the wisedome and knowledge of God What is man that he is so mindfull of him or the sonne of man whom he should visit and see a farre off For our condition is the selfe same which this prodigal mans was For when we were all a farre off from him Ephes 2 straungers from his couenaunt of promise aliants from the common wealth of Israel Ephe. 8 when wee were deade in sinne God who is rich in mercie hath quickened vs by graciouslie beholding vs. He hath chosen vs from all eternitie to bee his people and the sheepe of his pasture but not by our merits but by his mercies not that wee chose him but that hee chose vs and saw vs a farre off when wee did not see him Did not the Lord see Abraham a far off whenas he liued among the idolatrous Chaldeans and called him from thence and made a couenant of saluation with him that he would be his God and the god of his seed was not Adam before him seen a farre off whenas hee turning his eyes from him and fleeing from his presence God called him vnto him and lifted him vp being desperately deiected with the shame of sinne which hee newlie had committed with the promise of his grace by the seede of the woman by which this his sinne should againe be remitted Was not Dauid much exorbitant and exceeding far from God when as the Prophet Nathan was sent vnto him to call him home againe and bring him vnto God Did not God behold the Israelites afarre off from the habitation of his dwelling when hee did see the miserie of them in captiuitie and deliuered them out of the hands of their enemies brought their feete into a large roome by planting them in the pleasant promised lande of Canaan What should I rippe vp such varietie of examples as may serue this purpose Thus he beheld Mathew the customer Matt. 9 â—uk 19 â—phâ— 2 Zacheus the vsurer Paul the persecuter and vs the Gentils when we were as the Apostle saith a far off being without hope without god in the world calling vs his people who were not his people and his beloued who were not his beloued The grace of God therefore seeing vs a far off being in our sins draweth vs froÌ„ our sins calleth vs to a confession and repentance of our sinnes and pardoneth all our sinnes Without this there is nothing that we can doe of our selues being not able to thinke a good thought God must loose the bondes of thy necke O captiue daughter of Syon 〈◊〉 52 Peter denied his maister and wept not for God did not looke vpon him he denied him the second time and yet 〈◊〉 not weepe for why as yet the Lord did not looke vpon him hee denied him the thirde time and hee wept bitterly but the text saith that the Lord did look vpon him Luke 22 O Lord our God then looke vpon vs and then wee shall with Peter weepe bitterly for our sinnes The second Chapter Of the mercie and compassion by this father shewed vnto the prodigall sonne THe circumstance of the father his seeing his sonne whilest he was a farre off beeing first of all remembred in good order this inference of his compassion shewed him as an exposition of the same is immediatelie adioyned For God his seeing vs is no superficiall and bare sight of vs it consisteth not in an idle speculation but hee seeth vs to shewe mercie and compassion of vs and to worke our saluation God seeth not his seruants as hee doth the wicked caitifes Aâ—nas Caiphas Pilate and such like who stil remaine obdurate and hardened in their sinnes but he seeth them by bestowing his graces vppon them as Peter and Andrew Iames and Iohn Mat. 4 Ioh. 1 Luke 5 Nathanael and Matthew who forthwith left their nettes the seate of custome and vngodlie trade of sinne making them Apostles vessels and ministers of his great mercie There is verie great oddes betweene God his Great difference theâ— is betweene god his seeing vs and man his seeing vs. seeing vs and man his seeing vs. Oftentimes one Courtier is heard to say vnto another Did the Prince to day see thee and eftsoones he answereth I. But what of that for hee often is neuer a whit the better for it for infinite people doe crowde to see the Prince and the Prince eieth many of them and yet thereby benefiteth not any of them But if God seeth vs it is well with vs it cannot bee in vaine but effectuall vnto vs. For the eyes of the lord are the portall doores of pittie the windowes and casements that haue a prospect to saluation He alwaies beholdeth vs with the eyes of kindnesse Gen 19 Exod 3 Luke 19 Mark 14 Actes 9 as Abraham in Chaldea Loth in Sodome Zachee vpon the figge tree Peter in the high Priests hal the theefe vpon the crosse and Paul when he was Saul in his iourney to Damascus Howe happie was this for the prodigall sonne for his father to see him for immediatelie he had compassion of him so is it with vs hee hath mercie on vs as soone as hee seeth vs. Genes 26. That we maie say with Agar Thou Lord lookedst on me The issue whereof was that the Lorde did heare her tribulation Did God at any time looke vpon anie and did not shewe him mercie â—â—od 3 He looked vpon the Israelites and presentlie hee deliuered them from the Egyptians â—ark 14 He behelde Peter and the yse which before couered his heart when he abiured his Maister melted at the heate and fire of his spirit and made a great thawe so as streames of water and brinish teares issued from thence Hee saw Mathew as he went by the way gathering vp of mony Matt. 9 and forthwith he bestowed a better office of him and charged him to gather vp soules vnto him He sawe certaine fishermen Matt. 4 Iohn 9 and he ordained them fishers of men Hee saw him that was blind from his birth and his sight was restored him He sawe multitudes following him Matth. 5 and hee opened his mouth and taught them Iohn 6 Hee lifted vppe his eyes and sawe another multitude following him and hee communed with Philip about bread and prouision of victuals for them Luke 1 Hee did looke on the low estate of his handmaid and hereupon the virgin peremptorilie concludeth that All generations shall call her blessed Gods eyes are compared to the Doues eyes vpon the riuers of water Cant. 5 because they are most pure cleane and simple farre from all euill and full of all goodnesse Matt. 3 In respect whereof the holie Ghost when he descended assumed vnto himselfe the forme of a Doue Dauid vniteth and knitteth togither Gods sight and Gods mercie because towardes his Saints they cannot bee sundred Oh Lorde looke vpon mee Psal 24 and bee mercifull vnto me for I am poore and in miserie Else where hee singeth
his affections his whole course of life which dependeth thereupon for as the feet doe beare vp the bodie and carie it to and fro whither they list so all our actions are carried by our affections and are ruled by their fancies This much our Sauiour Christ doth insinuate by his washing his Apostle Peters feete and by his replication and answer vnto Peter when as he refused it saying vnto him Ioh 13 If I wash thee not thou shalt haue no part with me For indeede all our actions and endeuours are so filthie and vncleane in his sight partly through our naturall most sinfull corruption which bringeth foorth in vs all sordid and vilde lusts partlie through the custom condition of the worlde which beeing wholie set vpon euill enticeth vs to filthinesse and that with greedinesse as vnlesse Christ washeth vs by giuing vnto vs a cleane heart and renuing his holie spirit in vs by regenerating vs with water and the holy Ghost wee can neuer enter into the kingdome of heauen Nowe because there is none so cleansed from the filth of sinne but that he is daylie defiled againe with it For as they who doe enter into a bathe A similitudâ— and do wash their whole bodies if they doe but touch the ground with their feete they doe so pollute them and beray them anew as they haue need of a newe washing so wee beeing cleansed from our sinnes by Christ and iustified by his grace we presently set our affections vpon earth and defile our selues againe with our sinfull workes so as it is most needfull that our feete shoulde alwayes bee purified and made cleane This is done by the preaching of the worde which guideth our feete aright in the workes of his lawes and wayes of his commaundements and ordereth our goinges that our footsteps may not slide Thus the father conferred a threefolde grace A three fold grace vpon his gracelesse sonne His preuenting grace his following grace his finishing and perfitting grace He preuented him with his grace when hee saw him first and espied him aloofe off when as he saw not him when he shewed mercie on him and did runne vnto him and graciouslie did fall vppon his necke and kissed him Of this grace the Apostle Paul speaketh when as hee sayeth Gala. 1 Hee separated mee from my mothers wombe and called me by his grace He followed him with his grace when he caused shooes to be put vpon his feete preparing him and enabling him to walke in his wayes drawing his feete out of the nette out of the pit of mire and clay and bringing them into a large roome and finallie guiding them in the way of peace Of the same grace the same apostle speaketh likewise thus I haue laboured more then all nor I 1. Cor. 15 but the grace of God in me Of his finishing grace we shall intreate in the next Chapter which is shewed by the banquet myrth and musicke which was prouided for him And this is that whereof the same Apostle Paul speaketh in this maner Phil. 3 It is God that worketh in 〈◊〉 to will and to performe By this mans ornaments we are taught how we aâ—â— to be câ—â—aâ—â—ed if we bee his children and bee with him conuerted The marks of those that are to be conuerted from our former sinnes We must go arayed with the wedding garment of holinesse of life of puritie of conscience Euery one of vs must bee as the â—oet sayth Integer vitâ— scelerisque purâ—â—s We must haue the ring and earnest of the spirit wherby we are sealed vnto the day of redemption Thirdly and lastly wee must haue â—hâ—oes vpon our feete whereby we may walke wâ—â—â—â— offence in our seuerall callings wherein God hath placed vs by these we shall be knowne whether wee bee liue or counterfeit professors The seuenth Chapter Of the banquet myrth and musâ—â—â— wherewith the father welcommed his sonne THe father dooth followe his sonne with such fauour as is straunge and admirable Hee had abundantlie declared his affections by his former mercies but yet that which followeth exceedeth all the rest For it is such as I suppose our dull senses are not able to conceiue the tongue of men or Angels in no wise can expresse Wherefore being to enter into this huge Ocean sea of celestiall ioyes which the righteous lord prepareth for repentant sinners who do truly turne to him I faint with Peter when hee walked vpon the sea and I crie out with Peter Saue me maister least I perish Matth. 13 1. Sam 18 Is it a small thing saith Dauid to be the kings sonne What am I and what is my life or my familie of my father in Israel that I should be sonne in lawe to the King Much surely must be done vnto the man whom the king will honour Esther 7 for for him must bee brought royall apparell which the king vseth to weare and the horse that the King rideth vpon and the crowne royall must bee set vpon his head the rayment and the horse must be deliuered by the hande of one of the kinges most noble princes as saith Haman to king Ahashurosh This honour hath beene shewed to this despised person as to another Mordecai the royall robe by the kings most noble princes his holie ministers hath beene put vpon him The crowne imperiall is now bestowed vpon him now is there triumph feasting and reioycing in the lande of the liuing When as Haman was in his magnificence and prosperitie Esther 5 and was inuited vnto the kings table he could not refraine boasting hee must needes call his wife and friendes togither to publish it vnto them wee haue iust cause to boast our selues of our felicitie that God hath prepared a table for vs in despite of our enemies and we haue receyued the cup of saluation and he maketh vs now to heare of ioy and gladnes that the bones which hee hath broken might reioyce This banquet heere mentioned is not simply and groslie to be taken but it is spirituallie to be vnderstoode For we must not so baselie thinke of the ioyes of the worlde to come as to place them among the carnal and fleshly delights of this present euill world Iohn 6 Here is another meate then you are aware of as Sauiour Christ sayth The kingdome of God is not meate or drinke but righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holie Ghost There is no neede of meate and drinke in heauen for wee can die no more forasmuch as we shall bee like vnto the Angels as Christ tolde the Sadduces Wherefore let vs not groslie bee conceyued and deceyued with Mahomet who was the first that prescribed lawes to the Turkes and Saracens whose God was his bellie whose lawes were his lusts who was carnallie minded Luke 32 Christ promiseth to such who abide with him and continue in temptations that they shall haue a kingdome and that they shall eat and drinke at his table in
his kingdome But this and such like speeches are figuratiue and borowed and are taken from the vse and practise of princes whoÌ„ they vse whom they vouchsafe most of all to honour to call vnto their Tables and prepare banquets for them This fâ—â—st is therefore his honour and renowne which his â—ther giueth him and thereby hee sigfieth nothing else but his vnâ—â—ined loue towardes him The câ—â—â—â—â—en of this wâ—â—d can by no better meanes expresse the ioyes which at any time they 〈◊〉 thâ—â— by making of a fâ—â—st and therefore 〈…〉 most occasion oâ—â—â—â—â—ste they 〈…〉 dâ— sâ—â—st among 〈…〉 the fathers ioy 〈…〉 sâ—fe returne 〈…〉 ioy that his sonne 〈…〉 â—of There â—niâ—g then of this place is that his 〈◊〉 doth now â—mâ—y all honour and felicitie hee iâ— now satisfied to vse the wordes of the kinglie â—ropâ—â—â— when his glorie doth appeare This table 〈…〉 happinesse 〈◊〉 â—7 and the pleasant Necâ—ar and Ambroâ—â—â— therof is ioy without sorrow health wiâ—hâ—ut sicknesse strength without weaknes and l â—e wi hout death In comparison wherof al worldlie ioy is heauines al sweetnes sowrenes all prospeâ—â—â— most miserable infelicitie This is that Table which our Sauiour Christ preacheth of saying 〈◊〉 14 I gâ—â— to prepare a place for you and when I am gone and haue prepared you a place I will come againe and take you vnto my selfe that where I am there may you be also Whereunto also answereth this his other saying Father I will that those whome thou hast giuen mee bee with mee 〈◊〉 17 that they may see my glorie which thou hast giuen mee became thou hast loued me before the foundations of the world were layd Vnder the fat Câ—â—â—â— he comprehendeth the whole course and workes our saluation for this 〈◊〉 Calfe is Christ who 〈…〉 is his father 〈…〉 before the 〈…〉 â—nd most sweet◠〈…〉 â—nâ—â—ed vnto â—s a 〈…〉 〈◊〉 vs 〈…〉 the sinne 〈◊〉 woâ—ld and 〈…〉 oâ—â—â—red vp â—â—e is 〈◊〉 now â—â—ne 〈…〉 〈◊〉 â—eing put into new vâ—ssâ—ls 〈…〉 〈…〉 the heart of man He 〈…〉 câ—mâ—â—â—owne from heauen which nourâ—â— â—hâ—◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 seed of 〈◊〉 in faith vnto eternall life He is the fountaine of liuing water Iohn â— of which whosoeuer â—â—keth shall not thirst anie more And what iâ— he not else â—â—n 14 Iohn 16 He is the waie by which wee enter into the heauenlie marriage Hee is the light which disâ—sseth darknes which like the clowdie Pillaâ— which went before the Israelits giueth vs light in the night season 1. Cor. 1 and guideth vs in the path and way that wee should walke Finallie he is made of his â—ather Wisdom sustification Sanctification and redâ—mption In him the fulnes of the Godheade bâ—d he doeth dwell In him is our râ—â—hteousnesse our peace Coâ— â— Râ—â—â— 4 our ioy in the holie Ghost To this purpâ—â—e 〈◊〉 reuerend Chrysostâ—◠〈…〉 not aâ—â—â— well Christ become all things 〈…〉 thy â—aâ—e thy garment thy house thy 〈◊〉 and thy roote To whome câ—menteth Gâ—â—â—en 〈…〉 Verbum dei caro dicitur panis lac holera The word of God is called flesh and bread and milke and hearbes Answerable hereunto is this of Nazianzen â—rig in Exo. ca. 15. hom 7 Nazian in Psal 44. Our Lord Iesus Christ is called the life the way the bread the wine the true light and a thousand things else so is hee also called the sworde Hom. 2. in Cantica Origen sayth Appellatur panis vitae vt habeat gustus animae quod degustet Hee is called the breade of life that the soule maie haue whereupon to feede Oh let vs therefore returne from our sinnes and come home vnto our father that wee may taste howe sweete the Lorde is By him alone are our hungrie soules fedde and by nothing else Whatsoeuer meate is dressed by any other Cooke and ministred vnto vs it is not nourishable but poysonable vnto vs. For they sell that which is not breade as Esay Esay 55 witnesseth and they sâ—rue vs with that which is not able to satisfie vs But in Christ wee haue whatsoeuer wee can wante All thinges are ours as the Apostle sayth So that wee may say with Dauid The Lorde is my shephearde 1. Cor. 3 Psa 13 therefore I can want â—othing And with Paule Blessed bee God euen the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ who hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessinges in heauenlie things in Christ Ephes 4 For how can it be but that hee who hath giuen his owne sonne for vs Rom. 8 should not also giue to vs all things with him To this feasting is adioyned all melodie and reioycing which hath another vnderstanding as the former For thereby the true ioy of penitent sinners aswell in this life as in the life to come is verie plainlie meant The Saints of God doe reioyce in their beds as the Prophete Dauid sayeth For beeing iustified through fayth they haue peace towards God and therefore they haue ioy also in afflictions This is true ioy in deede and all other ioy is counterfeite in respect of this For ioy is aunswerable to desire as rest is vnto motion When there is nothing more to bee desyred our ioy muste bee perfect Nowe in heauen all out desires are obtayned yea more then wee can desire For the eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard and the heart of man can not conceyue what God hath layde vppe in store for those that loue him No maruell then it was that Iohn the Baptist did spring so for ioy in his mothers wombe Luke â— and Anna the mother of Samuel singeth thus secretlie in her soule to God My hart reioyceth in the Lord my horne is exalted in the Lord. Euerie mans marriage day is ioyfull vnto him A similitude and is celebrated with gladnesse much more must ioy and gladnesse bee in the dwellings of the righteous when they are conuerted from their sinnes to God Trees when they first budde A similitude and are arrayed with leaues and blossomes of sundrie colours are louelie to behold so when a sinner that hath beene deade through sinne beginneth to conuert and to shew the blossoms and first fruits of amendment of life â—e iâ— most delightfull But of this subiect wee shall 〈◊〉 particularly and largelie discourse in the last Chapter The eight Chapter Of 〈◊〉 which God conceiueth of a sinners 〈…〉 in the ioie and triumph 〈◊〉 is made upon the returne of the prodigâ—l sonâ—â— AS the Fathâ—r maketh great ioâ—e â—nd triumph vpon his sonnes â—â—â—â—rne so good â—â—â—â—on mouâ—â— him therâ—â—â—o As he is all wisdome so hee doth nothing iustly but 〈…〉 His 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 goodâ—â—s and mercie 〈…〉 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 propertie of God to bee 〈…〉 is sorrowfull of a sâ—â—â—â—s 〈…〉 other side of his 〈…〉 dâ—â—truction Câ—â— â— as when â—â—e 〈…〉 wâ—â—ld 〈…〉 and desâ—â—â—â—â—d 〈…〉 sword 〈…〉 So 〈…〉 as it is shewed by three â—arablâ—s 〈…〉 present Chapter of
and Christ gaue immediately life to his sonne Iohn 4 and faith to the father which the father desired not Exod. 33 Moses desired God that he might see his glorie but God answered him I will make all my good go before thee It is easie to rip vp many mo examples furtherto enlarge this coÌ„fortable doctrine but these may satisfie a beleeuing Christian Wherefore let the diligent regard hereof raise vp our soules whensoeuer they are smitten and cast downe with sorrowes by reason of our sinnes and doubt we not to approach before him be we neuer so sinfull he being so mercifull The eleuenth Chapter Of the felicitie of the faythfull figured by the mutuall myrth and melodie that was made for the ioyfull welcomming home of the prodigall sonne THe Catastrophe of this Comedie and conclusion of this hystorie is exceeding comfortable for it endeth with myrth and ioy without ende In this man is fulfilled this Aphorisme of the Prophet Psal 126 He that goeth on his way mourning and carieth out good seed doubtlesse shall returne home againe with ioy and bring his sheaues with him This mans estate liuelie representeth our future condition For if we shall returne home from our euill wayes vnto our fathers house with him wee shall bee partakers of his ioy with him Hee shall turne our heauinesse into ioy hee shall put off our sacke cloath and gird vs with gladnesse Wee shall be filled with the plenteousnesse of his house and he shall giue vs drinke of his pleasures as out of a riuer The holie spirit of God taketh a great grace in shrowding and cowching matters of maine moment vnder the fewest words that may be It is the fashion of the world in their fabulous discourses to vse tedeous circumstances Proijcit ampullas Horat. in a poetic sequipedalia verba it rappeth on such a tumultuous confusion of wordes as to one thing that is true you shall haue the admixture of innumerable lies A similitude It is the tricke of such as are deformed to paint out themselues and to set a good die vpon a bad cloath to bragge it out and to beare out their blemishes with their brauerie Such m ate as is vnsauorie A similitude must be set out with such sawce as may stirre vp the appetite for otherwise the stomacke cannot digest it but the simple truth howsoeuer â—are and naked it appeareth is exceeding beautifull Salomon in his royaltie may not bee matched with it The truth of Gods word is full of sucke and sappe it is meate that may be rellished without curious cooking it Lo here howe the vnspeakable ioyes of heauen are trussed vp in a worde They began to be merrie And truly when wee haue sayde what wee can of the ioyes of heauen though we had the tongues of Angels wee must at the last come to this poynt and conclude with the spirite That then we shall be merrie For myrth and gladnesse is the totall summe â—poc 7 The Lord shall wipe away all teares from our eyes But yet howsoeuer we cannot wade through the depth hereof yet cursorilie and as it were passing by it it is not amisse that wee take a taste of it It is to bee distinguished from the momentanie myrth which this world affoordeth vs deceitfull and changeable 〈◊〉 24 For the myrth of tabrets ceaseth the noyse of them that reioyce ceaseth and the ioy of the harpe ceaseth 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ilitude The miserable mirth of worldlings is like the fonde ioy of birdes picking vp of corne vnder nets that are spred for them And of fishes that greedily swallow vp the baite wherewith the hooke is couered A similitude As strong poyson is often mingled with our pleasant meates as the whore of Babylon tempered the dregges of her fornication in a golden bowle of wine so sorrow is often shrowded vnder the veile of ioy our table and delightes are often snares vnto vs and the way to death Such mirth is but in shewe it is no myrth indeede A similitudâ— It is like the Bowlderbushes growing in the fennes which in the spring and summer season haue a liuely greene hew and smel much outwardlie but if you breake them they haue nothing at all within them It is therefore rather to be franticke and madde then to be any thing else to bee misled with such myrth A similitudâ— and who soeuer are miscarried with it they resemble madde men who being in a phrenzie and neare vnto their death do smile and make laughter A similituâ—â— Whilest the voyce of man commeth out it promiseth much matter for manye thinges do concurre before it bee expressed the tongue the teeth the palate and the lips and when all come to all it is nothing but a sounde reuerberating the ayre so manie thinges doe conspire and meete togither to allure vs and delight vs in our worldlie merriments but when our breath goeth out of vs and we returne vnto our dust and the earth is our couering our ioy departeth from vs. But our myrth in our fathers house in the life to come is the onely durable and complete myrth There wee shall see what can bee desired 1 Cor. 2 and beyond our desires For the eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither can the heart conceiue the things that God hath prepared for them that loue him Wee shall there hunger no more neither thirst anie more Reuel 7 neyther shall the Sunne light on vs neither anie heate for the Lambe which is in the middest of the throane shall gouerne vs and shall leade vs vnto the liuely fountaines of waters and God shal wipe away al teares from our eyes This myrth in some sort may bee manifested vnto vs by the myrth in this worlde which wee often vppon sundrie occurrences doe conceyue The myrth is much which is among friends kinsfolkes and allyes vppon their ioynt meeting hauing before beene a long time sundred Gen. 45 When Ioseph made himselfe knowne to his brethren it passeth the ioy that was then betwixt them Ioseph was so rauished with the sight of them as hee could not refrayne teares crying out so loudlie as the house sounded with the noyse of it the Egyptians heard it the house of Pharao heard it also But the heauens shall clappe their handes the Saints shall reioyce and sing â—â—uel 7 crying with a lowde voyce saying Saluation commeth of our God that sitteth vpon the Throne and of the Lambe trebbling and quauering with sweete concent and assent 〈◊〉 12 Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabbaoth when we come vnto the mount Syon and citie of the liuing God to the celestial Hierusalem companie of innumerable Angels and to Iesus the mediator of the newe Testament where wee shall all meet togither and sit with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the resurrection of the iust At our solemne feasts there vse to bee solemne ioy Esther 1 When king