and hypocriticall Guideâ— or Teachers but for the spirit of discerning and for abilitie to iudge and to that end with the wise and noble Beraeans g Act. 17. 11 receiuing the Word with all readinesse of minde to search the Scriptures daily whether those things bee so as wee are taught This of necessitie requireth much hearing reading reading meditation conference in all humilitie feare and reuerence an holy consociation with the Saints also left as straglers ftom the Campe of Israel wee bee surprized by the h Deut. 25. 18. Amalekitish Iesuites Seminaries Arminians loose and dissolute Pastors and Teachers This of necessitie requireth a speciall care in euery one of vs to bee well grounded our selues and to see our Families and Charges so much as in vs is to bee well grounded in the principall and fundamentall points of our most holy Religion by the publike and priuate exercise of Catechising For as an house hauing a good foundation saueth it selfe from windes and stormes contrariwise for want of such a foundation is ruinated so falleth it out in Christianitie a man well grounded and founded in Religion saueth himselfe from all Impostors and Seducers whereas others are cartied about with euery wind of Doctrine Lastly and aboue all this of necessitie requireth that we should beware of that most fearefull and regnant sinne which we may call Epidemicall as ouerspreading all some few excepted farre and heere which the Apostle maketh the breeder and bringer forth of this deadly plague by false Prophets i 2. Thes 2. 10. Because men receiue not the loue of truth that they might bee saued GOD shall send them strong delusion that they should beleeue lyes that they all might bee damned who beleeued not the truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse so he calleth whatsoeuer is embraced insteed of the truth or Gospell beare it neuer so great a shew in the World This not receiuing of the loue of the truth but pleasuring in vnrighteousnesse is the very cause why God at this day giueth vp so many to be seduced by false Prophets Popish and others Wherefore not the profession onely but loue and delight in the truth with all due expressions of it is to be looked and laboured after infinitely more then we would doe for our life it selfe if it were any way hazardous The rather because false Prophets whatsoeuer they appeare outwardly yet indeed they are rauening Wolues if not in intent which they are commonly yet in euent All they that fall into their hands shall bee sure to finde them such at the long runne when it shall be too late to say Had I wist In the third place k Verse 16. 17. he directeth to the fruits whereby they are to be knowne Yee shall know them by their fruits which he illustrateth by a similitude drawne from trees Doe men gather grapes of thornes or figs of thistles So euery good tree bringeth forth good fruit and a corrupt tree c. These fruits which Christ here directeth vs vnto may as I take it be drawne to three heads first their Doctrine secondly their life and conuersation thirdly their scope ayme or end as the Apostle among other things mainly appealeth to to these three approouing himselfe thereby to Timothy's conscience that hee was an vncorrupt Teacher Thou hast fully knowne my doctrine manner of liuing purpose or ayme to which three heads may other vertues there annexed bee reduced And hereby may euery Teacher try himselfe and euerie hearer discerne his Teacher first whether his doctrine at the least in the fundamentalls bee agreeable to the holy Scriptures that he both can and doth bring Scriptum est It is thus written for it and concerning any other matter that is not of the foundation or essence of Religion but appertaineth to order and decencie that there bee no Scripture against it Secondly whether his life bee consonant to his Doctrine habitually or in a setled course for there are none so loose but that they stumble vpon some good words and actions sometimes and there are none so perfect but that they labour of some frailties and tread their foot awry somtimes Thirdly whether his aymes and ends be holy as his Doctrine and life seeme to bee Now they are to bee iudged holy when in the iudgement of Charitie which beleeueth all things hopeth all things wee cannot perceiue that his owne pleasure profit or glory or the pleasing or displeasing of other men in any thing is so much looked after as l 1. Pet 4. 11. Iohn 7. 18. Phil. 3. 19. that God in all things may be glorified in Christ Iesus Contrariwise it is many times found in experience that some Teachers howsoeuer they preach generall truths and leade peraduenture a ciuill life free from scandall yet doe so distaste the power of Religion without which what deniall of our selues can there be and are so fallen out with zeale that they turne the edge of their Doctrine against all such as are not of the Laodicean temper When the Lords fences and pales are thus broken downe and all laide common that euery one should be alike and no one more strict then other but all to liue in a kind of carnall good fellowship and worldly iollitie what becommeth I pray you of the strait gate and narrow way before so earnestly commended and commanded vnto vs Questionlesse either our Lord Christ was mistaken when he added and few finde it meaning the strait gate and narrow way or else are they all mistaken who imagine that all or the most part finde it The similitude followeth drawne from trees m Verse 17. Doe men gather grapes of thornes and figs of thistles euen so euery good tree bringeth forth good fruit but a corrupt tree bringâ—th forth euill fruit A good tree cannot bring forth euill frnit neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit Euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewne downe and cast into the fire wherefore by their fruits you shall know them The effect and purport of all is this As a good tree bringeth forth good fruit and cannot bring forth euill and an euill tree bringeth forth euill fruit and cannot bring forth good so a true Prophet teacheth holsome doctrine leadeth a life answerable and propoundeth none other end then to serue and glorifie God and to winne others to the loue and obedience of the truth and can doe none otherwise habitually whatsoeuer befall him through infirmitie because the holy Ghost is his teacher quickner and as it were the sappe of the tree Contrariwise a false Prophet like a corrupt tree bringeth forth the fruit of false doctrine leadeth a scandalous or at the best but a ciuill life and would faine haue all others as bad as himselfe Neither can hee doe otherwise habitually howsoeuer at a start hee may seeme to doe pretily well standing as hee doeth in the state of corrupt nature vnder the power of Satan the Prince of this world And
as euery tree that beareth not good fruit is at the length hewen downe and cast into the fire so all corrupt teachers with their Disciples and followers shall in fine be cut off and cast into hell fire The Euangelist Luke n Luk. 6. 43. 44. extendeth this not onely to all Ministers but to all persons in generall as also wee finde it Mat. 3. 10. and 12. 33. From whence in briefe arise these doctrines necessarily to bee considered of euery one first that it is impossible for a mam not borne againe to doe any good and acceptable worke for till a man bee accepted himselfe his worke cannot The o Genes 4. 4. Lord had respect to Abel and then to his offering but vnto Cain and vnto his offering hee had no respect p Mat. 12. 33. Either make the tree good onely regeneration or the new birth doth that and his frnit good or make the tree euill and his fruit euill the fruit must needs bee as the tree is Nothing therefore is done in the businesse of religion vntill a man in deed and in truth become a new creature or as our Lord Christ phraseth it q Iohn 3 5. vntill hee bee borne againe or from aboue of water and the holy Ghost that is vntill the holy Ghost haue renued and restored him to the fauour and Image of God through the ministerie of the Gospell r Luke 3. 3. preaching the baptisme of repentance for the remission of sinnes The second doctrine is that vniuersall righteousnesse or walking Å¿ Luke 1. 6. with Zacbarie and Elizabeth in all the commandements and ordinanees of the Lord blamelesse doth of necessitie proceed from all that are so regenerate It is heere set downe as a ruled case That euery good tree bringeth forth good fruit and cannot bring forth euill habitually or in a setled course as hath beene said they are and must t Mat. 5. 48. be perfect as their heauenly father is perfect as wee haue heard The third doctrine also is as true as it is terrible to all hypocrites and worldlings that vtter reiection from the face of God and hell fire it selfe are the certaine reward of an vnfruitfull life though it bee not tainted with grosse sinnes The fruitlesse tree is sentenced to be cut downe u Mat. 25. 30 the vnprofitable seruant to bee cast into vtter darknesse and in the last day it shall bee said I was hungrie and you fed mee not naked and you cloathed mee not sicke and in prison and you visited mee not c. Wherefore goe yee cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the deuill and his angels and none excuse will serue their turne The fourth and last doctrine is that which ought to awaken euery man to liue righteously and fruitfully viz. that euery one is to bee iudged not by his words or profession but by the euidence of his workes and that not onely at the last day but euen in present for so hee saith x Verse 20. so Cap. 12. 33. Ye shall know them by their fruits in which respect a man is truly said to be iustified or condemned by his works declaratiuely Wherefore as the Apostle writeth y T it 3 14. Let ours also learne to shew forth good workes for necessarie vses But of this more followeth to be spoken vpon the next verse wherein is contayned the second danger of being with-holden or carried from the strait gate and narrow way and that is by a glorious profession and seeming zeale in these words z Verse 20 Not euery one that saith vnto mee Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but hee that doth ehe will of my father which is in heauen As there is extreame danger from false Prophets so except we looke well about vs there is no lesse danger if not much more from our owne selues through the deceitfulnesse of our euil hearts For it is possible and too too frequent in vse for men to liue vnder wise and faithfull teachers and to heare from them the pure word of God with out mixture of false doctrine or hypocrisie to receiue it also gladly to beleeue Iesus Christ to be the onely begotten Sonne of God the promised Messiah to professe him to bee their one and onely Sauiour to call vpon him not with a single Lord but with Lord Lord that is affectionately and zealously in appearance to doe yea and to suffer many things gladly being at a point with a Mat. 8. 19. the Scribe to follow Christ whithersoeuer hee goeth and in regard of these and such like matters to thinke themselues as good as in heauen alreadie and yet for all that to come short of the goale which is the prize of the high calling of God because these glorious shewes are without the substance and power of godlinesse wherein the Kingdome of God consisteth and not in word profession or any externall thing This is that which Christ here calleth the doing of the will of his father which is in heauen which may then truely be said to be done when the doctrine which wee heare out of his holy word is on our parts receiued and b Heb. 4. 2. mixed with faith vnfained when daily and deepe repentance for our daily transgressions followeth it to that end we narrowly c Psal 119. 59. Lam. 3. 40. search our own hearts and wayes that we may the more effectually turne vnto God in obedience to all his commandements and ordinances when there is to be found in vs a perpetuall striuing and streyning that wee may not e Rom. 8. 13. liue after the flesh but mortifie the deeds of the body by the spirit when our speciall combating is against our speciall sinnes and corruptions either by custome complection or calling and herein cheifly against hypocrisie desiring from the heart euen before God to be righteous in euery thing rather then to seeme so making it our ambition and couetousnesse not to please men and to grow great in the world or in common graces of the spirit but to please the all-seeing eyes of God and to grow rich in sauing graces in faith hope charitie patience humilitie meeknesse temperance heauenly-mindednesse to be plentifull in good workes laying vp fot our selues treasures in heauen euer suing and saying with Dauid f Psal 4. 6. Lord lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs when wee apply and settle our hearts g 1. Thes 5. 17 18. to pray without ceasing and watch thereunto In euery thing to giue thankes also because this is the will of GOD in Christ Iesus concerning vs. Lastly to let passe all other particulars when in the point of charitie our faithfull and constant indeauour is to loue our neighbours yea euen our very enemies not onely as our selues which is the righteousnesse of the law but euen aboue our selues being readie according to the will of God to sacrifice not our goods onely but our very
Gal. 3. 14. a curse that I through him blessed be his holy Name for euer might bee made the righteousnesse of God and partake the promise made to Abraham our Father c Gal. 3. 8. In thee shall all Nations be blessed Know we notwithstanding that though the Apostle thus gloried in the Lord that hee had gone so farre to grace the Gospell by meanes whereof hee did it and to prouoke the Galathians and all others to aspire vnto the like comfort and assurance yet for all that hee exempteth not himselfe from the number of such as hunger and thirst after righteousnesse euen to his dying day he hungred and thirsted still neuer more for euen in his old age he f Phil. 3. 7 8. 13 14. counted all things no better then losse and very doung in comparison of a fuller knowledge and experience of CHRIST IESVS then hee had yet attained to Hee complaineth that hee was yet vnperfect and came short of the goale he professeth in like manner that after the fashion of Runners in a race hee for gate what was behind and reached forth vnto those things which were before and pressed toward the marke for the price of the high calling of GOD. Hee carried himselfe to all purposes as a man extremely hungry and vnsatisfied And the more hee fed himselfe and feasted others the more hungry and thirstie he grew as tasting more and more still how sweet the Lord was This hungring and thirsting after righteousnesse is among the rest a notable marke and charaâ—â—er of a man truly regenerate and so of true blessednesse and the degree of it doth plainly demonstrate the degree of our profiting in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST In the fift place Verse 7. hee pronounceth them blessed not that liue to themselues seeking their owne onely or chiefly as most doe much lesse the cruell and hard-hearted but the mercifull who hauing themselues found vnexpected and vnmeasurable mercy at Gods hands freely to remit the great debt of their sinnes against him as it were ten thousand talents as it is in the Parable and withall besides his infinite fauours spirituall and corporall in this present life of his good pleasure to giue them the Kingdome whereof Luk. 12. 32. haue learned for their parts from their hearts to remit whatsoeuer offences of their brethren and fellow-seruants against themselues as it were some small debt g Mat. 18. 21. c. of an hundred pence so farre forth that if they offend and that grieuously in their thinking seuen times yea h Luke 17. 4. seuentie times seuen times yet still vpon their repentance freely and ioyously to forgiue and receiue them into their fauour as they themselues haue beene to their vnspeakable comfort and would still be forgiuen and receiued into Gods fauour and haue further learned as natural children of their heauenly Father out of an holy compassion and commiseration which the Word heere vsed implyeth to be helpfull to others especially to the houshold of faith in all things so much as in them is euen to the very laying downe of their liues as we are taught 1. Iohn 3. 16 17. And lastly haue learned where abilitie is wanting to doe any other good or to doe so much good as they desire to bee of like affection with the people of God especially to i Rom. 12. 10. 15 16. weepe with them that weepe and to reioyce with them that reioyce being kindly or naturally affectioned to loue one another with brotherly loue They must needes bee blessed in whom is found this sweet fruit of the Spirit of God and that beare his image in so speciall manner In the sixt place Verse 8. hee pronounceth them blessed not who are Impuritanes in any degree whether walkers in the counsell of the vngodly or standers through a habit and custome of doing euill in the way of sinners or sitters in the chaire of scorners turning as many doe plaine Atheists and mock-gods nor yet those who are pure in their owne eyes or externally onely in the eyes of others as the Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites but the pure in heart who haue as the Apostle Peter teacheth k 1. Pet. 1. 22. purified their soules or made them chast as the word there signifieth in obeying the truth or Gospell through the spirit vnto vnfained loue of the brethren so that they loue one another with a pure heart feruently A very excellent Scripture giuing vs thus much to vnderstand and serueth notably to the cleering of that which we haue in hand that our soules naturally vncleane are to be purified by faith as the same Apostle spake Acts 15. 9. which he calleth heere obeying of the truth through the blessed operation of the Holy Ghost that being now reconciled to God and as it were new-married to him wee should be wholy deuoted to him as a chast Matrone to her husband in obedience to his word and loue one another with a pure and sincere heart feruently l 1. Pet. 2. 1. Laying aside to that end as it followeth a little after all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and enuies and euill speakings This is indeed to be pure in heart and truely blessed when as new-borne babes they so desire and drinke in the sincere milke of the word that all gall and guile being put farre away they doe from an honest and good heart performe due feruice to God first and then to their brethren for his sake and at his bidding In the seuenth place Verse 9. they are pronounced blessed not who are turbulent louing to fish in a trobled water nor the proud and ambitious who are the authors of strife nor whisperers and tale-bearers who carrie fewell to that fire and helpe blow it vp no nor yet such as peruersely affect the reputation of quiet folkes and no medlers but the Peace-makers who being at peace with God and seruing the God of peace in the spirit of peace according to the Gospell of peace are m Psal 120. 7. all for peace with King Dauid not onely labouring so much as in them is so much as is possible for truth may not bee sold away to buy peace to haue peace with all men especially to maintaine and vphold loue and amitie with the Saints euen according to the true patterne set downe Acts 4. 32. The multitude of beleeuers were of one heart and of one soule but their care is also to make peace by all meanes betweene God and man in the first place by helping forward the conuersion of a sinner going astray out of his way euery one according to his gifts and calling and in the next place betweene man and man reconciling parties at variance so much as in them is and so stopping the passages of much vncharitablenesse and wickednesse for what euill commeth not of contentions brawles and suites iustly resembled to the breaking out of a violent fire or floud Blessed are all they