reason Looke how the Lorde forbiddeth the rearing vp of a piller so doth he forbid the making of images for he ioyneth them here in one prohibition but he doth not simply forbid in all respects the rearing vp of a piller therfore neither the other The seconde proposition is prooued thus Gen. 28.18 Iacob pitched the stone on ende that had lien vnder his heade all night powred oyle on it and calleth it Beth-el the house of God Iosue 2 Iosua commaunded by the commaundement of God twelue stones to be pitched vp Samuel pitched vp a stone also betwixt Mispeh and Sheu 2. Sam. 7.12 and called the name thereof Ebenezer Therefore not the rearing vp of a piller but the rearing vp of it to be worshipped idolatrously was forbidden Euen so of images For as I sayde they are ioyned of GOD in the place of Leuiticus as thinges like equally forbidden A most notable place also for the proofe hereof is that in Iosua where the Israelites woulde haue warred vpon their brethren Iosua 22. if they had erected that altar for religion which in déede they did set vp for a ciuill vse as there you may sée Besides all this doe wee not sée that GOD himselfe commaunded the Cherubims Lillies Pomgranetes Oxen Lyons and such like pictures to bee made and sayth he had giuen his Spirite to Bezaliel Exod. 25. whereby he might haue vnderstanding to worke all these workes Nowe thinke with your selfe would GOD eyther haue commaunded images to be made or ascribed the abilitie to doe such woorkes to the grace of his Spirite if in this commaundement giuen and published before the time he had simplie forbidden the same in all respectes It can not be vnlesse GOD should be contrarie to him selfe and therefore the Turkes or whosoeuer else so thinkes are deceiued The same might yet further be prooued by the commaundement of GOD to make the Brasen Serpent and by Christes not finding fault with Caesars image vpon the money that was shewed him and many proofes moe if néede were For the seconde opinion of them that thinke it lawfull to make any picture yea euen of GOD himselfe and to set them vp in Churches so long as no worship is doone to them as they are bare images there is great cause why they should be gainesaid and resisted euen in both But especially in the first for they oppose themselues to the true sense of this commaundement to diuerse other plaine Scriptures to the nature of God to reason and to the iudgementes and practise of godlie men as by particular viewe of euery one appeareth The sense of the commandement against it For touching the true and direct ende of this commandement it hath béene said before and is most true that it is chiefly to forbid al pictures of God as the most grosse blindenesse and impietie of all other bicause he may not be imagined to be like either man or woman or any other creature Other Scriptures He neuer was séene and therefore can not be painted or pictured like any creature Deutro 4.15 Esa 40.18 Acts. 17.29 but with a breach of this commaundement For other places of the scripture plainly forbidding the same I haue quoted them before nothing can bee more expresse Thirdly they oppose theÌ„selues to his nature Nature against it which is such as no heauenly creature can resemble much lesse any earthly no natural thing much lesse any artificial And to set vp a picture of God not like him whether it be to offende him and to dishonor him if otherwise we cannot conceiue it let vs iudge by our selues who quickly woulde take it in great snuffe if one picturing vs should make either the eies too great the nose too long or high the eares mouth armes hands or any thing wrong Yea we would burst it in pieces bid away with it and not abyde the sight of it Yet dare we abuse the God of heauen our creator and maker and set vp 20. thousande pictures of him in seuerall places neuer awhit like him for it is vnpossible they should be neither one like another O Christ open our eyes that we may sée this vanitie and the sinne of that church that maintaineth this as good For truely it is fearefull thus to play with the Lord whom neuer eyes sawe nor can see as he is in nature and beâ—ng Fourthly they do against al reason for God is a spirite Reason against it and therefore â—annot be pictured God is infinite and â—herefore cannot be pictured God as often hath beene saide was neuer yet â—éene of any and then how is it possible â—o picture him Youth and age length â—readth thicknes white or blacke this â—ember or that these are not things â—â—cident to the Godhead and therefore â—mpossible in verie reason to picture God Last of all they oppose themâ—elues both to the iudgement and pracâ—ise of the Godly in thus doing All practise of the godlie against it For to omit the iudgements of the Prophetes and Apostles so lately quoted crying against this impietie It is verie worthie noting that the auncient Father Damascene a defender of other images and pictures greatly yet saith Deum conarivelle effingere Lib. 4. cap. 8. rem stultam esse impiam non enim imagines Deus admittit To goe about saith he to picture God is both a verie foolish thing and a wicked For God may not be pictured And if you marke the practise of the godlie I pray you of all those notable visions and manifestations made vnto them which of them euer went about to make a picture Surely if they would not euer presume to picture God in that manner that they sawe him and talked with him because they well knewe these were but sparcles as it were of his glorie and maiestie that they sawe and hee in nature a farre other thinâ— than euer he appeared vnto them or they able to beholde if he had doone it howe shall we beholde nay O Lorde what blindenesse is it in vs to set him out as we list our selues and euen as euerie sinnefull man and rude painter pleaseth Therefore I trust we sée this to be a fault and euen forbidden in this seconde commaundement to make any image of God himselfe The thirde opinion of them that thinke there is a lawfull vse of some Images and pictures though not in reâ—igion is most true otherwise were the â—ift cunning and abilitie to doe these things by painting caruing grauing or such like a wicked thing when as yet we heard before that it procéedeth of Gods â—pirite either in Bezaliel or whosoeuer â—lse indued with it But then hereupoÌ„ ariâ—eth another questioÌ„ as namely whether â—mages pictures in churches may not â—e had though we put no religion in theÌ„ Wherunto we may answere that howâ—oeuer it be tollerable in some mens oâ—inions and a thing indifferent to haue â—ome sort of pictures in the Church for 〈◊〉 ciuil
hurte mee with speaking to mee not that her wordes doe it but some pestilent thing of an infectiue operation helde in her téeth deliuered her of her diuell to such vse Danaeus out of Augustine as some of them at death haue confessed Que. What then is your conclusion touching charmers southsayers and such like Ans Truely this in such things as I can be assured by mine owne true vnderstanding or others counsell they doe by true naturall cause and meanes in reason effectuall to such an end I may lawfully vse the benefite of the knowledge giuen them of God and séeke their helpe But where I shall knowe the want of these meanes or but in mine owne heart suspect it surely there I may not there I cannot with a good conscience vse them or séeke vnto them for the lawe that willeth a witch should die being broken of me by vsing such a meanes shall bring greater death to me without repentance Que. Howe yet further is Gods name taken in vaine Ans By rash and vngodly vowes either made or kept Que. Whether might the Iewes vow what they would or no Ans No indéede But first they had a warrant to vowe and then also euen the thing that they did vowe was warranted And if they went further than their commission were their intent neuer so good it was reiected Sometimes they vowed in aduersitie to the ende that if it pleased the Lorde to deliuer them they might not onely in generall but euen in speciall shewe their gratefull heart to the Lorde for the same Thus vowed Iacob at his going to Padan Haran and manie moe in their seuerall distresses And this they did to preuent and staie in some manner the mutabilitie of their will and frailtie of their nature which in any griefe easily promiseth to the Lorde but béeing once freed and set at libertie soone forgetteth that swéete féeling and all spéeches that procéeded from the same Sometime in prosperitie they vsed to vowe for seuerall endes As for the amplification of that outwarde seruice of sacrifices which then the Lorde required Leuit. 7.22 and this was warranted vnto them to doe First fruites and tithes warranted also Deut. 12. Exod. 25. goulde and siluer to the building of the temple warranted also Sometimes they vowed abstinencie for the subduing of the bodie Numb 30. warranted also Sometimes men vowed themselues vnto the Lord as Hanna her sonne Samuell Numb 6. and this her and their déede was allowed of the Lorde But if once they came without a warrant we sée their seruice reiected were their heart and meaning neuer so good Example is Dauid promising to builde the Lorde an house with manie others So euer hath the Lord kept man vnder his hande and direction touching religion hating the bouldnesse of man presuming to inuent any seruice of himselfe I answere you therefore I say and you sée it that the Iewes might not vowe what they listed and what they meant well in but what the worde of the Lorde gaue them leaue to vowe Que. Were they bound euer to keepe their vowe if once they had passed it out of their mouth Ans No in déede But it is maruelous worthy noting the excéeding care that the Lorde had least their vowes should become snares to their consciences Therefore he would not the wiues vow to stand vnlesse her husband heard and allowed it nor the daughters without the fathers cōsent And if they vowed a wicked thing he would not haue it perfourmed as we sée Deutro 23. If an vncleane thing were vowed it might be redéemed And which is especially to be noted if a poore man vowed a vowe aboue his abilitie being decayed betwixt the time of his vow the perfourmance at the priests discretion he was released Leuit. 27. not snared with the word that had passed him once For all which you sée a great libertie granted to mans infirmitie least by any meanes his mouth might cause his fleshe to sinne and howe it neuer pleased the Lorde that drewe sinne with it in the other hande as the vnchaste vowes doe of chastitie in the Church of Rome with such like But in déede if they vowed a thing lawefull and warranted and in their powers without inconuenience to perfourme then were the Iewes verie straitlie bound to perfourme their vowes and not otherwise Que. What say you then to the argument of the Papists The Iewes vowed and the Lord accepted them Therefore we may doe the like Ans I answere it is a senselesse conclusion for they had warrant wee haue none so to doe the thinges they vowed were warranted we vowe pilgrimages to this Saint that to this Idoll and that we vowe to be Monkes Friers Nunnes to weare this apparrell and that to liue single to absteine from this meate and that with a number such inuentions of our owne no where warranted Lastly they were released if anie inconuenience grewe our vowes must stande though bodie and soule perishe for it Therefore to reason from the Iewes vowe euerie way warranted to the alowance of popish and rashe vowes no waie warranted is absurde Que. How yet further is Gods name abused Ans Gods name is yet further abused whensoeuer it is prefixed before anie wicked instrumentes as the Popes bulles and pardons which commonly beginne thus In the name of God Amen So did the sentences of condemnation against Gods children in Quéene Maries daies pronounced by those bloudie Bishoppes beginne also with such other diuilishe instrumentes before which to set the name of GOD as though he were author and approouer of such actes can not be but a fearefull pollution of the name of GOD and a breach of this commandement Againe to speake of the name of GOD lightly and without any dewe regarde thereof in sportes playes and pastimes when my conscience telleth mee I not once thinke of God neither is that a right vse of prayer Also to vse the phrases and sentences of scripture in iest in dirision in mirth vnreuerently as a number doe most fearefully Sure it is a gréeuous breach of this commaundement Que. And what say you of banning and cursing which the booke heere nameth and yet is it vsuall with Dauid as it seemeth Ans Euen this also in some circumstance is a great euill and forbidden by this lawe For thus we are to weigh this question the matter either is the Lordes or mine owne If it be mine owne in no case euer should I curse and wish any euill but patiently abide the Lordes good time to sée to it If it be the Lordes then is the partie either corrigible or incorrigible and past all hope of amendment in mans eyes If he be corrigible not euen in the Lordes cause should I curse my brother but if he be past hope in mans iudgement then conditionally may wee pray the Lorde either to turne him or to remooue him that no longer he may resist his glorie And to this head
bodie The qualitie of the hart is the quality of the man therfore an adulterous hart an adulterous man no doubt and a breaker of this commādement Now what a generalitie may this particularitie very profitably teach vs namely not onely to runne to the outward shew we beare and to our bodie with the actions thereof when wee would iudge of our selues but euen to our verie heart and inward thoughts to sée how all doeth there and as there we finde so to giue sentence If there be integritie then so thinke but if there be lust and adulterie if there be dissimulation and falsehood if there be iniquitie sinne then according to it let vs thinke of our selues and say the Lord be mercifull to vs such such for as our harts are so are we Moreouer it may giue vs a great light to discrie the spirit that guideth the Church of Rome For if God cōdemne the thought how allow they the fact of simple fornication at the least And of Sodomie for the 3. hote moneths if not of adulterie and yet say they haue the spirit too Is the spirit of God so variable that somtime he condemneth the thought sometimes alloweth the very fact What an impietie were this to bée said or thought Therfore strange out of question from the Lord is their spirite Thirdly in this commandement is condemned that thing whatsoeuer which inticeth to any vncleannes wherof there might many particulars be named Que. And I pray you for more plainnesse let it not be greeuous to name some of the chiefe Ans First then here is forbidden all wanton immodest lookes for the eye is a vehement inticer vnto lust as appeareth by manie proofes For thus fell Putiphars wife into vngodly lusting after Ioseph Gen. 39. for the text saith shée cast her eies vpon Ioseph Thus came Dauid to adulterie with Bersabe euen by disorderlie looking vpon her from his house top Thus fell the sons of God into vnlawful loue with the daughters of men Gen. 6. by séeing that they were faire This caused Peter to say of the wicked that they had adulterous eyes 2. Pet. 2. And the knowledge of it made Iob to take a bonde of his eyes Iob. 31. that they shoulde not looke vppon a mayde Whereunto for an other inticement to vncleannesse wee may referre all vndecent and vncomelie pictures the corruption of our eyes and consequentlie of our heartes and therefore no doubt héere also condemned Thirdlie vnchast behauiour such as the Lorde crieth out against by his prophete saying that The daughters of Sion are hautie Esay 3. and walke with stretched out neeckes and with wandring eyes walking and musing as they goe and making a tinckling with their feete c. Fourthlie all wanton speach filthie tales songs and sonets of loue lightnes lasciuious salutatiōs and such like For euill wordes corrupt good maners 1. Cor. 15. and there must no corrupt communication procéede out of our mouthes but such as is good to the vse of edifying and may minister grace to the hearers Ephe. 5.3 As for filthines foolish talking iesting and such like they are thinges vncomelie for a Christian Againe vnchast bookes and wanton writinges who knoweth not howe they tickle to vncleannes and therfore both they and the reading of them forbidden in this lawe Sixtly too much showe in apparel painting tricking and trimming of our selues aboue conueniencie it is a daungerous allurer of lust and therefore forbidden Que. I could wish yet a litle larger speach of apparell because I see it is one of the wormes that wasteth at this day the common wealth that decaieth hous-keeping that maketh strait the hande of the master to his seruant and the Lord to his tenant and a thing to conclude that the deere children of God cannot ouercome them selues in Apparell Ans And I will willingly answere your wish with a litle more speach of it yet not such as with diligence might be made but such rather as I haue at times thought of found in some manner effectual First therefore me thinke the very originall of apparel should much mooue a Christian féeling hart For whē we had sinned thē were we clothed Gen. 2. whē we had lost our honor then were we apparelled so that it is the signe of our sin the badge of our rebellion the witnes of our shame and it remembreth vnto vs what we shoulde wéepe continually to think that we haue lost Now alas how small cause haue we to be proude of such a liuerie Nay sée the dulnesse of our harts and the absurdnes of our dealing If a thiefe should be saued frō hanging with this condition added that he shold euer weare a halter were it not a strange hardnes of his hart if he should so forget his fall so glory in his shame testified day night vnto him by the halter that he should begin to boast of his halter to be proud of it and to make it of silke in sumptuous sort for an ornamēt to his necke Truly it were And so it is in mā a very strange worke of sathan that he should so excéed in pride with the thing the sight whereof shoulde rather pinch his hart with sorowe than be so exalted euen out of his owne knowledge with apparell which in truth speake as a good hart shold féele it shold humble vs beat vs downe make vs euen with the peacocke let our feathers fal for the foulnes of our féet Therfore I say one thing me think to draw vs to mediocritie in this matter should be the wel weying of the first beginning of apparel Secondly the spéedie wast of it is something For how can a good conscience warrant vnto vs such great charge yea such excéeding charge in a thing so changeable whē we shal giue an accompt how we bestowed our goods The matter or the forme failes ere euer our price be halfe answered with vse And there is no estate in earth that may warrant a christian man or woman to be a wilful waster of the lords gifts vnto thē Thirdly the misliking of the word should make misliking in my hart of excesse or vanitie in this matter Now the Lord saith in the lawe Thou shalt not weare a garment of diuers sortes Deut. 12. as of wollen linen together The meaning whereof was this he wold not haue thē newfangle wanton and phantastical in their apparel The same God crieth out against the Iewes by his prophet that he wold take away the ornament of the slippers the cals the round attires Esay 3. the sweet bals the bracelets the bonets the attyres of the heade the slops the head-bands the tablets and the earings the rings the mufflers the costly apparell the vailes the wimples the crisping pins the glasses the hoods the lawnes With which in extremitie vsed no dout they had prouooked the Lord daily
abhorre images And thus much both of making them and worshipping them Next it doeth followe that wee consider howe vnder this outward appearing grosse idolatrie are comprised all deuised wayes meanes of our selues to serue the Lord yea euen all be they neuer so glorious in our eyes and our intentes neuer so good and godly reasonable as we thinke yet if they be but our owne inuentions not warranted to vs in the word here vnder this name of images they are contained and together condemned So that the very sense of this commandement is this Generally by no deuise of man and particularly not by this as hath before béene saide by no deuise of thine owne or inuention whatsoeuer will I bee serued and namely not by images erected vp to me or in rememberaunce of mee But euer at all times and of all men according to that rule that my selfe haue laide downe and prescribed onely Deutr. 12. Esay 29. You shall not doe euerie man what seemeth good in his owne eyes for in vaine doe men worshippe mee with traditions of men Moses did nothing in building the materiall tabernacle beside what was commaunded and shewed him Nadab and Abihu the sonnes of Aaron dyed for presuming of themselues to serue the Lorde with straunge fire Leuit. 10. The verie heathnish Romanes had this reason with them that it was better for them to bée quite without Christ than to worship him and others with him against his will and liking And ad placandum deum ijs opus habent homines quae ille iubet that is To please the Lorde saith Lactantius men haue neede of those things that he himselfe commaundeth And a Christian minde doeth not finde a sure stay but when it heareth Hoc dicit dominus 1. Sam. 13. This saieth the Lorde If Saul breake the course that God doeth appoint and of himself deuise to serue the Lord be his necessitie to doe so as he thinketh neuer so great and the intent of his heart neuer so holie like certainelie Samuel both must and will tell him to his face he hath doone foolishly 1. Sam. 15. for the Lord hath more pleasure in that his will is obeyed than in all the fatlings of the Amalekites offered vp vnto him of our owne wils and heades Intents will not serue neither voluntarie Religion stande accepted And therefore euer let vs weigh and followe the counsell of Salomon And looke to our feete when wee enter into the house of God being more readie to heare Ecclesi 4. than to offer the sacrifice of fooles for they knowe not what they doe Last of all we are to consider the reasons that God maketh here The reasons of this commandement The first is drawen of his loue towardes vs yea of his exceeding great loue which is euen growen to a ielousie So déerelie so vehemently is his heart set vppon vs yet not for any woorthinesse in vs that looke howe grieuously a ielous man can take the misbehauiour of his straying wife euen so ill can the Lorde abyde that wee shoulde impart our selues to others beside him in obediēce worship and loue Nowe had we any féeling left within our sides and our heartes were not altogether so harde trampled and beaten as they are what a reason were this for euer to kéepe vs knit vnto the Lorde O marke Why shoulde he loue vs why should he care for vs why shoulde he thinke of vs or euer once vouchsafe vs good who of our selues cannot thinke a good thought There is no cause but in himselfe Yet doth he not onely loue vs but is ielous of vs. How then should this force vs to cleaue vnto him onely his none but his for euermore Is he ours and will we not be his againe Would he onely enioy vs and wee will not be tyed vnto him Take héede The greater loue the greater hate when vnkinde refusall is to reape his iust rewarde The seconde reason which the Lorde here vseth is drawen of the punishment that will light vpon vs if wee breake this commandement He will visite the sinnes of the fathers vppon the children vnto the thirde and fourth generation sore is that anger the flame of whose punishment casteth out smoke so farre yet the meaning thereof is as Ezekiel well showes Chap. 18. if the children doe follow the fathers wickednesse and not otherwise The thirde reason is drawen of his mercie promised here euē to thousands of them that loue him kéepe his commandements O now that we would weigh these reasons well and lay them déepe vp in our hearts Truely if there bee any portion of the spirit of life in vs we should finde them forcible to giue vs a taste of the wrath of God against idolatrie and approching before him with our owne inuentions what excuses intents reasons soeuer wee thinke we haue for the same we shall finde them strong to allure vs to the carefull and diligent séeking of the Lords wil out of his word and the duetifull and constant seruing of him according to that rule But when wee will not weigh his promised mercies nor giue our heartes leaue to thinke of his threatened iudgementes but headlong in vnféelingnesse runne on and in blinde ignoraunce imagine that our intentes if they bee good must néedes stoppe Gods mouth and make him contented with the breache of his will this this is the poyson of the whore of Babylon that infecteth our soules to eternall damnation and wrathe O God Father of mercies disperse this dimnesse as may stande with thy good-will from the eyes of thy deceiued creatures and yet once ere they dye let them sée their sinnes against this commaundement that in wrath they passe not to greater iudgement so due and so sure to all wilfull contemners of the light of thy worde and Gospell Amen Furthermore againe if wee doe well marke here the wordes of our God wherewith he vttereth these promises threateneth these iudgementes truely they aforde vnto vs two or thrée profitable notes and considerations As first because in our deuises worship of our owne will the best wee can say is that it commeth from a good meaning and intent and therefore wée thinke God cannot of his mercie refuse that which is well meant and intended towardes him I beseeche you marke howe the Lord here ouerthroweth vtterly this defence saying in expresse wordes that they bee haters of him and so led with the liking of their worshippe from the Lorde and his true seruice that when occasion serueth they bewraye extreme hatred thereunto persecuting it with fire and fagotte in the true professours thereof O my brethren if GOD repute mee for an enemie what can my pretended loue auayle mee If hée say I hate him howe dare I still bewitched with my follie thinke I loue him Shall his owne mouth tell mee that I hate him and that he so taketh all my doings If I swarue frō
of knowledge any way with credit to vse the same But what view I so much the cōmendable care of Heathens in this behalfe Haue not Gods faithfull béene in this point as carefull as they Yes truly many haue and in better order a great deale For there being in this thing degrées and steppes to be obserued as first of pietie secondly of learning thirdly of manners and lastly of the function or calling the children of God many of them haue in this excelled the Heathen that being generally as carefull as they in all particularly in this as men better acquainted with it through greater giuen light knowledge they haue far excelled them that first they haue attempted what in déede is first to be cared for namely to frame the hearts of their children to God and grace and then in order to the things following Wee sée it in Adam Gen. 4. Gen. 18. 2 Tim. 3. 1. Chron. 28.9 2. Kings 4. Deut 6. Psal 78.5 who taught his sonnes to serue the Lord. We sée it in Abraham most notably We sée it in Timothies parentes who brought him vp from a child in the knowledge of the scriptures We sée it in Dauid Ioas the king a number others Generallie to them all it was a cōmandement that assoone as their children could vnderstand and aske them questions they shoulde carefully instruct them concerning the Lords dealings with them and for them And I doubt not but many did it of the ancient Christians Philo writeth that they were called cultores ac cultrices that is to say Tillers because as men painefully till their ground so they carefully laboured the grounde of their childrens hearts to plant in them the feare of God Nos hodie vastatores ac vastatrices saith he That is Wee in these daies may better bee termed destroiers than tillers so rechlesse we are careles in this so great a matter Hence sprang the Cloisters in the beginning saith Chrysostome that kinde of life Lib. 3. contra vituperatores monast vitae namely of the excéeding care that men had to haue their children well brought vp and excluded from euil company and hurtful sights in the worlde till yeeres and setled instruction had made them lesse capable of the harme thereof Afterward they degenerated from that institution and became as we well know dens of drones and nurceries of vngodlinesse corrupters of all not correctors of any and the wrath of the Lorde hath nowe destroyed them It is a good admonition of wise Salomon Prou. 22. Teache a childe in the trade of his way and when he is olde he shall not depart from it And that experienced sonne of Sirach in many places speaking of this mtater Syrach 16.22 30. also hath these wordes in my opinion not lightlie to be looked on Neither desire nor delight saith he in children though neuer so many vnlesse the feare of God be in them For one that is iust is better than a thousande and better it is to die without children than to leaue behinde vs vngodly ones Thus let it suffice to haue touched this matter whereof long and large treatises are made néedefull to be touched if euer néedefull and euen long stoode vpon For too much it is of parents neglected yet are they grieued if of their children they be not reuerenced and howsoeuer many there bee that in these daies are carefull ynough to procure vnto their children knowledge of Artes of Countries and of any thing that in worldely sort may make them mightie famous and spoken of yet is the grounde of all verie fearefully neglected namely to setle in them the true feare of the God of Israell deliuered and taught in his worde Yea it is euen accounted by father and child not so néedefull or beséeming for a gentleman to the great exasperating of the Lordes wrath against them and their séede Humilitie also and shamefastnes are taken from youth in these daies euen by their parents and their teachers and where it hath euer béene held that blushing in measure modestie and silence haue béene commendable tokens in young yeeres nowe is it a shame to be ashamed at any time blushing is want of countenance and bringing vp silence is ignoraunce modestie is too much maidenlinesse and in short nowe vertue is vice and vice very comely and gallant behauiour So times are changed to and fro and chaunging times haue chaunged vs too But of this thus farre Que. What else nourisheth in children due reuerence Ans Due correction Due I say with wisedome and moderation For he that spareth his rodde Prou. 13.24 hateth his sonne but he that loueth him doth chasten him betimes 19. vers 18. Chasten thy sonne while there is hope and let not thy soule spare for his murmuring And in an other place Withholde not correction from thy childe 23. verse 13. for if thou smite him hee shall not die Que. But what if parents in foolish pitie cocker vp their children and pretermit this due aduertisement Ans Then will they loose this reuerence most assuredly in their heartes and often make them come to euil ends It is prooued by Heli his two sonnes 1. Sam. 2. the 4. also who by their fathers lenitie conceiued not what it was to sinne against the Lorde and therefore to their owne hurt and their fathers great griefe tasted the heauie hande of God and dyed both in a day Also by Absolon Ammon Adoniah Dauids sonnes Whose fearefull ends may serue for euer to admonish all parents howe they foolishly loue their children and cannot abide to say or doe their dueties to them or yet to let others Marke well the sixt verse of the first Chapter of the first booke of Kings and be wise betime A small twigge will not kill the tenderest Prince Lord or Ladie in the worlde If thou smite him saieth Salomon Prou. 23.23 you heard before he shall not die I warrant him Que. What is the second part of this honour that children owe to their Parentes Ans Readie and willing obedience Que. And what is that Ans Obedience is the performance of Parentes will so farre as lieth in our power and lawfully wée may Que. And how prooue you that this children are bounde vnto Ans First by the words of Salomon Obey thy father that hath begotten thee Prou. 23.22 and despise not thy mother when she is olde Secondly by the Apostle to the Colossians Coloss 3.20 Children obey your parents in al things for that is wel pleasing vnto the Lorde And to the Ephesians againe Childrē obey your parents in the Lord Ephes 6.1 for that is right Thirdely it is very strongly prooued by the sharper punishment which God appointed for all disobebient children to wit euen flat and present death For so we reade in the Lawe Deut. 21.18 c. If any man haue a sonne that is stubborne and disobedient that he will not hearken vnto the voyce
thâ— flocke and shall he so quietly passe them ouer that put in and place such dumâ— dogges and vnable drones to doe aniâ— duetie for their owne lucre Is it a token of loue to féede his shéepe to féedâ— his lambes and is it not a want of louâ— both to God and his lambes to put iâ— for my gaine such a drie nurse as caâ— giue no milke nor féede at all except 〈◊〉 be with follie and a fowle example of drinking swearing carding tabling â—owling sléeping and such like Thinke we if Ieremy were nowe aliue to suruey the parishes of this our countrey Ierem. 9.1 â—nd should sée the fearefull estate of so manie soules not able to tell howe they â—halbe saued or to prooue anie one prinâ—iple of religion not flying sinne beâ—ause they féele it not to be sinne nor â—auing light because they knowe it not â—o be light thinke we I say that hee â—hould not wish his head full of water â—nd his eies a fountaine of teares that â—e might wéepe day and night for the â—ame of Englande through these pouâ—â—ng patrones Assuredly hee would For the heart that harboreth any portiâ—n of pitie to the Lordes people or hath â—nie care what become of the price of â—hrist his bloud could neuer abide vnâ—uched déepe to sée so great a spoyle for â—orldly wealth of that which all the â—orlde cannot redéeme when it is lost â—he Lorde the Lorde looke vppon his â—hurch for his mercies sake and either â—â—ter the heartes of these Church robbers by giuing them to sée what hangeth ouer them and their posteritie mosâ— iustly for such a sinne or else plucke ouâ— of their handes by restoring disciplinâ— the bestowing of them any longer Next let vs weigh what goods we hauâ— euer gotten by vnlawfull gaming oâ— by false deceite in the same and rememâ—ber it hath béene prooued before a gréeâ—uous stealth Let vs also consider howâ— wee stande touching the affirmatiuâ— part of this commandement which weâ— are aswell bounde to performe as weâ— are to flie the contrarie as howe weâ— haue euer to the vttermost of our abilâ—â—tie preserued and cared for the goods oâ— our neighbours that they might be safe howe wee haue vsed our ownâ— wealth to the glorie of God the mainâ—taynance of the magistrate the defend of our countrey the comfort of our faâ—milie the reléefe of the poore and the eâ—stablishing of the knowledge of Goâ— amongest all Howe we haue abhorreâ— distrust in Gods prouidence the rooâ— of stealth and rested assured of his goodâ—nesse if we serued him with such likâ— Are we cleare and haue doone them all without reproofe or blemish If wee haue let vs boast and looke for life for our workes but if any thing touch vs and staine vs knowe and remember what S. Iames sayth He that is guiltie of one is guiltie of all And doth nothing touch vs that hath béene saide Hath neither hande by déede nor heart by thought euer straied in anie degrée O beloued he that sayth euen in this commandement he hath no sinne deceiueth himselfe and there is no truth in him Let vs therefore rather sée our sinne knowe our sinne bewaile our sinne and â—rie to the Lorde for his grace to clappe â—ould of Iesus Christ his sonne who â—ath filled this and euerie lawe for vs â—o the ende that we beléeuing might be â—aued by his righteousnesse The Lord giue vs pardon the Lorde giue vs faith the Lord change our liues to a better course for his blessed name and mercie sake Amen The ninth Commaundement Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour A commaundement teaching vs our dueties towardes the good name and credite of our brethren in speaking neuer anie thing of them which is vntrue as the former haue towardes their liues and goods Question THen by this it seemeth it should haue gone before the other in order because a mans name is dearer than either life or goods Ans It is true to some it is so buâ— not to all and rather doth the Lorde reâ—spect the multitude than a fewe anâ— the common nature of the vulgare sorâ— rather than the disposition of the better but farre lesser sort And first and forâ—â—most could the wise Oratour say by naâ—ture is it giuen to euerie kinde of creature to maintaine himselfe his life and bodie and to auoide whatsoeuer may bée anie way hurtfull to the same Noting in effect the other to followe but in a seconde degrée Que. What right is there to establish this lawe Ans Euen a thréefould right as you haue heard and séene in the former For first the Lorde himselfe is true and trueth it selfe hating euer and abhorring falsehood and therefore verie méete that he should séeke the establishing of the same amongest his children and the carefull auoyding of the contrarie Secondly the verie light of nature hath euer taught it to men that lying is to be â—oathed and hath made them crie Socrates is my friende and Plato is my â—riende but trueth before and aboue â—hem both Wherefore verie méete 〈◊〉 was and right that this lawe of â—ature shoulde bee strengthened and â—aintained by the Lorde Lastly withâ—ut trueth there is no safetie in mens â—ounselles bargans méetinges conferences and such like and therefore most fit and necessarie that for the staie of truth amongest vs and the auoyding of the contrarie the Lorde should make one lawe at the least The equitie of it then you sée is great And nowe to the particular branches of it as they lie in your booke Where the first named hurt and annoyance of my brothers credite is false witnesse bearing when in open place of iustice and iudgement or anie where else anie man shall of euill will and malice or for lucre or fauour of others testifie or depose that which is vntrue against his neighbour Which thing howe horrible it is may first appeare by due considering the price of an honest name 1. reason and good report in the worlde amongest our brethren Which as the wise man saieth is to be chosen aboue great riches Prou. 22.1 and louing fauour aboue goulde and siluer And in an other place Eccles 7.3 A good name iâ— better than a good ointment Becausâ— that thereby we smell as it were swéeteâ—ly vnto many to the edifying of them and working manie thinges in them bâ— our perswasions which others coulde not of whom they haue or do not thinke and heare so well Philip. 4.8 The Apostle Paule also in that excellent spéech of his to the Philippians which I often verie wilâ—ingly remembeÌ„r vnto you noteth effectually howe déere vnto a Christian any thing should be that belongeth to a good name and the working of a good report amongest men of vs. For whatsoeuer thinges my brethren sayth hee are true whatsoeuer thinges are honest whatsoeuer thinges are iust whatsoeuer thinges are pure whatsoeuer thinges are worthie loue whatsoeuer thinges are of good report if there be anie verâ—ue or if there
and a gréeuous breach of this commaundement Wee should couer in charitie what no bodie knoweth but wee if the partie will be reformed euen as willingly and readily as euer wee would our selues finde fauour for our infirmities But doe we it Is my brothers shame my griefe is his credite déere vnto me as my life Goe I backewarde with a cloke on my backe to cast vpon his offence loth that either others or I my selfe should sée it as good Sem and Iapheth did to their bared father in his drunkennesse Gen. 9.23 No no wee grinne and laugh rather with cursed Cham and blabbe it out to others Good beloued let vs weigh our wantes and neuer make our vices vertues God asketh but our confession in griefe and sorowe and he will heale vs. It is a branch and a breach of this commandement and therefore no thing to be continued in But I dwell too long in this spéech vnto you Many things mo might yet be rehearsed but sée them your selues and let my silence passe them These fewe bewraye our want of perfect obedience to the lawe and so consequently of anie life and safely by the workes of the same And therefore I hope we clearely perceiue that without a Sauiour wee were but lost make what distinctions we can of obedience of iustification or such like Fast cleaueth to vs and cannot bee denied gréeuous guilt against both this lawe and all the former and cursed is he which abideth not in all to doe them sayeth the Lorde Deutro 27 Iam. 2.10 Galat. 3.11 He that is guiltie of one is guiltie of all and by the workes of the lawe can no flesh liuing be iustified For the iust shall liue by faith Wee haue not doone all but wee haue broken much and therfore the conclusion lighteth vpon vs and all the subtilties of all the wittes in the worlde can not remooue it from vs if the Lorde should marke what we haue doone amisse but in this one lawe of his and iudge vs thereunto and by we are not able to abide it wee are cast away Therefore let vs flie from the lawe as fast as euer wee can and take the right vse of it thereby to be led vnto Christ and let this be our firme comfort Galat. 4.4 that When the fulnesse of time was come God sent foorth his sonne made of a woman and made vnder the lawe that he might redeeme vs from the curse thereof and so by him wee might receiue the adoption of sonnes which without him we could neuer attaine to This is sure and this is comfortable to hould by and the Lorde increase this faith in vs euer The tenth Commaundement Thou shalt not couet thy neighbors house thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife nor his c. Wherein saith your booke the Lorde plainely forbiddeth all inwarde desire of anie thing vnlawfull to be done although we neuer consent vnto it as the rebellion of the flesh all corruption of the olde man all blotte of originall sinne so that by this commaundement most clearely we may see the image of that man that pleaseth God euen such an one in whom nothing is impure neither in will nor nature Question YEt playner I pray you if you can set downe the difference of this commaundement from the other for as I haue heard some haue halfe thought it superfluous seeing as the former did also forbid the inwarde thought aswell as the outwarde act Ans It is as plaine as may be alreadie yet to content you thus ouer againe The former commaundementes did forbid the act and the setled or consenting thought of the heart though the déede were not doone as for example the precept of killing forbiddeth the déede and with all once to thinke in heart to doe such a déede with a resolution verily to accomplish it if I can But nowe this commaundement commeth néerer and condemneth not onely that thought that is setled and lacketh but oportunitie to doe the déede but euen the verie thinking also of any thing contrarie to the loue of God or my neighbour though I doe neuer consent to it but snubbe it mislike it and reiect it For euen that hauing of an euill thought in my minde is a fruite of my corruption such as in innocencie if we had stood we should neuer haue had and therefore naught So there are two degrées of thoughtes the one with consent to accomplish in déede what we do thinke if we can and the other without consent repulsed away when wee awake and sée it The former in the former commandementes was forbidden and the later in this A strange doctrine in shewe no doubt to manie that thinke this their thought is frée But we must not maruell since euen the Apostle Paul himselfe would neuer haue suspected anie danger in concupiscence lustes and desires if the lawe had not sayde Thou shalt not lust or desire Rom. 7.7 Nay it appeareth verie plainely in that place sayth a godly man that he thought maruelous well of himselfe before hee came to this commandement He tooke himselfe before to be liuing and in good liking towardes God and godlinesse but when he had looked vpon this lawe and beheld himselfe a while in this part of the glasse he sawe himselfe plainele to be no bodie but a dead man sould vnto sinne And therefore a thousande times néedefull that the Lorde should adde this lawe to all the rest to humble vs throughly séeing so singular a man was not fully cast downe before he had wrestled with the iustice of God in the same Let vs therfore thinke of this thing that séemeth so litle in our eies For wee heare what the Apostle sayth it is sinne to desire Rom. 7.7 and we may ioyne vnto it the words of the Lorde himselfe affirming plainely that the verie imagination of mans heart is euill euen from his youth Gen. 8.21 God hath made the heart aswell as the bodie to séeke his glorie and therefore good reason the cogitations of the hart should no more straie from their true end than the actions of the bodie Neither may our reiection of such thoughtes in the ende and not consenting vnto them to accomplish them in act bleare our eies with an imagination that we haue not offended in them in going so farre as we went For it is a blemish a want an impietie and a degrée of vnchastitie in a woman to suffer the cogitation of anie forren friende beside her husbande to tickle her with conceite vnlawefull though in the ende she repulse it and abhorre to accomplish it and howe can it then be faultlesse in these hearts of ours the spouse of the Lorde to dallie with such delightes and to pursue in minde by thinking of them the pleasures that such conceites doe pleade before vs though in the conclusion we giue the deniall and do not consent O it is a greater matter to loue the Lorde with all the heart than that it may
abide anie light licentious wandring frō the same for anie time For they are opposed to loue the Lorde euer and to thinke euill at anie time to loue the Lorde with all my heart and to thinke nowe and then of vaine follies or flat impieties with my heart And if it be a certaine trueth as we knowe it is which I saide before that if we had stoode in our innocencie firme and immoueable we should neuer haue conceiued in our time any euill thought at all or vaine or foolish conceite for anie moment or point of space but should euer haue béene able to haue iustified our thoughts before God whatsoeuer they were as agréeing with the loue of him and our brother then is this tickling delight that now and then will take vs and possesse vs for a time to inioy our neighbours house his wife his child his man maide or anie thing that he hath otherwise than we should wicked vile and against that rule of right wherein we were created and whereto our regeneration dayly tendeth if we be the Lordes And therefore let this argument conuict vs and this consideration euer assure our soules within that it is vnlawefull for the childe of GOD once to conceiue an ill thought although we neuer consent vnto it And consequently let it stir vs vp to pray with Dauid against our corruption Psalm 51. that the Lorde in mercie woulde vouchsafe to make vs cleane hearts and to renewe a right spirite within vs euermore Let it be still the propertie of a popish spirite to extenuate sinne and exalt flesh and bloud and corruption aboue truth and right saying concupiscence is no sinne Iam. 1.25 but onely bringeth foorth sinne after it hath conceiued But let the childe of God schooled vp in the trueth of the gospell presse flesh bloud and his corrupt nature so farre as gods worde and lawe presseth it and let him knowe that first verie concupiscence in it selfe is a damnable degrée of vice yet not the highest degrée but vpon the conception thereof followeth actual accomplishment of wickednesse before but thought in heart an higher and further steppe of euill in vs which is the meaning of Iames. For if concupiscence were not euill then must it néedes be either good or indifferent But neither of these it can be and therfore it is euill Good it is not for the whole 7 Chapter to the Romans denyeth it And S. Austen pretily against Iulian gathering vppon his wordes that concupiscence remayned in thē that are regenerated though not the guilt of it that therefore is was good answereth Si hoc sentirem Libr. 6. cap. 6. non dicerem eam malam esse sed fuisse Nos autem malam eam dicimus manere tamen in baptizatis That is If I had thought so to wit that it was good then would not I haue saide it is euill but it was euill But we say it is euill and yet remaineth in them that haue beene baptized And when Iulian goeth on and vrgeth his assertion that neuerthelesse the guilt was taken away yea sayth he Reatus quo hominem reum facit non quo ipsa rea est vt homicidij reatus tollitur in aliquo non tamen ideo bonum est That is That guilt is taken away wherewith shee stayneth man not wherewith it is stayned it selfe in it selfe As the guilt and the desert of murther a man may bee quit of and freed from and yet not the wickednesse it selfe in it nature changed for that cause but remaineth euill still Good therefore you sée concupiscence is not And indifferent it is not For the Apostle flatly giueth it an harder name saying Rom. 7.21 That when he would haue doone good hee was so yoked that euill was present with him If the spirite of God call it euill beware we presume not to call it indifferent and beware more howe we play with the pleasure of it and take delight to doe it Againe what conclusion carie all those exhortations to crucifie Crucifie the olde man with all his lusts and that percing plaint of an Apostles mouth O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this bodie of death I knowe I knowe that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good I say what conclusion carie they all but this that concupiscence is neither good nor indifferent but flatly euill Que. Howe then falleth it out that it condemneth vs not Ans The Apostle answereth in the 25. verse Rom. 7.25 I thanke God through Iesus Christ our Lorde and in the next Chapter There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus which walke not after the flesh Cap. 8.1 but after the spirite For the lawe of the spirite of life which is in Christ Iesus hath freed me from the law of sinne and of death So that we sée it is Christ in whom and by whom and for whom wee are not charged with the condemnation due to concupiscence and corruption ingrafted and growning in vs. Que. But is then all desire and affection and all coueting vnlawefull by this commaundement Ans No indéede for God hath created affections and desires in men as mirth ioy hunger thirst c. and they should haue béene in man though he had neuer fallen they should haue loued their children their parentes friends euen standing and abiding in innocencie and therefore these thinges are not euill Nay the want of them maketh a monstrous absurditie in nature and therefore not to be maintained The instrumentes of affections and delight and dolor created by the Lorde prooue them allowed the law of God commandeth them and reprooueth their want Christ our sauiour vntouched by sinne shewed them in great measure they are spurres and prickes vnto vertue in vs and therefore allowed Besides numbers of other reasons that might be alleadged Que. What else doe you obserue in the commandement Ans I doe duely weigh the particulars that God restrayneth our coueting in and I sée them to bee such as most commonly and most without checke men suffer themselues to be caried away withall As the house of my neighbour that is his inheritance landes and possessions which we so gréedily often behoulde and marke wishing and willing them far far otherwise than a Christian heart should We can flatter our selfe with our offering of money for them not remembring that so did Achab for Naboths vineyeard and yet gréeuouslie offended Our neighbours wife or an other wiues husbande God knowes the sinfull thoughtes they cause within vs. For coueting the child against parents liking and intising away the seruant of an other against their good they bee thinges wherein fewe of our heartes haue any féeling And for their cattell with such sinnefull eies we looke vpon them that wee euer thinke our neighbours bullocke hath a fairer yowre than our owne hath as the Poet speaketh and therfore wisely in the naming of these particulars hath the Lorde taught vs wherein commonly