OBEDIENCE TO the Gospell TWO SERMONS CONTEINING FRVTEFVL MATTER both of doctrine and exhortation very needefull to be knowne and practised in these our dayes vpon the words of the holy ghost written by the Euangelist S. Luke chapter 2. verses 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20 conteining the effect of the birth of Christ reuealed by the Angell of God in the sheepeherds and others that heard of it GATHERED OVT OF THE SERmons of IOHN VDALL Preacher of the worde of God at Kingston vpon Thames and published at the request of some of them that heard them preached ROM 10. 16. But they haue not all obeyed the Gospell for Esa◅ sayth Lord who hath beleeued our report AT LONDON Imprinted for T. Man W. B. and N.L. 1584. TO THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTES PEOPLE IMBRACING THE TRVTH OF THE GOspel by a liuely faith and obedience to the same the ordinarie hearers of the worde of God at Kingston vpon Thames IOHN VDALL wisheth increase of knowledge faith reformation of life Zeale all other vertues of true godlines and holines in this world and the rewarde of the same thorough the mercie of God in Iesus Christ in the world to come SEEING it hath pleased the Lord of his great mercie and goodnes to vouchsafe vnto vs that inestimable treasure of his holy word the preciousnes whereof surmounteth all things vnder the sunne wherein he doth offer euen his owne selfe vnto vs and teacheth vs the way whereby we may come vnto him it behoueth vs with all reuerence and feare to imbrace the same preferring it before any thing that we can desire vpon the earth And forasmuch as it hath pleased him to put that precious treasure in these earthly vessells subiect vnto corruption and mortality which by the natural disposition that they are of will striue to infect all the fruite of that precious treasure with the stenche of sinnefull and vngodly desires we are diligently to watch and contend that we see that these fleshly and inordinate motions that seeke so greatly to extinguish euery good thing may be dayly more and more kept vnder that the word of God may by the working of his holy spirit get the victorie in our harts and sit there as a Prince to rule the cogitations therof captiuing them daily vnto the kingdom of Iesus Christ thorough obedience to his most blessed will The which forsomuch as it is done especially by the ministery of the word wherein the Lord hath printed such force that it throweth downe all munitions reared against it and vnto the worke of the same hath appointed me among you of many other most vnable to do that which he commaundeth and my duety requireth at my hands it standeth both me and you in hand to be most heedefull that we be not carelesse in these great and weighty matters which doe concerne the glory of Almightie God and the eternall saluation both of our soules and bodies and so much the rather because Satan fearing the continuance of the world to be short and therefore that which he doeth for the aduancement of his owne kingdome he must doe it quickly laboureth by his instruments with tooth and naile to extinguish the light of the glorious Gospell that it should not shine with open face vnto Gods people for we see daily what mischieuous practises he broacheth what errors he spreadeth what slaunders he inuenteth what lyes he disperseth and all to discredite the course of religion the truth whereof we doe feele and see in our owne experience for you knowe what enimitie the establishment of the Gospell amongst you had by your enuious foes that would haue kept you still in palpable ignorance with themselues howe many pullbacks and hinderances were deuised and be daily inuented to stay the course thereof all which for so much as thorough the mercie of God to vs-ward they haue not had that successe which the authors hoped for they labour now and haue done continually to imagine slaūderous lyes and most wicked forgeries which they doe daily spread abroad to the ende to defame the religion which we professe so that there is not almost any sinne that can be committed but it is fathered vpon some of vs which deuillish dealing albeit we know that it shall turne to their eternall destruction vnlesse the Lorde in mercie giue them grace to repent yet notwithstāding we may learne a very good lesson out of the same and make a profitable vse of it vnto our selues let me therefore intreate you to marke with diligence this which I shall write vnto you as you are wont to doe when I doe speake The greatest accusation you knowe in generall that your foes the aduersaries of the Gospell doe charge you with is that you professe one thing and practise another that you say well and doe naughtily that you reprehēd others you your selues being worse which in deede is a most heinous accusation and such a thing as your owne selues can witnesse I neuer haue winked at but most carefully reproued and such a thing as our religion neither teacheth nor permitteth for it is of that force where it entreth that it will reforme all these things in measure in those that haue it within them This slaunder goeth yet further for our profession is accused to be seditious contentious and troublesome vnto the state and enemie to good order and gouernment we our selues accounted malicious proude finding rather fault with others than amending our selues seeking rather for singularitie than loue and charitie You are not ignorant of the sleights of Satan and therfore knowing that he was from the beginning an accuser and lyar may the better by the mercie of God haue vse of your knowledge to comfort you in these temptations But marke how the Lord maketh Satan his imps to be as spurs and pricks to driue the godly forward though they be very grosse and dull in the beholding of their owne faults for Satan casteth a myste ouer their eyes when they should see them yet they be very quicke eyed to prye into the doings of others especially the godly and are able if our foote doe but slip to find it out and haue it as a reason to discredit our profession which aboue all things we labour to keepe vnspotted Therefore it behooueth you to looke diligently vnto your selues to watch your owne soules to attend and looke vnto euery worde that you speake euery thought that you thinke and euery action that you commit to examine it diligently by the line of Gods word which is the touchstone that wil either approue it or disproue it and if you find by the vndoubted warrant thereof that it is lawfull and that you ought to doe it then let neither slaunder speach of people deuill nor hell staye you from the practise thereof but if thorough the remnants of old Adam you be at any time allured to doe or speake any thing that either is forbidden or hath no warrant from the word of God
care ouer Gods glory nor loue to them but either to shew themselues buste in carping with others or else of an arrogant brauery for praise to be accounted religious persons whose accusation thoughe it may fall out to be true in some for we haue examples of both in the Scriptures Iudas was a buste body carping at the déede of Marie for spending the precious ointmeÌ„t vpon Christ that might haue bene sold and giuen to the poore and Simon Magus was an arrogant person who desired the gifts of the holy ghost for vaine glory sake rather then to doe good with them Yet it is no excuse for them for though a man reproue me of malice mistrust me of vaine glory yet that is only to him and not to me I must respecte the thing which is for my owne benefite and not the intent of the party which he shall answere for Therefore seeing the worlde cannot abide this and yet thou seest it inioyned vnto thée from the Lord be carefull that in thy owne conscience thou be not guiltie of any sinister minde in doing it and then let them storme neuer so much thou standest vpon a sure foundation and dischaâ—…â—…st thy duety so that his bloud shall be vpon his owne heade It is said here of them that they published abroad the thing which was tolde them of that child that is all that they had heard no more shewing their faithfulnesse for our instruction that as God hath giuen his word so would he haue it al published made known as he hath perfected it himselfe so is it hys wil that we should neither adde to it nor detract from it but leaue it as we find it a lesson that is very néedefull to be learned For the world doth commit high treason against God in this point on both sides some doe estéeme certaine pointes of doctrine too high misteryes and therfore would not haue them medled withall but buried in silence as namely the doctrine of Gods eternall predestination the very staffe vndoubted stay of our hope in Iesus Christ which is moste largely handeled in many places of the Scripturs at large and euen as it were discoursed vpon of purpose Especially by the holy apostle S. Paule in two seuerall places the which whosoeuer would haue vnknowen doth accuse God either of lacke of discretion to set y â— downe in his reuealed word that is not to be taught or of folly to trouble himselfe in reuealing it and man in séeking to know a néedelesse thing Others not hauing the right vse of Gods word doe in some thinges thinke it insufficient and therefore they must adde forsooth some deuise of their owne braine whereby the Scriptures might be made perfect and these do accuse the Lord of great carelesnesse ouer his Church that would giue them such an vnper fect lawe wherby all and euery cause and person in his Church cannot be directed and therefore letting them both goe let vs imbrace all Gods worde and nothing else let vs publish that all and nothing but it by the example of these shéepheardes We may yet further behold in them the victorie of the spirit against the flesh there were diuerse reasons to induce theÌ„ not to beléeue it as the basenesse of his birth the simplicitie of his mother and contemptiblenesse of his kindred for the stocke of Dauid in those dayes was most hated by the heathen kinges and gouenours There were also reasons to moue them though they did beléeue it yet not to publish it as that Herod would be his enimie because he shoulde be king of the Iewes and so they clapte in prison for spreading it abroade that the Phareseis and Scribes woulde be grieued wih it because they looked for a Messias comming in worldly pompe so would excomunicate these poore sheepheardes if they confessed this child to be Christ so that they might feare both the gouernours of the church and also of the comon wealth to be against them which must néeds bring vnto them great trouble and as for Christ he was but a child and his kindred being poore and therfore his partie weake they coulde haue no rescue at his handes from their violence but none of these considerations troubled them so as to feare them from publishing it why because they were fully perswaded that the saluation both of their soules and bodies rested only in that child and therefore it was their duty to vse al meanes that the glory of God might be aduaunced for it by whose example we may learne a moste necessary lesson Many thereby that take vpon them the profession of Christ who notwithstanding by the consideration either of his base estate or for feare of wordly losse or tribulatioÌ„ for his sake or by one temptation or other are driuen backe from that sincere course that once they did practise whose doinges are cleane contrary to the doinges of these shéepeheardes this then is the lesson for vs where the feare of God taketh roote religion is once truly sealed in the heart by Gods holy spirit the seale of y â— glory of God doth so possesse that man that al worldly considerations cease that agrée not with it al alurements are lothsome that draw him from it and all afflictioÌ„s are swéete that come to him with it this is a most necessary meditation in these our dayes wherein men are so generally carried away with the pleasures delights and riches of this present world that there séemeth to be eueÌ„ such a reuolt as was in the time of our sauiour Christ when many of his disciples went backeward insomuch that Christ may say to a very small number that serue him truly now will you goe too whose stay and comfort is that beauenly aunswere of Peter to whom should we goe Seing Christ hath the wordes of eternall life whome we beléeue and knowe to come from God and to haue all the treasures of knowledge and wisdome hidden in him The Lord open our eyes that we may sée his waies truly walke in the same Let vs pray THE SECOND SERMON OF OBEDIENCE TO THE Gospell Luke 2. verse 18. And all that heard it wondered at the things that were told them of the sheepheardes NOWE followeth the second sort of people wher in this thing was effectuall for the third thing y â— is to be considered in the shéepheardes because the holy ghost hath set it last in the text I will also referre it vnto the latter ende for it is said when they heard of the shéep heardes both the thing that was come to passe and also the mean parties by whoÌ„ they wondered for euery point of religion is straunge to naturall men wherein we may sée y â— wonderful force of gods word which carrieth with it such a maiestye that it béeing sincerely deliuered shaketh the heartes euen of all estates of men Which we may also learne of the Lord himselfe by the
then reason thus with your selues this is not agreeable to my profession this is contrary to that I haue learned this will procure the name of God to be dishonoured my religion to be defamed and my selfe to be discredited therefore though it might be gainefull delightfull or any other way pleasure me I may not doe it this you had neede to marke very well for I tell you you haue many lookers on that would laugh to see your fall you dwell in a country where the Gospell is very litle preached insomuch that your ignorant neighbours make them selues sport to mocke at you that will be so foolish as to suffer your selues to be seduced by the Scriptures you haue godlesse and profane men that doe deride you Libertines and freewill men that doe despise you worldlings and bellygods that doe carpe at you insomuch that you haue very great neede to walke warily that it standeth you vpon to behaue your selues circumspectly therefore doe thus be diligent in publike hearing and as it may stand with your calling priuate reading of the worde of God for that is the onely schoolemaister to teach you all truth vsing daily and hartie prayer vnto God for the presence of his holy spirite to teach you the true meaning thereof looke what you finde therein required of euery Christian be carefull to doe it in your dealing with others deale faithfully without facing out of ill matters without swearing or lying reproue others with the spirite of mildnes that doe amisse in your presence shewe your selues obedient vnto all authoritie that is appointed of God and that for conscience sake Bring vp your children and seruants in the feare of God instructing them in the principles of religion detract no man secretly but tell them plainely of their faults to conclude shewe your selues approued vnto the Lord in the testimonie of a good conscience being alwaies carefull to seeke the glorie of God and benefit of your brethren be alwaies in worde and deede that which according to the Scriptures ye professe and then let Satan broach his lyes let the wicked carry them abroad let godlesse persons hate you as long as they may it shall turne to their shame at the length as to our great comfort we see it doth daily and being a triall of your patience to your greater glorie in the kingdome of heauen and let not the glory of this world bewitch you for ye are not of this world let not the successe of godlesse persons dismay you for the world loueth his owne and is liberall vnto them let not the slaunders of the wicked discourage you for because you runne not on into the same excesse of riot with them therefore they speake euill of you let not the multitude of your aduersaries feare you for God is strōger then all men let not the threatnings of great ones daunt you for their heartes are in the handes of the Lord to be guided at his pleasure let not the pronenesse of your owne nature seduce you for he that liueth after the flesh shall die let not the crosses that accompanye the Gospell wearie you for they bring the ioyfull fruite of righteousnesse to all that are exercised thereby so shall the name of God be glorified by you so shall your foes be put to flight your profession known to be the truth of the eternall God that liueth for euer Now to come to speake of these present sermons which I haue dedicated chiefly vnto you partly for that by that calling which the Lorde hath layd vpon me I am at this instant bound by all lawfull meanes to doe you good partly because it is the earnest sute of some of you to haue them penned partly for that they contain in them sundrye pointes of religion which you doe professe and for which you are of the world condemned that euery man may see thereby the impudencie of Satan that dare note Gods owne word with the marke of infamie onely let me craue this at your hands as a recompence for my trauaile that you woulde expresse the doctrine in your liues that I haue expressed though simply yet truly therein that I may once see in you all that zeale which the example of these sheepeherds may teach you then shal I thinke my labour well bestowed when the beames of righteousnesse doe breake forth as the sun at noone day which the Lord for his mercie graunt in his Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ to whome with the father and the holy ghost be all honor and glorie both now and for euer Amen Your seruant for Iesus Christes sake his vnworthy messenger IOHN VDALL The table The birth of Christ reuealed by the Angells did worke effectually in the sheepeherds in whome are to be considered these things their conference the time when it was 1. the maner of it 2. their iorney in going with haste vnto the place where the childe was 3. the fruite of the conference and iorney 1. founde the child 4. 2. published it abroad 5. returned praysing God 6. the people who wondered at the thinges which they had heard 7. Marye who kept all these things 8. pondred them in her hart 9. Two sermons of obedience to the Gospell Luke 2. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Verse 15. AND it came to passe when the Angels were gone away from them into heauen that the sheepeherds sayd one to another let vs goe then vnto Beth-leem and see this thing that is come to passe which the Lord hath shewed vnto vs. 16 So they came with haste and found both Marie and Ioseph and the babe layde in the cratch 17 And when they had seene it they published abroad the thing which was tolde them of that child 18 And all that heard it wondered at the things which were told them of the sheepeherds 19 But Marie kept all those things and pondered them in her heart 20 And the sheepeherds returned glorifieng and praising God for all that they had heard and seene as it was spoken vnto them WHEN the birth of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ was made manifest vnto the shéepeherds that were kéeping their shéepe by night it wrought effectually as you haue heard first in the Angels of God that they were moued to praise and glorifie God saying glorie to God in the highe heauens and peace in earth towards men good will Whereby they both declared that all praise honor and glorie was due to God for the work of Christs incarnation and also made knowne the blessing of god y e was shewed vpon mankind thereby to wit that here on earth they should féele themselues at peace in conscience because of the full perswasion of the remission of their sinnes and also should be tyed together one to another in a true league of spirituall vnitie all which floweth neither from mans will nor desert but onely from the frée fauour and good will of God our heauenlye father Secondly it wrought most effectually in mankind generally
so many as were made partakers of the knowledge thereof Which parties remayne now together with the doctrine conteined in the historie of them to be considered of that we may learne out of the same such doctrine as may serue for our edification comfort the place of Scripture therefore that we may procéede according to our ordinarie maner offereth the doings of thrée sorts of people to our consideration 1. The shéepeherds 2. The people that heard of it 3. Marie In the doings of the shéepeherds the holy ghost setteth downe their conference their iorney to the place where it was told that Iesus was and the fruite or euent of their iorney In the conference there is set downe the time when it was and the thing it selfe The maner of their iorney is set downe to be in haste the fruite or euent that came of it is thréefold first that they found Marie and Ioseph and the child secondly published those things that they had heard thirdly which is in the last verse of all they returned glorifieng and praysing God The second sort is the multitude that wondered at the thing The third is Marie y ◠kept al these things and pondered them in her heart These be the braunches of the matter conteined in this text And it came to passe that when c. The first braunch that is to be considered of is the time when these shéepeherds conferred to wit presently vpon the departure of the Angells that is as soone as euer the Angells had made an ende of speaking and were gone from them they began to consider with themselues that the matter was of great importance and therefore not to be deferred that it was a thing most necessary and therefore not to be neglected but further to be enquired after Out of which we haue to learne for our instruction two profitable doctrines First that we may not linger or prolong the time in the performance of those things that God enioyneth vnto vs we may not deferre the matter vntil hereafter but presently vpon the hearing of his worde by his ministers we must obey it the reason whereof is most apparant for when God speaketh then doth he offer the thing whereof he speaketh If he threaten his iudgements for sinne his word speaking the same his hand is ready to powre downe the thing if he teach vs any point of doctrine for the confirmation of our faith then is he ready with his spirite to seale the same in our hearts if he exhort vs vnto amendment of life with promise of reward then doth he mercifully bind him selfe to the performance of the same so that we may surely settle our faith vpon an vndoubted expectation of it the which doctrine is notably vrged in the epistle to the Hebrewes out of the saying of Dauid to day if ye will heare his voice harden not your hearts Where the holy ghost doth tell vs that whensoeuer the worde of God is preached vnto vs euen at that instant doth Almighty God offer his mercie and maketh this vse of it that then we should not harden our harts with contempt or carelesse harkening therevnto and to imprint it the déeper in our hearts the Lord by the mouth of Salomon hath vttered this fearefull threatning because I haue called sayth he and ye refused I haue stretched out myne hand none woulde regard but ye haue despised all my counsell and would none of my correction I will also laugh at your destruction c. then shall they call vpon me but I will not answere they shall séeke me earely but they shall not finde me because they hated knowledge and did not choose the feare of the Lord wherevnto that of the Prophet accordeth beholde the dayes come sayth the Lorde God that I will send a famine in the land not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water but of hearing the word of the Lord and they shall wander from sea to sea and from the north euen vnto the east shal they runne to and fro to séeke the word of the Lord and shall not finde it We haue a moste terrible example of Gods iustice herein in that profane person Esau who despising the blessing of god in the birth right sold it away for a portion of meate of whome it is sayd that he found no place to repentance though he sought the blessing with teares We sée then both the necessitie of present imbracing Gods word with faith and amendment of life and also the terrible threatnings that God denoūceth to powre vpon the heads of the contemners the which we ought to apply most diligently vnto our selues for if God estéeme so greatly of his word and punisheth so sharpely the neglect thereof we haue great cause to searche our owne consciences how faithfull obedience we haue yéelded therevnto for we haue heard his word longe we haue professed the same and doe professe it to the sight of the world Nowe if by triall we can finde thorough the testimonie of gods spirite in our hearts and examination of our liues that we haue not heard in vaine but haue increased both in knowledge of the gospell and also reformation of life according to the same our owne consciences may minister vnto vs matter of vnfeined consolation but contrariwise if we haue long time bene hearers of the worde and haue neither profited in knowledge of god nor obedience to his lawes surely our estate is most lamentable howsoeuer we flatter our selues in our owne imagination and therfore let vs search our owne consciences whether we finde that ready mind in our selues that we sée to be in these shéepeherds to make present profit of gods word when we haue heard it The second thing that we haue to marke out of this point is that we sée the word of god was effectuall in them and made them carefull to séeke further to be informed in the matter of the birth of Christ that they hauing the whole knowledge of the thing in euery point might not lacke the vse of it any way because they did know that the thing both being straung and also comming from God must néedes be most necessary for them to know The lesson that is to be gathered out of the same for our instruction is this that those who be truely called vnto the faith in Iesus Christ and haue the vnfeined earnest of Gods spirit within them doe perswade themselues that Gods word in euery point is to be knowne of them and also euery way to be practised which is a doctrine most néedefull to be learned for Satan hath so inueigled the hearts of a number yea euen of them that take themselues to be gospellers that they thinke the most part of Gods worde not to appertaine vnto them that the knowledge thereof is néedelesse the comfort of it fruitlesse and the particular obedience therevnto more precise than necessarie insomuch that they settle themselues in these and such
taught let vs confer about it that we may not onely call to remembrance those things that euery one of vs haue caried away but also that one may haue y ◠benefit of the labors of others surely it must néedes proue a very profitable way for if one haue missed y ◠obseruation of this or that point an other hath marked it so that among them they may bring away the whole and so be edified one by another And as all are to be careful herein soespecialy it is to be practised by maisters fathers of families that forsomuch as children seruāts be often carelesse in attending vnto the word of God the very feare of rebuke or correction at their faithers or maisters hands wil make them learne somwhat If the benefite of this course were perceiued and the practise of it vsed besids the commodity redoūding to the parties it would be y e meanes to stay manie horrible offences that are committed For what is y e cause of such idle talk that mē haue delight in Euen the lack of better matter wherein they might be occupied What is the cause y ◠Lords saboths be so ill spent yea so horribly prophaned Euen this that so soone as they come from Church if yet they come there at all they thinke their dutie to God fully performed and so go in all haste to dice cardes bowling tipling and euerie other wicked pastime as they call them wherin want neither cursing swearing nor blaspheming to the great dishonour of God and procuring of his heauie wrath to be powred vpon this land and the decay of all religion but marke in this point the height of all iniquitie in these out daies whereas Magistrates should redresse these things and others that take vppon them the correction of vice in the Church do make a shewe of defending religion if there be anie smal number which is rare y ◠woulde gladlie following the example of these shéepheardes confer priuately of those things that they haue hearde and be carefull to grow in the knowledge of religion by and by it shalbe charged to be within the compasse of a conuenticle and their good and godly course shalbe checked and blamed by pretence colour of law but if twenty méete togither in an Alenouse though they most prophanely abuse the creatures of God lewdly mispend their time blasphemously dishonour the Lord and vncharitably reuile euen the very profession of Iesus Christ all this is no harme it is but good neighbourhood it is no conuenticle they haue or will haue no law to punish it from hence do spring all the abominable sinnes that reigne in this land euen that religious exercises by the secret papistes and prophane atheistes that be in authoritie and abuse the law and meaning thereof are discoūtenanced godlesse and irreligious dealinges boalstered whose reckoning for their partes in the day of account wil be most intollerable which they least think of but let vs pray vnto God y ◠he woulde grant vs reformation of these and such thinges when his good will and pleasure is and in the meane while to grant vs the spirit of wisdome and discretion that we may walke warily in these daungerous dayes Moreouer in the consideration of the parties what kinde of people they were we may note that which concerneth our instruction They were as you see shéepheardes men of no greate calling and most like of small learning yet beholde both howe the Lord doth reueale the birth of his Sonne first vnto them and also how carefull they are to search out euery circumstance of y e same There is no doubt but if they had liued in these our dayes they should haue bene charged with great presumption that being men of meane vnderstanding durst meddle with such high matters whereof the very Rabbines could not agrée But we learne by their example 1. to admire the wonderfull wisdome and loue of God wisdome that doth thus reueale his Sonne to these simple ones not to the great clarkes of the Iewes y ◠Scribes and Pharisies his loue that so mercifully maketh him self knowne vnto these that in their own eies no doubt and also in truth were by reason lesse capable of so high mysteries y e vse wherof we must acknowledge to be this which also S. Paul teacheth vs that the Lord thereby stoppeth the way for anie man to reioice or boast in himselfe but that he may learne to ascribe all glorie onelie vnto God Secondly we learne that it is the dutie euen of the simplest to séeke the knowledge of Iesus Christ out of his word and to exercise himselfe continually in the same and not to say as commonly is said I am a Lay man I haue no learning let them that are preachers and haue béene brought vp in Schooles meddle with Scriptures I must attend vpon my worldlie businesse by which and such like spéeches they thinke they haue gotten inuincible shields to defend them from knowledg and shrowd them in their ignorance but they will proue no better than broken réedes and figge-leaues in the daie of iudgement for God hath not placed any man in this earth to the ende that he sléeping in ignoraunce should fatte vp himselfe with the vse of Gods blessings here and seeke no further but that he should aboue al things be carefull to search out of Gods worde how to know his will that knowing it he may obey him and so earnestly set foorth the glorie of his holie name Againe we sée the maner of their procéedings to be this that they say let vs go then vnto Bethlehem and sée this thing that is come to passe which the Lord hath shewed vnto vs as if they should haue said as we are careful to be further certified in this matter so must we both be wary that we go to the place and also search the things that haue been told vs least we doing otherwise reape no benefite by our iorney wherein wée may behold for our example a patterne of right obedience vnto God they are verie forward and yet notwithstanding ty themselues vnto that which they had heard Al men by the verie instinct of nature are desirous to knowe the trueth but yet in the manner all naturally doe erre for they seek it after the course that their owne fancies doe imagin but they that wil séeke the truth truly in truth they that euer shal come to y e knowledge of the same do follow the stricte rule of Gods worde neither swaruing to the right hand nor declining to the left and they be most earnest and diligent in the same Whereby we may make notable triall of our selues both whether we be in the way of truth or no and also how carefull we be to finde it Which triall if it were duely applied vnto our hearts y e greatest number of vs no doubt should find themselues carelesse and so haue iust matter with in themselues either to
conuince themselues so be excuseles or else to find their owne wickednsse so become more diligent and attentiue to y e word of the Lord. Lastly this doth notably declare vnto vs the cause that so fewe do shew forth that care in obeying the Lord as they should euen because they make so small reckoning of Gods word perswading themselues that either the knowledge thereof is not néedfull at al or if any whit yet they goe about it as though they had no stomacke to it but sillie soules if they did either know the necessitie or comfort of it they would not estéeme it so base the necessity that it should be our continuall counsel for the directiō of our affaires that it should be as a lanterne to our féet light vnto our paths that we are naturaly in darknesse it must be the candle to directe vs or else we cannot choose but fall into spiritual dangers y ◠comfort that among the diuers troubles of this miserable world the waywardnesse of our owne nature and the manifold temptations of Sathan it is not possible that we should stand or haue any hope of consolation but only in the promises of God which be there set downe whereon the soules of al holy men haue euer sed and bene stayed and therefore Dauid who was a kinge indued with wisdome strength and riches yet sayeth he plainelye that that it was his comforte in his trouble and except the law of God had béene his delight he had perished in his afflictions and therfore let vs not flatter our selues who are manie and infinite waies inferiour and more vnable to stand than he was but let vs continually craue at Gods handes that wée may be dailie more and more rauished with the loue of his word and may haue the right vse of it and then we shall sée that of al things in this worlde it is the thing that wée should most desire So they came in haste The second generall branch of the effect is this that when they had one stirred vp another and being earnest in enquiring out the matter and also knowing by the direction of the Angel both the place where vnto they should go also the thing where of they would be certified do now in all haste without anie further delay go to the place to sée the thing wherein wée may beholde the true worke of Gods word that it not onelie instructeth them to conferre and talke of the thing but also to do it indéed The maiestie of Gods word as we shall sée hereafter getteth an assent ' vnto it almost of all men insomuch that all nowadaies are contented to professe wel and to make a shew they are willing to crie Lord Lord and carrie the countenaunce of Gospellers but to bring foorth the fruit of it in their conuersation this is the thing that they straine curtesie at but we are to learne by the example of these shéepherds that if we wil be indéed that which we wold be accompted to be then must we be as carefull to practise Gods commaundements in our life as to speake of them in our months for religion standeth not in profession onelie the seruice of God standeth not in wordes alone he is not straightway a Christian that carieth the countenaunce of one but he onelie who is careful both of profession and also true obedience For as it is most true that without professing of the Gospel we can not be the members of Christs Church héere vpon earth so is it as true that without the fruit of that which we make shew of we cannot perswade our selues to be neither in déede are we the seruants of God For whom God teacheth by his word he indoweth with his spirit where the spirit of God is there be the fruites of the spirit and the body is dead because of sinne but the spirit is life for righteousnesse sake Let euery one of vs therefore lay this vnto our owne consciences and labour to make profit of it vnto our selues Againe we sée in these shéepheardes that as they make the motion one to another that they may goe so they leaue not there and so let it rest but they goe forward also a notable example for our instruction When men that haue more ciuill honestie and moderation of themselues then the common sorte haue doe méete togither often they haue vp whole common wealthes in their talke euer saying this is not wel and that mighte be amended it were wel if such a thing were so but you shal neuer heare more They content themselues with it should be neuer put to their hands to further it euen like to them that being reproued for swearing saie indéede I am to blame and I confesse it is a fault or being exhorted to this or that godly course answere indéede it should be so hearing a minister teach any pointe of religion say he said very well he is a very good man I would we could followe him but neuer striue to amend neuer labour nor indeuour to doe so but couer all vnder this cloke flesh is fraile we are all sinners and so thinke that to be excuse sufficient to kepe themselues still in the state they be or else waxe worse and worse Euen so deale these men they moue or approue any good motion and neuer striue to stirre vp others that it may be practised and these people be com monly such as either beare offices or are some way assistantes in corporations where they be gouerned by the cōsultation of man and therefore you here presēt may haue good vse of this doctrine when you haue anie publique matters in hand especially when you do méete togither for the election of your Magistrates I am sure you will all saie and wish in generall termes that a sufficient man may haue this and that office but surely it falleth out that euerie man almost is led by his priuate affection in the particular wishing either the preferment and benefite of him selfe or his friend neuer regarding how able hée is to discharge it And hence it is that as Salomon saith we may sée a great euil vnder the sunne as an errour that procéedeth from the face of him that ruleth follie is set in great excellencie and the rich in al manner of wisedom set in the law place I haue séene seruants on horses and Princes walking as seruants on the ground wherevpon foloweth all disorder because the gouernours either can not or dare not or wil not execute their office aright We may moreouer sée in these shéepherds a note of great zeale that their mindes being rauished with desire of the thing they went in haste striuing as it were to go one before an other and they had great reason for it for being taught that the sonne of God the sauiour of mankinde their redéemer was to be séene in Bethlehem who can blame them if they ran one ouer an
more in it nor so much as hée did therefore I will be gone But Marie was not of this minde for shée considered that the shéepeheards could not come to the knowledge of the thing without the will of God and that the Lord who guideth all things had directed them to come thither and therefore it was méete forher to harken diligently and marke euerie word verie attentiuely Which vse also we must make of the like for if a Sparrowe fall not vppon the grounde without our fathers will then can not wée neither shal we heare anie part of his heauenlie worde without his appointment Therefore I must make this vse rather of it reasoning with my selfe thus I thinke that I know this point that is now in handling well ynough but yet I am deceiued for God woulde not then haue it spoken to me againe therfore I am now to heare it as diligently and marke it as carefully as though I had neuer known â—…rst what it meant and on the other side the partie who hath heeretofore refused to obey such or such a doctrine and heareth it sounding in his eares againe may reason thus with himselfe why doth God offer it vnto me knowing that héeretofore I haue despised it Surely because hée hath a loue vnto me and would haue me repent and not be condemned Beholde the greate loue and mercie of God vnto me vile and wretched sinner therfore now will I goe vnto him and saie Father I haue sinned against heauen and in thy sight and am not worthie to be called thy seruant I haue done wickedly in contemning so often thy holie worde in casting it behinde me despitefully and now Lord for thy mercies sake be fauorable vnto me and receiue me vnto thy mercie Happie is that man that can make this vse of Gods word but if they doe not they may take it thus for it is vndoubtedly so that the oftener they be inuited to amend aud conuert not the more horrible shall their condemnation be And pondered them in her heart The second thing that Marie did they beeing kept in the chest of her heart it is saide moreouer that she pondered them that is called them often to her remembrance and was alwaies muzing of them Wherein wée may beholde an example of most Christian modestie that hauing so great matters reuealed vnto her she maketh no bragge of it as though she were to be honoured of all men and admired for it but is rather carefull to make vse of it vnto her selfe By whose example is corrected that proud spirite of worldlings who albeit they neither knowe one point of religion aright nor yet can tell how to begin the practise of a godlie life yet notwithstanding they wil oppose them selues both in knowledge against the learnedest and in godlinesse against the most holie whose helpe in déede Sathan vseth to out face the true seruants of the Lord with their bragges and to the vttermost of their power to bring them into hatred and contempt But Marie was not of that minde she was inspired with that spirite which teacheth true humilitie which instructeth the godlie to be lowlie in their owne conceit and humble in their owne imaginations bicause it doth bring them to the sight of their manifold sinnes and the desert of the same wherby they are brought low and taught to depend vppon the méere mercie of God to boast in nothing but their owne infirmities to desire to knowe nothing but Iesus Christ and him crucified Againe wée are to obserue that shée therefore pondered them in her heart because shée did not yet beholde what would be the euent of these things and yet shée would not neglect them By whose example we may learne a profi-table lesson to teach vs how to vse the doctrine that wée learne from the Lords messengers It may be that at that present time when we heare it we cannot tel how to haue the present vse of it as they that be certainely perswaded of Gods fauour to them haue not present or so great néede of the comforts against distrustfulnesse they that be sufficiently humbled néede not greatly the seuere reprehensions of the Law yet notwithstanding when they heare the doctrine they are not straightway to thinke they néed not harken vnto it but rather they ponder it in their heart and lay it vp there as in a store house We may learne this lesson by the example of a good housholder who finding anie implement in his house which he presently knoweth not how to bestow wil saie I wil keep it seauen yeares and once in that time I shall haue vse of it euen so it fareth with Christians they are to prouide for warre in the time of peace to arme them selues as wel where Sathan striketh not as where he doth strike and to be furnished with the complete armor of God to be instructed with doctrine euerie waie that wheresoeuer or whensoeuer he shall assaile vs his blowes may be warded and kept backe with the sword of the spirit which is the word of God for we are not worthy to be so much of Gods counsell as to know with what trial he wil search vs next therefore we are to be euerie way prouided persecution sicknesse pouertie and all other Crosses that we are subiect vnto come very sodenly wheÌ„ it wil be too late than to séeke armour of proofe for our comfort if we lacke it then we had as good lacke it still and therefore lette vs prouide for it aforehand that we neuer be found as the foolish Uirgins without oile in our lamps And the sheepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seene as it was spoken vnto them This is the third and last effect that is sette downe vnto vs to be wrought in the shéepeheards by the knowledge of the birth of Christ which containeth in it three things first their returning second their glorifying and praysing of God third the cause wherefore for al that they had heard and seen as it was shewed vnto them The sheepeheards returned The first thing as you sée is that when they had séene and were fully instructed in the birth of Iesus Christ they returned back againe from Bethlem vnto the place of their former abode to exercise the dueties of their ordinary vocation wherein we may beholde in what place they set the workes of their calling euen in the last place of al for we sée that they first went in haste to the place where Christ was to be séene then published it abroade tothe worlde and lastly when they had done they returned wée are to learne then if we mean to profit by their example to preferre the knowledge of Iesus Christ and the spreading abroad of his will whereby he may be glorified before our owne matters of this world For the first end of our creation is Gods glorie and the second our own saluation
generally in thē that haue y e gouernment of thēselues in these things but also to be diligētly considered of by seruants that professe religion for it is a common complaint the trueth whereof I referre vnto euerie mannes conscience that if once they become religions they waxe more carelesse in their Maisters businesse which if they do it is a greeuous sinne in them for religion teacheth them no such matter neither giueth them anie such leaue but rather cleane contrarie for Saint Paul enioineth vnto seruants that they should be obedient vnto them that are their Maisters according to the flesh in all things not with eie seruice as men pleasers but in singlenesse of heart fearing God and bringeth a reason in an other place to perswade them therevnto to wit that whatsoeuer good thing any man doth that same shal he receiue of the Lord whether he be bond or frée and saith further in an other place that else they make the name of God and his doctrine euill spoken of and therefore if anie shall by colour of religion waxe carelesse in his Maisters affaires lette both himselfe and others knowe that he is not religious indéede but abuseth the name of religion to couer his owne sinnes For this is most true that religion is the onelie thing that maketh seruauntes haue a conscience to looke to their Maisters gaines and therfore they that would haue profitable seruants let them not onelie be carefull to retaine such as they know to feare God but also that they instruct them dailie in the feare of the Lord teaching them to do euerie thing by knowledge out of the word and conscience of obedience vnto God The second sort of people that by this doctrine are iustly reprooued be the Anabaptiste and their Cousingermanes the family of Loue of Lust I may terme them better who mistaking that place of Scripture in the Actes of the Apostles where it is said that they that were conuerted vnto Christ had all things common do holde that no man hath anie propertie in any thing that he possesseth but that euerie brother hath as lawfull interest in it and may vse it when he will as the partie him selfe and though the words of the text at the first blush séeme to import so much yet being duely considered they containe no such matter for the verse following doth shewe the meaning of the former where it is saide that they sold their possessions and parted to euerie one as they had need that is they had such a zeale and loue vnto the brethren that they did reléeue and helpe them But if it should be so taken it were manifest contrarie to other places of the Scriptures which were great blasphemie to think that any parte of Gods worde shoulde be contrarie to an other for trueth is one and alwaies like it selfe and nothing commeth from God but it is all truth and nothing but truth Nowe in the Scriptures we reade that God hath set downe lawes to gouerne men buying and selling that euery one shold deale iustly therein and that none shold defraud an other by false waights or measure or counterfaite wares which were a néedelesse doctrine if men had no propertie in things for then why should they sell Or what néeded the other to buy Besides that the Scripture is plentiful in this to exhort rich men vnto liberalitie and pitie in reléeuing their néedie brethren and neuer enioineth vnto anie to accompt nothing his owne Againe we reade of manie godlie men that were rich and had great possession as Abraham Iob Salomon Zacheus Ioseph of Aremathia yea and after the time of those conuerted by pitie as Cornelius Simon the Tanner and Gaius who is saide to be the hoste of the whole Church Lastly which is the most inuincible place of all God hath commaunded that we shoulde not steale which commaundement is neuer broken if no man possesseth of his owne or if one mans goodes were common to an other man therefore let vs imbrace this as an vndoubted truth that God hath giuen vnto euerie man a propertie in that which he lawfully possesseth onelie let him know this that he is to haue care that he be liberall to his power vnto those that néede or else he is no féeling member of Iesus Christ. The third sort is that rout of Friers and Monkes who pretending the more oportunitie to serue God abandoned themselues from all callings both of the Church and common wealth to the ende that they might liue an idle and loytering life who through their hypocrisie robbed the people to enrich themselues and their celles and being carelesse of euerie good exercise whereas by the Apostles rule afore alleadged they should not haue eaten yet notwithstanding they were for the most so stall-fed and were so fatte Abbey lubbers that though they had béen willing they were vnfit and not able to performe anie good thing these be they that would deuoure not onelie widows houses but euen whole Lordships yea and the fat of whole countries vnder the pretence of deuotion and long superstitious praiers and yet notwithstanding the veriest Caterpillers that euer were whereby we may behold discerning the trée by the fruit what gréedie vermine Poperie doth hatch and bring foorth to the greate impouerishing of whole cōmon welths and kingdomes Wée are not Gods name be praised for it much troubled with such people in these our daies yet we are maruelously pestred with a kind of men that be much like them in qualities and those be they that when they could not thriue in their trades or could not liue idly in them being good for nothing though they can neither teach others nor yet haue learned what religion is themselues haue and do dailie thrust them selues into the Ministerie being of qualities much like vnto Ieroboams Priests where vpon aryseth this enormity of all other most to be lamented that poore people notwithstanding thys long libertie of the Gospell remayne stil as ignorant as they were in the time of Poperie and are now more prophane in life and godlesse in conuersation than euer they were because they sée these people that should leade them who haue onelie chaunged their coats liue so wickedly that they neyther care for religion nor yet ciuill honestie who in truth I speake that I knowe by experience are the greatest foes that the true Ministers of Gods worde haue peruerting priuately that whiche they teach publiquely the Lorde putte it in the hearts of gouernours to see it redressed The fourth and the last sort of people is the gréedie couetous worldlings who respecting onely their own gaine haue no regard what course they take be it lawful or vnlawful so that they may haue great aduantage by it which people generally be such as séeke either to féede the veines and itching desires of fantastical heads with gay gorgeous and new deuises whose gaine through the follie and fickle headed alteration of
men with a worde and away neuer remembring him any more But we are to know that God will not be so serued he requireth continuall and heartie thankes at our handes which if we would rightly consider we shoulde not generally be so secure as we be For time which should teach vs experience of the loue of God towardes vs and so make vs more zealous doeth cleane weare out of our mindes the remembraunce of former benefites receiued so that you shall sée them that by special fauor that they haue found at Gods hands are for a season excéeding hote and forward in religion But it is with them according to the common Prouerb soone hote soone colde for they become afterward so faint and cold in their course begunne that it may be truly said of them as it was of the Church Ephesus that haue fallen from their first loue I wold to God that I had not iuste cause to make this complaint in this place for surely to speake generally I haue séene more zeale more loue and care vnto religion than nowe I can beholde the world doth so carie men awaie and they be so crammed with the word that now they be ready to surfet of it they be cloied with it séeme to loath it as the Israelites did that heauēly Manna but assure your selues that if the plentie thereof do make you estéeme it lesse precious God will send you that darth famine that he threatneth by the Prophet that yée shall séeke it from sea to sea and not finde it Moreouer in that these are saide to haue this wroght in them by the vnderstanding of the thing that they glorified and praised God we learne that where religion is truly imbraced where the word of God taketh root true holde it wil bring foorth the fruit conuenient agréeable to the same for of it selfe it is a most liuely séede is mightie in operation so when it méeteth with a heart that is pliant therevnto it is verie forcible and therefore let no man flatter deceiue himself by perswading his own hart that he is truly religious when in the meane while he is cold and carelesse in the fruits of it for Gods spirit accompanieth religion which is a spirite of heate and zeale making mans heart as it were to melt at those things y ◠are for the glorie of God encrease of true religion in the harts of Gods people which ought to be farre more glittering in vs than it was in the shéepeheards for wée haue greater cause the whole passion death glorificatiō of Christ is manifested vnto vs so that we lacke nothing to perfect our knowlege if we will receiue it therfore there must be no lingering in vs to shew forth al y ◠praises of god in most perfectiō which we do litle regard For al that they had heard and seene as it was spoken vnto them The third and last point of all which is the cause that mooued them to reioice and praise the Lord euen the things that they had heard and seene by whom we must learne the last but not the least duetie that we owe vnto God euen continually to recount ponder and consider the manifold blessings that the Lorde doeth multiplie vpon vs daily by the iust consideration whereof we cannot choose but burst out into admiration of his woonderfull loue and mercie towards vs miserable and wretched sinners and so to deuise with our selues howe wée may shewe our selues effectually thankefull so did the Prophet Dauid What shal I render vnto the Lord saith he for al his benefites towards me I wil receiue the cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord I will pay my vowes vnto the Lord euen now in the presence of all his Saints Whose good and godlie example if we will reape benefite by we must doe as he did worship him truely according to his word and perfourme that dutie in obedience to his commaundements that he requireth at our hands As for the manner of his praise wée may also learne it by these shéepeheards that they did it as it was tolde them that is according as God had commaunded so must we do praise his holie name as he requireth at our hands and doe it as himselfe hath commaunded in his word and so shall it be acceptable in his sight Let vs therefore to conclude séeing we be hedged in on euerie side with y ◠great blessings of God séeing that by him wée liue and moue and haue our being séeing he sheweth himselfe most kinde and liberall both in things that concerne the soule and the bodie let vs I say studie and indeuour by all possible meanes that so long as we abide in this transitorie world we may shew foorth the glorie of his name according to his will then shal we be sure of his fauour vnto vs in this life and of eternall ioies in the world to come by the merites and bloodsheding of Iesus Christ our sauiour to whome with the father and the holie ghost be all glorie and honour now and for euer Amen Let vs pray O Eternall God in Iesus Christ our most louing and mercifull Father vvee render vnto thy Maiestie most humble and hartie thanks for all thy blessings and manifold benefites bestovved vpon vs namely for those inestimable graces of our election creation vocation iustification sanctification and redemption for this great treasure of thy holie vvord vvherein vve acknovvledge thy great loue tovvardes vs vile vvretches and miserable sinners And for as much O Lord as thou hast taught vs at this present hovve forcible and effectuall thy vvorde vvas vnto the Sheepeherdes vvorking in them such an ardent and burning loue to see thy sonne Iesus Christ vvhen he vvas manifested in the flesh such forvvardnesse and haste to satisfie that godlie desire vvhich thy holie spirit had vvrought in them finding that vvhich they soght for vvere carefull to publish it abroade that others might be partakers of that comfort and after returned vnto their vocation againe glorifying thy holie name vvith all obedience vnto thy blessed vvorde And moreouer bicause vve haue lerned from thee that the multitude that heard of it yet shevved not anie zeale or care to see the truth of it themselues but suffered the cogitation therof to vanish out of their mindes vvithout any profit vnto themselues but contrarivvise thy seruaunt Marie kept euerie thing in remembrance being carefull by continual pondering thereof in her heart to make vse of it for her comfort and further instruction VVe confesse good father that the example of these parties doth teach vs both the duetie that vve ovve vnto thee the obedience that thy vvorde requireth at our hands and the zeale vvhich vvee shoulde expresse in our liues to set foorth thy glory and also hovv to shun that carelesse course vvhich the greatest number doth follovve but O Lord vve acknovvlege against our selues that vvee are not able
vs Englishmen is great but if they had truely learned this doctrine that religion enioineth vnto euerie man a laweful calling and such a one whereby he may be a profitable mēber among men they would with those godly Ephesians not onelie leaue those curious Arts but euen burne the bookes whereby such follie is learned Contrariwise where religion is taught and the fruit not shewed such persons prooue the sorest enimies and most professed foes vnto religion For what a stirre did Demetrius make in Ephesus at the preaching of Paule and al to defend his owne trade of vngodlie gaine by making still temples or shrines for Diana much like vnto the boxes wherein the Papists are wont to putte their little God almightie as they terme him so that it behooneth euerie one that is careful to please God and benefite by religion to labour to be certified out of the worde of God of the lawefulnesse of his calling to the end that he may embrace the Gospell with a good conscience But particularly those be especially by this doctrine seuerely to be reprehended that either respecting the greatest gaine or idlest life doe conuert all that they haue into money and putte it out vnto Usurie of all other synnes the verie Canker of the common wealth at this day and a thing so generally vsed euen of them that would be counted religious as if it were as lawful as to reape the fruites of the earth againste which offence I meane not to make any great inuectiue at this present because the common place is long and handled most learnedly of others onely thus much wil I say of it that it is flatly forbidden by al law both Statute law Ciuil law and Canon law and as for the law of God whose only authoritie I fight withal against it it is as plaine to be prooued that it is a horrible sinne to take any gaine in any commoditie for the loue of money as that Iesus Christ our sauiour died vpon the Crosse for the guilt of our sinnes and therefore let no man flatter himself with this or that qualification as why may I not c. For no excuse may serue against Gods owne word no exceptions may be made against it for God saith flatly Thou maist not giue out thy mony vppon vsurie nor take any interest for if thou doest there is no place for thée in the Tabernacle of God neyther shalt thou rest vpon his holie hill and therefore neuer excuse the matter for lucres sake Damn not thine owne soule for money sel not thy birth-right for a messe of pottage for wel maist thou by pretences shift out the matter from the punishment of man but al is no better than fig-leaues to couer thy nakednesse when God shall call thée to accompt Againe though these Shéepeheards shewed themselues maruelous forward yet you sée that after they had found that they did desire they had their flockes to returne to againe wherein we may behold the great loue of God vnto them that in those daungerous times their flocks were preserued vnto them wherby wée may learne this generall lesson that religion rightly vsed is no enimy to lawful gaine neither of it selfe doeth it bring vnto man any hindraunce a doctrine that will hardly sincke into the heads of a number for they perswade themselues that nothing is more enimy to worldly gaine than religion whom I do briefly answere thus that if they meane euerie kinde of gaine which way soeuer it be come by without regard whether it be had by right or wrong they say truly that religion is the onely foe next vnder God that it hath and as for such it is but lost labour to tell them of anie religion for the feare of God is not before their eies but if they meane that gaine which may lawfully be gotten with the warrant of Gods worde no point of religion can be against it for the Lorde as you haue heard enioineth such a course to gaine vnto euerie one of his children whereby it is proued lawfull and for the fruit of their labour the Lord hath promised that he shal reape it First séeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and al these things shalbe ministred vnto you Where you sée that God hath promised his blessing euen in this life to them that be truly religious But you wil say to me how is that tru For we sée in experience the godlie man commeth vnto many extremities I answere that religion was neuer the cause of any of them for you must vnderstand that God neuer punisheth but either to correct to trie or else to giue example one whereof is the cause of euerie affliction and therfore let no man say if I had not béene a Gospeller this had not befallen vnto me or religion is the cause of this miserie For if he will truly enter into the consideration of the thing by the word of God he shal find that God neuer afflicteth any man because he is religious contrariwise wée reade and sée daily by our owne experience that God seuerely plagueth the lacke or contempt of religion euen in worldly matters for you shal see some that are so vigilant and careful about their earthly commodities that they can not affoord themselues any time to refresh their weary bodies with sléepe and food nor the Lord anie part of his Sabaoths to be duly honored in that a man woulde thinke they can not choose but prooue marueilous rich and yet notwithstanding they are neuer the néerer why surely because they not hauing that care of gods seruice that they shold nor that regard to depend vpon his blessing that God requireth but thinke to bring greate matters to passe by their owne industrie and as it were in despite of the Lord he of his iust iudgement laieth such a curse vppon their labours that they profite nothing at all whereby such persons may haue iust occasion to learne that man liueth not by bread onely For the Lord can break the staffe of bread that is the strength thereof that it shall not nourish and can frustrate the hope of the labourer that he shall not reape the fruit of his owne works And therefore we are first to séeke his glorie and then in all our trauailes to acknowlege them to be vnfit to yéelde vs any comfort without his gratious blessing be vpon the same Glorifying and praising God The second point of this last branch is that they did in and after their returne glorifie and praise the Lord. Wherein they shewed them selues not to be forgetfull or vnthankefull of Gods mercie toward them by whose example we may learne what duetie we owe vnto the Lorde our God in respect of his manifold blessings that we must glorifie his holy name continually for them which lesson we had verie much néede to obserue and folowe for it is the course of the worlde now adaies to be thankefull vnto God as they are to
to thinke a good thought much lesse to yeelde that obedience to thy vvorde that thou requirest nor to make anie fruit of it vnto the comfort of our soules vnlesse thou of thy mercie vvorke it in vs vvee therefore most humbly beseech thee mercifull father to graunt vs thy grace that euerie one of vs may be so truely persvvaded of the trueth of this doctrine novve deliuered vnto vs that thy holie spirite may imprint it in our hearts and vve may feele the comfort of it in our soules and consciences and labour diligently to bring foorth the fruit of it in our liues and conuersations most gratious Father vve pray thee subdue our affections and rule our desire by the gouernmēt of thy grace and holie spirite that the enticements of sinne doe not pull vs avvay from that seruice that vve ovve vnto thee that vvee neuer faint or vvaxe vvearie in the course of godlinesse that our zeale be neuer quenched by anie allurements of Sathan but that vvee may daily grovve and encrease in all the Vertues of Christianitie to the glorie of thy blessed name and consolations of our ovvne conscienences through Iesus Christ our Lord to vvhom vvith thee and the holie Ghost be all praise novve and euer Amen FINIS VVe may not put of from day to day Heb. 3. 7 c. Psal. 95. 8. Prou. 1. 24. Amos. 8. 1◅ Heb. 12. 6. Euery point of gods word is to be knowne of euery man Psal. 19. 7. Prou. 1. 4. Ephes. 4. 12. Acts. 20. 27. 1. Cor. 13. 12. Then we can not be too for ward as some say Esay 2. 3. We ought to stirre vp one another to religion 1 Thes. 5. 11. Heb. 3. 13. 19. VVe must cōferre of the word of God after that we haue heard it The wicked ause mans lawe to depraue the word of God Why God reuealeth oftner his word to the simple 1. Cor. 1. 29. No excuse must keepe the simplest from the knowlege of Gods word VVhere and how the truth is to be sought The cause that so fewe finde Christ Psal. 119. 24. 2 Pet. 1. 19. Psal. 119. 50. 92. We must not onelie professe Gods word but do italso Rom. 8. 9. 10. Galat. 5. 22. It should be so is not sufficiēt Ecclesiast 10. 5 Psal. 119. 98. VVe straine courtesie who should first be religious but who should first gaine riches Math 7. 2. 4. 11. 29. 16. 24. The truth of Gods worde Mat. 7. ◅ Rom. 12. 2. VVhy men do seeke and find not Iames 4. 3. To dispise the meanes in trusting of God is to tempte him Knowledge is the first pointe of gods seruice Hipocrites nether be loued of God or man Profession of religion standeth in reprouing and instruction Leuit 1◅ 17. Psal. 51. 12 13. The world cānot away with priuate rebuking and instruction Iohn 12. 5. Acts. ◅ 18. With what mind we must reproue others The vngodly either detract◅ from or ad to the worde of God Rom. 9. 11. to 24. Ephe. 1. 45. They that doe not knowe the vse of Gods word thinke it vnperfect The bataile of the flesh and the spirit◅ in the entrance to religion The spirit euer getteth victorie in the faithfull at length Iohn 6. 66. Col. 2. 3. Esay 55. 10. 2 Cor. 14. 15. 16 Gods word worketh in all that heare it preached How a man shal know whe ther the gospel do him any good or no. The markes of fruitlesse hearers Hearers for fashions sake Hearers that are mooued for the time present onelie Willing hearing without fruit argueth a guiltie conscience The sayings of the wicked when they heare one doctrine twice Matth. 12. 29. What the godlie thinke whē they heare that which they did heare before VVhat the wicked should thinke when they heare that doctrine which they haue despised before VVe may not boast of know ledge or any other vertue They bragge most that know least The godlier that a man is the humbler he will be 2. Cor. 11. 30. The right vse of knowledge VVe must bestoore vs in knowledge Math 25. 10. The world ought to giue place to religion Prou. 16. 4. Prou. 1. 20. The excuses of worldlings why they be not religious Psalm 10 3. 1 1 Thes. 4. 10. 11 2. Thes. 3. 10. 11 12 c. Luke 3. 10 c. 1. Cor. 7. 31. Foure sorts of people that abuse this world The first sort of people Ephes. 4. 28. Psal. 16. 1. Coll. 3. 22. Ephes. 68. 1. Tim. 6. 1. Gen. 18. 19. Psal. 101. 6. The second sort of people Acts 2. 44. Rom. 6. 23. The third sort of people The fourth sort of people Acts 19. 19. Acts 19. 24. See Doctour Wilson vppon Vsurie Bishop Iewel vpon the 1. Thess. c. Ezech. 18. 13. Psal. 15 5. Religion no enimie to lawfull gaine Matth. 6. 33. Matth. 4. 4. Leuit. 26. 26. Reuel 3. 4. Amos 8. 11. Psalm 12. 12.