hell we may well say that his faith was of the selfe same stampe and that this looke which the Lord gaue him was of marueilous force and efficacie séeing that being fallen so farre and hauing committed such an horrible sinne that as they say he was not sufficient inough to punish it yet was he not swallowed vp with dispaire but he was raised vp out of that dungeon of destruction euen by apprehending a greater depth then that was that is the infinite depth of the riches of the grace and mercie of God whereunto he had recourse with full assurance that this most bountifull and mercifull father woulde take pittye and compassion on him You see then the repentaunce and the excellent faith of this holy Apostle and also how hee sealeth and confirmeth all by a sodaine and true amendment for immediately after that he saw the breaknecke of destruction and the wofull and miserable estate whereinto he was fallen hee came thence without delay and then went to seeke his brethren and companions that is he came within the lists of the Church again how small soeuer it were at that time and in how poore and miserable estate soeuer it was according to the world so that the poore faithfull could looke for nothing but for the crosse tribulations and persecutions considering the sharpe intertainment which the soueraigne maister and head of the Church had and found This then was the way and gate wherby Dauid Manasses and S. Peter had accesse vnto the throne of that grace and mercie of God The verye selfe same thing is taught vs by the historie of the prodigall sonne which Iesus Christ setteth downe in the Gospel Luk. 15. to shew vs on the one side how greatly they are blindes and voide of vnderstanding which vpon any occasiō whatsoeuer forsake the house of their heauēly father without that which there is nothing but méere hunger pouertie miserie wo and cursednes On the other side this serueth to teach vs by what meanes we may come and bee receiued into fauour This was then a foolish sonne yea blinde and bewitched of Satan who finding it maye bee his fathers gouernment and discipline too hard and austere and being desirous to follow his foolish affections and disordered desires doth withdraw himselfe from his said father goeth out of his house and runneth after his owne lustes he falleth shortly after into a most pitious and miserable estate he which refused to sit at his fathers table doth now sit at table with hogges he which disdained good and honorable intertainement the exquisite and delicate meates iunkates whereof he had sufficient cannot now fill himselfe with the meat of hogges hee which despised the goodly and pretious ornaments wherewith he was cloathed when he was in his fathers house goeth now all tattered and torne like a begger to make short he which might haue bene in full good case if he had would is nowe accursed and brought to vtter destruction through his own folly and consequētly vnworthie euer to come within his fathers dores and to haue so much as a good looke of him whom hee had so grieuously offended Lo here then a childe that was vtterly lost depriued of al goodnes honor and felicitie and plunged as it were in a gulph of woe shame and reproch What remaineth then for him but to dispaire And yet hee taketh not that course but the quite contrarie for he commeth to himselfe hee perceiueth his wretchednes he bewaileth his estate hee is displeased with himselfe for his sinne hee resolueth with him selfe to come and humble himselfe before his father whom he had offended hee purposeth to craue pardon of him assuring himselfe of his goodnes and mercie finallie he commeth out of that filth and without anie more a doe to his father he comes he confesseth and acknowledgeth his sinne to him saying that he had sinned against heauen and against him and he counteth himselfe vnworthy to be taken for his sonne and hauing none other meanes left but to flye to his mercie he beseecheth him to take pitie and compassion vpon him and to graunt him this grace that hee woulde receiue him into his house if not as his childe yet at least as one of his hyred seruauntes acknowledging with Dauid that the condition of the poore porters of Gods house is farre more blessed and honourable then Ps 84. that of the greatest monarches of the earth which are without the Church Thus did this poore prodigall chylde that he might escape out of that wofull miserie into which he was fallen and that hee might recouer that good that honour and that felicitye which hee had lost as indeede all fell out so well that hee findeth his father better disposed more ready and better inclyned to receyue him not as a seruant but as a son then he durst desire In like manner you see that the true and only meanes to obtayne grace and mercye at the Lordes handes is true repentaunce a true faith and true amendment Lo then my brethren what course you must obserue lo here the way which you must follow lo here the gate wherby you must enter in vnto the Lorde to obtayne his fauour But marke well the band and coniunction of these thynges which cannot be answered for deceiue not your selues vnlesse you amend your fault you may wel saye that you acknowledge it that you are grieued at it that you condemn it that you count it so grieuous and so monstrous as that it deserueth a thousand deathes and a thousand hels if there were so many yet all this is nothing but meere hypocrisie and mocking of God and men In like manner if you say that you haue a true and certaine assurance in the goodnes mercy of God Exod. 20. that he will take pitie vpon you and will giue you grace to returne to his Church that also shal be nothing but a false and peruerse perswasion and rather a carnall assurance and confidence then a true faith to bee short all that shal be nothing but a méere mockery of God and an abusing of his patience and consequently a meanes to inflame his anger so much the more against you if there withal you shew not in effect that you do truely repent and that your faith is frée from al dissimulation and hipocrisie This effect is nothing els but a readie change amendment wherunto you are exhorted in the name of God For execution wherof we need not here stand vpon particulars you knowe my meaning wel inough There remaineth nothing for you to do but to haue a good and fréewil proceeding from a true zeale of God and from a feruent desire of your saluation coupled with an holy affection to aduaunce the kingdome of Iesus Christ and to edifie his church If the very same occasions which made you fall do nowe present themselues before your eies and keepe you from amending and redressing your offence whether it be in regard of
yet was not this in heart and with affection but onely in word But all these allegations are so féeble and these replies are so friuelous that they deserue none answere at all And I am verie certaine that the moste part of you my brethren haue sometimes reiected them as not worthie to be receiued and of none importaunce when they would haue paied you with such monie yea I am sure you laugh at them euen at this time in your owne hearts and that for good cause For where can you finde that the Lord hath permitted vs to make such a partition between our soule and bodie as with the one to serue God and the deuill with the other Is not the Lord the creatour and sauiour aswell of the one as of the other Wil not he be glorified in both We knowe that the Apostle will haue vs to offer not onelie our spirites but also our bodies to the Lord in Sacrifice that is that we consecrate and dedicate our selues to the seruice of God both in soule and bodie And that which more is our bodies are called by the Apostle the Temples of God and must be made partakers of his glorie aswel as our selues euen then when we shall be fashioned according to the glorious bodie of the Sonne of God It foloweth then that we must not serue the deuill therwith polluting them with superstitions Idolatries but we must kéepe them in al purenes and holines for the seruice of our god For what husband is he that is so foolish which would take such an answere for paimēt at his wiues hand and that would suffer her to make such a partition If a woman were so impudent and shameles as to speake to her husband on this wise my husband I prostitute my bodie indéed to such such and make it common euerie daie in the brothelhouse but I reserue the better part for you and that 's mine heart wherwith I loue you serue and honor you I praie you should not such a woman deserue to be cast off of her husband as a mocker or rather as a common vile and detestable harlot It is most certain that she should What will the Lord then do who is ielous ouer his glorie and our saluation who hath espoused vs to himselfe that keeping our faith and promise made to him wee maie bee pure and chast in bodie and mind What will he do I say if wee pollute our bodies in Idolatrie which is spirituall whoredome Wherfore we see that this is a vaine excuse for indeede if this partition coulde haue beene made with a good conscience that is to saye to prostrate the bodie before Idols and to keepe the heart for God thinke wee that Daniell and the three Hebrue children would not rather haue vsed this opportunitie then to haue exposed their life to so great dangers séeing there was nothing required at their hands saue onely an outward kinde of worship But what shall we say of so manie martyrs whose memorie is fresh as yet Who would rather shed the last drop of their bloud or bee burnt aliue with soft fire then once to bowe their knée before Baal howe little soeuer it were Why did they it not for safegard of their life to preserue it from so cruell torments and from the fire Because they feared eternall torments and the fire of Gods wrath who abhorreth such Idolatrie what protestation soeuer wee make that wee keepe our heart whole and pure for him for he will haue both the one and the other Now it may appeare by that what account we ought to make of that other replye which manye amongst you haue in their mouth when a man studieth to set before their eies the filthines of their fault If I tel you that you haue abiured and forsworne christian religion and receiued and allowed al the abhominations of the great whore also that you haue denyed the sonne of God and acknowledged this Idole of Antichrist putting him as it were in his place you wil say that you did it not with your heart affection but onely in word to content men and you thinke that you may escape by this goodly distinction But the Lord wil not iudge you after your subtilties sophistrie which shal vanish away like smoake when we shall appeare before the throne of his Maiestie He hath not said Hee which shall confesse me with the heart and affection him wil I confesse before my father in heauen and before his Angels he which shall deny me with the heart him wil I also denie but hee speaketh of confessing and acknowledging those which shal confesse him before men and of reiecting and denying those which shal haue denyed and renounced him before men And what is it to confesse Iesus Christ before men It is to make open profession of his Gospel to make frée cōfession of his truth yea to feele it with our bloud if neede bee after the example of this cloude of martyres which shall stand vp in iudgment against you at the great daie On the other side what is it to denie Iesus Christ before men is it not to do euen as you haue done And to do that which you do as yet dailie But least you thinke that I charge you to sore and without cause I beseech you consider with an equall and quiet mind what this cursed and detestable abiuration which you haue made importeth the which I cannot read without an inward trembling especiallie when I behold the cursed and miserable estate of so manie silie soules which by this meanes are caught in Sathans net wherein they continue intangled vntill such time as they be vnited again with the Church of Iesus Christ But admit there be some few among you which haue exempted themselues from making the foresaid abiuration yet you cease not to denie Iesus Christ to be your sole Sauiour to tread his bloud vnder your féete and to renounce the merit of his death and passion when by your presence assistance you approue that abhomination of the masse which is the seale and detestable sacrament of this abiuration and renouncing of the sonne of God and as it were a poisoned heape of all the impieties of popish doctrine But for the better explaning of al this let vs consider the thinges more distinctlie not that I purpose to rippe vp all the pointes that are comprised in this goodlie fourme of confession and abiuration and to refute them by reasons and plaine testimonies of Scripture for then I should make a great volume touching that matter alone which should be a superfluous thing seeing I should then hādle and do againe that which hath bene alreadie done most excellentlie by manie excellent seruants of God in our time speciallie by him who made not long agoe the answer to the profession of faith published against those of the reformed church by the Archbishop Munkes of Bourdeaux in which answere framed according to the word of god
hath sometimes so prouoked the Lord to wrath that to punish the same hee hath caused the earth to open and to swallow vp those also that haue committed it that he hath made fire come down from heaueÌ„ to coÌ„sume those which were gilty therof Num. 16. Num. 21. that he hath sent serpents in the wildernes the plague the sword the destroier other scourges to punish the murmurings Num. 14. the vnthankfulnes other sins of his people The holy historie declareth what iudgmeÌ„ts vengeance the Lord hath sundry times vpoÌ„ diuers occasioÌ„s vsed against the Israelites Sometimes they were visited by the plague somtimes by famine sometimes by warre The lord hath raised vp diuers enemies to execute his iudgements vpon them They haue oftentimes had vpon theÌ„ the armie of the Philistines oftentimes the Moabits oftentimes the Ammonites other enemies Shortlie after the Syrians the Babylonians Antiochus finallie the Romaines They were oftentimes ouercome discomforted brought vnder subiection led into captiuitie in fine quite discoÌ„fited destroied by the Romane empire To be short the Lorde did displaie the seueritie of his iudgementes vppon this people in such sort that there is not at this daie anie nation vnder the â—oape of heauen more miserable which hath continued euer sitheÌ„ce that fearful iudgement of God which was executed vppon this people in the sacking and destruction of Ierusalem so that the verie markes of the wrath of God do continue so déeplie engrauen in all this miserable race that those which perceiue them not haue none eies to see withall And wherfore came all this vppon them Euen because they had treacherously broken the couenant of the Lord because they had forsaken his pure worship to run after the idols superstitions of the Gentiles because they had vnthankefully despised his graces singular fauor which he had graunted them of his own liberalitie because they had reiected the saluation which was sent vnto them and finallie because they had put to death the Lord of glory who came to saue them You wil saie that you are not culpable of such crimes and this is our vndoing when in steede of profiting by the examples of the iudgmentes of God which are proposed vnto vs in the scriptures we poste them ouer vnto others But the spirite of God iudgeth otherwise touching them 1. Cor. 10. when he saith by Saint Paul that these iudgementes which came vpon the people of the Iewes were examples for vs and that these thinges are written to put vs in minde vpon whoÌ„ the ends of the worlde are come But what is the most monstrous crime that euer the Iewes did coÌ„mit and for the which they are set before the eies of the whole worlde for a spectacle of the iust wrath and anger of God euen because they had crucified the Lord of glorie And now the spirite of GOD speaking by the Apostle to the Hebrues calleth this which you haue done Heb. 6 and do as yet contrarie to your owne conscience the crucifying of the Sonne of God afreshe and the setting of him to bee reproched Then I praie you what punishment doth your fault deserue call to mind the threatninges which are contained in the Scripture against suche backslidinges and trecheries against such vnthankfulnesse against such pollutions and profanings of the name of God against such despising of his graces against suche Apostasies abiurations and renouncinges of the sonne of God and of the doctrine of his Gospell to bee short against such offences as that of yours is You know that the Lord calleth himselfe a ielous God to shew that he cannot abide suche iniurie to be done to his maiestie Wherefore he doth also threateÌ„ that hee wil visite the iniquitie of the fathers vppon the children vntill the third and fourth generation of those that hate him Ex. 20. Now I haue alreadie shewed you that after you had forsaken his side that you might associate your selues with his enemies hée cannot take you for anie other but for haters of him so long as you continue with them And furthermore this is to hate the Lord when a maÌ„ cleaueth to impieties and idolatries whereby he is dishonoured Wherefore this threatning appertaineth to you as doth that also which he vseth against those that take his name in vaine saying that hee will not holde them guiltlesse Exo. 20. And haue not you taken his name in vaine when you became vnfaithfull and periured persons breaking violating the faith and promise which you had made to him Doe not you as yet take his name in vaine when you through your reuolting are the cause that it is polluted dishonoured and blasphemed by the wicked once Moreouer consider I praie you a litle what the threatning importeth which the sonne of God vseth against those which shall forsake him ioyne theÌ„selues with his enimies which shal be ashamed of him and of his Gospel which shal renounce him before men which shal séek to saue their life by renouncing the truth Mat. 12. He that is not with me saith he is against me and hee that gathereth not with mee scattereth abroad And what is it to be against Iesus Christ and to scatter abroade but to be counted his enemies And what intertainment can you looke for at his handes at that last daie and howe miserable shal your estate bee if hee account you such Furthermore what meaneth that threatening which hée pronounceth against those which shall bee ashamed of him of his wordes saying that he will also bee ashamed of them when hee shall come in the glorie of his Father with the holy Angels Surelie the meaning thereof is that hee wil not account them his but will reiect those which shall shew themselues so vnthankfull as to be ashamed of the son of God Mar. 8. who was not ashamed of our poore and miserable nature but hath done vs so greate honor as to ioyne couple himselfe with vs honoring vs with this title of brethreÌ„ that hee might vnite and knit vs with God his father Moreouer consider what that denying and renouÌ„cing which he threatneth to those shall haue denied and renounced him before men doth import when he saith that he wil denie theÌ„ before God his father and holie Angels which is confirmed by Saint Paul who saith Mat. 10. that If wee denie him hee will denie vs also You are not ignoraunt that this is euen the extreamest woe and curse to bee denied and reiected of the sonne of God Marke also what a curse hee pronounceth against those that giue offence when hée saith Woe bee to him by whom offences come Luke 17. Mat. 18. it were better for him that hee were cast into the sea and that hee had a milstone hanged about his neck And indéede what punishment thinke you bee deserueth who by his euill example shal bee the cause of the destruction of his poore brother for
whom the sonne of God did shedde his precious bloud Rom. 14. Set before you the threatninges which are denounced against those that pollute the temple of God 1. Cor. 3. Eph. 4. which make sad the spirite of God the holie Angels and all the whole Churche Remember that which you once learned Luke 12. that the seruant which knoweth his maisters will and doth it not shal be punished double and that it shal be easier for those of Sodom and Gomorrha at the last daie Mat. 12. then for those that haue despised the day of their visitation To be brief iudge you what paine and punishment he deserueth who putteth in place of Iesus Christ the execrable idol of Antichrist abiuring the trueth of the one and approuing the falshood of the other Finallie feare least you be inwrapped in that fearefull iudgement which the sonne of God denouÌ„ceth against that cursed BabyloÌ„ Apoc. 18. into whose bosom you haue thrown your selues and returne into Noahs arke again if you will escape the floud of the wrath of God which threatneth the whole earth Heb. 10. It is a fearful thing saieth the Apostle to fal into the hands of the liuing God The temporal iudgements which the Lord did execute vpon Sodome and Gomorrha vpoÌ„ the Iewes others and which he executeth dailie vpoÌ„ his enemies are in very deed terrible fearfull and make mens haire stand vpright when they heare of them But this is nothing in comparison of the fearefull iudgement which must bee executed against the wicked after this life Es â—4 2. Cor. 2. for as the eie hath not seene the eare hath not hearde and mans heart hath not conceiued nor comprised the good things which the Lord hath prepared for these which loue honour him so likewise on the contrary we may saie that truelie that the paines the anguishes the eternal torments which are prepared for the daÌ„ned in hel cannot be compreheÌ„ded by mans vnderstaÌ„ding For if we could comprehend theÌ„ the onlie thinking therupon should cause in vs an intollerable astonishmeÌ„t feare The holy scripture doth sometimes represent them vnto vs by vtter darknes by the prison by eternal bands by wéeping gnashing of téeth Mat. 12. 1. Pet. 3. Apoc. 20. Mat. 13. Es 66. Mat. 9. mat 19. mar 9. by the worme that gnaweth without ceassing which neuer dyeth and by fire that neuer is quenched not that there is any proportion betwéen the eternall tormentes and the most extreme dolours and distresses that a man can imagine in all these thinges but to the end it may apply it selfe to our dulnes and giue vs some vnderstaÌ„ding of those infinite and vnspeakeable paynes which the damned shal suffer it describeth them vnto vs by similitudes taken from thinges which are terrible and fearful Now this is not to the ende we maie be put in anie vaine feare as litle children are made afraid with scarrebugs but that we maie be throughlie afraid indéede of the iudgements of God that we maie walke before him in feare that we maie hate sinne which inflameth Gods wrath against men and that it may make vs séek peace and reconciliation with God when wee haue offended him This is iâ— also the ende for which my brethren I put you in mind of these things forasmuch as I desire your coÌ„uersion and saluation What must you do theÌ„ you must set before your eies the greatnes the foulenes the filthines and deformitie of your fault that you maie be confouÌ„ded and ashamed in your selues that you haue shewed your selues so cowardlie and so vnthankful towarde so good a father that you maie be beaten downe with terrour and trembling and with feare of the iudgement of God which you haue deserued 1. Cor. 11. that you maie iudge and condemne your selues that you bee not iudged and condemned of the Lorde to make short that you maie come like poore offenders with ropes about your necks to craue pardon at Gods handes casting downe your selues at his féete by true humilitie yea euen plunging your selues as men say in the déep dungeons of hell Marke héere where your conuersion must beginne to witte at true repentaunce if you desire to bee receyued into fauour for an ancient father saith Hell is the waie to come to heauen that is to saie that such casting downe and humbling of poore sinners confessing and detesting their faultes accusing and condemning themselues and which think themselues worthie to bée drowned in the déepe pitte of Hell is the true preparation and disposition to receiue the grace of GOD. For hée which humbleth him selfe shall bee exalted The Lorde is nigh to heartes that are desolate Mat. 23. Luke 14.4 Pet. 5. Psal 34. contrite and humble Hee saueth those that are broken in spirite c. Afterwarde being prepared by suche a compunction and contrition of heart proceeding from a right knowledge and displeasure conceyued of and for your sinne and therewithall from a true knowledge of the iust iudgemeÌ„ts of God you must come out of this depth by the meanes of faith which shall comforte your broken heartes and will assure your fearefull consciences and wil comfort your desolate soules it will teache you that the Lord wils not the death of a sinner Ez. 18. but rather that he bee conuerted and liue also that hee hath promised to poore and miserable sinners which shall turne from their wicked wayes that hee will cast all their sinnes into the bottome of the Sea so that they shall neuer bee anie more remembred Turne you turne you Mich. 7 Ez. 18.33 from your wicked waies why will you die you house of Israell sayth the Lorde Returne then and repent of al your transgressions and your iniquitie shall not be imputed and laid to your charge Turne you vnto mee with all Io. 2. your whole hearte with fasting wéeping and mourning Rent your hearts and not your garmentes turne to the Lorde your God for he is gentle mercifull slowe to wrath and of greate pitie and suche a one as is sorie for your afflictions Es 1. Though your sinnes were as redde as scarlet yet shall they be as white as snowe and though they were as purple yet shal they be made as white as wooll But who is hee that shall make them white Faith shall teache you that it is the bloud of the sonne of GOD which cleanseth you from all sinne that it is he who died for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification The fault which you haue committed is great and monstrous and deserueth great and grieuous condemnation as you haue alreadie hearde and as the trueth is but yet not so greate but that you maie haue forgiuenesse of the same vnlesse you through your obstinacie and want of repentaÌ„ce do make it irremissible The Lorde is iust yea and a seuere punisher of the offences of all those which doe obstinatelie perseuere therein Psal 103.