the Iudge of the world to giue dome and definitiue sentence both of quicke and dead and that as it were in open court of generall Sessions or assises when as he shall render to euerie man according to his workes vengeance vpon the wicked and reward vpon the righteous destruction and damnation vnto the vngodly but soules health and saluation vnto the Godly Seuenthly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the day of the Epiphanie not the first Epiphanie when Christs birth was manifested to the wise men of the East by the leading of a starre but when Christs glorie shall be reueiled by the finall eclipse of the sunne the darkning of the moone the falling of the stars and the shaking of the powers of heauen when as the sonne of man shall so come as the lightning commeth out of the East and shineth vnto the West Mat. 24.27 and 29. when as the hearts of all men shal be made manifest Eightly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the day of visitation when as Christ Iesus the great bishop of our soules shall visit the ample diocesse of his Church and shall call all the cleargie before him and cause them to render account of their cures and charges and shall make those shine as starres for euer and euer that shal winne soules vnto God but will remoue those candles out of their candlestickes or els the candlestickes out of their places which either giue no light or bad light or are either dropping candles by their lewd lothsome life or spitting candles by their troublesome and seditious doctrine Ninthly the day of appearing as in this place because that then our Sauiour the sunne of Righteousnesse shall sodenly pearse the cloudes and breake fourth in glorious brightnesse by the shining beames of his heauenly grace fulfilling the heartes of all the faithfull with the cheerefull light and comfortable heate of his diuine presence which haue lien long as it were in Iosephs colde yrons of aduersitie and affliction and languished in Daniels darke dungeon of despaire As the naturall sunne with his gladsome glee after the dismall darkenesse of the wearie night dispelleth and dispierceth the thicke clouds being long looked and longed for at the last appeareth to the chearing and cherishing of all mankind so called an appearing to the comfort and consolation of the good the godly that when they see the least glimpse and glimmering of him to peepe out or appeare they should then lift vp their heads and looke vp because their redemption is at hand for then and neuer till then shall the workeman receiue his wages the labourer in the Lords vineyard his pennie the faithfull seruant the rule of the Lords house the thriftie vser of his talents the gouernment of so many Cities the constant runner his propounded garland the spirituall souldier his promised crowne the little flocke their prepared kingdome the followers of Christ in their regeneration their thrones of iudgement Which time teacheth vs that we should not so doate as to dreame of any crowne throne or kingdome in this life or once to looke for any paradise heauen or other blessednesse in this world nor any time to hope for any happinesse before our chiefe shepheard doe appeare For as there is no heauenly paradise but in Abrahams bosome nor any pleasures for euermore but at the right hand of God nor any true ioies to be found but in the kingdome of heauen so are we not to enter into this paradise to enioy these pleasures and to be partakers of these ioies vntill the day of his appearing In the meane time therefore we must not with the husbandman looke to reape with ioy before we haue sown with tears nor to looke to liue with him before we haue died with him to raigne with him before we haue suffered with him to be glorisied with him before we haue beene crucified with him to sit with him on his right hand and on his left before we haue drunck of the cuppe that he hath druncke of and been baptized with the baptisme that he hath been baptized with to bee crowned with this crowne of glorie before we haue bin crowned with his crown of thorns to be found as fine gold for the treasure-house of the Lord vntill we bee purged and purified in the fire and fornace of affliction to be good corn in the Lords garner before we haue been sifted by Sathan Finally not to sit on his throne before we haue continued with him in his temptations For first must the Church be militant here vpon earth before it can be triumphant in heauen first must we suffer affliction before we can liue Godly in Christ Iesus and to conclude first must we be in tribulation before we can enter into the kingdome of heauen It followeth in the next words Yee shall receiue c. Now come we to the reward which our Apostle Peter promiseth in the person of our Sauiour Christ which is no light thing of small valew or meane account but the greatest gifte and richest reward that can be giuen and receiued a bountie beseeming the person of our Sauiour the bestower and worthy the partie that is partaker Kings and Princes when they liberally conferre gifts and rewards they giue not toies and trifles but great and royall guerdons such as are agreeable to their maicstic and magnificence Aristotle writes of his Magnanimus that he bestowes benefits vpon others freely and franckly and that herecompenceth aboue measure and proportion and that he will not vouchsafe to giue light little things but precious and peerelesse presents But howsoeuer the Philosopher frame such a man according to his owne fantasie as a Phaenix seldome or no whereto be found yet such a one the Scripture describeth God the Father and Christ Iesus his sonne and our Sauiour to be in all respects as first to be the giuer of all things and that liberally 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not vpbraidingly and those that he doth giue to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 good gifts and perfect gifts Iames 2.17 farre surpassing in worth and worthinesse the gifts of any Palatines or Potentates Kings and Keysars Conquerors and Monerches in the world Pharo King of Egypt gaue noble gifts vnto Ioseph when he gaue him his owne signet to weare on his hand fine garments of linnen to put on his backe a chaine of golde to put about his necke and gaue him to wife a Princes daughter and made him Vice-roy of all his land and gaue him his best coach but one to sit in Gen. 41. Saul king of Israel honourably rewarded Dauid when as hee gaue him his royall robe and all his Princely garments vnto his sword his bow his girdle and made him lieutenant generall of all his forces and smally his owne daughter to wife 1. Sam. 18. The Queen of Saba gaue princely presents to Salomon when shee gaue him sixscore talents of golde and an exceeding quantitie of sweete odours and an infinit number of precious stones
King 1.10.10 And king Salomon himselfe was most bountiful when he gaue Hiram king of Tyrus 20. Cities in the land of Galilee 1. King 9.11 And when he gaue to the Queene of Saba whatsoeuer she would aske besides that he gaue of his kingly liberalitie 1. King 10.13 And finally when as hee gaue siluer in Ierusalem as stones and gaue Caedars as the wilde fig-trees which grow in great plentie on the plaine 1. King 10.27 Mordecay the Iew was highly honoured of Asuerus when he caused him to weare his owne royall apparell and to ride on his owne horse in the streets of the Citie and made Hammon a great Prince to proclaime before him Thus shall it be done vnto the man whom the King will honour Ester 6.11 Daniell the Prophet was greatly exalted of King Darius when as he made him chiefe ruler ouer 120. gouerners Dan. 6.1 The wise men of the East which might seeme to be great states or Potentates by their great giftes offered vnto our Sauiour precious presents euen gold incense and mirrh Mat. 3.11 Constantine the great that renowmed Emperour and Monarch of all the world greatly promoted and enriched the Church when as he bountifully bestowed vpon the same most liberall collations and donations large rents and reuenues ample landes and possessions and with al princely priuiledges and prerogatiues As also diuers others Godly and christian Kings and Queens in the like royall beneuolence and benificence haue followed his excellent example in shewing themselues foster fathers and noble nourcing mothers vnto the Church Finally many earthly princes haue notably exalted diuers of their wel-deseruing subiects and seruants by giuing vnto them great mannors and honours high degrees honourable dignities euen Lordshippes Earldomes and Duchies to make them the second persons of the Realmes but yet so as they alwaies reserued and preserued their owne crownes thrones and kingdomes vnto themselues But our Sauiour Christ Iesus who is the king of all kings the most mightie Soucraigne Monarch of heauen and earth who so farre surpasseth all worldly princes as the sunne doth the moone or starres heauen the earth and the creator the creature being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Basil calleth him a giuer of great things bestoweth nothing vpon those whom hee will prescree and promote honour and exalt but a crowne throne or kingdome surinounting them in greatnesse of reward as hee exceedoth and excelleth them in essence and power And no maruell is it if our Sauiour giue nothing els but a crowne as thinking all other things to be base for him to bestow vpon those to whom he promiseth any reward when as all principalities dominions and kingdomes are at his commaund and appointment and at whose feete all kings and princes shall lay downe their crownes mounds and scepters as hauing receiued the same before at his hands of which he so often ascertaineth assureth the elect and faithfull in his Gospell as Iob. 14. Feare not little flocke for my heauenly Father will giue you a kingdome Luk. 22. As my Father hath appointed vnto me a kingdome euen so doe I appoint vnto you Mat. 19. ye shall sit on twelue thrones and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel Finally neuer doth our Sauiour or his Apostles offer and profer in the name and person of Christ any reward vnto the righteous but it is either a crowne a throne or kingdome as it may appeare euerie where in the Gospels of the Euangelists and Epistles of the Apostles So gracious alwaies is God in his gifts so rich in his rewards and so bountifull in all his benefites and blessings so that in this if euer in any thing that Prouerb of the Poet is found most true Non libet exiguis rebus adesse Ioui As likewisein respect of vs that receiue the same he giueth this so great a guerdon euen to crowne vs with mercie and louing kindnesse in bestowing vpon vs of his owne gracious good liking more then we could expectare vel expetere require or request deserue or desire hope to haue or dare to receiue at his hands of his fauourable vouchasasing to make that account and regard of vs as to deeme and esteeme vs woorthy of no meaner a reward then of a crowne and that therefore because we haue attained to that dignitie to be called the sonnes of God by the election of the Father the redemption of the spirit whereby we euen loath and neglect al worldly things whatsoeuer and account them with Paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 euen as doung be they neuer so godly and glorious in the sight of flesh and bloud but onely to aime at the high price of the calling of God in Christ Iesus As whose heroicall spirits should disdaine al their temporanie and transitorie trash and trumperie toies and trifles but to crie and say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As Achilles whē he followed Hector in Homer and againe Neque enim leuia aut ludicra petuntur with Aeneas pursuing Turnus in Virgil for seeing all the faithfull are Eagles as the Scripture tearmeth them they must neither creepe on the earth with the Serpent nor sit on dunghils with the Rauens but soare aloft for their pray and where the carkasse is thither must they resort as our Sauiour in the Gospell euen to aspire and ascend vp where he himselfe is to sit with him in his throne For as it is in the Prouerb Aquila non capit muscas The Eagle will catch no flies that is regard little and light things but as he is the Prince of birds so will he be crowned as a King and Soueraigne But if we shall then receiue a crowne what manner of crowne shall it be Diuers sorts of crownes For there is diuers sorts of crownes there is Ciuica corona a crowne made of Oaken bowes which was giuen of the Romans to him that saued the life of any citizen in battel against his enemies Secondly Obsidionalis which was of grasse giuen vnto him that deliuered a town or citie from sicdge Thirdly Muralis which was of gold giuen vnto him that first scaled the wall of any towne or castle Fourthly Castrensis which was likewise of golde giuen vnto him that first entred the campe of the enemie Fiftly Naualis and that also of gold giuen vnto him that first by valour bourded the shippe of the enemy Sixtly Oualis which was of Mirtle which was giuen to those captaines that subdued any towne or Citie or that woon any fielde casily without losse or shedding of bloud Seuenthly and lastly Triumphalis which was of Laurell giuen to that chiefe Generall or Consul which after some notable victorie and conquest came home triumphing But all these or the most of them were rather garlands then crownes yea the verie best of those that were of gold rather coronets then crowns and if crowns rather crowns of honor then of glorie This crowne therefore that our chiefe Shepheard shall giue and the faithfull elders of the Church
shewes by their bendinges and bowinges mocking and mowinges windinges and turninges and such like vnseemly gesture by their adoration eleuation and exaltation the shamelesse shaueling that celebrateth this Sacrifice or rather committeth this sacriledge not without most horrible blasphemie dealeth with the baked God which they call an host euen as a cat doth with a mouse who after they haue dalied with it daÌ„dled it towsed tossed it two fro vpward and downeward forward and backward at the last the iest turning into earnest he choppeth it vp at one bitte flesh bloud bones and all To conclude their whole religion consisteth of nothing els but of raggs and reliques ringing and singing censing and sancting shaning and shriuing thereby shragging the purses of the poore people and all this in shew of sanctimonie and sinceritie and being indeede nothnig els but deceite dissembling And lastly in those their goodlie deedes of Charitie which carrie the greatest shew of good workes when as they build Churches erect monasteries found collegies Hospitalls Frieries and nunneries and other Religious howses where by they indeauour to merite their Saluation and get wordly commendation to be hallowed in heauen of God and honored in earth of men what doe they els but shew themselues to be Hypocriticall and Pharisiecall dissemblers and what are those their good deedes anie thing els but Splendida peccata being without faith seeing that as the Apostle saith what soeuer is not of faith is sinne for all their good intent for although as Austin saith Intentio facit opus bonum yet must we take therewithall that which followeth after Sed fides dirigit intentionem For as the same Apostle saith in another place Without faith it is vnpossible to please God So that for all their greate costs and charges thus vainegloriously bestowed howsoeuer perhappes praise worthie before men yet without regard and guerdon before God they may be likened to the woman which had the bloodie flixe meÌ„tioned in the Gospell who had spent all her substance and bestowed all her goods vpon Phisitions for remedie of her disease but could not be healed orhealped of anie and noe marueile seeing that the best workes that anie regenerat man in the world can doe with the liueliest faith the strongest hope with the colourablest intente and to the best ende that may be can not purchase anie sparke of grace or droppe of mercie by deserte at the hands of God for as our Sauiour saith in the Gospell When we haue doune all that we can yet are we vnprofitable seruants What then shall be come of those glorious workes of the Papists which they bouldly affirme to merite being died and tincte in the precious bloud of our Sauiour Christ and therefore must needes be acceptable and gratious in the sight of God euen they shal be in accompt vnto the Lord as was Iesabell vnto Iehu who although shee cleared her eyes and painted her face with ruddie coullours and other pleasant hewes thereby to seeme faire to escape the furie of Iehu yet for all that did he according to the commandment of God perfourme the Iudgement of the Lord vpon her with out anie regard of her beautie or anie other respect whatsoeuer But to leaue the Papists and to come neare ourselues here present if anie shall in this congregation vse to frequent diuine seruice and sermons seeming to be a zealous Professour of the Religion now sette vppe by publike Authoritie for feare of incurring the daunger of the Lawe prouided in this behalfe or els to be well esteemed of and deemed of his neighboures as an ordinarie liuer and ordinarie professour in the towne and parish where he dwelleth and not for the truthes sake as a faithfull Christian and his conscience cause verily he is nothing els but a carnall gospeller and a time seruer nothing at all differing in this from the dissembling Pharisies and Hypocriticall papists in dallying with God and making a mocke of his word then the which their can be no wickednesse worse noe sinne more hainous nor noe vice more odious in the sight of God for as Tully saith in the first of offices Totius Iustitiae nulia pars capitalior est quam â—arum qui tum quum maxime fallunt id agunt vt viri boni esse videantur In consideration of which dissembling nature and deceitfull minde of man in generall Seneca he crieth out in his Hippolitus in the person of Theseus which may also be truely verified of this our dowbling and coulourable age Ouita fallax abditos sensus geris animisque pulchram turbidis faciem induis pudor impudentem calat audacem quies pietas nefandum vera fallaces produnt simulantque molles dura For of what degree estate and order of men in this time may not that of Homer be truely sayd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is as Chytreus Translateth these words Qui bona dicebant animis praua struebant Who speake roses but sauour of wormewoode Their words being sweeter then honie softer then butter smoother then oile but hauing warre in their hartes hauing a shew of godlinesse a semblance of zeale in outward profession and deuotion but vtterly denying the power thereof in their life and conuersation But let all such in this behalfe follow the good holesome counsell of a heathen Philosopher euen Plato in his Epist to Dion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For as Tullie saith in his second booke Denatura Deorum of the worshippers of the heathen Gods much more may it be said of the seruice of the only true and euerlasting God Cultus Deorum est optimus idemque castissimus atque sanctissimus Plenissimusque pietatis vt eas semper pura integra incorrupta mente voce veneremur And as our sauiour himselfe saith in the fourth of Iohn God is a spirite and they that worship him must worship him in spirite and trueth And as he saith in another place not euerie one that saith vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingedome of heaueÌ„ but he that doth the will of my father which is in heauen And thus much for these words which I haue reade vnto you FINIS