requires fine apparell at thy hands It is a good heart that is exacted of thee Grace not garments thy soule within thee not thy cloathes about thee And why wantest thou leasure Thou hast leasure to eate to drinke to play to sleepe to be vaine and idle Why hast thou no leasure to feede thy soule to refresh thy spirit to receiue thy Sauiour Thou hast leasure but it is not thy pleasure Thou canst not come nay thou wilt not come Thou canst not because thou lists not If thy profite call thee thou goest if thy pleasures call thee thou followest if thy flesh call thee thou mak'st hast If thy companions whistle thou trudgest But CHRIST cals thee thou tarriest thou findst excuses there is a bone in thy legge thou canst not come Must the horse bee forced to the Manger must a Sheepe be compelled to graze must the hungry and almost starued Oxe be entreated to eate his Hay Surely thou art not hungry thy soule is not a thirst thou art so maydenly that thou must bee entreated thou art so wanton thou must bee compelled vnto thy food Yea but thy dost imagine that thou canst haue CHRIST without the Sacrament this is thy fansie but thy fansie is no faith If thou contemnest the Sacrament thou contemnest CHRIST Contempt of the Law doth argue contempt of the Law-maker neglect of the ordinance bewrayes neglect of the Ordainer And hee that will not receiue CHRIST as Hee doth offer Himselfe to be receiued is like to loose Him for ought that can bee knowne And hee that will not when hee may it is very probable when hee would hee shall haue nay But thou wilt hereafter put off excuses thou wilt bee wiser thou wilt not deferre to come Come then but come prepared Come in charity for he that hateth a Christian shall neuer bee loued of CHRIST neither shall any man enioy the LORD but he that is in charity with his seruants What hath hee to doe with the bread of CHRIST that contemneth the least Member of His Body Come in repentance with washed hands and heart for these holy things belong not vno Dogs nor Swine Come in humility acknowledging thy selfe vnworthy of the least crumme vpon the LORDS Table not relying vpon thine owne merites but vpon the LORDS mercies not vpon thine owne dignity but vpon His Dignation Finally come in a good beleefe beleeuing onely in the LORD IESVS CHRIST and that by these outward things Hee with all His Merites are represented sealed and exhibited vnto thee and not imagining that the Bread is turned into the Body of CHRIST and the Wine into His very Bloud but knowing that these things do in their substance still continue withall desiring that thou thy selfe mightst be truely transformed and turned into Him that thou maist be able to say with Saint Paul I liue yet not I but CHRIST doth liue within mee Of the Bread and Wine in the Eucharist THE Bread and Wine in the LORDS Supper is holy Bread holy Wine turned in vse but not in shape but not in substance remaining what they were yet being what they were not They haue eyes and see not eares and heare not touch and feele not mouthes and taste not noses and smell not reason and vnderstand not which say it is not Bread it is not Wine when once the words of Consecration are pronounced Yet are they truely but Sacramentally the Body and Bloud of our LORD and SAVIOVR IESVS CHRIST Euen as the Circumcision was the Couenant as the Paschall Lamb was the Passeouer As the Rocke was CHRIST Parchment and the Waxe sealed put vnto it in a Bond Lease or Deed of Conueyance wherein is made an assurance of money goods or houses or a Collation and Conueyance of Lands in Lincolneshire to a man in London is still Parchment and Waxe yet more then Ordinary in respect of vse and hauing these things in his hand he can say here is my mony House or Land not that they are turned into money Houses or Lands but because by them he hath assurance or an assured conueyance of these things vnto him And so is it with Sacramentall Bread and Wine Yet here our Assurance is firmer the Conueyance is more vndoubted because man may deceiue and the greatnesse or malice of aduersaries may oppresse but GOD who by these things doth offer and exhibite CHRIST and His benefites to vs cannot deceiue will not falsifie His Couenant but will most certainely performe all His promises prouided that we stand vnto the conditions to which we are tyed Neither man nor diuell nor any creature can hinder or keepe vs from receiuing CHRIST in the Sacrament if we stand not in our owne way and let our selues Of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ DIVERSE in the Scriptures haue beene called by the name of IESVS as Iesus the sonne of Nun Iesus the High Priest the son of Iosedeck and Iesus which was called Iustus But CHRIST hath this Name with a maine difference from them all For whereas they were no more then men our IESVS is GOD and Man in one and the selfe-same Person They came into the world by an ordinary generation as we do now but Hee was borne of a Virgin pure that knew no man They had not their name giuen them expresly by GOD but by men but Hee had His name from GOD by the mouth of an Angell GODS Messenger They all had need of this IESVS that they might be saued by Him otherwise they had perished all They were the sons of men but Hee is the Son the eternall Son of the eternall GOD. They might be meanes to saue others especially from exterior dangers and enemies but this IESVS by His owne Personall Power and Merites hath saued all true beleeuers from their sinnes Hee hath deliuered them from sathan Hee hath redeemed their soules from death and hath purchased for them the glory of the Kingdome of heauen This Name He had from all eternity as GOD but Hee receiued it in the womb as Man and in and at His resurrection Hee made manifest the truth therof most fully This name of a Sauiour for so IESVS signifies is a name aboue all names For it is the name of GOD I am saith he and besides Mee there is no Sauiour None of all the Titles of GOD are so precious with Him as this of Sauiour in which with his glory is ioyned our saluation Euen the very name of GOD without this Name hath no comfort in it Shut out this IESVS and GOD is a consuming fire and there is no dealing with Him But in this IESVS GOD hath reconciled the world to Himselfe who without Him is an enemy to it The name CHRIST which signifies Annointed is not equall vnto the name IESVS for the end is aboue the meanes Now Hee was Annointed to be our Sauiour Princes are called the LORDS Annointed but saluation is of the LORD that is proper to Him Hee Hee is the Sauiour and besides Him there
such a punishment as neuer beast did doth shall or can endure Man was created to be a friend to man but now excepting deuils men are the greatest enemies that men can haue There are some serpents beasts and fishes which will not sticke to make their prey on man But all these doe not deuoure so many men as men do As for GOD Hee is enemy to none that truely loues himselfe in Him It is true Hee is an enemy to the wicked but it is for their wickednesse let them cease from their wickednesse bee friendly to themselues and Hee will not be their enemy but their truest Friend GOD made euery sencible creature with some defence Hee gaue some Wings to some Talants to some Tushes to some Clawes to other Hornes but Hee hath made man Armelesse to teach him to bee harmelesse He gaue him witin steed of weapons that cōsidering his owne weaknes he might still craue aide of GOD whom hee ought to make his Castle Comfort and Defence GOD made the world for man and man for himselfe therefore the world should serue man and not man the world Hee should possesse and maister it and not it him And because GOD made both it and him it for him and both it and him for Himselfe there is great reason that a man should behaue himselfe and vse it so as that GOD may bee glorified by him But of all the honours wherewith GOD did honour man this was the greatest that His Eternall and true Naturall SON assumed the Humane Nature and wedded it to the Diuine in one and the same Person and in that Nature performed and suffered euen vnto death whatsoeuer was needfull for mans eternall Redemption and Saluation His Name be praised throughout all Generations and for euer Amen Of Adam ADAM was the first of mankind made of the earth by GODS owne Finger indued with a reasonable soule voide of sinne and furnished with Wisedome Iustice Holinesse and all perfections fit for that kind of Creature yet so as that hee might both loose himselfe and them if it were his pleasure Adam was the roote of all man-kind for all hee receiued for all hee lost for for all hee stood If hee had continued fast wee had not beene vndone for our mothers fault Because not shee but hee sustained all out persons The Scripture saith in Adam all doe die and by one mans disobedience many were made sinners Adam in many things differs from all his children For hee was made but they all except the Virgins SONNE are begotten Hee had GOD for his Maker they haue Men for their fathers Hee had no mother but they haue euen hee that had no Father yet had a Mother Hee was of clay they are of bloud Hee was a created a compleate and perfect man in one day at one time they are a growing many yeares Hee had such a body giuen him for quantity qualities and colour till hee spoyled it by sinne as none of his posterity except our LORD euer did enioy Hee had that authority in his countenance and that great and absolute command ouer all earthly creatures which neuer any of his guilty children euer had haue or shall haue vnto the end of the world And finally whereas wee are all borne sinners and are made Saints by our new-birth Hee was not borne but made a Saint and when hee had fallen like a deuill hee was raised vp againe to be like an Angell and was made a Saint againe surer then euer hee was before For Adam created had a power not to sinne but Adam regenerated cannot loose the grace of Regeneration Adam now glorified can not hath no power to sinne Adam was the type of CHRIST For as Adam was made of the earth by GOD without a Mother so CHRIST was made by GOD of the Virgin Mary without the seed of a man Adam was the father of all the liuing according to the flesh so CHRIST is the Father of all as touching the faith Adam slept that Eue might bee made so CHRIST slept on the Crosse that the Church might bee made Whiles Adam slept Eue was made of his rib taken out of his side so whiles CHRIST was a sleepe His Side was pierced and Water and Bloud issued by which the Church is cleansed Vpon a Friday wee were all created in Adam vpon a Friday wee were all Redeemed in CHRIST By the disohedience of Adam all the children of Adam were made sinners by the Obedience of CHRIST all His Members are Iustifyed In Adam all that are truely men dyed In CHRIST all true Christians are made aliue and saued Adam was the father of naturall life and withall the Prince of Discord CHRIST is the author of a Spirituall and Celestiall Life and the Prince of Peace Of the Uirgine Mary MARY the Mother of our LORD daughter of Eli and wise of Ioseph was a Virgin neuer knowing man before shee had brought forth the SAVIOVR of the world into the world and continued a Virgin euer after For though IESVS be called her First-borne yet it is not as if shee had any other after but because shee had no childe before Him And al-be-it Iames bee called the brother of our LORD yet it is not meant that hee was of the same Wombe but of one Bloud for indeed they were sisters children which Scriptures sometimes call brethren as was the Hebrew custome And though Saint Matthew say that her Husband knew her not till shee had brought forth her First-borne Son yet it followes not that hee knew her after but puts it out of doubt that hee knew her not before So it is said that Michol had no children till her deaths day This Virgine questionlesse was indued with excellent vertues and was no doubt in godlinesse and other Virgine-qualities inferiour to none no not to the purest chastest holiest iustest and modestest that euer liued of that Sexe Shee was most blessed yet her happinesse consisteth in her Regeneration rather then in her Generation and in being the Member of CHRIST rather then His Mother and in that shee bare Him in her heart as well as in her Wombe The WORD was not onely made Flesh in her but shee also was made Flesh of His Flesh and Bone of his Bone and was animated by His SPIRIT She did not only bring forth that man that was Essentially GOD but she also beleeued in that God that is substantially Man And wheras other womē either bring forth nothing as Virgins or sinners as all mothers this Virgin-mother brought forth a Saint a SAVIOVR by whom both shee and all that loue Him truely are saued and redeemed I enuy not her praises but I would not that the mother should bee so aduanced as that the Son thereby should be dishonoured nor that whiles the creature is exalted her Creator should bee depressed For euen her owne Son was her Father Hee made her that was made of her Shee that gaue Him Flesh receiued both Flesh and Faith
Hee is a Surgion If thou beest sicke Hee is a Physition If thou burne Hee is a Fountaine If thou beest cold Hee is a Fire If thou beest a sinner Hee is Sanctity If thou beest laden with iniquity Hee is Iustice If thou wantest helpe Hee is a Succour If thou beest weake Hee is Strength If thou beest weary Hee is a Shadow If thou fearest death Hee is Life If thou hatest darkenesse Hee is Light If thou wouldst see GOD Hee is thy Glasse If thou wouldst haue accesse to GOD Hee is the Way If thou wouldst enter into heauen Hee is the Dore the Key the Keeper O LORD how sweete is Thy Name How pleasing is Thy Seruice How easie is Thy Yoke In truth he is worthy death who refuseth to liue to Thee Hee is a foole that is not wise to Thee Hee is iust nothing that would bee something out of Thee It is meete that hee should wither that will not grow in Thee Hee deserues to perish wandring that will not walke in Thee Misery bee his end that seekes not Blisse in Thee Death bee his Destiny that seekes not life in Thee And Hell his heritage that seekes not Heauen in Thee Thou mad'st all things for thy Selfe Hee that will bee some-thing to himselfe nothing to Thee amongst all things hee beginnes to bee nothing and of things euill hee deserues the worst Keepe mee therefore in Thy loue that I may not leaue Thee Preserue mee in Thy Breast and doe not loose mee If I leaue Thee I loose Thee in loosing Thee I loose my soule my selfe and all things with mee Of the Holy Ghost THE third Person of the blessed Trinity is called the Holy SPIRIT because Hee hallowes vs and being Himselfe Spired doth also inspire good things into vs. The scholler learnes quickely when the Holy GHOST is his Teacher The eye sees distinctly when the Holy GHOST doth enlighten it A man iudgeth truely when Hee doth direct him and liueth holily when Hee doth dispose him The SPIRIT is but one In Person yet seuen yea seuenty times seuen in His gracious Operations Hee hath Wisedome for thee against thy folly Vnderstanding against thy dulnesse Counsell against thy giddinesse Courage against thy cowardice Cheerefulnes against thy sluggishnesse Tendernesse against thy hardnesse Comfort against thy feares Light against thy darkenesse Truth against thy lies Humility against thy pride Faith against thy dissidence Hope against thy desperation and Charity against thy cruelty Hee is giuen vnto men for saluation when their heart returnes vnto GOD for succour when in our agonies Hee relieues our infirmitie for solace when Hee whispers into our hearts that we are GODS Children and for heate when Hee kindles in our soules the zeale of GOD and Charity to our neighbour for CHRIST His sake Thinke wee well it is of Him Will wee well It is by Him Affect wee well It is His worke Or liue wee well It is by His direction Hee lightens our mind giudes our reason strengthens our memory moues our will and rules our affections But because a man sees Him not therefore shall hee deny his Essence or his Presence Thou seest not Aire the Wind thine Heart thy Braines thy Soule The operations of the Aire doth shew it the noise and whirling of the Wind doth proue it the panting of the heart doth expresse it the thoughts and imaginations of the Braines doth declare them and life sense and motion doth shew thy soule is in thee Euen so spirituall motions and an holy conuersation doth argue the presence and presidence of the SPIRIT in vs. The Holy GHOST appeared in a Doue and in fiery tongues Hee dwels in them that are innocent meek and constant and whom Hee fils Hee makes them seruent and likewise eloquent Hee inflames their hearts with the heauenly fire of an holy zeale and makes them speake the praises of GOD Hee therefore hath the Holy GHOST who with his mildenesse and simplicity quenches not his zeale nor with bitternesse of zeale looses not his mildensse but harboureth both together in a discreet pious and peaceable Spirit Of the Holy and Indiuiduall Trinity THREE are better then One but here Three are One and One is Three and hee that hath One hath All and hee that wants One wants All. What One is All are What One hath None lackes All Three are one GOD all Three haue one LORDSHIP Amongst Them there is distinction but not diuision a plurality of Persons but a singularity of Nature Consubstantiall Coëternall and Co-aequall To bee busy in inquisition about the TRINITY is wicked curiosity to bleeue It soberly is faithfull security but to see It as It is is perfect and full felicity Nature cannot match this Mystery therefore the similitudes vsed to expresse It must bee warily considered and not strained too farre As that of the Sunne and Fire which haue three things motion light and heate of the Iewish Ephah a measure of three bushels of the Soule which is furnished with Memory Vnderstanding and Will of Water in the Spring Riuer and Pond or of the Finger Hand and Arme. Then here there can bee no where more dangerous crring nor more painefull seeking not more profitable finding It shall not grieue mee if I doubt to aske It shall not shame mee if I faile to learne O Verity Charity Eternity O Blessed and Blessing TRINITY Holy Holy Holy LORD GOD of Hosts Heauen and Earth are full the Maiesty of Thy Glory Whiles I thinke of Three I shut vp my thoughts in One and whilst I muse on One mine eies are dazeled with the sight of Three It is my misery that I am a stranger from Thee I shall bee happy when I shall bee with Thee see Thee and enioy Thee Of Christ OVr blessed LORD and Sauiour is called IESVS CHRIST The former Name is Hebrew the latter Greeke the one signifying a SAVIOVR the other ANNOINTED for Hee is both to Iew and Gentle an Annointed Sauiour Annointed with the oile of gladnesse aboue his fellowes to be a King Priest and Prophet vnto his Body His Person is but one but his Natures are two One Diuine and Vncreated the other Humane and Created Hee must bee man that Hee might bee able to die Hee must bee GOD that his death might bee Meritorious Hee must bee Man for man had finned and Man must therefore suffer Hee must bee GOD that in suffering Hee might ouercome and that dying Hee might raise Himselfe to life Man indeed could suffer but GOD alone could vanquish and ouercome O inestimable fauour GOD would become Man that wee men might bee reconciled vnto GOD. The Sonne of GOD was made the sonne of Man that the sonnes of men might bee made the sonnes of GOD. Hee became a Seruant to make vs free Hee would bee inglorious that wee might bee glorious and being LORD of Life Hee would suffer death that wee which had deserued death might haue by Him eternall Life LORD IESVS whom haue I to intercede for mee with
is no other And indeed IESVS is the very name of GOD but GOD cannot bee Annointed Hee that giues all can take nothing Hee is the Annointer and is not nor can possible be annointed Therefore CHRIST cannot be the name of GOD And yet euen our IESVS is our IESVS CHRIST Our Annointed Sauiour which Annointing is spoken of Him and that truely as Hee is Man and Mediator betweene GOD and man This IESVS is our LORD Hee hath bought vs with His Owne Bloud and Hee is farre aboue all other Lords in the world For other Lords in case may bee disobeyed but This in no case Other Lords are by Him both as men and as Lords and both they and their Lordships are subiect to change but Hee is immortall and of His Kingdome there shall bee none end Other Lords are sinners and meere men but Hee is GOD also and the Sanctifier of sinnefull men They if they will be saued must serue this LORD and throw downe their Crowns at His feete Other Lords cannot do what they do desire but CHRIST can They cannot saue all that follow them and aduance all their Subiects But Hee saueth all that trust in Him and serue Him Hee makes them all Kings and Priests vnto His FATHER And whereas other Lords haue their naturall infirmities and passions of choler Melancholy c. by which their seruants are sometimes vexed yea and wronged too Our LORD is so exquifitely compleate and absolute as that Hee cannot offend or wrong any man by any meane but is able to giue full contentment vnto all and is all things to all His seruants and in them all Of Blasphemy TO blaspheme is properly to hurt or wrong one in his name or fame GOD is three waies blasphemed First when that is denyed vnto Him which is His due when that is imputed to Him which belongs not to Him and when that is attributed to another which is proper onely vnto Him He blasphemes GOD that saith GOD cannot saue him or which saith GOD is not iust or that Hee sees not all secret things or that He regards not the sighes and teares of his people He likewise blasphemes GOD that saith GOD hath a body like a man or that it is long of GOD that men do sin Thirdly he blasphemes GOD that saith the diuell can make a man or raise a man truely dead to life Hee is an euill man that will speak euill of his Maker and sure the heart is not right if the tongue speake wrong He that speakes ill thinkes not well Doubtlesse GOD will not iustifie the man that condemnes Him Hee will not hold him guiltlesse that would make Him guilty Hee thinkes not well of him that speakes ill of Him GOD hath giuen a tongue to the beast but the faculty of speach onely vnto man Hee is very ill requited when by this tongue His Name is blasphemed The tongue was giuen a man to praise GOD not to blaspheme and accuse Him It is a fearefull euill to turne that to euill which was made for good It is a grieuous sinne to speake ill of GOD with the tongue which was made of purpose to speake good of Him And questionlesse if men must giue account at the iudgement of their idle words then blaspheming and hurtfull words shall not bee forgotten Of the Olde and New Testament THE Old Testament and the New for Substance is one and the same The Old infolds the New and the New vnfolds the Old The New is couered in the Old the Old is discouered in the New The faith in both is one either one or none For Nature it is the same in both but in the New it hath receiued light euidence and distinction There hath beene an encrease of Faith but how Not that new points are added but the former are amplifyed and explained An infant hath all the parts of a man but these parts by yeares are enlarged And an Oake is contained in the kernell but time produceth all the parts and branches Euen so the faith of our fore-fathers before CHRIST and ours since is for Sense and Substance one and the same but since it hath receiued his growth his euidence and illustration but yet in the same kind sense and vnderstanding Of Justifying Faith IVSTIFYING Faith is that gracious gift whereby we beleeue in the iustice of CHRIST for our iustification and looke vpon him with confidence who was lifted vp vpon the Crosse for the cure of our soules as the Brazen Serpent was for the cure of the Israelites being stinged with serpents that as they by looking to the brazen Serpent were cured of their bodily hurts so we by beholding or fixing our beleefe on IESVS CHRIST crucified should not perish but haue eternall life by Him being by the grace of GOD in Him deliuered from all our sinnes By Faith then a mans goes out of himselfe and goes into CHRIST IESVS By faith he forsakes himselfe and cleaues vnto CHRIST IESVS By faith hee stands not vpon his owne righteousnesse which is required by the Law but desires to be found in the righteousnesse of CHRIST which is reuealed in the Gospell by faith hee puts off his owne ragges his owne wisedome holinesse iustice and puts on CHRIST IESVS and applies him or at the least would faine apply Him to himselfe as some rich robe or glorious garment that being cloathed in his Wisedome Holinesse and Iustice hee might appeare in the presence of GOD His heauenly Father as Iacob did to Isaac in Esaus cloathes and so obtaine His euerlasting blessing This Sauing Faith is a most precious iewell of the soule full of comfort and content Thou canst not see GOD but thou maist behold His Workes This is His Worke that a man beleeueth in His Sonne IESVS CHRIST If then thou dost truely beleeue thou maist be sure that GOD is in thee and hath taken possession of thee Wouldst thou know how the Sunne goes in the heauens Then looke vnto some true Sunne Dyall in it the motion of the Sunne aboue appeareth So wouldst thou see how the Son of Righteousnes CHRIST IESVS is affected towards thee Ascend not on high scale not the heauens but descend into thy selfe and examine thine heart for thy faith for thy faith apprehends Him followes Him vp and downe and lookes wishly vpon Him Thy Faith eyes Him touches Him holds Him and will not let Him go And marke euen as thou by thy faith dost apprehend Him so Hee by His fauour doth comprehend thee as thou dost acknowledge Him so Hee doth acknowledge thee as thou dost enter into Him so Hee doth inuiron thee as thou dost content thy selfe with Him so Hee delight Himselfe in thee as thou dost rest and leaue thy selfe on Him so Hee doth offer Himselfe as a prop to stay and hold thee vp Not that wee beginne and Hee followes but Hee beginnes and wee follow euen as the Diall followes the Sun and not it the Diall or as the motion and turning of a Boate at
indignity can it bee to men to honour their Politicall Mother Hee that honours an absolute Potentate aright whether King or Queene honours the power and authority which is Diuine and not Humane and honours the person for the Power not the Power for the person Bee the person good or bad the Power is good it is of GOD And it may fall out that an euill man may bee a good Monarch But whatsoeuer the Monarch is the Monarchy the Monarches power is euer good and neuer bad For there is no power but of GOD and the powers that be are ordained of GOD Whosoeuer therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the ordinance of GOD. And they that resist shall receiue to themselues condemnation Let euery soule therefore bee subiect vnto the higher Powers and not because of wrath onely but euen for conscience sake Of Death DEATH is not euill but to an euill man for to the godly death is good to the wicked death is euill to him it is the dore of life to this it is the entrance into hell The sting of death is sinne pull out this sting repent of sinne and death can do hurt but good Flye from sinne and death cannot be fearefull The sooner the Saint dies the sooner hee comes to his Crowne The longer a man liues the more time he spends vpon the Seas the sooner a man dies that dies well the sooner he comes into the hauen Hee dies well that liues well a bad death cannot follow a good life He liues and dies well that liues and dies in the faith and feare of IESVS CHRIST who is Rest to him that trauels Health to him that is sicke Refreshment to him that is weary and Life to him that dyeth eitheir for Him or in Him Death is not euill but an euill death This euill death no man dyeth which dyeth either In or For the seruice of CHRIST IESVS Of the Immortality of the Soule THE soule saith Austen is a created Substance Inuisible incorporeall Immortall being like to GOD that made it It is possible that the sould should be destroyed as it was for the Sunne to stand still for the sea to stand diuided for the fire not to burne the three children but this is not by the nature thereof but in regard of the power of GOD who is able if Hee pleased to turne the whole world into nothing as Hee once made it of nothing But indeed the soule of a man shall neuer die shall neuer bee dissolued as is the body but continueth whole and firme for euer For the proofe hereof I suppose it the surest way for euery man to fortifie himselfe with the vndoubted testimonies of holy Writ The Spirit saith Ecclesiastes returnes to GOD that gaue it The soule of the poore beggar was in ioy but the soule of the rich Epicure was in torment after their bodily death CHRIST said to the Thiefe now a dying This day shalt thou bee with Mee in Paradise And to His FATHER Into Thine hands I commend my Spirit Steuen being now ready to depart prayed LORD IESVS receiue my spirit Saint Paul saith Wee loue rather to remoue out of the body and to dwell with the LORD And againe I desire to bee dissolued and to bee with CHRIST By which it is most certaine that the soule doth liue after the body is dead But what though the soule shall liue for euer if it liue in paine as the soules of the damned do Surely it were better not to be then to be tormented and out of ease Therefore let vs die before wee die and leaue our sinnes before wee leaue the world If our soules do die to sinne in this life they shall not die by sinne in the life to come If they liue to GOD by grace in this world they shall liue with GOD in glory in the world to come The world is mortall but the soule of man is immortall Why should that that is immortall bee pind on that that is mortall Why should the soule that cannot die be buried in the loue of those things that cannot but die and come to nothing The body is mortall the soule is immortall why should wee make more account of That then This Why should we desire a good body and care not though wee haue a naughty soule If we neglect our soule we shall not saue our body if we forget out soules we forget our selues The soule was not made for the body but the body for the soule The soule therefore shoule be preferred to the body but he which neglects the chiefest and sets most by the meanest corrupteth both and condemnes himselfe But he that looketh well to his soule though hee be more carelesse of the body yet he shall not proue vnlucky for in tendring the safety of his soule hee shall saue his body also Of the Resurrection of the Body THERE is a resurrection of the iust and iniust the iust shall rise to iudge the iniust to be iudged the iust shall be absolued the iniust shall be condemned Euen that body that fell the selfe-same shall rise againe by GODs Omnipotency For euen they that sleepe in the dust shall rise that must rise againe that fell this mortall must put on Immortality I shall see GOD in my flesh saith Iob mine eyes shall behold Him and none other for mee If there were no resurrection then is not CHRIST risen againe for in Him we all dyed in Him we are all raised vp from death and this we haue in Soe the day shall come when we shall haue it in Re. Neither is there any reason that another body and not the same which serued CHRIST and suffered iniuries for Him should be giuen vnto a man but it is host iust that the same body which was burnt or butchered for CHRIST should be glorified of CHRIST and that a man should receiue his reward and rest in that body in which he performed his seruice The body restored shall be a true body and not a Spirit For Gloria non tollit naturam sed extollit Glory doth not destroy but perfite Nature All defects deformities weakenesses and imperfections shall be remoued and all fulnesse feature fauour strength and perfections shall be giuen it And whereas many fall in their infancy children of a spanne long yet it is not to be imagined that they shall be raised vp of such a stature but in the stature of a man and yet the same body euen as the body of an old man for substance is the same it was in his youth or child-hood though enlarged and otherwise disposed And al-be-it it shall rise a spirituall body yet it followeth not that it shall be a Spirit no more then it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a soule when it fell because it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an animall or soule-body naturall body but it is a naturall body now because it is nourished and preserued by naturall meanes as food rayment sleepe physicke recreation labour A
GOD in heauen but thee Whom haue I to guide and comfort me whiles I liue with men on earth but Thy SPIRIT In whom desire I to end my daies and die but euen in Thee With whom would I liue when I doe remoue but euen with Thee Grant that I may so liue to Thee and so die in Thee that I may liue eternally with Thee But my life doth scarre mee for when I sift it I finde it is either full of sinne or empty of good And if any fruite appeare therein it is either so feigned or so vnperfite or some way or other so corrupted as that either it cannot please or cannot but displease the most righteous and holy Iudge What shall I now doe Or whether shall I goe Thy Passion O LORD is my refuge and singular comfort Therein is my confidence on that I stand Thy Mercies are my Merites Thine Indulgence is my Iustice Thy Grace is my Glory Thy Crosse my Crowne and Thy Death my Life IESVS is a Name full of delight and sweetenesse Mel in Ore Melas in Aure Iubilus in Corde Hony in the mouth Melody in the eare and Ioy in the heart I will reioyce and trust in Thy Saluation I will not contend against Thee in the Vallies nor on the Mountaines The King of Israel is a Mercifull King Thy mercy it is thy mercies O LORD that I onely thirst for My soule thirsteth after Thy mercies as the chased Hart doth after water LORD IESVS in Thy mercy make mee pertaker of Thy Merites Of the Law THE Law saith Doe this and thou shalt liue It rests not in faith but exacteth action and promiseth life to them which keepe it It allowes not infirmities but requireth all perfections and if a man faile but in one point thereof it denounceth a curse vnto him Alas then what are wee what shall become of vs who are grieuous and continuall sinners Our very Iustice being strictly sifted by the Law which is the rule of Iustice would bee found iniustice and that would be contemned in the strict iudgement of the Iudge which is commended in the iudgement of the worker But could not this Law haue beene exactly kept Surely Adam might haue kept it if hee would but as the case now standeth wee cannot but trangresse it Neither yet is there iniustice in GOD For by commanding things impossible Hee makes not men sinners but humble that euery mouth should bee stopped and that all the world should bee made subiect vnto GOD because by the workes of the Law no flesh shal be iustified in his sight For when wee haue receiued a commandement and perceiue what is wanting in vs wee are put in minde to send vp our cries into heauen and GOD will haue mercy vpon vs and that so wee may know that wee are not saued by the workes of righteousnesse which wee haue done but by His owne free Mercy For indeed therefore was the Law giuen and is yet vrged to shewe not what wee can doe but what wee should doe and that the proude might see his weakenesse and seeing it might bee humbled and being humbled might confesse it and confessing it might bee saued Not resting vpon his owne dignity but on GODS Dignation not in his owne iustice but in the Righteousnesse of IESVS CHRIST Being therefore terrified by the Law let vs seeke for comfort in the Gospell And seeing all hope in our selues is cut off by the Law let vs flie to CHRIST IESVS Who is the fulfilling of the Law and in Whom whosoeuer beleeueth hath the perfection of the Law They say the Elephant as knowing his owne deformity loues not to looke into cleere water Foule faces would haue false glasses and such as would vent their copper loue not the Touchstone And they that haue deceiptfull wares like not the light But I doe desire to vnderstand the Law exactly that I may see all my deformities and foulenesse mine hypocrisies and false-dealings that so I might bee brought to a loathing of them and finding mine imperfections towards the Law I might bee prouoked to seeke for the perfection reuealed in the Gospell I will indeuour to keep the Law exactly but when I faile I will flie to the Grace of the Gospell speedily as knowing that not by mine owne iustice but by the iustice of CHRIST I must bee iustified and that I am not saued for any graces in mee but by the grace of GOD in CHRIST vnto mee Of Sinne. SINNE is the transgression of the Law If there were no Law there could bee no sinne The Law claimes obedience and when it is transgressed then sin is committed And the more men wander from it the more they sinne The cause of sinne is not GOD who is Truth and Goodnesse Wisedome and Iustice but a mans owne will yeelding to the diuell For it cannot bee that Hee should make vs fall into sinne who makes vs rise from sinne and that Hee should be the Author of that whereof Hee is reuenger And though Sathan be politique to beguile yet hath he no power to compell he cannot make thee sinne except thou wilt It is true hee can bewitch thy body inchaunt thine eyes and dull thy eares whether thou wilt or no but he cannot compell thy soule to sinne he cannot make thee sinne against thy will A man standing in a showre of haile or bullets or beeing among persons infected with the plague may be strucken and infected though he would not bee so but no tentation darted from the Diuell no bad example scandall or suggestion of any sinner can doe thee harme except thou yeeld vnto it Know that when thou sinnest it is not against but with thy will For the foundation and roote of sinne is in our selues and whosoeuer sinnes is the proper cause vnto himselfe of sinne It is true that God doth harden the heart and deliuer men vp sometimes vnto a Reprobate sence but how Not by the insusion of hardnesse or immission of corruption but by not imparting mercy and by leauing a man to himselfe and deliuering him vp into the hands of sathan For then Hee is said to harden when Hee doth not soften to deliuer them when Hee doth not retaine them to giue them vp when Hee lets them go and to leade them into temptation when Hee doth not deliuer them When therefore I shall commit a sinne I will not accuse GOD I will not impute all to the diuell but I will condemne my selfe smite my breast and say with the Publican GOD bee mercifull to mee a sinner I haue hard some complaine they cannot chuse but sinne O fearefull bondage O vnhappy necessity But who constraines thē against their wils Nothing But thus it is Euill thoughts of sinne beget delight delight consent consent action action custome custome necessity What shall a man doe that is thus intangled Let him beware of custome for the custome of sinning takes away the sense of sinne and let him preuent or mortifie euill thoughts which
are the diuels harbingers for hee lodges not but where they haue taken vp his lodging for him There are some vse to minish their sinnes either they are not great or they are not many Sure it is that the smallest sinne that can bee beeing the offence of the greatest Maiesty deserueth death and therefore is great enough to destroy the soule and though there were but one yet that were one too many For one foote of a bird taken or one wing belimmed may cost her her life One hole in a Ship may sinke her One bullet may kill as well as twenty The smallest sin is in it nature mortall yea the omission of the smallest duety which the Law of GOD requireth deserueth eternall death For cursed is euery one which continueth not in All Things which are written in the booke of the Law to doe them If the smallest curse of GOD bee too great to suffer then the smallest sinne against GOD is too great to doe As I therefore desire to escape all curses so will I by the grace of GOD bee carefull to auoide all causes and will neuer count that little which might make mee sustaine so great a losse as is the forfeite of my soule Of the Gospell THE Gospell is good newes from heauen of remission of sins reconciliation to GOD redemption from hell death and condemnation and of resurrection to life and glory by the merites of our LORD and SAVIOVR IESVS CHRIST O happy newes O ioyfull tydings What newes more welcome to prisoners then of a Goale-deliuery What more pleasing to malefactours then to heare of their Princes pardon What would a blind man more willingly heare of then that his eie-sight shall bee restored to him Or what better tydings can bee brought to a man sea-beaten and spent with labour then that hee shall most certainely obtaine an hauen where hee shall most safely rest free from the malice of Pirates and fury of all foule weather Yet for all this the Gospell with many findes but poore acceptance It is because men haue no thorough feeling of their miseries they feele no misery and therefore affect no change What cares a clunch for learning or good manners that blesseth himselfe in his rudenesse and inciuility What cares a man for meate that feeles no hunger What doe you talke to him of cloathes that feeles no cold nor nakednesse The lacke of things causeth estimation the sense of lacke When men haue beene worne with warres how pleasing is the newes of a true and constant peace When a man feeles his disease and sees death staring in his eyes O how welcome is the Physition How welcome should hee bee that would bring him newes of a medicine which hee might easily haue that would cure him and set him vp againe When Sea-men haue beene long at Sea and spent their victuals and water euen a pound of bread would bee worth a pound in siluer and a little fresh water how welcome would it bee vnto them And if men would but duely consider of their captiuity slauery miseries and necessities into which they are driuen by sinne and wherein they are inwrapped they would bee glad to heare of deliuerance And beautifull should be the feete of those which shall bring vnto them glad tydings of peace I will therefore examine my selfe by the Law that I may bee brought to esteeme of the Gospell I will mediate of my slauery which I am brought to by transgressing the Law that I may duely respect the liberty which is Preached in the Gospell Mine owne bitternesse shall make mee delight in this Sweetnesse and mine owne vngraciousnesse in this so great a Grace Of the Law and the Gospell THE Law saith doe this and thou shalt liue The Gospell saith Beleeue in the Lord IESVS and thou shalt be saued In the Law there is seuerity but in the Gospell mercy In the Law there is reserued no repentance but by the sentence thereof hee that sins must die But the Gospell admits repentance and promiseth life to him that turneth vnto GOD. The Law terrifies but the Gospell pacifies The Law discouers sin but the Gospell couers it The Law requires a mans owne iustice but the Gospell Preacheth pardon in the iustice of another to wit of CHRIST The Law is written after a sort in the hearts of all men Pagans and Christians but the Gospell is not so generally knowne to all And the Gospell was not first and then the Law But the Law was first and then the Gospell To finde out my sinnes I will veiw the Law but to reade my saluation I will looke into the Gospell To despaire of my selfe I will weigh the Law but to hope in CHRIST I will receiue the Gospell If I were disposed to stand vpon my good deeds I would sticke to the Law but being desirous of mercy I will flye to the Gospell If I would stand vpon my iustice I wold plead the Law but crauing Grace I go to the Gospell Yet this will I doe because the Law is the rule of good workes I will endeuour to keepe it with care and conscience Yet euery day will I pray and say GOD bee mercifull to mee a sinner Of Good and Euill GOOD is more ancient then euill Sanctity is elder then sinne vice is yonger then Vertue There was first an Angell then a diuell First a Man then a sinner First a True-man then a thiefe In good no man can bee too much in euill no man can bee too little Hee that would encrease in good let him thinke hee hath yet too little Hee that would decrease in euill let him remember still hee hath too much The way to learne vertue is to vnlearne vice Hee taketh the ready course to become good which repenteth of his euils And Hee onely will proue a Saint which feelingly confesses himselfe to bee a sinner Of the Church Vniuersall THE Holy Catholique Church is the Corporation or Communion of Saints Triumphant in Heauen and Militant on earth This is the Mysticall Body of CHRIST who is the onely Head thereof by whose SPIRIT euery Member thereof is animated as euery part of the naturall body is animated of the soule And from which Head euery true mysticall Member deriueth all Spirituall life sense and motion And as the Moone receiueth her light from the Sunne so doth the Church receiue all her brightnesse both of grace and glory from IESVS CHRIST This Church is the Vine of GODS delight the Spouse of CHRIST His Faire One His Wel-Beloued GODS House and Citty the LORD and Keeper whereof is GOD the Wall His omnipotent Grace and gracious Omnipotency the Watch-towers are His Prouidence and Omniscience Her Ensignes or Armes are Faith Righteousnesse Peace Charity and ioy in the Holy GHOST Her foundation is the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles Her Gate is CHRIST Her Religion is the seruice of the blessed TRINITY Her Citizens are all poenitent and true Beleeuers and all the Saints of GOD. This is the
at some-body Infinite are the quarrels that people picke with their Preacher On the contrary I haue heard some highly commend the Sermon Oh it was a rare Sermon hee is an excellent man it was the best Sermon that I euer heard hee is an admirable Preacher It is well but I will aske thee What rare effects did it worke within What wonders wrought it in thee what excellency what goodnesse hast thou receiued or gained by it Blesse not thy selfe in commending the Preacher rest not in the naked commendations of his Sermon Account that an excellent a rare and a good Sermon which produceth rare effects in thee makes thee better then thou wast before and stirres thee vp to excell in vertue Account him admirable and wonder then when hee worketh wonders in thy soule Thy Preacher cares not so much for thy verball commendations as thy reall Good conuersation is his best commendation his commending stands in thine amending and thy godly practise is his best praise The Sheepe that saith nothing commends his Sheepeheard when her skin is whole her fleece faire and her selfe wel-liking He heares well that doth well he learnes well that liues well and thy knowledge is praise-worthy according to thy practise And he onely doth proue a good Hearer which heares the truth in humility beleeues it in simplicity and obeyes it with alacrity The Word of GOD is our foode our eares are our mouth but this meate is not like bodily food turned into vs but we by beleeuing and obeying it are turned into it Now hee is the onely happy hearer that is translated into the Word so as that he may be able to say I liue but yet not I but the Word of GOD doth liue within me And this is when a mans reason will affections are brought vnder the Word and when his conuersation being transformed is now conformed to the Word Of the Sacraments THE oath of Souldiers to their Generall was called Sacramentum by which name also water in Baptisme and Bread and Wine in the LORDS Supper are vsually called Because as Souldiers when they receiued the presse-mony did solemnely sweare to their Captaine or Generall that they would bee faithfull and loyall to him So we whiles we partake of these holy Mysteries instituted of GOD in His Church doe binde our selues with the like Vow that we will liue and die in his cause and seruice And as they at the taking of that Oath gaue their names to their Emperour or Commander and were receiued into his protection So wee when wee receiue these Sacraments doe likewise giue our names vnto CHRIST and are receiued into his tuition that vnder his banner wee might fight a good battell keeping faith and a good conscience And as there wee doe yeeld ouer our selues vnto GOD so GOD doth binde Himselfe to vs by Pacts and Promises after a manner sealed vp Sacraments are signes of things being one thing and signifying another Euery Sacrament is a Mysterie but euery Mysterie is not a Sacrament Sacraments are not Nata but Data Not Naturall but by Diuine appointment And their dignity depends vpon their Authour They are not the better because the Minister is good that doth deliuer them nor the worse because hee is euill They are such as hee is in whose authority they are giuen not as hee is by whose Ministery they are dispensed And though they bee hurtfull to them that deliuer them being wicked yet they are profitable to them that receiue them being Prepared And though the Receiuer haue a peruerse faith or come vnprepared and in sin yet hee may pertake of a true and entire Sacrament if wee respect the signes and not the things represented by the signes In Sacraments there is a change not of Substance but of vse not of Nature but of condition For by these elements consecrated there is a signification obsignation exhibition of CHRIST and His benefits Sacraments are necessary in respect of GODS Commandement and as they bee meanes of receiuing CHRIST yet simply not the defect of Sacraments but the contempt of them doth damne a man If a man would haue them but cannot and dies in the desire of them no doubt he may be saued But indeed he that may but cares not for them and so departs questionlesse as he scorned the signes so he shall be depriued of the grace It is iust that he should misse of the Kernell that cared not for the Shell that he should loose the Land that contemned the Lease or Deed that hee should be depriued of CHRIST the Bread and Water of Life that regarded not the Water and Bread of CHRIST There are two Sacraments Baptisme and the LORDS Supper By Baptisme wee are admitted into the Church receiued into the seruice of the blessed TRINITY and haue our sinne remitted though not at first extirped A man is borne a sinner but by Baptisme hee is made a Saint A man is by birth a limme of the diuell but by Baptisme hee is made the member of CHRIST A man may bee new borne and not Baptized but hee is not so if hee skorne to bee Baptized There are some that make small account of Baptisme but for my selfe I make more reckoning of my Baptisme then of all the riches in the world as knowing that these can neither helpe nor hurt so much as the other and that the comtempt of these may stand with a mans saluation whereas the contempt of Baptisme is punished with damnation By the LORDS Supper wee are nourished and preserued in the Church In those hallowed signes of Bread and Wine CHRIST IESVS and all his Merites are signified sealed vp and exhibited vnto euery worthy Receiuer For as there is in an Obligation or Legall Instrument an assurance and conueyance made of mony goods or lands from one to another So in the Sacrament vnder these elements there is a most sure conueyance and exhibition of CHRIST IESVS vnto euery prepared Communicant And although wee take the Bread by it selfe and the Wine by it selfe yet wee must not imagine that CHRIST is giuen by peece-meale but two signes were ordained to shew that wee haue perfect food in CHRIST For it is but an hungry dinner where there is no meate and a dry feast where there is no drink Now to signifie that CHRIST is Meate and Drinke vnto vs and that in Him wee shall haue a full refection therefore two signes one of Bread which strengthens the heart another of Wine which allaies the thirst and make it merry were by CHRIST ordained Of Communicants I Do much wonder at the foolish auersnesse and peruerse folly of many men that make so small account of this Blessed Sacrament that they must by feare of Lawes be driuen to it They are out of charity they want good cloathes they are not yet at leasure they alledge I wot not what their very excuses doe accuse them Who bids thee be out of charity Why art thou not reconciled Who
Anchor followes the motion and turning of the water and not it the Boate or as as the drynesse of the Wayes follow the drynesse of the Weather and this that or finally as the Sea followes the Moone and not it the Sea By this Faith we heare with profite we walke with comfort wee worke by charity wee hope for glory we enioy tranquillity and though wee bee not iustified for the merite of it yet are wee iustified by it as by that onely meane whereby wee behold and hold beleeue and place our confidence in IESVS CHRIST who was made vnto vs of GOD Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption So Saint Paul knowing that a man is not iustifyed by the workes but by the Faith of IESVS CHRIST Wee also Paul and Peter haue beleeued in IESVS CHRIST that wee might bee iustified by the Faith of CHRIST and not by the workes of the Law Because by the workes of the Law no flesh shall bee iustified Epiphanius saith iustice is by Faith without the workes of the Law Chrysostome saith Hee hath saued vs by Faith alone Theodoret saith by bringing onely Faith we haue receiued pardon of sinnes We iudge saith Ambrose according to the Apostle that a man is iustifyed by Faith without the workes of the Law Ierome saith thou knowest that thou as the Gentiles hast found life in CHRIST not by the workes of the Law but by Faith alone To omit many heare onely now Saint Austen a word or two When the Apostle saith a man is iustified freely without the workes of the Law by Faith it is not his drift that when Faith is receiued and professed the workes of Iustice should bee contemned but that euery man may know it is possible for him to bee iustified although the workes of the Law haue not gone before for they follow him that is iustified and go not before him that is to bee iustified So then wee for our parts are iustified before GOD onely by Faith but wee and our faith also are iustified before men by good workes as the goodnesse of a Tree is shewed by the fruite the goodnesse of a rose by her sweete odors the cunning of a workeman by his workes And though Faith bee not alone but very well attended yet it iustifies alone as the eye sees alone the eare heares alone the mouth tastes alone the legges go alone but yet are not alone but are coupled to other parts of the body Hee that hath this faith hath all the vertues of a Christian hee that wants it wants all With it a man is something without it a man is worse then nothing A man hath all that hath himselfe he hath nothing that wants himselfe but hee hath himselfe that hath his Sauiour and hee hath his Sauiour that beleeueth in Him and by the vertue of his faith doth seeke and serue Him It it not faith but faithlesnesse not trust but distrust for a man to put affiance in himselfe I will therefore distrust in my selfe that I may beleeue in CHRIST I will despaire of my selfe that I may haue hope in Him and I will loose my selfe in my selfe that I may finde my selfe in Him I will not distrust in His might because Hee is Almighty nor in His good will because Hee is most mercifull and cryeth Come vnto mee not yee that are worthy but yee that are weary and heauy laden and I will refresh you Of Hope that maketh not ashamed HOPE is the wishing and expecting of some good to come True Christian hope is that worke of the SPIRIT in a true Beleeuers heart whereby hee patiently waiteth for those good things which GOD hath promised vnto him in IESVS CHRIST This hope is certaine and not false begotten of faith in the promise of GOD It is the anchor of the soule which would be split in peeces with stormes and tempests and driuen vpon Rockes and Sands or loose it selfe in the vaste Ocean of this vnquiet and sinnefull world if it were not preserued and staied by Hope fastned on our LORD and SAVIOVR CHRIST IESVS who is the ground of our hope our staffe our stay our comfort and contentment Ioy is the motion of the heart vpon some present good now enioyed But Hope is the hearts expectation of some good to come Which good the faithfull heart doth long and looke for not led thereunto by the euidence of humane sense or reason but moued by the euidence of faith which is the promise of GOD. The way to come to true Hope is to haue no hope in our selues but to receiue all our hope from faith in the Word of GOD. For to hope in the creature is to despaire of the Creator Neither doth hee truely hope in CHRIST that doth fixe his hope on any thing out of CHRIST To despaire is a grieuous sinne for a man thereby denies the Power of GOD who is Omnipotent or His good Will and Mercy who will cast away no humble Suppliant but knowes how to alter His Sentence if thou canst tell how to performe repentance It is true desperation doth destroy thousands but presumption doth kill ten thousands There is no more dangerous presumption then for a man to expect saluation by his owne deserts or to ground his hope of eternity vpon his owne perfections His waxen wings where-with hee soares on high will not bee able to endure the heate of GODS Iustice but with Icarus hee shall most surely fall and perish in the gulfe of hell So it is very vanity for a man to hope for heauen whiles hee is alwaies like a Mole rooting and turning vp Mountaines of enormities against the heauens and laying sinne vpon sinne as the Babilonians did stone vpon stone and so threatning heauen with their sinnes as they with their Tower The sinner may not hope for heauen but the Saint onely the humble and not the proud the penitent not the man addicted to his owne lusts and hating to bee reformed For the promise of Eternall Life is made not to Infidels but to Beleeuers not to the rebell but to the penitent not to the presumptuous but to the poore not to the children of the world but to the true spirituall sonnes and daughters of the Church of GOD. Adulterers Drunkards worldlings shall not inherite the Kingdome of GOD. They cannot be saued except they repent and when they do truely repent then GOD accounts them no longer Adulterers Drunkards Worldlings but doth forgiue them And as without repentance they cannot be saued so without repentance they cannot hope to bee saued If they looke to be saued and yet run on in their sinnes they looke in vaine This their looking being the presumption of fancy not the expectation of faith It is but a castle built in the Aire imaginary Or like an house of clay set in the waters LORD IESVS thou art mine Hope mine Honour I will beginne and end in Thee I would be found in Thee and not in Mee I will desire seeke and waite for life
LORD Thy loue vnto vs redeemeth vs from our bondage saueth vs from hell treadeth downe our enemies protects and directs vs in the world and safely brings vs into the Land of Promise the Land of the Liuing where wee shall see Thy Face and enioy the ioyes of blisse for euermore O LORD Thy loue is life Thy fauour is felicity LORD let the light of Thy countenance shine vpon mee and grant mee Thy loue which Thou bearest vnto those whom Thou louest euer and leauest neuer Of Mans loue to God LOVE of GOD doth knit fast the heart vnto Him makes it delight in Him and to bee contented with Him What cause hath man to loue Him it is not hard to conceiue seeing Hee is altogether good in Himselfe and the cause of all good in and to him Are wee liue wee vnderstand wee Wee must ascribe it vnto GOD. Are wee men or are wee good men Haue wee Grace or expect we Glory The praise belongs to Him The measure of our loue should bee vnmeasureable and the end endlesse The heart wherewith wee loue Him should not bee halfe nor hollow but such as Hee made in vs whole and vndiuided simple and not double How equall is it that man should loue His GOD seeing it is the substance of His Law and seeing he is so much obliged to Him for the tokens of His loue to Him How needfull is it seeing otherwise hee cannot loue his neighbour in Him no nor performe any Act or Office of Religion pleasingly in His sight And how comfortable seeing it is the worke of GODS SPIRIT in him and an vndoubted effect and token of GODS loue to Him and of his faith in GOD And yet it is a wonder to see how rare this duety is amongst vs. How sildome doe wee thinke of GOD or of His seruice What capitall and foule enormities are euery where heaped vp against Him How vsuall is it with men to turne His Grace into wantonnesse How doe the pleasures and cares of the world depriue Him of our hearts How common is the contempt of His holy Ordinances How great is the profanation of His holy Day How customably is His fearefull and glorious Name vainely vsed And how wantonly doe men deale with His sacred Word What little zeale and courage is there in vs for His Glory Alas wee talke of loue but demonstrate little The heart of the louer is rather where it loues then where it liues a man cannot but obey his Lord whom hee deerely loueth and will make much of any thing that belongs to that hee loues But our hearts are buried in the earth wee are euer rooting in the ground wee haue cast off the yoke of GODS Commandements wee are frozen in our dregges and make account of any thing rather then that which concernes His Honour which doth discouer our hypocrisie and witnesseth against vs that wee are louers of pleasures profite preferments of any thing rather then of Him Yet is there nothing able to doe vs so much good as Hee Nothing so worthy of our loue as Hee Nothing to which wee are so much indebted as to Him Nothing wherein wee can finde so much comfort in the loue thereof as in the loue of Him Nothing so well able to rauish our hearts with the delight thereof as Hee is And no man so regardfull of our loue as Hee is and yet standeth not in neede of vs at all nor of our loue Wee desire His loue to vs why then should we not remonstrate ours to Him Wee would haue our children and seruants loue vs it is reason therefore that wee should bestow our loue on Him being our Louing LORD and gracious FATHER in IESVS CHRIST Of the Loue of Christ CHRIST is our LORD and SAVIOVR therefore wee ought to loue Him as men in loue redeemed by Him and receiued into His seruice Hee loues Him as his LORD that willingly submits his soule vnto His Scepter and offers himselfe to bee ruled by His Lawes Hee loues Him as his SAVIOVR that relies vpon His Merites seekes to Him for His Grace and resteth in those meanes of life and godlinesse which Hee hath ordained in His Church CHRIST is the Husband of His people and therefore to bee beloued of them as of His Wife And those loue Him as their Husband that wed not their hearts to any other that keepe their soules chaste for Him that delight to bee vnder His shadow and which in their hearts say with the Spouse in the Canticles Stay mee with flagons and comfort mee with apples set mee as a Seale on Thine heart and as a Signet vpon Thine Arme Thy Loue is better then wine If euer our loue was deserued of any then of CHRIST IESVS Who became man to bring vs into grace with GOD Who was poore to make vs rich Who humbled Himselfe to exalt vs Who came downe from heauen to fetch vs from hell to heauen Who both liued and dyed for vs that wee might escape eternall death and might obtaine Eternall Life And finally because perfection procureth fauour and beauty is the Load-stone vnto loue Wee must needs bestow our loue on Him in whom is nothing but perfection nothing but beauty In Him are all the Treasures of Wisedome and Knowledge hidden In Him is the fulnesse of the God-head Bodily Hee is Fairer then the sonnes of men Grace is diffused in His Lips GOD hath annointed Him with the Oile of Gladnesse aboue His Fellowes Hee is White and Ruddy the chiefest of ten thousand wholly delectable LORD IESVS tie mine heart fast to Thee by loue seuer it from all earthly things euen from it selfe that it may be wedded wholly and solely vnto Thee vnto Thee and vnto none but Thee and that for euer Of Selfe-loue CHRITY beginnes at home It is naturall for a man to loue himselfe Hee that loues not himselfe is vnfit to loue another Or how can hee take care of another that is carelesse of himselfe True selfe-loue is a furtherer of all vertues specially of temperance and such other as concerne our selues For hee that loues himselfe truely wils well and does well vnto himselfe and embraces those vertues gladly by which hee may be mended There is a blind and foolish selfe-loue too too common in the world You shall haue some rauished with the admiration of themselues they are the Mountaines all others are but Mole-hils all their Geese are Swans all their vertues are ten-foote long and all their actions are good because they are theirs all is spoken in Print that is spoke by them they see not their wants but imagine they haue that they haue not So they swimme they care not though all doe sinke so they may haue they care not though all besides doe want they will forgiue and flatter themselues in most grieuous vices excusing themselues extenuating their faults and contemning all the admonitions of others And finally their praises of others is very sparing almost nothing but they can speake bigly of
is the Church How precious therefore both to Priest and people should this Hammer and Fire bee in a true account thereof within their soules Of Good-deeds SVCH are good workes as are and are done according to the will of GOD reuealed For the rule of wel-doing is not our wils who are but seruants but the Will of GOD who is our Maister whose will is Iust and the Rule of Iustice GOD being able to will nothing but right and good seeing Hee is Wisedome Truth and Goodnesse it selfe And a thing may be according to His Will and yet not be done of him that does it according to it A good deed is ill done if it bee not done for maner as wel as for matter according to the Will of GOD. For if a man do that that is good and thinke it is euill that man doth sinne Not onely because hee thinkes that euill which is not euill but also because he iudging it to bee euill yet doth it Euen as a man may lye when he speakes the truth if he thinke that is a lye which hee speaketh when hee speakes it Againe if a man do that whereof he doubteth and is not perswaded of the lawfulnesse thereof hee sinnes For whatsoeuer is not of Faith is sinne And finally though a man do a thing that is good yet if hee do it not to GODS Glory but for his owne or for base respects and not in way of obedience to GODS Commandements hee questionlesse commits a sinne A good man onely can do a good deed For an euill tree cannot bring forth good fruite and a corrupt fountaine can send forth no wholesome water Good deeds are necessary to saluation as the way to the Kingdome but not as the cause of reigning They are not the causes of saluation but the workes and testimonies of them that are to bee saued And they are not the matter nor forme of faith but they are true effects vndoubted tokens and vnseparable companions of true Faith and of true Charity if well performed For Faith and Charity are not idle and vnfruitfull but labourious and full of goodnesse And though our wel-doing be no cause of our Blessednesse yet it shall not want a reward but as wee doe abound therein in this world so shall we exceed in glory in the world to come The more wee flourish in fruit in this life the more wee shall flourish in felicity in the life to come But some haue beene heard to say they can do no good deeds they haue no riches they are but poore These are deceiued thou hast not a penny hast thou a prayer Thou hast no goods to giue hast thou good counsell Thou canst do no deeds of comfort hast thou any words of comfort Thou hast no bread hast thou a blessing Thy legs are lame thou canst not go well thy hands are lame thou canst not worke well hast thou a good tongue canst thou speake well There is no man so poore but he may benefite his neighbour one way or an other If any way it is a good deed if hee do it well And GOD accepts any thing a cup of cold water if there be no better the widdowes Mite euen any thing haire to the building of the Tabernacle a pin to the dressing of his Bride And suppose a man do a good deed to a wicked man yet if hee do it not for his wickednesse but either because he is a man or that hee may win him vnto goodnesse or shew himselfe a follower of GOD who is kind vnto His enemies and doth good euen to the wicked surely hee doth a good and shall not loose his reward And say that a man should bee kinde vnto some hypocrite thinking him to bee a Saint because hee could not discerne his simulations being so cunningly carried yet shall the benefactor bee rewarded of GOD Who regards his affection and seeth his heart and will recompense him according to his loue and not according to the condition of the party which did not deserue it If a mans benesicence proceeds of benevolence and bee performed in the name of CHRIST to the glory of GOD it shall neuer want a recompence For GOD is not not iniust to forget the labour of our loue and as men sow so shall they reape as they brue so shall they drinke Our gifts shall bee recompensed with glory our paines with pleasures our labours with life Do well and haue well Liue well and die well Hee that doth well to the Seruant for the Maisters sake shall be sure to receiue a reward from the Maister Himselfe It shall neuer be said that hee that was kind and louing to the Childe is vnkindly and hardly dealt with of the Father Let vs not therefore bee weary of wel-doing for in due season wee shall reape if wee faint not Of the knowledge of God ALL Men affect knowledge by a certaine instinct of nature How vnmanly a vice then is it to affect the ignorance of GOD our Maker Ruler and Redeemer Whose Nature Beauty and Perfection doth more excell all the world then all the world excels the meanest creature that is in it Wee study to know the nature and perfection of things that are by farre lesse worthy to be knowne Yea sometimes wee will search into things forbidden and sometimes take paines to know that which is not worthy of those paines Except wee know GOD how shall wee take Him alone to bee our GOD and not defile our selues with idols Vnlesse wee know Him how shall we loue Him how can we trust in Him how can wee serue Him Do men loue that they know not Will a man serue hee knowes not whom Will a man make account of that the worth or vse whereof is vnknowne vnto him Or will a man acknowledge and beleeue in one hee knowes not Wee are spirituall Priests and Princes is it for a Priest to bee ignorant of his GOD Doth it become a King to bee ignorant of the KING of Kings who set the Crowne on his head and put the Scepter into his hand Euen beasts and birds know their owners keepers feeders and is it a seeemely thing for man whom GOD hath made their Lord to bee ignorant of Him by whom they liue and moue and haue their being and long of Whose mercies it is that they are not consumed To know GOD rightly is a note of GODS people They shall all know Mee from the least of them euen to the greatest of them saith the LORD and an infallible argument of blessednesse This is life Eternall that they know thee the onely true GOD and IESVS CHRIST whom Thou hast sent who is very GOD blessed for euer On the contrary affected ignorance of GOD is the brand of wicked men who say vnto GOD Depart from vs for wee desire not the knowledge of Thy Waies This ignorance exposeth a man to the iudgements of GOD whose wrath is kindled by this sinne The LORD hath a controuersy with the inhabitants
of the Land saith Hoseah because there is no truth nor mercy nor knowledge of GOD in the Land My people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge This ignorance is the mother of superstition and prophanesse and the reason why men feare not GOD but are disobedient and vnawfull Therefore they in Iob that had said in their hearts Wee desire not the knowledge of Thy Waies say also Who is the Almighty that wee should serue Him And what profite should wee haue if wee should pray vnto Him If a man bee disposed to deuotion yet being ignorant of GODS Will hee will deuise some Wil-worship and foolish ad-inuentions which are as pleasing vnto GOD as Luke-warme water to the stomacke as apish complements to a graue man or as painting and pranking is to a staied and holy Matrone Besides the ignorance of GOD makes men do that against the truth and the professours of it which otherwise it is very likely they would not do Ignorance of CHRIST made the Iewes to crucifie Him and Paul to persecute Him in His Members They shall excommunicate you saith our LORD yea the time shall come that whosoeuer kils you shall thinke hee doth GOD good seruice and these things will they doe vnto you because they haue not knowne the FATHER nor MEE And for the life to come it shall bee no helpe to say wee would haue serued Thee had we knowne Thee But why did you not know Mee For mine Eternall Power and God-head are seene by the creation of the world The heauens declare the glory of GOD and the firmament sheweth the workes of His Hands But besides the booke of Nature you had the Scriptures Moses the Prophets and Apostles besides the world you had the Church I sent you my Messengers in whom I spake continually to you and entreated you to learne and serue Mee It is euident therefore that ignorance will not serue the turne For the LORD IESVS will render vengeance vnto them that know not GOD and obey not His Gospell which shall be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the LORD and from the glory of His power And finally whereas all the vanities pompe and glory of the world which wee do so much admire shall perish with the world this our knowledge of GOD begunne in this world shall be perfited in the world to come Now I know in part but then shall I know euen as I am knowne Then a man shall haue Light without darkenesse Knowledge without ignorance Wisedome without folly Vnderstanding without dulnesse Iudgement without errour Reason without perturbation Then shall all the Saints see GOD and serue GOD alwaies and for euer Of Seruing God IT was well said of a father to his sonne Know thou the GOD of thy father and serue Him How shall a man serue Him that doth not know Him And what will it profite to know Him if hee doe not serue Him But if men doe serue Him they shall end their daies in prosperity and their yeares in pleasures Or if Hee try them with the Crosse Hee will afterwards honour them with a Crowne Their griefes shall end in Glory their mourning in Mirth their tentations in Tryumphes their vinegar shall bee changed into Wine and though they haue sowne in teares yet they shall reap in Ioy. What desirest thou in a Maister Wisedome His Wisedome is infinite Greatnesse His Greatnesse is incomprehensible Strength Hee can do all things nothing is impossible with Him Valour Hee is not afraid of death nothing can dismay Him Magnificence Hee is the LORD of Hoasts cloathed with Glory and Honour Hee couereth Himselfe with light as with a garment and spreadeth the heauens like a curtaine Hee maketh the clouds His Chariot and walketh vpon the wings of the Winde Hee sitteth vpon the circle of the earth and the inhabitants thereof are as Grashoppers Hee bringeth the Princes to nothing and maketh the Iudges of the earth as vanity His garment is white as snow the haire of His Head like pure wooll His Throne like the fiery flame and His Wheeles as burning fire Thousand thousands Minister vnto Him and ten thousand thousands stand before Him Wouldst thou haue a Maister rich The earth is the LORDS and all that is therein the round world and all that dwell within it One that can aduance thee Promotion comes neither from East nor West nor South nor North but from GOD Who throweth the proud from his Pinacles raiseth the needy out of the dust and lifteth vp the poore out of the dung that Hee may set Him with Princes euen with the Princes of His people Or One that is kind and louing patient and compassionate The LORD is gracious and mercifull slow to anger and of great mercy Hee will fulfill the desire of them that feare Him Hee will heare their cry and saue them Men will serue men specially such as may doe them good or defend them from harme Why then should wee not much more willingly serue GOD who is able to saue a man though all would destroy him and to destroy him when nothing can saue him If Hee blesse who can curse If Hee curse who can blesse Sometimes a seruant serues a Maister who growes weary of him because hee thinkes hee may proue costly to him Many Maisters hauing serued their turnes shake off their seruants as a dogge doth water or as a man would do burres and a good seruant may sometimes waite long and get little But GOD neuer forsakes or turnes out His seruants Hee lets them not serue Him vnregarded but as they honour Him Hee honours them And the more they serue Him the freer they are in this world and the greater rewards they shall receiue of Him in the world to come And it is to bee obserued that yong folkes vsually do giue themselues to bee seruants of men Why then should they not giue themselues to the seruice of GOD whom to serue is indeed to reigne and in whose seruice that may bee gotten which cannot bee found in the seruice of any mortall man O that wee would remember our Creatour in the daies of our youth and inure our neckes to His yoake whiles wee are fresh and tender But what must be the Rule of our seruice Surely not our wils who are but seruants but His Will who is our Maister which hee hath reuealed to vs in His Word to which wee ought to conforme and apply our selues infeare and humblenesse indeuouring to obey Him in all His commands sincerely cheerefully and to our end so shall we bee sure to dye in His grace and to bee raysed vp from the graue of death to possesse the glory of Eternall Life Of the Sower and his Seed THE Sower went out to sow Euery true and faithfull Minister of CHRIST IESVS is a Sower GODs Word is his Seed Mans heart is the ground that should receiue it The Word is a very rare and admirable Seed altogether matchlesse For by it men are made Christians sinners are