one bewray the lightnes of the other what thing in the world is soe massie and soe weightie as the truth Therefore as the prophet saith If ye will heare the voyce of God harden not your hearts as they did in the prouocation and as in the day of temptation in the wildernes it is noe sinne to yeilde vnto God it is noe shame to lay apart all affections and to change our mindes to the deniall of all vngodlynes and imbracinge of true holinesse It is the part of a good Christian and a wise man to know himselfe and to know the nature of his flesh which hee beareth about him which fighteth alwayes so mightily against the spirit and to know the waywardnesse and crookednesse of his heart and the weaknesse and vanity of his mind Many are so farre from this they thinke all their ability is of themselues I haue saith one iudgement I haue the light of reason I haue sence I haue vnderstanding and Counsell and the ordering of mine owne way thus say they that neither know God nor themselues The will and power to doe well is of God and not of our selues therefore we must humble our selues vnder the mighty hand of God and acknowledge that we are nothing we must confesse with S. Paul I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good Ro. 7. Againe it is not in him that willeth not in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy Ro. 9. Our Sauiour Christ sayth that which is borne of the flesh is flesh and that is borne of the spirit is spirit Iohn â— And God sayth the immagination of man heart is euill from his youth Gene 8. this is his saying and his iudgement of vs this we find true for our will is froward and our vnderstanding blind therefore sayth the Prophet O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himselfe neither is it in man to walke and direct his steppes Iere 12. Againe the steppes of man are ruled by the Lord. How can a man then vnderstand his owne way Behold as the clay is in the Potters hand so are you in my hand O Israell I mould you and frame you to my glory sayth the Lord. Iere. 18. When the Apostle putteth the Corinthians in mind of that good successe which God gaue vnto his ministers among them hee sayth such trust haue we through Christ to God not that wee are sufficient of our selues but our sufficiency is of God Cor. 3. Christ sheweth this to his disciples saying ' I am the Vine you are the branches he that abideth in mee and I in him bringeth forth much fruit for without mee yee can do nothing Iohn 15. To the Collossians Paul saith It is God that worketh in you both the will and the deed euen of his good pleasure Colloss 2. It is God that disposeth our goings and turneth our hearts as seemeth him best hee is able to make of the stones in the Streetes children vnto Abraham hee is able to take away our stony heartes and giue vs heartes of flesh The Consideration heereof leadeth vs to seeke help and comfort by prayer at the hand of God and because wee stand in need of continuall help either to giue vs somthing that is good or to deliuer vs from that is euill the Apostle biddeth vs pray continually for the eares of the Lord are open to the righteous therfore saith Christ aske and it shall be giuen you seeke and yee shall find knoek and it shal be opened vnto you Math. 7. Let vs therefore go boldly to the throne of grace that we may receiue mercy and find grace to help in time of need Dauid a man according to Gods own heart prayed diuersly Open thou mine eyes lighten my darkenesse direct my feete into the way of peace incline my heart O Lord vnto thy testimonies establish O God that which thou hast wrought in vs take not thy holy spirit from vs bee thou our helper in trouble O forsake vs not veterly Dauid beeing a great prophet of GOD found no way to attaine vnto knowledge of the will of God vnlesse God would open his vnderstanding and endue him with his spirit faith is the gift of GOD or else was the Apostles praier in vaine therefore without the grace and mercy of GOD wee can doe nothing to the setting forth of his glory and to the attayning vnto our saluation The Apostle saith vnto the faithfull Let your conuersation bee in heauen from whence you looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ Yee were once darkenesse but now yee are light in the LORD walke as children of the light approouing that which is pleasing to the Lord. The great day of the Lord shal be dreadful and come sodainely vpon the wicked but to you it shall not seeme sodaine which feare the LORD and put your trust in him and take all care to bee in readinesse against his comming Arme your selues therefore strongly the enemy is the diuell with all his force your strength standeth not in your owne prowesse or man-hood but in the mighty power of God put on therefore the brest-plate of faith and loue hee that beleeueth shal be saued hee that abideth in loue abideth in God and whosoeuer putteth his trust in him shall neuer be confounded For the grace of God that bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared saith the Apostle and teacheth vs to deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and that wee should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ which gaue himselfe for vs that hee might redeeme vs from all vnrighteousnesse and purge vs a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous giuen to good workes Titus 2.11.12 Therefore wee must not alwaies be children but grow vp and increase and profit more and more for wee must neuer rest walking till wee come to God if we haue faith wee must proceede from faith to faith if wee haue loue wee must abide and increase in loue if wee haue zeale wee must endeauour to bee consumed with zeale if wee bee liberall to the Saints distressed wee must double our liberallity and that with cheerefulnesse if wee read the Scriptures wee must goe on and continue in praier so wee must still increase till wee come to perfection Let vs bee led forward saith the Apostle vnto perfection Hebr. 6.1 As God hath ordained a heauen for all true faithful Pilgrims so hath he appointed a way to come to it which way hee that trauaileth not shall neuer come to the end of his race for there be many wrong waies as there are many errors but there is but one right way as there is but one truth To knit vp this part with that warning and exhortation of the Apostle saying Let vs drawe neere with a true heart in assurance of faith sprinckled in our hearts from an euill conscience and washed in bodie with pure water let vs hold the possession of the hope without wauering for hee is faithfull that promised for if wee sinne willingly after that wee haue receiued the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a fearefull looking for iudgement and violent fire which shall deuoure the aduersaries Hebr. 10.22.23.26 So it cannot be that they which were lightened and haue tasted of the heauenly gift and were become pertakers of the holy ghost and haue tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the world to come and they fall away should be renued againe into repentance crucifying to themselues the sonne of God a fresh Heb 6.4.5.6 The Apostle therfore admonisheth the faithfull to haue discretion in their walking saying Take heed that yâ—e walke circumspectly not as vnwise but as wise redeeming the time because the daies are euill Wherefore bee yee not vnwise but vnderstanding what the will of the Lord is Speaking vnto your selues in psalmes and hyms and spirituall songs singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts Giuing thankes alwaies for all things vnto God the Father in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ Now as al these parts of Scriptures going before in this Booke are needfull special means to teach all true Christians to walke the right way towards heauen whereby we may bee able not only to walke aright but also to make a right and sound reason of our religion agreeable to the word of God a sound reason of our faith and a sound reason of our saluation agreeable to the same word of truth and so to continue to the end of our race then shall wee bee made happy for euermore and be procured happy in the great day of our Lord by our Lord and you blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome of heauen which is prepapared for you from the beginning which kingdom grant vs Lord for Christ Iesus sake Amen FINIS
the same Apostle sayth Brethren be not children in vnderstanding knowledge because the same Apostle saith Brethreren bee not children in vnderstanding but in maliciousnesse be children but in vnderstanding be of a ripe age For when we come to heare the word of God euery man must reach and stretch out his heart to receiue it for then indeed the word worketh most effectually in vs when our hearts before are kindled and inflamed with desire of it So when wee waxe warme in the spirit and conceaue a desire and a thirst of the word it is an vndoubted token that we are borne againe and that there is breath and a soule in vs and that wee are not vtterly dead in the life of grace Therfore we must desire and imbrace the word because our faith is not able to sustaine and support it selfe vnlesse it be presently fed and nourished with the food of life Now we come to the matter and obiect which we must desire namely the food and nourishment in Christ our Lord which is here called the Milke of the word By this our Sauiour recalleth vs from all our dainties Labour not saith hee for the meat which perisheth but for the meat which endureth for euer for the word is euerlasting food and immortall seed because it makes vs immortall and to last for euer The word of God hath many titles and names giuen for the benefit and nourishment of all true Christians it is called a lanthorne to direct vs a medicine to heale vs a guide to conduct vs a bit to restraine vs a sword to defend vs water to wash vs fire to inflame vs sault to season vs milke to nourish vs and a key to vnlocke heauen gates vnto vs. It is the word of saluation because it saueth euery faithfull soule from damnation it is called the word of life because it reuiueth the spirit it is called the word of reconciliation because it is like a golden chaine to linke God and the faithfull together And in regard hereof it is called a Iewel of inestimable price as if all the treasures in this world were not sufficient to buy it The Prophet Dauid saith it is more to bee esteemed then gold yea then much fine gold and it is sweeter for comfort then hony and the hony combe Psal 19. Againe in the 119 Psal O how sweete are thy words vnto my throate yea more sweeter then hony vnto my mouth Likewise Sallomon his sonne setteth forth the great benefit and comfort that commeth by the word of God vnder the title of wisdom saying Blessed are they that finde wisdome and get the vnderstanding thereof for the marchandise thereof is better then the Marchandise of siluer and the gaine thereof is better then gold shee is more worth then precious stones yea and all things that thou canst desire are not to bee compared vntò her in her right hand is long life and in her left hand riches and honour her waies are pleasant and all her pathes are peaceable shee is the tree of life to them that lay hold on her and blessed is hee that entertoyneth her Pro. 3.13.14 Therefore seeing the word is so precious and so beneficial vnto euery faithful Christian let vs most earnestly long and languish for the milke therefore The word is resembled to milke in three respects first because it is the onely food of the faithful as milke is the onely proper food for babes secondly because it is not hard and intricate but plaine and easie to bee conceiued thirdly because it is sweete and comfortable to the soule For the first our Sauiour Christ fendeth vs to search the Scriptures because by them we haue eternall life And therefore it is the food whereby our soules must liue If wee would duly consider that we cannot be nourished vnto eternall life but by the word of God◠wee would rather wish our bodies might be without soules then that wee should want knowledge and comfort of the word The second point that the doctrine of the Gospel is plaine when the wise man saith All the words of his mouth are plaine and easie to them that will vnderstand Againe the testimony of the Lord is sure and giueth light to the simple If the Gospell bee hid saith the Apostle it is hid vnto them that perish So that if the word of GOD bee a Lanthorne vnto our feete and a light vnto our pathes then it is euident that the word hath no darkenesse in it The third point that the Gospell is the onely comfort and consolation of a faithfull soule the Prophet Ieremy saith Thy words were found by mee and I did eate them and thy word was vnto mee reioycing and the ioy of my heart thy testimonies haue I taken for an heritage for euer for they are the ioy of my heart In all the story of the Actes wee see ioy and comfort to haue followed the word so all true Pilgrims may haue great matter of ioy and comfort when they heare the word preached which shall carry them to heauen So that if the wicked did seele the calme of conscience the ioy of heart the consolation of spirit and the exceeding and euerlasting comfort in God which the faithfull possesse and enioy by hearing and reading the word they would then more gladly indeuoure themselues to heare and read the word with more diligence then they doe Now it is to bee considered the end of our hearing that is that wee may grow in grace and increase in the faith of righteousnesse for the faithfull are called the trees of righteousnesse because they must alwayes spring liuing stones because they must growe in the Lords building good seruants which must trade and traffique the Lords Talents to increase fruitfull branches which must bee purged and pruned by the hand of the heauenly husbandman Therefore wee must not alwayes bee children but grow vp and encrease and profit more and more for wee must neuer rest walking till wee come to God if wee haue faith wee must proceed from faith to faith if we haue loue we must encrease and abide in loue if wee haue zeale we must endeuour to bee consumed with zeale if wee bee liberall to the Saints distressed wee must double our liberalitie and that with cheerfulnesse if wee read the Scriptures wee must goe on and continue in prayer so wee must still increase till wee come to perfection Let vs bee ledde forward vnto perfection Hebrew 6.1 As God hath ordained a heauen for all true Pilgrims so hath hee appointed a way to come to it which way hee that misseth shall neuer come to the end of his race for there bee many wrong wayes as there is many errors but there is but one right way as there is but one truth Iohn Baptist is said not to prepare the wayes of the Lord but the way shewing that there is but one right way to life So that the right way to heauen is by the word of God which
man be able to giue a reason of his faith is this a reason of our faith to say I beleeue so because Rome beleeueth so or not rather because the word of God doth teach me so it will not answere for them that die in heresie to say the Papists taught vs so for God saith bee not deeeiued neither by Serpent nor by Prophet nor by Angels God doth giue vnto his children the spirit of discretion and of iudgment to be wise and know what is that good and acceptable will of God be not therfore deceiued with words of mens wisdome let not the basenesse or simplicitie of any cause you resuse the message which he brings and carry not your selues to liking of al that what so euer shal be told you of such as beare a great shew and countenance this was it that deceiued the people of God they gaue eare to false teachers which led them to worship the workes of their owne hands The Scribes and Pharises seemed so graue and wise that the people thought nothing good but what they allowed they were altogether aplyable to beleeue to doe to speake and to thinke whatsoeuer the Pharises willed them Christ saith bewane of false Prophets which come to you in sheepes clothing but inwardly they are rauening wolues Mathew 7. Saint Iohn therefore saith Deerely beloued beleeue not euery spirit but trie the spirits whether they are of God for many false Prophets are gone out into the world Iohn 11.4 and further declareth vnto vs how wee should trie them herein shall yee know the spirit of God euery spirit that confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of GOD. Againe heereby you may trie them whosoeuer transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God hee that continueth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the father and the sonne if there come any vnto you bringing not this doctrine receiue him not into your houses neither bid him God speed hereby Saint Paul requireth the Galathians to trie betweene him and their false Apostles if any man saith hee preach vnto you otherwise then that you haue receiued let him be accursed Gala. 1. Paul putteth Tymothie in minde wherefore he left him at Ephesus that is to command some that they teach no other doctrine and to warne both the teachers and the hearers that they giue no heed to fables and genealogies which are endlesse which breed questions rather then godly edifying which is by faith Thus are the people of God called to trie the truth to iudge betweene light and darkenesse God hath made them the promise of the spirit and hath left vnto them his word they of Borea when they heard the preaching of Saint Paul searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so as hee taught them and many of them beloeued so doe you giue heed to instructions and yet receiue not all things without proofe and triall that they bee not contrary to the wholsome doctrine of the word of God Keepe that which is good VVHen you haue tried and found the truth be constant and setled in it A wauering minded-man is vnstable in all his waies follow the truth and bee not carried about with euery wind of doctrine The diuell will come in the name of God and change himselfe into an Angel of light let him not take away the loue of the truth from you let him not remoue you from faith a good conscience Returne not like Swine vnto your mire God hath purged your hearts and made them cleane and except they be preserued and kept occupied the vncleane spirit will returne and enter in and dwell in you so the last estate of you shal be worse then the first Wee haue great cause to hearken diligentlie to the Apostle to keepe that is good for wee see dailie great confusion in all places Sathan would faine intangle vs againe with the error of the wicked and seeketh to draw vs from our stead-fastnesse Now is the time wherein God maketh some trial of his seruants now iniquity seekes to haue the vpper hand they seduce people and say heere is Christ there is Christ heere is the Church there is the Church GOD giue vs his holy spirit to guide vs in iudgement that wee may discerne the truth from falshood and know the blessed and gracious will of GOD that wee may walke in his waies and serue him in reuerence and feare al the daies of our liues for as their are many seeke Christ with an vnfained heart so their are many that seeke Antichrist and as their bee many true professors of the truth of God so are their many dispisers of the same this may wee see heere at home within this Realme wee may see it and mourne for it in our hearts Their practises are opened they haue broken out into open rebellion to the breach of the peace both of God and man they say with their lippes GOD saue King IAMES yet they hold vp their swords against him alas what hath hee deserued at their hands hath hee not dealt mercifully without crueltie without shedding of bloud GOD preserue him that hee may long reigne ouer vs and bring all his enemies to confusion What pretence make they for this their doing that heereby they seeke to haue religion reformed thankes bee to God religion is reformed far better then euer our fathers knew of these many hundred yeeres for if those that liued before vs might haue seene and heard as wee see and heare they would haue reioyced and thought themselues happy But they would haue the Masse what finde they or see they in it wherefore they should so desire it Trie all things saith Paul therefore examine and trie the Masse what wee doe learne by it what doctrine what godlinesse in life what comfort of saluation it is dumbe and deadly seruice it is the very key of their religion the people are bound to bee present at it yet they neither receiue any thing nor eate nor heare nor vnderstand any thing you are wise you haue reason you are the children of God be you Iudges herein and iudge vprightly for it is Gods cause wil they call this the Lords supper Is this the Sacrament of our redemption is this that which Paul receiued of the Lord and deliuered vnto the Church is this the shewing forth of the Lords death till hee come They paint their banner with the Crosse and fiue wounds why bring they these Armes against vs Doe not wee beleeue the Crosse of Christ doe not we reioyce and comfort our heartes by the remembrance of his woundes do not we read and shew forth to the people the story of the passion God knoweth it and the world can witnesse it and they themselues cannot denye it but that we make this worke of our redemption wrought by the passion of our sauiour Christ the cheefe and principall rock and foundation of our faith therefore say we with the Apostle God forbid