bleate and take on til they have found the shepheard and be brought home againe to the sold Such a sheepe was David Psal 119. ult saith he I have gone astray like a lost sheepe seeke thy servant c. And therefore when men have lost Christ by their sinnes and can passe away the time and yeares merrily never socking after Christ it is a fearefull token they are none of the true sheepe of Christ The fifth is that they will carry fleece and wooll to the shepheard If there be any grace or vertue in them wherby they may doe service to Christ or good unto his members they will be ready to doe it He shall have the honour and glory of it therefore when men doe not carry their fleece and wooll to Christ to let Christ have all the honour and glory of the good things they have they are none of the sheepe of Christ Let me exhort you all therefore to labor to finde these properties of a sheepe in you to heare the voice of Christ and be contented to leave all to follow him to desire to live under his government and never be at rest when thou hast lost him till thou finde him againe to carry your fleece and wooll to Christ if there bee any vertue or grace in you let Christ have the glory of it therefore let every one labor to be a true sheepe of Christ and he shall sit at his right hand I doe not say labour to live amongst the sheepe but to bee one of the sheepe of Christ for a man may live amongst the sheepe that is in the visible Church and yet he may be shufled out amongst the stinking Goates It is good observation of a learned man that the World may be didivided in three rankes or conditions In the first are Heathen Infidels and Atheists and such as know not God In the second are Carnall professors such as know God Christ and his Word and yet they feele not the power of it in their lives and are not reformed by it In the third ranke are Gods Elect neere unto the center Christ and therefore O man consider thy standing of what ranke thou art of if thou bee of the first ranke such as know not God then never rest till thou art got within the second ranke till thou know God and his Word and when thou hast got within the second ranke labour to come within the third to be one of Gods Elect and to be as neere the Center Christ as may be Therefore labour to be a true Sheepe of Christ and then thou shalt bee set at the right hand of Christ We have done with the Sheepe and are come to the Goats whose properties or uses are chiefly these foure which I must dispatch in one word First the Goates in the Law were offered for a sinne offering to teach us that our sinnes will make us sit at the left hand of Christ Secondly a Goate is a stinking thing so our sinnes stinke in the nostrils of God Thirdly they toyle with their horne and annoy the water So wicked men are turbulent as Ezekiel speakes Fourthly they will feede on the toppe of the Rockes they cannot abide to feede on the Plaines so they will bee in the darke places of the Scripture they will not feede in the plaine places where Gods people feede but are full of wranglings and janglings which profit not SERMON XLVIII REVELATION 20. 12. And I saw the Dead small and great stand before God and the Bookes were opened and another Booke was opened which is the Booke of Life and the Dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Bookes according to their workes TWo things now onely remaine to bee handled of the last judgement 1. The conviction of the Offenders 2. The sentence of the Iudge First The conviction of the offenders for before the sentence of the Iudge the offenders shall bee convicted and shall acknowledge that the judgement of Christ is just upon them in regard of their sinnes Chrysostome saith well O man by the quality of thy place thou mayest read thine owne doome as when thou art brought into the presence of a Iudge or a King by the quality of the place thou mayest know whether it be for good or ill if thou art bid to come up neere to the King or to the Iudge then it is for good but if thou keepe aloofe or hee bid thee stand apart then it is for ill so by the quality of the place thou mayest know what shall bee thy sentence if thou be set at the right hand of Christ then thou art a sheepe of Christ but if thou bee set at his left hand then thou art a Goate and yet notwithstanding though every man may know what his sentence shall be by the quality of his place because there shall be as the Apostle saith a declaration of the just judgement of God therefore before sentence bee given there shall be a conviction of the offenders for the bookes shall bee opened and every mans sinnes shall be made manifest Now in this conviction we observe foure things 1. That there shall be a conviction of the offenders 2. The meanes by which they shall be convicted 3. The persons that shall be convicted 4. The effects of this conviction First that there shall be such a conviction it is plaine by Scripture and by Reason first by Scripture Rom. 2. 15. Their conscience also bearing witnesse and their thoughts accusing one another or excusing at that day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ So also 1 Cor. 4. 5. Therefore judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come who will bring to light things hid in darknesse and make the counsels of the heart manifest So it is plaine by Scripture that there shall be a conviction of the wicked of all their sinnes and offences Secondly by Reason for in all courts of justice there is no man condemned till first he be convicted so because the court of Christ is the most exactest court of equitie and justice wee may well thinke that no man shall be condemned till he be first convicted and evident proofe made of all his sinnes and offences Now this conviction shall be in laying open of all our sins and offences for there be a number of sinnes that we have committed which wee doe not know the devill doth so blinde our eyes that we cannot see them but at that time all shall be made patent and open there is no sinne that we have committed all our life long but it shall come into our minde as fresh as if we had committed them at the present and ten thousand of sinnes which we tooke to be no sinnes then we shall know them to be sinnes and thousand thousands that we have forgot shall come into our mindes and then we shall know how we have offended God and
kingdome Secondly All our good workes shall bee remembred and rewarded at the day of judgement and Christ will make rehearsall of them there is never a good deed we have done but it shall be remembred and rewarded so that our labour shall not bee in vaine as Saint Paul saith 1 Cor. 15. ult so Revel 20. 12. it is said And I saw the dead both great and small stand before God and the bookes were opened and another booke was opened which is the booke of Life and the dead were judged of those things which were written in the bookes according to their workes So the Lord hath all the good deeds of his servants written in a booke which shall bee remembred reported and rewarded therefore what a comfort is this to a poor Christian that in the hearing of all the world all his good deeds shall be reported how many painefull Iourneyes they have taken to heare the Word how many houres they have spent in prayer how many teares they have wept for sinne that they have entertained the Saints that they have fed the hungry cloathed the naked visited the sicke what a great inticement this is to doe good to thinke what honor it is that all their good deeds shall be remembred and rewarded Matth. 26. 15. Christ saith of the woman when she had powred the ointment on him that this which shee had done should bee spoken of her wheresoever this Gospell shall bee preached for a memoriall of her But what is the speech of men to the speech of Christ the praise of men to the praise of Christ when hee shall stand out and make a report of all our good deeds wee have done therefore what a comfort will this be I but have not the people of God sinne I answer they have their sinnes and their great sinnes too even the best men that be but here is the comfort when the day of judgment commeth they shall not bee remembred but pardoned and carried on the shoulders and necke of Christ and our good deeds onely shall be remembred As Esay 33. ult it is said The people that dwell therein shall have their iniquity forgiven So Ieremie 31. 33 34. saith the Lord I will make a new Covenant with them and I will write my lawes in their hearts and I will bee their God and they shall be my People and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know mee from the greatest to the least saith the Lord and I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sinnes no more Here is the comfort of Christians that all their sinnes shall be forgotten onely their vertues shall be remembred Exodus 34. Moses put a veile on his face that the children of Israel should not see the glory of it but Christ hath hanged a veile over our sinnes that they should not be seene even his holinesse and sanctifie that the world should not see nor behold them for they are all pardoned remitted and covered with the Robe of his righteousnesse Thirdly the judgement which shall passe upon us shall bee according to the workes of mercie and not only workes of mercie but all other good workes shall have a reward as Malach. 3. 16. it is said Then spake they that feared God every one to his neighbour and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a booke of remembrance was written before him for them that feared God and thought upon his Name So there was a booke written of all the good deeds of them that did feare God and so Matth. 5. 11 12. saith our Saviour Blessed are ye when men revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evill against you for my Names sake falsly Rejoyce and bee glad for great is your reward in Heaven as also Matth. 10. 32. Whosoever shall confesse me before men him will I also confesse before my Father which is in Heaven So then wee see all our good workes shall be rewarded But why doth Christ mention onely workes of mercie I answere there be two reasons of it First because the Lord doth not accept of any worke we doe of hearing of the Word of praying nor of any other good dutie we doe if wee doe not shew mercie and compassion to our brethren As 1 Cor. 13. 3. And though I feede the poore with all my goods and though I give my body that it bee burnt and have not love it profiteth me nothing and Esay 1. 14. saith God My soule hateth your new Moones and your appointed Feasts they are a burthen to me I am wearie of bearing them and the reason was because they did not shew compassion to their brethren as may be gathered out of the 15. verse In like manner the Prophet bringeth in the people expostulating with God and he answering them Esay 58. 3. Wherefore have we fasted and thou seeft not wherefore have we punished our selves and thou regardest is not c Is not this the fasting that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickednesse to take off the heavie burthens is let the oppressed goe free and that ye breake every yoke verse 6 7. Is it not to breake thy bread to the hungrie and that thou bring the poore that wander unto thy house and when thou seest the naked that thou cover him and hide not thy selfe from thine owne flesh and therefore wee may assure our selves the Lord will accept of none of our workes without we be mercifull to our brethren Secondly because as it is Hos 6. 6. The Lord desires mercy and not sacrifice when both may stand together then God will have both But if they cannot he will have mercy shewed hee had rather lose his owne part than a poore man should lose his So the command is Heb. 13. 16. But to doe good and to distribute forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased Such is the tendernesse of God that hee is contented to abate of his owne service rather than man should want of his comfort As Matth. 5. 23. If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee leave there thine offering before the Altar and goe thy way first bee reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift Hence we see though it be a great dutie that we owe to God yet for mans good hee will bee contented to stay for his owne service Philosophers say that the fire which is farthest remooved is the hottest and most vehement so it is in love that love which is furthest remooved from God is the hottest and the most vehement love of all other It is an easie matter to love God in himselfe O but for a man to love God in his poore distressed members to love him in his poore Saints and People this is the hottest
earth about it he doth shake the tree this way and that way as if hee would overthrow and pull it up yet all is but to settle it that it may stand the faster so the Lord doth when hee hath planted a man hee doth as it were pull at him and shake him as if hee would pull him up and yet the Lord doth it but to settle and ground him that hee should stand the faster and to make him the more constant and therefore the people of God have no cause to be discouraged with the dealing of God Now come we to speake of strong faith which doth ordinarily assure a man of salvation and of the pardon of sinnes unlesse it be in the time of temptation if therefore any man would know how he comes to this assurance and what the ground is that strong faith gathereth this assurance upon I answer that it gathereth it from the merits dignity of the death of Christ for Christ and the Crosse were our pledge and pawne looke what wee should have suffered that Christ hath suffered for us in our place and in our roome when all our sinnes were imputed to him therefore Christs sufferings were as much in acceptation with God as if wee should have suffered our selves so that wee are thereby discharged and acquitted Now from this ground strong faith doth draw assurance of Salvation and of the pardon of sinnes by looking backe into the merits of Christs death Indeed if wee looke into our selves and our sinnes wee can assure our selves of nothing but death hell and damnation but if we looke into the merit and dignitie of the death of Christ then faith assureth us of Salvation and pardon of sinnes The Papists say that a man cannot have assurance of the pardon of sinnes and assurance of Salvation here in this life for this openeth a window say they to all disorder and loosenesse of living But I answere that there be two kindes of assurance the first absolute the second conditionall first absolute assurance That whatsoever a man doth or howsoever a man liveth yet he shall be saved faith doth not assure a man of Salvation if he live in his sinnes and doe what he list or thinke good nay hee is like to perish if he doe so and he seales up his damnation and therefore it is not absolute assurance that we have by faith Conditionall assurance is that which the Gospell teaches that if we repent for our sinnes lay hold on Christ by faith if we beleeve then we may assure our selves that we shall be saved but if wee have no care to repent to beleeve nor to walke with God in newnesse of life then wee cannot be saved Therefore if men say they are sure of Salvation they must looke that they have a right ground If a man should demand of some to know how they should be saved and they answere because we have not committed many sinnes others because wee have done no harme to any body or because we heare the word of God Al this were nothing till one can ground himselfe on these two conditions to repent and beleeve and so to make a logicall discourse of Assurance to himselfe from this ground that God hath said in his word that whosoever repenteth and beleeveth shall bee saved but I upon the search of my Conscience doe finde that I have repented and doe beleeve therefore I shall be saved untill a man I say can make this discourse he cannot be assured of his Salvation but when men have the assurance of Salvation from this ground and can make such a discourse unto themselves it is not all the divels in hell that can plucke away this assurance from them This is a goodly comfort that a man can assure himselfe that hee shall be saved and that he is beloved of God howsoever he be poore ficke afflicted and troubled here in this life yet he can be perswaded that one day he shall fit downe with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the kingdome of heaven and death must be the gate to let us in If a man should go a long and tedious journey and in the way should meete with many inconveniences yet if he knew hee should be kindly entertained at his journies end this would comfort him so wee all are walking as it were a long journey here in the wildernesse of this world where although we meet with many discomforts and troubles yet let us comfort our selves with this that one day it will be blessed and happy with us when we come at home at our journies end then Christ wil gird himselfe and serve us and all the holy Patriarkes and Prophets will be ready to entertaine us This is it that may comfort us so Iob was comforted in the time of his trouble Iob 19. 23. I know saith he that my Redeemer liveth and howsoever I have trouble here yet one day I shall see God so David Psal. 27. 13. I should have fainted but that I beleeved to see the goodnesse of God in the land of the living I should have fainted but that for the hope of heaven and of glory which upheld me so Rom. 8. 36. where the Apostle saith that the people of God were killed and as sheepe appointed to the slaughter saith he yet in all these things we are more than Conquerors for all these troubles they rejoyced and hoped in God exceedingly So he burst out into this speech in a holy triumph and saith there I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Now strong faith you see is not so strong but that in time of temptation it may bee shrewdly shaken for as a strong man may catch a cold and by dis-dieting make himselfe that he cannot be able to walke with a staffe so a man may as it were catch a cold and dis-diet himselfe by his sinnes make himselfe weake So David was confident in one part Psal 31. 14. But I trusted in the Lord I said thou art my God and in another place of the same Psalme he saith I am cast out of thy sight so Iob in one place was confident in peace and rejoycing in God yet Chapter 17. he cryeth out Where is my hope for though I hope yet the grave shall be my house and I will make my bed in the darke I shall say unto Corruption thou art my father and to the worme thou art my mother and my sister where is now my hope So we see strong faith is not so strong but that it may be shrewdly shaken as ye have heard Now some man may say If a man may lose the feeling and comfort of his assurance of Salvation in the time of temptation what Comfort in this case can he have I answer a man may have comfort considering these foure things First That
a learned man saith there be two crucifiers There bee invisible and visible crucifiers the visible crucifiers are the Iewes the invisible are the people of all ages Wherefore seeing our sinnes have brought Christ to his death we should the more hate and detest them Augustine saith If a man should kill father or mother would we let him lie in our bosomes set him at our table let him be in our houses No we would hate abhorre and never abide him why man saith he thy sinnes have not killed thy father and thy mother only but thy Lord and Master one that hath done more for thee than all the world besides wherefore then wilt thou let sinne lye in thy bosome wilt thou nourish it and entertaine it still nay rather hate detest and spit at it Fourthly The end why Christ suffered was either generall to bring us home to God or particular to reconcile us to him and to abolish sinne The Generall end was to bring us to God that we might have communion and fellowship with him for all our happinesse consists in this bringing us to God and all our misery in this that we be strangers from him for by the reason of our sinnes we have no communion with him as Adam was cast out of Paradise so we be all cast from the presence of God and as he ranne away from Gods presence hid himselfe and could not abide it so we are all runne away from God we cannot abide his presence nor stand before God nor speake unto him but Christ hath suffered to this end to bring us unto him and hath appeased his anger so that now he doth looke after us and we may be bold to goe to him and speake to him in prayer Here we may observe three things First that we be strangers from God and dare not come into his presence but are abashed to stand before him or speake unto him before Christ hath carried and presented us to him As in Gen. 47. 2. when Iacob was come into Aegypt to see Ioseph he presented five of his brethren with his father Iacob to King Pharaoh because he was a stranger so seeing we be strangers from God who did not know us the true Ioseph doth present us unto him I but doth not God know us Doth he not know the creatures that he hath made This is a heavie thing that God should not know us To this I answer that sinne hath put upon us such a fearfull ugly face and so deformed that God doth not acknowledge us to be the creatures he made at first therefore the true Ioseph doth bring us to God and present us in his bloud saying O Father accept of them these be they for whose sake I was nine moneths in the dark wombe of the Virgin borne in a stable laid in a manger these be they for whose sakes I died that same cursed death on the crosse Father for my sake accept them and let my paines be their ease my shame their glory my death their life and my condemnation their absolution so that it is Christ that bringeth us home unto God which is the generall end of his sufferings In Ephes 2. 12. it is said Remember that at that time yee were without Christ being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world but now in Christ Iesus yee who sometimes were afarre off are made nigh to him by the blood of Christ so it is the great price that Christ hath paid for us that brings us into favour with God even his most precious blood Secondly herein we may see the marvellous love of Christ that hee would bring us home to God and into favour againe and that not with a word speaking but by dying and suffering for us it had beene a great love of Christ if he had but spoke for us although he had done no more but what a great love was this to suffer such great things that it cost him his life and blood hee was not at rest till he had wrought our redemption as Luk. 12. 15. saith he But I have a Baptisme to be baptized with and how am I straightned till it be accomplished And hee did it not by speaking for us but he did it by dying and suffering for us Exod 32. 32. saith Moses pleading for the people Yet now if thou wilt forgive their sinne thy mercy shall appeare But if not blot me I pray thee out of thy booke which thou hast written So saith Christ Father spare thy people or else wipe me out of the land of the liuing let my life goe for theirs spare them and take me Psal 40. 6 7. wee see that it is not the blood of calves and of goates and beasts that can redeeme us but Christ knew it must bee a more precious blood that must doe it and therefore doth hee offer his owne blood and saith take my life and my blood and let my people goe free Hence wee may see the marvelous love of Christ that hee did not redeeme us by speaking but by suffering and dying for us therefore seeing he loved us we should be content to love againe and to doe any thing that he requires of us Saint Andrew when he was charged of the Gentiles that he did not love their gods he made this answer Let me see if your gods can make mee such a heaven and earth and doe so much for me as my God hath done then I will love your gods but if they cannot then they are not to bee respected nor regarded so wee may say to our vile lusts and to our sinnes if ye can doe so much for me as Christ hath done then I will bestow my love upon you but if you cannot then you are not to be regarded nor respected He shall have my heart that hath done these great things for me Thirdly seeing Christ hath suffered to bring us to God wee must take heede we doe not defeate him of his labour which we doe if we hang still in our sinnes Deut. 24. 15. The Lord accounts the retaining and keeping of the labourers hire a great and grievous sinne even a crying sinne let us consider this that Christ hath laboured for us not for our meate nor money but to bring us to God to repentance and to heaven but if we hang still in our sinnes and doe not repent us of them nor bee brought home to God we defeate him and will not let him have for his labour what hee hath travelled for as it is said Esai 5. 31. Hee shall see of the travell of his soule and shall bee satisfied Christ hath travelled but to what end to bring us to God to Repentance to faith in Christ to make us conscionable in our courses this will satisfie him but if men be not brought home unto God if they doe not repent walke conscionably in
was the golden Key that did open heaven to all true beleevers our sins did shut up heaven but the death of Christ is as a Key to open heaven therfore blessed be God for the death of Christ because he hath made heaven open to us Act. 7. 56. Steven before his death saw heaven open and Christ standing at his right hand ready to receive him So it is a sweet comfort to a Christian when he comes to die that hee seeth heaven open and Christ standing at Gods right hand ready to receive him If a man should come to a Kings Palace and finde all the doores shut and locked up fast and a friend should come and put into his hands a key that hee might goe from chamber to chamber till hee came to the Kings Presence this would be a great comfort So the death of Christ is as a golden key to open heaven to us that wee may come into the Presence-chamber of God therefore blessed be God for the death of Christ Secondly it was to shew that the Ceremoniall Law was abrogated by the death of Christ The Priests must not offer any more sacrifices for now all the ceremonies had an end and by his death is cancelled the hand-writing that was against us as it is Ephes. 2. 14 15. He is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken downe the middle wall of Partition betweene us Having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the Law of Commandements contained in ordinances for to make in himselfe of twaine one new man so making peace therefore who ever shall bring in againe any of the Leviticall ceremonies either in whole or in part he doth set up the veile that Christ hath taken downe Act. 15. 28. the Apostle saith It seemeth good to the Holy Ghost and us to lay no other burthen upon you than that which is necessary therefore it is a dangerous thing to bring in the Leviticall ceremonies againe Saint Ierome saith well Thou sayest that it is not a dangerous thing to bring in the Leviticall ceremonies but I tell thee and proclaime against thee that that man which shall bring in these ceremonies hee casteth himselfe head-long into the pit of hell The Schoole-men doe distinguish the Ceremonies into three times First as Thomas Aquinas saith there was a time when the ceremonies were profitable and that was before Christ because they were commanded of God Secondly after Christs death they were dead but not deadly till the Gospell was planted And then lastly they were both dead and deadly and therefore it is a dangerous thing to bring in these ceremonies againe in whole or in part Thirdly to shew that by that he had cancelled or torne downe the veile of our sinnes that made a separation betweene God and us that wee could not see the face of God as Esay 59. 2. But your iniquities have made a separation beâ— weene you and your God and your sinnes have hid his face from you that he will not heare Now they are taken downe and he hath hanged up another veile in the roome thereof that though our sinnes have hid Gods face from us yet in the death of Christ they are taken downe he having hanged up another veile in place of the other to looke thorow and behold us the veile of his flesh as Saint Paul saith Hebr. 10. 20. for when God looked on us he looked thorow the veile of Christs flesh or else if he had looked upon us in our selves there is such a deale of sinne and corruption that it would have made God to abhorre us and to that end Christ with the veile of his flesh hath covered all our sinnes as the Prophet David speakes Psal 85. 2. Thou hast forgiven the iniquities of thy people and covered all their sinnes The fourth Reason was to shew that the veile of ignorance was taken away in the Law for the Law was covered with a veile which was the reason why Mâ—ses face was covered with a veile as Saint Paul saith 2 Cor. 3. 13. but by the death of Christ this veile is taken away in the preaching of the Gospell And therefore seeing this veile is taken away if men remaine ignorant how will they answer it at the day of judgement The Papists hang up another veile and what is that but the veile of an unknowne tongue they reade the Scriptures to the people in a tongue they doe not understand and so set up the veile againe that Christ hath taken downe therefore let them looke how they will answer this to Christ at the day of Iudgement The second thing is the rending of the stones how the stones did cleave asunder at the death of Christ which hammers and other instruments could not cleave therefore we may see what stupiditie and hardnesse of heart there is in us that the stones did cleave and the earth quake at the death of Christ and yet we are never moved nor stirred at it therefore let us pray to God that the death of Christ may bee powerfull to move and to stirre up our hearts Thirdly The graves were opened and the bodies of the Saints which slept arose and went into the holy Citie and appeared to many even men that had been dead along time that were dissolved to dust and ashes by the power of Christs death the graves did open and they did rise againe to shew us that all the Saints one day shall rise by the power of Christs death the graves shall open Death cannot keepe them downe but they shall rise againe which is an excellent comfort to a man in misery all that the world can doe is to take away life which when it is gone they turne to dust and ashes yet a time will come when the Saints shall be raised to joy and glory the graves shall be opened by the power of Christs death for as Ionas was three dayes and three nights in the Whales belly and then was cast upon the drie land when the Lord spake unto the Whale so Christ will speake to the earth to the sea and to the beasts that have devoured men and they shall give up their dead and as the graves did open by the power of the death of Christ so all the people of God at the time that God hath appointed shall have their graves opened by his power and death and their bodies shall rise by the power of Christs resurrection to everlasting happinesse and glory The next thing is The effects and fruits of Christs death whereof because I have spoken often heretofore I may bee the shorter in it at this time The first is that Christs death doth free us from eternall death Iohn 3. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne to die for us that whosoever beleeved in him should not perish but have everlasting life So also Iohn 5. 24. Verily verily I say unto you
said to Christ Tarry with us for the day is farre spent and the night drawes on so a Christian should say at the time of his death My life is farre spent old age is come upon me and sicknesse and death drawes on Lord tarry thou with me and I pray thee that I may so shut up mine eyes in this world and that they may bee opened in the kingdome of heaven and that I may dye in thy favour in the pardon and forgivenesse of my sinnes and in the peace of a quiet conscience Thus David praieth in the Psal Yea even untill mine old age and gray head O Lord forsake me not And so againe Psal 27. 9. Hide not therefore thy face from me nor cast thy servant away in displeasure thou hast bin my succour leave mee not nor forsake mee O God of my salvation And these be the two times when we are specially to desire Christ to be with us Now we come to the next thing which is how Christ was knowne of them and it is said In the breaking of the bread here two questions are to be answered 1 What is meant by Bread 2 How Christ was knowne by the breaking of Bread First what is meant by Bread whether it were ordinary common Bread or whether it were sacred and consecrated to an holy use I answer that the Bread heere spoken of is not Sacramentall but ordinary Bread The Papists take advantage by this place as they doe by all others that seeme to serve their turne for when they be urged and asked why they breake the Lords institutions to give Bread and not wine contrary to the commandement of Christ seeing Christ instituted both to this they answer that the Church of Rome hath an example to doe so because Christ did administer the Sacraments to the two Disciples going to Emmaus But we can prove by these two reasons taken out of their owne Doctrine and Canons that this breaking of Bread cannot bee meant of Bread used in the institution of the Sacraments but of ordinary and common Bread First because they hold it a sacriledge for any Priest to consecrate Bread without Wine for they will have them both consecrated together though none but the Bread be administred but in this place there is none but Bread spoken of and therefore it was not Bread used in the Sacraments Secondly because their owne Doctrine and Canons say that it cannot bee a Sacrament without the five words of consecration Take eate this is my body but there were not these five words of consecration and therefore it is not meant of the Sacrament Now they have two reasons against this argument First In that they say there is the same forme of words that is used in the institution of the Sacrament both in Matth. 26. and also in the Gospell of Saint Luke where the institution is spoken of and that is that he tooke the bread and blessed it and gave it c. To this I answer they may as well prove the five loaves and the two fishes that Christ fed the people with Matth. 15. to be a Sacrament for there it is said he tooke the bread and blessed the same and gave it so there are the same forme of words Secondly they say if it had not beene this Sacrament Christ would not have administred it he would not have blessed the bread and brake it and have given it because he was a stranger To this I answer that it was the manner of the Iewes that the best men in the company gave thankes brake the bread and did not put it off to a childe as many doe at these dayes therefore because he was the best and most gravity did appeare in his face therefore hee did blesse it and gave it Now then if it were an ordinary foode or Repast this must teach us two things First that we should not take a bit of bread into our mouths till wee have blessed God for it and so it was the manner of the people to doe 1 Sam. 9. 15. the maids said to Saul that The people would not eate till Samuel came and had blessed the sacrifice and so Act. 27. Paul when he was amongst strangers in the ship in the presence of them all he gave thankes We see Christ did not take bread till he had given thanks and blessed it Therefore how dare any man take a morsell or a bit of meate into his mouth till he hath by holy prayer drawne downe a blessing upon him Christ he would not he that was the Creator of all and therefore how dare a Man that is but flesh and bloud take his dinner and supper and never give thankes nor blesse the bread surely man hath not more liberty than Christ Secondly that as these two Disciples did travell with Christ and when they came at their waies end did then eat and drinke with Christ and comfortably refresh themselves so let us travell with Christ here in this world and when we come at our journeies end we shall eate and drinke with him in the Kingdome of Heaven so wee see Luke 22. 29. Therefore I appoint unto you a kingdome as my Father hath appointed to me that ye may eate and drinke at my table in my kingdome so Revel 2. To him that overcommeth will I give to eate of the hâ—dden Manna Therefore let us labour to travell with Christ here in this world and then howsoever we may have trouble and affliction heere yet when wee come at our journeyes end wee shall bee comfortably refreshed in the Kingdome of Heaven The second question is how Christ was knowne in the breaking of bread some say because hee brake the bread so smooth as if it had beene cut with a knife but it cannot be so because it is said hee was knowne in the breaking of the bread not by the breaking and some say he was knowne by the maner of his thanks-giving but it is not said that he was knowne by this but in breaking of the bread therefore it is best to follow the words of the Text That he was knowne of them in the breaking of the bread for their eies were held that they knew him not before and at that very instant at the act of breaking the bread then the Lord opened their eyes which may teach us that there may be a presence of God in our houses in the fields and in the places where we be and yet wee cannot see it unlesse the Lord open our eyes Therefore as the two blinde men cryed unto Christ and said O Sonne of David have mercy on us whom Christ asked what they would have they said Lord that our eyes may bee opened so we must cry to Christ to open our eyes that wee may see his goodnesse and mercy to us The next thing is what they did when Christ was vanished out of their sight here be divers things to be considered only
out of his throne and set up their sinnes in his roome Psal 2. saith the Lord I have set my king upon mine holy hill it is the decree of God that wee should serve and feare him that we should labour To kisse him to submit our selves unto him lest his wrath be kindled and then we perish suddenly Secondly seeing Christ sits at the right hand of God therefore wee must take heede we doe not sinne against him and offend him because hee is in the next place to God It is a great matter to sinne against him and offend him as 1 Cor. 8. 12. saith he Now when yee sin against the brethren and wound their weake consciences ye sin against Christ It is a great matter indeed to sinne against Christ Augustine saith the Iewes condemned Christ and are blamed for it but there is a great difference betweene their sinnes and the sinnes of Christians under the Gospell for they sinned against Christ in the time of his humiliation when hee did hang on the crosse but thou art a christian sin'st him now he is exalted into glory and sits at the right hand of God we see David when he had cut off but the lap of Sauls garment his heart did smite him so much more should our hearts smite us when wee have sinned against him and offended him Thirdly seeing Christ sits at the right hand of God doe thou labor to bee in Christ a true Christian and then hee will defend thee from all dangers and turne all they troubles into comforts all thy paines to ease thy sorrow into joy thy sicknesse into health and thy death into life Acts 7. 36. we read that Stephen saw Heaven opened and Christ standing at the right hand of God ready to receive him so if a Christian man or woman behold Christ with the eye of Faith sitting at the right hand of God at the day of Death this will give them comfort against all their troubles Fourthly seeing Christ sits at the right hand of God therefore as Christ overcame the Divell and all our spirituall enemies so wee must first overcome sin the Divell and all our lusts and then we shall sit at the right hand of God this promise makes Revel 2. 21. To him that overcommeth will I grant to sit with me in my Fathers Throne even as I overcame and sit with my Father in his Throne and therefore doe thou never rest but labour to overcome sinne and thy owne corruptions whatsoever thy paines and troubles be and then thou shalt sit at the right hand of God Matth. 19. 28. saith Christ Ye which follow me in the regeneration shall sit on twelve Thrones and judge the twelve Tribes of Israel you that follow me in a holy life you that are borne againe anew and you that repent of your sins and make conscience of your waies you shall sit upon the throne of Christ when others shall sit down in the shadow of death and in the dungeon of Hell with the Divell and his Angels therefore as Christ overcame Sinne Death and Hell and the Divell and when he had done it hee sate downe then at the right hand of God so when we have overcome we shall sit at the right hand of God for ever SERMON XLI 1 PETER 4. 5. Who shall give account to him that is ready to Iudge the quicke and the Dead WE are come to speake of the last degree of Christs exaltation which is in the next Article of our Christian profession a branch whereof is that from thence he shall come to judge the quicke and the Dead He that was judged of others shall judge us even he that was judged of Pilate Caiaphas Iudas and Caine Hee shall judge the quicke and the Dead that is all the people that have beene in all ages and times even all that have beene dead many a thousand yeeres before and all the people that be living at the present for when all men have plaid their pageants on the stage of this World then the Lord Iesus Christ shall have his time to play his part to shut up all and gather his servants and saints together into Heaven but the wicked shall bee cast into Hell This is that which Iob speakes of I know my Redeemer liveth and hee shall stand the last on Earth when all men have plaid their parts on the stage of this World when kings have given up their Crownes and flung downe their Scepters at the feete of Christ then hee shall stand the last on the Earth to gather his Saints and people unto himselfe and to condemne the wicked to everlasting torment This is a point to bee considered bringing with it great comfort that hee which is our Saviour and Redeemer shall bee our Iudge Now there bee two commings of Christ mentioned in the Scriptures his first to worke mans redemption as it is Luk. 19. The Sonne of Man is come to seeke and to save that which is lost his second comming is to judge the whole World as it is Psal 96. 13. For be commeth to judge the Earth He will judge the world with righteousnesse and the People with Equitie therefore seeing Christs comming is to judgement it must be every mans wisedome to lay hold on his first comming labour to be converted and to repent of his sinnes and to get Faith and to bee brought to an estate of grace for his second comming is to judgement heerefrom wee may observe these sixe particulars 1. That there shall be a judgement day 2. Who shall be the Iudge 3. The place where be shall judge 4. The time when he shall judge 5. The Person that shall be judged 6. The manner of the judgement First There shall bee a judgement day and a solemne arraignment of the whole World there be many judgements as Zephan 3. 11. The just Lord is in the midst thereof he will doe no iniquitie every morning doth hee bring his judgements to light and he faileth not but the wicked will not learn to be asham'd so there is first particular and speciall judgements that light on partiticular persons as Genes 15. 13. the Lord said to Abrahm Thy seede shall be a stranger in a Land that is not theirs foure hundred yeeres and shall serve them and they shall come out with great substance notwithstanding the Nation whom they shall serve will I judge Secondly besides this judgement there is another more private at the day of death as Hebr. 9. Saint Paul saith It is appointed for all men to die and then commeth the judgement there is an appointed judgement at the day of death betweene God and a mans soule and conscience as further appeares Luk. 22. 23. And it was so that the begger died and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome The rich man also died and was buried and being in Hell torments hee lifted up his eyes c. so we see the one went
morrow or the next day therefore whil'st I have time I will labour to save my life so the heavenly Iudge hath given sentence of us and wee may dye to morrow or next day and therefore what must wee doe sleepe away the time or idle it away No but labour to make friends to sell all we have to part with our wealth and goods to pray unto God to repent us of our sinnes that so wee may escape that heavie sentence Fourthly seeing there is a judgement day this may give us comfort against all the injuries and wrongs that are done unto us Thus Paul doth comfort himselfe 1 Cor. 4. 4. But he that judgeth mee is the Lord therefore judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come who both will bring to light things that be hid in darkenesse and will make the counsels of the hearts manifest and then shall every man have praise of God Therefore howsoever a Christian man may be condemned for a dissembler an hypocrite and a proud person yet this may give him comfort that there is a judgement day and then men shall see whether they died in truth or no. This was Moses's comfort Numb 16. when Corah Dathan and Abiram came and told him be tooke too much upon him and counted him a proud person saith he To morrow the Lord shall shew who are his and who appertaine to him so this should be the comfort of a Christian when hee is slandered and evill spoken of and counted a dissembler hee may say to morrow the Lord shall shew you whether it bee so or no when the day of judgement is SERMON XLII ACTS 10. 42. And hee commanded us to preach unto the people and to testifie that it is hee which was ordained of God to bee the Judge of quicke and dead THat there shall bee a Iudgement day wherein Christ will arraigne the whole world besides the particular judgements that fall on particular men and the private judgements at the day of death together with the uses hath bin declared already what was then delivered I will not now repeat but come directly to the next point which is this Secondly Who shall be the Iudge Christ onely shall be the Iudge in this world there bee many tribunals for offenders to be judged at but when all these tribunals shall cease then Christ shall be the Iudge onely Paul telleth us 1 Cor. 15. 24. When hee hath put downe all things all rule and authority then God shall be all in all and Ioh. 5. 22. it is said he hath committed all judgement to the Sonne so in this place which I have read unto you Act. 10. 42. And hee commanded us to preach unto the people and to testifie that it is hee that is ordained of God to be the Iudge of quicke and dead as also Rom. 14. We shall all appeare before the judgement seat of Christ c. so wee see Christ is the Iudge and none but hee and there is a Reason for it for there are two things required of a Iudge 1 Sufficient Knowledge to know all things whatsoever 2 Sufficient Power to punish all offenders Which two are most eminent in God First There is sufficient knowledge because Christ knowes all things that are done there is nothing in all the world but he knowes it Angels know not the thoughts of men Divels know not mens intentions and men know not all actions that are done but Christ knowes mens thoughts intentions and actions Therefore it is said Matth. 9. That hee saw their thoughts And Ioh. 21. Peter saith unto Christ Lord thou knowest all things So Hebrew 4. 13. it is said That all things are naked and manifest before him with whom we have to do therefore he is the fittest for to be a Iudge Secondly as hee hath sufficient knowledge so hee hath Sufficient power to punish offenders when man hath killed the body hee can goe no farther hee cannot kill the soule but there is a power in Christ To kill both body and soule and cast it into hell fire Even hee Matthew 3. which hath his fan in his hand and will make cleane his flowre and gather his wheat into his garner but will burne up the chaffe with unquenchable fire And Revel 20. it is said And whosoever was not found written in the booke of life was cast into the lake of fire so there is sufficient power in Christ to punish all offenders and sufficient knowledge therefore hee is fittest to be the Iudge Angels are not because they know not mens thoughts men bee not fit because there is a defect of power when they have killed the body they are not able to kill the soule Now if any man shall object and say Is Christ the Iudge onely seeing hee saith himselfe Mat. 19. That those which do follow him in this regeneration shall sit upon twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel which also Saint Paul seemes to agree with 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. Doe yee not know that the Saints shall judge the world How then shall Christ be the onely Iudge I answer It is true that when the Saints themselves have had judgement then they shall bee taken up and sit with Christ in judgement But how Christ shall give the finall sentence and they shall bee Approovers or Assisters so they shall judge but not as supreme Iudges but as Assisters as we see at the Assises the Iudge gives the finall sentence and the Iustices doe but assent ratifie and confirme it to bee true judgement so it is Christ that is the Supreme Iudge to give the finall sentence the Saints doe but assent to it and approve of the judgement to bee true judgement The Vses are First seeing Christ shall be our Iudge we must labour to be found in Christ and to be Members of his body because hee wisheth well to his owne body Therefore let us labour to bee found in Christ to live in him and then it shall goe well with us Paul tells us Rom. 8. There is no condemnation to those that be in Christ all the comfort of a Christian ariseth from this that hee is one with Christ that hee hath the Spirit and grace of Christ to say as Saint Paul doth Gal. 2. 20. Thus I live yet not I now but Christ liveth in mee then hee may have comfort at the day of judgement when he is found in Christ It was Pauls care Philip. 3. That he accounted all things as dung and drosse that hee might winne Christ or bee found in him Now that which was Pauls care must bee ours also that wee should account all things but dirt dung and drosse to bee found in Christ If a man have judgement passed against him to lose his hand his eye or some other member for his offence if he hath the skill that he can make his eye and his hand the hand and eye of the kings son
of Gods remembrance no man can take exception Neither can any against the booke of mans conscience because he shall not be judged by another mans conscience but by his owne which no other man hath the writing of but himselfe and wheresoever a man goes he alwayes carries it with him therefore against this booke no man living can take exception these be the two bookes that shall be opened at the day of Iudgement wherein every mans sinnes shall be made knowne and laid open at that day howsoever wee may forget them yet the Lord will remember them howsoever he passeth by them now and seemes to winke at them yet they are all written in the booke of his remembrance and one day this booke shall be opened and the world shall see them for the Lord will set them open before all men It is said Psal 50. 21. But I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine eyes And Psal 90. 6. the Prophet complaines Thou hast set our iniquities before thee and our secret sinnes in the light of thy countenance So out of the booke of Gods remembrance the Lord will declare all our sinnes Againe the booke of every mans conscience shall be opened and his conscience shall accuse him of every particular sinne that he hath committed here in this world A mans conscience is like a sealed booke though he have committed a number of sinnes and have offended many wayes yet the consscience never accuses but when the bookes shall be opened then every mans conscience shall crie out against him how he hath sinned against God and against men in this thing and that in this place and that and the devill will draw such a bill against us as we shall never be able to answer as the Lepers said in the 2 King 7. O we doe not well to doe thus So every mans conscience shall crie out against him and say I did not well to sweare to lye to deceive to slander to prophane the Sabbath and therefore what a fearefull thing will it be when a mans conscience shall thus crie out against him wee see what an intolerable burthen it is when in this world the Lord touches a mans conscience but for one sinne as Mat. 27. 3. when Iudas had betrayed his Master and his conscience touched him for it he could not abide it but he went and hanged himselfe Now if it were thus into lerable for one sinne what will it be when all our sinnes shal be made manifest before God If it were thus fearefull when Iudas did reade but one page or leafe of the booke what an intolerable burthen will it be when all the particular sinnes that we have committed from the first day to the last houre of our lives shall bee laid open when wee shall not reade a leafe or a page onely but all the whole booke from end to end how intollerable and unsupportable will it be Some use to say that they doe not love to come on the score they cannot abide it but of all scores take heed thou come not on Gods score and on the score of thine owne conscience it will be a fearefull thing therefore keepe an even reckoning with God that so thy conscience may be cleare And these be the meanes by which the offender shall be convicted at the day of Iudgement first by the booke of Gods remembrance and secondly by the booke of every mans conscience Thirdly the parties that shall be convicted which are not onely the wicked but the godly such as repent them of their sinnes and seeke reconciliation and atonement in the bloud of Christ and are brought in the estate of grace these shall not be convicted but they shall have a discharge of all from Christ and although they had their sinnes and infirmities as other men had yet because they did repent of them labour to be reconciled and to be at peace with God therefore they shall not answer for them as Rom. 8. 33. saith Saint Paul Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen â—is God that justifieth who shall condemne So Revel 7. 14. it is said of the godly These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their long white robes in the bloud of the Lambe They were not white by nature no nor did they not keepe them white the best men that were For as Saint Iames saith In many things wee sinne all and the best may pray with David Psalm 143. 2. Enter not into judgement with thy servants for in thy sight there shall none that liveth be justified So Iob 9. 3. saith he If he would contend with him hee could not answer him one of a thousand So that no man is white by nature no nor the best men cannot keepe themselves white but their garments are made white in the bloud of the Lambe And therefore although wee have sinnes as other men have yet let us labour to repent of them and to bee reconciled unto God and to lay hold on Christ by faith and to have our consciences washed in the bloud of Christ and then our sinnes shall not be laid to our charge we shall not be convicted of them at the day of Iudgement Dan. 9. 24. it is said of Christ that he should finish transgression and make an end of sins and make reconciliation for iniquitie which is a metaphore taken from a man that hath payed a debt he gets the bonds and bils and seales them up that no body should see them so Christ hath payed our debts and hath sealed up our sinnes which is a comfort to a Christian though hee hath committed many sinnes yet if hee can repent of them and lay hold on Christ by faith his sinnes are sealed up with this same great seale that neither the devill nor the world shall be able to finde them nor all the powers in earth or in hell Fourthly The effect of the Conviction and that is in a word They shall be judged even all the wicked gallants brave men and captaines they shall stand as dead men before Christ when these two bookes shall be opened and all their sinnes laid before them then they shall crie out of themselves that ever they offended Matth. 23. 39. saith Christ to the wicked Iewes yee shall see me no more henceforth till that yee say Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord So the wicked shall say of the godly O these be the blessed and happie men but we hated and despised them O that we had followed their counsell and that we had beene ruled by them and as it is in the booke of Wisdome This is he which we have had in derision and in a parable of reproch we fooles thought his life madnesse and his end without honour how is hee counted amongst the children of God and his portion among the Saints Wherefore how ashamed and confounded shall the
to all her Children by the meanes of Pastors and Teachers which the Apostle delivers unto us Ephes 4. 11. where he saith When hee ascended up on high bee led captivitie captive hee gave gifts unto Men c. He therefore gave some to bee Apostles some Evangelists some Prophets some Pastors and Teachers for the gathering together of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery and for the edification of the Body of Christ that henceforth we be not Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every winde of Doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lie in waite to deceive For the first it doth keepe and preserve the Tables of Truth in three respects 1. It keepes the letters of the Scripture 2. The true Canon of the Scripture that is the true number of the Canonicall Bookes 3. The Authoritie of the Scriptures First It keepes the letters of the Scriptures for the Scripture is the chiefest rich Iewell and Treasure that Christ hath left his people therefore it hath beene the care of the Church the Spouse to preserve and keepe the Scripture as the chiefest Iewell and Treasure left of her husband Christ we see in experience if a man leave a Iewell or some other treasure with his wife when he goes into a farre countrie she will be carefull to keepe it till he come home againe shee will locke it up or lay it in some Boxe or Chest so because the Scripture is a rich Iewell left unto the Church by her Husband Christ therefore there can be no doubt but the Church was carefull at all times to preserve and keepe it to this purpose Exod. 25. 16. The Lord commanded Moses to make an Arke of Shittim wood to put the Tables of the Covenant in that is the written Law of God and why should they put it into an Arke or Chest of Cedar But because it is the durablest wood which will not rot to teach us that the Lord would have the Scriptures preserved therefore S. Paul saith Rom. 3. 4. That the Lord hath of trust committed the Oracles of Truth unto the Iewes which were the Church of God so that it is the dutie of the Church to preserve and keepe them None hath done it but the Church which hath not failed in any point If a tender mother should have a spring that she and her Children live by to drinke of how carefull would she be to kepe it from all annoyances so because the Scripture is as a Spring that the Church lives by and drinkes of she and her children Therefore there can be no question but that the Church hath beene carefull to keepe it from all annoyances It hath beene an opinion of the Papists that the Scripture was corrupted by the Iewes in the Originall Text but if this opinion were true it were enough to bring in Atheisme and all prophanenes for no body can deny but if that the letters of the Scripture were corrupted in the Originall then that which is translated cannot be right Here then to confute this opinion of the Papists which is enough to bring in flat Atheisme and superstition I will shew you divers arguments and reasons to proove that the Scripture hath not beene corrupted which because it is a point of learning and a high one therefore as God when he gave the Law to the People came downe upon the Mount as low as might bee to deliver it to them so I will come downe as low as I can to make it plaine to your Capacities who heare me The first Is drawne by comparison from a King There is no King that would suffer his Statute lawes to be corrupted in the fundimentall Points and his publike Records if hee could helpe it but God is our King and the Scripture is the Statute-Law of God and his publike Records whereby he makes his Will knowne to Men and governes them and therefore can we thinke that the Lord will suffer any to corrupt it seeing he hath Power in his hand to help it unlesse we thinke that God hath lesse care than an earthly king would have of his lawes Iosephus reports and also Eusebius of a certaine Poet that tooke upon him to apply a Holy sentence to a wrong end who was stricken with blindnesse till he made confession of his fault And of another that tooke a peece of Scripture to make a jest of it who was taken with a phreneticall madnesse and hardly ever recovered againe Now therefore if God doe punish those that do prophane the Scripture then how much more will he punish them that doe corrupt it seeing God hath set this seale to it This God makes good Revel 22. 18. For I testifie unto every man that heareth the words of the prophesie of this book If any Man shall adde to these things God shall adde to him the plagues that are written in this booke and if any Man shall take away from the words of the booke of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the Booke of Life therefore who durst meddle to corrupt it The second reason is drawen from the Promise of Christ in Matth. 5. 18. For verily I say unto you till Heaven and Earth perish one jot or one title of the Law shall not escape till all things be fulfilled now by the law he meanes the written Law of God here we have the promise of Christ that as long as Heaven and Earth indures there is not one jot or title of the Law that shall be corrupted The third is taken from the continuall practise of the Prophets Apostles and of Christ himselfe that still send the People of God to the Scriptures as the most sincere Iudges as Esay 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimonies if they speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them so 2 Pet. 1. 19. We have also a most sure word of the Prophets to the which ye doe well that ye take heede as unto a light that shineth in a darke place c. and Christ Iohn 5. 39. saith Search the Scriptures for in them you thinke to have Eternall Life they are they which testifie of me So wee see that Christ the Prophets and Apostles call us to the Scriptures as to the sincerest Iudge Now if the scriptures had beene corrupted and depraved they would not have sent us to them for there is no man that will send his servant to sea but hee will tell him the danger of it and of the Shelves Rockes and Sands and where they be that so hee may avoyde them so if the Scriptures had beene corrupted Christ the Prophets and the Apostles would not have sent us to the Scriptures but would have told us where the Rockes and Shelves and where the dangers had beene nay if Christ had knowne the Scriptures had beene corrupted he would have made it knowne or if
let you goe but by strong hand the new translation hath it And the king of Egypt will not let you goe no not by a strong hand now how may a man know which is the better I answer hee may know it although he have no other helpe than his owne let him looke into Exod. 6. 1. there the Lord saith to Moses now shalt thou see what I will doe to Pharoah for by a strong hand shall be let them goe so herein the ordinary Bibles are the better from these wee inferre a wise Christian may helpe himselfe by the helpe of his minister in any doubt about the difference of texts of Scripture and to shut up all in a word it is plaine and manifest by these premises that the true Church throughout all ages hath preserved the letter and text of the Scripture from all annoiances taint of corruption or the least soile that may bee The use hereof is First seeing it hath beene the care of the Church in all times to preserve the letter of Scriptures therefore it must be every mans care to read it be acquainted with it and to meditate therein so to profit by it as Ioh. 5. 39. Christ counsels us Search the Scriptures for in them yee thinke to have eternall life they are they which testifie of me so 2 Tim. 3. 15. Timothie was commended for that he had knowne the Scriptures of a Childe which were able to make him wise unto salvation in like manner wee must know the Scriptures and be acquainted with them to make us truely wise Augustine saith well to this purpose that the two testaments are the two breasts of the Church that every Christian man must sucke to draw spirituall nourishment from that he may live eternally by it and another learned man saith that the holy Scripture is an Epistle sent from the Creator to the creature if an earthly king should send us a letter what would we let it lye by us would we not bestow some time to read meditate of it and bee acquainted with it to know what were the kings will with us so saith he the holy Scripture is the letter and Epistle of Almighty God let us labour to bee acquainted with it bestow some time to read it and meditate therein another learned man saith Now the Paradise of God is in this world the bookes of the Scriptures are the trees of Life whereof no man is forbidden to eate therefore it must be our care to heare the Scriptures read and to reade them our selves meditate in them and tell the good things that wee learne from thence one to another Secondly seeing it hath beene the care of the Church to preserve the Scripture it must bee our care not onely to reade and to meditate in it but also to beleeve it and to put it in practice as Psal 124. David did where hee saith by the words of thy lips I kept mee from the pathes of the cruell man and againe Psal 119. 11. I have hid thy promise in my heart that I might not sinne against thee See wee must learne by the Scriptures to put it in practice to sanctifie us in our wayes to keep us from sinning against God and to direct us in all the things wee take in hand this fruit and benefit wee must draw out from it saith Christ to the Iewes I will not accuse you but there is one will accuse you even Moses in whom yee trust How shall Moses accuse them not in his person but by his Bookes and Doctrine for that they did not beleeve nor practise but neglect the things that were commended to them therein so Moses shall accuse them and draw such a fearefull bill against them as they shall not bee able to answer so wee that bee your Pastours and teachers wee doe not accuse you but Moses Paul and Peter doth accuse you and will write such a fearefull bill of indictment against you as you shall not bee able to answere Therefore labour yee to repent of your sinnes to make conscience of your wayes to put in practice the good things that have beene taught you that so there bee not framed a fearfull bill of indictment against you which yee shall not bee able to answer especially remember it at this time to make use of it seeing yee see by evident tokens that God is displeased with us doe not thinke that time will weare it out but search into your hearts and into your lives to see what is amisse repent of your sinnes and turne to God that he may turne away this fearefull judgment that is come upon this land Oh my good brethren let us not passe away these things and make no accompt of them but let us labour to put them in practise seeing wee know them lest there bee such a fearefull bill of indictment framed against us as wee shall not be able to answer SERMON LXV 1 TIMOTHY 3. 15. That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy selfe in the House of God which is the Church of the Living God the Pillar and ground of the Truth WEE heard the last day that the Church hath three wayes preserved the tables of truth First in preserving the Letter of the Scripture which I then dispatched Secondly in preserving the Canon of the Scripture I meane the true number of Canonicall Books Thirdly in preserving the Authoritie of the Scriptures Wee come now to the next Point which is that the Church hath preserved the true Canon of the Scripture that is the true number of the Canonicall Bookes without adding or diminishing Canonicall Scripture is that which is given us of God is bee a rule of faith and good life by the which yee may bee sure wee may please God The word Canon is a Greeke word signifying a Rule so the Scripture is a rule to square out our actions by Those which worke in curious buildings doe not work by aime and ghesse but by rule so in the spirituall building of a mans soule and conscience in making a spirituall house for God wee must not goe by aime and ghesse but by rule Wee must hold us to our rule so saith S. Paul Gal. 6. 16. As many as walke according to this rule peace shall bee upon them and mercy and upon the Israel of God And Exod. 25. 40. saith the Lord to Moses Looke therefore that thou make all after the pattern that was shewed thee in the mount There the Lord had given Moses a paterne Such a charge as this comes to every Christian concerning all his actions see that thou doest it according to the paterne which the Lord hath lest thee in the Scriptures to bee a rule of faith and good life and to build up thy soule and conscience in the assurance of thy salvation and hope of an heavenly life Therefore it hath beene the care of the Church to preserve the true number of the Canonicall Bookes intire Paul tells