which is in men which I call concupiscence remayning euen in the regenerate by the name of euill and how it is euill he expoundeth against Iulian. In the same worke he saith that lust is not only the euill of Contra Iul. lib. 6. c. 2. lib. 5. c. 4. c. 5. punishment but of fault also Finally he saith it is a vice against which wee must striue by vertue Wherefore if either in holy Scripture as we neuer doe directly but by consequent as here wee heare concupiscence is cause of sinne therefore not sinne or in the fathers as in Saint Augustine who in some places calleth not this naturall corruption remaining in the Saintes by the name of sinne but disputeth the contrarie 13. that it is not sinne in them Wee must distinguish of sinne there is sinne raigning there is sinne dwelling in men it is not sinne reigning but it is sinne dwelling in our mortall bodies There is sinne mortall and sinne veniall it is not sinne mortall but veniall because in the Saints it is not imputed There is sinne actuall there is finne in heart and will not effected nor done it is not sin actuall but it is sinne in heart conceiued and consented vnto which before God is sinne When Saint Iames here saith Lust when it hath conceaued bringeth foorth sinne he speaketh of sinne after the phrase of Scripture commonly vsed taking sinne for sinne committed sinne actuall not denying either the coÌ„senting vnto sinne which is the conception of lust neither lust it selfe which is as it were the seede the sountain the matter of mischiefe to be sinnes in their kindes albeit not actuall and committed being as yet suppressed and kept downe in the heart and will of man Neither doeth Iames here curiously dispute when sin is in it selfe and before God when it first springeth and beginneth in the account and iudgement of God but he speaketh of sinne as it is knowen to be sinne before men Sinne conceaued in heart before God is sinne All euill motions cogitations affections of the minde by God are condemned as sinnes but actions and deedes done are knowen onely to men who pearce not into the heart or cogitation Wherefore when a thing is in acte then onely with men it is accounted Seeing then that sinne is not seene and knowen for sinne with men but then when it is in acte and done or doing which is actuall sinne The Apostle in this sense speaking of sinne saith Lust when it hath conceaued bringeth foorth sinne Wherence it followeth not that because lust bringeth foorth sinne therefore it is not sinne For albeit it be not seen for sinne with men who iudge onely by the action of men yet is it sinne 1 Kings 16. with God who knoweth the very heart and first motions Albeit it be not reigning sinne yet is it sinne dwelling albeit it be not mortall sinne in the Saints yet is it veniall sinne in them also washed away and cleansed by baptisme The first birth and first fruite of lust to our knowledge and brought into act is sinne wherof S. James saith Lust when it hath conceaued bringeth foorth sinne The seconde and latter birth of lust is death For lust bringeth foorth sinne and sinne bringeth foorth death death riseth and groweth out of sinne being perfected Rom. 6. 8. 1. Peter 2. and committed sinne being finished bringeth forth death Sinne is then said to be finished or made perfect when we geue consent to it when we yealde our selues thereunto when we suffer it to rule and raigne ouer vs as bearing chiefe sway and swindge in our life Sinne being Rom. 6. Rom. 8. thus perfected bringeth foorth death Wherein he sheweth what effect followeth the carnall life of man agreeable vnto that of Saint Paul The wages or recompence of sinne is death but eternall life is the gift of God through Iesus Christ our Lord. And not long after If ye walke after the flesh ye shall die in as much as sinne bringeth foorth and purchaseth death vnto men This may appeare manifest by one onely example Iudas the traitor was first tempted by couetous motions this temptation Mat. 26. Iohn 18. he withstoode not but consented and followed the motion and so was drawen away from duetie to Christ by his desire so lust conceaued lust hauing now consent of his will broake foorth into treason and so sinne was brought foorth euen the sinne of treason whereby Christ was sold and betrayed to the people and priestes of the Iewes This treason committed and sinne perfected purchased death for thereby he procured and purchased vnto himselfe eternall destruction which followeth sinne as the hire the labour the wages the trauell the crowne the 1. Acts 18. workes of men Men therefore being tempted and entised by their owne lust to committe sinne by committing of sinne procure death because sinne being done indeede bringeth foorth death Death is due to euery sinne which men committe so that no sinne committed considered in it selfe is so little but deserueth death But seeing the sinnes of the Saints are washed away by the fountaine of regeneration through faith in Christ therefore their sinnes which through infirmitie they committe to them procure not death as they do to the wicked But the sinnefull liues of men who tempted to euil by their owne luste and desires and caried away therby to commit sinne procure to them death according to the doctrine of the Apostle sinne wheÌ„ it is finished bringeth forth death This did almighty God intimate nay rather plainely protest to Adam telling Gane 2. him that at what time so euer he eate of the forbidden fruite he should die he finished sinne he eate of the apple by him therefore sinne came vpon him selfe and vpon all his posteritie The prophet Moyses teacheth Israel Ron. 5. 1. Cor. 15. Deut. 30. Ezeciel 18. Pro. 11. 13. 1. Pet. 2. 1. Cor. 6. 3. Col Eph. 5. Reuel 21. that their sinnes and breaches of the law of God should bring vnto them death the prophet Ezechiell from the mouth of God him selfe protesteth that euerie soule that sinneth should die hereunto Saint Peter subscribeth dissuading men from walking after the lust of their flesh because they fight gainst the soule they procure the death and destruction thereof which is that which Saint Paul in soundrie places threatneth to sundrie that they thruste vs out and disinherite vs of the kingdom of God and this death is not the death of the bodie which is naturall and common to all men but the death of bodie and soule for euer which is the seconde death this is due to the committing and finishing of sinne in all men vnlesse there come betwixt our sinne and death the remedy which God for the Saintes hath prepared by Iesus Christ euen his â—eath passion intercession to die for euer To be vnder â—ondemnatioÌ„ to be thrust out from the presence and face â—f God to be in perperuall darkenes to haue a worme
AN EXPOSITION VPON THE CANONICALL EPISTLE OF SAINT IAMES WITH THE Tables Analysis and resolution both of the whole Epistle and euerie Chapter thereof with the particular resolution of euerie singular place DIVIDED INTO 28. LECTVRES OR SERmons made by Richard Turnbull sometimes fellow of Corpus Christie Colledge in Oxford now preacher and minister of the word of God and the holy Sacraments in the citie of London IESVS CHRISTVS CONTERET CAPVT TVV̄ GEN 3 ERO MORSVS INFERN TVVS OSE 18 CONFIDITE VICI MV̄DV̄ IOA 10 VBI TVA MORS VICTORIA 1 COR 15 Imprinted at London by Iohn Windet 1591. TO THE MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD my Lord his grace Archbishop of Canterburie Primate and Metropolitane of all England Richard Turnbull wisheth grace peace with faith from God the father and from the Lord Iesus Christ to be multiplied WHEN I call to mind right reuerende father that worthy saying and sentēce of the diuine Philosopher Plato repeated by Marcus Cicero the famous Oratour of the Romanes in that his worke which is written of duties that we are not born for our selues alone but our Countrie chalengeth one part of vs our parents another our children another and often recounting and recording in memorie the place of the blessed Apostle of our Lord Iesus Christ Saint Peter wherin he protesteth to giue al diligence not onely to stirre vp the Saints of God to vertue and knowledge so long as he remained in the earthly tabernacle of his flesh and liued among them but also to endeuour that they might make mention of those things which he had taught thē euen after his death and departure out of this life I thinke with my selfe am perswaded in minde that it is my bounden dutie in like maner and the dutie of all the learned brethren according to the measure of grace and gift of knowledge giuen and receiued from God to bend al my studie to employ al my labour to giue all my diligence and do al my endeuour not only with liuely voice through preaching but also by writing to profite the Saints and benefite wherein I may the Church of God and the holie congregation of Iesus Christ And not ignorant how greatly it auaileth and how singularly it profiteth euery maner of way in so great diuersitie and as it were confusion and laberinth of opinions to hold fast and retaine immouably vndoubted and sure arguments of the certaine and vnfallible truth of the sacred worde of God and most glorious Gospel of Iesus Christ and knowing no place in al the whole booke of the new testament either more violently wroung or more forceably stretched or more straungely wrested from the minde purpose meaning of the writer by our aduersaries the papists the enemies of the Gospel to the defence of false opinions and assertions of faith religion thē the treatise of S. Iames touching the necessitie of good works in the freely iustified Saints by faith in Christ and borne againe by the word of truth I determined at length became resolute in my selfe by the aide assisting grace of God to read expoūd that epistle of Iames to my parishioners of S. Mari-Colechurch in Chepeside to the ende that the cōtrouersy betwixt vs and the papists might the better bee debated that the place of S. Iames might the more throughly be examined that the truth of heauenly knowledge might more manifestly be apparent that simple and vnlearned men by the plaine deliuerie of wholesom doctrine might the better be edified that all occasion of surmised difference all likelihood of contrarietie betwixt S. Iames S. Paul might be remoued Which epistle I hauing finished and run ouer in a plaine methode in an easie order in such a māner as might best serue for the instruction of the simple and by occasion intimating and signifying so much vnto certaine learned preachers of the citie they forthwith persuaded me to bestow some labor to put in writing that which by worde of mouth I had preached to set forth publikely what priuately I had vttered to my speciall charge and people assuring mee that there would therehence redound and rise profit to the common-wealth and church of Christ Whereunto at the first I could not be persuaded to agree neither might I be brought to condescend vnto their honest request fearing the sharpe censure and hard iudgement of those men whom nothing pleaseth but that which is excellent for wit singular for learning rare for knowledge perfect and pollished with all varietie of things and ornaments of eloquence taught in like manner through practise of time vse of things trial of long experience that in these latter and perilous daies whereinto we are fallen by the will of God men flowe swarme and euery where abound which either spending their owne time in idlenesse vanitie and slouthfulnesse either studious of learning yet enuying as it were common vtilitie and profite will neither set forth any thing themselues to doe good to others neither like of the labours studies endeuours and trauels of other men Wherefore they either teare them with the sharp teeth of bitter backbiting or stinge them with the venemous tongue of reprochful slaunder or strike them with the heauie rodde of vndeserued reprehension or finally wound thē with the bloudie sword of malicious defamation Notwithstanding all this at length partly moued by Christian dutie partly drawen on by brotherly entreatie partly allured with hope that by this labour it may please God that I may winne at the least some one sillie soule vnto the sheepfolde of Iesus Christ a labour no doubte more excellent then to subdue kingdomes by dinte of sworde and nations by force of armes and a thing without controuersie not onely counteruayling all the trauels of any one man but also counterpeazing the paines of many I consented and agreed to the propounded motion Laying therfore aside the greater part of former feare and setting at light the curious reprehensions of those Momi and malitious persons whō nothing pleaseth but what is picked out of their owne fingers ends framed by their owne braines imagined of their owne heads and conceiued by themselues whose reprochfull censure who so regardeth shall neuer bring to light any thing though it be most excellent without quarrell-picking fault-finding sharpe reprouing vtter condemning hauing the publike profite of many and the eternall glory of God as the propounded scope end of all my labours alwaies before my eies I bente my selfe to publish this trauell in writing not as a thing singular aboue all other things for alas how farre is it from that but as a thing I doubt not profitable to the purpose a light to the argument handled a way to prouoke others of greater talents to the enterprising of greater matters and a thing I hope helpfull to those that shall throughly peruse it Which right reuerende Father I thought good to offer and dedicate to your good Lordship beseeching your honour for your accustomable
by their owne choise therefore haue no cause therein to reioice theeues robbers pirates murtherers man quellers euill doers busie bodies who by their own desert procure their owne miserie ought not therein to reioyce Let no man saith Saint Peter suffer as a theefe murtherer euill doer 1. Pet 4. or as a busie bodie in other mens matters but if any suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God in that behalfe When men are causes of their owne crosses and procure by their wickednesse their own punishments and afflictions they must not therein reioyce but rather lament and be sorie but when we fall into temptations by the will of God then must we count it exceeding ioy Foolish men punished for their wickednesse malefactors chastined for their vngodlinesse wicked ones afflicted for their vngraciousnesse haue cause of sorow not of ioy of mourning not of mirth of lamentation not of laughter in that they fall not hereinto by Gods will but by their owne wickednesse though secretly they doe that which from euerlasting God hath determined Vnder the worde Falling into is insinuated vnto men vnder what affliction and crosse they must reioyce vnder that crosse which God imposeth and layeth vpon vs vnder those afflictions whereinto wee fall by the pleasure and purpose of God to trie vs therein when we suffer we must count it exceeding ioy 3 The circumstance of time may not be lightly passed ouer My brethren count it exceeding ioy when you fall that is whensoeuer you fall into temptations This teacheth the children of God that once or twise to reioyce vnder the crosse is not inough to the perfect dutie of a Christian but whensoeuer as often soeuer at what time soeuer we are assaulted and assailed with temptations so often to shew our selues pacient therein and ioyous because Heb. 10. our crowne is onely giuen in the ende of all our combats which the authour to the Hebrues recounting teacheth vs that we haue alwaies neede of pacience that in fine and at length wee may obtaine the promise For which cause the Angell requireth patience in the Smyrnians Reuel 2. and constancie vnder the crosse to the ende Bee thou constant vnto death and I will giue vnto thee the crowne of life It is not inough to begin to runne in the race of pacience but wee must runne out our race with pacience if we will be crowned Therefore Saint Paul admonisheth that we runne on with pacience the race that Heb. 12. is set before vs. Wherefore as he that hath borne the brunt of many bickerings and hath quit himselfe valiantly and like a man in sundrie assaults and skirmishes If before the ende of the battell he faint and giue ouer loseth all his former labor and as he that plaieth on a stage though he behaue himselfe excellently in sundry acts yet if in the last act he quaile he beareth away neither prime nor price in that action and as hee that runneth a long time but falleth or sitteth downe before he come to the goale hath not the crowne or garland so if men in manie miseries in sundrie temptations in diuers afflictions haue reioyced vnlesse whensoeuer they fall thereunto they still reioice they loose their praise and commendation of pacience whereof the Apostle to foretell and foreteach vs would haue vs count it exceedtng ioy whensoeuer wee fall into temptations 4 Finally hee would men to count it exceeding ioy when they fall into diuers or manifolde temptations Wherein we must learne that the afflictions of the saints are manifolde diuers and sundrie and that specially in three respects 1 These afflictions are manifolde in respect of the diuersitie of instrumēts which God vseth in inflicting them vpon the Saints For some times hee vseth the Diuel sometimes the meanes of men some times other his creatures as instruments and meanes by afflictions to tempt the Saints Hee vsed Satan in the temptation of Job 1. 2. ca. Job to whom he gaue licence in his goodes and in his bodie to afflict him Men almightie God vsed to afflict Israel his people wherefore in the Prophets the Assirians the Babilonians the Philistines and Aegyptians with other are both plainly called and manifestly discribed as the instuments of God to afflict his people In which sense Assur is called the rodde of the Lords furie and the staffe Esai 10. Iere. 27. Ezec. 17. 26 of his wrath and indignation Thus the Lord calleth Nabuchodonosor that cruell tyrant and shamefull idolater his seruant because he vsed him as a meane to afflict his people Thus vsed also God the Caldeans and Sabians as Iob. 1. his instruments to afflict Job the Patriarch and seruant of God Thus he vsed Sennecharib to afflict Hezekiah the Scribes and Pharisees to afflict our Sauiour and to vse all meanes of persecution against the Apostles and disciples Thus he vseth men to rob spoile slaie murther and euerie way to afflict his saints and seruants God vseth in like maner other creatures in afflicting of his Saints Sometimes the heauens giue abundance of raine whereby the corne and graine of the earth is destroied and the Saints and others brought to extremitie some times the aire is infected wherehence sicknesse plagues pestilence groweth and the people are destroied Some times brute beasts rise vp against men and destroy them as the Lion did the Prophet The Lions which destroied 3. Kings 13. those whom Salmanaser sent to inhabite Samaria whereof that none were good were hard to affirme By infinite 4. Kings 17. other his creatures the saints themselues are oftentimes afflicted wherefore if we respect but the diuersitie of instruments which almightie God vseth in these externall afflictions we shal easily be forced to confesse that in that regard euen our afflictions and temptations are sundrie 2 As in respect of the diuers instruments thereunto by God vsed the temptations of men are diuers and manifold so if we looke into the nature of temptations they Psal 34. are no lesse manifold and diuers Hereunto the holy prophet hauing regard crieth out Manie are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth out of all As many in number so diuers in nature are our afflictions Some are afflicted by exile and banishment some by captiuitie and imprisonment some by famin and nakednesse some by perill and persecution some by slaunder and reprochfull contumelie some by rackings and tearings in peeces some by slaughter and sworde some by fire and fagots some by sores of bodie and sundrie diseases some suffer in themselues some are afflicted in their friends in their wiues in their children some in their goods some in their bodies some in their credits some by sea some by land some at home some abroade some by open enemies some by counterfeit friends some by cruell oppression some by manifest iniuries some by force some by fraud some afflicted and tempted by one meanes some by another
v. 10. slaunder he promiseth like reward vnto that affliction also Blessed are they which suffer persecution for righteousnes sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen blessed shall you be when men reuile you and persequute you and say all manner of euill saying against you for my sake falsly reioice and be glad for great is your reward in heauen Thus then if we endure pouertie and miseries therunto annexed if we endure temptation of persecution slander reproach and such like we are pronounced blessed Hereunto Saint Peter subscribeth who exhorting men patiently 1. Pet. 3. to beare persecution and affliction for righteousnes sake reasoneth from the rewarde which with Iames he calleth blessednes Who will harme you if you follow that which is good notwithstanding blessed are you if you suffer for righteousnes sake Yea feare not their feare neither 1. Pet. 4. be troubled And a little after touching the reward of our patient abiding and suffering for Christ he calleth it happines and blessednes if you bee rayled on for the name of Christ blessed are you for the spirite of God and of Christ resteth on you Who then is spoiled of his goods for Christes profession who suffereth persecution for Christian religion who endureth imprisonment for the testimonie of his conscience who abideth patiently the triall of his faith by sundrie temptations is both by Christ and his holy Apostles accounted blessed The rewarde of our patience then is happines and felicitie Wherein the Apostles defend a paradoxe and an opinion contrarie vnto the iudgemēt of men of this world for the world holdeth them onely for happie who abound in wealth who haue all things at their pleasures willes who neuer come into any misfortune neither are vexed or afflicted with any miserie or calamitie But such as are pressed with pouerty distressed with greefe tempted by afflictions assaulted with miserie subiect to calamitie these they count for cursed miserable of all men most wretched as they in the Prophet counted our Sauiour to bee Isai 53. in wofull plight because he was vnder the rodde of his father and thereby plagued and the wicked condemned the Wisd 3. Saints and censured them miserable and their ende greeuous because they suffered paine and were tried in afflictions among men From whose iudgement and opinion Saint James dissenting calleth and counteth them which endure temptations happie Let worldlings then count prosperitie their felicitie let Epicures count plenteousnes of bread their happines let greene and flourishing youth make the desiers of their hearts their blisse let other men count worldly delights carnall pleasure wicked mammō vaine pompe quiet rest and continuall securitie their cheerest good and only ioy in this world yet with Iames must all the Saints count the triall of their faith the exeresse of their patience the bearing of the crosse the suffering of affliction the enduring of temptations their happines and felicitie and holde the sentence of the Apostle for sure Blessed is the man that endureth temptations If happines and felicitie be the reward of our patience and all men by instinct of nature desire happines as the very heathen philosophers haue in their learned writings plentifully discoursed shall there be any man or woman so carelesse of himselfe so voide of reason so farre from knowledge so great an enemie to his soules health which shall refuse the burthen of the crosse seeing patient endurance purchaseth our happines Let vs in the feare of God addresse our selues to the bearing of the crosse let vs arme our selues against the day of affliction let vs in full assurance of hope indure the temptations which are laide vpon vs that thus induring we may receiue our ful reward euen eternal blessednes for euer 2 This reward of our endurāce shal then be geuen when we are tried the crowne is promised after our contentions the hire is rendred after our labour If then wee will enioy the reward and haue our blessednes in the king dome of God then must we in this world be tried by affliction The doctrine of this place is that we must first suffer before we be rewarded first be tried before we be recompenced Which thing Saint Paul preacheth vnto Timothie setting downe the labour before the hire and the contending before the crowne No man saith he is crowned 2. Tim. 2. 2. Tim. 4. except he striue lawfully The same Apostle setteth downe his trauel before his reward and his labour before his recompēce when he saith I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith frō hencefoorth therefore is the crowne of righteousnes laide vp for me which the righteous iudge shall geue mee at that day and not me onely but all those that loue his appearing There is no price where there is no striuing there is no garland where there is no goale to runne to there is no crowne where there is no triall of masteries there is no victorie where there is no enemie there is no hire where there is no labor there is no happines where there is no triall by temptation Now the full triall of man is not at once or twise but in the whole course of his life so that the whole life of man is nothing els but a continuall triall and warfare vpō earth striuing and strugling against all afflictions miseries calamities and troubles of this world In which contention and conflict if we acquit our selues like men and in inuincible constancie endure temptations to the end we shall bee blessed whereof our Sauiour Christ assureth Mat. 10. 24. Reuel 2. vs He that continueth saith he vnto the end shall be saued And the Angell to the Church of Smyrna Be thou constant and faithfull vnto death and I will giue thee the crowne of life When therefore to the ende of our life and in the whole course thereof we bee pacient when to the ful measure of our trial which is in the ende of this mortall condition we endure temptations then shall we bee blessed for blessed is the man which endureth temptations for when hee is tried he shall receiue the crowne of life If our trial then must goe before our happines which is geuen vs in reward and our labour before our hire then do those Christians flatter and deceue them selues who thinke to be pertakers of this reward without affliction in this life Seing the triall of our faith by troubles must goe before our happines Vaine therefore and slouthfull too dainty and too delicate are they who refusing the burden of the crosse and the induring temptatiōs hope to attaine to this happines by wallowing in wealth by stretching thē selues vpon their beddes of downe by pampering and puffing vp of their flesh with riotous life by pricking and prankinge vp them selues in intollerable pride by weariing and wasting their bodies with carnall pleasures with liuing at harts ease and in all securitie in this world for the Apostle
promiseth reward of happines only vnto them that endure temptations and then too only to be giuen when they are fully tried by affliction Wherefore as this blessing is promised only if we endure temptation so is it giuen also then when our triall is finished in the meane time to be looked for in a sound hope 3 To shew the excellencie and greatnes of this reward and of our heauenly happines in the kingdom of God the sacred scripture diuersly compareth it but most specially to a kingdom or to a crowne which is annexed ether to Luke 22. excellēt vertue either els to princely dignitie Our Sauior Christ compareth the happy estate of the Saints to a kingdom when to his disciples apostles who had abode with him in his afflictions and had bene partakers with him of suffering and therefore should also bee partakers of his glorious kingdom he saith you haue continued with me in my temptations therefore I appointe vnto you a kingdom as my father hath appointed vnto me that you may eate and drinke at my table in my kingdome and sit and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel And in another Euangeliste speakinge of the blessed rewarde of the Saints which should be geuen them at the generall iudgement he calleth it by the name of a kingdome Come ye blessed of Matt. 25. my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world Wherfore as vpon earth there seemeth nothing to be compared vnto a kingdom wherin are all things whereby worldly happinesse is made perfect so in the kingdome of Christ all things appertaining to happinesse and true felicitie being included and therefore aboue al things to be desired the holy Scriptures describing the most blessed and glorious estate of the saints and the reward wherewith their pacience and other vertues shall bee crowned compareth it sometimes vnto a kingdome And as to a kingdome so also to the crowne which is the rewarde of vertue or the ensigne or tokē of princely dignitie The holy scripture therefore teaching men both what shal be the reward of their vertue and also how excellent singular shall be their dignitie who by Christ 1. 5. Reuel are made both Priestes and Kings vnto God compareth their happy and blessed estate to come to a crowne which is borowed from victorious conquerours who either in warres or bodily masteries ouercomming were crowned some with lawrell some with roses some with bayes some with oliues some with golde some with one thing some with another thereto the scriptures alluding giue the name of crowne to such as excell in vertue ouercome their affections and in the afflictions and miseries of this life are more then conquerours through Christ Saint Paul therefore disputing of the rewarde which shall bee giuen vs if we runne out our race with pacience and fight 1. Cor. 9. constantly vnder the displaied banner of the crosse promiseth an incorruptible crowne to our labours and afflictions and intreating of the reward of his owne trauaile constancie and endurance protesteth that since he had fought a good fight runne forth and finished his race 2. Tim. 4. kept the faith in great cōstancie and inuincible pacience there was therehence laid vp for him a crowne of righteousnesse Saint Iohn is commaunded to exhort the Church 2. Reuel of Smyrna to be pacient vnder the afflictiōs which should be laid vpon them and promiseth a crowne of life to their pacience be thou faithful vnto death and I will giue thee the crowne of life The holy Apostle according to the vse and maner of other Scriptures doth here also compare James 1. the happie reward of the Saints pacience to crownes Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receiue the crowne of life There is old heauing and shouing among men in the world for crownes and great strife cruell warres among princes who shall weare each others crowne and their labour trauell shouing is commonly vnlawful from their ambicious and couetous desires of their hearts and when all is done their crownes are corruptible and mortall Shall not the Saints striue with all Christian fortitude and courage against the miseries and calamities of this life that when they are tried they may receiue an immortall crowne of glorie All men naturally are desirous of life and they often seeke euill and vnlawfull meanes and wayes to prolong their life which yet is but momentanie And shall not the children of God in much affliction in manifold miseries in sundrie temptations in all the chaunges and chaunces of this world acquit themselues like men that paciently bearing the triall of their faith they may in fine receiue the crowne of eternall life 4 To which crowne men attaine not vnto for their worke of pacience as if our pacience deserued this reward but they enioy and receiue it by the promise of God The crowne of life is not then a due and deserued hire but a free reward of our labour from the bountie of God who regardeth not so much what we deserue as what of his liberalitie he hath promised Wherein he doth as a naturall father who promiseth his sonne that if he will do this or that hee will make him lorde and heire of all his lands and liuing which farre passeth that which the child hath deserued yet that done the father perfourmeth that he promiseth not looking so much to the obedience of his sonne as to his owne promise euen so doth God wherefore the Apostle here so much to note vnto vs saith that such as are tried shall receiue the crowne of life by promise Saint Paul in like maner speaketh I haue 2. Cor. 4. fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith henchforth is there laid vp for me a crowne of righteousnesse which least he might seeme arrogantly to haue chalenged for his worke he referreth the gift thereof vnto God which God saith hee shall giue me if it were giuen of God then not deserued of Paul So that the rewarde of our obedience and vertue is giuen vs not for the desert and merite of our workes but for the truth of Gods promise who as he truly promiseth so he faithfully performeth rewardes of righteousnesse to his saints and seruants and giueth eternall life to men of his free mercie Rom. 6. according to the doctrine of the Apostle eternall life is the gift of God through Iesus Christ our Lord. If the crowne of life be not purchased and deserued by our works but onely be giuen by promise and of grace why do so many scriptures promise happines life immortalitie and glorie so often rather mencioning works then faith vnto men It seemeth therefore that happinesse and eternall life are the hire and due reward of our workes of righteousnesse For answere whereof it is worthie the obseruation 1. That the holy Ghost in all the Scripture speaketh according to the
finally and deceauing themselues in the power and prouidence of God towards the sonnes of mē Such a temptation is it when men continue in sinne wallow Ephes 4. and welter in iniquitie committing wickednes with greedines presuming vpon the mercie of God and say with themselues Haue not I sinned and what euill hath come vnto me The greater my sinne is the greater shall Ecclus. 5. his mercie be in forgeuing me the Lord hath mercie in store for vs all be we neuer so wicked In the last houre I will returne vnto him and I shal be receaued This is a temptation tending to presumption abusing the mercie and goodnes of the Lord. Such is that temptation whereby wee are sollicited to say I know the goodnesse of the Lord is great ouer all his creatures I know he hath a fatherly and prouident care ouer me and he will not see the worke of his owne hande to perish for lacke of sustinance God that giueth clothing Mat. 6. Psal 147. to the floures and lillies of the field and feedeth the yoong rauens that call vpon him will cloth me and feede me also what need I to wearie or waste my selfe with toilesome and troublesome labour I will rest vpon his prouidence such is the temptation of witlesse persons and very harebraines who say I know there shall not one haire of my head fall away without the knowledge of God I know that he is alwaies at hand present to helpe and succour at time of neede I will feare nothing therefore I vvill runne through fire and vvater I vvill not be terrified by the glittering and glistring svvorde or sheild I vvill passe through the pikes by svvord and famine cold and nakednesse perill and pestilence come on it vvhat vvill those are sollicited by satan to presume of Gods mercy povver prouidence and goodnesse Satan assailed Christ himselfe in this kinde solliciting him to cast himselfe Mat. 4. dovvne from the pinacle of the temple because God had giuen his Angels charge ouer him that he should not hurt his foote against a stone To sinne then because God is mercifull to loyter and be idle because God is liberall to cast our selues into present daunger rashly because he is able to deliuer vs to lie still in the ditch and not to helpe Psal 91. our selues because he is of povver and can rayse vs is a temptation and suggestion of satan vvhereby he mooueth vs to presumption 3 There is finally a temptation which is to deceiue and seduce men drawing them into error mouing them to euil stirring them forward to iniquitie and vngodlines aduenturing and enterprising any thing repugnant to the law and will of God Of this there are two kindes also 1 Temptation to deceiue externall 2 Temptation to deceiue internall Externall temptation whereby wee are drawen into any sinne is that temptation whose cause is externall and outward and the beginning therof without vs as when by Sathan by the world and the thinges which here compasse vs about though in some sence they are inward because they moue our hearts and inwarde parts yet in as much as the causes are without and the beginning of these temptatiōs from others then our selues they may be called outward Sathan tempteth vs by false doctrine which he moueth by offence which he causeth by occasiōs and allurements to euill which he ministreth and otherwise The cause of which temptations and the instrument also being without the temptation is called externall The world to deceiue vs tempteth by vanitie thereof by improbitie therein the vaine pompe of the world tickleth vs the corruptions therein inuade and assault vs with the examples of wickednesse dayly seene of vs these things often seduce deceiue and the temptation is outward The things wherewith we be compassed tempt men manifoldly power honour ambition pleasure on the one side feare daunger and perill famine nakednesse pouertie death on the other thus are men also outwardly tempted and drawen into the errours and corruptions of our common life and thereby deceiued and led into euill The temptations which seduce men and are internall are such whose immediate and next cause is in our selues as man is tempted to commit euill by his owne corruption and concupiscense mooued by his owne disordered appetite to commit sinne Thus haue we in our bosoms a domesticall tyrant originall sinne and natural corruption from Adam pulling haling drawing vs dayly to euill that sinne in all things might exercise power ouer vs. Hereunto though Satan helpe yet the cause is in our selues in as much as by him wee are not constrained but come and follow freely deceiued and seduced by our own concupiscense And of this kinde of temptation the Apostle chiefly speaketh when he saith If any man be tempted let him not say I am tempted of God God to proue men tempteth his seruāts but to cause them to presume or to deceiue and draw them to euil he doth not So that he is not the cause of such temptations neither may wee referre these euil temptations vnto him And this the proposition of this place teacheth vs Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God If God tempt no man to euill why saith the Scripture that he hardeneth the heart of Pharao that he blindeth Exod. 4. 7. 10. 11. Esai 14. Psal 81. man and giueth him ouer into a reprobate minde As of Pharao in the booke of Exodus in many places and chapters is recorded of Israel the people of God as in Isai in Dauid and other Prophets is mencioned of the Gentiles thrise in the first chapter to the Romans is confessed of others in other places in like maner Hereunto it may bee answered first that God in his iudgements which are sometimes open sometimes secret but alwayes iust moueth and inclineth mens willes whither him lusteth wherein hee either with the latter sinne of man punisheth the former or else hee taketh away his grace from men whereof destitute they runne headlong into their owne destruction by committing sinne with greedinesse or finally hee bringeth to passe Ephes 4. his purpose by the wickednesse either of Satan or men as able to worke out that which is good by the iniquitie of men and thus he is alwayes iust So that we may say with the Apostle that hee is not the cause of our euill temptations Let no man say that when hee is tempted he is tempted of God God mooueth not men to euill hee driueth not men to euill affections hee instilleth wickednesse into no mans heart but partly in taking away his spirite from them partly in punishing one sinne with another partly by bringing to light the sinnes of men which before were couered partly in accomplishing his owne will and bringing to passe his determinate counsailes and purposes euen by euill meanes and instruments as ruling all thinges after his will he is saide to indurate and harden the hearts of men and to giue
â—n our conscience which dieth not to burne continuallie Esay 66. Mark 9. â—ith fire which cannot be quenched to be caste into the â—â—ke which burneth with fire and brimstone to be tormenâ—ed in bodie to bee afflicted in conscience for euermore â—his is the thing which sinne committed bringeth forth â—nto men whereof all they shal taste who are not clensed â—â—om all iniquitie by the bloude of Iesus Christ 1. Iohn 1. Let men therefore which delight in their sinnes and haue their pleasure in coÌ„mitting iniquitie whose hand are giuen to spoyle and robberie whose feete are swift to shedde innocent bloud whose toungs are instruments of blasphemy falsshod deceate whose liues are filled with oppression extortion and crueltie whose bodies are weried and wasted with fornication adultery vncleannes of the flesh whose manners are full of all iniquitie impietie and vngodlines alwaies recorde and recount with them selues this saying of the Apostle sinne when it is finished bringeth forth death for howsoeuer wee flatter and deceue our selues in the vanitie of our owne minde and hope we shall finde shifts enough to auoid this iudgement Esay 28. Gal. 6. yet let vs remember that God will not be mocked but looke what we sow the same shall we reape if we sowe to the flesh we shall reape of the flesh corruption and this of the Apostle standeth sure Sinne when it is finished bringeth forth death for if through original sinne inclosed in our breasts al men by nature deserue death and if God shall in the day of his wrath iudge euen the secrete thoughts and cogitations of the wicked and therefore Rom. 5. Rom. 2. Eccles. 12 condemne them shal men thinke that when lust breaketh out into open sinne actually committing of euil they shal not be punished seeing especially the Apostle here affirmeth that sinne being finished bringeth forth death This doctrine carefully considered shoulde put a bit into our iawes and be a bridle to our mouthes and strong raignes in our whole liues to withdrawe and keep vs back from yealding to euil temptations seing the end thereof is death and destruction If intemperate persons drunkerds and surfiters if theeues spoylers robbers if slaunderers liers and blasphemers if adulterers fornicators and vncleane liuers if ambitious men proud and vaine glorious if al workers of wickednes would consider that if they commit and finish sinne in their mortal bodies their sinnes thus finished should bring forth death vexation in soule torments and tortour in bodie in hell fire for euermore were not their harts morehard then Adamants were not themselues more senselesle then beasts had they either care of saluation or dread of destruction loue of God or hatred toward Satan desire of heauen or mislike of hell hope of life or feare of death assurance of ioy or perswasion of punishment in the life to come they woulde herehence bee restrayned holding fast this place of the Apostle as a stoppe agaynst sinne Lust when it hath conceyued bringeth foorth sinne and sinne being finished bringeth forth death These things thus set downe and the fruites of Conclusion lust thus disciphered the conclusion followeth which is interlaced and intermingled among the reasons whereof thus sayeth Saint James Erre not my deare brethren Seeing GOD can not bee tempted neither yet tempteth any to euill Seeing the true and naturall cause of these temptations is our owne concupiscense and lust which both conceyueth and bringeth also foorth first sinne then death in vs then can not God bee the cause thereof so that no man when hee is tempted must say I am tempted of GOD. Doe not so grossely and grieuously erre my brethren as to impute the cause of these thinges to GOD this errour is greate blasphemous and wicked beware therefore you thinke not so of God as that he soliciteth or mooueth any to euill Erre not my deare brethren The conclusion thus interlaced with the reasons 3. Reason the third and last reason why men may not say when they are tempted they are tempted of God is from contrarie effects and things repugnant to be authour of good and euill are things repugnant God is authour of good therefore he can not bee authour of euill temptations euerie good gift and euerie perfect gift is from aboue and commeth downe from the father of lights with whom is no variablenesse neither shadow of turning If God therfore be the cause of all good things then can he not be cause of euill things also not of euill temptations therfore whereby we are solicited to wickednes Nothing can be cause truly and properly of contrarie effects therfore God the cause authour and worker of all good gifts in men may not bee saide to bee cause of euill temptations Of this reason the former part or antecedent is onely set downe Euerie good giuing and euerie perfect gift commeth from aboue from the father of lights c. wherby the Apostle teacheth vs that god is the fountaine of all goodnesse the giuer of all good gifts the authour of all good things in men he is the bottomlesse pit of all grace that cannot be emptied or draweÌ„ drie of vs he worketh whatsoeuer is good in the whole world Herehence Saint Peter calleth him the God of all grace because all 1. Pet. 5. grace and all good gifts come onely from him as from a well head and fountaine The God of all grace who hath called vs vnto his eternall glorie by Iesus Christ after that you haue suffered a little make you perfect strengthen and stablish you S. Iohn Baptist being tolde of the Iewes that Christ baptised and all men came vnto him acknowledging Iohn 3. the graces which were in Christ to come from heauen from God as a fountaine of al goodnes answered and said vnto them a man can do nothing except it be giuen him from aboue this is answerable to this Apostles doctrine Euerie good giuing and euery perfect gift is from aboue from the father of lights All the effects of Gods will are onely good and whatsoeuer vertue grace good gift is it is from God Seeing therefore all good things come from him he being the onely authour of all goodnesse and graces in the children of men we ought not to make him the cause of our temptations whereby we are moued to euill for then should he bee cause not only of diuers but of contrarie effects which he properly cannot be And thus is his reason plaine and euident In this place almightie God is adorned and beautified with three ornaments wherein his excellent goodnesse more appeareth 1 He is called the father of lights the fountaine and well-spring the authour and cause from whence all good giftes flowe and spring vnto men For this cause is God called not onely the father of lights but as pure innocent holy righteous good and the authour of all goodnesse he is also called light So is God called the Isai 60. euerlasting light of his Church
wee thinke that men are herehence forbidden to professe themselues teachers and maisters to informe others in humaine artes liberall sciences faculties belonging to this life No doubt wee may not so thinke for thus to professe is lawfull If we may not be many maisters shall wee suppose that the office of preaching and reprouing iudging and condemning out of the worde of God is forbidden No for it is a thing of all others most necessarie Without which men would runne on headlong into all sinne Saint Ambrose therefore saith he that sinneth so long as hee is Vpon the 5. chap. Ephe. not reproued seemeth to himselfe not to sinne and vices growe into maners and are receyued in stead of vertue The rebuking of sinne is a bridle and bit to restraine others from the like iniquitie Which when Saint Paul considered he willeth Timothie to rebuke such openly as openly offended that others thereby might feare S. Gregorie 1. Tim. 5. saith that when men sinne others knowing thereof they must also bee rebuked in the sight and knowledge Lib. 13. in Iob. cap. 4. of others least if the preacher holde his peace and be silent he thereby seeme to allowe of sinne and that growe into example which the tongue of the minister cutteth not off And as the offences of men giue incouragement to others when they are not reproued so being corrected and reproued others are restrained yea reprehensions out of the worde bring life as Salomon affirmeth corrections Pro. 6. for instruction are the way of life Wherfore cōmending the most excellēt vse of reprehension by the word of god he auoucheth that the instruction of a wise man is as Pro. 13. the well spring of life to turne away from the snares of death Seeing therefore common reprehension of the ministers of God is the bridle and stay from sinne and the way whereby we come to life and bringeth singular profite vnto men it is not to be thought that the Apostle here condemneth it which both the Prophets and the Apostles also haue oftentimes vsed Neither doth this place take away the names and titles of men the honour vnto men in place of honour and dignitie due See 1. Pet. 5. verse 3. Finally seeing we are forewarned not to bee manie maisters shall we thinke that priuate reprehension priuate exhortation priuate admonition is forbidden If it were so why would our Sauiour that one man shoulde Mat. 18. tell another of his fault priuatly for reconciliation VVhy doth Siracides exhort men to tell their neighbours their Ecclus. 19. offences that if they haue done them they doe them no more VVhy doeth God will that euerie man shoulde Leuit. 19. Heb. 3. Col. 1. friendly reproue his brother VVhy doth Saint Paul exhort vs to admonish one another and prouoke one another to vertue by instruction and exhortatien None then of these are here condemned but wee are admonished to surceasse from that maisterlike and proude finding fault with others when ambiciously wee vsurpe authoritie to iudge and condemne to censure and giue sentence of our brethren without charitie rigorously without pitie seuerely without due regard of common imbecilitie austerely VVhich thing in this place condemning Saint James giueth this exhortation My brethren be not manie maisters knowing that wee shall receiue the greater condemnation for in manie things we fall all And thus much concerning the first place God for his mercie sake graunt vs true humilitie of heart that we humbling our selues before the mercie seate of God may shewe like loue one towarde another that wee being not too rigorous towards other men may haue regard of our owne imbecillitie and weakenesse of nature that wee in true loue supporting one another may be are one anothers burden and so fulfill the lawe of Christ who died for our sinnes and rose againe for our righteousnesse to whome with the father and the holy Ghost be all praise dominion and maiestie nowe and for euermore Amen Iames Chap. 3. verses 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Sermon 15. 2 If a man sinne not in woorde hee is a perfect man and able to bridle all the bodie 3 Beholde wee put bits into the horses mouthes that they should obey vs and we turne about all their bodie 4 Beholde also the ships which though they be great are driuen of fierce windes yet are they turned about with a verie small rudder whither soeuer the gouernour will 5 Euen so the tongue is a little member also and boasteth great things beholde how great a matter a little fire kindeleth 6 And the tongue is fire euen a world of wickednesse so is the tongue set among our members c. To the thirteenth verse HErein from the seconde or latter part The second place part of the second verse to the ende of the twelft is the second part of this chapter contained which is touching the moderation and brideling of the tongue In the second part hereof are two things noted and set downe 1 The proposition or state of the place 2 part v. 2. that man which offendeth not ne falleth in his words is perfect and able to rule the whole bodie 2 The handling thereof which is double 1 From the profites of a brideled tongue set forth in two cōparisons or similituds whereof 1 Is of horses checked with the bridle 3. verse 2 Of shippes gouerned by the rudder verse 4. 2 From the euils of an euiltongue two wayes namely 1 Generally therefore it is called 1 A fire ver 5. 2 A world of wickednes ver 6. 2 Particularly by 3. effects namely 1 Hurt to the whole bodie 2. pa. v. 6 2 Vnbridelednes v. 7. 8 3 Reprochfulnes 9. 10. 11. 12. Hereof to come to the first member the proposition The proposition that man which falleth not in his tongue is a perfect mā and able to bridle the whole bodie it seemeth to haue a necessarie coherence and a fit dependance with the former wordes of the Apostle S. Iames hath saide that in many things wee fall all Seeing then there are so manie falles in the life of man men most easily of all things fal in their tongues and lippes then which to gouerne and keepe from falling there is nothing more difficult therefore after that he had affirmed that in many things wee all offende to giue a caueat against that mischiefe whereunto man is most subiect The falling in wordes Saint James teacheth in the seconde place that hee is a rare and most perfect man and able to bridle all the bodie which offendeth not in tongue Not that there is any which attaineth vnto this perfection but thereby is shewed howe truely it was saide before in manie things we offende all And most chiefly by that slipperie member of the tongue wherein who so sinneth not is perfect Whereby the Apostle insinuateth vnto vs that the Saintes and seruants of God whose chiefe care is not willingly to fall must
al pride and vanitie the adulterer beareth vp head as if he were right honest the couetous persons vsurers oppressours extortioners deceauers lyers and the rest of that rabble marche on bare-faced without all remorse and spende their daies in prodigalitie and care not Wherefore if there be any consolation in Christ Iesus if there be any feare or dread of endles death or loue to long and euerlasting life if we haue any care of saluation or any feare of vtter condemnation if we haue any desire to the continuance of the Gospell amongst vs or any zeale to Gods eternall glorie if wee delight in sweete and pleasant peace or take pleasure in the prosperitie of our Countrey then let vs in the feare of GOD sorowe and weepe before our destruction come vpon vs let vs turne our wanton mirth into mourning and our ioye into heauines that by our true and heartie repentance and vnfeyned mortification before God wee may turne away the indignation and wrath which wee haue most iustely from him deserued 2 As our humbling our selues before God standeth in thus afflicting of our selues by repentance so also doeth it in our casting downe of our selues before God wherein there are two things to be noted 1 The precept 2 The reason Touching the thing thus saith Saint Iames Caste downe your selues before the Lorde Like vnto which councell is that of Saint Peter Humble and prostrate 1 Petr. 5. your selues vnder the mighty hand of God that he may exalt this casting downe of our selues whereby wee acknowledge our owne vnworthines and testifie and beare witnes of our sinnes before his diuine maiestie confesse from our hearts that we haue deserued al plagues al miseries all calamities all punishments and thereby craue pardon and forgeueues that we may escape that whereof our consciences are afraid is and hath been a signe of our humbling of our selues of true repentance in the saints of God When holy Dauid saw the wrath of God kindled against him for his adulterie and his sore indignation beginning to burne in the punishment of the child then besought 2. Kings 12. he the Lord then went he in and fasted and lay all night vpon the earth and so cast downe himselfe before God In like manner when Absolon had slaine Ammon his brother Dauid the king feeling the wrath of God vpon his house as was threatned by Nathan rent his garments 2. Kings 13 Luke 18. 13 Mat. 8. 8 lay on the groūd in most humble and lamentable maner casting down and prostrating himselfe before God Therunto Saint Iames in this place exhorteth and willeth vs to humble our selues by casting downe prostrating our selues before the Lord. Thus must we abate our proud spirites cast down our loftie and lordly lookes couer our faces for the shame of our sinnes against God committed Whereunto the Apostle respecteth in this exhortation Cast downe you selues before God thus to do how holy a sacrifice how acceptable an offering how pleasant a duetie is it to the Lord To the perfourmance wherof the rather to moue vs The reason the Apostle setteth downe a reason full of comfort Caste downe your selues saith the Apostle before God and he 1. Pet. 5. will lift you vp The same reason Saint Peter vseth Humble your selues therefore vnder the mightie hand of god that he may exalt you in due time That men therefore should not thinke their labour lost when they prostrate and cast downe themselues in true humilitie before God neither their humilitie to be destitute of reward the Apostle reasoneth from the effect Cast down your selues God will lift you vp The proud then shall not alwaies be aloft neither shall the humble alwaies be cast downe but the daies will come when both the proude which exalt themselues shal be brought lowe and the humble which cast downe themselues shal be exalted The Lord exalteth those which in true humilitie of their hearts cast down themselues before him This preached Ezech. 17 God by Ezechiel where promising to pull down the proud enemies of the Church which exalted themselues against it and to exalt and lift vp the Church which was lowe cast down and contemned both in the sight of the world by maliciousnes of the wicked and in the sight of their owne eyes through humilite saith All the trees of the field shall know that is all the world shall know that I haue brought downe the high trees and exalted the low tree that I haue dried vp the greene tree and made the drie tree to flourish God exalteth those that are caste downe and humbled Herunto holy Iob subscribeth God setteth vp on hie Iob. 5 them that be lowe that the sorowful◠may be exalted to Iob. 22 saluation In another place intreating of the deliuerance of the Saints which humble themselues vnder the mightie hand of God and cast downe themselues before his his throne of glorie when the proud and wicked shall be destroyed round about them he faith When others are cast downe then shalt thou say I am lift vp for God will saue the humble person And Salomon to like purpose auoucheth that the Pro. 29 pride of a man should bring him lowe but the humble in spirite should enioy glorie The sonne of Sirach witnesseth Ecclus. 10 to like effect that God casteth downe the thrones of the proud Princes and setteth vp the meeke in their places Which thing our blessed Sauiour preached to the Luke 14. people whom when as ghestes they shoulde be bidden to any feast hee exhorteth that they should not take the highest but the lowestroomes because such as humbled themselues shoulde be exalted In the parable of the Pharisie and Publicane wherof Luke 18. the one lifted vp himselfe in pride and therefore was contemned of God the other cast downe himselfe was exalted hee concludeth and knitteth vp the matter with this heauenly diuine and most godly sentence Hee that exalteth himselfe shall bee brought lowe and hee that humbleth himselfe shall be exalted Finally disswading his Apostles from vaine desire of honour exhorteth them to serue one another in humilitie and true loue because Mat. 23. they who exalt themselues are brought lowe of God and they which humble themselues are by him exalted Seeing then our casting downe before God is rewarded with exaltation and lifting vp by him we thereby ought to be moued to cast downe our selues before him Falling abasement as the Grecians say is the companion of pride and the loftie minde goeth before Prou. 16. 18. ver 12. Prou. 15. destruction saith Salomon so the casting downe of ourselues goeth before our exaltation and glorie Salomon therefore a little before saith to this purpose the feare of the Lord is the instruction of vvisedome and before honour goeth humilitie So then the high vvay and right path to be exalted of God is to humble and cast dovvne our selues before him vvherefore if our casting
vanisheth away 3. The thing condemned and the reasons why deliuered in the third place followeth a correcting of the euill in stead of saying to day and to morow we wil go to such a citie let vs say if the Lord will and if we liue we will do this or that thus correcteth he the euill for yee ought to say saith he if the Lord will if we liue we will do this or that It is a speciall point of godlinesse in all things that are to be done first to make honourable mention of the Lords will and pleasure and euermore to recount and record our owne frailnesse and in all things to say if the Lord wil and if we liue we wil do this or that Our whole life relieth vpon him in him it is onely to direct all our waye without his leaue can wee doe nothing lette vs therefore referre all things to his will and say as wee are taught by the Apostle if the Lord will and if we liue we will do this or that The whole course of mans life is ruled by God the heart of mā saith Salomon purposeth his way but the Lord Prou. 16. Prou. 20. directeth his steppes the steps of man are ruled by the Lord how can a man then vnderstand his owne waies I know saith Ieremie that the way of man is not in himselfe Ierem. 20. neyther is it in man to guide and direct his steps And this is not onely true in walking after the law of God and directing our liues according to his vvill which without his speciall fauour and grace cannot be but of the whole course of our life which is altogether directed by his pleasure prouidence wherfore in all things men ought to prefer the will of God To which purpose our Sauiour Christ putteth a petition concerning the will of God before Mat. 6. the things appertaining vnto this life What can any man otherwise of neuer so great might do without the will of God if Pharao could haue done any thing by his Exod. 14. owne absolute power without the vvill of God then had the Israelites at once bene ouerthrowen his kingdome in securitie If Aman could haue done any thing vvithout Ester 3. the vvill of God then had Mardocai gone to the pot and all the men of the Ievvish nation If Sennacherib could haue done any thing vvithout Gods vvill then Hezechia 4. Kings 18. 19. Reue. 12. had bene plagued by the Assyrians If the deuill himselfe could doe any thing vvithout the vvill of God then long since had the vvhole Church of God bene destroied vtterly No man neyther in these like matters nor in any ciuill affayres can doe any thing but according as God hath determined and after his vvill for vvhich cause in all things and actions vve aduenture and enterprise vve must preferre his vvil if God will When Paul tooke his leaue of the Ephesians readie Acts 18. to iournie tovvardes Hierusalem he promised to returne to them againe yet not simply but if God vvould Being at Corinth he protesteth to the Romaines that he praied to God that he by one meane or another might haue Rom. 1. a prosperous iournie vnto them by the vvil of God When he vvas at Philippi in Macedonia frō thēce vvrote to the 1. Cor. 4. Corinthians into vvhose church many false brethren were crept he promised to come shortly vnto thē againe yet he preferreth the will of the Lord and saith If that the Lord will wherefore he saith But I wil come shortly vnto you if the Lord will and will know not the wordes of them which are puffed vp but the power And againe I will not now see you in my iourney but I trust to abide a while 1. Cor. 16 with you if the Lord permitte In all his determinations had he speciall respect to the will of God as is apparant By whose example according to this councel must men correct their vanitie and foolish speaches If the Lorde will we will doe this or that Seeing Gods will must be preferred in al things who at his owne pleasure by his diuine prouidence ruleth ouer all if we can doe nothing without him in whom onely we haue our life being and Acts 17. mouing what temeritie and rashnes what impietie and vngodlines is it in this pride of our heartes without any regarde had to his will of our selues to determine any thing Now as Gods wil must first be preferred to all our actions So also hauing respect to our mortalitie fraile condition subiect to speedie death wee also adde If wee liue which is requisite to our determinations seeing our life is so vncertaine The Apostle therefore to correcte this greate euill and mischiefe of pride whereby men in vaine confidence promise to themselues many matters and determine long before of things vncertaine in that they say To day or to morrow we will goe into such a citie and continue there a yeare and by and sell gaine teacheth vs in stead thereof to say if the Lord will and if we liue we wil doe this or that This euen reason it selfe beside the word of GOD teacheth vs for is it not reason that we should say by his leaue we will doe this or that from whom wee haue our life our mouing and being and this we haue from God is it not reason that we should yeelde our selues vnder his will Wherefore Socrates taught by naturall reason this doctrine willeth Alcibiades in all thinges to say If God Socrates will Christians ought therefore rather by the worde of trueth taught to learne this lesson least in their affaires determinations counsells and busines not preferring Gods will they be worse then the very heathen 4 Haue not our age hatched many such birdes as say not only not if God will we will do this or that but will he nill he we will do it Haue we not such as determine things long before against religion iustice equitie honestie or Godlines haue wee not many proude and wilfull persons which in their purposes counsels determinations actions neuer care for the will of God nor regard whether hee will or will not such things as they determine But let all such as feare God bee aduised by the Apostle and correcte the vanitie of their pride and say in all things if the Lorde will and if we liue wee will doe this or that as heere wee are exhorted Yet is it not the purpose of the holie Ghoste heere to condemne all for proude and wicked who at all times and in all things vse not thus to say if the Lorde will and if wee liue we will do this or that For the very Saints of God trusting perfectly vppon the grace of God brought 1. Pet. 1. vnto them by the Reuelation of Iesus Christ who serue God instantly day and night and worshippe him in spirit and in truth whose soules and bodies are quicke holy
father of many children in one houre to become childlesse altogether of whole to become fore of reuerenced to be contemned to be reproched of his wife to be slaūdered of his familiar friends to be abhorred of all men what calamitie like vnto this one miserie to follow at the taile of an other one affliction to follow another at the heeles as water followeth water in the conduits water pipes one Psal 42. trouble to meete another in the necke that all miserie might seeme to haue bene powred out vpō one man was a wonderful triall yet was he patient in al these his troubles Wherefore as the onely patterne of rare patience is he proposed vnto vs in the holy Scriptures of God Of whom with reuerend mention the Apostle speaking vseth his example for a reason to moue vnto pacience you haue heard of the pacience of Job and haue knowen what ende the Lord made But thou wilt say how may he be thought a vvorthie example of patience who shevved so many signes of impatiencie he cursed the day of his birth he vvished he had perished in the vvombe of his mother and vttered Iob 3. many such like speaches vvhereby it appeared that he was impacient I answeare that as his trials were wonderfull so had he diuers and sundrie conflictes in himselfe wherein hee shewed the great weakenesse and infirmitie of nature Yet after many combattes and conflictes with his owne reason and naturall wisdome after diuers striuinges and struglinges against his owne weakenesse and fraile affections in fine and ende he submitted his iudgement to Gods wisdome he raunged himselfe vnder the good pleasure of the almightie and became tractable vnto his will So that hee carried away like a most triumphant and victorious Captaine most glorious victorie in all his temptations and is therefore sette downe as an example of singular patience to all posteritie for euermore Whose example we must follow whose patience wee must imitate whose vertue we must imbrace whereunto we are referred in this place You haue heard of the patience of Iob and you haue knowen what end the Lord made As the patience of Iob was rare so the gracious and mercifull Lord gaue and made a good ende thereof for he both gaue him strength to preuaile against all temptations and blessed him in the ende after his sundrie afflictions Sathan tempted him but did not subdue him anguish and griefe of minde assailed him but did not suppresse him losse of goods losse of children and all that euer the man had troubled him but did not ouercome him inhumanitie of men wickednes of wife sorenesse of bodie pressed him but did not cast him downe miserie and affliction disquieted him yet therein was hee more then conquerour through the assistance and help of God who in all thinges gaue him good successe and issue and in the ende encreased and doubled his wealth multiplied his children enlarged his daies and blessed Iob. 42. him with long life So that he sawe his sonnes and daughters to foure generations This was the end which God gaue to his patience By whose example if wee suffer losse of our goods death of frends decay of wealth oppressions of men iniuries and manifold afflictions which here shal be offred vs then will the Lord also look downe fauourablie vpon vs then wil he send happy successe good issue blessed end to our afflictions also euen in sorrow ioy in bonds freedom in prison libertie in sicknes health in trouble comfort in death life and in miserie happines and true felicitie let vs therfore by his example learne to be patient 4 The last reason is drawen from the nature of god who in punishing vs any manner of way yea euen by the oppressions and iniuries of the wicked is therin merciful howsoeuer he seem to our corrupt affections seuere rigorous and hard Then seeing euen in these our afflictions his mercie appeareth therin we ought therfore to be patient The princely Prophet Dauid saith that as a Father pittieth his childrē euen so hath the Lord compassion on Psal 103. them that feare him and as the mercie loue of natural parents appeareth no lesse in their fatherly corrections then in their fonde cockerings so the louing kindnesse of God and his mercie appeareth no lesse towards vs when for our benefite he punisheth then when for our comfort he sendeth his manifold blessings vpon vs. Therfore the authour to the Hebrewes exhorteth men in their corrections chastisements from God to shew themselues patient Heb. 12. My son despise not the chastisements of the Lord neither faint when thou art rebuked of him For whom he loueth those he chasteneth and he scourgeth euerie sonne whom he receaueth Albeit then God for great and iust cause lay affliction vpon our loines though hee cause vs to passe through Psal 66. fire and water though he cause cruell men by infinite oppressions to ride ouer our heads and many waies to afflict vs yet euen in the midst of these afflictions hath he remembrance of his mercie and therfore neuer suffereth his to be tempted aboue their strength but euen in the 1. Cor. 10. temptatiō geueth he an issue that we may beare it Whether therefore we be afflicted in our selues or in others which are neere vnto vs whether we suffer losse of goods or be oppressed by the wicked whether we be reuiled by the bitter teeth of backbiting or be iniuried by the prophane wicked men of the world or whatsoeuer other calamitie we are subiect vnto all in God is of mercie who therein is euermore prone to lenitie kindnes and louing compassion so that thereby we ought to be patient Let vs therefore in our afflictions respect the nature of God who bringeth calamitie vpon men not alwaies in rigour and seueritie of his iudgements but oftentimes in mercie thereby to correct enormities in our nature as the mercifull and pittifull Surgeons and Physicions doe many things which are painfull to the patient thereby to correct and represse corrupte humors and other infirmities of the bodie we acknowledging him in the middle of our afflictiōs to be prone vnto mercie might in all things shewe our selues patient which is the force of the Apostles reason why in our afflictions we should be patient because euen therein the Lord is mercifull and inclined to pittie correcting vs for our benefite readie in our afflictions to deliuer and rescue vs and to sende vs a gloririous deliuerance out of all our miseries according to Psal 50. the vnfallible trueth of his promise who willeth vs to cal vpon him in the day of our trouble and promiseth to deliuer vs that we might glorifie him And thus much of the second part and place here set downe by the Apostle of the matter of patience God for his infinite mercies sake graunte vnto vs this most excellent gift of patience that without fretting fuming stamping staring grudging or murmuring against him in all our troubles we
and affirmeth that in Africa it was receaued to the ende that men might thereby bee the more stirred vp to zeale to Gods worde feruencie and earnestnesse in praier al other laudable seruices to God And this was in such moderation as that the note carried not away nor lib. 2. retrac confounded the dittie neither the sound the sence of the thing Whereof Saint Augustine being afraide desired the vse of Athanasius in the Church of Alexandria who caused his Reader to stande and sing with so little inflection Lib. 10. confis 23. of the voice and so great moderation and modestie that it was more like the sounde of one pronouncing then singing and yet singing in that modest manner Such like singing therefore whether it bee in our priuate houses or whether it be in the face of the Congregation is commendable And this is the kinde of singing in our exercises to God whether they be priuate or publicke that may be iustified Saint Iames requireth in our priuate gratulations and thanksgeuing for benefites to almightie God that we should in this wise sing Is any merrie let him sing To sing therefore in the modestie and moderation of our affections in the manifolde ioyes and blessinges of this life in token of our thankefull hearts to GOD for the blessinges and benefits from him so plentifully receaued is here commended by the Apostle Is any man mery let him sing In the generall afflictions therefore of our life the best remedie is praier here by Saint Iames prescribed whereof there is vse both in sorow and in ioy in aduersitie and prosperitie according to the doctrine here deliuered Is any among you afflicted let him pray is any merry let him sing Thus are we here taught generally when we are either moued by affliction or merrie in minde by occasion of Gods blessings what to doe which is the first parte of this treatise 2 As men in their afflictions generally are here Remedie in particular affliction of Sickenes taught to commend their causes and cases to GOD by praier so in the next second place he teacheth vs what particularly in sicknes we should doe shewing to what remedie we must runne to what Physicion we must seeke to in our extremitie of sicknes a particular affliction wherof thus saith Saint Iames Is any sicke among you Let him sende for the Elders of the Church and let them praie for him c. The elders of the Church must be our chiefe Physicions Ecclus. 38 9. 10. 11. 12 their praiers vnto God for vs must be the first remedy we must seeke after in our sicknes according to the doctrine of the Apostle By Elders here are vnderstoode the graue godlie wise and discreete brethren they chiefly of the ministerie as most conuenient it shoulde be as vnto whom this excellent gift and power was geuen with other of the people as oftentimes iust occasion serued for them and so often both together as was most profitable such as were able in errour to instruct in griefe to comfort in sorowe to solace and in sicknes to aduise the patient To them not to sorcerers inchaunters witches wise-womē or wise men are we commanded by Saint James in our sicknes to flie To the Saints and Elders of the Church in the Apostles time was the gift of healing sicknes and bodilie infirmities geuen according as our Sauiour Christ had promised his Disciples whom sending foorth Christ encourageth them from the effect their preaching shoulde 〈◊〉 16. take and from the graces which shoulde be geuen them which beleeued through their preaching Goe ye into al the world and preach the Gospell to euery creature hee that shall beleeue and be baptized shal be saued but hee that will not beleeue shal be condemned And these tokens shall followe them which beleeue In my name they shall cast out deuils and shall speake with new tongues and they shall take away serpents and if they shall drinke any deadly thing it shall not hurte them they shall lay their hands on the sicke and they shall recouer This gift was therefore promised the faithfull and the brethren in the second sending foorth of the Apostles into the world Of which gift the Apostles in their first sending out were partakers Therefore Saint Marke thereof speaking saith They cast out many deuils and annointed many that Marke 6. Mat. 10. 8. were sicke and they were healed The Apostle S. Iames speaketh of this matter as it was in his time wherein the Saints and brethren had the gift of healing Saint Paul reckoning vp the gifts of the holy Ghost in his time poured out vpon the Church mentioneth there-among the gift of healing To one is geuen the word of wisdome to 1. Cor. 12. another is geuen the word of knowledge by the same spirite to another is geuen faith by the same spirite to another the gift of healing by the same spirite The signe of this gift of healing was annointing with oile in the name of the Lord therefore Saint Iames here exhorteth that the Elders of the Church be sent for that they pray that they annoint the sicke in the name of the Lord. Whilest then the gift of healing being but a tēporall gift to continue for a season was in the church so long the signe thereof which was annointing with oile continued the gift shortly after the apostles time ceasing the signe ceased also Notwithstanding our aduersaries the Papists by an apish and eluish imitation of the Apostles contrarie to their meaning retaine the signe the thing ceasing And albeit healing be taken from the Church yet doe they anoint still which also they make a Sacrament and call it extreame vnction which they minister to the sick not in signe of health and recouerie as the Apostles did but whē there is no hope of life in them then annointe they men and women as a goodly remedie and helpe against sinne satan death and damnation Whose erronious opinion hath no sure foundation no certaine ground no true establishment in the Scriptures And for those places which they vse and alleadge for the same they helpe no whit at all Where they alleadge out of Marke that the Apostles did annoint with oile and so healed it is true Let them therence reason Marke 6. and their reason is absurd The Apostles annointed such as were thereby healed therefore we will vse to annoint such as are readie to die What sequence or following is there in this reason The Apostles did it to such as recouered they doe it to none but such as they geue ouer to death and haue no hope of their life The Apostles did it in token of health they doe it as a sure aide against satan sinne death and damnation holding that who so in that extremitie is so annoynted shal be out of danger of Satan and death This continued but for a time and these men would haue it to remain as a sacrament for euer How
can it be grownded then vppon the Euangelists doctrine The Apostles themselues did not alwaies necessarily vse that signe in healing but sometimes the word and prayer only somtimes laying on of hands only sometimes touching Act. 3. v. 6. Act. 9. v. 34. 40. Acts 28. 8. Acts 20. 10 Acts 5. 15 only sometime lying vpon as in the Actes of the holie Apostles in sundrie places appeareth Sometimes the verie shadowe of the Apostles serued as the shadowe of Peter healed many sometimes things brought from them and giuen to the sicke as from Paul were brought vnto the sicke kercheifs and hand kercheifs and deceases were taken from them and foule spirites departed So Acts 19 then it was no such sacrament in the dayes of the Apostles Neither doth this place any whitte helpe or profit them For heere annoynting is a signe of health and recouerie the gifte therof seasing the signe must cease also neither ment James that it should be vsed as a salue of a surgeon or as a medicine of the physition but that in sickenes they lifting vp their minds to God and powring out their prayers to him might receaue that in signe that as their bodies by that externall meane should bee healed so their souls should be clenged purged and purified by the holy annoynting of the spirite of God and of Iesus Christ So that the Apostle speaketh not of their sacramente which thing euen Cardinall Caietane their Caietane owne man confesseth in like manner The Aposte in this place speaketh according as the gifte of healing was in force in his time and binding hereby men thereunto during the time of the continuance of the same and not for euer as the papists doe Out of which place we may learne thus much that as when in the Apostles time the gifte of healing was in force men were willed to sende for the Elders of the Church that they might pray for the sicke and annoint them with oile that they might recouer So nowe the gift being taken away in our great and extreame sickenesse to send for the elders of the Church the Pastours the Ministers the preachers of the worde with the faithfull brethren that by them we may be taught that the cause of our sickenesse is our sinne that they may informe vs in the doctrine of vnfained repentance that they may comfort and counsell vs in our extremities that they may powre out praiers vnto God for the assistance of his grace and encrease of all needfull spirituall vertues in vs and for riddance out of our paines and sickenesse as shall seeme best to his heauenly wisedome VVhich done we may vse all other lawful meanes of phisicke or the like for our recouerie in the feare of God But now is it quite contrarie with most men for as if sickenesse befell men rather by chaunce and fortune then by the prouidence of God and by naturall causes onely and not as punishments of sinne chastisements of men in this world from the hand of God or as trials of our pacience and exercises of our faith in their bodily diseases they foorthwith flie to outward remedies shewing that they haue more care of the life of their bodies then of the saluation of their soules They poste to the Physition they sende in all haste to the Apoticarie they runne to the Surgeon they greedily seeke after all outwarde meanes but their hearts are not turned to God who sendeth death and giueth life who woundeth and maketh whole bringeth to graue and lifteth vp againe they search not out the true cause of their sicknes which is their sin But whē Phisitiō leaueth hearing ceaseth speach faileth senses are gone and the partie more then halfe deade then doe most sende for the minister runne for the Pastour seeke to the preacher when he can not profite the sicke person VVhat counsell can nowe bee giuen what instruction can nowe be taken what comfort can now be ministred what exhortation can preuaile in this extremitie This ought not to be so my brethren it is not the meaning of the Apostle whose counsell is rather that in all our bodily diseases we should flie first to spirituall and ghostly physitions as appeareth Wherefore in this place the Apostle willeth that if anie be sicke they should call for the elders of the Church that they might pray for them VVhose prayers in that behalfe of what force they be the Apostle expresseth the praier of the faithful shal saue the sicke and the Lorde shall raise him vp and if he haue committed sinne it shall be forgiuen him Which place teacheth that healing in that time was not to be ascribed and assigned to the annoiting with oile but to the praiers of the Elders flowing from faith and the praier of the faith shall saue him saieth the Apostle The praier of faith proceeding from a stedfast hope an vndoubted trust an earnest beliefe is therfore of great force For God is neare at hande to heare all such as call Psal 145. vppon him euen such as call vppon him faithfully and our Sauiour telleth him which in the Gospell sued for his sonne possessed with a foule spirite that all thinges Matt. 9. are possible to him that beleeued and in another place whatsoeuer you aske beleeue and you shall obtaine it Of Marke 11. this matter see more Iames 1. ver 6. Prayer is the effectuall instrument and meane to the obtaining of health which to that effect God would to bee vsed Therefore when the holy Prophets or blessed Apostles restored life to the dead sight to the blind limmes to the lame health to the sicke hearing to the deafe speach to the dumme or the like they haue vsed praier thereunto Elias the Prophet restoring the sonne of the widowe of Sareptha being deade to health or rather 3. Kings 17. to life it selfe stretched himselfe vppon him and called vppon the name of the Lorde And Elizeus his seruant and successour in the place of prophecie restoring the deade sonne of the Sunamite to his life againe went into the childe shutte the doore vppon 4. Kings 4. him prayed and stretched himselfe vppon the childe and hee reuiued When Peter restored Tabitha to life hee kneeled Acts 9. downe and praied and then turned to the bodie and said Tabitha arise VVhen Christ raised vp Lazarus hee first Iohn 11. prayed Father I thanke thee that thou hast heard me I knowe thou hearest me alwayes but because of the people that stand by I said it that they may beleeue that thou sendest me And in other cures both our Sauiour himselfe and the Apostles vsed prayer VVhich is the meane and instrument of healing here by the Apostle sette downe the efficient cause whereof is God himselfe therefore hee sayeth And God shall raise him vppe and if hee hath committed any sinne it shall bee forgiuen him Life and death Ecclus. 11. Deut. 32. 1. King 2. 6. 16. Wisd 13. 13. Tob. 2. sickenesse and
health are in the power of God alone and not in the hande of mortall man Men are meanes praiers are instruments but it is God that saueth yea which healeth Another effect of praier is that through the faithfull praiers of the Saints their sinnes are forgiuen the sicke If saith Saint Iames hee hath committed sinne it shall be forgiuen him Whereâ—â—â—o Saint Iohn condiscendeth if any man see his brother sinne a sinne not vnto 1. Ihon. 5. death let him aske and hee shall giue him life for them that sinne not vnto death As therefore the faithfull prayers of Gods Saintes are not causes but instruments of obtayning health so are they also meanes of obteyning remission of our sinnes at the handes of God Matt. 6. Therefore our Sauiour in that fourme of prayer which he woulde to bee vsed for our selues and for our brethren also willeth that wee shoulde praye for forgiuenesse of sinnes not in our selues onely but in our brethren also VVherewith Christ mooued prayed for the Luke 23. Iewes and Steuen for forgeuenesse of those men which persecuted him Seeing therefore that the prayers of the Acts 7. Elders hath this double effect they ought not to be neglected of men Nowe where the Apostle witnessed that the sinnes of the sicke shoulde bee remitted and forgiuen by the praiers of the Elders it sufficiently refuteth the sharpe and rigorous censure of the Nouatian heretikes and their horrible blasphemie who denie pardone of sinne to such as anie wise sinne after their conuersion to the Gospell and the knowledge of the trueth Saint Iames affirmeth that if anie of the brethren any of the professed Christians anie of the Church after the profession of Gods trueth shoulde commit sinne after their conuersion and the Elders prayed for it it should bee forgiuen Salomon confesseth that the righteous offendeth seuen times a day and is a gaine restored Dauid sinned Pro. 24. after he knewe God and his sinnes though notorious and grieuous yet were forgiuen as to him vpon his confession and repentance Nathan promised Iames our Apostle 2. King 12. speaking of the professours of the Gospell confesseth that in manie things they all sinne If there were no Iames 3. remission of sinne after the profession of the Gospel and the knowledge of the truth why doth Saint Paul will Gal. 6. the brethren of Galatia that if any offended of infirmitie they should restore him in the spirit of meekenesse considering themselues least they also were tempted why doth S. Iohn speaking to those that knew the truth say that if any of them sinned they had an aduocate with 1. Iohn 2. the father who was the propitiation for their sinnes euen Iesus Christ the righteous Palpaple therefore is this heresie of the Nouatians and refuted by these and like places of Scripture Moreouer that here the Apostle mencioneth sinnes in mens sickenesse it intimateth and giueth vs to vnderstande Deut. 28. that sinnes are for the most part the causes of our sickenesse and bodily diseases The Lorde threatneth sickenesse pestilence and diseases against such as sinned and transgressed his commaundements God brought vpon Aegypt botch blaine boile and sore Exod. 9. diseases vpon the people for their churlish crueltie towardes the Israelites their shamefull contempt of the Prophets the abusing of the pacience of God Meriah Num. 12. the sister of Moises was stroken with the leprosie for murmuring agaynst her brother the Lordes minister Abimelech and the Philistins were stroken with diseases in their Gene. 20. secrete places for taking away the wife of Abraham Gehesie was plagued with the leprosie of Naaman the Assirian 4. King 5. for his couetousnesse and receyuing of gifts Dauid confesseth that Gods heauie hande of sickenesse was vpon him for his sinne from toppe to toe so that hee had Psal 38. no rest in his bones by reason of his iniquitie Saint Paul recordeth to the Church of Corinth that many of them 1. Cor. 11. were diseased for the abuse of the Lords supper Our Sauiour Christ healing him which was diseased eight thirtie Iohn 5. yeares willed him to sinne no more least a worse thing happen vnto him noting thereby that the cause of his disease was his sinne And no doubt the cause of our newe sickenesses whereof wee taste euerie yeare is the newe sinne which we dayly encrease our newe adulteries New sinnes procure new sickenesses oure newe deuised pride our newe extorcion couetousnesse and oppression our newe crueltie and iniquitie which we multiplie continually against the Lord. VVhich thing Saint Jamee to teach vs telleth vs that if the sicke haue committed sinne it should be forgiuen by prayer and this is the first remedie against bodily infirmities both generall and particular as the Apostle hath prescribed The seconde remedie in particular affliction as 2. Remedie sickenesse is mutuall confession ioyned with prayer so that prayer againe is annexed and ioyned as a remedie whereby that we might helpe one another the better there is required mutuall confession and free conferring one with another touching offences giuen Acknowledge ye your sinnes one to another and pray one for another that ye may bee healed For the prayer of a righteous man auayleth much if it be feruent Helias c. In which words these things may be obserued 1 Mutuall confession with praier is required 2 To what ende to the ende we might be healed 3 The force of the righteous mans praier 4 Howe that force is shewed by example of the praier of Elias Concerning mutuall confession and conferring one Mutuall confession with another about offences giuen done it is very necessary to the recouerie of health in sicknes for God soonest heareth such as haue put away al malice hatred out of their hearts and are at peace and loue with their brethren this is chiefly done where brotherly we confer one with another touching offences and trespasses committed which done we can best helpe one another with our mutual praiers As therfore meÌ„bers al of one body ought Rom. 12. 1. Cor. 12. Ephe. 4. to helpe one another so Christians being all members of one body ech of them meÌ„bers of ech other ought by mutuall helpe to assist and aide one another in sicknesse Wherefore to this purpose as in sicknes he willed that the Elders of the church should be sent for and assembled to praie for the sicke so a second remedie and helpe in sicknes is that the brethren thus assembled should conferre mutually touching offences committed that mutually confessing and mutually forgiuing God might the better heare their mutuall praiers of loue for those which were sicke among them To which purpose this place serueth acknowledge your faultes one to another open that which grieueth you that a remedy may be sought and found out for it the better This mutuall confession and acknowledging one to another wherein one of vs hath offended another the sacred