Ahashuerosh disposed himselfe to bee merrie with his Princes and shew the riches and glorie of his kingdome and the honour of his Maiestie hee feasted them an hundred and fourescore dayes togither therefore infinite will the ioy and triumph bee in the court of heauen when the king of all kinges shall feast his deare Saintes not for a time but for all eternitie and shall shew them his heauenlie dignitie and felicitie which is prepared for them It is vsuall with many to celebrate with mirth the memoriall of their birth Gen. 40 Mark 6 when it rather occasioneth vs with Ieremie Ierem. 20 and Iob Iob. 3 to bee heauie for it Pharao solemnized the day of his natiuitie with triumphant feasting and so did Herod yet this myrth and musick was mixed with mourning for the one at that time hanged his chiefe Baker and the other beheaded innocent Iohn the Baptist But in heauen when we solemnize our newe birth wee shall haue all ioy without mixture of sorrow there can neuer any more miserie or calamitie befall vs. The wise men of the East were exceeding glad when they saw but the Starre Matt. 1 which prognosticated and foreshewed the natiuitie of our sauior Therefore when wee in heauen shall bee partaker of his glorie then must needes our heartes be filled with laughter and our tongues with ioy We see how the birdes of the aire are ioyfull at the arising of the sunne chirping and singing and leaping vpon the branches Wherefore when the sonne of righteousnesse appeereth comforting our hearts how ought we to skip like a Hart to leape vp and downe like a yong vnicorne Gene. 2 It was a ioy to Adam when he was in his prosperitie in his earthly Paradise in his created holines but afterward when he had transgressed the mandate God gaue him and did degenerate from his first creation â—â—b 30 his harp was turned into mourning and his organes into the voice of them that weepe What ioy then will it be vnto vs when we are in heauenly paradise where we can sinne no more and so consequently can sorrow no more where are all kindes of pleasures in aboundance at the right of the father for euermore The foure leapers when they entred into the Aramites campe â—ing 7 and shared out their goods they mutuallie ioyed one an other for that happe Oh therefore let vs be ioyfull togither let vs reioyce in our beddes For our ioy is as the ioy of haruest 〈◊〉 9 and as men reioyce when they diuide a spoyle For the hoast of our sinnes shal then be discomfited when we are in heauen Sathan shal no more haue ought to do with vs death shall bee destroyed and swallowed vp in victorie all our enemies shall flie away before vs and wee of Gods housholde shall diuide the spoyle Though we hung our harpes vpon the willowe trees when we sate by the waters of Babylon yet now O man of God call for thy instrument awake lute and harpe and let vs awake earlie and let vs sing the Lords song in our owne land If he that hath matters of law depending in iudiciall courts A similitude cannot but be glad when his case is put to his counsellor and aduocate to be comprimitted and awarded for he is thereby sure that it will goe wel on his side Why then deere Christian comfort thy sobbing and sighing soule for this is thy case thy sinnes that pleaded against thee at Gods barre and were like to condemne thee are put to Christ thy sauiour redeemer to vmper and determine so as we need not feare for though we sin we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the iust 1. Iohn 1 he is the propitiation for our sinnes our sinnes shall rather adorne vs then disgrace vs because of him For it is no disgrace to haue a rent garment if so be it may be hidden and couered with a lace our sins are rents and the red blood of our sweet sauiour is the redde lace which hath couered the scame and rupture of our sinnes If the men of Bethshemeth reioyced with themselues because they had espied the ark of the Lord 1. Sam. 6 wee shall haue much more matter of myrth affoorded vs when we shall see the verie heauens open readie to receiue vs and we shall espie Iesus at the right hand of his father who hath prepared a place for vs. A glad man was Zacheus when so good a guest Luk. 19 as Christ diuerted into his house but gladder may we be that he will vouchsafe to enter into our souls that we shall dwell with him and he with vs in his fathers kingdome world without ende Mat. 13 The husbandman when he found the treasure in the field he could not rest for ioy but forthwith departed made a sale of all that he had in the worlde beside to make purchase of the field But all the treasures of God the father in his sonne Christ shal be giuen vnto vs. Base therefore in our eyes is the vanitie of this world we willinglie renounce it to make so good a change and wee are glad of such successe King 1 When Salomon was aduaÌ„ced to his fathers crown and dignitie all the people piped with pipes and reioiced with great ioy so that the earth rang with the sound of them We shall see our Christ the king of peace who hath triumphed valiantly who hath put downe all his enemies vnder his feete verie exceeding glorious crowned with maiestie and honour our heartes therefore shall be glad and our tongs shall reioice for the staffe of our shoulder the yoke of our burden the rod of our oppressor shal be broken as in the day of Midian Wherefore reioice in the Lord alwaies â— 9 and again I say reioice Let the flouds clap their hands and let the hils reioice Let the singers go before and the minstrels folow after and let the damsels come playing with their pipes Let the Leuites daunce before the arke and let the priests be clothed with gladnes and let vs all sing praises vnto the holy one of Israel FINIS Imprinted at London by P. S. for Nicholas Ling. 1599.
vppon the earth with the other at one time Dagon cannot stande before the Arke of God wee cannot worship God and the Idoll of this worlde â—uke 10 One thing is necessarie as Christ telleth Martha A similitude If thou grauest with one knife or sewest with one needle thou shalt ridde and dispatch a great deale more worke then thou shouldest if thou wroughtest with two togither for one of them will hinder an other so much riches will hinder thy religion and the further thou goest from the world the neerer thou commest vnto God There be manie Cities and townes corporate which are endowed with customs priuiledges differing from others yet are they not so contrarie but one may haue the freedome of diuerse of them at once But Babylon and Hierusalem heauen and earth God and Mammon are at such mortall and deadlie foade togither as they may not be matched and combined togither We cannot be a free Denison in heauen aboue and be a bond seruant to this wicked world beneath There can be no fellowship betweene righteousnesse and vnrighteousnesse Coâ— 6 no societie with light and darkenes no vnitie and agreement with God and Beliall We cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord 1. Cor. 10 and of the table of Diuels We read in hâ—lie scriptures how the Samaritanes would haue confounded these extremities and mangled Gods religion 2. King 17 and mingled therewithall their idolatrous superstitions Naaman the Syrian was such a kinde of fellowe hee was content to offer incense 2. King 5 and sacrifice to God but with it hee woulde keepe still the fauour of his Prince and the credite of his place he woulde repaire betweene times with his maister into the house of Rimmon Nicodemus was willing to be a professor Iohn 3 and to becom Christs disciple but he would not come by day but by stealth in the night for feare of the Iewes of the losse of his authoritie and good estate in this world The gallaunt young Gentleman Matth. 19 that shewed so much zeale of the Kingdome of heauen as if hee had meaned presentlie to haue gone thither woulde not depart with his worldlie possessions for the purchase of that kingdome Hee was of that mind to haue heauen and the world or to haue no heauen at all But this could not bee Matth. 6 for they are two imperious and contrarie maisters whom no man can serue togither at one time As the people of Israel neuer had Manna Exod. 16 and the flesh pottes of Egypt at one tyme so is it not permitted vs to taste at one time of the delightes of heauen and the pleasures of the worlde for the loue of the one breedeth the loathsomnesse of the other As the stomacke if it be distempered with rawe humours it cannot rellish well sauourie meate A similitude so our soules oâ—â—rburdened with worldlie grosse affections we cannot taâ—e of heauenly consolations Exod â— When as Pharaoh gaue commaundement to the Hebrew people to offer sacrifice to their god in Egypt Mosâ—s made answere that it could not so bâ— Shall we saith he offer vnto God the abhominations of the Egyptians Iohn 2 When Iesus entred into the Temple of Hierusalem and chased out the prophane Marchants and copesmates from thence hee did by that example not obscurely teach vs that there is no roome for such in the Church whose godlines is their gaine who trade themselues wholie to the affaires of this worlde Inasmuch therefore as this mans prosperitie puft him vp with pride and drew his heart farre from his due obedience to his gracious father let vs that stand take heed least we fall and greatly stande in feare that when the worlde fauoureth vs the diuell will most tempt vs and estrange our hearts from the seruice of God Let vs not therefore fâ—â— the loue of out earthlie and worldly portion fâ—â—sâ—ke our heauenlie father who is a better portion H s house is little Zoar â—â—n 19. the citie of refuge vnto which Lot fled and was presâ—â—ted when Sodome was destroyed In his house are many dwellings his house is made of golde and his gates of precious stones If we abide there we shall haue riches at our desire For riches and plentiousnesse is in his house and at his righ hande are aboundant pleasures for euermore When as Gorgias came in battell against Iudas 1. Mat. 4 and Iudas made his solemne oration to the Iewes that were in the camp among other things which he charged them hee peremptorily commaunded them that they should not be too greedie of the spoile of their enemies but should stande to it like men and first fight manfully ouercome the enemie there would be time afterward inough and inough to diuide the pray among them so forasmuch as our life is a warfare Ephes 6 and we fight not only against flesh and blood but against principalities against worldly powers against spiritual wickednes which is in high places let vs not too couetously seeke worldly wealth Let vs first gird vs with our swords vpon our thighes and march against our enemies the world the flesh the diuel let vs first kill them who seeke to kill vs and after the victorie and conquest is ours we shall all of vs in heaueÌ„ with ioy and gladnes diuide the spoyle among vs. The eight Chapter Of the waste which the prodigall sonne made of his portion Vnder which how transitorie worldly ryches are euidently is declared THe holie Prophet well perceiuing the bias of the world how fondly it is fixed vpon imaginarie pleasures momentanie delights thus grauely vehementlie reprooueth their foolishnes O ye sons of men â—sal 4 how long wil ye blaspheme mine honor and haue such pleasure in vanitie and seeke after leasing He accounteth worldly pleasures but vanitie and leasing because they promise vs ioy and do giue vs sorow they promise vs continuance and dissemble like hypocrites and suddenly do forsake vs. This is plainly seene in the hystorie of this man for be rufled not long in his iollitie and excesse but he suddenlie did sinke and from a great flood came to a low ebbe his part was soone plaied and like to a game-player hee departed from the stage to put off his vesture For the text sheweth howe not long after as he parted from his father so he departed from his fathers substance In him is fulfilled the saying of the Psalmist Psal 37 I my selfe haue seene the vngodlie in great power and flourishing like a greene Bay tree and I went by and hoe he was gone I sought him but his place could no where be found The regard therefore of this so mutable and transitorie a condition of this present worlde is argument inough if there were no other reason to weane our soules from the loue thereof to the onely loue of God A similitude The world doth serue vs as the hangman doth
preferment aboue others and communed contentiously which should be the greatest in the kingdom of heauen Malice Luke â— and sugred desire of reuenge is a maine mischiefe yet two of the Apostles were fiercely set vpon it and much misled with it when in their implacable and inexorable stomacks they called for a iudgement against the Samaritanes and would haue made Christ the patterne of their peeuishnes desiring his authority to command fire from heauen to burne vp his aduersaries Entry is a fretâ—ing and furious euill yet one of Christ his houshold was diseased therewith For Iohn did enuie it and seeme it very much that a man that was not one of their companie shoulde haue the liberty to vse Christes commâ—ssion and to practise in his name Maister saith hee to our Sauiour Christ we sawe one casting out deuils in thy name â—â—ke 5 and we forbaâ— him because hâ— followeth thee not with vs. Whaâ— shall I say of couetousnesse the root of â—ll euill with which his houshoulde disciple Iudâ— was mightilie bewiâ—ched 〈…〉 For he was a thiefe 〈◊〉 caried the bag Last of al apostasie and defection from the faÌ„â—â—â— and the open abiuration of a knowne truth is a sin exceeding dangerous yet Peter fâ—ll into it and at the voice of a damsell exceedingly raned and with bitter cursing periurie and banning did denie his maister Thus haue we laid open the nakednesse of the disciples and blowne ope their skirtes and haue noted such defectes which the scriptures giue vnto them which are odious and horrible yet find we none branded with this note of ryotousnesse or dodded in the face with the black coale of vncleannesse Reuel 21 For no vncleane thing shall enter saith saint Iohn into the kingdom of heauen The nature of this sinne differeth from al sinnes The difference of whordom from other sinnes for other sinnes only do â—â—ght against the soule but this sâ—â—ne sighteth against the whole man the body and the soule it admitteth no boies play to bar any 〈◊〉 Sâ—â—h as are giuen and deuoted to this sinne are bâ—â—â—sh and beastlie Psal 30 they are like as Dauid saâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the Horse and Mule without vnderstandâ—ng 〈◊〉 thine eyes therefore from beholding this 〈◊〉 it is vnlawfull for thee to see that which is vnlawfull for thee to desire Hier 9 Death entreth saieth Hieremy by the windowes of thine eies the eyes do shoot the arrow that doth wound thy hart Withstande thou therefore this temptation and auoide it let it not scale the walles and fortresse of thy heart for then will it raigne in thy mortall body Extinguish and put out this fire of concupiscence with a fountaine of teares There are fewe who are not in vouch or in age inticed to this sinne Be aduised therefore by the wisdome of Salomon who prescribeth this counsaile in elegant wise Say vnto wisdome thou art my sister Prou. 7 and call vnderstanding thy kinswoman that they may keepe thee from the strange woman euen from the stranger that is smooth in hir wordes Verse 25. Let not thine hart decline to h r pathes wander thou not in hir waâ—eâ— For she hath caused many to fall downe wounded the strong men are al slaine by hir hir house is the way vnto the graue which goeth downe to the chambers of death Now this temptation must bee subdued by eschewing and auoiding it We are not to wrastle against this sinne but to auoide it Other sinnes are vanquished as it were with force of armes by fighting against them but there is no wrestling and striuing against this enemie but wee must turne our backes and runne away from him Come not neere pitch least thou bee defiled with it this sinne will defile thee if thou commest anie thing neere it A similitude It is no credite for thee neither is it meet to wrastle and gripple in the field with him who hath wallowed in the mire and is all be smeared and dawbed with dirte for thou canst not choose but be berayed by his filth howsoeuer otherwise thou shouldest cast him to the grounde What king will not chuse to goe to warre abroade against the face of the enemy A similitude when he knoweth he hath false harted subiects at home wee nourish sinnes as traytors in our owne bosomes and wee carrie them about vs. The skirmish therefore and conflict will bee daungerous if wee fight at home let vs therefore goe abroade from our inwarde affections and then the victorie and conquest may bee ours Iudg. 4 Trust thou not in any case the wife of Heber for shee wil beguile thee shee will offer thee creame out of a Lordly dish but like a tyrant with a hammer shee will naile thee to the ground Thou hast many flatterers attending vpon thee who like Achabs courtiers wil daungerously deceiue thee If thou doest trust vnto such false prophets thou shalt with the Prophet sent to Ieroboam be eaten of a lyon and be deuoured whilest there is none to helpe thee 1. King 22 1. King 13 Run away therfore with a swift foot from this sin which is like a Crocodile who wil destroy thee if he seeth thee first The tenth Chapter The daunger that commeth by euill company expressed by the danger that the prodigall Sonne fell into WHereas the spirit speaketh euidentlie that ryotousnesse was the ruine and downfal of this man and that his ryotousnes consisted in the vaine bad company with whom he did conuerse with whom and among whom he deuoured his substance and consumed his inheritance not onely a fit but a necessarie exhortation from hence doth arise to auoid such companions by whome we may fal into the like calamitie Hee is an vnwise man who seeing his neighbours house on fire before his eyes A similitud will not in due time take heede vnto his owne Other mens daungers are faire warnings vnto vs and do plainlie teach vs if we will incur no such iudgementes to preuente such occasions as vsuallie doe enforce them As the company of vilde persons did worke this mans woe so will they bee like wise our bane and coâ—â—â—â—on if we follow them in their counsailes They are worser then theeues Euil coÌ„pany worser then thieues for they do but touch those things that are temporal they rob thee but of thy purse or at the extremity doe depriue thee of this life but these doe bereaue thee of graces spirituall they corrupt thy manners and not onely with not shorten thy mortall life More infectious then the plague but with many prouocations and allurements vnto sinne do depriue thee vtterly of thy eternall life both in body and in soule Vngracious companions doe infect more perniciouslie and contagiouslie then the plague For as a little sparke kindleth a great fire a little leauen sowreth much dowe so set thou an vngodly man in the midst of vs and let Sathan stande at his right hand he will kindle a fire