watchmen for the people because they abused their office For many ambitious men creeping into the seate of the Church were ashamed of the humilitye of Christ Which al thinges are truely verefied in the Romish Church where the Pope challengeth to be Oecumenical and vniuersal Bishop of the whole Churche and so is noysome to all churches And woulde to God this noysomnesse had onely kept it selfe at home in Rome had not also infected some Christian Churches But such is the misery of our times thorough sinne as we can witnesse of manye troublesome watchmen which count them selues so in the Church of God in many places Yea the noysomnes of that Romishe crew hath sore annoyed the Churches beyond the seas and ceaseth not to trouble and vex our Church of this lande by sending out their Seminary Papists and scattering abroade that Viperous brood of the Iesuites which greatly molest our Church and land through their seditious and traiterous practizes that they might bring the spouse eueÌ„ the church of England in bondage againe to that daungerous whatchman the Pope which I hope shall neuer be For hee ceaseth not to smite and wounde where soeuer hee can reach and to disturbe the true Spouse of Christe Iesus For he playeth the roynish ruffler with the Spouse where soeuer he becommeth and all his complices and adhearentes are troublesome watchmen and smiters Furthermore there are some other which for want of warrines smite the sincere professors and their fellow brethren wounding them either with doctrine misapplied as Ezek 13. or with complaining of them as Amaziah did of Amos. Amos. 7. Or by open reproch or some such kind of Ishmaeliticall persecution Othersome as the Brownists if I may so terme theÌ„ they smite all spare none yea the carefullest Preachers are most charged of theÌ„ as reuolters c. they seeke after a sort the subuersion of the whole state Finally many vngratious men of a filthy life and seruile nature which pretend som better shew for the time seeke to occupy the roomes of the Church which are manye times sooner admitted a room I know not by what negligence and grosse ouersight then they which are careful to discharge a conscience in that calling But would to God that they in whose handes it is to reforme would bend themselues to root out such loytering idle and loose men out of the Church But thus the vanitie which SolomoÌ„ noted in the world is to be séen Folly is set in great excellency and the rich set in the law place I haue seene seruants on horsebacke and Princes walking as seruants on the ground Ecc. 10.6 For many vile and vnworthy persons as I said are crept I know not by what ouersight into the Church liuinges Ruffians gamesters fornicators idolaters popish prelates idol ministers as Esay speaketh domb dogges belly Gods Isai 59.10.11 2. Pet. 2.13.14.17 louers of filthy lucre wels with out water empty cloudes wandring stars c. also sectuaries Famelists or Louists many other vnworthy persoÌ„s are set on horseback when many worthy meÌ„ for their learning Godlinesse grauity yea as Solomon calleth them princes are fayn to go on foote like seruauntes For so many blinde Dolts of the Country Ploughmen and artificers thorough Symmony and corruption steale into the liuinges of the Church that the learned and meete persons in the Vniuersitie which shold be called foorth are fayn to be without place Which happeneth partly by default of Patrons which make not conscience of the Lordes people partly by other corruptions but howsoeuer it be the poore soules of the people are in extreame hazard thereby and the people for the moste part see not their owne misery and therefore pitty not themselues nor vse any prayer to the Lord in such causes wherein lyeth the cheefest daunger of soules so as both people and ministers in many places conspire to murther and spoyle their own fouls For if they may haue an honest quiet man as they term him and a good fellow they are best with such a one though he hath no graces from the Lord méet for that honourable and high ambassage which is a lamentable case And the Lorde punisheth the neglect contempt of oure times with the iust plague of the famine of their soules in some place As Hoshea mentioneth chap. 9. ver 7.8.9 The dayes of recompence are come Israel shall know it The prophet is a fool the spiritual man is mad for the multitude of thine iniquity therefore the hatred is great The watchmen of Ephraim shoulde bee with my God but the Prophet is the snare of a fowler in all his wais hatred in the house of his God So that they exercised hatred in the Church bringing such as desire to be taught in to coÌ„tempt to be wondred at as Owls in the day time being made a sign to nod the head at euery man hath a pul at theÌ„ raising vp scornful reproches lies troubles vexations against the godly Esay 8.18 yea they lift them vp on the scaffolds of the worlde as monsters among men to be displaied and laide foorth to contempt as Esay in his time complayneth I and the children whom thou hast giuen me are as signes and wonders in Israel by the Lorde of Hostes which dwelletb in mâ—â—nt Sion Of the one side diuers harsh spirites vnder the pretence of zeale for the reformation of the Church which all the godly hartily wish for and procure in their callings what they may they doe sore assault the Church and the tender consciences of such simple ones as they can preuail with rashly condemning all thinges and seeking soule good thing after an vngodly and vnlawfull manner as the Brownists and such like which labour to alienate the mindes of men from their teachers and from the worde and Sacramentes in the Churche of this Lande because of their priuate dislikings whome I would wish to learne more modesty I speake not to discredite any but to wish men to be wise and stayed in their zeal without rashnesse But thus the saintes of God are tryed by diuers means and haue many repulses in their comming on and by these means some that shold be the watchmen smite the spouse and pull of her vaile playing the rufflers with her Which as it is not without the Lordes witting but by his prouidence so it shal be reuenged vpon them by the same God when he shal take the cause of his church into his hand here we sée then that the church somtime findeth greatest lets and hurts at their hands who should chiefly preferre the cause of the church yet these watchmen they go about the city to visit but to what end they are painful as many now a daies can haue nimble eies to spy out the best forwardest not to further theÌ„ but to hinder them Now let vs sée what the spouse doth in these lets afflictions she groweth not blockish neither waite on other to doe
but sow pillows vnder the elbowes of the daintie and wanton people preaching peace to them to whom the Lord hath not spoken peace The Church of God hath alwayes had daungerous Prophetes Apostles and teachers which haue troubled the church besides those which seduced the people with false doctrine For I am fully perswaded that the false Prophets which Ezekiel and other Prophets of God spake against or the fals Apostles in Pauls time which he speaketh of to the Corinthians PhilippiaÌ„s were not al of theÌ„ so called simply for that they preached fals doctrine but in respect of their misapplying and abusing of doctrine As for example to preach peace and to cause to mourne is lawfull but to preach peace to the wicked or apply mourning to the godly c. is falsly to handle the truth So to preach Christ is lawfull but when it is done of vaine glory or contention or to adde bondes to the saints of God it is euil to the person that so doth Yet Paule reioyced that Christ was preached though of contention c. and sure he would not haue reioyced if false doctrine had beene taught by them So we haue many no doubt which are voyd of the spirite of iudgement to applye doctrine but handling it vncunningly smit wound the Godly but flatter and strengthen the wicked which is no doubt a great and feareful sinne which Ezekiel complayned of in his 13. Chapiter We must be wise to handle the word and not mingle chaffe with wheat as Ieremy speaketh Chapter 23.28 Hereof it commeth that the false and vnfaithful teachers do rather beat backe and discourage those that seeke earnestly after Christe then further them For they enuy that the simple sort should grow in knowledge least their euil life couetousnesse ambition flattery and vnfaithfulnesse in their calling should be found out Therefore the ignoraunt ministery they seeke to holde men in ignoraunce still or keepe them at a stay or at least way would abuse aucthority to molest and suppresse the zealous and Godly But this should not discourage men from inquiring after God stil If therefore any such thing should befal to any of vs eueÌ„ at the haÌ„ds teachers of the Church let vs not maruaile for it must be so in the Church of God that they which are perfect may be knowne And I perceiue euen here among you in these parts that as the Lord hath begun a good worke in many so it goeth hardly forwarde by the reason of some daungerous watchmen ministers enuying the successe of the worde preached But learne of the spouse here to inquire the more earnestly after Christe in his word of those which are careful in wisdome to teach Such there haue bin alwaies in the Church of God shal be yea euen of those many times which hold not the smallest roomes in the church So we sée Amaziah Amos. 7.10 who enuied the simple sincere preaching of Amos. Therefore he complained of him to the king saying Amos hath coÌ„spired against thee the land is not able to beare his word c. And subtily like a fox in the mean time counselled him to fly the land for he thought his pomp honor would decay if Amos proceeded because the people resorted to him but what followed reade the chapiter Hoshea the Prophet chapter 5.1 complained of such in his time saying that iudgment was against the Priests princes because ye are as a snare on Mizpeb and as a net spred vpon Tabor Meaning that both the Magistrates and the Priestes of Israel deuoured the people and sought to intrap them as the fowlers in those mountaines layd snares for the byrdes Also the Scribes Pharises and Priestes of the Iewes which retained the chiefest dignities titles in the Church were most noysome to the same so as the scripture was verified saying Psa 118.22 Mat. 21.42 The stone which the chiefe builders refused is become the head of the corner This certainly is a great offence to many when they see Christ abused of any of the rulers and great Doctors in the Church Oh say they I can tell some of the graue fathers Doctors of the Church and wise learned men yea some also of countenance and authority like not very wel of these great teachers nor of these gadders to sermons and fewe such will resort to the Sermons c. Therefore I wil doe as they doe they are as wise as the beste as learned and as well thought of as any of them all Thus the poore and miserable people are hindered from Christ by such meanes But Christe Math. â—1 acknowledgeth his fathers wisedome herein that he hath reuealed those high and heauenly misteryes to the simple and hidde them from the wise prudent of this world And Paul 1. Cor. 1.26 affirmeth that not many noble the Lorde hath called or wise men after the fleshe but God hath called the foolish things of the worlde to confound the wise c. Howbeit the Lord make vs truely thankfull God hath beautified our soyl and Church of England with many nobles godly magistrates which countenaunce the truth the Godly teachers and are a wal to theÌ„ hath also inriched this his Church with many Godly learned and worthy men and that of countenaunce and titles which preferre the Gospel of Christ Iesus Notwithstanding as I sayd such there haue beene and shal be some in the Church euen of great ones which shall molest the same And because this doctrine which discouereth the ambition and hurtfulnesse of some persons in the Church is hardly disgested I must he came beyond my vsual order to insert some authority of the fathers in a worde who I suppose shall more tollerably bee heard then my selfe Saint Barnard in the 33. Sermon vpon these Canticles sayth From whom shal the Church hide her selfe All are friendes and all are enemies all kinsfolke and all aduersaries all houshold seruauntes yet there is none at peace they walke in the honour of the Lords goodnesse to whom they do no honor Hereeby he sheweth afterwarde how many inconueniences come in the Church thereby come their pomper pride couetousnes Thereby sayth he their purses are filled therefore they couet to be Princes of the Church c. Such thinges saith he come not lawfully but because they are occupied in the affayres of darkenes c. Also Barnard els where in sermone de Pauli comissione Alas lord these are the first which do persecute thee which we see to affect the highest roomes in the Churche they haue taken the arches from Sion they occupy the Castle and haue by power set the Citye on fire their conuersation is miserable the subuersion of the people is pitifull Furthermore Saint Hierome vpon the 9. chap. of Hoshea saith I doe not find in the auntient histories any other to haue seperated the Church and seduced the people from Gods house then the Priestes Prelates which are placed of God to be the
as they doe or to serue the presēt time but zealously inquireth the more after her make euē in the midst of the contempt of men not being satisfied of the euil watchmē turneth to the godly in Ierusalem saying vers 8. I charge you O daughters of Ierusalem if you finde my welbeloued that you report to him that I am sick of loue shee now rowzeth vp her selfe and is rered vp an end after the pushes of the enuious watchmen yea she ouerstrideth these perils that albeit shee saw some hang behinde and othersome to let what they could yet she recouereth her zeale and becommeth of an inuincible corage The second part of the manner of her comming on Heere therefore is the second part of the manner of the spouses comming on namely the recouering of her zeale and inquiring more busily after Christ when she saw what lets were in the waie and contemning all lets she boldoly chargeth the godly of Ierusalem for that shee knewe saluation should come from Sion and the word of God from Ierusalem that they would direct her and further her vnto Christ praying for her and commending her to the Lord signifiing her earnest affection constant loue towards Christ Iesus Thus the godly should not cease to inquire after God stil and not be hindred by the wicked but continue in confessing Christ imbracing his worde with carefulnes musing conferring and reading of it which prayer and calling vppon God that so others also should be stirred vp by their example As after followeth vers 17. For it is not enough to shake handes with Christe when all other plausibly entertaine him when princes countenance his Gospel and in a calms and sunshine day But we must also when troubles arise when fals teachers shal seeme to depraue the trueth yea when princes shal gage batel against Christ Otherwise we shall prooue our selues to be but timeseruers In déed it is somwhat and that which fewe come vnto to countenaunce the gospel to speake ride and go in the behalf of the preachers and godly men and to further the preaching of the worde euen nowe in the time of our Halcion daies But this is not al. Wee must prepare and adresse our selues for foule weather and stormy trials and to be forward though al other shoulde flip backe We must not alone then confesse Christ Iesus with others and perfourme the exercises of Religion when others doe onely but also apart by our selues as Zach. 12.13 They should mourne euery family apart and their wines apart by themselues for a man may pray when others pray or with his familie and heare the worde or conferre of it when others doe and yet bee a verye hypocryte For it is a daungerous signe of Hypocrisie if a man haue a delighte to praye to heare the woorde or to talk of it or to be occupied in any godly exercise onelye when others are occupied in them or when hee is in company or may bee seene or harde and hath not a ioye and delighte also to bée occupied in suche holy exercises euen alone and apart by him selfe thoughe none bee with him heare him nor see him Wee see that often times men hardlye come to this to bee zealous when other are zealous to praye when other praye to confesse when other confesse and to exercise the worship of God when other doe but also be zealous and forwarde in Religion when others hang backe or become enemyes this is rare and seldome amongst men It were good therefore if men woulde goe many times aside by themselues and in the closet of their owne harts deale with God humbling themselues praying earnestlye fasting apart by themselues that they might bee the more fit to doe good to themselues and others So then we see the zeale of the faythfull must breake oute more and more though it be insulted vppon by men and sought to be vndermined yea we shoulde study to procure and stirre vp our housbandes wiues housholde kindred neighbours and friendes As we read they of the church should shew their zeale not only in being forward themselues but calling vppon others as Esay 2.3 Come let vs goe vp to the mountaine of the Lorde c. Also Iosshua in the 24. Iosh 14 15. Chapter of his booke exhorting the people to serue God in truth bad◠them consider what they would doe But I sayth he and my houshold wil serue the Lorde If then this be the duties of Christians one to further another as they can not tarrying one for another as men straint curtesie in this point how much more should the Minister bee forwarde in Godlinesse knowledge and zeale notwithstanding all lets to towle on the people with them vnto God Yea this is required of all magistrates rulers richmen headboroughes of parishes that they should be forwardest stirring vp others by their example But for the most part they are flowest in the lords causes but let not vs tarry vppon others the more we haue forslowed the time the more we are bound to redéem it The spouse rescueth her selfe from the abuse of the euill watchmen and turneth to them of Ierusalem wher the Lorde was then onely resident by his ministery in his temple inquiring of the Lorde in his lawfull and ordinary meanes euen the ministerye of his word whereby both he instructeth his Church and the Church and faithfull againe consult with the Lorde We shoulde therefore make our recourse to the lawfull ministery of the word and cal vpon yea and charge our Pastors and ministers if they are slow to the execution of their charge that they reueale and discouer Iesus Christ vnto vs. And because this wil séeme somewhat saucely mallepertly done that the people should cal vpon and charge their ministers to be careful c. I must be faine to vndershore my exhortation in this point by some example For I speake no other thing then that which Paule exhorteth the Collossians vnto in his Epistle to them chapter 4. ver 17. Say vnto Archippus looke vnto thy ministery which thou hast receiued in the lord that thou fulfill it So that Paule woulde haue the congregation by admonition to stirre him vp And sure Paule coulde haue admonished him him selfe in his owne person but he layeth that charge on the Collossians that they ought them selues to spurre forward their Pastor if he waxe colde and the Pastor him selfe shoulde not refuse to be admonished by his church or people but it must be done of them with reuerence If Archippus was to be stirred vp to his duety by the people who yet laboured in some measure in the Church what shall be sayed to those that laboure not at all neyther can a way with admonition but are deafe at suche doctrine as concerne their duety Or what shal be sayde of those Archministers which are appointed to ouer see the rest yet some of them are so farre from charging them to teach as they doe after a sort maintaine a dumbe
of Gods promise in them selues which concerne euerlasting life yea and desiring to feele that comfort of his loue which for the time they can not feele Which I dare warrant to that soule that feeleth these in truth that they are sure arguments certain and infallible tokens that he is one with Christ For as that member which is a sléepe benoumed brused or hurt do not cease to be a mēber of the body though it looseth some strength for the time but is after recouered to strength and féeling again so euery hurt or wound which the saints of God haue of their infirmities is not by and by a cutting off from Christe For this continual societie or vnity of Christ with his Church is not for a time but for euer not onely in the whole Church but also in euery particuler member thereof Rom. 8.35.38.39 Paule triumpheth in the person of the beleeuers that nothing coulde seperate them from the loue of God which is in Iesus Christ our Lord. Though therfore many od thoughtes or surmises may incumber vs for a time so long as we dislike them in our selues stryuing against them groning for grace of God to suppresse them yet we may boldely saye with the spouse I am Christes and Christ is mine for so long as we hold him ours hauing a true hearty and longing desire after him so long wee are his Of this vnitye commeth necessarily that certainty of perseueraunce and of saluation 2. The certeinety of perseuerance and saluation of the saints which the Saintes of God haue in this life which is the second thing that I noted vnto you out of this conclusion of the Spouse For looke of what condition the roote and stock is concerning the vnity and abiding of the same condition and nature are the braunches but Christ the true root and Vine is eternal therfore his Church or company of the beleeuers which are the braunches of that Vine are eternal The head is eternal therfore the body and members are eternal The foundation of that spiritual house neuer decayeth therfore neyther the building The husband of the Church is euerlasting and can not perishe therefore the company of the beleeuers which are his wife can neuer perishe For the reason of the consequence of these argumētes standeth in the nature of those qualities that are in God and not in the nature of the things them selues For as Christ can not cease to be eternal no more then his father can so the state of the godly can not cease to be eternal vnles God and Christ shoulde cease from their eternity For whatsoeuer quality is resident in the nature of God is alwais the same because the Godhead is not mutable nor contrary in it selfe but alway like it selfe Wherefore vnlesse God and Christ shold cease to be them selues the Church or beleeuers which were elect before al time can not cease to be eternal in so much as the loue wherewith he loueth his eternal and chāgeth not For Io. 13.1 Those whom he loueth to the ende he loueth them So that the Godly which haue once in truth tasted of the loue of God can no more perishe then the loue of God it selfe can perish or his mercy come to an end This causeth the spouse in the confidence of Gods fauor to assure her selfe that Christ is hers Now as this is true in the whole Church that it is permanent and can not perishe but be saued So is it true in euery member wherby they may be assured of saluation in them selues and of their perserance How soeuer the Papists would hold soules in vnstablenes in suspence and doubt of their saluation alway Certaine it is that in some measure the children of God haue assuraunce of their saluation in this life though not at al times alike nor al men alike assurance That the Church or elect in general can not but be saued there is no man I suppose that doubteth But if any doubt I wil set down such proofs as come into my mind wherin the perseuerance of the elect shal easily appear but we must looke into thē with the eyes of faith for the eies of reason are not able once to looke vp into these misteries of faith psa 125.1.2 They that trust in the lord are as mount Sion which standeth fast for euer can not be remoued Also psa 89.30 God promiseth his mercies shal be eternal to Dauid after hee addeth that if his children sin Then I wil visit their transgressiō with the rod their iniquity with strokes Yet my louing kindnes wil I neuer take from him nor falsify my truth This being true in Dauid is also true in euery beléeuer Esa 43.4.7 he sheweth that as God maketh a precious account of his people loue them so they should be called by his name intitled to his inheritance he could not neglect their saluatiō but he must also neglect his own glory Likewise in his 49. chap he inferreth the church Esai 49.14 and verse 15 cōplaining that the lord had forsaken thē but the lord answereth that his loue surpasseth the dearest loue of mothers towards their children so as he can not forget them vnles he forget him self In so much as He hath grauen them in the palme of his hands and they are euer in his sight and verse 1◠The Lord Christ affirmeth Math. 16.18 That as the church is founded in him self So it should neuer perishe neither the gates of hel should preuail against it The like certainty of the saluation of the beléeuers our sauiour Christ auoucheth Ioh. 10. ver 28.29 That they which are his sheepe obey the voice of his worde shal neuer perish but haue euerlasting life Confirming his assertion by a reason drawn frō the nature of God his father that it was as impossible for any which truly beléeued in christ Iesus obeyed his voice to perish as it was for God his father him selfe to be ouercome which cā neuer be therfore nether can the beleeuers be frustrate of life saluation For he reasoneth that because his father he is one his father was of al power absolut that none cold euer master him or preuaile against him therefore none could euer master him or preuail against him therefore none could preuail against Christ him selfe being equal with his father in infinit power Therefore also consequently none can preuaile against the saluation of his elect which are in Christ Iesus So that God hath layde vp the saluation of euery beleeuer in him selfe in the heauens 1. Pet. 1.4.5 without the reach of Sathan hel the Pope and sinne so as we can not be defeated of it Yea none can depriue any of the Godly and faithful of their saluation vnlesse they first robbe God of his infinite power set Christ a side from that glory wherewith his father hath glorified him Yea shal I speake further But in reuerence of Gods frée grace the
CERTAINE VErie worthie godly and profitable Sermons vpon the fifth Chapiter of the Songs of SOLOMON Preached by BARTIMEVS ANDREAS Minister of the word of God Published at the earnest and long request of sundrie well minded Christians ESAY 62.6.7 I haue set watchmen on thy walles O Ierusalem which all the day and all the night continually shall not cease yee that are mindfull of the Lord keepe not silence And giue him no rest till he repayre and vntill he set vp Ierusalem the praise of the worlde 2. TIM 2.19 But the foundation of God remayneth sure and hath this zeale The Lord knoweth who are his and let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitie AT LONDON Printed by Robert Walde-graue for Thomas man 1583. TO THE RIGHT honorable and my very good Lorde Henrie Earle of Huntington Lorde Hastings Hungerforde Botreaux Mullens Moyles of the most honorable order of the garter Knight Lord president of the Queenes Maiesties councel established in the North parts Bartimeus Andrewes wisheth increase of all true honour and the fruition of all those blessed promises which concerne this life and the life to come Amen BEING at the last ouercome right honorable by the long and earnest request of diuers Godly and wel disposed christians to yeeld my consent to the publishing of this to homly and simple a worke I forthwith was resolued in my selfe to dedicate the first fruits of my labour in this kinde of wryting vnto your honour as to a most worthy MECOENAS and conuenient Patron both of all learning and good causes And albeit at the first blush it may seeme some what straunge vnto your honour that I should presume to present you with so simple a gift being vnworthy the view of so honorable a personage and wise Yet because I do it not as one expecting anye temporall benefite or preferment at your hand as the maner of the worlde for the most part in such matters is But as a token rather of my speciall good will and duety towards you and an argument of thankfulnesse vnto God for his graces in you as also to minister some occasion of increase and going forwarde with constancy and Heroicall spirite in so good gracious and Godly wayes as you haue turned your feete to steppe in already I perswade my selfe therefore of your facile and curteous nature and good will in accepting of the same And euen this small duety of wryting is one point of the honouring and gratifying of our betters and those to whom we stand charged from the Lorde to perfourme duties of reuerence and honour Especially when we see the Image of God by the seconde creation to shine in them as it doth breake forth in your honourable and vertuous brest by many worthy and commendable graces and vertues with the plausible approbation fame and report both of the wise and Godly I speake not this as one that would fill the trompe of flattery with the winde of vaine-glorious praise to seeme to speake for your honour to the worlde for that is not my maner sith your vertuous religious and Godlye wayes speake for them selues to your great commendation and your euerlasting praise in Christe Iesus But I speake of the worke of God in you right honorable that God might haue his iust glory in his owne worke and your selfe might also be incouraged with comfort to proceede and increase in that good course so as the worke of God which is begun might be perfited in you For sure it is my very good Lord that the enemy of mankind seeketh to beset as all men so specially those whome the Lorde beginneth to frame to him selfe but chieflyest those that are as it were ouer frayghted with the aboundaunce of the troublesome affayres of this present life by reason of their great calling For they whom God calleth to so great honour riches and dignity are as one wisely wryteth set vpon the mayne sea of occasions in daunger to bee drenched and swallowed vp of the tempestuous rages and surging waues of diuers temptations if the Lorde doe not mightely by his grace support and vnderstay them But when God standeth by them and frameth their heartes to the loue of his truth then doth he reape great honour and glory at their handes VVhich he highly priseth and reckoneth off insomuch that he hath honorably spoken of such by his Prophetes that they shoulde bring much glory to his Church Esay 49.23 60.16 and be nursing fathers and nursing mothers therevnto yea the glory of LEBANON euen of great personages shal come togeather to beautify the place of my sunctuary saith the Lorde for I will glorify the place of my feete Esay 60.13 For the seruice which such shoulde doe to his Church was not a seruile condition but a beautifying of his Church as it is there called and a glory euen vnto him selfe And vndoubtedly blessed are those Princes Nobles honourable and worshipfull who them selues imbracing and obeying the truth sincerely become presidentes and examples in their owne persons to allure others to the fellowship of the church to the loue of the worde and true religion For the fall or vprising of many after a sort dependeth vpon the publique persons whom God hath lift vp in high places ouer others Insomuch as the eyes of the multitude are bene vpon the examples of publique persons Furthermore wee see from time to time howe the Church of God not without great cause accounted highly of such personages as those by whom they receiued speciall blessings from the Lorde So the church of Israel Psal 21.6 made precious account of DAVID that worthy Prince as one that was set of God as blessings for euer Meaning as a benefite and testimony of Gods fauour vpon his people EZEKIAH NEHEMIAH Neh. 1. 2. Hag. 1.14 Ier. 40. 2. Chr. 35.25 ZERVBBABEL GEDALIAH c. were great blessings to the Church who greatly lamented the losse of thē Also IOSIAH his death was lamented with a doleful lamentation of al the church of IVDA And sure it is that our Church hath great cause to magnifie the mercies of God towards vs in trusting vs with so gracious a IOSIAH as our Soueraigne Princesse ELIZABETH as by whose gouerment the church hath receiued many blessings The losse of whome if our sinns should procure which the Lord keep far from vs would yeeld no lesse occasion for vs to complayne and say then the Churche of IVDA had Lamen 5.20 at the death of IOSIAH when they sayd Our life the breath of our nostrels the annoynted of the Lorde vvas taken in their nets of vvhome we sayd vnder his shadow vve shall be preserued aliue among the heathen Herevnto god hath added further matter of ioy and thankfulnes vnto his Churche in that many nobles worthy personages of this land both learned Godly and wise among whom your honour hath not the least roome are faythfull Patrons of the cause of
lowe a course should seeme as a starie borrowing light from others and yet so as giuing light to some But because God hath his glory aswell of the interiour plances and fixed startes in their order and degree as of the Sun and the great lights in their excellencie I doubted not but was perswaded that in my calling degree measure place assigned me of God I should both do good and be helpful to the simple at least ignorant if not to the learned and also should bring some glory vnto that God from whom I haue receiued that vvhich I haue Casting mine eyes therefore of from the scornefull reproches of the worlde from the malice and enuie of the caâ—pers and from the suspitious heart of them which suspect all things and finally from the regard of mortall men my heart being directed to the Lord on whom onoly I waite mine eyes turned toward his Church whoÌ„ I dearly tender in the Lord I was forced to yeelde to this worke which I haue taken in hand yet so that after the request of many which hard these fewe Sermons that follow not with out some comfort and profite as they saide I yeelded to trie what I coulde doe in penning of them as I vttered them so neere as I could after which thing done and beeing seene of some althoâ—gh I neuer thought to haue it passe out of my hands yet had I it not onely coppied out by others but also I was exceedingly charged by them that I should dishonour God in concealing of the thing and should doe great iniurie to many soules which might reape special comfort thereby themselues being witnesses against me of that comfort and benefite which they should want by the withholding therof insomuch as it was likely to be preferred vnto publishing without my knowledge or consent if I had not yeelded For which causes I haue taken in had to prefix these few words Humbly intreating that no man misiudge of this my poore trauaile Now if any marueil at these long excuses preceeding any other matter it is therefore that I might satisfie the godly in rendring a reason of the publishing hereof being of my selfe timerous and suspicious of mine owne workes as such which I recken vnworthy the publike view of men But God grant it may profite the simple and godly at least for whose sake I haue chiefly done it Also of the otherside to staye the mutterings of the malicious enuions suspitious men Now in that I haue laboured so neere as I could to pen it downe in such maner as it was vttered by me hauing some notes of the same deliuered vnto me so as by the reason of the exhortations the matter will seeme more rarely a great deale in reading then when it is vttred with liuely voyce and godly zeale vvhereby it hath the greater force to moue being the ordinarie meanes appointed of God to saue men yet because writings do longe seede memorie then vvords spoken they vvhich wanted the vse of the first shall yet haue the benefite of the vvritten letters to their longer remembrance I am therfore humbly to craue of the christiaÌ„ reader that thou accept these first fruites of my labor in this kind of vvriting if ther be any thing vvorth the accepting as I hope and am persvvaded thou shalt finde them not altogether barin though the homlinesse of exhortation and basenesse of style may want plausibilitie to some yet the matter vvill sauour comfortably to those which are seasoned vvith grace and in whome God hath begun in deede a true Christian calling and humbled in a true sight of themselues so as they are able to surueie their owne hearts and to discry their vvants and infirmities The first part of the chapiter the calling of the chuâ—ch or faithfull and are therewithall carefull to make supply of their vvantes by thirsting after grace the means wherby the same is offered conueied into the faythfull For my labour was in the handling of this fifth Chapiter of the CANTICLES to lay forth as I could the calling vvhereby Christ calleth his Church and faythfull to the participation of his heauenly riches and the suite which he maketh to bee entertained of his Church with some reasons of waight annexed vnto his suite to make it the more forcible that men might be made priuie vnto the means of their calling which is the first part of the Chapiter in generall Then secondly I haue noted hovve the faythfull come on by degrees and in what manner they obey their Christian calling The second part the maner of their comming on or obeying of their calling what stovve proceedings they make vvhat lets they meete withal how they hang of and on a long time with the Lord or euer they conclude and make vp the match with him in their heartes Novv though these things are displayed in figures and presented to vs in darke speeches by SOLOMON yet shall vve by the grace of God see the sence meaning and vse of them by the Scriptures In these two parts of this chapter with the particulers that shal be noted out of them in the processe of the matter I doubt not but vvhosoeuer shal read with a single eye vnto the ende shall finde both instruction and much comfort to his soule and conscience therein For in the first Sermon and part of the second the suite of Christ calling his Churche to obedience and to the pertaking of his grace is handled with such reasons alledged by him as might mooue any tractable nature to yeeld vnto his suite The other three Sermons with most of the second are spent in shevving the manner how the godly come on in their calling how they obey First the lets which the saints of God meete withall And first the manifolde lets and incumbraunces both at home in themselues and abroad in others which fetter tye the children of God are discouered hovv hardly slowly they proceede in their christian course yea howe long or they enter into it till the Lord as it were force them forward and finde them out in their delayes Hauing in themselues so many pulbackes lurking in their ovvne nature First lets in our selues which make their hearts so drovvzie and vntovvard as they seeke shifts to â—oorde of the Lorde and not to aunsvvere their inwarde calling and when they are comming on they finde them selues vnfiâ—te slovve and vnapt euen to those duties vvhiche they dâ—sire heartilye to performe whereby they feele sometime this discommoditie that vvhen they seeke after Christ Iesus coueting to bee refreshed and satisfied vvith his Loue they finde him as it vvere stepped aside as thoughe the Lorde absented him selfe from them had reiected them and woulde not bee founde of them For the Cloudes of the infirmities of the Saintes of GOD are so greate sometimes in their ovvne sighte vvhen they are truely humbled and so thicke that they blem sh the sighte of Gods fauoure so
as they can not discrye the brightnesse thereof at times when they couet moste to feele it Yea when they groane in the secretes of their heartes for it vnto God calling after him by Prayer beeing Sutors for it a long time betweene hope and dispayre not feelinge the comforte of his fauoure but suspecting rather vvhen yet they are in best state yea in best assuraunce of his grace though they feele it not for the time Sith they retayne a true heartye and vnfeyned desire to taste of that fauoure which for the time they can not feele For tâ—at desire after his fauoure vvith a loathing of oure selues for sinne is an infallible argument of the interest which the Spirite of God hath in the beleeuers Especially when that desire inforceth them to vse the meanes wherebye God offereth himselfe vnto vs. Namely to heare the word preached vvhere God is residente vvith his perver and to praye often and heartilye Math. 18. â—0 for to suche God promiseth him se fe to bee presente Thus it pleaseth the Lorde to exercise his Sayntes by holding aloofe from them sometime that they mighte bee made priuye to their ovvne infirmityes and mighte see the lettes that lye hidde in them selues which hinder them and so laboure to shunne them VVhich things the second Sermon cheefly doth handle The thirde Sermon spendeth it selfe partly in laying foorth the lette 2. Le ts abroaâ—e in others vvhich the faythfull finde abroade in others vvhereby sathan seeketh to discourage them by the reproche of the vvicked by the contempte of the vvorlde and enuye of the malicious and spightfull aduersaries VVhich albeit they shrewdly dismay the Saintes of God for a time yet in the end they shal see by the example of the spouse how to ouerstride all stumbling blocks For God causeth the fayth of his children to breake out so much the more how much the more it is impugned A second circumstance of the maner of the comming on of the faâ—thful is also ther noted namely how they recouer their zeal and stir vp themselues to a more diligent inquiring after Christ wheÌ„ they see what lets ther are in themselues in other 2. The recouering of the zeal of the faythfull notwithstanding lets which would defeat them of the benefit of Christe Iesus their eternall louer VVherby they break out into a famous descrâ—ption of Christ Iesus alluring others thereby to h ue part with them in him And in the fourth sermon is set down the great fruit and Senesit that commeth to the church faithfull by the mutuall profession conference and commending of the graces of God one to another How other by that meanes are dravvne on to the Lorde Zac. 8.22.23 as vvas prophesied of the Churche of the Gentiles that they shoulde flocke to the Iewes and associate themselues to the Church when they shoulde here that God was with them The fifth and last sermon sheweth the conclusion of the whole hovve the church spouse of Christ Iesus namely the true beleeuers doth assure her selfe of the loue of Christe tovvardes her 3. The conclusion of the match 1. The vnity between Christ the faithful when thee feeleth the Testimonies of his residence in her in which conclusion is matter of moste singuler comfort First the vnity wherby Christ and the faythfull become one so as they can neuer be seuered is comfortably I hope though plainly handled where the godly may see how to be assured that they are one with Christ euen in this life so coÌ„sequeÌ„tly after a sort one with God himself that the faithful caÌ„nnot be cut of or vtterly seuered froÌ„ him so long as God himself Christ remaineth Secondly the certainty of perseuerance 2. The certainty of the saluation of the beleeuers and their perseuerance of the saluatioÌ„ of the saints of God wherby they may in som measure assure theÌ„selues of their saluation euen in this life is at large proued against the assertioÌ„ of the Papistes against al the replies that our nature maketh to desâ—aâ—â—â—s of the comfort of that assurance VVhâ—ch last sermon let me desire thee to read good christian with the spirit of sobernes and iudgement VVhich I haue only written for the comfort of the afflicted conscience Yet so that the enemies of grace the Libertines I hope shal haue smal aduauntage therby to soâ—th them selues in their loose Libertye but rather matter to humble them selues yea euen to condemne themselues if God smyte them with the Spirite of iudgement Thus haue I breefly giuen thee a taste christian reader of the pryncipal matters handled in larger circumstances in this litle volume perswading my selfe both of thy diligence in perusing them to the end and of thy accepting in good worth and fauourable construing of this worke as also of thy moderation equity of mind in casting away all sinister affections in reading thereof fith I commit my selfe to the iudgement of those that are neyther ignorant nor malitious And now to conclude commending thee vnto God and to the worde of his grace which is able to build further and to giue thee an inheritance among all them that are sanctified I humbly beseech the Lorde our God euen the God of peace that hee will make thee perfect in all good works to do his will working in thee that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christe To whome be prayse for euer and euer Amen Thine in the Lorde B. Andrewes Certaine very worthy Godly and profitable Sermons vpon the songs of Solomon FOR somuch as right dearely beloued in the Lorde Iesus Christ by the prouidence of God I am come among you at this time where I am likely to stay a few dayes I thought good as my maner is to spend the time in bestowing on you some portion of such Talentes as the Lorde in some measure hath enriched me with all My purpose is therfore the Lord ayding me with his holy spirite in this so holy and weighty a worke as the preaching of his sacred worde is to handle vnto you for some good considerations the fifth Chapter of the excellent songs of Solomon with the two firste verses of the sixth Chapter as it is read in the common translation but I reade them with the fifth chapter for the causes that shall be alleaged when I come to the handling of them the Chapter followeth to this effect Canticles 5. 1 I Am come into my garden my Sister my spouse I gathered my myrrhe with my spice I ate mine honye combe with mine bony I dranke my wine with my milke eate O friendes drinke and make you mery O welbeloued 2 I sleep but mine heart waketh it is the voyce of my welbeloued that knocketh saying Open vnto mee my sister my loue my doue my vndefiled for mine head is full of dewe and my locks with the droppes of the night 3 I haue put of my coate how shall I put it on I haue
we should set so light by it Is it because hee commeth no more in his owne person vnto vs Why the Heauens must containe him til he come to iudgement Acts. 3.21 What is it because he is poore of low degree or meane personage his riches are without price his parentage is of God his person is moste amiable What then is it because hee speaketh by others as his spokesmen and those men thraught with infirmities as our selues In deede this sticketh in the stomack of many for they contemne the word which is the suit of Christ because it is spoken by men so they esteem the sacred word as of men and not of God Surely he could haue sent the troup of his mighty glorious Angels to make his matche but he hath himselfe spoke in his owne person first nowe continueth his suite to vs in his behalfe by his ministers and faithfull seruantes For he hath put his treasure in earthy vessels that the excellencye of that power might be of God not of vs. 2. Cor. 4.7 Also We are ambassadors in Christs steed as though God did beseech you through vs so we pray you in Christes steede to be reconciled vnto God 2 Cor. 5.20 So as the Lorde hath ordeined Pastors and teachers in his church euen of men in his own name Paul he likewise labored to present the people a pure virgine vnto God 2. Cor. 11.2 Let vs not therefore my brethren despise the meanes which God hath ordeined to saue vs by and to make vp the match betweene his sonne and vs in our heartes least wee prouoke the Lords displesure If some great Prince should send of his nobles as ambassadors vnto any of vs or to a man of poors estate to beg his daughter for his onely sonne meaning to preferre her so honourably and his sonne louing her entirely were it not great discourtesye to refuse and woulde he not easily graunt to it so sith God sendeth oute his ministers to beg our soules for his deare sonne and requireth that we wil bestow our selues vppon him were it not a great contempt againste God and a worse daunger to our owne soules if wee shal refuse so gratious an offer Now as God vouchsafeth this honour to his ministers as to bee Suters for his sonne to his Church to call them to the heauenly banquet So they must not labour to winne the Church to them selues and to prefer their owne glory As the Pope which woulde haue the Church at his commaundement and so commit whooredome against Christe Or as many vaine glorious teachers which preach them selues not Christe Also seducers sectuaries c. They all play as the fals harted man which beeing put in trust to speake to a mayden for another doe wooe and make suite for them selues to tourne the liking of the mayden to their owne persons Thus many teachers playe the wantons with the Spouse of Christ Iesus when they should learne of Paul to present her perfect vnto Christe Howbeit the church of our times hath many wanton Sutors that wooe for them selues and not for Christe It is requisite that sith the ministers of the worde are to speake for so noble and heauenly a personage who is a rare Phoenix and the onely Sonne of the liuing God sent to his chosen Spouse vpon earth to offer the match of life to vnfould and discouer all the secretes of his heauenly and eternall loue spirituall and princely riches of his grace that they deale in these waightie matters moste reuerently wisely religiously carefully and faithfully to speak the Gospell and message of Christ as they ought to speake it and not to vtter themselues in preaching of Christ For many which preach the trueth after a sort yet ah alas nothing regarde the weight of this so honorable and holy ambassage For there are some which thinke Christe too base to bee preached simply in him selfe and therfore mingle with him too too much the wisedome of mans eloquence and thinke that Christe commeth nakedly vnlesse cloathed with vaine ostentaion of wordes Others esteeme him too homely simple and vnlearned vnlesse he bee beautified and blazed ouer with store of Gréeke or Laten sentences in the pulpits some recken of him as solitarie or as a priuate person with out honor and pompe vnlesse he bée brought foorth of them very solemnly accompaned and countenaunced with the auncient Garde of the fathers and Doctors of the Churche to speake for him or els he must be glosed out and painted with the frooth of Philosophi Poetry or such like And so regard not to preach Christ crucified to the Iewes A stumbling blocke to the Grecians folishnes but to them which are called both Iews Grecians Christ is the power of God and the wisedome of God 1. Cor. 1.23.24 I do not speake against learning wisedome the knowledge of tongues or the fathers abolishing all vse of them but highly esteming of the firste as the Lordes giftes and graces and reuerencing the Fathers as worthy instruments which the Lord vsed for their time And all these are necessary tyme person place and fit occasion seruing But I wold gladly Christ might appeare in his power by the pure handling of the Gospel though it be counted foolishe preaching of the world 1. Cor. 1.21 Yet it is the ordinary meanes appointed to saue them that beleeue And sure I cannot otherwise thinke of many which study to preach them selues and to haue their giftes yea some times those giftes which they haue not to be knowne rather then the power of God in his Gospel then of Babes and yong children which hauing any gay thing about them that they themselues think highly on thinke all men should delight in their gayes therefore they are alwayes pointing at their gay brooches pointes laces c. shewing euery one where they are gay So these men which preach them selues are alwayes poyncting at their gaye eloquence or giftes which they set more by then the pure handling of the worde But we are in Christes stéede to make suite for him to the soules of men wherefore we must deale faithfully with him For a wicked messenger faelleth into euill but a faythfull ambassadour is preseruation Prouerb 13.17 I therefore beloued though moste vnworthy to open my mouth in Christes behalf vnto you yet as one apoynted a sutor in the Lords cause and his Churches doe beseech you in the bowels of Iesus Christ that you woulde be wonne vnto him espousing both body and soule to be at his heauenly pleasure O despise not so gracious offers Let it not be your pride to say often nay to the Lordes suite it is more curtesie to let him speede at the first And though we haue heretofore listened to the suite of Sathan and he hath had his pleasure at our handes which might giue the Lorde iust cause to cast vs off and not to continue anie more his suite to vs yet if we will returne from our sinfull loue of
Sathan and sinne the worlde and our owne selues to match with Christ Iesus and bee gouerned vnder him hee will vouchsafe to embrace vs and receiue vs to fauour Oh therefore good people as you loue your owne souls let me intreate and in intreating let me obtaine that you will vnfeignedly loue Christ Iesus againe I maye not leaue you til I obtaine at your handes O that I coulde so vndermine your hearts and vse my speech so as I might preuaile with you and speede for so gracious a sutor and louer Alas my deare brethren we haue serued our owne lustes too too long already For is it not sufficient for vs that we haue spent the time past of the life after the lust of the Gentiles walking in wantonnes lustes drunkennesse pride selfeloue couetousnes gluttony drinkings and such other abhominations 1. Pet. 4.3 Let the rest of our life be consecrate vnto God for we haue played the filthy harlots too much and haue mocked with the Lord a long time We haue made many fayer promises and shewes of loue but in vaine some of vs for we haue turned to our owne filthines againe and not liued chaste in our soules before the Lorde so as it is wonder that he hath not giuen vs a bil of diuorcement al this time and turned vs out of doores Let vs therefore humble our selues before the bill of diuorcement be published against vs. Alas let not the loue of this world though it séeme neuer so gorgious rich and precious in our eyes deceiue vs so that our loue shoulde be set vpon that and Christe shoulde be gainesayd who hath beene at great cost with vs. Some refuse to ioyne with Christ because they are wedded to their pleasures and profits and are loth to be weaned from them Some thinke Christe to homely and plaine for them and not gallant ynough to maintayne them in their pride in their great ruffes gorbellies broadred heare and a thousande such vanities which hinder them from matching with Christ The courtlike minions drowned in their pleasures are ashamed of the playnes of Christ for they that are in kinges housen weare soft apparell but Christe is without such pompe Othersome refuse him because he is deformed and worne with afflictions being loath to vndergo the crosse with him Othersome imbrace him willingly so farre as their pleasures and commodities reache and as they may liue easely but when Christ looketh to haue their loue in trouble in pouerty in shame in dishonor then they leaue him as most faithlesse and shamelesse strompetes Other some vse Christ as a band to couer their vnchast and filthy life and as a cloake to couer their vncleannesse when in professing of him they thinke to set a good face on the matter countenance themselues by him though they priuily nourish pamper most vile beastly affections yea vglesome monsters at home as a harlot which taketh a husband is bear his name as an outward honesty and yet let out her body most shamelesly to other men who cutteth off her selfe by her vnfaithfulnesse from her husband So shal al such haue a bill of diuorcement and bee vtterly caste off from Christe Iesus vnlesse they repent Christ I say is come into his Garden by his ministers and ouerlooketh his Church labouring by his worde to draw men more neere vnto him for his word is his errande or suite which he maketh to vs and the free deed of feofment which hee maketh to his Spouse of his inheritaunce so as we must by faith set our hand to it doing all seruices and loyalties due to the Lorde who holdeth the prerogatiue ouer vs. Yet we refuse to make sure this our estate vnto vs or to match with Christe affiauncing our selues wholy vnto him both body and soule to be sanctified to the vse of holinesse and righteousnesse Surely there is iust cause that we should yeeld to this suite to eat of his pleasures with him to make merry with Christ in this his roial banquet and to match our selues to him In deed there is a great inequalitie in the match that the sonne of God should come downe from heauen indued in our â—â—â—she to espouse him self to mans soul which was forfeited into the hand of sathan and hel so as modesty might seeme to be an excuse to hold vs backe but it is not that which hindreth vs but euen pride selfeloue contempt ignorance worldly mindednesse and such like Cast off therefore al lets and yeeld ouer your selues to the Lorde sith he hauing all riches offereth to participate the same with vs and intreateth vs so to doe by his seruantes If we seeke for a rich match Lo he is most rich If for honor and dignity he is most honorable and king of al kings If for pomp he hath al the glory of his father If for beauty and person he is most beautifull and personable If for pleasure he hath all true pleasures If for ease he offereth true rest and ease euen to our soules If we seeke to match with an honest stock who is more honest gratious louing and holy then the sonne of God Who loketh not to our person beauty riches stock or pareÌ„tage for we come al off the rotten poore beggerly deformed Psal 44.3 and defiled race of Adam but beholdeth vs in him selfe and as the Hebrwes speake pleaseth him selfe in vs and so sanctifieth vs in him self to become a noble generation and kingly priesthood 1. Pet. 2.9.10 yea he hath mercy on her that was not pittied Hosh 2.23 Thus we see that Christ in whom all riches are without measure is not a niggarde to kéep theÌ„ to himself but most frankly frely he imparteth theÌ„ al to his church and participateth euen his own glory with his saintes so as he hath giuen charge to his angels to becom the princely gard of his quéen which is the company of the beléeuers whom the Lord sanctifieth to be holy without spot and wrinckle For we must not looke to be at our owne wil and follow our owne minds but must be at the commandement of our spiritual husband Christe Iesus to doe his will renouncing our owne will and corrupt affections and become new creatures For they that are Christes haue crucified the flesh with the lusts desires thereof Gal. 5.24 and let him that is in Christ become a new creature 2. Cor. 5.17 And this is it that frayeth men from Christ because they are loath to vnder go his burthen and yoke to cast of the world leuing theÌ„selues behind theÌ„ to follow Christ And true it is vntil we are truely won vnto christ affianced to him by faith forsaking our own selues we are in the state of damnation Let vs therfore vpon paine of damnation forsake our selues the world Sathan sinne and our owne worthines and stand to the Lords curtesie yea let vs wed our selues to him seruing him with obedient heartes preseruing our thoughtes affections and
drunkerds raylers proud persons Swearers or any suche like to come vnto Christe till their corrupt nature bee caste off and their affections washed sanctified and reformed Yea and this not for a time but wee must vowe it for euer For it is impossible that they which haue tasted of the heauenly gift and were made partakers of the holy ghost hauing tasted of the good worde of God and of the powers of the world to come if they fall away should be renued againe by repentance Heb. 6.4 If the righteous scarcely bee saued 1. Pet. 4.18 where shal the vngodly and the sinner appeare Wo be then to the swinish and brutish generation the wallow stil in the myre of their own affections and wil not come out from the world vncleane things These shal howle with pitifull shrikes and shril voices when they shall bee shut out from the bridegrome Christe Iesus in his comming Then shal they lament their whoredoms gluttonies pride contempt their railings vnbeleefe and al their vnhappy wayes but too late Let vs therefore deare brethren craue Gods spirite to wash our affections and cleanse our hearts that we drasse them not in the dirt of sinne any more least our latter end be worse then our beginning But albeit this be the more receiued interpretation which I haue nowe longest stayed in namely that sith she is cleansed shee wil not defile her selfe againe Yet mee thinkes it is to be taken of the excuses which the Spouse made shewing that shee had muche a doe to renonunce her pleasures and complaineth that she is vntoward to obey her calling hauing many lets as if a man being in bed is loath to rise and diseaze himself in the night so the Spouse though desirous to arise to Christe yet her pleasures stick some what in her stomacke and she findeth many delais in her nature debateth the matter before shee can cheerefully rise vp to follow the call of Christ Iesus The reasons that mooue me to this sence are these cheefly 1. because it is an answere to the former suite of Christe desiring to be opened vnto as one knocking in the night she aunswereth she hath put of her coate and is at rest hauing washed her féete as the manner of that country was so as she was loath to rise and ray her feete discouering her vntowardnesse Now if she shold answere when Christ calleth that she is clensed and sanctified how shold she be vncleansed again and sanctified when Christ calleth to sanctification it were a weake aunswere to the request of Christ 2. The metaphor of sleep and of the night and al circumstances in a word aford this sense as moste naturall and proper to this place So then the vse of it is to teach vs howe harde beginninges wee haue in our calling howe slowly wee come forward and how many delayes our corrupt nature findeth to shift of al true obedience to Christe Iesus For we must know that our condition and estate is figured vnto vs in the person of the spouse Therefore purposely Solomon sheweth how we hang of on with Christe til the Lord hath throuhlye humbled vs and weaned vs from our selues which is a doctrin most necessary and comfortable that we maye be stirred vp to shake of all drowsines and loytering For we see how hardly we obey our calling and listen to the word of God but we aunswere a farre off and hould our selues aloofe As Samuel 1. Sam. 3.5 which ranne to Hell often before he tooke a straight course to the Lorde For we thinke that the Lorde calleth vs not because he speaketh by men so childish or babish are we in our beginnings which are poore And we scant perceiue who calleth vs. Faine wee wold follow God and come to heauen but we are loath to foyle our féete to step the way that leadeth thither Our pleasurs whispereth vs in the one ear and our profits round vs in the other the corruption of our nature the cleaueth so fast on custom of sin presseth vs so sore downe that wee can not looke vp to the heauenly calling but are inueigled carried away alas almoste at euery motion but we must bid al farwell to followe Christe Gen. 19.16 Lot lingred behinde and loytered in his departure from Sodom Ieremiah had excuses Iere. 1.6 Ionah 1.3 Ionas fled from the presence of God because of the charge inioined him Luk. 9.59.61 Peter was loath to follow a while and kept aloofe Luk. 9.59.61 The disciples made delaies one would bury his father first then hee woulde wayte on Christ Another would néeds bid his freends farwell first Thus we see how our nature is very slowe and vntoward to followe the Lorde shifting of so long as we can and we will set times our selues to wayte on him Thus we set the Lord his stent and he must daunce attendance vpon our leasure Gen. 12.4 Math. 9.9 Luk. 19.6.8 Mat. 4.28.22 Iohn 3.2 Iohn 19.38 Some are more suddenly called and obey as Abraham Mathewe Zacheus the two brethren Magdalen others Other som are longer comming on as Nicodemus Ioseph of Aramathia and others the one by night came to Christ the other secretly at the first And though the spouse here confesseth her slacknes and how she was hindered from following of Christ as she destred through her owne corruptions and worldly affections Yet after she recouereth her zeale and groweth more earnest in seeking after Christe euen then when other would haue discouraged her As verse 8. So that faith standeth not at a stay in the saintes but increaseth by degrees as we see in Nicodemus and Ioseph For Nicodemus Iohn 7.50 spake boldly in Christes cause before the Pharisyes though he receiued a checke Mar. 15.43 and both he and Ioseph Iohn 19.38.39 expressed their zeale after in a costly and honorable buriall of Christ Iesus euen then when greatest daunger was Peter also is charged after his denial that when hée is conuerted he shoulde strengthen his brethren So that we must not cocker and flatter our selues in our poore beginninges as though God required no more then we can do or to beginne and stande at a stay but we must increase in faith knowledge zeal and loue vnfained towards our brethren also in care to further others especially those of our charges and families We sée then that it is a harde thing to follow Christ it must cost vs our pleasures and profites yea euen our selues wholy Therfore Psa 45.10 The Spouse of Solomon which is a figure of the Church is taught that she can not be fit for doctrine and instruction and for her husband til she had forgot her own people and her fathers house so casting off all carnall affections to obey Christ onely Now this we do maruailously vnwillingly til the Lorde put vs forward And in déed God measureth his graces by degrees to his saintes partly to discouer our owne miseries wants vntowardnes and
vnfitnesse to heauenly thinges as also the hardnesse of repentaunce that so we may bee humbled and forced to seeke vnto God to obtaine grace to grow vnto perfection and to be thankful to God for his owne worke in vs. Partly also that we should not lift vp our selues to contemne the smal beginninges in our brethren but labour to drawe them on sith we haue found it hard in our selues So that the difficulty of the thing would stir vs vp to vse the meanes the more carefully to increase As the hearing of the word exercising our selues in it with cōtinual earnest praier This answere of the the spouse the former sléeping she cōplained of in her selfe bewrayeth our vntowardnes that wrangle with the Lorde a long time before we yéeld and haue many out Lanes to turne a side from him If therefore men will prooue themselues to belong to Christe though they feele many lets in them selues yet that shall not excuse them but they must labour against all lets and indeuour to resemble the Image of Christ Iesus in righteousnesse and holines hating sinne in them selues and in others no more intangle themselus in the pleasures of sinne But they féel the power of Christes death as I sayd before mortifiyng in them the corruptions of their nature Gal. 5.24 wherby they crucify the flesh with the lusts and desires therof And so are changed within and without in their heartes and in their maners and become holy euen as God which hath called them is holy 1. Pet. 1.15 But me thinkes I heare some reply yea taught euen now that the faithfull come very hardly on and now ye looke for great thinges at our handes and exact very precisely a great chaunge Men are but men and we can doe no more then we can do and as God will giue grace and euery man can not be a like neither can euery man shewe that which is in him nor handle his tongue but we hope to doe as well as the proudest professor of them all And a thousand such sleightes men haue to deceiue them selues and to deny christ in effect These are goodly shiftes that shal neuer stand for payment Men are but men say they I answere so long as they are but men they are not in Christ they must be more thē natural men 1. Cor. 6.11 for such know not the thinges that are of God 1. Cor. 2.14 They muste bee sanctified and cleansed by Gods spirit from their corruptions for fleshe and bloud can not inherite the kingdome of God but must be chaunged 1. Cor. 15.50 And where they say men can do no more then they can do and God requireth no more I aunswere God requireth more then we can doe of our selues for we haue nothing as of our selues no not to think a good thought but God worketh in his both to wil and to doe of his owne good pleasure Now God requireth holinesse faith obedience c. Phil. 2.13 which we can not doe therfore he requireth more of vs then we can doe of our selues that we by his grace may be inabled to do that which of our selues we can not do When they adde as God will giue grace they seeme to charge the Lorde priuely of iniustice and cleare them selues as faultles if they perishe for want of grace and so would blasphemously arraigne the Lord as gilty of their perishing When they see not miserable men as they are that the cause is in them selues that God with holdeth his graces from them And further how shoulde the Lorde giue grace to them which despise his word and the ministery thereof Whereby the Lorde conuayeth the graces of his spirite into the hearts of his Children and increaseth the same graces by the same meanes And yet despising grace offered like desperate and brainelesse men will blame the Lorde as cause why they want grace Oh say they euery man can not be a like nor shewe that which is in them but hope to doe as as wel as the greatest professor of thē all c. Here they think they haue stroken dead al the professors at once and haue quitted them selues like men but though all haue not graces a like yet all must striue by like meanes to come to grace and perfection by diligent hearing reading and musing of the worde by Prayer and vse of the Sacramentes and such like to grow on in holinesse But these poore wretches are neuer aunsweared but seeke euen to lull them selues yea and that their heartes a sleep that they might not heare the voyce of Christe speaking by his Ministers But let vs my deare brethren cast off al delaies and not be sluggish as they which are loath to rise to open vnto Christe But willingly leape out of our beds and renounce all worldly cares pleasures profites friendes and such other hinderances as the spouse is taught psa 45.10 That we may hasten to Christe for our liues that we may be imbraced of him which grace he grant vs. It followeth verse 4. My beloued put in his hande at the hole of the doore and my inwarde partes were moued towardes him or groned after him or were troubled for him as the same Hebrewe wordes import in Ieremy Chapiter 31.20 These speeches of the gestures of loue are not to be carnally vnderstoode but they note that Christe whome Solomon as you haue hearde presenteth to vs in the person of a Sutor vseth all tokens of spirituall iestures and shewes of loue that may be to allure his Spouse to loue him againe Not that Christe commeth downe in his owne person now to intice men to his loue But as I haue sayde he presenteth him selfe to bée seene of vs in his Gospell as in a glasse 2. Cor. 3.18 where hee appeareth in the glory of his father vnto vs. For by his worde he putteth in his hand as it were at the dore of our harts vseth his faithfull Ministers as soliciters of his cause to his Churche and faithfull who feele in deed the hand power of Christ in his worde by preaching so as they are rauished and inamored vpon him In deed some take the putting in of the hand for smiting and afflicting his Church and so trāslate the worde following And my bowels trembled at him So the sense after their meaning is that the Church beeing slacke and slow to grow in faith and obedience was afflicted rebuked and corrected of Christ whereby she was terrified and forced with feare to regarde more earnestly the call of Christ Iesus And indeed true it is that the lord calling his saintes and they being very slow of thē selues he vseth whyps and corrections to spurre them forwarde of his greate loue and we are often made more quicke and ready to obey our calling when the Lord some way afflicteth vs. For our nature is so vntamed so proud so lofty sturdy and rebellious that the Lord is faine to ioyne with his word many crosses and trials
dumpes a while that after in his good time hee might the more recouer our zeale loue fayth hope patience and waiting on the Lorde that wee may say with Dauid Psal 77.7.10 I sawe it was but mine owne infirmitye In which Psalme Dauid speaketh of greate tryalles and so causeth his Sayntes to make so muche the more of his mercy and fauour howe much the more Sathan and our incredulitie seeketh to hide it from vs. And this hyding of Christ is described here of Solomon by the figure of louers which sometime by shewing of strangnes one to the other mak one the more faine on the other Likewise Christ by his strangenes somtimes kindleth the desire of his saints the more towards him So Christ shewed himself strange to the woman of Cananea was of a verie grown countenance not vouchsafing to answere her a while Math. 15.22 and when hee answered it was as a man would thinck a verie churlish answere but al was to stir vp and trie her faith Somtime also Christ séemeth to leaue his church afflicting it so that when it séeketh after him he séemeth to be awaie Which somtime dismaieth the Godly they thinck that the Lord neglecteth them as Dauid complaineth Why hidest thou thy face in the needfull time of trouble and againe Why art thou so far from my health from the teares of my complaint The like complaints he maketh Psalm 89.46 to the ende and Psalm 69.17.18 And this last manner of Christes holding off by afflicting his Sayntes doth amaze them when they see the Churche of God left in the Bryars and the wicked tryumphing For wee thinke that the Lord put vp too many iniuries at the handes of his enemies I sought him but I coulde not finde him c. See how the Spouse though in a maze and mammering at the absence of her loue yet lingreth after him and seeketh out for him but as yet she findeth him not neyther will hee aunswere when shee calleth This should not discourage vs or put vs off from inquiring after God though he seem to absente him selfe for a time and though wee haue not out of hande the knowledge fayth zeale loue obedience or that measure of repentaunce which wee woulde fayne haue yea though we haue often craued for some grace at the hande of God wayting long for it and yet he seemeth to denye it vnto vs in not graunting that grace which wee pray for yet let vs not giue ouer but still pray and euen wrastle with the Lorde till wee obtayne the blessing For God deferreth off long sometime before hee will heare that hee might trye oure Faithe for hee will bee tyed neyther to time meanes nor measure so as wee muste not prescribe him neither when how or how farre he shall graunte oure requestes onelye lette vs still bee inquiring after him and calling vppon him seeking him whereas hee is to be founde euen in his word and when hee is to be found which is so long as hee maketh offer of his grace by his worde This inquiring after God is a part of his worshippe as wee may gather from the contrary Zephany 1.5 where God threatneth to cut of al that sought not after God nor inquyred for him So then wee see what a damnable state all those are in what so euer they are which doe not seeke after God aright in his word and are not daily inquiring after his will to do it but rather turn themselues away wilfully when the Lorde seeketh to finde them As they doe which contemne the woorde will not heare it or hearing it are not mooued with Zeale to followe after God and walke in his wayes increasinge in the knoweledge of his will but thinke it euen a drudgerye to bee compelled or called on to heare the woorde or at leaste waye counte it a needelesse thing But let vs bee stirred vp beeloued to vse all meanes wherebye wee maye shake off all suche lettes as hinder vs that wee maye open vnto Christe and seeke after him euen then when hee seemeth as it were to bee turned asyde that we maye neuer let him slippe vtterlye from vs nor giue him cause by our scornefull behauiour to departe from vs leaste wee after seeke him with teares when hee will not be founde Thus at this time we haue seene some of the letts of the spouse too morrow if God will we shall see the rest so far as time shall permit The Lord our good God make all this fruitefull vnto our Soules that wee by his grace may ouerstride all lettes to imbrace Christe and seeke after him so as hee maye abide with vs for euer by his grace here and we abide with him in his Heauenlye Kingdome for euer and euer Amen Let vs pray c. The third Sermon IT followeth in the seuenth verse The watchmen that went about the Citie found me they smote and wounded mee the watchmen of the wals tooke away my vaile from me We heard yesterday concerning the lets in nature which hindred the Spouse in her comming on and how many stayes men meet with al in their Christian calling Also we haue seene that the spouse for slowing the time had some what to do afterward when she would faine haue found her loue that he with drew him selfe for a time which was some trouble to her And sure it is when men driue off long or they come to the obedience of the Gospel it is a corzie to them when they are called to see how they driue off the time with the lord God correcteth such slackinges in his saints by many means Well here the spouse inquiring after Christe her husband and hauing ouer stryded al lets in her selfe maketh report what lets shee found abroad in others And how the malice of the false and enuious teachers burst out aganst her that they abused her greatly Some vnderstand this of the Godly teachers that they found the Spouse and smote her with reprehensions of the worde and tooke away the vaile of her ignoraunce from her But because she still inquireth for her husband and louer and that of others of Ierusalem after for that she could not be satisfied by the watchmen which rather hindred her I take it therfore without question to be ment of the wicked teachers which are so farre from helping forwarde of the Godly that they pine at the zeale and diligence of Gods children labouring to disgrace them and hazard their profession to discredite among the wicked pulling off their vaile dealing roughly as roynishe rufflers to boysterous to handle or louingly intreat the tender Spouse of Christe Iesus Yea some are not ashamed to saye none are worse then those great professours and these that talke moste thus they strengthen the hands of the wicked and raylers opening the mouthes of the enemies to blaspheme euen the Gospell it selfe discountenauncing the true seruauntes of God causing them to mourne whome the Lorde hath not caused to mourne Ezek. 13.
iustifieth and sanctifieth others His brestes loynes al his body voyd of al carnal affectiōs but replenished with heuenly and spiritual he is garnished with hurtles innocency with inuinsible constancy with induring patience with endles loue his mouth aboūdeth with all heauenly wisdome doctrine ful of al sauing health Finally ther is nothing wanting vnto Christ but he is the glory of his father the riches the onely ioy and delight of his Father in whō he is wel pleased being therefore in fauoure with him wee can want nothing Who would not then be rainshed at the offer of so gracious worthy a peere who would stay with lingring steps and heauy gange to fellow faintly but rather chéerefully so riche and friendly a louer yea who is there but would make al the speed may be til he were with him in his dwelling place But it is wounder to see how our nature bewitcheth vs and Sathan casteth a myst before our eyes that we can not see these excellent thinges in christ Iesus but count him a holy base personage cōtemned because he is so smally regarded of the worlde and seemeth at first blushe deformed and despised of men But oh how deare is he in the eyes of God And to his saints he is most amiable they can not want him neither wil be from him though they beg with Christ for a time and haue not where on to rest their heade for they are sure to enioy incomparable treasures in the end in the meane while they behold them with the eyes of faith But alas the miserable world they see no such thing Let vs therfore my deare brethren make vse of this description which the Spouse hath made of Christe Iesus that sith we heare of him to be so famous comely perfect innocent holy valiant constant louing kynd yea wholy amiable Also sith we see that he aboundeth with al heauenly and eternall riches wherewith he is willing and able to pleasure al his louers let vs with all ioy and willingnesse imbrace him offering him selfe vnto vs in his worde with al his riches let vs beleeue his word obey it ioy in it comforting our selues in the sweete thinges of his mouth Let vs yeeld to his suite becomming commenders of his loue towardes vs. Talking of his kindnesse stirring vp others to loue him with vs that we may prosper togeather in al true and vnfayned loue and obedidience towardes his maiestie which grace God graunt vs. Amen Now followeth the second question of the conference verse 17. The second question O thou fayrest among women whither is thy welbeloued gon whither is he turned a side c. After the spouse had so described the person of her loue to the damosels and madens her companions his complexion members and speech making reporte of him in such honorable maner in their conference about his person at the hearesay of his beauty vertues excellent qualities incomparable riches her companions are taken with loue towardes him so as they ioyne with her in seeking her loue inquiring of the Church where her beloued is become that they also may inioye the benefite of his loue And she as a blab discouereth the haunte of her louer willingly consenting to admit their fellowship nay seeking earnestly for it that they may togeather imbrace that heauenly and spirituall Sutor For as I sayd it is the property of the Godly which haue in truth tasted of the loue of Christ to labour to draw on others participating that sweete and rich benefite vnto them Finally the Spouse after the narration of the excellencye of her loue the more to allure others by her example addeth an Epiphonema or concluding sentence in the ende in her owne person assuring her selfe to be one with her loue Christ in a moste holy communion and that shee is a feoffy with him in al his riches affiauncing her selfe to him being perswaded of his loue desiring his presence with her all her life professing that what soeuer happen come life or death health or sicknesse she is her beloueds to liue and die Yea what soeuer shal be sayd or how so euer Sathan and men shold labor to inueagle her from his loue yet shee wil be constant and perseuere in his loue to the ende Thus she whetteth and sharpeneth her faith by this meanes to rescue her selfe vnder the shadow of his winges hoping for his continual residence with her to feed among his lillyes and repast him selfe in the company of his Spouse and Church O thou fayrest among Women This beauty is ascribed to the Spouse in respect of that beauty which she borroweth from Christ her husband for she had before Chapter 1. confessed her blacknesse by reason of her sinnes and afflictions but we that are most vgglesome to behold in our selues are in Christ made moste comely Whither is hee gone that we may seeke him with thee So they inquire the place of his abode that they may seeke him with her These wordes include the fruite that came of the vttering and recouering of the Spouses zeale and of that conference which she had with her companions 2. The fruite of the conference and this is interlaced in the questions yet I note it a parte for good considerations That we may see the effecte of the profession of the Church that others are drawne on by her In which much comfortable doctrin for our instruction offereth it self For we are taughte that they which haue profited in knowledge and are acquainted in the Lordes misteryes are called sanctified and haue outgon their brethren in any graces shoulde become careful and diligent to helpe forwarde the nouices and yonglinges in religion drawing on those that are not yet come on Furthermore they which are not forward but ignoraunt or behind hand to others should cast off all pride and shame to prepare them selues to be holpen of their brethren We find that it was oftē prophesied that in the kingdome of Christe the Gentiles should spurre forwarde one an other prouoking one an other to seeke the Lorde and become examples one to the other ioining together in a most holy vnity to seek after God as in places which we haue alleaged afore Esay 2.2 Mic. 4.3 Also the prophet Zachary mentioneth this thing in the eight chapiter of his prophesie verse 21. They that dwel in one City shal go to an other and say vp let vs go and pray before the lord and seek the Lord of hostes I wil go with you also In which we see a liuely Image of that practise which should be among Christians to allure and intice one another yea one neighbour to draw on another For they also vow that they in their owne persons will accompany them in seeking the Lorde Oh that this Christian fellowship and heauenly society of the saints of God were more carefully practised among men But alasse such is the misery and contempt of our times that he which laboureth to seeke after
seeke after God and to praye to him inticing also others by their example of the which sort there are very few Yet certainely we ought to labour as I sayde that where we haue before our calling done hurt by our example in deed or worde to our Wife children seruauntes or our companions we should now redeeme that occasion by a Godly sobernes and holines of life They also which haue beene partakers with vs in corruption and sinne should by our meanes if it may bee euen be made partakers with vs of grace For this is one thing which vndoubtedly we doe not for the most part make conscience of He that hath beene a companion with drunkards or ruffians swearers or vaine ciuil men before his calling he shoulde labour when him selfe is called and séeth the damnable estate of such men to make his companions priuy to the damnable estate that they are in and shewe them what happinesse it is to leaue those wayes of vanity to feare God aright and that if they were out of that hellish estate and saw the mirye of it they woulde not for a thousand worldes be in it again how so euer it seemeth to the fleshe pleasant for the time Oh the Lord giue vs eyes to see this matter and heartes to practize it But now let vs see further what this gracious example of forwardnes in religion worketh in the godly euen that they are made desirous to bee coopartners with the church in the graces of Christe Iesus Wherefore the maydens they seeing the Churche so wonderfullye rauished with the loue of Christ would needes know where he was become that they may seeke him with her The like fruite altogeather Zachary chapter 8. verse 23. noteth shoulde breake foorth in the Church of the Gentiles for sayth he Ten men of the nations should take holde of the skirt of him that is a Iew and say we will goo with you for we haue hearde that God is with you So then it is a special propertie incident to the children of God to be humble lowly and willing to learn of others casting away pride scornefulnes and shame for many are too modest or rather squaymishe in that point If this readines should be in the Saints to catch one another making offer of themselues to accompanie the godly vnto God and all godly exercises then what shall be sayed of those which not onely are not willing to ioyne with the children of God but euen rushe vpon them thrusting them away from them as most noysome hurtful pulling others back what they can sure they bewray that as yet they haue no fellowshippe in this holy and precious societie with Christe Iesus Againe they which are forward and excell others in graces must take heed that vayneglorie vndermind not their heartes or that contempt and scornefulnesse do not set them afloate to dispise or neglecte their brethren or to condemne those that are not so far forwarde as themselues but with all amiable modestie labour to incourage and drawe them on O that we could striue with a godly enuie one to out-goe another in godlinesse yet so that by our godly counsell and holy life we might bee meanes to stirre vp others procuring them to a holy emulation It is reported in the fourth chapiter of Iohn his Gospell what good the report and example of the woman of Samaria did in that citie where shee dwelled to allure many of that place to beleeue in Christ which were after more confirmed in fayth by Christ himselfe So we should labour that not onely they of our owne houshold parishe or countrey shoulde bee occasioned by vs to seeke after God but it were to bee wished that the state of the Church of our lande were such thorowout as that wee beeing gouerned all according to godly Discipline in moste happie and religious manner the worde of GOD hauinge preheminence in all places personnes and causes euen other Nations yea the Iewes them selues might bee prouoked to emulation by vs. Saint Paule I remember in his epistle to the Romans the eleuenth chapiter verse 11. Speaketh that the Gentiles should draw on the Iewes by emulation to follow the true God by their faith I demand then sayth he haue the Iewes stumbled that they shoulde vtterly fall God forbid but through their fall saluation commeth to the Gentiles to prouoke the Iewes to emulation or to follow the Gentiles For to this ende God adopteth the Gentiles into the place of the Iewes that they séeing the Gentiles ioyned vnto God perceiuing also the fruit of their faith they might be set on fire to be reconciled vnto God againe repenting them of their falling from him that so with the Gentiles they might againe bee flocked into the fellowship of the church And certainely we al incurre a great and blameable fault that we are no more touched with pitty ouer the nation of the Iewes by whose fal we were lift vp into the Church whose diminishing is our riches that we pitty no more their estate and blindnes nor praying for their vprising conuersion and restoring whose receiuing again what is it but life to vs from the dead For I see not the contrary but that the Lord will yet bring backe again some of the Iewes to his trueth that they may be turned to their God though the most of the nation perish in blindnesse Let vs then bestow vppon them this curtesie to pray for their conuersion and to liue so in holinesse and righteousnesse our selues that the Iewes and all other may see that we feare and serue the true and liuing God That so they may be mooued by our meanes to seeke Christe Iesus with vs beeing parteners with vs of that health the foundation whereof sprong to vs from the Iewes For the redeemer shal come vnto Sion and to them that turne from iniquity in Iacob Esay 59.20 We are therefore sore to be blamed when we so scornefully reproch the Nation of the Iewes that when we woulde speake disdainefully of any man we thinke we can not speake more haynously of him then to cal him a Iewe also any deceitfull false spitefull or vnkinde touche that is serued vs of any man wee saye he hath serued me a Iewishe tricke and such like rayling speaches we throwe out against that miserable dispersed nation whom all the worlde haue cause most to pittie and praye for their turning vnto God But this is a token of vncharitable vnreligious and vnchristian heartes Let vs therefore offer them this kindenesse to wishe well to them and all others to labour to towle on others as the Spouse doeth in this place that they may with vs goe to seeke the Lorde of hostes and our Sauiour Christe Iesus Thus shoulde wee further one another to Christe for wee are exceeding negligent this waye to redeeme our former times of vanitye spente with our brethren As for my selfe myserable man that I am vnworthy to doe any good in the Churche of God or to
any of his Sayntes Oh howe fayne woulde I that I were as readye and able to doe as much good in furthering of Christs Kingdome as anye of vs haue furthered the kingdome of Sathan and sinne before oure calling Oh that you all present had suche taste with mee of the excellencye of Christe Iesus as you might all saye with one voyce I will goe with you and will seeke Christe with you Oh that my sinnes and yours woulde permit the Lorde to blesse my laboures among you this day as also at all times and in other places of his Churche As some soules might bee gayned to him by my poore mynisterye that it may bee the ioy of my hearte Yea woulde to God that manye soules among you mighte bee so affected vnto Christe in trueth being turned from your owne wayes that ye might say as Dauid did to Abigail Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who sent thee this daye to meete vs 1. Sam. 25.32 blessed bee this day Blessed bee this sermon or counsel and blessed be thou which haste kept mee this daye from suche an euill c. and caused mee to haue a sight disliking of my former life such a tast of Christ Iesus that I vtterly abhorre my self for my sinnes hartely imbracing Christ Iesus vowing hereafter to indeuour to walke in al the wayes of God I speake grosly vnto you brethren and abase my selfe to mooue your affections to the loue of God for the loue of Christ Iesus euen constrayneth me there vnto for your good Let no man therefore abuse my homelinesse of speech in this point being to your edifying and gayning of glory vnto God But let vs I praye you beloued consent togeather in one to seeke after Christ with his Church til we haue founde him out that we may safely assure our selues of his loue to the ende as the Spouse doth afterwarde which grace God for Iesus Christ his sake graunt vnto euery one of vs Now followeth the aunswere to the second question of the maydens in this conference verse 18. My beloued is gone downe into his garden to the beds of spice to feed in the gardens and to gather Lillies Some make this verse the beginning of the sixt chapiter But I read this and the verse following with the fift chapiter For that they haue most proper relation to al the matter going afore in this 5. chapiter and is alienate and vtterly impertinent to the matter following in the sixt chapiter Especially sith it is a knitting vp of al the matter of her complaintes in her beginning and comming on also a ful conclusion of her loue a fit answere likewise to the second question in the dialogue and conference had with her companions and so a ful conclusion of the whole She signifieth to her companions that her loue is descended into his garden and Church on earth being conuersaunt amongst men in his owne person sometime also by his Ministers by his worde and Sacraments finally by his spirite properly in his saintes For by these meanes Christ is sayd to be come down among his and to be resident in his Church euen to the ende of the worlde For Christ is not of the number of the non residentes but testifieth to his Church saying Feare not I am with you to the endes of the worlde Solomon vseth a figuratiue or metaphorical speech borrowed from the cituation of Ierusalem that they went down hil and discended to go to their out gardens for Sion was a great hil whereon the Citye was built In this answere also the church hath relation to her former suit made to Christ chap. 4 ver 16. that he woulde come to his garden and eat his pleasant fruit also to the aunswere which was giuen her that he had taken possession of his riches and was come into his garden so that as Christ is in heauen with all his riches so is hee also in his garden on earth solacing himselfe and gathering daily fruite in his church Ioh. 15.16 by his ministers whom he sendeth that they may bring foorth more fruite for true it is that albeit Christ hath all riches in him selfe and needeth not any yet doth he gather fruite in his church at the handes of his seruauntes In so muche as they yeelde obedience vnto him and are in this respect called the firste fruites of his creatures because they are consecrate sanctified and set apart from the worlde Sathan and sinne to serue the Lorde and are called his Portion and inheritaunce in manye places But the fruite which they yeelde is not their owne proper or naturall in them but supernaturall and from aboue springing out of the fountayn of the Lords good pleasure and will is also framed graffed nouryshed and increased in them by his worde preached For all these thinges the cause efficiente the instrumentall meanes with the effecte thereof is pithily comprysed in fewe wordes by the Apostle Iames in the firste Chapter of his Epistle at the 18. verse where he sayth Of his owne will begate hee vs by the worde of trueth that wee shoulde bee as the first fruites of his creatures Also the graces of Gods spirit are called fruites Gal. 5.22 The qualities likewise necessarily incident to repentance are caled fruits Mat. 3.8 Which metaphoricall speeches import the God looketh to reape fruite at our handes in his church that we may grow from faith to faith from strength to strength from grace to grace til we come to ful ripenesse in Christ Iesus to be gathered into his barne of eternal felicity in his comming These fruites that the Lorde gathereth and reapeth at oure handes are his owne then insomuch as he worketh them in his saints that he may receiue his owne with aduantage crowning his owne workes in vs. It were expedient therefore that we labour to be fruitful in all heauenlye knoweledge and obedience that Christe comming downe to visite his Garden or church as it is set down in the sixt Chap. ver 10. he finde vs not empty or fruitlesse that he should haue no pleasure in vs and so bee forced to cast vs vp to the spoyle Sure it is the more is the pity the Lorde should find but smal fruite among vs if he should suruey our Churche in this land Hee hath lent vs the name of his Church and giuen vs a lease of his garden 21. yeres hath added to that three yeres more from yeare to yeare but alas we haue bene il tennants to the Lord his church is little stored by vs his hedges walles are as it were pluckt down by manye lying in decay For where true discipline shold build vp the breaches of the Lords fence should keepe out the noisom beasts the lion the wolf the bear the swine doggs such hurtful cattel and beasts we ah alas haue this gardē of the Lord hindred by such Lions woolfs priuy scorpions foxlike papists swinish Athists brutish belly gods enuious dogs which al
with others would easily shew their nature against the people of God if they had oportunitie and yet they are hatched oh pitiful danger and nouâ—ished euen in the lap of the church Thus many Cankers breede in the bowels of the church heresies fonde opinions familists Brounists and such other Thus by such meanes as lamentable it is to see the graft of godlinesse and zeale is hindred And through the neglect of officers magistrates rather then laws these beastes swarme in our Church Also drunkards swearers whores adulterers proude pecockes raylers contemners of God and his word prophanations of the Sabboth and an innumerable kindes both of sinners and sinnes which ouergrow the church as a wildernesse which because magistrates doe not laboure to roote out so carefully as they ought the Lord doth strangely consume som sinners by the fire of his wrath froÌ„ heauen Which al shold be cut off by discipline or at least way bee forced to some reformation Can it be that the Lord wil trust vs any longer with a Lease of his garden we abusing him in such maner so as we greeue the Lords soul with our vnfaithfulnes and cause his soule to hate vs. Esay 1.14 Who bestoweth such cost on vs we prosper so little as hee can gather very few Lillies amongst vs he wanteth the fruit of our hearts and lippes as faith loue feare obedience charity thankesgiuing prayse inuocation hearing his word professing his name c. But some perhaps wil say why it is in as good case as we found it the same discipline laws and doctrine are stil which was in the beginning of her maiesties raign so the Lords garden and church is not impaired and it shal bee left in as good case as it was found and better then heretofore Sure the Lorde doth not plaÌ„t a vineyard let it out to stand or be kept alwaies at a stay but to bee tilled and dressed that it maye grow and prosper to bring foorth more fruite For hee requireth that men bestowe their care labour wisedome and trauail vpon it that hee maye haue it more furnished and fenced For hee tataketh payne him selfe aboute his Churche to that ende that sinne may bee suppressed and Godlinesse aduanced But the Lorde make vs truely thankfull in Christ Iesus for those beginninges and proceedinges of his church which we haue that he hath planted his worde true religion amongst vs countenancing the same his truth with the authoritye and sworde of our gratious Princesse Elizabeth as also with many worthy learned godly and noble Councellers as also other learned Patrons of his Church without whom we should find to our great misery and the spoyle of religion howe hardly the Lordes garden should be at al kept without them But our sinnes yea our contempt and neglect of the word of God and his glory doe hinder the Lorde from blessing vs with that encrease which otherwise wee mighte enioy yea our sinnes betraye the state of our Churche and lande and deserue the losse of so Princely a Deborah and other woorthye personnages wherewith our Church is inriched yea that the Lorde shoulde take away all the walles and defences of our church and land giue vs ouer to the spoile Let vs therefore if we beare any good will to our Church or Countrye labour to purge oure selues from al corruption and to repent vs of oure sinnes that we may bring foorth good fruits such as the lord may haue pleasure in that hee may haue a delight to abide among vs. For it is the sinnes of a land that causeth the Lordes wrath to smoke against the same but our land I suppose haue exceeded the old world Sodom and Gomorrha Israell Iehuda and al landes in straunge sinnes so that if in comparison Ezec. 16.51 Iudah and the inhabitants thereof iustified Sodom for that their sinnes exceeded the sinnes of the Sodomits Then we haue iustified al Nations in comparison of our sins and therefore are in daunger to al the feareful plagues that are mentioned in the booke of God vnlesse we speedely therfore repent I feare we shal tast of such iudgementes as that the stranger that shal come from a farre land Deut. 29.22 shal saye when they see the plagues of this land and the diseases therof wherwith the Lord shal smite it because it shal be fearefully destroyed except they repent Oh wherefore hath the Lorde done thus vnto this lande and ver 24. and ver 25. how feirce is this great wrath And it shal be answered because they haue forsaken the couenant of the Lord God of their Fathers and haue sinned againste the Lorde Let vs al then my deare brethren be humbled with Godly sorrow that may cause repentaunce vnto saluation not to be repented of Being offended with our selues that we haue not sooner and more earnestly inquyred after Christ praying the Lorde to beautifie his Garden and Churche of this land with such sweet flowers as he may please him selfe in vs and we may grow and prosper in al fruites of the spirit I can not finish this chapiter to daye because of time and the matter of the conclusion though in few words yet includeth very comfortable and heuenly matter which cannot in a few words be vttered I wil therfore defer it til to morrow when by Gods grace I shal finish the whole Now the Lord our good God sanctifie our hearts to conceiue the excellencye and féele the sweetnesse of the wordes of the mouth of Christ Iesus that we being our selues purged and sanctified by his word and truth may carefully labour that others with vs may truely be affected towards him that we may ioyn togeather in seeking of Christ so as in the ende finding him in his worde and Sacramentes and feeling of him by his spirite our soules and bodies may become cleane and well tilled Gardens beautified with al heaueÌ„ly fruits of his spirite as that Christ may haue pleasure to walke in vs to dwell and make his abode in vs vnto the ende and in the ende we also may be receiued with him into his heauenly Garden of eternal ioye to dwell continue and abide with him in the company of al the glorious Angels and fellowship of the heauenly saintes in the presence of God his Father for euer and euer Amen Let vs pray c. The fift Sermon or lecture YEsterday we heard beloued a part of the description of Christ concerning his spéech and swéet thing of his mouth with the excellency of his doctrine also the second question of the maydens concerning the place where he vsed with the aunswere betweene which was interlined what fruit came by this conference and how the Godly at Ierusalem were kyndled with loue to Christ by the example of the Spouse whereby she answereth to her companions making them priuy to the place of his abode shewing how the church is his Garden and that he delighteth to be conuersant there yea the soule of euerye