Rebellion as you see both the first and the greatest and the very root of all other sins and the first and principal cause both of all worldly and bodily Miseries Sorrows Diseases Sicknesses and Deaths and which is infinitely worse than all these as is said the very cause of death and damnation eternal also After this breach of Obedience to God and Rebellion against His Majesty all mischiefs and miseries breaking in therewith and overflowing the World lest all things should come unto confusion and utter ruin God forthwith by Laws given unto Mankind Gen. 3. d. 17. Gen 3. c. 16. Job 34. d. 30. 36. a. 7. repaired again the rule and order of Obedience thus by Rebellion overthrown and besides the Obedience due unto his Majesty he not only ordained that in Families and Housholds The Wife should be obedient unto her Husband the Children unto their Parents the Servants unto their Masters but also when Mankind increased and spread it self more largely over the World he by his holy Word did constitute and ordain in Cities and Countries several and special Governors and Rulers unto whom the residue of his People should be obedient Eccl. 8. a 2. 10. c. 16.17 d. 20. Psal 18. g. 50. 20. b. 6. 21. a. 1. Prov. 8.115 As in reading of the Holy Scriptures we shall find in very many and almost infinite places as well of the Old Testament as of the New that Kings and Princes as well the evil as the good do Reign by Gods Ordinance and that Subjects are bounden to obey them that God doth give Princes Wisdom great Power and Authority that God defendeth them against their Enemies and destroyeth their Enemies horribly that the anger and displeasure of the Prince is as the roaring of a Lion and the very messenger of death and the Subject that provoketh him to displeasure sinneth against his own Soul with many other things concerning both the Authority of Princes and the Duty of Subjects But here let us rehearse two special places out of the New Testament which may stand instead of all other Rom. 13. The first out of St. Pauls Epistle to the Romans and the thirteenth Chapter where he writeth thus unto all Subjects Let every Soul be subject unto the higher Powers for there is no Power but of God and the Powers that be are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation For Princes are not to be feared for good Works but for evil Wilt thou then be without fear of the Power Do well so shalt thou have praise of the same for he is the Minister of God for thy Wealth But if thou do evil fear for he beareth not the Sword for nought for he is the Minister of God to take vengeance upon him that doth evil Wherefore ye must be subject not because of Wrath only but also for Conscience sake for for this cause ye pay also tribute for they are Gods Ministers serving for the same purpose Give to every Man therefore his due tribute to whom tribute belongeth custom to whom custom is due fear to whom fear belongeth honor to whom ye owe honor Thus far are S. Pauls words The second place is in St. Peters Epistle and the second Chapter 1 Pet. 2. whose words are these Submit your selves unto all manner of Ordinances of Man for the Lords sake whether it be unto the King as unto the chief Head either unto Rulers as unto them that are sent of him for the punishment of evil doers but for the cherishing of them that do well For so is the Will of God that with well doing ye may stop the mouths of ignorant and foolish Men as free and not as having the liberty for a cloak of maliciousness but even as the Servants of God Honor all Men love Brotherly Fellowship fear God honor the King Servants obey your Masters with fear not only if they be good and courteous but also though they be froward Thus far out of St. Peter By these two places of the Holy Scriptures it is most evident that Kings Queens and other Princes for he speaketh of Authority and Power be it in Men or Women are ordained of God are to be obeyed and honored of their Subjects that such Subjects as are disobedient or rebellious against their Princes disobey God and procure their own damnation that the government of Princes is a great blessing of God given for the Common-wealth specially of the good and godly For the comfort and cherishing of whom God giveth and setteth up Princes and on the contrary part to the fear and for the punishment of the evil and wicked Finally That if Servants ought to obey their Masters not only being gentle but such as be froward as well and much more ought â—ubjects to be obedient not only to their good and courteous but also to their sharp and rigorous Princes It cometh therefore neither of chance and fortune as they term it nor of the ambition of mortal Men and Women climbing up of their own accord to dominion that there be Kings Queens Princes other Governors ovâ—r Men being their Subjects but all Kings Queens other Governors are specially appointed by the ordinance of God And as God himself being of an infinite Majesty Power and Wisdom ruleth and governeth all things in Heâ—ven and Earth Psal 80. b. 16 45. a. 6. c. 47. a. 2. Eccl. 17. c. as the Universal Monarch and only King and Emperor over all as being only able to take and bear the charge of all so hath he constituted ordained and set earthly Princes over particular Kingdoms and Dominions in Earth both for the avoiding of all confusion which else would be in the World if it should be without Governors and for the great quiet and benefit of earthly Men their Subjects and also that the Princes themselves in Authority Power Wisdom Providence and righteousness in government of People and Countries committed to their charge should resemble his heavenly Governance as the Majesty of heavenly things may by the baseness of earthly things be shadowed and resembled Mat. 18. c. 23. 22.12 Ps 10. b. 16 and 45. a. b. 47. a. 2. c. Mat. 22. b. 13. 25. c. 34. Psal 82. b. 6. And for that similitude that is between the heavenly Monarchy and earthly Kingdoms well governed our Saviour Christ in sundry Parables saith That the Kingdom of Heaven is resembled unto a Man a King and as the name of the King is very often attributed and given unto God in Holy Scriptures so doth God himself in the same Scriptures sometimes vouchsafe to communicate his Name with earthly Princes terming them Gods doubtless for that similitude of Government which they have or should have not unlike unto God their King unto the which similitude of heavenly Government the nearer and nearer that an
meant in any condition of the pretenced or coloured Power of the Bishop of Rome For truly the Scripture of God alloweth no such Usurped Power full of Enormities Abusions and Blasphemies But the true meaning of these and such places be to extol and set forth God's true Ordinance and the Authority of God's Anointed Kings and of their Officers appointed under them And concerning the Usurped Power of the Bishop of Rome which he most wrongfully challengeth as the successor of Christ and Peter We may easily perceive how false feigned and forged it is not only in that it hath no sufficient ground in Holy Scripture but also by the Fruits and Doctrine thereof For our Saviour Christ and St. Peter teach most earnestly and agreeably Obedience to Kings as to the chief and Supreme Rulers in this world next under God But the Bishop of Rome teacheth that they that are under him are free from all burdens and charges of the Commonwealth and Obedience toward their Prince most clearly against Christ's Doctrine and St. Peters He ought therefore rather to be called Antichrist and the Successor of the Scribes and Pharises than Christ's Vicar and St. Peter's Successor Seeing that not only in this point but also in other weighty matters of Christian Religion in matters of Remission and Forgiveness of Sins and of Salvation he teacheth so directly against both St. Peter and against our Saviour Christ who not only taught Obedience to Kings but also practised Obedience in their Conversation and Living For we read that they both paid Tribute to the King And also we read that the Holy Virgin Mary Matth. 17. Mother to our Saviour Christ and Joseph who was taken for his Father at the Emperor's Commandment went to the City of David Luke 2. named Bethlehem to be taxed among other and to declare their Obedience to the Magistrates for God's Ordinances sake And here let us not forget the blessed Virgin Maries Obedience For although she was highly in God's Favour and and Christs natural Mother and was also great with Child at the same time and so nigh her Travail that she was delivered in her journey yet she gladly without any excuse or grudging for Conscience sake did take that cold and foul Winter journey being in the mean season so poor that she lay in a Stable and there she was Delivered of Christ And according to the same Lo how St. Peter agreeth writing by express words in his first Epistle 1 Pet. 2. Submit your selves and be Subject saith he unto Kings as unto the chief heads and unto rulers as unto them that are sent of him for the punishment of evil-doors and for the praise of them that do well for so is the will of God I need not to expound these words they be so plain of themselves St. Peter doth not say Submit your selves unto me as Supreme Head of the Church Neither saith he Submit your selves from time to time to my Successors in Rome But he saith Submit your selves unto your King your Supreme Head and unto those that he appointeth in Authority under him for that you shall so shew your Obedience it is the Will of God God will that you be in subjection to your Head and King This is God's Ordinance God's Commandment and God's Will that the whole Body of every Realm and all the Members and Parts of the same shall be subject to their Head their King and that as St. Peter writeth for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2. Rom. 13. Matth. 22. And as St. Paul writeth for conscience sake and not for fear only Thus we learn by the word of God to yield to our King that is due to our King That is Honour Obedience payments of due Taxes Customs Tributes Subsidies Love and Fear Rom. 13. Thus we know partly our bounden Duties to common Authority now let us learn to accomplish the same And let us most instantly and heartily pray to God the only Author of all Authority for all them that be in Authority according as St. Paul willeth writing thus to Timothy in his first Epistle 1 Tim. 2. I exhort therefore that above all things Prayers Supplications Intercessions and giving of Thanks be done for all Men for Kings and for all that be in Authority that we may live a quiet and a peaceable life with all godliness and Honesty For that is good and accepted or allowable in the sight of God our Saviour Here St. Paul maketh an earnest and an especial Exhortation concerning Giving of Thanks and Prayer for Kings and Rulers saying Above all things as he might say in any wise principally and chiefly let prayer be made for Kings Let us heartily thank God for his great and excellent Benefit and Providence concerning the state of Kings Let us pray for them that they may have God's Favour and God's Protection Let us pray that they may ever in all things have God before their Eyes Let us pray that they may have Wisdom Strength Justice Clemency and Zeal to God's Glory to God's Verity to Christian Souls and to the Commonwealth Let us pray that they may rightly use their Sword and Authority for the maintenance and defence of the Catholick Faith contained in Holy Scripture and of their good and honest Subjects for the fear and punishment of the evil and vicious People Let us pray that they may most faithfully follow the Kings and Captains in the Bible David Ezekias Josias and Moses with such other And let us pray for ourselves that we may live Godlily in Holy and Christian Conversation So shall we have God on our side and then let us not fear what Man can do against us So we shall live in true Obedience both to our most merciful King in Heaven and to our most Christian King on Earth So shall we please God and have the exceeding Benefit peace of Conscience rest and quietness here in this World and after this life we shall enjoy a better Life Rest Peace and the everlasting Bliss of Heaven which he grant us all that was obedient for us all even to the death of the Cross Jesus Christ To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all Honour and Glory both now and ever Amen A SERMON Against Whoredom and Vncleanness ALthough there want not good Christian People great swarms of Vices worthy to be rebuked unto such decay is true Godliness and Virtuous living now come Yet above other Vices the outragious Seas of Adultery or breaking of Wedlock Whoredom Fornication and Uncleanness have not only burst in but also overflowed almost the whole World unto the great dishonour of God the exceeding Infamy of the Name of Christ the notable decay of true Religion and the utter destruction of the publick Wealth and that so abundantly that through the customable use thereof this Vice is grown unto such an height that in a manner among many it is counted no sin at all but rather a pastime a
may soon deceive himself and think in his own phantasie that he by Faith knoweth God loveth him feareth him and belongeth to him when in very deed he doth nothing less For the tryal of all these things is a very Godly and Christian Life He that feeleth his Heart set to seek God's Honour and studieth to know the Will and Commandments of God and to frame himself thereunto and leadeth not his Life after the desire of his own flesh to serve the Devil by Sin but setteth his Mind to serve God for his own sake and for his sake also to love all his Neighbors whether they be Friends or Adversaries doing good to every Man as opportunity serveth and willingly hurting no Man Such a Man may well rejoyce in God perceiving by the trade of his Life that he unfeignedly hath the right knowledge of God a lively Faith a stedfast Hope a true and unfeigned Love and Fear of God But he that casteth away the yoke of God's Commandments from his Neck and giveth himself to live without true Repentance after his own sensual Mind and Pleasure not regarding to know God's Word and much less to live according thereunto Such a Man clearly deceiveth himself and seeth not his own Heart if he thinketh that he either knoweth God loveth him feareth him or trusteth in him Some peradventure fancy in themselves that they belong to God although they live in Sin and so they come to the Church and shew themselves as God's dear Children But St. John saith plainly If we say 1 John 1. that we have any company with God and walk in darkness we do lye Others do vainly think that they know and love God although they pass not of the Commandments But St. John saith clearly 1 John 2. He that saith I know God and keepeth not his Commandments he is a lyar Some falsly persuade themselves that they love God when they hate their Neighbors But St. John saith manifestly If any man say I love God 1 John 4. 1 John 2. and yet hateth his Brother he is a lyar He that saith that he is in the light and hateth his brother he is still in darkness He that loveth his brother dwelleth in the light but he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knowe h not whither he goeth For darkness hath blinded h s eyes And moreover he saith 1 John 3. Hereby we manif stly know the Children of God from the Children of the Devil He that doth not righteously is not the child of God nor he that hateth his Brother Deceive not yourselves therefore thinking that you have Faith in God or that you love God or do trust in him or do fear him when you live in sin For then your ungodly and sinful Life declareth the contrary whatsoever you say or think It pertaineth to a Christian Man to have this true Christian Faith and to try himself whether he hath it or no and to know what belongeth to it and how it doth work in him It is not the World that we can trust to the World and all that is therein is but vanity It is God that must be our Defence and Protection against all temptation of Wickedness and Sin Errors Superstition Idolatry and all Evil. If all the World were on our side and God against us What could the World avail us Therefore let us set our whole Faith and Trust in God and neither the World the Devil nor all the power of them shall prevail against us Let us therefore good Christian Poople try and examine our Faith what it is Let us not flatter our selves but look upon our Works and so judge of our Faith what it is Christ himself speaketh of this matter Luke 6. and saith The tree is known by the fruit Therefore let us do good Works and thereby declare our Faith to be the lively Christian Faith Let us by such Virtues as ought to spring out of Faith shew our election to be sure and stable as St. Peter teacheth 2 Pet. 1. endeavour yourselves to make your calling and election certain by good Works And also he saith minister or declare in your faith virtue in virtue knowledge in knowledge temperance in temperance patience in patience godliness in godliness brotherly charity in brotherly charity love So shall we shew indeed that we have the very lively Christian Faith and may so both certifie our Conscience the better that we be in the right Faith and also by these means confirm other Men. If these fruits do not follow we do but mock with God deceive ourselves and also other Men. Well may we bear the name of Christian Men but we do lack the true Faith that doth belong thereunto for the true Faith doth ever bring forth good Works as St. James saith James 2. Shew me thy faith by thy deeds Thy Deeds and Works must be an open Testimonial of thy Faith Otherwise thy Faith being without good VVorks is but the Devils Faith the Faith of the wicked a phantasie of Faith and not a true Christian Faith And like as the Devils and evil People be nothing the better for their counterfeit Faith but it is unto them the more cause of damnation So they that be Christians and have received knowledge of God and of Christ's Merits and yet of a set purpose do live idly without good VVorks thinking the name of a naked Faith to be either sufficient for them or else setting their Minds upon vain pleasures of this VVorld do live in Sin without Repentance not uttering the fruits that do belong to such an high Profession upon such presumptious Persons and wilful Sinners must needs remain the great vengeance of God and eternal punishment in Hell prepared for the unjust and wicked Livers Therefore as you profess the name of Christ good Christian People let no such phantasie and imagination of Faith at any time beguile you But be sure of your Faith try it by your living look upon the fruits that come of it mark the increase of Love and Charity by it towards God and your Neighbor and so shall you perceive it to be a true lively Faith If you feel and perceive such a Faith in you rejoyce in it and be diligent to maintain it and keep it still in you let it be daily increasing and more and more by well-working and so shall you be sure that you shall please God by this Faith and at the length as other faithful Men have done before so shall you when his Will is come to him and receive the end and final reward of your Faith as St. Peter nameth it the salvation of your Souls 1 Pet. 1. The which God Grant us that hath promised the same unto his Faithful to whom be all Honour and Glory World without end Amen A SERMON Of Good Works annexed unto Faith IN the last Sermon was declared unto you what the lively and true Faith of a