pastors for coldnesse and non-residence people for contempt and prophanenesse many for pride and luxury all for vnthankfulnesse who in so great plenty haue stored vp so little in such continued peace haue made so small profit vpon so good advantages haue gained no more ground of our adversaries Alas beloued with what nayles or goades shall I fasten this doctrine to our consciences Plenty peace meanes will all one day accuse vs for looking backe with Lots wife when wee should haue hastned forward which was the fault of Ephesus as the sequell sheweth wherein I will labour to prevent your wearinesse 13 Because thou hast left thy first loue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Rhemists giue it Because thou hast left thy first Charity Some Criticks put a difference betwixt dilection loue and Charity making loue more then dilection Polan syntag lib. 9. ca. 10. Illiricus as Cicero seemes to doe and Charity more then loue But this curiosity is here needlesse especially to set loue and charity by the eares which so well agree in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the originall The time permits mee not to sift things narrowly Not to trifle therefore on the word Loue according to Saint Augustine as Lumbard cites him in the 27. dist of the 3. of the Sentences is the most right affection of the minde by which God is loued for himselfe and our neighbour for and in God I include not here that incomprehensible loue which is in God or rather God himselfe essentially notionally and personally considered as the Schoolemen haue ventured to speculate but content my selfe with an habite infused by God effused in good workes Vid. Altenstaig in verbo charitas diffused amongst our neighbours Whose efficient end and obiect is God himselfe subiect mans heart fruits obedience patience and the not-seeking of our owne companions sincerity and constancie opposites distrust of our selues Diligens non diligenda aut aequè diligens quod minus vel amplius diligendum est aut minus vel amplius quod aequè diligendum est contra ordinem charitatis diligit Bonau Gabriel ibid. ex Aug. and a hard conceite of our brethren This loue is as orderly as forward and heedy as hasty in her proceedings For things not to bee beloued it loueth not things of different worth it loueth not alike things of equall esteeme it esteemeth not partially as Saint Augustine wittily observeth but aboue vs it findeth God in vs our owne soules besides vs our friends and enemies to spend its strength vpon Thus our Angell here of Ephesus began to doe and continued to doe for ought I finde objected For it followeth not thou hast runne into ill courses thou hast shaken off all goodnesse thou beginnest to bee hatefull and loathsome neither read wee absolutely as Ioachim Lyra In textum and the best Interpreters obserue Thou hast lost thy Charity no saith Thomas Ansbert and Richardus it was not the habit that was extinguished but some degrees slaked the fault was in the manner of doing thou hast not lost thy loue Aretius Brightman Viegas sect 7. Perer. in Apo c. 2. disp 5. but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 too true an
to drawe all to repentance the second in that to come from which there is no declining My Text dealeth onely with the first not as it properly signifieth the distinct apprehension of an obiect or a true conclusion from certaine premises or a definitiue sentence according to law or the authoritie of the Iudge to determine or power to execute or the cause that comes in question or a custome that hath gathered strength by long acceptance or the Text of Scripture that giueth direction how to judge vpon which diuers significations Scotus and Illiricus plentifully inlarge themselues but by a metony mie for the punishment that is inflicted vpon just grounds For herein the execution manifesteth the iudgement and by this iudgement especially the Lord is knowne The causes of it are sin the subiect notorious offenders the effects generally amazement specially comfort to the innocent and horrour to their adversaries This the Lord taketh vpon himselfe to execute as often as his Ministers either for want of power or courage or information are driuen to a stand and for these purposes especially that the Church might haue a breathing in her continuall combates and her persecutours a taste of the anger that is to come According to the sentence of this Iudgement Corah's conspiracie was plagued by the earths opening Absalom hanged by the hayre Senacherib had a hooke put into his nostrills Ieroboam's Ahab's and Baasha's families were grubbed vp by the rootes for their treasons and idolatrie And as old Babylon's stately Palaces were turned to disconsolate habitations for Zijm and O him so new Babylon's redoubled abominations must looke for no better issue For though shee haue a long time raysed mists to dazle the eyes of her followers the Scriptures haue beene lockt vp in an vnknowne tongue Idols and heathenish ceremonies obtruded in stead of preaching implicite faith for playne catechizing Princes terrified with the bug-beares of briefes and bulls and excommunications traytours honoured with martyrdome all villanies justified vnder the maske of zeale and ignorance commended as the mother of devotion Yet the Lord will ever be knowne by the iudgements which he executeth when shee commeth in remembrance before God to giue her the cup of the wine of the fiercenesse of his wrath Rev. 18. as a mil-stone throwne into the bottome of the sea so shall shee sinke downe into the pit of destruction Jn an houre shall her Iudgement come vpon her the Kings of the earth and Merchants shall take notice of it with wayling and alasse and the Saints with a double Halleluiah whiles her smoke ariseth vp for ever and ever 5. This doctrine of Gods iudgements so plainly deliuered in his Word so effectually vrged and so often repeated vpon any notable occasion as it should strike a terrour into the wicked not to kicke against prickes so should it animate the godly in all extremities with the assured dependence vpon a happy issue But alasse Beloued these things sticke with vs most commonly no longer then they are in acting Three impediments may be obserued aboue the rest which frustrate in diuers the good vse of this doctrine Contempt neglect and mis-interpretation by soothing our selues in our owne courses and turning the streame of Gods iudgements another way Of the first humour are those which our Prophet describeth in the next Psal The vngodly is so proud that he careth not for God nether is God in al his thoughts His waies are alwaies grievous thy iudgements are far aboue out of his sight therefore he puffes at all his enemies If you vrge vnto him the like iudgmēts executed vpon others for the same offences his contemptuous answer is ready Thus I shall never be cast downe there shall no harme happen vnto mee This is the resolution of Antichrist and his followers as most Interpreters with Saint Ierome and Saint Augustine note vpon that place Iudgements never so knowne Executions never so evident shall no way deterre them from their damnable projects Epist 55. But this is the greatest iudgement of all as Saint Cyprian well obserueth Non intelligere delicta ne sequatur poenitentia not to take notice of our faults lest repentance should therevpon follow Secondly the neglect of Gods iudgements appeareth in those men who are truely affected at the first but as a pang 't is quickly past ouer and as newes it soone growes out of date Pharaoh was no sooner quitted from one plague but presently his heart was hardned to drawe on another and the Israelites that were so much affrighted at the horrible end of Corah Dathan and Abiram even the morrow after fell vpon Moses and Aaron vpbrayded them for killing of the people of God such small impression is left on vs by the stripes of others Birds and other brute beasts most commonly avoid that place where they are sensible by a token that their fellowes haue miscarried but we looke on others iudgements as furnished with a supersedeas from all arrests and argue from their punishments how well they haue deserued without the least reflexe vpon our owne mutable condition A third sort play with such examples and shift off the application from themselues These will rather ascribe Noahs flood to an extraordinary aspect or concourse of watry planets or the drowning of Pharaoh's host to the inconsiderate venturing vpon an high tide rather then to Gods wrath for sinne who sendeth such iudgements on some to make all the rest afrayde So our Italianated fugitiues passe ouer the powder-plot by terming it onely the rash attempt of a few poore vnfortunate Gentlemen by meanes whereof their proselytes are hardened to the like courses whereas such terrible iudgements should teach them to knowe the Lord and executions make them sensible how desperately they are seduced De Ciuit. Dei lib. 2. cap. 33. But perdidistis vtilitatem calamitatis as Saint Augustine justly vpbraydeth the Pagans miseri facti estis pessimi permansistis Wherefore should yee be smitten any more The whole head is sicke and the heart is faint Those that contende so much for a Iudge of the controversies betweene them and vs why obserue they not out of Gods iudgements which side the Lord favoureth Haue any of their damnable projects by Summeruile Parry Babington and his complices Lopez and his abettours Campian Parsons and their adherents taken any expected successe Haue the Popes Bulls and curses wrought any strange effects Haue Watson and the Powder-miners attained to the ende they sought after If God then haue euer defeated such malicious designes and shewed by his iudgements vpon the actours how much hee detesteth such practices they might well gather that their courses are not warrantable or that as some of them in indignation haue blundred out the Iudge of all the World is become a Lutherane For what vertue haue they ever found in their Agnus Dei's Medals or superstitious reliques to make their plots successefull or truth in the promises of their ghostly Fathers May they
no vnderstanding but may bee compared to the beasts that perish And Church-men once got free from the pressure of Heathenish bondage exceeded all measure in aemulations factions and vanities Libertie brake out into luxurie Superseminations and Superstructions ouer-grew and obscured the good seed and building Which Addition and Multiplication not onely of points of Doctrine but superstitious and ridiculous ceremonies partly borrowed from the Iewes and partly from the Heathen beganne to worke a Substraction of other Churches of Rome and continueth especially the Division which now all Christendome groanes vnder To let passe other matters and on with the point we haue in hand The reverent and ancient manner of dedicating Churches to God may appeare by the acts of Constantine in consecrating the Church at Ierusalem registred as you shall finde by Eusebius De vita constantin l. 4. Nicephor l. 8. c. 26. Precibus concionibus decorârunt with Prayers and Sermons they adorned their first assembling in it which was accompanied with almes to the poore and great gifts to the Church and Bishops befitting the estate of the Founder Zonaras in Constantin And haue wee any other in the South Church but Conventus laudes gratias assemblings praises thanksgiuing to God to make vp their consecration Per conventus laudes gratias Deo canentes Athanas Apolog. 2. No more then this in his 2d Apologie Athanasius affirmes Bishop Alexander to haue vsed Home to this comes the Church of Helvetia in their latter confession chap. 22. By reason say they of the word of God and holy Exercises therein celebrated places dedicated to God and his worship are not prophane Which Suarez the Iesuit grants to be sufficient in his third Tome vpon Aquinas disp 61. sect 2. Possit interdum Oratorium per simplicem voluntatem Ecclesiam per simplicem benedictionem sometime an Oratory by the simple intention of the will and a Church by a plaine benediction may bee destined to the Ministery of sacred things But plaine benedictions expressing good intentions come short of the ayme that pompous Rome after leuelled at When the people of Israel were well vnder God's immediate patronage and were told by Samuel of the inconveniences that might follow by alteration Nay say they but we will haue a King over vs that we may be like all the Nations 1. Sam. 8.19 All was naught except they were equall or passed the Heathen in outward pompe and curiositie And was not this the very itch of Rome which raised the scabbes that to this day cannot bee cured A Church or Chappell could not bee built but a crosse or more must bee set vp before hand to designe the place where it should be founded Vid. Durand Rational Divin l. 1. c. 6. Sleidan Com. l. 21. As soone as it is vp twelue crosses must be painted about the walls with twelue burning tapers over-against each of them Then Holy water must be had to wash it and oyle to anoint it Hospin de Tēplis l. 4. that of no ordinary composition The Crosses indeed saith Bellarmine should be painted at the very act of consecration De cultu sanct l. 3. c. 5. but commonly it is done before propter commoditatem nimis enim diù expectaretur si in ipsa consecratione pingerentur It were a great inconvenience to stay so long at the act of consecration till the Painter had finished them all Then comes the Bishop and three vagaries hee must fetch about the place with his company and after hallowing the wals without with some water mixt with salt sprinkled with Hyssop and murmuring some few prayers at the doore being shut Three times he thumps at it and cryes Tollite portas c. Lift vp your heads O yee gates and bee lift vp yee everlasting doores and the King of glory shall come in Then the Deacon who for that purpose is shut within to act his part must take his kue and say Who is the King of glory To whom the Bishop replies no more at first and second course but It is the Lord strong and mighty even the Lord mighty in battle But all this making no way in the third returne he takes vpon and tells him stoutly it is Dominus virtutum the Lord of Hosts he is the King of glory Presently therevpon ope flies the doore and in goes the Bishop with two or three assistants and after a few prayers said at the Altar and exorcising of some salt and water ashes and wine drawing the Greeke and Latine Alphabets crosse-wise wise on the ashes sprinkled on the floore by the Deacons with the end of his Crosiar-staffe at length it comes to their turne who stay all this while at the doore without to bring in the Reliques of some one Saint or other which they haue ready vpon a Beere and then to perfect the Pageant De consecrat distinct 1. C. Omnes Basilicae a Masse must be said For without such Reliques and Masse the Consecration according to the Canonists were altogether ineffectuall 9. Wherefore about a nine or tenne yeares since when a Church was consecrated at Gorslebium in Count Mans-fields Countrey by a Lutheran-Superintendent because all these ceremonies were not then vsed exception was taken by a Papist who said he was then present that it was rather a meere prophanation then consecration Which moued Iohn Aeschardus the man that did it to write against Bellarmine de Templis which our Hospinian had done before more fully both discouer so farre their Heathenish imitation and apish tricks in this behalfe that in hast they will not bee answered I haue purposely omitted many things as the laying of the first stone which of necessity must be square and crossed by the Bishop and sprinkled with holy water the adoe they keepe about Altars Images and Vestments the Baptizing of Bels and the like all which you haue fairely expressed in distinct pictures and red letters in the Pontificall of Clement the 8. anno 1595. Where hee that cannot read may see how it is done Now if any bee further inquisitiue to knowe the meaning of all these Hieroglyphicks De Cultu Sanct. l. 3. c. 5. Bellarmine himselfe will informe him That the 12 Crosses and Tapers before them signifie the 12 Apostles that carried this Banner of Christ through all the world and by their Preaching enlightned it Oyle is added for excellency Holy water frankincense and wax-candles for clarity and neatnesse Ad Munditiem claritatem The Greeke and Latine Alphabet in the pauement shew that in those tongues the Gospell was most generally preached when these ceremonies were first instituted Et quia in Templo non solùm docentur homines sed mouentur inflammantur ad virtutem vitae novitatem idcircò saith hee fit illa mixtio aquae cineris salis vini Let them take the inference for good that see a reason for it Ideò pulsatur Ostium
stupendious miracles in all kinds he daily wrought were severally as well as iointly sufficient proofes that he was the promised Messias Yet all this may not satisfie without search of these Records Search the scripture saith he for against them yee haue no exception as yee may haue against miracles and other evidences In them yee your selues are convinced in your owne consciences and thinke to haue eternall life Now these are they which testifie of me Ioh. 5. When the Lawyer therefore last of all would needs haue a Rule whereby to inherit eternall life his dispatch was without further adoe What is written Luk. 10. How readest thou After such eminent Elogies from the Master for the scriptures supreame esteeme and vse the suffrages of all his followers may bee well deemed needlesse 10. Vpon this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this scriptum est the Fathers came in with their forcible exhortations It is a manifest revolt from faith saith the great Basil to bring in any thing for religion Definit 80 c. 22. that is not written and because it is not of faith it must needs bee sinne for who may speake 0 saith Saint Ambrose De vocat gent. l. 2. c. 3. where the Scripture is silent That which hath not ground from hence addes Saint Hierome is as easily put off as vrged In Mat. 23. I therefore rest saith Theodoret only vpon the Scriptures Dial. l. 1. c. 8. This must end all differences when all is done as S. Augustine affirmes Cont. Crescon l. 2. c. 31. with Origen The Schoolemen here fall in full in the maine with the Fathers Lumbard in in praefat Aq. Scotus to whom those that follow them are not opposite howsoever their practise hath beene stragling and dissonant in the infinite distractions of these syding times Thus farre these two words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is written direct vs. But here we are not to mould the Scriptures according to our fancies or wrest them to serue our owne turnes or stand vpon our owne private iudgement in their doubtfull exposition nor content our selues that this or that is written except we take it and partake it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is written Church Councells Fathers Schoolemen new and old Expositors tongues Arts Histories may and ought to be vsed in their severall places Mat. 13. for the more iudicious clearing and applying of them For every Scribe which is instructed vnto the kingdome of heauen saith our Saviour is like vnto a man that is an housholder who bringeth forth out of his treasurie things new and old How much then doth it stand vs vpon heartily and seriously to pray as our Church teacheth vs in the Collect of the last weeke Blessed Lord which hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning grant that we may in such wise heare them read marke learne and inwardly digest them that by patience and comfort of thy holy word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou hast given vs in our Saviour Iesus Christ Amen For to what end should these things bee written Beloued if not to be read and learned and pondred and conferred and revised againe and againe of vs for our eternall good Precept vpon precept line vpon line must here be taken according to the Prophets method least at any time we should let thē slip as our Apostle tells the Hebrewes Records for our temporall estates will be carefully looked after Heb. 2. and shall these heavenly evidences bee neglected No dainties shall bee thought too deare for the bodies well-fare and is not the soules eternall happines worth the looking after Certainely when modesty blusheth feare faultreth flattery sootheth ignorance sticketh craft adviseth for it's owne endes hypocrisies makes shewes and performes nothing This scriptum est will ever continue to bee bold with the best and greatest to tell all truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth as here it doth of these debosh't Israelites 11. The people sate downe to eat and drinke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and rose vp to play The people not all as we had before but the greater summe the most part Those that gathered themselues together vnto Aaron not to make them a new leader in steed of Moses for I thinke they greatly cared not whether they had any or no but new Gods insteed of Iehovah not to giue them lawes for directions or punish them when they offended but to leaue them to their owne licentiousnesse and when they were disposed to travell to goe before them Exod. 32.1 such is mans corrupt and selfe-wild nature We loue not Gods or Governors that will be punctuall or busie vpon vs for the observation of morall ceremoniall and iudiciall laws that wil thunder or lighten in the giuing or breach of their commandements but galdly admit of those that will quietly permit vs to follow our owne humours eat and drinke without a reckoning play without exception at vnlawfull games or in vnfit times or places without any restraint or moderation Now such Gods must needs be of our own making otherwise they would be hardly so fitted to our intemperate desires This skill this people had gotten without a teacher God they knew made them and now in requitall they would make them Gods But how would they serue them Not with grace before meat in their eating and drinking nor with the Psalmists excitation to devotion piously premised in our Church Liturgie O come let vs sing vnto the Lord let vs heartily reioyce in the strength of our salvation Let vs come before his presence with thanksgiuing and shew our selues glad in him with Psalmes O come let vs worship and fall down kneel before the Lord our maker Fal down and kneele and worship Nay sit downe to eat and drinke and rise againe to play O the vngratefull and perverse disposition of vs all the more God in mercy remembers vs the sooner wee forget both our selues and him and the better hee deales with vs the worse most commonly wee proue Pius Quintus that Pope who excommunicated Queene Elizabeth was wont to say I should not relate it but that I haue a Iesuit for my author and that is Cornelius à Lapide vpon the 11th of Numbers at the 11th verse Cum essem religiosus when I was a religious man he meant I thinke a plaine Monk without any Ecclesiasticall degree or dignity I had a very good hope of the salvation of my soule Being made Cardinall Extimui I was much afraid of it Nunc Pontifex creatus but now being Pope what now Penè despero I almost despaire of it And so thought Clement the 8th addes my former Author that followed after him An ingenious confession I must needs professe especially from such men so much ingaged in the pompes and vanities of this wicked world We can censure such passages at our pleasure but I