Selected quad for the lemma: head_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A18672
|
The foundation of Christian religion: comprehended in three godlie and learned treatises. 1. Faith. 2. Hope. 3. Charitie
|
L'Espine, Jean de, ca. 1506-1597. Traité de la foy. English.; Veghelman, S.
|
1612
(1612)
|
STC 5188; ESTC S118874
|
139,379
|
370
|
may be sayd in a word that his person his offices and benefits are nothing but Charitie Who so reuerenceth this sauiour in the qualitie of a gift of God ought to follow him as an example and patron of vertue And who so doth otherwise looseth the gift and beareth the name of a christian in vaine yea to his great condemnation This jmitation doth not consist in equalitie nor in perfection but in a feruent desire a holy will and a perseuerant continuance The obiect of charitie The obiect of Charitie is our neighbour who standeth in neede of our helpe which belongeth vnto him both in word and deede according to the law Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe Iesus Christ being demanded of a Pharisie who was our neighbour teacheth him what he knew not in the discription of the Samaritanes charitie towards the Iew that was sore wounded Luc. 10.29 c. There he sheweth that wee ought to acknowlege for our neighbour euery person that hath neede of our helpe Degrees of neighbourhood true it is that the degrees of neighbourhood are diuers and this diuersitie maketh men to varie and often to redouble the obligation There is a double neighbourhood the one is naturall the other spirituall the naturall draweth vs to all men as well Faithfull as infidels The spirituall is proper to the children of God and bindeth them the more The naturall As for the naturall it is compounded of three degrees 1. Wee are neighbours the one to the other by order of creation for in regard of the substance of our originall wee are all come of Adam by consequent neighbours in him 2. One man is neighbour to an other because he is a man endowed with a body and soule and hauing been all first created in our first Father after the Image of God whereof yet some trace doth appeare yea in the miserable sinners so farre foorth that after the deluge God condemning murder expresly sayth these words whosoeuer hath shedde mans bloud by man his bloud shall bee shed for God made man after his owne Image Genes 9.6 3. In regard of the common life and of the societie of men wherein one bodie hath neede of the helpe and assistance of the other the rich men no lesse sometimes more then the poore In this societie are found diuers particular degrees part of consanguinitie of affinitie of publicke and domestick charge part of diuers necessities and difficulties which present at all times in the course of humane life This naturall association of the children of Adam together ought sufficiently to teach them to loue one another which the Philosophers haue well comprehended according as their books witnesse wherein they shew that the vse of reason speech was giuen to man to the end that the one might tell the other what he iudgeth conuenient to require and to giue ease The Spirituall The spirituall societie is of Christians among themselues wherevnto they are drawne by a fouer-fowld necessitie 1. Of regeneration seeing they are borne the children of God by the seede of his holy word 2. Of the misticall body being made members of that body whereof Christ our Sauiour is the head 3. Of the common vocation for wee haue been called in vnitie of spirit by the bond of peace 4 Of a happie life because wee shall enioye together eternally in common and without diuision the celestiall inheritance and the glory prepared therein This Spirituall coniunction sheweth sufficiently how christians ought to be affectionate the one towards the other Can any thing be found better then to see the children of God allied and knit together by band of perfection what body is more agreeable to behold then that misticall body holding together so wel in whole and in euery part indiuisibly conioyned There is no sauour so sweet smell so odoriferous meat so pleasing in tast nothing so delightfull to the eye harmonie so pearsing the soule by the eare of the world that is worth the speaking of if men compare them with the excellencies of the good things inclosed in the mutuall dilection and loue of Christians the one towards an other All the pastimes honours and worldly goods are as nothing that vanisheth in the aire in comparison of this concord What dignitie may be paraleld to that of the brethren of Iesus Christ who being assured one day to be made partakers of his eternall glory and societie take pleasure to loue each other on earth whosoeuer is not stirred by this naturall and spirituall band of humane societie to loue his neighbour is vnworthy of the name of a man and ought not to bee found or seene in any rancke amongst Christians There are fower ends of the works of Charity Diuers ends of the workes of charitie 1. The first is the glory of God for God is glorified in the good works of his children 2. The second consisteth in the mutuall releefe of the members of the misticall body of Iesus Christ 3. The third is the edification of our neighbours For when one seeth an other affected to brotherly charitie such an example doth comfort and incite them to their duty 4. The fowrth is the recompence promised to him that shall giue a glasse of cold water to one of the least of the disciples or members of the Lord. It seemeth by that which S. Luc. writeth in the 6. chap. verse 37. that Iesus Christ recommendeth fower sorts of Charitie to his 4. Sorts of workes of charitie Which all christians are bound to remember incessantly 1. The first is that wee should neuer judge sinisterly of our neighbour but rather haue him in good estimation hoping still of his amendment from good to better Not that this commaundeth christians to shut their eyes and make no difference betweene truth and lying betweene honest and wicked men But onely it is required that the Faithfull amiably affected towards their neighbours should not suffer themselues to be tickled with curious enuie in penetrating farther then pietie requireth into the behauiours of their neighbours but should retaine themselues and curb short their precipitate judgements 2. The second that we should not vse to our confusion that which is the common saying A foolish judge a briefe judgement in condemning our neighbours absent or present without hearing him and speaking of him at randome but rather to speake gently of him without slaunder expounding that which wee vnderstand according as charitie requireth 3. The third is to pardon the faults committed against vs to such as shall aske vs pardon following the promise of the Lord forgiue and it shall bee forgiuen you as if he should say as you shall deale with your neighbours God will deale with you And hee himselfe declareth it very expresly by a good similitude in the verse following in these words With what measure you meate shall bee measured vnto you 4. The fowrth requireth that wee should in effect assist our neighbours which the Lord
thou art the same and thy yeares shall not faile The Children of thy seruants shall continue and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight A firme conclusion Wee then what changing soeuer we see although it seeme vnto vs that the Heauens the Earth and all the Elements doe threaten vs and that all creatures seeme to haue conspired our rujne neuerthelesse we ought not to judge of the nature of God as of creatures but to be resolute that the nature of God is invariable and that in his counsels his words and all his workes he is constant and permanent for euer and abyding alwayes like vnto himselfe By reason whereof we ought not to esteeme him according to our jmaginations and thaâ— he seemeth to shew and represent him selfe vnto vs in the estate of his creatures but alwaies to apprend him such as he is manifested in his word ¶ Vaine feare contrary to Faith What such a feare is VAine feare is also a thing that is coÌ„trary to Faith whereof S. Peteâ— 1. Pet. 3. maketh mention when hee sayth Be not ye affraid for any terrour of them neither bee ye troubled And Iesus Chrisâ— sayth Mat. 10. Feare ye not them that kill the bodie but are not able to kill the soule bâ— rather feare him which is able to destroy both bodie and soule in hell Are not twâ— little Sparrowes sold for a farthing and onâ— of them shall not light on the ground without your Father yea euen the haires of youâ— head are numbred feare ye not therefore ye are of more value the many Sparrowes In this sentence wee must note manâ— things to strengthen our Faith Wherefore wee ought little to feare men First that the power of Tyrants and enemieâ— of the Church is limited and goeth noâ— farther then the leaue and permission that God giueth them to effect his For although that God sometimes to exercise his children giueth them power to vexe and torment them in their bodies he alwaies preserues their soules and doth not at all suffer that their furie reach so farre as to endamage them in any thing in matters concerning their saluation Although that sometimes we see many Princes so outragious and transported with furie that they vndertake against the ordinance and expresse will of God to kill if it were possible for them the soules of their subjects constrayning them to goe to the Masse and jdolatrie The other poynt which we ought to note is Remedy against vaiâ— feare that our enemies cannot euen offend vs in our bodies without his prouidence no more then the Sparrowes which cannot fall vpon the earth but God doth appoint it Seeing then that the children of God are more deare and precious vnto him then not onely one but many Sparrowes wee must resolue that whereas God suffereth that we should fall into the hands of tyrants to afflict vs by prison by confiscations by banishments by fire and water all this being conducted by the counsell and prouidence of God it cannot bee but profitable and healthfull vnto vs. And for the last poynt wee ought well to laye before vs that which hee sayth That the haires of our head are all counted Mat. 10. and that not one of them cannot be diminished but by the expresse will of our God who cannot seeing his jmmense and infinite goodnes giue any thing of the estate of all his elect but it must be for their good and saluation The other thing which ought to furnish vs against this feare is the charity of our God the which as sayth S. Peter being well apprehended in our hearts and meditated in our minds will alwaies chase away all casuall feares which may happen vnto vs to trouble vs. For knowing that God hauing once receaued vs into his fauour continueth it towards vs for euer Rom. 8. And that there is no creature whatsoeuer whether it be death life Angels principalities power nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature that is able to separate vs from the loue of God which hee beareth vs in Christ Iesus our Lord. What accident could happen vnto vs sufficient to astonish our hearts firmely perswaded of this dilection of our God There is yet another reason which ought wel to assure vs against all feares Third remedie that is to say the presence of our God who is neuer farre from vs but is alwayes at our right hand to vphold vs â—s sayth Dauid I will prayse the Lord Psal 16. who hath giuen me counsell my reines also teach mee in the nights I haue set the Lord alwaies before mee for hee is at my right hand therefore I shall not slide Wherefore my heart is glad and my tongue reioyceth my flesh also doth rest in hope For thou wilt not leaue my soule in the graue neither wilt thou suffer thine holie one to see corruption Exod. 4. Iere. 1. Mat. 28. It is the reason which God vsed to Moises to Ieremie and to all the Apostles to assure them against all feares and assaults which may bee giuen them by their enemies to hinder or stay them in the executon of their charge Feare not sayth he for I am with you They shall fight and giue you many assaults but I will maintaine you and place you euerie one like a furnished citie and like a Collom of Iron and like â— brasen wall vppon the earth against thâ— Kings of Iuda and her Princes against the high Priests and all the people of the earth that shall make warre against theâ— but they shall not ouercome thee for I aâ— with thee sayth the Lord to deliuer thee Let vs then thinke as saith S. Iohn 1. Iohn 2. That the word of God and his promise dwelling in our hearts by faith wee are strong anâ— inuincible against all temptations Besides 2. Tim. 1. That the spirit of God remaineth iâ— vs which is not a soft and weake spirit buâ— a spirit of force as saith the Apostle which will vphold vs against all temptations although that it seeme in appearance that we are verie infirme and weake But let vs thinke that the weake and feeble things of this world are sufficient to confound and beat down all the highest and the strongest that can be found and euen lead them prisoners in the obedience of Christ ¶ The euill conscience contrary to Faith THE euill conscience also Whence this contrarietie commeth is very contrary to Faith because it always â—ets the wrath of God before it and â—aith to the contrary doth alwaies set â—he grace of God before it For a man â—hat sinneth voluntarily although hee know that the reward of sinne is death and that the curse of the wrath of God are propounded in the law against all those that transgresse it That presupposed it is not possible but he must bee astonished and that in his heart he hath prickings gnawings and stingings which doe transperse it