but by Sympathy onely Whereas his soules heauines bloudy sweate praier against it and the consent of most worthy and Orthodoxe Diuines euince the contrary Lastly it is malum omen and prognosticateth much decay of sincere zeale and pure affection when of late times amongst too too many students in Diuinitie the sound iudicious pithy and fruitfull writings comments disputes and Euangelicall authors such as are Caluin Beza Martyr Bucer Zanchius Polaâ—us Iunins Iuell Whittakers Fulke and Perkins c. are neglected contemned and out of request and the false rubbish and muddy bookes and writings of Popish schoolemen and interpreters are iniudiciously rashly receiued Herevnto may be referred as a great rebater to faith and a mighty infection and corruption to good life and manners the publishing toleration reading and affecting of scurrile play bookes vnsauery and amorous ballads foolish ieasts and fained and vnprofitable histories and fables These are to to much in request these effiminate mens manners and make them apt to entertaine any religion but the truth and if perhaps they retaine the truth it is to bee feared that it is more in shew then in substance for custome rather then for conscience And thus much of the foundation of faith and iudgement Now it followeth that wee speake of sincere affection and sound delight in Christ and in his Gospell Vbi amâ—r ibi oculus where our loue is there will bee our eye and where our treasure is there will bee our heart Our loue to Christ must be hartie like Peters it must be great like Mary Magdalins it must be setled and vnmoueable that no water can quench it noâ— the stoods drowne it yea wee must for no substance part with it Christ is the tree of life and vnder his shadow we must sit downâ— and rest We must count all things whatsoeuer may otherwise bee auantageable vnto vs but losse and dung to winne him And as for the world because it is the spring and fountaine of all knowledge the immortall seede and the instrument of faith and saluation wee must receiue it and loue it if we would profit by it yea and preferre it aboue spoiles treasures gold siluer and pretious stones If we leese it we leese all things yea the very broad scale and patent of eternall life and if we haue and reteine it in sound iudgement sincere delight and hearty affection wee shall liue for euer Wee must also cleaue vnto the Lord with full purpose of heart and entreate him to knit our hearts vnto him least our hearts distracted with diuers desires should remaine in doubt and take such courses as are not pleasing vnto God but that they being consecrated vnto him may obey him onely rest in him and depend vpon him Lastly wee must waite for our full redemption and entertaine an earnest desire to enioy eâ—ernall life This doctrine meeteth with the Stoikes and those that are Stoikally minded who deny affections and would haue men herein to be no better then stockes and stones wheras in truth without these affections set vpon their right obiect and that in due proportion there can be no true seruing of God no zeale for his glory no feare of his name no hatred and detestation of â—â—nne no spirituall ioy and delight no true loue of God his saints and word and no true faith and hope in God c. These are wings whereby wee flye and are carryed vnto God chariots to bring vs vnto Christ and they are the very heart and life of all our spirituall actions The churches securitie And thus much in briefe touching the sinceritie of our affections THe third note and marke of faith and grace is a setled and a continued course in all the duties of godlinesse And herein is Christian wisedome fortitude and resolution seene For the proofe and demonstration of this point the Scriptures are plaine and plentifull Dauid saith I haue respect vnto all thy commandements I haue chosen the way of truth and thy iudgements haue I layd before me teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I will keepe it unto the end And seuen times a day doe I praise thee because of thy righteous iudgements The way of the righteous shineth as the light that shineth more and more vnto the perfect day that is the noone-tide when the day is most cleere and bright And the meaning is that the godly do daily profit in wisdome and the feare of the Lord and goe from strength to strength vntill they ascend to that perfection which may be attained vnto in this life This is one maine end of our redemption viz. to serue the Lord in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life Againe we are perpetuall subiects and seruants vnto God albeit otherwise his freemen and children and we expect an eternall reward namely eternall life purchased for us and promised vs therefore our obedience must be perpetuall also But that wee may the better keepe this continued and resolued course in goldlinesse we must alwayes remember and doe our vtmost endeuour to repaire and renue our faith and repentance for as we sinne daily so wee must repent dailie and as wee slip daily and loose some-thing especially in the euill day and the time of any speciall temptation so it is most requisite that wee bee carefulll to confirme and strengthen our â—aith and to renue our repentance For recouery of bodily health and strength decayed we vse Physicke good dyet exercise and all other good meanes and shall not wee bee much more studious and prouident by all meanes for the recouerie and repaire of our spirituall strength and health that is any wayes impaired and diminished This was the practise of Dauâ—d who saith I haue considered mâ— waies and turned my feete vnto thy testimonies Hence it is that our Sauiour teacheth and commandeth vs daily to confesse our sinnes and craue pardon of them at Gods hands saying forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Hence it is that before wee receiue the word wee are to prepare our selues and to take heâ—de to our feete that is to our affections when wee enter into Gods house and bee more neere to â—eare them to giue the sacrifice of Fooles that is wee must vseall diligent endeuour that wee heare the voice of GOD and frame our life thereafter and not to offer such sacrifice as fooles doe who hauing sinned imagine that they can satisfie the Lord with their ceremonious Worshippe when their life notwithstanding is not amended Dauid sâ—ith thâ—t hee will washe his hands in innocencie and so compasse Gods alter Likewise before the receyuing of the Sacrament of the bodie aâ—d bloud of CHRIST a man must trie and examine himselfe and by consequence renue his faith and repentance and so eat of the bread and drinke of that cuppe And to knit vp all in a
and mercies of God Fiftly because vnthankefulnesse for and forgetfulnesse of Gods blessings and benefits is a thing most distastfull and hatefull to the diuine maiestie and a brand of profaine and dissembling hearted men Therefore it is said of yâ— Isralites that though they in their affliction remeÌ„bred that God was the strength and the most high God their redeemer yet they did but flatter him with their mouth and dissembled with him with their tongue for their heart was not vpright with him neither were they faithfull in his coâ—enant ouer besides the Iewes were no sooner gloriously deliuered out of Egipt and had passed through the red sea making way for them but they forgat God their Sauiour who had done so great things for them Lastly nine of the tenne leprous persons whome Christ cleansed and cured are noted for vnthankefulnesse for it is said that onely one of them returned to giue God thankes and that was a Samaritane and one that was most odious to the Iewes and of all other the most vnlikely but he serued not Christ in vaine for hee alone was inwardly cured and had his sins forgiuen him Finally to end this reason the very Heathen â—nd Pagans who knew not God in Christ and were altogither ignorant of and neuer had any holy Scripture to direct them did and could by the very darke light of nature see and acknowledge thus much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith â—indarus that sententious and wise Poet. That is an old good turne is soone forgotten and men are vnmindfull of it and that it iâ— lost which a man doth to an vnthankefull person yea and that which is most remarkeable Cum ingratum dixeris omnia dixeris That is when a man hath named an vnthankefull man hee hath therein named all faultes or disgracefull imputations and it maketh a man vnworthy of al fauour and to this purpose Gregorie in his Morrals saith wel non est dignus dandis that is he is not worthy to receiue benefits to be giuen who is not thankefull for good thinges already receiued Thus the vnthankefull seruant in the Gospell whome his Lord and maister after vpon his submission and supplication had forgiuen tenne thousand talents was for his vnthankefullnes to his Lord and his cruell and extreame handling of his fellow seruant that onely ought him but one hundred pence deliuered vnto the Iayler vntill hee should pay all he debt Lastly because in the duty of praise and thanksgiuing we are most defectiue negligent and remisse we need vse all good meanes to stir vp and reuiue vs and to testifie our zeale and thankefulnes vnto God For as without meanes we cannot attaine vnto the end so without speciall and spirituall helpes wee can neuer be truly and constantly thankefull Of this sort are the often meditating of our sollemne promise and vow made in Baptisme to renounce all false Gods false worship and sinne and to beleeue in God and to serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of our liues Of this sort are morall and gospellike vowes and couenants of repentance praier and thankesgiuing obedience yea publicke and priuate othes to cleaue vnto God and serue him onely Herevnto may bee added religious fasts both publike and priuate so often practised of the saints of God both in the old and new Testament yea and of the reformed church since and that with most happy successe Lastly seeing that the Lord knowing our aptnesse and pronesse vnto this vice hath ordained a sacrament of thankesgiuing which the ancient fathers call the Eâ—charist to nourish and preserue true thankefulnesse in the church towards Christ and for all his merits graces and blessings wee must often and religiously as vse all other helpes so specially this And finally as all riuers runne into the sea from whence they came so let all the benefits and blessings of God bestowed on vs flow backe and redownd vnto God the author and fountaine of them which God almightie grant for Christ Iesus his beloued Sonnes sake to whome with the Father and the holy Ghost be giuen and rendered in the Church all honour praise and glorie foreuer and euer Amen THE GENERALL signes and forerunners of Christs comming to iudgement soundly and sincerely collected out of holy Scripture and seruing as well to awaken the drowsie and slumbering Protestant as to comfort and reuiue the Godly and afflicted Christian. Take heed watch and pray for yee know not when the time is Mark 13. vers 33. When these things beginne to come to passe then looke vp and lift vp your heads for your redemption draweth neere Luk. 21. vers 28. To the Right worshipfull learned and Godly wise Gentleman Mr William Combes of Warwicke Esquire high Sheriffe of the shire and one of his Maiesties high Commissioners in causes Ecclesiasticall all increase of grace comfort and happinesse EVEN as right worshipfull it was the commendable and diligent practise of the Prophets and holy men of God for the encrease of their comfort and confirmation of their faith to calculate by the direction of the word of God and to search and enquire out the very time of Christ his incarnation his death his glorification So in sembâ—able sort it as much concerneth vs vpon the ends of the world are come and who haue both promises and signes of Christ his second appearance at hand for our perfit redemption and full saluation to take due notice of them to serch into them and obserue the accomplishment of them in their proper times Our rule of direction must not be humaine collections fained prophecies and reuelations Astrologicall coniâ—ctures Arithmetical computations for these are vaine vncertain deceitfull as the euent in all ages doth demonstrate but it must bee onely the written word of God which albeit it hath not reueiled the daie nor the yeare nor the definite time of Christ his second comming yet it hath left vnto vs many generall yet vndoubted signes and forerunners of it which are some of them wholy expired some of them in present motion and progresse and others yet wholy to come These signes and predictions if wee serch them out weye and make vse of them as they are described in holy scriptures wee shall not onely bee contained and preserued from Atheisme and vnbeleefe the common sinne of the world and bee kept from all rasâ— foolish and vngrounded â—uriâ—sities but also bee effectually and continually stired vp to prepare our selues in Faith Hope and Repentance against Christ his comming and we shal in all trialls and temptations whatsoeuer might comfort our hearts in that our Redemption is so nigh at hand This doctrine being of so notable vse and profit especially for the Godly and sober minded I thought good to publish it and vpon good considerations to recommend it to your worships patronage First you for learning iudgement and experiencâ— are very sufficient to iudge of it Secondly your vertuous affection and
answere This is most true and Gods name is to be glorified for it but yet men neuer more abused and peruerted their wits capacities then in these daies for commonly the more witty men are the more wicked the more politike the more pestilent and the more vnderstanding that they haue the more Hereticall Papisticall and Atheisticall they prooue To leaue man and to come to buildings houses apparrell what vanitie what surperfluitiâ— and excell what follie and pride doth not herein appeare For buildings that in time past serued onely for defense and necessitie and therefore were made very strong and durable are now for the most part in many places builded albeit with excessiue cost as the poore tenants can testifie yet slightly and more for shew then for substance and for pompe then profit And garments and apparell which naturally serueth to hide mans nakednesse and to defend him from cold and to make the best of it to serue for comelinesse and distinction of degrees is vsed now ordinarily as an ensigne of pride serueth for brauery and ostentation more then for profit durablenesse or common wealthes aduantage And thus we see that as the world doth decay and decline in the partes so it doth and shall in the whole The fourth signe is the shaking weakning wounding consuming of Antichrist and his kingdome in many kingdoms countries citties by the breath of Gods mouth 1. by the powerful and continual preaching of the Gospel as also by the materiall sword of Christian Kings Princes and Magistrates in their seuerall dominions though not all at one time yet successiuely Apoc. 16. 6 Apoc. 17. 16. Apoc. 18. 6 and so it shall be more and more ruinated decaied vntell the burning and desolation of Romish Babilon The fift signe is grieuous calamities persecutions of Gods Prophets Saints and Seruants vnder Antichrist especially these 100. years last past of which perhaps Daniel chap. 2. 15. chap. 8. ve 34. Apoc. 11. 35. Apoc. 13. ve 15. 16. 17. Lastly in Rome hath bin found the bloud of the Prophets and of the Saints and of al that were slaine vpon the earth of these it is verified yâ— the Psalmist saith for thy sake are we slaine continually and are counted as sheepe for the â—laughter that which our Sauiour fore-sheweth saying they shall excommunicate you yea the time shall â—ome that whâ—soeuer killeth you will thinke that â—e doth God good serâ—ice the reason hereof in respect of Antichrist and his adherents is because they cannot indure the ransacking and refuting of there idolatry false doctrine the Popes supremacy and their idle superstitions and Antichristian rites ceremonies and traditions But we hope that these trobles are for the most part past and that towardes the end of the world shal be wel abated so that the church as of late years shall haue a further breathing time and thus much Markâ— seemeth to signifie Mark 13. 7. And thus much of the signes perfectly and many of them long sithence accomplished THe second sort of signes and forerunners are those that are in continuall act namely partly fulfilled and partly to be further performed in their times Of this sort are first an Apostacy and departure of many pastors people from faith souÌ„d doctrine to Antichristianisme Turcisme yea and plaine Atheisme 2. Thes. 2. 3. 1. Tim. 1. 4. 2. Pet. 2. ve 1. 2. 3. Apoc. 13. ve 16. et 17. But vnder the tiranny of the Romish Antichrist Mahomet this general Apostasie and falling away from truth and wholesome doctrine hath long a goe beene verified yet not so but that daily wee see it by lamentable experience continued and so it shall more and more bee encreased vnto the end of the world for many that haue renounced Antichrist fall to flat Atheisme and Libertinisme and some againe reuert and reuolt to their former superstition out of which they were for the time and in sort recouered of these speaketh the scripture in many places Hebreâ—es 6. vers 4. 5. 6. 2. Tim. 4. ver 3. 4. 2. Peter 2. vers 20. 21. and it shall so abound and ouerflow at Christ his second comming That hee shall hardly finde faith on the earth and no maruaile for as there haue done yet doe and alwaies shall arise false Prophets Seducers Deceiuers successiuely in many countries kingdomes and places so many shall follow their damnable waies and be blinded by them The second signe partly past and partly present and to come is a generall impietie corruption of manners and impudency in all manner of sinne still like Noah his generall deluge preuayling in most places the particular effects where we as in a cataloge may reade and obserue in Paul his first Epistle to Timoâ—â—y chapter the third v. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. And hereof in our owne kingdome we haue had fearfull experience especially in these six and seauen last yeares as though God had graunted a general indulgence to all manner of licentiousnesse and as though hell were broake loose and this profainesse and corruption of manners in all places of the world yet continueth and shal be much more vniuersall and contagious neare the time of Christ his second comming Luk. 17. 26. Math. 24. 38. and hereof there is and shal be more feare then of corruption in doctrine for many shal retaine a forme and outward profession of Godlines but denie the powre and efficacy of it The third signe is signes in the Sunne and in the Moone in the Stars and vpon the earth trouble vpon nations with perplexitie The sunne shall be turned into darkenesse and the Moone into bloud before the great notable day of the Lord come This signe by frequéncie and multitude of Eclipses hath of later yeares and daily is fulfilled likewise by terrible windes tempests meteors and strange alterations in the aire it is performed and this our late experience can iustifie but it shal be perfectly accomplished in the instant of Christ his second comming and glorious appearing for then hee by the brightnesse of his glorious Maiesty shall darken and suppresse the light of Sunne Moone and Starres and a little before this time the whole frame of the world shal be shaken and mooued and the very brute and senselesse creatures shal before hand perceiue and feele the powre of Christ his comming when all the reprobate shall remaine blockish and without feeling And thus much of mixt or continued signes Signes and fore-runners that are yet to come to passe are specially these fiue following First the burning and vtter desolation of Rome the mother of fornication and idolatrie and the proper seate of Antichrist this that it shall be so is most manifest and apparent by Scripture reasons and authorities First the Scripture testifieth that the great ittie shall be diuided into three partes and great Babilon shall come in remembrance before God and thâ—t the tenne horned or Kiâ—ges shall
Tim. 1. 19. Col. 2. 5. 6. Eph. 4. ver 30. â—oh 13. 3. Rom. 8. 38. Ioh. 10. ve 2â— 1. Pet. 1. 5. Act. 8. 21â— Hosea 5. v. 15. 1. Cor. 12. 26. 1. Sam. 16. 7 Mat. 12 v. 20 Heb. 12 v. 6 and 7. Psal. 32 1 2. Rom. 8 33 34 Similitude Trâ—dent Concil ses 6. ca. 15 Hose 6 v. 1. 2. Micâ— 7. v. 8. Rom. 11 v. 23 Acts 27 Apo. 2 4 5. Apo. 3 2. Apoc. 3 16. 19. Luk 10 11 â— 30 ad 37. The elect assured of Gods fauour and their election Rom. 8 15. Ephes. 3 12. 2. Cor. 13. 5. Gal. 2. 20. 1 Ioh. 4. 17. 1. Ioh. 2. ve 20 Dan. 7. 24. 1. Ioh. 3. 14. 1. Ioh. 4. 14. 1. Ioh. 5. 18. 20. Iob. 19. 26. 27 Rom. 8. 38. 39. Rom. â— 5. 2. Tim. 48 Similitudes comparisons 1. Ioh. 2. 20. Luk. 24. v. 32. Cant. 3. 6. Apoc. 3. 20. Meanes to come to assurance 1. Sam. 17 36. 2. Timi 4. 7. 8. Vse 1. Hâ—b 11. 25. Acts. 13. 1. 2 Heb. 10. and 11. chapters Vse 2. Luk. 9. v. â—5 Six speciall notes or marks of faith and grace 1 note soundnâ—s of iudgement Ephes. 2. 20. Tit. 2. 2. Col. 2. 6. 1. Ioh. 2 19. 1. Cor. 3 11. Eph. 4. 13. 14. Heb. 13. 8. Isa. 8. 20 Luk. 1â— Psal 119. 104 Iud. 1. 3. Apoc. 18. v. 4. Ioh. 10. v. 5. 2. Ioh. 10. Apo. 9 v 5. 2. Tim. 2. 17. 2. Pet. 2. 2. â—uk 13. v. 24. Ioh. 7. v. 49. 1. Tim. 2. 2. Resined Errors Math. 1â— 27. Rom. v. â— 2. Note siâ—cere affection Iohn 21. 7. Luk. 7. 38 Cant. 8. 7 Cant 2. v. 3. Philip. 3. 8â— Psal. 87. v. 7. Acts 11. 23. Psal. 86 11. Rom. 8. 23. 2. Cor. 5. 2. Vse The 3. note Constant and vniuersall obedience Psal. 119. v. 6. v. 30. 33. Prou. 4. 18. Luke 1. v. 7. â— Psal. 119 59. Ecles 4 17. Psal 2 66. 1. Cor. 11. 28 1. Cor. 5. 7. Apo. 2. 25 Apo. 3. 2. vers 19. Hosea 6. 4. 1. Cor. 8 12. 2. Cor. 7. 11 4 note a Godly sorroâ— Ioel. 2. 13 Dan. 9. vers 6. Luke 18. 13. Zacha. 12 10. Math 5. Psal. 130 4. Deâ—â—re of pardon Hos. 14 4. Psal. 51. Psal. 32 1. 2 A fiâ—t note freedome from all raigning sinnes Psal 53. â— Thes 5 7 Math. 7 23 Rom. 6 16. 1. Ioh. 5 18. Gal. 5 v. 24. Rom. 7. v. 20. Ioh. 8 34. 36. Psal. 19 13. Ioh. 15 v. 16. 1 King 20 33. Psal. 137. v. 9. Isal. 119. 11. Vse 2. Iohn 5. v. 35. Math. 5. 20 Math. 23. 33. 2. Pet. 2. v. 20. Math. 12. ve 45. The sixt marke praise and thankes giuing vnto God Col. 3. 17. Iob. 1 21. Luke 1 75. Ephe. 1. 4 Psâ—l 116 17. Psal. 103 1 2 Psal. 107. Apo. 7 12 Apoc. 14 4. Apo. 19 1. High estimation of Gods blessings Psalm 119. Philipians 3. Debasing of our selues before God Genes 32 10 Psal 144. 3. 4. 1 Tim. 1 v. 15 Luke 15. 19. To liue in obedience to God and his coÌ„mandmeÌ„ts Psal. 50. v. â—3 Heb. 6. 8. Gen. 8. v. 21. Psa. 50. 14 15 Psal. 78. 35. Psal. 106. 2. Luke 17. 8. c. Math. 1â— 23. Psalme 119. Psal. 66. v. 13. and 14. The Lords supper a Sacrament of thankes giuing Similitude 1 Pet. 1. v. 10 and 11. Math. 28. 19. Act. 1. 8. Mr. Doctor Willet synop â—ol pag. 1063. 1064. 1065. 2. Thes. 2. 3. 1. Iohn â— 18. 2 Tim. 3. v. 8. 9. Apoc. 8. v. 10. 11. Apoc. 1â— v. â— 5. 6. Rom. 8. 2. Thes. 2. v. 8 The fiâ—t signe Apoc. 18 24 â—sâ—l 44. ve 22 Ioh. 16 1. 2 Luke 18 â— 2. Pet. 2. 2 1. Tim. 3 5 Luke 21 25 Acts 2 20 Luke 2â— v. 26 Apoc. 16. 16 Cap. 17. 16. Verse 8. Chap. 18 V. 9. 11. 17. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Math. 24. 35 Math. 24. ver 24. Ver. 26. Luk. 18. 8. Lâ—k 21. 35 1. Thes. â— â— et 4. Rom 2 v 4. et 5. 2. 〈◊〉 3. â— Acts â— â— Math 24 42 et â—4 Luk. 12. 43 Acts 3 ver 19 Luk. 21 28 Apoc. 1. 7.