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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01711	Certaine sermons, vpon diuers textes of Holie Scripture Whereof some haue been seuerally before published, and other some for the greater benefit of the godly reader are here now added. By M. George Giffard, preacher of the worde of God at Mauldon Essex.	Gifford, George, d. 1620.; Gifford, George, d. 1620. A sermon on the parable of the sower. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. Two sermons upon I. Peter 5. vers. 8 and 9. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. Foure sermons uppon the seven chiefe vertues of faith. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. A godlie, zealous, and profitable sermon upon the second chapter of saint James. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse the thirtie day of May. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. A sermon on the third chapter of Saint Iames. aut	1597 (1597)	STC 11848.5; ESTC S120470	152,707	288

CERTAINE SERMONS VPON DIVERS TEXTES OF HOLIE SCRIPTVRE Whereof some haue been seuerally before published and other some for the greater benefit of the godly reader are here now added By M. George Giffard Preacher of the worde of God at Mauldon in Essex LONDON Printed by the Widowe Orwin for Thomas Man 1597. A briefe Summarie of such Sermons as are contayned in this booke A Sermon on the Parable of the Sower taken out of the 13. of Mathew vers 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9 Two Sermons vpon the 1. Pet. 5. vers 8. and 9. wherin is shewed that the deuil is to be resisted only by a stedfast faith howsoeuer he commeth either against soule or body and that whosoeuer hath once attained the true and liuely faith it can neuer be vtterly lost but he is sure to get the victorie Foure Sermons vpon the seuen chiefe vertues or principall effectes of faith and the doctrine of election wherin euerie man may learne whether he be Gods child or no. Taken out of the first chap. of the second epistle of Saint Peter vers 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11 A godlie zealous and profitable Sermon vpon the second chapter of Saint Iames vers 14.15 16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.26 A Sermon vpon Iames chap. 3. vers 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12 A Sermon preached at Paules Crosse the thirtie day of May. 1591. vpon Psal 33. A Treatise of true Fortitude TO THE RIGHT WORshipfull M. Iohn Hutton Esquier George Gifford wisheth health and increase of worship IT is more then halfe a yeare Right Worshipfull since I handled this Parable of the Sower in a Sermon at London Being instantly vrged by a friend which heard me to put it in writing although I was very vnwilling for sundrie considerations yet I made some promise if leasure should serue Afterward when I would very gladly haue been released at her hands whom I promised I could by no meanes obtaine it I haue therefore at the last so nigh as I could set downe in writing that which I then vttered in speaking I know that I haue omitted some things in the particular applications and exhortations which I made and also I haue added somewhat which either then came not to minde or els time did not serue to handle I ambold to present and dedicate this my poore trauell vnto your worship moued therto with diuers respects at thinking my self in duty bound not only with this cōmon and generall bond that ye are one which long time haue professed the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ but with diuers more speciall which are so well knowne vnto you that it were needlesse for me to recite thē onely thus much seeing I was borne and brought vp vnder you my parents receiuing benefits daily from you I thinke I ought when as I am not able to make any recompence at least to shew some token of a gratefull minde But especially I am moued hereunto with consideration of the greatest blessing which all my kinred haue enioyed by you now so long in prouiding and procuring their spirituall instruction I pray you accept of my good will and account of me as one that prayeth to the Lord for you that he will multiplie and increase his good gifts still in you to the glorie of his holie name the benefit of his Church and your endles comfort in Iesus Christ Amen Yours for euer to command in the Lord George Gifford A SERMON VPON THE PArable of the Sower Matth. 13. 1 IN that day Iesus went out of the house sate by the sea side 2 And there was gathered vnto him a multitude so that he entred into a ship and sate downe and the whole multitude stood on the shoare 3 And he spake many things vnto them by parables saying Behold a Sower went forth to sowe 4 And as he sowed some seeds fell by the way side and the foules came and eat them vp 5 Other fell vpon stony ground where they had not much earth and by by they sprang vp because they had not depth of earth 6 And when the sun rose they were parched and because they had no root they withered 7 Other fell among thornes and the thornes grewe vp and choked it 8 Other fell into good ground and brought foorth fruit one seed an hundred fold another sixtie another thirty 9 He that hath eares to heare let him heare ALthough the Iewes at such time as our Sauiour Christ came into the worlde had the word of God among them and had also the Temple and Synagogues where they heard the same read expounded yet their state was very miserable for Christ saith they were as sheep without a shepheard because their teachers the Scribes and Pharisies being choaked with couetousnes and puffed vp with vaine glory were become stark naught corrupt in maners corrupting the word with their fond gloses their teaching also was so cold and with so little power euen in that which they taught truly that the people had no great list to heare them But when Iohn Baptist the forerunner of Christ was raised vp to publish the beginning of the Gospell and to prepare the way for the Lord hee like a sounding and shrill Trumpet with the power of his word shooke their hearts and rowsed their drowsinesse so that from his time the kingdome of heauen suffered violence When Christ Iesus himselfe vttered his voice in preaching and his diuine power in working woonders there appeared such a woonderfull maiestie in his person as did amaze the hearers wherupon his fame was noysed far and neer so that they came running out of al quarters of the land by heaps for to see and hear him they seemed to forget themselues and their state in leauing all worldly affaires as the husbandmen their plough the Artificers their craftes and sciences following him into the wildernesse with their wiues and their children laggering at their heeles so great was their zeale So that as before almost all did perish in the miserable state they were in nowe it seemed that the greatest part or at least an innumerable multitude did with such care imbrace the heauenly doctrine as that they should be most happy and come to eternal life but this was otherwise for our Sauiour Christ sheweth heere that of this great heap and rablement of people that were so zealous and trauelled so far to heare him there were three partes which did not profite by his doctrine but continued still damned and forlorne creatures only one part of foure are true schollers And because we be rank hypocrits prone ready to deceiue our selues Christ Iesus layeth open the matter so plainlie in so familiar a kind of teaching that vnles we wilfully blind our selues we can not but see how the case stādeth in euery of vs ech man in himselfe for he taketh a similitude from a Sower of corn which going casting his seed abroad it lighteth vpon sundry kindes of ground some falleth by the way side where the path is trāpled beaten smooth hard by mens

feet and is made like a pauement there it lyeth aboue the ground altogether vncouered the Fouls come by by pick it vp Some falleth into stony ground or rocky or as S. Luke saith vpon a rock where there is a litle thin crust of earth in the top some moisture in which the seed is a little couered and because the earth which doth couer it is but shallow it springeth vp quicklie and brancheth and is fresh and greene and being so good seemeth to be forward corne and such as would yeeld to the husbandmen a plentifull haruest but because the root cannot spread it selfe deepe ynough to suck iuice out of the ground for the nourishment of the blade when the parching heate of the Sun lighteth vpon it then it is dryed vp and scorched and dyeth neuer bringeth forth fruit Some other doth fall among thornes there is depth of earth for the feed to grow so that it springeth vp and not onely a blade but also a stalke and commeth so far as to haue the eare but the thornes grow vp with it ouershadow and choak it in so much that the corne in the eare cannot haue the benefite of the Sun to make it ripe therefore the fruite that it seemeth to bring forth commeth to naught Some other seeds fall into good ground and grow vp bring forth seasonable fruit one kernell an hundreth another sixty another thirtie This is the Parable Now for the meaning of it we are not to seek far neither to goe by coniectures for Christ himselfe doth expound and interpret euery part of it a little after in this chapter I neede not but to lay open his exposition The seed is the word of God the sower of it is the Preacher and publisher of the same for as the Sower doth fil his hand and so casteth it abroad vpon the ground not setting it seed by seed or choosing a place for euery seed but where it lighteth euen so the preacher doth cast foorth the worde among the people and look how the ground is into which it falleth so doth it prosper for your hearts are the ground vpon which it is cast you that are the hearers among whom the seed is sown haue euery one a hart which is one of these four sorts of groūd vpon which the seed falleth and because the seede hath beene and is still daylie sowne among yee I thinke this parcell of scripture is vey fit and agreeable euen as a touchstone for euery one to try him selfe withall whether hee haue rightlie embraced the Gospell and to his saluation for what a sottishnes were this when we haue so iust and plaine a rule not to measure our selues with it But going on on nothing consider whether we be not one of those three euill sorts of ground which receiue the seed but bring forth no fruite thinking we be wel if we professe the Gospel or heare it after any sort Let vs go forward those which receiue the seede by the way side are they which heare the worde and doe not vnderstand it then commeth the euill one or as S. Luke saith the Diuell and taketh it away from their heart In these first kind of hearers we haue to obserue how that their heartes being hard and smooth like a path that is trampled and beatē with mens feet the word hath no entrance but lieth aboue vncouered for like as when a man casteth an handfull of corne vpon a very harde and smooth path it is all one as if it were cast vpon a pauement so also through the custome and deceitfulnesse of sinning the Diuell hath made the hearts of these vnmeete to receiue the heauenly seed of the word and looke how ye see Crowes other Fowles followe the heeles of the Sower to picke vp and deuoure such kernels as do lie vncouered in like maner do the diuels come like greedy foules into the assemblies where the word of God is preached to take it away from the harts of the people that it may not growe there This peraduenture will seeme strange to some that Sathan should haue any entrance into the Church among Gods people especially when they bee about the best and most holy exercises of hearing the word of praier How strange soeuer it may seeme and how many soeuer haue been or bee of that fond and doltish opinion to think that the diuell hath nothing to do with them or commeth not neere them when they bee about these holie things we are to beleeue Christ who telleth vs the contrary and we are wisely to consider that when we are nighest that which shoulde doe our soules good then is this enemie readiest at hand doth most busilie bestirre him If this were not vttered by our Sauiour Christ himselfe we might woonder for mine own part I would not cease wondring to see many hearers which cary away almost nothing which is to any purpose let a man tell a long storie in a worldly matter they haue wit inough to recite it in order again to keep it in remēbrance a long time after but let the preacher speak neuer so plain although they sit look him in that face yet if ye enquire of thē so soon as they be out at the church doors ye shal easily perceiue that as the cōmon saying is it went in at the one eare and out at the other They will say peraduenture after this maner it was a good sermon I wold we could follow it he said very wel he is a perfect ready man in the pulpit But ask what doctrine did he handle Then are they at a pause and set at a dead lift They will make this answere we are not able to carrie away so much as other can neuertheles we hope that we be as good toward God as they that carie away most They will also confesse that the worde of God is good and that wee should be ruled by it Let vs therefore dearly beloued if we desire not to be of the number of these marke well the subtill sleights and pollicie of the diuell how he handleth and conueyeth the matter with this kind of people There is no doubt of this but that if he can he will drawe away the minde from comming to the Sermon one pelting let or other must come in the way if there be no worldly businesse to be done then a paire of cards or tables or some honest recreation it should be nowe no good ciuility to part companie when friends are met togither this is the surest way if it may be obtained but what if he faile heerin They come to the place where the seed shal be sowne sit down and mind to heare then the next way is to come with them and to attend at their elbowe seeking how to depriue them of the word Now his best way is to bring them asleepe because they were then as good bee absent or into a slumber that they may heare

be not blasphemers or persecutors of the word they be not contemners which regard not at all to heare it they come not vnder a shewe or pretence as to a thing which otherwise they haue no care nor feeling of or which they delight not for to heare but how They receiue it with ioy and take such pleasure therin that returning they can say surely this was a very notable peece of worke and wel handeled I am glad that I heard it it doth me euen as much good as my meate I would goe a mile to heare the like againe Is not this then marueilous and fearfull that a man may goe thus far yet be a castaway and a forlorne wretch It is not a thing to be woondered at when the holie scriptures giue sentence against those traiterous villaines which set themselues against God and tread downe his lawes but when God vttereth this sharpe sentence against this zealous kind of mē if it cause vs not to wōder yet it may make vs to tremble when we see that a man may proceed thus far in religion and yet be damned Whē we vnderstand that a man may bee zealous and ready to heare preaching vnderstandeth carieth away letteth it grow in his heart hath some ioy in it and yet neuer the better abiding still vnder the curse But there be some which will obiect against me and say this is no good manner of teaching for the vse of true teaching is to builde vp and edifie the faith but this seemeth to take away the certainty of faith from all so that no man can tell whether he shall be saued For by what means can a man make a better triall and proofe of his faith then this that he giueth eare to Gods word vnderstandeth it carieth it away and ioyeth in it If such a man may be damned who may not dispaire I answere with S. Paul 1. Cor. 10.12 He that thinketh he standeth let him take heed he do not fall If the admonition were necessary to the Corinthes it is necessarie for vs all One of the principall endes and vses of preaching is to giue men warning that they do not deceiue thēselues with euery kind of faith or ioy in the word but to looke for good and sound triall in themselues which is not the way to bring men to despaire but to bring them to true godlinesse to cause them to shake off securitie and loosnesse in the seruice of God to beware least their heartes bee hard still within it causeth men to trie themselues least they should be deceiued by a vaine shadowe of a dead and fruitlesse faith for Christ saith that these beleeue for so it is expressed by S. Luke the 8.13 and ioy in the worde and yet are damned Then let vs come to the particular applying of this point to see howe wee are to deale with our selues when ye receiue the word take heed that ye giue it depth of earth enough look that your hart be not soft pliable enough a little aboue and a hard rocke of stone within but see that it bee digged and softened to the bottome that the worde may take deep roote enough Alas what a miserable thing is it when Christ hath giuen vs warning here so plainly for a man to be a zealous gospeller not only willing to heare but hath an earnest desire trauelleth to heare taketh pleasure delight when he heareth yet neuertheles because he taketh no heede thereto his heart within is so stonie that he heareth but to his further increase of damnation Manie thinke it goeth wel with them when as they receiue this testimonie frō men he is a sound Protestant he fauoureth and delighteth in the truth these indeed be great tokens of the fear of God but yet we are not to rest in thē our chief dealing is between God our hart that in this thing whether our heart bee not hard and rockie Those are a thousande times happy which feele melting heartes and soft affections so that Gods word doth pearce into them causeth them to tremble at the maiesty power of the fame their tender heart doth sigh and mourn for their iniquitie As on the contrary part they which make no conscience of sin but are hardened in their affections although they seem to be in good case yet are they cursed miserable Let euery man therefore that goeth from the sermon carie this with him I heare by Christs owne words that there is a stonie ground where the seed falleth where it groweth but not deep enough it springeth vp but doth not bring forth fruit this is a wofull case if I should be in the number of these for then al my labor is lost which I bestow in frequēting Sermōs yea it were much better that I had neuer heard I feele that I ioy in it I would not for any thing but I had heard it but Christ saith that the reprobate some of them do heare the word with ioy so that if I looke not narrowly to mine owne heart I may for all this be damned therefore I must not satisfie my selfe with this but see that I couer the word deep enough that my heart be softened in such sort that I feele the roote goeth deepe yea so deepe that it can neuer be rooted out And therefore let him continuallie crie vnto God and say O Lord make soft my harde and stony heart let it bee a melting heart that thy holie worde may growe in it for euer I would to God this doctrine of our Sauiour Christ might make euerie of vs to tremble shake as indeed if it were well weighed it is so fearfull that it might cause the haire of our heads to stand vp for then would we not so loosely securely walk in the hardnesse of our heartes there would not be so many backsliders in time of persecution there would not be so many braue boasters and praters of Religion who are readie to pull in their hornes and to hide their heades so soone as there is anie feare of daunger or likelihood of persecution neither would men bear themselues in hand that they be iolly professours when they haue but a little tasted of the word are no more but empty barrelles which giue a great sound Heere then wee be set a worke with great toyle to haue this same hard stonie ground made softe and fit to receiue this heauenly seed And hee which is not carefull in this point to take paines yee shall see him waxe so hard that euen as a continuall raine dropping vpon a rocke of stone maketh it neuer the softer so nothing can make his heart to relent This may teach vs then to cease marueiling when wee see so manie which willinglie giue themselues to be taught haue still little remorse of sinne The Lorde for his mercie sake make vs wise and sharpe sighted to iudge of our selues not to be lead on forward in a carnall profession but to

giue credit to our heauenly teacher who hath heere opened his holie mouth to instruct vs so plainely and before hand to warne vs of the great danger that we may stir vp ourselues and be quickened in our dull spirits with all humble submission and bowing downe our neckes to receiue the doctrine of our Lord to open our hearts in such sort that he may digge in them and thrust in his spade to the bottome for otherwise it cannot go wel with vs. If this were practised among vs wee should not haue so many old rusty Protestants which if a man talk with them from morning to night they are able to continue speech in reciting stories and places of Scripture and will vtter matter against the doctrine of the Pope but let a man vrge them with the doctrine of regeneration and stand vpon the necessitie of sincere repentance shewing them that they must be truly humbled vnder the burthē of their sinnes that they must mortifie and subdue their carnall lustes this is too hard a crust for their old teeth This matter doth marre all this doth rob them of their glorie and therefore they can not wilinglie abide to heare of it Let vs come now to the third kind of ground which receiueth the seed among the thornes here is depth enough of earth so that as the second sort of hearers seemed to goe far beyond the first so these seeme to goe far beyond them and to come nigher to eternall life for heere the worde doth grow hath root so deep that it springeth foorth so farre that Christ faith it groweth vp and the thornes growe vp with it the stalke doth shoot foorth the eare and lacketh but riping For this may bee prooued by Saint Luke who saith that they bee not Telesphorountes that is such as beare ripe and timely fruit for these professors doe manie good workes and seeme to bring foorth the fruites of the Gospel and that in such wise that men cannot alwayes discerne them but thinke their deeds to be notable but Christ Iesus doth shew that their workes before God who only cannot bee deceiued are as corne which lacketh riping which being ouershadowed with bushes withereth in the eare and commeth to naught this is a dangerous case if wee looke not to it That a man may heare the Gospell preached carie it away be moued thereby to doe many good workes and yet be damned Hee is a thousand folde mad therefore which doth not looke to himselfe in this point to trie what soundnesse there is in the fruites of his faith and how sincerely hee doth imbrace Gods worde As before I saide that some would obiect say this will destroy the faith so am I sure that heer it will be said much more because this seemeth to take away the surest tryall of faith if a man may not by and by say I haue good works therfore I haue the true and liuely faith I answere that whosoeuer hath any good worke in him the same hath the true faith which hath brought foorth that good worke because it is impossible without faith to do any good thing or to haue any good motion or intent but withall I say that it is one thing to seem good before men and another thing for to be good indeed before God In outward appearance there is little differēce between the good deeds of thē which feare god sincerely the vntimely fruite of worldlings but God whose eie doth not look vpon the outward shew but the inward affection seeth which proceedeth of faith and which doth proceed of vaine glorie or some other sinister respect and putteth as great differēce between thē as he did between the sacrifices of Caine and Abel Wee must take heed then that the fruits of our faith be ripe timely otherwise they be good but in shew We must come then to see first what these thornes are in S. Matt. they are called the cares of this world the deceitfulnes of riches in S. Luk. the cares of riches pleasures of this life And in very deed these thornes do growe togither For were it not for the pleasures of this life there would bee no cares of riches hee which doth seek greedily for welth it is either because he would be able to haue wherwithal to fill the lustes of the flesh and to pamper his body delicately or els to setforth himself in pride to climb ambitiously vnto honour For so long as a man doth take pleasure in any of these so long he is couetous raketh together so much that as the common saiing is he raketh vp the diuel all What must we do then Our hearts are as a ground that is rank bringeth forth many weedes we are set a work as God speaks by his prophet Ieremy chap 4.4 Plow vp your fallow sow not among the thorns we must put al diligēce care that our hearts may be rid of such noisom weeds as wil choke the word of God make that it shall not bring foorth fruit in vs. So long as we suffer any of these in vs either to loue dainty delicate feeding of our flesh to fil our selues with the lusts therof or to be gallant in the eies of mē hautily to lift vp our selues in our vain glorious minds for the maintenāce of these delightes bend our care to the world so long shall we be vnprofitable schollers in the school of christ Alas poor men which wold fain come to God yet are glued to the worlde they offer one hand to Christ the other to the diuel they can talk of the spirit and yet are led by the flesh the gospel is in their mouth and couetousnesse lodgeth in their hearts their works glister are green before men are withered before God they seem to be faithful are faithlesse to be heires of glory yet are the childrē of cōfusion there are gret plēty of these hearers specially in such places where there is welth honors how many fal away choked with the world and yet we are not afraid of ourselues to take heede that we stand fast A great mercy of God it is that we haue not only the doctrine laide before vs but also fearefull examples so that we may buy our wit with other mens cost For when wee see the world with delightes and pleasures with couetousnesse and ambition to carrie away those which professe the Gospell is not our owne matter in hand are not we made of the same mettall they are doth not the world assault vs as it doth them Yes and we shall be ouercome also if the Lord haue not mercie vpon vs. The hardnes of this worke ought not to discourage or make vs slack but hearing what Christ saith whome wee ought to beleeue the more harde the more we are to stirre vp our selues vnles we make small reckoning of the saluation of our soules Hee that shall yeeld

only a sound and a confused humming without any perseuerance of the things vttered or els when they heare any perfect sentence or a few sentences they know not why they bee vttered because they heard not that which went before Such as are not so drowsie headed being wakefull he seeketh stil to conuey some thoughts into their minds whereabouts they may be occupied and their vnderstanding drawne away the mind of a man being light and inconstant if hee can put in but one motion it oftentimes draweth with it so many linkes as make vp a whole chaine in the meane time the Preacher goeth on and he vnderstandeth not what was said and so when his mind returneth he can haue no sound knowledge of the things vttered but a confused opinion into these by thoughtes men are oftentimes brought euen by occasion of some word or sentence which they heard vttered and are carried so far that they cannot of long time recouer their mind to bring it again to the matter Seeing this great dāger we ought when we come to hear Gods word taught to make account that wee goe about a verie hard worke that we go to encounter with Sathan hand to hand who seeketh then most busilie to steale away our heart that he may make that word fruitlesse in vs and cause vs to sinne grieuously against God There is no one man which maketh conscience of hearing the word rightly which setting these thinges togither the reuerence we owe vnto it the stedinesse of our minde which should be vpon it and the care to keepe it but will easilie grant that it is as hard and painfull a trauell to doe this as for the man that worketh in the sorest bodilie labor Heer is therfore a lesson for euery man to apply to himself when he is going to heare the word to think I am now going about a gret work I shall be too weak if the Lord God do not mightilie assist me for I am not to sit downe there at ease but to wrastle and struggle with the Diuell and with all the corruptions of mine owne flesh and hardnesse of my heart that my mind may bee kept stedfast vpon the worde that I may receiue it with al reuerence feare as the word of the great glorious God not to iudge of it at mine own pleasure but to craue wisedome from the Lord not to heare it and to let it goe but to keep it as a most precious iewell locked vp in my heart that I may guide my selfe thereby And wee shall be a great deale the rather mooued to this diligence if we consider what a companion wee carie about with vs and what a guest wee lodge withall when we be such as heare the word and doe not keep it For Christ telleth vs that it is the Diuell which doth this which as a greedy Fowle deuoureth the seed which was sowne in our heart if any make none account to haue him possessing their mind hardening their hearts against the word then let them continue in their sloth to heare with drowsie minds to heare and not to vnderstand to regard the holy word but as the word of a man to make little account to keep it But if he thinke it a most miserable thing to haue so filthy a beast so soule a spirit to lodge in his breast if he thinke it to be a most vile slauery to be vanquished and ouercome of so horrible an enemie to bee led captiue and kept thrall vnder such a tyrant then let him thinke also how miserable a thing it is to bee such a kind of ground as doth receiue the seede by the way side For vndoubtedly how soeuer men seeme to defie the deuill and curse him as though he should not come nigh them yet seeing it is no mortall man but the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe who telleth vs heer that the diuell is not only nigh but in these kind of hearers euen hardening their heartes and blinding their eies wee ought most constantlie to beleeue it Hee that shall deeply weigh the estate of our Church at this day will soone be brought to confesse that there be many of this first sort of hearers they shall perceiue it right wil by this that they are not able in any wise to iudge or put difference betweene sound syncere preaching and vaine pratling they know not whē the preacher doth minister vnto them wholsome food and when there is nothing but chaffe and wind ye shal heare them highly commende some Sermon as a matter worthy to be written in letters of gold when as in deed it deserueth not so much as to be noted with a coale I speake not of those silly wretches which were neuer as yet acquainted with preaching for it is no great maruel though they bee not able to discerne chalke from cheese or being blind for to iudge of colours but to such as of long time haue been hearers and yet neuer the wiser because they are not able to iudge when sound and necessary conclusions are drawne out of the word but all is one with them whether the reason that is made be good or bad strong or weake yea further ye shall perceiue that euē a litle shew of a reason although neuer so doltish being against true godlines doth more preuaile with thē then a multitude of infallible proofs although they be neuer so sure and that which is so grosse and absurd that a child may laugh at seemeth to them a very strong piller to leane to There needeth no more when a man preacheth vnto them but a glorious shew of learning a sweet ringing voice and matters so strange and strangely handeled that they may be brought into a woondermēt of that they know not And Satan hath many chaplaines fit for this turne to serue the vaine humor of such people and to set foorth themselues after a pompous sort more seeking their owne vaine glory then the glorie of the Gospel in the conuersion of the people The seconde kind of ground are they which receiue the seede vpon the hard rock where there is some entrance and the word hath a shallow root in them for as it were the top of their heart is soft after a sort and there it is couered a little and it groweth vp quicklie and springeth fresh they seeme to be stout and excellent professours they brag of great zeale a man would take them to be syncere and so they take themselues but when the Sun ariseth that is the fiery triall or parching heate of persecution they stumble and fall away and because the word had no deep root in them it withereth and bringeth forth no fruite these also are not profited by the word of grace but are stil castawayes damned creatures In this kind of ground or in these hearers if we note well we shall see that which is strange and woonderfull when Christ saith and testifieth of them that they receiue the word with ioy these

that God may haue the greatest glorie to bring forth the least is not to bee contemned because the Lord in time doth purge them make them more fruitfull I need not to stand heere for to handle many things or to make large exposition the matter is exceeding plain there is no more but this that all our care in hearing and professing the Gospell bee to receiue it into good ground to bring forth the fruites thereof What should I stand to rip vp the shamefull abuse in the contrarie to vtter how manie euill fruits there be in manie which are Gospellers This should be but as it were to light a candle in the cleare Sunshine for all men doe see them I doe not speake this as though it should not bee good to cry out against them but because the former things which I haue now vttered doe fully disclose them And therefore I will heere ende desiring the Lord to write these things in our hearts which wee haue heard with our outwarde eares and to make vs good ground to receiue the heauenly seed and to bring forth fruits of the same that glorifying him in this world we may be glorifyed of him in the world to come through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen FINIS TWO SERMONS VPON THE 1. Peter 5. vers 8. and 9. Wherein is shewed that the diuell is to be resisted only by astedfast faith how soeuer he commeth either against soule or bodie and that whosoeuer hath once attained the true and liuelie faith it can neuer bee vtterly lost but he is sure to get the victerie The first Sermon Be sober and watch for your aduersarie the diuel as aroaring Lyon walketh about seeking whō he may deuour whome resist stedfast in the faith 1. Pet. 5. verse 8.9 BLessed Peter an Apostle of Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.1 wrote this Epistle to the Christian Iewes which dwelt as strangers dispersed here and there in sundrie countries as in Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia For the ten tribes were scattered of old time and had dwelt long among the Gentiles in many kingdoms being caried away by Shalmaneser king of Ashur out of their owne lande as wee read 2. King 17. And of somewhat later times manie of the tribe of Iuda and Beniamin were also dispersed among the heathen so that S. Iames wrothis epistle in like maner to the twelue tribes which were in the dispersion Iames 1. ver 1. These dispersed Iewes came vp out of all landes at certaine solemne feastes vnto Ierusalem for to worship there according to the law of Moses and there had they heard the Apostles preach Christ as ye may see by that which is written Act. 2. and beleeued in him and vnto them that so beleeued S. Iames and S. Peter directed their Epistles Touching the matters handled in this Epistle of Peter we are to note that the holy Apostle dealeth principallie about the duties of christian life as namelie the times being then full of troubles and terrour of persecutions hee laboureth to make them bolde patient constant and cheerefull in all afflictions and sufferinges which they were to passe through to come to the partaking of the heauenly glory with Christ Also hee vseth manie graue and forcible reasons to mooue them vnto true holinesse euen to walke in the vertues of the spirit of grace and to bring foorth fruites worthie of so high a calling But first of all he openeth as it were the fountaine and beginning of all good actions in man that is how God of his great mercie had chosen them and begotten them in Christ to bee his children and heires of glory Among these perswasions admonitions and exhortations of the Apostle this is one which I haue read vnto you and which I am now to handle It may bee diuided into three partes Of which the first is an admonition or an exhortation wherby he stirreth vp all the faithfull vnto sobriety and watchfulnes in these wordes Be sober and watch The second part sheweth what cause there is to moue all men vnto this sobriety and watchfulnes or how much it standeth them euery way vpon seeing they haue so terrible and so cruell an aduersary who continuallie seeketh their eternall woe and destruction which is in these wordes For your aduersarie the diuell as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom hee may deuoure The thirde and last parte doth teach howe wee shall withstand him ouercome him and put him to flight that so wee may escape from his cruell tyranny which is in these words Whom resist stedfast in the faith All men may easilie see that the matter which wee haue here to deale in is of the greatest moment If a man haue landes or goods and perceiue that he hath an aduersary which lyeth in wait and seeketh to depriue him of the same it will mooue him to take heed and it wil set him on worke to seeke all the wayes and meanes hee can to learne how hee may defend and hold his right If a man do knowe that his enemie doth continuallie seeke all opportunitie and all occasions howe hee may set vpon him vnawares and with the greatest aduantages be can to take away his life will he not watch and take heed yea will he not bee glad to learne how he may so arme and strengthen himselfe that hee may withstand his saide cruell enemie when hee commeth Here is a farre greater matter not the losse of goods or landes or of this fraile life but the destruction of both body and soule in eternall damnation which is sought by a very mightie subtill and cruell enemie I know therefore that so many as haue any sparke of true wisedom wil be very attentiue to hearken to this exhortation of the Apostle and willing to learne how they may be kept safe from so great a danger For how foolish a thing is it that we should bee so carefull to beware of men that they may not harm vs which is but in lighter matters in the mean time haue no regard how to beware of diuels which seek our eternal wo and miserie Hearken therfore beloued vnto this wholsome instruction for nowe will I come to handle euery member by it selfe Be sober and watch Watching to this end that we may keep our selues out of danger is the chiefe and principall matter of this exhortation and because no man can bee fit to watch vnlesse hee bee sober hee ioyneth them both together and saith vnto vs Be sober and watch It is in vaine to call vpon drunken men to watch for sleep will soone oppresse them hee that is sober hee may watch Be sober therefore saith the Apostle and watch For our further instruction in this point wee are to remember that there bee two kindes of drunkennesse two kindes of sobernesse two sortes of sleeping and two sorts of watching the one of the boby the other of the minde Hee that with excesse and ryote powreth in wine and strong drinke vntill he

holy booke of God be our ground let it bee brought foorth to cut downe all controuersies and let men if they looke for any part of the blessing here promised yeeld all honour and glorie vnto this sacred word yea let no man stand vpon his owne honour or reputation if he haue maintained any thing awry but so soone as euer hee espieth the truth in any matter yeeld thereunto let the trueth of God goe before and lead vs the way For this is the onely way to grow into this holy vnitie And let such as walke a wrie forsake their euill waies embrace the heauenly truth and follow the rules thereof if they will be accounted studious of peace and concord Ioyning thus vnto the truth both in faith and godlines of life wee shall be ioyned togither in the Lord and it shall be saide Behold how good and how comely a thing it is for brethren also to dwell at vnitie It shall bee like that precious ointment vpon the head of Aaron c. The heauenly graces gifts of the holy ghost shall come downe vpon vs plenteously and flow vnto euerie member wee shall bring foorth fruite vnto God watered with heauenly dewes wee shall haue that great and high blessing of God almightie vnto eternall life Therefore if it bee not too late that the sinnes of this land haue prouoked the Lorde to displeasure let all men lift vp their hearts and crie vnto the Lord that he will bestow this precious iewell vpon vs that wee may bee at vnitie not in all manner of wicked vices nor in errours but in the Lord. And now who shall seeke this vnitie who shall studie to aduance it This may be in question I answer euen all states and degrees of men priuat persons rulers and teachers euen all and euery one that wil looke for any part of gods blessing must aduance it Euery man I say must looke vnto the heauenly truth of the holy religion and embrace the same with all loue and heartie affection Euery man ought to be zealous in spirit for the glorie of Christ For if a man haue not the zeale of religion hee can not be a good man whether hee be ruler or priuate man though hee seeme to be neuer so peaceable but as the Lord saith to the Angell of the Church of Laodicea Reu. 3. Because thou art neither hot nor colde I vvill spewe thee out of my mouth God doth reiect all such dull and drowsie Atheistes and irreligious persons which are so earthly minded as that they regard not the heauenly graces which are offered in the Gospell Let all men therefore stirre vp their heartes to be feruent in Gods truth and let not godly zeale be quenched Then further as I haue also shewed before wee must ioyne the practise of this holy word as the Apostle S. Iames willeth Be doers of the worde and not hearers onely deceiuing your selues Iam. 2.19 for the great disturbāce of peace the grieuous breaches of vnity all bitter dissentions do chiefly arise from hence that all sorts degrees of men walke not in the rules which God hath prescribed vnto them in his word Wee must therefore enter more particularly into this matter that we may see how ech mā is to further this blessed vnitie I begin with the priuat person for whome there are rules prescribed in Gods word for him to obserue if he wil be a true member of the Church a seeker preseruer of this vnitie so a partaker of Gods blessing vnto life euerlasting One rule is touching subiection reuerence vnto gouernors both ciuill and ecclesiasticall for God hath commanded to honor obey them Submit your selues vnto all manner ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be vnto the king as vnto the superiour or vnto gouernors as vnto them that are sent of him for the punishment of euill doers and for the praise of them that doe well 1. Pet. 2. v. 13 14. Also of this obedience and subiection for conscience sake of this reuerence and honour to be rendred S. Paul writeth Rom. 13. v. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Likewise obey them that haue the ouersight of you and submit your selues for they watch for your soules as they that must giue accounts c. Heb. 13.17 The neglect and breach of this rule euen the denying of obedience reuerence and honour vnto the rulers gouernours and teachers disturbeth and ouerthroweth the vnitie which is here praised If then a man will not make conscience to performe this dutie in obeying the holy doctrine of the Lord what is he other then an enemy vnto the true concord a dissoluer of vnitie peace But what if rulers offend pastors and gouernors faile and come short in some duties and therby seeme vnworthy to be regarded I say if they do they shall answer before God for it but yet priuate men are not set at libertie they are not discharged from this obedience and rendring honor vnto them for it is vnto the authoritie and vnto Gods ordinance that they doe it and not in respect of man God hath not prescribed the duties of men which are to be done vnto others vnder this condition if they perfourme all that which they ought to doe on their parts or if they be such maner of men as they ought to be But he hath prescribed euery mans duty absolutely If an other faile in his hee shall answer as I said for it before God thou hast no warrant hereby to depart from the rule which God hath set vnto thee For thou art tied in conscience vnto God to obey his will not in regard of man or of thine owne benefit to doe this or that for by the doctrine of the blessed Apostle wee see that Christian subiects and faithfull seruants are commanded euen for conscience to giue honour vnto heathen princes and infidell masters Rom. 13.1 Tim. 6.1 wee must then from this expresse worde of God obserue that when gouernours doe amisse men haue not their tongues set at libertie to reuile and to reproch them or to dishonour them with euil speech seeing it is also written Thou shalt not curse the ruler of the people Exod. 22. v. 28. But contrariwise praiers and supplications are to be made vnto God for rulers and teachers of the Lords people When they offend it is with great hurt to the Church and therefore men are to lament and mourne for it and not to make themselues merrie with iestes and reproches Let all euill speeches of disgrace then be turned into praiers and the laughter into teares for this shall be more pleasing vnto God Let no man beare himselfe in hād that he is not guilty of the breach of holy concord when he obserueth not the rules of this doctrine of submission of reuerence and honour to be giuen vnto gouernours Another rule is giuen by the Apostle in these words That ye studie to be quiet and to meddle with your