the Sea Yet the Booke of the Revelation doth teach us that this world is a very strange sea and and that in two principall properties viz. First it is like a sea of cristall glasse Of glasse because it is most brittle no mans estate in this world being more certaine than the glasse which now being whole and usefull faire and beautifull anon with a rap is broken all to peeces How quickly hath many mens great and faire estates beene utterly broken in one night in an houre how wealth honour health libertie life and all lost as a glasse which is broken all to pieces And of Cristall for howsoever there are many workes of darknesse in the world which the eye of man cannot see and behold yet is the world as cleare as a Cristall-glasse before him that sitteth upon the Throne All things are naked and oâ—en before his eyes with whom we have to doe He discerneth the very least obliquity and irregularitie of thoughts no man can more clearely see a blot in a cristall glasse than God doth the sinnes of men be they in thought word or worke and therefore we should strive to be holy as being ever in the eyes and sight of God Secondly it is a sea mingled with fire It is ordinary in Scripture by fire to signifie tribulations as when thou passest thorow the fire I will be with thee I went thorow fire and water And brethren thinke it not strange concerning the fiery triall The sea of this world is mixed with abundance of that fire wheresoever Gods children become they shal meet with hot and sâ—orching tribulation and afflictions yet shal this fire but scoure away the drosse to make them shine the brighter in Gods eyes the bush burned with fire but consumed not Exod. 3. 2. This fire shall only consume the Reprobate And so much for the description of the Tempest now followeth the aggravation of it In so much that the ship was covered with waves Now the Euangelist doth aggravate the perils that Christ and â—iâ— Dâ—â—ciples were in by two maine Circumstances the first from the greatnesse of the tempest which was such that even the ship was covered with waves the word which Saint Marke useth signifieth to fâ—â—â— and is so translated so that the ship was now full Saint Luke also useth another word of the same signification and so also translated and they were filled for it is in the plurall They that is the ship which carried them by a Meâ—onimie of the adjunct and also by a Sinecdoche the ship for hatches which are but a part But our Euangelist useth another word which according to the proprietie of it signifieth to cover or hide a thing from sight as no man lighteth a candle and covereth it with a bushell and the Reprobate shall say at the day of judgement to the hills fall on us and cover us In which and many such like places in the new Testament we have the word of my text in it proper signification though the words be divers the sense and thing intended is all one viz. They were in so great jeopardie of drowning that the ship that is the upper part or hatches were even filled or covered that they could not be seene And wherewith was the ship covered not with wind but waves and in Saint Iude there is added an Epithite the raging waves of the sea And verily nothing in this world doth so rage and is so furious as the waves of the sea in a storme or tempest And so much be said of the Sense of the words Whether only that this ship wherein Christ and his Disciples passed was thus endangered and covered with waves and the rest safe or no is too hard â— question for me peremptorily to resolve because I am content to see no more than the eye of my Text hath described unto mee the Text saith The tempest came upon the sea therefore likely that all the ships on the sea at that time were endangered though possibly this ship was more endangered than the others both in regard of Christ his purpose and Satans malice The Letter teacheth us what great perils and jeopardies sea-faring men do many times fall into sometimes lifted up to heaven with one wave and sometimes falling even downe to hell and sometimes the ship as this even covered with waves that they see nothing but present death and are as David saith Even at their wits end and crie unto God in their distresse But of this sufficient From handling the Tempest the Circumstance according to Mysticall sense affording us three singular instructions concerning the state of the Church viz. First what ever hath beene is and will be the common condition of Gods Church and people viz. To be exercised with crosses tribulations afflictions publike and private yea and sometimes with sword of bloudie and persecuting foes and enemies which doctrine I have lately more largely handled with Reasons Vses Application and Exhortation and therefore doe now but barely propound it The second Doctrine is this That as this ship was covered with waves so as none but themselves knew they held out others might suppose they were drowned so a Church which hath beene visible in the publike ministrie of the Word and Sacraments may through persecution of Tyrants be so covered â—s become visible to most This is represented in the vision the Church resembled to a woman clothed with the Sunne and the Moone under her feet and upon her head a crowne of twelve Starres oh then was shee viâ—ible and conspicuous But at another time driven into the wildernesse out of the sight of men then was she covered Come to our owne Embleme A ship on the sea when it is calme is plainly seene yea it is one of the comely sights of the world a ship under saile in a prosperous gale but if there arise a great tempest it may be so overtopped with waves and for a time be betwixt them so as scarce the top of the mast is seene and most will thinke shee is drowned yet anon shee riseth upon the wave and is seene againe It is the condition of the Church of Rome sometimes visible and a glorious Church but now persecuteth the faith it professed the godly being covered with waves It is the condition of the Cities in Erance and it was the case of the Church of God in this Land which was glorious and visible in the daies of King Edward but covered with waves in the daies of Queene Mary but restored to former glory by Queen Elizabeth wherein for aboue sixtie yeeres it hath continued most eminent in the eyes of the world The Papists doe hold that the true Church of God is ever visible hath had and shall have a perpetuall Succession of Pastors and Ministers and of publike service and worship They also say that their
Church hath been and is so visible ours not therefore theirs is the true Church of Christ and ours is not For the first we say that howsoever the Catholique and Universall Church hath continued from the beginning of the world and shall continue to the end the Lord shall never want on earth a company of faithfull men to serve him yet this Church is ever invisible an article of our Faith to beleeve there is such a Companie and that we are of that number but for a congregation of men and women to have the Word truly preached and Sacraments administred in publike and by Authoritie which wee call a visible Church and is a mixt company there hath not alway beene such neither can wee be assured that there alwaies shall be such For the second viz. That they say the Roman Church hath beene visible and enioyed such a succession without interruption since Christ and his Apostles time professing the same faith without change I answer there hath not been in the Church of Rome that perpetuall succession they boast of For to say nothing whether Peter was ever Bishop of Rome or not or who succeeded him whether Clement or Linus which is disputed amongst themselues it is most cleare that there have stood three Popes at once and did the Succession hold when Pope Ioan stept into the Papall Chaire and managed the affaires of the Church Was she also Saint Peters Successor and they lawfull Cardinals Bishops and Ministers of her ordination Neither are his Arguments to be despised who proveth that now for divers yeares ever since Sixtus they have had no Popes nor Cardinals nor Bishops according to their owne Councels and Canons c. But grant them what succession soever they challenge yet succession of persons and place without succession of doctrine is nothing worth as Ierome said Yee hold the Seat and Faith of Peter if faith be gone the state is no better then a chaire of pestilence Now the faith is gone and not onely this latter Rome holdeth doctrine contrary to the Ancient Rome within the five hundred or six hundred yeares after Christ but now maintaineth strange and novell doctrines and service which Rome knew not when it first became the seat of Antichrist as the Conception of Mary Latine Service suppression of Scriptures the mariage of Priests adoration of Images supremacie of Pope Communion in one kinde Transubstantiation c. and therefore is long since ceased to be any true visible Church Lastly whereas all Popishly affected persons doe commonly demand Where was your Church and who professed your Religion before Luthers times I will answer plainly that the simple may understand the Doctrine Faith and Religion which we professe is the very same that all the Christian Churches throughout the world professed for many hundred yeares after Christ and his Apostles all the blessed Martyrs in the Primitive died for no other but our Faith and Religion after that the Church had peace by meanes of godly Constantine the learned Bishops Fathers taught no other the people beleeved received professed no other though as the mysterie of iniquitie began to worke in the Apostles time so the longer the worse and moe errors and corruptions crept into the Church till in the end the ship came to be covered with waves of heresies persecutions that the Church was not so glorious eminent visible conspicuous as before Then came the darke time of Antichrist for many hundred yeeres yet even then were the Waldenses Bohemians and others who agreed with vs in the substance of Religion and spake and wrote against the corruptions of those times but when it pleased God to stirre vp Iohn Husse Ierome of Prage Martine Luther and other his worthy servants to open the skupperholes the waves which so oppressed the Church ran out the ship came aloft againe and that Faith which had so long beene oppressed began publikely to be professed and a faire visible Church in one place or other hath ever since continued and I trust shall now to the end of the world and shall never be universally covered againe Neither let any Papist suppose it a forfeiture of the cause if wee cannot shew a precise and exact Catalogue of the persons places and times by whom where and when our faith was professed For first howsoever in all ages some have oft appeared and given singular witnesse to our faith as our Martyrologe hath recorded so the Church may be in some places where none can see it as in Elias time there were seven thousand in Israel and yet hee saw never an one of them And as wee doubt not but there are at this day in Spaine Italy Rome even where Satans throne is Againe through defect of history many things are hid from us and specially the Church of Rome doing her best to deface the memory of any thing that might witnesse for us and our Religion If in these daies they will not spare man living but wipe names out of bookes give commandement that none shall name them but with contempt and charge the Protestants with such horrible opinions as wee hold not As that God is the Author of sinne we condemne prayer fasting povertie chaâ—â—itie good workes confession what may wee not thinke their Ancestors have done in former ages to men of our Religion So as it may be there were many moe Martyrs that then died for our Faith yea moe Churches that professed our Faith then are come to our knowledge Thirdly howsoever the Church in these parts of the world might for many yeares be oppressed as the Moone in Ecclipse and as a ship covered with waves yet even then Christ might have most glorious visible Churches in other parts of the world for howsoever the Iesuits brag exceedingly of their conversion of the Indies where they say our Religion is scarce heard of Yet that learned Iewel of our Church hath long since shewed out of Vespatius that in the East-Indies there were many godly Bishops and whole Countries professing the Gospell before the Portugals came there or Popes name heard of Yea doe not they say that the Apostle Thomas lieth buried in a City there and that he converted them to the Faith of Christ and did S. Thomas preach Popery or no If they say true our Religion was there professed before Popery Lastly give me leave in a word to answer them out of themselves Thus writeth Gregorie of Valence When we say the Church is alwaies conspicuous this must not be taken as if we thought it might at everie season be discerned alike easily for we know that sometimes it is so tossed with the waves of Errours Schismes and persecutions that it shall be verie hard to be knowne Yea the learned Papists doe generally confesse that in the supposed or imagined reigue of Antichrist their Church shall be invisible Thus saith Acosta In the daies of
to make Unitie one of the markes or their seventh note of the true Church and assume that to themselves and impute Division to us First for their Divisions it is strange but that men of that side will say and write any thing that Bellarmine should say they all joyne in obedience to their Head and that their Councels Popes Decrees and Writers doe wonderfully agree though writing in divers tongues places occasions whereas the world hath taken notice yea all must needs know that know any thing how Rome it selfe by her owne children hath beene sacked siedge laid to the Castle of Saint Angel and the Pope taken prisoner Is this their Canonicall obedience How divers Popes have challenged the Popedom and three stood at once Many battels have beene fought and thousands slaine Who was the head of their Vnity then and when a woman was Pope How Popes have cut off Cardinals heads one Pope abrogate and condemne the Decrees of others yea in extreme hatred digged up their bodies and cutting off two of the fingers to burie it againe and sometimes cut off head and cast the bodie into Tibur one Councell condemning what another had decreed What Writers euer more eagerly opposite than Dominicans and Franciscans Priests and Iesuits yea Schoole-men themselves about the bookes of Canonicall Scripture themselves the Virgins being without sinne Transubstantiation Purgatorie yea Iustification merit of workes worshipping of Images yea what point of difference is there betwixt them and us wherein some of their own side doe not side with us against them yea as the Church of Rome is wholly departed from that ancient faith it professed in the daies of the Apostles so the moderne Church is exceedingly declined from that faith it formerly professed even since it came to be the seat of Antichrist which being so abundantly cleared by divers of our learned Divines in their polemicall Tracts and Discourses and hoping that either you know or doe not doubt of the truth hereof I will not insist upon probation of particulars which were infinite and therefore if Unitie be a note of the true Church Rome cannot be it so divided as it must needs one day come to ruine and destruction For our owne divisions which we doe not denie have beene some and too many yet such as disprove not the true Unitie of the Church but are justified not only by the divisions of the Romish Church which are moe and greater and it is like will never be composed but the divisions which by Satans malice and subtill abusing of the weaknesse of some have ever infested the true Church of God even in Rome in her best estate Saint Paul saith There were therein that caused divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine And telleth the Corinthians there were among them envying strife and contention some holding of Paul some of Apollo some of Cephas Paul and Barnabas were at variance Paul Peter had iarres great strife betwixt East and West Churches about the keeping of Easter so as they excōmunicated each other no lesse broils in the Churches about Rebaptization What Tragicall troubles did Theophilus Patriarch of Alexandria raise against Chrysostome Bishop of Constantinople a chiefe adversarie to whom was Epiphanius Bishop of Cyprus The event was Chrysostome lost both Bishoprick and life in banishment many were flame in taking parts the Cathedrall Church and Senate-house in Constantinople burnt downe to the ground in pursuit of reuenge How did the Orthodox Bishops in the Councell of Nice fall at variance and complaine of one another to the Emperour so as Constantine had much adoe to compose the difference In the second Councell of Ephesus such eager contention that Flavianus the Bishop of Constantinople was not only deposed but also pitifully murthered Too too many such grievous contentions Ecclesiasticall stories witnesse to happen in the Churches of God in Councels and amongst the learned Fathers and Bishops so lamented by Cyprian and Basil as the cause of persecution and the turning away of many from embracing of the Christian religion and a great advantage to Arrius and such like Haeretikes to spread the poyson of their haeresies farre and neere Thus you see there have beene yea and as long as Sathan hath leave to compasse the earth to and fro and that Gods Saints be imperfect in knowledge and weake in affections there will be divisions they have beene and are greater than amongst our selves yet not disproving a true Church Secondly our divisions are not of the Church but of some in the Church our Church doth wonderfully accord in the unitie of faith and uniformitie of government and therefore are falsly imputed to the Church Thirdly not in matters of faith wherein as our Church doth accord with other Reformed Churches abroad in all fundamentall verities there being no fundamentall dissention betwixt any the Reformed Churches as the Harmonie of Confessions beareth witnesse so neither is the difference or dissention amongst such in our Church except Popishly affected about matters of substance but of circumstance not about the boords or bodie of the ship anchor cable card or who shall be Pilot but about the saile and ceremonies of blacke or white Fourthly though these differences have beene too hotly and eagerly followed of some yet God be thanked not pursued by fire or death nor to the pronouncing of each other Heretikes as both anciently as partly you have heard and might heare much more if I delighted in this Argument and would for this purpose search the Authentike histories of the Church and lately also in the Romish Church betwixt the Popes themselves and the Franciscans with all cruell extremitie persecuting the poore Dominicans Lastly blessed be God even in this happy calme our divisions and contentions are well slaked and composed notwithstanding they were kindled and nourished especially by the cunning of subtle and secret Papists lurking amongst us as the remnant of the Canaanites to be as pricks in our eies and thornes in our sides but a little storme would make us perfect friends as some of our learned forefathers who in time of prosperitie were much divided and abounded in their severall senses and opinions concerning such matters yet in the daies of Queene Marie went ioyfully to the stake and died together for that truth which they ioyntly beleeved it being most true of an ancient Father The communion of good things oftentimes breedeth envie and hatred but communion in miserie breedeth love and compassion Thus I have shipped the passengers I have given them their charge Looking upon the sea I see many ships when I come to handle the vessel wherein they passe It is a needfull question for these daies which is that ship wherein Christ and his disciples passe and how may it be infallibly knowne from all other When I come to that I hope to make it cleare to all whose eies the god of this
discerne a great disparitie betwixt themselves and others in regard of the graces of infusion knowledge patience zeale wisdome yet if their faith be true though never so weake or small they are equall to the best in the greatest blessings of justification and adoption This that I have said is not for encouragement of the wicked who turne the grace of God into wantonnesse resting contented in the least measure and presume of justification thereby for even thereby it appeareth that their faith is not true because it doth not grow but this is spoken for the comfort of all such as doe carefully use the means and even hunger and thirst after the growth and increase of faith but are fearefull and even out of heart with themselves because they doe discerne their faith to be so little and weake Secondly the least true faith shall never fully nor finally be lost this is Gods promise I will put my feare into their hearts that they shall never depart from me all the daies of their life And Christ hath promised He that commeth to me shall never hunger and he that beleeveth in me shall never thirst Christ praied for Peter that his faith should not faile And so hath he prayed for all those that beleeve in him and promised that the gates of hell shall not prevaile against them And Saint Iohn faith Hee that is borne of God doth not commit sinne neither can he because hee is borne of God and his seed remaineth in him Hence it is that he that once truly beleeveth is said to have eternall life To be passed from death to life To be raised and seated in heavenly places Yea to be alreadie glorified From which and many such places of Scriptures which might be alledged we doe infallibly conclude and it is the doctrine of the Church of England and of Orthodox Divines even the conclusion of the whole late Reverend Synode at Dort against Papists Arminians and whosoever Heretiques that deny it That a true faith once had is never fully nor finally lost I doe not deny but all the graces of the Spirit are like to fire if it be not nourished with fewel but have water cast upon it a great fire may be exceedingly slaked and great brands come to some few embers or sparkes So faith through neglect of meanes and falling into some great sinne the Spirit of God may be grieved the power vertue and efficacie of faith may be greatly cooled and abated and the sense of saving grace lost A true beleever may fall into a spirituall sownd but cannot die he may demurre with himselfe whether he be living or dead yea may pronounce himselfe dead but as the Apostle pronounced of Eutichus after his fall life is in him his faith is as a sparke of fire under an heape of ashes and as sap in the root of the tree in Winter time It was Peters case whose fall did wound but not kill weaken but not utterly destroy his faith upon his Masters looking upon him and hearing the Cock crow his faith revived He went out and wept bitterly for his sinne Yea true faith is so farre from being utterly lost that by the use of good meanes it doth out-grow the Mustard-seed yea out-grow Ionahs Gourd Nichodemus who was once so weake in the faith that he came to Iesus by night for feare of the Iewes yet his faith so grew that when Christ was crucified and all the Disciples fled hee went in boldly and begged the bodie of Iesus embalmed and honourably buried it Peter so weake in faith that at the voice of a silly Damsell hee denied his Master yet his faith so grew that he boldly reproved the Princes to their faces for murthering the Lord of life Thomas his faith was so weake that he openly professed hee would not beleeve that his Master was risen from death unlesse he did see the print of the nailes and put his hand into his side but it did so grow when Christ appeared againe and bade him see and feele that he said in a strong faith Thou art my Lord and my God Yea it is many times seene in daies of persecution and of great trials that such as in peace and prosperitie have shewed a strong faith and great zeale abundance of graces have in adversity beene humbled with great feare and bewrayed great weaknesse of faith Whereas such as in times of peace have shewed small knowledge little faith and weake zeale yet in time of persecution in the strength of knowledge â—aith and zeale they have stood out against the enemies and have sealed the truth of God with their dearest bloud wherein is fulfilled that of the blessed Virgin in her Song Hee putteth downe the mightie from their seats and exalteth the humble and meeke he filleth the hungrie with good things and the rich he sendeth emptie away And all this is that such as are strong and have greatest measure of graces may not be proud and presumptuous but carry a low saile thinke basely of themselves and worke out their salvation with feare and trembling praying God not to tempt them above that which they shall be able And secondly that such as are but weake in faith may not be too much disheartened and dejected seeing the Lord is able to make them strong Yea that we thinke charitably and walke lovingly towards even the weakest they that are strong beare the infirmities of the weake Rom 15. 1. For if triall came the Lord knoweth whose saith would be strong But be of good comfort oh yee weake and tender ones for if your faith be true though never so weake it shall never be fully nor finally lost yea if God have any great service for you he will furnish you accordingly his power shall appeare in your weaknesse and your bruised reed shall become as strong as the Oake in Bashan so as no storme or tempest shall be able to overthrow it Yea here let us with wise eyes behold and with thankfull hearts give glory unto God who as in the firmament one starre differeth from another in his Church furnisheth his Saints with diversitie of gifts giving to some a great measure of knowledge faith zeale to others but a little of them that such as have greatest measure may be provoked to thankfulnesse and employ their gifts to the comfort of others and the weake may have cause both of humilitie and industrie striving to overtake such as goe before them but none have cause to envie or despise another though through Satans malice and our weaknesse it too often so fall out The third and last deduction for the comfort of weake beleevers is that God heareth and accepteth the prayers of the weakest beleevers and graciously helpeth them It was prophesied of Christ hee should not break the bruised reed nor quench the
doctrine As was his doctrine so was his life and conversation most holy for he never did sinne nor knew sinne his very enemies could not rebuke him of sinne He came not to breake but to fulfill the Law And he fulfilled all righteousnesse indeed His righteousnesse farre exceeded the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisies For it was the righteousnesse of God Now was that fulfilled though hee lay among pots yet had he silver wings and his feathers like gold Psal 68. 13. He did converse with sinners and yet was separated from them he touched pitch and yet was not defiled As he was most holy so most meeke he did not strive nor crie nor lift up his voice in the streets most patient being led as a sheepe to the slaughter and as a lambe dumbe before the shearer he opened not his mouth most humble he did not ride into Ierusalem like an earthly Emperour in Skarlet Purple glistering roabes cloth of gold not mounted on a lustie Palfrey with stately saddle and Princely trappings attended on with great troopes and guard in soft garments and with chaines of gold but he rode on an Asse used to the yoake a poore base contemptible and ridiculous beast in his poore seamelesse coat and in stead of any rich saddle sate upon some poore garments that his Disciples had spread under him attended by a few fisher-men and others of base qualitie in the world yet all the Citie was moved and said who is this And when you heare these things will yee not also marvell and say What manner of man is this so holy harmelesse meeke patient and humble Againe How glorious were his miracles in the eyes of the beholders which hee wrought Giving sight to the blinde hearing to the deafe speech to the dumbe strength to the lame cleansing Lepers casting out devils raising the dead Rebuking Fevers healing all manner of sicknesses and diseases rebuking winds and seas whereat the beholders were astonished And when you heare it wil not ye also marvell and say What manner of man is this for even the winds and the sea obey him How marvellous also in the Sacraments which he hath ordained and instituted for the use of his new Testaments Church Did the Iewes so marvell at their Passeover when but the bloud of a Lambe was shed saying What meane you by this service Exod. 12. 26. And will not you marvell at the Sacrament of the body and bloud of the Sonne of God Did they at the Type and will not you at the Truth Did they at the shadow and will not you at the body Oh marvell inquire and I will informe you I purpose not to sound the Trumpet to warre and perplex your minds with intricate questions and fruitlesse disputes which are endlesse about this subject Christ ordained them for the comfort of our soules and not for the exercise of our curious and subtill wits to seale up a sweet union with Christ and communion one with another not to occasion division and contention yet through Satans malice and our weaknesse it is come to passe that in nothing are Christians more divided nor have more bitter conflicts than about these things I will briefly lay downe the positive truth according to the Scriptures and the Tenet of our Church and labour to prepare you to the worthy receiving thereof And first let mee provoke you to admire the love of Christ and his desire of our salvation who not contented to speake unto our eares in his word doth adde Sacraments as the seales thereof for confirmation of our faith and let us see with our eyes what we heare with our eares the Sacraments being a visible word yea whereas the Word conveyeth grace to the heart but by the one sense of hearing the Sacrament of the Lords Supper conveyeth grace by seeing handling tasting that as David saith We may see and taste how good the Lord is and with the Apostle That which wee have heard and seene and handled These Sacraments properly so called are but two as ours and the other Reformed Churches doe truly teach I say properly so called because the Greeke word Mysterie by some translated Sacrament is of larger extent in the Scriptures and the Fathers in their writings call all Articles which are peculiar to the Christian faith and all duties of Religion containing that which sense or naturall reason cannot of it selfe discerne Sacraments but none are properly called Sacraments but such as have these three things viz. First an outward and visible signe Secondly an inward and invisible grace Thirdly the word of Institution all which doe onely concurre in the New Testament in two viz. Baptisme and the Lords Supper both instituted of Christ both having outward signes in Baptisme Water in the Lords Supper Bread and Wine and both of them one and the same invisible grace Christ being the invisible grace represented and exhibited in the Sacraments both of the Old and New Testament For they did eat the same spirituall meat and drinke the same spirituall drinke that wee doe Yet have the Sacraments some things peculiar to themselves for by Baptisme we once receive Christ to new birth and Regeneration but in the Eucharist wee receive Christ to continuall nourishment of that spirituall life wee received in Baptisme and therefore that but once as we are but once borne this often as our bodies are often fed The outward Elements in the Lords Supper are but few and poore to the eye of flesh and bloud common and ordinary bread and wine in some Countries as common as bread and in all places of the knowne world to be had bread made of graine and wine without mixture of water a great corruption though ancient these continuing in their naturall substance to the end though the Papists in their metaphysicall faith beleeve Christ to be present I will not say really for that our learned Divines acknowledge and in candide construction as Reall is synonimall with truth and veritie I will not deny it may be warily and soberly used but corporally and that by Transubstantiation of the substance of bread and wine into the very flesh and bloud of Christ so as after words of Consecration there remaine not the substance of bread and wine but only the Accidents colour and taste No no the words of Consecration doe not change the nature or substance of the signes which once destroyed the Sacrament ceaseth but changeth the qualitie in separating them from a common to an holy use S. Paul to make that out of question doth in one Chapter after the Consecration thrice call it Bread Neither indeed is there any need that there should bee such a change as if Christ could not feed us or our soules be nourished without orall manducation for did the woman by her faith finde such good in touching but
Thus Christ hath shipped himselfe first and thereby assured vs that hee is with his Church and people in all their dangers and distresses and will witnesse that his presence either by miraculous deliverance or most mercifull supportance as he seeth it to be most for his glory and their true good The second sort of persons that were shipped are called his Disciples Disciple is properly a Latine word and doth signifie in English a Scholar or learner from the verbe Disco the Greeke also is of the same signification and is often so translated as where our Saviour saith Learne of mee And every one that hath heard and learned of the Father commeth unto me Let the woman learne in silence with all subiection In which and many other places which might be alledged but that these are sufficent for instance you have the word of the Text translated Learne as it properly signifieth So that every scholar or learner is called a disciple and of whom hee is taught or learneth he is called his disciple So we reade of Iohns disciples and of Moses disciples and so all Haeresiarches or Schismatickes that are factious and Schismaticall seeking to draw men to learne of them and embrace their opinions are said to draw disciples after them And thus all that professed Aristotle for their Master and were scholars in the schoole of the Peripatetickes Plato Pythagoras Zeno and others are said to have disciples that is scholars learners and professors of their doctrine and maximes The Hebrew also in Munsters Copie agreeth with both these And as from the Greeke word some speciall Sciences are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 called the Mathematickes because of their deepnesse of learning and sharpnesse of wit and capacitie required in all the learners thereof so from the Hebrew word commeth the Iewes Thalmud that is Doctrinall a Systhema or composition of their doctrine The ancientest was composed about 230. yeares after Christ and was full of Iewish fables and Rabinicall Traditions but was afterwards refined and purged of many idle fables traditions and disputes by Moses the sonne of Maimon which is in great request amongst the Iewes unto this day and much alledged out of it by our best Writers You see then what the word Disciple signifieth according to the proprietie of holy languages Christ had two sorts of Disciples First in the largest sense all that professed the doctrine or Gospell of Christ were called his Disciples whether that profession was in sinceritie or but in hypocrisie so the Disciples were first called Christians in Antiochia And many of his Disciples went from him and walked no more with him Secondly and more strictly they were called his Disciples that not only learned and professed the Gospell but were also called and appointed of him to preach the Gospell to others And they were of two sorts first and of a lower order the seventie sent forth two and two before his face into every citie and place whither he himselfe would come to preach the Gospell and worke miracles And these both in Scriptures and Ecclesiasticall stories are known by the name of The seventy disciples Who these were though Eusebius Epiphanius and others tell us yet in the Gospell their names are concealed and Christ bade them reioyce that their names were written in heaven The other and higher order were the twelve Apostles many times called his Disciples and made knowne by their names The learned Divines say herein the truth answered ancient types both of the twelve Patriarches and seuentie Elders called their Sanedrim as some the seventie soules that came with Iacob into Aegypt Others the twelve fountaines of water and seventie Palme-trees in Elim Who those Disciples were that entred with Christ into the ship is a question because the Text doth not cleare it it is most probable that all the Apostles were there for confirmation of whose faith this miracle was wrought likewise that there were others as Mariners and it may be professours too for it is said the men marvelled but not the seventie I will not say none of those out of whom the seventie were chosen for that might be but not the seventie being chosen for by chronotaxie and harmonie of the Euangelists it appeareth that this miracle was wrought in the latter end of the first yeare of Christs Ministery the choosing and sending of the seventy was not till the third and last yeare of his preaching And this is all the light I have received from the Scriptures and Fathers concerning those Disciples that entred with Christ into the ship Now observe I pray you the passengers and observe it well that Iudas is gone aboord amongst the disciples a wicked man ever though as yet hee had not committed that transcendent wickednesse of betraying his Master What more observed by friends that stay behind Yea observe Christ hath a ship wherein Iudas was not but all passengers in it shall be saved beleeving one God one Faith one Baptisme one Church which is Holy Catholike and Apostolike out of which there is no salvation Therefore as the Lord added daily to the Church such as should be saved so every one that hath a care and desire of salvation must be sure that he be a member of that holy Church which is invisible an article of our Faith not but that wee see the bodies and professions of such but saving grace is not seene nor their election known but in iudgement of charity being that cōpany of the elect faithfull only gathered out of mankind by the Word and Spirit consenting in true faith here living and warring against the Devill world and flesh and this is called in Latine Ecclesia which yet is properly a Greeke word and commeth from such a theme as doth signifie to cal forth It was an ancient custome in Athens that a company of Citizens were called sorth by the voice of a Crier from the rest of the multitude to such an assembly wherein some publike speech was made or to heare relation of some sentence or iudgement of the Senate from whence it seemeth the Apostles translated the name Ecclesia to signifie such a congregation as commeth not together by chance but are called from the prophane multitude by the Crier of the Word and Spirit to professe God and true godlinesse I say againe that it is absolutely requisite to salvation that a man be a member of this Church called Company he that is not in this world a member of the Church Militant shall never in the world to come be a member of the Church Triumphant And therefore Saint Peter chargeth men to giue all diligence to make their calling and election sure Observe secondly that all the Disciples went into the ship where Christ was even Iudas amongst them for whose sake as some of the Fathers conceive this storme
world hath not blinded that all the pinnaces of Heretikes and Schismatikes and specially that great Romish ship though painted and gilded faire and hath large sailes with top and top gallant tacklings and cordage is indeed no better than an hot man of war a ship of Pyrates It hath leaked long and though Bellarmine hath put to all his strength in pumping and the Iesuits like cunning Divers have used and doe use all their skill to stop this leake yet shall they not be able it shall one day sinke and make shipwrack In the meane time know that the Church of England is a glorious visible Church a faire ship wherein Christ and his disciples are and therefore for this time I discharge you with renewing of the former charge Take heed you depart not from her take heed you cause not division in her but every man seeke her welfare follow faith to the conservation of the soule and keepe the unitie of the spirit in the bond of peace beware of Heresie beware of Schisme God for his Christ sake helpe us to keepe faith and a good conscience to the end and in the end Amen Followed him We have heard the number of passengers Christ and his disciples the Euangelist also noteth the manner or order of their shipping viz that Christ went before and his disciples followed him Christ ordinarily called the Disciples and Apostles in this forme and phrase of speech as to Simon and Andrew being fishing Follow me and I will make you fishers of men and in the verse before my text Follow me and let the dead burie their dead and to Matthew sitting at the receit of custome Follow me and to the young man If thou wilt be perfect goe and sell that thou hast and give to the poore and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and follow me The reason why Christ would specially have the Apostles conversant with him during the time of his Ministerie here was that hearing his doctrine seeing his miracles and observing his manner of life after his departure they might be witnesses to the world of that which they had heard and seene and for this cause after the death of Iudas there was care had that such an one might be chosen into his roome as had accompanied with them all the time that the Lord Iesus went in and out before them Therfore the Apostles commonly followed him from place to place in City and Countrey field and house by water and land though sometimes for some speciall causes he admitted not all but some few of them as Peter Iames Iohn were only admitted to see the miracle of raising the Rulers daughter and his transfiguration on the Mount and his agonie in the Garden The words are sufficiently cleared for their literall sense The letter teacheth us to give due honour and respect to one another The impression of superioritie and subjection command and obedience domination and service is not only stamped on man a sociable creature a little map or modell as it were of the great world though never so barbarous subjects following Kings souldiers their Captaines servants their Masters children their Parents and wives their Husbands whereby that Eutaxie and decorum which is established by nature and fortified by Morall Law Honour thy Father and Mother is preserved and ataxie and confusion prevented but God hath also stamped in man the members subject to the head the bodie to the soule and appetite to reason yea this impression is stamped upon the whole face of nature in the heavens God hath placed a greater light to rule the day and a lesser to rule the night yea if we ascend higher amongst the Angels there are Principalities Thrones Powers and Dominions and Michael an Archangell If we come to the earth the very birds by instinct of nature are subject to the Eagle the beasts to the Lion and very Bees have a master whom they in their kinde doe reverence and follow else their Common-wealth could not subsist yea if we descend lower the very Devils of Hell have Beelzebub for their Prince if that kingdome were divided in it selfe it could not endure there must be precedencie and subsequencie a going before and following after in all creatures specially amongst men and women who as they are many wayes to testifie inferioritie and respect to Gods ordinance so this way specially Christ was their Lord and Master they his servants and scholars it was therefore comely that so often we heare in the Gospell and even in shipping that Christ entred first and his Disciples followed him And it is a perpetuall rule of Civilitie which the Apostle hath prescribed that in giving honour we should prefer or as some Translations have it goe one before another As men and women should not be proud and ambitious a thing reproved by Christ in the Pharisies for loving the chiefe places at meetings shuffling and thrusting being dry drunken in the opinion of their owne worth as if none knew them but themselves whereby in Gods iustice they make themselves vile and hated whereas the way to honour is to be bid sit up higher so neither should any but most willingly in gesture word and deed acknowledge the worth and dignitie of others and specially Christians should in all places carrie themselves modestly and humbly that amongst them all things may be done decently and in order This is the fosterer of love and the spur of vertue and nourisher of Arts for what doth more prick forward and enflame men to great and noble enterprises especially of learning and chivalrie than respect honour and glory All men naturally desire esteeme and regard and to seeke it by vertue and goodnesse is very lawfull It was no ambition or vain-glory in David to aske What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistim If there be any praise thinke on those things For Christ to goe before and disciples to follow him is a comely sight But I leave the letter In the mystery this doth concerne us all and in what the Disciples did bodily wee may see what we ought to doe spiritually viz. If we be Christ his disciples or Christians wee must follow him To follow is properly an Hebraisme and signifieth to serve and obey and imitate in such things as concerne us as it is said The men of Israel went from after David and followed Shebah the Sonne of Bichri and God reproving his people for Idolatrie asketh How canst thou say I have not followed Baalim And the Pharisies say one to another concerning Christ Behold the world is gone after him that is acknowledge him for the Messiah and submit themselves to receive his doctrine and obey his precepts and imitate his example as their onely teacher and patterne And lest any should thinke it concerned only
have therfore Verily I say unto you ye that have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of Man shal sit in the throne of his glory ye also shal sit upon twelve thrones and iudge the twelve Tribes of Israel andevery one that hath forsaken houses brethren sisters father mother wife children or lands for my names sake shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit everlasting life And againe Yee are they that have continued with mee in my temptation And I appoint to you a kingdome as my Father hath appointed to me That yee may eat and drinke at my table in my Kingdome and sit on thrones iudging the twelve Tribes of Israel According to which promises the Apostle saith If wee suffer with him wee shall reigne with him It is a most true saying of the Apostle If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable But in regard of the reward to come such as follow Christ to the end are of all men most happie Moses had respect to this recompence of reward and it made him leave following of Pharaoh and his Court and chuse to suffer afflictions with the people of God rather than to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season This made the Apostles being scourged to depart out of the Councell rejoycing that they were counted worthie to suffer for the name of Christ This hath encouraged thousands and millions of holy Martyrs to suffer with patience and joy all the tortures and torments that the Devill and Tyrants could devise and by no meanes be pulled from following of Christ Oh then on on follow follow him let us all be Acolytes I neither meane it according to Philosophie the Stoicks being so called because they alwaies followed their opinions and did with obstinate pertinacie adhere to their doctrine and counted it a shame to forsake the same neither doe I meane it according to ridiculous Popery wherin Acolytes are one of their Ecclesiasticall Orders whose office is to light tapers and candles for there must be candles light whensoever the Masse is celebrated though at noone-day and Sunne shine never so bright and no marvell for it is a worke of darknesse but by Acolytes I meane according to the word in my Text let us follow Christ his doctrine and morall conversation and let our light so shine before men that they may see our good workes and glorifie our Father which is in heaven Oh follow him in troubles and temptations and you shall follow him in glory for so is the promise They shall follow the Lambe whither soever hee goeth Follow him on earth and you shall follow him in heaven follow him in momentanie misery and you shall follow him in endlesse felicitie follow him in temporarie death and you shall follow him in everlasting life then suffer with him and you shall reigne with him Now follow him that rideth upon the white horse and is gone forth to war and you shall follow him in triumph with Palmes in your hands and crownes on your heads when the Devill and all enemies shall be troden under foot But now give mee leave before I conclude this point to lament the paucitie the small number of those that follow Christ The time was whē it was said The whole world followed him but now may we complaine that all follow the world as the Apostle long since did All seek their own not those things which are Iesus Christs Good Lord how greedily and unweariedly doe men and women follow and even runne some after their pleasures of Hawkes Hounds Cards Dice some their profit and gaine some their honour and preferment some one sinne some another and in that pursuit will endure any hardnesse any discouragements but how few follow Christ in the way of obedience to the Gospell Which S. Bernard in his time lamented and discovered the folly of in a wittie descanting upon a Latine word The world saith I will deceive thee the flesh saith I will infect thee the Devill saith I will destroy thee but Christ saith I will refresh thee Yet how many follow the other and how few Christ They would come to Christ in heaven and are ready to say with Stephen at their departure Lord Iesu receive my spirit but will not follow Christ on earth they would with Balaam die the deaths of the righteous but cannot abide their lives they wish the end but not beginning or if they wil follow Christ on the shore they will not to sea with him can endure in times of libertie peace plentie and prosperitie to professe the Gospell but not in trouble and persecution they will bring him to the water-side and if he will preach out of the ship they will stand on shore and heare him but if it be rough they will not to sea with him But know you that the marke of a true disciple is to follow Christ in temptations tribulations perils and persecutions yea it is adversitie trieth and declareth a true disciple not like the Israelites to reioyce sing when they passed safely thorow the red sea but murmure when they wanted bread or water wherefore follow him in sicknesse povertie disgrace imprisonment death follow him to the sea let winds and waves rage never so horribly yea follow him into the sea if he call thee thereunto what hurt had the children of Israel by following the Cloud and Arke into the midst of the red sea The Lord is with his in all their temptations and tribulations hee will deliver them and bring them to honour Thus the passengers are all shipped we have observed both their number and their order Christ went in before and his Disciples followed him It now followeth to speake of the Vessell wherein they passed but for this time I conclude with that Prayer our holy mother Church hath taught vs in the Collect for this day Almightie God which by thy Sonne Iesus Christ didst give such grace to thy holy Apostle Saint Peter and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock make we beseech thee all Biships and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy word and the people obediently to follow the same that they may receive the crowne of everlasting glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Into a ship We have observed the Passengers for their number and order of shipping Now let us consider the Vessell wherein they passe which is here said to be a Ship The Romish Peterlings say this was Peters ship and in that they have a great mysterie that Christ and his Disciples are in their Church Indeed that Christ once was in Peters ship taught out of it and drew a great draught of fishes the Text is cleare That also Christ and his Disciples were in the Church of Rome is as cleare when Saint Paul saith Their faith
will goe to their Master Yea let Ionah be cast into the Sea and be swallowed of a Whale and then he will cry to the Lord A strange thing saith one that he that slept in the ship should be awake in the Whales belly and he that fled from God on dry land should flie to God in the bottome of the sea Oh when men have all things according to their hearts desire they seeke not the Lord. Prosperitie dulleth devotion in the best as David found by experience In my prosperitie I said I shall never be moved but thou hiddest thy face and I was troubled then I cried to the Lord and made supplication to my God Oh to correct this dulnesse and negligence it is that God many times taketh away good things from his people and sendeth many evils both generall to the Church and Common-wealth as famine pestilence sword and particular on our families and persons as sicknesse ache paine death of friends losses and crosses and all because as we say God would be better acquainted with us and see us at his Court for in miserie he knoweth he shall heare of us but else let us alone and we let him alone So much in stead of much more be said from the letter and historie Now let us proceed to the mysterie You have heard that this storme so endangering this ship doth represent persecutions and troubles which in this world doe infest the people of God As then the disciples in this dangerous tempest went to Christ and by prayer to him procured a calme so when the Church of God is persecuted and in danger all the disciples of Christ must goe to him by prayer for it So doth David injoyne Pray for the peace of Ierusalem Luther calleth prayers the Christians Canons and surely being well charged with faith and repentance and fired with zeale and fervencie of spirit they shoot farre and pierce deepe yea it pierceth heaven and overcommeth enemies on earth As then Kings and Princes when enemies approach prepare their weapons armour swords and speares When Christians heare of warres and rumours of wars they must prepare themselves to prayer muster their petitions and set them in battell array as David saith Psal 5. 3. and not trust too much in earthly meanes as David saith Some trust in horses and some in chariots but we will trust in the name of the Lord And againe An horse is counted but a vaine thing to save a man neither is any mighty man delivered by his much strength and I will not trust in my bowe it is not my sword that can save me but in God we boast all the day long The horse is prepared for the day of battell but salvation is from the Lord By all which and many other places of Scripture which might be alledged to this purpose the use of meanes is not condemned but that they be not trusted in but be seconded with true and faithfull prayer David neglected not the meanes yet purposely penned a forme of prayer for the people to use when he went forth to battell The Lord heare thee in the day of trouble the name of the God of Iacob defend thee send thee helpe from his Sanctuary and strengthen thee out of Sion Moses neglected not the meanes when he sent forth Ioshuah with his Armies to fight with Amalek but himselfe went up to the top of the mountaine to pray and did more there with his prayer than all they with sword and speare For when he held up his hands Israel prevailed when he let them fall Amalek prevailed King Asa neglected not the means when there came up an huge Armie of Ethiopians even ten hundred thousands and three hundred Chariots He went out against them and set the battell in array and Asa cried to the Lord and the Lord heard his prayer and discomfited them Yea the greatest and most glorious deliverances and victories that ever the Church received from enemies were meerely obtained by prayer without a blow given Moses and the children of Israel crying to the Lord in their distresse at the Red Sea God hardned Pharaohs heart to pursue them into the Red Sea where he and all his hosts were drowned Gedeon with three hundred men only with trumpets and lamps in pitchers but sounding their trumpets breaking their pitchers and crying The sword of the Lord and of Gedeon not only the huge Armie of the Midianites ran and cried and fled but every mans sword was against his fellow and they slew one another When Samariah was in exceeding distresse by siege the Lord made the hoast of the Syrians to heare a noise of a great hoast in the feare whereof they arose and fled in the twilight and left their tents and horses and all the Campe as it was and fled for their lives When Ierusalem was besieged at the prayers of Esay and Ezekiah an Angell was sent who destroyed in one night an hundred fourescore and five thousand in the campe of the Assirians When such a great Armie came up against Iehoshaphat he commanded fasting and prayer and his forme of praier is recorded whereby they obtained that their enemies destroyed one another Oh the same God liveth still and is now as able and willing to helpe his people as ever but his people neglect him goe not unto him but trust in their owne meanes want the spirit of supplication like Ionah they are on sleepe in this great storme either pray not at all or very coldly Where is that disciple that feelingly and fervently zealously and faithfully publikely and privately at the least thrice a day with Daniel is on knee for Ierusalem helping devotion with abstinence and fasting that so they may cry mightily and wrestle strongly resolving as Iacob never to let the Lord goe and with the woman of Canaan to take no nay or deniall but they will awake him he shall never be rid of them Alas how are these things out of use Where is watching fasting striving in prayer How little are many moved being out of the storme and present danger themselves whether others doe sinke or swim but give themselves to riot and luxurie to feasting and playing Wherefore God hath sent me to you againe as this Scripture commeth not to my hand by chance so neither this passage wherewith to renue in his name the charge I have often already given There is a great storme and if ever you desire to see a calme away with his disciples here to Christ What meane yee oh sleepers arise and call on him and plie him with your continuall prayers he looketh for more earnestnesse than he hath yet found Oh pray pray pray for the peace of Ierusalem Resolve with David One thing I have desired of the Lord and that will I seeke after that the Lord will awake and have mercy on Sion
smoaking flâ—x Let the comparisons be well marked and can the meeknesse of Christ towards poore sinners be more lively expressed How tender a plant is a reed yea at the strongest how doth it yeeld and bow with every puffe of wind but much more when it is bruised how easie a thing is it then to snap it asunder How weake is that sparke of fire which in flâ—x doth but cause smoake Now whereas it is said he will not break the one nor quench the other his meaning is he will noâ—ish and cherish them strengthen the one and kindle the other Againe He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength Christ was sent to binde up the broken hearted The Lord upholdeth all that fall and raiseth up all them that be bowed downe Christ hath called Come to mee all yee that travell and are heavie loaden and I will refresh you hath promised that he will cast away none that come unto him yea that hee will give them eternall life and none shall be able to plucke them out of his hand Indeed Christ gave great commendation to such as have had great faith as to the Centurion Verily I say unto you that I have not found so great faith no not in Israel and to the woman of Canaan hee said O woman great is thy faith But yet in all ages God hath witnessed his loving acceptance of small and weake faith and of the first beginnings of Conversion How weake a faith was that in the Ninivites Who can tell if God will returne and repent yet God did repent and spare them What a weake faith had the Leper Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane he received him and did make him cleane How weake that fathers faith who could scarce tell whether he beleeved or no and ceased to pray for his sonne and prayed for himselfe Lord helpe mine unbeleefe and he both helped his unbeleefe and cured his sonne Our Saviour did but heare a young man make profession of the practise of outward and civill righteousnesse All these I have observed from my youth and the Text saith he looked upon him and loved him And when he heard a Scribe utter but one good speech That to love God with all the heart is above all sacrifices he said unto him that he was not farre from the kingdome of heaven Oh now should the Apostles faith have shone bright as a lampe but the tempest had almost blowne it out that it did but smoake yet Christ quencheth it not he reproveth but accepteth of it He arose and rebuked the winds and seas These and many such Scriptures both Positive and Exemplarie of prophesie and promise are written for the comfort of all such as have but little weake and feeble faith and we had need to have them in remembrance for Satan is very skilfull in the Scriptures and hath them readie to assault weake ones with all as Faith is the evidence of things which are not seene And we are Gods house if we hold fast the reioycing of the hope firme unto the end and Faith is the anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast Doth not S. Iames bid every one that prayeth to pray in faith without wavering or doubting How canst thou thinke thou hast faith or make account that ever God will heare thee when thine heart is so full of wavering doubting Oh quench this fiery dart and say Avoid Satan it is true thou hast presented unto me a strong faith which I doe strive after but the Apostles had but a little weake faith yet were not rejected and Satan thou shalt never bee able to quench that little sparke which God hath kindled in my soule nor destroy that little graine of mustard-seed which is sowen in the furrowes of mine heart Lastly note that Christ said His Disciples had but little faith and surely as yet they had but little knowledge little honour little wealth and little of any thing that was esteemed and accounted of in the world being but poore Fisher-men Tole-gatherers and men of meane condition as Amos a great Prophet was before but an Herdman God many times bringeth greatest things to passe by weakest meanes Passing by the noble mightie rich and wise of the world and chusing the foolish weake and base and despised things of the world that no flesh may glory in it selfe To which purpose S. Augustine hath an excellent saying If God had chosen Kings to bee his Disciples they would have said We are chosen for our power If Orators for our eloquence Iâ— Philosophers for our wisdome If Senators for our dignitie If rich men for our wealth Wherefore he called Fishermen and Publicans Follow me you poore ignorant and simple you that have little or nothing worthy esteeme or admiration in your selves that you may be all in me Even so still the Lord many times passeth by such as are of great knowledge learning and wisdome of high degree in Schooles of eminent Bloud and Families by birth and calleth farre meaner men in these respects by whom he is most powerfull in the ministery of the Word So for the Church of God Christ told Iohns Disciples The poore receive the Gospell And God hath chosen the poore of the world that they may bee rich in faith and heires of the Kingdome This is it was intended in the parable where the great men that had their Farmes Oxen and Merchandise to follow were rejected and the poore maimed halt and blinde who lay in the Streets and Lanes of the Citie and High-wayes and Hedges were compelled to come in And this is it which the chiefe Priests and Pharises objected to the officers Doe any of the Rulers or Pharisies beleeve in him But this people that knoweth not the Law is cursed Indeed it is not said no wise no noble no mightie are chosen for Abraham Isaac Iacob Moses David Solomon Nicodemus Lazarus of Bethaniah Ioseph of Arimathea the two Centurions the Proconsull and many others were some of them noble some wise some mightie c. But as Andrew said of the loaves What are these amongst so many to the end that wee should not looke upon Gods people and servants with a carnall eye wherein they may seeme base and contemptible but behold them with a spirituall eye as they are in Christ and so most glorious And thus much for the first part in the performing of the calme viz. The reprehension of his disciples for their excessive feare and defective faith It followeth Then he arose Christ having stilled the greater and more dangerous tempest in the affections of his disciples and settled their soules in peace and tranquillity patience and comfort hee now proceedeth to still the roaring winds and raging seas which hee doth by powerfull and angry reprehension Wherein two things
the hemme of Christs garment and shall not we much more from this holy Sacrament of his owne ordinance and institution Oh let me eat and it sufficeth Dispute thou of the manner I will beleeve But these outward signes and Elements being consecrated by the word and prayer are of most wonderfull spirituall use and efficacie to every beleeving and worthy receiver which to expresse and that they may not be basely esteemed of as common and ordinary things the Scriptures doe commonly ennoble as others so this Sacrament with giving to the signe the name it selfe of the grace signified This is my bodie And This is my bloud of the New Testament And the Apostle saith The bread which we breake is it not the Communion of the bodie of Christ And the cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the bloud of Christ The Ancient Fathers also have exceedingly magnified this Sacrament As that Christ dieth againe in this mysterie the Priest holdeth Christ betwixt his hands the bread over which thankes is given is the bodie of the Lord Which figurative speeches are warrantable by the Word And they gave hyperbolical and excessive praise to this Sacrament in most thankful and godly minds to stirre up godly care and devotion in the Receivers but did not fore-see how thereby they occasioned many hereticall Conclusions and Idolatrous adoration whereof wee having lamentable experience it behoveth us warily to use their phrases not thinking it sufficient that from Scriptures and Fathers such phrases may be used for truth but cautelously and with exposition lest we harden the wilfull Heretike or scandalize the weake beleever For as we must take heed that we make them not idle signes wee must also take heed wee make them not Idoll signes they are but signes still and though grace be conueyed by them yet it may be separated from them so as all that receive the grace of Sacraments doe not receive grace by the Sacraments Though they be holy honorable glorious vessels for the conveyance of Christ and all his blessings and graces yet they are not physicall vessels and instruments as a nutritive power and vertue is in bread and drinke or tied to them by inevitable necessitie as if God were tied to give Christ and eternall life to all such as doe the work and receive the outward Element They are only morall instruments and vessels to the fruitfull use whereof is required something also in the Receiver For as the Word profiteth not them in whom it is not mixed by faith no more doth this Sacrament profit such as receive it not by faith yea many do eat and drinke unworthily to their owne condemnation but God is tied by covenant and promise to convey and exhibite the invisible grace to all that doe faithfully duely and devoutly receive the visible and holy Sacrament Oh then prepare your selves to the receiving of this holy Sacrament prepare not the teeth and belly but the heart for it is not the food for teeth but minde and let Faith worke When you see but the least graine of mustard-seed cast into the ground though there it seeme to rot yet you beleeve it will become a great tree for birds to build in If you see a cunning work-man take though a rugged and crooked tree in hand you beleeve he will doe some exquisite and curious worke Will you thus rely on Art and Nature and not rely on God the Author of both You will not beleeve how your soules can be fed and nourished by bread and wine unlesse he acquaint you with his waies and lay open the secret of his skill before you Where God doth speake such things as are for height and sublimitie of matter or promise such graces by such meanes as for secrecie of performance we are not able to reach unto it behoveth Gods children to submit themselves in the simplicitie of faith and not curiously dispute which commonly chilleth the warmth of zeale and devotion and so distracteth the minds of men that they know not what to beleeve Examine your selves therefore whether yee be in the faith Examine your selves whether you have unfainedly repented of your sinnes which appeareth by a perfect hatred and detestation of them and all of the meanes and occasions leading unto them with a resolute purpose of minde for ever to avoid them to become obedient unto God The people of God were commanded to eat the Passeover with bitter herbes which word I finde elsewhere used to expresse the bitter sorrow of heart and verily hee shall never worthily eat of our Passeover Christ in the Sacrament whose soule is not filled with bitter sorrow for his sinnes for which Christ Jesus suffered the torments of death and shed his precious bloud whereof that Sacrament putteth him in remembrance What is it but even a despising of the bloud of Christ and the accounting of it as an unholy thing for a man to receive having a purpose to continue in his sinne and at the most but hanging downe his head like a bulrush for a day Wherefore purge your hearts yee sinners and cleanse your hands Wash them in innocencie and then come to his Table As the Pharesies would not eat before they had washed eat not before thy conscience be purged from dead workes to serve the living God Examine your selves whether yee be in love and charitie and whether where offenses have beene given there bee a free forgivenesse and all good meanes of reconciliation used that so it may be indeed as it is called a Communion whereby all the members being knit together in the bond of love may partake in one Sacrament and have a sweet fellowship one with another and with Christ their Head This Sacrament must be eaten with the unleavened bread of sinceritie and charitie 1 Cor. 5. 8. If by examination you finde your selves thus in some measure but truly prepared then Wisdome calleth to you as to her guests Come eat of my bread and drinke of my wine and also sendeth forth her servants calling and inviting All things are readie come to the Supper and beware of idle excuses left thou also heare the same doome denounced against thee Not one of those that were bid shall taste of my Supper Oh come come whilst you may these if ever any are the happie daies of the Sonne of Man wherein Christ in his Word truly preached and Sacraments sincerely administred is even crucified in our sight Oh happie daies when wee may so safely feast together at Gods Table and our owne but let us feare lest Christ beholding our negligence and offended with our frivolous excuses say as sometimes he did to his owne people for the like faults The daies come in which you shall desire to see one of the daies of the Sonne of Man
earth for them Doe they want Pearles and Iewels The rivers and streames shall afford them Are they heavy-hearted The Vine shall glad them with wine Have they cause of mirth and feasting Oile shall make their faces to shine Are waters cast out of the Dragons mouth The earth shall swallow them up Doe winds and waves roare and threaten to drowne If Christ doe but bid be still they are calme and obey him A point of Doctrine which one of the Ancient Fathers hath abundantly confirmed and illustrated by positive and exemplarie Scriptures if I would inlarge it Oh let us thankfully admire and extoll the mercy and goodnesse of God who is so bountifull in the donation of good condonation of the evill of guilt and preservation from the evill of punishment that hath saved us from so many and so great evils of bodie soule estate by water and land and hath given us all good things abundantly to enioy pertaining to life and godlinesse sendeth us daily manifold comforts from Heaven Aire Earth Sea Sunne Moone Starres Light Birds Beasts Fishes Fruits Herbes And if he have so liberally provided for us in the wildernesse what inestimable good things are provided for us in our owne Countrie If so great things in the prison what in the Palace If such a calme in this world what in heaven If such varietie of comfort in this vale of teares and in Christ his absence what at the mariage-feast Oh when your tables are richly furnished with varietie of good things from aire earth sea praise him whom winds and sea obey and let your harts be lifted up to meditate on those future and inestimable good things prepared in heaven for them that love him Our Doctrine from the Mystery is That all creatures at Christ his command are readie to serve his Church and people though never so contrarie to their nature If the Lord rebuke the winds will not blow nor waters flow nor fire burne nor hungrie Lions devoure nor Sunne move If all things were not thus at command it were impossible for the poore Church of Christ to subsist on earth to endure such cruell conspiracies and bloudie persecutions of mightie Tyrants for his poore little flocke to dwell in the midst of so many ravening Wolves for this little Cock-boat to ride out such grievous stormes and tempests but our God who was then in the ship and rebuked winds and sea and they obeyed he is now in heaven and doth whatsoever he will and he hath promised to be with his to the ends of the world and that the gates of hell shall not prevaile against them And therefore if in times of trouble and distresse when it pleaseth Christ to scourge and fanne his Church we be too weake in faith and too strong in feare and bewray pusillanimity and cowardize let us with David ingenuously confesse This is our infirmitie not regarding the Scriptures nor the power of God Let us be ashamed of it and learne more stedfastly to trust in the Lord as David counselleth Let the house of Israel trust in the Lord hee is their helper and defender O house of Aaron trust in the Lord he is their helper and defender yee that feare the Lord trust in the Lord he is their helper and defender he will blesse the house of Israel he will blesse the house of Aaron hee will blesse them that feare the Lord both small and great Yea let this Doctrine be remembred and it will wonderfully comfort and strengthen our faith in the resurrection For as winds and sea obeyed Christ now at the last day earth and sea shall heare and obey the voice of Christ yeeld up al the dead which they have received Marvell not at this for the houre is comming in the which all that are in the graves shall heare the voice of Christ and shall come forth Whereof he hath given us assurance in the raising of Lazarus Rulers daughter and widowes sonne only with his word Lazarus come forth Damsell arise Young-man arise This was of old most lively represented to the Prophet in vision hee was caried by the Spirit of the Lord and set downe in the middest of a valley which was full of dead mens bones and very drie and he was commanded to prophesie upon those bones which he did saying Oh yee drie bones heare yee the word of the Lord and immediatly there was a noise and behold a shaking and the bones came together bone to his bone and sinewes and flesh and skinne came upon them and covered them This as one of the Ancient Fathers saith was a most lively picture of the Resurrection of the dead which shall at the end of the world be effected by the omnipotent voice of the Sonne of Man Yea scarce any of the Fathers have written of the Resurrection but have made singular use of that Vision If at any time then our faith shall stagger at that Article which as a Divine saith is so farre above though not contrary to naturall Reason let us strengthen our faith with that excellent Vision Yea this was also represented to Saint Iohn in vision The sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and hell gave up the dead which were in them No matter then where we die by sea or land or where we bee buried in earth or water these are all but Gods Gaolors and shall faithfully bring forth all such as have beene committed unto them at that generall Assises If thy faith stagger let it rest upon the omnipotent power of Christ and for ever remember what you have heard from this storie Christ rebuked the winds and the sea and they obeyed him And therefore say I will lay me downe and take my rest for the Lord sustaineth mee I know my Redeemer liveth and I shall rise againe Our second lesson from mysterie is That the maine and principall end of all Gods word and workes is that from consideration thereof man may be provoked to admire and set forth the praise and glory of Christ What manner of man is this that hath done such things The Lord hath made all things for himselfe saith the Wise-man And the perpetuall exercise of the glorified Saints in heaven is day and night to praise Christ for the great worke of Redemption Thou wast slaine and hast redeemed us unto God by thy bloud out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation and made us Kings and Priests unto God Here then is an infallible touch-stone whereby to trie all Doctrines and I would to God with charitie and sobrietie all the matters in question betwixt the Papists and us were with meekenesse brought to this touch-stone Those Doctrines are ever soundest which doe give glory to Christ and provoke men to admire praise him What manner of man is he But whatsoever
〈◊〉 saepe apud Plut. § Talmudav from Lamad didicit †Artes numerandi metiendi Astronomie Arithmetick Geographie Keck pracognit Philosoph lib. 1. c. 2. p. 17. * Chemnit Exam. 1. part 13. Har. cap. 79 pag. 242. Shindâ—â—râ—â— Penteg in Lamad x Acts 11. 26. y Iohn 6. 66. 2 1 z Luke 10. 1. a Luke 10. 20. 2 b Matth. 10. 1. Marke 3. 15. Luke 9. 1. 5. c Exod. 15. vlt. Numb 33. 9. Sic Tertul. cont Marcionem lib. 4. ca. 24. Ierom. Epist ad Fabiolam Mansio 6. * August lib. 2. de consens Euang. cap. 23. Tollet Cardin. in Luc. 10. 1. Observ 1. As the Master of the house went to see the guests let us wel view these passengers “ No more than life out of Noahs Arke c Acts 2. 47. The Church what * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 evoco d 2 Pet. 1. 10. Observ 2. Sense Termini * Field lib. 1. c. 10. Iohn 1. 47. Described Similies f Gen. 7. 2. g Matth. 3. 12. h Matth. 13. 24. i Matth. 13. 47. k Matth. 22. 11. l Matth. 25. 2. m 2 Tim. 2. 20. Distinguished 1. Departure Departure upon two pretences 1. Doctrine 2. Discipline upon the one the Romanists upon the other the Novellists n 1 Iohn 2. 19. Obiect Sol. o Matth. 13. 30. “ Meâ— primitus sentenâ—iâ— Epist 48. * Non approbationâ— sed consolationâ— Luth. lâ—c com tit de zelo p Heb. 10. 25. †Serm on parab of wheat tares Mat. 13. 30. pag 27 Sermâ—on 10. Virgins Matth. 25. 1. pag. 27. 2. Division q Matth. 12. 25. r Mar. 9. vlt. Å¿ Luk. 2. 14. t Iohn 14 27. Rom. 12. 18. * Heb. 12. 14. x Ephes 4. 3. “ Bellar. de notis Ecclesiae lib. 4. â— 10. * By the Duke of Bourbon Leader of the Emperors armie “ So true is that of Platina in Stephan vita for the most part it hath beene the manner that the later Popes have either infringed or wholly taken away the decrees of the former †Whites Way Digress 24. pag. 154. * See the peace of Rome by D. Hall “ Vid. D. White de notis Ecclesiae Will. Synop. pag. 71. D. Whites Way Digress 23. 1. Iustified in comparison with others y Rom. 16. 17. z 1 Cor. 3. 3. a Acts 15. 39. b Galath 2. 11. * Socrat. lib. 6. cap. 17. 21. Nicephorus lib. 13. cap. 17. 21. Baron Annal. 400. num 31. †Evagr. lib. 1. cap. 10. 2. Not of the Church 3. Not matters of Faith * Non est fundamentalis dissentio Whit. controv 2. quaest 5. cap. 8. pag. 322. 4. Not with extremitie pursued 5. Well composed Conclusion * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sequuti sunt cum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sequor 2. Part. c Matth. 4. 19. d Matth. 8. 22. e Matth. 9 9. f Matth. 19. 21. Reason g 1 Iohn 1. 1. Acts 4. 20. Iohn 15. vlt. h Acts 1. 21. i Luke 8. 51. k Matth. 17. 1. l Mar. 14. 33. Doct. lit 1. On man 2. In man 3. On all creatures m Gen. 1. 16. n Coloss 1. 16. o Iude 9. p Matth. 12. 24. q Matth. 12. 25. r Iohn 13. 13. Confirmation by Scripture Å¿ Rom. 12. 10. t Matth. 23. 6. “ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Cor. 14. 4. ult * Fomentum amoris Calv. †Honos alit artes § Tu sola animas mertemque perurisgloria u 1 Sam. 17. 26. * Philip. 4. 8. Mysterie Sense x 2 Sam. 20. 2. y Ierem. 2. 23. z Iohn 12. 19. a Luke 14. 27. b Ephes 5. 1. Quest Answ Impossible c 2 Cor. 5 16. Vnprofitable d Iohn 6. 26. e Luke 13. 26 27. f Rom. 10. 15. g 2 Thess 2. 9. “ Hinc verâ—s agnâ—fâ—â—mus verbi ministres non quia faciunt sed omnino quia non faciunt miracula * Portenta mendacium spirituum aut mendacia fallacâ—â—m hominum “ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pedessequus * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 h 3 Iohn 11. i Heb. 13. 7. k Iohn 6. 35. Fathers * Non tibi dicit non eris discipulus meus Aug. praefat in Psal 30. “ Non mundum fabruare visibilia invisibilia creare Aug. de verbis Dom. serm 10. †Non possumus in potentia magnificentia sed in humilitate mansuetudine Ierom. § Nemo rectè Christianus nisi qui Christo moribus Cyprian l 1 Pet. 2 21. m 1 Iohn 2. 6. Exhortation n Heb. 12. 2. o Cant. 1. 3. p Matth. 8. 20. q 1 Pet. 1. 23. r Mat. 12. 19 20. t Matth. 27. 29. u Luke 23. 34. * Iohn 6. 11. x Iohn 4. 6. y Iohn 3. 2. z Luke 21. penult a Iohn 2. 15. b Matth. 4. 18 19. c Iohn 19. 23. d Matth. 21. 5. e Iohn 19. 30. Confutation Gallica â—irata est Calvinum Ecclesia nuper quo nemo docuit doctius was said and written by no childe in Divinitie f Matth. 15. 3. 9. “ Tortur Tort. p. 15. g Phil. 3. 17. h 1 Cor. 11. 1. “ Sic Basilius vocat Christu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Encouragement Obiect 1. Sol. “ Iustin in Eph. 5. 1 i Matth. 5 ult k 2 Cor. 8. 12. l Luke 22. 54. m Cant. 1. 3. n Psal 51. 6. * Cursu testudineo Bez. in Cant. 3. o Psal 119. 25. p Psal 119. 32. q Cant. 1. 3. r Esay 35. 3. Obiect 2. Sol. Å¿ Iohn 18. 36. t Matth. 8. 20. u Matth. 20. 22. * Luke 9. 23. x Luke 14. 26. y Luke 14. 28. z Luke 9. 62. a 2 Pet. 2. penult Promises b Mat. 19. penult c Luk. 22. 28. d 2 Tim. 2. 12. e 1 Cor. 15. 19. Conclusion f Heb. 11. 24. Exhortation “ 1 Tim. 3. 8. Rhem. ibid. sect 7. * Trisag p. 549. g Matth. 5. 16. Pressed h Revel 14. 4. i Revel 19. 11. k Revel 7. 9. l Rom. 16. 20. Application m Ioh. 3. 26. 12. 19. n Phil. 2. 21. * Decipiam inficiam interficiam reficiam o Act. 7. penult †Ad Christum non post Christum consequi sed non sequi p Num. 23. 10. “ Optant extrema sed non principia justorum q Matth. 13. 2. r Psal 91. Penult CCC on Saint Peters day Anno 1622. Part. 2. “ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 navigo navis dempto n avis both doe flie one with wings of nature the other of Art velis quasialis volare docuit Bell. de ascen mentis ad Deum grad 8. ca. 5. and both in the intermediall Elements aire and water and easily changed one into another the water rarified with heat becommeth aire and aire condensate with cold turneth into water but I leave the word * Ber. tom 2. lib. 5. cap. 6. Rhem. annot on Luke 5. sect 1. Å¿ Luke 5. 3. t Rom. 1. 8. u Matth. 4. 19. * Iohn 21. 3. x Esay 54. 11. Quest y Matth. 14. 25. Answ I. Declaration of humanitie z Iohn