come to the light because their works are euill But it will be obiected of the contemners I loue the word the sweet things of Christes doctrine are pleasant vnto me But the preachers they are verye harshe and collericke others are too too Melancholick vrging heauinesse mourning and solitarines beeing too precise they will abide no pastime c. tell vs of pleasaunt things of wine c. Isai 30.10 Micah 2.7 Surely I aunswere them as before are not the Lord his wordes good to him that walketh vprightly but you are risen vp against the Lorde he that walketh in the spirite would prophesy of new wine he shal be a prophet for this people Thus these men wold separate the word from the ministry and preaching of it or else would haue the worde limitted by their owne affections and liking to serue their owne turne and their filthy lustes But wee speake as we are taught of God 1. Iohn 4.6 Hee that knoweth God heareth vs hee that is not of God beareth vs not Also he that despiseth the ministers of God despiseth God that sent vs As for our partes we haue the euidence of our owne conscience to stand for vs that we seeke to do nothing against the truethe but with the trueth we haue the Lorde also to witnes on the one side yea our labours and the poure of our doctrine speak for vs in the hearts of those that are conuerted nay euen the conscience of the wicked themselues do afford vs som euidence insomuch as they tremble at the worde though they spurne against it being disobedient So that we stand confidentlye perswaded in oure selues through the Lord that our ministery is the ministery of the spirit of God the sweete words of Christe Iesus euen then whē we do by thretning iudgments seek to conuert the wicked to repentaunce as also to further and increase the same already begun in the godly for we are a swéet sauour of Christ vnto God in thē which are saued and in them that perish 2. Cor. 2.15 So that they which will seeme to count of the worde in it selfe as they imagine and yet contemne it and parbreake it vp as a bitter or loathsom thing when it is preached certainly they neuer tasted in truethe of the worde but remayne deadly diseased in their soules of spirituall Hellishe and damnable agues Well after this woorthye description of her Louer the Spouse vauntingly tryumpheth saying He is wholy delectable this is my beeloued this is my loue O daughters of Ierusalem This emphaticall repetition poyntinge him oute so often is forcible to mooue those whome shee talked with to the liking and allowing of her Louer Thus shee concludeth in one worde that her loue was wholye delectable wanting nothing to comlinesse and perfection For not being able by any figures metaphors or similies to discribe him fully shee in a worde shutteth vp al that hee is altogether amiable When she calleth him her welbeloued she noteth that as her Sutor bore good will to her so she also helde him as her dereling and best beloued on whome onelye shee coulde finde in her hearte to bestowe her whole loue in calling him louer Solomon noteth that Christe loued his Churche and Spouse first so as in louing of him wee shall loue suche a one as loued vs first In this conferrence of the Spouse with them of Ierusalem Solomon woulde insinuate vnto vs howe the Faythfull should often be talking of their loue Christ Iesus confessinge his Inestimable kindnesse towardes them to allure others It is one cheefe effect or token of a true calling when a man syncerely delighteth in Wisedome to bee talking of the woorde to commende the Loue of God in Christe as Dauid saythe My mouth shall bee alwayes telling of the louinge kindenesse of the Lorde and I will also tell of thy greatnesse So also the Woman of Samaria Ioh. 4. After shee was wonne by Christes Sermon contented not her selfe to bee acquaynted with Christ her selfe alone but leauing her Water pot and other necessaryes in all haste made report of the Messiah to her Neighboures to toule on them also And certaynlye when a man is truelye called his desire is kindled to make others partakers of those ioyes of the worde which himselfe dothe feele He is also greeued and sorrowfull when hee seeth it to bee contemned of men Especiallye suche couet to acquaynte theire Wife Children Seruauntes and Neyghboures or those which haue beene partners with them in the dayes of their vanities with that Heauenlye message of life For wee shoulde bee careful that whomsoeuer wee haue offended or hurte by oure example afore or they with whome wee haue had fellowshippe in euill mighte by our meanes bee broughte to a taste of Christe that wee commending the grace of God in Christe to them might by some meanes draw them if it may bee from their vanities to Christe Saying Oh that you felte the good that I feele by the woorde for where I loued sinne before now I hate that and Christ Iesus is my loue Yea let euerye one say to other it pityeth my soule and I am couered with shame blushing to thinke how I haue before times liued in vanitie when I knew not Christ aright But now Oh happy I I see the loue of Christe towardes me in his worde and I can not but loue him againe Thus we should be reporting the good that we haue by Christe seeke to make others partners with vs. If it be a duety of one Christian to another much more shoulde ministers towle on their people the husbands their wiues the parentes their children the masters their seruants c. Then who soeuer delight not to talke of God in his worde but rather enuie the forwardnes of others it is a manifest taken that they belong not to Christe What shall we saye then of them which wil not commend Christ to their people nor draw them on but rather discourage and pull back how can they haue any true loue to Christ them selues when they are afrayde men should come too neare him Thus Solomon hath allegorically set before our eyes a description of Christe Iesus Sith then we haue presented before our eyes so honorable a state so gracious a personage so peereles a Prince so worthy a Moschel wise and rich in al pretious iewels as Solomon victorious as Dauid finally who is all in all why shoulde we not highly account of him honorably entertaine him and with all submission subiect our selues vnto him as our onely head and guid who shineth in passing beauty surpasseth in al victorious courage in princely dignity in perfect purenes his habite is most seemly his comely lookes most gracious and amiable in the eies of his saints his face wholy glorious of perfect hue sweete with heauenly perfumes odoriferous with spirituall spice and ointment his garments and attire most costly and orderly man garments of vnspotted righteousnesse and most perfect holinesse whereby he
but sow pillows vnder the elbowes of the daintie and wanton people preaching peace to them to whom the Lord hath not spoken peace The Church of God hath alwayes had daungerous Prophetes Apostles and teachers which haue troubled the church besides those which seduced the people with false doctrine For I am fully perswaded that the false Prophets which Ezekiel and other Prophets of God spake against or the fals Apostles in Pauls time which he speaketh of to the Corinthians PhilippiaÌ„s were not al of theÌ„ so called simply for that they preached fals doctrine but in respect of their misapplying and abusing of doctrine As for example to preach peace and to cause to mourne is lawfull but to preach peace to the wicked or apply mourning to the godly c. is falsly to handle the truth So to preach Christ is lawfull but when it is done of vaine glory or contention or to adde bondes to the saints of God it is euil to the person that so doth Yet Paule reioyced that Christ was preached though of contention c. and sure he would not haue reioyced if false doctrine had beene taught by them So we haue many no doubt which are voyd of the spirite of iudgement to applye doctrine but handling it vncunningly smit wound the Godly but flatter and strengthen the wicked which is no doubt a great and feareful sinne which Ezekiel complayned of in his 13. Chapiter We must be wise to handle the word and not mingle chaffe with wheat as Ieremy speaketh Chapter 23.28 Hereof it commeth that the false and vnfaithful teachers do rather beat backe and discourage those that seeke earnestly after Christe then further them For they enuy that the simple sort should grow in knowledge least their euil life couetousnesse ambition flattery and vnfaithfulnesse in their calling should be found out Therefore the ignoraunt ministery they seeke to holde men in ignoraunce still or keepe them at a stay or at least way would abuse aucthority to molest and suppresse the zealous and Godly But this should not discourage men from inquiring after God stil If therefore any such thing should befal to any of vs eueÌ„ at the haÌ„ds teachers of the Church let vs not maruaile for it must be so in the Church of God that they which are perfect may be knowne And I perceiue euen here among you in these parts that as the Lord hath begun a good worke in many so it goeth hardly forwarde by the reason of some daungerous watchmen ministers enuying the successe of the worde preached But learne of the spouse here to inquire the more earnestly after Christe in his word of those which are careful in wisdome to teach Such there haue bin alwaies in the Church of God shal be yea euen of those many times which hold not the smallest roomes in the church So we sée Amaziah Amos. 7.10 who enuied the simple sincere preaching of Amos. Therefore he complained of him to the king saying Amos hath coÌ„spired against thee the land is not able to beare his word c. And subtily like a fox in the mean time counselled him to fly the land for he thought his pomp honor would decay if Amos proceeded because the people resorted to him but what followed reade the chapiter Hoshea the Prophet chapter 5.1 complained of such in his time saying that iudgment was against the Priests princes because ye are as a snare on Mizpeb and as a net spred vpon Tabor Meaning that both the Magistrates and the Priestes of Israel deuoured the people and sought to intrap them as the fowlers in those mountaines layd snares for the byrdes Also the Scribes Pharises and Priestes of the Iewes which retained the chiefest dignities titles in the Church were most noysome to the same so as the scripture was verified saying Psa 118.22 Mat. 21.42 The stone which the chiefe builders refused is become the head of the corner This certainly is a great offence to many when they see Christ abused of any of the rulers and great Doctors in the Church Oh say they I can tell some of the graue fathers Doctors of the Church and wise learned men yea some also of countenance and authority like not very wel of these great teachers nor of these gadders to sermons and fewe such will resort to the Sermons c. Therefore I wil doe as they doe they are as wise as the beste as learned and as well thought of as any of them all Thus the poore and miserable people are hindered from Christ by such meanes But Christe Math. â—1 acknowledgeth his fathers wisedome herein that he hath reuealed those high and heauenly misteryes to the simple and hidde them from the wise prudent of this world And Paul 1. Cor. 1.26 affirmeth that not many noble the Lorde hath called or wise men after the fleshe but God hath called the foolish things of the worlde to confound the wise c. Howbeit the Lord make vs truely thankfull God hath beautified our soyl and Church of England with many nobles godly magistrates which countenaunce the truth the Godly teachers and are a wal to theÌ„ hath also inriched this his Church with many Godly learned and worthy men and that of countenaunce and titles which preferre the Gospel of Christ Iesus Notwithstanding as I sayd such there haue beene and shal be some in the Church euen of great ones which shall molest the same And because this doctrine which discouereth the ambition and hurtfulnesse of some persons in the Church is hardly disgested I must he came beyond my vsual order to insert some authority of the fathers in a worde who I suppose shall more tollerably bee heard then my selfe Saint Barnard in the 33. Sermon vpon these Canticles sayth From whom shal the Church hide her selfe All are friendes and all are enemies all kinsfolke and all aduersaries all houshold seruauntes yet there is none at peace they walke in the honour of the Lords goodnesse to whom they do no honor Hereeby he sheweth afterwarde how many inconueniences come in the Church thereby come their pomper pride couetousnes Thereby sayth he their purses are filled therefore they couet to be Princes of the Church c. Such thinges saith he come not lawfully but because they are occupied in the affayres of darkenes c. Also Barnard els where in sermone de Pauli comissione Alas lord these are the first which do persecute thee which we see to affect the highest roomes in the Churche they haue taken the arches from Sion they occupy the Castle and haue by power set the Citye on fire their conuersation is miserable the subuersion of the people is pitifull Furthermore Saint Hierome vpon the 9. chap. of Hoshea saith I doe not find in the auntient histories any other to haue seperated the Church and seduced the people from Gods house then the Priestes Prelates which are placed of God to be the
watchmen for the people because they abused their office For many ambitious men creeping into the seate of the Church were ashamed of the humilitye of Christ Which al thinges are truely verefied in the Romish Church where the Pope challengeth to be Oecumenical and vniuersal Bishop of the whole Churche and so is noysome to all churches And woulde to God this noysomnesse had onely kept it selfe at home in Rome had not also infected some Christian Churches But such is the misery of our times thorough sinne as we can witnesse of manye troublesome watchmen which count them selues so in the Church of God in many places Yea the noysomnes of that Romishe crew hath sore annoyed the Churches beyond the seas and ceaseth not to trouble and vex our Church of this lande by sending out their Seminary Papists and scattering abroade that Viperous brood of the Iesuites which greatly molest our Church and land through their seditious and traiterous practizes that they might bring the spouse eueÌ„ the church of England in bondage againe to that daungerous whatchman the Pope which I hope shall neuer be For hee ceaseth not to smite and wounde where soeuer hee can reach and to disturbe the true Spouse of Christe Iesus For he playeth the roynish ruffler with the Spouse where soeuer he becommeth and all his complices and adhearentes are troublesome watchmen and smiters Furthermore there are some other which for want of warrines smite the sincere professors and their fellow brethren wounding them either with doctrine misapplied as Ezek 13. or with complaining of them as Amaziah did of Amos. Amos. 7. Or by open reproch or some such kind of Ishmaeliticall persecution Othersome as the Brownists if I may so terme theÌ„ they smite all spare none yea the carefullest Preachers are most charged of theÌ„ as reuolters c. they seeke after a sort the subuersion of the whole state Finally many vngratious men of a filthy life and seruile nature which pretend som better shew for the time seeke to occupy the roomes of the Church which are manye times sooner admitted a room I know not by what negligence and grosse ouersight then they which are careful to discharge a conscience in that calling But would to God that they in whose handes it is to reforme would bend themselues to root out such loytering idle and loose men out of the Church But thus the vanitie which SolomoÌ„ noted in the world is to be séen Folly is set in great excellency and the rich set in the law place I haue seene seruants on horsebacke and Princes walking as seruants on the ground Ecc. 10.6 For many vile and vnworthy persons as I said are crept I know not by what ouersight into the Church liuinges Ruffians gamesters fornicators idolaters popish prelates idol ministers as Esay speaketh domb dogges belly Gods Isai 59.10.11 2. Pet. 2.13.14.17 louers of filthy lucre wels with out water empty cloudes wandring stars c. also sectuaries Famelists or Louists many other vnworthy persoÌ„s are set on horseback when many worthy meÌ„ for their learning Godlinesse grauity yea as Solomon calleth them princes are fayn to go on foote like seruauntes For so many blinde Dolts of the Country Ploughmen and artificers thorough Symmony and corruption steale into the liuinges of the Church that the learned and meete persons in the Vniuersitie which shold be called foorth are fayn to be without place Which happeneth partly by default of Patrons which make not conscience of the Lordes people partly by other corruptions but howsoeuer it be the poore soules of the people are in extreame hazard thereby and the people for the moste part see not their owne misery and therefore pitty not themselues nor vse any prayer to the Lord in such causes wherein lyeth the cheefest daunger of soules so as both people and ministers in many places conspire to murther and spoyle their own fouls For if they may haue an honest quiet man as they term him and a good fellow they are best with such a one though he hath no graces from the Lord méet for that honourable and high ambassage which is a lamentable case And the Lorde punisheth the neglect contempt of oure times with the iust plague of the famine of their soules in some place As Hoshea mentioneth chap. 9. ver 7.8.9 The dayes of recompence are come Israel shall know it The prophet is a fool the spiritual man is mad for the multitude of thine iniquity therefore the hatred is great The watchmen of Ephraim shoulde bee with my God but the Prophet is the snare of a fowler in all his wais hatred in the house of his God So that they exercised hatred in the Church bringing such as desire to be taught in to coÌ„tempt to be wondred at as Owls in the day time being made a sign to nod the head at euery man hath a pul at theÌ„ raising vp scornful reproches lies troubles vexations against the godly Esay 8.18 yea they lift them vp on the scaffolds of the worlde as monsters among men to be displaied and laide foorth to contempt as Esay in his time complayneth I and the children whom thou hast giuen me are as signes and wonders in Israel by the Lorde of Hostes which dwelletb in mâ—â—nt Sion Of the one side diuers harsh spirites vnder the pretence of zeale for the reformation of the Church which all the godly hartily wish for and procure in their callings what they may they doe sore assault the Church and the tender consciences of such simple ones as they can preuail with rashly condemning all thinges and seeking soule good thing after an vngodly and vnlawfull manner as the Brownists and such like which labour to alienate the mindes of men from their teachers and from the worde and Sacramentes in the Churche of this Lande because of their priuate dislikings whome I would wish to learne more modesty I speake not to discredite any but to wish men to be wise and stayed in their zeal without rashnesse But thus the saintes of God are tryed by diuers means and haue many repulses in their comming on and by these means some that shold be the watchmen smite the spouse and pull of her vaile playing the rufflers with her Which as it is not without the Lordes witting but by his prouidence so it shal be reuenged vpon them by the same God when he shal take the cause of his church into his hand here we sée then that the church somtime findeth greatest lets and hurts at their hands who should chiefly preferre the cause of the church yet these watchmen they go about the city to visit but to what end they are painful as many now a daies can haue nimble eies to spy out the best forwardest not to further theÌ„ but to hinder them Now let vs sée what the spouse doth in these lets afflictions she groweth not blockish neither waite on other to doe
with others would easily shew their nature against the people of God if they had oportunitie and yet they are hatched oh pitiful danger and nouâ—ished euen in the lap of the church Thus many Cankers breede in the bowels of the church heresies fonde opinions familists Brounists and such other Thus by such meanes as lamentable it is to see the graft of godlinesse and zeale is hindred And through the neglect of officers magistrates rather then laws these beastes swarme in our Church Also drunkards swearers whores adulterers proude pecockes raylers contemners of God and his word prophanations of the Sabboth and an innumerable kindes both of sinners and sinnes which ouergrow the church as a wildernesse which because magistrates doe not laboure to roote out so carefully as they ought the Lord doth strangely consume som sinners by the fire of his wrath froÌ„ heauen Which al shold be cut off by discipline or at least way bee forced to some reformation Can it be that the Lord wil trust vs any longer with a Lease of his garden we abusing him in such maner so as we greeue the Lords soul with our vnfaithfulnes and cause his soule to hate vs. Esay 1.14 Who bestoweth such cost on vs we prosper so little as hee can gather very few Lillies amongst vs he wanteth the fruit of our hearts and lippes as faith loue feare obedience charity thankesgiuing prayse inuocation hearing his word professing his name c. But some perhaps wil say why it is in as good case as we found it the same discipline laws and doctrine are stil which was in the beginning of her maiesties raign so the Lords garden and church is not impaired and it shal bee left in as good case as it was found and better then heretofore Sure the Lorde doth not plaÌ„t a vineyard let it out to stand or be kept alwaies at a stay but to bee tilled and dressed that it maye grow and prosper to bring foorth more fruite For hee requireth that men bestowe their care labour wisedome and trauail vpon it that hee maye haue it more furnished and fenced For hee tataketh payne him selfe aboute his Churche to that ende that sinne may bee suppressed and Godlinesse aduanced But the Lorde make vs truely thankfull in Christ Iesus for those beginninges and proceedinges of his church which we haue that he hath planted his worde true religion amongst vs countenancing the same his truth with the authoritye and sworde of our gratious Princesse Elizabeth as also with many worthy learned godly and noble Councellers as also other learned Patrons of his Church without whom we should find to our great misery and the spoyle of religion howe hardly the Lordes garden should be at al kept without them But our sinnes yea our contempt and neglect of the word of God and his glory doe hinder the Lorde from blessing vs with that encrease which otherwise wee mighte enioy yea our sinnes betraye the state of our Churche and lande and deserue the losse of so Princely a Deborah and other woorthye personnages wherewith our Church is inriched yea that the Lorde shoulde take away all the walles and defences of our church and land giue vs ouer to the spoile Let vs therefore if we beare any good will to our Church or Countrye labour to purge oure selues from al corruption and to repent vs of oure sinnes that we may bring foorth good fruits such as the lord may haue pleasure in that hee may haue a delight to abide among vs. For it is the sinnes of a land that causeth the Lordes wrath to smoke against the same but our land I suppose haue exceeded the old world Sodom and Gomorrha Israell Iehuda and al landes in straunge sinnes so that if in comparison Ezec. 16.51 Iudah and the inhabitants thereof iustified Sodom for that their sinnes exceeded the sinnes of the Sodomits Then we haue iustified al Nations in comparison of our sins and therefore are in daunger to al the feareful plagues that are mentioned in the booke of God vnlesse we speedely therfore repent I feare we shal tast of such iudgementes as that the stranger that shal come from a farre land Deut. 29.22 shal saye when they see the plagues of this land and the diseases therof wherwith the Lord shal smite it because it shal be fearefully destroyed except they repent Oh wherefore hath the Lorde done thus vnto this lande and ver 24. and ver 25. how feirce is this great wrath And it shal be answered because they haue forsaken the couenant of the Lord God of their Fathers and haue sinned againste the Lorde Let vs al then my deare brethren be humbled with Godly sorrow that may cause repentaunce vnto saluation not to be repented of Being offended with our selues that we haue not sooner and more earnestly inquyred after Christ praying the Lorde to beautifie his Garden and Churche of this land with such sweet flowers as he may please him selfe in vs and we may grow and prosper in al fruites of the spirit I can not finish this chapiter to daye because of time and the matter of the conclusion though in few words yet includeth very comfortable and heuenly matter which cannot in a few words be vttered I wil therfore defer it til to morrow when by Gods grace I shal finish the whole Now the Lord our good God sanctifie our hearts to conceiue the excellencye and féele the sweetnesse of the wordes of the mouth of Christ Iesus that we being our selues purged and sanctified by his word and truth may carefully labour that others with vs may truely be affected towards him that we may ioyn togeather in seeking of Christ so as in the ende finding him in his worde and Sacramentes and feeling of him by his spirite our soules and bodies may become cleane and well tilled Gardens beautified with al heaueÌ„ly fruits of his spirite as that Christ may haue pleasure to walke in vs to dwell and make his abode in vs vnto the ende and in the ende we also may be receiued with him into his heauenly Garden of eternal ioye to dwell continue and abide with him in the company of al the glorious Angels and fellowship of the heauenly saintes in the presence of God his Father for euer and euer Amen Let vs pray c. The fift Sermon or lecture YEsterday we heard beloued a part of the description of Christ concerning his spéech and swéet thing of his mouth with the excellency of his doctrine also the second question of the maydens concerning the place where he vsed with the aunswere betweene which was interlined what fruit came by this conference and how the Godly at Ierusalem were kyndled with loue to Christ by the example of the Spouse whereby she answereth to her companions making them priuy to the place of his abode shewing how the church is his Garden and that he delighteth to be conuersant there yea the soule of euerye
of Gods promise in them selues which concerne euerlasting life yea and desiring to feele that comfort of his loue which for the time they can not feele Which I dare warrant to that soule that feeleth these in truth that they are sure arguments certain and infallible tokens that he is one with Christ For as that member which is a sléepe benoumed brused or hurt do not cease to be a mēber of the body though it looseth some strength for the time but is after recouered to strength and féeling again so euery hurt or wound which the saints of God haue of their infirmities is not by and by a cutting off from Christe For this continual societie or vnity of Christ with his Church is not for a time but for euer not onely in the whole Church but also in euery particuler member thereof Rom. 8.35.38.39 Paule triumpheth in the person of the beleeuers that nothing coulde seperate them from the loue of God which is in Iesus Christ our Lord. Though therfore many od thoughtes or surmises may incumber vs for a time so long as we dislike them in our selues stryuing against them groning for grace of God to suppresse them yet we may boldely saye with the spouse I am Christes and Christ is mine for so long as we hold him ours hauing a true hearty and longing desire after him so long wee are his Of this vnitye commeth necessarily that certainty of perseueraunce and of saluation 2. The certeinety of perseuerance and saluation of the saints which the Saintes of God haue in this life which is the second thing that I noted vnto you out of this conclusion of the Spouse For looke of what condition the roote and stock is concerning the vnity and abiding of the same condition and nature are the braunches but Christ the true root and Vine is eternal therfore his Church or company of the beleeuers which are the braunches of that Vine are eternal The head is eternal therfore the body and members are eternal The foundation of that spiritual house neuer decayeth therfore neyther the building The husband of the Church is euerlasting and can not perishe therefore the company of the beleeuers which are his wife can neuer perishe For the reason of the consequence of these argumētes standeth in the nature of those qualities that are in God and not in the nature of the things them selues For as Christ can not cease to be eternal no more then his father can so the state of the godly can not cease to be eternal vnles God and Christ shoulde cease from their eternity For whatsoeuer quality is resident in the nature of God is alwais the same because the Godhead is not mutable nor contrary in it selfe but alway like it selfe Wherefore vnlesse God and Christ shold cease to be them selues the Church or beleeuers which were elect before al time can not cease to be eternal in so much as the loue wherewith he loueth his eternal and chāgeth not For Io. 13.1 Those whom he loueth to the ende he loueth them So that the Godly which haue once in truth tasted of the loue of God can no more perishe then the loue of God it selfe can perish or his mercy come to an end This causeth the spouse in the confidence of Gods fauor to assure her selfe that Christ is hers Now as this is true in the whole Church that it is permanent and can not perishe but be saued So is it true in euery member wherby they may be assured of saluation in them selues and of their perserance How soeuer the Papists would hold soules in vnstablenes in suspence and doubt of their saluation alway Certaine it is that in some measure the children of God haue assuraunce of their saluation in this life though not at al times alike nor al men alike assurance That the Church or elect in general can not but be saued there is no man I suppose that doubteth But if any doubt I wil set down such proofs as come into my mind wherin the perseuerance of the elect shal easily appear but we must looke into thē with the eyes of faith for the eies of reason are not able once to looke vp into these misteries of faith psa 125.1.2 They that trust in the lord are as mount Sion which standeth fast for euer can not be remoued Also psa 89.30 God promiseth his mercies shal be eternal to Dauid after hee addeth that if his children sin Then I wil visit their transgressiō with the rod their iniquity with strokes Yet my louing kindnes wil I neuer take from him nor falsify my truth This being true in Dauid is also true in euery beléeuer Esa 43.4.7 he sheweth that as God maketh a precious account of his people loue them so they should be called by his name intitled to his inheritance he could not neglect their saluatiō but he must also neglect his own glory Likewise in his 49. chap he inferreth the church Esai 49.14 and verse 15 cōplaining that the lord had forsaken thē but the lord answereth that his loue surpasseth the dearest loue of mothers towards their children so as he can not forget them vnles he forget him self In so much as He hath grauen them in the palme of his hands and they are euer in his sight and verse 1◠The Lord Christ affirmeth Math. 16.18 That as the church is founded in him self So it should neuer perishe neither the gates of hel should preuail against it The like certainty of the saluation of the beléeuers our sauiour Christ auoucheth Ioh. 10. ver 28.29 That they which are his sheepe obey the voice of his worde shal neuer perish but haue euerlasting life Confirming his assertion by a reason drawn frō the nature of God his father that it was as impossible for any which truly beléeued in christ Iesus obeyed his voice to perish as it was for God his father him selfe to be ouercome which cā neuer be therfore nether can the beleeuers be frustrate of life saluation For he reasoneth that because his father he is one his father was of al power absolut that none cold euer master him or preuaile against him therefore none could euer master him or preuail against him therefore none could preuail against Christ him selfe being equal with his father in infinit power Therefore also consequently none can preuaile against the saluation of his elect which are in Christ Iesus So that God hath layde vp the saluation of euery beleeuer in him selfe in the heauens 1. Pet. 1.4.5 without the reach of Sathan hel the Pope and sinne so as we can not be defeated of it Yea none can depriue any of the Godly and faithful of their saluation vnlesse they first robbe God of his infinite power set Christ a side from that glory wherewith his father hath glorified him Yea shal I speake further But in reuerence of Gods frée grace the