against him returned this answer I am resolved and certainely determined to enter Wormes in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ though I knew there were so many Divells to resist me as there are tiles to cover the houses in Wormes can we imagine that this man would have accepted deliverance on his adversaries termes Galeazius a Gentleman of great estate who suffered Martyrdome at Sant-angelo in Italy being much pressed by his friends to recant and save his life replied that Death was much more sweete to him with testimony of verity then life with the least deniall of truth Francis Camba a Martyr in the Diocesse of Millaine being much assailed by his friends and terrified by his foes by no meanes could be overcome but gave thankes to God that he was accounted worthy to suffer cruell death for the testimony of his Sonne Such were the expressions of joy in his sufferings as his persecutors caused his tongue to be boared thorow that he might speake no more to the people Anne Askew being offered the Kings pardon even at the stake if shee would recant gave this resolute answer I come not hither to denie my Lord and Master By that which this Gentlewoman with admirable courage and constancy indured shee verified that which of old Iulitta spake concerning their Sex We women ought to be as constant as men in Christs cause Walter Mille who suffered Martyrdome in Scotland being sollicited to recant made this resolute reply Yee shall know that I will not recant the truth for I am corne I am no chaffe I will not be blowne away with the winde nor burst with the flaile but I will abide both Mr. Iohn Rogers the first Martyr in Queene Maries daies being sollicited to revoke his doctrine for saving his life said That which I have preached I will seale with my blood Iohn Hooper Lord Bishop of Glocester upon the sight of a pardon cried out If yee love my soule away with it if yee love my soule away with it Thomas Hawks a Gentleman in Essex on a like occasion gave this resolute answer If I had an hundred bodies I would suffer them all to be torne in peeces rather then abjure or recant Bishop Ridly to like purpose thus So long as the breath is in my body I will never denie my Lord Christ and his knowne truth Old Father Latimer used such a speech to one that advised him to spare himselfe as Christ did to Peter on a like occasion which was this Get thee behind mee Satan In like manner all the holy constant Martyrs refused to accept deliverance some after a more zealous others after a more milde manner Many were the motives whereby Martyrs in all ages have beene enduced to be not onely carelesse but even prodigall also of their lives Therein they had respect to Christ to the Church to the Faith to their Bretheren to Themselves to Persecutors to Satan 1 Christ much rejoyceth in such servants For constancy of Martyrs unto death of such Martyrs as professe the name of Christ and suffer for his Truth is a great honour unto Christ Is it not an high honour to a King to have such Captaines and Champions as will not yeeld to their Soveraignes enemies but stand it out to the uttermost till they get the victory though it cost them their life to get it Yet no mortall King can as Christ doth put spirit courage or strength into a subject onely it is conceived that such valourous souldiers as are ready to hazard their lives for their Soveraigne serve a good Master Thus doe Martyrs give persecutors to understand that they serve a good Master and that they beleeve in him who hath done more for them then their dearest bloud is worth who enables them with courage and comfort to endure whatsoever for his names sake can be inflicted on them and therin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be more then conquerers and after all give such recompence as their sufferings are not worthy to be compared with Rom. 8.18 37. Is not this an honour to Christ 2. The Church which breedeth and sendeth foorth such couragious and resolute children as are ready to spend their blood in their mothers cause is much honoured Never did any Church bring up such children as the Church of Christ She hath the glory of invincible Martyrs Of it it may truely be said O blessed Church which is honoured with so divine renowne which the glorious blood of Martyrs doth beautifie 3. The Faith which such Martyrs professe by their standing stedfast therein unto deaâ—h is sealed and confirmed The blood of Martyrs is a seale of that Faith for which they shed their blood By this kinde of ratifying the Christian Faith many have beene brought to embrace the Christian Faith As of old many were enduced to beleeve in Christ by the miracles which he himselfe did and which his Apostles did in his Name If the tortures whereby sundry Martyrs were put to death and their manfull cheerefull and joyfull enduring of them wherof before be duly weighed we shal find their induring to bee so miraculous as their sufferings may well be accounted miracles 4. The Bretheren which beleeve and professe the same Faith are by the constancy of Martyrs much strengâ—hened For the invincible courage of some putts life and spirit into others In an army valourous Leaders much animate the rest of the souldiers and embolden them to follow their leaders Now the Church is as an army with banners Cant. 6.4 Martyrs are as Leaders they couragiously and victoriously make the on-set Other Christians by their example are pricked on as occasion serveth to follow them Reade Phil. 1.13 5. They procure to themselves even for the present in their soules much peace comfort and joy For as the sufferings of Christ abound in them so their consolation also aboundeth by Christ 2 Cor. 1.5 Then especially are the comforts of the Holy Ghost even poured upon a Christian soul For they could never endure such torments in the flesh unles they had much peace in their soul For the future on earth they leave a most sweet savour of a renowned name When their bodies are consumed their name is as an oyntment powred out and they therby do light a torch of Fame to posterity For the Church was wont to celebrat the memory of Martyrs For which end they had set daies in the yeare wheron Christians in full assemblies met together rehearsed catalogues of Martyrs and gave solemne praise to God for the power of his Spirit manifested in their admirable patience and perseverance And in Heaven they have the highest degree of glory For though God doe not reward men simply for their workes namely for the merit of them yet he rewards according to their works Rom. 2.6 and proportions the degree or measure therof according to the kind of work which on earth is done and according to the measure of
found when he was touched in conscience and pricked in heart for his grievous Apostasie He went on in the right way to be found when he made knowne his case to his Minister and made confession of his great offence to him and yet further when he willingly subjected himselfe to the discipline of our Church and manifested his willingnesse to undergoe any pennance that shee should enjoyne humbly and penitently desiring to be received into her bosome againe and to be accounted one of her children For Repentance of sinne is then profitable when it is performed in the Catholick Church Where of old times of penitency were appointed by the Governours of the Church that satisfaction might be given to the Church in which remission of sins is granted Now therefore he is found indeed Now that after the just censure of excommunication for his Apostasie upon his humble confession and hearty repentance as we hope he is here this day received into the bosome of the Church now he is found So as now to his everlasâ—ing comfort if he remaine constant and to the great rejoycing of all true Christians that now behold him or shall heare of that which we behold my Text may in speciall be applied to him He was lost and is found I feare I feare that there are some even now here present that have beene in the case wherein this Penitent was lost but not in the case wherein he is found I feare there are some that have played Renegadoes and as an evidence thereof are circumcised Let such know whether they heare me themselves or shall heare of what I say by others let them know that by their secret thrusting themselves into the Church and concealing their sinne from the Governours thereof and that without just satisfaction which ought to be publikely given for an offence so scandalous as theirs is they can never find such peace in their conscience as this Penitent may Yea let them know that they have great cause to feare the deceitfullnesse of their hearts and to suspect the truth of their repentance if at least they make any profession of repentance True Penitents which by notorious sinnes have dishonoured their profession scandalized the Church and given matter of insultation to the enemies of true Religion will not bee ashamed to make open confession of their sinne and be willing to undergoe any pennance that by the true Church shall be enjoyned to them They of Iaakobs house who had taken with them strange gods brought them to Iaakob and their idolatrous earings too Gen. 35.4 which was a reall confession of their sinne and a demonstration of the truth of their repentance Achan though he knew he should die for it yet made this open confession Iosh 7.20 Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel and thus and thus have I done It is probable that he was the rather enduced to make this confession because Ioshua had told him that thereby he should give glory to the Lord God of Israel in the verse immediately before and that he obtained mercy for the remission of his sin before God and salvation of his soule The Israelites having cast off the Government of the Lord by Judges being convinced of their sinne make this open confession thereof Wee have added unto all other our sins this evill 1 Sam. 12.19 The Iewes after the captivity having married strange wives which was against the Law Deut. 7.3 openly and penitently thus confesse their sinne VVee have trespassed against our God and have taken strange wives Ezra 10.2 David though a King having committed scandalous sinnes contents not himselfe with a private confession thereof to the Prophet Nathan 2 Sam. 12.13 But by a Penitentiary Psalme maketh open and publicke confession thereof to the whole Church Psalme 51.1 To like purpose tends the second booke of Salomon stiled Ecclesiastes The Hebrewes say that this booke is an evidence of Salomons repentance for that he trusting in his wisdome and riches offended God by woemen That which S. Paul writes 1 Tim. 1.13 of his being a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious is a publike confession of his sins It is noted Acts. 19.18 19. as a fruit of true faith that many that beleeved came namely openly and publickly and confessed and shewed their deeds Among these were many also of them who used curious arts that is magicall and diabolicall arts brought their bookes together and burnt them before all men that is openly and publickly The Young-man whom S. Iâ—hn committed to the tuition of the Bishop of Ephesus being recalled after his Apostacy with teares on his knees openly craves pardon There is a Lamentation of Origen published among his workes wherein he himselfe doth openly confesse and penitently bewaile hâ—s scandâ—lous yealding to Pagan Idolatry Sundry that were seduced by Marcus the Magician in testimony of the truth of their penitency made open confession Philip who of Roman Emperours was the first Christian desiring to be admitted into the Christian Church stood in the place where penitents were wont to stand and made open confession of his sinne Natalis a Bishop among Heretiques did the like Many other particulars might here be reckoned up of such as of old in the times of persecution having renounced the Christian Faith upon touch of conscience made publike confession of their Apostacy and were thereupon admitted againe into the Christian Church For in those daies they suffered none that had once renounced the Christian Faith to be received as members of the Church unlesse they gave good evidences of their true repentance and that by their deepe humiliation free confession and willing subjection to such satisfactions as the Church should enjoyne For this end they had Ministers to order the penance of such Penitents and to receive them againe into the Church They had also publicke places for such Penitents to stand in and they had formes of confession and rites for Penitents to observe From those primitive times of the Christian Church even to these our dayes they who after their revolt from the Faith have beene thorowly touched in conscience for their sinne have not unwillingly made recantations and confessions and undergone what the Church thought meet to lay upon them This time after time hath beene done in all reformed Churches And that not onely by such as hâ—ve returned from Paganisme Turcisme and Iudaisme but also from Anabaptisme and Popery Indeed the ancient Discipline of the Church about receiving such as had Apostatised from her into her bosome againe was more austere then now it is The rather because of the Novatians who would not communicate with them who had denied the faith in the persecution of Decius and afterwards repenting turned to the same faith againe In those daies Penitents were wont to put sack-cloth upon their backs and ashes on their heads And to stand as men condemned with
grace wherby hee enables men to doe it But Martyrdome is the most difficult the most acceptable and honourable worke that on earth can be done Vnto you it is given in the behalfe of Christ saith the Apostle Phil. 1.29 not only to beleeve in him BVT ALSO to suffer for his sake Martyrdome therefore is in Heaven crowned with the highest degree of Glory GREAT is their reward in Heaven Math. 5.12 On this ground they who set down the different degrees of celestiall glory by the different fruites which the good ground brought forth Some thirty some sixty some an hundred apply the hundred fold which is the highest and greatest degree of glory to Martyrdome 6. Persecutors and torturers of Martyrs have by their admirable constancy unto death bin exceedingly astonished and even confounded They have so long continued even from morning to evening and that by course to torture Christians among others a woeman Blandina by name as they were weary and acknowledged themselves to be overcome And the Governours themselves who commanded them to be tortured and stood by to see execution done were confounded that their tortures nothing prevailed and that they were overcome by woemen and they who sate as assistants by the Governours were affrighted thereat So as Christians condemned were enabled to endure whatsoever was inflicted on them and their Judges much affrighted Yea by the undaunted and invincible courage of Martyrs some of their executioners and tormenters have beene converted have professed them selves to bee Christians and suffered with the Martyrs and received the crowne of Martyrdome These are the victories triumphs and trophies of constant Martyrs Thus they lead captivity captive 7. The Divell himselfe is by Martyrs constancy exceedingly disappointed For hee sets his instruments on work to deale with Christians as Haman intended to deale with the Jewes Hest 3.23 namely to destroy to kill and cause to perish all Iewes both young and old little children and woemen But with like successe did the Divell plot against Christians For as by the disappointment of Hamans device many of the people of the Land became Iewes Hest 8.17 So while Satans instruments sought to make an end of Christians they increased the more For the blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church Wee reade Reve. 13.3 of a Beast whose head was wounded to death Surely the Divell with his feends were wounded even unto death by Martyrs resisting unto blood The time of the ten fierce persecutions and of the purity and power of Religion that followed thereupon containe those thousand yeares wherein Satan was bound Rev. 20.2 They who on the fore-mentioned grounds accounted not their life deare unto them but prefer'd their Faith in the Lord Jesus and a stedfast profession thereof before wealth honour liberty and life it selfe and chose rather to be faithfull Martyrs then desperate Apostates had good ground to be so minded O that all who professe the Faith of Christ were like minded It well becomes us all to bee so minded And if indeed wee be so minded God who knowes the mind heart and spirit of a man will answerably account of him and accept him though he never bee brought to the fiery triall as if he had beene brought to it and indur'd it to the very uttermost The virtues and graces of the mind sometimes are manifested in their deed or work and sometimes lie hid in their habit as the virtue of Martyrdome Many may have the same prowesse that Martyrs have who are not brought to the same proofe thereof By trialls that which is in a man before God is brought foorth before men Not that it is then first begun but that it is then first manifested Before the Divell went about to sift Iob his soule was possessed with patience which the Lord well knew and whereunto he gave witnesse But to men it was made knowne by the tryall of tentation Thus we see how we may bee Martyrs in the most halcyon times that can be even such as ours are So as the ground and glory of Martyrdome is meet to be made knowne and to be meditated on in these our daies and the rather because we cannot be sure of an everlasting continuance of our peace or of the Gospell of peace among us As it is therefore needfull and usefull in the prime and strength of our age when we have best health to meditate on the sundry kinds of diseases and manifold casualties whereunto we are subject and on death the end of all so in the most flourishing times of the Church meditation on the uttermost that may be endured even to the shedding of blood for fast-holding our profession of Christ is a most meet meditation Most especially is this like to be usefull for you Mariners Merchants Merchants-factors and others whose calling it is to goe to sea in ships and to doe businesse in the great waters where yee are in danger to be surprized as this Penitent was by the mortall enemies of Christians or have occasion to abide and trafique among them You may be brought to triall and to give proofe before men whether the habit of Martyrdome be in you or no. Be yee therefore strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Take unto you the whole armour of God that yee may be able to stand in the evill day and having done all to stand For this end receive these few directions 1. Be well instructed in the verity excellency utility and necessity of that faith which yee professe so as yee may be able to maintaine it against all adversaries The Apostle Col. 2.7 adviseth Christians to be rooted and built up in Christ and stablished in the faith Therein he alludeth to a tree well rooted in the ground and to an edifice well set upon a good foundation Such an edifice though the raine descend and flouds arise and winds blow and beate upon it will stand and not fall Mat. 7.25 There are trees whose rootes are as deepe and spread as farre abroad in the earth as their boughs ascend and spred themselves in the aire Our okes are supposed to be such No stormes no tempests can overthrow them The branches may sooner be rent from the body and the whole tree split asunder then rooted up and throwne downe So a Christian well rooted and grounded in the Articles of his faith will sooner have his limbes pull'd one from another and his body and soule severed then drawne from his faith and renounce his profession thereof 2. Take an unalterable and invincible resolution before hand to stand to thy faith and never to renounce thy profession thereof This is an especiall meanes to make a Christian stand steddy against all assaults Yee Mariners know what it is to have a resolved mind and purpose to saile to your intended place yee passe through all weathers no gathering of clouds no shouring of
Ministers for admitting penitents after their Apostacy into the Church which gives an evident demonstration of her willingnesse and readinesse to entertaine such The like might be noted of the Orthodox reformed Churches which ever siâ—ce the beginning of the Reformation have time after time received such as have turned from their Heresie Idolatry Superstition Apostacy or any other notorious and scandalous offence For it is an especiall branch of Christian discipline to stop the course of repenting and returning to the faith from none 1. Take notice hereby of the just cause that the true Christian Catholike Church and the Orthodox Fathers of that Church had to detest and abhominate as they did the unchristian uncharâ—table and unmercifull opinion and practise of the Novations in denying repentance to such as had once denied the Christian faiâ—h and in refusing to admit them into the Christian Church againe though with all the testimonies of penitentiall humiliation and contrition that they could expresse they desired it and made free offer of all the satisfaction that the Church should require Most proudly and odiously they stiled themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Puritans as if they had beene forsooth the purest in the world yea and they onely the pure ones whereas they are of all the most impure denying repentance whereby sinnes are purged away Their extreme severity or rather cruelty being directly contrary to the minde of God our gracious and mercifull Father manifested in his Word by his owne free and rich grace offered to penitents by the directions given to his people to receive such and by their constant course in entertaining such the Catholike Church adjudged Novatus to be accounted an Heretique and put Novatians into the Catalogue of Heretiques For bowells of mercy ought no where so to be enlarged as in the Catholick Church that as a true mother shee neither proudly insults over her children that fall nor hardly pardons them being amended 2. This makes much to the justification of this daies solemnity in receiving this Penitent by a prescript order of our Church into her communion Herein our Church sheweth such a tender compassion to this her sonne that was once lost but by Gods good providence is now found as the Father did to the Prodigall affording unto him the best welcome that she can What cause hast thou O Penitent to blesse God that thou wert borne and brought up in such a Church wherein thou hadst at first the benefit of Baptisme to preserve thee as Noah was preserved in the Arke from the deluge of destruction and now again a recovery by penance enjoyned to thee and performed by thee which being heartily done is as another plancke after ship-wracke reached out unto thee to keep thee from drowning 3. All ye that are children of the same mother and bretheren and sisters to this Penitent imitate this gracious indulgency of your Mother towards him Be not like the Prodigals elder brother who envied his brother and was offended with his Father for the grace favour and honour which was shewed to his penitent brother Doe ye rather shew your selves to be of the mind of the Angels of God in whose presence there is joy over one sinner that converteth Luk 15.10 Henceforth upbraide not to him his Apostacy Upbraide not his circumcision upbraide not his subjecting himselfe to Mahometisme shunne not his society avoid not communion with him no not in the most sacred and divine ordinances trafique with him eate and drinke with him pray with him and pray for him Receive him as a brother beloved Forgive him comfort him I beseech you that you would confirme your love toward him 4. My heart stirres me up againe to returne to such as have renounced the Christian faith and beene circumcised in the name of the Lord Jesus to beseech them yea and to require them for Gods sake for the Gospells sake for the Churches sake for such friends sake as are privie to it and for their owne soules sake as they tender the peace of their conscience yea and the salvation of their soule to make their case knowne to submit themselves to the discipline of the Church and to be willing to give such satisfaction as the Church shall thinke fit Yee had many that could beare witnesse of your denying the faith and those such as tooke occasion thereupon to insult over you over your Faith over the Church by which you were instructed in the Faith and over your Lord and Saviour on whom you placed your Faith Is it not then meet that you should have many witnesses of your returning to the Faith againe and of your humiliation and contrition for that dishonour you have done to God and to his Church and those such witnesses as hâ—ve power to loose you and to receive you againe into the Church ye and such as will rejoyce at your conversion and praise God for the same O be not more ashamed of confessing your sinne then you were of committing it Shall hee who was not ashamed of his wound bee ashamed of binding up and healing his wound 5. Let me in the last place leave a few directions with thee O Penitent upon whose occasion we are here met 1. That which now thou dost openly with thy tongue and body before us children of men doe it ex animo do it heartily as to the Lord the Searcher of hearts Thus will thy repentance be sound indeed Thus will much inward peace be brought to thy conscience Thus wilt thou be loosed in Heaven as well as on earth All the grace and favour which now the Church sheweth is upon this pious and charitable presumption that in prostrating thy body thy soule is humbled and that the confession of thy mouth proceedeth from the contrition of thy heart If it bee otherwise thou dissemblest with the Church thou deceivest thine owne soule and mockest God who will in no wise brâ—oke such mockings Unlesse thou do what tâ—ou dost sincerely and heartily thou art in no better case if not in a worse then they who have suffered themselves to be circumcised by profest enemies of Christ and therewithall renounced the faith of Christ and yet seek not to bee loosed by the Church of Christ They cannot in Faith expect to be loosed in Heaven because they are not first loosed on earth Nor canst thou expect to partake in Heaven of the benefit of the Churches loosing thee on earth because it is utterly made void by the deceitfullnesse of thy heart But we are perswaded better things of thee and things that accompany Salvation though I thus speake 2. Be inwardly more dejected in soule more pierced in spirit and broaken in heart then with the teares of thine eyes beatings of thy brest casting downe of thy body and confession of thy mouth thou canst expresse For thy sinne for which this penance is enjoyned is an heinous sinne a crying sinne a sinne
that comes neare to the unpardonable sinne that sinne unto death Thereby thou deniedst the Lord that bought thee thereby thou renouncedst the onely meanes of thy salvation thereby thou rannest out of thy Lords campe into the army of his enemies and so becammest an enemy to thy Lord. How dishonourable was this to thy Lord How disgracefull to his Church O how did those cursed enemies insult thereat What cause hast thou to cry our as Ier. 9.1 Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountaine of teares that I might weepe day and night for my sinne Thou hast cause ynough to draw water as the Israelites did 1 Sam. 7.6 from the bottome of a broaken heart and to powre it out before the Lord as he who said Psal 119.136 Rivers of water runne downe mine eyes Remember what Peter did when he was put in mind of such a sinne as thou hast committed He went out and wept bitterly Math. 26.75 Those bitter teares must needs flow out of the bottome of an heart throwly broken Mee thinkes I now behold many weeping eyes in this assembly bewailing thy woefull fall and I must confesse that I also find mine owne bowels troubled within me All this is in compassion of thy case Oughtest not thou to be much mooved thereat Howsoever the Church be pleased in much-tender-compassion to enjoyne this easie milde penance unto thee doe thou betwixt God and thine owne soule yet further loade thy selfe through a serious and dâ—epe apprehension of and meditation on the heighnousnesse of thy sinne that Christ observing thee to labour and to be heavy loaden under the burden of thy sinne may according to his promise Math. 11.28 give thee rest Repentance is to be ordered according to the kind and measure of sin 3. Let not thy penitency end with the penance of this day Well note the Lords exprobration to Israel Isa 58.5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen A day for a man to afflict his soule Nor is one daies penance sufficient repentance for such a sinne as thou hast committed I have heard a tradition concerning Peter that he wept whensoever he heard a Cock crow It becommeth a penitent Apostate whensoever by any occasion he is put in mind of his sinne to be struck at his heart with godly remorse Thou didst long lie in thy sinne even so long as thou livedst among the Turkes All that while thou didst conforme thy selfe to Mahometisme And thinkest thou one day of penance to be sufficient Continue to renew thy repentance every day though thy life be prolonged in the Christian Church many more yeares then thou wert among the Turkes 4. Bee very circumspect over thy selfe for the remainder of thy life that thou bring foorth fruite meete for repentance This is that worthy walking whereof wee spake before As a wife that hath formerly lived loosely and defiled the marriage bed beeing received into the favour of her husband againe must carry her selfe more soberly more modestly more inoffensively and must bee more watchfull in avoiding all temptations that might allure to that sinne againe ye and all suspicions thereof So an Apostate received by the Church into grace and favour must walke more circumspectly then if he had not fallen For it much lieth on him to repaire his Christian credit or rather to be the more zealous in honouring God and bringing glory to the Gospell of Christ to his Church yea and in giving matter of rejoycing to professors of the true religion This is a point that meerely concernes thee O Penitent Be like that young man who having followed Harlots after some while absence that kind of love being extinguisht in him met with an old love of his but said not one word to her Shee wondering that he spake not to her thought he had not knowne her and thereupon said Sir it is I. Whereunto he replied But I am not I that is I am not the same that I was before In like sence Be not thou thou Be not the same thou wert before 5. Take heed of relapse Christ himselfe saw this to be a needfull caveat and thereupon prest it once and againe on such as he had recovered from sin as on the woman taken in the act of adultery Ioh. 8.11 thus Goe and sinne no more and on him that had beene deseased 38. yeares he enforceth it with a commination Ioh. 5.14 thus Sin no more lest a worse thing come to thee For if after we are freed from the misery of sin we returne to it againe soarer vengeance is like to befall us Experience shewes how dangerous a relapse is after a recovery from a bodily sicknesse Much more dangerous is a spirituall relapse after repentance from an heighnous sin The heart of man by such a relapse will be much more hardned in sin and the Divell in such a case will take with himselfe seven other spirits more wicked then himselfe and they will enter in and dwell there Mat. 12.45 Yea and God himselfe may be so incensed thereby as to affoord no more grace to him that hath so ill imployed his former grace as to depart cleane away from it Thus the last state of that man is worse then the first Looke therefore narrowly to thy selfe thou who art now restored and make use of those directions which were before given to such as goe downe to the Sea to make them constant in holding the faith 6. Beleeve that thou art now acquitted of that heighnous sin of renouncing the Christian faith If thine heart bee upright thou hast good cause to beleeve it in that thou hast taken that course which in Gods Word is prescribed for obtaining a discharge Thou hast beene pricked in thine heart for thy sin as the Jewes Acts 2.37 Thou didst goe to thy Pastor and enquire what in thy case thou shouldst doe as they who being defiled came to Moses Numb 9.7 Thou hast subjected thy selfe to the order which the Church prescribed as David did to Gods advice 2 Sam. 24.19 Thou hast made penitent confession of thy sin as they did who came to be baptized of Iohn Mat. 3.6 Thou hast desired this Congregation to pray for thee as the Israelites desired Samuel to pray for them 1 Sam. 12.19 The Church looseth and absolveth thee as the Church of Corinth absolved the incestuous person 2 Cor. 2.10 On these grounds thou maist safely thou oughtest faithfully to beleeve that thy deepe-died scarlet sinne is washed away by the blood of thy Saviour to whom thou art now returned and that thou art fully acquitted and discharged thereof We doe undoubtedly beleeve that by repentance sinnes are abolished so as if we returne not to them againe they shall never be imputed to us In this respect a true penitent is blessed For Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile Psal 32.2 If therefore thy conscience shall hereafter
be overmuch troubled with doubtings and feares and despaire of pardon of thine Apostacy account it a temptation of Satan and yeald not unto it but resist it and say to thy soule Why art thou cast doâ—ne O my soule why art thou disquieted in me Hope in God He is thy God reconciled unto thee He hath discharged thee who then shall lay this sinne to thy charge By exercising thy faith after this manner thou wilt bring much peace to thy conscience and make the remainder of thy life more comfortable to thee and with much cheerefullnesse carry thy selfe as a child of the Church in the works of thy calling and in all duties of piety justice and charity Only be carefull to observe the former directions with this consolation 7. Doe whaâ— lieth in thee to bring other Renegadoes to returne to the Church to submit themselves to the discipline thereof to be willing to give satisfaction by publick penance And the rather to encourage them thereunto make knowne unto them the inward peace and comfort which thou hast received hereby This is a duty which on a like ground Christ enjoyned to Peter Luke 22.32 in these words When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren and David undertaketh to do as much Psal. 51.12 13. where he maketh this prayer and promise Restore unto mee the joy of thy salvation and uphold mee with thy free Spirit Then will I teach transgressours thy waies and sinners shall be converted unto thee This is a good kinde of recompence which such as fall make to the Church As by their fall many are offended so by their rising many may be established If by private meanes thou canst not so farre prevaile with such as thou knowest to be Renegadoes as to bring them voluntarily to make satisfaction to the Chruch then follow Christs advice Mat. 18.17 Tell it unto the Church As for thy selfe that thou maist remaine henceforth stedfast and unmoveable in the faith thou shalt not want the prayers of them who now with much rejoycing praise God that the Text is accomplished in thee in which respect we may conclude as we began and say HE WAS LOST AND IS FOVND FINIS Recensui concionem hanc cui titulus est A recovery from Apostacy nec in ea quicquam reperio quò minus cum utilitate publicâ Imprimatur SA BAKER Ex edibus Londin Feb. 4. 1638. Martiall of old thus complained of a divulger of his booke Quem recitas meuâ— est O Fidentine libellus Sed malè dum recitas incipit esse tuas Lib. 1. Epigram 38. Dr. Playser of Cambr. having a like cause of complaint expresseth his complaint in the Poets words thus turned into English O Fidentine a booke of mine thou print'st against my will It is not mine but now it 's thine because thou print'st it ill Quo magis accommodus eo magis commodâ—s The History of a penitent Renegado * Anno 1636. * 1638. A resolution of the Parable Summe and parts of the Text. Difference betwâ—xâ— turning to the worse and to the better Ezek. 18.24 Ezek. 18.21 Lam. 1.1 1 Tim. 1.13 Ephes 2.11 12 13. When the Renegado was lost No sin per force The anâ—ient vse of circumcision When and why circumcision abolisheâ— The evill oâ— circumcision under the Gospeâ—â— Niceph. Ecl. Hâ—st lib. 5. cap. 32 〈…〉 Quae sitor quum se tormentis victum ab illo intelligeret al diabolicum prorsus consillum animum aâ—jecit c. When a Penitent iâ— found Poenitentia peccati tunc prodest si eam in Ecclesia Catholica gerat Aug. de Eccles dogm c. 80. Rectè constituuntur ab â—is qui Ecâ—lesiae praesunt tempora paenitentiae ut fiat etiam saâ—iâ— Eccâ—esiae in qua remittuÌ„tur ipsa peccata Aug. 〈◊〉 c. 65. Apostates creeping into the Church withâ—ut publike pennanâ—â— are still lost Vide Andr. Masij comment in Ios 7 19. b Iste Psalmâ— voâ—eâ—â— continet pâ—nitentiâ— oftenâ—â—ns ut qui ceciâ—â—riâ— in crimin◠〈…〉 redeat aâ— aâ—utem Hier. in lo c Aiunt Hâ—brâ—i hunc librum Salomonis esse paenitentiam ageÌ„tis quòd in sapientia divitiisque confisus per mulieres offenderit Deum Idem d Niceph. Ecl. Hist l. 2. c 32. e Lamentum quod circumfertur nomine Origeniâ— f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iren. 〈◊〉 Har. l. c. 9. g Euseb Ecl. Hist l. 6. c. 34. * Haeresis hujus vocabatur Episcopâ—â— Euseâ— Ecl. Hist l. 5. c. 28. h Euseb Ecl. Hist l. 6. c. 34. i In Ecclesiae qualibeâ— praebyterunt paenitentâ—arium constituerunt k Certus est paenitentium locus Niceph. Eccl. Hist l. 12. c. 28. l Lege ibid de fâ—rma paenitentiae m Rituâ—â—ste propter Novati anos institutuâ— esse dicitur quuÌ„ communicare illi cum eis nollent qui sub Decij persecutione fidem abnâ—garant postea resipiscentes ad eam redierant Niceph Ecl. Hist l. 12. c. 28. n Sacco sumpto cinere conspersuâ— Niceph. l 4. c. 21. o Stant illi periude atque judicio damnati essent c. l 12. c. 28. * Simplex verbum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 significat perdere coÌ„positum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non caret empâ—â—si 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 opponuntur apud Isocrat in Archid. Substractio ad perditionem Nulli nostrum dubium est per arcam Noae â—cclesiam suisse figuratam Aug de Vnit. Ecl. c. 5. Firmissimè tene omnes qui extra ecclesiam catholicaÌ„ praesentem finâ—unt vitam in igneÌ„ aeternum ituros Nam in diebuâ— diluvij neminem legimus extra arcam potuisse salvari Aug. de Fid. ad P. Diac. c 37 38. The miserable plight oâ— apostatâ— 1. Wealth got by Apostacy is vanishing 2. Honour of Apostates ends in shame b 1 Pet. 2 9. c Rev. 3.11 d Jam. 1.12 e 1 Pet. 5.4 f Iam. 2.5 g 2 Tim. 4.18 h â— Pet. 1.11 3. Apâ—sâ—ates 〈…〉 miserâ—ble 〈◊〉 i Rom. 8.21 k Gal 5.1 Terrors of conscience most terrible Horat Epist l. 1. Ep. 2. A sencelesse conâ—cience worse then rest-lesse Acts 16.29 30 Cum tenentur in tam grandâ— crimine perâ—ussâ— suâ—t animi caecitate ut nec intelligant delicta nec plangant Inâ—ignantis Dâ—i major haec plaga est Cypr. Serm. 5. de lapsis God to be feared more then man Heb. 11.35 36. What tortures Martyrs enâ—ured Maccab. 6.9 10 7.1 2 c. b Erat spectaculum eorum quae fiebant ita crudele ut omnem narrationem superet Euseb Eccles Hist l. 8. c. 6. c Virgis flagris loris funiculis lacerati ossa nudata patebant aceto sale mixto purulentis corporis partibus perfunduntur d Fustibus percussi e Instrumentis membratim extensi f Fractis cruribus puniti g In utraque manu digiti acutis calamis sub extremis unguibus perforati h Testis toto corpore ad mortem usque discerpti i Terga excoriata Capitibus pellis detracta a fronte ad mentum