the full So likewise the Church of GOD is subiect to darkenesse as in the time of Poperie and superstition 35 As the Moone dooth borrowe her light of the Sunne because of her selfe she hath litle or none at all Euen so the Church of God hauing no light of it selfe doth take her light from the Sonne of God Christ Iesus 36 As iealousie cannot abide that the wife should shew any signe of loue to an other man Euen so Almightie God cannot brooke that the Church his spouse should take the least part of of his glory from him and bestowe it vpon a strange God that is both hopelesse and helplesse Exo. 20.4 5. Deut. 6.13 Math. 4.10 37 As the Arke was long and broade So the Church and Kingdome of Christ is long and large Psal 71.8 Gene. 6.14 15. 38 As the Arke was great and large and yet small in comparison of the floud Euen so the Elect are many no doubt but fewe in respect of the reprobate Luk. 12.32 Math. 22.14 24.22 7.14 39 As the Arke was made of many peeces of wood and ioyned together in one So the Church consisteth of many members knit together in one faith For in Christ Iesus wee are all one without difference of man or woman 40 As the Arke was made of incorruptible wood Euen so the Church consisteth of immortall soules 41 As the Arke did float in the floud euen so the Church is in this world as in a sea of troubles Act. 14.22 42 As one Billow in the sea pusheth forward an other So likewise troubles doo come vpon the Church by troupes 43 As the Moone is not alwaies visible being in hir chāge So likewise the Church of God to the eye of man is not alwayes in a visible shewe as the proud Church of Rome is but hath sometime war and aduersitie sometime peace and prosperitie As a Ship vpon the seas is tossed with the winde and waues from one place to an other Euen so is the Church often tossed hither and thither in this sea of this world but yet neuer drowned because Iesus Christ is in it and holdeth the sterne with his hand 44 As the hand cut off from the body dieth and lacketh life Euen so it is in the mysticall body of the Church no life or saluatiō without the body of Christ Ezech. 13.9 Ioel. 2.32 Act. 2.47 45 As trees in winter which for that they are naked and voyde both of leaues and of fruite do seeme for the time litle to differ from dead and starued trees and yet haue secretly hid in them their Iuice which maketh thē spring againe and as it were reuiue againe in Sommer Euen so such is the state of the Church of God which though in bitter persecution seemeth to bee as it were quenched and extinguished yet when God giueth some peace and rest it flourisheth and springeth againe 46 As a Vine when the fences thereof are broken lieth open to the waste and is spoiled of euery beast of the field Euen so the Church and people of God when for their sinnes hee seemeth for a time to withdrawe his protection and defence is subiect to the iniuries and violence of all sorts of the wicked 47 As ground and soile that hath lyen long waste by good husbandrie is rid and often brought to flourish with corne or grasse Euen so the Church of God after long persecution is by the power and goodnesse of God brought againe to a flourishing estate 48 Like as if a man should haue both his hands and his armes cut off his eyes put out c yet as long as his head standeth and other vitall parts he is to be counted a man although a maymed man Euen so it is in the Church or assemblie as long as it holdeth the head how defectiue it is otherwise it hath the due and right of the Church of God 49 And although a man should haue six fingers on one hand and but three on the other and albeit they should stand where the mouth doth yet all this deformity should not hinder from being truly holden to be a man although it would be a great deformitie in him of the other part if he had no head at all or there were no naturall cōiunction of the parts one with the other but a whole through displacing of euery part from his proper seate then verily could he not be deemed to haue either the proportion of a man or his life So likewise if an assembly hold not the head which is Iesus Christ or be nothing else but a confused multitude without any part of the order which the sonne of God hath appointed the same is iustly crossed out of the account of Gods Church 50 As he that entereth into a faire and goodly goldsmithes shop richly furnished with precious Pearles and costly Iewels of all sorts ought not to mislike those excellent things and costly treasures because hee seeth among them a blacke fornace dustie coales and sundrie instruments of base mettall because these instruments coales and fornace must needs be had to make those Iewels as Chaines Earings and Bracelets of Gold withall So in the Church of God where are innumerable men some famous for their wisdome some renowned for their godlinesse some forward feruent in Christian loue charitie many excelling in all kind of vertues if a man see there some vnlearned some deceiuer◠some wicked ones some tyrants and many vngodly ones he ought not therefore to picke a quarrell against the Church of Christ nor yet to thinke of the ruine and destruction of the same 51 As the Lawier who hath no further power but to expound the Lawe is vnder the Lawe So the Church which hath authoritie onely to publish and expound the Scriptures cannot authorize them vnto vs but must submit her selfe vnto them 52 As the Ocean sea which is but one is diuided into partes according to the regions and countries against which it lyeth as into the English Spanish Italian sea c Euen so the Church dispearsed ouer the face of the whole earth is diuided into other particular Churches according as the countries are seuerall in which it is seated as into the Church of England and Ireland the Church of France the Church of Germanie c. 53 As the superfluous humors in the vaines are no parts of the body Euen so the vngodly though they be in the Church yet indeed they are no parts of it Math. 13.25.47 54 As the Carkasse of a deade man that weareth a liuing mans garment is not a liuing man though hee looke neuer so like him Euen so the Church of Rome now at this day is of a spouse of Christ become an harlot and in very deede is no true Church of Christ 55 As in a familie children are for the most part one like an other and brought vp alike Euen so it is in Gods familie which is his Church the members thereof are all alike in heart and
to behold the bright Sunne vnlesse it be couered with a cloude Euen so no man can abide the Maiestie of God but through the Lord Iesus Christ Communion with Christ 1 AS the head giueth sence and motioÌ„ to the members and the members feele themselues to haue sense and to moue by the meanes of the head Euen so doth Christ Iesus receiue and quicken euerie true member and by his heauenly power maketh him to doo the good which he doth 2 Like as from the stock sap is deriued to the graft that it may liue and grow and bring forth fruite in his kinde So likewise do all the faithfull that are grafted into Christ the true vine Rom. 6.4 5. Iohn 15.1 2. Ephe. 13.16 3 And as the graft looseth his wilde nature and is changed into the nature of the stocke and bringeth forth good fruite Euen so in like manner it is with them that are in Christ who by litle and litle are wholly renued from euill to good Act. 15.9 Conscience touched 1 LIke as they which haue diseased bodies are contented with no one Phisition but do coÌ„mit themselues to euerie man that will promise them helpe So also it fareth oftentimes with them that haue their consciences ouâ—â—pressed with the burden of their sinnes that they can be content to yeelde themselues to euerie hereticke that will promise them libertie 2 As after great stormes the ayre is cleare so after the flouds of repentant teares the Conscience is at quiet 3 As a sicke man that is pained diuersly complaineth of diuers places euen so a man troubled in Conscience vseth many phrases according to the diuersitie of afflictioÌ„s Psal 51.8 9 10 11 12. Consideration and earnest meditation of our estate needfull 1 LIke as a man that hath a iournie to make but from England to Constantinople although he had made the same once or twise before yet would he not passe it ouer without great and often Consideration especially whether he were right and in the way or no what pace he held how neare he were to his wayes end and the like Euen so euery Christian hath far more need of due Consideration who must passe froÌ„ earth to heauen being subiect to by pathes and manifold dangers as euerie pleasure of this world euerie lust euery dissolute thought euery alluring sight tempting sound euery diuell vpoÌ„ the earth or instrument of his which are infinite beeing a theefe and lying in waite to spoile him vpon this way towards heauen 2 As theeues seeme mad vnto wise men that seeing so many hanged daily for theft before their eyes will yet notwithstanding steale againe and all for want of due consideration Euen so the very same cause maketh the wisest men of the world to seeme very fooles and worse then franticks vnto God and good men that knowing the vanities of the world and the daunger of sinfull life doo follow so much the one and fear so litle the other Math. 7. Luk. 12. Rom. 2. 1. Cor. 1.2 3. Gal. 3. 3 Like as if a Lawe were made by the authoritie of man that whosoeuer should aduenture to drinke wine should without delay hold his hand but halfe an houre in the fire or in boiling leade for a punishment many no doubt would forbeare wine albeit naturally they loued the same and yet a Lawe being made by the eternall Maiestie of God that whosoeuer committeth sinne shall boile in the fire of hell without ease or end many for lacke of consideration commit sinne vpon sinne with as little feare as they do eate or drinke 4 As he may be thought to be but a foolish Marchant that for quietnes sake would neuer looke to his owne accounts booke whether he were behinde hand or before Or as a shipmaister were greatly to be laughed at that for auoyding of care would sit downe and make good cheare and let the ship go whither she would Euen so much more in the businesse of our soule it is madnesse and folly to fly consideration for eschewing of trouble seeing in the end this negligence must needs turne vpon vs more trouble and irremediable calamitie The Condition of mans creation AS a Marchant Factor when he is arriued in a straunge Countrey or as a Captaine sent by his Prince to some great exployt is accustomed when hee commeth to the place appointed then aduisedly considereth wherefore he was sent to what end what to attempt what to prosecute what to performe what shall be expected and re-required at his hands vpon his returne by him that sent him thither these cogitations no doubt shall stirre him vp to attend to that which he came for and not to imploy himselfe in impertinent affaires So likewise euerie Christian desirous of saluation ought to aske of himselfe why and to what end he was created of God and sent into this world what to do wherein to bestowe his dayes thus doing he shall finde that it was for no other cause but onely to serue God in a right maner in this life Deut. 6.13 Luk. 1.74.75 Whosoeuer breaketh one Commaundement is guiltie of the breach of all LIke as if a Father should say vnto his son do such and such things and I wil take thee for an obedient childe and giue thee all my possessions now the sonne breaketh somewhat of that which his father charged him withall and is therefore accounted disobedient and deserueth to loose whatsoeuer was promised Or as if one man bestow vpon an other house or land or some such like thing and in consideration thereof bindeth him to fulfill many conditions whereof if he breake but the least the gift is voide and it is all one as if he had neuer giuen any thing Euen so likewise we may not maruell when we heare that by the breaking of one point of one Commaundement wee faile of perfect righteousnesse and are made the heires of euerlasting damnation if God should measure out vnto vs the due reward of his damnation Deut. 27.26 28.58 59. Iam. 2.10 2. Euen as if a Rule be broken in some part or the linke of a round chaine yet we may rightly and truly say that they are not wholely and altogither broken So likewise if but one Commaundement be broken yet all are broken in the sight of God for the iustice of God is indiuisible The Couenant of God 1 AS it is the chiefe and principall part in the lawe of Wedlocke and before all required of the wife that shee kept this faith to her husband that shee admit no other man in his sight vnlesse shee will bee refused as an adultresse So likewise this is the chiefe point in the Couenant of GOD that wee sticke vnto him onely and alone or else to be put out from the Couenant Creature 1 EVen as a brittle glasse being filled with some extreame strong liquor cannot but burst in sunder not because of any antipathie which is betwixt them but because the glasse is not of sufficient strength to containe
12 As when the bodies of men or rather of children do not grow vp to their full and naturall stature it argueth some secret distemperature and some naturall infirmitie in them So when Christians doo not grow on from one measure of grace to a greater it doth of necessitie infer an euil Diet and constitution of the Soule Ephe. 4.15 2. Pet. 3.18 13 As the holinesse of the Soule is nourished by the same thing by the which it is begotten So it is encreased by the same Diet by the which it is nourished 14 As there is required a greater verture and force both of nature and of Diet to augment the bodie in stature then to keepe and continue it in life and healthe So hee that desireth not onelye to continue but also to goe on in grace must indeed vse this conseruatiue Diet of spirituall foode and exercise that is to cleaue to God to his seruice and to all spirituall exercises without seperation or intermission to wit to the hearing reading and studying of the word of God to the considering of his workes and obseruing of his actions to prayer singing of Psalmes to the exhorting and instructing of others in the wayes of godlinesse And lastly and summarily to the daily performance of all Christian duties and the exercising of all those graces which he hath receiued 15 As we know by daily experience that many notable Physitians haue fallen into daungerous and mortall sicknesses and by them be brought to vntimely Death So it is not sufficient for our spirituall welfare that wee know how to Diet and order our soules as long as they are in health and strength it being also required that we know how by a conuenient and meete Diet to recouer them out of sicknesses and to heale all the maladies happening vnto them Deferring of Repentance 1 LIke as we would esteeme and iudge a man not to be wise or well in his wittes that trauelling on the way and hauing great choyse of lustie strong Horses should let them all go emptie and lay all the carriage vppon some one poore beast that could scarce beare it selfe or much lesse stand vnder so great a waight laide vpon it Euen so surely no lesse vnreasonable is that man who passing oueridlie and carelesly the lustie dayes and times of this life without amendment and reformation of his wicked life reserueth and deferreth the same vnto feeble olde age 2 Like as the holy Ghost accounteth them accursed who hauing whole and sound Cattell doo yet offer to God the lame the blind the sicke and that which they would be ashamed to giue to a mortall man Euen so how much more are they accursed before God that hauing so may dayes of youth strength and health doo yet dedicate and appoint vnto his seruice onely their limping old age allotting to God a little short maymed and vncertain time and vnto his enemie the greatest the fairest and the surest part thereof Mal. 1.8 Leuit. 3.1 6. Numb 18.12 Eccle. 12.2 3 Like as if a Captaine accompanied with other Souldiers did enter into a rich Citie to take the spoyle thereof and one Souldier should say I will stay and come in the next day after when all the spoyle is gone Might not hee be well reckoned to be both a coward and vnwise Euen so is it not great folly and peruersenesse in some men that passe ouer their youthfull daies in not seruing of God but liuing dissolutely and will not take time whilst time is Seeing that now is the time of fight for the obtaining of our Crowne Now is the day of spoyle to seaze on our bootie Now is the market to buy the kingdome of heauen Now is the time of running to get the game price Now is the day of sowing to prouide vs corne Pro. 20.4 4 Like as a Prince sometime pardoneth a malefactor when he is come to the verie place of execution yet were it not for euery malefactor to trust thereupon for that this is but an extraordinarie act of the Prince his fauour and neither shewed nor promised to all men Euen so no man ought to flatter and deceiue himselfe in Deferring his conuersion and reforming his life by alleadging the example of the good theefe saued euen at the last houre vpon the Crosse and carried to Paradise that same day with Christ for this act was a speciall Miracle reserued for the manifestation of Christ his power glorie at that houre vpon the Crosse and besides this act was vpon a most rare confession made by the theefe in that instant when almost all the world forsooke Christ Luk. 23.40 41 42 43. 5 As before the destruction of Ierusalem for that God desired to spare his people and the place of his habitation he sent his messengers betimes in the morning which ceased not to call them backe saying Returne yee wandring children confesse your iniquitie and your starting aside will I heale againe Euen so did the godly Preachers in the last yeare of King Edward the sixt before their sodaine chaunge of state neuer more often more earnestly more boldly and vehemently crie out and Preach Repentance then then fearing the people from their sinnes But neuerthelesse for all their threatning they could not make their stonie hearts to relent They would not turne to the Lord with all their hearts with weeping fasting and lamenting But being past shame with stiffe neckes and vncircumcised harts and eares continued still in their sinnes till desolation and confusion fell vppon them 2. King 21.12.13.14.15 23.27 Eze. 21.2.2 Chro. 36.6.19 Math. 24.16 c. Luk. 13.34.35 6 Like as the Iewes who scorned the messengers of God mocked his Prophets and derided their Sermons vntill such time as the wrath of God was kindled against them and no redresse or amendement could be had So likewise a great number with vs in England doo most shamefully scoffe and deride the word of God despise the ministers of Christ and account of them as mad men and most wickedly esteeme their preaching beeing the true Oracles of God to bee but vaine fables and lyes 2. Chro. 36.15.16 Desertion of Gods spirit LIke as God did not leade the Children of Israel the directest way into the promised land of Canaan So likewise we goe not directly to heauen but are carried about by the wildernesse of this world for the trying of our patience and exercising of other graces giuen vs of God Numb 33.1 c. Sound Doctrine doth cheare the spirits AS ripe Grapes doo relish sauourly and with their pleasant and toothsome iuce doo singularly refresh the palate and delight the throate Euen so sound Doctrine wholesome admonition and gracious speeches do cheare the spirites and comfort the mindes of Christians Esay 24.7 13. Dead in sinne 1 AS Dead men can do nothing that liuing men should doo So when we are Dead in sinne wee can doo none of those things which declare and shew foorth our life in Christ Ephe. 2.1 Col. 2.13