vs an affected féeling of the loue of God towards vs Rom. 5.5 it works in vs an vndoubted expectation of eternal life it works in vs a sonne-like loue feare reuereÌ„ce whereby wee loue Christ are delighted in Christ and desire to please God carefully auoyd offeÌ„ding of him it workes in vs consolation 1. Pet. 1.8 peace of conscience for the forgiuenes of our sinnes gladnes spiritual ioye through the tast of Gods fauour it workes in vs sighes of the spirite that cannot be expressed a confideÌ„ce whereby we call God Abba Father Rom. 8.26 it works in vs patience in aduersitie and reioycing in affliction it works in vs a coÌ„tempt of the world Gal. 4.6 and a spirituall securitie and constancie thorough the grace and friendship of God Lastly Rom. 8.15 Rom. 3.33 38. Psal 16.3 Rom. 10.9 14. Faith workes in vs Charitie and Loue towards our neighbor for Gods sake curtesie kindnes geÌ„tlenes a delite in the godly as the Psalmist saies of himself That all his delite was in the Saints that were on the earth Faith is liuely in respect of our actions for out of the foresaide inward affections there breakes out godlines 2. Cor. 4.13 Matt. 7.7 Rom. 12.8.9 Phil. 4.11 Gal. 2.20 Gal. 3.26 Act. 10.43 Acts. 13.39 Rom. 9.12 Eph. 3.12 Act. 15.9 â— Ioh. 5.14 and righteousnes and thanksgiuing and prayer and confessing of Christs Faith and peace and concord with all men and mercie towards all euen our enemies and newnes of life and a good conscience and an holy care faithfulnes and diligeÌ„ce in our calling contentation in whatsoeuer state of life So that that the godlie are engraft into Christ and are in him and haue fellowship with him and are made the Sonnes of God and obtaine remission of sinnes and are righteous in the sight of God and are not ashamed haue bolde accesse and entrance to God haue their vnderstanding and will regenerate and their hearts purged and are saued and do obtaine their petitions of God and doe conquere the world and Sathan and doe renounce Sathan and all his works Eph. 5.11 in heart word life and manners and doe altogether relie vpon God and are delighted with his Lawe day and night Psal 1.2 All these things Faith works in the godly and yet to speake as the thing is Faith performes not these things but hée whom Faith appreheÌ„ds that is Phiâ— â— 3 IESVS CHRIST in whome we are able so doe all things necessarie to saluation Yea but may some say where shall wée finde such Faith that is adorned with all these things It is true that the like measure of Faith is not giuen vnto all men Rom. 12.3.9 Eph. 4.16 but to some is giuen more Faith and to some lesse and to euery one of the Elect is giuen faith sufficient vnto saluation For God moderates and orders the matter so that those which shal beare the more brunts in the world and shew foorth Gods glorie more theÌ„ other they should haue the greater measure of faith for that purpose Notwithstanding more and lesse changeth not the nature of things a dwarfe is as much a man in substance as a Giant a féeble and fraile Faith in Christ though not perfect yet is a true Faith and shall saue if it be fixed on Christ and straye not from Christ and shall attaine attonement with God and remission of sinnes eternall life no lesse then the strongest Faith Therefore Isaiah saith of Christ Isai 42.3 A brused Reede shall hee not breake and the smoaking flaxe shall hee not quench that is Hée shall mercifully succour the weake he shall strengthen the wauering in faith and hée shall foster and cherish those that haue but a sparkle of true godlines and grace in them though it be almost dead and extinguished God doth not at an instaÌ„t plant place a full perfect faith in our hearts but he doth it by degrées and steppes and encreases in that measure and manner time it pleaseth him For as the Philosophers say that wee are and are nourished by the same things and as an Infant is fed and sustained with the same blood when hee is borne beeing turned into milke So God confirmes Faith in vs by the same meanes by which hée plants it 1. Pet. 2.2 The principall meanes is the often hearing of Gods word And therefore S. Peter sayes As new borne Babes desire that sincere milke of the Word that yee may growe thereby And Saint Chrysostome sayes Fides nostra instar Lampadis accensae quae facile extinguitur nisi subinde is fundâ—tur Oleum That our Faith is like to a Lampe set on fire which is easily put out if Oyle be not now then powred vpon it This Oyle is the Word of God Another meanes is the often receiuing of the Lordes supper according to Christs commandement Eate this Drinke this Another meanes are daily Prayer supplication with Dâ—uid that God would stablish that he hath wrought in vs Ps 68.28 and with the Apostles that the Lorde would increase our Faith Luk. 17.5 Another meanes of bréeding and féeding true Faith in vs is a desire of godly life and Charitie towards our Neighbour And therefore Paul saith that we must hold fast Faith and a good conscience 1. Tim. 1.19 2. Pet. 1.5.6.7.8.9.10 And Peter saith that wee must make our calling and Election sure by giuing all diligence to ioyne Vertue with Faith and with Vertue Knowledge and with Knowledge Temperance and with Temperance Patience and with Patience Godlines and with godlines brotherly kindnes and with Brotherly kindenes Loue. For if these things bee among vs and abound they will make vs that wee neither shall be idle nor vnfruitefull in the acknowledging of our Lord IESVS CHRIST For hee that hath not these things is blinde and cannot see a farre off and hath forgotten that hée was purged from his olde sinnes but if we doe these things wée shall neuer fall Are works necessary then vnto saluation will some say If wee take it thus that workes are necessary to saluation as the meritorious cause of Righteousnes and eternall life it is false If we take it thus that new obedience is necessarie as being a sequele and effect necessarily following our reconcilement to God it is true For God will saue none without Repentance and the giuing of the holie Ghost is necessary to eternall life as CHRIST saith Ioh. 3.3 Except a man bee borne againe he cannot see the Kingdome of God Againe Faith without which we cannot be saued cannot be wtout good works for Faith hath euermore Loue ioyned with it either actually Gal. 5.6 De interpellatione Daâ—â—d 4. vel Psalm 7â— or potentially Againe Bernard saith truly Bona opera sunt via Regni non causa regnandi Good works are the way to the Kingdome of Heauen not the cause that
liberall to the distressed and doest thou shrinke from thy former bountifulnesse either for the multitude of the poore or for the vnthankfulnesse of the néedie or for that other doe so little regard them or for that thou accountest it a disparagement to thy worthinesse to haue care of the afflicted or for that thou doest not presently sée the reward Yet be not wearie of well doing 2 Thess 3.13 though the Haruest come not by and by yet in due time it will come and thou shalt reape in due season Iam. 1.14 if thou be not weary of doing well Blessed is the man that endureth tentation for when he is tried he shall receiue the crowne of life which the Lord hath promised to them that loue him Hast thou shewed thy faith by many good workes and therefore doest thou now think that thou mayest loyter in the way of life Remember Lâ—uit 3.9 that as GOD commaunded the rumpe also of the beast to be sacrificed so hee requireth the ending also of our life to be spent in his seruice Luk 1â— â— 8 It is not enough for the seruant to worke in the field hee must after hée comes home attend his Maister also at Table and when he hath done all yet hee doeth but his dutie Ioh. 8.3 The true Disciples of Christ must continue in his word Act. 2.42 Act. 11.23 Act. 13.43 1 Cor. 15.58 1 Cor. 16.13 1 Tim. 4.16 2 Tim. 3.14 Heb. 3.12 1 Ioh. 2.24 Iude v. 20 and must continue in the Doctrine of the Apostles and must with full purpose of heart continue in the Lord and must continue in the grace of God and must be stedfast vnmoueable aboundant alwaies in the worke of the Lord forasmuch as we know that our labour is not in vaine in the Lord and must watch stand fast in the faith quite themselues like men and be strong and must continue in and follow the good Doctrine they haue receiued and which is committed vnto them and must take héed least at any time there be in them an euill heart and vnfaithfull to depart away from the liuing GOD and must haue that same trueth abiding in them which they haue heard from the beginning and must edifie themselues in their most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost The Libbard takes the pray not by pursuing and hunting but by leaping and skipping and if he take it not at the third or fourth leaping hee frets with rage and falles away as though hee were ouercome Such are they that would attaine to perfection in well doing at one iumping and would be frée from all crosses and tentations at the first push and therefore if an impediment come twice or thrice they start back from doing good But we must not leape and skip in vertuous workes as though Heauen could be obtained at an instant but we must runne perseuere and proceede continually in godlinesse For as in Chesse-play when one draught either is not made when it ought to be or else is otherwise made then it should be the whole game and gaine is lost so when one good worke is carelesly neglected or one sin is presumptuously committed the whole fruite and reward of righteousnesse is put in hazard Wherefore let vs so runne our race Ezek. 33.12 that we may obtaine 1 Cor. 9 24.26 2 Tim. 2.1.3 2 Pet. 1 1â—.12 and receiue the prize let vs not fight as one that beateth the aire but let vs be strong in grace and fight as good Souldiours of Iesus Christ that we may receiue that vncorruptible crowne let vs giue diligence to make our calling election sure and ioyne together these pretious linkes in a chaine that may adorne our soules namely with faith vertue with vertue knowledge with knowledge temperance with temperance patience with patience godlinesse with godlines brotherly kindnes with brotherly kindnes loue that doing these things we may neuer fall but by this meanes an entring may be ministred vnto vs aboundantly into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen FINIS
to proclaime that whosoeuer would lend him monie should in short space receiue againe not onely the principall summe and that interest which the lawe tollerates but far more namely twise as much nay an 0. sold there would be none when he should heare of this proclamation that would not presently lend to that Prince as much monie as he had and if he had none that would not sell away his possessions and so procure monie that he might obtaine that extraordinarie munificence and recompence of the Prince But if perhaps the Potentates promise and proclamation should not mooue some but that they would kéepe their monies by them at home and not lend them they must of necessitie either be iustly censured of follie in neglecting of such great gaine or be conuinced of distrustfulnes in not yéelding credit to so royall promises Wherefore saith Salomon since God doth not take away our â—iches but preserue them kéepe them for vs and doth recompence them againe with large and ample vsurie nay doth promise for temporall and transitorie wealth eternall and neuer perishing what excuse can those make or what pardon can those looke for that refuse to lend to the Lord and that regard not the most liberall recompence which God bestowes on them that shew mercie and compassion vpon the poore and miserable And this is the force and meaning of this prouerb of Salomon which of it selfe is sufficient to stir vp tractable and flexible minds to performe the workes of mercie on the afflicted But for that good things cannot be spoken too often nor dilated too plainely and in this last age of the world loue wareth cold as it did before the destruction of Ierusalem Matt 24. according to the words of our Sauiour it will not be impertinent to amplifie this Argument somewhat more For that which we finde in the swellings and infirmities that sticke déepely in our bodies namely that there must be long time much labour and discretion vsed in applying remedies that they may be remooued without endangering the life the same we may perceiue in couetousnes and other vices and diseases of the soule For the gréedie loue of worldly things hath taken such roote in the mindes of many that it cannot be cured by one or two exhortations but manifold admonition must be vsed that at last by often compassing with the armies of godly perswasions and by lowd blowing the trumpets of seuere threatning and by bearing the Arke of the word of the Lord the strong holds and fortresses of couetousnes may be battered and demolished like the wals of Ierico Iosh 6. Plin. i. 32. c. 4. Some write of the Narmensian field that it is the drier for raine and the moister for drouth and therfore Cicero iested thereupon saying that in that place Raine did cause dust and sun-shining dirt so there is a generation of people that will bend contrarie to the force of exhortation and rowe against the streame of perswasion and waxe worse worse for admonition But though dogs bite those Matt. 7.6 that cast holy things vnto them and swine turne backe and rent those that throwe pearles before them and though some stop the eare to the charmer like the deafe Adder Psal 58.5.6 that will not heare the Enchanters voyce charme he neuer so cunningly Matt. 11.16.19 and though some are those stubborne sinners that will neither lament when they heare wéeping nor daunce when they heare piping that is that regard neither the sharpe manaces of the lawe nor the swéet comforts of the Gospell yet wisedome is iustified of all her children and they that are endued with the grace of Gods spirit will hearken to the statutes and voyce of the Lord and will say with the holy Prophet when they are reprooued Heale vs ô Lord Ier. 17.14 31.18 and we shall be whole saue vs and we shall be saued conuert vs and we shall be conuerted The forme of Diogenes supplication when he begd Lâ—â—r l. 6. was this If thou hast before this time giuen to any giue also to me but if thou neuer gauest to any begin now with me whereby he meant that he was in the case of other beggars and therefore desired that he that gaue to euery one would also giue to Diogenes and that it was time for him that was so niggish as to giue to none at length to begin to giue somewhat The same supplication of beggars may be vsed in our age and therefore that we may either learne at length to lend to the Lord and amend our backwardnes or else perseuere in liberalitie and haue the good worke confirmed which is alreadie begun in vs it shall be declared first why we 〈◊〉 giue to the poore secondly to what poore 〈◊〉 must giue thirdly how and after what manner we must giue First why we must giue We must haue compassion on the distressed to declare that we haue loue and who knowes not that euery Christian must entertaine loue and charitie For if the most excellent things are to be embraced as they are indéed what is more excellent then loue They that speake with the tongues of men and Angels 1. Cor. 13.1.2.3.8 and haue not loue are as sounding brasse or a tinckling cymball they that haue the gift of Prophesie and know all secrets and all knowledge yea that haue all faith so that they can remooue mountaines and haue not loue they are nothing they that féede the poore with all their goods and giue their bodies that they be burned and haue not loue it profiteth them nothing When prophecying shall be abolished and tongues cease and knowledge vanish away and when faith and hope shall be determined and ended namely when our soules shall come to that blessed life then loue shall still remaine for loue doth neuer fall away Can there be any vertue comparable to loue that is the soule and life of other vertues and that suruiues and liues after other vertues doe cease and are abolished He that hath mercie on the poore makes it manifest that he hath loue and that he loues 1. Ioh. 3.18 not in word and tongue onely but in déed and truth For to say that we loue our brethren and yet not to giue to their necessities is that cold charitie which Saint Iames reprehends Iam. 2.15.16 when he saies If a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of daily foode and one of you say vnto them depart in peace warme your selues and fill your bellies notwithstanding ye giue theÌ„ not those things which are needfull to the body what helpeth it This colourable loue is like faith without workes and a painted fire without warmth and a counterfait streame without moistnes and a tree full of leaues without any fruit Therefore to shew that we are not void of so rare and excellent a vertue as loue is we must haue mercie on the poore Againe we must shew mercy on the poore
the plough that manureth the Church of God and the one thing necessarie to saluation and the nest into which Christ gathers his chickens and couers them vnder the wings of his mercifull promises and the yoke Matt. 11.29 which euery one must vndergoe that will be the disciple of our Sauiour It is this word 1. Pet. 1.23 Io. 15.5 that regenerates and begets vs anew with an incorruptible séede and that clenseth vs from our pollution and that as a christall mirrour and looking glasse not onely shewes vs our spots Iâ—m 1.23.25 Ier. 15.16 Io. â—5 4 Io. 15.7 Heb. 4.12 but also affoords vs water to clense and wash them away and that replenisheth the hearts of the faithfull with vnspeakable ioy and that ioynes vs with Christ inseparably and that makes vs obtaine all things of God and that is liuely and mightie in operation and sharper then any two edged sword and entereth thorow euen vnto the diuiding asunder of the soule and the spirit and of the ioynts and the marrowe and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart The summe of all is this the word of God teacheth vs the knowledge of God and the word of God is the foode and nourishment of our soules and the word of God is the spirituall armour to beate downe our inuisible enemies and the word of God will make vs absolute and entire if we receiue it aright If this be true then Gods word is most vsefull and behoofefull vnto vs and it is requisite that it dwell plenteously in vs. But it is most true for that Gods law doth teach vs the true seruice and worship of God the Psalmist doth witnes when he saith Psal 19.7.8.9 The law of the Lord is perfite conuerting the soule the testimonie of the Lord is sure and giueth wisedome vnto the simple the statutes of the Lord are right and reioyce the heart the commandement of the Lord is pure and giueth light vnto the eyes the feare of the Lord is cleane and endureth for euer the iudgements of the Lord are truth they are righteous altogether They that are enclosed in a darke Labyrinth and intricate roome of many turnings hope in vaine to get foorth without light so being in endles windings of sinne error and ignorance of this life we cannot escape out without the light and guidance of the word of God And therefore Saint Peter cals it a sure word which if we followe we shall neuer stray we haue saith he a most sure word of the Prophets 2. Pet. 1.19 to the which ye doe well that ye take heede as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place As though he had said we are compassed about with a night of wickednes and infirmities and we are tossed as in a sea of surging calamities and therefore as marriners direct their course by the North starre least they wander out of the straight course and fall among sands and rocks so we must leuell and aime all our thoughts words actions after the prescription appointmeÌ„t of Gods word Origine makes an opprouable gradation Homil. 3. in exod man saith he that is reasonable though he be voyd of skill and learning yet if he be compared with other creatures that lacke reason and spéech he will seeme eloquent But if he be compared with learned and eloquent men replenished with all wisedome he will séeme vneloquent and dumbe But if a man consider the holy scripture and the diuine wisedome contained therein and weigh with himselfe how great and vnsearchable that learning is he will confesse himselfe to be more bruite and dumbe before God then beastes are before men That is as farre as a man by naturall wisedome excéedes a beast and as far as a man by Art and humane learning exceedes naturall wisedome so far doth the déepe knowledge of the word of God surpasse all humane Arts and learning whatsoeuer That the word of God is the Mannâ— and foode of our soules Saint Peter sheweth As new borne babes saith he desire that sincere milke of the word 2. Pet. 2.2 that ye may grow thereby Heb. 5.13 â—4 And likewise Saint Paul saith Euery one that vseth milke is vnexpert in the word of righteousnes for he is a babe But strong meate belongeth to them that are of age which through long custome haue their wits exercised to discerne both good and euill Which spéech an ancient Father séemes thus to expound and amplifie Orig. 〈◊〉 8. in Lew. not onely sayth he vnresonable Creatures doe know their proper and peculiar meates for the Lyon vseth one and the Goate another and the Oxe another and the birde another but in men also there are differences in the desire and appetite of foode He that hath an able and strong body receiues hard meate and presumes to eate of any thing and the Babe though not able to speake yet by proofe shewes that it desires but milke Thus euery Creature is delighted with proper and competent meate And so it fares in the sustenance of the soule which is the word of God euery one is not nourished with the selfe-same part of the word one is nourished with milke that is with plaine and easie doctrine of morall exhortations and rudiments of Christianitie and another takes the profounder mysteries and hidden secrets How plentifull a storehouse then is the word of God that hath fit foode for euery soule Some will say if the word be the foode of our soule why is it then so darke in many places as that the vulgar sort cannot any way comprehend the sense and the learned themselues striue for the true interpretation whereas foode should be easie to be perceiued and easie to be receiued The answere is that the scripture is cléere for the fundamentall points of the doctrine of saluation as the Articles of the faith Psal 119.105 and the commandements And therefore it is called a lanterne for those whose hearts the Lord doth open and it is said by Salomon Pro. 8.9 That all the words of God are plaine to them that will vnderstand and straight to them that will finde knowledge In these points it is darke onely to them that perish 2. Cor. 4.3 4 as the Apostle saith If the Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the mindes that is of the Infidels that the glorious Gospell of Christ which is the Image of God should not shine vnto them Howbeit also some things in the scriptures are not manifest to the very elect and why partly that they should not trust to their owne wit but should pray to God for the vnderstanding of them partly that they should be stird vp to a more diligent search and meditation on them partly that they should the more estéeme of the ministerie which is Gods ordinance for the explanation of the holy scriptures For though the Ministers of
of the Lord are with them that feare him and he will not admit the sinfull soule into the mysteries contained in his holy word If we will haue our hearing of the word to prosper we must remoue the curtaine of wickednes from our hearts 2. Cor. 3.15 else we shall heare without profite as the Iewes reade the lawe and vnderstand it not because the vaile is not taken from them If we will be rightly instructed and sanctified by hearing the word and bring foorth acceptable fruit we must breake vp the fallowe ground Ier. 4.4 and not sowe among thornes for if the good séede fall among thornie sinnes that naturally sprout and spring vp in vs they will choake all the good plants of holy doctrine that are graffed in our hearts If we will approach néere to God by hearing the word we must not bring a prophane and a wicked heart Leu. 10.3 as Nadab and â—bihu offered strange fire before the Lord for God will be honored in them that drawe nigh vnto him If we will growe in grace by our entrance into the Lords house we must looke to our feete how much more to our hearts when we come thither Matt. 22.11 and we must not thrust into the marriage feast not arraied in the marriage robe that is we must not presume to heare the word of God with a polluted vncleane and vnsanctified heart An honest and vertuous heart rinsed and clensed from the dregs of iniquitie makes vs chéerefull and forward and desirous to heare the word of God And as hunger is the best sawe for meate so the desire of the word is the best motiue and prouocation to the hearing thereof and where that desire is there the words of the Psalmist shall be heard How swéete are thy promises vnto my mouth Psal 119.103 yea more then hony vnto my mouth To be hungry for meate declares good health of bodie so to long for the word of God Hom. 2. in Isai argueth good constitution of soule saith Saint Chrysostome And why doe many get so little good by hearing It is because the honest and good heart is not in them that brings foorth the true desire of hearing When Diogenes was repelled of â—nâ—sthâ—nes he put his head vnder his staffe and said beate me Laerâ— l. 6. as long as thou wilt for thou shalt finde no staffe so hard that may driue me away from thee as long as thou speakest any thing that I may learne If our desire of diuine wisedome were answerable to Diâ—genes his desire of humane wisedome no labour no paines no busines should plucke vs backe from hearing of the word But therefore doe we neglect to heare because we desire not to heare and therefore we desire not to heare because we know not the true benefite of hearing and haue not the good heart that should excite vs to séeke it out For as the things which we behold a far off are represented bigger to our view then they are indéed and those things seeme big which are néere vnto vs so to a sinner that loues earthly things all things pertaining to God because they are farre from his eye and the whole knowledge of diuine matters appeares small contemptible and the ioyes commodities only of this world séeme fairer desirable because they are néere to his eye from this blindnes proposterous iudgement springs that difference betwéene corporall foode set on the table and spirituall foode deliuered in preaching For when we are inuited to a banquet we doe not refuâ—e as if we wanted not meate but when we are inuited to heare the word we oftentimes refuse as if we néeded no preaching When we sit at table we would gladly be serued with the best meate and care not before whom the course meate be set but in hearing the word as in the reprehension of some vice that chiefely makes for the soules health we remoue the best from vs and shift it off to other saying this toucheth him or him not me When we sit at table we would be first but when we shall heare the word we care not if we be last When we sit at table scarce any banquet séemes too long but when we heare the word almost euery sermon is tedious Lastly at table we eate often and almost daily the same foode without disdaine but in hearing the word we can scarse heare one spéech twise vttered without loathing And what is the cause of all this but for that our stomackes are queasie and our appetites decaied towards heauenly things Wherefore as the blinde Bartimaeus cast away his cloake Mar. 10. â—0 when he should come to Christ to receiue his sight of bodie so we must cast off our rags of sinne when we come to the word to receiue knowledge and our inward sight of minde For the feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge Pro. 1.7 Gods graces will not come to the heart nor remaine in the heart that is not clensed from wickednes if we will haue Christ to teach vs Mar. 4.34 as he expounded all things to his disciples apart we must also goe apart from iniquitie and the loue of the things of the world and we must earnestly beg that honest and good heart of him that seeth and ruleth all hearts that our soules being made vndefiled Virgines Reu. 14.3 may sing the Virgines song which none can learne but such as sing it Next we must heare and kéepe and retaine the word in our hearts that it may dwell in vs plenteously He that puts bread or any other meate into his mouth first chewes it and then conuaies it into his stomack so when we haue heard Gods word we must meditate on that we haue heard and we must consider what was spoken and how it was spoken and to what purpose it was spoken There is much adoe to kéepe the word when it is heard for the flesh and the diuell fight against the Spirit that séekes by the preaching of the word to be a new ghest in our soules 2. King 9.20 But as Iehu was knowne by his furious marching so an honest and good heart is knowne by zeale and earnestnes to finish a good purpose in hearing and keeping Gods word that it may dwell in vs. And as Iaakob when he wrestled with the Angell said I will not let thee goe Gen. 32.26 except thou blesse me so a true Israelite will say when he heares the word I will sixe it in my heart and I will not let it depart till it reforme my minde and bring foorth fruit Neither auailes it ought to heare the word except the heart kéepe it and faith engraue it deepely in the soule What did it profit Adam Gen. 3.11 to heare the commandement to abstaine from the trée of knowledge of good and euill when he neither beléeued nor kept it What did it profite Loâ—s wife to heare that commandement Gen. 19.17 Escape
heareth and kéepeth will bring foorth none other thing then that it teacheth and deliuereth Faith in Christ amendment of former life knowledge of God loue to God and man are preached and sowne and where there is the honest and good heart and these things are heard kept and dwell there these things spring growe and flourish God required the Israelites Deut. 31.12 to gather the people together men and women and children the strangers that were within their gates that they might heare and that they might learne and feare the Lord their God and kéepe and obserue all the words of his law Hearing and learning and fearing the Lord goeth before and then kéeping and obseruing the words of the law commeth after For God commaunded Moses to teach his ordinances and lawes to the people Deut. 6.1.2 that they might doe them and feare the Lord and doe all that was commanded Therefore when the Israelites would promise an absolute and entire worship of God Deut. 5.27 they said that they would heare all that the Lord God should say vnto them Isa 29 13.15.1â— and doe it For they that come neere to God with their mouth and honour him with their lips but haue their hart remooued from him and doe not feare him in their workes are cursed though they séeke deepe to hide their counsell from the Lord and doe their workes in darkenes and say Who seeth vs and who knoweth vs their turning of deuises shall not be estéemed more then the potters clay for shall the worke say of him that made it He made me not or the thing formed say of him that fashioned it He had none vnderstanding That is for all their craft they shall not be able to escape Gods hands no more then the clay that is in the potters haÌ„ds hath power to deliuer it selfe When Christ gaue coÌ„mission to his Apostles to goe and teach all nations and to baptise Matt. 28.20 he ads how they should teach theÌ„ teaching them saith he to obserue all things whatsoeuer I haue commaunded you Iam. â— 22 Ro. 1.13 We must not only be hearers of the law deceiuing our selues but also doers of the law for not the hearers of the lawe are righteous before God but the doers of the law shall be iustified We must not onely professe good things but practise good things for if we knowe what is good Iob. 13.17 Luk. 12.47 yet we are blessed if we doe it and the seruant that knoweth his maisters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes We must be good trées that doe not onely beare leaues and blossomes Luk. 6.44.46 but also bring forth good fruit in due season otherwise Christ will say vnto vs Why call ye me Lord Lord and doe not the things that I speake We must not deale with the scripture in performance as the Papists deale with it in exposition calling it a nose of waxe that is we must not make it serue our wils affections beléeuing what is promised but not doing what is coÌ„manded Idle boies sometimes strike fire out of the fâ—int not to kindle a fire but to sée how the sparkles flye out praising and admiring sometimes these sometimes those sparkles putting no fewell or substance that may fire a flame so many hearers more curious then Christian bring their vnderstanding as a flint to the preachers voyce which is like the stryking stéele onely to heare how oratoriously and eloquently he speakes and not putting thereunto the fewell of their desire that it may be kindled to vertue and good workes When they haue heard many preachers they will say He is learned another is eloquent this man is copious that man is swift in vtterance Therefore a Sermon to them is like a Musicall songe wherein the voyce of the singer is commended but the subiect of the sonnet is not considered And it often fals out that as when Musicke sounds by night in the stréetes a man may rise out of his bed to heare it but assoone as it is ended he goeth to his bed againe and sléepes as erewhiles he did so many worldly couetous proud and voluptuous persons when the Sermon is heard they profite nothing therby but carrie home the same minds which they brought foorth and lye downe againe to sléepe securely in the bed of iniquitie But if we will haue the word of Christ to dwell in vs and be profitable hearers we must heare with an honest and good heart and we must heare and kéepe and bring foorth fruit And how must we bring foorth fruit with patience For the chiefest fruit that comes of the right receiuing of the word of God is the propagation thereof vnto others also that being freed from Sathans tyrannie they may be made citizens of Christs kingdome This cannot be done in the world without crosses aduersities and persecutions Therefore we must haue patience for without patience this principall fruit of the word cannot be yéelded foorth 2. Tim. 2.12 forasmuch as all that will liue godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution This caused the Apostle to say Ro. 2.7 that the way to euerlasting life is patience in well doing he saies not well doing and no more but patience in well doing because without patience we can hardly doe any good 2. Cor. 6.4 This caused him to reckon Patience for the first vertue that must alwaies be in a good Minister of the word howsoeuer other vertues may not alwaies be in him nor without exception vnles it be according to the affection of the minde This caused him to say Heb. 10.36 That we haue néede of patience that after we haue done the will of God we may receiue the promise This caused Christ when he had foretold many and bitter calamities of the professors of his name to conclude the spéech with this Luk. 21.19 By your patience possesse your soules as though he had said when you are pressed with miseries on euery side it will be hard for you to possesse your soules except ye be valiant couragious and beare vp manfully by patience for Vertue without patience is a Widowe Patience can turne reproaches into ioy infirmities into glorie tribulations into gladnes for it made the Apostles to goe away ioyfully Act. 5.41 for that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for the name of Christ and it caused Paul to take pleasure in his infirmities 2. Cor. 12.10 Hab. 2.4 Heb. 11.1 Rom. â— 25 Patience is the life of the righteous for the righteous liueth by his faith and faith is the ground of things which are hoped for and hope is propped vp by patience for hoping for that we see not we do with patience abide for it therefore the righteous liue by their patience Patience encreaseth the reward of weldoing and therefore Chrysostome well weighing the force of Pauls words 1. Cor. 3. â— where he saith Euery man shall receiue his wages
himselfe conquerour ouer all his enemies so Christ hath deliuered vs out of the hands of all our enemies that wee should serue him without feare all the dayes of our life in holinesse and righteousnesse before him Wilt thou know then what is the best way of perseuering Christ sheweth Ioh. 15. â—0 when hee saieth If ye keepe my commaudements ye shall abide in my loue as I haue kept my Fathers commaundement and abide in his loue For it is not the specious and gay beginning but the vertuous and firme ending Mat. 19.30 that hath the recompence for many that are first shall be last and the last shall be first Hast thou begun to beléeue the Gospell Col. 1.23 and to professe the faith Continue grounded in the faith and be not moued away from the hope of the Gospell whereof thou hast heard and which hath beene preached vnto thée Eph. 2.18 19. and be thou rooted in the loue of God that Christ may dwell in thine heart by faith and thou mayst be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heigth and to know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge that thou mayest be fiâ—led with all fulnesse of GOD and hold fast thy profession Heb. 4.16 That thou mayest goe bouldly vnto the throane of grace that thou mayest receiue mercy and finde grace to helpe in time of neede For he that wauereth Iam. 1.6.7.8 is like a waue of the Sea tost of the winde and carried away neither let that man thinke that he shall receiue any thing of the Lord a double minded man is vnstable in all his wayes Hast thou begun to pray to the Lord and canst not see thy petitions by and by accomplished Pray alwaies and waxe not faint Call to minde the Parable of the vniust Iudge Luk. 18.4.5.6.7 whom the importunitie of the widdowe ouercame and forced to say that though he feared not God nor reuerenced man yet because the widowe troubled him he would doe her right least at last shee should come and make him wearie Heare saith Christ what the vnrighteous Iudge saieth Now shall not GOD the most righteous Iudge auenge his Elect which cry day and night vnto him yea though he suffer long for them Call to minde the woman of Canaan Mat. 15.22.28 who being a suppliant for her daughter so long continued crying Haue mercy on me O Lord the Sonne of Dauid and so long waited the Lords leisure till Iesus answered O woman great is thy faith be it vnto theâ— as thou desirest Call to minde the blinde men that would not be stayed by the rebukes of the multitude Math. 20.31 that willed them to hold their peace but redoubled their crie for mercie till they obtained their request Call to minde our Sauiour himselfe Matt. 26.44 Psal 123.2 how he repeated the same praier thrise in his agonie to teach vs that we must pray continually and that as the eyes of seruants looke vnto the hand of their maisters and as the eyes of a maiden vnto the hand of her mistresse so our eyes must waite vpon the Lord our God vntill he haue mercie vpon vs. Hast thou borne many aduersities and crosses and afflictions Ecclus. 2.1.2 c. Be constant vnto the end For if thou wilt come into the seruice of the Lord prepare thy soule to tentation settle thine heart and be patient ioyne thy selfe vnto him and depart not away that thou maiest be encreased at thy last end whatsoeuer commeth vnto thée receiue it patiently beléeue in God and he will helpe thée order thy way aright and trust in him waite for his mercie shrinke not away from him consider the old generations marke them well Was there euer any confounded that put his trust in the Lord or who hath continued in his feare and was forsaken or whom did he euer despise that called vpon him For God is gratious and mercifull and forgiueth sinnes and saueth in the time of trouble But woe vnto them that haue a fearefull heart woe vnto him that is faint harted and beléeueth not woe vnto them that haue lost patience For what will they doe when thâ— Lord shall visite them We must not still erspect easie and pleasant proceedings in performing of good workes When the children of Israel did trauell in the wildernes by Gods appoyntment Exod. 17. sometimes they wanted water sometimes their enemies set vpon them sometimes other aduersities pressed them yet at length they were put into the possession of the land flowing with milke and honie And when the eleuen tribes did fight against Beniamin Iudg. 20. by Gods commandement in two fights they receiued a great ouerthrowe but in the third battell they vtterly vanquished Beniamin Such difficulties doth the Lord now and then cast in the way of the godly for the greater triall of their faith and patience Howbeit this commonly is done by the fraude of the diuell and the subtiltie of his adherents Gen. 49.17 for he is as a Serpent by the way and an Adder by the path biting the horse héeles so that the Rider shall fall backward For as the hunter when he seeth the beast running into the nett of his owne accord makes no noyse nor yéelds foorth any shouting but if he perceiue the beast to goe a contrarie way he stops his course and by fraying forceth it to runne into the snare so the diuell whom he seeth to perish willingly and to passe their time in sloath and idlenes those he molesteth not but they that haue a diligent regard of their saluation and doe endeuour to doe vertuous and good déeds those he troubleth and terrifieth from their purpose that they may be entangled in his traps and cease from finishing of godly enterprises But the faithfull that know Sathans circumuenting enterprises as Saint Paul cals them 2. Cor. 2.11 and are acquainted with his practises must not foreslacke their forwardnes in the feare of God but must inuocate the aide of the Lord in all aduersities and tribulations and then they shall finde that as the diligent Physitian is euer attending on his patient Psal 145.18 Basil in hom in princip prouerb So the Lord is neere to all that call vpon him yea to all that call vpon him in truth and as the marriners that are woont to behold the Sunne in the day and the North starre or some other cléere starre in the night do thereby finde out a readie course in the Sea so if in euery tribulation danger and difficultie we lift vp our minds vnto God Psal 91.1.3.4 Because we dwell in the secret of the most high we shall alway abide in the shadowe of the Almightie surely he will deliuer vs from the snare of the hunter and from the noysome pestilence he will couer vs vnder his wings and we shall be sure vnder his feathers his trueth shall be our shield and buckler Hast thou béene