sence hee here spreadeth out on eche side two armes or braunches of this fruitefull tree of faith which if it bee quicke and florishing doe necessarilie spring out and shadowe againe the roote from whence they proceede and growe euen a true harte and a good Conscience whose effectes are so to sanctifie and season both our soules and bodies in all exercises and duties answerable to our profession that if they abide in vs they shal make vs neither ydle nor vnfruitefull in the worde of the Lorde But if these doe not direct vs if our hartes be not sound in his light if our hartes be not setled and inwardly affected to walke in his lawes if our hearts be not sprinckled from an euill conscience howsoeuer wee pretende Religion and holines in the sight of men yet are we but sounding brasse and tinckling simbals but cloudes without raine but trees without fruite twise dead and plucked vp by y e rootes we caÌ„not so drawe nere vnto God who searcheth the hartes raines who lighteneth things that are hid in darkenesse who is a spirite and will be worshipped in spirite and truth for the birth is aunswerable to firste conception if the roote be corrupt how canne the fruite be wholesome If the Spring be defiled how can the waters be cleane If the hart whiche is as it were the seate of the soule the fountaine and first instrument of life from whome all our actions and affections doe proceede bee stayned with sinne and wickednesse how can wee thinke our bare pretence of naked idle faith is pleasing vnto God And therfore sayth S. Iames Clense your harts you sinners and purge your hands you wauering minded men O Hierusalem washe thine hart from wickednesse sayth Ieremie that thou mayst be saued My sonne sayth Salomon giue me thy hart let thine eyes delight in my wayes and keepe thine hearte with all safetie for from it proceedeth thy life A good man sayth Christ out of the good treasure of his hart bringeth foorth good thinges but an euill man of the euill treasure of his heart bringeth foorth euill thinges Their hart sayth Ose is deuided therefore shall they be founde faultie I will walke sayeth Dauid in my house not with an outward shew but with a true and perfect hart which is necessarilye required here in him that will draw nere to the holy place Many are the sortes and differences of harts from whence agayne proceedeth that greate diuersitie of manners amongst men there is a wise harte that considereth all thinges soberly with iudgement and there is a foolishe harte whiche knoweth nothing but to commit iniquitie there is a stonie stubborn harte not mooued to repentaunce there is also a softe and fleshly harte soone pearsed and wounded with euery checke for sin there is a lose and faint hart vnstable in all his wayes and there is a firme and constant a true an vpright a faithfull hart commended here vnto vs whose praise is not of men but of God But among all other differences wherof I cannot now particulerlye increate to come neare vnto our selues what shal we say of the contrary hereof of falshood and flatterie of fained double hollowe and dissembling harts both toward God and men whiche doe so swarme amongste vs and haue so possessed and inlarged the inner partes of Christians at these daies that nothing is more common then to dissemble and deceaue and nothing more rare and daintie than a true and faithfull harte whereby both Epicure Atheus and Machiauill as it seemeth haue founde them secrete harbour to worke by fraude and policie where Christ should be interteyned in sinceritie and truth although Dissimulation be nowe spunne of so cunning and fine a threade that it is harde to discerne men asunder yet let vs vse the tried and infallible meane sette downe by our sauiour Christ Looke into mens actions which as a mirroure represent the image of their harts Esteeme the tree by his fruite confer their workes with their speeches and their liues with their profession and it is easilye espied For how doe wee bring foorth thistles in steade of figges and thorns in steed of grapes and the workes of darknesse and yet would be called the children of light and the fruits of lies of falshoode deceit yet will be counted the louers of religion and professors of truth And though we can saye the Lorde liueth yet will wee sweare to deceaue and though we bende our faces and profession to wardes the new and liuing waye of Christ yet will wee looke backe againe with Lots wife to Sodome followe the steps euen the lustes and imaginations of olde Adam and though as the Ephesians boasted of Diana and the Iewes of their Temple crying out the Temple of the Lorde the Temple of the Lorde this is the Temple of the Lord so we likewise can triumphe the Gospell of Christ the preaching of the worde the glad tidings of saluation and wee haue now the light and preaching of the worde of God yet all this notwithstanding so dissonant are the liues and the proceedings in a great many of vs so repugnant to our outwarde wordes and profession that it seemeth we are nothing lesse then those we should be and would so faine be counted and are so farre from drawing nere in a true and vpright hart That we doe but flatter with our lips and dissemble in our double hartes For was there euer more priuie canckred and malitious hatred in harte and yet more cloaking flatterie in tongue then nowe a daies was there euer more close and craftie shifting and shuffling and preueÌ„ting and circumuenting and vndermining one of another was there euer more deceite or fraude in bargaining contracts wherein as euery one exceedeth in subtiltie so he is counted the wise and most sufficient man was there euer more lying swearing forswearing for aduaÌ„tage for gain and lucre or hath there bene at any time more truth and holinesse professed lesse honestie and truth performed wherat the very aduersaries not a litle reioice take occasion of blaspheming the truth or shal we finde among men more hipocrisie and double dealing with two faces vnder one hood such as can blow hote and cold with one breath whiche haue Iacobs slender voice but Esaus rough handes which can hide a woluish hart vnder a simple sheeps clothing as graue and as sage as Cato in their countinaunce but as tirannous as Nero in their deeds and actions as neatly pullished cleansed on the outside as the Pharises pot platter but inwardly most ougly and loathsome to beholde then nowe a dayes It is not euerye where now put in practise which was sometime sayde by one Frâ—ns occuli vultus per sepe mentiuntur oratio vero sepissime The lookes the face and countinaunce of men do often dissemble and deceaue but their wordes and speeches more often Is it not playnlye come to passe that Lactantius citeth out of Seneca
vs to loue and charitie to vnity and agreement to peace and concorde one with an other And on the other side let vs beholde our owne defects herein the manifold strifes the vaine and friuolous contentions and suites the dispightfull practises the extreame and rigorous dealing the implacable malice enuie hatred and hartburning that raineth among men sometimes smothering inwardly in rancour of hart sometimes foming out into intemperate heate both of raging wordes and vncharitable deedes euerie man in selfe loue and priuate regarde of his owne wealth and welfare liuing looking to himselfe alone no man almost considering another to his benefite and good And wee shall not choose but confesse that howsoeuer we beate our braines and spende our time and trauell about strifes and questions about intricate and hidden misteries about controuersies and complaints yet that there is no point of Christian doctrine more needefull or more profitable to bee vrged and enforced to bee againe and againe reiterated that it might take effect then this That we shoulde be knit together in vnitie of minde and so consider one another to prouoke vnto loue and to all good workes I beseeche you brethren saith S. Paule by the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ That yee all speake one thing that there be no dissention among you but be ye knit so together in one minde and in one iudgement We see howe Turkes howe Iewes howe theeues will conspire and hold together how beastes will agree and euerie one loue his like how Papistes can vaunt of vnitie to our reproche and Diuels settle themselues together seuen Diuels in a man naye a whole legion together in a man and keepe themselues at concorde for preseruing of their kingdome and shall not we that professe one Lorde one faith one baptisme one doctrine and name of Christ the authour and God of peace be ioined together in one and so consider one another to the prouoking winning one another vnto loue and vnto good workes We see againe the great hurt and ruine that discord hath procured to manie flourishing countries and kingdomes and to the Church of God from time to time wee see the carping aduersaries still readie to take occasion to reproche and vpbraide the truth wee see the daies of this our lyfe and pilgrimage to bee shorte and euill the worlde it selfe declining and euen at the vaine the Diuell fearcely raging because his tyme is shorte the ende of all thinges approching the sentence of the Iudge ineuitable and hell fire harde at hande prepared for euill doers and can wee yet sleepe secure and carelesse in our sinnes shall wee not watche and make vs readie for the comming of the Bridegrome with our loynes girt and our Lampes burning that wee maye enter in with him to the wedding shall not the due remembrance of these and such like motiues rouse vs vp from this securitie and sencelesnes of sinne wherein wee seeme to be drownâ—d shall it not represse and quenche in vs all vnnaturall and vnkinde affections which are bent to the hurte of hinderance of our neighbour and stirre vs vp in the bowels of Christian compassion to bee curteous pitifull and louing to be mercifull and good one towardes another so as wee maie consider and exhort and prouoke one another vnto loue the band of perfection and vnto good workes the fruites of our Christian fayth Esse Christianum grande est saith Saint Ierome non videri non vocari To be a Christian and to performe those deedes dueties those good works and actions which Christianity requireth is a waightie matter but not so to seeme not so to be called When the seruantes of King Ahazia beeing sent to enquire at Belsabub for the recouery of his health Returned with message from Elias whom they mette in the waie assuring him that hee shoulde dye and not escape the King demaunded what manner of man he was that tolde them these thinges they aunswered an heyrie man and girte aboute with leather then saide hee straight it is Elias the Thesbit In like sort such should also be our manners and proceedings our wordes our workes and all our actions of life In loue in ioy in peace long suffering gentlenes goodnesse meekenes temperance and all other good works and fruites of the holie Ghost that when reporte of vs or any of vs is made vnto the worlde it may be straight auouched that wee are Christians hauing our fruite in hâ—lines and the ende eternall life For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Iustine Martire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The matter and businesse of our seruing of God Religion standeth not in wordes but in workes It is a rueled case of Christ. A good tree cannot bring foorth badde fruite and the faith of a Christian is most aptlye resembled vnto a tree which beeing rooted in the passion of Christ and watered with his blood spreadeth out on each side his braunches A true harte and a good conscience waxeth strong against all stormes groweth vp and flourisheth in hope and so through the inwarde sappe and norishing iuice of loue sendeth foorth most sweete and seasonable fruites good workes which are though not precedent causes yet necessary effectes and signes of the goodnesse of the tree But as Catterpillers sometimes and blasting doe frette and annoye the braunches that the sappe cannot haue his course and so the fruite faileth which seemed faire to the eye so rancour and displeasure diuision scisme and seperation amonge men beeing no lesse then noysome windes and Catterpillers to our Christian faith eate vp and drye awaye many times the sappe or iuice of loue and charitie whereby the expected fruite of good woorkes is withered in the braunches And therefore it is required that wee consider not euery one himselfe alone but euery one another also to prouoke vnto loue and vnto good woorkes that so wee maye bring foorth fruite in Christ and walke worthie of the Lorde who gaue himselfe to redeeme vs from all inniquitie and to purge vs a pecuculier people vnto himselfe zealous of all good workes For if yee knowe saith S. Iohn that God is righteous knowe yee also that hee that doth righteouslie is borne of him wee are the workemanshippe of God created and ordeined to good woorkes which hee hath prepared for vs to walke in If then we walke on in the stubbornesse of our owne hartes in the lust and concupisence of the flesh howe farre doe wee degenerate from this perfection and ende of our creation Wee are called the Lordes haruest if then wee bring not foorth good corne but tares of sinne and wickednesse what other can bee looked for but to bee gathered by the reapers into bundles and cast into the fire Wee are resembled to the grounde If drinking in the raine and blessinges of GOD that come so ofte vppon vs wee bring not foorth good hearbes but thornes and bryers wee are neare vnto cursing whose ende is to
bee burned wee are likened to a chosen vineyarde which the Lorde hath planted in a verie frurtfull hill which he hath hedged dressed and manured hath watered and cherished with all his blessinges if nowe in stead of sweete grapes of holinesse and good workes wee bring forth fruite vnto our selues euen bitter clusters and grapes of gall of wickednes and vngodly lyfe then is our iudgement most seuearely denounced He will breake downe the wall of our vineyarde and laie it waste so that they that goe by shal plucke of the grapes and the wilde bore out of the wood shall roote it vp and euery tree and euerie braunche that beareth not fruite in him shalbe hewen downe and cast into the fire for the great day of the Lorde approcheth and who is able to abide his wrath Let vs not deceaue our selues in confidence of this life in hope of long continuance and so seeke our death in the errour of our life Let vs not sell the promised lande of rest for the present stubble of Egypt nor our Birthright of heauenlie glorie with foolishe and prophane Esau for the pottage of worldelye wealth and pleasure whiche if it fayle not vs yet shall wee shortelye fall and bee plucked awaye from it Oure lyfe is but a pilgrimage a shaddowe a vapour a buble a blast so short that Dauid saith it is but a spanne long so weake and vncertaine that Homer truely said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The kind and generation of man is like leaues of the tree which growing greene and flourishing are euen with a blast of wind throwen downe and withered Wee haue not here an abiding Cittie for euer but must seek one to come we must hence remoue our tents and passe awaie like the grasshopper we are but straungers and soiourners on the earth as all our fathers were wee holde not our selues our bodyes our soules in feesimple muche lesse our landes and goodes euen hee whose tenure is best but Ad voluntatem domini To be displaced at his will our Charter hath an ende and the date therof expireth a pace And though a man liue long and see not the graue yet is there a tyme of departure and a conclusion of al things assigned There is a daie of chaunging a daie of visitation a day of account of iudgement and retribution and that approching Let vs take heede that it come not on vs vnawares for as a theefe shall it come on all them that dwel on the face of the earth Behold sayth the Prophet Malachy the day commeth shortlye that shall burne like an ouen and all the proude and all that doe wickedly shall be as stubble and straw the day that commeth shall burne them vp and leaue them neither roote nor braunch The day of the Lord of Hostes sayth Esai is vppon all the proude and haughtie and vpon all that is exalted and it shall be brought low vpon all the Cedars of Lybanon and vppon all the Okes of Bashan vppon euerye high Tower and vpon euery strong wall and vpon all pleasaunt pictures the haughtinesse of men shall be brought low and the loftinesse of men shall be abased and the Lord only shall be exalted in that day O consider this all yee that forget God least he plucke you awaye and there bee none to deliuer you God is a righteous iudge strong and yet patient and God is prouoked euery day but if a man will not turne he will whet his sword he hath bent his bowe and made it readie he hath prepared for him the instrumentes of death Hee will wounde the head of his enemies and the hearie scalpe of such a one as goeth on stil in his wickednesse The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the people that forget God Neither siluer nor golde sayth Sophonie shall be able to deliuer them in the day of the Lordes wrath but they shall bee deuoured by the fire of his iealousie And therefore gather your selues sayth he gather you O nation not worthie to be beloued before the decree come forth ye bee as chaffe that passeth in a day and before the fierce wrath of the Lord come vpon you and before the daye of the Lords anger come vpon you which will come sayth S. Peter as a theefe in the night in which the heauens shal passe away with a noyse and the Elementes shall melt with heate and the earth with all the workes that are therein shall bee burnt vp And then seeing al these things must passe and be dissolued and that the day draweth nere what maner persons ought we to bee in godlinesse holy conuersation drawing nere in assured fayth in firme hope and vnfained charitie to the holy place exhorting considering and prouoking one another vnto loue and to al good works so looking for and hasting to that comming of the day of God wherin he will giue euerye man according to his workes to them which by continuaunce in well doing seeke glorie and honour and immortalitie eternall life but vnto them that are contentious and disobay the truth and obey vnrighteousnesse shal be indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish vppon the soule of euerye man that doth euill and there is no respect of persons with God The GOD of peace that brought agayne from the deade our Lorde Iesus Christ the great sheapheard of the sheepe through the blood of the euerlasting Couenaunt make vs perfecte in all good workes to doe his will and write in our hartes euen with an yron penne and an adamant claw a continuall remembrance and carefull meditation of his ordinaunces and lawes to doe them that as hee stoupeth downe and commeth neare in all mercifull goodnesse and moste liberall blessinges vnto vs so maye wee approche and draw neare in all dutifull obedience and obseruatioÌ„ of his righteous precepts vnto him again that we may be pure and without blame vntill the day of Christe filled with the fruites of righteousnesse which are in vs by Iesus Christ vnto the glory and praise of God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost three in persons one in substaunce immortall inuisible and only wise To whome be all honour glorie power dominion and praise now and for euer Amen FINIS Deu. 4. Ver. 7.8 Rom. 9.4 1. Pet. 2.9 Ioh. 1.18 Gen. 49.18 Râ—uel 5.9.10.12.13 〈…〉 Esai 28.13 Iosua 9.4.5 1. Reg 14.6 Aug. de Ciuit. dei lâ—b 21 cap. 5. Cap. 29. Pru. lib. 2. Act. 17.18 Prâ—scripe aduers haeret Ad Pom. pei contra Epi. Steph. Rhem. not 2. Tim. 4. ver 8. De Iustif. lib. 10. c. 2. Act. 4.12 Heb. 13.8 Eccl. 1.9 Esai 41.9 Reuel 21.12 Aug. lib. 7. de ciuit dei cap. 1. Lib. 6. de Eccl. Rom autorit Heb. 11.6 Rom. 14.23 Gal. 3 11. Rom. 10.10 2. Cor. 1.24 Rom. 5.2 â— Ioh. 5.4 â—sai 7.9 Marke 9. â—â—3 Math. 15.8 Luk. 7.30 Mat. 8.26 Orat. de Pasch. De verb. Dom. Seâ—â— 28. In cant Ser. 61. Eph. 1.13 Rom. 5.1 â— Tim. 2.9 Jam. 4.8 Jer. 4.14 Pro. 23.26 Pro. 4.23 Luk. 6.45 Ose. 10.2 Cicer. ad Quintum fratrem Ezechi ca. 33. ver 30.31.32 â—am 2.15.16 1. Timo. 1· 18.19 â—aâ—ten 4.7 â—6 Wis. 17.10 Pro. 14.13 Eccl. 11.9 10. Amos. 6.3.4.5.6 Iob. 29.12.13.14.15.16.17 1. Sam. 12.2.3 Esai 33.14.15.16.17 Job 21.14 15. Iob. 18.5.7.9.10.16 Reu. 3.20 1. Cor. 6. â—l 3.1 Jam. 1.6.7 2. Reg. 16.10.11 Rom. 12.3 Ierom. ad Athlet Epi. 29. ad leri 2 Hil. lib. ad 1 Constant. 2. Reg. 6.19.20 Luke 24.18.19 Ge. 28.16 1. Pet. 5.12 Ge. 11.8.9 Serm. 16. de vti ieiu Tom. 4. Epist vlt. Act. 2.44.46 Jud. 20.1 2. Chro. 30.12 1. Cor. 1.12 Rom. 16.17 Eus. de vit Constant. 2 Dan. 9.7.16.18.19 Ose. 14.3 Exo. 12.7.22.23 Phil. 2.1.2.3 Phil. 4.8 1. Tim. 1.5.6.7 Aug. in Psal. 45. 1. Cor. 13 1.4.5.6 1. Cor. 1.10 Jero ad pauli 2. Reg. 1.5.6.7.8 Gal. 5.22.23 Tit. 2.14 1. Ioh. 2.29 Eph. 2.10 Hebr 6.8.8 Esai 5 1.2.4.5 Mal. 4.1 Esai 3.16 Psal. 7.12.13.14 Soph. 1.18 Sop. 2.1.2 2. Pet. 3. Rom. 2. Heb. 12. Phil. 1.